#And i would also make getting lost impossible

[tobesolonely]

untitled angsty but then sweet piece...

hello guys!! it's been like over a year lol. I was going through my google doc and found this and I feel like I never posted it? so now I am posting it. maybe this can be a part 1 but also we know I'm great at starting multipart stories and not finishing them so lets see

૮₍ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ₎ა

warnings: none (~1.2k words)

✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ … ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ … ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

“You're just gonna ignore me then, babe?”

Y/N continues silently puttering around in the kitchen, going out of her way to make sure her back remained turned on Harry. There weren't many ways to get under his skin, but throughout her years of being with him she learned that being on the receiving end of the silent treatment usually made him fold pretty quickly. She was annoyed with her husband and the fact that he seemed clueless as to why made her even more upset.  

“I take your silence as a yes?” 

More puttering. More re-wiping the already clean counters. Starting the tea kettle. Washing her hands. Anything to not acknowledge Harry, really.

“I can’t make it better if you don't tell me why you're so upset, love,” he takes a tentative step toward her. “I know we've been together for ages but I still can't read your mind. Think ‘m gettin’ real close, though.”

This is said jokingly, and she knows her husband is just trying to dissipate the tension that's thick in their kitchen, making the spacious room seem impossibly small. She doesn't acknowledge his joke, doesn't crack a smile because that would give him too much satisfaction. Nothing made Harry cockier than being the reason for Y/N’s laugh, a sound so sweet she’s pretty sure he’d forbid everyone on the planet except him from listening to it because he wanted it all to himself. He always told her it was music to his ears.

The fact that he doesn't even know what he did is what finally causes her to break, muttering about how fucking ridiculous he is under her breath. It's not lost on Harry. 

“Now you've moved on from ignoring me to cursing at me?” he sounds more curious than upset, taking another step toward her. She backs away, defensively crossing her arms over her chest and she doesn't miss the way Harry’s brow furrows at the action. “Can y’please tell me what I did, Y/N? Please?” When she looks down at the ground, ignoring his please, he begs some more. He’s not above groveling, really. 

“Please, angel? Lemme fix it,” his eyes are wide and wild as he wildly searches hers for some clue as to what he did wrong. “Tell me-”

“Am I always just gonna come second with you?” 

She can almost see the wheels in her husband’s head turning, knows he's choosing his words carefully before he speaks so as not to upset her any further. 

“Okay, love,” he runs a ringer hand through his hair. “Can you be a little bit more specific?”

“We had plans this afternoon, Harry. We were gonna try that new café that just opened. I was looking forward to it,” she doesn't care if this makes her sound selfish and childish. “I know you were working and I know you how much you love to do that, but sometimes I feel like-”

“Don’t even finish that thought,”  Harry cuts her off and his tone is sharp, calloused. “That’s not true.”

“You know, at first I was worried something happened when you didn't show,” Y/N continues like she didn't hear him. “But then I realized nope, you probably just forgot or couldn't get out of another meeting. Just like always.”

A look of sadness flashes across Harry’s face, which quickly transforms to indignant anger. “Don't throw this in my face, Y/N. You know how much I hate that.” 

“So I’m supposed to be mindful of the things you hate, but you can't be mindful of the things I hate?”

“You don't get it,” he mumbles under his breath, growing increasingly done with the conversation the longer it drags on. “You're not in the industry. I can't just always leave-” 

“Then blame it on me! Make me the bad guy, Harry,” she finally turns all the way around to face him completely. “The people you work with get to see you more than I do…the fans…” Y/N trails off, letting her unfinished thoughts hang limply in the air. 

It’s quiet between the couple for no more than thirty seconds, but it feels like a lifetime. Harry breaks it first - he always does. He inhaled a deep shaky breath, trying to call forward the breathing techniques his therapist taught him to use in high-stress situations. Right now counts as a high-stress situation. 

“You’re right, angel,” the pet name slips off his tongue easily which comforts Y/N. Harry’s not as upset as she thought he was. He’s still her Harry. “That’s not fair of me, is it?”

All Y/N can do is shake her head, lower lip jutted out. She knows if she tries speaking she’ll start crying, and she doesn't want to cry. All she wants is for Harry to understand. Harry however, knows her too well. He knows the look she gets on her face when she's trying really hard not to cry and he knows she goes silent because she doesn't trust her voice not to come out shakey. He decides to continue talking.

“I should've called you and let you know I’d be late- or told you we needed to reschedule. I’m sorry I left you hanging, darling.” He pauses, selecting his next words very wisely. Harry knows his wife is sensitive. The last thing he wants is for her to think he's blaming her for anything. “...but it seems like this is about more than me missing our lunch. Which, again, I'm very sorry about. I'm taking you wherever you want for dinner tonight and I'll make you dessert when we get home. Let's talk more about this though, yeah?”

“You also have to be in charge of picking up after Hershey for a month,” Y/N responds with a small smile on her face. Hershey was the couple’s tiny brown poodle who was the cutest puppy in the world. “Thank you.”

“Mmm,” Harry hums, knowing his wife was trying to keep the conversation lighthearted since she hated confrontation. Since being with Harry her communication skills have improved tremendously since he was so good at it and wanted to talk about everything, but healthy communication clearly still didn't come as easily to her. “Talk to me, angel. What’s this about?”

Harry’s in front of her now, arms wrapped limply around her waist. He walks her backward until the small of her back hits the counter then he tells her to, “jump” so he can lift her onto the counter. Once she's situated he settles himself in between her legs and places his arms back on their place on her waist. Harry looks intently into Y/N’s eyes and she knows she won’t be leaving that spot until she tells him what's bothering her, so she just says it.

“I want a baby.” 

Harry raises his eyebrows in quick surprise before breaking out in a wide grin- the kind that causes his nose to scrunch up and wrinkles to form around his eyes. 

“You want a baby? W’ me?”

Y/N doesn’t return his smile, which quickly makes Harry’s turn into a frown.

“Why don’t you look happy?”

Y/N sighs, her eyes avoiding Harry’s. He gently places his index finger under her chin and pushes it up, forcing her to look into his eyes. He’s desperately searching his wife’s eyes, trying to figure out why she isn’t more excited about coming to this big decision. Harry has been ready for years of course, but he never wanted her to feel pressured.

“You’re never here, Harry. I don’t want to feel like a single mom.” Y/N looks down again and Harry doesn’t lift her chin back up this time. In fact, he doesn’t say anything. It’s silent for what feels like a couple minutes but is actually maybe only twenty seconds, the faucet leaking being the only sound heard throughout the whole house.

“Y/N…love,” Harry inhales a shaky breath, removing one of his hands from her hip to run his fingers through his curls. “I never want to make you feel like you’re alone. Not just with this, but…with anything.” Harry gently knuckles away a stray tear falling down Y/N’s cheek. 

“I know you don’t mean to make me feel this way, H. I guess it’s just what I signed up for when I married a popstar, yeah?” Harry can tell Y/N is trying to lighten the mood, but he doesn’t like that he’s the reason for he feeling this way.

“You didn’t “sign up” for anything, love. I’m your husband and you’re my wife and we’re supposed to be there for each other through it all, good and bad.” Y/N opens her mouth to say something but Harry gently pinches her hip, muttering for her to let him finish. “I want a baby with you. I want everything with you, Y/N. I want to be here for everything. I’m going to be better about being here.”

“H…I love you and I know you’ll try, but you’ve said this before-”

“I’ll take a break, babe. Cancel everything,” Harry’s talking faster now, excitement about his plan evident in his voice. “We’ll focus on ourselves and start our family. Go out of the country and leave my bloody phone here, if you’d like.” Y/N giggles at that, which makes Harry give her a big, dimpled grin.

“Will it be okay? With Jeff and everyone?” Although Y/N’s sure people on Harry’s team won’t be happy with his sudden change in plans, she can’t deny how charming the idea sounds. She could already picture them at their favorite villa in Italy, the one Harry purchased as a wedding gift to her and where they spent their unforgettable honeymoon. In all honesty, she’s surprised they didn’t get a baby out of that trip.

“Let me worry about that. You just worry about buying yourself some new bikinis, yeah?” Harry places a lingering kiss to Y/N’s jawbone. “Perhaps a few things for me to rip off you too, hmm?”

✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ … ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ … ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

hooray for happy endings :')

[zeropro]

Hi, what are your thoughts on Megatron? Most Starscream fans don't have very positive ones about him lol, but everyone is different and I would like to know that you think

I like Megatron okay, he doesnt bother me but im not like jumping up and down for megatron content yknow? but I get not liking Megatron as a Starscream fan. It's just, you can't deny how intrinsically the two characters are tied together. Really can't have Starscream without Megatron, which is unfortunate for someone like me who does not like drawing Megatron lol!

Maybe the reason most Starscream fans dont like Megatron is because of their abusive relationship? And let's be clear, due to the power imbalance, I do interpret it as an abusive relationship. Despite how much we like to joke that Starscream deserves the punishment he gets (I'm not entirely sure how attempted murder/political assassination attempts factor into an abuse allegory) no one ACTUALLY deserves to be abused. The fact that Starscream is low key also evil and has done evil things is a separate issue from Megatron's abuse of him, we can hold him accountable for the one while also having sympathy because of the other. For me personally tho? Megatron abusing Starscream doesnt make me dislike the character at all, it's honestly the main draw of the dynamic for me. Maybe I just like to see my blorbos suffer…

The G1 Cartoon Megatron is probably the most fun, and I think this dynamic is the most on the level in terms of Starscream dishing back as much as Megatron gives him. They're all just bullies on the playground, their toxic back and forths feel a lot more slap stick and silly than actual abuse. What makes it work I think is that Megatron is not as crazy powerful as he is in later continuities, and Starscream responds to the abuse like a cartoon villain, immediately bouncing back and plotting his revenge, so it's funny rather than upsetting! I also find it hilarious how Megatron is weirdly nice to all the other Decepticons who aren't Starscream lmao? G1 Cartoon Megatron is a 10/10 for me.

