#I could have gone with a much nicer 'you will be able to spot a new friend' but no I went the enemy route

[ithinkitsdashingshop]

Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli charms

[ladykailitha]

A Love For Christmas Part 5

Hey guys on to week three of the this lovely fic. It's nearly done, only one more chapter to write and the last two will be up next week just before Christmas!

Next up: ice skating! Robin and Eddie show off and Eddie and Steve get a little closer.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

~

The next thing I offered for them to do was maintain the pond that everyone used for ice skating.

It was an easy enough task, just scrape away the skate mark with a small sled pulled by one of the reindeer herd and the device on the back, then cover the pond with a thin layer of water to make sure the ice was kept at a consistent thickness.

All they had to do was after everyone had gone home, follow those simple instructions.

I hoped figured that they would be as exacting with the pond as they were with the snowpeople but again they proved out to surprise me yet again.

The first night I assigned the task to them, they hadn’t come in for dinner, and so I went in search of them.

I found them by the fire pits we kept around the pond to warm up between skates, sound asleep.

The reindeer had wandered off with the scraper still attached creating great big gouges in the snow, the water had flooded the pond and was creeping out over the banks, like some monstrous thing.

Quickly I turned off the water and released the reindeer. The poor thing bounded off in search of his own meal as soon as he was freed.

There was nothing to be done about the pond until the next day. There wasn’t much sun this time a year, and too soon there would be none, but the sun we would get the next day, would be enough to melt the pond back to its proper borders.

Gently I roused the elf.

They woke with a start and looked out at the pond in dismay. They looked up at me and sighed, “Why can’t I do anything right?”

I sighed too. I didn’t have an answer for the little elf. Their eyes welled up with tears and I held them close.

There must be something they were good at.

~

Steve pulled up to the rec center and gently placed his head on his steering wheel. His father had called that morning to yell at him for not coming into work.

He had tried several times to tell him that he had been dealing with vendors and things for Christmas party and that he had been given the time off to complete all of his tasks.

But still his father ranted and raved that Steve wasn’t applying himself like he should and that he needed to step up and be a man. Especially if he wanted to take over the business.

Steve couldn’t have imagined a worse fate than that. He struggled to keep up with his co-workers in meeting the same marks they did in their sleep.

And now he was going into another circle of hell. Ice skating. Something he hadn’t done since he was a kid.

He got up out of the car and walked toward the rec center. Robin had come through with the buying him a new coat, even though he told her she didn’t have to. It was nicer than his old tan overcoat. It was blue and woolen and lined with something soft and fluffy. He put it on and was instantly warm. He paired it with navy blue leather gloves and matching newsboy cap.

Steve wore his sneakers because he wanted to be able to slip his shoes off and on easily to put on his skates.

When he got to the rental line, he looked around and saw that everyone else had beaten him there. Sitting in his car with a sense of existential dread probably contributed to that. He got to the front of the line and gave him his shoe size.

“Figure or hockey?” the bored teenager asked dryly.

“Hockey.”

The kid turned around and grabbed the right size off the shelf and handed it to him, calling over his shoulder, “NEXT!”

Steve gulped and walked over to the seats and slipped off his shoes. Eddie spotted him and skidded to a stop in front of the wall.

“There you are, Stevie!” he greeted brightly. “I was starting to think you weren’t going to make it!”

Steve blushed as he strapped on his skates. He laced them as tight as he could and went to stand up. But he barely moved one half step forward and he was falling back onto the bench with a thud.

“Whoa!” Eddie said and trotted up to Steve doing the strange little chicken walk one does when they have skates on something other than ice.

He knelt in front of Steve felt the boot of his skate. “They’re the right size, but they’re aren’t keeping your ankles straight.”

Steve shook his head. “I’m wearing the right skates.”

Eddie tilted his head to the side and looked at him curiously. “Right skates?”

“Hockey skates.”

But when that didn’t seem to clear up Eddie confusion he said with a eye roll, “You know, the boy skates.”

“I didn’t know skates were gendered,” Eddie said in confusion. “Girls play hockey and there are shit ton of famous male figure skaters. Got several divisions of ‘em at the Olympics and everything. Who told you hockey skates were for boys and figure skates were for girls?”

Steve looked down at the ground mumbled something.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that,” Eddie apologized.

Steve looked up, his bottom lip quivering. “My dad.”

Eddie’s heart sank to his stomach as Steve went to explain that one and only time he’d been to a skating rink was when he was ten and he had innocently asked the attendant which type of skate would be easier for him and was handed a pair of figure skates.

He had excitedly ran out on to the ice, wobbling and happy. Until his dad spotted the skates on his feet.

It was the one and only time his dad had full on hit him. Called him all sorts of names that Steve didn’t want to repeat in polite company before dragging him off the ice and demanding their money back. Like how dare they give his boy girly skates!

Eddie cupped Steve’s cheek in his hand. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, sweetheart. But let’s get you the proper skates and we’ll get you out onto the ice, okay?”

Steve nodded.

Eddie pulled the hockey skates off of Steve’s feet and took them back to the rental attendant. Within minutes Steve was wearing the tan figure skates on his feet and Eddie was gently, gingerly leading him out onto the ice.

“It’s scary,” Steve whined, his eyes squeezed shut, when they were only two steps from the wall.

“Reach out with your hand,” Eddie said, “and you’ll be able to touch the wall.”

Steve swatted the air blindly until it landed on something solid. He hesitantly opened one eye and saw that he had accidentally landed on Eddie’s shoulder. The man who was smiling at him fondly.

“Oops!”

Eddie laughed. “You’re fine. I’ll be your guide wall if you need me to be.”

Steve looked up at him in awe. “You’re really great, you know that, Eddie?”

Eddie’s already pink cheeks burned bright red. “I think you’re pretty great, too, Stevie.”

Robin and Max came streaking toward them and Steve raised his hands for impact.

An impact that never came. Steve cautiously opened his eyes to see Eddie dusting himself off of ice shavings. Ice shavings from Robin and Max’s perfect stop.

“Don’t torment the newbie,” Eddie was admonishing them. “Steve’s never been ice skating before.”

Max’s wide green eyes turned to him in shock. “But you live in Indiana,” she said, “how is it you’ve never gone skating!”

Steve just shrugged. “My parents aren’t summer people, we weren’t usually in Indiana during the winter.”

Which was only a half a lie. His mother wasn’t a snow bunny and when it was her turn to plan the Christmas vacation it was always somewhere warm and tropical.

“Rich people,” Max said, rolling her eyes.

“That must have been so nice,” Robin said with a smile. “I would love to go somewhere warm for the winter. Just once.”

She sidled up to Steve’s other side and took his arm. “All right, the way you want to do this, is first bend your knees a little and keep your upper body inline with your knees at about hip width apart.”

Steve followed her instruction and almost immediate could feel the difference in stability.

Robin and Eddie continued their instruction and soon Steve was fairly steady on the ice. Eddie came up to them and gently took Steve’s elbow from her.

“Go show off,” Eddie said with a grin. “I know you wanna.”

Steve looked up at her and tilted his head at her. “Do you know how to do tricks and stuff?”

“I’ve been skating since I was old enough to walk,” she muttered. “I’m okay.”

She started to skate off, but Eddie called her back. “Wait, I have an even better idea.” He looked around and spotted Max.

“Hey Mad Max!” he called out. “Come keep an eye on Steve for a moment.”

She was about to tell them to fuck off when she realized what was about to happen. “Oh hell yeah.”

She raced over to Steve and carefully lead him over to the side wall. “Stay there. You’re gonna want a front row seat for this.”

Then Max put her fingers to her lips and let out a piercing whistle. “Oi, dipshits! Get your asses off the ice! Eddie and Robin are going to show off!”

Suddenly Steve was mobbed by everyone else as they all lined the wall.

Dustin grinned from ear to ear. “You’re going to really love this, Steve. Eddie and Robin are soooo cool.”

Steve just nodded as Robin and Eddie got into position on the center of the ice.

“You sure you can keep up, Eddie?” Robin teased, elbowing Eddie in the ribs.

“Bitch I’ve got moves,” he replied with a grin.

They started off together, arms out and in perfect sync.

That was when Steve noticed for the first time that Eddie was wearing figure skates too. He knew that figure skates were good for beginners but watching Eddie and Robin glide on the ice, he knew that’s not why Eddie wore them.

“Double Axel,” Robin muttered, “in three, two, one!”

They both jumped into the air and spun twice, landing without so much as wobble.

“Lutz, double Lutz, Axel,” Eddie murmured back.

Jump, double jump, and turn.

“All right,” Robin said, grinning from ear to ear, “I think we’ve sufficiently warmed up. Let’s do this, pretty boy!”

They went through a whole routine and everyone was clapping and cheering them on.

“It’s a pity they’re both gay,” Dustin said with a sigh. “Otherwise they would be perfect for each other.”

“That’s homophobic,” Max hissed. “Like, seriously shut up!”

“I am not!” He put his hands on his hips and huffed. “I’m just saying it would be cool if they were a pair off the ice as well as on it!”

Steve bumped shoulders with Dustin. “Plus it’s not nice to out people like that. Everyone should get a chance to tell people when they’re ready.”

Dustin scoffed. “Dude, I’ve seen you flirt with Eddie. You’re gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide.”

Steve pushed his shoulder. “Bisexual, thank you. Shit, kid. You don’t get to decide people’s sexuality for them.”

“Shhhh!” Mike hissed. “Just watch them.” He rolled his eyes.

Then they were done and everyone skated over to them.

“You guys were amazing,” Steve said a little breathlessly.

Eddie grinned at him.

They went to go take off their skates as the zamboni started to make its way on to the ice. Max at the helm with Robin riding along. They all piled through the same the opening, Eddie and Steve pulling up the rear.

Steve looked over his should at them. “I didn’t think they let teenagers run the zamboni.”

“Max knows her way round a rink and a zamboni better than most people,” Eddie said with a smile. “Her mom has worked at the rink every winter since she was twelve when they moved here from California.”

Steve looked back at Eddie. “That’s a long way to move.”

Eddie just shrugged. “Susan is from here and got tired of the constant sun.”

Then suddenly Eddie was grabbing him and hauling him up on to the rinkboard.

“Jesus H. Christ!” Eddie cried. “That’s cutting it awfully close, Maxine!”

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” Max hissed hitting the kill switch. “Sorry, Steve! The damn wheel got stuck. Are you okay?”

Steve looked up at Eddie who still had a hold of him. “Yeah, yeah I am. Thanks to Eddie’s quick thinking.”

“I’ve got ya, darlin’,” Eddie replied softly.

~

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

Tag List: COMPLETED

1- @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog @sadisticaltarts @dolphincliffs

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @cryptid-system @kultiras

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @dreamercec @blondie1006

5- @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @genderless-spoon @fearieshadow @thesecondfate

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- @steddieislife @tartarusknight

[bwabys-scenarios]

Fixer Upper

Part 24

Perv!Kurapika x Fem!Reader

part 23

part 25

!!REBLOGS APPRECIATED!!

warnings: sexual content, mentions of reader being willing to do anything to keep Leorio with her in the past(including sex, but he doesn’t go through with it obviously), drinking/being drunk

taglist: @fabitheraven @tsukilover11 @ashdownunderscorebeloved @lemonslut @homeinmydreams @superweeniehutjrsblog @bugmomwrites @heartsforseo @lixiawinter @altaircc @itszenava @fiightforlovee @mimi-sanisanidiot @monainanuttshell @wow-im-gay @whorermoviestar @lightshowerrr @mama-m1na @nenggie @wicked-binch @jamayah @themanicwriter01

If you’d like to be ADDED to the tawglist, please comment a red heart ❤️, make sure you’re able to be tagged/mentioned, and have your age in your bio(IF YOU ARE ALREADY ON THE TAGLIST, YOU DON’T NEED TO ASK TO BE ADDED AGAIN!!)

The mission was long and hard, but Kurapika gained enough new information to make it worth it. He felt exhausted, and hadn’t eaten a good meal the entire month he was gone. He knew as soon as (Name) saw him, she’s be worried.

He had tried harder to take care of himself knowing he’d be returning to (Name), but it was still a struggle. At least he was freshly showered and wearing one of his nicer suits. Maybe… she would think he looked handsome.

That thought made Kurapika blush. He was only a few minutes from her house, and could picture her smiling face when he walked in. It made his heart race, his palms sweaty.

‘Is this what being in love is like?’

Kurapika wasn’t sure if he liked being in love. It made him nervous and his head was clouded with visions of (Name) and a live with her. They made it hard for the blonde to focus on what he really needed to do.

Find the scarlet eyes, and kill the Phantom Troupe, those were his goals. Part of him knew he didn’t have time to spend gravitating towards (Name), but when he stepped out of his cab and onto her driveway, he felt all of his doubts melt away.

Killua’s bike was lying on the lawn next to one of (Name)’s rose bushes, and he noticed that there were a few Halloween decorations dotting her yard. He stepped over a plastic skeleton hand sticking out of the ground, a smile tugging at his lips when he spotted a little cloth ghost hanging from her ghost.

By the door, there was a hay bale, a small scarecrow sitting on it, with enough room to place other items. Kurapika wasn’t had never celebrated Halloween, but knew the basics. ‘Maybe it’s a space for pumpkins or something?’

Kurapika knocked on the door, his duffle bag still slung over his shoulder. The sound of someone shuffling towards the door made him stand up straight and glance at himself in the window.

His hair was a little messy, so he smoothed it out as much as possible before the door opened.

“Wow, it’s you. I didn’t think you’d actually be coming back.”

Kurapika’s smile fell when he spotted Killua standing behind the door, looking the blonde up and down. “Do you not have somewhere to stay, or something? It’s like feeding a stray dog, they always come running back when they’re hungry.”

Kurapika felt his eyebrow twitch in annoyance, quickly pushing past the boy and into the house. “You know how I feel, Killua. I’m here to see her again.”

Killua stood by the door for a moment, watching as Kurapika paused, setting his duffle bag down. He sniffed the air for a moment, Killua raising an eyebrow. “You know I was joking when I said you were like a stray dog, right? You don’t have to act like one.”

He ignored Killua, walking towards the kitchen instead. Kurapika wasn’t sure why, but he felt drawn to whatever was cooking.

(Name) stood near the stove, bending over to open the oven door. She hadn’t noticed him yet, and he was glad. That meant Kurapika got to stare at her plump ass, the jeans she was wearing hugged the curvature of her hips.

“Mmm… I think it’s done.”

She was talking to herself quietly, something he found endearing. He watched as she set something on the stovetop, the blonde peeking over her shoulder.

This was a mistake, because as soon as he stepped closer she jumped. “Hello?”

(Name) whipped her head around, wielding a wooden spoon as a weapon, only to drop it when she spotted that familiar head of blonde hair. “Kurapika?”

Her eyes widened, and he could see tears prickling at the corners. Kurapika didn’t have time to process anything as the girl wrapped him up in her arms, laughing. “You came back, you really came back!”

She looked up at him, a smile stretched across her lips. “I’m so happy. If I’m being honest, I… wasn’t sure you were telling me the truth.”

He felt his heart break a little at her words, but he couldn’t blame her for her doubt. Kurapika only smiled, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

“I missed you, (Name).”

She leaned into his touch, sighing contentedly. “I missed you too…”

The blonde peeked over her again, (Name) turning to see he was staring at the baked good she just took out of the oven. “So… what is that, (Name)?”

She took off her oven mitts, and upon further inspection Kurapika realized both them and her apron her Halloween themed. Her apron was black, with the words ‘gone batty’ written across the chest, and her oven mitts were black with a pattern that consisted of little white skulls and pumpkins.

“Oh, I made some peach cobbler! It’s the perfect treat for the fall season.”

He tilted his head, his eyes following her as she walked towards the freezer. “What are you doing?”

She opened the door to the freezer, pulling out a tub of vanilla ice cream. “You can’t have peach cobbler without vanilla ice cream!”

Kurapika hovered around her. “Well, I’ve never had peach cobbler before so I wouldn’t know.”

(Name) gasped, grabbing a bowl. “Oh, we’ll have to change that.”

She placed a piece of hot peach cobbler into the bowl before leaving two generous scoops of ice cream on top.

“Here you go! I’m going to get bring killua his share, I’ll be right back!”

She walked out of the kitchen carrying a bowl for Killua, leaving Kurapika too look down at his own.

It smelled divine, a strange sense of nostalgia overtaking him as he scooped up a piece of cobbler smothered in ice cream. His mouth watered, he’d missed (Name)’s cooking the entire time he was gone.

He brought the spoon up to his mouth, taking a bite.

‘Oh my god.’

All of a sudden, Kurapika was a child again, sitting in his mothers lap as she fed him spoonfuls of something sweet off of her plate.

“Not too much, Kurapika. It’s almost time for bed.”

He pouted up at her, his little hands grabbing at her bowl. “Just one more, momma! One more bite!”

His mother chuckled, scooping up another spoonful. “Okay baby, one more bite.”

Kurapika felt tears stream down his cheeks as he shoveled the peach cobbler into his mouth, sniffling. Not only was the food delicious, it made him remember when days were simpler. Before he lost his clan.

“Kurapika?”

(Name) stood in the doorway, looking concerned. “Are you alright? You’re crying…”

She used her apron to dab at his tears, the blonde clearing his throat. “I’m fine, just, uh… burnt my tongue.”

“Oh, let me see! I might have something to help.”

He blushed, but stuck out his tongue for her. Kurapika knew she would be able to tell he hadn’t burnt his tongue just by looking at it, but he couldn’t say no.

She hummed a she inspected it, the blonde blushing as she leaned closer. “Hmm… do you want me to kiss it better, Pika?”

His face erupted into a blush. “K-kiss my tongue? Y-you-“

She laughed, pulling back. “I’m joking, I know you didn’t burn your tongue.”

He pouted at her, his face red with embarrassment. “Don’t tease me like that, (Name).”

“Well, don’t lie to me. Why were you crying?”

He couldn’t argue with her, his eyes softening as he took another bite of his treat. “… this food reminds me of my childhood. My mother used to make something similar to it.”

(Name) nodded, now feeling a little bad for teasing him. “I see… I’ll have to make you some more later then.”

She unrolled a section of aluminum foil, covering the pan. “Alluka is flying in today, and I want her and Nanika to try some!”

Kurapika nodded, not taking his eyes off the pan. “Yeah…”

She smiled. “Okay Kurapika, now that you’ve had your snack, I want to show you something!”

He blushed when she grabbed his hand, pulling him out of the kitchen and towards the stairs. “What are you showing me?”

(Name) giggled, leading him to the guest bedroom upstairs. “Open the door and you’ll see!”

Kurapika gave her a curious look before turning the knob and walking in.

His eyes widened at the sight of the room. Before when he peeked, it was a plain white room meant for guests, but now it was furnished with the walls painted a baby blue.

A soft, shaggy rug sat in front of the bed with a pair of navy blue slippers in the middle of it. There was a nice writing desk in the corner of the room for him to work at, and a planter filled with bright red poppies on the windowsill.

“(Name)…”

He picked up the navy blue robe sitting on the bed, seeing an embroidered name written in gold print on the breast pocket.

‘Kurapika’

“This room… is this for me? You… you did this for me?”

She nodded, giving him a shy smile. “Yeah, since you’ll be staying here more permanently, I wanted to make sure it felt like home.”

Kurapika’s breath hitched, his eyes turning that pretty shade of scarlet that only she got to see. “This… this is very sweet, (Name). Thank you.”

He pulled her in for a hug, burying his face in her hair. “It’s no problem, I promise. You have a home here, and I wanted to make sure you knew that.”

The two stayed silent, (Name) raising her hand to pat his back. He wished he could stay this way forever, holding her like this.

“Ah, it’s about time to pick up Alluka…”

She pulled away from him, giving the blonde a smile. “You get settled in, I’ll be back in about an hour.”

(Name) began to walk away, but was stopped by Kurapika grabbing her wrist. “Wait, why did you move me up here? My room was downstairs before…”

Her face heated up, and she stayed facing away from him. “W-well, I wanted to move you upstairs so we’d have the spare bedroom downstairs open for guests. And… it’s more private up here. I know it can be overwhelming sleeping next to Gon and Killua.”

“Yeah, they’re pretty loud.”

They both laughed, (Name) glancing back at him. “Why don’t you go look in your drawers?”

He turned to do just that, and with his grip on her wrist gone, she slipped out of the room.

The reason she’d given him for moving him upstairs was only a half truth. The real reason was a little… selfish.

She wanted him closer to her, so she could bump into him when she walked in the hallway and could share a bathroom with him. It made her blush to think about him walking out of her bathroom wearing the nice robe she bought for him.

And nothing else.

‘Focus! I’ve gotta get Killua so we can pick up Alluka!’

“Kurapika, could you make sure the cats don’t get into the peach cobbler!” she yelled upstairs as she buttoned up Killua’s coat.

He blinked, looking up from the drawer (Name) stuffed full of new clothes for him. ‘Cats? Oh no, the she-devil…’

“I will!”

He walked downstairs as she left, glancing around. “Now, where is it? What was its name again…”

Kurapika scanned the area, grimacing as he made his way towards the kitchen.

The last the blonde had heard, the cat was still at the vet and recovering from giving birth to her kitten. It made sense that it was back, Kurapika had been gone for a month.

‘That kitten must be a month old now. I wonder if (Name) kept it…’

He jumped when he felt something rub against his leg, looking done to see a cream colored kitten with an orange patch on its back. ‘Is this the kitten?’

He reached down to pet it, the kitten purring and butting its head against his palm. “Aww, hey little guy. You like me, huh?”

Kurapika crouched down, scooping up the kitten in his arms and cooing softly as he scratched the top of its head.

This was a mistake, because as soon as the kitten was lifted into the air, it’s eyes went wide as it yowled in surprise.

The sound of something scratching against the floor as it got closer and closer made Kurapika blink. A ball of brown fur appeared in the doorway of Killua’s room, it’s back arched as it approached.

The kitten in his arms squirmed and yowled, causing the cat in front of him to growl and spit. “Shit… hey, hey I’m not hurting it! D-“

Meatloaf got a running start before leaping into the air with its claws extended. Kurapika could only scream.

——————

Kurapika sat behind the kitchen door, holding a hand over his bleeding cheek as he tried to catch his breath. “Jesus Christ… that thing needs an exorcism.”

He stood up and walked towards the sink, splashing some water on his face before holding a paper towel to his cut.

Kurapika tried not to let his eyes wander towards the stovetop where the peach cobbler sat, but the temptation was too strong.

He noticed a small divot in the foil, taking slow steps towards the peach cobbler.

A paw shaped imprint was left in it, and when he pulled back the foil he noticed it went into the peach cobbler as well. “Well… I’ll eat this piece so no one else does. Take on for the team, as Leorio says.”

He followed (Name)’s lead, walking over to the freezer, getting out the ice cream, and fixing himself a serving of peach cobbler.

He sat at the table, a warm and fuzzy feeling washing over him as he ate. “So good… mmm…”

Kurapika felt his stomach drop when he went to scoop up another bite of peach cobbler, only for his spoon to come in contact with the bottom of the bowl.

“…”

He stood up, glancing to the stove, then back to his bowl. “I can’t… I only got another piece to take one for the team…”

But as he approached the stove, pulling back the foil again, he didn’t know if he’d be able to stop himself.

———————

(Name) held onto Alluka’s hand, smiling as the young girl went on and on about her new friends. “Yeah, and we even made friendship bracelets, look!”

She held up her arm to show off a little pink rubber band bracelet. “Oh wow, that’s pretty!”

Alluka laughed and clung to (Name)’s arm, Killua trailing behind them. “I can’t wait to try that peach cobbler, big sis! I’ve never had it before.”

“It’s really good, even if Leorio dislikes it.” Killua spoke up, his hands behind his head as he watched the two, a small smile on his face.

“Well Leorio dislikes any cooked fruit, so I understand.”

The three walked inside, (Name) helping them out of their coats before leading Alluka towards the kitchen. “It’s right in here, you’re going t-“

Kurapika sat at the table, head in his hands. His pants leg and shirt were torn, the signs of catch scratches peeking through the fabric.

On the table was the empty pan of peach cobbler, the foil discarded long ago. Kurapika had given in to temptation, something he didn’t do often.

“Oh, Pika…”

He jumped at the sound of her voice, looking up at her. “I-It’s not what it looks like! I just… the cats! It was the cats!”

Killua poked his head into the doorway. “The cats did what? I know you aren’t blaming my son for whatever you think he did. I don’t care what evidence you h-“

He blinked, looking at the state of the man before him. He was broken and beat down, bits of cobbler clinging to the front of his shirt. “Oh wow. Never mind.”

Killua left the kitchen, leaving Alluka and (Name) to deal with this mess.

“Pika, it wasn’t the cats, was it?”

He looked up to her, his lip trembling. “… no, it wasn’t the cats. I was brutally attacked, though.”

She sighed, turning to Alluka. “I’m sorry sweetheart, I’m going to have to make some more peach cobbler. Go play with your brother.”

Alluka glanced at the blonde, then to (Name). “Is that the guy that was mean to you, big sis? He’s covered in cobbler.”

Kurapika hung his head in shame, now not only for giving into temptation, but at the memory of his past behavior. “Oh, I told Killua to stop telling people about that.”

She gently guided Alluka out of the door. “Go on now, and tell Killua he needs to gossip about things other than my personal relationships!”

Once she was gone, (Name) turned back to Kurapika, the man looking pathetic. “Kurapika…”

He looked up at her shyly. “I’m really sorry, (Name). I don’t know what got into me… it was just too good and… and made me think about my mom.”

She sighed, sitting next to him. “It’s okay, Kurapika but… too much peach cobbler could hurt your tummy and ruin your appetite for dinner.”

Kurapika realized when she placed her hand on his back. “You’re… not mad at me?”

She laughed. “Mad at you? Kurapika, you came into my house today looking like you were about to blow away in the wind like a McDonald’s napkin out a car window. I’ll never get mad at you for eating when you’re hungry.”

(Name) stood up, wiping at his face with her apron. “But, you shouldn’t eat too many sweets before dinner. Ah, but I guess in your case, eating that was like eating a single serving for me, because your nen burns through calories.”

Kurapika nodded, looking down at the dish as if he could still eat. “Honestly, if there was more peach cobbler we wouldn’t be having this conversation because my mouth would be full.”

(Name) snickered. “Yeah yeah, let’s get these scratches disinfected. What did you do to piss Meatloaf off?”

Kurapika grumbled as (Name) sprayed his cuts with disinfectant and placed little Sanrio themed bandaids on them. “… I don’t know, I picked up that kitten and she just came at me like a wild beast!”

(Name) made a face. “That’s her baby, Pika. She’s very protective over him, you can’t just pick up a mothers baby when you’re a stranger in her house.”

Kurapika frowned. ‘Her house? It’s just a cat, an evil, decrepit one at that.’

(Name) took the pan to the sink, filling it with water before taking out the ingredients. “I’m going to make some more peach cobbler, could you call Gon and ask when he’s getting here? Leorio’s supposed to pick him up tonight.”

Kurapika nodded, walking out the door to call Gon.

———————

(Name) grunted as she placed the large baked hen on the counter, wiping her brow.

‘Gon should be here soon, just in time too. All that’s left is for the dinner rolls to finish cooking.’

On cue, she heard the front door open and Killua yell. “Gon!”

(Name) threw her oven mitts onto the counter and ran out the door, pulling Gon and Killua into a hug. “Ugh, now I have all my boys back!”

She tugged Kurapika and Leorio into the group hug. “Oh, and my sweet girl too!” she said, ruffling Alluka’s head.

“Hehe!” Alluka buried her face in (Name)’s shoulder, giggling. “Don’t forget Nanika!”

“Oh, of course. My two sweet girls!”

She kissed Alluka’s forehead twice, once for her and then twice for Nanika. Kurapika watched this, his face flushed and his eyes soft. ‘Cute… she really would be a good mother…’

His face turned a dark shade of red at the thought of her with a baby on her hip, wearing a frilly apron and smiling at him. “Kurapika, welcome home! Say hi to daddy, baby!”

He groaned, stepping away from the hug. Kurapika felt his heart racing, the softness he felt for (Name) almost overwhelming him. He wanted to indulge in her, give into temptation and let his desire take over.

She smelled so nice, the scent of her usual perfume and peach cobbler making his head feel fuzzy. “(Name)… you smell good.”

Killua made a face. “Why are you sniffing my mom? You’re taking this stray dog thing too far.”

Kurapika glared at him, pulling (Name) a little closer so only he was holding her. “At least puppies are cute.”

