#I must really have a thing for archers because a few months later I fell in love with Neytiri

[hannahshattuck]

Found Family

Pairing: Clint Barton x Bucky Barnes 

A/N: A prompt that was sent in to @thirsty-thoughts-clubhouse​. I LOVE the winterhawk ship and we always need domestic Avengers in our lives. Send in an Ask or DM to be part of my taglist or a request. Enjoy!

Warnings: lost child, mentions of death, angsty then fluffy, mostly fluffy

Ships Masterlist (TTC) Main Masterlist

Bucky joined the “After Action Clean Up Crew”, as Tony calls it, because he was done with the fighting and wanted to help more. He knew that realistically he would never be able to do enough good to counterbalance the bad he’s done. He’s lucky that he found someone who’s been able to look past all that and see the good in him, even if he didn’t believe there was any.

Shortly after he moved into the Tower, he ran into Clint when he was heading for breakfast. Clint looked like a bus hit him. Bucky knew the man was basically 50% coffee but it seemed even that wasn’t doing him any good. Bucky later found out, when he ended up in the kitchen at three in the morning after a nightmare, that Clint wasn’t sleeping due to the fact that he kept thinking he was under Loki’s spell and was worried he would hurt his teammates. Bucky convinced the archer to lay on the couch and he would watch over him while Clint slept. After that the two became inseparable and then started dating after Natasha and Wanda locked them in the elevator where a very heated make out session ensued. 

Bucky was walking through a collapsed house when he heard a whimper. He stopped walking and listened for the sound again. The whimpered sounded again and it was in the direction of what seemed like the bathroom. The super soldier slowly made his way over there while announcing his presences as to not scare the owner of the sound more.

“Hey. It’s okay. I’m here to help you.” Bucky carefully moved pieces of house out of the way and came across a clawfoot bathtub with a mattress secured over it. It was secured in a way that was protecting and not trapping. He reached for the locks and broke them easily. Another whimper sounded as he moved the mattress. There, curled into a little ball as tight as they could get, was a little girl staring up at Bucky with her blue eyes filled with unshed tears, brown hair, wearing shorts and tee shirt and was barefoot.

“Hi sweetheart.” Bucky smiled as he knelt down next to the tub giving enough space between him and her. “Can you tell me your name?” She shook her head and curled into herself more, if that was possible. “My name is Bucky.”

She looked at him over her knees that were pulled to her chest. “Buh?” 

Bucky smiled bigger. “Yeah, Bucky. Can you tell me your name?” 

“Avery.” She whispered. 

“That’s a really pretty name. Can you tell me how old you are?” The little one held up two of her little fingers. “Two? Wow. You’re so big!” Bucky smiled being silly trying to make him seem less intimidating. She smiled a little bit and Bucky counted that as progress. 

A shine caught her attention. Avery uncurled herself and crawled closer to him and pointed at his metal hand. The only part of his arm that was visible due to the bright yellow long sleeve he was wearing. 

“Pretty.” Avery looked up at Bucky. He flipped his hand over with his palm facing up giving her the option to grab his hand. She placed her tiny hand in Bucky’s big one. “Go?” 

Bucky was shocked. This little girl knew him for maybe a minute and she trusted him enough to go with him.

“You wanna go with me?” Bucky asked. Avery nodded her little head. Bucky’s heart swelled at that. “Alrighty then. I’m going to stand up so I can help you up okay?”

He stood up slowly in order to not scare her with his height. When he stood up all the way, Avery lifted her arms above her head, the universal sign for ‘up please’. Bucky grabbed her little body and lifted her into his arms. Her arms went around his neck and she laid her head on his shoulder, her face turned towards his neck falling asleep. Bucky wasn’t sure how long she was in the tub by herself but it must have been a long time. 

As he walked through the debris of the house he noticed out of the corner of his eye two bodies underneath the rubble. Bucky held under her bottom with his left arm and used him right hand to keep her face into his neck, shielding her from what he can guess is her parents bodies.

He saw the Quinjet he rode in on and Bruce standing on the open ramp. He looked at Bucky walking in with a little one in his arms. Bucky went over to the beds that were attached to one wall of the jet and laid her down. Avery whined a little bit in her sleep not wanting to leave Bucky. 

“Shhh, sweetheart. It’s okay. I’m here.” He brushed the fingers of his flesh hand through her hair to calm her. She calmed down and Bucky grabbed a blanket to cover her little body.

“Ready to go home?” Bruce questioned as the ramp folded in. Bucky nodded not taking his eyes of the little girl that wormed her way into his heart. 

---------------

Clint got the notification that the Quinjet Bucky was on landed and ran all the way to the landing pad. When the ramp folded open he saw his man holding a little body wrapped in a blanket in his arms. Clint skidded to a stop and looked at Bucky with an eyebrow raised.

“Please tell me you didn’t steal a kid.” Clint questioned jokingly until he saw the heartbroken look on his lover’s face. “Where’d you find her?”

Bucky moved so Clint could see her face. She was awake and was looking at Clint warily. “What was left of her house, in a tub with a mattress covering her so she was protected.” Bucky covered her ear that wasn’t pressed against him and lowered his voice, “I saw her parent’s bodies, Clint, and I don’t know how long she was there.” 

“Oh sweetheart.” Clint leaned to see her face and Bucky shifted her to where she could see Clint. “Hi honey. I’m Clint. Do I get to know your name?” She stuck her thumb in her mouth and nodded her head. She poked Bucky’s chest. 

“Oh, you want me to tell him?” Bucky chuckled. She nodded. “This is Avery. And she’s two.”

“Oh my! Two? She’s such a big girl.” Clint tickled her little toes that poke out. Avery let out a little giggle that made the two Avengers heart’s melt. “Are you hungry? I just made dinner. It’s chicken noodle soup.” Avery put her head up and looked at Clint. 

“Noodle soup?” She asked with a gleam in her eyes.

“Do you like noodle soup?” Bucky asked.

She looked at Bucky, “Uh huh!”

“Well let’s go then!” Bucky said and skipped off with Avery to go get ‘noodle soup’.

Avery seemed to take to Bucky which neither man minded. While Bucky fed Avery, Clint ran out to get some necessities like diapers (since they weren’t sure if she was potty trained), jammies, clothes, socks, shoes, sippy cups and bottles, toys, stuffies, books, blankets, some snacks, a highchair, bath stuff such as toys, shampoo, body wash, lotion, and who knows what else Clint bought.

“Did you buy the whole store?” Bucky laughed as Clint walked in with at least ten big bags filled with stuff. 

“I’d rather be over prepared then under prepared!” Clint stated. Bucky rolled his eyes playfully and fed Avery another few bites of soup until she started to refuse.

“Are you all done?” Bucky asked. The little one nodded her head. Clint handed his partner a damp paper towel to clean her up. Once her face was wiped, Bucky picked her up and took her to their shared bedroom. Clint came in with a pair of footie jammies, a diaper, wipes, baby powder, and a stuffie of Thumper from Bambi. The soldier laid her gently on the bed.

“I’m gonna get you out of these clothes okay? We’ll get these cozy jammies on you and give you all the snuggles.” Bucky tickled her tummy. Avery squealed and kicked her legs playfully. 

Both men carefully got her changed not wanting to spook her. After she was changed, each man took turns changing in the bathroom into sweatpants and a tee shirt to sleep in. All three of them got in the king sized bed where Bucky and Clint snuggled her close. Avery’s breathing evened out as she fell asleep her little arms wrapped around the stuffed bunny.

Bucky looked at Clint, “You should have seen where she was. The tub I found her in was the only thing standing. God, babe, who knows what she heard or saw.” Bucky felt tears prick at the corner of his eyes. He looked down at the little body in his arms.

“Hey, it’s okay. What matters is she’s safe now. You know we do have to call child services to see if she has any other family.” Clint wrapped his arms around his lover and the little girl.

“Yeah I know.” Bucky said sadly.

“But let’s put that to the side for now. Okay?” Clint kissed Bucky’s forehead. The brunet nodded his head and cuddled in close to the blond. Both men fell asleep that night hoping for the best for the little girl in their arms.

---------------

It was just over six months since Bucky found Avery. It ended up being she had no other family so she stayed with Bucky and Clint since she was comfortable with them. They introduced her to the rest of the team and Wanda became her favorite, other than the two men who were taking care of her. 

Bucky and Avery became like two peas in a pod. They were always together. Whether it was playing with toys or baking cookies, the other team members would catch them together. Their favorite thing to do was to play with the dolls she slowly accumulated over the months.

Clint stood in the doorway of the room they made as Avery’s watching the two who were laying on their stomachs coloring in an animal coloring book with Avery’s favorite stuffie next to her, Thumper from Bambi. Clint was out planning a big surprise for Bucky’s birthday that’s coming up.

“Papa!” Clint tuned back in as the toddler made her way over to her papa. About three and a half months of being with them she started calling Bucky ‘daddy’ and Clint ‘papa’.

“There’s my bunny.” He picked her up and spun her around, her giggles echoing throughout the room. “Are you having fun with daddy?” 

Avery nodded with a big smile on her face. “We play dollies and color and dance silly!”

“Dance silly?” Clint looked at Bucky with an eyebrow raised. Bucky sighed playfully and stood up.

“We had a dance party after lunch. And when you’re dancing with a toddler you gotta dance silly.” Bucky explained.

“Ah gotcha. Well, maybe next time I can join.” Clint gave Bucky a peck on the lips.

“Eewwww!” Avery exclaimed covering her eyes playfully. Both men looked at each other smirking before they attacked her with kisses. Her giggles once again filled the small space.

“Alright my sillies. How ‘bout dinner time? Whadda want?” Clint asked situating the toddler on his hip better.

“Noodle soup!!” Avery screamed. Both men laughed knowing she would express her love for the meal that became her favorite.

---------------

Bucky groaned as something jumped on his back. He heard little giggles and someone shushing. He knew exactly who it was but continued to pretend to be asleep. 

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!” 

Bucky pretended to snore which made more giggles erupt. Little hands gripped his shoulders and shook him with all their strength.

“Daddy! Wake up! It’s your birthday!” A now three year old exclaimed. Clint and Bucky found out that Avery’s birthday was the day before Bucky’s which constituted for celebration all week long. 

Bucky reached his left arm the three year old and tackled her into the middle of the bed and snuggled her tight.

“Mmmm. Imma snuggle my favorite teddy bear.” He gently squished the girl into him.

“I not teddy bear daddy!” Avery giggled. 

Bucky opened one eye to look at her. “What?! You’re not my teddy bear.”

Avery kissed his cheek. “Silly daddy.”

“Yep, daddy’s silly alright. Hey Av. You wanna give daddy his present now?” Clint asked. Bucky looked toward him and saw the other man had something hidden behind his back.

“Now! Now!” Avery pulled herself free from Bucky’s grip. She sat on her knees as Bucky sat up and Clint sat the edge of Bucky’s side. The blond handed the girl a large orange envelope which she handed to the super soldier. “Open open!”

“Okay okay!” Bucky chuckled. He turned it over and carefully undid the flap. He pulled out a thick stack of papers. Bucky pulled them out all the way and read the top page.

He looked at Clint with tears in his eyes. “Are you serious?” His voice cracked.

Clint nodded with a watery smile. “Yeah, baby. She’s gonna being ours. I talked to the social worker and all we have to do is sign the papers and then a court date will be set.” 

Bucky set the papers down and grabbed the front of Clint’s shirt to pull him in for a emotional kiss. When they pulled away both men were crying happy tears.

“Daddy? Papa? Sad?” Avery couldn’t understand why her soon to be parents were crying.

“No honey. We’re not sad, sweetheart. Happy tears.” Bucky pulled her into a tight hug. “Happy tears, sweetheart.”

The soon to be family of three continued to hug each other as the men cried tears of joy.

Shortly after Bucky’s birthday, the two men officially adopted the girl they’ve called their daughter since the beginning. All the Avengers spoiled the new family. Steve offered to paint a family portrait, Sam and Natasha partnered to get the family a good family car, Tony decided to build a state of the art bed for the little girl who suffered from infrequent nightmares, Pepper said they were welcomed to stay in the tower for as long as they need or want, Bruce and Helen Cho would take care of anything medical for Avery, and Maria, Phil, and Fury assured the family they won’t be called for awhile unless absolutely necessary. 

Clint and Bucky were thankful for everyone and everything. Even though the men didn’t really talk about having a family before Bucky found their daughter, they wouldn’t have changed it for anything. Sure the circumstances were not the best but they were able to give a little girl a safe place to be. A family and a home.

Tags: @patzammit​ @sherlocksmanwatson​ @katiew1973​ @rocketrhap3000​ @emilyisreallycool14​ @harrysthiccthighss​

[thelittlesttimelord]

The Littlest Timelord: The New Doctor Chapter 8

TITLE: The Littlest Timelord: The New Doctor Chapter 8 PAIRING: No Pairing RATING: T CHAPTER: 8/? SUMMARY: With the Doctor newly regenerated, he and Elise must now navigate their new relationship. The Doctor is an old man and Elise is a headstrong young woman. She is no longer the scared little girl the Doctor saved all those years ago. Will Clara be able to keep them from killing each other?

“Take a punt,” the Doctor told Clara. He was doing some sort of math on one of his chalkboards while Clara sat down near the console.

“Right,” Clara said.

“Your choice. Wherever, whenever, anywhere in time and space.”

“Well, there is something, someone that I've always wanted to meet. But I know what you'll say.”

“Try me.”

“You'll say he's made up, that there is no such thing.”

“Go on.”

“It's…it's Robin Hood.”

“Robin Hood.”

Clara walked up the steps towards the Doctor. “Yeah. I love that story. I've always loved it, ever since I was little.”

“Robin Hood, the heroic outlaw, who robs from the rich and gives to the poor.”

“Yeah.”

“He's made up. There's no such thing.”

“Ah, you see?”

The Doctor pulled a book off his bookcase. “Old-fashioned heroes only exist in old-fashioned story books, Clara.” He thumbed through a few of the pages before setting the book back in its place.

“And what about you?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. You stop bad things happening every minute of every day. That sounds pretty heroic to me.”

“Just passing the time. Hey, what about Mars?”

“What?!”

“The Ice Warrior Hives.”

“After what happened on that submarine? I don’t think so,” Elise told him. She wanted to forget that adventure. She still had nightmares.

“You said it was my choice,” Clara argued.

“Or the Tumescent Arrows of the Half-Light. Those girls can hold their drink,” the Doctor rambled.

“Doctor.”

“And fracture fifteen different levels of reality simultaneously. I think I've got a Polaroid somewhere.” The Doctor came down the stairs towards the console with Clara following him.

“Doctor! My choice. Robin Hood. Show me.”

“Very well.” He put in coordinates and set the TARDIS in flight. “Earth. England. Sherwood Forest. 1190AD. Ish. But you'll only be disappointed.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You can’t wear a black dress! You’re not going to a funeral!” Clara told Elise. Clara wanted to look the part and dragged Elise along with her. Clara looked through the dresses and pulled out a green one.

“It’s perfect! It’ll go great with your hair.” She shoved the dress into Elise’s arms. “Well go on, get dressed.”

Elise changed into the medieval style dress. It felt wrong not to be in her leather jacket and boots, but she had to admit that she looked rather good.

“Might have to cover that though,” Clara said pointing at the roses winding down Elise’s neck. She’d still yet to understand why she had the tattoo in the first place.

Clara managed to cover it up with some heavy concealer.

The two women stepped out of the TARDIS.

“Might be a little bit much, but what do you reckon, Doctor?” Clara asked. She stopped when she saw him. Robin Hood.

“By all the saints. Are there any more in there?” Robin Hood asked.

The Doctor noticed how Robin’s eyes lingered on Elise and he moved slightly in front of her.

Clara patted the Doctor’s chest in disbelief. “Is that…?” Clara asked.

“No,” the Doctor told her.

“Oh, my God. Oh, my God! It is, isn't it? You found him. You actually found Robin Hood.”

“That is not Robin Hood.”

“Well then, who, sir, is about to relieve you of your magic box?” Robin asked, pulling out his long sword.

Elise nearly rushed forward, but the Doctor pushed her back. He stepped onto the bridge, facing Robin. “Nobody, sir. Not in this universe or the next.”

“Well then, draw your sword and prove your words.”

“I have no sword. I don't need a sword.” The Doctor opened his coat and twirled around to show Robin. “Because I am the Doctor.” Instead, he donned a gauntlet and pulled out a spoon. “And this is my spoon. En garde!”

They started sparring and Clara and Elise watched on in excitement.

The Doctor got the upper hand and hit Robin on the back of the neck with his spoon.

“You're amazing,” Clara praised the Doctor.

Even Elise had to admit the Doctor was rather dashing.

“I've had some experience. Richard the Lionheart. Cyrano de Bergerac. Errol Flynn. He had the most enormous…”

Clara cleared her throat, cutting off the inappropriate comment.

“…Ego.”

“Takes one to know one.”

Robin lunged forward and sliced a button off the Doctor’s coat. The Doctor held his arms out and Robin got ready to strike the killing blow. The Doctor dodged this attack and spun around so he and Robin were back to back. He bumped Robin and Robin fell into the river below.

“Doctor!” Clara said, rushing to his side.

The Doctor polished his spoon on his coat. “Like I said. My box.”

“Doctor?”

Robin was nowhere to be seen in the water below. He popped up behind the Doctor and pushed him into the water.

Clara and Robin laughed.

Elise rolled her eyes and waded into the water. She helped the Doctor up and asked, “Are you okay?”

“More of a bruised ego than anything.”

“I’ll fix your coat later.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Robin led them to a small encampment. “Let me introduce you to my men. This is Will Scarlet. He is a cheeky rogue with a good sword arm and a slippery tongue.”

“My ladies…”

Clara giggled and looked at Elise, who had no reaction.

To this day, the only man to ever make Elise blush was the man in the café after they met Clara the second time.

The Doctor pulled out some of his hair as he bowed and scanned it with his sonic screwdriver.

Will cried out and grabbed at his head. “What do you want with my hair?”

“Well, it's realistic, I'll give you that,” the Doctor told him.

“And this is Friar Tuck. Aptly named for the amount of grub he tucks into,” Robin introduced.

“You skinny blaggard.”

The men around them laughed.

Friar Tuck stepped forward and nearly fell.

The Doctor was on the ground behind him.

“What are you doing?” Tuck asked him.

The Doctor stood up, holding one of his sandals. “This isn't a real sandal.”

“Yes, it is.”

The Doctor sniffed the sandal. “Oh. Yes, it is.”

Robin turned to introduce another one of his men. “This, er, is Alan-a-Dale. He's a master of the lute, whose music brightens up these dark days.”

“Stranger you are welcome here, in Sherwood's bonny glade,” Alan sang. He suddenly cried out as the Doctor stuck him with a needle.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry. Blood analysis. Oh. All those diseases. If you were real, you'd be dead in six months,” the Doctor told him.

“I am real,” Alan insisted.

“Bye.”

The last of Robin’s men was huge.

“And this is John Little. Called Little John. He's my loyal companion in many an adventure.”

The large man stepped aside and a smaller man jumped out at them. The men laughed.

“Works every time,” Will said.

“Oh, I cannot believe this. You, you really are Robin Hood and his Merry Men!” Clara giggled.

“Aye! That is an apt description. What say you, lads?” Robin asked.

His men laughed in response. “Stop laughing. Why are you always doing that? Are you all simple or something?”

Elise was beginning to become annoyed as well, while Clara looked to be enjoying herself.

The Doctor picked up a goblet and poured out the liquid before walking up to Robin. “I’m going to need a sample.”

“Of what?” Robin asked.

Clara quickly pulled the Doctor away from them. “What are you doing?”

“Well, they're not holograms, that much is obvious. Could be a theme park from the future. Or we might be inside a miniscope,” the Doctor told her.

“Oh, shut up.”

“A miniscope. Yes, of course. Why not?”

The Doctor ran over to the encampment, leaving Clara and Elise.

Robin walked to them. “Your friend seems not quite of the real world,” Robin observed.

“No. No, he's not really. Not most of the time.” Clara looked at Robin. “Dark days?”

“My lady?”

“You said that these were dark days. What did you mean?”

“King Richard is away on crusade, my lady. His tyrant of a brother rules instead,” Will explained.

“And the Sheriff. Cos there is a sheriff, right?”

“Aye. It is indeed this jackal of the princes who seeks to oppress us forever more,” Alan said.

“Or six months in your case,” the Doctor quipped.

Robin spoke in a soft voice. “It is a shame to dwell on murky thoughts when there is such beauty here,” Robin said.

Elise felt like she was intruding, so she simply squeezed Clara’s hand and joined her father instead. She glanced back at Clara and Robin talking softly with each other and she felt a pang in her hearts.

The Doctor saw the look on Elise’s face and walked over to Robin. “What time is it, Mister Hood?”

“Somewhat after noon.”

“No, no. Time of year? What season?”

“Oh, Dame Autumn has draped her mellow skirts about the forest, Doctor. The time of mists and harvest approaches.”

Elise frowned. That didn’t seem right.

“Yeah, yeah. All very poetic. But it's very green hereabouts, though, isn't it? Like I said, very sunny.”

“So?” Clara asked.

“Have you been to Nottingham?”

“Climate change?”

“It's 1190.”

“You must excuse me. The Sheriff has issued a proclamation and tomorrow there is to be a contest to find the best archer in the land. And the bounty, it's an arrow made of pure gold,” Robin said.

“No! Don't, don't go. It's a trap,” Clara begged him.

“Well, of course it is! But a contest to find the best archer in the land? There is no contest.”

The men laughed.

“Right, that isn't even funny. That was bantering. I am totally against bantering,” the Doctor snapped.

“How can you be so sure he is not the real thing?” Clara asked.

“Because he can't be.”

“When did you stop believing in everything?”

“When did you start believing in impossible heroes?”

“Don't you know? In a way, it's rather sweet.” Clara joined Robin and his men, while Elise stood next to him.

He looked into her green eyes and saw…was it hope? He was going to show her he could be the Doctor again. That he could be the heroic man she knew him to be.

[babybluebex]

daisy pt.2 [spencer reid]

pairing: spencer reid x fem reader (y/n)

summary: part 2 to daisy, partial rewrite of “someone’s watching” 

word count: 2400+

warnings: season 1 reid, baby’s a dickhead but we forgive him, pregnancy tw

a/n: i’m gonna keep writing this series for a while, so buckle up. i hope you all like it! thanks for the support on the past parts, it means a lot. maybe a lesley smith-judiment thing in the future? 

When I woke up, I felt off. Maybe “icky” was the right word, but I wasn’t sure. It was a feeling that I wasn’t familiar with, and I didn’t know if I liked it or not. I couldn’t pinpoint any specific reason I felt weird; it was more of an overall feeling. 

Spencer was already awake, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. I rubbed my head with exhaustion, and Spencer smiled when he saw me. “Hey there,” he said softly, moving the newspaper to the side. He liked starting the day off by talking to me, and I usually sat in his lap for that conversation. He woke up much earlier and much quicker than I did, so I took the time to wake up. “You slept pretty good.” 

“You could say that,” I chuckled, my voice rough. “You?”

Spencer shrugged. “Nightmare,” he said nonchalantly. “Nothing unusual.”

“Aw, love,” I mumbled. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” 

“You were sleeping so well,” Spencer told me. “You obviously needed it.” His eyes were shining as he looked at me, and I pushed my hair behind my ear. 

“But that’s why I’m dating you,” I sighed. “Remember? This only started so that you would have someone to wake up to when you had nightmares.”

“I thought this started because you hated sleeping alone,” Spencer stated, quirking an eyebrow. I knew he was right, but I still waved my hand dismissively. 

“Whatever,” I said. “But you still need to wake me up when you have a bad dream. Please?”

Spencer sighed dramatically. “Fine,” he said. “If you say so.”

“I do say so,” I told him and kissed the tip of his nose. “C’mon, we’ve got a long day.” 

Spencer and I got ready hastily, and, when we got to the police precinct for Los Angeles county, I was blown away by the sheer size of it. It was nearly as big as our building back at Quantico, and we served the entire country; this was one county’s police department. Spencer must have seen how surprised I was, because he locked his pinky with mine. “Los Angeles county is home to about 10 million people on average,” Spencer told me. “The county itself incorporates 88 cities, each with its own police precinct. This one oversees the whole of the department.” 

“How many people work here?” I asked, because I knew that Spencer would know. 

“About 12 thousand,” Spencer answered. “My lecture is to about 100 people, at least one representative from every city in the county.”

“Are you nervous?” I asked.

Spencer shrugged. “A little,” he said, but I knew him too well. A ‘little’ nervous for Spencer was a ‘lot’ nervous for everyone else. I might even go as far as to say that he was scared. I could see it in his eyes. 

“You’ll be great, Dr. Reid,” I told him. “I know you will.”

“Would you mind sitting in?” Spencer asked. “Just in the back, so I have a familiar face.” 

“Oh, babe,” I mumbled. “I have work to do. I’ll try my best, but I can’t promise anything.” 

“The promise is enough for me,” Spencer told me. 

We were separated almost as soon as we entered the building, and I met up with JJ. She had had a lecture the day before on a new network that the LAPD would be using, and she had stayed behind to stay in a place that wasn’t Virginia for a while. “Hey, JJ,” I started. “Do I seem… Different to you?”

“What d’ya mean?” She asked. 

“Just, I don’t know,” I said. “I feel weird today. Just making sure I didn’t look off or anything.” 

“Weird how?” JJ asked. 

I shrugged. “Like…” I began, struggling to find words to articulate how I felt. “Kinda nauseous. Not like I’m gonna throw up right now, but it’s sorta lingering in the back of my throat. And I feel heavy; like, really, really bloated. I didn’t eat breakfast because I didn’t want to feel even worse. Do you think I have the flu or something?”

JJ smiled at me and gently laid her hand on my arm. “Y/N,” she said. “I felt like that a lot too. It’ll pass; it’s still early.”

My brain didn’t quite comprehend what JJ had said. “I’m sorry, what?” I said, blinking quickly. 

