#I love soft Caretakers so goddamn much

[letitbehurt]

Love a Caretaker who is technically awful, and about to do something undeniably illegal or amoral, but comes across an injured Whumpee instead.

Maybe Whumpee’s just run from a fight they couldn’t win and they’re bleeding out, hardly able to stand up on their own, and Caretaker is a lot of things but they’re not a monster, they won’t just leave Whumpee there to die. But they will be complaining about how heavy Whumpee is all the way to the hospital.

[routeless-writer]

hello, i hope your day is going well! i'd like to request some cuddles with lilia and any other characters you'd like to add. just simple cuddles, maybe some playful moments, pure fluff, if that's okay!

Oh what I wouldn't give to pull Lilia into a several hour long cuddle sesh. Sevens know that poor man needs it, with how busy he is and how much he's gone through. I'm more than happy to give you some fluffy headcanons with the bat hubby, hun, and I hope your day/night is also going well! I stuck with just Lilsy for time's sake, but I'd be happy to do this with any of the others in the future.

MC pronouns: none, GN/implied they/them

CW: reader having hair mention, Lilia liking to spook the reader awake (just a little)

Listening to: Galactic Bloom (Bee and Puppycat OST)

Lilia’s very flexible when it comes to love languages, but physical touch is probably up there near the top of his list

He’s a clingy little fucker, and once he’s comfortable with you, he’ll hang off of you a lot. It’s something he does to everyone he cares about–the kids, his friends, and now you!

He’ll even start to initiate snuggles in public, nuzzling into your side and wrapping his arms around you. He’s quick to pull off when he needs to, though not without a huff or a couple complaints. When y’all get home, on the other hand…

He’s so goddamn domestic. He’s on you like whiskers on a cat and he just will. Not. Let. Go. We’re talking following you to the kitchen, round the house/dorm, and back while his face is pressed up against your back.

The second you sit down he’s jumping on you and shoving his head into the crook of your neck, wrapping his arms and legs around you, and making soft purring noises. (Bats can and will purr btw. I love bats and I love him <3)

He’s down for you to nap while he cuddles you, if you want. As a fae, and a nocturnal one at that, he doesn’t need much sleep, so he’s more than likely awake while you cuddle. If you’re also awake, he may poke you or boop your nose. 

He likes to talk while you chill, but if you’re not in much of a talking mood and just want to be in his presence, he’ll read, dm you memes, or rest his eyes. He may also simply make little clicking or squeak sounds at you as a form of nonverbal interaction. (He’ll do this throughout the day anyways. If you squeak back he’ll fall in love all over again. He also does it across the room/house/dorm to get your attention.)

He looooves running his fingers through your hair or having you touch his. He might give you a few playful kisses or nips at your cheeks, lips, and neck.

If you have to get up, he’ll totally complain about it.

“But darling, you’re so warm. Don’t leave me…”

He’s SUCH a pouty baby about it. Don’t worry, he’ll get his revenge by surprise cuddling you later. Sometimes, if you’re asleep in bed, he’ll hover above you and wake you up while hanging upside down to freak you out, and while you’re distracted, tackle hug you.

And then keep you there for hours, once again. Quite a bit of your relationship is spent on cutesy, domestic things like this. Laying in bed all day on your off days, making meals for him while he’s stuck to you (do NOT let him help), cleaning together, shopping together, reading on opposite sides of the couch and looking up every ten minutes to smile at each other…

He’s a busy guy! As a student, Malleus’ caretaker, and more importantly, the boys’ parent, he’s got a lot on his plate, so he likes to spend as much downtime as he can with you. So, if that means trying to convince you with puppy dog eyes to snuggle up with him for another hour or so, then so be it. <3

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[itzsana-kiddingmenow]

ᴛᴡ: soft and rough, cuties omg, @skznccmlee. YES

ᴀ/ɴ: @hearted-anon I HOPE THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH DOVE 🥹✨

𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕: @someone-who-loves-kpop-saranghae @jeonginsdiary @leeknowstan33 @v--143 @wereallgonnadieonedaybutnottoday @inkytornpagess @lajanaa @a-wild-seungberry @channieissocute125 @soap143 @seungsluvv @skznccmlee @moony-9 @sunny-117

The cozy living room was filled with warm sunlight filtering through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the couch where Changbin lay sprawled out, utterly relaxed yet buzzing with nervous energy. 

He was stretched comfortably, but the way he fidgeted in his seat, his feet resting in Chan’s lap, suggested a mix of contentment and anxiety. 

Chan, always the gentle caretaker, was giving Changbin a soothing foot massage, his fingers skillfully working into the arches and heels, bringing a blissful warmth to Binnie’s body.

Jisung sat comfortably under Changbin’s knees, propped up against the couch, his attention divided between scrolling through his phone and sneaking glances at two others.

“Do you like that…?” Chan asked, pressing harder into his feet, smiling as Changbin sighed. “It’s…nice—yeah, I like it.” He stammered, feeling his face grow warmer at the attention. 

Despite the pleasantness of the foot rub, Binnie’s mind couldn’t help but wander to the delightful chaos that could ensue if his hyung decided to turn this moment into something…playful. 

The thought of Chan's fingers dancing on his feet, Jisung letting go of his goddamn phone for one second to move to his sides, sent a wave of shyness crashing over him, and he bit his lip, wishing he could voice his desire.

As he lay stretched across the couch, the soft fabric enveloping him, he could feel the warmth radiating from Channie's hands as they gently massaged his feet. Every press of Chan's fingers sent delightful shivers up his spine, but it was the thought of what could come next that really made his heart race.

The mere idea of being tickled mercilessly had him squirming in his seat, a soft flush creeping across his cheeks. He wanted to laugh, to surrender to the sensations, yet the very thought made him feel vulnerable.

Changbin was caught in a whirlwind of emotions, longing for the freedom to embrace his silliness while desperately wishing for the reassurance of his friends. 

The thought of being tickled made him feel giddy and shy, yet every giggle that would escaped his lips was a testament to how much he secretly craved the experience, leaving him in a state of blissful desperation.

He squirmed in his place, staring pleadingly at Jisung, who had glanced up and was now grinning at him. Sungie knows. Sungie would understand. 

Jisung smirked. “Something wrong, hyung?”

Fuck. 

Changbin let out a barely audible whine, his legs trembling in their laps. It wasn’t a want anymore, it was a need. 

“Sungie…please…” He pleaded silently, giving Jisung the biggest puppy eyes he could. It worked on Felix every time, so maybe they would crack too? 

Sung sighed. “Channie hyung?” 

Chan smiled. He had clearly been waiting for this and was now prepared to totally wreck Changbin to absolute bits. “Keep your arms away, okay, Binnie?” 

“Okay…” Changbin felt like his face was on fire, he didn’t think he’d ever felt this shy before. And it clearly wasn’t helping. 

Fingers began to skitter up and down his feet, and he burst into cackles, straining to keep his arms folded on his shoulders as he squealed adorably, another pair of hands joining in at his belly, slipping under his shirt. 

“AHAHA—Chahahahannie hyuhuhuhung!!” Changbin almost arched his back off of their laps, his body desperately trying to squirm away. A few taps on his hips from Jisung was enough to make him slump right back down. 

“SUHUHUHUNGIE!!” Changbin shrieked as Jisung’s fingers went to squish at the pudge of his tummy, playing with the sliver of skin and smiling down at the sweet boy. 

Changbin’s nose scrunched involuntarily and he was left a giggling, squealing mess in their laps as their fingers wandered, the two lers’ giddy smiles only serving to make him more shy. 

“Aish…you’re so cute, bunny~” Chan cooed, a wide smile creeping up as he moved to the inside of his feet and watching Changbin lose it, cackling and twisting as he desperately fought to keep his arms from disturbing them. 

He was giddy, a happiness that would only last for the duration of the tickling, and he was ready to offer himself up for their waiting, wiggling fingers until he was satisfied. 

Changbin felt his mind melt, his eyes pooling with tears as he slipped to the edge of his mind, his inner child glowing at the childish sensation, the want, the need for him to be treated like he was younger, to be treated like there was no responsibilities rather than laughing himself silly. 

Soon enough, Chan and Jisung, concerned with the lack of coherent words other than the childish, adorable giggles they hold true and dear, slowed down, fingers still gently trailing as Changbin, hair disheveled, eyes adorably shining with tears of joy, cheeks flushed and wet, panted for air. 

“Hyung?” Jisung called, but there’s no response. 

“Oh, Binnie~” Chan sighed, his hand gently back to massaging as the two lers waited for their Changbin to return to them.

[romanarose]

Words of Affirmation with the Triple Frontier Boys

Triple Frontier Master List

Acts of Service Physical Touch Quality Time

Summary: Thoughts on the Triple Frontier boys expressing their love for you through words of affirmation, and you giving love in return.

Warning: Smut, dirty talk, praise kink, mild degradation (it's santi what can I say), some basic stuff like self doubt, insecurity etc. If I ever miss anything lmk!!! Thank you to my love @welcometostayingawake for helping me with this, and for always talking Leather and Lace with me! A lot of thee are influenced by my personal HC's in the Leather and Lace universe. One of these days I'll do a LaL love languages post, all the guys and then Laci and Jana, then do Lorelei (Will's girlfriend) and Cameron (Benny's boyfriend) as they join our story.

***********************

Will Miller

William John Miller is a quiet man; drastic contrast to his brother, but you love him dearly for it. He is your peace, a rock in the storm. Will prefers to let you do most of the talking. He'll listen about your day, and pay very close attention to your friend drama (how does he keep track of three different people named Grace? You'll never know). But don't confuse this for thinking he doesn't tell you how much he loves you. He may not be the best with words, but he never forgets to remind you how pretty he thinks you are. Will is very, very observant, this comes from how he grew up; needing to keep an eye on his dad's behaviors to prevent an outburst, and having to monitor Ben, keeping him from spiraling, but in the safety he felt in you, he used these skills in his favor. Will always noticed when something changed.

"Oh I like what you did with your make up today, did you get a new make up pallet?" "Is this a new dress? It looks great" "I love how you made this sauce, you added extra mushrooms, you remembered my favorite!" * Will isn't the most vocal in bed. He's not quiet, he always lets you know how apricated you are: appreciative moans, muttering about how beautiful you are, and soft praises about how good you are for him as he takes care of you after sex. You begin to notice how much the sounds you make and words you say spur him on. He holds his breath as you speak, you can hear a rumble in his chest when you moan. He likes to know how good he makes you feel.

"Just like that baby, perfect, you know my body so well" "Always make me feel so good, always make me feel safe" "Do whatever you want to me, I trust you, I trust you to take care of me always, sweetheart"

Santiago Garcia

Santiago Garcia will not shut the fuck up in bed. It would be annoying if he wasn't so goddamn good at it, sometimes you think you can come just from him speaking to you. And when he speaks in Spanish?!?! It doesn't even matter if you can understand him, although you know some key phrases and terms of endearment, oh my god, so many terms of endearment. His hands match his words, touching, touching, touching as he murmurs appreciation, his words interrupted by his devouring of your skin. He's frantic, as if he's afraid if he ever stops, you'll leave. He directs you, praises you, orders you along, knowing exactly what you need to hear, when to call you a needy slut, when to call you his perfect girl.

"God, you take my cock so well, so fucking good, mi amor" "Little whore needs my cock in her at all times? Hm? That's okay, I'm happy to fill you up just the way you like, you feel so perfect" "That's it, come for me, you look so pretty like this, so fucking wrecked" * He doesn't know how to stay. Santiago is completely unsure what it looks like in a long-term relationship, in domesticity. But at his heart, his grumpy old man heart, Santi is a caretaker. You notice how he lights up when you thank him, when you compliment the food he makes, and it's not that he likes when you're sick, he doesn't like when you feel bad, but he absolutely relishes in the chance to take care of you. Santi likes to know the small things he does don't go unnoticed, and you never hesitate to tell him, making sure he knows he's absolutely doing things right.

"Thank you for getting the groceries today, Santi, you even remembered everything I asked for!" "I love when you spend time with my siblings and cousins, it makes me happy that you want to get to know the people I love." "I appreciate that you always change the oil on my car and do maintenance, it's nice not to have to worry about it, takes a lot off my mind"

Francisco Morales

Throughout Frankie's life, he didn't have much stability, and that bled into his relationships; one by one, they fell apart. He was terrified of losing you, so he constantly made sure to tell you how much he loved you. You relished these moments with him, lazy Sunday mornings sprawled out in bed, gentle, loving sex as he whispers how much he loves you, dozing off again as you lay on his chest, the morning only interrupted as he got up to make coffee. When he crawled back under the covers, he brought you your cup, complimenting how lovely you looked in the morning sun, when you were certain you looked like Anna when she woke up in Frozen. He feels unworthy of you, and makes sure you always know how special you are to him.

"I could wake up to this sight every day, I never want to see anything but your pretty face." "Tu eres el amor de mi vida, my everything, I love you so fucking much" "I'm so lucky to have you, make me so happy every fucking day" *

You know Francisco feels insecure, that he worry's you'll leave him like most others have. So, you try to give him reminders whenever you can. Texts throughout the day saying how much you missed him and can't wait to go home, buying a dry erase marker to write messages on the bathroom or bedroom mirror for him to stumble on, leaving sticky notes in the lunch you pack. You try to not only remind him of your love, but the love of others that surround him, hoping he'll learn that he isn't a bourdon, but rather is highly adored.

