#AND I ALMOST FORGOT THE LITTLE FIN ON HIS TAIL.

[malachite834]

Sweater season has begun to make its triumphant return

[thedarkestrivernymph]

Yandere!Sea Monster x nymph!reader

warning: mention of kidnapping, deceiving, very obsessive

©Copyright -2024-thedarkestrivernymph - All Rights Reserved

Y!Monster that's unsightly, something grotesque and large, inhuman and daunting with long slender claws growing out from boney fingers, with a massive upper body, that's surprisingly lean, with long tendrils, odd shapes, fins and a thick, girthy tail adorning his lower half. That aimlessly swats around in the water until one day his eye catches you–the prettiest nymph he’s ever seen, with your big doe eyes, bright smile and doughy thighs.

Y!Monster that gawks at you from beneath the waters, shamelessly, slithering in the deep almost restlessly as he tries to figure out how to approach such a delicate little thing, without frightening her.

Y!Monster who one day, peeks up from beneath the waters, catching you alone without your sisters, ever so slowly approaches you, in order to not scare you away, who speaks surprisingly with a dark and somber tone. “Pretty nymph–stay, please, don't be intimidated by the foreign, for I simply find myself intrigued by the lives of the land dwellers.” His chest vibrates wich each word so enticing and tantalizing, that you almost forgot to fear.

Y!Monster who from then on regularly has small chats with you–oddly enough only when you're alone. You're a docile little thing, the youngest out of your sisters, bearing no evil within you, nothing to find suspicious of the ancient creature, who only ever shows you his face and slender fingers, who barely talks about himself, and listens to the mundane stories of your life. Truly what was weird about that?

So you don't question it when Y!Monster one day swims just a tad bit closer to you, fingers grasping your knees, claws ghosting over your skin as he pries your legs open, as his face comes dangerously close to you. You don't even know how it happens before he lifts his shoulders, and chest out of the water, causing your face to gradually fall, as you catch sight of the seemingly endlessly long tail behind him, weird tendrils, as well as fins growing out of it, one small appendage latching onto your thigh. So you scream, finally realizing your little friend, wasn't at all how he portrayed himself to be.

Y!Monster who instantly drags you down beneath the water, tail coiling around you, as tendrils latch onto you, screams drowned out by the water. Since you're a nymph, you possess the ability to stay far longer beneath the surface level than the average human, yet it doesn't make the experience any more pleasant. He drags you so far down until you reach an underwater cave, slipping you into an air pocket which allows you to finally breathe, lungs filling with the sweet air you craved.

You stare at your friend in terror, scrambling away the moment he releases you from his grasp. However he seems calm, not bothered by your pleads or cries, as you cower in a corner of the cave, pitifully sobbing. All he does is watch and wait–wait till you have exhausted your capability to cry any more, and then he will latch onto you, like a good mate should, attach you to his hip, finally ease the ache of his lonely existence through you.

And even if one day you will die, even if you have to part from him, don't worry your pretty little head about it, he will make sure to keep each limb and fracture of your cold body to himself refusing to let even the decaying pile of meat rot away, as he stuffs you in his mouth, swearing to keep his pretty nymph with him forever. ♡

[hisui-dreamer]

an exchange for a spark

Pairing: Azul Ashengrotto x gn!reader

Synopsis: Knowing Azul, everything would come at a cost, but sometimes you get more than what you asked for in an exchange.

Tags: childhood friends, fluff, reader is a mer, mentions Azul's past, little mermaid references, bot proofread

Word count: 1.6k+

Notes: congrats to Azul fans who won the poll for our resident businessman!

Azul tsum came home in the JP server so here's some fluff for our dearest tako! this takes place before NRC and the boys are in pre-teens

Masterlist

Azul's heart skipped a beat as you neared him, your scales reflecting a stunning array of colours that reminded him of opalescent shells. Your beauty was ethereal, a sight to behold, and Azul couldn't help but feel like a mere speck in comparison. He recognised you instantly; the mermaid who never failed to light up the area, the one with the infectious smile and bright eyes that sparkled like diamonds in the demure rays of sunlight refracted into the depths of the sea.

You were the popular one in school, your every move and word fawned over by your classmates, while he was the outcast hiding in his octopus pot, fearing the bullies who would make fun of him.

An odd pair; but the two of you were close friends. He supposed it was inevitable, given how often your family frequented his mother’s restaurant, bringing the two of you together in an unexpected way.

"Hey there, Azul!" you sang out, your tail propelling yourself towards him. As you approached, you saw Azul perched on a counter, a look of surprise on his face as he looked up. His tentacles were completing multiple tasks at hand, keeping track of the inventory of his mother's restaurant, flipping through pages of an old book, and writing on multiple sheets of parchment. "Oooh, what are you reading?" you asked.

Azul smiled, pausing his tasks to focus on you. "It's a grimoire on terrestrial magic," he replied, the interest evident in his voice.

"Wow! That’s way ahead of what they’re teaching in class! Can you show me?" You asked eagerly.

His smile turned sly, and you knew instantly that there was a catch. "Of course, but it'll cost you," he said, pushing his glasses up with a flick of his hand.

You giggled, knowing that he always had something up his sleeve. "What do you want, Azul?"

Azul's eyes glinted mischievously, and you could tell he was up to something. One of his tentacles reached out and gently tilted your chin upward. "Your most prided quality, of course. How about... your voice?"

You blinked, before bursting into a fit of giggles. "Hahaha Azuzu! You and I both know you'd miss my voice too much!"

Azul's lips curved into a tender smile, exuding affection as his silver tongue wove compliments like a skilled weaver crafting an intricate tapestry. "You are right, your voice is a treasure beyond compare, and I could not bear to take it away from you," he murmured, but you could only shake your head fondly at his words. "But tell me, Angelfish, what else can you offer me?"

You paused, your mind spinning like a school of fish caught in a whirlpool. Then, a sudden flash of recollection struck you, and you reached into your satchel, fumbling around to pull out a small sack, handing it to him as your fins fluttered with exhilaration. "I almost forgot, here!" you exclaimed. "I got this for you."

As you handed it to Azul, he shifted towards you, taking the sack curiously. "What is it?" he asked, his excitement building as he examined the sack like an archaeologist uncovering a long-lost artefact.

"It's a surprise," you giggled. "Open it up and see for yourself!"

Azul's fingers trembled with anticipation as he gingerly unfurled the sack's opening, revealing a bounty of treasures within. A cascade of glimmering coins spilt forth, gleaming like the dying sun cresting over the ocean's horizon. As if holding a precious gem, he carefully plucked one of the golden coins from the pile, entranced by its lustre. Its surface glinted and shone, reflecting its metallic sheen into his aquamarine eyes. A radiant grin bloomed across his face, illuminating his features with pure delight.

"I've never seen this one before! You collected these for me?" he exclaimed, his voice full of wonder. "How thoughtful of you, Angelfish. I will add them to my collection." He looked up at you and coughed at his open display of joy, quickly returning to his businesslike demeanour. "Ahem, since you have been so kind to me, it is only fair I give you a show in return."

You couldn't help but feel a thrill of glee and curiosity. "Ooh! What is it?" you asked eagerly.

Azul's smile returned, and he leaned in closer to you. "I can show you a little trick I learned," he divulged in a hushed tone, "I can conjure fire."

"Fire?" you repeated incredulously. "But that’s… isn’t that only possible on land? They can’t… uhm... burn...? here, right?"

Azul chuckled softly, amusement gleaming in his expression. "Normally, no, fire cannot exist underwater," he explained. "But I found a way to conjure air simultaneously to feed the fire. I can make fire burn even here."

Azul raised his hand, murmuring an incantation under his breath. Suddenly, a small flame appeared in the palm of his hand, flickering and dancing like a playful fish, its warm light casting beautiful patterns on the sand below. Noticing the wonder in your eyes, a soft murmur escaped his lips. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" he whispered. "Up on land, humans use fire for illumination, cooking, and all sorts of things."

You nodded in understanding, your mind already racing with the possibilities. "It's amazing," you murmured in awe.

Azul turned to you, a look of satisfaction on his face. "I'm glad you think so, Angelfish," he smiled.

As you drew nearer to the crackling flames, you felt a jolt of awareness coursing through you, as if an invisible force were pulling you towards Azul. His warm breath, like a pleasant gust of wind, caressed your cheek, sending shivers down your spine. You gazed up to meet his eyes, so alike shimmering pools of liquid sapphire, radiating with a mesmerising allure. The reflection of the blazing fire danced in his eyes, as if mimicking the fiery passion that was stirring inside you.

For a moment, you both stood there, caught in a trance-like state, as if time itself had come to a halt. The heat emanating from the fire and Azul's body enveloped you in a cocoon of warmth, making you feel safe and protected. You could hear the rhythmic thump of his heartbeat, akin to the steady beat of the ocean waves, in perfect synchronicity with your own.

As if propelled by some unknown force, the words that had been burning inside you tumbled out of your mouth, unfiltered and raw.

"I really like you, Azul," you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The words hung in the air, heavy with anticipation and vulnerability.

Azul's eyes widened in shock, but you caught a glimpse of hope flash across his face before he diverted his gaze to the ground. His hands ceased to hold the fire, now folded across his torso in a vulnerable stance.

"Angelfish... I... But your friends," he started, attempting to pull away from you.

Determined to make your feelings known, you interrupted him, grabbing his shoulders to gain his attention. "I don't care about my friends," you reassured. "I care about you, Azul. You're smart, and kind and sweet. I like you, no matter what anyone else thinks."

Azul's gaze softened, the worry etched into his features fading away as he drank in your words. He reached out, his fingers intertwining with yours, imbuing you with a sense of security and comfort. "My dear Angelfish," he marvelled, his voice filled with affection, "you have no idea how much that means to me."

Overcome with emotions, you leaned in, your lips colliding with Azul's in a tender, all-consuming kiss. It was a kiss of unbridled emotion, the sweetness of it threatening to intoxicate you both. It was as though the world had stilled, and all that remained was the two of you, lost in each other.

Azul wrapped his strong arms around you, enveloping you in his embrace. His tentacles curled around you like vines, pulling you deeper into his embrace. The heat of his skin and the softness of his lips were like a symphony to your senses, causing your heart to race with a mix of passion and delight-

"Azul~"

Suddenly, a voice interrupted your reverie, causing both of you to jump apart. You looked around and saw the twins, their faces beaming with grins as they called out to you. "Oh? What's happening over here?" Jade teased, his gaze alternating between you and Azul.

You felt a flush creeping up your neck as you tried to compose yourself. "Just catching up, that's all," you replied, hoping to avoid any further scrutiny.

Azul, on the other hand, was incredibly flustered. His heart raced in his chest, and his pulse quickened as if he had just been caught in the act of doing something wrong. His tentacles twitched nervously as he struggled to regain his composure, but his embarrassment was plain to see. With a forced smile, Azul tried to hide his discomfort as he greeted the eels. "Ahem, hello, Jade, Floyd," he coughed, his voice betraying a hint of strain. "We were just...uh...talking. Nothing...nothing important."

The eels snickered at his failed attempt, unconvinced by his dismissive response. "Well then, don't let us interrupt your... talking," Jade remarked with a sly wink. "Come on, Floyd, let's give them some space... for now." He added the last part with a sly twinkle in his eye, sharing a knowing look with his brother before they swam away.

As the two of you were left alone, you couldn't help but adore the deep flush of his cheeks. Unable to resist the allure of his charming blush, you cupped his jaw and pecked his cheek. Your lips brushed against his skin, leaving behind a trail of warmth and affection. When you pulled away, you were greeted with the sight that only warmed your heart further, his blush deepening like a sunset spreading across the horizon, painting the sky with a spectrum of colours.

Truly, how could anyone ever find someone as endearing as him dislikeable?

Masterlist

if you liked this post, don't forget to reblog!

[aerialflight]

fic rec list

I am into such random fandoms at the moment and I NEED to spread the word on how fantastic these fics are so people would get into those fandoms too. Join me in my rabbit holes!

-

[Dimension 20: Fantasy High]

serendipities of the mundane kind by fangirl_squee

Ships: Figueroth Faeth/Ayda Aguefort, Riz Gukgak/Fabian Aramais Seacaster, Kristen Applebees/Tracker O'Shaughnessey

The Bad Kid's lives wind through the world a little differently, but some friendships are just meant to be.

(ships aside, this is a fic about friendship! and it's absolutely beautiful!! i loved how all the relationships formed and how all of them meet under different yet plausible circumstances. they meet in pairs and then in groups, all of them introduced to each other slowly yet organically. i'm so in love with each character's journey and how meant-to-be the bad kids are. absolutely recommend this!)

thwick thwack by graeskies

Ship: Riz Gukgak/Fabian Aramais Seacaster

Eyes narrowed, slitted pupils so thin they could pick a lock. Wide, fin-like ears pressed flat back against his head—'airship ears', Adaine had said once, and it made Riz laugh so hard he had forgotten what he had been reacting to in the first place. Tail thrashing back and forth, making a rhythmic thwick thwack against his legs, or his briefcase, or both. Extra-sharp teeth bared wide, hissing with a confidence he didn't have in freshman year. Riz's threat displays were hypnotizing. Fabian almost forgot the punchline of his own joke.

(riz acting on his instincts and fabian Vibing with it so hard is a trope i never knew i wanted until this fic fnieowfnpewa.)

not by design (again, again) by jackpack

Ship: Riz Gukgak/Fabian Aramais Seacaster

To his knowledge, the world is right when Riz gets home, right as he falls into bed and curls up with a grin on his face, right as he closes his eyes and passes sometime in the wee hours of the morning, content that tomorrow was going to be even better. And, then, he wakes up to an alarm set for school. -- It's freshman year, and Riz has a found family to find. Again.

(time travel time travel time travel!!! the bad kids all struggling to find each other and solve the mystery! ugh, these kids have my whole heart and i loved every minute of this.)

Light My Fire by Anonymous (locked, need account to read)

Ship: Riz Gukgak/Fabian Aramais Seacaster

The sheet is too short to reach Riz. Fabian fully unfurls it, stretches both his arms as far as he can, thinks about fully letting go and grabbing The Ball midair, trying to tuck and roll and maybe take some of the damage for him. Despite his efforts, he's just a few feet shy of Riz, limp and unconscious and hurtling downwards, just like he was at the Row and the Ruction. Fabian, once again, is too slow and weak and incompetent to help him. Fabian screws his eye shut, half because he can't stand to watch Riz's body hit the ground and half because he feels like if he just believes hard enough, he can somehow save him. - I thought too hard about the time Fabian summoned a fire elemental that saved Riz's life and also kissed him and then nobody ever mentioned it again. This is the result.

(i caught FEELINGS when reading about this moment in the sophomore campaign, embellished and seen through the eyes of a desperate fabian. there's something about fabian being sincere and brave that always hits me in the chest like a hammer.)

meet me in the woods by macaronidoodles

A thought comes to him, and he pulls out the little rock he’d artificed out of his pocket. It’s probably stupid, he thinks, looking at it, so small in his hands. But there’s no one around to make fun of him, and if even one of his friends could hear… It’s Gorgug, he whispers. Keep going. * (in the forest of the nightmare king, gorgug gives everyone a chance to catch their breath)

(i will never be over that fucking line and all that it does. the hope, the love, the determination to keep moving forward, knowing that you are not alone. fnewifoewpa GOD.)

An Abjurative Wizard's Guide to Entrapment and Matchmaking, by Aelwyn Abernant by AgentStannerShipper

Ship: Riz Gukgak/Fabian Aramais Seacaster

“I cannot be in love with Riz Gukgak,” Fabian says. “I cannot be in love with The Ball. Under no circumstances can that be a thing that is happening.” Across the room, sitting in Riz’s chair, her feet up on Riz’s desk, ninety percent of her attention on one of Riz’s case files open in her lap, Aelwyn does the incredibly helpful thing of saying, “Uh-huh.”

(this is THE fic that got me into the ship. fabian's feelings of admiration and love for riz shines through and i'm so in love with how in love fabian is. seeing it from his point of view made me realize just how good of a person and character riz gukgak is. love this fic so much!)

Ring a Bell by Tangerine_Blast

“You are drunk,” Adaine accused. “I’m not-” Aelwyn protested but stopped herself mid word and pinched the bridge of her nose, “I don’t mean to alarm you, little sister, but I think you may be suffering from some severe memory loss.” Adaine was about to snap back at her but froze as the words sunk in. Memory loss. Yes. That would certainly explain why she was in a different outfit then she remembered. “What did you do?” *** The Bad Kids wake up on the first day of their freshman year. Or… no, it’s almost two years later and everything is so vastly different. Where are they? Who are all these people claiming to be their family and friends?

(*SCREAMS* god, it hit me so hard how all the bad kids grew up so much from freshman year?? they're such different people in sophomore year compared to the beginning. every single character, including the side characters, are going Through It and i wanted to hug all of them so. bad. nfewiofpewa absolutely a must read, i love every single character here so so much!!)

-

[Naruto]

Into the Wide Blue Yonder by OneEyedRaven

Ship: Hatake Kakashi/Uchiha Sasuke

“Take off your mask,” the clan head demanded. He might as well have ordered Kakashi to strip naked – to reveal his face to all these strangers felt as vulnerable as baring his neck to a sword. “You will not be allowed to hide your face here, Sharingan-thief.” - Kakashi gets misplaced in time and taken in by the Uchiha clan during the warring era, thanks to the mysterious one-armed man, Sasuke.

(i've never been into this ship but my god they make it work here in the most delightful slowburn i've read in a long while. i am rooting for them so hard, they're trying to change the world and make it better and i am so here for it! yes! disestablish the corrupt power structures of konoha from the very beginning! hell yeah!!!)(also kakashi's growth and characterization makes me want to cry he's doing so well considering all the bullshit he's lived through fnewfew)

fluffy clouds and a tinge of wonder by TheOneKrafter

In a world obsessed with killing and dying, Seiko is mostly concerned with chasing off her boredom. The Academy wasn’t exactly intellectually stimulating, but dying in the second shinobi war sounded like a long walk off a short pier. Everyone is always so stressed about avoiding attention, or min-maxing skills in situations like this. Seiko is of the opinion that those people need to chill the hell out. Maybe play a little shogi. Death comes for them all anyways. Better to enjoy this all while it lasts. (genius self insert stumbles into disrupting a timeline with the intentionality of an elephant trampling a very fancy tea shop.) (updates weekly-ish.)

(*cackles* i love how built the world and relationships are in this fic. the SI is not overpowered, actually intelligent but not omnipresent, and has actual social skills instead of being an oblivious airhead. i appreciate the time and care that's taken to build the friendships the SI has and am eager to see how the plot turns out in the future!)

How to Redeem Your Past Mistakes, Commit Mild Treason, and Accidentally Build a Family by themidnightguardian

If Kakashi hadn’t seen Naruto living in squalor and Sasuke’s personal trauma shrine and whatever civilian fuckery was happening at Sakura’s house, he’d have at least tried to fail them even if logic told him the Elder Council would never let it fly. Screw the Hokage for that. * * * * * * * * * * When the Sandaime showed him Naruto’s apartment, he didn’t think that was going to be the tip of the iceberg that was the shitshow of his soon-to-be team. But as it turned out, Naruto wasn't the only one with a less-than-optimal home life. And as it turned out, Kakashi was apparently the only person in Konoha who cared.

(*hugs all of team 7* they are family and it's the council's mistake in thinking this wouldn't happen. kakashi is Doing His Best and doing Well and i want to pat him on the head in appreciation for his efforts.)

-

[Diamond no Ace]

Lay Sunflowers at My Grave by Kinryuuki

Ship: Miyuki Kazuya/Sawamura Eijun

"If you could go back, and do it over. What would you do?"

(literally the best time travel fic since trajectory of laughter, i am OBSESSED.)