If G1 cartoon's Megatron and Starscream are more on an even playing field, Prime Megatron is like the opposite of that. Prime Megatron is so impossibly powerful it almost feels like no one has a chance against him in a fight, and Prime Starscream is so scrunkly and small it's almost laughable. I think I feel the most pity for Prime Starscream when he gets beat up by Megatron, but he almost always makes up for it by being possibly the most evil of the Starscreams. I like how in the third season, he genuinely seems happy to finally dedicate himself fully to Megatron, but you just know how much he'd been beaten down and broken over and over again to even get to that point. Good for him for trying to get revenge in the sequel series. As for Megatron himself, I think more often than not when I am reading fics I see Prime Megatron in my head, and it's his voice I hear. What can I say, it was the first Transformers show I watched haha. Do I love how his redemption arc was handled? Not particularly, it sorta came out of nowhere, felt really rushed, and he just goes away anyway so we don't even get anything out of it. I like redemption arcs in general, but I don't necessarily think this particular Megatron needed one.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't think the 2005 IDW Megatron deserved one either, only because when it comes to over powered, unstoppable, irredeemably evil Megatrons, this one ranked right up there if we take into consideration everything he did before Dark Cybertron. His redemption does kinda come out of nowhere. But like, idk mang! It's also really fun? Like, Bumblebee carrying him around cuz his pants got blown off is hilarious! Him actually upset at Bumblebee's death and then taking Bumblebee's Autobot badge and putting it on over his own was sweet! Him dealing with the crazy crew of the Lost Light is a lot of fun! And him actually having to confronting and deal with what he's done (and other characters dealing with him dealing with it) is a lot more interesting than just him dying. idk. The comics have been around for years by that point, and passed through the hands of many writers, so if a little handwaving and a little contrivance and a little suspension of disbelief is what is required for us to have an honestly pretty fun take on Megatron, I think I'm okay with that.

I do have one complaint tho, mostly based on content I haven't read yet so take it with a grain of salt. I have been told that the adjacent series to the Lost Light Megatron stuff covers Starscream's side of the story and that it does actually address his abuse at the hands of Megatron. My problem is that apparently (and again I haven't read that far yet so this is just hearsay, but apparently) the writers on the Lost Light Megatron stuff didn't get the memo so while Megatron feels bad for and is working at redemption for all the evil war stuff he did to everyone, the one thing he doesnt regret is apparently his treatment of Starscream? Haha, like come on! on the one hand it's really disappointing to me because id like the catharsis of Megatron’s remorse, but...on the other hand, I guess it's kinda true to life actually. Your abusers are people, and they can change and grow and become better, but it doesnt mean they will ever become better for you. It doesnt mean they will ever apologize or even feel bad for what they did. Maybe theres something to be said about having to move on and heal without that. I guess whether this is a complaint I maintain will depend on how its handled.

I get that some people don't think Megatron should ever get a redemption arch, because he's an abuser, a monster, a tyrant, and an evil warlord, and it's completely fair for your stance to be that he should just be killed and that would be justice. I personally really like continuities that treat him more like just some guy. I think Starscream put it best in 2005 IDW during Megatron's trial when he said Megatron wasn't some political genius or the most gifted strategist. He wasn't even the most evil man. In IDW, Megatron started out as a social advocate from the lower class, and despite the problematic narrative of "the bad guy had a point and just did advocacy wrong/went too far," I think the idea that Megatron kinda got swept up by his own hype and was used by people and powers more devious than he is a compelling one.

Starscream is Starscream, so who knows how much of what he says is true and how much is him lying, but this idea just rings true to me. It humanizes him. If handled well, I'm honestly not opposed to stories redeeming Megatron. I'm also not opposed to stories treating him like the devil and just killing him lol. I love a character that can do both!

Uh uh, what else. Earthspark Megatron is nice, I like him. There's...a bit of cognitive dissonance in trying to reconcile the things he chastises Optimus Prime for and the idea that he still was a ruthless warlord at one point, both of which continue to be left unexplored. Transformers One Megatron is neat, I was worried going in how they would handle the switch from Orion Pax's brother to lets start a 4-6 million year war, but like, I like the way he actually was super okay with accepting his lot in life. Like obviously he didnt like it but he didnt see a point in fighting it, and that adamant complacency as a coping mechanism is what lead to his feelings of rage and betrayal by the end. Also I think its hilarious how much younger he is from all the other Decepticon high command, especially Starscream XD.

I don't think I've read or watched anything else with Megatron in it. Man, I wrote a lot. At the end of the day, Megatron is a good character, I like the role he plays in Transformers, I'm not like actually that interested in him on his own but more what he brings to the table when considering Starscream's character. You can't have one without the other! Do I ship them? No, not really, no more than any other ship. But I'll still read Megastar stuff cuz sometimes you just want to watch two people be toxic and make it hurt so good. I'll always prefer Trine stuff anyway ha! Have fun out there!

[idunnodudeijustwokeup]

I only want the fab 5 (+ Kori later on) when they are absolutely insane about each other. The most ride and die you will ever find.

They will never hesitate to square up again anyone who says anything bad about their team mates (and best friends (and lovers)), consistently checking in with each other even (and especially) when they are not meant/ supposed to.

I want them so fucking codependent but also completely unaware bc what do you mean you don’t constantly update your friend group everytime anything happens. What do you mean you don’t just break into your best friends house and sleep in their bed with them when you feel sad. What do you mean you keep secrets from your friends. What do you mean you don’t join your friends when they shower so you can continue your conversation. What do you mean you don’t know where every single scare on your best friend comes from. What do you mean you don’t call their dad a stupid motherfucker to his face. What do you mean you don’t know everything about your best friends.

I want them to have so many inside jokes that they are basically speaking a different language. I want them to share clothes and makeup and accessories to the point where nobody really remembers who owned what first. ( I want everyone to wear the other people’s merch always)

I want them to speak about their siblings like they are shared between the five of them. I want Tim to ask Donna a question when he is too embarrassed to ask Dick, and Cassie to ask Dick when she doesn’t want Donna to know, etc.

I want the mentors to be the other people’s aunt and uncles. ( I want the mentors and adults in their life to have a group chat where they try and help each other keep track of what their kids are doing bc gods know they won’t just tell them, so whenever they have a sleepover or a mission in one persons city, they let’s the rest of the mentors know. I also want the mentors to constantly send ‘baby’ photos and videos of their ‘kids’ in the group chat)

I want the dating history within the group to be so fucking confusing that you need a collage level lecture to understand it from the outside.

I want all of them to be married to other titans, but nobody really remembers who is married to who, especially since most of them are married to multiple people. ( a mix of Vegas weddings, undercover missions that took a turn, space rituals and traditions they got court up in, bets that were won and lost, and very intense dnd campaigns)

I want their private group chat to have more encryptions and protections than pentagon and the batcomputer put together. I want the GC to be filled with Drunken voice notes, homemade memes, pictures that should never see the light of day, secrets and jokes that would get them into soooo much trouble.

I want them to bring one or two titans along to family and work events. I want people to bet on which of the friends will go with Roy vs who will go as Dicks date to the fancy Galas, bc you can bet your ass they will be there as arm candy on their arms. (Having your friends at the Gala is the only thing that makes going to these Galas bearable). I want them to sneak out every time and go to a random fast food restaurant.

I want their fighting styles to be so engrained in each other that it is impossible to figure out who thought who what, and which of them was the first person to introduce this move into the equation.

I want outsiders to look at them and be confused if one of the OG titans are standing alone without one of the other titans. Do you see the vision?

[kiyomitakada]

AU where Sayu is there when Light tests the Death Note. She comes into his room and asks what he’s doing and he shows her the notebook like “check out this hilarious prank I found” and they start laughing about it like “omg are you gonna write someone’s name in it” and then of course Light does write a name down and the person dies. And he and Sayu both saw it happen live on TV

oh god. i really like this actually. i feel like light would try to hide it at first because he's embarrassed he even brought it home in the first place but sayu would snatch it away from him and go "lmao i didn't know you were into this kind of thing onii-chan" and light would relax and think why was i so stressed in the first place? it's just sayu. and then they test it, sayu egging light on, and otoharada kuro dies.

i feel like sayu would immediately panic. soichiro says in the hospital that he thinks sayu is the kind of person who would try kira's weapon on someone in school as a joke and have a breakdown upon them actually dying, and while soichiro is literally never home sayu does canonically blame herself for the death note being lost to mello (sayu you were literally kidnapped it's not your fault), so i'm inclined to take him as accurate here (plus he says nothing about what he thinks light would do with kira's weapon… so). light would probably act as the voice of reason just to reassure his sister (and himself) that they haven't just committed a murder. obviously it was a coincidence, sayu! don't be ridiculous, that's impossible, etc. etc. since light is #1 expert at believing his own lies this means he does actually relax a bit more than in canon.

now. do they test the book again? sayu would immediately want to destroy it i feel like. (morally questionable sayu interpretations are my beloved forever but in canon she's just a really sweet if mischievous kid who has a guilt complex the size of the sun, i'm going to go with firmly anti-magic killing weapon sayu for now.) light obviously wants to test it again, and has superficially convinced himself it was probably a coincidence haha sayu's so silly, so he might even go for a riskier target. maybe he tries writing down the next criminal who comes on the news and sayu has to yank the pencil away from him. at this point light realizes sayu is really really upset and apologizes and stows the notebook away, forcing himself not to think about any longer. sayu leaves the room.

this lasts for like maybe 30 minutes before light is like …………okay but what if it did work—

he tries a car accident this time, again with someone on the news. (heart attacks are ruled out because sayu would know.) aaaand yep it does work! congrats light you're a murderer now!

at this point i think the most likely course of action is the one outlined in this post by corviiids (very similar AU: sayu gets the death note first) where light still becomes kira, the yagami siblings both see ryuk, sayu realizes light is a serial killer and has a meltdown, light makes sayu give up her memories (promising falsely that he'll also do it right after) and then keeps the death note for himself, and canon proceeds as usual.

…what if sayu didn't give up her memories though. what if she screamed for her mother instead.

[himluv]

Spiral

Chapter 23(?!) of Say My Name (Say it Twice) is here! Find it below, or head over to AO3 to read from the beginning.

After a harrowing day in Isana Negat, Lucanis decides to finally tell Rook how he feels.

cw: PTSD, panic attacks

Lucanis reread the parchment for the third time. Teia had sent word, Viago’s people had found something. Something big enough that the Talons wanted to meet outside of the city. Outside of Illario’s reach.

Normally, he’d bring this straight to Rook. They needed to get to Dock Town, to the Cobbled Swan soon. And they would. But not tonight.

