#GIVE JAMES BACK TO US YOU COWARDS

[moonstruckme]

hey, i have a request idea if you'd want to indulge 🫣 could you write about remus x reader where reader isn't used to being comforted or having someone console her when she's upset/crying and it takes a bit of convincing and remus reassuring her to let him hug her or be with her while she's upset?

Thanks for requesting!

cw: modern-ish au I guess because there are portable phones

Remus Lupin x fem!reader ♡ 1.1k words

You feel lucky, you think through tears. It’s a funny thought to have, cold in the alley outside a pub with a stone-like pressure lodged in your throat, but you do. You feel lucky to have taken your call outside. That you didn’t pick up the phone while you were with your friends, or at work earlier today, or later when you’re home with your flatmate. You’re glad to have the luxury of privacy for your small meltdown.��

The sharp squeal of the door has you backing instinctively towards the wall, hiding yourself in shadows. You’re hoping the exiting patron will pass you by without noticing you, or else they’ll think you’re just out for a smoke. You’re not quite as lucky as that, though. 

“Y/n?” Remus calls your name out the door. He’s not as noisy as the rest of your friends even when he’s trying to be, just loud enough to be heard. Like a coward, you keep quiet until his head turns and he spots you. 

“Oh, thank god.” He smiles. It’s too dark, and he’s too far away to see the tears on your cheeks. “You’ve been gone a long while. James was scared you’d been kidnapped.” He opens the door to the pub further. “Ready to come back in?” 

You clear your throat. “I’ll be there in a minute.” 

Remus’ smile fades into bemusement. “You’re not still on the phone?” 

“No...” 

“What’s wrong?” He steps outside, letting the door swing closed behind him. 

“Remus—” You reach out as if you catch it, as if you're anywhere near enough. “It’ll lock you out.” 

He doesn’t so much as glance behind him. The door shuts with a dull thud, and Remus continues towards you, brows tucking closer together as he does. 

“What’s wrong?” he asks again. 

“Nothing.” 

“You’re crying.” 

“Please go back inside.” Your voice is thin and quiet now, lined with desperation. 

Remus’ expression twinges with something like hurt. His tone is exceedingly gentle. “Why? Darling, are you alright?” 

As much as you try to stop them, his concern has fresh tears breaking past your waterline. You swallow a whimper. 

Remus takes another step toward you, reaching, and you feel like shit for taking a step back. 

“I don’t want you to see me like this,” you whisper. 

“Hey, it’s okay,” he shushes you, hands still outstretched like he’s comforting some frightened animal. The darkness blurs his features, making his irises bleed into pupils and the bump of his nose indistinct. “There’s nothing wrong with it.” 

You bite your lip, trying to quiet yourself. “I really—really don’t like to cry in front of people.” 

“I’m sorry. I just want you to be alright. What’s wrong?” 

“It’s really nothing.”

Remus makes a soft, sympathetic sound. “Okay. Can I give you a hug?” 

“Remus, I—” You press your fingertips into your eyes. “I appreciate it, and I’m sorry, but I’d like it if you’d go back inside please.” 

“I’m sorry,” he says back in much the same tone. “I’m not going to leave you out here by yourself. We can…we can go somewhere else if you want. Or I can take you home. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable, I just can’t leave you here. It’s not safe.” 

You take in a breath and nod, trying to be understanding. Tears continue to slither down your cheeks. 

“Do you want to go home?” 

“No. I…my flatmate’s there.” 

“Oh, sweetheart.” He sounds upset, his voice softening into something almost unbearable. “I wish you wouldn’t cry by yourself. We don’t have to talk about it, but I’d like it if you’d let me comfort you. Please.” 

You hold your lip between your teeth, a feeling both hollow and tight sitting in your middle. Remus takes a tentative step forward. When you don’t move, he closes the rest of the distance. 

It’s like someone’s punched the air out of you. Your shoulders give a small jerk, and Remus lays his hand flat between them, steadying with its gentle pressure. You put your arms around him. 

“Shh, it’s alright,” he murmurs. “You’re alright.” 

Everything gets worse, but it feels better. You tremble and get snot on his shirt. Remus doesn’t seem to mind. He only holds you. Over time, your upset dissolves like a tablet in water, fizzing up before it fades to near nothing. 

Remus lets you go when you pull away, tugging the sleeve of your shirt over your fist to wipe your face. He gets a few tears for you, too, combs your hair away from your face, all without saying much. He’s letting you choose the terms of what gets discussed. 

“Sorry,” you say, voice scratchy. “Thanks.” 

“You’re alright,” Remus replies. It’s a mantra at this point. 

“I’m…I didn’t really mean to…” 

“You can always come to me with things like this.” Remus gives you a tender look, one part tentative and two parts earnest. “It’s alright to be upset, yeah? I know you don’t always want to be with someone when you are, but I always want to be with you, so. Just, you can come to me if you want to.” 

“Thank you,” you say again, softer. A feeling takes form in your chest, ballooning into the space between you. It pushes and pulls at the same time. 

You wonder if Remus is feeling something similar. His lips press together almost ruefully as he cups your face in his hand, thumb rubbing tenderly over your cheekbone. 

You start to pull in a breath. 

The door to the pub bangs open. 

“There you are!” James sticks his head out, glasses refracting the light from inside. “I was half ready to phone the authorities! What are you two doing?” 

“I told you they’d be fine,” Sirius says from somewhere inside. “Probably just having a smoke.” 

“They’re not smoking.” James’ eyes squint as he tries to make you out. “They’re…” 

“We were just talking.” Remus steps toward them, letting his hand slip from your face casually. “We’re ready to come back in, though, I think.” He looks at you. “Are you?” 

“Um, yeah.” You run a knuckle quickly under your eye. Remus catches your hand, squeezing. 

“You look fine,” he promises lowly. “Lovely. Okay?” 

You feel your lips tug weakly upward. “Oh. Okay.” 

“Why are we cavorting in dark alleyways?” James asks as you both move past him. The light inside seems blinding, and you worry for your puffy eyes, but Remus’ hand is warm and reassuring in yours. “I didn’t realize how dark it was. We shouldn’t have let you take your call out there in the first place, babe. Do you two have some shadowy dealings I ought to know about?” 

“They wouldn’t be shadowy for long if you knew about them,” Remus points out. 

“Too true, Moony. But that’s why you keep me around, isn’t it. I’m your moral compass. And you owe your moral compass a pint for the fright you’ve put him through tonight, I think.”

[t1oui]

“i’m going to marry you someday,” james says, running his fingers through regulus’s curls. regulus smiles, his ear pressed to james’s heart.

“yeah?” he asks. “when?”

“as soon as you graduate.” james’s heartbeat stays steady, like this is a regular conversation on a regular night.

“yeah?” regulus asks, glancing up, meeting james’s eyes. his eyes are gray like a storm, and they’re so, so beautiful. “how?”

james smiles. “in the fields behind my parents’ house,” he says. “in summer. we’ll have everybody there — sirius and moony and peter and the girls, and all your friends, too. it’ll be perfect.”

regulus settles his head on james’s chest again. “you have this all planned out, don’t you?” he asks. james stares up at the sky, searching and finally locating regulus’s star. his star.

“of course i do,” he says. i love you, he almost says, but he leaves that for another night.

~

“i’m going to marry you someday,” james says, pulling regulus closer. his laugh lights up james’s world.

“tell me about it,” regulus says, intertwining their fingers.

“we’ll dance like this,” james says, placing his hand on regulus’s waist. “all night. with everybody, all our friends. and we won’t get tired.”

regulus laughs again. his eyes are closed, and he’s pressed his cheek to james’s chest. “how will we manage that?” he asks.

james thinks for a moment, still swaying them back and forth across the floor of the astronomy tower. he’s never been good at multitasking.

“potions,” james decides. “and firewhiskey, probably.”

“mm,” regulus hums. “i won’t drink any.”

“no?”

“no.” he pulls back, opening his eyes, and smiles up at james, gray eyes twinkling. “i want to remember every second of it.”

~

“i’m going to marry you someday,” james whispers, trying to ignore the way his voice cracks. “and then i’ll get you out of here.”

regulus gives him a weak smile and scoots closer, turning around and pressing his back to james’s chest.

“tell me where we’ll go,” he says quietly. “when we run away.”

james swallows thickly, glances down at the mark on regulus’s forearm.

“away,” he says. “where they can’t hurt us.”

where i’m free, he doesn’t say, from you.

