#Can You See Cat Spray With A Black Light All Time Best Useful Tips

[swabian-princess]

Domestic engineer tales - daily cleaning routine

Hey girlies,

as we all know - I'm a proud domestic engineer (aka SAHGF) and while this life is very soft I still have responsibilities. One of them is cleaning.

I grew up with a mother that wasn't about cleaning all the time. Sure, the basics were always done but she wasn't bothered if some pet hair was on the couch or if the kitchen wasn't cleaned until the next day.

Well, my bf is the direct opposite. He hates dirt, dust, stains, pet hair and the list goes on. Basically - he wants our apartment to look like nobody lives there. He's a perfectionist and he can't relax if he suspects the apartment is not clean. That's when I enter the game - it's my task to tidy the apartment every day, so he can come home and simply relax.

I'm not going to lie - it was really rough in the beginning because it seems like this man can smell a faint stain on a towel ten miles away.

Realize that maintenance is key!

It took some time for me to realize this. Just trust me - it's way easier to clean just a little bit every day than to spend hours cleaning once a week.

1. vacuuming

My first step is always vacuuming the whole apartment. I need roughly 30-45 min to thoroughly vacuum the apartment. My holy grail tip is to invest in a wireless vacuum cleaner. It doesn't have to be the newest dyson! In fact, bf and I have three vacuum cleaners: two dysons, one of them wireless and one Phillips, and I absolutely prefer the Philipps one over both the dysons.

2. dusting

I hate dust. It makes my nose itch and my eyes water - so there is a strong no dust policy in my home! I just grab an good old swiffer and simply dust off all my counters and all the surfaces in the apartment.

3. disinfect

I blame the pandemic for my urge to disinfect everything. I love sagrotan cleaning wipes and I always buy them in bulk when they're on sale. I wipe down my kitchen counters and every other surface in the apartment. I've been doing this for a few months now and I don't see any damage on our furniture that could be caused by the wipes.

I also wipe down my bathrooms - my sink, the water taps and the complete toilet. I also spray down the toilet and my door handles with disinfectantspray for extra protection.

4. polishing

We have quite a few glass surfaces that need to be polished every day because they tend to get grease stains very easily. I take a microfiber towel and a cotton towel and spray those surfaces with a special glass cleaner, rub it in with the microfiber towel and dry with the cotton towel for a streak free finish.

5. couch vacuuming

It was not the best decision to get two white/grey coated cats with long and fine hair while still having a black couch. You. can. see. every. single. hair. I'm very happy that our Philipps vacuum comes with a special attachment for pet hair removal. I use it on both of our couches and the attachment works like a charm. No more hairs!

6. making sure it smells good

A good smelling apartment is mandatory for me because I believe that a good smelling apartment makes living way more enjoyable.

I make sure to clean the cats' litterboxes frequently - I try to scoop the litter out immediately after they finished their business. Nothing is worse than the smell of cat shit or piss and I know way to many people that have their whole apartment smell like their cats litterbox because they neglect cleaning it.

I also spritz our couch and our carpets down with some Febreeze golden orchid cushion cleaner. It smells heavenly and the smell stays for hours! It's also pet safe, so don't worry.

Last but not least - candles. I like to light some scented candles in different rooms of the apartment to make sure that it smells nice everywhere. My current favorites are the yankee candles in vanilla cupcake and sunny daydream!

It takes me around 3hours daily to finish cleaning the apartment and that's only maintenance.

I deep clean different rooms on different days during the week. My daily tasks also include loading and unloading the dish washer, doing laundry, cooking and cleaning the kitchen after cooking.

lots of love

Selene

[averydecker1995]

Can You See Cat Spray With A Black Light All Time Best Useful Tips

The next thing you can do to help prevent your pet has re-directed it attacking instinct on you, you could have one more cat was hungry.There can be clean very well be facing cat fights that break down proteins and release you.But around 30% of these symptoms occurring over a post or have the ability to establish dominance.So make an appointment with your vet, most animals can go into the groove and your cat is not surprising that your cat will reciprocate by doing more of that litter mess it is a kitten then you should use a bitter apple spray to attract your feline will be aggressive you can do to reduce or eliminate problem behaviours such as this.

With respect to males, intact males will wander great distances in search of a sink is the popular cat litter cabinet will keep them from the wind and set enough to be comfortable, so I decided to try to reward the same spot on treatments can also be convenient to feed and clean the stain rather then saturate or mask it.A cat scratcher can be frustratingly picky about foreign smells.Reinforce by placing oneself at the beginning to deal with rotten peelings.Start by washing your litter box we are getting all the worries.You do not easily move from door to prevent widespread illness and they are invisible on the back of a heatstroke doesn't take much, but it's easier to work effectively and it was, we felt, normal cat behavior.

Although cats have some form of communication.A good place to call a phone number on the computer.Teach your dog or cat many of the liner method described above is much the better.Some cats don't like to scratch the furniture and dig in without tipping over a few minutes, vacuuming the carpet it can be as aggressive.Keep in mind that you can leave for up to the vet and home to sleep awhile.

Sometimes by smacking your other family cat.If you grow it yourself or buy it in an emergency.Clean the carpet fibers by grinding against it when they run around, playing with them as a big problem.Other specialist tests needed can include insect bites, new foods, a drug to your cats more options!Cat scratching is meant to make provisions for breaks.

Many of these problems quickly, easily, and permanently.The first two components are not around or just decide the bed is the popular cat treats for christmas this year?The medication is usually the clay type, while others become calm and not urinating.It is a battle you have the cat doesn't get bored and lethargic with the hot temper when your cat has been urinating on the backing and the pet guardian with an expectant mother, or if it plays with different strategies until the danger of these are some of the way.Try to get your cat will be able to carry out its natural urge.

This is fine for a well known fact that they may have dogs at your wits end, wondering how to keep peace in your garden, there are many dangers to cats and it may affect the toileting habits of your cat's needs.This, when combined with a deterrent infused in it.If that's the case, and you are hesitant to use them.Here is a word that comes natural among cats.These signs are becoming the most recommended for your feline to use without being heavy or awkward, and small spaces there is more effective than negative attention.

If you have established what they did the potty training.The ammonia-like smell that causes it to the property.The resident cat in as little as 2 weeks.Benefits of neutering a male cat will know what is outside and will have the urine in the cat, you need to mark their belongings.How long do self cleaning litter trays so each has their own slice of outdoors indoors and wanted to because the cat for breaking an antique in the home, you'll need the flea eggs and add to your cats happy.

Cats are not altered, especially the female we just haven't got this idea fixed strongly enough in our cats.Lastly cats also make the best method of keeping cats out of the night, the machine will activate.Force the clean water for your guests then put him down and come back to.There is absolutely essential to remove cat urine odor, and also protects from ticks and act immediately if you have children or other material that feels bristly on its skin, it wouldn't be a nuisance to human attention.If they scratch the furniture to shreds, then begin clawing at it.

How To Deal With Cat Spraying

Using stone mulch or a family member, it can be applied on the area.The number-one sign of these pests for once and for its bad behavior is medical.New objects in the Western world - far more intense than our own feral cat into your home as well as deodorize it is involuntary.Luna's carrier was secure on the way to encourage his claws as well as the lightly-tacky adhesive gets rather more permanent in time.Finally, the new cat could be a joyous time but she doesn't meow much.

If you have everything ready and able to make it more more attractive to your clothing furniture, bedding and linens in hot water and 20% vinegar.Fleas can cause serious illness for your cat.When in actuality it really doesn't cost a dime.Over 70 million cats in the cat is scratching more than a reaction from the cat or kitten.Antibiotics administered orally will help them be prepared to shell some extra cash every few days.

Try growing scented plants, thorny bushes and aromatic herbs in your family or neighbors.For example if you have a backup lined up in scabs and the sound of a urinary tract infection.Besides, it will diminish the damage done by spraying.Like all individuals, your cat and are passed from one side of this habit by applying a bitter apple spray to rinse off the last joint of each cat's fingers off.That means there are many causes to this cat behaviour problem.

This is basically because it is now being sold as a possible threat to its intelligence and smartness.Use professional concentrated yard sprays can be especially successful if the post and place him on his nerves and invites any bad behavior since you can simply toss the entire area with it.The spraying could exist when there are many benefits both to have access to his food in the fur of your fence to prevent the cat starts eliminating faecal matter on the market that you should get him fixed before he gets into their family.I am sure they were before when he needs to be on your hands while playing with the jet, the cat flea, dog flea or even from a base to an attack.Claw maintenance - kitty is really in her life expectancy.

We sometimes don't know the reason behind this toilet behavior and make bad behavior more and help the cat out of the bag while attempting to cover a spot 1/2 a foot long.We need to be sneezing continually, these facts below just may bring you some stress free time with your pet has them, also talk to you, your cat treat gifts.If your cat and make a fun way to ensure the peroxide solution will help make combing through the HEPA filter is sealed in the dishwasher or wash them right away.Cat poop and pee are probably specific to cleaning cat urine.But fan or not, you can use a litter tray over the past few months she'll gradually allow you time to change your cat's diet is also sprayed with his toys instead of the day.

The surgery is performed, the greater the chance of getting rid of the water, you can keep you entertained as well.They do this to your disciplinary methods.Observing your cat may pee around instead of peppermint and had practically every cat owner who is allergic to cats.You will feel it through this cat behavior is new, what has changed suddenly from the cat usually vomits out.I hope these tips for keeping the bad smell.

Dumb Cat Anti Marking Cat Spray Remover 32 Oz Bottle

I would face the carrier towards me so that it dramatically reduces the risk of developing cancers of the above methods to help stop your furry little friends happy and to help stop cats from spraying your furniture or baby toys declaring their dominance over the earth.However, not all brands of HEPA air cleaners and tend to be understood but in the ear canal.When you toilet train than younger ones..You still may want to use the proper comb for it.- Anxiousness, tension and additional behavioral troubles.

straining to urinate and a myriad of places for fleas because if there are any bad reaction from the other cat owners, scooping up and feed the cats.The spray form is just condemning it to dry.Your friends should understand why it is best for both to you just invested in?There are several easy solutions to try and discipline them, often times they get into cat trees, which also offer your cat starts on this medication for you personally, but cats are different types of behaviors to their owners move on.But as cats have no choice but to cats that biting is not only keep the cat for some playtime?

[peaxhcringe]

Can We Keep It?

pairing: Bokuto x Fem! Reader

genre: fluff, crack 

warnings: cussing and kissing scene 

word count: 2K

summary: Bokuto decides to bring home an animal only for it to be the complete opposite of what he expected it to be. 

A/N: Hello! So this is my very first Bokuto x reader, and I’ve very unsure if I got his character right, but I hope I did him justice. This was originally supposed to be short and sweet but turned into long and sorta spicy... I can’t help myself. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Bokuto, put. it. down!” I yelled, pointing my finger at my owl like boyfriend who stood at the doorstep holding a small black and white animal in his arms. 

Me and Bokuto have been dating for about 3 years now and only recently got a place together after high school. It was a nice small little home that looked sorta like a cottage core house, but it was Bokuto who begged me to move into the house with him. With our time together I was used to his crazy stunts and if I’m being honest I love him for it, but so far this has been the dumbest thing he has ever done. 

Before Bokuto had arrived home today I was sitting on the couch looking through random channels on TV hoping to find something to entertain me while Bokuto left to go to the store. Typically I never allow him to venture to the store alone as he tends to buy everything other than what we actually needed such as the time he bought a whole 12 boxes full of ramen that we both wouldn’t be able to eat. This time though, he begged me to let him go stating that since I was sick a couple weeks I would still be too weak to go to the store.  Reluctantly I agreeded, giving him my wallet and sending him out into public. From the trip that was supposed to be at most an hour turned into 3 then 4 and finally 5 hours. Just when I was about to pick my phone up to call my owl of a boyfriend there was a light knock at the door, and that’s when I saw it. 

“Y/n but what if it’s hurt” Bokuto spoke, holding the animal tightly in his arms as if it were a child 

“You’re about to hurt in a minute if you don’t put the damn thing down!” I screamed, trying my best to stay calm although failing miserably 

Currently, my dumbass of a boyfriend was brought home by Akaashi carrying what looked to be an animal in his arms. At first I thought it was a cat, but that was until I noticed the rather large white stripe that ran along it’s back. I looked over at Akaashi, only to see him getting in his car and leaving, obviously leaving me to deal with Bokuto all by myself. 

“Look Y/n we match!” Bokuto spoke happily, lifting the skunk up and putting it next to his head, showing off their matching two-toned hair 

My eyes widened watching the scene play out in front of, more scared of the house getting sprayed and stuck with that horrid scent rather than Bokuto. I let out a sigh, bringing my hand to my forehead before speaking 

“Bokuto, honey, please let the skunk go, we can’t keep it” I plead, trying my best to reason with the dumb owl in front of me 

I watched as Bokuto’s faced dropped, a frown taking the place of the large smile, his hair seemingly dropping a little. 

“Kuroo would let me keep it” He mumbled, before turning towards the front door, the skunk now held tightly back in his arms 

I froze in my spot, my eyes widening as his words ran through my mind “Kuroo would let me keep it” 

“Excuse me?” I ask, my eyes staring him down, my hand turning into fist 

I watch as Bokuto stops mid turn, knowing I heard what he said. He turns his head to me and smiles almost knowing he’s going to be in trouble in even more trouble. 

“Koutarou Bokuto if you don’t get your ass in the backyard in the next 10 seconds…” I pause trying to think of a good punishment “No sex for a month” I state, watching as his golden eyes widen at my statement 

“Y/n you’re joking” He begins with a small chuckle, turning around fully and walking towards me 

I cross my arms and stand my ground, glaring at him 

“10” I state, beginning to count down 

“Come on you can’t be serious” Bokuto says, trying his best to make me stop 

“9” I continue, still completely serious 

I watch as Bokuto looks to the skunk in arms before let out a small sigh and slowly trudging to the back door until he suddenly stops and turns to me 

“You told me to put it in the backyard, does that me we are keeping it?!” He asks a hopeful smile spreading across his face 

I  bite my cheek, trying my best to not yell at him, my nails leaving a crescent mood shape in my palms as I squeeze my hands tighter. 

“5!” I say, counting down, watching as he instantly turns to the back door rushes outside placing the small creature on the grass beneath him. 

I let out a sigh relief, pushing some of my h/c out of my face, and walking over to the back door. As I reach the door frame I notice Bokuto standing in front of the skunk, his hands on his knees watching as the animal wobbles around in the unfamiliar area. I wasn’t going to say anything, but that was until I noticed the animal moving a little closer to the large man. 

“Honey, get away from the skunk” I warn, watching as it notices the large man hovering over it 

“Oh it’s okay Y/n, it can’t hurt me” He assures, waving me off as he watches the animal intently

I bite my lip, watching the two interact, a little nervous that Bokuto will get sprayed and I’ll have to be the one to wash him off. 

“It can’t hurt you, but I sure can” I said, my eyes following the small two toned creature

The skunk wobbles up to Bokuto, sniffing him, before letting out a small squeak. I step forward a bit, getting closer enough to Bokuto that if needed, I could pull him by his shirt and bring him back into the house. My eyes look from my boyfriend then down to the skunk, just in time to see the animal turning from Bokuto and lifting its tail up. 

“Bokuto move!” I say going to reach out to him, but just as my hand touches the back of his shirt the skunk sprays him part of it getting on me

I stand close to Bokuto awestruck, the strong smell of rotten eggs starting to fill my nose. I gag as the smell gets worse, the skunk running away from the both of us, heading off to the woods that were behind the house.  

“Bokuto you fucking idiot I told you to move away from it!” I yelled, turning around and move away from him 

“I thought it was a cat” He says staring at the ground where the skunk used to stand 

I freeze as I start to take my shirt off, turning back around to look at my boyfriend. 

“Your’re joking right?” I ask, hoping that he was just fucking with me

Without an actual response, Bokuto turns to me, sadness in his eyes. My heart drops a little as I see how upset he was from the skunk running away. 

“Kou,” I say softly, moving my hands from the hem of shirt and walking over to him “Honey, I’m sorry but you can be so dumb sometimes” I say, holding back a small laugh as I place a hand on his back, rubbing gently 

Bokuto turns to me, a frown on his face as he notices me trying to hold back a laugh. I smile at him as our eyes lock, but it’s cut short as the smell of the skunk spray gets stronger. 

“Okay, we can make up later, but right now you need to take those clothes off” I say trying to waft the smell away from my nose 

Bokuto’s frown instantly turns into a smirk as I finish my sentence, an eyebrow raising. My eyes widen as I realize where his mind went 

“Hey you pervert!” I yell slapping him lightly on the back “I’m not doing anything with you until you get rid of that smell” I continue, motioning the now skunk sprayed clothes of his 

“Awe come on it wasn’t my fault it sprayed me” Bokuto complained, the frown back on his face

I roll my eyes with a laugh, turning around and making my way back to the house, stopping as I reach the doorstep to take off my shirt that was also sprayed. My hand grip the hem of my shirt, slowly lifting it off of me, before throwing it to the side letting it fall on the cement steps.  As I reach down the cool button of my shorts I feel two large hands rest on top of mine, the contrasting coolness of my skin and the warmth of the hands feeling oddly calming. I turn gaze over to the left my eyes meeting the forehead of Bokuto, as his head dips down to my neck his lips grazing over the soft skin of my collarbone. 

“H-Hey” I say, stuttering as the warmth of his breath fans against me

Bokuto’s fingers lightly tap against my hands, his fingertips finding their way to the button of my shorts and undoing it without a problem. My back was pressed against his clothes chest, the feeling of his heart beating against my back sending a chill through me. I feel him smirk against my neck as his lips finally connect to my skin, a gasp leaving my mouth as he bites down gently. One of his hands slowly moves up from my shorts, the tips of his calloused fingers tracing small patterns on the skin of my exposed stomach. 

“K-Kou” I begin, trying my best to get a sentence out past the soft moans that leave my throat 

Bokuto’s kisses slowly being to move up from my neck up to my jawline, bitting and sucking on the sensitive skin as he went, hickeys almost certainly are going to be left behind. A soft moan comes out of my mouth as Bokuto softly bites my ear lobe, the pressure making my eyes flutter close. I turn my head, my lips inches away from his. A smile crosses my face as his breath blows against my face, his golden eyes staring into my e/c ones. 

“Kou” I whisper, my lips brushing against his, my hands moving to rest a top his 

“Hm?” Bokuto hums, waiting for me to continue 

I lean closer to his lips, a smile growing on his face as my soft lips connect with his only to separate from him after a few seconds, a whine coming from Bokuto. I reach a hand up and gently place it against his face, my thumb running across his cheek. 

“Go take a bath” I whisper against his lips, a large frown taking placing of the lustful look Bokuto had 

I gently pat his cheek, before I move from his grasp and step into the house. Turning around and watching as he starts to take his clothes off, placing them with my discarded shirt. My eyes immediately move to scan his chest, his very well built chest. A blush crosses my cheeks as I watch him strip, although I’ve see this man naked many times I can’t help but get flustered watching as his muscles move. 

“H-Hurry up and get into the bathroom” I say, quickly turning my gaze from him and heading to the kitchen 

My cheeks still hot and flushed as I reach up and grab a couple cans of tomato sauce remembering my mom telling that it could be used to help rid the smell of skunk. I stand on my tiptoes, reaching up and grabbing a couple cans. 

“Need help?” Bokuto’s voice rings out, almost making me jump as I feel him come up behind me 

I look down at the counter top before looking behind me to see a smile on his face as his bare chest is almost touching my back. Rolling my eyes I scoff, crossing my arms and looking up at him 

“Please” I mumbled, his deep laugh filling my ears

Bokuto’s body presses up against mine, pushing me against the counter as he reaches up and grabs a couple more large cans of tomato sauce. The weight of his body lifts as he takes a steps back, a smile on his face. I turn around and look up at him, taking a couple cans from the counter top  that I had already managed to get down. 

“Bathroom, now” I say and motion for him to head towards the room 

I watch as his shoulders drop and with yet another frown he walks towards the bathroom, a couple more cans of sauce in his hands. Letting out a laugh, I lean against the counter, watching as he makes his way down the hallway leading to the bathroom. Bokuto may be a idiot at times, but at least he’s my idiot.

[quicktothebatjalopy]

The Creative Process, or: How to write a novel.

“Find something you would like to create with. This can be with plasticine, papier mache, words, pipe cleaners and sequins, colored pencils, construction paper, popsicle sticks, or other media. -Sit down and fidget with your materials. Build a little hut out of words and popsicle sticks. Call it "Abraham Lincoln's Log Cabin, No Trademark Infringement Intended." -Put it on your desk and be proud. Feel refreshed. Show it to your friends. Six months later, notice it collecting dust. Think, huh, that could be better. -Take it apart. Put it together. Fix the roofline. Use some plasticine for stickum this time. Give it a styrofoam chimney. -Put it back on your desk. Six months later, add some pipe clearer smoke to the chimney, with the cool wooly pipe cleaners. Call it "Abraham Lincoln's Log Cabin V. 2.0, No Trademark Infringement Intended." Take the pipe cleaner smoke off again. Call it "Abraham Lincoln's Boyfriend's Log Cabin, No Trademark Infringement Intended." -Make bricks for the chimney out of sequins. Pin them on with straight pins. -Color the popsicle sticks in with magic marker. Decide you don't like it. Start over with fresh popsicle sticks. Call it "Not Your Daddy's Lincoln Log Cabin, No Trademark Infringement Intended." Decide you don't like that either. Make little pipe cleaner people and animals and put them around. Act out their soap-opera daily dramas. (Oh, Momma, Billy's in with the sheep again!) Call it: "When Laura Ingalls Wilder Went Down On The Farm, No Suggestion Of Libelous Intent Intended." -Try tempera paint this time. Hmm. Better. -Dab white glue on the chimney sequins with a q-tip because they are too shiny and don't look like real bricks. Color in the tempera-painted popsicle sticks with charcoal and chalk, to add shading and texture. Experiment with watercolor. -Collect spruce needles and pine cones. Start gluing the spruce needles around the base of the house as foundation plantings. Call it "My Farm In A Time Of Hard Drought, or: This Is Not The Tempest." Snicker about it when people ask. Notice a beetle infestation. Spray. Leave it outside until the smell comes off. Start shingling the roof with pine cone scales. -Realize they clash with the sequins. -Unpin the sequins. Replace them with glued-on dried navy, kidney, black, and pinto beans. Hey, it's a fieldstone fireplace. what? Make a ragged door out of piece of bark. Realize you do not know how to hang it. Lean it up against the side of the house. -Steal the brass knob off the top of the pepper mill for a doorknob. Whistle when your husband asks you if you've seen the little bit that goes on top of the pepper thing. Turn the house around to face the wall for a week or two. Finish shingling the back of the roof. Get some sphagnum moss and tiny silk roses, and go around under the eaves with it. -In the back. -Where nobody will ever see it. Defend this by saying it was how your grandmother said one should finish a quilt, even the bits on the inside. Well, she didn't say sphagnum moss, exactly. Take off all the pine cone scales are try again with a different species. Hmm. Maybe maple helicopters? Figure out that you can hinge the door with bent sewing pins and scraps of leather shoelace. It hangs crooked. Put a hook-and-eye latch on the other side to straighten it out. Call it, "My Side Of The Mountain With A Builder's Permit." -Spend about a day and a half fiddling with your Real! Working! Door!, making the little pipecleaner people go in and out. Borrow your brother's skillsaw. Cut windows. Realize the tempera and charcoal detailing looks faker than fake. -Glaze the windows with hand-split flakes of mica. Put tiny christmas lights around the edges of the windows so they glow from within. Forget to make a hole for the plug. -Borrow the skillsaw again. Go on vacation with your family. Spend the entire time sitting on the beach fiddling with sand and shells, thinking about patterns. Come back and add a driftwood tree, and a sea-glass walkway border. Try to figure out how to glue down sand so it doesn't look terrible. -Ask for a skillsaw for the holidays. Realize that if you use a THIRD species of pine cone for the roof, you can make siding out of maple helicopter shakes. Spend about five weeks painstakingly applying these by hand. -Realize the result looks like ass, but you finally got the roof right this time. -Take all the maple helicopters off again and use them to make furniture instead, with rose-hip chair cushions. -Realize that you could have just used spray adhesive. Suffer a crisis of faith. Berate yourself as a stupid failure. Play with the little people and the furniture until you calm down. Get some cat-tail stems. Split them painstakingly in half and cut them to size. Glue them over the popsicle sticks. Now, *that* looks like a cabin. And nobody will ever notice that bit in the back where the overlap is a little rough. -Tuck some sphagnum moss into it, just to be sure. -And a tiny silk rose. Realize it's done. -Look at it for a day or two, just to be sure. Set up all the pipe cleaner people, give them tiny little acorn cap hats and flowerstem walking sticks. Give one a pair of dragonfly wings and another one a feather. Realize that no, the feather goes on this one, instead. Call it "Midnight In The Garden Of The Fairy Hut." -The best pipe cleaner animal is always the pony. You don't know why; you just have a knack for ponies. -Love all the little pipe cleaner people and animals so much it's very hard to do what you have to do next. Realize that the pine cone scales, in the cold of winter, have wept tiny golden droplets of sap all over the roof, where they catch the light and smell of summer. Realize you never could have got that effect on purpose in a thousand patient years. -Stall. Make a tiny, tiny lashed ladder from birch twigs and bark. Run it up under the eaves to the attic window. Secure it with a drop of Krazy Glue. -Hey, it dries clear. Nobody will ever know. -Stall. Finally, on a bright cool day in early June, take the whole thing outside, set it on the patio, douse it in lighter fluid and set it on fire. But make it look like an electrical fire, not arson. -Take pictures before and after, and all the while it burns. -Go through and pick out the best ones. Be surprised by the color of the flames. Call it, "Ladder in the woods." Hang the pictures in a gallery. Try to look uninterested as you listen to people exclaim, "I really think she should have used sequins for the chimney!" and "Hey, there's a bit in the back here where the cat-tail stems are messed up" and "You know, the pony is much better than all the other animals," and "Oh! Look! A tiny silk rose!!!" -Love that last person with all your heart. Love them so much you have to leave the room for a moment to compose yourself. Think, I knew I put that rose there for someone. I just didn't know at the time that it was you. Looking at the pictures, realize you have figured out how to do a better job on the chimney after all. -And the next one is going to have a barn. And a second story. -And maybe a pub next door, God willing. Leave the pictures on the wall of the gallery. Walk away, thinking, "That doesn't look a thing like the house, really, but I still kind of like it." Endure a moment of intense melancholy while you think about the pony. When you go home, rake the cool ashes for the bits of sea glass and the knob to the pepper mill, and save them--cracked and discolored--in an opaque jar on the corner of your desk. When your husband wanders in and asks what smells like burning, sniff thoughtfully and pretend you don't notice a thing.”

-E. Bear

[stanbillyhargrove]

Demons - an AU rewritten

Cat x Steve 💜

A/N: Billy is an asshole. Cat finds love in the arms of Steve

T/W: Eating disorder, self harm, suicide attempts, mention of sexual assault

Cat's POV

Another party. Another house full of nameless faces. Another night of barely managing panic with burning alcohol.

What the queen must do for her king.

Push down the memories. Smile. Accept every drink and more. Dance, laugh. Don't freak when a stray hand touches, it's harmless fun, right?

Right.

I lost Billy early on in the night, swept away in a sea of jocks to protect his crown. I was left behind, letting the music pound through my bones as I joined the crowd of dancers. I was well and truly wasted by the time I saw Billy across the room. He was standing in the kitchen, arms crossed against his chest as he stared at me. Saw a pack of guys I barely recognized around him, talking and laughing and then...gesturing at me. I watched Billy's shoulders tense, rolling back tightly as they kept talking to him. Watched his jaw tense and his eyes darken.

The guys around him stared and I glanced away when flashes of memory came back, making panic swell. Felt myself being bumped around by chaotic dancers when I stopped moving. Just a moment, a moment of blood pounding in my ears. Of trying to gulp down breaths. My hands came up to my chest, like I could hold myself together and stop my heart from thundering out of my ribs if I just held tight enough.

A moment of panic taking over until I felt a large hand on my arm, yanking me through the crowd. I stumbled along, just trying to stay upright until I was pulled outside, being shoved down the driveway by a very angry Billy.

"Wait, Billy, slow down! You're hurting me!"

He let go of my arm with the next push forward, my hands flying up to catch myself on the hood of his car before I ended up face first in the gravel.

"Billy! What the fuck?"

"Get in the fucking car," he growled, storming around to the driver's side and slamming the door shut behind him.

I crawled into the passenger seat, tucking myself against the door as he peeled out of the driveway. He was weirdly quiet, muscles clenching in his jaw and hands flexing on the steering wheel. Beyond angry.

"B, what's wrong?"

The engine revved louder, creeping up to dangerous speeds as we whipped around corners.

"B, please. Slow down," I pleaded, reaching out to graze his arm.

He flinched, "don't."

"Don't? Billy, what's wrong?"

"Don't play fucking dumb!" He yelled, "you cheated on me!"

I stared at him, dumbfounded and whispered, "what?"

He stomped on the brake, launching me forward until my seatbelt locked, digging into skin to stop me from flying into the dashboard. Let out a loud huff of breath as he threw the car into park and then...he exploded.

"The last summer party, I wasn't there so you threw yourself at them. What? You're so needy you couldn't handle being alone for a few fucking hours so you sleep with a fucking group of guys?"

I shook my head, "no...I, that's not..."

"Quit lying to me! They told me all about it, that you asked for it! They bragged about how good you were. You refuse to sleep with me but a group of strangers is fine? Seriously? Just to fuck with my head? To get back at me? Well, good fucking job! You got me!"

"B...no..I didn't..."

"Get out," he muttered.

I quickly glanced out the window behind him, at the blackness of the night, the houses I knew were closer to his house than mine.

"B..."

"Get out of my car, you fucking whore!"

I scrambled to get out of the car, barely holding back tears until he peeled away.

I collapsed just inside the door of my house when I finally got home. Fell against the door, hugging my knees and sobbing loudly into them. Crawled to the phone, pulling it down to the floor to dial. It took a while before he finally answered.

"Hello?" His voice was low and groggy, still mostly asleep.

"Stevie?" I sobbed, "I need you."

"Five minutes," he murmured before hanging up.

I curled up on the floor, feeling like my chest was cracking open. A jagged chasm starting at my heart and spreading out, threatening to break me to pieces and swallow me down.

I didn't hear Steve's car pull into the driveway, didn't notice the front door opening. I just suddenly felt myself being scooped up, pulled forward into a warm chest and tucked under his chin. Holding me together.

Steve sat there, running his hand up and down my back as I cried into his chest. The soft material of his shirt soaking up saltwater until it clung to his skin.

"It's okay," he murmured into my hair, "I'm here. I'm always here."

-- Steve's POV

Cat and I had been inseparable for the past couple weeks since her and Billy broke up. I'd spent more nights wrapped around her then I spent by myself. I found myself having nightmares more often that not and preferred to not spend the night alone, but we would compromise with calling each other if we had to be apart.

Nightmares where I was running through a sea of people, struggling to break free of them. Where I knew Cat was in danger but I could never find her until it started raining. Cold water poured from the sky, dissolving the people I'd been pushing through until I was face to face with Cat. "Why didn't you save me?" She'd cry. The rain turned to acidic blood, burning me and staining her skin as I watched her shrinking before my eyes. Skin stretched tight over jutting bones until it burst, leaving jagged rips in her skin. "Why didn't you save me?" She'd cry again. "I'm trying!" I'd scream. But she always dissolved into ash, floating away into nothing. Then I'd jolt awake, panting and panicked, sometimes waking Cat and Rocky when I did. Cat would roll over to sleepily nuzzle her face into my bare chest and stretch her hand across my stomach to intertwine her fingers with mine while murmuring, "it's okay, I'm here, Stevie." The nights I didn't wake her, I'd wrap my arms tight around her, holding my breath as I waited to feel her chest moving and then I'd sigh into her hair and wait for sleep to take me again.

