#Finally an OC I actually love so much I could weep

[lady-quen]

Gonna try the thing to see if the WIP gets more likes than the finished product haha. Joking, I simply really like how the sketch looks. :)

Putting some Effort in the lines this time. 'Mordha goes through the grinder in the campaign

[cdragons]

Revenant

Summary: Kol Mikaelson's soul manages to leave and travel while he still remains daggered in his coffin. While he wanders around and bitches about his life, he meets an unexpected friend. Warning(s): VERY HEAVY crack fic, technical crossover of fandoms, weird shit, Kol is a horny-ass gremlin, Druig & Kaety are obsessed with each other, Kol has a thing for witches bc he got mommy issues, Klaus is a bitch

Note: Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it! This fic came from an idea that I shared with @ethereal-athalia, and it is VERY much a crack fic. I don't have any plans in continuing this idea, but I wanted to write it out as a Christmas gift to @ethereal-athalia for how much of a good friend she's been to me. I never would have been able to do any of my fics without her in my corner. I own only my Hecate!OC. I do not own either Druig from Eternals, or Kol from TVD franchise. Also, Druig still very much exists in this fic and world bc I physically CANNOT write Kaety without Druig. Stay safe and hope that your upcoming year brings you all good health and happiness!

Kol hated being dead. Truly dead. Dead in a way that he couldn’t move or speak or live.

At least when he turned as a gift Mother Dearest he could still walk, even if he couldn’t use the arcane anymore. But of course, he would still always find his way back to witches and their magic. He couldn’t help it if he exuded that charm that made him so irresistible.

Gods, just remembering how pathetically sex-deprived his physical form was currently almost made him weep. He couldn’t wait until the moment he got that fucking silver dagger out of his chest. Nik was going to get it when he finally got out.

Sure, he may have crossed a line when he stated that Nik had a pair of buttocks flatter than a sheet of paper. But was he the one that gave his brother such lacking assets? No. That fault lied entirely with their mother and his biological father, thank you very much.

But alas, here his soul was, walking in a forest in the middle of some mosquito-flooded country.

At the very least, his gorgeous body was safe from the onslaught of bug bites and sweltering humidity. Only in the fucking Amazon did winter feel like summer.

Kol audibly groaned once more at the thought of his immaculate figure rotting away thanks to Nik. He couldn’t bear to think about how his illustrious fair skin being that dull grayish hue from being confined by death. At least when Bekah got daggered, Nik had the decency to make sure that her body remained stored in proper conditions and carefully encased in magic to prevent any harm coming to her. He had no guarantee. No, such love and devotion only went to ‘Lijah and Bekah when it came to Nik.

Story of his life: always an outsider, even with his own fucking siblings. Gods, he wanted nothing more than have his powers return to him. At least with magic by his side he’d finally be able to show Nik he wasn’t the only one with threats, he’d show him, he’d –

“Well, well, well,” came a new voice, “aren’t you a strange sight?”

Kol immediately turned his head to locate the mindless idiot that dared to interrupt his thoughts. Did humans devolve so pathetically that they no longer understood that when they see a soul wandering alone, that soul would likely be uninterested in any attempts of conversation? But looking at the individual who spoke to him, he was shocked beyond himself to witness such a devastatingly gorgeous woman before him. She had dark almond-shaped eyes and tall with legs that went on for miles. And her thick and illustrious raven waves practically flowed down the middle of her back like a black waterfall.

Dare he say it, this woman was almost as beautiful than him.  

But regardless of how pleasing her outward appearance may be, she still would not be spared from his fury.

Pity, he would have loved to wrap those legs around his waist if he were actually here.

The corners of the woman’s lips went upward, and the cupid’s bow of her mouth was slightly pursed as she smirked, making her lips look plumper and more bitable than how they had right to be in the Original’s opinion. It was only a few seconds before the succubus burst out laughing. Her entire body arched with her back as she simply couldn’t contain herself.

“I’m sorry,” she said once he began to calm down, “but I’m afraid that I happen to be very happily married. In fact, I have been for the past near seven thousand years.” After making a quick glance up and down Kol’s near transparent form, she continued with a cat-like grin. “And I highly doubt someone as woefully young as you could satisfy a woman like me.”

Oh, now he was offended. Not being able to satisfy– did this woman have any idea who she was talking to? The list of names of men and women that swore they only believed in Heaven when Kol fucked them was so long that it would wrap the Earth twice. And she better believe than each time was more than consensual – they were begging him very enthusiastically to say the least. Who was this lady to assume –

Wait, did she say seven thousand years?

As if she could hear his thoughts, all the woman did was smiled before extending her hand.

“I think I’d like it very much if you and I became friends.”

Extending his own, Kol was surprised to see that his hand didn’t just pass through like it normally would for most physical objects. He could actually grasp her hand and feel the warmth passing through it. For the first time in…forever, Kol felt warmth flooding through him. He stared into her eyes, wondering how on Earth someone could live for seven thousand years. Even if she had the gift of mediumship, his presence was too well-hidden for even the most gifted and powerful medium to sense him.

Kol had to know more of her. He’d go mad if he didn’t.

“What are you exactly?” he carefully asked.

He could sense that this person was a being of extreme power. In the top of her finger, she likely contained far more power than Nik could possibly imagine, even in his wildest dreams. It seemed that being an invisible soul floating in the wind had its perks after all. If he was alive, walking and about, he’d never come across this marvel of a woman.

“I’d prefer if you began that question with ‘who’ than ‘what,’ but I suppose that matters little in this situation. My name is Kaetlyn, I prefer Kaet for my friends, but you may know me better as-”

“Hekate,” he whispered in awe, “Goddess of Magic. Titaness Mother of Witches and Monsters.”

“Surprised in a good way I hope?” Kaet asked with one brow raised.

“More or less, but I did imagine you about 30 feet taller with the night sky for skin and two more heads.”

“Well,” she softly chuckled, “I hope I didn’t disappoint you with my appearance. Now I’ll forgive you just this once for interrupting me. But only if you allow me to take you to my home.”

“Oh?” Kol asked, a salacious grin spreading across his face. Now things were getting interesting.

“Save it Kol Mikaelson-” ordered the ancient goddess as she raised her hand to her face as she pointed at him in warning- “I am taking you to the village that I run with my husband. So, I suggest that you keep your hands to yourself because he has a nasty little habit of being showing exactly how off-limits I am to youngsters such as yourself.”

“I never told you my-”

“You were once a witch, and I am the mother of magic. All witches and their magic came from me, including you.”

It really was so unfair how good she looked while talking over him. Oh well, he might as well play along. Finally, something interesting was happening in his life.

“So, who is this husband of yours, darling? And how can you be so sure that your husband could be a threat to me? You know who I am, what I became. What makes you so sure that once I enter your village, I won’t use my ghostly ways to end him.”

When Kol finished, he immediately felt a shift in the air. It was as if the sun had disappeared and the jungle went silent. It seemed that the animals that served as their audience went dead silent as if they were in anticipation for his end. The kind and amiable mirth of the chthonic witch shifted to dangerous and cold.

Kol had lived for over 700 years and after everything he done and witnessed, he had never felt such chill run down his spine.

“Listen well,” she began – her tone laced with the power and authority that came from someone of her position, “I won’t try to humor you with answering that ridiculous question, nor do I intend to let you presume that my kindness can be mistaken for naivety. My husband is one with abilities as ancient and powerful as mine. If you truly knew what he was capable of, you’d be far more terrified of him than you ever were of your father. That being said, if you ever try to threaten my husband or even think about go so far to joke about it again, I promise you that I can produce torture and incite fear that would make the devil weep in pity for you.”

Oh fuck, even as a ghost, Kol should not have been as aroused by her threats as he was in that moment.

But soon the tension dissipated and warmth from the sun returned to pass through him once more.

“Now that we have that matter cleared up, we really should get going. The sun’s about to set and you never know what or who would be lurking at night.”

With that being the final word, The Good Lady of the Night and Shadows turned around and made her way back to where he presumed to be the location of her home village. And what else could he do but follow her by how the slight sway of her hips seemed to beckon him.

Threats and chills mixed a beautiful witch with magic more ancient than time itself, Kol couldn’t remember the last time he felt so alive.

Authors' Note: And when Kol enters the village, he tries to flirt with Kaet in front of Druig like a dumbass, and his soul gets a major ass-whooping.

Tagging: @ethereal-athalia, @valeskafics, @klauslove, @carolineforbae, @misssophiachase

Reblog and comment and like and share to anyone you think may like to read this fic!

[endiecutieo6]

-Gorebruary 2023-

Week 2

Heyo! Let’s get to it so that tumblr doesn’t want me dead. Now, onto the content warning!

Day 8/Too many teeth: Body horror, blood, open wounds

Day 9/Freakshow: Body horror, blood, stitches

Day 10/Drowned: Lots of blood

Day 11/Dissected: body horror, eye strain

Day 12/So many eyes: body horror, ommetaphobia, eye strain

13/Cannibalism: Blood, open wounds, visible organs, shaking (for the video portion)

14/Love: Eye strain, visible bruising, visible self harm, blood, organs

“Hyperdontia:

Hyperdontia is the condition of having supernumerary teeth, or teeth that appear in addition to the regular number of teeth (32 in the average adult). They can appear in any area of the dental arch and can affect any dental organ”

PN: I messed up the ordering on this one. This prompt was meant to come AFTER the next one. I also am so mixed about this one. I feel like I could’ve done much better, maybe lean less on the blood and more the body horror. I guess I like the coloring?

"-and here we have our "weeping groom"! Oh? Yeah, that's a guy. Legend has it he's been waiting so long for his lover at the altar, that he kinda forgot it he was the bride or not, and-hey, stop knocking on the glass, he doesn't like that"

"How did he get like that? Well, we don't actually know, we found him like this and took him in, and he just keeps waiting, constantly. He never stops waiting. It's... actually kinda tragic... Now, this freakshow has come to an end. The exit is right behind you, please throw away your garbage in the appropriate spot, and we hope you'll visit again!"

“…um, are you gonna leave or-oh, the blood? It's just decoration, he's not in any actual pain or whatever-hey, I said to stop knocking on the glass! If you really give that much of a shit about him, you'd not do that! Now, get the fuck out before I call security."

"Fuckin' kids- had to install that window because people would throw cigarettes at him- who's the real monster, those fucks or this innocent man? Anyways, let's get you cleaned up and taken to your room, okay bud?"

PN: there’s an au behind this one I just haven’t explored it yet. I also have had a redraw of this on the backseat for fuckin’ ages. I worked really hard on this one anyway.

“No one really knows what happened, when it happened, or even who did it, but it was poor Tracy who came across his corpse first. You swore you could still hear her scream ringing in the air, petrified in a way she'd never been before. Poor girl.

Rusty, spear-like pole to the neck. That's one hell of a way to go. Probably snapped his neck in two, but the blood on his fingers seemed to indicate it didn't fully kill him. It must've been agonizing, and you couldn't help but cringe as you wrote your report.

You already suspected one of the hunters had something to do with it, but who specifically? Hell If you knew.

You knew you were going to have to skip dinner, too afraid you'd empty your guts out on the floor, when you finally noticed the poof of blood in his mouth, and you realized that he, probably in a panic and desperately trying to call for help, choked and drowned in his own blood.

You kept that out of the report. You wanted to forget about this as soon as you could, if just for the sake of your own mental health.”

PN: I both really like and really don’t like this specific image, and it’s hard to explain why. I feel like the angling is a little wonky. Also an OC is writing the report and I might show the OC later.

“Curiosity killed the cat.

Freddy had an issue at letting go, leaving stones unturned and just walking away. It was almost like an itch, maybe even a rash, and he couldn't resist it. He'd scratch and scratch till he clawed his skin open, and he wouldn't stop until he finally got the answer. He knew he'd regret it once it was over, especially if he saw something he couldn't forget, but now he could let it go.

These periods of destructive curiosity were on and off, always something new and always something that would hurt him once it was all over. He'd do it to stories, or people; over analyzing and picking apart every aspect until he was too frail from over exhaustion to continue. It was easier with stories, and it was exhausting with people. It was even worse with himself.

It was only when he looked at himself did he realize how little he thought about his actions, how little thought went into his actions, and suddenly it mattered so much he felt like he was going to fall apart. It was a frenzy; he was practically ripping himself open, claws he didn't know he had sinking into his flesh and just tearing it away. His hands shook terribly, but he couldn’t stop. He had to know.

It wasn’t until he was done dissecting everything about himself did he realize the damage, but it was too late to take anything back. He felt so fucking hollow it made him dizzy. The world seemed to spin around him, yet it was too late.

He couldn't take it back, and by god he wished he could.”

PN: not happy with this one. Even the sketch for this one was weak and I just can’t find anything good about it. I wish I tried a little harder.

“Maybe it’s a little out of line, but I can’t stop staring at you.

You’re so pretty, like a blooming rose.

I can’t let this chance pass me by.

So, I’ll say it:

I love you.

Will you be mine?”

PN: I like this one! I don’t have too much to say other than that unfortunately.

PN: this is literally just the PV for “The spider and the Kitsune-like lion” by MASA. I have super mixed feelings about this one because I feel like I didn’t try hard enough. The body is fine but the head is just iffy. If I redrew it I’d try much harder.

WARNING:

This story contains:

Depictions/ descriptions of self harm

Depictions/ descriptions of violence

Mental Breakdowns

Mental health struggles

“He couldn't do this again.

It hurt, it hurt so much. It sunk its rotten daws into his shriveled heart, and the way it tugged it down- it was too much.

He promised he wouldn’t do this again, to dare let this feeling take over him. It nearly brought him to tears every time he glanced down at the ring on his finger, a golden band that reflected his pathetic expression. Sometimes, he swore that his expression would narrow its eyes at him, disgusted. It nearly made him want to take it off but that only hurt more.

In desperation, he locked himself away. He hardly left his room, only leaving when he needed to, and praying no one noticed his puffy eyes and his red cheeks. Humiliatingly, he found himself bursting into tears at the drop of a dime. He was practically weeping his way through the day, and it was getting harder to hide.

That damned feeling stil lingered, stood at his doorway and just stared. It flexed its claws and grinned a toothy grin, eyes narrowed in a forced attempt at a smile. "You can't ignore me forever" it sang rapping its blistered knuckles against his nightstand as he tried to sleep "there's no point: I'm not leaving"

It was true, and he hated it. A reality he couldn't deny was a cruel punishment, but maybe he deserved it.

As the days went by, he only got worse. He wouldn't eat, he'd bang his head against his desk until he was too faint to continue, he'd scratch at his neck and shoulders and chest, wishing he could just rip himself open and be done with it all sometimes, he'd wrap his fingers aroundhis neck and just squeeze. It was almost cathartic when his vision started to darken, when his mind began to twirl and his heart seemed to scratch desperately at his flesh. He'd always let go, but then he'd do it again and again.

But, every action has a consequence, and his was the various marks his injuries would leave behind. Bruises and cuts on his forehead, blood smeared underneath his nose, the growing red stains where he'd been too tired to clean up his wounds and let them bleed into his shirt, and the deep, reddish prints his palms left behind. A beautiful portrait of his suffering.

The others were starting to notice; Lingering stares followed his every movement when he occasionally snuck out of his room. It made his skin crawl every time they opened their mouths, as if they wanted to say something, only to decide against it and just give him a look, almast a silent plea for him to just stop.

Every time, he'd paused in consideration. He'd look down at himself, down at the dried blood on the underside of his fingernails, and he'd want to end all of this.

Then, he'd look up and see them. His heart, his treacherous, bastard heart would dare to beat, and it was like he was pushed back into the water. And, as he drowned, he'd chuckle to himself, suddenly remembering words he would bitterly growl to himself as a pathetic method of comfort he'd turn to when the dark, lonely nights became unbearable:

“What's called romance is nothing but fooling oneself before foding others"

What a hypocrite.

With the cycle starting all over again, he'd let his mind entertain fantasies of his fingers, having finally sunk deep enough into his chest to rip it open, grasped and finally tore out that tell tale heart, and he'd smile as he imagined himself floating away into a red sea, happy.

What a terrible thing: to be in love.”

PN: Love the story, hate the image. It fails to convey the pain I wanted it to and it just doesn’t stand up on its own. It seems like a first draft, and I'm so disappointed in it. Also, the love in this story is meant to be towards Kreacher but I kept it vague enough to be anyone. I think it makes the story stronger.

Alrighty, see you guys soon!

[hirazuki]

Hi! Re: the WIP folder game, please could you share more about...

Fate/Postscript

lemon balm and salvia, blue, mairon & maedhros

tsukuyomi (curious about this one bc i've also got a scene coming that mentions tsukuyomi-no-mikoto skdjas)

Hii!!

Fate/Postscript is a Fate series (TYPE-MOON) fic that follows the universe of Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night, and veers a little into the El-Melloi II Case Files territory. Not sure how familiar you are with this franchise (always happy to give you more details!), this is basically an OC/Sasaki Kojirō | Assassin story, because my favorite character from this franchise is, once again, a minor side-character with precious few fics to his name and needs some love nevermind that this has been languishing in my drafts since like. 2017, let's ignore that

“At any rate,” he said after a few moments, “I really do recommend that you keep your visiting hours with me late at night.” She looked over her shoulder at him, confused. He pointed to the crowds of people walking up and down the stairs. “It does not do for a young woman to appear to be talking to herself.” She cackled, loudly. “Why should I care what people think? I’m not even from around here. And besides,” she continued, after a few more swings with the sword, “some of us actually sleep at night.” “A pity,” he said, closing one eye. “When there are other things you could be engaging in.”  She spun around again, attempting to take a swing at him. Before she even knew he had moved, Kojirō leapt up, drew his sword and, flicking the tip under her sword’s edge, cleanly disarmed her. Her blade went flying vertically in the air, and he caught it easily. He flipped the edge towards himself, and held it out for her to take. “Come now, allow a man a little harmless flirting.” She snorted, amused, as she took back her sword from his outstretched hand. “There is nothing harmless about you.” “Maybe so,” he conceded as he sat back down. “But I am bored, and you are the only one I converse with.”

lemon balm and salvia, blue, mairon & maedhros ... ahaha *hides face in shame* This is a tumblr writing prompt that @celebbun sent me... over a year ago... *weeps* T_T

First Age, 465 He's bleeding out. How will he go back to Angband, in such a state and with such news? Himring... Himring is not far. Closer than Angband. Perhaps... perhaps he could -- He shakes his head free of the delusion a moment later. He cannot. Even were Fëanor's eldest inclined to humor his plea after everything, his own loyalty and sense of duty will not allow him. He curls up tighter, further into the dark tree hollow, and closes his eyes and falls into fitful sleep, to thoughts of red hair and white fire.

Tsukuyomi is a Naruto fic! (this probably won't be its final title). Again, not sure how much you know about this series, but basically at one point, almost all characters are put under a virtually unbreakable illusion (the name of this technique is Infinite Tsukuyomi, hence the name of the WIP) where they are trapped in their own dreams, and they experience their perfect world as though it was their reality. We get to see a good number of these dreams, and they give us a really neat window into the supporting cast, for instance, with whom we don't necessarily spend too much time with in the main story, getting to see their hopes/fears/what makes them tick, etc. We don't see everyone's obviously, and Orochimaru's (one of my faves) tsukuyomi dream is skipped over, so this would be my take on what his ideal world would look like. I've got some ideas jotted down as to what it would include, but don't have anything actually written down yet ^^

[daincrediblegg]

okay your turn if nobody else has asked: TOP FIVE JH CHARACTERS GO

... girl... how does one choose? how does one??? when there are so many beautiful boys??? ok. OK I'll give it a shot.

5. Captain Crow - The Sea Beast This film is just incredible on every front. One of my favorite concept artists worked on it (which I did not know until a few weeks ago but now that I know I feel like kicking myself because I REALLY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEIR STYLE WELL ENOUGH BY NOW). But I remember watching this, and screaming when the credits began to roll because WAIT?!?!?! THAT WAS JARED HARRIS??? OH!!! WHAT A DELIGHT!!! I LOVE THAT GUY!!!! (oh babygirl wait a few months it's gonna hit you so bad). He's great. I hope we see more of him in the sequel that would be great for me.

4. Hari Seldon Honestly. What a little shit. "But Egg," you might ask "If he's such a little shit why is he on here?" well. He's hot. Really I am not over how hot this dude is. I know I couldn't fix him not in a million years. But idk. Something about him always makes my brain go brrr. So he's on here. Also I just love how fucking atypically written this show is and I have a wee soft spot for asimov. They didn't have to cast Jared as Hari and make him unbelievably hot. But they did. And he's so enigmatic. I love that.

3. John Lennon Egg's love for Jared Harris Origins. I was a Beatles girlie, ok? I'm not ashamed to admit that. It was my introductory fandom experience at the ripe old age of baby, and I really ate it up. I remember going into this movie being like "oh it's some dumb TV movie about John and Paul how good can it be?" Very good, as it turns out. And having assigned myself a John Lennon girlie I literally could never get over this depiction. The mannerisms, the fucking tripped-out way he philosophizes in conversation, the softness, and ofc the old friends tension. Jared got it all. Of course I'd seen him in stuff here and there, but this was the one that cemented him as a beloved actor in my mind for me (I literally re-wound the kiss scene as well like 20 times don't judge me but that awakened some stuff in me). Been following him ever since.

2. Lane Pryce - Mad Men This dude broke me for real. I didn't get into Mad Men until college, and binged it all on my friend's hulu account. And lemme tell ya. Did NOT see his final episode coming. Did not. And it made me genuinely weep. He was a highlight in the show. He was one of the only guys I could actually say is a good dude in that show, and he deserved so much better than he got in the end. I look at him and I'm just like... leave ur wife. Leave your job. Lets just go out of this capitalistic hellscape. I want to make him Well. I will love him forever for how he just completely destroyed me.

1.Francis Crozier / Valery Legasov - HA! you thought I was not going to tie them? WRONG! I can't keep these bad bitches apart.

Francis really needs no explanation at this point. I am so actually genuinely in love with him I'm writing a whole ass gothic romance novel of a fic for him, as you all know (and which has summarily turned out a BANGER of a modern AU as well). I made a bloody self-insert oc for him. Gothic Cinema is literally my favorite genre and Francis is the most Gothic Hero of all time, honestly (well besides Valery obviously). The serotonin he continually gives me makes my meds redundant. He is my sweet husband who I love with my whole life and that's that.

And Valery? sorry you can't put a babygirl of a man like that in front of me and not expect that I would want to jump his bones like? Not only is the constant existential dread relatable, but as much as people tell him he's not brave, he IS without a doubt, and honestly, just by virtue of uttering the most iconic logline ever fucking created he deserves this spot on this list. Both of these dudes make my soul ascend in a certain way not just with how brilliantly they were written, but with how incredibly Jared executed them (for which I want to kill the academy for not giving him awards on either). Top Beloveds forever and ever and ever amen.

[lizisshortforlizard]

Living Dangerously - Chapter 30

Jurassic Park’s animal handlers: none of them ever mentioned by name in Michael Crichton’s original novel. Who were they? What were their lives like on Isla Nublar? Did any of them survive the disaster?

A year in the life of those responsible for the care of the dinosaurs. Many people would kill to have their jobs.

But would they die for it?

Jurassic Park novel/Jurassic Park film (1993)

Viewpoint: 3rd person female oc

Warnings: some swears, harassment and misogyny in the workplace

Tagging: @heresthefanfiction @ocappreciation @wordspin-shares @howlingmadlady @arrthurpendragon @themaradwrites @starryeyes2000 @kmc1989 (please lmk if you would like informed of my sporadic updates)

Read on Ao3

Chapter 29 | Chapter 31

I Hate Myself for Loving You - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

It turned out be a different sort of sleepless night to what Lizzy had been hoping for.

The wrong kind. 

She had lain awake for what few hours remained until morning, tossing, turning, occasionally weeping. Any sleep she managed to grasp was fitful, feeling like it only lasted a few seconds at a time.

She kept replaying what had happened in the clearing, each time a little more painful. Wondering how she could have behaved differently. How it could have turned out better than this unbearable limbo in which she didn't know where she stood anymore. Whether she'd just forever destroyed one of the best professional relationships she'd ever had. 

It was all her fault, of course it was.

Why did she keep doing this? It felt eerily similar to the last time she’d engaged without thinking of the consequences. It had nearly ruined someone else’s life back then, as well as her own. History was repeating itself, and she only had herself to blame. 

And now, once again, she had to live with the uncomfortable reality. She’d argue that it clearly wasn’t taking advantage from either side, in fact Lizzy would be bold enough to say they were both very much in agreement. But InGen’s legal department probably wouldn’t see it the same way. 

Admit it, girl. You fucked up. 

Dawn came, and she finally forced herself to get out of bed and pretend to be human. She should be looking forward to going out into the park again and seeing her animals, now that she wasn’t alone and it was relatively safe to do so, but she was dreading it. Unsure what she’d do when she inevitably bumped into Muldoon again.

Pretend it never happened or meet him head on? 

I don’t think I have it in me this time. 

She was in the canteen, laying low, listlessly poking at her scrambled eggs with a fork. Lizzy had cooked them herself, but they were far from her usual standard and didn't taste of anything other than disappointment. 

She heard the familiar Jeep engine outside, and the shower of gravel as it ground to a halt. Lizzy shrunk down in her chair, staring at her plate in dread. 

I’m better at breakfast.

Be the one to wake me up in the morning.

God, why did I do it?

At least the coffee was worth leaving her room for. 

It was the first thing Muldoon noticed as soon as he walked in. She hadn’t brought one over for him, like she usually did. Message received, loud and clear.

The one small act she did for him almost every day, and he hadn’t even appreciated it properly until it had stopped. That was enough to get him to talk first. Armstrong did something when she made coffee. Invoked a higher power. Witchcraft. Somehow she always got it exactly right.

This wouldn’t do at all.

“Good morning.”

“It is?” She replied dully, glancing up with red-rimmed eyes. “Doesn’t feel like it.”

“You’re late for work.” He pointed out. “How are you doing?”

“Well, that’s a kick in the teeth.” She muttered. “But, if you’re genuinely asking? Annoyed. No, that’s not right. Vexed? Hm. Frustrated. Mostly at myself.” 

“Armstrong-“ Muldoon awkwardly stood in front of her. “I probably owe you an explanation.”

“No need. I thought you made it pretty clear, actually.” She felt the sting of rejection anew. It was more painful than she’d reckoned to talk about it. “You don’t owe me squat.”

“I could have handled things better.” He pulled out a chair to sit opposite her. “It all happened rather quickly.” 

“You were handling things just fine.” Lizzy gave up on her eggs, pushing her plate away before sitting back and folding her arms. “What changed?”  What exactly had changed? It was hard to explain, but what it came down to was-

“Too fast." 

She blinked, confused. ”Say again?”

Muldoon wished more than anything that Baker was around to keep him on the right track, guide him with what to say. 

”…moving too fast.”

”Well, thanks for the clarification.” Lizzy replied dryly. “And that’s…bad?”

It was, it didn’t feel right, to be suddenly rushing matters in the dark. Outside…fair enough, but in the back of a bloody Jeep?! 

Or maybe on the bonnet of his Jeep-

No, stop that. 

He wasn’t sure quite what had happened, but he’d forgotten his responsibilities. Keep her safe. And risking her career for the sake of one night together did not fall into that bracket. No matter how strongly he felt.  How he felt didn’t matter. Hadn’t mattered for a long time. 

“Don’t want one and done.” He tried to explain, despite the relentless stare from the other side of the table. “Can’t do it.”

Not with her. Everything or nothing at all. Anything else would never be enough. He was trying to voice that sentiment out loud, but he didn’t have the words. He barely had the syllables.

“It’s not right, either. We already knew that.“ Muldoon gave up. She’d have to trust him, he was doing his best. If she could still trust him. ”Does that help, at all?”

“Yes…” Then her face crumpled.

He looked at her closely. ”Are you lying to me?”

”Yes!” It all came pouring out in a high-pitched hurry. “You’ve been mad at me before and I’ve understood why. But, after, and when we were driving back-…I couldn’t read you, at all!”

Lizzy put her head in her hands and mumbled something beyond his range of hearing.

She thought he was angry with her? That’s what she was most upset about?

Muldoon reached out and gently but firmly pulled her hand away from her mouth.

”Again, please.” 

”…really thought I’d lost you.” She whispered. 

“Well, you certainly have a flair for the dramatic, Lizzy.” He kept hold of her hand, she let him.

”Are you implying I’m overreacting?” She choked out. “Because women love that.”

”To be clear, I’m not mad at you. I’ve never once been mad at you.”

”Are you sure?”

“Positive. Annoyed, maybe. Vexed? Once or twice.” Lizzy groaned when she realised what he was doing. “Frustrated…you get the idea.”

”Oh, that’s not fair.” She muttered. 

