#I would gladly consume any of this kind of content honestly

[nightwonder7]

Hi hello, a few things. I love your artstyle and use your Norton comics as headcanon scenarios BUT a thought stemmed from it:

"What if Norton was faking being a survivor and his mentality was 'man im pranking these guys so hard rn'" as hes maliciously plotting

I brought this up in a gc and my friends and i came up with a scenario

Norton: Hey! Andrew

Andrew: Hm?"

Norton: (PALLET WHACK)

And theres also a bit with Joseph where Nortons like "Dont ruin this for me" but i wanna know your thoughts okay bye

Aw thank you so kindly! ;//u//; I'm glad to hear!

gahjfkgdshafdsagfd XD The mental image of Andrew being absolutely horrified 😭 Every hunter just bashing on Norton because his very confusion is a menace to everyone, but he just can't help it :')

Oh my gosh you can think of so many different scenarios with Norton now that he has a switch system (or any characters with a switch system for that matter).

Hunter Norton thinking he's a survivor (OG).

Survivor Norton thinking he's the hunter and tries to destroy everyone during the match.

Hunter Norton in the form of Prospector who is aware of his situation and takes advantage of this to mess with the survivors.

Hunter Norton in the form of Prospector who is aware of his situation, but hates how small and fragile he is (kinda like that one AU I thought of once).

Survivor Norton in the form of Fool's Gold who is aware of his situation and takes advantage of his new form to get revenge on the survivors who were mean to him.

Survivor Norton in the form of Fool's Gold who is aware of his situation and takes advantage of this to help the other survivors escape in the game. Either by pretending to be oblivious or visibly tries to help (thank you @quoththeowl31 ). The former I can see being played out in a duo match.

Survivor Norton in the form of Fool's Gold who is aware of his situation and hates what he has become. All the unwanted stares from everyone and how they're all intimidated by him makes it all awkward.

Somehow, Prospector and Fool's Gold existing in the same match, but Norton vacillates between the two identities throughout the game and everyone is confused.

There are probably more, but these are the ones I could think of on the fly. Feel free to add onto this!

[necrotic-nephilim]

Give me your most controversial dc opinions!!!

HA YES GLADLY I WOULD LOVE TO (added a read more because i had a lot of words oopsie)

The Titans Tower Incident was in character for Jason Todd. at worst, it's a *bit* over-dramatic and a little cringey, but if you consider his actions, his motivations, and what he *actually* does, i honestly don't think it's OOC for him. he's just kind of a dramatic asshole in that era and i stand by that comic. the issue isn't the comic itself, it's how people interpret it.

i think the DC fandom, specifically the Batfamily fandom, really likes to claim to be progressive for brownie points, but then will have the one token woman that everyone decides is acceptable to hate. like, it's one thing if you dislike Carrie Kelley, i get it. Frank Miller isn't a great writer of women and she can be a lack of a character in the original Dark Knight Returns. but if you go out of your way making constant edits and posts shitting on her, it's *weird*. especially when most of the people shitting on her haven't even consumed her source, and their reasons for disliking her can apply to any other Robin, especially Tim. but as long as you put say, Steph or Cass on a pedestal, you can talk on and on about how you want to kill Carrie for the crime of existing. it feels like acceptable misogyny. i also think this extends to writers. if you put say, Gail Simone on a pedestal, you're free to blame everything under the sun on Devin Grayson. (to be clear i think you can and should hate Devin Grayson for a lot of things, but most rumors about her are untrue and if you look at every badly written comic and go "sounds like something Devin Grayson would write" that's really weird bc everything she's done, men like Chuck Dixon, Tom King, Tom Taylor, Marv Wolfman, etc have done in tenfold.) like, misogyny = bad unless it's That One Woman We've All Agreed To Hate. it's weird and i keep noticing it. and no one seems to unpack it. (i mostly see this on TikTok, not Tumblr tbf)

i don't care if you ship BruDick or not, but it's not weird for canon content to imply or state Dick had a crush on Bruce when he was first taken in. even in canon where Dick sees Bruce as a "father figure" in the most generous sense, that bond took years to build and when Dick was freshly orphaned, he *had* the memory of loving parents and didn't want Bruce to fill that role. you don't have to ship BruDick, you don't even have to like batcest, but if you're vitriolic toward just the idea that "hey maybe a young kid on the cusp of puberty might have some weird feelings to work out about the canonically very attractive mysterious playboy who took him in before seeing him as family because that bond took years to build" is nasty and terrible and wrong to you, you don't like the Batfamily, you just like the nuclear "neat" version of it in your head

the Batfamily characters are *all* too hypercompetent. like all of them are just *too* good at what they do that in order to write them in interesting arcs together, you have to willingly make some of them OOC in order to not immediately have the Problem wrapped up. i get it, Bruce is the greatest detective, Tim is wicked smart, Jason's a heavy hitting brawler, but we've reached a point where all of these characters have so many buffs they're not *fun* anymore. especially not in a group setting where you need to justify them needing each other's help. and even worse-so when they interact outside of the Gotham, you end up making every non-Batfam character seem useless just to make the Batfamily look cool. it's exhausting. i want to see these characters lose fights, look stupid, and not be the best for once. they're all getting so good they're just kind of. boring. which is the worst sin for a character, IMO.

i think we should go like. a good year of all Justice League-related teams not having a single Bat on the roster. just as a cleanse so *someone else* can shine. i get why non-Batfam DC fans are sick of the Batfamily bc jesus. it's oversaturation of the market.

power scaling "who would win" fights are fucking boring and i don't care. that's the least interesting thing about the fandom. you're missing the point of all of these characters if you only care about who could win a brawl. also it's just a stupid debate because the answer will *always* be: whoever the author of the comic wants to win.

the Batfamily is too damn big. i love every single one of them do not get me wrong. i'd die for the little niche characters who are likely never going to be relevant again like Julia Pennyworth or Kate Spencer. but it's too fucking big at this point. it's insisted to us that these characters are family but like. half of them have barely existed on the same page together more than once. it's ridiculous and it cannot sustain itself. none of these characters are allowed proper shine because they'll just get dropped for the next new shiny character. i think Maps Mizoguchi is a cool lil lady, but i know in my soul in like. three years she will fade into comics limbo and we'll have a new shiny character to fawn over. it's a brutal cycle bc DC doesn't know how to give any of these characters follow through, just wants to wave around cool new concepts.

both Under The Red Hood and Death In The Family are mediocre adaptations and strip the most important emotional elements of Jason's story from the plot. you can't properly adapt Jason's death if you leave his mother out of it. like they're phenomenal movies as their own pieces of media, but they lack the necessary emotional weight for Jason.

on the note of adaptations: the Young Justice cartoon is i think the best case study of "how do you react to a piece of media that's amazing on it's own, but is a fucking horrible adaptation?" because like, i can't discredit it. it's a good show. but it's a bad adaptation and i think people using it as an entry point for DC can make their views of certain characters and teams *very* warped. the Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey movie falls into a similar vein for me. if that movie was it's own thing with original characters, it'd likely be a top five movie for me. but because it's *such a fucking bad adaptation* i can't help but hate it for brutalizing the characters and the general concept of the BoP. it should've been a Gotham Sirens movie, and Young Justice should've been a Teen Titans show. and sure, adaptations don't owe us accuracy, but they have negative effects on the comics when they gain popularity. so i struggle to like Young Justice bc of how badly it's affected certain characters.

also on the note of adaptations: the best adaptation of how comic media operates is the Sandman tv show. adapting comics to tv shows or movies is difficult bc comic arcs don't operate the way show/movie arcs do, but the Sandman show proves it's absolutely doable to adapt the storytelling style while still making the typical adjustments you need for an adaptation.

DC needs more Deaf representation. in most areas, DC either matches Marvel or outperforms Marvel with representation of marginalized identities, but it's fucking tragic we have no deal Deaf rep in DC whereas Marvel has quite a few to pick from. this one is personal bc i'm Deaf but it does fuck me up the only option we have is a side character from Tim Drake: Robin who doesn't appear anywhere else and isn't a great character overall. DC i'm in your walls.

on the note of representation, if i see one more person say Titans had "perfect casting" while in the same breath admitting Dick was whitewashed, you are weird and i dislike you. it's really fucking weird that whitewashing is permissable to this fandom if the actor cast/fancast is hot. Dick should've been a Roma actor. Damian should not be fancast as a white actor. it's the bare minimum.

i have so many more but i will end with this especially controversial one: Dan Mora's art is overhyped. that man has the worst same face syndrome i've ever seen and i will not lie half the time i can't tell which Robin he's drawing. his art is technically gorgeous and it's so pretty to look at, but begging for every comic series to be drawn by him is boring and terrible. the art style of a comic reflects it's genre. wanting all comic art to look like Dan Mora's art is sucking the style out of comics. i miss art styles like Todd Nauck's that clearly reflected the genre of the comic.

i lied i have one more i'm REALLY passionate about: Tim's vigilante name after Red Robin should not be bird-themed. naming him Sparrow or Cardinal is *just* as bad as naming him Red Robin longterm. they're *just* as derivative and they *sound* cool but don't hold any real unique identity for Tim outside of Robin. like it baffles me we all agree he needs to move on from Robin and then decided "let's name him Robin Lite". if he has a bird name, it should be Jackdaw so at the very least, he's not red anymore. and Jackdaw could be a fun callback to Drake, in that it uses part of Tim's real name (his middle name, Jackson) while standing out a bit. but if i really had creative control i'd give him a completely unique name. if it has to be Batfamily related, Gray Ghost. but in my head, his name should be Conspiracy. i could write a lengthy meta on why and tbh it is based in my love for the Question and wanting Tim to have a similar detective noir-esque gritty solo, but i genuinely don't think he should be Cardinal or Sparrow. those names only continue his identity issues of being trapped as either Robin or a Robin knockoff.

[purple-plum-petals]

Hello! If not a bother, I'd like to request a TWST matchup (either platonic or romantic is fine). I enjoy writing a lot (particularly darker content). I love theater and the natural world a lot (to the point my entire family and all my friends are now giving me animal- and marine based presents lol), perhaps it's the 'tism, but I find it so fascinating and beautiful, every creature is just a lovable little guy to me, and the way every plant, fungi, and cell work together to create the world we know, is incredible.

I have been told that the traits I find loveable aren't universally shared, such as when I find it cute that snails can have thousands of teeth. But I just find it hard not to marvel at all these things.

I'm very patient, and while things often fly over my head, and I struggle to read people, I try very hard to understand everyone around me, as a result, I tend to not judge people, instead getting to know them, and I value communication highly, as I am not good at guessing or intuitively knowing.

I do tend to get a bit lost in my own head and interests though, and tend to spend a lot of time alone, being quite introverted - so sometimes I might need a reminder to actually interact, but I'm working on it.

Thank you for sending in a match-up; I think that either Rook Hunt or Silver would be good matches for you!

I was actually debating between Silver and Jade, but ultimately, I picked Silver for your match-up since I think with Jade you would need to be good at guessing how he's feeling since he's not open and honest about himself in that regard. He would be a great person to talk to about your interests and hobbies, though, considering he loves fungi and is literally a merman haha.

Rook loves that you, too, appreciate theatre as it's something he does as well. He'd also love to read your stories if you were willing to share them with him as he doesn't mind consuming a darker story every now and again. Rook is also quite the outdoorsman, so he would love to accompany you if you want to take a hike or venture out into the wilderness. Rook is also someone who can understand your awe at the beauty of the world, even such small and seemingly minuscule things such as how cells function, and he does so without any judgement; he's honestly very supportive of you and your interests and would happily sit and listen to you talk about them all day every day if he were able to. Rook would also relate to your ability to find traits or facts universally deemed as being weird or gross to be cute instead; he, too, sees the beauty in the "strange" and "unconventional." He's also understanding of your need for alone time and space, but he's also the kind of person who will happily give you reminders to get out and socialize; Rook won't overstep your boundaries, but he's there to give you a push if you need it.

Silver has an almost supernatural ability to draw animals of every variety to him so if you ever wanted to see a specific animal up close and personal, Silver would be happy to make your dreams a reality as he somehow seems to communicate with the animals without ever uttering a single word. Silver is also, much like you, a very patient individual who also has a difficult time reading others. Unlike some of the other students at Night Raven College, Silver is always open to communicate with you about how he's feeling or how you're feeling in regard to your relationship, and he always does so calmly and kindly with no judgement. He also understands and respects your need to be alone given your introverted nature and will gladly give you space if you need it as all you need to do is tell him. Thankfully, though, being with Silver doesn't take as much social battery as it may with other people. You two spend a lot of your time together alone in silence, Silver usually sleeping while you focus on learning or reading about the things you are passionate about.

[abysscronica]

I hope it's ok to ask, I noticed you don't interact with many blogs or fandom discourse in general. Is there a reason?

Okay, I've received a couple of asks and DMs more or less revolving around this topic, so I'm going to address it here.

My blog's main goal is to interact with my existing readers, since all my stories are on AO3 and Wattpad (I've only posted a couple here). I use it to answer your questions on my writings, the characters, and whatever you guys want to ask me, and I love it. Of course I'm happy if I get some more readers from Tumblr, but that's not my primary aim here, at least for now.

It would be great to use this page to expand my followers, but I barely have time to actually write these days, so unfortunately, at the moment, I can't afford to spend any to curate this space... except for answering your asks. (on this regard, I know I'm months late for some, please don't lose hope, everything is there and will be worked on eventually!)

That said, even if I do get time to dedicate to my tumblr at some point, it'll probably be ordering my posts and posting my other stories, not much more. Before I go into more details on my thoughts on fandom discourse and fics/headcanons, let me repeat the usual disclaimer...

The ones below represent my very personal views. They are not right or wrong, and it absolutely does not mean I disapprove of different views. I encourage you all to enjoy the fandom experience and community in the way you see fit, as long as it's not damaging you or anyone else.

Fandom discourse. I... simply don't really care about it. I'm talking mainly about One Piece, but this can apply to any content I enjoy. Here's how my experience goes: I read the manga, the SBS, watch the anime, consume basically any content available. I follow a couple of OP youtubers talking about every little thing, from chapter reviews to any kind of news (Tekking101 and Sawyer7mage). Then I write fanfictions based on all the knowledge accumulated, of course expanding into my personal headcanons. This pretty much satiates my thirst for content and need for sources.

Obviously I enjoy talking about OP with other fans, especially like-minded ones such as Kid Pirates fans. Buuuut being an active part of the community can also be exhausting. I'm sure you know there's a lot of Kid dissing going on for example, and Kid fans are often caught in battles to defend him. I honestly don't want to take part into it, because I don't think other people's feelings about a character should influence my experience of the show anyway, so I don't care about changing their mind either. I just... wanna do my own thing and share it with my mutuals & readers.

Analyses, meta, theories. Honestly, the two OP youtubers I follow (plus Arthur's posts on Twitter) fulfill this need in a very comprehensive way. I've yet to see a single tumblr post that comes even close to their insights (but if you know some, feel free to point me in that direction, I'll be happy to check them out). They often even contain inaccurate information. I do reblog whatever I deem interesting though, and I'll gladly answer to anything if you wanna know about my thoughts.

Fics & headcanons. Once again, I'll always be super happy to share my content with you guys. I cannot accept fic requests but feel free to ask for any headcanon you may be interested in!

As for other people's stuff. I said this before, unfortunately I'm a terribly picky reader (this does not only apply to fics, but to literature in general). The slightest hint of "unjustified" OC, a Mary Sue trait on a MC, too many cliches, a writing style that does not catch me... I'll scroll ahead. I know many will roll their eyes at this, and they are right, but I just won't impose something I don't fully enjoy to myself, not with my limited spare time. But writers should write whatever they want and I'll never be unsupportive of that, even if it's not my jazz! The stuff I read and enjoyed, I reblog.

This should be all I have to say on the matter. If you have any further question, feel free to send and ask.

[drevmnotnap]

i will gladly air my thoughts about the drituation Thank You /gen, i’m an adult & a csa survivor for reference on where this perspective is coming from

i left the fandom and don’t really feel ok consuming dream content anymore but for me it isn’t so much about the drituation itself ? it’s about the bullshit i saw from the community in response to it, plus october was so difficult that i just have a hard time seeing any of it

honestly it was some of the mindsets i saw starting to take hold through the community that scared me and pissed me off. i saw people use phrases like “she’s not acting like a victim,” “how do you not realize you’re being groomed until someone tells you?? the math ain’t mathing,” etc. people started poking holes in every piece of her story and background, and watching a perfect victim narrative get spread around felt like a punch in the gut. people even said things along the lines of “guys come on, can dream be a predator? we’re talking about the guy who does the gay run in the rain and uses bath bombs.” like you couldn’t name a million endearing things that any confirmed predator has probably done in their life. the idea that you could use any of those arbitrary things to determine who is or is not a safe person is just…dangerous

sorry this turned out so long yikes i just . have so many thoughts about the lengths the fandom went and the people they hurt along the way. not the whole fandom of course, not even most of it- but enough to make it hard to go back

firstly, i’m really sorry for everything you must have seen— some of the reactions were definitely more than a little icky, for a variety of reasons, and i know there’s no way seeing any of that could be easy.

personally, just to be clear, i don’t think the messages/interactions were indicative of grooming. it’s (at worst, imo) irresponsible, maybe inappropriate considering the specific circumstances, on dream’s part, but famous people having romantic/sexual relationships with fans isn’t exactly unheard of, and i think, in general, there’s a stark difference between grooming and other predatory behavior, and dream’s actions and interactions.

that being said, the community’s reaction (from what i’ve been told + what i’ve taken the time to seek out) was... yeah, it wasn’t pretty. obviously there were people who went straight to “he’s a groomer he needs to be deplatformed” which i don’t think is an accurate view to have (considering what grooming is and the facts we know or can assume/infer to be true), but there was also a shocking number of people who immediately dismissed the claims and even some who did make jokes about it, and that comes off as incredibly insensitive. of course, most reactions were immediate, emotional responses, which explains a lot, but it doesn’t erase how harmful and insensitive it was to survivors/victims. and, yes, saying “how can he be a groomer, he’s so [insert reasons]” is dangerous— it furthers the mindset that people you believe to be innocent and harmless can’t be horrible people, which isn’t always the case, and that mindset is a big reason why so many victims’ stories go unheard and un-believed. i’m not saying it fully applies here (as dream isn’t a groomer/predator), but it does raise concerns about that kind of stuff in the long-run and the bigger picture.

it’s honestly really complicated— especially when it comes to dream— because we can’t just take everything at face value. there are people out there who absolutely would make a false accusation just for the purpose of accusing him and tearing him down. that doesn’t mean, however, that all allegations should be immediately dismissed, especially with an accusation as serious as grooming, and that’s what a lot of people tried to do in the immediate aftermath. i think the most logical course of action would’ve been to assume that amanda’s story was true (or parts of it were, as claimed by dream, correct me if i’m wrong), and then come to realize that it wasn’t grooming and/or predatory from there, instead of trying to deny its validity right off the bat by making jokes or by trying to find holes in her story. i know a lot of the reactions were formed around big-name blogs who then reacted negatively— red, hari, dwtupdates on twt, etc.— and that caused misinformation and “dream is a groomer!”s to spread, so that explains some of it, but yeah it’s still really complicated.

anyway, to close this out, it’s totally valid of you to have left! i know i only stayed because, well, i have a lot of fun here and i genuinely do enjoy dream’s (+ dteam’s) content, but i don’t blame or judge anyone for leaving. unless they’re one of the people who switched up drastically and started saying they hate dream + he’s ugly + his music sucks + kaceytrn was on the right side of history + all the other shit out there, but that’s a very different conversation.