~

“i wish i was a coward,” james says, his eyes fixed on the sky. on that star — not his, after all. he looks away, but it doesn’t matter. tears cloud his vision. “i wish i didn’t have to run away from you.”

there’s no response. he’s not surprised. there’s nothing for the headstone to say anyway. james bites back a sob, wiping the tears away just in time for more to appear.

“i wish i didn’t have to run away,” he says, setting the ring down in the grass, “but i’m not sorry i left.”

[batboyblog]

My Super Gay/Queer Reading List

The Long Run by James Acker

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Another Dimension of Us by Mike Albo

Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak

Alan Cole Is Not a Coward by Eric Bell

Alan Cole Doesn’t Dance by Eric Bell

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker

Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron

Dragging Mason County by Curtis Campbell

The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara

Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

Half Bad by Sally Green

Half Wild by Sally Green

Half Lost by Sally Green

Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green

Gay Club by Simon James Green

You’re the One That I Want by Simon James Green

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

Totally Joe by James Howe

After School Activities by Dirk Hunter

At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson

A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly Straight by Jeff Jacobson

Haffling by Caleb James

The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune

A Destiny of Dragons by T.J. Klune

The Consumption of Magic by T.J. Klune

A Wish Upon the Stars by T.J. Klune

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune

Flash Fire by T.J. Klune

Heat Wave by T.J. Klune

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg

Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Every Day by David Levithan

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Ryan and Avery by David Levithan

How to Repair a Mechanical Heart by J.C. Lillis

Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden

When Ryan Came Back by Devon McCormack

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Fraternity by Andy Mientus

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller

Hero by Perry Moore

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

More Than This by Patrick Ness

Junior Hero Blues by J.K. Pendragon

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

When Everything Feels Like the Movies by Raziel Reid

Kens by Raziel Reid

Emmett by Lev A.C. Rosen

Jack of Hearts by Lev A.C. Rosen

Camp by Lev A.C. Rosen

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers by Adam Sass

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

All Kinds of Other by James Sie

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Freak Show by James St. James

Ray of Sunlight by Brynn Stein

The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis

366 Days by Kiyoshi Tanaka

The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas

Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas

Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes

Always the Almost by Edward Underhill

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

Tumblr got rid of yellow so I couldn't do pride colors, sorry!

If you want help picking something out just send me an ask with what kind of thing you're looking for and I'll select something for you, and if you end up reading something because you saw this list, please let me know

[lulublack90]

Prompt 13 - Dangerous

@jegulus-microfic January 13, Word count 312

Previous part First part

Regulus decided that maybe dashing his brother's brains on the floor might not be the best thing to do, that or the other two with him, so at the last second he cushioned their fall with a quick spongify on the slimy floor. 

They clattered down with an ‘oomph’ and bounced gently before coming to a stop, unharmed, on the floor.

“Eww! What the hell, Reggie?!” Sirius griped, jumping to his feet, the ropes falling away as he did so. He covered head to toe in what the snails had left behind. The slime was coating his hair and already tangling it. 

The other two had faired just as badly as Sirius. Remus stood to his full height, towering over Regulus, glowering. For the first time, Regulus thought he actually looked quite dangerous. He took a step back. Sirius he could mess with, but Remus Lupin, he was going to give a wide berth. 

Peter, on the other hand, was trying and failing to rid his robes of the horrid gunge, not even attempting to take Regulus on. Coward, Regulus thought as he turned his attention back to his dramatic brother.

“Why Reggie, why?!” Sirius said through gritted teeth as he wiped the worst of the smile from his face. “And why are you holding James’s hand?” Sirius’s eyes shot over to James. “Prongs, what’s going on?” Regulus let out a huge, exasperated sigh, but didn’t let go of James’s hand, he was Regulus’s now and his buffoon of a brother better get that through his troll-thick skull. 

“Explain the snails first and then perhaps I’ll tell you what’s going on,” Sirius rolled his eyes at him.

“Fine, but we’re getting cleaned up first,” Regulus waved Sirius ahead, and he and James followed the sorry-looking Gryffindors back up to Gryffindor tower, using many secret passages Regulus knew and a few he didn’t.

Next part

[batboyblog]

The Long Run by James Acker

Teenage Dirtbags by James Acker

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Another Dimension of Us by Mike Albo

Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak

Alan Cole Is Not a Coward by Eric Bell

Alan Cole Doesn’t Dance by Eric Bell

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker

Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron

Dragging Mason County by Curtis Campbell

The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara

Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

Dear Mothman by Robin Gow

Half Bad by Sally Green

Half Wild by Sally Green

Half Lost by Sally Green

Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green

Gay Club by Simon James Green

You’re the One That I Want by Simon James Green

We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra

Totally Joe by James Howe

After School Activities by Dirk Hunter

At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson

A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson

The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly Straight by Jeff Jacobson

Haffling by Caleb James

The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune

A Destiny of Dragons by T.J. Klune

The Consumption of Magic by T.J. Klune

A Wish Upon the Stars by T.J. Klune

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune

Flash Fire by T.J. Klune

Heat Wave by T.J. Klune

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg

The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg

Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Every Day by David Levithan

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Ryan and Avery by David Levithan

How to Repair a Mechanical Heart by J.C. Lillis

Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden

The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon

When Ryan Came Back by Devon McCormack

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Fraternity by Andy Mientus

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller

Hero by Perry Moore

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

More Than This by Patrick Ness

Junior Hero Blues by J.K. Pendragon

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

When Everything Feels Like the Movies by Raziel Reid

Kens by Raziel Reid

Emmett by Lev A.C. Rosen

Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by Lev A.C. Rosen

Camp by Lev A.C. Rosen

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers by Adam Sass

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

How to Get Over the End of the World by Hal Schrieve

All Kinds of Other by James Sie

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Freak Show by James St. James

Ray of Sunlight by Brynn Stein

The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis

366 Days by Kiyoshi Tanaka

The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas

Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas

Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes

Always the Almost by Edward Underhill

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

I've yet again updated my very big list, if you've read any of these let me know, if you need help picking one just ask!

[charliedawn]

The Yule Ball

You were nicely dressed for the occasion and looked around you, but all the people present were wearing masks and you couldn't find any familiar faces..However then, someone that you didn't know took your wrist and you frowned at him. He was smelling like alcohol and he looked at you like a free coursed meal..

" Are you going to dance with me, little bird ?" 

You frowned and were about to answer that he could go elsewhere to have his dance when someone else interrupted you.

Severus Snape

"I believe she asked you to leave her alone. Can't you understand English ?" 

​​​​​​You both turned around in the direction of the voice and the boy nearly laughed at the boy who had spoken up. 

"You should probably watch your mouth, creep..I swear you give me the creeps even with your mask on. Besides, I'm sure the lady will probably choose me over you, isn't that right little bird ?!" 

He asked you loudly and a new determination filled you when you saw the crushed expression on the other boy's face. You got out of the other brute’s grip and punched him in the face so hard that you're sure he would feel it for days to come. You then spat angrily at him. 

​​​​​​"I would prefer his sweet company over yours any day, you oaf ! Now, get lost !"

The boy started crying and ran away with a bloody nose. You watched him leave and suddenly grimaced in pain at your injured wrist. The oaf had a hard face to punch…The nice boy who had tried to save you looked around shyly and you extended your hand with a kind smile. 

"I'm sorry..I'm usually not so violent but, enough is enough and sometimes, a punch in the face is all that they need to get on the right path..Will you dance with me ?"

He looked at your hand and your face multiple times over in shock before finally nodding. 

"But…But your hand ?"

You took out your wand and used a spell to make it brand as new and smiled reassuringly at him. 

"See ? As good as new."

He didn’t seem that convinced but, decided to take your hand anyway. You then started dancing slowly and you even caught a smile or two coming from your partner.

A few days later, you would learn that the nice young man’s name was Severus. Severus Snape.

James Potter

"I'm sorry but, where did you read on my forehead "Little Bird"? Because that's not my name and I sure as Hell am not dancing with you..ever."

The mean boy frowned at you before tightening his grip on your arm. 

​​​​​​"Who do you think you are ?!"

You were about to answer when someone did it for you.

"A classy woman with taste. And you are trash..Now that the presentations are done, could you please get away from my date ?" 

You turned around, surprised to see another boy standing there with his hands in his pockets and smiling forcefully at the one who had gripped your arm. 

​​​​​​"I don't like repeating myself..So, either you will have disappeared from my sight in the remaining 5 seconds or I’ll get out my wand and give you a little lesson on manners.."

The mean boy—fortunately for you—did not want to fight and ran away when he understood that the threat was real. The boy who defended you then tsskd and whispered angrily. 

​​​​​​"Coward.."

