#Athena needs a hug and so do i apparently

[johnwickluva]

Home Again

Fluffy John Wick x reader.

Word count: 2.3k words

Summary: You moved to a new country with your young daughter after it is assumed your husband is dead.

Warnings: miscarriage

You stood staring out the window. You embraced yourself and rubbed your arms with your hands. You would be leaving in a few minutes. Leaving the country. Tears started streaming down your face. Leaving, as per your now assumed dead husband's request.

John had called you, didn’t go much into detail, just said that he had broken some big rules and that you and your daughter wouldn’t be safe anymore. He gave you an address to stay at and told you to only stay there for a week. If he didn’t show up, then you and your daughter would be moving to Britain.

A sob escaped your throat as you turned to stare at your now three year old daughter. She was taking a Barbie doll and banging it against the table in a very violent manner. Her laughter was such a contrast to what you were feeling right now but you still smiled.

“Athena.” You cooed softly. “Remember what your daddy said?”

Athena — whose name had a whole story behind it — clapped and went into a fit of giggles. She didn’t understand that this was not a happy thing.

“Daddy said to leave!”

She ran over to you and hugged your left leg, smushing her chubby cheek against it. You leaned down and held her. A few tears fell. You’d been crying a lot as of late and usually you tried to hide it from your daughter. You didn’t want to affect her development.

“Mommy is sad.”

“Yes Athena. We need to leave now.”

Athena looked up at and it hit you just how much she looked like her father. You rolled your eyes. The bastard was strong and apparently so were his genes. She got his eye color, nose and smile. You wouldn’t even really believe she was yours if you didn’t have the scar to prove she was cut from you. Unlike you, John always secretly wanted kids but he knew with his past and everything that kids were most likely a no-go. Then Athena came. She was a mistake. The best mistake you both ever made. You’d always preferred to stay away from children, still did, but she was an exception. She was your favorite little human.

John was an amazing father, which was no surprise and it hurt you that Athena was robbed of that. You started crying harder now. Would she remember him? Do you have enough pictures? How would she turn out without a father figure? You’d never smell him again. You’d never see him, touch him, kiss him. Everything hurt so much. John was the love of your life. He was the father of your child.

“Why is mommy sad?”

Athena was pouting and you knew you’d have to tell her eventually but not now, later.

“I’ll tell you later ‘Thena I promise. Now go grab your favorite toy.”

She seemed to be good with this answer and turned around to go grab her favorite stuffed bear. Baba Yaga — to John’s dismay— was the name given to the stuffed black bear. Athena heard you call John that in a more suggestive manner one time and just wouldn’t let it go. Thankfully she didn’t understand the rest of the sentence you had said.

You walked into what was your room and grabbed a couple of suitcases you packed. Obviously you couldn’t bring everything with you to your new life in Britain. So you only packed things that were important to you and clothes. And of course a plethora of John’s t-shirts with a couple sleep pants.

Leaving hurt. Sometimes it sucked being a parent because all you wanted to do in the moment was puke, sob and scream all at once. You wanted to curl up in your bed and never leave again. Instead you were forced to drive to the airport, with tears streaming down your face as you listened to Elsa sing “Let It Go”. If only the queen knew. It was far from that easy.

•••

Leaving your old life behind in America was hard. It was even harder getting over John’s death. Especially when you then had two deaths to mourn. Yes, like a cliche, you found out you were pregnant a month after you moved into a tiny town in Britain. Except your cliche didn’t end well.

When you found out you were split between so many positive and negative emotions. Your husband just died, but it was another part of him. What about Athena? You wanted to focus solely on her. So many thoughts were running through your head, so you threw up. While you sat there all alone, head pressed against the cold toilet seat, drowning in one of John’s larger shirts, you realized that it was all too much.

A new country, new home, new child. Dealing with it all alone. You stared at the door emotionless internally, praying, hoping and begging that you would wake up and you’d be next to John. Instead you were met with another wave of nausea. You puked some more.

Then the miscarriage happened. You weren’t even that far along, just about two months. You went in for a check up and the doctor broke the news. How could you not have known? The doctor told you it’s common, gave you some pamphlets of coping with the loss, and a prescription. When you got home, you curled into your bed and cursed God. For killing John and your baby. For doing this to you and your daughter. You cursed and cursed and cursed until you fell asleep.

Obviously the first year was very hard but it got better. No wait, not better; the days got easier. Nothing ever got better, it just always got easier. Athena was now an energetic five year old who no longer cried for her father in the middle of the night. It got pretty tiresome after a while so when she really really wanted to play but you didn’t, you’d go for a walk.

You and Athena walked the path before she suddenly stopped in her tracks. She bent down and picked up a feather, examining it.

“Ah. Birdleaf of course.”

You almost lost it right then and there.

“Athena that’s called a feather.”

She looked at you, not very amused and said,

“Close enough!”

Athena then smiled a huge smile and dropped the feather. She ran up to you and gave you a hug. Before you could even bend down to give one back, she went running towards your house. You just rolled your eyes and did a slow jog to keep up with her. Athena immediately ran to her play set outside when your stomach growled.

“Hun, lets go make dinner.”

You were blessed with a girl who wasn’t picky about food, making dinner time an easy experience. Athena ate whatever was given to her. You always praised her for that. Maybe she had already learned that life is harder than eating a bowl of peas. After dinner she stood on a stool and helped you wash the dishes before going outside to play some more. You still needed to watch her so you would read a book while sitting in your white lawn chair. You were very into your book when you heard something that made your heart drop.

“Daddy!”

Ever see those movies? The ones where lovers get split up and then they have this huge reunion? For some reason, someone’s always mad and someone always gets slapped. In all honesty you never got those romantic movies. You felt nothing but pure bliss as you threw yourself into John’s arms. To feel him against you again. Your heart was racing, so many questions, so much to tell. It was all so overwhelming. You looked up to see his face and then—

Black.

All the emotions must’ve been too much for your body and you passed out. John’s eyes widened as he grabbed your body and picked you up. Athena came running up and hugged his leg.

“Daddy! Mommy and I thought you were dead!”

John really wanted to bend down and hug his daughter and promise to never leave her again but that was kind of an issue since he was holding you. He just looked down and gave her an honest smile.

“Seems you were wrong.”

John carried you into the house and laid you down on the couch. He carefully caressed your cheek and moved all the hair out of your face. Leaning down, he placed a kiss on your forehead. Athena began to call for him in a very exciting manner. She came running with her stuffed black bear, holding it up with pride.

“Look! I still have Baba Yaga! I can start calling him that again. Mommy told me I should probably stop calling him that when you died. She said it made her sad.”

John gave her an incredulous look.

“You still call it that?”

“Yes she does.” You called out from the couch, having just awoken.

He was shocked to say the least, how does a child remember that? He’ll never know. John shook his head and laughed when she gave a very enthusiastic nod, confirming your answer. Your arm was over your head, covering your eyes. You really prayed that this was all real. As much as you wanted to jump on John, to hug him and never let him go, you stayed put letting your daughter reunite with her dad.

“Wanna see my missing tooth?”

John’s face lit up.

“Yeah!”

“It’s ‘ight ‘ere” Athena attempted to say with her finger in her mouth.

“That’s awesome!”

“Yeah, mommy said the tooth fairy will come and leave me money. I’ll be rich.”

You smirked as you sat up and watched them interact. What dorks. Deciding that their reunion was much more important than yours, you got up and walked to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror you tried to make sense of what the hell just happened. Did your unrealistic dream really just come true?! You rubbed your face with your hands and took a deep breath.

“Mommy! Come play with us!”

The smile crept onto your face as you pushed yourself off the sink sprinting to go be with your family.

Yes, yes it did.

•••

The two of you had let Athena stay up way later than normal as it was a special day. It was about half past nine when Athena reluctantly calmed down and went to bed. You had brushed your teeth and done your nightly routine. Now you were standing in the middle of your room waiting for John to finish putting her to bed, your heart beating fast. You had so much to tell him.

Hearing the door to Athena’s room shut, John walked into the room and went towards the bathroom. Inside he brushed his teeth and changed into his pajamas before coming out and walking right up to you.

“It's over, YN. I- we never have to deal with them again.” He pulled you onto his muscular chest.

You sobbed into his chest.

“I thought you were gone.”

“Me too.”

The two of you stood there and hugged in silence, just taking each other in as you cried against his body. The emotions you were feeling right now were intense. You had so much to tell him.

“John, I was pregnant but I lost the baby two months in.” You sniffled.

John tensed but then immediately hugged you tighter.

“I’m so sorry you had to go through that, especially alone. I wish I could’ve been here.” He kissed the top of your head.

“It was so hard.”

John could only imagine. Being alone in a new country with a small child to take care of probably did not allow you the proper time to mourn him and your baby on top of it. He was crushed and made a silent promise to take care of you and never leave you again. Pulling away slightly he brought his hand up to your chin and tilted your head up. He looked deep into your eyes before leaning in for a kiss.

The two of you stood there in your room, lips locked as you tried to communicate just how much you loved and missed one another. Your tongues rolled around each other as your hands moved all around, exploring and making sure this was all real and not some stupid, horrible dream. Slowly, John guided your body backwards till your thighs hit the bed. You allowed yourself to sit and scoot back so he could crawl on top of you, not once breaking the kiss.

John’s hands started to move up to lift your shirt off when the two of you broke apart to the sound of a soft knock on the door. He rolled off of you and sat on the bed, looking towards the door. The two of you couldn’t help but smile, seeing your young daughter. Athena’s big doe eyes, messy brown hair and light blue pajamas made her look adorable. She clutched Baba Yaga in her arms.

“Mommy? Daddy? Can I sleep in here tonight?” Athena asked quietly while rubbing her eyes.

You hopped off the bed and picked her up with a grunt. She was starting to get too big and it saddened you. Plopping her down on the bed she crawled over to John and he opened his arms up for her to snuggle into his chest. You smiled at the sight and grabbed your phone to take a picture. After that you turned the light off in your bedroom and crawled into bed with the two of them.

John on the left, Athena in the middle and you on the right. He put his arm out so he could lay it over both of you, feeling the need to be close to both of his favorite girls. You leaned over and gave him a kiss on his lips before moving and leaving a kiss upon your daughter's head. She was already out like a light. You smiled and cuddled up with them.

Tomorrow was going to be a crazy day as there was so much to talk about and so much time to make up for but for right now, you could sleep soundly for the first time in years, with your little family.

Together again.

