#I fought with the background for like two days fuckin terrible

[thefuttureman]

I heard Wyoming is beautiful this time of year

[tomdiddlyumptious]

Can u do a dad Tom holland x mom black reader where they have a 2 year old son ( Elijah ) and a 1 month old daughter (Ellie ) and his fans are being mean because your baby girl is darker than her big brother and Tom tells them to stop on a livestream but they don’t and he takes a break because he more frustrated than reader is . And the next day y/n go to Toms parents house and y’all talk about it and y/n sobs ending in fluff

YOU WONT BELIEVE THE SWEAT I HAVE DRIPPED FOR THIS ASK, I DID DO A LITTLE OVERBOARD, NICE ASK, NICE COCK 👍🏽 OH AND I MADE A MISTAKE ABOUT THE NEXT DAY THING, I WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT

warnings: I DONT KNOWWW, NO SMUT BUT SËX REFRENCES- FLUFF? AND CHILDRENN NOT PROOF READ BITCHES

T.H| TITTIESSSS

Tom smiled as he posted the picture, cuddling into his small daughter as you took care of your son. You both weren’t really doing anything just binge watching Soul Eater because you refused to watch love island.

“I don’t get this show, it’s terrible” “your terrible” you chuckled at him, noticing that Ellie was slowly starting to tear up. “I think someone’s hungry yeah? Come here Ellie” you cooed, Tom picking up the small child and placing her into your arms while he took Elijah, whos currently side tracked from TV, you pulled down your, Toms, oversized shirt to feed Ellie. Smiling as she sucked the soul out of you.

“You know-“ “we can’t have sex” “but Ellie gets to get your nipples and I don’t?” “Do you want her to starve?” “No I want to have sex” he clarified, rolling your eyes you placed some of her hair behind her ear.

Toms phone started to ding and he furrowed his eyebrows, he opened his phone and read the comments “it’s the girl being darker then the boy for me” “why is Ellie darker then Elijah?” “she’s a cheater- I told you Tom” and some trying to defend “y/n is literally darker then Tom, what did you expect? I’m so sorry this is happening” “did y’all really have to put the baby in this? We all know y/n doesn’t play about her kids”

“What’s wrong Tom?” You say, now playing with Eli’s hair. Tom only frowned at you “I’m tired of people thinking that they know most, at this point it’s really annoying” “what’s wrong Thomas?” You asked, more sternly as you pulled lee away, but she starts to cry some so you put her back.

“Nothing love, you hungry though?” He asked, trying not to make you feel anyway at the moment. “No I want you to tell me what’s wrong and right now Thomas, forreal” you made eye contact with him, raising an eyebrow. “I’m not telling you y/n” he simply says, getting up forgetting his phone and walking into the kitchen.

“I have to find out myself then!” You yell, taking his phone and scrolling through your guessing comments?. You aren’t the one to scroll through his phone at any cost because you trust him entirely, but he’s pissed and you need to find out why.

Patting lees diaper you sequenced you’re eyes to read the comments, zendaya saying “they are both so cute! Where have y’all been be seen I need to come over, like right now”, Jacob B commenting “look at lil man!” And others but as you continued to scroll down you found the negative ones.

Just reading them so fast as your blood line ran cold, you didn’t notice that Tom was coming back. “Y/n stop” he says, putting the glass of water down and reaching over Eli to take the phone but you snatched it back. “Is this what they think of me? Of my kids?” You say weakly, showing him the phone as your eyes started to water.

“Don’t listen to them, we brought Eli and Lee for ourself, not for them. Let’s just take a-“ his heart dropped as tears silently trailed down your cheeks, still reading the comments. “You are only making it worse, give me the phone Y/n” “no” “give me, the phone” he said madly, not at you but at others. He reached all the way over, watching out for the kids and taking the phone without a fight.

You detached lee and fixed yourself, lifting your knee and placing her on the pad of your thigh wiping your tears and you took her small hands.

Tom only through his phone on the nightstand and turned off the TV “what are you doing?” You ask him, “let’s take a nap yeah? I���ll when we wake up I’ll do a live or something to communicate with them” he took off his shirt and sat on the bed, sighing as you only seen the back of his head, he ran his hands through his hair, not letting them, his so called ‘fans’ get to him.

Tom laid down and threw the blankets over him, turning off the light and making it as dark as possible although it was only about 1 in the evening. “I don’t think I can go to sleep” you say as he turns in your direction, “then try darling, I really don’t want us to be stressed out love” he gave a smile, playing the the loose curls in Eli’s hair while looking at you.

“Yeah okay” you nod, Tom taking lee again while you took Eli. Eli smiled as he gave you a slimy kiss “ew!” You smiled, you let out a sniffle and Eli frowned at it, kissing your nose. You giggled and wiped it off, noticing an arm around your waist trying to pull you closer you came closer, Toms hand going down to yours and putting his fingers in between yours as you did the same and gave a squeeze. “I love you, y/n” he mumbles, his thumb brushing your knuckle. “I love you too”

“Ready?” He asked, you sitting next to him and the babies are sleep, you nod, “ready”. He started the live, about two minutes in everyone started to join. He took your hand and smiled down at you, returning it you kiss his cheek. Sooner or later he had about 6-9k and he cleared his throat,” I’m pretty sure you’ve all seen the comments and I’d like to ask all of you to stop” he simply asked, the comment bar flooded of hurtful words, they weren’t gonna stop anytime soon. “Lee is a child she doesn’t deserve to be treated this way, you not only hurting her your hurting my wife, MY wife” he pointed to his chest “you also hurting me, y/n doesn’t do SHIT-“ he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, rubbing his back.

“She doesn’t do shit but tries to show you how happy we are, for all of you saying that she’s cheating she isn’t, she’s been with me, do you see her skin?” He asked, looking at you and kissing your cheek “she has color, I don’t of course Ellie is going to be darker then her brother, they aren’t fucking twins!” He yells. He gets tired of it and pins one of the comments “maybe you should stick to your color and this wouldn’t of had to happen, you shouldn’t even be here”. “That’s the shit nobody should say, don’t talk to my wife like that you fuckin-“ “that’s it Thomas you asked, calm down” you whispered, his face red as his jaw is clenched, he bites his lip as he apologizes “I’m sorry, but please I just- I’ve worked so hard and found love, I found a wife. It makes me mad that you can’t accept that-that I can’t be happy without one paparazzi and news about me, I want a break and I want a family, and now that I have one none of you support me- or most” he refused to cry infront of them but is was heart clattering. “I-bye” he simply says, grabbing his phone and ending the live.

“You did your best-“ you get cut off by his phone ringing. His mom was calling, he instantly answered “yeah mom- yeah” he sighed “alright we’ll be over”. “They want us to come over” he stood up and took your hand, pulling you up with him he gave you a peck on the lips. “I love you Thomas” you wrap your arms around him. “I love you to, and I’m not going anywhere”

You and Thomas walked to the door with one car seat each in your hands, he knocked on the door and was instantly met with Sam “hey! Give them here-“ “wait give me lee!” Harry said, running up and taking the car seat from your hand making you laugh, Sam took the other and they both walked off to the kitchen with distant talks like “please be my taste tester” “I wanna take photos with you!”

Tom put the keys in your back pocket, walking in he called for his mom and she told them both to come to the livingroom. As you both walked dom sat up and gave you a hug while Nikki gave Thomas a hug. “I’m so sorry about those twats, your children are so beautiful” he rubbed your back slowly.

“Thank you” you whispered, hugging him back tightly. He let you go and rubbed your arms as he gave you a sweet smile, soon treading and Nikki gave you a hug “I love you and your children, we both support you so much and want you to know we are here for you, come sit” she stops hugging you and takes your hand, pulling you to the couch.

Tea was on the white coffee table and you and Tom sat on the mint grey couch, the couch you don’t touch if you live there. “It’s just-“ you sighed, Tom rubbing your back as you fought the tears. “I love your son so much and to think that I would ever hurt him-or you guys in anyway is just so hurtful, and having the pressure of everyone going against me and our child- comparing them as if they can stick up for themselves” you cried, you didn’t fight it. They are your family now, and forever will be. Tom didn’t like seeing you cry at all, it almost makes him cry, seeing you weep and vulnerable isn’t well for him because when he met you you were a strong, independent woman, and you still are but it hurts him too much.

“Yeah” dom nods, passing you a tissue and Tom takes it, pulling your face to him and patting under your eyes. “But they don’t matter, we are your family and we know from our hearts and our mind that you didn’t do anything wrong” Nikki weakly smiles, seeing you cry really is heart breaking, you just gave birth a month ago and depression is so severe. “We love you y/n, your child is our grandchildren no doubt” dom smiles, reaching over and holding your hand gently. “I love you, you are so important to me, our children are so important to me, just all of us in general are so important to me, so important that I’d quit anything for you, for my children, it’s us, a household, a family” Thomas pulls you close.

Eli saying “yum! YAY! More!” In the background with Sam making you laugh, he ends up running to you with a spoon filled with pasta. “Taste! Yummy!” He smiles at you, his baby face and small teeth “hurry mommy!” You smile and open your mouth Eli feeding it to you and you hum in satisfaction. “It is yummy, who made it?” You asked, “I did! I helped sam” Sam walked up to the livingroom, leaning on the wall. “I’m coming!” Harry yells, airplaning lee into the livingroom “pshhhhh” Harry does sound effects, lee laughing making you all smile. Eli jumps in your lap and looks at your face “why are you crying mommy?” You let out a chuckle “because I love all of you” “love you to mommy” he hugs you, Harry handing lee to you and hugging her back, Tom joining as Sam walks closer and sits next to you, resting his head on your shoulder and soon everyone is group hugging. “Umm- your squeezing me!” Eli whispers, everyone laughing as you all just take in the whole thing, happy that this is your new family, other then your other precious family also.

[chessdaze]

@khoc-week ⭐ Day 1 - 8/1 

◾ Reference Sheet 

I actually drew one for Sid last year but I decided to update it. His design overall hasn’t changed it’s mostly my style that has - and the quality of my work so I’m glad I was able to redo him for this year. I really want people to get to know him properly this time. 

I’ll repost the original world lore and his background below, but I also want to answer the prompt question In character so here’s that:

◾ How would your character describe themselves?

“Eh, what kinda question is that?” Sid raises an eyebrow, but it’s barely noticeable over his large round sunglasses. “I dunno, smart, stubborn, and uhhhh tough?” There’s a pause. “I was one o’ the only kids t’ even go t’ school back in the city, and Helio and Mari never fuckin’ give me a moment t’ breathe without telling me o’ my stubbornness. As for tough, well, the muscles ain’t for show, I guess.”

“What ya askin’ me this for anyhow? I got work t’ be doin’, these houses won’t build themselves.” 

Now for world info and sid’s bio:

the world trapped in a desert

The Basics

Cindergate is a city that has seemingly seen disasters, parts of the city are being rebuilt and other parts completely abandoned and falling apart. It’s cut off from the vast desert around it by a large, also crumbling, gate. The city has a mix of technology, though seems to shun anything too ‘high tech’.