[muddyorbsblr]

Okay I've read through a good bit of the conversation around this and at the end of the day this is where I stand on this: It's not the quantity of the notes, but the quality of what's within the notes.

Lemme explain:

Imagine if you have a story with say…50 notes. 48 of them are likes, 1 is your self reblog, and the remaining 1 is a comment from someone going "part 2?". This would undoubtedly…give nothing. Like I'm glad that people are reading the story enough to hit the heart and let me know that they've consumed what has been created and potentially they're going to stick around for whatever comes next.

But as far as expanding that story universe goes, I have nothing to go on because these 40+ people haven't given their 2 cents on what resonated with them in the story. A potential branching out point that I would eventually go on for that "part 2". The writer's own imagination can only go so far and the rest is enhanced by what they know the readers enjoy the most about the story. I'm a firm believer that at a certain point, especially in ongoing series, the story graduates from being solely the writer's to becoming something that belongs to both the writer and the readers.

The readers' experience enriches the writer's.

Now let's have that same total number of notes. 50. But this time it's 10 likes, and the remaining 40 consist of a conversation between the readers and the writer in the replies, and a handful of them are reblogs that contain the reader's favorite parts of the story. There's no outright request to create a part 2, but now the writer has something to go on if ever they want to expand the story and create that part 2, because a conversation is happening.

At the end of the day I will gladly take a 50+ note story that's rich with conversation with the people who resonated with what I've written rather than a 200+ note story that's a majority of red hearts but ultimately devoid of the conversation and interaction between reader and writer.

And while I fully understand that every reader's experience and journey is different, this is simply my preference and I can't force people to reblog or reply. I can also fully understand that a good number of users on this site have come from platforms like IG or Twitter and the likes will be sufficient to share the story and they believe that the functionality should be the same here (which sadly it isn't). For me personally, the like button functions as my little signal to the author going "what's up I'm here prepare for my menace behavior in your notes".

But it wasn't always like that. There were days earlier on in 2022 where I was simply consuming everything I could find and the like button functioned as my bookmarks. A way for me to return to the stories I especially liked, but I silently consumed the content because I believed that nobody needed to know what I thought about the story. It's an irrational belief that quickly got squashed the second I read a post about how comments and reblogs with comments about what we loved about the stories we were reading were the best kind of support an author could receive.

And that was when I started commenting. Honestly it shouldn't have taken that long for me to come to the realization because I was a writer years and years before I joined this community and I know the inspiration that could strike and the happiness that comes from a writer interacting with their readers.

So yeah…quality over quantity any day of the week. And because I know that I can't make anyone do the engagement/enrichment that I prefer, then I'm going to choose to be the type of reader that gives writers the type of engagement that I myself as a writer adore. That's all I can do and I'm going to do it to the full extent of my abilities.

I just wanna say something real quick.

I love all of you so much, and don't get me wrong, I love seeing you guys read my work.

Please don't take this the wrong way.

Why don't you guys reblog? I'm just looking at the like to reblog ratio on my most recent fics and drabbles and it's honestly so disappointing. And it's not just on my fics, I've noticed it on my friends fics too.

Here are two examples:

And yeah, those reblog numbers aren't the lowest but you've gotta keep in mind that a lot of those are me responding to comments or doing timezone reblogs to make sure my friends are seeing it in the first place. So, half those numbers at least is how many people are sharing my work with their friends. Half.

Tumblr doesn't work like twitter or tiktok or any of the other social media platforms where likes get your work circling the community. On tumblr, only reblogs do that.

And why wouldn't you want to share something you enjoyed? Because you'll be embarrassed? Because people might think "oh this person's weird" and unfollow you? If that's what they think of you, then they weren't worth keeping on your page in the first place.

Surround yourself with people and blogs who're into the same things you are. Who's gonna see you share a fic and go "ooo lemme read it too."

Reblogging is how you support authors on this hellsite, and I don't think we're asking for much when we ask you to share our work. You don't even have to put anything in the tags or write a comment if you don't want to - it's okay. Seeing you share it is more than enough. (Though we do love seeing your reactions)

Please. Support your authors. Show them some love. Share their work.

[fairy-in-the-snow]

Strange Love - Part 1 (?) Eddie Munson x reader

pairing: Eddie Munson x fem!reader summary: you try your best to hide your feelings as you help Eddie recover from a broken heart. warnings: extreme angst, swearing, unrequited love (for now), A LOT of pining, Chrissy slander (I’m so sorry girl), slightly suggestive themes word count: 2k

A/N: Honestly this is so wild, I haven't written any fanfiction in such a long time and this one character has single-handedly lit a fire under my ass lmfao. I have been consuming Eddie content all across this damn app like a woman starved so I wanted to contribute <3 Any feedback is welcome, and my submission box is open if y'all have any requests! I'm pretty much willing to write anything (NSFW included, lord knows i am so thirsty for this man) so don't be shy!!

Enjoy, and let me know if y'all want a PART 2! <3



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You knew that she still liked him. It was obvious. You could see it in the fleeting glances she cast his way when he wasn’t looking, eyes full of faraway longing…but also mixed with an almost tangible bitterness. Their relationship hadn’t ended on the best of terms, to put it lightly. It had been a strange and unexpected pairing, one that took everybody by surprise. You had all been calling bets behind their backs (in an admittedly petty move) to see just how long it would last. You strongly suspected that they were only drawn to one another because they were such total opposites; so far removed from eachother’s worlds that they couldn’t help but chase their unusual magnetism and see where it led them. It all began when Eddie started selling her weed after school.

…And it all ended when she shattered Eddie’s heart into a thousand tiny, fragile pieces. One day after school, he had sought her out on the pitches after Hellfire, hoping to catch her before she finished cheer practice. And oh boy, did he catch her – with Jason Carver’s tongue down her throat. If it had been anyone else but Eddie, you would’ve found the whole situation so laughably cliché. Two high-school hot shots, the jock and the cheerleader no less, swapping spit under the bleachers? It was so pathetically obvious. You hadn’t been there, of course, (and thank god for her that you weren’t) but from what Eddie had told you, her excuses had been just as typical. It was a mistake. It’s not what it looks like (classic). You’re the only boy for me. I wasn’t thinking straight. Give me a chance to explain! The thought of her and what she did to Eddie, how she treated him, made your blood boil, and you had to make a deliberate point of avoiding her during school so that you didn’t get violent. She wasn’t worth it.

You had been the one to pick up the pieces afterwards, and you did it gladly. You would have offered him every single piece of yourself if it made his pain go away, even for a moment. Long nights were spent in his trailer, soothing him to sleep with your hands in his hair as he sobbed and hiccupped into your lap. You had gotten used to the warmth of his body beside you in bed, his slow breathing and gentle snores. Sometimes he would even reach for you in his sleep, and you would let him pull you close to his broad chest, your own heart fluttering wildly inside your ribcage as you imagined him doing this because he wanted you. But then, a soft “Chrissy…” would fall from his perfect lips as he slept, and the spell would be broken. Tonight was one of those nights.

You peeled yourself away from him with a soft sigh, and allowed the cold to settle in your bones as you moved to the far side of the bed and stared at the ceiling. You tried so hard not to think about your feelings for Eddie, but fuck, it was impossible when you spent so much time together and he took up all the space in your stupid, traitorous brain. When you closed your eyes, all you could see was him. His sweet, velvety brown eyes that dripped with kindness and warmth, so full of depth and beauty that you felt weak in the knees anytime his honeyed gaze fell on you. His plump lips that you wanted to catch between your teeth, and the way they would lift into a soft smile when he opened the trailer door to welcome you inside. The way his dark hair fell in soft, cherubic curls around his face, framing it perfectly, following the pale slope of his neck…He was like something carved from the heavens, and you wanted nothing more than to fall to your knees and worship him like he deserved.

It hurt you deeply to know that he could never feel the same about you. How could he? Your heart clenched painfully in your chest as you thought about the way he whispered her name, like a prayer. Even in sleep, he could not escape her. In the deepest caverns of his subconscious, she was the one persisting thought. Your jealousy made you weak with guilt. It was selfish of you to have these thoughts, when he needed you the most. But they were insidious, seeping into your brain like an infection, no matter how hard you tried to banish them. All you wanted was to put the pieces of his heart back together. You yearned for happiness to return to him. Even if every moment you spent soothing him was just another dagger to your chest.

He shifted in his sleep, and you snapped out of your thoughts. You rolled onto your side to face him, biting your lip softly. He looked beautiful. Dark lashes brushed against his pale cheeks that held the faintest dusting of pink, and his hair fanned out on the pillow forming a delicate halo around his head. His lips parted gently as he exhaled, the calming rise and fall of his chest almost lulling you to sleep yourself.

“I’m so sorry, Eddie…” You whispered gently, clutching your pillow, “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.” Your lip trembled a little at your confession, and you could feel the tell-tale lump growing in your throat. You had finally said it out loud.

It was so hard. So fucking hard.

You swallowed thickly, squeezing your eyes shut as silent tears escaped down your cheeks. After all these months, it was now your turn to cry. You had never felt more alone than you did in that moment, crying right next to the one person who made you feel so whole yet so empty at the same time.

You turned your back on him in an attempt to salvage some privacy. He slept like the dead most nights, so you were fairly certain you could have this moment to yourself uninterrupted. You needed it. You were hoping if you let out some of the pent-up emotion that had been festering inside you, that it would act like a sort of…reset button and you could act like nothing happened come morning.

You whimpered softly, allowing the tears to flow. Once you began, it was like you couldn’t stop. You weren’t sure how long you lay there in the darkness, crying, tasting the bitter salt of your own tears. Your breathing became shallow and uneven, though you used your pillow to muffle the sound. Eddie’s comforting scent filled your nose and it made you sob harder, knowing how close he was to you and yet so desperately out of reach.

“y/n?” A soft voice called out your name, still heavy with sleep.

Oh fuck. The shock of his voice made you jolt, your veins turned to ice. You tried your best to regulate your breathing and calm down, but you had worked yourself up too much and you gasped for air, trembling as you tried to hide yourself from him under the covers. Panic was bubbling in your chest, catching the breath in your throat and making you sweat. He can’t see you like this! Oh, God…Oh God, he can’t find out. Fuck, I’m gonna die, I-

“Y/n?” This time clearer now, more aware. “Hey…fuck, are you crying?” You heard him sit up sharply, moving towards you in an instant. Before you knew what was happening, he had swept you into his arms and was stroking your hair, shushing you gently and rocking back and forth in an attempt to calm you. You felt dizzy, shaking at the warmth of his touch as you sank into it, burying your head into his neck as your tears mingled with his soft skin. His arms…they felt so strong and secure, wrapped around you like this, you wished so desperately that you could stay like this forever.

You didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually, your breathing evened out and the tears began to slow. Eddie soon realised this, moving his hands to gently grab your chin and tilt your head towards him. You felt the cool bite of his rings on your flesh and shivered.

“Sweetheart, what happened?” He asked softly, wiping a stray tear from your cheek with his thumb.

You wished he wouldn’t call you that, but you also delighted in it at the same time. You swallowed thickly, trying to find words. “I-…I think I had a nightmare.” It wasn’t exactly a lie; everything felt like a nightmare right now.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Eddie moved his hands down to clasp your own, and your heart skipped a beat at the feel of his rough, calloused palms. His thumb ghosted softy over my knuckles, reassuring you with the gentlest of touches. A light flush bloomed across your cheeks and you hoped to God he couldn’t see you in the dark.

“Not really…It’s all fuzzy anyways.” You sniffed and looked down, not wanting to meet his eyes.

“Eyes up here, sweetheart,” Eddie tapped your chin gently, encouraging you to look at him. “If you don’t wanna talk about it, that’s cool. But no more tears, alright? I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere until I see that cute smile of yours.” He pinched your cheek playfully and you couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at your lips. His natural charm was hard to resist.

“Lucky for you, I have just the thing to help you relax.” He threw a wink at you. You knew exactly what he meant by that, and you welcomed the distraction. You were thankful that he was obviously trying to ease you further by acting casual.

“You’re about to make my day, Munson.” You were starting to feel normal again.

Eddie laughed, and the sound went straight between your thighs. A dull, hateful heat has been gathering there since he first touched you and the deep sense of shame that washes over you was overwhelming. He leaned over you and reached for the lamp on his bedside table, flicking it on and bathing the room in a soft, comforting glow. You tried not to stare at his shirtless torso, but you couldn’t help stealing a glance at the tattoos etched into his skin. Your eyes lingered over the bats on his forearm, and he must have caught you looking.

“You like that one?” He asked in amusement, grabbing his rolling tray and settling it into his lap.

“I’ve always liked that one.”

He hummed in approval as he opened a small baggy. The smell was just as pungent as it always was, causing you to wrinkle your nose. “Fuck, that shit is rancid.”

“Only the best for my girl. This one will send you to space, sweetheart.”

God knows I need it, you groaned internally.

You really tried to ignore the pet names. He used them with you all the time, but you were usually quick to brush them off. Tonight, however, you were like an exposed nerve; a thousand times more sensitive to his teasing. You were honestly a little worried that smoking in your current state would make you more careless with your words, but you couldn’t deny that a small part of you was just dying to confess and get all your shit out in the open with him. You were playing a dangerous game.

This night could get interesting.

[mugi-chan]

Could I get a head cannon when the dorm leaders find out s/o sleeps outside of the Ramshackle dorm due to the dust messing with their sinuses? P.S. really love the way you write ❤️

ლ  Content: Dorm heads: S/o who has really bad dust allergies so their sleeping outside

ლ  Warnings: None!

ლ Comments: I don’t have dust allergies so I hope I can write this well! (ﾉ)´∀｀(ヾ)

Riddle heard from Ace and Deuce that you had really bad dust allergies 

He knows it took around a month or two before Ramshackle was able to get a complete renovation

But even after the complete renovation Riddle didn’t know how dusty the dorm can get 

So when Ace and Deuce said that Ramshackle were having dust problems Riddle got concern

Leaving his dorm in some casual clothes he told Trey and Cater that he just wanted to make sure your okay and that you weren't dying 

It was a cold night and Riddle wish he brought a thicker jacket 

The shiver he felt quickly went away when he saw you and grim cuddled up out on the pathway to Ramshackle dorm 

He quickly ran up to you to check if your okay 

Grim woke up first seeing Riddle running up to them and shook you awake

You rubbed your eyes awake and when you did look around you saw Riddle draping his coat over you

“(y/n), why are you sleeping outside in the cold?!” 

You pulled jacket closer letting the warmth consume you 

“The dorm is having a really bad dust problem and I was getting really bad allergic reaction” 

“You could have asked me” 

“I didn’t want to bother you” 

Riddle just shook his head and helped you up 

“Come on, you can sleep in my room” 

After realizing what he said his face had the biggest blush and you had a small tint of red dashed on your cheeks

If you wanna know, Riddle slept on the couch he has in his room like the gentlemen he is

But if you ask Riddle would gladly be down to share a same bed albeit very embarrassed about it

Since leona got some feline features dust effects him as well 

But not to the extent that you had 

Leona was chilling in Ramshackle dorm with you when he noticed that you were sneezing a lot 

He asked if you are okay but you just brushed him off saying your fine 

He knew something was up when after you said your fine 

After saying his goodbyes he left to head back to savanaclaw 

But something was itching at him 

The itch to double check on you 

That itch became so unbearable that at night he had to get rid of it and went to double check on you 

He tells Ruggie he has to check on something and he’ll be back 

Ruggie didn’t even say anything he just shrugged it off

When Leona got there he saw you fast asleep at the front entrance of Ramshackle dorm 

Annoyed by this he walked over to you and nudge you with his foot to see if your alive 

Grim would also shake you awake 

But nope you were deep in your sleep 

Leona pinch the bridge of his nose as he let out a deep sigh

Picking you off the floor he bridal style carried you all the way to Savanaclaw 

You didn’t even wake up from any of that 

Leona would just lay you down on his bed and just fall asleep right next to you

Ah Dust what an interesting thing the land dwellers had to deal with 

Coral Sea doesn’t have that phenomenon 

So when you told him you had dust allergies Azul thought it was a crazy allergy that you might die from it 

Azul of course did his research and when he saw there are different types of dust and that you can die from said different types of dust he freaked out 

He love you so much that he’s super worried about you 

It sometimes it gets annoying 

So when Ramshackle dorm started to have dust problems you didn’t bother to tell him about it 

Because you know for sure Azul would be super protective that he wouldn’t even let you into your own home. 

Azul overheard from the first year squad that Ramshackle was having dust problems 

Azul at first he didn’t believe it until doubt started to settle in 

What if they're right? What if his dearest Angel Fish is in trouble??