Aromantic Way to Propose by blue_flowers_bouquets (cianderia)

Ship: Miyuki Kazuya/Sawamura Eijun

Miyuki Kazuya doesn't get romance, and he's painfully aware of it. Sawamura Eijun is a hopeless romantic to boot, but he insists that they should date. Their relationship goes as smooth as you could expect.

(so sweet and fluffy! exploring how an aromantic and romantic person can work, yet the characters stay in character! i really like how this was managed and written, absolutely give it a read!)

-

[Bridgerton]

a thousand cuts by wall_e_nelson

Ship: Anthony Bridgerton/Kate Sharma

Every single day, Anthony tries very hard not to walk directly into the ocean. A collection of non-linear one-shots, headcanons, AUs, and missing scenes for Anthony Bridgerton. (this story was written in the year between s1 and s2. the character is based in the little we knew of s1 show!Anthony, pulling the rest of him and the world needed from the books.)

(it feels insane to me now that this was the first fic i read in this fandom. this isn't even my fucking fandom, i never even watched the show or read the books but god, god, this made me cry more than 10 fucking times. i can't remember the last time my heart ached so badly for a character, and anthony bridgerton is a phenomenal character indeed.)

Unspooled Thread by happilyinsane13, itakethewords (Itakethewords)

Ship: Benedict Bridgerton/Penelope Featherington

Benedict's life changed the moment Lady Danbury commanded, “Follow that Featherington.” The year is 1813 and Benedict's sister Daphne has just made her debut. He thought he knew how this season would go. Little did he suspect he would stumble on the youngest Featherington daughter's biggest secret. -- A complete, Benelope canon re-write, starting from S1, Ep1 all the way through season 3.

(this fic has RUINED me, i can't unsee the potential this ship holds. they're artists who bond over art! they admire and protect and care about one another! it's the slowest of slow burns that immediately catches fire before running around in panic! it's a proper friends to lovers fic done incredibly well!)(i started reading this author's other benedict/penelope fics and GOD IT'S SO GOOD FNEWIFOEW.)(i'm ruined! this rare pair has ruined me!!)(i have no regrets.)

-

[Jujutsu Kaisen]

The Phantom Guardian by MissingN000

Ships: Getou Suguru/Gojo Satoru, Kugisaki Nobara/Zenin Maki, Fushiguro Megumi/Itadori Yuuji, Inumaki Toge/Okkotsu Yuuta

There's something about this girl, like looking in a funhouse mirror a third of his size. “Oi, kid,” Toji says. “It’s you, isn’t it?” The girl glares daggers at him from behind a pair of red-rimmed glasses too big for her tiny face. She’s looking at him like he’s totally crazy, which isn’t entirely untrue. “Huh? Who the heck are you?” In lieu of answering, he asks, “What’s your name?” The girl scowls. “Maki.” “Maki,” he repeats, and it’s like a missing piece of his soul falls back into place. The record of his life before he fought the Six-Eyes brat is a long, impossibly white scroll of nothing -- but written on it in faint letters is the name of a child, a child with a delicate name that brushed the heavens, spun a prayer into letters; a name that began with an M, and it ended in i, too. “Maki,” he says again. “I think you’re my daughter.” -------- Toji makes a mistake. It changes everything.

(*running around throwing glitter like a sparkling system* and you get found a found family! and you get a found family! and you-)(but seriously, this is the one and only fic i'll read from this fandom, i legit don't care about anything else except these fuckers in this fucking fic. they are all disasters and i love that every single character here is traumatized and still somehow ruining themselves while thriving?? it's amazing.)

-

[Star Wars]

You and I (drink the poison from the same vine) by northpeach, wolfsrainrules

When one wakes up from death into a universe many of us have dreamed of, truthfully Kiyo can say it was both easier and harder then she thought it would be. Yes, she's gonna get a lightsaber. Yes, she's gonna bite someone to get a bes'bev. No, she's not forgetting where she's come from but she cannot grieve for a lifetime. Not when this life has so much potential. Has so much to offer. Not when she knows exactly how well Mandalorian and Jedi cultures fit together. Absolutely not, especially since she knows Jaster Mereel has a 700 page love letter written to his people to publish. She's going to get her hands on it and read it if it's the last thing she does.

(*breathes* i need this to update so bad. i usually hate SI fics in star wars, but this fic is amazing?? again, i NEED TO KNOW where this is going, my impatience is clawing my brain.)

(They Were) Made For Us by Echuta (setoboo)

Ship: Cody/Obi-Wan Kenobi

The Kaminoan tilts his head with a small smile. As if he’s trying to be indulgent for the Jedi’s sake. “Well yes, you and your fellow Jedi, Master Kenobi. They were made for the Jedi - and since the Jedi serve the Republic. It was implied they would do so too.” ‘They were made for the Jedi.’ Obi-Wan thinks in a daze. Clinging to that one sentence and grappling with all the implications buried within it as the Force around him pulses with tension. ‘For...for us? For me?’ What can that possibly mean? ---------------- Or; the Clones are really, and truly, perfectly made for the Jedi. The real issue is that it seems the Jedi are just as perfectly made for the Clones. This throws a major wrench in the works for the Darkside when the Jedi aren't very willing to let their men die. Not even on the senate's orders.

(i keep rereading this, i'm so obsessed with this kind of trope where people can read others' souls and just know who they are. this is the Shit for me, i was doomed from the start fnewifoewaef)

-

[Top Gun] (the most unexpected fandom to get into, watched it 2 months ago and it's completely taken over my life HELP ME-)

Where Are You Going by adiduck (book_people)

Ship: Tom Iceman Kazansky/Pete Maverick Mitchell

They’ve both heard all the philosophical bullshit, of course. Poems about your soul forever seeking its other half, impassioned treatises they were supposed to read in high school English about how you know where your own limbs are, quotes from long-dead guys about physical distance but hearts taking up the same space--that kind of bullshit. Maverick never put much stock in that kind of thing--he’d hated school. It probably shouldn’t have been surprising that Ice also really did not care about the science or philosophy--they were supposed to be perfect for each other, after all. (Or: There’s a handshake in the O Club the first night of Top Gun, and the very bearing of “magnetic North” shifts permanently under Ice and Mav’s feet)

(soulmate fic!! it's done so well and the relationship negotiations and trying to make it work is so up my alley. it's not an instant love soulmate fic, which i appreciate a lot, and i just love this author's characterization of of ice and maverick. definitely recommend this author's other works too, i just love the way they write in general, in whatever fandom they are in XD)

A Higher Fidelity by sintra

Ship: Tom Iceman Kazansky/Pete Maverick Mitchell

“C’mon.” Tori nudges him with an elbow. “C’mon. He’s cute. You can admit that one thing but you can’t admit this?” Gritting his teeth, Ice thinks very carefully about his next words. “He’s…” he trails off. “Some would say that…Mitchell is not. Unpleasant. To look at.” (Alternatively: the one where Ice and Mav learn to park bad, eat good, and love even better.)

(i want to kiss the author, ice's characterization here made me laugh so many times, omfg. absolute treasure of a fic! the narration and ice's thoughts were so fucking funny and maverick is just perfectly maverick in this haha! absolutely recommend for a good laugh with some extra sweetness.)

Precipice by V_Evergreen

Ship: Tom Iceman Kazansky/Pete Maverick Mitchell

Dating, it turns out, does not get easier with age. Alternately: [“Ice,” Maverick said slowly, “do you have a crush on me?” Ice flushed. “Shut up.” Maverick grinned. “How embarrassing.”]

(middle aged people going on first dates!! it's so sweet and snappy, i love how well-worn yet new this fic feels when it comes to their relationship. it feels both fresh yet comfortable and i felt warm reading this. <3)

Flowers for Sale by Owner by aelibia

Ship: Tom Iceman Kazansky/Pete Maverick Mitchell

Most people would do anything to stop the flowers from coming. Maverick is not most people.

(THE FUNNIEST FREAKING HANAHAKI FIC I'VE EVER READ HOLY SHIT! PLEASE READ, I CRIED FROM LAUGHING SO HARD FNEIWOFEWA)(never in a MILLION YEARS did i think about this aspect of the hanahaki curse, INCREDIBLE.)

I Need You to Live by PurpleArrowzandLeather

When Bradley finishes playing his dad's song at the Hard Deck, he sees a familiar figure collapse on the beach. Thinking the worst, he does everything in his power to make sure he doesn't lose him.

(i am so weak for fics that involve bradley and maverick re-conciliating. really great what if scenario done right and i definitely recommend this author's other top gun fics, they do gen fics for top gun really well!)

lost fight, grip tight on a heavy rope by writteninwaves

Bradley Bradshaw does not do regrets. Until he does. But in his fifteen years of self-imposed exile, there comes a time when even his stubborn will breaks. When Bradley overhears devastating news about his dad, he realizes just how much he lost and wonders if anything was worth it in the first place. Part 1 of revival

(mav is presumed dead and bradley comes back home because of it. the exploration of grief and how much maverick mattered to so many people is *chefs kiss* done fantastic here. there's a part 2 to this series when mav shows up and let me tell you, it's so good and i absolutely recommend that as well haha!)

What's In A Name? by maverickazansky

Ship: Tom Iceman Kazansky/Pete Maverick Mitchell

Maverick had never put any thought into Bradley not knowing the difference in surnames between the people in his family, nor his own. Nor had his put any thought into the fact that Bradley was a child. He probably should have.

(it's so cute!! it's so so so cute!!! i both laughed and cooed at little bradley, this is so ridiculously fluffy hahaha!)

With the Stars in the Darkness, and Love in the Light by flyingfightingfishy for LadyLanera

Ship: Tom Iceman Kazansky/Pete Maverick Mitchell

Ice cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I was calling about Wood and Wolf's wedding." "Oh yeah! I was sort of wondering about that. When I talked to Wolf a couple weeks ago he said the invitations would be out soon but I haven't gotten one.” Ice cleared his throat again, not quite sure how to address the situation. "Yes. Well. That's because it's with mine. Which is why I called.” Mav made a noise of mild confusion from the other end of the phone. ”They sent them together?" "Ah, no,” Ice said, taking a deep breath. “They invited us. Together. As a couple. Same invitation." OR Ice and Mav get invited to Hollywood and Wolfman's wedding together. They're not a couple. They decide not to correct the assumption.

(i wanted to smash these two idiots together, ice's anxiety was so palpable and real and i wanted to shake the man the entire time omg.)

-

[Crossovers]

Jokers to the Right by adiduck (book_people) for Serie11

Fandoms: The Saint (1997), Mission Impossible

Ship: Ethan Hunt/Simon Templar

It was supposed to be an easy one. (Or: Ethan Hunt is trying to save the world. Simon Templar is trying to rob an asshole blind. They work it out.) Part 1 of if you ever leave, i'm coming with you

(my goddamn gateway drug into this crack ship that i'm now absolutely OBSESSED with. truly and sincerely, this ship has overrun my life and i can't stop listening to lupin the third ost because it gives off spy vibes SO HARD.)(this ship is just, so much fun?? the banter, the fact they're both hyper competent people in the same field of work, whether that means working against or with each other. simon is fascinating and ethan is so inherently good and they circle around each other flirting SO MUCH LIKE NFEWNIFWE.)(the rest of the series is so good too and i absolutely recommend reading Serie11 too, they both herald this ship and god, GOD, i need more of this ship with their dynamics, it's AMAZING!! Please please give it a go and read!)

believe in you by Serie11

Fandoms: The Saint (1997), Mission Impossible

Ship: Ethan Hunt/Simon Templar

“I’ve sort of been wondering why you kept asking me out,” Julia confesses. “When it was pretty obvious that you weren’t going to make a move.” “Obvious,” Ethan echoes. He doesn’t like to think that he’s obvious about anything that he isn’t doing incredibly on purpose. He doesn’t like to think that even after all these years of only showing what he wants to show, there are still things that people can see about him that he would prefer them not to know. “This is date five, Ethan,” Julia says, lifting her eyebrows. “And you haven’t tried to kiss me once.” - Ethan's trying to escape from his past – but that's not exactly easy when he doesn't really want to run.

(a rewrite of mission impossible 3 with saintspy (this ship's name) in it. everything fits! the movie somehow has even MORE stakes and i got so hooked into the relationship drama between our mains and julia is so great here?? this fic is angsty and is in the break up era of their relationship, it's so juicy!! uggh, i love how this author writes, they really dig into ethan's psyche and i'm utterly enamored by it! even if you're not into saintspy, this fic's exploration of ethan still makes it compelling, so i definitely recommend you to check it out!)

run in the shadows by Serie11 for adiduck (book_people)

Fandoms: The Saint (1997), Mission Impossible, Top Gun

Ship: Ethan Hunt/Simon Templar

The changing soulmark on his wrist is a secret that Ethan has kept for as long as he can remember - one that he never thought he would have to explain to anybody, until a man with Peter Mitchell written on his skin appears to upend his entire life.

(*screams* soulmate fic! soulmate fic! this fic is separate from the two fics above, but man, it dives so hard into Ethan and his backstory on, "what if ethan hunt and pete mitchell are the same person". it's handled so well and the exploration on identity and what it means for both ethan and simon is so great!! a must read that will definitely win you over to this ship, i will die on this hill!)

Give and Take by GreenGlassMountain

Fandoms: The Saint (1997), Mission Impossible

Ship: Ethan Hunt/Simon Templar

When Max hires Ethan to steal the NOC list, she gives him free reign over his team members, with one exception. For such a massive heist, he must recruit the best thief in the business: a man known only as The Saint.

(i recommended this before and i need to recommend this again! seriously, it's a delightful first meeting fic between ethan and simon and the author did it so right! the dynamics, the cautious back and forth, and the fact this fic is set in the first mission impossible movie is all kinds of intriguing!! i'm so happy that this small ship is growing bit by bit and i'm so excited to see what comes next with this fic XD)

[talekinesis]

Chaos from the Stars

I'm trying something new so bear with me. I've never written an "x reader" fic before, but I want to try it.

I'm focusing on some of my favorite characters that get like 0 media and screen time

Reader is gender neutral

Summary: Two Ravager ships get damaged in battle so they make an emergency landing on the nearest planet; Earth. Unfortunately for them, they land in the middle of a field near someone's home, and now a human is involved.

Beginning | Next

Freezing, late November air rolled across the fields outside and carried snow toward a single house in the middle of the country.

It was 4 am on a Friday morning, and you were asleep. At least until you heard a loud whooshing sound, followed by heavy, booming thuds that practically shook the land. On top of that, the area was now completely lit up, including your bedroom.

You shot up, grabbed your coat, shoes, and ran outside, thinking there had been a plane crash or something. The icy air enveloped you and bit at your skin as soon as you stepped onto the porch. Frosted grass crunched under your shoes as you ran toward the field. You weren't sure what you were going to find, but still thinking it to be a plane crash, you hoped maybe you could be of help.

Instead what you found was far more confusing, and didn't make sense. There were two large air crafts that didn't look like anything you'd seen before. They weren't planes, that was for sure. One was smoking, and red lights flashed from inside, and you could faintly hear an alarm. The other was tilted on its side, and all the lights were shut off.

The door on the flashing ship opened and people started to evacuate. Only when you stepped closer, you noticed they looked a bit.. not human. Sure, many of them looked human, but others had green or blue skin, some had crested skulls, red eyes, or sharp teeth.. They weren't human.

A blue man jogged down out of the ship, coughing as smoke rushed out after him. He had some sort of red fin on his head, and spoke with a rough voice, commanding the men to get to the other ship and help them open their door.

You watched as at least twenty men rushed over and began prying at the door until it finally opened, and a different crew exited.

A human looking man exited, followed by another who looked like he was made of glass or crystal.. Then a large, red alien with a tail instead of legs, and fins for ears, a woman, and a very large man in a yellow suit.

The human looking man immediately made his way over to the blue man and they seemed to launch into an argument on sight.

You couldn't make out everyone, as the area was only lit up by the lights from the ship that was smoking, and many of the men were standing in the darkness, trying to get away from all the smoke.

You almost forgot you were even standing there, just watching the scene unfold, until you heard a voice call out over the loud arguing.

"Cap'in, I don't mean to interrupt, but there's a Terran.." said another human-looking man, this one a little scrawny with pointed ears. You didn't think he was human, but he did look like it.

Suddenly the attention was on you. At least thirty something men out here, and all of them had turned toward you.

"I-" your own voice came out as a squeak, both from the sudden shyness and the lack of use, as it was four in the morning and you had just woken up, "I heard a crash, I thought maybe someone had gotten.. hurt.." you explained, your eyes flicking from alien to alien. You took a step back, intimidated.

The human-looking man that had just been arguing with the blue alien turned and approached you. He took your hand and shook it without giving you the chance to even raise it first. "Stakar Ogord. I apologize for landing our ships and damaging the field here, we needed to make an emergency landing."

"The fields not mine-" you started, but he continued like he didn't even hear you.

"We may have to stay here until we can get our ships repaired and in the air again. Until then, I guess we'll be your neighbors. No one should bother you, I just recommend you stay in your yard." He gave a rough pat to your shoulder and turned around, walking back toward the group, leaving you standing there.

Your mind was racing, and the exhaustion wasn't helping. In fact, you were half convinced this was a dream. You looked over at the blue man with the red crest, and he just waved you off, like he was shooing you back to your house. His message was clear.

We don't need your help.

With nothing left to say, and apparently nothing to do, you did the only thing you could think of and went back inside. You shut and locked the door, took your coat off, and stepped out of your shoes.

You wanted to go back to bed, but there was no way you could do that with maybe thirty to fourty aliens just outside. Instead, you started the coffee maker and figured you'd just start the day early, at 4:30 in the morning. That was fine. Five hours of sleep wasn't terrible. After you'd poured your cup, you remembered something and stepped back outside onto the back porch.

Once you found what you were looking for, you stepped back inside, shut the door, and started to pour a second cup of coffee, this time into a thermos.

You put your coat and shoes back on, and grabbed an extra coat from the closet before you headed back out, jogging back toward the group, right for the red snake-like alien.

He turned to face you and you froze. No mouth.

Suddenly the gesture felt silly and pointless.

He continued to stare, as did some of the others.

"Uh.. Well, I saw you.. earlier, when the ship- .. Well anyway, you look reptilian, and I thought maybe you were cold blooded, and it's twenty degrees out here.. Which isn't very safe for cold blooded creatures in general, so I brought you a coffee and an extra coat.. But uh.. Well I guess you can still use the coat." You said, handing it over, relived that he actually took it and put it on, bowing his head in silent thanks.

You heard a chuckle from that man earlier, Stakar. "He can still have the drink, his mouth is in his chest. But thank you, on behalf of Krugarr here, for thinking of him."

You could tell he was trying to be polite in order to stay civil, though he was trying to focus on the ships and the fact that they were all stranded now.

The red alien -Krugarr, you learned his name was- bowed his head again and accepted the drink. You realized he also was just trying to be polite, knowing you had good intentions.

You turned your attention back to Stakar. "Is there anything I can do to help? There's like forty of you, all stranded out here.. Do you need food or water maybe? Or a place to stay? My house isn't very big, but I've got a barn on my property that isn't being used."

The blue man with the red crest stepped up. "Can't you see we're handling it? Look, the gesture is appreciated, but we're fine. We don't need your help. We'll stay on our ship-"

"The ship that looks like it's on fire?" You retorted. "You'll die of smoke inhalation. My barn is open, I can get extra blankets and heaters out there. It's the least I can do, just let me help."

He stopped and grumbled a little, clearly irritated. He turned and looked at his crew. Some were visibly shivering, while others had their hands in their pockets, arms tightly tucked into their bodies, pretending not to be cold, but their captain knew his crew and sighed.

"Fine," he turned and faced you, "You can put the boys up in your barn until we get things figured out. But if they give you trouble, and they might, you come an' get me." He turned toward the man who had spoken up earlier, the scrawnier looking human-like man. "Go with them, make sure they don't destroy the place."