The city has a population of tough individuals who know how to survive in harsh conditions. Most of the population in this world are human, with occasional animals who can also survive the harsh sun and heat. These people are ruled over by one family - who govern and help make and enforce laws. Because of this the head of the family is often referred to as ‘sheriff’. The family keeps laws strict in the town. There is one law in particular that the sheriff is always eager to punish those for breaking-

The Keyblade Wielder Ban

The people of Cindergate are aware of the keyblade, heartless, the worlds, etc - however they consider Keyblade wielders evil, no matter who they are or what their motivations may be. They believe that the wielders are dragging darkness into the world and are the reason so many heartless live in the desert that surrounds the city. The city has to constantly beat the heartless back, and are the reason why a good portion of the city has been abandoned or is always needing to be rebuilt.

It has been the tradition of the world for a while that if a wielder is found, they are to be branded as a traitor to the city - both metaphorically and literally. After a trial to determine if someone is a wielder or not - they are branded with a mark in the shape of a keyhole. Then they are dragged through the city and out to the gates that surround it. The wielders are then exiled, pushed out to the near lifeless desert. The people of the city will often attack them with weapons or throw objects at them to make sure they don’t try to run back into the city. They consider the wielders ‘sacrifices’ to the heartless to keep them at bay.

At times the heartless in the desert will get the better of the wielders with no training. Those who manage to survive their first day and night have the chance to come across a safehaven made by wielders in the reaches of the desert and on the edges of a canyon.

Landscape.

The city is the mix of a steampunk and wild west setting. There are some technology around the city but it’s big, clunky, and steam or coal powered. The part of the city that has been abandoned has a chance of heartless sneaking in, and so there are people here who patrol at night on occasion but besides that at times kids sneak into the area to play - but it’s strictly forbidden to do so and they will be punished if they do.

The desert surrounding the city is vast and nearly lifeless. Aside from the heartless, there are few plants and animals that live there.

Past the nearly lifeless desert is an area of plateaus and canyons. Within this area those who have been exiled from the city attempt to make a living. They find items that the people of cindergate ‘sacrifice’ to the heartless, (pieces of machinery, cloth, food, etc) and try to repurpose it for their own needs. There’s a bit more life in this area, but not much in terms of subsistence.

The Survivors

The wielders and those who were exiled with them (family members who hid them, other accomplices, and even people who were falsely convicted of being a wielder) have been managing to survive so far, though it’s a constant struggle. They’ve made houses out of spare pieces of wood, tarp, scrap metal, and hide themselves in as much shade as they possibly can.

Some practice with their keyblades in order to get a handle on their abilities and fight off heartless that come near the safe haven. Others completely shun the fact that they can use a keyblade and refuse to wield it. Those who are not wielders try to contribute by making food or volunteering for other odd jobs. There are also wielders dedicated to finding a way off world.

AND NOW THAT THAT’S OUT OF THE WAY -

Sid’s about:

Born to the ruling family of Cindergate, Sid had everything handed to him on a silver platter. And he hated it. He couldn’t wrap his head around the strict rules of the town or the terrible court system. Any time he would try to speak up on this though was met with punishment from his parents. So he decided to bide his time, becoming their perfect ‘puppet’ so that he could become the leader one day and change things for the better.

While still considered a bit of a rebel, his parents at least ‘admired his change of heart’ and let him walk around Cindergate freely. While growing up he made two friends - a girl name Mari and a boy named Helio. The three of them were practically inseparable, they were some of the only ones that didn’t care who Sid was related to. He could be himself around them, and so he vowed to keep them safe most out of everyone in the town.

Mari revealed to the boys one day that she was a keyblade wielder - which was a terrible discovery. Keyblade Wielders were banned from Cindergate and it she was found to be a wielder she would be arrested, branded, and exiled to the harsh desert that surrounded the town. The desert that was filled with heartless. At the same time Helio revealed himself to be a wielder as well - having been one of the longest out of all of them, since he was a child. He knew better than anyone what would happen to wielders who got caught as his mother had been cast out when he was a child. Sid promised that he wouldn’t let them get caught and that he would lift the ban, they just needed to keep their keyblades hidden until he became the leader of the town.

This was easier said than done, especially since Sid would come to be a wielder as well. An old friend of his family invited Sid to his deathbed. This old man revealed how close Sid’s father and him used to be, and how they had a dream to make Cindergate a thriving place. But Sid’s father had done nothing more than oppress the people and make the ban more strict than it needed to be. So the old man had a solution - to pass on the power of the keyblade to Sid. He had kept it hidden all of his life, hoping that one day Sid’s father would change his mind on the ban - but he never did. In his last moments he forced Sid to take the power of the keyblade from him, saying it was Sid’s responsibility now, before passing.

Sid was terrified and furious with the power he had been given. Yes, he had been wanting to make CinderGate a better place for wielders and non wielders alike but - he didn’t want it to be like this. Still, he wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip through his fingers. He told his friends of his new found gift and worked to become even more like the 'perfect’ leader his parents wanted him to be, just so he could take over quicker and get the stupid ban taken down.

Not long after this, Helio and Mari were caught for being keyblade wielders. Sid stood up to his parents to try and get them to see reason. When they still wouldn’t listen he revealed himself as a wielder in front of the whole town - saying if they were going to throw out his friends they would have to throw out him as well.

And they did, but not before branding him as a traitor - literally. They burned the keyhole shaped brand onto the side of his face before exiling him,Helio, and Mari out of the town. The three ran until they couldn’t anymore, fought off heartless, then collapsed with laughter - surprised but grateful they were still alive.

A while longer of traveling lead them to a survivor camp. Other people like them who had been exiled from Cindergate. It wasn’t much, but it became home for the three wielders. Sid took it upon himself to improve the day to day lives of the survivors by building various machines and other contraptions to make life easier for them. But still, it wasn’t enough. Thanks to his parents hoard of keyblade wielder knowledge (because how else were they supposed to fight off such a 'threat’ without an entire library full of knowledge?), he knew of other worlds and he knew that the keyblade could get them there. He just wasn’t sure how to unlock the power. None of the survivors were masters by any means, some of them didn’t even have a keyblade - and were friends or family of wielders exiled or falsely accused and wanted nothing to do with the keyblade.

Sid, taking another burden onto his shoulders, did the only thing he could think he could accomplish - he made himself and his two friends keyblade armor. He hoped that with the armor they could brave the passages in between worlds and find a way to get all the survivors to a new home.

[nothingunrealistic]

do you have any Kleinsen or deh fic recommendations? I've read most of the popular ones already, so some of the less common ones would be awesome

sure! some of these recs come from this post of mine and this post of milo’s; some are new. i’ve split them up into two sections: kleinsen and gen/other. i didn’t list more than one or two works from any particular author, but if you like a given fic, i definitely recommend checking out the author’s other work. under a cut!

kleinsen

to avoid re-reccing the most popular fics, i’ve kept it to those with under 250 kudos (as of posting this, anyway.)

you’re not the only one (who doesn’t wanna be alone tonight) by literalvampire - 27.0k, canon divergent oneshot. evan and jared decide to go to a halloween party, a decision that winds up completely changing their relationship. this fic has everything: misunderstandings and miscommunication! puns! inadvertently making people jealous! jared and alana friendship / gay solidarity! the intimacy of applying and removing someone’s makeup for them! cats, and Cats!

bake from the heart by literalvampire - 5.1k, post-canon oneshot. they’ve fought, and now they’re friends again, and to show it, jared’s helping evan (who he totally doesn’t have a crush on anymore, definitely not, no way) bake for his mom’s birthday. sweet, funny, and reclaims “cinnamon rolls” for the delicious pastry rather than oversimplified and infantilized fictional characters.

why mess up a good thing by otachi - 4.4k, post-canon oneshot. jared and evan go to a college party, to meet people and be sociable, and then decide they’d rather just go home (because oh my god, they’re roommates) and hang out together. misunderstandings and discussions of feelings ensue. great characterization, great banter, and a delightfully sweet ending.

through a window, counting birds by otachi - 4.5k, vaguely post-canon oneshot. evan and jared are just hanging out on a summer night and both quietly head over heels for one another. it’s much more about Thoughts And Feelings than about plot here, and those thoughts and feelings are perfectly on point with regards to characterization and beautifully laid out for us.

baby, be gentle (it’s my first time) by jetpacks - 8.8k, canon divergent oneshot. a 5+1 fic about the times evan and jared nearly confessed their feelings to one another, and the time they finally did. a great combination of silly teenage shenanigans & banter and desperately trying & failing to talk about feelings.

on nights so cold, i know you need some company by kkamikaze - 8.6k, post-canon / canon divergent oneshot. jared reads the letter that’s been posted online as connor’s note, figures out what it is, and immediately goes to evan to have a conversation they should have had long ago. i don’t think i’ll ever get tired of “jared reads the letter” fics, and this is a great exploration of how he might respond to that.

only fools fall for you by heklin - 7.1k, time travel au oneshot. on the first day of school, jared listens to evan’s story about falling out of a tree - and then gets sent back in time to that moment, over and over again. an exploration of the history of jared and evan’s friendship, and how jared might deal with finding out how evan really broke his arm.

watch how a cold broken teen will desperately lean on a superglued human of proof by PrinceDrew - 1.2k, soulmate au oneshot. connor, evan’s soulmate (not a typo) dies, evan falls apart, and jared is there to help evan put himself back together. deeply tragic, and probably not your thing if you can’t stand connor/evan in any form, but wonderfully written.

dear evan asshat (orphaned) - 0.8k, post-canon oneshot. after their fight, jared writes more emails to evan that he doesn’t send. one of my favorite tropes for this pairing - this fic is very short, but it packs a lot of pain in there.

Porto Ruby by captchaluff - 1.9k, pre-canon oneshot. evan goes over to jared’s house to do homework, but they end up drinking and sharing secrets instead. a really interesting look at what they might have been like in middle school, though with a less than hopeful ending.

the maroon hoodie by jamb - 4.2k, everyone lives au oneshot. all the teens are friends, and they’d all be having a great time if jared weren’t Suffering Terribly thanks to seeing evan wearing his hoodie and then trying to figure out how to date him. delightful duo of low-stakes kleinsen pining and playfully antagonistic jared & connor friendship, if that’s your bag.

have you listened to me lately? lately, i’ve been fuckin’ crazy by outlawslikeus - 1.0k, post-canon oneshot. evan’s dropped jared, and jared’s read the letter, and now jared spends his time writing emails he’ll never send. a character study of jared at his most heartbroken.

and now, for some recs of my own work, because i love attention!

love, comment, and subscribe - 6.5k, canon-compliant oneshot. takes the idea of jared’s tech inspect and extends it into a series of videos being made over the course of canon that document jared’s gradual unraveling. make sure you have “show creator style” on for this one!

futile devices - 8.3k, multichapter. a collection of prompt fics, originally posted on tumblr, with a common focus on jared and evan’s relationship and everything that tends to go unspoken between them. these cover a wide range of compliance with and divergence from canon, sometimes including the deh novel.

no comfort in the truth - 3.7k, soulmate au multichapter. specifically, it’s a spin on the “last words your soulmate ever says to you” concept, while sticking closely to the events of canon. this one is entirely will roland’s fault for saying he doesn’t think evan and jared would ever reconcile.

if you only say the word - 1.8k, canon-compliant oneshot. my own take (one of them, anyway) on Jared Reads The Letter, and one that could easily be happening in the background of the reprise of ywbf. the first thing i ever wrote (though not the first thing i published) for deh - i think it holds up still.

gen/other

most of these don’t focus on romantic relationships much or at all; since such stories generally aren’t as popular anyway, i’m not sticking closely to the 250 kudos threshold here.

