#(the Anxiety is back and instead of those horrors i just wanna maybe play this segment on a loop lol)

[ilkkawhat]

[yournowheregirl]

Eddie used to be a pretty fearless person.

He ran red lights almost on the daily, provoked his bullies while his bruises from the last run-in were still healing and agreed to shady drug deals in the dead of night.

Having a kid changed all that.

As soon as Hayley was born, Eddie found himself riddled with anxiety every waking moment of the day. Scared to drop her, scared she’d get sick, scared she’d break something, scared that someone’d take her from the playground if he looked away for just one second. Even Wayne had to pry Hayley out of his arms when he had to go back to work and assure him that everything would be fine.

Lucky for Eddie, none of those fears ever came true. Until today.

They’d just gone through Hayley’s night time routine - reading a chapter of that Narnia book Jeff had gotten her, singing her good night song together, kissing her forehead and sharing I love you's - and Eddie’s about to close her bedroom door when Hayley’s squeaky voice suddenly speaks up.

“Dad?”

“Yeah, sweet pea?”

“I wanna join the soccer team.”

And just like that, with six little words, one of Eddie’s personal horrors suddenly becomes a reality.

His daughter is a jock.

“Uh, let’s… let’s talk about that in the morning, okay? Sleep tight!” Eddie says quickly and closes the door behind him.

As soon as he knows Hayley’s fast asleep, he dials one of the two numbers he knows by heart.

“Hello?"

“What have you done to my daughter?” Eddie seethes.

“Well, hi to you too, Eddie.” Chrissy says on the other side of the line. “What’s up?”

“Hayley wants to join the soccer team and it’s all your fault, Chris!” Eddie is pacing up and down his living room now, trying to calm himself down without reaching for his cigarettes - he quit when Hayley was born and this is not going to be the reason that’ll end his seven year streak.

���And how is that my fault, exactly?”

“You- you have poisoned her mind with your jock ways! Hayley isn’t a jock! She likes dragons and castles and fantasy worlds, as is her right as my daughter. I mean, her middle name is Arwen for fuck’s sake, being a nerd is in her goddamn DNA!”

“Okay, Eddie, breathe.” Chrissy says calmly. “Hayley’s always been a curious kid, it’s in her nature. She always wants to try new things and then move on to the next big thing. Remember how she wanted to become a drummer after she saw Gareth play? And then she abandoned the drum kit after two weeks?”

“Right.”

“Maybe this is just another phase, maybe she overheard some classmates and wanted to join in on the fun.” Chrissy says. “Just take her to try outs and see what happens, there’s always a chance she doesn’t like it.”

Eddie lets himself fall onto the couch. He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs in defeat. “Fuck, you’re right.”

“I’m always right, Eddie, how have you not learned this yet?” Chrissy giggles.

Which is how Eddie finds himself waking up at the crack of dawn that next Saturday. Well, he was supposed to sleep in for another thirty minutes or so but Hayley was so excited about try-outs that her high pitched screams and jumping on his bed woke him up regardless.

Hayley’s excitement carries on during breakfast and she barely keeps still as Eddie braids her hair. She’s even dead serious about the color of her hair ties, saying that they have to match the colors of the soccer team (aptly named the Purple Cobras, so obviously the hair ties have to be purple as well).

And any other morning, Eddie is trailing behind his daughter, making sure she hurries up so they’ll get to school on time, but not today. Now, she’s already got her coat on and bouncing from one foot to another in the hallway and calling him out instead.

“Dad, come on!” Hayley whines. “We’re gonna be late.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” Eddie huffs as he puts on his trusty leather jacket - if he’s gonna freeze his balls off by being outside all morning, at least he’s gonna do it in style. He can’t help but laugh at Hayley, who’s now jumping up and down from excitement. “Geez, you better save some energy for the try-outs.”

“Can we go now?” Hayley sighs and scrunches her nose in annoyance and yeah, she really is his kid.

“One ride in the Munson Mobile, coming right up!”

Hayley doesn’t shut up about the intricacies of soccer the entire drive to the local soccer club, apparently Chrissy (the traitor) had helped her read up on the rules and now obviously Eddie had to know all about them as well.

Half of what Hayley’s saying flies over his head, partly because he’s never really cared for sports but mostly because he can feel his anxiety growing with every passing second.

What if Hayley gets injured? What if some tackles her and she breaks her leg? Or worse?

What if she is an amazing player and she needs all these fancy soccer supplies and training clinics and Eddie’s forced to get another job to just to keep them afloat?

What if she’s weak at sports, just like Eddie was while growing up, and all the other kids will make fun of her and laugh behind her back?

What if-

“Dad, look, we’re here!”

The van barely comes to a screeching halt and Hayley’s already halfway out the door when Eddie grabs her by the collar and pulls her back into her seat. This obviously annoys Hayley, judging by the furious look on her face. If Eddie was a weaker man, he would’ve cowered in fear, but he invented that look so he barely feels a thing.

“Sweet pea, listen to your dear old dad for a minute, alright?” Eddie says softly. “I know you really wanna be on the soccer team but it’s still okay if you don’t make the team, you know that right? I won’t love you any less if you don’t make it or you don’t like it, just try your best, okay?”

Hayley’s face turns serious, as if the words are slowly sinking in. “Okay.”

“Pinky promise?” Eddie asks, holding out his pinky finger. Within a split second, Hayley’s tiny finger links around him and she sends him a toothy smile.

“Pinky promise.”

“C’mon, let’s kick these kids’ butts!”

Hayley giggles. “You’re supposed to kick the ball, dad.”

“Oh, right, silly me.” Eddie grins and follows his daughter outside.

But right as his anxiety has died down, it comes flooding right back as soon as Eddie lays eyes on the soccer field. There are so many kids. So many balls being kicked at full speed, with no time to duck. So many sneering soccer moms who look at him like he’s the devil incarnate. So many dangers just waiting around the corner and Eddie just want to turn on his heel and run. Hayley’s inevitable temper tantrum be damned, at least she’ll be in one piece and-

“Hayley Arwen Munson?”

Both Eddie and Hayley whip their heads around at the same time, only to be greeted by one of the coaches and shit- Eddie’s suddenly very interested in soccer.

With a chiseled jaw, soft hazel eyes and broad shoulders, the coach looks like he belongs in a Calvin Klein ad rather than a little league soccer field. He’s wearing a wind breaker, white knee socks and bright purple shorts (that cling deliciously tight around his thighs), which shouldn’t work on him but it does and Eddie just can’t look away.

Hayley (thankfully) doesn’t seem to notice his inner turmoil and instead happily waves at Hot Coach. “Over here!”

The coach writes something on the clipboard and walks towards them, crouching down in front of Hayley. “Hi Hayley, I’m coach Steve, nice to meet you. You here to try out for the soccer team?”

“Yes!” Hayley replies brightly.

“Well good, you can say hi to coach Robin and the other girls and I’ll be there in a sec, okay?”

“Okay.” Hayley nods and turns to Eddie. “Bye dad!”

“Hold up, hold up, hold up.” Eddie says quickly, once again grabbing the back of her t-shirt to keep her from running off. He kneels down in front of her, trying to look her in the eye. “Be careful, okay, baby? And if you don’t like it you can just yell and I come and get you, no questions asked. And if your laces get loose, you can yell too, literally if anything goes wrong you can-”

“Dad…” Hayley interrupts him and puts her tiny hand onto his shoulder. “It’s gonna be okay.”

Eddie laughs and ducks his head. God, this is like kindergarten all over again, when Hayley just skipped to Miss Coleman without a care in the world and Eddie was sobbing into Wayne’s shoulder as he watched her go.

“I know it will be, sweet pea.” Eddie says softly, pressing a kiss to Hayley’s forehead. She takes that as her cue to go, skipping across the field towards the gaggle of girls that surround another one of the coaches.

Eddie feels his heart burst as he sees Hayley smiling as she greets the other girls, she seems to fit right in. He sighs deeply and stands up, trying to keep his eyes on Hayley, when a voice suddenly speaks up.

“Arwen.”

“Jesus Christ!” Eddie yelps because shit, he totally forgot that Coach Steve was still there as well. “Yeah, she’s named Arwen. What about it?"

Eddie wants to eat his foot as soon as he utters the words. He’s always been defensive when it comes to Hayley, being a single dad who doesn’t look like your standard suburban dad next door will do that to you. But to do it in front of a cute guy like that? It makes him want to kick himself. Repeatedly.

But much to his surprise, Steve doesn’t seem to mind all that much. In fact, there’s an amused smile playing on his lips. “That’s from Lord of the Rings, right?”

“Uh, yeah.” Eddie replies dumbly. He feels his walls lowering down - holy shit, this Steve guy is hot and he knows Lord of the Rings? If they weren’t around a bunch of kids right now, Eddie would’ve dropped to his knees already.

“Cute.” Steve chuckles and are Eddie’s eyes deceiving him or is Steve actually checking him out? Before he gets a chance to wrap his head around all that, Steve gestures back to the field. “Well, I gotta jet. Soccer waits for no one. See you around, Mr. Munson.”

“Ew, no. Mr. Munson is my dad.” Eddie winces, remembering all the times his neighbor growing up came by to help Wayne out and refuses to call him by his first name. “I’m Eddie.”

“Well then,” Steve smirks as he walks backwards. “see you around, Eddie.”

As Eddie tries to look like a normal human being instead of a total creep - which proves to be terribly difficult when Steve turns around and puts his ass on fully display in those damn shorts - he slowly begins to realize one thing.

Maybe Hayley’s decision to join the soccer team is the best idea she had in a long time.

[pandoraimperatrix]

First Aid Kit

DickKory | Post s03e04 | 1,4k

Let’s all pretend Dick and Kory are in a established relationship as they should.

---------

I am in love, and I am lost But I'd rather be Broken than empty Oh, I'd rather be Shattered than hollow Oh, I'd rather be By your side

First Aid Kit - Shattered & Hollow

Although she knew it was futile, Kory had been trying to wash away all her guilt - over Komand’r, over Gar, over feeling like she was unreliable and useless to everyone that made the mistake of trusting her – under the shower for the past hour. Thank X’hal for the seeming infinite reserves of hot water of the Wayne Manor. Her forehead against the tiles, her hair pined on the top of her head, her eyes closed, she tried to remember the techniques of concentration she learnt in Ookara, but the words said that day continued to replay echoing around and around inside her head like her own personal “All The Great Mistakes of Princess Koriand’r” radio station. It was discretion and his anti-killing sensibilities.

Honestly for a fighter so violent as himself, he had so many reserves about killing, as if his way of doing things didn’t usually involve crippling or disfiguring his opponent. In Tamaran dragging someone’s face or dislocating their limbs with the goal of causing pain was way more savage than a clean killing. But there was a lot of things she’d never get about Earthens. And Dick was especially hard to understand.

She was so distracted by her thoughts that she only noticed his presence when his arms closed around her. Kory shivered, his skin, always cooler than hers, was freezing.

“Where did you go alone all day?” she asked leaning behind.

“Working,” he said against her neck.

Read on AO3

His body was tense, but as Rachel would say, Dick was a pile of anxiety hiding under a trench coat, so that was usual. She tried to turn in their embrace, to guide him under the hot water, maybe work those shoulder muscles a bit so he’d feel better and don’t drive her insane all night with his turning and trashing. But Dick kept her in place, his hand gripping her hip hard. Weird. He usually liked her massages.

“How was the Commissioner?”

“I think she’s mad at me.”

“What did you do, Dick?” He held her a little firmer. She sighed. “Come under the water I feel like I’m been held by a fish, you are so cold.”

She could almost hear his eyes’ rolling, but he walked under the water with her, pressing their bodies closer as a by-product, Kory swallowed when she felt his penis twitch with the friction.

“Don’t wanna talk about it. Can we just stay this way a little longer?”

That bad, then? Kory felt her heart shrink a size. Dick had made so much progress in the past three months, he had been taking care of himself, letting her and the kids take care of him too, and she was proud of him. But there was no way she’d not worry about how Gotham and this horrible situation with him family could undo all his hard work. She sighed and bended her arm backwards to play with his hair, and Dick moaned softly and bit her ear.

“And your day?” he whispered inside her ear. “Did the kids treat you well?”

“They always do…” her train of thoughts dissolved as he cupped one of her breasts and began spreading kisses down her neck making her body become hot butter under his hands. Dammit Dick Grayson, she should be the one making him relax right now. But maybe, just maybe, he had a better day than hers, and considering her day involved being possessed by her evil little sister, physically abusing and kidnapping her own child against her will, and then the whole craziness that followed... Yeah, she doubted Dick could beat that. And as his hand lowered down her navel, she decided that he could take care of her if he wanted to.

She hissed when he parted her folds and bulked her rear towards him as he started rubbing her clit. Kory moaned loudly and bended forward pressing one palm against the tiled wall as her other hand reached back for Dick’s penis, stroking it up and down. Dick started spreading kisses on her back, starting from the nape of her neck, licking the water droplets on her smooth dark skin.

“Does it feel good, baby?” he asked sultrily.

A loud curse in Tamaranean was all she could manage to answer when he found the rhythm she liked, she was so close that she let of him to grab her own breast, flicking her nipple with her thumb, but when she was just about to cross the threshold, Dick let her go.

“Shit,” she heard him, but instead of horny he sounded in pain.

Stunned and frustrated, she turned around to understand what was happening, and was slapped in the face with the sobering image of Dick bleeding.

“You are hurt! Dick, what happened?”

He cursed again, gritting his teeth and answered without looking at her, “nothing.”

There was a huge gauze on his left shoulder, stained with blood and wet with shower water.

“Nothing? Are you kidding me? Look at me!”

He sighed and slowly rose his eyes from the ruined curative pad. He looked horrible.

Kory turned off the shower in an angry move that took every ounce of control she had to not break the faucet.

“You are fucking unbelievable.”

“Kory… Look-“ he tried.

“Oh, I am looking!” she snapped. “I can see that you were out there doing X’hal knows what, alone, and got yourself harmed. What was you plan, Dick? You really think I’d not notice this hugeass wound while you fucked me from behind? Do you think I’m that stupid? Or that I wouldn’t care?” She slid the shower glass door open and walked out, so angry that she didn’t think about covering herself with a towel. “I don’t know what would be worse.” She muttered. And as he didn’t respond, she added, “what the fuck happened?”

Dick waited a little longer to leave the shower too.

“I was shot,” he finally said, pulling the tape holding the wet gauze and throwing the whole thing in the bin under the sink.

She blinked in disbelief.

“So it just happened, then? Out of nowhere.”

He sighed again.

“Kory, please…”

“No,” she choked and horror took Dick’s expression. “I’m tired of this,” she continued with a trembling voice. “You brought us here because you needed to be around family. But you are hardly with us, you don’t ask for help, you won’t even say what happened to you,” she sniffled and wiped a tear. “I don’t know what to do here, Dick. And I hate it.”

He wanted to say he was sorry, he wanted to hold her and tell her he’d fix his ways from now on, that everything would be okay, but all he managed was handing her a towel.

“It was Jason… He shot me.”

“X’hal… Dick,” she accepted the towel and buried her face on it.

“I intercepted Crane, used him to lure Jason. I tried to reason with him, we fought. Babs sent cops in a helicopter. They shot us. Jason ran,” he had no idea of how he managed to tell the whole story in such small sentences, but instead of congratulating himself for his fantastic abilities of synthesis, he felt his throat get tighter and tighter. He made Kory cry. He fucked up really bad with Jason, betrayed Babs trust and made Kory cry. What the fuck was wrong with him?

She pulled her face up, eyebrows furrowed with sadness and frustration.

“Why didn’t you call us?”

He had to swallow down a few times to gather moisture to keep talking.

“I thought I had everything under control, and after Hank… I… I didn’t want to put you and the kids under more pressure.”

Her sadness hardened into anger and she threw the towel on his face and walked out the bathroom.

“You are full of shit, you know that, right?”

He picked up the towel and followed her.

“I’m sorry… I don’t know what to do either, Kory. I’m… I’m scared.”

She didn’t expect to hear that. She wanted it, but didn’t expect. Kory stopped and turned back to look at him. His lost expression, his bleeding shoulder. It was hard to be angry with him like that. Damn that man and his puppy eyes.

“I’ll get the first aid kit.”

He held her gaze for a while, and gave her a sad little smile.

“Thank you.”

I don’t know how to end this so I’m ending it here lmao. It’s really hard to me to write about an ongoing story. But the idea is doing the work Titans writers refuse to do by giving the characters time to connect. And give myself DickKory content because ficwriting if first and foremost self-indulgent goodness.

[silkylious]

Safe (Kaminari Denki x Reader)

Warnings: slight angst/insecurities, comfort, fluff Pairing: kaminari denki x reader Prompt: #58 “You make me feel safe”

A/N: idk why but i hc that kaminari is actually very insecure but jokes around and shit as a coping mechanism. can you sense the self projection here. hope you enjoy this, it was very fun to write!

You sprung forward, eyes wide awake with alarm. Your mind struggled to catch up with your body; phantom sensations still lingering on your skin, static scenes of vibrant blue flames scorched into your brain as your heavy breaths died down into a slightly more regulated rhythm. This was the fifth time this week. It’s been two full months since the training camp, two full months since you’ve moved into the dorms and you still weren’t over it yet. The nightmares just wouldn’t stop.

You plopped back down on the mattress, exasperated and thoroughly annoyed at having your precious slumber cut short. Again. Honestly, for such a prestigious school, U.A. has probably the worst counseling team you’ve ever seen­– or haven’t seen, because despite several of your classmates showing painfully obvious signs of trauma, the school staff has barely stepped in. You huffed at the administration’s incompetence, turning on your side to glare at nothing in particular. A ping interrupted your train of thought, drawing your attention to the device laying on your nightstand. You snatched your phone, unlocking it and immediately squinting at the brightness before checking the time. Three in the morning. Who the hell would text you at ass o’clock in the morning? You knew who.

Pika pika⚡: [image] [image] [image]

some maymays for when you wake up 😌😌

You: they’re called memes ffs

Pika pika⚡: you’re awake??👀

You: no.

The message was left on seen, though the interface of the messaging up was replaced by that of an incoming call. You rolled your eyes, though a slight smile stretched your tired features at the picture of you and Kaminari grinning at the camera. You accepted the call.

“Why are you up?” His voice came through mildly distorted but still as loud as ever, too loud for three in the fucking morning.

“Can’t sleep,” Your answer was slightly muffled by a yawn, betraying just how exhausted you were. The silence that proceeded was deafening, neither of you uttering a word, but you could faintly hear his even breathing. It was oddly calming. You sigh, lids blinking to fight off your drowsiness.

“…You’re still having nightmares?” Words tinged with worry, his voice was much quieter now, gentler. If anything, Kaminari was a great friend. He’d proven that to you time and time again. He was the only one that could tell when you were drowning in hushed misery, seeing through your well-constructed front like it was second nature to him. For someone so astoundingly moronic, he was extremely socially intelligent, and even observant when he wanted to be. And for the umptieth time, he’s showing you just how easily he could pick up on the small traces of discomfort in your voice, the silent plea left unspoken from your lips.

“Yeah…” The reply didn’t come out as resolute as you’d wished it would have been. But it couldn’t be helped. No matter how hard you willed yourself to level your tone in hopes of fending off his concerns, you knew it would all crumble at some point. Go figure your strong façade would fall apart in front of him. It’s always been him. For some reason unknown to you (yet), confiding in him just felt right, secure.

More silence ensued.

Denki was a natural at detecting people’s emotions, but that’s as far as his expertise would go. Sure, he knew how to encourage others, pushing them past their insecurities was as easy as breathing to him. With bright, golden hues and an obnoxiously dorky grin, all he had to do was utter a few optimistic words and that would get the job done. But comfort? Vulnerability? That was so far beyond the shallow waters he’d grown accustomed to. Sentimentalities weren’t his thing, he simply didn’t posses the wisdom and eloquence needed to deal with such situations. His immediate reaction would be to crack a joke, fruitless attempts at lightening the mood but he knew there was a time and place for jests, and this wasn’t one of them. Awkwardness and half-hearted jabs were his immediate reaction… because that’s how he dealt with his own problems too.

“Hey… can I come over? We can play animal crossing or something,” You sure as shit wouldn’t be able to sleep, not in this state. You needed a distraction. A friend.

“What if we get caught?”

“Would you even care if we got caught?”

A light chuckle. “No,”

“Exactly. I’ll be there in a bit.”

The line went dead, he stared at the blank screen of his phone before flopping onto his back. Why you’d be so open with him of all people when he saw just how uneasy around his other classmates, he didn’t know. The list of people he thought were more deserving of your trust was almost unending, and he wasn’t even close to the top of it. One thought brought forward another, each one getting progressively more deprecative, and the sloppily sewn patch over his self-doubt started to tear, ripped off its poorly embedded stitches. He was confident in himself, until he joined class 1-A that is. He just felt… there compared to his peers. His body was nothing to laugh at, but his build was still considerably lean compared to the people he was around. The fact that such a talented, hardworking person had taken interest in him was frankly baffling. He wasn’t as flashy as Todoroki, or as powerful as Bakugo, or as brainy as Midoriya. He was just him. Lackluster, average him. It only added insult to injury when he’d witnessed how they looked at you. They pined for you, and he couldn’t blame them. He craved you too. But god, the nagging thought that you were wasting your time hanging around someone like him, that he was stealing you away from people who were (in his opinion) glaringly more worthy of cherishing you than him, it just wouldn’t go away. You had so many stronger, smarter, better options out there that he couldn’t help but be reminded of how lacking– inadequate he was compared to seemingly everyone else. And yet you chose to get close to him. In a superhuman class full to the brim with prodigies and workaholics, you picked him. It didn’t make the slightest bit of sense.

He was fished into reality and away from his sea of self-doubt when he heard three consecutive knocks on his door. Just how long had he laid there, wallowing?

The door creaked open and you were greeted with the glorious sight of Kaminari in a Pikachu onesie, a ruffled (adorable) tuft of electric, blonde hair peeking out from under the hood. You snorted.

“Nice pj’s,”

Denki blinked, looking down only to realize that he hadn’t changed out of his onesie because of his overthinking session. An embarrassed chuckle escaped him as he scratched at the side of his cheek, a lopsided smile and a cherry tint creeping up his complexion.

“What can I say, I always have to be on brand.”

You loved that about him. He seemed so laid-back, uncaring, willing to roll with whatever punches were thrown at him, playing off jocular comments and rude insults alike with practiced ease. Giggling past him, you situated on his bed, ready to forget about your nightmares and just have fun with your friend. And if Denki was a genius at anything, it was having fun.

Hours flew by at the pace of minutes, it was now six in the morning, the sun had begun to show its yellow glow and you’d spent the entirety of dawn kicking Kaminari’s butt at Mario kart, sharing laughs and fleeting touches. He liked this, you liked this. Despite knowing that he wasn’t by any means the best suitor for you, he couldn’t halt the need to monopolize you. How could he, when your very presence (unbeknownst to you) shoved his insecurities unceremoniously into the backseat in favor of enjoying the moment with you? He hadn’t a clue how you did it, but you always managed to shoo away his doubts just by being there, and he selfishly couldn’t (and wouldn’t) let go of that. You immersed him in riveting ventures of the now, miles and acres away from his overbearing thoughts. All without even trying, without even knowing it.

It was the weekend (thank fuck) and sleeping in sounded like heaven on earth right now. If it weren’t for your nightmares. The fear of recounting those horrid memories in horrific detail again barred your eyes from sleep, regardless of how spent you were. Apparently, Denki’s spidey-friendship senses kicked in again, because he immediately noticed the apprehension on your face, the stiffness in your movements as you were preparing to leave. He knew exactly what was up with you, and he couldn’t let you leave like that, it would eat him up for days. He grabbed your wrist as you turned for the door.

“Do you wanna stay?”

Maybe it was your exhausted mind finally turning into mush, or maybe it was the softness in his voice, the docile concern in his eyes that made you agree on staying. Your compliance surprised you both, honestly. You were both very aware that you wouldn’t have accepted the offer had it been anyone else. But in retrospect it seemed rational. After all, throughout the whole night, not once did you think back to the horrors that would visit you in your sleep, not once did you feel the crippling anxiety clawing at the frayed edges of your psyche. Instead you felt secure, sound. Safe. And you came to an epiphany. Maybe it wasn’t the idea of sleep that scared you, maybe it was the impending loneliness, isolation and uncertainty that you’d often experience without him.

“Yes,”

You laid there, facing each other, a considerable distance between you. No words exchanged, yet you could tell there was a lot on his mind. He decided to voice it all in one question. He knew you were smart enough to catch the underlying self-doubt in his vaguely worded inquiry. Whether you pointed it out or not was entirely up to you, however.

“Why did you say yes to me?”

The articulation caught you off guard, you’d never seen him so… unsure before. Your mind raced with the different possible implications behind his wording, though you decided to quell them all with one single sentence. You smiled, soft and lazy, moving closer to seek out some of his warmth.