The man nodded and turned toward the crew. "Cap'in says we're stayin' in the Terran's barn until our ship is fixed up." He called out. And with a jerk of his head, they followed him, and he followed you.

As you walked across the field, you looked up at him. "Forgive me if this is rude, but.. Are you human?" you asked.

He shook his head. "Xandarian. We share a common ancestor with you Terrans, so we look mighty similar, but we're different."

Another awkward minute of silent walking before you introduced yourself. If you were hosting them, they might as well know your name.

He nodded. "I'm Kraglin, Cap'in's first mate. Behind me is Brahl, Horuz, Tullk, Retch, Gef.." He trailed off, realizing there were too many crewmembers. "Uh.. Well they'll introduce themselves when ya meet 'em." He was quiet for a moment before he spoke up again. "Cap'in won't say it, but thank you.. For lettin' us stay in your barn."

You nodded. "I couldn't let you guys stay outside, it's below freezing. A human wouldn't make it out here.. By the way, what's the name of your captain? That scary blue guy."

"Yondu Udonta. He's the captain of our faction, and Stakar is the captain of his own faction."

Finally you got to the barn, and yanked at the doors, pulling them open, watching as aliens rushed to get inside and out of the snow.

You turned back toward Kraglin, crossing your arms over your chest to try and warm up a little. "What caused you guys to crash here anyway?"

He exhaled and leaned against the door. "We was fightin' with the Kree. The Cap'in doesn't have good history with them, so when he sees their ships, he gets a little impulsive- you ain't heard that from me by the way." You nodded, and he continued.

"They cut us off, and he started chasin', and shootin'. It got so bad that Stakar came an' told him to stop, that he was gon' start somethin'. Then the Kree shot back and nearly took out our ship, and that's when Stakar got involved, cuz he don't like anyone messin' with Yondu. We eventually shot their ship down, but ours didn't turn out much better."

That's when you remembered them fighting. Everyone evacuated, and Yondu made sure Stakar and his crew got out safely, and then they started fighting. It reminded you of you and your family a little bit.

"Come on, I've got some blankets and heaters in my house, can you help me carry them?" You asked, walking toward the house. You heard him jog to catch up and follow you, taking that as a yes.

You came back out with two space heaters and ten blankets, some pulled from your own bed. It wasn't nearly enough, but some people were able to begrudgingly share, and others crowded around the heaters and just sat together. Some were nice enough to thank you, but most either nodded or just grunted.

"Don't take it personally," Kraglin had said, "Ravagers ain't exactly the nicest of people. We're pirates."

Great, you thought, I'm hosting space alien pirates in my barn.

You nodded to him as he headed over toward a stall meant for a horse but hadn't been used and was left empty. Turning to leave, you nearly ran into Yondu, who caught you by shoulders before you did.

"Oh, I'm sorry-" You started but he just let go and walked around you, joining his crew. It felt a little rude, but it was understandable, he was stressed about his ship.

As you walked back toward the house, you saw Stakar, Krugarr, and a very angry looking woman. You may not have known what Krugarr was, but you were sure he was cold blooded. He had to be, right?

"Hey, uh, there's some extra room in the house. I have the heat on, and there's a guest room, if you three would prefer to sleep inside instead of out in the barn." you offered.

The woman started to decline, but Stakar spoke faster, "That would be wonderful, thank you." He ignored the smack she delivered to his chest, and walked inside with her. As scary and as harsh as she was with Stakar, she did thank you on her way in, so you assumed maybe she just hadn't wanted to intrude.

She and Stakar got the guest room together, making you think they were together, and you set up Krugarr in the livingroom couch with a blanket. He may not have had a mouth, but you could see it in his eyes that he seemed to smile a little and was grateful.

You headed back to your room, finally and sat down on the bed, ready to get back to sleep.. When it hit you that you just impulsively let maybe forty dangerous, possibly armed, alien pirate strangers stay with you, and three of them were inside your house.

You hadn't even thought about it, you just let them in, trying to help. You didn't know them, where they were from, their intentions, anything. Sure they seemed nice, but didn't most murders when people talked about them on the news?

You got up and clicked the lock on the door shut before sitting back down. You were sure that wasn't enough to stop them, but if their intention was to rob you, maybe it would be safer to stay put in your room while they did their thing..

You checked the clock propped up on your dresser.. 5:35 am.

Maybe just an hour of sleep wouldn't hurt. They all seemed equally as exhausted anyway, maybe they wouldn't bother you.

So you laid back down, pulled the comforter up, and fell back asleep, trying not to think about the people in your house or in the barn.

[crystaleevee4]

just read chasing the horizon line by @1watermelontea and @nine-of-diamonds! Very good fic, take some doodles of three of these silly guys (I have more doodles but they’re uncolored so. Gotta fix that before uploading) also

WOW tumblr is determined to completely tank the quality (tbf I don’t have a very. High-quality camera)

JESUS CHRISYT FUCK MY LIFE THE ALT IMAGE DESCRIPTION IS TOO LONG. HOLD ON i'm sorry this is so long

[image ID: A doodle of Grian, Gem, and Skizz from the fanfic "chasing the horizon line". They are all merpeople of some kind. Above them all are the words "rotates Mer at top speeds in mind (from fic Chasing the Horizon Line)". Below that, the words "girl help this went from 11:27 PM to 1:24 AM…"

Grian has round glasses and fluffy, short and dark blonde hair. He is holding an enchantment book titled "NOT MENDING LOL" out in front of him with one hand while the other is on his hip. He has an unimpressed expression. He is wearing a large red sweater and his tail almost matches the shade. There are scales completely covering his tail, and a few on his neck and nose. His tail is roughly medium-sized, and he is in fact the middle ground when it comes to height in this sketch. Above him are the words "Grian - Fish mer - Unsure what kind".

Gem is the shortest of the three, with a shorter, orange tail that is slightly frilly. Her hair is reddish-orange and poofy, falling to about elbow length. She is wearing a navy-blue vest/jacket over a white shirt, and her hands are clasped together mischievously. She has green eyes, and her facial expression is incredibly gremlin-like. There are scales on her neck, and some on her tail. She has fin-like ears, and there is a lantern-like thing hanging from her head. Above her are the words "Gem - Anglerfish" and next to her are the words "So pretty and sparkly… don't you want to come a little closer?"

Skizz is the tallest of all three of them, with the longest tail. He is grinning and looking off to the side. His teeth are very sharp. Most of his body, including his tail, is covered in scars. He is waving. There are visible gills on his neck and near the upper half of his tail- which has no scales. His hair is a dark gray (intended to be black/brown) with red streaks in it. He is just wearing a binder (because I love him) and there are also the words "hits him with my transgender beam" next to him as well as the trans flag in faded color pencil. There appears to be the hints of a fin on his back, and on the sides of his tail. On his other side are the words "Skizz - Shark!" with a little heart under them. /End ID]

(I fucked up grian’s hair so bad I’ve never used colored pencils before this point in time)

(I also fucked up proportions. Again, tbf, this was late at night and I forgot to check before coloring)

[image ID: flaming text saying "if you can LIKE it, you can REBLOG it!! <3333" /End ID] (did i do that right)

this is completely /nm* by the way! slash lighthearted

*the tone tag /nm means "not mad"

[gamerbearmira]

Giant siren Mirabel taking Antonio scavenging lol just tiny Antonio and his big cousin spending time together

OF COURSE 🦅 🦅🦅🦅<3333

—————

Antonio swam through the colorful reefs, swimming past the marketplace. Other sirens were selling goods, from food to shells, to precious pearls. Antonio wasn't looking around the market though. He was scavaging for human things.

It wasn't uncommon for ships to crash or sink near the Encanto islands. His abuela said that whenever the humans, especially pirates, got too close, they would always sink. He didn't know how though...whenever he asked, the adults would always say "I'll tell you when you're older." And if you asked him, he was pretty grown up. He asked one of the older kids who had just gained their tail, and they said that the humans were trying to attack the Guppy Grotto so they sank them to keep them safe.

Antonio knew there had been a recent wreck. Mirabel was nearby, looking near where the trenches were. He wasn't allowed over there yet, not by himself. His mamá said it was too dangerous, and while there were sirens down there, the water was too strong for him to swim in. Which he didn't mind.

"Oh!" Antonio's eyes sparkled with joy and curiosity as he swam closer to a part of the shipwreck he had finally found. It was a little ways away from the reef, on the lower parts of the ocean floor. He swam closer. A smaller ship, maybe a fisher ship? He wondered if there was any fish leftover...

As he swam closer, he saw something shiny in the corner of his eye. Getting closer, he could see the sun reflecting off of it in the clear waters. He carefully pushed the wood away, narrowly evading splinters. It was small, and silver, a round object. It was attached to a chain, but not like the anchor chains like the ones that his prima, Luisa, wore. It was smaller, lighter. He picked it up, his small webbed hands tracing it.

"Antonio!" Mirabel called, and he turned around. His prima and best friend swam up to him, a big smile on her face, her seaweed back hanging by her side. "Find anything interesting?"

Antonio showed off the small object he found. There was a small knob on the top, and he pressed it gently. It flew open, surprisingly both of them. Antonio recognized the numbers inside, but he still didn't know what it was.

Mirabel swam closer, eyeing it carefully. Her fins perked up as she finally realized what it was. "I've seen this before!" Mirabel said, cradling Antonio in her hands as he held the small thing. "I think they're called clocks...or was it watches? I'm not sure, but apparently, they're supposed to tell time!"

"Time? Like how we use the sun and shadows to tell time?" Antonio asked, looking up curiously at Mirabel, who nodded.

"Yup! I think humans forgot how to use the sun, so maybe that's why," Mirabel shrugged. She wasn't entirely sure herself though; she had only seen similar objects a handful of times.

Antonio hummed softly before dropping it into Mirabel's bag; it sank easily he noticed. Antonio went back towards the ship, searching it once more. This time, he had Mirabel's help. She easily picked up a part of the ship, and more stuff was revealed, the inside of the ship. Able to fit his smaller body in unlike his older cousin, he carefully looked around the wreck, not finding anything interesting. Just as he was about to tell Mirabel, he saw some sitting on the now broken cot in the corner.

He swam closer, pushing aside the broken furnishings and waterlogged books. He picked it up. It was soft, or at least as soft as it could be underwater. The buttons almost look like eyes. It looked like an animal but it wasn't...alive. Almost like one of the animals he would see on the island. It confused. Him.

Antonio swam out, going back to Mirabel, who was using her tail to push the wood towards the trenches. Deep sea sirens seemed to love the stuff and always requested shipwrecks be pushed to the trenches. Antonio sat in Mirabel's palm, hiping the small, unmoving animal. "What's this thing, Mira?"

Mirabel looked at the object, which was tiny compared to her, and even small but guppy standards. But she recognized it. She had seen it before a good amount of times. "Oh, it's a stuffed animal! Maybe a bear? Though adult humans don't use these..."

"Who does?" Antonio asked and Mirabel hesitated, her eyebrows furrowing before he shrugged and looked back at him.

"Little kids. Like human guppies. But as far as I know, there were no kids on the wreck," Mirabel said, mumbling the last part, which piqued Antonio's interest.

"Human guppies? Can I see?" Antonio asked with enthusiasm. Mirabel looked at him wide-eyed before taking the vear and putting it in her bag.

"Hey, how bout we go eat? We can explore more after lunch. Are you hungry?" Mirabel asked, quickly changing the subject. Antonio's eyes lit up at the suggestion of food.

"¡Sí!" Antonio beamed, and Mirabel held him carefully, swimming back towards their family's cave. Thankfully she was able to distract him from more questions. Though she failed to notice Antonio's gaze shifting from her bag, where the stuffed bear was, to the surface.

Was there really a kid on that ship?

—————

YEAHHHHHHH‼️ There was no way they weren’t gonna look through the wreck. They also go through the recent ones. Alma’s a little against it, but she doesn’t necessarily stop it. She’ll admit that some human stuff is useful. She tried to change the subject, but Antonio was totally still thinking about it, second.

[sassytyrantgalaxy]

Merman Magnifo x Flora!! (Alright get some snacks and drinks cause this is a long one)

*Ahem*

It was finally summer, and to celebrate the summer vacation, Flora and her friends decided to travel to Italy, and stay at an "albergo" (hotel in Italian btw) for their summer

While her friends were more focused on the trip and activities, Flora was more focused on the culture, food and history

One day, as Flora passed by a local restaurant, she overheard a conversation between a fisherman and his wife, which was the following;

Fisherman:

"Ho rivisto quella creatura marina, ma questa volta da vicino!"

(I saw that sea creature again, but this time, up close!)

Wife:

Oh davvero? Che aspetto aveva?

(Oh really? What did it look like?)

Fisherman:

Non è come sembrava, è come era quando l'ho visto!

(Not what it looked like, it's what it was when I saw him!)

Wife:

cos'era?

(What was it?)

Fisherman:

Un tritone! Aveva pinne color indaco e una lunga coda nera, e aveva un occhio solo! Sfortunatamente... quando si è accorto che lo guardavo, si è spaventato ed è nuotato via...

(A merman! he had indigo fins and a long black tail, and he had one eye! unfortunately....when he saw me looking at him, he got spooked and swam away...)

Wife:

Oh, che peccato, ma per fortuna l'ha fatto, sai che quei cacciatori di sirene gli daranno la caccia solo per la coda, e più lunga è la coda... più alti saranno i prezzi...

(Aw that's too bad, but thankfully he did, you know those mermaid hunters will hunt him down only for his tail, the longer the tail is...the higher the prices will be...)

....Mermaid..hunters? And a merman!? Flora was amazed but a little said after knowing that they are hunted down...

Later that day, Flora and her friends were eating at the local restaurant, as she was eating her spaghetti, one of friends, Jessica, noticed something in the distance...someone staring right at Flora, his eye only focused on her only but, before she could say anything..

The person dove into the water and disappeared...Jessica was weirded out but figured it was only her imagination...

Meanwhile, Magnifo swam around the ocean, having fallen in love with a human girl from the surface, gushing over her, admiring her beauty....he had to do something! He had to confess! But...he didn't know what she liked or didn't like...he had an idea!

Throughout the day, he followed the group around, seeing what she disliked and liked, she loves roses and Lily's of the valley...check...she doesn't like sunflowers cause they stir up her allergies...check

On the final day of the trip, the group decided to take a boat out into the ocean, mostly to have fun and fish...until they started playing a game where they push each other around to see who would fall into the water first, it was all fun and games until Dave pushed Flora so hard she fell off the boat and fell into the ocean, she managed to swim back up to the surface, she was a bit pissed that he pushed her really hard to point in left bruises...

But suddenly, as she was climbing back into the boat, something grabbed her leg, and pulled her back into the water!

Flora couldn't breathe, she was losing consciousness fast, and before she fell under, all her she heard was the muffled screams from her friends...and then...total, darkness..

How long was she out..? She couldn't tell...she couldn't see anything.. except, she suddenly felt something warm touch her lips, almost like- wait-

A kiss???? She opened her eyes, only to see...THE MERMAN!!!! HE WAS REAL!!

Flora looked up at him in awe as he swam around her, admiring her as he swam..finally, he spoke

"Don't worry my love, you're safe with me"

Flora stared in awe at him, amazed by how someone so majestic saved her...

Flora:

Are you...are you an actual mermaid..?

Magnifo:

Yep! I forgot humans have never seen a mermaid or merman before...but yes, we do exist! >:3 ✨

Flora:

Holy- *sharp pain* AH!, son of a-

Magnifo:

Woah! Are you okay?!

Flora:

yeah...it's just..I think the pain in my chest just kicked in- oh... nevermind, it bruised up

Magnifo:

Don't worry, I can get rid of those bruises easily

Using his tail, he pushes Flora closer to him and with one kiss to the chest, sparkles surround her chest and her bruises disappeared

Flora:

Woah...

Magnifo:

Yeah, us mermaids can practically heal anything with just a kiss

Flora:

Hm...also, how am I alive?! I should've been dead by now cause I'm underwater!

Magnifo:

...Oh yeah..I forgot about the mermaid's blessing, it basically gives the person who the mermaid kisses to breathe underwater, and the only way it will work is if the mermaid directly kisses the person on the lips..oh and it only works on creatures who can't breathe underwater, meaning humans 😄

Flora:

That would explain it...

After a long pause of silence...Flora's mind goes back to that conversation between the fisherman and his wife, about the mermaid hunters...she looked right at Magnifo, a merman, and realized..he was in danger...she thought and thought until...she finally spoke

Flora:

Hey...so uhh, this might sound insane but..do you want to come back with me to America? I know it's pretty dangerous here due to the mermaid hunters...

Magnifo:

Wait..you want me to go with you?..SURE! I don't mind, but...do Mermaid hunters exist over there?

Flora:

Not really, people love mermaids from where I am!

Magnifo:

okay then! I'll go with you to this...Merica, with you!

Later that night, as Flora's friends were still looking for her, she emerged from the water and swam back to the beach

Magnifo on toe with her, she stepped on the sand and looked at Magnifo as he used his new "legs" to walk on the surface of the land

Magnifo:

Sand feels weird...so do legs- WOAH- *falls over*

Flora:

Woah *runs over to him* are you okay?!

Magnifo:

*Sits up and spits sand out* EW EW EW, WHY DOES IT TASTE LIKE THAT! EWW!!

*Flora snorts then giggles*

Soon, her friends came back and were cheering about the fact she had come back to the surface alive!

She introduced Magnifo to them, saying that he was the one who saved her from drowning, while everyone cheered and thanked him for saving her, Jessica realized she had seen him before...but she chose not to say anything about it since clearly...Flora looked happy

They would soon leave back to America, and Magnifo would move into Flora's house in California, near the beach, where he would meet other mermaids and mermans like him!

And they lived happily ever after

The end

Btw this Magnifo is a good boi compared to Vampire Magnifo and Villain Magnifo

He also has an Italian accent :D

[toastedjeans]

Okay so i might make Siren AU into a thing. Got some very loose thoughts / this is basically just me brainstorming (if anyone has any ideas please don't hesitate to tell me)

Peppino can't swim. He just sits in his shitty little boat while fishing one day and suddenly gets attacked by probably Pizzahead or Pizzaface. Gustavo sees him struggling and panicking, and saves him from almost drowning.

I already made some concept doodles for Gustavo, he's basically a mermaid but with a shark tail and those fin thingies instead of ears. Round little shark man <3 He also doesn't inherently think humans are evil or something, when someone's in distress he tries to help as best as he can. He can get very protective over friends and loved ones tho. Don't anger him. You'll regret it.

The sirens probably can't speak human language, with a few exceptions. Pizzahead probably learned it from (obsessively) observing humans, and then tried teaching it to Fakey. Fakey can speak fractions of sentences or words, but it mostly sounds like gibberish. He doesn't speak often though, mostly communicates with croaks, gurgles, and other noises. I like to imagine Gustavo tries to learn to speak human language so he can communicate with Peppino better (bonus points if his first full sentence for some reason is "I'm going to kill you", not knowing what it means and scaring the shit out of Peppino)

Fakey stays a frog, but with like. A tail, like when frogs are in that transitional phase between tadpole and frog ya know. But still humanoid looking, i mean he has to look like Peppino, right? Created by Pizzahead out of literal frog DNA and.. anger? Jealousy? Unhealthy obsession? All of the above? Idk yet

Mr. Stick is probably one of the few characters that stay human, and he's one of Peppino's friends/acquaintances

Not sure if Brick should stay a rat, possibly even Peppino's (involuntary) pet, or some kinda fish that's already Gustavo's friend. Although it'd be fun if Brick just lives with Pep, and Pep can't get rid of him no matter what he does, so he reluctantly keeps him.

I literally have no ideas for Pepperman and Vigilante. All i could think of for Vigi rn is uh. Sea slug. But Pepperman?? Zero clue. Head empty. Help.