Somebody To Find You by stayawake - 3.8k, canon compliant oneshot. a retelling of canon from alana’s perspective. i love alana dearly, and this does an excellent job of exploring her actions in canon, how she feels about connor’s death and others’ reactions to it, and what she might go through after posting the letter online.

feeling stupid, feeling small by nosecoffee - 2.2k, pre-canon oneshot; jared & connor, jared & evan, jared & zoe. jared is lonely, and he’s depressed, and he doesn’t feel like a person, and even hanging out with the murphys now and again won’t do much to fix that. a deeply sad look at what jared’s life, and his interactions with evan, zoe, and connor, might have been like before canon.

every sun doesn’t rise by nosecoffee - 3.5k, canon divergent oneshot; evan & connor, evan & jared. connor is dead, and now he’s a ghost, and he’d appreciate it if someone came and got his body, so he makes his way to evan to ask for help, and jared gets pulled in along the way. a downer of a fic, but morbidly funny as well.

i’ll be waiting for you until we meet again by demistories - 7.0k, soulmate au oneshot; alana & connor, evan & jared. in this au, you can talk to your soulmate (romantic or platonic) in dreams; connor’s known his soulmate for years, but he doesn’t know her name. a fun look at a connor-alana friendship, as well as connor’s possible friendships with evan, jared, and zoe in a kinder timeline.

they were kids that i once knew by PrinceDrew - 4.3k, canon divergent oneshot. evan and connor both die by suicide, though only connor’s death is recognized as such, and when a story about the two of them being best friends emerges from the public grief, jared gets lost in the middle. very well-written and deeply sad.

and mine:

the lights will arise - 3.9k, canon-compliant multichapter; alana & jared. part of the same series as if you only say the word, and examines alana’s arc during canon and how it could intersect with jared’s. all part of my agenda to 1) let alana and jared be Friends and 2) actually let us see what they’re up to during ywbf reprise.

let facts be submitted to a candid world - 11.3k, au multichapter wip (2/7 chapters); alana & jared, alana/female oc. it’s a national treasure au. alana is nicolas cage. that’s it. i have no idea if i’ll ever update this again, but you might enjoy what’s there anyway.

[saphsilver]

Inktober Day 28: Companion

Prompt from @ttimemachines​ ‘ Inktober

Voltron: Legendary Defender Happy Ending AU: Fly Me to the Moon

Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars Let me see what spring is like on A-Jupiter and Mars In other words, hold my hand In other words, baby, kiss me

Fill my heart with song and let me sing for ever more

You are all I long for All I worship and adore In other words, please be true In other words, I love you

-By Bart Howard, performed by Frank Sinatra

This is like 4 days late cuz the power went out while I was doing this and it stayed off for days lmao thanks pg&e anyway 

I followed VLD since 2016 and am veeery fond of sheith. As a form of self-care, I decided to completely disregard the existence of season 8 and I daydreamed a  sappy, romantic ending I would’ve liked to see and am accepting as canon. GAY RIGHTS.

In a nutshell, Shiro and Keith get together and live on Earth. But you can’t tie down a space exploring power couple to one planet, so they go off with the Blade of Marmora. In this picture, they’re dancing to Fly Me to the Moon, celebrating their (kind-of) elopement and new life together.

I wrote a rough outline and bolded the main points. It’s long, so if you want to read it, buckle up and hit that Keep Reading!

Picking up from what little I remember of season 7 cuz I watched it the day it aired in 2018:

After the big battle with the Galra, everyone is chillin. Shiro is officially captain of the Atlas and Keith is like hell yeah I’m the Black Paladin! Idk whatever stuff they did to conclude the fight with the Galra, but I guess they did that. 

Idk why they killed Allura, but that doesn’t fuckin happen. Everyone is happy!

They eventually settle into their new roles on Earth with Pidge/Katie working as a head of the tech department with the Holts. Hunk and Lance handle diplomatic/relief affairs. Allura becomes the queen of the Alteans they found with Coran and Romelle as her advisory. The mice are there too.

As admiral, Shiro gets a cool fancy house. So they throw a house party and the gang and some of the cool Earth/Galran/Altean people are invited too. It’s a great party 10/10 and 3 hours in, Lance gets wasted cuz Allura drinks him under the table. Hunk is getting some water while Pidge/Katie is taking blackmail pictures. Coran is still partying with the mice and Romelle.

Keith and his introvertedness has his social battery run out at this point,  so he finds a porch to sigh upon. It takes Shiro exactly five minutes to notice that Keith isn’t coming back yet, so he seeks him out in the big fancy house.

 Shiro finds Keith sighing on the porch or smth and jokes about this being their easiest time finding each other and Keith smiles at this. Shiro has a beer or smth and Keith asks to try it to break the ice. Shiro teases him about being old enough to drink. Then he’s like uh yeah remember the time I was stuck on a meteor for 2 years with my mom?? Fair point. Shiro lets him try it and Keith spits it out cuz it’s nasty even though bruh probably drank swamp water. They laugh and banter about that too.

The mood settles and then Shiro asks about those two years. And about  their lost time. Keith asks if he took any of Kuron’s memories since he’s got a clone body now. 

He does. He remembers it, but Kuron’s memories feel like it’s him, but he’s taken a backseat and is watching himself do things instead of doing them himself. Then Keith asks him if he remembers what he said when they fought. “You said you love me,” Shiro speaks softly as he turns back to face Keith. “Is that still true?”

Finally they talk about their feelings. Like a well-developed couple should. Keith does still love him and says that he always will. Shiro also admits his feelings too. Thought he was fam. Turns out he was bae. They almost kiss, but the Voltron gang interrupts because that’s how it be.

The two awkwardly get dragged back into the party and Lance is recovering okay. Also, he’s been offical with Allura at this point too. Lance teases them about being a couple and Shiro and Keith are internally screaming. 

The party dies down and everyone starts to go home. The Voltron gang is the only few left and they help Shiro clean up. Lance gets benched cuz he’s still recovering. As they clean up, Shiro begins to notice how large and lonely the house is gonna get. He catches Keith before everyone leaves and slips him a key and says he’s always welcome just in case he gets lonely. Or something.... There’s some Shiro head scratching and Keith knows what’s up.

Everyone leaves. Shiro is alone. He tries to get some rest, but the house is too gotdamn big and unfamiliar. Being alone in a large space is not good for a guy with PTSD. He works out. He investigates his house, etc. Bro still can’t sleep. 

Afterwards, he just gives up and sits at his kitchen going like :( at a glass of water. Then the doorbell rings. Who is it? DING DING, It’s Keith!  With a duffel bag! Turns out he couldn’t sleep either. Shiro invites him to join him in the kitchen with his :( water and they talk a bit.

Then they pick up where they left off at the party and finally kiss. One of them asks if the kiss was okay, and the other is like HELL YEAH and so they keep going. It’s really spicy. One thing leads to another and then they go upstairs to Shiro’s large bed. (I’ll leave that to your imagination.) 

Either way, morning comes and Shiro wakes up with Keith in his arm(s). (HELL YEAH) Guess they got REAL official. He asks about the duffel bag. It’s literally everything Keith owns. So like. 3 outfits. And some weapons. Hygeine products. Etc. (Dude is a minimalist.) Kosmo is in the living room or smth. Bottom(lmao) line is, Keith planned on taking Shiro up on his offer the whole time. He literally just left to pack lmao (HELL YEAH) Shiro gives him his own closet and drawers since the room is big. Guess they live together now yeehaw. 

Eventually, everyone finds out they’re official and is like FINALLY and so they continue their lives on Earth with Shiro as admiral and Keith as captain. They sort out the war damage for a year-ish or so and then do whatever leaders do in peace time. Probably train their people idk. Shiro is up to his neck in papers. He’s not really digging it. He enjoys his peaceful life on Earth, but he often thinks about what it would be like exploring the galaxy now that the Galra aren’t a threat.

Allura and Lance get married. Lance still gets those blue marks but idk why. Why not lmao. It’s a big wedding and Lance throws the boquet. Keith catches it. He looks to Shiro and DING DING, the lightbulb goes off. The Altean Queen and King have many babies and they all have the marks too. Happy family. Goofy dad. Badass mum. Gotta rule the new Alteans too. That’s all good. They either live in space or get their own land cuz racism doesn’t exist on this earth. Cuz I said so. Either way, Lance and Allura visit the others often with their kids. Hunk and Pidge are GREAT with kids.

The Blade of Marmora calls. Krolia is like hey wus poppin’ son. Keith tells her he and Shiro are a couple and she’s like oh finally thank god. That guy was the only thing he’d talk about for the two years and like honestly it’d be awkward if they didn’t get together. But also, the Blade of Marmora needs Keith. For a while. Like, at year at least. He has a few days to decide to go with them. Keith’s torn between his people on Earth or his people in Marmora. 

Shiro tells him it’s okay to go. But before that, he kneels on one knee and presents Keith with a ring. An engagement ring!!!! It’s specially designed by Pidge with a one-channel track that won’t get in the way of any signals or whatever, but they can find each other, no matter where in the galaxy each is. (Since that’s been a recurring problem throughout the series.)

Keith goes. Keith Galra Facetimes whenever he can. Weeks pass. Months pass. Seasons fly. Shiro terribly misses his fiancé. Nothing goes terribly wrong since this is the endgame, but Keith is away for a looong time. More than a year. He misses Shiro terribly, but he knows his duty is to the Blade of Marmora, which has become a relief effort and guardians of the galaxy. No talking trees or raccoons, unfortunately.

Eventually, Keith makes his way back to earth. Krolia, Kolivan, Axca, and the other Blades are with him. Krolia has a mother-son moment with him and asks him what he truly wants. Keith wants Shiro, but he also wants the life with the Blade of Marmora. It’s way better than on Earth, (no offense.) Then Krolia asks, “Why not take your man with us? His skill is going to waste at that desk.” And Kolivan is like “Shiro is a man of honor. He will always have a place with us if he so desires.” And Keith is like :0

He tells Shiro to come with him and Shiro’s like :O But he’s got papers! And Duties! And... the ability to train a successor to be Admiral! He gets on it. But low-key. Cuz he doesn’t want everyone to freak out. Like All Might and Deku, but not as life-threatening a situation and no consumption of hair. It’s probably that guy who thought Keith was his rival. Jack? Jacob? James! Or someone else idk. Who’s Curtis? We can sprinkle him in, I guess. Not sure if Hunk would want to be admiral. But either way, Shiro steps down from his position and gives it to someone very capable.

Then the Blades are back on Earth. Keith leaps into Shiro’s arm(s) all dramatically and gay as God intended. Shiro and Keith get married!!!! Everyone is there and it’s such a happy day like wowie.

After the wedding/goodbye party and preparations, the newlyweds announce their leave into space. And they fly off! Shiro is part of the Blade of Marmora. They’re a happy family and visit Earth and Altea whenever they can. Everyone still gets together every year for Christmas or something.

The last scene is the space ship leaving earth with Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” playing. The planets and space stuff fade further in the background. They’re in a field of stars. It cuts to Keith in his uniform holding Shiro, who’s in his earthly clothing and kissing his husband’s hand. A golden ring shines on each of their fingers and they continue to dance. Gosh, they’re so happy and in love. The two never lose each other again.

THE END!!!