"Miss you baby, don't watch Downton Abbey without me 😡🔫(this is a threat). Jk Jk, love you" "You're a good husband, a good dad, and a good friend, we're so lucky to have you in our lives." "Have a great day Frankie! Have fun with the guys, I bet they're so happy to spend the weekend with you. I'll miss you, but it makes me so happy when you have fun!"

Benjamin Miller

Benny was a bragger, through and through. What really got you was that he bragged about you when you weren't even listening. It's not that you snooped, you never would, but there's been times you go to bring him and Will some snacks and he's telling him about how you stood up for yourself to your parents or you accidently see Ben's group chat with the guys and he's saying how you 'sucked the life out of him' last night, in his words. It made you smile. In a life where you find those you love talking bad about you, it was nice to know he only ever spoke adoringly when you weren't looking. Benny Miller was one of the good ones, to be sure. But he didn't just brag to others, he constantly told you how proud he was of you, from the big wins to the smallest stuff, it was amazing the things that boy could turn into a celebration, benefits of a positive outlook.

"You got an A on your paper, that's amazing!! I never doubted you for a second, you're so smart, ever thought about going on jeopardy? You'd blow them all away" "You meme got 10 retweets, it's really doing the numbers today. I told you that you were fucking hilarious." "You're coming for me again? You're fucking amazing baby, always such a good girl for me" * You are well aware how much Benny craves attention, having never grown up with it. Always in Will's shadow and his dad abuse, Benny often acted out just to get some sort of attention, positive or not. You try your best to encourage him in his interests and hobbies as well never make him feel bad for spending time with those he loves that aren't you (and boy, does mr. sunshine has a lot of people he loves). You know his family, found and biological, is an extension of him, and the bonds he formed in the military are a part of who he is, so you do your best to listen to him and encourage those friendships.

"Of course, Santiago can come over for the game! Who is playing? Do you like those teams?" "I know today is hard since it's the anniversary of Tom's death, would you like to tell me about him? Maybe some fun stories?" "You did so good at you're fight baby! And look at the guys, their cheering so loud, I bet Will is so fucking proud right now!"

********************** Here is part threeeeeee! Less sad than some of the others. I had a lot of fun with this one! It was a challenge to try and get them to all express differently, but I think they are fairly accurate. I have specific head canons that may or may not be accurate, but the kind of stuff you see here is v applicable to within Leather and Lace, as I have versions of all the guys in my head within that universe lol. I hope you enjoy, be sure to check out my Joel Miller short series Darkness on the Edge of Town, and my TF series Awakening bc I just hit 500 followers, part of my celebration is a Benny X Santi chapter which I should be getting out this week!

@welcometostayingawake @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @kittyofalltrades @luciannadraven33 @littlenosoul @jake-g-lockley @milkymoon2483 @in-between-the-cafes @howaboutcastiel

[tellywoodtrash]

My dad's been in hospital since last one month, we went through literal hell n only now things are looking a bit better TT, thus I thought of you sis..how are and how's your cat doing??any new fav itv drama?or are you still in love with Thai bls(as an AO3 reader I TOTALLY understand you)??I watched only one Pak drama named 'rah-e-junoon' recently only cause of The beautiful Danish Taimoor😍 it's not bad specially he with his love n obsession makes me wana SIGHHHHH😩😩😩 dreamily..also HAVE YOU SEEN JUNAID KHAN IN 'MAHARAJ' (not the Sethupati one) MOVIE??his n Sarvari's reels are everywhere and they are so Wattpad coded... reminding me of those period couples in novels😍😍 he's so dreamy..6'2" tall, nerdy, kinda awkward and has this soft boy vibes going on and did I tell you he kinda looks like Henry Cavill??and Rami Malek??😩😩 life hell ho jaye par tharak na jaye🤤 now tell me how everything is going on your end✨

Hi Darling,

I hope your dad is feeling better, and you are taking care of yourself too, friend! (Caretaker burnout is reallllllll and I am sending you all the strength and healing vibes 🤗🤗🤗)

ITV seems to be a closed chapter for me; the rapidly progressing degeneration of that genre is just notttttt inspiring any confidence (or interest.) The wholeass industry needs a major major shakeup. Same with Bollywood, nothing's really pulling me anymore. Laapataa Ladies (which I still haven't watched yet) is LITERALLY THE ONLY MOVIE calling my name in all of the 2024 releases. Junaid seems like a promising nepo kid; the Cavill vibes are definitely there. Let's hope that he picks good scripts and doesn't fall down the usual wormhole.

Things that I have been watching and enjoying in the past few weeks:

The Acolyte: I literally know/care nothing about the Star Wars universe, but Manny Jacinto. Enough said. I need to rewatch coz god his character has me going awooooooooga like a fuckin' cartoon wolf. I am obsessed.

Abbott Elementary: Giving B99-ish (but much more mellow.)

Modern Family: Just a rewatch (during my mealtimes)

Late Night with Seth Meyers/Last Week Tonight/The Daily Show for US election shitshow in palatable doses

Meet You at the Blossom: A chinese BL which is fulllllllllllly delivering on the toxic romance from the Tellywood of yore

This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans: A thai BL that is again, giving v Tellywood romcom vibes (Gul Khan types), with not one, BUT TWO WHOLE ENEMIES TO LOVERS couples. Noice.

Love Sea: Ridiculously high heat/good chemistry; one half of couple is the greenest fuckin flag in the history of human existence.

My Love Mix Up (Thailand): My cutest lil kuchupuchu babies. I wanna put them in my pocket and squishhhhhhhh them allllll like a goddamn stress ball. Wholesome wholesome lil show that makes me feel warm and sunshiney inside.

4 Minutes: No real idea what's really going on here with the time skips and background crimes and shit, plus this show feels like an anxiety attack in audiovisual form, BUT I'm here for Bible Wichapas giving me morally-grey himbo with hilarious (to me) gay panic.

So yeah...... That's what I've been up to! Hope you and yours keep well, lovely. <33333333 And yes, keep that tharak flag flying high!!!!!!!!

[zerooup]

I saw u took requests now! (I hope this is the right place to ask for them) Could you do anything regarding little Akutagawa? I saw u alr made a post about him but I’d love to see more content

of course! I'm watching wan! right now so I'm filled with ideas for him! Cw: Diapers, Overstimulation, Pleurisy!

Very sensitive around how he looks while little, he's often curled up in the trenchcoat, or he'll be in the bath which is the only place he feels like himself! plus, baths make him feel all squeaky clean and it helps his Pleurisy not flare as much and not be as painful. ~

Very prone to stomachaches, and very high fevers. This leads him to be curled up on a couch until he feels better. Often wearing diapers during this period (especially because he's most likely regressed while sick) to rest as much as possible and as often as possible (which is what his caretakers tell him to do as the less time he's awake, the less time his pleurisy can flare up and cause him to feel even worse then he already does) ~

When he is sick, you catch very soft moments with Dazai, Atsushi, and sometimes Chuuya, Not because Chuuya doesn't want to be involved, but because he's busy. But, here's what I have for a cute little moment between this little man and his "dadazai" ~~~ D: Aw.. I heard my little devil isn't doing very well today, Cmon; Lets get you in a warm blanket with a bottle, yeah? Ak: Mnn.. D: I know you feel icky bud, but the bottle will cool off your tummy. Ak: Mmh. D: Alright little devil, you stay right here while I go get those for you, Do you want your plushie as well? Ak: Mnhm D: Don't feel bad that I'm off work okay? Not like I do any to begin with, Little devil. ~

When his pleurisy flares, he'll often go to whichever CG of his is closer because when it flares, it's BAD. Like, every other cough knocks the air out of him type bad. This poor baby is in so much pain just from a singular cough he'll half regress on his way there, and then fully once he gets in the building.. which often leads to Kunikida helping him get changed and babysitting until Dazai or Atsushi is available. Or if Chuuya told him not to move while he was out to the shops and he busts in, only to see his little one practically asleep on Kunikida's lap as he continues to work. ~

Other times, Dazai will take Akutagawa home if he's too sick, just to keep an eye on him, which often leads to Dazai not sleeping much; but is that really so out of the normal for him? Sometimes Chuuya will visit to play with Akutagawa as well if he's regressed.. which can lead to little things like this! ~~~ C: "What's this one's name, Aku?" (Holding up a turtle card) A: "Turt'l" C: "And this one?" (holding a zebra card) A: "Zeeba!" C: "Good! and this?" (holding a dog card) A: "You!" C: "...Dazai you absolute motherFUC-" D: "Hey! Don't swear, there's a baby here, chuuya." C: "SHUT THE FUCK UP! I SAY WHAT I WANT" D: "Fine, since you swore, you have to change him next, Slug" C: "Goddamn it, mackerel" ~

He is also the CUDDLIEST baby known to man, especially if he's upset? Whoo. Get him some cuddles, a bottle and a blanket and he's OUT.

[bureauofoutstandingbalance]

memento mori

When Magnus died, there was this sudden realization that Lucretia would be next.

Subconsciously, it seemed as if all the birds were waiting until the year was over. As if everything would reset, and Magnus would be back. Young, strong, and eye black from a bar fight, one which seemed like a thousand years ago now. 

But, of course, he didn’t. Because this was permanent. Taako knew that, logically. But it wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair, he thought to himself, as he knocked on the door to Lucretia’s home.

The caretaker lady opened the door. She was a halfling, dressed in blue. Her ebony brown curls fell to her waist, and she regarded him with a soft, pitiful expression. Taako’s face soured, and his ears flattened down against his head. He didn’t need pity, especially not from a woman he barely knew.

She was… an employee for the Director, that much he knew. When the Director retired, this halfling woman was nice enough to take care of her… is what Taako was told. In his opinion, though? It wasn’t nice at all. It wasn’t generous or heartwarming or loyal or… anything that anyone wanted to tell themselves it was.

The Director didn’t need to be taken care of. She didn’t. She never did. Ever since her year alone, the Director was as stubborn as a goddamn mule. For better or for worse, she got things done with her head stuck up her ass. Refusing to ask for help. Refusing to let people do things for her. Refusing to admit she was ever wrong, even if her actions caused a person to forget their second half. 

And yet, despite himself, Taako was in her home.

The halfling escorted him to the living room. She offered a glass of water, but Taako turned her down. He didn’t say why he was here, but apparently, he did not need to ask. The halfling just looked down sadly when he rejected her offer and turned on her heel. Taako stared at the rug. Has she always had that pattern?

The Director was wheeled in. Taako didn’t look up. 

“Taako,” the Director began, but quickly erupted into a coughing fit. Taako continued to stare down the carpet like it had wronged him personally. Seriously, medallion? Who was the Director getting her style from, anyway?

“Still alive, eh? ‘S stubborn as ever, I see,”  Taako laughed, not unkindly, but not familiar. The tone in his voice was distant, and the Director could tell that Taako had something on his mind. She pursed her lips thoughtfully, and she quickly dismissed the halfling from the room. 

“Taako, as much as you know I always love it when you visit, more than I can properly put into words, why now?” 

“Can’t an elf see his family once in a while?” Taako moaned dramatically.

“Taako.”

“It’s my day off.”

“Taako.”

“Lup wanted me to.”

“Good fucking hell, Taako!” the Director snapped, forehead creased. She sighed and her face fell, too old to argue. She sat up straight and folded her hands over her lap, her back popping as she did so.

“Don’t fuck around with me, Taako. I’m 109 years old. It’s a miracle I lasted longer than Magnus.” 

Taako flinched like he’d been slapped. She continued.

“I’m too old to play games, so I’m gonna make this short.” She paused, as if considering her next words. 

“I lived with so, so many regrets. I don’t want to die with just as many. It’s been years since… since the day of Story and Song,” Lucretia said. Even all these years later, none of them have been able to speak of what happened in full. “Every time I take a breath, I hope it isn’t my last. Each time I close my eyes I beg the gods that I’ll be alive to open them. It’s not fun being old, Taako, and it’s not fun dying for a final time.”

Taako tapped his arm impatiently. “So? What’s your point?”

“Wh- What’s my point?” the Director repeated tiredly. She ran a wrinkled hand down her sagging face. “My point is that whatever you want to say to me, say it, because there is going to be a point where I’ll be gone, and you won’t be able to.”

Taako isn’t one for feelings. Never has been. For two centuries he hasn’t been, and he won’t be for as long as he lives. But when he thinks back to the day Magnus left for good, all he can do is remember how it felt. How it felt to lose someone important like that again. He’s lost Magnus before. He’s lost the Director. He’s lost Lup, in more ways than one. 

But there is nothing like the empty white walls of a hospital room. Being helpless as you watch a loved one slip through your fingers like water. The first time Taako was forced to face loss like that was when he and Lup were 75. The only difference is that they were alone. They held each other’s hands tightly, and Lup sobbed into his shoulder as strangers ushered them away from their aunt one last time. 

They didn’t want to be separated from each other like they had been from their aunt, so they ran.

Taako can’t run from this. He knows he can’t. Magnus is dead and he isn’t coming back, and he and Lup can’t run like they did when their ears were too big for their heads and their hearts were too big for the world. 

“Fuck, Luce!” Taako sobbed, wiping his face with the back of his hand. Lucretia just stared at him expectantly as he struggled to spit out his words.

“I know I fucked up, alright? But don’t pretend you didn’t either!” Taako snapped, jabbing a finger in her direction. She didn’t even blink. “You didn’t reach out once!”

“You know why,” Lucretia responded coolly, just as accusatory. The two of them stared at each other. Taako conceded and his shoulders slumped. Lucretia wheeled over and took Taako’s peticured hand in hers. For once, he didn’t fight her. Taako waited for her to say something, but she just gazed at him patiently.