[moonydanny]

See why I'm so fascinated by the friendship dynamics on the show?

Because what do you mean Maddie, Buck’s SISTER, is missing/kidnapped, and it doesn't occur to anyone that he needs some comfort, too? 🙄

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Chimney got his moment to shine during this episode. Honestly, it's about damn time, I feel like he's barely talked in the last few eps. Kenny absolutely ATE. And of course Chim deserves all the comfort and support because his wife is missing.

But WHAT DO YOU MEAN no one even gives Buck a second glance? When Eddie gets to Madney's place, Buck opens the door and tells him "Thanks for coming" and Eddie barely looks at him and beelines it to hug Chimney. (Now, this might have to do with Tim/writers not wanting to stoke the buddie fire with them not being too affectionate, but who knows...)

And then, when Buck is with Eddie in the car, he's actively talking about how fucked his life has been and how stuff does affect other people, even if it's indirectly, and Eddie looks like he can't stand to hear Buck talking (this is also partly RG's strange "I'm super tired" face which looks more like he smelt a fart, but I digress). And then, instead of listening to what Buck is saying and offering some comfort, or hell, even just acknowledging Buck's feelings, HE HONES IN ON THE ONE PHRASE he could take out of context and THROWS IT BACK IN BUCK'S FACE and makes him feel guilty. Again. 😤

Hen and Karen are there for Chim. Eddie is there for Chim. Bobby and Athena are there for Chim. BUCK IS THERE FOR CHIM.

But who is there for Buck? No one, apparently. 🤨😒

[hunterofartemis7]

Adopted by the gods AU pt.14

Athena: *running after her son* Odysseus! Odysseus please wait!

Odysseus: *turns and faces her, tears in his eyes* you lied to me!

Athena: I never lied to you

Odysseus: you told me I was abandoned!!

Athena: you were!

Odysseus: not from what I just heard!

Athena: all you heard were the lies from a mortal who didn’t want to admit what she did!

Odysseus: okay back tracking, why didn’t you tell me they were alive?!

Athena: because it didn’t matter! They abandoned you!

Odysseus: it does matter! Clearly no one can agree on what really happened—

Athena: Odysseus I know what happened! I know what I saw and heard!

Odysseus: and what was your plan if I ever found out on my own!? Were you ever going to tell me?!

Athena: I..I don’t know maybe! I didn’t think that far ahead!

Odysseus: really!? The goddess who plans for everything didn’t plan on telling her son that he is 1, a prince, and 2, still has living parents!?

Athena: none of that stuffed mattered! If you had gone back after they abandoned you they would’ve killed you!

Odysseus: you don’t know that! Fuck you aren’t even 100% sure if I was abandoned!! You yelled one thing and they yelled another!

Athena: I know that i was trying to protect my son from the people who tried to kill him!! And even if they didn’t, they never bothered looking for you! What would be the point of telling you about people who didn’t want you!?

Odysseus: do you really believe all this or are you just in denial because you don’t want to admit your wrong and give me up!?

Athena:…….

Odysseus:…..just leave me alone mom.

Athena: Odysseus-

Odysseus: i said leave me alone mother!! *runs off*

Athena:……..*slumps down against the wall holding her head in her hands*

Aphrodite:..well that happened

Athena: *crying* go away

Aphrodite: *sits beside her and pulls her into a hug stroking her hair*

Athena: *cries into her shoulder*

Aphrodite: sshhh, it’s okay. It’ll be okay.

Athena: how!? How could it possibly be okay!? *pushes away and stands up pacing around* My son hates me and won’t believe a word I say, his birth parents are back and want to take him, and all of the Olympians are on their side!!

Aphrodite: not all of them

Athena: name one!

Aphrodite: Artemis, me, and Hermes

Athena: *rolls her eyes* great, three gods agree with me! Not like there’s another 9 who want him gone! I’m gonna lose my fucking son!

Aphrodite: Thea. You’re not going to lose your son.

Athena: really!? Cause after that shit show I’d be amazed if Father doesn’t make me send him back with those people!

Aphrodite: Thea! You are still his mother, whether Zeus likes it or not he can’t make you do a damn thing with Odysseus. And besides, even in the mess of you and his birth mom fight we still don’t know what really happened.

Athena: I know what fucking happened!

Aphrodite: and so does the queen apparently. Clearly some wires are getting crossed. Btw Zeus wants you to apologize for punching her in the face

Athena: not happening!

Aphrodite: okay…well you at least need to have a civil conversation with her so we can figure this out.

Athena: clearly a conversation didn’t work last time

Aphrodite: well you have a better idea?

Athena:…..no

Aphrodite: then let’s go. *stands up* Hermes got a truth spell from Circe, so we will know whether or not the Queen is lying.

Athena: fine. *follows Aphrodite back to the throne room*

Diomedes: *hiding under the dinning table with Odysseus* *whispers* why are we doing this?

Odysseus: *whispers* I want to know what really happened.

Diomedes: *whispers* do you really believe mother lied to you?

Odysseus: *whispers*…idk. But she’s to stubborn to listen to the other lady and not be in denial. I want to know.

[schemmentisimpasours]

Getting Control Back- Chapter 7

Really just trying to become the #1 fan account to @babytakeittothehead

Summary: Your contract is being changed at work and Barbara finally makes good on her threat to make you regret defending Melissa.

Warnings: Blackmail alluding to some noods that may or may not have been taken without consent.

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Monday morning was not filled with your usual chaos of running around to get ready. Melissa had coaxed you awake early enough that you were able to eat a small amount of breakfast and relax into your morning. You were holding a mug of lavender tea on the back porch watching Athena run around when your phone began to ring. You looked down at the caller ID rolling your eyes.

“Yes Ava?” You said taking a sip of your drink.

“No what do you want? No why are you calling this earlier?” Ava asked, “You get laid or something?”

You groaned, “Ava focus. Why did you call?”

“Your contact from the district is being changed and I need to go over it with you… which I was supposed to do two weeks ago.I need you to sign it today.”

“Ava!” You practically screamed, “You are kidding right?”

“Apparently you did not get laid enough,” Ava retorted, “Just get down here okay. Soon. I have a lot of stuff I have to do and I am not looking forward to it.”

“Yeah yeah I am going,” You said hanging up the phone as Melissa walked out the door.

“What’s going on baby?” She asked wrapping her hands around your hips, “You have that little anger line in your forehead.”

You soothed your finger over the vein popping in your forehead, “I have to go to school early to go over my contract with Ava. Apparently she was supposed to do it weeks ago and now I have to rush to make up for her mistake. Would you be okay taking Athena to meet my sister half way by yourself?”

“Of course,” Melissa said trying to sooth her own worries. She couldn't imagine her classroom without you in it, “I’ll take good care of our princess and then I will meet you back at Abbott. Just make sure you don’t pull Edith out till I get there.”

You laughed leaning down to kiss the older woman, “I’ll see you at school angel.”

You rushed back inside grabbing your bag and lunchbox before heading out the door. Melissa grabbed your keys off the counter and held out her hand as you came back inside.

“Don’t say it,” You mumbled taking the keys from her.

“You would be lost without me is all,” Melissa smirked as you rolled your eyes.

“I will text you my sister’s number. She knows you are dropping off Athena and then I will see you at school,” You said giving her one final kiss, “You know if I still have a job.”

“Y/N stop that right now,” Melissa chided as you shrugged and left through the door for the second time.

She set off gathering some of Athena’s toys and dog food piling it in the bag that you had left on the counter. With a simple whistle Athena was by her side looking expectantly up at her. Slipping her a treat Melissa clipped the leash on and made her way to her own car. Music rolled out the stereo as she decided if she should be more nervous that she was meeting your family for the first time or that your job was being changed around. She decided to focus on the fear of meeting your sister first as she pulled into the parking lot of the local grocery store.

Your sister was already leaning against her car waving at Melissa with a smile on her face. She could immediately tell the similarities between you both but the differences are what seemed to stick out the most. You were quiet, rough around the edges, content to wear dark colors and hide within yourself. Your sister was all smiles even this early in the day, hugging Melissa as soon as she got out the car, her neon scrubs calling out to everyone around them.

“Melissa, I have heard so much about you! You are all Y/N ever seems to talk about,” You sister said taking the bag from the red head’s shoulder gently.

“She talks about you too,” Melissa smiled hoping to hide her blush, “Sorry for the change in plans something came up at school and she had to leave earlier than expected.”

“Not a bother at all I have been wanting to meet you for weeks. Then when Y/N said she had spent the night I was excited to see you for a moment. I know you have to go to work but you should come over for dinner tonight. To get the true sister's interrogation.” She paused for a moment, “I am sorry if that was too forward Y/N is always telling me I need to think before I speak but I just can’t help myself. She is so head over heels for you and I have to get to know you. The famous Melissa Schemmenti I call you.”

“I like forward people. You always know where you stand with them,”Melissa laughed the tension disappearing around her, “Dinner tonight sounds great.”

“I’ll let you get to work but I will send the details to you and Y/N in a group chat and we can talk more tonight” Your sister said loading Athena into the car.

Melissa had been caught off guard by your sister taking her into another large hug but smiled as the younger woman pulled away. It felt easy to talk to your sister and make plans for tonight. She climbed in her car waving goodbye to Athena before she headed towards school. You had just got inside tracking down Ava who had wandered off while she waited for you. You sat down across from your friend trying to calm your shaking hands.

“Looking hot today,” Ava smiled and you glared at her, “What I had to get one before Red gets in. She catches me hitting on you I die.”

“Ava can we just talk about my contract,” You sighed used to her joking flirtations.

“Well Gregory has a new student coming in next week that needs a lot more individualized help so you are going to be with Jamal full time. In Gregory’s room and specials you get the jist,” Ava explained showing you the file for the new student.

“And what about Melissa’s class?” You asked cautiously, “You know that classroom is impossible to run without an aide. You wanna repeat of the ninja cardboard cutout?”

“She is getting her second graders back full time. To accommodate Jamal and the new funding that came with it we spared up enough money for a full time third grade teacher. They are coming in for their trial run today until spring break. If they don’t crack under pressure we are hiring them.”

“You told Melissa this?” You quirked your eyebrow wondering if Melissa had been keeping secrets from you.

“No,” Ava admitted and you shook your head, “What was I supposed to do? Call and casually tell her that I am taking her aide away from her. I worked hard to get y’all to like each other and ripping you apart feels cruel.”

A blush crept up your cheeks as you remembered just how much you liked Melissa now. The sound of her moans filling your ears until Ava glared at you. “Oh so that is who we fucking?”