“But I’d find it very hard to live with, if you were dismissed because of something I did. Or might possibly do, if we were to, er-…” He looked uncomfortable. “-you know.”

"Suppose that’s a good point. Damn you for being so rational. I love my job.” She glanced up. “The people, eh...."

"Indeed, people are awful. Most people, at any rate." He quietly agreed. "This island would be bloody idyllic if we weren't going to be overrun by guests in a few short months.”

“So, where do we go from here?” Lizzy was already dreading the answer.

“I don’t think…we are going anywhere. You and I-" Muldoon looked resigned. "-have to carry on as before.”

“Like nothing ever happened?”

”I’m afraid so. Strictly professional.”

“But that’s not what I want.” May as well say it. 

“Nor me.” Lizzy wondered if him tracing circles on the back of her hand was conscious or otherwise. “But it’s what we have to do.”

Sobriety would be a distant memory if he was responsible for ruining her career.

“Still the funniest story I’ve ever heard.” She muttered after a few moments, breaking the tension.

“Good.” Her laugh. That ridiculous laugh that he couldn’t stop thinking about. “That’ll keep me going for a while.”

Lizzy nodded and managed a wonky smile. She felt like crying again, it seemed horribly like saying a goodbye. "We'll be okay, right?"

"I don't even want to imagine the alternative."

This is the right choice. This is the right choice. This is the right choice.

Doesn't feel right. Feels bloody awful. 

Lizzy tilted her head, pushing her body towards him, her candour returning. “Did you like it, though?” 

”Excuse me?” He had to have misheard, but the mischief in her expression was telling him otherwise.

”You heard. Did you-“

A noise from the doorway startled them both. Muldoon dropped her hand quick as a flash, Lizzy tried not to let her face fall in dismay. 

Kathy Baker was clattering into the canteen, struggling yet again with her bag, which looked even heavier than when she’d left before Christmas. 

“Found you, finally!” Kathy called and waved. "Oh, hey, you came back early! What gives?"

“Nothing.” In a role reversal, Muldoon quickly answered for them both, while Lizzy was the one who baulked.

“O-kay…jeez, answer faster.” Kathy gave up on her bag and abandoned it at the door, clumping over to their table, still in her winter boots. “Girl, before you ask, yes, I got the goods. Here, you’re welcome.”

She passed Lizzy a box of liquorice which was met with a pleased but slightly frantic ‘ooh!’. 

“Have you been crying?” Kathy asked her matter-of-factly. 

“Just allergies.” Lizzy sniffed and wiped her eyes, looking at the floor. 

“Uh-huh...” Kathy darted a quick glance at Muldoon, before drumming her recently manicured nails on the back of a chair, building up. "This is kinda perfect actually. I wanted to tell you two first out of everyone, obviously, but not over the phone. I, uh...I have some news."

The way she was avoiding eye contact with both of them, Lizzy could guess what it was. She quickly forced a smile. "You got the job?"

"Yeah, I got the job..." Kathy tried her best to look dismayed, before the grin burst through and she bounced on her tiptoes. "Guys, I got the job!"

Lizzy scrambled up to congratulate, quelling the geyser of rage, dread and panic that was bubbling up inside, feigning happiness for her friend. “What’d I tell you? You’re incredible!”

”I know, I’m kind of a big deal!” Kathy giggled, squeezing her tight. “First woman to ever hold the post in the history of the Smithsonian! I’m gonna have an office! I don’t have to work weekends anymore! I’m gonna have a life!”

“Alright for some.” Muldoon wasn’t so enthused. 

Kathy broke away from Lizzy, hands on her hips. “Go on then, let me have it.” 

"Well done. Knew you’d get it."

Lizzy shook her head. Damn man was proud as Hell, just doing his stubborn best not to show it. 

“It’s not the end of the world, I’ll be here for a while, until you can find my replacement.” Kathy pointed down at the top of Lizzy’s head and stage whispered pick her. 

“How long have I got?”

”Until August. “I can hang in there until August, right? What could go wrong before then?” Kathy laughed nervously then abruptly stopped at the alarmed look they both gave her. 

“Plenty.” Muldoon huffed.

Lizzy agreed with him. ”Best not to answer that.”

***

Kathy wasn’t the only one who brought Lizzy dessert as a souvenir on their return. 

Rico, the youngest but not least talented member the Carnivore Team was making his way towards her brandishing a Paupério tin that was far too dented and discoloured to be new. This looked promising unless, God forbid, it turned out to contain a sewing kit. Lizzy had been burned before. 

“For you!” He was calling to her as he jogged along.

Her face lit up at the sight. “That looks homemade, boy. Tell me it’s homemade.”

Rico caught up, handing her the tin. “From my mama, for you.”

“You really didn’t have to…” Lizzy tried to remain polite though she was dying to rip the lid off and tuck in. Dinner time was still achingly far away.

“Yes I did. She made me swear I wouldn’t touch any.” 

Have you been making friends, niño?

I have, at least one.

The strange Scottish lady was always nice to him, even if she was scarily forthright at times, and it had taken Rico a couple of weeks to figure out that she used certain rude words not as insults, but as terms of endearment.

“I’ve got good cigarros too if you want one, but don’t tell mama about those.” He tapped the side of his nose.

“Have you done something bad?” Lizzy asked warily. “I’m not being funny, but this is too much-“

“It’s just a thank you. You look out for me.” Rico said simply. “It was rough, at the start, but you wouldn’t let me stay in my room alone. I hated it at first, when you dragged me out all the time, but I know why you did it.”

His shoulders drooped. “When I can’t remember the word for something, you don’t make fun of me. The other guys still do, sometimes.”

Lizzy hadn’t really thought about it before. But he was around the same age as her brothers. And it was true, his English hadn’t been the best at the beginning. She knew all to well what it was like to be the outsider, not being confident to chip in when everyone else spoke a different language to you. She hadn’t wanted the youngest member of the team to feel left out or worthless.  The boy was good. Not long left school and already working for InGen? He was going places.

Rico was somewhat of a phenomenon. He was quiet and thoughtful, introverted, but he had a way with the dinosaurs that Lizzy was envious of. Even the most timid of creatures could be coaxed forward by Rico. He was just good at it. Something about how he spoke to them, how he moved, he had a calming influence. 

People had their favourite animals, and the reverse was equally true. The dinosaurs just liked him, most were comfortable being around him.

It had made other people jealous, some who weren’t as happy to just shut up and deal with it as Lizzy was. She had even considered asking Muldoon if Rico could become a handler for the infant raptor. He would be good for her, she was certain.

“It’s just banter.” She reassured. That was true enough, but one or two of the guys had a bad habit of pushing it into cruel territory. Words needed to be had. “Although Tom really is an arse. Don’t ever listen to him.”

She resisted the urge to ruffle Rico’s hair, like an unbearable aunt. He’s a grown man. He’s taller than you.

But he had such a baby face she couldn’t help but want to look after him. Maybe it was guilt. She missed her brothers by far the most out of all her siblings. It had been so long since she’d seen them.

“What would I do without you, kid?” She glanced down at the tin gratefully. “And your mother’s baking. Seriously, she could sell these.”

“You won’t ever find out.” He sidled closer, looking like he was getting ready to tell her a secret. “Listen, I want to see Africa. The Africa you and the boss talk about. See a wild elephant.”

“All these dinosaurs right here and you want to see an elephant?” She couldn’t help but smile. 

He laughed. “A wild elephant. Just promise you’ll take me along, next time you go, yes?”

”Sure. I might know somebody who could give you the tour.” Unable to resist any longer, Lizzy started breaking open the tin and she nearly teared up at how delicious the contents smelled. “Oh my God. Can you bring your mum too?”

He seemed to seriously consider it before nodding. “I’ll ask her?”

***

“Hey!" Later that day Kathy sneaked up behind her and tapped Lizzy on the shoulder. “Got a bone to pick with you.”

The old reliable Baker intuition was yelling loudly in her head, yet again. Niggling in her thoughts for several days. She couldn’t ignore it any longer. Kathy pointed a finger in accusation at her friend and cried triumphantly:

”You got laid!”

“What?!” Lizzy's eyes darted back and forth. "Shhhh!"

"You did!" Kathy gasped. "Oh my God, you did!"

”I did not!” Lizzy made a grab for her friend, trying to clamp a hand over her mouth, something, anything to stop her. “What the Hell, Kathy?”

“You’re, I dunno-“ The Team Leader wriggled free and shrugged, unconvinced. “-different?”

“Yeah, well. You’re wrong. Nothing happened at New Year.” Lizzy insisted. “Ro-uh…Muldoon and I went out for a drive, that was all.”

The at least partly true white lie that both of them had discussed and agreed on together.

“Who said anything about New Year?” Kathy raised an eyebrow.  “You…did?” Lizzy stalled helplessly. 

“I didn’t mention Muldoon, either. That’s where your mind went though, huh?”

”Er-“ Lizzy started to panic. 

”He came back early, to check you were okay, you were all alone here for a whole night and- oh, don’t give me that look! And ‘nothing happened’?” Kathy was still sceptical. “Yeah, right!”

She recalled the moment she had first suspected things may have changed between them. She peeked through the window just before she’d entered the canteen, nearly screamed in exhilaration and then saw how quickly Muldoon dropped Lizzy’s hand when he heard the door opening. Like a hot potato. Her heart had dropped just as quickly, and she caught the noise ready to burst forth from her throat in the nick of time.

Whatever had been going on, she clearly wasn’t meant to see. “Cross my heart.”

”Really? Nothing?” Kathy was still crestfallen. “You finally had the island to yourselves, and nothing at all?”

Lizzy considered how he had made her laugh harder than she had laughed in a long time, maybe even in her whole life. A moment that regardless of whatever happened between them now, she’d likely remember until the end of her days. 

Kathy was looking at her expectantly, while Lizzy’s memory was a mile or so away, in her favourite place in the park, with the stars above and the Rex rumbling away like a purring cat as the fire crackled.

”Well, not exactly nothing at all.” Lizzy’s mouth finally curved into a smile. “But if I told you, you’d probably never believe me.”

***

”Regis, why is my Jeep boxed in?”

”Uh…sorry Muldoon, I’m losing you-crrrhhhsshshhh.” The group of animal handlers all saw Ed discretely switch his radio off with a loud click. 

A couple of weeks into January, New Year a distant memory, but Lizzy’s stomach still flipped whenever she heard the park warden’s voice. Carrying on as normal was working, for the most part. But she couldn’t simply forget and move on. Feelings don’t just go away, you only adapt to get better at dealing with them over time. If you’re lucky.

Fortunately, a welcome distraction was in progress. Preparations were underway for an official event on the island. The front of the visitor centre was positively bustling. 

"Thought they weren't opening the park until the autumn?" Lizzy critically eyed the deliveries that were turning up left, right and centre. The  supply boat that morning had been sitting much lower in the water than usual.

"These are investors, idiot. They aren't guests. They need to see we’ve made good use of their money, so that they give us more!" Tom flicked her ear for emphasis, causing Lizzy to take a swipe at him, which he dodged easily. "Or we’re screwed. So Eddie’s gotta get his nose right in there."

"I don’t think they’ve ordered enough stuff.” When she turned back to look again, Lizzy could have sworn the number of boxes had somehow tripled.

”You’re doing a great job, buddy. Keep it up!” Tom yelled over to Regis, whose neck quickly turned red under his freckles.  “Don’t call me buddy!”

“Would you stop?” Lizzy elbowed him. “One of these days, he will throw something at you.”

”Hope it’s not gonna be valuable, cos it won’t have my good self to cushion the blow. He’ll miss.” His self-assurance was still grating.

”Wanna bet?” Lizzy remembered Trenton Thunder. “Baseball nut over there.”

”So Daddy played catch with him, big whoop.” Tom replied, grinding out his cigarette with his boot heel. 

“Can you guys make yourselves useful and keep an eye out for the ice sculpture arriving?” Regis trotted over to them. “I gotta go do a thing…”

”Yeah, sure. We basically get paid to stand around, anyway.” Kathy replied cheerfully.

“This event-“ Lizzy queried. “-are we invited?"

”Absolutely not.” Regis denied. “In fact, you in particular are barred, Armstrong, for obvious reasons.”

”Aw, Ed!” She feigned upset. “You know that just makes me want to go even more!”

“Ain’t gonna happen, Liz.” Regis carefully pulled a transparent plastic garment bag out of a box full of packing peanuts. It contained a very short, very red cocktail dress. “So quit asking.”

“That’s gonna clash with your hair.” Tom pointed out.

”It’s for María!” Regis snarled back at him.

“That’s not fair! Why does she get to go? You have catering staff flying over.” Lizzy was still on his case. 

Ed gave her a lopsided grin. ”Eye candy.”

”Huh?” Lizzy and Kathy said in unison, shooting each other confused glances.

“Okay, I see what happens.” Tom stepped forward. “Let me paint a picture for you, girls. You’ve got a lot of rich, lonely, powerful men in a room together, far away from their wives and mistresses, trying to prove who’s got the biggest dick. You need a little entertainment. Something pretty to look at. Grease the wheels.”

Regis clicked his fingers. “Bingo.”

“Oh, that’s disgusting. That’s disgusting.” Kathy was horrified. 

“Nobody touch anything.” Off Ed Regis went, garment bag slung over his shoulder. Presumably to find the unwilling future occupant of the dress. 

"Team Meeting, now.” Lizzy announced. 

The eight animal handlers huddled.

”I move that we do something. I want to find out where all their money's going. Because it sure as Hell isn't on the animals. Or us. Y’know, the people who actually do the work.” Lizzy's expression became stormy. "They're going to take advantage of her. And Ed's going to sit back, drink his lite beer, and watch it happen."

"In another win for human evolution, public relations manager achieves upright stance sans spinal column." Kathy muttered dryly.  “That’s cold, Kit.” Tom sounded impressed. “Attagirl, you’ll be as cynical as Liz and I by the time you leave this place.”

“Well, she has a point!” The Team Leader gestured. “We can’t leave María there alone. They’ll eat her alive.”

"So you agree?" Lizzy jumped on her chance. “I’m commandeering the situation?”

"Girl..." Kathy shook her head. "Girl, he's gonna kill you...getting involved…”

"I can handle Ed." Lizzy said confidently. 

"Ed's not the one I was talking about, sweetie.”

“We’re gonna see Liz in a dress? Looking like an actual woman?” Tom smirked at her expression full of disgust. "Hey, you gotta. It’s a formal. You’ll need something that doesn't scream 'I shovel crap for a living'." 

”Oh sure, let me just go pick one of my many ballgowns out of the wardrobe.” Lizzy gestured from her flyaway head to her mud-caked boots. "Are you blind?"

”You and María are about the same height. You wouldn’t look terrible in red, if it’s low lighting-“

”Jeez, Tom! Stop encouraging her!” Kathy moaned. “This is a terrible idea.” “As much as I hate to admit she’s right, better Liz than María.” The Texan stuck to his guns. “And you know it, Kit.” 

“That’s settled then. All in favour?” Lizzy called the vote. 

Six ayes were heard from the men before they looked to the Carnivore Leader for her choice. But she still hesitated. 

Come on, girl.

The seconds ticked by. Tom smirked confidentially at Lizzy before asking loudly:  “Kit, you wanna go grab Ed that cappuccino, or what?”

“Oh, I’m so gonna regret this.” Kathy wearily nodded. “You win.”

***

God, I'm starving. 

Lizzy had poured herself into the tiny cocktail dress meant for Maria, far more petite and less muscular than she was. The Haitian was more than happy to be relieved of her duties for the evening, kissing Lizzy on both cheeks before practically flinging the dress in the ethologist’s direction and gliding away down the corridor to do God-knew-what. Watering the plastic plants, probably.

The cheap fabric was working particularly hard underneath her arms and around the tops of her thighs. As well as doing hair and make-up, Kathy had reluctantly helped pile her into the nightmare dress and zip her up. She felt like an overstuffed sausage, and already had blisters forming from the high heels, rubbing her feet raw as she shuffled around with tiny steps.

But the place Lizzy felt most under-dressed was on her left hand.

She wished she’d had the foresight to put her engagement ring back on, which she still hadn’t found the willpower to shove in an envelope and send back to Simon. At least it would offer some protection for a few hours. Lizzy looked around the room. String quartet, ice sculpture, flowers everywhere…the opulence of it made her feel uneasy. 

She had a flashback to her apartment in the States, something Simon had divulged while complaining about a flamboyantly rich but cantankerous client as they were unpacking groceries together.  Very rich people didn’t show off how much money they had. They didn’t have to. They tended to be quietly generous and classy about it. People who acted like they were still trying to prove something, they might be well-off, but they weren’t rich rich. 

Lizzy herself had fallen for it in the beginning, but as time went on, increasingly often she began to suspect that Hammond was the latter. Everything for show. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

She caught sight of the man himself in the corner of her eye, amber-topped cane in hand, and remembered the reason she was enduring such torture in the first place. To secure better care, more money specifically for the dinosaurs. Lizzy tottered over, tugging the hem of her dress down as she approached. 

“John?”

He turned and looked at her blankly. She knew what he was thinking. You weren’t on the guest list. 

”It’s me, Lizzy.” She could forgive him a few moments hesitation, she’d probably never worn this much make-up in her life.

“Lizzy?” 

She began to get annoyed. What happened to ‘my dear old granny was a Lizzy’? Anyway, she’d always considered herself fairly memorable.

This was not a good start. 

“Doctor Armstrong? From Namibia?” She gestured helplessly, at a loss for what else she could say to jog his memory. “The ethologist.”

“It’s Mr Hammond, tonight, dear. If you don’t mind.” 

“Alright-“

“I’m fairly busy, I’m afraid. Why don’t you go and mingle? We’ll catch up later.”

“Wait, no-“ Lizzy knew well enough that there most likely wouldn’t be a later.

“Please, Miss Armstrong. Another time.” And he gently took her arm and guided her away, leaving her all alone, facing the wall as he resumed his conversation. 

Not quite sure how she had lost her hold on the situation, Lizzy vowed to try a different tactic. As she was busy scanning the rest of the venue for anyone who might be worth talking to, she didn’t notice one of the businessmen swanning over to her, until it was too late to get away. 

“Where’s Hammond been hiding this one, then?” American. Mid-West. Sweating profusely. “Forget the ice sculpture, why didn’t they just put you up on the table?”

Lizzy recoiled. “I’m a scientist.”

“Ah, she’s funny too. Not dressed like that, you aren’t.”

Lizzy really wasn’t a fan of being referred to in the third person.

”Really, she’s a PhD.” She flushed in anger. “She studies animal behaviour.”

And you’re behaving like an animal.

”Wait-“ He pointed at her face, closely scrutinising. “-I know you from somewhere-“

Not again.

In yet another event from her past that occasionally came back to haunt her, Lizzy had undertaken a couple of modelling jobs as a first-year student at NYU.

Nothing big. One or two jobs for the campus magazine, then it had kind of snowballed. She didn’t even know what some of the photographs were ultimately used for. But her face, and the rest of her, was definitely in print for something other than behavioural research. It offered a few extra dollars here and there, until Simon had asked her to stop, telling her she didn't have to worry about money now she was with him. She'd obliged, but it had been kind of fun, at the time.

It happened more than once in New York, sometimes a stranger, usually an older man, most likely on the subway would give her a funny look. She’d know exactly why, and she’d huddle closer to Simon and try not to make eye contact before they reached their stop.

New York and a tiny Costa Rican island, it seemed. Just her luck.

”No, you don’t!” She insisted and turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist and she had no choice but to turn to face him to keep herself from toppling over in her high heels. 

”How much-“

His grip hurt. Lizzy looked around in panic, searching for Ed Regis in the crowd. She didn’t want to make a scene, but if there was no other choice…Ed would help her, right?

Right?!

“Hey, back off, pal. The only one who gets to talk down to her is me.”

From somewhere close behind her came the low Southern drawl she both looked forward to and dreaded equally. The voice she hated being on the wrong side of, the one that meant trouble, had antagonised her time and time again. And she’d never been so glad to hear it defending her. 

Tom’s hulking frame cast a long shadow over both Lizzy and the strange man who was intent on getting to know her better.

“Look, here-“ The investor was bristling at the intrusion.

”Move along, now, buddy.” Tom gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, a little bit harder than was polite or necessary, but not enough to get him into trouble. “Trust me, you don’t wanna find out the price for this one. It’s measured in rounds, and I don’t mean at the bar.”

The stranger grunted unhappily and finally beat it, avoiding looking Lizzy in the eye. 

She relaxed slightly, her hands trembling. The smell of old cigarette smoke and cheap aftershave had never been so reassuring. 

“About damn time.” She tried to act breezy, but the words sounded forced. Lizzy was more shaken than she'd care to admit. She glanced down at her wrist, red finger marks already burned harshly into her skin. Shit.

”Ma’am.” Tom tipped the brim of his stetson towards her without the slightest trace of irony. He had gone all out for the occasion, wearing a bolo tie, white shirt, dress jeans with a big belt buckle and leather boots. A real-life cowboy.

Lizzy cleared her throat, trying to restore her bravado. “Didn’t know there was a fancy dress shop on the island. Where’s your tinfoil sheriff’s badge?”

“You get straight to Hell. This is my good stetson. I’ve not worn this baby since prom night.” He flicked the rim. “You realise how privileged you are, getting to see me in my good stetson, right?”

”You have more than one?” She stifled a giggle. “Didn’t know you moonlighted as a Village Person.” “You like a man in a hat.” He winked at her disarmingly, and her steel nerve buckled. 

”Piss off.” She muttered weakly. 

"There it is." Tom grinned in satisfaction. “On that note, what has your man got to say about you hitting the town, all dressed up?”

“Not my man, what are you on about…”

“Ah, I see. He still doesn’t know, huh?” He shook his head, tutting. “You are in so much shit.”

“I do what I like.” Lizzy scowled. “Although I don’t like this. Quite literally taking one for the team.”

“You scrub up pretty nice.” He gave her a sly look. “Trim your moustache, did ya?” “Ha!”

At the other end of the room, Lizzy spied Regis’ ginger head, still wearing his ever-present baseball cap (seriously, at a black tie?), jerk upright at the noise she’d just made. Lizzy quickly turned it into a cough.

“Insults aside, glad you’re here.” She meant it. "Dickhead.”

She meant that too. 

”Save it.” Tom grumbled. “I just didn’t wanna miss the look on Ed’s face when he sees you of all people gatecrashed his fancy event.”

“Keep telling yourself that, mate.” She didn't mind anymore whether he hated her or cared for her. It was a blurry line at the best of times. But she mattered to him, in some way, that much she knew and was grateful for. If he hadn’t intervened when he did…

One way or another, it would have gotten messy.

“How’s An Audience With Hammond going?” He interrupted her thoughts.

”It’s not.” She told him about how she had failed miserably at her mission. “I am very low priority on his list of people to schmooze tonight.”

Tom was eyeing up a tray of glasses making it’s way past them. “In that case, when in Rome-“

She scoffed. “Beginning to see the real reason you’re here…”

“They don’t got bourbon?” Tom grumbled at the sparse choice of red or white. “I hate wine.”

“The single malt is for much, much later this evening-“ The waiter somehow managed to look down his nose at the taller man. “-sir.”

”You’ll get what you’re given.” Lizzy took a glass of each colour and handed him the white. “It’s free.”

”How about a toast?” Tom sardonically eyed the blue InGen banner hung over the door, company slogan in italics beneath the ever-present logo. “To…Making Our Future.”

”Spare no expense!”

They clinked their glasses. 

“Hell with it. Let’s pound as much of this food as we can before they throw us out.”

”That-“ Lizzy waved over a tray of canapes. “-is the best idea you’ve had in weeks.”

***

“He was talking so fast, I couldn’t keep up, and he said Hammond personally asked him to make it happen!” Rico was hurriedly trying to explain as he stumbled into the control room after the park warden. “To show the investors.”

”That may be true.” Muldoon was barely keeping his anger in check. “But there’s a very good reason we stay away from that animal.”

”Not all of us.” Arnold added loudly as he blew smoke upwards, causing Muldoon to shoot him a venomous look. 

“I sincerely apologise, boss.” Rico continued, visibly trembling in fear. “H-how can I make this right?”

”Just stay out of the bloody way. Something like that, you really should have checked.” He dismissed him with a wave of his hand before shouting “Where’s Baker?!”

“Here, I’m here!” Kathy popped up from behind a console. “Ray called me, we’re watching her now. They weren’t kidding, she’s fast.”

Rico went mute, eyes downcast, he took the opportunity to slip out of the control room like a shadow while everyone else was bustling around. Nobody noticed. 

Muldoon moved around to look at the screen beside his colleagues. “Arnold, can you send out an alarm?”

”Manually.”

”That doesn't sound very efficient?"

��It ain't. As in, I’m going to have to go check the manual.” Arnold looked at him pointedly, cigarette dangling. “Or you can just grab a radio and alarm everyone all by yourself.”

”You’ve got to be joking.” Muldoon ground out. “There’s no system in place?”

“Looks that way.”

Meanwhile, Kathy was wringing her hands. All the procedures she’d gone over in her head. All her studying of emergency exits, muster points and evacuation routes. All her carefully constructed contingency plans and she still wasn’t ready for this.

“What are you going to do?” She hesitantly asked.

“What’s required.” Muldoon was looking for the key to the locker in his office. “Don’t interfere.”

Kathy solemnly nodded. “In that case, what do you need?”

“I need my best shot, for backup.” He grabbed his radio. ”Kennedy, come in.”

No response. 

”If anyone can see Kennedy, pass him a radio, now.”

No answer.

What a mess.  Muldoon conducted a quick head count. Only six animal handlers present. Baker-Esteves-Harris-O’Reilly-Palmer-Yamada-

Another was unaccounted for.  “Baker, where’s Armstrong?”

”Er…”

Oh, balls.

Muldoon impatiently took her by the shoulders. “Is she indoors, yes or no?”

”Yes, definitely.” No way would Lizzy be seen in that dress anywhere outside the function room. “Unless-“

His eyes narrowed. “Baker, it’s important for your lifespan that you tell me exactly where she is.”

Arnold had momentarily stopped typing, holding his breath. 

“She’s with Tom. If he smokes, she usually goes too.” Kathy confessed nervously. “I mean, they could be outside?”

***

”Nah, you’re doing it wrong. No chewing, you’ll be there forever. Down in one, like this-“ Tom was trying to show her how to handle an oyster.

Lizzy stared at the cold shell in her palm, the corners of her mouth downturned. ”Tom, it’s looking at me.”  

She’d eaten far more questionable things in her lifetime. But this was turning out to be her Everest. 

”Ah, forget it. These ones are just okay, need some tabasco.” He took the offending mollusc from her and swiftly dealt with it. “Better barbecued fresh, out on the water.”

“If you say so.” Lizzy wasn’t convinced. Sub-par oysters, she’d rather not take the chance. Yet more cracks were appearing in the InGen foundations. 

A very familiar silhouette caught her eye, making his way through the crowd to their secret corner of the room with purpose. He’d clearly spotted Tom’s stetson from the doorway. 

“Uh-oh, busted.” Lizzy whispered as Muldoon drew level with them both.

“Kennedy. With me, now.”

Lizzy tutted. He was clearly dismissing her as ‘just some girl’ Regis had flown in for the night that Tom had decided to try his luck with. It must have been the heels giving her an extra couple of inches that was throwing him off.

“Tom, I think you’ve pulled.” Lizzy nudged his arm. Muldoon did a double take at the familiar voice, only recognising who she was the second time around.

“Oh Christ, it’s you.” He frowned. “What’s happened to your face?”

“Rude.”

“Don’t like it.” He was looking her up and down in disbelief. ”And I can bloody well see what you had for dinner-“

“Stop staring at me.” Lizzy hissed through gritted teeth. “Surprise, I do in fact have a waist under the tattie cloths they pass off as uniforms.”

“Of course. Your waist is what’s drawing the eye.”

He wasn’t at all a fan of the look, but he still couldn’t drag his gaze away from her with everything…pushed up like that.

”Aw, Jesus.” Tom seemed genuinely upset. “Not cool, boss.”

”Why are you two in here, anyway, without your radios on?” Muldoon recalled the memo Regis had flashed around about keeping a certain animal handler away from the event at all costs. “No, never mind. I don’t actually care.” 

“I would love to know-“ Lizzy remarked sweetly. “-where exactly I would be keeping a radio on my person, in this thing.”

”Talking out your ass, no doubt-” Tom muttered. 

Another of the investors had broken off from the herd and started to sway his way over, bleary eyes fixated on Lizzy, and the parts of her body the dress wasn’t quite managing to cover. She could already see the words say, you look familiar forming in his head as she began to back away in fear. 

But she wasn’t alone this time. Both Kennedy and Muldoon abruptly stopped what they were doing and gave the interloper a hard stare so intimidating that he about-turned and wobbled straight back the way he’d came without uttering a single word to anyone.

