#Abby Sun-Frost

[chaos-inu]

sibling shenanigans

[hastyprovocateur]

Pine Soap (Modern!Abby × Reader)

Summary- Abby and reader hop in for a quick shower

Word count-1.5k

Cw- sexual content, mature themes, fluff

• The tap water runs tepid as you twist the faucet on, letting its steady stream run over your hand. It nearly lulled you back to the cozy bed you just got out of. You force your eyes open, sleepy fingers wiggling for your brush. It sat next to Abby’s in the ceramic container embossed with both your initials. A silly couples project you did as housewarming. It stood now as a hearty reminder of how it all fell together, holding a red brush and a blue one.

• You smile at the letters, dousing your brush with toothpaste before jamming it in your mouth. The morning sun streamed through the bathroom sky light, bathing the whole tiled space in a halo-like glow. You rinse yourself, peering into the mirror. You pull the neck of your robe aside to assess the fresh hickey on your neck as the sharp spray of the shower water came on in the back.

• Abby had monopolised the stall after her workout, the frosted partition exposing her beautiful body as steam rose out the top. It was all too tempting. You sidle up to the door, knocking on it to garner her attention. She notices, giving you a small wave from behind. You waved back, placing your open palm against the glass. She mirrors you, placing her hand right against yours. Eventually, she slid the partition open.

• “God, you’re naked” you squeal as she tries to grab you, wet hands firm around your sleeve. She draws you back, nuzzling into your neck amid protests. “You’re soaking my robe!” you complain half-heartedly as she cocoons you in her big arms, leaving damp patches everywhere. “Then take it off” she mumbles like a scolded child into the top of your hair, loosening the knot you had tied before. You pull away to look back at her with chagrin, but it was hard to stay mad. Her honey-colored hair had turned dark, sticking to the sides of her face, neck, and down her back. Water beaded on her lashes, the tip of her nose and chin.

• You huff in reprimand as Abby chuckled, giving you a once over with her arm slung on your waist. Closing the space between your bodies. “Don’t look at me like that” her smile fades, leaning down to slowly push the robe down your shoulder, pressing her damp lips against your smooth shoulder, making you flinch. You gently grab her neck, pushing her away as she returned to that same spot she abused last night. You wince softly from the dull ache below the skin. “I did that?” Abby exhaled, circling the tip of her tongue around the bruise.

• You shiver, pulling your shoulder to your chin as you raise your hands up against her chest. “Shower with me” Abby urged, voice next to a whine. “You get rough…” you object softly, but she shakes her head firmly, bowing her head to meet your eyes “I’ll be good” she assures you. You close your eyes, feeling the wetness reach your skin through the thin fabric, finally relenting. Abby watched as the silk unsheathes your curves, puddling on the tiles, along with your underwear. She drew you in with a firm hand on the small of your back.

• The warmth made you nearly slump into her, resting your head on her chest as the hot water ran down your back, soaking your hair. Abby held your face, pushing her hands back into your scalp and cradling the crown of your head as you hooked your arms around her shoulders to keep from buckling. “Is that right?” she laughed, watching you sway against her. You smile “It’s perfect” pressing the side of your face into her collarbone. The pumping of her heart spelled home, reverberating through your body.

The safest you could ever feel.

• Abby kissed the top of your head, slowly collecting your hair at the side of your neck, nuzzling the side of her face against yours. Her hands trail down your spine, resting at your waist. She folded you within herself, lifting you up and inhaling the scent of your body deep into her senses. The sun seemed to follow you into the bath, turning your bodies gold as it washed over you in dapples and streaks. You peer up at Abby’s face, chin pinned to her chest. At her eyes. One deep in the shadow, one baby blue from the light.

• Bubbles slipped through your fingers as you lathered her waist-length, blonde hair with bath gel, the soapy suds swirling in her strands. Its pine scent wove itself into the rising steam, smelling sweet to the nose and bitter on the tongue. You reached behind her neck, combing your fingers in gentle circles at the back of her scalp. Abby craned low to press the tip of her nose to yours, kissing your cheek. Her hands swept up your butt, rubbing across your hips and up your back, holding you tighter. The creamy foam oozed, rolling down your curves.

• “Ow” Abby winced, causing you to panic and check her eyes for soap. She wheezed, getting a kick out of rousing you for nothing. You smack the side of her shoulder, pouting as she pulled you back under the water, rinsing you off. You rest your arms on Abby’s shoulders, raising your eyes up at her as she stares back, lips parting as she tilts her face to kiss you. The water rinses you, enveloping you like warm sheets. You pull back to breathe only to get drawn back in, her arms encircling your waist like fetters. You whimper in her embrace, dragging your leg up her side. Feeling faint. Exhilarated.

• You slip down her front, hands latching onto her breast and her hip as you fell to your knees. Abby stroked your head, gently pinning your wet hair back as you kissed her folds, closing your eyes at the familiar taste, the hue and touch of it known to you like the back of your hand. Hands curling around her butt, gripping her cheeks as you relished her, forcing yourself into her deep and firm.

• Abby gulped; breath jagged as her knees quivered ever so slightly. Her pleasure was no secret to you. You applied your tongue relentlessly, your chin and lips soaked with her arousal. Eventually, you felt her squeeze, finishing in your mouth, flooding the insides of her thighs. Abby flushed pink, cheeks aglow both with the orgasm and the hot water. “That good?” you cock your chin with a grin, embarrassing her.

• A gasp escapes your lips as she yanked you back up, your knees turning red. She flipped you against her body, back pressed against her front as she reached around. “Baby… ” you hold her arm as she ventures between your thighs, her fingers into your depth, burrowing deep in that soft, sweet place. Her other arm wraps around your breasts, squeezing them. You buckle at the hips, heels lifting off the ground as you throw yourself back into her, feeling every muscle flex as she had her way with you.

• “That good?” Abby teased you back, her fingers sliding in and out of you. You feel the shape of them against your walls, curling slowly to reach that place within. A physical reminder that you knew her inside out as she did too. It made you teeter on your toes as you dug your fingers into her arm to steady yourself, leaving red marks. You screw your eyes shut, feeling her lips finding your neck, your weakness. Her lips dragged across the older hickey, finding home for a new one.

• “Aaah” it burnt in the most pleasurable way possible, driving you all the way through. Abby’s hips melded into you; nipples erect against your shoulder blades as she used your writhing body to massage herself. Her groans blow down your neck, raising your hair on end. You clench your legs close, stiffly working yourself onto her fingers.

You finish pathetically, head rolling weakly on her chest as she held you still. It rose and fell at the pace of yours. You watch as Abby twisted the shower knob close with one hand, holding you in the other. “Let’s dry you up” she fervently kissed the side of your face, pulling her towel from the bar and shrouding you in it.

• You peer into the bathroom mirror, clothed in fresh underwear with your hair still damp. “Dammit” you groan as the fresh, red hickey on your neck next to the old one. You look down at your knees, finding two oval red patches on the caps “I told you!” you point to them incredulously, turning around to complain.

• Abby stopped mid-swipe as she put on deodorant, smirking at you “I mean… look at us” she shrugged, exposed aside from the towel around her waist, damp hair flowing down her back. Abby's arms, shoulders, chest, and hips were peppered with your hand marks “Can’t do much about it” she smiled. “Wow…” you trail with your hands on your hips, exhaling in defeat before walking out. Abby piped after you. Joyful as ever.

“if you can’t hide em, own em, baby!”

[between-the-realms]

First Ones

@the-mysticandmodern-world

The ice that once covered the planet had just finished melting, and the sun constantly shone these days. Their was still a chill in the air, but not one that the first citizens of Sunray Province couldn't handle. The war between the Frost Elves and the homunculi was long past gone, not that these humans truly knew the history of this conflict. They knew of the hommunculi and the Frost Elves, but all they knew was the homunculi kingdom to the southeast and the Frost Elves' small tribes to the north.

The chapel of Sunray Province had just finished building, and the first Saint and Prophet of the Religion were taking a tour. The first Saint was a human woman with medium length red hair. White eyes and scars around said eyes. She wore white robes with sun symbols adorning it. Her name was Anastasia but she wanted to go by Sia. Her friend, the first Prophet always wore a white and green hooded robe. She had curly brown hair, tan skin and green eyes with a freckled face. She could see aspects of the future, and many of it scared her. She was always seen with Sia, holding onto the woman's arm, guiding her. The Phrophet's name was Abby.

They started the day, like any other day, sitting outside, eye's closed toward the sun in their silent prayers.

[bmyvalentin3]

holiday party

a/n" first tumblr fanfic! i'm originally from wattpad so bare with meeeee---also not really edited so yeah

details" au, no apocalypse, fluff, kissing, ... . .

pairing" customer!ellie x fem!reader

synopsis" after moving to colorado at the beginning of winter, you start a new job to pay all the new expenses. even though you were a newly hire, you settled quick at your job at the local coffee shop. turns out pretty women also came with the job.

¸.·✩·.¸¸.·¯⍣✩ let's begin ✩⍣¯·.¸¸.·✩·.¸

your sleep was rudely interrupted by your buzzing alarm as you blinked sleep away. your eyelids weighed down, tempting you to just... rest...

you jutted awake as a message buzzed through your phone. groaning mentally, you turned over, unlocking your phone. it was from your friend.

sarah ❤

good morning, work bestie! 6:32 am

girl get up your new job is on the line 6:35 am

you smiled as you slowly typed a response

(y/n)

im up 6:37 am

thanks <333 6:37 am

the winter air bit at your exposed skin as you mustered the strength to slip out of your bed. you walked into the kitchen, pouring some cereal for yourself. continuing your routine, you got a message from your manager, abby.

abby (work)

if no one informed you, you're opening the store. dina is opening with you. she has the keys. i'll be there around noon. 7:01 am

you frowned slightly. you were hoping for... well, you didn't exactly know what you were hoping for. maybe a manager a bit less dry?

(y/n)

thanks, abby. 7:05 am

you finished up your mascara and grabbed your keys. you locked your door, walked down the hallway, took the stairs, and got into your car in the apartment parking garage. the whole way you were shivering. by now the sun was up as you pulled into the back lot of the cafe.

the snow stuck to your boots the whole way, getting it in your car. you didn't care much, just rolled your eyes. you took the keys out of the car and took a deep breath, touching up your lip gloss. you pulled the handle and stepped out of your car, shutting the door, and locking it. dina was in her car next to yours, and you stepping towards her passenger side, tapping on her window gently. you smiled.

dina smiled, rolling down the window.

"hey! sorry, i'm in a bit of a hassle, do you mind opening the store?" she asked.

"yeah, no problem." you responded, taking the store keys from her outstretched hand.

your breath puffed like a cloud of smoke in front of you. you walked around the side of the shop, and made it to the employee side door. you unlocked it, turned off the alarm, shut the door behind you, and began setting up the small shop. frost edged the windows from the outside, adding a cool effect. you turned the hanging sign on the door to "open" and unlocked it.

dina stepped in the side door, walking to the employee's room. appearing a few minutes later in full shoppe attire. she smiled and you smiled back.

"okay, today is a slow day. good luck, y/n." she joked, preparing the machines.

"thanks, you'll need some too." i sighed contently as i wiped down the tables.

.·✩·.

"hey, welcome in." you say without looking up from the register. when you did, you were met with beautiful layered green eyes. damn, she's hot as fuck! you thought. you blinked nervously and looked down slightly.

"what can i getcha'?" speaking quietly, you slowly look back up at her eyes. she was looking at the menu. freckles littered her face. a scar on her right eyebrow was badass.

"i'll take a caramel latte." she spoke. her voice was raspy yet smooth, somehow. she looked back at your eyes and your heart skipped a beat. you clicked in the buttons on the machine.

"size?" you asked.

"small, please."

again, you clicked in the button and rang her up.

"$2.48 is your total today." you patiently watched her grab a card out of her wallet.

your fingers brushed as you pinched the debit card from her hand. ignoring the butterflies, you inserted it. the buzzing of the receipt printing filled the quiet cafe. you wrapped the receipt around her debit card and handed it back to her. you grabbed a size small cup and retrieved a sharpie from your apron.

"what's a good name for you?" you smiled.

"ellie." she responded.

your fingers felt warm as you wrote her name in your best handwriting, daring to put a little heart by it. shit, why did i do that?

"okay, i'll call your name when the drink is ready."

ellie nodded and went to go sit down and scroll on her phone.

i think i like her.

her eyes...

that half bun is sooo hot.

is she even into girls?

many thoughts swarmed your head as you finished her drink with whipped cream and some grid-patterned caramel topping. capping the drink, you placed it gently on the granite counter slightly higher than your working counter.

"ellie!" you called, hoping your voice wasn't weird or unattractive.

"thank you." she grabbed her drink, acknowledged the heart and smiled, glancing at you. when you made eye contact, she winked. the bell jingled as she left the shoppe.

she winked. oh my god!

before you could get too happy, your manager walked in. dina walked behind you and whispered in your ear.

"boss's here." she continued walking into the back.

turning around timidly, you were met with your manager, abby. she was taller than you and way, way stronger. looking up into the blonde's eyes, you quickly glanced away and turned back around to face the future customers.

"good morning, abby." you said nervously.

what you missed was a sly smirk from your manager.

"good morning. how has your first week been?" she walked closer.

you didn't dare to look back.

"it's been... eventful. i've settled well, though." you sputtered out. obviously, you didn't bring up ellie.

"good...good." abby spoke slowly. she walked behind and past you to the employee's room, brushing you slightly. you got the butterflies from the slight touch.

.·✩·.

days blurred into the next... they all seemed to be the same. wake up, go to work, pray that ellie would come back, avoid abby, finish the day, go home, relax. repeat. repeat. repeat.

today was different, however. tonight, starting at 5:30 pm, was the small town's holiday celebration. they place a tree in the middle, light it, sell hot chocolate, and there's an ice skating rink.

basically, the perfect winter date.

to backtrack, ellie came in twice over the past couple weeks of working. thanksgiving ended and it's around the 1st of december. over those two precious days, you managed to talk to her. and she talked to you. and you couldn't stop; nor her. seeing how she watched and listened to you... the way she talked, got slightly embarrassed about small little things... she's so cute.

on the second day she visited, she said something that would repeat in your head every night.

"y/n, do you want to go with me to the holiday kick off? it's our community's tradition. and, it's okay if you don't want to, it won't hurt my feelings, i-"

you smiled seeing her get all blushy and embarrassed.

"yeah, i'll go. with you." as these words left your mouth, she started smiling.

"then we'll call it a date." she smirked.

now it was your turn to get all red.

...

fast forward to you closing the coffee shop early for the celebration, ellie would pick you up. she wanted to drive around early to look at rich people's christmas lights and decorations.

just as you were going to pick up your phone, a car pulled up. you saw ellie smiling gently and waving you in. placing your little work bag by your feet, you got in the passenger seat.

"hi, ellie. again, thank you for doing this. it's sweet of you."

you were a little nervous getting into her car after only talking deeply once, but you felt safe with her.

"hey, you look great. festive." she pointed to your dangly earrings.

"awe, thanks. I got them back in my old home." you sighed contently. she glanced over at you as she pulled away.

"okay, so," she began speaking at a red light, "i'm taking you to the richest neighborhood here. you're going to love it." she had a soft smile. the sun had set already since it's winter, so darkness was spreading quickly.

"you look pretty today." she spoke softly, looking ahead at the road. you blushed immediately.

"thank you ellie. by the way, i only let hot girls take me out, so..." you were suddenly interested in your nails. she blushed.

.·✩·.

"here we are." she slowed down as she pulled on the street. houses glowed magically. many had the moving lights that projected snowflakes and santa hats.

"it gorgeous." you whispered. she drove slowly, letting you look around.

"how can they afford all this?"

"no clue." she sighed.

as the pulled out of the neighborhood, she drove towards the square.

"have you ice skated before?" you look at her. she glances at you, then stares back on the road.

"i have. you?"

"damn, i haven't. maybe we can just... skip that event.." you smiled nervously.

"i'll make sure you're okay. okay?" she looked over at you full on, placing her hand on your thigh gently. you internally freaked out, heat pooling at the bottom of your torso.

"k." you said breathlessly. she smirked, turning to the road, knowing she made you slip up. to push you even farther, she started rubbing gently and slowly up and down your thigh. your cheeks blushed and tingles were left where she touched.

.·✩·.

"come on! we're going to be late for the tree lighting!" she hurried you along as she opened the passenger door for you.

"thanks, gentleman." you smirked, stepping out of the car.

"anytime, pretty woman." she smirked back, winking.

you let ellie drag you to the town square where the large tree was being lit. many other people were already. your nose and cheeks were red and your breath came out as smoke in the frosty air. ellie mirrored your cold looks.

"let me buy you some hot cocoa, yeah?" she brushed a piece of your cold hair behind your reddening ear. you blushed, but the frost camouflaged you.

"yeah, that'd be nice." you giggled quietly. christmas music sang from the multiple speakers around the gathering. she snuck her hand around your waist as you walked together. you were flustered, to say the least.

"hey, what can i getcha?" the employee asked you two as you arrived the stand.

"two hot cocoas, please." ellie smiled, her hand placement on you signaling you were hers tonight. and ellie hopes she can make you hers forever on.

ellie payed and soon the burning hot cocoa was in your hands. you bathed in the warmth. sipping it, you sighed.

"that's good. thank you so much, ellie. for everything." you thanked her.