“You make me feel safe, Denki.”

And he really did. Even though you came to the revelation mere minutes ago, you accepted it swimmingly, it felt right to do so. It startled you how ready you were to embrace the newfound feelings, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Kaminari was stunned, to say the least. He hadn’t expected that response from you and he honestly still couldn’t rationalize it completely either. But for now, the budding feeling in his heart trumped over his ever-present uncertainty, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

[sept-dix]

first snow (heeseung)

summary: you make a promise to confess to heeseung on the day of the first snowfall warnings: slight slight angst at certain parts (๑ ˊ͈ ᐞ ˋ͈ )ƅ̋ wc: 2.2k a/n: for holiday hearts; this turned out to be a little longer than i intended but i’m not mad about it ʕ·ᴥ·ʔ (belated) merry christmas and an (early) happy new year to everyone! <3

❄️❄️❄️

“on the day of the first snowfall, we confess. okay?”

jake’s eyes are wide open as he looks at you, his hand gripping your arm tightly from where he is sitting beside you on your bedroom floor. he’s serious about this, you can tell, but you can’t help but sigh at his proposition.

“jake, are you sure about this? it could literally snow tomorrow. would you be able to confess tomorrow?”

“yes! i would! and you should too! what’s stopping you?”

well. what’s stopping you is the thought of your best friend hearing your confession and then looking at you like you’re crazy. that’s how it always goes down in your imagination—you confess, heeseung freezes, and then he looks at you like you’re insane before turning you down gently.

you always picture him to have a slight look of pity in his eyes when he hears your confession—a look that says i wish i liked you too, but i don’t. that look from your imagination is what’s stopping you.

one day you’re going to turn around and dropkick the infuriating little voice in your head that always comes up with the worst possible scenarios for you in any given situation.

“it’s okay, y/n. it’ll turn out just fine, trust me.” jake says, as if reading your mind.

and as much as you fear the possibility of rejection, it’s even harder to live everyday wondering what could be if only you were that much braver.

“fine. but only if you confess to her first. text me that you’ve confessed, and then i’ll do it.”

“deal!” jake’s entire face lights up as you give in. “besides, they say if you confess on the day of the first snow, the two of you will stay together for a long, long time.”

❄️❄️❄️

you spend majority of the next week making sure that you’re always in view of a window, eyes anxiously looking out at even the slightest hints of movement outside in case it’s a snowflake falling. you spend the rest of the time with your eyes trained on your phone, afraid that somehow snow had fallen and you hadn’t noticed and jake had texted you that he had confessed to his crush and you would be up next.

luckily for you, neither of those things happen.

in fact, the only notification you get on your phone is a text from heeseung himself.

just stole my brother’s netflix account. wanna come watch smth?

hanging out with heeseung on his couch, his feet on your lap as you give him the stinky eye for having his stinky feet so close to your nose, both of you laughing at the low-budget horror film that’s playing on the tv—none of this feels new to you.

actually, it’s the farthest thing from new. the both of you have been best friends for years now, and you like to think you know almost everything there is to know about him by now. spending time with heeseung feels like the easiest thing to do.

“is there something on my face?” heeseung asks, launching a popcorn at your head. “why are you staring at me like that?”

but of course, nothing is actually easy when your best friend is oblivious and you like him and you don’t know when it’s going to start snowing or what you’re going to say once it does.

“i’m not,” you reply, although you quite obviously are.

you push his feet off of your lap as he aims another popcorn at you. “get your stinky feet off my lap, for god’s sake.”

“hey, hey, don’t bring god into this.” he sits upright and scoots next to you on the couch. the both of you turn your attention back to the film before he speaks again, his eyes not leaving the screen.

“anyway, what are you doing on christmas eve?”

“nothing much. dinner with my family, i think. what about you?”

heeseung takes a moment to answer, his eyes trained on the television so closely that for a second, you think he hasn’t heard your reply and is actually back to watching the film.

in that same second you also wonder if maybe he’ll ask you to spend the evening with him instead, but you stuff that thought back where it came from before you start forming any real hope.

“yeah, i think i’m spending it with my family, too.” he finally answers, and as if on cue, the girl from the horror movie lets out a horrifying scream.

❄️❄️❄️

jake sends you a screenshot of the weather report the next week. it reads: first snow of the season expected to fall today. total snow accumulation predicted to be 2 to 5 inches.

“prepare your confession speech,” he texts you. “we have to do it today.”

somewhere in the back of your mind you wonder why jake is being so dramatic about all of this. if he was so ready to confess, he could just do it now instead of waiting for snowfall. or maybe he just really believed in that “if you confess on the day of the first snow you’ll last longer” theory.

either way, The Confession was fast approaching and you have yet to come up with a concrete plan about how you’re going to confess. you have been actively trying to avoid thinking about it for the sole reason that every time you do, that nasty voice in the back of your head begins pushing you down a spiral of anxiety. but not thinking about it is just making you nervous in its own way.

so naturally, to take your mind off heeseung, you text heeseung.

twenty minutes later he’s on your chair, aimlessly rolling around your room as you lie on your bed.

“what do you wanna do?”

“i don’t know, anything. i’m so bored.”

“me too. my brother changed his netflix password so i can’t use his account anymore.”

you chuckle, turning your head to face him. he looks absolutely breathtaking in his hoodie, the soft pink hue of the fabric a charming contrast against the rich colour of his skin.

“let’s come up with new year’s resolutions for the new year.” you reply. it’s a conversation the two of you have together almost every year-end, and you want to know what is on heeseung’s mind this time.

“hm… okay, the first one for me is to exercise regularly. i’m gonna be swole this time next year.”

you snort. “isn’t that what you said last year?”

heeseung can’t help but laugh at that, but his tone is indignant as he replies. “this time it’s for real!!!”

“fine, fine, what’s your next one?”

“next one… would be to learn how to play the guitar?”

you nod at this-unfortunately you can’t bring yourself to tease a music prodigy about his love for music.

“that’s nice. you’ll have to play for me once you learn.”

you stare up at the ceiling, wondering what your new year’s resolution should be. you wonder vaguely if heeseung will still be by your side to have this same conversation with you next year.

“actually, i have one last one,” heeseung says, rolling over languidly to your table to fiddle with the stationery you have strewn all over the tabletop. “i’m going to confess to my crush next year.”

you freeze. his crush?

“you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” heeseung says, giggling softly at the expression on your face. “what’s so shocking about that?”

“your crush? you never told me you had someone you liked,” you say, unable to keep the tone of surprise and slight betrayal out of your voice.

this changes everything, doesn’t it? if heeseung has someone he likes, you can’t just confess knowing that he definitely does not return your feelings. your mind is going a mile per minute, and all you can do is sit and stare at heeseung, who looks as gorgeous as always as he doodles absentmindedly on your notebook.

“i do,” he replies quietly, a small smile on his face as he looks up at you. wow, he must really like whoever it is if just the mention of them makes him smile like this. “you know this person, too!”

great.

“who…—” but before you can finish your question, heeseung suddenly gasps as his eyes widen almost comically, peering out of the window that is directly above your desk.

“y/n! look!” heeseung says, parting the curtains fully and gesturing you to come over. “it’s snowing!!!”

oh my god. it’s like the snow gods are laughing at you.

you make your way over and watch with your mouth open as the snowflakes twirl and fall, softly piling up upon one another on the concrete pavement. it isn’t heavy, and the snow on the ground is quickly melting, but there’s no denying that it is, in fact, snowing. the one damn time the weather forecast is right and it’s for this.

“it really is snowing,” you mumble, leaning closer out the window to get a better look.

“this is so pretty! do you think we’ll get a white christmas this year?” heeseung presses up against the window right beside you, turning to look at you with an expectant look in his eyes. lee heeseung, whose eyes sparkle at the mere thought of it snowing on the most festive day of the year. your heart squeezes painfully in your chest.

honestly, you think to yourself. just because he likes someone else doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to tell him what you feel, right? you don’t expect anything back from him, you could just follow through on your promise with jake and get it off your chest and continue with life as per normal. heeseung wouldn’t be weird about it-he’s heeseung.

“y/n?” heeseung asks, waving an unsure hand in front of you. “is everything okay?”

there’s a confused smile on his face, and his warm brown eyes look concerned as they search yours.

“heeseung, i think i have something to tell you.”

“suddenly?” his brows furrow in confusion. “you can tell me anything, you know. what is it?”

“i know you just said there’s someone else you like, and i know this seems like it’s out of the blue, but i have someone i really like too.”

heeseung’s eyes widen just a fraction, but he maintains his expression. “what? who is it?”

you take an unsteady breath. there’s no turning back now.

“it’s you, heeseung.”

“…it’s me?”

“you don’t have to say anything. i know you already like someone else, i’m just confessing because i made a pact with jake. we can just forget what i said and move o—”

“a pact with jake???” heeseung looks confused, his mind racing to keep up with your words.

“yeah, we had a promise. it’s nothing big, actually, it was something about the snow and. never mind, i shouldn’t ha—”

you cut yourself off when you suddenly feel heeseung’s hands on either side of your face. his hands are warm, slightly rough because it’s the winter and he never uses hand cream even when you tell him too.

“you don’t get to confess and then just move on like that,” he says, his face a mere few inches away from yours as he turns to face you.

“aren’t you going to ask me who the person i like is?” he asks, and your mind goes blank. what does it matter who he likes now? when you’ve just confessed to him?

he sighs slightly at your silence. “i thought i was being fairly obvious. it’s you, y/n. i was going to confess to you in the new year.” he smiles unsteadily as he says this, eyes sparkling the same way it did at the mention of a white christmas earlier. “now stop looking so upset, i just told you i like you, too.”

he pats your cheek playfully as his smile widens, watching in amusement at the shock on your face.

you had come up with a hundred different ways in which this could have ended, but none of your scenarios ever looked like this. suddenly the heat from his hands on the sides of your face feels a bit too warm.

“really? are you sure?”

“of course i’m sure, y/n! why wouldn’t i be sure?” he asks with a soft chuckle. “i’ve felt this way for the longest time now.”

for the longest time now. your stomach does a funny flip at the words, your heart stuttering as the reality of the situation dawns upon you.

you confessed and lee heeseung confessed right back. lee heeseung likes you and he says he’s sure about it.

everything’s falling into place, just like the soft, white flakes finding a home on the broad, sturdy branches of the oak tree outside.

maybe jake is right-something about the first snow really does feel magical.

(the moment is broken by the violent buzzing of your phone from where it is on your bed.

jake: y/n look out it’s snowing!!!

jake: it’s time!!!

jake: wait actually i’m not sure about this

jake: i don’t even know where she is right now

jake: i’m scared. this is scarier than i thought

jake:

jake: y/n are u there???)

[yanderemommabean]

A really dumb comfort scenario by Mommabean

Dabi x Reader fluff stuff

Dabi never used to see himself as a night owl. Standing out as the skies turn from a pleasant purple to a dark shade of black speckled with bright stars wasn’t something he saw himself enjoying, not until a few months ago when fate decided he needed to meet someone worth staying out late with.

Usually he prefers to just stay inside and do his own thing, be that scrolling through memes or simply just listening to music while he turns the lights off and drifts into his mind for a few hours. On rare occasions he’ll spend time with friends, but it drains him considerably and he has to recharge his battery afterwards.

It doesn’t mean he hates them, he’s just not a person with a lot of energy, but he knows people take it personally. Which can’t really be helped as he isn’t the best with words on explaining why he does what he does, honestly he doesn’t even know.

Typically his weeks goes like this - working with assholes who act like siblings rather than coworkers, then wanting to unwind as soon as he gets home because if he doesn’t he’ll snap or possibly have a mental break. Which probably already happened considering where he is now, but another break isn’t something to want to happen either.

But Dabi was forced out one night a few months back by Toga, who he can’t say no to often as she’s like a little sister and he adores her as such, and was dragged practically to a restaurant for drinks and food as a way to celebrate their hard work. Even Shigaraki got a stick out of his ass for a hangout, so he supposed he could suck it up for their sake.

Leave it to his soft heart to make him torture his own antisocial ass. However, this time he was seemingly gifted, as he heard laughter from across the room and saw you, giggling and almost snorting as you covered your face at the ridiculous joke a friend made. You looked absolutely precious, for lack of a better word. Not a care in the world as you laughed and giggled so hard you lost your breath.

He was drawn to the brightness you added to the dull restaurant, vaguely paying attention to the conversation his own group was having as you peaked his interest. Dabi figures he was being too obvious with his staring, as you looked over and met his gaze directly, but instead of flipping him off and acting like a full Karen, you waved and gave a shy smile.

That kinda hurt to not see that pretty smile. You’ve hidden it the entire time he’s been watching you, as if you hated it. Well, he’s got a plan for that, just you wait. He’ll get you to smile for him, just give him time. He remembers how he managed to greet you, both of you talking and surprisingly having a lot in common.

A total mindfuck to find out an adorable, fluffy person like you was into murder documentaries, scary stories, horror films, and loved to study obscure and odd mysteries. Color him pleasantly surprised. You two kept chatting away after the awkward ice was broken, to the point your friends were getting a bit pissy and telling you to hurry up to leave.

Fuck ‘em. He didn’t like them then and he doesn’t like them now. Out of spite he wanted to ask you for a drink so he could drag out the conversation longer, but he didn’t need to make a bad impression or make Shigaraki think he was pulling something. Which again, was fair, he was known for pulling some stupid shit every now and again.

Months. It’s been months and he hasn’t gotten tired of meeting you and being around you. You’ve had your arguments sure, had your moments where you and him were a bit tense, but that didn’t deter anything. Hell, you two have nicknames for one another now, and he allows you to play with his hair every now and again. He doesn’t let anyone get that close except Toga, you should be a little honored. Nothing is ever getting rid of him if you two are this close already.

It’s still baffling. Months! And all this time, you still hid that pretty smile. The very thing that drew him too you in the first place. What do you have to be ashamed of? Besides your search history, absolutely nothing! Dabi sighs as he sits on the steps outside of his apartment, looking up to the night sky, waiting for you to answer on if you wanted to hangout or not. Either way he began to enjoy this new sight, this addition to his schedule was something he looked forward to more than his late night music sessions.

He was about to text you again, thumb hovering over the keyboard as he thought of what to say, but three dots appear and he decides to wait and see. You, being the sweetheart you are, tell him to wait and that you’ll meet him in ten. A warm feeling fills his chest again knowing you’d be here. It’s been happening a lot lately actually, and he’s not an idiot. He knows he likes you, he’s just never liked someone to this extent. Should he be embarrassed? Excited? Happy? Who the hell knows. All he knows is he would do anything for you, and his feelings towards you are only growing.

Dabi flicks his phone off after a minute and looks around, waiting for you to show up. While scanning the area, he heard frantic steps coming up the sidewalk that were approaching fast, in a panic. He jumps up to his feet to see who could be running his way, more curious than in the mood to save someone.

However, seeing you with tears running down your face wasn’t at all what he expected. He felt rage and worry surge through him, an almost animal like possessiveness took over him and the idea that something happened makes him sick with anger. His body moves without him thinking, his arms wrapping around you and holding you tightly, listening to your shaking sobs as you cling to him and begin to apologize.

“Hey- hey what happened?!” He asked sternly, sounding more pissed than worried, cringing slightly at his tone. Smart move asshole, make them feel even worse. Genius.

You stutter and begin to try and talk, but your throat is tight and your eyes are still pouring like waterfalls. You shake your head and clench your eyes shut again, burying your face into his chest as your knuckles turn white from gripping his sleeves for dear life. Dabi tensed, breath hitching as you hugged him tightly and began to shudder and weep into him.

Hands gently rub your back as he slowly walks with you, guiding you to the steps he was just at to help you sit down and get yourself together. “Who’s ass do I need to kick?”.

You giggle at that, wiping your eyes as you shake your head playfully “No ones Dabi...I’ve just been feeling super fucking depressed and stressed out because of work and I feel I have no time for myself anymore and...well I just needed to be with someone who understands”.

He was touched that you saw him as someone you could come too. Seriously have you seen him? He’s the worlds most selfish asshole! He can’t even trust himself half the time, especially when it comes to bothering people and pulling pranks. You might wanna reconsider who you’re trusting there.

Although hearing no one hurt you was calming, he was still worried for your wellbeing.

“I get it. I mean I’m not the best with comforting but I understand what you mean. It’s frustrating as hell not even having time to rest, and then having to head back to work for nine hours or more over and over...it ain’t easy”. He rubs the back of his neck as he speaks, already feeling the anxiety over his schedule for tomorrow.

Sniffling softly, you nod and scoot closer to him, his warmth soothing and comforting compared to the chilling winds of the night. “Yeah. And it doesn’t stop for decades. I’ll never have free time again or I’ll always feel tired and drained and I hate it”.

Now that’s not necessarily true, but he knows where you’re coming from. Every day lately seems like such a struggle, he knows it all too well. It was clear you needed more than to vent and rant, and he has just the thing to help the mood. “It’s not all that monotonous. I think you’re just overwhelmed and need a break. Wanna come in? I think we both need a drink and a few laughs”.

You fiddle with your hands a bit, looking down at your feet with lips pursed in thought. “I can stay the night?”. What kind of question is that? Seriously what kind of question?! You literally just cried into his shirt no problem, now you’re worried about personal space? “Dude, you really have to ask? Stay a fucking week if you want, just get your ass inside before I drag you in” he jokes.

You look away as you smile, standing up and dusting off your legs before heading into his apartment behind him. Maybe tonight he’ll get you to stop hiding that smile, to bring those walls down even more and let him show how amazing you are in his eyes. Just maybe.

((This was bad I know I know I just needed a way to vent -Mommabean))

[91percentpynch]

the cut that always bleeds - kevaaron au pt 3

kejerejean stans? this one is for you. no seriously this one is out of jean‘s point of view? cuz honestly i love that hoe so much. as always get your tissues ready guys. this is actually kinda long? and a mess? and no one beta read it so if there are mistakes or it doesn‘t make sense i‘m sorry!! this is not that sad? tw: mention of murder, mention of physically hurting someone, mention of stabbing, mention of the nest, mention of trauma

check this out to find the other parts:)

Jean has always been a light sleeper. He had to be in order to survive the horrors of Evermore.

So naturally the sobs - as silent as they might have been - woke him up. His eyes opened at once, he sat straight up. Almost automatically he got to his feet and left the room to get to Kevin.

After all, comforting Kevin was like breathing to him.

Jeremy followed Jean, because he would always follow Jean. Jeremy was like a moth and Jean was the light. Wherever he went Jer would follow.

So they went to Kevin‘s room. The striker laid in his bed, curled up, phone in his hand, uncontrollable sobs escaping his mouth.

„I see you took the call this time“, Jean said, surprisingly gentle.

„I wanted to end it. I wanted to have a clear cut. So tell me, why does the cut still bleed?“, Kevin whispered, his voice barely audible.

„Because it‘s a cut that always bleeds“, Jeremy told Kevin as he came closer, carefully and ever so gentle placing his hands on the other boy‘s back.

„He said he wants me to come back to him“, Kevin whispered while holding onto himself as if to try to stop himself from falling apart. „He told me he misses me. That he only gets high when he misses me“

It was quiet in the dark room, shadows were dancing, just as Aaron and Kevin used to dance in the dead of night underneath the night sky.

„You did the right thing Kev“, Jean replied in French while he got into the Bed behind Kevin. Just like they used to do in the Nest.

When Kevin was in his arms he began to hum a French lullaby into his ear.

Jeremy joined them after a second of admiring his beautiful boyfriend and the broken boy in his arms.

„Dude, do you want something? Hot coca? A special Knoxian hug? Us to get Andrew to gut that bastard? Wait, hold on. I forgot. Twin brother. Well, I can gut him for you? Andrew and this is a word by word quote told be once ‚You‘re like a little unicorn in a world full of wolfs with razor sharp teeths, learn to gut the wolfs, stay safe‘, so he taught me how to stab someone? Yeah okay that is not the topic right now, I can still gut Aaron though. I mean Andrew would try to hurt me, but then again I‘m his best friend so he does not have the rights to gut me, right?“, Jeremy offered him a toothy grin, while his hand wandred to his neck rubbing it nervously.

„Can you please not gut him? First of all: Andrew already tried to choke me once when Josten was in danger and I told them where he was, cause apparently yOu DoN‘t KeEp ThOsE tHiNgS tO yOuRsElF yOu FuCkInG mOrOn. I think you do keep those things to yourself if the other option is to get fucking murdered by the mafia??? But what do I know, am I right? After all I‘m just a narcistic, Exy-obsessed asshole without a personality. Bonus I have anxiety, panic attacks, probably depression and I‘m unlovable“, Kevin mumbled into his pillow, the voices of the other foxes, of the other teams inside of his head.

„Did they tell you that?“, Jeremy asked, not quite able to hide the sadness and pain in his voice.

„Doesn‘t eveyone think that?“, Kevin asked. „I mean I think they tend to forget that the woman who gave birth to me, the last woman who geniuely loved me besides maybe Abby, invented the job. I think they tend to forget that the fucking mafia killed her when they found out I‘m not theirs by nature, so the only solution was apparently fucking murder. Then they kidnapped me, brainwashed and tortured me to the point where all I knew was Exy. Oh and maybe they also tend to forget that Ravens were only ever allowed to do Exy, if you were privilegded enough sleep, and do more Exy“

„Kevin you are so much more than that“, Jean whispered into Kevin‘s ear while pressing him against his chest. Just as they used to do in the Nest. „I might be mad at you, because you left me alone with those psychopaths. I used to think you didn‘t care about me. But you were just like me, okay with less scars and less you know. However I cannot say I wouldn‘t have done the same. I understand you now, Kevin. And please, please stop saying those things. And now let us cuddle you and let Jer go through his ridiculous post break-up list. We‘re gonna cuddle you and all you have to do is trying to fall asleep. Used to help me when I was alone at USC. Could only sleep properly when someone held me. Well, Jeremy. Tomorrow we‘ll shove unhealthy food down your throat and watch Downton Abbey or whatever those historcial dramas you love so much are called. While stroking your hand or whatever you‘re into big boy. Afterwards we‘ll take the dogs out and force you to watch the fucking sunset. And I‘ll hold your fucking hand“

Kevin supposed the middle of the night was the time of long lost truths. „Okay“, he mumbled while he moved closer to Jean. Replacing his smell with Jean‘s. It took him a while to fall asleep but he managed.

At the same time Jeremy said „Mi amor, I love you, I really do, but that was literally the most romantic thing you said in the past two years? That is way more romantic than ANY date you ever planned for me? Rude? The audacity?“

„Moi soleil, you don‘t have the ‚cult kidnapped me and tortured me‘ card you can pull, you get the bonus treatmeant of any other people. Besides I literally have matching tattoos with you? I drew you like multiply times? I wrote like a dozen poems and at LEAST one short story? I wrote you a fucking lullaby? You have no right to complain right now, or you‘ll loose your kissing privileges and I give them to Kevin“

„Eww gross“, Kevin mumbled.

„I don‘t remeber you saying that back in the Nest“, Jean replied, poking his cheek.

Kevin didn‘t have the energy to answer. It was a long day. Sleep could have him for the day. Death’s little sister might claim him for the night.

This night he dreamed about Aaron. Strong arms around his waist. Golden eyes locking with smaragd ones. They were on some lonely beach, kissing lazily while the water kissed their feet. It was a beautiful day. Not as beautiful as Aaron, but then again nothing would ever be as beautiful as this specific piece of art. Everything was alright. Everything was good. Why couldn‘t it be the real Aaron and the real Kevin on that beach.

At about noon Kevin woke up to a drooling Jeremy on his stomach and the smell of waffles and soft French swearing in the kitchen. Softly Kevin woke Jeremy up.

„Sorry I always end up on weird angles and drooling on random guys. Jean used to get so mad when I fell asleep in his lap. But you can‘t take him serious when he looks with you with heart eyes trying to be Mad, can you? Anyways we should probably go to him and help him? Oh wait hold on a hot second there. I‘m banned from the kitche, so we can sleep? Right? Right?“

„I hate to break this to you Jer, but it‘s noon. So, no we cannot sleep. You can choose my clothes, though. I know you love going through my stuff and playing dress the doll, Kevin Day edition“, Kevin almost smiled at Jeremy, when he looked up at him pouting.

Then he remembered another blonde boy, pouting at him when he told him no. Another constellation of freckles around another, straight, perfect nose. Sinful lips softly turned up, trying to look mad. Hazel eyes instead of ocean blue ones. Messy blonde curles, instead of soft badly dyed ginger ones. Strong arms instead of lean ones covered in flower tattoos. God, Kevin missed his Aaron.

No, not his. Not anymore

„Okay, but you have to wear to fab outfit I‘ll throw in your face“, Jeremy gave him another easy, toothy grin.