Muldoon shook his head, looking like his motor was rapidly winding down. “Christ alive, I need to get out of here. I hate this sort of thing.”

Lizzy cocked her head. He doesn’t do crowds.

“So if you’re both done wasting time-“ He continued.

She quickly sobered, not averse to making a quick getaway herself. “What’s wrong?”

There was a faint rumble of thunder from outside and the overhead lights dipped and came back on with a flicker. The drone of conversation around them lulled, then resumed.

The next thing the park warden said made Lizzy’s ears ring and edges of her vision darken as the adrenaline kicked in. 

“Don’t react, either of you-“ Muldoon dropped his voice low enough that she had to crane her neck to hear him. “-but there’s an animal loose in the park.”

Son of a- Tom was already pushing past Lizzy, making his way to the exit doors, the sea of businessmen parting before him as he cleared a path.  

“Don’t react. I said don’t react.” Muldoon quickly turned to follow him. 

“Hang on-“ Lizzy caught up before he moved out of reach. “Which animal?”

Muldoon gave her a certain look while saying nothing, which told her everything.

Lizzy knew exactly which animal had broken out. 

“Oh-“ She reached for the wall to steady herself as the lights flickered off again and thunder boomed over the island. “Oh, no.”

***

Thanks for reading!

If you worked out what this chapter is leading up to I will personally send you a gift basket or something.

[mxpseudonym]

More, Even If It’s Too Much

Pairing: Arthur Shelby x OC or she/her pronouns Reader

Summary: Arthur falls for his innocent, young bookkeeper who doesn’t actually have an innocent bone in her body

Length: 1396 words (allegedly)

Warnings: Age difference, Manipulation, Unhealthy-ish ideals

Request: for the arthur smut idea - how about the reader is younger than him, maybe her 20s and she is somehow around the shelbys a lot and he falls madly in love with her but doesn't want to bother her cause she seems really innocent and sweet, but in reality she is daydreaming about how he would just have his way with her and she teases him a lot, maybe by sucking on lollipops or whatnot, until he just can't hold it back and somehow they get it on🥵

A/N: I felt rusty when I was writing this, but it was a joy. I hope you like it! I took a liberty and made it a tiny bit dark. If anyone wants to hear about my analysis on my own story, I may just have to share.

--

He said her name, but all she could hear was a snap. 

Pulling Arthur into his office on a quiet afternoon and lifting the hem of her dress to reveal what his Christmas bonus bought her was the last straw to break under her many efforts. Her gaze lifted from where she ran her fingers over the lacy hem of her new garter belt and looked into the dark eyes of her boss. 

Arthur looked frustrated and maybe even a bit angry. His fists clenched, and his jaw tightened like he was on the verge of barreling over the line he'd drawn. Her wide eyes narrowed, and her innocent smile shifted into a wicked smirk. This was perfect. He was perfect.

"Have you finally noticed me, Mr. Shelby?" 

She was sure the paperweight that cracked against the floor was expensive, but the experience of finally having Arthur push her onto his messy desk was worth more than the whole of this shady company. 

"Notice you? Fuckin' hell, lovey, you're all I can think about."

His lips were a bit chapped against her soft ones, always prepared for the possibility that Arthur would lose his good sense like she knew he could. 

She'd been around the Shelby's since she started running numbers as a preteen. There wasn’t a day that she didn’t have a crush on the older man. He was all heart, a dangerously open book that she wanted on her bedside table very night. Now as a young lady with a knack for bookkeeping, she was the only thing Arthur insisted on taking to the London offices during the Shelby Co Limited expansion and she was glad. 

It wasn’t until a couple of years before when she turned 20 that she realized how much more she wanted to know. What did he look like when he was content or overwhelmed with pleasure? Would he ever get mad at her? About what, she wondered. She wanted to know everything.  

Tommy wasn't so sure about it at first. It wasn't a secret, after all. Arthur couldn't touch her without going red and went out of his way to make her life easier any way he could. At some point, even she had to tell him to stop making her so many cups of tea just how she liked it. The eldest Shelby had been ready to risk everything for her for ages. But it wasn't the pining that worried the perceptive middle Shelby. 

It was the look she had when no one was watching. Her eyes, only ever set on Arthur, were insatiable. And anything or anyone who pulled Arthur's concentration away from her received a glare that could kill. But maybe what worried Tommy more was that Arthur was a fool. 

He was too convinced she was a nice girl who fixed his hair with a tender touch and laughed brightly at his silly jokes. Even when she got Arthur to do whatever she said or steered other women in the opposite direction just to keep his attention, she was still young and assuming to Arthur, which only worked to her advantage.

Nice girls finished last as far as she was concerned. She may have been young and seemingly innocent, but she didn't desire the mad dog of a man without knowing him. With his inability to avoid a devilish addiction, Arthur Shelby only needed to be tempted to devour her. He only needed a little hand brushing, a compliment on his appearance paired with a giggle, a low-cut blouse. She knew it, and Tommy knew she knew it. 

"Tommy says I put you on too high of a pedestal," Arthur mused one day when they stood in the back alley of the Eden Club for a smoke break. 

Well, Arthur lit his cigarette and forgot to inhale while his eyes followed her swirling tongue around the lemon-flavored lolly. Deciding to quit smoking was an all too convenient addition to her seduction plan. She reached up and plucked what was left of his cigarette from his fingers and tossed it away. She raised her candy to his lips instead, and he was obedient in taking it, making her chuckle. 

"It could be higher." 

Arthur didn't waste any time, or rather, he didn't quite know how to go slow. It was all or nothing. It was hardly looking her in the eye or hungrily taking in her taste in the back office of the Eden Club. 

His calloused hands still had a slight tremble to them even as they pulled down the soft sleeves of her dress, leaving it to pool around her waist, but one hand pressed against the desk beside her, caging her in, while the other trailed along her skin, leaving her gasping. She wasn't going anywhere. A gasp escaped her lips, and a shiver ran down her spine when he ghosted over her nipple. She jumped slightly when his lips ghosted over her ear. 

"Are you afraid, lovey?" He rasped in a way she'd always wanted to hear directed at her. 

"I'm afraid you'll stop," she answered, her own voice desperate. Arthur leaned back suddenly and looked down at her. Now he wondered just how blind he'd been. Was she always this forward with him? 

"And I thought you were a sweet, pure lamb." 

She placed her hand over his and guided it lower, beneath the bunched of fabric, and pushed aside cotton until her breathing was shallow and Arthur was dipping between her slick warmth. And yet, her eyes never left his. She licked her slightly parted lips while Arthur swallowed. 

"How could I be when you leave me like this every day? I'm not nice, Arthur," she revealed, desperate as ever. "I'm greedy." 

She kept his pace easily. It was fluid if you could call it anything other than ravenous. Clothes were forgotten on the floor next to the holsters and the guns. Their names flowed between moans and cries, getting cut short or sighed at an exquisite movement. 

Pressed between Arthur and the wall, she was still trying to adjust to his size but refused to let him slow down. She'd been thinking about this for too long, and her own hands weren't enough anymore. Even Arthur teasing her a bit at the beginning, rubbing the head of his weeping cock over her entrance and around her sensitive bud, had been agonizing enough to make her cum before he even put it in. She was losing count of every peak she was experiencing, but all that mattered was that he moved with no resistance. Every sound and experienced movement he made sent heat straight to her core. Arthur was no saint, and he'd certainly been around the bend, but she just as hungry as he was. That was a first. 

"More," she moaned as her eyes rolled. Arthur let out a haughty laugh that she didn't mind.

"You think you can take more?" He asked, but he tightened his grip on her thighs and thrust hard and deep into her in the same moment. She could only dig her nails into his shoulder and tug at his hair with a silent cry. "What are you greedy for?" 

"You," she finally gasped loudly at the resulting deep thrusts. 

"Me?"

"I want every part of you. Even if it's too much," she whined and grabbed Arthur's face in her hands. He was looking at her, watching her, in awe as her eyes welled up and she tightened around him. "And I want you to look at me only. Just always at me. Oh god!" 

She shook and bucked against him, her eyes closing tight and her nose scrunching up. Still, Arthur kept her wish of never letting his eyes leave her contorted, euphoric face as she mumbled his name even as he followed her release with his own. She really was something else.

It was perplexing to see her transform back into the girl he thought she was. Even with her cheeks warm and a silly grin on her face from their salacious act, she still looked precious and not like the vixen dragging her nails down his back and biting his skin just moments ago. It made him want to apologize for being so rough. She'd have plenty of bruises of her own in the morning. As if she sensed what he thought while he helped her into her coat, she turned and pulled him down into a kiss. 

"Arthur, thank you for taking me so seriously." 

"Well, I've loved you for a while, haven't I?" He asked, turning again. She perked up with her usual smile. 

"Good. Because I want you to want me more than anything else too." 

He scoffed and shook his head. Something else entirely. He reached up and pinched her cheek.

"When you say something like that with such a pretty face, how can I say no, lovey?" 

[curly-bangtan]

Heatwave Anniversary Drabble: i miss u like ... a lot (M)

[Heatwave // Godless // Heatwave Drabbles] <- read first! but this drabble can be read alone

Pairing: Taehyung x reader

Summary: One night until Taehyung is back from his boys’ trip but you miss him too much.

Genre: fluff, smut, kinda crack?, boyfriend/established relationship au

Warnings: unprotected sex (oc on contraception so don’t u do it), teasing over the phone, riding and grinding, just kinda vanilla i-missed-u-so-much sex, a particular selca

Word count: 5k

A/N: It was Heatwave’s one year anniversay on the 17th so I decided to write a quick(?) drabble for this. I fully intended on posting this on time, but wanted to change up some stuff so only managed to finish this now. Happy birthday to my first fic and forver my baby!

MOSTLY UNEDITED

.

The absolute one thing you hate most about your boyfriend being away from you is your boyfriend being away from you.

You have never been the clingy needy type, that is more his role in this relationship, nor are you really one to show affection. In fact, you would hate for that false image to be perceived of you because all that sappy shit makes you want to throw up your dinner. But one thing you’ve learnt since Taehyung had gone away on a week-long boys’ trip down by the coast is how cold the house feels in his absence, despite being in the middle of a sizzling summer.

Everything is so eerily quiet without his random outbursts into song and fits of laughter. Having spent 3 years living together, you have gotten so used to his constant presence that you had even caught yourself several times calling out for him only to remember that he isn’t here. Waking up without his arm draped around your waist, slided up your top at some point during the night, impacts you more than you’d like to admit.

Are you glad that he’s having a great time with his friends by the beach, relaxing all day and drinking all night? Of course. Are you having a great time all by yourself over here in the absence of your boyfriend? Certainly not.

Though, of course, this isn’t something you would confess to out loud, especially to him. He doesn’t need to know how often the thought: ugh fuck, I miss Tete is crossing your mind, lest you want him to rub his smugness in your face.

It isn’t just that. Your relationship hasn’t been without its tests in the course of its years and things have only finally stabilised. It’s not that you don’t trust Taehyung to be with his ladish friends for seven days, shirtless dusk till dawn, intoxicated to the point where he calls you thinking that you’re the pizza delivery guy but…

A hammered Taehyung at a beach full of girls who are no doubt thirsting over him leaves a bad taste in your mouth. You trust him to be loyal to his core, but you don’t trust anyone else to keep their hands from copping a feel. No matter how you look at it, you would just so much rather he be at home with you right now.

You have endured this for six days. Six full days without Taehyung. Six full days with no sex, no tummy kisses, no clammy hand holding even though you’re only to get groceries. Just one more night and this torture will fucking be over, praise the lord. But you also don’t know how much more you can hold back that I miss you text because you’re combusting from the need to see him again.

It’s almost 4am. Your sleep schedule is fucked and it’s really his fault.

The bright screen of your phone offers the only luminescence at this hour. Your messages from him in the past week have not been shy of your daily dose of Taehyung - clips of the beach (always mischievously caption with something along the lines of “thinking of Mykonos ;D” where you went on your first holiday together), selfies that you dwell way too long staring at because you miss that face buried in your neck, drunk videos of the antics him and the boys get up to that you’ll definitely chastise him for when he comes back yet can’t help but laugh at. You find yourself scrolling through them every single night.

Your personal favourite: a pouty selfie he sent you after he dropped his ice cream, the picture you always go back to and the one you’re staring at right now. His hair is frizzy from the sea, lips jutted out childishly and cheeks puffy. Your chest constricts, fuck...

Just one more night, you remind yourself. And then he’s back and all yours again.

Then suddenly, the phone in your hand vibrates, short and abrupt. The bar slides down from the top of your screen reading New Message from Tete. Surprised, you scramble to open it, maybe a bit too desperately for you to be proud of.

04:11

Tete: bby

You blink at those three letters, lips pressed together because your heart is cinching.

Tete: ur prob aslep rn but

Tete: i missu

Tete: <334

The typos indicate that he is wasted, and you take a guess that he has just returned from their last night out of the holiday. The corners of your lips turn up knowing that he is thinking of you right now.

You: no im awake

Your fingers are itching to reply with i miss u too, and it takes all your willpower and stubbornness to stay true to your steadfast self. There is just something so unpleasantly moist about these kinds of texts, something that makes you cringe and gag when you read them. You refuse to be one of those people. A heart is all that you allow yourself to reply.

You: <3

You: r u drunk?

Tete: drunk in love

Tete: yes

A giggle escapes you at his god awful cheesiness - drunk, sober alike. Insufferable. But probably Taehyung’s most endearing quality.

You: did u have fun!!

Tete: yeah

Tete: but i miss u

Tete: more than i had fun

God, you feel like a teenager again, suddenly overcome with this gushing urge to roll over and scream into your pillow. You’re glad he’s merely texting this to you right now because if he had said this to you face to face, your skin would most definitely stain scarlet from neck to hairline, scalding to the touch. Even months into officially being his girlfriend, these curveballs of overwhelming affection throw you off guard.

Again, the compulsion to tell him you miss him too yanks at your heartstrings. You truly don’t understand why it’s so hard for you to say how you feel, let yourself be soft and vulnerable. You know it’s one of your flaws so it’s something that you’re working on, but you can’t say you’ve made much progress.

But just as you decide that maybe you should take the plunge, suck it up and just text him those three words, he sends you a picture.

Tete:

No, not just a picture. A selfie, of him in bed, shirtless under the covers. “Oh, fuck…”

Hand clasped over your mouth to prevent any sound from involuntarily escaping, it takes a moment for your breath to return to you and for you to stop gawking. At this hour… Really? Is he seriously doing this to you right now?

His sleepy eyes. His messy curls. And his fucking nose mole.

The undoing of your existence.

Tete: this boy misses u :]

You: bruh

You: bruhhhhhhh

You: taehyung

Tete: oui my lady :))

You: 👁👄👁

You: can u not do this to my heart

You: y did u send me this </333

You: what was the reason

Tete: coz i miss u

Tete: do u like it

Tete: :D

‘Do u like it’... Actually, you have tears in your eyes, albeit mostly due to staring at a screen for too long so late at night, but it’s certainly contributed by this selfie. You tell yourself you’re acting out because it’s been six days since you last saw him. Perhaps Taehyung Withdrawal Symptoms is the explanation behind why you want to print and frame this picture because that is definitely not a normal reaction to a picture. But this is a masterpiece.

You: taehyung my soul left my body

You: like i could weep

You: u look so soft and fluffy

You: :’(

Tete: lollll

Tete: simp

This boy has some nerve?! Simp! He called you a simp?! Laughing like a maniac, you can’t even pretend to be mad at him, not after this picture he sent anyway. So you guess you are a simp. This selfie is your kryptonite.

Tete: jkjkkkkk

You: hahahaha

You: y r u doing this to me

You: its 4am

You: u can’t send me this rn

You: i won’t be able to sleep

Tete: o yeah how come ur still up?

Tete: go to sleepppp

You: can’t sleep

Tete: aw no whyyy

Because you miss him that’s why.

You miss Kim Taehyung. You miss Tete. You miss your boyfriend, your best friend, your other half. You miss his touch, his smile, his wide eyes when he’s confused. You miss his morning snuggles and late night kisses. You miss the way he hugs you from behind as you prepare your meals. You miss the wandering hands that he can’t help when you’re out in public. You miss playing PUBG together until the sun comes out then both sleeping past noon. You miss taking baths together where bubbles would get into your mouth as your kisses get heated.

You just miss him.

It’s only been six days and you’re in this state. What has he done to you?

Fingers hovering over the keyboard, you let out a great sigh and deflate. No other reason offers itself for you to be awake at this hour; he knows you cherish sleep above anything. Teeth digging into your lip, you inhale long and hard, then exhale the gust of your cowardice. It’s not that deep, stupid. Fuck it.

You: coz

You: i miss u

You: like … a lot

You: 🙄

It’s final - you guess you’ve become a mushy wet sap. Truly it is embarrassing how big of a step this is for you; but the sense of pride and accomplishment feels oddly validating. Baby steps. The eye-rolling emoji right after is subconscious because you could only betray the core of your character that much. Forgo it and taehyung might not believe that it’s you.

Tete: omg

Tete: :D

Tete: rrly?

You: *blank kissy emoji*

Tete: wow

Tete: u actually don’t know how hard i’m smiling rn

You: simp

Tete: ofc that’s my middle name

Tete: i miss u a lot too

Tete: like a lotttttt

Tete: i’ll show u how much when i’m back

Ah… Of course, the Taehyung specialty - smothering you with his affection. You freeze at the thought of his wildfire kisses and head between your thighs. Nothing screams of how much you’ve missed each other more than a good dicking down, climax after climax until you’re both panting messes of sweat and entangled limbs. The anticipation makes you squirm under the sheets, legs pressing together.

You: pls do

You: i need u

It’s uncertain what spirit has possessed you at this ungodly hour for these words to come out of you. There’s an instant flash of ickiness, but you let the self-cringing simmer and dissipate into the realisation that this is okay, this is normal. Taehyung’s your boyfriend, couples text like this. You need to grow some.

Tete: fuck baby

Tete: i’m so not used to u texting like this, it's driving me crazy

You: crazy how *cat smirk*

If you weren’t smiling before, you’re definitely grinning like an idiot now. His reaction is predictable, yet oddly still, an incredible wave of satisfaction hits you. And because you want to savour this moment, maybe give him a taste of his own medicine, you send him a picture of yourself.

Camisole strap slid off your shoulder, hair splayed out, bottom lip deep red from biting down on it too much. Just to return the favour.

Tete: y/n

Tete: call me now

-Incoming call from Tete-

Laughing to yourself, you wait a good few seconds before picking up to prolong his torture. “Yes, Taehyung?” You put your thumb between your teeth to suppress the laughter.

“Fuck.” Against the silence of the night, the low rasp of his voice permeating into you from the speaker of your phone sends tingles up your toes. You’ve fucking missed his voice more than you thought. “Y/N… You can’t do this to me.”

“I told you, I miss you. Like… a lot.” The saccharine tone in your reply is foreign to your own ears, but you like the sound of it and the deep rumble it elicits from your boyfriend.

“How much?” Taehyung eggs you on. His words are barely slurred, so you gather that he has sobered up at least for the most part by now. Yet there is still a slowness to it that suggests

“Hmm, like… I touched myself every night at the thought of you a lot.”

A sharp inhale. Then silence. But you know better so you give him a moment to gather himself.

“You shouldn’t be putting that image in my head.” Exasperation is evident in his voice, desperate and yearning. You can imagine him now, one hand on his phone, the other sliding over his pants that are getting a bit too tight for comfort. Your breath hitches.

“Then you shouldn’t have sent me that picture, Taehyung…”

“You said it was soft and fluffy. What you sent me back was not soft and fluffy.”

“Just because it’s soft doesn’t mean it doesn’t turn me on. You do things to me… okay?” Heat trapped beneath the skin of your cheeks, your grip on the phone against your ear slackening as your thighs rub together.

“Fuck, I’m getting hard, baby…” Nothing gets him going more than the knowledge that he turns you on, it’s his weakness but somewhat his strength.

“That’s… unfortunate. Are you going to do something about it?”

His gulp is audible even over the phone. “Uh…” A sigh. “Um. Maybe. Thoughts are being thought.”

“What kind of thoughts? Thoughts about me touching myself and moaning your name? Thoughts about how much I wish my fingers were your cock thrusting so deep into me that I feel it in my guts? Or are you thinking about what you’ll do to me when you’re back tomorrow? Fucking my mouth until I’m crying or filling me up with your cum first?” Your hips buckle at the filth leaving your mouth. This is more like you; you haven’t abandoned your nature after all.

“Oh, fuckkkk.” His moan resonates into your skull, not quite as if he’s here with you but good enough to fill your desire. “Y/N… I need you so badly.” Breath ragged, you hear movement of his sheets in the background as he adjusts into a more comfortable position.

“Are you stroking your cock right now?” A warm slick oozes out of your own entrance. There’s something about Taehyung masturbating to you that elevates you to a different kind of high.

“What do you think, baby?” As you listen closely, you hear the slow rhythm of his pumping, and your fingers ache to pleasure yourself. ‘The things I’ll fucking do to you when I’m back.”

“Mmm, but it’s late, Taehyung, why don’t we go to sleep.”

“Wait, what?” The stroking stops instantly and surprise in his voice releases a smug satisfaction into your veins. The equivalent of pouring a bucket of ice water over his head right now. Teasing is an old undying habit, what can you say? “You wanna end the call now?”

“Yeah, we should sleep, babe.” Grin unsuppressed, you turn over onto your side, probably a bit too pleased with yourself at your success. Taehyung is an easy victim always.

“What the fuckkk?” Your boyfriend groans. “You’re seriously going to tease me this hard then leave me high and dry?” When you offer no more response than a sly chuckle, he add, “You’re so evil.”

“Save it for tomorrow, Taehyung. Think about it, we’re one sleep away from seeing each other again.”

“Fuck, I know. But you just got me so fucking horny, bruhhh. I thought we were gonna have phone sex.” You are still laughing at his whining, basking in the victory you’re holding over him.

“Taehyung, save it for the real sex.” The idea of phone sex crossed your mind several times to be honest, but you really want to collect every single drop of desire and longing and unleash it tomorrow. Raw and pent up. Nothing to dampen the fire.

A sigh of defeat down the line. “You’re going to be the death of me, you know?” You know. “How am I supposed to sleep now though? I’m so rock hard that it hurts.”

“You can figure that out yourself, big guy.” Your cheeks ache from smiling for too long; they often do during calls with him. “One sleep away, okay?”

“Ugh, fine, you demon. I can’t believe you sometimes.” He lets out another sigh. Your heart skips at the anticipation of how he will punish you for this. “Good night, I miss you.”

“Good night, I miss you more.” There’s a sudden change of tone with these words. Because you truly mean it. Sex and physical intimacy aside, you really just missed his voice, his banter.

You fall asleep almost immediately.

.

You don’t think you’ve heard a sweeter sound than the keys rattling at the door the next day. Practically leaping off the couch where you had been awaiting him in your Taeyhyung-less boredom, you run to the door.

As it swings open, heat courses to your chest when your eyes land on his, so full of comfort. Your boyfriend is home. Handsome as ever, much more tanned than your memory of him and much more attractive. White t-shirt and loose black shorts, a mundane outfit that only he could make look exceptional.

And as much as you want to sprint up and throw yourself onto him, your feet stay planted on the floor.

“Hey.” You barely breathe out.

Stay calm and composed, you tell yourself. It was only one week without him, it’s not like he’s returning from war.

But Taehyung doesn’t even reply, because in two long strides he is standing before you, bags tossed to the side, a sign of their insignificance in the presence of you. His arms find their home circled around you, face buried in your hair before you can utter another word. You don’t hesitate to return his embrace, holding his waist as you let yourself fall into his chest. He smells like what summer should, the ocean, sweat and young love; his familiar musk greeting you as if he never left.

Your lips meet his, strong and full of intent. He’s so unexpectedly soft when he kisses back, a timeless romantic dance like he is saviour your taste on his tongue.

With your weight leaning on him, he slowly topples back, stepping hastily until your bodies land on the couch. You fit your legs on either side of him as you burrow your nose in his neck and breathe him in, memorise him. In nothing but a large shirt, your bare thighs are exposed for his roaming.

When you pull away and face each other, you are struck by his beauty. His skin is sun-kissed and glowing, hair an effortlessly beautiful mess, the slightest hint of a stubble peeking through below his nose. Your heart belongs to him forever, you know it without a doubt.

“You smell so good. I missed you so much, baby.” And his voice… That deep baritone honey that you have taken for granted all this time - music to your ears.

“Imissedyoutoo…” You mumble, shy under his undivided attention and mercilessly unbroken eye contact.

With your chests pressed together, his chuckle rumbles into you. “What was that?”

“I missed you too… I guess.” Face flaming, you can’t bring yourself to meet his eye at your admittance, fingers twirling around his curls to preoccupy yourself.

But he cups your chin and turns your face to him, forehead pressing up to yours until your noses are touching, breaths mixing. “That’s not what you said last night.” Taehyung smirks, hands sliding down to your waist, the material of your shirt bunching up in his hands. “Do I need to remind you?”

“No…” You find yourself unable to keep your eyes open, your core pulsing mercilessly as you grind onto him. “How are you already hard, Taehyung…” And though you mean to scold him, it comes out breathless.

Lips hovering, he traces the edge of your jaw, tingling the sensitive little hairs on its way to your ear. When he reaches the shell of your ear, warm breath infiltrating so relentlessly into you, you almost lose yourself right there on his lap. “Don’t you know how much I love you?” He whispers.

“Show me.” Is all you make out.

His hands are already beneath your shirt before you even notice, palms kneading into your breasts as he takes your nipples between his two fingers and rolls. As he kisses you again, the same tenderness exchanges between your lips. It’s a different kind of desperation to be so slow and gentle, one that means so much more than sex, one that’s telling of how much you truly missed each other. Your hips roll with a mind of their own over him. One hand of his comes down to your ass, guiding the waves of your rocking. And each time his stiff clothed member digs into your clit, you whimper into his mouth.

Carefully, Taehyung rolls you over onto your back, sucking your bottom lip to keep the seal from breaking. He pulls away when he’s on top of you, and a string of glistening saliva bridges between your mouths. “Foreplay or no? Tell me what you want?” Compliant as ever.

“I need you to fill me up right now. Anything else can wait.” You watch the devotion ignite in his eyes. His fingers are in a hurry as they pull your panties off, knees spreading your legs open as he kneels between your gaping entrance. He tugs his shirt off from the collar, such smoothness in his action that your insides coil up. His newly-bronzed rich skin revealed, you can’t help but reach up and run your hands down from chest to navel, revelling in his blemishless ridges.

A low sound reverberates from the back of Taehyung’s throat as your touch travels down to unbutton his shorts. They fall loose. His hard throbbing members springs free, a glistening bead oozing from his slit. “You didn’t wear boxers?”

When you glance up, you notice his sheepish grin. He presses his mouth onto yours, still smiling, guiding you back onto your back. “I just couldn’t wait.” Taehyung whispers. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, especially since last night… Ah, fuck.” Another deep groan erupts from him as you reach down and slather that bead of precum all over his tip. His head falls onto your neck, writhing under your merciless stroking.

His tip brushing against your clit, your toes curls at the teasing of your weakness, hips jolting up involuntarily and perhaps a bit too violently. You’re so embarrassingly sensitive after this many days without Taehyung, and he notices from your breathless reaction. Smirking, he takes his shaft in his hand and runs his stiff head over your clit mercilessly. And as you roll your head back helplessly, he nibbles onto your exposed neck, faint stubble grazing your skin.

“Quit the teasing…” You whine, unable to withstand the build up of twisting pressure begging to be fulfilled between your legs. “Just put-”

Taehyung pushes himself into you so abruptly that you yelp. And there it is, that mind-melting stretch of your walls that you’ve so much missed. “Fuck, Taehyung…” Your entire core feels ablaze, so numbing that your nails dig into the leather of the couch before they find grip on his arms.

“Like that, baby?” His voice his strained, as if he’s struggling not to lose his mind as well.

Nodding because you can’t make out a word as he slowly pulls out, you grab his face and pull him up to meet your lips. You whimper into him mouth when he rams into you again, hitting your walls in full force, no mercy. His kiss doesn’t lose its sincerity despite the juxtaposition of his vigorous thrusts, though you can’t say that he is quite as gentle with as before. You pinch his bottom lip between your teeth, sucking on it as your fingers get lost in his hair.

After seven days of deprevation of his cock, your cunt is leaking with the fluid of your arousal, aiding in the ease of each plunge. You feel the stiffness of his ridges pulling you open as he slides in and out of you. “Fuck…” He pants, mouth hovering over yours.