Floyd got annoyed by Azul’s mumbling and told him

“If you're worried about (y/n)-chan so much why don’t you just go check up on them?” 

Floyd didn’t have to say it twice, Azul was already gone from the mostro lounge and heading to ramshackle

When he got there his worst fears came true 

He saw you all huddled up right outside ramshackle dorm with a pillow and a blanket 

He pulled out his phone to check the temperature it was around 15 °C (59 °F)

Azul started to panic even more that he ran up to you without hesitation 

When he got there you looked up and saw him draping his outer coat over you and picking you up 

“My sweet Angelfish! Why didn’t you tell me Ramshackle was having dust problems?!” 

“If I told you were going to worry” 

“My Angelfish you know I will always worry about you” 

He took you back to his room and pampered you with so much affection 

He honestly treated you like a princess during these times 

“Jamil! I’m going to give these snacks to (y/n) I’ll be back!” 

“Wait Kalim” 

And there he goes Kalim is off to Ramshackle dorm 

Jamil had to follow close behind just to make sure Kalim doesn’t get assassinated

When Kalim reached Ramshackle he saw you all huddled up outside in Ramshackle

Eh? Why is (y/n) sleeping outside? 

After pondering a bit it kind of clicked in his head

He remembered you mention how much you hated dust and that your allergic to it 

“Hey! (y/n) why are you sleeping outside for?” 

Kalim jogged up to you while your woken up from your sleepy state

Grim was also outside but he was too tired to wake up

“Kalim, what are you doing here?” 

Kalim plopped right beside you waiting for Jamil to come 

Because he knew Jamil would come after him

Kalim asked you questions about why you were sleeping outside 

You answered them albeit very sleepy response 

When Jamil got there a long tired sigh escaped his lips 

You and Kalim looked like lost puppy waiting for their owners return

Kalim helped you up and piggyback carried you all the way to scarabia

Jamil offered up an empty room but Kalim protested and said that you should stay at Kalims room!

Jamil to tired of this and just told him to do whatever he wants, just don’t die 

Kalim dragged you to his room and wrapped you around so many fluffy blankets and made you so comfortable

Vil knew how disgusting Ramshackle is and refuse to go inside unless it’s clean 

How can his darling potato live in such condition? 

That’s the thing you don’t 

Your always sneezing and getting really stuffy that it’s unbearable

So you had enough and slept outside

You didn’t tell Vil because you knew Vil was going to lecture you about it and you were too tired to hear it.

Vil overheard Epel talking to Rook about how someone can get rid of dust allergies 

Vil demanded for Epel to explain himself 

Epel mentioned that ramshackle was experiencing some dust 

As soon as Vil heard about this he stormed his way up to Ramshackle dorm 

Seeing you with just a blanket , disgusting how can you even think about even sleeping outside?! 

Before resting your eyes you saw a big purple blog marching towards you

Oh no it’s Vil, he was already mumbling when he got close to you

“My darling potato why are you outside of your dorm?”

“It’s a nice night I wanted to sit outside”

“On the concrete?” 

Crap he got you, Vil was already shaking his head while calling up Rook

Your face when Vil motioned you up

You think he’s going to help you up when he’s wearing his Dorm uniform and makeup? 

I don’t think so

Rook came out with a nice fluffy jacket and handed it to you 

You put on the fluffy jacket as Vil started to walk off 

When you got to Pomefiore Vil disappeared for a while 

When he did came back he was changed into pajamas and makeup off 

He knew it was only you and rook in the room 

Your sleepy state didn’t even acknowledge Vil 

Vil just softly shook his head and asked Rook to carry you to his room 

When at Vil’s room he had some work to do before heading to bed but gracefully allow you to sleep on his bed

ACHOO! 

Those were many sneezes heard over the rounds of Among Us 

A lot of crewmates where saying bless you to you 

Idia private message you asking if your okay

Of course not wanting him to worry you said your fine 

But Idia knew something was up

He has texted people multiple times knowing that “I’m Fine” means your not fine 

So when you said your heading off for the night Idia knew this was his time

But there's a thing

He wants to go check up on you but that means going outside and interacting 

He was talking to Ortho about it and Ortho just dragged Idia out of his room 

Ortho kept saying “Just go to them!” “Check up on them!” 

Idia deep down really wanted to check up but he was trying to leave

But Ortho was using his boosters to keep Idia moving 

When they finally got to Ramshackle dorm all of that fear left when he saw you huddled up 

Idia was inching closer to you scared that your going to surprise him 

Luckily you were just sleeping with a big fluffy blanket 

He poked you and hear your little whines as you rubbed your eyes 

“Uhh (y/n) you good?” 

“No- ACHOO!” 

That made Idia jump from the sneeze 

Idia just awkwardly helped you up 

When you got dusted off the dirt Idia mention heading back to his room 

He went on about how staying in his room is at least better than sleeping on the streets 

And Queens don’t belong on the streets ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)˚๐*˟ ♡

Dust is something that Malleus doesn’t mind at all 

Exploring abandoned castle means there is most likely  dust in there 

He tried to bring you out exploring abandoned castles but you refused to go 

Malleus was confused at first, why wouldn’t (y/n) want to go? They mentioned how much they admire abandon castle 

That thought all changed when Sebek mentioned about your dust allergy to lilia 

Asking if humans have such weak immune systems that they can’t even handle simple dust

Malleus asked Sebek about this and like a excited puppy he gladly told Malleus about what you mentioned during lunch

This makes him worried, he visited Ramshackle dorm before you occupied it and that dorm had a butt ton of dust that was like 4 cm (1.5 in) thick.  

So worried about your wellbeing he disappeared and teleported his way to Ramshackle dorm 

He didn’t see anything at first until he looked down and saw a tiny little figure wrapped around two thick blankets 

He kneeled down to see if your okay he poked the blanket a bit seeing the blanket move revealing your cute sleepy face 

Malleus had to turn around covering his smile over how cute you looked 

“(y/n) what are you doing out here in the cold of night?” 

“There was so much dust that I couldn't breathe through my stuffy nose.” 

A small ‘ah’ escaped his lips 

Malleus got up and dust off some dirt, using his magic he lifted you up to his arm 

He whispered to you that at least you should tell him about the dust allergies 

And with a quick snap and you two are back in Diasomnia 

He was met with a Sebek and lilia already changed out to their school uniform about to look for him again 

Sebek wanted to say something but seeing you all huddled up and shivering for once he just shut up 

Malleus took you to his room and gave you some of his clothes to keep warm 

Tucking you in, you sleepy asked “aren’t you going to sleep?” 

A smile crept on his face as slightly shook his head 

“No i’m going to read a bit before heading to bed”

Would you like to order something? Look at our Tea shop rules first!

[angelinasway]

Regaining Hope Chapter Seven

Pairing: Clark Kent/Buffy Summers Warnings/Triggers:Torture, Violence, Mention's of Major Character Death, Bad Language, Sexual Tension, Eventual Smut, Mentions of Sexual Assault Summary: Takes place during Man of Steel. When Buffy discovers the U.S Military trying to keep quiet about an object buried in a twenty thousand year old glacier, she immediately thinks the worst. However, when a surprise visit to the Canadian Arctic puts her in the path of a mysterious stranger her whole world is changed forever.

Previous Chapters: [Chapter One] [Chapter Two] [Chapter Three] [Chapter Four] [Chapter Five] [Chapter Six]

[TTH] [AO3] [FFN]

Authors Notes: Thank you all for your amazing and wonderful reviews. I do need to address something though, when it comes to reviews, I honestly don't mind anyone critiquing me when comes to grammar, characterization, or even if its kind of a heavy subject and someone feels like they need to debate me on it. That is absolutely fine, for instance I knew I would get a few blocks and even someone asking about the religious views of this story. I do not mind that. I do however mind, if you think I'm a decent writer, but then proceed to belittle the content of my story. I'm going to try to say this as absolutely nicely as I can...If you don't like the content of this story, if the talk of soulmates, soulbounds, or claiming is not for you, if the romance of this story is not for you, kindly back out of this story now and please just don't leave a review. I will say that anyone who's been in the BTVS fandom long enough already knows what a Claim is pretty much a fanon canon, since its been around our fanfiction community since like 2002 at least. Wesley mentioned Angel and Buffy being soulmates in season one of ATS, so that is actually canon. I say this in the nicest way possible, because sometimes I think reviewers who don't write, do not realize how much a review about content can actually screw with our muse and inspiration and I believe there will be at least a handful of people that do write who will agree with me. That being said, this chapter took as long as it did for me to write because of a bad review, so I'm sorry for the long winded exposition everyone. I know this chapter is a bit choppy and if it wasn't for my beautiful Beta Hipkarma, I'm pretty sure it would have been illegible. This chapter deals with some pretty heavy subjects and I added a warning tag just in case. I do not expect anyone to feel the way Buffy does on this subject, and if you feel the need I will gladly talk to you through pm about it. Thank you guys so much again, and please review, unless you know its an above subject and you hate it. Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Seven

 The plane arrived right on time as Clark anxiously awaited Buffy’s arrival outside the terminal. He’d felt this way since he awoke this morning and he didn’t know why. It was almost like that feeling you get when you know you’ve forgotten something.

 He’d dreamt of her last night and it was so vivid and real that when he opened his eyes, he expected her to be there. The feeling had washed over him after that, like a sudden cold draft in a stifling room. He’d also been as hard as nails and had to relieve himself twice in the shower. His dream Buffy whispering filthy words into his ear as he imagined pinning her to the shower wall and driving into her hard and fast. It only seemed to make the feeling worse though. There was a pounding, an almost driving force that told him he needed to see her and that coupled with the lust, he couldn’t seem to shake was a dangerous combination that he did not enjoy feeling at all.

 It was so strange, yesterday he’d been fine, more than fine really. He’d walked into his house humming and smiling. His mom had noticed his exuberant mood in an instant and raised her eyebrows in surprise, a curious yet knowing quirk in her lips. She had immediately started bombarding him with questions about his evening and Clark had been unable to deny her even a single detail. Well, there were definitely a few things he left out, but he told her everything from meeting Buffy at the school to him having to sing at Lorne’s. This was a first for both of them, Clark making friends and being able to tell his mom all about it. She listened intently, a happy smile on her lips as if this was something she had always wanted for her son. The ability to just be treated normally by people, even if they knew what he was. The more he spoke about how great Buffy was the more his mom’s knowing smile grew. He told her he promised Buffy that he would pick her up at the airport, and his mom had agreed to let him use the truck as long as he promised to take her to work before he left. She had a full shift at the diner tomorrow, so he was pretty sure he could make it back in time to pick her up and take her home.

 Later that night, after getting off the phone with Buffy so she could go patrol, Clark had spent the evening on the internet looking up several theories and ideas on the concept of soulmates. All in all, it was pretty simple stuff, a soulmate could be a romantic or platonic relationship with a mirroring of the souls. Where, both their values and ideals deemed them a perfect match. He had even gone to a few sites on the mystical aspects of soulmates that seemed to be pretty legit, and they believed that when it came to soulmates not only were the souls similar, but both souls usually challenge each other to perceive themselves and the world differently. In essence, your soulmate could help you transcend into a higher state of consciousness. All of that seemed to match very much with what he had been feeling since the moment he met her. None of that however, explained how he felt now.

 Buffy had been right the other day when she said it wasn’t just the soulmates thing. He was almost positive the out-of-control lust and the uncontrollable desire to be near her had very little to do with the fact that they were soulmates and everything to do with the prophecy. Something wanted them to consummate their relationship, and he was pretty sure that something had a reason. He wondered if he was in danger of meeting the other woman and somehow changing his mind about her. He definitely couldn’t imagine ever doing that though, not when he felt what he felt, not when she had consumed his thoughts so thoroughly since the day they met.

 He felt physically ill at the idea of ever having to fight Buffy as an enemy, Lorne’s words about killing her making him nauseous and dizzy. The demon said it most likely wouldn’t happen now, but God, what if it did? What if he wasn’t capable of fighting off this mystery enemy of the future. He shuddered at the thought, his anxiety level spiking in worry. He had to get himself under control.

 As the passengers began to exit the terminal Clark looked on, his eyes searching for golden hair and green eyes. When he finally spotted her the tension that had been growing in his limbs immediately eased. It happened so fast he almost felt boneless by the sudden release. Her eyes met his and a similar look of relief washed over her face, but there was something else there. She was scared, which just made the tension begin to build again. Clark frowned in confusion, but didn’t deny her as she ran to him wrapping her arms around his waist tightly as she laid her head on his chest.

 “Are you okay?” He asked.

 She shook her head and closed her eyes. “There’s something wrong,” She whispered. “I shouldn’t be feeling this–”

 “I know,” he whispered. “I feel it too.” Clark shuddered, so it wasn’t only him who was feeling it. “I think it’s time we learn more about this prophecy.”

 He felt her nod. “I’ll call Wes once we get to the safe house.”

 ****<S>**<S>****

 The drive there had been mostly quiet. The only real sound was Buffy’s smartphone giving directions to their destination. He hadn’t been able to stop himself from reaching out and entwining their fingers however, and she smiled at him gratefully before closing her eyes and sighing. They finally arrived at what looked to be an unassuming house just outside of town that rested on a few acres of property. Buffy untangled their fingers and reached into her carryon bag that was between them and pulled out a large multicolored crystal.

 “Here,” she said quietly. “Hold this.”

 Clark, frowned but did as she asked. Watching her as she muttered the word, “Agnoscis.” The stone suddenly warming in his palm as he caught the house in front of him shimmer for a moment out of the corner of his eye.

 “Latin?” He guessed.

 Buffy nodded. “It means recognize. It’s so you can get through the wards.” She bit her lip, “We can also bring your mom here, in case you ever need to hide her you’ll have a place to take her that’s pretty impenetrable.”

 Clark nodded gratefully, his eyes studying the sad expression on her face. He reached out and gently brushing the back of his knuckles down her cheek. Her whole body shivered at the contact, a small gasp escaping her lips.

 “Are you…are you okay,” He asked.

 She shook her head, “I think it’s affecting me more than you.”

 Clark was quiet for a moment, and then he shook his head. “It’s not, I think I’m just a lot better at controlling my impulses.”

 Buffy chuckled humorlessly, “Maybe, that’s something you can teach me sometime.” She met his eyes and Clark lost his breath at the want he saw shining there.

 God, she was beautiful like that. Her eyes almost swirling with color and heat. His temperature immediately skyrocketed, his pants becoming tight. He wanted to ask her if there was anything he could do, but didn’t dare for fear of what her answer might be. She had already told him she wasn’t ready, and if he was being honest with himself, neither was he.

 He swallowed, his heart beating in his chest. “Come on,” he whispered, opening his door and stepping out. “Let’s go make that phone call.”

 He walked around her side of the truck as she fumbled with her seatbelt, opening the passenger door for her and holding out his hand. She took it gratefully as she slid out of the passenger’s side, hoisting her bag over her shoulder after her feet hit the pavement. Clark reached in the truck bed and grabbed the only other bag she’d brought with her. He wondered where her weapons bag was, but remembered she’d just went through an airport and realized she probably couldn’t bring them with her.

 As if she was reading his mind, she said. “Willow was here last night; I had her ward the training equipment so that we can use it without destroying it.” She looked at him out of the corner of her eye as they walked up the driveway. Her hand fumbling with her keys as they made their way to the door. “I also had her fill the fridge and bring my weapons bag over.”

 He didn’t say anything as he watched her slide the key in the lock and open the door. He followed her through a spacious living room that was tastefully decorated, through another door and into a modern kitchen. She slid her bag off, dropping it unceremoniously on the floor. She pulled out her phone next, scrolling through her contacts and hitting send before putting it on speaker. She set the phone on the island between them and walked to the fridge, leaning her back against it as she closed her eyes. 

 Clark wanted to go over and comfort her, but something in his gut told him that would be a very bad idea. She was putting distance between them for a reason and he completely respected that. Her sudden change however, worried him and he was beginning to think maybe she really was suffering more than him.

 "Buffy?" A cultured British male voice answered after the first few rings.

 "Yeah, it’s me." She said quietly.

 "Is everything alright?" He asked, his tone worried.

"No, not really." She answered. "I think it’s time you told us about this prophecy."

 "Buffy, I've already explained–"

 “No,” She cut him off. “No Wes, you don’t get to do this. Not now. Something is wrong with me, I feel…” Her face went red, as she looked at Clark, “I feel like I’m on fire, I…” Her eyes moved to her phone and glared, a growl tearing from her throat in frustration. Her teeth clenched as she ground out. “I feel incredibly sexually frustrated, okay? Like a cat in fucking heat.” Her face went scarlet and she avoided looking directly at Clark. “Want to explain?”

 There was a sudden choking sound on the other line, as a coughing fit proceeded it. “Good Lord, it’s happening already?”

 The outrage in Buffy’s eyes, did something to Clark in that moment and he stepped forward his anger simmering under the surface. “What’s happening?” He demanded.

 “Mr. Kent,” Wesley said in surprise, “I didn’t…I didn’t realize you were on the line as well.” Clark heard the British man sigh, “I’m sorry we were finally introduced this way, I had hoped to meet you in person. I’m sure you already know that I am Wesley Wyndam-Pryce and that I am head of the Watchers Council.” There was a pause, before he continued. “I do apologize for not telling you both sooner, but I had hoped we would have a few more days before the bond started to require a need to be fulfilled.”

 “Bond…what?” Buffy’s face scrunched up in confusion.

 “I don’t really understand it myself,” Wesley admitted. “But it’s written that once the Immortal Slayer and, I believe the correct term is Star God meet, a…I think the term is soulbond will start to form and a compulsion to fulfill it will start to take hold. Now, both Willow and I think we’ve found a way to counteract the compulsion, but I didn’t expect it would start to take hold so quickly. I do apologize Buffy; I had planned to have Willow bring me there tomorrow so I could explain.”

 “What’s a soulbond, exactly?” Clark asked, “And how is it any different than being soulmates?”

 “I honestly don’t know, there are very few references to what it is exactly. I imagine that much like soulmates there must be a similarity or mirroring of souls if you will, but unlike soulmates there is a need…a compulsion for a confluence between the souls. As far as I can tell, once that happens it would act very similarly to a claim.”