"it's no problem, really. i was lucky enough to even get you free tonight. i wouldn't be surprised if you had girls in your dms, pretty lady." she smirked, looking straight on at you. you reddened, looking away while sipping your cocoa.

"no, i actually don't have any girls in my dms, much to your disappointment. i haven't gone on a date in a little bit, actually." you said quietly. her eyebrows rose in surprise.

"really? you're lying."

"no, i'm not lying." i responded.

"oooookay then..." she said in a jokingly distrusting voice.

"ho, ho, ho! look at these lovely girls over here! merry christmas!" a jolly person dressed in a santa costume boomed. he was old, but was a cute little guy. you giggled, smiling.

"so festive here." you look back over to ellie, and she's watching you.

"goddamn, you're so cute." she kissed your cheek, leaving you blushy and giggley.

"ladies and gentlemen, if you have children who would like to meet santa, his booth is open! these nice elves over here will show you through the process. thank you." a person on the speakers spoke happily.

"what next?" you yawned, covering your mouth. ellie brushed a piece of your hair behind your ear.

"don't get too tired, cutie. come over here, i wanna show you something..."

.·✩·.

"thank you ellie. this has been the best night since i moved here." you stood with ellie at the entrance to the event. she looked deeply into your eyes.

"of course. thanks for giving me a chance. now let's get in my car, i'm cold." she smirked. you nodded, shivering.

"yes, please."

the heat took a few minutes to warm up, but when it did, both you and ellie sighed in relief.

"want me to take you home?" she looked at you, glancing at your lips.

"i mean, yeah..." you say reluctantly.

"you look so..." she trailed off.

you looked up at her, confused.

"i look...?" you started getting a little self-conscious.

"kissable. can i?" she was practically burning holes into your lips.

you nodded slowly.

"please."

ellie leaned in, capturing your lips perfectly. she laid her hands on the sides of your head, guiding you gently. you both got in sync, letting your bodies take the lead. she licked your bottom lip, asking silently for access. you open your mouth a crack desperately. she tangled her tongue with yours, eventually taking dominance. she pushed into you slightly, exploring your mouth.

after a while of kissing and quiet noises, ellie broke away, smirking.

"you taste delicious." she licked your lipgloss from her own lips. you were trying not to take ellie's comment in a dirty way.

"cat got your tongue?" she held eye contact with you.

"uh, no." you blinked finally, a blush coming across your face as you touched your lips.

"that was.. really nice." you avoided eye contact with ellie. she just had a cocky smirk on her face.

"yeah, i know. now let's get you home, baby."

[laresearchette]

Sunday, January 12, 2024 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: ROGUE HEROES (MGM +)

WHAT IS NOT PREMIERING IN CANADA TONIGHT?: ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL (PBS Feed) MISS SCARLET (PBS Feed)

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA MY INTERNSHIP IN CANADA SAS ROGUE HEROES (Season 2) SUR LE RYTHME SUR LE SEUIL

2025 IIHF U18 WOMEN'S HOCKEY (TSN3/TSN5) 8:00am: Bronze Medal - TBD vs. TBD (TSN5) 12:00pm: Gold Medal - TBD vs. TBD

PWHL HOCKEY (TSN3) 12:00pm: Sceptres vs. Sirens (TSN3) 3:00pm: Victoire vs. Frost

NFL FOOTBALL (TSN/TSN4) 1:00pm: Wild Card - Broncos vs. Bills (TSN/TSN4) 4:30pm: Wild Card - Packers vs. Eagles (TSN/TSN4/TSN5) 8:15pm: Wild Card - Commanders vs. Buccaneers

NHL HOCKEY (SN) 3:00pm: Kraken vs. Red Wings (SN1) 5:00pm: Lightning vs. Penguins (TSN5) 5:00pm: Stars vs. Sens (SN) 8:00pm: Wild vs. Knights

NBA BASKETBALL (TSN2) 3:00pm: Nuggets vs. Mavericks (SN1) 9:00pm: Hornets vs. Suns

ERIC STAAL JERSEY RETIREMENT CEREMONY (SN Now) 3:30pm

2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS (TSN2/TSN3) 7:00pm: Early Round Coverage Day #2

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW (CBC) 7:00pm: It's Biscuit Week and the bakers make a marshmallow-based signature challenge, a custard classic in the technical; in an illusion-themed showstopper, the bakers make their favorite meal out of biscuits.

CRIME BEAT (Global) 7:00pm: 'Die Like the Rest' Part 1: A Winnipeg teenager is found savagely attacked; investigators arrest a B.C. man who was visiting; years later, another slaying of a teenage girl gives fresh light to old evidence that could help convict a killer.

FAMILY LAW (Global) 8:00pm: When a biased judge rules against Daniel's petition to have a scam marriage annulled, Abby uses Cecil as bait to trap the romance fraudster.

WARDENS OF THE NORTH (CTV Wild) 8:00pm: A warden checks on a hunter he suspects may be illegally baiting deer; a warden tracks down hunters using blinds on state land and finds they aren't quite abiding by the law; wardens enforce the law with anglers on the Detroit River.

SKYMED (CBC) 9:00pm: As the crew struggles to say a difficult goodbye to a fallen team member, the loss forces each of them to question themselves in different ways.

FOOD, INC. 2 (documentary) 9:00pm: Revisiting the food system and its improvements, focusing on innovative farmers and food producers working toward a healthier future.

WHEN CALLS THE HEART (Super Channel Heart & Home) 9:00pm: When the comic book craze sweeps Hope Valley, Elizabeth teaches her students through nature; Rosemary launches a radio show and Lucas meets a new political player.

THE CURSE OF OAK ISLAND (History Channel Canada) 10:00pm: After more than a dozen years of searching, the team may have discovered the legendary Chappell Vault.

FORENSIC FACTOR (Oxygen Canada) 10:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): A mother of three goes missing the day before Mother's Day; there is no shortage of suspects, but only forensic evidence and an old school detective's trick can untangle what truly happened to Joleen Cummings.

[g-girlshavingfun]

December Prompts

27) Weathered boxing gloves - Abby & Joe

Not long after Joe wakes up in OSOT, he goes for a walk around the school grounds at night and comes across Abby in the P&E barn. (3,949)

———————————————————————

The chill in the air bit at Joe’s fingers as he snuck out of the school one night in early November. It clung to his face and nibbled at his skin, slipping through his clothes and gnawing at his toes. It hung in the air like a noose from a branch, singing a haunting tale of pain and screaming an ominous warning as it danced in the wind. Abnormal for even this time of year, a few tendrils of snow had fallen earlier in the day, flakes of it still clinging to the ivy that climbed up the old stone walls. Joe hadn’t been there to see it fall, but Rachel had kept him updated all the same, the two of them caught in conversations about the weather of all things as they weaved and dodged around the topics that set his chest on fire to even think about. She had called it unnatural, the cold snap they had found themselves in.

Perhaps the sun was grieving too.

A gust of wind sent shivers down his spine, shrieking in agony. He turned towards it, filling his lungs with the needles of frost and cold that swirled in the air and held them there for a moment. For two. He breathed out.

He had missed this. Missed the fresh crispness of the the outdoor air. The way it stripped away the tired cells of his throat and lungs, ripping them out of his aching body in a haggard cough and leaving him refreshed and awake. Like changing the wallpaper of a tired house, or peeling away the layers of a rotting onion, or scrubbing the rust off of a classic car. He missed the shine of the stars over his head and the glare of the moonlight against the Academy’s lake. The way the sparse light trickled along the water and washed up on its shore, lapping at his feet and soaking through his shoes. Truthfully, he missed sunlight, but even he knew not to risk going outside in the daytime, not while the students were still at school.

It had been almost a month since he had woken up in the infirmary, flames still beating at the back of his eyelids and an excruciating heat still streaking across his skin, Rachel’s hand clasped tight around his and her eyes dancing with an unfamiliar light. An entire lifetime had passed since then. Despite the deep ache in his bones, he had insisted on being told everything he had missed. How Cammie, brave and selfless and stupid Cammie, Matt’s girl through and through, had run off on her own to figure out what The Circle wanted. To end them. How she had evaded their searches for months, had disappeared nearly completely before calling Rachel from a convent at the end of September. How the Circle had almost certainly found her, had tortured her, but she came home anyhow. He had never felt prouder, had never felt more ashamed. The knowledge of how he had failed, failed Cammie and Rachel and Matt had already weighed impossibly heavy on his chest when the girl in question returned from a brief trip to Rome, Zach and her friends and her aunt in tow. It was then that Rachel let go of his hand, a different shine glazing over her eyes as Abby gave them the news they had always known, had always dreaded.

An entire lifetime had started and ended in the time that passed between Joe waking up and Matthew Morgan dying, and he could feel every moment of that lifetime in the pain in his joints, the ache in his muscles, the sharpness in his chest.

Taking another deep breath of the crying wind and the vengeful cold, he tried to take his fill before returning to the hidden infirmary so that he needn’t upset Rachel with another late night excursion anytime soon. It was as he turned on his heel to go back inside that a dull light coming from the P&E barn caught his eye, soft and warm through the steamed windows.

He paused.

None of the girls should be awake, the darkness staining the sky giving away the late hour, therefore if it was a student inside then he would have to let the headmistress know so she could usher them back to their room. Something he didn’t want to do as he would inevitably be treated to another lecture on giving himself time to recover. The barn could be empty, a light left on hours ago by an absent-minded janitor or a forgetful Ms. Hancock. Unlikely, as The Gallagher Academy didn’t hire people who were absent-minded or forgetful. Of course it could be that another member of staff was still inside the building. This seemed to be the most likely explanation though it was also the most worrying; very few members of the faculty were informed that Joe was still alive, was still loyal to the CIA and the girls within these walls, and it was supposed to stay that way. If an employee not yet in-the-know was inside the barn then he was in danger of being found out, arrested, and potentially killed based on how his last arrest went.

Rachel would tell him to go and inform her, to get her to sort it out, just to be safe.

Joe decided to investigate himself; Rachel needed to rest and he had nothing better to do.

Staying out of eyeline of the lit up windows, he crept towards the door and pressed his ear up against it, hearing only the squeak of trainers against polished floor and the occasional grunt through the thick wood. Taking a chance, he nudged slightly on the ajar door, forming an opening that was just larger enough for him to peer into.

A knife lodged itself into the panel next to his head.

“Haven’t you heard of knocking?”

Abby was turned away from him, the muscles lining her back and shoulders and arms tense with adrenaline and dripping with sweat, completely visible due to her lack of a shirt, torso adorned only by a black sports bra. A pair of shorts did nothing to hide the trembling muscles in her legs either. Joe could tell she’d been at it a while by the way they twitched intermittently, looking only moments away from cramping and sending her to the ground. The glistening of her skin was testament to how long she had been brutalising the punching bag, as despite the paralysing cold that leaked into the barn and the lack of warmth provided by her clothes she still appeared burning hot.

She bounced back and forth on the balls of her feet, torso twisting with the jabs and hooks she threw at the battered punching bag. Left fist smashing against the sandbag in a particularly hard hit, she winced slightly and pivoted around the bag, revealing the focussed look on her face and the heat in her eyes as she shot him a short glare.

Joe gulped at the sight of her.

Not because she looked good, or at least, not just because of that. Bearing a considerable resemblance to her older sister, Abby had always been unfairly pretty, with dark hair and an athletic body and bright eyes that drew in even those with the strongest of wills. Annoyingly, she had always known how attractive she looked, and had never been afraid to use it to her advantage. Joe had always been aware of it as well, but her looks had never swayed him before, and they were’t what caught his attention now. He had just never thought of Abby like that, despite Rachel’s old suspicions and Matt’s attempts at matchmaking.

No, it wasn’t the shine of her hair or the smoothness of her skin or the length of her legs that caught his attention. Rather it was the pinching of her face, the fire in her eyes, the pain that radiated off her in waves.

He had known her since she a baby-faced CIA operative fresh out of school, though he had also met her briefly when she was a teenager, once at Rachel and Matt’s wedding and again shortly after Cammie’s birth, and he had seen in her in several states of emotional distress over the years. Panicked and shaken after her niece suffered a small bump on the head while in her care. Pale and unresponsive after a particularly difficult assignment, one that they never shared the details of with Rachel, had taken a turn for the worse. Enraged and sniffling after a screaming match with her sister that Matt and himself had to breakup. Terrified and trembling after Rachel subsequently ended up pretty banged up and hospitalised just a couple short weeks later. Guilt-ridden and sobbing after being unable to find the strength to get off her hotel bathroom floor and go to Matt’s funeral.

Still, he had never seen her look so much like the face he saw in the mirror in the middle of night, full of self-hatred and longing for something impossible. Had never seen her look so much like a girl he knew a lifetime ago, full of anger and desperation for something so easy for everyone but her.

He had never seen her like this.

“Haven't you heard of gloves?”

In a classic self destructive Abigail Cameron move, she had forgone the foam gloves that typically protect your knuckles, opting instead for a minimal tape-and-wrap strategy that Joe was all too familiar with. Just as it had every time he opted for the same tactic, her methods had left her hands trembling, a patchwork of bruises already blooming across her skin and blood dripping through the crevices of her hands onto the floor below. They didn’t seem to be bothering her, if the force with which she slammed her fists back into the bag was anything to go by.

“What are you doing here Joe? I thought Rach had you chained to the bed in the infirmary.” Clearly the exertion and the bad mood and the inevitable pain had done nothing to dampen her capacity to tease him, if the deepening of her voice and the wink she shot him were anything to go by.

He only sighed, not in the mood to join in with her fun but also knowing better than to object. It would only encourage her. Instead he made his way across the barn to the store cupboard, pulling out a pair of weathered boxing gloves and throwing them her way. “Seriously Abby, you’re hurting yourself.”

She let them fall to her feet with a look of disdain on her face and threw an intimidating right hook just to hammer her protest home. “You’re one to talk.” Another heavy punch and then she turned to face him, features morphing into something mocking as her voice took on first an impression of him, and then her sister. “Seriously Joe, you need to be resting.”

“I’ve done more than enough resting.” Several months unconscious in a coma was plenty. “Now put on the gloves.”

Like a child, she simply kicked them away.

“Abby look at your hands.” She refused to, continuing to attack the bag with a renewed ferocity despite his protesting winces. Suddenly he missed Matt more than ever. The man had always known what was going on with the younger Cameron sister, had understood her moods and her silent brooding and how to cheer her up even better than Rachel at times. Perhaps that was the issue. “Look I- The news hit all of us hard, we’re all grieving-”

“Don’t.”

“-but you can talk to us about it. I’m your friend Abs-”

“Are you?” Her tone and words were cold, the piercing edges of her anger cutting through his chest and slicing ribbons into his heart. “Or were we only ever friends because I was good for your cover? Did your buddies in The Circle make you put up with me, ask you to get intel from me? Or was I not even good enough for that?”

“I-” Something thick and wet in his throat stole the words from his mouth. “Rachel said you read Matt’s journal?”

She spat on the floor and scoffed, turning back to the punching bag and nearly levelling it with the force behind her jab. “Yeah Joe, I read the journal.”

“Then you know- Abby I made a mistake. A huge one, I know, when I was a kid. And I regret it more than anything I-” I wish I had been better, stronger. I wish I had been more like you, like her, like him. “I’m sorry, I am. But I turned away from The Circle long before I met you, I promise.”

Part of him had been expecting this conversation for a while now. Abby hadn’t visited much since she delivered the news of Matt’s grave, his body, being found, but when she did she avoided eye contact, fussing around the room like she didn’t know what she was doing there. While Rachel had been very direct with him, working through her anger and her frustration and her hurt as soon as they were both in a state for her to do so, Abby had always been more of an avoider of feelings. She had alternated between tense and upset whenever she was in his presence, had avoided being alone with him for too long, had dodged his probing questions with remarkable ease. He knew she would crack eventually, that her anger would build and build until it erupted in their faces and spewed hot and ugly all over their friendship. He knew this, had expected it, but he still wasn’t prepared.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice breaking tugged at the thinning tendrils of his heart. Looking solemnly at the ground, he tried to push past the guilt of hurting one of his oldest friends. They made the right choice, he was sure of it. “You and Matt? You should’ve told me from the beginning that you were trying to take them down, that you were a triple agent or whatever. I would’ve helped.”

“Matt didn’t want Rachel to get involved, he didn’t want to risk-”

“I didn’t ask why you didn’t tell Rach, I know neither of you would’ve ever risked her. But I-

“If you know why we wouldn’t want to involve Rachel then surely you understand why we didn’t want to involve you.”

Rolling her eyes at him and scoffing, she went back to beating up the poor punching bag, still sans gloves. “It’s different.”

It was. Rachel had a kid, Matt’s kid, and those two were his everything. Neither of them would’ve forgiven themselves if anything had happened to her because of their involvement with The Circle. But neither of them would’ve forgiven themselves if anything happened to Abby either, she just didn’t understand that.

“A little bit yeah.” He nodded slowly, conceding to her point sympathetically before going on to challenge it. “But we both loved you Abby, and we knew you. We knew as soon as you got involved that you’d get hurt putting us before yourself. I mean, look what happen in DC, in Buenos Aires! You nearly died trying to take on The Circle and that was before you knew how deep our involvement was.”

“How come that’s the only part of that assignment people remember? I saved the ungrateful English ass’s life and took down an entire cartel like, the day before.”