Got two thoughts for the Noises, either Noise is a human too, but Noisette is a siren luring him in (or vice versa!), or both of them are sirens. Option 2 would make more sense to me, but option 1 seems interesting too.. OR secret option 3, Noise and Noisette are both creatures that transform depending on if they're in water or on land. Peppino doesn't know this. The Noises act like it's the most normal thing in the world.

Pizzahead as either a regular siren or maybe like. An octopus/squid? Kinda like Ursula from Ariel idk. Or maybe an eel. Idk why

I still think it'd be funny if Pizzaface was a flat fish. I forgot what they're called but the mental image is so funny to me. Flat fuck.

Pizzahead probably got the idea of cloning Peppino cause he once saw how strong he is, and thought he would need that kinda strength for the war between him and.. other creatures.. i actually haven't thought about that one.. who would he even be against? Are the other bosses on his side? Is he trying to start a war between sirens and humans bc of people like Peppino fishing all the time? Or have humans started a war against the sirens in ancient times and it's still in their nature to despise humans because of that?

[ayewritebullsheet]

READ MORE HERE: SUMMARY | CHAPTER ONE | CHAPTER TWO | CHAPTER THREE | CHAPTER FOUR | TBA

CHAPTER THREE

November 6, 2038

9:06 AM

"So, Sarah," Carley propped an elbow on the desk, jaw resting on her palm as she stared at the ST300 with her lips pressed together and eyelashes batted. "Is Detective Collins here? Have you talked to him about what happened last night? Or did he ask about it? Mention it? Or maybe someone else did?"

"Detective Collins hasn't arrived yet, Miss Walters. But is there anything specific I should inform him when he arrives?" The android receptionist asked as politely as always, and now Carley felt ashamed for even proposing this idea.

Her plan was far from nefarious, but she couldn't bear to drag Sarah along to help cover for her late-night tarrying in the Interrogation Room with the lieutenant, Gavin, and Chris. She knew Detective Collins wouldn't do anything to the android, except, maybe, give her a mild chastising for the involvement, but not too severe that their android receptionist would begin to ponder over it.

"You know what? Forget it. It's nothing. It's fine." She shook her head and sighed. Carley handed her ID and the android scanned it before returning it to her. She gave the receptionist a little wave as she walked away. "Have a good day, Sarah."

"You, too, Miss Walters."

She treaded cautiously to her desk, intending to elude Detective Collins during her first hour back at work. Or at least, let her have her coffee and sandwich before getting the inevitable reprove. She already had a mental list of people giving her an earful that day, and she wasn't looking forward to it.

Carley was neither scared nor apprehensive of the older detective, but tired of getting called to his desk to listen to the same old censure a parent would do to their supposedly troublemaking child. She had enough tongue-lashing from her mother throughout her life and garnered more than one would like of Casey and Anne Marie's coddling during her months of suspension. She didn't need more mouths to listen as she only had two ears, and one barely functioning brain to register everything.

The idea of reproach at her age was already embarrassing, but the seniors would use the same excuse of wanting to oversee her career since that was what their father wanted. Or maybe it was what their Uncle Keith wished to prove to everyone.

If she had known that choosing this career would amass her not just one parental figure but a couple more, Carley would've chosen something else. She had planned something before, something her family had considered pointless and unconventional, or call it a phase where she simply wanted her childhood dreams and fantasies to be fulfilled.

She can't help but imagine it still.

To be submerged in the pool the entire day; surrounded by the smallest fishes to the largest ones available. Her hair flowed in the water as she gazed at her audience while they admired her tail and fins, her pretty glittering make-up, and how gracefully she swam across the aquarium.

That was the dream.

And it'll stay as a one.

"Whoa!" Carley looked up and found Chris in her way with his hands full of papers and some files. He seemed genuinely surprised, too. "I didn't expect you today, Detective!"

"I forgot to check on the Gang last night." Carley shrugged. "Blame Reed for that."

"Those shrimps are gonna be fine for a couple more days without you. I know, they made me Google it just to be really sure. Should've taken your word for it."

"I told you, they're very low maintenance than the cat, and entertaining, too."

Chris giggled. "I get why you like lookin' at them for so long. Spent almost five minutes starin' at them, especially when they're clambering around the jar."

"Exactly! And, oh! No oats today! I got... busy."

"It's alright." He shrugged. "Zara's keeping me stuffed since she'd known the ropes with Damian, and you're not technically supposed to be here anyway, so..." Chris reassured her with a soft chuckle. A brief, awkward silence followed, and then Chris began to stammer, seemingly careful with his words. "How's last night? Like, how are you feeling? 'cause you looked kinda spooked if I'm being honest. But I hope you don't mind me asking."

"Oh!" came her exclaim. Though she tried not to sound and appear disgruntled about his inquiry, she couldn't imagine how last night must've appeared from an outside spectator. To stand frozen in fear, sift the entire room for an invisible figure, mourn over someone she had known within the hour and by name only, and then walk out of the room without an apprise.

Baffling.

It would've been easy to say the bullet could've gotten her instead of Connor, how last night could've been her last, or say something similar to that sentiment.

It seemed like a rational explanation: to fear for her life and safety. But if she were to admit that November 4th assaulted her again, she would. To professed how vivid it felt to live through it again; to remember how cold that night was, the smell of the rain on the concrete and iron on her hands, the taste of her tears, the heavy pounding of her head, and how Connor's lifeless figure resembled Carson. She would.

But that seemed too much to admit, and she didn't want to burden her friend with the truth.

The rational explanation, then.

"Last night was... I don't know. Surprisingly scary? I can't help thinking it could've been either of us. That's all."

"Yeah, last night was just... wild." Chris' nodding was slow and cautious, his eyes on hers. "That was pretty close, too. Felt bad for the android, though. Uh, Connor, right? But, you know, Reed's been complaining about the paperwork for hours."

"I mean, what's new? If anyone deserves a medal this coming February, it's you... at least, just for putting up with him for hours."

"I'd swap that medal for two weeks off if I'm being honest."

"Same." Carley agreed, but not wholeheartedly.

The officer replied with a small nod and a smile before he asked. "Uh, sleep?"

"Oh, uh. A good five hours, yeah."

"Liar..."

"Shut up." Carley snapped back instinctively. Her voice was lower than a whisper and her action was subtler than a tic.

For once, the ghost spoke the truth.

Though time moved strangely that night, her cellphone's thousands of alarms made her slightly mindful of the hours that passed.

It was some tiring hours of restrained crying in the bathroom. Then some gnarly minutes of washing and rubbing the blue blood off her face and hands, and an impulse decision to pour bleach to get the stain off her hoodie—with undesirable results, of course.

Carley managed some hours of sleep after tossing and turning for god knows how long, only to be awoken by Mr. Wellington tapping the window while his head peeped through it sometime later. The last hour before work was wasted engaging in a one-sided staring contest with Eli Price's mugshot, and several minutes of stabbing his neck. She imagined the blade piercing deeper into his throat and twisting it so delicately that blood would splatter and drench her face and clothes. She'd relish every drop of his blood on hers like a child enjoying the rain.

It was strangely therapeutic to her; to muse about getting her hands on him. Get even. An eye for an eye and let the world go blind. Flipped off Gandhi if she could. Grab a knife and stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab! Stab! Stab!

"Well... better five than nothin'. You're starting to look great, too. I think Zara would approve," said Chris, snapping her back from her... thoughts. Carley nodded and mumbled thanks before the officer excused himself and disappeared into the Meeting Room behind her.

Thankful to get Chris off her short, mental list of 'people to avoid if she could for the day' but the friendly officer was hardly ever a bother. She wished she could say the same for Captain Fowler, but to shirk from that ever-grouchy man would be impossible. It didn't help that her desk was a few strides away from his elaborate office. A small turn to his right or a glance through his peripheral and she'd be there, glaringly visible to him.

She didn't want to be noticed this soon, but to witness the shock and eventual displeasure on the captain's face seemed worthy of indulgence despite the inexorable censure she'd received. But Captain Fowler was too preoccupied with his cell phone to notice her beeline to her desk.

This is good, she thought. She wanted to be inconspicuous for a day. She hoped she could be inconspicuous today, which was unlikely, but a cup of coffee and a sandwich before anything else should brighten the mood.

With a glance at the empty and bestrewed desk behind hers, Carley wondered whether the lieutenant would show up today or if was he running very, very, very late at the moment.

Those were the questions, and the answer was: who the fuck knows.

Lieutenant Anderson was hardly ever on time anyway. And if he was, he barely occupied his desk except for a quick sit, a glance at his screen, or a sip of his coffee before he dismissed himself for lunch or a cigarette break despite having just arrived. They had caught him smoking at the back of the station or somewhere discreet or unfrequented like the roof deck. Sometimes sober, sometimes drunk. Everyone stopped giving a damn about it and just went along despite their many complaints, except for some police officers and a certain choleric detective in their precinct.

Carley's eyes went to find him and well... there he was.

She was almost thankful she hadn't seen him when she passed his desk or crossed paths with him in the hallway. A minute without seeing his face would've been as good as seeing the sun in this cold, rainy weather, but Carley never gets the peace and quiet she wants.

Gavin Reed, their overzealous yet irascible detective. He was in the Break Room at their usual table, conversing with an officer Carley couldn't identify from afar.

No doubt he pulled an all-nighter again judging by the clothes he wore and how his shoulders leaned forward, sloppy yet exhausted. Carley gauged the cups of coffee he must've had to withstand this long and wagered she could drink twice as much as he could. But for some reason, Captain Fowler and Sergeant Barnes would always discover her monopolizing the station's coffee and chastise her. Sergeant Barnes became harsher than the captain after the accident and had accused her of being a caffeine glutton more often than necessary. If they hadn't done so, Carley would've competed with Gavin Reed's caffeine dependency and won, easily.

Maybe.

Yes, for sure.

But with her sleep deprivation and Gavin's brazen and spiteful remark last night, Carley's mood was far from optimal to deal with him and his antics, and that hankering for a cup of coffee was more frustrating to deny than her nuisance for the detective.

As she set her bag down and gathered her much-needed confidence, Carley put on her headphones, turned the volume up, and marched into the Break Room to the vending machine for a sandwich.

Gavin immediately took notice when he looked up from his coffee, and his stare was followed by the officer who accompanied him, who Carley realized was Officer Chen as she entered.

"Mornin', Walters!" She could hear him call out despite her music at its highest volume.

Carley hurried with the vending machine and her sandwich before she went for the coffee machine. With the passing of her beloved mug last night, again, she was forced to use these... tiny, disposable coffee cups they were provided with, which were too small for her liking. But with nothing else to use and she didn't want to borrow anyone's mugs, Carley yielded to these tiny abominations with high hopes she could whisk her preferred blend with it.

The machine started to operate in a soft buzz, and as the music slowly ended, Carley heard Gavin talking again. His voice was obscure, his statement disjointed and incomprehensible, but as new music began to fill her ears, the last she heard from the detective was: "Another son of a bitch takes its place!"

Carley took a bite of the sandwich and waited for the coffee to fill the cup. Bella suggested adding milk or condensed milk to make the blend... less refined, but she preferred her coffee at its full strength. She'd just have to keep quiet about it.

As she inhaled the strong aroma; Carley's tongue salivated, excited to take that first sip. However, her excitement was also accompanied by Gavin's exasperation when she caught bits of his exchange again whenever the song's beat dwindled.

Seething, she heard him order out loud. "Get a move on!"

Whoever was antagonizing him at the moment? And this early, too? Brave soul. She thought it might be Dean since the officer and Gavin shared some quick, sporadical banter through the years they'd been friends. But the officer wouldn't tolerate being berated despite his amicable comportment. She wagered it was James, though the young officer mostly does shit for a few giggles, and sometimes to raise a couple of confused eyebrows, but nothing extreme that would infuriate Gavin. James would know when to stop.

Not in the mood, perhaps. She can't blame him. Everyone had their wild, puzzling, and hair-raising moments on the job. Last night was just another wild ride. She'd be upset, too, if their suspect suddenly blew their heads off before their eyes, and the additional paperwork he had to submit to CyberLife on their newly released and newly-damaged android detective would add more hours and workload on his shoulders.

Carley raised the coffee cup near her nose and inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of its deliciousness before she took a careful sip. Good. Great. Lovely. Delicious. Cravings, satisfied. The sandwich may not tasted as good as last night, but that appeased the mild ache in her stomach. She hoped it would last until her lunch with Bella or Dean later.

She took a careful pivot and saw Gavin leaving the Break Room in a huff, beckoning Officer Chen along. The officer hastily followed behind.

Thank goodness. Carley raised an eyebrow before she looked down at the man hunched over on his knee. He slowly got up, his head turned slightly to the right, following where Gavin and Officer Chen made a swift egress as he straightened his necktie.

Carley's stare returned to her drink as she blew the steam and took another slow sip. The music began to quiet down, ready to shuffle to another song, and Carley heard someone call to her with a melodious voice.

"Hello, Detective Walters."

"Hi—" She pulled the headphones down, looked up, and then yelped in surprise. Carley recoiled a couple of steps back and bumped against the counter. The cup escaped her hold and crashed to the floor, making a puddle over the dark, pristine floor, and splashing some on her shoes.

"Ahh!" Carley yelped in horror when her eyes darted over the spilled coffee, and her breath choked when she sought out his unmarred face.

There he was: Connor's ghost, standing upright in front of her with curious eyes. Not dead or vindictive eyes, but curious ones. His curiosity was accompanied by the slight tilt of his head and the yellow buffering of his LED.

Some part of Carley anticipated his hauntings sooner or later in some sudden, unwanted recollection, but she didn't expect to see him this vividly. In front of her. Standing tall as he did before he passed. In the same hour Carson's ghost visited her and made a permanent residence.

She remembered that night, and how long and numbing it was. She remembered every bit of that plight despite being shoved into a bubble of daze and silence the entire time, looking like an outside spectator of her life.

Blue and red lights blinded her, and the noise of the blaring sirens was still audible. Her shaking and aching knees were smeared with dirt from the concrete and her shoulders were damped from the light rain that night. Blood coated her hands, tears had dried on her face, and snot from her nose hardened that breathing became a chore. Everyone wore their consolable faces when they pulled her away from him and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.

Time moved strangely that night; it was brisk and tedious altogether. The Interrogation Room was prickly cold. Their faces were blurry and darkened. Their questions were confusing and muted. Her responses were condensed and torpid. Then she was staring at Carson's lifeless body lying on a cold, stainless table. He looked at peace, unmoving. He was still in his uniform and the coat she gifted him years ago. His eyes were closed, never to be opened again. He had gone pale during her absence in the Interrogation Room and stiff when she held his hand and sought warmth, comfort, and reassurance one last time. She kissed his hand, hopeful that her love would bring him back to life.

She waited.

And waited.

One minute turned to ten. Ten to fifty. Minutes turned hours.

Nothing.

Still, she stayed beside him, longer than what was allowed. In whispers, she reminisced about the times they'd spent together. The good and the best. The awful things he had done didn't matter despite the unanimous and decided to leave it locked in a chest. Never to be spoken and reminded again.

And in the early morning of her quandary; when she sat, shaken and numbed, there came Gavin. Despite their estranged friendship, he drove from Indianapolis to Detroit when he heard the news and took her in his arms. Never mind how she reeked of blood, sweat, and rain, or how cold and shriveled she felt. It was the last thing she expected, but it was the first thing he did anyway. She remembered collapsing into his gentle and reassuring touch, melting into his lasting embrace, and dwelling into this strange sensation while her mind wandered.

A ticket to freedom.

A glimpse of a bright future.

A repose she had yearned for her entire life.

It felt exhilaratingly good for a short moment until she was brought back to this grim reality and pushed aside those selfish sentiments.

Carson was dead.

And it was her fault.

Gavin spent the rest of the time handling what should've been her duty while she sat back again in the waiting area with her shoulders hunched forward. Her tired and vacant eyes locked on her hands, trying to scrape the dry blood that besmirched her fingernails despite Dean and Bella's efforts to wipe it off earlier.

He drove her home afterward, and the journey was inundated with still and deafening silence. Gavin hadn't turned the radio on or attached his phone to its holder as he always did, which she found distractingly bothersome but decided to say nothing about. When they arrived, he insisted on staying and cooking for her, but her goodbyes and reassurances were persistent as she went inside the house.

And there he stood in the corner of the room, lurking at nine-something in the morning. Carson.

She remembered it very well. Too well.

The veil of sunlight made it easier to see his figure, and how haunting his marred features were. The left side of his lip was pulled down, his mouth slightly opened from gargling blood, air, and saliva, and the hole on his neck continued to ooze with blood, dripping on their carpet floor. Her skin grew cold at his ragged breaths, and the choking and wheezing that followed. Calling her name. Asking for help that never came.

Despite the ghastly sight and the fury in his eyes, Carley walked up to him. Slow and careful steps. Frightened he might vanish like mist if she hastily approached him, or he might move further back and back, and back, and back, and back, and back, that no matter how much she would walk, walk, walk, walk, walk to cut the distance, she won't get to him. But Carson remained stationary, conditioned to linger there, and when she reached out to touch him... she couldn't.

"You did this..."

Suppose that was the difference between Carson and Connor. With her hands holding onto Connor's arms, she could feel him. Real and true. The texture of his jacket was tangible when she brushed her fingers against it. His skin was soft when she moved her hands to cup his face, caressing every inch of his flesh with her thumbs and feeling the cheekbones of his face.

Real and true.

Real and true.

Real and true.

She'd tell herself that as much as she could for reassurance, but Carley's many thoughts and questions were jumbled together. Everything was just too complicated to take in, slow to swallow. She could only stare at him. Disbelief remained, but a hint of care and concern resurfaced, and yearning prevailed when her eyebrows furrowed.

"You're alive." She managed to say quietly and shakily.

Connor blinked, and his LED flickered yellow and then blue. "My predecessor was unfortunately destroyed, Detective Walters. The destruction was beyond repair, so its memory was transferred to me and sent me to replace it." He paused, and his LED made an expeditious shift from blue to red before it returned to its gentle blue. He blinked again. "This incident should not affect my future investigations with Lieutenant Anderson."

She heard him say as solemnly and as forthright as before. Her disbelief withered, and the longer she held onto his face, Carley's realization became clear. Though his freckled skin may be soft under her touch, it didn't stretch the same as a human would. It was firm and taut like synthetic skin should feel.

His predecessor.

Not alive.

Android.

CARLEY 🔽

No. This... this isn't fair! Her hands briskly withdrew from him. He can't waltz right back in here as if nothing happened! As if last night was merely a gimmick, and they were the stupid ones for believing he was gone!

No, no. She was the stupid one.

To come back from the dead... this wasn't normal. But then again, neither was Connor. He was an android after all; a simple, replaceable machine. Carson can't do what an android can. He was, after all; human but buried six feet on the ground.

"Detective Walters, I was wondering when will—"

"Excuse me a minute." She snapped, her face was devoid of emotions but her eyes were watery. Connor hadn't had a chance to reply when she sprightly exited from the Break Room and into the restroom. His blinking eyes followed her leave, while his LED shifted expeditiously from red to yellow and finally to blue again.

S0FTWAR3 INST4BIL1TY 🔼

HANK🔽

random author's note:

this chapter is slightly edited. *inserts cheeky smile here*

READ MORE HERE: SUMMARY | CHAPTER ONE | CHAPTER TWO | CHAPTER THREE | CHAPTER FOUR | TBA

[fragileizywriting]

marinette probably kinda likes trying to swim with her sea legs. it's a weird experience. her body knows what to do, she's done it her whole life, but it just doesn't work. she ends up dog paddling, and it's cute, and it's adorable, and how upset would she actually be with him if he offered to teach her how to swim?

after what's felt like the whole day at the pool, he stuffs her into a towel the size of a blanket. she's shivering, and her lips have turned purple and blue, but his pearl has refused to let up and exist outside of a freezing pool in the middle of this island.

she disappears in the towel, wrapped up tight in polka-dotted fabric. she's giggling underneath as he attempts to dry her off, words of annoyance bouncing off of her as he manhandles her and cleans behind the ears. she's just a floating head, towel wrapped around her shoulders, a little burrito that shivers underneath his fingertips.