 Buffy gasped and looked at Clark, her eyes wide and disbelieving. Clark swallowed, “What’s a claim?”

 “It’s a…a type of marriage between demons, vampires in particular.” Buffy shifted uncomfortably and looked down. “It’s barely ever used now because its unbreakable, not even magic can undo it. It’s ancient and powerful and requires total trust and consent between both parties.” She met his eyes then, an apology shining through but Clark didn’t feel like he needed one, in fact he just felt very confused.

 “That doesn’t make any sense, not after what Lorne told me.” Clark said with a frown. “If this bond is as powerful as you say then…” It was his turn to look at Buffy apologetically, “Then even if I met this other person first, wouldn’t the bond take hold when I met Buffy regardless?”

 “I don’t quite understand what you’re referring to.” Wesley said in confusion.

 Clark looked up at Buffy and saw suspicion in her eyes. “Lorne didn’t tell you?”

 “Lorne doesn’t give me the details of readings Mr. Kent; he treats all his clients very much like a therapist treats a patient.” Wesley said, adding. “The only thing he told me was that you were the one the prophecy spoke of and that you were on the right path in regards to your destiny. What exactly did he tell you?”

 Clark shifted uncomfortably, feeling Buffy’s eyes on him but unable to meet hers. “He said I had two very different futures, that Buffy was my soulmate but I have another as well and in this other future this woman dies and something makes me go bad.” He finally got the courage and looked at Buffy, her eyes were wide and burning with hurt and maybe a bit of jealousy. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, thinking he had ruined everything.

 Buffy shook her head and swallowed, “Did he… did he say what would happen if you met her now?”

 Clark nodded, "He said I'm a one-woman man, that it wouldn't matter."

 She seemed to relax a bit at his words, her eyes softening and darting back to her phone as Wesley began speaking, "Then you are very correct Mr. Kent, if you met Buffy in this other future, it should have activated the soulbond whether you had feelings for this other woman or not. A soulmate is not always a love interest after all." He paused for a moment, "There are only two things that could have stopped it. One would be that you don't meet Buffy until this mystery foe had your mind or if you did meet her, she was already claimed."

 Buffy gasped, and looked at Clark guiltily, “I almost asked him to claim me.”

 A potent wave of jealousy and possession swept through him at her words. If she was referring to Angel, he was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to control himself much longer. Not when the very idea of her being tied like that with someone else made his blood boil.

 "What?" Wesley said, shocked.

 "Spike, Wes. Not Angel." She clarified. "It was...it was right after we found Alicia. I knew it could make us stronger and I... I thought it might give us an advantage against Angelus. I never had the courage to ask him though."

 “And thank every deity in the universe for that!” Wesley said sharply, “I don’t think you quite understand the repercussions that could have had on not just Clark’s future but your own.” There was a long silence, the only sound was heavy breathing before a much calmer Wesley finally said, “That kind of bond Buffy…think about what you did to Angelus and multiply it by a million. I was there that day you came through the portal after Spike died. You were almost feral; your Slayer was in complete control and she wanted to kill Willow for making her immortal. There was a part of her that already thought of Spike as her mate, and she wanted blood from whoever had wronged her. If you had been claimed and Spike died…” They heard him take a shuddering breath, “You would have burnt the world and then marched into Hell without a second thought in search of him. There would have been no stopping you.”

 Clark watched Buffy shiver at Wes’s words, her eyes getting lost and faraway. His possessiveness grew at her words, but a small part of him couldn’t help but be curious as to what happened between the two of them and why she so rarely spoke about him. The book had only said that the vampire had killed two Slayers, and had tried to kill Buffy on numerous occasions. He had been hampered by some form of neurotechnology by the US Government and began working with her reluctantly. Somewhere along the way he had fallen for Buffy and regained his soul, sacrificing himself for the world once, where he was resurrected by a mystical amulet he was wearing when he died. The author of the book believed he’d been brought back by mistake and the amulet was meant to be worn by Angel, but there was also some speculation that Spike may have been the actual bearer of the Shanshu prophecy. The author however, was highly skeptical about this because Spike didn’t do what he did out of heroics, even with a soul he relished in the violence of his nature. The author believed that becoming mortal would feel more like a punishment than a reward for the vampire. It spoke some about his time at Wolfram and Hart, about his part in the fight against Angelus, and how he died saving Buffy a second time.

 “I don’t…I don’t remember any of that.” She said quietly, wrapping her arms around herself. “Even what I did to Angelus, I only remember parts of it. I felt like I was outside my body looking at someone who wasn’t actually me, except I could feel what I was doing.” She shivered, and it took every bit of self-control he had not to go to her, especially when her voice cracked. “When I came to, I-I was covered in blood and…God, Wes there was nothing left but a torso and head. I…” She choked. “I even took his face.”

 When a single tear tracked itself down her cheek, Clark couldn’t take it anymore and he rounded the island and pulled her into his arms, hoping she was too upset to be affected by the embrace, but not really caring if she was, not when he could feel her trembling in his arms. He understood now why she’d been so adamant the other day about her being wrong in the way she killed Angelus and about Slayers not actually being creatures of light but warriors for the light. He could never picture her being capable of such carnage even after hearing it from her own mouth. Then again, he could never picture himself killing her either or anyone else for that matter, not on purpose at least.

 They heard a muffled sniffle over the line, before a choked sounding Wesley finally said, “Oh, Buffy, I never…I never knew it was that bad. We found the warehouse and the blood, so I did realize…but…not to what extent, and then you just disappeared and Willow couldn’t ever get a read on you. It was like you were blocking her somehow. Why didn’t you ever tell me any of this?”

 Clark felt her shake her head, “I was ashamed.” She answered honestly. “Lorne’s the only one who knows everything, even the stuff I can’t remember.”

 “Do you remember anything that happened before you captured Angelus?” Wesley asked cautiously. “I’ve always wondered how you did it, but was always too afraid to ask after the way we…the way we found you.”

 Buffy sighed against Clark’s chest, her shivering increasing. “I think I let myself be caught,” she said quietly. “The only thing I really remember is being bound magically by Amy and then Warren tearing open my shirt.” Clark stiffened at her words, his whole body going rigid. She squeezed her eyes shut, her grip on him tightening. “Angelus threw him out of the way, and said everyone would have a turn, but he got to have me first.” Clark’s anger flared at her words, his fist tightening behind her back, he had to squeeze his eyes shut at the sudden heat he felt building. “I-I don’t know how, but somehow I was able to break through the magic that was binding me. Everything’s kind of a blur after that, but I think…” She frowned, her forehead crinkling in confusion. “I think none of the spells were working on me. I think…I think I killed everyone.”

 Clark found himself sighing in relief at her words. God, just the image of someone trying to do that to her made him see red. Literally, in fact. He really hoped that something like that has never happened before, because he could already tell he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from tearing whomever did it to shreds. As horrendous of a way she killed Angelus, he couldn’t judge her for how she did it, not after hearing that. God, if she hadn’t been able to break the magic… He felt himself shudder.  

 Wesley was quiet for a long time, “I’ve always known that Willow brought you back stronger, but being able to break a binding spell with sheer force of will is extraordinary Buffy. We should have started testing this advantage years ago.”

 “I try not to think about that day, Wes.” She huffed. “I don’t think the magic going wonky even occurred to me until this moment.” She was quiet for a few moments, before she finally said, "So what happens if I bond with Clark and I lose him too?"

 Wesley sighed, "Well, I'm hoping since it’s your souls that are bonding and not your Slayer, that it will make quite a difference."

 "You're hoping? That’s really not a guarantee, Wes." She said in annoyance, stepping out of Clark's embrace and leaning on the island. "And what’s to stop my Slayer from trying to initiate a claim? What if this soulbond thing isn't good enough for her? Lorne already said she's been looking for her mate since I was called. He said that's why I was so drawn to both Spike and Angel." She shook her head, "Well, according to this prophecy he's my mate, right? Or the closest she'll ever get to one. So, what's to stop her from doing what she's been wanting to do for years? I mean I looked up claiming in high school, Wes. As soon as I read the word, I was fascinated."

 Clark stepped around the table so he could look at her. She seemed worried and deep in thought before her eyes met his and they softened immediately, a small smile forming on her lips as she studied him.

 Then they heard Wesley sigh, "I honestly don't know. We've still not even translated the whole thing and we've been working on it for over a year."

 Clark watched Buffy frown in confusion. "Is there a reason you haven't gotten Dawn in on this?"

 "I'll give you three guesses as to why." He said sarcastically.

 Buffy snorted, saying mockingly, "Aww Wes, you're not afraid of my baby sister, are you?"

 There was silence on the other end of the line and then a grumbled, "I would rather face all the demons in hell than deal with Dawn on a tirade about you."

 She chuckled and shook her head. "Well tough, because I want her in on this."

.

"But Buffy–” He started to whine.

 “No Wes,” she said cutting him off.  “I love both you and Willow, you know that. But, if there’s anyone in this world who will have our best interests at heart and give it to us straight, it’s her. I want her in on this.”

 “Fine,” He groaned.

 Then a smile broke across her lips and an evil look of mischief Clark was slowly becoming familiar with sparked in her eyes. “Plus, she already knows I spent time with Clark the other day and she knows he’s something other.”

 “How on Earth did she find out about that?” Wesley said in surprise.

 Clark smirked as Buffy’s smile grew. “I may have pissed Faith off by waking her and Gunn up with a cold shower. She ratted us out.”

 There was silence on the other line, but she swore she could hear him shaking his head. “Do I even want to know?”

 “Probably not.” She said chuckling and then sighed. “I’m feeling a little better now, I mean as far as the compulsion stuff goes.”

 “Hmm,” Wesley hummed. “Perhaps it gets worse when you’re apart. I knew that you would feel a need to be around each other, but perhaps being away from one another has an even greater affect than I imagined. How about you Mr. Kent, how do you feel?”

 Clark blinked in surprise. Now that Buffy mentioned it, he was feeling less uncomfortable than he had all morning. “Better, actually. It’s still there, but not as potent.”

 “Then perhaps the theory is a sound one,” Wesley said. “However, to be on the safe side I’ll have Willow drop off the pendants she’s making this evening. They should be able to subdue most of the compulsion until you both feel ready to move forward with the bond. I would also recommend spending as little time apart as possible. I believe that the pendants are powerful enough to ward off the worst of it, however if this bond is as powerful as I think it is you very well might override the magics if the compulsion becomes too powerful.” He sighed, “I suggest staying there with Buffy for the time being Mr. Kent.”

 Clark shook his head “That not going to work Mr. Wyndam-Pryce. I need to help out on the farm. While I was away my mom got behind on the payments and if we don’t bring in a decent crop this year my mom could lose it.” He looked at Buffy nervously. “You could stay with us though; we have a guest bedroom.”

 Buffy nodded, “Yeah, yeah, that might be a good idea. I can help you with anything you need, and we can start your training in the afternoons.”

 Wesley cleared his throat, getting both their attention. “I think you’re forgetting the contract, Buffy. He may very well not need to worry about that any longer.”

 Buffy’s eyes widened, “Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. I’ll be right back.”

 Clark watched her run out of the room as Wesley said, “Are you still there Mr. Kent?”

 Clark looked at the phone, “Yes.”

 “Good, I thought I’d go over the numbers for you and see if they’re satisfactory.” Wesley said. “I had thought of paying you as we would a hired mercenary or demon hunter, however since your role in the future will be pivotal to keeping this world intact, I decided you deserved what we would pay any Slayer, it’s only fair after all.”

 “What aren’t you telling us about this prophecy?” Clark said, Wesley’s words telling him the man knew more than was saying.

 He heard the man sigh, “I would prefer not to say at this moment. I already know how Buffy will feel about it, and I believe you both have enough on your plate with the bonding. I’ll tell you both, but she’s not ready to hear it yet.”

 Clark frowned, “I don’t think you give her enough credit.”

 “You may be correct,” Wesley conceded, “But I know she will not be happy about this, even if it’s a good thing. I, at the very least need to prepare myself for Dawn finding out, and she may very well tell Buffy even if I ask her not too. I do not believe either of you have long to wait.”

 “Alright,” Clark said, “I’m going to hold you to that though.”

 “Now,” Wesley said, just as Buffy walked back in the room. “How does two hundred-thousand a year sound?

 Clark blinked in surprise, the blood rushing to his head. He couldn’t have possibly heard that right, could he? “I’m sorry did you…did you just say two hundred-thousand?”

 “Clark are you okay?” Buffy asked, running to his side. “You look a little pale.”

 He shook his head, “It’s…that’s too much.”

 “No,” Buffy disagreed, shaking her head. “It really isn’t. Entering this world Clark… you’ll be putting not only your home but your mom at risk and no amount of money will ever make up for that.” She bit her lip and nodded, “Trust me on this, most demons aren’t stupid enough to mess with the good guy’s families, but the real big-bads, the uber-powerful demons, who’s only goal is destruction and world domination? Those demons won’t care, they’ll do everything in their power to try and hurt you, even if that means trying to break you.” She sighed, “It’s why I want your mom to have access to this place too. It will make me feel better knowing you can get her to safety if you needed to.”

 Clark sighed, reaching out and sliding the small stack of paper out of her hand. “And what happens if I sign these and change my mind?”

 Wesley spoke up, “You are not beholden to anything Mr. Kent, if you sign those and decide that helping the Watchers Council is not in your best interest, it would simply be like you quitting a job. You wouldn’t be paid anymore of course, but you would not be obligated to continue helping us either. However, with the bond beginning to form I’m not sure how you would be able to distance yourself from the Council or Buffy, but if you made that decision no one would stand in your way.”

 Clark pulled out a chair and sat down, his eyes quickly reading it through. It was pretty standard stuff, nothing in it that had some sort of hidden agenda. He flipped the page and read through the rest before getting to the signature line.

 “Do you have a pen?” He asked, looking at Buffy.

 She went to a small drawer and pulled it open, grabbing one from inside and handing it over. Clark took the pen signing his name on the dotted line. “Okay Mr. Wyndam-Pryce, I signed it.”

 “Very good.” Wesley said, “Now, I don’t suppose you’re up for giving him a tour of the underground facilities?”

 “Of course.” Buffy said.

 “Very well,” he said. “I’ll call you before Willow leaves, in the meantime try and keep your wits about you.”

 The line disconnected and Clark raised his eyebrows in curiosity. “Underground facility?”

 ****<S>**<S>****

Buffy slid open the hidden panel in the wall of the master bedroom. She entered a number into the keypad and then looked up into a camera where it scanned her face, and slid her keycard into the slot. 

 The computer’s AI came online and a female voice said, "Good afternoon Miss Summers, what can I do for you this afternoon?"

 "I need to give a new recruit security clearance."

 "Name?" The computer asked, as Buffy removed her keycard and slid in the blank one Willow had left for them.

 Buffy nodded at Clark and stepped away from the panel so he could stand in front of it.

 "Clark Joseph Kent," he answered, stepping into the space Buffy had just vacated.

 "Facial recognition." The computer said, and Buffy pointed up to the camera, indicating he needed to look into it. 

 Once that was done the computer said, "Four-digit pin."

 Buffy looked at Clark and nodded, "Now choose four numbers you'll remember easily."

 She watched as he thought about it a second before he put in his code. Once that was finished the computer said, "Thank you Mr. Kent, you now have full access to the Watcher Archives as well as all facilities. Ms. Summers would you like access into the rest of the building?"

 "Yes," Buffy answered before the hidden wall shifted, sliding away and revealing the steel doors of an elevator that would take them down into the heart of the house. The doors slid open and Buffy removed the new keycard handing it to Clark as they stepped into the elevator, Buffy pressing the simple down-arrow button.

 “We had these built in all the safehouses after what happened with Angelus.” Buffy said as way of explanation. “Or I should say, Wes and Willow did. I wasn’t really around for that.”

 It didn’t take long for the elevator to reach its destination and the doors slid open. She could feel Clark’s eyes on her as she stepped out of the elevator and into the large steel control room. There were several monitors on the walls with keyboards on a stainless steel counter top that bolted into the walls along half the room.

 “This is the control room.” Buffy said, “For safety reasons, if we’re ever in any code-red type situation, this room is always occupied in case someone manages to get past the outer wards. We can house up to thirty bodies here at a time and since most of us are a little something-other, we can at least hold off whoever’s broken in to give the rest of us a fighting chance to escape by sounding the alarm.”

 She knew she was rambling, but she couldn’t look at him right then. It was just occurring to her all that she admitted to Wesley and what she’d said in front of Clark. He was going to ask about Spike, she could almost feel it. Of all the things Wesley could have brought up, it had to be claiming. She felt Clark move closer, and wasn’t surprised when she felt him place his hand on her shoulder as she rambled on about where the exits were located.

 “Buffy?” He whispered.

 She sighed and looked down, “Yeah?”

 “Why…why don’t you ever talk about him?” Clark asked.

 Her shoulders slumped at his words, but she still couldn’t bring herself to turn around and look at him. “It’s…it’s complicated.”

 “Well then, I think you should try to uncomplicate it for me, because this thing sounds pretty permanent between us and I need to know if I’m going to be living in another man’s shadow.” He said honestly.

 She spun around, her eyes meeting his in surprise. “God, no. It’s not like that at all. We were…” She sighed. “Maybe we should go into another room that’s more comfortable. This is a long story.”

 Clark nodded at her and she turned, leading him through the heavy metal door to their left and down a hallway the AI illuminating the rooms as it monitored their approach. Buffy led him into a large rec room, a massive tv mounted to one wall with a standard sized couch in front. There was a card table in a corner and a pool table in another. A few pinball machines lined one wall of the room and a dartboard hung near a foosball table. She led him over to the couch, gesturing for him to sit before she wrapped her arms around herself protectively. She waited for him to sit down first, and sat at the other end biting her lip in thought, staring straight ahead into the black void of the blank tv screen, not sure exactly where to start. She figured the beginning was probably best, so she started there.

 “When I met Spike,” she said slowly. “He was just about as evil as they come, or at least that’s what my sixteen-year-old-self thought. Though, I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting Angelus yet, so I was a bit naive in that department. Anyway, his girlfriend-slash-sire had been weakened in Prague at some point and he came to Sunnydale to try and restore her and bag himself another Slayer.” She shrugged, “So, we pretty much started out as mortal enemies. We fought each other a lot that first half of the year, and he was a hell of a fighter. He almost got me on that first one, but incredibly enough my mom was the one who saved the day.” Buffy smiled in amusement. “Clocked him on the back of the head with an axe.”