“Let me get on top.” Taehyung’s eyes flash at your suggestion, instantly rolling onto his back. He slips out during the switch of position and the wetness of your cunt is assailed by a sudden rush of cool air.

You swing your leg over and mount him, watching him watch you pump his dick, your own liquid slathered over him sticky in your hand. Letting his member fall against his abdomen, you grind over him between your folds, hands splayed out over his chest. The friction created each time your clit would slide over the thin pinch of skin where his tip unfolded into his shaft has Taehyung a groaning mess.

He looks remarkable under you.

You push his sweat-dampened curls out of his forehead, eyes half closed in euphoria, half watching you roll your cunt so lewdly over his length. You know you could make him cum like this if you continue. But you want him to cum inside you first, you want to feel that thick hot spurt of his desire shoot again and again into you until his cock is twitching.

So slowly, lubricated by your wetness, you sink inch by inch down until the skin of your ass meets his thighs. This angle fuck with your mind; you think you feel him at your cervix. Then your hips start to do what they know best, pounding over him with a rhythm that you’re proud of.

Taehyung grabs hold of your waist, your breasts, fury in his eyes as he watches you ride him with such determination. “I love you so much.” He heaves between heavy breaths.

“I love you, I missed you more than you could imagine.” You huff, thumb running over his red swollen lips.

“I love when you admit it.” He sits up and takes the swell of your breast in his mouth, making his way to your nipples where his tongue relentlessly flickers over.

Your thighs are starting to burn, core aching because his cock is thrusting up into you so deep that you feel it in your guts. The signs are appearing - your vision is going hazy, walls squeezing tightly around him, tangle upon tangles knoting in your stomach. His are too - his head is slumped against your chest, arms crossed behind your back as he holds you close to him, whole body starting to tense as he begins to curse.

Pace quickening, you don’t let the tire of your muscles stop you from your chase. The slap of your skins ringing in your ears, you keep riding, cunt swallowing his cock whole each bounce. Taehyung breaks first. “Fuck!” He calls out into your neck. His cum squirts into you, pulse after pulse, your boyfriend’s hips jolting each thrust.

“I’m so close, babe, keep going for me.” You plead, knowing how sensitive he is right after his climax. He nods wordlessly, face still buried in you hair. The lubrication of his cum abolishes any resistance, letting you slide over him easier than sitting down. And not five thrusts later, your own coil snaps. You through your head back at the wave of pleasure that drowns you, your entire core on fire as your moans echo through the room. It takes maybe twenty seconds for your walls to stop throbbing and for the orgasm to slowly die down.

Taehyung is already growing limp inside you after his orgasm. “Thank you.” You whisper against his forehead while you dismount. His cum flows out of your slit and down the insides of your thighs, but he refuses to let go of you.

When he looks up, you are struck by an overwhelming sensationf of adoration. His long dark curls fall slightly over his eyes, in disarray but just the way you like it. His eyes are so full of genuine love and gratitude of having you that you can’t help but capture him with your lips. “No, thank you.” He mumbles against you, falling back onto the couch with you in his embrace.

After a long kiss of after-sex affection, you pull away before it leads to a second round. “I want you to know that I really missed you a lot. I can’t even call you a big baby anymore because I stared at all the pictures you sent me every night till the sun came out.”

Taehyung’s boyish smile melts your heart. You’ve missed him way too much. His smile, his goofy comments, his tender kisses. “My heart… is squeezing…” If his smile doesn’t tell how smitten he is, his eyes definitely do. “I missed you so much too. All the boys made fun of me for being such a wettie ‘coz I couldn’t shut up about you.” The thought is so endearing that you can’t help but hide your face.

“So how was your trip? Plenty of hot girls drooling after you?” Trick question of course, you know that for a fact already.

“Haha, it was good, fun. Bet you couldn’t sleep ‘coz you were trembling from jealousy.” Scoffing you land a smack on his chest. “But nah, no hot girls. Nowadays there’s only one hot girl in my eyes.”

Your own lips spread like a cheshire cat. “Shut up, cutie.”

“Rachel McAdams.”

“Let go of me. Don’t even touch me.”

.

A/N: Moral of the story, never sit on their couch if you’re a guest at the Heatwave house.

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24/08/20

© Copyright 2020

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[kithtaehyung]

i finally finished FL3, it took a lot longer than i anticipated because it was so emotional i took a few breaks.

first, i have to say, as a piano player myself, the way you describe the playing throughout is inspired. i absolutely picture the tunes in my head (and i have a ton of songs up there) and i love the emotions you invoked each time, all different but all so real.

at first, i thought oc and yoongi had really been together-together in the past and that whatever happened was about them breaking up but it's so much better than that. her dilemma of not snitching and saving a friend she never thought she'd have was rich with angst and pain but in a good way. because i struggled reading it trying to really think of what i'd do in that situation.

also everything about jk in this is delightful bc damn is he understanding and sweet.

and then some key favorite parts i picked out:

• 'what was once a technicolor ocean of imagination now resembled an ugly, dried sludge of doubts and fears and excuses to find another path.'

it’s not the first line but this is basically how we start? i already knew this was gonna be genius

• 'none of them could tame a Steinway half as well as what you were hearing now.'

again, as a piano player this is just sexy as hell

• the repeats of "where do you think you're going?" and "i didn't mean to make you cry."

the amount of feels ryen

• 'eventually, his charisma loosened the screws in your character, and you started to live life a little more fully.'

this line about hobi was amazing but also after learning how hobi's family took yoongi in this made me really feel like hobi saved them both. oc was clearly never over what she did but she could enjoy things bc of hobi and idk if that's intentional but i thought it was nice.

• 'all the smarts in the world, but no passion. he was right: what was the point?'

crush me why don't you.

• and finally... i actually had tears in my eyes. the cell phone, the call back to those rickety chairs, the way he got her ticket in the same spot she always sat. weeped.

I know it’s a lot but you deserve to know how good this was. It was a privilege to read ryen.

-🦊

oh fox.. i am so happy that you got to read FL3! i knew it was going to be a lot so i didn't expect anything super quick. this was so damn lovely though wow.

AWHHH i am very happy that you enjoyed the descriptions of playing and songs! i adore music, i live music. so this piece was certainly personal to me even though it was a work about, well, both reader and yoongi together.

oh yeah! the dilemma was heartbreaking, but i needed our reader to go through some character development in both the past and present. getting to know the bad boy with a soft heart, then losing him? my god. what a way to feel the pain of youth.. i know others have said that they didn't know what they would've done, either, and the struggle is what i like to invoke as a writer.

JK WAS A SWEETHEART HERE. ugh. heart of gold!

for your key parts:

• 'what was once a technicolor ocean of imagination now resembled an ugly, dried sludge of doubts and fears and excuses to find another path.' oh gosh, thank you so much. so some commentary: the first part of the fic is just something i started as an exercise, starting with the very first question. i let myself write my emotions, and then literally created the rest of the fic from there. all from the starting paragraphs and wanting to write how Black Swan made me feel.

• 'none of them could tame a Steinway half as well as what you were hearing now.' HELL YEAH i am glad you appreciate!

• the repeats of "where do you think you're going?" and "i didn't mean to make you cry." so many feels. very many very much.

• 'eventually, his charisma loosened the screws in your character, and you started to live life a little more fully.' your commentary around hobi is amazing. loosening the screws in both of their characters. i'm so happy you caught that connection.

• 'all the smarts in the world, but no passion. he was right: what was the point?' this was my own commentary about the world ok i crushed myself.

• and finally... i actually had tears in my eyes. the cell phone, the call back to those rickety chairs, the way he got her ticket in the same spot she always sat. weeped. YES. that scene will forever be one of the ones i think about. a universe for two.

i am so happy you enjoyed, fox. this review means so much bc i was hoping musicians pick this up and feel comforted. just. thank you<33

[homeformyheart]

As I said, 12 - "don't put me in this position" from that one angst prompt list i pointed you in dms, with whoever 👀👀👀

thank you @mepheesto for the request! this mayyyy still be too angsty for most peoples’ tastes (no happy ending). sorry in advance!

author’s note: i thought M would be a better fit for this scenario than N; i know i’m leaving a lot to the imagination but i wanted to keep these prompt fills relatively short. this takes place during the deep romance part of their relationship. hope you all enjoy! copyright: all characters, except the oc detective, are owned by mishka jenkins @seraphinitegames. series/pairing: the wayhaven chronicles – mason x f!detective (ria knight) rating/warnings: 14+; major character death, angst based on/prompt: OTP angst prompts // 12. “Don’t put me in this position.” (in bold) word count: 1.3k summary: ria makes mason promise the unthinkable.

mason stood in front of the wrought-iron gates of the wayhaven cemetery, his thick boot-clad feet sinking in the mud as the remains of the summer storm danced on his freckled skin.

it wasn’t supposed to end this way.

she was supposed to be here, by his side.

not buried six feet below a mound of dirt.

she promised to come back to him.

not go somewhere he couldn’t follow.

she was supposed to live.

not die by his hand in his arms.

3 weeks earlier

ria reached for mason’s hand as she sat on a gurney in the small, sterile room with nothing but white walls and a small, beeping monitor on a side table.

“you nervous?” he asked, holding her hand tightly in his.

his grey eyes softened as he studied her, trying to memorize the exact blue of her eyes and the way her pale skin radiated warmth that seeped through his clothes.

the corner of her eyes seemed to lift in an attempt to put him at ease. she should be terrified, but for some reason, she was trying to reassure him. the thought made him frown.

“hey, i need you to promise me something,” she said quietly, wrapping her other hand around their intertwined ones.

“anything,” he murmured, leaning in to give her a soft kiss on the forehead.

“if something were to go wrong—”

“it won’t.”

he needed her to focus all her energy on surviving.

she tugged his hand toward her. “i know the risks and there is a chance. if something does go wrong and i am no longer in control of myself…if i go feral, i need to know that you’ll handle it.”

he just stared at her in disbelief. “that won’t happen.”

“mason. if i am not myself and am capable of hurting people, i need you to make the call, you understand? for the good of everyone. i wouldn’t trust anyone else to do it.”

the pale blue of her eyes reminded him of the way seeing a sliver of blue on an overcast winter sky sometimes made the cold feel worse. the way the light reflected in them, waking his senses softly most mornings, now pierced his vision until the image of her blurred.

the frown on his face deepened and he pulled his hand away, tucking it into his pocket and reaching for a cigarette. “don’t put me in this position.”

“mason, i’m so sorry,” she said quietly, putting a palm to his cheek and turning his head toward her. “i hope you know how much i love you.”

he put the cigarette in his mouth and bit down hard, crushing the paper between his teeth until it disintegrated. the broken remains fell to the floor, the dark brown filling contrasting with the white tiled floor. the entire room was blinding and blurring.

“ria, i—”

a knock on the door, followed by agent chana peeking out from adam’s large stature drew their attention away from each other.

“ready? the agent who will perform the turning will be here shortly. you all can wait outside,” chana said sharply.

ria met adam’s piercing gaze, holding it for a full two seconds before he gave her a small nod. mason glanced back and forth between the two before adam left the room, the frown on his face deepening.

she slowly intertwined her fingers with his again and kissed the back of his hand.

“i won’t hurt you,” he said quickly, tightening his grip on her hand.

“i need you to keep me from hurting the ones i love. and i am sorry that by doing this, i am hurting you.”

he paused and looked at her for what would be the last time while she was human. how could she ever understand how losing her might destroy him?

his strength, stamina, and keen senses were of no use to him now. none of it would help keep her with him.

“come back to me. that’s an order,” he murmured, capturing her lips with his.

he focused on the feel of her lips, the taste of her contented sighs, and the warmth spreading throughout his body, memorizing every fiber that she seemed to touch before pulling back. he watched as the color of her eyes seemed to tremble before realizing that he was actually seeing the reflection of his own tormented grey ones.

“i don’t answer to you, sunshine,” she retorted cheekily.

mason ran his thumb over her cheek, feeling something unfamiliar lodge itself in the back of his throat. “please,” he whispered, his voice strangled and hoarse.

her eyes widened slightly. the word was as unfamiliar for her to hear as it was for him to say.

“i’ll try,” she said, squeezing his hand one more time before nudging him toward the door.

mason reluctantly left, looking over his shoulder back at her as agent chana began securing her to the bed, the gnawing pit in his stomach growing as he took in a rare expression of concern on adam’s face.

“what did she ask you to do?”

adam gave him a long, stoic glance before reaching into his pocket. mason already knew that it was a vial of dmb before adam had even removed it from his pants. he stared at the glass container, the color of the liquid inside confirming its purity and potency before meeting adam’s gaze again.

the feeling of dread in his stomach seemed to match the fear reflected in adam’s face. mason turned back to face the window to the room, hoping for once in his life that his instincts were wrong.

as promised, nate and felix kept rebecca as far away from the room and the process. they all knew things could go south and rebecca was better off only knowing the final result once it was all over.

despite her willingness and determination to turn, it seemed that ria had expected the worst to come true. it bothered him more than he wanted to admit that she hadn’t confided in him, even if it was because she knew he’d want her to call off the whole thing.

and as promised, adam and chana did their best to control the situation. the agency tried every known tactic to temper and lock away her feral side after she was turned. but the way she was turned, probably because of her mutated blood, was unlike anything the agency had ever seen before.

she was too strong, and it was all too much.

he watched as the woman he loved faded away a little more each day. every physical and psychic attempt to subdue her seemed to tear him apart inside tenfold.

after a week, he knew the blue-eyed person scratching and snarling at everything in sight was no longer the person he had hoped to spend eternity with.

so when the time came and the forms were handed to him, mason didn’t hesitate.

he signed the order and held on to her as tightly as he could during the procedure, despite her thrashing against him and the restraints. he held her for as long as he could even after her body stilled and her breathing had stopped.

he held on to her even when rebecca stormed in and cradled her child’s head in her hands, weeping hysterically for hours. his grip tightened even as adam and nate repeatedly murmured that he needed to let her go.

he knew they were right, at least, in that particular moment. funeral arrangements would have to be made and her body would need to be prepared. so, he let them take her body.

but he knew he’d spend the rest of his immortal life holding on to her.

from these OTP angst prompts (always accepting)

* * * * * taglist:  @kelseaaa; @kat-tia801; @anotherbeingsworld; @crackerdumortain; @pearlsandsteel; @gloynporslen; @sosolenoo; @alyssalauren; @wayhavenots; @gingerbreton; @takemyopenheart; @writer-ish; @fhauvilles;

[lov3nerdstuff]

Voluptas Noctis Aeternae {Part 5.5}

*Severus Snape x OC*

Summary: It is the year 1983 when the ordinary life of Robin Mitchell takes a drastic turn: she is accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Despite the struggles of being a muggle-born in Slytherin, she soon discovers her passion for Potions, and even manages the impossible: gaining the favor of Severus Snape. Throughout the years, Robin finds that the not quite so ordinary Potions Professor goes from being a brooding stranger to being more than she had ever deemed possible. An ally, a mentor, a friend... and eventually, the person she loves the most. Through adventure, prophecies and the little struggles of daily life in a castle full of mysteries, Robin chooses a path for herself, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more, and two people abandoned by the world can finally find a home.

General warnings: professor x student, blood, violence, trauma, neglectful families, bullying, cursing

Words: 4.3k

Read Part 1.1 here! All Parts can be found on the Masterlist!

______________________________

Half an hour passed, or maybe an entire one, Robin didn't even know anymore… the majority of her body was aching, but her legs hurt the most from carrying her weight without moving for too long. At least she hadn't been eaten yet, hadn't even heard anything that could be considered unusual, and the forest ahead was quiet and peaceful. That's what she tried to tell herself, to slow down her heartbeat enough to be able to focus on her surroundings instead of her own panic. It had worked for the time passed already.

It worked, until her ears picked up the tiniest sounds of movement in the distance behind her back, and any positive thoughts made immediate room for a new wave of anxiety. Oh bloody hell… Her heartbeat quickened inevitably, and so did her breathing. C'mon Robin, focus on reality for once! No dwelling in her own mind, at least this once. No blind panic. The sound was creeping closer, that much she could tell, but she had no time to ponder who or what was approaching, nor the necessity to.

"What, pray tell, do you think you are doing there?!" Snape's scolding tone almost had Robin weeping in relief. Thank god he was here now… or rather, thanks to his impatient naturell. He'd probably been annoyed that she hadn't returned with the flowers yet, and honestly, Robin had never been happier to annoy him!

A few seconds later his dark frame entered her field of vision, and the first thing she noticed as he moved closer to her with hastened strides was his rapidly changing expression. The annoyance and irritation was replaced by a mixture of wariness and concern, and his eyes sought hers as he stopped a step in front of her. For a few seconds, all Robin could do was stare up at him with wide eyes and wait for him to draw the necessary conclusions on his own. Then, with a sudden jolt of heat in her veins, all tension in her body was removed, and her legs gave out as she dropped down to the ground in a limp pile of flesh and bones. The barely intercepted impact sent a jolt of immediate pain through her entire body, knocking the air straight out of her lungs, but at least, at last, Robin found herself able to move her body again.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you…" She breathed with a raspy voice, and twisted her stinging back and shoulders while sitting up. A new wave of pain caused her to suck in a sharp breath. "Bloody shoulder…"

Snape let his gaze travel over her in a quick inspection of her overall state, and his eyes lingered on her shoulder indeed before moving back to meet her own.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly, after giving her a moment to sort herself out, with a doubtful look down at Robin.

"Terribly sore from standing still for so long… how long has it been, actually?"

"Over an hour since you left."

"Ah…" Robin sighed, and finally felt like she might be able to stand up off the dewy soil without her legs giving straight out under her weight again. But before she could make any sort of weak attempt to scramble to her feet, he held his hand out to Robin without a word.

Her heart skipped a beat at the sight, but she didn't hesitate to accept the help that was offered to her so unexpectedly, in a gesture so unusual and yet so very welcome. Had her hand not been frozen quite so much, she could have enjoyed the feeling of his own wrapped around her smaller one so much more. And yet, the brief touch left her short of breath already, and drowning in a wave of tingling ecstasy.

"You are freezing." He stated neutrally and released her hand once Robin was standing straight in front of him once again. "We should return to the castle. I wish to know what happened here. In detail."

"I'm not going back until I have gotten those stupid Plangentine petals." Robin replied in mild frustration about the delay in her task, and even more about who had caused it. "So not going to let him win."

"Who?"

"Morgan." She sighed, and mindlessly traced the spot on her shoulder that he had almost crushed with his ridiculously strong grip. It still hurt, even after almost an hour had passed… would probably be a nice bruise soon enough. "He followed me out here. I sent him flying with a repelling spell because he snuck up on me. He didn't like that, and thus turned me into the statue you found."

Snape's eyebrows rose in surprise for a second, then furrowed into an even deeper frown. "Professor Morgan petrified you and left you here at the edge of the forest? Alone?"

"He was convinced that I was up to no good and committing some felony by being out here. I tried to tell him that-… You know what, just have a look at it yourself."

"Are you-..."

"Yes. If I have to talk about that man for much longer, I'll get angry, and I don't want to spend the last minutes of my almost perfect birthday being angry. So yes, go right ahead." Robin stated in certainty, feeling almost calm in her own determination, and thus simply looked up into Snape's eyes while waiting for the crawling in the back of her mind. It lasted for only a minute, and once the feeling was gone again, his gaze dropped from her own down to her shoulder for a moment.

"He hurt you." He stated then, with an almost perfect neutral facade for once. It left Robin wondering what he was truly thinking beneath the act, for he only ever seemed to bother putting effort into his facades around her if he intentionally didn't want her to know.

"Nah, it's fine." She shrugged, and regretted it immediately afterwards. "Alright, it does hurt, but I don't mind. I'm fine."

"In that case I shall take you back to the castle to see the headmaster immediately. He will not be able to refuse to intervene in Morgan's doings any longer if he hears of this incident."

"Or maybe… we could simply go down to the lake, gather the Plangentine and then return to the dungeons and have a nice hot cup of coffee?" Robin asked before Snape could make any attempt to walk away. She didn't need a repetition of last year's never ending night of terror. She didn't need the struggle nor the fight nor the anxiety. But she wanted him to stay with her, and simply let it go for now. "Please?"

"Not only did he completely disregard my own person AND the school rules, but he actively put you into great danger by leaving you here like that! You cannot seriously expect me to ignore that."

"No, I cannot." Robin replied with a small half smile, and a hopeful glance. He wasn't dragging her off yet; her suggestion still had a chance. "But I can hope that you might do me the favor and spare me even more trouble tonight. We can still discuss our plans and plots against Morgan over coffee later."

"I was under the impression that you weren't fond of revenge. Even if it would be very much justified." He raised an eyebrow at Robin in question, but an undeniable expression of amused appreciation played on his features as well.

"In fact, I'm not." Robin shrugged again, with her unhurt shoulder only, and with a growing smile. "But you are, and I'm willing to compromise."

Snape rolled his eyes, even as a clear not-smirk played on his lips. "You truly are insufferable."

"I know." The smile reached Robin's eyes as well as her voice now. "And still you bother with me."

"Here…" He sighed in feigned annoyance, and before Robin could ask, he untied his own cloak and draped it around her shoulders with an exaggerated rolling of his eyes. "One professor endangering your life is quite enough for one night. And it would be a true bother to explain to Dumbledore why you froze to death out here under my supervision. If you already so stubbornly insist on picking flowers at night, this is the condition. I refuse to have you freezing to death."

"Thank you." She replied quietly, feeling momentarily stunned as she wrapped the heavy fabric tighter around herself, but she offered him a small smile in return anyway. This… was unexpected.

As they started making their way back towards the path to the lake, Robin tried to calm down the reactions literally every part of her body and mind had relapsed into. Everything felt warm, scorching almost, on the outside on her skin, and on the inside deep in her chest. She couldn't help hugging the fabric tighter around herself, blaming the action on the chilling wind but enjoying it for entirely different reasons. Luckily they didn't talk on their way through the dark… Robin doubted that she could've come up with anything witty to say, and Snape probably felt too uncomfortable with his own act of kindness to do so either. All Robin could focus on right now was the overwhelming smell that enveloped her senses, old books and fire and the dungeons and just him to the essence, and the feeling of sizzling flames taking an all-consuming hold of her heart.

This wasn't what a crush should feel like, was it? It wasn't just giggles and sighs, blushing cheeks and stolen glances… it was so much more than that. It was pleasantly terrifying. Maybe she shouldn't try to fight this so very desperately after all… not on the inside at least, in the depth of her mind and heart. She still had to carefully hide it, of course, but maybe she could also let herself be consumed by it from time to time. In the deepest, darkest corners of her being.

The walk down to the right part of the forest was short. The gentle lapping of small waves on the shore could barely be heard as they passed through the first trees, but it sufficed for Robin to finally bring herself to focus on the outside world and the task at hand again. Even if the comfort and the tingles of wearing Snape's cloak remained on a constantly underlying basis in her mind. After a few steps into the thicket, it was already difficult to see the ground beneath her feet, for the remaining foliage of the autumn blazed trees drowned out every and any moonlight. Smiling, Robin thought that she wouldn't need the light. Maybe Snape would actually be impressed by that for once.

"Do you have an actual strategy for finding the plants in question, or did you plan on searching for them in the darkness like a dunderhead?" Snape asked in the very instant she had meant to answer just that question, and stopped in his saunter with risen eyebrows.

Robin couldn't help looking up at him with a smirk in return. "What do you think?"

Without further explanations, she drew her wand out of her sleeve, and studied the dark ground for a moment while Snape studied her in an equal manner, without even trying to conceal his curiosity nor his amusement. Finally Robin pointed her wand at one of the small Plangentine flowers, and it glowed up in a faint orange a second later, without a single word being spoken. The glow slowly spread from the petals down into the roots, and from there on it expanded all over the forest floor in fine lines that ran wildly into every direction, peaking into brightly glowing spots wherever a flower was breaking out of the soil. The delicate web of faintly shimmering lines soon illuminated the entire area around them and tinted it in the subtle tones of a fire that seemed to burn deep within the roots of the Plangentine, in the veins of the earth.

"Impressive." He commented, as unimpressed as he could possibly manage to sound, but the way he observed the magic surrounding them told Robin an entirely different story. "I wasn't aware that your magic was advanced enough to work without a spoken word."

"Well, you hardly ever waste any of your words on spells either…" She shrugged, with a small smirk. "Couldn't be so hard then."

The glare she received immediately in return broadened her smirk even more, and thanks to the dim light she could tell that he was humored by her comment rather than offended. It had been a close call though.

"What kind of spell is this?" He finally asked, with a more neutral expression as he motioned to the glowing lines, and still undeniably interested in what Robin had just demonstrated. She'd known he would like it… and she felt rather proud that he did.

"I came up with it only two weeks ago, actually…" Robin started to explain as she moved to pick up the tiny glowing flowers that each lost their light as soon as she had plucked them off the ground. Too bad, really, it was such a beautiful sight. "As silly as it sounds, I was just messing around with spells for my charms homework, but then I discovered this… phenomenon."

"What, precisely, does it do?"

"Oh, it's fairly easy really. Would you like me to show you?"

"Obviously."

With a silent sigh, Robin placed the already gathered flowers in a small heap on the ground and moved to stand in front of the frowning potions professor. Then she pulled the sleeves of her shirt and his cloak up to her elbow and pointed her wand at the most prominent vein on the inside of her wrist. "Annexus Illuminis."

Almost instantly, the same orange glow flared up underneath her skin, starting as a small spark only. She dropped her hand with her wand back to her side and merely held the other arm out in front of her while the glow slowly spread underneath the skin, following the vein she had pointed at all the way up to run on under her sleeve. Still, the faint glow could be seen all the way up to her heart, even through the layers of fabric.

"So… that's how it works. It follows any coherent line, or in case of the Plangentine, the large net of roots that are all connected underground." Robin mused, and willed the glow in her arm to fade as she pushed her sleeve down again. "I came up with it by accident, but that doesn't mean it's not a good spell still."

"Indeed." Snape mused and then looked up from her arm to her eyes with one of his most enigmatic expressions. "It is… remarkable."

A smile spread on Robin's lips, and after a second longer of holding his gaze, she returned to gathering her flowers to not make a fool of herself. Remarkable… That was as good a compliment as she would get, and she felt both content and excited that her small bit of magic seemed to have impressed him indeed.

However, he really could help her with collecting those darn tiny flowers now. It was as much his work as it was hers, after all, but obviously the fine professor preferred to merely observe her in silent amusement as she moved through the space between the trees and almost tripped over his cloak a few times. It really wasn't her fault that she was an entire head shorter, and she rolled her eyes at his amusement at that. Really, and he called her insufferable. Ironic.

Eventually Robin believed to have enough Plangentine (some time after he had finally gotten over himself and helped her to collect it), and they started making their way back towards the castle. It was another of those shared mutual silences, a moment so ordinary and yet so special that it made Robin believe that she couldn't possibly feel more content anywhere else, calmer at any given point, nor happier with anyone else by her side.

The freezing wind whipped her hair into her face and tangled it beyond what she could repair before she turned into a scarecrow entirely, but then again she had to smirk once she realized that Snape seemed to have the very same problem. If they both looked horrible like that, it really didn't matter at all. What mattered however was the cold. Even with his cloak still tightly wrapped around her shoulders, it was undoubtedly more November weather than late October at this point, and thus, for once, Robin actually found herself glad to be back inside the castle. Soon enough they were headed into the dungeons once more, but instead of the classroom, they went straight into his office for once. While Robin dropped the pile of flowers on his desk and then summoned her backpack over from the adjunct room, Snape moved to prepare the first round of coffee. It really was an odd little ritual they had fallen into, but Robin loved every second of it. At this point, they had given up on the strictly alternating pattern of who made coffee for whom, and instead stuck to the law of opportunity. Whoever had time, or sometimes simply whoever had had the better day, made coffee for the other. It went wordlessly, and it had been working for a good while now. Thus Robin didn't feel guilty at all as she simply flopped down in her chair and suppressed a yawn while she waited for him to sit down across from her. Stupid temperature difference… why did it always make one yawn when coming back inside after being out in the cold for a while?! Before she could suppress it, she yawned again.

"Watching other people work must be very tiring." Snape sighed in that mocking scowl as he finally took his seat and placed a cup of steaming coffee in front of Robin.

"Then you must be quite exhausted." She replied easily, and wrapped her hands around the cup for warmth while her smirk was directed down at the very same object at first, then innocently up at the professor in front of her.

"I really should give you detention for sassing me all the time."

"You could also just tell me which dreadful task you would like to impose on me and I would do it even without detention." Robin lifted an eyebrow at him in amusement, even a little challenge.

"Would you, now?"

"Try me."

"If you insist…" He took a sip of his own coffee and mirrored her expression almost to the point. It made Robin snort. "You can write the recipe for the antidote to common poisons on the blackboard. I'm going to teach the second years to prepare it tomorrow morning, which should be enough punishment for me already as it is. My recipe, not that pathetic excuse of one in the textbook."