"are you done?"

"you need to shower."

"we both do," she tells him with a laugh. "you also smell like chlorine."

she's still wiggling to herself when he locates the keys to the beach house, because even though there's no one on the island, there might be bears. probably not. birds. yeah. they're smart enough to open an unlocked door, surely. especially since there's food in the kitchen, spread across the kitchen island like a buffet, because marinette had cooked and baked and done all sorts of stuff, excited to have a countertop bigger than the size of a laptop screen to make food. here, she'd gone wild, but then forgot to store it away— she samples the food on and off, treating all the dishes she's made like finger food. everytime she eats, she hums, and luka just can't force himself to tell her to pack the food into the fridge.

he turns back to her when there's a wet, sloppy slap on the pool deck, half expecting it to be the sound of her tail. it's the same quality— that moist, damp, thwap that is so common with their fins, that he's all at once surprised at the noise and befuddled when she's not, in fact, wiggling on the floor trying to crawl back into the pool without her sea legs.

her bikini bottom is on the floor, though. pink and scalloped and red accents because while he'd expected her to wear something sweet, he hadn't expected her to pack a bikini so... her, while he just wears a simple black water shorts that costs way more than it should, he'd been looking at that tiny little string that holds the individual parts onto her body with awe. jealousy. appeciation. something between the three, wondering if he can convince her to sit on his lap for a bit, just a little bit, as their bond flares in his chest.

pink and red fabric on the floor.

marinette is still in her burrito.

"are you naked?" he asks her, blurts out, as if it'd bubbled out of him like a soda.

"no."

"i'm pretty sure that's your bikini on the floor."

"no," she laughs. "not naked."

but she shimmies again, just as he asks, "how di— but— if you're not naked, then—"

she moves just a little bit to the left, letting two shell-shaped fabric pieces fall to the ground. bikini top.

"now i'm naked," she announces, to no one in particular but him, brown eyes almost blue with mischief.

"you little—"

"—i need a shower," she says, wiping at her face with a corner of the towel, teasing him with a pale, bare shoulder. "can you make sure i get all the chlorine off?"

he's tenting in his board shorts.

[amphiptere-art]

Oh God I almost forgot this.

In a spur of the moment in the shower, I was thinking about the different computers in the Sun and Moon show.

Not only do we have the one Moon made, but we now have one that Monty made, and one that Eclipse made.

My brain spit out some random designs and names. I'll have to draw the designs later but for now you get descriptions.

First of all all these designs were very geometric. Basically made of random shapes. A lot of artists sort of draw like this. Where the characters are made with very flat but short lines. So it's something similar to that.

Moon's computer will get two snazzy little men. For some reason I see them wearing baller caps and looking somewhat similar to Blood Moon. Probably also being a similar height. They wear what I could only describe as mafia suits. One wears sharp glasses while the other doesn't.

Of course acts like the computer we all know. A jackass. Listening only when they want to.

I shall call them the jacks twins.

Monty's computer will be a little reptile. Something similar to a anole or some sort of small desert lizard. I see them having a fin instead of a mohawk Monty. They wear big circular glasses with a long lab coat on them. A long curling tail popping out. They also probably have bits of Australian clothing underneath the lab coat.

He is relatively quick with his actions. Focused and precise. Although he will give snarky remarks back if prompted.

I shall call him skink.

Eclipse's computer is a tall lady. Wearing what I could only describe as standardized secretary clothes. I see her constantly holding a clipboard. She has relatively long hair that hangs down to the floor almost becoming like a cape. The only one without anything on the top of her head.

She likes to make suggestions. Openly worried about eclipses condition but not stating such. Listens, but will usually try to prompt different actions.

I shall call her Sira (pronounced like Sarah with an I)

And that is what my brain dumped upon me.

[codythesemiaquaticwerewolf]

Speaking of underwater, here's another one! This time Cody finds some treasure! ^w^

I also did a little bit of shaders (& an Ice Age 4 easter egg) and an story that will accompany this!

The story:

So there Cody was, standing on the docks looking onto the sea. the sunlight reflects its yellow glow onto the teenage lycanthrope fellow as today is very hot, not only perfect for a swim but also perfect for a treasure dive & search.

For today, he prepared himself as he looks at a heavy rock his paws are holding. The rock is held by a long rope that is tied to both his feet separately in each end of it, this allows him to sink further however he has to untie them once he reaches the bottom. Luckily, he has a strap tied to his leg with a scuba knife equipped.

All of that may seem like a very dangerous stunt to most non-aquatic furs, to Cody however this is no issue for him as he smiles slighty & infact nofur has done this before.

The brown-colored werewolf took a deep breath as he takes a step back and then runs with rock in hand as he jumps, lets go of the rock that is connected to his feet and splashes into the sea. A large swarm of small bubbles cover his entire fur as he sinks down further while he hold his breath, his hair and black cape being lifted & drifting around.

As soon as he falls into the water, he clutched his sun pedant necklace, turning it into a crescent moon & beginning his aquatic transformation. He stops holding his breath as gills open on his chest & neck, although letting some infinite bubbles out from his mouth & snout. Fish-like fins grow around himself along with his tail having transparent ones.

Another fin, this time reminiscent of a shark, also grows on his back. Otter-like membrabe or webbing grows around his four paws & armpit, allowing him to glide underwater.

Finally, the transformation is complete as his paw feet starts to flop, they elongate along with his toes, which are fusing with the webbing as they flattened, sprouting himself some flippers.

After some sinking later, The rock Cody is tied to hits the sandy floor as he lands on it second with his flippery paws, crouching while raising his arm. He looks around the sea around him, coral & fish residing here peacefully. The temperature has been adjusted to Cody to be as lukewarm as possible.

The now aquatic wolf takes out his scuba knife from his leg strap as he proceeds to cut the rope that are tied to his flippers. His feet fins manage to free themselves from the rope as Cody then hops off the rock and starts swimming around the sea towards some hidden treaure waiting to be found, kicking his flopping webbed paws & fish tail altogether like a dolphin or merfur.

Cody explores around the sea underwater, looking for treasure to find while a school of fish follow him like he's one of them. Cody smiles a little as he takes a can of fish food from his leather bag, pours it onto his webbed paws and feeds the fishes as they surround him like curious pets. After that, Cody continues on swimming, passing through an forest of kelp without trying to get tangled by it.

Throughout the journey, Cody almost forgot that still leftover cut rope on his flippers. The fish-wolf sits on the sandy floor & unties them, leaving the leftover rope behind as he hops & kicks his flippery feet altogether once again.

That's when Cody spots something wooden near 2 rocks peeking his curiosity as his kicks his flattened paw fins faster. The object was a sunken chest, a treasure chest for sure. Cody goes excited as the happy wolf creature spews out a lot of bubbles from his snout & mouth, sitting on his knees as he picks the treasure chest with his webbed furry paws. All that swimming & searching really have payed off.

Cody hovers off a little from the ground. He opened the treasure chest in curiosity, hoping it wasn't yet another faux treasure chest. And to his surprise, there was lovely gold inside! Jewelry, coins, etc, its glow shining around the chest. Cody was so excitedly happy that he let out a lot of huge bubbles escape from his muzzle as he flaps his fins, ears & tail, there were also fishes around him who were curious. The now happy aquatic werewolf look up into the surface, ripples waving through the water, he felt it was time to emerge from the sea & back into land.

So, Cody closed the treasure chest to not let any gold escape as he kicks his feet flippers & fluffy fish-finned tail altogether like a merfur, launching himself towards the surface with the chest. While resurfacing, the bubbles escape even more through his muzzle as they form an bubble respirator around it. Cody manages to splash back into the surface, leaning himself like a mermaid & taking a gasp of fresh air. He sees the beach as he swims towards it.

When Cody reached the beach, he stands up & puts down the treasure chest as he dries his fur by shaking around like a dog after swimming. He clutches his necklace again as it turns back into a sun. He then turns back into a regular wolf person as his fins & webbing regress back into his skin hidden beneath the fur, his gills closes as his fin feet shrinks back into just paws, allowing himself to walk again without wobbling on land.

[sharkzillasaurus]

HELLO HELLO I HAVE SHITTY (unfinished) ART!!

Yeesh, he is one ugly muthafucka...

...i love him

Okay read on if u wanna hear about lore n stuff if not byeee!

Wow you're still here? I'm sorry 💀

Okay so this is Galanos!! He is an anthro (not a furry shut up) albino wels catfish that cant actually talk. I'm now realising I forgot to add his voice box thingy. Whoops! Well it's unfinished I'll add it tommorow and colour him in.

Anyway so Galanos can't talk, how does he communicate? Well he has a small radio on a collar around his neck, think Steve from cloudy with a chance of meatballs, that he uses, whatever he wants to say, the radio says for him in a text-to-speech voice.

I've made some changes to how a normal wels catfish looks, such as how I've made the dorsal fin (which is usually small and far back) go along the whole length of his body, from his head to the tip of his tail. I like to imagine it kinda looks like hair? Sorta? Okay not really but I just thought he looked a bit boring without it. He's got webbed hands and feet because I thought they looked cool, lol. Also like I said, he's an albino wels catfish, I'll put some pics of what they look like underneath here, but Galanos is more of an orangey yellow colour with an almost white belly, like the first picture.

The clothes he's wearing are meant to be waders, why is a fish wearing waders you might ask? Well I just thought they looked cool 😁 Also they're based off this image \/ (why is it so low quality help)

The world he lives in is pretty Fallout-esque, being post-apocalyptic and radiation filled. Part of the reason I wanted him to be a wels catfish (apart from the fact that they're one of my favourite species of fish) is that there are actually large wels catfish living in the cooling pond at Chernobyl, which I thought was pretty cool when I found that out.

Although sorry to burst everyone's bubble but they aren't radioactive mutants, they're perfectly healthy and thriving, their large size is perfectly natural, being pretty small for some other specimens caught!!

This was what inspired me to have them live in this world, as I thought, what if he wasn't affected by radiation at all? Like a nuclear blast could go off nearby, and as long as the blast or fire didn't kill them, then he'd be perfectly fine. In fact I've been considering having radioactive particles extend his life, making it so that he can't die of old age, he could obviously still be shot and die.

One last thing before I go to sleep, that might shock some people... his parents.......

ARE ALIVE!!

That's right, he hasn't had to watch his parents die, although they never knew their biological parents. He was adopted by two very lovely mothers, one a Victorian goth, and the other more alt/ punk (I wanted to give them styles idk why)

Final little things before I go to sleep, he's objectum, bisexual, polyamourus and transmasc (just self-projecting onto him 💀) and is more of a lone wanderer, roaming around, looting abandoned buildings and corpses, the usual. He carries around a satchel to carry food, drink and useful items he finds.

[loki-cees-all]

K, I owe you a thousand and a half apologies for not reading this sooner. Hopefully this (very long reblog and commentary) can help make up for that travesty!

I do remember reading the snippet of this that you posted at the beginning of the year, and I absolutely loved it - but this whole thing is just absolutely divine!

You let out a contented sigh as you watched the amber sun sink lower on its path across the sky, its hazy rays glistening on the water. Flashes of gold reflected across the ethereal cerulean inlet, shimmering and rippling with the last light of the day. Broad stripes of coral and lavender wrapped around you like a cozy blanket as the sun dipped slowly behind a jagged peak, kissing the distant horizon. Time slowed down, and all you felt was stillness and peace.

This whole paragraph is just so beautiful, and the descriptions really draw you in to the serenity of this moment.

You almost forgot about the harsh reality of the near-dystopian state of the world. Almost. Moments like these were always as fleeting as they were unforgettable. 

And then this paragraph is so incredibly powerful at dragging the reader back to reality, and the gravity of the world's circumstances post-Snap. Seriously, just a beautiful transition right there.

“Sustainably caught and everything,” a proud voice rang out from below. You glanced down at your furry companion and winced.  “This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I asked for your assistance, Rocket,” you sighed, wrangling the poor fish into your grasp before tossing it into the waters along the jetty. The raccoon scrunched his wet face in dismay as the tail fin disappeared with a glug beneath the placid inlet. 

I love how Rocket's trying to be helpful in his own cheeky little way. He operates on technicalities, and it's so fucking adorable!

“How exactly is that my fault? If you hadn’t been daydreaming, sunshine…”  “You smell terrible, by the way,” you called over your shoulder, hurrying up the stone steps toward town. “Yeah, well, you’re not exactly smellin’ like a rose yourself!” you heard Rocket call out as you turned the corner. 

And so sassy! Such a silly little man! I love the way you've written him here 🥰

And while they all bore witness to his demise, none derived satisfaction. 

UNF what a beautifully sad sentence. There's so much power inside it, and it left me eager for you to start exploring this feeling in-depth!

“L-Loki,” you stammered as you looked up at his stoic face, framed by his perfectly groomed curls that obediently rested atop his broad shoulders. How he always managed to look so impeccably regal despite the blistering cliffside winds was a mystery you were too eager to solve. 

Squealing, giggling, kicking my feet! Here's that beautiful man, appearing suddenly like a security blanket to make everything all better!

“Hello.” The resounding timbre sent a shiver down your spine as your fingers absentmindedly lingered on the soft wool of his dark pea coat. Loki looked down his nose at you, his eyes flitting from your fingertips to your face. Then he frowned. 

First of all, LOVE the detail about the pea coat. I'm such a sucker for him wearing a pea coat. Have I ever mentioned to you before how much I love Loki in Midgardian clothing?

Why is that more appealing to me than him wearing Asgardian clothing? I don't know, I'll psychoanalyze myself later. For now - you just keep putting him in Earth clothes!

And then there had been the time you’d excitedly hugged him after successfully tagging your first Norwegian cod, and you swore he hugged you back. You thought about the hug a lot. Too often, perhaps. It was all strictly platonic, of course. 

The reader is all of us. And we're all completely normal about him 🤡

“You’ve got a lot on your mind, I’m sure. As do I,” Loki commented as he cast a knowing glance in your direction. “I just left Thor’s.”  

Oooooo, have Thor and Loki been fighting?! I certainly hope so! #slutfordrama

He was surrounded by an imposing tower of folders and an array of alien technological systems that rivaled the inventions of Tony Stark. He still obstinately refused to use Midgardian tech, deeming it inferior to what he could procure from elsewhere in the universe.

I love this particular headcanon about Loki so much. I also love the idea of Loki wading into the waters of bureaucracy with his head held high. I'm sure he has hundreds of years of experience dealing with Asgardian politics, so how bad could Earth's really be? 😏

Loki waved his duplicates away with a huff, turning around as the door creaked open behind him. Thor sauntered in, his eyes glued to his phone as his wide frame strode through the glowing data projections. 

Ahh, so Thor likes the Earth tech. That makes sense for him - he's using it to escape, the same way humans do. Poor Thor! 😩

“The prospect of a fishery…” Loki did little to hide the annoyance in his voice. “As king, I thought you might have an opinion. Clearly, I was mistaken.”  Thor shrugged, scrolling through his phone once more. “I don’t know. You seem to have everything under control. I’ll just… be over here,” he replied, drifting to a nearby chair. Loki abruptly stood, sending his belongings to his interdimensional pocket with a flick of his wrist. 

God, I LOVE it when Loki is so pissed and irritated. He's trying so very hard to do right, to make up for everything, to keep going, despite how painful it is. And to see Thor just (understandably) frozen in inaction must be incredibly frustrating. I feel so much for both of them!

You turned your focus to the warm glow emanating from Loki’s floating orb, humming in delight as you observed the tendrils of gold light wafting through the nipping sea air. You were endlessly fascinated by his seidr, from his masterful displays of sorcery and deception on New Asgard’s training fields to simpler charms such as this. Everything about Loki was beautiful. Otherworldly. Unattainable. 

If I was in any way talented in art, I would totally try to draw this particular scene. It's so vivid and beautiful and ethereal. You have such a way with words, K!

Loki glanced down at your hand on his arm, then back up at you, his expression softening a little. “You do know, don’t you?” 

Squealing, screaming, kicking my feet again!!!! I love parallels between two people who are secretly and painfully pining for each other!!!!!!!!

Thor Odinson, king of Asgard, ancient warrior, Avenger, god among men. Toiling his eternal days away in a too-small, too-dark cottage, drinking ale and talking shit to teenagers halfway across the globe as he numbed himself to everything around him.  He had lost his purpose. 

God, this is so relatable! You're just like us, Thor! You just need to let someone in to help you!

His parting words echoed in your mind like distant thunder, each rumble a reminder of the restless storm brewing in your heart. You weren’t entirely sure if Loki would actually be returning this time. Perhaps it was the way he had looked at you when he said it – the mask of his unwavering stoicism falling aside for the briefest moment to reveal a kind of hesitant sorrow.  ... ...Loki was overwhelmed with thoughts of you. How your face lit up every time he displayed even the smallest bit of magic. How your infectious wonderment was slowly chipping away at his resolve. How he felt a spark of something he thought he’d never experience again each time you touched him, always so gentle, as if you were afraid he would break… 

It's not very often that miscommunication between idiots in love is done well - but that right there is a perfect example of it done well. While Loki is definitely feeling some of the feelings the reader ascribed to him when they said goodbye before he left, it wasn't the whole picture.

So the reader feeling that Loki could never reciprocate feelings for a mere mortal, and Loki believing that no one could love him after the things he'd "done" - delicious, scrumptious, perfect angst in my book. Give me more of it, please!

“It’s all right. He’s done it before,” Thor continued, casting you a sideways glance.  “Done what before?” you asked, baffled. “Led the people of Asgard. Without me.”  What?

Excuse me?! You've done this to Loki before?!

Thor. Sweetheart. I love you. But get your shit together and stop stressing Loki ouuuuut! 😩 (I also love this kind of drama, K, please continue it forever)

“Loki has always been better at this sort of thing. Since we were mere children, he’s always had the answers to all of our problems. The problems I inevitably create.”

And here we have even more parallels! I love it - Thor feeling the same things that Loki has felt his whole life! Ahhhh!

Sorry Thor, I still love you, but y'all need to just talk to each other!

He needed to be reminded of who he used to be. Who he could still be.  “Tell us about the time you slayed the Bilgesnipe hoard,” you giddily implored, hoping to distract him by recalling one of your favorite stories. He’d told it countless times before, but it never failed to entertain. 

And now is when the sense of dread pools in my stomach. Oh, no. Oh. No.

“And then– ” Thor paused, eyeballing one of the discarded weapons on the ground beyond the pit. He walked over to it and picked it up, examining it with a playful snicker. “I wielded the mighty Mjölnir, hurling it right between the antlers of the pack leader,” he said, dramatically lifting the alien artillery above his head.  “Go on then, show us how it’s done!” you shouted as you rose to your feet, feeling the effects of the Asgardian mead rush to your head. Nebula and Rocket both looked skeptical, but you egged him on, enthralled by the idea of seeing Thor wield the foreign weapon in his signature style.

Nooooo, stop, no! No, no, no!

He grinned, swinging the silver contraption around his head with a flourish. But just as he was about to release it toward the cliffside, the weapon malfunctioned, shooting off sparks and emitting a loud, ear-piercing screech.  Then everything went black. 

Ohhh, the delicious tragedy of the reader trying to help Thor feel better, to help Loki in the long run, and then being horribly injured in the process! GOD I could just eat this up with a spoon!

“Nebula, I have warned you– ”  “Loki.” 