Tonight, he was just grateful they’d all made it out of Isana Negat alive. For a moment, he’d thought all was lost, that Rook and her big, soft, foolish heart chose to stay and die rather than leave Harding to the Titan’s rage. 

He would have run, had tried to get Rook to run. But, she’d refused, and of course he couldn’t leave her to face Harding alone. So, he’d followed her up to that stone platform, certain it was their final moments. 

And, yet again, Rook proved that he should know better than to doubt her heart. Against all odds, she’d reached Harding, soothed her rage and reminded her of who she really was under all that pain. Lucanis was still rocked with awe each time he thought of it. 

Was there anyone Rook couldn’t reach?

But, their misadventure in the mines also left him feeling uncertain. Not about Rook, he was more sure about her than ever, but about himself. She had done the impossible time and gain, but she was still mortal. And they were still hurtling toward a confrontation with two ancient, blighted gods. Even after all their wins, the odds of victory were long. Too long. And if the Cantori Diamond had taught him anything, it was that, eventually, their luck would run out. 

If something happened to them, shouldn’t she know how he felt? Could he survive losing her, knowing he’d never told her? But would it make her grief that much worse if he did, and he was the one lost? Or would the knowledge of his affection be a comfort in the aftermath?

Tell her, Spite hissed. You want. She wants.

Lucanis knew the demon was right. And, he could feel the gods’ noose tightening. When they did face Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain, it would be all or nothing. There were no guarantees anyone would survive, and they were running out of time. 

Yes. He would tell her. Now. He’d delayed long enough.

Yesssssss!

Lucanis left Teia’s message on his side table, checked his hair in the mirror, and stepped out into the dining hall. Dinner had been a quiet affair. Harding had promptly gone to her quarters and passed out upon their return. Taash had brought her dinner and also not returned. He and Rook had both been reserved, tired after the physically and emotionally draining day. 

As he crossed the courtyard, Lucanis felt a flicker of doubt. Maybe tonight wasn’t the right time. It’d been a difficult enough day without adding an emotional confession to the end of it. And there was still the matter of Illario and whatever Teia and Viago had learned. There was so much to do. 

And by that logic, he could put this off forever. 

No! Spite barked. Tell Rook. Tonight!

Right. If he waited for the perfect moment, he could always find a reason not to have this conversation. He was doing this. Now. 

It wasn’t a long walk to Rook’s quarters, but Lucanis took it slow, rehearsing in his mind what he would say to her. 

Rook. I don’t want to wait any longer. We might not have long and–

No. Too grim. 

Rook. I want… no, I need you–

No. Too clichéd. Even if it was true, he couldn’t steal his confession from the pages of one of his romance novels.   

Just. Tell her. The truth! Spite growled, the demon’s tone distinctly irritated. 

Right. The truth. He could do that. And Rook deserved to hear only the truth from him. He looked up when his path met with her door. He knew she was in there, because Spite had led him here and not to the music room. The truth. Just, tell her the truth. He took a deep, steadying breath, and then knocked on her door. 

It took a moment for her to answer, and when she did she peered around the door with a puzzled look on her face. 

“Lucanis?”

He gave her a tight smile. Mierda, he was nervous. “Rook, I–”

“Come in,” she said, swinging the door open. 

Right. Yes. Good. This wasn’t a conversation to be had in a hallway. He stepped through into the room and froze at the sight of the floor-to-ceiling aquarium. Behind him, he heard the door close. Heard Rook say something. Both sounds were muffled, as if heard from underwater. 

Nooooo, Spite hissed. No! Get out!

He was out. Had been out for months, but the shimmering blue light filtered through the water still turned his blood to ice.

Lucanis closed his eyes and took another deep breath. This was Rook’s room, not the Ossuary. Zara was dead. She couldn’t hurt him anymore. And he would never see that prison again. 

“Lucanis?”

That voice. Rook’s voice. She was the reason he was free, the one who had come to save him. And yet, when she put a tentative hand on his shoulder, he flinched. He spun to face her, hopefully camouflaging his knee-jerk response to her touch. 

“What’s wrong?” Her eyes darted across his face, searching for some clue.

“Nothing,” he lied. Which was stupid – it was painfully obvious something was very, very wrong.

Rook frowned at that and gestured to the green velvet chaise in the center of the room. “Maybe you should sit down.”

He nodded. His knees felt weak, his chest suddenly so heavy. Lucanis let Rook lead him to the chaise, his eyes on her hand where it hooked onto his elbow. He hadn’t noticed this touch – he was afire and frozen all at once. Was he breathing?

“Rook,” he said before she could drag him any closer to the glass. His voice sounded strange. Far away and thin. He licked his lips, eyes darting at the aquarium glass, then back to her face. Breathe. Just breathe and say what you came to say. “Rook, I–”

Neve’s voice rang through his head, ‘even mentioning the Ossuary sends you spiraling.’

Spiraling? No! Spite shouted, face pressed to the glass. DROWNING!

“Lucanis?” Again, her voice pulled him back. And when he saw the concern, the fear in her eyes, he knew the real truth. 

He closed his eyes. “Rook, I can’t.” He turned his back on the glass wall, blinking back panicked tears. Mierda, what was happening to him?

Rook stood beside him, her hand still at his elbow. Then she cursed. “Shit! It’s the aquarium isn’t it?”

She didn’t wait for him to reply. She dragged him from her quarters and down to the music room. He followed her, numb and panting against the frozen blocks of his ribcage. It wasn’t until she pressed him down into his usual chair that he felt like his head was back above water. 

Slowly, his chest loosened and he was able to take slow, deep breaths. Eventually, his pulse settled and he became more aware of his surroundings. Rook crouched before him, a hand on his knee. Her other hand was in his, gripped tight. 

“Hey,” she said as he blinked at her. 

He leaned back, resting his head against the wall and covering his face in both hands. Then he let out a string of profanities that would make Teia proud. 

After a beat of silence, Rook said, “I think I understood most of that.”

Lucanis groaned from behind his hands. Leave it to her to tease him at a moment like this.

“Are you okay?” She asked. 

He took a deep breath and felt the last shards of icy panic break away. “I’m all right,” he said. Still, he kept his face covered. 

“Will you look at me?”

No. He didn’t want to see her concern. Or her tenderness. He didn’t want to face the proof that she’d seen him at his worst. He would rather vanish into dust than look at her in that moment. 

“Give me a moment,” he said.

“Okay.”

He expected her to move, to sit at the piano, maybe even to play, but Rook did not leave his side. Her hand stayed on his knee, rubbing gentle, soothing circles above his kneecap. For a moment he let her touch anchor him, his mind swirling like crema in a freshly brewed cup of coffee. 

Mierda, he needed a drink. 

What was the matter with him? How could an aquarium unravel him so completely? How could Rook ever trust him after this? How could he fulfill his contract, how could he keep her safe if all it took to unmake him was a glass wall of water? This was worse than he’d realized. He was worse.

When he didn’t speak or move for what felt like ages, Rook tapped his knee. “Lucanis?”

He grunted.

“I can hear you thinking.”

Lucanis sighed and let his hands fall into his lap. But he kept his face tilted up toward the ceiling. He couldn’t look at her. 

“It’s okay,” she said. “You shouldn’t feel embarrassed.” Rook shook her head. “I should have realized the aquarium might bring up… bad memories. I should have warned you.”

“You can’t take the blame for everything, Rook.” His voice sounded so tired, even to him. 

“No,” she said. “But, I can try.”

He shook his head. “And why would you warn me? It’s not like you expected me to knock on your door.”

A beat of silence hung between them. “Not tonight, no,” she said. “But, I thought, maybe, eventually–”

Lucanis looked down at her in surprise. Did she mean…? She thought about him coming to her room? In the middle of the night?

Judging from her blush, yes. Yes, she did.

Rook smiled up at him. “There you are.”

He didn’t look away from her, even though he desperately wanted to. He felt… fragile. Like a single misplaced touch would shatter him and he’d fall to pieces all over again. But, if there was anyone he trusted not to break him, it was Rook. Lucanis put his hand on hers where it still rested on his knee, squeezed her fingers in his. 

He could tell her how he felt, now, and she would accept him just as he was – fragile and half-shattered. He knew that, deep in his chest. He felt her acceptance in the weight of her hand on his knee, in the weight of her gaze. He should tell her now. He wanted to. 

But hadn’t this… episode proved him right? Like Neve had said, with everything he was dealing with, how was it right for him to squeeze Rook in? He’d thought he was ready, but he couldn’t even step inside her room. There was still so much he needed to do, needed to deal with before he could pull her into his life and not hate himself for it. 

Lucanis squeezed her hand one more time, and then released her. Rook took the cue and removed her hand from his knee. His leg tingled at the loss of her touch. 

Rook stood and put her hands on her hips. “So, what did you come to talk to me about?”

Lucanis stared at her for two panicky heartbeats, then remembered Teia’s message. “Viago and Teia sent word. They want to talk. About Illario.”

Spite growled from behind Rook at mention of his cousin.

“Whatever it is, they wish to speak away from Treviso. Away from anyone who might be listening. They won’t put more to paper.”

“Oh,” she said. She sounded disappointed. 

“I need to meet with them, as soon as possible.”

“All right,” she said, nodding. “We’ll head out first thing tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Rook,” he said. He hoped the weight of his voice told her he meant it for more than just their impending trip to Minrathous. 

“Of course, Lucanis,” she said, and the warmth in her eyes told him she understood completely. Just as she always did. 

Lucanis couldn’t bring himself to confess his feelings to Rook now. Not after this mess. But he was also desperate not to be alone just yet. 

“Rook?” He called as she turned toward the door. 

She stopped and looked at him. 

“Can I ask another favor?”

She smiled. “Always.”

He smiled at that, even as he felt the heat bloom in his cheeks. “Will you play for me?”

She laughed. “Now?”

He shrugged. “If it’s a bother–”

Rook waved his words away and sat at the piano. “I did say ‘any time’.”

“You did,” he murmured. He watched, rapt, as she settled into the instrument. She played the same notes she’d hunted out that first night he’d found her in this room, but she’d obviously been practicing. Her fingers were sure as they danced across the keys, drawing the song out, coaxing it into a reverberating being with such tenderness it made him ache. 