Slowly the other boy got out of bed and went over to the cabet. Slowly Jer went through Kevin‘s cloths. After a while he slowly turned around, holding a jersey that is obviously by far too small for Kevin in front of his face. „What is that? Why do you still have his jersey? Babe, you gotta get rid of that, rather sooner than later“

Jeremy had the weird habit of calling his friends babe, baby, dude or bro. Before Jean he called his boyfriends bro or dude as well, but Jean was so confused by it he quickly stopped doing it.

„First of all: I‘m a weak ass bitch, it smelled of it. And secondly maybe I wanna stab it once I‘m over the phase where I‘m like madly missing him?. I‘d just put it into a pillow, stab at it like a maniac and then set it on fire. I didn‘t grow up with a psychopath as my supposed best friend for nothing Jer“

„Okay? Well I got your clothes. And you‘ll look amazing, cause it‘s the FOX ONSIE I GOT YOU!!! I‘ll wear my onsie as well, and I‘ll force Jean to wear his one as well!! Much fun!! Much wholesome!!“

So that‘s how Kevin Day, queen of Exy, landed sandwiched between his childhood crush and long life crush on their couch, watching Downton Abbey with a plate of waffles on his lap. This was nice. He might had actually enjoyed it, if this wasn‘t his and Aaron‘s show. They used to watch it, cry over it together, make out while watching it.

Thank God didn‘t actually touch him while watching Downton Abbey, he was good at daydreaming. Kevin would just had preteneded that it was Aaron and he thought him breathing Aaron‘s name was the last thing any of them needed today.

After their Downton Abbey marathon they ordered pizza, against Kevin‘s better judgement. Another traditon Kevin shared with Aaron. At finals Aaron would often forget to eat and Kevin was too big of a mess to be bothered to cook so he would end up ordering something every single day and feeding it Aaron while he studied on the floor. Occasionally he would earn a soft kiss, growing hungrier when the night grew darker. God Kevin missed the soft lips on his own.

Kevin would have enjoyed the beach, wouldn‘t he be dressed in a fox onsie, holding hands with a 6“5 guy who looked like he both could and would kill you in a unicorn onsie holding two tiny dogs in his other hand and with a 5“4 dude in a matching unicorn onsie with two dogs that were almost bigger than him.

At least this didn‘t remind him on Aaron.

Well, actually. The way the ocean softly kissed the sand, reminded him of his dream. And of the endless trips to the beach, sleeping in the car, Aaron on top of him. Lazy kisses and warm hugs. It was the first place Aaron took Kevin after their rehab. It was the first night they spent together, as sober men. Well, not sober per se. But drunk and high on each others love. It might had been the most painful memory of the day. God he missed those strong arms around his waist.

Nontheless the pain got less, he felt almost numb. Kevin liked feeling numb. Nothing hurt when you feel numb.

The sunset was beautiful. It reminded him of golden hairs, freckles standing against golden skin, soft lips at his ears, his neck, the corner of his lips.

„Aaron you‘re supposed to look at the sunset, you shithead“, Kevin used to smile down at him. „But I‘m already looking at the most beautfiul thing this world has to offer“, Aaron replied smoothly, locking eyes with Kevin.

When the moon took the place of his long lost lover they decided to go back.

It was safe to say that no one dared to think that someone would wait for them there. Especially not the one person they tried to avoid by all means the entire day.

„You said to stop calling. Never mentioned face to face conversations“, a husky voice said. And Kevin‘s world stopped.

[poisonedapples]

Lasting Impressions - Chapter One: Three Hours Before

Summary: Virgil makes a good friend at the weirdest time of day; four in the morning, where everyone and their dog is fast asleep. However, deciding to befriend that person ends up getting him into a lot more trouble than he could ever suspect. His new friend ended up going missing that same night. And Virgil was the last person to see him alive.

Chapter Warnings: Kidnapping, missing people, nightmares and anxiety, mentions of death, mentions of murder (regarding Disney characters), blood, mentions of drunkenness/alcohol, and swearing

Pairings: Familial Royality, platonic Prinxiety that still flirt with each other in this chapter

Word Count: 4,307

Notes: Heed the warnings, as this story (although not mentioned a lot in this chapter) will contain missing people, kidnapping, and its fair share of violence as we go along the story. Always read chapter triggers before you dive in, and if there’s a chapter or scene you can’t read, you can always DM me for a less graphic or trigger free version of it.

It was 3:51 AM when Virgil felt himself jolt awake in a cold sweat.

He frantically turned his bedside table lamp on, ignoring the pain of the blinding light on his adjusting eyes. It wasn’t often he got nightmares anymore, but God when he did, they were horrible. He could always barely remember what it was about; something with not being able to scream and a weird creature chasing him, but nothing more than that. Instead he was left to shake in his bed and attempt to breathe in for four seconds.

In for four...hold for seven- fuck, wait-...four...hold for seven…come on! In for four...sev- Are you fucking kidding me!?

Virgil jumped out of bed, ignoring the weakness in his legs and shakiness of his arms and threw on his hoodie and a pair of jeans. He only bothered with putting on a sports bra, instead of trying to breathe in his binder, then stuffed his phone in his pocket and walked out his bedroom door. He was careful not to slam it to not alert his roommate Elliott, instead quietly scooting himself to the front door of their apartment. Despite his haste, he double checked to make sure he locked the door before going down the apartment steps. Like always, Elliott would be none the wiser.

Virgil walked out to the front of the apartments and took a left down the block. His body was still shaking, but the fresh air always helped.

It’s fine. You’re fine.

...It’s gonna be another one of these days, isn’t it?

Virgil sighed. Anxiety was always the worst. Sometimes, all it took was for you to wake up in a certain mood and hope it was gone by the next day. He’d certainly gotten better over the years when it came to nightmares and having to run away at terrible times in the night, but disorders never completely went away. Not that he’d heard of, at least.

The air had a different feeling to it outside. Fall was cooling the atmosphere and giving Virgil a kind of contentment he could only reach in this time of year. Halloween decorations had filled store shelves before September ended, though none of those stores were open at this time in the early morning. Instead, Virgil walked down the street and occupied himself with looking at street lights and the occasional car passing by.

The very, very occasional car.

Virgil plucked his earbuds out of his hoodie pocket and plugged them into his phone, putting a random playlist on scramble to drown out the eerie silence. Everything was so quiet at this time. Usually in the city, the streets would be so noisy Virgil was more at risk of a sensory overload than being this kind of uneasy. In a way, walking alone in the dark was the worst way to recover from a nightmare, no matter how many times it became his solution. He felt watched.

...Shut up, no, don’t think like that. No panic attacks for you. Not in the middle of the damn street.

Virgil pressed his earbuds deeper into his ears, as if that could muffle his thoughts the same way it damaged his hearing.

At least the air was a nice change of pace. Fresh air always helped him when he felt like he couldn’t breathe, and now the chills in his body could be explained with a different reason. Even if it really wasn’t that cold outside.

Virgil felt the cold bring a sudden wind to the back of his feet. He almost jumped three feet in the air as his mind raced with thoughts of someone’s chasing you, but as he looked around, no one was there. 

He saw something move in the corner of his eye and jumped again. 

Virgil kept deathly still, like any sudden movement would bring this mysterious shadow to kill him. The only thing keeping him sane was the emo music blasting through his earbuds, the rest looking like something out of one of his horror movies.

He saw something in the corner of his eye again, shooting to look at the black blob right next to his foot. He took a sudden, sharp breath to stop himself from screaming such a sketchy time of night and darted his head around to find the source.

Underneath Virgil’s feet was a very offended looking squirrel. Before he could smack himself in the face for being an idiot, the creature scurried away and disappeared in a dark alleyway.

Virgil rubbed at his eyes. Jesus, he thought, I’m really on edge. It’s just a damn squirrel.

Still, Virgil turned around and walked faster until the alleyway was out of his sight. He sighed and attempted to calm himself down a little, but his chest still felt ready to burst from all the fear. He breathed in deeply, then out again.

His hands still shook, but it was okay.

Everything is alright.

He paused his speed walk long enough to continue his breathing patterns. He focused on the feeling of nighttime air instead of the what-ifs. He looked up to gaze at the dim stars, barely visible from so much light pollution, but still a soothing presence. With each time he counted a second of breathing in, he counted another star in the sky. The sight of twinkling lights with a bright moon in the sky was more than calming. It reminded him of the nights he’d spend on his parents roof, looking up and not bothering to think about what was down on Earth.

Up there, everything was quiet. Peaceful. There was no sound or responsibility. No student loans or nightmares, only emptiness with chunks of rock and gas. The chaos was too far away for you to really be bothered with it, you could watch from afar and be completely safe on your own floating rock. Out there, nothing mattered.

Virgil closed his eyes and took a deep breath in. Everything is quiet. Everything would be okay.

The peacefulness was all that really mattered.

“Why hello, handsome!”

“Fuck!”

Virgil’s whole body jolted like an electric shock when an unexpected hand touched his shoulder. He yanked his earbuds out and turned to his attacker with wide eyes, fully ready to fucking slice the dude.

The idiot only smiled and waved. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you so badly! Are you alright?”

Virgil blinked. “Uh, yeah. I’m fine, thanks.”

Before he could put his earbuds back in, the guy put both his hands on Virgil’s biceps and pulled his arms down. Virgil was fully ready to knock his teeth out and make a run for it, but before he could reel his arm back, he noticed blood and scratches all over the guy’s face.

Virgil did a double take at him long enough for the guy to get his damn hands off of him and smile. “I mean more than you being okay after I scared you. You seem to be quite on edge in general.”

Bitch, why do you care? “Well, it’s the asscrack of night, better be safe than sorry if you don’t wanna get murdered.”

He laughed. “Fair point, fair point. And what are you doing out at a time you call ‘the asscrack of night’, as you so elegantly worded it?”

Virgil raised an eyebrow. “How about it’s none of your business?”

The guy put his hand on his chest in feign offense. “So cruel to me! Here I was, trying to be a humble citizen and help you out, and this is the thanks I get?”

He rolled his eyes. “Get used to disappointment. The only reason I didn’t pummel you is because you look like a wreck.”

The guy put a hand to his face. “Is it the blood?”

“It’s definitely the blood.”

“Ugh, I suppose that’s what I get for trying to have a good time so late in the night! I’ll admit, I’m exhausted and also a little buzzed. So maybe trying to befriend a cat at 3 in the morning wasn’t my greatest idea.”

“It looks like that cat wanted to gut you alive.”

“... I’m not the best with animals.”

Virgil couldn’t help but roll his eyes and laugh. Something about a tipsy guy trying to flirt after being attacked by a cat was hilarious. “You sound like an idiot.”

“Just a little bit! But that’s what’s so endearing about me, I like to imagine.”

“You keep imagining then, Princey.”

The guy seemed to freeze in place. “... Princey?”

Virgil’s eyes widened, awkwardly coughing to try and play himself off as collected. Damnit Virgil, play it off! “Well I don’t know your name, and you sound like a spoiled, dramatic prince, so… You’re Princey now.”

The guy chuckled. Nailed it. “I guess that makes sense, I am very dramatic. But that’s just what makes me wonderful.”

“You tell yourself that.”

Virgil started to walk ahead of Princey, only for him to stumble over his feet to keep his pace with Virgil. At least he wasn’t too drunk, and he certainly didn’t seem harmless. Of course, Virgil hadn’t known him that long, but right now he just seemed like a major dork who wanted to talk to someone.

Relatable, honestly.

The guy kept his pace next to Virgil, though staying a reasonable distance away before standing up proudly and smiling again. “Though if you want to know my real name...it’s Roman. Roman Goldsberry.”

Virgil hummed. “S’up Roman. I’m not telling you my name, though.”

Roman gasped. “Why not!?”

“Because I’m not gonna make it that easy for you to find where I live and murder me.”

Roman shrugged and nodded his head. “Okay, fair. I guess.”

“Maybe if I meet you in a less sketchy place, I’ll consider telling you my name.”

“I suppose I’ll have to call you something else until then. Something that suits you.”

“Oh really? What do you think suits me?” Virgil asked.

“Something dark and brooding, maybe with a dash of paranoia. After all, that hoodie you have is quite the emo aesthetic.”

“You picked up my vibes pretty quickly there, damn.”

“I have many talents! Now, as for something to call you…” Roman seemed to think about it for a long time, “...I think I’ll call you Emo Nightmare!”

Virgil reeled. “...Thank you. Best compliment I’ve ever gotten.”

Roman pouted like a toddler who dropped their candy. “Compliment!? Well now I can’t call you that! If you’re going to be so rude to me, then I should be able to be rude back!”

Virgil smirked, “Really now? Go ahead then, make a nickname that offends me.”

Roman seemed to think about it again, “Gerard Wayward?”

“Clever, but I don’t think you know what wayward means.”

“I’m only warming up! How about Brad Pitiful?”

“That one’s just funny.”

“Count Woelaf!”

“My feelings have yet to be hurt.”

“Surly Temple? JD-lightful? Incredible Sulk?”

“Literally where the fuck are you getting these?”

Roman put his hands on his hips. “I’m good at improv! Oh! What about Henry Ravens-brood?”

Virgil put an offended hand to his chest. “Now that one is mean. Congrats Princey, you just offended me.”

Roman clapped his hands together. “Fantastic! I knew I could- wait...you know Phantom Manor?”

Virgil shrugged. “What can I say, I’m a Disney fan.”

“You? A fan of fairytales and magic? I find that hard to believe based on your everything.”

“You barely even know me dude, don’t give yourself so much credit.” Virgil tried not to smile at Roman’s dramaticized offense. “And that’s way too much of an oversimplification for Disney. I mean seriously, Constance Hatchaway fucking murdered ten of her husbands! Who even marries that many people?”

“I’ll have you know that she had five husbands, not ten! Also that hardly counts, it’s a ride all about ghosts! Of course people have to die!”

“Doesn’t mean she had to hack them to death. They could have toned down the axe murdering part.”

“Please, that’s nothing compared to the scene where Mufasa gets trampled. It’s not like you watch the murder happen, you only see it implied with the paintings and when her bouquet turns into an axe on the ride!”

Virgil smirked. “So you admit that Disney can get dark sometimes.”

Roman scoffed, seemingly at a loss of words. “I never said that!”

“You literally just said that Mufasa’s death scene is really dark.”

“It was a necessary part of the plot! Simba would have grown up to be a selfish king who only cared for power if he didn’t have to save everyone from Scar!”

“Doesn’t change the fact that it’s super dark and not just ‘fairytales and magic’, Princey.”

Roman did an overdramatic, offended gasp as his hand went to his chest once again. Is that the only emotion this dude knows? “I can not believe you! Twisting my words in such a fiendish way!”

“Seriously dude, are you a clown or some shit as your day job? Because the way you act is kind of hilarious.”

The offense dropped from Roman’s face almost immediately, replaced with a soft, yet still prideful smile better fit for this time at night. “I’m going to ignore the clown part and say that actually, I’m an actor for the community theater only a couple blocks from here. That usually tends to explain my behavior to people.”

“Sounds about right, yeah. You any good?” Virgil asked.

“I like to imagine so! In three days from now, I’ll be playing the lead of Fiddler on the Roof for our fall musical! I’m usually too busy to make the bigger shows, but I tried my best to find the time this year.” Roman’s proud smile faltered for a moment into something softer, more sad. Like he was suddenly grieving a lost memory. “...Though I might end up having to miss it after all.”

Virgil tilted his head to the side. “Why’s that?”

Roman shrugged, and for a second, Virgil could see past the dramatics and pride. He looked lonely, almost. “Personal stuff. Since you won’t even tell me your name, I believe I’m inclined to keep that information to myself.”

“You always tease people this much?”

Roman chuckled. “Not usually. But I am exhausted, so maybe I’m a little slap happy.”

Virgil pulled out his phone to look at the time. 4:19 AM. Holy shit. “Yeah, no wonder. It’s late as shit, and I gotta wake up at eleven today.”

“I think maybe you should go home then. I would offer to walk you, but considering you won’t say your name, I doubt you’ll let me know your address.”

“You got that right. You should go home too, before someone kidnaps you.”

Roman stopped suddenly, right below a street light. He turned around to face Virgil with such a sad smile, but Virgil couldn’t tell if that was from exhaustion or not. He looked at Virgil so softly for a long moment in a way that made him feel vulnerable. “Perhaps you’re right, but don’t worry your angsty heart about it, I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, fair.”

“Though, you are making me think, Emo Nightmare.”

Virgil tried his hardest not to blush. “Think about what?”

“Maybe you would like to see the show?” Roman asked, “I won’t be able to participate, but I’d love to hear how it went. And if you like Disney, maybe you can appreciate a classic musical as well.”

Virgil shrugged. “I mean, maybe. What days?”

Roman straightened his maroon polo and brushed nonexistent dirt off one of his sleeves. “If you go to the Sanders Community Theater website, it’ll show you all the details. I would tell you myself, but it’s a lot of information, and I really need to be heading out, sadly.”

Virgil took one last look at Roman. Even with a scratched up face and knuckles, he still looked like the softest person Virgil could ever meet. He was dramatic yet funny, and he didn’t seem to actually want to cause any harm. If anything, he just seemed like a humble idiot who wanted to make a friend late at night. Considering Roman also called him handsome, maybe he wanted a little bit more, but Virgil didn’t really mind. For someone who was tipsy and exhausted at four in the morning, Roman seemed like a good guy.

Maybe he’s not so bad.

“I’ll, uh…” Virgil hesitated, “I’ll be sure to check it out if I can. We all need a break sometimes.”

“We do.” Roman whispered.

“Yeah, so go home and get some sleep. I know you’re tipsy, but don’t get yourself murdered by being out here all night.”

Roman let out a tired sigh, looking behind himself as if to check if he could see his destination from where he stood. “You’re right about that, Jack Skellington. But I have one more pit stop to make, so don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing.”

“If you say so, I guess.”

Roman turned back to Virgil. “Though, if you’re interested...maybe you and I could swap phone numbers? So you can tell me about the show if you see it, and so our destined crossing on a raven black night doesn’t go to waste?”

Virgil snorted. “Raven black night?”

“I’m tired, shush. Let me be my own type of poetic.”

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, I guess.”

Roman took out his phone and pressed a couple buttons before handing it to Virgil. Virgil stared at it before taking it with a smirk. “...Android, huh?”

Roman didn’t just roll his eyes, he rolled his entire head. “Oh, shush and put in the darn number!”

Virgil laughed but did as he was told anyway, putting in his number and saving the contact as Emo Nightmare before handing it back to Roman. 

Roman smiled at the name so fondly Virgil’s heart almost broke. This dude’s gonna be pretty damn disappointed when he finds out my name is fucking Virgil, of all things. “Do you mind if I send you a text to make sure it works?”

“Nope.” Virgil said with a popped p.

Though, instead of sending a random letter or a hello like a normal fucking person, Roman posed under the street light and held his phone up for a selfie. He ran his hands through his hair in a fruitless attempt to fix its messiness but eventually gave up, smiling for the camera and dropping the pose long enough for Virgil to feel his phone buzz in his pocket.

Virgil pulled it out:

Unknown sent a photo

Unknown: Make sure to remember this beautiful face :P

He shook his head with disapproval, but also to hide his smile behind the safety of movement. “Seriously?”

“Don’t you worry Beetlejuice, you’ll get used to it after knowing me for long enough.” Roman tried to flip his hair back, but considering it was way too short to do so, it was a fail. “Though if I don’t respond to any texts you may send these next few days, don’t worry too much about it. I’m going to be awfully busy and won’t have my phone on me.”

“Alright, noted.” Virgil sighed and put his phone in his pocket. “Talk to you later then, Princey?”

“I sure hope so. Though, Brad Pitiful?”

“Pretty sure you already said that one, but yeah?”

“It’s 4:24 AM right now. Don’t forget that number. Considering it’s the time you last saw me, I’m sure it has some kind of luck to it.”

Virgil almost physically facepalmed at that. “You have such an ego.”

“It’s what people love about me!” Roman laughed as he dropped the overexaggerated smile for a second to replace it with seriousness. “Though, I am serious about you seeing the show. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

“Yeah, yeah, I heard you. I’ll look into it at least, promise. Though for now, I’m fucking tired and I gotta go.”

Roman hummed, and without another word, the two turned in opposite directions to head to their next destination. Which for Virgil, was straight to bed until he woke up wondering if all of this was a fever dream. He did hear one last thing be called out to him: “So long, Dark and Stormy Night!”

Virgil didn’t respond, he only waved behind himself and hoped Roman saw it. When he turned the corner and was for sure away from Roman’s sight, he pulled out his phone and went to his contacts.

New contact added: Prince Underarm Stink

Satisfied with himself, Virgil walked the next couple blocks back to his apartment. Once he opened the door, he crashed onto his bed without bothering to change, letting sleep overcome his body as fast as it had woke him up in the first place.

I’ll text him tomorrow morning, he thought, just to test it out. Even if he doesn’t respond.

That was the last thing Virgil thought before he fell right to sleep.

***

It had been three days since the night Virgil met Roman. He’s sent one text every morning since then, but had yet to get a response to any of them. Considering Roman said he would be busy, he wasn’t too worried. If Roman didn’t respond in more than a week, though, he would consider himself ghosted.

Oh well, it was a stretch thinking the cute guy I met at 4 AM would text me back anyway.

On the third morning, Virgil sent a text saying You there yet??? Lol, before packing up his stuff and starting to walk to his classroom campus.

The walk was normal, nothing but other college students bumping into each other on the street and in the hallways until he made it to his classroom, leaning back in his seat and checking his phone.

No text messages, but he did have a couple notifications on Tumblr. Not surprising, but it was still something to occupy himself with.

A few more kids entered the classroom, stopping in the doorway right behind Virgil. “D’you know anything about this?” One of them asked.

“Nope. The guy doesn’t look familiar.” The other said.

“Damn. A ten thousand dollar reward would do wonders for a college loan.”

Virgil slowly lowered his phone back into his pocket at the sound of cash. With this amount of eavesdropping, he felt like a cartoon character with their ear growing five times in size.

“That could pay one year’s worth of a dorm. Ten grand doesn’t do shit for loans anymore.”

“Still dude, that’s ten grand you don’t gotta work for. I wish I had that.”

“Then go looking for information on this guy, I guess.”

The first guy laughed. “Maybe! I hope they find him, though. It’s always sad to hear about missing people. They usually find their bodies, like, a month later.”

“Yeah, well, people are fucked up. Now come on, I need your notes.”

“Again!? Dude, you’re a damn mooch.”

The two voices faded away to Virgil’s left as they walked away. Once the two guys sat down, Virgil turned around to squint at a paper he hadn’t noticed when he first walked in, even getting out of his chair to take a better look.

Though the moment he got closer, Virgil felt his stomach fill with lead.

Missing: Roman Goldsberry. Last seen October 2nd. Virgil stared at it for a suspicious amount of time. His eyes were widened like a bug ready to be squashed, ripping the paper off the wall and taking a closer look. No matter how many times he squished the paper to his face and examined every letter written, the facts were logically unmistakable. This is the guy I met.

The guy I met on October 3rd.

Virgil wanted to vomit. It couldn’t be him. It just couldn’t be. Stuff like this doesn’t just happen, you don’t meet someone only for them to go missing that same fucking day!

Is this why he wasn’t responding to his phone!? Because someone grabbed him off the street and locked him in a truck!? Because he’s somewhere in the middle of the woods, probably being tortured right this second!?

It isn’t him. It can’t be. I’m remembering it wrong. Missing people just freak me out. They’re not. The same. Person.

Virgil felt a lightbulb go off in his head. The photo.

Roman took a photo of himself before they parted ways. He’d even said not to forget his face with that stupid egotistical smile that made Virgil wanna roll his eyes so far they went into the back of his head.

Grabbing his phone was like trying to grab an ice cube off the floor, but Virgil managed it, shakily opening his phone and going into his recent contacts.

Picture, picture, picture...there!

Virgil put his phone and the paper on his desk and compared them. Same hair color. Same hair style. Same smile. Same eyes. The only difference is the clothing.

He didn’t want to believe it. He wanted to pick apart every possible difference in the photos until he somehow managed to convince himself they were different people. But there was no way. Even in his hysteria, there was no way he could ignore that he had seen someone hours before their possible demise.

...He couldn’t stay here listening to a lecture. He didn’t care about his grade tanking because of a zero on attendance, or about the homework he’d miss turning in if he left, he had to do something. He had to help somehow, even if Virgil didn’t know exactly what he was doing.

The professor had just stepped in front of the class and started to speak. Virgil grabbed his bag and didn’t hear a word that was said.

He ran out the door and didn’t come back.

[anxiouslyfred]

Out of Ice Cream

for @magpiemorality​‘s Sanders Sides creative challenge I’ve done a story carrying on from this Dukexiety one shot where Virgil find out Remus is ticklish.