“I recommend crackers,” JJ told me. “It’s the only thing I could keep down the first and second trimesters.”

“What?” I yelped. “JJ, I’m not pregnant!” 

“Are you sure?” JJ asked. “When was your last period?”

“I have an implant, I don’t get periods anymore,” I explained. “Like, I get spotting sometimes, but that hasn’t happened for a few months.”

“When was the last time you and Spence had sex?” JJ asked. 

I clenched my jaw. “Last night,” I answered. “Before we went to that art exhibit with Gideon.” 

“Did you use protection?” JJ asked. 

“I’m not a child, JJ,” I said. “I would know if I was pregnant. Anyway, don’t you think Spencer of all people would know before any of us?” 

“Sometimes his judgment is a little clouded with you,” JJ said slowly. “He doesn’t always see things. But, Y/N, what you’re describing to me is a textbook case of morning sickness. And you haven’t thrown up?”

“No,” I whispered. “JJ, holy shit. Am I…? Could I be…? Fuck!”

JJ turned to where her purse sat behind her, and she dug around in it for a moment before passing me a wad of bills. “There’s a drugstore about a block from here,” she told me. “While Spence is in his lecture, go down there and get a test.”

“I told him I’d sit in on the lecture,” I protested, but I held onto the money all the same. 

“It won’t take long, sweetheart,” JJ said. “I know you’re nervous, but knowing sooner is better than not knowing at all.” 

I nodded in agreement. I stuffed the money into the pocket of my jacket and swallowed thickly, and I went in search of my fiance. After asking Morgan about his whereabouts, I quickly found him sitting in a quiet corner, reading and chewing at pretzels. It didn’t surprise me that he somehow had located a snack machine. “Hey, babe,” I sighed. “I, uh… I’m wrapped up in something right now, and I’m not sure I’ll make the lecture.”

“Really?” Spencer asked, closing his book. “What’s going on?”

“Umm…” I began. It didn’t feel fair to keep this suspicion from Spencer, since, if I was pregnant, it was as much his child as mine, so I took a deep breath. “Don’t freak out yet, because I don’t know for sure,” I started. “But JJ just told me that I might be… And I’m gonna go get a test to be sure, but--”

“Y/N,” Spencer said, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Slow down. I’m not following.”

Boy, was that a first. I bit my bottom lip and my eyebrows knitted together, and I said, “Spence, I think I’m pregnant.” 

The air was full of energy between us as Spencer digested the words I had said. His eyes fell to his book, then back to me, and he took a deep breath. He looked like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. “I…” he started and cleared his throat. “I have to go.”

“Spencer!” I exclaimed. “Did you not hear what I said?”

“I have to go,” Spencer repeated, pulling his bag over his shoulder. “We’ll… We’ll talk later.” After a moment of obvious hesitation, he kissed my hair, and he left as quickly as I had arrived. Tears welled up in my eyes and a hot anger rushed to my neck, and I sat down heavily in the same chair that Spencer had abandoned. I wasn’t sure how Spencer would react to that, but leaving me with no explanation wasn’t one of the options that I had anticipated. My heart beat painfully slowly as my hands flexed and opened, trying to make sense of his reaction. I thought he would be happy. Did I have it all wrong? Had I missed some crucial part of him that should have keyed me into the fact that he didn’t want kids? 

I didn’t get to ponder for much longer, because Gideon turned the corner. I frantically wiped my face dry, but my runny nose remained, and Gideon approached me. I had always seen him as a sort of father figure, and the hug he gave me said all that he needed to. I cried into his shoulder, and I couldn’t help but mumble, “What did I do wrong?”

“Reid, I need you to go to Lila Archer’s and give her some protection,” Gideon said. “She’s not safe alone.”

“Why me?” Spencer asked. “Why not Morgan? He could do a better job at protecting her.”

“You’re closer to her age,” Gideon told him. “She’ll be more comfortable with you.” 

Spencer nodded and looked down at his hands. I sat next to him as I always did, but it was icy. I wanted to speak to him and ask him just what he thought he was doing, but I bit my tongue. Anger would hardly do anything to solve this. “Can, umm, can Y/N come with me?” Spencer asked. “She knows Lila on a quasi-personal level. It might help comfort her.”

“If she’s alright with it,” Gideon said, looking at me. 

I lowered my gaze to the table, tapping my pencil lightly against my folders. “Sure,” I said.

“Good,” Gideon said. “Don’t tact-gear up, and bring a single weapon.” A moment passed, and Gideon said, “Y/N, you--” 

Pregnant women weren’t permitted to carry weapons. I already knew what Gideon was asking of me. “Yeah,” I said and twisted around to undo the holster around my belt. My neck seized up and I grunted, and Spencer’s long fingers quickly helped me remove it. The room and the rest of the BAU were quiet as this exchange happened and, when my gun and holster hit the table, Hotch said, “Y/N? Gideon just said--”

“I know what Gideon said, Hotch,” I replied. “But there are… Circumstances.”

“Like?” Hotch asked. “Anything we should know or worry about?” 

I shrugged. “No,” I said. “I mean…” I looked at Spencer, who was very adamantly avoiding my gaze, and I cleared my throat. “No. Nothing.” 

“Uh-huh,” Morgan said smoothly. “How far along are you?” 

“Excuse me?” I snapped. 

“Irritability is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy,” Morgan said. “And you’re really clingy; a nesting instinct with the father. That’s an animal kingdom thing, I think.” 

I bit my tongue so harshly that I was afraid I would sever it in two. “Morgan,” I said sharply. “Shut. Up.” 

“Am I wrong?” Morgan asked innocently. “God, I’m sorry, I just assumed-- And you look like you’ve gained a little weight--”

“Derek!”

“Jesus Christ!”

“You don’t say that to a woman!” 

I felt the tears come back, and I cleared my throat. “Can we move on?” I asked Gideon. 

“No,” Spencer said suddenly. His jaw was set, his gaze hard on the table before us, and he finally looked at me. He had his usual dark purple bags around his eyes, but they were rimmed red and full of tears. Without another word, Spencer took my hand and pulled me from my seat, and he led me out of the small briefing room. 

“Spencer, let go,” I mumbled. “Your hand-- Spence!”

He only stopped once we were outside the building, safely nestled in the empty smoking spot. His hand remained in a death grip on my wrist, and I finally tugged my hand away. The skin was sore and I rubbed it as I asked, “What the fuck was that?” 

“My mom has schizophrenia,” Spencer said suddenly. “She’s been institutionalized since I was eighteen. That sort of thing is genetic, and I’ve been tested, but the test-- The doctor couldn’t give me a straight answer. I don’t want to have a baby if it means that I can pass that onto them, I can’t do that to someone else. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to walk away, but that scared me as bad as it scared you. I know what it’s like to be afraid of your own mind, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.” 

I was quiet. Too many thoughts were racing through my head, and I absently rubbed my sore wrist. “Spence,” I whispered. “How did I not know that?”

“I’ve never told anybody before,” Spencer said. “It’s… Terrifying. I don’t want to think about it.” 

“And that’s why you…” I started and trailed off. 

“I didn’t know how to react,” Spencer said. “I needed time to think about it, and removing myself from the situation seemed to be the best option.”

“Not when this is the situation, my love,” I said softly. I reached out for him, but he sharply backed away from me. I respected that he didn’t want any contact, and I added, “I’m so sorry.”

“No!” Spencer cried. His hair fell from behind his ears as he suddenly jumped forward and captured my body in his arms, and he buried his face in my neck. “No, don’t you dare say that you’re sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about. If anything, I’m sorry for just leaving like that.” 

“Spence, please,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Stop apologizing. I’m not mad anymore.” 

Spencer nodded slowly, and I moved us to a concrete bench to sit down. I held his hands in mine and soothed my thumb up and down his large hand, looking at him. He was a human, as much as I was and as much as the being inside of me was. “So, this is it, huh?” Spencer chuckled as he sniffled. “I’m gonna be a dad.” 

“Yes,” I said gently. “If you want to be. I understand if you don’t.”

“Are you kidding me?” Spencer asked. When he lifted his head, I saw his cheeks pink and his eyes wet, but he had a huge smile on his face. His hands came up to clutch my head and he kissed me, long and deep and lovingly. “Y/N, you are giving me something that I’ve dreamt of for so long. I can’t-- I don’t know how to express to you what this means to me.”

[intelligentdumbass]

My Sweet Prince

It was a morning like any other, or at least, it was supposed to be.

Hyacinthus had set off with his dogs to go hunt in the nearby forest, but the trees were silent; not a single prey in sight. Wondering where they had all gone, he trekked deep into the woods until at last, the silence broke. However, it wasn’t because of the roar of a bear, the trot of a deer or the howl of a wolf. Rather it was a song, but the voice was not of a bird’s. He had walked into a small clearing, and wow was it a sight to behold.

In the middle, there was what he perceived to be a young maiden strumming on their cithara; their golden hair shimmering under the sunlight. A wide range of animals sat around them, eagerly listening to every note, and so did he and his hounds. Hyacinthus couldn’t help but stare, he was entranced.

Eventually, the musician had noticed his arrival, and the music stopped, but before they could speak, Hyacinthus snapped out of it and spoke first.

“I’m sorry miss, but who the hell are you?” He slowly approached, cautious of all the critters around them. “What in Zeus’ name is a lass like you doing here, playing in the outskirts of my kingdom?”

The stranger raised an eyebrow, but decided to play along. “Nothing, just bored and passing the time with my lyre.”

“Ah. I assume your father’s somewhere close by, then.” He looks around, but they only laughed in response.

“Oh no, I came here to have some me time with myself.”

“Wait, myself?!” Hyacinthus seems dismayed. “No one accompanied you here?! Not even a brother, cousin, or a friend?”

They shook their head; he frowned.

“Look, it’s not safe to be all alone out here. As a prince, it is my duty to protect you-”

Unfortunately, it was at that moment that he had accidentally stepped on the tail of a sleeping lion, causing it to wake up and it looked very pissed. Luckily, a silver arrow had rushed by; just barely missing the prince and piercing the cat’s heart. The rest of the animals took this as a sign to scram.

Hyacinthus blinked, and looked back at the musician, who was still sitting down on the ground, unfazed. He muttered a silent prayer of thanks to the archer god before speaking up again.

“See! I think it is best we get out of here.” He reaches out, offering his hand for them to stand up. The stranger only sighed when they realized that the mortal didn’t put two and two together.

Before he knew it, Hyacinthus felt someone’s fist punch him square in the face, causing him to stagger back. It was then that the stranger spoke again, except they sounded very different this time.

“What is it with people thinking I’m some sort of forest nymph or mortal maiden?”

Hyacinthus froze; their voice was much lower than he remembered. Gazing into their sapphire eyes, he suddenly understood. The being that stood in front of him was no mere mortal. He hastily tried to get his shit together, smiling in embarrassment.

“A-” “Apologies my lord. I suppose you’re just… that enchanting.”

“Oh?” The god raised an eyebrow, his mood slowly shifting when his instincts told him that he was telling the truth; it wasn’t merely empty flattery. “Why, thank you.” He scanned the boy from head to toe. “I suppose you’re not that bad yourself.”

“Oh, um, well of course! I’m Sparta’s heir after all!” He proudly exclaimed. “Still though, I am, uh, terribly sorry for interrupting your song.”

“No need to apologize for that.” Apollo sat down, and placed the cithara back on his lap. “In fact, you’re welcome to stay if you want. I won’t mind.”

“I thought you said you wanted some time alone?”

“Away from the other gods, I mean.”

Hyacinthus was reluctant, but as the immortal started to strum on his lyre, the offer was tempting; even his dogs seemed like they wanted to listen. He did have nothing else to do.

“…alright, only for a bit, if that’s really okay with you my lord-”

“Please, just call me Apollo.”

Unbeknownst to Hyacinthus a ‘bit’ was quite an understatement, for while listening to the god’s music it was as if time itself ceased to exist.

Now the sun was setting, and the prince had already left to go back to the palace; Apollo choosing to remain in the clearing. It was then that the west wind had materialized before him.

“I was just passing by, so here’s a quick tip.” Zephyr murmured. “If I were you, I’d try not to spend too much time with him. He’s already caught the eye of two other gods and one mortal.”

“And you’re telling me this because?” Apollo couldn’t help but have a sympathetic smile.

“…what’s with that look?”

“Well, my friend, it’s a little too late for that advice. He had already invited me to go out hunting with him.”

Zephyr frowned as he fizzled out into thin air.

--------------

On the day of their hunt, as expected, it had gone exceptionally well. However, Apollo wasn’t the only one that had his gaze fixed on his new friend. Even as they ran through the trees, he could sense the eyes of someone else, but who could blame them? The mortal was a fit and handsome young man that much was obvious. Plus, in the short interactions that they’ve had in the week before this, the prince was quite the charmer; his banter witty and entertaining. Still, he was curious. So, when they had stopped to take a break, he asked him this,

“Has anyone ever made a move on you before?”

Hyacinthus froze. He was sitting on the ground next to him, and was about to try subtly holding his hand. “At least three other men have, but I’ve rejected them all.” He realized what that sentence might’ve implied. “That isn’t to say I’m only into women though!”

Apollo laughs. “I suppose you merely haven’t found the right one yet.”

“Who knows, perhaps I already have.” Hyacinthus beamed. “Do you know why?”

“Because I’m smart, talented, and very hot?”

“Maybe.” He inched closer. “But it’s also because of your smile, or rather, how you smile.”

The god was a little flustered, and couldn’t help but give that signature dazzling grin; thus further proving Hyacinthus’ point. Before he knew it, the prince had already leaned in, a hand holding his chin; faintly muttering something under his breath.

“May I?”

Apollo answered it with a kiss.

Thus was how they met; the beginning of the tale of the golden god and the Spartan prince.

And it didn’t take long for the news to spread.

--------------

Everyone was just going about on their daily routine when Hyacinthus had showed up to his training with hundreds of flowers intricately woven into his hair. The soldiers were too scared to comment, but Thamyris wasn’t.

“Okay, what in the actual fuck?”

“Short version is, I fell asleep during the break after the hunting trip, so now there are a bunch of flowers in my hair.”

“Out of all of your suitors, you chose a god; hell, not just that, one of the fucking Olympians.”

“Who wouldn’t?”

“Marpessa wouldn’t.”

Hyacinthus sighed. “Look, we all have our own preferences. I’m dating him and that’s final.” He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous?”

“As if.” He turned around, about to leave; probably going to hang out with Marsyas. “Just don’t come back crying to me when shit goes downhill.”

The prince just ignored him, or at least he tried to. His words were awfully persistent.

A few days later, among the immortals, Hermes was one of the first to discover.

“Oh and Hermes,” Zeus said, when he saw his son enter the room. “If you happen to run into Apollo, please, tell him we need to talk.”

“Is it urgent?”

“…just tell him to come to me whenever he’s free.”

So that’s what he did, flying as swift as a morning breeze until he stopped in front of the studio’s door. He carefully pushed it open, but despite being the lord of communication, he couldn’t utter a single word.  

It was late in the evening, and his brother wasn’t alone.

Apollo was sitting down writing notes on a scroll, most likely for researching purposes, and behind him was a mortal curiously peering over his shoulder. Then the boy moved closer, and wrapped his arms around the blonde’s waist; tenderly whispering sweet nothings into his ear. To Hermes’ surprise, Apollo allowed him to pry him away from his work with zero complaints.

At this point, he just slowly closed the door. His message can wait. Meanwhile, the two lovers hadn’t noticed a thing.

However, now Thamyris wasn’t the only one with a complaint.

Hyacinthus was sitting under a cypress tree; trying to practice playing on the lyre his lover gifted him, when the breeze whispered into his ear.

“Look at it.” He said. “Your reflection in the water.”

The prince raised an eyebrow, but he glanced into the stream in front of him anyway. The top of his head was adorned with all sorts of flowers, no doubt due to the breath of the west wind.

“Hm… I think I liked it better when Apollo did it.”

Zephyr frowned; materializing seated down on his left.

“You’re not giving me a chance-”

“Except he already did.” Apollo sighed, suddenly appearing on Hyacinthus’ right. “For fates’ sake, take a hint and go blow someone else.”

The other god glared, but gave in, once more disappearing into the wind.

--------------

Days turned into weeks and months of bliss. Now that isn’t to say that they didn’t have their own little problems of their own, but what did it matter?

“Those laurel wreaths you wear; they mean a lot to you, don’t they?”

“Well, of course; there are many reasons as to why I care about them, one of them being that they remind me of something I shouldn’t ever forget because I don’t want to make a mistake like that ever again.”

There was a brief moment of hesitation before he continued.

“Hyacinthus?”

“Yeah?”

“Never doubt my feelings for you, okay?”

“I never did.”

“…even so, you really must know that, because of you, right now is the best I’ve ever felt in literal decades.”

“Oh don’t flatter me, sunshine.”

“You know I can’t lie. So really, trust me when I say that I’m here to stay.”

Hyacinthus’ eyes darted around the room while the god’s head rested on his lap; the prince’s fingers twirling around in his golden locks. The floor was littered with paintings and marble statues of varying shapes and sizes scattered all over.

“Something caught your eye?” Apollo said as he saw his boyfriend look at a painting of Crete. “You can take one of them home if you’d like.”

“Oh-” “Oh no it’s fine, really! I was just… enjoying the scenery.”

“Hm, you know I could just take you there myself, right? Oooooh, imagine! A tour around Greece with yours truly.”

Hyacinthus smiled. His gaze shifted from a painting of Delphi to some art work of Leto, then Artemis, then Zeus, Athena and the rest of the other heavenly gods. What he stared at the most though, were the ones next to those paintings of the Muses and the Thriae.

The names were many, Admetus, Cyrene, Branchus, Hecuba, Helenus… then there was Cassandra, Daphne, and an unfinished Coronis, and as he continued to look, the prince could’ve sworn he felt the god gently squeeze his hand.

“Everything alright, Apollo?”

The god smiled. “I’m just… tired.”

The prince leaned in to give him a small kiss. “Well, just remember that, whatever happens, I’m not going to run away.”

And he really didn’t, or at least, not willingly, but you already knew that, didn’t you?

--------------

Two years, or at least, about two years, their laughter almost lasted for about two years.

“Athena, Apollo still hasn’t showed up for the talk.”

“Father, just give him a little more time. He’ll come eventually. On the bright side, at least he seems to be faring much better now.”

“I know, I know… but he’s neglecting his duties.” He sighed. “When was the last time you saw him walk into Olympus?”

“Fear not my lord.” His messenger, the west wind, suddenly exclaimed. “He’s already here.”

And indeed he was, fingers dripping with crimson red; purple petals falling out of his hair.

Zephyr couldn’t help but have a sympathetic smile. “You’re welcome.”

Ai, ai, ai…

…

…

…

It was a morning like any other, or at least, it was supposed to be.

Hyacinthus loved to spar. The god was a fierce opponent and he could never truly win, but man did he love seeing him panting and drenched in sweat. Another favorite sport of his was the throwing of the discus; he especially loved to try to run and catch it once his lover had sent it hurling into the air.

Crack

Apollo could’ve sworn that sound had echoed across the fields. Before he knew it, cradled in his arms was the stem of a poor flower that had broke its neck; all due to the breath of the west wind. All of his knowledge in the arts of healing was useless; by the time he tried it was already too late. So he just, sat there until a concerned Artemis tried dragging him back over to Leto in Delos, but he unknowingly slipped away.

It was like time itself ceased to exist.

Ai, ai, ai…

…

…

…

It was an interesting sight to see. Apollo had a blank look in his eyes and Athena was standing in his way; Zephyr a little further down the hall behind her, curiously peaking over the corner.

“Athena, move.”

“Apollo,” The goddess was perfectly calm. “Father has already retired him as his personal messenger, and he is now going to serve under Eros to repent for the very stupid thing he did in ‘the name of love’.”

“It’s not enough-”

“I know, and it’s never going to be enough.” Then she muttered. “Look, what happened with Pallas was much more justifiable than what this idiot wind bag did and even then, even if it was our father, to this day a tiny part of me is still pissed even if I knew he did it because he was worried about me.”

For a moment, the god was quiet. “Zephyr isn’t nearly as important.”

“But still crucial enough; I think it’d be best if we didn’t lose the west wind. Listen to your head, you know this isn’t worth it; it’s never going to be worth it.”

After a few seconds of silence, in the blink of an eye, Apollo was gone.

--------------

Olympus’ garden was huge; its depths filled with paths most don’t even know of. It was here the two gods sat down on top of a small hill, right in front of a giant crevice that overlooked all of their creations.

“I really am unreasonable, aren’t I, Hermes? Crying over beings much lesser than myself…”

“You had your eyes and heart set upon a mortal, so I guess it does sound foolish to grieve over their mortality but… I think we’re all a little unreasonable sometimes.” His friend paused for a moment, to think. “Is there anything you want to say? To Hyacinthus, I mean, when I guide him down to Hades.”

“…”

“If we should ever meet again

No matter how long the wait

No matter how many lifetimes it takes

My arms will be glad to welcome you in an embrace

Until then, just know

That even when man has forgotten my face

And I roam the world as nothing but a shade

Your memory will continue, forever living on

In all the flowers that the earth will cover itself, bearing your name

Goodnight, my sweet prince”

[paellaplease]

Firebird | Chap.7

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

I’m back!

Chapter 7: Of Monsters and Metals Part 2.

...but by the restless heart that refuses to falter.

*

   Contrary to popular belief, whilst she was well accustomed to it, years of sweaty work hadn’t endeared her to the less glamorous aspects of working in a forge. It was hot, and oftentimes stuffy, making water breaks important as the hours passed on and her arms began to tire. Working through the summer was unbearable, with no amount of mountain air able to cool the uncomfortable redness on her face and arms.

Whilst Teacher could walk around the forge like it was her second home, it took months of discipline for Maiya to tolerate the place. How ironic that it seemed to follow her everywhere like a rope tightly wrapped around her wrist.

Shifting in her seat, she was thankful that the constant exchange of air above Jackdaws had rid the forge of the usual sulfurous stench of burning coal. This quiet, unassuming workshop kept close between Wayra’s rock and stone, like a beating heart beneath living flesh.

....But of course it would take a miracle to completely filter out the unmistakable burning smell of hot steel and the lingering taste of metal on her tongue.

A small drop of sweat rolled down the back of her neck. If I close my eyes, she mused, it would be like I never left home. Her head lolled forward, the previous hour’s excitement catching up to her. It wasn’t everyday a Rito takes you flying.

She was sinking in her seat, a single voice one of the only things standing in the way between her and an impromptu nap.

“…almost impenetrable rock like bodies completely covered in ice! I have heard with enough prolonged contact they could also freeze exposed flesh in seconds. It’s incredible...”

Oh. Right.

It took all her might to peel her eyelids back open. Of all the challenges she was bracing herself to encounter from Rito Village, she didn’t expect ‘being lectured again in another forge’ to be one of them.

Yep, definitely just like home.

In the reddish glow of the forge, Uleh gesticulated with a graceful turn of a poised hand. The Zora appeared fresher than a daisy, a completed sword blade resting on the anvil next to them, gleaming almost as bright as their teeth. Where they got all their energy from after what would have been hours of gruelling work was one of the many greater mysteries of Hyrule.

They spoke words that, whilst probably important, unfortunately fell on deaf ears as the Enchanter dozed off. The heaviness of her eyes continued to fight her as they settled on a rough sketch of the monster. Drawn in haste, it appeared to be one big blob with two smaller blobs attached at its sides to act like its appendages. It was a literal rock. A giant, dangerous rock. Larger than a house, the Zora had said. She briefly wondered if Uleh was having her on.

Guess so long as we don’t get within arms reach it should be fine.

“I suppose we’re not befriending the Talus and escorting it back home?” An exasperated voice called from a corner of the room. Maiya leaned her head back, her brain supplying an upside-down image of Revali testing the balance of a Falchion on one of his wings.

“Unfortunately not, but how uncharacteristically nice of you, Master Revali." The Zora replied, evidently unbothered by the archer’s sarcasm. Propping their head up with a hand, their smile was natural. Easy. "Making friends with monsters? We should table it for a later venture.”

The blue Rito opened his beak to protest, but was cut-off again by the Zora’s ringing laugh. “Ahah, you may be onto something though. Managing to form a positive connection would make your jobs easier. I mean, since you’re getting up close and personal anyway.”

“Hmmm...yeah.” Maiya sat up and stretched.

A beat passed as her brain finally decided to process the last sentence. “Wait.”

“Not to worry. It shouldn’t be too difficult.” Uleh said, totally misreading her panic. They tapped the side of their skull for emphasis. “The ingredient should be in the ore poking out of its crown. You can’t miss it. It’s usually right at the top of its head.”

Years of accumulated dust motes floated into the air as the Hylian slammed both her hands onto the aged writing desk. She gripped the edges in shock, the hardwood creaking. “Sorry.” A breath. “Can you run that by me again? Starting at the part where you said this wouldn’t be difficult.”

Uleh caught the tipping candle-holder before it fell, saving their map from going up in flames. They tilted their head down to look at her, wide-eyed confusion making her feel a little guilty. “Forgive me Miss Enchanter, had I said something wrong?”

“No.” She huffed, refusing the need to anxiety-pace around the room. “I mean yes. It’s just...” It was ridiculous. This is crazy. “You’re saying that the ingredient is found on a sentient boulder that wants to kill me.”

Adopting the countenance of a wise sage imparting worldly knowledge onto their pupil, the Zora clasped their hands and set them gently on the shaking table. "Not quite a boulder. Picture it more as a hulking, moving, ah... mini mountain. Encased in ice.”

"And it wants to kill me."

"And it wants to kill you, yes.”

This was bad. She should say something. She could feel Revali’s eyes piercing into her back. Goddesses, Maiya. Get a grip!

Was talking to the Blacksmith really worth the risk of getting hurt? Forging swords, setting traps, and being semi-decent with her throwing knives for self-defence were nowhere near enough to qualify her as a monster-hunter. A rabbit, fine. But a rock monster more than quadruple her size? I must be delusional.