“AVA!” You screamed, “Can we just talk about the rest of my contract. What am I supposed to do in this week before Jamal comes? Stay with Melissa?”

“I could actually use an aide this week,” Barabra said slinking into Ava’s office so quickly that you jumped.

“Fucking shit,” You whispered trying to regain your composure as Ava giggled.

“Take her,” Ava said once she had settled from making fun of you.

“Tossing me around like a piece of meat,” You grumbled gathering your stuff.

“A hot piece of meat!” Ava yelled before grabbing her phone, “Why isn’t Melissa in yet? I got shit to do.”

You had just made your way to the main hall determined to make today an okay day in Barbara’s classroom when she swiveled to look at you. The evil gleam in the older woman’s eye made your heart drop the events of Friday resurfacing.

“I told you that you were going to regret it.Now come on you have a lot to do today ,” She hummed, “Think about snapping like how you did again on Friday and I will make sure to share these photos of your so called angel.”

She extended her phone towards you a picture of Melissa on her knees naked, hands resting on her thighs, looking up with tears rolling down her face displayed on the screen. You bit down on your lip drawing blood to stop yourself from yelling. Instead of an outburst you began plotting. Barbara smirked placing the phone back in her pocket. As she turned her back towards you one tear fell down your cheek before you turned your head down. Melissa had suffered weeks if not months of abuse from Barbara. You could last one day at her hand. You just needed to give Melissa the heads up but the chance was taken from you when Barbara took your bags and shoved them in her closet.

She pointed to a large pile of books on the floor, “The kids made a mess of my reading corner yesterday you can start there.”

Melissa called you as she made her way to Abbott thinking nothing of it when you didn’t answer. Assuming you were in Ava’s office she went there first to find the principal already waiting for her. She explained the situation that a new teacher would be taking over and that you had been assigned to a different teacher for the week. With a mixture of emotions Melissa showed the new teacher to her classroom where they collected the third graders things to move. She glanced back on your desk noticing that it was untouched. Even if you had gone to another teacher she would have thought you would have at least stopped by. Melissa tried to remind herself that she had spent all night with you and had seen you this morning but something felt off. She wandered off to the lounge area in hopes to find you but turned around immediately when she saw Barbara smirking at her. Sending off a quick text Melissa began her day.

Baby, where are you? Is everything okay?

Melissa’s fears didn’t subside as she made her way to heat up lunch and you were still missing. Her text and the multiple ones after had gone unanswered. After asking the younger teachers she realized that none of you had seen her all day. However when Barbara came skipping in to grab her salad the gears in the red head’s mind started turning.

“Where is she?” Melissa asked cornering Barbara in the hallway.

“Oh your little play thing?”

“She has a name,” Melissa growled, “What did you do to Y/N?”

“Nothing other than ask her to do her job,” Barbara feigned innocently, “I needed an aide for the day. She was available so I took advantage.”

“She needs to eat.”

“When she is done I told her she could go to the bathroom and eat of course,” Barbara smiled, “She should be done right around the time that school ends.”

“You couldn’t just keep her out of this could you? This was between me and you” Melissa yelled fingers clenching into fists.

“No it’s never been just me and you. You always were distracted thinking about your little aide. Acting like she could give you a life you and I both know you don't deserve,” Barbara spit out.

“You couldn’t just let me go and be happy for once. We were supposed to be friends. Best friends. Yet everything I ever confided in you was used against me. You think the only thing I can do is be some little servant for you. And let me remind you that you are the one who told me we were done. That I was just some slut and you could find it anywhere on the streets.”

“Hey! Cut it out,” Ava yelled getting between the two women, “You know you in a school right? What is the problem?”

“Barbara was sleeping with Melissa but using her until Melissa stood up for herself and called it off. Well when she said she would no longer treat Y/N poorly to make Barbara happy. Now Barbara is taking it out on Y/N cause she thinks Melissa has the hots for her. Which I mean… would be understandable. And Melissa is angry cause Barbara is mistreating Y/N and not letting her have food or water breaks,” Jacob explained as everyone turned to look at him, “Y’all really need to start paying more attention.”

Ava shook her head looking at Melissa first, “Proud of you for standing up for yourself and getting away from that toxic situationship… however I can’t have you yelling about your sex life or saying slut in my hallways.”

She then swirled around to look at Barbara, “And I will be damned if you use my friend as your own personal punching bag because you treated someone else like a piece of shit and they finally decided to leave you. She isn’t a piece of meat.”

“That’s literally what I told you but glad we finally see it after the crap of the morning I have had,” You said surprising everyone.

“I am trying to defend you,” Ava said and you threw up your hands in surrender.

Melissa locked eyes with you and for the first time all days she felt like she could breath again. She anxiously ran her eyes over you trying to look for any sign of distress. You were vibrating with nerves but had calmed yourself just enough for no one else to notice. But Melissa noticed everything about you. You gave her a small nod trying to comfort her and the red head went to reach out for you before Ava interrupted, “Nope. Not today Red.”

Melissa glared daggers at Ava, “What do you mean?”

“Barbara was wrong because she shouldn’t have taken it out of Y/N. You shouldn’t have been yelling in my hallways so now you are both banned from Y/N.”

“Still sounding very much like a piece of meat.”

“More like a toy that is being take away from toddlers,” Janine mumbled.

“That too.” You nodded.

Ava brushed both of you off, “Jacob is working on a huge project with his kids all week in the gym. Y/N will come help him till her new spot opens up after spring break. Neither of you will be allowed anywhere near her during school hours. If she is in a room you leave it. If you both can’t figure out your stuff and how to stop dragging others in the middle of it by then I’ll just suspend you.”

Barbara let out a shocked gasp but Melissa merely shrugged happy that you would be away from Barbara at least. You gave her one final wink before you turned to leave. She watched you as you walked down the hallway back to the gym with Jacob letting the hallways clear before she looked at Ava.

“I’m sorry. I should have controlled my temper a little better,” She admitted, “But thank you.”

“Next time tell me what is going on before I look like a dumbass. You know I would have stood up for you and Y/N,” Ava said and squeezed Melissa’s shoulder gently, ‘But I really am proud of you. You deserve better.”

Melissa smiled and then made her way back to the lounge. She took her food container and handed it to Janine who looked up at her confused, “It isn’t for you short stack. I need you to take that to the gym to give to Y/N. She is gonna be hungry.”

Janine titled her head in recognition and made her way to the gym. You were sitting in a group of students figuring out lines for their historical performances when the shorter teacher appeared in front of you.

“Ms. Schemmenti wanted you to have this,” Janine said holding the food out.

“Thank god cause your stomach was starting to break my concentration,” Damari commented as you stuffed the first bite in your mouth.

“And to think I liked you,” You said shaking your head, “Betrayed.”

“So you and Ms. Schemmenti?” Janine asked still standing around the group.

“Janine really? Right now.”

“Just admit it you like that angry lady,” Damari giggled.

“I'm gonna tell her you said that and Kendalynn that you have crush on her if you don't get back to work boy,” You scowled and Damari scurried to get back to his project, “Bye Janine.”

Janine reluctantly left you behind determined to find out the truth somehow. However the rest of the day passed easily until you excused yourself from the room. Barbara’s kid were at art but you still knocked on the door pulling the older teacher from her phone.

“Just wanted to grab something I forgot,” you smiled digging in her closet till Edith was firmly in your grasp, “And you can stop looking for those pictures. I erased every single one. Even got rid of the text messages. It is like Melissa never existed in your life. Which in all reality is better for you. Because if you so much as talk to her, look at her, let alone breathe the same air as her. I will take advantage of the new number in my phone. Gerald- your husband remember? And I will send him every hotel bill, text message, email from your little escapades of hiring escorts. Oh and don't forget about the second mortgage you took on the house to pay for it all. How shocked he would be that his church going wife has been cheating on him for years.”

“Could have done it already but I felt sorry for you. Being so stuck in the closet so deep that your whole life is one big lie held together by tape. But my patience is wearing thin and I will not be afraid to take you down if it means keeping Melissa safe. But you have a nice day now okay,” you smiled and turned to leave but then stopped, “And next time you want to blackmail somebody maybe don't make it the person who learned about it from the expert Melissa Schemmenti.”

Feeling exhilarated you found a new hiding spot for edith before returning to the gym. You stayed later than usual to help Jacob pack up and prep the stage for the following day. As you got to the parking lot you noticed Melissa leaning against your car.

“School hours ended a while ago,” You said glancing around the near empty parking lot, “You think you out of timeout?”

Melissa took off running towards you at the sound of your voice launching herself in your arms. You picked her up with ease letting her legs wrap around your waist. She clung to you studying your face as if trying to read your mind.

“Angel, stop worrying. I'm okay,” You promised carrying her backwards till she rested on the hood of your car.

“Your lip is split,” She said rubbing her finger over it gently.

“I did that to myself,” You admitted, “But my lips are still very much available for kisses.”

You leaned to kiss her proving your point your lip only slightly stinging at the contact, “See I'm okay.”

“I can only imagine the horrible things she must have said to you all morning. About you. About me,” Melissa whispered her hands still locked around your neck.

The images replayed in your mind. Melissa’s tears in a common theme in all of them. Messages of Barbara belittling and demeaning the red head. It made your blood boil at the thought but you had decided one thing when you had hacked into Barbara’s phone. Melissa would never know about what you had seen and deleted. The pictures erased and the words scrubbed clean you gave Melissa the clean slate she didn't even know she had almost been robbed of.

“Baby?” She asked pulling you from your thoughts.

“Well she won't be doing it again, I made sure of that,” you said instead.

“Should I ask?”

“Could but I would never reveal my blackmailing ways. That was rule number #2 remember?,” You leaned down to kiss Melissa again pulling the red head from her anxiety , “How are you angel? Talk to me.”

“Better now that you are here. I missed you and was worried about you all day,” Melissa sighed resting her head on your shoulder, “I knew you wouldn't be in my classroom forever but I thought we could at least finish the year together ya know.”

“Well now we have an excuse to hang out more outside of this damn brick building,” You said kissing her forehead, “Like maybe Thursday at a restaurant. You in a sexy dress. Me a little tipsy of some wine.”

“You mean it?” Melissa asked a glimmer in her eye.

“Absolutely dead serious,” You smiled, “I can't wait to show my angel off to everyone.”