You smiled and put your hands on your hips. 

​​​​​​"Thanks for the help…But, I could have managed.."

He snorted mockingly at you and you frowned. 

"Like Hell you could. The guy was practically dragging you to the exit.."

You humphed unhappily at his reply and was about to get going when he gently took your hand. 

"Okay. I'm sorry. I tend to be a bit rude when I see things that pisses me off. And this guy definitely pissed me off. But, I would really like a..?!"

He didn’t have time to finish the end of his sentence that you were already dragging him on the dance floor. You started dancing and he smirked teasingly down at you. 

​​​​​​"I was gonna ask for a kiss…but that's nice too."

You blushed a little but replied with another humph. 

"Don't push your luck, Potter.."

But, you couldn’t hide your smile and he noticed it. He smiled back at you and whispered in your ear. 

"In all honesty, I was kinda jealous..I was not gonna leave that guy take your first dance..After all, you are my date, Y/N.."

Peter Pettigrew

You smiled politely but still insisted on the fact that you didn't want to dance, especially since you didn't know how, but the mean boy was persistent and you started raising your voice at him. 

"Hey ! Stop it ! I already have a date and I'm sure he'll be there soon !" 

The boy snorted mockingly at you before replying. 

"Sorry, sweetcheeks, but if anyone was coming, they would have been there already. Especially after seeing such a piece of work.."

He eyed you up and down suggestively and you blushed in embarrassment—with tears in your eyes. You were about to scream for help when someone suddenly took the hand of the boy and twisted it painfully, making the boy scream in pain. 

​​​​​​"The girl said she didn't want to dance. You should have taken the hint the first time around. By the way, sorry for the wait—darling—I took too much time to get prepared.."

Peter looked at you with a smile and winked playfully at you while the pervert got out of his grip and screamed. 

​​​​​​"You're crazy !"

He then ran away and you watched him go with a sigh of relief. But then, your savior took a step towards you and extended his hand forward. 

"I'm not a good dancer either…but it's better than being harassed by jerks like him all night, right ?"

You hesitated to take his hand, but finally did with a small smile. 

"Yes. Thank you, Peter."

He nodded understandingly before finding a corner where you would be far enough from any unrequited attention. He then started to dance with you and you felt safe in his arms.

Lucius Malfoy

You ignored the mean boy and politely asked him to move his hand away, but he only tightened his grip on you. 

"Come on. A girl like you should not be alone at a party like this one."

He whispered in your ear and you repeated firmly. 

"I was perfectly fine until you came along, sir..And now you're hurting me, so please stop and remove your hand from my person ?" 

He frowned at you but, as he was about to say something else, a hand gripped his wrist and you both turned towards the gentleman who was exceptionally well-dressed. There was only one person with such lovely blond hair and splendid fashion style. Lucius. He was frowning at the boy and said in a rather calm but threatening tone. 

​​​​​​"I think the lady was clear enough. You are hurting her and she does not want to dance with you.."

The boy glared at him but, let you go and walked away. Your savior glared at the boy until he was out of view and then, he looked back at you with a gentle smile. 

"Are you alright, my dear ?" 

​​​​​​You smiled back and nodded. 

​​​​​​"Yes, thank you.."

He nodded back and to his surprise, you were the one extending your hand towards him. 

"I know I just turned him down but, I really want to dance with you. You seem kind and I want to thank you for your help. But, if you don't want to dance, I'll understand and leave you be.."

​​​​​He looked down at your hand for a second before smiling and taking it. 

​​​​​​"It would be my pleasure.." He lead you to the dance floor and you started waltzing together. Then, he bent down and whispered in your ear. 

​​​​​​"You are lovely tonight, and as endearingly honest as the first time I met you…Y/N."

You smiled as he uttered your name and pulled him closer.

Sirius Black

"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer a dance with me ? See, the lady and I are a duo kind of deal and if you want to get into her pants..You shall also have to get into mine..Unfortunately, you're not really my type, so, I'll ask you kindly to bugger off, buddy." You looked at your mysterious savior with widened eyes and started laughing as he winked at you playfully. 

​​​​​​"Ugh ! Weirdos !" The boy said before walking away, surely to search for another young girl who wasn't protected by a nutcase. You looked up at him and he looked down at you with a knowing smirk. 

"Well ? Don't I get a dance after my brave attempt to save you ?" 

You arked an eyebrow at him before smirking too. 

"Would that not ruin our "duo" ? And brave ? Really ? You just made the both of us look like fools.."

He rolled his eyes playfully before extending his hand forward towards you. 

​​​​​​"For you ? I'll take the chance. And I don't really care what they all think, I saved a pretty lady and if you accept to dance with me ? It would have been worth it.."

You chuckled before putting your hand in his and answering. 

"Lead the way !" 

He then made you both break a path through the many dancers, searching for the spot with the most light and you arked an eyebrow. 

​​​​​​"Narcissistic much ?"

He pretended to be offended and gasped dramatically. 

"Me ?! Never.."

You both laughed together before starting dancing until the end of the song. You then looked up at him and he smiled down at you. 

"Anything on your mind, Y/N ?"

Your eyes widened in surprise.

"You know me ?" 

He chuckled before gently running his hand in your hair. 

"Of course I know you. Don't you recognize me ? After nearly one year in the same transfiguration class. I thought you would at least have learned my name."

It then clicked and you laughed.

"Well…I’ll be damned. The infamous Sirius Black. McGonagall’s worst nightmare. The prank master. Dancing with little old me. I feel humbled."

Sirius grinned wildly before pulling you closer.

"Yeah…But, tonight. Sirius will do just fine."

You were momentarily stunned before smiling back and accepting his hug wholeheartedly.

"Alright, Sirius."

Remus Lupin

"I'm sorry gentleman but, this lady is already taken."

The mean boy turned towards the boy who had just spoken—ready to protest—but finding that he was at least two heads taller than him and smiled awkwardly. 

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know."

He then quickly let go of you and walked away without adding anything. You smiled gratefully at the other boy while gently trying to soothe your wrist by massaging it. 

"Thank you. I thought he would never leave."

But then, he frowned at you and you felt scared for a second, only to be reassured when he extended his hand forward and asked. 

"Your wrist…May I see it ?" 

You showed it to him and he gently ran his thumb over the bruise already forming. He then surprised you by kissing it gently and you blushed multiple shades of red at the intimate gesture. He then guided you away to the part of Hogwarts where you could see the stars and you followed him, as if hypnotised…

He took out a chocolate bar from his pocket and handed it to you. 

"It will help with the pain. Trust me."

You took it with a grateful smile. 

" Thank you. You are very kind."

He smiled back at you and took off his mask. He then took a deep breath with his eyes closed.

"Finally…I hate masks." He then turned towards you and extended his hand towards you with a smile. "Remus. Remus Lupin."

You looked down at his hand before smiling and shaking it.

"…Y/N. Pleasure."

The Twins

"Hey ! That's no way to treat someone, especially a lady ! And sorry big boy but, she already promised me that dance..." 

A ginger-headed boy said while wrapping his arm around your waist. But the mean boy only snickered at him. 

"What are you gonna do about it, carrots ?" 

Suddenly, another arm wrapped itself around your waist on the other side of you and you were surprised to see the exact same boy who smiled cheekily at him. 

"Actually, she promised us that dance, Fred. And it's what we're gonna do to you that you should be worried about. And carrots ?! Really ?! Find some originality at least !"

The boy who was bothering you—outnumbered��ran off while the two boys looked at each other and laughed as they threw the same insults at him. 

"Chicken ! Ape ! Gorilla ! Cat-fish !…"

The one called Fred then added. 

​​​​​​"See ?! That's originality and talent in one swing ! Take some notes next time !" 

You smiled gratefully at them both, recognising your favorite twin brothers and kissed them both on the cheeks. 

"Thank you. You're my heroes."

They both blushed wildly and smiled widely at you before answering at the same time. 

"No problem !" 

You faked trying to remember before asking with a teasing grin. 

"Now…who’s my date again ?"

…They started arguing with each other before you decided to give each of them a dance.

[imamotherfuckingstar-lord]

imagine waiting for bucky

angst/fluff

The sound of sirens echoed in your eyes and the phantom touch of his hand on yours burned your soul. It was dramatic, but that’s how you felt. Every time he looked in your direction, it hurt. How could this have happened? Months of bliss and bed sharing, his fingers on your skin – his mouth on your neck. The way his arm would sling around your shoulders, walking side by side until you got too silly and wouldn’t stop bumping into him. He’d call for a truce, pull you in for a kiss; every time, it never failed and now he’s standing in front of you after disappearing for months.