She scrubbed her face wearily. “What makes you think this is a good idea?”

“Well, I’m speaking to one of the last known Enchanters of Hyrule and the Pride of the Rito. Why, it should be a doddle with two living legends on the case.”

The two responses from said Enchanter and Rito came at the same time:

“I’m not a legend.”

“Pah, naturally.”

Maiya inhaled deeply. “Why don’t you help us fight it, then? Three against one would mean surefire success.”

The furnace behind them crackled, sending sparks into the air. It illuminated the iridescent shine of the zora’s scales, their many jewels glinting in the gloomy atmosphere of the forge. It was a little funny. In contrast to their surroundings, they looked like an angel who had wandered into the wrong afterlife.

Uleh mulled over her question, idly spinning the charcoal in their hand. Whilst their smile remained, there was a tenseness that wasn't present before. After a minute, they finally regarded her, golden eyes far away as they cleared their throat to reply. “It’s because—

A disgruntled sigh interrupted them. “Honestly, enchanter. Must I throw the rulebook at you? It’s rather shameless really, asking the other party to help fulfill your part of the agreement.”

Maiya whipped her head around, leaning back so fast her chair nearly tipped over. “Lecturing me on manners now? That’s rich coming from you, Rito.”

“Why, I don’t understand your meaning. I’ve been nothing but a gentleman this entire time.”

Running a hand through her unruly hair, she would have marched directly up to him to give him a piece of her mind if it wasn’t for Uleh holding her back. She whipped around to look at them, realizing she’d forgot to drop her glare when they nervously coughed and released their hold on her shoulder.

“Ah, um.” They idly ran a claw down the silver chain decorating the two flat fins that hung on the sides of their head like hair. “I’m sorry for interrupting whatever’s going on here. You’re both right, in a way. It’s logical that the chances of success would increase with extra hands. In fact, if I could lend you my aid I would, but…”

Shrinking back, they went quiet again, words bashful and barely audible. “I’m no good in a fight.”

Maiya stared at them quizzically. Growing up with Teacher had its many challenges. For one, the Sheikah could read most people with ease, be it a guilty child who had just scribbled on a newly painted white wall or even a fully grown, extremely stoic adult trying to cheat her out of what should be reasonably priced eggs. For a young Maiya, it made stretching the truth risky, and lying to her mentor out of the question.

Whilst she was no expert in body-language, spending most of her teenage years under her mentor’s watchful eye had taught her a few things about common tells. Maybe it was in the way the Zora’s golden eyes lost their gleam? Or in their sudden shyness. Either way, whilst they may have been sincere for most of the conversation previously, Uleh in that moment wasn’t telling the full truth.

She pressed the bottom of her palm to the aching spot above her brow. This was getting too complicated. Her chest ached from the stress. She winced when the rune bit at her skin. The pulse at her wrist felt strong under her fingers, beating out a warning call.

We’re wasting time. So what if they’re lying? Anything for Enchanting, right? Wasn't that the goal? To further or find what was lost whatever the price?

There was no point in turning back now. Pressing the issue wouldn’t change the fact that it would just be her, Revali, and this Talus tomorrow. If she wanted to meet the Blacksmith and actually have him listen to her demands, then this seems like the most direct option available. Beggars can’t be choosers, she already failed in uniting the Enchanted dagger with an owner. Teacher would never forgive her for letting go of a lead like this.

“Alright. Deal still stands.” She decided.

Standing up, Uleh raised their hands to the ceiling to stretch, the relaxed grin they had before returning to their face in full force. They leaned over the table, annotating a place in the map marking ‘West Rospro Pass’ before rolling it up and sealing it with a clip. “Well then, time and tide wait for no one.”

Maiya reached her hand out, jumping when a blue wing beat her to it, swiftly taking the map from the Zora’s hands.

Beside her, Revali rolled his shoulders. Seeing her annoyed expression, he lightly tapped the map on the top of her head, his feathers puffing up at his excitement to leave this hellish hot-box. “Careful, Hylian. Your face will get stuck if you keep frowning like that forever.” He said, poking her cheek with a pointed feather.

She couldn’t help the surprised squeak that escaped her mouth, Revali’s smirk growing even wider.

The fact that the feather pressed to her face was unbelievably soft pissed her off even moreso. She quickly swatted him away, face warming. “Buzz off,” she groused.

The Rito chuckled, but complied, withdrawing his wing to haughtily cross it with the other against his chest. “Tomorrow you’ll have front row seats to watch a true Master at work.”

The silence that followed made him sigh. He looked at her pointedly. “Would it kill you to be a bit more lively?”

“Yipee...”

“Amazing. Your sincere exuberance is truly heart-warming.”

She rolled her brown eyes as Uleh gave them both a thumbs up. The Zora's laughter, like chiming bells, filling the dark forge. It was infectious, and she couldn’t help but crack a tiny smile in return.

Perhaps tomorrow wouldn’t be so terrible after all.

   Birdsong greeted Maiya as the night sky slowly brightened into a lavender hue, the first signs of dawn peaking over the horizon. She tiptoed down the outer staircase of Swallow’s Roost, careful not to wake the travellers who rested peacefully on the other side of the wall.

She rubbed her eyes, fighting back a yawn. Wisps of smoke left the tops of chimneys, chefs and bakers preparing their iron cook pots for another working day of feeding an entire village and more. A gust of wind brought the scent of charcoal and firewood, acidic and earthy...

— Fire. Burning. Melting feathers and flesh. An arrow piercing skin and muscle—

The Enchanter pressed her knuckles into her temples, attempting to relieve the pressure forcing her head to burst. Another night, another terrible sleep in Tabantha. She knew this wasn’t normal; these night terrors. Her bones ached from hours of tossing and turning, waking up in a cold sweat and forcing herself to relax, only to be met with the same dream once again. Perhaps when all of this was over, a visit to the village healer would be a good idea.

However, against her better judgement, there was something invigorating about the new day. This was crazy; mad! Teacher would never have allowed it had she been in the same room when the decision was made. And perhaps that was exactly why her stomach felt like it was doing dumb, excited flips, her mouth turning up at the edges.

This was her chance to prove herself, show her mentor how dedicated she was to the cause and her studies. It was a little unorthodox, but she was sure Teacher would understand once she comes home with new information. In fact, she could omit most of the details from the letter anyway and leave in the non-life threatening bits that won’t cause any alarm.

She nodded to herself, hands tightening around a relatively empty backpack. She patted down her front and sides to check that she had what she needed. Throwing knives, waterskin, materials for basic first-aid, and a hammer and chisel from Uleh to help her collect the ore pieces later.

“That’s everything, I think. As well as…”

Her fingers froze as they brushed the raised embellishments on the enchanted dagger’s hilt, reality running up to slap her in the face. Hands curling around it, she felt a torrent of shame wash over her. What was she doing? This wasn’t the time to act like an overexcited child. This was serious, so much was riding on her getting this right. And her mentor wouldn’t be happy if she were to fail. Wait. Her stomach dropped. What if I do fail?

What then? She wondered. Would she even be alive to report the bad news?

Sighing, she forced her hand away from the dagger, turning to look beyond the railing and into the world beyond. If anything, at least it was a beautiful morning.

A voice appeared to her right. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“Hylia’s left tit— ! Cheska!” She all but screamed, grabbing the railing in a death grip.

The innkeeper tipped her head inquisitively when a brief spark of blue flashed in her eyes.

“Uh!! Hello!” Maiya floundered. She hid her hand behind her back, feeling sweat build on her brow when Cheska’s eyes followed the action. “G-good morning. If this is about the late dinner you brought up last night, thank you so much! It was really, really good.”

She swallowed her spit, her nervousness still bubbling. “Not to say that your food isn’t always good. It’s just that I rarely eat fish. Not to say fish isn’t delicious. It’s just that where I live in Akkala we’re not really close to the sea so— ”

“Hylianlla! Slow-down.” The Rito laughed. “Jeez you are jumpy today. Take a deep breath. That’s it. In and out. Before the wind snatches it away— ah, I sound like my mother."

Cheska smiled warmly. Her rounded golden earrings reminded Maiya of two small suns, catching the light as she idly transferred the small paper package she held from one wing to another. “No worries, silly chickie. I’m always happy to feed a hungry traveller.”

The Hylian nodded, taking this as a sign that the conversation was over. She stepped to the side, moving to shuffle around the innkeeper, only for the Rito to block her path once again.

“However!” Her eyes sparkled. Maiya had a bad feeling about this. “What have you been up to yesterday that led to being dropped off by a mysterious and handsome blue-feathered stranger with the famous Great Eagle Bow?”

The Enchanter made a face. She was not mentally prepared to be having this conversation. “I can confirm that it’s not whatever you’re cooking up in that head of yours— and please stop wiggling your eyebrows!”

In an effort to distract herself from the blush that was snaking up her neck, her eyes strayed to the pink and orange sunrise above them, the clouds moving across the sky like white rolling waves. “As to what I’ve been doing. Well...not much really. Read a few books at the Archive. Got a tour of the village. Had a fight with the local blacksmith that led to striking a deal with the Zora that lives in the depths of the ancient rock supporting all of us right now.” She cringed at how crazy it sounded. “Did you know that by the way?"

“Uleh? Duh, they pass by from time to time.” She idly brushed a wing down one of her earrings. “We have the best chats. But tell me more about this tour!”

Despite the stress weighing on her mind, the Enchanter laughed, digging her hands in her pockets. “Of all the things...judging from your description I think you already know who this mysterious stranger is. Wouldn’t recommend it, but he’s all yours.”

“He’s all…” Cheska paused, voice breaking. She stood still, expression rapidly switching from confusion, realisation, to deep and feather-raising mortification.

Tilting forward, she began to giggle. Maiya stepped back in surprise, watching it transition into full blown laughter. “Uh, Cheska?”

The Rito doubled over and slapped a wing over her beak. “Revali?! Ha HA! Qoyllur-cha?” She sucked in a shaky breath, before dissolving into peals of incredulous laughter once again. “Heck no, amiha. I’m sure Mr. Grumpy is well and truly enamored with himself anyway.” The innkeeper wiped a tear from her eye. “Ah, Blessed Nayru. You’re a hoot!”

“Right,” Maiya said slowly, cheeks reddening at her social blunder. “Are you finished yet?”

“Yes,” the Rito snorted. “Okay I’m done. For real. I’m sorry!”

Forcing herself to keep a straight-face, Cheska shook her head, composing herself. “Goddesses. You just caught me by surprise is all. I’m recovering after an old friend showed up to the village yesterday. Big fiesta, great fun even though I couldn’t stay too long.

Jini brought out the good pisco this time.”

She smiled at Maiya’s blank expression, unperturbed by the lack of an equally excited response. Stepping back, she offered the Hylian the package she’d been holding on to. “Anyway, on a completely unrelated note, that mysterious blue Rito stopped by to leave this for you before dawn this morning.”

The Enchanter looked at the brown-paper package. She wondered if it was a good time to open it, but could feel Cheska’s poorly hidden curiosity bearing down on her. Might as well. Without much hesitation, she pulled on the thin rope holding it together.

A piece of cloth fell into her waiting hand.

It was a bandana. Dyed an azure blue, it reminded her of clear summer skies and the blue nightshades that glowed in her mentor’s study. Running her thumb over the soft fabric, she found that whilst it was simple and unpatterned, it was soft and very well-made. Unfolding it, a delicate piece of paper fell out, fluttering to the floor before she caught it.

She smiled, wondering if this was the prideful Rito’s version of an apology. Unbeknownst to her, her heart warmed at the thought.

Maiya quickly read the note:

So your haphazard hair doesn’t endanger us today - Revali.

The Hylian scowled, crumpling the message and stuffing it in her pocket. “Why am I so surprised?” She muttered. Despite her ire, she delicately smoothed out the blue bandana in her hand, pulling it around her hair and knotting it with irate conviction.

Saying a quick “Thank you and Good Morning” to the innkeeper, she began to angrily brisk walk up the village stairs.

Cheska waved her goodbye. “And where are you off to now, hylianlla?”

“I’m going to fight a Frost Talus.” She called over her shoulder casually.

“You’re what?!”

“Bye, Cheska!”

Revali was already waiting for her at the top of the stairs. He tapped his talons on the ground, leaning impatiently against the archway. The armour he had on the day they first met was fitted securely around his form, slightly hidden away by a flowing white scarf wrapped snug around his neck.

His back was to the sun, making it necessary for her to shield her eyes as she approached. Whilst there was no royalty amongst the Rito, he looked every bit like an irritable prince as light streamed from the heavens behind him.

His honeyed, infuriating voice called out to her as soon as he saw her hand leave the banister.

“You’re late.”

Maiya wordlessly tossed an object at him, the Rito Warrior snatching it from the air with ease. He looked down at the warm pastry that nearly hit him in the face, its icing topping and cinnamon scent unmistakeable. “A sweetroll?”

“Breakfast.” The Enchanter said, falling into step beside him as they walked down the ramp and onto the expansive launch point. The breeze was strong from this open landing, the battered wind markers around them whipping chaotically in the open air. These were the kind of conditions favourable to sailors, carrying amazing wooden creations to places unknown.

And I guess Rito as well, she thought, narrowly avoiding a tall, orange-feathered figure that landed a few feet away. Maiya righted herself, nearly stumbling backwards in surprise.

"Sorry, chika!" They called out, stepping around her quickly and making a beeline for the stairs.

The Hylian looked on in bewilderment, tugging a little self-consciously on her bandana as she turned back to face the archer. “What the...ah, anyway. I was on my way here when I realised I hadn’t eaten yet. Decided to stop by the bakery.”

Revali took a bite from the roll, making a small hum in approval before reaching into the utility pouch attached to his belt. Pulling out a glass vial, he passed it to the Enchanter. “My thanks then, as well as your payment.”

“What’s this?” She asked, narrowing her eyes at the vermillion liquid within. She uncorked the stopper and took a whiff of the unknown substance. It was pungent and sharp, making her pull away.

“Spicy Elixir. So you, pardon my bluntness, avoid freezing your pointed ears off whilst we’re traversing through the mountains.”

Maiya smelled it again, wrinkling her nose.

Revali tut-tted, though his eyes gleamed with barely hidden amusement. That bastard. “I don’t want to hear any complaints. The arctic chill is merciless. You need to drink it if you plan to keep all your limbs intact.”

She looked at the Spicy Elixir again, watching the dubious liquid slosh to the side—Oh Hylia, is that a butterfly wing?— before throwing it back as one would a shot. The warmth that came was instantaneous, as if an invisible force had suddenly encased her. It wrapped around her in the same way a blanket that had been left to heat close to the fireplace would. She was filled with a renewed sense of energy and realised then how cold her joints really were even in her heaviest of clothes.

Revali chuckled.

She opened her eyes, the curve of her mouth falling into a frown. “Care to share?”

“Not that I was speaking any falsehoods regarding the warming effects of the elixir but,” he smiled crookedly, shaking his head. “You trust too easily, Hylian.” Securing his bow to his front, he faced north and crouched.

Her brow twitched. “Me? Trust you?” Maiya shot back defensively as she hoisted herself up, minding this time not to grab on too tightly onto any feathers. “When Death Mountain freezes over.”

   Deep breaths and reign in the attitude was what she told herself as they left the landing. The drop still terrified her, her chest sinking to her knees everytime Revali so much as bobbed with the wind. She was thankful at least that the weather was favourable enough that he chose to forego the dive. Instead, he caught the gale with his outstretched wings, flapping and gaining height as they progressed forward.

Some adventurers on horseback looked up as they passed, many of them gaping in awe at the blue feathered warrior who sailed above them. Revali made no comment, head facing forward and beak an impassive line. Though the subtle fluff to his feathers gave him away, betraying the fact that he was basking in the attention.

Behind her, Rito Village became smaller with every passing minute, slowly disappearing behind the clouds until even the largest windmill was but a wink in the distance. Glittering waters turned into grassy forests as flat ground made way to grey rocks and white tipped bushes.

Revali’s wings caught a strong gust of wind, gaining speed as he advanced them forward through to the Hebra Mountains. Clouds parted, the white shroud slowly lifting to reveal a whole different world.

She felt like they were flying amongst giants. White capped peaks dominated the landscape from all directions, filling her peripheries and extending out into the distance. Reduced visibility combined with the blinding ivory void made it seem like it could go on forever. She’d never seen mountains like this before.

The wind also sounded different here. She would have thought that as a Rito, perpetually at mercy to the gale, he would find it troubling. Between these icy mountains it was wild and unruly, every gust pushing into them from different directions. However, as they ventured deeper into Hebra, it became apparent that Revali felt no fear.

If the breeze slammed into them at full force, he always knew just how to angle himself. Tilting, flapping, flying—anything to propel himself higher and further than ever before.

When it rebelled, he would soothe it. When it dropped away, he would easily reclaim it.

And when it calmed, a steady push against his wings, he would truly soar.

It was a literal breath of fresh air. Maiya could have sworn she was dreaming, still asleep in her room at Cheska’s inn. Up in the air, Revali was far from the gloating asshole who had nearly killed her with an arrow and never apologised. At this moment, he was quiet and precise, riding the gale like he was born amongst the clouds.

They flew behind one of the many snowy peaks, an empty mountain pass coming into view. Keeping close to the exposed mountain face at their left, Revali began to slow, aiming for a far-away spot jutting out perpendicular to the cliffside.

Landing on a slab of extended rock, he gestured for her to sit down, surprising her when he did the same.

The Hylian tried not to look down. They were suspended about 50 feet above the ground. Wind sifted through her hair, dancing around them and lightly ruffling the feathers along his side. She took this time to catch her breath, the mountain air surprising her with its sweetness. Vaguely she could detect the scent of the pine sticking up like pillars in the pure-white snow underneath them.

Temporarily shutting her eyes, she focused on her other senses. Cold rock underneath her fingers. Whistles from the wind. The smell of the pine trees mingling with something else. Wax and oak, with a hint of honey. She racked her brain for a reason why such an odd combination was now familiar to her.

Something cold touched her nose.

Maiya opened her eyes. She watched as snowflakes fell from the sky, imprinting temporary patterns on her clothes and melting on her exposed skin.

Then, like most times, panic decided to reel in its ugly head from out of nowhere.

Now seated and breath returning to her lungs, deep trepidation filled her. One scenario came after another, joining together and mixing into a single, big clusterfuck of a ‘what-if?’ What if she couldn’t fight? What if her knives never found purchase?

What if she froze? She could see the moment playing out clear as day. The fear would paralyze her. Glued to the ground with an angry Talus rushing towards her. Stuck in place until she was crushed underfoot like a bug.

“Stop that.”

Maiya turned to see that Revali had taken out his bow, running a feather down the gears. It was an intricate weapon, painted a steadfast dark-blue and embellished with geometric patterns along its sides.

“Stop what?”

“Thinking so loudly.” He explained, grunting with effort when he tightened a screw.

Her eye twitched in annoyance at his tone. Must he always pick a fight with me? She frowned indignantly. “I’m not allowed to plan ahead?”

“You call that planning?" He scoffed. "Don’t fool yourself, enchanter. I’m not blind. You’re running your mind ragged again, overly ruminating on imaginary events that have yet come to pass.”

He began to adjust the bow’s string, running a feather down its side. “If you continue looking behind only to lose your head in the endless possibilities of potential threats, then you are defenseless to the already existing enemy running towards you. Expecting to survive like that is foolish. You will be better off fighting with your eyes closed.”

He set the bow down on his lap, training his full attention onto her. Her breath hitched. She found herself at the mercy of eyes a deep, emerald green. Piercing and sharper than any of the knives she was carrying, not a single detail escaping his notice.

“You will not be able to face your opponent effectively if you keep battling yourself. Truly look at what’s in front of you. Do that properly, and you will not miss.”

The Enchanter was silent, still feeling very much pinned under the intensity of his gaze. He’d only known her for a day or two and had already managed to find the holes in her armour, striking at them with such precise accuracy that she didn’t know whether she should thank him for the honest assessment, or push him off the ledge for his blatant rudeness and reading of her character. Her hand twitched as the rune sent a jolt up her arm, dancing along to the erratic beat of her heart.

But why…, she found herself wondering, unable to stop herself from staring back. Unknowingly, she leaned forward ever so slightly, flecks of snow falling around them. Why is he looking at me like that?

The mountainside shuddered, making them both jolt up in surprise. Hurriedly, she rushed to the edge of the short rock platform, the tension on her shoulders tightening in a vice grip at what she saw below.

It was colossal. Terrifying to the point where it almost crossed over the line to awe-inspiring by the sheer characteristic of its size. Rising from the earth, it shook and shuddered as if possessed, hobbling forward and slamming its gargantuan stone fists into the snow covered forest floor with so much force that it shook the mountain and their platform once again. From her vantage point, she could see the piece of ore at the top of its head, sparkling in the morning light like a jewel on a crown.

When the Talus’ hands came away from the ground, Maiya saw that they were coated in red. Not blood, she thought, too pink and thick. Though the longer she looked, she noticed the same pinkish red substance coating its body in different places. On its bare face, along its leg, all across its rock appendages. It flowed and bubbled, creeping along the Talus’ body like a parasitic weed, dripping like acidic rain and melting the pure white snow below.

Uleh did not mention that.

She coughed, her throat suddenly dry and scratchy. “I think that’s our target.”

Revali exhaled a small cloud of air, unbothered. “Hm? That’s new. I thought we would have to lure it up from the ground. Seems it has done most of the work for us.” He pointed to the quiver of arrows on his back, some arrowheads curled and shaped to resemble a single flame. “It will go down easy with a few of these in its body. After all, a monster that relies solely on a barrier of ice stands no chance against the blaze of fire.”

He stood up, brushing the snow from his shoulder, a futile gesture as more began to rain down anyway. “No rush, it won’t be able to see us from up here.” He tapped the rock floor with his talons. “It uses the vibrations in the ground to make an ‘educated’ guess as to where its victim would be. From our vantage point, it’s like we don’t even exist.”

She tilted her head to the side, watching the Talus amble and sway from left to right, still feeling apprehensive at how relaxed Revali was in this situation. Warriors really are something else.

He brought the bow to his front, stretching his wings to the sky like he was about to go for a leisurely run and not, well, fight a rock monster that would crush you if you so much as sneezed on it. “Well then, enchanter. I do hope this seat provides you with an adequate view for the show this morning. Just sit back and get comfortable.”

Maiya stood and stalked towards him, not caring that she was invading his personal space as she stabbed a finger into his chestplate. “Get comfortable? What are you talking about?”

He took advantage of the height difference, looking down at her past the tip of his beak like he was appraising a petulant child. “You honestly believe I would let you fight that thing?”

She wanted to rip her hair out. “This venture is purely for my benefit, I am not letting you do all the dirty-work while I sit on my ass and watch like some useless piece of shi-”

The ground shuddered again. Both barely had time to react when a boulder was sent flying in their direction.

She blinked, suddenly finding herself gripping onto Revali’s front as they hurtled to the ground below. The Rito Warrior somersaulted in the air, the seconds of uncontrolled flight and pure free fall eating up the scream bubbling in her throat.

Then, his wings were outstretched, miraculously by the Goddess' grace catching the wind, slowing their descent before they hit the snow covered ground with a painful thud.

Her brain rattled, eyes fluttering and struggling to clear the fog blocking her vision. Her ears rang as she heaved in a breath, the very action making her cry out in pain. Her ribs hurt. Her hand...her hand was—!!

Shattered rocks rained above them. The Enchanter yelped, Revali’s voice loud in her ear as he gasped in alarm, wrapping his wings around her and rolling them to the side just as a large chunk of what used to be their platform stabbed into the spot where their bodies were half a second ago.

The Rito released his hold on her, standing up and equipping his bow in a single fluid motion. Through the haze of her clouded vision, she watched as he took aim, pulled the bowstring back and fired.

It surprised her how a monster without a mouth could make such a chilling sound. Cracking rock and a screech so glaringly inhuman reached her ears, making her blood run cold.

There was truly no turning back now.

In the next moment, her arm found itself in a vice grip as Revali hauled her to her feet, pulling her along as they sought cover in a nearby sparse grove of trees. Chest heaving, her brain struggled to catch up to what had just transpired. Barely, it managed to process the feeling of blue feathered wings running down her arms, tilting her head from left to right and brushing the hair away from her eyes.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Checking for injuries.” He said tersely. “Where are we?”

“Huh?”

Head snapping up, his eyes once again commanded her undivided attention. They were the same emeralds as before, except this time completely void of any kind of relaxed confidence, replaced now by a sharp focus and a clinical detachedness that made her stomach clench. “Hylian, do you know where we are right now?”

“Rospro Pass.” She said, remembering the words on Uleh’s map.

“Good. Did anything hurt when we were running towards the trees?”

Maiya blinked quickly. “No. Oh, well actually— fuck!” She screamed, hands slapping Revali’s wing away as she pulled her arms in to wrap around her aching torso. Her left hand shook and spasmed, strings of energy rattling through her veins like barbed wire cutting into her skin. This was too much. Mortifyingly, tears sprang up in the corner of her eyes. She’d been through much, much worse, but no matter how many times her rune had tortured her, pain is no different. Feeling something stuck in her throat, she spat it out to the side, a glob of fresh blood hitting the snow.

“Sorry,” Revali said quickly. “I need you to move your arms away.” With a little more prying, she agreed, too caught up in her panic for herself and the active and angry rune in her hand to feel embarrassed that he was lifting up the edge of her shirt, his wing poking the reddened, inflamed skin above her ribs as she hissed.

“One of them is fractured, but not severe enough to pierce the skin or anything important internally. At least from what I can see. Can you take some short breaths for me?”

She nodded, wincing at the sound of her wheeze.

“Then you’ll live.” Both their heads shot up to the direction of the same otherworldly screech from before, echoing not too far away from their current position. “Tch,” the Rito archer straightened up, reaching into one of his side pouches and pulling out a wide bandage. He made quick work of wrapping it around her middle, tying the knot and yanking her shirt back down. “You need to run away, enchanter. Follow the path down the mountain, there’s a guard post at the foot. Tell them to bring reinforcements.”