Melissa still was uncertain about all of the changes going on at work. Her anxiety about your relationship was still lingering right beneath the surface.Yet here you were holding her for the world to see asking her out on dates. She couldn't even remember the last time she had been on a date. Let alone acknowledged in public. The realization made her stomach flutter again. But as she looked at you and the way the light reflected on your eyes none of that mattered. It felt like she could take on the whole world and then some.

“I would really like that baby.”

“Now what is this about you coming to meet my sister?”

“She offered this morning and I accepted,” Melissa laughed, “But I was in time out I couldn't tell you.”

“Well come on let’s stop at your place first and get some wine. I need it today,” You said helping her down from the hood.

“Why my place?”

“You need clothes for school tomorrow. I'm driving you and did we miss the wine part?” You asked seriously.

“You think I'm spending the night huh?” Melissa joked.

“Of course,” You replied walking Melissa to her car, “I can't sleep without you. And I'm apparently nicer in the mornings when I get to wake up next to you.”

“Marginally, but you are hot when you are fiesty so I don't mind either way.”

-

Taglist

@milfjuulpod

@yoyo-w

@cupldscntrl

@milfslvr

@liliapleasesteponme

[haydenthewitch]

i need 200cc's of firefam fics where buck tells the group about the break-up with tommy and they all bitch about it STAT

i'm talking like, classic girly bitching about your ex after they break up with you and then you turn to your frenids and they all shake their head and say "i never liked him" "Rember that one time at the athena-grant barbcue when he made that comment? yeah i've lowkey hated him ever since" "that is such a shit way to break up with someone he honestly did you a favor by breaking up with you becuse he did NOT treat you right" "if you guys didn't break up i'd be saying 'dump his ass' right about now" "do you want some ice cream. i feel like this is an icecream conversation" ect. ect.

this conversation is happening at the firehouse and chim has maddie on the phone the whole time and she's like "you know maybe josh was right about tommy" and eddie is all "wait josh hates tommy??" and maddie says "Oh yeah, big time. apparently there's history there" and thats how we get josh and eddie to team up. in their mutal bitchieness and hate. it's the most gay on gay crime the show will ever get becuse together they are RUTHLESS (and frankly it's deserved)

athena pops by the firehouse in the middle of this chaos and she hears about the breakup. buck's sitting on the couch and athena comes over and tells him to stand up (so ofc he does) and athena just gives him the most 'mom' hug ever. and buck lowkey tears up. and if bobby gets a picture of it and if that picture becomes his homescreen that's his own damn buisness

[thetalee]

Lay Me Gently

Daniel once thought he'd enjoy this moment.

-

"There are these things called banshees," Buck excitedly chattered, scrolling through his phone. "They're supposed to keen-"

"The hell does keen mean?" Daniel asked him.

They'd just finished moving Buck back into the apartment, out of Abby's place and that horrid frat house. Abby herself was gone for days, now, off on her trip to Ireland. Daniel blamed that for Buck's current fixation on Irish myths and folklore.

"It's a lament for the dead," Buck explained. "Anyways, another name for banshees was the wailing woman, because they'd stand outside a person's home and wail. They'd either wail as a predictor to death, or to announce a death."

"We'd get a noise complaint if someone did that here," Daniel pointed out. "Wait, would she stand out in the hall or outside the building? 'Cause, I'm not sure either of us would notice a woman screaming outside."

"Maybe they'd show up at the fire house." Buck frowned and tilted his head, before tucking his phone away. "Hey! Bobby taught me this recipe-"

"He's sharing recipes with you now?" Daniel did his best to keep his tone neutral, he really did. And he must've did it well enough, 'cause Buck barely reacted.

"Yeah! Tater Tot Hotdish, I got everything I need for it the other day."

"Tater Tot- Is that why a bag of tater tots appeared in the freezer?"

"Yup." Buck got up and then paused to fix him with a look. "You didn't eat them, did you?"

"Not... All of them..."

There was a bag of frozen potatoes, the leftovers had all been eaten, and Buck was pulling a double. What was Daniel supposed to do, not pile them high on a plate with ketchup?

Judging from his brother's huff, the answer was apparently yes.

-

Daniel Buckley never liked Captain Nash. The moment Austin told him about the man laying hands on Buck, that was all she wrote. Nothing that followed, especially everything surrounding the bullshit with the embolism, improved Daniel's opinion of the man any. He never liked him, maybe even hated him a little bit.

(Dr. White once asked if he saw the man as a threat. Which was just ridiculus, because how would Captain Nash have been a threat to him? Buck was Daniel's kid, no matter how desperately the captain tried to slither into Buck's good graces.)

They'd spent all day bashing their heads against worthless authority figures and chasing after psychotic bitches. Daniel had to suffer through the alien experience of being the calm, rational one. Buck wasn't stuck in that lab and neither was Eddie, so Daniel was definitely not as worried as Buck and Athena were.

Now it was the end. Now they were all supposed to be out. Hen was getting treated, Chimney got the cure, Ravi was cleared. Everyone was supposed to be out.

But Captain Nash wasn't.

Because Captain Nash was dying.

Daniel never liked him, and once upon a time, he thought he might have enjoyed the man's death. Maybe he would, later. Maybe he would go home after this and feel some sort of satisfaction that the man was dead and gone, though tempered by the way that the only person Daniel would wish this kind of end on would have been Lucas Drake, if the bastard wasn't already dead.

There was no enjoyment or satisfaction in the current moment, however. How could there be, when there was nothing but devastation on his baby brother's face?

"Danny."

His name trembled in the air as Buck's face crumpled. They stood in the hallway, just outside of the plastic tunnel that led into the destroyed lab. Daniel, once he'd heard his brother's voice over the radio, had come to wait. Because he'd known as surely as Athena did.

"Danny," Buck said again, a gasp this time. "Danny, he's- He-"

Daniel did not say anything. Daniel knew there was nothing to say. When Buck was a kid, when they were both kids, Daniel could keep the monsters of the world at bay with nothing but stubbornness and a bat. When Buck was a kid, when they were both kids, Daniel could fix any hurt with a hug and a story and some ice cream.

There was nothing that would fix this.

Daniel silently opened his arms and his brother all but collapsed into them, body shaking with the strength of his sobs. He lowered them both to the floor as gently as he could with Buck clinging at his coat. He held him and he rocked him, as if Buck was still that tiny little squirt coming to him after a nightmare or because the bullies managed to hit just the right sore spot. He held Buck close and ran his fingers through his curls, because that was all he could do in this moment. He said nothing, because there was nothing he could say.

Buck's heartbroken wail, when it finally burst out, filled the space around them. It was echoed a moment later by Athena's own.

-

The construction of the new house was coming along quickly. Quickly enough that Daniel at once worried about the quality of the work and wondered whether Michael hired an Amish construction company. Those guys could raise a barn in a single day, he'd seen them do it.

May and Harry, the night before everything went to shit, had complained to him about Bobby and their mother designing a house without them in mind. How Harry's bedroom would be a guest room, in truth, while May wouldn't have one at all.

Daniel could not wrap his head around that, around the idea that Athena was building a home without her kids in mind. Daniel could not comprehend any reality where his home did not have a space carved out specifically for Buck, where his life did not have room for his baby brother, his kid, in it.

He'd spent part of the morning, before the lab fire, making snide jabs at Bobby over it. It was part of his regular entertainment on shift for the past couple of years, trying to get under the man's skin. It had been easier to do it with Gerrard, those months they were stuck with him instead. Easier but not as fun.

He might actually miss doing that.

Athena was standing in the middle of what would be the kitchen, when Daniel found her. Her fingers were tracing along the top of granite samples, laid out on what would one day be the island, making shapes in the beams of light that came in through the window holes from the street lamps outside.

"Why are you here, Dan?" she asked, voice hoarse. Daniel wondered how often and how long she'd been wailing where no one could hear.

"May was worried about you," he answered. The young woman, torn between breaking down in her own mourning and the need to be strong for her brother and her mother both, had texted Daniel when Athena went radio silent.

It hadn't taken much effort to figure out where Athena had gone.

"I figured you'd be with Buck."

"He and Eddie are wrapped around each other, they're fine," he said. "I don't think you should be alone right now."

Athena scoffed and turned her head enough to shoot him a look that Daniel did not have enough light to make out. It was probably insulting to him, though.

"Hey, I might be a diagnosed psychopath-" Technically, it was only antisocial personality, but he was pretty sure that was the same thing. "But I'm not entirely broken. Being alone was not... Good for me, afterwards. You know that."

Everyone knew that. Daniel had not coped very well in the aftermath, was still not coping very well. Maddie had some things to say when he told her he was transferring to be the 118's new driver-engineer, and very little of it was flattering. Cynthia and Ethan, when he invited the niblings to a game of Dungeons and Dragons, had both been a bit more understanding and a lot more weepy.

"You didn't even like him," she pointed out, a hard edge to the tone like a knife. "Aren't you celebrating this?"

"You know, I thought I would," Daniel confessed. "Not as much as I celebrated Doug or Drake, obviously. But it's really hard to enjoy anything when it has my kid sobbing his guts out, so."

"But you're not with Buck."

"Like I said, Eddie's got him. He's in good hands."

"Bobby really did love Buck like his own," she whispered. Daniel was thankful for the lack of light, because he couldn't quite keep his face blank.

"I know a good Denny's that's open twenty-four hours, if you don't want to go back to the apartment," he said, instead of any of the sharp retorts that came to mind. "My couch is comfortable, if you want to crash on it. No one would look for you at my place."

Athena had come to him, in the days after the bridge collapse. The only other person in their social circle who understood. Not even Eddie really did, because whatever he felt for Shannon had never been as strong as what he felt for Buck.

They'd sat in Eddie's backyard together, not saying anything, because Athena knew that words were useless in the face of such loss. Buck and Maddie and Eddie and even Chris, they'd all been running around trying to make it better. Athena was the only one who truly knew that nothing would ever make this better, not even time, and she had kept them all at bay and out of their silent bubble.

Athena didn't speak or move, didn't give him an answer, not for a long moment. He stood there, silent and waiting. Finally, she tapped her fingers along the granite and spoke.

"This was supposed to be our place," she said, an echo of that heartbroken wail in her voice. "Our home. I keep seeing him everywhere here."

"So where do you want to go?"

She took a breath and let it out, the air trembling.

"Where is this Denny's?"

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

looking forward to these..😊

🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼

☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️☣️

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Hi. I am stuck in LAX for the next three hours if people want to send me a bunch of short asks? Like short. I think I can accomplish stuff. Anyway.... Here's to surviving that.