(Name) laughed, allowing him to hold her. “Oh, so you’re my cute little puppy now, Pika?”

His breath hitched as a blush spread across his face, his cock hardening against her tummy. “P-puppy?”

(Name) felt her face grow hot, Killua scoffing. “Hey, no one is cuter than me, I’m the baby!”

Alluka huffed, tugging on her brothers sleeve. “Hey, technically I’m the baby and I’m objectively the cutest!”

“Objectively? No way!”

As the two argued, Gon and Leorio attempting to calm them down, (Name) glanced up at Kurapika, gently pressing against his bulge. She stood on her tippy toes, leaning in close whisper into his ear.

“You should go upstairs and deal with that before someone notices, puppy~”

She kissed his cheek before walking towards the kitchen to finish up dinner, the blonde staring with his jaw dropped.

He took her advice, running up the stairs, face hot and palms sweaty as he gripped the railing.

———————

A few days passed by quietly, Kurapika settling back into the routine of (Name)’s house. Everyone woke up at around 7-9 am, ate breakfast, then left to do their own things.

Today, however, was different. (Name) had all of the kids bundled up in coats, smiling and taking pictures before turning to Kurapika. “Pika, would you like to come costume shopping with us? The kids haven’t decided what they wanted to be yet, so we’re going to browse. I haven’t got my costume either…”

Kurapika looked up from his laptop, glancing between the three teens then to (Name). “Costumes?”

Killua huffed. “Yeah, for Halloween. But honestly Kurapika, your face is scary enough. I don’t think you need a costume.”

Before the blonde could retort, (Name) placed a hand on Kurapika’s cheek. “Oh stop it, Killua. Kurapika so quite handsome, I think we all know that.”

She smiled, giving his cheek an affectionate pat. Kurapika couldn’t help but blush, gazing up at her with soft eyes. “… I’m come along.”

(Name) squealed, jumping up and down. “Are you going to get a costume too, Kurapika?”

He raised an eyebrow, setting his coffee cup down. “Aren’t I too old for that?”

Killua and Gon grimaced. “Are you forgetting (Name)’s older than you?”

Kurapika blinked and looked to (Name), who was now pouting. “Too old? You’re never too old for a Halloween costume. Besides, I wanted to ask if…”

She looked up at him. “If you wanted to come with me and Leorio to a costume party this weekend.”

The thought of getting to spend more time with her, and away from the children that distracted her made his heart race. “Oh… well, that does sound fun.”

She grinned, pulling him towards the door. “Then put on your coat and let’s go!”

——————

(Name) hummed as she held onto Alluka’s hand while they crossed the street. “Do you three have any ideas on what you’re getting? Did you ask Zushi?”

Killua’s eyes widened. “Oh, no we haven’t, but we’re going to call him so he can help us! And the only idea we have… is ninjas.”

Kurapika snickered. “Oh, is Hanzo your role model or something?”

“No, but he’s a better role model than you.”

The two glared at each other, but (Name) was quick to give them both a look. “Hey, no fighting. We’re going to have fun, and pick out our costumes.”

The two grumbled but listened. Gon, who was holding (Name)’s other hand, laughed. “(Name), you’re just like a mom!”

She laughed as Kurapika blushed behind her. “I guess I am, aren’t I? And you three are my babies!”

She giggled as they walked into the store, squeezing Gon and Alluka’s hands. Kurapika stared at this, feeling his heart thump against his chest. ‘I want…’

He watched as she guided them towards the costume section, following her figure.

‘I want to start a family with her.’

The thought plagued his mind more than once while he was away. Kurapika knew it was wrong to let it linger in his mind, after all he pushed her away for a reason, but he couldn’t stop the fuzzy feeling that overtook him when he imagined marrying (Name), getting her pregnant and having a child together.

He could imagine it now, then living together with a little one on the way. Kurapika would come home after a long day at work and hold his cute little wife in his lap while he rubbed her baby bump. Sweet kisses would turn into lingering touches, before her panties were slipped to the side and he pushed into her, gently bouncing her on his cock. He’d keep his pace slow, a hand on her baby bump to remind him why he was here, why he was still alive.

He shook his head before he could get too hard, glancing back up to see (Name) browsing through the women’s section of costumes. Kurapika decided to approach her, glancing at the costume she had in her hands.

It was a random with costume, with a black dress and witch hat. Even though it was plain, Kurapika’s heart raced thinking about her all dressed and as a little witch. “Is that the one your getting?”

“No, I don’t think I’ll be getting anything here.”

She sounded disappointed, putting the costume back on the rack. “Huh? Why, do you not like the options?”

He glanced down the aisle, spotting multiple costumes that seemed like something (Name) would like.

“It’s not that, Pika. They just don’t have my size. They only go up to a large.”

She showed him the packaging, and he made a face. “But they go up to an extra large in the men’s section, I don’t understand.”

She shrugged, sighing. “Looks like I’ll either have to order something or make my own costume.”

(Name) tried to smile. “Not being a part of the norm means you have to be creative sometimes!”

Kurapika frowned, his eyes following her gaze. She was looking at a pretty angel costume. “… I see.”

The two walked over to the kids section to check on the others.

“You said ninjas!”

“Alluka, we are not going as Naruto characters.”

“But Sakura’s costume is so pink! I love pink!”

(Name) laughed, walking over to the group. She spotted Gon a little further down the aisle, his phone out as he FaceTimed Zushi.

“Hey Zushi!” (Name) called out, leaning into frame. The boy beamed, waving.

“Miss (Name), it’s so good to see you! Mr. Wing told me to tell you he appreciates you letting me stay with you to celebrate Halloween!”

She giggled, waving her hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s no problem, you’re always welcome here, and just (Name) is fine.”

Zushi rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, before Gon spoke up. “Have Killua and Alluka stopped fighting yet? I think I found something we can all agree on!”

“They’re still fighting, but I can fix that.”

Within a few seconds, Alluka was in (Name)’s arms and Killua was trailing behind. The poor girl was sniffling, still clutching the Sakura costume. “I like this one though!”

(Name) patted her back, sighing. “I know, but we don’t always get what we want. Let’s try to have some compromise okay? Why don’t you look at what Gon found before making your decision?”

She snuggled, letting (Name) wipe away her tears. “Okay… thanks big sis.”

She set Alluka down, ruffling her hair a little. The girl gave (Name) a quick hug before she turned to see what Gon found. This made Kurapika smile.

‘These kids really love her.’

“Oh!”

Alluka smiled, holding up a TMNT costume, specifically the Donatello one. “Oh, I love teenage mutant ninja turtles! This is perfect!”

Killua looked to Alluka’s choice, frowning but staying quiet. (Name) noticed this, turning to hold onto his hand. “Killua, what’s wrong?” she asked quietly. The white haired boy huffed, crossing his arms.

“… I wanted to be Donatello. But… it’s okay.”

(Name) tilted her head. “Can’t you both be Donatello? There’s multiple c-“

“Mom, that’s not how it works! There can’t be two Donatellos! Who would be Leonardo then?”

She held up her hands in surrender. “My bad, I didn’t know how passionate you were about this.”

Kurapika tried not to snicker, watching as they picked out their costumes. Gon was Michelangelo, Killua settled on Leonardo, Alluka picked Donatello, and Zushi was okay with being Raphael.

(Name) let the three browse the toy and game section while she helped Kurapika try to find his costume. “Hmm, so what are you thinking about wearing, Pika?”

He blushed, looking around the aisle. “W-well, what do you plan on being?”

She raised an eyebrow, but didn’t ask why that mattered. “Oh, I want to be an angel. But…”

(Name) sighed, looking through some costumes. “They don’t have my size here. I may have to look there again…”

She blushed and started to play with her hair. “There? What do you mean by that?”

Kurapika was curious now, her reaction alone enough to get him asking more questions. “It’s… it’s a lingerie store. Sometimes they sell uh… sexy costumes. I dressed up as a sexy nurse last year when Leorio and I went to a costume party. The costumes are short, but a pair of leggings usually does the trick.”

Now the image of (Name) in a sexy nurse costume was bouncing around his mind. “I-I see. Perhaps I could go with you. To, um, help you pick your costume.”

She held back a laugh, giving him a teasing smile. “Uh huh, sure, you can come with me. Pick out your costume, then I’ll take the kids to Leorio’s so we can do some shopping.”

Kurapika wasn’t sure, but was she… teasing him? He blushed regardless. “I’ll pick out my costume once you find yours then…”

He looked away, clearing his throat. “We can match.”

She felt her cheeks heat up, nodding before she looked away as well. “That… sounds nice.”

As they walked towards the checkout, (Name) couldn’t help but sigh. ‘What are we? We’ve kissed, that stuff in the car happened, and… he tried to finger me while he was sick…’

She didn’t want to get ahead of herself, but most people would assume he had some kind of attraction to her. It was hard for (Name) to believe with him specifically.

She didn’t think she was particularly ugly, but Kurapika had made it pretty clear that he wasn’t interested in her during York New.

‘So why has he been acting so…’

(Name) sighed, scanning the items and putting them in plastic bags. ‘It’s confusing, I never know what he’s thinking or what he truly wants with me.’

He at least considered her a friend, and although she still had feelings for Kurapika, she was fine with just being friends. Hell, part of her wouldn’t mind if all he wanted was someone to fool around with to let off some stress, even if the thought of him using her for her body made her heart ache.

Anything was better than being abandoned again, after all.

————————

(Name) and Kurapika stood outside the lingerie store, the blonde next to her a blushing, stuttering mess. “D-do you come here often?”

She laughed, holding his hand. “No, not really. I’ve only been in here twice.”

Hesitantly, Kurapika allowed her to lead him inside. He’d never been inside a store purely meant for lingerie, and he was already overwhelmed.

“Hello ladies, if you need any help picking something out, please let me- wait, (Name)?”

The woman behind the counter had soft brown hair and big, pink eyes. She left her post, running towards (Name) and hugging her. “Dia? Oh my gosh, how have you been?”

The woman giggled, pulling away from the hug to get a good look at her. “I’ve been great! I just graduated this year, again thank you so much for saving me and mom. If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to graduate at all!”

Kurapika listened to this conversation with a confused look on his face. “Saved? What does she mean by that, (Name)?”

Dia blinked, looking at Kurapika. “Oh, is this your girlfriend (Name)?”

Kurapika blushed. “I’m not a girl…”

(Name) laughed, patting Kurapika’s arm reassuringly. “This is my friend, Kurapika. He’s a hunter too. And to answer your question, Kurapika, I work as a support hunter for a private company. Sometimes that work includes provide relief to disaster zones. I saved her from a burning building.”

Dia nodded, clinging to (Name). “Yeah, and my mom too! She carried us out like a fire fighter while crying.”

(Name) blushed. “H-hey! You guys were really heavy I’ll have you know!”

Dia laughed, and Kurapika couldn’t help but feel impressed. “(Name) that’s… amazing.”

(Name) waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing, I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Dia smiled and pulled away, glancing back at Kurapika before looking at (Name). “So, what are you here for today? Is he your…”

She glanced at Kurapika with a sly smile, causing the both of them to blush and stutter. “N-no, he’s just a friend. Kurapika wanted to help me pick out my Halloween costume.”

Dia tilted her head, almost looking disappointed. “Halloween costume? You’re lucky, we just got some shipped in today. Come on, I’ll show you the new arrivals!”

Kurapika tried to stay calm, his face neutral as he followed behind the two. It was just lingerie, and he was helping (Name), his dear friend find a Halloween costume. Nothing more, nothing less.

But when they got to the plus sized section and he got a peek at the options laid out before him, it was hard not to imagine (Name) in them and subsequently get hard.

There was a decently wide variety, but the first thing Dia picked up was a devil themed lingerie set that would barely cover anything. Kurapika didn’t even know if it would cover her nipples.

“How about this? It’s our best seller right now!”

(Name) sighed, lifting the bottoms up. “Sorry, but my…”

She glanced at Kurapika, before continuing. “My um… lady bits would not fit in that. My ass would be hanging out.”

Dia tilted her head. “Is that a problem?”

Kurapika was too busy trying to not get hard to hear their conversation. He focused on the floor, counting the tiles.

“It’s for a costume party, so it will have to at least cover my bits. I’d prefer more coverage if possible.”

Dia sighed. “That’ll limit your options a bit. We have a few costumes this way that would probably work.”

(Name) grabbed Kurapika’s hand to lead him away, realizing how embarrassing it must be to shop for lingerie with his female friend. If only she knew that he was imagining her in each item of clothing he saw.

“These are the costumes with the most coverage. There’s only 7, with varying levels of it.”

(Name) looked over her options, humming softly. Kurapika watched as her eyes caught on an angel costume. It was a short, sleeveless white dress with little wings, and angel themed garter belts. Kurapika also noticed it came with a set of white, lacy lingerie.

He already thought of her as an angel, so imagining her in a costume like this wasn’t hard at all.

It was cute, but one look at the price tag made (Name) frown. “Ah, do you think these will go on clearance before this weekend?”

Dia shook her head, giving (Name) a sympathetic look. “No, probably not. Our costumes usually only go on sale after Halloween.”

(Name) sighed, glancing between the costumes. The cheapest option was a frumpy looking mermaid costume, and the lingerie paired with it was underwhelming at best. She picked it up, looking it over and sighing. “I think I’ll-“

Kurapika grabbed the angel costume in (Name)’s size and began walking towards the counter, not giving her a second glance.

“Pika, what are y- hey stop!”

She followed after him, face hot as she attempted to grab his sleeve. Kurapika gave her a look, setting the costume on the counter. “Don’t worry about it, (Name). Consider it payback for the peach cobbler.”

She whined a little, Dia scanning it with a smirk. “Pikaaa! Cobbler costs almost nothing to make, this costume is nearly $100!”

“Well, it’s the only costume for you. You are my angel, after all.”

She blinked, face growing hotter by the second. Kurapika smiled before leaning in to whisper into her ear. “And that was for teasing me the other day.”

He kissed her cheek before pulling back and paying for the costume, Dia staring at them both with shock in her eyes and a light blush on her cheeks. “(Name), I thought you said he wasn’t your boyfriend!”

“H-he isn’t!”

Kurapika had turned to leave, smirking to himself. “Then why did he buy lingerie for you? Is he some kind of pervert?”

The smirk fell from his face, his cheeks turning red. “W-what? Pervert?”

(Name) rolled her eyes, grabbing Kurapika’s hand. “He’s no pervert, he’s just… a little awkward when it comes to giving gifts.”

It was starting to dawn on Kurapika that he had bought (Name) lingerie. Not just a costume. “Wait, I just wanted to buy it for you, I promise it’s not like th-“

(Name) gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know, Pika. You didn’t realize it, it’s fine. It’s still sweet that you bought my costume for me, I really appreciate it.”

He felt his heart thump against his chest, grateful for her understanding. (Name) exchanged numbers with Dia before leaving, never taking her hand out of Kurapika’s.

——————

It was Saturday, and after texting Dia, she agreed to come over and watch the kids for the night. “I really appreciate this, it’s been so long I’ve been able to go out with all my friends!” (Name) said, packing her costume and makeup into her bag. She couldn’t let the kids see what she’d be wearing, so her and Kurapika planned on getting dressed at Leorio’s apartment.

“It’s no problem, I owe you for saving me and mom.”

(Name) left a few $20 bills on the counter. “Here’s some money for dinner, keep anything left over.”

She turned to the three kids, giving them a group hug before cupping Killua’s cheeks.

“Killua.”

He gulped, staring into (Name)’s serious eyes. “Yes, mom?”

“I expect you to be on your BEST behavior tonight, okay?”

He pouted, puffing out his cheeks. “Hey, why aren’t you saying that to the others too?”

“Because if you are chill, the others usually follow suit.”

Killua couldn’t really argue with that, so he just sighed. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“Good, now…” she kissed each of their foreheads before grabbing her keys and purse. “I’ll be back late tonight, hopefully in time to tuck you all into bed. Bye!”

Gon patted Killua’s shoulder as she left, noticing Killua’s face falling. Dia turned to the kids, giving them a peppy smile. “So, who wants to play a board game?”

Kurapika looked up from the passenger seat, giving (Name) a shy smile. “Do you think they’ll be okay?”

“Oh, I’ll just be happy if I come back and the house is still intact.”

The two were quiet as they drove to Leorio’s apartment. Kurapika wasn’t the partying type, but he had to admit it was a little exciting.

This wouldn’t be just any ordinary party, it was organized by the Hunter Organization and would be a good chance to mingle with potential allies. Even though it was advertised as a fun party for the adult hunters of the world to have a moment of relaxation with free drinks and food, Kurapika knew that occasions such as these were not usually what they seemed.

“So any adult hunters are invited?”

(Name) nodded, pulling up to Leorio’s apartment. “Mhm, and there’s a strict no violence rule. So Kurapika…”

(Name) killed the car, taking a deep breath before continuing. “That means anyone, and I mean anyone with a Hunters license can attend.”

Kurapika understood what she was implying. He knew at least one of the Phantom Troupe members had a hunters license and had prepared for situations like this. It’s not like Kurapika was a wild animal, he could control his anger and need for vengeance against the Phantom Troupe if it meant keeping his friends safe and gaining something more important.

At least, he was assuming he could. A quick flashback to launching Chrollo into (Name) when he captured the leader of the Phantom Troupe surfaced in his mind, causing him to wince. “Yeah, I understand.”

She placed a hand over his, giving him a comforting smile. “If it helps, from what I heard the phantom troupe member almost never shows up to these kinds of events, I don’t think he even voted in the chairman election.”

Kurapika raised an eyebrow. “Where did you hear that information from?”

(Name) remained quiet, and she almost looked… nervous. “You remember the person I got the information on Dracule Midnight from? It’s the same guy.”

Kurapika stared at her for a moment, eyeing her as she grabbed her purse and put her keys into it. “I see.”

He decided to leave it at that, not wanting to potentially ruin (Name)’s night. She’d been looking forward to this party all week, and he wasn’t going to ruin it over his usual suspicion and paranoia.

But Kurapika couldn’t get over the lingering thought that she was hiding something from him. Something big.

The two walked up to Leorio’s apartment, the tall man opening the door with a smile. “I finally get to see your costume in person! Go on, the bathroom is all yours sunshine. You go ahead, we can get ready out here.”

She gave him a smile before walking to the bathroom and closing the door behind her. Leorio and Kurapika glanced at each other. “So, did you finally decide on something, Kurapika?”

Kurapika dumped his bag onto the couch, answering Leorio’s question by holding up a pair of devil horns. “(Name) helped me choose.”

The two turned away from each other and changed in the living room. Kurapika gave Leorio a look when he saw his outfit. “… really?”

Leorio was wearing a white robe, a pair of sandals, and a fluffy beard. “Yeah. I’m god, I wanted to fit the theme.”

“Uh huh.”

Kurapika pulled on a shirt black hood, placing the little devil horns to the top of his head. When he looked himself in the mirror, he nearly laughed.

“Oh, Kurapika, your horns are crooked!”

The two turned to see (Name) walking out of the bathroom, both of their jaws neatly hitting the floor.

The short white dress clinged her figure, the sweetheart neckline showing off her ample breasts. She pulled at the fabric around her tummy a little, but besides that she didn’t seem to be too upset with her costume.

The garter belts squished against her thighs, soft flesh spilling over them. The halo on her head and wings on her back wiggled a little with each movement.

Leorio was the first to recover, clearing his throat and giving her a flustered smile. “Shit, sunshine, you look hot.”

Kurapika was still recovering, or else he would have sent Leorio a mean glare. He was definitely hard, but thankfully his cape was able to hide the evidence of his arousal.

“Thank you, Leorio. And…”

She walked over to Kurapika, reaching her arms up. When she did, her breasts squished together, giving the blonde a perfect look at her cleavage. She fixed his devil horns before smiling. “There, that’s better.”

She turned around to grab her purse, the two nearly passing out. Her plump ass was barley covered by her dress, and when she moved to pick up her purse Leorio quickly sprinted over. “Woah there, (Name)! That dress is too short to be bending over in. For tonight, just ask me or Kurapika if you need something grabbed, okay?”

She tilted her head. “Hmm? Okay, I understand.”

Leorio picked up her purse, even opting to carry it for her. Kurapika finally found his voice, letting out a soft. “Y-you look so pretty…” before he groaned and his his red face behind his hands.

(Name) felt her face burn, her hands finally leaving the fabric around her tummy. This made the blonde gulp, finally getting a full view of her figure.

He would give anything to have her in his arms, to squish and knead her soft flesh, but right now he had to focus. This party was a good chance to get more information on the eyes, and maybe even the phantom troupe!

She popped her glossy lips in the mirror, looking over her makeup one last time before before she turned to the other two. “Let’s get going, then!”

The three climbed into (Name)’s van, Leorio taking the wheel. “It’s being held in that big hotel in the center of town. Apparently Pariston rented out the whole thing so Hunters out of town could stay for free.”

(Name) seemed to grimace at the mention of Pariston’s name, something that didn’t go unnoticed by the blonde next to her. ‘Do they have some kind of history..?’

Kurapika didn’t want to think of the slimy, former zodiac having anything to do with (Name), but they at least knew each other.

“We’re here.”

Kurapika was quick to get out and rush over to (Name)’s side, offering his hand. “Here, let me help you.”

(Name) giggled, giving him her hand and allowing him to place a hand on her waist to support her as she stepped out. The two checked over her, making sure everything was in place.

“You two worry too much! Even if something rides up, they’ll probably think what I’m wearing underneath is a part of my costume.”

Kurapika nearly had a heart attack, looking down her body. “W-what do you mean by that?”

(Name) raised an eyebrow. “I’m wearing the lingerie that came with my costume. I wasn’t going to, but I figured I might as well, considering how expensive it is.”

She giggled, holding onto her purse. “Who knows? I might even get lucky tonight~”

Kurapika nearly choked on his spit, Leorio quickly patting his back. “E-excuse me?”

(Name) snickered, playing with the hem of her dress. “I don’t know, I heard there’s some pretty handsome new Hunters attending this party, maybe I’ll get lucky.”

Kurapika didn’t answer, gritting his teeth as he clenched his fists in his pockets. “…”

He didn’t want to imagine her in the arms of another man, it made his hands itch. Kurapika wouldn’t know what he would do if someone even thought about touching her tonight.

It seemed like the blonde had a new goal. Make sure she doesn’t get lucky tonight.

Leorio gave the blonde a worried glance. He knew (Name) a lot better than Kurapika did, so he knew she wasn’t being serious. (Name) was a virgin, and she was saving it for someone she loved.

He knew this from… experience.

Leorio shook his head, trying not think of the past, a past where him and (Name) clung to each other after the events of York New. He’d been so worried about her after Kurapika’s harsh words and actions, he stayed with her an entire month.

‘… I still wish I never did that, never made her… made her feel like she owed me…’

Even though (Name) had consoled him time and time again, saying it wasn’t his fault she felt that way, he still felt guilty. They hadn’t had sex, and Leorio was glad. She wasn’t ready, and was only willing to do it due to her desperate need to keep him with her.

He could remember her tears, her trembling arms when he pulled her top off. “(Name)? Sunshine what’s wrong?”

She shook her head, hiccuping, wiping at her tears. “N-nothing! Nothings wrong, you can… you can do whatever you want to me.”

Leorio paused, pulling his hands away from her breasts. “… (Name), sex isn’t something I do to you, it’s something we do together.”

She shook her head, her chest heaving. “Please… please I promise it’s okay, j-just promise you won’t leave me, a-and you can do anything. I promise… I promise I won’t cry, I-“

She felt something her fall onto her cheeks, looking up to see Leorio’s eyes full of tears. “Oh, oh sunshine…”

He pulled her close, kissing the top of her head. “No, no I can’t do that to you. I love you, (Name), and that means staying with you, no matter what. Your body is yours, it isn’t something you should… should feel you have to give me.”

(Name) began to sob, and they held each other. Leorio helped get her dressed, ordering takeout before they crashed on the couch together.

Since then, he hasn’t made a real move on her. It was obvious to him she wasn’t in love, that she was so scared he’d leave that she was willing to do anything. Leorio wanted, loved her, but now that Kurapika was back…

The way she looked at him, teased him, blushed in Kurapika’s presence was something Leorio had never experienced. He wanted to hate Kurapika, but he couldn’t. She loved him so much, so much that Leorio couldn’t help but cheer the blonde on a little. At the end of the day, Leorio wanted (Name)’s happiness more than anything, and if that meant letting Kurapika have her, he would be okay with that.

“Leorio, do you think I’ll be able to stuff some of those fancy chocolates in my purse for the kiddos? You’ll cover for me right?”

Leorio let out a barking laugh, joining her side. “Yeah, only if I get some too.”

——————

Everyone’s eyes were on the three when they walked in.

Well, more like everyone’s eyes were on (Name) and her form fitting costume. Kurapika could already feel the leering glares of several men on (Name), his grip on her hand tightening slightly.

“(Name)!”

Kurapika barely had time to react, (Name) was already being picked up and spun around by a certain blue haired woman. “Menchi!”

The two laughed, (Name) hugging her tight. “Oh, I haven’t seen you in forever!” (Name) said, looking up at her.

She was wearing a chef costume, or perhaps it was just her uniform?

Menchi sighed, patting her cheek affectionately. “Well, I was in York New a few months ago, same time as you. I swear I felt your aura when I was shopping, but then it disappeared.”

“Huh? That’s weird. I would have loved to see you!”

Kurapika looked away, focusing on the floor. When they were shopping for her dress in York New, Kurapika sensed Menchi’s presence and had (Name) use Zetsu so she couldn’t be detected.

(Name) didn’t seem to remember this, so Kurapika stayed quiet. He didn’t like Menchi, and didn’t want to admit he did it out of jealousy.

“So who’s all here? I don’t have everyone’s numbers, so I only knew you and Bisky would be coming.”

Menchi hummed. “Well, I know I saw Satotz and that magician guy.”

Leorio and (Name) groaned. “Not Hisoka. Why is he here, who invited him?”

“Me.”

The two screamed, (Name) jumping into Leorio’s arms. Behind them stood Illumi, dressed in a vampire costume. He had snuck up behind them so quietly none of the three had noticed.

“Holy- we need to put a bell on you.”

Leorio set (Name) down, making sure to check her dress to ensure nothing rode up before he began to step away. “I’m uh… going to go mingle with the others. You two have fun.”

Illumi stared down at the two, Menchi having snuck away moments prior. “(Name). Blonde one.”

Kurapika scowled as he held onto (Name)’s arm protectively. “What do you want, Illumi?”

The dark haired man glanced down to where Kurapika held onto (Name). “… nothing. Just wanted to tell (Name) that I’ll be in town next month.”

She stiffened next to Kurapika, nodding. “Okay, just text me when.”

Kurapika blinked, looking between the two, but didn’t ask anything until Illumi was out of earshot. “Okay, what the hell was that? What business do you have with Illumi?”

(Name) let go of his arm, thinking for a moment before answering. “… he’s the one that helped me get the Kurta cookbook, so I owe him a favor.”

Kurapika paused, glancing at the dark haired assassin as he walked away. “I see.”

Kurapika followed (Name) around as she talked to random Hunters, occasionally tugging her away if their eyes drifted below her face.

“Hey, I wasn’t done talking to him!” (Name) complained as Kurapika pushed her down the hallway.

“He was staring at you inappropriately.” Kurapika said as he stared at her ass while she walked ahead of him.

“Yeah, I know. Didn’t I say I was planning on getting lucky tonight?”

Kurapika’s eye twitched. “Yes, you did say that. However, that’s not happening.”

“Excuse you?”

(Name) turned on her heels, poking a finger into his chest. “I don’t know who you think you are, Kurapika Kurta, but I can do what I want with my body. It’s none of your business. It’s not like you’re my boyfriend or something!”

She huffed and began to walk off, the blonde hurrying to catch up. “W-wait! I just want to make sure you’re… you’re safe! Not all Hunters are good people, for gods sake, Hisoka became a Hunter!”

(Name) paused, her pout fading away into a soft frown. “I can handle myself, but… I appreciate you worrying over me. It’s sweet.”

Kurapika almost felt guilty. He didn’t say these things out of genuine worry, he was jealous, yet she was smiling and thanking him. “… I’m not sweet, (Name),”

(Name) shook her head and grabbed his hand. “You are, Kurapika. You’re always worrying over me, it shows me you really do care.”

Kurapika felt his heart squeeze painfully as she followed him towards a large room. ‘No, if anyone’s sweet it’s you, (Name).’

They walked into the room, spotting Cheadle speaking to some new hunters. “Cheadle! Cheadlee!!”