[lynxgriffin]

Led Zeppelin was right all along

It’s my FINAL PIECE of KH3 commentary! That’s right, I’ve finished the game! Commentary for me finishing it is under the cut!

Okay guys, this is it

It’s time to finish this sucker

It’s time for all of my feelings to get curbstomped and then cracked in half over a knee

Turns out I’ve caught a cold so this might be tougher to do

But I’m still going to do it

AWAY. WE. GOOOOO

And after beating this gummi boss again…

Ahhh there he is at last

The old fart

…So weird that it’s not Leonard Nimoy though

Xehanort: Let’s just try out this whole apocalypse thing and see how it goes

It’s rainin’ Heartless, hallelujah

LMAO there isn’t even an enemy counter, it’s just:

ENEMIES. YES, ALL OF THEM. ALL THE TIME. FOREVER

And I just blew up ten million Heartless with a train, THIS IS THE SHINIEST APOCALYPSE EVER

Ohh, once again, hate that tunnel

IT’S A TRAP

At least Aqua didn’t fall for that

Oh dang he’s got No Name there

NOOOO SUNSHINE BOY

Oh well now that’s cheating

FUKYEAH GOOFY

Donald’s fukkin pissed

Did Donald just Megaflare this bitch

ArE yoU kiDDinG mE

Oh great, one of you again

Aqua: Never mind, that is way damn too many Heartless

HE SCREAM, AGAIN

SORA PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER WE’RE STILL EARLY IN FINAL BATTLE MODE

Well that was five different layers of OH SHIT

Oh hey back at that chess metaphor HI AGAIN YOUNG ERAQUS

Wait the hell kind of chess move was that

MEANWHILE, BACK ON THE SALT FLATS

ThE FINAL WORLD, HUH

Chirithy!!!!

Chirithy: So yeah you’ve kinda died a couple times previously just by being unconscious a lot

Sora: YEAH WELL time to get back to life

Sora: THERE’S PUZZLES IN HEAVEN, TOO??

THERE’S PUZZLES IN HEAVEN YUP, BETTER GET TO THAT

Ohhhh no the sparkly stars are KHUX Keykids, aren’t they :(((

Ugh it’s the little star soul stories that are getting to me :(

Sora bein’ a pal even to all the souls in heaven, gosh darn

OH SURE JUST KEEP THAT FROM THE AUDIENCE

OMG this soul is longing for his kismesis, what a nerd

“What a weird place” YEAH NO SHIT

Well it’s nice to see THESE Soras are having a great time

Perhaps this game was taking the idea of Sorabits a tad too literally

Also actually two quick questions here:

1) Why is Chirithy in heaven?

2) Sora were you instagramming from heaven??

Sora: So heaven’s been a trip and all but I’ve still got endgame to do, STAY COOL FUZZY FRIEND

Wait a bloop it sent him back in time too??

Insert 2001 Space Odyssey reference here

Oh now we’re in DIFFERENT heaven??

Okay yeah now I have no clue where we’re going from here

Man here I was expecting to fight all the Norts and instead it’s…Heartless…Grim Reaper

I’m starting to suspect this is not the real Jiminy

This is kind of a weird callback to KH1, innit

Yeah I was just wondering that myself

Oh hey Youngnort

See? Grim Reaper Heartless, I knew it

I gotta say that after Sora dying and going to KH heaven this is…kinda weirder coming afterwards

I’m kind of worried about where this is going

This is like Three Days of the Condor, I TRUST NO ONE

WE FINALLY GOT A TITLE CRAWL???

WHELP. ROUND TWO, I GUESS

Guys, let’s…let’s not do this again

You ever get a sense of deja vu

OHOHOHOOOOO THIS IS DIFFERENT

“WHO ARE YOU??” “I’M YOU BUT STRONGER”

Terra: I’ll kick every ass! I’ll kick your ass! I’LL KICK MY OWN ASS

Gad damn the bullshit never stops around here, does it

We’ve done this before but I DUN CARE since this is my favorite boss battle music

Meanwhile the Unreal Engine’s just huffing and puffing trying to keep up

:O!!! EPHEMER!!

WHATRE U DOIN IN A HEARTLESS TORNADO

And all the dead Keykids came to help!

Ohhhhhh myyyyyyyyy goooooooooooosh

HAHA SO THAT’S HOW THEY INTEGRATED THOSE PEOPLE THAT WON THE THING

Congrats Keykids, U ARE ATTACKS

That’s…that’s really sweet actually

That’s a whole lot of Unicornis and Vulpes in there

OMG I was so busy watching those names I didn’t even realize I was supposed to avoid dying

FINALLY CURAGA???

I dunno Lea that was already a pretty big bad

Aw darn they Norted Repliku

Or wait no Pastku?

Pastku you’re such a little shit

Lea: That wasn’t blundering! That was failing, WITH STYLE

HE LOOM

Unreal Engine: Please…help…I’m dying Squirtle

Oh hey FINALLY super powerful magic users like Yen Sid get involved!

And Moses parted the Heartless Sea

And hey finally got Starlight!

Well ain’t this a familiar setup

I miss Leonard Nimoy :(

Well I’m glad we get to save and shop before we all die horribly!

….Wait haven’t we all already died horribly??

FINALLY We get to fight some Norts!!

Took out Xigbar first

Yeah Xigbar I’m really not sure all that hoohah was worth it

Are we gonna do this for each one or do we have to pick and choose?

Oh well that takes care of Pastku so maybe not

SKIRT RIKU VS SKIRT RIKU

Oh that’s creepy actually

OH NO! Repliku :(((

Sora…you just gonna leave that…okay

So now we got some Neophytes to deal with

Well I was gonna go after Mar first but I guess Luxord is our opponent now

AW DAMN I hated this part from before!

Oh wait that wasn’t hard at all you just look behind those stupid cards

Luxord: Well it’s been fun, time to die

Why does everyone’s teeth look blue??

Really liking all these remixes of the old boss themes tho

Aaaaand down goes Mar

And what’s nice is partners have mostly worn down the last Nort present!

Larx is an asshole to the very end

Door puzzles ohhhh nooooooo

Well thank goodness we worked out that nonsense

Who to help first? REDHEAD SQUAD

If that’s Xion I’m going to be SO UPSET

At least we get to fight WITH Kairi even if not as her

Lea is SO ANGER

Ohhhhh BUUUUUURN

Oh well that ain’t good

XION NOOOOOOOOOO

Absolutely not, Xemnas!!

*throws hands in the air* OHHHHHHHH

HE KNOWS

Oh fuck you Xemnas HDU

Ohhhhh sheeeeeeet

THE BOY IS BACK

JUST STAB ME IN THE HEART WITH THE OTHER PROMISE, OKAY

Called out by Roxas daaaayum

Gah dammit not again! STOP DOING KAIRI DIRTY

GET READY FOR: TRIPLE KEYKIDS ASSKICKIN

Hot damn but it’s satisfying to beat the crap out of Saix with Sora, Roxas and Xion all at once while The Other Promise just blasts in the background

Lea: I’m not mad I’m just disappointed

Awww maaaaaan

OH GOSH SEASALT TRIO HUG

THEY’RE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN SOB SOB

Now to the Wayfinder family! Took out Vanyeetas first!

Sora: Hey WTF that’s my face you got

Yeah I gotta agree I don’t know which part of that was okay honestly

WHELP no time to think on it gotta take out Terranort

Since we got back Roxas and Xion can we finally get Terra back??

Sora: TERRA PLEASE STOP, IT’S TOO WEIRD

OHHHHHHH!! OH OH OH

That was metal as all hell

YAAAAAAY

WAYFINDER FAMILY IS HERE

Ohhhh gooooosh

Everyone’s together and I’m full of rainbows

MAN so we got…three Norts left, don’t we

Guess the only way out of this is up

What we’ve just been cloning No Name the whole time??

Okay, FOUR left, we gotta deal with Ansem, Xemnas and Youngnort first

Oh sheesh that was Youngnort dying, thought it was me for a second

Youngnort: Just one last piece of cryptic bullshit to leave you with! BYYYYEEEE

Aaaand that’s Ansem down

Ansem: Must…pontificate more…before…I die

Haha took out Xemnas with flying rocket punch nanobots

Xemnas: Regrets…I’ve had a few…

But then again, too few to mention?

Sora: Life is pain, Xemnas! Anyone who says otherwise is Norting you

Oh boy oh boy, all we have left now is…the old fart…

Oh this is gonna piss me off good, ain’t it

YUP, I’M PISSED

YOU DONE HER DIRTY AGAIN

Nomura do we need to sit you down as a group and learn you some things about NOT DOING THAT

That was…kind of a cool moment I guess?? BUT I’M STILL MAD

Oh shitcakes

The world to come is death from above I guess

Donald and Goofy just coming in like “Hey…what’d we miss?”

I’m honestly really glad they’re here tho, TRINITY ALLLLL THE WAY

The whole gang here together again IRONING OUT THE PLOT POINTS

Trophy here???

OH HEY WE’RE BACK HERE

A town of nothing but Norts

OH I forgot THESE WEIRDOS were in trailers somehow

The hell is happening anymore

An Organization so nice we fought ‘em twice!

The scary music is playing but I have no clue where to goooo

Well it took me five minutes just to find the dang guys before Thundaga finished them off

Oh really now!

ONE MORE TITLE CRAWL FOR Y’ALL

HE WAS AN ANGRY GOAT WHO SAW THE MOVIE INCEPTION ALL ALONG

SHEESH that was a nutty battle that took awhile

Well I think I won THAT battle anyway

Is this gonna be a THAT WASN’T EVEN MY FINAL FORM or what

More callbacks!

This is the fight that never eeeeends, yes it goes on and on my frieeeends

OH that was fuckin weird but COOL

I LOVE THE TRINITY

EVERYONE ELSE AGAIN TOO

HAHA OH DAMN

EVEN ERAQUS GETS TO REAPPEAR

Yaaay my favorite terrible dad

That look from Eraqus OMG

Babbeh Eraqus so cute

Now YOU get the goofy apocalypse weapon, Sora!

More dad reconciliations sob

Oh gosh I’m so glad we get this before we end

ohhhh noooo

Oh no you know shit’s serious when you enter a blocked scene

DOES EVERYONE FINALLY GET TO GO HOME NOW

Man everything’s just so shiny now

A CHIRITHY FOUND A VEN

NEW OUTFITS FOR SEASALT GANG FINALLY

THE EXPANDED SEASALT GANG

YAAAY NAMINE BACK

LET HER LIVE HER LIFE NOW

MOTHAFOCKIN BEACH PARTY FOR EVERYONE YES

FOR REALLY EVERYONE FOR REAL??

Also dang sing us out Utada

*points and points* THAT? FINAL SHOT???

WHERE’S THE BOY

What did you do to my son Nomura

LOOK IF YOU’RE GONNA POP HIM OUT LIKE THAT I AT LEAST WANT TO BE VALIDATED FOR MY THEORIES

THE CREDITS ARE ROLLING AND THERE’S STILL THINGS I FEEL LIKE I’M MISSING

Also just interjecting here but damn that endgame was so long IT FELT LIKE A WHOLE ‘NOTHER GAME

And now the pretty march music with the Super Longer Credits—I CAN’T BELIEVE DRAKE BELL WAS YOUNG ERAQUS

*points* WHY IS FURRY SQUAD VOICED HERE??