I've always wished for more any interactions between Nebula and Loki. They're both so similar and so different, and even though this interaction is only two lines - it says so much about how their relationship would be! I love it so much!

“It was an accident. I– I swear it,” Thor sputtered, choking down a sob.  “Enough!” Loki bellowed, the intensity of his outburst causing Thor to finally release you from his grasp. “Get out of the way, you useless oaf, and let me handle this. Like I’ve always done,” Loki growled before nodding at Nebula. 

SO MUCH ANGST AND PAIN AND PANIC AND ANGER. GIVE ME MORE!!!

“Move back, you insolent rabbit,” Loki spat, giving the raccoon a malicious glare. “And better yet, leave. Now. Before I turn you into a fur stole.” 

HA. I keep saying this, but I love everything about this fic, and I love how elegant Loki's insults are. They're so beautiful and so cutting.

Loki jolted awake at the sound of the door closing. Slivers of receding sunlight filtered through the aluminum blinds, casting long streaks of light across the modest space. It took Loki a moment to find his bearings, and he blinked slowly, watching the warm light dance across the walls. 

God, I love how you set each scene up. The descriptions are always so vivid and sometimes, like here, in direct contrast to the emotions taking place in that room and it makes my heart ache (in a good way).

“Something for the pain,” the nurse explained. Her voice was kind. Soft. Forgiving. It reminded Loki of his mother. It made him furious. 

Oh, Loki! My poor, sweet, sad little Loki! I love you, bb

“Thor’s guilt is slowly consuming him. And I don’t know what to do. I realize we all have our own ways of coping. Dealing with this… immense loss. What I do know is that I cannot stand by and let you become a victim of his destructive behavior.”

And there it is. Loki being so tired and in so much pain, and yet...continuing to resolve himself with determination. Thor and Loki are going to have to have an intense conversation later on, and I hope we get to read it!

He had to get out of here. He didn’t want to leave you, but he knew he couldn’t stay another minute. Loki bundled his cape in one large fist and strode past her. “Your friend is going to be okay, Loki. I promise you, by Frigga’s grace.” Loki froze at the mention of his mother’s name. He closed his eyes as his fingers curled around the doorframe, bracing himself for an impact that never came. Still, he did not turn around.  “Once the sleeping charm wears off, we’ll discharge them. Likely sometime tomorrow morning. Do you want to be informed when that happens?”  Finally, Loki glanced over his shoulder, his narrowed eyes flitting from you back to Eir.  “Ah, no. No, that won’t be necessary.” He turned and walked into the hallway before exalting a final command. “You will alert my brother when it is time to accompany our friend back home, understood?”  He didn’t wait for the response.

This was so incredible, K! Ugh, I'm so sorry it took me so long to read/reblog this, but don't let that diminish the love and affection I hold for this fic! It was so beautiful and painful, and you're such an incredible writer! I love you, bb!

Mishaps

Part One of Box of Rain

AO3 | Loki Masterlist

Summary: After the universe plummets into chaos, you find yourself working alongside a merry band of misfits who’ve made a home for themselves in Tønsberg, Norway. When a harrowing incident occurs, Loki is forced to confront his feelings. Pairing: Loki x GN!Reader Word count: 7.4k Content: Hurt/Comfort, Slight Angst, Humor, Mutual Pining, Eventual Fluff, Post-Infinity War, Canon Divergence, Loki Lives, Asgardians of the Galaxy, Second Person POV, Loki POV Warnings: Language, Alcohol, Mentions of Depression/Past Trauma, Mentions of Blood Rating: Teen and Up

*header designed by the talented @tripleyeeet. and shout-out to the incredible @use-your-telescope for being a kick-ass beta.

The view looking out across the fjord was one you’d never tire of. As the sun set, heaven and earth collided, and for a brief moment, you existed within a world made only of skies, framed by towering mountains on either side. It was serene. Mystical. Otherworldly. Seemingly as if you were living on a totally different planet. And, in a way, you were. A changed planet, at least. 

You let out a contented sigh as you watched the amber sun sink lower on its path across the sky, its hazy rays glistening on the water. Flashes of gold reflected across the ethereal cerulean inlet, shimmering and rippling with the last light of the day. Broad stripes of coral and lavender wrapped around you like a cozy blanket as the sun dipped slowly behind a jagged peak, kissing the distant horizon. Time slowed down, and all you felt was stillness and peace.

You almost forgot about the harsh reality of the near-dystopian state of the world. Almost. Moments like these were always as fleeting as they were unforgettable. 

You inhaled, relishing the way the fresh, crisp air left a dash of salt on your lips. Your eyesight adjusted as you turned around, taking in a new view that was less than desirable. A small, plump codfish floundered at your feet, its spotted scales catching the last rays of receding daylight. 

“Sustainably caught and everything,” a proud voice rang out from below. You glanced down at your furry companion and winced. 

“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I asked for your assistance, Rocket,” you sighed, wrangling the poor fish into your grasp before tossing it into the waters along the jetty. The raccoon scrunched his wet face in dismay as the tail fin disappeared with a glug beneath the placid inlet. 

“What the– That was gonna be dinner,” he growled, kicking at one of the jetty rocks in mock protest. 

You had grown quite accustomed to the dramatics of your new friends and simply rolled your eyes as you removed your gloves, wiping your hands against the rough cotton fabric of your coveralls. 

“Spare me. We’re supposed to be monitoring and mapping movements. Not doing meal prep,” you said as you climbed up onto the harbor, only pausing to retrieve your tablet off the low stone wall of the dock. “And now I’m late for a meeting.” 

“How exactly is that my fault? If you hadn’t been daydreaming, sunshine…” 

“You smell terrible, by the way,” you called over your shoulder, hurrying up the stone steps toward town.

“Yeah, well, you’re not exactly smellin’ like a rose yourself!” you heard Rocket call out as you turned the corner. 

Despite New Asgard’s remote location, it was a bustling place. The people of Tønsberg had accepted the Aesir with open arms, and you’d witnessed firsthand how the Asgardians’ unique culture and traditions had seamlessly blended with the local Norwegian way of life. 

And you were lucky to be here. 

The immediate aftermath of losing half of the Earth’s population had been devastating. Three years later, the planet – the universe – was still responding to the aftermath of mass extinction.

It had been a haunting phenomenon, the collective grief of half a world wondering if those who had disappeared would ever return. You had to believe, in some way, that they would. That you’d finally obtain a resolution. But losing your entire family in the blink of an eye was still something you were coming to terms with. 

Most days, it seemed there was no closure to be had. By anyone. 

The assembled trauma and utter shock had gotten you through the most chaotic times. And yet, you had never been more alone in your sorrow. Everyone you loved – everyone who loved you – vanished in an instant. Your grief had eventually led you here, to Norway, to your great aunt’s abandoned cottage. You never imagined it would also lead you to a new family of sorts. 

You knew that Valkyrie had led the surviving Aesir to Earth, that Thor and Loki had fought against the invaders in Wakanda, ultimately failing to stop what Rocket called the ‘Snap.’ You also knew Thor had gone on to kill the madman who inflicted his cruel interpretation of order on the entire universe. The same tyrant who had tortured Nebula. Who had tortured Loki. 

And while they all bore witness to his demise, none derived satisfaction. 

Still, you didn’t know the whole story and had long accepted you never would. Rocket, while he loved to yammer on about all sorts of things, never actually gave you any information you couldn’t easily seek out online. And none of the others ever spoke of it. It was as if they had chosen to exist outside of reality, weary and burdened by their experiences. Their silence was like a heavy cloak that draped over them, concealing the past and shielding you from the horrors that resided within their minds. 

Nonetheless, you cherished your otherworldly friends, grateful for the moments of joy and camaraderie that you shared in the midst of persistent responsibilities. Which, for you, meant working under the guidance of Asgardian leadership, developing ethical frameworks that promoted sustainable interactions between the citizens of New Asgard and the natural world. It was a far cry from your previous profession, but one that gave you a renewed sense of purpose amidst the lingering mayhem. 

You hurried along the cobbled walkway, popping in your headphones as you bypassed New Asgard’s central square, where a statue of Odin stood tall and imposing, watching over his people. Veering off the main path, you opted to take the shortcut over the hillside while there was still enough light left to guide you. 

As you walked up the trail that wound through a thicket of trees, you pulled your tablet from your bag to email your daily report to Valkyrie. Lost in thought, you didn’t notice the figure approaching from the opposite direction until it was too late.

With a jolt, you crashed back to reality as you collided with someone along the narrow path, the device falling from your grip. 

“Oof,” a deep voice resounded from above you. You snatched out one of your earbuds, your other hand searching for purchase against a broad chest.

“L-Loki,” you stammered as you looked up at his stoic face, framed by his perfectly groomed curls that obediently rested atop his broad shoulders. How he always managed to look so impeccably regal despite the blistering cliffside winds was a mystery you were too eager to solve. 

“Hello.” The resounding timbre sent a shiver down your spine as your fingers absentmindedly lingered on the soft wool of his dark pea coat. Loki looked down his nose at you, his eyes flitting from your fingertips to your face. Then he frowned. 

He was not a fan of his personal space being invaded and you knew this. However, there had been a few moments between the two of you when he almost seemed to welcome your touch. Your mind flitted back to the time your fingertips grazed his while sitting together at a council meeting. You recalled the way your shoulders often touched as you walked side-by-side along the docks, and how he never removed your hand from the crook of his elbow as you navigated through the crowds on village market days. 

And then there had been the time you’d excitedly hugged him after successfully tagging your first Norwegian cod, and you swore he hugged you back. You thought about the hug a lot. Too often, perhaps. It was all strictly platonic, of course. 

You felt Loki’s cool fingers wrap around yours, and you hurriedly took a step back, snatching your hand away.

“I am so sorry,” you said as you shoved your headphones into your coat pocket. Your already wind-chapped face grew even more heated under his puckish gaze. “I was– ”

“Preoccupied?” Loki mused, his eyes crinkling with mirth. The playfulness in his tone calmed your nerves a bit. 

“Mmm. I’ve been down at the docks all afternoon.” You forced out a laugh in a poor attempt at regaining some semblance of composure as Loki squatted down to retrieve the forgotten datapad at your feet. 

“Thank you,” you murmured as he handed it back to you. “Again, sorry for that less-than-graceful display.”  

“It’s fine,” he replied, his piercing green eyes surveying your form. God, he was always so intense. 

“You’ve got a lot on your mind, I’m sure. As do I,” Loki commented as he cast a knowing glance in your direction. “I just left Thor’s.”  

“Oh. How is he today? Will he be joining us later?” you asked, trying to keep up with Loki’s long strides as he turned off the path in the direction of Valkyrie’s secluded lodge. 

“The same, I’m afraid. His apathy for– ” Loki opened his arms and gestured down the hill “ –all this grows by the day. But I don’t imagine that surprises you,” he replied, quirking an eyebrow. 

“And I’ve asked him to come tonight,” he continued as he turned to knock on the cabin’s front door. “But no promises were made.” 

Valkyrie placed a steaming cup of tea in front of you as you set down your tablet and propped your head on your hand. 

“This proposal is ridiculous. They’re already manufacturing synthetic food products in labs across the globe. Asking us to operate a fish farm would not only skew our ecological research, but it essentially violates New Asgard’s sustainability treaty,” you lamented, glancing across the table at Loki. 

He was surrounded by an imposing tower of folders and an array of alien technological systems that rivaled the inventions of Tony Stark. He still obstinately refused to use Midgardian tech, deeming it inferior to what he could procure from elsewhere in the universe. He stopped thumbing through a stack of papers, his eyebrows slanting up as he gave you a bemused look. 

“Exactly. Why is the Council giving us a hard time?” added Valkyrie, settling into a chair and pushing a holographic map out of view as she too looked to Loki for an answer. “I did not agree to come to this planet just to be controlled by another group of insane bureaucrats.” 

Loki pinched the bridge of his nose, a weary sigh escaping his lips before he responded. “Because they can, I suppose. The entire universe is in chaos – and not the kind I usually revel in, mind you,” he said, casting a sly wink in your direction that immediately made your cheeks flush with heat. You quickly took a sip of your drink as Valkyrie suspiciously peered at you, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. 

“But, by all the Nine, the governing bodies of this particular realm are so tedious. I can admit I’m at my wits end with these negotiations,” Loki continued, seemingly oblivious to your flustered state. 

For the next half hour, the three of you continued to address the unremitting concerns of the new world order. As you brainstormed, the holographic map in the center of the room flashed various graphs and statistics. In any other situation, you’d find meetings like this incredibly irksome, but Loki had a way of keeping you fully engaged. 

Why did you find everything about him so alluring? Your heart fluttered as you watched him reading over his notes as the conversation lulled, the urge to reach across the table and smooth the deep creases on his brow overwhelming. When he ran his thumb under his bottom lip as his eyes flitted back and forth across the page before him, you couldn’t help but imagine how his lips might feel against yours…  

When you realized you’d been staring, you fumbled with your own notes, ignoring the smug expression on Valkyrie’s face. 

“I believe we have a solid plan,” Loki said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “And if all else fails, I can always use my charm to persuade them otherwise.” At his words, a flash of seidr shot from the palm of his hand as five more Lokis appeared around their commander. 

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Valkyrie sneered, rolling her eyes as she stood up from the table. Loki waved his duplicates away with a huff, turning around as the door creaked open behind him. Thor sauntered in, his eyes glued to his phone as his wide frame strode through the glowing data projections. 

“Ah, how kind of you to join us, brother,” Loki scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “We were just discussing the most recent inane request presented to us by your friends at the Disunited Nations.” 

Thor grunted in response, still mindlessly scrolling. Loki, however, was not so easily dismissed.

“Care to verbalize those rousing thoughts, your majesty?” he said sharply, his frustration palpable. 

Shit. You stared at Valkyrie, eyes wide. The last thing you wanted was to be caught up in an altercation between two brooding demigods. She subtly shook her head, motioning for you to join her in the kitchen.

As you stood, the blonde Asgardian bristled, finally glancing up from the device dwarfed in his palm. “Erm, sorry. What is it you’re rambling on about?” Thor muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“The prospect of a fishery…” Loki did little to hide the annoyance in his voice. “As king, I thought you might have an opinion. Clearly, I was mistaken.” 

Thor shrugged, scrolling through his phone once more. “I don’t know. You seem to have everything under control. I’ll just… be over here,” he replied, drifting to a nearby chair.

Loki abruptly stood, sending his belongings to his interdimensional pocket with a flick of his wrist. 

“I see. Then we will move ahead with our plan– ” he paused, giving you a knowing look across the room as he walked toward the door “ –to continue the monitoring and not risk further contamination with foolhardy farming practices.” 

Thor let out another grunt as Loki exited the cabin, turning to you and Valkyrie with a look of indifference. “What’s got his cape in a twist?” 

Damn it. You quickly dismissed yourself, snatching your tablet from the table and hurrying after Loki. It was dark out now, but not so dark that you couldn’t make out his stately form descending the hillside. At least three of your strides equaled one of his, and you found yourself breaking into a graceless jog as you struggled to catch up with the god. 

Before you could stop yourself, you shouted out his name. Loki turned on his heel and held up his hand, conjuring an orb of glimmering light. 

“S-sorry, hey,” you panted as you finally reached where he stood waiting. “I thought we could walk back together?” 

He pursed his lips, glancing over your shoulder at Valkyrie’s cabin. Perhaps this wasn’t your brightest idea. After what felt like an eternity, Loki responded.

“Of course. I- I should not have made such a hasty exit. Apologies for my imprudent behavior.” He spoke with a twinge of forced formality that sent your mind reeling. He obviously wanted to be alone right now. 

“Oh. No worries,” you replied almost too casually, cringing internally as you fell in step alongside him. The two of you walked in silence for a few minutes, and it took every ounce of your resolve not to gawk at the handsome god. The way the moonlight illuminated his sharp features was absolutely devastating and definitely not something you’d be thinking about as you drifted off to sleep later. 

You turned your focus to the warm glow emanating from Loki’s floating orb, humming in delight as you observed the tendrils of gold light wafting through the nipping sea air. You were endlessly fascinated by his seidr, from his masterful displays of sorcery and deception on New Asgard’s training fields to simpler charms such as this. Everything about Loki was beautiful. Otherworldly. Unattainable. 

He finally spoke up again, his tone guarded. “I do hope I didn’t cause any offense,” he said, his eyes darting over to you briefly before flicking away. “Thor and I… it’s complicated.” 

You shook your head. “No, no, not at all,” you replied, trying to sound reassuring. “Your reaction was justified.” 

There was another moment of silence before Loki let out a quiet sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. “He’s– things are just very different now.”

He was right. Everything was different. You tried to ignore the ache in your own grief-stricken heart as you cautiously reached out to touch Loki’s arm, hoping to offer some comfort. “I know,” you said softly. 

Loki glanced down at your hand on his arm, then back up at you, his expression softening a little. “You do know, don’t you?” 

Your breath hitched as you regarded him, taking in the way his eyes sparked with an intensity you’d never seen before. It sent shivers down your spine, and you couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking about you in the same way you thought of him. Perhaps it was simply a trick of the glimmering light?

“And that’s part of the problem,” he continued. “Thor blames himself for everyone’s loss. Not just our people’s.” 

Oh.

Suddenly he stopped walking, and you realized you’d reached the small gate that led to your cottage. For a moment, you hesitated, reluctant to say goodnight just yet. Loki had never spoken this openly with you before, and you didn’t want the conversation to end. 

“Would you like to come in for some tea?” you asked as the twinkling orb disappeared from the space between you. Had he kept it lit only for your benefit? 

“Ah, I’m afraid I must prepare for my journey to Vanaheim tomorrow.” He gave you a sad smile as you opened your gate, no doubt detecting the confusion on your face. “A strictly diplomatic visit. Valkyrie is aware. And it’s probably best if I spend some time away from New Asgard.”

“Well, the offer stands. You, me, and a cup of tea. Perhaps when you return?” you asked, attempting to conceal the disappointment in your voice. Loki didn’t owe you anything, after all. 

“Of course. When I return.”

The next few days were relatively uneventful, all things considered. You continued your research of now-endangered fish species, while Valkyrie prepared for a convening with neighboring republics. Loki was off-planet, as were Nebula and Rocket. 

And you hadn’t seen Thor since the meeting the other night, which was why you now found yourself in the God of Thunder’s cluttered cottage. He’d hastily greeted you at the door, pulling his long unkempt hair into a half ponytail before haphazardly scooping up an assortment of dirty dishes and carrying them to his kitchen.

“Thor, about the other night,” you began, plopping down on your usual spot on the sofa – the cushion nearest the fireplace. It was the one with the least amount of stains.

“Would you like some ale?” he asked roughly, avoiding eye contact as he opened his refrigerator door. You knew he was trying to avoid the subject, as he always did when confronted like this. But you weren’t going to let up so easily this time. 

“Thor…”

He continued to ignore you, the sound of glass bottles clinking together echoing through the room like tiny bells ringing out in unison. 

“You could, you know, try to be a bit more involved with– ” you paused, searching for the right words. “Human affairs. The people adore you, you know.” 

“Perhaps they did. In the past.” Releasing a small grunt, Thor settled down on the sofa next to you. “But I’m afraid your attempts at flattery are in vain, little mortal.”

“I may just be a mortal, Thor, but I am doing the best I can with the hand we’ve been dealt. We all are. And regardless of whatever you think, we need your help.” 

He merely scoffed, handing you a bottle of beer before putting his headset on and returning to his video game. Of course you had interrupted him in the middle of some imaginary battle. 

Thor Odinson, king of Asgard, ancient warrior, Avenger, god among men. Toiling his eternal days away in a too-small, too-dark cottage, drinking ale and talking shit to teenagers halfway across the globe as he numbed himself to everything around him. 

He had lost his purpose. 