Lucanis had attended more than his fair share of operas, had listened to live musicians countless times at parties in Villa Dellamorte and in the close intimacy of cafés. None of them compared to Rook playing for him –privately– at his request. 

He had basically zero experience with what made him… want. But in that moment, watching Rook’s hands, seeing the expression on her face shift to match the tone of the song, Lucanis’s whole body suffused with delicious heat. He always wanted Rook, in some low, background fashion. But this was different, pointed and–

Hungry, Spite hissed. 

Yes. It felt a lot like hunger. Or, a craving. He’d expected his feelings for her to diminish in the wake of his embarrassment, but instead they only seemed stronger. That she could see him like that, and still care? It made something in his chest open up, vibrating like the notes through the room. Lucanis felt uncoiled and strung tight all at once, so much so that he had to close his eyes and focus on his breathing. 

He couldn’t tell Rook how he felt now, because if he did he didn’t think he could keep from devouring her whole. That wasn’t what he wanted when they finally spoke about this… thing developing between them. He didn’t want reckless passion and possible regrets in the aftermath. He wanted them both to be sure, to have no illusions or misunderstandings. And right now he was too twisted up with his panic and Illario.

So, he took his pleasure in the music she played for him, imagined her sitting at the instrument in Villa Dellamorte’s ballroom, maybe in an elegant, backless dress that shimmered as golden as the sunset in Arlathan Forest. It was a pleasing thought, one Lucanis was more than happy to sit with for as long as Rook wanted to play.  

They would go to Minrathous tomorrow and deal with whatever news the Talons had about his cousin. And maybe, after, he could finally tell her how he truly felt. 

[techhiz]

Can I request a ES Bumblebee x femme s/o reader who is a autobot medic where like in the aftermath of episode 18 where bumblebee gets his energon taken with like his s/o worrying after him but also nagging him to be more careful and they just end up cuddling in the end so like a lotta fluffy fluff stuff happening

A Medic's Worry.

Bumblebee groaned softly as he shifted on the repair slab in the medbay. The aftermath of his encounter with Mandroid and his energy being drained had left him utterly spent. His optics dimmed as his systems struggled to regulate themselves. Though the Malto kids and their Terran siblings had done their best to help, the toll on his body was undeniable.

But what really made him feel worse was the look on your face when you saw him like this.

You stormed into the medbay, a mix of worry and frustration written all over your features. Being a medic wasn’t just a job for you—it was your way of protecting those you loved. And seeing Bumblebee, your Bumblebee, in such a state tore at your spark.

"Primus, Bee!" you exclaimed, quickly moving to his side. Your hands hovered over his frame, not wanting to aggravate any unseen damage. "What were you thinking?!"

Bumblebee winced at your tone, his usual bravado nowhere to be found. "Hey, Y/N... good to see you too."

"Don’t you 'good to see you' me," you snapped, though your hands were already working, scanning him for lingering damage. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it was to go up against Mandroid without backup? You could’ve been deactivated! Your energon levels are dangerously low, your systems are barely holding steady, and—"

"Y/N," Bumblebee interrupted gently, reaching out to place a hand over yours. His touch was weak, but it was enough to stop your tirade. "I’m okay."

Your optics narrowed as you glared at him. "You’re not okay, Bumblebee. You’re far from okay."

He sighed, his helm lowering. "I know. I just... I had to protect the kids. They needed me."

Your expression softened at his words. Of course, he’d risk himself for others. It was one of the reasons you loved him, but that didn’t make it any easier to see him hurt.

"You’re always so selfless," you murmured, running a hand gently along the side of his helm. "But you need to take care of yourself too, Bee. What would I do if I lost you?"

Bumblebee’s optics brightened slightly at the emotion in your voice. "You’re not gonna lose me," he promised. "I’ll always come back to you."

You let out a shaky sigh, your spark aching at the thought of almost losing him. "You’d better," you muttered, leaning in to rest your forehead against his. "Because I don’t think I could handle it if you didn’t."

You worked tirelessly, repairing the minor damage and stabilizing his systems. Bumblebee remained still, occasionally glancing at you with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.

"You really don’t need to fuss this much," he said softly as you adjusted a connection.

You shot him a sharp look. "Don’t even start, Bee. I’ll fuss as much as I want. You almost went offline, and I’m not taking any chances."

"Okay, okay," he said with a small chuckle, though it quickly turned into a wince.

"Serves you right," you muttered, though there was no heat in your words.

Despite your stern demeanor, your touch was impossibly gentle as you worked. Bumblebee couldn’t help but watch you, his spark swelling with affection. Even when you were scolding him, he knew it came from a place of love.

Hours later, Bumblebee was finally stable. His systems were functioning normally again, though his energy levels were still lower than you’d like.

You sat beside him, exhaustion evident on your face. "There," you said softly. "That should do it. But you’re going to need rest—and lots of it."

Bumblebee smirked weakly. "Does that mean I get to skip training tomorrow?"

"Training?" You gave him a pointed look. "You’re lucky if I let you out of this medbay for the next week."

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Guess I’ll be in your care for a while, then."

"Guess so," you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips.

Bumblebee shifted slightly, making room for you on the slab. "C’mere," he said, patting the space beside him.

You hesitated for a moment before climbing up to sit beside him. He wrapped an arm around you, pulling you close.

"You’re too reckless," you murmured, resting your head against his shoulder.

"And you’re too amazing," he replied, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your helm.

The two of you sat in silence for a while, the medbay filled with the soft hum of his systems. You traced absent patterns on his plating, your touch light and soothing.

"I’m sorry for worrying you," Bumblebee said after a while, his voice barely above a whisper.

You looked up at him, your optics meeting his. "Just promise me you’ll be more careful," you said softly.

"I promise," he said, his tone earnest.

Satisfied, you leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. Bumblebee’s optics flickered, a soft smile spreading across his face.

"I love you, Y/N," he said, his voice full of warmth.

"I love you too, Bee," you replied, your voice just as tender.

As the night went on, the two of you stayed curled up together, finding comfort in each other’s presence. Bumblebee held you close, his grip firm yet gentle, as if he never wanted to let you go.

And for the first time since the ordeal with Mandroid, he felt truly at peace. (sorry if I had some mistakes because its been a long time since I watched ES so I think I'll rewatch it!)

[wrenaspun]

what about the prompt that damen starts dating laurent but laurent thinks it's only casual to damen and is dying inside while damen is planning for their future 👀

👀 👀

Damen’s hands were warm on Laurent’s hips, grounding, the sole point of steadiness in a dizzy world. His eyes were very dark. Laurent’s whole body was flushed and trembling. He’d lost track of how long they’d been in bed together; he knew his thighs were sore. His back was sore. He could barely keep himself moving, but the thought of stopping was unbearable. He hadn’t known anything could feel this good.

Damen pushed up into him, grip tightening, and Laurent felt another impossible pulse of searing pleasure, heard himself make another helpless, embarrassing noise. He was submerged in sensation, utterly conquered by the sweep of Damen’s thumbs over his skin. Coming was almost irrelevant. He wanted to stay like this forever.

Underneath him, eventually, Damen’s body tightened as it did when he was close. “Laurent,” he said, and just the sound of his voice was sensual, rough and fucked-out. Laurent shuddered, a breath away from coming. Damen kept murmuring to him, endearments, encouragement, praise, and then one hand moved to stroke softly up Laurent’s side — and it was that which brought Laurent over the edge of pleasure, the sweet touch which was impossible to defend against.

Laurent’s body was weak and shaky in the aftermath, overwhelmed. Damen gathered him close, kissed his cheek, the tip of his nose, his slack mouth, and that was also impossible to defend against, in a slightly different way. Laurent’s heart ached, but he was never strong enough to deny himself this, the tender moments after their lovemaking when he had an excuse to cling to Damen, to nuzzle close and breathe him in.

“Lovely,” Damen was saying now. Pleasure always left him loose-limbed and loose-lipped, prone to saying horrible things. Like now: “Sweetheart. You look so lovely like that, taking your pleasure. I missed you.” He kissed Laurent’s temple. Laurent had been roped into visiting Auguste over the weekend; two whole days they hadn’t seen each other. Damen’s arm was slung over Laurent’s waist, their legs tangling together like he wanted to erase the memory of their separation. “Will you stay for dinner?”

The first time Damen had said something like that, Laurent had kept his wits about him enough to keep smiling. “You don’t have to flatter me,” he’d said. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

Damen had just furrowed his brow, looking earnestly confused. “I’m just telling the truth.” He’d kissed Laurent’s bare shoulder, soft, very tender.

That was just the kind of person he was, Laurent had realised. He was open-hearted, always willing with his affections… He was entirely earnest when he called Laurent his sweetheart, said he was lovely, wonderful, precious. It didn’t mean — what Laurent wanted it to mean. It didn’t mean what it would have meant if Laurent was the one saying it. Sometimes he wondered how Damen would talk to a real partner, someone he really loved instead of a convenient rebound hookup, and his heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He hated that person already.

“Yes,” said Laurent now. And realised, with a humiliated flush, that he’d come straight to Damen’s flat after work, that if he went to his apartment now there wouldn’t be any food in the pantry. He’d expected this invitation so intrinsically that it hadn’t even registered as an expectation.

Damen stretched and got up, all rippling muscle and smooth motion, moving with the ease which came with perfect command over his own body. He kissed Laurent once more, said he’d be in the kitchen, and left.

Laurent rolled over and buried his face in Damen’s pillow. He needed to get a grip. One of these days Damen was going to do something casually nice by his standards and Laurent would just stop functioning. He was barely managing now. He knew better than to expect anything of a man who’d just come reeling out of an engagement, but — he was barely managing now. He made a noise of abject despair into the sympathetic pillow, then got up and wrapped one of Damen’s shirts around himself and went into the kitchen.

Damen looked over and grinned to see him, heart-stoppingly gorgeous. “Sweetheart,” he said, abandoning the vegetables he was stir-frying to come over and press a kiss to Laurent’s mouth. And then, looking almost shy, he gestured to a little vase overbrimming with bright flowers: “I almost forgot. Happy three months.”

Laurent stopped functioning.