"Obviously not the one in the textbook." Robin snorted and rolled her eyes. "You couldn't cure a flobberworm with that, leave alone prepare the potion correctly without knowing what to alter."

"Indeed." He mused with a not-smirk that actually looked almost like a real smirk for once. Maybe because he only now came to realize that Robin had actually listened to him complaining about the textbook issue a good while ago. "Well?"

"What makes you so sure that I even know your recipe by heart?" Robin asked as she rose to her feet nonetheless, grabbed her coffee mug and made for the door to the classroom. If he wanted to try her indeed, she would prove to him that he would have to try harder.

"Do you not?" He questioned in return, and the subtle noises of movement behind her told her that he was following her into the classroom.

"Of course I do!" Robin complained with a snort as she skipped the few steps towards the blackboard and picked up the only piece of chalk that still looked usable.

"If you get chalk on my robes, I will personally hold you accountable for your crime." He commented flatly even before Robin could write the first letter, and she realized with a start that she was still wearing his robe indeed. With a subtle sigh under her breath, she took a second to memorize the delightful smell that still clung onto the fabric, then let it slip down her shoulders and placed the piece of clothing over his office chair. As she turned to look at him over her shoulder, he had taken a seat on the edge of the first row desks, coffee in hand, as he once again watched her with subtle amusement. She rolled her eyes in exaggeration while he could still see it and then faced the blackboard again with a small smile to start noting down the recipe. He was the insufferable one here!

_______________

"In regard to the upcoming new year's ball, the headmaster and a few advisors have decided that the heads of the houses shall teach their students the art of ballroom dancing prior to the event. After last year's debacle, it was deemed very much necessary." Professor McGonagall spoke loudly as she walked up and down the great hall, passing through the open space in between the students standing on either wall with bored faces. The side of the hall where Robin was standing was crowded with the Slytherin students of the years four to seven… the other side of the hall with Gryffindor students of the same years.

"We all shall see to it that this year's ball will be a dance, and not a party."

"If the head of the house is supposed to teach us to dance… why are we here?" A very familiar voice asked, none other than Alexander Downing, but Robin deemed it a decent enough question to listen to the professor's response.

"I was just getting to that point, and if you would have shown a little patience, you would already have your answer." McGonagall snapped back at him, and Robin had to smile on instinct at her fierceness. That expression however vanished off her face when the professor spoke on. "Seeing as Professor Flitwick is not able to, and Professor Snape is… indisposed, Professor Sprout will be teaching the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students to dance properly, and I myself shall see to you."

A general murmur went through both houses, and Robin couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. She would've liked to see Snape dancing, even if only to have a decent reason to observe him for once. And yet… seeing him dancing with someone else very likely would've turned her sour for the rest of the weekend, as pathetic as that would be, so maybe it was good that things were this way now. She didn't have to make a fool of herself, and Snape wouldn't be annoyed with a house full of idiots trying not to trip over their own two feet. However the way McGonagall had said 'indisposed' left Robin with a lingering unease, a worry deeply rooted in her heart that she just couldn't shake off. Even as they were asked to pair up to have a go at trying out what had just been demonstrated (which Robin had completely missed due to being stuck in her head) she still could focus on very little but her own concern, but she made an effort to at least take notice of her surroundings again.

Most of the girls were surprisingly eager to find a partner, to dance and learn to do so properly, while the boys however looked like they preferred to do anything but. Robin for her part was mostly indifferent to it, seeing as she already knew how to dance, but she had no intention to do so at the ball anyhow. She would be attending, but only because she didn't like the thought of Snape sulking by himself all night, seeing as he likely would be forced to attend yet again. They'd had a nice time last year, and maybe he would come to sit with her again once the change of years was near. Anyhow, for now Robin merely observed the pairing up of different people, while unsurprisingly nobody asked her to dance. She honestly hadn't expected anyone to, so she sighed to herself and walked up to a redheaded Gryffindor boy who seemed just as out of place as she herself felt.

"Hey, are you also still looking for a partner?" She asked as nicely as she could, but her voice let on a bit of the dread she felt nonetheless.

"And you want to dance with me? So you can trip me and all of your classmates can have a good laugh? No thank you." He scoffed, and Robin rolled her eyes in return. What a jerk…

"You don't even know me, and just because I wear green instead of red doesn't make me an instant asshole. But whatever, I was just trying to be nice." She grumbled and turned on her heel to head back to the opposite wall. Wasn't it delightful, in her own house she was despised for not being Slytherin enough, and the other houses despised her for being in Slytherin in the first place… bloody idiots, all of them.

"Wait, I'm sorry." The boy brought out before Robin was entirely out of reach. "You're right, that was unfair of me. I would appreciate if we could practice dancing together."

"Alright." Robin sighed and gave him a half smile. Maybe he wasn't a complete jerk after all, just someone who had unjustified prejudices. And that was rather human, actually. "Let's get this over with."

______________________________

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Dig Your Own Grave | Prologue

Kim Taehyung x OC

Genre: SerialKiller!AU| Horror| Thriller| Dark Romance| Smut| Angst|

Warning/TW: Violence, mention of blood and knives, swearing.

Word Count: 1.7K

Full time grave digger, part time serial killer. Kim Taehyung has spent most of his life trying to cleanse the earth of all the wicked and evil people, and in that process he has become a shut in. Loneliness wasn't something he minded, that is until he met Hana Kang. Just a girl looking for the person that killed her father, Hana never expected the help of a grave digger.

-

“God, please! I beg of you. It was a mistake, I never meant to hurt anyone!”

Taehyung sat in the corner of the room, twirling his hunting knife between his index finger and thigh, a trickle of his blood traveled down the blade. Pain was futile to Tae, he believed that only the weak and spineless needed pain, he said it was a landfill emotion and served him no purpose, so one day he decided that he’d no longer acknowledge it.

“Come on, man!” The man pleaded once again, tears streaming down in a uniform line, making a path of skin in the wake of blood that had started to stain his skin.

The pain in the mans voice was vexing, the closest thing to hurt that Tae felt was discomfort, and nothing made him more uncomfortable than an inept man. He sighed, pushing himself from the corner, the single light fixture swaying in the middle of the room only made Tae more terrifying than he looked in the dark. How could such a beautiful face be so grim.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Tae suggested, kneeling in front of the broken man, “I’ll give five minutes to pray to God, or whoever you choose, ask them to set you free, and if you get out of your restrains, I’ll let you go. How does that sound?”

The man’s eyes grew ten times their normal size, was this the beacon of hope he’d been asking for? Could he actually make it out alive? There was a fire in him and he swore that he’d live to see the next day. However, Tae had other plans. He wasn’t going to go back on his word, if he was anything, it was a man of his word, but he knew his victim wouldn’t be able to get a singular strap off.

“Yes!” It wasn’t just an answer but it was a deceleration of strength. If he’d made it this far in life, he could surely come out of this alive, and live to tell the tale.

Tae grinned a joyless grin. Pleased that he’d finally got him to stop, and maybe just maybe, he’d found someone who would test his own skills and talent. It had been far too long since he had to actually try, and now he may be able to dust off some of his favorite techniques. He gently patted the mans leg, and stood without another glance, setting his watch for exactly five minutes.

“Now?!” His victim questioned, he was expecting at least a ‘go’ but then again, what do you expect with a serial killer?

Tae closed the door behind him, the metal lock latching to the wall. He didn’t bother to hang around, he’d give him the time he promised, but Tae was a full time grave keeper, before he was a part time killer. Tae sheathed the knife in the waistband of his pants, the tip of the blade making a small tear in the material.

“God damn it, these were my favorite pants,” he grumbled, at least now he wouldn’t have to be so damn neat since he was going to throw them out anyways.

He made his way up the steps towards the staff kitchen, the room was almost as scary as the basement. The dingy, once white paint was chipping off the walls, counter tops had to be from when this place first opened, at least thirty years ago, and the clock was permanently stuck on 11:32. His one and only employee always tried to change the time, but Tae shut it down. He was a particular guy, and he liked consistency, even if that meant that the time was consistently wrong.

His stomach gurgled, reminding Tae that he hadn’t eaten all day, an unfortunate side effect of giving all your spare time to the grim reaper. He ran his fingers through his hair, completely forgetting that his hand had been painted with blood from his own finger, reaching for an apple sitting on the pathetic excuse of a table. He was rather impressed that it was still standing, possibly on its last leg. He chuckled at his own pun, removing the knife from his pants, pressing the blade into the rind of the apple. The juice dribbled down, little drops hitting his shoes. He didn’t bother to throw away his trash, just leaving the peel on the table. His employee, Sam, would clean it up when she came in for her shift in a few hours. He sliced the apple with nothing but his knife and the pad of thumb, plopping the pieces of a sweet fruit into his mouth.

He had barely finished half the apple when his watch went off, a glint of excitement twinkled in his eyes. Tae didn’t experience emotions like the normal person, he only allowed himself to feel when he found it wasn’t a distraction. Every once and a while an emotion would bubble up on it’s own and he’d do everything in his power to suppress it. He found that nothing good came from giving to human nature, so he simply didn’t.

The steps gave no sound as he walked back down, eerily like a lion scouting it’s prey. Most people were afraid of what goes bump in the night, but there was nothing scarier than hearing nothing at all. He tapped the steel of his blade against the door, he could hear the man cry out in agony. He knew this wasn’t a cry of physical pain, this was a cry of defeat. He now knew that his time was up, and he’d have to meet his maker. Somewhere deep inside of him, he knew that his demise wouldn’t be peaceful, it would end in way that mimicked the torture he did to others.

Tae stepped in, leaning against the door frame. He gazed at the utter disgrace of a man. How disappointing, he was just like every fuckhead who found themselves in these restraints. Tae made his way over to the shelves that sat behind the chair of death, it was his ‘utility’ shelf.

“You know what I hate the most about this?” He asked, grabbing the tarp that was folded methodically, the dust around it only showed that it was never placed in any other place, in any other position.

“People like you spend your lives torturing and hurting other people. You make yourself feel better by belittling others, you get off on asserting your dominance over people who can’t fight you anyways,” he begins to lay the tarp down, placing rocks on each corner so the corners wouldn’t lift and cause him to trip, he’d only make that mistake once.

“And then when it comes down to really showing what you can do, to show off how strong and macho you are, you choke. You’re not powerful, you never were. I am happy to be the one to tell you this, I want to remind you that you are human and you are not indestructible,” he stops in the middle of the room, directly under the light that had finally stopped its dance.

“And you think this makes you indestructible?” The deplorable man spat, furious.

Tae cocked his head to the right, a smile stretching mischievously across his face. Of course this didn’t make him indestructible, but it made him infamous. He’d leave behind a better world when he was gone, and what would this scumbag leave behind? Just pain and misery.

“Absolutely not, and it gives me nothing but pure joy to think that one day I’ll meet you again in hell, and get to haunt and torture you for eternity,” he reached over to rack of what looked like butchers aprons.

It was time, and Tae was tired of talking. He reached back and made a sloppy farmers loop on the back of the neck with the apron strings, and the same with his back.

“God, I am so sorry for all the pain I’ve caused, mom and dad, I’m sorry for never being the son you wanted, and to my wife, I am so sorry that I wasn’t the husband you needed. I should’ve been a better man, I could’ve been. Please forgive me,” He weeped for all the people he loved.

He didn’t even realize that Tae had made his way behind him, the only thing he could think of was his life, and how much he had to do, how much of life he wanted to live. He was sitting in his pity like a sick animal sits in their own feces. Tae had woven his fingers in the mans hair, gripping roughly and with a sharp yank the mans head fell back, exposing his neck.

“There are plenty of bad people in this world, who do things worse than you, but do you want to know why you?” Tae asked, leaning down, his lips dangerously close to touching the mans ear.

Silence, not so much as a nod or a hiccup from over crying. He had accepted his fate, and he didn’t care to know why him, all he knew was it was him. He kept his eyes closed, waiting for the inevitable end.

“Because when you asked for forgiveness, you didn’t ask it from the one person you destroyed.”

That was it. The reason, the end all be all of this life. His eyes flew open, as the realization hit him. Could he have saved himself if he wasn’t so selfish? Could he have undone all the bad he’d inflicted if he would have just apologized and meant it? He was about to speak, to beg for her forgiveness, but just as soon as he gasped, the knife broke his skin just like peeling an apple.

[emerald-amidst-gold]

10, 16, and 24 for the DA OC ask? :)

*waves excitedly* Hello, hello! :D Welcome to my curiosity shop, but instead of selling curiosities; I supply them! >:D

Thank you so much! Let's ramble! >:3

10. Do your protagonists share the same opinions on the Chantry?

For the most part, yes. Fane is simply the more volatile of the three. He just...does not do good with religion or faith or divinity in any capacity. His kin suffered under the hands of beings who believed themselves gods, and he doesn't want see the same thing happen again. He's also very, very sensitive about Tranquility, the whole Chantry's habit of turning their gazes away while still spouting that, 'We're here. We'll protect you. The Maker will see us through this.', and the self-righteousness, the corruption, the double standard. He also doesn't like the whole act of racial profiling, how the Chantry makes one faction greater or lesser than the other and practically signals them out every time something goes wrong on their end. Fane may refer to most by their race (elf, qunari, dwarf, human, creatures), but that's only because he's laying the base; he's seeing the natural aspect. He never means it as an insult or a slur. Sadly, his tone can come across that way, but it's something he does work on. People are people. No more, no less.

Fane values freedom of thought, of a world where people can think and depend on themselves rather than run to a priest or cleric for certainty. He wants people to believe in themselves. That's all. He knows what it means to be met with silence, to cry and cry and cry for mercy and receive nothing from those that are said to answer with swiftness and benevolence. He doesn't want that to continue. The world is weeping from that kind of attitude, and Fane will do anything to see those tears dry up.

And well, he's also very bitter on the military side of things, too. Templars that get within even a five mile radius of Mhairi or Solas get a claw to the face, especially if they manage to silence or smite them. Fane sees nothing but ruin with the Chantry in place. Rylen and Elise see its importance, its relevance in some capacity, but even they can agree it needs to either change or just go.

Rylen would probably be more close to Fane's reaction though. The Chantry fucked Rylen royally before and after his mother died, and now they continue to play innocent, like everything was his fault? Yeah, no.

Elise is devout. She believes in the Maker, looks up to Andraste and follows her guiding principle to some length, but Anders' predicament before Awakening and after, and the Circle Tower during the Blight had her shaken, had her eyes opening. In those moments, she didn't see magic as the villain, the cause. All she saw was the Chantry, hands bloody, but a smile on their faces and a brand waiting along the sidelines.

'It's to protect you, and those from you. Magic must serve man, and never rule over him.' Elise used to find comfort in those words, believing it was a well thought out plan to ensure everyone was on the same page. Now, she wonders who truly rules over who. It most certainly isn't magic or mages. And motherly smiles of clerics and vacant eyes of those she once knew for their passion, their fears, their hopes and dreams, don't feel like safety anymore.

16. Would your protagonists have the same Hogwarts house?

I'm not too versed in Harry Potter-esque stuff, but I know the houses! And I think I can safely say that, no, they wouldn't have the same house. XD

Fane would probably be Slytherin or Ravenclaw. He's ALWAYS two! I can never just go with one for him! XD

Elise would be Ravenclaw. Without a doubt. She's curiosity and learning incarnate. More than Fane, honestly. PFFT!

Rylen probably Gyrffindor, if I had to choose one for him!

Me: You're a wizard, Fane! >:3

Fane: ...I'm a dragon.

24. How do each of your protagonists handle loss?

Elise:

This girl becomes a mess. Not joking. She's lost so much in such a short amount of time. Her family, who she can't even remember, Jowan, Alistair, Anders. The list goes on and on. Loss to Elise doesn't just mean in death. It could mean someone parting ways with her, whether through an argument or just cruel, cruel fate and the flow of the world. She has a hard time letting go, and even ten years later she still thinks about Jowan and how she wished she could have helped him more, done right by him. And it takes a while, but Nathaniel helps her learn how to let go, to restart and look forward, not back.

Rylen:

...Heh. Rylen also has lost a lot in a short period of time. His losses were like a domino effect, too. Malcolm, then Carver, then Bethany, then Leandra. Boom, boom, boom, boom. Each lost, each one given a silent burial. Rylen never had time to grieve properly, so he bottles all of it, holds it tight and close. He's actually amazed he's been able to keep the cork on his heart for so long, but he knows eventually it'll burst; all the pain and sorrow finally getting a chance to scream as he wants to. Until then, he smiles, he jokes, and he crumbles in silence. Fenris and Sebastian, especially Sebastian, help coax Rylen into caving eventually, but the man's stubborn and prone to holding up a front.

Fane:

Like Rylen, Fane bottles his emotions. He encourages others to let their emotions out because he understands from a practical standpoint that it's detrimental, but it's harder to make himself let go. When his mother died, Fane went mute for several months; no one could get him to speak. He had receded into himself, only acknowledging others with a sidelong glance and a contempt twitch of his mouth. He wouldn't pick up a book of poetry, he wouldn't look at Mhairi half the time because of her eyes and hair, and he wouldn't go near the halla pen or the tree she would guide him to when a bout of rage took him at a young age.

Fane had reconnected to his nature without knowing after her death. He chose silence and vacant observation to cope. But, all it did was sow the seed of resentment and disassociation. Eventually, Fane began to speak again and look at his sister and run his fingers along a stanza of measured words and reach a hand out to a halla, even knowing it would spook, but his mother's absence lingers like the ghostly eyes of his kin and all he wishes is for her to appear one day, maybe just in the Fade, and tell him, 'It'll be all right, da'len. I love you. I will always love you, no matter what. You are my da'isenatha (little dragon)'. She didn't know, of course, but when Fane hears that term in her voice, he breaks and he weeps until he's numb.

...I made myself cry agiaaaaain! *wails*

[sideblogformindtrash]

CW: NSFW no-con, abusive relationship dynamic, reluctant whumper, physical abuse, emotional abuse(?), mentions of death, murder and trauma; grabbing; swearing, screaming; mentions of breaking bones/restraints. 

Y’all want more random oc whump with no context? Also this one was supposed to be part of a VN plot that I scrapped bc was nervous about letting people actually see it, so It branches out a lot all the time and I kind of just reunited the pieces I liked more for this part. Sorry it’s long and angst. Also not pet whump, they just have dumb animal codenames ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

…Crow reaches the building reception. It’s darkish in there, as the only light comes from the setting sun. This part of the building does not receive electrical power. Most of The City doesn’t, anwyay. He is about to leave, but notices some movement behind him.

He turns abruptly. Bunny is standing on the base of the stairs. Crow clenches his fists. Bunny is not allowed to leave their apartment. On the other hand, he was one sneaky little bastard. He wouldn’t have noticed him if he hadn’t intentionally made noise.

“What the hell are you doing here? I told you not to leave the apartment.”

“Yeah I… I know.”

“Than what the hell are you standing there for? Run back upstairs before I beat you and drag you there myself.”

“No, just… Just listen.”

Listen. Crow crosses his arm and stares, a face that says ‘better be worth it.’

“You shouldn’t go outside today.”

Bunny is struggling to make sense of his own words. Crow lifts an eyebrow.

“Because…?”

“It’s just… I feel something bad will happen to you if you go out.”

“…And why would you care? I’ve given you plenty of reasons to not give a fuck about my safety. Thought you would be happy if I died, actually”

“NO!” It’s a half scream, as he goes down the last two steps of the staircase “I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I don’t want you to die!”

…He doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. What a fucking joke. When Crow closes his eyes, he can almost see her again, her head cracked open on the pavement. One moment she was there and then… Gone.

“Yeah now you care about us.”

Bunny shakes his head, looking at the floor.

“I never wanted it to end that way.”

“You are a fucking liar, that’s what you are Bunny.”

“It’s not… I didn’t knew. I swear.” Little tears starting to form on the corners of that pretty face “Won’t you ever forgive me?”

“Maybe when you learn to raise up the dead.  You are seriously upsetting me. Go back upstairs. Now.”

“No!” He dares “I-I might not be worthy of forgiveness but I am trying to help you now, please.”

“Yeah, sure you are.”

“Please… Can’t you see I just… I want you to be safe?”

“I don’t know? Can’t you see I’m about to punch your stupid face if you don’t get out of here?”

“…Fine. You are right anyway” Bunny clenches his fists and puffs his chest, as if that could make  him look threatening.  “I do hope you fucking die!”

…He must have noticed the sparkle that lit up Crown’s face, showing that he had gone too far. Immediately he cowered again, and turned to run upstairs. Crow advances like an arrow, covering the distance between the two and blocking his path.

Bunny changes direction before Crow could grab him and tries to run outside. Again, Crow only need a moment to be over him,, this time grabbing his wrist and throwing him against the reception desk.

“N-No! Stop it!”

Bunny tries to push him away, so he punches him on the stomach. He gasps, out of air, but keeps trying to fight. Grabbing him by the hair, Crow pulls his head backwards until he lets out a cry. He tries to claw at Crow’s hands, only to get punched again.

“Just stop struggling, you’ll only make things worse on yourself”

He is mostly immobilized now, and starts to hyperventilate. He pulls his face as far from Crow as he can manage… And gives up, letting his body go limp.

“P-please…”

Crow nuzzles at his neck and runs his tongue through it, giving kisses and bites.

“Crow… Crow don’t…” He tries again “C-Can we just… Later… Please. I’ll… I’ll do it later just not-“

Crow pushes him further against the table and pulls his shirt off. He sobs a bit, while Crow slides his hands down his pants.

“Not like this. Not when you are angry…” sobs “Not just because you want to hurt me.”

Just because you want to hurt him. As if that would make him feel any better. Slowly, Crow lets go of him. They stare at each other for a moment… Bunny pushes Crow and runs out the door.

…Just like that he is gone. Crow pulls his legs closer, into a hug, silently staring, wondering if he should follow. Can’t even feel angry about this just… Numb. After a while, Crow gets back on his feet and lay down on the old sofa of the reception, a cloud of dust lifting once he falls there. Everything is dark and silent now.

He closes his eyes, hoping to dose off and get a break from his thoughts. Maybe he had really gone too far. He tried to remember what it felt like to be the one getting hurt. He had promised his younger self that he would be better than those people. That he would be a hero. What a fucking joke.

He wondered if that was an idea he had brought from the Crystal World. His home. The only thing he had left of that place was a tiny statue of a crow and that stupid City Patch, where he had come from. No one else had ever come from there, he was the only one of his kind. All alone.

Memories of childhood among huge crystal spires, ever-changing colors and cold breeze nurse him to sleep.

The feeling of being watched wakes him up again. Eyes in the dark watching him, Bunny nervously holding his shirt.

“So… You will break my legs now?” He asks, nervously twisting the fabric.

“Huh?”

“…Coyote said I’d have my legs broken if I tried to run away again. That I’d be chained to the wall.”

“Hm. Yeah, no. You came back.”

The first time it happened, Coyote had broken one of his arms. He was by far the most aggressive and vicious of the group. Crow was too angry, too sad and too lost to care, and just let the man do about anything he wanted to Bunny. But nowadays… Well, he was keeping an eye on them so that it wouldn’t go too far.

Crow sighs. He felt apologies were worthless, but…

“I guess you really wanted to help me this time, for some reason. I pushed you to it. I’m… Hm, I’m sorry.”

“I…” Bunny looks down “Thank you.”

Crow signals for Bunny to come closer. Reluctant, he does. Crow pulls Bunny over him. He flinches, but…

“I’m not going to hurt you. Just… Just stay with me. Please.”

Bunny nods, and let’s himself rest on top of Crow, laying his head on the man’s chest, hearing his heart. They both stay together as stars appear on the sky, silence and stillness cover that world like a thick dust.

“Crow?” Bunny says finally “You…. You still want to have sex?”

“That… wasn’t the point. You were right. I only wanted to hurt you.”

“I know…” he sighs “But it’s okay now. I think. Or… are you still angry?”

Bunny lifts his head, Crow pushes away a lock of hair out of the tear-stained face.

“I’m… Always angry I guess. Not at you just… At everything” Crow sighs, not wanting to hold eye contact “You don’t have to do it.”

“… Not being angry… Doesn’t mean you have forgiven me”

He leans his head on Crow chest again, quietly weeping. Crow pets his head. No, he hasn’t. But his forgiveness wasn’t worth much of anything anyways.

“The worst isn’t that you hurt me Crow” he whispers “The worst part is that I feel like I deserve it. You think so too, don’t you? You all do. But I can’t fix what I did.”

He sits over Crow, now trying to wipe away the angry tears.

“And later you regret hurting me or something and try to act nice to appease your consciousness or something, and I’ll believe you because I’m so desperate for things to get any better! Shit… You… You are doing that right now, but tomorrow will be the same shit all over again because just like everything on this stupid fucking planet, time is standing still. And there is no way for this to change because I can’t undo what I did.”

Crow tries to hug him again, but slapping Crow’s hands to the side, he falls into a much more desperate cry, hiding his face on his hands.

“I… I wish you’d love me again. Like you did before all this”

Crow’s chest tightens a little. Back then… things indeed seemed much better. And Crow did love him, and so did Ferret. But that’s what made the betrayal so much worse.

“Why would you want me to love you, I’ve done nothing but hurt you… For months now”

“Everyone has hurt me.” His sobs turn to screams that cut the heavy silence of that world “My entire fucking life I’ve been thrown around by people who didn’t care about me beyond whatever they wanted to use me for. But you are the only one that made me feel like can’t live without you… And I fucking hate you for that.”

Bunny cries louder, gasps for air and eventually… Calms down. Crow waits, patiently, lost in thought.

“…I hate myself for it too. I wish I could bring her back. I wish I hadn’t fucked up the only good thing I ever had. But I can’t”

“Bunny… Do you want to leave?”

Bunny frowns, eyes red from crying. He cleans the tears, and thinks for the longest time.

“If I say I do… Will you really let me leave?”

Crow nods.

“…No… I don’t. But you know that already, don’t you? If I wanted to go… I wouldn’t have come back”

“Did you come back because… Because of the things you just told me?”

“Yeah. I guess. But also… Where would I even go?”

And that was the question that plagues everyone on that City, all struggling for shreds of normalcy that had been stolen from them by some cruel trick of the universe.

He seems so tired, standing there, chest moving slowly, the pale skin marked by bruises. Crown envies him for his looks, skin that is still soft and not completely covered in scars like his own.

“…You and the others… Are the closest I’ve had from a family in years. And it hurts because I still love you.” He shakes his head “… I wish you would love me back or… Or just hate me all at once. I’m just so… So tired of having you toy with me like this.”

Bunny lays down again, head against his heart.

“You think you could ever love me again, Crow?”

Crow stares away into the ceiling. Loving him again meant taking responsibility for the pain he caused him. For every. Single. Bruise. Every. Single. Tear. And more importantly, never ever doing it again.

…It meant forgiving him.

“It’s too much to ask for, isn’t it?” Bunny seems to be shivering, fighting his tears again “I get it. But… Is it okay if I pretend you still do? At least… At least maybe now?”

“Yeah” Crow says, wrapping him on a tight hug “For now, is okay if you do.”

[genericfandomname344]

Kintsugi of the Heart (Steven Universe)

Chapter 3: Visit to Town

Previous Chapter: Here

First Chapter: Here

Summary: After their first night together, Steph decides to take Steven to town to get supplies they will need for their lives at the cabin.

Author Note: Wow, I haven't ever posted a work where I got this much attention in such little time, I even got my first review. I want to thank each and every reader who has read, favorited, bookmarked, or reviewed ❤! This was a fanfic I didn't know if I would post a third chapter for, but people seem to genuinely like this story, and I hope to not disappoint any of you. I hope you can continue to enjoy my work.

For a bit of warning, the town will have some OCs, who won't be like the townies in the actual series where they are characters and play a important role, we won't see them for the most part. They just fill the roles the town needs filled.

...

He was calm, laying on the mattress as he stared up at the person he loved.

His hands were on her shallow hips, clumsily gripping down as she moved.

He couldn't see her face fully, dimmed by the light above.

He knew it was Connie.

He knew this was their first time, it had been so long ago, but he knew it was.

By the odd noises he was making and by the awkward chuckling he heard above him. He would never forget it.

He smiled, propping himself up to kiss her.

I love you, Connie.

The words didn't reach his ears, but he knew he said them.

She leaned forward, taking his face in her warm, welcoming hands, her mouth opened, he knew what came next, comfortably holding onto her hips as he awaited her words.

The moment her mouth opened, he was jolted awake. He gasped at the sudden contrast of the dream and the real-life bed that creaked with protest as he fell back into the mattress. Dazed and still a little out of it, he heard familiar screaming on his left ear.

Groggy, he grabbed the baby monitor, listening to the screaming that radiated out from it.

