#And since /they/ were twins and I ended up with 12 just make 6 pairs of twins! Well where did /they/ come from?? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

anki-of-beleriand · 1 year

Text

The House At The Edge Of The World Ch. 14

Summary: Y/N is the owner of an Airbnb at the edge of the world, a place in which Wanda would either heal or become what everyone is afraid of.

Pairings: Wanda Maximoff/SW! x Female!Reader

Warnings: Minors DNI! +18, angst, jealousy, drama, slow burn, hurt and comfort, friends to lovers, pregnancy, romance, fluff, mentions of depression and self harm, healing, R owns an Airbnb that welcomes many known characters from Marvel, R has powers, Wanda needs healing, and so does R, R sometimes is an asshole but for a good reason. More warnings as the story progress.

Author's Note: The story follows up the events of Wandavision right before the twins birth. Since I didn't like the fact Natasha died in Endgame, she is alive as well as Tony everything else just happens the same way it does in the movies. We will see some Eternals and mentions of all the new members of the cinematic MCU.

The end looks like a good conversation, and decisions to be made. R is ready to do so, but will Wanda want to stay with her?

English is no my mother tongue so I do apologize for any grammar, spelling or funny mistake.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Epilogue

Chapter 14

Stay with me

Whatever had happened after you left, you didn't care.

Your main priority had been Wanda, and all through the flight you and Ajak had been tending to her injuries and her general state. Yelena had been observing from afar, but her eyes never left your form while you worked on the redhead. She had known about your power, about the strangeness behind your family and the world surrounding you. Yet Yelena never imagined she would fear the power hidden inside you.

The gate of the Quinjet opened to show the image of a dark-haired woman with fair skin and kind features. She locked eyes with you almost instantly, your heart leaped at the sight of Sersi coming over to you to wrap her arms around you.

"Y/N, are you okay? How is Wanda?" Sersei asked looking behind you to see the redhead woman still unconscious being carried on a stretcher.

"She is still unconscious. Her magic has been greatly affected by the device they use on her." You were trying to hide your real emotions, your eyes never leaning those of Sersei who merely offered a comforting smile.

"Well, she is in luck, right? Ajak and I are here, and you will be there as well." Sersi stepped back, turning to Sprite who was coming onto her with the same concern written in her face.

"Sersei!"

"Hey, Sprite, how is it going?"

The conversation between them faded away while you let your feet take you inside the house and followed the women leading Wanda to the closest room. You could see as they settled her down making sure she was comfortable before setting the medical bay for the redhead.

"Her nervous system has been affected by the electric shocks." Ajak said to your right, she stood there overseeing everything while never losing sight of your persona. "She was sedated so it will take a while for her to wake up."

"She needs magic, and…"

"I know." Ajak placed a hand on your forearm, the tenderness behind her gesture almost made you break. "It's going to be okay, she is far stronger than you gave credit for."

You crossed your arms, tilting your head to the side. It wasn't as if you didn't know how strong Wanda was, you have known for a long time. It was more the fact that you feared what would happen when she woke up.

Would she stay?

Would she leave?

So many questions roamed inside your mind, and the uncertainty of the situation was almost unbearable. Never in your wildest dreams did you imagine you would fall in love again. Much less with a woman that, by all accounts, was just like you.

"They will come, and they will have questions." Ajak intervened again, you didn't need to ask who she was referring to. "Are you ready for that conversation?"

"Are you?" This time around you did face Ajak with an unreadable expression. "I could lie and get away with it."

Ajak softened her features by nodding at Wanda, "but you won't lie for her, or else, whatever chance you get to be together may slip away."

You opened your eyes, raising your eyebrows at this. Following Ajak's stare you realised Wanda had changed a lot of things in a bubble world you had built around yourself. You were not a hero, you never were, but you couldn't ignore the world any longer… you couldn't ignore the world Wanda was living in.

"Think your words carefully, and be ready."

"What about you and the others?" Your secret might be out, but the rest of the Eternal should keep their own secrets for themselves.

"We are family, Y/N, whatever you decide we are here for you."

Ajak gave your forearm a light squeeze before turning around and leaving you alone with Wanda. You hesitated before stepping forward and sitting beside her, your hand found hers and the warmness of her touch brought comfort to your soul.

______________________________________________________________

Night had already fallen by the time you exited her room.

Wanda was still asleep, and during all that time people had come and gone after making sure the redhead was not in danger and that her recovery was a matter of time.

You knew the meeting with the people who had come to her rescue could not be postponed any longer. Wanda had on her peaceful expression, her magic was still flickering and and out of reality, and the pain in your heart was a longing for her to be better, for her to put you out of your misery.

With a kiss to her forehead, you knew there was nothing else you could do. Not until she woke up, and not until you had spoken with everyone.

It was time for you to face the world.

The noise coming from the study told you where you should go. It wasn't difficult to find everyone waiting for you, the many faces you had known personally or by the TV news were all staring at you.

The first person you noticed was Sersi, her tender smile warmed your heart giving you strength to enter the room. To your left were the people you had called family since you were a teenager Ajak and Sprite sat comfortably on the sofa with Thena and Gil hovering behind them. To your right were the women you had helped at some point, friends and people you had trusted with some secrets but not all of them.

Natasha and Yelena wore their Widow garments, with Nick Fury and Tony Stark wearing casual clothing that hide the real power both of them possess.

"She is still asleep." Your words echoed into the room, your eyes falling upon Ajak. "Her strength is coming back, and her magic is not as erratic as it was a couple of hours ago."

"Erratic?" Tony asked, leaning back, his posture relaxed and open. "What do you know about that? More importantly, who are you besides a dirty secret from Romanoff over here?"

Natasha growled at the man, but her eyes were just as curious as those of Yelena. They thought they had known you, but after what you did on that island they were not so sure anymore.

"I'm Y/N, and I'm merely the owner of a destroyed Airbnb." You shrugged, cracking up a smile. "That's gonna cost you an extra, you know that, Mr. Stark?"

Tony returned the smile, "I'm aware. Though I would say you already got a good deal out of this mess, Maximoff seems to be very fond of you, from what I heard."

The comment made your eyes flickered gold, a hand placed itself on your shoulder and you knew Sersi had come to the rescue.

"I pride myself to be well-informed of what is happening around the world, and who are the people I should watch out for." This time around it was Fury the one to speak, he placed his elbows on his knees, his hands wrapping around one another and his sole eye pinning you to the spot.

" You and your friends were certainly a surprise for me today."

"That made you nervous, Agent Fury?" You retorted eyeing the man with a blank stare. "We've met before, you know?"

This time around Fury was shocked by the news, he narrowed one eye as if trying to place you in his memory. You chuckled tilting your head.

"You won't remember me, I was different back then and you were just being recruited into the secret organisation that works for your government."

"How…" Fury started but trailed off when Sprite created a scene right in front of them.

A young Nick Fury with both eyes, talking with a man that looked nothing extraordinary. Yet they exchanged words, a handshake and soon Fury had a piece of paper. That was it, they both parted ways, Fury went straight to what seemed like an office building, the other man went inside an old car and drove away.

"What were you doing there?"

You smiled, "I was following him, and old debt to settle. He was the son of a friend, I was making sure he was not killed that day."

"He died, though." Fury stated narrowing his good eye at you.

A flash of sadness crossed your face at the memory.

"He did. I couldn't make it on time. And, at the end of the day, I am not a hero." You leaned back glancing at Fury then at Tony. "I am a mere owner of an Airbnb at the edge of the world."

Silence settled around the living room for a moment, you could see the observant eyes of the heroes of the world observing you and your family. For the very first time in a very long time, your world and the real one crashed in a single moment in time.

You could see the possibilities forming in the mind of Fury, the questions pouring from Stark's mind and the many unsaid things you had between Natasha and Yelena.

At the end of the day, she was the first one to speak. Her tone revealed how hurt she was for the situation, her eyes never leaving yours.

"You never told me you were this…" Yelena trailed off for a moment, her gaze dropping. "This powerful."

"Y/N powers are not something you play with." Thena said, settling her eyes on Yelena. "None of you had seen what they can really do, and it is something Y/N have always been careful with."

"Having powers doesn't mean you have to put them to work for the greater good." Gil continued lifting his chin. "The world can be an ungrateful place."

"That's true." Natasha chimed in uncrossing her arms. "But sometimes, it needs to be saved either way."

"You guys are young." You said shrugging. "The world, people… Some of them will never change. I fight only for my loved ones, Natasha. As long as my family and friends are fine, I am fine."

"Which will explain why you came to the rescue, right?" Tony intervened tilting his head and settling his eyes on you. "You love Wanda, you couldn't allow her to get hurt."

"I do, yes." You replied simply, Tony nodded leaning back on the chair.

"Are you a threat?" The man asked and you couldn't help but laugh at his bluntness.

"Oh, I am." You replied, your eyes gleaming a dangerous shade of gold. "I can be your worst nightmare and none of you would know what happened or how it happened."

"But you are not interested in fighting us." Fury didn't even flinch, his words were just as neutral as yours had been a moment ago.

"Or protecting you, no."

"At some point the world would come crashing down on you, don't you think?"

You turned your head to Ajak, the older woman offered a single smile matching the one Sersi and Thena were wearing. You knew the world, the real one had come to you in the form of Wanda Maximoff. She had broken the icy facade you had worn for so long, that right now it was almost impossible for you that her world was starting to be a part of yours.

"It already has, Fury." You sighed, lifting your eyes to the ceiling. "I am not a threat to you or your government. I'm not interested in power or fighting, I only want peace."

"And Wanda." Tony mentioned with a teasing tone.

You flared at him looking away until you saw the same teasing glint in Natasha's eyes.

"I guess, we will see."

Fury nodded, crossing his arms, "I guess we will."

"Well, now that the conversation is over, how about something to drink and eat. I bet everyone is hungry."

Ajak stood up with many agreeing to her sudden change of topic, you sat there for a moment watching as Ajak left the living room with Fury and Tony following them and everyone soon scattering around the house.

Yelena came to you slowly, she sat down with a frown on her face trying to catch up to what she just heard, to the things she had seen.

"I'm sorry, Lena. It was never my intention to make you feel…"

"Cheated?" Lena snorted, shrugging. "I knew there was something else about you, but you had never raised any bells in my head or Natasha's… We knew you were not a threat."

You smiled at the young woman leaning over placing your elbows on your knees.

"I never intended for this to happen." You lowered your head thinking hard over the last couple of months. "But she… I

I don't know…"

Yelena swallowed down her emotions, she nodded curtly placing her hand on yours.

"If she hurts you, I'm gonna kill her."

You couldn't help the laughter leaving your lips, your arms wrapping around the young woman with tenderness. For some reason, you knew she and you would be okay, and whatever had happened with the rest of Earth's Mighty heroes… Well, that also seemed to be okay.

Now, all you had to do was wait for Wanda to wake up.

______________________________________________________________

It happened at dawn.

The world was sleeping, the sky was changing its colours with shades of blue, purple and red igniting the horizon. There was a cold breeze biting at your skin, sitting by the balcony you had allowed time and weather to invade your thoughts and insecurities while trying to forget what you feel.

The soft footsteps brought you back to reality. Your heart beat fast, hitting your ribcage the moment you sensed her and your eyes found those of hers.

"Hey." She didn't rush her feet, her dopey and tenderness made you gasp in affection.

Standing up from your position, your hands wrapped around her, putting her against your body and feeling at peace knowing she was there. That she was okay.

"You shouldn't be up, love." You whispered, her hands playing with your hair while you felt her smile against your neck.

"You weren't there." Her words were tender, a mere whisper in your ear that told you of her doubts. “And I thought…I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t lose me, Wanda. I’m here.” And you meant it in more ways than one, you made sure to look at her the wounds on her neck, the ones on her wrists and then her tired expression.

You almost lost her.

And your heart broke into a million pieces thinking you wouldn’t be with her anymore. And now that she was back, that she was in your arms, the fear had doubled. What would happen if she didn’t want to stay? What if she had to go?

Wanda softened her stare, she didn’t need to hear your thoughts because those same thoughts were inside her head. Being with you had been so different, falling in love with you had been…what she needed.

“You won’t lose me either, Y/N. I’m here…for you.”

At that moment you realised she wasn't the only one feeling the uncertainty the recent events had brought to your lives. It took you but a second to notice her lips against yours, the neediness behind her gesture, her hands travelling down your body.

The flash of crimson told you Wanda ws not alone, and soon you were being dragged inside the house and you gave in knowing that moment could end up in a heartbreak.

By the time you woke up again, the clock on the table was showing it was past midday. The warm body to your side stirred, you lowered your faze to see Wanda snuggled against your side with a content smile playing on her lips.

She was awake, and probably had been for quite some time. The place was completely silent, and you couldn't even make the sound of people outside the room.

"Everyone went to visit the town." Wanda mumbled without opening her eyes. "It's only you and me."

As soon as she said this, her body trembled and her hands grabbed you tightly. You sighed looking at the ceiling, the arm you had around her midsection wrapped tightly around her.

"So, it's only you and me in a big empty house? Whatever can we do?"

Her giggles made you look down and find her green eyes looking at you. You smiled back but your eyes were finally showing how you were feeling with the whole situation. Wanda tensed lightly, turning around she sat down letting the blankets fall to the bed.

"I think we should get ready."

"I think we need to talk."

You watched as she merely stood up and left, the emptiness in your chest made your body ache with longing. Tilting your head to one side, you knew that falling into bed with her had not been the best of decisions when there was so much left unsaid between the both of you.

"I made you something to eat, and there was some orange juice and some wine but I wasn't sure what you may want so early…"

You observed the redhead walking around the kitchen, babbling non-stop while evading your eyes and trying to make it impossible for you to bring the white elephant in the room.

Wanda gasped, halting her actions, finding herself looking into your golden eyes.

"Y/N…" Wanda whispered your name with fear and longing.

"I am in love with you." You all but whisper, your left hand cupping her cheek but you never did anything to shorten the distance with her. "I thought I would never feel this again, and you came into my life showing me this was possible… That I could feel like this again…"

Wanda's eyes watered at your words, she was trembling by now with her lower lip quivering under the weight of your words.

"Wanda, I…"

"I'm sorry." Wanda whispered with a sob escaping her lips.

She leaned in hiding her face on your chest, something inside broke for you knew her life was out there in a world filled with danger and heroism that you were not ready to be a part of. Whatever you could offer to Wanda was a life of tranquillity and solitude in a place that was almost forgotten to the rest of the world.

It hurt knowing you would lose her.

"I couldn't… I tried… I just…" Wanda cried softly, holding onto you. "He… He was there… And I just…"

"It's okay, it's okay… I know." You whispered, hugging her comfortingly.

"No! No, it's not." Wanda finally said, she stepped back wiping her face. "I should have seen it, I could have prevented it… but I left him there, I thought…"

"Stark recovered his body, and he won't be used anymore." You commented softly. Wanda shook her head but you didn't stop there.

"They were waiting for you to recover, but as soon as you're fine you can go back…"

Wanda stopped her passing, she winced at the memories coming into her; she placed a hand on her face while trying to collect her thoughts and you couldn’t help but close your mouth and remained silent watching her without knowing what to say. Or what to do.

“I thought Vision was my everything.” Wanda tried to hold onto her tone of voice, her eyes completely lost in the memories and the situation she had evaded moments before she was taken from the Hill.

Wanda remembered the time she had been tied to that room, her eyes seeing the dead body of Vision while she thought of her life in the most recent months. She had been happy, not having to fill out anybody's shoes, or trying to hold herself for fear of triggering someone, or messing up while trying to help someone. Wanda and Scarlet had gone through her memories and her past, and everytime she thought about the end well…

It all came down to Y/N, to her smile and the warmness behind her words. I never thought love would feel like this…

And if she was honest with herself, Wanda never thought it would be like that; the young woman dried her tears while her lips broke into a tentative smile she dedicated to you. You didn’t dare to dream about her thoughts or her choices, waiting too much about the people around you could be painful at the end of the day.

“Then you came into my life and…” Wanda shook her head putting her arms around herself while biting her lower lip. “And I found myself falling so hard, and so deep for you…I know…I know it would be impossible for me to live away from you.”

“Wanda…”

The fact that the home was empty, and that this conversation happened right after you and her had shared a dawn filled with passion and tenderness should be the indicator this was going through the right track. But you didn’t dare to hope, a lot of things had happened in the past for you to think this could be different.

The young woman came onto you, and your world stopped for a moment when she cupped your face in her hands with her lips curving slightly. At that moment, it was Wanda and Scarlet all in one sending you a stare that made your soul tremble in a way you hadn’t done for so long.

“Everybody is waiting for me to go back, to be better to…” Wanda trailed off for a moment, her eyes flashing with the memories of how her life had been up until that point. “When I had to come here I was mad, and sad and ready to leave everything for a glimpse of normality, to recover a life I never really had but dreamt of.”

“And now? What do you want, Wanda?” You finally asked in a whisper, Wanda turned to you and you realised you hadn’t been this vulnerable in front of anyone in a while.

“Now, I want a normal life…I’m tired of what am I and what I can do I only want…” Wanda bit her lower lip, a flash of fear crossing her green eyes. Your hand placed tenderly under her chin lifting her stare to look at you.

“What do you want?” You could give her the world, if necessary. She just needed to say it and there was nothing in the world you wouldn’t get for her.

Wanda sighed showing the vulnerability you had come to appreciate from her, those moments in which she would stop pretending in front of you.

“I want to stay here, I want to…I want to be with you and see what will happen.” Wanda all but declared, you stood there for what seemed an eternity and the other woman was starting to step back, her face falling with a crack of uncertainty.

“Then, stay with me.” You stepped forward wrapping your arms around her, giving her enough space to leave but letting her know you wanted her with you. “I can’t promise you it will be easy, but I can promise you I will do everything I can to make you happy.”

Wanda stepped forward, and without any more words she sealed the deal with a kiss.

______________________________________________________________

It was past midday by the time everyone was back into the house.

At another time, and perhaps in another place the moment of peace you and Wanda had enjoyed during the day would have been cut short by the needs of the people filling out Ajak’s living room. Wanda was taken to the side by Tony and Nasha and soon you found yourself under the watchful eyes of Thena and Sersi.

Wanda stood on the balcony leading to the kitchen, the world in the coast of Italy was something she had come to appreciate in her soul. It was peaceful, and her heart found comfort in knowing this could be her new home.Her body turned lightly, and she and Scarlet stirred uncomfortably when her green eyes found the form of Thena leaning close to you.

Jealousy was something Wanda had learned recently, and the fact she had to be on the balcony while you were inside with a former lover was making her restless.

Tony stood by her side, his dark shades reflecting the afternoon sun while the sound of laughter filled out the streets. Fury rested the weight of his body on the rails crossing his arms while letting his good eye pinned the redhead on the spot. Natasha sat down playing with the drink Ajak had given her, enjoying the cold breeze of winter, and the strange silence amongst the group.

“This went a little out of hand.” Fury broke the silence talking to the group, his good eye moving from Wanda to Natasha. “Monica is trying to gather all the evidence she can, while Rhodes is helping out with some other bases around the coast.”

“Hayward was not working alone.” Tony commented lightly, his lips pressing together while his hand helped him out of his glasses. “But the fact he thought he would get something out of stealing the body of Vision and getting to you…”

“I thought about it.” Wanda finally said, looking away while wiggling her hands. “When I came back…I…he was alive because Thor gave the mind stone and his body the charge he needed to be alive. I thought…my magic could do something similar.”

“That’s why you started the whole Westview thing?” Tony asked, Wanda offered a broken smile shrugging.

“I wasn’t thinking when that happened, Tony.” Wands sounded tired all of a sudden, her body giving up on the tension she had been accumulating as of late. “But the moment I went to get his body, I knew it was a possibility.”

Fury narrowed his head leaning forward, “why didn’t you?”

“I was afraid, and I didn’t know if it was possible.” Wanda stepped forward until she was standing beside Tony and observing the blue of the ocean in the distance. “But I knew I could find a way to do so, perhaps…perhaps if I got to know my powers and who I was, I could use my powers to do it.”

“Then you just finally explode.” Natasha had seen the state Wanda had been in during Steve’s funeral, the way she had fought during Thano’s attack from the past and how she had been when she realised everything had been lost.

Wanda lifted her shoulder turning slightly, she locked eyes with Natasha and her smile was different. Without a doubt, Wanda had changed, and that was all Natasha needed to know at the moment.

“Are you ready to go back, or do you think you will explode once more, Maximoff?” Fury asked, straight to the point while uncrossing his arms and stepping forward. “We are trying to build the team from scratch and…”

“I won’t go back.” Wanda said firmly, her eyes hardening as they settled on Fury.

Tony and Natasha interchanged glances, while Fury merely lifted a single eyebrow at the bold declaration. Wanda dropped her arms, tilting her head to the side.

“It took me so long to get to where I am right now.” Wanda stated simply, Tony snorted, nodding towards the house.

“You mean, with a lover girl? Never peg you for a lesbian, Maximoff.”

Tony chuckled under the glare of Natasha and Wanda, he lifted his arms in a sign of peace but instead of mocking all Wanda could see was understanding, something she never thought Tony was capable of.

“It’s not about Y/N.” Wanda satiated turning to Fury who was looking a little sceptical. “You sent me here to heal, and get better. For the first time in my life I was able to be just…me. Someone who didn’t have to keep with anyone’s expectations, who didn’t need to jump every morning to save the world.”

Tony held back the smile threatening to leave his lips, he could see Wanda had changed in the last months she had been away from the life she had lived during her time as an Avenger and a runaway. She seemed relaxed, and the gleam in her eyes told Tony she was happy, happier that he had ever seen her before.

“I don’t want to give this life up, Fury. Not now,not any time soon.”

“Is this you talking, or is this what happened to you a few days ago talking for you?” Fury inquired, tilting his head and making sure Wanda could not look away from him.

The young woman pursed her lips shaking her head, “it is me talking, Fury. Before this…I just…I thought I had to go back to everything I left behind. This was supposed to be a holiday so I could get better.”

“It wasn’t about that.” Tony intervened, stepping forward, he placed a single hand on Wanda’s shoulder and Natasha nodded briefly, giving Tony the heads up to go right ahead.

“What do you mean? What was that?” Wanda pointed at Tony then at Natasha, both of them stirred lightly while Fury leaned back waiting to hear the story.

“We thought about getting you out of the States and really out of commission for some time.” Tony revealed glancing at Wanda with a tenderness she had only seen in him whenever Morgan was around. “What we saw when trying to get you out of Westview told us that you were just asking for help.”

“A help we never provided because we were too busy saving the world.” Natasha said simply.

“So you never thought I would be better?” Wanda asked, crunching up her nose.

“No, we never thought you would be back to do the same things you have been doing over the years. We thought you would be back changed.” Tony waved his hand around smiling. “And you did.”

Wanda knitted her bros together, she set her eyes on Tony first then on Natasha and finally on Fury.

“So you were expecting me to stay here?”

“Not here, exactly.” Tony replied. “But perhaps telling us you didn’t want to go back into the hero world. Which, we would have understood, we actually got you kid.”

Wanda was kind of surprised at some point they thought she would choose a life different to the one she had been leading up until the Blip. She had been lost, and with some many broken thoughts inside her mind, so angry at the world it had been quite difficult to try and find a way back to what she really wanted or needed. Her powers had been part of that confusion, and her misused of the magic had created so much conflict inside her and in the world that she never thought she had a choice.

“We lost track of you after Westview.” Fury started passing around the balcony, his hands in his pockets. “And Hayward came over to try and start an illegal operation in Italy that we stopped just on time.”

Wanda stood there for a moment, confused as to what Fury was saying exactly.

“As far as I know, Wanda Maximoff dropped off the face of earth, and we are one venger down.” Fury snorted. “Just my luck, gotta start looking for new talent then.”

Wanda stood there with her mouth hanging open, “Are you saying…?”

Fury shot her a pointed stare, ignoring the smiling faces of Natasha and Tony. He knew he wouldn’t hear the end of it from Tony, but for now he could give away what he knew would bring peace to Wanda. It was the least he could do.

“Just try to not break anything around here, and try to not make yourself noticeable.” Fury stepped forward walking towards the entrance of the house. “You know how to find us, Maximoff. I hope you find what you are looking for. Good-bye.”

Wanda stood there for a moment, still shocked by what had just happened. Tony and Natasha turned their eyes on her waiting for her reaction, Wanda just shook her head passing her hand through her hair looking first at Natasha then at Tony.

“Is he serious?”

“As serious as Fury can be, yes.” Natasha commented leaning back on the chair she was occupying. “So, you want to stay then?”

Wanda broke into an easy smile, and this time when she lifted her eyes you were looking back at her. The smile on your face, and the wink you sent her way was everything Wanda needed at the moment.

We really are staying here.

“Yeah, I’m staying here.”

______________________________________________________________

Night had already fallen, and your footsteps were taking you to the edge of the cliff.

The smell of the ocean reached you out, and the wind caressed your skin lightly while the moon shone a silver light above your head. The town was a golden paradise you could oversee from your position in the Hill; and the silence around you was enough to make you feel at ease. The woman on your left shivered, and you turned to her, passing your arm around her shoulders, putting her closer to you.

Wanda snuggled closer, her hands dropping around your hips leaning in the place of her face on the nape of your neck. Your heart jumped in your chest, your body tingling all over while you placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

“I’m thinking of a new setting for the house, perhaps something bigger for both of them.” You commented lightly, Wanda pursed her lips watching what used to be your guest house.

Your breath was taken away when she lifted her face with a brilliant smile, she grabbed your hand dragging you around the backyard towards the ruins of the house. You chuckled watching as her hands gleamed red and the idea you had in your mind became more real right before your eyes.

“Like this?” She asked teasingly at you, you shook your head putting her closer brushing your nose against hers.

“You know Gil is gonna be mad he couldn’t help around?” You whispered putting some strand hairs behind her ear, Wanda closed her eyes for a moment only to open them filled with unshed tears.

“He can help, this is only so he knows what you want.” Wanda bit her lower lip, enjoying the closeness of your body and the sight of your smile.

“And what about what you want?” You asked leaning in to plant kisses on her cheek.

Wanda closed her eyes tilting her head to wrap your lips with hers, a soft caress of lips while the kiss turned into an intimate moment of shared emotions. You broke the moment by spinning her around, your arms surrounding her waist making her laugh at the silliness of the moment.

“Go on, Wands, tell me what you want.” You whispered in her ear, your eyes gleaming gold showing off a big house with people coming in and the sight of you and her as a family.

Wanda and Scarlet jumped at the sight, her breath caught in her throat when they noticed the sight of a bump in their abdomen. You could sense the woman in your arms tensing, disbelief filling up her senses as she stepped away from you turning with green and red eyes glancing at you.

“What did you…?” She started and you shrugged looking away for a moment before looking back at her.

“Magic without intent, Wanda, is not magic.” You replied, stretching out your arms around the hill. “But if you put your heart in it, well it can work miracles.”

Wanda placed a hand on her abdomen, the dreams she had about her life back in Westview and what chances were coming onto her made her dizzy for a moment. She jumped when you grabbed her hand tentatively, you chewed on your lower lip before dropping your shoulders.

“I….I am in love with you, you know that.”

“I do.”

You nodded as if confirming her words, “I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you, too.” Wanda replied suddenly understanding what you were trying to say.

“There is still a lot we need to figure it out but…I just want you to know I wouldn’t miss this new adventure with you for anything in the world.” Your voice was almost trembling as you opened up to her, Wanda was glancing at you completely serious hearing every word with a beating heart.

“I want to grow old with you, and if you allow me I want to build a family with you. Whenever we are ready, whenever you ar…”

You were cut off by the woman crashing her lips against yours, she held onto you with the same passion she had done so those first times you two were together. She kissed you with love and neediness, and her magic reached out to yours in ways you had learnt for years but that came out naturally to her. You smiled into the kiss, a game started with you trying to cut it short while she chased after you laughing as you tickled her and soon both of you were just kissing and playing around until, little by little, you went into your destroyed home and enjoyed one another under the night sky above your room.

______________________________________________________________

Tag list!

@cowboyboots236 - @kacka84 - @alurajordyn - @mrscromanoff - @trikruismybitch - @njavezan - @alwaysgoodnight - @mrsmaximoff21 - @casquinhaa - @kyaraderuwez

#fanfic #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #imagine wanda maximoff #wandaxreader #wanda maximoff x female reader #female reader #reader #Marvel fanfic #Wanda Maximoff #wanda maximoff au #Female reader #Y/N #Wanda/ Y/N

150 notes · View notes

watmalik · 1 year

Text

Oversharing on the internet

Thank you @ambiguouspenny for the tag!! <3

1. Are you named after anyone?

Ohhh yes. My first name is literally the female version of my dad and brother’s name… Patricio/Patrick. My middle name is after my Abuela (dad’s side) bc she died a couple of months before I was born.