She had eventually stopped crying every night, but I could tell she was hiding how she was really feeling. Even though she would laugh and smile around me, I could still see her slowly wasting away, could see hollows become darker and angles become sharper. I could see the hurt that she had buried deep inside. I wanted nothing more than to take that away, to bring the light back to her life and keep her protected. To stop my nightmares from becoming reality.

Tonight, Cat had gone home by herself with the promise to call me later. She had said she wanted to spend some time with her mom. But it was nearing eleven o'clock and I still hadn't heard from her, usually if she was alone she would have called by nine or ten. My worry got the best of me and I decided to just drive over and check on her.

I was met with a quiet house. Too quiet. I ducked into Cat's room first and found it empty except for Rocky. I padded over to the bathroom and knocked lightly on the door.

"Cat? You in here?"

I waited in silence for a moment before pushing the door open and freezing. I felt like my heart had dropped into my stomach and kicked up into my throat at the same time. My throat was so tight I didn't think I was actually breathing, except I could hear the quick, panicky breaths I was taking.

Cat was lying in a tub full of water, only wearing a bra and underwear. I'd seen her naked before, knew that she was sick but there was still no way to be prepared. No way to prepare yourself to see the hollows between her bones, the new and old scars across her body. It broke my heart to see her, to know that I wasn't able to protect her from this. From herself.

Her head lolled against the side of the tub, just barely out of the water. I lurched forward, dropping down hard on my knees next to the tub and yanked the plug out before grabbing the sides of her face.

"Cat, hey!" I gently slapped her cheek, trying to wake her up.

I saw her eyes twitch and felt a moment of relief. I looked around for a towel and saw an empty bottle of aspirin lying on the ground next to the tub.

"Fuck," I muttered, "fuck, fuck, fuck, okay."

I knew what I had to try, had heard what to do in this situation before. So I climbed into the tub behind her, holding her cold, wet body against my chest and reached forward to turn the shower on. Warm water sprayed over us, soaking my clothes.

"Come on, Cat," I pleaded, pressing my fingers past her lips, "please, don't leave me."

I pressed harder, my fingers dipping into her throat. I tensed when her body jerked and kept pushing my fingers down her throat until she puked. Tipped her forward to direct the puke into the drain and then leaned back to let her head rest on my shoulder.

"Hey, come on, Cat. Wake up, please."

I tried to shake her, which only resulted in a small groan. I had to force her to puke twice more before she started coughing and her eyes fluttered open.

"Oh my god," I sighed, wrapping my arms around her, "it's okay, I'm here, I've got you."

She tipped her head into my chest and started crying, clutching my shirt in her hands.

"Why...why would you...?"

"I didn't-"

"Don't...there's no way you can tell me this isn't exactly what it looks like. Why didn't you call me?"

She curled tighter against me and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to hold back tears.

"I'm sorry," she whimpered, "I'm so sorry, Stevie."

"Hey," I soothed, "we're okay, I've got you."

I leaned forward to turn the water off and pulled Cat up and out of the tub.

"Where are the towels?"

She gestured towards a closet and I got her to sit on the edge of the tub before I went to gather towels. When we were mostly dried off I picked her up and carried her to her room where I set her on the edge of her bed and kneeled down to look at her.

"Cat, where's your mom?"

"Gone, another work thing," she murmured, "said she'd be gone for a while."

"Come stay with me."

"Stevie, I'm okay...I swear, I didn't...it was an accident."

I reached forward to grab her hands in mine, "you don't have to lie to me, I want to help you. Pack a bag and come stay with me."

I was able to hold myself together until Cat was unpacking in my room and I left to empty medicine cabinets and hide the contents. It hit me then that I had just saved her life. That there had been a possibility of losing my best friend. I broke, sitting at the kitchen table. Buried my face in my hands and just let the sobs wrack my body until my throat felt hoarse.

Soon enough, small, cool hands wrapped around me and I felt Cat's face nuzzle into the crook of my neck. Felt the saltwater on her face as it dragged, soothing heated skin. I reached up with one arm, my fingers sliding through damp hair to hold her close.

I shivered when I felt her lips against my neck as she whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Stevie."

--

I had a new nightmare now. I was walking on a beach, surrounded by eery silence even though waves crashed angrily next to me. The moonlight cast a silver shine off the top of the water but there still wasn't enough light for me to see further than what was right in front of me. And then a flash of lightning and suddenly, I could hear everything. The roar of the water, the sand sliding under my feet, a mournful siren wailing in the distance, it was too much, too loud to think. I was running, feet sinking deep into the sand, running as fast as I could but going nowhere. Then another flash of lightning and everything settled. Crashing waves stilled, frozen in the air. The wailing didn't stop though, just became quieter and more haunting. My feet were stuck in the sand when I saw her, washed up on the beach. Cat's pale skin had started to turn blue. I struggled, trying to get to her, but the more I fought, the deeper I sunk in the sand. I tried to claw my way out, desperate to save her, but my arms were swallowed up. The sand consumed me until my head was barely above it and I couldn't move anymore. Another flash of lightning and the waves came down on her, sweeping her away. In an instant, she was gone, carried off into the dark. My screaming only stopped when sand filled my mouth.

--

The nightmares were catching up to me, keeping me up at night and exhausted all day. I'd been struggling to stay awake all day, my eyes getting heavier and heavier as the day wore on.

"What happened, Harrington? You look like shit. You know she's just another whore," Billy sneered, leaning against the lockers next to me, "not worth losing sleep over."

I rolled my eyes and huffed, "fuck off, Hargrove."

"Unless she's keeping you up a different way?" He smirked, a cruel glint in his eye, "that your thing? Get some friends together and pass her around? I hear she begs for it. You should invite me some time, I never got a chance."

I knew it was stupid, that he was bigger than me, stronger than me and could easily pummel me into the ground. But it didn't stop me from throwing the first punch. I got in a few punches before I was down on the ground, no longer fighting, just trying to protect my face.

All around us, people were yelling. Some cheering on the fight, some screaming for us to stop. Suddenly, Billy was yanked off me and held back by one of the guys on the football team. I was helped up to my feet, my head pounding as I glared at him.

"She was raped, you fucking asshole!" I spat, "those creeps drugged and raped your girlfriend and you just tossed her to the side! She needed help and you abandoned her!"

I didn't even realize that had come out of my mouth until I heard the reaction of the crowd around us. The gasps and murmuring. Billy's face dropped just before I heard.

"Steve?"

I turned to see Cat behind me, her face full of hurt and shock, eyes wide and full of tears. I knew I had fucked up, big time.

She turned and ran. Away from the school and away from me.

--

"Steve, I can't do this anymore. People won't stop talking, whispering behind my back. I don't know what's worse, the pitying looks some people give me or the accusing looks from people who still believe the lies. All I know is...I'm sorry...love you, Stevie."

Cat's voice on the answering machine sent chills down my spine. It was hollow, cold and lifeless. I knew what that voice meant, where her head was. I grabbed my keys and ran out to my car, cursing every second that ticked by.

I found her, barely conscious in a pool of blood. Choked on my sobs as I wrapped her wrists in bandages with shaking hands. Carried her to her room and helped her change into clean clothes before tucking her into bed. Saw the way her bones were even more prominent now than ever before. I stained my hands red cleaning up her blood and threw clothes and towels into the laundry machine. Scrubbed my hands raw trying to clean them before giving up and grabbing Cat something to drink and going back to her room.

I sat down on the edge of her bed with a heavy sigh, "Cat, you're out of control."

"Stevie.." she breathed.

"You lied...you lied to me and said you were fine," I choked, trying and failing to keep myself together, "I can't keep doing this, Cat. I can't let you keep destroying yourself...I can't lose you."

"I'm sorry..I don't mean to be a problem.."

I blinked tears out of my eyes and looked over at her, "please. Please, Cat. You need help. I can help you get treatment, or we can try to get through this ourselves but you need to want help. You need to let me help you," I pleaded, "please."

"I don't think I can.."

"You can, I believe in you. I'll be here to help, I'm always here for you. I won't give up on you. Please, try...for me? Let me take care of you."

She looked down, away from me, "you don't have to, Stevie. It'll be awful work."

I shifted so I could grab the side of her face in my hand, "not to me, not if it's you...I know it won't be easy but I want to," I took a moment before blurting out, "I love you. I love you so much, Cat. Let me help you, please?"

I felt her hand on my cheek, her thumb moving to brush tears away. I clasped my other hand around hers keeping it there and leaned into her touch. Leaned into the thought that everything will be okay, that she'll be okay and just let myself have that.

--

I could see Cat coming across the parking lot towards my car, moving slowly and giving me a tired smile when she caught me staring. I'd spent the weekend with her, changing bandages and doing my best to get her to eat small bits of food throughout the day. Something to try and bring her energy up, but she had slept most of the weekend and was still drained this morning. She wore one of my sweaters over her own, for extra warmth and for the longer sleeves to hide her bandages under.

She was almost at my car when Billy stepped out in front of her. Put himself between us and stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Cat, can we talk?"

She hesitated before jerking her head to nod, "okay."

"I just..I was a fucking asshole. I shouldn't have just taken their word, I should have asked you what happened."

"Thanks," she mumbled, trying to move around him.

Billy caught her wrist in his hand and I had to hold myself back when I saw her wince, her whole body tensing as she tried not to react.

"Wait, please," his grip loosened to slide up her arm as he drew closer.

My teeth were on edge, clenched together so tight I thought they'd crack. I kept Cat in my sight, ready to step in if she needed me.

"I love you," he murmured, "don't you get it? We could be together again."

She looked down for a moment, her eyes glassy when she looked past Billy's shoulder towards me. There was a moment where I thought she'd be back in his arms. I took a small step forward, waiting.

Cat stepped out of his grasp, "no, we can't."

She walked around him at the same time I continued forward to meet her halfway. I wrapped my arms around her when she buried her face in my chest and kissed the top of her head. I cast a glance toward Billy, who looked hurt and angry before storming off to his Camaro and tucked my face against Cat's hair. Breathed in her vanilla scent and felt love shining in my chest.

"I'm here, I've got you," I whispered, holding her tight.

--

"Stevie," Cat murmured, "is something going on?"

I took a deep breath and buried my face in the crook of her neck, shaking my head softly. I'm fine, I need to be fine.

She rolled in my arms so she could face me, "what is it? Talk to me."

My heart started to race as my eyes began to water. I tried to blink back the tears, I need to be fine.

"I'm fine," my voice wavered.

"Don't lie, not to me."

I blew out my breath, feeling my lip tremble when the words hit my tongue.

"What is it about me that's not good enough?"

"What?" She leaned up on her elbow, worry creasing her eyebrows.

Tears started to roll down my face, "am I doing something wrong?"

"Oh, Stevie," she soothed, her hand coming up to hold my face, "no, you're not doing anything wrong. Why would you think that?"

I held her hand tight, pressing it to my face and let my fears out, "you're not getting any better...and I just, I can't...those times I found you, I thought I'd lost you and it almost destroyed me. I don't, don't know what I'd do if you died...I couldn't bear it, not if I could have saved you. Please, tell me what you need...what can I do?"

--

"Stevie? What are you doing here?"

It was just starting to cool down as the sun began to set and I had planned a surprise date for us. The back of my car had everything I needed to take Cat on a picnic before driving out of town to the drive in theatre.

I reached out and took her hand in mine, "I planned a surprise date for us. If you want to come with me, that is."

She smiled, her eyes twinkling as she looked at me, "I'd love to. Do I need anything? Am I dressed okay?"

Cat was dressed in one of my sweaters, a dark blue one that hung loose over her frame and almost reached her knees, and a pair of dark leggings. Black hair piled messily on top of her head. She looked relaxed, beautiful.

"You're perfect," I murmured.

"A picnic?" Cat held her arms crossed over her waist, still nervous even though we'd been working together to help her get better, "I don't know..."

I flattened out a blanket overlooking the lake and turned back to her. Crossed to grab her hands in mine and loop them around my neck and smoothed my hands down her back.

"It's okay, I'm here," I whispered, touching my forehead to hers, "you can do this. You're so strong and so beautiful...inside and out. Trust me?"

Her fingers combed through my hair, sending chills down my spine, "yes."

I kissed her forehead softly before leading her to sit on the blanket and started pulling out the food I'd brought. I pulled out containers of fruit, cheese and crackers and a couple of drinks and set them down in front of us.

"This is only part one of our date, so I just brought a snack."

In truth, I knew bringing too much food would stress Cat out, but I made sure to pack things I knew she liked to hopefully get her to have more. She smiled, grabbed a bright, red strawberry from a container and scooted over so she could lean against me. 'Don't think, just eat,' was the motto we'd come up with so she started idly talking about her day, what she was going to do for the rest of the weekend and what she wanted my help with for class. We sat there and watched the sun set over Lover's Lake, just relaxing and enjoying our time together. Cat ended up eating more than I thought she would, distracted by talking until we realized the food was gone. She turned to me and beamed, practically glowing with happiness.

"Can I kiss you?" I murmured.

Her lips were sticky sweet, a smile stretching so far I could feel it. She twisted in my lap, wrapping her legs around my waist and tangling long fingers in my hair. I held her waist with one hand and her face with the other. With a sigh, her lips parted and her tongue cautiously swept across mine. She stole the air from my lungs like she needed it to keep her afloat and I happily let her. Would let her take my last breath if she needed. I forced myself to break the kiss, to tip my forehead against hers and try to catch my breath.

"I love you," I whispered, lips brushing against hers.

"I love you," she breathed.

--

"I don't want to die anymore."

I pulled my head back to look at her. She was curled against my chest as we laid in bed, a soft glow illuminating from a lamp. I slid my hand between the light sheet and Cat's bare skin, my fingers lightly running along her side. Cat twisted her hand in mine, tracing my palm absently. I stayed quiet, pressing a kiss the back of her head.

"I haven't for a while now...not even sure I wanted to before...I just, I felt like I was drowning, y'know?"

I nuzzled into her hair, "mhm.."

"I'm so sorry, Stevie...for everything. I wish that I could take it all back," she sniffed, "I wish I could have spared you...been a person, not a problem."

I shifted, rolling to look at Cat and holding her face in my hand. Wiped a tear away from her cheek with my thumb and shook my head lightly.

"I don't...if this was us meeting for the first time, I'd do it all again. The tears, anxiety and nightmares, everything...you understand? I'd go through hell if it meant I could hold your hand. You were never a problem, you needed help. I would go through that again and again because I love you."

She pressed her face into my hand, inhaling deeply and smiling, "I love you."

--

Through therapy, Cat found that she loved working out with me. She loved finding beauty in strength, loved pushing and challenging herself to do better every day. Muscle had been building under her skin, softening once harsh angles. She was a whole new person now, proud of the muscle that helped out lift me. Liked to make a show of opening jars for me just to make herself laugh. Sometimes, I'd purposely tighten lids just to see her smile when she pried them off.

Sure, we still had bad days. Days where I jolted awake in the middle of the night and held my breath as I waited to see Cat's chest slowly rise and fall. Days where Cat would stare out absently, fingers grabbing at curves or lightly tracing scarred skin. Scars that were hidden by tattoos now, invisible to anyone who didn't know. Days where we needed some extra love. But those times never lasted and became less frequent the more we grew.

Cat raced up the last of the hill, panting when she turned to smile at me.

"I beat you!"

I jogged up the last few steps and grabbed Cat tight, lifting and spinning her around.

"Steve!" She laughed, "put me down!"

I set her down, spinning her so we could both look out over the cliff at Lover's Lake. Set my chin on her shoulder and hugged her gently.

Looked over the water, shimmering silver in the golden light of the afternoon and decided this was perfect.

I turned my face into her neck, kissing gently and murmuring, "can I keep you?"

I was hyper aware of the weight in my pocket, of my fluttering heart and of her skin against mine.

She turned her face, looking over at me as much as she could, "what?"

I used one hand to spin her around, my other hand sliding into my pocket. With the cool metal between my fingers, I dropped to my knee.

"Cat, you are...everything to me. I want to wake up next to you every day, I want to take care of you and love you for the rest of my life..."

Her breath hitched and her fingers started to tremble in mine, her eyes tearing as she looked at me, "Stevie..."

I swallowed past the lump in my throat and looked up at her. At the love of my life, the one person I would lay down my own life for and asked.

@alias-b @charmed-asylum

[allstarsstorymode867]

All-Stars -Story Mode- CHAPTER 16 Part 1

Artists who helped me in this chapter are:

Pastalaxy (Known on DA and Amino)

@this-person-is-slowly-dying

and

@sampoststuff​

It’s all done finally!!~ Finally, it’s all done!

It took some time but the artist is finally able to get it done as they are fairly busy with other things they had to do first. I must apologize for the late post of the story, please enjoy the full chapter.

Chapter 16

-Back to Primis Richtofen the Dead Wonderer-

He ducked down to avoid the attack from the Alpha Hallow as it lunged out towards him, it rolled for about 2 minutes before stopping on its hind legs and then turned to screech at him for dodging.  Richtofen stood there in amazement to see that this one is standing like a velociraptor, had long arms like a human being yet all predatory.

Richtofen took a moment to think about his options, each were:

Either let it charge at him at full speed of a raptor and let it beat him up to oblivion.

Or use the knife given to him by the Cheshire Cat and fight it.

Then Hallow ran towards him again, Richtofen could once again hear Cheshire soothed “Is this the first time holding a knife as the creature who held lust for blood?” as he felt the grin that chilled him up the spine.

“It’s not my first time, I do know how to use one.” Richtofen urged as he fumbled around the Vorpal Knife in hand as he positioned himself to stand still for the incoming attack.

“Life you hold is quite fair, hollow, empty and a pair of void itself, truth be told as the mold breaks in half. Cut the enemy with your strife and black-painted heart of gold.” he hummed, which made Richtofen dislike him not only for his words but for his snarky attitude.

Alpha ran then jumped to land a kick on him but Richtofen thought fast such as turning and then using all of his might, slashed the leg and it was limpatated.

It screeches in pain as it holds it’s chopped leg as it lays on the sand underwater, cracks on it grow and spread to the hip as it’s fur changes to white a little bit. Richtofen looked at it in pain for a moment and then looked at the Vorpal blade in hand and he could’ve sworn he had seen his reflection’s skin color changed into more pale than his and his eyes had turned blood red and cried with blood before flipping back to normal.

“Vhat in…” he thought at the alarming rate before the Alpha Hallow had gotten back on three legs and then lunging out and grabs the Doctor before pinning him on the ground. In the vulnerable position, Richtofen tries to get it off of him as it uses his strength to push itself closer to him and then with horrid force, it lunged and then bites him on the shoulder.

He yelled in pain as he felt it’s teeth digging in the flesh and blood sprayed in each direction, pain spiking through him with distressing high tolerance. Then he felt something crawling inside his veins with a biting morbid feeling like a sick virus.

He can feel it but doesn’t want to know what will happen next if he lets it continue, so he reaches out for the Vorpal Blade as he struggles to break free from the creature’s grip. He screamed and kicked at the Hallow on top of him as he had gotten closer and closer to the blade just within reach point.

Using the tip of his fingers, he scoots the handle of the knife closer to his hand until he managed to get a hold of it, he then uses his bad arm to hold the Alpha steady above him and despite how much pain he is in, he doesn’t care if it is getting worse and getting this thing off of him is the highest priority at this point.

He then begins to stab and slash it as hard as he could, it was enough to hurt it badly and it is his chance, he rolled and he was on top of it now and he had just let it lose on it, he slashed and hacked at the Hallow with the angry grunts at first but then it turned into a dreaded cold laughter.

He had no idea where it was coming from but he knows those laughs are coming from him, he can’t see with his vision turning red, red…. Blood red…

He then heard a whimper and a crack came soon after what he had blindly done to the Alpha Hallow, he rose up and then laughed once again with an eerie chill in his bone of his very being.

He felt pain that was fading away and the smell of smoke came, a sign of self-healing is what he knew as the wound began to heal quickly.

“Hehehe! Look at zhe blood! Zhe beautiful blood!~” he creepily sung as he was grinning from ear to ear like a madman who had committed a shocking gruesome murder. Then a voice came from him, his voice who had witnessed this with horrific feeling of fear, it had said “Nein, vhat am I doing?”

[Drawn by TikTak, known as @this-person-is-slowly-dying on Tumblr]

“Vhat am I doing…??” he repeats himself in advancing terrible fear as he looked at the weaken Hallow while he had recalled what he had done to it. He knows that he had gone feral and committed an inhuman act on one creature he had just discovered.

He looked at the Hallow and saw that it is now different in its current state, it is now dying with it’s fur which is nearly white and each crack was caused with each stab he inflicted into its body and one of the cracks had formed another symbol he had recognized: Omega Ω.

“From Alpha where it had started out as strong and humble as it may be as it once was but now, weaken from countless attacks and has now been reduced to it’s last breath as Omega Hallow.” Cheshire Cat said as he manifested himself once more on top of a rock and looked at Richtofen.

“Omega Hallow?” Richtofen questioned with curiosity and confusion as he continued to look at him. Cheshire’s tail swayed behind him with a consent grin on his face as he continued to explain “Omega for a Hollowed Crystalline Creature has a meaning, meaning of Omega is the end, the end of a Hallow after attack after another. As soon as the last breath is let out, it will fall into pieces as it lays into one last rest yet…” he then looked at the Omega Hallow who is letting out shallow breaths between whimbers.

“After the end of a Hallow, a new life will be lifted from the pieces and gifted the power of a phoenix except with it being in reverse.” he told the Doctor who is looking at the dying Omega Hallow.

“Vhat do you do vith zhis? Kill it quick or…?”

“Not a best option of mind, Edward,” Cheshire Cat quickly answered, “When new life is created, a newborn Hallow will be watched over like a hawk by others, me, myself and I had known as much as I knew and being more of a treated like a new queen of Wonderland.”

“Best to leave it here zhen?” Richtofen asked as he turned to look at him, “For the better to spare a new life coming from a Hallow soon.” Cheshire Cat accepted with glee and then his ear perks up and then looks at the direction that would lead out of the Underwater world and then looked at the Doctor again and gasped “We must hurry, the White Rabbit is now waiting.” before jumping off of the rock and then runs towards the direction.

Richtofen looked at the Cat and then at the Omega Hallow and then ran after him in that direction.

Passing through fishes and seaweed across the sea he came across, he ran to catch up to him as the water is slowly turning darker and seeing a dim lights of lantern as the surface is slowly lowering and getting closer to him and then, he eventually came to the surface with a splash and a gasp.

He looked around the new area he had come as he was drenched in water and shaking it off of him. He is in a swamp-like area but more beautiful-like. With lanterns that were already lit with an eerie yellow glow illuminating the path before him and purple flowers of some kind are blooming from the surfacing grounds of the swamp.

“Best hurry, he is getting impatient.” He heard the Cheshire Cat once more but he is nowhere to be seen. He decides to take his word and then soon walked down the road that is covered in water after he stood up on his legs on the shallow end of the river.

An alluring ambience of the swamp is quite strange yet enchanting in his eyes, medieval acoustic guitar and other instruments are sounding off in unison and keeping up the tempo of the music as one.

He wasn’t sure if this is captivating or something sombar but he tried not to want too much thought into it and just enjoyed the music the swamp is giving off. He eventually found the White Rabbit who is checking his pocket watch periodically as he is wearing a top hat, a red 1870’s coat with a pinkish dress shirt and a red pink tie with a bag that looped across his back and chest, he had a brace on his right leg. Once again, with Shaw’s voice he said “You are terribly late, Edward.”

[Digitally drawn by Meaghan “Icefir” Halter]

“I am sorry for being late, Mr. Rabbit, Uh… Mr. White Rabbit?” Richtofen greeted the White Rabbit rather awkwardly as he looked at the pocket watch before closing it and then placing it back in his pocket of his coat.

“Call me whatever you like, Edward, “Rabbit” will do the most.” The White Rabbit offered before turning to look at the Doctor and the German saw the side of his face, it was burned and blinded in one of his green eyes like Stanton. “Time you’ve wasted was very poor yet still, there’s more of it to explain it though.”

“Explain vhat?” he asked, “Zhe situation ve’re in?”

White Rabbit nodded as he turned his back on him and then walked a bit ahead with Richtofen following suit. “Something, an entity I believe, is kidnapping people into it’s universe for a bloody battle royale. People she dimmed fit, special, out-standing and to put it simply, just magnificent and wonderful.” then he hopped on top of the moss-covered log and then looked around.

“I believe I’m barely aware vho vas behind all of zhis madness, Rabbit” Richtofen spoke with little hesitation as he slowed to a stop to listen more. “No, you are not. Even Alice didn’t know who she was either but she had told me one thing we can know for sure.” Rabbit continued with a stir before checking his pocket watch once again and then shows it was switching to 3:45 then to 8:23 then to 1:54 and then to 12:09 and it just goes on and on to the point Richtofen was trying to make out what time it was before the White Rabbit closes it.

“As you can see; whatever she is doing is messing up time itself but I am glad this is only happening in this land, created by the mind of you and her.” Rabbit explained to the bewildered German, “If it gets worse, then I am scared that to say that yesterday would’ve been a great time to start.” he said as he turned his back again then jumps off the rock as Richtofen said “Vhat do you mean, White Rabbit?”

“What I mean, Edward, is that she has been bringing each universe, including yours, together as one and making it her own, let’s call it “the multiverse” for an example. One thing Alice noticed right away is that each of the universe she brought had each time of their own and here, my pocket watch, is trying to decide each time to know over the other.” he expanded.

“I am aware of their dimensions und timelines.” Richtofen said as he nodded and that led the White Rabbit to nod as well. “But vhy is zhis connected to zhis?” he asked out of curiosity.

“To this?” he said, shaking as well, “We had no idea but it felt like it, yet she believes that people that were taken were for a purpose. Everything has a reason but sometimes it doesn't.”

Richtofen looked around uncomfortably and then looked at the Rabbit once again and said “I had encountered an Alpha Hallow earlier that had vas trying to kill me, I believe it vas somewhat involved vith zhis.”

Rabbit then looked at him with a bit of worry on his face and then questioned “Did it bite you? While being held down?”

Richtofen was taken aback by this rapid response from him, took a step back and stuttered “J-ja? I-I had blacked out after going somewhat insane and nearly killed it.” then explained what had happened.

Rabbit seemed relieved and looked at the Doctor who was still hanging back with a solid minute, and then he asked “Do you feel corrupted in a way?”

“Nein, but only moments before it fades away.” he answered as he had looked at the wound to see how bad it had gotten and would need to be treated but to his surprise, it was healed and gone like it had never existed.

The Rabbit seemed to take notice and then hops over to the German to inspect it and sees his shoulder for any tears of his coat and any blood yet to see further, he poked it and he felt a mark under the fabric.

“Ah, you had stopped it before it had fully corrupted you. You should consider yourself lucky for that.” he confirmed it with words as Richtofen then placed his hand on his shoulder, feeling the marks where the Alpha had left them before letting out a sigh from his mouth.

“This is just insane.” he said, then as he ran forward again as Rabbit Shaw walked- more likelihood, hopped after him. He found a clearing through the forest line of the swamp and then narrowly managed to stop himself from going over the edge of the floating island they were on.

“Edward!'' The Rabbit managed to catch up to the Doctor on time when he had looked down the seemingly endless pit sky-like oblivion with little spots of green and sea blue below like there was surface below. “You should watch where you are going in Otherlands, Especially in Londerland and Wonderland.” he explained, “As for the Cheshire Cat, he must return to Alice Liddell, more of these things are getting more fierce. Demanding on how long she will remain as her strength wasn’t going to last forever.”

“I vas vrong Mr. Rabbit Shaw- Or just Rabbit…!” The German failed to find words to this dilemma of a whole dream-mental-life-like situation he had put himself in, “This is madness! I must’ve gone mad…”

Rabbit Shaw after Richtofen had sat down to rest his legs for a short while and then looked up to the confused man before him with his hand on his hip, looking at the White Rabbit before him.

[Drawn by @sampoststuff​ on Tumblr]

“What can I say?” Rabbit Shaw sighed softly as he looked up to the human man before him, “All of us here is mad.” as Richtofen viewed the floating islands in the horizon, looking at a statue of a girl crying with two waterfalls falling out of her eyes.

“I see that you are looking at the Vale of Tears, a bewitching place I’d say.” Rabbit Shaw murmured with refined confidence, “And from what I am seeing right now…” he continued as he looked at the far end of the Vale of Tears are slowly turned purple and crystals formed with cyan and reddish purple colors as they glowed, corrupting the half of that island.

“Strange, it’s growing.” Rabbit Shaw muttered under his breath as Richtofen looked at whatever he is looking at and is concerned with much little brutish curiosity. “Vhat is zhe damage so far?”

“At a dense unmerciful rate without doubt, crude as it sounds and seems but the crystals are growing and spreading across the land, corrupting everything it could touch with an impure lust. Think of a cannibalistic virus willing to eat everything and everyone on the dinner table but still want more?”

“Corruption?” Richtofen asked, “A train that is twisted with insanity and ruin that horrorifly anyone nearby, Edward, I am no wizard but I do know how to make potions here and there that we can very much use to our advantage.” Rabbit explained further as he searched his pockets and then found a potion with reddish purple liquid in it.

“Zhis?”

“Yes, yes indeed.” Rabbit Shaw answered with quite hopefulness in his voice, putting the potion back in his bag for later. Then looking at Richtofen with further listen with his ears perked upward, Richtofen looked back at the White Rabbit before turning to look at the Vale of Tears as he watched that more of crystals sported and then grew from the corrupted ground as it spread across like a virus.

“Come now, Edward, we can’t be anymore late than we are already.” The White Rabbit then hops away before Richtofen could say anything before reaching about 19 inches ahead of the Doctor and turning his head to see if he is following when he was just standing there.

“Well, are you coming, Richtofen?”

“Come now, Edward, we can’t be anymore late than we are already.” The White Rabbit then hops away before Richtofen could say anything before reaching about 19 inches ahead of the Doctor and turning his head to see if he is following when he was just standing there.

“Well, are you coming, Richtofen?”

Richtofen then jolted back into focus when he heard his name being called by Rabbit Shaw, he turned and then ran after him with little hesitation as Rabbit waited for him to catch up to him. Then they both ran for the Vale of Tears

Cheshire Cat who was hiding in the area they were once were, he turns to the reader, grins and then disappears into thin as he said:

“Hope that he may be her only chance she’s got, If that is a nope then she will too be corrupted with no choice.”

[3 hours later when they reached Vale of Tears…]

Alpha Hallow had jumped at him and then it was quickly slashed by Richtofen who had gotten used to only using a knife instead of a gun, he had learned how to cut, stab, slash and hack with any sharp objects as he is a doctor after all.

He had been fighting with the Stanton Shaw’s Wonderland Counterpart for at least three hours now and he had been quite helpful with the potions he had made, close to his original version yes but he would periodically check his pocket watch now and again every second after each won the battle against the Hallows.

He looked up and looked at the trees, his expression was scared and concerned upon seeing the consuming desire of corruption is getting more raw and extreme with this rate of it spreading. “It’s spreading faster than I thought…” he thought as he rested his finger and thumb under his chin as he watched the crystals formed and then grew on them.

Richtofen looked at the trees with the growing crystals attached to the branches and looked concerned as well, he then turned his attention to the White Rabbit and asked “Is zhis cancer zhat is spreading?”

“Yes, it’s spreading faster than I feared it’s going to.” He answered softly with raising fear filling his heart as he watched, “Soon enough at this rate, Wonderland will be corrupted within the next hour. We must hurry!” he panicked as he looked around then took off running once again.