“Fuck,” Taako emphasized again, this time with a laugh, his shoulders shaking. He pulled her into a tight hug.

“Oof, Taako, I’m ancient,” Lucretia laughed back, but reciprocated, nonetheless. 

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m sorry for… everything.”

“Hm? Sorry, I didn’t hear that. My old human ears. Was that… an apology?”

“Shut the fuck up. I’m trying to be heartfelt.”

The two stayed in silence for a little longer. Taako was the first to pull away.

“But, uh,” Taako began, “yeah. I’m, uh, sorry for… staying away. From you. Even after all this time.” He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts, and Lucretia watched.

“I mean, I know it’s partly deserved, you know? That’s what I’ve been telling myself for 50 something years. That you… deserved the cold shoulder for this long. I mean, for anyone else, I probably would have given them the cold shoulder for longer. But then it… it really hit me. How fucking short human lives are,” Taako sniffed. He wiped his face again.

“It’s not fair that the babies of the family are the first to go. The rest of us are still kicking. Good lord, Luce, you look older than Merle, for Pan’s sake.” 

“You wound me, truly,” Lucretia said, voice flat. Taako forced a laugh.

“I think I... forgave you a while ago.” His brow furrowed, like that wasn’t how he wanted to say it. “Or, I don’t know, got over it at least. As much as Taako can get over something. I just… held out this long because of principle, you know? And by the time I was over it, I didn’t know how to… talk to you anymore. I told myself you deserved it because I didn’t want to admit to myself that I was wrong,” Taako admitted. He felt uncomfortable, suddenly, like something in him came undone and everything he has been holding inside for not even a quarter of his life came pouring out. Lucretia, however, held him steady, like his words were something she had been waiting for all of hers. She waited for him to say anything else, but when she seemed to realize he had finished, she let out a sigh. 

“Some things really don’t change,” she muttered, clearly intending for Taako to hear her. He smiled wearily. 

“Gotta stick to what the fans love, right?” he joked, and Lucretia smiled back tiredly. He felt his heart sting. Why did everything with humans change so fast?

It suddenly hit Taako that when he becomes a pile of bones, he won’t have Lucretia. Or Angus. He won’t even have Merle or the captain. They’ll be dead, long buried in the ground. It will just be him. And Lup and Barry, of course, since they’re reapers now, but they’ll still look exactly the same. Taako’s beauty will have long since withered while his twin will be as sharp as ever, and Barry… Well, Barry’s jeans will be as crisp as ever. And Kravitz… 

Taako jerked when Lucretia brought her hands to cup his face, but otherwise didn’t resist. This was really it, huh? The first and last time they’d ever have a heart-to-heart like this.

“I wish we had gotten more time together,” Lucretia professed, and Taako broke in her arms.

[radiojamming]

YEAH LET'S GO

Ice/permafrost - Conditions in the ice make it not great real estate for bacteria. Ice acts like a big freezer so everything stays nice and cold, and this includes soft tissues as well as cartilage. Examples: Beechey Island Mummies, Ötzi the Iceman

The Bog - Anaerobic (no oxygen) and acidic conditions in peat bogs mean that people turn to leather purse versions of themselves. Hair usually turns a bright coppery red, skin gets very dark, some parts of the body skeletonize. Great for preserving very fine features. Examples: Tollund Man, Windeby I

Hot, dry desert air - You're dried out and baked over a long period of time. All the fluid in your body goes poof! Now you are a delightfully screaming husk of your former self. Examples: Guanajuato Mummies, mummies of the Atacama Desert

Arid, cold mountain air - Very similar to ice mummies. Cold conditions kill the bacteria, air dries you out. Upside is that you usually look pretty darn good! Examples: Children of Llullaillaco, Tarim Mummies

Salt - You are now jerky! Salt preserves you just like it preserves everything else. You're also slightly crystalized! Example: The Saltmen of Iran

The pristine, perfumed air of a sacred building - Your incorruptible saints! Dry air in temples/sanctuaries/cathedrals/what have you can probably combine with incense and some very dedicated living caretakers to make you look good. Also sometimes they put you in frilly little costumes. Examples: Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Bernadette

Saponification - You are now soap! Fats and oils turn into a fun substance called adipocere or corpse wax. Rather than decomposing, you get turned into a human-shaped soap bar. Example: Mütter Museum's Soap Lady (very NSFL)

Honey - This one's debatable, but essentially honey preserves you like the little candy droplet you are. Honey lasts forever and kills bacteria! No oxygen can get to you! Depending on how much you believe the story, you also eat a ton of honey before death so you're sweet inside and out! Example: ??? We've never actually found one of these

Volcanic ash - Doesn't preserve your body so much as it flash fries you and keeps a cast of your screaming, terrified form forever. You're a skeleton, but we're in love with the shape of you. Example: Those spooky Pompeii fellas

Tar pits - No oxygen again! Thick tar dragging you down to the depths! Kind of the bog's meaner cousin as far as preservation goes. Example: La Brea Woman and all her animal friends in the La Brea Tar Pits

Ancient curse - Who's to say this one doesn't work? I mean, lots of natural mummies look like they're screaming. It's easy to say it's a natural cause, but arghghhfff CORRUPTIBILIS ET VIVITE SEMPER IN CONCHA PROPRIUM MORTALIUM RELIQUIAE. Example: Me in the next few minutes, I think

Spite - Jokey answer, but also not because there are so many cases of modern people dying at home and turning into a mummy out of goddamn nowhere. Like hey, were you going to forget me? Too bad, because I'm not going anywhere.

Favorite means of natural mummification poll...... 2!

To celebrate this most auspicious Ice Mummy Monday and with more followers who now Know and Love mummies as they should, I thought it would be a good time to bring back this poll for further study. Now with more options!

[sailorblossoms-snowbaz]

Been thinking about the ways Baz has been loved in his life by the adults in his family...

Malcolm cares about him, but he also taught him that showing his feelings is showing vulnerability, and so when teen Baz is preparing his armor to face the world, he uses his father as example. Unless I'm forgetting something, Baz contemplating "pleasing him" by performing heteronormativity has more to do with not wanting to be a burden (because in spite of how emotionally absent he was, Baz still cares), and less with him being afraid that otherwise he will be kicked out of the family or some shit. It's still hurtful, and still has an effect on Baz's self-worth. It's also something Baz can simply roll his eyes to in annoyance when he's in a good state of mind (when Penny and Agatha visit)

There's Fiona, and I do believe she loves Baz and would do mostly anything for him, she was instrumental in saving his life at least twice, but she has some shit to unpack and probably shouldn't have been around kid Baz unsupervised. This is basically summed up with the numpty incident: she didn't rest until she rescued him. But her recurring "front seat" "joke" (it's not really a joke) is so bad it ought to be killed with fire. And I don't think it's meant to be taken lightly, but rather it's meant to tell us how fucked she can be in showing her affection. It's her way to say "how dare you worry me like this, don't ever put me through this again" but with the way she says it, she's victim blaming him for something truly horrible that happened to him, which is horrific enough. But the true crime is that goddamn tiny car of hers with a backseat that was never meant to accommodate someone bigger than a fucking child. In other words she's forcing Baz into an incredibly cramped and uncomfortable space as "punishment" for "letting himself be kidnapped" after weeks in a coffin (truly every time that line is referenced my blood simply boils). Baz goes along with it because he has that kind of patience and consideration. For the longest time, Fiona was a fearless figure he admired so much it he would do whatever she wanted of him to impress her/have her favor to his detriment. Fiona's love is fiery—she will absolutely fight for you— but reckless, inconsiderate and irresponsible. It takes until it hurts someone else for Baz to put his foot down.

And then there's Daphne. There's the shadow of Natasha too, caging Baz in multiple ways. But he's much better off for having Daphne in his life. Someone who has no trouble showing him affection, hugging him, crying over him. Wanting him to go theraphy after surviving a truly traumatic ordeal. Taking an interest in his interests, teaching him how to drive. Never making him feel like he's less of a son for her compared to her biological children, never discriminating against him, or considering him a danger that has to be separated from the other kids because of his vampiric nature. Taking the first step and trying to make it so Simon can come home with Baz, because she recognizes he's an important person for Baz. I don't think there's any other person who could've nurtured Baz's soft heart and caretaker nature more than her. The way he doesn't mind that Malcolm refers to her as his mother, despite how strongly he still feels in regard to his biological mom (to the point he can think she would want him dead, and still wouldn't think she's in the wrong) and that he himself always calls her mom to her face (even though she's Daphne in his head) shows how much Baz appreciates her.

[shywhumpauthor]

Snippet #1

Though I haven’t had much motivation or time to work on my own story, I found some will to write this. I plan to make more of these, there free to use with credit (and a tag if you post it, I’d love to see what anyone makes out of this)

Cw: sold whumpee, non-human whumpee, partially human whumpee, mean caretaker, short tempered caretaker, borderline whumper caretaker, cursing, implied abuse, implied mistreatment, conditioning (if there’s ever something you want me to add please let me know I’d be happy to do so)

continued

.•° ✿ °•.

Caretaker was completely and utterly lost. They had no clue what to do, or how to even approach the thing now curled into the corner of their living room. Why the hell had they bought it?!

A small whimper of pain hit their ears, and they remembered.

It’s bloodstained wings were curled around itself—themself, Caretaker corrected in their mind— like a shield, covering their face and body. From what Caretaker had seen in the market, there wasn’t much of them that wasn’t covered in blood or dirt.

Their first instinct was to wash it—them, to throw them into the bathroom with a bucket or two of soap. There was already a path of dirty footprints across their carpet, leading right to where it sat. Caretaker could only imagine the type of stains they were leaving.

They doubted that approach would do anything. More harm than good, if they had to guess.

They sighed. One stupid impulsive decision, and now they’re stuck with this half-human thing.

“Hey, um, do you speak?” Caretaker took a step forwards, and crouched down in front of it—them. The wings ruffled, and the creature peeked out for a second. Wide eyes met theirs, before disappearing behind a curtain of dirty feathers. The seller had said it understood and spoke English, but Caretaker was having more than a few doubts. They had seemed desperate to sell it.

“My name’s Caretaker, uh, I’m not going to hurt you,” They rocked back on their heels, chewing on their bottom lip. “Can you tell me your name?”

Silence was the only thing that followed their question.

“Okay then… can you understand me at least?”

The creature’s wings fluttered slightly, opening up once again to reveal their dirt-streaked, undoubtedly human face. Their eyes were large and glassy, as they slowly nodded.

“So you can understand me,” Caretaker sat down, and crossed their legs. “Why won’t you tell me your name then?”

Though their voice remained soft, the creature flinched. Caretaker dug their nails into the carpet. They were not known for their patience.

“Please just tell me your damn name,” They exhaled through their nose, tightening their grip on the carpet.

A tear slipped from the creature’s eye, cutting a line through the grime on their face. They shook their head, lips pressing together.

“No? What do you mean ‘no’?” Caretaker pressed. Somewhere in the back of their mind, a little voice told them to stop, that they were scaring it.

The creature shook its head once more.

“Goddamn it, just tell me your fucking name!” Caretaker slammed their hands down on the carpet, and it whimpered. “Say something!”

“Wh-whumpee. My name, it-its Whumpee. I- I’m not allowed t-to speak without per-permission,” The creature whispered.

“Was me asking not permission en-” Caretaker cut themselves off, taking a second to breathe in and out, to calm themselves down.

“Whumpee. Let’s go get you cleaned up.”

[wyn-n-tonic]

I Don't Count

Word Count: 1,479 Warnings: Drinking. Mentions of a car accident (briefly). Soft caretaker baby Will Miller. It's just fluffy. Author's Note: Fully formed this out of my need for a hug and comfort and decided I wanted to write it for the only blonde haired, blue eyed man I'd ever let get in these guts.

MASTERLIST

The Millers still had a landline. Of course they did. Benny’s big brother was very staunch about his boundaries. If he wasn’t going out after work, his cellphone went off as soon as he walked across the threshold. If you needed to reach him for any reason after that, you could call the house phone.

“But it better be a goddamn emergency,” he’d always say.

She bit her thumbnail as it rang, leg bouncing to a nonsensical rhythm. A drumming only she could hear. Once, twice. It was her last ditch effort to reach her best friend, to hear his voice telling her everything is okay. Three times and,

“Hello?”

Not Benny.

She contemplates hanging up, her voice stuck somewhere in her chest. This was most certainly not an emergency no matter what the bottle she’d been nursing had to say about it. But she can’t. Can’t speak. Not to Will, not about this.

Can’t let the phone fall from her ears. Can’t even breathe.

“Shane,” he sounds concerned, “are you okay?”

“I uh—“ the breath releases, “I was looking for Benny.”

A small laugh on the other end, “it’s Tuesday, Sunshine, he’s at the gym.”

Sunshine, his nickname for her. It started out as Sunshane but he got pissed at the autocorrect of his own brain, stopped fighting it after a while.

A sharp sound rings through, a whistle to get her attention.

“You didn’t answer my question,” it’s warm, “are you okay?”

She sniffs, “yeah, Billy—“

Another laugh, both disbelieving and amused, “you can’t lie to me. What’s going on?”

“Just…” another swig, “have Benny call me when he gets home, okay?”

“Are you drinking?” Not amused.

“I’m an adult, Miller, I drink.” It’s harsh.

“Yeah,” another disbelieving laugh, this time at your boldness, “but you sound like shit. Why are you drinking?”

Because I’m forcing my feelings for you onto others and I have the gall to be shocked when it blows up in my face.