He ignored her indignant grumbling and the petulant way in which she slapped the bag, scuffing her feet against the ground like a pouting toddler. He wasn’t blind, he could see slight smile pulling at her lips at the mention of the MI6 agent. “We just didn’t want you taking any stupid risks on my behalf.” I’m not worth it.

“Matt told me you were looking into Circle members the year before he-” Voice cracking again, as unable to say the word died as she was the day she delivered the news, her watery eyes found his. “You didn’t trust me enough to tell me about you?”

The pain in his chest became blinding, spreading through his legs and arms and face to the point where, if he didn’t know better, Joe would’ve thought he was having a heart attack. Knees weak beneath him, he collapsed to the ground, sitting against the wall in near agony. Abby was one of his best friends, she was probably the best friend he had left, Rachel now feeling like something else entirely. Over a decade ago now they has sat beside each other in a dive bar in Dublin, both slightly more than tipsy, and told one another some of their darkest thoughts. It was the sort of stuff that Matt and Rachel wouldn’t have understood, not at the time anyway, and so she was really the first person he opened up to about his insecurities about his career, about his fear of relationships, about the parents he never met.

Now she thought he didn’t trust her. He would trust her with anything, and now she would never trust him again.

All Joe could do was shrug, muscles heavy under the weight of her hurt. “I didn’t want you to hate me.”

A heavy sigh left her mouth.

After a long pause in which she simply looked at him, her eyes burning a hole into the side of his head while he stared dejectedly at his shoes, she began shuffling her feet towards him, kicking the gloves along as she went. She tucked her feet under herself as she sat beside him, curled up like a wet kitten. Heat from her body radiated off her, warming his skin even as the frost hung in the air outside. Still dripping with sweat, she slowly made his arm damp where she pressed up next to it, his shoulder becoming heavy with moisture and her weight as she dropped her head onto him.

He breathed deeply, clenched his teeth to hold back the burst of relief building in his chest. Maybe they would be okay after all.

Slowly, he watched out the corner of his eye as a few stray tears trickled down her face. She trembled slightly as she sniffed, from exhaustion or exertion or emotion, he couldn’t tell. It took a couple of failed attempts for her to produce the words brewing on her lips, mouth opening and closing with only small gasps of syllables creeping out, like a fish out of water screaming for help.

“I miss him.”

Matt.

It would always come back to Matt.

“Me too.”

The pain in his chest intensified as her tears did, her face tucking into his neck as sobs clawed out of her throat and along his skin. Her trembling turned to shaking turned to heaving as she fought for breath, and Joe wrapped an arm around her quaking shoulders, pulling her in close and whispering apologies against her head.

Abby had spent years convinced that she was responsible for Matt’s disappearance, that it was her that let him and Rachel down, that his death was her cross to bear alone. Maybe Joe should’ve told her the truth years ago, should’ve relinquished her of her own guilt by confessing to his own. That Matt had only ever got involved with The Circle because of him, that Matthew Morgan would still be alive if it weren’t for Joe’s mistakes. Then maybe she would’ve let herself grieve a long time ago.

Selfishly, he had kept the truth from her anyway, too desperate to hold on to one of the few friends he had left.

He wasn’t sure how long they sat there on the barn floor. Long enough for his legs to go numb with disuse, long enough for the sweat on her skin to dry and leave her freezing cold, long enough for the first glow of light to begin shining through the window. Ignoring his own tears slipping down his cheeks, he continued holding her to his chest even as her cries eventually slowed, her body stilling against his as she sniffed and swallowed.

“You really should go back to the infirmary. If Rach goes to check on you and you’re not there, she’ll lose her mind.”

Once upon a time it would’ve been a joke, just another one of her attempts to tease him. Now though, they both knew the truth of it, that Rachel had lost far too many people over the years to not legitimately panic if one of them wasn’t where she expected them to be.

Easing her off his shoulder he nodded and stood up, holding a hand out to her to help to her own feet. The hand in question was black and blue and nearly twice it’s usual size, sweat and blood crusting together across the bones of it. “You should probably come too, get your knuckles patched up.”

“They’re fine.” He shot her a look as she wrinkled her nose in dismissal, the sternness he channeled from Rachel and the pleading he channeled from Matt making her roll her eyes in concession. “I’ll use the gloves from now on, promise.”

She probably hadn’t slept all night. Had probably worked out fifty frustrations on the punching bag before he arrived and a few more since. Now she slipped the gloves over her battered hands and moved to work out a few more. Something was definitely up with her, something more that Matt and him and Cammie, Joe just didn’t know what, didn’t know how to get her to tell him.

“Are you okay? I can stay.” He couldn’t really. The students would start waking up soon and he really couldn’t risk being seen by one of them, but it didn’t feel right to leave her in whatever state she had worked herself into. Maybe he should get Rachel after all.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll just call T- I’m fine.” Ah. He heard rumours about Abby and the MI6 agent who arrested him earlier in the year, mostly from Rachel but also from eavesdropping on Cammie and Macey’s gossiping. Part of him hadn’t believed it, couldn’t really picture Little Miss Spontaneous going crossed-eyed over a man as formal and stoic as Agent Townsend. The pink flush of embarrassment spreading across Abby's cheeks and down her neck proved him wrong. Grinning at her embarrassment, he could only chuckle as she grumbled under her breath and went back to attacking the bag. “Shut up.”

As happy as he was for her, as long as she was happy that is, he figured he owed Matt enough to dish out some overprotective threats. “Just remind him that I can definitely take him in a fight if need be.”

“Hmm, as long as when you’re with Rach you remember that I can easily beat you up.”

Normally, her jokes about him and Rachel would sour him, would make him defensive and indignant on her behalf even though Abby only had the best intentions. These past few weeks though, Rachel had begun to look at him, to hold his hand, to soothe her fingers across his hair, like they weren’t ever just jokes to begin with. Like she didn’t need any defending from her sister’s teasing. Like maybe they were leaning towards something more. Besides, he was too busy gulping in something like fear at the intensely protective look that had passed over Abby’s face, at the way the punching bag split as she slammed her fist into it, sand puddling to the floor as he tried to dodge her fiery eyes.

“Yes ma’am.”

———————————————————————

Authors note:

Joe and Rachel, the mature and emotionally intelligent older sister, have a really deep, meaningful conversation about exactly how far he went with the circle, why him and Matt chose not to tell her, and what his secrets mean for them almost as soon as he woke up. Abby, in a classic younger sibling move, is more upset and angry about being left out of the whole thing, avoids these feelings as long as she can, then has a small angry breakdown that involves hitting things. Very typical I think.

[unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin]

Hi can you do #19 on the Yandere list with Cash Wheeler please. Thank You

Butterfly

Prompt:“Don’t you know how dangerous it is outside?”

summary: you just wanted to show your daughter the world

warnings: Yandere!cash wheeler, being he’d hostage, mental abuse, mom!reader

taglist: @fiskers7136 @peachmango-kombucha @kcloveswrestling @bellalutionn @xkennyxomegax @tummyyellin @legit9thlunaticwarrior @auburnwrites @melissahausen @thesusbunny @writtingrose

You waited after Cash left the house. It was unlikely that he would show back up before tonight, but you wanted to be sure before doing it.

After an hour past, you went into your room and opened your jewelry box. After moving everything out of it you saw the small key. A key to the back door.

You had found it more then two months age, just laying in the floor of the hallway. You had recognized it immediately, picking it up with unsure hands. Was it a Test? Did he plant it there to see if you’d run? you had kept the key, hiding it but not doing anything with it. Every time Cash mentioned looking for something you mentally panicked, but it always ended up being something else.

“Abby?” You called out, holing the key tightly in your hand while walking into the living room. The five year old girl ran into the room, a smile on her face.

“Yes mama?”

“You know how we keep secrets from daddy?” You asked, sinking into your knees in front of her. She nodded, you had things hidden around the house, things that would help you when you finally tried to escape. “Well, we have to keep another secret from him. I’m going to show you something.”

You stood up, walking over the the back door. It had a window, but it was frosted over and you couldn’t see through it. Your hands were shaking as your put the key in the lock, and you almost sobbed when it turned and opened the door.

“Come here baby,” you whispered, taking her hand while opened the door the rest of the way.

“What’s that mama?”

“The world.”

You spent hours in the yard, showing your daughter everything. Trees, grass, sun, birds, everything. While playing you also got a baring of your surroundings. There were neighbors, but they all were to far away to know what was happening. It would be a long walk to whatever town was closest.

“Baby, we’ve got to go back in.”

“No.” She didn’t turn to look at you, continuing to play. You wished you could stay outside longer, but you’d have to wash both of your clothing and give Abby a bath to make sure there was no dirt in either of you.

“Come on,” you reached down to pull her into your arms. She immediately started screaming and kicking, trying to get away.

“I want to stay in the world!” She screamed as you carried her into the house. You made sure your feet were clean before walking in. You pushed the door closed, and locked the door. It broke your heart to lock you both back in, but you had too.

You practically wrestled Abby out of her clothing and into the bath. You hid the clothes, knowing you didn’t have time to wash them before Cash got home.

“Promis me,” You whispered as You redressed Abby. “Promis me you won’t tell daddy what we did today.”

“Why?”

“Daddy doesn’t want us in the world, he wants us in the house forever.” You explained to her. “If we tell him, I’ll never be able to take you out there again. Ok?”

She just looked at you for a moment before nodding. “Ok mama.” You kissed her forehead, hugging her close.

“Thank you baby.”

———————

“What’d you get up to today?” Cash asked, watching as you got ready for bed. Dinner had been relatively normal, Abby saying nothing about what had happened that day.

“Nothing much. Could you go to the store tomorrow? I thought about making cookies.” You finished your nightly routine and walked over to the bed where cash was sitting.

“I don’t know about that sweetheart. I might take tomorrow off.” Your town at that, Cash might take days off to make his weekend longer, but never in the middle of the week. “Look what I found.”

Your eyes widened when he pulled a jar from his nightstand. Inside was a small yellow…

“Butterfly?” You whispered, reaching forward to touch the jar, but he pulled it away.

“Ask me where I found it sweetheart?”

“Where did you Fine it?”

“The bathroom.” Your breath caught in your throat, knowing you had to play it off now.

“How did it get in?”

“Don’t bullshit me y/n,” he snapped, standing up to tower over you. “How the fuck, did you get outside?”

You were immediately shaking your head. “I-I didn��t!”

“Really? So why did Abby ask me why I don’t let you out ‘in the world’?” A tear slid down your face, knowing Abby had given you up. He reached up to grip your hair in his hand, pulling lightly.

“What fuck up do you think I’m more mad about? You going out side, or you telling my daughter to fucking lie to me?”

“Please! I’m sorry!” You begged, a Hand quickly flying over your mouth. He didn’t want Abby to hear.

“Don’t you know how dangerous it is outside? There are evil people everywhere, and you took our daughter out there!” He hissed in your face. “What happens if some phyco takes her?”

“Like you did to me?!” You whisper yelled. He paused for a moment, having not expected that from you. “The fuck did you just say to me?” You wish he had yelled, because his quiet, calm voice told you that you were completely fucked. “Come on.” He dragged you towards the closet, and you immediately started fighting him. It had been years since you’d been put in the crawl space because he hated you being away from Abby. But today, he needed to punish you.

“Knock it off,” He hissed, yanking the door open and then the small hatch on the floor. “Maybe some time I’m here will remind you just how lucky you are that I love you.” He shoved you into the hole, the force keeping you on your hands and knees long enough for him to close the hatch and push a large heavy box over it to lock you in.

You tired to push up on it, yelling, begging him to let you out, but you knew he wouldn’t. The area was small, you couldn’t sit up at all and you couldn’t stretch out, leaving you to curl into a ball. It smelt of moist mold, and everything was dirty. Even now you could feel a could of spiders moving around you. You let yourself sob at your predicament, the worst possible thought hitting you. If Abby told him about going outside, would she tell him about the other things? The money? Spare shoes? The gun? Everything you needed to get out, she knew about. And if she told, your entire plan was gone.

[foodandfolklore]

How Odin lost his eye

Art by Malevus

I found a book from 1906 that was a collection of already existing stories from other already published books. These stories were collected by Hamilton Wright Mabie in his book Myths Every Child should know. He wrote many books like this, for both adults and children. A collection of stories he felt everyone should be aware of. Pomes, Shakespeare, Fairytales, Culture; even Publishing a book about Japan in 1914, 2 years before his death.

I think he was fascinated by stories of old, as well as how it can shape cultures of today. While he didn't write these stories himself, he clearly wanted more people to know about these stories. So I thought I'd share one while I think many know, I still think it's important to share. This story can originally be found in In the days of Giants by Abbie Farwell Brown, 1902.

How Odin lost his eye

In the beginning of things, before there was any world or sun, moon, and stars, there were the giants; for these were the oldest creatures that ever breathed. They lived in Jotunheim, the land of frost and darkness, and their hearts were evil. Next came the gods, the good Æsir, who made earth and sky and sea, and who dwelt in Asgard, above the heavens. Then were created the queer little dwarfs, who lived underground in the caverns of the mountains, working at their mines of metal and precious stones. Last of all, the gods made men to dwell in Midgard, the good world that we know, between which and the glorious home of the Æsir stretched Bifröst, the bridge of rainbows.

In those days, folk say, there was a mighty ash tree named Yggdrasil, so vast that its branches shaded the whole earth and stretched up into heaven where the Æsir dwelt, while its roots sank far down below the lowest depth. In the branches of the big ash tree lived a queer family of creatures. First, there was a great eagle, who was wiser than any bird that ever lived—except the two ravens, Thought and Memory, who sat upon Father Odin's shoulders and told him the secrets which they learned in their flight over the wide world. Near the great eagle perched a hawk, and four antlered deer browsed among the buds of Yggdrasil. At the foot of the tree coiled a huge serpent, who was always gnawing hungrily at its roots, with a whole colony of little snakes to keep him company—so many that they could never be counted. The eagle at the top of the tree and the serpent at its foot were enemies, always saying hard things of each other. Between the two skipped up and down a little squirrel, a tale bearer and a gossip, who repeated each unkind remark and, like the malicious neighbour that he was, kept their quarrel ever fresh and green.

In one place at the roots of Yggdrasil was a fair fountain called the Urdar-well, where the three Norn maidens, who knew the past, present, and future, dwelt with their pets, the two white swans. This was magic water in the fountain, which the Norns sprinkled every day upon the giant tree to keep it green—water so sacred that everything which entered it became white as the film of an eggshell. Close beside this sacred well the Æsir had their council hall, to which they galloped every morning over the rainbow bridge.

But Father Odin, the king of all the Æsir, knew of another fountain more wonderful still; the two ravens whom he sent forth to bring him news had told him. This also was below the roots of Yggdrasil, in the spot where the sky and ocean met. Here for centuries and centuries the giant Mimer had sat keeping guard over his hidden well, in the bottom of which lay such a treasure of wisdom as was to be found nowhere else in the world. Every morning Mimer dipped his glittering horn Giöll into the fountain and drew out a draught of the wondrous water, which he drank to make him wise. Every day he grew wiser and wiser; and as this had been going on ever since the beginning of things, you can scarcely imagine how wise Mimer was.

Now it did not seem right to Father Odin that a giant should have all this wisdom to himself; for the giants were the enemies of the Æsir, and the wisdom which they had been hoarding for ages before the gods were made was generally used for evil purposes. Moreover, Odin longed and longed to become the wisest being in the world. So he resolved to win a draught from Mimer's well, if in any way that could be done.

One night, when the sun had set behind the mountains of Midgard, Odin put on his broad-brimmed hat and his striped cloak, and taking his famous staff in his hand, trudged down the long bridge to where it ended by Mimer's secret grotto.

"Good-day, Mimer," said Odin, entering; "I have come for a drink from your well."

The giant was sitting with his knees drawn up to his chin, his long white beard falling over his folded arms, and his head nodding; for Mimer was very old, and he often fell asleep while watching over his precious spring. He woke with a frown at Odin's words. "You want a drink from my well, do you?" he growled. "Hey! I let no one drink from my well."

"Nevertheless, you must let me have a draught from your glittering horn," insisted Odin, "and I will pay you for it."

"Oho, you will pay me for it, will you?" echoed Mimer, eyeing his visitor keenly. For now that he was wide awake, his wisdom taught him that this was no ordinary stranger. "What will you pay for a drink from my well, and why do you wish it so much?"

"I can see with my eyes all that goes on in heaven and upon earth," said Odin, "but I cannot see into the depths of ocean. I lack the hidden wisdom of the deep—the wit that lies at the bottom of your fountain. My ravens tell me many secrets; but I would know all. And as for payment, ask what you will, and I will pledge anything in return for the draught of wisdom."

Then Mimer's keen glance grew keener. "You are Odin, of the race of gods," he cried. "We giants are centuries older than you, and our wisdom which we have treasured during these ages, when we were the only creatures in all space, is a precious thing. If I grant you a draught from my well, you will become as one of us, a wise and dangerous enemy. It is a goodly price, Odin, which I shall demand for a boon so great."

Now Odin was growing impatient for the sparkling water. "Ask your price," he frowned. "I have promised that I will pay."

"What say you, then, to leaving one of those far-seeing eyes of yours at the bottom of my well?" asked Mimer, hoping that he would refuse the bargain. "This is the only payment I will take."

Odin hesitated. It was indeed a heavy price, and one that he could ill afford, for he was proud of his noble beauty. But he glanced at the magic fountain bubbling mysteriously in the shadow, and he knew that he must have the draught.