 Clark snorted in amusement. “Sounds like something my mom would do.”

 Buffy smiled, “Yeah my mom could be pretty tough.” She shrugged, “Anyway, I ended up putting him in a wheelchair after dropping an organ on him during a spell that actually did end up restoring Drucilla. On my birthday I found out they were both still alive and Dru was reassembling an ancient demon called the Judge who couldn’t be killed by any man-made weapon. Me and Angel tried to stop it from happening, but we were both too late. That night I made the colossal decision of losing my virginity to Angel.” She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and sighed, “And just like that his soul was gone. Maybe that’s why I clung on to the notion that we were somehow destined for so long. I mean, the breaking of Angel’s curse literally states that only a moment of perfect happiness could release the soul. I guess I thought that if our love was enough to drive his soul away, it must be special.” She rolled her eyes at herself. “Honestly, knowing Angel it had more to do with him somehow feeling redeemed in me or it very well could have been that he hadn’t dipped his wick in over a hundred years. Whatever the cause, so began several horrible months of mental torment from a demon wearing my lover’s face.”

 “And Spike?” Clark asked.

 Buffy sighed, “Spike went through his own torment at the hands of Angelus and Drusilla. Spike really did love her, but her love compared to his was fleeting at best. He told me once how they would mock him for being wheelchair bound and Angelus would…well, he would fuck Dru right in front of Spike because he knew how much it hurt him. I think that’s when whatever destiny Spike had must have started. He came to me and made a truce in the hopes of getting Angelus away from Dru and also according to him, he actually liked the world and didn’t want to see it destroyed like they were planning.” She sighed again, “Anyway, that’s probably the first instance where I started to see Spike in a somewhat different light. Less of a danger and more of a nuisance if that makes sense.”

 “Yeah,” Clark nodded. “I guess I could see that.”

 “Okay, so skip ahead a few years, when I’m in my first year of college. I’ve seen Spike once in that time when he kidnapped Willow and Xander, trying to make Willow preform a love spell to get Dru back. Apparently, our little truce didn’t sit well with her and she dumped him.” Buffy shrugged, “We had one more real fight where we were actually trying to kill each other that year, and then a few months later the Initiative planted the chip in his head and then once again he came to us for asylum.” A small smile tugged at her lips, “We fought like cats and dogs that whole year. I think our bickering is partly what drove Giles to drinking so much. Then sometime during the next year when Dawn arrived and my mom got sick, he realized he was in love with me.” Buffy sighed. “It wasn’t a healthy love though, not even a little bit. He was obsessed with me. He had a weird shrine to me and he had, the super nerd Warren make a lifelike robot of me for reasons I’m sure you can guess.”

 Clark grimaced before saying, “Is that the same Warren that–”

 “The one and the same.” She interrupted. “I’ve dealt with some pretty gross demons before, but as far as Warren goes, he’s probably the worst human I’ve ever had to deal with.” Buffy sighed, “Anyway, as weird as Spike’s obsession with me was, he did some things that year that really surprised me. Things that normal vampires wouldn’t do, though I still to this day haven’t decided if Spike was the unique one or if Angelus was, because I know for a fact Spike isn’t the first vampire to keep a portion of his humanity after being turned.” She shook her head getting back on topic, “Anyway, he protected my sister’s secret when Glory tortured him for information and he promised to protect Dawn until the end of the world. When I came back the next year, I didn’t really acknowledge it at the time, but he was still there. Still looking out for my baby sister. It’s strange how you don’t see those things when they happen, but Spike loved Dawn like a little sister and he loved my mom too. For some reason he was drawn to us Summers women.” She sighed and looked at Clark. “I already told you when I came back, I went to a dark place.”

 Clark nodded, his eyes studying her face. “You have.”

 “I went to that dark place with Spike, I didn’t… when I came back, I was numb and I didn’t know it at the time, but my Slayer had gotten stronger. Part of me hated my friends, I was furious with them for bringing me back and expecting me to be happy about it.” She swallowed, “Spike became my confidant at first, he became my quiet solace. I could sit with him and just be… he didn’t…he didn’t expect me to just be okay like everyone else. I was the one who made the first move…we were under a spell at the time but that didn’t stop me from making a second move after it was broken. One night not long after our second make out session, after my Watcher decided I needed to learn to do things on my own and left, we got into an argument about the kiss and I hit him,” she frowned bitterly, rolling her eyes. “He retaliated and must have realized his chip didn’t fire. The next day, well he started a real fight with me. The first one we had since…well since our brawl before the chip.” Buffy could feel her cheeks heat up at the memory, “It was the first time I felt alive since my resurrection and one thing led to another and we…well we weren’t fighting anymore. At least not with fists. It was the first time I didn’t have to hold back and it was exhilarating.” She looked at her hands, “And the next day I told him how disgusting we were, and I was cruel and awful to him.” She shook her head. “I’m not saying that he didn’t give as good as he got, but I was always the one saying the cruel stuff first. I was awful to him Clark; I beat him once and left him for the sunrise. He was trying to help me…well, I thought I accidentally killed someone.” She pursed her lips, even the memory of Warren now days could send her into a rage. “I hadn’t, Warren once again was trying to fuck with my life, but both of us thought I did. He didn’t understand why I had to turn myself in, how much even thought of hurting someone innocent was killing me. I…I just snapped. I honestly don’t know how he managed to make it to safety on time.”

 She didn’t realize she was crying until she felt Clark’s arms come around her. “He still had bruises a week later and vampires, they heal fast.” She sniffled. “Shortly after that my ex-Riley came to town and somewhat reminded me why being with a soulless vampire was a bad thing. I realized that what we were doing…we had to stop. I was using him and it wasn’t fair to either of us, so I broke things off.” Buffy shook her head, “It was hard, because I really did still want him, but I resisted. Some things happened, over the next month or two, my friends ended up finding out about us and one night, he showed up at my house. I was pretty banged up from a fight earlier that evening and he tried to…I’m not even sure he knew what he was doing…but he tried to rape me.” Buffy said quietly, she felt Clark’s arms stiffen around her, this was the judgment she’d been waiting for. “I kicked him off, and he was shocked at himself and then I said, ask me again how I could ever love you?”

 She looked at Clark then, and she could see the anger swirling in his blue eyes. “That’s why Spike got his soul. He thought it was the only way he could be sure never to hurt me again. He wanted to be the man I deserved. He did it for selfish reasons of course, but the outcome of those reasons? It was worth it in the end, because he’s the reason we don’t still have a Hellmouth in Sunnydale California.”

 Clark shook his head, “I don’t…how can you have feelings for someone after they…even if he didn’t, how could you have not wanted to kill him?”

 Buffy shook her head. “Because love isn’t rational, because it can be beautiful or a nightmare, and unfortunately feelings can’t just be flipped on and off. I think if he hadn’t gotten his soul, I would have felt differently, and maybe I eventually would have stopped caring about him. You have to understand though…what he did, it’s never been done before. He fought against his nature and became something incredible for it. I think I would be kinda a hypocrite if I could forgive and still love Angel for what he did to me without a soul, but couldn’t forgive and still have feelings for Spike.”

 “Your ability to forgive, Buffy…I think you might have me beat in that department.” Clark said.

 She shook her head, “I don’t necessarily think that’s true. I don’t think I can ever truly forgive Willow for bringing me back, and you now know what I did to Angelus.” She sighed. “I really do think it depends on the transgression. Willow tore me out of Heaven, she made me immortal, denying me the peace and reward that all Slayers crave. Angelus went after people I love and he tormented and killed my sister Slayers, all of which were young girls, newly called. I know what Wes said, and part of its true, but Spike was just the catalyst, he was not necessarily the cause. It was my hate, my emotions guiding my Slayer, and it wasn’t the first time that part of me wanted to kill Willow nor was it only her that wanted to destroy Angelus for what he had done.”

  “And the claim?” Clark asked.

 Buffy sighed, “It was something that was swirling around my head for a while, and at first it was absolutely a hundred percent my Slayer. But by the time I started seriously considering it, that was definitely all me.”

 Clark looked away, “You wanted to bind yourself to him for eternity.”

 She was silent at his words; she knew what he was thinking and he was wrong. She remembered very clearly why she wanted to do it. “It…I really did want to win, Clark. I know you’re thinking I must have been head over heels in love, but… I loved Spike, I did and I still do, but not…It was the type of love you hold for your best friend, for the person who gets you more than anyone else. I’m not saying it wasn’t romantic in nature either, but it was a love that formed over time. There was no cupid moment. I knew we were compatible sexually; I knew he would never leave me, and I knew it would make us stronger. Claims, they don’t even require love to be fulfilled, just a mutual respect for one another and I knew we could make it work.”

 Clark sighed, leaning his head against the back of the couch. “Why didn’t you then?”

 “Fear,” Buffy said simply. “Fear of the unknown, fear that he would say no, and fear that he would say yes.”

 She watched Clark swallow. “And you want to do the same to me?”

 Buffy blushed. “I-I don’t know. Yes, I think so…” She was silent for a moment. Did she want to claim Clark? Her Slayer seemed to think so, but was that the prophecy or an actual want. She certainly didn’t want to lead him on, so she said “But I think it’s something that could happen in the heat of the moment.” She could literally feel her face heating up even more. “Just, if…if I ever bite you when we…and say ‘Mine’, don’t answer unless you’re willing to do the same.”

 “I’m assuming when you say bite, you mean breaking skin.” He said raising an eyebrow.

 “I do.” She admitted. “That’s basically what a claim is, it’s a symbolic ritual of sharing one’s life force, blood, saliva, semen. The mixing of your essence with another to create two halves of a whole.”

 A slow amused smile broke across his lips. “That actually sounds kind of beautiful, if not a little messy.”

 Buffy snorted, her own amusement growing at his analogy. “Anything else you want to know, before we continue our tour?”

 His eyes slowly gave her a once over, before he shook his head. “No, I think that was more than enough for today.” He looked down, “It’s hard for me to picture you like that, being cruel I mean. Not when…not when you’ve been so nice to me. I don’t think I’ll ever truly understand anything you told me about him and you, and…and if I’m being honest, I can’t help feeling…” He looked at her seriously, his mouth set in a firm line. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t come back from the dead again, because I can’t promise I will be very nice.”

 She found herself giggling at the visual. Dear God, that would be funny, especially with how quiet and reserved Clark was. Spike would drive him up the wall. “Oh, trust me neither will he, even with the soul he had the ability to drive just about anyone mad with rage.”

 “Well, then it’s probably a good thing he’s not around anymore. I don’t think I’d like to be responsible for killing someone you cared about.” Clark said seriously.

 Buffy rolled her eyes; he might be from another planet but he was definitely a hundred percent male. “Yes, Clark, lucky for you, you only have one of my ex’s left to contend with and he’s married.” She pushed herself away from him, grabbing his hand as she did and pulling him to his feet as she stood. “Now, come on, I’ll show you the training room.”

[lov3nerdstuff]

Perfect Illusions

~Doctor Hiddleston AU~

*Tom Hiddleston x reader*

Oneshot

Words: 6.2k

Summary: You're an intern at the most reknown hospital in your city, when you run into Dr. Hiddleston for the first time. Over the months of your work together you develop a close friendship, but when you help him through a rough time, you realize that you might be feeling more for him than just friendship... way more. And when he invites you over to his place for some necessary distraction, you know that this will either end very well or very badly for both of you.

A.N.: Requested by @foodthatsgoodforyoursoul who wanted Tom in scrubs! Here we go 😁 Also, I have absolutely no clue about the medical professions or about working at a hospital, so pls don't kill me if I got the facts wrong. We're all here for sexy Tom in scrubs (and some cutie domestic Tom), so that's what you get from me! 💗✨

Also check out my Masterlist!

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You had been a medical intern in the most renowned hospital in your entire region for six months now, and those six months had been both heaven and hell to you. You were stationed in the surgical department, the pride of the entire hospital, and that meant impossible working hours, insufferable competitive thinking and ignorant (mostly male) colleagues. The department was large, gigantic even, and even after six months, you still hadn't met everyone you were working with, which honestly wasn't even entirely your own fault. Most doctors deemed themselves too important to talk to an intern, while most nurses just stuck to themselves. That had left you to being quite alone for about a month, until you had finally met the one person who half of the department loved for his impossible talent and knowledge, while the other half hated him for the very same reason. Thomas Hiddleston, renown surgeon and head of your department, and thus technically also your boss. But the day you had met, something had just clicked with the two of you, and you'd gotten along immediately. Since that day, work had become more fun for you, as both of you had at last found the one person you could actually be yourselves with. And over the course of the months, you had become something like friends. Work friends, at least. At first.

While mostly everyone addressed him solemnly by his last name, he had been quick to offer you to use his first name. And thus, you were maybe the only person in the entire hospital who was allowed to call him Tom. Somehow, you took a strange sense of pride in that.

He was the most brilliant thinker and an even better physician, precise to the impossible and knowledgeable even beyond. If you ever had any question at all, though you yourself were quite decent at the job as well, you would always come to him first and he would gladly help you out. Occasionally, he would actually come to YOU indeed, in seek of your opinion on something, or maybe just to give you an opportunity to practice. Anyway, he valued your opinion, your work and your presence and that maybe was the greatest compliment he could've made you.

Tom was a cheerful person, almost always smiling or laughing about something, if not trying to make you or his colleagues laugh as well. A real dork even, once one got to know him better, which surprisingly not many people bothered to do. They let themselves be blinded by his smiles like they were blinded by the crisp white of his scrubs… never bothering to look closer, to spot the small glimpses of shadow in his eyes. The speckles of something not quite so happy and cheerful, not as practiced and collected.

It had taken you a good three months to notice for the first time, admittedly, but you had noticed it at all and that's what you focused on. He had never talked much about his personal life, at least at first, nor about whatever it was that had the shadows on his face deepen from time to time and the rims of his eyes turn a little more red. Some days, you found that his curls were just slightly more disheveled, his smile a little more forced and his eyes a little less bright than usual. But you never had commented on it, not for the longest time, for despite the professional friendship you had built, you had known it wasn't your place to interfere in his affairs. Until a month ago, when at last your professional friendship had started to change slowly, to drift more into the array of a different kind of relationship. That's when things had started to get a little more messy, and a lot more interesting.

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It had started out fairly ordinary in the beginning of your professional relationship, as mere brief acquaintances, when he had suddenly requested for specifically you to care for his patients before and after their surgery, and had allowed you to watch what he was doing whenever possible, sometimes let you assist him even. Much to the dismay of his colleagues, but he hadn't cared about them, and so you hadn't either.

Then, a few weeks later, he had actually left the sanctuary that was his office in order to have a chat with you over coffee, during your simultaneous break, and then made a habit of it to continue every single day. Sometimes that had been all you saw of him really, and other days you'd had more work together. Both was fun, even though you enjoyed his private company more and more and actually found yourself looking forward to coffee break as soon as your shift would start. That's when your work friendship had started, as a small planted seed on the soil of everybody else's refusal to deal with either of you.

Another few weeks later, he had asked you for the first time if you'd care to grab lunch together, in the highly modern cafeteria that still somehow didn't manage to make their food NOT taste like hospital chow. But his company had made up for that, by far even, and you had been surprised that he had actually wanted to sit with you, and only you. Nobody else had dared to sit down at your table, maybe because they feared him or maybe because they looked down on you… but Tom had let you know on that first day of shared lunch that you were actually the first person in years who bothered to sit with him. You'd laughed, thinking that must've been a joke, then frowned once the doubt had set in, and at last you had looked at him almost sadly upon the realization that he was being serious. You hadn't understood why people didn't want to sit with him, and you'd told him that much. He had smiled, a real and honest smile, and you had felt the tingles starting in the pit of your stomach for the first time. You had blamed it on the cafeteria's chow back then. That's when your work friendship had started to grow small buds, and even smaller roots.

As you had continued to have coffee and lunch together every day, he also had let you in on more of his work. Somehow your shifts had started falling together with his all the time, both at day and night, but you hadn't questioned how on earth he had been able to arrange that. He was the chief physician, medical director and all, and that surely came with its privileges. So you had happily spent hours upon hours in his office, going through reports and screenings together, and sometimes you would give your evaluation of them by accident, only for Tom to request you do it more often. The tingles had spread from the darkest part of your being right into the light, crawling up your arms and legs whenever he was around. That's when your work friendship had started growing more quickly, flourishing with the brightest ideas and happiest times during both your work days.

Eventually, especially during those impossibly long night shifts, you had come to talk about more meaningful things. About the big questions and the even bigger answers neither of you could really have shared with anyone else. You understood Tom on a level that was beyond collegial, beyond professional… and you felt likewise safe and understood by him. And so your tingles had spread throughout your entire being like wildfire, consuming your heart and mind eventually as they had your body. Your heart had started beating more quickly whenever Tom was around, and you had started working harder if only to somehow prove to him your worth. Not that you had needed to in the first place, he had always known how bright you were. That's when your friendship had become more of a real friendship, not one merely reduced to work and smalltalk. You had grown to admire him even more, and he had grown to admire you in return.

From that point on, close to the five month mark of your work together, you had become inseparable. He had started talking about more personal things, as had you, but he had always avoided to speak of his circumstances of living, and his relationship. You'd known that he had a girlfriend, and you had felt an unpleasant stinging in your heart whenever she had been mentioned (which luckily had happened only very rarely). Tom preferred hearing about your life and never had ceased to express his sincere interest in it, and you had gladly told him whatever he had wished to know. And while your friendship had gotten closer and closer, you had started to believe that you might be feeling more for Tom than simple friendship indeed. The tingling had turned more into a brightly burning flame, a yearning and a wish… you didn't allow yourself to admit what you wished for however. So you had just enjoyed the friendship, and both the work and private conversations, and hoped that you'd be fine.

And surprisingly, you were fine for the longest time. Not truly happy of course, but content enough with the very close friendship the two of you had. As long as Tom was happy, you would deal with absolutely anything to keep him that way.