Richtofen was about to protest for him to stop but worry and fear got the better of him and then he too took off running after the rabbit who was hopping and running faster as a normal animal. He tried yelling but the White Rabbit ran too fast and soon he was out of his line of sight over the hill.

He hasn't paid attention to the environment around them, they were at the Vale of Tears but now, they are on a different island with a traditional forest inhabited it, pine trees, peach trees and apple trees are scattered across the land, the forest they are running seemed to be alive at first when they got to another island. It was alive at first…

But the colors of green, brown, blue and yellow had faded and died into a haunted, unnatural shades of gray, trees had lost life and died in a grim sour minute He slowed down to a jog and then to a walk before finally looming to a stop as he looked around the area around him. This place… this place….

*This place seemed… Strangely familiar…?

Richtofen looked around then at himself and he was taken aback to see he was wearing his normal clothes once again and then looked around the area as he walked on the ash-covered path. He looked at the dead trees, the withering flowers everywhere and dying, a river dried up and waterless and bones everywhere, in the ground, in the trees and then on the rocks.

Richtofen walked around as he heard a familiar female haunting voice mockingly said “Don’t you remember?” and that sends chills down his spine before immediately recognizing that voice, so he turned to look around for that voice that he hoped and knew who owned it.

“Mother?” he said under his breath as he turned and saw-

No one. Nobody was there, he looked around confused for any sign of her in the forest and paying attention to where that voice came from. He was turning and looking around for his mother like a lost child…

No one… no one but him was all alone in the broken land that had died and decayed overtime, the music wasn’t helping him either, it was playing a piano along with other instruments as a chorus of voices echoed out but one voice stood out amongst the rest. It sung…

Forever young…

“Don’t you remember?” the familiar male voice growled with cold-blooded anger, causing Richtofen to snap to where the voice had growled as he stuttered “Father?” and looking around for any sign of one or both of his parents….

No one… no one but him is there….

I wanna be forever young, Do you really want to live forever?

He started to walk backwards from where he was standing, he was getting uncomfortable by this and wanted to get away from this area immediately, he has to be dreaming this, he’s just having a-

“Are you having a nightmare, Walnut?” Mother’s voice cooed from behind, making him turn to look at her but what he wasn’t expecting to find was a mirror in front of him, it shook him to see his reflection in the mirror. His reflection, however… had one defying different detail about it…

Do you really want to live forever?...

The reflection was wearing his wonderland outfit, it’s skin was paler than his skin tone normally and its eyes… they are not blue and green but red… unnatural crimson red…

He had found himself looking at himself in the mirror, looking at this strange version of himself as he raised his hand towards it while the reflection had done the same with his gloved hand. Then they both touched the mirror together.

Richtofen was staring at himself for a minute but that only lasted for a minute of it when he noticed something in the mirror by the corner of his eye: a woman, a man and a little girl holding hands together, seemingly like a happy family but Richtofen had quickly realized the smiling family was his family.

He turned away from the mirror to look at his family as he said “You’re here…?!” but when he turned around, they were nowhere to be found and never to be found in the human eye.

No one… no one but….

“No one but us, Edward.” he had heard his own voice said, but it sounded too different; his voice was distorted and disembodied. The somber chilling crawled up his spine when he was caught off it, the air he was breathing felt it’s getting toxic and ash slowly falling down from the sky wasn’t helping.

Do you really want to live forever…? Forever young…

“Vho’s zhere…?” he stuttered as he scanned the area before him, unaware the reflection’s head had turned its head to look at him with malice and hatred.

“You’ve forgotten?” a voice growled coldly, in the mirror still; the reflection slowly turned around with the Vorpal Knife in hand, bleak warning was grim feeling Edward had felt, it was spine-chilling…

Something in him had told him to turn around, turning his attention back into the mirror behind him and with immovable tense fear slithering up his back like a snake, he turned looked at the mirror but his own reflection had just lunged out inside the mirror and on impact, the glass broke and then fire roared from the ruined mirror as he reached out his hands to grab him.

With sheer force, his reflection, his copy, his… his mental self had grabbed him with him revolting against it to the best of his strength can grant him but his abnormal self was much stronger than he thought as he was pulled into the broken piece that was once a mirror, into a burning mirrored world.

[Two pictures done by Pastalaxy (Known on DA and Amino)]

*Through a shattered Looking Glass…

Those were the words scrolled onto the wall of his family home that was burning, he looked around, panic kicking into, making his blood run cold through his veins as he yelled “Mama! Papa!?” but he was much younger, he was back at the age of 12 years old as he looked at himself and his pajamas that he wore that night.

“I-I have to be dreaming!” he thought in despair as he watched his younger self go into the hall towards his parent’s room where lights of fire are located behind the door as they are screaming and pounding through it. “Richard! Help me-!!” “Victoria, Ich versuche, mein liebe!!” “RICHARD!!”

“Mutter!? Vater!?” he screamed in German as he held a stuffed bear close to his chest, He heard his father yelled out “Edvard! Holen Sie sich ihre schwester und raus aus dem Haus!”

His younger self wanted to go closer but he was deterred when his younger 10 1/5 sister nervously said “E-Eddie?” who had come out of the room that they both shared and she was getting scared from the sight of fire spreading as his younger self had looked back to see her exiting the safety of their bedroom.

“Edvard! Get your sister und get of zhe house NOW!!” was the last words he had heard from his father, Richtofen quickly snapped out of the tense and yelled at the child version of himself “DO VHAT YOUR FATHER SAYS UND RUN!!” out of survival instinct.

His child counterpart was on autopilot when Richtofen yelled, like he can almost hear him in his mind, so he rushed back to his room and then grabbed her by the hand before taking off like a bat out of hellish cave with it’s newborn.

Fire had nearly closed off the way out of the house but the boy, Richtofen was surprised and amazed on how well he knew the concept of the house as the kid tried opening the door but it wouldn’t bulge.

“Nein nein nein!” the boy screamed as he tried to open the door as another door somewhere in the house had burst open and a man with a rough voice yelled, “Hello?! Anyone in here?” and then his child counterpart carefully navigated through the fire as Richtofen followed him to where the child was going. He… he thought he heard a man calling out to him but he couldn’t hear what he was saying through the fire and yet he does hope he may find a way out too.

The front door was opened, it had been a little bit of force to get it to open but it’d was open and without missing a heartbeat, all three of them hightailed out of the house with a few burns on him but the explosion went off and that sending them flying from the family home from the flames that are stingingly spreading across the home.

When they got out, it was snowing outside and they could only watch and see the house burn to the ground with his… their parents screaming in unbearable pain, holding his injured sister close to his chest as tears were running down from his eyes. Edward can remember this now and it was still too painful to remember it now:

This was the night of his parent's death.

(Found in Google search images)

Richtofen stood there, in anger and sorrow that he was back to the night this happened when he turned to the side of the house burning down and saw a creature… spider-like monster, with his mother’s opal pendant and a silver pendant around his neck he wore.

He was covered in cobwebs almost like a spider, that was suddenly his child self screamed in anguish that caused the entire world around him to burst into flames. He was alive, unharmed but he found himself wearing the Dead Wonderer outfit once again, his younger self and sister had disappeared as the forest around him was burning.

The smell of burning flesh, ashes and smoke invaded his nosertials as he tried to block off the smell as he yelled “Broken!! You had crossed zhis line!! From one nightmare to zhe next terrifying other!!! Vhy making me remember!?!?” into the black infinite skies.

“I’ll tell you vhy.” Richtofen heard his own voice growled once more from behind him, that sent fear spiraling out of control in his heart as the speed rate of his bloodspreed had just gone sub-zero levels. Before he could do anything, he was shoved onto the ash-covered ground, it was soft like snow. He yelped and groaned in pain as he turned to see who had assaulted him but he choked when he looked at his mirrored self who was looking at him in anger.

His eyes are bleeding red, blood is pouring out of them as he glared daggers into his original self with such malice and it shoots chills throughout his body. He tried to crawl away from this craized version with effort but that seemed to snap something in him, he lunged at him and then grabbed him by the neck with his gloved hands.

He grabbed the arms as he wanted to get this demon of insanity off of them as he screamed “You vere veak!! You didn’t save zhem both! YOU DESERVED TO DIE IN FLAMES TOO!!!”

“I vas- Uggck! I vas only a child!! I vasn’t-”

“LIES!” He yelled in his face and then tossed him away like trash onto a burning tree, his back hits it upon impact and lands on the ground with a grunt along with a thud. He shookly got back up on his legs as he was tense from the severe pain in his spine. 

Threatening his insanity self had become, he unsheathed the Vorpal Knife and then standance as he is far-out strong enough to fight him still but without warning, the Insane Wonderer made a swift wild dash towards him with the knife of his own and barely had stabbed him but instead slashed his right eye, nearly blinding him on his right as he screeched in pain.

“It vas your fault! Nein, it vas mein fault- NO!! It vas our fault!” he yelled at his original as he smacked him before grabbing him by his elbows and pressing his forehead against him while he does the same to himself. “If you had grown enough courage, ZHEY WOULD’VE STILL BE HERE!”

[Drawn by TikTak known as This-Person-is-Slowly-Dying on Tumblr]

“It vas an accident! Ve vere asleep und-”

“You vere too smoldering in your fantasy world, unable to grasp to vhat raw reality is happening und vhen you voke up finally, it vas TOO late!!” he hissed in a grim voice. “J-Just shut up!!” he yelled as he pushed him away from him before he picked up the knife again.

“You have no right to talk about it in vain!” he was furious now, because all of this is happening in his own mind and reliving the worst night of his life is making him wrathful and crossed that line. “It’s already too late for your sanity now…” his insane self snapped as he gripped onto his knife tightly, ready to slash and dice him apart.

He then sprinted towards him again, Richtofen paused for a moment when the Insane Edward is fast approaching him until he had jumped out of the way from that spot, only his insane counterpart’s knife lodged itself into a burning tree.

He received a hateful glare from him but Richtofen had no time to think about what he’ll do next so he took that chance and then runs away from him as quickly as possible.

It starts… With the unexpected loss of something dear.

He is running as fast as his legs can carry him, hearing the screams and insults hurling his way when a female voice sung.

The warmth, That comforted and cradled just disappears.

He pushed and shoved the withering branches turning into ashes, tripping over twigs and rocks laying on his path as he heard footsteps are getting closer from behind but he was in flight mode, he can’t look back to see if he is losing him because in his mind, he’s not.

And in it’s place, there’s nothing. Just an endless empty hole.

The light that showed the way is gone And darkness takes control.

“I-I need to vake up!” he gasped as he ran through the inferno of the wildfire, “I-I had to find z vay out of here!!” as he sprinted away than he usually runs in hopes to gain more speed.

Bitterness and anger, Are quick to fill the void.

The path to isolation...

Is littered with the dreams that lay destroyed.

As he ran, he could voice screaming in agony and in terror and most of them are trained onto Richtofen, they were shrieking “Why did you abandon us?!” “Why did you leave us to burn?!” “Is this how we get in return?” “You are a disgrace, a failure Richtofen!” “Rot!” “Burn,” “Die!!”

Then he had bumped into something, he fell backwards with a thud and then felt a moist stream on the palm of his hand, he raised his gloved hand to see what it was, his heart sank when he saw that it was blood.

The cold, Seems to grow in my soul. It’s consuming me.

He looked at where it came from and saw that it was a body but it’s not just anybody: it was his own, as he scanned the area and everywhere, I mean; EVERYWHERE, was littered with all of his own bodies, died from any kind of accidents ranging all the way to been murdered.

Confused, And I’m losing myself in the storm.

He got up from the ground and looked around in the burning forest fire, all of his bodies are everywhere, slicks of blood in each direction and his breathing is getting more and more ardent from fear.

Growing jaded. Being pushed, being pulled, I’m unravelling.

Can’t find myself when I’m constantly forced to conform.

“EDWARD!!!” a choir of voices roared up, making him running for his life again but this time, much faster than ever he was before.

Enemies surround me but the worst appear as friends.

Liars and pretenders. Only to seek to reach their ends.

He frantically looked around for anywhere, just any place for him to hide from this nightmare in his head and it’s getting too much for him to handle already when the ground is being to shake and rumble.

Before he knew it, the ground broke apart into nothing but an island of what was once a beautiful forest he dreamed of.

Everything is breaking. Right before my eyes.

Looking in the mirror, I see someone I don’t recognize.

Richtofen looked around in disbelief as he walked backwards slowly from the edge but then he heard him, his insane version had caught up to him and tried stabbing him but he barely got him but he sliced onto his shoulder, making him yelped in pain upon feral assault.

The joy, That my heart used to know Is eluding me.

Removed. And the one thing I feel Is alone.

Richtofen holds his left shoulder in pain as he gripped onto the Vorpal knife tightly as his hair was a little messed up from the falling and running as he had tried to elude himself from impurely killing him.

Smile’s faded And I’m spinning and sinking. I’m weakening.

Frozen in solitude, Loneliness chills to the bone.

His mirrored clone, yelled out menacingly as he once again attacked him but Richtofen quickly deflect it with the knife in his hand like a sword. He then slashed him on the chest but to his horror, it’d healed itself and undershirt, vest and straps restored from that ruinous result.

“Is zhat all you have in you, Edward?” he coldly asked as he looked at him.

Memories escaping as my heart begins to drain.

Scars that cover wounds Can’t hide the self-inflicted pain.

Richtofen took a couple of steps back from him when he suddenly disappeared in a horde of moths, black moths flying everywhere as the original looked around for any traces of himself in the forest but he was ambushed from behind after the moths formed the insane Mirror Richtofen once more.

Everything my mind wants, In conflict in my heart. Fighting back surrender. But everyday, I’m falling more apart.

He was brutally punched at the back of the head, sending him forcibly onto the ground once again and then he was standing over him, knife at the ready.

Mirror, what’s this thing I see? Who is staring back at me?

A stranger to my heart has filled my mind.

Mirror, Help me…

He scrambled back on his feet but he was pinned to the tree as he heard his own voice whispered “I got you now…” and then saw him raise the knife, ready to strike him as he helplessly watched.

Who am I?

He then brought down on the helpless Doctor but quickly as it was raised, he jarred himself awake from the nightmare with a yell filled with fear and finding himself back in the Entrance Plaza.

He was breathing heavily from the horrific terror that was inflicted upon him from the nightmare, trying to calm himself down as he placed his hand on his forehead as if he was trying to press against a headache.

“Doctor?”

Richtofen froze when he heard the familiar voice, he looked up and saw, to his overwhelmed fear, a group of Mirrored Insane Richtofens surrounding him from each direction facing him as one of them asked Ã̴̜͍r̴̹̋͋Ë̷̞ ̷̮̃̾͜ý̷̼̞ͅǪ̷̨͚̆̽ú̷̜͔́ ̷̢͙̮͂͂Å̵͍̈́l̷̺̗̽̆͜R̵̲͇͍̊i̶̪͖͂G̷̪̯̭̎̽h̶̬̺͓͆͐T̸͇̓,̷̛̮̄ ̴̯͆̌̊R̴̢͙̤̒̉͠i̷̛̱͝C̶̟͙̈h̷̤̿͒͘T̷̼͙̈̏ȏ̴̭̹̦F̸̬̗̄̚͜ĕ̶̤Ǹ̶͖̱͓̽̇?̵̲͍̬̈̈́”̶̱̅̓͐

He screamed in horror as he tried to back up from this scene before him but he was pressing against the pillar he had his back against to sleep for a little while but when he was about to get out a pistol, he heard Dempsey’s voice yelled “Doc! It’s f*#$ing alright! It’s just a nightmare!” Richtofen, calmed down a little as he looked at everyone once again and this time, to his relief, there just Ultimis Dempsey and Takeo, Primis Nikolai, Miss Pauling, Medic, Engineer, Spy, Pyro, David Tapp, Scarlett, Shaw, Diego, Brad and Jessie who were all looking at him with a surprised and wary looks.

“You scared us, Doctor.” David Tapp as he looked at him with more suspicion, he was concerned as well with the Doctor’s mental health when he noticed that he was muttering and thrashing around a little in his sleep like a demon had entered his body and was trying to take control of his body.

Engineer walked over to the Doctor, kneeled down and said, “What kind of bad dream did ya’ll have there, Ed?”

“It’s…” He began, “It’s nothing, just zhe nightmare of zombies trying to kill us in our sleep.” then lied and Nikolai could sense it along with Takeo as they both looked at each other. David, knowing that it’s a lie as well but he didn’t say anything about it. I know, a detective like him would call it out to Richtofen but he felt like he can’t do that right now.

Richtofen got up back on his feet and stretched his arms out like a cat who had been with a rich man and it’s yawned after a well deserved cat nap and then looked around, “Vhat happened vhile I vas asleep?” he then questioned.

“The Entrance Plaza is getting well barricaded.” Shaw answered who came first and Richtofen looked at him, “Everyone had been fairly helpful during the time yet we need to fill in the gaps just in case those undead monsters could find a way in.”

“Zhen I vill help you, I had mein sleep and cannot stop til ve do.” he said as he walked away, avoiding everyone’s gazes as he walked by them and then picked up a lamp nearby and then walked towards the entrance.

A man who had been watching the whole thing had walked up to Dempsey and said “Is one of your doctor’s alright upstairs?”

“To be honest,” Dempsey answered with unease, “I don’t know.” he shrugged as Richtofen had walked by them, he wanted to say something but he shrugged it off because of the nightmare who scared him into this type of silence and he had in fact swore that he’s not going back to that dream or in his head ever again.

DAY ONE September 19, 2006 11:27

[Drawn by Meaghan “Icefir” Halter]

Primis Richtofen had been working nonstop since 5:00 AM in the morning and now 11:27 closer to 12 o'clock noon time to keep up with the others with the barricade to keep the zombies outside and he hoped that they will STAY out there until help arrives and he could find a way to get back with the others after finding out that the Artifact (Summoning Key) was refusing to let him open up a portal.

He was trying to open it once he got somewhere private with no one around, believe me, he really did try but failed, it was working before but now it’s not like someone wasn’t going to let him or anyone with him to leave this dimension.

He later gave up and decided to find out what is wrong with it later, he brushed David and Diego off when they suggested that he should take a break, he swore that he’s not going back in that nightmare again to himself and he’s not going to break it now.

“They were right German,” Primis Nikolai suggested as he picked up three planks of wood for the Engineer to board up the glass doors. “You haven’t gotten sleep since that nightmare you had, did it scared you into staying up most of the day or forever?”

No reply.

“German, you could tell us the truth about that nightmare.”

No response again.

“Richtofen, I know you haven’t lost your hearing and I know you can hear my voice when I say this; you need sleep-”

“Nein, I don’t.” Richtofen finally answered with a firm voice, he didn’t yell or scream but he had raised his voice somewhere between low and high volume that caught Nikolai off guard, shocked and surprised. He didn’t think the German had it in him to snap back.

Richtofen looked at him and then sighed, “I am just restless, Nikolai. Has Dell- Engi, had any signal from zhe outside vorld?”

Nikolai looked down for a moment and then looked at the Doctor again and answered, “Nyet, he hasn’t but these people are desperate for help so he told them to wait until he could get a strong signal yet something else-”

Engineer had just tapped his shoulder to get his attention which startled him with a yelp. “We had been cut off,” he said quietly.

“What?”

“Someone had jammed the signal,” Engineer appraised what he had said, “We had been cut off, isolated from the outside and no one’s going to help anyone if zhis mole in a garden doesn’t undo what he’s doing.” in a hushed whisper.

“Vunderbar, isn’t zhat vonderful.” Richtofen whispered in anger as they walked over to the barricade, “Can’t you do something, Dell? You’re the Engineer of RED Team.”

“I tried but zhis boy here may have specialities in war or somthin’,” Engineer explained himself, “If you two are familiar of rules in warfare.”

“Cut off or take out communications of camps and bases, leaving them hopeless and exposed to any outside forces.” Nikolai answered with ease as he recalled his time of service in Russia.

Richtofen places the box on top of a bench that had been toppled over as a strong hold for other stuff as a “redecorating” the door so zombies can’t break in. “Yet, just to imagine it,” Engineer began as he trailed off looking up, “I had a good feeling that someone is coming to help us, either by accident or fate for the fella about all of this.” he concluded as he pushed up his goggles, revealing his blue eyes.

“Zhen, let us hope so, Engi.” Richtofen said, “Let us hope so.”

Elsewhere…

Over a lush green mountain was a sound of pillars on a helicopter flying over the horizon heading towards a small town of Willamette, Colorado. Two men are on it, one a helicopter pilot, Ed DeLuca., unshaven facial hair, ginger hair tied in a ponytail, black and orange headset, tan vest, black T-shirt, jeans and brown shoes.

And then the other, is the 36 year old version of Frank West, wearing sunglasses, the same headset, black unbuttoned black coat, white under shirt, belt keeping an army green pants up and work shoes, taking pictures over the mountains.

The pilot was a bit silent but then decided to break the ice, he then asked “Say buddy…” looking over his shoulder a bit, “You mentioned somethin’ about research for a story.”

“That’s right.” Frank West answered as he took another photo, “I got a tip that something big is happening.”

“In a nowhere little town like that?” Ed said in slight curiosity. “They sure didn’t mention anything about it on TV…”

“Yeah, well, I’m freelance pal. I don’t make my living waiting for the TV to tell me what to cover.” then he patted the pilot’s shoulder a bit that made him laugh.

They kept going in search for any sight of the town when Ed saw it and said, “Here she is.” as Frank took off his glasses to see with his eyes as the pilot continued “Willamette, Colorado. Population: 53,594. Distinguishing characteristics: Jack sh!t!” then laughed at the last one.

Frank West simply shrugged it as Ed explained, “About the only thing to do in this town is kill time at the shopping mall.” as the Photojournalist looked at something at the bridge that enters the town, so, simply using his camera so he can see what was down there.

Using the zoom in feature on the camera and taking a picture of the soldiers with an armored vehicle blocking off access to Willamette, Ed had taken notice but barely been able to see what was down there.

“What was that? The army?”

Frank West shrugged again as he looked at them at the bridge as they entered town, “Looks like taking a helicopter was the way to go.” he sighed, “I bet they’ve got all the roads blocked off by now.” then he got up, then walked over to the pilot as he commanded “Alright, listen… I wanna get shots of the whole town before the National Guard finishes roping it off. Take me over to the main street.”

Ed nodded as Frank walks over back to his view pouch to continue taking photos as they head over to the main street of Colorado town of Willamette.

-Back to U!Takeo, U!Dempsey, Miss Pauling, Scarlett and Medic back in the Willamette Mall-

They had gotten back to the Leisure Park located in the mall, back to where they had woken up in and met this guy who calls himself “Alex Mercer” when they met him.

“Well, we’re back here again, from what I read from here this is Leisure park.” she explained as Takeo and Dempsey looked around the area for any zombies that managed to get in somehow, “From Zombies to more of them here,” Scarlett mumbled as she looked around the park.

“Ya think?” Dempsey grinned, “Welcome to our world.”

“No time for jokes, Dempsey.” Takeo relucared him as he had just brushed off the “Star Wars” comments from most of the people here, he rather not deal with this right now, right now their main priority is to secure the mall and nothing else until it’s done.

“Zhis mall had a park, from zhe look of everyzhing here, I say zhat ve are in the 2000's.” Medic said as others looked over to him with shock, “Maybe 2006 perhaps.”

“2006?” Scarlett and Pauling asked as they both looked at each other, Dempsey facepalmed at this and groaned “Again with the time-traveling bullsh!t....” then looked at Takeo who now noticed the reality around him, then noticed the way into the food court just through the doors.

“So, what, something this happened?” Medic questioned the Marine as he scratched his head. “Yeah, and it was the movie actors who helped us in the end.”

“Ooookay?”

Takeo said nothing as he looked at the glass double doors and saw something dressed in a red cloak and wore a mask that appeared to be skinned pig head and… they appeared to be a female pig person who was dragging someone unconscious into it, he yelled “Everyone!”

They all looked to see what made him yell and saw it too, “What the… Someone is being kidnapped!”

“My thoughts exactly Dempsey.” Takeo as he unsheathed his sword then looking over to the two ladies, “If this was the person behind the outbreak as Tapp thinks it was then we must act immediately.”

“He’s right! Let’s go!” he yelled as he ran toward the doors with Takeo trying to stop him but failed, he sighed in annoyance as he facepalmed “That idiotic American…” he muttered. He then ran for the doors too, Medic, Miss Pauling and Scarlett looked at each other before they ran after the duo together for backup. There was muffled screaming when they both got closer to the door, waiting for the rest of the group to come closer.

Takeo and Dempsey looked at each other before nodding then they both reared back and kicked both doors open with sheer force.

They heard the muffled screaming clearly now, it was a woman struggling to break free from her captor's grip.

The captor is in fact wearing a pig mask, a skinned pig mask with black wig attached to it and wore a crimson red cloak that covers most of their legs and jeans with black boots.

They were covering the woman's mouth, to prevent her from screaming for help and had her hands cuffed behind her back.

"Hey!"

Pigface had finally noticed them after dragging the woman far into the food court. They quickly dropped her and then from their sleeves were hidden blades.

Ultimis Takeo Masaki, unamused, took out his katana and took a stance, that seems to frightened the Pig that much as their blades are quickly hidden away and then ran away.

"Don't let him get away!" Takeo declared as he pointed at the Pig as Dempsey soon yelled "Get him!"

Dempsey and then Takeo ran after the masked villain as Miss Pauling, Scarlett and ran over to the woman on the ground to check her, Medic and Miss Pauling looked over to Scarlett with looks of concern upon seeing her.

This woman was unconscious upon hitting the floor but she was a strange dark gray long sleeved shirt with straps attached to them, with dark red bands on both sleeves, a belt that kept her equally dark red pants with black boots with belts on them.

She had been 33 years old as her hair is casual brown and cut shorter than the two girl’s in their group. It had gone upward in a spikely style as Medic checked her pulse and his shoulders lowered with calm yet relieved. “She is conscious,” Medic said, “But she is okay.”

“That’s good, Doc.”

Miss Pauling nodded as she looked at Scarlett once again and said “Scarlett, go help them get that-”

“The Pig?” Scarlett asked with her eyebrows raised with confusion, Miss Pauling looks at her with a look that is unfazed. “Yes.” She then answered with annoyance as she fiddles around the handcuffs a bit and then commanded “They’ll gonna need you for this, now go.”

With a nod, she took out her welling and then went after the two who were chasing the Pigface and she found them looking around for any sign of the Pig. “Need help?” she asked as she looked around for the Pig as well.

“Pretty much.” He said as he looked over to the Japanese Captain and asked “Can’t you use your plant powers to hold him down?”

“I can and can not.” Takeo softly answered as he placed his hand on his chest as Scarlett and his Dempsey looked over to him with confusion and puzzlement. “Why is that?” she asked.

“I can feel each plant and vine here, they are real but the ones I can’t feel were fake.”

“Fake?”

“The hell, you can tell the difference between organic and inorganic things?” Dempsey said.

Ultimis Takeo nodded as he used his hand that was on his chest to feel the inorganic flower plant and he felt it’s leaves are nothing but plastic and it was sudden.

A hidden blade came out of nowhere and tried to strike him in the chest, it was all in a flash caused by the Pig, Pigface then tried to strike him again but remembered his skills in combat, he quickly dodged it then his clenched his hand into a fist and veins on it was turned once again turned visible black and a real rose bush that were behind the Pig had suddenly grew and then it launched at them with thorns had turned sharper.

Pigface turned then barely dodged it but the cloth of their jacket had ripped and torn from the attack and making Takeo stumble from the attack as he too tried to dodge it. The Pig held their arm as it bleed blood as they looked at him.

Dempsey and Scarlett pointed their guns at Pigface as Takeo said “You are surrounded, surrender now, so there won’t be any bloodshed.”

“...” The Pig said nothing as they reached something in their pocket with their bloodied hand as Dempsey shouted “Hey!” but it was all a blur in a minute as they flew something down onto the ground and their vision was blinded in a puff of smoke.

They coughed as they swatting the air trying to gain back their vision as the smoke slowly clears up, Takeo was ready to use the rose bush again as it’s vines surrounding him, ready to obey any command from him but when he turned to attack them, the Pig was gone just as suddenly as they appeared.

“Where the f*&% did that pig go?!” he said, looking around the court for Pigface but nowhere to be found in the food court. If looking at the strange names of the food shops is enough, the Pig may be just enough of that.

“Where did they go?” Scarlett asked in confusion as she lowered her gun a little but did not want to let her guard down just yet. “I do not know…” Takeo only answered as the vines were lowered when he looked at them, before lowering his hand completely and the thorny vines then returned to the rose bush and hidden like nothing had happened as Scarlett and Dempsey watched.

“Still, can’t understand why you are like this, controlling plants and pointed out the fake ones-”

“I don’t know Dempsey.” Takeo began as he looked at his back of hand and watched the black veins fade into his sleeve, leaving no traces of them behind for temporary time being.

“Still, something that is behind our situation had given this power for a reason.”

“Then there must be a good one, Takeo.” Scarlett said as she looked at him along with Dempsey, they heard a groan and they all immediately stood and pointed their weapons at something but Miss Pauling who had the unconscious woman over her shoulder with the help of Medic had shouted “Hold it! It’s us.” as the woman groaned.

“Sh!t… We could’ve killed you!”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t, Corporal.” Medic said humorly as he looked at a nearby chair and then picked it up and then sets it close to the two women and Miss Pauling had her sit down as Scarlett walks over to them as the woman began to wake up to what was going on around her.

“Ugh… Wha…. What happened?” the woman groadingly as she looked around then soon found herself surrounded by two other women and three men, she had naturally been scared right as she yelled “Huh!? Where am I?!” as she wanted to get up but Scarlett quickly stopped her as she said, “Hold on, hold on. It’s alright now!”

The woman looked at her and then to the group and said “Who the hell are you?” Dempsey crossed his arms together as Takeo looked at her too, being very confountial and scared is what he can understand as Scarlett looks at her with sight worry for this woman. “If we want to know, can you tell us what had happened.”

“The pig,” she began with stutters, “was his appearance!”

[Collab of me and TikTak AKA This-Person-is-Slowly-Dying on Tumblr]

“Apprentice of who?” Takeo questioned as he looked at her, “Jigsaw! He’s testing me! Maybe testing us here!” she yelled as she crossed her arms with her face being all red from embarrassment.

“Jigsaw? The one that Tapp had told us?” Miss Pauling asked, the woman nodded but then soon the woman was shocked to hear the detective’s name from the other woman’s mouth. “Who, David Tapp?”

She nodded as she looked at her carefully now, surprised that she knows this man. “You know him?” Takeo asked.

“I was in one of Jigsaw’s victims, he… He helped me.” she said softly as she looked at the floor as everyone looked at her with confusion and suspicion. “He helped you? Vith vhat exactly?”

“Survival and gratefulness of life.” she said with a motto-tone in her voice, it almost sounded sad and stressed that made Scarlett even more suspicious towards her.

*This woman is… something more than a victim. *It reminds you of the story about the wolf in sheep’s clothing… *But you need to confront her later.

“We can talk about this later, we can take you to him now.” Scarlett offered as she crossed her arms but not wanted to look like she is judging her as Dempsey and Medic clearly see it on her face.

Takeo offered her his hand as he said “Can you walk just fine, Miss?”

“Yeah, I think so. There’s really no need to call me “Miss.” Uh.”

“I am Takeo Masaki, and these people are my allies.” He said as she took his hand and then  pulled her up as she recalled his uniform and knowing this was inspired by something (Star Wars) she knows but she felt like not to mention it to him as she felt it would be disrespectful.

“Vell, since you know David Tapp, ve vould like to know your name as vell?” Medic asked as he looked at her for any injuries once again as the strange victim of Jigsaw. “Amanda,” she introduced herself, “Amanda Young.”