"Give me the glittering horn," he answered. "I pledge you my eye for a draught to the brim."

Very unwillingly Mimer filled the horn from the fountain of wisdom and handed it to Odin. "Drink, then," he said; "drink and grow wise. This hour is the beginning of trouble between your race and mine." And wise Mimer foretold the truth.

Odin thought merely of the wisdom which was to be his. He seized the horn eagerly, and emptied it without delay. From that moment he became wiser than anyone else in the world except Mimer himself.

Now he had the price to pay, which was not so pleasant. When he went away from the grotto, he left at the bottom of the dark pool one of his fiery eyes, which twinkled and winked up through the magic depths like the reflection of a star. This is how Odin lost his eye, and why from that day he was careful to pull his gray hat low over his face when he wanted to pass unnoticed. For by this oddity folk could easily recognise the wise lord of Asgard.

In the bright morning, when the sun rose over the mountains of Midgard, old Mimer drank from his bubbly well a draught of the wise water that flowed over Odin's pledge. Doing so, from his underground grotto he saw all that befell in heaven and on earth. So that he also was wiser by the bargain. Mimer seemed to have secured rather the best of it; for he lost nothing that he could not spare, while Odin lost what no man can well part with—one of the good windows wherethrough his heart looks out upon the world. But there was a sequel to these doings which made the balance swing down in Odin's favour.

Not long after this, the Æsir quarrelled with the Vanir, wild enemies of theirs, and there was a terrible battle. But in the end the two sides made peace; and to prove that they meant never to quarrel again, they exchanged hostages. The Vanir gave to the Æsir old Niörd the rich, the lord of the sea and the ocean wind, with his two children, Frey and Freia. This was indeed a gracious gift; for Freia was the most beautiful maid in the world, and her twin brother was almost as fair. To the Vanir in return Father Odin gave his own brother Hœnir. And with Hœnir he sent Mimer the wise, whom he took from his lonely well.

Now the Vanir made Hœnir their chief, thinking that he must be very wise because he was the brother of great Odin, who had lately become famous for his wisdom. They did not know the secret of Mimer's well, how the hoary old giant was far more wise than anyone who had not quaffed of the magic water. It is true that in the assemblies of the Vanir Hœnir gave excellent counsel. But this was because Mimer whispered in Hœnir's ear all the wisdom that he uttered. Witless Hœnir was quite helpless without his aid, and did not know what to do or say. Whenever Mimer was absent he would look nervous and frightened, and if folk questioned him he always answered:

"Yes, ah yes! Now go and consult someone else."

Of course the Vanir soon grew very angry at such silly answers from their chief, and presently they began to suspect the truth. "Odin has deceived us," they said. "He has sent us his foolish brother with a witch to tell him what to say. Ha! We will show him that we understand the trick." So they cut off poor old Mimer's head and sent it to Odin as a present.

The tales do not say what Odin thought of the gift. Perhaps he was glad that now there was no one in the whole world who could be called so wise as himself. Perhaps he was sorry for the danger into which he had thrust a poor old giant who had never done him any wrong, except to be a giant of the race which the Æsir hated. Perhaps he was a little ashamed of the trick which he had played the Vanir. Odin's new wisdom showed him how to prepare Mimer's head with herbs and charms, so that it stood up by itself quite naturally and seemed not dead. Thenceforth Odin kept it near him, and learned from it many useful secrets which it had not forgotten.

So in the end Odin fared better than the unhappy Mimer, whose worst fault was that he knew more than most folk. That is a dangerous fault, as others have found; though it is not one for which many of us need fear being punished.

[bunnys-bookshelf]

July hopefuls

Okay realistically, I can narrow this list down. Murder Your Employer and Midnight Sun will probably be DNF’s for now. Murder Your Employer I will definitely get back to eventually I’m just not feeling it right now and Midnight Sun -sigh- look, as much as I adore the Twilight Saga, I’ve DNF’ed this one 3 times now. Mainly because it’s been spoiled so many times, but I will finish it one day. Flawless is also looking like a DNF this month since I seem to be on more on a Fantasy/Dark Romance kick but I’ll be picking it back up later. So my hopefuls for July are:

A Court of Wings And Ruin-SJM

Her Soul To Take-Harley Laroux

Butcher and Blackbird-Brynne Weaver

Hunting Adeline-H.D. Carlton

The Mindfuck Series-S.T. Abby

Corrupt-Penelope Douglas

The Never King-Nikki St Crowe

A Court Of Frost And Starlight-SJM

[comfortcourt]

February Reading Wrap Up:

This months reading wrap up has been a strange one for sure, I did DNF a fair few books although as you can read below some books I should have DNFd instead of pushing through hoping for a miracle to happen.

All 20 books were from booktok and all are available on KU. Haven’t picked up a single physical book but that is the goal for March.

I did fall I love with a couple of books including Every Kiss You Steal, it had some very important topics in the book and honestly I just thought it was a really good read, it’s a standalone/interconnected series but I’ve only read this book so far in the series but you still get a gist of each character which is great.

I absolutely adored Wild Wicked Obsession which I couldn’t put down and have started to read it again because I think it’s just that good, I wasn’t expecting that plot twist near the end, definitely recommend. It’s also a standalone within an interconnected series within like another series? Layla Frost has her characters down, truly amazing I just wished Until Nox was longer it felt too short which is why I rated it 4⭐️

The majority of the 3 ⭐️ reviews are because I just “liked” them, they could have been improved but they weren’t “bad” reads & a few I’d read again because they were enjoyable but nothing to shout about?

- Logan, Samantha Whiskey | 3 ⭐️

- Sun Touched, Becky Moynihan | 3 ⭐️

- Our Preseason, S.C Kate | 2 ⭐️

- Final Score, Taylor James | 2 ⭐️

- Every Kiss You Steal, J.E Parker | 4 ⭐️

- Mile High, Liz Tomeforde | 4 ⭐️

- Her Vengeful King, A.N Staube | 3 ⭐️

- The sixty/forty rule, Ellie K. Wilde | 3 ⭐️

- Playing Hard To Get, Monica Murphy | 2 ⭐️

- Until Friday Night, Abbi Glines | 2 ⭐️

- Vital Blindside, Hannah Cowan | 3 ⭐️

- Quarterback sneak, Kandi Steiner | 4 ⭐️

- Chase and the girl who came back, Amber Davis | 1 ⭐️

- Controlled Chaos | 2 ⭐️

- Until Nox, Layla Frost | 4 ⭐️

- Finding Mayhem, Layla Frost | 4 ⭐️

- Wild wicked obsession, Layla Frost | 5 ⭐️

- Until August, Emery Rose | 4 ⭐️

- Mated To The Monster, Sarah Spade | 2 ⭐️

- The brightest light of sunshine, lisina Coney | 2 ⭐️

Let’s see what March brings us

[daffni-gingerich]

Why Not?

There’s a moment of time where clouds part way to allow the sun’s rays to peek through. Abby lines her plants up by the sliding glass door. She was searching everywhere for peanut butter, but she lost her appetite for it after finding cupcakes forgotten in a bag by the door. She holds two pink frosted cupcakes in her hand, a vanilla and a chocolate. “I have cupcakes!” She takes a bite of the…

[chaos-inu]

Legend of Frosts Sketches

[xxwhiskeyxx]

It’s All Because I Fell

Mountain and Reader have been friends for the last 3 years but have had feelings for the last 2 years (Mount) and 1 year (Reader), but the problem is that both believe that the other have a crush on different people. Mountain thinks Reader likes Swiss and Reader thinks Mountain likes Sister Harlow, both want the other to be happy so neither reveal their feelings. But the other ghouls and Harlow are getting annoyed by their longing sighs of how much they love each other and how much they talk about they talk about the other. So Swiss and Harlow come up with a plan to get these lovebirds together. ALSO, READER IS AFAB BUT IS REFERED TO AS THEY/THEM BECAUSE I’M A FOLLOWER AND IM INDULGING MYSELF

9k words

First Chapter: Mountain loves his Squirrel

Narrators POV: (Wednesday)

The sound of an alarm blaring through a room shocked (Y/N) from their dreams, groaning they roll over and shove their face into their pillow, hating the world and its societal expectations of making people work. Until they realized that today they are in the gardens with Harlow and Mountain, gathering and readying the crops for the soon-approaching summer. (Y/N) rolls out of bed and stretches with a groan when suddenly there is a knock at their door, “Who is it?”, (Y/N) asks as they stumble to the small bathroom attached to their courters, “It’s me, ya sexy bitch,” calls Harlow before she lets herself in knowing (Y/N) won’t care if she watches them get dressed since this has been their routine since they became friends in high school. In fact, (Y/N) was the one who got Harlow to join after they found out their favorite band in high school was in fact an actual band made of ghouls and that Papa Emeritus was in fact the head of the Church of Emeritus. “Can you grab my habit from the closest please LowLow?”, (Y/N) called from the bathroom, slightly garbled as they brushed their teeth, Harlow called back a yes as she grabbed one of the habits that (Y/N) used for gardening, the skirt and sleeves were slightly longer and had permanent stains and small holes due to the years of it being dragged through the literal mud and working in the beautiful, expansive garden that was Papa Primos pride and joy. (Y/N) finally emerged, drying their face as they tossed the towel into the basket. “Are you excited to work with your mannn,” Harlow teased, “I heard Primo say that he wants you two to work on getting the apples and peaches from the trees, since your the best climber and Mountain for..obvious reasons.” “Harlow! He is not “my man”, we both know he likes you, he’s always watching you at meal times and he asks you for help whenever we’re outside..” (Y/N) trails off, looking away slightly saddened by the thought as they dressed, making sure to pull on leggings underneath their habit as they would be climbing today and slipping on their combat boots. Harlow rolls thier eyes, (Y/N) thinks Mountain is looking at her because if their always next to each other, he is staring at the oblivious and insecure dumbass that is their best friend and he askes Harlow to help because he gets too nervous around (Y/N), especially when they have to be close when picking and tending the same section/plants. “Come on, your moving slower than Nihil at this point, we’re gonna be late. Also I will tell you this for the thousandth time, He likes YOU not me dumbass!” Harlow rolls her eyes as she pulls (Y/N) out of their room, sunshine pouring through the windows of the abby, frost still cripsing the grass and windows as they run towards the gardens, laughing and giggling between each other.

Mountains POV:

I hear the approach giggles of Harlow and (Y/N) before I see them, I stand up from the tomato plant I was fixing after it had gotten battered by the winds of last night small storm. Turning towards the sound, I set my gaze onto (Y/N), taking in their beauty as the morning sun settles on their laughing face. ‘I wish that I could tell them, but it’s useless compared to Swiss; I’m quiet, hes the people person, I prefer to be alone with just Rain and (Y/N), he knows how to make people laugh and draw in a crowd, he also isn’t 8 feet tall when unglamored and could possibly hurt them.’ “Mou…Mount? MOUNTAIN!?” I’m drawn out of my thoughts by (Y/N) shaking my arm and Harlow yelling my name, “You good buddy? Seems like you were lost in ya head for a mintue there.” (Y/N) teased as Harlow makes her way over to Primo to get her instructions for the day since he had to leave before she could get hers yesterday. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine, just a little tired after having to calm Dew’s tantrum last night.” I groan out, rubbing my face at the memory, “Oh no what happened”, (Y/N) laughs, knowing how hot the gremlins temper runs, especially after doing his least favorite chore of cleaning the animal pens that the Ministry kept and doing the kitchen inventory, let alone back to back on the same day. “Swiss and Aether were teasing him about stinking and being bad at counting because he was complaining about inventory taking so long cause he had to keep recounting after missing a jar or bag, had to drag him off Aether while Rain was trying to calm him with his ability cause I had to focus on keeping him from killing the other idiots. We were holed up in Rains room just holding him, and then..ya know how Dew gets after he gets mad.” I flush at the memory of the needy fire ghoul whining for more as Rain and I ruined him. (Y/N) also blushes at the described pairing, having had to help out Dew after a temper tantrum when Mountain was away due to Dew’s habit of basically turning into a puppy when (Y/N) is around, they have him practically eating out of their hand when it comes to calming him down, its like watching a miracle at work whenever they get called to help calm the resident gremlin. “So, you ready to get the apples and stuff from the trees?” I ask as we walk to where the baskets are kept, “Yeah, I love having an excuse to climb the trees without Sister getting onto me for not having shoes on and acting “Heathen like”, which we literally live in a church dedicated to worshipping Satan? Isn’t it good I’m a heath?”, we laugh together as we reroute towards the small orchard in the corner of the garden. Which while it is small, only about 20 trees, it’ll still take us till around noon to get even halfway done. We make small talk, this is one of the times I am grateful for having to wear the mask as it help hide the blush they brought to my cheeks as we make our way over. Stopping at the first tree, I decide they can have it, “Do you want a boost to branches closer to the top?”, I look down to gage their reaction being in my half-glamored state I am only 7’3 but have my tail, claws, and horns, which is of course hidden by my mask. We have to wear them outside of the ghoul dorms, even around siblings that know/have permission to know what we look like because others who don’t may see. Not everyone is keen to seeing fangs, horns, and grey skin in the face even though they know we’re here, stupid rule I know, but we gotta keep sister happy, thankfully she didn’t mind if we wore our older maskes as she understood that it was hard to see through the bug masks so I was wearing the last eras silver mask as it was easier to breath in and wasn’t suffocating. “Nah, it’s not to far up, I can make it myself. Thanks though, Mounty.” They decline with a small smile as they take off their shoes and are almost instantly up the tree, like a squirrel. I chuckle to myself, watching them shimmy and scamper across the branches with the rodents they mirror, before turning to the next tree and unglamoring fully to give myself extra height to make it easier to gather the fruit between the branches without having to climb till I have to check the tops.

Timeskip

By noon we had finished 9 trees each, I had just finished up my 9th tree when I heard the bell tolling calling siblings and ghouls alike to lunch. I turn and go to find (Y/N), walking towards the line of trees they had been working on when I had last looked. Looking up into the branches, I see no hint of their black habit, while also trying to accidentally look up the skirt of their assigned uniform, when all of a sudden, I hear rustling from above me, and before I could look up, I feel a thunk on my head and hear a familiar giggle. Glancing for what had hit me, I spy an apple before I peer into the branches above for the source of the giggle, I catch a glimpse of (Y/N) sitting on a branch, about 6 feet above me, covering their mouth to hide their laughter and holding a second apple. But before they could throw it, I see them wobble and loose their balance on the branch. My eyes widen as they sudden fall, “(Y/N)!”, they scream as I try to get under them to catch them. They land solidly ontop of me, knocking us to the ground from the force.

(Y/N) POV

I had finished the last of the apples from this tree when I heard the lunch bell toiling from the church, I lowered my basket to the ground as I looked up searching for Mountain. I see him setting his basket down when I get a sneaky idea, quietly and quickly climbing back up the tree with two small apples I wait for him to come looking for me since he never leaves without making sure both me and Harlow go to lunch with him as I had a habit of sometimes skipping lunch to finish my work. I make it a couple feet up and settle on a branch, since I had to make sure I wasn’t at eye level to make sure my plan works, I felt a little unstable because this branch was slightly thinner but I haven’t fallen yet so I just shift my weight and grip the branch a little tigher with my legs. I wait for him to walk under the tree before dropping the apple, giggling at the cartoonish thunk of the apple and the surpised confusion on his face as he looked up. I go to drop the second apple but I guess I leaned to far to the side but I wouldn’t know because all of a sudden I felt myself slipping and before I could right myself, I was plummeting to the ground and a scream escapes my throat. I hear Mountain scream my name as I feel arms suddenly grapple me and we’re sent to the ground. We both groan as the air was knocked from our lungs as we hit the ground, I come to my sense a bit faster than Mountain and without thinking of the position we were in, I scramble up and cup his face, “Mount are you okay?!”, I ask scared I hurt him, “Am I okay?! Are you okay?!”, he sits up and copies my movement, checking me all over for any sign of injury. This is when I realize our compromising position, I was straddling his lap with our faces inches apart, my face flushes bright red all the way to the tips of my ears. He seems to realize it as well after he determined I didn’t seem harmed. “Ye..yeah I’m okay, just a little star..startled, might ha..have a bruise or two later..,” I stutter out as I watch the exposed part of his grey face and top of his chest where it peaks out of his slightly unbuttoned shirt flush a dark green, his forest green eyes wide through the silver mask. We were so close I could make out the flecks of gold and brown in each one, our hands not moving from their places as we sit frozen in place, I see his eyes seemingly flick down to my lips and it looked as if he was contemplating something when we heard the concerned shout from Harlow and Primo. I scramble off of Mountain as the shouts got closer and rush towards them with a slight limp that I chose to ignore, too embarressed to turn to check if the tall ghoul was following, “Over here!”, I call as I reach Harlow. She just about throws herself at me, I grunt in pain at the sudden added weight to my injured leg, the ginger girl pulls back from the hug, holding onto my shoulders, “What happened, we heard you scream?!”, Primo had caught up by now, “I was trying to pull a prank on Mountain by dropping apples on his head but I lost my balance and fell, he caught me but I think I landed wrong on my leg but I didn’t feel it until I got up.” I say, skipping over the moment that was held between me and the Earth Ghoul just moments before. “That is surprising that you fell little one, you are are our resident squirrel,” Primo teased as a way to help me feel better, “Never thought I would live to see the day you managed to fall, always scurrying along those branches like you belong in them.” I let out a small laugh, “Neither did I, but I guess I just chose the wrong branch today.” I wince after finishing the sentence as I accidentally leaned on my injured leg, “Harlow you go check on Mountain, I will take our injured squirrel to the infirmary to ensure nothing to broken.” Harlow clearly could tell I was tense and embarrassed about something and wanted to be the one to take me but simply nodded, knowing that there is no use arguing with the eldest Emeritus brother, and took off towards where Mountain was still sitting. “Now my dear, lets get you checked up and some food into you, I know you and Sister Harlow came out without eating again.” Primo offered his arm to me as we made our way to the church, slightly slower than usual due to my injured leg. But as we made our way to the church, I couldn’t help but be slightly sadden by the fact that Mountain would be taken care of by the one who he clearly had feelings for.