Here’s how I think they could get together

Warnings: Suggestive talk, quite a lot of suggestiveness really, tickling,

Let me know if I’ve missed anything. I’m never sure quite what to include in warnings

/\/\/\/\

Remus was actually innocent of the thing which currently had him carefully tracking every noise in the apartment. He just hadn't been listening to what Roman asked while his brother was over and looking for a snack in the kitchen. He still knew his room-mate would blame him for the last mint ice cream having been eaten and the punishment would be swiftly carried out.

While he wouldn't mind being pinned down by Virgil again, or being ordered to beg him, neither of those things were as pleasurable when accompanied by tickling. In fact Remus would happily put himself into position to beg if only it was for less innocent actions.

The awareness of the sounds of the apartment currently was a little pointless though, as the clock distinctly showed Virgil was still at work and wouldn't be home for another hour. That possibly gave Remus enough time to go to the shops and hopefully get some more ice cream.

Hopefully. Fingers crossed and toes tied in knots.

Actually tying his toes up made walking difficult so at least until he'd gotten the ice cream that could wait. No time for tripping over when its a serious case of avoiding wriggling fingers.

It was as he took the receipt, already reading it to thank the cashier by name that Remus saw his doom signed. The time was after Virgil would have left work and it would take a large dork sized miracle to get home before him now. At least he remembered to yell his thanks as he raced off, still hoping to avoid any retribution.

The hallway being silent outside their apartment could either be very good or a sign of doom and Remus couldn't decide which as he tried to catch his breath after the run. That was before he heard the footsteps moving about inside and had to just bite the bullet and race through it. Dodging the executioner sounded like a lot more fun than this afternoon was proving it to be.

“Virgie! I'm home and I have ice cream!” He trilled, almost singing, as he half ran half slid through to the kitchen, already getting the box out of the bag to throw in the freezer, using the door to stop his slide. No point in delaying anything by seeing how hard he could hit the cabinets today.

“And why might I ask were there none in there anyway? Those are my ice creams that you never touch.” Virgil raised an eyebrow, fingers twitching a little, enough Remus was very tempted to put one of the ice creams in his hand. Ice play wasn't really something he was into though.

Remus still just exaggerated a laugh. “Silly thing, a thief broke in, demanded ice cream and that was all we had! Roman was over. He can confirm.”

“So you gave my ice cream, repeating Mine, to your brother? Cause look what I have here.” Virgil smirked, bringing up the hand Remus had thought he was leaning back on, one of the blackberry and liquorice ice creams Remus loved in it.

“You want an adventure story or can I just start running now?” Remus bounced a little, already feeling the phantom tickles he was sure Virgil was about to threatened.

He was more enthralled by Virgil standing to lean over him to throw the ice cream back in the freezer to actually run though, at least until he heard the whisper of “Beg!”

Then it was all movement and Remus was dizzy in the best of ways as he raced through the rooms of their apartment, spinning past corners and trying to dodge past tight sections Virgil couldn't leap.

It was one of those areas that Remus was caught passing, Virgil apparently had learnt a few better ways to leap their furniture since discovering how ticklish Remus is. Being suddenly pinned to the floor when he'd been running a moment earlier made him feel even more like prey for some soaring birds even as he tried to scramble up again.

That just meant he was incidentally giving Virgil a piggy back ride and achieving nothing towards escaping the arms now teasing his neck and the top of his sides just above where Virgil's legs had wrapped and locked into place. “No no no nonononono. Ssssstoppppppp popopopop. I didn't mean to. Nononono.” Remus whined through loud laughter, nowhere near to his usual cackle, curling up instinctively as much as he could in the small space between furniture.

Remus didn't quite know what to make of it when instead of the tickling getting worse at their new position with him curled under Virgil on the floor he felt a kiss get placed on his neck as soon as his hand moved to try protecting his sides more.

“You're cute when you get all flustered like that Re. Maybe actually listen to what Roman asks if he can have next time though.” Virgil knelt up enough for Remus to roll until he was laying on his back. “I wonder if being tickled or the threat of it is the only way I can see you like that.”

“Almost sounds like you wanna ravish me there, Spidey Skelly.” Remus gasped, more than aware of what fun they could have with Virgil on top of him like this. It was just his nature to try and make him see it too.

Virgil didn't react in any form of rejection or disgust he'd expected though, instead leaning forward until there was little space between them. “If I do, are you objecting?” The whisper was lower than it had been by the freezer and entirely to blame for the groan Remus let out before finding Virgil backing off and getting up. “We should probably actually talk about, you know, being in a relationship and shit before that though, right?” Virgil sounded like his anxiety had just kicked in over just how forward he'd been acting.

Remus just blinked for a second, taking in yet another abrupt change of direction for the conversation happening without his input. Usually he'd be the one making the conversation derail but now Remus was convinced there had been no tracks to follow since he entered the apartment again. “Sure. I mean I don't mind if ya wanna ravish me without all that romance talk but we can do that now if you'd prefer? Or are you going to get annoyed over the ice cream again, cause you've kind of stolen my ability to get distracted today?”

“You got me more. I kind of assumed that was what you were doing when you weren't home anyway. We're cool on that.” Virgil waved it off, shaking his head a little. “So you actually do like me then? This isn't something Roman put you up to or whatever?” He'd moved to sit on the back of the sofa while speaking, only looking back over at the end of the question.

Remus just sat up, happy to stay on the floor. “Dude, if I thought you'd be willing to wreck me I'd have been kneeling and begging forgiveness as soon as you got home. You want candles and romance and I'll try my best. It ain't something I'm used to doing but you're way more than any of the hook ups I've had before could ever have been.”

“I was more thinking dates to see the trash marketed as horror movies and seeing how many cinemas we can get banned from, but trying to get kicked out of romantic restaurants while attempting Roman's version of a date sounds pretty hilarious too. You yell obscene things while I have panic attacks and we'll either have then jumping to give us free food or calling security on us within ten minutes.” Virgil shrugged, obviously ignoring the start of what Remus said, or rather just treating it as a Remus version of admitting to feelings.

“You get me, Jack Frost! So we're boyfriends now?” Remus cackled, kneeling to lean closer to Virgil as he spoke.

“Looks like we are.” The agreement was all he needed before Remus was pulling Virgil into a deep first kiss.

[ateezmakemeweep]

richboy!seonghwa (part 10)

word count: 5k

angst, fluff

(part 9) (series masterlist)

you stumble around the dark room as little nervous squeals leave your mouth. because this is the start of every horror and the more you stumble around, the more you start to freak out. 

you don't even know where you're trying to go because there's no light coming out from the under the door, meaning there very well could be a murderer trailing the hallways, waiting for a damsel in distress like yours truly to venture out and fall victim to their crazy ways. 

a loud scream leaves your mouth when you smack into something hard amidst your panicked thoughts, hearing it smack against the wall. a string of curses leave your mouth when you hear the crack of the lightbulb.

"why the hell is this happening," you whisper into the darkness, confused by the sudden blackout like it's at fault for you stupidly decide to stumble around; you had jumped from the initial shock of the lights turning off, your phone landing on the floor somewhere really leaving you in a pickle. a dark, scary, potentially fatal pickle.

the sound of a knock at your door causes your heart to drop, the noise fairly close indicating you've made it pretty far across the room. but the irrational thoughts pumping through you has almost fully convinced you that there's someone wielding a butcher knife just outside the door.

so you keep your mouth shut, tiptoeing closer to the best of your ability and your heart jumping when there's another knock.

"y/n?" a low, muffled voice speaks.

you put your hands out in front of you, stretching them forward until they hit the door. you put your ear against the it, listening carefully but there's only silence. so you knock back once.

"what are you doing?" the voice says and you know that irritable tone anywhere.

you rip open the door and a bright light flashes in your face, yeosang standing, holding his phone up with his eyebrow raised.

"did you think i was a murderer?"

"i probably would've preferred it," you bite back, attempting to slam the door in his face. but he brings his foot forward, shoving it halfway in your room to prevent it from shutting.

"don't be dramatic."

you whip open the door and he'd laugh at the pissed off scowl on your face if he knows he didn't fuck up today, if his building anxiety wasn't coming close to strangling him.

"dramatic?!" you squeak, stepping out of your room to push his chest harshly. he's surprised by your strength, stumbling back a few feet and then you're right in his face. 

"you embarrassed me before and acted like a total fucking asshole!" you yell, not hearing the sound of your door shutting and instead intent on giving out to him. 

“i don't know what your issue is with me in the first place! you were talking to me just fine an hour before and even gave me that really good blueberry muffin that i know was your favorite so how about you-"

"do you have your key card?"

your eyes narrow at his question.

"were you even listening to me?! you embarrassed me and i deserve an apology!"

"when would i have gotten the chance?"

"well you had the time to cut me off," you snap.

you hear him sigh as you put your hands on your hips, waiting expectantly for him to speak. but he doesn't, the both of you just standing in the dark hallway with only his phone as an eerie light. you can feel the hot anger in your eyes as he just so calmly stands there, looking at you like you're the one who intruded on him.

"you know what, fuck you, yeosang," you snap, "why'd you even knock my door."

you whip around, walking forward and fumbling around to find the doorknob. when your hand touches the cold metal, you sigh in relief and turn to open it. but your relief quickly turns to agitation and frustration because your fucking key is inside your locked room.

"no, no, no, no, no," you mumble under your breath, "no!" you smack the hard door, wincing as you shake out the pain in your hand. you hear yeosang hum behind you and you whip around, squinting your eyes at him and walking back up to him.

"this is your fault," you spit out, "why do you ruin everything. now i'm locked out and gonna get myself killed out here."

"yeah, because a power outage from the snowstorm is actually a murderer."

you really don't consider yourself a violent person, actually rather timid and shy in most circumstances. but his tone is so dry and biting you wanna hit him. just once.

"i wanna smack you," you say through clenched teeth.

"smack me all you want in my room."

"are you out of your mind," you spit, "i don't even wanna look at you, let alone be in the same room as you after what you did to me today."

"so you're just gonna stay out here in the dark?"

"yes," you snap, "so fuck off."

his eyes narrow before he grabs you roughly by the arm, dragging you towards his door and pushing it open. he still has you in his tight grasp when he slams his door closed, pulling you in further in towards the couch.

"what are you doing!" you yell, ripping your arm from is grasp, "get off of me, i don't wanna-"

"shut up and let me speak for a second!"

his loud, harsh voice echoes off the walls and it should probably scare you. but you're just so over him, matching or maybe even surpassing his level of anger.

"you've got problems," you spit back, the anger coursing through your veins giving you the confidence and courage to stick up for yourself, "you have some serious fucking anger problems you've gotta work out and i don't want any part of it!"

you shove passed him, shoulder bumping into him roughly and you know it probably hurts you more than him. but you can't even feel it, not with the adrenaline coursing through you and the hot tension radiating off you.

"i'm sorry," he says and the breathy way he says it causes your feet to halt in their movement. because he sounds genuine but also...almost panicked.

you don't turn around but hear him move closer until he's standing right behind you. "i'm sorry, i shouldn't have done that to you."

"no shit," you say, voice biting and cold despite feeling the need to listen carefully to his voice.

"can you please just...stay here," he sighs out when he sees you moving toward the door again, "until the lights come on, at least."

"why, are you scared of the dark?" you ask mockingly.

"yeah, actually," he says quietly, "but that's not why."

you turn around, peering over at him and roaming over his poorly lit face; even in the dark, he can feel you doing it, searching his face for the answers he constantly has to conceal.

"stop staring," he scolds and you let out a sigh.

"how'd you even know," you mumble, slowly maneuvering around the room until you feel a soft surface you conclude is the bed. you plop down, sitting with your legs in a pretzel position and staring off into the darkness.

"yeah, make yourself comfortable," he mumbles and something closely resembling a growl leaves your mouth causing a weak snort to leave him.

you watch as he fumbles around the room until you hear the clicking of a lighter, two small candles placed on the dresser now burning in front of the tv.

"where the hell did you get those," you wonder aloud because that's awfully convenient.

"they were in the room."

he turns around after lighting them, the soft glow illuminating his face and you wanna scowl at how handsome he is.

but it's upon further inspection you see there's also a lot of tension held in it.

he bites his lip, eyes flicking from the couch to the spot on the bed next to you before making the (correct) decision in sitting on the couch. you both just stare at each other blankly, your eyes expectant and on guard while his are just...blank.

the adrenaline and anger you felt from moments ago slowly starts to dissipate as it starts to sink in that you and him are currently trapped (but not really) in the same room. you shouldn't have given in so easily, shouldn't have let him manhandle you the way he did and fought back more when he screamed at you again; but now here you are, sitting on his bed and feeling yourself revert back to your stupid submissive self.

"are you really scared of the dark," you ask him and even from a few feet away, you hear a shaky exhale leave his mouth; he had forgotten he let that slip.

"yeah," he mumbles and you pout at the softness in his voice. you look up and see him hunched over with his elbows on his shaking legs, looking at a spot on the floor and you purse your lips to the side.

something tells you him being surrounded by the darkness is the reason for his anxious fidgeting.

"well, i'm scared of hamsters," you blurt out. and while you're luckily not surrounded by the creepy little rodents, maybe him knowing your fears will calm him in some strange way.

his eyes raise to yours and a crooked smile makes its way on his lips as a chuckle bubbles out of him.

"it's not funny!" you squeal but it only makes his laugh heartier, deep and genuine as it bounces off the warmly lite room.

"it's kind of funny," he muses and you resist the urge to smile at the softness in his tone. "what happened? were you bit or something?"

"not only once but twice," you tell him as you relive your childhood trauma. "my cousins had these two hamsters who i just always wanted to play with because i never had animals growing up. but they hated me, like i mean hated me, would definitely publically berate me and cause me to break a plant if they were human, and when i tried to pick them up once...they both nearly tore the skin off my finger with their sharp little teeth."

you look up and see his eyes on you, his leg slightly bouncing up and down. "what?" you squeak out. you has been trying to lighten the mood with your little snide comment.

"i shouldn't have done that to you," he says quietly, "i...don't hate you so i don't...i know i shouldn't do it."

you hear the immediate sorrow and pain in his voice, like he's truly questioning himself and something about it makes a light bulb go off in your brain, gives you the slightest feeling that maybe he's...damaged in someway.

it doesn't excuse his treatment towards you but you think there also has to be something in his past that made him this way.

because you see he could be good sometimes, still a wise ass and a bit of bitch but good. you see that his friends loves them, his classmates and teacher hold him in high regard and the way he helped you that night without a second thought.

but then he switches on and off without warning, like an abused animal who's wagging their tail one minute and then snapping at your face the next.

"then why did you?" you ask softly, cursing the soft, empathic heart your parents always say is one of your greatest assesses but also downfalls.

his head falls into his hands, running through his hair and you only watch silently as he struggles internally. because he still doesn't know, doesn't know why he continually, deliberately hurts you and yells at you, like your kindness and nativity infuriates him but then make him instantly feel regret and cause self hatred to bubble up inside of him.

unless that's why he does it. because he sees you're kind, knows you'll forgive him and it's just ingrained in him now to take advantage of peoples kindness. to also try and strip that away from them.

"i wish i could tell you, y/n," he tells you, voice strained and breathy, "i...i don't have any answer that doesn't make me sound like a complete asshole.

"well, we already knew that," you say sarcastically, not being able to hide the smirk on your face. he picks his head up to roll his eyes at you and a tiny smile makes its way on his face.

"don't make me regret accepting your apology," you then tell him, voice quiet but firm.

his eyes meet yours and you watch as his adams apples bobs nervously. "i'm warning you now, i will," he says before mumbling something to himself.

"what?"

"you're too nice to people who don't deserve it," he tells you, voice hard and firm but not menacing.

"and what, you don't deserve kindness?" you ask, your chest hurting because it's even more obvious now your assumption that he's been hurt is correct.

"obviously not," he hums and you purse your lips to the side in thought. just as you open your mouth to ask him why, a humorless chuckle leaves his mouth.

"my dad used to lock me in a closet."

your heart drops at the statement, eyes widening and breath catching in your throat because what the fuck. you were not at all expecting that.

"sometimes for days at a time," he tells you and his voice is so straight forward and detached, like he's telling you the weather conditions outside. "he started it off with beatings of course but physical trauma is easy to get used to. it's the mental trauma that fucks you and he knew that."

"yeosang, i-"

"if i was ever too...soft, that's the word he always used," he laughs out humorlessly, "if i ever cried, if i was ever smiling too much," he drones on and now  his voice is getting more and more agitated and tight that tears start to build behind your eyes. "i cried all the fucking time and it would make him so mad."

"but there's nothing wrong-"

"i think he kept me in there for three days at one point but they usually blended together after i lost count." he tells you and you blink rapidly so you don't start crying; who does that to their own son?

"why are you telling me this?" you ask him quietly. because you feel like you're taking advantage of him, like he's in some state of ptsd and you have no right to be hearing this.

"so you understand why i'm so fucked up," he says and he finally looks you in the eye and you could burst into tears. because there's nothing, they're completely empty and it makes your heart ache. "so you understand you don't wanna be around someone like me, why you shouldn't be easily forgiving me."

"but you didn't do that," you tell him softly and your legs are itching to get up and walk over to him. "you didn't do anything wrong."

"i obviously did," he spits, "i was weak. and it eventually drove him away."

you wanna say thank god, wanna clap and jump for joy and throw a party in this very melancholy room that, that man is no longer in his life.

"you were weak for smiling and crying?" you ask softly, not being able to hold back the skepticism in your voice, "those are very normal things yeosang, things that-"

"and apparently i'm still weak," he says, ignoring your words and looking back at the floor, "because the second it happened, the second the pitch darkness came, i immediately needed to find-"

the lights suddenly flicker on and the words die in his throat, his neck snapping up at the ceiling before his eyes quickly start to roam around the room. his gaze moves to your face, scanning your sympathetic eyes and warm cheeks and it's like he's snapped out of trance with the lights now on. his stomach twists and a pounding forms in his temples when he realizes what he's just done, his stupid fear-stricken confessions.

you can see the exact moment that regret springs to his eyes, the revelation that he's no longer a little boy trapped in the dark but instead a bitter and jaded person in the face of someone he's been nothing but obnoxious too.

you knew he hadn't been meaning to spill all of that and now you're panicking because you don't know what to say and being able to see his figure clearly is making the silence deafening.

"one of the hamsters was named after me," you blurt out and he looks at you like you have five heads.

because after all of that, after he blurts out one of his many instances of real childhood trauma in an embarrassing and rare state of vulnerability, that's what you're saying?

"isn't that sick," you laugh out, "my cousin claimed it was in my honor but now that i think about it, it's actually fairly insulting."

you watch his chest heave in and out, looking at you like he doesn't know what to make of you now. doesn't know if you're gonna suddenly pounce on him and badger him for more information or use it against him as blackmail or publically announce it in the form of payback.

"what?" you ask but he just shakes his head, standing up on his slightly wobbly knees.

"you're...the most bizarre person i've ever met," he says, cautiously walking over to the bed and sitting down next to you. "that's....really what you're saying to me after i just-"

"told me something you obviously didn't want to?" you say quietly, looking up at him with wide, honest eyes and his eyes bore into yours with such an intensity it starts to make you nervous.

not like that's a hard thing to do, but more nervous than usual.

because had you misread everything wrong? did he actually just finally open up about his trauma and scars and distress just for you to talk about an evil hamster named in your honor?

"i'm...i'll be here to listen if that's what you want," you tell him honestly, "but i..you just didn't seem-"

his arms wrapping around you is the first thing to catch you off guard, strong and toned as he turns your body slightly to press you into him. you take a few strangled breaths, finally starting to register that he's hugging you right now when you then feel his head in the crook of your neck. his strangled breaths are hot on your skin, hair tickling your neck as his arms squeeze around you a little tighter.

you've been focusing so much on your breathing and your surprise and his warm skin on yours that you realize your arms are still dropped to the side. you cautiously bring them up and wrap them around him hesitantly, rubbing his back awkwardly causing him to chuckle into your skin.

"thank you," he mumbles, "i just...thank you." he pulls back just as suddenly as he crashed into you and scoots a few inches away from you. your flushed face meets his gaze, your body turned to look directly at him.

"we..don't have to discuss this ever again if you don't want too," you tell him, "but it..probably wouldn't hurt to talk to someone about that. like professionally-"

your words start to trail off when you see the rage cross his face, his body stiffening and you cringe outwardly. "please don't get mad," you beg, "i'm just...i can't hear you tell me something like that and not say it."

he shuts his eyes as he takes a shaky inhale, breathing out harshly and repeating a few times before his eyes pop open.

"okay."

it's not a lot and you don't know what part he's responding to but you're glad he wasn't mad; he didn't give in to his obvious anger and you reward him with a small smile. his eyes drop to your lips, his tongue peaking out to lick at his own and the tension between you starts to fizzle into something... completely different. something that's making you flushed and making your body hum in anticipation.

you hear the faint knocking on a door in the hallway but you're too entranced by his gaze to pay attention to it. his eyes are roaming every part of your face, your fingertips are nearly brushing and you don't think you were this close a moment ago.

"y/n..."

a harsh knock on yeosang's door has you two jumping apart, the heat on your cheeks nearly burning you as you swallow the nervous lump in your throat and watch him shake his head. he quickly gets up and away from you, popping his neck to the side anxiously as he walks to the door.

"have you heard anything in-"

seonghwa's voice and figure barreling through the room now has you jumping up from the bed quickly, nervousness unexpectedly flooding through you, like you were caught doing something bad; you think your intestines are twisting together with how quickly the knot formed in your stomach.

"y/n?" he says, eyebrows furrowed as he looks at you in disbelief. his eyes go from your face, to the bed, to yeosang, then back to you. "what are you doing here?"

you look in shock to yeosang standing a few feet behind seonghwa, your heart pounding because you don't know why you're feeling so guilty; you didn't do anything wrong.

"i...locked myself out my room."

his eyes squint ever so slightly, jaw clenching as his tongue licks the corner of his lip.

"i was texting you, i was...worried," he said, "i knocked on your door before but thought maybe you were sleeping."

you smile softly at him, taking a step closer to him and your heart lurches ever so slightly when he steps back. the hurt must be evident on your face because he lets out a harsh exhale.

"i'm sorry, i'm just...surprised seeing you in his room." and then his neck snaps back to his friend, "especially after the shit he pulled before."

"me and her already talked about it so maybe you should mind your business."

seonghwa head turns to the side challengingly and you quickly grab the back of his arm when you see him advancing toward him.

"it's okay, he apologized," you tell him softly, "i'm-i'm sorry you were worried."

he looks down at you, hesitance and a wary look in his eyes that has you holding back a frown on your face. you don't like the vibe in here and especially don't like when his gaze turns back to yeosang.

but the shorter boy is fearless and feisty and maybe a little pissed off he was interrupted.

"what's your problem, hwa? gonna try to beat my ass again?"

your hold on the boy's arm tightens when he tries to advance forward yeosang again.

"i think i probably should since you're a fucking liar."

"when did i lie?" yeosang spits, moving closer to seonghwa, "please enlighten me." you step around seonghwa to place yourself in the middle of them.

"stop," you say softly, moving your hand to his chest and reaching your arm out to stop yeosang in his path.

"you know when." seonghwa growls.

"no, i really don't think i do," yeosang says challenging, moving past your hand and attempting to step around you. seonghwa's eyes narrow and you know they're about to start something so you quickly drag the taller boy by the shirt over to the door.

"stop," seonghwa orders but you only continue to drag him.

"y/n," he growls but you only tighten your hold on him.

"i need to get an extra key card, come with me," you say, peaking your head back to throw yeosang a sympathetic gaze. you mouth the word 'bye' before shutting his door quietly.

"why were you with him," seonghwa spats as you two walk down the hallway, "why did you forgive him so easily."

your feet stop to look up at him, hurt swirling in your eyes at his tone; it appears when one of them is nice to you, the other just has to be mean.

"because i know he was sorry," you say softly, "why are you angry?"

you watch his jaw tick and lift your hand to rub your thumb over the twitching muscle, like you'll be able to wipe it off; but he rips his face away and you can't stop the hurt that swirls through you. you step back as your body retracts, your brows furrowing and mouth forming into a frown.

"now you're gonna be mean to me?" you ask and he lets out a shaky exhale at your quiet voice.

"i was worried when you weren't answering, i was waiting outside your door while you were in there with him," he says quietly and you lift your eyebrow because you don't understand why he sounds so...angry? upset? hurt? by it.

"he was apologizing to me," you squeak out, "why do you sound so upset? you're making a big deal out of nothing."

he rolls his eyes and you see him almost turn to walk away when he stops in his tracks. he looks over your face and lets out a sigh because your eyes are confused and innocent and you don't deserve to be blamed for his stupid feelings.

"you're right," he says, "i'm sorry."