“How have you been?”

“Is that supposed to be a joke? I’m not in a funny kind of mood, I’m working.”

Bucky held his tongue because he had no right to object to the tone of your voice or the disdain in your eyes; although he hoped it was all feigned, for show. There were agents everywhere and you were certain you were needed somewhere, so you made it known and began to walk away but then he did the one thing that could stop your heart. He called out your name. Turning back to him, you gave an exhausted what and he walked to you. “Can we talk, please.”

“No.” You were blunt, and he flinched, but he wouldn’t budge. Shoulders collapsing from the tension, you sighed. “I can’t James…”

James.

Ouch.

“I owe you an explanation, let me explain.”

He owed you more than an explanation for his disappearance; if time was something that could be bargained or allotted, he’d owed you a bountiful amount. If love could be calculated and weighed, he’d owe a ton. If you weren’t such a foolish person, you would have never allowed him to approach you but here you were, a foolish fool.

“When I look at you, it hurts.” You confessed; eyes fixated on Bucky. “You’ve been gone for seven months without a goddamn word. Even Sam wouldn’t say where you were; how do you think that made me feel? You’re no coward, Bucky, if you didn’t love me…then you should have told me.”

The man’s demeanor shifted; his fist clinched and his eyes hardened. The change made you angry because what did he have to be angry about? He was the one that left you, he wasn’t the one that put their heart on the line just to be forgotten.

“I’ve always loved you. It’s always been you…but I -I was afraid.” What was there to be afraid of, you questioned, and his eyes softened. “After everything I’ve done, I don’t deserve to have you.”

“Grow up,” you snapped, stepping to him. His eyes matched yours and you reached up, giving him a hefty slap. Through your teeth, you told him to stop being a goddamn martyr. “That wasn’t you, you had no control but I’m not going to keep repeating myself. I can’t be responsible for making you feel worthy, you must forgive yourself - not that there is anything to forgive. The people who know you understand what really happened. You want to punish yourself; I can’t stop you but don’t drag me down with you. I can’t take it.”

The tension between your bodies simmered into a low whisper as Bucky closed his eyes; the sirens echoing in his ears and your phantom touch on his face. When he opened his eyes, you were walking away but you hesitated before turning to him. “Are you coming with me or not?”

No words could be used to describe the relief he felt down to his bones when your hand reached out to him – you were right, he needed to stop punishing himself because it was clear it was hurting those around him…especially you. And he had done enough of that. He had hurt you enough that he’d spend the rest of his lifetime making up for it even if it meant being happy. Being in love and living the life that was once stolen from him.  A smile pulled from your lips when his palm touched yours, fingers gripped yours and you knew all you were was a big talker because even if it meant a life time, you’d always wait for him.  

[reysdriver]

Come Home & We'll Talk | J.P.

part 2 of Behind The Venue; James comes home to ask you to stay with him — rockstar!james x fem!reader angst/fluff

warnings: angst, swearing, mentions of like sexual acts

words: 0.9k

a/n: sorry this took forever lol, y'all wanted a happy ending so here it is

You hadn’t looked at any social media since finding out about James and Lily, nor did you want to. Giving James a chance to tell you everything was better than surfing through a whole bunch of pity, lies, and other crap on the internet. 

You sent James a text—another thing you hadn’t checked since—and told him the only way you were willing to talk about what happened would be if he came home in the middle of the boys’ tour. 

You honestly hadn’t expected him to come back at all—let alone the next day—so when he showed up with a giant bouquet of pink roses, you reluctantly let him inside your shared flat. 

“I’m sorry, my love. I came back so you could hear that.” He told you, putting the flowers down on your kitchen table. 

“No, you came back because you got caught with Lily Evans and I told you I wouldn’t talk over the phone.”

He slumped his shoulders and took off his backpack. Was that all he brought back? He dropped it onto the floor by his feet, but looked hesitant to do anything else. 

“But I promise you I’m sorry. I’ll explain everything.”

Ignoring the flowers, you sat down on your couch and James followed, but stayed on the other side in case you didn’t want him to touch you. 

“How long has it been going on?” You asked sadly. Any preamble or excuses would just be bothersome, you just wanted to know the details. 

“Not long. It was just after a show in Lisbon, I was really missing you and Lily said we should all go out to a bar to cheer me up. We got drunk and did some stuff, but we never had sex.”

He knew that didn’t make it much better, but he was going to drop every detail that could help his case. 

“And how many times have you ‘done stuff’ since then?”

“Since Portugal, we haven’t done anything more than make out. It was only a few times, and I felt like shit every single time.” James admitted. “I should have told you—”

“Yeah, you should have.” You told him firmly. You would have felt strong if it weren’t for the shake in your voice with every word. “Instead, you let it get out to the whole world, and I had to find out through a bunch of your fans.” 

“I know. I was wrong. I’m a coward, my love. I was going to, but I kept worrying that you would leave me. I need you in my life.” 

“So much so that you went and messed around with her?”

“It was bloody stupid, I know. I already told her that anything we had is over, even if you don’t take me back. But, please, I’ll do anything for you to stay with me.”

As much as you hated to admit it, he seemed genuine. Like he really was sorry about what he did, like he really did need you. It wasn’t quite enough, but he was getting there. 

“Was she the only one? This was the only time?”

James sensed that you were starting to accept his apology, but he wasn’t going to smile and celebrate yet. “Yes, I promise. This was the only time it’s ever happened and it’ll be the last too.”

“How do I know that, Jamie?” 

“(y/n), I will let you cut my dick off if that’s what you need to believe I’ll never do it again.” He used his hands to act out the idea he had just described and it made you laugh through your persistent teary eyes. “I’ll let you keep my hands and feet tied any time I’m away from you?”

“Promise?”

“I promise. We aren’t doing any more shows with her band anymore, and I want you to come on the rest of the tour with us. The Marauders don’t need an opener, but I do need you.”

You already knew what you were going to say, but it was fun to tease him a bit after what he did. “And what if I don’t come with you? Then what would you do?”

“I won’t do anymore shows.” James said seriously. “I’ll stay here with you. I’ll make a million gestures to make it up to you—well, I’ll do that anyways, but I’ll just make a million gestures at home.” 

You scooted towards James’ side of the couch and picked up his hand to fidget with it. “Okay. I’ll come with you.” 

James needed to make sure he heard your mumbled words correctly and his ears weren’t just telling him what he wanted to hear. “You will? Really?”

“Yes.” You confirmed. “Mostly because your manager would be pissed and all your fans would be heartbroken if you missed all those shows.” 

You reached up to kiss him softly, thanking him for the apology and explanation. 

“And you’re not mad at me?” He asked as you kissed his cheek. “You forgive me?” 

“I trust that you won’t do it again and I’m staying with you, but you have a lot to do to make up for everything.”

“I’ll do anything.” He leaned down to kiss you again. It was more passionate than when you kissed him; he knew he had a lot more to thank you for than you did to him. 

He let off your lips and gestured to the kitchen with a nod of his head. “And you saw the flowers? You like them?”

You couldn’t help but laugh at him. “Yes, James, I saw the flowers. They’re very pretty.” 

“Good, ‘cause there’s a bouquet coming from every tour stop for you.”

[selfish-thunder]

I’ve fallen into a Marauder’s time era rabbit hole in the HP fandom, and I’ve really been enjoying the portrayal of Peter Pettigrew. And it gave me an idea

AU where Peter isn’t a piece of shit. He’s still a coward, but being a Gryffindor means he learns how to turn his cowardice into something actually helpful. He’s still not as talented as the others, but that just means while the others took lead in the spellwork, he was on the side lines able to see when pranks were about to go sideways and could plan for it. He was shy and timid at first, but you can’t be friends with The Marauder’s without growing thick skin and learning to give as good as you got. 

His special skill set? Being the unassuming one. Oh, that sweet Peter, not nearly as attractive or talented, following around that Potter and Black like a lost puppy, always needing tutoring from Lupin (there’s a good lad, always making time for Peter even with the added prefect duties)...

Yeah, no. 

The Marauders send Peter in first to stake out a joint. 

“Oh, I’m sorry, Professor! Honest, I wasn’t trying to get into the Hufflepuff common room. I was looking for the kitchens. James and Sirius have detention with McGonagall again tonight, so I wanted to have some snacks waiting for them when they got back.”

“Good morning, Professor! Beautiful day, isn’t it? … Huh? What do you  mean this is an overgrown path to the Forbidden Forest only staff use? Sirius told me it was a shortcut to greenhouse seven! Oh, no! Sorry, professor! Sorry, sorry, but um… do mind writing me a note? I’m going to be late if I have to double back!”