---

60 for 🔼 :

---

Another sigh. 

“You’re not going to love this,” she warns.

Eddie just waits. Medical news isn’t usually a thing one measures in terms of love. He really doesn’t know what she’s getting at.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispers finally. 

Eddie’s jaw drops. Kind of cartoonishly, he will admit. Probably not the best response.

Shannon raises her eyebrows and gives a wry little smile. Like, see? I told you so. 

“Seriously?” He asks.

“No, I’m in a joking mood.”

Oof. Fair.

“How far along?” He asks.

“Eight weeks,” she whispers.

“Eight?” He gapes. 

She nods. 

“You had no idea?” 

“Nope,” she sighs. “Apparently I had some insanely timed spotting, so… I didn’t think…”

“Um, that’s… That’s like…” Eddie thinks back to January. “Probably, like, that night, right?”

Shannon nods. “Mhm.”

“So we don’t know whose baby…” Eddie realizes. 

“We do not,” Shannon confirms. 

Wow. Shit. 

Shit. 

His brain’s natural reaction to this news is perhaps the least appropriate thing he could muster in this moment. He starts to laugh. 

Shannon glares at him. 

“What about this situation is even remotely funny?” 

“The whole thing,” he replies, eyes stinging. “Holy shit.”

“Great. Glad you’re entertained.”

“No, listen,” Eddie says, taking a deep breath. “Shan, I was going to say we should do it.”

Her eyes widen. “You were?”

Eddie nods. “Yeah. You and Buck both want it. I think… I think Jane would love having a sibling close in age.”

Shannon grins. “She would. She loves Jee so much.”

---

60 for ☣️ :

---

They get up and head to the door.

Maddie is in this now. There’s no going back. 

▪️▪️▪️

Two hours later, the world has changed yet again. Buck is having trouble keeping up. He feels like a helpless passenger. 

Maddie greets Ravi like the two of them had ever been particularly close. She hugs him. Cups his cheeks and cries at the sight of him. Buck thinks everyone understands it’s less because Maddie had ever had any sort of connection to Ravi, and more because of what he represents. Hope. Possibility. The light at the end of an impossibly dark tunnel.

Ravi seems thrown by her lack of speech, but he says nothing. He holds the baby. He cries even. 

“When we all thought we were going to die, Chim said his biggest regret was not ever getting to meet him,” Ravi says quietly, smiling at Daniel. 

“He’s going to meet him,” Athena says. There is a conviction in her voice that Buck would never dare argue. 

Afterwards, Karen arrives. She looks exhausted. She packed everything and hurried home to be here. She, too, greets Ravi like he is her oldest, most cherished friend in the world. She, too, cries and squeezes him. Ravi is looking very tired by the end of it all. He knows he’s just a proxy. He wants his own family. But he made the decision Buck wishes he could have made for everyone else here. 

Not long after Karen, Eddie also shows up. Because why the fuck not? He can’t blame Maddie, Karen, or Ravi for this, but Athena and Eddie both know how weird it is for Buck to be around him right now. Is this really strictly necessary? 

Buck plants Jee in front of the TV in his closed bedroom and tells her there’s a big, important grown up talk happening, so she should only come out if she really needs something. She agrees, as long as he agrees to put Encanto on. Done. Easy. Happy to do it. If there’s one person who can absolutely not overhear this, it’s Jee. If she thinks her dad is alive and then they fail? Buck can’t crush her little heart. 

Not again. 

“We have to do this quickly,” Karen says once all the adults, and a sleeping Daniel, are seated in the living room. “They’ve already been there for six months. We can’t let them rot there any longer.”

Maddie, rocking her baby softly, nods in agreement. 

“It’s all on me,” Ravi mumbles. He’s explained what he can do to Karen and Maddie. As has Buck. 

“Why don’t you try?” Athena asks. “If you can’t do it, we find another way. It’s not all on you.”

Athena is good that way. Her relentless determination simply won’t accept that there’s not plans B through Z, too. 

Eddie nods, eager. “I’ll go into the kitchen. Try bringing me an object from the coffee table first, then bringing something different back to Buck.”

---

60 for 🩸 :

---

“I’m not a plumber,” he warns her again as he gets to work.

“You’re better than Harry and I,” May says. 

He smiles softly. “Well, if you need an amateur, I’m always here.” 

It’s the second time he’s offered that. May wonders if he’s trying to make the point exceptionally clear. 

“Thanks, Buck,” May says.

They chat about mostly nothing while he fixes the faucet. Nothing serious. Nothing about Bobby. May gets him iced tea from the fridge. He asks her about classes. It’s nice.  For a moment, it feels almost like having Bobby around again. Not the exact same, but… A different take on the same genre of music, almost. 

As Buck is packing up to leave - having not once done May the disservice about inquiring as to why her mother hasn’t come out to say hi to him - Mom finally emerges from her office. She walks over to them, glassy-eyed and tired-looking. 

“Hi, Athena,” Buck says. 

“Did you hear what just happened?” She asks without even saying hi or asking why he’s there.

“What are you talking about?” May asks. 

“Vincent Gerrard was just found dead,” Mom says. 

May looks at Buck. It takes her a moment to even remember who that is.

“Your captain?” May asks.

“Interim captain…” Buck corrects. 

“Two captains of the 118 dead in under a month,” Mom says.

“Are they even related?” May asks. “How did he die?”

Buck looks tense, anticipating her answer.

Mom frowns. 

“Murder.”

▪️▪️▪️

Something happens to Bobby after he kills Gerrard. Something he isn’t anticipating.

He had two predictions. One more of a worry than the other, though both upsetting. First, that using his teeth to drain a man of his blood would be tantamount to relief. Second, that it would result in a high. Bobby doesn’t want to have to chase this feeling. To feel bound to the process of seeking it out and coming down to it. He doesn’t want to be trapped in death in the hell he escaped in life. 

This is not his experience. 

Or maybe it is, and it’s simply too powerful to be challenged by any sort of critical thinking. 

Somehow, once Bobby makes the decision to murder Gerrard, the process handles itself. An animal instinct turns on, and Bobby goes into a sort of blackout mode. He stalks, he hunts, he finds himself far, far from his cemetery hideout, with no exact idea how he managed the journey. He ends up in the man’s garage somehow. He slips in in the night, after his wife presses the automatic door to close it. He’s as quick as a wisp of air. 

And then he waits. He waits for hours, until Gerrard comes into the garage to dispose of a filled bag of garbage. Bobby doesn’t hesitate. He leaps at the opportunity, figuratively and literally. He grabs Gerrard with a strength more than anything he possessed in his lifetime and sinks his teeth into his throat. 

As he’s killing him, Bobby understands he’s doing something wrong. Something evil. A mortal sin. 

[jmagnabo92]

Buck Week 2025 - Being Buck

@buckweek Prompt - Free/what being Buck means to me.

Buck banks on 'being Buck' to win over Bobby when it comes to getting a new puppy that he'll want to bring to the firehouse.

AO3

***

“Why did you decide that we were going to spend the day at humane societies?” Bobby asks Buck.

After Bobby insisted that he could help him with not feeling so lonely buy helping him shop for something that would liven up his new house, Buck decided the answer wasn’t some poster or artwork or new paint … it’s a puppy.

Only Bobby has no idea because Buck didn’t tell him.

“You don’t like visiting puppies on your day off?” Buck teases.

“I thought we were shopping for something to liven your place up.”

“We are,” Buck says, grinning, as they enter the third humane society in LA.  He’s determined to find the perfect puppy for him.

Bobby blinks.  “When I said liven, I meant artwork or new colors for the walls.”

“Yes, but I’ve been thinking about Blaze for weeks and I’ve always wanted a dog,” Buck states.  “I just never stayed in a place where I could have one.”

“Fair, but you do realize that our shifts after conducive to new puppy life.”

Buck smiles as he sees a dalmatian puppy.  Cute, and happy to see him, choosing to leave his playmate in the cage to come greet him.

“I was hoping this is where being Buck would help me,” he says before asking if he could see the puppy in the private room to see if he truly would like him.

They’re directed to go into room three, when Bobby asks, “What exactly does that mean?”

“Well, being Buck means different things to different people.”

“Go on.”

“Athena says it’s never giving up on people or goals.  Hen says it’s being that playful puppy that entertains everyone and supports everyone, even when it hurts me in the process.”

Like with Eddie’s leaving, but he doesn’t add that bit as the puppy comes into the room and immediately moves to Buck rather than Bobby. 

“Let us know of your thoughts when you’re ready,” the worker says.

“Will do,” Buck answers, and they leave.

Then, as he pets the puppy, who’s happy and playful and energetic. 

“Maddie says it’s that loveable, try-hard clinger that deserves the world.”

Bobby hums.  “Go on.”

“Chim says it’s getting what I want because I’m me and I’m your favorite.”

Buck grins at him.  That is exactly why he brought Bobby out with him today, and he can see the dawning look on Bobby’s face.

“I never said you’re my favorite,” Bobby counters.  “And if you think being Buck is how you’re going to manage to convince me to let you bring your puppy to work, you’re mistaken.”

He tries to sound stern, but Buck takes the puppy and scoots them closer to Bobby and the puppy, apparently already understanding Buck, licks Bobby’s nose, which causes Bobby to melt.

“That’s cheating – that’s not being Buck, it’s using an adorable puppy to break down my defenses.”

Buck blinks at him, attempting to feign innocence.  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, my puppy was simply showing love for my pops.”

  Bobby gives him a look.  “Now, that’s really cheating.”

“Is it?”

“It absolutely is,” Bobby states, but he’s melting, and Buck knows it.

“Because I think cheating would be pointing out that it’s me and I’m special, just like I was when I asked for your secret ingredient for your chili not long before the lightning strike.  And you told me that you’d do anything for me to be happy and you know that a puppy would liven up the house – both of them – and that you’re already getting attached to my new puppy.”

He looks at Bobby, who is desperately trying not to smile and failing.

“Fine, you can keep him, but let’s be clear – I put up a better fight than this.”

Buck laughs and hugs his new dog.  “I knew I’d win!”

Bobby grins.  “You’re just lucky that you’re Buck.”

“Damn straight.”

***

They go out shopping for the things Blaze needs – double of some things for the firehouse.  And next shift, Buck skips into the firehouse with Blaze, happy and grinning.

“Hey, Cap,” Chim yells the second he spots him.  “Buck’s got a surprise for us.”

Bobby appears by the railing of the loft.  “I know, I told him that he could bring his new dog to shifts.”