Well if nothing else gonna get me a kickass OST out of this

HERE we go, post credits stuff

Here’s the Furry Squad!

LUXU WAS XIGBAR WELL OKAY

What fresh bullshit is thiiiiiiis

OH HEY WE’D ALMOST FORGOTTEN ABOUT THEM

Hey where is Ava

Oh fuuuuuck yoooou Luxugbar

Whaaaaaaaat

THE BOY

SHIBUYA????????????

*throws hands in the air* I GOT NOTHIN FOLKS

I GOT ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN

THE END PAGE!!!! SURE AS HELL IS WHAT THAT IS

OKAY SO LIKE

PLEASE, HELP ME OUT HERE, SECRET ENDING

IS THE NEXT GAME JUST GONNA STRAIGHT UP BE VERUM REX?

NOPE THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT’S JUST IT

WELL THAT WAS

A WHOLE DAMN LOT WASN’T IT

Nomura I am in fact going to die and go to your house and haunt it and push all of your things off shelves like a cat

ALL OF THE THINGS

OFF OF. YOUR SHELVES.

Okay so overall I did really enjoy the game but also I’m just ????

?????????

??????

Like my reaction is pretty much just

LATER NERDS THIS HAS BEEN LYNX SUFFERS THROUGH KINGDOM HEARTS 3

I HOPE YOU HAD FUN CAUSE I DID

I think I’m gonna go lie down now

[biomega8]

Red Chair Appointment: Seaside Boogaloo Epilogue Part 1

Gillpanda belongs to Gillpanda

Vark and Chloe belong to georgecoward

Bangabear belongs to Bangabear

Hanalei Beach

Saturday 1:04pm

The sun was still blindingly shining in a near complete blue sky, with three separate stretches of thin clouds traveling a warm summer breeze.

Gillpanda was enjoying the feeling of the breeze on her bare fur, still in her bikini swimsuit, even though she was behind her stand, leaning on her left arm and letting out a sigh of boredom staring out at the beach and sea while slightly jealous of all the other anthros enjoying themselves. Not that Gill disliked anyone she saw enjoying the day, just that she wanted in on some fun herself. Or to at least get some customers for her “Panda Towels” stand, anything to stave off the dullness and frustration of nothing to do. She reflected back earlier to that rude and and cocky human Vark she transformed and then punished, thinking that was fun, cracking a smile.

But when still a bull beforehand, his voiced was deep and the big cock and balls she gave him were thick and musky. It was lovely, even though she fought and won against what her body wanted. The prior bull transformation probably being inspired by Banga, her mate, who was likely enjoying the beach.

I should maybe just call it in for the stand now, Gill thought to herself, thinking of having fun the rest of the day with her papa bear. Can meet up with Banga and maybe the day won’t be totally wasted. But before I do, I should check up on the “foxy lady” and see if she’s learned her lesson yet, thinking with full pun intended, considering she turned the human from bull hunk to fennec fox plumpy babe for his rudeness and terrible behaviour.

Gill got binoculars from underneath the the stand shelf and tried searching for him on the beach, which was a bit crowded right now. “No” she stated, viewing an old tortoise delighting in the beach day. “No, but still very lovely” stating again, but in pleasure this time given she was viewing a hippo stud with his bare butt and a chubby and topless wolverine woman who were likely together. Then Gill found who she was looking for. “Aha, GotchaaAAAH!! Whoa, Goddamn!” Gill shouted in surprise, seeing that the fennec was being splitroasted by both the horse hunk, who Gill spanked her towards earlier, with his horse deepthroating her mouth, and a thick-bodied, huge and hung hunk of a rhinoceros pounding her from behind, both finishing up by the looks of it given they were pulling out. Upon closer look, Gill saw that the fennec gal did not enjoy herself.

“Was trying to teach you a lesson, but not like THAT” she said to herself, filled with guilt, not intending the jerk to be taken advantage of in such a manner. “Well”, she said walking in the direction to go and meet them head first, “better go and make this right then.”

Vark, now a thick fennec fox woman, exhausted and near unconscious, was laying flat on her front with the left side of her face in the sand, semen from both lust charged studs leaked from her ass and covered as well as seeped from her face.

“Man, talk about a great lay, huh? Her muzzle was just fantastic!” said the horse hunk to the rhino, stretching from the afterglow. “Nah, man. She a'ight, but she ain’t too great a lay. My cock’s gotten better action from the rhino an’ hippo honeys from my hood. This chick sho’ ain’t nothin’ special” replied the rhino stud, satisfied but displeased her body didn’t make him feel as pleasured as he wanted.

“C'mon bud, how can you say that? You were all up in this ass” the horse says as he smacks her chunky butt while she was still out of it, not caring while he slipped his red speedos back on. “I mean, for her size and your dick in her, she must have felt tiiiiight!”

“Man, it don’t matter if she small an’ tight, her ass just wasn’t my feel!” Rhino snapped at his horse stud friend. “She wasn’t good or thick enough. When I’m fuckin’ one a my honeys back at my crib, I always know it gonna be great, an’ y'all wanna know why?”

“I’m sure the answer will be obvious” the horse stated sarcastically, but encouragingly. “‘Cause I’m always lookin’ out for the THICK of the thick girls with the badonkadonk” the rhino said, his eyes wandering a bit, arms outlining exactly how big in the air. “Took to this fox only 'cause y'all promised a quick screw 'cause I was lackin’ some, but when goin’ for a sure thing, I always look for big an’ thick honeys with thicker an’ bigger b….” Rhino stopped just as he was about to finish, something had caught his eye. Specifically a thick, curvy and big butted panda lady that was going in they’re direction.

“Boo…boo…boo…” Rhino kept repeating in awe and in lust, his smirk growing larger, just as large as his slowly, newly erecting cock at the sight of her. “….BOOTY!!!” He shouted, running towards her fast, even though she was close enough to where they were. Finally in front of her naked and fully erect again with a confident grin on his face, sporting a 20 inch long and 12 inch thick cock he wasn’t shy to show off to her, he could see she didn’t wear a happy expression on her face. Not that he cared, he was focused on how she was a little less taller than he and how he’d get into all of that girl. “Hello, sexy. Come to this place often?” He said, still grinning. “Might ya be happy to see me? Cause I’m definitely happy to see YOU❤️”. He said, his horse friend snickering in the background.

“Yep, no trouble telling that.” Gill said sarcastically and impatiently, staring at the rhino’s large cock, knowing she’d attracted to it and the stud attached if he wasn’t the jerkoff she knew he was when seeing what he did to the fennec through binoculars.

“Look, I’m here for the fennec girl there you and your pal been dicking around with, she’s a…..friend” Gill said with begrudged sympathy “and I know she didn’t…” Then the rhino approached by two steps, his penis poking her diaphragm. “Aw, forget 'bout her, chunky dumplin’, I’m more centred on you gettin’ wit’ me! Or at least a "special” part a me" the rhino interrupted, trying to put his moves, or what he considered moves, on the panda to get that big bear bum. Gill was getting very annoyed and was near the limit of her patience.

“Look, I’m really tryin’ to keep a cool head,” the panda said, teeth gritted trying to maintain her composure “because I need to take her with me and make right a….”. “Uh-huh, yeah, sounds interestin’. How 'bout y'all focus on THIS head, babe” the rhino said obnoxiously interrupting her again, shoving his dick to Gill’s mouth, the cock head on her face and mouth while the length lifted up her swim bra and exposed her breasts.

“ALRIGHT!! PATIENCE GONE!!!” Gill yelled, fangs exposed and shades of angry red filling the white of her fur, pushing the rhino’ cock away. The rhino looked concerned and confused, while Gill in no time at all snapped her finger paws towards him with rage and focus, as tiny red lightning shot out, hit the rhino and a red cloud poof exploded around his body. As the red cloud was brushed away by the breeze, the rhino was transformed now into a seagull, looking scared and surprised that such a thing happened, as his horse was equally frightened and shocked. The newly transformed seagull looked back to the panda, who was displaying a face of doom and death, and flew into the horse’s arms. “Get on outta here, both of you, before I do something worse” Gill snarled, staring them down with a deserved scowl, and in no time at all the horse hunk dashed away with his rhino pal now seagull in tow.

Like men at the docks, thinkin’ with they’re cocks, the panda thought watching them run. And rhino-dick is lucky I only made that transformation spell only last three hours, she continued.

Then Gill approached Vark, partially unconscious with semen surrounding her muzzle, lower back and ass, lightly groaning. She let out a heavy sigh, going to all this trouble but still feeling guilty letting this happen. “C'mon then, let’s get you cleaned up” Gill said to her, having placed the the fennec on a towel, dragging her back to the Panda Towels stand to take care of her.

Five minutes passed and Vark had regained consciousness, opening her eyes slowly, finding herself in the shade of an umbrella in front of Panda Towels, letting out an uncomfortable groan.

“Your awake, finally. Good. You okay?” Gill immediately responded. “Ugh, friggin’ head is poundin’ like a jackhammer”, Vark said grunting, sitting up with her right paw on her head. “Damn, my jaw and ass feel so sore, too!”

“Taking four pounds of horse meat in the mouth and ten pounds of rhino meat in your butt will do that,” said Gill sarcastically, not to say the panda hasn’t had some sexy adventures that left her sore afterwards. “Now I remember! Those douchebags!!” Vark exclaimed, barring her teeth with the thought of them.

“Yeah, about that,” the panda was saying, as she had a full glass of water for the fox, on the service shelf of the stand. Getting out and unwrapping a piece of red candy for her as well. “I want to apologize for all this. I didn’t mean for your punishment to get so….”

“Thanks, but you don’t have to, bear. If anything, I should be apologizing to you,” said Vark interrupting Gill before she could say another word. “Don’t know if it’s what I deserved, but I know those jackasses were like I was to you and those gals: rude, obnoxious and inconsiderate,” Vark said, a look of sadness and remorse on her face. “You worked to give me a studly body and I should’ve appreciated it instead of acting like an ass. I’m sorry. Really sorry.” Gill saw her face and tell instantly the remorse was true in her eyes, and felt sincerity to her words, moving her.

That’s all I needed to hear, the panda thought with a smile on her face, casting a string of green transformation magic on the red candy, out of view from the fox. “Here. Your probably dehydrated,” the panda said, handing the glass of water to her, along with the candy. “And something sweet. It’s cherry flavored”.

The fennec fox stood up from underneath the umbrella and approached Gill, grabbing the glass cup and bon-bon. First taking a large swig of water, then placing the candy in her mouth, brushing it with her tongue to get a taste of the flavor, finally swallowing it. “Thank you. Seriously, that’s just wha-OOH”, Vark uttered interrupting herself, feeling a pulse go down the middle of her body, dropping the glass of water. “Oh, don’t thank me just yet”, Gill replied watching as what she did to the candy took immediate effect, as she knew it would. She just needed to wait for the right moment now.

Small groans came from Vark, the pulsing from the centre of her body get stronger and non-hungry rumbling from her stomach, though not a lot of pain but more akin to an upset tummy. Clasping her arms around herself, thinking it couldn’t get more unsettling, green and sparkling magic like from her bull transformation before started coming out her mouth. “PLEASE!! Please, whatever this is…..haven’t I gone through enough today?! I truly am sorry!” She pleaded in a feminine whine and trembling, hoping to god this would be over soon and that the panda would show mercy.