You empathized with him, you really did. And perhaps you were out of line to address him in such a manner. But in all the time you’d known him, he’d never once displayed even the smallest flicker of sovereignty. No, that responsibility had fallen upon his younger brother’s shoulders. And you could see the toll it was taking on Loki. 

When I return.

His parting words echoed in your mind like distant thunder, each rumble a reminder of the restless storm brewing in your heart. You weren’t entirely sure if Loki would actually be returning this time. Perhaps it was the way he had looked at you when he said it – the mask of his unwavering stoicism falling aside for the briefest moment to reveal a kind of hesitant sorrow. 

Tension swelled within you, like charged air, ready to erupt at any moment. The deep-seated longing you had tried to suppress for so long now was overpowering any modicum of resolve that remained within you. All you could do was hope the storm would eventually pass. 

Frustrated, you sat in silence for a few more minutes before the urge to speak became overwhelming. 

“Loki can’t keep going on this way. Managing everything himself,” you blurted out, curling a leg under you as you shifted to face the larger-than-life Asgardian. 

“Ah, and there it is. It isn’t diplomacy, or the people of New Asgard, or even me you’re worried about here. It’s my brother.” 

Thor punctuated those last three words, and they hit you like bolts of lightning, electrifying every nerve in your body. You winced at the intensity of his tone, but you couldn’t deny it was the truth. Loki’s predicament weighed heavily on your mind. You knew that you needed to gather your wits and find a way to respond, but for now, all you could do was stare at Thor, a silent plea in your eyes, hoping that he would understand the depth of your concern.

“It’s all right. He’s done it before,” Thor continued, casting you a sideways glance. 

“Done what before?” you asked, baffled.

“Led the people of Asgard. Without me.” 

What? You’d have to address that later. Thor must have somehow noted the look of abject shock on your face because he continued to divulge as he continuously – annoyingly – tapped a button on his game controller. 

“Loki has always been better at this sort of thing. Since we were mere children, he’s always had the answers to all of our problems. The problems I inevitably create.”

You straightened your back, voice resolute despite your growing nerves. 

“But do you want him to leave? Forever? He’s��� you’re all the other has, Thor. If you keep pushing him away– I’m afraid he feels he has no reason to stay.”

“I say this with no malice, but unlike you, I’ve known Loki for a thousand years. He is not going anywhere,” Thor replied matter-of-factly. “He cares for our people more than he’s willing to openly admit.”

“That may be true, Thor. But– ”

“And you,” he interrupted, pausing his game and looking at you, his deep blue eyes searching your own. “You are reason enough for him to stay. Certainly you’ve realized that.”

For the second time in a matter of minutes, Thor had managed to completely stun you. You were reason enough? Surely he was mistaken. Despite all the small, genial moments between you, did Loki even consider you a friend? Much less someone worth sticking around for? 

You opened your mouth, but no words formed on your heavy tongue. Instead, you heard your own incredulous laugh ringing around the room. None of this made sense.

“Thor, I– ” 

“You’re not gonna believe the haul we got!” Rocket interrupted, scurrying through Thor’s front door and disrupting any thoughts that had started to form in your bewildered mind.

“Well, c’mon!” the raccoon panted, beckoning you both into the yard. 

It was long past dusk, but the glow of the Guardian’s ship was unmistakable along the cliffside. You waved as Nebula exited the spacecraft, rolling her eyes as Rocket excitedly pulled open a hatch revealing a collection of foreign weapons. 

“Thor, you shoulda been there. I’m tellin’ ya, it was wild…” 

You greeted Nebula with a teasing eye roll of your own. “Successful expedition then?”

“If you consider obtaining inferior technology successful, then yes,” she replied simply, walking over to Thor’s makeshift fire pit. A mischievous grin spread across her face, reminding you of Loki. “I would like to make a fire.” 

You glanced over at Thor, who seemed quite preoccupied with Rocket’s latest collection of artillery. At least something had him excited. 

“Well, then, let’s make a fire,” you responded, clapping your hands together as you searched the darkened ground for something to use as kindling. “Go grab some firewood. Thor keeps it stacked out back,” you nodded at the lean-to behind his cottage. Nebula let out a dramatic huff as she headed off to grab the wood, and you chuckled as you gathered up some dry twigs and leaves.

Minutes later, the fire crackled to life, illuminating the darkness with its warm glow. Nebula settled down next to you on one of the logs surrounding the amber blaze, looking immensely pleased with herself. Once Thor noticed the merriment happening fireside, he tore his attention away from Rocket’s collection of weapons and came over to join you. His massive frame loomed over the lapping flames, his golden hair creating an ethereal outline around his chiseled face. For a brief moment, he looked younger, raw power radiating from his being. As flickering embers rose around him, you regarded him as the impressive god he was. Yet, as he passed you a large bottle of mead, you noted the hint of weariness lingering in his eyes. 

He needed to be reminded of who he used to be. Who he could still be. 

“Tell us about the time you slayed the Bilgesnipe hoard,” you giddily implored, hoping to distract him by recalling one of your favorite stories. He’d told it countless times before, but it never failed to entertain. 

“Bilgesnipes, eh?” murmured Rocket, curling his lip as he grabbed the mead from your clutch. “I’ve heard their teeth can fetch a pretty penny.” 

“Oh, what an epic day that was!” Thor beamed, his large hand falling heavily on Rocket’s back, knocking the wind out of the raccoon. “I was in the wilds of Asgard with the great warrior Volstagg, when all of a sudden…” 

You listened intently for the next ten minutes as Thor paced around the roaring fire, jovially describing the most disgusting details of the carnage he inflicted upon the mythical creatures. 

“And then– ” Thor paused, eyeballing one of the discarded weapons on the ground beyond the pit. He walked over to it and picked it up, examining it with a playful snicker.

“I wielded the mighty Mjölnir, hurling it right between the antlers of the pack leader,” he said, dramatically lifting the alien artillery above his head. 

“Go on then, show us how it’s done!” you shouted as you rose to your feet, feeling the effects of the Asgardian mead rush to your head. Nebula and Rocket both looked skeptical, but you egged him on, enthralled by the idea of seeing Thor wield the foreign weapon in his signature style.

He grinned, swinging the silver contraption around his head with a flourish. But just as he was about to release it toward the cliffside, the weapon malfunctioned, shooting off sparks and emitting a loud, ear-piercing screech. 

Then everything went black. 

It had been a long day. A long few days, Loki thought as he poured himself a cup of tea. Taking a slow sip, his keen eyes narrowed as he stared at Stormbreaker leaning against his kitchen island. It was probably time to return the axe to Thor – if he even missed it at all. 

Loki was teetering on the verge of exhaustion, and hadn’t even bothered to change out of his ceremonial armor. He had spent the last three days on Vanaheim, checking in on the realm’s remaining population. He would never be able to shake the nagging responsibility he still felt to the citizens of the Nine, especially his mother’s people. Not after he had failed them on such a massive scale.  

In the immediate aftermath of the Snap, Thor had joined him on these royal visits across the galaxy, but now Loki went it alone. A small part of him still felt the sting of collective disappointment from the Vanir when he arrived via the Bifrost without his brother. It wasn’t that Thor didn’t care, though, and deep down, Loki knew that. He just hoped the others understood. 

You understood, at least. And even though he’d been realms away, Loki could not escape you. He didn’t want to. 

Just yesterday, as he observed the Vanir children practicing seidr, one of the younglings had conjured a small orb of light, and Loki was overwhelmed with thoughts of you. How your face lit up every time he displayed even the smallest bit of magic. How your infectious wonderment was slowly chipping away at his resolve. How he felt a spark of something he thought he’d never experience again each time you touched him, always so gentle, as if you were afraid he would break… 

A sudden bang made him spin around, instinctively conjuring his daggers as his mug clattered to the floor. The front door had flung open with such force that it splintered around the hinges, its agonizing creak reverberating around the cottage like a death knell. 

Loki huffed, dissipating his weapons as he realized who the culprit was. 

“Nebula, I have warned you– ” 

“Loki.” 

Something about her tone had a bitterness burning his throat – the usual monotonous cadence he’d come to expect from the humanoid had been replaced with something else. A sense of urgency? Before he could swallow down the acrid taste in his mouth and respond, all hell broke loose.

Everything happened all at once and yet Loki felt like time stopped. A guttural howl cut through the biting wind. Thor. It was a sound he’d hoped to never hear again. Loki’s heart lurched, then plummeted to the depths of the earth’s core as Nebula stepped aside, revealing his brother’s imposing form, outlined by glowing moonlight in the darkened doorway. 

Thor’s shirt and forearms were smeared with a dark red substance, your slack body clutched against his chest. 

No.

Loki lunged forward as Thor stumbled into the cottage. The look of sheer panic on his brother’s face sent a surge of fear into the depths of Loki’s soul. 

No.

“What have you done?” Loki barked out, his hands hovering apprehensively above your body, afraid to touch you. 

“They– I– I shot them, Loki,” Thor stuttered, his blue eyes conveying a portentous sorrow Loki hadn’t seen since their mother died.  

NO. 

This couldn’t be happening. Loki’s chest constricted as his eyes frantically darted from Thor’s stricken face to your pallid one. You looked… were you? He shook the macabre thought from his mind. No. Not you. Not if he could help it.  

“Fuck! Here, put them down. Gently.” Loki quickly cleared a spot on his kitchen table with a flick of his wrist.

“Nebula,” Loki said tersely. “How did this happen? What type of weaponry did this?” He glanced at Thor, who still had not let go of your body despite it being strewn across the wooden table. Loki’s brows furrowed in earnest concentration as he returned his attention to you, magically removing your coat and sweater as his fingertips ghosted over your wound. He flicked his head to the side as he slowly, carefully began to weave his seidr around the gaping flesh. 

“It was an accident. I– I swear it,” Thor sputtered, choking down a sob. 

“Enough!” Loki bellowed, the intensity of his outburst causing Thor to finally release you from his grasp. “Get out of the way, you useless oaf, and let me handle this. Like I’ve always done,” Loki growled before nodding at Nebula. 

“Tell me.” 

“Contraxian. There was a malfunction,” Nebula answered somberly. Loki’s eyes once again focused on the laceration across your midriff, noting your breathing seemed to be a bit less labored than before. 

“Accident or not, this is too much blood.” Loki’s voice was unwavering, but he could no longer conceal the anxiety creeping across his features. He just needed to stop the bleeding. 

Loki steadied himself with a deep, measured breath before drawing on every bit of power he possessed. As he felt the eerily familiar surge of energy course through his veins, Loki thought back to the last time he’d been forced to access this facet of his seidr. That cursed day on the Statesman. He would not – could not – fail this time. But you’d lost so much blood already. 

Far too much for a mortal. 

“Can’t you do something?” his brother implored, running a hand through his wild blonde hair as he paced around the room. 

“I am doing something, but I am not a healer, Thor!” 

“Wake up, kid,” panted Rocket. In the brief moment Loki had taken his eyes off of you, the raccoon had hopped onto the table and was now peering down at you. A cold fury burned in Loki’s gaze as he watched the creature pat your cheek with a small paw. 

Your eyes fluttered open and Loki finally exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding in.  

“See? They’re fine. It’s just a flesh wound, drama queen,” Rocket commented as he leaned over your wound, examining the tendrils of seidr. They weaved around the lesion, binding together to create a bandage of pulsating, shimmering gold. “Yeah. Yeah. I’ve seen worse– ” 

That fucking furry arsehole. 

“Move back, you insolent rabbit,” Loki spat, giving the raccoon a malicious glare. “And better yet, leave. Now. Before I turn you into a fur stole.” 

He continued to thread his seidr around your fragile body, praying to the Norns above that it would be enough. 

“Loki…” you groaned, lifting your eyes to meet his. The sound of his name on your lips sent a small rush of relief through Loki. But your dazed expression let him know that you were having trouble focusing. He wondered if you even realized what had transpired. You let out a rugged sigh as you attempted to sit up, but Loki gently pressed a steady hand against your shoulder. 

“No, don’t move. Please. Conserve your energy,” he implored, running his fingers along your face before tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. 

“I’m– I’m okay.” You gave him a weak smile, reaching out to him before your eyes fluttered shut again. Loki wrapped his fingers around your trembling hand in an effort to calm you both. 

“Yea– yes. You’re going to be okay,” he repeated in a whisper, unsure if it was for your benefit or his. He glanced down at the lesion again, and though his vision was slightly blurred from the tears frustratingly welling in his eyes, he could see that he’d been successful this time. 

“I– I think I’ve stopped the bleeding,” he said finally, looking around the room and finding no solace there. 

Exasperated and drained, he grabbed his cape from a nearby chair, wrapping it around your body before lifting you into his arms as he turned to Thor and Nebula.

“But we need the healers. Now.” 

Loki jolted awake at the sound of the door closing. Slivers of receding sunlight filtered through the aluminum blinds, casting long streaks of light across the modest space. It took Loki a moment to find his bearings, and he blinked slowly, watching the warm light dance across the walls. 

Someone had been in your room at the clinic, and he’d slept through it. Norns, when had he dozed off? 

His gaze flitted between your motionless form and the intravenous bag at your bedside. Grimacing, he wiped an embarrassing amount of dribble from his lips. Gods, I am truly losing it, he thought. He discarded the open book in his lap as he stood, stretching his aching limbs and following the attendant into the hallway. 

Loki grasped the woman’s shoulder as she filed a chart, an irritated expression marring his face. 

“What did you give them?” he demanded hoarsely, voice still thick with remnants of sleep.  

“Something for the pain,” the nurse explained. Her voice was kind. Soft. Forgiving. It reminded Loki of his mother. It made him furious. 

“While the healers were able to mend the wound and provide a sleeping spell, pain management is still necessary,” she continued. 

You were in pain.

Loki huffed, warily turning back to look through the doorway at you. His brows furrowed as he regarded your current state. Was the extent of your injury so severe you needed something more than Aesir magic could provide? 

He flinched when the nurse patted his shoulder. Are all Midgardian healers this bold? he wondered. 

“Nothing to be concerned about,” she continued, obviously sensing his unease. “I assure you, your highness, it is a common treatment for humans.” 

“Right. Of course.”

He gave a curt nod and quietly made his way back to what had to be the most wretched chair in the universe, shifting his thighs on the seat in an attempt to find a comfortable position. He glanced at you, your body lax against the meager, rigid hospital cot. At that moment, Loki made a mental note to secure funding to update the clinic’s furnishings. 

By all the Nine. He never imagined this would be his life: Thinking of ways to improve the day-to-day operations of the Midgardian healthcare system. Negotiating border policies and peace treaties with diplomats. Researching patterns of pollen limitation. Reading your infuriatingly charming reports about the migration patterns of fish…

Of course, these were not things totally unfamiliar to him. He was a prince, after all. A beacon of diplomacy and guile. But Thanos had changed everything. Loki winced as he tried to shake the dark memories encroaching on his mind. He inhaled, focusing on his surroundings. 

The uncomfortable chair. The fading scent of antiseptic. The acrid taste lingering on his tongue. The cool leather against his skin. The dull beeping of machines by the bed. The mortal before him. 

Not just any mortal, though. You. 

Your presence alone challenged the carefully measured control he held over his emotions. And, much to Loki’s chagrin, you had managed to wind your way into his heart. It had changed him in ways he had never thought possible. 

Loki let out a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. He had to get a grip. But he did not leave your side. 

“Can you hear me?” he asked softly, inching closer to the bed. There was no answer, only the sound of your faint snores. The sleeping spell was working, then. 

You looked so meek. So fragile. It pained him to see you this way. Part of him wondered what would happen if you suddenly awoke to find him there. Would you be pleasantly surprised? Confused? Or worse, disappointed to find that he was the one watching over you? 

Would you even care? His heart constricted painfully in his chest at the thought. 

He concluded that he would accept whatever outcome. Any response at all would relieve him of the incessant worry churning in the pit of his stomach. He just needed to know you were going to be okay.

Loki’s eyes burned as he blinked back tears. One large hand raked through his wild curls, and he scowled as he shifted back into the seat. How could you have been so careless? 

“You infuriate me.” He felt half-mad, confessing to you this way. 

“You brilliant, reckless creature. It’s no wonder Thor befriended you. You’re always too eager to go along with his half-brained schemes.”

Loki, admittedly, had been reluctant to accept your friendship. He wondered now why he’d fought against it for so long. He leaned forward, cautiously caressing your cheek with the back of his fingers. 

“I’ve not been a good friend to you, have I?”

He paused, recalling all the times you’d been so infuriatingly kind to him. How he wished he had not refused your invitation for tea. Perhaps if he’d been more open with you, perhaps if he had stayed…  

“The way you look at me,” he continued. “The way you see me… I don’t deserve it. None of us do.” 

“Thor’s guilt is slowly consuming him. And I don’t know what to do. I realize we all have our own ways of coping. Dealing with this… immense loss. What I do know is that I cannot stand by and let you become a victim of his destructive behavior.”

Loki leaned forward, taking your hand in his. What a fool he’d been, so assured that his burgeoning infatuation would pass. A lopsided smile crossed his face as he looked at you, and he finally let the walls around his heart come crashing down. 

“I– I care for you, too much to let any harm come your way. I only wish I had realized it sooner.” 

With a deep sigh, he rested his head on the mattress, his raven curls fanning across your thigh as his eyes fluttered closed. He never let go of your hand. 

This time, Loki heard when someone entered the room but didn’t bother moving away from your bedside. 

“I’ve never seen the prince act with such concern for anyone,” a lilted voice commented. 

“I have known Loki his entire life. And though he may often refuse to acknowledge his own feelings, I have no doubt he cares fiercely for those he loves.” 

Loki frowned, recognizing the second voice immediately. It was Eir, Odin’s former head physician and now New Asgard’s top healer. 

“I’m awake, you know,” Loki finally responded when he heard the younger healer leave the room. 

“Yes, and that’s exactly why I said what I said.” Eir cast Loki a cautious glance as he righted himself, a glow of seidr washing over him, concealing any lingering signs of exhaustion. 

“You cannot hide from me, boy. You’ve been sitting vigil here for nearly a full day. And don’t think I’m unaware of the toll the magicks you wielded to stabilize your friend took on your body. When was the last time you actually slept, Loki?” 

The nerve. Loki stood to his full height in an attempt to regain some semblance of power. He peered down at the old healer, her keen glare meeting his own. Her silver brows furrowed, wrinkles carving an ancient map across her face. Loki sometimes wondered if she was as old as the Norns themselves. 

“That is no concern of yours, Eir,” Loki responded haughtily, rolling his shoulders back and regally tossing his dark locks over his shoulder. “And I would remind you to not speak so casually when in the presence of the crowned prince of Asgard, lest you forget your place again.” 

Of course, Eir was right, and he knew it. Perhaps that is what bothered him most of all. 

He had to get out of here. He didn’t want to leave you, but he knew he couldn’t stay another minute. Loki bundled his cape in one large fist and strode past her.

“Your friend is going to be okay, Loki. I promise you, by Frigga’s grace.”

Loki froze at the mention of his mother’s name. He closed his eyes as his fingers curled around the doorframe, bracing himself for an impact that never came. Still, he did not turn around. 

“Once the sleeping charm wears off, we’ll discharge them. Likely sometime tomorrow morning. Do you want to be informed when that happens?” 

Finally, Loki glanced over his shoulder, his narrowed eyes flitting from you back to Eir. 

“Ah, no. No, that won’t be necessary.” He turned and walked into the hallway before exalting a final command.

“You will alert my brother when it is time to accompany our friend back home, understood?” 