2. When was the last time you cried?

HA! I’m actually proud of this one *clears throat* ever since the 911 Lone Star finale...for now.

3. Do you have kids?

I’m 22 almost 23, so my only child has four legs and lives in my apt rent free. I’m also undecided about having them in general (bio or adopted)? I have a autoimmune disease that makes it harder for me to have them and I also had surgery when I was 14… lets say I have 1/3 of my left ovary chopped off bc of a random health issue I had as a kid and now I have a faint smiley face on my bikini line :) talk about oversharing.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

*Takes sunglasses off* Babes, I invented sarcasm. It’s the fourth language I’m fluent in… its a culture thing.

5. What sports have you played/do you play?

Fútbol and futsal. Loved them. Stopped when I got into college but I still participated in intramural games in my sorority/club. I also played basketball in middle school for a bit, but ultimately gave it up bc there wasn't really a girl’s team in my school.

6. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Their personality so I don't make them angry on purpose. I’m a notorious people pleaser, and I hate confrontation when it comes to myself, so I need you to like me…. LIKE ME

7. What's your eye colour?

I have dark, brown cow eyes

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Scary movies bc I cry when movies have happy endings and I don't like tearing up at the movies. Emotions? me? pfttt

9. Any special talents?

I can meow like an actual cat, and put my feet at the back of my head, you know the usual.

10. Where were you born?

El Caribe 😎

11. What are your hobbies?

Singing, drawing, playing the ukulele

12: Do you have any pets?

My 3 year old cat, harry :)

13. How tall are you?

I’m Jennifer Love Hewitt, inches tall.

14. Favourite subject in school?

P.E and Maths. Mind you, I hate Maths with a great passion, but I was in group B (When you reached the 6th grade, they will separate the two form groups of your year group, in my school there was two class groups per year, and they will separate students in A and B group depending on how well you were doing in that specific subject). B group was always the funniest class to be in. I was usually an A group type of student but I always made sure I was in B group for at least a few of my classes and in Maths? It was inevitable.

Anyways, I sat in the middle of the most chaotic pair of people, this dude (a twin) who had a crush on me at the time and this volleyball player who I once had a fall out with. For context, back home I went to a small British school, pre-k––12th grade, and from the 6th grade until I left on 10th grade, I always sat with them bc I will always LAUGH MY ASS OFF every damn class period. Our teacher was this 24 year old guy from Scotland and he was fine with us being together because we got good grades and did the work. I like looking back at this because, we weren't friends, we didn't hang out or talked after class much, but we always sat together because it brought us joy.

Oddly enough I will always miss the poorly drawn dicks at the last page of my maths notebook, the stupid jokes, and the dumb noises they will make on purpose 😂

15. Dream job

To be an immigration lawyer and help other minorities. I just graduated from college, so I’m taking a much needed year off and then law school here I come!

And my “You probs already did this, and def don't do it again if you have, but I’m still tagging you because its 2am” tag goes to: @noxsoulmate @itsneonbright @tailoredshirt @anchor-bird-94 @taralaurel @tylerkennedys @catanisspicy and anyone else who wants to do this :)

#tag game #oh look at the time its 2AM #AGAIN #Im doing these test with my endocrinologist to see if I can sleep like a normal person #HA #so if I seem super chaotic or a hyper child apologies #I haven’t slept properly the past THREE DAYD #Im playing fetch with harry... again #he thinks its funny #😭

6 notes · View notes

neil-gaiman · 3 years

Note

How Did you come up with the first eve in the story about adams wives? I haven’t been able to find anything about her after I read it and I want to know if she’s an actual biblical character or just someone you made

She's from the Midrash. I learned about her as a 12 year old, from my barmitzvah teacher. There was a point in there, long after I'd put her into Sandman, where I was starting to think I'd imagined her, when I ran across her in Robert Graves's Hebrew Myths....

Excerpt from: The Hebrew Myths by Robert Graves and Raphael Patai (New York: Doubleday, 1964), pp 65-69

Chapter 10: Adam's Helpmeets

(a) Having decided to give Adam a helpmeet lest he should be alone of his kind, God put him into a deep sleep, removed one of his ribs, formed it into a woman, and closed up the wound, Adam awoke and said: 'This being shall be named "Woman", because she has been taken out of man. A man and a woman shall be one flesh.' The title he gave her was Eve, 'the Mother of All Living''. [1]

(b) Some say that God created man and woman in His own image on the Sixth Day, giving them charge over the world; [2] but that Eve did not yet exist. Now, God had set Adam to name every beast, bird and other living thing. When they passed before him in pairs, male and female, Adam-being already like a twenty-year-old man-felt jealous of their loves, and though he tried coupling with each female in turn, found no satisfaction in the act. He therefore cried: 'Every creature but I has a proper mate', and prayed God would remedy this injustice. [3]

(c) God then formed Lilith, the first woman, just as He had formed Adam, except that He used filth and sediment instead of pure dust. From Adam's union with this demoness, and with another like her named Naamah, Tubal Cain's sister, sprang Asmodeus and innumerable demons that still plague mankind. Many generations later, Lilith and Naamah came to Solomon's judgement seat, disguised as harlots of Jerusalem'. [4]

(d) Adam and Lilith never found peace together; for when he wished to lie with her, she took offence at the recumbent posture he demanded. 'Why must I lie beneath you?' she asked. 'I also was made from dust, and am therefore your equal.' Because Adam tried to compel her obedience by force, Lilith, in a rage, uttered the magic name of God, rose into the air and left him.

Adam complained to God: 'I have been deserted by my helpmeet' God at once sent the angels Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof to fetch Lilith back. They found her beside the Red Sea, a region abounding in lascivious demons, to whom she bore lilim at the rate of more than one hundred a day. 'Return to Adam without delay,' the angels said, `or we will drown you!' Lilith asked: `How can I return to Adam and live like an honest housewife, after my stay beside the Red Sea?? 'It will be death to refuse!' they answered. `How can I die,' Lilith asked again, `when God has ordered me to take charge of all newborn children: boys up to the eighth day of life, that of circumcision; girls up to the twentieth day. None the less, if ever I see your three names or likenesses displayed in an amulet above a newborn child, I promise to spare it.' To this they agreed; but God punished Lilith by making one hundred of her demon children perish daily; [5] and if she could not destroy a human infant, because of the angelic amulet, she would spitefully turn against her own. [6]

(e) Some say that Lilith ruled as queen in Zmargad, and again in Sheba; and was the demoness who destroyed job's sons. [7] Yet she escaped the curse of death which overtook Adam, since they had parted long before the Fall. Lilith and Naamah not only strangle infants but also seduce dreaming men, any one of whom, sleeping alone, may become their victim. [8]

(f) Undismayed by His failure to give Adam a suitable helpmeet, God tried again, and let him watch while he built up a woman's anatomy: using bones, tissues, muscles, blood and glandular secretions, then covering the whole with skin and adding tufts of hair in places. The sight caused Adam such disgust that even when this woman, the First Eve, stood there in her full beauty, he felt an invincible repugnance. God knew that He had failed once more, and took the First Eve away. Where she went, nobody knows for certain. [9]

(g) God tried a third time, and acted more circumspectly. Having taken a rib from Adam's side in his sleep, He formed it into a woman; then plaited her hair and adorned her, like a bride, with twenty-four pieces of jewellery, before waking him. Adam was entranced. [10]

(h) Some say that God created Eve not from Adam's rib, but from a tail ending in a sting which had been part of his body. God cut this off, and the stump-now a useless coccyx-is still carried by Adam's descendants. [11]

(i) Others say that God's original thought had been to create two human beings, male and female; but instead He designed a single one with a male face looking forward, and a female face looking back. Again He changed His mind, removed Adam's backward-looking face, and built a woman's body for it. [12]

(j) Still others hold that Adam was originally created as an androgyne of male and female bodies joined back to back. Since this posture made locomotion difficult, and conversation awkward, God divided the androgyne and gave each half a new rear. These separate beings He placed in Eden, forbidding them to couple. [13]

Notes on sources:

1. Genesis II. 18-25; III. 20.

2. Genesis I. 26-28.

3. Gen. Rab. 17.4; B. Yebamot 632.

4. Yalqut Reubeni ad. Gen. II. 21; IV. 8.

5. Alpha Beta diBen Sira, 47; Gaster, MGWJ, 29 (1880), 553 ff.

6. Num. Rab. 16.25.

7. Targum ad job 1. 15.

8. B. Shabbat 151b; Ginzberg, LJ, V. 147-48.

9. Gen. Rab. 158, 163-64; Mid. Abkir 133, 135; Abot diR. Nathan 24; B. Sanhedrin 39a.

10. Gen. II. 21-22; Gen. Rab. 161.

11. Gen. Rab. 134; B. Erubin 18a.

12. B. Erubin 18a.

13. Gen. Rab. 55; Lev. Rab. 14.1: Abot diR. Nathan 1.8; B. Berakhot 61a; B. Erubin 18a; Tanhuma Tazri'a 1; Yalchut Gen. 20; Tanh. Buber iii.33; Mid. Tehillim 139, 529.

Authors’ Comments on the Myth:

1. The tradition that man's first sexual intercourse was with animals, not women, may be due to the widely spread practice of bestiality among herdsmen of the Middle East, which is still condoned by custom, although figuring three times in the Pentateuch as a capital crime. In the Akkadian Gilgamesh Epic, Enkidu is said to have lived with gazelles and jostled other wild beasts at the watering place, until civilized by Aruru's priestess. Having enjoyed her embraces for six days and seven nights, he wished to rejoin the wild beasts but, to his surprise, they fled from him. Enkidu then knew that he had gained understanding, and the priestess said: 'Thou art wise, Enkidu, like unto a godl'

2. Primeval man was held by the Babylonians to have been androgynous. Thus the Gilgamesh Epic gives Enkidu androgynous features: `the hair of his head like a woman's, with locks that sprout like those of Nisaba, the Grain-goddess.' The Hebrew tradition evidently derives from Greek sources, because both terms used in a Tannaitic midrash to describe the bisexual Adam are Greek: androgynos, 'man-woman', and diprosopon, 'twofaced'. Philo of Alexandria, the Hellenistic philosopher and commentator on the Bible, contemporary with Jesus, held that man was at first bisexual; so did the Gnostics. This belief is clearly borrowed from Plato. Yet the myth of two bodies placed back to back may well have been founded on observation of Siamese twins, which are sometimes joined in this awkward manner. The two-faced Adam appears to be a fancy derived from coins or statues of Janus, the Roman New Year god.

3. Divergences between the Creation myths of Genesis r and n, which allow Lilith to be presumed as Adam's first mate, result from a careless weaving together of an early Judaean and a late priestly tradition. The older version contains the rib incident. Lilith typifies the Anath-worshipping Canaanite women, who were permitted pre-nuptial promiscuity. Time after time the prophets denounced Israelite women for following Canaanite practices; at first, apparently, with the priests' approval-since their habit of dedicating to God the fees thus earned is expressly forbidden in Deuteronomy xxIII. I8. Lilith's flight to the Red Sea recalls the ancient Hebrew view that water attracts demons. 'Tortured and rebellious demons' also found safe harbourage in Egypt. Thus Asmodeus, who had strangled Sarah's first six husbands, fled 'to the uttermost parts of Egypt' (Tobit viii. 3), when Tobias burned the heart and liver of a fish on their wedding night.

4. Lilith's bargain with the angels has its ritual counterpart in an apotropaic rite once performed in many Jewish communities. To protect the newborn child against Lilith-and especially a male, until he could be permanently safeguarded by circumcision-a ring was drawn with natron, or charcoal, on the wall of the birthroom, and inside it were written the words: 'Adam and Eve. Out, Lilith!' Also the names Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof (meanings uncertain) were inscribed on the door. If Lilith nevertheless succeeded in approaching the child and fondling him, he would laugh in his sleep. To avert danger, it was held wise to strike the sleeping child's lips with one finger-whereupon Lilith would vanish.

5. 'Lilith' is usually derived from the Babylonian-Assyrian word lilitu, ,a female demon, or wind-spirit'-one of a triad mentioned in Babylonian spells. But she appears earlier as 'Lillake' on a 2000 B.G. Sumerian tablet from Ur containing the tale of Gilgamesh and the Willow Tree. There she is a demoness dwelling in the trunk of a willow-tree tended by the Goddess Inanna (Anath) on the banks of the Euphrates. Popular Hebrew etymology seems to have derived 'Lilith' from layil, 'night'; and she therefore often appears as a hairy night-monster, as she also does in Arabian folklore. Solomon suspected the Queen of Sheba of being Lilith, because she had hairy legs. His judgement on the two harlots is recorded in I Kings III. 16 ff. According to Isaiah xxxiv. I4-I5, Lilith dwells among the desolate ruins in the Edomite Desert where satyrs (se'ir), reems, pelicans, owls, jackals, ostriches, arrow-snakes and kites keep her company.

6. Lilith's children are called lilim. In the Targum Yerushalmi, the priestly blessing of Numbers vi. 26 becomes: 'The Lord bless thee in all thy doings, and preserve thee from the Lilim!' The fourth-century A.D. commentator Hieronymus identified Lilith with the Greek Lamia, a Libyan queen deserted by Zeus, whom his wife Hera robbed of her children. She took revenge by robbing other women of theirs.

7. The Lamiae, who seduced sleeping men, sucked their blood and ate their flesh, as Lilith and her fellow-demonesses did, were also known as Empusae, 'forcers-in'; or Mormolyceia, 'frightening wolves'; and described as 'Children of Hecate'. A Hellenistic relief shows a naked Lamia straddling a traveller asleep on his back. It is characteristic of civilizations where women are treated as chattels that they must adopt the recumbent posture during intercourse, which Lilith refused. That Greek witches who worshipped Hecate favoured the superior posture, we know from Apuleius; and it occurs in early Sumerian representations of the sexual act, though not in the Hittite. Malinowski writes that Melanesian girls ridicule what they call `the missionary position', which demands that they should lie passive and recumbent.

8. Naamah, 'pleasant', is explained as meaning that 'the demoness sang pleasant songs to idols'. Zmargad suggest smaragdos, the semi-precious aquamarine; and may therefore be her submarine dwelling. A demon named Smaragos occurs in the Homeric Epigrams.

9. Eve's creation by God from Adam's rib-a myth establishing male supremacy and disguising Eve's divinity-lacks parallels in Mediterranean or early Middle-Eastern myth. The story perhaps derives iconotropically from an ancient relief, or painting, which showed the naked Goddess Anath poised in the air, watching her lover Mot murder his twin Aliyan; Mot (mistaken by the mythographer for Yahweh) was driving a curved dagger under Aliyan's fifth rib, not removing a sixth one. The familiar story is helped by a hidden pun on tsela, the Hebrew for 'rib': Eve, though designed to be Adam's helpmeet, proved to be a tsela, a 'stumbling', or 'misfortune'. Eve's formation from Adam's tail is an even more damaging myth; perhaps suggested by the birth of a child with a vestigial tail instead of a coccyx-a not infrequent occurrence.

10. The story of Lilith's escape to the East and of Adam's subsequent marriage to Eve may, however, record an early historical incident: nomad herdsmen, admitted into Lilith's Canaanite queendom as guests (see 16. 1), suddenly seize power and, when the royal household thereupon flees, occupy a second queendom which owes allegiance to the Hittite Goddess Heba.

The meaning of 'Eve' is disputed. Hawwah is explained in Genesis III. 20 as 'mother of all living'; but this may well be a Hebraicized form of the divine name Heba, Hebat, Khebat or Khiba. This goddess, wife of the Hittite Storm-god, is shown riding a lion in a rock-sculpture at Hattusaswhich equates her with Anath-and appears as a form of Ishtar in Hurrian texts. She was worshipped at Jerusalem (see 27. 6). Her Greek name was Hebe, Heracles's goddess-wife.

2K notes · View notes

highwaytothedangerzone502 · 2 years

Text

India Lima Yankee - Chapter 28

Pairing: Rooster x Female OC

Word Count: 2130

Warnings: Mention of death/cancer, angst

Summary: Juliette Kazansky discovers Maverick is back in town for a special training detachment, but she's more than a little blindsided when Rooster arrives too. Having not spoken to him for almost ten years after their less than amicable break-up, Juliette can only imagine how the next few weeks are going to play out when she remains head over heels in love with him while he wants nothing to do with Juliette other than to forget her.

Or so she thinks.

Notes: Chapters in italics are flashbacks.

Chapter Songs: Middle Finger Go Hard or Go Home

Chapters: Chp 1 Chp 2 Chp 3 Chp 4 Chp 5 Chp 6 Chp 7 Chp 8 Chp 9 Chp 10 Chp 11 Chp 12 Chp 13 Chp 14 Chp 15 Chp 16 Chp 17 Chp 18 Chp 19 Chp 20 Chp 21 Chp 22 Chp 23 Chp 24 Chp 25 Chp 26 Chp 27

Juliette

After getting off the phone with Warlock and bringing up "Spain, June 18, 2001" from her dad's journal, Juliette finally convinced the rear admiral to help. She called Maverick back immediately afterward, told him to meet her on base at 7:45, gave him no explanation, and then hung up. Jules threw on some cargo pants, a tank top, and her dad's bomber jacket afterward since her pajamas probably wouldn't be the most appropriate attire for work, and then hopped in her car with Raptor and Lightning. She went well over the speed limit to get to her parent's house, pulling up at 7:20. To her surprise, Joey and Jack sat on the porch, sipping coffee. When they saw their little sister approaching, they smiled.

"Why didn't you tell us you were coming?" Joey asked once the siblings exchanged tight hugs. "We would've added an extra seat at the breakfast table."

"It was a last-minute thing, and I forgot to call. I need to get to base, and with what's planned for today, I have a feeling it'll be best for the boys to be here rather than with me," Juliette confessed, leaving out the part she'd basically be committing an illegal act with Maverick in less than an hour. What her brothers didn't know wouldn't kill them. Besides, they risked their lives for their country and their comrades. Why couldn't Juliette do something similar?

"I'll get them inside. I know the boys have been dying to see Raptor and Lightning again," Jack said, opening the door for the dogs. They trotted inside, and Juliette heard Mitchell, Tommy, and Liam yell excitedly a few seconds later. "I'm going to make sure the twins don't try and give them Fruit Loops. Don't think that'll be good for the dogs' stomachs. I'll see you later, Jules. Love you."

"I appreciate it. Love you, too, Jack." While her middle brother went inside, she turned to Joey and added, "I should be back this evening in time for dinner, but I'll let you know. Training is always up in the air about when it ends and-"

"Why are you going to training, Jules?"

She tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean?"

"You should be here with us, spending time with your family. Surely work can wait?" Joey said disapprovingly.

"No, it can't. These pilots are going on a deadly mission in less than two weeks, and Dad assigned me to help Maverick ensure they all come back alive."

"No offense, Jules, but what can you do? You're not a pilot like Jack and me, you're not an intelligence specialist, and you have no knowledge of military strategies. You just design planes for Lockheed."

The words were a slap in the face to Juliette, especially coming from her oldest brother. Of course, she had her father's letter stating precisely why he'd chosen her, and Juliette trusted her father no matter what, but Joey still managed to strike precisely where she felt most insecure about her position in the training detachment. Still, she wouldn't let the insult slide, and grieving or not, Joey didn't get to speak to her like that. Crossing her arms, Juliette snapped back, "Evidently, I was better suited for the position than you. Speaking of which, I need to go help Maverick so I can make sure my pilots get back-"

"Your pilots?" Joey interrupted, scoffing. "Juliette, they're not your pilots. You don't belong with them, and I can assure you, once this training detachment ends, you'll never hear from them again. Besides, Maverick is a grown man. He can do this by himself. You should be here with your family."

"Maverick is family, and you know what? Yeah, he could. But if Dad were here, he would help Mav. Since Dad's not here, I'm doing it instead."

"But you're not Dad!"

"No, I'm not, but I'm more like him than you will ever be." Juliette took an angry step toward her brother. "I'm going to be there for Maverick because he's been there for me when I needed him, which is more than I can say for you the last few years. Once Dad got diagnosed with his cancer, you never came around to visit except for maybe at the holidays, and I've been lucky if I got a call from you every other month. I know death is hard for you to deal with after losing Cobra and that it was difficult for you to see Dad when he was sick, but just because you now feel guilty about not being around your family enough doesn't mean you get to boss me around and belittle and guilt me into staying. I grieve differently than you, and I'm going to honor Dad by doing what he would've done, which is helping Maverick and helping my pilots."

Joey's face whitened, and she would've felt remorseful had she not been so hurt and outraged by his words. Before her brother could continue, she said curtly, "I'll be back this evening to pick up my dogs."

Turning on her heel, Juliette strode to her car, ignoring Joey's calls for her to come back. White-knuckling her steering wheel, she pulled out of the driveway and onto the main stretch of road. The audacity Joey had to say such things! She knew she wasn't their dad! No one could ever be their dad, but Juliette knew the world didn't stop just because she lost someone, nor would she let it stop. There was still a job to be done, a critical one, and once it'd been completed and all the pilots returned home safely, then Juliette would allow herself to take a moment and fully mourn. However, until that happened, she would honor her dad the only way she knew how: doing what he would do by protecting Maverick and the pilots.

The ride to base passed by in a blur, probably due to Juliette's racing thoughts. She realized, pulling into a parking spot next to Maverick's Kamazaki, that she had no memory of the entire drive there. Hopefully, she hadn't run any red lights or stop signs...

Maverick leaned casually against his motorcycle, watching her suspiciously. "Jules, what exactly did you do?"

"I called in a favor from Warlock," she replied simply, pulling out two Top Gun hats from her backseat and handing one to him. She put on her own, tucking as much of her blonde hair into it as she could. "Put that on. We're a little too recognizable on base, and we need to be as inconspicuous as possible."

Maverick did as instructed. "I know that, but how did you get him to agree to whatever you did?"

"He owed Dad a favor, and I cashed it in," she answered, walking toward a side entrance the rear admiral had promised to leave open.

"How'd you know he owed Ice a favor?"

"Come on, Mav. I have to keep some secrets to myself." Finally, they reached the door, and Juliette tugged on the handle. It opened, much to her relief. Poking her head in and confirming the coast was clear, she slipped inside with her uncle on her heels. With silent footsteps, the two of them walked through the hallways with their heads down, not wanting anyone to recognize them. Everything was good until Juliette's phone started going off. Frantically, she answered it and greeted, "Hey, Warlock."

"I'm in the hangar. Are you almost here?" He asked quietly.

"Two minutes away. See you soon." She hung up, shoving her phone back in her pocket.

Giving her a sideways glance, Maverick inquired in amusement, "Is Warlock's ringtone the Harry Potter theme song?"

"Yes..."

"What's mine?"

"Bad Reputation by Joan Jett, although after what we're about to do, it might be the Cops' Theme Song."

Maverick chuckled. "On a different note, how are things between you and Rooster?"

Juliette's hand instinctively went up to her locket. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "We're back together. We finally got everything worked out."

"Good. So he's not the reason you looked ready to murder someone when you pulled up?"

"Ah." Juliette's expression swiftly fell into a grimace. "No. I had an argument with Joey this morning."

"About?"

"Me helping you. Long story short, I told him I'm helping you because it's what Dad would've done if he were here, and Joey pointed out I'm not Dad. It's not like I don't know that, but Dad chose me for a reason, and I'm going to do whatever I can to honor his wishes. It just... hurt. Joey hasn't been the same since he lost his wingman all those years ago, and I can tell he feels guilty for not spending more time with Dad since his first diagnosis, but he took his guilt out on me, and I wasn't having it. We'll be fine. I'm dreading seeing him later, though."

Before Maverick could respond, they arrived at the hangar. Warlock waited for them, keeping a low profile in the back. To Juliette's surprise, the admiral smiled at them. "Maverick, Princess. Glad you made it without any incident."

"Thank you for the help, Warlock," Juliette said, giving him a sincere smile. "I know I cashed in a big favor for this, but you really do have all my gratitude."

"You're protecting more than just Maverick. You're protecting your pilots too."

Pride swelled in Juliette's chest at Warlock calling the pilots 'her' pilots. It cemented it for her that it wasn't just in her head. It wasn't just her becoming overly protective of these people. Others viewed them as 'her' pilots too, and after her conversation with Joey, those words meant everything to her.

"Here's your gear," Warlock said, handing over the flight suits and helmets.

Juliette shook her head. "Oh, no, when I said I needed a plane, I meant just for Maverick. I wasn't-"

"I know, but Mav called me not long after you did and cashed in a favor of his own to ensure the plane had a seat for you."

Juliette snapped her head in her uncle's direction. He smiled warmly at her and said, "You didn't think I'd be doing this without you, did you?"

"I- are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Good luck, you two," Warlock remarked, saluting them with two fingers. "I'll see you on the other side."

Juliette didn't get a chance to question Maverick about why he wanted her to join him because he slipped into the men's bathroom to change. She entered the women's and swiftly donned her flight suit. Juliette met Maverick by the jet, swallowing down her nerves at what she was helping him accomplish. This is what her dad would've done, but holy shit, she was going up against essentially the commander of the base. This was no small form of disobedience!

"Jules, before we go up," Maverick said, grasping her shoulder. His green eyes, unless she was mistaken, were misty. "Thank you for helping me. Whatever repercussions come out of this, I'll make sure Cyclone knows you're innocent and-"

"No. When we get called in by Cyclone, I'll be taking responsibility for my part. I have my ways of getting out of trouble for this. Believe me. Besides, I wouldn't be helping you if the outcome wasn't worth the risk. Look-" Juliette fiddled nervously with her helmet and took a deep breath- "I know I'm not my dad, and it has to be nerve-wracking to be doing this without him here to have your back in the event things go south, but I'll do whatever can to help you. It's what Dad would've done if he were still here."

"Juliette, I do have your dad here. I have him in you," Maverick said, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly. "No matter what anyone tells you, you are your dad through and through. I see him in your eyes and in your smile and how you treat those you love, and you are the only person I know now, outside of your dad, who would stick their neck out for me in the way that you are."

Juliette beamed through her rapidly forming tears, honored at his words. "Thank you, Mav," she whispered, her voice cracking. She pulled him into a tight hug, trying to convey her gratitude for his kind words and her sympathy because Maverick lost someone dear to his heart the same way she did, and like her, this mission wouldn't let him grieve properly until it was over.

After a few moments, they pulled apart and high-fived each other, their silent "we got this." Then, climbing into the jet, Maverick and Juliette strapped themselves in. The former asked, "You ready?"

Juliette took a deep breath. "Let's show them what you can do."

***

Tags: @lgg5989 @shanimallina87 @polikszena @summ3rlotus @souslesyeuxde @gleasonmalfoy @icemansgirl1999 @supernaturaldawning @thedarkinmansfield @lyannaforpresident @lapilark @getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth @simpofthecentury @shadeops21 @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @double-j

22 notes · View notes

sleephyjhs · 4 years

Text

When You’re Expecting (Taehyung Headcanon)

pairing: taehyung x pregnant!reader

warnings: mention of fertility & pregnancy complications

note: i’ve been craving to write a bts x pregnancy series for a while so here we go !! if there’s a specific member you’d like to see next, shoot me an ask :)

m.list

FINDING OUT

even before finding out you were pregnant, you both had so much love for your child

there was nothing either of you could have wanted more than a baby

it was always at the forefront of your mind how much you wanted a little human of your own

it was approaching a year since you began trying seriously

a few false hopes and two miscarriages later, fertility drugs were looking to improve the chances of conceiving

the raging hormones which came with the drugs were all worth the positive test

early september - sickness had hung around your throat for days

headaches lasted longer than usual, and crying at the most mundane things had become an unwelcome habit

in the bathroom cabinet, you’d collected a small stockpile of electronic and stick pregnancy tests

one of them would eventually show positive, right?

taehyung sat on the bathroom tiles with you

waiting two minutes felt closer to waiting two months

he crossed his legs, bouncing his knees impatiently

your knees came to your chin; high hopes weighed heavily on your heart

the alarm set on his phone beeped quietly

your heartbeat rose suddenly to your throat

taehyung reached out for your hand as you turned to read the results

two blue lines - as clear as day

they became less clear as your eyes coated with thick, salty tears

he began to chuckle as his happiness trickled down his cheeks

“we did it baby! we’re gonna have a baby!” he whispered, choked up by his own anticipation

no words were left swirling in your mind

your jaw hung open as though the hinges were faulty

shakily, you lifted the electronic test to triple check

pregnant.

as you crashed into taehyung’s open arms, memories of the past loomed in your mind

it was only inevitable

a positive test was a familiar joy to you both

however this familiar joy had only ever been followed by crippling devastation

as much as you tried not to think about it, you couldn’t help but retain maternal caution

however, this time also felt different

taehyung’s spirit, your spirit - it was as though fate didn’t want to disappoint you any more

someone out there decided it was finally your time to grow a mini human to bring into the world

of course, no time was wasted in contacting the maternity clinic

seeing your baby on a screen was now a top priority

just to see their little head, maybe even hear their heartbeat

just to know they were okay

just to know you were keeping them cosy and safe, that’s all you needed

taehyung couldn’t hold his excitement

from leaving the house to reaching the hospital, his toothy grin never wiped from his cheeks

he never said anything at the time since his main focus was always on comforting you

but losing his babies near enough tore him apart

even when you tried to comfort him, taehyung restricted himself just to protect your wellbeing

of course, the worse had already crossed his mind

but it wouldn’t get the better of him

it couldn’t.

you soon learned you were already 6 weeks pregnant

the midwife had to point out where your little baby was hanging out; they were such a tiny thing after all

briefly, you took the opportunity to hear their heartbeat

it was faint over the machine, but fast

there really was a life within you.