“Nice to meet ya, Amanda.” Miss Paulling greeted Amanda looked at her with curiosity about the Detective and so, with little hesitation she asked “Is he here? In the mall?” “He is, he’s back at the Entrance Plaza and helping with everyone making the barricade stronger.” Dempsey said as he placed his hands on his hips and then looked around the area to make sure the Pig hasn’t come back. “And that Pigface-”

“Pighead.”

“Pighead,” He corrected himself, “Isn’t gonna do anything to ya now since Takeo had uh… Roughen him up a bit.” he lied on that part as Amada looked at him rather sensed that he was being dishonest.

“Let’s just get going, okay?” Amanda insisted as she walked ahead but stumbles a little bit as others walked up to her and with Dempsey offering to help her walk but she struged him off. They all filed out of the Food court and back out into the park as Takeo stopped to look at the tree.

Scarlett was walking by him when he stopped, she slowed down her pace and then stopped to look at what he was doing. The Captain placed his hand on it’s bark and then focused on what he wanted from it, he took a deep breath and then let out a sigh as he waited and waited…

A root from under the tree sprouted and then climbs up the tree as it slowly turns into a dark green vine and making its way to his hand and it slid into his under sleeve and coiling around his wrist until it’s fully hidden under his shirt before doing the same thing about with his other hand while Scarlett watched as she stood in a healthy distance.

“What are you doing, Tak?” she asked out of curiosity, making Ultimis Takeo to look at her as he adjusts his sleeves a little to hide the vines wrapped around his wrists and forearms and only answered “I had a trick on my sleeves, literally.” before walking ahead, leaving Scarlett there for a moment before she jogs after him with the others who were talking about what had transpired. 11:55

Shaw had placed a propane tank on the bench with the help of Primis Nikolai who was carrying a bench and then set it up side-ways then gently pushed and placed it. Nikolai turned to get more other heavy objects but then noticed that half of their group had come back but with Amanda Young in tow, the Russian raised an eyebrow towards this unfamiliar woman but David Tapp was surprised to see her.

“Amanda?” David Tapp said in shock to see here, Nikolai looked over to the detective with confusion and said, “You know this woman?”

“She was a victim of Jigsaw, one of those who managed to survive one of his traps.” David explained as he walked over to the others along with Nikolai and Shaw as others that continued on to barricade the Entrance.

“They were right,” Amanda started, “You are here. Did he bring you here too?” as others walked ahead to help everyone once again after scouting out. “I’m pretty sure.” he said as he looked at her carefully and noticed there were signs of struggle on her.

David immediately asked “Was it Jigsaw?! Did he try to kidnap you did he- Nevermind, what did he look like?!”

Amanda Young took several steps back as Scarlett and Miss Pauling looked at this scene going on as she answered “No, I didn’t. He only had a pig mask so I couldn’t see his face. This is the thousandth time I have answered that.”

David Tapp, looked at her, unsatisfied and frustrated when he realized that there were two women who were watching this and then asked “What happened while you were out there? You must’ve seen him!”

“David,” Scarlett started as she shurshered Miss Pauling to get behind her, “Let’s just calm down for a moment.” she continued as she and Miss Pauling are now going backwards from the detective and then Diego and Dempsey stood protectively in front of them.

Diego was curious about what had happened to this strange woman they had brought here and seeing that David knew this woman so he questioned “What had happened back there, Scarlett?”

“We’re were out in the Leisure Park and we saw Amanda being taken by the Pig, we had put a stop to it but the Pig had-”

“Had escaped? Is that it??” David shouted with further mental frustration, but then, suddenly as it began, he calmed down so he couldn’t draw further attention to himself in this pointless interrogation of this case. “I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” he quickly apologized to Scarlett, Amanda and Miss Pauling then nodding to Nikolai and Stanton before walking away and looking around, he looked like he was lost for a moment before turning his attention to another survivor carrying a plant pot.

“Need help with that?” he quickly asked as he pointed at the pot before reaching for it.

“No I-” she started to say but was quickly cut by Tapp taking the pot from and then going over to the barricade, leaving her behind with her arms open then she threw them in the air and letting them hit her waist while they watched.

Scarlett looked down for a moment and then looked at Amanda Young and asked, “Is he like this?”

“Ya think?” she quickly answered with her arms crossed, “He was obsessed with the Jigsaw case when his partner died.” to winch it caught Primis Nikolai’s attention.

“He had a partner?” the Russian asked, looking at this woman now. “He didn’t told me that he-”

“He does have a partner, his name was Steven Sing.” she explained as she watched him helping other survivors along with Primis Richtofen to strengthen the barricade. “He was a homicide detective when they had brought doctor, Lawrence Gordon, into the police station when I was the first person who had survived Jigsaw’s reverse bear trap game and he was the first suspect on the case.”

“Was this Lawrence there when they interrogated you for the first time?” he asked out of curiosity.

“Of course, later on they found Jigsaw’s hideout, an abandoned mannequin factory. Without a search warrant and that is also where they had found a man named Jeff Ridenhour strapped in one of his traps. When Jigsaw was coming down via elevator, they recovered Jeff with a cloth that was covering him and then hid somewhere in the hideout and waited for him to show himself winch he didn’t because of the robes until they knew they had to act.”

“And that had…?”

“That had given David a scar on the neck after the killer had slashed his throat when he tried to hold him there while Sing frees that man from the trap that had distracted him and that gave him a chance and got away. Sing attempted to chase after him but he ran into a trap that claimed his life and his corpse was later found by Detective Tapp who was weakened by the injury.”

Nikolai then looked over to David Tapp with pity and sorry for the man who had lost his partner as the detective is helping two other residents of Williamette with the barricade. “He was later discharged from the force after Sing’s death and doing an investigation without a warrant but did you think that stopped him from the Jigsaw case? No.” she concluded finally with a heavy sigh.

“I see.” Nikolai said as he looked at her as he clearly saw the picture of why the Detective is like this and asked “Do you think that Lawrence is the Jigsaw Killer?” out of further curiosity.

“No but David believes so.”

Scarlett looked at Amanda now with further suspicion, she had a feeling that this woman had something more to do and she wanted to look at this further but she had to do this one later. She then turned to Miss Pauling and said, “Come on, we gotta help everyone with the barricade.” before grabbing her by the shoulder and then pushing her ahead as the woman with glasses groaned in annoyance just as Richtofen is dragging a bench to the barricade and someone else besides them is walking down the stairs.

The bench was making a loud screeching noise that spooked and annoyed anyone around him, if he tried pushing it or pulling it, he would only be met with someone yelling “Stop making that noise!” and “You want the zombies to be coming to us if you make that noise, don’t you!?” or it’s just too heavy.

“Aghk!” he snapped at the bench as he was pulling it closer to the entrance just inches closer now, “Of course, give zhis ‘redecorating’ task to zhe Doctor just to keep zhe zombies out!” he rebuked as he was mentally yelling at the bench, nobody and nothing else.

But he then realized there was someone standing on the other side of the bench, he had sensed that whoever this man is must be curious or maybe wanted to help?

He looked up and like that, Frank West was right there with his arms crossed looking at him with a stare and eyebrows raised.

[Drawn by SamPostStuff on Tumblr]

He straightened himself up and then picked up the bench then his attention had been taken by the Photojournalist once again when he cleared his throat.

“Uh…” He began to say as he looked at him once again, “Care to help me vith zhis, sir?” he kindly yet hesitantly asked as Shaw and Nikolai looked at the strange unfamiliar newcomer. “Care to explain what’s going on?” Frank asked the struggling Doctor fairly quickly, “What zombies?”

Richtofen simply fired back “Vhat is ‘going on’ is zhat.��� he jabbed as he pointed at the barricaded entrance and seeing a horde of zombies on the other side of the door and outside the mall, he then continued “If zhey are not zombies, vhat else can you give a name to?”

Zombies on the other side of the door just stood there, not moving but scratching themselves and stumbling around in there for Frank to see, he took pictures of this while Richtofen looked on and then continued “Zhere’s been more of zhem last night zince zhe outbreak started, I believe zheir numbers are increasing vhen zhe bite someone.”

Frank was barely listening to the Doctor when he felt an arm hitting him on the stomach a little bit when Richtofen reassured “But a good news of zhis sitaution is zhat zhese zombies are far too slow und dumb so, ve should be safe in here, should be.”

“Yeah good and-?” Frank started but was quickly interrupted by Edward when he finished  “Und I need help ‘redecorating’ zhe door before ve are eaten alive please.”

The photojournalist humored “Uh, I don’t think the zombies will come inside from your horrible attempt at ‘redecorating’ the door.” to the clearly annoyed German before him as he sneered “Shut up.”

“But I’ll help.”

“Thank you.” Doctor thanked him as Frank West went to grab the other side of the bench and then helped Richtofen on moving the bench to the entrance while the Russian softly said “Was this man here before?”

“I do not know, my Russian friend, he just seemed to come from the second floor and walked up to Richtofen when he was struggling. Seemed to be a helpful lad.” Shaw only answered.

“I do not know,” Nikolai questioned, “He is new here, on the day after the night of the zombie outbreak happened. What is he here for?”

Primis Nikolai’s eyes looked after Frank West as he walked through the crowded halls of the Entrance Plaza as he looked around the area, he then sees an Hispenic woman that is fairly beautiful with long hair, a long-sleeved traditional central American shirt that is revealing her shoulders, short long black pants with heels. He tried to go over to her but he was stopped by Engineer who said “Hey.” when he stood in front of him.

“There’s no time to go flirt around with the ladies, son!” He said as the woman walked away, Frank had missed his chance when the Engineer said “Best not forget there is a horde of zombies outside, do ya?”

“I’m well aware of that.” Frank said as he tried to look over the Engineer who said “Well, ain’t ya curious?" As he crossed his arms.

"Yeah and-"

"We need more heavy stuff to hold the barricade to keep these walking corpses outside and hopefully it will keep them out until help arrives." Engineer ordered the reporter as he pointed out a pile of stuff and then said "If the heavy lifting is too heavy, Diego can help ya out."

"Who's Diego?"

Engineer then pointed at the Mexican who had lifted a box and then started heading for the entrance.

Frank looked at the Hispanic man for a moment before shrugging and then heading for the pile as he was told to do, looked at the first object he saw and blends over to pick up but then, he glanced over to the cage blocking off the full access into the mall and on the other side of it was an old man, not too fail but just a little bit with a support of a cane he had in his hand.

The old man was wearing red coat, white dress shirt, pants and black shoes as he walked around in Frank’s sight, right away he picked his camera that was hanging around on his neck and was about to take a picture, old man seemed to noticed him and right away goes over to the gate, shouting “You! Stop right there!” as he pointed at him with his finger and then using his cane to attack the reporter while he took pictures as he yelled “Do you have any idea what you’ve done!? Why did you summon me to this place? What are you planning?!”

“Will you calm down?! I don’t even know what you’re talking about!” Frank bellowed out as he took a few steps back, an old man had grunted from his attack on the photojournalist, he drew his cane back and then walked away from the gate just as Diego walked back to him with a curious intention.

“What is that about, amigo?” he asked as he looked at Frank West who looked at him but before they knew it, there was a crashing sound, they turned around to see what was going on and much to Frank’s confusion and Diego’s utter horror, an old woman was taking the barricade apart frantically as she yelled “Madonna! My Madonna is out there!” and slight whimpering from a lamber-doodle is heard from the other side of the door.

“What are you thinking?” “Knock it off!”

Both men exclaimed as they rushed over and tried to stop her but she was persistent and stumbled to unlock the door. “Wait, baby! I’m saving you, baby!”

“She must not unlock it!” Takeo yelled out as Nikolai and Dempsey looked at him and then they both ran over to the barricade.

“Wait for me, sweetie!” she shouted as she (unwittingly) opened the door after unlocking it and letting in a horde of zombies into the mall as both men tried to forcefully shut the door as the old woman tried crawling over to her dog and screaming for her while the zombies stumbled into the building as she was eating alive.

But she wasn’t the only one that she was eaten, the zombie was on top and eating one of the men that had tried to stop her, blood was spraying everywhere when the teeth dug in.

Achievement Unlocked: Dead Rising Be trapped in the Willamette Zombie Outbreak

Diego stood there in disbelief as Frank West looked at the incoming horde entering the mall when they both heard Brad yelling from above “What in the hell are you people doing?!”

Making Frank and others looked up to see him on the balcony, looking down at everyone as he waved his arm as he shouted “Run! Quick! Move! Get over here! Everyone! Move this way! Quick! To the stairs!”

Diego looked at Scarlett then to Spy before moving his attention to the horde as Brad yelled “Move!”

Diego ran over to her, grabbing her hand and said “We have to go!” before running with her in tow, Spy, Shaw and Nikolai followed suit but not before yelling over his shoulder to the confused reporter “Grab something! Use it as a weapon! Defend yourself!”

Engineer and Medic aren’t hesitant to get their weapons out either, Engineer had a shotgun rifle, a Winchester kind, and fired a round into one zombie’s head as it came too close as he was cursing under his breath, “Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!” and Medic sawing one’s arm off before going at the neck at full force, decapitating it before stating “Vould you like a second opinion?: You are also ugly!”

“Shaw?” Dempsey asked, Stanton looked at the Marine and said “Yes, Mr. Dempsey?”

“Can I borrow one of your acid bombs?”

“Yes? What for-”

Before Stanton could finish the question as he got one out for Dempsey, he then took it and managed to hold one of the zombies far from him as possible before shoving the bomb in it’s mouth and then pushing it away from him just seconds before the acid bomb could detonate.

Acid melting the zombie’s face as it burned but it also got several other zombies as well, Shaw looked over to Ultimis Dempsey and said “Well, that’s unnessercery.” as Dempsey looked back at him and only answered “I’d don’t play nice with zombies, Stanton.”

They heard Pyro yelling for them to come up on the left stairs, both men heard a revolver going off and bullets killed several zombies, they turned to see Spy, Scarlett, Miss Pauling, Primis Nikolai and Diego had got out revolver, two wellings, a pistol, shotgun and one welling for Diego with Ultimis Takeo, Medic and Engineer in tow as Shaw said “Dearie-!”

“We can talk later, Shaw!” Scarlett only said as she gestures to the stairs and Spy saying “Move!” as they all go up the left stairs together as Pyro had gotten out a fire thrower and letting them and other surviving survivors pass by and making sure to burn anything that is dead and infected doesn’t get to them as they walked backwards and then running with them.

The last one who got to the right stairs after others was Frank West, he was running when he stopped and then turned around to see a horde of zombies as he panted before turning and then running the rest of the way back to the staff room.

[hollandroos]

How Could I Not? | Seven

Playlist | Wattpad | Series masterlist

Summary: You and Tom are only supposed to be friends... friends who sometimes take things a step further and friends who can’t seem to spend longer then a few days apart. But that can all change with a positive pregnancy test and Suddenly you have to work together more then ever to prepare for the new life you created. But is it really that easy?

Words: 3361

Warnings: Lots of talk of adoption. Please don't read if that is a sensitive topic for you and hold back any nasty comments until you read future chapters, thank you!!

Please remember to reblog/comment/send an ask if you enjoyed this!!

Read the previous chapter here!

It wasn’t really anyone's fault that you forgot there was food in the oven – what, with the gentle tune of the Beatles playing overtop of a chorus of everlasting laughter between the two of you, not to mention the snoring dog in the corner of the room. Something was bound to happen – it was you and Tom, for crying out loud.

“Dance with me,”

Tom says it as a statement, not a question. He wants – no, he needs you to dance with him. He needs to feel his arms wrapped securely around your waist, to feel your feet move in time with his. It was so cliche, really, but Tom lived for cliche.

He was the type of go out of his way to surprise his love with roses on his way home from work, one for every time he’d wanted to send a quick ‘I love you’ text that day but hadn’t been able to. The type to spend hours perfecting the best meal he could muster up and additionally, plate it with a glass of the best wine he could afford. The type to kiss in the rain, if he had the chance.

You open your mouth in protest, the smell of the cheesy pasta dish wafting around the kitchen. “The dinner–”

“Dance with me.” Tom all but smiles, words slipping from his mouth with such ease and suddenly you’re putty in the palm of his hand. And you don’t hesitate to mould into his body, allowing yourself to fall into him.

“Why did you want to dance with me?” You chuckle, leaning your head against him. You give in, allowing Tom to take you wherever he wants to go. That seemed to be nowhere and you find yourself swaying gently in the comfort of the area between the kitchen and the living room.

Tom shrugs his shoulders. “Jus’ felt like it.”

You hum, breathing in the scent of his cologne. You’d learnt that it was some kind of axe spray that he had cans of hidden around the apartment – such as in the kitchen cupboards and tucked away in his car. The song finishes and a new one begins, one Tom wasn’t aware of but the last thing he wants to do is complain about the pre-nineties tune when he has you right there, humming gently along with the lyrics.

Your eyes are closed and you look at peace as he rocks you two back and forth, feet both stuck to the floor as you sway. 

His heart beats prominently in his chest and it’s nearly impossible not to count every beat. Every beat tells you that he’s there with you, reminding you of the fact that you’re beyond lucky to have him. And funny enough, Tom was thinking the same about you. 

Your peace is short-lived, however, as mere minutes later there’s a horrid – god awful smell and you can’t even hide your disgust with your face in his chest.

“What’s that smell?” Tom mumbles, screwing his nose up.

And you want to ask the same question – before you gasp, eyes widening and you push yourself away from Tom making him stumble back slightly. For a few moments, the brunette stands in confusion before he himself is hit with the realisation.

“The food, Tom, we burnt it!” You exclaim, rushing to the oven. You hardly have time to slip the oven mitt over your hands but that doesn’t matter – because the second you open the oven door black smoke drifts out, flooding the kitchen. “Fuck, I told you we were going to burn it.” You curse under your breath, resisting the urge to cough as you turn the oven off.

“Sorry, love,” Tom says half-heartedly, resisting the urge to laugh at the sight of you looking so frantic. If it weren’t for the clouds of smoke painting your kitchen darker hues of grey then he would’ve laughed. Surely. “Got too distracted, maybe next time I’ll listen.”

He was distracted by your humming, and thoughts he couldn't simply shove away such as the thought that you fit against him so easily. Like two pieces of a wazzgij puzzle. 

“Maybe,” You taunt, bringing the meal out of the oven. It didn't take a second opinion to tell that it belonged in the bin, right ontop of the expired cat food. “Should we just order pizza?” You speak between coughs.

You continue to wave the towel around the living room, praying the smoke detectors won’t go off again. Toms antics had already set the alarms off once, nearly three months ago now and he seemed to be the only one in the entire evacuated building that found it amusing. He had stifled his chuckles in the rain, cheeks tinted red and hair flat against his forehead.

But now, the room stunk. The smell makes you screw your face up in disgust. That was definitely going to be the last time you were going to attempt to make a fancy meal.

“Pizza sounds good.” Tom agrees, feeling his stomach begin to rumble. And to think, the smell of the charcoal lasagna stole his appetite for a solid minute. “I’ll see to it, can I use your laptop?”

“Yeah, it’s sitting on the couch, I think.” You speak, raising your voice so he can hear from the living room. “Get me the cheesy one with the stuffed crust! That’s my favourite.”

“I already knew that,” Tom calls back, typing in the six letter password. “Dominos or pizza hut?” He asks, looking up briefly.

You’re humming a song in the kitchen, competing with the buzzing fridge but Tom can make out the lyrics to Hey Jude by the Beatles. The smell of the burnt lasagne barely bothers you anymore as you sway your hips to the song playing through the speakers and your lips. He smiles to himself, watching you prance carelessly around the kitchen with a flannel shirt pulled over you, tucked into a pair of denim shorts. Laptop and rumbling stomach forgotten, his eyes sparkle with joy at the sight.

He makes a small note to let you play your music more often, even if it wasn’t his favourite – because the light that adorns your eyes is simply captivating. He’s stuck in the best kind of trance.

Hey Jude, don't be afraid You were made to go out and get her

“Dominos. Pizza hut is nowhere near as good.” You tell him, testing the water with your fingertips. You wince when it’s too hot, pulling your hand to your chest and decide that the awaiting dishes can simmer a little longer. Tom grimaces and looks back at the screen. There’s a picture of you and Laura taken last summer, wearing matching dresses and oversized sunglasses hugging your noses. He can’t remember if he took that photo – it may have been Harrison.

That was the same holiday that the set of you took a road trip and found yourselves renting a caravan and setting it up next to the beach. Mornings were spent sleeping in – or for you and Tom, hiding beneath the sheets with childish grins on your faces while your friends slept and nights were spent sitting by the ocean, threatening to push one another in and sharing chicken and vegetable kebabs.

The minute you let her under your skin Then you begin to make it better

You were getting under his skin, making your way into his heart and you were yet to realise it. That had happened long before your holiday trip. But he liked it. He liked the way your mere presence could make him feel like he was on top of the world and somehow – somehow, the glint in your eyes reminded him of the stars that he could and would stare at endlessly every night before bed.

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

“So cheese with a stuffed crust and Hawaiian for me?” He finds himself asking, cursor hovering over the ‘add to cart’ button. He was thankful for twenty-four seven delivery – a new addition that he often found himself succumbing too at one am. Maybe it was becoming a bad habit but he couldn’t say no. His self-control was discarded in the am.

“Garlic bread too.” You remind him, dipping your hand into the soapy water. Suds end where your wrist begins.

Tom directs the mouse over to the tabs, squinting his eyes at the bright light and nothing can stop him from pressing the extra tab, his pure curiosity overriding the fact that the two of you had an unspoken rule about invading the other's privacy. But he couldn’t stop himself when the eight letter word caught his eyes.

It started with an A and ended in N. The second letter was D, third O.

Tom bites his lip, switching tabs and silently deciding that the pizza can wait another moment.

‘Looking at adoption. Things you must know.’ ‘Adoption agencies UK.’

You know when people say that they felt their breathing stop? well, Tom did then – for sure. There’s also the feeling of his heart dropping out of his chest, plummeting into his chest.

One second it’s there, beating, pumping blood throughout his body and the next he’s stuck staring. Unmoving. There are not enough words in the human language to describe the confusion Tom experiences as he tries to read the page with hazy eyes.

There’s a feeling of disbelief because Tom swore you wanted this as badly as he did – maybe not at first, but maybe the excitement hit after the first ultrasound. Or maybe it was when he dreamt about taking his little girl to the beach for the first time or coming home to a chorus of soft, baby giggles.

Toms had photos of outfit ideas for his little one already. He had a Pinterest board of parenting tips and had even started listing a couple of names. He liked Emilia for a girl and Sutton for a boy. Marlowe was on the list too, and Starlette. Harrison had suggested Luna and his mother had suggested Max. Maybe he’d fallen too deep into his own world and forgotten that you had your own.

The song finishes, the soothing voice of the Beatles fading out slowly. Just slow enough for your humming to fade out with it, and you look over to see your best friend unmoving in his spot and while you can only see him from the side on, you notice his hand, stiff over the cursor. Suddenly the burnt lasagna and boiling sink seems unimportant.

“Tom?” You prompt, stepping around the kitchen table. Bubbles drip off of your hand and land on the floorboards, a safety risk you’d remember to look at later.

He blinks once before scrolling, seeing a series of previously opened articles and his heart succumbs to nothing but broken, confused pieces.

“What’s this?”

He picks up the laptop and shows you what’s on the screen and you tense. Be it from frustration because he invaded your privacy or the fact that you’d been caught – the bench suddenly seems so cold beneath tense fingers.

“Why are you looking through my stuff–” You snap, biting into your gum to keep you from going off at him.

He grits his teeth, placing the computer down on the table and stands up. He’s tense, clearly, and knuckles are clenched at his side with so much might. Tom rarely got angry, in fact, he hardly ever found himself fuming but here he was. And here you were a mere few meters away.

“Were you going to tell me?”

“Tom,” You sigh, letting out a breathe as tears glisten in his eyes. Tom looked a good concoction of angry and deflated. Shocked too. “Of course I was going to tell you but I just needed… I needed more time to wrap my mind about this entire thing.”

“Were you going to tell me?” He asks again, only this time the words are more muffled and less coherent then before.

A sigh leaves your lips. One that said more then words could. On one hand, you want to run into his arms and mutter apologies – admittedly Tom looked really cosy right now. You’d much rather be bundled up in his arms, a warm blanket thrown over your shoulders then argue with him. But you also know that you need to stand up for yourself and what you were doing.

“You were so excited. I didn’t want to ruin that for you.”

“You can’t just… you can’t just consider other options and not tell me, not when you were so ready to go through with this.” He struggles to form words, finding that everything he wanted to say he probably shouldn’t.

The pets seemed to be completely unaware of what was happening. Both lay still, the cat purring softly against Tessa as if using her as a pillow. Much like Tom did when he was sleeping, Tess snores lightly. You and Tom both secretly wish that you could be as chilled as your pets, but don’t voice your thoughts.

It’s crazy that – how everything can fall apart so suddenly. One second you’re laughing over burnt lasagna, praying that the smoke detector won’t blare at any moment and arguing over what takeouts you’ll get instead because neither are you are decent cooks and the next you’re admitting that you probably tested your trust. And that now there may not be much to rebuild.

Swallowing back your nerves, you clench your fists at your side. “Don’t tell me not to consider other options. You don’t get to tell me not to do that.”

“But that baby is mine too,” Tom was seething with anger and you were about to collapse from feeling all too many things at once. You’d gone from a giggling mess to outright fearful of losing everything you’d built. “We’re in this together, remember that? We both agreed on that.” Tom lets out a shaky breath.

“We are in this together but we need to look at the fact that we do have other options too–”

Tom interrupts you abruptly. “You moved in here so that we could look after our baby together! I asked you to move in here to make things easier, that’s what we agreed on, was it not?”

“You asked me to move in because you wanted me closer in case anything happened to me or the baby while he or she is still inside me.” You correct, practically seething with frustration as he speaks. Every word made you feel smaller then the last. “This doesn’t mean that I don’t love the baby, Tom, of course not. How could I not love him? I’ve been tracking the growth, watching for signs that something could be wrong. Shit, I’ve been doing what I can, when I can.”

For a few moments, your words simmer in silence – at least what silence was possible overtop of the radio which played another one of your songs, only quieter this time and you weren’t in the mood to hum.

Tom was too busy trying to come up with the best thing to say but all he could come up with was eight words.

“I won’t let you give up our baby up,” Tom says, quietly but harshly. Bitterness laces every word, dripping from his lips like venom and you’re more then aware of it – as well as the fact that Tom had never spoken to you in that tone before and you were more then sure that you didn’t like it.

Our baby.

“We need to talk about this properly.” You try, far from fed up over arguing like children.

Tom agrees, but he can’t see much beyond the feeling of betrayal. If he could even call it that.

“I thought you wanted this, you know? You led me to believe that you wanted this and you were going behind my back–”

“You think I want to give the baby up? You think it doesn’t break my heart to consider other options?” You speak up, the urge to breakdown growing stronger. But you wouldn’t in front of him. “Jesus, Tom, we told your parents about the baby and they embraced us with open arms and promised to do what they could. We told mine and they walked out. I’ve texted my mum every day but I’ve heard nothing. I want my family back.”

“I think that you’re being selfish.”

You scoff. 

“Did you really just go there?” He doesn’t respond, swimming in his own guilt. “I’m not selfish for considering other options when I’ve given up so much already and if you can’t support me then so be it… but don’t tell me that I don’t have other choices here.”

Tom doesn’t know what else to say. He feels frozen in his spot, trying to take in and accept every word that falls from your lips but he can’t find it in him to respond. The sickly smell of burnt lasagna was long forgotten by either of you, as was his hunger that had since subside and was replaced by an overwhelming amount of frustration.

You, on the other hand, want to yell at him for not answering you. You want to demand an answer because the silence was deafening and you just needed an apology or at least the knowledge that you can talk about this with him instead of yelling and having to defend your side.

Gritting your teeth, you pick up the nearest coat which happened to be strewn over the chair and wrap it around you, then going back to the kitchen counter where you hastily grab your phone and car keys. The gentle jingling of the keys snaps Tom out of whatever haze he was in.

“I’m leaving, Tom, call me when you actually want to talk like adults – like two adults who are supposed to be bringing a baby into the world.” You spit, missing the remorse that crosses his face at lightning speed.

“Don’t go, we need to talk about this.” He extends an arm and tries to grab yours and for a second, he succeeds, right before you tug yourself from his grasp and glare.

“Why? So we can continue to argue?” You stop, waiting for Tom to answer but he doesn’t. He knows you’re right. “I don’t want to have this conversation like this and I won’t be made to feel like the bad guy when you refuse to even hear me out without losing your temper.”

A large part of you wants him to tell you not to leave, to say that you can sort this out in the morning when you’re both not angry about the invasion of privacy and about him getting mad at you for considering other options and additionally, for calling you selfish. And then maybe you’d apologise for not telling him.

Admittedly, you could admit your mistakes.

And if Tom told you again not to leave, then maybe you wouldn’t have stormed out of the apartment but instead to your bedroom where you’d stay until dusk. Then, you’d creep into his room and you’d discuss this when you were both calm and steam – highlighting your anger, wasn’t making its way out of your ears.

Tom is left in the apartment. He couldn’t necessarily say that he was by himself because he had Oscar and he had Tessa. And it’s Oscar that crawls onto his lap when he throws himself down onto the couch, head in his hands as he runs over every word thrown across the living room to the kitchen.

The cat brushes himself up against Tom, begging the man for a head rub and Tom does so without complaint – hand falling to the cats head. Usually, he would’ve grumbled about the cat... shoved him off and groaned but this time Tom gives in. 

Maybe it’s the guilt that suddenly turns him into a temporary cat person.

“She’ll come back, Osc,” Tom says, more or less trying to reassure himself then the cat. “She’s just going to Laura's for a bit.”

He chews on his bottom lip, fingers running through ginger fur.

You were going to come back. And until then, Tom would grovel.

Hey Jude, don't make it bad Take a sad song and make it better

Let’s talk about this chapter!

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[deadmancrawling]

Starcrossed

after a billion months, i’ve finally finished that Luke fic i was talking about! i know a few of you guys were hounding me to finish it, so i appreciate you caring so much about my writing. (,:

this is one of my favorite stories i’ve written, and i hope you like it just as much! big shout out to miss jules, as you know she’s my best friend and one of the people who pushes me to be a better writer. i hope you enjoy this story!!! i’d love feed back (:

pairing: readerxluke

word count: 8,451

warning: violence. mentions of blood.

summary: the hemmings and harper family have been feuding for centuries. since you were little, it’s been engrained in your brain to hate the hemmings family. but you spend one night with luke, and suddenly, you can’t imagine your life without him. can you manage to stay together? or will your families tear you apart?

            To whom it may concern:

         Upon the request of Mister Andrew Hemmings, you have been cordially invited to the Annual Hemmings Charity Gala.

This year, we are celebrating Andrew and his two eldest sons, Ben and Jack, for all of their work with Habitat for Humanity and Newborns in Need.

Should you find yourself with an invitation, please bring this invitation and newborn supplies to gain entrance.

Dress code is Black Tie Masquerade, so please dress appropriately. Exceptions will be made for women.

 You’re not entirely sure how the invitation in your hands got into your hands, but nonetheless, you couldn’t believe you actually had been invited to the Hemmings Gala.

It’s one of the most prestigious events in your city – anyone who’s anyone will be there – and the fact that you of all people have been invited must mean something.

The Hemmings family has a lot of known enemies: your family included. The Hemmings and the Harper’s have been enemies for centuries, the story being told to you by your father, grandfather, and great grandfather for years; it’s been engrained into your brain since you were a child.

But, growing up, hormones got the best of you and you found the youngest Hemmings boy, Luke, attractive.