“Look,” she’s pacing the kitchen, “just have Benny give me a call when he gets home. I’m really sorry t—“

“Did that fucking boyfriend do something?”

There it is, the sob she’d been swallowing.

“Give me half an hour,” he whispers down the line, “I’ll have my cell if you need anything, okay?” —————

The bottle’s gone when there’s a knock at the door.

She jumps but settles back against the couch, believing it must be coming from somewhere deep within the wine soaked sponge of her brain.

But there it is again, “it’s me, Sunshine,” coming from the other side.

She stands too quickly, blood rushing to her head as her right foot struggles to come back to life. He knocks again, nothing if not persistent.

“Don’t make me bust down this door, you know I can do it.”

She fumbles with the chain lock with wildly inebriated fingers, scratching desperately with her nails to get it through that little fucking hole. It springs free and she’s working at the deadbolt, much simpler, before throwing the door wide to the man on the other side.

“Would you really have busted down my door, Miller?” She slurs out, ever the lightweight.

He shrugs, “yeah but… I would’ve built you a new one so…”

“What's that?” She notices the bags for the first time, swinging idly at his side.

“I figured you were about halfway through the bottle earlier when you called, based on how the swish of liquid sounded on the pho—“

She rolls her eyes, “it's fucking creepy how you do that.”

“—so I brought cheeseburgers.”

She launches unsteadily toward him, wrapping her arms around his midsection.

“May I come in?”

His scent fills her senses, fresh laundry and a hint of Tom Ford as she nods against his broad chest.

Letting go, she stumbles back into the tiny apartment, the couch taking over the entire wall of the living room, and plops back down with her feet tucked under her as she makes grabby hands for the bag in Will’s hand.

He catches her out of his peripheral while he refastens the lock on the door, “can you be patient?”

“Absolutely not,” she whines out, “I'm starving.”

He toes his shoes off at the door and pads to the front of the couch, in front of her, and kneels down. He reaches into the bag and hands her a burger, “I got you two singles because I know you feel self conscious when you try to eat a double. Even when you’re alone.”

“But I’m not alone,” she mumbles through a bite, wrapper torn in half as soon as it touched her hands.

“I don’t count, I’m just Will.”

She almost chokes at that, because he does count.

“I'm really not trying to deep throat a fucking Big Mac in front of my best friend’s older brother.”

“Oh,” he stands and kisses the top of her head, “Is that all I am?”

Absolutely not.

She watches him walk into the kitchen, the clinking of glass and the sound of the tap rushing back out to meet her.

Thoughts swim in her drunk mind, the events of the day—the phone call, the fight, the follow up text messages. Colin’s raised voice still ringing through her ears as he accused her, “I don’t know if it’s Will or Ben but you’re fucking one of them and I’m done!”

“You wanna tell me what happened?” He’s soft, pulling the wrapper from her hands and pushing a glass of water in place of it.

“Um, ya know,” she swallows hard around the lump building in her throat again, “just what typically happens with men in my life.”

He looks defeated, apologetic. Colin’s not the first to accuse her of being with a Miller. It’s been a theme of the last three—Ryan, John, Adam—and this makes four. Four men that William Miller wishes he could add to his confirmed kills list.

That’s not what she wants to hear right now though, no matter how safe his words of protection always make her feel. Because it doesn’t matter.

“I'm sorry,” his heavy hand falls on the bare skin of her calf, sending a bolt of electricity through her body.

She was relieved.

Colin wasn’t right but he wasn’t far off from the truth she’s been hiding.

She’s in love with William Miller.

“Hey, Sunshine” his rough thumb across the smooth skin guides her back, “where are you?”

The alcohol has her still, a looseness in the hurt of her heart that makes up her mind before she fully realizes the words are already coming out of her mouth.

“He’s not wrong, Billy. None of them have really been wrong.”

He laughs, fingers stilled on her leg and she is aching for the movement to return as his stare seeps through her pores.

“You and Benny got something you need to tell me?”

Her breath is shaky.

She trails her fingers along his wrist before placing her palm on the back of his. Now or never.

“I think it’s more like you and I have something to tell Benny.”

He pulls away, blue eyes piercing through her, “you're drunk, Shane.”

“Just enough to not give a shit anymore,” she whispers, lifting herself up to her knees and pressing closer to him, “I know how we look at each other, Will.”

“Benny will kill us.”

She giggles, “I’ve been to his fights, my money’s on you.”

His heart swells as his laughter jumps up to meet hers. This is the first time they’ve been alone together, properly alone, since he realized his love ran deeper than that of just a friend.

When he realized on the last mission that he just really missed the smell of her hair when she gives him a hug. Or the way she laughs the hardest out of everybody whenever he tells a dumb joke.

He came home and, to stop himself from being reckless, made sure that he was only ever around when Benny was. He didn’t want to fuck up Benny’s friendship, that was something his little brother could excel at on his own.

But now, with her full lips inches from his, he decides.

It’s a decision he made less than an hour ago when her name popped up on the caller ID—she’d only called the house phone one other time, a car accident, and that same worry seeped beneath his skin again.

Her fingers run through the soft hair on the side of his head, his lips heavy against hers as he pulls her in and pushes her down.

He breaks away, “Are you sure?”

A question that dies with a crash as she tugs him back to her and he melts against her warmth when—

Her phone vibrates.

Got a figure like a pin-up, got a figure like a doll…

Benny.

TAGLIST: @justanotherblonde23 | @greeneyedblondie44 | @icanbeyourjedi | @princess76179 | @bbuckysbeardd | @notcookiebelle | @knivesareout | @phoenixpascal | @lexi-b-writes | @empress-palpat1ne​ | @starlightmornings​ | @soyelfuegoquearde​

[hopelesshawks]

Hey hey pspspsps if ur down to write some genshin headcanons👀👀 I’d loveee to see some modern au Tohma, Xiao, Kaeya, Childe, Zhongli and Diluc headcanons 👀👀 like college age mayhaps 👀👀

Ohhh ok BUCKLE UP KIDS it’s Genshin modern college au headcanons here we go!

Warnings for alcohol mention and very brief mention of recreational drug use

I feel like I should disclaimer that I’m in a coed frat and went to a small to mid size technical school that’s pretty nerdy so my experience with frats is probably very different and not nearly as gross as the like general US State School experience can be

Tohma

Smooth talker, big man on campus 100%

Probably joined a frat literally the minute he could for the connections and so he could meet even more people

Dude has been throwing ragers since like the first month of his freshman year, you don’t know how he knows so many goddamn people on campus he just does

Seems like a player and hopeless flirt but is actually such a dorky little himbo when you get to know him

If you need any kind of recommendation on anything he’s your guy. From the best spots to nap on campus to the best restaurants within walking distance.

In a relationship he’s super open about his affection and probably is into PDA. It’s not a possessive thing, he’s just so in awe he gets to have you that he wants to enjoy every second of it so why miss out on a hug or kiss from you just because there’s a few people around

Xiao

The first several times you interacted you were probably forced too. Like you were partners on a group assignment so he had to deal with you for a little bit and eventually warmed up

Has a reputation among the rest of your class for how standoffish he is so when he started hanging out with you a few of the other people from your year legit were just like “h o w” and you can’t even give them a proper answer tbh because even you don’t know

Is probably some kind of writing/English/history major

Not only is willing to fight anyone who tries to imply his degree isn’t as useful as a STEM one, but actually has gotten in multiple, some of which almost came down to an actual physical fight before you dragged him away

Definitely pouted about you pulling him away but will yell at you if you call it pouting

In a relationship there is almost no PDA. He might hold your hand and if someone makes him jealous enough he may pull you a little closer and/or put himself between the two of you but for the most part he feels like his relationship is no one else’s goddamn business and he has no interest in giving people a show

Kaeya

The biggest little shit as always

Also joined a frat but is mostly in it for the free booze and he says the brotherhood but you’re pretty sure he just likes the way the other members hang on his every word when he speaks

Doesn’t believe in the cult-like level of loyalty some frats expect and so will 1000% report any of his fellow brothers who try to be shady/scummy/gross. No one would dare get mad at him for it so it’s actually helped the frat stay a healthy environment, 10/10 could trust the guys there with your drinks

Honestly at this point the frat is pretty much just Kaeya’s Followers(tm) and by his senior year the juniors get worried about it because “uhhh who becomes Kaeya when Kaeya graduates” and when they try to ask Kaeya this question he just winks and gives an answer that is entirely unhelpful and sounds like it’s at least 80% bullshit

Never seems to go to class and yet somehow always has amazing grades

In a relationship acts very flirty and is constantly teasing you in public, but stops short of anything above mild pda and in private gets really soft and sweet he’ll deny it if you try to point this out in front of others though

Childe

Is in the literal douchiest frat on campus fuck the Fatui like you’re constantly trying to get him to de-brother but he’s got a misplaced loyalty to them that keeps him in the organization

First time you met him you wanted to punch him in the face but he also quickly becomes the only thing stopping you from failing out of a class the two of you share and over the course of that time he manages to win you over at least a little bit

It’s all fun and games until someone pisses him off. He’s another one that you have to try and drag away from physical altercations on a semi-regular basis

Once he notices that you care enough to try and drag him away or worry about him if he’s injured in a fight, he starts picking more of them just to see your reaction

Even if y’all’s relationship is entirely platonic he flirts with you. He thinks it’s funny when he can manage to fluster you so he tries to make a game out of it even if he doesn’t actually mean any of the things he’s saying

If you guys are in a relationship he definitely packs on the PDA, partially to fluster you, partially because he’s possessive and he doesn’t like the way some of his frat brothers look at you sometimes so he wants everyone to be totally clear on who exactly you belong to

Zhongli

Still rich, still never has any fucking money on him. The number of times you’ve had to cover for this man because he’s forgotten his wallet in his dorm or straight up lost it is honestly ridiculous at this point but you can’t even be mad at it because he invites you to his family’s beach house and shit to compensate

He’s the kind of rich where his family has had money forever so he genuinely doesn’t even realize that some things aren’t normal experiences like not everyone grew up with a butler and all designer clothes, etc.

Definitely an Econ major because his parents want him to take over the family corporation but on the low has 0 intentions of doing so and actually intends to create his own start up after graduation and do something he wants to do without having to answer to anyone

He’s so pretty and for what? Mans is oblivious as fuck. Literally half the people on campus that are into dudes have a crush on him but he has no idea and if you try to point it out to him he’ll wave you off

In a relationship he’s either taking you to the shitty Mexican restaurant on campus that’s open until like 3am on weekends or five star restaurants, no in between. You’re either eating like royalty because he knows you deserve it, or eating like broke college kids because he wants the ✨experience✨

He gives me gentlemanly PDA vibes, like he’s not gonna makeout with you in the quad but he’ll kiss your hand or your cheek, hold you close to him, and otherwise make it clear that he’s very much happily in love with you

Diluc

Not only is this man not in a frat, he probably actively campaigns against their existence and isn’t quiet about hating them

Always goes to class and thus always has amazing grades

Won’t get into physical fights the way Childe and Xiao do even though he could hold his own in one if he wanted to, but regularly gets into debates with people and is not afraid to drag you into the middle of it even if it has nothing to do with you

Doesn’t drink which frequently means him playing caretaker/mom friend when y’all go to parties together and while he might complain about it he secretly loves that you trust him to take care of you if you get sloppy drunk/high/crossed

Flusters easily but good at hiding it. If you flirt with this man in public his expression won’t change while he’s telling you to stop fucking around but his face will be going as red as his hair

In a relationship he’s not a fan of PDA but is a fan of you, so while he probably keeps the affection to a minimum while you’re out and about he still is maintaining some sort of physical contact with you most of the time or at the very least is keeping you close

[falcor-thee-luck-dragon]

Love Cuts Deep

Chapter 14- New World Order

Summary: With the world back to it’s usual business, and the Avenger’s base on a long road to recovery. You and Bucky begin a new chapter in Brooklyn, New York City.

Warning: just fluff really, and some spicy talk maybe a little suggestive themes if you will

Masterlist

It’s been about three months since the events leading up to the dusting of Thanos’ whole army and the death of that giant purple bastard. Ninety-one days since Tony Starks funeral, and 2184 hours since your entire world changed for the better.

Although you’d be a sore liar if you said you didn’t miss your old life with everyone at the Avengers Facility. Even with such a dramatic new change to your life now, you miss Natasha, you miss your late night talks with Steve, and maybe you even miss that little shithead raccoon. But there has been an emerging inner peace with what you gained that just about outweighs your heavy losses.

Someone who’s brought you unconditional love and understanding in your blooming state, someone who’s helped to draw your grief and anguish out of your vessel and transform it into something golden and pure. Your sweet Bucky. If someone last year was to claim at this time you’d be living in an apartment in New York with the love of your life. Well, you’d probably have swiftly made them regret it.

But now, things are better, not one hundred percent fantastic and awesome. But so much better then yourself an entire year ago could ever have even imagined. And that’s good enough for you.

Staring intently down at your little houseplant, you gently spray it with a spray bottle before standing back to admire your caretaking skills. Not too bad. Not too bad at all. Face shifting to that of a stern army general, you get down real close to the leaves so that your face is mere inches from the soaked plant, “I hope you drink this up okay? Bucky thinks I’m gonna kill you and I’m not losing that bet to him. No sir, so don’t you die on me.” The tiny fern keeps silent for obvious reasons at your little pep talk, it’s green leaves protruding beautifully outward as you set the spray bottle onto the countertop.