She glared at him, eyes red and venomous. “No! Not without you. I already told you, Rito, this is my mess and I am seeing it through.”

“We don’t have time for this,” he muttered, frantically scanning the clearing for some other kind of cover and coming up blank. “I’m still unsure as to what it is, but there is something wrong with this Talus. I’ve fought only two previous but I am confident that this one is different. It’s faster—smarter somehow.”

“And it can see us.”

“Yes, either through sheer dumb luck or something else entirely. Its movements are unpredictable. Almost like it’s being controlled from the sidelines.” He gritted out, annoyance shining clear at having to solve such a puzzle under immense pressure. He swiped the fallen snow away from his eyes, growling.

She directed her gaze to the floor, focusing on the patch of red seeping into the snow by her feet. Her blood was a stain against what was once uniform purity. Another roar echoed through the trees, this time accompanied by the crash of heavy footsteps, dragging through the snow. “I know you’re one of the best of your people, but even then there’s no way you can hold it back for that long without getting hurt.” She tried to reason.

Revali shook his head, squeezing her shoulder before turning to bolt past the grove. “I’ll distract it. Run!”

“Wait!” She reached out to pull him back, but her hand was met with only empty air. Pure dread stole the breath from her lungs as she watched him exit out the trees and into the open clearing where the Talus waited to meet him. Another jolt of pain rocketed through her hand. Combined with the stabbing ache in her chest it was almost unbearable. She inhaled shakily, moving forward and following the tracks that Revali’s talons had made on the ground, fighting for her eyes to stay open as she stumbled out into the light.

Snow lightly fell from the sky, brushing down azure feathers that fluffed at the edges as Revali levelled his bow. He fired three in quick succession, cutting a red line through the air like a shooting star. Each sunk into the Talus’ icy exterior, melting patches with a low hiss and exposing the black rock underneath.

Falling forward, the monster sunk back into the ground. Revali took advantage of the situation, sprinting away towards the cliff face to gain more distance.

Maiya took this chance to move as well, footsteps sinking into the snowy ground as she struggled forward in the direction of the Talus. The ground shuddered again as she launched herself at it, a knife in each hand. She dug the blades into its exposed interior, holding on for dear life as she scrambled to gain purchase.

“What are you doing?!” A frantic, angry voice yelled out.

“Fire more arrows!” Bracing her feet on the Talus’ surface, she took a chance and let go of one of her improvised hand holds, grabbing another knife from her bandolier and swinging it up to stab it into the last open patch of rock. She hoisted herself up, screaming out in agony but nonetheless refusing to let go. “Please!” She called out, feet slipping against the rock’s surface.

Something whistled past her ear. An arrow embedded itself into the space above her, rapidly evaporating the ice. Then came another, and another, marking a pathway up to the Talus’ zenith. Again she freed her opposite hand, fractured ribs shifting and aching as she stabbed a dagger upwards, pulling herself closer to the ore.

The strange parasitic pink substance flowed down next to her, emitting a stench of rot that made her gag. Carefully she maneuvered around it, not wanting to find out for herself what would happen if even the skin of her hand were to brush it.

Continuing to climb, she struggled against another monster, one intent on taking full control of her wavering resolve. It was a beast formed of intense fear and regret, tugging at her mind and causing her hold to grow shakier with every passing minute. Why didn’t you run away?! It roared.

The thud of another arrow spurred her forward, her adrenaline running high as she devoted her focus solely to reaching the top.

Almost there. For a moment, she could finally see the ore’s surface, shining only an arm’s length away from her. Maiya reached again for her bandolier, shaking fingers brushing an empty pocket.

“Fuck sakes,” she cursed. She was out of knives.

Clouds of air escaped her mouth as she leaned her head on the monster’s surface, an intense feeling of hopelessness freezing her movements. Everything felt heavy, the swinging scabbard at her hip weighing her down and threatening to weaken her hold on her knife.

Wait, there’s still...

Her hand drifted down to where the enchanted dagger was sheathed. In response, the rune spasmed, sending a shock through her veins in disagreement as if it knew exactly what she was going to do.

Not once did Teacher mention what would happen if she were to use an enchanted weapon of her own make. She was neither Master nor an unworthy stranger. So many things could go wrong. Would it kill her? Would it even work? What would happen if—!

Underneath her, the Talus shuddered.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Slowly, the surface began to move, lifting itself from the snow. All around her, the parasitic fluid coating its body came alive, calling out in celebration. Several arrows rained down from the sky, piercing into the Talus’ armour but failing to deter it from its course. The monster began to stand.

Maiya unbuckled the enchanted dagger from its scabbard. Grabbing the hilt, she lifted it up, and with all the strength in her body, swung up and stabbed it into the Talus’ ore.

There was a flash of light, an ear piercing screech, and suddenly she was in the air again.

It was like a bad dream. She could see the white ground hurtling towards her. Curling into herself, she braced just in time before her body collided with the snow. Something solid hit her head, rattling her brain and causing her world to turn black.

.

.

.

Wa…ke…!

Fire. Everything was on fire. She was drowning in a sea of fleeing people, ribbons of smoke were filling her lungs and the smell of burning and rot was choking her. A blood moon was in the sky.

Wa...ke….p

A figure was standing at the doorway of a crumbling house, calling out to her. Their feathers were burnt, dissipating into ashes as the skin underneath began to melt to the bone.

“I’m sorry, there are too many people!” She tried to scream, voice refusing to leave her lips as she fought helplessly against the tide. “Don’t just stand there! You need to run! I can’t— ”

A lilting voice, warm as sunlight, whispered in her ear.

“Hylianlla. Please. Wake up.”

.

.

.

In a disorienting second, her surroundings slammed back into place. Maiya sucked in a shaky breath, her cheek throbbing. Cold snow melted underneath her, seeping into her clothes and stinging like a thousand needles pressing into her skin.

The ground began to shake. A familiar voice was calling out to her. “Get up! Valloo damnit, enchanter! Stand!”

Every vein, every cell and atom in her bruised body cried out. She wanted to go back to sleep. This was too much.

Weakly, she rolled onto her stomach, the pain in her ribs causing her eyes to snap open. Coughing, she spat more blood onto the snow, her arms and knees shaking as she slowly began to stand.

She’d been thrown into the midst of an earthquake. Dazed, her head lolled upwards, watching in frozen horror as the Talus barrelled towards her, its heavy steps falling in time to the shuddering of the world underneath her feet.

Behind it, Revali furiously loosed arrow after arrow. Not one missed their mark, but not a single shot had managed to melt through its ice encasing. Belatedly, she realised that the archer had run out of fire arrows. The odds were stacked against them.

Yelling, she threw herself to the side, dodging a giant rock hurled in her direction. Desperately, she scrambled back onto her feet, avoiding one stone after another by the skin of her teeth. The monster continued to gain on her, quickly closing the distance between them.

Maiya blinked away the sweat from her eyes, the fear in her heart that had kept her alive for this long gradually losing its hold over her to the pull of fatigue. If she devoted herself to running, she wouldn’t be able to avoid the Talus’ attacks. If she slowed her run to focus on dodging, it would catch up to her in seconds.

I’m not going to make it.

Mind reeling, she didn’t notice the rock jutting up behind her. She tripped, falling face first into the snow. The monster shrieked in delight. Shaking violently, she tried to stand again, falling back down as the muscles in her legs seized from overuse.

The Talus was but a metre away at this point. Even if she tried, she wouldn’t be able to outrun it. A rare moment of peace settled over her as she slowly stood up.

If she were to die here, she wouldn’t die lying down.

As the monster approached, she managed to catch the glint of her enchanted dagger still embedded into the cracking ore. It was uncontrolled, spewing out flames in an unfettered act of rage. Her greatest creation was violent and angry, but the Talus remained unshaken. It would take days for it to make a noticeable dent.

What have I done?

Standing her ground, she watched as the Talus raised its fists to the sky, blocking out the sun as it readied itself to slam down and put an end to her life. She didn’t know what to think. Light escaped from the seams of her glove, the rune all but bursting into flames. Hylia, did it hurt. But it didn’t matter. This would all be over soon.

She kept her eyes open, making a quiet wish somewhere deep in her tired soul that despite all the odds stacked against them, Revali would escape.

A streak of red sailed through the sky.

Equal parts shocked and horrified, Maiya watched as the Talus’ movements suddenly came to a halting stop. All reality slowed. Rock arms, once raised high as a terrifying monument to her mortality, dropped to its sides as it turned around.

Facing completely away from her, the monster directed its attention to the Rito archer behind it, revealing to the Enchanter the single fire arrow protruding from its back.

Revali dropped his bow, every one of his arrows completely expended. Out of options, he unsheathed the hunter’s knife strapped to his belt, gripping it tightly between both his wings. “Hey, blockhead!” He called out, beak curved up in a mocking, open smile. “Face me.”

The repulsive pink parasite bubbled and writhed, releasing a vile, high-pitched wail. Its host shuddered to life, starting forward and dragging its hulking body along the snow in the direction of the Pride of the Rito.

Her body moved on its own.

West Rospro Pass melted into a mess of sound and colour. The pain that rippled through her chest, the frustration, the fear; all of it blended together and were cast aside as every fibre in her being rallied and converged on a single goal.

Nothing mattered beyond Getting. There. First.

Bringing her hand to her mouth, she sank her teeth into the glove, ripping it away. Energy sparked and crackled underneath her skin. Beams of blue light spilled from her scar, warming the surface of her cheek and begging for release.

“YOU STUPID BIRD!”

Revali lifted his head, green eyes stunned when he saw the Hylian sprinting closer.

The earth trembled as the Talus neared. In a last ditch effort she grabbed the Rito by his white scarf, yanking him behind her and placing herself between him and the path of the monster.

It was only steps away now, close enough for her to feel the chill of the ice on the tip of her nose. Operating on pure instinct, she raised her left arm, trying not to flinch as the shadow of the Talus’ form fell over the both of them.

Panic seized her unexpectedly. She was dumped into the ocean again and rapidly sinking, struggling to keep her head above the waves as the storm thrashed mercilessly around her.

Caught in the undertow, she fought to stay afloat.

This is my fault.

I did this.

I can’t let him die.

I can’t let him die!

I can’t—

Someone held her shoulder. Warm breath fanned the hairs on the back of her neck. Revali’s voice, lacking its usual sardonic edge, was but a gentle whisper on her skin, piercing through the water and pulling her up from the depths.

“Maiya.” He said, grounding her.

Without another thought, she plunged her glowing arm into the core of the Frost Talus. The parasite screamed and thrashed in alarm. For the first time in her life, she allowed herself to let go, letting the pull of the rune take over.

Her outstretched hand sunk past the ice with ease, beams of blue light escaping through the cracks of the rock and illuminating the Pass.

In mere seconds, her vision was full of nothing but fire. The Frost Talus, in its unfathomable enormity, was lost and overtaken in the light of the flames.

[cmagines]

Fell Over and For You

Summary: Following season one episodes (“Broken Mirror,” “What Fresh Hell?,” “Somebody’s Watching,” and “The Fisher King: Part 2”), the BAU’s newest and youngest agents fall in love.

Pairing: Spencer Reid/Reader

Word Count: 2,379

           You literally ran into him. You smacked right into his chest and fell against the wall, which was luckily right there to break your fall. It was your fault, really; you’d had your nose so far into a Harry Potter book that you wouldn’t have seen a mob with pitchforks and torches stalking your way.

           Your glasses were skewed on your face. You fixed them anxiously. “I- I’m so sorry,” you apologized profusely, blushing heavily with so much heat in your face you were amazed you weren’t on fire. “I’m not usually so clumsy, I swear-“

           The man was tall, but all you saw of his head was his brown hair when he bent down to pick your book up for you. You turned an even brighter color as he looked at the cover. I’ve done it now, you’d thought, mortified. The newest agent’s literary interests are comparable to a twelve-year-old’s. How long would it take to get through the halls?

           Instead of picking on you, he broke into a wide smile and beamed, brushing his hair back behind his ears and looking up to grin. His sweater vest made him look skinny and his lack of a gun made him look unthreatening. He looked more like a student from the college you’d just left than a suited agent prepared to take on killers, so you relaxed slightly. Maybe he wasn’t as rigid in the status quo you assumed existed.

           “I loved this one,” he told you with a big grin, turning it so the cover faced you as he handed it back over. “Let me know when you get to page 286. That one has some important foreshadowing; I hope you notice.” His face flushed, and suddenly he was just as embarrassed as you. “Well, I mean, not that you wouldn’t have on your own; although now that I’ve pointed it out and you know it’s there, it’s not like you’re reading it on your own-“

           “It’s okay,” you interrupted him, smiling nervously. Your heart still beat in your chest. “I’ve read them all at least a dozen times.” Your hands felt clammy and you held your book tightly. The man was cute, and nice, and you already shared an interest.

           You were quiet and soft-spoken. Spencer was… well, not always loud, but he certainly seemed to have trouble shutting up at times! That was okay, though. You were patient, and you liked when someone else would talk with you, even when you weren’t the most engaging partner. Spencer more than made up for your shyness, and you bonded quickly. He was adept at reading when you were having a particular bout of timidity and was always happy to help you out, whether it meant relaying a message to someone from the local department for you or asking what he assumed you were questioning.

           Elle and Derek took the two of you to restaurant to celebrate the successful capture of an unsub who’d been tormenting two twin sisters, going as far as to capture one and attack Derek to get to the other. Derek kept rubbing his chest where he’d been hit with a taser, but he insisted he was okay.

           Your handsome waiter came back over after you’d finished up your entrees. He looked like he could’ve stepped right out of a men’s health magazine. The shirt he wore was tucked into his pants, but pulled so tight to his body that you could see the defined tones of his abdomen. When he came over to ask for dessert, he took the orders from Elle and Derek, and when he looked to your side of the table, he winked.

           “And for you, gorgeous?” He flirted. He wasn’t lewd, but you’d become the center of attention, just like that, even from the people at the table across from you, who started to giggle at your deer-in-headlights expression.

           Spencer had come to your rescue. “She’d like the crème silk pie,” he said politely, setting his hand down near yours on the table. You quickly moved yours to hover over his and looked like you were holding his hand, staring down at the table in front of you and waiting for the waiter to go away. “And a refill of water,” Spencer added for himself as an afterthought.

           A little girl was kidnapped and your leads of finding her looked like they were all going nowhere. You’d broken into the suspect’s house, and couldn’t find her. Where were you supposed to look next? Everyone else had checked out with firm alibis, and the one person who didn’t had been excluded by the profile.

           You went and stood on the porch, wrapped your arms around yourself, and shivered. When you’d been recruited, the pitch had been that you’d work to bring justice for the families of victims, save lives and rescue the next victims – ‘when you stop a killer, you save their next victim.’ It had sounded nice, until now you were facing down a bleak prospect of telling a heartbroken mother and a father slowly falling to cancer that their daughter was nowhere to be found. You couldn’t even imagine how terrified the little soccer player must have been, if she was even still alive.

           “Are you okay?” Spencer’s voice made you look up. He stepped over the threshold and into the open air with you, hands in his pockets. He looked like the shy one for once, worried about approaching.

           You contemplated nodding. You had to be able to do the job. Everyone else seemed like they could handle it, even Hotch, who had his own child and could relate to the family more than you could. Then again, you’d known Spencer for six months and not once had he ever invalidated your feelings or treated you like he expected you to be tough. He had shown you his sensitive side the month before, confiding in you that he’d been having trouble sleeping from nightmares.

           You shook your head and covered your mouth before you could start crying. Spencer frowned, shuffling his feet, unsure what to do.

           “This always happens,” he told you quietly, looking up and scanning down the street of the residential neighborhood. “Something like this, I mean. We always do our best, but sometimes… we just can’t.” His voice broke. “But we won’t give up until we find who took her, even if we have to stay and work on our own time.”

           That was when you heard the most beautiful sound you thought you had ever bore witness to. “I’ve got her!” Gideon shouted from inside the house. “Hotch, she’s alive!”

           “A group of employees in a hospital in Las Vegas were actually fired because they had a betting pool on when certain patients with terminal illnesses would die,” Spencer told Elle, who listened intently, nodding her head. You suspected she was thinking about something else and just indulging him. “That was in 1981, but since then-“

           “1980,” you corrected quietly, and then froze.

           Elle, Spencer, and Hotch all turned to look at you.

           For a second, you couldn’t breathe. “I – I’m sorry,” you stammered, trying to look at Spencer’s eyes but unable to make contact. You flushed and looked down, feeling your stomach twist. “I shouldn’t’ve interrupted…”

           “It’s okay,” Spencer promised. You chanced a peek back up. He was beaming at you proudly. “You’re absolutely right, Y/N. I was distracted.”

           “By what?” Elle snorted, not believing that the boy genius was distracted by anything when it came to his trivia.

           “It’s possible,” he said defensively, sending her a betrayed look. “And I’m not the only traditionally-labeled genius on the team anymore.” The smile he sent you was encouraging and warm, and you looked down with a slight smile.

           You realized you liked Spencer when you saw the magazine cover that was printed the morning after you closed a case in Hollywood. It was of Spencer swimming in a pool with Lila Archer, a gorgeous, up-and-coming TV actress. He was holding his head up away from hers, while she tugged on his tie.

           It was a slow realization that took you a while to come to. After all, Spencer was just your friend, right? Sure, you liked spending time with him, and he helped you out when you were uncomfortable in social situations, and he comforted you when you were upset, but those were all things your best friend had done in college. Except – you’d never wanted to hug your best friend as frequently as you wanted to hug Spencer. You’d never wanted to kiss them before. It was just the scarily clever doctor whom made you want that romantic companionship. You’d fallen, and it was possibly you’d been falling since you bumped into him and fell into the wall.

           You showed him the magazine before you got on the jet to go back to Quantico, smirking shyly behind the safety of the paper. “You made a friend,” you said, disguising your subtle question behind an observation.

           For once, you weren’t the one turning scarlet. Spencer took the magazine from you with wide eyes and stared at the cover, cheeks going all rosy. “She wanted to kiss me,” he explained, justifying why he was in her backyard pool with all of his clothes on, gun holster included. “She dragged me into the pool and-“

           “Why didn’t you kiss her?” You couldn’t help your curiosity, although you thought you might have blown your secret.

           Spencer paused, tilted his head, and frowned thoughtfully down at the high-definition photograph. “I guess I had someone else on my mind,” he admitted to you, his voice small and quiet. You bit your lip and nodded, taking the diversion of Derek calling for you to hurry up.

           So Spencer liked someone. That was… it was fine. He was a coworker, and it was a crush. You would get over it.

           Except you didn’t get over it, and a few months later, after Rebecca Bryant had been rescued from her insane and apparently suicidal father, you stayed late to finish up your statements on the case so you could sleep in the next morning. You were getting ready to leave when you noticed the light in the kitchenette turning on. Investigative, you crept over to see who was in at the late hour.

           “Spence,” you said quietly. He jumped skittishly and “accidentally” dumped some more sugar into his coffee. “What are you doing here? You should be with your mom.”

           His mother had come to the FBI to help, and that was how you’d met her, offering to help the woman who looked lost without realizing that she was your best friend’s mother. Spencer had taken you aside and carefully explained to you with a frightened expression that his mom was schizophrenic. You’d smiled sadly at him and said that you were there for him if he ever needed help, or even just to talk, and then had kindly excused yourself to let him talk to his parent.

           Spencer turned around to lean back against the counter, leaving his coffee mug on the table. “She’s at the hotel,” he said, matching your low volume. You felt a little bit of a thrill, like you were being secretive by being so quiet. “I wanted… I wanted to see if you were still in.”

           Sympathetically, you smiled at him and held your hands behind your back unobtrusively. “I’m here. What do you need?”

           Spencer held his arms out, sucking on his lower lip. He was nervous and tentative. He wasn’t a very touchy person, so you knew it was special… you reached out for his waist, putting your hands on his sides, and slid your hands around to your back as he leaned over, tugging you to his slim form and holding you carefully, like you would change your mind and scamper away if he was too firm.

           “This always happens,” you told him softly, standing on your toes to rest your chin gingerly on his shoulder. His hair tickled your nose. You breathed in his shampoo and soap and shut your eyes, feeling him shaking slightly in your arms. “Something like this, I mean. We always do our best, but sometimes… we just can’t.”

           Spencer stilled as he recognized the words you were reciting to him.

           “But we won’t give up until we find who took her, even if we have to stay and work on our own time. … This time we don’t have to. We already found her. Her father chose to end his own life, but we saved her. This was a victory, Spence.”

           He sniffled. “I told you that.”

           “Yeah.”

           “You know… the reason I didn’t want to kiss Lila…”

           “The girl you have a thing for?” You asked, disappointed that the conversation was going back to the mystery girl you were definitely jealous of. Still, you couldn’t be too upset. He’d come back to you while he was upset, instead of going to her. That had to mean something.

           Spencer nodded against you while you embraced, his cheek rubbing against yours. “I want to tell her how I feel,” he whispered nervously, his long fingers dancing nervously as he loosely held onto the back of your shirt.

           “So tell her,” you gently urged, putting him before yourself. You were a genius, sure. According to every IQ measurement test you’d ever taken, at least. The one thing you weren’t able to do, though… the one problem you weren’t able to solve… was to tell him how you felt.

           Spencer pulled back from you. You sank back onto your feet and looked up at him tiredly. There were dark shadows under his eyes, just like there were under yours. He held your waist in his hands, reluctant to let go, and leaned down. You held your breath, internally panicking, as he closed the distance and touched his forehead to yours, the warm heat of his breath rushing gently over your face.

           “I am,” he answered, just as carefully.

           For once in your life, you did the bold thing and confronted your shyness head-on, reaching up to the back of his neck and pulling him down to kiss his lips, feeling the last year of friendship finally come to full fruition.

~~~

~~~

A/N: Welcome! This is my new side blog dedicated to Criminal Minds fanfic. This is a repost from my main blog because I want to show that I write pretty well. If you want to commission specific content, please consider buying me a low-priced Ko-Fi.

[thorin-is-a-cuddler]

Just wear a smile - Tony’s Day

A/N: How AWESOME is the fact that @anasticklefics​ is celebrating the OG Avengers for an entire week in this beautiful december month?? I can barely contain my emotions and will participate - better late than never. Here is my last minute Tony Stark tickle fic, featuring Tony and Clint.

Clint was about to enter the room Tony had messaged him to join him in - after having taken a wrong turn to the wrong floor, where he had accidentally witnessed Bruce Banner practice an imaginative Jimmy Fallon interview - for his nose fracture scan. This nose of his had been broken multiple times already, but it was his first technological treatment since he had started his lifelong nosebreaking spree. JARVIS was apparently visualizing the fractured bone during that procedure to build a metal splint that Clint could later on apply to the bridge of his nose - it was supposed to offer maximum healing quality results. Natasha had already joked it would probably be like a beauty surgery for Clint whom she had never gotten to know with a pre-break-nose. The thought appealed to the archer.

Anyway, he was about to enter the room when something soft hit him in the face, accompanied by a frustrated human sound. 

Clint picked the thing from his still quite sore nose and identified it as a Metal Band shirt. Black Sabbath. He knew the album covers due to Tony’s collection. 

With a questioning glance did he look around the corner of the door frame only to see his teammate stand in front of a large cupboard filled with clothes. Or... well, it must have been filled with clothes once upon a time. Now? They were scattered all over the floor, piling up to hills or flattening out to landscapes of cotton. The archer cleared his throat. 

Tony turned around to reveal a thoughtful, slightly hysterical expression. He smiled despite it. Oh, also he wasn’t wearing a shirt. The arc reactor in his chest was bright and fascinating and Clint had to immediately fight the urge to touch it. He was surprisingly buff. Not that Clint hadn’t expected him to be in a good shape.

“There you are.” Tony stated matter of factly and waded towards him through the sea of textiles as if that were a normal thing to do. He took the Black Sabbath shirt out of Clint’s hand, took him by the shoulder and guided him to a chair. “It’s about time. I got to get ready for a date.” 

“Oh.” Clint made and nodded. He must have sounded a tad bit too insightful, because Tony stopped walking and looked at him appraisingly. 

“What do you mean oh?”

Clint shrugged and sat down on the edge of the table next to the chair - it was barely visible underneath the pile of clothes on top. “Oh means oh. As in oh, you’ve got a date and now you’re freaking out. It appears more normal to me now. This mess, I mean.” 

Tony’s eyes reflected frustration and fear now. His shoulders sagged down a little. “I am freaking out.”

“Yep. I figured.”

“And I don’t know how to freak back in.” “Er.. right.”

“Clint, I will gladly scan your nose and let JARVIS build a metal splint for you. But first, I really need your help.”

“Let me guess. You can’t decide what to wear?”

Tony let out a hysterical chuckle in response. Clint crossed his muscled arms in front of his chest and smirked. “Why ask me? You’ve got five other opinions available.”

“Looks like you are the one to call when someone feels a bit self-conscious.”

At that Clint actually had to give him a crooked smile. 

Tony gathered up some shirts from the floor and put them on the bed nearby. He then started to hold up each of them in front of his body for a short time, explaining shortly why he believed them to be good choices, before talking himself out of the decision and disposing of the loser-shirt. 

After the tenth piece of clothing dropped to the ground Clint still hadn’t said a word. He was squinting his eyes at Tony considerately and waited for his panic to subside due to his friend’s presence in the room. After shirt number 14 Clint was sure this moment of restored peace of mind wouldn’t befall Tony. He stood up from the table with a sigh and put his hands on his hips. Tony dropped the black shirt in his hands, shut his mouth and stared at Clint expectantly. 

“What? Did you decide? Is one of them the perfect choice? Talk to me, Barton. Give me something to work with.”

Clint chuckled and pointed at Tony’s face. “You know what you have to wear to this obviously special date with Pepper?”

Tony wrung his hands. “Isn’t this question the reason why you’re here??”

“You have to wear a smile.” 