Without much time to understand the context, he stared at the monitor. The voice had a filter over it, hearing it over a shotty speaker. Steven was screaming, he sat up, running a hand through his hair. Reality fell on him like a ton of bricks, he ripped his head from the pillow, lifting himself up.

Steven was screaming because he's discovered he's locked in his room.

Without time to think, he sprung from his bed and hurried down the hallway. He was on autopilot in the heat of the moment, allowing the blanket to fall off the bed in his haste.

He didn't wrap himself in the blanket last night, he had just flopped on the bed. He gripped the door handle as he sucked a breath through his teeth, having the sickening realization that he was hard- Steph would have assumed it would fade once he became dressed. He slapped his hand over his forehead, grunting curses as he swung the door open.

He wanted to close it, he didn't want to deal with this today.

But he could hear Steven's screams and the shifting of the door just in the hallway.

Jasper was already standing in front of Steven's door, conflicted before she caught sight of Steph hurrying down the hallway.

"My Diamond!" She was quick to form her stance with the symbol using her arms. "He has been upset for just a second, I would have removed the bar-"

"Jasp, it's okay. Really. Hold on the door for me." He didn't have time to tell Jasper not to call him that, or even speak to her really with the shrieking of Steven overlapping everything.

Jasper placed a hand on the door as the older teen removed the bar. Nodding to the Gem, Jasper removed her hand. Steph took a breath, and opened the door, allowing the floodgates to go free and letting Steven dash from the room like a bat out of hell.

In a flash, the young had barged out of the room and landed into Steph. He wasn't strong enough to knock him over, yet Steph grunted when he crashed into his thighs. He gave a quiet huff as he held onto Steven's shoulders, the boy crumpled once he was out of the room.

He wasn't sure what Steven's reaction would have been when he woke up to find he couldn't open the door, but a full-on sobbing mess wasn't one of them. As Steven gripped onto Steph, he sank to the wooden floor, pulling Steven into an embrace.

He didn't know Steven would be this upset by it. The boy was sobbing, grabbing onto Steph's shirt tightly as Steph pulled him into his lap, allowing the child to weep for a moment until he could grasp for his breath and find his bearings.

"C'mon, Bud, you're okay." Steph pets Steven's hair, the child was pressed into his chest, curling upon himself. Steph wrapped an arm around him, using the other to stroke his hair.

"Why would you lock me in?" Steven hiccups, finally looking up at Steph. He looked so heartbroken, so betrayed by what Steph had done.

"Bud, I had to." There was a moment of silence from Steph, making Steven want to demand a reason he awoke locked up in a space he didn't know well enough to be comfortable in. Steph hissed through his teeth. "Those monsters, the one the Gems are always fighting? They're around here, with no Crystal Gems to stop em."

Steph shrugged, running his hand over Steven's back as he spoke. "We gotta lock your door till you get powers. Keep them out." Steph patted Steven's back, grinning down at the kid. Steven pressed his head back against Steph's chest, trying to be calm after nearly having a panic attack.

"Besides, you've only been up for a minute, right? It's not that bad." Steph waved his hand, keeping one arm tight against Steven. "You weren't trapped or anything." Steph assured, "You're safe here! We just want what's best for you, isn't that right, Jasp?"

"Yes, My Diamond," Jasper answered without a thought, Steven glanced up at the new Gem, his face scrunched in confusion as Steph's muscles had gone taut. The new gem towered him just like Steph, with the same muscle-bound turned his sight on Steph, who now only looked towards Jasper with a stare that seemed so distant but focused. Steven pressed his forehead into the shoulder of the other. Steph's hand ran up and down Steven's back, letting the side of his head press against Steven's hair.

The room seemed to shift, but Steven didn't have the mindset at the moment to dwell on anything else but his emotions. Steven wiped at his eyes, then using his shirt to get his face cleared of the snot and tears as he sat back up to meet Steph's eyes, who had finally looked down at him. Steven found himself losing himself in the shapes of the other's irises in the other's eyes for only a moment, he tilted his head slightly before he rubbed his knuckles against his tear-soaked face.

"I guess…"

"That's the spirit, go ahead and brush your teeth." Steph peeled the boy off his chest, despite how he didn't want to move. Once he began to trudge towards the bathroom, Steph sat up. "Hey Jasp, mind to watch him for me? Don't let him leave the house."

"Right away, My Diamond!" Jasper straightened her back out, going to follow the other boy into the bathroom. Steph stood with a disgruntled groan, placing his hand on Jasper's shoulder and keeping a grip on her, stopping her midway towards the bathroom.

"Don't call me Diamond in front of Steven anymore." He crossed his arms, peeking into the bathroom as Steven opened the mirror cabinet, finding a new toothbrush still in the package that he began to tear apart.

"I apologize, my Diamond." She used her hand to make the Diamond authority as she bowed her head towards Steph, who took a step back.

"It's fine- really. I gotta go." He turned on his heel, slouching over as he headed towards his room. It was like he was running a circus sometimes, he hurried back within the confines of his bedroom as he shut the door, almost slamming it as he yanked the felt Pajamas bottoms further down his thighs, freeing himself as his cock strung out.

He ran his hand over his face, the one morning he wished he didn't have a wet dream. He thought having the child run into him and waller in his lap would make it go away, but it flopped out just as hard as it was when he came out of his bedroom. He was just grateful Steven hadn't noticed it amid his freakout or Jasper questioned it. Why didn't it go down? He had mornings like this, but after sometime it would just go away. He had to leave Jasper alone with Steven, he was already losing control of the situation.

He just wanted it gone.

He pressed his back to the door, leaning the back of his head against the wood. He thumbed over the tip, stroking himself as he covered his eyes with his free hands.

He would just get rid of it before the day began, no big deal.

It's been a while, with all the stress since that night he shattered Jasper he hasn't a chance to sleep much- much less than pleasure himself; he's not ever had a high sex drive, yet crashing at his grandparents' house or living in the forest doesn't give you much of a chance let yourself relax enough to do anything of the sort.

Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on something. Something he could enjoy so he can finish himself off. He found himself thinking of Connie all over again.

His first time was Connie's homecoming night, she got too nervous to go. So they took a bunch of photographs and somehow her parents let her spend the night, maybe because she had been studying so hard or they knew the two were struggling- he wasn't sure.

It's been so long since she could spend the night, they were children last time.

Alone in his room with walls, they did what most teenagers would do.

But she left the next morning for another study session.

He bit his lip, just trying to picture her on top of him.

Just hurry up and finish up

"So.. are you Steph's friend?" Steven was brushing his teeth, making his voice muffled as he questioned her. He stared at Jasper through the bathroom mirror, who stood at the door with her arms crossed, avoiding the boy's eye contact.

Jasper thinned her lips, "... Yes."

Steven spat out the toothpaste, rinsing his toothbrush with the running water from the faucet before placing the toothbrush back in the glass cup. He cupped the water in his closed hands, washing his mouth out from the minty taste before he finally asked his other question.

"Oh, are you a part of the Crystal Gems?"

"No. I'm from Homeworld."

"Mmmm…" Steven rubbed his chin. "I wonder if you're in my dimension. I mean, you can't, I never met you before. Are you from Earth?"

"I came from the Earth's crust."

"How'd you end up on Homeworld?"

"We all used to end up there, and go to other planets." She signs, a smile forming on her face. "Those were the good days. Things were simpler." Her arms were crossed across her chest, looking almost relaxed while she stood guard for Steven.

"Well, why did you stop?" Steven wiped the paste off his face, running the water again while he pulled the storage cabinet beside the sink open. He luckily found towels, pulling out one that caught his eye- a pink fluffy one.

"Gems don't do it anymore." Jasper shrugs, she was given strict and clear directions to never bring up Diamonds or details about homeworld, she didn't know how far she could go into depth with this kid.

It was surreal, staring down at the kid she used to loathe. All the times she had attempted to shatter him, it never even happened to her own Diamond. How did her Diamond just fit into place with his past self? Was he her Diamond too?- no, probably not. It was a different person, a different Diamond. It was strange.

Her vivid memories of him this small was holding him by the neck or fighting him. It was weird to watch him grow, but seeing him this size again? It felt weirder. It was hard to keep her cool, but this is what her Diamond wanted.

That's all that mattered.

"Do you know why there's no other Gems around? I mean.. Why didn't we go to the beach house?" Steven soaked a hand towel and began to rub a soap bar against it. "I don't know how to ask Steph."

"He asked me to accompany him to retrieve you. But he hasn't seen the rest of the Gems for.. A while." She wasn't sure how long it had been, human time was so confusing. Gems just went by years, but humans had months and minutes- it was all too time-consuming for a species that barely lived. Little did it matter, she was here with her Diamond.

She couldn't help the glow of her ego that radiated off of her. While they all stood in that conservatory, he specifically took her and blocked the rest of the gems off.

The look on their faces.

Her Diamond chose her, and only her.

"It's just been me and him for some time."

Steven was quiet, rubbing the suds all over his face before rinsing them off. He washed the rest of the soap off the smaller towel before tossing it in the dirty clothes bin and using the hand towel to wipe off his face.

"Sounds like you guys are good friends."

Jasper didn't say anything else, but she looked pleased. So Steven took that as a good sign. It brought a lot more questions up than answers, though.

He got off the step stool he had used, placing it by the wall next to the door where he had found it, and gave a meek look towards Jasper. "Hey, uh.. I gotta use the bathroom."

"You just used it, what else do you need?"

"I, uh. I gotta close the door and use it."

Jasper stared at him blankly, making the younger scratch at the side of his head. "Aw geez.."

Steph slapped a hand over his mouth, allowing his grunts and moans to escape against his skin. It was quicker than the last few times previous, so that was a plus to this all. He found his knees weak, as he removed the hand that was on his lips, letting it go slack against his side.

Steph slid down the door, enjoying the after bliss. His hand hung off to the side as he just basked at the moment. He lolled his head to one side, one knee was pulled to his chest, letting one arm rest on it as the other leg was spread straight out. He closed his eyes, allowing a grin to escape through. Humming in content as he enjoyed the feeling.

The instant relief he could get always made him wonder why he never did this more- he had started masturbating a lot when Connie had first rejected his proposal, it was a quick help, but it always made him feel worse in the long run. Then he started watching older shows he liked as a kid- then returned to masturbating a few hours later in a cycle as he was left alone in that house to mourn and grieve.

He thought he was prepared for when the feelings came, right before it all crashed down on him.

The guilt slapped him in the face, making him groan; frustrated with his own thoughts. He rubbed the thigh of his felt bottoms, creating friction to focus on as he sat there trying to find the strength to stand and start the day.

He thought of making pancakes for Steven and having this great morning, but of course, the one time he didn't need it- Steven freaked out and he woke up with a hardon.

It was fixed now. This morning wasn't over.

This morning still could work. He got out of the bottoms, shoving them deep into the dirty laundry bin. He got himself some jeans off the floor that didn't smell, sliding them up while making the mental note to wash the clothes today before he forgot, the last thing he needs is Jasper or Steven touching his PJs with cum on them.

Gross. I'm gross.

Freshening up the best he could with his limited supplies in the cabin's bedroom, he opened the door with shaky hands and found the hallway was empty. He bit the inside of his lip, continuing down the corridor at a calm pace.

He told Jasper not to let him out of the house, and he was sure there wasn't anything incriminating lying about- he had been so careful before Steven was brought in. Entering the living room, the beeps of the microwave hit his ears first.

Steph smiled, watching through the half wall as Steven popped popcorn, putting waffles in the toasted and slamming it down before he hurried to the fridge to look for the rest of the supplies.

"Have you ever ate Together Breakfast with Steph or me from here?"

"No. I haven't." Jasper rolls her shoulders, pressing her back against the wall. Jasper was standing awkwardly at the edge of the kitchen, leaning a foot on the wall as she just watched Steven bounce place to place in the room. At least he was getting some energy out before he ate all that sugary junk.

Steph shook his head quietly, he shouldn't be surprised to find Steven like this.

This would be something he would have done. Taking his weight off the wall, he strolled from the living room to the entrance of the kitchen, wearing Steven to get the hot waffles and quickly flung them to the plate before they burned his fingers.

"Need a hand?"

"Steph! I made breakfast!" Steven turned on his heels, almost knocking the chair over. Steph reached his hands out, ready to catch the poor kid before he just grabbed the counter to steady himself, allowing the chair to become sturdy once more. "Oops." He laughed; Steph gripped his chest.

He felt like he almost had a heart attack then. He was just happy his body didn't morph to some misshapen beast in the sudden stress. "I see that, Bud."

Steven hopped off the chair, grabbing the bag of popcorn and grabbing a can of whipped cream from the fridge. "Awwh.. No strawberries?"

"No, I have bananas. They're better for you."

Turning to his left, Steph reached for the woven basket of ripe bananas upon the counter of the half-wall. Steven pouted, Steph had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. A smile crept over his features as he handed one banana over to Steven, who unpeeled it and used his fingers to divide it up in bite-size pieces.

"I can give you a butterknife." Steph offers, unable to hide the quiet snicker while he spoke.

"It'll only get in the way of my culinary masterpiece." Steven flicked his wrist, swirling a cone of whipped cream atop his sickly sweet creation. Steph rests his cheek in his palm, crossing his other arm over his chest.

"What big words for such a little guy." Steph chuckled, as Steven puffs his cheeks, spitting his tongue out at the other, before bursting in laughter.

Steph couldn't help but join in with a small snort.

Steven grabbed one of the forks he had gathered- having three in total- and offered it to Steph.

"Together breakfast! With the brother, I don't have in my dimension. And his best friend Jasper." He grinned over the Gem who was still in the corner, who perked at being mentioned. She mumbled something under her breath.

The moment Steph had entered the kitchen, she had stiffened up, resuming her Diamond stance as he just conversed with Steven, he hadn't greeted her at all. Steph made eye contact, smiled, and said a simple, "Good morning, Jasp, you want some?"

"Is that what you want, My Steph?" Jasper's voice was clear and calm, as it always was when Steph spoke to her. The contrast of her behavior towards anyone but him was clear, but he was used to it at this point.

It bothered him to have a neutered Jasper alongside him.

"It's up to you, Jasp." Steph took the fork handed to him. He hid the grimace at the sugary pile up before him. He could feel the headache radiating off the thing. He took a fork and took a bite of a syrup covered banana piece.

"Yum. Pancakes and bananas just make sense."

Steven slashed the waffles with his fork, getting each companton and taking a bite, his face brightens as the stars return to his eyes.

"It actually tastes good with a banana! What kind of syrup is that?"

Steph cocked an eyebrow, pulling the edge of his lip to one side. "Maple?"

"I love it!" Steven moaned, taking another bite as Steph tilted his head to the side. Finding him staring at his younger self in thought all over again.

Greg couldn't afford a lot back then, so he bought the off-brand common pancake syrup. It's probably the first time he had something like this. Steph placed his hands over the kid's hair as he ate; leaning his weight on the counter as he placed the fork in his mouth, Steven's eyes landed on him as he touched him. Steph bit down on the fork in silence.

His curls were coarser than his, back when he used cheap shampoos and let the saltwater from the beach dry his hair. Steph had learned the beauty of leave-in conditioner and with his Gem power, his hair was becoming softer as his skin began to glow and change hues.

Would the same happen to his younger self while he trained?

"Steph? Aren't you hungry?" Steven broke the silence, his voice was small, worried of breaking the daze Steph seemed to be pulled into. He wasn't sure how to take his constant contact, from touching his head to his back, he finds himself in the other's touch a lot in these past days.

The stare Steph gave him was concerning, becoming clouded and impersonal. Steven could only try to continue his task as he gets that stare.

"Uh?- oh." Steph pulled his arm from the boy's personal space. He took another hesitant bite- he'd just grab a protein bar before they left. The sugar was far too rich for his taste nowadays. It was a little concerning to remember what he used to eat.

Suppose when you leave a pre-teen alone for most of his life he doesn't get the best dietary lifestyle.

Jasper hasn't inched from her position from the corner, Steph took another bite for pleasantries, turning his attention to Jasper.

"Hey Jasp, we're going off to town. You're off duty for today." The older male took his weight off the counter, leaving the kitchen. He stood within the living room, turning back towards Jasper. "Just, ya know. Keep an eye on the house."

"Of course, my Steph!" Jasper nodded her head, before heading towards the living room, Steph moving so she may sidestep and leave the house quickly. Steven swallows, frowning softly.

"Awh, she didn't even try it!"

"Yeah, I don't see her eat a lot." Steph lifted his head, trying to remember any time he remembers she ate other than the few rare times for quick fuel- did she clean that meatloaf plate? He turned to look at the coffee table, and just where she left it that night, it still laid, with meatloaf hung over one side where she almost knocked it over.

None was on the actual coffee table, so he could avoid it until the shopping was over. He breathes through his nose in a huff, he would have to talk to her about proper dish procedure.

"I'm going to get the car ready, finish up breakfast and we can go."

"You don't want anymore? At all?"

"I'm at my full potential, so my body doesn't need to eat as much." Steph grinned, giving Steven a wink as he found his way towards the hallway. "Finish up, I don't know how long we'll be in town, so I don't want you hungry, Little Bud."

The situation was in his control now, he felt better leaving Steven alone as he went back inside his room and opened the chest. Aside from the supplies, that now felt silly as Steven was all willing. He pulled the documents from the bottom of the chest, and carrying the large folds of papers, he grabbed his messenger bag, shoving them in the bag alongside his wallet, and the phone he had tossed aside in the fit of panic.

After he checked a few more times on everything he would need, he felt confident enough to depart from his bedroom, walking out to the living room. He glanced towards Steven, still seeing him eating away. Steph came to the front door. The hooks beside the door had multiple things, but all he grabbed was his keys. He ringed them around his finger, letting them clank against each other.

He whistled as he strolled towards his car. The morning air was cool, and the sky looked like an oil painting, everything felt right. Continuing his tune he pulled his phone from his bag, opening his phone up fully this time, allowing him to read his notifications.

1 New Voice Mail from Dad

3 New Texts from Connie <3

4 New Texts from Pearl

5 New Texts from Dad

The disdain from Steph's grunt was clear, opening his phone to transfer his credit card funds to an online account, and then on a reloadable prepaid card. It was a time-consuming effort, but it made sure they couldn't find his location, he stood beside the car, wanting to quickly do the process so Steven wouldn't see or question him. He was surprised that Greg has yet to cancel his card yet. Since it's been a while since he got up and left that night, Greg had to see what he was doing with the credit card.

Since he's still getting lengthy royalty checks, he must have enough for the checkups for his son still being alive somewhere. For whatever reason Greg decided to keep allowing him to leech the cash, it was enough for the shopping spree Steph had planned for him and Steven, opening the car door he flopped in the driver's seat.

He looked through the cassettes, trying to find a few for Steven to pick from. He grabbed a protein bar from the mesh bag hooked on inside of the door car, taking violent bites as he searched with one hand. Feeling the voice in his head spinning and his emotions overwhelming.

He had a lot of Greg's old junk, plenty of Sadie Killer and The Suspects, and free indie albums as he continued through the pile, he found the newest of his collection. It was Sadie's new song, with her partner. He picked it up, swallowing before he slid it in.

Placing his key in the ignition, twisting them as the car bolted to live. He turned the volume of the radio too loud as he slammed his head against the seat, letting the music drown out the rest. He took heavy breathes, feeling the emotions melt from him as he gripped his fingers into fists before releasing them slowly.

The car door beside him released, opening as he hurried forward, turning the volume down as Steven got in the front seat. He buckled himself in. Steph seemed to switch his emotions off so quick he shocked himself. "Alright, Little Bud! Let's go have some fun in town!"

"Woo!" Steven cheered, grinning up to Steph with a clear, innocent smile that Steph hadn't noticed he lost some time ago. He powered up the engine, and after a bit of backing up, began down the dirt trail towards town.

All around them was grassy lands full of trees or animals. It was something Steven wasn't used to, he had seen it when he left to the prime kindergarten on the train, plenty of times, but this was different. This forest was thick with trees and a gloomy isolated aura to the dense woods. The thoughts swarm in his mind as he stared out the windows to watch the new things pass by as Steph focused on the road ahead.

Last thing he needed was to hit another fox- he didn't want to touch a bloody corpse to bring it back to life.

"Whatcha listening to?" Steven held his hands in his lap, Steph brushed his fingers through the poof of his hair as the other hand held tight on the wheel.

"Just Sadie's new album." Steph wiggles his eyebrows, watching Steven turn sharply to him. His eyes were just as big as saucers, Steven looked to the radio as if it was gold.

"Like, Big Donut's Sadie?" His mouth went agape, as he leaned closer to listen to her voice. "I didn't know she could sing." Steven gasped, "She sounds great!"

Steph opened his mouth but promptly closed it. He glanced towards the child. He assumes he must have not heard Sadie sing yet, Steph hadn't mapped the timeline. It was truly a blur to him, it was almost startling to remember this far back in his life.

He only had to go back far enough where he didn't know Jasper since he didn't know how he was supposed to explain that.

"She actually had a band here, called Sadie Killer and the Suspects."

"Who's she in a band with? Lars?"

"Some of the popular kids." Steph taps on the wheel, using his free hand to point to the storage portion of the car between the two seats. "Go ahead and get one on."

"Whoa! Your dimension is so cool!" Steven reached over, looking into the department for the one labeled for it. "I get a brother, Sadie's in a band, you know an extra Gem, I mean, what does your universe not have?"

Steven popped out the first cassette, and filled the slot with the new one he had chosen labeled, Sadie Killer and the Suspects - Album 4

The Disobedient track came from his speakers, Steph was a bit uncomfortable with the song- the whole history of the song made him antsy, he loved Sadie's work, but now it just seemed to remind him of something he won't get back. The fact that Amethyst turned into his mom during one of the hearings of the song brought up worse memories.

He just wanted to forget that time in his life, but how do you forget your entire life?

But Steven was enthralled by the song, "Sadie sounds so.. Happy."

"She was- that band was great." Steph shifted in his seat, one hand gripping the wheel as the other was against his car window, pressing the back of his hand to his cheek. He didn't know how long he could sit there with a calm persona while they speak about this as if it was nothing.

Everyone had drifted from him, and he left without telling one goodbye. Did anyone from town even know he was gone?

"So, I'm thinking we'll get you some clothes for school, some good school supplies..." He smiled, "We'll hit the school and maybe sneak us some food before we go home."

"What about your friend?"

"Jasp? She doesn't eat much, remember?" Steph just smiled back at Steven, turning his attention back to the road. He didn't want to think, letting his mind grow numb as he focused on the road. The boy didn't speak again, Steph slothed against the cushioned chair seat.

It was sometime later when Steven finally spoke up again.

"I never live so far away from the city." Steven's words were hued with concern, the total isolation made him antsy. For Steph, that was the biggest reason he decided to take the cabin. The further he could find to hide from the Gems, his life at Beach City was his best option. "I like living so close to Beach City."

"We need to train, and if we do it close to people, we might get them in the crosshairs. We don't want anyone hurt, Little Bud." Steph talked like he was speaking from a pre-written explanation rather than something that came naturally. He knew Steven would ask about the location at some point. That was okay, he was sure Steven would ask plenty of questions now. Steph was surprised Steven hadn't demanded more answers or to see anyone else. Steven fiddled with his fingers.

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"I got it worked out, Little Bud. Just let me handle it." Steph winked towards Steven, taking a deep breath before he turned the dial for the music, allowing the music to fill the car. Steven leaned back in his seat, thumbing with his shirt as the two drove.

He never remembered pulling on his shirt in the nervous fits Steven does- but he has been plucked from his comfortable life in reality and placed in a new land away from everything he's ever known. Steph wasn't sure how to handle that, he was sure once they were all comfortable Steven wouldn't be doing that for long.

The ride felt as if it lasted longer than the previous times Steph had left for town. He's only left a few times for the town, but he hasn't stopped in the small town once since he came. He had wanted to wait until he needed to.

He was a six-foot, glowing pink man. Every place he's left towards had provided him plenty of gawks and questions, and he wasn't a good human talker, to begin with. He just needed a place out of the public eye.

And Forest Valley was the perfect place.

The town was off in the outskirts of the curving roads, the place was different from Beach City and incredibly different from Empire City.

Unlike Beach City with the ocean near, the clear skies, bright buildings, and boardwalks streets. Forest Valley had darb, brick buildings, a single strip mall, broken down single-story houses, with one chain store gas station that looked like a luxury amongst the other places.

The small town was known as a pit stop, somewhere to rest or get snacks. The Inn was near the gas station, family-owned with a shaggy painted sign of the logo. The school looked more like a prison, long brick walls with little windows.

Steph pulled into the clothing store first, the parking lot was empty but for one pink car. The small neon sign was lit up in green, labeled OPEN.

The parking lot was small, enough for maybe five cars. He parked the opposite of the lone car, turning the key to shut the car off. Steph opened the car door, sliding out of the seat before slamming the door. He stretched his arms, yawning softly. "Ready, Little Bud?"

Steven crawled out from the car, shutting the door as he rounded the front of the car to stand beside the man, reaching for his hand. "I'm not used to shopping for clothes."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, dad just used to get hand-me-downs or we just went for discount pants," Steven said, wrapping his fingers around Steph's hand. Steph held it back, opening the glass door of the store. Having Steven step in first, he sealed the door and took a moment to look around.

It was a Ma and Pa business, the display window on the right of the door wall had the hand-painted name of the store on the actual glass. The walls were wooden, with a tile floor.

The whole store was a boxed room, one area having some name brand dresses, shoes, and female accessories, a single dressing room and the rest of the store were rows of garment racks. It wasn't as well put together as a chain retail shop, but the prices were sure to be much lower- and that's all he needed.

The dimmed room only had a couple swinging ceiling fans that seemed to be going so fast it might fall off.

The cluttered room gave Steph a discomforting feeling. It was a cramped place, and for a moment he didn't see a worker in sight.

The two continued further into the building, the door had no chime for customers to be announced, and so when he saw behind the counter a teenage girl still on her phone he wasn't surprised- or cared.

Steven waved towards her, he might have tried to greet her but Steph dragged him off towards the clothes. He came to the rack meant for male children, Steph let go of Steven's hand as he pulled one hanger off to show to Steven.

"What kind of style are you thinking about, Bud?"

"I don't know.. I've always worn my star shirt and jeans. I don't think I'm Steven Universe without my shirt." Steven held the dark fabric between his fingers, furrowing his brows at the attire. "Is it okay if I'm wearing PJs in public?" It was almost like he just realized he was.

"Well, you don't have anything else to wear right now." Steph bit his tongue on one side of his cheek, sifting through the shirts before he pulled out a hanger and presented it to Steven. It was a button-up shirt, baby blue with a star pattern going around the shirt. "Something like this?"

"Maybe." Steven shrugged before Steph handed over the clothes rod to the younger boy.

"Anything that you might like, we'll take to the dressing room for you to try on."

"Whoa, a dressing room, fancy." Steven chuckled, as Steph held out a new shirt. Steven would either nod or shake his head at the various tops Steph presented.

It must have been fancy for Steven, Greg would either dumpster dive or find a cheap thrift store for pants. Most of his childhood attire was Greg's failed merch, the flip flops he wore for years were two bucks from a discount shop.

When he got older after Greg's wealth, he got himself that pink jacket, but mostly Greg was set in his ways- Greg did spend his money on random things for him and Steven, but he seemed to never really change his ways after the wealth.

Steph had placed most of any cash he had towards gas, money or the Gems. Even now, he was spending cash on another version of himself rather than anything for him. His hand reached for the next top- before he hesitated.

A creamy pink tone, with cherries going around the chest and shoulder tops in a circle sweater, stood before him. He went to skip it, but it had caught Steven's attention. Who tossed the other clothes to hang on one arm, pulling the hanger out to look at the shirt. "Ooh my gosh! Can I have this one?"

"Why do you want that one, Bud?"

"It looks like my dad's sweater… Kinda." Steven held it against his chest. "It might fit me!"

The corner of Steph's lip twitched, turning his attention towards another shirt. "It's too hot here for a sweater."

"Well… Okay." Steven placed it back on the rack, as the two continued down the row.

The next was pants, a couple of jeans and a pair of sweatpants was easy enough. The two found a few mismatched pieces of attire for some sleepwear for him, and returned to the front of the store. Steph gestured towards the dressing room by rolling his wrist in the direction of the fitting room. "Go ahead and try on the clothes- if they fit you good; and you like them, keep them separated from the ones who don't."

Steven stumbled in the fitting room, closing the smaller door behind him as he began to undress. Steph could still see his bare feet to his ankles, but not much else. He let the poor kid have some privacy, turning his head off to the side. He turned his back and leaned against the wall beside the door, staring forward as he watched the cashier still on her phone, having earbuds in as she scrolled in her reality.