Timeskip

I had left the infirmary after they checked me out, I had a sprained ankle due to how I fell on my leg. All they could do for me is tell me is take the day off tomorrow and ice my ankle tonight, and, of course, be more careful when climbing next time since they knew I wouldn’t stop climbing. They had called Swiss to help me back to my room and to make sure I didn’t try to go back out and stubbornly keep trying to help in the garden since I had a tendancy to push myself to make sure I help Primo as much as possible and assist in keeping the gardens in the best shape possible, even if it went against me. We were currently in his room since it was closest to the medical wing, he had grabbed a bag of ice from the nurse to place on my leg after I layed down on his bed, we were curled up together watching South Park, Swiss’ mask being long discarded on his desk. We had started it one night when we were high as kites with Mountain and Dew for shits and giggles, but we deicded it was now our show to just throw on whenever we were hanging out because we could ignore it or watch it, but we always made sure to yell out, “You killed Kenny, You bastards!”, in time with Stan and Kyle, even if it interrupted conversation even to the annoyance or confusion of others in the room. I was lazily playing with Swiss’ claws and fingers, knowing not to mess with his tail which was wrapped around my waist contently flicking every so often, and staring at the screen as he scrolled through some random social media site with his free hand. “Swiss..”, all I get is a half minded hum of acknowledgement, “Am I stupid for liking him?”, I mumble, looking away from the screen and blinking my eyes to discourage the tears that want to fall. We had spotted Harlow and Mountain hugging in the hallway as we were making our way to the ghoul dorms, “Thank you for making sure I was okay, I’ll be fine nothings broken.”, was all I had heard before Swiss pulled me away, knowing I would be upset. This is part of the reason he had turned on the stupid adult cartoon, as it had slowly become a comfort show for us that we watched whenever one of us had a bad day and just wanted to spend time with each other, sometimes with addition of the other ghouls, mostly Dew, Harlow, and Sunshine and sometimes Mount or Rain since they didn’t care much for the show but enjoyed it enough that they’ll watch it with us in a ghoul pile, Aether and the other two Ghoulettes prefer to not watch it and usually request for a different show whenever they join. “Oh sweetheart no, he’s the idiot for not realizing the best person he could ever have is pining for him like a schoolgirl,” Swiss teases me while trying to comfort me, I laugh weakly and half-heartedly slap his chest, “I do not pine for him you ass!”, “Yeah yeah, says the one who stares longingly after him like a puppy and always jumps for the chance to have a smoke sesh if I suggest inviting him.” he retorts, grabbing my hand to defend himself from any more attacks before tilting my chin up, so I am looking him in the eye, “But seriously, he’s the dumbass here. I love Harlow to death, but you are the most beautiful, caring, selfless, stubborn, smartest…what’s another nice thing,” he pauses for a moment to think before looking at me with the most sincere look I have ever seen him give me, “(Y/N), Your the closest thing to a fallen angel in this Abbey, anyone would be lucky to have you. Hell I’d snatch yo-”, he was cut off by a sudden knock at the door, “Who is it?”, he calls, “It’s me”, I tense at Mountains voice, he almost sounds…sad? ‘Why would he be sad?’, I wonder to myself as Swiss gets up and opens the door, I try to make myself as small as possible as to not be noticed by the lanky ghoul who was talking to Swiss. They talk for a mintue before Swiss bids him goodbye and shuts the door, turning around revealing my combat boots, ‘Fuck I had left them in my hurry to get away, I should’ve grabbed instead of making him bring them to me..’, I’m quickly knocked out of thought when Swiss jumps back on the bed, “He said that you forgot your boots after you fell, apparently he cleaned them for you since they got covered in leaves and looked like you had walked through mud this morning.” he says, handing the now shiny, almost new looking boots to me as my eyes widen noticing a small squirrel embroidery on the side of each boot, not big enough to be noticeable but also simple enough that I could clean the boots without worrying about ruining it. I haven’t felt the need to polish them in awhile cause of how often I wear them in the gardens since they are so comfortable and have a steel toe, which helps when I drop sharp tools and heavy rocks onto my feet when I’m working in the flower garden, why did he do that? “Earth to (Y/N), you there space cadet?”, Swiss is waving his hand in front of my face, I glance up to him, “I’m sorry, was just thinking about how their just going to get dirty as soon as I’m back in the garden, he didn’t have to do that.” I babble out nervously, Swiss just rolls his eyes as a grin spreads across his face, “So Sweetness, you staying here for tonight or do you wanna go back to your room?”, he questions as he lies out across my lap, not unlike a cat who clearly doesn’t want the person to move, I chuckle and brush the curls that had fallen onto his forehead back as I contemplate,”Hmmm so my choices are either go back to my cold, boring dorm with a tiny bathroom or stay here with a my warm best friend who clearly doesn’t want me to leave and has a much bigger, nicer bathroom? I wonder what my choice shall be.” I mockingly tap my chin in fake thought before I sprawl backwards and make myself comfortable as I set the boots on the floor next to the bed and text Harlow to get her ass to Swiss room to get the tea. Just because Mountain loves her and not me doesn’t mean she’s not one of my best friends, I wanna fill her in about what happened in case Mountain didn’t, which of course he didn’t why would he, and to see what happened when she helped him.

Mountains POV:

Harlow had helped me back inside after (Y/N) had ran off, ‘I am such a fucking idiot, what was I thinking.” I say to myself as I walk back to my room after Harlow gave me a hug as I thanked her for checking on me, going into my bathroom once I closed my door and removed the silver mask from my head. Plopping the forgotten boots in the shower before hosing off the caked on mud and polishing up the boots as a peace offering, hoping that this would possibly help the awkwardness of what happened today, a slight peace-offering if you will. I know that they are in Swiss’ room since I heard South Park playing as I was walking past the multi-ghouls door and heard them do the iconic Kenny death sayings, chuckling softly to myself as I usually do whenever I catch them doing that, even if it makes the my heart twinge a bit at the thought that they are growing closer. I made my way over the Swiss’ room once he finished his project, the squirrel had been an after thought but thought that (Y/N) would enjoy it as it had become their unofficial nickname, Aether had even teased that if (Y/N) was a Ghoul that it would be their name. But before I went to knock, I heard Swiss talking to (Y/N), feeling a tad nosy for once I listen in, “You are the most beautiful, caring, selfless, stubborn, smartest…what’s another nice thing,” there is a slight pause and I hold my breath with a sinking feeling in my gut to what I expect him to say, “(Y/N), Your the closest thing to a fallen angel in this Abbey, anyone would be lucky to have you. Hell I’d snatch yo-”, unable to continue listening I quickly knock on the door, clutching the boots in my shaking hands as I hear them stop and Swiss call, “Who is it?”, “It’s me..”, I can hear some shuffling which I’m sure is Swiss getting off the bed and traversing the mess of his room, South Park still droning in the background as he opens the door with a surprised look, I hold out the boots, mumbling, “(Y/N) left these in the orchard today after they fell, I noticed they were dirty and thought I’d clean the boots for them so they wouldn’t have worry about it with their leg messed up..”, Swiss smiles up at me, “Thanks man, I’m sure they’ll appreciate the gesture. They told me everything that happened, I know Harlow checked you but you good?” he questions with a slight grin, knowing I have feelings for (Y/N) which I flush at the underlying question he is hinting at, “Ye..yeah! I’m fine, no..nothing happened. I’m sure (Y/N) told you how I stared at them and creeped them out,” I laugh nervously, “Dude you need to grow some even bigger balls, if thats possible, and tell them, they are fucking in love with you dumbass.” He playfully punches my arm as I flush even brighter, I glance over his head and see (Y/N) curled up in his bed and while they look comfy, they smell..nervous? I quickly look back to Swiss to see nonchalant but thinking, ‘Why would they be nervous, probably cause I interrupted the love confession she has been waiting for, I don’t know what Swiss means it’s so obvious they love him, why the hell would they like a 8 foot freak..’, I quickly lock away that intrusive thought before I can spiral, I don’t need that right now, I focus back as Swiss is saying bye. To which I reply and walk the few feet down the hall to my room before I shut myself inside it, leaning against the door with a sigh as I rub down my face. I turn on the small tv and flip to a random music channel to listen to while I read and decompress for the rest of the night, if I spend anymore time thinking about this I will just spiral and that is never good.

Timeskip: 2 days later (Friday)

Harlows POV:

Okay I’m officially tired of these two being so god damn oblivious, I text Swiss to meet me in the library after I finished a second awkward day in the gardens with Mountain and (Y/N), they would nervously laugh and try to talk before either leaving awkward silence or turning to me for my input. “Swissy we need to get these two dumbasses together before we die from an overdose of Pining from both sides, (Y/N) keeps talking about what they think I think Mountain was thinking when they almost kissed 2 days ago, or the Squirrel he embroidered into their boots, which by the way is so adorable!” I rant to the smilely ghoul who groans in agreement, earning a hush from the librarian who he gives a sheepish smile of apology before turning back to me, “Your telling me, Mount has been either locked in his listening to he insisted is not angsty folks music about past loves and other sappy shit or he’s in the common room sighing and talking about how he’s an idiot for what happened after I got him to crack and tell me what happened, which of course I already knew from (Y/N)!”, he finished his rant with a dramatic face rub that pulls the bottoms of his eyes down slightly revel the whites of his glamored eyes, the normally black sclara hidden behind the glamore, the head librarian didn’t care if the ghouls had their masks on or not since she has been amongst the clergy for so many years, even longer than Imperator, seeing so many ghouls faces throughout the years that she doesn’t care and says that “Everyone has the right to be comfortable when reading and researching,” and Seestor knows better than to arguement wiht the old woman, so she just had a sign that warned siblings that they could possibly see unmasked ghouls so tread lightly be put outside the library. “I say the only way to make them believe what we have been telling them is to force it to happen,” I say as I think of a plan, “I heavily doubt we could get either to actually confess to the other, they refuse to believe the other likes them. Mount is convinced (Y/N) likes me and (Y/N) thinks Mount likes you!”, Swiss exclaims, earning another hush from the librarian, giving him the ‘I’m watching you’ look as he gives another sheepish apologetic smile before trying to think of a way to achieve their goal. “I know, I have an idea but I don’t know if it would work,” I say after a few minutes of thinking, “Well spit it out woman?”, Swiss says leaning forward excitedly, “Well what if we threw a party and forced the two in a closet for seven minutes in heaven? I’ve seen it work in movies and in fanfics I’ve read, it’s dumb but it could work!” I suggest, “I’m not sure but it could be worth a sho-, OW”, Swiss is cut off from his agreement by the head librarian smacking him on the head with a thick book, “You two are terrible at matchmaking, I have seen those two, the Giant Earth ghoul and the little gremlin who is always climbing my shelves to reach the books they can’t reach even though I have told them a thousand times to use the step stools and ladders,” she rolls her eyes, “If I can tell anything about them from what they’ve checked out and my experience as a mother and grandmother, they would absolutely not “confess” to each other in whatever enclosed space you shove them, they would sit there awkwardly till it was done.”, Her russian accent acentuating shame filled stare at how they expected their two awkward friends to suddenly profess their love like their in some fanfiction written by a whatever-teen year old on the internet at 3am, in a closet during a party of all places. “You said that they each think the other likes one of you right? What me and a friend did in our younger days to have a little drama and fun, was get details about the person one of us like and see if they liked us back, if they did then we had the other “confess”, she makes quotation marks with her fingers for the word confess, “to the person while the other was around the corner, then whenever the person would, usually of course unless they were a prick and just wanted a hook-up, apologize and say they actually had feelings for the one who was waiting around the corner, we’d come out with a big todo about if they really mean it and botabing, ya gotcha man.” She finished her story was a small smirk at the memories, “You two need to decide between the two of you whose gonna be the “confessor”,”she makes the quotation marks again, “And whose going to bring the other person to listen, of course you gotta make it seem believable so set up a place where you would easily hide and can hear, I’d suggest the courtyard at around 10pm, as theres a lot of shadows to hide in and not many siblings muddling about, and it is also quite beautiful at night, perfect for love confessions. That is if you wanna take the advice of an old lady.” She finishes with a wink and smirk as she goes to return to her desk but stops short, “That is if you wanna take the advice of an old lady.“ before returning to her desk as the the ghoul and girl sit with their mouths dropped comically in shock, they look at each other and back at the librarian before they begin to conspire using the head librarians advice.

Timeskip to just before 10pm

Narrators POV:

The conniving duo had perfected their plan about 2 hours after the head librarian gave her advice, they decided that Harlow would be the one to “confess” Mountain, knowing that even though it was fake, he’d be more easily convinced than (Y/N) since they would believe Swiss was just doing it as a joke or a way to make them feel better. Harlow have a note to Mountain saying to meet her in the courtyard at 10pm, knowing the ghouls punctuality was only rivaled by Papa Primo and Copia, while Swiss would get (Y/N) to follow him saying they were gonna snag snacks from the kitchen and have a small party in his room with just the two of them to make them feel better after a shitty week, the shortcut to which just so happens conviently cross through the courtyard, they would hopefully get there right as Harlow is finishing her fake confession so (Y/N) would hear Mountain say he actually loved them. Harlow had just texted Swiss that she was in the courtyard and she could hear what she believed to be Mountain coming so they should start coming. But they couldn’t plan forwhat happened next.

Readers POV:

Swiss had texted me earlier to come to his room around 9:45 because he had surprise for me, I had finished my chores earlier than normal since Primo, even when I insisted that my leg did indeed feel better and was no longer hurting me, didn’t have me working on as much stuff as I typically did. He insists that I have been working so hard and I deserve a little break to ensure I don’t irritate my ankle, I guess the old Papa was scared by what happened more than he let on. Today, I was instructed to simply tend to the small flower beds; weeding, water, adding fertilizer, and the like. Then making sure the greenhouse plants, including the sick ones Primo and Mountain healed for the people of the Abbey, had enough water and if they seemed well enough to call the number on the small piece of paper attached to their respected pot and ensure the owner was returned their greenery. It was simple work that didn’t involve much heavy lifting other than the bags of fertizlier but Mountain always seemed to appear right as I was about to move the heavy bags of plant food and insisted to help, hauling the bag wherever I directed, sometimes to try and ease the awkwardness that had grown from the incident, I would jokingly fully instruct him how to hold, carry, and set down the bag, I once led him basically all the way around the garden before looping back to the bed of Tulips and Dragonsnaps near the greenhouse we started. To which the large earth ghoul playfully growled and chased me until he easily grabbed me, flipped his mask off his face, and proceeded to rub his sweaty face on my shoulders and face as I giggled and pushed his face away by his horns until he relented. It felt like everything had gone back to normal. Even though I still had strong feelings for him, I had accepted that he loved Harlow and I appreciated our friendship and would take what I was given, no matter if it hurt. I texted Swiss back a thumbs up to acknowledge that I’d seen his text and checked the time, it was about 6:30, so I had time to run back to my dorm. Once I had reached my door and gotten inside, I decided to take a quick shower to wash the sweat that belonged to both me and Mountain off myself and change my clothes, taking my time in the shower, I had put my phone on charge and connected it to the small waterproof speaker I kept in my shower so I could listen to music, using my fancy body wash, the one I use when I feel like pampering myself because it smelled amazing and was kinda pricy, before washing my hair and falling into my urge to shave, I usually don’t care about body hair but I also love the feeling of smooth legs. By the time I finished my shower it was around 8, I guess I really took my time, I decided to wear some comfy black shorts and a oversized t-shirt I had gotten from Aether the last time we had a impromptu sleepover in his room with Swiss and Dew after a night of drinking, the Quintessence ghoul had offered one of his shirts after Dew had stolen mine in a game of strip poker and was drunkenly cuddling and refused to give it back because he apparently “missed me and my scent is comforting”, I can’t say no to the whiny fire ghoul especially when he says such adorable things so he still has possession over my shirt, though I suspect it will be returned to me within the next few days when my smell has finally been replaced with the fire ghouls. I comb through my wet hair, leaving it smooth, before blow drying as I hate the feeling of wet hair on my face and neck, once it was dry I just brushed it back and looked at myself in the mirror, gazing over my (color) (length) hair, (color) eyes, and (skintone) skin, unconsciously comparing myself to Harlow. Her long silky red hair is something that has caught the eye of many clergy members, her fox-like brown eyes that always held a hint of mischief, and her pale, ivory skin that shines like sunlight on snow, though she used to have horrible acne back in high school when we originally met. She was always the one boys and girls alike went after, I was the one they would sometimes use to get to her, always asking if she was single or what her number is. Always the friend left ignored by others no matter how much Harlow tried to include me, ignoring people as they attempted to woo her but refused to tolerate them ignoring or using her best friend. That is the reason I love her but I still feel so plain and boring next to her, she is like a goddess among men. ‘No wonder Mountain fell for her’, I sigh as I check my phone, “Shit!”, in my self-loathing time seemed have sped by and it is 9:30, it only takes about 5 minutes to get to Swiss’ and he won’t care if I’m late, but he seemed kinda adamant that I be there by 9:45, so I slip some socks and slides so I don’t have to walk on the cold wood that covered the abbey floor and cause I have no clue what Swiss has planned, knowing him a surprise could be anything from a him giving me a Magic Mike esc lap dance because I was sad someone said something rude to me, to him having seemingly raided a liquor store of its entire stock and is throwing a ghoul party, or as simple as just he had grabbed some cool snacks on tour that he wanted to try with me. Though the best surprise so far had been when he had somehow tied down Dew and coaxed him into being our good boy for a night, I am no virgin, but of the ghouls I’ve slept with only Swiss, Rain, and Dew, the last two started cause of my involvement in calming Dew but every so often Rain will come knocking on my door asking for help with his heat and that leads to either one of two Rains, Top Rain who doesn’t stop until your crying and legitmently can’t cum anymore or Soft, Bottom Rain who cries for Mommy to use him and break him, both of which are always fun. Okay (Y/N), lets not get horny. I make it to Swiss’ door by 9:42 and knock on his door, I hear him curse and fall over something before he finally opens the door, shirtless and chest heaving as he ushers me inside. I take in his appearance, black joggers with blue socks that are covered in little smiling suns, obviously a gift from the sunny ghoulette down the hall. “You good man? You look like you just saw your mom naked or something,” I laugh at Swiss’ frazzled state as he is searching for a shirt, I eye a red muscle tee that he frequently wears during the summer months on weekends when we go to the beach or lake or sometimes just lounging in the ghoul den. I grab it and give a quick sniff test as you can never know with Swiss, I have to help organize his room again since it’s been a few months since the last deep clean we did, “Swissy here,”, is the only warning he gets before the red tee is launched at him and promptly gets stuck on his horns. I laugh even harder as he grabs it off and flips me the bird as he pulls it, “Now, you told me to be here at 9:45, what’s the surpise?”, I ask as he checks his phone after it went off, “Who is it?”,”Jus Dew telling me that him and Aeth managed to convince that brother whose been flirting with Aeth for the last week to a threesome,” (Slight narrator check in: This isn’t a lie, Dew did actually text him this earlier but the text he just checked was actually from Harlow. That is all, keep reading whores <3), “Cool, he’s cute but he ain’t gonna be walking for the next few days,” I laugh, “Now the surprise dumbass,”, “Oh yeah, we’re doing a sleepover and raiding the kitchen for snacks before doing an all night movie marathon and possibly finishing South Park for the 2nd time if you want. Now move it Squirrel, move that tail!” He says as he just about drags me down the hall, using the shortcut we’ve used for years at this point. As we neared the court yard to sneak into the hallway that leads to the back entrence of the kitchens I start hearing voices, as we get closer I recognize it to be Harlows but I can’t exactly understand what she’s saying yet till suddenly Swiss pulls me close to him, pushing his finger to his mouth to signal to be quiet, I nod and we peek around the corner, this is when my heart drops cold to my stomach. Harlow is….confessing her love to Mountain. I feel tears welling up in my eyes as I choke out a sob, trying hard to be silent but it’s clear Mountain heard it as his head perks up from where it looked like he was adamantly watching Harlow. I can’t stand to continue hearing this and I don’t care if they hear me, I allow the tears to flow and sobs erupt from my throat. Swiss is panicking, trying to shush me and hug me but I push away from him, trying to run when I suddenly hear Mountains voice, “(Y/N)?...”, I freeze and see that Harlow and Mountain had moved slightly and can clearly see us, I break out of Swiss’ hold and run. I don’t know where, but I have to get away from this. I thought I could handle this but turns out I can’t. I slowly stop running after what feels like hours but in reality was only a few minutes, I’m in the garden. The moon is shining down on me as tears continue to fall down my cheeks, I make my face through the flower garden to the large Oak tree that I always love to climb up and sit in on my days off and weekends, reading by myself with earbuds playing music or talking with the ghouls and Harlow as we just laze around for the day in the warm sun surronded by flowers and nature. I climb to my favorite spot, a little nook of two branches the split off just from the trunk that form a perfect little nest almost, where I then sit curled in on myself and let the tears flow. ‘I never thought it would actually happen…but I guess this is what is going to be the normal, I’ll apologize tomorrow and congradulate them. Their perfect for each other..’

Mountains POV

Harlow had asked me to meet her in the courtyard at 10 tonight, I wonder why. We’re friends but she’s never singled me out personally like this other than asking for help in the gardens or sometimes in the library if we’re in there at the same time to reach books on the top shelves. Life had just seemed to get back to normal too, (Y/N) and I had joked around like we usually do, they forced me around damn near entire flower portion of the garden till they revealed the spot the fertilzer was going was right next to where we started, those bags aren’t too heavy but their awkward, especially because they had insisted that I had to carry it like a toddler? As soon as they brought us back to where we started and said, “Oh actually it was right here all along,”,with a shit-eating grin, I dropped the fertilizer with a playful growl and they immediately took off. I let them get a little ahead before I followed, almost immediatly catching them due to my much longer legs and decided their deserved punishment was me rubbing the sweat that had collected on my face under my mask from carryinf the heavy bag so far all over their face and shoulders as they pushed me away giggling, hands on my unglamored large, ram-like horns as a grip. It felt normal and I thought everything was going to become like it was, I don’t care if Swiss askes them out or at least I don’t think I do? I had been in the middle of thinking about this when Harlow had come up to me and handed me a note before scurrying away, I opened the note with a raised brow of confusion but figured maybe it was just something about (Y/N)? I know she’s heard me talking with Swiss about (Y/N) and I figure maybe she knows something is going on between them and wants me to know so I don’t have to see it without warning. What I certainly didn’t expect was her to…confess her love for me? It was weird and I was standing there awkwardly waiting for her to finish when I heard quiet footsteps approaching, I assumed it was probably siblings or possibly Dew sneaking to the kitchen and were about to hear a rejection when I suddenly heard a sob, a sob that very much so sounded like (Y/N). Harlow had heard it too and we peeked around the corner, I see Swiss trying to seemingly comfort a crying (Y/N) who was squirming in his grasp, “(Y/N)?..”, but before I could say anything they broke free and were running away. I was about to go after them when Harlow stopped me with a hand on my wrist, “I’m so sorry big guy, this wasn’t how this was supposed to go.”, this both intrigued me and infuriated me, why was she stopping me from trying to go after (Y/N). “Mount before you go after them we just want you to know that what Harlow was saying wasn’t true, the head librarian gave us an idea of how to show you two that we were telling the truth and you truly loved one another, but all what was supposed to happen was we get here right as Harlow finished and you’d of course tell her sorry but you love (Y/N) blah blah blah, happy couple, we’re the bestest friends ever, The End. I am so sorry buddy, go show them the truth.”, what Swiss didn’t think I’d notice is the smell of sadness and slightly jealously coming off of him, but we’d deal with that later. (Y/N) is my priority now. I take after the way they ran, following their scent to the gardens, towards the tree that they always love.

Readers POV:

I have no clue how long I have been here, just letting myself cry when all of a sudden I hear rapid footsteps approaching. I quickly try to silence my tears as they get closer, it’s Mountain? Why is he here? Shouldn’t he be with Harlow, I mean she just confessed to him shouldn’t they be celebrating, I expected Swiss to come after me but not Mount. He’s looking around, looks like he’s trying to catch my scent again. I know how powerful those ghoul noses are, their better than bloodhounds if Dew’s ability to sniff out whenever someone’s horny and where Cirrus tries to hide the takis whenever she buys them for herself has proven anything. I knew he’d find me eventually, probably knows where I am now and is either letting me have a chance to come out myself or give me a moment to calm down. But he looks more…frantic, almost scared for someone who has just gotten in a relationship, he eventually stops in front of my tree, “(Y/N)? I know your up there, can you please come down so we can talk,”, he sounds..desperate. “Ye..yeah gimme a minute,” I sniffle as I slowly lower myself to the ground but before I could even reach the grass I am pulled into a tight hug by the Earth ghoul, his head tucked into my neck as he mumbles out apology after apology, begging for my forgiveness for not believing Swiss and Harlow, for letting his self-doubt keep him from seeing the truth. All I can do is hug him back in shock, ‘What the hell is he on about, Harlow just confessed to him that she loved him, isn’t that what he wanted?’, “Mount? Mounty, hey calm down. Why are you sorry?”, I ask as I quietly shush him now apologetic babbling, “I heard Harlow, I thought you loved her? Why are you here?”, I question as the tall ghoul lifting his head from where he had been almost seemingly trying to bury himself, kneeling so he could be closer to eye level with me as I hold his shoulders, not realizing the tears I had been shedding were still slowly dripping down my cheeks, “You sho..should be with her right now, not me…’, I choke out, not looking him in the face as the new group of tears fall down my cheeks, I go to try to coax him into believing I was fine and to return to his new partner but all words die in my throat as I feel his thumbs gently wipe the wetness from under my eyes as he took a shuddering but deep breath, seeming to be trying to steady himself and choose his words, “I don’t love Harlow…her and Swiss had teamed up to try and get me to confess to who I truly loved by having her fake confess to me cause they knew I’d tell the truth of who I love while Swiss brought you to listen…they apparently didn’t think that hearing the one you love being confessed to would make you react like this.” he finished and took another deep breath as he cupped my face as he continued to brush the tears away, a soft smile on his face,”Even while crying your still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I freeze in his grip, my eyes meeting his for the first time since the incident two days ago, those vibrant forest green eyes, the soft light of the moon and lights that lines the pathway of the garden lighting up the flecks of pure gold and caramel brown in them even more so than before, but this time they have tears in the corners of them. “Wh..Wha-”, I’m cut off by the earth ghoul in front of me, “(Y/N) I don’t love Harlow, I love you. Swiss and Harlow have been telling me for the two years that if I just told you the truth, that you’d accept me. That you returned the feelings, I refused to believe them because I saw how you were with Swiss, you two got close so fast and easily, you seemed to connect so much more, he was the one you mainly turned to for comfort after a bad day, you two have sleepovers all the time, he’d invite me over because he knew I liked you but I was convinced that you would never possibly look at me as anything more than a friend. I’m an 8 foot tall ghoul who doesn’t like to talk to people outside of my pack, you, Harlow, and the Papas, my favorite pass times are reading about music, plants, and animals, being outside, and playing drums. I’m quiet and awkward and boring. Who I am to compare to everything Swiss is, charismatic, funny, the life of the party, always knows what to say, and is overall a much safer than me. I’m so much bigger and stronger than you, that I am always scared I will unintentionally hurt you when I touch you. But none of changes the fact that I love you.” He finishes his rant, face flushed and eyes full of fear of my reaction to his words as the tears he was holding finally fall, “Mou..Mount I..,” I stutter trying to find the words to even begin to compare to the speech he just gave me, but I ground myself with a deep, shuttering breath, “Mountain I can’t even begin to compare to what you just said. That is the most heartfelt thing anyone has ever said to me, but I’d like to revise a little of what you said,” I slowly start as I mirror his actions from before of cupping his face but instead, gently kiss the tears falling from his eyes, he leans heavily into the touch as his forehead leans against mine for a moment before I pull back to continue, “You are not just an 8 foot tall Earth ghoul and your not boring, far from it in fact. We have had some of the deepest discussions I’ve ever had from a conversation that started as drums as cool, how long have you been playing that turned into how the drums are the key part of any band and how the entire concept of bands probably wouldn’t exist if drums hadn’t been invented, not to mention how your eyes light up when you talk about plants and their different qualities, hell you’ve fucking made the most amazing teas and best weed I have ever tasted just with a few samples of different plants and mixing blends together. You are easily one of the most caring ghouls I know, outside of Aether and Rain who are equally tied, you are always there for your pack, me, the papas, and Harlow whenever we need you, be it we’re sick or just need an ear to listen or someone who can reach the top shelf because someone thought it was funny to put all of the coffee mugs on top of the fridge, doesn’t matter what it was you were there. You are also funny as hell and have the comedic timing of a god, I’ve never laughed harder than when Copia slipped and fell off the fake stage during practise one day and after a solid couple seconds of pure silence, you did that stupid drum thing. I swear Dew and Cumulus peed themselves from laughter,” I take a couple seconds to stop the laughter than followed the memory even as Mount chuckled too, “I’m also gonna knock that stupid thought that you’ll hurt me straight out of your head, yes your a lot taller than me and I know very much so that ghouls are much stronger than humans, believe me I’ve fallen into bed with Dew and Rain enough to realize just how much strength ghouls have,” there is a quiet growl that emanates from deep in his chest at the mention of my sexual encounters with his pack members, “let’s just say I’m into that shit and leave it at that for now, that’s a conversation for another time. What I mean with everything I’ve just said, is I love you too. And now that we both know this, what d-”, I’m cut off as Mountain leans forward and presses his lips to mine, his hands cupping the back of my head and wrap around my waist as mine slide into his thick, wavy brown hair. It desperate with a hint of need and so much love I feel like I’m going to explode. Even while kneeling he is equal if not slightly taller than me in height but this is comfortable, his tongue slides teasingly across my lower lip and I open willingly for him, letting the wet muscles fight for dominance that for now I allow him to win as he tastes every corner of my mouth he can. His fingers threading into my hair and his grip on my waist tightens as he slowly leans back and sits down, tugging me into his lap and we return to the position that caused this mess in the first place. Once we finally seperate, he tucks his face into my neck, chest vibrating with a deep purr of contentment when I hear Swiss and Harlow finally coming to find us. The purr quickly switching to a low growl of warning as Swiss approaches, I run my fingers through his hair and down his neck, drawing a shiver from the taller male, “Relax he’s not gonna take me away,” I whisper to him, pressing a kiss to his forehead before turning to look at them, “Well…I guess you guys were right..” I give a nervous laugh as the now obviously territorial, and if what I’m guessing is poking me is correct, turn on ghoul below lets out a slightly louder growl even as Swiss holds up his hands in surrender with a sheepish grin and Harlow lets out a loud cackeling laugh, “I told you it would work!”, she cries between laughs even with the death glare I know my ghoul has fixed her with…my ghoul, that feels good to finally say. “You two are adorable,” Swiss teases as he takes a picture, “Send me that!”, I demand before I yelp as Mountain suddenly stands, his hand moving to under my thigh and he secures me against him with the arm around my waist, “Yeah, I just finally got the person I’ve been loving for the last two years, if you knock on my door it better me an emergency or Papa absolutely needs me, even then tell him I’m unavailable.”, is all Mountain says as he begins to walk towards the ghoul dorms, Swiss is howling with laughter with Harlow but it is quickly silenced with a yelp when Mount stops for a moment to turn to them and with a flick of his wrist, Swiss is tied in ivy and moss and Harlow is knocked off her feet by a tree root that shoots out and swipes her feet. “Your mine for the rest of week little one, Papa will understand. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want too, but I am curious to know about that size kink you hinted at early,” Mountain purrs into my ear as my face turns into a tomato. I am so not walking for the next month

Masterlist | Chapter 2

[chicagofanfictionfan]

Sailing Part 5

He had forgotten that side of him – Blunt and practical, a hunter – who lived just like Daniel Boone. It was hard to believe that for years he’d been the Stillwater General Store Owner. Jethro had never had much use for philosophy, and said philosophers were all people with too much time on their hands if they could waste it debating the existence of good and evil or the meaning of life.

This can’t be happening, [Y/N] thought. Their grandfather; Jackson handed her the keys to his front door, and then went to retrieve their suitcases. The sun had begun to set, [Y/N], Tim, Tony and their father barely took any notice of the illuminated exterior of the rustic two-story log cabin as they dashed from the truck up a staircase made of planks, to a door with an oval of frosted glass. [Y/N]’s hands were shaking too badly to insert the key into the lock. She was blind with tears.

Their father; Jethro’s footfalls echoed on the wood as he came up behind his children, taking the key ring from [Y/N], and opened the door. He stepped back to let his father; Jackson, [Y/N], Tim and Tony in first. [Y/N]’s throat was so tight she was afraid she was going to choke.

They crossed the threshold, and Jethro’s children parted their lips in shock. Interspersed with oil paintings of mountain landscapes, animal heads hung on the varnished wood walls – Deer, elk – stuffed ducks with green-and-chocolate-brown plumage, creatures that had been beautiful in life were displayed as trophies along the top of a polished wooden cabinet.

[Y/N] thought she might throw up. She was a vegetarian and she and Abby had been active in animal rights causes. To her, her grandfather’s living room was a chamber of horrors. Why hadn’t she remembered it from when she was little?

On the right side of the modest-sized living area, a steep wooden staircase and steep wooden basement steps passed more heads, their grandfather’s Winchester’s rifle on a rack, and what appeared to be a stained-glass window. Their grandfather, carried their suitcases while his grandchildren, Tim, Tony and [Y/N] – she had wrapped her arms around her stuffed hippo, that farted when she squeezed it. She eased the purple overnight bag onto her shoulder again.