There was a pause. Tony looked at Clint with a tense expression, his eyes showing the archer well enough that he wasn’t capable of instant relaxation. No problemo was what Hawkeye thought to that. He knew just how to cheer a person up. He didn’t have a reputation of being insufferable for nothing. Even Cap had already fallen victim to his cheer-up-attacks and he hadn’t yet been sneaky enough to get him for revenge - though he’d tried.

“This is an easy task, Tony.” Clint took a step closer to the abashed Iron Man. “Once you’re all smily and happy...” Another step closer, over a Metallica shirt. “... what’s it matter which shirt you wear?” 

“Barton.” Tony took a step back when he realized how close Clint had gotten in that short span of time. 

“I’m just trying to help you here.” Clint smirked and stepped over another bundle of clothes. He was ready to pounce any second now.

“Why are you following me? Clint!” In the brown eyes of the billionaire the tension was already making place for something else: anticipation. Six touch-starved idiots under one roof could make for some ... you know ... wish to be touched. It wasn’t surprising that Tony was scared of his date. Pepper was intelligent and cool and needed special attention. Tony probably was doubting his ability to make her happy. Clint knew that was bullshit, but it would take a lot to make Tony realize that. He certainly couldn’t convince him. What he could perfectly convince him of though was the need to laugh. Oh, he could make people laugh. People tended to know.

“You know.” Clint said and bent down, picking up a t-shirt at random. “I believe you could really pull of ... THIS!” Quickly and precisely he threw the shirt in Tony’s face, a face that was busy shouting by now, while Clint flung himself forward and tackled the man to the ground. They had a nice, soft landing among all the different fabrics. Clint almost started to wail though when Tony’s helpless hands hit against his nose, but he managed to swallow it and do quick work with his agile fingers. 

“BARTON DON’T YOU DAHAHHAHARE!!” Tony yelled into the white shirt that was still covering his face when Clint’s hands started dancing up and down his bare upper body. He arched his back and threw his head from one side to the other trying to decide instinctively which action had priority: pulling Clint’s hands away from his ticklish spots or removing the shirt from his face. Those scribbling finger certainly tickled like hell.

“Hey, would you look at that! Blindingly white! That’s what the women like.” Cheekily Clint wormed his fingers underneath the shirt to scratch at Tony’s neck, getting an actual shriek out of the twitching man on the floor. 

“STAHHAHAP!! Clihihiihihint! You- you utter ahahahahhaHAHA!!! AAHHASSHOOOLE!!!” Tony threw the shirt away, sending it flying across the room before he tried to gain control over Clint’s merciless hands. His cheeks were blushed slightly, his eyes glistening with tears of laughter and his teeth sparkling with the expanse of his smile. 

“That’s way better, Tony. How could you not be the salt to her pepper dressed with a smile like that?” 

Tony threw his head back in laughter when Clint managed to pin down one of his wrists to get a the really ticklish hollow under his arm. “NOHOOHOH PLEHEHEHEASE!!!”

“Does she know you’re this ticklish? She certainly has to know. This’ll make it easier for the both of you.” Clint smirked when Tony’s laughter turned silent at the ticklish treatment in his armpit. He shook his head wildly and wheezed. “OKAY OKAY!!! PLEHEHHEHEASE PLEHHEEHEASE STAHAHHAAP!! CLIIHIIHNT!!!”

“Alright, alright.” Clint let go off Tony’s wrist and sat back with his arms crossed. The poor man tried to get some air back inside his lungs, but his smile stayed on his face. He grabbed a handful of fabric and threw it at Clint as a retort. The archer didn’t even flinch.

“I feel like maybe I should continue just a few seconds longer...” Clint snarled dangerously and tweaked Tony’s sides a few times.

“Noho NOHO PLEASE. NOOO!!” Tony kicked himself out of Clint’s reach with his arms raised defenively and his stomach dancing up and down with the left-over giggles. He looked at Clint with a way calmer expression than he had minutes ago. 

“Now. That’s much better. I don’t think you have to worry about anything tonight, Tony.” Clint scrambled past Tony to grab the white shirt he had hauled across the room due to tickle reflexes. “If you wear this shirt in addition to your tousled giggly look, what can go wrong?”

Tony took the shirt from Clint and smiled gratefully. “You are so annoying.”

“Always happy to help.” Clint responded with a grin. 

They shared a moment of companionable silence when suddenly Tony’s smile fell. “Is that- is your nose bleeding?”

“Probably. You hit it pretty good.”

“You were tickling me.”

“It happens more often than you think.” 

“... We should really make that metal splint now.”

“Probably. Do you think I will be able to feel my nose again? It’s been two years.”

“Oh, Clint.”

[olicitysecretsanta]

UNITED Exchange fic for @tangled23works

Hi @tangled23works

One of your requests was for Olicity and kids.  You inspired me to write my first Olicity kid fic.  Thank you for your challenge.  It turned out longer than I expected but I hope it’s all enjoyable.  There is a little bit of anxiety and worry, but most of it is pure fluff.

The story is set in a canon like environment but in my AU there are a few special features.  Elseworlds and Crisis never happened.  Curtis and Felicity sorted out their differences and became business partners.  Roy doesn’t suffer blood rage after being brought back to life using the Lazarus Pit. The Diggles have three children and I created this aspect of the story long before I watched Crisis.  Oliver knows how to run searches and is confident with other technical tasks using Felicity’s computers.

@icannotbelieveiamhere Liz

UNITED

Part 1 : Mia 3 months old

Felicity looked down at Mia in her arms. She didn’t know what time it was. All she knew was that Mia was having one of her many overnight breastfeeds. Mia was attached well and drinking her milk eagerly. It was a cool night and Oliver had wrapped a multi coloured wool blanket around her shoulders while she sat up in bed.

“Why can’t I do this?” Felicity sighed.

Oliver had a puzzled look on his face. He was sitting next to the bed ready to help Felicity when Mia needed a diaper change between sides. He had jumped out of bed as soon as Mia had cried and brought her straight to Felicity. Once the feed was over he would take Mia back to her cradle and settle her back to sleep. A few hours later the cycle would repeat all over again.

“I’m confused,” Oliver admitted. “You and Mia are doing great with breastfeeding. I think you ARE doing this.”

Felicity smiled.

“Mia and I have been really lucky these first few months. She learned how to breastfeed really quickly and I must have enough milk because the ARGUS nurses say Mia’s putting on sufficient weight…… I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed. I read horror stories of feeding and expressing taking over and hour each time and very little break between one feed and the next. I’m enjoying our breast feeding. I love listening to her little gurgles and how she calms down the moment she senses me.”

“So what am I missing?” Oliver enquired.

“I wake up when Mia does, but I can’t get out of bed. Sometimes I almost fall asleep when she’s attached to me. If I didn’t have you watching me, I don’t know what would happen. You’re a wonderful dad.

Oliver smiled but he still seemed concerned. Felicity attempted to explain how she was feeling.

“I don’t understand why I can’t move at night while you jump out of bed and attend to Mia immediately. Even during the day I sometimes run out of energy. I used to be able to cope with only a few hours sleep a night when I worked during the day and became Overwatch at night. Why can’t I do the same thing now?”

Oliver nodded his head, finally understanding what Felicity was worried about.

“It’s a different type of sleeping pattern,” Oliver started. “After we finished saving the city each night, you were able to go home and sleep for one long block of time, even if that was less than a normal nights sleep. On the weekend we could usually catch up on some sleep and occasionally you got some rest time between work and helping me through the night.”

Oliver paused and Felicity started to remember how that mayhem had felt. It was completely different to the last three months of Mia’s non stop feed, play, sleep cycles.

“Back then, you knew roughly when you could sleep and when you would wake, aside from emergencies like the city being under siege. Now, you’re on a completely different timetable. You don’t know when you will be woken up and when you can sleep. Mia sets the timetable and we fit in with it. She’s totally dependent on us. That’s scary. Your body doesn’t know how to sleep and wake up full of energy. Your might adjust to being woken up every few hours, but hopefully Mia will start sleeping longer and you’ll get better rest.”

Felicity thought about Oliver’s words for a moment. It made sense. After a long night as Overwatch, she had been able to sleep soundly until her alarm went off in the morning for work. Coffee in the morning had helped wake her up but she’d had to cut down on the coffee while she was breastfeeding, and now she didn’t get the early morning rush the coffee gave her. Things started to fall into place and she gazed down at Mia again and smiled. Mia was worth all the long nights and exhausting days. Mia had filled Felicity’s life with joy and she loved finally having Oliver with her nearly all the time. Oliver’s wisdom made everything seem clearer, but the more she thought about it, the more she realised the explanation didn’t explain why Oliver was so good at tending to Mia during the night.

“Wait, what about you? How can you just jump out of bed, ready to do everything?”

Oliver laughed.

“I love jumping into action for my girls.”

“Yes you do, but there’s got to be more to it.”

Oliver sighed. “It’s still hard for me to talk about what happened on Lian Yu, but I think what’s been happening is because of my survival mode and alertness which never left me. On the island I taught myself to survive on short sleeps. If there was someone with me, we’d take it in turns to sleep so there was always someone to watch for danger. I didn’t have time to wake up slowly. If there was a threat, I had to jump straight into action. After Mia was born, those instincts took over again. I rarely go into a deep sleep for very long, so as soon as I hear Mia I can’t help but rush to her.”

Mia finished the first breast and Oliver took her in his arms to burp and change her diaper.

“You said once that nothing good happened on that island, but I’m glad you were able to gain so many skills which have helped all of us. I’m guessing most mums don’t have someone as energetic and eager as you to get up every night.”

“This time with you and Mia feels like my reward for all my struggles. These last three months have given me the most joy I’ve had in years. I barely feel the pain. I know it’s hard for you, but your determination and persistence with everything you do is amazing. You’ve taken on motherhood in the amazing manner you always have and you’re still doing multiple jobs”

Felicity watched Oliver change Mia’s diaper and smiled as he sang and whispered to her. Oliver was right. She was still doing multiple jobs. During some of the day Oliver watched Mia while Felicity worked in the secret room of their Bloomfield cabin. She was glad they had a safe house built by ARGUS and other covert organisations. It had lots of additional features you wouldn’t normally find in a traditional cabin in the woods.

Felicity had installed her Archer security system and had sensors and cameras throughout the cabin. She kept her searches going on the Ninth Circle, alerting ARGUS of whatever she discovered. She also worked on her business, Smoak Holt Dynamics. She and Curtis communicated by video feed and email and shared information across the internet. Felicity had encrypted everything so it couldn’t be traced. She had been determined to keep working after Mia was born.

“I don’t want my brain turning into mush,” she had told Oliver.

So far, things had been going to plan, however she was torn between spending time in the secret room and looking after Mia. Oliver was happy to look after Mia between feeds and Diggle and his three children had helped out as well.

Diggle and his family lived in a cabin a few minutes walk from their cabin. The Diggle’s cabin had a much bigger secret room where Lyla ran operations for ARGUS there. Her life had been threatened as well and this was the only way for her to stay with her family.

The twins, Sara and JJ had great fun playing with Mia and singing to her. Connor, their adopted son, loved to hold Mia in his arms and tell her how he was going to protect her all through her life. Felicity was glad they weren’t completely alone in Bloomfield.

There were also two other babysitters they could call on. Roy and Thea had gone into hiding after getting married. Their cabin was closer to town and Roy worked as a car mechanic. Whenever Felicity went to town, she had to refer to Roy as Jason. Most of the town people knew everyone was in hiding but she still wanted to respect Roy’s wishes.

Thea loved being an auntie and Felicity wondered how long it would be before she and Roy started their own family.

Oliver handed Mia back to Felicity. They still worked well as a team. Oliver had learnt all of Mia’s routines and loved being with Mia. Occasionally he fell asleep on the sofa with Mia in his arms but she knew he would protect her with his life.

After the feed Felicity slipped back down under the covers and tried to go back to sleep. Soon she felt a comforting arm around her, keeping her warm and safe.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“Always,” Oliver said softly.

Part 2: Mia 6 months old

“Archer, where is Mia?” Felicity cried out.

Felicity frantically ran around the cabin in Bloomfield looking for her six month old. She’d been putting books back on the bookshelf which Mia had pulled out earlier. The last time Felicity saw Mia she had been lying on the rug playing with little animals, but after her book sorting job was finished Mia had disappeared.

“Mia is behind the sofa,” Archer replied.

Felicity was glad she had been so thorough when she installed sensors all over the cabin, the yard and the surrounding areas.

Felicity crawled across the floor and looked at the narrow gap between the wooden wall and the sofa. Mia was there on her tummy, playing with her little panda.

“How did you get in there?” Felicity said in amazement. Mia looked up at her and smiled.

Felicity couldn’t help but smile back, even though she was more frustrated than happy. She wondered how she was going to rescue Mia. Oliver was in town at the Farmers Market and wouldn’t be back for another hour.

Suddenly, Felicity felt movement on the cabin veranda.

Archer’s voice broke the silence.

“John Diggle, Sara Diggle, JJ Diggle and Connor Hawke have entered the cabin,” Archer announced.

“Hi John, I’m so glad you’re here,” Felicity said.

“Where’s Mia?” Sara asked.

“Mia did a disappearing act. Somehow she managed to get behind the sofa,” Felicity replied.

Connor went to the opposite end of the sofa and looked at Mia excitedly.

“I can get her out,” he said boldly.

“Let Felicity and I move the sofa before you get Mia,” John instructed.

John and Felicity slowly and carefully moved the sofa while Connor kept his eyes fixed on Mia in case she ended up under the sofa. Connor quickly moved behind the sofa and brought Mia out and gave her a big cuddle.

“Were you scared of the sofa monster, Mia?”

Mia just laughed at Connor and gave him the panda. Connor waved the little animal in the air.

“Panda Panda Panda,” Connor said as Mia watched her toy moving up and down. He gave the panda back to Mia and handed her to Felicity.

“I’ll always save you Mia, no matter what you do.” Connor exclaimed.

“Can we play with Mia now,” Sara and JJ said together. The twins were adorable when they came up with the same words.

“Of course,” said Felicity, “But make sure she stays on the rug with you. Felicity put Mia on the rug a few feet away from the sofa and watched her pull herself around on her tummy as she gathered together all her animals.

“Is that crawling?” Felicity wondered. “I didn’t think babies could crawl as young as this. Plus it looks more like she’s pulling herself along rather than crawling. I thought she’d be only rolling around at this time but she’s doing much more than that.”

“She’s got really strong muscles,” Connor said proudly.

“I’m not sure it’s just strong muscles. I think she might have strong joints as well. John, would you watch Mia while I do a bit of research.”

“My pleasure, Felicity,” Diggle replied.

Felicity looked at his eyes. They had been through so much together and he had protected her for years. Maybe that’s why all his children wanted to protect Mia. Compassion for others came naturally to John’s children.

Felicity picked up her phone and typed a few searches into her web browser. She had a hunch about Mia’s skills, but she wanted to check her facts before she shared her theory.

Oliver arrived home while Felicity was still researching and started unpacking the shopping.

Sara, JJ and Connor were crawling around the floor with Mia, testing how quickly she could move from place to place. Mia squealed with delight as she moved between the children. She loved having friends.

“Uncle Oliver,” JJ said with excitement, “Mia’s a ninja! She disappeared in front of Auntie Felicity.”

Oliver looked at Felicity with a puzzled expression on his face.

“I was sorting out the bookshelf. Mia was on the rug one moment and behind the sofa the next. I thought she was just rolling a bit but she’s actually crawling and moving quite swiftly. She’s got really strong joints and I think she’s got extra mobility in them. I’ve watched her over the past few months and I can see her flexing her fingers a long way.”

“Like being double jointed?” Diggle suggested.

“Yes and no,” Oliver said. He looked at Felicity realising, what she’d been researching. “I’ll let you explain the rest.”

“It’s extremely rare for someone to have extra joints. I think Mia has joint hypermobility syndrome. It means she has joints that easily move beyond the normal range. I’m guessing she also has very flexible tendons and ligaments which means she has more control and mobility over her bones, muscles and joints. I think she inherited it from Oliver.”

Oliver smiled.

“I’ve always been like that, but I never learnt to use the ability until I was on the island. My training involved using my extra mobility to dislocate joints when needed.”

“Yes, you were always very good at that,” Diggle said.

“As long as you don’t teach Mia to do that, I don’t have a problem with her hypermobility. Aside from the fact that she’s going to be even more difficult to keep track of.”

“Does it hurt?” Connor asked.

Felicity wasn’t sure when Connor had started following their conversation. His connection to Mia seemed to be increasing each time he saw her.

“Some people get sore joints and they take medicine for the pain, other people have no symptoms and don’t need any extra help,” Felicity replied.

“I’ll start figuring out which training routines will work best for her,” Oliver said.

“Wait, she’s only 6 months old. Why would you start thinking about training her now?”

Felicity hoped that Mia would never have to use training skills to defend herself and would be spared from all the dangers they had faced.

“She loves activity. I’ve seen that even when she’s in her cot in the mornings, before I pick her up. I want her to be able to focus that energy. It will help her release frustration. Plus, me training Mia will give you extra time for Smoak Holt Dynamics, rest or whatever you feel you need.”

“Okay, I see what you mean,” Felicity sighed.

Oliver looked at JJ.

“JJ, would you like to wash the vegetables with me before I prepare dinner.”

“Yes please,” J.J replied. He loved getting his hands wet.

“I’ll put Mia down for a nap. She must be tired after all that crawling,” Felicity said.

Diggle smiled.

“Mia’s good for both of you,” he said.

“Definitely,” Felicity said. She picked up Mia and gave her a big hug. She carried her to her bedroom and laughed as she watched Oliver getting all the Diggle children involved in dinner preparations. She wondered whether Mia would inherit her cooking skills or Oliver’s. She was hoping Mia would take after Oliver.

Part 3: Mia 9 months old

JUMBO

Felicity stared at the online catalogue. Yes, Jumbo was exactly what she needed. She stared at the large wooden playpen. It had plenty of space for Mia to play in and she could probably stand herself up using the wooden bars and playpen surf around the hexagonal shape. She hadn’t started climbing out of her cot yet. Felicity was hoping it would be months before they had to worry about that problem. Mia was growing stronger and more flexible each day. If they purchased Jumbo, Felicity could watch Mia play in the cabin and work at the same time, without worrying about which storage units Mia would crawl into or kitchen appliances she would discover.

Roy had been delighted when he’d seen Mia moving around. He started to teach her basic parkour moves which she practised inside and outside the cabin. There were plenty of uneven surfaces and obstacles she could maneuver around. Roy had wanted to nickname her Little Speedy but Thea and Oliver didn’t want any part of Thea’s moniker being used.

Roy and Thea were happy to look after Mia while Felicity worked on Smoak Holt Dynamic projects and Oliver caught up with sleep during the day. She wondered whether Roy and Thea were thinking about starting their own family. They loved playing with Mia and the Diggle children. Roy had also taken John and Lyla’s children on parkour expeditions in the woods around the cabin.

Mia still woke up each night and Oliver looked after her. Sometimes Felicity didn’t wake up at all during these times. Felicity had been expressing milk after each breast feed and had been putting it in bottles which Oliver used for the night feeds. The sleep deprivation had finally caught up with him and he usually slept for a few hours during the day.

They were probably going to need more babysitters.

Felicity looked longingly at Jumbo but decided not to buy it. The wooden bars made it look like a prison. She and Oliver had seen too many prisons in their lives and she didn’t want Oliver experiencing any flashbacks when he looked at Mia inside Jumbo.

Felicity went back to her searches on the Ninth Circle and wondered how they were going to keep Mia safe while she explored the world around her.

Part 4: Mia 15 months old

Felicity and Oliver were cuddled up on the sofa watching Mia show her latest trick to Roy and Thea. At 15 months she was walking confidently and she was showing off by walking between Roy and Thea who were standing at opposite ends of the room. Each of them would hug Mia and she would squeal with delight.

Felicity was tired. More tired than she’d ever been. The good news was that now she wasn’t confused. She knew why she was so tired. It had taken her months to figure it out, however.

Mia had stopped drinking breast milk just after her first birthday. Felicity had been hoping to breastfeed for much longer but there wasn’t much she could do once Mia made up her mind. At 13 months, Mia had started sleeping through the night. Felicity was delighted to get extra sleep but no matter how much sleep she got, she still felt exhausted half way through the day. She’d fallen asleep during a video call with Curtis. He’d been chatting about his husband Nick and the vacation they were planning and Felicity had dozed off when Curtis started rambling on about the troubles of finding a direct flight to Bermuda.

Curtis had eventually realised Felicity was asleep and sent a message to Oliver’s phone. Oliver had carried Mia into the secret room, hoping she wouldn’t remember going in there, and woken Felicity up. Felicity had wished Curtis well on his travels before letting Olive take her to the bedroom. Mia appeared confused but happy to have her mum back.

Later that day, one of the ARGUS doctors had visited for Mia’s regular check up. She asked Felicity whether her menstrual cycle had resumed, but Felicity couldn’t remember when she’d had her last period. The doctor suggested a pregnancy test. While they waited for the results, Felicity had called Oliver over so they could get the news together. She felt bad about the fact that she had kept her first pregnancy a secret from Oliver. This time she wanted Oliver to know as soon as she did.

They were all delighted with the positive result. Even Mia seemed to sense the excitement and started babbling.

“There’s another baby coming, Mia.” Oliver said.

“Ba Ba Ba Ba, “ Mia replied.

Felicity looked at Mia with awe, suddenly realising she was the first one to know her brother or sister was on the way.

“Mia knew,” Felicity said to Oliver.

Oliver looked at her strangely.

“Mia stopped breastfeeding when she turned one. Breastmilk changes taste when a woman gets pregnant again. Mia knew there was something different.”

“Amazing,” Oliver said. He looked over at Mia, “You’re going to be as smart as your mum.”

Oliver kissed Felicity on the cheek as they watched Roy start another activity with Mia. Roy was trying to get her to balance on one leg. Felicity wondered what Roy was up to.

Thea turned towards Oliver and Felicity.

“If she can balance on one leg, she can kick with the other,” Thea explained.

Felicity turned to Oliver. “Isn’t she too young?”

“I think she’s okay. We’ll make training like a game. If Mia gets tired or frustrated we’ll stop. Once she’s older, we’ll start explaining what we’re doing.”

“Shall we call Autie Nyssa?” Thea asked.

“No,” Felicity replied, “We have enough experts with us. If I was alone at the cabin with Mia I’d definitely reach out to Nyssa. Now that all of you are with us, I think we’ll manage with Mia’s training.”

Felicity couldn’t believe how well things had worked out. It was wonderful to have their family and friends so close. She wasn’t sure how she was going to cope when her next baby was born however.

“We’re definitely going to need more babysitters after the next baby arrives,” Felicity said.

“Have you talked to the ARGUS babysitters John and Lyla suggested?” Oliver asked.

“Not yet,” Felicity replied. “I know they’ve been security checked but I’d prefer family and friends looking after Mia and our new baby. I’m just not sure how we’re going to cope.”

“We’ll cope. It’ll be tricky with Thea’s baby due at the same time. I have a couple of ideas. Give me a chance to figure things out.”

“Okay,” Felicity sighed as she rubbed her belly.

“Precious cargo” Oliver whispered in her ear.

Felicity put both arms around Oliver and kissed him intensely.

Part 5: All together now

Felicity screamed as she pushed.

She lay with the multi coloured woollen blanket around her. The same blanket which had kept her warm during Mia’s birth.

“Not long now Felicity,” said one of the ARGUS midwives calmly.

“I don’t understand,” Felicity said, “My labour with Mia took ages. Why is this one coming so fast? Thank goodness you arrived so quickly.”

“Your body knows what to do now. Labour is usually quicker the second time around. Okay Felicity, it’s time to push again.”

Felicity lost complete track of time after that. Oliver held her hands and spoke softly to her. Felicity wondered if a boy or a girl was on their way. This time she and Oliver had decided not to find out the sex of the baby before the birth. They wanted this to be a surprise.

Felicity kept pushing when directed. She heard a scream and her new baby was placed on her tummy.

“Congratulations. You have a baby boy.”

“Lucas,” Oliver and Felicity said together.

“Mia’s going to love her baby brother.” Felicity said.

The next few minutes passed quickly as one midwife examined Lucas while the other midwife helped Felicity deliver the afterbirth.

Suddenly there was a rush of footsteps along the corridor.

Mia burst in the door with Lyla close behind.

“Baby. Baby. Baby,” Mia screamed with delight.

“I’m sorry,” Lyla said, “I gave Mia a hug when we heard your baby screaming but she wriggled away somehow.”

Mia rushed to Felicity and Oliver. The midwife who had been looking after Lucas handed him to Felicity. He was wrapped in a yellow blanket and a green bonnet was keeping his head warm.

“Mia,” Oliver said, “This is your new brother, Lucas.”

“Hi Lucas,” Mia said timidly, “Why you wrinkly?”

“Your face was wrinkly when you were born,” Felicity replied.

“Was I tiny?” Mia asked.

“You were tinier,” Felicity replied.

“Now I big strong.”

Mia lifted her arms in the air.

Felicity laughed.

“You are very strong.”

John Diggle appeared in the doorway surrounded by Sara, JJ and Connor.

“I rang Roy,” John said, “They’ll be here soon.”

By the time all the Diggle children had a look at Lucas there were more visitors. Lucas was sleeping soundly by then.

Roy and Thea entered the room. Thea was holding her new baby wrapped in a red blanket.

“Hello Tommy,” Felicity said to the one month old, “This is your cousin, Lucas.”

“He’s beautiful,” Thea cried.

“It’s great to have everyone together,” Roy said.

Oliver looked worried. Felicity wondered what he was thinking about.

A proximity alert went off on Oliver and Felicity’s phones.

“I’ll check it out,” Oliver said. “Roy, Thea, you’re on guard.”

“Of course,” Roy replied.

Roy grabbed Felicity’s phone and gave it to her. He stood at the door and kept his eyes between the corridor and the window. Thea held Tommy and Mia close to her.