"can we just get my key now?" you ask after a few moments of holding each other's gazes, "i'm sleepy."

he smiles softly at you, tucking a piece of hair behind your ear gently. "sure."

you two clumsily bump into one another with soft giggles and big yawns as you walk down the elevator, your head resting on his arm tiredly as you make your way down and stand in front of the front desk.

the staff are flustered after the mini power outage, explaining to the complaining guests on the phone that everything is okay now, so it takes them about 10 minutes to finally get to you and another 10 to get you a copy of your key.

"i'm sorry, i didn't know it'd take that long," you tell seonghwa as you wait for the elevator back up, "you seem tired."

"i'm fine, y/n," he says, patting the top of your head, "but try not to lock yourself again, okay?"

you roll your eyes at him, pushing him lightly and scurrying in the elevator quickly before pushing the close-door button. his mouth drops open in fake outrage at you trying to leave him down there alone, sticking his hand in and staring down at you with a stern look.

"not nice," he scolds and your cheeky smile quickly has his own breaking out on his face, a groan leaving his mouth as he turns away from you.

"what?" you whine.

"you're pretty," he mumbles, taking your face in his hands and squeezing it gently causing you to scrunch your nose.

"you can't just say stuff like that, seonghwa, " you breathe out, "i'm gonna have permanent heart palpitations."

"but you are," he says and the words are so soft spoken you know you really will have some sort of heart damage.

a small chuckle leaves his mouth at the pained look at your face. “and that makes two of us," he adds quietly, his thumb rubbing over your face gently until the elevator dings.

you breathe out shakily, shaking your head at him with a soft smile and teasing eyes as he removes his hold on your face. you walk out together and stop in the middle of the hallway where you both have to part ways.

"i'll see you tomorrow?" you ask, head turned to the side as you look up at him.

"tomorrow," he confirms, "need a walk down?"

you squint your eyes at him defensively, "i know i'm a damsel in distress but i think i can manage it."

another chuckle leaves his mouth, his hand running through your hair one last time before he nods his head. "night, little one."

"night, seonghwa," you say, waiting until he turns around for your face to crumble in a state of panic. because that fucking term will be the death of you.

or maybe it'll be your erratic heartbeat that kills you, overwhelmed by how much your life has been taken over by attractive boys and the little things they do for you.

because you nearly step on the clear to-go box of chocolate chip pancakes placed in front of your door, peering down to read the receipt still taped on the box.

order to room 390: kang yeosang.

(part 11)

[htownsmash]

Shiggy Horror AU- Part II

AN: I’m not gonna lie, this did spook me out a little lol, but here’s Part Two of the Shigaraki Horror AU fic! Was planning to post this on Saturday to get that week to week feel, but hey, we’re here now. And for those wondering, I place the “Character Death warning because it’s gonna happen in later chapters. I just wanna be prepared.

Warning: NSFW. Character Death.

Shinso frowned at you, barely making out where you were from the little light that shone from the hole you made through the floor. “You just busted your ass and you’re still trying to scare me?” He turned his head and inspected your broken phone, placing it in his pocket before lightly touching your arm. Luckily nothing was sticking out of your body and your bones seemed intact from that nasty fall.

You glared at him, “I’m not joking around!”

“Did you hit your head or something?” He asked you, making sure to move his fingers in a variety of directions to test your vision. Everything seemed to check out.

You slapped his hand away and tried to get up on your own. “Quit playing around. We have to go.” The weight on your left ankle had been too much when you tried to take another step and you hit the floor again. “Fuck.” You whispered through gritted teeth. “I think I sprained it…”

“What?” He asked as he hovered over you. “Where does it hurt?”

You wiggled your foot in what you assumed was the front of his face and gestured towards your ankle. “I probably landed on it or something. I can’t see shit, though. Turn on the light.”

“Alright, alright. Just relax for right now.” He said as he reached for his own phone, tapping his pockets but could only feel the jaded texture of your shattered phone instead. His movements turned frantic as he stood on his knees and checked his back pockets. “I.. had it… I didn’t drop it, did I?” Shinso asked as he recalled setting the phone in one of his pockets before jumping in through the hole. He had left his backpack up there for sure, but he knew he had his phone.

“You lost it?” You asked incredulously. “Great!”

Shinso sighed in defeat, “I didn’t lose it. It’s probably up there. I thought I put it in my pocket before coming down.” He tried to reason with himself. “I was really worried something happened to you and I rushed down here to help…”

You sighed, “I’m sorry… It’s my fault we’re in this mess.” You could faintly make out his face. Maybe you thought you saw something, it could have been the poor lights playing tricks on you. The place was old, you figured having busted through the floor to prove your point.

“I doubt this will teach you a lesson.” Shinso chuckled as he wrapped your arm around his shoulders. “Come on, we should find a way back upstairs.” He said as he shuffled forward and gave you enough room to hop along.

“I wonder why this bar had an underground room.” You thought aloud as you could feel the dust crunch under your shoes. You could still feel it all over your side and in your hair. “Mad fucking dusty down here.”

Shinso grinned as he held you closer. If he squinted hard enough he was sure he could make a guess to what was in front of him. “Maybe this place was just as filthy back when it was open.”

“What do you think they named this place? The Dust Bowl?” You asked with a cheesy smile, though knew Shinso couldn’t see it but he had to know it was there.

“Why Bowl? This wasn’t a restaurant.” Shinso quickly replied back as his hand rubbed against the wall. He found a light switch and began flicking it up and down fruitlessly. Of course.

“This place’s been down since 2007, genius.”

“That was the year of the earthquake. It closed down in 2008, smartass.” Shinso shot back. “I don’t know if you saw it, but there was a light flickering inside one of the shops we went into earlier. I thought maybe the power grid would still be running in case the tours eventually let us through here.”

You suddenly felt a chill run down your spine. “Why didn’t you say anything before?” You asked him, clenching his shirt at the thought of another person exploring the shops.

Shinso remained silent for a moment as he took his hand off the switch. “I… didn’t think too much about it.” He answered honestly and your implication finally hit him. “Do you think somebody knows we’re here?”

“I don’t know.” You answered with a hard gulp. “We should hurry back up-“

A light suddenly shone behind them and they froze. “There you are!” Tokoyami exclaimed, his tone full of relief to have caught them.

“Fumi!” You turned your head and Shinso helped maneuver you so both could look at him. “What are you doing here?”

He stood silent for a moment before shining his light at her ankle. “You’re hurt.”

“Heh… yeah… I fell a little earlier.” You replied. “Did you follow us here? What time is it?”

Tokoyami didn’t answer and instead aimed his light towards a separate hallway. “The exit is back here. We should hurry.” He replied simply as he turned and began to move.

You could feel goosebumps begin to form over your arms at your brief interaction and you looked over to Shinso, finally able to catch the look on his face from the light bouncing off Tokoyami’s light as he waited a few steps in front of them. He gave you a worried look and you gripped the fabric of his shirt, mirroring his expression. “Wait up, Fumi!” You called after him.

It seemed as if you and Shinso followed Tokoyami forever. As if the hallways stretched out for miles, but he kept looking forward and leading the way. Your initial nervousness began to form into complete anxiety. The walk had begun to take a toll on your sprained ankle and you could feel Shinso slow down.

“Can… can we t- take a quick break?” You panted, trying to let go of Shinso so he could relax, too, but he kept his hand around you, looping his fingers around your jean loops and refused to let go.

“No, we’re almost there.” Shinso reminded you. “Isn’t that right, Tokoyami?” He called out towards the birdman. His eyes quickly flickered to the phone in Tokoyami’s hand. His phone. The charm you had given him the day before still hanging off it.

“Right.” Tokoyami finally answered, but refused to turn around. “The door is through here.”

“It’s going to be a little hard if there’s a staircase.” You commented absently and Shinso quickly pressed his hand to your mouth.

“We’ll manage.” He reminded you as the dreadful feeling he felt intensified. “We’ll follow you through the door, Tokoyami.” Without another word, Tokoyami nodded and disappeared into the room. Shinso watched as the light disappeared from their sight and his blood froze.

“Let’s go.” He said, crouching down to get you onto his back and he bolted back the way you both came. His hand reached into his pocket as he pulled out your shattered phone and prayed it would turn on. It lit up momentarily, allowing him to illuminate the hallway, but it was enough to know they were headed the right way. He couldn’t believe it- refused to acknowledge that the hallway became a lot shorter as they made their way back to the room you first fell through. “Shh…” he pressed his finger to your lips, both unable to make each other out again. His hands pressed against your hips and moved down to your thighs and finally found your foot. “Okay, on three…”

You realized what he was planning and you quickly prepared yourself. You didn’t tell him that it was your bad foot- you had to bear it. With gritted teeth, your hands found the jagged edges of the floorboards above you and you gripped onto them for dear life as you clawed your way out.

Shinso jumped and took a hold of your hands, doing his best to pull himself up and he managed to get a good grip on one of the boards. You grabbed onto the seat of his pants desperately and tugged him towards you with all your might. “Stand up.” He said quickly, not wasting a moment to catch his breath and he scooped up his backpack. You picked yours up and held onto him as you both bolted back to the hotel.

As you made it back, you could feel the dread and anxiety wash away as you entered through the revolving doors with Shinso. You laughed and hugged him, patting his back and took quick shallow breaths as you felt the overwhelming relief.

Shinso furrowed his brows and held you as you began to cry. His eyes staring straight at Tokoyami as he sat on the couch and listened to his music. When he finally noticed you, he approached with a worried expression. “Where have you been?” He asked and Shinso could see that it was Tokoyami’s own phone.

“We have to get MC to a nurse.” He said as he gritted his teeth and allowed Tokoyami to hold onto your other side. He took a deep breath, wiping the events from his memory, but even now he refused to let you go.

Part One

Tag List: @shigaraki-is-my-master @burnedbyshoto @treehugger92405 @gukkiebuns @snvix @gladiatorandroid

[siren-queen-imagines]

First Date Jitters

This was requested by a lovely, lovely anon!!  “Heyo! Can I request a Damien x reader where the reader is petrified of dating, like she’s never herself on them and they make her crazy anxious and quiet and panicky... but Damien really likes her and wants to take her out. Basically being friends with her enough to ease her into a date... something real cute ☺️” So my dear anon, some of it is slightly different? But regardless, I hope you enjoy!

Masterlist

(gif by me)

You smiled as you listened to Courtney telling you about the person she’s going on a date with in the next few minutes. You were happy for Courtney because she deserves someone who was just as amazing as she was. You helped her to get ready and now you were killing a few extra minutes before she had to leave.

“So when are you gonna go out on a date, Y/N?” Courtney asked, despite knowing why.

“Oh, no. No.” You insisted, using your hands to brush it off as you spoke. “Not anytime soon.”

“Why not?” She offered you a comforting smile. “You’re amazing and I know someone will see that if someone hasn’t already.”

“I don’t like them, Court.” You whined. “You remember when Shayne told us his date Shayne horror stories? I’m like, slightly worse.”

“Come on, you are not that bad.”

“Not only am I almost a different person, I just get weird. I internally panic and I get so anxious and that makes me quiet and that ruins it because the person I’m with assumes I’m not into them.”

“Y/N…” Courtney grabbed your hand and held it in hers. “First of all, we’re our own worst critics. You’re probably not as bad as you think. And second, it’s okay to be nervous. If anyone doesn’t want to give you a chance to get comfortable with them so they can see how amazing you are, they’re not worth your time.”

“I’m starting to think no one is ever gonna wait long enough for that…”

Oh if you only knew. Courtney knew. She knew someone who would be that patient for you. And that person liked you; a LOT.

The alarm that Courtney had set to make sure she left on time went off, interrupting them.

“I gotta go.” Courtney said, pouting playfully.

“Go.” You encouraged her with a smile. “Text me after. Let me know how it went!”

“I will!”

You shook your head and smiled as she left your place. With a small sigh, you sat on your couch and turned on your Netflix. 

=================================

“Hey Y/N.” Damien greeted you in the kitchen at work.

“Hi, Damien.” You replied with a smile, happy to see him.

“How’s it going?” 

“Good. Just been hearing all morning about Courtney’s date last night.”

“Yeah. Same but with Shayne.”

“Oh, sounds like we’ll be switching off soon. Courtney will talk to you about it to get your perspective and Shayne will do the same with me.”

“Yeah.”

The two of you shared a laugh. Honestly, you’ve always liked Damien. Like, LIKED him. But you were almost scared to make a move...in the back of your mind, you always felt that you’d ruin that date and he’d go running for the hills.

Damien? Oh, he was totally into you. Like more than he thought he should be. So much that Shayne and Courtney and even Ian tease him about you when you’re not around. What’s not to like about you? You’re so sweet and he thinks you’re funny. You’re so humble and you both had quite a bit in common. But he had heard from Courtney that you have such bad anxiety when it came to dating...well, the first date at least. He wanted to ask you out so bad but he didn’t want to put you in a position where you felt anxious because of him. There had to be a way.

“Speaking of Shayne, he and I were gonna go to a movie tomorrow night? You and Courtney wanna come?” Damien asked hope filling his voice as the two of you headed back to your desks.

“Yeah. That sounds good. I’ll talk to Courtney.”

“Cool.”

Damien smiled at you brightly. It was instinct but he figured it out. Maybe a friend date would be a good way to ease you in...and having Shayne and Courtney there might help you to feel less anxious. He walked over to Shayne’s desk, pulling up a chair. He looked around for a moment before leaning in.

“So, I may have told Y/N that you and I were planning on seeing a movie tomorrow…” He said, his voice low enough to avoid being heard by prying ears.

=================================

The first stop on the movie night was to dinner. Courtney figured it would be a good idea to eat first so no one feels the urge to buy lots of snacks at the movies...and it also meant after the movie you guys could all go for ice cream.

The four of you sat around the table, talking about the shoot you guys did for Smosh Games earlier in the day.

“I don’t know, I feel like even though no one can beat Damien, there’s a chance he’ll have an off day when the day comes and you choose to volunteer instead of you being chosen or fighting it.” You said with a shrug, earning a laugh from Damien.

“Damien doesn’t have an off day when it comes to gaming.” Shayne playfully argued, his hand waving to accentuate his point.

“To be fair, I do have off days but it’s usually not on filming days.” Damien admitted with a small smile.

“All the more reason to volunteer until eventually you slip up!” You laughed.

The four of you shared a laugh. 

“He’s more likely to slip up with you though.” Courtney blurted out as she thought out loud, while she played with her straw.

“Why?” 

Courtney clearly wasn’t paying attention to the fact you were there because she said, “Because Damien likes Y/N.”

Silence filled the table. You looked at Courtney in surprise while Shayne’s mouth hung open. Damien’s deeply blushed face covered by his hands. Courtney looked up and realized that you weren’t Olivia.

“Oh my god, Damien, I’m so sorry!” She apologized, her hand flying over her mouth after.

“Y-You like me?” You asked Damien after a moment, your heart racing as you were now also blushing.

“Yeah…” Damien admitted, moving his hands away from his face. “Look, it’s okay if you don’t--”

“I like you too.”

“--like me-- wait what?”

Shayne’s mouth hung open wider, this time, with as best a smile he could get with it. Hell yeah, this was finally happening. He hoped this would work out and that’s why he agreed to this.

“I like you too.”

Damien let out a breath he had been holding in relief, his face still flushed but for a better reason.

“I meant to ask you on a date but I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.” He explained.

“I may have told him about your anxiety...I’m so sorry I blurted it out.” Courtney chimed in sheepishly.

“Knowing how you feel, I’m not gonna lie, I feel a little anxious.” You expressed, picking at your nails. “But it helps having Courtney and Shayne...it feels like there’s less pressure.”

“If you want, we can stick around.” Shayne offered to you and Damien. “Just make ourselves like chaperones and you guys can make this your first date.”

“If that’s okay with you.” Damien added.

You looked at Courtney, unsure. She knew, in depth, how you felt about yourself on first dates. You both had a silent conversation before she spoke up.

“If anyone can be patient with date Y/N, it's Damien.” She comforted you.

Maybe she was right. Damien was the sweetest, most awesome person...he would be patient with you.

“I would like that.” You told Damien, suddenly feeling shy.

=================================

At the movies, Shayne and Courtney made it so you and Damien sat together while they sat behind you.

You were nervous as hell as you searched for conversation before the movie started. Luckily, Damien was the one talking and asking you questions. He remembered his conversations with Courtney in the past about you and dates so he wanted to help you feel more comfortable. As the movie started, you rubbed your hands on your legs, because your palms were starting to get sweaty.

“Hey.” Damien caught your attention with his gentle tone. “It’s just me. We’re friends so try not to worry so much about impressing me or something. You don’t need to.” He offered you his hand which you took. “I’m already having a good time with you. I hope you know that.”

“You are?” You asked curiously. “Even though I’m a complete wreck?”

“I am. You’re not a wreck but if you insist on thinking that then I think you’re a very cute wreck.”

That did help to ease you as you let out a breathy laugh, the tension in your shoulders lightening up.

Behind you, Shayne and Courtney exchanged a look and a silent ‘awwww’.

With this, you were able to enjoy the movie with Damien. The two of you held hands through most of it and shared the candy you both got. When you guys got ice cream, Courtney wanted the two of you to sit together again. By this point, you were feeling more comfortable on this date with Damien so you were smiling more and joking with him more. 

Damien drove you home and Shayne got a ride home with Courtney; the two of you switching. He walked you to your door and offered you a smile.

“I had fun.” You both said in unison, both laughing after.

“I had a great time.” You said, the anxiety pretty much gone. Although, it was flaring back up with the fact that the two of you were parting...do you kiss him? Does he even want you to kiss him?

“Me too. I hope you weren’t too uncomfortable tonight.” Damien replied, his hands going into his pocket.

“No, actually. Your patience and encouragement was really helpful. It means a lot to me that you weren’t such a jerk about me being quiet or anything like that.”

“I’m glad. So, you wanna go out again soon?”

OH MY GOD, you got a second date ask? You never got those. Oh Damien...bless you…

“I really would.” You smiled at him brightly.

“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Maybe we can plan our next date.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

You gave Damien a hug, both of you holding on a little longer than you normally would.

Oh no, the anxiety is coming back? Should you kiss him? OH NO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

The two of you pulled back, Damien kissing you on the cheek. You were surprised by it but you blushed as you smiled at him. He went to leave when you grabbed his hand to stop him. He turned back around to face you and that’s when you decided to go for it. You stepped closer to him and kissed him. It was everything you’d hoped it would be and more. It felt like you were on cloud nine and you weren’t ever coming down. 

As you pulled away, Damien’s eyes remained closed for a moment. Holy crap, that was the most amazing kiss. Your lips were so soft and it was just...words couldn’t even describe how he felt when you kissed him. He had been wanting to kiss you for so long and now that he has? It felt like everything was right in his world...and he wanted to do it again.

Damien pulled you back for one last kiss, the two of you letting it linger before you pulled back. The two of you smiled at each other, both thinking about the next time you would get to do that.

“Good night, Y/N.” Damien said with a goofy smile on his face.

“Good night, Damien.” You replied, sharing a similar smile.

Damien walked backwards as he waited for you to unlock your door and go inside. You got inside and turned to wave at Damien before he turned to walk back to his car.

You closed the door and rested against it, a big smile on your face.

Damien got into his car and sat there for a moment, his smile bigger than earlier.

“Holy shit.” The two of you said to yourselves as you replayed the kiss you shared in your head.

[queenmendes]

things are changing | pt 1

shawn x reader x connor

Summary: you are Shawn’s best friend and on tour with him but how will things change after he starts dating Camilla? Lucky for you, a certain videographer is your shoulder to lean on.

Word Count: 1800ish

A/N: wow, so a lot of you enjoyed the sneak peek I posted! Thank you all for the love on it and I hope you enjoy the first part of this! Let me know what you think! I was going to write so much more but decided to do a small little series instead Xxxx p.s I think I spelled her name wrong but i don’t really give a fuc ✌🏼

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

“Sorry, maybe next time.”  

“I’m with Camilla.”

“Actually, I have plans with Camilla later.” 

Those were a few of the many excuses you have heard since you rejoined Shawn on tour. Shawn has been your best friends since birth practically. Your parents were close so naturally, you two became friends early in life. Since the beginning of his singing career, you have been there. Flying out to see him as much as possible to waking up at 2 am to help him through his anxiety, to even enduring many late nights in the studios, despite having no musical talent, because he wanted your opinion. Shawn was your shoulder to cry on; the one you had movie marathons with every time he came home. The one that helped you study for exams, despite not knowing what any of it meant. Shawn was one of your people. It’s always been him, you and Brain.

But things have changed since you came back on tour. His constantly hectic schedule wasn’t the problem. Shawn was caught up in his new relationship and was leaving you behind. You weren’t necessarily jealous or envious, but it hurt that he didn’t seem try and find time for you, his best friend. It hurt even worse that he didn’t realize how much this was affecting you. Someone else did though. Since Shawn was constantly busy, Connor has taken it upon himself to fill the gap.

“I don’t know how you do this every day.” You said, leaning your head against his shoulder as you helped him edit the new footage from the past previous shows. Well you say help, but really you just made comments on everything he did to mess with him. His video was amazing; he truly was talents with a camera. Currently, you two in his hotel room in Miami before the show.

“Trust me, this is the worst part.” Connor said, eyes glazed over from staring at the computer screen for too long. His stunning blue eyes still bright as ever though. You stood up and flopped down on the bed, that was next to the desk Connor was working at. “Hey, hey. We don’t rest until we finish.” Connor stood by the bed now.

“But, I’m sleepy. And technically, this isn’t my job, so there is no ‘we’. ” You tease. Connor raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, is that so?” Before you could say anything else, his fingers attacked your sides, sending you into a fit of loud laughter. Despite your attempts, he did not stop tickling you. The only thing that saved you was the knock on the door that echo throughout the room. “You got lucky.” He smiles before walking over to answer; you took the chance to wipe the tears from your eyes and catch you breathe. The smile bright and big on your lips, however.

“Hey man. It’s time to go to the arena.” Brian said at the door. Connor nodded and the two walked further into the room. “What did I just walk into?” Brian smirked at your currently place on the bed. Your hair and clothes were disheveled from trying to get out of Connor’s attack.

“Shut up.” You pushed the red head playfully as you stood up, straighten out your clothes and smooth your hair. “He decided to attack me.” Connor gasped in horror.

“I would never do such a thing.” His hand on his chest, a fake insulted expression on his face. Brian rolled his eyes at the banter between you two but smiled. It was good to see you laughing again; he knew how much it affected you that Shawn wasn’t hangout with you.

“Hey, no one has seen Y/N in hours. Do you guys know where she is?” Shawn frantically walked into the room. The singer paused, sighing in relief at the sight of you. “Thank god. Where have you been?”

“With Connor. I was helping him edit his footage.” You said, and the playful mood changed into something more serious when you saw the way Shawn eyed Connor.

“Oh please, all you did was eat my candy and question my decisions.” Connor teased you. You stuck your tongue out at him, like the child you are. Shawn just stiffly stood there.

“Well, we need to leave to the arena.” Shawn said after a moment of just staring. You awkwardly nodded, grabbing your bag from the chair as Connor got what he needed. Brian silently watching the exchange, as Shawn left without another word.

“Hey, don’t think too much about it.” Brian whispered to you, as the three of you followed the tall, curly head. Your expression reminded him of a kicked puppy as you stared after your best friend. Nodding and placing a smile on your face, Brian wrapped his arm around your shoulder  as walked to the elevator where some of the team was waiting.

Connor winking at you when you made eye contact, causing you to make a goofy face back. The two of you laugh lightly as the elevator doors opened; neither noticing the Shawn’s envious eyes watching.

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

The next day was a free day in Miami. A bunch of the team decided they wanted to spend the day at the beach, and you were completely fine with a relaxation day. A knock sounded throughout the hotel room you were in.

“Open up, open up.” Brian repeatedly banged on the door. You rolled your eyes at his impatience’s but still let him in. “Finally. Come on, I am starving. I’m withering away as we speak.” Brian dramatics were amusing.

“I only wish to be as dramatic as you one day.” You mocked but grabbed the bag on the chair and walked out the door with him following.

“Not possible. I’ve been perfecting it all my life.” Brian played along as you stopped by Shawn’s room, to see if he wanted to eat with you. You knocked on the door, much more gently than Brian did previous. It only took a few seconds before the door swung open, and there stood the tall rockstar. He smiled at you, which you returned.

“We’re getting food before we head out with everyone else. Wanna come with?” You asked cheerfully. Shawn didn’t answer, staring at you instead; the happy, bright look in your eyes made you glow, and look absolutely stunning. “Shawn?” You asked, knocking him out of his trance.

“Uh, sorry, what?” Shawn asked, glaring at Brian, who gave him a knowing look.

“Do you want to go eat with us?” You asked again, your tone hopeful. Shawn gave a small, regretful smile.