Peter happily takes on the role of spy for the Marauders, for espionage and good ol’ slight-of-hand.

“Excuse me, professor, but um… Snape is out in the courtyard with James, and–” professor rushes out “Excellent, now for those potion ingredients…”

bag tears as they’re leaving charms class “You guys go on! No, don’t worry, Professor, you go on to lunch. This happens all the time. I’ll be out in a jiffy” alone in the classroom “Aha, see Professor, we weren’t late with our essays, you just didn’t look in this drawer… Eew, Snape’s essay… I’d say this could benefit from a little editing…” evil giggle

“No, I overheard the whole thing while waiting for the Pepper-Up in the hospital wing. They don’t think the Ravenclaw Seeker will be able to play. I don’t know who they’re replacing him with, but it sounded like it might be Miller, James. Oh, and I nick those late slips, Sirius, here you go.”

Give me a Peter who was genuinely loyal and loved his friends like they loved him. He’s still a Little Shit, but he’s not a Piece of Shit.

[gaysindistress]

Связи (n.) connections - two

disclaimer: credits to original creator/poster of image/gif. found on google/Pinterest

pairings: mob!bucky x reader

Summary: “Did you think you could hide from us? That’s adorable, little one. There’s no where on this planet where you could hide from the Shostakov Bratva and even if you did manage to evade us, the Barnes Bratva would find you. Your связи, your connections, will always come back to haunt you, Y/N.”

Warnings: Cursing, guns

Word count: 2.6k

part one | series masterlist

taglist: @unaxv @identity2212

“Don’t even think about it,” the hand squeezes my arm as I try to look up to confirm what I know to be true.  “Walk.”

“Let go of me,” I mumble and try to pull my arm away but it’s useless. He has an iron grip and I know there will be bruises by the morning from how hard he is grabbing me. 

Good. it’ll give me a reason to slit his throat. I find myself thinking and a horror fills me at my own thoughts. Not even five minutes in my father’s presence and I’m already slipping back into that way of thinking. 

“You think you’ll survive if I did that?” my captor grumbles, jerking me along towards the edge of the room. “Look around, Oksana. How many of your father’s men do you see? Hm? How about my men?” 

On cue, the crowd erupts in a frenzy of cheers and chants when we reach the edge of the room and he pulls me fully into the shadows. I let out a groan of pain as my back hits a wall and the heavy sound of hands slamming next to my head catches me off guard. A looming figure cages me against the cold stone and blocks my view from the party…the fucking party that’s started in honor of my sister’s death. 

“Tell me what you see,” the figure demands and my eyes are straining to make out any features. 

“All I see is a fucking dick head who grabbed me and threw me against a wall.”

A chuckle. 

A familiar chuckle. 

James Barnes is the figure that all but dragged me to this hallway and slammed me against the wall. The Pakhan of the Barnes Bratva is the one who’s leaning over me and demanding things from me like I’m one of his side pieces. Bucky, the man my sister loved more than her own family and probably died protecting, found me in a matter of minutes and fear floods my veins as the realization hits me. 

He takes notice of my sudden silence and smirks, “What do you see now?”

“A. Dick. Head.”

His smirk never fades but grows and he yanks me away and down the hall with both of my hands in one of his massive ones. During our little “detour” the party has turned into something from the movies and my father’s men have come to line the hallway walls instead of the main room. Protecting their sweet Pakhan as if he isn’t a Soviet breed killing machine. 

They bow their heads and avert their eyes when we walk past and I wish just one of them would look at me instead of acting like a coward. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that they know who I am from the way they do everything to avoid making eye contact. They most certainly know who Bucky is and it ignites my infernal hatred for him and my father again. 

At the end of the hall is a set of black metal doors; a contrast against the red decor and white marble of the house but a menacing sight no less. An older man I don’t recognize nods to Bucky before he opens the doors and steps aside to let us in. I throw a pitiful look in his direction but he’s closing the doors and disappearing into the hall. Another set of doors halts us but this time it’s opened when Bucky types in a code into a small keypad off to the side. 

And what awaits us is my worst nightmare. 

My father is sitting in a disgustingly large and overwhelming red chair at the back of the room with my mother and remaining sister sitting on the matching couch. Yelena is staring up at the ceiling with her arms crossed while Melina is reading a book as if this isn’t the world's worst family reunion. 

“Ах, моя милая Оксана! Я так рада, что ты смогла приехать. Мы скучали по тебе,” Alexei says with his fake smile that never reaches his eyes. 

Ah my sweet Oksana! I’m so glad you could make it. We’ve missed you.

I say nothing. I can’t. It’s sludge in my stomach and molten lava in my tongue. 

“Приходите. Садись. Давай догоним.”

Come. Sit. Let us catch up. 

Bucky hauls me towards them when I don’t move on my own and I stumble, falling into him. He catches me with a grunt and stumbles backwards himself before shoving me to the couch. Yelena makes no attempt to acknowledge me and Melina raises an eyebrow at the bounce of the couch but nothing else. 

Typical. 

“My darling Oksana,” Alexei starts and my voice finds itself again. 

“That’s not my name,” I blurt out and now all eyes are on me. “Not anymore. I go by Y/N now.”

“Y/N,” he says as he draws out the letters. “The name your mother called you. I remember how you got it, don’t you, Melina?”

She sighs and nods. 

“Alexei,” Bucky says harshly from where he’s been leaning against the wall, arms crossed and a scowl on his face. 

“I know, I know,” my father grumbles and pins me with a sudden serious stare. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“I imagine it’s because Nat…” I stop. I can’t say it. 

“Yes, sweet Natasha is dead but not to worry, Y/N. Your life isn’t in danger or at least it won’t be soon.”

I narrow my eyes at him, confused and his next words so nothing to clear it up. 

“Antonia has decided that she needs to enact revenge and has been making our lives difficult as of late. She’s already made an attempt on Yelena and well as you can probably guess, made a successful one on Natasha’s. I fear that the unseen protection I once offered you isn’t enough anymore and we both know that your agent Danvers will do nothing if it means she can get close to Antonia or me for that matter.”

“Antonia as in Dreykov’s daughter?” 

“Who the fuck else would it be?” Bucky snaps and we exchange a nasty glare. 

Alexei huffs but continues, “But being the amazing father and businessman that I am, I was able to broker a peace treaty so to speak.”

Bucky shifts uncomfortably and I study the way he’s drumming his fingers on his arm although he’s trying to hide it. 

“What kind of treaty?” I ask while still watching Bucky. 

“A beneficial one.”

I roll my eyes and give my father a blank stare, “for you. It’s always only beneficial for you.”

“Would you rather me let you die?”

“You haven’t had an issue doing just that for the last ten years.”

His eyes harden and he leans forward as he speaks to me, “I didn’t know where you went. I only found you three years ago.”

I lean forward too, “I wish you hadn’t.”

Melina finally speaks up and says my name in a way only a mother could. 

We both return to semi comfortable positions and stare at each other. 

“You’re marrying Bucky,” Yelena casually states. Her eyes have closed but she’s still leaning her back back against the couch with her blonde waves hanging over the back. 

“What?” Is all I can think to say. I look to my father and then to Bucky for anything. Denial, confirmation, laughter, fucking anything at all but I’m met with blank stares and the severe anxiety building in my stomach. 

“We need the numbers and resources. Antonia isn’t…”

The words sound fuzzy and I know I’m missing important information. 

“…Natasha was the first choice and I think we all can agree that Yelena is not an option so that leaves you, my youngest daughter and out last hope.”

“No.”

The word slipped so easily from my lips I didn’t even realize it was me who said it. 

Bucky makes a noise that I assume is meant to be a chuckle but being the devil reincarnated means he never does such a thing and it’s a strangled sound instead. 

“Y/N,” Alexei warns, “Antonia has made threats against our lives already. I’ve done what I can to protect you and let you live your life. I cannot do that anymore so i have no other choice but to do this. You have no other choice but to do this and if you can’t find it in your heart to do it for us then think of Natasha. Her death will not be in vain.”

“I think you missed explaining the part where a marriage will keep me any safer than leaving me the fuck alone.”

“He can offer you more protection than I can.”

“Stop this,” I tell Bucky and he only glares at me. “Stop this. We can find another way.”

“Уже сделано.”

It’s already done.

“Так ты говоришь, что ты бессилен,” I sneer back and smile when Bucky flinches ever so slightly. 

So you're saying that you're powerless.