That had to be unprofessional. He wanted to sulk in his thoughts, listening as Steven tried on each new item of clothes, mumbling something to himself before going to the next piece. Steven had been quiet for some time before he broke the silence.

"Hey, Steph.. I got a question about Jasper." Steven's voice was unsure, Steph felt an uneasy feeling surge through him.

"Yeah?"

"Why does she call you, uh, My Diamond?"

Steph blew some air from his nose, "It's just her term of endearment."

"She seems to really like you."

"Once she gets to know you, I'm sure she'll like you too." Steph's empty words made Steven grin, Steph could almost picture the fact of pure glee at the look on Steven's face with the quiet hum of approval he made.

"Hey, Little Bud?"

"Yeah, Steph?"

"Isn't it weird that it hurts when we fall on our stomach?" Steph paused, "Like, it feels like we pierced something in our gut."

"Yeah! And, it stinks! It's gotta be from mom's gem."

"Sure, 'course."

The room beside him was full of the shifting and moving of the boy changing outfit after outfit. "The blue star one looks okay. Can't beat the classic Steven Star." Steven said, Steph leaning his head on the wall turning to look at the door.

"Hurry up, Bud. You can have your fashion show when we get back home." Steph assured, knocking softly on the wooden door knowing Steven was taking his sweet time posing and modeling in front of the mirror.

What a little diva.

Steph wasn't sure how long it took, he had started to entertain himself with some social media app he was using a lot lately. He had logged out of each of his main accounts and made a few stock ones with a different name.

Stephan Demayo

He was still hesitant to post photos of himself, even now. Would anyone spot him as Steven? He was sure not, yet, there weren't many humans who could glow pink as he does. So he kept the profile picture as a screenshot from one of the shows he liked.

When Steven came out from the change room, he wore the blue shirt as a vest with jeans replacing the clothes he had come in.

"C'mon, Bud, you can't wear them till I pay for them." Steph shoved his phone back into his jeans pocket, going for his wallet. Steven's grin melted, he pouted as he returned to the dressing room to change back into his original outfit.

Of course Steven was out of the loop on how that would work, and it was almost endearing. If it wouldn't make it go slower. He pulled his card out, and when he was in front of the counter to pay for the clothes- if Steven wasn't there, he would have just walked out with it- he tapped his card against the surface, the movement seemed to catch her eyes, as she glanced up and found a customer glaring her down.

The teenager finally looked up, ripping her earbuds out as she shot up to stand properly before she had gotten a look at the new person. She paused when he was in her sight. "Oh.. You're... a real person. You're at that old cabin, where that old stuffy couple used to come in every year?'

Steph cocked an eyebrow, "Why does that matter?"

"It's just that- no one's seen anyone there for decades, people say that their son died and we saw a glowing man around town and down that road." She crossed her arms, rambling off. Steph felt himself losing more interest at each word she spoke. "We all thought it was a ghost." She laughed.

"That feels silly now."

"I'm sure." Steph placed his card down on the countertop, glancing behind him to see if Steven was coming out of the fitting room.

"You are very bright pink." She said suddenly, eyeing him up and down.

"Hadn't noticed." Steph tapped his fingers, his annoyance was only continuing to grow. He didn't need a random stranger to state the obvious. He refused eye contact, keeping his eyes away from the teenager. He wanted to will Steven out from the changing room.

"So, are you related to the Demayos?"

"They're my grandparents."

"Oh, so why did you guys come back?"

"Not much of your concern."

"Oh, yeah, right, uhh sorry." She laughed nervously, sitting back in her chair.

He felt his shoulders relax, exhaling as he saw Steven step out of the dressing room wearing the clothes he had came into town wearing. Holding the hangers full of clothes he decided to keep, he went to Steph's side. He began to try and place them atop the table's surface before the girl stood up, taking the clothes from his hands to scan.

"Awh! Hello little guy!" She stood up from her chair, taking pieces of clothes and scanning each of them. "Whew! You must be getting a new waroble." She grinned ear to ear, placing them in a pile on the opposite side as she continued to heighten the price with each new item she added to the recept.

"I am, I'm going to start school here." Steven began, "It's only for a couple of months, just to get my powers working." Steven said matter of factly, placing his elbow on the table as he looked at his nails in a cocky fashion. "We're training out here."

"Oh? How interesting." She passed a smile towards Steph, who cast his eyes away from the worker. She continued to mark up the items, speaking to Steven before she finally told the price for all the clothes.

Steven's eyes widened. "Whoa! That's a lot, do you have that much?"

Steph slid the card to the woman, who took it and began the process as Steph smiled down at Steven. "Of course I do. We'll get you ready for our life out here little Bud."

"I feel kinda bad, I'll only be around for a little awhile."

"Oh, I'm just gonna train you and you won't visit me ever?" Steph dramatically placed a hand over his forehead, signing with false betrayal. "Heartless, Steven."

"I can see you after this? I thought it'd be like in those tv shows, where you come around and help- but I won't see you again."

"You watch wayy too much TV, bud." Steph moved the glowing hair from his face. At that point in his life, it was hard to divide reality from fiction from books and television. No one blamed him, having extraterrestrial guardians who had magical powers and spending most of his life in front of a screen made it hard to determine what was actual life.

"I wanna come to see you and Jasper after this." He smiled, "I'll be super busy with Gem Stuff after I get powers, but we could still hang out."

Steph took the card back, stuffing it in his wallet before he grabbed some of the bags, flinging the bags over his shoulder holding them all in one grip, handing the boy two bags to carry himself. Letting Steven take a good grasp on them as he smirked down to the child.

"I'll fit you in my schedule." He teased, booping Steven's nose as the kid just laughed, and began towards the door as Steph followed behind. The moment Steven stepped out from the door, the girl spoke up.

"The school around here is pretty good. He'll do great." Her voice was soft, "It's nice to see a good kid around here."

Steph paused, before continuing forward without responding.

After they made it out, he popped the truck and helped Steven get all the plastic bags inside. He grabbed the door and lowered it so Steven could slam it shut. "Alright man, two more stops for errands, and then a treat! How does that sound, Little Bud?"

"It sounds pretty good." Steven climbed into the passenger seat, fisting his PJ bottoms as Steph entered the car, buckling up as he began to start the car. He took a glance at Steven, pulling his lips to one side.

"What's up, Bud?" Steph asked, pulling out the parking lot towards the next store. This one was more of a retail store rather than just a clothing shop. He hoped to purchase the school supplies and at least a bag for Steven to carry it all in.

He's done a bit of research on schools, talking to his Grandmom, and with his experience with Connie's school tales. He drove down the road, awaiting for Steven to speak. It took him a moment, but Steven finally spoke up in a quiet voice.

"You were just, kinda rude to the lady in there."

"Oh?"

"I heard you guys talking in the dressing room," Steven confessed, he opened his mouth again to speak, but Steph cut him off before he could hear anything else about the matter.

"Listen Steven. If someone is getting on your nerves. You don't have to be nice." He held his flat hand out, slicing the air as he spoke. "She was telling me stuff I didn't need to hear, and I didn't want to hear it. It's not a bad thing to show you don't want to talk about it."

"She just seemed nice." Steven retorted, rubbing his hands, circling his hands. "She was really nice to me."

"And you were nice to her, that's great. If you wanted to be rude. I won't stop you." Steven's mouth opened in shock, but Steph spoke before Steven could retort.

"Sometimes, Steven. You're going to meet people who don't matter. It's cool that you don't let them affect you."

"Affect you?"

"You'll get it when you're older. Just don't make attachments to every person you meet. If you do that, when they leave, it's just going to hurt you." He shrugs, "Not every person needs to be a friend."

"Can I.. make attachments with you?"

"That's different. Of course, you can, Bud." Steph pulled into the store's driveway, parking next to the door. This store was older, having an old fashioned OPEN sign hung on the door, hand-painted green with a shaky font. The sign was one you could flip for openings or closings.

The outside was wooden, with smaller windows that didn't let you get a good insight of the store. He shut off the car, passing a stare to Steven. He didn't seem to process the information the way Steph hoped, he would get it one day. If he made attachments to too many people, he'd lose himself when they left.

Walking aside Steven, he opened the door and allowed the kid to file in first. Steph followed behind, the door had a chime, a single bell that let the teenage boy behind the counter know they had entered.

"Welcome to Pa's Closet. Everything's labeled, you can find everything real easy." He was flipping through a magazine, hunched over his counter as he didn't have a chair like the last girl. He didn't look upward, speaking the words like a robot as he turned a page.

Were the only people employed around here teens- who didn't do their jobs? Steph took Steven's hand, grabbing a plastic basket from the door and guided him through the aisles. The last thing he wanted to do was speak to the townsfolk and get to know any of them. If they want to believe he was a ghost- that was fine.

He was a bit worried about Steven going to school, seeing as he would be surrounded by a constant group of children. Would it be like Connie? Where he watched her with her group of friends and stood awkwardly as she tried too hard to integrate him to the group.

Saving the universe wasn't something he would brag about to teenagers, and they would care. Even if they were impressed with some of his Gem abilities. It wasn't him they were interested in. It'd be different from Steven, Steph told himself as the two made their way into the school supply section.

"Ooh!" Steven was looking through it all. "What do we need for school?"

"Mm.." Steph pulled out his phone, searching through his notes and finding the one on school supplies. From all the mom blogs he read, this should be a correct list that anyone would need for one school year. He held the basket out for Steven, reading off the list.

"Pencils." Steph read off the first item on the list, as Steven held out a case of frog-themed pencils and pens. Steph chuckled, "Alright, chuck it in."

As they went down the list, Steven was enjoying the themed things, scented glue, fruit patterned notebooks- anything his little fingers caught, Steph couldn't find in him to tell the poor kid no. Steven was so excited by choosing his supplies, he seemed to have forgotten anything about the cashier at the last place.

"Now, we need a backpack." Steph walked further down the shelves, Steven hurrying behind as Steph scanned over the items that were scattered around. He finally found what he wanted- the small corner for backpacks.

Some were basic colors, and others were a bit more unique as merch for children's media. All of it was for the modern-day- nothing Steven would be familiar with yet. Steven had come up to the backpacks, digging through to try and find something he would like. Steph took a glance, before smiling, pulling one off the rack to showcase to the boy, who had been searching at the opposite side of him.

"Bud, this one screams you." He held it out, the backpack was themed like a burger, the entire bag was beige. The front pocket was meant to look like meat and had a ruffle meant to be like lettuce, having slices of tomatoes coming out. The zipper hook was made to look like pickles, with little sesame seeds sown on the front.

Steven rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment on the purchase before he spoke. "I prefer my bag at home, the anatomy of a hamburger is perfect. This one doesn't even try."

The sense of nostalgia came over Steph in waves, he used to love that backpack. He wasn't Steven without it at that age, taking it to do 'Gem Stuff' as he elegantly labeled it. It was nice to try and reminisce, but with those memories, comes the worse memories, and Steph wanted to avoid it.

It was hard to avoid as he stared down at the literal embodiment of his past. How lucky he was, back when it was funner before he was hit with the reality of what a Crystal Gem was.

This version of him gets a softer punch.

Steven took the bag from Steph's grasp, and Steph lets it go as he stares. "It's okay. You can't beat a classic. Wacky Sacks has struck gold with their bags."

Steph hums, rolling his eyes; Steven held the bag in one hand but continued looking for another bag. It was only a few minutes, and Steven went ahead with the one bag. The rest were more generic and Steven was a hammy kid. Of course, he would take the one themed after a burger.

This trip was shorter, the two finished up and took their supplies to the cashier, who reluctantly moved his magazine and began to check them out. He didn't comment on Steph's glow or responded to Steven at all at his attempts to be friendly.

Steph should have felt thankful- but the look of disappointment on Steven's face made his gut twist. He almost wanted to tell the teenager off- but what would that do? Steven was already uncomfortable with how he treated the other one for being so nosey.

After he finished, he ringed them up and told Steph the price. As he paid, the other male got out a glass jar and handed Steven a small sucker.

"Thank you!" Steven unwrapped it, going to suck on it as Steph signed a little receipt signature.

"Have a good day, please visit again." He pulled out his reading material once more, going back to his position without lifting his eyes. Steph pulled Steven out, mumbling under his breath before Steven waved.

"You too!"

The two finished placing the new bags in the truck, Steph slammed the truck down before giving a smile to Steven. "Ready to see your first school?"

Steven fumbled with the chest of his shirt. "It's going really fast, we're living together and training and I'm going to school." He mumbled as Steph got on one knee, taking Steven's shoulders in his gentle grip with a smile.

"C'mon, Bud. This is gonna be great! You'll learn so many new things." He assures, "You're human too. You have to be human sometimes." He stood back up, releasing Steven's shoulders before he made his way towards the driver seat.

Steven got into his passenger seat, and as the two drove towards the school, the car was silent.

The school building was one story, the building was white with half of the wall blue, the windows were wide, they were square with the muntins going down the center, and the metal doors were navy blue. The metal roofing was gray, with a small parking lot that Steven found only a few cars within.

The lot was guarded by a metal fence, the grass was sparse and the playground was covered in black tires that were shredded. Steph took a quick glance, but Steven was staring at it with an unreadable emotion- and for the first time, Steph didn't know what he was feeling. He came to a stop in the lot, grabbing his bag before he addressed the boy with a beaming expression.

"Let's see your new school."

The two walked in and were greeted by a receptionist. Her long false nails had been typing by an ancient computer, some technology from the 1980s. She perked up from the two as she smiled, her painted red lips form a wide smile on her face.

"Hello there, darlings, how can I help you two?"

"I want to sign him up for school." Steph gestures to the younger, as the woman leans up to look at the shorter child.

"What's your name, little fella?"

"I'm Steven-"

"He's Steven Demayo." Steph gripped Steven's shoulder, applying pressure when Steven tried to speak up again- wanting to protest. But he knew at that moment he wasn't allowed to speak, why wouldn't he speak? The world around him faded off in the distance as the thoughts grew. He messed with his shirt, almost yanking at the fabric.

He wasn't a Demayo, he wasn't sure what a Demayo was. He was a Universe, his dad was a Universe, his mom was a Universe. He was a Universe. The words were filtering through his panicked mind. How different was this dimension? Did Pearl or Garnet or Amethyst even exist here?

"I actually have the paperwork with me." Steph reached into his bag, pulling out a thick folder of papers, that the woman took with awaiting hands.

"And you're the legal guardian of your half brother?"

"Yep, says so right?"

"Well, we'll be happy to have little Steven come, he will be processed by next Monday."

"Hear that Steven? We'll start school next Monday!"

"That-that's good." Steven answered too quickly, but Steph only laughed in response.

"Poor guy, he's never been to real school." Steph ruffles the boy's hair, running his hands through the curls as the woman only chuckles.

"It's scary at first, you'll like it here, hun." She handed Steph a card. "Come here on Friday to meet his teachers and get a tour. It's a little too short notice right now- but we'll have him all processed and ready to go."

The pleasantries were shared, Steph continued to touch Steven somehow- by petting, patting, or holding onto him, all throughout their conversation he was being drowned in physical contact. He looked around the lobby, the room was a square, with the woman inside a box with glass walls and sliding little window to talk, the room had a few couches, and a rug tossed on the center of the floor, covered in dust.

The left wall had a glass cabinet full of trophies and photographs of their small sports teams, and even hung a jersey of the teams beside it. On the wall, were plaques of the school's credentials. He stepped closer to Steph's leg, slowly grabbing onto his jeans' fabric. This didn't look like the schools in his cartoons, bright and colorful, this one had blue and white walls, with blue and white hard tiled floors. The room looked dusty and unkempt, Steven didn't want to be left alone here.

He hadn't noticed the conversation had ended until Steph began to turn, taking Steven's hand as the two exited the building. Steph took a deep breath once outside the walls, beginning towards his car. "What a place huh! Not a red little schoolhouse."

"What did ya think, Little Bud?"

"My name's Universe." He spoke abruptly, settling into the car seat. He was proud of his name, of his family. He didn't feel right about being a Demayo. It was a cool surname, a bit more exotic than plain, ole Universe- but that was who he was. He turned this attention to Steph as Steph only hums in response, he paused before speaking.

"Thanks for not making a scene, but we're Demayos here. We gotta use a fake last name here." Steph drummed his hands on the wheel. "We can't have two Steven universes, it'd be suspicious."

"\We'll be home soon- and it'll be pretty late then, Bud."

As he pulled out of the parking lot, Steph began to ramble as Steven's emotions dissolved as he was forced onto another subject. Steph discussing dinner plans for the three of them at the house. "We could grill outside tonight."

"Cooking outside? It's been forever since Dad used his panini press in the van... Is that cooking outside?"

"Ehh.. not really, Bud."

The car drove past the stores, and turned into the lot for the gas station, Steven curiously stared over the new place.

Steph offered a smile. "I know you didn't get to eat your donuts, how about we get one before we head home?"

Steven's face was enough to know it was perfect by him. The gas station was a sore thumb in the town, being a chain gas station with multiple others around the world didn't fit the quaint sort of feel this place had. He parked the car, next to a gas tank to fill up before the long drive back to the cabin. Honestly, he wasn't sure why his Grandparents wanted a place so far from society.

At least he could enjoy the fact he was completely alone out there, only around who he needs to see now. The gas station's name was lit up, hung up by neon lights. The large glass windows had deals and promos scattered about. Steph ignored it for the most part, entering the store with Steven at his hip. The donut display was at the center of the store, the moment you walked in the double glass doors you found yourself staring at the five tiers of donuts.

One side had napkins to grab them with, and the other side had thin paper baggies.

"Pick one, Steven. We'll have our actual meal back at home."

"Donuts are a great meal, they got bread, fruits, sugar, what else do you need?"

"That's not... The jelly inside donuts is not fruit." Steph shook his head, "You need a protein, vegetables, grains? You need actual good fats." He had spent time learning how to properly care for his body, including a balanced diet. Sure, his breakfasts were still protein shakes or bars, but he's been trying to balance out the rest of his meals.

Having Steven here has been affecting that poorly, including his workout regimen, but that was going to be a short term thing. Soon Steven would be involved.

"How there be good or bad fats?" Steven questioned, shaking his head. "That just seems made up."

Steven has grown up with no adult structure on meal preparation. He's been placed in front of a microwave and oven since he was almost six and fended for himself, using pop tarts, popcorn, frozen TV dinners, and sugary sweets as meals rather than snacks.

Steph wanted to implant some healthy habits on the kid before he released him back to barely any adult supervision.

"Steven I'm putting you on a diet." Steph shook his head, walking to the center of the store, opening the plastic containers of fried desserts and taking one for himself. One without frosting or filling, as Steven grabbed a glazed raspberry filled one, giving it a quick sniff.

"I missed you." Steven hums, pressing the dessert to his face before dropping it into the white paper bag.

"I'm sure the whole day without donuts was tortuous." Steph crumpled the fold of his bag, giving Steven a nudge on the small of his back as the two came to the cashier. He paid for the food and gas, leaving the woman without much of a word given to her as he dragged Steven out. The last thing he needed was Steven getting close to any of the townspeople. They were a necessary piece of living out in the cabin, but no more.

The ride back was quieter than the one in, Steven was chewing away on his donut as Steph was lost in his own thoughts. He'd have to do plenty of the process for Steven to be placed in school.

He was shocked to hear the actual requirements for a child to attend school, documents, shots, birth certificates. He figured he could just drop Steven off there, but turns out it was a lengthy process.

When he told his Grandmom his plan, she had explained what she had needed, and Steph already felt overwhelmed.

"What if he didn't have a birth certificate?"

"What do you mean no birth certificate?"

"Well, I was born in my dad's van, and Steven was born in a house... I don't have a birth certificate. We've never been to a doctor."

The poor older woman had gasped, and she looked as if she would faint on the spot.

Poor thing.

He found it too easy for someone to fake the documents, I.D.s, and so much more for the two. Empire City had plenty of things he needed to start a new life if he wandered in the alleyways long enough.

He was snapped from his thoughts by Steven coughing, swallowing a couple times before taking another bite of his sugary delight. Steph bit at his bottom lip, guessing he should have gotten the kid something to drink as well. He figured a simple snack wouldn't leave him that dried month.

He took his eyes off the kid, turning his attention to the long roads of the forest.

The cabin came to view, and Steph parked closer to the home. He turned the key off and flopped against the seat. "We're finally home, gotta be tired after all the fun we had together today."

Steven gave a faint laugh. "It was cool to see the town."

"How much will we see those people in town?"

"Not very often, Steven. We're here to train." He left the car, stretching once he was outside of the closed vehicle. He didn't know how much longer he could sit in that seat and drive Steven around.

It was done, Steven was ready for the more human part of his life. He would be able to interact with other humans, and he could be assured he would have an understanding of the world he would have to protect.

Steph pops the truck, grabbing the supplies he knew he would need to carry, and letting Steven grab the smaller stuff. He was surprised Jasper still wasn't around, he was happy she hadn't sat the entire time awaiting his return- he was sure she was training or something of the sort. She wasn't ever too far from the cabin.

After the two packed everything inside, Steph wanted to organize it right away. "You can put your clothes in your dresser, we'll get your supplies all in your bag and hang up for school, we can start getting ready for your personal stuff." Steph talks away as Steven follows him within the room, copying Steph. He tossed the clothes on the bed, as he plopped the school supplies onto the flannel comforter.

He listened to the words, nodding along as Steph began to take his clothes and put them in the drawers of the dresser by type. Steven was trying to keep up, shirts on the top drawer, jeans on the second, underwear and socks at the finale cabinet. The two continue to fill the dresser, Steph humming, Steven lost in thought.

"You organize just like Pearl," Steven commented off handly, smiling as he placed the final part of folded jeans away.

"Well, I guess I learned it from her, huh?" Steph spoke mildly, unzipping Steven's backpack before grabbing the notebooks the two had chosen, placing them inside. Steven ripped the pencils out of their cardboard case and placed them in his new apple pencil case, shoving them in the bag.

Steph showed Steven what each item was for school, and how to put it away. Steven tried to listen but got distracted plenty of times- especially when he found out his fruit makers were scented.

After the two were finished, Steph hung the backpack on the hook hung on Steven's door.

"Alright, Lil Bud, go ahead and get changed into some daytime clothes, and we can do our laundry," Steph instructed, leaving the bedroom to grab his bin. He grabbed the felt pants from this morning, and with a shudder of disgust of himself, shoved it underneath his bed. He'd wash that later, alone. But he needed to teach Steven as soon as he can about living out here. He grabbed the clothes he had tossed aside in the past days without care and flung each in his bin.

He carried the bin outside, leaving it on the porch before returning inside to the living room closet. Sure enough, as his Grandmom promised- there was a pair of two large metal buckets, and a washing board for the two to use. He slacked the supplies together, and drug them out to the front yard, before getting a smaller, plastic bucket and began to fill it with hot water.

Steven came from his bedroom, tutting two arms full of the outfits he had worn. He went to the porch, placed his clothes atop Steph's bin and returned to the older's side. "So how do we wash them without a machine?"

"It's pretty time-consuming. But we'll make it through. We'll have it soon that one does laundry one time, and then the other does it." Steph took a bar of hard soap from the mirror cabinet, shoving it in his pocket before picking up the plastic bucket by the handle.

"Will Jasper help at all?"

"Eh. She doesn't wear clothes." Steph shrugs, carrying the full bucket of water outside, and directs Steven to take the metal bucket and washboard to the clothesline on the side of the house. It took a few walk backs, but soon they had the metal buckets beside each other, with the washboard in one, having the bin of clothes alongside it.

Steph poured the hot water into the bucket, Steven watched the steam wave off the container as Steph placed the washing board in.

"Now I'm gonna get us some more water for a rinse, go ahead and get the metal part of this thing wet, and rub the soap on it." Steph tapped the scrubbing board, listening to the little noise that left the metal with each tap. "Don't scrub the clothes yet, I'll be just a minute."

Steph returned to the house with the plastic container, pouring the hot water to the brim and taking it back to Steven. Steph poured the other hot water and taught Steven how to wash each item of clothing. Whites first, then you ring them out of soap and water and toss them to the rinse. Steph did the rinsing, telling Steven how to fold and shift the clothes in the water to assure all the soap was gone before putting them on the line to dry.

It took a little over an hour, but the clothes of the last week were washed, and Steven would be able to wear his shirt soon.

Towels, rags, and clothes all hung on the line, dripping away as Steven stares at them all.

"I like your shirts like mine." Steph pointed towards the few black star shirts Steph still owned. "Your dad was a singer here, too?"

Steph poured out the metal bucket, before shrugging. "Yeah. He was."

Steven tapped his chin. "You wear black, and the Me from here, I wear pink?" Steven took the handle of the other bucket, tipping it over as the water splashed out.

"Sure, kid."

The two carry the supplies back on the porch, "Leave the buckets and washboard to dry, I'll clean off the soap so it doesn't get scum all over it." Steph kicked off his shoes once more, stepping inside as Steven placed the buckets upside down so they may dry, following Steph inside.

"That was a lot of work, huh? I think we both deserve a good dinner." He washed off the hard soap and left it in the mirror cabinet. "Still up for burgers?"

"Yeah! It's been forever since I had any!"

"Time to end the record. We can grill them, eat outside, it's a nice evening already." Steph offers, watching Steven getting more excited at the dinner plans.

Just as they did last night, the two washed their hands and Steph retied the bandanna around his temples, Steven hummed, looking around the room for a moment. Steph cocked an eyebrow.

"Whatcha looking for, Bud?"

"I want one too, it makes you look like a real cook!" He points to his forehead, before quickly adding, "Please?"

Steph smiled, booping Steven's nose before opening one of the kitchen's cabinets, it was a junk drawer full of things, but he plucked a red bandanna and returned to face Steven, tying it gently around his head.

"There, now we're both chefs." Steph laughed, opening the upper kitchen cabinet and pulling a mixing bowl out. "We better start cooking, it's gonna get too late."

They started at dinner again- together. Steph grinning as he tells Steven what they need, something Steven was ready for this time, so he had more fun with it. He helped crumble all the ground beef, eggs, and seasonings in a mixing bowl as Steph cut the onions, tomatoes, and lettuce for the two of them. Steph got them in small bowls for each, taking them outside by the grill before returning in.

Then the two grab chunks of the meat out, forming it into patties and running their fingers over it until it is a smooth patty shape- then placing it on a glass plate to take outside. They both made two, the plate containing four patties. They had to rewash their hands before leaving outside.

Getting everything outside and ready to start was the easier part, Steph drug the grill to the center of the porch, firing up the charcoal, and got his metal spatula all gathered up. Steven held the plate of patties, grinning ear to ear as Steph buttered up the grill.

He flopped the patties on, watching the flames lick over the bars and edging over the meat, making Steven stagger back the first time. Steph took his shoulder and brought him closer to the grill. "The fire can't hurt you, it's all stuck in there. If you know how to control it, it won't ever hurt you, Bud." Steph grins, listening to the sizzle of the meat.

He closed the lid, and after a few moments, he opened the lid to a gust of smoke that flooded outward. Steven got his face a little too close and had his face feeling flushed. Steph flipped the burgers, glancing out to the forest for a moment.

Jasper still wasn't home.

Steph turned to focus on Steven, who was watching Steph work on the burgers like it was a piece of art. He almost felt like a nuclear family, a kid, a man, and Jasper's a woman- if she ever returns. Guess he shouldn't have said she had the whole day off if he was going to worry.

She wasn't going to leave him.

She hasn't left him, she wouldn't leave him. She's proven her loyalty to him over and over again, he couldn't ever be worthy of her and how she treats him now. He couldn't believe how much she has agreed to these past few months. He didn't deserve her.

He took a good look at the patties, they had good charred lines on them and were a nice cooked beef brown. "Get me some buns, Bud." Steph grins, as Steven opened up the bread buns and placed slices of cheese on each. Steph placed the fresh burger meat atop

Steven splattered the ketchup over the patty, piling the ingredients onto his burger as Steph turned the grill off, he kept the lid lifted. Allowing the smoke to filter through the air to dissolve. He dressed his hamburger, sitting on the porch chair beside Steven as the two stares out into the starry night.

"It's so weird." Steven started, "No cars, no sound from a town.." He began, swinging his feet as he took a bite. "It's just... So quiet."

"It's not so quiet." Steph looks out to the dense forestland. "You can hear the animals and little critters if you try."

Steven placed a hand around his ear to funnel the noise, pausing as he heard the crickets, the soft howls echoed deep into the darkness he couldn't see. His eyes widened, "Whoa… It's kinda creepy."

Steph scoffs, rubbing from his ear to his hairline, messing with his hair once more. "Nah, Bud. You're here with me, I can keep you safe."

Steven's smile returned, leaning his head against Steph's arm, swallowing the food in his mouth as he nods. "Yeah, it's nice to meet an older brother of mine… Even if you're not my real brother."

Steph squeezed the boy's arm, trailing his eyes down to the younger version of himself.