But that was when things started to change yet again.

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Tom was always putting on a happy face when working with others, and only in the comfort of your presence alone, he allowed for the mask to slip. Then he would tell you why he wasn't happy for real, maybe because he'd had a bad night, or a difficult patient, or another of those annoying talks with the financial department. You would usually comfort him by bringing him coffee, or chocolate, by buying him lunch, or by simply listening to what was on his mind. Occasionally, rarely, you would give him a hug if he really needed it, only for your heart to almost explode in equal joy and pain. You shouldn't be hugging him, shouldn't want to so badly, not when he had a girlfriend… not when you wanted to keep your feelings a secret. But sometimes he just needed the comfort, and that was more important to you than your own silly feelings. Somehow you had ended up always putting Tom first, and you didn't even mind it the least bit. You'd come to the lasting conclusion that you loved him, dearly, and if you could only express that by being the best friend possible to him, then that would be your way of fate.

That was until he started putting on a happy facade around you as well, brushing off your questions with a mere 'it's nothing' or 'I'm fine'. And yet, you could clearly tell that he wasn't. It continued like that for a couple days, a week, turning into two, with him clearly upset but refusing to admit that anything was wrong at all, until at last, on Friday afternoon close to the end of your last shift for the week, you had enough.

So you walked into his office, without knocking as he had instructed you, with the determination that you would make him talk. Screw work or professionalism… he was your friend, and he needed your help even if he didn't want to admit it. Tom never liked to impose his own problems onto other people, but today you would make him do just that.

"Alright, spill the tea." You started as you sat down in a chair, facing him with a calm expression.

"What?" He rose an eyebrow at you once he looked up from his documents, flipping them shut to place them on a high stack of folders.

"What's up with you?"

"Like I said, I'm perfectly fine, Y/n, I…"

"I don't believe you." You stated in the same calm, eyes not once leaving his. This time, you wouldn't let him off the hook.

"Well, that's your problem, not mine." He replied almost coldly, in a low grumble. "Believe what you want."

You merely rose an eyebrow at him in return, as he had just, even if unintentionally, proven your point. Tom in his normal mind would never snap at you, nor would he utter a single mean word towards anyone if not absolutely necessary. And never directed at you.

"Alright…" Tom finally sighed, closing his eyes as he rested his elbows on the wooden desk and his face in his hands. For a moment he stayed like that, silently, until he spoke up again. "It's not fine. I am not fine. Not by far…"

"Well, admitting it is a start to better things. I'm here to help you, Tom, always. You know that, right?" You spoke gently as you rose to your feet, stepped around the desk and sat down on the edge of it, right next to Tom, to place a reluctant hand on his shoulder. He sighed upon the touch, a pleasant sound lowly coming right from the depth of his chest, and you had to suppress the blush that threatened to tint your cheeks a deep crimson.

"I know…" He sighed under his breath. "You're way too good to me, Y/n… I don't deserve your kindness."

"Nonsense." You replied immediately, in a calming voice. "What's wrong?"

"Too much…"

"What can I do to help?" You asked instead of dwelling on your previous question. Making him feel better was way more important than knowing the reason behind his misery, at least for now. You'd first make sure he was feeling better, then kick the ass of whoever had him feeling so down.

Tom lifted his head from his hands and turned his face to look at you with a small, almost touched smile. "I don't know."

"Coffee?"

"No…"

"A hug?"

For a moment his lips parted as if he meant to speak, but simply remained still as he failed to form the right words. "Maybe later, alright?" He breathed at last.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you need." You smiled back, a feigned smile, ignoring the small sting his words left in your heart. But not only you could see beyond his facade, it worked both ways around.

Slowly, reluctantly almost, Tom placed his own hand on top of yours that was still resting on his shoulder, giving you a few seconds to pull back should you have wished so. You didn't, and once he realized that, he intertwined his fingers with yours and lifted both your hands off his shoulder to breath a feathery kiss to the back of your smaller hand. His eyes met yours, and your heart skipped multiple beats, then started racing like mad.

"Thank you, Y/n… for caring." He said quietly, with a small smile.

"Of course I care." You replied in a voice equally quiet, for you weren't sure you could keep it from breaking had you spoken any louder. "And I do want to make you feel better."

"I know…"

"It's a little difficult to, since I don't even know what exactly is wrong with you."

"I… I've had a few rather rough days. A lot to think about. And a lot of work in addition to that."

"Maybe some distraction would do you good then?"

"What are you thinking of?" He asked with a small chuckle and an honest smile for once, as he looked up at you in the barest hint of amusement.

"We could go out, tonight." You said before you could stop yourself, but then decided to just go with it and ignore the possible implications of your words. He might not even understand it as you asking him for a date, after all. No, he certainly wouldn't. "You know, we could go to a bar and have dinner and a few beers, or visit the movies and have a good laugh at one of those ridiculously exaggerated action films…"

Again, Tom gave you another sad half smile before he replied. He was still holding your hand, gently caressing your knuckles with his thumb. "Those are great ideas, really, but I'm afraid I couldn't stand being around people at the moment. Working with them has already been exhausting enough this week."

"Oh…" You breathed, yet again before your lips would seal, then continued on in a neutral voice. "That's alright, I completely understand… We really don't have to do anything, of course, it's perfectly fine…"

"No, I…" He interrupted you, looking down to the chaotic desk in front of him for a moment, then finally back up at you. "I would love to spend time with you… for distraction, and… yeah. But maybe instead of a bar and the movies, we could…" He stopped, frowning at you ever so slightly as his shoulders sank down a little.

"Do go on." You said encouragingly. "I'm down for anything, don't worry."

"Maybe we could cook at my place, and watch a movie after that…" He said quietly, almost as if he was afraid of speaking the words out loud. Now you actually did blush, a little. Tom had never invited you to his place, and neither had you ever invited him. You had gone out to a bar once before, with a couple colleagues to celebrate someone going into retirement, but that was it. That was every outside-of-work time you'd spent together.

"That sounds really great…" You replied with a shy half smile. "But… I'm a little scared I'll be fifth-wheeling the entire night."

"What?" Tom frowned at you in utter irritation, and you could feel the nervousness crawling up your back. Not for discomfort, but out of the fear that you would somehow insult Tom and thereby ruin everything.

"I… I'm not sure if your… girlfriend would like… me being around for… your… night in." You stumbled over your own words like you usually stumbled over your own feet. Communicating your thoughts was a maze of too many wrong paths that didn't allow turning back.

For a moment Tom's eyes widened in realization, then his face fell ever so slightly, and at last he caught himself again, showing a neutral expression. "Don't worry, she won't be around. How's seven for you?" And to emphasize his point, he gave you a smile that was neither feigned nor honest.

"Uh… seven is good." You replied a little slowly, then snapped out of your irritation (for the moment, at least). "I can go grocery shopping, if you'd like. I'm off my shift now, and my apartment is only five minutes away."

"That would be amazing. I still have to finish up a report, and I'd also like to clean my place a little before having you over." He replied with an honest smile now, giving your hand another squeeze before he finally let go. You missed his warmth immediately.

"What would you like to cook tonight?" You then asked to distract from your eyes giving away any hint of sadness at the loss of his touch.

"Surprise me." He grinned at you and the sparkle you adored so much, the spark you had missed for the last two weeks, finally returned to his eyes a short moment later. Your Tom was back at last.

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After you clocked out for the day and changed back into your streetwear, you biked the short way home to take a shower first of all. But even after that, your heart was still beating like crazy. You'd spend the entire evening with Tom, at his place… alone. Sure, the night shifts sometimes felt like one was entirely alone, but you'd never been alone for real. And the thing about his girlfriend still wouldn't leave your mind as you moved on to do your hair and get dressed. Would Tom get into trouble for inviting you over so spontaneously? You honestly didn't mind getting into trouble yourself, for you were doing this to make Tom feel better after a rough two weeks, but you worried if he would get into trouble. That's surely not something you wanted, but it was out of your control, and you could only hope that he would be alright.

Pushing the thought out of your head at last, you decided to wear something a little nicer than usual, but still comfortable enough to chill on the couch in. Sheer black tights, a body-hugging jersey dress that was both sexy and as comfortable as sweatpants, and a loose graphic tee on top, for just the dress might've been a little too… much. You were going to cook and chill after all, not go clubbing.

An hour later, you stood in front of Tom's door and knocked with one hand, while you balanced the giant bag with groceries in your arms. He really lived in one of the most expensive apartment buildings in the entire city, and you wondered just how much he must earn in his position in the hospital. Funny, you'd almost forgotten that he lived in an entirely different world than you did... He had a Portier and a penthouse, and you had six flights of stairs to your shared two-room apartment and too much debt from student loans.

Tom opened the door with a smile and a chuckle once he spotted the bag in your arms. "Hey Y/n…"

You returned the smile as you stepped into the apartment, letting him take the bag out of your hold for you to take off your jacket and shoes. "Hey… I hope I'm not too late."

"No, it's only three minutes after seven." He replied in amusement. "You're all good."

"I would've been here five minutes earlier, but the Portier refused to let me come up. I guess he doesn't see girls in Queen t-shirts all too often." You replied with the same amusement, as you followed behind Tom. The apartment really was incredible… open and probably bigger than anything you'd ever live in, but still cozy in a way. At the opposite side of the large room, you saw that the wall wasn't as much a wall as it was a window, overlooking the city and even the forest far off in the distance. Wow… what it must be like to live here. As you tore your eyes from the incredible view and the absolutely stunning living room, you finally looked around the kitchen you were just walking into. It was no less impressive, but you didn't really want to stare and thus looked back to Tom who placed the bag on a counter.

"What do you think of the place?" He asked without turning around.

"It's incredible… large, and probably a hell to keep tidy, but still… it seems very comfortable. Most penthouses in movies seem cold and clinical, but this… I like it." You smiled as you looked back through the open door towards the large windows in the distance.

"I would've loved to live in a smaller and less over the top place… but in my position, one has to fulfill certain expectations." He sighed.

"You do?" You frowned at him, turning around so you were facing him with your entire body again.

"Unfortunately." He shrugged. "But I tried to make the best of it."

"I think you did well." You smiled, and Tom did too. Then your eyes reverted to the bag of groceries. "So… I bought everything we need for dinner, then I got wine, ice cream, popcorn, tequila and lime."

"Tequila?" He rose an eyebrow at you in amusement as he moved to unpack the bag. "With lime?"

"Yup. Tequila because you looked like you need it, and lime because it's way better than lemon." You grinned, upon which the two of you moved to prepare your dinner together.

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While cooking, you already started on the first bottle of wine, which honestly only made cooking together just perfect. You listened to some music too, and sang along, occasionally dancing together while you waited for the oven or the microwave. Honestly, it was such a relief to see Tom laughing and enjoying himself after two weeks of gloom, and you wondered repeatedly how you should keep yourself from just acting like the lovesick puppy you were. His smile, his eyes sparkling like the stars themselves, the way he looked at you… hell, even seeing him in a t-shirt and jeans for once was doing things to your poor heart that you couldn't ignore, couldn't suppress. But you were happy, more than happy even.

By the time you had both finished your dinner and done the dishes (which you had insisted on helping with), you had finished the wine and decided to take a break. Neither of you wanted to ruin the night by getting all too tipsy, and you still wanted to watch a movie. You let Tom pick whatever he wanted to watch as you still marveled at the view you had of the city, now that it was dark outside but for the million lights far down below.

Then you both got comfortable on the couch, probably sitting way too close together for any means of appropriateness, but you also couldn't bring yourself to care. The heat of his body was scorching your side, crawling through the thin fabric of your clothing to create goosebumps all over your arms.

"Are you cold?" Tom asked a short moment later, as he noticed your shivers. Gods, if only he knew…

"I'm good." You returned with a small smile, but Tom still moved the slightest bit closer to you as he watched the ongoings in the tele, gently rubbing your arms, your shoulders, your neck… until his hand stilled on your upper arm furthest from him, holding you to his side tightly. You didn't even know what movie you were watching, and you were thirty minutes in.

You later found out that it was some kind of thriller, a rather scary one admittedly, and by the end of it you were shaking like dry leaves in the harsh wind of autumn. Still, the film had been amazing… and being curled into Tom's side for the entire duration of it had been even more amazing.

"Now you look like you need a tequila." Tom suddenly said once the movie had finished, pulling you out of your thoughts.

"Oh, well, yeah…" You chuckled, as you did what you thought to be the most appropriate, yet also the most painful: you scooted away, just a little, for more your heart couldn't bear. "The movie was scarier than expected."

"Very well then." He smiled at you, and stood up to prepare the drinks for both of you. "Do you want to watch another movie, or do you wish to go home?"

"Let's rephrase that: do you feel well enough now, or do you need me to distract you some more?" You returned as you watched him move around the kitchen in the distance. This was really something you could get used to, being like this, with him… but you shouldn't.

"Oh, I'm absolutely happy while you're around. I just doubt that I will be once you're gone." He called back with a small laugh that went straight to your gut. If he kept on saying things like that, your heart would explode by the time it was midnight. Maybe even earlier than that.

"So you would prefer for me to stay?" You questioned with a smile as you placed your chin on the backrest of the couch, watching him as he came walking towards you with the most breathtaking expression you'd ever seen on him. For once, he looked truly happy.

"Obviously!" He smiled as he set everything down on the coffee table. "If that would be alright with you…"

"Obviously…" You grinned back, taking the shot he was offering you with the feeling that this night would either end very well or very badly for both of you.

______________

Three shots and half a movie later, the sound of the clock on the wall hitting midnight made you jump rather badly. You'd watched another rather scary movie, and once again you had more and more curled into Tom's side without really meaning to. He had placed his hand on your knee that rested against his thigh a while back, and your shrieking at the clock's sudden noise made him grip onto your leg just a little too tightly as he jumped as well.

Your head whipped around for your wide, frightened eyes to meet his, and he looked back with the same freaked out expression… until a second later you both had to laugh out loud at each other's expression.

"Gods, that stupid clock…" You groaned with a chuckle, nudging him in the side with your entire body. Somehow, you didn't care to move away now, even if it would've been more appropriate. But he didn't seem to mind, as he merely smiled at you adoringly while the movie continued playing to your right.

"I really should be heading home… I can't imagine your girlfriend being all too happy about me still being here in the middle of the night." You blurted out before you could tell your mind to shut up. Darn alcohol… it blurred your filter, made it slow…

Tom's smile dropped immediately, and his eyebrows furrowed back into the weary frown he'd been wearing a lot over the last days. And yet, this time he actually looked at your eyes after a few seconds and sighed deeply. "She's not coming back, Y/n…"

"What?" Your eyebrows rose without your doing, and somehow his body heat seemed to feel so much more intense all of a sudden. Or was it your own skin heating up? "Is… is she on a business trip?"

Now Tom's eyes left yours again, as his head dropped back onto the backrest behind you, and he let out a desperate, and slightly bitter laugh while he stared up at the ceiling. "Oh, my lovely Y/n… You're such a genius and yet so enchantingly stupid sometimes."

"Thanks?" You tried, sending him a doubtful look. "I… Sorry?"

"Don't be." He sighed, then stilled for a moment as his face turned serious once more. "We… separated. At the beginning of the week, and she had her last belongings picked up this morning."

"Oh no…" You felt a veil of stone clinging onto your heart immediately, as the largest part of you felt sincere sadness for the man you loved. Even if technically this might've been good news, you could never be happy about it if he wasn't. "I'm so sorry Tom. I really am… Why didn't you tell me?"

"I…" He started, jaw clenching for a second before he finally sat up straighter, turning towards you so that you sat directly in front of each other, only a few inches apart. "I didn't want to worry you."

Slowly nodding, you still felt the tiniest bit hurt that he wouldn't tell you about something that important, especially if it was worrying him. "Did… did she leave you, or did you both decide to split? Is that why you were so sad over the last few weeks?"

Again, Tom sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. The muscles in his face seemed to tick in accordance with his thoughts, but you could wait. You would wait, for however long it would take. He was more than worth it, both as a friend and as the person you loved more than anything.

"I left her, actually." He finally replied, quietly but with a certain calm that brought goosebumps to your skin. What? "I left her, and she was absolutely…"

"Devastated?" You added in, hoping to complete his sentence.

"... indifferent." He finished instead, looking almost relieved at the words he spoke. You on the other hand simply felt confused, and obviously it showed, for he continued on a moment later. "She said 'whatever', took her Gucci bag and was out the door before I even finished my sentence. One day later a company came to pick up her things."

"Wow…" You breathed as your heart simply broke into a million pieces, lying shattered at his feet. "I… I don't even know how anyone could be so heartless."

"Well, I only ask myself why I lived with her for so long… We were nothing but strangers in the end."

"How long… were you together?"

"Three years."

"I'm sorry…"

"For the time we lived together, or that we split?" Tom asked almost a little bemusedly.

"That she hurt you." You replied honestly as your eyes fixed on his so intently that you were sure to see his soul behind the swirling storm of blue.

"She didn't hurt me, not really. Actually, she hasn't made me feel anything at all for the longest time." He shrugged while his gaze remained locked with yours. This was the most he had ever talked about his now passed relationship, and while it pained you to hear, you also wanted to know everything he was willing to share. Maybe that was masochistic of you, but you couldn't turn off your curiosity.

"What… what went wrong?" You asked quietly, and involuntarily scooted the smallest bit closer to him as your legs that you'd tugged under you started to go numb, urging you to cross them under you in a different way that mirrored his position.

"It wasn't love… It was a perfect illusion. I don't remember what drew me to her in the first place, but I start to believe that she was drawn more to my money than to me. And I merely was in love with the idea of being in love, and being loved."

"And… why did you break up with her just now, if you didn't even live with her anymore, only next to her? Why did it sadden you only now, and not last year, or next year?" You inquired, maybe a little more bravely with the alcohol still in your blood. "What happened, Tom?"

"You happened." He replied with a half smile that was equally shy as it was breathtaking, while his words did the rest to stun you. "At first I didn't know what was happening to me, I didn't realize… But two weeks ago, it hit me like a strike of lightning, and the revelation was…" And for once, Tom –the most eloquent person you had ever met– was at a loss for words.