The woman looked up, seeing (Name) approaching with Kurapika not far behind. “Ahh, Miss (Name). I see you were able to attend after all.”

She was dressed as Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle, wearing the blue dress from the majority of the movie.

Chairwoman Cheadle offered a hand to shake, (Name) pulling her in for a hug instead. “H-hey! I’m the Chairwoman, have some respect!”

But she hugged (Name) back, huffing. “Well, I guess it’s okay, after all you had to deal with Pariston’s antics.”

Kurapika watched the interaction with wide eyes, still trying to figure out (Name)’s connection to Pariston. “Hehe, sorry Cheadle. I forget that you got the Chairman position after Pariston stepped down.”

Cheadle huffed. “Speaking of Pariston, he’s going around telling people we are matching on purpose, so don’t believe him. He heard I was coming as Sophie and bought a Howl costume before I had time to get another one! He just loves to mess with me…”

(Name) grimaced. “Oh, damn it.”

Kurapika scowled, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Howl is that guy from the movie we watched, correct?”

(Name) groaned, leaning into his shoulder. “Yeah, and he’s my favorite character. Ugh…”

They said their goodbyes to Cheadle before moving to the next room. It seemed to be set up with multiple games, including stuff like bobbing for apples, a few different arcade machines, and carnival games.

“Is that…”

Kurapika watched as (Name)’s face lit up. “Knuckle! Shoot! Morel!”

She sprinted away, squealing and giggling in delight. A man with a black pompadour turned, his face shifting from an annoyed one to one of surprise when (Name) jumped up and into his arms.

“Shit, buttercup is that you?”

Kurapika felt his blood boil when the man held her up like she was a cat, his hands under her arms and dangerously close to her boobs. “Hehe, yes it’s me!”

The man pulled her into a hug, spinning her around before placing her on her feet. “I’m so glad to see you’re doing alright now. You’re quite the little fighter aren’t ya?”

The men beside him turned to greet her, the tallest crouching down to her level and ruffling her hair. “Gave us a real scare back then, ya know?”

The other man, one with purple hair laughed, pinching her cheek. “This one ain’t going down without a fight. Remember what she did to that ant?”

Kurapika wasn’t paying much attention to the conversation, just standing behind (Name) and tapping his foot like a petulant child. “Hey, who’s your friend, (Name)?”

Kurapika kept a hand on her hip, eyeing the men. “Oh, this is Kurapika! We took the Hunter Exam together!”

At the mention of his name, the three grimaced. “I see, he’s the rat zodiac c-“

“Ain’t he that lowlife that broke your wrist?”

(Name) frowned, and suddenly Kurapika wasn’t so testy. “Hey, it was an accident. Damn it, Killua needs to stop telling everyone my business.”

Knuckle squared up to the blonde, looking down at him. Kurapika didn’t falter, staring back up at knuckle with his eyes turning scarlet. “He bothering you, buttercup? I don’t really care for men that lay hands on women, I’ll have you know.”

The black haired man pushed (Name) behind him, keeping an arm held out protectively. “No, he’s not bothering me. Kurapika is my friend, and he already apologized for that.”

(Name) stepped between the two before they could fight, immediately changing the subject. “Anyways, what are you all dressed as?”

Knuckle stared at Kurapika for a second longer before taking a deep breath and turning his gaze to (Name). “Well, I’m a greaser. Shoot’s the grim reaper, and Morel is Frankenstein’s monster.”

(Name) giggled. “Oh, those are excellent costumes! They fit you all so well!”

Shoot smiled, patting her shoulder. “Yeah, and an angel fits you pretty well.”

“Though, I don’t think anything’s angelic about how much skin you’re showing, girlie.” Morel teased.

Her face heated up, and she played with her dress as Knuckle blinked. The man hadn’t taken the time to actually look at her costume, too focused on Kurapika.

“O-oh yeah, you look…”

He stare down at her, now noticing just how much skin she was showing. His eyes landed on her ample breasts, and Kurapika growled. “Her eyes are up here, you creep.”

Knuckle blushed, holding up his hands. “I didn’t mean it! You uh, you look real good buttercup. Hot.”

(Name) laughed, giving Knuckle a reassuring squeeze. “It’s fine, I’m dressed like this for a reason. I don’t mind you looking~”

She smiled up at him, giggling. This made Knuckle short circuit, his hands up in the air as he tried to stutter out a response.

“Ehem.”

Kurapika cleared his throat, his scarlet eyes narrowed as he glared at them. “Can I have a word with you, angel?”

He grabbed her arm, squeezing lightly to make sure she understood. “Oh, sure. I’ll see you guys later!”

(Name) waved to them as she was dragged away, Knuckle scowling. “Should we really let him take her away like that? He hurt her before, and he’s obviously pissed off over something.” Knuckle said, watching their figures as they disappeared from sight.

“He isn’t giving off any malicious aura. And I think we more than anyone understand that she can handle herself.” Morel answered, going back to his game.

Shoot put a hand on Knuckle’s shoulder. “I know you have a soft spot for her, but she’ll be okay. Leorio’s around her somewhere, he isn’t going to let anything happen to her.”

Knuckle sighed, finally looking away from the two. “Yeah, you’re right.”

———————

(Name) whined a little, nearly tripping over her own two feet as she was dragged away by Kurapika. “H-hey, slow down, I’m gonna trip!”

The blonde didn’t respond, but squeezed (Name)’s hand gently. She huffed, but let him continue to pull her away.

That was until they spotted Hanzo lingering in the hallway. Everything happened so quick that (Name) could barely process it.

Kurapika scanned the area, opened up the door to the janitors closet, shoved her in, then pinned her to the wall. “Use Zetsu.”

Under any other circumstances, she may have argued, but (Name) didn’t really want to talk to Hanzo in the first place, so she complied.

They watched his shadow pass under the door, keeping as quiet as they could. (Name) squirmed slightly, feeling Kurapika’s knee between her thighs. He had his hand covering his mouth, and when Hanzo finally left he turned those scarlet eyes on her.

“He’s gone.” (Name) said softly, expecting Kurapika to move.

But he didn’t.

He nodded, looking down at her, his eyes traveling from her face, to her chest, and then to the knee he had between her thighs.

She squeaked when he moved it up to her crotch, her hands shooting out to his chest. “H-hey, what are y-“

In a flash, she was turned around, now facing the wall as Kurapika pressed against her. One of his hands moved upwards to her chest, cupping one of her breasts as the other slipped under her dress. “P-Pika! You-“

“You said you wanted to get lucky tonight, didn’t you?”

(Name) felt her cheeks grow hot, and she couldn’t deny that the feeling of his fingers growing closer to her panties was getting her worked up. “I… I did say that.”

Kurapika leaned in, planting kisses on her neck. “Mhm, you did. And god, it pissed me off.”

She squeaked when he bit down on her neck, his index finger tapping against her clothed pussy. “Can’t even think about someone else touching you…”

(Name) let out a shaky breath when he began to rub her through her panties, whining softly. “Kurapika…”

He continued nipping at her neck, gently sucking on her sensitive skin. “Shh, you don’t want anyone to hear us, do you?”

(Name) pouted, but quieted down, squeezing her eyes shut. “There, that’s my good girl. Only I get to hear those sounds, you got it? Only me.”

She felt his hard on press into her ass as he continued to rub her through her panties, his index finger finding her clit. He paused when she let out a soft moan, bucking her hips into his hand.

“Does that feel good, angel?”

He rubbed circles into her clit, kissing up her neck and jaw. “Mhm… r-right there, stay right there.”

He smiled against her cheek before tilting her head to the side to steal a kiss. “So pretty… my angel, I just want to make you feel good, okay?”

She whimpered into his mouth, feeling his tongue slip into hers. “Mmph..!”

She was getting close, beginning to buck her hips into his hand. “P-Pika! Pika!”

He groaned, her ass pressing right into his crotch. “That’s it, almost there. Just focus on my fingers, okay angel?”

She nodded, holding onto the wall, letting out a mewl as she came. When her legs buckled, he caught her with an arm around her waist. “You did so good, angel. Now let’s-“

A loud bang on the door made the two jump, Kurapika having to support her so she didn’t fall over. “(Name), Kurapika, are you in here?”

‘Damn it, Leorio!’ Kurapika cursed in his mind, looking down at the woman in his arms. She was still recovering from her orgasm, clinging to his shirt and whimpering. “Yeah, we’re in here. She had a wardrobe malfunction so I needed to fix it.”

“Ah, okay. I’ll be waiting in the next room, hurry up they brought out drinks, and Kite wants to see (Name)!”

Leorio’s footsteps retreated away, Kurapika sighing before looking down at her. “… you alright, (Name)? Can you stand?”

She nodded slowly, letting Kurapika pull her to her feet. “Yeah…”

(Name) was avoiding eye contact, her face hot and her legs a little wobbly. His hands travelled her body, playing with the hem of her dress. “We can… continue after you talk with Kite if y-“

“I have to go to the bathroom!”

Kurapika blinked, watching her rush out of the closet and to the women’s bathroom. He was left alone, his heart thumping against his chest. ‘Oh, oh shit. Did I do something wrong? Did she… not like it?’

He looked down at his hand, biting his lip. He brought his finger to lip, gently lapping up her juices.

Kurapika’s eyes shot open, quickly closing the door and locking it. ‘Fuck!’

He’d need to deal with his aching cock before he could even think about leaving. ‘She… she tastes so good…’

———————

(Name) sat on the toilet, trying to clean up the cum dripping down her legs as best as possible. When there was no more evidence of her cum, she stood up and left the stall, walking over to the mirror.

She groaned, washing her hands before she placed a finger over her neck. There were the beginnings of hickeys on her skin, and if she didn’t cover them, everyone would notice. ‘Shit… I didn’t have these before, everyone will know someone gave me these at this party!’

She wanted to be upset, but she couldn’t. It felt good, and to have all of Kurapika’s attention on her was something she thought she could only imagine. He’d touched her, kissed her, and god she wanted more.

‘Why did I run away?’

(Name) sighed, trying to cool off the hickeys with cold water to hopefully make them go away as she thought this over. It wasn’t that she didn’t like it, she really did, but…

‘You disgust me.’

Her insecurities were still holding her back, the fear that he only wanted her for her body making it hard to let go. Even after he reassured her that she was important to him, it still lingered in the back of her mind.

Besides, she wanted to give her virginity to someone she loved.

‘Do I love Kurapika?’

This is something she had been asking herself almost daily since he came back into her life. At one point, she did, but…

‘I’m… definitely attracted to him…’ she thought, still feeling the fuzzy feeling in her tummy from her orgasm. ‘And I do like him, romantically…’

But did she trust him to not leave as soon as he got to sleep with her? It made her heart hurt to doubt him, but she did.

She didn’t even know if he liked her, or if he just wanted a sexual relationship. (Name) felt her tummy twist in knots, her eyes brimming with tears. She was conflicted, was she okay with doing more with him?

Before she could think of this anymore, the bathroom door opened, and a familiar head of blonde hair came into view, two twin tails bouncing as the girl walked closer.

“B-Bisky!” (Name) attempted to hide her hickeys, but Bisky only scoffed. She was wearing a princess peach costume, already pulling off her long white gloves.

“Oh honey, I saw those the second I walked in. There’s no hiding them.”

(Name) groaned, leaning against the sink. “Everyone’s going to see, I’ll be so embarrassed…”

She thought back to Kurapika’s words, feeling herself grow wet again. ‘Was he… was he jealous?’

Bisky patted her back, giving her a reassuring smile. “I might have something that can help.”

The woman pulled a pink, fluffy scarf out of her bag, holding it out to her. “Here, hun. This should help.”

(Name) sniffled, wiping her eyes before wrapping it around her neck. “Thank you, Bisky… this is better.”

Bisky gave her a hug, patting her back. “It’s good to see you again. What happened to have you in such a tizzy?”

(Name)’s cheek heated up again, her eyes looking to the floor. “W-well… my friend and I… we um…”

She twiddled her thumbs. “We didn’t have sex, b-but he rubbed me through my panties and gave me these hickeys.”

Bisky blushed. “Oh wow, are you talking about that tall handsome one? (Name), you naughty girl!”

She squeaked and shook her head. “N-no, it wasn’t Leorio! It was Kurapika…”

“The blonde brat? Oh, you could do such much better than that. He’s so… thin and-“

(Name) puffed out her cheeks. “Well I like him! He’s a little skinny, but I don’t mind! He can be really sweet and…”

She played with her hair, feeling butterflies flutter in her tummy. Bisky sighed, closing her purse and walking towards the sink to wash her hands. “You must really like this boy, (Name). You’re all flustered.”

(Name) nodded, pulling her scarf around herself tighter. “I… I do like him.”

Bisky smiled. “Then go for it. He obviously likes you if he got his fingers all up in your p-“

“Bisky!”

(Name) covered her face in embarrassment while Bisky rolled her eyes. “Oh, hush. Now why don’t you go enjoy the party? I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

(Name) nodded, about to leave. “Wait.”

She stopped, turning. “You bought another costume from that store, didn’t you? I told you to call me if you needed to find something in your size, you deserve to wear whatever you want.”

(Name) whined. “But you were busy, I didn’t want to bother you!”

Bisky huffed. “Hey, you’re my sweet (Name), I don’t mind spoiling you every once in a while!”

She patted (Name)’s shoulder, the younger girl pouting a little. “Don’t be a brat, I’ll be sending you some new dresses as soon as I get home, and you’ll like them!”

(Name) nodded. “You really don’t have to, Bisky…”

“But I want to. Now shoo!”

(Name) hurried out, taking a deep breath before entering the hallway.

———————

Kurapika sat in a corner, trying not to cry as Leorio consoled him. “I’m an idiot, fuck what if she hates me now?”

Leorio sighed, patting his back. “Kurapika, I don’t think she hates you. She was probably just embarrassed. Or was um…”

He cleared his throat, feeling himself grow aroused just thinking of it. “She may have been dripping, Kurapika. That’s most likely why she ran to the bathroom.”

Kurapika sniffled, wiping his eyes. “You think so? She doesn’t hate me or thinks I’m a creep?”

“How many times do I have to say she likes you before you actually get it through your thick skull? If you could’ve seen how she acted after-“

Leorio paused, but Kurapika had an idea of what he meant. The blonde looked to the floor, sighing. “I know I hurt her, but… but I really want her. I want…”

Kurapika blushed, his heart thumping wildly against his chest. “I want to be with her.”

Leorio didn’t say anything, his face neutral. “… then show her you care. You should try asking her on a date.”

Kurapika choked, coughing and patting his chest. He told himself he would do just that as soon as he got back, but he chickened out last minute. “A date… I’ll… I’ll do it.”

Leorio patted his back before helping out. “You’ll do it tonight?”

Kurapika’s breath hitched. “No, no I’ll need time. If I do it tonight I’ll have a nervous breakdown.”

Leorio laughed. “Yeah, okay man. You should do it soon, though. You’re not her only admirer, not by a long shot.”

Kurapika stiffened at this, his eyes flashing scarlet. “… and you’re one of them, aren’t you Leorio?”

Leorio sighed, putting a hand on his hip. “I am, and don’t get the wrong idea. I’m helping you because she really likes you and I want her to be happy. If you hurt her again Kurapika…”

He placed a hand on the blonde’s shoulder, his grip tightening. “Then I’ll make sure you never get to see her again. Just remember that.”

Kurapika stayed quiet, pushing past Leorio and walking out the door. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As (Name) moved through the building, she felt like she was being… watched. Something was following her, staying in the shadows to try and hide.

“Who’s there?”

She tried to remain calm, but was trembling just a little. She knew Hisoka was there, and the two didn’t exactly have the best track record.

“It’s just me, (Name).”

She nearly screamed when a figure appeared in front of her, pulling her in to a nearby room.

“W-what are you doing here, Shalnark?”

The perky blonde in front of her grinned, glancing down at her costume for a moment before holding a finger over his lips. “Shh, your little boyfriend is here, right? You shouldn’t say my name so loud.”

She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. “Damn it Chrollo… Shal, he’s not my boyfriend!”

Shalnark snickered, keeping her pinned against the wall. “Yeah yeah, whatever. That doesn’t matter. The boss asked me to attend last minute so I could tell you that we’ll need you this week, Monday to Wednesday. Meet us in the York New airport at 3pm Monday afternoon, sharp.”

He patted her cheek playfully before pulling out his phone and snapping a picture of her. “H-hey, what was that for?”

He shrugged, walking towards the door and pulling the black hood of his cloak back over his head. “Don’t worry about it.”

Then, he was gone. (Name) could only hope he left the party all together. If he bumped into Kurapika, it would be a catastrophe.

She sighed, leaving the room and making her way towards Kite.

————————

Kite sat on a couch, Hisoka and Illumi lingering nearby. The room was somewhat crowded, but there was always space around them, as if people were scared to get too close. “(Name), you’re here.” Kite said as (Name) wiggled her way to them through the crowd.

“Kite!”

They could see the tears welling up in her eye, and Kite couldn’t help but smile and open their arms. (Name)’s lip trembled and she fell into their lap, crying into their shoulder.

“I’m so sorry… if I had stayed with you, m-maybe you wouldn’t have to-“

Kite laughed, patting her back. “You know it wouldn’t have ended any different, (Name). If you had stayed, you would have died then too.”

She went quiet, hiding her face in their shoulder. Kite looked different now. They had long red hair, a woman’s body. But they were still the same Kite she knew before, their aura kind and strong.

“I didn’t even get to see you before you left, I was still in the hospital…” she said softly as Kite wiped away her tears. Kite sighed.

“I know, I was going to visit you, but you were resting and I didn’t want to wake you and Killua up. I left you some poppies, though.”

She gasped, looking up at them. “That was you? I still have them in my garden!”

Kite nodded, a smile tugging at their lips. “I’m glad you liked them. We were all real worried about you, (Name). After all, you did d-“

As they continued to speak, Hisoka watched, a smirk on his lips. “I’ve been waiting to see her since Killua took Alluka back.”

Illumi hummed. “That’s because I forbid you from interfering with her. After what happened with the Chimera Ants, she was placed at the top of the potential threats lists for the Hunter Association. Even I’m not sure why she isn’t under constant surveillance. After she took Killua and Alluka in, I stepped back. I can’t just force myself in, her nen and range is too powerful to risk it.”

Hisoka leaned against the bar, laughing. “So that’s why you’re going about it in a more… subtle way?”

Illumi nodded, sipping on his drink. “If I can take her as a bride, not only will I have her power at my disposal, but Alluka and Killua will be in the palms of my hands. They care for that woman too much, really.”

The two continued to watch (Name), keeping their distance. Hisoka stretched slightly. “I don’t think that’s the entire truth though, is it, Lumi? Your heart beats faster when you look at her.”

The man scoffed, finishing his drink. “It’s because I’m excited to finally have all of that power to myself.”

But they both knew he was only telling half truths.

(Name) sat comfortably in Kite’s lap for a little longer, catching them up on her life. “Yeah, Gon is visiting for Halloween. Are going to come visit?”

“Unfortunately I can’t. I’ll be leaving in the morning and be gone on a mission until late November.”

Kite cupped her cheek when she pouted. “Oh, don’t pout (Name). I’ll still be able to make it to your little fall celebration. Gon will be there, correct?”

(Name) nodded, her eyes lighting up. “Yeah, he will be! It takes place near the end of November, I’ll text you the date when I get home!”

Kite smiled, helping her up before they walked over to the bar. “I’ll see you then, (Name). Your friends are waiting for you, go on.”

(Name) turned to see Leorio and Kurapika waiting by the door, Kurapika’s face and eyes a soft red.

“Okay… bye, Kite!”

She gave them one last hug before walking off, looking over her shoulder to see Kite watching her go with a soft look in their eyes.

“(Name)…”

Kurapika’s eyebrow twitched slightly when he saw the scarf covering the marks he left on her. “Hello, Pika…”

She seemed shy now, holding onto his and Leorio’s hands. “Let’s get some drinks and go dance! We have another hour before we have to be home.”

——————

Kurapika was deemed the designated driver, mostly due to him not being the biggest fan of drinking. The last time he did, he embarrassed himself and clung to (Name) like a child.

But now he was starting to wonder if he should have let Leorio take the responsibility of DD as he watched the two giggle and dance together. He was almost jealous as he sipped on his cola, making a face when Leorio spun her around before resting his hands on her hips.

“Ah, you’ve been staring at her a lot, Kurta. I didn’t know you and (Name) were close.”

Kurapika took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose before putting a tired smile on his face. “Hello, Pariston. I see you’re as annoying as usual.”

The man next to him smiled, sitting down as he watched the two dance with Kurapika. “Annoying, maybe, but am I wrong, Kurta? Your eyes have rarely left her tonight. And I heard Leorio found you two in a closet.”

Kurapika’s cheek lit up a bright red. “… that’s none of your business, Pariston. Who I look at has nothing to do with you.”

“Oh, but it does. That woman… she’s quite special, you know? Not many people have accomplished what she has. Hell, if I hadn’t been in town when it happened, I wouldn’t have believed it myself.”

Kurapika’s eyes narrowed, the blonde setting his glass down on the bar. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Pariston smirked, leaning against his seat. “Oh, I forgot. She hasn’t told you, has she? Not that many people know what happened in the first place, and you weren’t picking up the phone when it took place.”

Kurapika felt his annoyance rising. “Are you talking about chimera ant incident? (Name) was involved!?”

Pariston put a finger to his lips. “Indeed she was, a key player you could say.”

The man downed a shot as he eyed (Name). “I can’t tell you anymore than that, though. I have an agreement with her.”

Kurapika growled, turning towards the man. “I swear to god, just t-“

“Kurapika, come dance with usss!”

(Name) was squeezing through the crowd, being steadied by Knuckle then caught by Leorio when she nearly tripped. She paused when she saw Pariston, her eyes narrowing.

“Pariston.”

The dirty blonde haired man grinned, looking her up and down. “(Name), it’s a pleasure to see you. You’re looking rather… divine.”

She didn’t seem impressed, grabbing Kurapika’s hand. “Come on, Pika.”

He couldn’t argue, especially not when she was pressing up against him, giggling and dancing. But as he spun and held her, Kurapika couldn’t help but think back to Pariston’s words. ‘What is she hiding from me?’

Kurapika sighed as the party began to wind down, his two friends now thoroughly drunk. (Name) was leaning against his shoulder, soft giggles and slurred words leaving her lips. “This was fun… but gotta… gotta get home to the kids.”

She attempted to stand, but fell back and into Kurapika’s lap. He steadied her, his hands drifting to her plush hips. “Hey, let me carry you, angel. Leorio, come on, we’re leaving.”

Leorio finished his drink. “Ya gonna carry me too, Kurta?”

Kurapika scoffed, carrying (Name) on his back. “Absolutely not.”

Leorio pouted playfully, standing up and following the two. “You’re no fun.”

(Name) wrapped her arms around Kurapika, moving to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Pika…”

He blushed, readjusting her on his back and holding onto her thighs. “It’s no problem, (Name). I’ll always be here to carry you home.”

She hummed against his neck, before planting a wet kiss on it. “Mmm… you made me feel really good earlier, Pika…”

His breath hitched, his heart thumping against his chest. “(Name)… what do you think you’re doing?”

She giggled, gently nibbling and kissing his neck. “Giving my Pika some kisses… muah muah!”

He stuttered, face going red. “W-what? I…”

It felt nice, her lips on his neck soft and warm, but she was drunk. He set her on her feet, brushing her hair out of her face. “Angel, you can’t… give me kisses right now. You’re not yourself.”

Her lip trembled, her pretty (e/c) eyes looking up at him filling with tears. “Y-you don’t want my kisses? But we kissed in the closet earlier…”

Now Kurapika was panicking, attempting to soothe her and wipe away her tears.

Leorio snickered next to him. “Heyy, what about me, (Name)?”

She sniffled, then looked up at Leorio, reaching for him. “Lemme give my Leorio some kisses too…”

Kurapika blinked, seeing the two leaning in to kiss, and quickly pulled her away. “H-hey! No, you’re both drunk!”

(Name) whined in his arms and struggled as she tried to get to Leorio. “But m-my Leorio needs kisses! Why are you being so m-mean!”

She began to cry and hiccup, Leorio sighing softly. “Shhh, s’okay, (Name). Let’s get home.”

Kurapika held her to his chest, rubbing soothing circles into her back. If he wasn’t so jealous in the moment, he would think her need to give her friends affection was quite cute. “Come on, let’s get you in the car.”

He drove them home, the car parked crooked as he tried to get out as fast as possible. Kurapika caught the two inching closer through the rear view mirror, having to pull (Name) out by the waist before her and Leorio’s lips could touch.

“Hey..!” she wiggled and squirmed, but was too drunk to hold onto her frustration for long. After a minute, Kurapika was able to carry her inside and up the stairs with no problems.

“You are a real pain to deal with, (Name).” he teased, setting her down on her bed. She pouted at him, eyes half lidded as she looked up.

“And you’re mean… got me all worked up, and I don’t even know if you like me…”

She huffed, pulling her blanket up to her chin and turning away from him. Kurapika felt his heart squeeze painfully. The blonde sat down next to her, playing with her hair.

“… (Name), you mean a lot to me. Really, you do. I just… it’s hard for me to give into my feelings. If I do, then my goals may be at stake. It would be selfish of me to fall in love, but… at the same time I want to. I want to be with you, and-“

The sounds of her soft snores made him blink. Had she heard anything he said? From the look of her peaceful face, probably not.

He pushed a piece of hair out of her face, placing a kiss on her forehead. “Goodnight, (Name).”

————————

The next two days, things were a bit awkward between (Name) and Kurapika. They both had hickey they gave one another, and were still trying to comprehend the things they did together at the costume party.

As Monday rolled around, (Name) walked down the stairs with her suitcase, Kurapika jumping up and taking it from her. “Here, let me.”

She blushed, looking away shyly as he took it from her. Being around him wasn’t easy, she could already feel herself growing wet just thinking about the way he touched her. His words then made her so fucking horny, and the way his hand held onto her waist as he guided her outside made her stomach do backflips.

The kids were already gone, staying the first night with Leorio so he could study in his apartment and watch them at the same time. “I’ll be back Wednesday, I made some premade meals, all you have to do is warm them up.”

Kurapika nodded, placing her suitcase in her van. “… are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

She bit her lip. “It’s a solo mission, a favor in exchange for a favor.”

The blonde frowned. “Why won’t you tell me anything about this informant? Don’t you trust me?”

Even Kurapika knew using that line was a little manipulative, but god he was tired of things being hidden from him. He needed to know more.

She blinked, cranking up the van before answering. “Kurapika, it’s not that I don’t trust you. The person just… doesn’t like meeting with strangers.”

This was a blatant lie, and before Kurapika could call her out on it, she kissed his cheek. “I have to get to my flight before I’m late. Bye, Pika.”

He was distracted by the kiss just long enough for her to get into her van and drive away. Now Kurapika was alone, standing in the driveway and watching her go with a soft look in his eyes.

‘Wait… I’m home alone…’

His mind went back to Saturday night, when he got a taste of (Name) for the first time. Kurapika had been waiting for an opportunity like this, and now that he was alone, he could act on his plans.

The blonde walked back inside and up to (Name)’s bathroom. Thankfully, she hadn’t washed the dirty clothes in her hamper yet, meaning…

Kurapika dig through the clothes, and swallowing thickly when he found what he was looking for.

A pair of used panties.

Over the next few days, Kurapika lost buckets of cum, almost turning animalistic when being able to smell and taste her while jerking off.

———————

(Name) was finally home, walking inside only to immediately be tackled by all of the kids. “Mom!”

Killua clung to her, Alluka jumping onto her back and Gon tugging at her arm. “Hey, lay off, she just walked in the door!”

Leorio picked all three of them up, Kurapika grabbing her suitcase. For some reason Kurapika looked… super relaxed? “Welcome home, (Name). I hope everything went well.”

He smiled at her, his eyes gentle and cheeks pink. She blinked, giving him a smile in return. ‘What the hell happened while I was gone?’

After unpacking, (Name) began planning out Halloween, which was only a week away now. Zushi would be flying in two days before and leave November 2nd, so she’d have to pick up from the airport and make sure an air mattress was ready for him.

She spent the week leading up to Halloween decorating, making themed treats, and watching movies with her friends. There was also some last minute fixes to their costumes that needed to be tended to.

The day came for Zushi to be picked up, and she brought the kids along to greet him. “Zushi!”

Gon and Killua ran to meet up with him, the three hugging and smiling. “I can’t believe Master Wing let you come! He’s usually so strict.”

Zushi laughed, shouldering his backpack. “Well, he’s busy this week anyways, so it was better for me to come so he could get some business done!”