“there’s something else, if you just look over here...” the midwife prompted, turning the monitor so you could grasp a better view

taehyung leaned slightly over your chest to peer closely at the smaller monochrome screen

with the mouse, she circled a second bean shaped figure

“the fertility drugs increase the chance of twins. looks like you guys got lucky!”

twins. you were having twins.

THE PREGNANCY

like with most pregnancies, you were advised to wait until the 12 week milestone to begin announcing your impending delivery

and even though he understood the importance of patience right now, taehyung could hardly contain his excitement

it didn’t help that a little bump had already begun to grow

keeping a secret was much more difficult when the evidence was near impossible to hide

already, taehyung spent early mornings talking to his little angels

telling them stories he seemingly made up on the spot

or even borrowing some from his own childhood

“you know they can’t hear you yet? it’s about 7 weeks until they’ll be able to, honey.”

“i know, i’m just practising for when they can.”

of course, you wouldn’t admit that you did the same when you were alone

you attended more midwife appointments than other expectant mothers might

the pair of you much preferred being on the safer side

in the car, when on a quieter, less congested road, taehyung often reached over to cradle your still-growing bump with a free hand

you slotted your fingertips between his for additional sappiness

“you two have so many people waiting for you here, hmm? many people are already so in love with you both. me and mummy included.”

on a sleepless night, you’d made a small pact with tae

it was a rash decision, but sincere nonetheless

“no matter what, they are always going to know how wanted they were. always.”

taehyung hardly needed reminding of this, but it was still a weight off your shoulders

as you tried to conceive, the pregnancy diet had already been implemented into your daily routines

however now that you were carrying two precious babies, there really would be no more ‘cheat’ days for you

no more extra half cups of coffee on slower mornings

although you usually took over the role of head chef in the house, taehyung dedicated extra effort into preparing you both healthy and yummy foods

sautéd rice with green vegetables and lean meat/tofu appeared to be his go-to

but you still opted to supervise just in case

finally being able to announce your pregnancy was another heavy weight lifted from your mind

the other members were over the moon for you both

particularly when they reminded themselves of the struggles you had experienced previously

and also remembering the utter devastation of their taehyung when he had to break it to them

all of them kept their eye out for little gifts and outfits

each week, taehyung came home with a new stack of pale rompers or neutral-tones teething toys

these babies would have the best uncles; at least that much you could be certain of

announcing your pregnancy on social media was a looming task, but one he was determined to pull off perfectly

for filler content between schedules, the members had been asked to film a 5 minute vlog of their daily life

well, what a perfect opportunity!

towards the end, taehyung made sure to include some shots of your now protruding bump overlaid with some more vintage camera settings

safe to say, that day you had broken the internet

love, congratulations and blessings poured in from every corner of the earth

a few comments complimenting how much pregnancy suited you touched you especially

self image is commonly effected by the progression of pregnancy, and you were no exception to that

although it was amazing how your body grew and made a little home for your tiny babies, it was still quite strange to see yourself changing so quickly

your favourite clothes didn’t fit around your doubled bump anymore

and your skin seemed to hate sharing nutrients with two extra people

but for the days where you struggled to love yourself, taehyung easily filled in the gaps for you

sneaking up behind you in the bathroom

(although the mirror kinda gave him away)

he’d wrap his arms around your just-moisturised bump and carefully rest his chin on your shoulder

“tell me all your worries honey.”

you gushed over how much you missed wearing your favourite jackets

and how strange it was to look at yourself in such a new and confusing way

“i know it’s normal, and i know i have to do it for them. but i guess it’s just weird - i don’t look like myself anymore”

he sighed and planted a kiss on a spot of bare skin

those small kisses still tickled you like they always had

“well, you definitely look different,”

you really hoped there was a second part to that sentence, mostly for tae’s own good

“but why does that have to be bad? not gonna lie, it actually kinda makes you hotter. maybe we should make babies more often!”

“make~?”

LABOUR AND DELIVERY

originally, you had wanted to try and stick to the natural route for as long as you could

but after a few contractions, that idea was immediately out of the window

to help steady yourself and wait out the pain, you held onto the kitchen island and swayed to your own pace

eventually, taehyung joined you

copying the same movements while timing your contractions

“they really must be desperate to come out, huh?”

“well do you think they could hurry it up a bit?!”

the pair of you had been prepared for this for over a month

the hospital bag was ready by the door with all of your essentials packed tightly inside

not forgetting the pots of instant ramen taehyung insisted he must bring in case of an emergency

just as he was readying to back out of the driveway, taehyung took a mental stock check of everything packed in the back

“do you think we have everything?”

“i love you but stop talking please.”

thankfully, he understood well that the sheer pain made you cranky

so long as he assured himself that it was ‘just the contractions’, he’d be just fine

as much as he couldn’t wait to announce he was about to become a father to everyone, he kept himself grounded when walking you to the maternity ward

one corridor in and you’d suggested that a wheelchair might be a better mode of transport

breathlessness and contractions didn’t sound like a favourable mix to you

the assessment of your fast dilation granted you an immediate spot in the labour ward

you’d picked this suite specially due to its expansive space

the option of a birthing pool was still available if you so needed it, but the mood lighting and access to aromatherapy was what attracted you to the room in the first place

a serene paradise for your angels to be born into

it was perfect

taehyung explored while you adjusted to your new surroundings

of course, it didn��t take him long to find the birthing ball

“what’s the difference between a yoga ball and a birthing ball?”

there obviously was none, but you took a few seconds to try and be smart with him

“well, sit on that and you might have a baby the size of a watermelon come out of you soon.”

taehyung cradled his torso and pulled a shocked expression, which was enough to make you giggle and cause another contraction

less than a few hours passed, and you had already attempted to scream the building down once or twice

“get these babies out of me. no i’m serious, i need them out.”

realising your deadpan expression, taehyung soon attended to you at the head of your bed

stroking your slightly sweaty head and patting a ice cold flannel on your clammy forehead

he braced himself for a crushing hand grip which came about sooner than he’d prepared for

you weren’t the biggest fan of commotion, and so being surrounded by nurses and doctors was close to being your worst nightmare

taehyung focused his voice into your ear, trying to minimise the tension coming from below your pelvis

his motivational words were broken up by short bursts of pushes

many of which were followed by a string of curse words which just slipped out

and then, there it was.

the first piercing cry belted across the room

a tear or two may have happened to slip from your eyes

finally the moment you’d waited for, nearly two years in the making, was here

the first of two, a little girl who already had a head full of the most luscious black hair

taehyung wanted to hold back his happy tears in order to show some kind of strength

but you and him both knew he’d never hold it back for long

within the space of 4 minutes, the second baby was born into the world.

but this time, there was no immediate cry

the whole world seemed to slow down in that moment as you waited

and waited

midwifes gathered around the new infant, looking for any kind of obstruction

but, soon enough, your son said his first hello to the world

#taehyung #kim taehyung #bts #bts taehyung #bts v #bangtan #bts reactions #bts imagines #bts one shot #bts drabble #bts headcanon #bts mtl #bts imagine #bts reaction #bts pregnancy #taehyung dad #taehyung x reader #taehyung x oc #taehyung pregnancy

805 notes · View notes

forasecondtherewedwon · 4 years

Photo

Only in a Sitcom

Fandom: WandaVision Pairing: Darcy Lewis/Jimmy Woo Rating: T

Summary: Darcy has no idea what the hell’s going on with this WandaVision thing, but neither does Jimmy. It’s kinda fun to have somebody to binge-watch alternate reality TV with.

read ch. 1 one / 2 two / 3 three / 4 four / 5 five 6 six / 7 seven / 8 eight / 9 nine / 10 ten 11 eleven / 12 twelve / 13 thirteen / 14 fourteen 15 fifteen / 16 sixteen / 17 seventeen / 18 eighteen

this fic is now complete!

Darcy, Jimmy, and Monica have been working their way across Westview in as straight a line as possible, knocking on every door in every cute little cul-de-sac in their path. It was Jimmy who asserted they should never put their backs to a dangerous situation, but Monica who overruled that statement, pointing out that they were more likely to stay focused if they didn’t keep staring at the fight in the sky.

Darcy thinks they were both right. There’s a tingle rippling up and down the back of her neck, like she gets when she’s up in the middle of the night, spooked by shadows her anxious, overtired mind is too eager to turn into monsters, but the heebie-jeebies give her the energy to work quickly. She takes on an entire crescent on her own, readying people for a departure she’s certain they’ve been longing for. As she’s coming out the crescent’s other end, she realizes the Hex is getting brighter; the red storm clouds are being sucked back into themselves to leave a thin daylight.

Standing at the corner, she watches Jimmy and Monica emerge from the street opposite. Darcy jogs over, wincing. Wanda could’ve put orthotics in these Escape Artist boots. They’re blistering her feet.

“This has to be a good sign, right?” she asks, motioning to the calm skies.

“Look,” Monica instructs. She jerks her chin and Darcy and Jimmy follow her line of sight to see Wanda, Vision, and the twins coming up the main road.

Darcy gasps.

Wanda’s gone from bumming-around-the-house sweats to battle-ready chic. With her armour-like bodice, gloves that leave those magic fingers free, and an usually-shaped tiara framing her forehead, she’s both intimidating and otherworldly. But she’s smiling. Darcy would call it a sad smile and it hurts her heart to see it, even though she doesn’t understand.

As Wanda passes them with her hand held fast in Vision’s, she turns her head to nod at Monica. It’s in her eyes too, the same thing that’s in her smile. Something tired but present. Gone are the comedically darting glances of her persona as the bumbling new girl in town and the frazzled energy of a mom trying to corral a couple of superkids. It looks like she’s finally letting go of the illusion/delusion.

“Can we do anything for her?” Jimmy asks as the family continues on down the middle of the street.

“No,” Monica says. “The rest is for Wanda to do on her own.”

“We might as well head back towards the center of town,” Darcy says. “We don’t need to waste time at the edges. They’ll be the first to wake up.”

She points to where the Hex is shimmering on the horizon. The seconds pass and the shimmer looks messier, a weave of overlapping wires fritzing with energy. The edge is coming closer, but unlike when Wanda pushed the boundary farther, closing it around Darcy and her S.W.O.R.D. nemeses, this isn’t menacing. Wanda’s powers are no longer looking to consume more territory, they’re contracting. Faster than the incoming wave of the walls, the Hex goes dark. The red glow is intensely magical in the sudden night.

The three of them fan out, hitting the houses in their new route, and make their way back to the town square. They’ve been telling everyone to remain in their homes until they receive further instructions to evacuate, but Darcy spots a figure on the sidewalk by the department story. It’s Agnes, except… not as they saw her lately. No wild hair or billowing, layered outfit. No levitation. Darcy’s wary in the face of the woman who appears so much like her former self, the one supposedly under Wanda’s control. This Agnes has a damn Peter Pan collar poking out of her sweater! She couldn’t look much less threatening.

“What do you think?” she asks Monica when she joins her.

“I don’t know.” Monica peers across the street at Agnes in the dark and when Agnes notices, she flashes a wide smile.

“Well, maybe we should— Hey, no, wait!”

But the Captain strides across to meet Agnes. Darcy almost follows in her idol’s wake, but she quickly remembers that Monica has powers to protect herself that far exceed the right hook Darcy used to drop Agent Handcuffs. Whatever Agnes’s deal is, Darcy knows she’s an entirely different kind of beast from an asshole S.W.O.R.D. agent.

“What’s going on there?” Jimmy wonders, coming up beside her.

Thanks to the stress of trying to speak to as many citizens as possible in a short amount of time, including looking dozens of people still under mind control in the eye and aching for their lack of agency, the fear of and for Wanda as she witnessed that clash in the sky, and, really, the car crash that’s still pretty recent, Darcy reacts to her boyfriend’s presence by wrapping her arms around him tightly. With his tie pressed to her cheek, she feels him hug her back.

“I don’t know,” she says, carrying on the conversation without pulling away an inch, “but Monica’s finding out.”

“Agnes looks like an average Westviewer again. It’s disconcerting.”

“She must’ve been faking right up until she went head-to-head with Wanda.”

“And now she’s one of them for real.”

“Seems like,” Darcy agrees.

When Monica returns to confirm Agnes’s newly mind-controlled status, Darcy peels herself most of the way away from Jimmy, leaving her arm around his back, beneath his FBI jacket. He rests his arm around her shoulders.

“I don’t know what we do with her,” Monica says, hands on her hips. “We can’t undo what Wanda did, but do we leave Agnes here in Westview, trusting that she isn’t able to hurt anyone? Do we bring her in?”

“If it’s beyond our power to help her, maybe we just leave her here,” Jimmy suggests. “Wanda knows where she is, so we let Agnes stay in a place she can be found when or if Wanda decides to release her.”

“It’s tricky,” Darcy says slowly. “Agnes is capable of doing so much damage, and I’m sure she’s going to get good and angry while Wanda has her trapped inside herself. You and I know how that feels,” she says to Monica. “But that Agnes is secure—as far as we know—inside Sitcom Agnes, like little Agnes nesting dolls. I don’t know if this is the kind of punishment she deserves for pushing Wanda to the brink, but I do know it’s not going to be pretty if that inner Agnes is unleashed with nobody around to mitigate the consequences.”

“Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division,” Monica says softly.

“Hmm?”

“S.W.O.R.D. That’s what we’re supposed to stand for. I think, without Tyler Hayward around, it’s high time S.W.O.R.D. went back to its roots of trying to understand exceptional people, circumstances, and technology instead of just attacking them.”

“Sounds as though you might have a plan, Captain,” Jimmy says. Darcy glances at his face and catches his small, knowing smile.

Monica beams back.

“The former Director may have kicked me off the base, but I’m still S.W.O.R.D. and I still believe in my mother’s original goals for the organization.”

“Hey, it’s your legacy,” Darcy says. “You have my vote for Director.”

“You want to put Agnes under S.W.O.R.D. observation?” Jimmy asks.

“Not just Agnes. Not if Wanda’s willing to listen.”

With the sky rapidly lightening, Monica roughs out a plan that involves a partnership between S.W.O.R.D. and Wanda Maximoff. A partnership because any other dynamic would surely fail. After what they all witnessed today, it’s obvious that someone as powerful as Wanda can’t be held against her will. In exchange for Wanda making reparations to the people and town of Westview (not the least of which will be repairing all physical damage, which Monica knows Wanda’s capable of, since there’s no longer a Monica-sized hole in her living room wall) and an agreement to be held in the custody of S.W.O.R.D., under the leadership of Director Monica Rambeau, Monica thinks she has plenty to offer Wanda.

“You think she’ll do that deal?” Jimmy asks.

“That’s my question too,” Darcy says. “I mean, without the deal, Wanda can go where she pleases, right?”

“But she’ll be alone,” Monica counters. “We know what her loved ones mean to her. That’s what all this has been about—Wanda doing whatever it takes in order to go through life less alone.”

“What can you give her?”

“Vision,” Jimmy says abruptly. “The other one, the one who left. You think he’ll be back.”

“I think he’ll want answers,” Monica agrees. “Whatever Hayward did to him, he did at S.W.O.R.D. and I’m betting that Wanda will see that’s her best chance to reunite with Vision.”

“Vision will come back,” Darcy says, putting it together, “and Wanda will be there waiting.”

“And in the meantime, we use her expertise as we continue our work in a… more transparent vein. Give her access, keep her busy.”

“Keep her happy,” Jimmy cuts in. Monica nods her acknowledgement.

“Yes. Show her what it’s like to help people again. What better way to remind her there’s more to the world than her artificial paradise than to have her consult on the work we’re doing in space?”

“If you need somebody to sell Wanda on the space angle, I’m your girl,” Darcy volunteers.

“I’ve already had some ideas about that,” Monica promises with a smile.

Her eyes focus beyond Darcy and Jimmy and they turn to see what she’s looking at. Black hood drawn up over her head, Wanda’s walking back into the downtown. Alone. Darcy hopes that the fact that she’s black-hatted doesn’t mean she’s already decided against working to redeem herself to rejoin the good guys.

“You better stay in touch too,” Monica tells Jimmy, shifting as she prepares to intercept Wanda.

“If you reach out to Darcy, I’m sure I won’t be far,” he says. Darcy’s heart performs quick, happy thumps.

With that, Monica walks purposely towards Wanda. Darcy watches her cautious body language and Wanda’s tension in response to being accosted, but there isn’t any visible escalation. When FBI vehicles and the team Darcy assumes belongs to Major Goodner roll up the street, Wanda doesn’t flee. Darcy looks to Jimmy.

“You better go take charge,” she suggests.

He gives her a bashful smile.

“I will in a minute. The evacuation should run like clockwork after all the prep we did. With the Hex removed, everyone’s free.”

“They’re free, I’m free…”

“Are you free Saturday?” The smile’s a little slyer now.

“After all this, I don’t even know what day of the week it is,” Darcy admits, “but yes.”

He laughs.

“What are you thinking?” she asks, twisting to face him as his hand moves from her shoulder to her waist. “Quiet night in watching TV?”

“You know, I think I need a break from TV for a while. How about a movie?”

Darcy grins.

“You buy the tickets, I’ll buy the snacks?”

“Deal,” Jimmy says, and smiles against her mouth when he ducks his head to kiss her.

#my writing #Only in a Sitcom #wandavision #wandavision spoilers #Darcy Lewis #Jimmy Woo #Monica Rambeau #Darcy Lewis x Jimmy Woo #Darcy x Jimmy #Vision

150 notes · View notes

yamithediaperdork · 3 years

Text

My Little Brothers revenge Part 1

My little brothers revenge

The Hickman's were for the most part a average middle class family. both the parents worked and they had two children.

A 12 year old named Justin who had natural blond hair in a brush cut though he currently had it dyed indigo blue to go with his icy blue eyes. He had a jock's build (well as much as one could have at that age) and wasn't scared to use his physical power to his advantage.

his little brother Alex was short for his age and was always being mistaken for a 6 year old or worse when he was 9 and a half. He had red hair that went down to his shoulders and he kept in a pony tail and his checks were sprinkled with freckles.His slim body meant he was last to be picked for any sports though unlike his brother he was a strait A student and actually sometimes had to help his older brother with his homework, a fact that neither of them enjoyed.

It was their mother Anne (who Alex took after in appearance) who insisted that he help his big brother and it always ended with Justin pissed off and Alex hanging from a bed post by his sponge bob underoo's.

Their father who Justin took after in appearance refused to believe his little all star could be such a bully and so it was usually left to Alex to figure out a way to hold his own or go and whine to their mother, getting him labeled a mama's boy.

Still all brothers fight, it was just a fact of life and it might of all just gone this way with them being a semi happy family till the day the bully of a big brother took things a step too far and Alex decided that Justin had to be put in his place once and for all.

Alex had been hanging out with his friends Saturday afternoon, playing video games in the living room and having semi pissed off Justin who had wanted to watch a movie with HIS friends.

But mom and dad made sure that the TV time was shared and that both boys got a block of time and with their parents just down the block, Justin knew better then to try and strong arm them out.

Said friends were Kyle and Lyle, twins from down the block who had a semi creepy habit of finishing each others sentences and had light caramel skin and black hair in matching mushroom cuts. it was easy enough to tell them apart as by a semi quick of fate Lyle had brown eyes while Kyle had green.

Missing in action because he'd gone fishing with his dad was Max, anther shrimp who had dirty blond hair in a short Mohawk (his attempt to look cool which had backfired) and was so white he looked pale most of the time.

being shrimps themselves they had hit it off well with Alex and had formed a semi losers club of sorts, though Alex wasn't found of the name the twins who loved anything Steven king had insisted and he was out voted 2 to 1 since Max had joined the group after.

the boys were doing a retro gaming session of sorts, playing downloaded old games on a new machine and the game of choice for the moment was Ninja turtles two.

"Man, this game is so bad.." Lyle spoke up, playing as Leonardo.

"That it's almost good!" Kyle finished and was playing as Ralph.

"heh, that the fun part of these old games..you know they were giving it their all but just were limited." Alex said.

all three of them were seated on the hard wood floor of the living room though they had spread out a blanket since despite the chill of the October air his parents had refused to turn on the heat yet.

the twins nodded and Alex went to say something else when he hear the booming footsteps of his brother then a familiar stink hit his nose.

'No way, he wouldn't!' Alex thought.

"Hey Little Alexandra, Didn't mom tell you to toss out your pissy wet diapie when you got changed this morning? It's bad enough your a bed wetter, do you have to leave your soggy huggies around?" Justin asked.

and indeed Justin was holding out a totally soaked Spider-man print diaper in front of him, holding it with just a finger and his thumb and holding his nose.

Behind him were his friend Adam (Nicknamed grizz or grizzly because of his girth and wildly unkempt brown hair) and Rayne, actually a year younger then the other two but a head taller and so very, very much stupider. Rayne kept his head shaved because he thought it made him look more like the pro wrestlers that he so so loved.

"is that-" Lyle asked, pausing the game and turning to look.

"-A diaper?" Kyle finished, raising a eyebrow.

"JUSTIN! Mom told you not show people those! and I DID toss it out!" Alex huffed and whined, his cheeks going crimson then adding. "And DON'T call me Alexandra!"

"Whatever you say pamper pisser. Look, I went to go into our room to get something and was assaulted by the stink of your bed wetter pants." Justin said and then tossed the soggy thing at Alex, hitting him in the face and knocking him over.

the truth was Alex KNEW he'd tossed the diaper out this morning, he wasn't allowed to toss his very much needed bed time diapers out in the house trash because Dad and Justin would raise a fuss about it stinking up the house and he'd had to wait five minutes because the paper boy had stopped to talk to Mr. Johnson next door.

"JUSTIN GROSS!" Alex whined and sat up, whining and now smelling like stale pee.

"Whatever dork, go and toss your diaper out then take a shower..me and the guys are gonna start our movie early. Wonder twins, I'm sure you don't wanna stick around and hang out with a pamper packer like my little brother right?" Justin said.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Lyle huffed and went to put a supportive hand on Alex's shoulder, but then pulled it back.

he was with his friend but that didn't mean he wanted to get any of the ick on him.

"What he said! Everyone matures differently! Heck, Lyle only just stopped needing a night light this year!" Kyle said, then pout his hands over his mouth as his brother glared at him.

"...Pfffftt BWHAHAHAHAHA!" all three big bullies broke into gut busting laughter.

"I'm not the one who has to suck on a pacifier during thunder storms!" Lyle shot back and blew a raspberry at his twin who huffed and glared.

the bullies naturally were loving it as the twins only dug themselves in deeper and Alex just face palmed.

"Guys, you're NOT helping yourselves." He pointed out.

"Oh my god, it's a group of BABIES! No wonder they all get along!" Grizz laughed, slapping his leg.

"I bet their next sleep over is gonna have them in a crib." Rayne added.

"Alright pamper packers, out of the living room, this movie is PG 13 and I don't want you all blorting your pants when something scary happens. Wonder twins, get your asses home. Alexandra, go take a shower AFTER you toss out your pissy diaper." Justin said, unable to believe just how well all of this had worked out.

"Whatever jerk.." Alex huffed and got up.

he saw his friends off though the twins were still semi huffing and fighting, shoving each other as the walked away and Alex got his wet diaper tossed out without anyone seeing him.

as he went upstairs and got his shower ready one thing was on his mind.

'This means war. I'm gonna make him feel EXACTLY how embarrassing being seen in diapers around your fiends is.' Alex vowed to himself.

Ok, he had no idea HOW he was going to do so, but while Justin may of won the first battle, it was going to be Alex who won the war and prove his Brain's out did his brother brawn.

The movie was going about as well as could be expected since they had to keep pausing it to have anther laugh at just how dorky Alex and his friends were.

Of course Rayne and Grizz had known for awhile (even if Justin technically wasn't suppose to of told them) about Alex being a diaper filler. (and he might of exaggerated what all Alex used his diapers for)

Maybe a SMALL part of Justin had felt sorry for Alex being humiliated like that in front of his friends, but Grizz had actually come up with the idea and he didn't wanna look like a pussy in front of the guys.

Besides with it coming out that the twins were just as big of dorks as his little brother any real guilt had vanished and he toyed with the idea of dragging out Alex's old play pen out of the basement for the next time he had all his dorky friends over.

'heh, get some pacifiers to shut'em up..put them all in Alex's diapers and take lots of pictures. boom, homework and chore bitches till I graduate.' Justin thought with a smirk and chuckled.

"what's so funny? Oooo and I know that look. Someone's had a evil thought." Grizz asked.

"Heh.. How would you guys feel about making some diapered nerds do our homework for us?" Justin asked.

"well, could be funny, but where are we gonna find some?" Rayne asked.

"..." Grizz roiled his eyes

"...Rayne buddy just smile and listen." Justin said semi sweat dropping.

"I can do that!" Rayne said with a big toothy grin.

Shaking his head Justin started to explain his evil plan, and his friends laughed and chuckled, and were MORE then on board.

Getting out of the shower and drying off, Alex got dressed in a pair of black jogging pants and a t-shirt then sat on his bed with his laptop.

He tried different google searches trying to figure out just how to get his brother back in diapers but for the most part it ended up giving him story link's that he bookmarked to look over later and see if there was anything usable.

He did find a forum called little brothers revenge and it had some really wicked ideas for the most part, but only two threads popped up when he searched for diaper.

the first one was clearly bull with it talking about how this kid had pooped in a diaper and hide it in his big brothers room and gotten the big brother in trouble (and even if it wasn't, Alex would hold off crapping himself as a weapon of last resort.)

the other thread was old, and had been posted just before Christmas of last year and had a little brother talk about how he had set his brother up to look like he wanted diapers for Christmas and his dad had fallen for it, and so had the rest of the family.

Of course there was a lot of disbelief in the read over that and one guy commented 'pics or your full of shit!'

As Alex scrolled down, he pretty much thought the same but then his jaw dropped as there was a picture of a sleeping boy, in a t-shirt and thick diapers and sucking on a paci and a younger boy was in frame too, it was a semi selfie and was smirking and giving the peace sign. the caption under the picture read 'Believe me now bitches?'

"Hoooly shitttttt." Alex said, this guy was his hero!

he didn't seem to be activate on the forum anymore though, there were a bout a dozen replies and a few more comments from the guy but then he vanished.

his user profile did have a e-mail attached to it and so Alex snagged it and went to write the guy a e-mail.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: DUDE YOUR MY HERO!

Hey just wanted to say, I saw your post on Little brothers revenge and wanted to say how awesome that was and also I was wondering if you had any advice or tips on getting a big brother in padding. mine's being a total butt hole lately and just ugggghhh @_@

I had one idea about maybe like peeing on his bed after he gets up to frame him for bed wetting, what do you think? hope to hear from you soon!

E-mail written Alex clicked send and then went to kill some time play a few games online, never once suspecting that while he was trying to plot his big brother diaper doom, he was likewise plotting out Alex's downstairs.

It was a hour latter when Alex heard the ding that told him he'd gotten a reply and he switched tabs to go and take a look.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Re:DUDE YOUR MY HERO

Heh, thanks for the high praise though I gotta warn you, first of all this is something you've gotta be reallllly careful with. Diaper humiliation is a double edged sword, trust me. Had a friend named Ken who tried this and now he's in diapers.

Anyways just taking a leak on your big bro's bed is dumb, you'll get busted for sure! what I'd recommend is making use of laxatives and pee pills in increasing doses till he's wetting his pants all the time and blorting them too. It's a longer game but better results.

what made you wanna get his butt back in diapers anyways, and FYI i expect 'baby pictures' when your plan works.

Alex thought about that for a second and couldn't help but wonder if maybe this 'ken' was really Ben, but pushed that thought out of his head as he started to write his reply.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Re:Re:DUDE YOUR MY HERO!

Oh well, I'm a bed wetter and the butt hole went and fished one of my soggy diapers out of the trash and threw it at me while I was hanging out with my friends, trying to say i never tossed it out. so trust me, he totes has this coming.

I really got nothing to lose if I get busted since I'm in huggies every night so I'll try out your plan. it works out because he likes to make me get him drinks and snacks.

as for the picture of him once he's back in huggies heh, sure. thanks for the advice and I'll let you know when the plan starts to work.