“Hush now, don’t worry. This ain’t punishment”, said Gill wishing to reassure Vark who was probably scared or in discomfort, or regrettably both. “The candy was meant to deliver the magic. The magic has my thoughts and will instilled in it for what your to become. And I think we’ll both enjoy that. Please calm down.”

Gill then stood across from the fox a bit aways, who was trembling less now but still had green magic emanating from her mouth; her right arm on her waist and her left arm raised, with the paw forming a gesture ready to snap her fingers. “Three…..Two……One.” Upon reaching one, she did snap them, and what followed was a green, poofy explosion that blew away a bit of surrounding sand, the glass of water and even the umbrella which went twenty feet away. It almost blew away Gill’s bikini.

As the green magic smoke dissipated, Gill began to see the colour brown, horns and muscles show through, and grinned at the success. She gave him back his original bull form. “Daaamn!” Gill lightly shouted, glad the form came out as it was before, proud of her skill and happy she was able give Vark back the hunky bull body. As much as she liked the cute and bodacious fennec form, she missed the one that took time and effort to scupt, and it didn’t hurt that she missed the musk and large, lovely cock that she could plainly smell and see. Lucky for her, the guy behind the almost god bod had a personality change for the better. “Wha….what happened exactly just now?” asked the now strapping, muscly and hung bull, scratching his head in confusion.

“Told you already”, said Gill, her left paw grasping his right arm, feeling his muscle. “Magic candy. Use it as a means to get a job done quick sometimes. That, or I just give the right poke or touch, or even snap with magic behind it.”

“Oh…okay”, Vark replied, head still buzzing from immediate transformation. “Wait! If that’s the case, why didn’t you just snap me back to bull self and save me some weird bodily feelings, tummy aches and green breath?” questioned the bull, slightly stressed.

“Specific magics.” Gill retorted, pointing to his arm and his cock. “While your true anthro form does live inside you, I was worried I wouldn’t remember your original transformation exactly. I was pretty pissed at you at the time. The magic I put in the candy I cast specifically to revert you back to the form I changed you to before. Kind of a 'magic reset’ for the body.”

“Alright. Cool”, said Vark, though still wishing it was done in a less uncomfortable fashion. “But thank you so much for giving me this form back!” Bull said with a happy expression, truly grateful, left hand scratching the back of his head in disbelief to get another chance. “I promise to treat this bod of mine and those who have sex with me better.”

“Your welcome. And that’s very good to hear”, said Gill with a sunny demeanor, happy she made this choice and that he was now more respectful and polite. “But…..”, she began to say, head lowered, the bull now having a surprising jolt from feeling paws on his cock. “…..were not done just yet!” Gill’s paw holding Vark’s cock, her face wearing a naughty grin of lust, with an equally naughty and mischievous gleam in her eye, knowing what she wanted to do with him.

[rustedethereal]

              something is always burning inside of  you;                                      it is not terrible to burn.

                                                         - paige ackerson-kiely

Bryce’s Girl ;

    It’s the sound of shouting that brings her to awaken with a start, sitting upright with eyes shooting open, something sticking to her cheek. Her hands shoot forward to catch herself upon the table, knuckles crashing sloppily into empty bottles that fall like a set of dominoes, threatening to roll onto the floor and smash. A hand reaches out to catch them, a black mark sitting upon the back of it, a familiar tattoo she’d never been able to figure out. Bryce sets the bottles right with an irritated sigh, glaring in her direction. “Go home,” he tells her as he peels the coaster from her face, “you’re getting in the way.”

    “I’m up,” Max protests with a yawn, batting the hand in her face away with a much smaller one of her own. Seventeen again without a care in the world, sat in her favourite place beside the only person that matters. Where else would she rather be than here? “Ain’ missin’ tonigh’. Rumours sayin’ it’s goin’ t’ be a figh’ to remember.” Bryce snorts, taking up his own drink, knocking back the last of the strong liquid with one big gulp. “Fine,” he says, getting onto his feet. “Move it.”      “It’s happenin’ already?”     “You slept through the rest.”     “Why didn’ you wake me up?” Max whines.     “I was enjoying the peace and quiet.”      “Asshat.”     “What was that?”     “I said dat’s fair, dat.”     “That’s what I thought.”

    Walking away from their table, Bryce begins to crack his knuckles against each of his palms and Max is soon quick to follow, mirroring the image quietly behind him, a look of pure glee upon her face. This was her favourite moment, the walk between table and ring. It’s where he changed from man to beast, something feral with a bite far worse than his bark. She couldn’t remember if he was fighting tonight, but the act alone never failed to leave her with goosebumps, a twitchy excitement running through her, twisting around in her stomach in the form of butterflies. She’d stand beside the ring as she always did, either to watch him fight and cheer the loudest to let everyone know he was the best, or to observe someone else, learning their tricks of the trade to report back.

    Either way, Max makes to slip off to her favourite spot, only this time Bryce turns and puts a hand on her shoulder with a quirk of his brow. “Where are you going?” he questions firmly.     “Where I usually go, idiot.”     “Not tonight.”     “Hm?”     “You’re in the ring with me, kid.” 

    His grasp on her shoulder tightens and Bryce all but drags her with him to the ring, ignoring her protests and the way her fingers clawed at his. “You’re jokin’, righ’?” Max laughs nervously, “I ain’ allowed t’ figh’, remember? You said it yo’self.” The fighter doesn’t answer, turning to face her if only to scoop her into his arms to lift her over the ring’s ropes. He drops her in and Max hits the floor with a thump, lacking the speed to catch herself in time. The crowd laughs and begins to boo. “Some fuckin’ joke,” she grumbles, moving to crawl out of the ring. A hand grabs her ankle and pulls her back in and with a glance over her shoulder, the bald headed Ref grins down at her.

    “Finally gettin’ what you wanted, eh Max?” he laughs, looking up to the crowd with a greedy grin. “Round one; Bryce Edwards VS Maxanne Price. Place your bets with the bookie, fight starts in two!”

    He lets go of her ankle and makes to the edge of the ring, encouraging the crowd to put their money where their mouths are. Bryce climbs into the ring as focused as ever, watching how his ‘opponent’ scrambled to her feet with hard eyes. “Dis ain’ funny, cher!” Max yells out to him, but Bryce looks away, slipping off the jacket that should of been thrown into her hands. She always held his things, not some random in the crowd. That was her job and there’s a wonder to just what the hell he’s playing at. Max turns to climb out of the ring once more, only the bouncers now block her way.

    That was the rule, wasn’t it?     Once you were in the ring, you weren’t allowed to get back out.

    “Fighters, get ready!” the Ref finally calls and Max watches Bryce raise his fists, the small smirk he so often gave her when she was outside the ropes perking upon his lips. The most she can do is stand there, baffled and frozen, wondering if he truly was about to do this. She’d always believed he’d never lay a hand on her. Would he really hurt her now?

    The Ref counts them in and the bell rings.     And Bryce doesn’t hesitate.

    His fist finds her cheek first and it very well knocks her off her feet. He sighs with disappointment, looking down at her as she splutters, spitting blood from the inside of her mouth. “Get up,” he tells her, “get on your feet, Max.” 

    “Merde,” Max coughs, already so dizzy from just one hit. “You ain’t fuckin’ aroun’, are you?” Palms push into the concrete speckled with red and slowly, Max gets to her feet. She knew how Bryce fought by now, or... at least, she thought she did. Bryce swings again and clips her square in the jaw and she stumbles backwards, the ropes of the ring catching her. The bouncers push her forward and Bryce drives his knee into her stomach, knocking the air right out of her. Max swears she’ll never breathe again. The Alpha grabs her by a fistful of black hair and tosses her into the middle of the ring. The crowd goes wild.

    And he would not hold back. Not for her.

    “B-Bryce, wait--” she calls out, but the man is too far gone. Every fist felt like stone, her bones unable to take the weight. She curls in on herself, refusing to stand up despite his demands. It’s a foolish thing, perhaps, to allow herself to get beaten into nothing. But it was Bryce. How could she oppose him like that? Maybe there was a reason for the beat down. Maybe she’d stepped out of line again, or perhaps his patience had finally worn out. “Pathetic,” he hisses, tucking his foot under her stomach to flip her onto her back. Max tastes blood in her mouth, feels it collect at the back of her throat. Bryce wipes the crimson on his knuckles over his jeans. He’s disgusted, disappointed.

    It hurts more than the broken bones.

    The bell rings again and the crowd cheers, the noise fading into the background. A man climbs into the ring and stands beside Bryce, dark hair and dark eyes looking over her with scrutiny. “That was sad, Max,” he tells her, “I expected more.” He looks to Bryce, watching how he folds his arms over his chest, the black mark upon the back of one hand pulsing. “I suppose this means you’re done with her, then?”

    Bryce looks down at the pitiful teenager and nods. “All yours,” he confirms. The dark haired man holds out his hand, a brown envelope laying in his palm. Bryce takes it, opens it with interest, a grin spreading on his face at the contents.     “Ten percent, as promised,” the man tells him with a smile.     “Nice doing business with you, Kaz.”     “The pleasure is all mine.” 

    Kaz.

    Max feels her blood run cold, her body begin to tremble. “Non, don’ you do this t’ me,” she pleads, a hand reaching out to the hunter with a cry. “Don’ let him take me again, please, please Bryce, don’ let him--” 

    But Bryce kicks her hand away and then, he does nothing. As he always did. He merely stands there, thumbing through the money in hand, far more interested in the notes than the way Kaz leans down to wrap cuffs around her wrists tight. He hooks a finger through the chain that joins them and gives it a good tug. “Bryce--” Max tries again, “Bryce, please don’ do this. Please don’.” 

    “I told you he gave you up,” Kaz says simply, “I told you he was never coming back for you. Ten percent, Max. That’s all it took. Ten percent and a beating. That’s all you’re worth.”      “Non, he’s righ’ there,” Max screams, her feet kicking against the concrete, frantic and desperate as the man began to drag her away, blue eyes still glued upon the hunter, waiting for him to just move. “He’ll do somethin’, he will. I know he will. He tol’ me. ‘I’ve got you’. Tha’s wha’ he said.”      “He didn’t leave, you know,” Kaz tells her, his tone so casual it’s cruel. “He sold you out. He willingly gave you to me before he left. He gave you up.”     “He won’ let me down again.”     “So what would you call this, then?”

    Bryce pockets the money and turns his back on the pair.     Max doesn’t stop screaming his name, even when Kaz dumps her into the trunk of his car, even when he slams the hood shut.

    She still has hope.

Milah’s Girl ;

    And it’s a hope that’s lost when eyes shoot open, her heart racing from sheer panic, the sound of an engine still humming in her ears. The light of day is too bright, blinding her after the darkness and Max leans back against soft pillows with a much needed breath, her throat sore and dry. She’ll blame the dream on a bad high, tell herself the drugs still cling to her system. Detox was a horrifying thing, after all. It wouldn’t surprise anyone.

    Except, that was a long time ago, wasn’t it? For now she lays in pillow fort beside a brunette far more beautiful than any girl she’d ever seen. Milah sleeps soundly beside her, candy wrappers littered all around her. She always did build the best places to sleep, and whether she liked it or not, Max always found her way in. She’d make a joke about it being hard to resist when The Dealer looked so cute when she was sleeping, or how Max was her bodyguard and she must be close at all times. 

    But they both knew it was because the thief couldn’t sleep alone any more.     The nightmares scared her too much.