The older man who had opened the door for us comes in with a large white envelope and hands it to Bucky. The Barnes Pakhan takes it with a roll of his eyes and takes out a packet of papers. Melina has finally stopped reading and Yelena is still pretending to sleep as my fate is being sealed. A pen scratches on paper and then the packet is dangling in front of my face with Bucky’s name messily scrolled next to a blank spot where I can only assume mine is meant to go. 

“I’m not signing that,” I tell Bucky and he only stares blankly at me. 

“Y/N,” Melina tries but I cut her off with a triate about how this is illegal and stupid and seflish and no one can make me do this. During my efforts to get someone to change their mind and call this all off, Bucky signs my name for me before tossing the packet to Alexei. 

“Did you just forge my signature?”

“No,” he deadpans and watches my parents sign the witness section of the marriage license. 

“Yes you did! I saw you!”

“But did you?”

“What the fuck kind of question is that? I literally just watched you sign my name on a legal document. That makes it void,” I snap at him and I swear I see the anger start to roll in. 

Bucky takes a deep breath, “And who here is going to back you up? Alexei? Melina? Yelena?”

When I don’t answer, he mutters something in Russian under his breath and tells my father that we will be leaving immediately. A man I hadn’t seen before comes up behind me and pulls me off of the couch by my arm causing me to swing at him. My fist lands with a satisfying crack on his cheek and he tumbles backwards, cradling his face as blood leaks from between his fingers. He curses under his breath and I spin around at the familiar voice. 

It was the voice of one of the man who kidnapped me that night. 

That’s when it hits me; Bucky and this man had been the ones to kidnap Yelena and me. 

“YOU,” I hiss and grab him by the face with one hand while the other pulls the small gun tucked into his waist. Pressing it against his temple, we stare at each other and after a few agonizing moments pass, the man looks down with defeat. 

“You were there,” I whisper to him, “Why?”

He looks over my shoulder at Bucky and that’s when I remember Bucky was there too. Still gripping the first man, I turn the gun to his boss and the entire room takes in a sharp breath. 

“Why?” I ask him knowing that’ll I never get an answer. His expression is a frozen image of boredom and based on what little information I have gotten in the last few minutes, it’s not likely that he’ll decide that this question deserves a response. 

“Let him go and give him his gun back,” is all Bucky says before snatching up the packet and stalking towards the door. My hand slips and the man quickly grabs his gun before dragging me along with him. 

Alexei moves to stand and Melina stops him by holding out her hand. She mutters something to him in Russian and he rolls his shoulders in response, no doubt having been told to act like a Pakhan and not a loving father. Yelena has lifted her head and is staring daggers at me but she still doesn’t say anything to me. The little girl in me begs to call out for my older sister and craves the comfort that her hug once brought me but all hope of that relationship is dashed with the murderous look she’s giving me. 

Once again my family has left me for dead without a good reason. 

Sam, as I heard Bucky call him, dabs a black handkerchief on his cheek as he inspects the small cut in the car’s tiny visor mirror. He keeps muttering under his breath and occasionally Bucky throws in a sarcastic comment to which Sam threatens to hurt in him some way. 

“Please tell me why you couldn’t have just walked up to her and played nice,” Sam says after he’s finished fussing over the truly minimal cut on his cheekbone.

Bucky looks at me in the rearview mirror, “Does she look like someone who plays nice?”

“I’m literally right here.”

Sam glances over his shoulder, “Oh I’m well aware that you’re right there. I can feel you plotting my demise.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t be thinking of the most creative way to kill you if you didn’t kidnap.”

“I didn’t kidnap you. That was Bucky.”

The man in question gives his partner the most offended look possible, “Wow. Remind me to never trust you with anything ever again.”

“Don’t act you wouldn’t give me up just as quickly,” Sam mumbles as he settles into his seat. 

“I wouldn’t and that’s why I’m Pakhan.”

“Oh you want to play that way? Okay, okay,” he perks up and leans over towards Bucky. “We had a plan walking into that fake ass funeral and it didn’t involve either of us getting punched or you getting married. Want to explain how your plan to get in and get out epically failed, Pakhan?”

Bucky’s jaw clentches and his hands grip the steering wheel tighter, “Look, let me walk you through a hypothetical. Can I walk you through a hypothetical?”

“If it involves telling me how you managed to royally fuck this entire thing then yes but otherwise, no.”

“I didn't...do anything. That’s on Alexei. I almost had him…”

Sam lets out a loud and dramatic sigh, “You did not almost have him. He was never going to agree to your terms and you know it.”

“Someone want to fill me in?” I pipe up and both men say no loudly at the same time. I raise my eyebrows in surprise and again they both sigh before Bucky starts talking. 

“Alexei is an idiot.” 

“You’re not wrong,” I mumble and I swear I see him smirk. 

“He got lazy with cleaning up the mess Dreykov made and now he’s too weak and stupid to handle the consequences. He’s more concerned about his reputation than he is actually running his bratva and he somehow managed to rope me into his bullshit.”

“What does that say about you?”

“You’re the daughter who escaped, how do you think it looks that you’re also part of this?”

I don’t answer. I’m well aware of how stupid and naive this whole situation makes me look. I did escape whether or not thanks to Bucky kidnapping me all of those years ago, but I escaped and yet I still wound up being entangled in my father’s mess. I was free but now I’m both legally and morally bound to Bucky. 

The rest of the car ride is silent. Only when we pull up in front of Carol’s apartment building do I say something. 

“What the fuck is going on?”

[hedgehog-troops]

"all generations of potters fall in love with blacks"

strap in, this is a long one

i propose to you euphemia black.

euphemia who took her little cousin, walburga, under her wing the moemnt she was born. they played together, effie was the situated babysitter despite being only 6 years older.

effie who walburga used to call eff all throughout.

effie when she went to hogwarts and came back to tell walburga tales of hogwarts, and walburga listened about the mystical and magical stuff.

walburga who wanted to get a job in the high ranks of the ministry and wanted to study hard for it. euphemia who would come back from hogwarts and teach her small stuff.

slowly as euphemia got older, she started to rebel a bit, hanging out with muggles and always with that blood traitor fleamont potter.

cut to walburga joins hogwarts and she's scared that no one will like her cz she's not cool like euphemia, she's just smart.

euphemia gives up time with her friends to stay with walburga, show her around, entertain her, tutor her and everything.

walburga when she goes home and get scolded by her parents and told to stop hanging out with euphemia and to hang around with her pureblood friend but walburga likes euphemia so she continues.

thats up until she comes back from her secodn year and her mother threatens her and walburga is like well im only hanging out with euphemia to gather info (in an attempt to save herself) and she rats out that effie is not only dating monty but also intends to elope with him.

effie gets disowned and theres a kind of target put on her and Monty's back. walburga writes and writes to her apologizing, but she doesn't accept.

walburga then has no choice but to play perfect daughter, to do as shes told, to marry young.

when walburga finds out that her son (sirius) and euphemias son would be going in the same year, she warns sirius, in her own sadistic manner, to never engage with him.

when sirius comes back yapping about the potter boy, she yells at him, but she just doesn't want him hurt as she was.

when james comes home talking about sirius black, euphemia has to close her eyes shut and remind herself that she promised herself she wouldnt meddle in her son's friendships.

when walburga tries her best to draw out information about sirius's friends out of him and he doesn't give out a word she knows that her son is stronger than she ever was.

she sees sirius rebel, again and again, despite her emotional, mental and physical torture and she hates him for being better than her, and yet she loves him all the same for that reason.

sirius runs away, and she could make the potters' life hell just like her family did with eff all those years ago but she doesnt. shes heartbroken, shes angry, shes sad, shes livid but a part of herself is proud of her son for doing what she never had the courage to.

when The Prank™ takes place and euphemia watches as it takes her son time, maybe a long time, but he still forgives sirius and they treat him as they did before, she realises that the boy she raised is a better and bigger person than she ever could be.

as walburga watches her younger son break under the pressure of one sharp look and a few loud words to reveal that sirius ran away, she hates regulus at that moment. hates him for not being like sirius, hates him for being a coward, but most of, she hates him for being herself, for being her mirror.

years go by, she leaves sirius' room untouched, shes not worthy enough to step in.

the war rages around them and euphemia, years later, opens one of walburgas letters. she reads the tear stained, smudged words as she takes in the sweet innocence of the letter. euphemia potter has always been a self assured woman, though at that moment she couldn't help but hate herself.

she hates how now she sees walburga in sirius, she sees sirius laugh with james and dance with remus and play with peter and wonders if walburga couldve had this life.

she welcomes death with open arms a monh later, but not before sending her own letter.

walburga watches the letter catch fire until all that's left of it is gray ash because she knows that euphemia all but did the same.

when walburga gets regulus' death letter, she, for the first time in years, breaks down.

she realises at that moment that she isnt a horrid person because of her circumstances, she just is.