E-mail sent Alex closed his e-mail and his game tab then went searching online for the best med's to get to reduce his brother to a helpless pants wetting stinker, only to pause after a few minutes recalling that Max had gotten in trouble awhile back for causing a series of messy accidents around school.

'nggggh..no way he'll be back yet though. I'll go and talk to him tomorrow.' Alex thought and set his laptop aside and laid back on his bed, thinking about just how much fun he was gonna have and ended up conking out.

which was unfortunate as he hadn't put on one of his spider-man diapers and with in ten minutes a wet patch was starting to grow on the front of his jogging pants, which while the dark color would hide it, the tan covered blanket he was laying on wouldn't.

"So when do you think we can do this?" Grizz asked.

the movie was basically forgotten but had been kept on to cover up their voices on the off chance Alex came downstairs (Small chance of that) or if their parents came back early.

"Welll that's the tricky part. I have to have all four of the dweebs here AND have my parents gone. they're going on a weekend trip in about 2 weeks though so I'll try and convince the dweeb to get the loser's club all over here." Justin said.

Rayne, who had just shut his mouth like he'd been told to raised his hand like he was in class.

"heh, Yes Rayne?" Justin asked.

"Aren't they into that dice game, Dragons and prison or whatever?" he asked.

"..Dungeons and dragons, yeah." Justin chuckled.

"Same difference. anyways, say you've been reading up on it and wanna try your hand at hosting a game, but just want them over before you embarrasses yourself in front of us.Most nerds I know love to play and will jump at the chance." Rayne said and smiled.

"Sweet fucking cthulhu. Rayne had a good idea." Grizz chuckled and to patted the bigger boys head. "good boy!"

Rayne beamed and was clearly proud of himself and Justin chuckled.

"Ok, I'll just have to learn enough about this nerd stuff to fake it and get them over. you guys will have to be ready to help though, I don't wanna risk one of the losers getting away." Justin said nodding.

"Hey, as long as I don't have to change any shitty asses I'm in." Grizz said.

"Wait, your gonna make them USE the diapers?" Rayne said and then laughed lots. "Gross!"

"Heh, well the best blackmail is a sobbing little brat in a stinky diaper blackmail. no way the dweeb will risk him in all his smelly glory ending up ALL over town."

"Man, I am glad your not MY big brother." Rayne said, never mind the fact Justin was pretty sure if he tried anything on the semi giant he'd be the one in huggies.

"Eh, No worries. you'd be a awesome little bro. Now all we need to do is go and pick the perfect pampers for them."

"Oh, I got it! There's this discount store my mom drags me to because they have her cream of wheat and other junk she likes cheap, but they got in a shipment of over night diapers for big kids, boys and girls. the boys has rockets and stars on them and are blue." Grizz said, setting up the best part.

"Oh, this is gonna be good." Justin smirked.

"the girls has unicorns and rainbows and are pink!" Grizz finished and cackled.

Plans set for his brother's diapered humiliation, the boys finally turned they're attention back to the movie.

After the movie it was getting late and so Justin sent the guys home as technically speaking they weren't suppose to be over, only him or Alex could have friends over for the most part if mom and dad weren't home. (Weekend vacations were the exception, though their folks made it clear the house had been be clean when they got back)

Whoever had their friends over was also suppose to clean up after them and after a chip fight in the living room Justin smirked, knowing he could get Alex to clean the mess up, since it would be Alex and his friend getting blamed for the mess.

Of course Justin usually made Alex clean up after him and his friends anyways but that always took a little bit more effort in the form of using the dorks undies to bounce him like a yo yo if he didn't listen.

He toyed with leaving Alex sulking in their room where he been since the shower and just letting the dweeb get in trouble but since it was Justin's turn to start dinner so it'd be ready and he didn't feel like cooking, he had to get Alex downstairs anyways to be a good little chore bitch.

"This will be SO much easier once I have the blackmail on him." Justin sighed to himself as he made his way up the stairs to the boys shared bedroom.

Opening the door he went to go and say something but was hit by the stench of piss and a quick look confirmed the little bed soaker had gone night night without a pamper on.

"Hey dork face! wake up! you pissed the bed!" Justin said in a loud voice.

"Ngggh a gigi boo..Five more minutes mommy.." the still mostly asleep dweeb said, trying to shoo Justin away.

"heh, baby talk? really? Wow, just when I think you can't lower the bar any more Little bro.. ALEXANDRA! WAKE UP!" Justin said then cupped a hand to his mouth and yelled.

Alex jumped sort in bed then sat up, eyes wide and panting, looking around.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" He growled once he locked eyes on Justin."ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK?!"

"No, but you had a wetting attack dork." Justin said and pointed.

Alex went to say something then looked down and went from pissed off to blushing and tried to cover himself up.

"Ah crap crap crap crap!" Alex whined and got up off the bed.

this was NOT good. not good at ALL! Dad was already riding him on the bed wetting and if he found out Alex had soaked the bed from a little nap he would NOT hear the end of it, or worse, dad would make him wear ALL day tomorrow!

"Ah..ah..Justin big brother who I love ever so much.." Alex started, swallowing and trying to put on his best 'I'm so cute help me' faces.

"Save it dweeb. I'll keep my mouth shut about your little..well BIG accident as long as you go and be a good little chore bitch and get the living room cleaned up and start supper." Justin said and leaned on the door frame, a evil smirk on his face.

Considering his options Alex just hung is head and then did a small nod.

"Butttt to show you I'm not totally heartless..I got some clothes that need to be washed so you can do them and wash your sheet at the same time as a cover up. I know, my kindness knows no bounds. just be thankful mom got you that rubber sheet or you'd be going to sleep in a soggy bed tonight." Justin said and laughed.

'gee he's all heart. letting me do his landry and clean up AND cook.. ' Alex thought but it WAS better then trying to explain the sheet alone.

"Yeah ok.." He said finally and went to strip stripping the bed.

"ah ah ah, what do you say to your kind and wonderful brother for helping you out?" Justin said, milking this for all it was worth.

'He has to be..ok no, I know him better then that.. just keep digging your grave jerk.' Alex thought then took a deep calming breath.

"Thank you for letting me do your landry big brother." he said, clenching a fist.

"Anytime dork. not get to it, you don't have a whole lotta time. my clothes are in the hamper in the bathroom." Justin said and started to walk away, then poked his head back in. "Oh and dweeb? next time don't forget to put on your diapies when your going for your afternoon nap."

and with that he walked off laughing.

"...I'm SO going to enjoy getting him in diapers." Alex huffed.

Changing into a pair of clean spider-man shorts and a captain America t-shirt, Alex got the load of landry started and then went to work cleaning up the living room while keeping a eye on the time.

the chips were everywhere and every time he though he was done he'd spot some more and wondered how much the three bullies had actually managed to get in their stupid fat mouths.

Between the cleaning and getting landry switched over he didn't have time to make anything too special so he went with the old stand by of making macaroni and cheese with hot dogs as it was quick and simple and his parents never really expected Justin to go all out when he was cooking anyways.

Dinner was ready and the landry was finished by the time their parents got home, Alex just had to go and get it out of the dryer but he figured he'd have time to do it stealthy after eating.

"So, what did you boys do for fun today?" Dad asked as they were sitting at the dinner table, a small grimace on his face at the prospect of eating the old stand by.

"Oh well-" Alex started by Justin cut him off.

"It was pretty much same old same old for me, went out and played some football with the guys and had fun. Came back though and I think The twins brought over some super sugar loaded snacks or something because Alex and them where have a chip fight and trashed the living room. it was cute though." Justin said and smirked, winking at Alex who's jaw hung open.

"Alex, you didn't!" Mom signed and shook her head. "After supper you'll be cleaning up the living room!"

"Oh don't worry about it mom, I know little guys like him just need to get it out of their systems. after the twins went home he was super pooped though, think it was a sugar crash so let him go and take a nap and I cleaned up the living room." Justin lied.

"Well that was was nice of you Justin, but in the future leave the cleaning for Alex to do." Dad said and shook his head at Alex. "Alex, we've talked about this."

Alex for his part was stuttering now, trying to think of a way to prove his innocence without getting scolded but first shots had been fired by Justin and there was nothing he could do now.

"Alex did you say thank you to Justin for cleaning up after you?" Mom asked and her tone made it clear if he hadn't she expected him to now, but again Justin spoke up.

"Oh, he's already thanked me for something else. see somebody was just SO sleepy when he went for his nap that he forgot to get his bed wetter pants on and well, Let's just say it's a good thing I had to do a load of landry anyways." Justin said as Alex,'s jaw dropped.

"Y-You said..you.." Alex stammered.

"Alex! what have I told you about not going to sleep without one of your diapers on?" Dad asked in a sharp tone.

"N-Not to do it again or..or.." Alex whined, looking down and feeling ready to cry.

this wasn't fair! he'd done everything Justin had asked him too and he was still gonna get punished!

"Or you'll be spending the next day in your diapers all day. Now I was hoping NOT to have to use that punishment but clearly you've left me no choice. you can still use the potty of course, in fact I encourage it, but you WILL be in diapers all day tomorrow." Dad said.

His tone left no room for argument and feeling hot tears start to slid down his cheeks Alex looked down at his bowl of food and sniffled.

"Yes sir."

After supper Justin offered to do the dishes if Alex would go and get the landry out of the dryer, but mom said since Justin had already cleaned up after Alex, made supper and did the landry for the most part he could go and relax and watch TV with their dad while Alex got the landry out and folded it.

Justin smiled and kissed his mom's cheek and asked if she was sure, but she insisted and so he went and plopped down on the couch, ready to watch some hockey with his dad and giving Alex a shit eating grin as the huffy and tear stained cheek dork started to stomp his way up the steps till dad called for him to knock it off unless he wanted to go to bed early.

'Oh my god. this worked out even better then I could of hoped! Mom and Dad are just too easy!' Justin thought, having to bite his tongue every so often to keep from laughing.

the dweeb had done all the work and yet here he was sipping on pop and munching on chips with their dad while the dork was off folding his undies and was gonna be a crinkle butt the next day.

'It'll be a nice little preview of whats to come.' Justin thought and let out a little chuckle despite himself.

"what's so funny?" Dad asked.

"Oh, just thinking of how silly Alex and his friends looked this after noon. they were like sugar crazed toddlers." Justin lied.

"heh, Next time you should try and get a video of it, I bet it looked cute." Dad chuckled.

Upstairs Alex was mentally cursing up a storm, pissed off and fuming like crazy as he folded pair after pair of his brothers skid marked undies.

'Son of a bitch! son of a bisket eating bitch! I'm not just gonna get him in diapers, I'm gonna make him the biggest dumbest big baby loser of all time! I'm gonna have him in the halls of his school in nothing but huggies and a bib and bonnet!'

of course a small part of Alex knew that going that far likely wasn't gonna be possible, it was a warm thought that helped him keep from just having a melt down fit that would of gotten his bun's blistered and him put to bed before it was even 8 pm.

He should of know better then to think that Justin was gonna hold up his end of the deal, or he should of spoken up about getting the landry done but nope. He'd trusted his big brother and was paying the price for it now in spades.

'And now I have to wear a diaper all day tomorrow..Maybe I'll wait till Monday to go and talk with Max.' Alex thought.

it would mean putting his plans on hold for a bit but he really didn't wanna waddle the block and a half over to Max's with pampers on under his pants.

Finishing up the folding and putting the clothes away Alex checked to make sure that his rubber sheet was dry and tugged in his blanket he'd hung out the window to dry (as it would of taken up too much room in the machines to do Justin's landry too) and with it dry he started to make his bed.

'God, what did I ever do to deserve a asshole like him for a big brother.' Alex whined mentally and finished making his bed, looking it over and then jumping and letting out a girlish shriek as a hand came on his shoulder.

"heh, Relax sweetie, it's mommy." Came his mother voice, sounding a little amused.

"That's ok, I didn't need that heart." Alex huffed, blushing and turning around to face his smirking mother. "what's up mom?"

"Well I wanted to come up and check on how the folding was going and to help you get ready for bed." She said with a smile.

"...Mom it's not even 8 yet, and it's a Saturday night.." Alex said, not liking where this was going.

"Oh You can stay up and everything till 11 like normal, but I just wanna make sure you don't conk out with your 'special armor' on." she said, using finger quotes.

"Mom I think I'm quite capable of putting my own diaper on." Alex huffed, feeling a hot blush cover his face.

"And yet you soaked your bed earlier." She cheerfully pointed out.

"T-That was different, I was just all tired and didn't realize I'd be conking out!" Alex whined, sounding more like a fussy toddler the the big kid he was trying to be.

"I know sweetie, but it kinda goes with my point. what if you just conk out again tonight? do you really wanna have to go to school on Monday in a diaper?" She asked, and the ruffled his hair.

The mental image of it stopped Alex's whining in it's tracks, picturing himself in a bib and spider-man diaper and sucking on a paci in the halls.

"No way! I'd Dieeeee!" Alex whined and shook his head no A LOT.

"well then let mommy help you out. And also if your gonna keep being so tired maybe we'll lower your bedtime for awhile." She added, then smirked and winced at the glare Alex gave her. "Now now, no using your super pouty powers on family."

"Moooom!" Alex huffed but resigned himself to his fate, when she got like this there was no getting her to back down.

He reached under his bed and pulled out his pack of spider-man diapers and noted that he was running low, and started to tug down his shorts when mom spoke up.

"Oh Alex, before we get your in your bed time diaper, do you have to use the potty?"

"mom, I know I wet the bed but I THINK I would know if had to take a leak or a dump you kn-" Alex started and then there was a loud 10 second poot out of his bottom and his tummy was gurgling.

"You were saying?" Mom asked, holding her nose but smirking."

"I-I'll be back.." Alex said in a small voice, blushing SO bad as he went past her he was shocked his hair hadn't caught on fire.

As she watched him go and had to fight the urge laugh, the little guy's undies had a fresh skid mark appearing on the back.

'Maybe I should look into getting him some of those washable training pants.' She mused.

One trip to the potty later and with Alex realizing what's he'd almost done in his undies, and the fight was all out of the little guy at least for the moment.

Zero fight was put up as he let his mom take his shorts and briefs and then proceed to diaper him, numbly just going along with her requests of butt up and the like.

"Are you sure your feeling alright? Maybe I should of checked your temperature before getting the diaper on." Mom asked, putting a hand to Alex's forehead.

"N-No I'm fine..just I dunno, Tired." Alex said, wincing.

he had to be the only boy his age to still get his temperature checked via the back door and it's wasn't that fun of a experience.

"Hmmm I think somebody better lay off of the sweets for awhile if it leaves you JUST drained after." Mom said and then started to tug Alex's blanket up on him.

"M-Mom what are you doing?" Alex whined, looking at the clock, it was 7:51 PM!

"I think you've had a big day, and your just not feeling that good. it would explain all the huffing and whining too. if you be a good boy and go night night for me now I'll see what I can do to get your father to back off with the all day diaper punishment tomorrow. I have to take you shopping for more diapers anyways with you almost being out and you get embarrassed enough as is when your in your undies."

Alex whined and whimpered a little but after a few seconds just signed and nodded.

"Good boy." She said and leaned down, kissing his forehead and then went and got one of his stuffie style Avengers from their display shelf and handed him Thor.

Lacking the energy to fight back Alex just took the offered stuffie and snuggled into it as his mom turned off the lights in the room and paused at the doorway.

"Night night little guy. Mommy will leave the door open a crack for you so you don't get scared. Love you and see you in the morning." She coo'ed/

"..Love you too mommy." Alex said, blushing.

He hadn't been scared of the door in like ages but somehow mom had the impression he still was and the only reason he wouldn't accept a night light was Justin would complain.

She left the little guy to go to sleep and Alex listened to her footsteps.

'This is bull shit. I'm not some little baby! I bet I don't even fall asleep till 11 anyways.' He huffed, crinkling and squirming in his bed.

Five minutes later he was snoring softly around his thumb as he sucked it in his sleep.

"So did Alex give you much of a fight?" Justin asked as Mom came downstairs.

"Just a token one, he's already gone to bed. I don't think he's feeling well and I think that should excuse him for needing his punishment tomorrow." Anne said, though the last part was more directed at her husband.

"Look, rules are rules, and if we start g-" Jackson started but was cut off.

"Excuse me, but who's idea was the rule that a D or worse meant no TV or computer time, and yet Justin who got a D on his last English test is watching the game with you?" She asked sweetly.

Justin gulped now and turned to his dad.

"Uh..you know..I think mom's right, we can't punish Alex if he had his accident because he's sick!" Justin chimed in.

"Heh, Nice try buddy but your mother is right in a way. I can't really punish your brother and not punish you. "Jackson said

"Soooo Alex isn't wearing a diaper tomorrow?" Justin asked hopefully.

"try again buddy, but do it in anther room so I can finish watching the game." Jackson chuckled and ruffled his sons hair as the 12 year old pouted.

"Finnne, I'll just go to my room an-." he started to huff and went to get up.

"ahhh nope. First of all I know you well enough you'll just go on your laptop." Anne said. "and second of all your brother is sleeping. Don't worry though, we have LOTS of board games you can play with me."

"Geee, spending Saturday night playing board games with my mom. aren't I lucky." Justin groaned

One mind numbing night of games later and Justin went to bed, taking note of the fact that Alex had semi drenched his pillow in drool and was still sucking his thumb.

'Heh, He's kinda cute...Still gonna make him a big dumb diaper nerd chore boy..but he's cute.' Justin thought before going and climbing into his bed.

as he went to go to sleep he had the most wonderful evil idea that could at the same time be played off as just being a nice big brother and help get 'revenge' on Alex for making him miss the end of the game.

'Hehehehe damn I'm so smart!' Justin chuckled and dropped off to sleep.

31 notes · View notes

facets-and-rainbows · 4 years

Text

Blue Exorcist 10th anniversary book Q&A session

The 10th anniversary book has a section where Katoh answers 100 questions submitted by fans on Twitter, so here they are translated/paraphrased! May contain manga spoilers up to the recent flashback arc, so be warned.

(Note that I’m playing it very fast and loose here because there are A HUNDRED OF THEM, so not exact wordings, but it should capture the gist. Lemme know if there are any you want elaborated on)

1. Katoh likes the feel of traditional drawing more than digital but is impressed with how far digital has come

2. Meph THOROUGHLY ABUSES spacetime to watch all his shows and ensure that he gets all the merch he wants

3. Did the girls take all of Yukio’s school uniform buttons in middle school? Yes, they did (apparently it’s like A Thing for girls to ask for a button from their crush at middle school graduation, based on some sad movie from the 60s where a guy who got drafted as a kamikaze pilot gave a girl one of his uniform buttons to remember him by)

4. Rin's tail is about a meter long

5. There are tons of servants working at Mephisto's mansion. Belial is in charge of them

6. Katoh borrows from all sorts of neat real locations when making settings

7. Katoh identifies with pretty much all the characters the most! Except Lucifer.

8. Demon designs she's proud of include the impure king and hachirou, pretty much anything that was the main one in an arc

9. Katoh lists a bunch of her favorite musical artists/music she’s listening to recently: King Gnu, Official Hige Dandism, Kenshi Yonezu, BAD HOP, Sakanaction, Keyakizaka 46, Hypnosis Mic, Aimer, B’Z, Queen Bee.

10. Awww the rabbit manga that characters are often reading isn't just Robo to Usakichi, it's an even older one that she drew as a little kid

11. She likes industrial style interior designs

12. Rin and Yukio alternated who got the top bunk growing up, because they couldn't agree on it lol

13. Katoh cares a whole lot about panel layouts and speech bubble positions, might even be her favorite part of the process (it shows!)

4. Katoh does NOT have a mashou, lol

15. Rin has probably been practicing in secret so he can learn to carry stuff with his tail

16. Izumo probably got into shojo manga around 1st grade, her mom had some around the house

17. Specialty dishes: Rin - lots of stuff but especially nabe Yuri - stuff you can throw together quickly Shiro - stuff he learned from Yuri and/or cookbooks, alongside teaching Rin Yukio - Does. Not. Cook.

18. Can't pick a favorite place she's been on research, but there's no place like Japan

19. Kinzou's band isn't currently meeting because demons, but he's probably still thinking of new songs

20. Hardest characters to draw: anyone with detailed flowing hair. Hardest to write for: Lightning and Gedouin. She had to go read books about serial killers specifically for material for Gedouin, lol

21. Suguro actually gets a dorm room to himself, though allegedly Yukio is technically assigned as his roommate, lol. Didn't end up that way what with Yukio being a teacher and also Rin’s whole...situation

22. Shiemi makes some of her own hair accessories! Cute

23. Katoh doesn't mind if you include stuff with fan letters but check with the editor first

24. Time for making each chapter: Planning/storyboarding: 1-5 days. Sketching: 3-5 days. Drawing/inking: the rest. Just...the rest of the time

25. Neither Suguro nor Izumo have dated before and neither is currently dating. But that's probably just because things were hectic for them! It could happen

26. Yukio breaks 5 or 6 pairs of glasses a year, someone get this kid a strap or something

27. How many spare glasses does Yukio have? Check the fanbook lol it's in there (dang it Katoh)

28. The demon she wants us to pay the most attention to is Lucifer. Because plot.

29. What's under the Order's big meeting table? It's a BOTTOMLESS PIT and if you fall in it you DIE that's what makes it COOL (laughs)

30. What are the job requirements for the angelic legion? Literally just Arthur liking you and inviting you to join

31. She WANTS to do more character profiles but just hasn't gotten to it

32. Rin's tail feels like a cat tail, texture wise

33. The "red Assiah fire" is literally just actual fire nothing special

34. Rin's current hair color is light blue fading to white at the ends

35. Thoughts on Rin's growth: she likes that he stays positive in awful situations and she also thinks it's very main character of him to face the past instead of avoiding it

36. Mephisto didn't purposely surround Rin with stuffed animals when he woke up after going crispy. Mephisto's bed is just Like That

37. Kurikara was based on a cool sword she found in a sword book, but that one was technically just a ceremonial sword. The symbol on it us a Sanskrit letter kaan (sp?) associated with Fudou Myouou

38. Kuro can communicate with normal cats and hangs out with them often

39. Sometimes Shiemi's skirt is extra fancy around the hem what's up with that? Apparently it's an optional accessory that comes with the skirts help I haven't noticed this and don't know any fashion terms in any language

40. When coloring, Katoh always tries to have an overall theme in mind ("emphasis on blue" etc) so it comes together in the end

41. Yes the twins are genetically related to Shiro because of Goro (she says they're like his nephews but I say GENETICALLY at least they'd be indistinguishable from his children)

42. Strongest mom of all the strong moms around here? Yuri! Did you SEE her give birth??

43. Are you careful about your own health Katoh-sensei? Not particularly! Her mom has had to bring her food at work sometimes! Don't do this at home kids

44. At the dating events Shura goes to, does she drink cocktails in moderation? Yeah, she probably downplays her normal drinking habits at these things. But normally she's down for just about any kind of drink

45. Lucifer just really likes oysters okay

46. How many pages of manga does Katoh draw in a day? If she's being good about self-care: three. Maximum number ever: TEN

47. Mephisto is one of those folks who can eat like a garbage compactor and never gain weight. Possibly because his body resists that sort of change the same way it resists aging etc

48. First food Rin cooked: fish burger type patty. Yukio's favorite things Rin cooks: fish simmered in soy sauce, yellowtail with daikon radish. It's fish all the way down

49: Did Rin ever get more monthly allowance from Mephisto? It doubled! He gets TWO 2000 yen bills now (rip) [T/N: That's uh, that's USD $37.26 a month or 33.10 euro]

50. Why isn't Rin more popular with the girls? He gets nervous talking to them, plus he's too oblivious to notice even if he DID have some fans

51. Why change Suguro's hair? She gets bored with keeping everything the same, and she wanted a visual representation that he was getting serious and going into kind of a training arc

52. Things Katoh pays extra attention to when drawing: trying to capture the feel of whatever she's drawing (like "that looks warm and soft" or "I bet that guy stinks" cough Lightning cough)

53: Does Rin take after Yuri more? (He's got her eyes!) Katoh tried to draw Yuri so she looks like both twins. Personality, too - Yukio has her smarts and Rin has her optimism

54: Do you ever wanna be like Mephisto? Well she'd like to be able to get away with just ANYTHING EVER, but no, let's not be like Mephisto

55. Konekomaru not only carries around a cat toy in case he meets any cats, he MAKES cat toys to carry around based on what he thinks the cats would like

56. How'd you come up with Shima? Go read the fan book!

57. Do the kids have Twitter/Instagram accounts? Rin - probably not. Konekomaru might be on some social media. Paku and Izumo are totally on instagram

58. Is there something Rin makes that you wish you could try? All of it! That's the whole idea! He's good at cooking!

59. Will we ever have a (G-rated) reveal of what ALL of Mamushi and her family's tattoos look like? Maybe! She'll think about it

60. Does Arthur have a repertoire of different hairstyles? Not really, he just puts some of it up on the top. Heck he might even have people to do that for him

61. If you wrote a shojo manga what would it be about? She'd have to do a lot of research before even coming up with a story, since there are so many style differences between the genres aside from just the subject

62. The other two of Mephisto's top 3 favorite foods: Cup ramen and....f-fried bubblegum?? Is that a THING???

63. Where do you start when drawing a character? Usually the outline of their face but if it's a complex pose/composition she'll start with whatever's in the foreground (like hands)

64. If Katoh could have a familiar, what demon would she choose? Mephisto. As the all-powerful author, she might actually be able to command him as a familiar!

66. If you swapped Yukio and Rin's relationship around what would change? not much, you'd pretty much have Rin going to the Illuminati and Yukio going to the past

67. Top 3 foods/souvenirs to try in Kyushu? Well she doesn't know what’s good CURRENTLY but when she was there she always used to like burdock tempura udon, hakata torimon (a kind of manju with white bean paste inside), and Chikae style cod roe. today I learned Katoh went to high school in Kyushu

68. Katoh listens to music a lot while she's storyboarding, then when she and the assistants are all drawing and inking they put various videos/movies and stuff on in the background

69. For all his hitting on girls, is Shima actually popular with the ladies at all? He's got enough girls in his life that he probably COULD find a girlfriend if he really wanted, but the double agent thing tends to get in the way. He still wouldn't be as popular as Yukio though (side thought/translator’s note: Shima would be proud of being number 69.)