Hen laughs as she appears next to them.  “Guess being Buck wins again.”

“Of course it does,” Bobby agrees.  “But I put up a good fight, right, Buck?”

“Oh yeah, totally,” Buck offers, but he shakes his head, so everyone knows he really didn’t.

They all burst out laughing at Bobby, but he’s grinning, too.

All that matters for Buck is that being Buck is exactly what he wants to be – now with a new puppy, Blaze – he’s got everything he wants right here.

[kamiko1234]

Alright just got to chapter ten of The Lightning Thief and I have more thoughts.

So, first off : I stay firmly rooted in my opinion that Luke is great. I love him, I bet his hugs are great. He and Percy have a cool brotherly sort of friendship going on. Ngl ? Percy and Luke found family sounds GREAT to me. God knows that poor boy (Percy) could use someone like him (Luke) to look after him. (Sadly with Percy going off with Annabeth and Grover now it seems we'll see less of him, which is a crime imo. Give me my wholesome older bro character. Hope dies last tho, so I'll just hope I can get more of him over the course of the book and the rest of the series !) But also, the hint with his quest ? Naw that backstory is going to be SAD, my poor baby. I will cry over him. I may have only known him for a few chapters but damn, he's my favorite. Offical favorite. Like he deserves for radiating the biggest Teedy bear, Big Bro, Green Flag vibes in the entier series besides our beloved MC Percy. Second off, uh- the gods are sort of dicks ? Like, you are telling me that Poseidon was just A-okay with abandoning Percy for all his life and ONLY claimed him bc he needed him ???? Not cool ! But also, the implications of this ???? And the fact that apparently Percy is being send out on a quest at- what ? 12 ? 13 ? That is NOT safe, and the gods are apparently fine with it too ?????? Not to MENTION what happened with that Thalia girl !? Honestly, the fact that Zeus broke that sacred oath first did not surprise me, but also Hades wtf ?????? That's an innocent kid ! She isn't at fault here you idiot. That entier sittuation is some A+ child neglect and endangerment aswell as what I gotta assume attempted murder, someone call CPS on those guys or I will do it myself. What a bunch of a-holes. On a third note, so the prophecy said that Percy would be betrayed by a friend. Which means I gotta scrap my previous suspicions of Clarisse or any Ares kid, they and Percy are NOT friends. My next best guess would be Annabeth. She's the next best friend of Percy, and she's on the quest with him which would give us good opportunities. She DID seem weirdly enthusiastic to go on a live threatening quest.

Not to mention that Annabeth is a child of Athena, and it was stated that she (Athena) has a rivalry with Poseidon going on. Maybe Athena's in on the plot to steal the Master Bolt and frame Poseidon due to a grudge from that, and Annabeth as her kid acts on her behalf.

But also, she's like- the only one I can reasonably imagine doing it. Besides here Percy has like, two other friends. Grover and Luke. Grover is the ultimate dork, but also has more than enough motives to specifically STAY loyal. Besides the obvious thing of getting his license, he's been Percy's oldest friend at that point. he cares for him. As for Luke, I just don't think he's the type to do that, yk ? As far as I've seen the guy is nothing but caring, he teached Percy and welcomed him ! Even going out of his way to train him when the other campers were avoiding him after he'd been claimed. Why would Luke do that if he'd just betray him at the end ? He's seemingly being written out of the book for now too, when should he get the chance to betray Percy ? (He did have that one weird line about looking evil that one time which confused me a bit ???? Ngl imma just assume he has a cool badass side, like the cool badass dude he is. Did I say that I really like Luke already ?) My fourth point : the line in the prophecy saying Percy'll fail to save what's most important will be him failing to save his Mom from the underworld. Hades' is built up to be the big bad, and he rules the underworld where Percy's mom is currently in. He cares a whole lot about her and Percy did think about saving her already. And last but not least, I think Annabeth betraying Percy will lead to him not being able to save his Mom. I'd imagine it'd go like this : Percy, Annabeth and Grover go to the underworld to get the Master Bolt from Hades (which I assume is the big bad) and to save Percy's mom. They manage to get the Master Bolt, and are about to save Percy's mom when Annabeth reveals herself and betrays them. Causing Percy and Grover to be unable to get Sally. And that was all ! PS: OMG OK I JUST STARTED WITH CHAPTER 10 AND I NEEDED TO GET THIS OUT WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE NEXT POST. I FUCKING LOVE LUKE, buddy sprinted up there so say goodbey AND he handed Percy those sneakers ?

Naw I'm convinced of my theory now. No WAY Luke could ever be a bad guy ! Why go through all that trouble just to betray Percy in the end ? But also, found family sense are going strong in me rn. Greenest Flag if I have ever seen one. BUT ALSO HE GIVES HEADPATS ? AKJFHQILUWEZBDIL I do still think he has some issues going on tho, poor lad. I hope he get's therapy and a good hug. he deserves it.

[prosperdemeter2]

WIP Wednesday - glass

I'm choosing this to tease mostly because I *desperately* need inspiration for this chapter. Get me going 🙏🩵

“Uh…” Buck rocked on his heels again.  Eddie latched onto his belt loops to tug him closer. “You’re nervous.” He stated because he was, that much had been obvious when he had asked Eddie if he wanted to come visit in the first place. Dan’s got work all night, and-and Maddie is meeting with the DV counselor in Southie.  “I don’t…” Buck’s eyes searched his face and then abruptly looked away, but his hands caught and lingered, one on Eddie’s shoulder and the other on his waist. “I’ve never really had people over before.”  “Never?”  “Daniel doesn’t really like my friends.” Buck said with a helpless shrug because his friends were… were Eddie’s friends. Hen and Chim, Karen and Rosa. The 92 had raised Buck, but Daniel… was Daniel.  “He likes me.” Eddie tried not to preen at the thought. For a man that routinely didn’t like much of anyone, Daniel had apparently liked Eddie enough the one time he had met him to tell Buck that information.  Buck didn’t trust his seal of approval. Eddie didn’t really care what Daniel thought one way or another, but he would lying if the approval where he was so used to being unapproved of wasn’t sweet. Buck snorted, “That hasn’t gone to your head at all.”  “Oh, come on.” Eddie scoffed. “Like my son adoring you, hasn’t gone to yours.” “Yeah, but Chris is wonderful.” Buck shifted his weight until the two of them were rocking from side to side softly. “Danny’s a jerk.”  “What did he do this time?” Buck didn’t usually go this hard on Daniel at one time if he didn’t do something first to earn his ire. He loved his brother, even if that love was layered under tons of debris.  Buck frowned and picked at Eddie’s collar. He breathed out heavily. “Nothing.” It was something. “He’s just…” Daniel. “He ran into Doug at work and,” Buck shrugged. “I don’t think he’s handling things right, you know? He’s not really happy that Maddie’s staying here, but I won’t let him rush her, right? She feels safe here, and that’s what really matters.”  “But…?”  “But…” Buck sighed in aggravation and pulled away. “I don’t know. It’s like he still doesn’t believe her! He says Doug seems really messed up about things and he keeps telling him to tell her that he’s sorry.”  “And what does Maddie say?”  “That she’s not going back.” Buck shrugged and hugged his arms around himself like, as a child, he was used to giving himself comfort when his siblings weren’t there. He leaned back against the kitchen island, his leg bending at the knee so that his foot could rest on the wood behind him. “But, I don’t know, Eddie. She seems really scared.”  Slowly, Eddie nodded, “Have you talked to Athena?”  “She doesn’t want to press charges. She just wants him to leave her alone.”  “But she hasn’t been to work since she left him?”  “No,” Buck shook his head. “She hasn’t been to work at all. Which I think is part of the thing that’s pissing Daniel off, you know? Like… I offered to take up her portion of rent and shit but Daniel won’t let me do it. Keeps saying it’s not my job to take care of her, but she’s our sister. I don’t mind taking care of her.”  “Well, it’s…” Eddie trailed off, hating that he actually sympathized with Daniel’s potential case. It was a delicate situation, because if it was Adriana or Sophia, Eddie would be doing the same thing Buck was, and because Eddie was well aware of just how important both of his siblings were to him. No matter how much Buck pretended to hate Daniel. “Maybe he’s a little right here?” He offered cautiously.

[wisteriaiswriting]

𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕙𝕪?

Words: 368

Due to a…let's say, outside person, Athena had heard a small rumor. That Apollo was dating a mortal, and she couldn’t have that. Calling for Hermes.

“Apollo is, with a mortal, and I need you to bring them here.”

“Who, Apollo or the mortal?” Sighing at their question.

“The mortal.”

***

“So…”

“You’re the mortal ‘dating’ Apollo?”

“I mean, if that's what you call him?” You had absolutely no clue what to say, one minute you were at home. More like your boyfriends, then in the next you were here. Apparently he’s an Idol, and ‘Athena’ didn’t like the thought of you two together.

“Well, I’ll make you a deal,” Raising your hand, only to be ignored. “You’ll have a week, prove yourself and I’ll allow this to keep going, if not, you’ll see.”

“But–” Suddenly pulled backwards into, who knows what. But you ended up back at ‘Apollos’ house. He just exited a room looking worried, while the Oracle only spared you a glance.

“They’re back.”

“How wou– Y/N!” Launching himself at you, holding you close as if you’d slip away again if he let go. “Where did you go? I was looking everywhere an–”

“Athena.”

“Hm?” You let him think about it, his eyes widening.

“What did she do.” The way he asked was less of a question, rather a statement. One he wanted to fact check, but not right now. Not when you needed him right now.

Not giving you a chance to turn or leave, his arms surrounded you. Tugging you closer until you were successfully trapped in a hug, taking to slightly swaying side to side.

“Can you two get a room?”

“We have, in the living room.”

“Ugh..” Slamming their head down next to the computer, resigning themselves to listening to this.

“C’mon now love, lets go rest.”

***

“Athena.” His voice caught the attention of everyone around him. And while she looked unhappy she knew he knew.

“Yes Apollo?”

“Just… why, why involve someone who doesn’t need to be?” She sighed, knowing she’s done.

“Fine, all I ask now is that you keep them away from Idol business.”

“Now that I can do!” Turning on his heel, ready to comfort you again.