The four chatted up a storm on the way home, Alluka being introduced to Zushi and vice versa.

“Just tell me if you need anything, okay Zushi? I sleep upstairs, but don’t feel afraid to wake me up. If you’re too scared to, just ask Killua.”

This was the first time Zushi was staying over, and she could tell he was a little nervous. She tucked the boy in, giving him a kiss on his forehead before standing up. “Thank you, Miss (Name).”

She smiled, seeing the other two were already asleep. “Goodnight, kiddo.”

The four went to the creek at dawn, coming back at lunch time covered in mud, but happy. This repeated everyday, (Name) making sure they had a good time.

On the day of Halloween, they were all getting ready, (Name) wearing a simple black dress and witch hat. There was no way she’d be wearing her angel costume, it wasn’t very appropriate for trick or treating.

She was currently bent over, straightening out Alluka’s green bodysuit before tying her mask. “Oh, sweetheart you look so cute!”

Alluka giggled in delight, spinning around before pulling out her foam staff. “Look at my staff! I’m gonna beat up all the bad guys!”

(Name) nodded, patting her head. “Mhm, but try not to actually hit anyone. Your brother already causes enough trouble all on his own. Speaking of, where are those t-“

“I said no, Gon! Those are dangerous!”

She sighed, standing up and walking towards Kurapika’s room. Gon was holding Kurapika’s weapon in his hands, pouting. “But Kurapika, they’re perfect for my costume! I promise I won’t unsheathe them, I just-“

The blonde took them and put them on a high shelf. Killua was about to jump up and grab them for Gon, but (Name) cleared her throat, tapping her foot. “Boys, listen to Kurapika. He’s right, they’re dangerous. Even if you two can handle them, it’s possible you could end up hurting someone else. Remember, there will be other kids trick or treating.”

Leorio walked in, grabbing the nunchucks. “I think I’ll keep these with me. I know your little tricks, Killua.”

“Tch…” he kicked the ground, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“All of you, out now.”

“But I live here!”

“Yeah, and trick or treat is only until 7pm. Plus I want to watch a scary movie.”

Killua complained as he walked towards the door, only turning back to stick his tongue out at Leorio. (Name) smiled up at him. “Are you sure you’re fine with handing out candy, Leorio? You could always come with us.”

Leorio shrugged, cupping her cheek. “If I don’t hand out candy, they’ll egg your house, it happened to the neighbors last year.”

(Name) laughed, leaning into his touch. “I wish they’d try it. I’d send Killua after their asses. He’d maul them.”

“I would!”

Alluka giggled, holding onto Killua’s arm. “Ooo, I wanna maul someone too! No one gets to be mean to my big sis!”

Kurapika walked out of his room, wearing a sweater and slacks. He took (Name)’s hand, squeezing it. “Are we ready to go, angel?”

She felt her face heat up, giving a quick nod. “Mhm, let’s get going.”

———————

Kurapika walked down the street, hand in hand with (Name). Something felt so domestic, so soft about talking the kids trick or treating. He could almost imagine they were their kids, and that this was his family.

Almost.

They stood at a distance, watching the kids knock on a door. A man that looked to be in his late 30s opened the door, poking his head out and scoffing. “Ah, it’s you. Ain’t you a little too old to be trick or treating?”

“Aren’t you a little too young to be twice divorced?”

The man was silent after that, giving the four their candy.

“How do you even know about that?” (Name) asked as they walked to the next house.

“I like to keep a tab on all of the neighbors. Just in case I need to blackmail them for something.”

“Killua.”

“I’m joking! Mostly.”

They go to a few more houses and no problems arise. Kurapika and (Name) were chatting as the kids walked up to the next one, giving each other shy looks and occasionally laughing.

That is as until they heard a car alarm going off and watched the four sprint past them. “Go, let’s go!”

Killua yelled out as he sprinted down the street. The two glanced at each other before following suit. “The hell did you do?”

“She was giving our raisins! On Halloween! So me and Alluka whacked her car with our weapons!”

(Name) wanted to laugh, they were totally running like little ninjas and she almost found it cute. Kurapika, however, wasn’t having any of it.

Once they were far enough, Kurapika confiscated all of their foam weapons. “Alright, that’s enough of that. If you can’t behave, you don’t get these.”

Gon and Zushi whined. “But we didn’t do anything!”

“Yeah, but you didn’t stop them either. If you keep your toys, you two would buckle and let them use them.”

Kurapika wasn’t wrong, Gon and Zushi weren’t exactly strong willed when it came to giving in to their friends.

Nanika appeared, holding onto (Name)’s arm. “Momma, why is Kurapika being mean to Alluka and big brother?”

(Name) smiled. “Nanika, hello! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

She picked up the girl, letting Nanika hold onto her shirt and rest her head on her shoulder. “He’s not being mean, he’s just making sure no one gets hurt.”

Nanika sniffled, clinging to her. “Momma, Alluka is upset. She wants her toy back.”

“I know, but we can’t always get what we want. She needs to be a brave girl.”

Nanika nodded, and (Name) carried her to the next house. “Alluka must be tired, are you staying out for a bit?”

“Mhm. I want to trick or treat too!”

(Name) almost felt a little bad. She hadn’t even thought to ask if Nanika wanted to join them, or if she wanted to have a separate costume. “I’m sorry, Nanika. I should have invited you to come with us, I didn’t even think about it.”

“S’okay momma. I’m just happy I get to see you and big brother…”

Nanika didn’t want to let go of (Name), so she walked with the rest when they trick or treated. This wasn’t too bad, because now she got to keep a better eye on them. It did leave Kurapika the odd one out though, the blonde having to wait alone for them to finish.

Nanika opened a piece of her candy, eating it as she held onto (Name)’s arm. “It’s so good, momma!”

She ruffled the girls hair. “I’m glad you like it, love. Make sure to save some for Alluka, okay?”

“Kay!”

Killua held onto (Name)’s other arm, chewing on some gum. “Do we really have to go home now? It’s only 6:30!”

She laughed, patting his back. “Yeah, but do you see any lights on? We can go from house to house and get nothing, or we can go home, order some pizza, then eat all those treats I made.”

Killua thought for a second. “Let’s go home then.”

Kurapika watched the two cling to her as he carried Gon on his back and held onto Zushi’s hand. ‘They’re so cute, even Killua.’

Maybe he was getting used to this, but the thought almost made him… anxious. The only thing he felt right now was peaceful, and that wasn’t good.

‘The only thing that scares me is that my rage will fade away with time.’

He took a deep breath, following them. ‘I won’t lose my rage, even if it means…’

Kurapika swallowed thickly.

‘Even if it means I have to distance myself.’

——————

After eating pizza and pigging out on the Halloween themed sweets (Name) made, the kids headed to their room to watch some Halloween movies and settle down for the night. Alluka made some room for herself on Killua’s bed, (Name) giving them all a kiss on their foreheads before walking downstairs.

“Just in time, sunshine. The next movie is starting and I got you those fruity drinks you like.”

He handed her a strawberry flavored beer, Kurapika already sipping on a similar one. “Ah, so we’re getting drunk and watching horror movies? Sounds fun.”

She plopped down between the two, talking the drunk and chugging half of it. After it began to set in, (Name) hummed happily, pulling the throw blanket she had over her. “Hey, let me get some of that, it’s cold.”

Leorio scooted towards her and took a bit of her blanket. Kurapika didn’t like this, instantly moving closer as well. “I’m also cold.”

Now, (Name) was sandwiched between the two, and she couldn’t be any happier. She pulled them both close and planted a kiss on each other of their cheeks.

Leorio was quick to fall asleep, only a few beers in. Once he did, Kurapika pulled (Name) a little closer, leaning his head against her shoulder. “This has been fun, I’ve never really celebrated Halloween before.”

(Name) hummed, now a little tipsy. “I’m glad you got to celebrate with us. Wouldn’t be the same without you.”

Kurapika blushed, sighing in contentment. The alcohol was making him a little braver, so he glanced up at her, his hand beginning to move from his lap to hers.

“Do you want t-“

He stopped when the he heard the kids’ room open. “Miss (Name)? Where’s the candy bucket, I want more snickers.”

“It’s in the kitchen bud, do you want me t- oh my god!”

Zushi stood behind them, his face a little swollen and red.

“I love snickers, you know how when your face gets all puffy and you start sweating because it’s so good?”

“No?! Buddy that sounds like a nut allergy.”

“Master Wing never lets me have them, but there’s a bowl and he’s not here to stop me!”

(Name) stood and stumbled to the kitchen to grab the epipen she kept in case of emergencies while Kurapika handed him some skittles. “Eat those instead. Leorio!”

Kurapika began to shake Leorio awake, the man groaning and looking to where Kurapika was pointing. “Aww, bud you look awful. What happened?”

(Name) used the epipen on Zushi, the boy squeaking. “I think he had an allergic reaction to the peanuts in the snickers. Sweetheart, no more snickers. Just stick to these skittles okay?”

He pouted, but began to eat the skittles as his swelling began to go down.

Once Leorio checked over him to make sure he was okay, he walked back to join the others. (Name) sat back down, looking to Kurapika with a smile. “What we’re you going to say, Pika?”

The situation had sobered him up a bit, and his courage had faded away. “Nothing, I forgot.”

She nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Oh, okay…”

He cursed himself for chickening out on asking her on a date again. ‘I’ll do it next time, I will.’

The three watched horror movies late into the night, drinking and laughing at the bad jump scares. Eventually, Leorio and (Name) fell asleep, the former laying his head on her lap.

Kurapika played with her hair, planting kisses on her forehead. Those feelings of his kept growing, making his head spin and heart pound. Moments like this, where she was leaning against his shoulder and sleeping peacefully made him fall even deeper in love with her.

And that was a problem. He felt so conflicted. Something about this felt so right. Of course she was supposed to be there, in his arms, she was his love, his dearest friend.

But something also felt incredibly wrong. Why was he here, relaxing and drinking while his clan’s eyes were still in the hands of those who only wanted to use them? Did he really deserve to feel so happy, so content when his people couldn’t even properly rest in peace?

After a bit, Kurapika picked (Name) up, carrying her upstairs again. He didn’t mind it, really, she felt nice and warm in his arms. It reminded him that she was alive, brimming with life and love.

But just being near him could bring about her death. The very thought of it made his blood run cold, his chest ache. The thought of losing her made him want to throw up.

He sat her down on her bed, looking over her. She was beautiful really, her face a little hot from the alcohol and hair messy, but he wouldn’t have her any other way.

Before he could leave, she grabbed onto his sleeve, barely awake. “No… don’t go… I don’t want you to… leave me again…”

His heart broke for her, and before he knew it he was climbing into bed with her and pulling her into his arms. Maybe she could sense his unease, his hesitance.

She nuzzled into his chest, sighing happily. “I love you, Kurapika… I don’t… want you to leave.”

He felt tears prickle in the corners of his eyes, slowly placing a kiss on her lips. “I know, I know (Name).”

She was already asleep again, clinging to him so tight, as if she wanted to make sure he couldn’t leave her. Kurapika wouldn’t sleep for a few more hours, his mind and heart racing.

‘Can I really love her? Is that even fair to either of us?’

He sighed, his eyelids finally dropping, sending him into a restless sleep.

[elsweetheart]

maybe tomorrow you’ll know

🎀 summary: when your girlfriend ellie can’t make it to patrol, you take her slot and go with joel. your father figure comforts you when you get overstimulated.

🎀 an: trying out the diary entry kind of cover picture ?? idk if it looks cute or not but idk what else to put so there . another ldr song title lol … this fic is kinda odd ,, kind of a weird ending and idk if i like it. feels kind of ooc. oh well !! ppl requested it. this is a prequel to this fic and a late sequel to this one !!

🎀 warnings: implied acknowledgment of neurodivergence from joel ?? joel is a little nicer / more healed than he is canonically,, reader gets overstimulated and upset ,, mentions of daddy issues lol ,, mentions of grief ,, i think that’s it ??

It wasn’t unlikely that common colds and flu’s swept Jackson this time of year. It was the pollen from the trees, or maybe the sap, or something like that. Ellie had explained it you a while back but you were more focused on her freckles than the scientific explanation of illness, so the information was kind of buzzing around loosely at the back of your brain.

Ellie, who’s immune system seemed to be made of gold in other departments was hit by the cold. She had the runt of it, red nose, sore throat, awful mood. The one upside was you swanning around looking after her, but that one upside was accompanied by several downsides— as per mentioned, really shitty mood, and the God awful medicine that Maria had cranked out to those hit by the illness.

That left very few people to go on patrol, and you being the helpful angel that you were signed up without second thoughts. You, who had very little patrol experience — your talents thriving more in the gardening area or barn. The shell shock Ellie experienced from hearing you’d signed up didn’t last long thankfully, when you’d rushed to tell her that Joel told you that he’d accompany you. She relaxed a little, if she was going to feel that you were safe in anyone’s hands, it would be Joel’s.

She was honestly feeling much better, the headaches and most of the sniffles had gone away by the time the day of your patrol rolled around, but the antibiotic she was still unfortunately taking made her drowsy for the better part of the day — so for safety reasons, she wasn’t able to up and snatch your patrol slot like she’d so cunningly planned.

She’d watched you get ready, watched you pull on your jeans and a tight white t—shirt. She could tell you were trying to look ‘practical’, outfit removed of any frills and decoration like it usually would garner to seem more Ellie-esque, apparently manifesting her courage and skill to support you on the patrol. It was sweet, but she worried for you, and kept having to remind herself that Joel would be there, Joel would be there, Joel would be there. Nothing was going to get you. She didn’t let this show of course, flashing you a winning smile before you left, helping you tighten your backpack straps and kissing the nervous line between your eyebrows. “Go get ‘em, patrol girl.” She was as cool as ever.

You’d spotted Joel waiting by the gate, and your own nerves settled into a quiet hum in your chest at the sight of him. He looked unafraid, as usual — but when did he ever look afraid? His worn brown jacket was a familiar sight, and you smiled— giving him a sweet wave when he noticed you emerging.

“What, Ellie not here to send you off?” He smiled, in his gruff Joel way as soon as you were in hearing distance.

“She’s on strict doctors orders to rest and stay in bed.” You recite proudly, the two of you sharing a chuckle of disbelief at the fact that someone had managed to tell Ellie what to do. Who else would it be?

“Alright Kiddo, up you get.” He aided you onto his horse, wedging himself in the front saddle. You weren’t offended that he hadn’t trusted you with your own horse today, in fact you felt safer like this.

Joel liked spending one on one time with you, like the time you introduced him to skincare. He found you to be rather seraphic in nature — a glow of purity and light heartedness in an otherwise dark world. He was the most happy to see that you and Ellie were dating, as he found your ways to rub off on her. He’d notice the way she would actually think twice or hesitate before snapping at someone, always making sure to check for you first to gauge your emotions. Ellie was gentler than before, her jagged edges buffing themselves down as to not catch you on its spikes. In fact, Joel had notice everyone that had the grace of being around you had softened up slightly and not in a bad way, you were your own little patch of sunshine. The sugar in the tea that was Jackson.

Which is why he was happy to let you wear yourself out with words, burbling about some funny incident that occurred earlier on in the week with Jesse — Joel chuckling along due to the expressive nature in which you told the tale, glancing at the shadow in the snow of your arms waving about wildly in gesture as you did so despite the older man not facing you.

“I don’t know how you got this much energy so early in the mornin’.” He chuckled with an amused shake of his head. You sat with this for a moment, staring out at a gaggle of birds flapping about causing ruckus in the tree top. You wondered if the birds knew the world has ended, and exhaled through your nose at the thought — leaning forward to rest your cheek to Joel’s back. You suppose you were a little tired, not having much sleep from the night before.

“Changed your tune.” He hummed, a little more quietly. The sun had only just come up, and you felt the adrenaline of leaving past the gates beginning to seep out, your eyes feeling puffy and dry from perhaps lack of sleep.

“You reminded me I am a little sleepy.” You yawned and he chuckled, steering the horse round a bend making your fingers dig into his jacket just a little more. You stayed this way for a while, the two of you plodding along on the horse as Joel took mental note of routes and watched for foot prints and such. Your peaceful reverie was broken by the terrifying groan that could only belong to clickers. Your head snapped up, heart clenching in that dreaded way but Joel didn’t seem to react in the slightest. His back continued to slowly expand and deflate with his slow breaths as the two of you located the small gaggle with your eyes. He drew his weapon, a knife with a thick handle and slid off the horse.

You felt slightly vulnerable as he stepped away, weary of his feet crunching in the snow as he stalked towards the screeching clickers ambling around amongst themselves. Perhaps it really had been a long time since you’d been past the gates, as your gut tensed up as you watched Joel brutally take down the small group. You didn’t quite notice that you were clutching at your jacket, jaw tense and eyes wide until he started trudging back towards you slightly lost of breath. His eyes caught yours and gave you a curt nod to signify he was okay, watching you for a moment longer as you uncurled your hands letting your jacket free from its clammy grip.

“Been a while since you been out here, huh.” He slung himself back onto the horse with a quiet grunt of exertion.

“Yeah. I’m super out of practise, it’s bad.” You shook your head fearfully, eyes boring into the mangled figures staining the snow red as you passed them, flinching when one of their legs twitched ever so slightly.

“You’re alright. S’the people who aren’t infected you gotta watch out for.” He remarked. You stayed silent, pensive at this comment that slightly set you on edge and he added “Don’t get many o’them round here though. We’d know about it.” to soothe your anxiety.

Perhaps you’d been spoiled a little with your working hours at Jackson, because being on patrol was more demanding and time consuming than you’d have thought. Some parts were nice, like chatting with Joel when you got to sit on the horse— but the rest of it was a lot more physically challenging than you were used to. Being hoisted up onto walls, climbing over fences, Joel was giving you quite the workout in comparison to your usual quiet and peaceful days. Your backpack had grown heavier from being filled with useful items you had found to bring back home — and it was beginning to make your shoulders ache, weighing you down uncomfortably.

The sky was aglow with a breathtaking abendrot, the day been and gone having been travelling around with Joel all day. You’d mentally clocked out around 2 hours ago, feeling the exhaustion push you past your limits. You never wanted to be in a bad mood with Joel — so you hid it, but you were starting to feel a little shitty. A close run in with the infected made your ears ring from Joel’s gun shooting a little too close to your ear— the annoying humming sound making it hard for you to concentrate. All of the physical exertion made you hot and clammy beneath your layers, but it was too cold without them. You could feel your hair sticking to the nape of your neck, getting tangled in the back of your necklace bringing it taut against your skin leaving a thin chain print indent against it. You could feel a pebble rattling in your shoe that you couldn’t get out, your knee was grazed slightly from a stumble trying to get away from a clicker, and you could feel the blood from the injury sticking to the inside of your jeans. Worst of all, you could feel a slight tickle at the back of your throat — the start of what could be the cold Ellie had.

“You listenin’?” Joel glanced round at you, on top of everything — he had decided now was the time to launch into a long and detailed story. You loved when Joel told stories, it was usually a moment of comfort or bonding — but you couldn’t help but feel irritated at the fact you could barely hear him, ringing in your ears seeming to grow louder.

“Huh? I— ugh, i can’t—” You stressed, fingers prodding inside your ears trying to wiggle the blockage out. Your face was screwed up slightly, overwhelmed by the feelings and sensations you were experienced. The man craned round slightly, taking a look at you.

“Y’alright?” He gave you a once over and you simply huffed, deciding that you didn’t care about the Jackson chill anymore as you practically fought your jacket off your body, immediately going back to sticking your finger in your ear trying to unplug it to escape the incessant ringing. You groaned agitatedly, not noticing your jacket dropping off the back of the horse and into the snow as you continued your pressurised ministrations. It all had seemed to hit you at once, your face heating up as you felt your heart rate pattering against your chest. “Kiddo?”

“What? I— I don’t know I don’t feel good I’m— I hurt myself and i’m getting sick and — everything is too much and —” You exploded, cutting yourself off as you burst into tears. You were frantically, nearly wailing as you grappled with yourself like you were covered in tiny ants. Joel frowned, quickly steering his horse beneath an old bridge and parking up, jumping off — hoping you didn’t fidget your way into falling off. You slid off the horse by yourself, pacing for a moment as you cradled yourself before sliding down the wall.

“Hey, kiddo. Look at me.” His movements was slow, purposeful. He didn’t freak out, he never did. Just slowly coming to squat infront of you, knee’s clicking with the gesture. You pulled your face from your hands, face hot and sticky now which only seemed to worsen your reaction. “You’re panickin’.” He observed. You nodded, unsure of what to say as you scrubbed your face, trying to rid of the feeling of your sticky tears. “Be gentle. Gonna hurt yourself.” He spoke even quieter as you did so, weary of hands rough swiping.

You leant back on the brick, letting your eyes flutter shut as you sucked in breaths. Joel took the time to look around, checking that there were no unwelcome visitors approaching. “Y’alright.” He soothed as you continued breathing. After a moment, you whined quietly into your hands.

“Too many feelings and sounds.” You shook your head, embarrassment creeping up the back of your neck. Joel probably thinks I’m insane, spoke the loud moth’s buzzing around from ear to ear.

“I get it.” He drawled, shrugging and sliding up beside you to sit, drawing his knees up. “We’ll sit here ‘til they go away.”

You went to complain, knowing he probably just wanted to get back, you were only holding him up — “Joel—”

“We’ll sit here, ‘til they go away.” He repeated with determination, turning to look at you seriously. You glanced at him, nodding before you closed your eyes once more — focusing on your breathing.

What did you find relaxing? The gentle breeze that fanned over your face as you sat and caught your breath, caressing the overly warm places on your body and soothing you as evening crept in. The thought of Ellie back in Jackson, the domesticity of it, thinking about how she was probably laying on her bed resting wearing her warm grey hoodie, tongue poking between her lips in concentration as she doodled in her diary. A butterfly sketched with a chewed biro, your profile drawn in the margins. The sound of birds tweeting as they settled in their nests for the evening, rustling their feathers slightly and cooing to their babies. Joel beside you, same old worn brown jacket and the deep lines of age embedded into his skin. You could hear his slow breath, in and out. In and out. You matched his speed, and before you knew it you were calm.

“Sorry about that.” You croaked, voice hoarse from your freak out. You didn’t feel hot with irritation anymore, just a slight warmth to your cheeks from embarrassment. “Didn’t mean to have a tantrum on you.” You sniffled, still clearly upset by the occurrence.

“Nothin’ to be sorry about. I think going on patrol just ain’t for everybody.” His deep voice reverberated beside you. The two of you sat for a moment, and you felt him observe you for a few seconds before he pushed himself to stand. He wandered off, returning back a moment later with your jacket that you had chucked off the back of the horse in his hand. He draped around you and you stuffed your arms back in, feeling the chill consuming you a little more now. Standing above you, Joel held out his hand.

You took it and he pulled you up. The sky seemed a shade darker, and a pang of guilt smacked your chest — realising how much time you’d wasted. You started busily dusting yourself down, adjusting your backpack waiting for him to step aside. When he didn’t, you stepped around him.

“Gosh, it’s getting late already— we better get going I’ve wasted enough time.” You released all in one breath. Your voice was strained, odd, like you were still barely holding it together. You turned to Joel, who still stood there and watched you analytically.

“Hey.” He interrupted, as you turned back to him.

“What?”

He held out his arms, and you didn’t hesitate.

Joel had only hugged you a few times before. From his demeanour, it was clear he wasn’t much of a hugger. Once when your dad left, and once when you had a frightening run in with an intruder. He had been there to comfort you in your lowest moments.

He wrapped his arms around you as you pressed your ear to his chest, hearing the slow and steady thump through his shirt. You let out a quiet sob, shoulders relaxing. You hadn’t realised how badly you just needed fatherly love until this very moment, the hole in your heart slowly but surely being filled by Joel’s presence.

“M’grateful you’re here. You’re the closest thing I have to…” You stopped yourself, deciding it would be too… much to say. You decided it would probably stay unspoken forever — the grief on his behalf too large to mention. You had only hoped he felt your gratitude and love without saying it.

Part of him tensed, but relaxed in allowance after a minute. “I know, babygirl.” He spoke his appreciation. It was quiet, almost like he had hoped that you and maybe even himself wouldn’t hear it. Another moment passed, and he cupped the back of your head, pulling you closer. “Same goes to you.” Your heart was warm when you pulled away, Joel not quite being able to meet your eye — as if processing what he’d just quietly admit to. You didn’t bring it up, and the two of you never discussed it again — climbing up onto the horse and galloping back in the direction of Jackson’s gates with quiet conversation as the sky melted into navy.

You were half asleep by the time you’d gotten back, Joel walking you back to Ellie’s door. Your breakdown had pretty much exhausted you, and Joel decided not to press you on it — silent footsteps in the snow as you reached the porch. Ellie came to the door, welcoming you inside with a kiss on the cheek as you sleepily mumbled to her before toddling inside the house disappearing into the dark hallway.

“How’d it go?” Ellie gave a once over to Joel’s pensive expression.

“Good.” He looked passed Ellie for a moment, to see whether or not you lingered. “Keep an eye on her, yeah?” His brow furrowed slightly and Ellie mirrored the expression, saying nothing as she urged him to continue. “Reckon she… she’s a little … different to you and I. Feels things different. She got… upset. Said she was feelin’ too much. Got all… overstimulated. Think that’s the word anyway. You know me, m’not good with all that stuff but… maybe you can talk to her, Kid.” He shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Yeah.” Ellie frowned, the syllable coming out in a fog of cold Jackson air. “I’ll ask her… thanks.” She nodded.

“Yeah. ‘Night.” He smiled, turning and plodding away tiredly.

Ellie curled up behind you in the moonlit room, your body was still cold having simply shed your clothes and dropped into the bed. The freckled girl rubbed your arms as she pulled the blanket over the two of you, pressing kisses to the back of your head.

“Missed you today, brave girl.” She whispered and you hummed, hand tiredly closing around her own on your shoulder.

“Missed y’too.”

“Joel told me you got upset. We gotta talk about that tomorrow, you know that right?” Her voice was gentle as she craned around to watch your face in the dark room, dropping a kiss to your cheek. She watched your eyelashes move, a failed attempt to open your eyes and your hand closed around hers just a little tighter.

“Tomorrow. M’okay.” Your voice grew weaker as sleep faded in around you.

“Okay baby. Get some sleep.” She tucked herself in behind you, trying to erase the worry from her mind.

[umlewis]

lewis hamilton is interviewed after qualifying, japan - april 6, 2024 (transcript under the cut)

Interviewer: "Lewis, your best starting position of the year, your final flat-out laps of Suzuka for Mercedes. You certainly looked like you left it all out there today." Lewis: "I did. I was giving it everything. The team did a really great job this past week, making adjustments to our setup. This is actually the first weekend I've not gone crazy with setup and I'm not testing a bunch of things, so I'm back to a bit more normal and I think we got the car into a much nicer working window. So every lap's been really enjoyable driving. The guys are just [laughs] a little bit faster. I mean, we were a second or just over a second off last year to the Red Bull, and seven-tenths is better. I think maybe if we'd done something a little bit different, maybe we could have been another tenth faster, maybe, but other than that, that was everything. So I think what it's given us is, I know exactly where the car is not strong enough. I can feel it in the car and I know, now, to be able to tell them, like, push in this particular area. But I'm hoping the race will be stronger for us tomorrow, and I've really enjoyed driving so far this weekend." Interviewer: "So does that mean that you and the team have a direction now? A good direction to go with this car and potentially…" Lewis: "I personally believe so, yeah. I mean, what we've noticed is from track to track it's been really, really hard to get the setup right [laughs] and it's been so far out each time, and in some places it's just felt like nothing we could do gets the car in the sweet spot, but this weekend it's much more in a sweet spot, so I hope that continues in the following races, and then we just gotta add performance."

[hockybish]

Bean groaned throwing another piece of clothing on the floor "I'm fat, nothing fits, nothing looks right."

"Well you are pregnant, with twins" he pecked her cheek, rubbing small circles into her bump

"I know but I'm like two times bigger than I was with Zeph or Percy. When I was this far with them everything still fit."

"Momma again, twins"

"Again you aren't helping" Bean pouted, he wouldn't understand.

Trevor sighed. He never would be able get why she feels the way she does, she literally had two little lives growing in her, but he could try to help her feel a little better.

He drew her a nice warm bath, making sure to add extra bubbles, and some pretty dried rose petals. Trevor even lit one of Bean's favorite candles to give the room more a relaxing atmosphere.

"You relax for a while, take a nap even. I'm gonna take the boys out for a bit, we've got a few errands to run."