70. Katoh has the ending planned out in a big-picture way, but there are still a few details here and there that she's fretting over

71. It's cute when the boys put their ties over their shoulders when they're working on something! Where'd that come from? She just figured a tie might get in the way and that seemed like a realistic way to get it out of the way

72. Looks like Yukio is getting some facial hair! What about Rin? They're both about the age for it, but maybe Rin can't grow a beard yet. Maybe a little peach fuzz here and there

73. Katoh's favorite blue exorcist merch? There were some exorcist licenses a while back, and the exorcist pins. Basically it's really cool that these little accessories she drew ACTUALLY EXIST NOW, LIKE YOU CAN HOLD THEM IN YOUR HANDS

74. Okay realtalk how long do we have left, I don't want the series to end yet? We're solidly in the second half by now but it's not, like, ABOUT to end yet

75. Katoh would be a Knight meister, based on what characters she likes to play in games and such

76. How many people in the whole exorcism cram school? More than you think! She doesn't give a number but apparently licensed exorcists also attend classes for new meisters, etc, so there's a wide age range attending

77. How's Arthur feel about, like, studying Taming on the way to becoming Paladin? He's at least mostly accepted that you have to use demons to fight demons effectively

78. Konekomaru started wearing glasses in his first year of middle school, so like 7th grade (more recent than I thought!) He has one spare pair, in contrast to Yukio lol

79. Katoh's current obsessions? Ghost/scary stories! She's even been going to live readings of them recently

80. Media Katoh consumes for inspiration? A wide range of foreign teen drama, horror/suspense, shojo manga, light novels, anime, etc. Special focus on things where two boys are in conflict or there are brothers involved

81. If they weren't exorcists what jobs would they have? Rin - chef. Yukio - doctor. Shiemi - uh, florist?

82. Inspiration for the design of True Cross Town? Katoh and her assistants gathered up a bunch of references, picked out stuff they felt matched the tone, and mashed them all up together

83. Did you use any references etc for the school/exorcist uniforms? She says she probably should have but she just kind of made them up before publication

84. Favorite part of drawing? For color pages, picking out a color scheme. For black and white, drawing in all the little details (though she doesn't always get time to lately)

85. Once again confirms the demon kings' weird hair is a representation of their horns. ADDS THAT PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SEE DEMONS CAN'T SEE THE WEIRD HAIR

86. Now that Yukio's at the Illuminati, where's he gonna get his Jump SQ and spare glasses? Well he probably never planned to stay for long, but hey it's a big ship and they might have an optometrist and/or newsstand there

87. Do you base the demon characters on any references etc? Not really, she just gets a general idea of popular demon designs and then makes up her own in her own style

88. Merchandise Katoh personally wants to have made: stuff that an adult could just use in their day to day life. Also, it's not gonna happen, but if her favorite figure brand made AoEx figures she could die happy

89. If Beelzebub's host body was a beautiful woman, how would Shima react? Would the womanizing win out over the bug phobia? Katoh replies that Shima would probably just faint from being near a girl that pretty, before the bugs even got involved

90. Will the twins ever get to smile and eat dinner together again?? We'll just have to wait and see!

91. What do you check at a "scenario check"? what's a scenario check man I dunno They check for people being out of character or the setting feeling off. They had a lot of these checks for the anime, but they also do them for the drama CD, games, and all that other stuff where multiple authors are involved

92. Why does Shura use baldy as an insult for people who are clearly not bald? She feels like they have some kind of metaphorical, mental kind of "baldness" and she's calling them out on it. Whatever that means

93. After Blue Exorcist ends, what do you want to draw next? She has SO MANY IDEAS, SO MANY

94. Did Katoh make up the Shinto chants that, for example, Izumo used against Gedouin? They're assembled from bits of actual Shinto prayers according to what feels right in the scene

95. Yukio reads the Jump SQ, right, and, just hear me out here, he likes gag manga, right? Does this mean he reads Salaryman Yukio? It's something he would read, but let's say that in the AoEx universe there's just a very similar manga that he finds oddly relatable

96. What do Yukio and Shima do in their free time on the Dominus Liminus? oh my god you guys this ship has so many amenities. Yukio probably spends time reading in the library, which they totally have. There's also, like, a gym, and a movie theater, and a THEATER theater, all of which are free. Shima probably hangs out at the pool (!) and goes to the movies, and hits on illuminati girls, lol

97. Easiest character to draw? The ones with boring simple hair, lol. Lightning gets an honorable mention for ALSO not having eyes in most shots, but Rin wins--he was specifically designed to be easy for Katoh to draw because that's what you want in your main character

98. How do demons understand gender? They just possess whatever feels like the best match to how they feel in Gehenna, whether that's a man, or a woman, or a rat, or whatever

99. Where do you start when you're coming up with a story? She starts with character design and how the characters relate to each other. Currently she's just continuing an existing story, so she works on splitting up the overall plot into episodes and fleshing it out with scenes and information about characters

100. When do you feel most happy? She honestly feels like she lives a very happy life overall. Mentions noticing a lot of little things, like how nice her cats' heads smell when she cuddles them or taking a nice cold refreshing drink of water. There's happiness in everything. aww.

#blue exorcist #interview #Ao no Exorcist #translation

454 notes · View notes

anki-of-beleriand · 2 years

Text

The house at the edge of the world Ch.3

Gif is not mine, credit to the artist.

Summary: Y/N is the owner of an Airbnb at the edge of the world, a place in which Wanda would either heal or become what everyone is afraid of.

Pairings: Wanda Maximoff/SW! x Female!Reader

Warnings: Minors DNI! +18, angst, drama, slow burn, friends to lovers, pregnancy, romance, fluff, mentions of depression and self harm, healing, R owns an Airbnb that welcomes many known characters from Marvel, R has powers, Wanda needs healing, and so does R. More warnings as the story progress.

With this third chapter I introduced some Eternals into the mix because I think they don't receive enough love, and I actually like the movie. Wanda is in a limbo, and R is really unsure of how to proceed though she seems to be acting out of instinct more than anything else.

Now, remember English is not my mother tongue so I apologise for the grammar, spelling and funny mistakes. I'm still leaning Italian so many of the things you see hear may sound funny. I apologise for that as well. translations at the end.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14 - Epilogue

Chapter 3

The town at the end of the world

The fridge was completely empty.

You pursed your lips when you realised your favourite ingredients and your favourite snacks were missing. The last of them going out last night, you furrowed your brows making a quick calculation in your mind, if your fridge was empty then your guest next door must be too. It was time for you to go to the town.

For a brief moment, your mind went to the house next door, to those small glimpses of the other woman you got from time to time. She wasn’t looking any better, sometimes she looked thinner and tired, and the chills you got whenever you approached the house told you whatever she was doing inside it was not good.

There were moments in which you thought of going over there, perhaps interrupted whatever it was Wanda was doing and give her options. But some others, you thought this would be a case for Natasha and her band of superheroes, on those moments you had your phone on your hand stopping centimetres away from Natasha’s contact. You always stopped yourself, though; there was something making you hesitated and you ended up being on guard and watching the house closely making sure to be ready if you were needed it at any time.

The vibration from your phone and the indistinguishable sound of the oncoming message broke your thoughts away, you furrowed your brow watching as you saw the familiar light of a message and the name of Yelena right at the top of it.

They think Wanda stole a really dangerous book. The body of Vision disappeared along with the former director of Sword. It’s funny watching how Stark and Wilson are running around like chickens, Natasha and I are the only ones holding this together.

The message came with two emojis, the one with the thinking face and the one rolling his eyes. Your lips twitched upwards, you could imagine Yelena imitating those faces, while also writing to you highly classified information

For a brief moment you considered your next actions, you could take it for what it was a simple message. An update for a gossip you had been enjoying lately. But there was something bothering you, poking at the back of your mind that made you shivered uncomfortably.

Before you could even stop yourself you were already calling on Yelena. There were two rings before she picked up the line.

“I never imagined you would call.”

“After such a message, of course I will call.” You rolled your eyes when you heard the chuckle on the other side, “you received the wine?”

There was a long silence, then a heavy sigh.

“I did, thank you, Y/N.”

You smiled hearing Yelena was something you had missed, your feet took you to the front window, your eyes soon falling on the figure of Wanda walking slowly to the house. You noticed the loose, summer dress she was wearing, her hair was unkempt and there were heavy bags under her eyes. You could notice she was thinner, and the aura of pure sadness around her never really left, she just learnt to hide it.

“I always enjoyed your wine, but I thought you would bring it yourself.” Her tone was half teasing and half serious, your eyes stayed on the lane leading to the secret garden.

“I thought you would finally come and visit me again, Lena.” You smiled hearing the intake of breath from the other woman, you wished there was more than sisterly love for her. Yelena deserved to be happy, and you could not give her what she wanted. “But I’m glad you enjoyed it, I know how much you love my wine.”

There was a moment of silence, you knew Yelena was looking for the right words but in the end she just sighed again. You cleared your throat, breaking the silence.

“So, tell me what happened to the book, what do you mean Vision's body disappeared and do I know the director of Sword?"

You summarised the best you could the message Yelena had sent; you could hear the amusement coming from her as she tried to explain the situation.

“Natasha said that a book is missing from that witch’s home, the one from Westview,” Yelena explained slowly, “since Maximoff used her magic to bind the woman here, they went to ask her but she doesn't remember much. We wouldn't bother with a missing book if Strange hadn't come sputtering about the book and dark Magic, and a bunch of Harry Potter nonsense.”

You snickered rolling your eyes at the explanation, though part of you was wondering just what book was worth getting the sorcerers from Kamar-Taj into the situation.

“They think Wanda has it?” You guessed leaning against the wall, your attention to the front yard of your home.

“Seems that way.” Yelena said simply, you could imagine her face and you could also tell there was something else. Yelena never called or reached out to you unless she needed someone to talk to or vent to.

“Lena, anything you’re not telling me?” You asked and by the noise Yelena made through the line you know that was the case.

"What she did to these people, only to have her robot toy…" Yelena sounded disgusted as she spoke, "then all of a sudden the body disappeared right under Stark's nose and this guy that threatened her is missing too…"

By now you were understanding her concerns, you pursed your lips not knowing how to contribute in the conversation without mingling too much.

“I’m worried about you; she is unstable and did a lot of damage around here.” Yelena took a deep breath as she continued. “Many wanted her head, but Stark and the rest of the club wanted to protect her.”

“The club?” You asked with a hint of amusement in your voice.

“The Avengers, earth’s mighty heroes.” You could almost hear the roll of eyes behind that comment, you chuckled and shook your head while going to the fridge.

“I can handle her, don’t worry.” You said simply furrowing your brows when you see the list of food you would need. “She hasn’t been out of the house that much, and when she is we don’t even talk.”

“Still, I wish…well…” Yelena trailed off before continuing. “I’ve got a mission, New York, some net of idiots and another bigger idiot running around with a suit that isn’t theirs.”

“Good, glad you have your hands full, but I hope you will come over to give me a visit.” You replied putting the list out of the magnet on the fridge. “I’ll be fine, Lena. Wanda is not that dangerous, and I really can handle her. I’m starting to believe Natasha was right, you know?”

“What do you mean?” The question came rough, a little harsh and you winced at that.

“I think that all she needs is…time to find herself. Life has not been kind to her, she hasn’t had a rest ever since she started down the superheroes path.” You tried to explain to the woman at the other end of the line, you could hear Yelena huffing.

“You sound charmed by her, has she charmed you already?” There was a trace of jealousy behind the comment, and Yelena was sounding rough and hurt.

It was amusing this was the first reaction from Yelena, though you knew it was nothing personal. Wanda had represented many things to the younger woman, this was just another item in her long list of why she should dislike everyone that got closer to Natasha while she was away. You approached the front door, the heavy heat of the morning hit you straight in your face, the salty breeze refreshing your uncovered skin.

Yelena kept babbling about how everyone seemed charmed by the young witch, everyone was ready to protect her without seeing how potentially dangerous she was. You held back your laughter, it was absurd to think the charm coming from Wanda would extend to attraction. You had decided to offer a friendly hand, yes. But nothing beyond would develop between the both of you, Wanda was so invested in her past and you were certainly not that attracted to her.

“Lena, I’m not charmed by Maximoff, I promise you that.” You rolled your eyes when there was a sound of disbelief coming from the blond woman. “Look, she is not in a good place right now, you and I both know how it feels. How bad it really is, more so if you don’t have anyone beside you.”

“I know.” Yelena admitted grudgingly after you waited for her answer, you allowed yourself a content smile, your eyes drifting to the house next door.

“She needs a friend that’s not any of those who have the world on their shoulders and can only pay her half the attention she deserves.” You lifted your head to the sky watching the blue sky above your head. “I’m trying to offer her that, it is up to her if she wants to accept it or not. So far, she seems reluctant.”

You pressed your ear to the phone, there was sound in the background voices of women and men, Yelena took a deep breath and cursed in Russian. It was time for her to go.

“Don’t get attached.” Yelena grumbled petulantly, you chuckled hearing her talking faster. “And take care of yourself if you need anything you know how to find me. Now I have to go, but I will drag Natasha to Italy after this mission.”

“I would hold you to that, Lena. Take care, idiots or not, I would hate for you to get hurt before you get a chance to taste my new recipe.” Your feet start making their way to the next door, the sound coming from the phone growing in intensity.

“You’re offending me, idiots or not, I will deal with them without any trouble and then…I’ll get to taste that recipe.” There was a moment of silence on the other end, then, “be careful, I…bye.”

You glanced at the phone for a moment, there was a tug on your chest wishing things were different. Soon you turned your attention to the house right in front of you and everything changed; it was a hot summer morning, your skin felt warm and there was a thin layer of sweat on your face and neck. Yet as soon as you approached the house, everything went cold.

The heavy tension in the air, alongside the strange cold wave coming from the house told you something else was at work here. If you were to open yourself to the magic surrounding the place, you would sense it. The desperation, the hopefulness…the misery. As soon as you opened the link you closed it, it was too much.

And there was a single signature in all of this. Wanda.

**********

Wanda blinked once, twice her lips forming a thin line while her eyes changed from green to red. The world behind her flickered between the light colours of the bathroom to the crimson of a pocket universe she had been working on, her reflection stared at her expressionless with nothing but red.

She on the other hand could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks.

The night and morning had been unbearable.

There was a knot on her throat, the thoughts of Vision and Pietro, the memories of her parents and war. Some days were good, she could hold onto the good memories and the beautiful moments she shared with her loved ones; there were other days in which the emptiness in her heart, the void left behind threatened to consume her.

His voice was always there.

I feel you.

We should retire, run away just the two of us.

Y-you’re pregnant?

Wanda clenched her fists with a whimper escaping her lips, and after that first one stopping the tears was almost impossible. Everything hurt, and there was not a single thing she could do to exit the desperation consuming her soul.

There is a way…the Darkhold…a world of your own making…aren’t you curious about your children? How would they look? The perfect life without anyone or anything coming in your way.

There was a flickering of black and red wisps of energy, the bathroom trembling slightly while Wanda knelt on the floor hugging herself. She took a breath, rocking back and forth while her mind drew a clear image of a child with short hair, dark eyes, the same goofy smile as Vision but the same sharp features as Wanda.

She could have it all, she just needed to stop being afraid of the consequences and how much it would cost. Wasn’t that why she had stolen the book? Wasn’t that why she had acceded to travel all the way to a forgotten town so she could get away from the watchful eyes of the Avengers?

Another sob escaped her lips and whatever had grown surrounding her soon went away, leaving behind a broken woman that was trying to control the growing emotions in her heart. She wasn’t sure how long it took her to stand up, let the cold water of the shower wash away the intensity of her emotions.

She was tired of crying, she was tired of losing…she was just so tired of everything…

Wanda looked at her reflection noticing the dark bags under her eyes, the fatigued in her features and the trembling of her body for the lack of food and sleep. The young woman lowered her eyes to the sink, her eyebrows coming together in a thoughtful expression.

She couldn’t go further with her thoughts, a knock on the front door brought her back to the reality of her world. With a heavy heart, and confusion and misery right above her mind she decided to see who was at the door.

You stood right in front of her with all the confidence in the world, your weight resting on your left leg one hand lifting a single piece of paper while your lips curled into an easy smile. For the second time in less than twenty days she had been in this place, Wanda Maximoff found herself quite shocked.

Her eyes wandered around your body from your sneakers to the loose trousers, and the tight blouse marking your curves. Everything in you was a mark of relaxation and confidence Wanda was always surprised to see.

“Can I…help you?” Wanda discovered herself unsure, her voice wavering slightly and while she tried to hold herself back with confidence while putting her shoulders back and crossing her arms there was a vulnerability on her face left behind by her breakdown.

“Actually, I was hoping I could help you.” You replied pointing with your chin the inside of the house, Wanda placed herself between the entrance and the open door trying to cover the shadows flickering inside.

You didn’t miss that gesture, but opted to ignore it in favour of the woman standing before you.

“I know there must be little to nothing in your kitchen, and mine is the same. Care to come with me and pick up some supplies?” You asked casually, your feet took a few steps back to give Wanda time to react.

For a brief moment, Wanda didn’t know what to do or say.

The house had become her sanctuary, it was a place in which she found she could feed her dreams and nightmares. Wanda had stopped wanting to go out there ever since she realised there was nothing out there. Everything she needed, everything she wanted was inside her dreams and the power held within herself. All she was looking for was time to harness the necessary power to get what she wanted.

What she needed.

“Or you can give me a list of the things you want, whatever works for you, Principessa.” You replied after the silence stretched out to be uncomfortable.

Wanda shook her head blinking before turning her face away, you waited until a flickered of darkness came from inside the house. You narrowed your eyes, soon noticing the black ink adorning the fingers of the witch standing before you.

The tattoos in your arms burning slightly, and your body dropping in temperature.

“You know what?” You asked all of a sudden, your face breaking into a huge grin while you approached Wanda grabbing her hand in yours. “Let me take you to the village, I’m pretty sure you would love it and you can pick up whatever you want to eat.”

The single gesture, while insignificant to most, meant everything to Wanda at the moment. The growing shadows in her mind and eyes receded, her green eyes found those of yours and the warmth of your hand felt comfortable around hers. Whatever coldness she usually experienced after spending time reading the book left and soon she could actually experience the heat of the day. Much like the time she went with you to the garden, this time around her thoughts dissipated and all she could feel was peace.

“I…my wallet…” She started but you snorted, shaking your head.

“Please, my threat, it is my duty to make sure my guests are well attended.” You flashed another grin stepping back still holding the other woman’s hand in yours.

For some reason, Wanda felt disappointed at your words. She was a guest, and you were doing this out of customer service. Out of duty, like everyone in her life.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, Y/N. I am more than okay, and you have been a great host as it is…” she started again trying to pull her hand away from yours.

You let go softening your features, “if that’s what you want, then I won’t push you anymore.”

Wanda nodded curtly, you sighed not understanding what had happened. A moment ago, she was willing to go and now…

“I just…I was hoping for your company.” You finally revealed furrowing your brows at the revelation, at the fact you meant those words. It wasn’t only because of the dark magic you could sense inside the house; it was because you really thought it would be nice to have her coming with you.

You were pretty sure Wanda would like the town.

Wanda heard the voices in her head, her heart thumping against her chest. There was no time for this, for someone else. There was no time to get distracted. Vision was waiting for her, and the child…the one destined to be born out of their love was waiting as well.

“I guess…I will bring some provisions to you then, I’ll be back in a few hours.” You stepped back, turning to the main entrance of the property. Just before you left completely, you turned around the sun of the morning hitting your frame, your grin matching the brightness of the day.

“I will be sure to bring more chocolate then.”

Wanda snapped her face at you, watching as you made your way to a small, black car. She grabbed the knob on the door, a moment of hesitation building up in her mind. The voices called out to her, but something else was there. The words from Natasha and Monica, Clint’s advice…Vision’s own words before leaving her.

And then, you.

You jumped startled when Wanda sat at the other side closing the door rather harshly.

“Are you sure you closed the door?” You shot her a glare, though your lips curled in a smile.

“Sorry, I just…” Wanda gestured with her hands, not really finding a good explanation. Her green eyes met yours, her lips curling in a tentative smile. “I’m not sure you know what kind of chocolate I like.”

You snorted while starting the car, “I don’t think it is too hard to figure you out, Principessa, you’re just too easy to read.”

Wanda scrunched up her nose, leaning back with some incredulity in her stare. For some reason the comment bothered her, coming from a stranger it was a little arrogant to think they could read someone like her. Wanda centred her eyes on you, tilting her head she tried to apply what Natasha and Steve had taught her at some point.

You kept the smile on your lips, your eyes gleaming with a light she found fascinating. The light of the day contrasts with your tan, and the relaxed posture. The young witch scrunched up her nose, there wasn't much she could read on you at the moment, nothing beyond what she already knew. You were kind and confident, a little irksome but that was her personal appreciation of you.

"You make it sound as if it was easy to read someone else." Wanda shifted in the seat turning her eyes to the road ahead of them, you made a sound of agreement though waited for the other woman to continue.

"But in reality it could be difficult to read someone you barely know." There were traces of coldness in Wanda's voice, she spoke as if her experiences had been enough to teach her this.

“I thought you had learnt a thing or two from Natasha." There was something irksome in the way you usually spoke to Wanda, something that made Wanda react in ways she couldn't explain.

Your comment made her glare at the road, you chuckled and shrugged.

"With time, it becomes second nature, so it makes it easy to read people like you."

Wanda let out a breathless laugh, cold and almost annoyed.

"People like me?" She sounded bitter, hurt and when you glanced at her out of the rear-view mirror you could see she was hurt.

"Lost." You said softly. "Sad. People like you, Wanda, that don't know what to do, that don't know how to do it or even if they can make it."

Those words pierced Wanda painfully, she tensed her body and soon was regretting her decision of coming over on the trip. On this forsaken vacation.

The village was getting closer, the road had changed abruptly and while the morning was bright and warm inside your car there were shadows and coldness.

"That's what your ability to read people tells you about me? The type of person I am?" Wanda spat out. "I thought you were a good spy, like Natasha."

You mused over what to say, your hand tight around the wheel. You glanced at the woman out of the rear-view mirror, you knew whatever you said right now would be vital to reach out to Wanda. You meant every word you said to Natasha, if this situation turned out to be too dangerous, or too difficult you would step back. You wouldn’t submit yourself to an impossible task ever again, you had suffered enough to last you a lifetime. And it did. The cost you paid was too high.

Still, there was something about Wanda…

“Well, cat got your tongue?” Wanda asked with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

"I can see you don't want to be alone, but you don't know how to approach others without getting hurt in the process." You spoke, your voice warmth and understanding. "You have lost so much; you don't want to go through that ever again. Yet, whatever it is you think you want; it is not what you're looking for."

You let out a sigh, and for a brief moment you turned your head to lock eyes with hers.

"However, you will keep chasing things you don't need, things that are not there anymore because you're too afraid to discover the things that you really deserve." You went back to the road, your voice resounding in the car. "That you deserve to be happy, to be loved and to have a real life."

The words came like a bucket of cold water, Wanda sat there with her eyes on the road. The words piercing at her heart, the implications of what you just said breaking her more than she cared to admit.

Just as you thought the silence would stretch out until it was almost impossible to wear, she spoke. This time around, something inside of you stirred in sympathy and something else for the woman sitting right beside you.

“You don’t know what you are talking about. Nobody knows what they are talking about.”

_____________________________________________________________

Saturday mornings in the town of Vernazza were filled with children's energy and adults enjoying a nice walk through the plaza or a cold beverage on their favourite balcony. The city was located right in front of the ocean, there was no beach but a harbour in which fisher boats rest swinging slowly to the will of the wind and waves.

Here and there it was obvious the townspeople were enjoying the routine. Laughter and conversation ran through the streets, teens with mobiles and silly faces planning their afternoon adventures while their mothers and fathers ran around looking for fresh fish for lunch. Or a nice bottle of wine, along with some beer and gossip with neighbours.

It was like another Saturday morning, with the houses and the building arranged with modernity and tradition. The town presented itself like a paradise, and for those who had lived long enough in the city it was. You couldn't help the smile drawing on your lips, coming to the village was something you enjoyed greatly and while you didn't do it as often as you should, whenever you were back it was as if you had never left.

No sooner had you stopped the car the passenger's door opened and you saw the retreating form of Wanda strolling down the streets. You sat there for a moment, pursing your lips thoughtfully. It hadn't been your intention to hurt Wanda, but your conversation with Yelena told you something you didn't consider before. Everyone was so ready to feel sorry for Wanda, to see how they could correct their mistakes by offering empty promises to fill the void in the witch's heart. But nobody had confronted her with her mistakes, with how wrong some of the things she did were.

Nobody had really cared to hear the story, to find out why she had done it.

The darkness surrounding the redhead was nothing more than loneliness. A loneliness she was forced to endure from an early age, a void she never got to fill because she never grief. The world had been cruel to her, and Wanda saw no reason as to why she couldn't be cruel to the world.

If other's got what they wanted, why couldn't she?

A book is missing.

There were many dangerous books out there, what could possibly put the sorcerer Supreme and Strange on high alert to the point they suspected Wanda?

A shiver ran through your body, your tattoos burning on your skin. A warning. The blackened fingertips, the shadows…

The sound of children laughing and throwing a ball broke your thoughts, you scowled at the reflection on the mirror. Since when did you take so long thinking about someone like Wanda? Why were you so worried about her? If she was messing with something she didn’t understand or could even control that was on her, right?

You exited the car stretching out while letting your eyes wander back to the road Wanda had taken before disappearing. A tug at your heart, the sight of such a broken face almost made you want to follow the redhead; with great effort you gave your back to the road and decided to get the shopping done before lunch

______________________________________________________________

The grocery store of the town was a corner house made of wood, bricks, and vines with two balconies overlooking the main street. The owners name was Gustaff, an old man that had lost his whole family to the Blip and found himself alone for five long years; after everyone was snapped back into the world, life was not the same and Gustaff himself had changed. Now, and after many tribulations, he lived alone with two of his grandchildren, the only ones that decided to stay behind.

“Signora, Y/N, it is good to see you again so early in the month.” The old man greeted with his ever-present smile, his wrinkles accentuating whenever he laughed or made exaggerated gestures to get a giggle from his clients.

You took his hand in yours, your smile just as bright.

“Gustaff, all the food I usually buy here is so delicious it doesn’t last the whole month!” You exclaimed, shaking your head. “Besides, the truth is, I was dying to see you again.”

Gustaff let out a thunderous laugh, he cocked his head shooting you a calculating stare.

“I still don’t know how you can be single, with such a sweet talk.”

“The mysteries of life, Gustaff.”

The old man let you in the store, at this time of the day some of the teenagers looking to have some money during summer were already working around their shift. Gustaff took you to the back, he knew how particular you were about the stuff you bought and while you didn’t mind the teens or anybody else, Gustaff liked helping you around.

That, and setting you up with whoever was single and attractive.

“I heard you have a new guest,” the old man offered you a seat, “is she pretty?”

You chuckled, shooting the man a mocking glare, “really Gustaff, all my guests are attractive, and I’m not interested in any of them.”

Gustaff sighed leaning back on his chair, his eyes drifted to the front of the store then back to you.

“You really should give yourself a chance, dear. Life is too short, and even if it wasn't, we should always have someone worthy to spend your life with.” This time around you knew he was speaking from experience, not only he lost his family but a year before the Blip his wife had died of cancer.

He was really a hopeless romantic, and the loss of his wife had almost destroyed him. The store and the village were all he had left. You offered a sympathetic grin, placing a comforting hand on his.

“Gustaff, I promise you, as soon as I feel something for someone you will be the very first person to find out.” You spoke seriously, leaning in to share the secret. “And, since I promise this, I’m going to admit something to you that doesn’t mean a thing, deal?”

This time around the old man leaned in, eyebrows raised in interest.

“Go on, you can tell me.”

For a brief moment you hesitated, this was something you just realised a few moments ago and you wanted it to mean nothing. It meant nothing, just a normal reaction, a biological and even psychological one. Nothing else, nothing more.

“My new guest is really attractive, you know?” You said evading his eyes. “Like, ridiculous, beautiful you don’t even imagine. She has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. There, now you know I do feel some things, just not the romantic ones.”

“What do you mean not the romantic ones? My grandson was saying to me how an amazing ass the girl he likes had, while you’re telling me about the eyes of your girl.” Gustaff rolled his eyes, “youth these days, my grandson needs a good lesson in what is really important. Or at least what you should mention first.”

“She is not my girl,” you clarified shifting on the chair, “and I agree with you, the ass can’t be the first thing you notice. What’s the point?”

The old man nodded in agreement, then he returned his stare to you and this time around he was all business.

“So business is going just fine, eh? How long is she staying?”

You made a face looking away for a moment, “look if I tell you, promise not to make a huge deal out of it?”

“Now, Signora Y/L/N,” you cringed at him using your last name, he merely chuckled ignoring your glare, “I would never make a huge deal out of something that it isn’t.”

“That’s not reassuring at all, Gustaff.” You sighed, shrugging, “she is staying for a year.”

“A year? With you? My dear, are you sure it’s just a guest?” Gustaff winked at you. “A year may turn into a happily ever after, you know? I did read fairy tales in my youth.”

The old man laughed at your spluttering face; you lifted a hand though you couldn’t help but smile at the insinuation of him reading fairy tales. He laughed some more before waving his hand away.

“Please, Gustaff, is nothing like that.” You rolled your eyes when the man huffed, shaking his head.

“Of course not! You’re stubborn and decide to play celibacy.” The man huffed while you opted to not correct his assumptions, you opted out of a relationship, no sex.

Gustaff leaned back then, turning his posture in a business like one, his tone changing as he decided to get down to business.

“You’re out of supplies then, tell me what you need for this new guest with beautiful eyes?”

You rolled your eyes, you knew the old man would never let it go but it didn’t matter. You handed him the list of supplies you would need, the man read the list pursing his lips while nodding and frowning at some.

“I have most of these, I think I can arrange something similar to some of them.” He lifted his eyes to you waiting for your approval.

“No problem.” You offered a single smile before the lips dropped into a line. “There is something else I would like to ask.”

“You didn’t need to mention it, Y/N, I got your usual order of alcohol ready to be delivered.” You chuckled, shaking your head at the man, the old man softened slightly when he noticed the subtle blush on your cheeks and the sudden nervous shift in your movements.

“It’s not that, I was just…” Here you trailed off wondering why exactly you were doing what you were about to do.

It was true what you had told Yelena, you were not charmed by Wanda. On the contrary, she was someone with a deep sadness that found herself unable to let go of her fears and her own inadequacy to break down the deep loneliness she felt.

It was as if she had attached herself to the first individual she thought was offering the world, and when they were gone she was left alone again. Yet you could also tell the same fear and inadequacy was what prevented her to move forward, or to try and reach out to others. You pursed your lips, you could empathise with her, and understand what she felt. You had been there before. Perhaps, this was the reason you were trying to reach out to her slowly, to offer her what you were offered in the past.

A friend. A shoulder to cry on. Someone that would finally listen to her.

“My guest you see…” You ignored the knowing stare from Gustaff, the old man cocking his brows hearing attentively to you. “She has been through some rough days and has not been eating at all nor has she been at her best, I was hoping a home-made meal could help her out some.”