“Oh, I’m actually going to eat with Camilla.” Shawn confessed, his heart hurting at the look of disappointment on your face. You tried your best to conceal it though, but he knew you too well. You just nodded.

“Next time, man.” Brian said. “We’ll see you at the beach.” The red head led you down the hall, where Connor was just coming out of his room. Shawn watched longingly as your face brighten  when the LA native hugged you. An unfamiliar feeling filled his body at the thought of someone else making you smile like that; someone that wasn’t him.

“Hey, actually, I can raincheck with Camilla.” Shawn said, rushing down the hall to joining the small group. He already knew this was going to piss Camilla off, but he didn’t care once he saw how your eyes gleamed of happiness at him joining.

“Are you sure?” You politely asked, not wanting to make him feel obligated. Shawn had never been surer of anything.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Shawn smiled a million-dollar smile, before grabbing your hand and leading you into the elevator. Shawn and Connor made eye contact; the normal,friendly banter between them was gone. May the best man win. 

Tag List: @turtoix @physicshawn @im-a-stranger-thing @shawn-youth @dreamersseeincolor @spn-marvel-nerd @someinsanefangirl @tinycertain @unsolvedhearts @ykicantbefoundwithyou @marissje @mae-petite-etoile @michellemxndes

[elsanna-shenanigans]

December Contest Submission #14: The Queen Of Fire And Her Sister’s Warmth

Words: ca. 4300 Setting: Canon AU Lemon: No CW: Angst, Burns, Traumatic Experiences, Hurt/Comfort, Anxiety

It was a cold winter’s night in the kingdom of Arendelle, at a time when everyone should have been in bed… except for one young girl, Princess Elsa of Arendelle. The young girl was sitting up on her bed, holding a book to her chest. She loved to read, always fascinated by the stories written on the pages before her.

Yes, she knew she really should have been sleeping, but this story had been very engrossing, loving the romance between the two princesses that was unfolding before her eyes. As she turned the page, she looked down at the small stuffed penguin at her side. Sir Jorgenbjorgen, her constant companion from when she was a baby.

Though, he wasn’t her only company that night. On the bed opposite her, Elsa knew her baby sister Anna was fast asleep. The young girl had hopefully been tired out after their father had read her a bedtime story, but Anna had a natural… fire to her that couldn’t easily have been put out.

Anna wasn’t like most girls her age as she had something that set her apart from the other children. Did this make Elsa jealous? No, she loved Anna and the wonderful gift she had. She was her best friend after all and even if they were different in some aspects, they both still got along.

However, just as Elsa was about to finish the chapter she was on… a voice called out to her.

“Psst Elsa!” Little Anna called out to her sister.

The older girl put down her book, seeing Anna sat up in her bed, wide awake. “What is it, Anna?”

“I’m bored and can’t sleep,” Anna groaned. “The sky’s awake, so I’m awake… so can you play with me?”

Elsa sighed. “It’s a bit late for playtime Anna… maybe tomorrow okay?” The older girl pulled her cuddly penguin close to her and went back to her reading.

Anna just pouted for a moment, really wanting to have fun with her sister. And then in her mind, she remembered the one thing that would always be able to wrap her sister around her finger.

“Do you wanna see some magic?” the little girl teased.

And then, Elsa gave in. The book could wait for another night. It wasn’t like it was going anywhere. She placed the book on her bedside table, sighing. “Fine, Anna, you win.”

“Yayyyy!” the little girl cheered. Anna then hopped off her bed, grabbing some pillows and sitting down on them. Elsa joined her, bringing her own pillows and Sir Jorgenbjorgen.

Anna chuckled, holding out her hands. She concentrated and focused for a few seconds, as a spark of flame formed in her palms. With her will alone, Anna morphed the spark into a shape, a small bird that then flew into the air, obeying Anna’s command.

“Behold, my firebird!” Anna cheered.

Sitting forward, Elsa stared in awe at Anna’s creature. She didn’t know what divine being had blessed Anna with this gift, the power to create fire and flame… but she thought it truly was a blessing. She only wondered how those powers would grow as they got older.

The firebird flew around the room a few times, before landing back into Anna’s hand, the younger princess reabsorbing it into herself.

“Ta-da!” She chirped.

Elsa giggled. She had to admit… Anna’s little magic show was much more interesting than her novel. She watched as Anna danced on, making other shapes and displays with her mastery of fire. There didn’t seem to be any limit to what Anna could do.

Their parents had forbidden Anna from using her powers in public, however. Arendelle was a kingdom that had long held a prejudice against magic, a stigma that sadly wasn’t going to be broken anytime soon. There hadn’t really been an explanation of how Anna came to be born with her gifts.

But did that really matter? The flames Anna produced were beautiful and Elsa adored them. The shapes and patterns Anna could display with her flames… she was wonderful and Elsa couldn’t have had a better little sister.

After finishing dancing with her flames, Anna grinned at her sister. “Okay, Elsa! Anything you wanna see?”

“Me?” Elsa wondered. “I thought this was all you, Anna.”

The younger girl giggled. “Yeah, but I wanna make you happy! Just tell me what you want and I’ll make it with my fire!”

Elsa chuckled. “Okay…” She thought for a moment. “Can you make a snowman?”

“A snowman?” Anna wondered.

“Yeah, a snowman.”

“Oooh! A snowman made out of fire!” Anna chirped. “That sounds awesome!” She thought for a moment and quickly, began to manipulate the sparks of flames in her hands to conjure up a shape above her head. There the image formed, into the shape of a short, chubby snowman with twigs for arms and a pointed nose. Anna grinned, running around in awe of her own creation.

“Wow!” Elsa exclaimed. “You did it!”

“I made Olaf!” Anna responded.

“Olaf?”

Anna giggled. “Well he needed a name… and he seems a bit lonely, so I’ll make him some friends too!” She then started to manipulate her flames again, creating more images of various creatures to be Olaf’s friends. A reindeer, a large bulky snow monster, a small little lizard and even a mighty horse that she even animated, Elsa watching the steed gallop through the air of the room.

However, Elsa then noticed how large and complex the shapes were. They were getting too large to fit in the room… and she wasn’t sure if Anna could make any more. She could see how exhausted and tired Anna was starting to get. She needed to stop this before she hurt herself.

“Hey, Anna,” Elsa stated. “I think we can end it there for tonight… can you put out your flames now?”

“Uh… okay,” Anna replied nervously. She tried to hold out her hands… to her despair, she couldn’t reabsorb the flames back into herself. Her eyes widened the panic as the fiery shapes started to grow larger, their images distorting. What were once cute animals and snowmen were now twisted, infernal creatures.

“Anna shut it off!” Elsa exclaimed.

“I can’t… they’re out of my-”

KABOOOM!!!!

The enormous mass of fiery energy exploded right in front of Anna and Elsa’s faces, flame enveloping not just their room, but a good chunk of the castle as well. The wooden roof came down on top of them, pinning Anna down under a pillar as the room was ablaze.

Elsa was knocked back, surrounded by the burning flames. The older girl panicked, seeing her sister pinned down under the rubble. “Anna!”

“Elsa… help!” Anna pleaded, too weak to try and pull herself free.

“I’m coming!” Elsa called to her, grabbing Sir Jorgenbjorgen and rushing towards Anna.

However, unbeknownst to Elsa, another wooden beam above their heads was about to give way. Anna looked up and stared in horror as Elsa rushed towards her, knowing the beam was going to come down on her sister’s head.

And then, with a mighty CRACK, the beam came loose, tumbling down towards Elsa.

“Elsa look out!” Anna shouted. In that moment of panic, she fired a blast of flame that managed to knock her sister out of the way… and hit her in the face. her sister landed on the ground, the beam missing her by only a few inches. But as she lay unconscious, Anna saw a part of her blonde hair turn a charred grey.

“No!” Anna cried out. “NOOOOOO!!!”

xXx

Anna gasped, recoiling from the memory of the accident. She looked around in panic for a moment, almost thinking that Elsa was in danger. To her relief, however, Elsa was nowhere to be found and in the mirror, she saw that she was no longer that little girl, but a beautiful young woman.

A woman who today… was going to be crowned Queen of her kingdom.

For Anna, she had secretly been dreading this day. Mainly because of how anxious it made her feel and when her anxiety flared up, all that trauma she’d had over the years came bubbling to the service. It had all started several years earlier, when her parents admitted to Anna the truth about her birth… or rather Elsa’s birth.

Elsa had apparently been born of an affair from before Anna’s father had met her mother. As such, she and Elsa were actually half-siblings and only an heir of pure blood would inherit the throne. That meant Anna was the one who would be Queen, instead of Elsa like she’d always expected.

Though she had accepted the responsibility and had gladly gone through with all the years of study and preparation to become Arendelle’s monarch… she hadn’t expected to take the throne so young. The tender age of twenty-one. Even her father hadn’t become king nearly as young. But she couldn’t have predicted the future, that hers and Elsa’s parents had died tragically at sea six years ago.

Since then, Elsa had been the only family Anna had, but the soon to be Queen had shut her out a little, not wanting her to get too close. Though she hadn’t thankfully killed Elsa all those years ago, the incident had left its scars, in the form of the grey streak in Elsa’s perfect platinum blonde locks. And Anna was scared of hurting her still. Although all these years, she did long for her sister’s warmth…

Her magic had also grown stronger over the years, meaning Anna had to better control her powers. The incident all those years ago had practically burned half the castle down, though again, thankfully no one had been killed. While the castle was being rebuilt, mainly with stone and brick replacing the flimsy flammable wood, Anna and Elsa stayed with relatives from the north who understood magic and helped to train Anna to control her gifts.

And yet, even with all this control, after all this time, Anna felt like her powers were one step away from breaking loose and burning the whole kingdom down. She felt a deep shiver course through her veins as she merely thought about her magic losing control. Her hands started to warm up frantically, a sort of subconscious reaction to whenever these cold spells overcame her.

But Anna soon cooled her hands down, as she knew she wasn’t really cold. Just her anxious thoughts playing a trick on her. She sighed, knowing that today she’d likely have to put up with quite a few more cold spells.

She walked to the window, gazing at the courtyard and all the guests and foreign dignitaries that were arriving. Anna was happy to see so many new faces, all to cheer her on as Queen… and there was also the nagging thought of her becoming so overwhelmed that she would lose control.

No, Anna silenced her thoughts. I can handle this. I’m not afraid of my powers and I’m not afraid of being cold again.

As she looked out into the courtyard, she caught a glimpse of the massive ice sculpture in the yard. It depicted a massive beautiful dragon with wide transparent wings and a figure of Anna riding on its back. Elsa had so many hobbies, quite a lot of them artistic in nature. Her ice sculptures were among the most famous.

Seeing the sculpture made Anna relax as she thought of Elsa, how caring and sweet the older girl was. Over the years, she had grown to love Elsa, to be so grateful for her kindness. She didn’t deserve it… which made her feel rotten about the fact that she had developed feelings for her.

She hadn’t known when the feelings started, maybe while they were alone together following their parents’ deaths or perhaps when they were younger and discovering themselves.

But whenever it had happened, it had happened… and Anna was hopelessly in love with her sister. Which made her aversion to her warmth even more tragic. She adored Elsa deeply, despite them being sisters, and yet sometimes she was too scared to even hug her.

And it wasn’t exactly a secret. For the past few years, she’d been rejecting possible suitors… though there had been this young man who was the heir of the local ice harvester’s guild named Kristoff. She had tried something with him at least and while he had been sweet, Anna realised that in the end, she only had eyes for Elsa.

She looked at her gown, black and green, fit for a Queen. It fit her figure snugly and there was a long cape trailing behind her. She truly did look the part of being a Queen and hopefully… Anna could be the Queen Arendelle needed in these uncertain times.

Just then, Anna heard a knocking on her door.

“Your highness!” a servant called to her. “It’s time for the ceremony!”

Nodding Anna walked towards the door. “I’ll be right there,” she called back.

And so, a few moments later, Anna was walking down the aisle for her coronation ceremony, surrounded by the attended guests. As the choir sang our their hymns and all the guests gazed upon the soon-to-be crowned Queen, Anna meanwhile had only eyes for one person in particular.

It was Elsa, standing at the altar and watching her with a smile on her face. Anna looked at her again and beamed back, before her expression faltered once she saw the grey hairs on Elsa’s brow. Again, a reminder of her failure and her pain. Elsa would often tell people she’d been kissed by a fiery imp as a child as a way of explaining her hair, but Anna hated admitting the truth, that she was the cause.

Elsa stood in the chapel, watching Anna being walked to the altar for the ceremony. While she knew her sister looked gorgeous in her gown, she could see the intense regret and doubt on her younger sister’s face.

If she could do anything, it would be to relieve Anna of this burden and take the throne herself… but Elsa was a bastard. She had no right to the throne… but that didn’t mean it had to be forced on Anna. She knew how full of life the young girl was and didn’t want to see it wasted by being stuck inside with royal duties.

Yes, Anna would be a great Queen, but she had her whole life ahead of her… and that wasn’t counting the magical powers she’d been concealing all these years.

At least the pair of them looked completely gorgeous. The teal dress Elsa was wearing fitted her gloriously as well as the gloves, though of course, all the attention was on Anna and her stunning regal attire. She looked the part of a Queen perfectly.

As the Queen arrived at the altar, she shot Elsa a quick smile before the ceremony proceeded. Elsa knew she was trying her best and in her heart, she was proud of her. And yet, she still wished it was her taking the throne and not Anna. But Elsa was powerless, even if she was the eldest of the two sisters. Well, half-sisters, but did it really matter?

As Anna went and accepted the vows and promises of her birthright, kneeling before the altar as the bishop spoke, Elsa noticed the confidence in Anna’s voice. She was trying her best, bless her.

But Elsa just hoped Anna could hold it in until the end of the ceremony. This was all so much pressure on her, but she was proud of her baby sister for holding it this long. And then, the crown was finally placed on the Queen’s head.

It was beautiful, gold with several emerald jewels encrusted in it. As Anna took the orb and sceptre that were presented to her, she faced the crowd as the applauded rang out. For she was now Queen Anna of Arendelle, Sovereign of the north, worthy monarch of greatness.

But all Elsa could notice was the anxious expression of Anna’s face, as parts of her two objects started to glow red with heat. It took all of Anna’s effort not to melt the two objects in her hands. Quickly, Anna placed the orb and sceptre down, smiling at the gathered crowd.

At that, Anna and Elsa breathed a sigh of relief.

xXx

Later that evening, there was a grand ball held in Queen Anna’s honour, celebrating her ascension to the throne. It was truly a wonderful affair, with laughter and music and dancing, not to mention the food. As Anna walked out onto the stage after her name was called, she waved politely and beamed at her guests.

The most stressful part of the day was over and now she could enjoy herself. Eventually, Elsa was summoned to her side, the older woman waving at the crowd before striding to Anna’s side elegantly. Both sisters waved at the applauding crowd, Anna beaming with queenly radiance.

As the crowd went back to their festivities, there was a silence between the two sisters. Anna wasn’t exactly sure what to say, so it was Elsa who eventually broke the awkward pause.

“You look beautiful,” she whispered. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you,” Anna replied. “You’re not so bad yourself. A new dress?”

“One of Mother’s old ones,” Elsa told her. “So… how does it feel to be Queen?”

“It feels… different,” Anna admitted. “Not sure if I’m gonna get used to people calling me "your majesty.”

“You will, and I’ll be there for you,” Elsa replied. She smelled the air, sensing a familiar aroma filling her nostrils. “Is that… chocolate?”

“Mmmm yeah, smells amazing!” Anna chirped. “I can’t wait to gorge myself on it later.”

“Oh you and your appetite,” Elsa responded. “But… don’t you think you should dance a little first?”

“Who with?” Anna wondered, as she then saw Elsa holding out her hand. “Oh….”

The blonde woman smiled at her younger sister. “Would do me the honour of having your first dance as Queen with me, your majesty?”

Anna felt nervous for a moment. She was still wary of touching her sister, but she knew that as Queen, it would be rude to refuse such a dance. Besides… she had longed to dance with Elsa like this. She’d even dreamed of it. She just had to be careful when it came to actually touching Elsa.

“I would,” Anna replied. “Gladly.”

Elsa then took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Placing her hand around her waist, Elsa started to waltz with Anna, smiling at her. For a moment, all of Anna’s fears simply washed away as she was lost in Elsa’s embrace. But she shook her head, trying to remain in control.

The last thing she wanted was for her powers to flare up and her hands to burn that dress off Elsa… not that she wasn’t already doing that with her eyes. Anna felt ashamed to think of Elsa in such a manner, especially at that moment. But Elsa was clearly the more beautiful of the pair. Beautifuller? Was that even a word?

Her sister twirled with her, grinning at her as they danced. The eyes of the crowd watched them, and Anna was still desperate to remain in control. She was feeling the chill again, the horrible sensation rising up within her. But she kept staring at Elsa, not wanting to ruin the moment.

“Bet you’re glad I took those lessons,” Elsa chimed in.

“Y-Yes,” Anna nervously replied. “Can we… go somewhere for a moment? I think I need some space.”

“Are you alright?” Elsa asked her.

“Fine!” Anna chimed in. “Just need some… air.”

Elsa nodded, and then they parted. The two sisters made their way off the dance floor and quickly into a side corridor from the room, the crowd completely unaware of their departure.

Heading through the hallways, they soon arrived at the balcony overlooking the gardens.

No one would disturb them there.

“Finally, we’re alone,” Anna admitted, the Queen standing on the balcony overlooking the castle’s beautiful gardens. While she had loved being at the party, not to mention dancing with Elsa, she needed this moment to just calm down.

Fortunately now, the chill inside of her was gone and there were no worries of any flareups.

Elsa sat with her, smiling at her. Anna truly was beautiful… but Elsa felt that at the moment Anna was still carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

“Are you alright?” Elsa asked her.

“Yes…. I’m feeling much better,” Anna replied. “Sorry that I cut our dance short.”

“It’s fine,” Elsa assured her. “I… could sense you were feeling a little stressed. Your powers aren’t flaring up, are they?”

“No, thankfully,” Anna admitted. “Look… can we just talk about something else?”

“Okay..” Elsa replied. “Do you… have any idea what your first act as Queen will be?”

"Oh, I’m not sure yet,” Anna admitted. “There’s just… so much I have to do now. I don’t even know where I’m supposed to start with all this ruling the kingdom stuff.” “You’ll have me,” Elsa said assuredly. “I didn’t spend my life studying to just sit around doing nothing all day.”

“There are your ice sculptures,” Anna remarked. “The one you made in the courtyard of that dragon is gorgeous.”

“You know what I mean,” Elsa told her sister. “Remember how we promised? When you’re Queen, I’d be your right hand… and I’m offering that hand to you.”

A cold shiver ran down Anna’s spine again, the all too familiar sensation. Yes, she wanted to take Elsa’s hand again, to accept her warmth… but even after all these years, she was scared of letting go of her powers again, of hurting Elsa again. The sight of the charred hairs on Elsa’s forehead reminded her of it all.

“No, I’ll be fine,” Anna insisted, but she could already feel the fire inside starting to get loose again.

Elsa could see that Anna was starting to get worked up. “No, you’re stressing yourself out, again, Anna. I can see it from here.”

“Elsa, I’m alright!” Anna argued. “I will be able to handle this! You don’t need to worry about me! I’m not a little girl any more, I’m Queen and-”

“And what? Only you can do this by yourself?” Elsa finished.

Anna stopped, hugging herself. She exhaled, trying to mentally warm herself up, to feel in control of her powers again. Even after gaining much better control of them after all these years, she was still frustrated that she was vulnerable to her own insecurities.

Elsa stared at her sister. “You’re… You’re still worried about hurting me again, aren’t you?”

Anna nodded. “I… I’m sorry… It’s stupid. It was so many years ago and I should have overcome it. I mean, I got my powers under control, I should be capable of this. I shouldn’t have freaked out on the dance floor.”

"Yes, you did get your powers under control,” Elsa stated. “But Anna… are you under control?”

Anna wasn’t sure how to answer that. Or rather, she did know how to answer that , but just didn’t want to say it. She was the Queen, she was meant to be under control. She hated feeling so vulnerable, so insecure. That wasn’t what a Queen was… but right now, she wasn’t a queen.

She was just a scared, stressed out young woman… who deeply wanted her sister’s warmth.

Elsa opened her arms, smiling kindly at Anna. “Come here,” she said softly. “Just let me hold you. I’ll take your pain away. Just let it go.”

“No!… I’m not in a good way right now,” Anna argued.

“All the more reason for you to be cared for, and shown love and warmth,” Elsa insisted.

“I could hurt you again!” the queen shouted.

“No you won’t,” Elsa stated. “I know you, Anna. I knew you from the moment you were born. You would never hurt a fly.” And then Elsa pulled the Queen into an embrace, hugging her tightly. Anna panicked for a moment… and then, it all stopped. The pain, the anguish, the anxiety… for one brief moment, it vanished.

Holding onto Elsa tighter, Anna shed a few tears, feeling her sister’s gloved hand stroke her. She felt warmth, love, compassion from her sister… and she didn’t feel scared about hurting her. She did have everything under control, she did feel at peace… and it was thanks to her sister.

As they pulled away, Anna stared into Elsa’s eyes. She was lost in her beauty, her warmth, that smile. Even those charred hairs in her perfect blonde locks didn’t detract from her gorgeous appearance. And in place of the anxiety she’d felt, Anna felt her attraction grow for her sister.

And then on impulse… she kissed her. Her hands cupped Elsa’s cheeks and letting out a passionate moan, Anna kissed her sister deeply, holding her close. Elsa panicked, quickly pushing Anna away. Both women stared at one another with flushed faces.

“I’m so sorry,” Anna whispered. “I didn’t…”

“You… You kissed me,” Elsa stated. “But, Anna… we’re….”

“I don’t care if we’re sisters,” Anna admitted. “You give me warmth and love… and I want that love. I need that love. I need your love if I’m going to be a good queen. I want you to keep me warm again… just like when we were kids.”

Elsa didn’t know what to say. She just stared at Anna completely dumbfounded. It felt wrong, that kiss had felt wrong but she knew that Anna needed this. She did feel guilty… but if she would be Anna’s lover, if she could be her warmth then Anna would be at ease again.

“You want me to be your warmth?” Elsa asked.

Anna nodded. “Please.”

Then, Elsa smiled. “I’ll do it, your majesty. I’ll keep you warm.” And then, she cupped Anna’s cheeks and kissed her passionately, Anna holding her as the kiss filled the Queen with warmth and love.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #332

i’m even more tired than before to try and think up song lyrics, i’m pasting from Word and then fucking off to bed lmao.