Tim, Tony and [Y/N] and their grandfather; Jackson try to tell themselves to not read too much into it when their father; Gibbs stops referring to his latest creation as a she and leaves off the curling of its namesake when the time comes to paint its smooth-hewn hull. The basement wooden door was ajar, to find a pile of neatly sawed disassembled planks where a fully formed boat had once stood, gathering dust, empty workbenches with a growing knot churning in each of their stomachs. The walls sloped featuring one more deer head. Beneath the deer head in black letters was their name; GIBBS and small wall scones that looked like old-fashioned gas lights. As the three of them, noticed the bottle of varnish and paint brush on the wooden pine shelf. They smelled the odour of varnish beneath that, sawdust.  They reached the bottom of the wooden basement steps, with a confused, almost argumentative look on their faces. Their father had spent the past several days, woodworking.

Tony, of course ran his hands along of what was left of the broken-up boat and surveyed the full bin bags full of chopped wood stacked neatly to one side, finds the bourbon, and five masons’ jars, and takes them upstairs. He pours himself, Tim, [Y/N] their father and grandfather a glass with shaking hands and carries the jars with him into the kitchen.

Their father, nor their grandfather, they both doesn’t look up as their brother; Tony sets two jars on the counter to his right and takes a long sip from his own. ‘Have you finally decided that it’s just not worth it, anymore – putting all your time and energy into building something you don’t actually plan to enjoy? You just break them up into tiny little pieces?’

The five steaks sizzling inside the fireplace make the only sound in the room.

Tony wants to take it back. He wants his father to look at him like he’s stupid – for asking – to say that he doesn’t know what his son is talking about and that nothing’s changed. He wants his father to say that his tools are in the garage – or in the bathroom; because the damn sink’s been leaking again.

‘That’s exactly what I do. Can’t sail a boat in a basement; son,’ their father; Jethro finally says, his eyes on their dinner. ‘Hand me that.’

Tony grabs the canister that his father; Jethro is motioning towards off of the spice rack behind him and hands it over; fingertips feeling oddly numb. Their father seasons their food. ‘But you love making these boats,’ he said quietly. ‘You spent months building them – years sometimes – You can put all that effort into building something; into lovingly creating it from scratch out of raw lumps of wood, and then just to take a hack saw to it, cut it up into little pieces, and throw it out with the trash?’ Tony told his father, his voice held a world of hurt in it.

Gibbs fixed his son with a glare, picks up his mason jar of bourbon. ‘I don’t throw it out. Son, I take all the sacks of wood out into the back yard, and I burn them.’

‘OH, THAT’S FINE THEN! THAT MAKES IT ALL OKAY!’

Their father; Gibbs sighed and nods at the back door.

‘I don’t build them to sail them.’ He shrugged. ‘You three should know that. No way to get them out of the basement for a start.’

‘Even the ones you spent the most time with? Even the ones you spent the longest bashing and sanding into shape; so they’re all shiny and polished and perfect?’ [Y/N], his daughter asks.

They walk with their father and their grandfather; Jackson out into the backyard.

‘Boat I loved most was never one of the shiny, polished, perfect ones, [Y/N],’ Jethro said. ‘The boat I really loved most was the first one I made. She was- quirky. Although she didn’t sit quite right – listed to the one side and was uneven in places, but- I loved that boat. She gave me such a hard time, and every time I fixed one thing that was wrong with her it just threw up another – but she was fun, you know. She was a challenge. She made me laugh.’

It takes a moment for all of them to realize that under the canopy that’s been slowly fading back there for years; sits a stack of fresh lumber. On a piece of thick plywood set atop two sawhorses; sits most of their father’s woodworking tools – no power tools.

‘Thought the three of ya might want something to do around here while you wait to be cleared for duty; especially you, Tony – Uncle Ducky’d kill me if I let you work down in the basement with your lungs all scarred up-’

‘You-You want the three of us to build you a boat?’ Tim, Tony and [Y/N] ask.

Now Jethro’s looking at his three children like their stupid.

‘You know how to build a boat?’ Jethro asks them.

‘No-’

‘You can each help though. I thought Saturday we could start on the frame. All the others – they’re just for the pleasure of the building, the process – It’s all about the journey, not the end result.’

Jethro prepares himself for three swift hugs. ‘Okay. Can we get back to dinner now before I burn the hell out of four rib-eyes?’ their father asks.

Tim, Tony, [Y/N] and I are finally setting sail for the bulk of the summer on the newly rebuilt The Family Gibbs – the boat that always used to bring us together when Shannon was alive. It was my pride and joy – and that’s probably why I could never actually bring myself to sell it. I couldn’t do that to Tim, Tony and [Y/N].

Of course, [Y/N] and Tony loved the idea, but Tim hated this whole idea – every time he was on a boat; he would get sick, having to use his Dramamine pills. But I don’t care. Even if I have to drag them kicking and screaming – like children, they’re getting on that boat.

I started climbing the wooden stairs, after telling my father; Jackson and my children; Tim, Abby and [Y/N] that he wanted to lie down as he passed the window, lightning flashed behind it.  I reached the landing and turned right, moving down a short corridor. A wooden door to his left was ajar, the light from the hall revealed a bathroom sink. Then he pushed on the door at the end of the hall, Jethro’s room, and it opened. Jackson made sure his grandchildren got rooms too although not as big as his.

There was a small skylight positioned above a double bed covered with two different shades of green- and – grey plaid blanket. A carved headboard – designed by Jethro himself – with the Marine Corps logo, brass screws. The bed was made out of white ash, built by his father; Jackson of course. Jethro heard his father talk to his children.

‘Thanks,’ he heard, Tim, Tony and [Y/N] say stiffly. Jackson set down their suitcases. ‘You three must be hungry.’

‘We’re not – really – we’re just tired.’ [Y/N] said not looking at her grandfather but instead kept her gaze firmly trained on a braided rag rug on the hallway wooden floor. When her bedroom door clicked shut, she realized he’d left the room – hoping he done the same for, Tim and Tony.

Wearily she sank down onto the bed, stretching herself forward onto her stomach. She brought her hippo to her chest, hugging it, burst into sobs, trying to force herself to stop. The last thing she wanted was for her grandfather, father, Tim and Tony to come in and investigate.

Thunder rumbled; rain fell onto her skylight – how many skylights did her grandfather install – then stopped. Finally quiet, she pulled out her iphone to call her best friend; Abby. Still she had no service. Then there must be a landline somewhere. Most people had a phone in their kitchen.

She got back up and went into the hall. As she reached the top of the stairs, she smelled smoke. She gasped and took the steps at a run. She was just about to scream when she spotted a stone fireplace on the opposite side of the room, a fire blazing away in the hearth. Instead of looking warm and cosy, though, it actually sent a wave of fear crashing over her, as strong and real as the ocean. She almost ran back up the stairs.

It’s okay. It’s normal. [Y/N] thought as she edged along the wall, trying not to see the animal heads, and found the entrance to her grandfather’s kitchen. She flicked on the overhead light, revealing a run-down, but clean-looking, kitchen. There was a row of wooden cabinets, and the countertops were rosewood. The front of her grandfather’s ancient white fridge was bare except for a calendar with a wildlife scene and writing in just one square. On that square, Jethro and grandkids arrive – was all it said.

She was thirsty and opened the fridge, looking for a water pitcher or water bottles. There was very little inside except for a six-pack of beer, an open loaf of white bread, and a small bundle wrapped in butcher paper. Blood was seeping through the paper.

Gross, she thought, and slammed the fridge door. She took a few steps backwards, then ran her hand through her hair and looked around for a wall phone. Finding absolutely nothing, she started opening drawers – notepads and pens from realtors, a package of rubber band, some utensils and a dog leash – she picked up the leash and vaguely remembered a dog from her visit there with Tim, Tony and Kelly as a kid. Then she heard a light scratching on the back door, which was made of maple wood. Maybe it was the dog.

With the leash in her hand, she cracked open the door. The kitchen light spilled onto a wide wooden porch that wrapped around the back of the house. Moonlight casted silver spangles on huge maples with dripping branches – from the recent heavily poured rain – the smells of wet earth and wood smoke, so different from the ocean, filled the air as she walked three steps off the porch, onto flat rocks arranged in a path – stepping stone, style. The broad green limbs of the tree directly in front of her rustled. Cocking her head, she toyed with the leash but stayed where she was.

The back door slammed open against the log wall, she nearly leaped out of her own skin. Whirling around, she saw her father; Jethro and her grandfather; Jackson, with his Winchester rifle at his side. Her eyes had widened, she stumbled backwards, towards the tree.

‘[Y/N]!’ her father; Jethro shouted. ‘GET BACK IN HERE NOW!’

She lifted her chin and showed her father and her grandfather the leash.

��‘I was just looking for your dog-’

‘[Y/N], I don’t have a dog, Anymore.’ Jackson told her standing right behind [Y/N] making her jump, startled. She heaved a sigh of frustration. All she actually wanted was a drink of water and perhaps a working phone.

‘Please. Come inside. It’s not safe out here.’

Not safe? – They were two feet from the house, and her grandfather was standing there with his Winchester rifle – it frightened her to know there were loaded weapons in the house.

‘Grandfather, Grandpa,’ [Y/N] said, trying out different names to call him. ‘I want to call my best friend. Do you have a phone?’

She stepped back up onto the porch and her grandfather; Jackson and her father; Jethro both relaxed slightly. ‘When you, Tim, Tony, and Kelly, were little, you four called me Pappy Jack.’ Her grandfather smiled very faintly. Jackson knew that she didn’t remember that. ‘I’ll call you Pappy Jack,’ she announced, deciding that was what she could handle. ‘Can I call Abby?’

‘You can call Abby.’

[starlessskies94]

Consequence (Joel Miller x OC)

Summary: What if Joel survived his injuries from the Abby and Fireflies attack but ends up with really bad amnesia. He can’t remember his wife, Ellie, or the Outbreak; only before. How will his family bring back the man they once knew?

Pairing: Joel Miller x OC

Note: Okay this is a big one, I wrote this over the course of like 3 days I think? Anyway I hope you like it because it's probably the longest chapter I've ever written for one of my stories <3

Chapter One

It was just five in the morning when Adaline Miller woke up. Her head still a little groggy from a decent night’s sleep and her fading dreams. She turned to see Joel still asleep beside her; his gentle snores muffled into his pillow. She smiled and leaned over kissing his bare shoulder before rolling out of bed to get ready for her day.

Stepping downstairs towards the kitchen, Ada realised just how cold it was when she noticed how frosted over the windows had become overnight. Ada hated winter. It was her least favourite season. After everything that had happened almost five years ago it wasn’t hard to understand why. Even now she still sometimes had nightmares about it.

Waking up to find Joel cold in his bed; his stomach wound torn open. Blood everywhere. Or finding Ellie beaten and bruised, left alone in that burned out restaurant.

Joel had always been there to console her, holding her until she calmed down. His voice low to just a whisper as he told her everything was okay. She was safe. He was there and he wasn’t ever going to leave.

It was a comfort she appreciated even after being married to the man for just under four years.

Stepping through into the kitchen, the brunette quickly got to work preparing some eggs on the stove for breakfast before moving across the counter to make up a pot of coffee for herself and Joel. She still wasn’t totally sure what her husband had traded for the beans; but Joel had seemed rather embarrassed by it for some reason. Though after finally getting to taste coffee again after so long, she didn’t much care she supposed. After the hot water was boiled she poured the beverage out, setting aside Joel’s favourite owl mug for when he came down.

Joel had always been an early riser and more often than not, he was almost always the one that beat her to the kitchen in the morning. It had taken some time after settling in Jackson to actually get the man to finally relax a little. It was unfortunate for Ada that he had taken that to mean ‘no sleeping in past seven’. Even on days off, Joel was up before the sun. Lucky Ada had found her own ways to at least keep him in bed past seven on those days; sleeping or otherwise. Thankfully Joel never complained.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the creaking of the stairs as Ada glanced up to meet eyes with Joel. His arms stretched above his head and suppressing a yawn. He stepped through the door, his hand dropping to scratch at his bearded chin.

“Morning darlin’.” Joel slurred, heading straight for his coffee mug. “Hold on...why are you dressed already?” Ada questioned. Her egg covered spoon gesturing at him in his winter gear. Joel followed her gaze, his brows raised in confusion. “I thought you weren’t on patrol until this afternoon.” She clarified.

“Oh yeah...forgot to tell you last night. Change of plans. Tommy’s gotten word of a horde gathering near the ski lodge.” He explained between sips, leaning against the counter, crossing one foot over the over. “Reckon we needed to deal with it quickly before it gets to be a problem.”

Ada pouted but said nothing, her gaze turning from Joel back to her scrambled eggs on the stove. Joel sighed abandoning his mug on the side as he moved across towards her. His arms wrapping around her waist and resting his chin over her shoulder.

“I can hear you thinking.” He said lowly into her ear. But again Ada said nothing. He sighs moving to kiss her neck but she turns her head away as he does.

He hates this. He hates when she worries. It’s always the same routine when he heads out for clean up duty. Clearing out infected is never an easy job but it is what keeps Jackson safe. They both know that. But still whenever he’s due to leave for another job, Ada goes quiet. She’s distant and he fucking hates it.

It was the same when Ellie first asked to train for patrol, they’d been reluctant. And while they were both well aware of Ellie’s skills and her strength; it was still hard watching their baby girl in such a hurry to go out alone without them.

His arms around her waist squeeze gently as he pulls her close to his chest, his head over her shoulder stealing a kiss on her cheek.

“Baby please stop worrying, I’ll be fine.” He knew it was a foolish thing to promise because the world they lived in wasn’t safe. You never knew what the next day would bring. But if there was anything in this world Joel would find to fight for; it was coming home to his wife. His family.

Ada dumped the cooked eggs onto the plates laid out, they were a little burned on the edges. She hadn’t been paying that much attention to them if she was honest. Then turned in her husband’s arms to face him.

“Back by dinner or I kick your ass.” She warned playfully. “Deal.” He chuckled, pulling her close as their lips met in a kiss.

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It didn’t take long for Ada to get to the stables when she’d finished breakfast. After reluctantly pulling herself from Joel’s arms; they’d both parted ways as the older man went to meet his brother at the gate.

She’d quickly threw herself into her list of jobs for the day, hoping it would take her mind off her worry.

“Morning Max.” She smiled at the stable hand, walking through to the back room. “Mornin’ Ada, whadda we got today?” he grinned in reply, his frame leaning through the door as she tidied her workspace. Collecting all her notes and paperwork together.

“Well Daisy has been lame for a couple days so she needs to stay on box rest. Then I need King and Blue tacked up before noon.” She explained, her eyes never leaving the sheets of paper in her hand. “Bob and Maggie are headed out on patrol so they need them ready before half twelve.”

“You got it boss!” Max assured with a joyful grin, sending her a mock salute. She chuckled at the old man as he disappeared from the doorway, but she quickly caught up to him, catching herself on the wooden frame.

“Oh! Could you also take Barnaby out into the paddock this morning please? He had a touch of colic yesterday and I want to keep his gut moving to make sure it’s passed.” She explained. Max simply nodded and turned to make a start on his duties. Ada always liked Max. He was an older gentleman, around seventy years old but still incredibly fit for his age. He’d arrived in Jackson a few years after herself, Ellie and Joel. Along with his grandsons from somewhere near Montana. Having the experience of running his own ranch before the Outbreak; he’d been the perfect fit to help Ada run the stables and take care of the horses.

She continued through until around nine o’ clock, just making the finishing touches to the poultice she’d wrapped around the gelding’s leg she was treating. “There ya go buddy.” She cooed sweetly, giving the horse a soft scratch behind the ears as he nickered in reply.

“Morning Ada!” A familiar voice greeted as the brunette moved to close the stable door closed behind her. “Morning Dina, you out on patrol this morning?”

“Yep, heading out on the creek trails with Ellie.” She smiled, Ada quickly returning it as they both looked to Ellie walking through the door. “How’s my boy?” Dina asked, grabbing Ada’s attention once again.

“Oh he’s fine, Japan had a little mud fever but I think we got it under control now. He’s good to go. All tacked up for you with Max down there.” Dina gave her a quick thumbs up and threw a thanks over her shoulder as she ran down towards the back of the barn. Leaving the woman alone with her adoptive daughter who slowly trailed behind.

“Good morning sunshine. How are you feeling this morning?” She teased. Ellie rolled her eyes at her mother’s smirk.

“Oh jeez don’t. I already got half the town giving me weird looks.” She whined. After the dance the night before, her kiss with Dina, Seth drunk and aggressively harassing the girls; it had certainly been the talk of the town the following morning. Ellie was just hoping she could outlive the embarrassment.

“So you and Dina patrolling together huh? That should be interesting. Have you talked to her yet?” “Ugh mom stop!” Ellie hissed softly, her lips twitching into a subtle smile.

“What? I like her, she’s a sweet girl. You two would be so cute together.” The teen stifled a giggle as she playfully shoved her mom’s shoulder, the older woman chuckling in return. “Shut up.”

The laughter faded when Ada sighed in thought, Ellie glancing back knowing what was coming next. Her gaze immediately falling to her feet.

“You uh...you talk to Joel yet?” She asked cautiously. For the past two years; it had been a sore subject for Ellie whenever Ada brought Joel up in conversations. After finding out the truth back in Salt Lake; she’d been so angry at both of them for everything they had kept from her. But after learning that Joel had been the one that pulled the trigger. That one that had made that decision for all of them and acted alone, she’d declared she wanted nothing more to do with him. And while it had been hard for Ada to be stuck in the middle; she’d still tried her damn hardest to build a bridge between them.