He didn’t wait for the response.

tag list: @tripleyeeet @siriusly--gay @val-writesstuff @marvel-whore106 @peaches1958 @thedistractedagglomeration @milly-louise @dj-murasaki @thrutheburnout @tallseaweed @lokidbadguy @imadisneyprincessiswear @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @lunarnights95 @shine101 @cake-writes @pics-and-fanfics @lokisgoodgirl @sarahscribbles @simplyholl @gigglingtigger @joyful-enchantress @coldnique @currish-rosewolfe @lokixryss @mochie85 @holdmytesseract @liminalpebble @buttercupcookies-blog @use-your-telescope

click here to be added to my tag list

[wolken-himmel]

In which (Y/n) turns into a siren after drinking one of Azul's test potions to fulfill her side of their contract. Somehow, she manages to seduce Jade before she returns back to normal.

Next day, having forgotten about this little incident, she has a lovesick eel scaring the everlasting life out of her.

"Are you sure this is safe?"

You shot Azul a slightly frightened look as your hand gripped the glass bottle that contained an ominously dark liquid that slowly crept around the insides of the bottle whenever you tilted it from one side to another. Jade and Floyd who stood behind Azul shot each other amused glances, their fangs showing.

"Even if it wasn't, you'd have to drink it anyway," Azul murmured under his breath, annoyed since this whole charade had been going on for almost half an hour now. As patiently as he could, he pulled the golden contract that bore your signature on it from his desk to hold it in front of your doubtful eyes. "It's black on white here."

"...that's not helpful, Azul." You furrowed your eyebrows, gulping.

"Nee! It's time to fulfill your side of the contract," Floyd cooed, his eyes shimmering under the late afternoon sun. Even more desperate than before, you let out an exasperated huff. You turned to Jade for help, who only shot you a sadistic smile as he tilted his head to the side mockingly. Cheeks growing red when he shot you a mischievous wink, you finally relented.

"Fine," you murmured as you screwed the bottle open and put it against your lips. Closing your eyes, you made a quick prayer. "I better not die from this..."

The overly sweet liquid ran down your throat, somehow sticky and thick. Once the bottle was empty, it slipped out of your shaking hands and collided with the ground, shattering into pieces upon collision. Your limbs turned numb, and all you felt was the hard impact of the ground. When you opened your eyes, purple smoke had surrounded your near area, alarming you even more when you couldn't feel your legs anymore.

"Did it work?!" Azul asked excitedly through the smoke, waving his hands around in the air. Floyd let out a few drastic coughs, and Jade couldn't help but squint his eyes to get a better look at you who lay on the ground.

Once the smoke cleared, you were revealed to be slowly sitting up and propping yourself up onto your elbows. A distant sigh escaping your lips, you held your head in pain. "Ugh... I feel like a fish on land—" You stopped in your tracks once your eyes travelled to where your legs were supposed to be — only now that they were replaced by a shimmering tail. "Where are my legs?!"

Ignoring your panicked screams, Azul knelt down at the far end of your tail, picking it up gently with his eyes lighting up in utter delight. "What a pretty tail..." he hummed as he ran his hand across the scales, nodding to himself. "Yes, now I just need a few scales so that I can put them into the face cream for Vil..."

Indeed, the scales on your long tail were a beautiful (F/c), same with your shell bra. You couldn't help but awe at your newly acquired tail, admiring it with wide eyes.

Suddenly, shock and surprise fading from your face, the long overdue siren instincts kicked in. Your lips curled up into a seductive smile as you gracefully reached your hand out to the male inspecting your fins. "Azul~ come closer..." you cooed, frowning when he precautiously took a step back. A pout snuck its way to your lips as you teasingly slapped him with the end of your tail. "I promise I won't bite!"

"That's what she said," Floyd snickered whilst punching Jade's shoulder, who had a hard time standing straight somehow. He chuckled along, albeit more nervously than usually.

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot." Azul grinned as he put ear-plugs into his ears, sending you a smug grin. You narrowed your eyes at him whilst crossing your arms in defeat. "Only people who already have romantic feelings for you will fall for your tricks, siren. But ear-plugs never hurt."

Crossing your arms, you rolled your eyes and let out an exasperated huff. "Ugh, at least get me to a pool if you won't let yourself get seduced."

"Good idea. We wouldn't want your scales to dry out," Azul mused as he rose back to his feet to wave the twins over. They immediately appeared by his side, as professional as ever — but you managed to catch onto the way Jade's gaze remained on you longer than it should have. "Floyd and Jade, pick her up and put her into the pool in our backyard."

"Shrimpy's tail is so pretty—" Floyd cooed as heaved up your tail while Jade picked up your torso, his gloved hands unusually careful and handling this job rather delicately. Floyd flashed you a little grin. "It reminds me of my own."

"Thank you, sweetheart~" you replied, shooting him a wink. "Maybe we could go for a swim sometime?"

"I'd love that— wait no..." Gaze hardening, he quickly swiped the pair of ear-plugs Azul had given them earlier out of the pocket of his jacket. Once he had stuffed his ears, which successfully drowned out your alluring voice, he let out a satisfied sigh. "Ah, that's better..."

You started to frown at being ignored, and opted to turn towards Jade. "You would never ignore me... right, honey?"

He seemed to have a harder time resisting the wonderful melody your voice carried. "You're not making my job any easier..." he simply muttered once you arrived in the back area of the Mostro Lounge where they somehow had a big pool. The sight of water excited you, and you wished for nothing more than to hydrate your dry scales.

They threw you into the pool, not exactly gently. You let out a little yelp when you flew across the air in an arc before colliding with the peaceful surface of the water, causing splashes to fly towards the twins. They stepped to the side just in time, avoiding their fates. Floyd, who clapped his hands in delight like he always did when finishing a job, had already turned around to march away, but Jade remained hunched over at the pool side, quickly pulling a pair of ear-plugs out of the pocket of his jacket.

You quickly returned to the surface after a quick dive through the relatively deep pool. As you took a relieved breath, a more or less satisfied smile appeared on your lips. Realising that Jade was still hunched over at the edge if the pool — just within your reach — you immediately swam over to him with a certain excitement to your moves. You watched him curiously; eventually you noticed his hands shaking uncharacteristically.

"Jade, my love, why don't you forget those ear-plugs and give me some company?" You gently grabbed his wrists, smiling brightly. He hesitantly raised his gaze, for once feeling something akin to fear — fear that he would lose himself in your eyes. Staring into his orbs, you realised for the first time that they were full of hidden desire and adoration. "I'm so lonely... all alone in this big pool."

He tried his best to keep up the composed facade that usually hid his feelings away well enough, but deep inside, he seemed to be struggling horribly. "Oh, (Y/n)..." His hold weakened enough to let the ear-plugs dropped into the water, and he seemed to be caught under your spell well enough. But before you could hoist yourself up to press your lips onto his — which would seal the deal — he regained control of himself in a moment of luck. Ripping his wrists out of your hold, he stepped back with the usual unreadable steel expression on his face.

"Jade!" you whined, tail splashing against the water in discontent, desperation, and finally — anger. You reached one hand out towards him, and even attempted to climb over the pool edge, but he simply was too far away. "Don't go!"

"You thought you got me there, didn't you?" he asked, grinning calmly like usually. Little did he know that you were able to catch onto the way he desperately avoided your gaze, and the way he made sure to distance himself further from you. "No chance, my little siren~"

"Let's go, Jade!" Floyd mumbled as he grabbed his brother by his forearm and pulled him back into the building, which Jade was incredibly thankful for. In truth, he had to put up all his willpower in order to resist the control you held over his rapidly beating heart.

A disappointed sigh escaped your lips whilst you let yourself sink back into the depths of the pool, your tail propelling you through the shimmering water with a force unmatched. Looking up at the surface that reflected the last shimmers of the afternoon sun beautifully, you let out a longing sigh. "What fun is there in being a siren if there's no one to mess around with~?"

Throughout the rest of the day, Jade had grown incredibly restless, shaking with anticipation and barely being able to form a word. Of course, he still remained calm and unreadable on the outside to most people — but no one could fool his closest confidants: Azul and Floyd.

Azul, who had noticed his growing change in demeanour, took him aside once he finally had enough of the inefficiency his behaviour created: Jade had barely managed to get a customer's order right. His efficiency had gone down dramatically, which Azul — the almighty business man — definitely didn't like.

"Jade, are you unwell?" the octopus asked whilst pushing his glasses up in annoyance. "It won't prove profitable if you work yourself to death— the longterm consequences would be way too much."

Jade rubbed his temples, wondering if he should just tell Azul the truth. In the end, he decided against it; he wasn't the type to talk about his feelings and problems. "It's nothing," Jade replied, a forced smile on his face, as he tried to walk past Azul with a few dishes in his hand. Much to his dismay, the octopus would have none of it: He waved over another waiter to relieve Jade of the plates.

"Brother, go to bed!" Floyd cried out he appeared beside Azul. "I'll take over washing the dishes for you!"

Jade raised his eyebrows, caught off-guard by his twin's generosity. "You would do that?"

"Only if you do the laundry for a week." Floyd shot him a mischievous look, knowing it was a deal he couldn't shoot down. "What do you say~?"

Letting out an annoyed sigh at having to waste time with this useless chit-chat, Jade complied — mostly because he couldn't wait to see a special someone. "Fine..."

"Good," Azul hummed, glad that the business was taking care of. "Now, does Floyd need to escort you to your room?"

"No," Jade said, his answer shooting right out of him in a way that made him sound a little bit suspicious, as well as alarmingly desperate. He quickly managed to regain his composure though, which caused Azul and Floyd to shoot each other confused glances. "I will manage on my own."

Azul nodded before shooing him out of the lounge, something akin to a worried frown on his face. "Then get some rest. You better be well again tomorrow."

The two didn't notice as Jade walked into the exact opposite direction of the Octavinelle dorm, his legs carrying him towards the pool in the back of the establishment. Even though his mind had fought hard, the longing of his aching heart had eventually won the war.

The way there was long and dreary, even though his long legs made haste. The longer he had to spend time away from you, the more he felt himself running out of air, suffocating.

Finally, he arrived. The backyard was already coloured in dark colours, the night having replaced the vibrant rays of the sun. But the stars and the moon up in the night sky shimmered beautifully, reflecting off the surface of the pool.

As Jade slid the door open to the backyard, he could feel his hands shaking in utter anxiety and excitement. He wasn't the one controlling his thoughts, his heart, and his body — you were, although you weren't aware. His legs a little bit wobbly, he still managed to walk over to the pool which seemed alarmingly quiet. As he knelt down at the edge of the pool, his eyes watched the entity gracefully gliding through the dark water as if he was in a trance.

Eventually, you revealed yourself to the enarmoured male, your head appearing right in front of him. The splashes your sudden appearance created soaked his pants around the knee-area, but he didn't flinch as he felt the liquid touch his skin. "Jade!" you cried out happily as you gently took his hand that idly lay next to him on the ground while making sure that your eyes always were staring into his lovingly, enchanting him even more. "I knew you'd come back for me."

"(Y/n)..." Jade repeated your name over and over again as he extended his other hand to push a strand of wet hair behind your ears. You giggled as you snatched his wrist right up, pressing his palm against your cheek. Your laughter sounded so heavenly — had it always been this way? A radiant smile on his face, he couldn't help but whisper, "You're so pretty, (Y/n)..."

"Have I wrapped you around my finger?" you cooed, your enchanting voice drawing him even closer. There was a vicious grin on your face when you noticed the way he occasionally snapped out of his trance, only to slip and lose himself even more. "You're usually not this... open~! But I like this side or you, Jade."

His eyes darted around the pool in a moment of clarity. Hesitantly, his hands retreated, which was met by a few cries and pouts from your side. "This isn't true, is it?" he mumbled as his hands clenched his heart in pain. Normally, he had no problem concealing and ignoring his feelings — but now, he felt like a fish flopping on land, desperate to have your attention.

"Oh, that doesn't matter, Jade." You opened your mouth, knowing you would have to use your backup plan since he proved quite resilient to your charm. After all, a siren's greatest weapon were her vocal abilities. "Come to me, come to me..." you sang, your voice as alluring as the way your eyes bore into his, able to see all his hidden desires and emotions.

Gripping his head in newfound despair, Jade hissed out, "No... I can't—"

Learning your torso over the edge of the pool, you extended your arm towards him to beckon him over to you with a flick of your wrist. "Come to me... you're the only one for me~" you cooed, the melody invading his mind and taking over his mind until he couldn't form a proper thought anymore. The more his lips curled up into an unnaturally big smile, the more you grew satisfied. "Come to me, Jade."

Having completely succumbed to his desires and affections he had always held for you, he let himself be beckoned closer — until he was kneeling down at the pool edge again. "Yes, my little siren..." he whispered, letting out a blissful sigh when he felt your wet hands cupping his cheeks, pulling his face down towards you. Teasingly, you ran your hand across his neck and shoulders, watching his changing expressions in mischief. The way his eyes fluttered close when your lips ghosted over his ears, as you filled his mind with a soft lullaby, made a vicious grin appear on your lips.

"What a good eel you are..." you cooed as you sensually ran your fingertips down his left arm, causing the fabric of his jacket to dampen. You knew you had him completely ensnared, which is why you could reap your reward now. "Won't you give me a little kiss?" You pulled away, so that you were facing him again.

"I love you, (Y/n)," he murmured, his voice genuine for once. "I've always loved you..."

"I love you, too, Jade~" you cooed before you propelled yourself up with your tail to let your lips collide with his. He reciprocated immediately, leaning into your touch — so much that his fedora slipped off his head and sailed down onto the floor. Giggling mischievously, you wrapped your arms around his neck, and pulled him into the pool with you. Your lips stayed locked in a passionate kiss, even as Jade collided with the surface of the water and eventually disappeared beneath it with you, his arms wrapped around you tightly.

The next day, you awoke in your own bed with a big headache, unable to remember what had happened yesterday. The last thing you were able to recall was having made a deal with Azul in an attempt to prevent him from forwarding a complaint to Headmaster Crowley about Ace and Deuce destroying one of the lounge's fish tanks.

"Azul..." you mumbled as you gently sat up, your head hurting like after a hangover. A groan escaped your lips. "Maybe I should go ask Azul..."

"Finally awake, eh?" Grim asked as he strode inside of your bedroom, a can of tuna in his paws. Casually, he plopped himself down on the end of your bed. "You looked horrible when Azul and Floyd dropped you off yesterday around midnight."

"...did they say anything?"

Grim shrugged, chewing away on his beloved tuna. "The scary one only said that you were a bothersome little guppy."

"I see..." you hummed, the dreadful feeling from your stomach not really gone. "I need to visit the Mostro Lounge then, Grim. Feel free to help yourself to some more tuna if you're hungry."

The cat's eyes lit up in happiness as he eyed you curiously. "Oh?! Did they give you some 'generosity-potion'?" he mused, grinning from ear to ear as he stormed out of your bedroom and towards the kitchen. "If yes, then you should hang out with them more often~"

The lounge was still closed when you arrived after having basically sprinted there. Chest heaving up and down, you entered to find a lonesome creature cleaning the tables and setting down the chairs: Jade. "Oh hey, Jade—" you chimed, smiling obliviously. "Is Azul around here?"

He immediately shot upright once he recognised that familiar voice. Pupils dilating, he slowly turned around to face you with an eerie smile — one that made you step back in fear. "My little siren..." he whispered, as if someone had flipped a switch inside of him. The more steps you took back, the more he advanced towards you. "I missed you, you know that?"

"Wait, what?" you managed to stutter out when he had you cornered against the bar.

"You just ran away yesterday." He grinned as he planted his hands onto the counter beside you, successfully caging you in. His voice was incredibly calm, to the point it unnerved you more than if he would have screamed at you. "I think someone ought to punish you," he cooed quietly as he brought his face closer to yours.

Not able to keep your calm any longer when he nuzzled his nose into your neck, you yelled out with a red face, "Azul! Floyd! Anyone! Help!"

"Sh, stop yelling..." Jade whispered, his chuckles vibrating against your skin. Your eyes were wide in shock, and your cheeks were as red as a tomato. "Why won't you instead sing a song for me?"

Your heart skipped a beat in relief when you saw Floyd's head poking out from the kitchen. "Oh— Jade found her first..." the energetic eel mused as he carelessly skipped over to the two of you. "Just like yesterday."

"I can't... breathe—" you seethed through clenched teeth, thinking you would die of embarrassment any minute now. Jade wasn't a big help when he grabbed you by the waist and pulled you into his lap to sit on a bar stool. "Please, help!" You flailed your hands around like a drowning sailor.

Azul peeked out from his office, grinning when he realised what situation you were in. Of course, his mind was only focused on getting the most perks out of the situation. Humming to himself, he suggested, "We could come to an agreement if you signed a contract—"

Close to losing it, you screamed, "Azul! I swear—"

"Fine." Azul rolled his eyes, raising his hands in a mocking defeat. Waving Floyd over, he pointed his finger at Jade who seemed to be rocking you back and forth in his lap, an innocent smile on his lips. "Get your brother away from her, Floyd."

A relieved breath escaped your lips when you were finally free from the eel's death grip. "What's going on?" you asked, unnerved to see Jade rather angrily squirming in Floyd's arms, his eyes filled with such malice that you wanted to hide behind a table. "Seeing Jade like this is terribly unnerving— even more so than usually!"

"...I'll take that as a compliment," Jade mused, shooting you an almost invisible wink that managed to make your heart skip a beat.

Azul put his fingers to his chin, pulling his lips into a little frown. "So, you turned into a siren yesterday after you drank my potion. Then, you managed to ensnare my best worker with your voice..." he explained before shooting Jade an amused look. "In retrospect, Jade must have already harboured strong feelings for you if the effect was this big."

"Does someone have a crush~?" Floyd teased his brother whilst booping his nose, giggling. "How come you never told me that you liked our little guppy here?"

Jade let out an exasperated huff before viciously hissing, "Brother dearest, I swear if you don't let me go, I'll tell everyone about this one time you cried because someone spilled ink on your teddybear—"

Floyd immediately removed his arms from his brother, rolling his eyes. "Fine, he's your problem now, Shrimpy," he said, watching in amusement as his brother immediately waltzed back over to you, only to stand behind you and put his chin onto your shaking shoulder, a satisfied and close-eyed smile on his face.

"A-Ah, it's all good, Jade—" you murmured, wondering if it was safe to push him away — which you knew wasn't, so you decided to ignore the sweet nothings he whispered into your ear as best as possible. "Azul, how long is he gonna be like this? I never thought I'd say this, but I miss the old Jade — this one is even scarier somehow..."

Azul shrugged, somehow finding amusement in your suffering. "It should wear off after a few days. Until then, you just have to live with it, I guess. You knew the risks when signing that contract with me." He wagged his index finger in front of your eyes while cheerfully exclaiming, "And no! Taking legal actions against me is not an option."

"...wouldn't you lose a waiter if Jade is in this condition?" you asked in an attempt to solve this issue peacefully. "You could at least try to act a little bit more concerned..."

"That's why you're gonna work here until he's back to normal," Azul replied easily, looking down at his gloved hands, whistling a soft tune to himself. "Having you around should do the trick. It might even increase his concentration!"

"What?!" you yelled out angrily, which didn't startle Jade at all. He instead patted your head affectionately, simply smiling with closed eyes like he often did. "That wasn't part of the contract—"

"Well, if you want to be left alone with Jade—" Floyd trailed off, which immediately made you jump in horror. You hesitantly turned your head to your right to find Jade smiling at you, showing off his sharp fangs. You shuddered in fear as you inched away from him.

"Fine... fine..." you hissed, seething angrily. Still, you accepted your defeat. "I'll never make a deal with you again, Ashengrotto."

"That's what they always say when I come out on top~" Azul cooed, throwing a waitress uniform at you that Floyd had just brought to him. You caught it with a little yelp, stumbling slightly.

Jade's eyes lit up in excitement as he more or less gently took your hand into his. "Does this mean I'll see you every day at work now?" he asked, looking at you with shimmering eyes filled with utter happiness that hid the real danger lurking behind them.

Your heart sinking in dread and yet skipping a beat when he kissed your knuckles, you cried out, "Mom, come pick me up I'm scared."