"Don't be gone too long. Percy has eat in a few, and he's teething so he might be a little cranky." Bean sank into the water. "Oh and Zephyr needs to-"

"Bean, pretty Momma, I got this. Don't worry." Trevor kissed the crown of her head. "We'll be back later."

Trevor had a plan, while they were out they were going to get foods Bean was currently craving and a few other little goodies that will left her mood. Today was about her.

At the grocery store they had gathered everything they need and were about to check out when Zephyr spotted the bunches of pretty flowers. They were calling him, especially the tulips as they were Bean's favorite.

"Daddy we need to get flowers fo Mommy. These ones!" Zephyr held up a bunch of red tulips.

"Those are perfect little dude." He agreed, purchasing them plus another bouquet, because Bean could never have enough flowers. "What do you think Perce?"

Percy grunted glaring at his father while he nawed on a frozen toy. Trevor tickled the baby's foot to get him to smiled, but he just kicked his hand away. Teeth are not fun.

"Mommy wants cupcakes too. The ones with frosting." Zephyr tried again since Trevor listened to him about the flowers. He didn't wait for his dad to reply and put the desert in the cart as they were on their way to checkout. Trevor never noticed and bought them anyways.

While the boys were out Bean got the little break she very much needed. She got enough time to finish the bath, take a nap and even watched an episode of her show without any interuptions.

She was getting anxious as the minutes ticked on, it was getting close to feeding time for the baby and that little boy could be a terror when he didn't get fed right away. As soon as they were through the door, she snagged him from his carseat and went off to feed him.

Zephyr went off to play and Trevor got to work on lunch. Rice and ranch for Bean, mac and cheese for everyone else. He decorated the table with the flowers and some nicer tableware. The whole set up look pretty good if you asked him.

Bean was very surprised by it all.

"Mommy can I try that?" Zephyr pointed to the odd combo on her plate.

"Of course Zeph. It's pretty good"

Zeph put a small spoonful in his mouth and swallowed. The combo wasn't gross or disgusting by any means, but he didn't really like it. His parents laughed at the face he made.

"weird" He shoveled noodles into his mouth.

"That's okay babe, you don't need to have anymore"

"Can I have cupcake?"

The little family ended the night in a little cuddle puddle on the couch watching a movie. Zephyr was snuggled into Bean, the child had one hand on his mother's bump, talking to his brothers and Trevor had a sleeping drooly baby on his chest.

"Feel better Bean?"

"Yes. Thank you for everything"

[head-in-the-stars0305]

Enjoy the silence

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏

𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟗

Going to one of those big parties was never really your thing, usually being considered an outcast so you weren’t used to loud music, drunk people and football players being.. well.. football players. You would have never gone to a party like this, but here you were, being dragged to the party by your stepsister Carol because she said you need socialization.

“You know we could’ve walked right?” You told her, knowing the place was just a 10 minute walk from your home.

“Yeah it would’ve taken us like half an hour to get there by foot” she replies, but the truth is that she’s wearing jellies and those things make your feet hurt.

“there’s a shortcut through bachelors in the forest”

“The haunted cemetery? You know they do witchcraft over there, I don’t want to get sacrificed” Carol always believed any rumor she heard so you weren’t surprised by her believing the whole witchcraft and cult thing about the graveyard.

“It’s not haunted, it’s just abandoned and desecrated. I think it’s really peaceful and quite, it’s my reading spot” since you were forced to move here you became really attached to the graveyard, a quite place where you could read without interruptions, you never understood why it was such a comforting place to you, thinking that maybe being surrounded by nature helped you relax. “I like to do wax rubbings of the tomb stones, I also have a favorite” you said with a smile thinking about it.

“You have a…favorite one?…” Carol said, probably weirded out by this hobby of yours, you knew it was weird but you enjoyed it, going to the cemetery, doing wax rubbings, reading.. without anyone to disrupt your peace.

“Yeah, it’s this young man from the 1800s, I tend to his grave and leave him flowers..I talk to him sometimes” oh that young man, you didn’t know his name sadly, sometimes you would guess names that would suit him, like.. Victor or Walton.. he was such an intriguing man, you wished you were able to talk to him, maybe he would get you, just maybe. Visiting his grave was your favorite part of the day, not for a macabre reason, you just enjoyed talking to him and feeling like he was actually listening to you in that moment, that feeling helped you a lot after the accident.

“That’s really weird y/n, please don’t tell that to anyone” you knew you should’ve kept your mouth shut, she thinks you’re a weirdo now.

“I just don’t think anyone should be forgotten..”

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

When you got to the party Carol instantly left you to join her friends, you stayed for a while at the car looking around before going to the mini fridge near the pool. As you opened it and took out a Pepsi somebody started talking behind you.

“If you’re looking to fade out the booze is inside”

You turned around to look at him and instantly recognized who he was, Andy Clark, a guy you’ve never spoke to but still had a crush on, it was very silly to be honest.

“What?” You asked, already confused as to why was the Andy Clark talking to you.

“The booze, it’s in the house”he replied

“Yeah I think my stepsisters friend brought most of it, I think her name is Taffy or something” You remember Taffy, she was the nicest one in your stepsisters friend group, even nicer than Carol, sometimes she would come to your house to hang out with Carol but you didn’t talk to her much. She was really nice though, you wished she was your stepsister.

“Mhm, you’re y/n Gardner. Andy..Clark” he said, why did he know your name or better, how did the know your name, you’ve never even talked to him how the hell did he know your name.

“Why?.. why do you know my name?” You whispered looking at him and he just laughed, oh my god he has a nice laugh.

“Well you submitted some really strong poems to the Grackle, I’m one of the editors. You’re poems are great, very dark but they’re great” you could’ve died right then and there and you wouldn’t even have cared, he likes your poems, he thinks they’re great.

“Thank you” you said with a smile before Tamara, she has English class with you, came and interrupted your conversation, talking to Andy. “Hey Tamara” you didn’t mind her, she was pretty cool actually.

“Hi, sorry how do we know each other?” She asked.

“We have English together, I usually sit in the back”

“Ohhh you’re y/n right??” Some people would say she was mean but she was actually really nice, at least to you she was.

“Yeah that’s me” you said cracking open your Pepsi.

“Do you.. want a sip?” She said offering you her cup, you weren’t sure what was in there but you didn’t want to look uncool in front of Andy, so you accepted it and drank almost half of it.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

You were high, like super high.

You ended up inside the house and Doug found you, you trusted him, he was a nice guy, he asked you about your favorite director, he even held your hair back while you threw up in a trash can.

He took you to a random bedroom, away from all the noise, you were thankful for that. Then a thunder erupted making you jump slightly by the sudden noise.

“Oh no, looks like the angels are bowling” he said, making you smile.

“My mom used to say that” your eyes were closed and you smiled thinking of your mother, though your thoughts were interrupted by Doug.

“Does that feel good?”

You looked at him and then slowly looked down where his hand was.. he was touching you, what. The. Fuck.

You just stood up and ran out the door, Doug shouting something in the back, you didn’t listen you just kept running out without a certain direction, all you knew was that..

Doug was not a nice guy.

Tamara was not sweet.

And you were an absolute idiot accepting a spiked cup, it was all your fault you ended up in this situation.

You just kept running, you stopped when you realized you were surrounded by some familiar trees and in front of you was a familiar grave. Getting closer to him made you feel more at ease, like everything disappeared.

You looked up to the statue that somewhat represented the face of the young man, lightly touching his stone cheek.

“I wish I was with you”

[rose-riot-johnson]

Argh my Tumblr Peeps🏴‍☠️🦜 Today I have a treat for you😃👍I just have been requested to work on Captain Hook from Peter Pan🦜🏴‍☠️😁👍Since I'm open to try writing about Disney characters anyways, Captain Hook will be the 1st Disney character I will be writing about🦜🏴‍☠️😁👍And there will be smut in this particular fanfic🏴‍☠️🦜😁👍 So enjoy🦜🏴‍☠️😁👍Argh🦜🏴‍☠️🦜🏴‍☠️🦜🏴‍☠️

💎🦪💰You Are Captain Hook's Most Favorite Gem, Sea Pearl, And Treasure, In The Whole World💰🦪💎(Captain Hook x Female Reader)

Genres: Smut (And a brief mention of pregnancy in the end) (Warning +18⚠️: sexual contact (that includes cream pies, fingering,oral sex (female receiving and Hook recieving), breast kink(s), dirty talk, unprotected sex, vaginal penetration, and Dom! (Hook is Dom!)) nudity, and Language)

Eversince the day Captain Hook met you, you became part of his pirate crew and you pretty much fell in love with him after you heard of him (which was sometime before he met you). Before meeting Captain Hook, you had a roommate who made you do everything she told you to do. You felt there was no escape, until that very day Captain Hook invaded your village. Once you saw him through your window, you finally realized that you can finally get out of the life, your roommate forced you to feel obligated to do for all those years you lived with her.

Once you decided to make your escape, you ran outside of your roommate's house, to catch up to Captain Hook. After both you spoke to him, you explained that he is your idol, why you feel you would be a great pirate crew member to him, why you wanted to join his crew, and why you wanted to leave your village to come with him. He felt bad and was angered about the treatment your roommate gave you, so he accepted your plead to take you with him. Before your roommate (who is no longer your roommate) was able to make an attempt to demand for you to get back in her house, you were willingly gone with Captain Hook.

Your life was so much better after joining Captain Hook's crew, as if it was the best decision of your life. Captain Hook, also has a soft spot for you, so he is much nicer to you than he is anyone else. You're just his favorite person, ever.

One night, you decided to visit Captain Hook's room to (office or room since his office might be his room), to check on him, considering he has been stressed, depressed, frustrated, and beside himself due to his, your, and the rest of his crew's most recent defeat against his arch nemesis, Peter Pan. You felt sad for him that he hasn't felt like his self, as of late. You will do anything to makesure he is his usual self, again.

When you entered Captain Hook's (office or room), as you expected, he was trying to cry himself to sleep, as he has been having a hard time sleeping. You then went up to Captain Hook to massage shoulders, as you then ask him, "What's been troubling you, Captain Hook? Is there something I can help you with?". He then vented his frustrations, as he said, "Well, (Female Reader Name)... I tried and tried to execute my plans... Sadly most of my plans have failed... Thanks to that, meddling, Peter Pan, especially the last time I battled him in a sword fight! I've been defeated countless times by that meddling, Peter Pan and sometimes the brats he has with him definitely didn't benefit with my plans one bit... I'm so beside myself to the point where I'm down, depressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated with the fact that I keep being defeated by Peter Pan and that same pest ruining most of my plans... I've been even getting nightmares about him to the point where I'm not sure, if I should even bother trying to sleep, anymore...", as he continued to sob and only you knew what to do about it.

"Well Captain Hook, I definitely know how to make you all better...", you cooed, as you stopped massaging his back. Captain Hook stopped sobbing, as he was surprised you said this to him. He then replied, "You... Make me... All better? Now how could you possibly get me to feel better?". You then got off the bed, as you then moved in front of him, touching his shoulders with both of your hands, as you then answered, "Well... You can always take your stress out on me...". "Huh?", Hook said confusingly, as he then finally realized the fact that you're completely naked.

This was Captain Hook's first time seeing you naked, as he then stares at your naked body, including your breasts, as your breasts are the best breasts he has ever seen. You even squatted with your legs apart to let him look at your pussy. Seeing your naked body as a whole has definitely made his cock feel, so hard where he realized, your idea would definitely make him feel much better and this definitely has given him alot of devilish ideas on what to do with you, as he smiled in, such a naughty way.

You then cooed to Captian Hook, "Well, Captain... When life gets you down... Whenever you're stressed or overwhelmed or both... Whenever you're depressed and frustrated... Or maybe possibly aggravated... You can take it all out on me, as much as you want...". He gently pinched and pulled your nipples separately with his right hand, then he went to grab your boobs (left boob before the right boob), as he replied, "I get to everything out on you by doing naughty things with you? Well, as much as I don't want to resort to taking anything out on you, my treasure... However, if taking my frustrations and sadness out on you is all those naughty things to you and with you, then I love this idea of taking it all out on you this way, my gem.", before he started fingering you, as he started to suck on your nipples, as you started to moan.

Once Captain Hook finished sucking on both nipples (and fingering your pussy), you decided to sit on the floor, as your legs got tired from squatting. Captain Hook then praised, "My, my... You have such an incredible pussy to play with, while your boobs are also amazing, as a whole, especially your beautiful nipples, which boobs are a kink of mine, and your breasts are so perfect for me, including your nipples...", you begun to lay on the floor as he continued, "The fun has only begun... Since I don't eat often, I might as well taste your pearl, considering you are my sea pearl after all...", while he smirked. They way he was licking and sucking on your pussy, was so amazing to the point where you had to cover your mouth, inorder to prevent anyone else to hear you moan, as you then finally cummed. Captain Hook, looked at you, as he was eating your cum, as he couldn't help, but notice that you covered your mouth, so stopped sucking on you as then he cooed to you, "Please, uncover your mouth, my gem... I don't care if the rest of my crew nor anyone else hears you moan, because I would like to hear you moan... And since I caught you covering your mouth, I might as well feed you, too.", as he decided to stand up and pull his pants (and boxers ofcourse) down to have his hard cock dangling down, as he then continue, "And when I get done feeding you, don't think that i will be done with you, yet... When I say I'm done taking my stress out on you, I will let you know, my sea pearl...".

You then got on your knees to start sucking on Captain Hook's cock, as he already used his right hand to push your head to get his cock deeper into your throat, to makesure to he is feeding you well and to show you that is the dominant one of the two, when it comes to anything sexual both you and Captian Hook do together. As he was giving you deep throat, he then praised, "I'm so glad that you're taking, my cock well, my dear... At this rate I'm about to cum inside your throat soon... It's not where the fun ends, like I said, my treasure...", as he then came inside your throat like he said he was gonna do. Once he finished cumming in your throat, he knew he was still gonna be hard, as you then laid on your front side. You laying on his front side, definitely gave him an other naughty and devilish idea.

Captain proceeded to grab both of your hands with his right hand inorder for him to have his hook around both of your wrists (which was part of his left arm), as he began to insert his cock inside your pussy. As you're still on your knees, he began to thrust into your pussy. As, he was thrusting inside of your pussy, you began to realize that he managed to put his Hook around your wrists. He did this to show dominance and so you don't cover your mouth. "You have such a tight pussy I see, my sea pearl... My cock is starting to feel warm inside of your pussy already... No matter how much more you cum I will keep my cock inside you until I say I'm done...", he praised, while feeling more relaxed, and ensuring your moans are heard. You tried holding your moans in, as he then praised you again, " C'mon, my favorite treasure, gem, sea pearl... Don't hold yourself back, if you need to moan, my dear...", as he trying to encourage you, as he kept thrusting faster.

You couldn't hold back any longer as you then started to moan in a whimpering sense, "Oh Captain Hook! Your cock feels, so amazing! Don't stop, please! Cum inside me! So warm!", as you started to get cock drunk to the point where you don't care who hears your moans and whimpers. Captain Hook then continued praising, "That's it, my dear, sea pearl... Forget about anyone else... The only things you need to focus is me, you, your pussy, and my cock...", as he kept thrusting faster, while you kept moaning loudly. The more (and faster) he thrusts, the more (and louder), you moaned and whimpered, no matter who else heard you. It lasted for an hour or so before he managed to empty his load into your now sore pussy, considering that your pussy ended up being sore for quite sometime before he came right inside of you.

Once Captain Hook, letted you know he is finished, he decided to carry you to his bed, so he can cuddle with you for the rest of the night. He then rubbed your tummy, as he knew you will be having his child. After that night, he is no longer stressed, nor beside himself, nor depressed, nor frustrated, as he is finally his old self and that's all thanks to you, especially letting him take every issue he has out on you sexually...

The End

I hope you enjoyed this Captain Hook smut my Tumblr Peeps🏴‍☠️🦜😁👍And as for you @disney-girl67, I hope you enjoyed this fanfic most of all🏴‍☠️🦜😃👍 It did took me alot of time to think on how to write this before and during the smut parts of this fanfic, however I did managed to complete this fanfic 🏴‍☠️🦜😃👍I hope you have a good day and/or night🌅🌌🌊⛵😁👍

[funnylittlelad]

Shelter From The Storm - Steddie

Page Three

<< Page Two | Series Photo Album | AO3 | Page Four >>

summary: “My dad’s sick. My mom told Hopper so he could tell me. Apparently, it doesn't look good,” he explains hollowly. 

Jack is too busy building with her legos, lost in her own world, to pay them any attention. Eddie immediately goes up to Steve and grabs his forearms in a distant, comforting, hold. He’s unsure of Steve’s wants and needs.

“Shit, I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?” 

Steve gives him a wry smile.

“Cure my dad so I don't have to call my mom for the first time in six years?” He asks playfully.

“I can't do that, but I can be there when you do call her,” Eddie suggests.

Steve thinks about it for a second. He drinks in the care he finds in Eddie’s dark eyes. Sometimes he catches himself pretending Jack gets her eyes from Eddie instead of Sarah. It’s probably weird and unhealthy, but Jack is more Eddie’s than she is Sarah’s anyway. Steve accepts the offer of support. He truly has no idea what awaits him on the other side of that phone call.

wc: 9.3k

series tags/notes: Steddie Dadfic, single dad!Steve Harrington, Music Teacher!Eddie Munson, girl dad Steve, Jewish Eddie, Steve's parents are The Worst, mentions/talks about past abuse, complicated family dynamics, pretty Steve-centric, implied past suicide, talks about illness and death, Fluff, angst, mutual pining, slow burn.

Steve brings Jack to Eddie’s on his way to the interview. Robin had offered but rescinded it the moment she heard Eddie did as well. What? I’m in the opposite direction and he’s on the way! Besides, who would she really rather go with? was her argument. It’s his first time seeing Eddie’s apartment. It strikes insecurity into his heart. Eddie’s apartment is so much different than theirs. It’s nicer and bigger and Steve finds himself feeling incredibly small as he hovers near the front door.

He seems to have two bedrooms based on the number of doors, a kitchen that can hold more than three pots, an actual designated dining area, and more than one window in the living space. Jack immediately becomes enamored with all the decorations on the warm-toned walls. Posters from tours he’s gone to over the years framed so they're more adult for his living room along with other little prints and oddities are fixed on every wall. Short bookshelves are packed with novels, notebooks, and binders. A few dozen D&D miniatures- or the little guys, as Jack calls them- sit on top of various surfaces. The bookshelves, some of the picture frames, the television, and even the door jamb Steve is currently near are all home to some.

A black acoustic guitar that wears its age on its face hangs on the wall above his couch. White lettering is scrawled across, most likely by a younger Eddie. The writing curves with the body of the guitar. THIS MACHINE SLAYS DRAGONS. It’s all so painfully Eddie that it makes Steve's chest throb. 

Eddie discovers he loves having Jack at his apartment. She’s amazed by everything, but especially his six-string on the wall. He spends most of the time answering her questions about everything. He didn't know what's that? and why? could be said so much they lose meaning. 

It feels like the entire world holds its breath for the duration of Steve’s interview. When he's offered the job on the spot he nearly cries. He’s never stepping foot in that fucking quarry again. He’ll be able to stabilize Jack’s life again finally. The relief is so evident that Eddie knows the moment he answers the door Steve got the job. Steve wishes beyond wishes he could live in the following moment forever. 

Eddie all but tackles him into the door with cheers. Jack comes sprinting from the dining area. Why can't she ever just walk? She wedges herself between them at their legs. Before Steve can, Eddie scoops her up so she can be sandwiched in the middle. She giggles wildly despite not knowing what they're celebrating, just happy to be with them. 

Steve gets through his first week. The improvement is felt immediately. He’s more rested, he’s around more, and Jack is clearly ecstatic to have him home by five-thirty every night. Weekends he has off, which he still can't believe. All in all, he has a damn good week. Eddie is on the cusp. He’s so close to asking Steve out. Robin all but begs him to.

“I just wanna make sure he gets settled into the job before I throw anything new at him,” he explains.

“None of this is new!” She argues.

He has a hard time countering that. Either way, they come to an agreement. Eddie will ask Steve out at the end of his first pay cycle. That'll give him time to get used to the job and spend his extra time with Jack. As it creeps closer, Eddie grows antsier. Everyone notices. Max snatches pens from him so he can't turn them into drumsticks. Dustin calls him out when his leg bouncing shakes the van. Gareth clamps a hand over Eddie’s rambling mouth a few times when he wouldn't shut up. Little things that makeup everything. 

The visits start with Jack forgetting her zip-up hoodie. Eddie noticed the little green thing when he was locking up for the night. Without a thought, he brings it over to Steve’s, knowing he’ll be home thanks to the new job. His knock is timid as anxiety settles in. Steve opens the door while calling out for Jack to turn down whatever she had playing over his shoulder. The smile Eddie is met with when Steve registers it's him is enough to power a city. 

“Eddie, what are you doing here?” He asks, sounding pleasantly surprised.

“Jack left this at the store earlier. Figured I’d drop it off on my way home,” Eddie holds out the offending hoodie.

Steve’s eyes shimmer in the dull yellow light of the outside sconce. An appreciative smile sweeps across his lips as he takes the hoodie.

“Thank you, you didn't have to go out of your way-”

Eddie is already waving him off.

“Not out of the way at all,” he assures Steve.

“Is that Eddie?” Jack’s excited voice carries from across the small space.

“Uh-oh, trouble hears me,” Eddie grins mischievously.

Steve chuckles as Jack sprints to see Eddie. Steve shoos her back into the apartment, inviting Eddie in. The hours get away from them as Jack and Eddie put on a show for Steve about dragons. Eddie thinks, perhaps fears, it's just a one-time thing. The next time Jack is at the store she doesn't leave anything behind. So, Eddie does what any sane person would do. He pretends she left her music workbook and brings it over to Steve’s. Jack sells him out so quickly he doesn't know why he bothers feeling betrayed.

“That’s supposed to stay at the store in my folder,” she informs him and crosses her arms.

“Ah- n-no, remember? You were supposed to bring it home this week,” he tries weakly.

“Daddy says lying isn't nice, Eddie,” she chides with stern brows.

“Yeah, Eddie,” Steve mirrors her posture but with an amused smirk, “lying isn't nice.”

With a flushed face, Eddie puts his hands up in surrender.

“Alright, you caught me,” he admits with a chuckle.

“You can just drop by, y’know. We’re friends, it's okay,” Steve chuckles as they settle onto the couch.

Eddie smiles, the tips of his ears pink.

“Yeah, you don't mind? It's okay if it's weird. You guys are on the way home from the store. I’m not like trying to go out of my way to be creepy or anything. I totally get it if-”

“Eddie.”

“-this is too much or crossing a line. I mean, phone calls every night are one thing. I don't want to disturb Jack’s routine or-”

“Eddie,” Steve laughs, growing louder.

Eddie halts his babbling and blinks at Steve with a huh?

“You’re rambling. That's my move,” Steve teases.

Eddie’s still-open mouth snaps shut. He gives a shy smile, twisting his rings in his lap. Steve isn't used to seeing him so nervous like this. It’s unbearably cute. If Jack weren't watching Scooby Doo three feet away, if Steve’s life were a little simpler, he might have kissed Eddie then. Jack is three feet away, though. Steve’s life is complicated and messy. Instead of a kiss, he places a heavy warm hand on Eddie’s forearm and gives it a squeeze.

“Our door’s never closed to a Munson. You can thank Jack for that,” Steve echoes Eddie’s words from so long ago back when he was saving Steve's day the first time.

Eddie is sure his smile is so soft it's pathetic, but he doesn't care. His anxious energy turns to excitement as the end of Steve’s pay period draws closer. He’s going to ask Steve out and he’s pretty sure he’ll say yes. Eddie isn't blind, he isn't stupid, he’s just fucking nervous. He knows he has a shot with Steve. Steve just has so much on his plate right now as his and Jack’s lives adjust once more. The last thing Eddie wants is to add to that plate. He can wait until the end of the pay period, he continues to reason with himself. At least then Steve will have settled into the new job. Hopefully, he’ll have found his groove with Jack. A groove that Eddie can slide right into.

Then Steve gets a phone call the day before the pay period ends. Eddie stops by on his way home from the store. It’s nice being home to let him. Not that his visits replace their nightly phone calls, of course. Steve goes into the bedroom to take the call when he hears how grave Hopper’s voice is. When he steps back out he’s pale, his hands shake slightly, and his face is blank.

“My dad’s sick. My mom told Hopper so he could tell me. Apparently, it doesn't look good,” he explains hollowly. 

Jack is too busy building with her legos, lost in her own world, to pay them any attention. Eddie immediately goes up to Steve and grabs his forearms in a distant, comforting, hold. He’s unsure of Steve’s wants and needs.

“Shit, I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?” 

Steve gives him a wry smile.

“Cure my dad so I don't have to call my mom for the first time in six years?” He asks playfully.

“I can't do that, but I can be there when you do call her,” Eddie suggests.

Steve thinks about it for a second. He drinks in the care he finds in Eddie’s dark eyes. Sometimes he catches himself pretending Jack gets her eyes from Eddie instead of Sarah. It’s probably weird and unhealthy, but Jack is more Eddie’s than she is Sarah’s anyway. Steve accepts the offer of support. He truly has no idea what awaits him on the other side of that phone call.

They get Max to come over so she can watch Jack. Steve doesn't know how long this call will last and doesn't want to leave her alone in the living room for that long. Max hugs him when she arrives, reestablishing that she's there for him if he needs it. 

Steve and Eddie sit side by side on the edge of Steve’s bed. The heat from Eddie’s thigh against his keeps Steve grounded as he stares at the phone.

“You don't owe them anything,” Eddie tells him quietly.

“I know,” Steve sighs before dialing the number Hopper gave him.

Eddie fiddles with his rings as Steve listens to the line trill. Each passing moment makes Steve’s heart beat a little harder in his ears. His stomach seems to think he’s on a boat. Eddie can tell when she answers because Steve stops breathing. Eddie’s hand finds his thigh, grounding him once more. 

“Uh- hey, Mom. Hopper got your message to me,” Steve says nervously. 

He’s silent for a while. There's just the muffled sound of Max tickling Jack through the door. 

“Yeah, she’s good. We’re doing good.”

No thanks to you, Eddie wants to spit into the phone. 

“Did they say how long?”

Steve takes a stuttering breath. His hand grabs onto Eddie’s on his thigh. Eddie gives it a comforting squeeze.

“Okay, yeah, I’m off on weekends- What? ”

He pauses with an incredulous expression staring off to Jack’s side of the room.

“That’s not happening. I don't want her near him,” he states firmly.

Eddie's eyebrows furrow in concern. 

“You know why,” Steve scoffs.

His grip on Eddie’s hand tightens.

“I'm her father. It's my job to protect her and keep her safe. A job I take seriously, unlike Dad,” he snaps.

Eddie sits with him patiently as he sets up a time and day to go see his dad. Steve doesn't ask, but Eddie takes a mental note of it to make sure he’s available for Jack. When he hangs up he only gives a curt bye. He throws the phone into his pillows and runs his free hand over his face.

“They gave him three months max. He… he fucking wants to see Jack. Can you believe that? After what he did- everything he did, he has the nerve to ask to see her?” Steve says, but it sounds more like thinking out loud. 

Eddie sits awkwardly wondering if he can ask, if that's too much. He has no context outside of what Robin said and what he picked up in high school, which wasn't much. Steve doesn't talk about his parents. He doesn't talk much at all about his life before Jack. It’s like his life didn't start until hers did so that's as far back as his memory stretches.

“I… You don't have to tell me, but I don't actually know what he did. I mean, Robin mentioned you getting kicked out, but other than that…,” Eddie says tentatively.

Steve sighs and drops his gaze to his lap. His and Eddie’s hands are still conjoined on his thigh. He has no plans to change that. Eddie is his anchor in stormy seas.

“I'm sure you remember all the parties I used to throw back in high school,” he starts.

“Yeah, I made a killing at them.”

Steve actually lets out a single exhaled laugh. 

“I did that because they were never home and, honestly, I hated being in that house alone. It was so big and empty all the time. Doing that worked for a while. Hell, even the clean-up after kinda became therapeutic. Then they would come home and it would be worse,” he tells Eddie.

His eyes stay on their hands. Eddie’s stays on Steve’s profile. His eyebrows knit with a hundred different emotions, but most prominently empathy. 

“Worse?” He prompts, afraid he knows the answer far too intimately.

“Y'know how I had to quit basketball junior year and it was a whole thing? I told everyone I just liked swimming more, but that wasn't exactly true. Turns out after a few concussions, your hand-eye coordination can really go to shit,” Steve huffs a sarcastic laugh.