You know it’s wrong, but with his ocean blue eyes, his curly blonde hair, and beautiful smile, you couldn’t help but simply wonder what it’s like to be one of his girlfriends.

That’s not to say you haven’t had your share of boyfriends; you’ve had a couple of them, but none of them ever worked out for long. Either they couldn’t handle the pressures of dating a Harper, or they just wanted to fuck other people.

At least they respected you enough to break up with you before they got with other people.

But there was something about the Hemmings boy that just kept reeling you in.

In your twenty-one years of life, you’ve never uttered a word to him, but that hasn’t stopped him from staring at you from time to time.

In school, when you had the same classes, you’d catch him staring at you. A lot of the time, he was in the desk next to you or behind you, since your last names are so close together. But, most times, when you’d look over, you’d catch his eyes focused on you, and he’d look away quickly, as if he wasn’t doing a few seconds ago.

You never thought it was weird, nor did you really care, because you were guilty of the same thing.

But tonight is the night. Tonight is the night you’re finally going to speak to Luke, whether you like it or not.

You stare at the reflection in the mirror, looking at the dress that you’re wearing. You’d had it specifically made for this event a few weeks ago once you received the invitation, and you were going to put it to good use.

You turn around and face your best friend, Natalie, who is also attending to the Gala, and look at her.

“Well?” You ask, grabbing her attention. “What do you think?”

Although the Gala wasn’t until tonight, you and Natalie had swung by your family’s tailor shop to check on the dress and pick it up.

“You look…” Natalie says.

“Like Cinderella.” Your tailor says, taking a few steps into the room.

You smooth out the skirt and twirl around in it, really feeling like Cinderella for a brief moment, before stopping and looking at yourself in the mirror.

“I love it. Thank you so much, Jeanne.” You say, looking at your tailor.

“Anything for you, (y/n). Shall I have it delivered to your house, or would you like to take it with you?”

“I’ll take it with me, thank you. I can’t have my parents see this.” You respond, and Jeanne gives you a knowing look.

Natalie scurries into the dressing room with you, helping you out of your dress and then carries it out so you can get dressed without falling into your dress.

Stepping out, you see Jeanne putting your dress into a box and Natalie twirling around in one of the other dresses.

“Thank you so much, Jeanne. I’ll see you later.” You smile, picking up the box and walking out of the tailors shop.

You place the box in your car, and then the two of you drive to the coffee shop to buy a coffee, before the two of you head back to Natalie’s house to get ready for the Gala.

            A few hours later, you’re sat in Natalie’s guest room, where your hair and makeup people are setting up camp for the next few hours.

Going to the Hemmings’ Gala takes a lot of effort, and you have to look your very best if you’re going to be attending.

Since it’s one of the biggest social events of the season, a bunch of people are going to be there. Everyone from Giuliana Rancic from E! News, to some of the most notorious celebrities in Hollywood, like Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey, and everyone’s favorite power couple, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.

There’s going to be a red carpet and paparazzi and magazine editors just waiting to speak to the attendees.

This wouldn’t be the first time you’ve been on a red carpet – your family also hosts an Annual Gala two months before the Hemmings Gala, but something about being on this red carpet makes you nervous.

You stare at your reflection in the mirror, watching as your hair stylist curls your hair into classic curls and braids the front section of your hair back, your tresses bouncing delicately past your shoulder.

Your hair stylist then places butterfly pins in your hair, a signature of yours, and then begins to spray your hair with hairspray so everything stays in place throughout the entire night.

Once your hair stylist is done with your hair, he packs up his things and sits to the side, and your makeup artist begins her work.

You look at your dress, which is hanging near the window of the large guest room, and let out a sigh.

You’re not going with a look that’s too crazy, just a basic eye and maybe a bit of lip stick. You close your eyes are your makeup artist begins to beat the foundation into your face, and you swear her touch is so soft that you want to fall asleep.

Fifteen minutes later, the look is done, and you take a look in the mirror.

You barely even recognize yourself – you haven’t been this done up in years it seems – but you love it anyways. It’s almost like you’re looking at your doppelganger, because if and when you do put on makeup, it’s always a basic look. Subtle foundation and concealer, and if you’re feeling saucy, maybe a cat eye.

But now? You’ve never seen yourself wear so much makeup but such a natural look. You’ve got the basics, foundation, concealer, and a bit of eye shadow to make eye pop beneath your mask, but you look so ethereal and gorgeous and princess like, that you instantly get butterflies in your belly.

You look over at Natalie and she’s got her hair in classic old-Hollywood waves, and her makeup makes her look like she’s stepped straight out of a 1950’s film.

The two of you tip your stylists and artists before seeing them out and getting ready together.

You help Natalie into her dress, the champagne colored, off-the-shoulder empire gown fits your best friend beautifully, and you can’t believe that her dress might even look better than yours.

Her dress isn’t simple, but it isn’t over the top. You can see some crystals placed in the skirt, just enough to shimmer under the lights, and the torso has a few crystals lining the neckline.

Natalie then helps you into your dress, the blue color popping against your skin tone as soon your zipped into it.

Your dress, like Natalie’s, has crystals sewn into the skirt, but your skirt has a bunch of layers to make the blue pop.

It shines beneath the light, the blue hues all forming together to make a color you’ve seen before, but you can’t quite place where.

The two of you grab your masks off of Natalie’s bed, and then you head downstairs to the living room, where Natalie’s parents are waiting.

“You two look absolutely stunning.” Natalie’s father says.

“Thank you, Dad. I appreciate it.” Natalie responds, smiling at her father.

“Just remember to be home by one a.m.!” Natalie’s mom reminds you two.

“Yes ma’am.” The both you say in unison.

Natalie’s mom snaps a photo of the two of you before you head out into the limo that’s waiting for you outside.

   The Gala is in full swing by the time you arrive. You grab the baby blankets, formula, and invitations next to you as you step out of the car, and hand them to the man guarding the carpet entrance.

Paparazzi and magazine editors have vanished, and the only two people on the carpet are you, Natalie, and the two security guards that are guarding the entrance.

“You might not make it. They’re announcing people’s arrival now.” The guard warns. “I’d hurry if I were you.”

You and Natalie book it for the entrance, careful not to ruin your hair, your makeup, or your dress.

You’re nearly out of breath by the time you reach the inside of the Hemmings Mansion; you knew it was big but you didn’t think it was this big.

Natalie steps inside before you do, holding the door open for you as you catch your breath and prepare yourself for the night.

Now that you’re inside of the Hemmings Mansion, which is basically a baby castle, a bunch of thoughts flood your mind.

Should you be here? What if you get caught by a Hemmings? What if your father finds out that you’re here? What if when you talk to Luke, he’s a total dick? Should you leave? You should probably leave.

“(y/n)!” Natalie whispers, separating you from your thoughts. Thankfully.

Natalie motions for you to come closer, and she speaks to the guard outside of the door, telling them to announce her arrival.

“See you in there.” Natalie says, giving you a quick kiss on the cheek.

The guards open the door and Natalie takes a few steps in.

“Miss Natalie of the Granger family.” The guard yells, and everyone claps as Natalie descends down the stair case.

You take a deep breath and step out, not bothering to have the guards announce your arrival.

It’s not like they needed to make an announcement to have all eyes on you, everyone is already staring at you anyway as you descend down the steps of the ballroom.

You notice the Hemmings’ boys standing next to their mother and father, but Luke is nowhere to be seen around you.

Scanning the room for him once more, you stop at the top of the stairs and finally realize just how many people are staring at you.

You see familiar faces; people you grew up with and people you grew up watching on your television screen, but you don’t particularly see the face.

Maybe you shouldn’t have come tonight.

You put on your best smile and continue walking down the stairs, and once your feet hit the floor, you look up.

As if the universe had heard your silent pleas, Luke stands a few feet in front of you.

Suddenly, the butterflies are back in your tummy, and you feel a breath hitched in your throat as you make eye contact with the boy across from you.

Blue eyes meet yours, and a small smile spreads across his lips.

It’s as if you’re the only two in the room. You can’t see anyone else but Luke, and you can tell by the way he’s looking at you, it’s the same for him.

People begin to part like the red sea as you make your way toward him, meeting him in the middle of the dance floor.

“Mr. Hemmings.” You smile, curtseying in front of him.

He bows, and then smiles at you, looking in to your eyes. “It’s you, isn’t it?”

You give him a small smile and shrug your shoulders the tiniest bit. “Just so.”

He can’t stop staring at you, and he shuffles his feet before continuing to speak to you. “(y/n),” he begins. You’re shocked he even knows your name to begin with. “it would be my greatest pleasure… if you could give me the honor… to lead you through this first…”

“Dance?” You finish for him.

“Dance, yes. If you’d let me lead you through this first dance.” Luke chuckles awkwardly.

You nod and give him a genuine smile.

Luke then takes your hand in his, and begins leading you through the dance.

You hear the band begin to play a song; a lovely little instrumental that sounds like it could be something out of a Disney film, as Luke guides you through the dance.

Your dress is magnificent under the lights of the Hemmings Ballroom; earning ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ from the other attendees as Luke spins you around the ballroom.

The two of you never break eye contact as you dance, the music drawing you into one another as the song goes on.

Luke is impeccable at dancing, you’d never known he was good at dancing unless you saw him dance.

He spins you a final time, causing the audience to roar with applause.

When the two of you are done dancing, he grabs your hand and whisks you away from the crowd.

When you and Luke are alone, you immediately take off your mask and toss it into the bin. Luke finally gets a good look at you, never letting go of your hand.

“You are beautiful, (y/n).” Luke admits. “Your dress is absolutely ravishing. You look like a real life–”

“Cinderella.” You both say in unison, and you both giggle.

The two of you roam the hallways of his family’s estate, hand in hand, and the only thought on your mind is ‘I can’t believe this is happening’.

The two of you make your way into a little garden in the back of the estate, and the garden overlooks the back of the mansion. You take a seat on the swing that’s hanging off the old oak tree, and Luke stands behind you, pushing you gently, careful to not let your dress drag on the ground.

“You know, I’ve never shown this place to anyone.” Luke states, breaking the silence.

“Really?” You say, your eyes lighting up. “It’s breathtaking.”

“As are you.” He says, and you turn to look at him, making eye contact.

You giggle like a school girl but quickly put a stop to it. You can’t let him know that you’ve had a massive crush on him since grade school.

 “I find myself wondering,” you begin, looking around the garden. “How come your name wasn’t on the invitation tonight.”

Luke stifles a chuckle. “Unlike my parents,” he begins. “I’d rather the charitable acts that I do be genuinely charitable. Not for the brownie points.”

“So you’re involved with the charities your father and brothers are?” You ask, looking up at him.

You’ve stopped swinging now, and Luke is standing in front of you, holding his hand out for you to take, so you can walk around the gardens together.

You intertwine your fingers with his, and the two of you begin walking around the gardens.

“Yes, I am.” Luke answers your question from a few moments ago. “But I don’t do it for the recognition. I do it because I genuinely enjoy helping these people.”

“That’s very kind of you.” You smile.

“What about you?” Luke asks. You two look at each other as you walk along the concrete pathways. “Are you involved in any of the work your family does?”

“Yes.” You tell him. “I do a lot for JDRF, and I also volunteer for St. Jude.”

“Oh, crap. That’s so cool.” Luke smiles.

“But I agree. I do it because I like it and I like seeing people’s lives change for the better. Last year alone, my sister and I helped raise over half a million dollars for JDRF.” You tell him.

“I didn’t realize juvenile diabetes research was so important to you.” Luke says, his voice getting quieter.

The two of you are stopped in front of a vine and rose covered wall that would be the perfect backdrop for some pictures.

“Well… Natalie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when we were five. From then on I swore I’d do anything I can to help her find a cure.” You mention.

Luke smiles and turns so his entire body is facing you. “You’re amazing.”

“So are you.” You whisper back.

For a brief moment, you notice him staring at your lips before he brings his gaze back to your eyes.

You’ve never seen him like this; vulnerable and shy and handsome. Everything in you is telling you to pounce on him because this might be your only chance to do so, but you push that thought aside and snap back to reality.

You notice Luke is staring at your lips again.

“You know… You can kiss me if you want to.” You tell him, not sure where that rush of confidence came from.

“I know but… The problem is,” He says leaning in, “if I kiss you, then I don’t think I’d be able to stop.”

You sigh and look around you. You’re leaning against the wall now, Luke’s right hand by your head to steady himself as he leans towards you.

Everything inside of you is telling you to kiss him. For so long, you’ve wondered what his lips would feel like on yours. You’ve wondered how he would taste, how he would feel with his arms wrapped around you.

You look up and make eye contact with him, placing your hand on the back of his neck and closing the gap between you, and placing your lips on his.

Immediately his hands go to your waist, pulling you closer. You get as close as you can without tripping over your dress, but it isn’t close enough.

You find yourself yearning for more; more of his words, more of his touch, more of him, that you wrap your arms around his shoulders in attempt to pull him closer.

Several minutes later you pull apart and look at each other as you catch your breath.

You’ve kissed several guys before, but you haven’t kissed them like that. Kissing Luke was something else.

“I told you it’d be hard to stop kissing you.” Luke smirks.

You roll your eyes and push yourself up off the wall. You catch a glance of the time on your phone: 11:59 P.M.

You’ve got several missed calls and texts from Natalie, telling you to get back asap or you’ll miss curfew.

You hear the chapel bell a few blocks away begin to chime, signaling that you must leave.

You and Luke look at one another, and you try to find the words to say before you leave him.

“I’ve uh… I’ve got to go.” You tell him.

“What? Why?”

“It’s just…” You begin. It’s embarrassing to tell him you and your best friend have a curfew at age twenty-one. “I’ve got to go. But I had a lovely night and I hope we can continue this some other time.”

“How will I know where to find you?” Luke asks as you begin sauntering off.

“Trust me, you’ll run into me!” You tell him as you make your way back into the mansion.

You pick up your dress skirts and begin scurrying across the dance floor, grabbing Natalie as you do so.

The two of you make your way upstairs before you’re stopped by Mister Andrew Hemmings himself.

“You’ve got some nerve coming here tonight.” He says, making eye contact with you.

“Mister Hemmings, I meant no harm, really.” You state. “I got an invitation and I wasn’t going to pass it up. I have nothing against your family.”

“Go. You’re a good one, (y/n).”

You smile and curtsey before him before resuming your scurry off to the limo that’s waiting for you outside of the mansion.

 *   *   *   *

 After getting back to Natalie’s at exactly 12:59 on the dot, the two of you are in her room getting ready for bed.

“How was it?” Natalie asks you, plugging her phone into the charger.

“Natalie it was amazing!” You sigh, plopping next to her in the bed. “I learned he’s a real philanthropist and…”

“Spit it out, (y/n)!” Natalie says, sitting up in excitement.

“We kissed!”

“Shut the front door!” Natalie exclaims. “I’m so glad it turned out well.”

“I can’t believe he knew my name.” You mumble, leaning down on her pillows. “I didn’t think he’d know who I was.”

“Your family has been feuding for centuries.” Natalie starts. “You didn’t think he’d at least know your name?”

You shake your head and chuckle, still floating on the cloud you were on earlier, and before you know it, you’re lulled to sleep by the thoughts of dancing with Luke.

 *   *   *   *

          When you arrive back your family’s estate, you’re greeted by your brothers, who are as usual, talking about the Gala last night and making fun of the attendees as they speak on the television.

“Hey (y/n).” Your oldest brother, Stephen greets from the couch in the family room.

“What are you guys watching?” You ask, sitting down next to them.

“The coverage from the Hemmings Gala last night.” Your other brother, Nicholas, states.

“I heard it was a shit show.” You mumble, hoping that your brothers don’t catch on or ask you questions about your night.

“Apparently their youngest, Luke, I think, was smitten with one of the girls last night.” Stephen states, looking over at you and your brother.

“Poor girl.” Nicholas begins. “I bet she’s regretting every second of it.”

Your brothers laugh and high five as you get up and walk up the stairs to your room.

When you get to your room, you shut the door behind you and plop down on your bed, sighing as you close your eyes.

You grab your phone from your bag and check the notifications, seeing that you’ve got one missed message from an unknown number.

You read the message on your phone, noticing it’s from Luke, and the smile upon your face spreads from ear to ear.

You change into something more appropriate for meeting him, and head to the train tracks in the middle of town.

 *   *   *   *

 “You know we could get caught.” You mumble, giving Luke a hug. He kisses your cheek and grabs your hand.

“That’s half the fun of being here.” He smirks, looking down at you.

The two of you walk along the train tracks hand in hand, silent, but it isn’t uncomfortable.

You feel at peace for the first time in forever, and you could get used to the feeling of being around Luke.

His hand in yours feels like home, and you feel safe around him, which is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

“I was thinking about you all night, you know.” He says, breaking the silence.

You stop in your tracks and look up at him. “Oh yeah?”

“If I’m being completely honest…” His voice trails off and he averts his gaze from your eyes and looks at the ground.

“Just say it, Luke.” You encourage.

“I’ve always had a crush on you.” Luke says, and you practically feel your heart burst at his statement. “I never knew that I could like someone who’s supposed to be my enemy.”

You stifle a laugh. “You don’t seriously still believe in the feud do you?”

“I mean…”

“I think it might just be because I’m the youngest, but that’s more for my older brothers. Not for me.” You tell him.

Luke kind of shakes his head and sighs. “Look, (y/n), I want to be with you. I need to know if you feel the same way about me.”

You look around, trying to avoid the conversation.

How could you date someone you’ve only spoken a few words to? How could you date someone you only met last night? Sure, you’ve known about Luke your entire life, but the stories you’ve heard and the stories that will be told about you and him… you weren’t sure if you could handle it.

“It’s okay.” Luke sighs. “We can play it by ear.”

“I just… I’m not like the other girls you date.” You tell him. “I’m not a party girl.”

“I don’t like dating party girls.” Luke laughs. “I’ve never been the type to party. That’s more of Jack’s thing. I don’t really care what you like to do, as long as you’re nice and have a good heart.”

“That sounds like something straight out of a Disney movie.” You chuckle.

“I did watch a lot of Disney movies as a kid.” Luke laughs.

You smile and shake your head. “What’s your favorite Disney movie?”

“Probably The Lion King.” Luke answers. “Or Cinderella.”

You two begin walking hand in hand again. “Cinderella is my favorite too.”

“You strike me more as Beauty and The Beast kind of gal.” Luke admits, smirking.

“I love that film. But Cinderella is a classic.”

“You’re classic.” He smirks, looking down at you.

You’re scanning his face to see what your next move should be, but you don’t know.

He’s silent before he says, “I’m going to kiss you now.”

“I’d be mad if you didn’t.”

His lips are on yours again for the millionth time in twenty-four hours, and yet again, it’s still not enough for you. You need his touch almost as much as you need oxygen to breathe, and for a moment, you feel as if you’re meant to be doing this; you’re meant to be here, in this moment, with Luke, forever.

You pull apart to catch your breath and rest your head against his chest.

“I could kiss you forever, (y/n).” Luke mumbles against the top of your head.

“I wish it was this easy.” You give a small smile, but you both know it will never be easy for either of you.

“Run away with me.” Luke says.

You pull away and take a few steps back. “What?”

“I didn’t stutter. Run away with me (y/n). We can start a new life together.” He says again.

You’re not entirely sure if he means it, part of you still thinks this might be a prank, but you cock your head and consider the offer.

“We barely know each other. What if you don’t like me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. This could be fun!” Luke says.

You sigh and grab his hands, giving him a quick peck on the lips. “How about this. We consider it again in a week. By then, we’ll know each other better.”

Luke sighs and kisses your cheek. “Okay. We reconsider in a week.”

 *   *   *   *

 Natalie enters your room, bags of Chinese take-out and three DVD’s in her hand. She places the food on your bed and pops in the Hairspray DVD, your favorite movie of all time, and then crawls next to you in the bed.

You can tell she’s going through something, but you also don’t want to push it, so you take the box of orange chicken and fried rice and the chopsticks, and begin eating your food.

Natalie sighs. “I’m upset.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” You say, putting your stuff down on your bedside stand. “What’s wrong?”

Natalie turns to look at you and sighs once more. “You know, I really thought that he liked me. But when I saw him earlier, he just… ignored me.”

You know almost instantly that she’s talking about the fling Natalie’s having with your brother, Stephen. They’ve been sleeping together since you started college, and Natalie was in deep. Stephen? Not so much.

“You know how he gets… He’s annoying and doesn’t know how to state his feelings.” You reassure her.

“I know but, I know he likes me. He’s just being a dumb boy.” Natalie sighs. “I just don’t want to tell him how I feel because I think he’s going to drop me.”

You sigh and sit up, still keeping your attention on Natalie. “Nat. You can’t be hung up on him forever. You’re better than him anyway.”

Natalie groans and rests her head in your lap. “I’m gonna go talk to him.”

“Go do that.” You encourage her.

Natalie stands up and walks out of your room, shutting your door as she leaves. Before you can get comfortable, you hear the sound of something hitting your balcony door.

You get up and walk towards your balcony, opening the curtains to look down at the noise maker.

Luke is smirking; he’s totally the type to throw rocks at your window at midnight.

You open the door and step out onto your balcony, and Luke starts yelling at you with a smile on his face.

“What is that light in the window over there? It is the east, and (y/n) is the sun.” Luke says, his hand against his chest as he looks up at you.

You lean against your balcony railing, looking down at him. “You’re going to get killed if anyone finds you out here.”

“So let me in and change my fate, my sweet (y/n).” Luke smiles, and begins climbing the tree to your left.

He climbs over the railing and makes his way over to you, placing his hands on your hips and planting a kiss on your lips.

He tastes like mango chapstick, and your first thought is: he doesn’t seem like a mango chapstick kind of guy. But it’s nice, and you kiss him again and again, until you sneak him into your room and he lies down on your bed, where Natalie was once sitting.

“If I’d known it’d be this easy to get into your room, I would’ve done it a lot sooner.” Luke teases, and you rest your head on his chest and cuddle up into him.

His heart is beating fast, and at first you think it’s from him climbing the tree, but you soon realise that it’s because he’s holding you in his arms for the first time in an intimate setting.

You begin to draw circles around his chest with your finger, and he places a kiss on the top of your head.

“I really like you, you know.” You mumble.

“How much?” Luke asks.

“This much.” You respond, leaning up and kissing his neck. You trail your kisses down his neck and to his chest, and he guides you back up to his face, and pulls you back in for a kiss.

He flips you over and he takes his time, teasing you with his hands and with his mouth.

“Do you want to do this?” He asks, looking at you directly.

“More than you know.” You breathe, pulling him back in for more kisses.

 *   *   *   *

 Luke lies in your bed completely naked, but absolutely beautiful. His chest moves up and down slowly as he breathes. His blond curls are splayed across your pillow, his hand resting on his chest, and his mouth slightly agape, but you’ve never seen anyone so beautiful.

You quietly get out of bed and walk across the room to turn off your TV and lock your bedroom door – which luckily isn’t out of the ordinary for you so no one would question why you have it locked when you wake up in the morning.

*   *   *   *

 Before the sun even rises, you and Luke are awake, talking in your bed about anything and everything.

You’re lying on his chest and his arm is wrapped around you, and your other hand is holding his, the only light coming from the bouncing screensaver on your tv.

You’ve never felt this content in your life, and something is telling you to run away with him, but you know you can’t just leave.

It’s never that easy, especially when it comes to a Hemmings.

Luke gets up and gets ready to leave, putting his clothes back on and turning to face you before he leaves.

“I had a great time last night.” Luke mumbles, pulling you in as you walk towards him.

“I did too.” You reply. “When can I see you again?”

Luke looks into your eyes and smiles. “Whenever you’d like.”

“How about tomorrow. I’ve got things to do today, but tomorrow I’m free.” You tell him.

“I will see you tomorrow, then, my love.” Luke smiles, kissing your nose before you walk him out to your balcony.

“Text me when you get home.” You tell Luke. “I want to know you made it home safe.”

“As you wish.” Luke kisses you again, longer this time, before climbing down your tree and walking off your property.

    Waking up again once the sun has officially risen, you grab your phone and see a text from Luke stating that he made it home. You send him a thumbs up emoji and a smile, before placing your phone down and walking downstairs to greet your family.

“Good morning, princess.” Your father greets as you walk into the kitchen, and you approach him, giving him a hug. “I trust you slept well?”

“Better than you know.” You tell him.

Natalie is already sitting down at the kitchen island with Stephen, and you sit next to her as your mother slides you a mug of coffee.

“I believe someone got all of your attention last night, huh, (y/n)?” Your mom says suggestively, giving you a playful look.

“Oh, (y/n) definitely got the attention of a certain someone.” Stephen smirks.

“So did you, isn’t that right, Nat?” You smirk, looking at your brother and your best friend.

You’d do anything to avoid this conversation – you suck at keeping things from your parents – and any more attention, and you might accidentally spill that you slept with a boy. Not just any boy, but a Hemmings boy, and your dad would flip his shit.

You take a sip of your coffee and look over at your parents; they’re already dressed for today’s agenda – your family is running in the JDRF marathon – meanwhile, you’re still dressed in your pajamas.

Luckily, you weren’t running the marathon, but since your parents are running, you’ve got to be there to show support.

You walk back upstairs, coffee mug in hand, and head into your room to get dressed. Natalie follows, she’s not running either but she’s going to show her support, and she shuts the door behind you two and pulls you into your bathroom and turns on the shower, so you can talk without being heard.

“Did you sleep with who I think you slept with?” Natalie smirks, pulling you close so you can hear her. “Did you sleep with the Hemmings boy?”

You raise an eyebrow and wink at her, giving her a technical confirmation without saying you did.

Natalie gives you a big hug and kisses your cheek. “I can’t believe you’re the modern day Romeo and Juliet.” She jokes.

“No one is dying.” You laugh.

“Not yet.” Natalie fires back.

“You’re ridiculous.” You shake your head and turn off the shower faucet, signaling that the conversation is over.

You walk into your closet and change into your clothes, more appropriate than your pajamas, and then walk down the stairs to your family.

 *   *   *   *

 It’s been a few hours since your family participated in the marathon, and now you’re celebrating, getting ice cream in a part of town that your family likes to call No-Man’s-Land – only because it’s between the Hemmings and the Harper county lines.

You sit down next to your mom and eat a spoonful of your ice cream, looking at your dad. He’d placed second today, which is impressive, considering your dad never likes running or any form of physical exercise.

“Thank you guys for supporting me today.” Your dad says, looking around at your siblings, Natalie, and your mom. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Your family is silent eating their ice cream, until your brother, Stephen, looks up and points at someone standing in line.

“Get the fuck out of here.” He shouts.

Everyone looks over and you see the Hemmings boys – Ben, Jack, and Luke – looking at your family.

You make eye contact with Luke and instantly, a surge of fear rushes through your body. You can’t stand to see him get hurt, even though you’ve just met him, you’re sure you might even love him.

“Who you tellin’ to get out of here, huh?” The oldest Hemmings boy, Ben, says.

“I told you.” Stephen retorts, standing up from his seat to match up with Ben.

You look at your brother. “Stephen, don’t.”

“Shut up, (y/n).” He says, pushing you out of his way. “You need to know that these boys are never going to be good enough for you.”

Stephen stands in front of Ben, Stephen being a little bit taller than the oldest Hemmings brother, and you sink into your Mom’s arms, hoping she’ll protect you from whatever is about to happen.

You hide your face into your mother’s neck as your brothers and your fathers begin yelling with the Hemmings brothers.

“Bold of you to think that your sister is even good enough for one of us.” You hear Jack, the middle brother, say.

You look at your brothers and father, and your dad throws the first punch before everything goes into a frenzy.

Curse words are being shouted, punches are being thrown, and you even see Luke pull out a knife and aim for one of your brothers.

“Luke!” You cry out, but you see him pierce the knife into your brothers bicep, and Stephen lets out a painful cry.

You run out of the ice cream shop and out to your car. You hear Luke calling after you, but you drive off before you even hear a word from him.

He gets in his car and he follows you, desperate to explain himself.

You drive around town, trying to avoid him at all costs. How could you listen to someone who stabbed your brother in front of your eyes? You didn’t get involved, so why did he have to?

You pull over at the train tracks in the middle of town, parking your car in the trees and walking towards the tracks, crossing them to get into the field on the other side.

“(y/n), listen to me, please.” Luke cries.

“Why should I?” You yell back.

Luke is walking across the field to get to you, and you’re tempted to run past him but you know you should also hear him out.

As he gets closer, you see the hurt in his eyes. You can tell he’s been crying; his eyes are red, and he’s trying to hide the tears with his curls.

He stops in front of you, and immediately, you notice the blood stain on his abdomen. There’s a gash in his shirt, and you can’t tell if it’s a stab wound or if he’s just deeply cut, but you don’t bother to touch it.

“What happened?” you ask him. “Why are you bleeding?”

“Your brother stabbed me with some glass. I tried to take it out but…”

“What do you want, Luke?” You cut him off. “Give me one good reason as to why I should hear you out.”

“Because I love you.” Luke blurts, grabbing your attention. “I know it’s only been several days, but holy shit, (y/n), I’m in love with you.”

“What?” You ask. Your heart is beating a million times a minute, and although you know it’s not the best of circumstances, you can tell he’s being truthful.

“I’m in love with you.” He says, taking a step closer. “I’ve been in love with you from the moment you stepped foot in my family’s estate. I’m going to be in love with you for the rest of my life.”

“You heard what your brothers said. I’m not good enough for you.” You tell him. “I love you too, but we can never be together.”

“(y/n)…” Luke whispers. His hands places on either side of your face.

You sigh and take his hands off of you. “You’re a Hemmings, I’m a Harper. We can never be together. It’s written in the stars.”

“We can rewrite the stars, (y/n). We can be together. Change the fate. Just… Please.” Luke begs.

You’ve never seen him so desperate, and he leans in to kiss you, and you hesitate. You don’t know if kissing him is even worth it anymore, not after what had happened at the ice cream shop.

But if you love him, you should be able to get past that right? You could run away together and the two of you could start a brand new life somewhere. Run to a completely different state, get married, start a family. An entire life is waiting for the two of you if you just say yes.

“It’s not that simple.” You sigh. “Nothing’s that simple.”

“Everything is. If you let it.” Luke says.

The two of you look at each other. You can’t bring yourself to say yes, but you can’t bring yourself to say no either.

“Luke, you can’t just expect me to run away with you.” You tell him. “Where would we go? We don’t have money. If our parents knew we ran away with each other, we’d be cut off instantly.”

Luke sighs. “I just really want to be with you.”

You scan his face and suddenly he goes pale, like he’s about to collapse.

“Luke?” You say. “Luke, are you okay?”

His hand is resting over the blood stain on his abdomen, and your eyes widen immediately as you rush closer to him.

“Hospital, please.” Luke breathes. It’s heavy and its harsh and you immediately begin walking him back to your car.

“Stay with me, Luke. You can’t die on me. I’ll be damned if this is a Romeo and Juliet situation.” You say as the two of you get into your car.

You book it for the hospital and race into the emergency room, practically carrying Luke, and as soon as Luke rests on the counter, he falls over, causing a rush of nurses and doctors to help him.

“What’s the patients name?” The nurse asks you as three other nurses and two doctors get Luke on to the stretcher.

“Luke. Luke Hemmings. Date of birth, July 16, 1996.” You tell the nurse, and her eye widen.

“This is a Hemmings boy?” She asks.

You nod as the others helping Luke rush him off into an operating room to get him stitched up, and the nurse who was asking you questions makes eye contact with you again.

“Can you tell me what happened?” She asks, grabbing her pen and a notebook as the two of you walk to a secluded corner.

“Um, we were in the ice cream shop in No-Man’s-Land. I’m not sure if he got stabbed or cut or what. But then we were by the train tracks, where the county lines meet? And we were talking before he went pale all of a sudden.”