"...Was what?" You asked quietly, lips parted as your chest rose and fell quickly as if you'd been running a marathon. Your heart definitely was beating that fast.

"It was the most intense thing I have ever felt, it still is, and I knew that I had been living a lie. I couldn't continue like that, not when all I wanted… was you, Y/n." He smiled as his deep velvet voice wrapped around your senses, his words dripping off his lips like the sweetest honey. Your breath caught in your throat and your eyes widened, studying his expression as it was only illuminated by the dim glow of the tele.

"Please say something…" He whispered softly, as his eyes turned into a wild mixture of hopeful and afraid.

"I… You… you want ME?" You breathed incredulously, shivering ever so slightly from the rush of pure adrenaline coursing through your blood. "But… why?"

"Because the realization that struck me so very intensely was the one that I am absolutely crazy about you." He said in a nervous laugh. "I… I love you so impossibly much that I cannot for the life of me imagine why it took me so long to understand that."

"But why on earth did that make you so sad?!" You questioned before you could think of a better thing to say, stones lifting off your shoulders and breaking the chains around your heart along the way.

"Gosh, I wasn't sad about it, I wasn't even sorry. I knew that I had to get out of this pretended relationship no matter what you feel for me, because now that I know just how much it is possible to love someone, I couldn't possibly be content with anything less. That's why I ended it. But that's not what troubled my mind for the past two weeks."

"And what did?"

"I was, am, simply afraid of what's going to happen now. You see, falling in love is a deeply scary thing, and a dangerous one as well if it endangers the friendship we have built. I… I simply was so torn if I should tell you, because I can't bear the thought of losing you and…"

He didn't get to say a single word more, for your lips shut him up in the best way possible. And from that point on, he knew that he didn't need to be afraid, that he didn't need to pretend anymore. You were all his to love and he could be yours in every way, every day, for as long as you would have him. And you definitely didn't plan on ever letting him go again.

For now he only pulled you into his lap as your lips met his over and over again for the sweetest affirmation of your love, and the promise of so much more yet to come.

_____________________________

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I hope you enjoyed this guys! 😁💗✨ It was a little difficult for me to write at first, because I didn't know how to keep it in the hospital 😅 but I still hope it was any good ☺️ Toss a comment to your writer, oh valley of plenty 😉 and let me know if you want to be added to my tag list!

[millennial-star-gazer]

The Draconic Demon Within: Chapter 4: A Demon’s All-Consuming Rage

The Draconic Demon Within

Genres: Romance, Friendship/Family, Drama/Angst, Hurt/ Comfort, & New Adult Fanfiction

Vera's April 2018 Prompts: Soul, Empyrean, Savage, Memory, Trust, Fear, Unstoppable , Resilient, Supernatural (Implied) Lost (Implied) and Loathing.

Nalu Lovefest 2017 Prompts: Dreams

Nalu Week 2019 Prompts (Implied:) Lost, Curse, Trial, Treasure, Chance and possibly Bare.

Pairing: Nalu/EndLu,( Natsu x Lucy/ E.N.D. x Lucy)

Rating: M for language, steamy and mature adult sexual content (all consensual) in these and future chapters. Reader Direction is advised.(You have been warned!)

Summary: Now faced with the reality of who he is truly is, the son of Igneel must contend with the new darker instincts of his new demonic identity- all while navigating through his ever-growing, intense feelings for a particular celestial wizard. Originally a Submission (semi -au) for Nalu lovefest 2017 (on my previous celestialgeekmage account and now an entry for nalu week 2019 with chapter 3. (Also was on my earliest previous accounts of teamedwardjace/Twishadowhunter in the past. Also part of Vera's April 2018 prompt challenge from fic-writers appreciation on cosmicdragonwizard).

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Chapter 4: A Demon's All- Consuming Rage

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A/N: Hey guys, it's your girl back again with another installment of TTDW! Fun fact: Being temporarily off work for a few weeks due to pandemic has provided some extra free time to edit and posta new chapter for this fic ( which is on account of the temporary closures of public institutions, and public spaces along with non-essential businesses/services in Ontario-the Canadian province I'm from). This isn't to suggest I'm not without fear or concern about the pandemic or potential effects on global infrastructure but at least I'm mostly coping as best as anyone can at this time. Hope you guys are all too. ( A bit more on this in the A/N at the end of this chapter .) Anyway, hope that this chapter and my other fanfics along with those from amazing writers can help you all while stuck at home. All right, that's pretty much my whole spiel for now. Without further ado, here's Chapter 4 of TTDW-Enjoy! 

(Note: Scroll down past the read more button/cut for the  designated legend menu and actual story content).

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Disclaimer: Fairytail does not belong to me, but to the most honourable Hiro-sensei instead, for whom without this work of love wouldn't be possible. 

Read Previous Chapters of TDDW and on platforms here:

(Copy and paste the links into another  window if need be)

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Previous (Click Here:)  (or here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/185917542578/the-draconic-demon-within-chapter-3)

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B. Fanfiction (Click Here:) (or here:  https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13113898/1/The-Draconic-Demon-Within-Reupload-from-cosmicdragonwizardaccounts)

C. A03 (Click Here:) (or here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17365061/chapters/40861307)

2. Ongoing Master  Post Of All My Writing (Click Here:) (or here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/179665258923/master-fic-rec-post)

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Legend:

Italic: Song Lyrics/Quotes (or flashback dialogue)

Bold: First Person Thoughts

Bolded Italics: Empathized, stylized Word(s) or bloodthirsty fantasies

Bolded Italics (Within and Outside Bracket) including for author's side notes also known as (A/N:) within brackets (though none for side-notes in this chapter ).

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"Your body is full of rage.

Every sinew. It is easy to read.

You speak volumes with a clenched fist."

( Paolo Bacigalupi: The Drowned Cities)

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"Seriously? Luce's alive?

That…. I can't...

A wave of overjoyed relief was washing over Natsu from the spectacular news about his best friend still breathing.

"Hear that Luce?!" He sobbed, not bothering to wipe the moisture from his eyes." You're alive and gonna be okay— Thank God! Really... don't ... know what I'd do without ya…," Scarlet-red eyes remained focused/trained on the face on the motionless angel in his arms.

"Pretty sure the guild and the rest of the people we know would be just as devastated if they lost such an incredible person and wizard . Glad you're okay either way though." Natsu's hands were stroking sweat-plastered strands of Lucy's hair back from her eyes with delicate care .

Really glad she's still in fact alive and kicking…

In that very moment , it was as if the world had fallen away; leaving just the two of them. Nothing else seemed to matter then . Not cold-blooded enemies in the room, or the recent battle just moments before; Not even E.n.d's unnerving metamorphosis. Just a dragon-demon and his most precious star with those subtle breaths, the visible rise and fall of her chest that somehow escaped any kind of major notice before.

Words can't even describe how relieved I am . Digits combed through Lucy's blonde tresses from crown to tip in a physical display of tender affection.

Hmm... Lucy's hair feels really nice. Natsu couldn't help but marvel at texture of her beneath his fingertips .Don't think I've ever stopped to fully appreciate it before .

"Gotta say that your hair feels really nice, Luce." Natsu voiced this innermost thoughts aloud; though his words were coming in soft. ."Smells real amazin' too."

Damn was the appealing fragrance of jasmine with a hint of cyclamen flooding his senses beyond intoxicating."like jasmine and that other flower we saw once— cyclamen, I think. . You've been using a new scented shampoo again, I see. Not that I'm complainin'."

"Psh—Listen to me" Natsu tacked on with a rueful chuckle that was still a bit thick from all that weeping before. " Gettin' all sentimental and crap. Hell... stripper would never even let me live it down if he heard . Still be damn proud of you though just like I am for how well you handled yourself in battle. Why don't we tell him all about it once you're awake and we're out of here?. Bet he'd like that . Till then, the two of us just need to sit tight and figure out our next move, okay?"

Wait ...

The fire demon's hands continued their fond movements- only for blood to freeze in his veins when noticing an unsightly contusion on Lucy's forehead; accented by a small gash just above her brow.

When did this happen? I swear those injuries hadn't there been seconds before .. .

Crimson eyes scanned his best friend's battered frame for further damage in alarm . My God... Natsu's breath caught in his throat at the sight of that line of discolorations on her legs . Not to mention all those scratches along with the small gash peeking out through the tattered remains of Lucy's Star dress .

"Oh Luce..." He sighed, remorseful voice breaking on her name. "Can see that you're in pretty rough shape right now. I'm so sorry. Honestly don't know how or why you had a delayed reaction to all the damage. But this wouldn't have happened if I only had grabbed you and run or got your spirits to transport you to their world, Hell— Maybe we could've both escaped and I could've helped kept you safe while figuring out this new demon form means for us together. Anyways, time to put pressure on your wound."

A hand tore a loose piece of fabric to apply pressure on the hemorrhaging wound. "See? You'll be okay . Gonnal get ya' all fixed up and good as new in no time ."

Damn Luce stills looks like an angel to me, Natsu mused in reverent admiration . Even with those injuries...

"Ooh- how cute!" Jackal's dervisie voice cut  through  the other demon’s reverie; whose arms automatically protectively tightened around Lucy's frame out of fierce instinct-automatic without a second though. Not to mention those two pair of eyes he could sense that set him on edge."

"Aw Damn." Jackal broke in again with a gleeful taunt that bordered on sadistic."That poor,pretty girl of you is covered in ugly bruises and scratches, Dragneel."

That little ...

Natsu's head automatically snapped around to meet Jackal with a baleful snarl. Damn was that all that black rage roaring in his veins all too consuming.

"There's that growling again" Jackal cackled, clearly unfazed at by the alpha demon's bared canines ." Bared fangs and what not. Such a shame what happened to Blondie here , or is it? You really did a number on her, huh Tempester?"

"Huh," Tempester mused, bland disinterest colouring his tone."it seems I did . Kind of forgot that my curses can sometimes have o delayed side effects on people . Who knows? That pathetic wrench might even have internal bleeding.

"You goddamned bastard!" The flame- eater raged, fury boiling over. "Lucy ain't pathetic or some kind of toy to play with ... God.. All those injuries… are you fault and . I swear that You're both gonna pay for what you did to her!"

"Oh-You think so?" Jackal scoffed with let out another infantilizing laugh —beyond infuriating .

"Someone's rattled." Tempster pointed out, listless eyes trained on the stone-brick wall ahead. "Unfortunate."

"You don't say," Jackal deadpanned, with a disdainful roll of the eyes ."But Seriously Though , E.N.D, do you even hear yourself? .I mean getting all riled up over a human girl in that way —talk about pathetic. Sure said girl is extremely beautiful with a killer bod and feisty personality to boot—I'll give you that. But is she worth losing your cool over or fraternizing with? I don't think so and neither should you . God knows all that pent up rage and aggression would be far more suited for another cause. Not to mention, you'd better off without her life tainting your judgement and hindering your full potential as the most powerful of all etherious. So let's resolve this, shall we? Hand over the celestial wizard and I'll gladly dispose of her for you . Sound good?"

" 'Sound good?'Sound Good?!’ Are you kidding me?"!

Good God did those last words only serve to incense the snarling dragon further.

" There's no way in hell I'm gonna give Lucy up or let either of you touch her!"

"Come on Dragneel-be reasonable."

"No-rot in hell!"

"Oh honestly E.N.D.-"

"My name is Natsu!"

"Well okay then, Natsu— Just calm down ." Jackal's couldn't seem to resist reprimanding the fire demon; as if he were some errant child pitching a fit ."You're being ridiculous. Anyways, tell you what. I promise to make her death as qui-"

"Shut up!"

" Quick and mostly painless..."

"I said shut up!" En.d's voice rose to an ear-splitting roar that could've struck terror into the hearts of the gods themselves. "Try anything on her and I swear I'll kill you!"

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To Be Continued

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A/N: Well that's Chapter 4 folks- hope you enjoyed! Now a bit more about the pandemic situation in Ontario . Like many other provinces and countries around the world,, the government of Ontario has opted to shut down/ temporarily close non-essential services, businesses, public spaces and institutions to help curb the spread of the virus for a few weeks (or more) before spring break. Such institutions include all schools and childcare centres/ services in those settings which applies to the childcare company I'm currently employed with. You know on account of most of their centres and programs being based in public schools. (Independently-run Daycares also remain closed. And yes i'm a ECE by trade for any who were wondering or didn't already). Schools and child cares were tentatively scheduled to reopen after April 5th; though the closures have been extended for another month (according to Doug Ford (the premier/leader of Ontario). Not ideal but at least it gives me some extra time for me to work on things alongside my writing(i.e editing upcoming chapters for fics and WIPS). All right folks, that's all I have to say on that subject.

As usual, please feel free to let me know what you think by leaving a comment/review , through a reblog or by any other means. Be sure to check out the rest of my writing while staying tuned for future updates of my fics and new projects along the way! (Links above, in the navigation and in bio If on tumblr . Also on fanfiction.) Anyway, take care and stay safe! Ta ta for now!

[highfivecalum]

Coachella {CH}

a/n: k so i’ve been dreaming about those pictures of calum like they’re haunting me in a good way so here’s some half assed/kind of shitty 3k one shot of coachella calum that i don’t expect to do well but i’m posting it anyway lmao so!!! anywayyy hope y’all like :))

It was hot out and the music was blasting. Everyone stood around the pool, laughing and singing along to the music, having photo shoots on their phones and expensive cameras. Coachella weekend was one the biggest and funnest occasions and of course Mallory and her friends were going to attend. They hadn’t missed it in years.

Her friends were a mixture of normal, non famous people like her, Instagram influencers, and actually, famous worldwide known people. Photographers, models, bands, you name it, she was friends with them. She couldn’t remember how her average self became friends with these people, honestly, but she was thankful for them. They didn’t act like they were famous, just like they were normal people like her, and she appreciated that. They didn’t treat her as if she was any less of their friend since she was normal.

Mallory huffed as she leaned over, resting her hands on her knees and trying to help the aching pain that was in her back. It was the third and last day of Coachella, and the standing and dancing all day and night the past forty-eight hours were taking a toll on her. Backaches weren’t common for her, so it felt like her spine was breaking off.

“You good over there?” Mallory lifted her head up at the sound of a voice, keeping her hands on her knees, an letting out a breathless laugh at Calum’s question. Calum Hood, one of her very famous worldwide known friends. The two of them weren’t as close and the rest of the band, but they still hung out and talked. He was usually reserved and closed off and Mallory knew that, so she didn’t take it personally.

“My back is fucking aching,” Mallory groaned. “Coachella ain’t for me this year.”

And she was right. Unlike the years before, it was hotter outside, her whole body was absolutely aching, and the exhaustion was taking over. But day three was always the most fun, so she wasn’t going to stay back at the house and miss out on the fun. She was going to troop it out and drink the pain away like everybody else was doing.

“Why don’t you sit down?” Calum took a long drag of his cigarette and exhaled the smoke. He watched as Mallory stood all the way up, throwing her head back in pain, and pressed his lips together at the sight of the glitter her and her friends had applied to their chests. She was glistening with glitter and sweat and her outfit was revealing, just like everybody else's. It was hard for him to keep his eyes off of her.

Calum had always had a soft spot for Mallory. He wasn’t sure what it was about her, but he was drawn to her the minute he met her. He was still distant and closed off, but he would talk to her when he was around her. He wanted to get to know her better, become closer, but he was scared of getting too close to anybody - minus his band - especially when it was a pretty girl with a personality that every guy fell for.

It wasn’t a secret that some of the guys in their friend group liked her as more than a friend and thought she was attractive. It was hard not to like Mallory. She was nice, probably the nicest one in their friend group, gorgeous, and could make anybody laugh. All in all, it was hard not to like Mallory. Even platonically. That’s why Calum tried to keep his distance.

Mallory looked around and frowned at the lack of chairs. All the lawn chairs were taken and the few fold-able camping chairs her friends had brought were in use, and sitting on the concrete ground was definitely not going to help ease the pain in her back. “There’s nowhere to sit.”

Calum looked around as well, noticing that the only place to sit was the ground. He wasn’t about to let her sit on the ground. But, he also didn’t want to stand. So, looking down at his parted legs, he looked back up at her and bit his lip in thought. “C’mere,” Calum patted his blue pant covered thigh. Mallory looked at his face and to his hand that was patting his thigh with raised eyebrows. “Sit on my lap. It’s better than the ground.”

Mallory and Calum weren’t affectionate. They had hugged maybe four times in the five years of being friends. Unlike Mallory and Michael or Luke or her other friends who often hugged every time they saw each other. So, she was hesitant. She couldn’t even try to lie to herself and say that his thigh didn’t look good to sit on, because it did. Too good.

Mallory was attracted to Calum the second she saw him. I mean, who wouldn’t be? She followed him on Instagram before she even met him in person, already being a fan of his band, so when she first met him and the rest of the band through a mutual friend, she was a little starstruck. But then she realized that she was already friends with famous people and the guys were no different.

Mallory looked around once more, hoping a seat had opened up, and sighed in defeat when one hadn’t. She took a few steps towards Calum and carefully sat down on his lap sideways, so her legs were in between his parted ones. She let out a breath and sighed happily as she instantly felt the ache subside just a little bit.

“Better?” Calum laughed.

Mallory nodded her head. “Much.” None of their friends thought anything of her sitting on Calum’s lap, really. They knew there was alcohol being consumed and weed being smoked, and nobody’s head was completely sober or clear, so it wasn’t too strange for Mallory to be sitting on his lap.

Calum was hyper aware of Mallory on his lap. She wasn’t heavy at all, but he could feel the warmth from her bare legs against his pants and could smell the coconut tanning lotion she had put on earlier mixed with the smell of the Strawberry Daiquiri she was currently drinking. Calum wasn’t one to drink fruity drinks, but it smelled so good, he had to at least try it.

“That good?” Calum pointed to her drink and she nodded her head as she took a long sip. It was hot out and the coldness of the drink did only a little to cool her down. She held the cup out to him, offering him a sip, and he gladly took it, offering her his cigarette in return. They both wrapped their lips around the ends of them and sucked and inhaled. “Damn,” Calum took another sip. “That shit is good.”

“Want me to make you one?” Mallory tried to get up, but realized Calum’s hand resting on her hip was a little too tight and kept her sitting down. She didn’t mind, though.