Eddie squeezes Steve’s hand so he’ll look at him. When Steve does, he finds nothing but total understanding. Respect.

“I get it. Why d'you think I lived with Wayne? He had enough of me calling him crying at night. One day he just showed up with a suitcase and told my dad to fuck off,” Eddie says.

“He sounds like a badass,” Steve replies.

“He kinda is. You two would probably get along.”

Steve smiles at the thought.

“I kinda wish I had a Wayne growing up,” he muses.

“Yeah, me too. I would’a never guessed you had that going on at home. I probably would’a actually talked to you.”

“No one did, but Hopper. He couldn't do anything about it, though. My parents would’ve had his job and I would've been in the same position,” he sighs. 

“That why he’s so sweet on Jack?”

“I would argue it's hard not to be sweet on Jack,” Steve quirks a small smile.

“I’ll give you that. You made one cute kid,” Eddie agrees.

“Yeah, she’s pretty great, isn't she?” His nose wrinkles a little when he asks, face full of pride.

“I think she might be the best kid that's ever existed.”

“Even after all the trouble she gave you?”

“Especially after all that.”

Fuck if that doesn't knock Steve through a loop. His stomach is upside down, his heart is beating so fast he's sure it's disintegrated, and he wants nothing more than for Jack to be sandwiched between them again. The safety of Eddie makes more truths fall out. Suddenly, he wants to be seen by Eddie. He wants those deep coffee-brown eyes to glide over him and see all of him. Then, hopefully, Eddie won't run like Steve is always afraid his past will make people do.

“I dunno how much Robin told you, but my parents were pissed when they found out about Sarah. Wanted me to marry her, drop out of school, and work for my dad. I didn't want any of that, though. I knew Sarah didn't want a kid and I knew I didn't want to marry Sarah. So, there were about nine months of arguing, give or take. Then on my eighteenth birthday, I woke up and became a dad two hours later. I never understood my father less than when I saw Jack for the first time. I just don't get how you can look at something like that and feel anything, but love,” he tells Eddie, semi-lost in thought.

“I take it he wasn't happy,” Eddie replies.

Steve snorts sarcastically.

“My things were at the end of the driveway when I went home to grab a change of clothes. Well, the things they tossed out for me at least. I didn’t bother going back for the rest. If I’m being honest, I almost caved that day,” Steve shakes his head at the memory.

“What d'you mean?” Eddie asks softly.

“I was able to sleep at the hospital while Jack was there, but once she was discharged we would have been in my car. It felt over before it even began, like I lost. Like I proved everyone right immediately, that I can't do it. I was going to forfeit my custody, but Robin came barreling in and told me her parents wanted me to move in. Not that they said I could, but that they wanted me to. I guess… The Buckleys were my Wayne,” he realizes out loud. 

Eddie offers him a lovely little smile that draws Steve’s eyes to his lips.

“How long have you and Rob been friends?”

“Uh- Since about… two? No, three weeks before all of that. I had been hopping around jobs and ended up at Scoops Ahoy for a little while. We worked together,” Steve tells him. 

Eddie can't help, but laugh because of course. Of course, they had known each other less than a month, and yet the spunky little lesbian was offering him a home. Steve chuckles with him.

“Yeah, I usually leave that part out. It doesn't matter anyways, once you and your kid live with someone you get to know each other very fast,” he says. 

“Funny to think I started out as your sub,” Eddie jokes.

Steve gapes at Eddie for a moment. When he realizes Eddie doesn't know what he did, a smirk curls onto his lips.

“I don't recall you ever subbing for me,” he teases.

Eddie seems confused at first. Then it dawns on him and his face flushes red. He pushes into Steve with his shoulder playfully.

“Dick,” he jibes, “you know what I mean.”

“I don’t know, do I?” 

“I’d be careful, Harrington. Don't wanna back yourself into a conversation you can't get out of,” Eddie says tauntingly. 

“Alright, alright,” he concedes. 

“C’mon we got a little girl and a nosy young adult waiting for an update,” he gives Steve’s hand a tug. 

Steve tries to hate when Eddie accidentally makes them sound like a family. He doesn’t. He tries to hold onto Eddie's hand after the door opens. He wills himself not to let go. He does. 

Robin doesn't waste any time pestering Eddie when the end of Steve’s pay period comes and goes. Eddie still hasn't asked Steve out. He hasn't done anything more than the flirting and embarrassingly unsubtle back and forth. How could he? 

“Rob, his dad is dying. I'm not asking him out when he's in a vulnerable state,” Eddie scoffs.

Robin groans over the phone.

“This is what I was trying to tell you! There is no invulnerable state! I love him, but Steve’s life is a mess, Eddie. And it's not his fault. Shit just happens to him. A lot. He doesn't deserve any of it, but he deals with it anyway. You’ll die waiting if you think you’ll find a time where it doesn't feel like everything is falling apart for him,” she half argues, half complains. 

Eddie pushes all the air out of his lungs through his nose. He knows she's right. Yet, it doesn't feel right to put Steve on the spot at a time like this. 

“I only need it to calm down for a day,” he reasons.

“It calmed down the first two weeks of his new job, but that still wasn't calm enough for you. What is?” She counters.

“Just a day when there's nothing. Nothing new, nothing bad, nothing stressful, just a day.”

“Okay, I’m going to say this as plainly as possible,” she sighs, “Just a day for Steve always has something new, something bad, and definitely something stressful. There will never be a time that feels right. I know you know that. So, just admit what this really is.”

“And what is this, really?” He questions.

“You’re scared,” she deadpans.

Eddie lets out an unconvincing pfffft.

“I’m not scared. I’m just… nervous,” he admits.

“About what?”

Eddie fiddles with his rings while holding the phone between his ear and shoulder. His legs are lounged up on the back of the couch while the rest of his body lays across the cushions.

“What if we don't work? What if we start dating and all that was really there was just flirting? Besides, he has a kid, Rob-”

“That you adore!”

“Yes, I do! That doesn't mean Steve wants help raising her from an ex-drug dealer with a truancy and trespassing record,” he argues. 

“Okay, first off, Steve is an ex-drug doer. Do you not remember you selling at his parties? Second off, none of that other bullshit matters. Steve knows who you are now and he likes that person. A lot,” she contends.

Eddie sighs, knowing she has a point. Actually, she has a few.

“After he sees his parents, alright?” 

“Eddie-”

“Look, Rob, I know. This is different, though. He told me about his parents and I get what he went through. This is gonna bring up a lot of shit, he's gonna need friends. I don't want to risk anything being awkward,” he all but pleads. 

He can hear her exhale sharply through her nose.

“Fine.”

Eddie may have bought himself some more time, but he still hasn't found the extra confidence he needs to follow through. 

The house doesn't quite exist in real life the way it does in Steve’s mind. Years of thick muddy emotion have warped its image. He expects it to feel looming, maybe even look sinister. Something more akin to the boarded-up old Creel house over on Morehead. Anything to make his trembling hands feel more valid. It doesn't, though. It’s just a house. A house haunted with memories, but a house all the same.

It’s strange. He thinks the doorbell may even sound different than he remembers. When his mother answers the door she has the gall to do it with a soft face that looks far too much like Steve’s. That's one thing he's always been grateful for: he looks just like his mom, his dad is barely there. Maybe the Harrington men just have weak genes.

He’s in clothes he knows will look vaguely familiar to her. Faded, thrifted reminders of what he used to wear. The polos were ditched after Jack threw up on his last one. Turns out, they're pretty expensive. If there's one thing Steve has learned over the past six years, it's how much the Harringtons live in excess. When you always have it you don't think about it. When you don't it's impossible not to. 

Steve’s mom spends a lot of time catching him up on what they've been up to over coffee. He occupies his thoughts with his goodbye to Eddie earlier. It's funny how Eddie has gone from his last to his first call for Jack. He doesn't answer by asking if she’s okay anymore. Now, it’s usually a simple Everything good? Need a hand with the menace?

 Steve dropped Jack off with him at the store. Eddie set her up on her little keyboard he keeps behind the counter for her. That way she’s practicing, entertained, and supervised. He smiled when he placed the big black headphones over her ears. She’s started putting stickers on them. A lot of little stars, a few dinosaurs, and even a pink band-aid on the headband. 

Eddie pulled Steve a little off to the side before he goes. He offered him a soft, comforting smile. For a moment, Steve thought Eddie might kiss him. Their bodies hovering close, Eddie’s hand still holding Steve’s arm from pulling him, and Eddie’s tongue darting out to wet his lips. Then he started talking.

“Listen, don't be afraid to bail, okay?” He said in earnest.

“What does that mean?”

“Don't be afraid to just get the hell out of there if you want to. I know it's not your go-to move, but you need to put yourself first. Jack needs you to put yourself first… I need you to put yourself first, Stevie,” he studied Steve’s face as he spoke, voice gently cradling Steve’s heart. 

The words turned Steve into jello. He felt like he was wobbling uncontrollably. The only thing keeping him steady was a warm hand with freshly polished fingernails holding his arm. 

“I will,” he promised.

Eddie grew a fond little smirk.

“Take care of yourself for me, yeah?” He said.

“You first,” Steve matched his expression.

Eddie’s eyes melted into something tender.

“I mean it.”

“I know, Eds.”

Steve, of course, doesn't depart without a round of I love you mostest with Jack.

The whole world feels a little tilted. Or maybe that's just Steve. His mother talks, but he barely listens. Until he hears his name.

“How’s Little Steve?” She asks.

Steve takes a measured sip of his coffee, staring his mother down across from him in an armchair. 

“Her name is Jack,” he tells her cooly. 

“You named your daughter Jack ?” 

“No, I named her Jacquline, but she prefers just Jack,” he informs her.

“Well, she's still little, you can force that out of her,” his mother says like it's a relief.

Steve can't help it. Honestly, he doesn't even try to. His eyebrows furrow, he shakes his head a bit, and his mouth curls in distaste. 

“Why would I do that?” He questions.

“Something like Jackie would just be better suited for a cute little girl.”

“You don't even know what she looks like,” he breathes a disbelieving laugh, “She likes the name Jack. It's her name.”

His mother sighs and places her mug gently on the coffee table. Just like she used to when she was about to tell him how disappointed she was. The action alone raises Steve’s hackles.

“I’m not trying to argue, Steven. I’m simply trying to give you advice as a parent. You have to know what's best for your kids, even if they don't like it,” she says.

Steve’s nostrils flare. Don't be afraid to bail. He should. He knows he should.

“Yeah, well, forgive me if I don't take parenting advice from you. Jack is happy and healthy, not that you really even asked. Jack is only six years old and can play more than one instrument. You don’t care about any of that, though. Do you? You just care that I’m not raising her like you would; forcing her into an identity that she’ll grow up to hate,” he bites. 

She frowns, but Steve can't find it in himself to care. He takes another casual sip of his coffee. 

“Right… Well, it sounds like you’re doing okay, then,” she comments.

“Yeah, sure am. Is he awake yet?” 

His mother goes to check if his father’s woken up. When she comes down to beckon him up, he follows. Strangely, his heartbeat slows with each step closer. It’s like time is moving through him at the speed of molasses. After a small personal century, he makes it to the door. It's already open and waiting for him, making the terrible journey marginally easier. 

The man in the bed before him is a memory and not a good one. He’s gaunt, pale, with paper-like skin, and thin hair that he once would have paid anything to hide. The comforter nearly drowns him, just his neck up is visible. He offers Steve the smallest of smiles. Steve doesn't accept or return it. He just stands at the foot of the bed, hands shoved into his jacket pockets.

“I’m glad you came,” his father’s weakened voice says.

“Why did you want me to?” Steve can't help but ask.

“Steven, there's no nice way to put it. I’m dying. I didn't want to do that without seeing my only son again. Without meeting my grandchild,” he answers.

“You can forget that last one. Jack isn't coming near this house. You get me, that's it,” Steve tells him.

He lets out a rattling breath that Steve thinks may be a sigh.

“How is her mother?” He asks. 

“I wouldn't know.”

“I suppose you never did learn a lesson.”

What kind of lesson is kicking your kid and his baby out? Steve thinks bitterly. Again he hears the words: don't be afraid to bail. 

“Is there an actual reason you wanted me here or am I free to go?” He questions.

“My estate.”

That takes Steve off guard. He didn't think his father's estate would be a discussion he's involved in.

“What about it?”

“I want to leave a good portion of it to my grandchild. That way she can do what you couldn't,” he informs Steve.

Steve’s heart drops to the floor. That would be life-changing money. It would mean college for Jack. He knows there's a catch, though. There always is.

“And what's that?” He asks tensely.

“Make the Harrington name proud.”

Steve's stomach joins his heart in a pile on the hardwood. There are so many things he could say, so many things he wants to say. He doesn't, though. Instead, he thinks about Jack and her future. 

“What do you want from me?”

“Weekends.”

“Weekends?”

“Now, because I believe you're stupid enough to turn down money that could change your daughter’s future, I only ask for time with you. I want to reconnect with my son in my last months. Perhaps by the end, I will get to do so with my granddaughter as well,” he explains. 

“So, you just want me to come by on the weekends?” Steve checks suspiciously.

“I want you here nine to five Saturday and Sunday,” his dad states. 

Steve scoffs.

“What the hell do you want me here that long for?” 

“In addition to spending time with me, you will relieve the regular nurse so she can be with her son on the weekends,” his father informs him.

Steve gapes in disbelief. He knows he needs to say no. He needs to stop entertaining this. There’s no way. There is no way he’s giving up his weekends with Jack. You need to put yourself first, he remembers Eddie telling him, Jack needs you to put yourself first… I need you to put yourself first. The problem with that promise is the fact that Steve Harrington is a father. A damn good one at that. Jack will always come first. He can't not entertain even the most ridiculous of ideas if there's a possibility of providing something for her.

“How much?”

“Does the amount matter that much? Isn't the knowledge it’ll be more than you could ever give her enough?” His father inquires.

Steve swallows the insult that pops into his mouth.

“It matters,” is all he can get out.

“In total, my estate is around $250,000. 100,000 would go to your mother and 150,000 to your daughter.”

Steve wipes the corners of his mouth as he takes that in. Roughly three months, maybe even less, of his weekends and Jack could have a bank account full of $150,000. How does he turn that down? How does he say no to his daughter’s choice to go to college? To have the secure life that he can’t give her? Then an awful thought strikes that causes bile to burn the back of his throat. Would denying her that make him no better than his father? He sighs with his hands on his hips. 

“Yeah, okay. Starting next week,” he answers.

His father gives him a sickly smile that he doesn't return. If Steve wasn't afraid of him taking the money from Jack he would tell his father he’s glad he’s dying. He’s excited to see a world without him in it. The thoughts bring him guilt immediately, but he also knows them to be true. 

Steve bids his father an awkward goodbye. His mother hugs him at the door. It takes him a second to hug back. The entire drive back to Eddie’s anxiety bores holes into his skin. He did the exact opposite of what he said he would do. It won't be as bad as the quarry. He’ll still be home by 5:30 every day. He just won't have the majority of his weekend to be with Jack anymore. Right when they were getting back into the groove of it. It's only for three months, he tells himself. He can do three months.

Eddie answers the door laughing.

“You don't have to knock, your kid is in here,” he says. 

Steve smiles shyly as he enters. Jack, as always, barrels toward him and he scoops her up. He really needed this, her wrapped around him. Her hold is always the most reassuring. As long as she’s hugging him like this he knows he's doing something right. He lets her drop down and go back to what she was previously doing. She’s playing with a handful of Eddie’s miniatures like they're tiny dolls. 

Eddie catches Steve's eye and nods toward the kitchen. Steve gets the clue and follows him. It’s far enough to talk low and not have Jack overhear, but they're still able to watch her through the doorway and cutout.

“How’d it go?” Eddie asks immediately in a hushed voice, leaning his hip against the counter.

Steve recounts the conversation with his mom. The faces Eddie makes reflect every thought Steve was having during the conversation. He talks about how weird it was being back and how his father is barely there anymore. He pauses before the estate talk, unsure how to admit the next part.

“Overall, it was okay then?” Eddie checks.

“It was… interesting. I’m- uh- I’m going back,” he answers hesitantly.

Eddie gives a few quick blinks.

“Why would you do that?” He crosses his arms, shoving his hands in his armpits.

Steve crosses his own arms as a reflex.

“Look, before I tell you, I need you to understand that this is complicated-”

“Steve,” Eddie interrupts sternly, but not aggressively, “Why are you going back there?”

“If I take care of him on the weekends until he kicks it, he’ll leave Jack $150,000,” he tells him plainly. 

An expression that's unfamiliar to Steve takes over Eddie’s face. It takes Steve a moment to realize it's irritation. Eddie glances down at his mismatched socks. He wets his lips before looking back up at Steve.

“What happened to putting yourself first?” He asks, voice low and a little pained. 

“Eddie, I’m a dad. I need to think about Jack first,” he sighs.

“No,” Eddie shakes his head, “Today you needed to think about yourself. If you had and come to me, I could have thought about Jack. I could have helped you figure it out.”

“What's there to figure out? It’s either I do it and can provide for her or I don't and I can’t,” Steve huffs. 

“I could have helped you think it through, weigh the pros and cons. I mean, have you even thought about what you're doing with Jack while you're there? Have you thought about how this might mess with her like your hours at the quarry did?” Eddie can't hold his tongue the way he knows he should.

He knows this isn't his place. He isn't Jack’s parent and Steve isn’t his partner. The moment Eddie steps too close to the line and trips the “calling Steve a bad parent” alarm, Steve’s defenses go up. 

“Of course, I have! It's for three months, at most. I don't understand why you’re being like this. Don't you get what that money could do for her?” Steve questions.

“I get it, but money isn't everything, Steve. You’re providing for her now and she's happy. There are other ways to pay for college. This isn't your only option! Sometimes putting Jack first means putting yourself first. And this? This was one of those times,” Eddie states, clearly growing in annoyance. 

Something bursts in Steve. It's like a button that goes flying and hits all the wrong places in his body. Hurt leaks out of the wounds it leaves behind from Eddie’s judgment. 

“She’s happy because she doesn't know any better! All she’s ever known is the nothing I can give her, but not me. Not me, Eds, I know better. I know all the things I’ll never be able to give her. Doing this, I finally have the chance to give to her what I couldn't have- a chance to have a choice in what her future looks like,” he half shouts half cries as his tears betray him.

Something close to agony takes over Eddie’s features. He runs a hand over his face and looks away for a moment. He needs a break from looking at what he’s done to Steve. It hurts so fucking bad, but he needs to hear what Eddie is saying. Eddie knows that. Eddie also knows that Steve is too hurt to be reasoned with. He’s convinced his choice was the only choice. He forgot that he has Eddie to help him with Jack every step of the way. 

“Whatever, I’m not watching her while you're there. I refuse to be part of this,” Eddie decides softly.

Steve lets out a wet, sarcastic laugh

“Fine! I’ll bring her with me if I can't find anyone. She doesn't have to go in the room,” he shrugs.

Eddie’s face twists in frustrated shock. He thinks about Jack in that house with those people. She might be a Harrington, but she’s not one of them. Picturing her in an environment so similar to his own growing up makes him nauseous. He sees an image of his younger self hiding under the table with his hands over his ears as his father screamed about something. Then, Jack is replacing him, and his instinct to protect her kicks in.

“I’m not letting you bring her near that house,” he tells Steve.

“It’s not really your choice. You’re not her dad, remember? You're just her music teacher,” Steve snaps and storms away from him.

Eddie stands there frozen in the place where Steve just stabbed him through the heart. He hears Jack ask what they were fighting about and Steve tells her not to worry about it. He tells her everything is okay. If Eddie didn't feel like he was bleeding out he might have challenged that. They leave quicker than Jack can say goodbye. Quicker than Eddie can get himself to turn around. How is it possible for words to shatter every bone in his body? That must be what's happening, there's no other explanation for all this pain. 

Jack cries the entire way home because she didn't get to say goodbye to Eddie. Steve tries to console her, but she’ll have none of it. By the time they're entering the apartment, she’s transitioned from crying to angry. Her little stomps communicate what she can’t verbally yet. 

She asks him why they were fighting and why Steve was being mean to Eddie. He knows he can't tell her the truth, she won't understand. He also knows Jack will side with Eddie no matter what. Steve’s side will look like less Steve and no Eddie to her. She won't have that. So, he tells her sometimes friends argue and that expressing how you feel doesn't equal being mean. He turns this into a lesson for her. He finds a way to make this into something he can provide her with. It lets him feel a little less helpless.

A few days after the argument with Steve, Wayne is understandably confused to see Eddie on his doorstep unplanned and unannounced. Usually, he’ll call ahead to make sure Wayne is home. This time he was ready to let himself in and wait on the couch if he had to. A solemn expression is etched onto his face. Worry instantly takes over Wayne’s. He’s in his normal denim and flannel.

“What’s going on, Ed?” He asks gently.

Eddie clears his throat of the lingering emotion.

“I think I really fucked up,” his voice comes out hoarse.

Wayne immediately ushers him inside. Eddie lets himself be guided to the ratty old couch that used to be Wayne’s bed. When he sits down, Wayne places a hand on Eddie’s shoulder.

“Tell me what happened,” he says.

Eddie exhales deeply through his nose. Then he tells Wayne every regretful thing he said to Steve. He hates himself more the second time. It wasn’t entirely his fault, he wasn't entirely in control. The memories took the reins and turned him reactionary. He felt the line he leaped over like a hurdle pass by beneath him, but had no breaks. 

“That ain’t good, Ed,” Wayne sighs when Eddie finishes.

“I know. Jesus, he probably hates me. I would hate me,” Eddie drops his face into his hands. 

“I’m sure he doesn't hate you. He may be mighty upset, but hate is strong,” Wayne tells him thoughtfully. 

“I might as well have called him an awful father and spit in his face,” Eddie agonizes.

“Well, do you think he’s an awful father?”

Eddie’s head shoots up to look at Wayne incredulously. 

“What? No, Steve is literally the best father I've ever seen,” he states.

“Alright, so go apologize.”

“I don't think he wants to hear from me.”

“Ed, you've been coming ‘round here talking about that Harrington kid and the amazing little girl he’s got for months now. Based on what I hear, I can tell you that a call from you wouldn't be turned down. Especially not if it included a genuine apology,” Wayne says.

Eddie sits with his uncle’s words for a moment. Part of what's holding Eddie back is the embarrassment. He’s embarrassed by how he acted and he wants nothing more than for Steve to come over with Jack again. He wants nothing more than for Steve to look at him again. The last time Steve’s eyes met his, they were full of hurt Eddie wished he could snatch back.

“I hope so ‘cause, Wayne, I dunno how to live without them anymore,” he admits pathetically.

“I know, kiddo. For what it's worth, I think they'd have a hard time without you too,” Wayne tells him softly. 

Eddie gives him a small smile. Then his eyes go vulnerable and nervous.

“Do you think I’d be good at it?” He asks.

Wayne furrows his eyebrows at his nephew.

“Good at what?”

“Y’know… being a dad.”

Wayne’s features soften as he studies his nephew. Where does the time go? It feels like just yesterday he was hauling Eddie back to Hawkins with him. Now, here Eddie sits considering fatherhood. 

“I think you already are,” he answers honestly.

“Steve’s made it very clear I’m not,” Eddie counters self-deprecatingly.

“That's only ‘cause in trying to be a dad you forgot to be a partner too. You made Steve feel like you were against him, not with him. You gotta find a balance, Ed. You gotta talk about boundaries when it comes to that kid. You two were riding so high on emotion neither of you took the time to really think. Maybe it got too family-like too fast, or maybe y’all just need to get better at talking, I don't know. All I know is, with the way you talk about those two, that’s your family. If there’s anything I’ve taught you, I hope it’s that the one thing we do for our family is fight for’em. Sometimes with’em, but always for’em,” Wayne lectures with a warm tone that soothes Eddie.

Eddie takes a steadying breath and he absorbs his uncle’s words. He nods, staring down at where he fiddles with his rings.

“Thanks, Wayne, for everything,” he says softly.

“It's what I’m here for,” Wayne shrugs.

“No, I mean… everything. I know how hard it must've been to raise me. Before Steve, I thought I got it, but I didn't. I didn't until I saw him doing it,” he elaborates.

Wayne smiles tenderly.

“Eddie, it’s what I’m here for.”

Eddie smiles and hugs his uncle. It’s a sweet reminder that this little trailer in Forest Hills will always welcome him home.

What does it mean to provide such gentle touches to the man who provided you with violent blows? It has to have some meaning, right? Some poetic or cosmic justice that makes this make sense. Steve’s father put him and Jack out on the street on the day she was born. On Steve’s birthday. So, why does he now find himself giving his bedridden dad his weekends? Why can't he tell him to fuck off like Eddie wanted? The answer is the same for everything else he does. Jack.

Jack is why he’s working himself to death. Jack is why he's subjecting himself to his father every weekend. Jack is why he hasn't spoken to Eddie, aside from passing greetings when dropping her off at the store, in a week. He never once thinks that Jack is the reason he’s miserable, though. She isn't. She’s the only thing that brings him joy through all this. She is his smile. Only right now, he’s frowning at Robin at the Buckley’s. 

Steve, Jack, and Robin have dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Buck once a month. Jack is in the kitchen helping Grandma Buck stir the stew while Grandpa Buck works on his car out in the garage. Robin hasn't said a word. She’s just staring. Steve has grown a frown in response.

“What, Rob?” He finally breaks.

“Max told me there's something going on with you and Eddie,” she blurts.

Steve sighs and closes his eyes for a second.

“What did she say?” He asks, already tired of the conversation.

“Well, Eddie isn't really saying much. So, all she knows is from Jack. Jack told her you two got into a fight and made each other sad,” she tells him softly. 

Steve exhales a laugh through his nose.

“Yeah, that's pretty much the gist of it.”

“Are you going to talk it out?” 

“We… both said some things I’m not sure there's coming back from,” he shakes his head slightly.

“There’s no way either of you said anything that bad,” she attempts to assure him. 

Steve levels Robin with a sad stare.

“He tried to tell me how to parent Jack and I called him just her music teacher,” he sighs.

Robin lets out a low whistle.

“Yeah, okay, that’s… not great. I still think you can talk through it, though.”

Steve rubs his eyes in exhaustion.

“Rob, he crossed a line. I know that it can feel like co-parenting at times, but it's not. I love him, but we’re not together and he's not her parent,” he states frustratedly.

Robin’s eyes nearly fly out of her head. Steve gives her a questioning look. A shit-eating grin appears on her face.

“Steve,” she says.

“What?”

“Steve! ”

“Robin, if you're not gonna tell me-”

“You love Eddie?” Her voice was quieter, likely to avoid Jack accidentally overhearing. 

Steve’s heart picks up at breakneck speed. Heat floods his entire body as a knot tightens in his stomach. That is what he said, isn't it? Is that why this whole situation has felt like someone taking a set of pliers to his teeth?

“Fuck,” he breathes, wiping the corners of his mouth as he stares blankly at the coffee table.

“I think now’s the time you run to him and have a dramatic make-up scene,” Robin teases.

Steve frowns.

“It doesn't change anything. He told me he wouldn't let me bring Jack to my parents’ place. He questioned if I had Jack’s best interest in mind. He’s just another person to add to the list of people who think I’m fucking this whole thing up,” he mumbles the last part bitterly. 

Robin’s features melt into concern. She leans forward, arms on her knees.

“No one thinks that. I can tell you for a fact that Eddie definitely doesn't think that. He… could have handled things better, sure, but he thinks the world of you as a father, Steve. I mean, you have to know that by now,” she says sympathetically. 

“Then he can tell me that after apologizing,” Steve scoffs. 

“Yeah, that’s fair,” she nods.

Jack comes darting into the room and announces dinner has been finished. She takes them both by the hand to lead them to the dining room. Steve spends the rest of the night thinking about how he’s in love with Eddie Munson. 

It might be playing dirty, but Steve found a loophole. He asks Max to watch Jack on Saturday. Which means Jack ends up at Mordor Music. Eddie can't pretend like he's upset. Seeing Jack is always a treat. She bounds in, Max trailing behind, with an excited stream of Eddie! Eddie! Eddie! He loves when she acts like she didn't just see him the other day for her lesson.

Eddie is crouched behind the counter, searching for a new pack of pens. The last one died unceremoniously on him as he was logging inventory. 

“Uh-oh, I hear trouble,” he announces with a smile as he stands up.

Jack doesn't hesitate running around to the back of the counter. Eddie scoops her up so she can cling to him. 