“He’s gonna owe me fifty dollars if you last till October, and I don’t even care about the money. I just want bragging rights.” You whisper before standing up and wandering over to the living room window.

The city lights are glowing vibrantly in the nights atmosphere, cars and people alike traveling down below your apartment building, oblivious to the whereabouts of two Avengers a couple stories above their very heads. Two ex-assissins. Both products of Hydra. Damn you’ve got a loaded history.

“Y/N! Are you coming!” There’s a long pause of silence from your bedroom that causes you to open your mouth to answer, but before you’re able to say anything in reply, Bucky yells out, “Also I can’t find my white t-shirt, do you know where it is?! Actually never mind I’m going shirtless!”

You let out a humored snort before swiftly turning on your heel and walking down the hallway until you finally reach your bedroom door, “You know we have neighbors right?”

Bucky sends you a shy smile as he disappears into the bathroom for something, “I’m sure this place has thick walls.” He says while flipping up the ceramic toilet seat.

“Uh huh.” You mutter unconvinced, deciding to search his drawers for a spare sleeping shirt.

Noticing your snooping, Bucky finishes up before flushing the toilet and wandering out the door until he’s practically leaning against your shoulder, “Don’t you have clothes?” Questions Bucky with a small chuckle as you throw him a look.

“I need ones to sleep in.” You casually protest as he slowly nods, clearly not getting your admittedly vague point.

“Don’t you have one to sleep in?”

Picking out a grey shirt of his, you shut the dresser before taking off yours, “All my shit got destroyed when Thanos blew up the base. So I’m limited with the stuff I did buy.” He watches as you unintentionally flash him before pulling on his sleep shirt, “And I’m not exactly eager to be out and about right now. I’m still getting used to the new amount of people on this planet. Also I don’t like shopping......or people.”

Bucky nods in understanding as he follows you to the bed, though he can’t quit suppress his chuckles, “Okay fine.”

Throwing the blanket back, you raise a brow at him for that humored yet blunt remark, “Did you not want me to take this one?” You ask, speaking like you’re talking to a little puppy just to tease him more.

Rolling his beautiful blues, Bucky gets into bed as you do the same, “No. Its fine, I don’t actually care.”

Chuckling, you move to sit next to him as he lays on his back, “Good. Cause you’re shirtless and I think I like you better that way. Means I can tickle you easier.”

“Don’t you dare tickle me Y/N or I will lock you out of the bathroom again I swear.” Warns Bucky as he quickly pulls the blanket over his muscular body while you start laughing at him.

“I wasn’t gonna do that. No....definitely not.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Huh well, guess you won’t be able to cuddle me then if you don’t trust me...” Throwing the blanket off of him, Bucky quickly engulfs you into his strong arms as you squeak with surprise, pulling you down so that he can be the big spoon for tonight.

“Now you’re trapped.” Mumbles Bucky against your shoulder as his chest pushes at your back when he laughs. He thinks he’s so funny.

Holding his arm that’s pressed against your body, you gently pat it as he hums in content, “Buck, I’m thoroughly enjoying this actually so just keep your arm there, even if it falls asleep you’re not allowed to move it sucker. That’s the rules.”

“Well maybe I like those rules. Sucker.” Chuckles Bucky as you bite your lip to keep from laughing. “Now go to sleep, it’s been a long week.”

“Fine.” You mumble into the darkness as a yawn hits you right after. Soon your breaths become steady and calm as you both lay there for another thirty minutes. You are tired, it’s just, something keeps you awake that just can’t be satisfied if you keep going on like this.

“Hey.” You whisper, he gives a low hum in reply, “Buck, I forgot to tell you I have a cat.”

Opening an eye, he gently squeezes your stomach, “You have a cat? Y/N what....how...uh, where is this cat?

“I gave her to Morgan. So I guess she’s technically not mine anymore, I don’t know. Just felt like telling you that.”

“Thanks for sharing.”

“Anytime.”

The both of you go as silent as ghosts before erupting into a fit of giggles, he buries his face into your hair as his sweet laughter bounces off the walls of your room. Though soon enough does the both of your giggles die down to nothing more then the calming sounds of your breathing.

Your mind dwells with a growing fatigue though your body seems to want something else then slumber, sucking in a soft breath, you hum in thought before whispering, “Bucky.” Just to spark his curiosity.

“Yeah.”

“Uh,” Maybe you shouldn’t be asking this and just let him sleep, “how tired are you?” You ask him anyways.

He pauses for a moment before slowly answering with a mumbled, “Tired.”

You hum in acknowledgment, voice low as you answer him, “oh okay.” Immediately sparking his interest.

“Why?” Asks Bucky, intrigued with your slightly disappointed response.

“Nothing, you said you’re tired so we can sleep.”

Bucky’s head rises off of the pillow as he leans over you to try and look at your face, “Well now I wanna know so tell me.” States Bucky in curiosity before catching himself, eyes softer now, “Please.”

Sighing, you purse your lips together, knowing he’s still leaned against your shoulder but deciding to spill anyways as you half-sheepishly whisper, “I’m kinda horny.”

“Kinda?” Chuckles Bucky in an almost teasing manner as you snort.

“Listen you little shithead, I know we did it the other day but I haven’t had sex in five goddamn years give me a break for being a bit horny despite my sleepiness.” You sass, “I’m just, I’ve been feeling a lot of things since you’ve come back. And I yunno, didn’t wanna come off too strong at first so...uh...yeah.”

Bucky hums in thought, “Right, right....yeah.”

Maybe he is too tired? You let out a little huff of slight embarrassment before turning your head to face him better, “It’s just how I’m feeling right now but if you’re too tired that’s really fine with me okay Buc...oh uh...mhmm...” Your worries lost to the wind as his fingers begin slipping underneath your shirt, plush lips pressing feather light kisses against your neck to shut you up from your restless mind. His digits graze over your hardened nibble before Bucky pulls your body flush to his, stubbled chin pressed against your shoulder as he plants a tiny kiss there.

You smile into the darkness when his kisses trail up from from your shoulder to your neck and finally your cheek, he slowly turns you onto your back as his lips plant butterfly kisses all over your face as you begin chuckling at how undeniably adorable he’s being right now. Mhmm hmm you could get used to this.

His arms slip from out of your sleep shirt, soon trapping you to the bed as he hovers over your heavenly vessel, granting you with a plethora of lovely kisses all over your heated skin like he’s exploring you for the first time all over again. Your hands instinctively trail through his shortened dark locks while he draws your legs apart with his muscular torso, doing everything to further spark your growing excitment.

Tonight will indeed be wonderful.

——

Waking up from out of a decently pleasant slumber, you suck in a deep breath to awaken the senses for the day, hands feeling around the rumpled up sheets for your snuggle buddy only to find nothing but an empty bedside. He’s gotten unbelievably good at sneaking out of bed it’s honestly one of the most impressive things he can do.

Your eyes scan the semi-closed window shades to reveal a glowing darkness, it’s only 5:00am, and you know exactly where he’s gone off to even after keeping him up for half the night. Instantly you’ve slipped out of bed, not bothering to turn on the lights as you quietly wander down the hallway until you reach the living room.

Past the small kitchen, and to the left of the single lounge chair, there he is. Snoozing like a meaty log of pure muscle and Vibranium as he lays on a thin blanket flush against the hardware floor. Another blanket covering his lower half as he shifts a bit in his sleep, he’s restless. Your eyes soften at your lover, he’s been doing this recently since Steve left and the world sucked Bucky back into reality. You’ve had plenty of time to adjust of course, but for Bucky, he’s had three months since you two parted from the comfort of Wakanda to live in America as part-time Avengers.

Technically he’s only free from the government and jail time for that matter because he was pardoned by the president and thus was forced to agree upon attending mandated therapy for everything the Winter Soldier did in the past. While you on the other hand were pardoned for war crimes and your involvement with the terrorist organization Hydra because of your status as an Avenger.

Also you’re technically only still allowed to live in the United States because you live with Bucky, who is conveniently from America, so you get a free pass as long as you two plan on residing under the same roof. So it works out for you.

Suddenly his labored breaths quicken and a second later he jolts awake, now drawing himself into a seated position as little beads of sweat shine in the light of the glowing television screen that shows some unimportant sports game.

His chest rises and falls before his blue eyes blink back the vivid fuzziness of his latest nightmare, gaze slowly shifting over to you once he realizes another body is near him. When his irises catch you in the full glow of the tv, he immediately lowers his head in slight embarrassment.

“Did I wake you up again?” Mutters Bucky, almost sounding like he’s mad at himself for letting you find him like this once more.

Shaking your head, you swiftly move to seat yourself at his level before leaning your back against the lounge chair, “You never wake me up Bucky, I think I have a sixth sense for you or something cause when you leave I just know.” You chuckle lightly as he shifts himself closer to you, “Also I miss you next to me.”

His head presses against the corner of the chair as he leans down to leave a light kiss on your shoulder, “I’m sorry. I just.....I don’t want to startle you when I’m having a nightmare and wake up, well, like that.”

Turning to face him, you reach a comforting hand up to gently run it through his shortened dark hair, “You can’t scare me off that easily Barnes. I could probably be classified as the monster under your bed if we’re talking about scary things at night.”

He reveals the ghost of a smile while leaning into your touch, “I know Y/N, it’s just not fair that I do this more then I should. You shouldn’t have to wake up all alone after living like that for five fucking years....I shouldn’t be doing this.”

“oh James..” You whisper while scooting closer so that your bent knees are against his own, hand now snaked down so that you can intertwine your hands with his, “...it’s not your fault the nightmares are coming back. And as much as I miss having you near me, sometimes we all need our space when things get internally rough. I get it, believe me. But don’t ever feel sorry okay? You have nothing to say sorry for, at least not to me alright?”

Bucky nods, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze while he shows the flash of a smile, “Okay.” Whispers Bucky, eyes falling down to your intertwined fingers before he finds your gaze once more, “Let’s go to bed, the sun will be up soon and I have a therapy session today.”

“Therapy is good for you Bucky.”

He rolls his eyes as you laugh at his annoyed expression, “You are my therapy.” Protests your lover before standing and pulling you up with him.

Hugging his torso affectionately, you smirk up at him, “Wrong answer James.” Holding back a genuine grin, he simply leans down to press his lips against yours. Doing his best to shut you up from further mentioning his required therapy sessions that he absolutely loathes to attend. 

——

Hands stuffed deep within your jacket pockets, you wander in step with Bucky who brushes his right arm against yours every couple of steps on the cement sidewalk of Brooklyn. You patiently waited the full forty-five minute session for him, knowing all too well that the second he walked out of there and saw your beautiful face. He’d be significantly less grumpy then before, just as you’d suspected.

Turning your head to face him, he keeps looking straight ahead though he’s aware enough to know you’re about to say something about the session, “You didn’t mention the nightmares did you.” Bucky huffs, annoyed at getting so easily caught by your observant intellect about him. You can read him like a book.

“No.” A blunt answer, he knows there’s no point in lying. “She thinks I need to call more people. Be more social or something.....it’s stupid.” He grumbles to himself though your ears catch it all the same.

You hum in agreement, “Well it wouldn’t kill you to call Sam, I know he tries to text you sometimes...”

“Does he text you?”

“Yeah.” You reply before playfully nudging his arm, “And unlike you, I answer. He’s just a concerned friend, which is nice, you need those kind of people.”

“I don’t need anyone but you Y/N. I’m good, really.”

Rolling your eyes, you snort as he throws you a half offended look, “Babe, I love you. But it’s admittedly a good thing to have other friends other then me. I know this from experience as we both know, so, give him a call sometime okay? For me.”

“Ugh, fine.” He begrudgingly mutters, “But only for you, that’s it.” Smiling brightly at him, you’re about to add something else when the sounds of your friend Yori rings loud in the bustle of the city as he argues with his annoyance of a neighbor, Unique. Something about trash and putting it in the wrong bin.

Bucky soon comes to the rescue and quickly puts an end to the argument before Yori decides to throw hands and gets himself in trouble. The stubborn old man gives up on his yelling and soon Bucky is able to convince him to get lunch with the two of you.

To the sushi place you go.

“Nobody made it past 90 this week.” Says Yori sadly as you lean against Bucky’s shoulder to catch a glimpse of the newspaper that he’s holding in one hand while you use your chopsticks to stuff a chunk of sushi in your mouth.

“So young. Such a shame.” Mutters Bucky with a shake of his head while he takes another bite of his meal.

“You guys didn’t order the usual, huh? Feeling a little adventurous?” Smiles Leah as you take a sip of your water, she loves when you three come in during her shift. Honestly she’s heard a lot of your complaining over the last couple weeks, though it’s usually just about some city annoyance since you don’t want to scare her off with all the real shit you’ve dealt with. You’re trying to make friends after all.

You acknowledge her with a raise of your drink before setting it on the glass counter, “Oh yeah, I like to live a little on the wild side..” You add with a laugh, “..unfortunately I tend to drag them along with me.”

Yori nods, “I enjoy the adventure.” Before pointing to Bucky, “It’s him right here who is scared of getting his feet wet.”

Leah laughs at the adorably confused face of Bucky as he sends the old man a look while you snicker in amusement. “Yori.” Warns Bucky without an once of aggression while you give his shoulder a gentle squeeze of affection.

“What?” Protests Yori, “I am right and you know it. Y/N am I not right?”

“Oh, you’re definitely not wrong.” Bucky pouts as you give his stumbled cheek a light peck, eyes set back onto your delicious sushi as he pretends to be annoyed by you and and Yori’s teasing.