    And despite the groggy protests, Max buries herself against the other woman, snuggling close with her face in the crook of her neck, pressing her chilly nose against the other’s skin. She giggles when the other tries to squirm away, chasing after her with a grin. “Get off,” Milah groans, “you’re cold.”      “Brrr. I know. Warm me up, ma cherie. I’m afrai’ I can’ feel my hands.”      “Ugh. Off. Now.”      “ Désolé, ma cherie. I’m so sleepy I can’ hear you. Did you say get closer?” Max ghosts cold fingers up the length of Milah’s arm, laughing when she flinches away and smacks the thief up side the head.     “I hate you,” Milah claims, shaking the woman off to curl up again.     “Oui, oui. I know,” Max grins.

    Crawling out of the mess of blankets to leave the woman be, Max tiredly stands tall and stretches, arms above her head with the satisfying feel of her spine cracking. She couldn’t remember how long they’d been tucked away like that, ignoring the day and the life that came with it, and she didn’t care for it either. As long as she was with Milah, everything was as it should be. 

    She crosses the room to the window, looking out into the streets below. It’s an odd sight, to see traffic and people going about their business. It almost feels unfamiliar, as though it’d been a long time since she’d seen such a mundane thing. “Hey cherie, looks like your guy is back,” Max snorts, watching the detective’s car pull up, “he’s got his partner wit’ him, too. Wan’ me to go greet them an’ buy you some time?” 

    A silence answers, and Max sighs.

    “Oi now, don’ ignore me, I know you ain’ asleep jus’ yet,” Max calls out, turning from the window to look back at the fort. 

    And it takes every ounce of strength she has left not to scream.

    Kaz leans over Milah’s body, wiping a crimson knife upon a towel. She lays there with her throat slit, her eyes wide and empty, staring in her direction, her mouth hanging open as she chokes, drowning in her own blood. “It’s a shame,” Kaz says with a shake of his head, “I kind of liked her.”

    Max leaves the window, scrambling across the room to her girl in a panic, pressing hands over the gash upon her neck. It’s a futile thing, the wound far too big for her efforts, waves upon waves of red crashing through her fingers. “Oh cherie, hol’ on,” Max whispers, tears spilling from her eyes, “jus’ hol’ on. Their comin’, they’ll help, you’ll be jus’ fine.”     “Who’s comin’, Max?” Kaz asks, crouching down beside her. The thief ignores him, too focused on Milah to care.     “Hang on Milah, jus’ hang on fo’ me a lil longer.” Milah wraps fingers around Max’s wrist, gagging on the red blocking the path to her lungs. “Jus’ a lil longer, cherie. Don’ you give up on me, now.” 

    A knock sounds at the door, knuckles rapping loudly against wood. “Chou, open up. It’s Detective--”      “Tseng!” Max screams, “Daniel-- Daniel quick!”     “Max?”     “Ezra, please, cher. Please-- She’s goin’ to die-- Do somethin’! Please--”

    A bang echoes throughout the room and the door shakes. One, two, three times more until the wood falls away from its hinges, the detectives standing in the door way. Ezra’s the first across the room, Daniel already requesting help as he enters close behind. “Max, move away from her,” he tells her gently, and Max simply shakes her head.      “Non, you help her.”     “Max--”     “Help. Her.”     “Max, she’s gone.”

    She knows, for the hand grasping her wrist no longer holds tight. She knows, for she’s met with nothing but silence, her girl no longer choking beside her. The skin beneath her hands still remains warm with fading life, blood still oozing over her fingers. Max stares at Ezra, her head shaking slowly. “Non, you help her. You bring her back. Fix it,” she demands, but Ezra simply puts a hand upon her arm.      “Max, what happened? Who did this?” he asks.      “I can’ tell you.” I can’ do this.     “Max--”     “Non, I can’-- He’ll-- I can’ do it.” But I have to. I need to. “Kaz. His name is Kaz.”     “Who--” 

    From the corner of her eye, a body drops into a heap. Daniel clutches his throat, crimson leaking onto the floor. She hears Ezra yell, but Max knows it’s already too late. He falls beside Milah, red spraying her clothes. Ezra presses a hand over his neck, the other clutching Max for help. “I always knew you were a street rat,” Kaz hums, coming up behind her, the bloody knife tucked under her chin. “But I didn’t think you were the kind that snitched.”     “I’d o’ come wit’ you,” Max whimpers.     “And you will,” he says, dragging the blade across her skin.

Nate’s Girl ;

    Max screams herself awake, her hands wrapped around her throat. She kicks the sheets off her body as she scrambles, pressing herself against the expensive headboard. Blurred vision frantically searches the room, searches the space beside her. It’s the mansion, and she’s alone, a vague memory of someone that should be laying beside her throbbing away in her head. “Nate?” Max calls out, kicking herself for the way her voice shook. ‘When you fall, I’ll catch you’. “Nate, I--” 

    The thief draws in a shaky breath, pressing the palms of her hands against her eyes. A nightmare, nothing more. She had those all the time. Kaz always haunted her dreams, didn’t he? Always plagued her, even after all this time. But this felt different, as though it were real and it’s enough to force her from the bed in a swift movement, grabbing the knives she carried with her from the bedside table. She holsters one, but keeps the other firm in hand, her knuckles turning white from the grip. 

    It’s too quiet, she thinks. Something’s wrong.

    With caution, Max leaves the bedroom, creeping into the hallway. Her footsteps made no sound and she tries with all her might to control her breathing, too. She was a thief, a good one. The shadows were her friend, the silence an ally. She shouldn’t feel so afraid, and yet, the skin of her arms raised with goosebumps, the hairs standing on end. It was wrong-- it was all wrong.

    She slips down the hall silently, checking every room she passed for the soldier. He’d been off since the day before, refusing to give her anything more than a ‘I’m fine’. She hadn’t pushed, sure she didn’t have the right to. She’d simply drank with him, then fallen asleep beside him holding his hand. She wasn’t used to waking up without him, reveling in how he always seemed to be there, overprotective and a tad overbearing about every little thing she did. Max hadn’t minded one bit. His attention was hers, and that’s what mattered.

    It takes her too long to notice, how every space was empty. The estate was huge, but there was always a chance to bump into somebody. There was always someone loitering around, looking for something to do, taking advantage of the luxury they’d been given despite how uneasy most of the group felt. For days now, Max had noticed it, unable to put a finger on what exactly was out of place, for every time she came too close, something distracted her. Something shiny and expensive, something she adored, something that appealed to her thieving heart and the fun she liked to have. It was enough to consistently throw her off the trail.

    “Nate, you aroun’, darlin’?” Max calls out again, her voice trembling. This wasn’t right. If she called, he’d come running. If she fell, he’d catch her. If she needed him, he’d be there. He was never too far from her, not any more. They never allowed themselves to be.

    And then, she hears it. The familiar sound of pain, the grunts and the groans and the yells of agony. She’d heard it on the battlefield, heard it in the cells between each word of comfort he’d tried to offer. The thief takes off running, her sprint silent, her other blade drawn as though they were nothing more than merely apart of her. 

    And if, back at the hotel, she’d been wrath running into a fight to protect him, she was now the ghost of fear, running into the unknown to save him.

    Max skids around the a corner and skids to a halt, a long corridor she couldn’t remember seeing laid out before her, a door at the very end cracked open. Nate groans again, and it’s enough to push herself forward as fast as she could go. A gunshot rings out, a light flashing behind the door and Max bursts in moments later so violently the door swings back, crashing into the wall with a bang.

    And Max begins to sob.

    For she knows this room and knows it well; white walls, concrete floor, a simple length of rope hanging from the ceiling in the center. An assortment of tools lay upon a table, crusted with dark, brown stains; dried blood and matter clinging onto them. The smell of bleach clings to the air. This was the backroom at Marcus’ club. Kaz’s brother had a thing for the dramatics.

    And hanging by his wrists, was Nate, broken and beaten just as she had once been when she’d been in his place. Except now, there’s a hole between his eyes, and he no longer fights.

    Dropping one knife to the ground, the metal clattering against concrete, Max throws the other at the rope, well aimed despite how tears cloud her eyes. Nate falls to his knees, to his side and Max walks slowly to him, her feet dragging along the floor. She drops down beside the soldier, pulling his body into her arms. She pulls her sleeve over her hand, wipes away the blood around his mouth, upon his cheek, between his eyes. The green of his irises were dull, cloudy and lost. A sign of the dead, she supposed. She’d seen it before. Max rests a hand upon his cheek, her thumb brushing over the bone. It moved beneath her touch, broken and shapeless. Kaz steps into view, his knuckles bloodied and bruised, Nate’s gun in his hand.

    “He was strong, I’ll give him that,” Kaz says thoughtfully, standing before her with a smile on his face. “But I guess, he wasn’t strong enough.”     “Don’ you talk abou’ him like you know him,” Max snarls, though the sound leaves her mouth in such a pitiful way that the only thing Kaz does is laugh.

    The monster crouches in front of her, looking down at Nate in her arms. Max curls herself protectively around him, shielding him from the cursed gaze Kaz often had. He raises the gun, sits the barrel comfortably between her own eyes.

    The metal feels warm against her skin.      “Je t’aime,” she whispers, pressing lips against Nates. “Always.”      She hears the click of the safety being switched off.     Next time, she tells Nate, I’ll get him next time. I promise.

    She hears Kaz laugh once more.

Kaz’s Girl ;

    A car alarm rings out somewhere and Max bolts upright, her head just missing the bathroom sink. The room is dim, the last rays of sunlight just managing to creep through the window, one last kiss before it said good night. The tap above the sink drips, drips, drips and Max rubs the bridge of her nose with a finger. It’s sore, every inhale through it a painful one, whether it be because her nose is bruised from a fight, or her lungs expanding beneath her ribs simply far too sore for it. 

    And as her mind begins to come back to her, Max pushes herself until she leans back against the tub, the cold porcelain a welcome feeling to what she could only presume was bruises upon her back too. It’s a familiar feeling, to be here like this. She didn’t need to look in the mirror to know. Kaz had gotten angry again, though the reason why was something she couldn’t recall. Perhaps she’d made a mistake again, or her attitude had gotten in the way. Either way, it was routine.

    He’d break her until she remembered who she worked for again.     He’d break her until she remembered who she belonged to.

    Except, this time, Max didn’t feel broken. In fact, she didn’t feel anything at all. A cold, numb feeling sat in her chest, a detachment from the world a heavy one. She’d dreamt again, perhaps of another escape. There are names on her tongue she can’t put faces to any more, a group that she could of sworn meant something. Another cruel thing she’d imagined to torment herself with, she supposed. 

    People that cared.

    It’s harder to remember as the minutes pass by, as dreams always faded in the end. It takes her longer to finally pull herself to her feet, clutching the sink for support. She’d been right; her face was a mess, her nose swollen and her eye black. Max lifts her shirt to check her ribs, and just as she’d thought, they were black and blue too. A tattoo sits upon her left, right next to her heart; two little feet in black ink. It’s a funny thing, for she can’t remember getting it or who it belonged to. Perhaps it was another drunk adventure? Max runs a tongue over her split lip and swears she tastes whiskey. Another mess, probably.