What was the last video message you received on your phone? I think it was a clip of Doris (Sara's beardie) eating and just being her perfect self? Was your last birthday cake homemade or store bought? Store-bought. One thing you miss about middle school? Shit, nothing. Middle school was the worst. Do you have any shirts signed by famous people? No. Have you ever entered an art competition? Yes. Would you ever pierce yourself? No. I am very much about having a professional do your body mods/art. Plus, I have tremors in my hands. Do you live in a safe neighbourhood? Supposedly. We haven't lived here nearly long enough to know. What is the last thing you did that shocked someone? /shrug Do you often find yourself questioning your future? Only always. Have you ever been for a ride in the back of a truck? Yeah. Do you like your license photo? I hate my permit picture. Are you into superheroes? Who’s your favorite? Not very, but I like 'em enough. I always say my favorite is Deadpool, but I know he's technically an anti-hero, but whatever. If you don't include him, uhhhh... maybe Spiderman. Have you started watching any new TV shows recently? No. Have you ever been able pet a normally wild animal, like a tiger or dolphin? No. :( At least, not to my recollection. Have you ever eaten snow? Yeah. There's actually a winter treat 'round here that you make with snow and sugar called snow cream. Good stuff. What is the messiest area in your home? Right now, the spare room/my wanna-be "office." What’s your favorite computer game genre? Still horror, like video games. Do you have any exes your parents never liked? No. Have you received financial help from your parents in the past 5 years? I'm completely financially dependent on them still. Are you a fast or a slow eater? I eat like, stupid fast, but without being messy. People *cough*Mom*cough* will absolutely point it out, but I seriously can't help it. Making a conscious effort to eat slow feels way too weird. What was the last thing you purchased from a small local business? I don't know. Is there anyone in your family/household whom you frequently argue with? No. Have you ever used chewing tobacco? Ew, no. Tell me what's on your mind? I've been considering yet again reaching out to some tattoo parlors and asking if they're open to hiring someone to handle the front desk and take care of business besides actually performing piercing and tattooing, given my tremors. My group therapy has kinda been encouraging me to use the possibility for social exposure, and besides, I'm very comfortable in the environment and just general aura of tat parlors. I'm sure I'd have to answer the phone, handle money, and obviously talk to costumers, but I know and accept that. I've been at such a stagnant point with my social anxiety in particular that I have to start pushing back harder, and doing this I feel would be one of the most relaxed, social job positions I can hopefully handle. I don't dare to even try this though until I get vaccinated to protect my immunocompromised mom. Writing this all out has actually been pretty encouraging about this idea... Do you wish you never dated someone you dated? Yeah, Tyler. It was such a "I'm lonely and he was nice in high school, so we'll try it" situation. I got nothing from it. Are you scared of growing old alone? Pretty badly. What are you listening to right now? I'm listening to/semi-watching John Wolfe play the remaster of Resident Evil 2. What breed was the last dog you saw? He was a German shepherd. Would you ever go swimming during a thunderstorm? No. Any time a thunderstorm was brewing and I was in the pool, I'd always get out. What is the next concert you will attend? Mom and I plan to see Ozzy when/if he reschedules his tour after he had to cancel with his Parkinson's diagnosis. What was the name of the last pet of yours that died? Teddy. :/ What's the highest science class you have taken? I don't know, actually. What makes you squeal like a school girl? No shame, seeing Mark and Amy do something cute together actually does this, lmao. What’s your favorite symbol? (i.e. the pentagram, the cross, etc.) Do fictional ones count? Because in that case, the Halo of the Sun from the Silent Hill franchise. I'm getting it tattooed somewhere at some point, I'm thinking the left side of my neck. I'm either gonna fashion it in a way where it looks branded on or carved into me. Have you ever been on anti depressants? For all of my pre-teen, teen, and some of my adult life. Apparently, I've only had one truly educated psychiatrist out of no less than a dozen I'd seen, because he fixed me right up. He taught me that those who suffer from bipolarity should avoid anti-depressants; they ramp up your bipolar symptoms. Instead, mood stabilizers are favorable. And what do you know, after I was prescribed a stabilizer and a catalyst for that medication, my depression decreased dramatically and became handleable. Have you ever starved yourself? Kinda. What’s the stupidest name you’ve ever given a pet? I had a guinea pig named Harry Potter. For no particular reason lmao. I'm not even a Harry Potter fan. Do you have nice legs? God no. Do you like fedoras? Okay so I know I am in the strong minority, but I actually do, haha. What is your favorite food group? Carbs. @_@ Have you ever got told that you should be a model? No, but one of the most flattering indirect compliments I've ever gotten was being mistaken for one. Jason's phone wallpaper was one of my favorite pictures of myself with my first snake, and someone asked him if I was a model. ;v;' What song is in a language you don’t speak, but you love it anyway? "Donaukinder" by Rammstein is one of my faves. Who’s a villain you sympathize with and why? SOBS Darkiplier bc his origins are so damn tragic and unfair. What book do you think should be directed as a film? Was The Giver ever made into one? I don't remember that book well, but I do recall it being absolutely beautiful. Have you ever found a stranger’s note somewhere? If so, what did it say? No. Have you ever edited Wikipedia? No. Have you ever edited any other wiki? Yeah. I have thousands on the Silent Hill wiki, where I'm one of the admins. I'm also a content moderator at the Team Ico (Shadow of the Colossus devs) one. Every now and again I used to go on the meerkats wiki as well, where I mainly fixed the fucking nightmarish grammar. Very briefly, I edited at the Dragons of Atlantis wiki as well. Do you get scared when you know some virus or sickness is being passed? Not very, but of course I still acknowledge the risk and am more conscious of hand washing and stuff. What popular social media platforms AREN’T you on? Snapchat, I don't actually use my Twitter, I don't have a personal Instagram... There may be more, idk. Is TikTok a "social media platform?" Because I don't have that, either. What was the name of the first porcelien doll you got? Never had one, given I was afraid of dolls as a kid. What’s your favorite Paramore song? "Decode." Would you be happy with a life without romance? To be entirely honest, I'd feel like I was missing something. Was your childhood happy? Mostly. What fundamentally matters do you? Love, kindness, peace, all that gooey stuff. Is true world peace ever possible? As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think so. The human population is far too big to come to a unanimous agreement on anything. Do you hold yourself to higher standards than you hold others? Yeah. Would you ever own a pet black widow spider? No. I'm getting more into the idea of owning invertebrates (I jabber enough about wanting tarantulas, and there are others, like mantises, I'm interested in as pets), but black widows, I'm not into the idea of having. Too venomous for me to be comfortable risking. If you have a job, what is the longest shift that you've worked? N/A Do you know all of the words to "Bohemian Rhapsody?" FUCK YES I DO. ^ Do you sing it with all of the different voices? sho nuff Do you own more than one copy of a certain book? No. Do you like interpreting poetry or just reading it for fun? Both. I love symbolism, so I get joy out of digging for subtle meanings in poems. Do you have a favorite Dr. Suess book? Yeah, it was always Green Eggs and Ham. Do you watch The Walking Dead? If so, favorite character? Not the show, but I've watched let's plays of the games, haha. In which case Clementine is inarguably one of the best female characters in a video game universe. Who has/had the most mature romantic relationship you’ve seen with your own eyes? Uhhh. I mean I never saw them much, but probably my late grandmother and her last husband. He was fucking incredible to her, and Grammy adored him as well. They helped each other so much and just obviously had the purest love between them. When was the last time you got something for free (legally)? What was it & have you enjoyed it so far? Lmao do balls in Pokemon GO count? Their occasional free boxes are the reason I can play the game because PokeStops are essentially non-existent here, so yes. What is the one fruit you can’t stand to eat? How about vegetable? The first one that came to me were oranges. I enjoy orange juice, but I just caaaaannot with the white veiny shit that you can't totally get off when peeling it. Without that, I might actually enjoy them, but idk. As for vegetable, asparagus is absolutely abhorrent. When’s the last time you actually recited the pledge? If you aren’t American, do/did you have anything similar in your country that you do during a time at school? Probably not since high school. Last person you shared food with? Ummm I have no idea. It's really just Mom and me here and we eat our own stuff. What was the last song you heard for the first time and enjoyed? I believe it waaas... "Down In The Park" by Marilyn Manson, maybe. If your life was a TV show, what would be the theme song? My inner high school emo just screamed "All Signs Point to Lauderdale" by AD2R. Who are some of your favorite female fictional characters, and why? Gahdamn, there's a lot. I don't feel like going through a mental list in my head and then describing why. A character (in anything) you wish hadn’t been killed off? Vol'jin; I think the entire WoW fanbase will forever be pissed about it. It was THE most "lul we dunno what 2 do w/ him anymore, let's let a totally random, unnamed, unimportant demon kill him" like what the fuck, Blizz. Most of his "oomph" was in the book, and I just really wish they'd done so much more with him in the game. Has anything “cute” happened in the past week? Off the top of me noggin, no. When did you last say “I love you”? Did you mean it? Yesterday to Sara. OF course I did. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times? Hi, PTSD, how are ya. Have you ever slept all day? Essentially. When I was on a larger dose of my anxiety med, I physically couldn't stay up for barely even five minutes, and when I'd lie back down, boom, I was OUT. I stayed on that dosage for I think just that one day, it was so bad. Can you have kids? Well, I have a functioning menstrual cycle, so I would assume so. Doesn't mean I will, though. What colors of mascara have you worn on your lashes? Only black. Do you like eating sour things? Hell yeah, I love sour stuff, candy in particular. Do you like pickles? fuuuuck yeah Did you ever have a really close friend move away? Yeah, in elementary school. I feel bad I can't remember her name at the moment... What's the most creative thing you've ever done? I mean, I guess the things I've written in RP. What's the most creative thing someone has done for you? For me? I don't really know. Do you like to watch ghost-hunting shows? Sure, they're some of my favorites. What’s something you’d like to be better at? Social interaction. Have you ever stayed up to talk to someone who was sad? Yeah. Do you think you would make a good parent? No. I know I wouldn't. The only time I ever wanted kids was with Jason, and honestly, I really hope I don't end up with a man because I never want to deal with that urge again and make a mistake. I'm just in no way emotionally fit to be a mother. How many best friends do you have? Just one. What do you cry over the most? My PTSD, honestly. I never sob about it anymore, just shed some tears. What language did/do you take in high school? Latin for one semester, then all four available for German. Which sports do you follow? None. Who was the last person you talked about marriage or having kids with? About marriage, Sara. Kids, the subject was lightly touched upon with Girt, though "with" was never a part of it, but obviously implied seeing as we were dating with long-term in mind. Have you ever been in a house fire? No, thankfully. Have you ever made out for one straight hour? them is rookie numbers Are you any good at remembering phone numbers? No. I literally don't even know my own, nor my mother's. I need to fix that. Who is your best friend of the opposite sex? Girt. Do you have a bookshelf? If so, just one or how many? No. If I gave you twenty bucks what would you do with it? Save it to go towards Venus' terrarium. Is there a movie from your childhood that you still watch today? Well of course! I'm unashamed to watch any "kids" movie I enjoy, like Disney ones. Most "kids" movies tend to be better than those intended for adults, it seems... Are you afraid of mice? Oh no, I adore mice and I think had a pair as pets before I got rats. What type of souvenir do you usually purchase when on vacation? I can't really answer this; I haven't gone on nearly enough vacations to develop a theme. I can say confidently though it'd probably be something small. If you could see any musical on Broadway right now, what would it be? I don't enjoy musicals. Have you ever watched Doctor Who? One or two with Sara, yes. I know we at least watched the weeping angels episode. If you read, which book or series did you enjoy most as a child? Warriors by S.E. Hinton. Sometimes I wanna get back into them, but I am YEARS behind and more into Wings of Fire anyway, so. I don't read nearly enough for both. How do you get rid of your hiccups? Literally no trick seems to work for me. I just suffer lmao.

[acraftedmistake]

A Person Who Has Never Played MCSM Writes A Story About MCSM Chp. 12

YEEE CHP 12  I may be tired but I had a BANGER time writing this chapter..... 

Enjoy!! 

Uncomfortable. That was the only word Jesse could use to perfectly describe the nave he sat in. Pure, unfiltered discomfort.

Two days after Lukas’ funeral, Nell came knocking on his door in the middle of the day saying her ‘support group’ was getting together soon, and offered to walk him there. As she guided him out of Obsidian Town and through the seemingly infinite field of grass, past the northwest forest where the once-active shrine laid, a horrible realization consumed Jesse’s mind: he’s going to be surrounded by enemies with no protection. No sword, no arrows, nothing.

He had been too consumed with the loss of Lukas to properly plan his visit to the ‘support group’, he had practically forgotten about Nell’s offer as well, but there was no point in dreading his past poor planning now.

Here he sat in the nave, hundreds upon hundreds of feet below the surface and away his friends, of The Awakening.

Jesse was unsure when the service would begin. Every eternal minute he waited was another nail being impaled into his head, telling him this was the worst decision he’s made in his entire life.

What was he doing here?

‘You’re here for Lukas.’ He reminded himself. Not just Lukas, but for Aiden, Maya, Gill, Cassie, and Stella too. They were his friends as well.

Nell must’ve seen Jesse’s hands shake as they rested on his legs, she reached and held one of them, giving him a smile. Jesse gave her a small, forced smile in return.

Jesse was seated in the middle of a bench, pressed between Nell and a middle aged man, in the third row of the nave. There were seven rows, fourteen including the other benches on the left side, and they were all packed. He scanned the nave and everyone in here. They were all sitting and talking to one another. Not a single person was standing. If Jesse attempted to leave now, they’d all notice.

The chattering of the people, which was the only minimal source of comfort Jesse had, turned to hushes, then to silence.

Jesse brought his attention to the front of the room where the stage stood, it had hanging banners, red flowers in pots, redstone torches aligned on the walls, and three men who stood behind the podium. The names of the eldest, white haired man and the older, dark skinned man to the right had slipped Jesse’s mind, but he remembered the horribly pale, blond man to the left of them: Cecil. Out of the three, Jesse, Aiden, and the others fought Cecil--back when he and Radar worked together--the most.

The eldest man, with a smile on his wrinkled face, began talking. Jesse couldn’t listen. He can’t. He tore his hand out of Nell’s and gripped onto the edge of the bench in front of him, focusing on the stone floor below, breathing in and out of the mouth hoping it’d calm his nerves. He remembered the older men being blind, but Cecil wasn’t. What if Cecil spotted him in the crowd? What would he do? Would he run? Fight his way through?

Why didn’t he tell his friends where he was going? Why didn’t he tell them about Nell? He should have. One of them could have joined him. He’d feel safer. He’d be safer.

Jesse heard the creaking of wood followed by tens of footsteps. He brought his eyes back up to see the people from the first row form a line by the small staircase that led to the stage.

“Are you alright?” He heard Nell ask.

He nodded as he watched a person step on stage, approach a basket set on the podium, place something inside, nodded, then stepped down. Another person repeated this process.

“What’s going on?” Jesse asked, continuing to watch the people.

“People’s payment.” Nell answered.

Jesse’s body jolted. Payment?

“I didn’t bring any money--!” He felt the panic begin to rise again.

“Relax, you’ll be okay.” Nell hushed him, “You can ‘pay’ with a confession.”

The people of the second row stood and came to the stage as the first row returned to their seats.

“What? What does that mean? What should I even confess?”

“When you step up there, put your hand over the basket and tell a truth.” She vaguely explained.

Jesse looked back at the people. Maybe him sitting in the third row made it hard to properly see what the people were doing, but it seemed everyone was giving money. He didn’t want to be the only one. What if he let important information slip? The men heard his voice before, they were bound to know it was Jesse. Maybe he could deepen his voice, confess in one quick breath, then leave. He still needed to come up with a confession, even a white lie would do.

Nell nudged him, “Don’t worry, people have confessed to some pretty awful things before.”

She directed his attention to the people sitting beside him, who had risen from their seats, and began walking to the stage. Nell hoisted Jesse up by his arm and began guiding him to the line.

“If you confess to something embarrassing, I’ll be sure to make my confession worse.” Nell promised. Her tone was optimistic and fueled his anxiety rather than helped it.

Jesse prayed for the line to go slowly, that the truths people told would be long and time consuming, but instead he found himself moving closer to the stairs every few seconds. Each step he took, he could make out more of the men’s appearances. Every strand of hair, every crack and wrinkle in their faces, the scars of severe burn marks, and every other despicable detail. They repulsed Jesse.

When one person stepped off the stage, the men would turn to the next person coming on. Each time they turned their head, Jesse swore Cecil’s eyes locked onto his.

“Thank you.” Jesse heard the oldest say to the middle aged man. When the man walked off, they brought their heads to Jesse’s direction.

‘You’ve fought them before.’ Jesse told himself as he put his weight on the first step.

‘Just be quick. Get it over with.’ He dragged his feet across the wooden planks, his eyes beholding the men before him. He saw Cecil had now closed his eyes, a light smile on his face. The same smile he wore whenever he witnessed Jesse and his friends in misery.

Jesse stood in front of the podium and hovered his shaking hand over the full basket.

“I once…” Why was his voice so brittle?  

The dark skinned man lifted his head upon hearing Jesse’s voice.

Jesse swallowed, “I once broke my friend’s sword. I felt awful, so I made him a new one. He never found out.”

He pulled his hand back, ready to leave, but the man on the right stepped close.

“I don’t believe I recognize your voice.” His voice was deep and deceitfully calm. A smile was on his face, and his foggy eyes created the illusion of softness.

“Is this your first gathering?” The man asked, his hands were clasped together.

He doesn’t want to do this anymore. Please. Please let him sit back down. Please let him go.

“Yes.” Jesse answered quietly, looking down.

“Ah, it is always wonderful hearing a new voice.” The man raised one hand and placed it on Jesse’s shoulder. Jesse’s body stiffened.

“I am Brenner. Who might you be?”

Jesse felt all eyes in the nave pierce through him. He could feel them watching. Don’t panic. Don’t cause a scene. Don’t.

His mind couldn’t create a false name in time, “Jesse.”

Brenner’s smile grew, he pulled Jesse close and spun him around to face the crowd.

“We have a new member in our family!” Announced Brenner as he held Jesse close.

Jesse looked on in horror as the audience stood up and cheered for him. His eyes darted over the crowd; from complete strangers, to kids, to elders, to people who lived in his town, they all watched him. Clapped for him. Celebrated his presence.

He wanted to go home.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jess studied what little of the shrine he could make out. Had it not been for the sunlight outside, it’d be nearly impossible to see the ruined shrine’s interior. The inside actually looked far nicer than what Jess imagined. When he heard the words ‘abandoned shrine’, he expected massive cobwebs, walls seconds away from crumbling and a ceiling moments away from caving in, or giant, collapsed columns with their remains spilled over the floor. But amazingly, the place was in decent condition.

The walls and floors had minor cracks throughout them, the biggest being those the size of Jess’ arm, and there were four, sturdy columns in the room that supported the ceiling. Speaking of which, chunks of the ceiling were missing, most likely due to the quakes throughout the years, and had fallen onto the ground and the benches. Rain must’ve seeped through the cracks above, as mold had formed in the corners of the room, on the benches, and on the thin, red carpet that led to a broken, battered stage at the end. An odd, earthly scent clashed with a powerful, rusty odor which Jess’ stomach wasn’t sure how to feel about.

“This place’s definitely seen better days.” Gill said aloud. His voice echoed through what was once a nave.

Maya took out two torch sticks and struck them against the wall, setting both ablaze. The room brightened, tinted orange by the fires, and two doorways became visible. One was on the left of the ruined stage while the other was in the center of the left wall. Neither appeared welcoming.

“Here.” Maya handed Aiden a torch.

The four followed the moldy carpet past the benches then stopped in front of the stage. Jess turned towards it, beholding the torn banners and the eerie symbol placed between them. Something about seeing the symbol in a wall of a forgotten shrine, luminated by a flickering source of light, made Jess feel as though the shrine were haunted.

He dragged his eyes away from the symbol and locked onto the door-hole by the stage.

“Should we start our search there?” Jess pointed to the hole.

Aiden glanced at the door then shook his head, “Nah, we wanna go through that one.”

He pointed to the other doorway, which was more refined and had a wooden frame unlike the one Jess suggested.

Aiden walked around the benches and headed to the doorway, the others followed behind.

“I’m not sure where that leads to, but I do know this hallway branches off to a bunch of different rooms.” Aiden explained, extending his hand with the torch in front of him as he entered said-hall.

Jess followed behind Aiden, Gill and Maya behind him, small bits of ember occasionally flying into his hair. They truly needed the torches, not only because of how dark the hallway was, but because the smoke overpowered the putrid smell of rust and mold.

It didn’t take much walking for them to soon encounter their first door, however, they didn’t enter just yet.

“Hold on, I want to check something.” Aiden said, and continued walking through the narrow, pitch black hall, the light of his torch revealing five more worn down, wooden doors as he passed them. The brightness of the fire faded the further he went, but before he became completely consumed by the darkness, fire and all, he stopped. His whispered cussing bounced off the walls.

“You okay?” Gill asked, squinting at the flame of Aiden’s torch, barely making out his silhouette.

“Yeah.” Aiden huffed, returning to his friends, “Remember those stairs that led to the real big room underneath?”

“Uh huh?” Gill responded.

“It’s been completely blocked off by rubble. Even if we managed to move the rocks, I’m pretty sure the trip down wouldn’t be safe.”

“That’s alright.” Maya said.

She glanced at the walls, “We got six rooms to search through. They should have something.”

“Exactly.” Aiden looked at the three.

“We’ll go in pairs. Maya and Gill, you check out the rooms on the right side. Jess and I will go through the ones on the left.”

“Got it.” Maya approached the first door she saw and swung it open with her free hand.

Gill followed behind, “We’ll holler if we spot anythin’!”

Aiden didn’t waste any time, he opened the first left door at the beginning of the hallway and tilted his head, signalling Jess to follow. Not that Jess needed to be told, he was already rushing inside, eager to see what the first door had to offer.

What laid in the room they entered were the remains of a small library. Towering bookshelves covered the walls, a few had fallen to the floor and broke into pieces, and were filled with dusty books of a variety of sizes. A tattered ladder with missing steps leaned against a bookshelf which stood beside an old writing desk, who had clumps of black ink all over it’s old, wooden top. Chests, all closed, were placed in front of bookcases by the desk, and had a few books on their tops. The stone floor had a large, round, torn carpet with intricate golden-yellow and deep red designs sewn into it, along with the symbol Jess saw before. Despite how worned it seemed, the carpet was still in good condition, and looked as though it took months upon months to make. It made Jess wonder why someone would leave it behind.

By the door they came through, there were two unlit torches on each side. Aiden fed fire to them; the combined strength of the three flames revealed tiny symbols painstakingly carved into the walls. As Aiden started removing the books from the chests, Jess brought himself closer to what walls weren’t covered by the shelves and started running his fingers over the symbols. As he felt each bump, scratch, and tiny hole thoughtfully chiseled into each unique symbol, he imagined what Olivia would do if she beheld what he saw.

She would get on her knees, fingers would carefully trace each individual line that created each miniscule detail, trying to figure out what each shape represented or what the shape was meant to be. She’d wonder how long the symbols have been around for, and how important they were to the people who created them.

Speaking of wondering…

“How many shrines are there?” Jess asked his first question.

Aiden looked up from the chest and thought for a moment, “Around Obsidian Town or around the world?”

Jess slowly raised his brows, “Do you know how many shrines are around the world?”

“No.” Aiden chuckled, “But there’s four known shrines around our town, I wouldn’t be surprised if that number shrunk with all those quakes over time though.”

Aiden moved to the next chest to the left of him after he found nothing, and began digging around, “Apparently The Awakening has been ditching old shrines and building up new ones whenever something goes slightly wrong for years.”

His fingers reached the bottom and felt a soft, sandy substance, causing his eyes to brighten.

“They did it again after we beat ‘em, nice to know some things never change.” A smug smile spread across his face. He took his hand out of the chest and saw the tips of his fingers coated in a red, glittering dust. He grabbed the leather pouch from his jacket’s pocket, opened it, and carefully started transferring the redstone powder into the bag.

Jess, not wanting to stand around and only ask questions, brought himself to a chest on the farther left side of the library, and started searching as well.

“Was there a specific reason why these were built?” He asked, hand digging through the forgotten items, “Are they all made for worshipping The Hero, or is each one built with a specific reason? Do people live in them?”

“I dunno about people living in them--” He halted and swore under his breath as the red powder slipped through his fingertips and clouded his vision red.

“You’d probably have to ask Hadrian and Mevia for more details on shrines. Or Gill.”

Aiden scraped as much of the powder he could and poured it into the pouch, “Most of them were made for worshipping. The Shrine of Eyes? Worshipping, but was also used for attempted summonings.”

Jess remained still for a minute, staring aimlessly into the chest as he thought to himself.

“Why do people worship The Hero?”

Aiden opened his mouth but quickly closed it, clenching his teeth.

“That’s…” He pressed his lips together, “We only know the surface level of The Awakening. Radar knows a lot more, but he probably won’t share much.”

He closed the chest and tightened the strings of the pouch, “The Awakening has this crazy theory that The Hero is a god who’s been banished to another dimension--another universe?”

Aiden stopped to think, then continued, “He was made to represent the worst in everyone, the exact opposite of the Impossible Man. I also remember a lot of people linking the earthquakes we get with The Hero judging us and ‘trying to escape’ his banishment. There’s a lotta theories out there.”

He stood up, “So my only guess is The Awakening hopes them being suck-ups will be enough to make The Hero spare our world. It’s such a weird rabbithole I don’t wanna get myself into.”

“All I need to know is they’re doing bad things,” Aiden slammed the chest closed, “and we gotta stop them.”

“Don’t they have a lot of members?” Jess tilted his head, “Isn’t it overwhelming?”

“Didn’t stop us last time.” Aiden grinned, but his pride was short lived as he remembered something.

“But first we need to get our Jesse back.” Aiden mumbled as he dragged his feet to the next chest.

Jess could see a sadness form in Aiden’s eyes as he began searching through the chest.

‘Ask another question. Change the subject.’ He told himself. Jess glanced at the carpet then back at Aiden.

“What’s the uh, what’s that symbol supposed to be?” He pointed to said-symbol in the center of the carpet.

Aiden turned to the rug, “Oh, that. It’s supposed to be The Awakening’s empty eye. It’s their way of showing loyalty.”

Jess focused on the empty eye and scrunched his brow, “How?”

“Shoot, you’ve never seen it before, right. Well it’s--it’s when you do this.”

Jess watched Aiden begin to roll his pupils to the back of his head, further and further till only his thin veins were visible on his empty, white eyes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stella tapped her foot impatiently, her worried expression growing. Cassie Rose was leaning against the wall by the door of the old, wooden house, her hands in her hoodie’s pockets. Olivia stood in front of the door, staring at the “Closed” sign, the once bold red bleached by the sunlight.

All Olivia could do was keep facing the store, she could hear the footsteps and chatter of the citizens walking along the road, which only made her bury her face into the hoodie more, praying no one would recognize her. She still couldn’t wrap her head around the fact the people here were active at night, just imagining people enjoying their breakfasts and heading off to work at 9 PM weirded her out.