“A little...but one conversation isn’t going to fix everything.” She mumbled. Her foot kicking at the mud covered floor, eyes never leaving the ground.

“It’s a start though. Baby he really misses you.” she said. “I know. I still don’t know if I can forgive him for what he did though. But I am willing to try.” Ellie said softly, her hands now pulling at her jacket sleeves. “I uh...I was thinking of maybe inviting him over for a movie night tomorrow. If that’s okay?”

Ada smiled at this. It had been hard with Ellie not speaking to Joel for so long, watching the man she loved struggle with losing a daughter that no longer wanted anything to do with him. It was obvious he was hurting even if he never said the words out loud. He missed Ellie, he’d be so grateful to hear she wanted to do movie night again, for the first time in so long.

“Of course it is. When you get back from patrol we’ll figure something out okay? Joel’s out with Tommy but he should be back by dinner.”

Ellie simply nodded with a timid smile before turning towards Max waiting with Shimmer.

“Hang on, gotcha some lunch. I still worry you ain’t eating enough.” Ada shouted after her, reaching into her backpack to hand her daughter the pack of food she’d prepared.

“Thank you!” Dina called before Ellie had the chance to reply, swiping the pack out of Ada’s hand. “Hey! She said my lunch!” Ellie poked in jest. The teen simply scoffed peaking through the bag to see what was inside. “Our lunch...there’s plenty for both of us. Let’s see; turkey sandwiches, nice.” Dina continued snooping through the pack while Ellie merely rolled her eyes as Ada stood with folded arms smirking at the two. They really were cute together.

“Oh shit! No way, Ellie there’s cookies in here! Awesome! Thanks Ada!”

Ada laughed at Dina’s joy as Ellie reluctantly followed behind, snatching the packed lunch back and stuffing it into her bag before Dina could complain.

“Ugh I haven’t had cookies since I was a kid. I fucking love your mom, she’s just the best.” Dina complimented as she mounted Japan, taking the reins and walking the gelding out into the snow, Ellie not far behind on Shimmer. The young girl turned back to take one last glance at her mother brushing down another horse, a smile lighting up her face.

“Yeah, yeah she is.” Ellie agreed.

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After such an early start, Ada was pleased when the day was beginning to draw to an end. She’d not stopped the whole day and she was tired.

When the time came to feed and bed down the horses for the night, she was more than ready to head home, eat dinner, maybe snuggle up to Joel on the couch to watch a movie and call it a day. She’d already sent Max home to his boys when she finished up the last of her routine checks to close up the barn; when she’d been ambushed by both Jesse and Dina.

They both looked terrified, Dina with tear stained cheeks and Jesse breathless and shell shocked like he’d just run for miles without taking a second to breathe.

The brunette couldn’t remember much of what was said when they’d bombarded her with information. Only that something bad had happened and it had happened to Joel.

A thousand thoughts had rushed through her head at once. A flash of images muddled with the white noise that squealed in her ears the closer she ran towards the infirmary. Her nightmare was coming true and she felt like she was drowning. Lost in a dark ocean of uncertainty, falling without a lifeline to hold on to.

When she burst through the doors, Tommy was the first to reach her. She winced aghast at seeing his injuries. His swollen black eye, the deep bloodied gash on his forehead. She felt numb as her brother in law explained what had happened. What those bastards had done to her husband. Shot and beaten mercilessly. Her heart ached, her eyes raw from the tears she’d cried. And what made the whole thing worse, was that Ellie had been there to see the whole thing.

Ada had tried to brace herself before stepping into Joel’s room, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle. Ellie was sat slumped over his bedside, her hand clinging to his as he lay unconscious. The scuff of her mother’s boots grabbing her attention as she rose to her feet and met her halfway when Ada rushed towards her with open arms.

“Mom!” Ellie whimpered and it reminded her all too much of that night all those years ago. Ada squeezed her eyes shut as she pulled Ellie closer, her heart beating in her ears.

“Oh baby girl.” She soothed, her hand gently stroking her back for comfort. “I tried…” Ellie hiccuped. “I tried to stop them. I begged them to stop but they wouldn’t listen. And I told Joel to get up, just fucking get up.” Her voice broke as the girl choked back another sob and Ada couldn’t help her own tears as she listened silently. Gently guiding Ellie back to Joel’s bedside so she could sit, all the while the mother never once letting go of her daughter.

“I told him to get up, but it was like he’d just given up.” She explained quietly. Her shaking hands reaching up to wipe at her sore bloodshot eyes. Her cheeks and nose reddened from her tears. “The doctor said he needs to be asleep for a while, something about something needing time to settle?! I don’t fucking know!” She shouted in frustration, almost collapsing from exhaustion in her chair.

Ada merely nodded solemnly. Tommy had partly explained before she’d rushed to Joel. The doctor had insisted on keeping Joel sedated to give the brain time to heal itself while the swelling subsides. Ada just hoped it wouldn’t take too long for him before he was able to wake up.

As the night drew on Ellie had finally given in to her fatigue, stretching on the old beat up couch in the corner of the room. Tommy had thoughtfully brought her a blanket and a bag of clothes for the girls before heading home himself, Ada swearing that she would send Ellie the second they had any news on his brother.

It wasn’t until then that Ada had the still and the silence of the night did she truly take in Joel’s injuries. His leg, broken and mangled. It had been a damn miracle that they’d even be able to save it. But there had been a reasonable amount of confidence it would eventually heal, though Joel would definitely have some difficulty getting around at first and most likely a permanent limp afterwards; he was damn lucky in that respect.

His head injuries however were a different story. There were still flecks of dried blood in patches of his dark head where the club had struck. Patches of hair cut away, close to the scalp in order to reach the violent blows into his crown. Deep cuts and dark bruises covered his handsome face. A good chunk of his ear was missing, she’d noticed as she softly brushed her fingers through his hair in a feeble attempt to clean him up. It had been treated and neatly stitched but would most likely leave a scar.

Her lips trembled as a quiet sob worked its way up into her throat, her eyes blurred from the welling tears the longer she looked at him.

She should have been there...Why hadn’t she been there?!

The days went by and Joel still hadn’t woken up. The doctor took him off sedation a few days after the attack, in the hopes he would come around on his own. The endless nights slowly dragging by, each holding with it a suffocating pause that felt to be drawing out longer and longer. Like the string of a bow, pulling tighter and tighter until it was closely reaching its breaking point, a moment of holding strong until it was too much to bear.

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It had been exactly nine days later when Joel eyelids flickered. His fingers twitched and convulsed as he finally began to regain consciousness.

A string of mumbles and panicked gasps uttered from his dry lips as he stirred awake. And Ellie and Ada were right there beside him. The young girl skidding on her heel as she took off through the door in order to grab Tommy.

“Joel? Can you hear me?” Ada asked delicately. Her heart beating rapidly in her chest. Tentatively reaching out to place her hand upon his as he moved to face her with squinted eyes.

“Wher...Where?” He tried to speak. His voice low and rough like gravel. It strained against his dry throat. Ada quickly moving to his bedside to help him drink from the glass of water placed beside him.

He winced but managed a few mouthfuls before lowering himself back down against his pillow. His tired eyes darted around the room, breath quickening and short the more the confusion set in as to how he’d ended up there.

“You're in the infirmary. You were out with Tommy and were attacked.” Ada explained carefully, Joel’s eyes drifting back towards her sat by his bedside. “Was anyone else hurt?” He asked. “Tommy got roughed up a little, bump on the head and a black eye. Couple of bruised ribs but he’ll be fine.”

Joel simply nodded at the information. His eyes never leaving Ada.

“Is Sarah okay? I assume she’s with Tommy, could you call her? Tell her I’m okay…” He spoke so casually, Ada almost didn’t hear what he’d said. But yet there was no change in his eyes as he asked the question. “How long do you reckon till I can head home?”

This question made Ada stop cold. Her heart slowing and her breath catching in her throat.

“Joel... do you know who I am?”

He looked at her like she was crazy, the confusion met in the touching of his dark brows creasing with his forehead. “Yeah, you’re my doctor.”

It was at that moment Ada almost collapsed. When she realised there was truly no hint of recognition in Joel’s eyes as he stared at her.

Her worst fear realised; her own husband saw her as a stranger.

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

Snowmelt

a/n: hi! this is my take on the what if Eirween had kept logan au! i am hoping i can make at least one more chapter of this because i do have a plot thought out, but i am not amazing at sticking to projects fdjhal. either way i hope this is enjoyable 

warnings: child abuse/neglect, hypothermia, death threats, just eirweens A+ parenting in general.

———————————————————

Leith Snowmelt’s life so far had been fine, really.

Well, OK maybe not.

Maybe that’s just what he wanted to believe.

Maybe it was more along the lines of horrible.

He spent most of his time at the edges of the forest; hidden, in the warm months between the bushes. He had learned to be quiet, still and unseen.

He only saw other faeries when his mother decided she wanted to bring him out, like a shiny piece of jewelry for special events. He had learned to be quiet when that happened too, to behave and play tricks when asked.

There always is an anger building in his chest, a tiny part that knows. He knows he was born on the equinox and only if they let him, if someone only taught him, he would be able to bend the forrest to his will. 

Instead he grows silly little flowers and catches sunbeams to amuse bullies who mock him to his face.

Unseelie thought of him, at worst, as a mistake who shouldn’t have been granted with the gift of seeing the light of day, at best they thought of him as The Banshee’s pet, funny silly little thing. 

Most Seelie thought of him as a lost cause.

The only time he ever did anything for himself was nicking books off school children. It wasn’t even stealing really since he usually gave something in return. Children were easy to bargain with, if you were persuasive enough and you looked childish, they often wanted stupid little things in return for their books: a charm, good luck on a test, health. 

It would be so easy to trick them.

Lieth didn’t.

How pathetically Spring of him.

His mother always cast him a half amused look when she found out he was “tricking” humans.

 It was the fondest look she ever gave him.

But all in all Summer and Spring were bearable, but Autumn and Winter were a whole other story.

It’s so cold and miserable, and it’s pitiful how much he missed the sun.

Some Seelie hibernate, or at least stay inside, cover themselves. Snowmelt’s mother will not let him, as if he could learn to be Winter purely by her stubbornness.

So it was his 12th year of life and he has his worst month yet.

His mother seemed to become more unhappy with him by the day. The other Unseelie seemed to lose interest in her little pet, he was not sure what they would do to him if they got bored. Worst of all he had, although only fleetingly, caught the attention of the Serpent King. Only brief amused glances at revels, but Snowmelt knew very well that could bring him nothing but trouble. 

Then a blizzard hit’s Wickhills, covering everything in a thick layer of snow. 

Snowmelt is downright miserable, and very aware of the bitter irony of his name.

His mother fought with him, well it wasn’t really a fight, mostly she was angry at him.

Somewhere deep down there is a growl in him, “I could take you”, that part of him says. 

But right now he is paralized, right now there is a blizzard outside and the sky is dark.

“I gave you life, Lieth,” she said.

He was sure that is the first time she has called him that, the first time anyone has called him that.

“I can take it too, Snowmelt.”

She had never been quite so direct, she bares her teeth in a mockery of a laugh, and suddenly he feels so very small.

So Snowmelt runs, runs through the cold forrest, through the snow. He runs until he can’t feel his legs anymore.

He runs until he is not sure what precisely he is running from anymore, but he can’t stop, he can’t even think about going back.

He runs all the way to the edge of the forest, where he usually reads books, hoping no one will find him.

He stops, his body giving out from underneath him.

He is immortal, he knows this, he does not remember whether or not the cold can kill him. He is, pitifully, Seelie after all.

It doesn’t really matter, he can not go either way.

How stupidly weak of him.

  ——————–

Thomas Sanders had a relatively average life, or well, as average as it can be growing up in Wickhills.

His mom was maybe a little more protective than was strictly necessary, but really with fae all around, who could blame her.

Anyway, on this particular day she had let him go out in the snow, she had said she was coming outside to join him in a second and for now he should stay in the street.

Thomas was absolutely delighted with all the snow, it was the most he had seen in his life, it was just too pretty.

Then he made a turn at the end of the street, suddenly he was at the edge of the forest. 

Which was definitely not were the edge of the forest should be.

To his credit Thomas only panicked a little bit, mostly he was annoyed he had been pixie-led from his own street, and quickly started turning his coat inside out.

And then he saw him.

A Faery, or well a child.

He looked only a little older than thomas, 14 maybe? But he was also small, and a frankly alarming shade of shade of pale blue.

And Thomas just could not shake the feeling that he was frozen and surely hurt.

Thomas could say that what he did next was because leaving the fae there certainly would have left him with some terrible curse.

But something had brought Thomas there. And seeing his face his heart broke.

So he ignored all common sense and logic, finished taking his coat off and wrapped the boy in it.

He lifted him- he was so light it could absolutely not be healthy- and he sprinted home.

Only later he will be concerned about whether or not the rest of the town saw him.

In the moment he could only think that the boy in his arms might be seriously hurt or dying.

He, somehow, clumsily rang his doorbell.

Only when he sees his mother’s baffled face logic rushed back to him and realised that this was so terribly foolish.

He looked down at the boys placid face.

With the best puppy dog eyes he looked back at his mom.

“He is hurt, moma.” he said pleading.

She sighed and shook her head.

“Get inside Tommybug it’s cold,” she looked at the fae boy in his arms and looked back at her sons pleading eyes, “get them inside too, quickly.”

Thomas smiled and they gently carried him inside.

———

Dot Sanders was considering she might have made the worst decision in her life.

She should have been panicking, or be furious at her son or something.

She certainly shouldn’t be gently tucking the fae in the makeshift bed they had made for them on the couch. 

She had called Larry immediately, he had been somehow slightly more rational about the whole situation, but ultimately decided they could not kick out an ill child.

She was in no way a medical professional, or prolific in anything magic. She wanted to call Abby, but she had picked this weekend to go on a short vacation with Roman. The idea of calling May Gage made her stomach churn.

So she did her best and wrapped the boy in slightly oversized warm clothes and turned on the heater.  

She knew, although she did not know much about fae, the boy was hurt. He was quite literally frozen a dull blue gray pattern of frost implanted on his skin and he was dangerously motionless. Aside from that there were bruises, scratches, scars and something that looked suspiciously like a burn.  She couldn’t help the profound ache in her chest as she added a blanket, she was a mother after all.

He made a soft slightly inhuman noise of pain.

“It’ll be alright,” she cooed, because she had gone just absolutely insane. 

He groans again, and he looks so much like Thomas.

Just like her son when he gets the flu, or he scrapes his knee, or when he stayed up too late.

He looks like her students at school too. 

Somehow, even if she knows he could be hundreds of years old, she knows he is just a child.

She runs her fingers through his hair gently and sighs.

“It will all be alright.”

——–

Snowmelt woke up in a place he did not recognize. 

The room has a strange hum to it, he also had no idea what everything inside it is, except for the books. He is in clothes that are not his and give him a strange itch like feeling. 

Somehow the room was hot, but he was not, he felt frozen from the inside.

He only has a few seconds of utter confusion before his thoughts were interrupted by a cheery voice.

“Oh gosh you’re awake!”

He turned to look at the human child, who smiled relieved and bright at him. 

Snowmelt wanted to yell, or run, or something. He could not. Why?

The child frowned a bit.

“It’s alright if you don’t wanna talk, you must still be hurt, mom says you got some form of hypothermia.”

Fantastic, hypothermia.

“Well anyway, I am-”

“No” he manages, his voice rough.

The human shaked his head.

“Right, faery, sorry.”

Snowmelt wondered what his mother would think of him, refusing a mortals name like that.

Pathetic probably.

“You can call me Bug, my mom calls me that sometimes,” he said somehow still upbeat. “Is there anything I can call you?”

He stayed silent, baffled at this child’s lack of manners and common sense and just the entire situation really. 

The child nods anyway.

“Ok,” he said, “do tell me if you need anything, mom and dad will be home in a second, they just went to get stuff for dinner.”

He wondered what kind of parents left their child with a fae, but then he tried to stand up and his body felt like he was being stabbed by needles. He went lightheaded and he noticed his body was littered with something that looked like frost.

He was completely harmless. 

Great, perfect really.

————

The parents did come home soon, and they were…kind?

He did understood less about the whole situation by the second.

They explained that they had found him, and saved him, for reasons Snowmelt really did not understand.

The mother, who told him she could call her Dory, something Bug seemed to find endlessly amusing, well she was fussing over him, she even brought him flower tea he was petulantly refusing to drink, she seemed to not be aware of food rules in fairy courts, and generally seemed to be trying to care for him.

The dad, who the child insisted he called Merlin, was just a little bit weary, but still offered no protest to there being an actual fae in his house.

There must be something, Snowmelt thought, something they want. A blessing? A gift? Simply to keep him imprisoned?

Whatever it was, they had not asked, yet.

After a while they left him to rest, and with much pain he reluctantly drank the tea, which was very good and seemily did not curse him or imprison him further.

From his place on the couch he saw the snow still falling outside and wondered in just how much trouble he was.

---

V: oh! my!! goodness!!! GRACIOUS!!!!! this is so SWEET and the Dory-and Marlin joke was an adorbale little cherry on top of this wonderful sundae that i absolutely love