    And like a well practiced routine, Max tosses her bloody clothes to the ground, stepping into the shower to get clean. Everything hurt, from skin to muscle to bone, each movement more excruciating than the last. He’d done a number on her for real this time and for the life of her, she can’t remember if she fought back. She liked to tell herself that the next time he raised a hand, she’d fight. She’d turn his lessons back upon him, leave him to rot in a pile for a change. But when the time came, she was always too afraid, too scared to move for the fear of what he’d do if she lost. “Coward,” Max hisses to herself, arms wrapped around her body protectively, “you’re a damn coward.”

    Eventually, she leaves the safety of the water for the bedroom, slipping on an old, dirty band t-shirt and pants. She looks at herself in the bedroom mirror, the better light illuminating her features. She can’t help but wonder how she got here, how she’d let herself become a victim like this. In what world was this her fate? In what universe, did she allow herself to become so battered and bruised she could hardly recognize herself?

    And it’s strange to think, how she’d awoken upon the bathroom floor -- as she always did after escaping the monster -- to a feeling of foreign strength, a fire burning beneath her skin, as if somehow, she didn’t belong here, not any more. 

    The apartment door opens and Max hears him enter, his boots heavy upon the wooden floor. She waits for the fear to build, the nerves to force her hands to shake.

    It doesn’t come.

    “Max, you up?” Kaz yells from the front room and Max simply nods, walking out to greet him with dull eyes. He looks up at her and grins, holding up a plastic bag, the smell of chinese food filling the apartment. “Noodles or curry?”     “Does it matter?”     “Yeah? Pick one.”     “I ain’ hungry.”     “Yeah, you are. So pick one.” 

    He doesn’t shout, but his voice is firm, and if there’s supposed to be a threatening tone behind it, Max doesn’t hear it. Not any more. She simply stares at him dangling a bag in the air, waiting for her to take it. She doesn’t, and instead she leans against the bedroom door frame. “What’s wrong now?” Kaz sighs, dumping the bag down on the small dining table they’d built together in the summer some time. It was recycled wood they’d somehow shaped into something decent. It’d taken two days, but she’d never laughed so much before.

    “Wha’s wrong wit’ us?” Max asks him, looking up from the table and the memory to stare into those dark eyes forever filled with judgement. “Why do we keep doin’ this?”     “Doing what? Eating?”     “Kaz--”     “Max, just pick a damn dish already.”     “Sure, let me fin’ my teeth on the bathroom floor so I can eat firs’, oui?”     “Don’t start.”     “Or wha’, Kaz?”

    The man curls fingers into his palms at his sides, clenches his jaw tight. “Maybe I went too easy on you,” he says quietly, as if the statement was for himself more than it was for her.      “Easy? Merde, look at the state o’ me. You crushed me, again. An’ fo’ wha’?”

    “The fuck has gotten into you today?” Kaz snarls, closing the space between them so quickly that Max steps back in surprise. She waits, once more, for the fear. 

    Once more, it doesn’t come.

    Next time, I’ll get him next time, I promise, her own voice rings in her head. It’s defiant, strong and for the first time, it sounds like she means it. “Hey,” Kaz snaps, grasping her face with one hand, his fingers digging deep into her already bruised cheeks. “I said, what the fuck is going on with you?” Max stares deeper into his eyes, her brows furrowing. “Talk.”     “Looks like you’re losin’ your touch, mon ami,” Max says slowly within his grasp. 

    Kaz growls, letting go of her face to take hold of her shirt, dragging her out from within the bedroom to slam her against the wall. Her head rocks back, hits the plaster hard, and still, she doesn’t shake. Still, she doesn’t fear him. Instead, she grins. And Kaz doesn’t like that one bit.

    He draws a fist back, aims to swing it down upon her face. But somehow, Max is quicker than before, perhaps even more experienced. She escapes his grasp in an instant, hears the fist collide with the wall instead. Kaz yelps in surprise and the smile upon Max’s face only grows wider. 

    Next time, I’ll get him next time. I promise.     ‘If you fall, I’ll catch you.’

    Together, or not at all.

    Nate.

    “I’ve got somewhere I need t’ be,” Max tells Kaz, sauntering across the room to grab her bag and her keys. “This ain’ where I belon’ no more.” She didn’t know where he was, only that he existed. He had to. She remembered the warmth against her lips when he kissed her; so light and delicate and then again when she went back for more, his hands pulling her closer, hesitance to the wind. 

    She wants it back.

    “You’re out of your fucking mind. You’re not going anywhere,” Kaz yells, and Max hears him behind her, coming up fast. And it’s now, she realises, just how predictable he truly is. How predictable he always was. She’d watched him fight many a time, for Christ’s sake. How hadn’t she seen it before? 

    He throws a punch, and Max ducks. She spins on the heel of her foot.      Her elbow finds his stomach and she drives it in hard.     He doubles over, and she follows with a knee to the groin.     He falls then, and falls hard. The noise that escapes is perhaps the sweetest one she’d ever heard him make.

    “I’m tryin’ to remember, cher,” Max starts to say, skipping on her feet when Kaz lashes out. “I’m tryin’ to remember wha’ made me so afraid o’ you in the firs’ place.”

    Nightmares, he was always in her nightmares. A big, monstrous thing that could hurt her without trying. He would always find her, always. 

    And yet, he never did. She remembers the beautiful brunette from her dream, snuggled away in a blanket fort, fast asleep beside her. Milah. She’d been with her for so long and yet, Kaz had never showed his face. He could of, and maybe somewhere he’d made a choice not to. But there was always a chance, always an opportunity and yet-- He’d never taken it. He’d never come back. 

    Kaz grasps her ankle, attempting to drag her off her feet. Max hops once and brings her foot into the air, bringing it down upon his fingers. She hears them pop, hears them break, hears him wince in pain. “I’m thinkin’ it was ‘cause I was so young. You took advantage o’ tha’. I didn’ have anyone to hide behin’ any more. It’s funny, non? Bryce was gone an’ yet, he was always wit’ me. Taugh’ me not to go down wit’out a figh’, he did. An’ here I am.” 

    And Bryce? He’d come back, in a way. She’d found him again, walking casually by as if the world was still whole. Because it wasn’t, was it? This apartment didn’t exist any more. Not really. It was ruin and nothing more, or so she’d hoped. And there’s a wonder now if perhaps, this was another dream. Another adventure in her fear of Kaz. 

    For now she remembers the ring and the bruises Bryce had left behind, how her broken bones had crumbed as she’d been dragged across the ground. She remembered the blood upon her hands from Milah, the spray upon her clothes from Ezra. She remembered the mansion and all it’s glory, the long hallway with the white room at the end, Nate hanging by his wrists. 

    And she remembers more now, Bryce’s smile as they sat upon a hospital bed, cans of fruit in their hands, his thumb running circles upon her knee whilst she lay back and floated along with whiskey in her veins. Perhaps the first perfect moment they’d ever shared.

    She remembers Milah standing in the doorway of the the kennels, smug grin on her face at the shock Max had portrayed at the very idea of being rescued, never mind by the dealer herself. She remembers planting kisses on the woman’s cheek, remembers being trusted with protecting her, remembers how she relies on her for so much more than a job. 

    She remembers Sam and the way his cheeks flourished with colour any time she teased him, how awkward he was with anything but simple talk. She remembers Wes, his laughter and their childish game, the way he’d whistled to her song but fallen quiet the moment she’d began to sing. He’d listened to her -- nobody listened to her. She remembered Ezra and his steadfast ways, how he and Daniel had done so much for her without even realising, how they’d helped Mikey pull her out of the dark. Mikey. Sweet, sweet broken Mikey and his calloused hands, pulling out the glass beneath her skin bit by bit, teaching her once more what a soft touch felt like. She remembered Eli and his dumb jokes, so high he hadn’t noticed how many panic attacks he’d calmed her down from, how he’d made her laugh for the first time in years. She remembered Ellie, how her confidence inspired her own, how she made her feel like she could be whoever she wanted to be and it’d be just fine, that everything would be alright. She remembers Jae, she remembers Zoe, she remembers Violet and the others.

    And most of all, she remembers Nate, and how it’s he who holds her heart. That it’s he she’d fallen in love with. The dinner he still owed her, the bottles of whiskey they’d somehow never managed to finish for they found themselves in each other’s arms, exchanging kisses and small bouts of laughter. How it’s his arms she’d fall asleep in, how it’s within his arms the nightmares didn’t come. He made her feel safe. He made her feel loved. How he kept Kaz away without knowing he’d existed.

    She remembers her life without Kaz.     She remembers herself without Kaz.

    Powerful, strong, alive.

    The man upon the floor gets to his feet, Max far too lost in herself to notice. He slips an arm around her throat and holds it there, and Max hears his voice breathing over her ear. “You’re mine,” he snarls, “and you’ll never leave me again.” 

    “Non, cher,” Max says calmly. “I ain’ yours. Ain’ nobodys, neit’er.”

    She was her own, nothing more and nothing less.

    And with a rage building in her chest, Max feels the marks upon her back begin to burn as cold as ice, the prickling feeling spreading over her shoulders and down her arms. It spreads across her body, the icy blue light flickering to life, flames dancing upon her skin. She hears Kaz scream and recoil in horror, letting her go as blue wings fan out beneath her shoulder blades, curling around in her a cold inferno. 

    “What the fuck are you?” Kaz shouts, shielding his face with his hands.     “I don’ know, cher,” Max sighs, looking down at the fire on her arms. “Mais, Eli was righ’, weren’ he? This does give me an edge.” 

    As the wings spread and curl, icy flames catch the furniture around them. It catches alight, spreading like wild fire, leaving a frozen trail in its path. Kaz begins to panic, falling to his knees with fear behind her. Max merely turns and looks at him, a small smile on her face. “I should thank you,” she tells him, to which Kaz looks up with a terrified frown.     “For what?”     “Helpin’ me realise I don’ have to be afraid no more. I ain’ alone, mais... I’m doin’ jus’ fine, me.” Max looks around at the burning apartment, the chill leaving ghosts of her breath to linger in the air. “This is good, isn’ it?”

    The inferno riots through the apartment, freezing everything in its wake. It shatters like glass into stardust, the room falling apart around her. The flames catch Kaz’s leg, creeping up his torso in a blaze. And Max watches, waiting for the moment that he too becomes trapped in an icy prison and she hopes that perhaps, it’s a reflection of the places he’d left her. A cold, dark room, bloody and beaten upon the floor. And when he’s frozen solid and no longer moving, Max kneels down before him, as he had in that place with the white walls, a rope hanging in the center, reaching out a hand. 

    She flicks the ice and watches it crack, grins as it crumbles into pieces, taking Kaz with it.

    Max stands, waiting for the flames to claim her too.

    “Oui, this ain’ bad at all.”

Nobody’s Girl ;

    Upon the bedroom floor, Max awakens, shaking so violently with a cold she couldn’t understand. Her chest rose and fell in jagged breaths all too quickly, small clouds of air forming in front of her face before fading, as though she’d been out in cold weather for a while. Her head spins, reeling in a rush of memories she can’t piece together. Her back aches with a cold burn and for a moment, there’s a fear that she lost herself to the blue again.

    Sitting up and with the help of her feet pushing against the ground, Max forces herself to move until her back hits a wall. She brings her knees beneath her chin, fighting desperately to claim some warmth back. She wheezes, dizzy and delirious, unable to calm herself down. 

    Footsteps enter the room and Max looks up with tears rolling down her cheeks.

    “Did I get away?” she asks slowly. “Am I free?”