The three of you continue to chomp down on your weekly lunch days meal at the usual sushi spot for another minute longer. Yori’s eyes suddenly sparking with a thought that you know he’s absolutely not going to keep to himself.

“You know what?” Whispers Yori as he leans in closer to Bucky, quit obviously pointing a finger towards you though you simply ignore them as he continues, “You better treat your woman well okay? She’s a good one...Ah I have a perfect idea. You go on a date, like dancing or....or, bingo.” Suggests the old man as your smile grows.

Bucky’s brows furrow as he whispers back, “We’re already dating.”

Yori nods, “You misunderstand my point, you must keep the flame going always okay? Very important, very important. When was the last time you gave her flowers huh? Went to the park? Whooed her..”

“I bought her a plant.” Says Bucky defensively as he side eyes you, “I, I whoo her.”

The old man smiles, “Good, good. That’s how you keep them around for a long time. Don’t forget that, I know what I’m talking about.”

“I’m sure you do.” Mumbles Bucky as you suppress the urge to laugh at their adorable conversation about how to treat a significant other right. That significant other being you.

——

Seated crisscrossed on the wooden floor of yours and Bucky’s shared apartment, a single thin blanket underneath you, your eyes squint suspiciously at Bucky like you don’t believe a single thing he’s saying. He’s seated on a pillow across the small coffee table, raising a dark brow at you while he holds back a growing smirk.

Your eyes soon shift down to the board before slowly trailing over his forced stoic face, “Well, Mr. Barnes....you’re a strong captain I’ll admit. But I am a skilled sea traveler of my own. E7.” His blue irises flicker down to his board, expression shifting ever so slightly in irritation, you got him.

Biting his lip, his hands move from behind the plastic board of the game that you can’t see, “How about that.” States Bucky with a genuinely impressed nod, “You sunk my battleship.”

Instantly your hands ball into fists, “Yessss.” You whisper joyously as your eyes squint in happiness for your first ever win against the literal master of Battleship. “Ha ha sucker! I won! I fucking won!” You shout with passion as he leans back on one arm to watch you jump up into a theatrical victory dance. God he loves you so much. You dangerous little goofball.

Swinging your arm dramatically in a circle, you shake your hips before winding down your dramatics to wander on over to Bucky who’s still seated on the floor, shimmering blues never leaving yours. Smirking victoriously, you crouch down to meet his humored gaze, “I think I deserve a prize.....and by prize I mean you get me those gummy worm things from the corner store. I deserve it after all.”

He tilts his head, the corners of his mouth rising as his eyes flicker to your lips for a brief moment, “Do you now?” He smiles lovingly though a sudden mischief sparkles in his eyes.

“Yes. This was the first time I ever won so I definitely deserve some type of reward for my efforts.” You state justly, eyes narrowing as you add, “Or I will battle you, and I’m not talking about the game.”

Bucky tilts his head up, an alluring smile playing at his plush pink lips while his eyes flicker to your mouth once again, oh he is certainly not going to get you naked in an attempt at swaying your mind from those gummies. You’re an ex-assassin who deserves some damn gummies every once in awhile. And his ass is gonna get you them, it’s only fair after all.

“Y/N.” Coos Bucky in that sultry voice of his, metal hand reaching up to touch your beautiful face, but as his fingers come within an inch of your precious skin. You shoot a hand up to clasp against his in an iron grip, blue eyes immediately going big when you tuck and roll. Taking his whole body with you.

In the swift aftermath, you’re able to skillfully pin him to the ground with relative ease. Both your hands pressed firmly against his naked wrists as you lean your face mere inches from his own, “I warned you, didn’t I?” You tease playfully as he breaks out into an inviting grin.

“I have something else in mind that you’ll absolutely love.” Assures Bucky with a telling expression that does nothing to hide the lust that flashes through them.

“In that case, pin me to the floor. And I’m all yours for the evening.” You whisper slyly as he practically shivers underneath your touch, “But if I win, you gotta travel two blocks for those delicious bitches. Khorosho, lyubov' moya?” You add in your native tongue of Russian, translating to “okay, my love” before pressing your forehead against his, eyeing him up like a bull ready to fight.

Bucky lets out a little sigh, something between annoyance and pleasure, “Fine. But you’re going dow...” Your lips crash against his in a hot second of passion before you quickly pull away, letting go of his wrists as you move to stand in a defensive position nearby.

Slowly blinking, he lets out a little huff before pulling himself to his full height, eyes trailing over you as he raises a brow, “Now that wasn’t fair.”

You casually shrug, “What wasn’t fair? We made a deal Barnes.”

Bucky rolls his eyes at your teasing, “You know what I...okay, okay. We’re really doing this?”

You shrug at his adorable expression, “You either have to walk 2 blocks in the dark for my treat, or a night of undeniably fantastic sex is within your reach. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy it, it’s the principle of the thing here. So, I’m going to fight you James Buchanan Barnes.” Oh and you used his full name too, Bucky knows without a doubt, it’s on.

He reveals a little smirk at that, “Guess I don’t have much of a choice. Hmm alright hot stuff let’s do this.” Muses your lover as he draws his hands up into fists, ever so slowly approaching you like a wary predator to their opposing rival. Not so sure if this is going to be a fight he can win or not, well, it sure won’t be an easy one.

When he’s within arms reach, you swiftly duck under his swift jab to your right arm, shooting a leg out to push him away from you while your body twists around to meet him. “Cheap shot.” Mumbles Bucky, calculated gaze studying your every movement as you slowly wander closer to him.

Looking as innocent as ever, “I want some gummy worms, I’ll break you little man.” Accent dripping with every word, further arousing Bucky though he tries to play it off with a laugh and a shake of his head.

Soon the two of you engage in a swiftly heated battle of hand to hand combat showing your admittedly intense skills of what only a former assassin could display so fluidly. Your two bodies moving like seasoned dancers across the hardwood flooring of your apartment, though you’re surprisingly able to keep relatively quiet as he blocks your fists. Can’t disturb those pesky neighbors.

Bucky shifts left just as you narrowly scrape your right elbow against his shoulder with a high jab from your elbows desperate upper cut, you slide on the hardwood under the false presumption that he’s out of reach when his flesh arm swings out to catch you in your stomach with a loud hollow thud. Ouch!

Instantly your throat emits a strange squeak as you feel the air knocked out of your precious lungs, clearly you had not anticipated this turn of events and neither does Bucky who immediately looks like he just accidentally stepped on a puppies little paw. “Y/N!” Worries Bucky with wide eyes as you keep hunched over, trying to suck in some needed oxygen.

Pulling some air into your lungs, you pretend to hobble over to the couch like a beaten down boxer, “Mm hmgood, yep.” You rasp out, resting your upper half on the couch as Bucky quickly approaches your side. But before he’s able to lay a comforting hand onto your shoulder, you swing a decorative pillow right at his head.

The puffy fabric knocks him onto his ass, earning a surprised grunt in the process as you tower above him, smirking like a trickster goddess over a poor lost and lonely traveler. Bucky rubs his reddened cheek, brows furrowed as he whines, “Y/N.” Like a little child who just got something taken from them by another kid.

Smirking a satisfied grin, you kneel down to meet his level, raising up a hand to gently draw his chin upwards to face you better, “That hurt you dickhead.” You muse as Bucky pouts, “ Y/N, I didn’t mean too..”

“I know.” You chuckle, “Now make it better.” You slyly add with a suggestive implication in your tone that causes Bucky to raise a brow. Letting go of his stubbled chin, you seat yourself onto the floor, facing Bucky as he reaches his metal hand out to pull you in closer to him.

Just about shoulder to shoulder with him, he gently presses his Vibranium hand to your cheek before pulling your face closer to his, soon the two of you lock lips with one another as his other hand snakes around to pull you onto him.

Ever so gently do you follow him to the floor as he continues to passionately make out with you like there’s no tomorrow. Metal and flesh hand feeling you up from your breasts to your bum as you straddle your man, hands trailing through his shortened hair while he fully enjoys this new positioning and turn of events.

Bucky presses wet kisses all around your cheeks and lips while he begins nonchalantly unbuttoning your pants, clearly hoping this will continue further and that all thoughts of those delicious gummy worms are out the door. You won’t lie to yourself though, caging Bucky’s thick torso underneath your opened legs is an admittedly pleasant experience to say the least.

So when he snakes his hands up under your shirt and starts messaging your breasts through the fabric of your bra, your mind begins thinking of some other things a bit more important then some simple treat from the local corner store. He knows just how to turn his favorite lover into a pile of puddy with nothing more then his mouth and fingers. This little shithead isn’t even inside you yet, you’re not even naked for goodness sakes!

But alas, a bet is a bet, and you don’t like to lose. Smirking into the kiss, and holding back a moan as Bucky’s digits squeeze your soft breasts, you tug on his hair before pulling away from his pleasantly inviting lips. Earning a palpable pout of confusion from your man, who’s noticeably grown hard against your bum.

“Y/N?”

“Bucky.” You tease back, imitating his voice once again as he throws you a puzzled look, “Don’t give me that shit Barnes I know what you’re trying to do.”

“And what am I trying to do?” Sasses Bucky as he rests his hands onto either side of your hips.

You raise a brow down at him, “These shenanigans.”

Bucky smiles, head falling back onto the floor as he laughs, “That’s not, no I’m not doing any shenanigans I swear....I just, maybe I just want to show my girl how much I love her.” Replies Bucky, though you stay unconvinced.

“We had a deal remember?”

“Yeah well, none of us won so..”

“Oh really?” You challenge, “Then why are you on your back and I’m right here as the victorious one? Who by the way has earned her gummy worms fair and square James Buchanan Barnes.”

Bucky groans, “oh come on Y/N....I can’t go now. Have some pity on me please?”

“And why not?”

He gently gives your hips an affectionate squeeze, “Because, my beautiful she-wolf who I love so very much and cherish every day of my life forever and alw..”

“Get to the point I want those damn gummies.” You threaten with a stern look though he knows you don’t truly mean it of course, but he has successfully annoyed you. “What is the problem this time?”

Bucky throws you a sheepish grin as he takes one of your hands in his, “Because I’m hard.” Sincere and straight to the point.

Pursing your lips together in amused irritation, you remove his hand from your hip, “Well, you did that to yourself babe I can’t help how amazing I am just existing. Really get over yourself.” You playfully tease before standing above him as his eyes never once leave your beautiful face, “Those gummies aren’t going to buy themselves.”

Bucky sighs dramatically shaking his head as he whispers, “You’re a monster of the greatest evil.” Smiling like a lovestruck idiot despite his neutrally spoken words.

You chuckle, stepping over him to pick up a pillow, “That’s me. Now don’t give me a reason to show you my claws.”

He quickly rises to his full height, another fallen pillow in hand as he tries to hide his hardened member behind it like some shitty magic act, “I’m just, I’m gonna hold this pillow for you. Not important why.”

“Uh huh.” You muse as he watches you clean up Battleship, putting all the pieces away and into the particular box before shoving it underneath the couch. When you go to fold the furniture's decorative blanket, a knock is heard at the door.

“Not it.” Mutters Bucky as you throw him an annoyed glance, already aware of who this is by their familiar scent. You walk over to the door and open it as Bucky hides in the background, pillow still covering his tented crotch.

“Hello Mrs. Brego you need help with your windows again?” You speak in Italian to your neighbor from down the hall. The old woman smiles before giving you a little shake of her head indicating a no.

“No dear, just telling you there’s cops downstairs for that guy from Chicago I think, so if you plan on going out. I wouldn’t choose tonight, the whole lobby is filled with people I think he might have been into drugs.” Warns the sweet old woman as you slowly nod, knowing all to well that Bucky most certainly heard everything.

Faking a smile, you shrug, “Wasn’t planning on going out tonight anyways. Well, thanks again. See you when I see you.” She smiles brightly before turning to walk down the hallway and into her own apartment, you watch until she shuts her door just to make sure nothing bad happens on your time.

Feeling comfortable that’s she’s fine, you shut and lock the door, pursing your lips as you turn around to face a smirking Bucky. He’s still holding the pillow against his junk, but he looks incredibly full of himself standing there with that stupidly handsome face of his. Those eyes. That smile. His body......no, focus.

Bucky goes to open his mouth but before he can say something sarcastic you throw a hand up to stop him, “Not a word.” You deadpan before turning to walk down the hallway, stopping yourself to glance over your shoulder, “Give me five minutes and then you can come to bed. But you better be naked or else.”

Bucky snorts as you practically swagger down the short hallway and into your shared bedroom. Closing the door as you prepare yourself for a late night of adventuring each others bodies.

Oh tonight will be something indeed.

-

Tagged: @diegos-butt  @minigranger @bibliophilewednesday @holyhumorliteraturelight @lilacs-lavender @a-girl-who-loves-disney @starkssnarks @vikingqueen28 @bizarrebibitch @atomicpersonacheesecake @jmstz @staygoldsquatchling02 @marvelbros-oneshots @shawnartmendes @mischiefmanaged71 @jckie94 @iamasimpingh0e @mjaudrey​   @thescarlettvvitch

[redstainedsocks]

Wrong

I've had this half-written in my docs for a long while, under the heading "doorstep collapse" so I think it was for a prompt or whump event but I don't remember which one...

Normal story this time, not the AU!

Content: sick fic, fainting, delirious whumpee, hospital setting, use of sedatives, reference to noncon drug use, mentioned death threat and manner of death, overwhelmed caretaker

[Masterlist]

One or two of the team had taken to sleeping at the office at a time so that Zach was never there alone. Archer wanted to stay every night, always eager to be nearby in case something happened, but he’d been convinced to go home at least one out of every three nights.