[141wh0re]

Chapter 1: Echoes of The Past

Summary: You've been hard at work, managing a run down pub, trying to get things back in order. It just so happens that one of your favourite regulars is also your long-lost brother. He'd been careful, enough. He only paid with cash, used his alias, and never let your gaze linger long enough to risk being recognised by you. He couldn't risk it. Yet. Older brother Simon x younger sister reader CW: Dark themes, swearing, minor angst, alcohol usage, smoking, mentions of child abuse & neglect.

3.6k words

AN: This is a forbidden, taboo romance. Spoiler alert - incest to come.

He knew it was you. He’d know those eyes anywhere, no matter how long it had been since he’d last seen you. Twenty years, ten months, and six days to be exact. And somehow, you still held most of the same characteristics you had as a little girl. 

Simon stood at the bus stop with his eyes zeroed in on your frame across the street. You were on break from your shift at the pub, smoking a cigarette. It hurt him to see you so grown up, so different, yet so familiar all the same. He noticed the difference between you, and the little girl you were when he left. 

You were taller now. No longer underweight from the years of abuse and neglect, no, you’d filled out now. Curvy hips, ample chest, and a round ass. And your features were still very much your own, though with a mix of your mother’s. 

It was as equally haunting as it was alluring. He couldn’t believe you were here, working one of his usual haunts outside of base. He thought it was too good to be true when he laid his eyes on you, standing behind the bar, looking so familiar, yet so different from how he left you. It was a decision that would haunt him until his last days, but he had to do it for you. To make sure you got out safely. 

But you were none the wiser to who he was. He could see the absence of recognition in your eyes, and he was an idiot to feel angry that you didn’t recognize him. How could you recognize him? The last time you saw him, he was an eighteen-year-old boy, scrawny, underweight, without a single scar on his face. 

She still should’ve been able to recognize my eyes.

If you couldn’t recognize him as your long-lost-older brother, you’d at least recognize him as a regular patron of the pub.

He rolled out his shoulders before crossing the damp road. His skull balaclava was secured over his features, ensuring only his eyes were visible. Rough, calloused hands were shoved into the front of his hoodie pocket, keeping a brisk gait to his steps. 

“Yes, mum. I’m fine. No, we don’t need any more food. I do know how to cook, y’know.” Simon kept his head bowed as he eavesdropped on your conversation over the phone. Mum?  But she’s- His face fell behind his mask as realization set in. You weren’t talking to your biological mother, because she’s dead. It would be impossible for you to have a phone call with a dead woman, unless you were crazy, but Simon was sure you had most of your sanity intact. Mostly. 

His fists clenched in his pockets, and he felt his jaw set in irritation. She’s not your real mother.

“I gotta go. I love you too- bye!” You quickly hung up the phone as Simon reached the doors of the bar. 

“Hey, Ghost. Fancy seeing you here,” You greeted in a chipper tone, flashing a dazzling smile in his direction.

Simon paused the moment you said his alias. His shoulders relaxed upon seeing the dazzling smile on your lips.

“‘Ey, luv. Alright tonight?” He responded in a gruff tone, trying to swallow down every emotion rapidly rushing to the surface just from seeing you again.

You nodded while drawing a final hit from your cigarette, snuffing it out against the aged, brick wall behind you. “Yeah, yeah. How are you doin’?” 

“Same shit, different day.” He shrugged, then held the door open for you, allowing you to enter the pub ahead of him. 

It was particularly dead tonight. Just the way Simon liked it, absent of rowdy patrons. A crew of men in their fifties sat around a booth, watching an MMA fight on one of the overhead TVs, nursing their pints and greasy food. 

Simon sat atop his usual barstool at the far end of the bar. It was the only spot that allowed him to keep his eyes on all exit and entry points, without feeling the constant need to look over his shoulder. 

“Double shot of Kentucky bourbon, neat? Right?” You asked, drawing his attention back to you. 

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips under his balaclava, and he gave a gentle nod. “Tha’s righ’,” He responded, attempting to keep his tone indifferent. 

He watched with rapt attention as you poured his drink. His brow quirked with mild impressment when he noticed you pour without measuring, but by counting alone. Only seasoned bartenders could do such a thing without under-pouring, and upsetting their patrons, or over-pouring and upsetting management. It was obvious you knew what you were doing. 

Seeing you like this was a stark contrast from the toddler that used to spill the juice jug all over the kitchen counter, only successfully managing to pour a third of it into your Winnie The Pooh cup, and the rest on the floor and counter. 

He wonders if you remember that.. If you remember any of the good moments of your shared childhood. 

Simon murmured a quiet, ‘Thanks’ as you set the glass on the coaster in front of him. “Kitchen closes in an hour, if you want anything.” You informed him while leaning against the bar. “Mm. I’ll take some mozzarella sticks.” 

His heart ached in his chest when he saw you flash that dazzling smile at him again. 

“Comin’ right up.” 

Simon couldn’t tear his gaze away from you while you input his order into the POS system. Everything you did now, you did with such grace and fluidity. You were an entirely different person now, no longer a shy, clumsy little girl. No. You were a full-grown woman now. 

He’d missed so much. Due to his actions, he missed out on the better part of your life. He missed your rebellious teenage years, early adulthood, and watching you become the young woman you are now. But he had to remind himself that it was for your safety. 

Everything Simon did for you was to protect you. If he had let you stay, who knows how fucked up you would’ve turned out. Had your father had his way with you, and your mother never changed her compulsive need to remain ignorant to any wrongdoings done by her husband, there’s no telling how much worse off you’d be. How much worse your trauma would’ve been, had he not called the proper authorities to have you placed in a girl’s home. 

At least you weren’t violated by the man who created you. Simon made damn sure of that. 

Simon’s thoughts were interrupted when you returned with a diner basket of mozzarella sticks. The delicious smells of garlic and Italian seasonings wafted towards his nose, making his mouth water at the sight of the fried cheese. A feeling of nostalgia tugged at his heartstrings as a memory flashed to the forefront of his mind, a memory he’d long since forgotten, until now that is. 

The distinct smells of carnival foods flooded his senses. A small hand gripped onto his larger hand, so small and so soft. Bright lights from various carnival rides and food trucks took up residence in the once vacant lot, providing fun and entertainment for couples, and families alike. Carnival music played over the speakers of the rides, accompanied by the delighted shrieks of adrenaline-addled kids. 

Your eyes were as wide as saucers as you took in the sight of all the sweets and fun that awaited you. The tear streaks that previously marred your cheeks now dried, once your big brother came to your rescue. He did what any rebellious teen would do, and disobeyed their father. The same man who made you cry by refusing to take you to the carnival to celebrate your sixth birthday, the only thing you’d asked to do, and yet it was shot down without a second thought. Simon had to take matters into his own hands to give you the birthday you deserved, a birthday worth remembering. 

“And what’s first on Bug’s Birthday Agenda?” Simon asked, lifting up your small form to sit atop his shoulders. 

You had felt as if you were on top of the world. Sitting up so high on your big brother’s shoulders, you felt as if you could touch the sky. And he encouraged you to, wanting nothing more than for you to feel the freedom of a day as a normal child, without all the fear and anxiety you were burdened to live with. The burden of being the spawn of  Bruce Riley. 

“Cheese sticks!”  You exclaimed enthusiastically. 

Simon couldn’t wipe the grin from his lips if he tried. “Mozzarella sticks, Bug. Mozzarella.” He corrected, chuckling softly. 

“How are they?” You asked, bringing him back to the present. 

“Good. Uh, yeah. Good.” He answered, clearing his throat. He felt a warmth creep up the back of his neck, feeling as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Mm.. and that’s why you haven’t touched them?” You remarked, raising an inquisitive brow while narrowing your gaze on him with a playful suspicion. 

Simon swallowed the lump in his throat. You’d completely thrown him off balance with your remark, catching him in the act. But he wasn’t about to key you in on the little secret he was harboring, at least not yet, anyway. He at least owed you somewhat of an explanation, to quell the curiosity swirling in your mind. 

“Someone… I was rather close with, she loved mozzarella sticks… she was practically convinced they were a food group in and of ‘emselves.” He admitted after a moment. 

A grin split your soft lips, and he watched as you leaned against the bar, propping your elbow on the bar, and resting your chin in your hand. “Sounds like she had good taste.” 

“Impeccable.” Simon agreed, unable to resist giving an amused chuff. 

His amber eyes flitted up to meet yours. How desperately he wanted to reminisce with you, and remind you of all your adventures with him. Simon may have been ten years older, but you were his little beacon, in the rotten pit of hell called ‘home’, you were his bright light. He never got to thank you for that, for being his light. 

“How long you been a bartender?” Simon asked just before he lifted the edge of his mask to sit just above his lips, revealing a pale, jagged scar that slanted across the top left lip, and ran until it reached the edge of his clean-shaven chin, taking a bite of a mozzarella stick. 

He didn’t miss the way your gaze flitted down to the scar. Your eyes flickered with lingering curiosity, wanting to ask the questions burning at the forefront of your mind. But you were too polite for that, having been taught proper manners from your adoptive mother. 

“Too long,” you joked, flashing him your familiar grin.

He hummed thoughtfully, amused by your response.

Simon was familiar with your work history. He’d been watching you for years, keeping track of your whereabouts. After you were adopted from the girl’s home, he hired an investigator to do some digging on your adoptive family, and ensure they were upstanding citizens who’d give you nothing but the best. The wife was a grade school teacher, and the husband was an aviation mechanic for the regional airport. And they only had one other child, a daughter a few years younger than yourself.

They’d moved around a bit to follow the money. Which was good, it meant you were being properly cared for. There were no signs of abuse within the household, and you seemed to still be close with them, if the earlier phone call was any indication. Simon was happy for you, but still felt a bitter ache from having to remove you from his life. 

But he wouldn’t do that anymore. He was happy to learn you were promoted from a shift lead to Assistant General Manager for the pub chain, and when he found out you would be transferring to the city just outside of 141’s HQ? He couldn’t help himself, he couldn’t have you just within arms reach, only to let you go again.

He’d selfishly insert himself back into your life before he ever let that happen again. 

“Not that I’m judging, but I have to ask…” You started, narrowing your eyes as you studied his balaclava. “What’s with the mask?” 

Simon’s lip twitched beneath the material. His sharp, honey eyes locked onto your gaze. Weren’t you a curious one? Though, you’d made it several weeks before asking, which is more than anyone else normally had made it.