[midnight1nk]

So, this week's episode...

[spoilers below cut]

oooohhhh, so we're doing another one of these, eh? let's have some fun!

(the following is my live reaction:)

ah yes, the new TADC episode, which was fantastic btw

HELL YEAH

I honestly didn't expect that bc I was like, "what kinda trip would it be for them to take a bike? camping maybe???" (I still don't get the "trip" part about it tbh)

sooooooo teasing and banter are part of your (platonic/romantic) love language?..... [*writes it down*]

3, we all know Mario is basically invincible right? betting 4 dollars on him winning this race

ooooohh, a prize 👀 though based on past episodes, 4 doesn't have the greatest ideas for prizes, judging by the Crew's reaction at least (I would still want your autograph, 4)

LET'S-A FUCKIN GOOOOOOOO

honestly mood

"imaging yourself as a jet plane will not help you zis time, jet" (gotta add the riders fandub in here man)

That wasn't even Mario's fault, that was a bigass rock

PFFFT ASHD;LAF four tf are you doing dude, can i join you

[*looks at moon*] don't say it don't say it don't I'VE COME TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT—

If Mario's flexible enough to reach the moon and the sun and the Great Beyond, you can too 👍

oh my god, i get it /ref

WHY IS THAT ROCK STILL THERE?

whelp Kev, looks like you aren't voicing Boopkins this episode

I miss your pink reading glasses 3 (wait did you somehow lose them on that island?)

also you do need glasses, my guy? i think you would cute in them btw

so um... who's gonna tell him?

(actually now I thought about it, the drawing that 4 had was on his PC and it got thrown away. 4 please tell me you saved that file somewhere else, was the printed-out version in 3's notebook actually canon? can it be?)

apparently fanartists, we need to make for fanart of 3, let's get to it!!!

loved the way James delivered that line "ouchie" (timestamp 5:29)

OH HEY slenderman, it's been a while, hello!

Kev, is that you? I can hear a bit of Shroomy in that voice

🤔 huh

Tari and Luigi are so sweet, I love them 💙

"I don't have eyes so I can't see you!" 🧍 not gonna question it

Mario, what were you so afraid of? it's slendy, your bro (looks like they didn't put that lore in smh, it's fine tho)

slenderman being here kinda fits tho bc we first saw 4's locket in the "Lost in the Woods" episode to come back in the "Plane Trip" and now slenderman comes back in another "Mario's Trip" ep

if only those cowards would show us what pic is inside that locket this time (I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT'S A DIFFERENT PIC, 4, I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE)

anyway, he's just a little guy (i'm still waiting 4)

Tari, sweetie, this is 3 we're talking about here, ofc he would cheat

[*italian gibberish argument*] ah yes, just another normal sibling moment

MARIO LOCK IN, BRO

SONIC?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? :D

alright, now we gotta do it: 📢🎶I'm hanging on to the other side, I won't give up to the end of me—🎶 [*gets run over by a bike*] OH C'MON

LET'S GOOOOOO WOAH DUDE ANIMATION

WE'RE GONNA TOKYO DRIFT IN HERE BOYS

nothing person-el, kid /ref, and the rock came back full circle

AKIRA SLIDE BABYYYYY

kinda half-expected slenderman to accidentally win the race but CONGRATS MARIO 🎉

it was really gonna be sweet but yeah, that's our Mario

I'm sure the mar3 shippers are enjoying their crumbs

AWWW 4 HONEY I WOULD ENJOY YOUR GIFT

i would protect him at all costs (no don't look at what I did for the episode concepts shhhh)

and i oop

well um congrats to Abbie/Abit (@/jYMylD9Rm84xxCX) for your art featured at the end credits 🎉

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

This was a silly little episode and I have indeed enjoyed it. Not as emotional as the last one but I had fun nevertheless. Though, it didn't feel like a "Mario's Trip" episode, compared to the other ones. Maybe that's just me idk.

The animation and references, peak. As for the plot itself, it felt very on-brand for SMG4. Strangely, the chaotic energy in this one was toned down which is new. Like I said, it was still fun, had plenty of laughs. There isn't much to say about this but yeah, good to have a silly goofy time overall!!!

and yes, I will gladly take that bell, 4 [*ding ding*] :)

[dr5amatic]

ONE OUT OF MANY ,

a sentence starter prompts list comprised of quotes from the novel the will of the many by james islington. please be advised that this list may involve topics including, but not limited to death, violence, and religion. change verbiage as needed.

watch your step. it gets slippery down here.

so what is it all for? debts? a woman? some vice that you cannot bring yourself to give up?

i know it’s not in your nature, but if you’re ever going to swallow your pride, tonight’s the night.

i’d have thought twice about coming out here if i’d realized my opponent was such a coward!

chain your anger in the dark and it will only thrive.

i wasn’t trying to kill him.

i think you’re so used to resisting, you don’t know how not to.

sometimes bullies are better off with the truth, no matter how unpleasant.

a ladder should not be climbed from the shoulders of others.

you’re placing a lot of faith in the abilities of someone you’ve just met.

conviction is admirable, but it can only take a man so far.

what i want to know is what are you punishing yourself for?

they killed your family. stole your home. don’t you want to do something about it?

this is my best chance at finding something approaching a normal life.

you only have this chance because of me, and you seem to be under the mistaken impression that this is some kind of offer.

you can still back out, but this is your last chance to do it. is this opportunity worth it? is it worth your life?

it’s hard when the lies that let you sleep are so cruelly laid bare.

you’re welcome to rest and eat before you go.

if i believed in the gods, i would say they led me to you.

there is always something more to lose.

i can hate without it coming to violence.

hate is its own violence. your choice is whether to let it hurt them, or you.

i have come to bring a reckoning for your decisions. your weakness. your blindness and cowardice and complicity.

silence is a statement. inaction picks a side. and when those lead to personal benefit, they are complicity.

you should have told me all of this from the beginning

if there is something you should be telling me, i assume you will.

you’re brighter than most—but bright doesn’t mean brave, or caring, or heroic. more often, it means the opposite.

a man will always wonder what might have been, but a wise one recognizes fortune when it comes.

how could you not resent them for what they took from you?

there comes a point in every man’s life where he can rail against the unfairness of the world until he loses, or he can do his best in it. remain a victim, or become a survivor.

there can be no love without honesty.

there are more measured approaches to justice than punching.

just because you are good at something does not make others bad at it.

whether the obstacles to our advancement arise from our ties or our actions, we need to learn to overcome ourselves. it’s not fair, but nor is the world.

a fair system only works if there’s an unbiased means of assessing merit, which means that fair systems cannot exist where people are involved.

sometimes, i’m not sure there’s anything of the real me left anymore.

there are those who see what should be, and complain that they do not get their due. and then there are those who see what is, and figure out how to use it to their advantage.

you’re not planning to kill me, then.

a cut’s only worth it if there’s poison on the blade.

we do not have to be enemies.

if all you’re trying to do is change who’s in control, then you don’t really want to change anything.

you cannot be free if you are afraid to die.

be safe, and for the love of all the gods, don’t get caught.

i am just trying to remember the last time i so vastly overestimated someone’s intelligence.

you have a reputation as a killer.

in this place… each man has to find his line. has to find it ahead of time, and be resolved never to cross it.

don’t mistake inaction for neutrality.

violence is no answer to grief.

there’s being brave, and then there’s throwing your life away.

what do you believe makes a good ruler?

don’t equate having less heart with more intelligence.

not pleasant, seeing your trust betrayed, is it?

remind me to never get on your bad side. i have no idea how i’m going to repay this.

you’re so mysterious and unpredictable.

i want you to know that you are my friend. that you have my full trust.

i envy you, you know. your capacity to do that. to trust like that.

you rotting, fetid coward.

i’m going to make sure you burn for this.

death is only meaningless if it does not change us.

[elephantshoetoo]

So, I wrote this little miwi flashback scene today. I plan to use it in The Byler Files somewhere, but I don't know where yet. Probably Vol.4.

(*warning: contains a homophobic slur.)

May 7th, 1979,

The schoolyard at Hawkins Elementary…

(It's morning recess. After staying back to talk to his teacher about a late homework assignment, 8-year-old Mike Wheeler exits the building with Miss Drew to find his best friend Will huddled in a corner, his legs pulled up to his chest, quietly crying into his knees. Mike rushes over to him, alarmed.)