He’d spent last night at home, sleeping guiltily in his own soft bed, miles and miles from where his best friend was holed up in a sparse, grey room that was as far from homely as Archer could imagine. Though he knew for Zach it was probably the most comfort he’d had in years, which made Archer feel even worse.

He’d slept well at home, exhausted from late nights and stress, but he would much rather have been here. The pull out couch in the break room was lumpy and not long enough for his tall frame but he still preferred it these days. Zach was just down the hall and it soothed a tightness in Archer’s chest to be close by. To know he could walk down the corridor and lay eyes on the person he thought he’d lost.

He was still untangling his own mix of grief and disbelief, but he knew it was easier to bear the guilt of having left Zach with his kidnappers if he was at least around to make sure it didn’t happen again; if he could be there to help Zach feel safe now.

It was easier not to have to examine his emotions and thoughts at all, if he was so exhausted that he couldn’t think straight.

Zach had gone to bed a couple of hours ago and he had sat up flicking through paperwork, trying to keep busy even as his eyes itched with tiredness. His ‘bed’ was made up ready for the night but he was sprawled on top of it, putting off the moment of sleep until he could close his eyes and be instantly drawn under.

He was surprised to hear a soft knock at the door, tentative, the sound of someone off balance slumping on the other side. Maybe Zach couldn’t sleep either? Maybe he’d finally had a nightmare and come for company—something none of them had seen him do yet.

“It’s open,” he said, half sitting up.

The door swung inward and Zach teetered on the threshold. His eyes roved across the room, landing on Archer but darting away again.

“Zach?” Archer was up and off the bed in an instant, but paused a meter or so away, as Zach looked flighty and liable to flinch at any contact.

“Ar-cher.”

“Yeah?”

“I think,” Zach spoke and it was slurred and he clung to the doorframe. “I think something is wrong.”

Archer barely had time to react before Zach’s eyes rolled backward and his body crumpled underneath him. Archer caught him just before his head hit the floor.

Time was standing still and moving too fast all at once. The ambulance had taken what felt like hours to arrive, while Archer sat there cradling Zach—delirious, feverish, burning up and shaking like a leaf.

The private hospital they were in now was clean, clinical, and calm. Quiet. Discrete. It was a good place to keep Zach hidden and secure, but being there still set his teeth on edge. He paced the corridor-like waiting room back and forth, glad that no one told him to stop. The team had all been called; Sasha had been the one who turned up and stayed. She was a quiet, steady presence. And though he could tell from the line of her tense muscles that she was as worried as he was, she let him be the one to fall apart while she held it together.

Zach had a fever, something was infected. The doctors just couldn’t find where or what. They hadn’t been allowed to see him. Yet. Archer hoped that would change soon.

He rubbed his face tiredly. “I should get more coffee.”

“I think coffee is the last thing you need,” Sasha replied, calmly. “Come sit down.”

He glanced at her and shook his head. He needed to be moving, doing. “If he—” Archer couldn’t even bring himself to say it. “After everything, if this is too much for his body to handle…”

“Nothing is going to happen, the doctors are gonna fix it.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Don’t I?” She levelled him with a look that could surely make a mountain bow down and grovel.

“How didn’t we notice something was wrong?”

“He doesn’t let us near him, not really.”

Finally, he slumped into a seat beside her. “I should’ve watched out for him more carefully, checked he was okay. I should’ve… I owe him. We just… we can’t let him down again, we have to do better.”

“Archer, we’re doing everything we can,” she said gently.

“It’s not enough!” He snapped. “We abandoned him! We just left him there and now we can’t even take care of him? Can’t even tell what he needs?”

“Montgomery Archer, sit. Back. Down,” she hissed.

He hadn’t even realised he was standing. He looked down at her, the unfairness still burning through him, how could she not care? Until he saw her face, eyes glistening, and realised the strength of will it was taking for her to hold it together.

“This is a goddamn hospital and this is not the time,” she said, squeezing her hands between her knees. “We thought he was dead, and there’s shit all we can do about it now. You can have a breakdown about it later, but not now, not like this.”

He took a seat, sheepishly. “Sorry. I… seeing him collapse like that has me all churned up.”

“Don’t apologise, you big oaf. Just breathe, and know they’re doing everything they can, and give yourself some damn slack while you’re at it.” She sniffed and turned away.

He scooted down in his chair and leaned against her shoulder, glad she didn't shrug him off, and relieved not to be alone.

*

They were finally allowed in the room once Zach was stabilised. Allowed in because, in the doctor’s words… Zach was resistant. Archer hadn’t really understood the implications of that, his mind taken up with thoughts of he’s fine, he’s alive, they’ve got it under control.

But now… he could see what they meant. Zach was fighting the sedative, semi-conscious and struggling, suffering. He couldn’t really move, but his eyes were open and he was frightened, terrified, but so obviously not-really-here, either. Whatever had happened these past two years Zach had built up some tolerance to the drugs they’d given him and it was heart-breaking; seeing him foggy but alert, unsure of where he was and unable—but so desperate—for something he couldn't name or do.

“See if you can get him to remain calm, he needs to rest,” the doctor said, arms crossed in concern as his eyes roved over Zach’s prone form. “We can’t try him on anything else until this one is out of his system but even then… He’s been asking for someone, we assumed, well, it might be you?”

Archer nodded, cleared his throat. ‘Right, yeah. He knows me, I can—I’ll do what I can. Anything I should be careful of?”

“Just mind the IV line, and call us in if he gets more agitated or anything changes.”

“Okay, I’ve got this. Thank you, Doctor.”

He did not have this. Not even a little bit. He felt completely out of his depth. He loved Zach like a brother, had loved him and mourned him, and now… felt like he barely knew him. What qualified him to take care of Zach like this? He wrung his hands and stepped closer as Sasha sidled around to the other side of the bed. Zach’s eyes tried to track her, and lost her somewhere along the way. His breathing sped up again, bloodshot eyes wide and aimlessly roving as his fingers twitched on the bed sheets.

“Please, please,” Zach murmured. Whispered, almost. It was slurred but unmistakable.

Sasha gave Archer a look, and nodded to the bed. He shook his head. She raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms and they stared each other down.

I can’t do this. He hoped she understood what his look implied.

Her answering look seemed to say you’re not even trying.

He threw his hands up in defeat and stepped closer. Zach’s eyes landed on Archer’s face and he twitched feebly, shivering in his sparse hospital bed.

“‘M good, I’ll be good, please.”

Archer leaned against the bed, trying to look reassuring, confident. “Yeah, you’re doing really well, okay? We’ve got you, nothing to worry about.”

Zach’s hand jerked and his mouth opened and closed before he whined. “Hurts.”

“I know, buddy, I know.” He looked at Sasha who nodded, so he took Zach’s hand and lightly squeezed. “It’s alright.”

“Please, you promised. Promised.”

That took Archer by surprise and he sucked in a breath, biting his tongue.” I know, I-I said nothing else bad would happen to you, I didn’t know this would happen…”

There was a frustrated look on Zach’s face and his eyes filled with tears, his head flopped a little, side to side. “You promised.”

Archer did the only thing he could think of, he squeezed Zach’s hand tighter and dragged the chair by the bed closer so he could sit and be a calming presence. He wouldn’t abandon Zach, not again, no matter how much Zach yelled and cried at him, broken-hearted though it made him to know he’d let Zach down another time.

“I’ll do whatever--ever you want. Sir, please,” Zach’s voice cracked and he mumbled into incoherence, all in a pleading, painfully placating tone.

Archer’s eyes shot up and he met Sasha’s across the bed, looking as concerned as he did as realisation dawned on them both. Zach wasn’t here.

“Where do you think you are, Zach?” she asked quietly.

Zach--who had flinched at sound of his own name--whimpered. “Can’t--don’t know.”

“You’re safe, we’re here, me and Sasha, and the team has our back. You’re in hospital,” Archer said.

Zach looked at him, clearly, finally. “Promise? Keep your word, like you promised?”

“What did I promise you?” It was a calculated risk to play into whatever Zach thought he was seeing, but he needed to know, didn’t he?

“You said… said you wouldn’t lemme die like this. Not like this. A bullet, you promised, not--not sick, not slowly.”

Archer couldn’t breathe, he blinked furiously to try to keep the tears at bay. “I promise, no-one is dying, not here. Not like this.”

Zach breathed out and tears ran down his cheeks as he closed his eyes and rested his head heavily on the pillows. “Promise. And I’ll be good.”

It seemed to be enough to make Zach settle, and he fell into a fitful doze. Sasha brushed hair back from his forehead and checked the lines in the IV on his right hand. Archer brought Zach’s left hand to his face and kissed the back of his wrist, rubbed his thumb in a circle and then laid it down on the sheets and sat back to bury his face in his own hands.

He jumped when Sasha touched his shoulder and scrubbed hastily at his eyes. “We don’t leave him, one of us stays with him until he’s himself again,” he said, voice thick. “We can’t let him get lost in his own head.”

“I’ll get us something to eat,” she said. “We’ll see him through this.” She left quietly, slipping out the door with graceful ease so they kept their privacy.

He nodded. They would. But really… what could they do in the face of all this?

“What the hell did they do to you?” he whispered to the quiet room.

Zach was too far gone to answer.

@haro-whumps @whumpthisway @hurting-fictional-people @lonesome--hunter @crowned-avery @extrabitterbrain @firewheeesky @outofangband

[lihikainanea]

Bill coming back from a shoot and instead of it being this intense first fuck, Tiger is being so sweet to him and giving him soft kisses. Bill makes sure it’s okay if he’s rough bc it’s been awhile, she agrees bc she needs it too, but she’s been trying her best to hide she’s been small so he can just get what he needs. Once he gets her on her elbows and knees, fucking her fast and hard, the moans start but tears start to flow too. Bill is good dude and knows he loves a girl who can be emotional, especially during sex, and he grabs her hair so she looks at the mirror. He’s looking at her, saying things like “Look at my pretty girl, so wet for me” and the whole time she’s just mumbling Billy and some iteration of it feels so good. She also starts thanking him which makes his ego skyrocket. (This was longer than intended but it had been living in my consciousness rent free)

oh man, this is a mood.I'll bet it's one of those situations where the smaller she gets for him, the more his alpha side roars and he has a hard time reeling it in. Usually, it's his protective side that wins out--his soft side, his need to take care of her when she's like this--but something about being back from a shoot, about having thought of her for weeks, throwing her on her knees for him, making her scream. Something about it being so long and how he's been walking around with a perpetual hard on the entire time, god he comes home just needing to fuck it out and make her toes curl. But like, he notices, right? He always notices when she's small for him. And man, maybe he needs to be a bit selfish. Maybe he's fully aware that there's no way he can be as gentle as she might need, in that moment--so before he even lays a hand on her, he needs to check in. And he needs to do it fast, because the more her lips are pressed to his, the most he can hear the soft whine in her throat, the more he feels every ounce of self control he has flying out the fucking window.

"Tiger," he breaks away from her suddenly, trying to put distance between them just so he can focus for a goddamn second. She whimpers at the loss of contact, and he grits his teeth.

"I don't..." he chokes, "I don't think this will be gentle, sweet girl."

"It's okay," she murmurs, reaching for him again. He steps back.

"You're so small for me kid," he rasps, "My good girl. But I need you so, so bad."

She steps into him, pulling him down for another kiss.

"Tiger--" he warns, breaking apart from her again. "I need--"

"Take it," she interrupts, "Take what you need."

"Are you sure, kid?" he's trying to hang on for just a bit longer, just a bit more to make sure she's okay with it. She nods, but a quick snap of his fingers and her eyes are on his.

"Yes," she answers.

"You'll tell me? If--"

"Yes," she whimpers, "Please, Billy. Just take it."

and that's his undoing. She doesn't have to tell him again. And like, poor Bill is just so pent up that he's an animal--and there absolutely isn't anything gentle about it. But even then, even when he pushes her onto all fours and slams into her, even when he fists her hair in his hand and pull her head back, makes her watch him wreck her, he still finds a way to make sure she's alright.

"Colour?" he chokes out between groans, his hand on her hip and one in her hair as he yanks her back onto his length.

"Green," she sobs, "More, Billy. Please more."

And she's flat out crying from the intensity of it all, thick tears streaming down cheeks. She's whining and begging for him, repeating his name over and over, and when Bill finally loses it and slams in deep, fills her up with his release, tiger on't even balance on all fours anymore and she crumbles in on herself.

"Thank you," she mumbles, "Thank you thank you thank you..."

Bill's head could just fucking explode from it, god she drives him crazy in the best way.

"Take it kid," he grunts in her ear, "All of it."

He holds her there, lifting her up as much as he can so she can rest against him instead of the floor. She's boneless in his arms, just complete jelly, and he tries to get her more comfortable without moving too much--if he shifts, he'll slip out of her and he knows that would be too much for her to handle when she's like this.

And y'know, for as much as tiger enjoyed that--she always likes when his primal side takes over a little bit--he knows that it's not quite what she needed. Tiger needs his softer side now, she needs his caretaker side, his protector side. She needs something slow and soft, something that completely envelops her, something she can get lost in. She needs his safety and comfort. And there will be plenty of time for slow now, for something soft and sweet, his thumb in her mouth, his lips on her neck, his weight on her as he takes his time and just slowly rocks in and out, building her up forever and letting the wave crash over her as many times she can handle.