A minute later there was another alert on the phone.

“All clear,” Felicity said.

Everyone relaxed. Mia and the babies hadn’t even noticed there was a problem.

Felicity heard Archer announcing visitors entering, but the volume level was too low for her too hear any names. She made a note to herself to investigate why the volume had changed. She wasn’t expecting any other visitors, but Oliver sending the all clear alert meant the situation was under control.

Suddenly a tall, dark haired woman, all dressed in black, appeared in the doorway. Mia hid behind the other side of the bed. She wasn’t used to seeing strangers in the cabin.

“Who you?” Mia shouted.

Nyssa smiled.

“Hello Mia. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” she started and then turned to Felicity and Lucas. “Greetings sister wife and my new step son.”

“I thought you annulled the League marriage?” Felicity said puzzled.

“Yes, but I swore to protect Oliver and his entire family, so I use these terms with respect and fondness,” Nyssa declared.

“Thank you. But why are you here and who turned down the volume on Archer?“ Felicity asked beginning to get suspicious.

“That would be my fault on both questions,” Oliver said as he entered the room side by side with Nyssa.

Felicity knew there was definitely something going on now. Oliver and Nyssa were standing so close together she knew there was something happening behind them.

“As Husband here, phrased it, I was transporting ‘more precious cargo’. Our route took longer than expected,” Nyssa explained.

Oliver and Nyssa took a step apart to reveal a tall, fair haired teenager.

“William!” Felicity cried as she gave him a hug. Oliver held Lucas while they embraced.

Mia had hidden behind the bed again when William appeared.

“Mia,” Felicity said softly, “This is your big brother, William.”

“Hi kiddo,” William waved to Mia.

“Yippee,” Mia cried, “ Two new brothers.”

Mia climbed on the bed to take a closer look at William. Mia looked from William to Nyssa.

“Why black,” Mia said, pointing at the clothing William and Nyssa were wearing.

“Nyssa said it would hide us when we travelled in the dark,” William explained. “We’ve been walking for 3 days and before that we travelled by truck and train, in the cargo section.”

“It was the only way to keep you safe,” Nyssa said.

“I’m sorry this took so long to organise,” Oliver said, “Samantha’s parents made things very difficult and they didn’t understand why everything had to be arranged via phone and video conference.”

“I wanted to come back to you for a long time but my grandparents wouldn’t let me contact you. I found out they’d been keeping your messages from me.” William said.

Felicity had allowed Oliver to use her secret room in the last few months to check her searches and assist with Smoak Holt Dynamics duties. She realised he’d been doing a great deal more with his time.

“Thank you.”

Felicity was crying with joy.

“You asked for more babysitters who were family members. William is staying with us for as long as he likes, Nyssa will be here for a few months, but I’m not sure how long our third babysitter will be staying here.”

“Third?” Felicity said in amazement.

A middle aged woman with blonde hair and a hot pink and gold dress rushed into the room.

“Bubbe’s here! Hello bebbies!”

Mia hid underneath the bed overwhelmed with all the visitors.

“Mum!” Felicity cried, “How did you get here?”

“I have no idea,” Donna said in confusion. “One minute I was in my kitchen. The next minute I was on the porch standing next to William.”

“You got the Flash express,” William said in awe, “When do I get to meet the Flash and why didn’t the Flash bring me here?”

“It’s complicated,” Oliver said.

William laughed.

“Okay. I’ll let you say that for once.” William conceded.

“I’ll arrange a meeting with The Flash when I can,” Oliver said apologetically.

“I think we shall leave Oliver and his family alone while the rest of us get acquainted,” Nyssa announced.

Everyone started to leave until only Oliver, Felicity, Mia, Lucas and William were left in the room.

Oliver rescued Mia from under the bed and placed her on the bed next to Felicity and Lucas. He walked over to the wardrobe in the corner of the room. He opened the wardrobe and brought out a large brightly coloured parcel.

Mia stared in amazement at the present.

Felicity looked at her daughter.

“Mia, this is a present for you from Lucas. I think you’re ready for it now.”

“Thank you, Lucas” Mia said as she started tearing the wrapping paper excitedly.

Mia gazed at the tiny bow and arrow set which Felicity and Oliver had made for her.

“Mia hands strong?”

“Yes, very strong,” Oliver said.

“Mia love slapping water.”

Felicity laughed remembering the water slapping stories Oliver and Roy had told her. True to his word, Oliver had made training fun for Mia and she’d been incredibly enthusiastic. She loved water play and the slapping routine had come naturally to her.

“Hey Dad, will you teach me archery as well?” William asked.

Oliver looked at William proudly.

“Of course,” Oliver agreed, “But you’ll need a bigger bow.”

Felicity, Oliver, Mia and William laughed.

“It’s so wonderful to have everyone together,” Felicity said.

“I will always keep us together,” Oliver said.

Felicity knew they would get through everything together. She wondered why she had ever been afraid.

“Okay time to fix Archer,” Felicity said.

“No, time for you to rest. We’ll all look after Mia and Lucas,” Oliver said.

William looked at Felicity, his eyes full of joy.

“May I sit with you…….Mum…..?” William asked.

“Of course…..Always, “ Felicity smiled as she leaned back on the pillow. William held Felicity’s hands as she put her head back on the pillow and relaxed.

[rosesanthology]

Golden Hues | Bokuto Koutaro x F!reader [GreekMyth!AU]

That was incredibly hard to write thank you very much🤡 figuring out how to write a certain character is quite the challenge so today i offer you, offbrand Bokuto in an Ancient Greece setting !

[Songs] : • Towards the sun by Rihanna

              • All good people by Delta Rae

[Tags] : @raevaioli @hqxreader

- your whole life has been revolving around the same things, not that you minded them

- you were the oldest daughter of a noble in Greece, and your family was known by the people as being descendants of gods and godesses

- throughout the years you've been taught how to act like someone your rank, how to uphold a position of power even in situations where a woman should't be

- you were grateful for that

- you were taught manners, litterature and arts as well as the art of fighting and that was pretty much it

- war, was not inherantly seen as a bad thing, it was almost like those plays that you often watched when you were a kid

- vast sceneries of warriors blessed by the gods to fight alongside them, defending their beliefs or properties

- at least that's what you thought back then, the reality of war was a whole other thing, and yet the necessity of knowing how to defend yourself against any ennemy was not one to ignore

- fighting wasn't pretty. But it had to be done.

- another reality was the one of the gods, you had witnessed it yourself one faithful day of training with your servants

- a young man carrying a lyre had approached you, seemingly coming out of nowhere

- you were pretty sure that it was Apollo, god of the sun, healing, arts and oracles; patron deity of your family for centuries now

- at the time, he had whispered words that you still managed to remember clearly :

        On the horizon of a sacred dawn,

    When the sword and arrow cross paths  

A union that will make the earth shake all the way to the farthest parthenon, shall rise

          And with it the fall of an order.

- a prophecy

- that sounded ominous to say the least but at that moment you had felt something in you that you could only describe as being some sort of repressed euphoria brewing deep somewhere in your mind

- sadly, the prophecy reached the ears of your parents and soon you found yourself trapped in your quarters for the majority of your days

- only going out for classes and eating, your parents having cut down most of your sparring sessions anyways

- your once fullfilling life now reduced to a scheduled routine, the only fun part of it being when you got to hear the stories of your litterature instructor paired with the occasionnal sneaking out during the afternoon or at night

- he felt as if in order to understand the "outside world" better you had to get actual informations on it

- and so he started talking to you about random things he heard during the day

- some days it was just about how the flower merchants closest to the royal grounds had gotten engaged and made a joined business

- other days like today it was about how the people have been effervescent about a certain talented warrior from a neighbouring city

- allegedly, he mained the bow and arrow with an unmatched deadly grace, making his way through entire battlefields in no time, some spread the rumor that he did so while smiling, unbothered and untouched by ennemy attacks

- some speculated that he was a demigod, son of some powerful deity or the reincarnation of Achilles, however one thing was sure is that he took the spotlight everywhere he went

- it would be an understatement to say that you were intrigued

- how was that possible ? Was he really unbeatable ? How was he the same age as you ?

- "well not like you would ever find out", you thought, returning to your room after class

- with the absence of servants on your way your next thought was easy : sneaking out

- it was a habit you picked up

- you went outside from the window for a few hours and came back in as if nothing happened

- and today was one of these days

- so here you were, strutting through the woods trying to find some cool rocks to add to your collection back in your room

- when you heard some kind of rustling sound

- at first you were scared cause what if it was a brown bear ??

 - well at least it would make an interesting story if you came out of it alive

- but then you saw a head of white hair peaking out from behind some bushes and a voice saying something close to

- "pspspsps" yep. Definitely not a bear

- "Excuse me ?" you said, trying to get the attention of whoever that was

- the person jumped and judging by the "thud" following, you could only assume that they fell

- going round the bushes, you were meant by a well built looking man with spikey white hair and piercing imperial gold colored eyes looking up at you from the ground

- that....was not something you were used to

- "are you alright ?" you said, helping him up

- " yeah don't worry im fine ! I was just trying to catch this squirrel" he was smiling so bright that it almost blinded you in addition to the sound of your own heart pounding that was making you deaf

- "oh im sorry....did i make it run away ?"

- "well- yes but at least now i get to talk to a pretty girl !"

- oh :0

- and that's how the conversation began

- you learned that his name was Bokuto and that he was a royal guard of a close city, one that was as powerful as your own

- "oh so do you know the rumors about that demigod archer ?"

- "you mean the ones people spread about me ?? You know, im pretty good with a bow and arrow but not to that level haha"

- SO HE WAS THAT PERSON

- you never suspected that you had all those questions for him until you started spewing them out one after another but luckily he seemed to never come short with answers

- you talked for hours until night had fallen and you had to go back to royal grounds before anyone noticed you were gone

- he walked you the whole way back to your bedroom window because he "wanted to protect you" even tho you did this like every other day

- he just wanted to talk to you more

- "goodnight princes-"

- "you can call me Y/N you know ?

- "no princess is cuter ≧◡≦" he was really thankful for the late hour because he really didn't want you to see the blush on his face right now

- "hey Bokuto !" your voice made him turn back faster than light

- "do you want to meet again tomorrow ?"

- of course he wanted to

- and the pattern went on for about a month or so

- you would meet him in the woods outside of royal grounds and you would just talk and have fun with him until night when he would insist on walking you home

- tonight was no different aside from the fact that you stayed a few hours later than usual with him

- at this point you guys were very much in love with each other but also too much of a mess to confess already and you were kind of fed up

- so he was walking you home as per usual and you were leaning against the window frame bidding him your goodbyes as the sun began to rise in the distance

- "goodnight prin-" you cut him off by grabbing his face and kissing him, the shock of your lips against his had caused both of your minds to focus on each other, and there it was

- the same euphoric feeling from that time you heard the prophecy

- so that was it....love

- "goodnight Y/N" he had said when you finally pulled away, not needing to add anything more to it as you already knew how you felt about one another

- that day you fell asleep with dreams about spending your future with Bokuto, the dorky demigod warrior who had stolen your heart

- except all dreams must come to an end

- the next day your parents had informed you about an incoming war with another city....his city

- after all those years of peace and unity why now of all times ?

- "the fall of an order" this line of the prophecy echoed in your head as you sat on the floor of your room

- you couldn't help but ask yourself if somehow this was one of the gods' jokes

- if this was your fault

- would that mean that now Bokuto would resent you ?

- you heard a soft knock on your window, you already knew who it was and you went to open it, hesitant and scared of what was next to come for the both of you

- " Y/N you're here !" he beamed, staying true to himself even now

- "Bokuto have you no knowledge of what is happening ? Our cities are-"

- "on the edge of war ? I know that and that's why i came"

- "to say goodbye" you thought, already bracing yourself for the heartbreak

- "to ask you to run away with me !"

- you looked at him in shock and he just responded by smiling as if nothing about that statement scared him, as if nothing in this world could make his golden eyes loose their oh so familiar shine

- in this moment you understood that he really was something else, a sun amongst mortals, and a song in the darkest times of your own life, a light in the battlefield.

- not hearing any response from you, he held your hands together between his warm ones, confidence unwavering as he locked eyes with you and spoke,

- "We don't have to ever be appart, must the skies and gods themselves threathen us as much as they want, i'll never let it happen. We shall stay together and brave the odds and Fate herself. With Apollo's blessing, we'll make even Aphrodite and Ares jealous."

[julia-highstorms]

The Third Park (Damien x OC (Ellie)) - Part 4

Summary: Damien takes Ellie on a night out drinking at his fave pub, Archer and Hopps... And of course it calls for the Nazario Chug!

Note: (most) characters belong to Pixelberry Studios. Damien is 100% human in here and Male!MC (Allen). Damien’s fc (Santiago Cabrera) gifs by @flynnomalleys and Ellie’s fc (Ni Ni) by @thanhpls. Link to previous parts

Pairing: Damien x OC (Ellie)

Rating: PG-13 (language/alcohol)

Tagging: @flynnomalleys @boneandfur @damienazariostan @client327 @never-ending-choices @dangerous-capri15 @goirishsunshine @walkerismychoice @laniquelove @parkerattano @bluediamondsapphire @wa-reva @her-imperial-hangman-s @endlesswoods @confessionsofabrokegirl @odetomars @suckmydestielobsessedassbutt @clarissafics @kennaxval @thequeenchoices If you would like to be tagged, tell me!

Word count: 3400

As he said, Damien worked the rest of the Monday and Tuesday too, until it was almost time to go meet with Eleanor. Although he tried to act normal, he would be lying if he said that he wasn't excited about it. It felt like years since he had been out on a proper date…

Wait. Was it a date?

No, they were just going to get a few drinks and chit chat.

...Hell, it sounded like a date.

Fuck.

Oh, whatever.

God, why was he feeling so nervous?

Since he lived close to Allen's apartment, he walked all the way there. He was approaching his friend's building when he saw a lone figure standing in front of it. When Eleanor saw him, she walked towards him, meeting him halfway.

"Good night." - she greeted him with a smile that made his heart leap a little.

"Good night. Uh… You look nice. Red really is your color." - she was wearing a simple red sweater and jeans, but she looked elegant anyway.

"Thank you. You don't look bad yourself. It's nice to see you sober for a change." - she chuckled as Damien rolled his eyes.

"Shall we?" - he offered her his elbow, which she accepted, an eyebrow raised.

"Charming. So, where are we going?"

"There's this nearby pub, Archer and Hopps. They serve great food there, besides drinks."

"Good, because I'm starving. Alright, lead the way!"

Chandeliers hanged from the ceiling, and there were classy leather booths lined across the room. As they entered the pub, the bartender called for Damien from behind the bar.

"Back already, Nazario? What are you moping about this time?" - but then, his eyes laid on the woman laughing next to Damien. - "Oh, this is new. It's been a while since you've come here accompanied." - Damien growled, wanting to disappear. The only other person who he brought there was Allen, more than two years ago. - "Nice to meet you, I'm Flynn."

"Eleanor, but you can call me Ellie." - she greeted him back. - "You didn't tell me you were a regular here, Damien." - she turned to him, squeezing his arm playfully, making the bartender laugh.

Damien's faced turned a shade pinker as he cleared his throat and asked for a drink:

"I would like a beer and a burger." - Flynn and Eleanor chuckled with his embarrassment. - "You?" - he asked her.

"Me too."

"Alright." - Flynn gave Damien their beers. - "Two burgers coming up. You two make yourselves comfortable."

Although it was a Tuesday night, the place was lively and packed, so they decided to sit in the stools by the bar counter, side by side.

"So you came here after Allen's and Nadia's weddings? To mope around?" - Damien sighed loudly. He knew she wouldn't let him get away from it.

"Yeah..." - he took a sip of his beer, clearly not wanting to talk about it.

When he put the bottle down, her hand squeezed his softly.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I'm being nosey again."

He let out a low sigh.

"No, it's okay. I should have gotten over it by now. Besides, I was pretty aware that things wouldn't work between me and him." - she nodded, letting him take it all out of his chest. - "And I did say that I would understand if he wanted to be just friends. But it's easier said than done. Hell, I've always said that emotions shouldn't get the better of us, and yet, look where I am… Still moping around, two years later."

Ellie kept holding his hand, her thumb massaging his knuckles. Nadia had told her that Damien had feelings towards Allen, but she didn't know that they were that strong. And that was why he looked so miserable during the wedding. She felt sorry for him.

She decided to change the subject. It was her own little mission to make Damien not think about Allen that night.

“So, you're a private investigator." - she said, drinking her own beer. He nodded. - "So this means that you’re paid to peep in other people’s lives? I don’t know if this is a dream job or an actual nightmare."

“You seem too much interested on my job.” - he arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

"Well, you're the first detective that I met and I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie." - she shrugged. - "But you don’t seem like a guy who cares much about what other people do or don’t, to be honest.” “And this is why I am so good at it.” - he answered and she saw a small grin tugging on the corner of his lips. That was a good sign. “Cocky. Alright, can you tell me which was your most interesting case?"

"Well… I was asked to take a look after a foreign royal who was having a forbidden affair with a 'commoner'—"

"Oh my God. Are you talking about King Liam of Cordonia?!" - Ellie beamed on her seat.

"I can't confirm you this. You know, private investigator conduct and everything." - she let out a frustrated sigh, making him chuckle. - "Why? Big fan of the royalty?"

"Are you kidding me?! I followed everything! Since they announced that there was an American suitor running for King Liam's hand during that social season! Then the leaked photos of Lady Riley and the other nobleman! Ugh, I can't wait for the royal wedding!" - Damien laughed with her excitement. She was cute. "Anyway, enough about my work. What about you? Did your boss send you new work to do? Or did she finally leave you alone?"

"I wish! My boss is always sending me more work to do. But I told her that I'll check everything on Monday, when I go back from my vacation. I've been too focused on my work for the last couple of years. I deserve a break."

"Bold move. But you're right."

"I know." - they clinked their beers as Flynn approached them with their food.

They'd been at Archer and Hopps for almost two hours. The burgers were long gone and there were a few empty drinks in front of them, both feeling a little lighter and happier. Their laughter filled the place.

“I still can’t believe they’re both married to robots!“ - Eleanor laughed hysterically as if that was the joke of the century. - “Oh my God." - she looked at Damien with wide eyes. - "Is the sex that good?”

“Don’t look at me. I have no idea how it is and I’m not planning on finding that out.” - but she kept murmuring to herself:

“...Must be it. I mean, Nadia is more traditional when it comes about love and sex and she had been let down countless of times by douchebags before. So I kind of understand why she fell so fast and hard for Steve, her 'Perfect Match', since he was entirely and exclusively designed for her. Allen, on the other hand, I've always kind of knew that he's more adventurous... I know what he meant when he said that he did some experiments during college involving handcuffs... but I’ve never thought he was that open, you know? To the point to marry a robot. And that he was so kinky.” - suddenly, her eyes laid on the man next to her again. - “What if the robots.... vibrate down there? They must have some kind of, I don’t know, an erotical device there!” - Damien couldn't hold back a laugh with her wonder.

“Are you curious now? Do you want to try it?”

“Hell no.” - she grabbed her beer and turned it down.

“Why not? Maybe you should be more open-minded. Like your cousins.”

“Please. I’ve watched enough movies to know that robots and humans are not a good thing to be together. Besides, I’m just into humans.”

“Oh yeah?” - Damien didn’t notice that he scooped closer to her. She nodded, her brown eyes darker, a side smile on her lips. - “What kind of human?”

“I don't know..." - she shrugged. - "I like to let my options open.”

“And are you seeing any human at the moment?”

Wow. Real subtle, Damien.

“No. I’ve been super single for almost two years now. Just random hookups with strangers at bars...” - she shrugged again. - “The last ‘relationship’ that I had was with this girl named Eva. We’ve been dating for a few months when I found out that she was taking my money without my consent. Of course I broke up with her. And before her I dated this dude who cheated on me with my neighbor. One day I was going to work and he walked out of the door from the other side of the hall. Jerk. And he tried to tell me that she was her cousin! But my neighbor heard it and then we both broke up with him at the same time.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“That’s okay, it was a long time ago, anyway.” - Ellie shrugged. - “What about you? Seeing someone?”

He let out a low chuckle.

“I wish. But I had my fair share of bad relationships, too."

"Oh yeah, Nadia told me about an ex-girlfriend of yours, this Interpol agent that helped you all take down Eros... Alana, right?”

"Dammit, Nadia. What else did she tell you?"

"Everything, I believe. Allen invited Alana to the wedding but she didn’t came...”

“Thank God.”

“I know she’s your ex... but why? You didn’t want to see her again? Allen respected her, even after that ‘betrayal’.”

“Allen is more forgiving than me. I guess you’re aware of that.”

She nodded, letting out a sigh.

“What a shame. I was looking forward to meet her. She sounded interesting. And gorgeous. Nadia showed me a picture of her. You were a very good looking couple. Can I meet her someday?”

“If you think I’ll introduce you to her, then you must be dreaming. Alana is dangerous.”

“I’m a grown up woman, 'D'." - she called him the nickname Nadia gave him. - "I know how to take care of myself.”

“Okay, if you happen to meet her, don’t come crying to me after she breaks your little heart, 'Ellie'.”

She giggled, leaning closer to him, her eyes longing on his.

“Hey...” - her breath was hot against his skin. - “help me.” - before Damien could know what was happening, he felt Eleanor's hand on one of his forearms to steady herself as she stood up from her seat. - “Wait for me. I need to freshen up.” - and she wobbled towards the toilet.

Eleanor was back after a few minutes, and Damien wondered if she brushing her body against his was by accident or not, when she went back to the stool next to him. “Okay, I’m back! Where were we?”

"Hey you two. Having fun?" - Flynn approached them, pouring two shots of dark rum for each of them.

"Oh my God..." - Damien muttered, knowing what was about to happen.

"What is this?" - Eleanor asked, curious about the deck of cards the bartender put on the counter, next to their drinks.

"I introduce you the Nazario Chug. Damien will tell you how it works." - the man grinned and slipped away.

"Nazario Chug? You have a game named after you?" - she asked, trying to not laugh at his face.

"Why? Feeling intimidated that I'll win?" - Eleanor concluded that Damien was already fully under the influence of the alcohol, based on his stupidly charming cocky grin.

"Hell no! Bring it on!" - she shouted, rubbing her hands against each other, excitedly. Damien chuckled and explained her how the game worked:

"You take the top card. Black means dare, red means truth. If you fail or want to dodge your task, you drink according to the number on the card. Ready?" - Eleanor flipped the first card. Seven of Hearts. - "Truth. When you went all the way to my house to ask me for Allen's password... Was it just an excuse to see me?" - she chuckled.

“Well, I actually needed that password. But… I won't lie that I liked to see you again. I wanted to get to know you better.” - she said, her eyes glancing on his lips.

"Me too." - they leaned closer, drawn to each other. They kept staring at each other for a minute, before Ellie pulled out and drank a shot (even though she had already played her turn):

"Hey, it's your turn, D." - she bumped her shoulder against his, playfully.

He flipped the next top card.

"Truth again." "Alright. So, is this a date? Or what?"

"I don't know. What do you think it is?" - he answered, with a smirk.

"Hey, it's not me who has to answer this question, it's you, Mr. Nazario. Or you answer it or you take four shots now."

"Well, I'll say that this is a date, then. What do you think about it?"

"If you say so..." - she chuckled, flipping another card.

"Nine of Clubs, and black means Dare. Finally." - he said with a satisfying and devilish grin.

"Oh no!" - Ellie shouted, laughing loudly. - "Alright, shoot."

"I dare you to go to the restroom and come out again and pretend you're so drunk that you end up bumping on the first person that you meet."

"What? This is stupid. What if this person get mad at me and I end up in trouble? Why would you want this?"

"Don't worry about it, if someone wish to start a fight, I'll be there to intervene. Now go. Unless you're a coward..."

Those were the right words, because Ellie simply stood up (after taking a shot for encouragement) and marched to the restroom. Damien watched her walking out of it a few seconds later, wobbling around.

She bumped hard on a man leaning against a wall nearby. She pretended to almost fall, but he grabbed her quickly, steadying her again.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" - she shouted a little too loud, so Damien could hear it. He held a laugh back. She clearly was forcing it. - "Are you okay?!"

"I'm good. What about you?" - the dark haired man on a leather jacket answered her. - “My name’s Jax, by the way.” - he answered with a grin. A grin full of second intentions to Damien’s opinion.

“I'm good too, Jax.” - clearly Ellie appreciated the man right in front of her, since she started playing with her own hair and leaned closer to him. - “Thank you for saving me...” - Damien walked towards them in a few hurried paces. He tried to be both gentle and firm when he put his hand on her shoulder.

“Ellie.” - he said, his eyes locked on the man in front of him.

“D!” - she shouted happily, throwing her arms around his shoulder. - “Come meet my new friend and savior, Jax! Jax, this is my other not so new friend, Damien!”

“Nice to meet you.” - Jax said, smiling at him.

“Likewise. We have to go now.” - he turned to her.

“Already? I thought we could have some fun with Jax here… What do you think, Jax?”

“It would be nice.” - he answered, his smile widening. Damien didn’t like the way his eyes shined.

“I’m sorry, we have to go know. We have a place to go, do you remember it, Ellie?” - Eleanor wanted to protest, but then Damien put his arm around her waist protectively, pulling her closer.

And she wanted him to do it the whole night, and he was calling her her nickname (yep, she knew it was a way to show Jax that he was closer to her than he was), and his body was so hot against hers… That she thought to herself 'okay, girl, some nights you just can't have everything. Or everyone'.

“Oh, okay. You’re right. I’m sorry, we gotta go." - she said, leaning closer to Damien's embrace. - "But maybe another night, Jax.” - she smiled mischievously at him.

“I’d like that.” - Damien definitely didn’t like the way that man looked at her. It was almost predatory. Damien pulled Eleanor away before she could say goodbye to her “new friend”.

"Alright, enough about this game tonight." - he whispered as they headed towards the pub's door.