[mariiverse]

"you shouldn't watch the show for just one character" "it's an ensemble cast they all need screentime blah blah blah" well the entire ensemble is being treated like crap so how bout??

killed off their lead- literal captain of the show for no good reason, and in the most mediocre lame ass way too, didn't give him a proper funeral, choppy pacing and editing in the episode because tim minear has fucked the filming schedule so much the editors (god bless them) had to pull miracles to even get the episode done but we were left with rushed scenes with no impact.

chimney somehow is up and running and drinking and doing all this after suffering through multi-organ failure, and he's feeling guilt over surviving but we skipped the first two weeks of all of their feelings and grieving, hen had one moment to show her emotions the morning of the funeral but then she also got overlooked for interim captain in favour of tim bringing back a racist character, buck was only showed to be holding it together for everyone else apparently and not allowed to show other emotions

and eddie... who had such a special relationship with bobby, who was not even mentioned during the entire emergency that took bobby out, was told off screen, seemingly dealt with chris having to go back to stay with his parents after he just got him back off screen, buddie reunion and hug which i know they both desperately needed happened off screen... showed up 2 weeks after being told im guessing, and came morning of the funeral, had 2 lines and was essentially placed on the same level of importance as fucking tommy who for whatever fucking reason needed to be shown in flashbacks and had a role as a fucking pallbearer over harry (fucking ridiculous if you ask me)

athena forced into working after losing her third partner on this show...we're not shown her parents being there for her, her conversation with bobby's mother and brother who we spent a whole episode meeting just a few weeks ago and they couldn't even make the final cut of that rushed 5 min funeral scene

like its an ensemble show where tim has forsaken the amazing ensemble cast of characters to instead focus on these "big shocking" emergencies that have such little follow through and dont even give the proper emotional impact for the characters anymore

and dont' even get me started on the buddie of it all... ep 9-13 were good for buddie yes, but that's gonna lead to nothing and we sacrificed eddie's own storyline for it so

[alloutofgoddesses]

S08E07 - Hotshots

- Entertainment Tonight is a crime

- Everything on ET looks so forced and uncomfortable

- Demon legion?

- What just happened

- “Well… you know” he ate with that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

- UNDERCOVER ATHENAAAAA

- NICE

- Why are they making Angela Bassett use all the gen z lingo

- “Discord”

- oh noooooooo Athena what happened :(

- Aaaaaa THEM

- Baking kick!!

- Lemon loaf! Walnut loaf! Pumpkin loaf!

- I also love loaf Chimney

- DO NOT CALL ANYONE YOU MENACE

- Ponds! That’s my thing!

- Special person!

- BRIE oh my god dude

- Oh Maddie

- Oop

- She sure is!!!!!

- I’m sorry. Buck is the blabbermouth? Chimney…

- Group hug!!

- I love when brothers

- Hi Brad

- Lmao! “It is love! Send help.”

- Incredible delivery

- Okay so are we addressing the trauma of this for 118 or nah

- Hi Gerald

- Hi Eddie

- Oop

- Oh Buck’s going up

- And we are not currently addressing it

- Why would we

- Hello rebar head

- Gerald you good bro

- Good Lord

- Hollywood Bob!

- Hugs

- Nooo Athena is limping :(

- :(

- Yawn

- I do not have it in me to care about Probie Sparks

- Get his ass

- SHE WOULD GOOGLE HERSELF lol

- We have unlocked a new pasta

- STAY STRONG

- Buck… my baby

- Also that contact says Buck

- Incredible parenting skills on display from Eddie and Hen here

- Like they both have definitely had to play phone keep-away before

- “That’s what scares us” SCREAM

- “He’s got my phone” I think I’ve been Bobby during this about sixteen times in the last week

- This is incredible I am having a wonderful time

- Oop hey Chief

- I get it Brad

- Lmao

- Sk8r boi

- Yawn x2

- If I have to hear Angela Bassett say Flash Rob one more time…

- “Before you retire” SIR

- Athena is trying to kill him with lasers

- HEN AND ATHENA WINE TIME THIS IS NOT A DRILL

- Wise words from Hen

- Gerald.

- HA

- Gerald you cannot change

- TAKE HIM TO DINNER I CANNOT

- Brad wants to wear Bobby’s skin like a coat

- NOOOOOO SHE SAID IT AGAIN

- I love obviously empty cups like the vibe is just different when a cup doesn’t actually have anything in it

- Oh my good god

- Maddie I will always love you

- Sigh

- Why is he doing all that

- And AGAIN she said it againnn

- She just called him a bitch

- What. The fuck. What the fuck

- BOY WONDER

- I mean his last name is Sparks

- He looks like my troublemakers

- Like I am sorry but he looks like he wants to say something very offensive

- More baking with Buck!

- God he looks great

- HI JEEEEEEEEEEEE

- THE MOST SPECIAL PERSON

- Awwwww he loves his niece so much look at his face

- LOOK AT THEM

- She wants all of them!

- I am gonna explode

- Oh it’s time for the Brad and Bobby date

- The rumour mill is gonna mill

- There’s the olives

- Brad Torrance you are so scary

- Oh noooooooooooo

- He’s a divaaaaaaa

- Get his ass Bobert

- Hell yeah

- I love Bobby Nash with my whole heart and soul

- “Menaced”

- I know this woman is clearly a Karen but I personally love that word

- Oh boy

- Not a sovereign citizen

- This is not fighting oppression my girl

- Sparks… oh no

- Oh no

- OH NO

- Bruh…

- So this is why we trust Athena’s instincts

- And also. Did we /have/ to do this storyline?

- I feel like this storyline was completely unnecessary

- BOB THE DRAG QUEEN LIPSYNCHING TO CHAPPEL ON DOCTOR ODYSSEY?!?!

- Anyway back to this woman being shot apparently

- Breathe girl

- Oh that’s cool I didn’t know they made masks like that

- I only know the ones that are like a flimsy piece of plastic

- And she is walking with a crutch 👀

- SHE IS REQUESTING ONE

- Ohhhhh Athena…

- Aaaa they’re watching Bobby’s takedown of Bradley i love them

- AAAA NOT THE BRITISH ACCENTS

- It was just for a second and I need more

- Hey Bradley

- Eddie lmao

- He is so weird

- Bobby is not a zoo animal my friend

- Hehehehehehe

- Fall finale!!

- Oop

- … I’m sorry. They are combining a car crash with a drowning accident

- W. T. F.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽

YEAH! Finally some TWATYTK asks (this is next up on my 'chapters I need to finish' list)

30 for ⚡️:

---

“That’s because this is the best trip of my life,” Buck informs him.

Eddie grins. “So far.”

Buck likes the sound of that. 

“So far.”

And as they start talking about all of it, all the things they’re going to do, they start including that second kid. Inadvertently, at first. But nevertheless. 

“There’s always Disneyworld. Like Florida,” Buck mentions, talking about future vacations.

“Oh, but that sucks with a baby,” Eddie shakes his head. 

“True,” Buck frowns. “Disneyworld, in several years?”

“But then will Chris be too old?”

“Are we assuming Chris will age out of wanting to have fun, Eddie? Because if so, I didn’t get the memo.”

“You’re right,” Eddie says. “So we just wait until he’s old enough for it to be bearable.”

“Wait, what? I thought you just said he’d be too old?” 

“I didn’t mean Chris,” Eddie says. “I meant… You know, the other kid.”

“You said he,” Buck points out.

“Oh, did I?” Eddie frowns. 

“You’re just banking on that, huh?” Buck smirks.

“Well, uh…” Eddie shrugs.

---

33 for 🧟‍♀️:

---

“So it’s someone else.”

“Lot’s of action in Sunport lately,” Hen mumbles.

Not that she’s not… Well, obviously she’s glad to have Athena, May, and Harry back in town. They’ve been friends for years. She thought about Athena and wondered what had happened to her. Having answers, having her here? It’s good. And, of course, she thrilled for Buck. Kid hadn’t stopped fretting over his sister for months, and she understands why. Plus, having a nurse around can only help them. Really, having Maddie around is a blessing. She has no idea about Eddie. He seems fine. She likes his kid. More importantly, Denny likes his kid. But she’s not really expecting him to be around for long.

So it’s not that Hen isn’t glad for all the action in Sunport lately. But how many visitors can be good, honest, helpful people before the opposite type shows up? Hen is full of worry. 

“So what do we do?” Chimney asks. “We can’t just ignore it.”

“No, but we don’t want to go running after shadows in the middle of the night, either,” Bobby says. “That’s an easy way to get hurt.”

“I agree,” Hen says. “We’re not risking anyone.”

“No,” Bobby agrees. “We aren’t.”

“We can take turns watching from the roof?” Athena suggests. “Extra precaution? Until the morning.”

---

33 for 🔼:

---

By the time Buck recertifies for active duty, he and Shannon are basically back to normal. Or, well, a new normal. Because what was ever normal for them, really? The point is, they had a long, awkward conversation, and they’re firmly just friends. Which Buck is really glad and somewhat surprised about. He did not think Eddie would want them being friends and he definitely would have defaulted to whatever Eddie wanted of him. But Eddie was insistent. 

“I don’t want either of you avoiding each other because of me,” he’d said. “Seriously.”

So they talked. Acknowledged a mutual attraction they aren’t going to act on. For so many obvious reasons. And they moved on. 

Apparently, they’ve moved on so effectively, that here Shannon is. In Bobby and Athena’s house. At a surprise party for Buck. That she helped his sister and Athena pull together. Kind of crazy, if he’s being honest. 

He’s riding a pretty significant high, though, so he doesn’t think too much about it. He passed. He cleared. He’s going back to work. It’s all he can think about. Being back where he belongs. Maybe if his head was clearer, he’d think about how wild it is that Shannon is here for him tonight. In a room of people who know Eddie, love Eddie, and know some of what’s going on between them, when he knows how insecure she was about that when they started talking. He might think it’s insane she even wants to help throw a party for him at all. But all he can do, tonight, is bask in his own joy. 

He’s hugging everyone. Eddie. Bobby.

[allthatglxtters]

Telemachus was itching to be off of bedrest and get back to helping around the house and being okay, but apparently he had to take time to heal and rest. No matter how badly he wanted to be up and about, Tele was doing his best to stay still, reading his textbooks for school and anything else he could get his hands on in an effort to distract himself from moving.

What didn't stop him was seeing Athena appear in the doorway, Tele ignoring the ache in his side as he got up out of bed to hug her. "You coudln't ever be disturbing. I can't believe you're here! It's so good to see you Athena! And it was just a little internal bleeding. Surgery got me all fixed up, but now I'm good." He let go after a moment, grinning brightly at her before realizing he needed to sit and ended back sitting on the edge of his bed. "How are you? Are you okay?"