“Hide my face.” He shrugged noncommittally, knowing the answer was likely frustrating to you in an underwhelming way. 

“Hmm..” You hummed, letting your gaze linger on the enigma of the man before you. 

“You settlin’ in alright in the city?” Simon wondered, remembering that you’d moved here only just under a month ago to start your new life.

Your bright smile tugged at his heartstrings. Your smile could light up the world around you, it always had. He was happy to see that smile hadn’t changed one bit, it was still just as bright, just as full of life as it had been when you were little. But Simon could vividly remember the days where a few of your teeth were missing at a time, having lost your two front baby teeth within a few weeks of each other. That toothless, toothy grin would forever be ingrained in his memory. 

But he noticed your adult teeth were much straighter. Perfectly straight, even. He guessed you had braces sometime in your teenage years, knowing firsthand the lack of routine maintenance due to your father’s neglect, and your mother’s inability to convince him his three children needed dental care. He wouldn’t dare pay for anything, if it cut into the cost of his booze. 

Simon needed braces himself. And that’s exactly what he did the moment he had enlisted, finding the first dentist that would take him. He had his wisdom teeth pulled, and braces put on, which finally alleviated the constant aches he had suffered through, even if it was short-lived from having a few teeth knocked out. At least he no longer had the horrid, crooked bottom teeth. 

No one has to know a few of his teeth are fake. 

“It’s going really well. My neighbours are all pleasant, and a bit older, so I won’t have to deal with any rowdiness. My younger sister and I went to IKEA, and bought a bunch of furniture to set up a cosy, little study nook for her.” 

Simon listened intently as you gushed about your new flat. It amused him, finding it endearing how such domesticity made you so happy. 

“How’s she likin’ uni?” He inquired.

“She seems happy. Said her professors are helpful, and they seem to care about their students actually being successful in their classes. Though, her economics professor seems like a prick.” 

A gruff chuckle rolled from the back of his throat. He couldn’t help but to be amused by your brash words, coming from such a sweet thing as yourself. 

Part of him couldn’t help to wonder why you’d done it. Why had you transferred to this bar? Was it for your career? Was it to help keep your sister safe?  Or did you do it in hopes to lessen the homesickness your sister would eventually feel, after the excitement of being in a new area began to wane, being so far from home for an extended period of time?  

He had so much he would have to learn about you. While you still looked very much like his little sister, you were an entirely new person. You’d lived several lifetimes without him, and he was eager to learn about the current one you were living, hoping there was still some semblance of his Bug locked in the back of your mind. Simon would pay for every one of his sins, as long as it meant he could have a fracture of the light you exuded back in his life. He’d move heaven and hell to quell the homesickness he’d felt for all these years apart, but it wasn’t homesickness for the hell he’d grown up in, it was homesickness for a person. For you. 

His Bug. 

It was busier tonight than when Simon was last here. But the night would soon be coming to a close, so he wasn’t entirely concerned about it. Most of the patrons typically left the pub just before eleven, and especially with the storm due to hit soon, people would be scrambling to get back to their homes to avoid being caught in a torrential downpour. Simon didn’t mind the rain, he’d take it over the recent dust storm he’d been caught in on his latest deployment. 

Two girls worked behind the bar this evening. He glanced around in search of you, hoping you were working tonight. And to his relief, one of the girls had retrieved you from the back office, informing you that her shift had ended. He sank down on his usual bar stool, silently observing the interaction, patiently waiting for the right moment to get your attention. It wasn’t long, because you’d spotted him before he even had to say anything. 

“Hey. The usual, I presume?”  You asked, already retrieving a scotch glass from the shelf. 

“‘Course,” he answered in a rough voice.

His throat still felt raw and scratchy from the yelling that ensued on his most recent op. The dust storms his team were exposed to didn’t help either. It left his nose and throat irritated, despite wearing his mask, and a keffiyeh. He was content to be back in a damper climate, like England. 

Somewhere that didn’t dry out his nasal cavity, and cause nosebleeds in his sleep. 

Simon took in your appearance. His sharp eyes picked up on the slight bags of your under eyes, and the way your shoulders were slightly slumped.

“Long day, luv?” He asked with a curious eye following your movements. 

You sucked in a drawn out breath, releasing it as a sigh. “You could say that.”  You answered as you set his drink on the coaster. 

“Kitchen is closed, unfortunately.” 

“Good thing ‘m only ‘ere f’r the whisky then.” He retorted, pulling a gentle laugh from you.

Simon decided not to bother you too much with the pub being busier than the nights he was normally in. The night slowly began winding down, and patrons filed out one by one. Simon’s gaze was trained on the window, watching the storm clouds open up, dumping water into the streets. Thunder rumbled just beyond the walls of the pub, and he didn’t miss the way you startled at the booming sound.

She’s still afraid of thunderstorms… 

Simon had to bite back a smirk beneath his balaclava. Even in your youth, you startled easily from thunderstorms. He had countless memories of being woken in the middle of the night to your small form scrambling into his bed, desperately seeking refuge from the anxiety-inducing thunder, and blinding flashes of lightning. 

He could never refuse you then. It was his duty to keep you safe, and soothe your fears. 

“Not a fan of thunder?” He couldn’t resist the urge to tease you. 

You shook your head with a wry smile on your lips. The register clicked closed, having finished your nightly counts. “Not in the slightest,” you answered with a soft chuckle, “It’s been that way since I was little.” 

Simon hummed thoughtfully. He glanced down at his finished glass of whisky, tongue poking his cheek beneath his mask. He knew he should get going, so you could finish closing up the pub. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to come off his stool, and especially after hearing your confession. 

“You know it can’t hurt you while indoors, right?” He tried to soothe, still keeping a humorous lilt in his smooth tone. 

“You couldn’t have convinced me of that as a child. I always feared lightning would come right through the window, and grab me.” 

He gave an amused huff, shaking his head. Simon was well aware of how difficult it was to convince you that the lightning couldn’t harm you. He’d gone as far as teaching you to count the seconds between each crackle of lightning, hoping it would ease you if you knew the distance of where the lightning was striking. It was a useful trick he picked up from an American student, in his youth, and was happy to pass that knowledge off to his baby sister. 

Lightning struck close by. Simon watched your head snap towards the window, and heard the sharp intake of breath. Thunder rumbled the pub once more, and with it, went the lights. Your hands gripped the edge of the bar, knuckles turning white when a haunted look flashed behind your eyes, and Simon could just barely make it out, but he saw it. There was no hiding the fear and anxiety rapidly rearing its ugly head. 

Shit. 

He knew that look all too well. The way your eyes glazed over, the rigidness of your spine. He’d seen it plenty of times within his career, close to two decades witnessing that look. Physically, you were here— but mentally, he had no idea where you were. But if he had to guess… it was somewhere you’d both rather not think about.

“Hey.. hey.” Simon gently started, pulling your attention back to him. “Where’d ya go, luv?”

“S-sorry. Sorry.” you chuckled nervously, shaking your head to clear your thoughts. 

The panic pulsing through you was tangible. Simon knew he had to calm you down, had to get you back to the present. In a last ditch effort, before he could even think about it, he uttered the words he hadn’t spoken in years. 

“Count ‘em, bug.” 

[whizzing-fizzbee]

Masterlist

Figured it was time I put together a masterlist of my fics. Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to read, comment or even skim my work. I appreciate you more than anything. Works are below the cut.

Common tropes you'll find in my work:

I'm a sucker for friends to lovers and mutual pining. It's literally in 99% of my work and I'm not sorry for it. I also love writing dialogue that's full of banter, which is why my MCs tend to have a bit of a snarky attitude. I'm also big on happy endings, so you'll rarely find tragic demise in my stories. I don't believe in slut/kink shaming or sexual oppression, meaning most of my MCs are openly sexual.

Key:

Pink: Smut warning (18+ / MDNI / I do not write smut involving minors) Blue: On hold

Hogwarts Legacy

Chapter Fics

Arm's Length - Sebastian Sallow x Female MC Her story with Sebastian Sallow is supposed to be over. She’s now a seventh year with classes, friends and cute classmates to fill her time. She no longer has any use for that stupid Slytherin, especially after he made it clear he has no use for her. So when he starts to claw his way back into her life, she’ll fight like hell to keep him at arm’s length. It's a fight she’ll always lose. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

Don't Blame Me - Sebastian Sallow x Original Female Character When Sebastian Sallow learns the new fifth year, Iridessa Markes, has magical powers that could lead to a cure for his sister, he decides to use his charisma and charm to manipulate her into helping him. They form a friendship that morphs into a strong bond teetering toward romance. But Sebastian will soon learn that the new girl might be even more manipulative than he is. In other words, what happens when a manipulative, morally obscure person meets an even more manipulative, morally obscure person? AO3 | Read on Tumblr

One-shots

Guilty As Sin - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You’re a sinner and tonight, Sebastian Sallow is a saint. In other words, it’s your last night at Hogwarts and you can’t help but fantasize over your best friend. Luckily, he’s happy to turn your daydreams into reality. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

This Is How It Starts - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You're going absolutely, utterly mental. Your boyfriend, Andrew Larson, hasn't touched you in weeks and you're growing desperate. When he's unwilling to help relieve your sexual tension, your best friend, Sebastian Sallow, always has your back. AO3 | Read on Tumblr | Read the sequel

Show Me What Love Is - Sebastian Sallow x Reader Sequel to This Is How It Starts. In the weeks after your breakup with Andrew Larson, you and Sebastian Sallow waste no time making up for lost time. But it's impossible to study for your N.E.W.T.s when you can't keep your hands off each other. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

Numb Without You - Sebastian Sallow x Reader Sebastian Sallow, who happens to be your boyfriend, becomes irate when you agree to be Leander Prewett's dueling partner in Crossed Wands. He tries his best to punish you, but lust has a way of softening even the sharpest tempers. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

If I Had A Gun - Sebastian Sallow X Original Female Character Sebastian Sallow has been in love with his best friend, Sophia Kane, since their fifth year. Now in their seventh year, Sebastian struggles with his feelings while their future seems uncertain. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

The Pact - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You and your best friend, Sebastian Sallow, made a pact on your 18th birthday: the two of you would get married if you were both single at age 25. Now it's your 25th birthday and neither of you have a spouse. In other words, two best friends realize they wasted years on unspoken feelings and mutual pining. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