There were moments in which Gustaff would love to know the whole story of your past, he would like to know who had broken your heart so badly that you were closed completely to even try it out again. And yet, there was still a glimpse of hope behind your gestures and your words, as if you were waiting for someone to break the shield you had put around yourself from that tempestuous past.

The old man knew this meant nothing; you had always been special to your guests; yet he couldn’t help but think perhaps this time around would be different. A year shouldn’t pass without anything changing in you, right?

“Home-made meal?” Gustaff cocked his head, the knowing glint turning into one of pure amusement. You tried to hold yourself up, not showing any other emotion than mild interest.

“Yeah, she is from Sokovia, you know?” This time around the old man looked highly shocked at the revelation.

Everyone knew about Sokovia, how the place had tried to rebuild after the Avengers and the crazy machine had tried to destroy it. Stark Industries had been an active participant in the reconstruction, and nowadays was starting to become one of the most important centres of refugees around the world.

“Sokovia! Now that’s an interesting guest.” Gustaff made a thinking face narrowing his eyes at you. “What were you thinking?”

“Well, that’s it, I was thinking something typically sokovian, I got some recipes in here, perhaps you can give me a hand?” You asked innocently at the man.

Gustaff let his eyes linger in you, the old man pursed his lips but knew it was fruitless to press you into saying something else.

“I think I can get something to make a nice paprikash beef, some borscht, some potatoes cake and something vegetarian.” Gustaff shook his head. “Anything else?”

“What about the alcohol you promised?”

His laughter resounded in the small room, he stood up alongside you, your hand went to your wrist watching the time. It was almost midday.

“Look, Gustaff, I need to go and find her because it’s almost midday and I let her wander around the town.” You said shifting on your feet. “Do you mind if I leave you to it? I will be back in a couple of hours.”

“No problem, Signora Y/N, your supplies and purchases are in good hands.” The old man smiled at you. “Leave it all to me, and when you’re back it will be ready.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as you left the protective coolness of the store, you were faced down with unbearable heat. It was almost midday indicating the sun was at its highest point and not breeze would touch the land any time soon, there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky and you could guess it was at least 40 degrees out there.

There was a moment of hesitation from your part, your body tingle with anticipation and your mind played with the hundredth of different scenarios that could occur to you once you reached your destination. It was foolish, you had never before now doubted or even thought so much about an interaction before.

You pursed your lips turning around and going back into the store, one of the few teens at the aisle lifted her face in confusion, you offered a tentative smile scratching the back of your head at her.

“Ho dimenticato qualcosa.” The girl giggled blushing lightly.

“Cossa posso fare per lei?” She asked in return, batting her eyelashes at you.

“posso avere due bottiglie d'acqua? Puoi metterlo sul mio conto.” You watched as the young woman ran down the store to the closest fridge, she came back with your request.

“Grazzie!” Before she could say anything you turned around and left once more.

Once more you were faced with the heat of the day, your eyes lowered to one of the bottles and the image of Wanda came briefly to your mind. You cleared your head, closing up whatever possibilities you were already forming in your head; what you were doing you were doing out of your friendship with Natasha and sympathy for the little witch.

Nothing else, nothing more.

______________________________________________________________

Wanda wanted to run.

The moment she left the car, the only thought dancing around her mind was ways to escape the place she had been forced to be in from the very beginning. Wanda knew she was stressed, the fact she could hear the towns thoughts invading her mind told her as much, yet it was getting difficult for her to get a hold of her own abilities at the moment everything was coming back at her tenfold and she wasn’t sure how she should react or how she could gain controlagain.

“…whatever it is you think you want, it is not what you're looking for. However, you will keep chasing things you don't need, things that are not there anymore because you're too afraid to discover the things that you really deserve."

You didn’t understand, no one really understood what Wanda was feeling. Everyone was happy telling her what she had created was not real. That whatever she thought she felt or lived in there was just a fantasy and that her trying to get back there was a waste of time.

Wanda kept on walking, a hand on her head while she tried to quiet down the mixing thoughts of the inhabitants of the town. The young woman strolled down empty alleys, never looking up with red tendrils of red surrounding her hands while the whisper of thoughts threatened to make her head explode.

It had been so easy for you to say those things, to confront Wanda to some harsh truths because you didn’t know what it was like to be her. Nobody did, and that was the issue, right? No one knew just…how lonely she was, how heartbroken she had been from the very beginning.

It was so difficult to continue ignoring how happy she had been back in Westview, how completed her life was when Vision was by her side. Or knowing she was going to be a mother, that there was nothing or anyone that would come in between to fracture her life. That Pietro was alive and her parents…

The tendrils of red magic appeared on her fingertips, the crackling of magic startling her for a moment when she realised she could see her reflection on the calm waters of the sea lapping at the dock she found herself standing in. Her eyes blinked to see only red, the strange crown adorning her head and the clothing she had used at some point back in Westview coming in the form of a mirage.

There is only one way…you can have it all, Wanda, all you ever wanted with a flickered of your fingertips.

The overwhelming sensation of power running down her veins, her heart was beating fast against her chest while the voice, the ever-present voice of the Darkhold whispering the promises of the life she deserved. The life she had. She would give birth to a child born out of her love for Vision, and then once she had completed the ritual no one in this universe or another would be able to break her away from her reality.

Wanda clenched her eyes closed as images of her parents flash through her mind, their smiles and words moments before exploding right in front of her eyes. The moment she felt her soul being split in a half when Pietro gave his last breath, her heart breaking when she killed Vision for nothing. Then, Westview…

Nobody would ever understand what it felt like, everyone was so ready to tell her how sorry they were and that everything would be okay with time.

It never got better after she lost her parents, or Pietro, or Vision.

Everything got worse, and she was just begging to stop feeling like this. So lost. So lonely.

Her emotions were threatening to be overwhelming; she could already feel the same power she felt moments before she created her version of a perfect world. Her heart was beating hard, the thumbing of the blood pounding on her ears, and the energy of chaos magic filling up her senses.

The horn of a ship resounded through the harbour.

Wanda was startled awake by the sound, her eyes blinked lifting to the sight of a faraway ship crossing the ocean. She stood there suddenly aware of the sound of laughter and conversation around her, soon she noticed the other boats and ships, the houses in the great plaza behind her. She swallowed down her emotions, the tears rolling down her cheeks with her eyes admiring the ocean for the first time.

The wind brushed against her face, and the sweet aroma of rosemary and the salty taste of the sea reached her nostrils, bringing a peace she had not allowed herself to feel before. The sun was already at its highest point, kissing her skin with a comforting warmth until the coldness on her limbs and abdomen receded some. The coldness on her heart and mind though, was still there poking shadows in her eyes.

For the very first time, Wanda realised she had never seen the ocean.

Of course, she had been near it countless of times in missions around the world, she had been near the sea from time to time, even when she was on the run. But she had never had the time to stop for a moment and contemplated it.

She had never been this close.

The bright hues of blue and green mixed together in a single texture, the white foam caressing the rocks of the harbour and the groyne stretching out from the left of the plaza. Wanda put her arms around herself, her heart beating fast at the memories flashing before her mind.

"It can't all be sorrow, can it? I've always been alone, so I don't feel the lack. It's all I've ever known. I've never experienced loss because I never had a loved one to lose... but what is grief, if not love persevering?"

This time around the memory of Vision was different, the tears were back but her lips curled into a nostalgic smile. She put her arms around herself, trying to get a hold of her ability to stop listening to everyone’s thoughts around her. Her concentration was cut by a hit on her leg. She furrowed her brows watching as a football passed rolling down her leg straight to the ocean.

The flickered of her hand was instinctively, the tendrils of red spread out and stopped the ball before reaching its sad destiny. Wanda furrowed her brows bringing the ball to her hands, turning to see a group of kids running up to her. All of them were watching her with wide eyes, but it was a dark-haired one, the only one brave enough to approach her.

“Grazie!!” The dark-haired kid said stopping right in front of Wanda, he glanced at her rather timidly for a moment stretching his arms up. “Posso avere la palla?”

Wanda observed as the rest of the children came in, all of them with wide eyes watching her in awe but still rather shy to even approach her. The young woman felt a tug at her heart, she offered a tentative smile to the dark-haired kid giving him the ball back. For a moment, Wanda thought that would be it, until one of the kids pushed the dark-haired one, opening his eyes wide as if telling him to say something.

Wanda couldn’t help her amusement, while she didn’t dare to read beyond what she could see in their faces their thoughts were getting louder by the minute. Children were always like this, quite open and disorganised in their thoughts and yet, it was comforting in a way to see there was still innocence in the world.

“Sei carino,” The other kids merely giggled, while the first one pouted, grabbing the ball with a soft blush on his face before lifting her eyes at Wanda, “sei un supereroe?”

There was some hesitation on Wanda’s part, she could tell whatever the kid was saying must be really cute because he was blushing and the others seemed to be teasing him for it.

She offered a tentative smile, hoping her words would get through while wishing she could understand what they were saying.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t understand, I don’t speak Italian.”

“Little Alessandro seems to think you are a pretty lady, and he is quite curious to know if you are a superhero.” Your voice startled her, but instead of turning around her body tense and her eyes hardened a little; your voice dripped with amusement with a heavy accent as you spoke to the kids that giggled while looking back at Wanda.

“What did you say to them?” Wanda asked sharply, her whole body turning to face you with a hint of defiance in her stance.

“I just mentioned you were a little too old for him, but that I did agree with him. You are pretty.” Your lips curled into a content smile when those cheeks darkened and her eyes drifted back to the children.

Their curious eyes were on you and her, Alessandro was hugging the ball tightly against his chest. Wanda cocked her head so her attention would be directed to the children instead of you, you stepped closer stretching towards her the cold bottle of water.

“Here, you must be thirsty, it’s a hot day.” You waited patiently until her hand closed around the bottle, her face lifting slightly until her eyes were locked right with yours.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, Principessa.” You winked then walked past her to ruffle Alessandro’s hair.

The young kid exclaimed moving back with a pout fixing his hair, you chuckled, grabbing the ball wiggling your eyebrows at the group that soon scattered around. Wanda observed you for what seemed an eternity, you were playing with them quite literally; your football skills were quite remarkable and the children seemed to be struggling to get a hold of their ball again. You feinted a pass to the left, and while everyone went to the left you made a gesture to Alessandro who went right. In the end, Alessandro was the one who stole the ball and soon the children were back in their game.

You stepped back taking a long sip from your bottle, turning around you found the intense stare of Wanda on you. The young woman had her brows creased; her lips pursed in a thoughtful gesture. You tilted your head with a fluttering in your heart at the intensity behind the stare.

“Are you alright?” You finally asked, Wanda shifted lowering her gaze to the bottle of water all of a sudden she felt thirsty.

The midday sun was burning the land, you could feel it almost burning your skin while the lack of breeze made it almost impossible to get some relief. Once more Wanda and you were left alone, standing right in front of one another with a silence that had stretched out since the car drive. You lifted your eyes to the sky, then you spoke softly to her.

“I want to apologize for earlier.” This time around you found her eyes, the other woman clenched her jaw though the incredulous look she sent your way told you she didn’t believe you that much.

“Look, don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret my words.” You clarified. “But it wasn’t the way and I’m not anyone to tell you this. I’m just a stranger that happened to have a nice place in the midst of the best place in the world. Still, you and I, we’re just acquaintances so it wasn’t my place.”

Wanda should feel grateful, she should say something that would put the incident behind them. But for some reason, she felt hurt all over again; this time around what had pierced her heart deeply was how you referred to the both of you. Acquaintances. Why did it bother her so much? Why did it hurt? It was stupid! You were right! The both of you barely know each other!!

The truth was Wanda had felt attraction towards you the moment she caught you training in the back yard, and in those little moments she had gotten a glimpse of you well…

“Right, I…” Wanda started shaking her head. “It’s okay, I shouldn’t leave the way I did.”

You offered her a smile, a real smile that reached out your eyes with dimples that marked your face in a cute way. Wanda’s heart fluttered and for some unknown reason her stomach felt like an explosion of tickles she tried to keep under control.

“Let’s just start over again, then.” You then pointed with your head the untouched bottle of water on Wanda’s hand. “You better drink some water, Principessa, you’re looking all hot and sweaty and I’m pretty sure you’re not used to this kind of weather.”

Wanda jumped startled glancing at the bottle, her face felt hot but for some reason she wasn’t sure it was because of the sun. Furrowing her brows and clearing out her mind of such intrusive thoughts, the young woman opened the bottle and took a long sip of water.

“Well, now that the awkwardness seems to be gone, what do you say if we go grab some lunch?” You pointed at yourself winking at the young woman. “My treat.”

Wanda opened her eyes for the very first time realising just how late it really was, she thought for a moment of the time she lost the moments that seemed like a flash of confusing images and thoughts. Her eyes drifted to her fingertips that were of her normal colour, though she was pretty sure early on they were black.

“I don’t want to impose; you don’t have to do it.” Wanda started talking but soon trailed off when your hand found hers. She couldn’t help but lock her eyes to yours.

“You wouldn’t be imposing, Principessa, that’s why I am inviting.” You started walking back pulling on her gently giving her the chance to let go or to stop you. “I promised you won’t regret it; this is the best place to eat in the whole town.”

After a moment of hesitation, Wanda accepted.

If Wanda had been paying attention, she would have noticed the lack of noise inside her head. No longer could she hear anyone’s thoughts, and the dark cold voice of the Darkhold had all but vanished, if only for a moment.

It wouldn’t be until later that day she would notice this small detail, her mind trying to catch up to what her heart was starting to feel.

_____________________________________________________________

“Y/N!” A young woman no older than sixteen came right at you wrapping her arms around your abdomen, your smile was so big and bright Wanda wondered just how many types of smiles you hide behind the arrogant exterior you had shown on your first meeting.

“Sprite!” Your arms wrapped tightly around the young woman, it had been way too long since you last saw her and watching her get this excited was something that warmed your heart. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

Sprite stepped back shrugging, her eyes gleamed strangely at you a story she held at the back of her mind while her eyes drifted to the newcomer.

“It’s a long story.” She mumbled eyeing Wanda with a hint of coldness on her stare. “And you are?”

“Oh, this is…” You trailed off turning to Wanda then back to Sprite. “Wanda, she is a guest at the Hill. Wanda, this is Sprite, she is our host’s niece.”

“Nice to meet you.” Wanda mumbled a little overwhelmed by the energy around the house.

“Oh, new guest then.” Sprite whole demeanour changed, and while she wasn’t looking all that welcoming at least the coldness in her stare softened a little. “Then, nice to meet you and welcome to the most boring town in existence.”

“I resent that!” The voice of an older woman reached the entrance hall. Wanda was quite surprised to see a middle-aged woman with dark hair and olive skin, her accent was thick and yet her tone was gently almost motherly.

“You were supposed to, this town is really boring.” Sprite drawled the last syllables until the word was too long.

“I resent the comment too, I love Vernazza!” You poked the young woman on her ribs, though she swatted your hand.

The woman came in, her smile just as bright as yours. Wanda crunched up her nose when you placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Ajak, looking as beautiful as always, don’t you?” Your voice dropped just enough to flirt with the other woman, Ajak snorted, rolling her eyes at you before settling her eyes on Wanda.

“You have to be careful with this one, she would flirt her way out of anything.” Wanda tried to offer a smile but it came out like a grimace, you lifted your arms looking offended though the twinkling in your eyes told you were really enjoying the banter.

“Please, Principessa over there is immune to my charm.” You never turned to Wanda, and the young woman pressed her lips together glancing away from the scene with a scowl in place.

“Anyway, Ajak, this is Wanda, she is staying at the Hill.” Then your attention was on Wanda, and for some reason you couldn’t understand there was a glint of annoyance in her green eyes. “Wanda, this is Ajak, our host for today.”

“A pleasure, eh…Ajak?” Wanda asked, lifting her brows, the woman chuckled, taking the offering hand.

“That’s right, you can just call me just Ajak.” Ajak shook her head in amusement when Sprite came right behind you talking slowly, almost secretively to you. The middle-aged woman glanced at Wanda with a deep stare, her dark eyes gleaming strangely before her lips curled into a gentle smile. “My niece has been having some issues as of late, and whenever she comes here Y/N it’s her confident, she tells her everything which is good because at least she is trusting someone I trust.”

“Oh, I see.” Wanda’s face fell a little though she soon tried to conceal her emotions. “You have a beautiful home, thank you for the invitation. I hope I’m not imposing on your private time with Y/N and your family.”

“Nonsense, dear you are more than welcome to come here.” Ajak cocked her head to the side, indicating with a gesture the house. “Would you like a tour?”

Wanda hesitated for a moment, she was tempted to say no when her eyes caught sight of you and Sprite talking in hushed whispers.

“Sure, that would be fine.”

Ajak turned out to be a delight.

The woman was quite talkative and in no time she was telling Wanda her story. She was from the Middle East, left her home at an early age and had been travelling the world with her family for a long time, one of her trips took her to Italy and the town of Vernazza so, when the time came for the family to split up, she decided to come back to the town and settled there.

She spoke of many places, and Wanda found herself forgetting her worries for a moment. She thought about her own adventures, how different they had been, how lonely and filled with concern of being found and not being able to actually enjoy the settings.

The conversation shifted and, while Ajak never made intrusive questions, she started inquiring about Wanda in general. At first it was small things like where she came from, and how did she like the place so far; soon though, Wanda found herself telling the older woman about her family and the places she had been in, she told her about her favourite TV shows and what she had learnt about life so far. It was with small details Wanda started opening up a little, and for the very first time she found herself in front of someone that didn’t really know anything about her, about her past, about her deeds or mistakes.

Unlike other times, Wanda found herself relaxed and when she spoke about her family, about Pietro, there was nothing more than nostalgia and a glimmer of happiness in her. Ajak softened hearing the stories, she noticed the subtle changes in the redhead thinking perhaps it was not too late yet.

“It is never easy to lose one’s family.” Ajak stated furrowing her brows, Wanda looked away not wanting to hear the same condolences she heard before. “No one understands, people are always going around saying how sorry they are for your loss but they are not. The pain, the grief is for one to carry on. No one would ever understand, and that’s okay. We don’t need them to, we just want…company. Even if they don’t know what to say.”

Wanda was taken aback by this, her eyes grew big, settling themselves on the woman. Ajak was not looking at her, if anything she seemed to be glancing at nothing then with a single shake of her head Ajak was returning her attention to Wanda.

“It is not an easy task, but I know sometimes people can be overwhelming.” Ajak offered a gentle smile Wanda could not return. “And yet, when they are really there for you, all they’re trying to do in the end is trying to help out. It’s all they can really do.”

“It has been difficult, but I’m getting there.” Wanda replied simply, “everyone was so ready to come over, to offer empty words…but, I never thought…”

This time around Wanda sighed, shifting as she played with the rings on her fingers.

“They gave me this trip, they thought I would appreciate the holidays.” The redhead furrowed her brows stopping right in front of the dining room. “I’m starting to think, they were right.”

Ajak shot her a calculating stare, for a brief moment the woman seemed deep in thought as if analysing the answers Wanda had given so far. Then her expression shifted and they were entering the dining room, the table had been set and you and Sprite were in the kitchen singing to some music they could barely hear.

“Sometimes, what we need is a change of perspective.” Ajak said, shrugging. “It is hard, and I won’t tell you it will pass, but perhaps it is time to see things under a different light. But enough serious talk, let’s go and eat.”

It had been quite some time since Wanda last had so much fun during lunch time. A part of her remembered those days in which she would spend her days preparing food for Vision or his boss or the neighbours; she would remember those moments in which all she did was try to keep the illusion alive but in her worries she never got a chance to really enjoy them. And before Westview, well…she had been on the run. There weren’t many chances of her sitting down to talk about everything and anything with strangers while enjoying good food.

This time around it was different.

And Wanda got to see a different side of you, she found herself glancing at you often taking into your smile and twinkling eyes hearing every word that you sputtered while chuckling at your jokes. Whatever darkness had been crawling deep inside her soul, whatever thoughts of power and ways to claim what was hers were out of her mind as she allowed herself to be at peace.

You were laughing at the story Sprite was telling, your eyes gleaming brightly settling on Wanda that returned the smile with one of her own. Your heart fluttered at the sight; it was the very first time you saw her smile. Her real one. It was beautiful. The type of smile you had never seen before, you found yourself wishing Wanda had more reasons to share such a smile with the world. Your heart skipped a beat when her hand placed on your forearm, you lifted your eyes to her only to find those green irises gleaming.

“I need to go to the bathroom.” She said sheepishly, you chuckled turning back signalling a long corridor.

“Straight to the left, then right.” You winked at her, unable to help yourself, the young woman dipped her head, her lips curling into a coy smile before she stood up and left.

Ajak and Sprite glanced at one another with surprise in their eyes, though it was Sprite the first one to talk.

“So, are you sure you want to be near her for over a year?” Sprite ignored the glare from Ajak, and you couldn’t help but furrow your brows at the question.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, she has been here for what? Twenty days? And you look like a puppy, all happy and giddy.” Sprite shrugged offering a wry smile. “It’s disgusting, really.”

You opened your eyes, shaking your head, you turned back to make sure Wanda was not coming over before looking back to the two women sending knowing glances your way.

“It’s nothing like that! We have spoken like three four times since she came here.” You whispered poking the table to make sure your point went across. “I’m just happy to see progress here, nothing else.”

“Progress?” Sprite asked confused, “I have never seen you smile like that for some progress.”

“Shut up! It’s not what you guys are thinking.”

“Doesn’t seem that way, you’re showing your dimples!” Sprite was rather proud of herself when you opened your eyes, sputtering with some indignation.

Ajak rolled her eyes, but before you could say something she cleared her throat pointing to the hall. Wanda was coming over, and the young woman looked different. She was more relaxed, easy on her footsteps with a single smile adorning her face.

“Ajak, I want to thank you for the lunch, and the conversation,” Wanda said while sitting down, “it has been quite a while since I last have something like this.”

“It is not me the one you need to thank, Wanda.” Ajak replied pointing with a single finger your way. “Y/N here told me she would bring you over and wanted for this to be special, if anything you need to thank her.”

You did not take your eyes from Ajak, fully aware those green eyes were glancing at you intently.

“I didn’t know that.” Wanda mumbled but said nothing else.

You glanced at your watch then to the women around the table, “I think I gotta go, Ajak, but let me help you with the dishes. Come on Sprite.”

“What? Why? You offer yourself!”

“Don’t be a child, come over.” You pushed the young woman while taking the plates to the kitchen and started washing everything.

Wanda sat there contemplating what Ajak had just revealed, when had you called the woman over? Were you planning the lunch even before you left the house? Did it matter? When Wanda lifted her eyes to see you laughing in the kitchen putting the plates away while bickering with Sprite, Wanda found herself wondering many things.

A dark cloud of memories came crawling back into her mind, everyone around her either died or left. Wasn’t this the reason she was looking for a way to go back to her little world? Was she being foolish to think of you? Probably, you two didn’t even know one another, and Wanda was probably feeling vulnerable at the moment.

That was the most logical explanation to the confusion growing in her mind.

“As always your cooking is the best there is, Ajak, Thank you!” You hugged the woman tightly before stepping back.

“Nonsense, you know you’re always welcome around here.”

“Besides, next lunch it’s on you.” Sprite intervened, a smirk forming on her face. “Thena and Gil will come over next week.”

Your eyes opened wide at this, your lips curled slightly, “are you sure? They really are coming?”

“Yep, Thena says she missed her garden, but we all know she misses you.” Sprite wiggled her eyebrows at you, you rolled your eyes feeling a flush on your face knowing Wanda had her eyes on you while Ajak seemed to send a reproachful glance to Sprite.

“They’re coming, yes.” Ajak confirmed. “Gil is missing the weather and Thena, you know her.”

You did.

You knew Thena pretty well, your body tensed completely at the thought of Thena coming over with Wanda resting at the guest house. Looking out of the corner of your eyes, you could see Wanda was shooting you curious glances.

“Then, I would make sure to prepare a nice meal for all of you. Just call me with the details.”

“I will call you, don’t worry. Wanda, it was a pleasure to meet you, you are more than welcome here whenever you need a little escape or someone to talk to.”

“Thank you, Ajak, I will keep it in mind.”

The walk back to the car was done in silence, you were smiling softly making sure to take Wanda down the most beautiful alleys in town. Most of them had little gardens on their balconies and the constructions were a mixture of tradition and modernity, you could see the other woman was highly placed by the scenery surrounding her and you count her eager glances as a victory.

She waited for you in the car while the teens in the store filled out your car and you spoke with an old man. Wanda was confused. There was something bothering her greatly but she was unable to pinpoint the source, or what exactly was making her confused. She only knew one thing, and that was that without counting the incident after she left your car, she had never felt so at peace with herself or the world around her.

“Okay, everything is ready, let’s go back.” You flashed a quick grin before starting the car driving along a well-known road.

The young woman rested her head against the window, that day had been so much different to anything she had grown accustomed to. She wasn’t on the run, there was not an enemy they had to fight over, and there was not an external threat she needed to eliminate to keep her happiness to herself. Wanda pressed her lips together, your eyes and your smile flashing from time to time whenever she wondered what had happened, what had changed.

Wanda closed her eyes and, without really noticing, she fell asleep.

Wanda jerked awake at the sound of cursing and mumbling; she saw as you moved to the trunk putting away the different bags filled with supplies. For a moment, Wanda wondered just when she had fallen asleep and how, she didn’t remember the last time she had such a nice nap without any dreams or nightmares haunting her. She stretched out, looking at you out of the mirror until your eyes found hers.

“Come on, Principessa, I brought a lot of things and you will need to help.” Your words broke her concentration, with a pursed of her lips Wanda went out of the car.

“Let me see what I can do.” She replied dryly using her powers to lift some of the bags. “Where do you want them?”

The smile on her face told you she was highly satisfied with her act, you just let out a breathy laugh shaking your head.

“How about the ones that have a W on them you left them on your porch and the others on mine?”

There were at least ten paper bags, all of them full of food and drinks and some other necessities. Wanda counted hers, at least five of them full of things she could see she liked. Not for the first time, Wanda wondered how much you knew about her, how much Natasha had revealed.

“Are you going to stand there all day or are you gonna move it?” You took two of the paper bags carrying them to her door, walking past her.

“You didn’t have to do this, you know?” Wanda said, lifting the bags and following you to the house.

“I know.” You replied placing them on the porch.

“I could go to the town if I need to.”

“I know.”

Wanda then stopped you, her hand on your arm a frown adorning her face and those green eyes seeking out yours.

“Thank you.” Wanda mumbled, lowering her gaze for a moment, “I have fun today, and I shouldn’t have left the car like that after…”

“You don’t have to explain anything to me.” You stepped back holding your bags tightly against your body. “I understand more than you know.”

Wanda scowled at this, you shrugged offering a half smile.

“You asked me what I could see on you and I just told you honestly.” You said softly. “You didn’t have to like it, but…think about it. I’m glad you had fun today, you see? Going out of this house was not so bad, and you even made friends…not friends of your age, but friends still.”

Wanda offered for the very first time a real smile, you returned her smile glancing at your bags then at the distance between that house and yours.

“Say, you wouldn’t mind helping me with these?” You asked sheepishly, Wanda pressed her lips together amused with a flick of her hand she lifted the remaining bags helping you out until you were back home.

“Thanks, I think I’m going to put this away…” You were about to enter your house; Wanda was going back to hers when you called back to her. “Wanda?”

The young woman stopped looking back at you, “yes?”

You couldn’t help the smirk adorning your face, your eyes gleaming mischievously as you spoke.

“You are more than welcome to join me tomorrow morning,” you said rather casually, “you know? If you ever stop ogling me through the window?”

For the first time, in a very long time, Wanda blushed.

You chuckled picking up the bags and going inside the house leaving your door open, for a moment Wanda stood there rather mortified before she too went back to the house.

She never really noticed it, but the voices inside her head were not as loud as before.

Translations in order of appearance

Ho dimenticato qualcosa - I forgot something

Cossa posso fare per lei - Waht can I do for you

posso avere due bottiglie d'acqua? - Can I have two bottles of water?

Puoi metterlo sul mio conto - you can put it on my bill

Posso avere la palla? - Can I have the ball?

Sei carino - you are pretty

sei un supereroe - are you a superhero

#WandaxReader #Wanda Maximoff x Female Reader #WandaxF!Reader #wanda maximoff #Female Reader #AU #imagine wanda maximoff #Wanda MaximoffxReader

206 notes · View notes

headcanonsandmore · 4 years

Text

“Letters to Charlie”

Summary: A selection of letters from Ron to his brother Charlie, throughout Ron's first four years at Hogwarts. Includes some mild Romione mentions.