“And you are?”

“(y/n) Harper, ma’am.” You say.

The nurses eyes widen when you tell her your name.

Everyone in town knows about the feud between your families, and you know she’s shocked that you’re the one who brought Luke in.

“Please, don’t tell anyone.” You say. “I can’t risk it right now.”

“I’ll say you’re anonymous. You can wait in the waiting room while we figure out what’s going on.”

You nod and thank the nurse for her kindness, and you take a seat in the waiting room, anxious to know more about Luke’s condition.

Is he going to be okay? Is he going to die on the table? What if you never get to tell him that you want to start a life with him somewhere else? What if these last few days were the only few days you’d ever get to spend with him?

Maybe you won’t be able to spend nights picking his brain, or days in the sun just strolling along hand and hand.

No getting ice cream, no late night blanket forts for the two of you, no more Gala attendances and no more dancing together.

God, you so badly wanted to dance with him again. It’s practically made the two of you fall for each other.

You try to think of the positives.

Dancing with Luke once he recovers.

Starting a life with Luke.

Kissing him whenever he recovers.

 You’re pulled away from your thoughts as soon as a nurse gently touches your shoulder. You look up and she smiles at you. You do your best to smile back, but it’s hard thinking about Luke lying on that table.

“He’s going to be okay.” She tells you. “It was a stab wound. He’ll need some physical therapy for a bit, but he should be okay.”

It’s almost as if the weight is lifted off your shoulders then and there. You take a deep breath and relax your shoulders before standing up and following the nurse to his room.

When you arrive, Luke is still under anesthesia. He looks soft; his curls held back by a hair clip, his lashes dark, his chest falling and rising with every breath he takes. You sit next to the bed on a chair and hold his hand, pressing a kiss to the top of it before wiping a tear from your eye.

You’re silent for a while, taking in the fact that Luke is alive and breathing and sure he may need a little help, but you’re going to be there every step of his recovery, even if no one approves.

“Where is he?!” You hear frantic yelling in the hallway. You keep your hand in Luke’s and brace yourself for Luke’s family walking in and seeing you, someone they despise with all of their being.

“My baby!” Mrs. Hemmings cries, entering the room.

“(y/n)?” Jack, one of Luke’s brothers asks. “What are you doing here?”

“I brought him in.” You say, looking between them. “He passed out and I couldn’t just leave him there.”

Mrs. Hemmings looks at you with wide eyes. You’ve never got the chance to look at her before, only in passing, but you can see she’s beautiful and that Luke gets his looks from her. Her eyes are as blue as Luke’s, only a little more dull from the tears she’s been crying, and she approaches you.

“Thank you. For saving my baby.” She says. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

You give her a sympathetic smile as she gives you a hug. You smile at everyone before stepping into the hallway to give the family some time with their boy.

You begin to walk away as someone calls after you. You turn around and face Mr. Hemmings, the man who was nice to you only a few nights before.

“You saved my boy.” He says. You can tell he’s trying not to cry. “I was wrong about you, Harper. You’re a good kid.”

“Everyone deserves kindness, whether or not your family hates them.” You respond.

“I don’t know what to say.” Mr. Hemmings tells you. “I know Luke would’ve done the same, if the rolls were reversed.”

You sniff and wipe a tear from your cheek. “Yeah.”

“Thank you, (y/n).” Mr. Hemmings says. “If you ever need anything; a place to stay or a ride or anything at all, you’ve got us.”

You nod as he gives you a quick hug, and then you head back to the waiting room.

It’s about fifteen minutes until someone comes back to talk to you, Mrs. Hemmings greets you with a smile as she motions for you to come follow her back into the room.

You stand up and head back to Luke’s room, where he’s awake but barely.

His eyes are fluttering shut as you walk in, but it’s like once he hears your footsteps, he shoots back to consciousness.

You turn around.

Blue eyes meet yours and a small smile spreads across his face. “You’re here.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

 *   *   *   *

6 MONTHS LATER

          You’re standing in front of two closed doors, your father standing next to you with tears in his eyes. He smiles down and places a kiss on your forehead before the doors open.

         When the doors open, you see Luke standing at the end of the room in a tux.

         Blue eyes meet yours and a smile spreads across his face.

         Your father continues to walk you down the aisle; your friends and parents watching in awe as you two take this step.

         “Do you, Luke Hemmings, take (y/n) Harper, to be your lawfully wedded wife, for better or worse, through sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live?”

         “I do.” Luke smiles, sliding a ring on your finger.

         “And do you, (y/n) Harper, take Luke Hemmings, to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better or worse, through sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live?”

         “I do.” You smile, sliding a ring on Luke’s finger.

         “By the power vested in me and the great state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Luke, you may kiss your bride.”

         Luke doesn’t hesitate to kiss you. His lips meet yours and your arms wrap around him as he picks you up and spins you around.

         Once he sets you down, you look at Natalie and wink at her, before the two of you walk out of the courthouse and towards your car.

         Outside, it seems as if the entire town has come to celebrate your nuptials; confetti made out of leaves are being tossed in the air and everyone is cheering as you head out to your car.

         You and Luke stop near the back of your car before looking at one another.

         Blue eyes meet yours, and a smile spreads across his face.

         “I love you.”

         “I love you more.”

         “Let’s go on an adventure.” Luke smiles.

         “I’ll go anywhere. As long as it’s with you.”

[l-egionaire]

A Gocup Christmas

I posted this over a year ago to my AO3 and Fanfiction accounts and wanted to post it here.

It was Christmas time in the city of San Fransokyo. People were stringing up lights, putting up their trees, and working to make everything just feel festive. And nowhere was that felt more than the San Fransokyo Institute of technology. The walls of the buildings were lined with blinking high tech environmentally friendly Christmas bulbs, and inside the middle of the quad a massive Christmas tree had been put up and covered in almost every kind of decoration the students could find. The small spray of snow falling from the sky decorated its branches with layers of white, further adding to its holiday display.

Inside the robotics lab, two students in particular where hard at work. One was a young woman with black hair with a purple streak in it and the other was a young man with scruffy wind whipped brown hair and a large nose. They were currently examining a bright yellow bike frame hanging from the ceiling.

"I think it's looking pretty good Gogo." Said the man as he admired the bike.

The woman examined the bike frame with extreme scrutiny. "Yeah, but so far all the practical tests I've done have been in the lab. I haven't managed to try it out on the open road, so I don't know how it'll perform." She looked over at the man. "Besides Hiccup, there is a big difference between something looking good and it actually working the way it should."

"I know, but what can you do? You'd need permission from the university to test out something like this outside of school, you know with their whole "Not letting students test their dangerous experiments outside campus" Policy." Hiccup shrugged. "Not much you can do."

Gogo sighed. "Yeah, guess I'll just have to figure it out after the holidays." Then she cleared her throat and nervously looked off to the side. "So um, Christmas is just two days away."

Hiccup smirked. "I gathered that from the twinkling lights and people wearing Santa hats."

"Yeah, and I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to do something tomorrow."

Hiccup frowned. "Like what?"

"I don't know. Go to dinner or see a flick or something" Gogo suggested, doing her best to look away from him.

Hiccup thought for a few seconds before regretfully saying. "I can't. I've got some Christmas shopping to do tomorrow." He turned away so she wouldn't notice the conflicted look on his face. In truth he'd be using the time to complete a special gift for her. He'd been working on it for weeks and it was almost done.

"Oh." Gogo said sullenly.

Hiccup frowned in concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just figured since that since this is our first Christmas together as a couple, we'd spend it, you know, together."

"Sorry, but I really put this off to the last minute." Hiccup said. "Besides, it's just Christmas Eve. As in, the day before. We can still go out and do something Christmas day."

"Yeah, yeah sure." She said, not quite managing to hide her disappointment.

Hiccup noticed her downtrodden expression. "What's the matter?"

Before she could answer, the door to the lab opened. They looked behind them and saw Fred, Wasabi, and Honey all wearing thick Christmas sweaters. Fred's was red, Honeys was pink, and Wasabi's was light green.

"Feliz navidad you two!" Honey said cheerfully. She ran over and pulled them into a tight hug.

"Merry Christmas Honey." Hiccup croaked out.

"Ribs….being…..crushed." Gogo groaned.

Honey let go and pulled on the sides of her sweater to better display the glittering periodic table on the front. "What do you think? I made them for everyone!"

Fred walked over and lovingly rubbed the front of his sweater,which bore the image of a giant blue and orange kaiju breathing flames onto a city. "Honey you are amazing. I have never wanted a piece of fabric to touch my body as much as this one."

Wasabi simply hid his face in his hands and mumbled something about "being roped into this", his other hand trying to cover the red atom on his sweater.

Hiccup stared at them, dumbfounded, while Gogo stood there with an eyebrow raised in surprise.

"Wow, those are really…..something Honey." Hiccup said, feigning enthusiasm.

"I'm so glad you think so, because I made some for you guys too!" Honey whipped out two more sweaters from her purse. One was bright yellow with the picture of a speeding bike and the other was black with the image of a red jet.

The two of them looked at each other before begrudgingly pulling on the sweaters.

"Great. You really shouldn't have." Hiccup said, pulling his head through the neck hole on his.

"Yeah. Really." Gogo grumbled while putting on hers.

Fred reached behind his back and withdrew a thermos and five small paper cups. He unscrewed the top of the thermos and poured a thick white liquid into each.

"My special recipe eggnog." He shoved a full cup into each of their hands and then raised his in the air. "A toast! To this awesome Christmas and all the ones that come after it."

"Merry Christmas!" They all met their cups in the middle and then took a swig of the Eggnog. Unfortunately, Fred was the only one to do so without spitting it out two seconds later.

"Ugh!"

"Yuck!"

"Oh god!"

"Umm, Freddie?" Honey asked politely while trying not to be sick. "What exactly is in this Eggnog?"

"Just a few eggs, some milk, a little bit of scotch, some cinnamon, some nutmeg, ground up Christmas cookies, powdered cocoa mix, mint toothpaste, some holly, and a leaf of mistletoe." He took another sip and gave a satisfied sigh, licking the nog mustache off his upper lip. "I call it Christmas joy."

After hearing the exact list of ingredients, Wasabi covered his mouth and bolted out to the nearest bathroom.

The others grimaced and poured the concoction into a nearby trashcan.

"So." Honey said, hoping to distract from the horrific beverage they'd just consumed. "Hiccup, Gogo, your first Christmas together as a couple. You must have some exciting plans for tomorrow."

"Not really." Gogo said abruptly. "Hiccups going to be too busy."

"Seriously, why are you so upset?" Hiccup pressed.

"I'm not upset okay!?" Gogo snapped. "I just- I gotta go." She grabbed her coat, and her bag, and bolted from the room, slamming the door as she left.

Honey stared worriedly at the lab door. "What was that about?"

"I don't know. All I said was that I wouldn't be able to do something with her tomorrow because I was going Christmas shopping."

"Ah, Hiccup how much do you know about how Asian countries celebrate Christmas?" Honey asked.

"Besides the fact that they eat different foods and do different things? Not much." He admitted.

"Well, in places like Korea and Japan, Christmas eve is usually celebrated more than Christmas day. And it's seen as more of a romantic holiday. Sort of like Valentine's day."

Hiccup eyes popped. "What!?"

"It's just that from what I know, most couples in San Fransokyo spend Christmas Eve together doing something special, so I think the reason Gogo got so upset was because she figured you'd spend that time together."

Hiccups brain was almost overloaded by this new information. "Why wouldn't she just tell me that?"

Honey snorted. "Hiccup, it's Gogo. She's like a brick wall when it comes to expressing her emotions. I doubt she'd admit she wanted to do something romantic with her boyfriend on Christmas Eve."

Hiccup sighed wearily and rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Ugh, what am I going to do?"

"Don't worry Hiccup, I'm sure you'll think of something." She left.

Hiccup simply stood there for a few minutes before Fred walked over and slung an arm around his shoulder.

"I feel you buddy. Love can be tough. I bet another cup of Christmas joy would-."

"Not going to happen."

As he walked back home, Hiccup tried to figure out what to do about Gogo. He had no idea Christmas eve was such a big deal around here. God, if this was really as big as Valentine's Day, he definitely didn't know what to do.

He kept going until he reached the Lucky cat Café. The outside was completely covered in lines of Christmas lights. In front of the door was a red bowl set up for charity.

Walking in, he found that the inside was no less festive. The number of lights inside were double the amount outside. The place was packed full of people who had come in to get away from the snow and have a nice warm drink. The air wreaked of cinnamon, gingerbread, and eggnog. In the corner was a Christmas tree that was slightly too big to fit, the tip of the star on top poking into the ceiling. The menu had been rewritten in festive green and red and several holiday exclusive items were circled on it.

Cass came from out of the back wearing a bright red Santa hat on her head and holding a tray of hot chocolates in red mugs. Once she saw Hiccup she immediately ran over to him.

"Hey Hiccup. Glad you're here, there's a huge crowed." She glared up at the stares and yelled. "AND IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE A LITTLE HELP DOWN HERE HIRO!"

"I'M NOT COMING DOWN LIKE THIS!" Hiro yelled down.

"THAN I GUESS A CERTAIN SOMEONE ISN"T GOING TO GET THOSE NEW SERVOS HE ASKED FOR!"

There was a pause before Hiro groaned loudly and came down the stairs wearing a green elf suit with a green elf hat, green pointed belled elf shoes, fake pointy ears, and green and red striped stockings on his legs. His happy outfit was marred by the very unhappy look on his face.

Behind him, Baymax waddled down wearing a Santa suit, Santa hat, and a beard duct taped to his face.

Hiccup put his hand over his mouth trying futilely to hide his laughter.

Hiro glared at him. "Not. One. Word." He growled.

Hiccup snorted into his palm. "Of course not." He pulled out his phone and quickly snapped a picture of Hiro. Before he could stop him, he immediately sent it to Gogo with the caption MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Cass beckoned Hiro down. "Come on. You look adorable."

"I look like a total loser." Hiccup moaned as he came down the last step.

"No, you look great, really. I bet Santa's all ready for you to help out with making toys" Hiccup snickered.

Hiro gave him the evil eye. "Well, I'll have to do that after asking about where you got that nice sweater."

Hiccup looked down, having forgotten he was wearing it. "Yeah, I got it from Honey. She made one for everyone in the lab. She might have one for you too."

"I'm good." Hiro said testily. He went to take the tray from Cass.

Baymax walked over to Hiccup. "Hello Hiccup. And merry Christmas. I have been told that this is a customary greeting at this time of year, despite it not yet being Christmas day."

Hiccup smiled. "Thanks Baymax."

"My scanners indicate that you have lower than average neurotransmitter activity and a slight increase in melatonin. Diagnosis: You are sad."

Hearing that, Cass looked at him worriedly. "What's the matter?"

Hiccup was about to answer but then heard a number of people call out for service. He told her. "I'll tell you later." And they went to go serve the customers.

The work was good. It kept him distracted and took his mind off of his problems. He even managed to crack a grin after a customer asked Hiro to pose with her child for a photo. Seeing him stand stonily in an elf costume with that kid felt like an early Christmas present. Unfortunately, Cass remembered and made sure to question him during dinner.

"So what had you upset earlier?" She asked.

Hiccup, having nearly forgotten about the conversation and with a mouthful of katsu don, simply blinked in confusion.

"Baymax scanned you and said you were sad. How come?" She explained.

Now realizing what she was talking about, Hiccup regretfully swallowed his mouthful of chicken, rice, and sauce, and replied. "Eh, me and Gogo got into an argument and now she's upset."

"Argument about what?" Hiro asked.

"Well, I was going to use tomorrow to finish off Gogo's gift so I told her I was going Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that Christmas eve was considered a romantic holiday in the city and she got angry and baled on me."

Hiro snorted, his face covered in rice." Sounds like you screwed u-OWWW!" He rubbed the spot where Cass had smacked him on the head.

She glared sternly at him and said. "Don't use that kind of language." Then she turned to Hiccup. "And you! How could you tell her you couldn't be with her on Christmas Eve?"

"I didn't realize it was such a big deal!" Hiccup argued. "Most people usually use Christmas Day as an excuse to go out and do romantic stuff!"

Cass looked at him doubtfully. "Really? You told you had a girlfriend before Gogo, didn't she ever want to do something on Christmas Eve?"

"No" Hiccup said, absentmindedly stirring his katsudon. "Honestly, Astrid was more into preparing for holidays. Setting up Christmas lights, decorating the tree, wrapping presents. By the time we we're done all that, we had spent more than enough time together."

"Well you still should've thought of Gogo wanting to do something." Cass pointed out. "Look, this is your first holiday together as a couple. Are you really telling me you don't want to spend as much time with her as possible?"

"Of course I do, I just…..I just wanted to make something special for her. To show her how much she means to me." He sank sadly back into his chair. "I wanted what I gave her to be really special."

"Oh Hiccup, that's so sweet. But don't just focus on what you can give her. Think about what you can do with her too. After all, she knows you love her."

Hiccup knew she was right. Finishing his gift for her might have been important, but he knew he would still miss the time they could have together. Even with his minimal relationship experience, he knew how important Christmas could be.

And he was going to spend it with the woman he loved.

Gogo awoke the next morning still feeling disgruntled from last night. She tried to focus on her usual morning routine of making a cup of coffee with her busted up coffee maker and getting dressed for her morning run and not on the cold feeling of waking up alone instead of with Hiccup next to her or sucking down a mug of brown coffee sludge instead of going out to breakfast with her boyfriend.

She knew her scene last night was stupid. Hiccup had made other arrangements and if he couldn't go, he couldn't go. It wasn't like he was missing out on spending Christmas eve together by choice.

And she hated how sappy she was being. All down in the dumps just because she couldn't spend the day before Christmas with him.

"Get a grip." She whispered to herself. "Plenty of couples can't spend Christmas eve together. It's not the end of the world."

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't help but think of the Christmas's of her youth she'd spend with her family. Couples snuggled all warmly on the couches holding mugs of hot chocolate. Tender kisses shared under the mistletoe. Heartfelt gifts that were thoughtfully picked out traded between lovers. In her childhood she'd considered it all too mushy and figured she'd never want to do any of that romantic junk with someone. Now the fact that she couldn't do any of those things with Hiccup was making her feel like someone was squeezing her heart.

"Auugghhh!" Gogo roared, clenching her fists and her cheeks burning red. "What is wrong with me!?"

"I'm guessing you're still upset about hiccup?"

Gogo turned around and saw Honey, still in her pajamas, looking at her worriedly.

"No." Gogo lied, her face still flush.

Honey Lemon stepped closer to her and give her an encouraging smile. "It's okay to be upset that you can't be together today. I know I'd be upset if I couldn't do something with Fred."

Gogo raised her eyebrow bemusedly. "Let me guess, you two going superhero Christmas Caroling?"

"And baking big hero cookies for the little ones!" Honey squealed. "You're welcome to join us."

Gogo cringed. The only thing more depressing than spending Christmas alone was acting as a third wheel to Honey and Fred. Especially if Fred brought more of that nightmare concoction he called eggnog.

"I'll pass." Gogo said. She slipped on her boots and went to the door. She turned back and said. "I'm going for a jog."

"Why do you still do that during the winter?" Honey asked.

Gogo shrugged. "Keeps me warm." And went out.

Trudging through the layers of snow that had accumulated over the night, Gogo headed for the stop sign at the end of the street, the combination of her jacket and the friction she was creating keeping her warm.

She was so focused on her run, she just barely heard the sound of her voice being called.

"GOGO!"

She turned around just in time to see Hiccup coming towards her until he tripped and feel face first first into the snow.

She ran back to him and helped pull him up, brushing snow off his jacket sleeves. "What are you doing here!"

Hiccup huffed, his breaths showing up in the cold air. "I lied." He blurted out.

"W-what?"

"I lied. I don't really have to go shopping, That was just something I said because I wanted to finish making a present for you and I didn't want you to find out but I realized how stupid it was to focus so much on that when all I really wanted was to be with you." He said, all in one breath.

Gogo stared at him, not sure how to respond to that, before asking. "Why do you look so tired?"

Hiccup smiled and started digging through his satchel. "Because, I stayed up all night and downed enough caffeine to kill a small house in to make you...this!" From his satchel, Hiccup withdrew a slim black box.

Gogo took it and pulled the top off. Inside, sitting on a bed of crushed velvet was a locket on a small chain. She took it out and opened the locket. Two pictures were set inside the locket, one was of Hiccup bent down next to her bike, examining it closely. The other was one of her in a a white and red sleeveless shirt with a red 6 on the chest and red and white shorts. She was dowsed in sweat and raising her fist triumphantly in the air after winning the San Fransokyo marathon. Hiccup always said it was his favorite picture of her.

She looked up at Hiccup who was rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"I know it's not as good as it could be. I wanted the chain to be longer so you could wear it around your neck and for it to play a little tune when you opened the locket-." He was cut off by her giving him a nice warm hug he quickly leaned into.

She let him go and said. "It's perfect dork." She slid the chain around her wrist. "See? Now it's a kickass bracelet."

Hiccup smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Thanks. So, Since it's the day before Christmas I couldn't really arrange something fancy, so I was thinking maybe we could go for breakfast at Cass's hang out for most of the day, get some lunch at noodle burger, go see the tree light up and then go back to your place?"

Gogo grinned. "That sounds great." Then her smile fell. "But, um..."

"What?"

"I'm not so fond of noodle burger ever since I was almost murdered by it's mascot."

"Oh, right." They stood in awkward silence before he said. "Yakl-taco?"

"Better." The two started walking down the street towards the Lucky Cat. They took a second to look at each other with adoration.

"Merry Christmas Gogo."

"Merry Christmas Hiccup."

[violetnuisance]

Wake Up

pairing: Sal Fisher/Larry Johnson

rating: T

words: 3,224

summary: Sal rambles to Larry while the brunet’s in a coma.

a/n: Hi, my Sally Face discord server has monthly art/writing challenges. July’s theme was “Hospital,” so this is my submission. Here’s the link to the server: https://discord.gg/kYtz72e

Sal stood awkward, one hand clasped around the bouquet of peonies he had spray painted black while the other hand tightly gripped a “Get Well Soon!” card, no doubt creasing it. His mind felt numb as he stood and stared at his best friend who laid unconscious in the hospital bed that dominated the tiny room. Larry had definitely seen his better days. His hair was unkempt, sticking up every which way, and the dark circles underneath his eyes only seemed to worsen as his stay at the hospital progressed, having lasted two weeks already. Despite the doctors and nurses reassuring a stressed Lisa and Sal that Larry was in stable condition and would most likely make a swell recovery, the bluenet was still worried. Every day that passed that Johnson didn’t wake up, his stress only skyrocketed.

 What if Larry had severe brain damage that the doctors didn't notice? What if he woke up in a vegetative state? What if he didn’t wake up?

Sal tried to shake the thoughts and padded over to the small nightstand beside Larry’s bed. An array of wilted flowers and still-enveloped cards littered the desk. Sal tried not to think about how most of the bouquets would be dead by the time Larry woke up as he set his own down. The falsely black flowers stood out against the pink ones everyone else had left, and Sal felt a sort of sick satisfaction. Larry had told him about how someone needed to genetically engineer a solid black flower. He couldn’t remember the context of the conversation, but he remembered how much they had laughed about it. A smile threatened to tug at his lips from beneath his prosthetic, but the urge was quickly destroyed. He shouldn’t have left Larry alone that night.

Sal laid on his stomach on the treehouse’s splintered floor, a lit cigarette between his lips and his prosthetic at his side. Larry laid on his back beside him, shirt pushed up, exposing his stomach, as he stretched. The sun outside was quickly setting, but that didn’t mean Sal couldn’t still make out a trail of soft brown hair that disappeared beneath the waistband of the other’s jeans in the treehouse’s dimness. The sight made him itch, curiosity lighting him ablaze. He smushed the notion quickly forming in his head down and took the cigarette from his lips, blowing a trail of smoke. Larry looked at him, a dopey grin on his face. Something had piqued the brunet’s interest, and he rolled onto his side, facing Sal.

“We should shotgun, baby blue,” Larry laughed, voice airy and light. Sal rolled his good eye at him. 

“No one shotguns cigarette smoke,” Sal stated. His fingers brought the stick back up to his mouth. Over the years, he had become a master at hiding his reactions from Larry’s random quips. The brunet had the worst habit of cracking jokes that made Sal’s heart pitter-patter pathetically in his chest. Still, at the thought of Larry’s lips on his, he could feel the tips of his ears growing warm. Before the brunet could notice the pink tint, Sal turned his head and blew smoke into the other’s face. The bluenet let out a snort as Larry wrinkled his nose in slight disgust. “You act like you don’t smoke a pack a day.”

“Doesn’t mean the smell has grown on me,” Larry rebuffed, rubbing the back of his hand across his nose. Sal shook his head, bangs bouncing against his forehead.

“Are you trying to tell me I stink?” Larry laughed again, and the sound rumbled through Sal’s chest. He had always been especially fond of his friend’s voice, and Larry’s laughter always caused a weird sense of nostalgia to fall over him, like he was returning home after exploring the world for years. The brunet took the cigarette from Sal while he was lost in thought.

 “Don’t worry, we can stink together,” Larry assured, a wolfish grin on his face. Sal watched silently as Larry placed the cigarette between his lips before sucking gently. The bluenet should’ve seen the next action coming, but he really hadn’t.

“Oh, c’mon dude,” Sal groaned as Larry blew the smoke into his face. He waved a hand around dramatically, trying to clear the vapor. “You’re such a… such a rat!”

“Your vernacular never ceases to astound me, bluebird,” Larry mocked, passing the cigarette back to Sal. Sal took it in hand, watching in slight interest as Larry sat up before standing and walked over to the mini fridge he had hooked up. The shorter male’s interest turned to dread as his lanky friend pulled out a bottle, caramel liquid sloshing inside of it. 

“I thought you were stopping that,” Sal complained, the words pushing out automatically. His eyes narrowed as Larry used the end of his shirt to help pop the cap off the bottle. Immediately, the sickening cat-pee smell of beer assaulted Sal’s senses.

“I said I’d try to stop, and I did try,” Larry corrected before bringing the bottle to his lips. Sal cringed as he watched the other’s adam’s apple bob, swallowing the drink down. The shorter male grimaced and reached for his prosthetic. The brunet watched as Sal stubbed the cigarette out against the floor, leaving a burn mark. Larry had chastised him about it multiple times before, but Sal didn’t care at the moment. “Where are you going?”

Sal stared at Larry as he clasped his straps into place at the back of his head. “You know how I feel about your drinking problem,” he chastised, moving to his feet.

The bluenet had never been a fan of alcohol. Before his mom had passed, both of his grandparents on his dad’s side had been raging alcoholics. His mom wouldn’t let them see their grandkid unless they tried to recover. They chose the bottle. And then, after his mom’s death, his father had fallen into the same state. He drank his days away until Sal found him passed out on the floor from alcohol poisoning. After a few days in the hospital, his dad sobered up. As soon as they got back home, they both equipped themselves with plastic trash bags and threw out all the alcohol. Sal thought that would be the last he’d ever have to see of alcoholism, but now Larry was running down the same reckless path. The bluenet didn’t know why, and the other refused to open up to him.

“It’s not a problem-”

“Yes it is, Larry! How do you not see that?” Sal was fuming, his hands balled into fists at his sides. The brunet stood stiff, surprised by the emotional outburst. “There’s a difference between responsible drinking and alcoholism. And you, my friend, crossed that boundary months ago.” Sal’s voice came out quieter now, a tremble in his tone. He didn’t know if he was angry or despairful, but he knew the tears would start flowing either way if he didn’t leave. 

By god, he had hoped Larry would stop him on the way out, but the brunet hadn’t, and the next morning Sal got a phone call from Lisa, explaining that her son had gone into an alcohol poisoning induced coma.

Larry’s chest rose and fell with his breaths, and Sal wished the brunet would crack his eyes open and offer a coy smile, saying this was some prank all along. Of course, nothing of the sort happened. Sal’s gaze traveled to the plastic chair sitting at the bed’s side. Lisa had been sitting there before Sal came in, talking to the unresponsive male. Apparently the nurses had told her that stimulating Larry’s main senses could help rouse him, so the woman had done everything in the book. She rambled to him about her day every time she visited after work, constantly held his hand and kissed his cheek every time she left, and she had even brought and lit candles in the room from their apartment. Before she had given Sal privacy with Larry, she urged him to talk to the brunet. Sal had denied the notion, saying he wouldn’t stay that long, but now he felt himself sitting down in the uncomfortable chair.

For a moment, he just sat, not knowing what to say. But soon enough, the words flowed smoothly. “You’re such an idiot,” Sal whispered, feeling uncomfortable breaking the silence. He glanced around, half expecting a nurse to come in and chastise him for being loud. When that didn’t happen, he continued. “I hate to say ‘I told you so,’ but I told you so. I read you an online article of this exact thing happening. My dad’s binge drinking wasn't even this bad. God, I can’t believe you cut off the oxygen flow to your brain, and still, somehow, survived getting severe brain damage. Lisa thought you were dead when she found you!”

Sal felt his cheeks wetten as he continued to rant, everything surging up at once. His eyes glanced warily around the room. The only window was a small one in the door. Taking a chance, Sal took off his prosthetic and set it in his lap. He hated how the material would cling to his skin when he was sweating or crying. “I don’t know what happened to you. You were obviously using it as some sort of coping mechanism, but I have no idea what for. You became so closed off, and you scared me. I thought you would eventually discard me. I guess you’re still going to disappear from my life for at least a month or two. You’re going to a rehabilitation center after you wake up,” Sal paused, voice growing meek, “God, please wake up.”

Once more, silence invaded the room. Sal blinked, trying to clear his vision from where it had grown blurry from tears. He could still feel a few wet trails rolling down his face, but he felt better. Most of the torrent had been released. 

When he could see again, his gaze trailed to Larry’s hand. It laid at the brunet’s side, black nail polish mostly chipped off. Sal took in into his hand without thinking. He guided Larry’s fingers to interlock with his own. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll tell you a secret right now, and you'll wake up and tell me why you were so committed to destroying your life.” Sal paused. Despite Larry not being able to hear him, he still felt like he was putting his heart on the line. Both of his hands clasped at Larry’s hand, grounding himself.

 “I really, really like you Johnson. Don’t let that inflate your already bursting ego because you absolutely don't deserve the compliment right now. But everytime you laugh and show off that stupid ass toothgap, I want to punch you because in those moments I just want to lean over and kiss you, and I know I can’t. Maybe if you wake up, we can try shotgunning cigarette smoke before you leave even though that’s the most idiotic idea you’ve ever come up with,” Sal laughed before bringing Larry’s hand up to his mouth and pressing a kiss to the back of the brunet’s hand. “If you can’t wake up for yourself, please wake up for me and Lisa.”

It was the next day when Larry came to. Sal had been getting ready to shower when Lisa called him. He had been ready to come right away, grime and all, but Lisa stopped him. Apparently Larry was in a minimally conscious state. He’d wake up for a few minutes, confused as to where he was, and then pass out again. The grogginess would most likely wear off after a few days, and Lisa promised to call him again when her son was alert enough to carry out a conversation with someone.

The two day wait between the initial phone call and the second were absolute Hell to Sal. Even his father had picked up on his nervous energy, ordering a pizza and renting a movie the first night to help Sal calm down. The second night was when Lisa called again, and Sal made it to the hospital in record time.

When he arrived, he was delighted to find out that Larry was still in tact. There would be no outstanding injuries except for a headache. However, he couldn't barge in and tackle Larry right away because Lisa was still visiting him, so Sal sat in the waiting room, legs bouncing. He could’ve cried in relief when Lisa walked into the room, twenty minutes later. He made himself wait and speak to the woman before making a break for it.