Girls' Night - Sebastian Sallow x Original Female Character Emmeline Alexander plans a girls' night for Anne Sallow and their friends at the cottage in Feldcroft, but her best friend and crush Sebastian insists on crashing the party. In other words, MC (Emmeline) and Sebastian take advantage of the Silencio spell in Sebastian's bedroom after a night of Never Have I Ever. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

I Love You, It's Ruining My Life - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You were supposed to be happily married to your handsome and successful husband. You most certainly were not supposed to think about your ex-boyfriend, Sebastian Sallow. After all, it's been five years since you broke up amid your graduation from Hogwarts. But when your husband surprises you with the announcement you're moving to Feldcroft, you despair over your new neighbors. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

Robbers - Sebastian Sallow x Reader Your romance with Sebastian Sallow has reached a toxic level, but you're too in love with him to let go. Read on Tumblr

Flowers On the Grave - Sebastian Sallow x Reader After Anne's death, MC reflects on how far they and Sebastian have come since their fifth year. Read on Tumblr

Harry Potter

Chapter Fics

Playing For Keeps - Oliver Wood x Katie Bell Oliver Wood is Puddlemere United's starting Keeper. He's also tired of dodging crazed fangirls when all he wants is to focus on quidditch. His solution: Ask his old friend Katie Bell to pretend to be his girlfriend. AO3

Call It What You Want - Oliver Wood x Katie Bell Longtime friends Katie Bell and Oliver Wood are both single by choice, enjoying their successful careers. One night of poor judgment leads them to a mutual agreement — friends with benefits, with extra emphasis on the benefits. AO3

Timing Is Everything - Oliver Wood x Katie Bell It's been a few years since Katie Bell graduated from Hogwarts. She's got a promising journalism career and a happy life in London. Meanwhile, Oliver Wood is Puddlemere United's newest star. What happens when one interview reunites the former teammates? AO3

Love Games - Oliver Wood x Katie Bell Tired of Oliver Wood's tyrannical leadership, the Gryffindor quidditch team devises a plan at Katie Bell's expense to distract him. While Katie does her best to take one for the team, she soon realizes her feelings are no longer a game. AO3

[chaos-utopia]

QOTD: If you could change one aspect of the world without anyone noticing (no matter how dramatic of a change), what would you do?

Less polluted and equal wealth distribution 👾

[rabbithaver]

every so often i will see a post from a leftist on this website that is so egregiously ableist that i remember that like. oh yeah the userbase of leftists on this website is violently anti-disabled people and will jump at any chance to demonize any of us for any reason. i just forget that fact because i'm extremely dedicated to curating my space

i'm paraphrasing here but i saw a post that said, "every time i see an American [disabled person] mention being scared about the election because they're afraid of losing their benefits i have to laugh. anybody who wants blood-soaked money from the US government deserves to starve" which. like. goodness that's a lot to unpack. i think we should burn the whole suitcase instead !

[shrikeseams]

AU where Jirt actually stands behind the silmarils being hallowed against mortality, and no human *or* peredel can safely touch one.

Beren's hand is burnt away instead of or in addition to being bitten off. Dior has to rebuild Doriath without the huge advantage of using the silmaril (magically or politically). Unless maybe Nimloth wears and wields it? Dior could pass that off by claiming it should always be worn by the reigning queen, to honor Luthien... Likewise, Elwing and Sirion have to get along without the purification, and possibly can't hold on.

(The dwarves still add it to the Nauglamir. I trust the dwarves to make sensible use of PPE.)

[ancha-aus]

Hihi i am back!! :D

Of course i like tragic siblings!!! Have you not seen me biting into the concept of Nightmare and Dream? It is such good drama and relationship dynamics!

okay but I love the idea that Cross is the younger brother. It also is sweet how when the other Knights took him under their wing that Cross really got the chance to experience being a younger brother and getting comfortable with this role. It took time but he realised this was truly safe. Okay sorry getting distracted.

The fact that Nine is older is such a good point! The question is. How much older? I think like at least ten years if not fifteen. Why? Because a 5 year old is too early to see if Nine was a lost cause. By age 10 he may have et some ither people who could influence his views. Then age 15 he is ablost cause. So maybe XGaster would have gotten Ten to control Nine. Only to switch to Ten as focus when Nine is 15 and clearly uninterested in Ten at all.

Nine made an impossible choice and he hates ever consequence it brought. He couldnt give Ten attention as Nine couldnt grow attached. And Ten. Just a kid. Went to the only other option. And Xgaster after seeing how Nine turned out. Decided to use more praise and it worked like a charm. He realised this one. This one he can mold howvmever he wants.

And Nine was so angry!! It was so clearly a trap and stupid! Nine saw his fake behaviour when he was young!! Why couldn't Ten?! (Nine already knew other people. Nine had a look to another way and other options. Xgaster made sure Ten didnt get this. Ten only interacted with Nine and Xgaster himself. No one else.)

God the way it turns. Nine knowing it went from ten just being something to make Nine behave. To Nine just being something to keep around because Ten likes him. Nine hates it and for a long time hates Ten and just plans quicker. ten meanwhile is just confused and sad. Why doens't Nine like him? (Cross makes the mistake of asking XGaster once. XGaster smiles and says that Nine doens't like Ten because Ten isn't good enough/strong enough/smart enough. If Ten works harder Nine will end up liking him.)

hihihi thanks i am proud of my lines ;) But it is the truth. Nine didn't give Ten any other option but XGaster. and while Nine had other options and managed to get something of a support group even before the coup and then fully after the coup. Ten got nothing. Ten never got the chance to even GET other friends. XGaster wouldn't make that mistake again. So Nine looked at Ten wondering why he was so stupid and couldn't just join the coup. meanwhile Ten felt hurt as why would Nine destroy Ten's whole life? Ten knew that Nine hated him but this? He swears he tried his best.

I think Nine breaks when he learns that Ten started working for ANOTHER tyrant. after the others make comments about of course Ten looking for another powerful person to follow. not caring about others. That is when Nine breaks. because he ahd time to shimmer. Realise what his little brother went through, without the support. without ANY help. How Nine just made it worse for him for so long. At every turn. How after the coup nine didn't even bother to help ten get settled or explained or at least ASKED his friends to be gentle and patient with Ten.

He breaks and tells everything. That XGaster did. What they went through. What Ten went through alone. How Nine wasn't a good brother. Even less than that. How he was no better than XGaster. And he just. Lets it all out. All of it.

And as you said. They help Nine through this. But no one. NO ONE. Offers to help search for Ten. Evne when Nine says how worried he is and how much he misses his little brother. No one offers. because they all believe him to be a lost cause. Too indocternated to get out. So while Nine's explanation made the group stop hating Ten. It did make them convinced there was no 'saving' Ten. Nine still wants to see Ten again. To make it up to him. To talk with him. (Nine hates that everyone hails him a hero. All he rememebrs is ten's hurt face. Ten's confused face when no one would tell him what to do. Ten's face full of betrayal when Nine started to guilttrip and manipulate him (Nine had enough time to realise he did that wihtout a second thought) And just. He hates he picked the coup over his brother. Nine is a bad brother... And he just has to live with that fact)

And oof to everything about the way that Nine wanted to reconsile but just didn't have the time! (He did. He was just scared. He didn't know how to go about it because he also couldn't admit what he did was wrong. Because that implies he was WRONG and he can't be wrong! nevermind that Ten got hurt! That was necessary!)

I think Nine and Ten had a LOT of talks about Ten leaving. and each time Nine used manipulation and guilt tripping to get Ten to stay. Ten honestly tried to fit in but he couldn't. Nothing they did was normal to him. No one gave him orders or jobs to complete. Then someone tells him to do what feels good. And Ten just sits on his bed. Surrounded by people who he knows all hate him. Who make it no secret that they hate him. In a kingdom that is no longer a home with a brother who never wanted him... and he realises... This... this doens't feel good. He doens't like this feeling. and then Nine guilt trips him again and Ten realises talking with Nine doesn't feel good. That listening to XGaster never felt good. And... well.. One day... after another argument. He just leaves.

(If you really want to twist the knife in the feels you can have Nine's last words to Ten be something like "For fucks sake! No wonder you were XGaster's favourite! You were too stupid to think for yourself and too unfeeling to even care! Just. I don't know! Go do soemthign useful!" something like that. and Ten.. Ten leaves. Ten just up and leaves.)

Wooh the witch is dead! In this case XGaster!! And I like the name Ritten!! and i don't remember you using it to me? But i am like. TERRIBLE wiht names so lmao. Chances are i forgot :'D

You know... As i am reading this about Nightmare. about the fact his flaw and strength BOTH are layered in protecting his family no matter what? I had the realisation. Nightmare would Never agree to the treaty with Ritten. I think this, all of this. The talks the meetings the discussions? all an excuse that Nightmare is using to let Cross reunite with his family. But when Ngihtmare sees that Cross is uneasy? that Cross doesnt feel comfortable? when nightmare sees these ASSHOLES don't even apologise?! Not once?! Yeah. Nightmare is going to drag this process out for as long as Cross wants to meet with these people. Then. He is going to deny them.

ngihtmare: Why would I sign a treaty with you? I don't trust you with my country. I have seen how you treated my knight and still treat him. They protect me and I protect them. XAsgore: We were young! We made mistakes in the past! Nightmare: I don't care. You hurt him. None of you apologised. Not once. And Even if you do it now I will doubt you did it because you know you own it to him and not just try to get in my good graces. You are banned from my lands. All of you. Leave before I ask my guard to make you leave. XAsgore: please give us a chance! Nightmare: that is the point. I did. I already gave you a chacne because Cross asked me to give you a chance. You ruined it. Leave.

As you said. Nightmare broke generations and centeries long rituals and traditions. He was willing to burn the treaty with Sanctuary for Dust, the only reason he didn't was because dust begged him to not make it a bigger deal and even then Nightmare still made sure to edited the contract. He would NOT let this slide and would not let a treaty happen.

God the rumours. The introduction/knighting ball honouring Cross. And how Nine had hoped that maybe his brother had just settled somewhere. But instead sees that instead his brother spend his time climbing the ranks under some terrible god king thing! and to know the other kngihts were murderers and criminals... Nine just laying in bed. Is that what Ten thought of himself? Is... is that what Nine made him think about himself as? because if we keep nine as like 10 to 15 years older. He had time to really mature. Realise how fucked up everything was. How fucked up Nine's treatment of Ten had been.