Read on FFN. Read on AO3.

~~~~~~~~~

[1st October 1991]

Dear Charlie,

How are things at the reserve? You said in your last letter that you’ve been getting a lot more burns than normal; have you asked mum for her recipe on salves?

Anyway, I’m settling in okay at Hogwarts. Really glad I was in Gryffindor; my friend Harry was really worried about it, I think. He’s doing fine, but I wish everyone would stop gawking at him all the time. He’s a good bloke; bit quiet but, considering what his aunt and uncle seem to be like, that’s not surprising.

Also, there’s this girl in our class who’s pretty annoying. She treats everyone like they’re idiots and she’s such a teacher’s pet! Her name’s Hermione Granger, and she’s always butting in whenever me and Harry are chatting. She’s not all bad, but I wish she wouldn’t be so uptight about everything. You’d think that someone with hair that bushy would be a bit more fun-loving, but she’s very straightlaced. But I saw her laughing the other day at a joke I made, so maybe she’s not so serious all the time? She has a cute nice laugh.

Don’t tell the twins I said that, or they’ll never stop going on about it.

Anyway, hope you’re okay and that everyone at the reserve is doing fine,

Love,

Ron

[12th November 1991]

Dear Charlie,

Glad to hear that that the Common Welsh Green pair are doing okay. Things have gotten pretty weird at Hogwarts; someone (probably Peeves) let a troll into the castle at Halloween! Me and Harry had to rescue Hermione Granger from the troll; she covered for us, so we didn’t get punished. McGonagall even gave us some points for Gryffindor!

Hermione’s alright, I think. Bit intense, but she’s not as stuffy as I thought. I mean, it was kind-of my fault that she ended up getting caught by the troll, so I’m glad she didn’t hold a grudge about it. She’s always asking me about stuff, probably because she’s never grown up in a magical family. You wouldn’t think it if you saw her in class, though; she gets so many questions right and she’s apparently memorised the textbooks! Barmy, I know, but she’s alright.

Speaking of dragons, do you know if there’s any way of getting a baby one out of the country? Hagrid has a baby Norwegian Ridgeback in his house, but it’s dangerous for the baby to stay here.

Love,

Ron

[16th August 1992]

Dear Charlie,

We managed to rescue Harry from the Dursleys! Mum went mad when we got back, but no harm done. Harry’s aunt and uncle had bars put on his window! I told mum we had to get him out quick; good thing I noticed he wasn’t responding to my letters. Apparently, a house-elf was trying to stop him going back to Hogwarts; weird, right?

Hermione’s saying that she’s hoping to meet up with us in Diagon Alley; I hope so. It’ll be nice to see her again. Apparently, she’s already done all her homework, but that’s what she’s like. What do you think I should get her for her birthday? I asked Harry, but he suggested one of the textbooks (the poor bloke’s never had to buy any presents for anyone ever). I was thinking maybe some of her favourite long-lasting quills, but I’m not sure. Do you reckon I should get her something more… girly? Her best mates are two blokes, so maybe she’d like something to make it clear that I we don’t just see her as another boy? What do you think?

I’m looking forward to Hogwarts this year; hopefully, it should be a bit quieter than last year. How’s your summer been going? You mentioned about the Chinese Fireball having fang rot; has that been fixed yet, or is she still having troubles?

Hope all’s good with you,

Love,

Ron

[6th January 1993]

Dear Charlie,

You’ve probably heard the news already about the attacks happening at Hogwarts. The teachers don’t seem to know who’s doing it. Me, Harry, and Hermione have been trying to figure things out, but we haven’t got any leads lately. We thought it might have been Malfoy, but turns out he’s not doing it (still too happy about the attacks, though, the little git!).

I’m really worried about Hermione, to be honest. The attacks are always against muggle-borns and I’m scared she’s gonna be attacked. Do you know if there’s any creature that can petrify someone? I would ask the defence teacher, but Lockhart can barely tell one end of his wand from the other. Can’t see why Hermione likes him so much; can’t she see how much of a stupid twerp he is?

Like I said before, I’m really sorry about breaking your old wand. I know you said you don’t mind and you’re just glad I was okay, but still. It keeps making weird bubbles whenever I try and cast any spells. My own fault for breaking it, I guess.

Hope you’re well,

Love,

Ron

[8th May 1993]

Dear Charlie,

Hermione got attacked. She’s been stuck in the hospital wing ever since.

I’m scared. Harry’s managing to keep his head screwed on straight, but I can’t concentrate in lessons. I keep expecting Hermione to be sat next to me, and whenever I turn to look at her, I remember where she is. All pale and cold, like she’d dead or something.

What do I do, Charlie? How do I help her?

Love,

Ron

[1st June 1993]

Dear Charlie,

Hermione’s okay! The mandrake stuff finally got given to her, and she’s back to normal! I haven’t smiled this much in months! She gave me and Harry a massive hug each when she turned up in the great hall; me and her couldn’t quite look each-other in the eye afterwards, but I think we both got a bit overwhelmed, you know?

Turns out, this was also because Lucius Malfoy was trying to stop dad��s muggle protection law being passed; people could have died!

Confused as to why none of the teachers bothered to ask Myrtle, since she was a witness to the last time the chamber has been opened, but I guess we’ll never know. Were the teachers like this when you were here?

Anyway, got to go; I insisted that Hermione play some chess with me, since our exams have been cancelled (can you guess which Gryffindor was upset about that?).

Love,

Ron

[3rd September 1993]

Dear Charlie,

We’re all settling back in at Hogwarts; I’m still using those quills you got me in Egypt (thanks again, by the way). Everyone’s talking about Sirius Black, and Malfoy won’t stop being smug about how he knows something we don’t (arrogant little twerp as always).

Hermione’s cat is a bloody nightmare; he’s spent every evening trying to get at Scabbers, but Hermione won’t hear a word against him! Honestly, I don’t get why she can’t just keep the cat away when I ask her to. But she’s always had this thing about being right about everything, so it’s not unsurprising. I just wish she’d stop acting like it’s normal; Hedwig’s been around for three years, and she’s never attacked Scabbers!

Having said that, the first Hogsmeade visit is something to look forward to. It’s gonna be a bit different because Harry can’t go (his aunt and uncle refused to sign his form), but me and Hermione are going to make sure we take back lots of stuff for him so he doesn’t feel left out.

I am a little nervous about going, though; me and Hermione spend loads of time together, so why would this be any different? Probably nothing. Maybe it’s just because we’re bickering more because of our pets? Yeah, that sounds about right. I’ve already got her birthday present, so hopefully she’s not too angry at me and won’t mind me giving her a present.

Let me know how the Chinese Fireball baby is doing,

Love,

Ron

[4th January 1994]

Dear Charlie,

Hermione just can’t keep her nose out of things! She reported Harry’s firebolt to McGonagall, and now it’s been confiscated! She says it’s because it could have been sent by Sirius Black. I know that’s a possibility, but she didn’t need to go behind Harry’s back about it!

I swear, this girl is driving me nuts!

Love,

Ron

[13th February 1994]

Dear Charlie,

Me and Hermione have made things up; she even apologised about Scabbers. She must have been really upset, because she started crying and hugged me! Is it normal to get all flustered when a girl hugs you? Cause it didn’t the same as it did when she hugged me at the end of second year.

You’ve probably heard from Hagrid about Buckbeak being executed. We’re trying to get an appeal plea sorted; it’s mostly me and Hermione doing it, since Harry’s got other stuff to worry about. It’s nice being friends with Hermione again; I hated it when we weren’t speaking. It’s still a bit awkward (we both can’t quite look each other in the eye at times), but that’s probably normal, given what’s happened.

Remember to put that salve mum made on your new scars,

Love,

Ron

[14th July 1994]

Dear Charlie,

Hope you’re enjoying the summer so far; it’ll be great to see you again, mum’s organising the room situation, so I think you’re sharing with Bill. Can’t wait for the world cup! Do you think Ireland will win against Bulgaria? I’ve been saving my pocket money all summer for it, so I can buy some souvenirs! Are you gonna bring some stories about the dragons when you get here?

Mum’s said I can invite Harry and Hermione over, and they’ll be coming to the world cup with us! It’ll be brilliant to see them again; Harry deserves a break from those horrible people he lives with, and Hermione could do with a break from work in general (she’s already finished all her summer homework, but that’s what she’s like).

It’ll be great to have both of them here for the summer; I hope Hermione doesn’t mind sharing with Ginny, since Gin’s more of a Quidditch-head than Hermione is. Mum keeps on at me to tidy my room before Hermione arrives, but it’s not as if she’s staying in my room, is it?

I did clean up my room a bit, though. Hermione’s a bit funny about mess, and I don’t want her to think I’m a slob.

See you soon,

Love,

Ron

[30th October 1994]

Dear Charlie,

I’m still angry at mum, dad, and Bill for keeping us in the dark about the Triwizard Tournament; half the other kids from wizarding families knew! Speaking of the Tournament, the students from the other schools have arrived. You won’t believe it but Viktor Krum’s a student at Durmstrang! He’s a bit grouchy looking, but I guess he gets sick of people treating him different all the time. I didn’t know he was eighteen; he looks way older. The Slytherins are trying to cosy up to him, but he’s knows exactly what they’re doing; I saw him telling a few of them off for being unpleasant to the muggle-born first years. So I guess he’s alright.

The students from Beauxbatons are all nice enough but one of the girls has some sort of Veela charm thing. Hermione keeps glaring at me whenever I get caught in it, but it’s hardly my fault, is it? Harry gets affected too, but does she yell at him? No, of course she doesn’t. I swear, Hermione’s been weird ever since the term started; the other week I caught her staring at my hands for no reason. She got all flustered when she saw I’d noticed, and yelled at me to concentrate on my work. I’m worried about her. Did that ever happen between you and your friends at school? Is this something that happens around our age? I know that mum said things start to change after you get into your teenage years.

Speaking of change, I hope I can get some new dress robes before I ever have to wear these ones. Do you think Bill has any old ones he can let me borrow? I don’t get why mum didn’t just remove the lace and change the colour. I was going to ask Hermione to do it, but I don’t want her to think I’m whining. I just wish I could have some decent robes like all the other boys have. I know money’s tight at the moment, but even the twins have got alright-looking robes to wear I’d feel a lot better if I wasn’t stuck wearing rubbishy clothes for once.

Apparently, the tournaments due to start tomorrow evening. Me and Harry did have a think about entering, but it’s probably too high security. Fred and George said they’re gonna enter, because they turn seventeen in April, so they won’t need to use much aging potion. Should be interesting to see whether they succeed. I just hope we get a decent Hogwarts champion; Cedric Diggory’s alright, but half the girls get giggly over him and it’s bloody annoying. Hermione says it’s because he’s a prefect, but she’s a bit funny like that. If I ever end up a prefect, I bet I wouldn’t have girls giggling and getting flustered about me.

Got to go now; Hermione said she wants to go over our Transfiguration homework in the common room.

Love,

Ron

[25th November 1994]

Dear Charlie,

You should have told me you’d be here for the first task! I know it was secret, but it would have been nice to catch up! Glad the trip over was safe and that the dragons are all okay. That Hungarian Horntail was a nasty piece of work; Harry almost got hit by it!

Speaking of which, me and Harry are best mates again. I’m glad; it was miserable when we weren’t speaking. Funnily enough, he said he didn’t even need an apology; just told me to forget about it. Weird bloke, but it’s great to be friends with him again. Hermione got all teary and told us we were being stupid, but she’s never really understood things like this, so there you go.

Love,

Ron

[17th December 1994]

Dear Charlie,

Glad to hear the dragons got safely back to Romania with no issues. I almost wish I was there instead; ever since this ball thing got announced, half the school’s gone mad about it. Everyone’s asking everyone to it, and I don’t get it. Why can’t we all just go as friends and have fun? But the boys keep going on about dates, so I said I best go with someone good-looking. Yes, I know it’s dumb, but how else will I get everyone to not laugh at my robes? I even asked McGonagall if I could go in my school ones, but she insisted that I use my official dress robes (although she did look sympathetic while she said it, so I guess she understood where I was coming from).

Flitwick’s doing alterations to people’s robes, but he was so swamped with requests that there isn’t any room for me to get mine changed. I swear, I can’t wait until the ball is done and I won’t have to worry about this stuff anymore.

I’d happily stay behind in Gryffindor Tower with the first, second and third years, but I can’t leave Harry in the lurch. He’s got to be there to open the ball, and it wouldn’t be fair to leave him on his own; the poor bloke isn’t good with crowds, especially since half of the school still gawks at his scar every day.

Hermione doesn’t seem to take much interest in the ball, so maybe she’s also planning on staying behind. She got angry at me when I mentioned about going with a pretty girl, which is understandable (it was a dumb thing to say). Hopefully, she’ll have forgiven me by the time Christmas swings around, and we can just go and have fun at the ball. Just as friends, obviously. Maybe if we’re having a laugh, I won’t have to think about my robes looking so awful.

Love,

Ron

[27th December 1994]

Dear Charlie,

I swear, if I ever have to go to another ball again, it’ll be too soon! Hermione’s still angry at me about it; which makes sense, since I was a bit of an arse. But, well, she went with Krum! Seriously, he’s eighteen and she’s barely fifteen! Why didn’t any of the teachers think that was creepy? Why was I the only person who got irritated by it? Is it really so bad that I don’t want my friend being pursued by some creepy eighteen-year-old git? I know what the twins are saying about it, but it’s alright for them, isn’t it? They had decent robes and could actually ask a girl without the girl glaring at them like they’d only just realised the girl was a girl! Gits. They don’t get it.

Ginny had a nice time with Neville, at the very least. Neville’s a good bloke, and I’m glad he treated her well. Apparently, she borrowed a dress off a friend for the ball. I wish I was shorter so I could have just borrowed something off Harry; that would have at least made things a bit easier. Then I wouldn’t have already been a bad mood before we even got to the ball.

Seriously, I’m never wearing those robes again. I don’t care what mum says, I’d rather go in my normal school ones that those frilly disasters.

Me and Hermione are being more polite to each other than normal, which is probably for the best. I hate the fact that I got so angry at her, but I’ve learnt now to not act like that again. I mean, considering she got Krum, I don’t think she’ll need to worry about me acting like that again. It wasn’t as if she even said she wanted to go with me, either; how was I supposed to know? I’m not a mind-reader!

Hope your Christmas is going better than mine, and thank you for the burn-proof socks; they’ll come in handy against the Skrewts.

Love,

Ron

[27th February 1995]

Dear Charlie,

It was nice getting some of the limelight for a while; everyone was asking me about what it was like during the second task. I even had Padma Patil hanging on to my every word about it; I even managed to apologise to her properly for being such a berk at the ball (she was my dance partner, but we didn’t do any dancing). She seemed pretty okay with it.

Fleur Delacour (you remember, the champion who used the calming charm on her dragon in the first task) is being very nice lately; I think she got the impression me and Harry helped saved her sister in the second task. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek after we were all out of the lake! It’s nice to get attention from girls for a change.

Funnily enough, Hermione get glaring at me for the rest of the day. Funny how it’s fine for her to get attention from boys (that creep Krum had her as the person he’d miss the most; they’ve only been to the Yule ball together, the pervy git!), but I can’t do so much as talk to other girls without getting the cold treatment from her. Barmy as ever, but that’s what she’s like.

I think Harry’s really happy about the tournament just having one task left; at this point, I just hope he gets through it with no injuries or anything. Poor bloke’s had another rough year, and I hope he can take it easy after this is all over.

I wonder what I’ll get for my birthday this year. You think Hermione will get me anything? She’s so irritable lately that I wouldn’t be surprised if she just gets me a card and some chocolate frogs. Given what’s happened between us lately, that sounds about as much as I can hope for.

At least we’re still friends, though. I’m not that much of an idiot that I’d stop talking to her over this. I almost lost one friend this year; I don’t want the same thing happening with Hermione.

Love,

Ron

[29th June 1995]

Dear Charlie,

Harry left the hospital wing a few days ago. Me and Hermione are trying to help him as best we can, but the poor bloke still’s struggling. I’m not surprised, considering what he went through.

Dumbledore’s said that things are already changing. I just hope he knows what to do. But he’s still saying that Harry needs to go back to the Dursleys this summer. I hope we can pick him up as soon as possible; Harry’s relatives are bloody horrible.

After the third task, me and Hermione stayed up in the common room. We’ve both said we’re gonna help Harry with whatever happens in future. She also hugged me before she went to bed. It was different this time. It seemed like neither of us wanted to let go.

Stay safe,

Love,

Ron

~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading, everyone! Hope you enjoyed it!

#harry potter fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic #ron weasley #charlie weasley #tw: food mention #tw: insecurities #tw: mental health #character study #pre-romione #romione #ronmione

55 notes · View notes

dumblydork · 3 years

Text

Summer

Hello! I am SO sorry for having gone MIA all of a sudden on Tumblr and Ao3, but life caught up once exams ended and I was in a deep, dark place for sometime. But not to worry, because I'm definitely better now, and finally got over my writer's block/unmotivation (if that's a word) and what better way to start off writing again if not with a Hinny fic?

As usual, I hope you enjoy this sort of non-magic alternate universe, maybe a modern meet-cute of sorts? From the one and only Ginny Weasley's perspective, of course.

Again, you can find my Ao3 right here where I post quite fluffy Wolfstar one shots!

----

The summer was harsh in Cornwall, which was where Ginny's family home was situated. She went up to university in London, just having recently finished her second year in Drama. Last summer, she was on a long trip with her best friend Luna, and hadn't been able to make it down to be with her family. But this year, she fully intended to spend as much time as possible with them, even if her older twin brothers were being annoying arses.

"Fred, George, just wipe the bloody tables already!" She screamed, exasperated, even though the twins were not even 20 feet away. The only unique cafe-by-day/restaurant-by-night was owned by Ginny's family. It was a quaint place, serving the best coffee to tourists and locals alike, along with not such a sharply contrasted cosy restaurant theme the place adopted when the sun went down.

And currently, the cafe was a few hours away from opening as a restaurant, and was left in the care of Ginny and her older twin brothers. She had another older brother after the twins, but he was off with his university friends (being an year older) and had even MORE older brothers ranked above the twins. Her oldest brother Bill, worked as a vet in New York, also where the second brother Charlie worked as an art curator. The third brother Percy was currently obtaining his PhD in some sort of Math which Ginny was too 'humanities' to understand (in Percy's own words, that subject bigot). The brothers after Percy, twins Fred and George were as stated, being annoying prats but worked in some sort of prank shop, much to their mother and Percy's chagrin (Between us and her, Ginny never understood why Percy felt a need to voice this opinion, because if Ginny also opened her mouth to provide an opinion on every single thing under the sun, working in a prank shop was perfectly acceptable).

Finally the last brother Ron went to university in Devon, having recently finished his degree in Astronomy combined with Philosophy, and that was it. Growing up with 6 older brothers, Ginny was significantly hot tempered, a trait often made fun of because of her (and her whole family's) flaming red hair.

"Oh for God's sake the two of you, just shut up if you don't want to do any work!" She finally snapped, causing two identical pairs of brownish eyes to look at her.

"Okay!" They smirked, before actually rushing away to the back of the cafe. Ginny sighed, wondering for the tenth time that afternoon why she bothered to come down here in summer. The twins, despite being her favourite, were useless gits-

"Ginny! Where are Fred and George?" Her mother's voice flew out from the front of the store, removing Ginny from her trail of thoughts, where Molly stood with hands laden with grocery bags. Her father, Arthur, she saw outside from the huge floor to ceiling windows, was unloading the boot of their car of more paper bags.

"They ran away after being absolutely useless gits." She muttered angrily, almost aggressively wiping a glass and placing it on the shelves behind her.

Her mother let out a long suffering sigh, but nevertheless joined Ginny in tidying up the cafe. "They're quite irresponsible." Molly sighed, wiping down tables at a superhuman speed.

"Mum if it's okay, can I join Ron and his friends at the party happening down at the beach?" Ginny asked apprehensively. The question had been burning at the back of her mind since the morning when Ron actually invited her to the beach party being thrown by one of the local boys. He had brought his uni friends and girlfriend down from Devon, and Ginny had already met Hermione, Ron's soulmate, if their behaviour was anything to go by.

Being in an all girls school, Ginny practically grew up with her girlfriends gushing about boys and celebrities, often almost swooning like some Victorian women when boys from the neighbouring school passed by their grounds.

However, Ginny was smart- if having six brothers had taught her anything, it was that boys were annoying, and only a few handful of them were actually decent. But now, looking at how close Ron and Hermione were, Ginny was starting to long for her own sort of romance. It had been over a year since she broke up with her first and only boyfriend Dean. She was convinced the breakup had solidified her stance on relationships, which was that relationships were okay but there was no need to actively look for one. Ron and Hermione's lovey dovey-ness was revolting, but uncharacteristically had Ginny pining away for her love story as well. Not that she'd ever admit it, of course.

"Well there's nothing really to do, and if it's busy there's a lot of pairs of hands to help. So sure, go on." Molly finally said and Ginny could almost fist pump, if it wasn't for the wet rag she was holding.

The evening rolled around quicker than Ginny anticipated, and before she knew it, her and Hermione stood in Ginny's small attic bedroom, getting ready for the party. "So, tell me, how was Dean?" Hermione asked, looking behind at Ginny through the mirror, where the younger girl stood blinking away extra mascara.

"Oh well, he was alright. Nothing like fireworks or sparkle." Ginny flushed slightly as she processed her own words. Oh, how she sounded like a lovestruck 12 year old.

However, Hermione didn't seem to mind. She simply grinned. "I'm sure with the right person it's more than just sparkles and fireworks." Hermione winked, and Ginny wondered if there was more to the statement than she understood. However, Hermione was already done with the topic, now going on about her course and what plans Ginny had for after university.

They walked downstairs, finding Ron standing at the door, his eyes glued to Hermione as she walked down the stairs. To be fair, Hermione definitely looked stunning- even if it was for a casual beach party. Ginny noted slightly bitterly to herself how the simplest pair of jeans and top could make one gorgeous to the right eyes. She breathed deeply as Ron wrapped an arm around his girlfriend, the girlfriend in question smirking back at Ginny as she followed them. Okay, very confusing.

The walk to the beach from the cafe was short, and there was already a bonfire going in the distance, with some upbeat song playing from someone's phone. "So, where is Harry and everyone else?" Hermione asked, looking around. Ron still had a hand in Hermione's as the two of them looked around for who had to be Ron's friends. "Neville!" Ron suddenly yelled good naturedly, as a tall guy walked towards the three of them with a big grin on his face.

"Ron! Hermione!" Neville hugged each of them in turn, smiling broadly at Ginny.

"Neville, this is my younger sister Ginny. Ginny, that's one of our friends from uni, Neville." Ron introduced. Ginny waved, which was returned by Neville.

"Is your girlfriend here as well?" Hermione asked, to which Ron added, "Oh, do we finally get to meet the elusive To-Be-Mrs. Longbottom?"

Perhaps having noticed Ginny's confusion, Neville clarified. "These two here haven't had the chance to meet my girlfriend- well, fiance as of a week, yet. In answer to your question Ron, no, she unfortunately couldn't make it. But she's been inviting the two of you over for dinner since ages." He turned to Ron.

"Actually yeah, we should definitely go. Anybody seen Harry?" Ron asked, looking around the small crowd of people. Ginny moved away from the couple to sit next to the fire, and grab a cold beer in the process.

She had just made herself comfortable slightly away from the warm fire when a figure sat down next to her, causing shivers to go up her left side. "Hi, you must be Ginny." The figure spoke and Ginny looked to the source of the voice, to be met by the unruliest mop of black hair she had ever seen on a human, and twinkling green eyes. In the soft light from the fire, they glowed slightly amber.

"I am. But I don't think I've met you?"

Ginny didn't get an answer because Ron's voice interrupted them. "Harry, you came!" He shouted, the figure (Harry) getting up to tackle Ron in a hug.

"Of course I did, getting sloshed at your best mate's beach party is always infinitely better than home." Harry grinned, and Ginny started to feel her heart race.

"I see you've met Ginny." Ron said, sitting down in between her and Harry.

"I just did, yeah." Harry smiled mischievously. They had moved closer to the fire, and in the brighter light, Harry's face was more distinct. And boy was he fit. The hair, even though messy, was not unattractive (quite the opposite), and his face was slightly round, made rounder by the permanent grin which seemed to reside there. And his eyes were covered by round glasses, reflecting off the orange from the fire.

"Well anyway, Gin, this is Harry, my best mate from university. He just made it down here to Cornwall." Ron said, and suddenly got up to fetch more drinks, but Ginny didn't miss the glares Hermione was shooting Ron from across the fire.

"Do you reckon we go a bit further away?" Ginny, being so busy interpreting the look Hermione was giving Ron, hadn't noticed the boy had shifted closer to her.

"Uh, sure." She found herself slightly tongue tied, staring into green amber.

"Brilliant, Let's go?" Harry got up, and lent Ginny a hand. She took it, and a slight warmth, probably not from the fire, ran down her spine when their hands remained connected.

They walked away from the party, not too far that a search team would be required, but just far enough to hold a conversation in peace. The music slightly played in the background, a slower guitar theme, and Ginny turned around to see Ron and Hermione swaying around the fire, the brightest smile settled on both their faces. Ginny simply let out a happy sigh, attention darting down to entwined hands.

"So, Ron tells me you're in drama?" He asked, as they sat down near the water with their legs bent, just that the waves touched their toes and washed back.

"Yes, I am, final year now. Although I haven't heard a lot about you?" Ginny teased. Harry simply chuckled, a sound she realised she found much more attractive than she should have.

"Well it's a shame since I am his best mate but, Harry Potter, third year medic, at your service." He lightly bowed his head, eliciting a giggle out of the girl.

"Medicine huh, that definitely sounds hectic." She commented, as her fingers drew an absent minded pattern in the sand separating their sitting figures.

"I also captain the football team." He replied, eyes shining with humor. Ginny looked up, wondering if it was a coincidence that the man she found extremely fit also checked off all her criterion of 'boyfriend'.

"Oh- well I don't know how you found the time to be here, what with studying and football." Ginny smiled. Harry looked back at her, eyes boring into her brown ones. "Only because I was told someone stunning was going to be here." He said in a lower voice. Ginny flushed under the stare.

"I'm sure having those feelings for your best mate's girlfriend is not a good idea." She teased, feeling some confidence seeping into her. Harry scooted closer, placing a hand on Ginny's.

"And what if I said they weren't for the girlfriend, but for the sister?" His eyes darted down to her lips, her own pulse quickening. Then continuing with her sudden confidence, she unconsciously leaned in, her lips just millimeters away from Harry's. "The sister would definitely like that because she thinks you're extremely fit too." Ginny whispered, her lips just brushing against Harry's before he closed the distance completely.

The two of them sat there, away from the party, lips moving in slow sync as if they were doing the communicating. Getting to know each other in silent movements, a dance of attraction and dominance. Thee music faded in the background, as behind her closed eyes Ginny saw stars, and faintly made out the sound of fireworks exploding behind them. Not that she'd admit it to anyone, of course.

But in that moment, it was just her, Harry and the cool water playing with their feet. And when they finally pulled apart, Ginny secretly swore that she saw her reflection in green pools glow and sparkle.

Not that she'd ever admit it, obviously.

----

TAGLIST: @amy-herondale-chase // @purplepygmypuffskein // @ginnypxtter // @alwaysmagica1 // @norakelly // @her-blazing-look //

----

Okay, I hope you guys enjoyed that! I wrote that when I was half asleep, so I'm not even sure if most of it makes sense haha.

As usual, if you want to join the taglist and be notified whenever I write a new Hinny story (which will be much more frequently now), please interact with the pinned TAGLIST post on my account!

Thank you for reading, and please interact with the post! Reblogs are always appreciated but likes and comments are just as amazing! Loads of virtual hugs xxx

#hinny #alternate universe #harry potter #headcanon #harry x ginny #ginny weasley #romance #au #fiction #beach #summer #party #okay out of tags #writing #ao3 writer #taglist

24 notes · View notes

petri808 · 3 years

Text

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33-Epilogue

— I just wanna say thank you so much to everyone who followed along, your comments and suggestions along the way really helped to bring this story to life! It’s my longest fic to date, and to think it started as a one-shot for nalu day 2020 lol. YOU GUYS HELPED MAKE THIS HAPPEN! 🥳🥰🥰 ILY YOU ALL!💜💜💜💜

@mcornilliac special shout out for you help with the toughest part 😘

Even after all these years, riding on a train still brought a small flutter to Lucy’s stomach as she remembered the long ago evening when she’d met her husband. From an innocent meeting to a death defying experience, talk about a roller coaster ride. And yet, if she had to do it all over again, Lucy wouldn’t change a thing. Crazy sounding yes, for why would anyone not want to avoid what she’d gone through? Touka had truly pushed her sanity to the breaking point, but well, the therapist was right in the end and Lucy felt almost invincible now. All that pain, all the struggle she’d pushed through had made her the strong and resilient woman she was today. Happily married to Natsu with their fraternal twins Nashi and Ryuu. Mrs. Natsu Dragneel, Lucy smiled to herself, there was no way she’d change a thing.