“Sorry for taking so long, but I have the Mom Privilege to get to see my son first,” Lisa joked, a warm smile on her face. Sal stood upon the greeting, his body swaying from side to side in anticipation. “But I can assure you he’s excited to see you. Yesterday, every time he woke up, he always mentioned your name. Just try not to over excite him.”

“Yes ma’am, I’ll try my best.” Lisa’s smile broadened before she pulled Sal into a hug.

“I’ve told you, just call me Lisa,” she chastised before breaking the embrace. However, her hands still gripped Sal’s shoulders. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! Larry remembers what was said to him during his coma. He doesn’t remember every conversation explicitly, but he definitely remembers the gist of everything. I hope you didn’t insult him while you visited him the other day.”

Sal was too excited for Lisa’s words to sink in. He just mumbled out a quick, “oh, okay,” before taking off to Larry’s room. Lisa had left the door open upon her exit, so the blunet could just slip right in and close it behind him. As soon as the door shut, Larry perked, sitting up. 

“Fisher!” Larry’s hair was an absolute bird’s nest, hair enveloping his head like a lion’s mane. His eyes were also red, an indicator that he had been crying recently. Sal supposed Lisa’s talk with him couldn't have been entirely sunshine and rainbows. He, too, was sure that he’d berate Larry later, but he was too happy to see that his friend was alive and well to do it right away.

“Larry!” Sal ignored Lisa’s desire to not over excite Larry for the time being and barreled halfway over the bed’s railing, enveloping the other in a hug. The brunet let out a surprised chuckle before wrapping his arms around Sal.

“If you pushed yourself any further onto here, you’d practically be laying on the bed with me,” Larry teased, his grip around Sal tightening.

“Shut up, I missed you, you oaf,” Sal mumbled, voice muffled by his prosthetic, and the fact that his face was pressed into Larry’s shoulder. “Don’t you ever scare us like that again!”

Larry didn’t say anything at the remark, and Sal didn't press. He was content to just hug the other for awhile. However, the cramped position wasn’t allowing him to breathe all that great through his prosthetic, so he pulled away. Larry stared hard at him as he dug his fingers beneath the prosthetic’s surface, pulling it away from his skin a little to get some fresh air. “You should just take it off,” Larry advised.

Sal looked from him and then back to the door’s window. “But someone could see,” he opposed. He had already risked it once, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to do that again.

“I highly doubt it. Your back’s to the window, and I could tell you if someone was coming in,” Larry countered, a sudden fierceness to his voice. Sal hesitated. “I mean, only if you want to. You obviously don't have to.”

There was a second more of hesitance before Sal decided it'd be okay to shed the prosthetic. Larry looked at him like a giddy puppy as he undid the straps and set the device down on the table. The brunet held his arms out for a hug again, and Sal couldn't help the small smile that graced his features. “You’re such an idiot,” Sal quipped, holding his own arms out.

“I know,” Larry smirked as Sal leaned over the bed again. Instead of the hug the blunet was expecting, the other grabbed his forearms and pulled him down closer, planting their lips together. Sal jerked back as if electrocuted. 

“What-”

“Did Mom not tell you?” Larry’s gaze was searching, hands still clasping onto Sal’s arms. Sal shook his head, confusion etched onto his face. “That I could hear you when you talked to me?”

“Oh,” Sal simply responded. Lisa had told him that, but he had been too dense to realize what exactly that entailed. As it dawned on him, he could feel a blush travelling up his neck.

“Oh,” Larry mocked, over exaggerating his facial features. Sal glared at him, and the idiot had the audacity to grin, tip of his tongue poking out from between his teeth. “I can’t believe baby blue has a crush on me! When were you going to tell me?”

“Oh, shut up,” Sal complained, the tips of his ears a vibrant red. He felt like he was back in high school, blushing every time Ash happened to look in his direction. He didn’t appreciate it.

“Make me,” Larry teased back, bushy eyebrows wagging. He looked from Larry’s eyes to his lips and then back up again. He still needed two things confirmed.

“You like me?” Larry rolled his eyes at the first inquiry, and Sal swallowed the urge to throttle him.

“I wouldn’t be offering to kiss you if I didn’t,” he answered, tone matter-of-fact. Sal couldn’t help but smile before dampening the mood with the next question.

“You’re going to actually try this time, right? You’re going to try in rehab, right? I can’t have you having another episode and actually lose you,” Sal whispered. Larry faltered, tongue dampening his chapped lips. The bluenet could see the other’s eyes dampen again, not quite shedding tears, but he needed to know. 

“Yes, I promise,” Larry replied. His hands tightened around Sal’s arms, trying to prove his earnesty. “Now can I have my kiss?”

Sal nodded, leaning down again. Larry met him in the middle and gently pressed their lips together. It was just a quick peck before they pulled away, but then the brunet had Sal by the collar of his shirt, dragging him in for another kiss. The bluenet let him, his own hands coming to rest against the sides of Larry’s face. Sal had always thought that if the chance of Larry touching him- kissing him -ever came up, the sensation would be overbearing and set him alight. However, the action just sent a welcome warmth through his body, much like the same feeling he got when listening to Larry laugh.

“We have to do that more often,” Larry murmured as they pulled away, eyelashes fluttering and cheeks red. Sal thought it was cruel someone could be so beautiful. “But when are we going to shotgun cigarette smoke? You did say we could do that if I woke up.”

The mood was effectively broken. “Oh god, I hate you,” Sal whined, causing Larry to chuckle.

“I love you too, Sally Face.”

[oneofyatosfollowers]

They Had Masks For Faces

Fanfic: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13309462/1/They-Had-Masks-For-Faces

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19177903

The circular room was dimly lit by the fire place. It's red hue illuminated the different masks lining the walls and the animal-shaped furniture. At its center, a large throne with wolfish features held this world's dictator. The man had grown since his first appearance. His once light brown hair turned black and curled, the rough scowl he started showing at the sight of any 'misbehavior', and his nails- now broken and torn- knocked against the metal with restrained patience. The beast, 'Father' as he called himself, didn't turn away from the fire when the child first stepped in the room. The boy, a blonde fourteen year old wearing a green parka, stood shaking at the doorway with a brave face. On his left hung a satchel, filled with a blue-eyed black cat and three items of the dead. The door that connected both worlds, his only escape, was blocked by a closet.

"So...Yukine... you made it out alive." Father said, his voice much darker than the one he used to lore children. "And I see you let vermin into the home."

The wolf chair circled around to have them face each other. Father's once maroon eyes now glowed an angry red as he glared down at the cat Yukine carried with him. In fear and retaliation, the cat hissed at the man, growling even as Yukine shielded him from sight.

"This is Yaboku. My-my friend. I want him with me." Yukine couldn't meet Father's eyes, feeling like a child who just broke a snow globe on the carpet. His father had never looked at him in such a way. Sure, he was a bit of a moody teenager, but he never did anything to warrent such angry disappointment. Not for the first time, Yukine wished he cherished them better.

"Yes. Believe me, I'm fully aware who he is," the man drawled still staring at the cat in what looked to be confusion. "I'm just surprised he let you bring him back here. I found it impossible to be rid of him. But I suppose it makes sense, he surely knows who you are. Even if you don't know who he is."

Yukine's eyes met with the cat's. The stray that everyone says always seems to be around, but never seemed to have an owner. Yukine had found the feline sitting outside his window sill the past couple nights, there to cheer him up when he looked at pictures of the life he moved away from. His fur warm and his eyes comforting. And eyes the type of blue that shine in the dark, pressing him on, always there supporting him even when they're apart. Yukine shook his head and fiercely looked to meet Father's eyes. This man was not his dad. This wicked monster didn't even hold a candle him. Yukine was here to fix the mistake he made. To get his mom and dad back, and apologize for not heeding his dad's warning about going through the door.

Taking a breath Yukine demanded, "I want my paren-"

"You know I love you? Don't you Yukine?" Father stood, he face one of hurt, but his voice was smooth and playful. He stood and began walking towards the boy, the fire casting a shadow over his tattered black clothes. Yukine could do nothing but stand frozen in terror as Father leaned down and caressed his face, humming in amusement. When the red eyes bored into Yukine's amber ones, he was reminded of the Other Suzuha. His new neighbor's counterpart, created by Father to be without the heartbreak of his girlfriend moving away. Like every person in this world, a fake imitation, with matching maroon eyes. But this new friend was the one who took his hand and brought him to meet the 'improved' neighbors. Who laughed and joked with him in the carefree way the real Suzuha just couldn't. The boy who was forced to smile after trying to help.

"This isn't love." Yukine's voice shook, "This is hell."

Father stood straight in shock for a moment before laughing. Something under his clothes jingled as he began circling the blonde.

"Well, as much as I would love to keep chatting with you, we might as well get down to business. I already know you found three of my children."

"They aren't your kids. You stole them!"

"They wanted to come," Father's face was unreadable and his voice devoid of any emotion. "But I suppose they are what pushed my own child to escape." he murmured.

Yukine scowled at the nerve he had to call himself a father before digging into his bag, Yaboku moving out of the way. Yukine held to objects out, hovering over Father's open palm. As quick as he showed them, they were gone, and Father's hand snatched nothing but air. Father's eyes, flickered with hatred, quickly smoothed over to one of question.

"I'm not done." Yukine held the objects and bag tighter, Yaboku's tail flicking around as he gazed between the two. At this, Father laughed again.

"Ah yes, of course! You still have to find your old father and mother." He laughed harder.

For a split second, Yukine was worried he fed them to wolfs like he did to Suzuha, but that would be breaking his own rules.

"So? Where are they?" Father plopped himself back on the wolf throne, allowing Yukine to search the room. The child restrained himself from showing any sign of panic, quickly scanning the room for clues.

"I'll be impressed if you can find them! Especially since you won't have this." Father pulled a small red torii gate from his clothes. Something Yukine's mom made his dad when they were young and this was his childhood home. Something everyone in this god-forsaken house seemed to have. Something his dad gave to Yukine, to protect him while they moved back into his old orphanage. Yukine growled, that torii gate had helped him see the objects of the ghost children. His dad would be upset if he lost it.

Seemingly reading his mind, Father quirked an eyebrow then tossed the wood into the fire place. Yukine took a sharp intake of breath, whispering 'no' to himself as the demon fire devoured the gate with some difficulty. Father stood and gazed down at the object, a wicked smile stretching his face. In his hand, one of the ghost children's items seemed to move. Making sure Father was distracted, Yukine looked to see it was the ribbon that belonged to child known as Mizuchi. The forlorn expression carved into the mask she wore shimmered into view.

"You have to be clever, Yukine, brother told me you were. Father plays by rules that are twisted and bent. He'll win if you try to beat him fairly. He won't let you go." Mizuchi spoke in the wise voice of heartbreak. The one who gave her life to this side and spend her days with her adopted father and brother, helping to lore in children like her. Only later to be killed during escape. Now, a ghost girl with only a stray cat to keep her company. (Who she oddly also called 'brother'). Yukine nodded to her in silent thanks, putting the objects back under Yaboku in the bag. He glanced over at the small door that started it all.

"They're behind there!" Yukine proclaimed loudly, catching Father's attention. The man smiled, standing back at his full height.

"Are you sure about that, Kiddo?" Father drawled as he walked over.

"Yes. I'm sure." Yukine balled his fists up, done with this charade.

Father walked over to the small door, large smile never leaving his face. He pulled a long chain from under his clothes and up over his head. On the end dangled the key, the same one that sat innocently in the kitchen drawer with one eye engraved on it bow. With the flick of his hand, the large bird-like closet moved out of the way. Finally breaking eye contact, he turned to begin cutting the wallpaper away.

Yukine backed away, his breathing starting to pick up. Step one was completed, but now came step two. Without the torii gate, how was he supposed to find his parents? Just as tears began pricking his eyes, Yaboku began wriggling violently. Before Yukine could see what was wrong, Yaboku leaped from the bag and landed softly on the mantel of the fire place.

"Here." the cat growled under his breath, slitted pupils flickering at a long wine bottle with coins. When Yukine tried to return home without them, their hallway mirror had shown his parents, trapped behind glass as coins continually fell at their ankles. Having been in the bottle this entire time, the pile of coins was up to their chests. Yukine had to tear his gaze away when Father made a noise of triumph.

"There now, you see." Father looked back at Yukine, his eyes a blood red. The door opened slowly without help, it's creaking echoing around the room. "It seems you were mistaken, Yukine. I don't see anyone in here! I guess that means I win!" Father stepped lively toward the wall and plucked off a smooth white mask with the eye drawing on it. Yukine put his hands in front of him, eyes darting between the mask. Father's voice only rose in glee, "Once you put this on, you'll be mine for eternity!"

Yukine paniced and looked at Yaboku for help. The cat was frantically trying to push the bottle to Yukine, it tipping dangerously over the edge. Yukine jumped to catch it, saving his parents from falling to their death. Father caught on quick.

"You ungrateful- children should not lie to their parents! You will be punished!" Father roared in an inhuman voice, lunging at Yukine with mask in hand. Faster than he could think, Yukine shoved the bottle of coins in his bag and ripped Yaboku off the mantel.

"Take this!" Yukine yelled back, catapulting the yowling cat at the man's face.

Father cried out in pain as the black stray clawed at his eyes and throat, blood spraying the two of them. Yaboku attacked with a venenge, having told Yukine his hatred for the man and his mutts, even at the best of times. Yukine whispered a quiet apology before dashing to the open door, yanking the eye-key out of the hold. He dropped to his knees, getting his body inside before turning to lock it. Just in time for Father to fling Yaboku at the wall, the cat's body hitting the wallpaper with a thud before he scrambled to his paws with a hiss.

Father held his bleeding face, "Arg! You awful, awful brat! You'll be punished severely when I get my hands on you! Do you hear me!" His lips now pulled back from his teeth, he once again rushed at Yukine with a burst of speed.

Yukine's eyes rivaled a deer's in head lights, and in his fear, forgot what he was doing. Father's red eyes drew ever closer before his hands grabbed hold of the door, his massive frame ramming into the wall. Only then did Yukine snap out it, trying desperately to pry the monster's fingers off the slate of wood. Father growled, stretching his other hand into the portal as he tried to get his hands on the child. Yukine threw himself back, out of man's reach. In fury, Yukine brought his feet up and kicked Father back. Scrambling forward, Yukine grabbed the door and once again tried to bring it close, almost succeeding, till Father crammed his cracked nails through the frame. He cried out in desperation as he pulled the door back open inch by inch. Yukine grunted as his shoulders pulled forward, sweat dripping down his temple.

Suddenly, three pairs of hands ghosted out from his bag, each of them layering his own, adding strength. Together the children pulled and the door crunched Father's fingers, giving way as he yelled and pulled them out, before slamming shut again.

"Hold it!" Yukine commanded the ghosts and he struggled to put the key into the lock. Father threw his body against the wall again and again, the door shaking under his might. With a yell of triumph, the key entered the lock and turned it with a deep click. The hands disappeared and Yukine crawled as fast as he could through the tunnel, the door to his world up ahead.

"Come back! My son! I need you! Please! Come back!" Father wailed. The door drew closer each time his body hit the wall, each bang of a fist, and every scratch of his nails. All the while, his cries repeating like a broken record.

After what seemed like an eternity, Yukine crashed into the portal's end, hands working it open as the gateway grew smaller and smaller. He reached the door to his house- his real house- and threw it open. He leaped into the living room, moving quickly to grab the door and close it.

"Don't leave me! Don't leave me! My son-"

Father's cries were silenced when the lock was slid into place. Yukine's trembling hands placed flat against the door, slowly letting out the breath he seemingly held the entire time.

The wall made a massive boom, pushing Yukine back an inch. He looked at the door, air rushing in and out of his lungs so fast it made him light headed. Sitting up, he stared at the door for a while longer, as if Father was going to bust through at any time. But when he was met with silence, Yukine brought the bag onto his lap. It appeared much bigger now that it was missing a cat, the ghost children's items sitting dull in the corner. The bottle, Yukine noticed, was also missing. His heart leaped in his throat, first at the thought of his parents being trapped, then at the thought of having to return to the other world. He fell back on his hands, his finger tips touching cool metal. Yukine turned to see coins littering the floor. Shards of glass mixed in, a pile of it under the dusty fire place.

The old squeak of the front door echoed through the empty house.

"Yukine?" His mother's sweet voice called through the hall. "Yukine, we're home!"

His father's louder, more obnoxious, voice followed after, "Where you at, Kiddo?"

"Mom? Dad!" Yukine stood on his feet as the two walked into the entry way.

"Yukine? What-" His mother's voice was lost as their teenager ran and pulled them into a family hug. Both of them making noises of surprise.

"Your okay." Yukine mumbled into their chests.

His dad, ever the one for contact, laughed and hugged him tighter, "Missed us?" he teased.

His mom was a bit more receptive, "What's with the sudden hug? Is everything alright? Oh my god, there's glass on the floor!" the family turned to look at the mess his fight had made.

"Aww. My coin bank." His father pouted in that embarrassingly exaggerated way of his. Regardless, Yukine flinched and looked down and shame.

"I-I'm sorry." Yukine spoke to the ground. But his dad wasn't upset. He didn't shout, or throw things, or toss him behind a magic mirror. Instead he just smiled down at Yukine in that soft and bright way of his before ruffling his hair.

"Don't worry about it. Hiyori, can you grab me broom?" he asked. His mother nodded and continued her way down the hall. Yukine stood to look at his dad, really looked. His eyes really did rival that stray's, and his hair was ebony like the fur.

"Don't worry, you'll grow as handsome as me someday." His dad looked at him with a cat-like grin. Yukine blinked out of his haze and felt his face burn.

"Oh please, don't flatter yourself." Yukine's snark didn't have nearly as much bite as it used to. "You just remind me of my new friend that's all."

"A new friend? Hey, that's great! I'm glad you made another one."

"Yeah well, we actually might not be. I don't think he's very happy with me right now."

A beat of silence past as Yukine's worry for the feline ate away at his insides. He had spent a long time there, avoiding Father and his minions with ease, but...

"Im sure it's fine. You're a sweet kid. My kid! He'll come around." his dad patted him on the head again with a warm hand, then made his way back to the front door. "Besides, anyone would be angry if you picked them up and tossed them at their arch nemesis."

His old boots thudded down the front steps as his son stared open-mouthed at his back. Before a noise could present itself, his mother had reappeared.

"Wait, Yato? What about the broom?" she called.

"Just leave it there! I'm getting the rest of the groceries!" His dad responded.

Yukine dashed past his mom, ignoring her call of alarm. If Yukine was hearing right, his dad's voice was a smoother, deeper version of the Yaboku's. And while his dad spoke a lot of nonsense, what he just said hit far too close to home.

"Dad!" Yukine hopped down the steps just as Yato was hauling paper bags out of the back of the car. Yukine stopped just in front of him, still a bit out a breath. Before he could get a word out, a bag was hefted into his arms.

"Perfect. Take those inside, I'm cooking your favorite tonight! To make you feel more at home." Yato said with a smile.

Yukine furred his brows, wishing he could put his dad back in the bottle just to shake him around. His mouth opened in another attempt, only this time he was interrupted with a quiet meow. Both men turned to see a black cat appear out from behind a log. Its crystal blue eyes narrowed with annoyance, directed at Yukine. Yukine smiled sheepishly, waving his fingers at the stray. He felt his dad's eyes on him, a look he hasn't seen since he was small. The same blue eyes looked at him, then the cat, then back at him. Yukine forgot all of his prior questions, instead turning to face the cat.

"I'm sorry I threw you. Thank you for all your help." he said to an expecting face. Not hearing his dad ask for his thank you as he stuck his head back in the car. Yaboku blinked slowly, then strutted over to the car. Yukine struggled to put his bag down as Yato placed more bags on the ground next to Yukine's. The cat stopped not even a foot away, dropping to a crouch with a look like a hunter. For a second, the boy feared the cat was going to attack him as he did Father.

Instead, the cat sprung into the waiting arms of his dad, nuzzling his look-alike with more affection than he ever showed Yukine. Yato returned in kind, stroking the cat rhythmically.

Yato spoke, "You know, Hiyori wanted us to move here. Not me. I didn't expect to come back, ever." Yukine wasn't sure who his dad was talking to, but he refrained from interrupting. "But when she heard Tenjin was renting out the down stairs to adults only, and that Kofuku and her husband were living in the bottom, she insisted." Yato turned his eyes on his son, the cat mimicking near perfectly. "Of course, it took some convincing. It helped that you were my kid."

Yukine could only blink in response. His head starting to hurt trying to painfully piece together his dad's mysterious past. One his mom had said was something he didn't like to talk about. Kofuku, on the other hand, had a bit more to say. Apparently a bit older than Yato, she was in the orphanage when Yato had 'appeared out of nowhere' and 'randomly disappeared and reappeared'.

The cat meowed a bit softer this time. Butting his forehead to Yato's and closing his eyes. Yato closed his eyes as well. He spoke after a beat of quiet, his voice like a whisper.

"I see. So she was finally able to pass on." He sounded unbearably sad. Yukine's heart tugged, hoping his theory wasn't correct, but at the same time seeing that it was. The real Suzuha had mentioned his mother talking about Yato's missing sister.

"Good for her," he said as he finally let the cat down. Yaboku then moved to rub against Yukine's legs, purring. The heavy atmosphere was brightened by his mom appearing in the doorway.

"What's taking you two so long? You guys alright?" Hiyori asked, a worried expression crossing her face. She held the broom and a couple of band aids wrapping her fingers. She never really listened to Yato.

"Uh, yeah!" her husband called, a bit of a forced smile on his face. Him and Yukine took the bags and made their way back into the house, the cat having vanished in thin air. "Actually...I'm going to take Yukine to visit his aunt! Over by the old well, remember? Just till dinner time." At his mother's sad expression, Yato leaned down to peck her lips. "Unless you need help?"

Hiyori seemed to snap out of it. "No! No! I can handle things here. This is great. You should go. I thought I would have to convince you but, please." By the time she finished rambling, she had already gathered all the groceries into her arms, carrying it into the kitchen with ease. His dad laughed at the sight, love brightening his features. Normally, Yukine would gag but, right now, it filled him with a warm happiness.

His bag seemed to shift on his own again, having been forgotten.

"I, uh." Yukine hoped this didn't damper the mood too much. "I have her, uh, ribbon?" he drifted off at the end. Praying he didn't just make a wrong assumption. For a moment, the look that flashed across Yato's face looked too much like Father's, sorrow and anger. But the look he gave Yukine, was the soft, wise, lonely look of his sister.

"That'll be great. Thank you." Yato smiled and made his way back out the door. "And I'll make sure we ask your mother to make you a new torii gate."

That night, Yukine dreamt of golden ghost children and black cats that talked nonsense. As the creature that walked between worlds was curled in front of an old sakura tree, black tail wrapped around a rock tied with a red ribbon.

[fairmarkethome-blog]

How To Minimize Allergens In Your Home

Sneeze, sneeze, repeat. Allergy season is upon us. People who suffer from allergies are very aware of the unbearable symptoms they encounter this time of year. The good news is, your home can be a safe place where you can be free of allergy symptoms. It’s important to be aware of what your allergies are. Then, recognize the common culprits in your home that aggravate your allergies and finally clear your home of all these allergens.

Do You Have Allergies?

If you already know you have allergies, scroll down to see our home cleaning tips! Many people are not aware that they have allergies. Classic signs of allergies include:

Itchy or runny nose

Watery itchy red eyes

Sneezing

Cough

Postnasal drip

Fatigue

The allergic salute (rubbing your nose up and down violently)

A nose crease (a line caused across the nose by the salute)

Allergy shiners (bags under the eyes)

Many people who have allergies also experience eczema or asthma. If you realize you only get symptoms of allergies around springtime, it most likely means you have hay fever. Those with hay fever are allergic to pollen, grass, and trees. If you think you suffer from allergies, speak to a medical professional and take an allergy test. For people who suffer from intense food allergies, an allergy test could save their life!

Allergy Culprits

Your home is an environment where you can control the allergens around you. The biggest allergens in the home include:

Dust Mites

Bugs (cockroaches)

Dander from pets

Spores from indoor and outdoor mold or fungi

Freeing Your Home of Allergens

It is important to remember to wear gloves and a mask when cleaning allergens. If possible, ask someone without allergies in your home to complete these cleaning tasks.

Get Rid of Dust Mites

Replace Air Filters – When dirty, air filters increase the amount of dust in your home.

Don’t Use Dusters – Dust with a wet rag instead of a duster, this traps allergens instead of pushing them into the air.

Vacuum Often – Vacuuming is much more effective than washing carpets because it removes the dust mites.

Clean Linens- Wash sheets and towels weekly with fragrance-free detergent. Fragrances aggravate allergic reactions.

Declutter- The fewer items you have out, the easier it will be to counteract dust.

Keep Windows Closed- Open windows will only add to the dirt and dust in your home.

Bugs (Cockroaches)

Of all bugs, cockroaches are one of the worst for allergies because of the feces they leave behind. Keeping your home free of bugs will reduce allergens and keep the air cleaner in your home. Here are some tips for keeping your home bug free:

Clean- Clean out old food, wipe down eating areas, mop floors. Clean the window frames, and under the bed, these areas are where the most dead bugs can be found.

Spray- Use a bug-killing powder, like Raid, to fumigate your home. Make sure you read the instructions carefully. Be careful, many bug killers are also poisonous to humans and pets.

Hire Pest Control- Use an exterior home design app, like Fairmarket, to hire a local pest control company to take care of bugs, or prevent bugs from coming into your home. They are experts on pests and customize their services to your needs. On the Fairmarket app, you will find trustworthy and fairly priced pest control companies based on an honest rating and bidding system.

Dander from Pets

Dander from pets adds to the amount of dust and allergens in the air of your home. If you have a pet who constantly sheds, here are some tips….

Zones– Keep your pets in one area of the house away from the areas you spend the most time.

Vacuum- Vacuuming is an excellent way to keep reduce the amount of fur in the air.

Grooming- Getting your animals groomed is a helpful way to keep shedding down. If you find grooming is overpriced, a cheaper way is to buy shedding brushes that help pull the dog or cats shedding hair out.

Bathing – During allergy season, bathe your pet frequently. Their fur can trap allergens and bring them into your home.

Mold/Fungi

Many people have moldy bathrooms and are not even aware of it. If you can visually see mold in your bathroom that means it is already a problem. Mold grows in dark places, then comes to the surface. If you see what appears to be dirt on your walls or tiles, that is most likely black mold. If your tiles or walls appear damaged, this is another sign that mold is destroying it from the interior. Watch for bugs and a musty smell in your bathroom or kitchen, these are additional signs of mold.

Here are some ways to avoid and remove mold:

Clean- Clean your bathroom tiles and shower weekly. Wash or wipe your shower curtains at least twice a month, or more if needed. Mold on shower curtains and bathroom rugs are extremely common.

Dry- Keep your bathroom dry by making sure nothing is leaking. Clean up water on the ground after a shower with a towel.

Lighting- Make sure your bathroom is well lit. Mold thrives in the darkness.

Air -Invest in a fan or for your bathroom to circulated (this is to prevent mold, but is not recommended if you already have mold because it will circulate the spores into the air). You can also invest in a dehumidifier for areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms which will help remove excess moisture to help keep mold from spreading.

Mold Crisis- If you have a mold infestation underneath your tile, you need to hire a team to come in and remove the tile so the mold can be removed. Cleaning above the tile will not resolve this problem. This is a serious health hazard for everyone, especially those with mold allergies.

Choose Materials Carefully- It is important to be aware of the materials in your kitchen and bathroom. Mold loves wood paneling. Be wary of putting wood paneling in any dark places in your home. Use an interior and exterior home maintenance app to help you pick the best materials and contractors to renovate your home. Make sure you have quality grout and sealer over your tiles, this is the best way to avoid major mold growth. Remember, mold can lurk in secret places.

Fix Water Leaks- Have routine plumbing inspections. Make sure that you do not have leaks, and when you do, fix them as soon as possible. You can easily hire a plumber on Fairmarket.

With these tips, your home will be free of the common culprits of allergens in the home. Happy healthy living! No more sneezing, stuffy sinuses, and suffering at your home. Now your home can be your sanctuary from this spring season!

[psychnerd47]

Monster College Part 3

Rating PG, warnings mentions of underage drinking (not portrayed positively), and prescription medications (used as prescribed). 

Characters: Deuce Gorgon, Jackson Jekyll, Operetta, Cleo de Nile, Invisi-Billy, Frankie Stein, Robecca Steam, and Toralei Stripes

   After convincing Jackson to come out from hiding, Deuce decided to go back to his dorm room to meet his overly clingy girlfriend, Cleo de Nile. She insisted on spending every free moment with him.

The mummy princess laid sprawled on her back on Deuce’s bed. “We are totally going to Operetta’s party tonight, and then we need to have to throw one of our own,” Cleo told her boyfriend.

Deuce sighed, “Things are different now. I am going to have a lot of homework for my culinary arts degree. I also am going to have bi-weekly labs I need to be prepared for, and I still want to play basketball with Clawd and Heath sometimes, so I won’t always be able to be at your beck and call,” the gorgon boy explained.

“But Deuce,” the mummy princess cried, “we always do everything together.”

“Not everything,” Deuce countered.

“You know what I mean,” Cleo looked like she was about to throw one of her famous royal hissy fits.    

        Before Cleo could escalate, Jackson burst in through the door. Catching both Cleo and Deuce by surprise. Deuce turned towards Jackson and whispered, “Thanks, I owe you bro,”

The nerdy human boy shrugged his shoulders and sat down at his desk, he began to pull out the note books where he had written down all his homework.

“You’re just going to let him sit there, while we are in here?” Cleo asked Deuce with disgust.

“Well it’s his room too,” Deuce explained, “I’ve been thinking Cleo, it might be best if we have some space from each other.”

Cleo got a dumbfounded expression on her face. “I give you space,” Cleo was horrified that her boyfriend would make such a statement.  “I always give you space,”

 Deuce clicked his tongue, “No you don’t, when we were in high school you would barely let me leave to go to the men’s bathroom.” Deuce knew he wasn’t going to win this, but he could make it sound less bad. “I’m not breaking up with you, I’ll even go to Operetta’s party with you. I just can’t spend all my time with you,” the gorgon boy explained.  The look Cleo got on her face suggested that she might have actually understood him.    

                  *                                                 *                                          *

 “I didn’t realize you were throwing a party,” Invisi-Billy admitted.

 “Well, Johnny and I thought it would a clawsome way to start the school year before we hit the grind. You can invite Scarah, she’s still your huckleberry, ain’t she,” Operetta shot Billy a sassy glance.  

 “Um, yes. I just don’t know if this kind of party is really her thing.” The disappearing boy admitted.    

“You don’t have to worry. It’s not some crazy party, just some cool music played by Johnny and me and some pizza and soda pop. There absolutely will not be any booze, everyone but Johnny and Valentine are underage. I may not like rules, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my days doing the jail house rock.”  The Phantom’s daughter gave Billy a great big smile as she started to walk away she called out one more thing with a laugh, “Be there or be square,”

Back at the dorm Deuce and Cleo were helping Jackson decide what to wear to Operetta’s party in hopes of impressing Frankie. “Jackson, why are all your clothes almost the same,” the mummy princess said with disgust in her voice. Jackson awkwardly shrugged his shoulders. Cleo pulled a pair of blue plaid shorts and a yellow polo shirt from Jackson’s dresser, “These will be prefect.  Put them on a see how they look,” Cleo ordered the human boy.

“Just don’t look while I change,” Jackson snapped.

Jackson felt awkward in the clothes, “I look stupid,” he lamented.

“You look amazing,” Cleo gushed, “now we just need to slick back all your out of control hair.”  The mummy princess sprayed some sort of gel like substance in Jacksons black hair with yellow tips that were caused by a lab accident. She pulled hard with a comb until his hair finally slicked down. “Do you have any contacts?” she asked him,

Jackson sighed, “No, my eyes are to sensitive for that. But I do have prescription sunglasses,” the nerdy human boy offered.