"Why? I was starting to like it! Maybe Jax could join us..." - Ellie kept talking, teasingly.

"This is out of question."

He paid for their dinner, said goodbye to Flynn and pulled Eleanor outside the pub, his hand still on the small of her back.

“You know, jealousy is not a very attractive feature, 'Big D'. You ruined my night with that gorgeous ma—”

“Who told you?” - he asked abruptly, pulling away from her.

“What?” - Ellie immediately missed his touch. God, was she that touch deprived?

“The nickname.”

He saw a devilish grin spreading on her face.

“Nadia, of course.”

“I’ll kill her when she’s back...” - he muttered to himself. He went on a night out with Nadia and Allen and might have drunk a little too much and said that he liked to call himself “Big D” when he was younger... because of that stupid and weird fixation that boys had with their own dicks. Yes. And Nadia never let him hear the end of it. - “Anyway, it’s late. I’ll walk you home.”

They chatted all the way to Allen’s apartment, arm in arm.

“Well, that was it. Just another glimpse of a New Yorker experience: the Nazario edition.” - he said, as they stopped in front of the red bricks building.

“That was fun. Thank you for spending your time with me, D. I know you have real work to do and it’s not babysitting me. So I mean it when I say thank you.”

“It’s no problem at all. And I’d like to thank you too. For being patient with me and listening to me whining.”

“It’s okay, I was told before that I’m a great listener.” - he chuckled.

“Have people told you that you’re conceited too?”

“A couple of times, I guess.” - they shared a laugh. - “But this never stopped them from liking me.”

She dangerously approached him, with that mischievous shine on her eyes and that sly grin that he knew too well by now. Damien knew that he should turn around and go away.

Don’t get involved with another Park.

But, hell, he should have done it the day before, and here they were. Walking back from a date.

It seemed that he was unable to reasoning when Eleanor Zhou was around.

Before he knew it, he felt her lips on his cheek, bringing him back to his senses. He looked at her, and for the first time she had this coyly smile on her beautiful face. Seeing that he didn’t pulled out, Ellie closed the distance between them, cupping her hands around Damien’s face and leaned in, kissing his mouth this time.

He hesitated for a single second, before his lips kissed her back hungrily, almost desperately, as his arms pulled her close by her waist, pressing her body tightly against his. Her hands were already on his hair, pulling it possessively and excitedly, while she deepened the kiss. She let out a low groan against his lips, that made his blood boil.

“...I’ve been thinking of doing this since you cornered me on the wedding.” - he said when they needed air, his voice sounding hoarse.

“To be honest, me too. Took you long enough, D.” - she whispered back as her hands rested on his firm chest, feeling his heart beating fast and hard, like hers. - "...I better go now. Good night." - the sensation of his warmth enveloping her as he held her was nice, but she pulled out of his embrace, after a last peck.

"Aren't you going to let me in…?"

"If we were in my house… Yeah. But this is Allen's apartment. Wouldn't it be... weird?"

Fuck. She was right.

"We could go to my flat..." - she let out a loud laugh.

"You would like that, wouldn't you?"

"Well, you're a fucking tease. You think I didn’t notice that you’ve been teasing me the whole night? Touching me ‘innocently’ and flirting with a stranger right in front of me.”

“Well, if I didn’t do it, you would have never kissed me.”

...She was right again. Fuck, was he that obvious? Or was is because she could read him so well?

“You’re an evil woman, Ellie. Do you know that? Making me all worked up like this to leave me alone in the end." - she giggled again.

"Take a cold shower, Nazario." - she patted his shoulder before walking indoors and leaving him alone in the street.

[bangtan-spells]

Yoongi Scenario: Turn The Heavens Down.

Request: Can you write a prince au with suga??? I checked and you don't have one. I want him to be very handsome arrogant serious prince and the girl is in his fathers care she can be a princess too but then there comes a suitor for her hand and suga dont allow it? Thanks

Genre: Romance / Drama.

You saw him coming in through the main gates of the castle, at last he was arriving, with the explosion of war so near the reign Yoongi had gone in representation of the king to make sure the nearest border lords were keeping everything under control, and in all the time he was gone, more than a month since then, you had felt as if you were holding your breath. Now that he was here you could finally breathe properly.

You jumped apart of the window and called in your handmaid, she came running because of your tone and you tried to calm down so you wouldn’t give yourself away.

-Help me, please, quickly, my hair and we have to look for a prettier thing than this- you said touching the skirts of your every day dress, it wasn’t ugly but you suddenly wanted to look your best. You were aware of your feelings for Yoongi and to some extent you were aware he corresponded, although yours was a rather complicated liaison.

-Yes milady- the girl said going first to the huge wardrobe.

You couldn’t be happier, he was alive and he was there, maybe now it could finally be the time in which you would go further, it could finally be the time in which you could indulge in him. It was only Yoongi who could make you forget of horrors of war, your father had sent you away, to Yoongi and his family, to be protected from the war flogging your land, so the thought of everything war represented was very much present in your thoughts constantly, but with Yoongi it seemed to mitigate, so much to the point in feeling guilty of you being able to experience such rush and such joy just for looking at his face when people, your people, were dying in a battlefield.

You knew you had a bit of time to get ready, there would sure be a receiving group waiting for him that would drag him down a little, the court didn’t have that many visitors lately, but the presence of the regular ones ensured courtesy and the usual forms to be displayed. And although you knew Yoongi didn’t like them that much he was bound by tradition to follow them. It was one of his duties as the crown prince.

Yoongi achieved to slip out of the little celebration that had been made to receive him, ridiculous as it would surely be an enormous banquet and celebration for his arrival. But he had things to do, he had to go back to the training courts and get better, he was a good sword man and an even better archer, but he had to improve, in war every piece of knowledge counted, so he put attention to strategy and also to the technic with which this was applied in the field of battle. There was a big chance of war coming soon if they weren’t attentive, so he had to be prepared. But first there was something that he must do, if not he might as well keep going with a blindfold to the training courts as he wouldn’t be able to focus, not really.

It wasn’t appropriate for him to enter your chambers without invitation, or even with them, it was scandalous, but Yoongi couldn’t care less at the moment as he only wanted to see you. When he entered he heard some fussing, you weren’t alone. Something dark sparked inside of him but then he remembered it was most probably your handmaid. Shaking his head with reprobation at himself Yoongi went forward. You were standing with your handmaid by you seemingly arranging something in your hair, she was frozen when Yoongi stepped in and you turned your head to look at him.

-You can go, thank you- you said to the girl who very gratefully bowed to you and then to Yoongi.

-Your grace- Yoongi nodded letting her leave but his eyes were on you. Just as the memory he had kept on his mind during his absence, you were breathtakingly beautiful.

You were standing gracefully in front of a mirror, you had been making yourself prettier, the thought that it was because of him made Yoongi chest swollen with pride. The sunset light slipped through the windows and it made your hair shine, your skin glow.

-I’m back-

You smiled and went to him, Yoongi was always surprised by how spontaneous and free you were, you hugged him tightly and he corresponded feeling your body against his as one of the best gifts that had been given to him. He was always too serious, or so you’d say, it made him smile now that you weren’t seeing him, how you made him feel.

Went you pulled back Yoongi saw your eyes had watered so he leaned down to take your hand and give it a kiss. -Missed me I see-

You laughed. -You don’t change, I… I was worried, I knew you would be back but, it’s so dangerous, so horrible, the war and the battles-

Yoongi nodded. -Of course I’d be back-

-Is there any news?-

Yoongi loosened his hold just a little bit. -They are withstanding it well, your father’s troops have some enemy forts under siege, if they can get a hold of them then you’ll have the advantage-

You nodded a bit nervously, all this war was hard to process even more not knowing what you could do to help.

-And did you? Did you miss me? Maybe even a thought-

Yoongi wanted to laugh, as he had thought of you far too much for what he should have allowed himself. -What do you think?-

You shrugged. -With the war, with all your training and all the fighting I feel… I feel it should be impossible for us to think in something else-

He extended a hand to you and touched a strand of your hair that fell down almost to your hips. How many times had Yoongi wanted to be closer, to do something that he wasn’t supposed to, kiss your lips, touch your skin, make you his and only his. But that was the impossible, thinking about you was so easy, he didn’t even have to try. -From sunrise to nightfall- he confessed in a husky voice because he felt like he was saying a big secret that he shouldn’t be exposing to anyone. -I thought of you Y/N-

You licked your lips as you stared at him fixedly, he could feel the desire in you as well and he couldn’t stand being there and not doing anything. -I have to go-

-Don’t- you muttered lowly, grazing his fingertips with yours, making both of you shiver.

-I have to, I will see you later-

The banquet as well as the dance was going to be postponed for the day after. If it was for Yoongi it would be postponed forever as he was a terrible dancer and in general didn’t like those kinds of affairs. You loved them but you agreed right at the moment you weren’t in condition to dance and rejoice, there was a war going, but court had its needs.

At the morning, instead of that, you were called for a royal breakfast, which could very well be considered a banquet by even the noblemen. Ripe and juicy fruits displayed in outrageous arrangements with flowers, there were all kinds of hams, smoked, raw or cured. Cheeses and breads as you couldn’t even count, cold chicken salads, but also juicy and tempting roasted chicken, soups to open the appetite and juices and ale to ease the food in. The dessert table was even more abundant with all kinds of pastries and delicately made cakes.

The queen was all laughs with some of her ladies as they had already started their food. Everyone was already on the table, that’s when you learned you were late.

Blushing you went to sit in that long table, your sit close enough to Yoongi’s to be able to speak with your eyes but not to touch one another. Yours was a place of honor as you were also a royal, but as you weren’t in the royal family you just couldn’t sit wherever you wanted. Again, court and it’s protocols.

You saw the king, Yoongi’s father, an old man that was more wise than he was strong; then the leader of the armies, a high trusted lord, who was also Yoongi’s mentor as he was too young to lead the armies himself but judging by his behavior and experiences it wouldn’t last long until he took his rightful place as commander. It filled you with pride as it scared you.

You also saw the coin master, the man in charge of the reign’s finances, a very dangerous job in times of war, as well as other high lords that were related, in total no more of fifteen people.

You started eating after greeting and apologizing, it was a bad start as the queen valued forms and court rules the most, but you knew there wouldn’t be a harsh consequence. Yoongi was amused with your flustered state as he directed little mischievous smirks at you from time to time.

You were feeling giddy thinking about him and the possibility of meeting him later when the king spoke making everyone stop what they were doing to give him the attention that by respect and law he deserved

-Today we celebrate- he said raising his voice. -The arrival of my son, and the news of a probable good future in war, that is the war meeting it’s end- everyone laughed and you smiled, you really wished for that to be possible, for that to be true. -My good friend here in charge of our army told me our Yoongi has what it takes to be a commander, who would have told from what is was a few years ago, a scrawny stubborn boy?- he laughed loudly and you could see Yoongi getting embarrassed so you smiled a little at him, but he was just as serious as ever even with the lightest blush adorning his cheeks.

He knew his father meant no harm so he let him continue but you were surprised to hear him talking about you.

-And Y/N, our sweet guest, you have beautified this castle and this court with your presence, because of you we have to celebrate as well-

You smiled trying to be as adorable as he made you sound, as the ladies of court should be. -Thank you for having me here your grace-

-Nonsense girl, I owe it to your father, we’ve been in touch as you know he’s fighting fearlessly, a great warrior he is, and he told me to deliver some news for you as you are right now in my care-

You were a bit nervous because of that, you looked at Yoongi for just a second who was also turned listening carefully to what the king would say next.

-It is my pleasure to announce you are to be engaged- the word left his lips and you fisted your skirts and then the edge of the chair in which you were sitting to not fall, your eyes starting to water, this meant everything would be over, it hadn’t even started and your story with Yoongi would be put to an end far too early -Your suitor will be a fit for you of course, he’s the prince from a southern land and…-

-No- Yoongi stood up abruptly making all the presents turn to him in surprise and outrage, it was rare to see Yoongi upset and from the way his fists were starting to shake everyone could tell he was. -That is not happening-

-It is done son, Y/N is to be married as her father arranged for her, you know him by the way and I think Y/N knows him too, prince Dongwoon from the southern lands, this union will…-

-I said no- he raised his voice and this time the king did frown and went serious, you were in the verge of tears, trying not to tremble so much with rage and sadness. Yoongi looked at all the presents with a burning stare. -Leave us- he demanded strongly. -Now- he drawled more fiercely when they weren’t moving so you saw how the banquet hall was emptied until was only, the king, the queen, Yoongi and you.

-It is not for you to decide Yoongi- his mother intervened.

-Did you know about this?- Yoongi turned to you so suddenly you were lost for words for a few seconds, ignoring his mother completely -Did you?-

-No, of course not, I’m just hearing it I… How would I?- you asked hurt that he could even think you’d hide something like that.

-This was your doing- he pointed at his father. -You and some filthy scheme with Y/N’s father, I won’t allow it-

-Yoongi, my sweet- his mother continued but Yoongi shook his head.

-It is done, I know you mean well for Y/N son, but he will come here to take Y/N to the south-

-No- Yoongi continued firmly as you processed it, you’d be taken away without even a consideration of your opinion or what you wanted or desired.

-This an alliance stupid boy! Hard decisions have to be made, and this one can help Y/N and her land to get over that war at last and for good- So it was that, suddenly you felt your destiny closing, everything coming apart as it was also the solution for the suffering of so many. But it came at a high price.

-We will send more troops, we will help them more, I personally will go there-

-Yoongi, my honey- his mother interrupted again. -I know you two are…infatuated, but you knew this couldn’t be, play with each other if you want but there’s a duty you have to attend, both of you- after hearing that you felt a tear roll down your cheek because it was true, it wasn’t about what you wanted anymore, it was about duty. -Or you forget you are to be married as well?-

Yoongi was shook to hear that, as if he hadn’t known himself, but you saw his face when he desperately searched your eyes, he had known. You panted a sob, you wanted to slap him, to yell at him, but all you could do was try to retain your cries to save some dignity, you excused yourself in a rush, running away from them, from him.

He cursed and turned to run after you but then he heard his father sighing.

The king sat down and served himself a cup of wine. -Prince Dongwoon will be here in weeks, get it over with-

Yoongi clenched his jaw and then slammed a fist on the table. -If he comes here, if Dongwoon steps foot on this land with the intention of taking Y/N, I warn you father, I warn you and so help me god if I’m lying, I’ll kill him-

Yoongi went as fast as he could to your chambers, in the doors your personal guards were blocking the gates with those huge axes they always carried making a cross in front of it.

-Step aside-

They fidgeted uncomfortably, Yoongi was losing his patience, but he understood that you didn’t want to see him, the guards always let him pass, but today they were firm although notably nervous to oppose him.

-Step aside, it is an order- Yoongi glared wondering if he would have to threaten these two with a hanging for insubordination. He understood you didn’t want to see him, but as things were Yoongi knew he couldn’t let it go, any other time he would have waited, but not now.

Both of them bowed, stepping aside although one of them with notable reluctance, to let him pass. -We apologize your grace-

Yoongi strode in, his eyes posing on your silhouette. You were sitting near your window, you had your hands in your hair and Yoongi had heard your soft sobs even before he finally saw you, but when you realized you were not longer alone you turned sharply. He would never forget the way your eyes stared at him, hurt and angry, it made Yoongi’s heart drop as he felt the guilt carving in him.

-You did know- you said first trying to breathe steadily to speak normally. -You accused me, and you knew-

-Y/N let me explain-

-Why?- you said raising your voice. -Why would that matter? I’ll be going away soon, it doesn’t matter, and you have your own marriage to fulfill-

-You are not going anywhere- he stated. -I won’t let them take you, hear me? I won’t let them take you away if it’s not what you wish-

-So that way I can stay here and see you married, did you think I was going to be your mistress?-

Yoongi took a few steps towards you. -Of course not, I have been trying to find a way out of it-

You sighed heavily, at least a lot of things made much more sense now. At first you had thought the king or the queen didn’t like you, as you found foolish Yoongi and you not marrying since you were a good match, although your country being at war at the moment it was a powerful land, which made you a more than desirable lady for any royal or noblemen. But Yoongi was engaged, and he had probably been even before you got here.

-Do you know her? Do you love her?-

Yoongi sat down next to you taking one of your hands that you tried to pull away but he held firmly as he answered. -No, I have barely seen her a couple of times-

-Have you… kissed her? Touched her?- you knew he could lie, you knew Yoongi could do whatever he wanted, but the thought of him with another woman made you sick with hatred and anger, at least for your wellbeing you wanted to believe him, to believe that he wouldn’t choose anyone else.

-I have not, not that way, if I have touched her is because of protocol-

You eased your hand to his, you still felt betrayed by him not telling you, but at least knowing that made you feel better. -Why not telling me? Why waiting until something like this happened? How can I trust you now Yoongi?-

-You can, I didn’t tell you because I wanted to fix it for myself before I…- he pushed his hair back and you shook your head not wanting to look at him and how beautiful he was, how his eyes made you feel. -Before I could ask for your hand in marriage, I couldn’t care less about that arranged marriage set up too many years ago-

-You are going to go against your word, against your father’s-

-Yes, for you I will-

You caught your breath after hearing that, it was immoral to think like this, rebellious and immature, something that you wouldn’t have expected from Yoongi and his serious devotion for his royal duty, but he was willing just for you and as reckless as it was it made you want to kiss him, to be with him until your flesh burned up with desire and he made you his.

-We can’t- you said standing up, trying to unclog your mind from all the thoughts about romance and desire, you had to remember there was a war in the middle. -I’m going to have to marry Dongwoon, for my own country I will have to-

Yoongi groaned standing up as well. -No, damn Y/N, I will find a away out of it-

-There’s no time Yoongi, your father will not send more troops on our aide, this new help could be decisive for the war and If I can contribute, if that’s my duty, then I will-

Yoongi took you by surprise so you gasped when his arms pulled you by the waist, one of his hands going quickly to your neck and then he stared at you for just a second, one that took your breath away because of his proximity and then his lips posed on top of yours.

You were too impressed to do anything at first but he started moving his lips softly, caressing yours with such tenderness you could only think in being closer, in corresponding. You curled your arms behind his neck and imitated him, kissing him more and more until both of you opened your mouths not able to resist such temptation, and then you let yourself be lost on the feeling of him devouring your mouth, it made you feel exhilarated with pleasure, desire for more, a bit of fear, and the deep love you felt for him.

-I will never let anyone take you away from me- he stated when he stopped as you were out of breath and he was a bit too.

-And I don’t want that Yoongi, but how can I refuse this? I would be betraying my people if I did-

-You will be betraying me as well, if you go with someone else-

You were still between his arms, you wanted to slap him, to keep kissing him and cry all at once. -Do not manipulate me, I don’t want anyone else, but I have to help, this is the only way-

Yoongi growled and kissed you again this time a bit more fiercely making you feel it was all a bit too much as the clothes felt heavy and his body not close enough. -Then I will go to war-

-No, Yoongi I wouldn’t be able to stand that you…-

-I will not stand you marrying to another, if Dongwoon comes here to take you I will kill him, and then we will have another war- he pecked your lips, perhaps feeling much braver after all the anger and after having kissed you, something that had kept him awake at night and it would keep doing it but for another reasons. -I love you Y/N-

There were too many emotions inside of you, it was broad daylight outside and the sun filtered through the windows so you saw him clearly. He meant what he said and as reckless as it was it made you love him more, his passion, his devotion for you that was as big as yours for him, it was a dangerous thing, but it was undeniable. -I love you too- you said it back so there will be no doubt.

Yours was a love that could torn countries apart, that could start and end wars, but right now none of that mattered as your lips merged with each other’s.

[batreyn]

11 Questions

@cinnamonskull tagged me <3 So I shall do my best!

Rules are: • Post the rules. • Answer the questions given to you by the tagger. • Write 11 questions of your own. • And tag 11 people.

Baby, what’s your sign? What characterizations of your sign do you agree/disagree with?

I’m a Leo. There isn’t too much I actually agree with when it comes to my sign. I’m perfectly content NOT being in the spotlight, but I guess I can be a little dramatic from time to time...

If you could live anywhere, where would you chose to go?

Somewhere by a beach.

Space or Sea?

I find both equally fascinating and terrifying.

Favorite and least favorite pop culture moment of 2017?

I really like the huge stand women took this year with the #metoo movement and watching all the men with sexual harassment accusations fall into the sewage pits. I just saw a huge billboard today that said “SEXUAL HARASSMENT? SUEMYBOSS.COM”

My least favorite was the one where everyone jumped on trying to make fun of Trump and that one random nonsense word he tweeted. It would have been funnier if it came and went like the announcement about UFOs being real.

Hogwarts house and why?

Gryffindor. Cuz Pottermore said so.

Tell us a secret from this year.

OMG. Okay, so several months back, I decided to dress as Aquaman for this theme night thing. This meant temporary Aquaman tattoos on my torso. 

Now, I’m already pretty familiar with henna, but didn’t want the tattoos to be brown if I could help it, but black henna is generally frowned upon (because chemicals). But upon looking into it, I discovered this stuff called jagua. Now, jagua (for those of you who are unfamiliar with it) is like henna. Except instead of being a paste, its a gel that stains your skin black. Hooray for solutions!

So, I buy a few boxes of jagua, lie my ass on the cold tile in my bathroom, and have my roommate draw Aquaman’s tattoos on my stomach using the gel. 

A little over an hour later, I am in absolute AGONY. The skin beneath the drying gel was itching in these spasming waves that went deep into the muscles on my stomach. I held out as long as I could, but finally just said, “fuck this” and two hours later I was peeling the dried gel off my skin. Recommended wait time was 3 hours for a good stain.

Over the next few days, the stain darkened up into a nice, rich black, but there was always this light, constant itchy sensation that stayed with me 24/7. For the most part I was able to ignore it, but I guess I must have scratched it in my sleep at some point because about a week later, the itching grew worse and a rash broke out perfectly aligned beneath the Aquaman tattoo lines.

Guess who belatedly thought they were allergic to jagua fruit? This girl right here.

Guess who is now questioning the true/unlisted ingredients in the jagua gel? Also this girl right here. 

It got bad. Like, really bad. I couldn’t go a day without giving in and scratching. Which only made the rash worse. Anti-itch creams lessened it to a more bearable level, but I couldn’t wear loose clothing. I had to wear undershirts to prevent any light touches from flaring it up.

Now, like henna, jagua is designed to last at maximum 10-14 days. So as the black began to fade, the rash faded out with it.

Except

As the black jagua faded out, it faded out into what looks like a brown henna stain.

A brown henna stain that is STILL ON MY STOMACH TWO MONTHS LATER.

I think I might have permanently altered my skin pigment and given myself a real tattoo on accident? I dunno! Some days when I look at it I think maybe its faded a little bit and other days I think, “nope. that’s still as solid as before.”

I guess only time will tell...

Have tattoos/want tattoos?

Please see previous answer.

Alcoholic drink of choice?

I like pear ciders best.

Top three favorite TV shows this year (could be new or continuations) and why?

I fell super hard into Archer this year. I was told I could pull off Lana Kane for cosplay and had no idea who she was. Well...I know now.

One Piece. I’ve always loved One Piece. This just happens to be the year I almost caught up with watching the episodes. Because I love an angsty Sanji

Aaaaannnddd....my roommate and I just started watching BBC’s Horrible Histories. Does anyone else remember that book series??

What are your current ships?

Uhm...I’m not actively into any fandoms right now. But I do still have my eternal OTPs!

Resolutions for 2018?

Post more photos on instagram. Take more photos in general. Be able to do pull-ups.

---

I’m gonna be a rule-breaker at this point and skip tagging others and making up more questions. It’s my bedtime :D

[canoncannon]

i'm not sure what you mean by "or otherwise" and i hope i am not too impudent but... hypothermia, sharing body heat, unexpected boners? *runs away and hides*

Don’t mind me, just answering prompts from months ago…

Tied hand and foot, guns to their temples, Paul has to admit this mission is not going well so far. He and Daryl had been scavenging rusty old boats tied to the small, rotten dock of a frozen lake when three Saviors surprised them, pointing rifles from the shore before Paul even realized they’d been spotted.

These Saviors aren’t soldiers, that much is obvious by the fact that they’d tied Paul and Daryl’s wrists in front of them. It’s also obvious by the fact that they seem lost about what to do next. One had walked back to the shore and up the road with her radio, trying to reach someone at the base for direction. The others pace the dock nervously, guns in hand. Paul’s hands are nearly free already, and then he just needs one of the guards to meander a little closer to him and they’re golden.

Glancing over to signal Daryl, he finds the other man in some kind of fugue state. Usually the archer is almost stupidly brave, but kneeling and bound, Daryl’s chest is heaving, his eyes are closed, and sweat is visible on his temple despite the icy wind.

“Hey, Daryl. Daryl, you alright?” Paul asks immediately, trying to scoot closer.

“Shut it,” one of the Saviors barks, kicking him viciously in the side. Paul slumps over onto the decrepit dock and feels the knot at his wrists give. He carefully holds the rope in place and begins flexing his ankles in tiny circular motions, not bothering to sit up again.

Daryl is still panicking, his breath audible over the wind and creaking wood. Paul’s reminded vividly of when he’d turned the corner at the Sanctuary and seen-

Right. Shit. The Sanctuary.

Daryl must think these oafs are going to take him back to Negan, that he would end up being tortured in a dark and dirty cell again.

Still flexing his ankles, Paul sits up again quickly, getting close to his friend. “Daryl- come on. Breathe. We’ve been through worse,“ he says in a low voice, keeping an eye on the Savior that just lashed out. Daryl meets his eyes, just a glimpse of blue through dark, overlong bangs. He’s blinking rapidly, still hyperventilating. Paul isn’t even sure the other man understands him. "Remember when that little prick stole our truck? And he somehow got on the roof?” he rushes to say, because the Savior is coming his way fast. “We survived that-”

The Savior cracks him hard across the mouth.

It doesn’t matter, Daryl got the message. He nods once, trusting that Paul has some kind of plan.

His breath is still coming too fast, though.