Of course, it hadn’t been easy. After Natsu proposed and Lucy had accepted, there were still a lot of work to be done. But that measure of acceptance and affection did wonders. Any worries she’d had that he wouldn’t want a broken woman melted away and gave her the confidence to get better. With each passing therapy session, her strength grew, and by the time they graduated college, Lucy could honestly say she’d been cured to a functional degree. No longer struggling through nightmares and panic attacks, her anxieties were under control and the debilitating depression a distant memory where it belonged.

Yeah... Lucy sighed happily as she watched the landscape pass by from her train seat. Meeting Natsu was the best thing to ever happen in her life, well, aside from the kids. They’d married about a year after graduation on the anniversary of their meeting. It was a beautiful affair at an indoor venue, with close friends and family to join them. They’d gone a more modern route for the ceremony but did take pictures at a garden dressed in the traditional attire for sentimental reasons. Lucy wore the shiromuku white kimono while Natsu a montsuki haori hakama. And no, it wasn’t train themed! Levy was the Maid of Honor and Gray was the best man. By then, Levy and Gajeel were also married and Gray in a serious relationship with a girl named Juvia Lockser. Lucy was so happy for them both. All of their lives were moving in the right direction.

Everything was perfect. Great jobs in their fields of interest, lives settled into a comfortable routine, when 5 years later Lucy was pregnant with fraternal twins. It was a total surprise since twins didn’t run in either of their families. Always the jovial optimist, Natsu joked that they’d been doubly blessed because of what they’d gone through, and Lucy couldn’t help but love such a concept. Of course, once the euphoria of the motherhood prospect waned, reality set in that she was having twins! Two! Double the babies meant double of everything, from the pregnancy concerns to raising them. Growing up without a mother and as an only child, Lucy didn’t have a lot of experience with small children. But Natsu patiently assured her, that she’d do just fine. Think of it as a new challenge, and after overcoming one pretty tough situation, this would be a walk in the park. On the bright side, Levy was also pregnant with the couple’s first child so the two best friend’s kids would grow up together.

And Natsu was right, there were a few bumps in the road but nothing too difficult. During her fourth month Lucy was diagnosed with gestational diabetes as well as some minor gastrointestinal issues, so Natsu swayed the doctor to put her on bed rest. Better safe than sorry. The babies were healthy, but by the 7th month, she really couldn’t move much, and she was miserable being stuck at home all the time. Lucy missed her job because she genuinely enjoyed working for the magazine. But in the end, it had been a good thing. She could manage her health easier that way and it gave her time to do something she’d thought about doing as part of the healing process. With Natsu’s support and permission, it was time to put her writing skills to good use and write a book about their experience.

It became an instant hit, especially with female readers. The book was not only an autobiographical reflection of what had happened to them but focused on shining a light on the dangers of stalkers, as well as the importance of taking the warning signs seriously. Lucy didn’t hold back in her re-telling, even pointing out the serious flaws in Japan’s laws in protecting citizens from stalkers which at the time were nonexistent. Feminist organizations working to change those laws used her story with permission for their cause. She had no intentions of becoming a poster child for the movement, but in the end her role may have played its part, because 2 years after the publishing, Japan finally adopted anti-stalking laws making it easier for police to string together harassment cases, as well as for victims to get the help they needed.

Her life was nothing but exciting to say the least! And with two young children, now age 10 certainly kept them on their toes. Their daughter Nashi was just like Natsu, very outgoing, friendly, but a bit of a daredevil while her brother Ryuu born 4 minutes after her was the quieter of the two. He preferred books like his mother to adventure. Of course, that never stopped Nashi from dragging him into shenanigans! But the best part was how close they still were and fiercely protective of each other. Lucy and Natsu couldn’t be prouder of them and hoped this would continue throughout their lifetimes.

Fifteen years... come to think of it, their wedding anniversary was coming up shortly. With Natsu now a senior fire inspector for the Tokyo prefectural government, he was often busy. Lucy did mind it, because frankly it gave her some peace and quiet. She chuckled at the thought. Not that it was all that peaceful with the twins. But she digressed. His success meant their lives were very comfortable, and her own journalism successes while not as financially based, were still celebrated in their relationship. Natsu never waned in being the dutiful and supportive, always loving husband that Lucy felt blessed to grow old with.

‘Two more stops, pick up the kids from school, stop at the grocery store for dinner...’ Lucy tapped out on her phone a to-do list of ingredients to pick up at the store. Perhaps katsudon... ‘Mmm, or maybe nabe,’ hot-pot soup since it was expected to be a bit chilly that evening.

Lucy looked up briefly, really just spacing out in thought when someone catches her eye. At the other end of the train car, she noticed a woman facing slightly away, but enough to where she couldn’t quite see a face. It couldn’t be... Lucy looked away not wanting to stare, but somehow... for some reason the woman was awfully familiar... looking exactly like Touka. Well, not exactly, but enough to make the hair on the back of her neck stand up. It was a blonde, with a different hair style— and that could always be changed. Similar body type, the facial side-profile features that Lucy could see resembled Touka...

Now despite being better, her anxieties still bubbled up from time to time, so she immediately switched to her coping techniques to calm them down. ‘You’re fine,’ Lucy talked herself through it, ‘no point in getting riled up.’ The woman hadn’t done so much as looked in her direction, so it must be okay. Contrary to popular belief, things like depression and anxiety never fully goes away, especially when someone has experienced a severe level of it. Those emotions and irrational thoughts are forever programmed into the brain, but there are ways to keep them at bay and Lucy’s successfully done just that for 15 years.

‘Just go back to what you were doing. Katsudon or nabe? And don’t forget you need to pick up milk...’ But, fifteen years... could Touka have been released by now? Lucy shook the thought away again. ‘Stop it! Everything is fine. It’s not her!’ The train was semi-full of passengers all minding their own business... including the woman. There was no reason to start panicking now. Lucy adjusts her position on her seat away from the woman’s direction. If she couldn’t see her, she could pretend she didn’t exist. ‘Maybe I should pick up ingredients for both, that way I don’t have to shop tomorrow.’ Lucy thought to herself, and with the kids with her, they could help in carrying the shopping bags. ‘Yeah, we’ve got a plan…’

After figuring out her shopping list, Lucy pulled up social media to keep herself distracted and for a few minutes it did the trick. Silly videos of entertainers never got old. The train reached the next stop and she felt it come to a stop. Since it wasn’t hers, she didn’t pay it any mind as she scrolled through her feed. But as the disembarking passengers funnel past Lucy, her eyes pick up on a pair of pink high-heels peeking from over the edge of her phone. Her body instantly stiffened up from the similarity to the ones worn by the woman, while her curiosity slowly got the better of her. ‘Breath, act nonchalant!’ Lucy’s eyes tracked the high-heels moving past her until they left her periphery. She then slowly sat back up, pretending to readjust her position, when she caught a pair of eyes looking back. Lucy’s breathing hitches with a shaky exhale. “Oh, my god—"

Standing at the doorway with one hand on the frame, the blonde woman smiled at Lucy then winked before stepping off the train.

It was Touka!

#nalu #nalu au #nalu fan fiction #nalu fan fic #natsu dragneel #Lucy heartfilia #Natsu x lucy #fairy tail #strangers on a train #epilogue #petri808

29 notes · View notes

procrastinatorimagines · 4 years

Text

Our Little Secret Part 7

Fandom: The Vampire Diaries / The Originals

Series: Our Little Secret

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5 // Part 6 //

Part 7 // Part 8 // Part 9 // Part 10 // Part 11 // Part 12 // Part 13 // Part 14 // Part 15 (Final)

Pairing: Klaus Mikaelson x Reader

Warning/s: none

Word Count: 1,337

Summary: Y/N Gilbert tried to put Mystic Falls - it’s problems, and her whirlwind romance with Klaus Mikaelson - behind her after she graduated, but all it takes is one unusual phone call to bring her right back to where she started and into the path of her first love as she races to solve the mystery threatening the lives of everyone in her home town.

Tags: @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce // @april-14-blog // @akshi8278 // @keiko0 // @mylovehes // @your-new-mom

“Hello?” You answered, a pause as you waited somewhat impatiently for whoever had called you three times in the middle of the right to reply. The area code up it in Virginia, which, you realised with a feeling of slight dread, could only mean on thing.

“Hello?!” Grumbling and half asleep you were about to hang up when you heard a crackle from the other end, pausing as you listened.

The crackling turned to panting, someone was running, presumably through... leaves? Was that the noise? You weren’t sure, but you were sure that you were tired.

“Who is this?” You asked, turning on your bed side lamp and pushing yourself up into a sitting position, leaning against the head board and rubbing your eyes.

“Help-” A voice came from the other side of the line, making you freeze, not daring to move another inch as you tried to listen to what was going on. “He said you could help-”

“Who is this? Who told you that?” You practically demanded, suddenly wide awake. The voice didn’t sound familiar but they sounded young, female, a teenager maybe?

“My dad- your number- in an emergency-” the connection was awful, and the continuous movement on the other end didn’t help, parts not getting through as you strained your ears to listen to what they had to say.

“Can you tell me who you are?” You asked her. A lot of your friends from Mystic Falls had children now, but the only ones in their teens were Lizzie and Josie Saltzman, but this didn’t sound like them, though it had been a number of years. “Please, I need you to tell me who you are, where you are, and if you’re in danger.”

You were already tearing yourself out of bed at this point, putting the phone on speaker. “Hope, my name’s Hope- Mystic- Salvatore Sch- please-” And with a scream, the line went dead. You stopped where you were standing, breathing shallow, face pale in horror.

A second later, you’d forcefully shaken yourself out of it, there was no time to think. Ignoring the fact that it was 3 am, you threw open your closet, grabbing clothes for now and a suitcase to pack, multitasking getting dressed and packing for a trip.

It had been years since you last set foot in Mystic Falls, moving away for college and only going back for your twin sister Elena’s ‘funeral’, but that didn’t mean you didn’t keep in contact with everyone there, occasionally. Silas, Kai, Lillian Salvatore, the Sirens... Tyler, Enzo and Stefan...

A lot had happened, a lot of pain, a lot of loss, you’d only brought yourself to return to say goodbye to Elena, which thankfully hadn’t been permanent. You’d call her once you got to the airport, explain the phone call you’d received, as much as you could anyway.

Hope. You knew that name. It was the name of Klaus and Hailey’s daughter. If her dad had given her your number in case of emergencies... You didn’t know why he would have done, but nothing in this world meant more to Klaus than his family, especially his daughter you reckoned. So for him to give her your number, he must have put a lot of trust in you, or you were the absolute last resort.

You’d loved Klaus once, not that you’d ever told him that, your romance had been like a fantasy, and fantasies didn’t last, especially when your prince charming was threatening to kill your sister and your friends. No relationship was perfect, but you and Klaus had been doomed to fail from the start.

You were too different, different paths, different obligations... He’d always said that maybe one day, your paths would cross again, that it hadn’t been your time then but maybe it would be one day. Although you’d try to put it behind you, you still wore that shooting star necklace he’d given you, still thought of him when you looked up at the night sky.

You glanced out of your windows now, taking in the twinkling lights about. Hope Mikaelson was in danger, and she’d asked for your help. So your help was what she was going to get, however helpful a human with no special abilities could be anyway.

You were going home.

You touched down in Viriginia just as the sun was rising, casting beautiful colours across the sky as you made your way to the taxi Elena had arranged for you.

Elena had answered straight away; nothing screamed urgent like a mid night phone call from your distant, in multiple meanings, sister. You’d explained the situation on your way to your terminal, having booked the flight in the taxi over to the airport. She and Damon had been confused, to say the least, but they knew as much as you did.

They had Klaus’ number, you didn’t so they promised they’d be in touch with him, checking in with Alaric at the school too.

You spent the entire flight and taxi ride thinking it over again and again, replaying what had happened in your mind as you tried to figure out the why, all thoughts clearing from your mind only when you laid eyes on the welcome sign.

Mystic Falls. You were actually here again.

Checking your phone again you saw no new messages, from Elena or anyone else, which was odd. You’d expected someone to call you, anyone, but they hadn’t. They weren’t answering either, a feeling of pure dread filling you as the taxi reached the town square.

It was still early morning, but the lack of people set your nerves on edge.

“Huh, strange,” the taxi driver shivered, quickly taking your money and driving off as soon as you’d grabbed your belongings. You didn’t blame him, even by Mystic Falls standards, something was very wrong here.

Okay, slight change of plan. Your planned first stop had been the School, but now it was the weapons cache Alaric had at the Mystic Grill.

You moved quickly and carefully, on high alert just like Ric had taught you, an iron grip on your suitcase as you headed around the back of the building.

It didn’t take you long to grab a supply of weapons, slipping a knife into each boot, a gun and stake in your belt and a crossbow on your back as you wished you didn’t have a suitcase to slow you down. You’d have to stash it here for now, just until you figured out what was going on.

Grabbing only the bare essentials out of it and shoving them into a more portable bag, you made it back around the building just in time to catch sight of something out the corner of your eye.

Pausing and slowly turning you looked into the window of the Grill, catching sight of people at the tables. You only had time to feel relieved for a split second before fear set in, looking at the way they were slumped over in their seats, some with their faces in their food, some on the floor, trays scattered around like they’d been dropped. They looked like they were asleep... or... dead.

You felt your heart rate pick up as you swallowed, hard, not wanting to be anywhere near here when whatever did that came back.

A shadow passing in front of you alerted you of someone or something behind you, flipping your crossbow back around from it’s position on your back and into your hands in seconds as you whirled around. You could take the girl out of Mystic Falls, but apparently you couldn’t take the Mystic Falls out of the girl.

Your breath caught in your throat as you registered who was standing before you, that face, that smirk... he hadn’t changed a bit. “Klaus,” you gasped, lowering your weapon as you took him in.

“Hello love,” he grinned, clearly glad to see you although his eyes revealed his worry, “now, what the blood hell is going on here?”

#klaus mikaelson #the vampire diaries #the originals #legacies #klaus mikaelson x reader #klaus mikaelson imagine #the vampire diaries imagine #the originals imagine #legacies imagine #klaus mikaelson imagines #the vampire diaries imagines #the originals imagines #legacies imagines #our little secret

244 notes · View notes

baby-grayson · 4 years

Text

Kind Stranger|GBD|Part 7

Parts 1-6 warning: fluffy Tags: @styles-dolan @evergreendolan @someonetogray @vintagedolan @prettyboydolan @dolansficsandpics @graysavant @baby-turtles

Kale? Spinach? Mushrooms? Eggplant? Grayson’s eyes surveyed the brightly colored board of food options. He weighed the consequences of choosing to include or omit tomatoes from his lunch order. His concentration on his lunch kept his anxieties at bay. Earlier that day, his palms left a greasy layer of sweat on the steering wheel of his Porsche, with his girlfriend and brother silent in the car. His girlfriend and brother now stood beside him, still silent. Ethan’s arms were crossed as he leaned against the back wall of the restaurant. Kate leaned significantly on her good leg, holding a hand on her hip and looking at the ground. Grayson eyed the pair quickly before returning his focus to selecting his meal. Why won’t they talk to each other? It’s like they already don’t like each other..

Grayson tried to shake thoughts while pondering the benefits of sweet corn. Kate glanced at Grayson, struggling to understand the complexity of the decisions that go into making a veggie wrap. Her eyes flickered up toward Ethan, who’s stare was focused straight ahead on a container of napkins. The similarity in the twins was still striking to her. The tattoos on Ethan’s arms were the only definite indicator of their identities. I should know my own boyfriend from his twin brother… Kate took in a breath and moved her gaze up to the ceiling, questioning whether the silence was comforting or eerie. She released a tension in her jaw she hadn’t realized she had been holding when Grayson looked back at her, scrunched his nose slightly, and smiled wide. Grayson’s smile washed over Kate as a wave of relief.

Ethan’s stomach lurched while his eyebrows raised. His brother’s new relationship was sweet, there was no denying that. Grayson shined when he picked her up that morning: his smile was infectious when he took her hand in his during the car ride over. Grayson spent the morning assuring Ethan that Kate was “Awesome! So funny and sweet”, promising that Ethan’s apprehensions would vanish after spending real time with her. Ethan almost felt bad for asking Grayson so many tough questions about her. Almost.

Grayson looked from Kate, to Ethan, and back to Kate, “How does carrots, humus, spinach, celery, and bell pepper sound?” “Like a stroke of creativity that definitely didn’t take you 20 minutes to think about,” Ethan responded sardonically, earning a breathy chuckle out of Kate. Grayson bit his tongue against a snarky response and looked at Kate, “Ladies first,” he motioned a hand in front of him toward the register. Kate stepped forward, chatting through her order with the girl behind the register. Grayson stepped toward Ethan, with an expectant look in his eye. “What bro?” Ethan unwound his arms at Grayson’s wide-eyed look. Grayson’s eyed darted away from Ethan, toward Kate’s backside, and back to Ethan for a second time. Ethan shrugged softly, not having enough information to give a real analysis, “She seems nice. You know I think ordering whole wheat is a sign of a great life partner.” Ethan couldn’t hold in the laugh that escaped his lips when he met Gray’s annoyed look. “Sorry,” Ethan shrugged again, trying not to ruin Grayson’s honeymoon mood, “She seems fine, I’ve barely talked to her.” “She’s great,” Grayson smiled wide at his brother before letting his eyes wander to Kate’s backside at the register. He noticed her give her credit card to the girl at the register and spoke louder, “I can pay for that baby.” Kate looked back at Grayson and shook her head softly. Her tone was nonchalant, “It’s fine, I got it.”

Ethan made a small hum of approval next to his brother, meeting his gaze. Grayson stepped forward to place his order, Kate stood next to him; avoiding joining the awkward air near Ethan at the back of the room. Grayson’s large, rough, calloused hand instinctively laid over Kate’s dainty hand. Ethan smiled softly at the gesture; his brother was always a romantic. In truth, Ethan was impressed by the simple fact that she paid for her own food. It was the first sign that she wasn’t interested in Grayson for his money or influence. She showed Ethan that, even in the smallest way, she wasn’t looking to be wholly dependent on Grayson.

The scene was interrupted by a small bell followed by a few high-pitched squeals coming from the door to the restaurant. A man in an expensive polo shirt and loafers was accompanied by two teenage girls, who were nearly bouncing at the site of the twins. Kate’s brow furrowed: What would make two girls scream in public? She followed their gaze to the twins and was hit with the realization: Grayson’s life was massively different from her own. The two girls bounced their way to the twins while professing their love and asking for a picture. Kate was impressed by how elegantly Grayson handled the situation. He smiled with genuine happiness and stood with grace, giving his entire attention to what they were squealing at him. When the teenagers and twins broke up from their picture, one of the girls got on the phone, to call who Kate could only assume was a friend. “OMG STACEY YOU WON’T BELIEVE! IT WAS THE TWINS! YES! I KNOW! AND ONE OF THE TWINS’ FRIENDS WAS HERE WITH THEM!!!!!!!!!” The small restaurant sounded like a Justin Bieber concern circa 2008. And yet the sound of Kate’s own heartbeat created a deafening silence in her head. One of the twins’ friends… Kate tried to shiver off the growing knot in her stomach, the words weren’t settling right inside of her. She had never been a particularly insecure girl, being a disabled woman in science demanded self-confidence, but the teeny bopper’s words echoed in her ears. Grayson stood beside her, equally awkward but for a different reason. He could only imagine what Kate was thinking after seeing something like that for the first time: a scene that had come to be normal for him since moving to LA. He wanted so badly to reach out and hold her hand in his. He wanted to brush his thumb over hers and give it a squeeze. He wanted to place a hand on her lower back, kiss her head, and breathe in that citrus scent that he could never get enough of. But he knew he couldn’t: not with his fans in the room, not with their phones in their hands.

If Ethan noticed the cumbersome emotions of his companions, he didn’t show it. He coolly ordered his lunch, keeping his voice low and posture relaxed. Meanwhile, his twin brother was producing enough sweat to provide water to an African dessert and his brother’s girlfriend was combatting her inner dialogue about independence.

Most of the trio’s problems faded into the air in Grayson’s Porsche. Grayson’s right hand securely coddled Kate’s, while his left casually hung over the steering wheel. Grayson loved sitting next to Kate in his car, her sweet smell filled the car and her cute laugh filled the air. Ethan loved sitting with food in his lap, its savory smell filled his nostrils and promised his stomach of good times to come.

Not soon after, they sat at the Dolans’ kitchen island with food, napkins, and smoothies strewn out in front of them. Grayson was in the middle of his fifth story about elementary school with Ethan. Kate tossed some sweet potato fries in her mouth, smiling gently and laughing at Grayson’s punchlines. Grayson followed one story with another, hoping some at some point his brother and girlfriend would release their tense energy and start to see all the great things he saw in both.

“—and then Cameron hit me over the head, and I ended up with a barbie doll arm up my nose—“, he had barely bit into the lunch he spent nearly a half an hour ordering because he was so busy filling the silence. Kate winced at the mention of a doll arm up six year old Grayson’s nose, “Ooh that’s a bad one.” Ethan shook his head, finishing a sip of his smoothie “That’s nothing. Grayson’s head is practically made of stainless steel. Barbies are kind of a bad omen for him though,” he picked at a pile of chips. “This one time when we were like 12, he was dating this girl from down the street. She went as barbie to a Halloween party and convinced Grayson to dress up as Ken.” Kate nearly choked on her sandwich as she let out a chortle, Grayson’s face turned a hot shade of red from behind his veggie wrap. “That means you’re a dedicated boyfriend,” Kate show him a playful wink between bites of her sandwich. Grayson, who’s face was the color of the bell pepper in his wrap, nodded, “I’ll do anything for my girl.” Ethan’s stomach lurched but he held back the urge to react to the happy couple, “He’ll do stupid things for you if you ask him too,” Kate laughed again, “He’ll do stupid things without you asking too, just to impress you.” Kate snickered, fingering a plate of sweet potato fries. She pointed a fry at Grayson “What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done to impress a girl?” Grayson’s cheeks flared, “I uh—well” Ethan gladly cut his twin off to finish, “This one time he tried having sex in a handstand just to prove he could hold himself up for that long.” A loud laugh escaped Kate’s mouth, while Ethan’s accomplished look met with Grayson’s mortified one.

“Should I ask if you could do it?” Kate looked from Grayson to Ethan and back to Grayson. Grayson stammered again before Kate finished, “Maybe you could show me one day.” She proudly flicked the last sweet potato fry in her mouth.

A wide grin grew on Grayson’s face, his cheeks slightly burning. Ethan nearly lodged a chip in his throat. “I knew you were the girl for me,” he reached for her hand across the island. Ethan shook his head softly, “Ryan did say he had a good feeling about this.” “Exactly,” Grayson triumphantly kissed Kate’s cheek as she asked, “Who’s Ryan?” “Ryan is our best friend--,” Grayson started, pulling away from Kate’s cheek. Ethan spoke over his twin, “—he produces our podcast, helps with the videos, pulls us apart when he beat up on each other too hard.” Kate’s eyes found the floor. She looked up at Grayson when Ethan finished, “I thought we weren’t telling people…about us?” Her eyes stared up at Grayson, wide and longing for reassurance. She felt confused, in a deep place. She had already put away her feelings about keeping their relationship private: coming to terms with the fact that Grayson’s life was different. Grayson wanted desperately to cup her face in his hands, seeing her eyes like that ate threw his heart. “Ryan is different, he’s our best friend. We can trust him.” Grayson’s heart quivered when he saw the emptiness grow in Kate’s eyes. Her thoughts raced: What was it about the people in her life that made them untrustworthy? The white walls of the coastal interior of the rental felt less beachy to her and more alienating in that moment. Grayson wrapped an arm around and leaned in to kiss the side of her head. His movements were shaking. He stroked his thumb on the small of her back, trying to put her at ease almost as much as he wanted to put himself at ease. He was normal. She was normal. Their relationship was normal, normal, normal. Grayson wanted so badly to hold her in that moment: to hold her as close as possible to his chest and let her hear his heartbeat, the heart that beat for her. Grayson was never very good with words, but he wished he could find the words to tell her how much she meant to him. He felt like she was sent to him, a strong shot in the dark with everything he always wished for. She was beautiful. She was smart. She was independent. She was driven. She was funny without being cruel. Her laugh sounded like a song. Her little snore when she slept on his chest sounded like a little teddy bear declaring its adorable presence to the world. She had overcome so much; she reminded the entire world of that every time she stood up. She was twice the person that Grayson was and it killed him inside to see her eyes look like that. A pain ran through his chest, he never wanted her to be upset because of him. He cherished her. Even though their relationship was new, his heart held absolutely no hesitancy. He looked at her like he was sure, sure she was meant to stick around, to change his life, to make him a better man: the best man he can be.

A loud creak scraped across the floor. Ethan awkwardly stood up from his seat at the island, feeling as though he was in someone else’s scene. He shifted his eyes from Grayson’s hand on Kate’s back. Ethan quickly gathered the bag and wraps from his lunch to dispose of. Ethan left the room, leaving the young couple in that position. Grayson’s hand found a home on Kate’s lower back, while she looked up at him, somewhere between bewildered and disheartened.

They snapped out of their trance long enough to clean the rest of the kitchen. Grayson led Kate out, placing gentle kisses on her head and squeezing her small hand. He wanted to memorize the way her hand felt: so small, dainty, and regal in his large, rough, calloused hand. His fingers tingled with jabs of pain when his open wounds moved, but it was worth it to get to feel her smooth, warm skin.

They stood at the front door together. Kate’s hand delicately in Grayson’s, he looked down at her with adoring eyes while she looked up at him. Her eyes had let go of their earlier state, but had yet to return the warm, brown fire Grayson loved so much. “Thanks for coming to spend time with Ethan,” Grayson started, “I think he started warming up to you.” Kate smiled passively, “He’s nice. I’m glad I came today.” She lifted herself on her toes and kissed his cheek gently before lowering down. She turned for the door when Grayson held her hand tighter, “Wait—” he took in a breath. How does he say this? How does he break this? Maybe he shouldn’t say anything at all? Maybe he should say everything? Lay it all out there right? Be completely honest. Honestly is the best policy.

“I’m so happy with you and I love that my brother got to know you better. I’m so glad he got to see you being you.” Grayson gulped softly, Kate turned to face him again, closing the space between them softly. “You’re sweet, so sweet. And you make me happy. Like really fucking happy,” his eyes watered slightly. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to say this, but I was starting to get really lonely before you. And then you came out of nowhere, dropped out of the sky and right into my lap, being here and fixing my problems since the moment I met you. You’re so different, like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I didn’t even know girls like you existed.” Grayson let go of her hand to run both of his hands through his hair before looking down at her again, melting more by the minute. The warmth returned to her brown eyes, as her lips slid into a kind smile. “You’re—I—We—I want to keep you around.” Grayson decided on, nodding subtly as he spoke.

Kate lifted herself up by her toes and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. Grayson cupped her face in his hands and deepened their kiss, drinking her citrus scent and becoming intoxicated on the sweet taste of her tongue. He ran his hands through her soft, luscious hair. He moaned softly, dropping his hands to her waist and pulling her body in closer. Kate wrapped an ankle around his calf, pulling her body up to continue to meet his mouth, tracing her fingers against his shirt and feeling the curves of his body underneath. She didn’t retract when she felt a hard bulge against her waist, in fact she pulled herself even closer to him—eliminating any space between the two of them. Grayson grabbed onto her, feeling a strip of silky skin when the hem of her shirt rose. His lips became frenzied, obsessed with kissing her at maximum capacity for as long as he could. Her nerves caught on fire when his tongue slipped against her bottom lip, begging for an entrance. She opened her mouth slightly, allowing him entrance. Her hot skin started to flame when her mouth was filled with the honey taste of his decadent tongue.

Grayson let one dauntless hand fall from her waist, grabbing lightly onto her ass. She smirked into his kiss, triggering a physical mechanism inside of him. He grabbed tightly onto her ass, his body tormented by not having her in this moment. It was Kate who pulled back first, her face covered in strands of unruly hair, flush cheeks, and swollen lips. She breathed in softly before lightly stepping out of his grasp. She nodded and smiled up at him, attending to be sweet but failing while the heavy air hung in the moment. “I’ll see you soon,” she kissed his cheek quickly and moved swiftly toward the door as Grayson mumbled his own words of goodbye. His body, mind, and spirit felt intoxicated by her. He tried to step but recognized a shaking leg as he made his way to the couch. He ran his hands through his hair and laid down. Yeah, she was the one.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I had mixed feelings about this part while writing it. I hope you enjoyed lovie!

#banana squad #if you know you know #grayson dolan #dolan #dolan twin #ethan #ethan dolan #grayson x OC #grayson dolan romance #fanfiction #fluff #fanfic #youtuber #twin

77 notes · View notes