[collapse-and-comfort]

So @lurkingwhump completely spoiled me by requesting I use this post (one of my favorite things) by @aliceinwhumperland “where the whumpee is scared of the medical personnel because of something the whumper did to them. They’re struggling against the sympathetic medics, and the caretaker just can’t take it, so they enter the treatment room and manage the calm the terrified whumpee down with loving touches and soothing words, promising to stay there with the whumpee.” I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed writing this! Thank you so much!!! 💕💕💕

(CW: Hospital setting, implied medical torture, panic attacks)

Leave it alone, Caretaker told themself as their nurse finished up stitching their split brow. They could hear raised voices coming from a room down the hall. They didn’t have to know it was coming from Whumpee’s room to know it was coming from Whumpee’s room.

Though the medical staff hadn’t given them much choice in the matter, Caretaker regretted leaving Whumpee’s side. They nodded their way through the nurse’s recommendations for further wound care. They were too polite to say they’d had enough wounds in their lifetime and that they knew that song and dance by heart. To their credit, they waited until the nurse finished speaking before stalking off toward Whumpee.

Just barely.

They broke into a jog when they heard a crash and shouting,

Shit!

In the room, there was a curtain obstructing their view, but that didn’t stop Caretaker. The metallic slide of the curtain rings on the rail didn’t pause the scene in front of them. A stand laid on its side and various medical supplies were scattered in a chaotic pattern on the orderly blue and white checkered tiles.

And then there was Whumpee. They stood, chest heaving, as they fought with Doctor and Nurse who were trying to reason with them. Whumpee looked helpless and utterly pathetic in their pale, spotted gown. Their pallor made them look like they were fit for a grave, rather than a hospital bed.

“No! NO! Let me go!” Whumpee snarled as they tried to pull away. They would have, Caretaker guessed, had they not been so weakened. “Don’t touch me!”

“Easy,” the doctor said as they adjusted their gentle, gloved grip on Whumpee’s wrist and pressed a hand to their shoulder, trying to keep them still or get them back onto the bed. “You’re safe, Whumpee. Please try to-”

“No!” Whumpee yelled as they tried even more desperately to wrench themself free.

Caretaker knew in the pit of their stomach this was not going to end well.

“Whumpee,” Caretaker said. They didn’t raise their voice. It was soft and casual. They were there.

Doctor’s attention flickered over to Caretaker. They expected to be rebuked, but whatever authoritative words were on the Doctor’s lips fell short when they recognized Caretaker as someone who could potentially help calm Whumpee.

Cursing and writhing, Whumpee took that opportunity to twist violently enough that Nurse and Doctor had no choice but to relinquish their holds. They moved backward with uncoordinated steps and they glared at the other three people in the room. Their face was bloodless and their mouth was agape, as though there were no words for the pain and no amount of breath they could draw could quell their panic.

Caretaker moved next to Doctor and Nurse. They had to do something.

“Can you give us some space?” They asked, keeping their voice low and as unobtrusive as possible. Nurse and Doctor exchanged an inscrutable look, but they both nodded and backed away toward the other side of the room.

For a horrible second, Whumpee looked at Caretaker as though they were a stranger and the lines of their body were unreadable. Caretaker couldn’t guess if they were going to run for the door or take a swing at them. Perhaps they would tear themself apart instead.

“Caretaker?” Whumpee said. Their words came out in a rushed whisper. “ I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t, I didn’t!”

They began to gulp air in through their mouth and they stumbled backward until their back struck the wall. Panic flashed over Whumpee’s face when Caretaker reached out to help them and Caretaker retracted their hand.

“Hey, Whumpee,” they said. They felt their throat tighten, but they kept their emotions at bay. “Hey, hey, hey. No one’s going to hurt you. I would never hurt you.”

Whumpee’s eyes looked distant as their knees gave out and they sank to the ground. They drew their knees up to their chest and they covered their head with their arms. Caretaker thought they were going to collapse in on themself.

“Oh, Whumpee,” Caretaker said. The sharp, desperate sounds of Whumpee’s breathing made Caretaker feel like a blathering idiot, but a stubbornly solemn part of them focused on Whumpee and doing whatever they needed to do for them. “It’s okay, Whumpee. Nobody’s mad at you. We’re all here to help, okay?”

Caretaker heard another stuttered apology as Whumpee cringed tighter into themself. They stepped closer and crouched down, careful not to obscure Whumpee’s path to the open door. They weren’t quite an arm’s length away. Caretaker hoped they seemed unthreatening, that Whumpee could understand them.

“Whumpee?” Caretaker asked. No response. “Hey, Whumpee. It’s Caretaker. You’re safe, okay? I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are. I’m here with you. I’m...I’m going to put a hand on your leg, okay?”

Caretaker put a slow, careful hand on one of Whumpee’s knees, hoping to anchor them. Whumpee allowed the contact, but continued to gasp.

“Deep breath, Whumpee.” Caretaker said. “Can you take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth?”

Whumpee took some deep, but jolty breaths that quivered back out of them. Then Caretaker heard a change. Their breath was quieter, steadier. Caretaker watched Whumpee’s shoulders move up and then down when they let the breath rush out of their mouth. It could have been an eternity - Caretaker was unsure - but Whumpee’s breathing became something closer to normal. (In Caretaker’s periphery, they saw Nurse gathering the fallen supplies and cart before leaving the room.)

“Good, Whumpee,” they said as they breathed a cautious sigh of relief and moved their hand to Whumpee’s shoulder. “Just like that. Nice and easy.”

Whumpee slid their arms from over their head and tucked them between their thighs and their stomach. Gooseflesh broke out on Caretaker’s arms as they remembered the needle marks on the crook of Whumpee’s arm and on their neck.

Whumpee raised their head and looked at Caretaker, who was uncertain what emotion truly ruled over their features. Sadness, fear, anger and humiliation were warring with one another.

Caretaker ran the pad of their thumb back and forth over Whumpee’s shoulder. Though they were breathing more calmly, Whumpee was shaking. Caretaker wished there was something they could do to change what happened to Whumpee, the vast majority of which they were still clueless about, but they knew that the energy they spent wishing they could change the past was better spent helping Whumpee.

“You need to let the doctors help you,” Caretaker said. “It’s okay, I’m right here.”

Whumpee remained silent. Something glazed over in their eyes and they shook their head ever so slightly.

There was an announcement over the intercom, and bustling in the hallway. Another crisis in another area. Maybe that’s what hospitals were for, the compartmentalization of agonies. Caretaker needed to convince Whumpee of the safety and necessity of their own room, that their pain could be contained.  

“I can’t do this,” came Whumpee’s voice.

“Do what, Whumpee?” Caretaker asked as they continued to rub Whumpee’s shoulder, then their back.

“This,” they said, their words strained and hopeless. They eyed the room and Doctor before looking back down as if in defeat. “Any of this.”

“Okay,” Caretaker whispered as they moved their hand up to brush Whumpee’s hair behind their ear. “It’s okay.”

The words hung in the air and Caretaker grappled for something to say, something that would make everything okay. They continued to run their hand through Whumpee’s hair and their gut twisted. The only goddamn way out was through.

Whumpe’s gaze wandered back up to them, somehow managing to be both pleading and defiant, as though they were daring them and begging them to take away their anguish. Caretaker didn’t know if they were going to lash out at them or fall apart.

It was the latter. Perhaps they were too scared and too tired for it to have been anything else.

Whumpee’s features crumpled and they hugged themself tighter. Tears slid down their face and they began to sob, softly at first, until the force of it wracked their body. Caretaker eased themself down onto the cool floor. They put one arm over Whumpee’s shoulders and put their other hand back on Whumpee’s shoulder.

”Ssshhh.”

“P-please,” Whumpee stuttered. “Please d-don’t ma-make me…”

Their words broke off in a new, pitiable gale of emotion that made Caretaker want to cry.

“Shshsh, it’s okay, Whumpee,” they said as their hold on Whumpee became more protective. “I’ve got you. I’m not going to let anybody hurt you. We’re only going to help. Tell me what you need.”

Whumpee continued to weep, hard and discordant. Caretaker spared a glance at Doctor, who watched on with concern and empathy. Caretaker was thankful for their patience; they hoped against hope that they wouldn’t have to strain it, but they would stay on the floor all night if they had to.

“I want to go home.” Whumpee said after a while. Their words were shaky and hoarse, but more coherent.

Caretaker felt as though the floor had fallen from beneath them. It was blindingly unfair that Caretaker couldn’t make that happen, that Whumpee had to be here and that Caretaker had to dash their hopes of leaving. And how long would they have to be here? How long before the extent of Whumpee’s trauma became clear? The damage that would last the longest was likely not physical.

“I know you do, Whumpee,” Caretaker said. “But we need to make sure you’re okay. And I know you’re scared, I do, but we can’t let you go on hurting.”

Caretaker expected Whumpee to try to pull away, and they expected their crying to ratchet up to an intensity that would surely make them ill, but Whumpee took several shaky breaths, sniffed and cuddled in closer to Caretaker. Maybe it was Caretaker’s imagination, but they didn’t seem to be shaking as hard.

“Can I ask you what we can do to make this easier for you, Whumpee?”

Whumpee drew Caretaker’s arm tighter around them like a reliable old coat, then they tucked their head into Caretaker’s chest. Several quiet, emotional hiccups jostled Whumpee, but Caretaker felt a tiny nod as they stroked Whumpee’s hair.

Whumpee remained silent and after several minutes, Caretaker wondered if they should ask again.

“It’s so bright,” Whumpee said. Their voice seemed distant now, like a drowning man begging for air beneath the waves.

“Can we?” Caretaker asked as they looked up at Doctor and quirked an eyebrow toward the lightswitch. Caretaker wasn’t sure that the room was exceedingly bright, but it didn’t have to make sense to them. Doctor nodded and turned off the ceiling light.

“Good?” Caretaker asked.

“Yeah,” came the uncertain answer.

“Good,” Caretaker said, allowing themself to feel some sense of relief. “Just tell me what you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

Doctor discarded their white coat, and it was agreed that the privacy curtain would stay partially open. With each adjustment to the environment, Whumpee slowly - so slowly - began to relax against Caretaker, but Whumpee’s fingers knotted themself in Caretaker’s shirt with sudden fierceness.

“Can you stay?”

‘Yeah,” Caretaker said, not waiting for a response from Doctor. “Yeah, Whumpee. I’m not going anywhere.”

Whumpee’s hand unclenched and they sniffed again.

“We can have a cot brought in,” the doctor said. “It’s no trouble.”

“Let’s get you off the floor,” Caretaker suggested as they gave the doctor a grateful half-smile. “Gonna freeze our asses off down here.”

Whumpee let out a huff that passed for laughter, nodded and allowed Caretaker to help them to their feet. Caretaker offered quiet praises and kept one arm on Whumpee’s side and the other on their arm, keeping them steady. They wrapped their arms around Whumpee and rubbed their back. There was ferocity in their softness as they assured them again they were staying. Hesitantly, Whumpee wrapped their arms around Caretaker’s middle.

Whumpee allowed themself to be guided back to the bed. Once Whumpee’s head touched the pillow, Caretaker smoothed their hair back with the hand that wasn’t holding Whumpee’s.

Whumpee’s grip tightened on Caretaker when Doctor approached, but Caretaker could see that behind the spike of panic, Whumpee was coaching themself, talking themself into taking a breath and staying still.

“That’s good,” Caretaker said with a smile. “Just breathe.”

Doctor seconded the opinion as Nurse walked back into the room holding a paper cup in one hand and a plastic cup of water in the other.

“Can you take these, Whumpee?” Doctor asked as Nurse proffered the pills. Caretaker appreciated their practiced calm more than they could have articulated. “They’ll help you relax.”

Whumpee’s eyes shot up to Caretaker and their head lifted off the pillow.

Caretaker nodded and gave Whumpee’s hand a little squeeze. They kept their bloody language calm, as though they would be untroubled by whatever Whumpee chose. Thankfully, that seemed to be enough because Whumpee accepted the pills.

The duration of the examination and treatment was...surreal. There was tension, yes, but it was offset by Caretaker’s soft words, Doctor and Nurse’s gentle, professional care and the promise they would stop if Whumpee became too uncomfortable. Luckily, most of the questions the doctor asked could be answered with nods or short phrases.

Worst of all was when Whumpee’s wounds were revealed.

“Just look at me,” Caretaker told Whumpee.  

Whumpee did. Their eyes welled with tears, but none of them spilled as Caretaker ran their fingers up and down their forearm and hushed them.

Caretaker had glimpsed the wounds. They wished they hadn’t. There was no bloody mess, no angry infection. What had been done to Whumpee had been clean and clinical. And cruel.

Caretaker was unsure if they believed in hell, but they hoped Whumper was rotting there just the same.

By the time the Doctor and Nurse finished, Whumpee had dropped into a listless calm and Doctor asked to speak with Caretaker in private. They left Whumpee’s side for the second time since they’d arrived in the hospital, but they promised their absence would be brief.

As Doctor spoke, Caretaker listened and asked questions, taking the news of Whumpee’s condition as it came. They nodded and crossed their arms. They hoped they looked more confident, more prepared, than they felt.

“And I’m back,” Caretaker said as they returned to the room. For some idiotic reason they tried to affect the tone of a TV host, but their voice sounded too flat and tired. Nevertheless, it earned them a tiny smile and a sleepy hey from Whumpee in return. It was as though all the emotion and anxiety from the last little while had been dispelled. Contained, more like. Boxed up and set aside until it could be handled.

Caretaker managed a smile of their own and they toyed with Whumpee’s hair until they slept.