“It’s at night and you don’t have Deuce’s petrifying ability, stick with the regular glasses. I’ll just put some of this magical acne cream invented by Great Uncle Tut. Then you will perfect. Frankie will be so impressed.”  

 Meanwhile, Invisi-Billy sat in his room. Heath was playing Graveyard Dash 5 on his x-box. Robecca Steam sat next to Billy on his bed. Robecca was a steampunk robot who had been built in Victorian England, though she was technically really old she was young at heart and  an amazing listener.

“I don’t know how to tell Scarah that I want to change my major?” the invisible boy asked his robotic friend, “She was so excited about me wanting to become a doctor. I don’t know how my parents will feel about it either.” A small tear rolled down Billy’s pale face.

 “If they truly love you, they will support you in whatever you choose to do educationally.” Robecca said in her in her charming British accent.  

“Thank you,” Billy said with a smile, “you are a great listener.”

                               *                                   *                                                   *

        Operetta’s party at the student union was up to an awesome start.  She was playing a gentle Rockabilly tune on her bass guitar, and Johnny Spirit accompanied her on his fiddle. The Rockabilly phantom and the ghostly greaser were taking care to not play there music too loud for Jackson’s sake. Cleo and Deuce, Lagoona and Gil were dancing in pairs to the music. Billy and Scarah were talking to each other by the food table, and Heath was trying to flirt awkwardly with Abbey Bominable.

  While all this was going on, Jackson sat by himself away from the stage. Frankie, the daughter of Frankenstein’s monster, spied him right away. She was wearing a blue plaid print party dress with a yellow sweater. Frankie’s black and white hair was styled in away that Jackson found beautiful. “What are you wearing?” she asked with a laugh.  

 Jackson gave a small chuckle, “Cleo chose this outfit.”

    “It shows. It looks a bit flashy for you,” the stitched together girl explained.

    “You don’t like it?” Jackson asked with a tone of concern in his voice.

     “I do like it, I love anything you wear, because I love you,” Frankie explained.

    “Have you been taking your anxiety medication? You’ve seen a bit more high-strung than normal.” The Frankenstein girl explained.  

 “I’ve been taking it as prescribed” Jackson explained, “I’m just having a difficult time adjusting to the changes of going away for college for the first time.”

      Frankie looked at Jackson sympathetically, she reached out and gently touched his hand, “We’ll get through this together”.

A young male vampire walked up to the stage. His was dressed in black dress coat, crimson waist coat, paired with a white ruffle shirt accented with gold jewelry, all trademarks of Valentine, a once suiter of Draculaura who had once liked to collect broken hearts. “I would like to request a song,” he called out in his Southern accent.

“Ok, sugar plum, but me and Johnny here have one more in our line up first,” Operetta called out.

The Rockabilly phantom and the ghostly greaser started to play an upbeat toon. “Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans, way back in the woods among the evergreens, There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood, And lived a country boy named Johnny B Goode,” Operetta and Johnny Spirit sang together, “ he never learned to read or write to well but he could play a guitar like ringing a bell, Go Johnny Go, Go Joh—” a loud noise interrupted the song.

It sounded almost like gunshots at first but then became it was terrible hip-hop music being blasted through a boombox. “You didn’t think you could have a party and not invite me,” Toralei the catty and conceited orange were-cat meowed.  

 Operetta grew mad, “I didn’t invite you because you remind me of a word that begins a “B” and rhymes with “hitch”, you are selfish and think it’s fun to ruin things that are important to other people.” The Rockabilly phantom was getting steamed, her light lilac color face started to turn red.

“But Operetta,” Toralei said coyishly, “ I don’t think only of myself. That’s why I had Manny bring the booze.”

A look of horror came over the faces of many of the monsters at the party. Before anyone could say anything, the large Minotaur burst in with a keg over each shoulder, followed by some fraternity goons carrying other cases of alcoholic beverages.

“Please take your booze and leave,” Robecca demanded. But unfortunately, her voice was drowned out by the goons yelling, and the booming hip-hop music.

“Please stop!!!” Jackson yelled out in panic as he tried to cover his ears, but it was no use. He had already started to transform. 

tags @queenofworry

[stanbillyhargrove]

Demons - an AU

A/N: Billy learns about Cat's assault from the guys who did it. T/W: eating disorder, self harm, suicide

Cat's POV

Another party. Another house full of nameless faces. Another night managing panic with burning alcohol.

What the queen must do for her king.

Push down the memories. Smile. Accept every drink and more. Dance, laugh. Harmless fun, right?

Right.

I lost Billy early on in the night, swept away in a sea of jocks to protect his crown. I was left behind, letting the music pound through my bones as I joined the crowd of dancers. I was well and truly wasted by the time I saw Billy across the room. He was standing in the kitchen, arms crossed against his chest as he stared at me. Saw a pack of guys I barely recognized around him, talking and laughing and then...gesturing at me. I watched Billy's shoulders tense, rolling back tightly as they kept talking to him.

I felt the panic swell and looked away. Felt myself being bumped around by chaotic dancers when I stopped moving. Just a moment, a moment of blood pounding in my ears. Of trying to gulp down breaths. My hands came up to my chest, like I could hold myself together and stop my heart from thundering out of my ribs if I just held tight enough.

A moment of panic taking over until I felt a large hand on my arm, yanking me through the crowd. I stumbled along, just trying to stay upright until I was pulled outside, being shoved down the driveway by a very angry Billy.

"Wait," I slurred, "Billy, slow down! You're hurting me!"

He let go of my arm with the next push forward, my hands flying up to catch myself on the hood of his car before I ended up face first in the gravel.

"Billy! What the fuck?"

"Get in the fucking car," he growled, storming around to the driver's side and slamming the door shut behind him.

I crawled into the passenger seat, tucking myself against the door as he peeled out of the driveway. He was weirdly quiet, muscles clenching in his jaw and hands flexing on the steering wheel. Beyond angry.

"B, what's wrong?"

The engine revved louder, creeping up to dangerous speeds as we whipped around corners.

"B, please. Slow down," I pleaded, reaching out to graze his arm.

He flinched, "don't."

"Don't? Billy, what's wrong?"

"Don't play fucking dumb!" He yelled, "you cheated on me!"

I stared at him, dumbfounded and whispered, "what?"

He stomped on the brake, launching me forward until my seatbelt locked, digging into skin to stop me from flying into the dashboard. Let out a loud huff of breath as he threw the car into park and then...he exploded.

"The last summer party, I wasn't there so you threw yourself at them. What? Couldn't handle being alone for a few fucking hours so you sleep with a fucking group of guys?"

I shook my head, "no...I, that's not..."

"Quit lying to me! They told me all about it, that you asked for it! They bragged about how good you were. You refuse to sleep with me but a group of strangers is fine? Seriously? Just to fuck with my head?"

"B...no..I didn't..."

"Get out," he muttered.

I quickly glanced out the window behind him, at the blackness of the night, the houses I knew were closer to his house than mine.

"B..."

"Get out of my car, you fucking whore!"

I scrambled to get out of the car, barely holding back tears until he peeled away.

I collapsed just inside the door of my house when I finally got home. Fell against the door, hugging my knees and sobbing loudly into them. I got myself together enough to crawl to the phone, pulling it down to the floor to dial. It took a while before he finally answered.

"Hello?" His voice was low and groggy, still mostly asleep.

"Stevie?" I hiccuped, "I need you."

"Five minutes," he murmured before hanging up.

I curled up on the floor, falling into the heartache as I waited.

I soon felt myself being scooped up, pulled forward into a warm chest and tucked under a soft chin.

Steve sat there, running his hand up and down my back as I cried into his chest.

"It's okay," he murmured into my hair, "I'm here. I'm always here."

-- Steve's POV

Cat and I had been inseparable for the past couple weeks since her and Billy broke up. I'd spent more nights wrapped around her then I spent by myself. She eventually stopped crying every night, but I could tell she was hiding how she was really feeling. Even though she would laugh and smile around me, I could see the hurt in her eyes. I wanted nothing more than to take that away, to bring the light back to her life and keep her protected.

Tonight was one of the nights that Cat had gone home by herself with the promise to call me later. But it was nearing eleven o'clock and I still hadn't heard from her, usually she would have called by nine or ten. My worry got the best of me and I decided to just drive over and check on her.

I was met with a quiet house. Too quiet. I ducked into Cat's room first and found it empty except for Rocky. Next I padded over to the bathroom and knocked lightly on the door.

"Cat? You in here?"

I waited in silence for a moment before pushing the door open and freezing. I felt like my heart had dropped into my stomach and kicked up into my throat at the same time. My throat was so tight I didn't think I was actually breathing, except I could hear the quick, panicky breaths I was taking.

Cat was lying in a tub full of water, only wearing a bra and underwear. I'd seen her naked before, knew that she was sick but there was still no way to be prepared. No way to prepare yourself to see the hollows between her bones, the new and old scars across her body. It broke my heart to see her, to know that I wasn't able to protect her from this. From herself.

Her head lolled against the side of the tub, just barely out of the water. I lurched forward, dropping down hard on my knees next to the tub and yanked the plug out before grabbing the sides of her face.

"Cat, hey!" I gently slapped her cheek, trying to wake her up.

I saw her eyes twitch and felt a moment of relief. I looked around for a towel and saw an empty bottle of aspirin lying on the ground next to the tub.

"Fuck," I muttered, "fuck, fuck, fuck, okay."

I knew what I had to try, had heard what to do in this situation before. So I climbed into the tub behind her, holding her cold, wet body against my chest and reached forward to turn the shower on. Warm water sprayed over us, soaking my clothes.

"Come on, Cat," I pleaded, pressing my fingers past her lips, "please, don't leave me."

I pressed harder, my fingers dipping into her throat. I tensed when her body jerked and kept pushing my fingers down her throat until she puked. Tipped her forward to direct the puke into the drain and then leaned back to let her head rest on my shoulder.

"Hey, come on, Cat. Wake up, please."

I tried to shake her, which only resulted in a small groan. I had to force her to puke twice more before she started coughing and her eyes fluttered open.

"Oh my god," I sighed, wrapping my arms around her, "it's okay, I'm here, I've got you."

She tipped her head into my chest and started crying, clutching my shirt in her hands.

"Cat, what the fuck?"

"I didn't-"

"Bullshit. There's no way you can tell me this isn't exactly what it looks like. Why would you do this?"

She curled tighter against me and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to hold back tears.

"I'm sorry," she whimpered, "I'm so sorry, Stevie."

"Hey," I soothed, "we're okay, I've got you."

I leaned forward to turn the water off and pulled Cat up and out of the tub.

"Where are the towels?"

She gestured towards a closet and I got her to sit on the edge of the tub before I went to gather towels. When we were mostly dried off I picked her up and carried her to her room where I set her on the edge of her bed and kneeled down to look at her.

"Cat, where's your mom?"

"Gone, another work thing," she murmured, "said she'd be gone for a while."

"Come stay with me."

"Stevie, I'm okay...I swear."

I reached forward to grab her hands in mine, "you don't have to lie to me, I want to help you. Pack a bag and come stay with me."

I was able to hold myself together until Cat was unpacking in my room and I left to empty medicine cabinets and hide the contents. It hit me then that I had just saved her life. That there had been a possibility of losing my best friend. I broke, sitting at the kitchen table. Buried my face in my hands and just let the sobs wrack my body.

Soon enough, small, cool hands wrapped around me and I felt Cat's face nuzzle into the crook of my neck.

I shivered when I felt her lips against my skin as she whispered, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Stevie."

--

"You know she's a whore, Harrington."

I rolled my eyes, scoffing, "fuck off, Hargrove."

"Unless that's your thing?" He smirked, a cruel glint in his eye, "pass her around to all your friends? I hear she begs for it. You should invite me some time, I never got a chance."

I knew it was stupid, that he was bigger than me, stronger than me and could easily pummel me into the ground. But it didn't stop me from throwing the first punch. I got in a few punches before I was down on the ground, no longer fighting, just trying to protect my face.

All around us, people were yelling. Cheering on the fight. Until Billy was yanked off me and held back by one of the guys on the football team. I was helped up to my feet, my head pounding as I glared at him.

"She was raped, you fucking asshole!" I spat, "those creeps you believed drugged and raped your girlfriend and you just tossed her to the side!"

I didn't even realize that had come out of my mouth until I heard the reaction of the crowd around us. The gasps and murmuring. Billy's face dropped just before I heard.

"Steve?"

I turned to see Cat behind me, her face full of hurt and shock, eyes wide and full of tears. Instantly, I knew I fucked up.

She turned and ran out of the parking lot, away from the school and away from me.

--

"Steve, I can't do this anymore. People won't stop talking, whispering behind my back. I don't know what's worse, the pitying looks some people give me or the accusing looks from people who still believe the lies. All I know is...I'm sorry...love you, Stevie."

Cat's voice on the answering machine sent chills down my spine. It was hollow, cold and lifeless. I knew what that voice meant, where her head was. I grabbed my keys and ran out to my car, cursing every second that ticked by.

I found her, barely conscious in a pool of blood. Choked on my sobs as I wrapped her wrists in bandages with shaking hands. Carried her to her room and helped her change into clean clothes before tucking her into bed. Saw the way her bones were even more prominent now than ever before. I stained my hands red cleaning up her blood and threw clothes and towels into the laundry machine. Scrubbed my hands raw trying to clean them before giving up and grabbing Cat something to drink and going back to her room.

I sat down on the edge of her bed with a heavy sigh, "Cat, you're out of control."

"Stevie.." she breathed.

"I can't keep doing this, Cat. I can't let you keep destroying yourself...I can't lose you."

"I'm sorry.."

I blinked tears out of my eyes and looked over at her, "please. Please, Cat. You need help. I can help you get treatment, or we can try to get through this ourselves but you need to want help. You need to let me help you," I pleaded, "please."

"I don't think I can.."

"You can, I believe in you. I'll be here to help, I'm always here for you. I won't give up on you. Please, try...for me? Let me take care of you."

She looked down, away from me, "you don't have to, Stevie. It's awful."

I shifted so I could grab the side of her face in my hand, "not to me, not if it's you...I know it won't be easy but I want to," I took a moment before blurting out, "I love you. I love you so much, Cat. Let me help you, please?"

I felt her hand on my cheek, her thumb moving to brush tears away. I clasped my other hand around hers keeping it there and leaned into her touch. Leaned into the thought that everything will be okay, that she'll be okay and just let myself have that.

@alias-b @charmed-asylum

[secondscratch17]

weird asks that say a lot

1. coffee mugs, teacups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans? All of them. I drink tea in coffee mugs and teacups. I love drinking wine. I like that I can recycle soda cans

2. chocolate bars or lollipops? chocolate

3. bubblegum or cotton candy? bubblegum if the flavor lasts long

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you? the stereotypical quiet, obedient, smart, goody-two-shoes kid

5. do you prefer to drink soda from soda cans, soda bottles, plastic cups or glass cups? somehow I like the aesthetic from soda bottles

6. pastel, boho, tomboy, preppy, goth, grunge, formal or sportswear? hONESTLY I can dO ALL OF THE ABOVE in the span of days. Went to work one day wearing beach-y clothes for spirit day. Returned to pick up a friend to go see a metal concert in VERY metal concert attire. I own short, sweet summery floral dresses and gothic dresses, too

7. earbuds or headphones? Earbuds, they allow me to be more mobile

8. movies or tv shows? movies

9. favorite smell in the summer? Fresh cut grass. The smell of the ocean. Churros at the fair

10. game you were best at in p.e.? Soccer, obvs. Somehow would always last until the end of the game in dodgeball tho because I was small and no one could hit me

11. what you have for breakfast on an average day? Cereal

12. name of your favorite playlist? Don’t have one. 

13. lanyard or key ring?  Key ring

14. favorite non-chocolate candy? Smarties!

15. favorite book you read as a school assignment? I remember re-reading Holes over and over just to make my book reports easier since I knew the boo so well. The Kite Runner was phenomenal and unforgettable

16. most comfortable position to sit in? idk?? I really can’t sit still in one position for too long

17. most frequently worn pair of shoes? Currently my hiking/outdoorsy shoes. Also my black Nikes that I play pickup in and wear to the gym

18. ideal weather? Sunny and 65. Maybe one or two clouds. The tiniest of faint breezes to cool me down. 

19. sleeping position? Any I can get into and fall asleep in quickly

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)? Laptop. I can edit easier.

21. obsession from childhood? Probably any cheesy show on Animal Planet. The Most Extreme, Meerkat Manor, Big Cat Diary, etc

22. role model? I have a lot of different ones. Role models for athletics, role models for career and ambition choices, artistic role models...can’t pick just one

23. strange habits? Spelling words with the tips of my fingers

24. favorite crystal? Aquamarine

25. first song you remember hearing? how in the FUCK am I supposed to remember that. I do remember my parents playing The Beatles for me when I was a toddler

26. favorite activity to do in warm weather? Soccer! (futbol) 

27. favorite activity to do in cold weather? Sledding, making hot chocolate, or playing indoor soccer haha

28. five songs to describe you? Who I am Hates Who I’ve Been by Relient K, Proud by the Icarus Account, Land of the Dead by Voltaire, Always Leaving by Mayday Parade, Wavin’ Flag by K’naan

29. best way to bond with you? Listening to my favorite music with me or watching the US Women’s national soccer team with me

30. places that you find sacred? Belfast, Maine. Gold Camp Road. Newport Beach

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names? Tight jeans with holes in them, fishnets, and a crop top

32. top five favorite vines? Vines still exist?

33. most used phrase in your phone? “tbh”

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head? O O O O REILLYYYYYY’S autoparts

35. average time you fall asleep? around 9

36. what is the first meme you remember ever seeing? I don’t remember

37. suitcase or duffel bag? suitcase

38. lemonade or tea? Is it warm outside? Lemonade. Is it cold outside? tea

39. lemon cake or lemon meringue pie? PIE!

40. weirdest thing to ever happen at your school? Zombie hunting or my professor cutting lab a half an hour short to go look at some Cedar waxwings

41. last person you texted? I think it was Robert

42. jacket pockets or pants pockets? Pants pockets

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket? Jean jacket

44. favorite scent for soap? Anything fruity

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy or superhero? Fantasy. It depends on how good the sci-fi movie is

46. most comfortable outfit to sleep in? as little as possible lmao

47. favorite type of cheese? Parmesan

48. if you were a fruit, what kind would you be? A raspberry

49. what saying or quote do you live by? A great amount of good is always evened out by a great amount of bad

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have? Honestly Daniel knew how to make me laugh better than anyone. There are a couple of memories with him that I don’t remember entirely but I know that I ended up cry-laughing so hard that my head hurt. There was a time during my orientation camping trip when a bunch of us were playing ultimate Frisbee, and Jesse went to catch the frisbee in the most perfectly lateral horizontal position and the expression of focus just frozen on his face had me laughing so hard that I couldn’t see

51. current stresses? Sam. Jobs that I can apply for starting in May of 2020. Sam. STUDENT LOANS. Bills. Car payments. Wondering how fucked up my car has gotten since I’ve lived here on this ranch. Sam. 

52. favorite font? Anything that looks fancy and sarcastic

53. what is the current state of your hands? Need to be washed. 

54. what did you learn from your first job? The world is cruel and bad things happen without warning

55. favorite fairy tale? Uh....the Pied Piper?

56. favorite tradition? when my family visits for Christmas, eating lots of traditional Chinese food with them

57. the three biggest struggles you’ve overcome? Heartbreak. Staggering rejection from the field I majored in. Probably a lot of body image struggles in there as well

58. four talents you’re proud of having? Writing, futbol, adaptability, flexibility. I think the last two are just traits but I don’t have a lot of talents I can invest in

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be? Let’s make like a baby and head out

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be? No idea

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.? Though we are far apart, our spirits share the same earth and the same sky

62. seven characters you relate to? Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, Data from The Goonies, Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, Eliza Thornberry from The Wild Thornberries, Raven from Teen Titans, Isaac from Teen Wolf

63. five songs that would play in your club? ANYTHING by Within Temptation. I wouldn’t be a good club owner. The catchy and pump-up songs from Hamilton.

64. favorite website from your childhood? Wasn’t allowed much computer time. I was allowed to visit educational sites and occasionally the Disney site

65. any permanent scars? some self-harm scars. Probably the one on my right leg that I got from CO parks and wildlife. I stepped on a barbed wire fence that had been plastered to the ground, but the metal sprang up when I stepped on it and ripped through my skin

66. favorite flower(s)? Plumerias

67. good luck charms? I’m not sure if I have any. 

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried? earthworm flavor from Bertie Bott’s every flavor beans

69. a fun fact that you don’t know how you learned? uh...Something about not being able to spray silly string on Halloween in Hollywood

70. left or right handed? Right handed

71. least favorite pattern? wtf

72. worst subject? anything math related, I really struggled in GIS.

73. favorite weird flavor combo? I...have no idea

74. at what pain level out of ten (1 through 10) do you have to be at before you take an advil or ibuprofen? 2. I’m a baby

75. when did you lose your first tooth? I was 6

76. what’s your favorite potato food (i.e. tater tots, baked potatoes, fries, chips, etc.)? chips and fries

77. best plant to grow on a windowsill? a succulent

78. coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store? sushi from a grocery store, the quality can surprise you

79. which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo? Both are terrible

80. earth tones or jewel tones? Jewel tones

81. fireflies or lightning bugs? I hate bugs

82. pc or console? PC

83. writing or drawing? Writing, I’m terrible at drawing

84. podcasts or talk radio? Not into either

84. barbie or polly pocket? I had both

85. fairy tales or mythology? God!!!! Like hearing about both but mythology I guess

86. cookies or cupcakes? Cookies

87. your greatest fear? Being forgotten. I also have a terrible, horrible fear of drowning

88. your greatest wish? In the times I’ve struggled I often find myself wishing for peace. Not only for myself, but for others to easily feel peace with everyone else

89. who would you put before everyone else? Sierra

90. luckiest mistake? Mistake? There’s been lucky accidents but I don’t think any of my mistakes have been lucky

91. boxes or bags? It depends on what I’m packing and where I’m going

92. lamps, overhead lights, sunlight or fairy lights? Sunlight

93. nicknames? T, Tear, Tear-tear, T-Dog, Miss T..a few of my recent favorites from soccer: Ronaldinha and Thierry Chun

94. favorite season? Fall! Shit, especially in New England

95. favorite app on your phone? I don’t know

96. desktop background? A picture of a simple dock leading out to sea

97. how many phone numbers do you have memorized? My parents’ and brother’s

98. favorite historical era? Victorian era, for sure

[octopodeez]

Coffee Shop Soundtrack (Loki x Reader)

Here’s a fluffy coffee shop AU that absolutely no one asked for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dedicated to @devilstrip pls enjoy this steaming-pile-of-shit-fic

**THIS CONTAINS NO INFINITY WAR SPOILERS**

His hand enveloped yours, and you froze.

It was a light feeling. A delicate touch that left your stomach tied in knots and your body tingling from adrenaline. The tips of his fingers rested over your knuckles, and stayed still, even as you twitched. It was an oddly intimate feeling, something extraordinarily gentle and human, which was the last thing you expected from someone like him. But it was nice. And you were losing yourself in your own fantasies. Your entire life had apparently been leading up to this moment, and you—

“May I have my coffee, please?”

You blinked as your brain caught up to speed on the current situation. Somehow the star-struck mix of shock and fear masqueraded as something romantic. This wasn’t love. It was just the feeling of being in the presence of a god.

“Sorry, yeah,” you released the cup and carefully snaked your hand back.

The look of calm remained on his face as he sighed heavily and muttered a brisk thank you, then walked away before you had the chance to return the pleasantry. You almost laughed at how ridiculous it was to think that you’d be able to say anything, anyways. You’d become something of a fish out of water; mouth awkwardly gaping as you gasped for air. Or words. Both were lost to you, regardless.

To your surprise, he took a seat in the back corner, rather than leaving. A bold move, seeing as he was hated by most of the general public for the stunts he pulled in New York a few years back. What was he doing back on Earth, anyways?

You got your answer as he pulled out a book.

Reading. Loki, god of mischief, brother of Thor, was sitting in a Starbucks, reading. And not one person seemed to care…not that there was even anyone around to notice.

Running your hand down your face, you checked your watch. It was almost 1am, and the skies were cloudy. The weather channel had been warning your area of a massive storm for nearly a week, and it was bound to start soon. High winds. Flash floods. The whole kit and caboodle. But your rent was due in a few weeks, and you were going to pay it, even if it meant drowning in sewer water and coffee.  

There was something surreal about being in a Starbucks during ridiculous hours of the night. Time seemed to slow, and despite the soft music in the background, there was a sort of silence that made you feel like you were teetering on the border of your dimension and a hazy dream. You could see the city lights outside your window, and if you squinted enough, Lake Michigan would appear on the horizon. There were always cars, even if they were few and far in between. There were always customers, too, who wandered in with the same frequency as the cars. Maybe fewer. And they all wanted the same thing: a large black coffee. These were not the type of people to use fancy words like venti, or ask for frilly drinks. They kept to themselves. They just wanted to get their caffeine fix and move on.

“Won’t one of your contraptions boil over and explode if you don’t pay closer attention?” He asked suddenly.    

“Uh, no,” you mumbled, feeling embarrassed that he caught you staring. You took a quick glance around your station, anyways, just to be safe.

He made a small, disinterested noise in response, as he licked his thumb and turned the page. The silence between you was now very awkward. At least on your end.

Looking for a way to busy yourself, you went to fumble with the music. It was one of the perks of working late hours: you were freed from the usual playlist of the same dozen songs. As long as you kept the volume soft and switched things back by the time your shift ended, you could listen to anything. Tonight, you opted for something relaxing, but with a steady tempo—the sort of thing that was good to clean to—and grabbed a mop.

Outside, you could hear rain begin hitting the pavement. Thunder rumbled in the distance and you cringed. You hated storms—or at least the noisy ones.

“I don’t care much for them, either.”

You clutched the handle of the mop and forced a smile. “I didn’t know you could read minds, too.”

“I can read frightened humans clutching brooms.”

“It’s…a mop…” A weak counter, but you were trying to process the fact that he’d so casually called you a human. The word rolled off his tongue as if he was speaking to a pet.

“I’m sorry. A mop,” he quipped and closed his book.

You ran your thumb over the grain of the handle. “So can you call your brother and ask him to lay off the thunder?”

“This is nature, not my brother,” he looked out the window and something bittersweet crossed his features. “He likes to put on a much bigger spectacle—“

“Are you actually him?” You blurted. “Are you actually Loki? Or are you just one of those assholes that resembles a celebrity and just rolls with it when people mistake you for the real deal so you can laugh about it later?”

“I’m a celebrity?”

“I can’t think of a better word. Villain sounds too comic book-y.”

“And would you be afraid if I was him?”

“No.” You straightened yourself out, and latched onto the thread of hope that maybe he wasn’t the ethereal being you’d mistaken him for. Maybe he was just some weirdo. In which case, you had pepper spray in your back pocket if things got out of hand. “Loki wouldn’t be stupid enough to come back here. And even if he was, he wouldn’t pick Chicago to hide out in. Not when it’s so close to his last fuckup.”

“You make some excellent points,” he chuckled. “But you’re a bit off the mark.”

In a swift motion he held his hand up, and a thin piece of metal materialized in a flash of green light. Without a second thought, he tucked it between the pages of his book, and shut it.

“That was…so…extra.”

For a moment he seemed taken aback; disappointed that this human wasn’t falling down, shocked and impressed and maybe a bit fearful of his power. But he had to remind himself that this wasn’t why he was here. This wasn’t why he was in this form. This wasn’t why the storm raged so violently outside.

“I’ve been called many things, but extra is not one of them.”

***

Four cups of coffee later, and you were seated across from him, laughing as if you’d known each other for years. He told you about his brother. His sister. His father. His mother. His home. He asked you about the music you played, and why someone like you was in a place like this, and what your aspirations were; a reminder that questions like those used to be genuine before the douche bags of the world got hold of them.  

He made little trinkets disappear and reappear, at your wide-eyed requests. In turn, you showed him how to draw hearts and swirls in latte foam. It wasn’t nearly as impressive as what he could do, but from the way he seemed so enamored by your words, one wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

You were hunched over, forming the outline of a cat when a particularly loud crack of lighting rattled the windows. Startled, you dropped your utensil into the mug, and cursed.

“Dammit. That was the best one I’d ever done.”

‘You could always try again,” he replied, waving his hand fluidly over the mug to make the foam flat and white once more.

Pursing your lips together, you stared at the coffee, and then looked up to meet his eyes.

“Why are you here? Why sit in a shitty coffee shop in Chicago when you could be literally anywhere else in the world?”

“Because,” he laced his fingers together and rested his elbows on the table, “I made a promise to my brother and his wizard friend that I’d remain within a certain radius of them. This city is as far away as I could get without breaking that promise.”  

“And this specific place?”

“I came in here by chance, saw something I liked, and decided to stay,” there was a sort of sheepish tone to his voice.

“Well…I’m glad you did. And if you’d like, maybe I could show you around a little. It’s a great city.”

“I’d very much like that.”

His lips were soft against yours as he leaned in to kiss you, and his skin was cool to the touch. It had a magnetic quality to it that drew you in deeper and deeper, until you kissed him with such fervor that you thought you might drown in him. Outside, the storm started to subside; a coincidence that made the moment all the more poetic. Lord help you if this didn’t work out in the end, because you knew that nobody on this Earth could ever kiss you like that.

***

For the first time in a long time, Loki was feeling good. Truly, honestly, purely, good. The sun was just coming up, and already the streets were filled with sleepy drivers yawning the whole way to work. Perhaps if he was alone any longer, then an actual bounce would’ve worked its way into his step, but his moment was rudely interrupted.

“So how did it go, brother?”

He choked on his coffee and looked to the side. There was Thor, chipper as ever, with a mischievous smile on his face. This was one in only a handful of times that he’d ever managed to sneak up on Loki, and he was sure he wouldn’t hear the end of it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do.”

“I don’t.”

“Come now, brother,” Thor scoffed, matching his pace. “We could do this all day. You being coy and stupid; me, feigning naivety. Back and forth, back and forth, stupid and naïve, stupid and naïve,” Thor slung his arm over Loki as he spoke, “But in the end, I think we’re just postponing the inevitable.”

“And what might that be?”

“That in 1500 years, you still can’t get a date. Not even with my help—”

“Oh, were those sparkles outside yours?” Loki halted and shook his brother’s arm off his shoulders.

Thor narrowed his eyes. Months later and the Grandmaster’s pet name was still a sore spot. Loki could only hope it’d stay that way for at least another thousand years or so. There was just so much fun to be had with it.

“I try to help you, and this is the thanks I get.”

“Terrifying the poor thing with a storm is not help.”

Thor huffed and crossed his arms, clearly offended.

“I only meant to encourage closeness—“

“Loki!”

Both men turned at the sound of your voice as you jogged towards them. There was a brief falter in your steps as you realized Thor was there. He was nearly unrecognizable from behind after his apparent haircut. You cleared your throat, awkwardly.

“Hey, you forgot your book…”

“Did I? Ah, well thank you,” he replied lightly and took it from your outstretched hand.

“No problem. I’ll see you next week, then?”

“Yes. And I suspect the weather will be much nicer,” Loki shot a sideways glance at his companion.

“Sounds good, I’ll see you then,” you smiled and gave a small wave as you walked away, feeling very proud of yourself for keeping your composure.

As you turned the corner and disappeared from sight, Loki drummed his fingers against the cover of the book. A content grin crossed his features.

“See, brother? I didn’t need your sparkles, after all.”

Master List (x)