And then as time went by Nightmare being a seemingly good king. but Nine is so hesitant to trust it. xGaster had a way with people. he had been charismatic. What if Nightmare is jsut as? And then the meetings. Nightmare being a very young king and maybe Nine for some stupid reason immeidnatly assuming that Ngihtmare is underprepared or underqualified.

And yes!! Lust and Cross scene! Lust is a relatively normal guy with a normal upbringing. He would help Cross so much. Just hold him and reassure Cross that no. That is not how it should have worked. No a parent should never have done those things to you. A brother should never have hurt you like that. (and Yes. Dust DID fry his arm but Cross always saw that as his own fault. He was the one who triggered the magic. But important to note! ONce nightmare had a few talks with Cross. Dust took the time to just sit before his bars. and apologise. Cross had been so shcoked. Dust just calmly explaning that it was never the plan of getting him that hurt. Just enough to capture so their king could talk to him. Cross metnioning it was his fault. Dust shrugggnig and muttering it was his magic so his responsibility. He apologises. Says that if he had known that Cross could do that he would have warned him better of the danger. Cross... cross felt better after that. it confused him but... it felt good? To have someone else take responsibility of something going wrong? To not blame him?) But back to lust. Lust is patient and knows that Cross had a fucked up childhood. Lust is perfectly happy and able to hold Cross and helps him figure stuff out. gentle and so so careful. No hurry. If Cross tells him the story with only one word each day than Lust will be happy to spend each evening wiht him waiting for Cross to feel ready to tell him the next word. Lust is okay with waiting. And that helps Cross so much. the patience to help Cross figure it out. The fact Lust doesn't grow frustrated or annoyed that Cross is slow or dumb. Lust is happy to help him at HIS speed.

I always come swinging!! with the abt of Them Feels!! >:D

The flinch is a dead give away and Killer had alreayd seen the discomfort in Cross's shoulders and had been READY. Then he saw the flinch? He abandoned any sign of ranking or hierarchy and went for full support. Killer supports his youngest brother. and he is happy to have EVERYONE know that. and yes! It wa a way for Killer to say "You are too late. He has found a new and better home." while also showing to Cross that Killer is on his side. That Killer doesn't feel something stupid like ashamed for being on his time. Tha tkiller is PROUD to be on Cross's team. Nine may have been worried abotu nightmare having a silver tongue but it is really killer.

(athe knight drinking nights. The Knight nights :D are so silly but so fitting. these are jsut guys who hang out and drink together and are each other brothers and best friends. They should get to just dirnk and trauma dump to each other :D)

Nine wants to talk to Cross SO badly. He probably tries to guilt-trip him. Like "The least you can do is have a conversation with me after leaving without a note!" and instead of Cross talking to him. all that Nine sees is his little brother flinching away and looking away pained. Cross pulling in on himself and looking so small. Nine has just enough time to see it all and feel deep regret before Killer punches him straight in the face.

For Cross he is right back in the place that he fled to begin with. The hate. The distrust. The disgust. It is all back. He is right back in there and he can't. He needs to be near either of his brothers to still feel like himself. (do they actually look at him like that? Not exactly. Mostly regret and uncertainty. No one is sure how to interact with Cross. becuase... shit... Ten looks so much older now... had... ahd he really been that young? and they just... oh... oh shit...)

And yes!! I think Cross and Dust could really connect wiht this. And Cross getting the lesson wrong is on point for him. But Dust being prepared and correcting him. Making him see the other lesson there is to learn. that relationships need healthy interactions. the rotten metaphor comes up.

Cross snorts: what does it matter? I was broken anyway... Dust: and with focus, time and care you can make something new of broken glass. It is all about being willing to do the work.

Which is when Cross connects the dots. Sure he may have been broken. but with gentle support and care and a lot of work from both him and the people around him. He was able to become who he is today. and Cross is happy as how he is now. He will never be Ten again, but a part of Ten is what makes Cross himself and he is okay wiht it. (the reunion would not be the main focus i think. It is cross truly accepting his past for what it is and not something he can just ignore and act as if it isn't there. That tiny hurt child tried his best. and Cross is allowed to grief for his past and what happened to him. That so many people failed him. It is okay he is sad for that. and he learns to accept that.)

And now quickly about the comment! The thought that Nine gets a crush on Dust?

I think it fits. because if Nine and XUndyne (name pending) see Dust and Cross relax and have fun with the horses? Nine would see someone else care about his brother (sure he knows killer cares but killer is an ass and horror is downright terrifying to be near)

Cross being confused and Dust being patient as he leads him on how to ride his horse and how to move around. Nine and XUndyne realising that Dust is teaching Cross something new. How to sit correctly to let the horse go as fast as it can without hindering it. It is fascinating to see. Maybe practising with Dust leading the horse while Cross just lets the horse run. It is fascinating to see.

(Cross not even trying to get sense into Nine's head. Already convinced Nine wouldn't listen anyway so why even try? He goes with Dust to dust's room for the crystal ball there and they call up geno. one quick convo later. and boom! Reaper and geno show up :D

Nightmare is sligthly confused. because he did tell reaper he wasn't planing on following through witht eh treaty? so why are they here?

Sees Reaper and Geno very obviously flirt with dust and give him gifts and kisses and the slight embarrassement on Dsut.

Ngihtmare: .... some shenenigans happened and I want to know what Error: same.

On that not. It is good that error doens't know. Error FINALLY got dust as future brother in law. and some moron from some backwater country with no basic manners is trying to flirt with his brother?! He is casting fireball. )

Okay i am done! :D

Thinking about Cross' reunion with his brother!!! (New Age AU lore run under the cut lmao-) ( @ancha-aus this is what I was on about a few messages ago!)

So, Ancha mentioned it a while ago, but I agree that Cross and his brother Nine should certainly get to see each other again <3 (this post might involve things I've said before but I have horrid memory soooo my apologies lol-) Note: I'm thinking Nine should be Cross' older brother! It makes sense narratively and also I've got too many older siblings in the Main cast haha-

Cross (Ten at the time) had a strained relationship with his older brother. X-Gaster was their only parent, and created them with the intention of making the perfect super soldiers, men who would obey his every command. Nine was the only one of X-Gaster's previous attempts to survive, and he was very.... maliciously compliant we'll say? Nine was a clever skeleton who would follow his creator's every command, so well that any and all loopholes would be taken advantage of whenever possible. Nine did not like X-Gaster, and he didn't like his rule, and he didn't like how the people were treated.

Of course, he had to make a hard choice when Ten was created. X-Gaster wanted to use Ten as an anchor to hold Nine back from his rebellion. If he had a little sibling to worry about, surely he would be more obedient, right? Well, no. Nine made sure X-Gaster never could use Ten against him by doing his rebellion regardless of how Ten was treated. Did it hurt? Yeah. Did he know he couldn't afford to let Ten get hurt by his connection to him? So badly. He ignored Ten for much of his life, which meant that X-Gaster gave up on using him for leverage, but was also given the chance to craft Ten exactly how he wanted without any of Nine's backlash.

Aka? Ten got manipulated by X-Gaster. Nine broke the rules, and he got punished. Ten did well? He was treated well. It turned out that Ten was his perfect soldier, and Nine was the one he could keep around to keep Ten in check.

And, Ten adored Nine. When they got older, Ten never stopped looking up to Nine, even if he thought Nine was reckless and stupid for being disobedient. He knew Nine had his reasons, and frankly? Nine showing him ANY kindness (helping him patch up wounds after training, leaving treats for him, looking at him kindly, etc.) was better than nothing and far better than X-Gaster. They had a really strange and unhealthy bond, but brotherly nonetheless.

So when they were both older, abd Nine was planning the coup, and he tried to bring Ten to his side? It hurt. It hurt both of them when Ten turned away. Ten never said a word about how it was Nine who asked him to join. He told X-Gaster someone tried, and he denied them, but nothing more. And then when the Coup was in motion and Nine had to face Ten? They both had to do what they thought was best. Ten obeyed, all he's ever known, and Nine finally broke the rules and laid all his cards on the table.

And when they won, when Ten was left without a master, when he'd fought hard against his older brother? When Ten was without direction and looked to Nine, but he couldn't follow Nine because Nine had broken all their rules... Nine was willing to watch out for Ten. There was no more threat of X-Gaster, they could finally live as siblings, but Cross had been too indoctrinated. He was too adamant during the coup. No one else could trust him, they didn't want him around, nothing. So he was honest with Nine and told him he was leaving, in passing, before simply running away.

When the opportunity to reunite arises, it's because Cross' original kingdom wants to be allies. It's been years, Nightmare is hardly 18 or so, and he's been slowly working to bring people together. When the kingdom reaches out, they also ask about Ten, because it's not exactly a secret as to where he eventually ended up. They want to reconnect.

Night is cautious. Cross assures him Nine wouldn't support leaders who weren't doing their best, so an allyship would make sense. Night is more worried for Cross' wellbeing and the threat it might pose to him (physically or emotionally) to face those in his old kingdom. So, they agree that Nightmare would visit with Killer and Dust as his initial party. Cross would stay back with Horror (and Blue + Dream as added back-up as Knights) at the kingdom.

Only after several visits of Night's (and discussing it very heavily with Lust, the other Knights, Night, etc) does he decide he'll go in person. By then he's the only Royal Knight who hasn't gone with Nightmare, and they decide he'll go alongside Killer (Killer could be trusted to keep an eye on both Cross and Night, and as the first Knight it's kinda like a dibs situation to be able to look out for Cross).

And like. I haven't quite fleshed out Nine's personality yet... but I do believe that the moment he meets Nightmare and his men (because Nine became head of the guard in Cross' absence) he's unable to help himself from greeting Cross with a "Ten!" And I think Cross would recoil because, reading his old name is one thing, hearing it said is another. And he's really not sure how to respond.

(This is going to keep sitting in my drafts if I don't post it now, but basically this is just a quick look at my thought process so far for Cross + his Brother lol-)

[hxhhasmysoul]

wouldn't it be nice if the author of the fics finished them. the author is me.

[boyapologist]

ok I give up there's no way I'm sleeping tonight

[adore-gregor]

ugh there it goes