“I miss you,” she whines.

His heart aches.

“I know, I miss you too, princess,” he says softly.

“Daddy misses you too,” she tells him.

A sad smile crawls onto his face.

“Yeah? I miss him too,” he admits.

“When can I see your little guys again?” She asks with big eyes so dark they may just swallow all light that comes close.

Eddie cringes and his eyes shift to Max. She leans her elbows on the other side of the counter. A small smile is on her face as she watches the two of them. She offers him a sympathetic, but comforting look.

“I- uh- I dunno, but I hope soon,” he answers warmly.

“Will you come to Thanksgiving?” Jack asks hopefully.

Eddie gets stuck in an awkward uh… for a moment. His eyes dart between Jack and Max. Max looks happy to not be in Eddie’s shoes right now.

“I- I don't know. I got family to see too, y’know,” he answers with a tight smile.

Jack settles a confused look on him. She always manages to let him know when she thinks he's being stupid with just a look.

“Your family is the same as mine,” she tells him.

Eddie’s own face twists into confusion. 

“What d'you mean?”

She seems to struggle frustratedly with her words. Sometimes Jack has thoughts and feelings bigger than her vocabulary. As a kid who can usually tell you how she feels, it can be annoying for her.

“I’m your family. You have to eat with me,” she informs him.

Eddie could've cried right then and there. Popping sparks of electric joy travel across his skin. Jack thinks of him as family. His joy falters when he thinks of Steve. Eddie isn't sure Steve would feel the same.

“I would love to eat with you, princess, but I got my own dad waiting for me,” he says.

She’s utterly taken aback by that new bit of information. Her two little hands find Eddie’s face as she stares with set brows.

“When did you get a daddy too?” She asks very seriously. 

It takes everything for Eddie not to start laughing. Even Max claps a hand over her mouth to stop herself. Jack’s just so serious it's adorable. He thought calling Wayne his dad would be less complicated. That word better fits their relationship anyways. Boy, was he wrong.

“I've always had one. I just don't live with him anymore so you've never met.”

Jack frowns. It dawns on Eddie that she’s used to people showing up and being added to their mod podge family. Naturally, she assumed that's what happened with Eddie. It did happen with Eddie in a way, but now he's not certain of where he stands. It startles him when sadness takes over her soft round features.

“I thought you were ours,” she says quietly with a slight waver. 

Eddie knows she didn't mean the words to feel as heavy as they do. He swears they rip him in half, right down the center. His lips part slightly as he tries to figure out what to say. Max can only offer a small smile before walking into the back. Eddie sighs and sits Jack on the counter in front of him. He uses his newly free hands to comb through his hair. I thought I was yours too, he thinks, but then I went and fucked it all up. 

“Hey, listen to me, alright,” he says softly, “As long as you want me to be your family, I’m your family. Me having a dad doesn't change that, okay?”

She nods, her big eyes sparkling with a swirl of emotions. 

“I like it better with you,” she tells him.

He doesn't have to ask what she means, he knows. Jack likes her family, and her life, better with Eddie in it. It’s enough to flatten him out. It’s enough to light a flame of determination to talk and apologize to Steve. 

“Yeah, I like it better with you too.”

Steve walks into the store at five-fifteen that evening. At first, he doesn't see anyone. Then he can hear the giggling. Only, it isn't just Jack’s. It’s Eddie’s too. As he continues forward, they come into view. Jack sits in Eddie’s lap on the chair behind the counter, off to the side. Eddie has a magazine open in front of them. Whatever articles Jack pointed out Eddie would read in different funny and dramatic voices. The content of the articles doesn’t matter, just the voices Eddie is doing. They make her giggle, which makes Eddie giggle.

As he gets closer, Steve catches Eddie’s attention. His startled eyes flicker from Steve to the clock on the wall. He quickly closes the magazine, which finally brings Jack’s attention to Steve. She hops off of Eddie’s lap to run and jump into his arms. The tightness and urgency of Steve’s hug don't go unnoticed by Eddie. He hugs her like that after a tough day. Eddie knows that because he’s seen plenty of Steve’s tough days by now.

“Uh- sorry, Max had to run out for a second so I was just trying to entertain her,” he’s quick to explain. 

He didn't expect Steve’s sweet honey eyes to meet his with a warmth that raises his body temperature. The smallest hint of a smile plays on the corners of Steve’s mouth. Eddie can't help wondering if Steve is happy to see him despite everything, just like Eddie is.

“It’s okay. Thanks for watching her,” he says as he lets her down.

“Yeah, ‘course, I’m happy to,” Eddie replies. 

There's a beat of awkward silence as Jack retrieves apple juice. Eddie ran across the street to grab it earlier. Steve’s eyes stay trained on Eddie and vice versa. Finally, Eddie musters up the courage.

“Steve, I’m real-”

“Not now,” Steve shakes his head.

Eddie visibly shrinks in the wake of rejection. 

“I know and I want to talk, but I’m exhausted right now, Eds.”

Eddie nods in understanding. Jack hugs Eddie goodbye. He’s wondering if he should say goodbye to Steve the right way when he’s beaten to it.

“Take care of yourself for me,” Steve tells him softly.

A smile dripping in all the warm gooey emotion Eddie is experiencing grows on his face.

“You first,” he responds.

Then they're gone. Eddie is left sitting there with a racing heart and the deep ache to follow them.

<< Page Two | Series Photo Album | AO3 | Page Four >>

[bobzora]

more reload thoughts, this time on the characters, heavy spoilers under cut (for p3 content, and also spoilers on some of the new stuff!!)

akihiko and mitsuru got arena era characterization blasted it's actually really sad he is not protein. she is not a helicopter mom. they are equals and friends who respect each other. please get the memo. most of the others' characterization seemed fine but man they got the worst of it

it's really funny that akihiko has gone from best to worst party member. i'm thankful to be free from the shackles that forced me to use him. i beat nyx with junpei aigis yukari. ken and yukari i swapped between for other fights.

yukari is one of my favorites. and she still is. i'm kind of bummed they made her nicer though

this is my first time actually saving chidori. ok time to mention junpei's new english va did a banger job. most of the cast in general killed it. shoutout to yuko (strength sl) ? for an unexpected banger of a natural sounding voice? anyway junpei's second theurgy. goes hard.

i still dont care about koromaru nothing could make me care about koromaru he's cute. i guess. lol. i like that you can pet him.

i love you aigis! there's nothing notably new for me to say about her but i lvoe her i love her i love her. she matters so much if you even care. crazy how i actually used orgia mode in reload

KEN AMADAAAA. ken. ken. ken. ok FIRST of all he's usable now! yay! i love having non-instakill light and dark skills. SECOND of all oh my god the first couple ranks of his not-SL drove me crazy. i went Uh. Uh. Um. it's like awww he likes featherman :) oh. yeah. this ten year old is actively planning a murder-suicide. he wants you to look after his hamster named hamburger if (when) something happens to him. i have such a big soft spot for ken he is my favorite child soldier. jesus christ. slightly sad that they removed some relevant dorm dialogue. i dont have the fes screenshots on me those are on my old laptop. but trust that they are missed.

i'm not a true shinji-er, frankly i mostly care about him (and akihiko) just through his relationship with local justice kid ken. it was nice hanging out with him though...jumpscared by his smile. his last hangout event (the post-mortem one) was good. oh yeah he's such a strong battler i wish i could keep him around. his theurgy is over the top with the bloody tear but i love that lol.

ryoji mochizuki voice "I know I said I wanted us to be friends, but... I actually want to be something more."

not being able to say "same":

they actually fucking did it. dude. they actually fucking did it. throughout the hangout i was like okay which 5 royal writer was working on this because this is some pretty good bait. and as it progressed i was like there's no way they're actually going for it, right? man they went for it. ryoji makes good on his word that he would love mc whether girl or boy. love wins. or loses i guess. good fucking content. movie ryomina is still on top but well that is the movies and this is video game. and this is the first time minato and ryoji can actually hang out in a video game. i love you bisexuality

i prefer "that was my name for a time. i didn't mind it." over the version in reload but man that's just me being attached to lines lol. also nyx (avatar) gets he/him-ed. shoutout detransitioned ryoji ( :( )

i wish i could put aigis in a butler outfit.

i miss femc.

[buttered-baguette-writes]

Europe Feels Like a Kiss

Overwhelmed, Harry left the world he knew behind and fled to a place where he had no responsibilities. A place where nature felt fresher, and the sun felt nicer on his skin. The boy-who-lived stayed behind in England; the man in France was just Harry. Although not looking for it, Harry stumbles upon a job, some new friends, and a lover who likes him and not his legacy. It's about time. He deserves a break and the right to live his life the way he wants to.

He tried for a few years to stick it out, to make things happen. He tried to leave a large portion of the war – of his childhood – behind, where he thought it belonged. But his little spot in the magic world wouldn't let him. He tried to start afresh. He wanted to have the pleasure of doing something for himself, but they didn't let him work for it. They handed it over on a silver platter. He wanted to meet new people and fall in love, but all they wanted was publicity.

He wanted to express himself – change up his appearance, get tattoos, let his hair do whatever it wanted. Everyone judged him for it. All he wanted was a change, tired of prophecies and people expecting too much from him.

So, he left. Left the only home he knew and the only family he had before he combusted.

He didn't want to be the boy-who-lived twice. Didn't want to be known as The Harry Potter.

Just Harry.

Apart from keeping in contact with the Weasley’s (including Hermione), Luna, and Neville, Harry Potter disappeared from the shores of the UK.

--

Harry had only been away for a little over a month, but he was loving it.

He'd roll out of bed in the morning, admire the craftmanship of the ancient building as he pulled back the curtains and waited for his kettle to boil. Then, he'd step out onto his little personal terrace that overlooked the well-kept courtyard. He was able to relish in the fresh air and quietness to his heart’s content as if there wasn't a busy street on the other side of the courtyard’s walls.

After a while he'd go follow random cobblestone streets, taking pictures, stopping in certain places while noting others for another day. He never paid much attention to how far he actually travelled, because he always returned to his little piece of France.

It was beautiful.

And then one fateful morning, he ran into a familiar blonde.

Somehow, they had managed to sit on the same park bench, inevitably making unavoidable eye contact.

“Morning Malfoy,” Harry said, voice light. He was being inviting, in a way.

“Potter,” Draco replied, no bite to the word, but there was a slight tone of uncertainty.

They had both been eighteen the last time they saw each other, when all the wounds were still fresh, and punishments were being handed out.

“I… I never expected to see you in France,” Draco said.

“Me neither. Things just got to be too much. They just – I couldn't bare it any longer.”

Draco hummed. “I suppose this is a good place to run away to.”

Harry’s brain ticked away. Although their past wasn't exactly all rainbows and sunshine, they had both gone there to get away from things and people. Maybe after everything they had been through, and everything they were working to get pass, they could be friends all these years after their first meeting at the train platform.

“This is probably random,” Harry started, feeling his nerves leave with each word he got out. Though Draco raising a brow in assuming amusement didn't help his case. “Would you want to hang out sometime?” He finished with a bright smile, his cheeks pushing his glasses up a little bit.

Draco eyed the other man, twisting the ring on his thumb in thought before coming to his final decision. Snapping his fingers, a card appeared between fingers, extended to the other man. “Join us for drinks,” he said, fully handing the card over. “It’s a weekly thing.”

With that, he walked off before he could change his mind about the invitation. That, and he now desperately needed to tell his friends there might be another person attending, lest the ladies kill him for letting them be under prepared.

Harry stayed on the bench. That was the first real plan he had made and yet he still had nothing else to do during the next two days. He decided that it would be good for him, hanging out with people and all.

From that point on however, he started to see Malfoy practically everywhere he went. Apparently, they were both regulars at Harry’s new favourite bread shop, and the blonde was often spotted cooing at random animals he saw. He wondered if the other had any pets at home considering the amount of affection he gave to random creatures.

He supposed he would just wait and see.

However, he forgot about that when he found himself waiting to be let into the house that’s address was on the card. It seemed like such an expensive area, and there he was in beat up sneakers holding a bag of pastries. He stared at his shoes, feeling a bit out of place.

Harry was brought out of his thoughts when the front door suddenly swung open, light and laughter immediately drifting through the doorway.

“My my, good to know The Harry Potter is punctual.” Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin pureblood, opened the door, smiling in a teasing yet friendly way.

Harry just smiled back, offering the bag out to her.

She seemed pleased to see the emblem of the bakery, politely snatching the goods and motioning him inside.

She led him up the stairs, the first floor just a means of storage and a fancy entrance. On the second level, though, there was a large entertaining area with an open floorplan. It was the perfect combination of modern and classical design, with plants scattered about looking extremely well maintained. There certainly had to be a wixen whose specialty it was.

The couches looked soft as five people laid across them with glasses in their hands as they chatted up a storm, basking in the dim light and slight chill of the night air.

Draco cut himself off mid-sentence, effectively halting all the lively chatter. His face screamed a mixture of pleased and surprised to see the curly haired man standing next to Pansy, who was already shoving a glass into his hands with the claim that it was simply the rules of the night.

With a soft swish of his arm, Draco gathered everyone’s attention and pointed it towards the newcomer. “Loves, this is Harry Potter.”

“As in Potter, Potter?” One of the ladies asked, clearly enthused.

“Ah, Harry is fine.”

The same girl that spoke early bounced out of her seat, long brown hair doing the same. She held out a hand, giving a firm shake as she spoke. “I’m Lottie!” Her voice was coated in an Irish accent, forcing Harry to ask her where she was from. “That’s a secret,” she replied with a wink and a different accent. Next thing he knew, her hair changed into a pixie cut with pastel blue colouring alongside other slight alterations to her features that made her look like a fae of some kind.

Pansy slung an arm around Harry’s shoulders, startling the poor man. As she spoke, he directed (forced) him towards the couch. “We’re convinced she’s a performer on the run,” she said, earning a laugh from everyone in the room.

Harry chuckled too, plopping down in the gap between his two old classmates.

He was introduced to everyone else:

Elle, a lovely Parisian who had known Pansy since they were little. The house was hers, passed down through the family. She was head chef at her own restaurant, having a remarkable pallet and knowledge on both foods and drinks.

Camile and Luca were siblings from Italy, the former being the eldest of the entire group. They had a fascinating relationship with flora and fauna, respectively. Camile owned a plant nursery and was the reason the house was full of them. Luca ran an animal shelter and was the baby of the group.

Him and Lottie shared an apartment above his work.

They were all magnificent company, the night passing by quickly. They had all accepted Harry instantly, leading to a wonderful night full of laughter, drinking, and good pastries.

Harry even exchanged numbers with all six of them.

When the night ended, majority dragged themselves up the next flight of stairs and into one of the three bedrooms on the third level. Pansy cleaned up a little bit, telling Harry that he was welcome to come by her studio the next night and that she'd send him the information for it later. She bid goodnight after that.

She had a feeling that the famous male in her house would be sticking around them for a while – if so, she had a couple things to do then.

Draco was the one to walk Harry to the door, making sure that he was okay to get home safely.

“Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, Harry,” Draco said before closing the door and booking it all the way to the third story. He was eager to sink into the soft mattress.

Harry, who was in fact sober enough, apparated back to his apartment. He ignored the time that his clock told, heading straight for his own bed.

He'd shower and change before he went out the next day. Assuming he didn't sleep it away.

The next day started without him.

The streets and shops had been bustling for hours by the time Harry hauled himself out of bed. He skipped his usual routine, opting for a late breakfast out.

The café he found was tucked away neatly on the roof of other shops, the stairwell looking like decoration. It wasn't grand, but the view he had from up there was exquisite to him, so, he whipped out his phone to snap a few pictures. The thought of buying a proper camera flittered through his mind, but he opted to focus on sending the pictures to the group chat he, Hermione, and Ron had. They would all find something to like about the place. Harry was sure of it.

He stayed for a while, relishing in the absolute freedom he felt there. He liked the fact that the server gave him a funny look when he asked for tea with his meal – thought it funny even. They weren't rude about it, just shocked. When he asked for a coffee beverage to-go, they enthusiastically went about making it, as if they knew he was going to have one. Harry figured that since it was such a quaint shop that they were used to a very niche selection of customers.

Thrilled about having found the café, Harry assured himself that he would go back one day.

With his coffee in hand, he strolled around nearby streets, forever in love with the surroundings. He had yet to visit other countries but there was just something about France that had him feel at peace. It was more than just the fact of nobody knowing who he was.

He stopped in front of a candle and herb shop, gazing into the shop through the window. It wasn't open just yet, much to his dismay.

His phone continuously vibrating caught his attention. Whipping it out, he saw Hermione’s name and instinctively answered it.

“Hey ‘mione.”

“Harry! That little café looked adorable,” Hermione said. “How are you?”

Harry smiled into his phone, moving to stand out of the way on the path. “I'm good. I think I…” he debated his words. “I think I made some friends actually.” For the moment, he wasn't going to disclose who exactly he had befriended.

“That’s wonderful,” Hermione exclaimed. Honestly, she was just happy he was doing well and enjoying himself. Anything that wasn't him sulking or being absolutely lost was a good thing. She was hesitant at first about his little adventure, but she knew it would do him some good to get a change of scenery and people.

“Oi, trying to replace us now?” Ron shouted from the background. A soft babbling then cooing noise followed him, as well as a scolding Hermione. What for, Harry didn't know.

He laughed though, smile cracking into a full grin with teeth and dimples. “Course not mate. You're family.”

Without fail, Hermione let out a soft little sigh she did every time Harry said that. They started talking about other things after that. Like, how Ron and Hermione’s jobs were going and how big Rose was getting. She was nearly one and seemed close to saying her first words. Everyone was ecstatic. In some way, Harry expected nothing less from the child of his best mates.

Baby Rose let out a cry and so Hermione and Ron had to go.

Harry stuffed his phone away, happy mood kept alive as the candle and herb shop opened its doors. He waved at the shopkeeper who simply smiled in return.

He browsed the shelves, loving the smell of the entire shop. He managed to find a candle that reminded him of eating sweets by a fireplace. So, he bought two. He had no idea what they would smell like while burning, but he hoped for the best.

Happy with himself, he decided to return to his flat.

Somehow, he had managed to spend so much time out and about that he had all but an hour before he was supposed to meet with Pansy. He had no idea what they were going to be doing, let alone at her work.

Then it hit him. He had no idea what Pansy did for a living.

It was a soft ‘wow’ that escaped his lips when he finally made it to Pansy’s work. The outside was gorgeous, with an elegant sign with her company name on it. P. Parks Fashion. The inside was charmed bigger and seemed to go on forever from Harry’s point of view. There weren't a million workers, but each worker moved with such urgency and care that it felt like there were more of them. It wasn't a clothing store, but the studio where everything happened.

In the whirlwind of new things, he managed to spot Draco lounging off to the side, idly watching everyone else.

Harry went over to him. Not like there was much for him to do anyways while he waited for Pansy to appear.

“Hey,” he greeted, his cheeks pushing his glasses up.

Draco gave him a once over, thinking about something that Harry was not privy to. “Hi. Pans’ run through is running over.”

Harry nodded in acknowledgment and thanks, but he had no bloody idea as to what a run through was. He was certain that nearly everything in the studio was a mystery to him. Focusing on the one thing that wasn't was a good start.

“So, Malfoy –”

“Draco,” the blonde responded with confidence. Not only did using only last names seem like an outdated trend to him, but he had also left the UK to escape his past and family. If Potter could become just Harry, then Draco could sure as hell be just Draco.

“Draco,” Harry continued. There was the briefest of pauses, testing out the name. He noted that the blonde actually turned to face him after that. “What do you do?”

Malfoy now regretted his decision of looking directly at Harry. He loved his job and was nothing close to ashamed of it, but it seemed that telling the other man was different. He would love to understand why his brain thought of it like that. “I, uh, work as a model for Pansy,” He said, turning back to look at the other workers, hoping his dear friend would show up.

On skin as fair as Draco’s – even with a sun kissed tan – it was easy to notice the light flush of his cheeks. Fortunately for him, Harry wasn't staring at his cheeks.

"He's an exclusive model and stylist! Not allowed anywhere else,” Pansy exclaimed from beside Harry. She startled the pair and Draco doubted that she didn't have secret walkways literally everywhere. “It’d be a travesty if he did.”

She wore the front half of her shiny black hair down, letting the styled bob frame her face while the back of her hair was pulled into a small bun. There was a pen in there, much to everyone’s surprise. She gave her dear friend a cheeky smile before turning her attention on Harry. Her eyes went from his head to his toes, then again. One of her brows quirked.

“What do you do?”

“Oh, nothing right now.” Harry hadn't been doing anything in a while. He dropped out of Auror training almost instantly and fluttered through a handful of different careers before just giving up. He was thankful he had an obnoxiously large family fortune at his fingertips.

Pansy hummed. “I may just call you in for a job,” she said, softly patting his cheek.

Before she could continue the conversation, a young man called for her attention. He was speed walking in their direction, multiple notebooks in one arm and a phone being waved crazily in the other.

“Madame! Madame! It is our new Paris store!”

With a click of her tongue, Pansy had already started off towards her office.

“Draco, hun, take Harry to the reservation. I’ll catch you later. Désolé et au revoir !” And with that she was gone.

Rolling his eyes, Draco heaved himself away from his seat. He accio-ed a coat in his direction before motioning for Harry to follow him.

The pair walked the streets in comfortable silence apart from Draco’s necessary directions when he noticed Harry zoning out. They did look like an odd couple. Harry with his untamed hair pulled loosely back and an unshaved face, his clothes looking well-loved and simple. Draco on the other hand had his blonde hair cut short and fluffy while his clothes were at the peak of this season’s fashion trends.

Odd but not strange.

The owner of the restaurant they arrived at gave Harry an unimpressed once-over, but Draco said something that had the lady complying with letting him into her establishment.

After being seated in a booth, Draco instantly began to study the menu.

Harry let his eyes wander about, getting stuck on the way that Draco leant his head against his hand and worried his lower lip between his teeth. It wasn't that visible, but he was certain he still saw the faint discolouration of skin that went across both of Draco’s lips.

“I’m sorry,” Harry suddenly blurted out.

With a jolt, Draco sat upright, blinking rapidly a few times. He raised a brow at the other man.

“I just realised I never said sorry for, uh, the bathroom incident. I really am sorry.”

“Ah,” Draco touched his lip for brief second before letting his head fall back onto his hand. “Not the worst scars I’ve gotten.”

Something in Harry’s face must have shown that he felt that his apology wasn't taken seriously because Draco was waving his free hand in the air between them. “Forgiven.”

“Really? That easily?” Harry had talked about this with a mind healer once – his guilt made him doubt that people really did forgive him, or that they didn't blame him.

Draco sighed. “Yes. I've done some things I wish I could apologise for. What you did was nothing.” He perked up after that, waving over one of the waiters. “Now, let’s order wine before Pansy arrives lest she unleashes her wrath.”

Harry nodded. Now he was worried about what else could have happened to Draco in the past and just how bad it was to live under the same roof as Voldemort.

“Where did you get this photo?” Pansy exclaimed, certainly enthused about the gorgeous shot of Paris from high up that was set as Harry’s phone background. Gorgeous considering it was taken on the phone’s camera.

“I took it,” Harry said with a large smile on his face. He was very proud of the photo, and he remembered the day well. He had just arrived in France and took a quick tour of the main city before heading off to his new home that was away from the bustling streets of Paris. The photo was so that Hermione knew he had gotten there safely and so that he knew it was all real. That he really moved to France.

“Have you ever used professional equipment? It would be an excellent hobby that makes money.”

“No…”

“You can borrow a camera from my shop anytime you want, or you can learn from my own photographers! The cameras are all charmed to not break, of course, so no need to worry there.”

Harry just smiled and nodded along agreeing to whatever she was saying. She was very adamant that it was no hassle, and that Harry would surely do great.

Draco watched silently by Pansy’s side. She had a knack for being able to pick up on someone’s talents and knew just the right direction to point them in to get them started on the right way. That was how she acquired most of her most loyal workers, Draco included. The latter knew that the longer Harry hung around Pansy, the more likely he was to do something he enjoyed but was also good at.

“Okay, I’ll try it out,” Harry laughed out, moving his hands in a calming motion.

Part 2

Also on AO3

[luminisvii]

i finished replaying the sequel trilogy for ace attorney yesterday so i figure i might as well put some thoughts down because i've been thinking a lot about why aa4-6 are not as good as aa1-3 or dgs. when i first played AJ i remember being annoyed but enjoying it anyway, and when i played DD and SoJ, i was coping and insisting i liked them but with time i realized i didn't. now that i've replayed them and refreshed my mind after many years, i can pin point a lot of what i feel are the problems with these games in a broader sense, and some of my opinions have changed with time. some better, some worse

the "AJ trilogy" has multiple crippling issues with the writing in a game series where writing is the most important element. the main thing i can point to for DD and SoJ is they have a very serious "tell don't show" problem where we are constantly informed of a lot of things that we are told are true, but are simply not. the "dark age of the law" is laughable as a plot point because not only is it an extremely cartoonish aspect but we don't actually see anything that would imply that there is a dark age of the law. in terms of prosecutors, klavier, simon, and nahyuta are all MUCH nicer and don't play dirty nearly on the level that franziska, godot, and even post character development edgeworth do. manfred von karma was a way better example of some alleged dark age of the law than simon blackquill is. 5-3 is an extremely frustrating case because we are constantly wanking about this dark age of the law and how the ends justify the means but professor means is a villain who we don't see any broader consequences to. he's got the same impact as fucking frank sawhit. he's there for one case and then gone. we never speak of him again, we don't see how someone like him would cause problems on a broader scale, and it doesn't help that he's a super obnoxious character who you can just tell is bad news and he's not even a good mastermind. at least with kristoph not only is he hilarious but he's a good manipulator who uses his appearance of refinement and professionalism to get away with his bullshit and how he can play the system as long as he did. i know it's been said before the phantom is a terrible villain. he doesn't represent anything greater like previous and later villains, he's incredibly underbaked, and the only reason i didn't rank 5-5 as a bottom tier case is because athena and simon have such strong sections in it that they are effectively the only bright spots of DD. i'd say aa5 is still the worst game in the franchise for a lot of reasons, and it is only saved on the strength of athena and simon, and even then they are screwed and underutilized in their own game.

similarly, nahyuta is a character who became incredibly frustrating on my second go with aa6. i began to realize that we don't actually get to know nahyuta as a character like, at all. his banter with every defense attorney he goes up against is incredibly weak and generic, and majority of his characterization comes from other characters telling us "he used to be a nice kid" or "he seems hopeless now" all the time. this is made even worse by how absent he is in the final case of the game as he's sidelined for ga'ran. his confession for the murder is obviously supposed to be a moment like edgeworth in aa1, but it falls completely flat because we weren't able to build a relationship with nahyuta in the same way you are for edgeworth. much has been said about apollo's involvement in the plot in DD/SoJ but i'm of the opinion that you could completely cut apollo from these games and lose very little. we are TOLD that apollo and nahyuta are like brothers who care very much for each other but we do not see it.

that's what a lot of it comes back to. we are TOLD this it the dark age of the law, but all the prosecutors we come across pale in comparison to og trilogy prosecutors who play to win. we are TOLD that simon blackquill is a horrible, manipulative person, but even from the beginning he's really not. we are TOLD that clay terran is apollo's best friend who is one of his greatest motivations but we never see them together outside of a single flashback and we never speak of him again. we are constantly told about how clay and metis are two great and angelic people who were the best nicest guys ever but we don't see it. we have to take simon's word for it that metis totally loved athena and was just bad at showing it because look, an earring! that undoes all of athena's complicated feelings towards her mother! we're told that dhurke was apollo's true father figure but we don't mention it until the last case because, apollo just didn't want to talk about it, i guess! we're told apollo and nahyuta are brothers but they have zero chemistry as characters. we're told that the defiant dragons are a peaceful revolution but also they had all those guns and military plan charts in that one hideout so what's the truth? was that just a lie for fun? we're told that ga'ran is a tyrannical queen who can change the law and doesn't play by the rules but we defeat her by making her play by the rules. it's all so frustrating. these games can't decide what their own truth is and the writing is so toothless and vague. it has an unquestioning respect for the status quo and for law as a concept that we'll never get the bonkers stuff that dgs throws at you to make you question who you can trust and what the truth is.

aa4 comes out of this a lot less awful than the others, but i've complained before that i dislike a lot of the little things about it. its case writing is overall sloppier than aa1-3 and also you have that extremely annoying speech at the end about how the law is a gem that is perfect and holy and blah blah i was losing it. but it was the harbinger of a lot of things that would happen in aa5-6.

the second major issue i'd pinpoint is a character writing one. no one is written consistently in the sequel trilogy. i'm a hater of how phoenix is written in AJ and he's so blandly written in 5-6 he hardly counts as a character. i don't need to speak about apollo because smarter people than me have said everything. and athena is wildly mischaracterized in aa5 itself. i realized how bad 5-1 is when i played the game again because at that point in the timeline, she has already lead a much tougher case against a far scarier prosecutor. why is she suddenly incompetent now? i have the same complaint about 6-4. as fun as that case was, it was frustrating to see that athena was being treated like a little baby who couldn't handle a little bullying.

i could write a whole essay about how wasted athena is as a character. she's so fantastic in concept, but in execution, she's a mess. the writers couldn't decide if she's an overeager hot blooded upstart who refuses to back down, or if she's a sad, traumatized girl who needs someone else to help her against these big scary prosecutors. she never escapes this. contraditions in characterization are not necessarily a bad thing--phoenix has a lot of contradictions in the og trilogy, and they work, because people are contradictory. but there's a massive difference between "contradictory because the character is complicated" and "completely inconsistent."

i'm not really going to get deep into specific instances because we'd be here all day, but i feel overall the character writing in aa5-6 came off almost as the bad fanfiction versions of these characters. even original characters who had no previous characterization to ruin are not served well and come off way too gimmicky and flat. and coming back to the tell don't show issue, we are still constantly told a lot of things about the characters but we see very little of them in action.

this is not to say there are no saving graces to these games. i think that 5-5 had the strongest section of DD despite my hatred of clay and the phantom as plot devices, being simon's mood matrix section where you have to corner him into admitting the truth and we can see how emotional he is about it and how desperate he is because while he believes athena is innocent with his entire being, he knows what it looks like and that no one else will. 6-2 was a shockingly good case and would have been perfect if we had a better prosecutor. even 6-3 was very good and it gave me hope for the end when i was replaying SoJ until it fumbled the ending. i actually don't even mind dhurke that much because unlike clay we actually get to know him a bit and see his bond with apollo and that's the low we're at. i was also extremely pleasantly surprised when i played the DLC case for aa5, which was so well done that i was not even sure i was still playing DD. it was fun, it was hilarious, it had quite the brain teaser and it was even quite difficult to figure out who the killer was for a while. i wish that all of the cases in DD/SoJ were this well done. rayfa is also a very fun and great character and she is a bright spot in SoJ's plot.

there's a lot of good things in these games. unfortunately, they are not greater than the sum of their parts. it just comes down to the writing was sloppy and childish for a series that has done much greater. even if the og trilogy didn't exist, i think i would still be mad at the AJ trilogy.

if we get an aa7 one day, i can only hope that it's better than this. because i love ace attorney. there's good ideas in 5-6 that i hope one day get the time of day to bloom. i'm still upset they completely ignore AJ and everything that happened in it. my main wish for an aa7 is that we do another editing pass and we stop yapping empty words so much and actually DO things and the games put their money where their mouth is. because no matter what, the finale of DD and SoJ are never going to make me feel like a caged animal like the end of DGS2 did and it's never going to make me cry like the og trilogy did so many times. because you can tell me how sad this is, you can tell me how unhappy the characters are and how the situation they're in is fucked up, but if there is no evidence of such, it doesn't work. and as they say, evidence is everything (I AM SNIPED ON SIGHT)

i might do a separate characterization rant later but bye for now

[loiswolf]

Day 21 June 19 Fort St John - Dawson Creek 75kms

Some of you have probably been thinking I’ve had wifi problems again….nah, I just haven’t really been cycling enough to blog about it.