“Daryl, come on. Time your breathing with mine,” Paul says softly, ignoring the goon standing over them.

Then the prick kicks out, sending Paul sprawling backwards, and all hell breaks loose.

The rotten wood beneath them gives way, followed by the ice, sending Paul and the Savior both tumbling into the lake. The freezing water hits him much harder than the Savior’s blows, but Paul keeps his wits and gets his hands in the cretin’s hair.

It only takes a few moments for the Savior to stop kicking and yanking at his hold. Then Paul can’t get his head high enough to see what’s happening to Daryl, and every time he reaches for a piece of the deck to pull himself up the wood comes away in his hand. A gunshot echoes across the lake and he’s  shouting Daryl’s name before he can stop himself, voice high and unnatural.

Another gunshot sounds. Paul loses two nails trying to claw his way to the deck before a hand wraps around his wrist.

“Calm the fuck down,” Daryl scolds, holding his wrist still while holstering his gun with his other hand. “These three are dead, but who knows if that bitch got reinforcements on the way before I shot her.”

Paul only realizes that his body is shaking violently after Daryl hefts him out of the water and he tries to stand. Of course he topples immediately, barely coordinated enough to throw his injured hands out to break his fall. His fingers are bleeding from at least three or four giant splinters but he can’t feel them.

“Shit, man, you’re turning blue. Let’s get you outta here.” Moving closer, Daryl looks ready to put Paul in a fireman’s carry.

“Check the bodies. Weapons,” Paul manages to choke out, clumsily shoving him away.

“We need to get you warm or you’re gonna to lose a toe,” Daryl argues, forcing his way close and half-dragging him down the dock.

“Need guns more than toes.”

“Fuck’s sake. I’ll get you in the car, then I’ll come back, alright? Now quit bitching at me and try to move your legs.”

—

“Last winter weren’t this bad,” Daryl says in an accusing tone, as if Paul controls Virginia’s weather.

Still shaking, Paul doesn’t respond. His head feels foggy.

“Gonna have to hole up pretty close to here, we need to get you warmed up. I’ll keep watch.”

“The Saviors- reinforcements-”

“You got hypothermia, and I don’t know how bad. Quit arguing with me.” With a tiny smirk, Daryl adds, “’Sides, you’re too frozen to fight back, so you’re gonna do as you’re fucking told for once.”

Glaring through strands of sopping wet hair, the scout slumps back into his seat, resigned.

—

They return to the same cabin they’d stayed in the night before. It’s not safe—far too close to the dock where they’ve left three murdered Saviors—but Daryl won’t budge.

Paul really is too cold and tired to care all that much. It’s all he can do to get his boots off while Daryl lights a fire.

“You know the treatment for hypothermia?” Paul asks nervously. Daryl merely glares at him. “Ok, ok, sorry. You seem like the ‘shoot the messenger’ type. Just… the fire’s probably enough. I don’t think we really have to-”

“You’re seriously getting shy? You?” Daryl replies, chuckling. “Months of acting like you want to get me naked, and now you’d rather lose a foot?”

“Graduated from a toe to a foot now, huh?” Paul answers, because he doesn’t know what else to say. Acting, Christ. If only.

Turning back to the fire, Daryl snorts. “Sorry, asshole, but this ain’t no time to be a blushing belle. Now strip so I can set your out clothes to dry.”

Still shivering, Paul follows orders, curling up under their two blankets immediately after. Despite his don’t-give-a-shit attitude, Daryl undresses out of view and crawls under the blanket slowly, like he’s expecting Paul to spring a trap.

Hell, Paul probably would have sprung something if it weren’t for the hypothermia. There’s a warm, surprisingly gentle Daryl pressing against his chilled skin, and he can distinctly feel the heat of a soft cock against the small of his back.

The hypothermia is the only thing keeping him from embarrassing himself.

“Try to sleep for a couple hours. I’ll wake you up and we’ll move on if you’re feeling better.” Daryl wraps his arms around Paul’s chest and pulls him closer.

“Not how I’d hoped to get you naked,” Paul slurs, drowsy. He can almost feel his fingers again.

“Hush, Paul,” Daryl says quietly, right in his ear.

Paul shivers.

–

Paul wakes up to Daryl thrashing around violently. Then he really wakes up when he realizes why the other man is trying to escape like an animal caught in a trap: Paul’s rock-hard dick had been pressed against some unknown stretch of skin.

“Sorry!” Paul gasps, torn between horror and amusement. “Shit, Daryl, sorry-”

“Ain’t- ain’t that,” Daryl says, looking harried. “I fell asleep. No fucking clue what time it is, or…”

“Hey! Hey, it’s alright. If the Saviors had found us they’d already have done something about it. We hid the car, we’re alright, just… calm down. Relax. We’re good.”

Daryl seems to listen; at least he stops trying to fling himself out of the tangled nest of blankets. Instead he sits upright, fabric pooling in his lap and over his legs. Paul leans forward on an elbow, keeping his eyes firmly away from the top of Daryl’s ass and his broad, heavily scarred back. For different reasons, he finds he can’t look at either for very long if he wants to keep his cool.

“You thought I’d lose my shit over a boner?” Daryl asks suddenly, expression unreadable.

“Uh. Yeah, actually.”

There’s a long silence, during which Paul watches intently as Daryl’s ears, then his cheeks, flush slightly.

“Man, you know I’m- how the hell do you not know-” Daryl pauses, gathering himself, then blurts out. “I fuck guys, you know.”

After a startled blink and an undeniable thrill, Paul says, “Not right now you don’t, we’ve got to get back to Hilltop. Get your head in the game.”

The flush deepens from soft pink to technicolor red. “I didn’t mean-”

Paul heroically hides his grin.

Later, in the car, he’ll tell Daryl how much he likes him. For now he stands up from their impromptu bed, dick still half-hard, and enjoys watching that blush climb down Daryl’s neck to his muscled chest.

[xxmgdreamsxx]

Lurk Much?

Hey guys this is my 1st imagine on tumblr. The reader is a batfam sis and dating Jason. Y/N is your name. 

It was about 10 at the manor and things were going pretty slow. You felt like being a hermit and had spent the last few hours holed up in your room and catching up on Archer while eating a variety of diabetes inducing junk food. You were stroking your food baby with one hand while the other reached out to grab the last Milano cookie. Fuck. The bag’s empty. “UUGGGHHHHH”, you groaned over-exaggerating the situation. Whining, you got up from your bed and trekked to the kitchen to grab more food necessities. After stuffing your face with the last slice of Alfred’s quiche you grabbed a new bag of milanos and started walking back to your room. That is, until you saw your boyfriend Jason in the hallway- looking through a slightly opened door with an amused look on his face. You rolled your eyes and called out to him as you walked towards him,       “Lurk much, Todd?”. Jason’s head snapped up to meet your face and he proceeded to immediately shush you “SHHHH!” You rolled your eyes again- “Ok Stalker McStalker what’s so interesting?” “SHHHH!!” he glared at you and wrapped his hand around your mouth while bringing you to face the crack in the door. “Ok dear god Jason I’ll be quiet” you whispered “what is i-” You said as you peered inside the room “Holy Shizzz!!” you excitedly whispered screamed as you saw what was happening. On the far side of the room was Bruce talking to, well flirting, with a woman, while pouring them both drinks. “Oh my god! I didn’t even know she was over! I haven’t seen Bruce do something about his love life in so long! The closest thing I’ve seen to him being on a date was when he awkwardly invited Selina to brunch after she nearly killed him, and that was five months ago!!” you gushed. Jason’s snickered at your immature excitedness and went back to watching the history that was being made in the room. You strained to hear what they were saying. “So Mr. Wayn-” “Oh just Bruce, please” “Mhmm Bruce, such a lovely name. Although not as lovely as the time i’m spending with you”. You and Jason were both losing it at this point. “OMG this is gooold, we need to be filming this” you told Jason. “Babe yess” Jason responded “fuck i don't have my phone- UUGHHH where’s Tim when you need him. I bet he has a freaking professional camera set and everything.” “What do I have?” Tim asked as he walked up to the two of you. “AAHH” you and Jason gasped and turned around. “Well speak of the nerdy devil” Jason retorted. “Hey!” Tim cried. “SHHHHHH!!!!!” you scolded them. “What’s going on?” Tim asked “What are you guys looking at?”. You and Jason both looked at each and  nodded before grabbing Tim’s arms and pulling him close to you. “Tim if you look, you’ll never be able to go back.” you said dramatically. Jason leaned in really close and whispered in a super serious tone “All of thou’s innocence shall crumble and thou shall become a MAN.” “ok guys what hell, your actually creeping me out here- Tim said. “Look.” you exclaimed and shoved Tim’s face through the door crack. “O my god.” Tim deadpanned. “I know right?!!” you giggled. Jason wrapped his arm around Tim’s shoulder “ See little bro? You should take some notes here and maybe you can actually talk to a girl for more than 2 minutes without fainting in the future”. “Hey!” “Yeah Jason that’s not nice, he talked to Steph for a good FIVE minutes before collapsing.” “In my defense I was severely dehydrated” Tim added. “Ok everyone shut up and watch” you scolded. You could see Bruce and his mystery date standing up near the fireplace and things were getting pretty heavy. “So Bruce what shall we do now?” “Well we could-  You could see Bruce responding and trying to look all manly and seductive while reaching his arm back to rest on the table, but.. he missed. His hand missed the table by an inch and he slipped. It was too much and you lost it. You shrieked “OH MAN HAHAHA”. You quickly realized what you had done but it was too late. Bruce’s head snapped up and his gaze met yours and the rest of his spying children. ‘shit!” Jason groaned. “oh my god” you fumbled “guys we gotta run” You screamed “RUN!!” The three of you took off and fucking sprinted as fast as you could. You could feel the energy coursing through you as you madly giggled and ran. As y’all were running you rambled“Oh my god guys maybe he didn’t see exactly who it was like i don't know hah guys i can't i just can't oh mY GOD FUCKING RUN! RUN!!” “Y/n”! Jason yelled at you through heavy pants “If Bruce couldn’t tell who it was he knows now because of yoUR SCREAMING!” “OH SHIT THAT’S RIGHT” you cried out. Still running, you continued “IM SORRY GUYS I JUST HAVE SO MUCH ADRENALINE RIGHT NOW LIKE I HAVEN’T FELT THIS ALIVE SINCE I ACCIDENTALLY DRANK TIM’S 5 HOUR ENERGY ESPRESSO SMOOTHIE!! AND I- that was the last thing you unintelligibly yelled, as you tripped and face planted on the floor. Jason and Tim hadn’t even noticed you fell behind until you cried out in your best old english accent “ My good lord help me! I have fallen!” Jason whipped his head back dramatically and ran towards you” My good lady, fear not! I am here to rescue thou!” He grabbed you bridal style and continued “Where to, fair maiden?” You put on a serious look “Hhmm, OOH I KNOW, TO THE KITCHEN GOOD SIR. WE MUST GATHER PROVISIONS TO LAST US A FORTNIGHT IF WE MUST HAVE TO HIDE FROM THE FEARSOME BAT.” By now you and Jason had caught up to the still running Tim and you yelled as you passed him “FAIR KNIGHT, WE MUST AWAY TO THE KITCHEN” Tim just followed y’all while muttering under his breath “these people have problems”. When you got there, the three of you grabbed all the food you could then barricaded yourselves in to the game room. “Ok” you said “We’ve locked the door so Bruce shouldn’t be able to get in even if he finds us”. “And I've found The Seed of Chucky” Jason said while holding up a dvd case “or well at least one of the Chucky movies. Dear lord knows which one it is. At this point they've made so many- like for fucks sake guys one sequel’s enough. “ OK Spielberg we get it. You hate sequels. Now shush and play the movie” you commanded. So there you guys were an hour later. Tim had turned off all the lights and you all had preceded to built a pillow fort that you were now snuggling in . All three of you were in a sugar coma induced state and were staring wide-eyed at the movie. “Bitch don’t go in” you told the person in the movie as they walked towards a door. The music was getting super suspenseful and you, Jason, and Tim were clinging on to each other not taking your eyes off from the screen. “she gonna die she's gonna die” Tim whispered meekly” The door was slowly being opened. The music was intense. Jason was clinging so tightly to your arm you thought it was gonna fall off. You could hear your heartbeat. The door creaked open. “Oh hey guys there you are!” “AAAAAAAHHHHHHH” you, Jason, and Tim screamed all at once. It. was. Dick. “ Sorry I scared you guys” Dick apologized. “ For the love of god man you gave me a heart attack” Jason glared at him “Also how the hell did you get in? I thought we locked the door?” “Well yeah that one but there’s another door right here” Dick said pointing behind him.  “Oh my god were fucking idiots” you said staring at the door. “So anyway guys, Bruce is looking for you. I’m not sure why.” “ Nope. Nopeity Nope Noooope” you said. “Guys seriously I’m sure whatever is going on he won’t be that mad” Dick remarked. “ HEY BRUCE THEYRE IN HE- Jason quickly spoke in a spookily calm tone “Grayson if you tell him were here , I swear on my already dead soul I will tell everyone about the bikini incident.” Dick’s eyes just went really wide and he gasped “You wouldn’t dare” “try me.” Jason retorted as he kept his glare focused on Dick. Dick just stared at him back for a second before slowly walking out the door and closing it behind him. “Oh yeah Bruce they're not in there” you could here Dick say in the hallway ten seconds later and then the footsteps retreated and all three of you let out a collective sigh of relief. Sleep took over you pretty soon and you all fell asleep cradled in each others arms. Of course you didn't escape the day of judgment, as early the next morning you eventually had to see Bruce and he gave you a long talk about spying on other people and that privacy is to be respected. The entire time Tim was just blushing like crazy and staring at his feet while you were focusing in on a very interesting spot on the wall. Jason of course was unfazed, and only opened his mouth to ask Bruce if he “got laid”. 

[star-trekkin-across-theuniverse]

Prompt: from @frostedej “Gender neutral reader attempts and finally succeeds in making Spock laugh” Word Count: 1358 Author’s Note: It’s a little shorter than I’d planned, but I am so excited to finally be able to use my favourite Star Trek pun in a fic. I hope you enjoyed it!! I tried really hard to ensure it read as gender-neutral - feedback there is appreciated!

“He’s half human. There’s bound to be some sort of sense of humour in there somewhere,” you insisted. You and Sulu were sitting in the commissary having dinner, and Spock had come up. Sulu insisted that in all the years they’d served together, he’d never seen Spock laugh. You couldn’t buy it. He was good friends with the captain, and regardless of how they might behave together, he and Doctor McCoy were also close. And both Jim and Leonard were men who loved a good laugh. There is no way the friendship could be maintained if he were incapable of laughing. He must have, at some point, laughed. You were sure of it.

“I’m telling you, Y/N, he won’t laugh. Even if you and every human on the ship is howling with laughter, Spock isn’t going to laugh,” Sulu insisted. “First of all, there’s the emotional restraint. And second, I think their sense of humour is different.”

“I don’t buy it. You cannot tell me he’s never laughed at something Kirk has done. Or snickered into his hand during one of McCoy’s rants.” You were digging in your heels.

“Go ahead and try. You have a month,” Sulu challenged you.

“And then what?” You weren’t sure you wanted to take the bet.

“If you are able to make Spock laugh, I’ll give you that spider plant you’ve been after,” he started. “But if I’m right, and you are unable to make him laugh, you need to give me that terrarium you have in your quarters.” It was a tough bet. Because of how quickly spider plants grew, they weren’t supposed to be grown in the botany labs on any starship. You knew that Sulu had an illicit spider plant that just happened to have a few children on it, and you wanted one. They were hardy, and thrived anywhere. You had brought a terrarium from home that you had built when you were a child and it was still living, all these years later. It was your most prized possession. You thought about it for a minute.

“Fine,” you nodded. Sulu raised an eyebrow.

“You’re awfully confident,” he retorted. You shrugged.

“Commander Spock.” You were rushing forward, and not watching what you were doing, and tripped over your own feet. You flailed, ungracefully, twirled, and landed, sprawled across Uhura’s lap. She started laughing, and helped you to your feet, offering you a slow clap.

“Such grace and mastery!” She teased. “And you really stuck the landing. 9.8.” You laughed at your clumsiness, and snuck a glance at Spock. The corner of his mouth was just slightly turned up. You at least had confirmation he could be amused. And physical comedy wasn’t completely lost on him. Once you’d recovered, you’d handed the report to him and filed away the knowledge.

The benefit of being clumsy was that you’d been given a number of opportunities to get Spock to laugh from your mishaps. The problem was, none of them were funny enough. At the end of the first seven days, Sulu tapped his watch and winked, making you nervous. You needed to up your game.

You sat down across from Spock in the commissary one day and looked him straight in the eye. “Do you like jokes?”

“I rarely can find the humour in what humans find funny,” he admitted.

“Is it a cultural thing?” You asked. “Like, is it because what we think is funny doesn’t make sense, but that Vulcans actually find a lot of stuff funny and humans just don’t get it?”

“In some ways, I suppose you are correct. There is much that amuses Vulcans. I am hesitant to admit that every time you trip or spill something, once I am assured you are not injured, I do find that to be amusing,” he admitted.

“Yeah, I’d caught that,” you sighed. “I was just wondering if there were jokes that Vulcans found funny.”

“Not universally, no. I’m beginning to understand human humour more though, thanks to Doctor McCoy and the captain,” he explained. You fell quiet, thinking about how to approach the laughter situation.

“It’s cheating to ask him what will make him laugh!” Sulu accused, a laugh in his tone.

“I didn’t ask what would make him laugh, I just asked if he had a sense of humour!” You protested. Uhura stopped what she was doing and looked up.

“He has the sexiest laugh I’ve ever heard,” she interjected. “This rich baritone. It’s like honey. And it’s so genuine.”

“So he can laugh!” You crowed. “I feel like I should win, just based on that knowledge!”

“Make him laugh, then we’ll talk,” Sulu countered, and turned back to his station. You pursed your lips and tried to think of how to be funnier.

You had less than 24 hours left to make Spock laugh and you were out of ideas. You’d tried more pratfalls, unsuccessfully, you’d told silly jokes, funny jokes, lurid jokes, long jokes, jokes that made no sense. You tried sarcasm, but that had only resulted in a reprimand from the Captain. You were at your wits end, sitting in the commissary with Sulu again. He had just spent a good five minutes gloating about how he was going to win the bet, and how you should just hand the damn terrarium over early. You glared and went back to eating. Spock sat down with the two of you, forcing further silence as you didn’t want to expose the reason for your month of strange behaviour.

“Ensign Y/L/N, may I ask you a personal question?” Spock opened. You shrugged.

“Sure,” you replied.

“What made you want to join Starfleet?” He asked.

“I wanted to see space?” You answered, feeling your cheeks heat. Your real reason was much sillier.

“Why are you blushing?” Sulu asked. “That’s why we all joined.”

“Okay, this is really dumb,” you started. “But it’s what made me interested in space when I was little, and it stuck with me all through school, and into my Academy years.”

“And it has to do with why you joined Starfleet?” Spock asked.

“Yeah, totally,” you nodded. “My granddad was on Archer’s first crew, and he always had these stories about what it was like to be exploring the final frontier. It was always the final frontier this, the final frontier that. I thought it was fascinating, and I wanted to go to see the final frontier too.”

“That’s not funny though,” Sulu protested. “Or embarrassing for that matter.”

“I had to have tubes in my ears because I had chronic ear infections. My hearing was affected as a child,” you explained. “It’s why I’m such a klutz, Spock.”

“Fascinating,” he murmured.

“Anyhow, I didn’t realize he was saying frontier,” you said. “I thought he was saying front ear. There I was, this little kid who didn’t hear so well because my two side ears didn’t work properly, and my granddad was telling me all these stories about the final front ear out in space. I wanted to go to space. I wanted to find the final front ear. Because I wanted to hear better.”

“Final. Front. Ear.” Spock said the words, slowly spacing them out to be sure he’d understood you correctly.

“Yeah. I had this idea that you’d get to a certain point in space and it would just pop out of your forehead,” you admitted, feeling your cheeks burn. The corner of Spock’s mouth turned up, and you knew he’d found the story at least a little amusing. Sulu crowed with laughter.

“That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. I have to tell Ben!” He cackled. “I can see Demora thinking that’d hilarious. She has a thing about -”

Suddenly, Spock’s shoulders started to shake, and his eyes closed. He let out a little huff of air, and suddenly, the honey-rich baritone Uhura had told you about. He was laughing.

“Final. Front. Ear.” He barely managed to get the words out before he started laughing again. You looked at Sulu, your eyes wide.

“Pay up,” you mouthed, and sat back, enjoying the laughter.

[zephyr-nymph]

The longest year.

Forgive me for this wall of text, it needed to get out. Over a year ago, we broke up. It was days after our Valentine's day date, we went to see Deadpool at the AMC by the highway. We had been doing better, or so I thought. After the movie, you said things had gotten worse and that they wouldn't get better. I sobbed. I drove home, and for the first time in a long time, I was alone. 32 weeks ago, there was a conversation through Instagram that ended badly. I told you I would be moving soon, and wanted to see you, to hang out one last time. You wouldn't allow it. You told me that I was out of your life forever, and that I shouldn't contact you ever again. You blocked me on all social media, and told me you blocked my phone number. I never tried calling. A few times I sent a single hello or how are you. I never got a response. Not a day goes by when I think of you. When I used to work in the city, I would get this twinge of nausea every time I passed that AMC. Or when I drove down the main road you live off of and passed by your neighborhood when I would give my coworker rides. I see you every time I see a picture of Johnny depp or one of his many faces. I hurt every time I think of the place you work, and how I can't go there. A year later, and it still hurts every day. Late one evening, I decide to text you. From my number. Just to see if, maybe, I wasn’t blocked. 7 minutes later, I was shocked. You replied. Happily. With a smiley face. I almost cried, I was so happy. You asked how I’ve been. We made plans for lunch the next week. I was afraid. Afraid that it was some joke, that you might tell me off in person this time. Afraid that I might be stood up and made a fool. You know my fears are not because of your actions, but because of the actions of others. I was early at lunch, so I parked elsewhere in the lot and watched the door, one of two doors, but I knew you’d go in this one. You called, I let it ring. I waited and watched, to make sure you showed up. And you did. The moment you came into view I lost my breath. It was you, for real. I almost got stuck sitting there staring at you. I made my way inside as fast as I could, and there you were, standing in line. As beautiful as ever. You turned and smiled, and came in to give me a hug. I didn't want to let go. You still felt warm and perfect. As we sat and talked, my fears slipped away. You still felt like the wonderful, amazing person I fell for. It takes every fiber in my being to resist falling into old habits. I want to text you, ask you about your day and open up about my fears, but I can’t. You’re not the person I fell for anymore. I'm not the person who fell for you anymore. Hopefully, that's a good thing. You walk me to my car and we talk some more. You jokingly demanded time with my cat, the tiny baby I got while we were living together, and I wanted to cry. That meant you wanted to see me again. You came over a few days later. We talked like we used to, I haven't smiled so much in a long time. I hugged you for longer than I should have; you lifted me up and held me tight. You smelled like I remembered. You felt like I remembered. We watched Archer. When you had to go, I walked you to the door and gave you another hug, followed by a kiss on the cheek. I felt like I needed it. You reciprocated. We agreed to hang out again. You didn't actually see the cat. I don't know if I should continue this or not. I'm terrified. I'm torn, fight-or-flight. I want to run, to hide from you and avoid hurting someone again. I also want to tear your clothes off and fuck you like we used to. I want to delete your number and forget about you like I've been trying for a year. I also want to fall in love with you all over again, the right way this time. I want to change, I want to trust and become less jealous. Yet, I don't want to put you in a position where I could fail. I don't want to be in your life, in the case we do get back together and I fail you again. Even if you want to, which you probably don't because I fucked up really bad, I can't let it happen. Not until I'm sure that I won't fail again. It may be soon, it may be months, it could be never. You are so close to perfection. Perfection in the most imperfect, neurotic, and nerdy way. You're too good for this, for me. But somehow you don't think so. The universe offered me a god on a silver platter and I flipped it in the waiter's face. Then, a year later, when I'm feeling empty and alone, you open your arms up to me again, without even knowing I'm at the lowest point I've been in a long time. Without knowing that I needed to see you so bad that I had my face pressed against my phone, hoping with all my soul that you would text me back and come over, you were ready to ditch your other plans to come see me. I wanted to cry. I have to respect you. I have to step back and make sure I treat you like you deserve. I have to watch the boundaries and not cross them until it is time. So even though I haven't gotten laid or had a pleasant kiss since summer, for now I must remain chaste with you. We can't sleep together on the second date like we did before. I just texted you, confessing that I may have ripped your clothes off, and you replied that you would not have minded. I want to fuck you again. I want so bad to have back the best sex that I will ever have, but I can't. Not yet. If we want this to work again, we have to do it right. I have to do it right. Maybe this is all a pipe dream. Maybe you have absolutely no intention of us ever getting back together. Maybe I'm letting my mind wander too far, into forbidden territory. Maybe you gave up on us a long time ago, which is justified. I'm still astounded that such a perfect human could find this broken, lost, depressed, terrified, rude girl anything near attractive. It astounds me still, even though I know that love has since faded. I still believe you're the one for me. I'm not sure if I'll ever think otherwise. You're still everything I could have wanted and more. But this me, the jealous, anxious, terrified me, she can't love you properly. She can't be allowed to sleep with you, because she's still learning to trust. Once I have broken down my walls and trust you fully, I can allow this to move to the next step. But for now, I am limiting us, and I will stop if things progress past my boundaries. Which is weird because I had no boundaries with you in the past, I shared everything with you and nothing was taboo, even seeing each other pooping. Now I watch, and calculate, and work on myself, like I should have been doing this past year. It took seeing your beautiful face again for me to realize I have to change, because I haven't changed much since we parted. I repress more. I'm more blank and empty. Maybe it's the lack of love and intimacy forming this cold, empty shell. I need more light in my life. I need more you, like I always have.