MIKE: Will! What happened?! Are you okay? Why… why are you crying?

(The teacher catches up and bends down to check on him.)

MISS DREW: Will…? Honey? Can you tell me what happened?

(Will shakes his head and pulls himself in tighter.)

MIKE: Are you sick? Are you hurt?

(Still not looking up, he shakes his head again. Mike rubs his back, concerned.)

MISS DREW: Sweetie, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong…

(Will doesn't respond. He squeezes his legs like he's trying to fold in on himself and disappear.)

MIKE (to the teacher): I… I can probably get him to talk… (Nodding, she mouths, “Okay,” and continues watching them.) Um… alone.

MISS DREW: Oh. Alright. (She hesitates, but decides it's probably the best course of action.) Well, let me know if he needs anything, okay?

MIKE: Yes, ma’am.

(Once she's gone, Mike puts his arms around Will and holds him tight, rocking slightly to comfort him. He softly hums the tune of “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick. When he feels Will start to loosen up, Mike pulls back to see if he'll talk yet.)

MIKE (softly): Will? Are you okay? What happened?

WILL (sniffling, into his knees): It's… it's nothing. It's stupid.

MIKE: Hey, it's not nothing if it upsets you… You can tell me.

(Will sighs and leans into Mike, whose arm is still cradled around his back.)

MIKE: Please…?

WILL: Okay… (Mike soothingly strokes Will's hair, waiting patiently for him to feel safe enough to open up. Will tilts his head slightly and peeks up at Mike. He's greeted with an encouraging smile and relaxes a bit more. Gathering his thoughts, Will starts to talk, slowly at first, his words tinged with shame.) James and Troy were… were calling me names again. And… and everybody laughed.

MIKE: Oh.

(Mike looks out at the schoolyard. A few groups of kids are still hovering nearby, glancing at them and whispering. Mike sends them a piercing scowl and they quickly disperse.)

MIKE: What did they call you?

WILL: Troy said his dad told him I'm a… a…

(Will tears up a bit and hides his face again.)

MIKE (gently coaxing): A what?

WILL (cringing): A… a disguting… f*ggot…?

MIKE: Oh. (He looks down, wincing, then purses his lips and resolves to make Will feel better.) Well… it doesn't matter what they think. They're a bunch of stinky dunderheads anyway. (Will chuckles sadly for a brief moment.) I mean, they even waited until Lucas was home sick and I… (regretfully) wasn't here. They're total cowards.

WILL: I know, but… it's not just them – everybody thinks it. Even my dad.

MIKE: R-really…?

WILL (looking down): Yeah.

MIKE: Well… I don't.

(Will gazes over at Mike, overwhelmingly relieved to hear this.)

WILL: Y-you don't?

MIKE: No! I could never think anything bad about you. You're… you're perfect, Will.

WILL (quietly): No, I'm not.

MIKE: I think you are…

WILL: Really…?

MIKE: Yeah. Really.

WILL: But… what if it turns out they're right?

MIKE: They're NOT!

WILL: But, what if… what if they are? Would… would you still like me?

MIKE: Will. (Mike holds Will's face between his hands and peers resolutely into his eyes. He speaks gently but insistently.) I would still love you.

(A flash of joy lights up Will's whole face.)

WILL: Y-you would?

MIKE: Yeah! Of course. You're my best friend. (He squeezes Will's hand reassuringly.) Nothing could ever change that, okay?

(Fresh tears slip down Will's cheeks. He gives Mike a small, grateful smile, rubbing his thumb over Mike's knuckles for comfort.)

WILL: Okay.

(Mike tenderly caresses Will's face, wiping away his tears, then pulls him against his chest, kissing the top of his head. Holding Will securely in his arms, Mike's heart glows with a sparkly kind of warmth.)

WILL: Mike…?

MIKE: Yeah?

WILL: D’you know a f*ggot is…?

MIKE: No… D-do you?

WILL (shrugging): I dunno. Something horrible and gross, I think. It… it sounds like… some kind of… monstrous garden slug, maybe...?

MIKE (laughing): Well, you're definitely not that!

WILL (also laughing): No, I guess not.

(Mike gives Will one last comforting hug before they stand up and, hand in hand, head over to swings. Watching them from the school steps, Miss Drew smiles to herself.)

(END SCENE)

*The Byler Files, vol 1 and 2, and the first half of vol. 3 are all on AO3, under the name ElephantShoe.

Okay, now I seriously need to get back to the story I'm supposed to be working on.

(Procrastination -- the best way to get something *else* done. Am I right?)

[noblehouseofgay]

A Promise

Black Brothers microfic

Hurt/comfort

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Regulus sat on the edge of the astronomy tower, feet just barely over the edge. He was looking at the sky, looking out at stars that reminded him of his family.

He was up there with them. Trapped up in the sky, never to be free. Yes Sirius was up there, but he had done enough to distance himself. He was his own person now. Was Regulus? He didn't think so. He'd always been too much of a coward for it.

He heard light footsteps behind him, and turned his head to find the last person he expected.

"Sirius?" His words were quiet, almost unbelieving that his brother purposely came over to him. Sirius sat down next to him. Regulus stared, frozen. "You're up here a lot, Reggie."

The nickname just convinced him he was truly hallucinating. "I do. It's quiet. And usually undisturbed." His brother looked at him. He hadn't seen those eyes look at him like this in years. His eyes weren't angry, they weren't bitter. No, for once, they were just....Sirius.

"I've missed you, you know." Regulus' gawked. "Oh now I know I'm imagining this." Sirius softened. "Reggie, I mean it. You've been- ridiculously distant. Even from your friends. I'm worried. You're sixteen....I- I know what's coming for you."

"Ah. That." Regulus subconsciously rubbed his arm. Sirius eyes widened. "Did you already-" "No." His brother immediately relaxed. "Easter break. That's when it'll happen."

A gentle hand rested on Regulus' shoulder. "You have time. You have one last chance here. You'll be old enough before it happens you can leave, Reggie. Please." Regulus noticed the slight crack on the last word. An accidental slip up of how much his brother wanted to help.

"They won't let me go easily and you know it, Sirius. They let you go because they knew you'd never come back. I'm not strong like you." "Then be stronger, Reggie. You have people who want to help. Let us give you strength." Sirius turned Regulus head to look at him. "I know you don't want this, Regulus. We may not be how we used to be, but I know you. I will always know you."

Regulus saw Sirius' eyes glisten and felt his own sting a little. "I don't want this. I don't want to give up everything. Not for them." His voice was so weak and small, he felt like he was twelve again.

Sirius pulled him into a hug, gently stroking fingers through his hair. "I'll talk to James, ok? We'll get you out of there. I promise you, Reggie." He planted a soft kiss onto the smaller brother's head. "I promise..."

[batboyblog]

Super Gay Reading List

The Long Run by James Acker Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli Another Dimension of Us by Mike Albo Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak Alan Cole Is Not a Coward by Eric Bell Alan Cole Doesn’t Dance by Eric Bell The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara Peter Darling by Austin Chant Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich Half Bad by Sally Green Half Wild by Sally Green Half Lost by Sally Green Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green Gay Club by Simon James Green We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra Totally Joe by James Howe After School Activities by Dirk Hunter At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson A Complicated Love Story Set in Space by Shaun David Hutchinson The Boy Who Couldn’t Fly Straight by Jeff Jacobson Haffling by Caleb James The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune A Destiny of Dragons by T.J. Klune The Consumption of Magic by T.J. Klune A Wish Upon the Stars by T.J. Klune The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune Flash Fire by T.J. Klune Heat Wave by T.J. Klune The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan Every Day by David Levithan Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan How to Repair a Mechanical Heart by J.C. Lillis Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden When Ryan Came Back by Devon McCormack Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Fraternity by Andy Mientus The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller Hero by Perry Moore I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson More Than This by Patrick Ness Junior Hero Blues by J.K. Pendragon The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros When Everything Feels Like the Movies by Raziel Reid Kens by Raziel Reid Jack of Hearts by Lev A.C. Rosen Camp by Lev A.C. Rosen Carry On by Rainbow Rowell Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers by Adam Sass The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer All Kinds of Other by James Sie They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith Freak Show by James St. James Ray of Sunlight by Brynn Stein The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis 366 Days by Kiyoshi Tanaka The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas Spin Me Right Round by David Valdes Always the Almost by Edward Underhill Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

Blue= realistic fiction Purple=fantasy/magic Green=for younger readers Pink=sci fi/magical realism

if you want help picking out a book send me an ask, also I love it when people let me know they read a book off the list