On Saturday morning I left the Warmshowers family ( I put their photo in the previous blog in case you missed that edit), pedalled into town then back along the Highway to the RV park.

At Toad River I had also made friends with Debbie and Tim who were driving the long stretch (388kms) between Fort Nelson and Fort St John on Saturday .They had agreed to take Shirley and I on board. My other option was to take the bus but it didn’t run until Monday ( today).

We found a place to fit Shirley in the RV and I was in the back seat of the truck with Rhino….the dog. It seemed like such a long way. We went through rain, spotted 3 bears and a moose, saw a helicopter taking water to a fire somewhere and climbed lots of big hills. I didn’t mind being in the truck one little bit and I also had the benefit of being able to talk to Debbie and Tim.

They were really lovely. I’ve met some great people hitching rides! It turns out there actually were places I could possibly have stayed in after around 230kms but they hadn’t shown up on the map. It’s also hard to know which ones are actually open and offering rooms.

About 13kms from Fort St John my lift was turning right to head back west to another town. We took a farewell selfie and unloaded Shirley.

I rolled over to the other side of the road to the servo for a coffee and some chicken wings. Then it was pretty much a downhill run all the way into town.

My motel appeared very quickly. I should have cancelled my booking and headed off to the nice Motel 8 up the road because this place was just awful.

My room stunk of cigarette smoke and the other tenants looked absolutely undesirable. I’m pretty sure there was a prostitute operating out of the room two doors up because every hour , on the hour , a car would drive up and someone would go in. Just before the hour was up they would leave and someone would arrive on the next hour. 😕 A little suspicious. You would have thought with all those customers the occupant would have been able to afford a better car than this rust bucket.

It actually moved a couple of spaces overnight. I can’t believe it was drivable!

My biggest regret was that I had booked two nights at this hideous place!

After a while I became used to the smell and worked out how to reconnect the wifi when it dropped out every hour or so. I woke up at about 4am the first night convinced there were bed bugs ( there wasn’t).

I spent my rest day actually resting. I did walk around the shops on the other side of the road covering quite some distance. The shops are all about 400m apart with huge car parks between. I watched bad movies and a had a snooze in the afternoon.

I woke at 4am this morning to get some water to find that the fridge had frozen everything in it. ( it was on the lowest setting). I pulled everything out so it could thaw by the morning and went back to bed.

So……today it was back on the bike!

I wasn’t in a hurry because today was only 75kms. Ok, I took ages getting ready because I couldn’t figure out the Wordle. Finally I solved it, packed up Shirley and headed off for my last day on the Alaskan Highway.

The first 10kms were unremarkable except for quite a lot of traffic. The next 10kms were a long downhill run all the way into the next town, Taylor. It looked like a much nicer town to stay in but it was too late now. The road continued down the hill and over a bridge. I was going too fast to realise I should have gone on the pedestrian pathway. The bridge was a metal grid ( I hate those) and nothing could get by me. I just hung on and tried to keep Shirley in a straight line, rather hard with the wind, and told myself not to look down.

After the bridge was a very long hill, about 6kms. I took this photo a little way up so you can see the scary bridge if you look hard.( it’s blue)

The hill wasn’t too hard even though it was long. This photo is from near the top.

All day it was a long slow hill followed by another lengthy downhill run. At about 50kms there was a town called Farmington which boasted one service station.

I foolishly bought a flavoured coffee to go with my cinnamon scroll. Sitting back outside in the wind ( the only place to sit) I realised it was milky and sweet so I tossed it over the railing and snuck back inside to fill the cup with real coffee.

Only 25kms to go. There were a lot of trucks and fuel tankers but the shoulder was good so I was able to stay out of their way. One last long hill was followed by a 10km run down into Dawson Creek and the end of the Alaskan Highway.

I’m not sure where it started but I’ve been on it for well over 1000kms.

I’d had some serious doubts about the motel I’d booked here. I was going to sneak in and check it out before paying but the lovely owner knew who I was as soon as I walked in. Rats! Turns out I didn’t need to worry. It’s a nice little place

And smells great!

[sacredsorceress]

Green || Bucky Barnes

pairing: bucky barnes x avenger!reader

summary: three times bucky realized you were more than a friend and the one time he finally admitted it (based on events from tfatws)

a/n: finishing this in time for the season finale tomorrow! reblogs and/or replies are super appreciated!!

word count: 3.1k

warnings: mentions of reader wearing a short dress, jealous bucky

masterlist || request || taglist

#1

“Nice of you guys to call me.”

Your hands in your jacket pockets, you announced your presence as you strolled up to the group of four men standing outside of the police station. You could basically feel the tension in the air as each man had a resolute expression written on all over their faces.

“What’s going on here?” You asked, slipping your hands out of your pockets and gesturing towards the group.

“What are you doing here?” Sam asked.

You might have been nicer about the situation if you weren’t utterly pissed that the two men hadn’t informed you about the mission that they had gone on.

“Incase you forgot, Sam, you’re not the only one who’s had to pick up where someone else left off. It’s my job to keep track of you guys.” You said. “... Also I’m Bucky’s emergency contact.”

“Well,” The blonde man leaning against the police cruiser said. “You’re a little late. I handled it.”

Looking up at the man in front of you, you gave him no inclination of defeat.

“You must be John Walker.” You said.

“So you’ve heard of me?” He smirked.

You crossed your arms, stepping away from the man who you had seen on television playing the role of Captain America. You had heard about the decision moments before the government had first displayed the impersonator on screen, but it had been too late for you to do anything about it or to inform Sam or Bucky in time for his appearance.

“I’ve heard of everyone.” You deadpanned.

“Yeah?” He asked, standing up straighter. “And who are you?”

Just as you were about to open your mouth, you felt Bucky’s hand land on your shoulder. Turning to glance at him, you watched as he shook his head, giving you a serious look. Despite the fact that you were now tasked with keeping track of the former members of the group of Avengers and were one yourself, you had been able to keep your identity a secret. Although to the world you were “Sorceress”- the Avenger with magical powers similar to those of Wanda Maximoff- to members of the team such as Bucky you were Y/n Y/l/n.

He didn’t trust John Walker and he didn’t want to bring you into their own mess. Although Bucky had been avoiding Sam’s text messages, Bucky had kept in constant touch with you since you first met him after he had come back from the Blip six months ago- even going as far as spending time together multiple times a week in person- not because you had to keep track of him, but because the two of you genuinely enjoyed spending time together. 

You were the closest thing he had to normalcy and he didn’t want the knockoff version of his best friend messing it up not only for himself, but for you too.

However, you didn’t see much of a way out of it. You weren’t going to just leave Bucky and Sam to handle the situation on their own, but you also didn’t see a way that you could work alongside them and not have John and Lemar figure out your identity sooner or later.

Gently taking Bucky’s hand off of your shoulder, squeezing it lightly before dropping it, you reached out your hand to John Walker.

“Y/n Y/l/n.” You told him. “Sorceress... and I guess the current caretaker of the Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”

Later, after the group had dispersed and you followed Sam and Bucky as they walked in the opposite direction, you were surprised when you heard Bucky’s tone of voice when he finally spoke up again.

“You shouldn’t have given him your name, Y/n.” He said.

You shrugged, hands tucked into your pockets once again. “It’s fine, Buck.” You assured him. “There wasn’t much else I could do. He was going to find out eventually-”

“Don’t act so casual about it. This is your identity- your life- and you’re just going to share it with some asshole like John Walker?”

“Woah!” You exclaimed, stopping in your spot. “What’s your problem, Buck? Why do you care so much?”

Noticing how both you and Sam were staring at him with furrowed eyebrows, trying to comprehend why he was making such a “big deal” about it, Bucky grew embarrassed, not understanding himself why he cared so much. Rather than admitting defeat however, Bucky threw up his hands, scoffing.

“Forget it, Y/n. I don’t care. Do what you want.”

And with that he picked up the pace, walking in the opposite direction of where you and Sam stood confused in your spots.

#2

“I couldn’t have worn something- I don’t know- a bit longer?” You called to the three men ahead of you, following them into the club as you tugged on the hem of your short dress.

“This a club in Madripoor, Y/n.” You heard Zemo say. “If you wore anything else you would be giving us away.”

Groaning you steadied yourself in your heels following behind Zemo and Sam. You slowed your pace to walk besides Bucky who had insisted on being at the back of the line behind you- telling everyone that it would be safer for everyone if he kept their backs covered.

“How are you feeling?” You asked as quietly as you could in the loud club.

“What?” He asked.

“How are you feeling? With the while Winter Soldier thing? If you don’t think you can handle it we can find another way-”

“It’s fine, Y/n.” He said. “Don’t worry about me.”

Instead of letting it go, you gently placed your hand on his exposed, vibranium arm, causing him to stop in his spot, looking at you.

“Bucky, I’m serious.” You said. “You matter too. If you can’t handle it, I’ll find a way to get the information without all of this, okay? I care about you, Buck. Just say the word.”

He almost couldn't focus on the words coming out of your mouth as he tried to keep his eyes focused on your face, rather than trailing down your body, finally noticing just how short the dress that was adorning your body was. As good as you looked in green, he swore he would kill Zemo once he got what he needed from him for dressing you in that.

As gorgeous as you were, however, your words meant everything to him and he hung on to every single one- no matter what you were saying. Hearing the sentiment that you had for him and that you would stick your neck out for him of all people made him speechless.

Just as he was about to open his mouth however, the two of you began to feel the eyes of other partygoers staring the two of you down. As soon as you noticed, you quickly snatched your hand away from his arm and continued your pace in front of him, Bucky quickly following behind.

“Distracted?” Zemo asked as Bucky stopped beside him at the bar.

Rather than answering, Bucky remained silent, falling into character with the thought of your shared interaction still playing over and over in his mind.

#3

Coughing on his hands and knees, trying to process what had just happened, all Bucky could hear was the obnoxious sound of the alarm blaring. When he opened his eyes again he saw the shipping container now consumed with flames and illuminated with a daunting red light. Recalling what had just occurred, he scrambled to his feet, calling out for you.

“Y/n?” He called. “Y/n!”

When he didn't immediately hear your voice, he began to feel his heart race in his chest. What if something happened to you? What if you were too close to the explosion? He wouldn’t know what to do with himself if something had happened to you. Just as he was beginning to start hyperventilating, the smoke catching in his chest causing him to double over and heave, he felt your hands wrap around either of his biceps.

“Buck?” You asked. “I’m- I’m so sorry. It happened so fast I couldn’t get a forcefield around everyone. Thank God you’re okay. I was so afraid something happened-”

Cutting you off, Bucky shook your hands off of his arms, instead pulling you into his arms. Although you and the super soldier had spent more quality time than you could count together prior to starting this mission, you had never hugged before, but being in his arms you couldn’t find a single complaint, instead silently wrapping your arms tightly around his torso, running your hands up and down his back.

“Hey it’s okay, Buck. I’m okay.” You said. “Let’s go, okay? Before this thing collapses on us.”

After that the two of you had followed Sam and Sharon into the area of shipping containers, taking out hitman by hitman along the way, when you had finally gotten through all of them, you watched as Zemo pulled up in a car besides the four of you.

“Nice ride.” You said as Bucky slipped into the front seat of the vehicle, yourself sliding into one of the seats in the back row.

“Thank you, Y/n.” Zemo replied, patting Bucky on the chest. “She’s a woman of taste.”

Bucky swore to himself for the second time within the past 12 hours that when given the chance he was going to kill the man beside him- with or without his therapist’s approval.

“You’re not going to move your seat up are you?” Sam asked.

“Nope.” Bucky said.

“That’s fine.” Sam conceded. “I guess I’ll just chill back here with Y/n.”

You laughed as Sam laid his arm against headrest of the backseats of the car.

“I’m fine with that.” You said. “Just me and my favorite person.”

Now Bucky knew that you were kidding, only teasing him to get a rise out of him, but glancing at the backseat and seeing Sam’s arm practically around your shoulders and you calling him your favorite person... just didn’t sit right with Bucky. Just as Zemo’s foot was about to hit the gas, Bucky shifted the car into park, swinging the door open and stepping out of the vehicle.

“What-”

“You can have the front.” Bucky said, swinging Sam’s door open.

“It’s really okay, Buck-”

“You said you wanted more space so you can have the front.” He said. “Go sit in the front.”

You watched as Sam turned to you, quirking his eyebrows before shrugging and stepping out of the car, switching to the passenger seat. You almost wanted to laugh as you watched Bucky squeeze into the backseat behind the passenger seat, his knees practically up against his chest.

“You good?” You asked.

Despite the groan that had involuntarily escaped his mouth from the discomfort of the front seat digging into his knees, Bucky nodded, stretching his arm out across the backseat, behind your shoulders.

“I’m great.” He assured you. “Now drive, Zemo.”

Although you didn’t catch it, the two men sitting in the front seat- despite their differences- couldn’t help but throw each other a knowing look before the car took off for their next destination.

#4

“Hey!” Torres called. “I see you got your sleeve back!”

You chuckled as you turned to glance at the man stood beside you. Despite it being a joke, not a single hint of a smile cracked the man’s hard exterior. The only reason he didn’t walk out of the room on the spot was because you were standing beside him.

“He’s just in a bad mood today.” You said, reaching your hand out to shake Torres’. “I’m Y/n.”

Taking your hand and shaking it in his, he furrowed his eyebrows. “What are you doing hanging around these guys?” He asked. “...Not that you can’t handle yourself! Sam just won’t even invite me on these things.”

Pulling your hand away from his, you smiled. “Think you can keep a secret?”

As soon as you asked the question you watched as the confusion written all over his face grew even more and you could hear Sam chuckling in the background.

“I’m Sorceress.” You said. “Like the Avenger? I just try to keep my identity pretty secret, you know?”

As soon as you revealed your identity to him, you watched as the man’s face dropped and he turned to look at Sam who was standing behind him.

“Wait- she’s-” Torres stuttered.

Sam nodded, laughing.

“Yep.” Sam said. “She’s the one you’ve been hounding me about setting you up with.”

Although you weren’t paying attention to him, Bucky had already disliked how the conversation was going- finding Torres to be a little too friendly for his liking and not loving that you exposed your identity to him immediately- but when he heard Sam’s confession, he stiffened in his spot, hands balling into fists at his side.

“What? Dude!” Torres exclaimed, glancing back and forth between you and Sam before finally turning back to you, chuckling nervously. “He's just kidding! I would never have a crush on you- wait! That came out wrong! Not that you’re not pretty because you are- I just think you’re cool-”

You continued laughing as the man stumbling over his words in front of you, finding it endearing until you heard the super soldier scoff beside you. You glanced at him only to see him cross his arms while rolling his eyes before making his way out of the room.

Turning back to Torres you gave him a quick smile, pulling a card out of your pocket. “I have to go, but it was nice to meet you Torres. If these boys get in trouble again, make sure to call me first thing, okay?”

He took the card from your hand, nodding. “Uh yeah- yeah! Of course!”

With that you waved to both him and Sam before following the path Bucky had taken out of the room seconds before.

Seeing his figure pacing across the room, you threw your arms up in the air.

“What’s your problem?” You asked.

Stopping in his spot he turned to face you.

“What?” He said. “I don’t have a problem.”

You couldn’t help but scoff, crossing your arms. 

“Uh yeah. You do.” You said. “Did I do something to piss you off or something? Are you mad at me for coming on the mission? Because I’m sorry if I wanted to help save the world and make sure you guys didn’t get killed in the process.”

Bucky just stopped and stared at you standing across from him with your arms crossed. He hated to admit it, but you look pissed at him. It hurt knowing that you were upset with him, but it hurt a little more knowing that you felt as though he was mad at you when in actuality that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

“Y/n.” He said, stepping closer to you. “I’m not mad at you.”

“Then why did you just storm out of the room?” You asked.

He couldn’t think of a reason besides the truth. He could lie and say that he was   mad at you, but that wouldn’t solve the situation for anyone and could possibly strain your relationship farther- and that was the last thing he could possibly want.

The two of you stood there in silence, staring at one another as Bucky attempted to find the words in his head to ease your concern without exposing himself in the process.

But you were never one to back down with him.

“Bucky,” You said. “What’s the problem? What did I do? Why are you so angry-”

“Because I don’t like the way that guy was talking to you!” He exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air.

“What?” You asked. “What are you talking about?”

Bucky realized he was in it now. He couldn’t see a way out of it.

For the past week, Bucky couldn’t help but notice that he cared for you a bit more than friends should. Maybe he always did. He thought back to the times he would eagerly await your weekly lunches or the comfort he felt when you took him furniture shopping after seeing his empty apartment for the first time. He thought back to the times you would show up outside of his door when he was upset because you were the only person he trusted there with him in those intimate moments- he knew that you were more than just his colleague, but he realized now that you were more than his friend.

Recently it became more obvious, the burning in his chest he felt when others became a little too comfortable with you- he attempted to mask it with just wanting to protect you, but he knew you could handle yourself. He was protective over you so he wouldn’t lose you.

Just when you opened your mouth to speak again, he cupped your face in his hands. He watched as your eyes widened, but didn’t make any move to stop him. When he caught your eyes trailing from his eyes to his lips, he pulled you towards him, meeting your lips in the middle.

Maybe it was because he hadn’t kissed anyone in eighty years, but he had never felt the way he had in that moment before. He was so utterly consumed in you- the feeling of your hands reaching for his jacket, tugging him closer as you deepened the kiss, your soft lips against his, your warm breath against his face- he was lost in it.

When you finally pulled away, he didn’t want to let go, but leaned back anyway, staring at his world- you- that he now held in his hands.

“Buck...”

“I think I like you more than a friend.” He confessed.

You couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face at his words. You had always cared for Bucky as more than just your former fellow Avenger, but knowing that he felt the same as you was something you could hardly believe.

“I think I do too.” You laughed, then recalled what you had come in there for in the first place. “James, were you... were you jealous?”

Thinking back over the past week the two of you had spent together on the mission, he could almost laugh at the question you had just asked.

“You’re joking, right?” He chuckled. “Yeah. You could say I was a little bit jealous.”

[little-lee-froggie]

hi I read your writing about how some of the pillars with ticklish s/o could you plz do rengoku, tengen, and sanemi

Of course! This is literally the second request I’ve ever completed- wow, I’m such a good writer. Anyway, if you haven’t seen part one, here it is! Well anyway, let’s get into it:

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ: while I’m a completely sfw blog, I do just want to say that tengen’s headcanons do mention some nsfw type things, but it’s the last one and very short. You can skip it if you don’t want to read that.

———————————————————————

Sanemi💨💥:

Sanemi Sanemi Sanemi… where to begin with Sanemi

Ok, yeah, first of all, MEAN

Mean bitch

But surprisingly gentle. Growing up with a bunch of little siblings made him able to just know everything, like how much someone can usual take 

And also alllll you spots. He doesn’t even need to see someone else tickle you, he just KNOWS. I don’t know how, but he just does.

A word of advice: PROTECT YOUR WORST SPOT. AT ALL COSTS. I don’t care if it will give away where it is, I don’t care if you like being tickled, (but like, same bro,) PROTECT. IT.  Because if you don’t, that’s when his ruthless side shows. You are being pushed past your breaking point, you are going to almost die, and you are going to wish you took my advice. At that point, you will have unlocked the monster within that man. If you thought he was already a monster, you haven’t seen SHIT.

But other then the fact that if he finds your worst spot you will literally almost die, he’s pretty fair.

Not that into teasing, he more just… glares.

But he will be a bit nicer to you then usual after 

Do make sure you’re always prepared for an attack after the first time. Because if this man tickles you, that means he sees you like one of his little siblings. And while that’s great, it’s also TERRIFYING. Because he’s always ready. He can strike at any time. 

Please do not provoke him, he will go straight for your worst spot, you will die, it won’t be fun. Trust me, you don’t even need to provoke him, he will sense what you want and eventually give it to you. Don’t provoke him, it’ll only end badly. Just be patient, it’ll work out so much better for you.

It’s also the only way he knows how to cheer someone up, so if you don’t want to wait, just act really sad, he’ll tickle you :)

Rengoku🔥🍩:

Everyone step aside, the king is here

Sweetest, nicest, kindest, most lovely ler ever, I will not be taking criticism.

He just…. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! You know? Like he’s the kind of ler that could literally tickle you for a second and all your problems… GONE. Never to be seen again.

It makes him so happy to see people smiling. If you want tickles, just ask him, he won’t even be mean about, he’ll just give you what you want because he likes to see you happy 

He doesn’t really tease, but he will laugh and smile along. He can’t help it, he finds all laughter contagious 

He’ll take little breaks through out and check up. Do you need food, do you need water, do you want him to be more gentle, do you want him to be more rough, do you want him to stop, do you want him to tickle a different spot, do you want him tickle in a different way, all of your needs are met and tended to with a smile. If you need literally anything, just tell him and he’ll adjust to it.

Also, can I just say, aftercare ✨KING✨

Literally the definition of ‘head up king, your crown is falling’. He is so gentle and kind, he will take care of you. Holy shit, he is the definition of perfection 

He really really likes tickling people’s sides. He likes it because he can easily make sure you’re still breathing as normally as possible so he can adjust based on that and make sure you’re safe.

Once again, literally PERFECT 

Tengen✨🎵:

Okay, I’m not sure how to start this one, so I just will 

I feel like he definitely likes it more sexually. I’m not really comfortable with writing about kink, but I really can’t see him liking it any other way, so that’s why this one is really short.

Just tickles his wives, not really anyone else.

Though he does like it when people laugh loudly when tickled, he finds it flashy.

Anyway, yeah, that’s Tengen’s

———————————————————————

And those are my headcanons! I hope you enjoyed them. Once again, I’m sorry about Tengen’s. Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful day/night! Byeeeee!!

-Froggie :p

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Ahhh i love it!! Here some more Cookies for the peaceful human/witchs HCs!!

Rockstar, Vampire, Werewolf, Cotton, Herb, Fire Spirit, and Wind Archer-!

Rockstar

Although a bit wary at first, he totally vibes with you once you insist you're not evil anymore.

Ofc he doesn't hang out with you very long.

He's got fans to give autographs to (lucky for you, he signs one of your spellbooks) and concerts to play!

He couldn't keep his future audiences waiting. You can understand that.

But as a subtle reference to his encounter with you, he dedicates his next song to cookies who "believe anyone can be good if they tried".

Vampire

Oh? You're a friendly witch? Cool.

He's the most chill about it tbh.

All he's really interested in is your stash of grape juice. Nothing more.

He was dying of thirst (no literally, he snuck in through the window as his bat form just to get a taste of grape).

Most of the day he's just lazing around, watching you bake with no desire to leave anytime soon. And he asks you what it's like being human, getting into a deep discussion about it.

You're amused at how other witches' mistakes result in the creation of interesting cookies.

Werewolf

He hid near your hut after accidentally hurting someone, changing back to normal once they were gone.

But as he laments over his actions, he hears the door open. You spotted him.

Out of instinct he transforms again, though your magic aura calms him enough to change back--which exhausts him and makes him pass out.

Once he awakens, he sees you reading a normal book and wonders why you helped him.

When he questions you, you reassure him you're a good witch. And while skeptical he decides to believe you.

Even a witch like you was nicer than his own kind

Cotton

Lately she's been down on her luck with writing, struggling to find inspiration.

But when she overhears about you, a friendly witch, she grows to admire you (platonically of course) a lot! So she tries writing you sweet letters.

"Most witches are ugly inside and out, but you're not Most Witches...oh no this is bad."

After much trial and error she finally makes an...okay enough letter to send you.

It definitely warms your heart when you receive it, and you know the kind of cookies who'd write these.

So Cotton is shocked when a letter of thanks is sent to her this time.

Herb

When he's cornered by you, he's like "do whatever you want with me but PLEASE don't hurt my plants!!!!!!!"

And he's polite about it...even though he's sweating.

Man just wants to water his flowers in peace, but oddly enough you aren't threatening to eat him or anything.

Instead you ask about his plants and he awkwardly tells you about each one.

When he asks why you're so nice, you just calmly explain you'd like to make peace with the cookies, and talking to a gentleman like him seemed to be a good place to start!

Fire Spirit

He was definitely the most remarkable Cookie to come out of the oven (despite his claims of hailing from Dragon's Valley), being able to use the flames to his advantage.

When he confronts you in hopes of taking your kind down, he's caught off guard when you're just like "okay good luck on your quest, Great Fire Spirit!"

"...that means you, too!! I'm all fired up-!"

"I'm not your enemy. My neighbor, on the other hand..."

He's confused as hell when you speak ill of your fellow witches, but realizes you're serious.

He appreciates your compliment, so he decides not to burn your hut down. And instead burns your neighbor's.

Wind Archer

Witches are the main harbingers of darkness, so it makes sense that he seeks to eliminate your kind.

But to his surprise you have a change of heart, being humane and generous to cookies that you bake.

Even the Cookiemals seem to trust you a lot (they were naïve sometimes but would never be stupid enough to blindly trust their enemy), convincing him to visit you so he could see for himself.

He speaks to you with an abundance of caution, warning you to stay away from the Millennial Tree.

Of course, you promise and wish him luck on his mission.