❧ @allthatglxtters (Telemachus) ❧ his current residence

Every now and then she had to remind herself to use doors, to not waltz in or simply appear simply out of habit or because the ability to do so was there. In those moments she'd find herself knocking, despite however bizarre it felt. The fires had been enough to cause concern, to push Athena to visit.

"I hope I'm not disturbing. Wouldn't want to hold up the recovery." It was a blessing to know that those she cared about had no only made it to this strange place but also come out of the fire able to heal from their injuries. Perhaps not everything was as dark as it once had been.

[astaroth1357]

Demigod MC Series: Ares

Demigod MC Series: Intro, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hades, Dionysus, Demeter, Athena, Hades Pt. 2, Poseidon, Ares

Lucifer

He cannot overstate what kind of damage this mortal was able to do in their first few seconds in the Devildom...

The instant they got to their feet, they had managed to incapacitate Satan and knock down Beel. Lucifer himself tried to get between them and Diavolo but…

If he hadn’t moved his head, if he was standing just ONE INCH to the left… he wouldn’t have a head anymore. Barbatos was there to intervene, but had he not they could have probably taken out the Avatar of Pride and done critical damage to the Demon Prince himself in one strike...

Frankly, Lucifer prefers not to dwell on that moment... He's sure Ares must be proud of this one...

He pretty much treats the mortal like a live bomb afterward, if he can get away with not interacting with them at all, that’s what he’ll do.

He’s NOT scared of them... much... It’s just that they have a bullish and uncooperative attitude at best and since they know they can take any of them, they don't even consider him - Lucifer, the eldest demon brother - a threat...

But you know what the most frustrating thing is? They won't give him an inch of respect, but they'll always listen to Levi! Levi!!

Look, Lucifer knows he may not hold a rank among the Hell's army and he might not have been a major player in the Celestial/Demonic wars of the day, but he's still the strongest demons here, dammit!! 😡

Lucifer finds nothing is more embarrassing than having to ask Levi of all people to keep the mortal in line because he can't... Oh, the humiliation… He hopes they leave soon...

Mammon

At first, he thought they were scary. But in time he thought they were scary… and also pretty damn awkward.

Mammon wasn’t there when they more or less wiped out the majority of his brothers in the Conference Hall but when he finally showed up he'd never seen Lucifer look so pale… If THAT doesn't make you shit your pants, he doesn't know what will.

Naturally, he kind of toned it down on the "stupid human" stuff real quick after seeing that…

But here's the thing. After the two made a pact together, Mammon started to notice that the MC wasn't all that mean, they were just… violent?

He legitimately thought that they couldn’t stand him for a while until one day a guy on the street called him a dirtbag. The MC threw a punch right there! No questions asked, they just decked that guy!!

It was kind of touching… and messy. Very messy. Did he mention that they’re terrifying yet? 😥

As it turns out, the MC has apparently spent a lot of their life just fighting things and being asked to fight things so they're not very used to showing non-violent affection… 

It took him awhile, but he realized that their way of saying, "I like you," is, "I will attack your enemies." So now all he does when his brothers tease him is say, "I'm telling MC!'' and they'll stop immediately. It's great!! 😁

Considers them to be his bodyguard when he goes out to gamble in some… shadier places. Most of the time not even the bouncers want to take on the MC, ain't nobody getting paid enough to lose that many teeth…

Leviathan

Okay, so. It's not very obvious anymore, but he USED to be on the front lines of the war against demons in the Celestial Realm. He was in charge of battle strategies, he led armies, and even now he still holds the highest rank of the royal navy!

So leave it to the kid of a war god to sniff all that out about him, huh…? They appeared to know all about his record the instant they saw him and they actually seemed to respect him for it!

For context, this mortal tells pretty much everybody to shove off but any time he’s around they call him “Admiral” or “sir” and actually pay attention to what he says! He can tell it drives Lucifer insane, but honestly? It’s a bit of an ego boost. 😌

It’s sort of cute when they come to him asking for tactical advice… They get just as into it as he does with his anime and any time he points out something that they haven't seen before they get so excited it's like they're a kid watching a magic trick. HUGE ego boost. 😏

Speaking of anime, it’s hit or miss whether or not they can watch any of it. Anything with good fight scenes (and let’s be honest, not that much talking) they’re on board for. But if the hero and the villain talk to each other for like an episode before throwing punches then the MC will just rant...

MC: “The enemy is distracted... Why aren’t they attacking yet??”

Levi: “Because the villain killed the hero’s best friend and they’re-”

MC: “They could avenge their friend right now if they ended things right here!”

Levi: “MC, we’ve been over this... That’s not how plot works.”

MC: “And now he got away!! See?? They should have killed him when they had the chance!”

Levi: “*sigh*... Let’s just play some CoD.”

Satan 

The last thing he remembered when the “human” hopped out of the portal was a sharp pain to the side of the temple and Asmo wailing as he fell unconscious…

Yeeeeah, not great. And unfortunately for the mortal the Avatar of Wrath tends to hold a grudge… 

For a comparatively brief moment in time, all of Satan’s considerable ire had shifted away from Lucifer and to their new housemate. They found their bed, clothes, pillows, food, and even their toothbrush cursed!

… But Ares kids must be built from some strong stuff, because half of what he employed didn’t even faze them! He even put an explosive spell on their backpack and not only did they tank the blast, it didn’t hurt them at all!! It was like they’re damn near immortal!

Annnnd they kind of are. Apparently the MC had taken a dip in the River Styx at some point before and became nigh invulnerable…

Was it maybe a little terrifying to know that they had kidnapped a nearly invincible demigod on the level of Achilles? Yes. Did that also mean that they must have had a weakness too? In theory....

Satan honestly devoted a depressing amount of time trying to uncover the “Achilles’ Heel” of his new sworn enemy… until…

The MC was walking with him and Asmo to RAD one morning when they passed by a group of lesser demons harassing a small puppy. Now Satan may be more of a cat man, but NO ONE fucks with animals while he’s around.

He was right about to go over and rip those demons a new one but the MC actually beat him to it! Apparently, the second that they realized what was happening, they launched themselves forward and started bashing the abusers' heads into a wall!

… Live by violence, forgive by violence because in that very moment Satan decided they weren’t so bad after all. He even joined in!

Oh, Asmo gave them both shit all day for the bloodstains on their uniforms and the scratches on their… everywhere, but it’s not like either of them cared. Righteous justice had been served and it was glorious!!

100% would team up with the MC in some kind of vigilante “punish-all-animal-abusers” gig. They have but to ask. 😌

Asmodeus

Oh they TERRIFIED Asmo when they first showed up! How else was he supposed to react?? They brought down his brothers like they were made of cardboard!!

Though he had to admit that the confident, battle-ready look they had about them was sexy as hell, he knew better than to go bear poking! 😣 He avoided them like plague until they finally asked him for a pact.

And then he discovered something… something very unexpected….

They're actually adorable!!!

Okay, like, not in appearance (they look like they could pile drive Cerberus for Pete’s sake!) but he discovered that they have NO CLUE how to handle physical affection. Like zero!!

The first time Asmo actually got the courage to try and hug them he expected them to toss him off, but instead they just stood there like a malfunctioning doll, all flustered and confused… It was so cute!!! 🥰

From that point on, Asmo would take every chance he could to wrap his arms around them or kiss their cheeks just to watch them try and fail to handle it. It's more fun than picking on Levi!!

It took two months for them to finally attempt any kind of reciprocation and even that was adorable! They pecked him on the forehead without thinking about it then nearly passed out from the realization. Apparently, they had never felt like kissing anyone before so he was quite honored!

The brothers know that if the MC's looking too mad to listen to Levi, they just need to call Asmo. A nigh invincible warrior becomes a LOT less scary after you’ve cuddled them into submission! 🤭

Beelzebub

Beel didn't like them one bit, at least not at the beginning. They had managed to get past him and actually attack Lucifer which was NOT a great first impression on their part...

He honestly saw them as a threat for a while, but unlike the rest of his brothers he didn’t avoid them. He just kept an eye on them.... constantly….

Look. Beel is a big guy. Stealth is not his strong suit… If he's tailing you, you're probably going to know about it because there's a six-foot something behemoth in orange following you around while pounding down bags of chips. He's not very subtle…

That being said, after following them around for a while the two finally got to talking and he realized that they didn’t want to hurt anybody or anything. They were just acting on instinct before.

After making the MC promise not to hurt any of his family, they got on much better terms. Hell, he actually got them into fangol!

Beel's sport of choice is pretty much just ultra-violent American football so the MC took a liking to it instantly! After enough begging, the coach let them try out and they got onto his team immediately.

He likes having them as a teammate! They're very good at the game, uh... even if they take it a little too seriously…

They once tried to convince his teammates to decorate the team bus with "the helmets of their fallen foes." They're REALLY into the sport… But hey, they haven't lost a game since they’ve joined. It’ll be fine!... Probably.

Belphegor

Hahaha… He’s in danger… 😥

It took one look at this mortal to make him rethink the whole, “Trick the Human” plan… Since when have humans looked like that?? They could crush his skull under their heel!!

It took all he had in him to play it cool when they first met because his internal monologue was nothing but screaming… THIS was the "human" he had to use to get him out of there?? How in the WORLD was he going to kill them?!

Admittedly, he had to think about it for a while. Belphie's a clever guy… and a demon. So who needs an honorable fight, anyway? If he can’t win one-on-one, then he’ll cheat!

He waited until the MC got the door open and didn't attempt a frontal assault… No laughter, no gloating. He just waited for them to turn their back, claws ready to dig out their heart, and then-!

MC: "Do you really want to try that?"

The MC must have had some kind of danger sense, because they didn't even have to turn around to know what Belphie was doing…

MC: "Look. I like Beel and you're his twin brother… So I'm willing to let this slide. But if you really want to try me…"

MC: *looks over their shoulder with the glare of a bona fide killer* "I won't hold back."

That was... very persuasive.

The MC brought Belphie down to the others peacefully with his tail between his legs and honestly Lucifer was more relieved that he wasn’t a bloodstain on the floor than he was mad… They could have killed him sooo easily… 

They did, indeed, forgive and forget about the whole “attempted murder” thing, though Belphie was never quite able to shake off how frightening they were in that moment… He had nightmares for a while.

Thankfully, Asmo clued him in that the MC would melt into a harmless puddle of fluff if they got even the slightest bit of physical affection... Oh, the sweet payback he could dish out... It’s cuddle time. 😏