He looked so defenseless, his eyes stared up to Steph before he beamed. He was so small now, he hasn't aged much since he was eight at this point, right? He was still so short, his head gently pressed against his forearm, barely putting weight he could feel on his neon skin.

"Even though we're not from the same dimension, we can be brothers!" Steph chuckled, patting the boy's shoulder. "I never had a brother… so younger than me before. It'll be new to me too."

The conversation dried, following into a comfortable silence. The sound of the surrounding lands kept the porch from staying too quiet. The forest was dark now, he wasn't able to see past where Steph had parked the car. He hoped to never get lost in those trees, it was different from Beach City. The forest had sparse land and the trees weren't thick like the ones here.

He wasn't sure how long he had begun to daydream, but he noticed the bobbing of a form in a snap of his daze, realizing that the form seemed to be coming towards them. Steven grabbed ahold of Steph's free arm. "Uh- Steph? Um, I see something."

"Oh.." Steph blinked a few times, squinting his eyes to see the slow dark blob trudging from the forest. It was almost in the line of light now. "Jasp?

The figure came into the illumination from the porch lighting, the murky form stepped past the car, revealing the scratched up, dirt-covered Jasper. Her hair had debris falling out with each step, she was quick to greet Steph.

"My- My Steph. I didn't realize you would be home so early. I hope you had a safe passage."

"I did- thank you, Jasp. At ease, when the sun goes down you're off duty." Steph raised his arms, and flicked his wrists downward, trying to support some sort of casual air between the two. It had been so awkward now she registered him as a Diamond, he missed those three days before it all.

All they did was rough house and train, he loved it. He liked forgetting about the world and just focusing on getting stronger. Steven's face of confusion seemed to go over Steph's head, keeping his eyes trained on Jasper as Steven searched for answers in Steph's facial expression. Why did he talk to Jasper like that? Weren't they friends? Is Steph the leader of the crystal gems?

That can't be the reason, Jasper said she wasn't a part of the crystal gems.

Jasper's shoulders physically untensed hearing him say that she wandered up the steps and went to the bowl, grabbing a slice of tomato and munching it down.

"I thought you didn't eat," Steven mumbled, as Jasper shrugged her shoulders.

"Human food like this charges me fast and easy." Jasper tossed the last piece of tomato in her mouth, going beside the porch chairs and flopping beside them, crossing her legs.

"You trained all day again?" Steph asked, flicking a piece of dirt from her bangs.

"Have to keep my strength up, My Steph."

Steph hummed, staring back into the skies. "You ever miss it out there?"

"Everyday." Jasper breathed, remembering the best years of her life.

Steph said nothing else on the matter, only staring into the vast stars that draped over the cabin. The trio had stayed there for some time, watching the skies and enjoying the silence of company.

The rest of the evening was normal, Jasper rinsed her hair out with a hose before coming in, and the boys cleaned up after they finished eating. The dishes were put away just like last night, and Steph even taught Steven how to properly clean the bars of the grill. Steph let Steven shower as he brought in the newly dried clothes.

He placed the folded clothes in Steven's dresser but kept his PJ set from last night out, unsure if Steven grabbed himself any clothes. He went to the bathroom door, giving it a testing knock when he heard no reply, he was sure Steven was unable to hear him from the water. Wrapping his fingers around the knob, he twisted unsure if it would turn.

He was surprised to find it did, he turned the knob and stepped inside. He honestly shouldn't be surprised, Steven grew up in a house he mostly lived in by himself, and the gems never seemed interested in going to the bathroom. It was natural it would take some time for it to click. He needed to lock the door now.

Steven was still humming a tune, unnoticed, Steph placed the clothes on the toilet lid. He was sure Steven would be grateful not to hurry across the hall in a towel for clothes. He glanced towards Steven.

The shower curtain was cheap, a beige yellow that still let him see the form of the younger boy. Steph shook his head and left the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He tossed his clean clothes atop his dresser, it's been a while since he had placed the pile of clean clothes back into the dresser. All that was left in his drawers was his collection of clean underwear and socks.

Steven left the bathroom, still drying his hair with a towel as Steph scurried after him. He placed the pile of clothes he chose on the lid just as he had for Steven, undressing and leaving the day's clothes in the bathroom's laundry wicker basket.

He locked the bathroom door and entered the tub with a soft sign. He turned on the water, not caring about the temperature. He just needed the noise from the water running over him, as his thoughts wouldn't fog him over too badly.

Whenever he was around the younger boy, he could forget his thoughts and past. He was Steph, he was Steven's older, wiser, better brother. He knew better, he didn't make dumb mistakes- he didn't purpose to Connie and ruin things with his Dad. He was above all of that. He was a trainer, he would train Steven to use his powers.

And then he would lose Steven.

He numbly dunked his head under the stream of water to wet it, before he used a pump on some men's shampoo bottle, massaging it into his growing hair. It was growing more as the days went on, getting wilder and fluffier.

He kept running his fingers through the soft mane.

He didn't want to lose Steven, how long would they train? Years? Just long enough for him to grow attached and lose another person in his life? Steven would leave this dimension, he might be old enough to realize Steph was lying to him? Then what? He wouldn't want to be around Steph once he gets his powers. He'll be too busy.

Would his Crystal Gems even believe him?

They have dealt with time travel before, it wouldn't be much of a stretch. How would they feel about Steph? He could imagine Pearl's reaction seeing Steven looking so much like her-

Steph took a shaky breath, leaning his head back as the stream cascades over his stud filled hair, leaving his arms firmly at his sides as he stared up at the ceiling. Well, if the Gems didn't believe Steven, he could always come back to him in his dimension.

They could stay like this, Steph being not Steven, and this Steven being trained the right way. He ran his hands over his face, leaning his head inward taking a deep breath. Nothing would be that easy, he supposes.

He needed this stress relieved, he didn't know if he could keep his facade up if he walked out the bundle of nerves he felt right now. After a moment of cooling breaths, he wrapped his fingers around his flaccid cock, honestly, was he gonna do this? Did he do this too much? He wasn't sure how much others did this.

He could hear Jasper and Steven talking, distant over the water that rained over him, but the faint conversation appeared light- he heard Steven laughing. This was the best time he might have.

He gave a few experimental strokes, his dick still soft in his fingers. He huffs, squeezing his eyes shut as he tries to picture something in his head to get him off. He doesn't get off by a lot of things, back before he had a bedroom divided from the rest of his temple, he used to masturbate in the shower, phone in a plastic baggie and muted as he watched random porn he could find in a google search of the word.

He found most of it unappealing, but he still jerked one off at least once a week in a longer shower period.

He almost wished he brought his phone. He tensed, trying to rack his memories for something appealing and easy. He remembered once when Lion brought Connie over during her fifteen-minute study break, after some time making out, Connie reached beyond the jeans' zipper.

It was the first time they had done anything like that, she seemed so much more experienced than him, her lips met his, the bodies mashing together as she stroked up to his tip and then down to his base.

He huffs, covering his eyes as he continues to jerk, harder, more clumsy than she had. He kept imaging her arm wrapped around his waist, a hand on his groin as she kissed him so deeply. Like he was her entire world, he kept going, thinking of her hair that was against his cheek that smelled of coconut, and how he couldn't keep his eyes open long, however, he remembered how she looked into his face with such love.

He thumbed his tip, biting his bottom lip so he wouldn't make a noise. He shuddered, filtering a breath through his chapped lips. He kept thinking of her, he was far from the shower tub, now in a fuzzy place that only existed the couple, and liked that.

The fire in his gut only grew, making the muscles in his stomach stiff as his stroking was only becoming erratic, going fast as he chased his climax before he lost it. He just wanted her.

The moment he climaxed, her timer went off, and with an apology, she left on Lion. He just wanted her so badly, to stay, to cuddle or something. He just dozed off in his bed afterward, feeling more lonely than before she had arrived.

He groaned, regretting even recalling that part. He kept going, hurrying himself to finish before Steven grew worried. He gripped his hair, moving his wrist, panting underneath his breath.

He kept picturing Connie's face, looking up at him. He pressed the back of his head on the tub's wall, thinking of her expressions, a grin forming on his face.

When he finished, the last thing he saw was Steven's face looking up at him on the porch, smiling with adoration painted on his face. After the few squirts of cum shot from his tip and landing on the curtain, he caressed the skin a few more times. He gasped for air, feeling so many emotions.

The biggest was disgust, brought back to reality as the now cold water hit him he scrambled out of the tub, splashing water over his face. "What the fuck…"

He gasped, staring into the mirror, the diamond irises glare back towards him. He lowered his face, washing his face once more as he breathed through his mouth, he tasted the soap and facet water, he didn't care.

Cupping water in his hands, he flung it into his face, the cold making him shake softly, "I was, I was just.."

He's just stressed. This has brought him under so much pressure, when he was about fifteen he knew the last seconds he was in a dream and about to wake, his brain racing to show him one last thing before he woke, his mind showed him terrifying images of the Diamonds, making him wake in a sweat.

Steph only thought of Steven because he was so stressed and he kept thinking of worrying him, hearing him beyond the walls. It was nothing more. The still nude teenager turned the water off, he had carelessly left it on as he escaped the tub, patting himself dry before using the towel to mop the moisture off the floor and finally brushed his teeth.

Dressing into his nightwear was the least of his worries, he shoved the towel into the basket and left the restroom in a sweat. He walked down the hallway in a daze before Steven ran up to him, holding some VHS of some withered box art of a cartoon. "Can we watch it before bed- like last time?"

Steph wanted to tell him, no, to go to bed because he felt shame looking at the younger, but that wasn't fair. Taking his feelings and making the boy's life harder because of it. He signed, forcing a smile. "Of course, Little Bud."

As the movie rolled on, he felt relief. Jasper was at the end of the couch, narrowing her eyes. Contemptment had washed over her features, she was not enjoying the little film playing but wouldn't complain as to offend her Diamond.

Steven was interested, and that was all he cared for. His arm resting on the back of the couch as he played on his mobile, Steven had found a place against the older male's side to lay against, completely focused on the animation. Like all of them, the children's movie was from decades ago, and as plain as could be. But Steven still liked crying breakfast friends, so he wasn't surprised that the younger was drawn in by this.

The movie was at the halfway point when he realized Steven was snoring against his side, a dot of drool staining his shirt. Steph sat up gently, placing a finger over his lips as he looked to Jasper, pulling Steven into his arms.

He was used to carrying five times his weight while working out with Jasper, so the small form in his arms felt like a pillow compared. He stood slowly, lifting himself as he stared down at Steven's face for any changes.

Guess he tired the poor boy out. He held him to his chest, taking him past the living room and towards his bedroom. Steven stirred slightly when he laid him down on the bed, but after placing the plush star in his arms the boy curled, falling back into slumber as Steph tiptoed from the bedroom. He made sure to place the bar right under the knob, leaving back to the living room.

He turned off the television, to Jasper's great delight. "Thank you, My diamond."

"No issue." He stood back up, straightening his back with a groan. "I miss training."

"I miss training with you, My Diamond."

"We'll start training with Steven tomorrow, it's gonna be baby steps. He doesn't have any powers." Steph held his hands out, using the flats of his hands to gesture something was small in his hands. "We gotta go soft on him."

"Are you sure- softness isn't good for training, My Diamond."

"He's weaker than the kid who you knocked out with a punch for hours. Don't worry, Jasp." Steph smiled, "He'll be just as strong as me, just won't be three days." He chuckles, Jasper only nodded her head.

"Yes, My Diamond."

Steph found himself in the armchair again, Jasper was unmoving on the couch.

"So, how did your workout go?"

"Same regimen I've always done. How was gathering the supplies?"

"It was alright, we just got the things we needed." Steph shrugs, not wanting to go into a deeper discussion on what took place today, he wasn't in the mood to explain too much more on human society to Jasper- it was hard enough when he was with his grandparents.

He wasn't sure how long he spent having a conversation with Jasper, but he felt himself becoming tired, almost falling asleep. He gave his goodnights to Jasper, and got up from his chair, leaving towards the hallway.

Steph found himself weak, drifting into his bedroom in a daze as he flops onto the mattress, he took the thick blanket and wrapped the corners around himself, wanting to cocoon himself and just sleep through the night. He grabbed the baby monitor, pulling it close to his face.

His eyes flutter close, and just as he was almost semi-conscious he began to hear a noise over his monitor.

"Steph?" The meek voice didn't raise itself much, Steph barely hearing it- he knew it was Steven's.

The small voice filtered from the speaker of the monitor, with a confused groan, Steph opened an eye. He wasn't sure if he imagined that, keeping the eye on the baby monitor for any more activity. He hoped Steven would just go to bed, realizing that it was past his bedtime.

"I.. I had a nightmare."

He could hear tugging, Steven was tugging on the door now. Steph hated getting nightmares, especially since most of the time he was alone in the house. Greg was asleep in a van with no phone and at that time he couldn't open any of the rooms. Steph lifted himself on his elbows, staring at his door with a huff. He placed the baby alarm back in the cabinet, rubbing a hand cover his eyes to wake himself up.

He lifted himself from the bed, peeling the blanket off.

When he took the bar off, he was happy to not have Steven bursting out this time. Steven looked just as tired as him, one hand holding the star plush and the other rubbing his eye. He plopped his head against Steph's thigh. Steph bent over, taking Steven's underarms and plucking him up in his arms.

"You can bunk with me tonight, Bud, how's that sound?" He turned on his heel, patting the boy's back beginning to stroll down the corridor.

Steven just made a noise and laid his head on the older's shoulder, wrapping his arms around his neck. Steph shut his bedroom door with his foot and laid down with the boy still in his arms. Steven curled in on himself, releasing Steph's neck to rather hug the plush and press his head into Steph's chest.

Steph pulled the blanket over the two and leaned back against his pillow, still facing Steven. Steven's head barely touched his neck. Steph wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders and back, keeping him close, Steph never really realized how tiny Steven was.

He felt so weak in his arms like this. His eyes grew heavy, sealing them closed. The two started breathing in a rhythm together. Steven had fallen back to sleep effortlessly, enclosed between a warm body- his muscles slake against the other's body. Steph found himself just laying there, feeling the soft form in his arms.

He was so soft and small like this, it was almost therapeutic to hold him close. It felt right, having him fit perfectly within his caged embrace. He was so defenseless at this state, has he even learned to summon his shield at command? Steph lowered his head, his chin ruffling his head of hair.

The fact anyone wanted to hurt a child like this, made him feel a swirling pot of emotions. He remembers those traumatic memories as the child, but seeing his child self, seeing how naive and untouched by the world he was- it made it worse, somehow. How all those things happened to someone so young and fresh to how things work.

He started to idly rub up and down on his back, it'll be easier for him to deal with those things when he's older, a better understanding. He will have everything Steph needed- Steph only wished he could've had.

Steven needed him, and for the first time in a while, he knew he was true with a purpose. He had someone who wouldn't leave him so quickly, maybe never, if Steven wanted him around after his childhood was spent and gone.

Steph pulled Steven closer, and fell asleep, sleeping better than he has in some time.

...

The show is over and I still haven't watched the finale because I can't watch this show end? I've been watching it for seven years? Please that's my emotional support son. Thank you again for reading, I am so grateful for all who take time out of their day for my fanfic. Thank you to everyone who went up and beyond to comment and leave kudos.

Ahhh, I know this chapter is probably bad, but thank you for reading :) Steven is still hopelessly obsessed with Connie at first, but that will fade. Don't worry

[robin-the-enby]

Confusing feelings

Pairing: Abe Sapien x OC

Summary: Abe meets a creature he's only ever read about.

Warnings: Probably very long with grammar mistakes (English is not my first language), a little bit of violence

A/N: I've been thinking about making this into a full book on my Wattpad account. I already have one English book there, so if you're a Moomins fan, go check it out, the name is TheDarkSide019 .

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Fridays never really meant anything at BPRD, apart from it being the most chaotic day of the week. I mean, it's not like they didn't have to work at weekends. They did. And that sucked, as Liz said many times.

The last few weeks were pretty calm, nothing big was happening and there wasn't any danger that could wipe out humanity.

That meant Abe, Liz and Hellboy could have more free time.

Liz finally accepted herself as she is and her and Red's relationship has been just great. They were spending most of their free time with the other, doing all sorts of things and going on all sorts of little adventures at BPRD.

Abe didn't have anyone he would be this close with and he definitely didn't want to be a third wheel, even though he thought that if he asked to, Hellboy and Liz would let him hang out with them. Of course, there were some agents that came to the library, which used to be dr. Broom's office, to ask him all kinds of questions, some more interesting than others, but as the kind-hearted soul he was, he answered them all with patience. If he could help, why wouldn't he do so?

But when the agents left, he was all alone once again. Alone. That word tasted bitter on his tongue. However, this alone felt different than how he ever felt before. He was so lonely it was distracting. Soon he couldn't even read books with how distracted he was. So his days were spent in his tank, just quietly thinking about what was it that he lacked.

However he didn't lack anything, it was his soul that was weeping. Every time Abe saw Hellboy with Liz, his soul cried out a little. He was happy for them, he really was, but there was something about the sight that made him feel a wide range of emotions at once. He was confused.

If you're confused, you can just ask someone, he told himself. So he went to the first person he thought could help him understand his feelings a bit more. Liz.

"You're jealous Abe." was the answer he got. It was simple, but genuine and said with care. She wasn't mad in any way, but she didn't see a reason to beat around the bush.

But that's ridicoulus. Abe thought. "What do you mean jealous? I'm not jealous, in fact I am very happy for you two." Liz laughed at his confusion. "You're not jealous of me or Red, Abe. You're jealous of what we have. Maybe you don't realize it, but inside, you want it too. A relationship, I mean." He didn't look much wiser than before and she shook her head a little "Look. I'm not saying I'm right, but from what you've just told me it looks like it. It's normal, everybody sometimes feels like this when they've been single for a long time. Just think about it and if anything, you can talk to me." she reassured him. He nodded and slowly stood up. He only managed to mumble out a 'bye' before slipping through the door. He didn't even notice Hellboy who was coming to see Liz in her room. Red said hi, but he didn't recieve an answer, so deep in thought Abe was. Red turned his head to look at him, then shrugged and entered the room of his beloved girlfriend.

"What's up with Abe?" he then asked Liz and pointed at the door with his thumb like the said man was just behind it. "He's lonely." Liz explained. "What do you mean? He's always been kinda lonely." Red didn't understand. Sometimes Abe would rant to him how he felt a little lonely sometimes, like there was no one that could fully understand him. But he almost immediately after said that he didn't mind and was grateful for everything and everyone he had. "Yeah, but he's that kind of lonely that you were when I left." she said, trying to light up the mood a little. Although, they both knew it was true. "Poor man." Red shook his head and sighed.

Abe immediately went into his tank after arriving in the library. How could one be jealous of a non-materialistic thing? That's ridicoulus. Although, he had to admit, it would be nice to have someone you can hold, trust and rely on, to share all the nice and bad things with and who would hold, trust and rely on him and want to share all those things with him too. Oh, that's how.

The next day his mind was still overloaded with thoughts. In the morning Red stopped by and asked how he was doing and if he wanted to hang out with him and Liz later. Abe politely declined, saying he needs to sort some things out. In my head. he added, but not out loud.

Unknown to him or the other two, who were a little worried about him, things were going to get exciting in just a moment.

Manning recieved a newspaper with a very strange title right on homepage. He was told by the agent who brought the thing, that the local police doesn't know what to do anymore. It was time to call the special agents.

Abe was forcefully pulled out from his thoughts by the library door opening. In came Manning with a few other agents, Liz and Hellboy trailling behind them. When Abe looked at their joined hands, his soul cried out yet again, but now he knew why. It was refreshing and frustrating at the same time, which left him as he was the days prior. Confused.

"What's so important that you have to pull us away from our day off?" Red asked and Manning decided to ignore him, because getting mad would not get him anywhere. "We've recieved an anonymus tip about paranormal activity going on in Scotland. Look at this." he handed Hellboy the newspaper. Red took it from him and looked at the homepage. There, in bold, capital letters was a title: TWO MEN DEAD AT A LOCAL LAKE. ONLY REMAINS FOUND ARE HEARTS AND LIVERS. "That's nice." Red commented. Then he came over to Abe's tank, where Abe was practically glued to the front glass wall, to show it to him. He watched as Abe's eyes scanned the title "What do you think it is pal?"

Abe thought for a while, blinking owlishly once or thrice. Just as they thought he maybe wasn't paying attention, Abe turned to look at them "I don't know. There are lots and lots of water creatures, but I can't recall a single one that doesn't eat a part of their victim."

His interest has been piqued. "A new creature perhaps?" Liz piped up, her gate set on the paper laying now on one of the tables. Manning sighed an annoyed sigh "Great." "Or a one we don't have much information about." Abe said. "Either way, I want you to catch it and bring it back for studying. The details will be given to you later today." "So wait, we're actually going to Scotland?" Liz asked excitedly. "You bet'cha babe." Hellboy smirked and wrapped one arm around her waist.

Abe was excited. Finally something distracted him from his thoughts. Try as he might, he couldn't figure out what creature could've caused this. He tried to narrow it to water beasts from The brittish islands, but that didn't really help, there were still too many options and too little information.

Another thing he didn't really like was how Manning said studying. Oh he was going to keep an eye on that. There will be no harmful experiments on his watch. No cutting, probing, chemical testing, nothing. That just wasn't right and even if he believed Manning was a good man, he knew how he treated those of different species.

They gave the trio all known information. The lake was near a small town that was build for people who worked in a nearby ink factory. It was that type of town where everyone knew each other.

They all left on Sunday evening and by Monday morning they were already there. It was necessary, all citizens will be at work or at school so there will be a near zero percent chance of someone seeing the trio.

The sky was grey as the water that reflected it, gentle breeze making small waves on the water surface. The lake was surrounded by reeds that swayed ever so slightly and rustled quietly. There were a few spots where the reeds had been cut, probably for people who wanted to fish. Strange thing was that there weren't any animals, usually this place would be full of water birds and insects, but here everything seemed dead. It was a little depressing.

Hushed voices of Liz and Hellboy could be heard with the rustling. Liz liked the idea of getting out of BPRD from the beggining and when they arrived, she fell in love with the place. Abe had to admit, the scenery all around them was beautiful. But he could feel that something wasn't right here.

A young agent called out to them to get their attention. He beckoned them over to where he was standing. They came to one of the fishing spots where remains of footsteps were highlighted by the police. "You got anything for us?" Hellboy asked. The agent nervously gulped "Well, you'll need to know what happened, before you start investigating." he said with a shaky voice. "And you know that?" asked Liz. The agent opened the casefile, which wasn't really thick "Well, two victims went to an inn after work. They were fairly tipsy, but didn't come in a vehicle, so the innkeaper let them go. And now this is where it gets interesting. The footsteps lead straight into the water, like they did it from their own will. Bodies were never found, the only remains are their hearts and livers which were thrown in the reeds over there." he pointed to the place where they had been found.

It wasn't much, but at least it was something new. "Thank you for your help." Abe thanked the young man. He then scurried off somewhere without saying anything.

There wasn't really anything to do now, Abe still didn't have enough information to figure out what exactly they were dealing with here. They decided it would be best to look around and hopefully find something new.

"Do we know where this thing could be?" Liz asked. "Well, because the victims were lured into the lake, I think it's safe to assume it lives there." Abe explained, even though he thought she could have figured that out on her own. "Well, if we won't find anything usefull, you're going to have to dive down there." Hellboy said and gestured to the lake with his head. Abe sighed "I know." Although he was excited, they still didn't know anything and he wouldn't like to go there unprepared.

As they were walking, Abe pointed out the lack of animals at this place. "Well, they could be just scared from all the people suddenly showing up." Liz shrugged.

Soon they were on the opposite side of the lake and nothing strange had happened so far. They could see meadows upon meadows everywhere and even those looked empty. There wasn't anything alive, only a horse on one of the meadows. Wait, a horse??

Liz softly gasped "Look, a horse!" and immediately started to go towards it. Red and Abe looked at each other uncertainly, not knowing if it was safe, but they trailed behind her nonetheless. What could a horse possibly do?

The closer they got to it, the worse feeling settled in Abe's gut. Liz was already standing next to it, petting it softly.

It was beautiful. But something felt off. It's fur was white like fresh snow and clean, even though it was standing on a meadow with no fence around it. How was it so clean when it probably didn't belong to anyone? If Abe could frown, he would. The horse was peacfully munching on the grass, until Liz touched it. It lifted it's head up, showing them the deepest dark blue eyes that they've ever seen. They looked almost...hypnotizing.

"Do you think it'd let me ride it?" Liz wondered. She was looking into the horses eyes and her voice sounded quiet and soft, like she was daydreaming. Abe found it strange for the girl to be so enamoured by a simple horse, but it seemed he was the only one.

Hellboy picked up his girlfriend and set her gently on the horses back. She sat there for a while, before trying to run her hands through its mane.

It was as white as the rest of its body, without any knots. "Somebody has gone for a swim, eh?" Liz cooed at the animal. And aparently wet too.

Abe stared at the horse, deep in thought. It didn't belong to anybody, it was beautiful and enchanting. It just encouraged you to ride it. Abe looked at its mane, small droplets still dripping down. If it went into the lake, it must have been before we got here. Wouldn't it be dry now?

It was just encouraging you to ride it. Encouraging....encouraging...luring...

And then it clicked.

"Liz, you need to get down. Now." Abe said, urgency evident in his voice. Hellboy registered it before Liz, who seemed in some sort of dreamy trance, sensing the tone he immediately felt unnerved and went to retrieve his girl.

"Give me your hand babe." he said gently. Liz blinked, suddenly confused. It took her a few seconds to process what did he want her to do, but when she was going to lift her hand, she realized she was stuck.

"Red." she said, her voice quiet "I can't take my hads off it." Hellboy looked confused "What do you mean you can't-"

It happened so suddenly. By now everyone figured that the cteature wasn't a regular horse and could in fact understand everything that had been said. Like a lightning from a clear sky it took off in a fascinating speed. Hellboy cried out his loves name while Abe's breath has been stolen. He finally understood what was going on and Liz was in deep trouble.

At this point both of them were running after the two. But they could never match the speed of the beast. Liz knew she had to do something when she saw where the creature was headed. She tried to concentrate on increasing the heat inside of her, until she burst into blue flames.

The creature let out a pained screech full of agony and fear and if it wasn't going in an unhuman speed before, it sure was now. Abe would later tell that it sounded nothing like a sound horses make. It resembled a human scream, but then times more terrifying.

All the agents looked from their work when they heard the commotion. And all of them jumped to their feet when a horse, that was on fire, ran past and straight into the water.

Liz could feel the water detaching her body from the beast. Even though she couldn't feel it anywhere around her, she still kept herself hot enough to boil it slightly.

Then she felt something grab her arm and pull her upwards. Thinking it was the beast she thrashed as much as she could, but when they broke to the surface and she could hear her boyfriend's shouts to try and calm her down, she stilled almost immediately.

Abe was surprised to see them both covered in some sort of black goo when they got out of the water. He pointed it out and told them it would be best to clean up. They didn't have anything against it and left him alone.

The next twenty minutes were chaotic. Agents ran all around the place, some tending to Liz, some questioning Abe and Red, some taking samples from the weird water and some looking for the Kelpie.

"A Kelpie? What's that?" Hellboy asked. "Well, it is a water creature living mostly in Scotland and Ireland. Because it's so far away from BPRD, we don't know much about it. That's why I couldn't figure it out for so long. However, what we do know is that in water it takes shape of a horse with a finn and on land of a beautiful horse or human." Hellboy grumbled "Well, I'm gonna kill it after they're done getting the information." if it was him it would go after, he wouldn't be surprised. But it dared lay a hoove on his Liz and that's a sin he can't forgive.

About thirty minutes later the trio joined the agents in looking for the Kelpie. They had to split up, which left Abe alone. Not that it was dangerous anymore, the Kelpie would be hurt. Abe was afraid it would die before he'd get his information and he scolded himself for feeling this way.

A few meters from him the reeds rustled and something dragging on the ground could be heard. That must be it. Abe thought. He stealthily crept to the spot and peeked between the reeds. And there it was.

It was a woman. She layed on her side, her back facing Abe. She was naked and covered in the substance from the water. Her back was badly burnt and she sounded exhausted, only shallow breaths and quiet noises of pain leaving her mouth.

He slowly came out of his hiding spot as to not scare her too much, but she was too weak to move. He came around her and saw her face. Without all the goo she'd be very beautiful. He didn't know if it'd be apropriate to calm her, so he just looked at her reasuringly, at least he tried to do so, and called to the nearby agents.

He felt strangely calm knowing the Kelpie was safe with the agents. He once again, couldn't understand his feelings. At least he could go home now.

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Please leave a like and/or a comment if you want part two ;)