“Maybe we came at a bad time.” Stella said out loud, her fingers picking at the skin of her face.

“He said he’ll be here in a few minutes, we just gotta wait.” Cassie tried to reassure her friend.

“I know, I know.” She took a couple of deep breaths to settle her nerves. These past minutes felt like hours.

Cassie looked at Olivia, “You got a Hadrian and Mevia back at your place?”

Olivia quickly glanced at the redhead, “Yes, they were the more… Interesting people.”

“Yeah?”

Olivia kept going, “They ran games, liked sending people to mines, sadistic--oh my gosh, they were so twisted. I think they were the worst senior citizens I’ve ever met.”

Cassie bursted out into laughter, Stella didn’t comment on Olivia’s description. She didn’t need to. Her bugged eyes said it all. Olivia’s cheeks got hot.

Cassie took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes, “That’s great. Would love to meet them one day.” She said through chuckles.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, our Hadrian and Mevia are nothing like your’s. They just run a little shop and dress a little weird.” Stella said, clasping her hands together.

Olivia grinned, “Mine’s dressed pretty weird too, it’s nice to know they have one thing in common.”

Cassie Rose opened her mouth, ready to say more, but the doorknob started jiggling. Faint clicking sounds could be heard on the other side. Stella and Olivia stepped back, and the door swung wide open, the small bell tied to the knob dangled wildly.

“Hello, girls!” Greeted a jolly looking Hadrian, “Sorry bout the wait, I--”

Hadrian’s eyes locked onto Olivia’s face. His body froze, his mouth hung open, and before Stella or Cassie had the chance to say anything, he swiftly slammed the door in their faces. The three stood there awkwardly and exchanged concerned expressions with one another.

Stella leaned forward, ready to knock again, but Hadrian cracked the door open and barely brought his face out.

“You…” He said in a whisper, gazing at Olivia, “You wouldn’t happen to be from… From another universe, would you?”

Olivia blinked, Stella and Cassie looked as surprised as she did.

“Who did--” Stella sputtered, “How did you--”

“Hadrian? Who are you talking to?” The four heard Mevia coming closer. Hadrian jumped and shut the door again. The girls listened to the muffled conversation; Hadrian said no one important was there, Mevia kept pushing to see who it was, Hadrian kept refusing, then the two started shoving each other. The ruckus continued growing until Mevia successfully kicked the door open.

She let out a loud gasp and pointed to Olivia, “Please, please tell me you’re from another universe.”

Olivia saw Mevia’s barely contained smile and wondered if she really needed to answer her.

“I am.”

Mevia was beaming. She slowly turned to Hadrian, who was clutching onto the door frame, her smile growing stronger.

“Don’t do it.” He pointed at the blue haired lady. Mevia opened her mouth.

“Don’t you say it.” He growled.

“I…”

“Mevia, I swear to all things possible--”

“I was right~!” She sang, her finger jabbing into Hadrian’s arm.

He hung his head in defeat and loudly groaned, “You were right.”

“I’m confused, what’s going on?” Stella questioned, giving the two a baffled expression.

Hadrian pushed up his glasses, “I’ll tell ya inside.”

As the girls followed the man into the store, squeezing their way through the tight spaces and carefully stepping over the scattered candles, he went on to explain what had happened after Jess, Aiden, and Gill had visited. He repeated everything he’s been told by Jess and Aiden to Mevia, they both took note on how out of character he was, along with Olivia being mentioned, and that’s when Mevia theorized the possibility of another universe coming into play. Hadrian told the girls he thought her idea ‘was the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard’, and ‘there’s no way, it’s impossible’, but turns out he was wrong. Mevia wore a smug smirk as he talked about his loss.

Throughout the summary, Olivia watched Hadrian gesturing with his hands, holding her breath every time his thick, unbuttoned, dusty yellow and purple striped cloak swung close to the flames of the lit candles. If his cloak wasn’t making Olivia nervous, then it’d be his long, striped pants that looked as though they’d get caught on the many items laying on the floor, or hooked on whatever was sticking out of shelves, and make him trip. The only article of clothing he wore that wasn’t considered a hazard was his pinned, yellow dress shirt, which was somewhat covered by his loosely worn cloak.

Olivia didn’t even want to start on the flowing red and black dress Mevia wore. While it had laces tied around her chest to keep it from slipping off, the dress’ straps would slide down her shoulders, and the fabric would fly everywhere every time she spun around to face the girls. How could they wear outfits like these in this mess?

But was it fair for Olivia to criticize their jumbled store?

She thought back to her home, how she had an entire room dedicated to creating redstone contraptions, and how disordered it was. Powder was smeared everywhere, half-crafted items and broken materials would lay on every surface, her tools and torches were sloppily thrown onto tables; calling her workshop ‘messy’ would be generous. When Olivia scanned Hadrian’s store, she couldn’t help but find charm in it’s chaos, and feel the importance and history of every object placed in this store.

“I can’t breathe.” Olivia heard Cassie mutter. She turned to see Mevia giving the redhead a crushing hug.

Mevia let go, “Sorry, sorry! I’m just excited my favorite girl came to visit! I’m a little sad Gill’s not with you though.”

Cassie wanted to comment how their last visit was merely two weeks ago, and the fact they also lived extremely close to each other, but she decided to let Mevia’s enthusiasm remain.

Stella had taken a seat on one of the many cushioned, wooden chairs who faced the small stage, while Hadrian was searching through a tower of boxes.

“I know we gotta have one flint’n steel here…” Hadrian said, taking junk from the box by the handful and dumping them onto the floor.

“It’s for a crafting recipe Aiden found in your journal.” Stella explained.

“Oh no, ain’t mine!” Hadrian said, “Got it from some crazy bearded guy. ‘Sides, you know my handwriting’s nicer than that.”

The two continued conversing.  

‘I guess Stella already told them what’s been going on.’ Olivia thought to herself.

Mevia suddenly jumped and faced Olivia, “You! I have so man--so many questions!”

She was choking up. Olivia and Cassie noted her voice cracking.

“You okay?” Cassie asked the older woman.

Mevia nodded wildly, fanning her eyes, “Yes, perfectly fine! It’s just really, really weird to see her again, you know?”

Despite her shaky tone and the few tears running down her eyes, she was beaming. She didn’t look too sad, and she certainly didn’t feel sad over seeing this Olivia.

“I’m only a little overwhelmed. Thinking about--” Mevia rubbed her eyes and took a quick breath.

“Okay, questions!” She clapped her hands, “What am I like in your universe? Is Hadrian a killjoy like he is here?”

“I heard that!” Hadrian shot back.

“You were axe-crazy and Hadrian was a real bad liar.” Olivia said. Mevia bobbed her head.

The woman then recalled something, her eyes sparkled and she rushed to the top of the cluttered stage, grabbing a cracked head from the pile of statue remains. Mevia held the head with both hands and spun it around so it’d face Olivia and Cassie when they caught up with her. The head was a man with an unchiseled beard and a determined expression.

“Do you have your own version of ‘The Impossible Man’?” Mevia asked, tossing the head from hand to hand as if it were a toy.

Olivia opened her mouth and thought for a moment.

“I… Actually don’t know much about The Impossible Man.” She did remember her book describing the man, but her knowledge was still limited. It’d be nice to hear more about him from a person who lived in this universe.

Her response was met with the dropped jaws of Mevia and Stella.

“Shut UP!” Mevia threw the head to the ground, “You don’t know?!”

“Mevia, please be careful with the statues.” Hadrian pleaded.

“Sorry! Anyways! Quick lesson!”

Mevia slid to the center of the stage, “Picture this:” She started, flicking her hands up and splaying her fingers.

“You have a man who’s done it all! Traveled across the world through the most wild biomes, fighting different, ferocious monsters and making companions along the way! He’s explored the deepest oceans and the tallest mountains!” She swayed herself over to the statues again, fingers running along the edges where stone had cracked.

“He destroyed countless beasts in the Nether and single handedly slayed the dragon in The End!” She said as she swung an imaginary sword.

“But isn’t that--” Olivia began, but was interrupted by Mevia.

“Impossible?” A grin crept across her face, “Exactly.”

Olivia went quiet for a moment.

“For someone who’s done so much,” She said, “why isn’t he called by his name?”

Mevia shrugged, “Well, no one knows what it is! He’s been called a number of names throughout generations, from Aaron, Alex, Daliso, Milagro, to--”

“Steve.” Hadrian added with a chuckle.

“Oh, that’s my least favorite one.” She laughed. “But I don’t think it matters what his name is. He impacted our world, he represents the good in everybody, people see themselves in him, he’s an inspiration, and I think that’s what’s important.”

Mevia stepped off the stage, “Heck, he inspired Hadrian and I to explore the world when we were younger!”

“Good times...” Hadrian commented, a warm smile on his face.  

Olivia sat on a chair closest to the stage--Stella had gotten up to help Hadrian search through the boxes--and thought to herself. She pondered about The Impossible Man and her universe.

“We had The Order of the Stone,” Olivia said, “They were a group of people who killed the Ender Dragon, along with going on many adventures.” She chose to leave out the fact The Order lied to everyone about the dragon, she didn’t want to ruin the mood.

Then Olivia recalled a detail, “You and Hadrian were a part of The Old Builders! There were two other members: Harper and Otto. Do you have them in this universe?”

Mevia’s smile weakened, a flash of sorrow flickered through her eyes, and her shoulders dropped.

“Used to.” She answered

Olivia’s face fell, “Oh, I’m… I’m sorry.”

Mevia’s hand swat the air, “Don’t be! Don’t worry, it’s all in the past now. Back in our adventuring days.”

She walked to a small, round, brown table covered in papers in pens, knelt to the floor, and placed her hand on a loose wooden plank. She removed the plank and took out a diamond axe.

“We may not leave our house as much anymore, but if something or someone dangerous breaks in, we’re more than capable of taking care of ourselves.” She gripped the axe, holding it over her shoulder, and focusing on the wall in front of her.

“The second something dangerous waltzes in here--WHAM-O!” She chucked the axe with all her strength. It flew across the room and hit the wall, releasing a loud crack and causing Stella to jump. The axe was now stuck in the newly formed hole in the wall.

Mevia turned to Cassie and they high-fived.

“Please do not throw axes in our humble store.” Hadrian whined, rubbing his temples.

“I needed a visual demonstration!” Mevia exclaimed.

“No you did not!” He grumbled.

Hadrian shoved the boxes aside and brushed himself off. He came to Cassie and Olivia, Stella following behind, and showed them the flint and steel he had found. Whoever had owned this--whether it was Hadrian himself or a stranger--really made the most of it. The firestriker was crooked and stained with soot, the tool was practically useless.

“Thank you again, we really appreciate your help.” Stella said.

Hadrian handed her the item, “Not a problem. Now get outta here! Shoo before Mevia decides she wants to show you three more ‘visual demonstrations’!” He chuckled.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The library only offered redstone powder for Jess and Aiden, while the room next to the library had been taken over by debris, so any items that could’ve been in there were crushed and not worth the risk of getting harmed if they attempted to move the rubble. The last room at the very end of the hall held weapons and many, many dead redstone torches. Aiden was able to find enough powder to completely fill the pouch and last him and his friends for the rest of the week. Jess kept mental notes of everything to tell Olivia what he’s learned during his time here.

Aiden tightened the strings of the pouch, ready to get the others, when a series of knocks caught their attention. They turned around to see Maya and Gill standing in the doorway.

“Any luck?” Maya asked.

“Lotta dust.” Aiden said, showing her the heavy pouch. “What about you?”

“We got several pieces of flint!” Gill answered, lightly patting the jacket pocket he put the rocks in.

His eyes scanned the room, “Hey, I got stabbed here!”

Jess looked at Gill, then at the room, then back to Gill. What was he supposed to say? Gill sounded optimistic, was he supposed to apologize? Laugh nervously? Stay silent? Was there even an appropriate way to respond to what he’s said?

“Good to know?” Jess said, his eyes wide.

Maya changed the subject, “We found a storage room, we thought we’d find some gold there, but a lot of the chests were empty or destroyed.”

“That’s okay, just glad we got something. We should get going though, I don’t think there’s anywhere else we can look.” Aiden said. Before they returned to the nave, the group double checked the six rooms to make sure they didn’t leave any torches lit, then began their walk through the tight hallway.

“Maybe we’ll run into some gold later on?” Jess suggested as they continued walking.

“I don’t think people leave gold laying around.” Aiden turned his head a bit to face Jess with a smirk, “But maybe, who knows.”

Once they got out, Aiden, Gill, and Maya were discussing the flint and steel crafting recipe, and how things would play out depending on what Stella was able to translate when they returned home. As the three talked, Jess caught a glimpse of the door hole by the stage from the corner of his eye. He brought his head around and stared into it.

“Can I look through there?” Jess asked.

The others brought their attention to the hole.

Maya thought to herself for a moment then said “I think there’s only one room at the end. You probably won’t get much outta it.”

“Just in case?” He tilted his head.

“Alright,” Aiden agreed, “but make it fast.”

Jess nodded and scurried through the doorhole, entering another narrow hallway. The hallway, much like the previous one, was nearly pitch black. However, the further he went, the colder it got. As he descended further into the hall, his eyes were no longer any good. He had to rely on his hands to feel for doors.

He stopped when he felt his foot hit the end of the hallway, but something felt off. He lightly kicked the dead end and realized he was standing in front of a door.

“Told you there was only one room.” Maya said. Jess almost jumped out of his skin, he didn’t think it was possible to walk quietly through this ancient place.

Maya could hear his quick breaths, “Sorry.”

“It’s good, we’re all good.” Jess collected himself then faced the door again. He extended his arm and let his fingers run against the rough, jagged, wood, trying to feel for the knob. Once his hand came into contact with a cold, round object, he wrapped his hand around it and turned.

He opened the door a crack. That’s the most he could open it. He thought the door might’ve been stuck, so he pressed his body against it and pushed harder. It didn’t budge.

“Can you not open doors?” He heard Aiden whisper.

“No, something’s blocking it!” Jess whisper-shouted back. He peeked into the crack.

The first thing he noticed were the stone bricks stacked halfway to the door and prevented him from completely opening it. The second thing he noticed was the room was empty. Actually, that wasn’t true, there were stains on the cracked floor, a ladder on the left wall, and on the wall across from the door were two lit redstone torches. While the other rooms were ruined and in poor condition, it was clear people had used them, lived in them. This room was devoid of life.

‘Wait…’ Jess peeked back into the room. Why were the torches lit?

He scanned the room again; his eyes landed on the ladder which pulled his attention to the ceiling. There was a trapdoor. Where did it lead to?

“I think... “ Jess mumbled, “I think someone’s been in here.”

The air became frigid.

“Let me see.” Aiden said, pulling Jess to the side. He got close to the crack and studied the room.

“Who wou--” Aiden started but immediately shut up and pressed his head against the door.

“What’s up?” Gill asked, who was quickly shushed by Aiden.

The four stood in silence for a moment, then they heard it. The faint sound of footsteps nearing the trapdoor. While they weren’t approaching the trapdoor itself, they were close. They were coming from above.

Then voices.

“We’ll start… He gives us… Or…” A deep voice said.

Aiden could only hear bits and pieces, which was far more than what the others could understand.

“Few days… Should… Portal…”

Aiden’s body tensed when he heard the last word. He listened for more, but the voices dwindled and he was left with a haunting silence.

He carefully closed the door then faced his friends, “They’re planning something.”

“What? Who is?” While Jess was confused, Maya and Gill seemed to know what Aiden was referring to, and were instantly on edge.

“We gotta go. We need to tell the others.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cassie, Stella, and Olivia were sitting around the coffee table studying the items, the recipe, and the old flint and steel. Cassie kept rereading the directions over and over, attempting to make sense of them, while Stella held the flint and steel from a distance, rotating it around to get every angle of the tool. Olivia was sitting on the floor, brainstorming how they could possibly craft the odd variant of the flint and steel along with thinking about what Mevia had told her.

Olivia felt a yawn coming and attempted to suppress it, not wanting to come off as uninterested in what they were currently doing, but failed.

Stella peeked at her, “Oh right, time difference! Do you need to sleep?”

Olivia wasn’t sure what time it was; their trip to Petra’s was about an hour or two long and she had no idea how much time they'd spent in Obsidian Town, but it was obviously late. The sky was now a deep blue with stars scattered throughout, and the waning gibbous had risen high.

Olivia shook her head, “No, I’ll be okay, we need to figure this recipe out.”

“That’s true, but Cassie and I are well rested and we’re going to be busy all night. You shouldn’t force yourself to stay awake.” Stella said.

Olivia stared at the table for a minute.

“If I wake up early enough,” she started, “I could continue working on the flint and steel. I do know my way around redstone, so if Jess and the others bring some back, I could definitely make some progress.”

Admittingly, she’s never seen redstone be used for flint and steel before, but hopefully her and Jess would be able to figure out what to do.

“Sounds perfect!” Stella clasped her hands together.

“What the heck’s taking them so long anyways?” Cassie asked, looking up from the paper

Olivia didn’t know how far the shrine was from town, but it's been nearly half an hour since they’ve returned from Hadrian’s, and the others had yet to return. She started wondering if Jess needed to rest as well, but remembering how enthusiastic he was to join Aiden on his scavenger hunt made her doubt that.

Suddenly, the front door swung open and Aiden, Jess, Maya, and Gill rushed in. Before either of the girls could greet them, they began frantically--and sloppily--explaining what had happened at the shrine. Their words would clash together, everyone was interrupting and talking over each other, no sense could be made.

Stella raised her voice, “Please--One at a time, please!”

“Yeah, all I could hear was flint and something about a door.” Cassie said.

Olivia popped out from behind the girls, Jess gasped and ran up to her.

“Olivia! Gosh, I found out a lot of weird stuff, and we went down this hallway, and--” Olivia put her hand up to quiet Jess down.

“I would love to hear what you’ve learned, and I’d like to share what I’ve found out as well,” Olivia breathed in, “but I am also getting tired. Why don’t we go to our room and we can talk there?”

“Oh, yeah, fine with me!” Jess turned to Aiden, Maya, and Gill. They needed a moment to tell Stella and Cassie what happened, he could come back down after he and Olivia were caught up.

As they headed towards the stairs, everyone gave quick goodnights and returned to discussing what had happened in the shrine.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gill had hurriedly told the girls about what materials they found, while Maya was in the process of telling them about the empty room and what they had heard. Aiden was sitting on a bar stool and had placed the pouch of redstone dust on the table. He leaned back, trying to relax, but his whole body felt stiff.

Those voices had to have belonged to Awakening members, barely anyone went anywhere near the shrines, even he and his friends rarely went to them unless necessary.

‘Were they talking about the portal in the Shrine of Eyes?’ He asked himself, clenching and unclenching his fists.

‘Or are they creating a new portal?’

Aiden heard footsteps from the second floor. Olivia and Jess, most likely.

‘We’re gonna need to alert the guards, have them keep an eye on who’s going to the mines or acting suspicious--’

Another sound came from above him again, this time, a clattering sound. Aiden glanced at his friends who rather didn’t notice, or didn’t care, about the noise.

‘What are they doing in that room?’ Aiden thought, bringing his head to the ceiling as he listened to more footsteps.

The guest room was on the right side of the house.

His bedroom’s on the left.

His bedroom’s above him.

The noise was coming from his bedroom.

Aiden scrambled off the stool and told his friends he’d be right back. He rushed up the stairs, his breaths becoming faster and shorter with each step, and opened the door. His eyes darted around. The window by his desk was open. He took a step in, scanning every inch of his room, thinking the intruder could still be inside, but then the world froze when his eyes landed on his bookshelf.

Olivia’s hat.

It was gone.

He didn’t have to look out the window, he already knew who it was. He rushed out of his room--colliding with the wall--and ran down the stairs nearly tripping several times, and bursted out of the house, not giving his friends a second of explanation.

He sprinted through the busy streets of the town, shoving whoever he couldn’t avoid out of the way. When was the last time he ran so fast the world had been reduced to streaks of colors, and the wind that rushed past him had muted all sounds? He can’t remember, but it doesn’t matter right now.

The instant his foot stepped through the entrance, his head whipped around, looking for any signs of the man. How Aiden wished the sun was still up; the light the moon and stars provided wasn’t enough.

Standing here panting wasn’t helping, he needed to start looking. Fast. Maybe the forest to Petra’s? Or maybe he could run along the town’s border and run into him.

Aiden’s mind flooded with the possibilities of where he could go, but then he looked ahead and saw something--someone--in the distance straight ahead getting smaller and smaller.

‘Get him.’ Aiden’s mind commanded.

He darted off, holding his breath as he got closer and closer to the man, soon being able to make out his red suspenders and dirtied, white shirt.

“JESSE!” He shouted, still running towards him.

Jesse turned around, a look of absolute repulsion was on his face. He held Olivia’s hat to his chest.

Aiden screeched to a halt and hunched over, taking in mouthfuls of air.

“Jess--” Aiden began, still heaving.

“Where did you find this?” Jesse muttered, hugging the hat tighter.

“We--I found--” “WHERE?!” Jesse barked, taking a step closer.

Aiden brought his eyes to Jesse, whose hands were shaking and pupils had shrunken.

Lie. He needs to lie. Say whatever he can to get her hat back. What would his friends say when they find out he let it get taken?

“Look,” Aiden started through heavy breaths, “that doesn’t matter. I need to--”

“Doesn’t matter?” He heard Jesse repeat in a sharp hush. Jesse stared at Aiden with his mouth parted, he was gripping the hat so hard his knuckles were turning white.

He dragged himself closer to Aiden, “Doesn’t matter? Doesn’t matter!?”

He kept repeating those sickening words over and over, getting louder and louder as he brought himself closer and closer to Aiden till he was practically screaming them into his ears.

Jesse grabbed the collar of Aiden’s shirt and pulled him down to his face, locking onto him with his wild, bloodshot eyes.

“After what I’ve been through…” Jesse’s voice was shaky, “You think you deserve her MORE!?”

Aiden’s jaw clenched. He could see the green of Olivia’s hat from the corner of his eye. His hand immediately shot out and grabbed a strap of the hat, holding onto it like his life depended on it. He tried pulling it closer to him, but he dragged Jesse along with it, who refused to let it slip his grasp. ‘Don’t rip it. Don’t rip it.’ Aiden told himself.

“You have everything Lukas owned, and you can’t let me have this one small thing?!” Jesse growled. His free hand was beginning to curl into a fist.

“Because I--”

Jesse didn’t want to hear his sickening voice, “Because you ‘need’ it! Because you and everyone else thinks you’re so great! Because you’re selfish!”

Aiden couldn’t see Jesse’s fist flying towards him in the darkness until--

CRACK

Bright colors invaded one eye while the other could vaguely make out Jesse’s hand swinging back to his face. He didn’t have time to move, he could only squeeze his eyes and brace himself for the impact--

CRACK

Colors flashed, and despite not knowing whether his eyes were still closed or trying to adjust to the darkness once again, and his face burning to the point he thought it was melting off, he still held onto the hat.

Don’t hurt Jesse. Don’t hurt him. Take the hat and go home.

He could feel anger flooding into Jesse’s body when he realized his grip wasn’t weakening.

“You just hate seeing me happy, don’t you?” Jesse hissed. He began scraping the heel of his shoe against Aiden’s leg, hoping to shred his skin off. He hated fighting Aiden. Hated it. Not only did he have to look at his miserable face, fighting him wasn’t nearly as fair as fighting Radar, or Stella, or Cassie.

“You know I wou--”

Jesse began to pry Aiden’s fingers off the strap, bending each finger in unnatural angles. The strap was beginning to slip.

“You can’t stand not having any attention! It always has to be about you!”

“Jesse--”

“Just like the day Olivia died!”

“SHE NEEDS IT BACK, JESSE!” Aiden shouted.

Jesse gasped and let go of the hat, causing Aiden to fumble back with it.

“Who?” Jesse asked in a whisper.

What did he just say?

What did he just say?

Why did he say that?

Why?

The world and all it’s sounds came to a stop. All Aiden could hear were those questions booming through his head, clashing with the sound of his pounding heart, and the blood rushing through his body. His eyes were stuck on Jesse, he was trembling from anger and impatience.

“Who needs it back?” Jesse asked again, still in a harsh hush.

“Stella.” Aiden lied, but he sounded so serious he could’ve fooled himself.

“Stella found it, and she wanted to keep it by Lukas’ stuff…” He wanted to add more, but he couldn’t think of anything else.

But he didn’t need to.

Jesse only nodded, his hands still fists, as he began walking backwards. His eyes were still piercing through Aiden as he stepped further and further away until he turned and ran through the field.

Aiden watched as he grew smaller and smaller, and when he could no longer see any part of Jesse, he ran.

Cold sweat rushed down his face as he bolted back to town, back to his friends, with only one question blaring in his mind:

What did he just do?