“Nah, ‘m good. I’ll stick to my Corona.”

Mallory snorted. “Strawberry Daiquiri too feminine for you, Calum? Gonna kill your masculinity?”

“That’s exactly what it’s gonna do, Mal.” Calum laughed and Mallory shook her head. They fell into a comfortable silence and listened to their friends converse. Mallory swayed back and forth to the music playing that was getting everybody hyped for the artists they were going to see later on that day.

Ashton was walking around taking pictures of everybody with his phone, acting as their photographer even though they had actual photographer friends there. His face lit up when he saw Mallory and Calum, looking more like a couple than friends since she was on his lap. “Cal! Mal!” Their heads shot up and looked at Ashton expectantly. “Picture time. Pose for me.”

Mallory instantly went into model mode and wrapped her arms around Calum’s neck, surprising him but not disappointing him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned back slightly so she wasn’t covering Calum’s face and grinned widely, showing off her pearly white teeth. Calum’s facial expression mirrored Mallory’s and instead of looking at the camera, he looked at her and admired her, thankful for the sunglasses on his face that covered his eyes. Nobody could see through them, so nobody could catch him staring at her.

Calum took a few solo, per Ashton’s request, and so did Mallory. Calum pulled her back down on his lap so the pair could look through the pictures Ashton took of them. They were cute and totally looked like they were a couple, but Calum didn’t mind. He hadn’t posted a picture on Instagram in a while and he knew that he had to bless the fans with good content, and that’s the best content he’s had in a while.

“These are so cute!” Mallory giggled tipsily.

Calum hummed in agreement and opened an app for picture editing. Once they were both satisfied, Calum sent them to Mallory like she asked him to and he sent them to himself off of Ashton’s phone. Calum’s thumb hovered over his Instagram app. “Mind if I post ‘em?”

Mallory’s eyes widened in surprise, but she shook her head no. “Not at all. Why would I mind?”

“Dunno.” Calum shrugged. “You know how the fans can be. They usually freak out when we post pictures with friends that are girls and I don’t want you gettin’ attacked by them.”

Mallory thought it was sweet how Calum was looking out for her. And she thought it was sweet that he wanted to posted a picture of the two of them. Sure, there were a few other pictures he was posting too; two of just himself and another of him, Ashton, and Luke, but still. She was involved and it made her happy to be a part of something.

“I’m surprised you wanna post them,” Mallory admitted. “I mean, you don’t post often, and when you do it’s never of you and some random girl.”

Calum frowned at Mallory thinking she was just some random girl. She was everything but that. They were friends, not the best of friends, but they had known each other for years. Sometimes, in his mind, Calum considered her one of his closest friends. “You’re not just some random girl, Mal. You’re a good friend. You know that.”

Calum gave her his blessing to post the one of them and she added some other ones of her and her girl friends, but her Instagram blew the fuck up with notifications, likes, and comments. Some good and some, most of them, bad. But she ignored them. She and Calum were just friends and nothing more than that.

⫸⫸⫸

Lingering touches and dancing close to one another were how Calum and Mallory spent the rest of their night. Calum had never been touchy, never been one to show affection to his friends, but after he had a few drinks and after Mallory got off of his lap, he couldn’t seem to take his hands off of her.

He had his arm around her shoulder as they walked through the crowd and watched from stage to stage. Or, if it was a particularly crowded set or crowd, Calum would instantly, without a second thought, take Mallory’s hand in his so he wouldn’t lose her. They danced together, Calum holding her hand up and spinning her around, or the two of them pressed against one and another.

This time, their friends did notice the touching. They didn’t think anything of the lap sitting, but the dancing and hand holding? It was out of the ordinary. That’s when Mallory’s friends pulled her to the side to question her.

“What is going on with you and Calum?”

“What do you mean?” Mallory furrowed her eyebrows.

“You two look like a couple.” Her other friend butted in.

“What?” Mallory laughed loudly. “Yeah, right. We’re friends, guys. You know that.”

“I have never seen Calum be that touchy with a friend before, Mal. Is there something goin’ on that you’re not telling us about?”

“No, guys, seriously,” Mallory grimaced as she spoke the next words that she wished she didn’t have to say. She had spent the whole day with Calum and it could have just been the alcohol in her system, but she found herself getting more and more attracted to him and starting to liking him, not just as a friend. It was crazy, she thought. But she coudn’t help it. “We’re friends, that’s all. Just friends.”

Her friends gave each other looks, but Mallory ignored them, and huffed in annoyance. She was tired, her feet and her back hurt, and she was not in the mood to be interrogated by her friends. She had already seen all of the performers that she wanted to, so she was ready to call it a night. If she didn’t leave soon she would get cranky and nobody wanted that.

“You don’t have to believe me, but it’s true,” Mallory shot down their thoughts before they could voice them again and let a yawn rip out of her mouth. “I’m leaving now. Tell everyone I say bye.”

Her phone was dead, so there was no option of calling an Uber, and the house they were staying in was a thirty minute walk, which was long but not the worst, so she decided on walking and not bothering the rest of her friends to leave with her and get her an Uber.

“Ay, Mal! Wait up!” She heard Calum call and she turned around, walking backwards once she made sure nobody was walking behind her. He continued jogging to catch up with her. “You leavin’ already?”

“Mhm,” Mallory hummed tiredly. “I’m tired and gonna call it a night.”

“I’ll go with you.” Calum pulled out his phone and went to order them an Uber, but it died just as the app opened. He didn’t want to make Mallory walk, but now they had no choice. Halfway through the walk, Mallory groaned in pain and kicked her platform sandals off. She couldn’t believe she had lasted in them all day and night. Calum stopped in place and crouched down in front of her. “Hop on.”

Mallory didn't even try to protest and happily jumped on Calum’s back. She let her arms hang on either side of his neck, her shoes in her hands, as she rested her head on his shoulder. She was exhausted and could have fallen asleep on his back, but every time he would shift and hike her higher up on his back and squeeze her thighs, she was wide awake. The feeling of Calum’s hands on her thighs had her thinking way too many thoughts she should not be thinking about a friend.

Once they were home, Calum let Mallory down and her bare feet barely hit the ground before she was losing balance and stumbling over. Her knees and feet were aching and standing was not something she was capable of doing anymore. But before she could hit the concrete, Calum was wrapping his arms around her waist and catching her.

Her breath hitched in her throat at how close their faces were, how close Calum’s lips were to her own, and she nervously swallowed the lump in her throat. Calum’s lips looked so plump and so fucking inviting and she wanted so badly to kiss them, but she didn’t have the balls to make the first move.

But it seemed she didn’t have to make the first move as Calum pressed his lips against hers. It took her less than a second to wrap her arms around his neck and deepen the kiss. They both wanted it so bad, wanted each other so bad, that they didn’t have to pull apart to make sure the other wanted it. They felt it and they just knew.

Calum’s dropped Mallory’s shoes, slid his hands down from her waist to her butt, and her thighs. He gripped them and lifted her up effortlessly. She wrapped her legs around his waist like she had done it so many times before and slid her fingers through his newly dyed blonde hair that she absolutely loved. Calum walked blindly to the patio that was hidden behind trees and bushes and fell back onto the couch that was there.

Her lips trailed down his lips to his neck and collarbones, sucking and biting, leaving marks on him. His breathing was unsteady, uneven, and he felt like a teenage boy when he felt himself getting hard that quickly, but that was just the effect she had on him and he loved it. He loved the way she made him feel and he had barely even felt her yet.

Calum peeled his shirt off and nearly tore off the knit tank top Mallory had on. Her lips trailed down his stomach as she slid off of his lap and her lips stopped just below his belly button. She expertly undid his belt, the button and zipper on his pants, and started taking them off, all the while his eyes never left her. He lifted his hips just a little bit to help her and he was left in just his tight boxer briefs that were even tighter against his already hard cock.

Mallory palmed him through his boxers and watched as his eyes fluttered shut just at the touch of her hand. She loved how he reacted to her. Pulling his boxers down, she didn’t warn him before her lips wrapped around his hard cock and began bopping her head up and down. She smirked against him when she heard the small moans and pants leave his mouth. She pumped what she couldn’t fit in her mouth and looked at him through her eyelashes. She swore that her new favorite sight was Calum like this; brows furrowed, eyes squeezed shut, bottom lip between his teeth to stifle his moans.

She got lost in looking at him, too entranced by his beauty and the facial expression and noises he was making just because of her, she was  surprised when he unexpectedly took a fist full of her hair and yanked her up from his cock. Attaching his lips to hers again as he mumbled against them, “As much as I love your mouth, wanna taste you.”

He slid down the couch, so only his back was on the cushions and his feet were planted firmly on the ground, and she was hovered over him. She was wearing a skirt so all he had to do was push her panties to the side and she was exposed to him. His mouth went to her heat, his tongue flicking against her clit, and she gasped. Her moans were endless and the grip she had on his curls was getting harder and harder the closer she was to her orgasm.

“Fuck, Cal,” Mallory moaned breathlessly, trying her hardest to be quiet since they were outside still, but it was hard not to be loud with how good he was making her feel. “‘M gonna cum.” He hummed in response, loving how she looked above him, and his tongue flicked harder. Her mouth hung open, her eyes squeezed shut, and her grip on his hair so hard her knuckles turned white. Calum’s new favorite sight, just like Mallory’s, was her coming undone above him.

She moaned his name as she came undone on his mouth and in one swift movement, he was sliding up the couch and she was sitting on his lower stomach, dangerously close to where he wanted her the most. He connected their lips and she didn’t care that she was tasting herself on his mouth, way too caught up in the moment of it all.

“Want you to ride me, baby.” Calum mumbled against her lips and Mallory didn’t have to be told twice. She lifted her hips, moving them back just less than a centimeter, and gave him time to retrieve a condom from his wallet. He slid it on and there was no more time wasted before she was sinking down on him. “Oh fuck, baby. Feel so, so fucking good around me.”

She bounced up and down on his cock, letting him guide her hips as much as he wanted, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, leaving love bites all over his skin as he gripped her hips so hard she was sure there would be bruises. But she didn’t care. Calum could do anything to her, leave bruises and hickeys all over her skin, and she wouldn’t care because it was him.

Calum took control, never letting her hips go as he thrust into her, staring into her eyes as he held her up since he knew she was getting close. His thumb came down to her clit, rubbing lazy but fast and effective circles against it, and by the look on her face, he knew that she was about to hit her second orgasm of the night. The way her jaw hung open and her eyes rolled into the back of her head, the way she threw her head back and let out a strangled moan, had Calum hitting his own orgasm.

They hit their highs at the same time, moaning each others names as they came undone together, and once they were done, they didn’t get up right away. They wanted to stay in that position; with Calum still inside of her and her around him. And even if she did want to move, she wouldn’t have been able to with the grip Calum still had on her and the way her already tired and sore legs were shaking.

“That was unexpected,” Calum mumbled against the skin on her shoulders, a light laugh leaving his lips. “Unexpected, but amazing.” She was too tired to respond, tired from being in the sun and on her feet and from all of the alcohol consumed during the weekend, and now from that, Mallory just hummed in response. “You tired?”

Mallory mumbled a ‘yes’ and she carefully got off of him, careful to steady her legs before she fell over, and the two of them dressed themselves in silence. It wasn’t an awkward or uncomfortable silence, it was nice, and they didn’t need to say anything to each other.

Calum found himself in Mallory’s bed instead of his own, in just his boxers now, with her next to him in his shirt and her underwear. He moved the hair that had fallen in her face and ran his thumb over her lower lip that was swollen from his teeth biting it. He couldn’t believe what had just happened, so unexpected and so fast, but so fucking good.

“We’re not just friends, are we?” Mallory asked sleepily, peeling her eyes open to see him. She too, just like Calum, was in shock about what had happened. There was no regrets between the two of them, though. They both knew it was more than just sex. 

Calum grinned and leaned forward, kissing her lips in a more tender, less rushed and less intense kiss as the ones the shared before. With complete honesty, he told her, “We never were, love.”

⫸⫸⫸

Taglist: @singt0mecalum @lockthisheartinchains @wrappedaroundcal @cosmocalum @roselukes @kinglyhood @babyurart @ ashtoniwir @cheyenne-in-wonderland @youmaycallmemrshemmings @cantbehandled-ever @gosh-im-short 

[thenovelartist]

Disruptor Designer and her Model, day 3

<Previous  Next>

3. Couple

Marinette was beside herself in excitement. After all, she was attending a fashion dinner she could only have dreamt about a few years ago.

She’d spent days sewing a ballgown that would be suitable enough for such an event. She was known as Ladybug, so, she would highlight that fact with her look. The dress’ skirt was full of layers of varying length, fading from red like the bodice to black. She decorated her hair with red ribbons, and to finish off her look, she wore a heavy ring of red eyeshadow with a few black dots by the corners of her eyes.

She was sure to make a statement. But that’s what Ladybug did.

She was greeted warmly enough by the host, to which Marinette grinned and thanked him for the invitation. When she entered the venue, her jaw dropped. It was practically dripping in crystals, distorting the lighting enough to make the whole place seem like it was glittering. The number of high-class designers here had her fangirling out on the inside.

But suddenly, once the initial awe ebbed, she realized she was standing in the middle of the room, completely out of her league. She didn’t do high-society events like this. She did little meet-and-greets with fans. She interacted with regular people, not with people who thought they were above those people.

So how was she supposed to navigate this?

“You look lost.”

Marinette jumped at the voice, then spun around…

Only to come face to face with Adrien Agreste.

She bit her tongue to hold in her word vomit until she was able to assemble it into something intelligible. “Maybe a little. I don’t exactly do events like… this.”

She patted herself on the back for her ability to speak as well as she did.

His grin widened. “Well, then maybe I can escort you around for a while? Until you understand the ropes?”

Her heart was flailing wildly. “That would be really kind of you. I’d appreciate it.”

He extended his arm to her, and she gladly took hold of it.

“Have you ever been to an event like this before?” Adrien asked.

She shook her head. “No. I’ve done large crowd events, but not for the high-class.”

He smirked. “Do you have any idea what happens at meetings like this?”

“My guess is a lot of talking business.”

“It’s all that happens,” Adrien informed. “And after a while, it gets rather boring. You learn who likes each other and who hates each other. You learn who’s backstabbing who. You learn who you can forge tentative alliances with, and who you can’t. You learn market trends and what’s likely to be in style and who’s hosting what event, etcetera, etcetera.”

“You make it sound like we’re spies gathering information.”

Adrien chuckled. A lovely sound, if Marinette were honest. “You have a lot of people who have their best interests in mind. They want their company at the top, and they do whatever they need to to make sure that happens.”

Marinette made a note of that.

“So what I’m trying to say, little Ladybug…” He bent over, his lips now close to her ear. “Is welcome to the wolf den.”

…

The moment Adrien had watched the angel in red walk down the stairs into the venue, he felt the overwhelming urge to protect her. That smile was too bright, too genuine for this crowd. One that would eat her alive.

He quickly swooped her under his wing, vowing that he would make tonight as enjoyable for her as he could make it. Thankfully, the few people he introduced her to were polite, talking about the fashion in the room over the fashion world in general.

At least, they could get along with that.

And then, dinner was served.

Thanks to assigned seating, Adrien couldn’t sit by her. He was seated between his father and another high-ranking designer. Ladybug, on the other hand, was on the other end of the table from him. Meaning he couldn’t protect her when one designer decided to pick on her.

“Miss Ladybug, you seem to occupy a… unique sector of the fashion world.”

“I don’t think the corner I occupy is unique,” she responded politely. “Just a different one from you.”

The man nodded. “And just how did you decide to occupy that corner?”

She paused, frozen. “Well, it started off as a hobby, and then the more I grew, the more I found ways to reach out to my audience and interact with them and learn from them what they wanted from me.”

“An… interesting approach,” the man said, gathering murmurs of agreement. “So, you would say you run more on the whims of other people than your own?”

“No, sir,” she respectfully explained. “I run on my own ideas, but it is my fans that tell me which of my ideas they like more.”

“And you find success in that? Letting other people tell you which ideas are the best rather than being the influencer?”

“I am an influencer, but what good is being an influencer if people don’t enjoy my content?” Ladybug spoke with authority, her tone strong and her posture proving she was not to be intimidated. “It would be as silly as a fashion designer who made things no one would want to wear. Isn’t that why all designers follow the trends the consumers set for them?”

The table went silent, staring at her in shock and awe, and in Adrien’s case, in pride. He’d been a follower of hers long enough to know she had to be a genuinely sweet person. The was a darling in the media. She could do no wrong. But apparently, Ladybug had a hard-enough exoskeleton to stand up to some ill-intended conversations.

And for that, his crush for her got a little bit worse.

The next conversation that happened when the next course was served, Adrien didn’t quite know how it started, but all he knew was that Ladybug was speaking again.

“I would say most of the market of consumers either doesn’t care about high-fashion or can’t afford it.”

“If most of the market doesn’t care,” some man said. “Then we wouldn’t have a business.”

There was a collective laughter at that. Adrien was watching Ladybug, already thinking of the best way to defuse the conversation if worse came to worse.

“What market are you talking about?" Ladybug challenged. “Everyone in the world wears clothes of some sort.”

“Yes,” a woman in a sleek black dress across from Ladybug said. “But what about people in our positions? People who need to present themselves as best they can? Men’s suits are a huge industry. And what about the women’s side? Does the average high-class woman not like looking as best they can? Having matching purses and shoes for every outfit?”

Ladybug stared down the woman.

“Of course,” Audrey Bourgeois herself spoke up. “Ladybug, you as a woman should know that a handbag can make the difference between looking sloppy or being at the height of fashion.”

“Yes, but height of fashion does not mean a two-thousand-dollar bag. That is the height of status. It’s entirely possible to spend less than two hundred and look like a millionaire just like it’s possible to shop in any last one of your stores and look like a complete fashion disaster.”

Adrien had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. Oh Ladybug, he thought, looking at the girl who smirked as she observed the lines of people with their jaws on the table. You have no idea what you’ve just started.

…

“I completely ruined any chance of being invited back, haven’t I?” she asked Adrien, who had kindly offered to escort her to her car. Marinette didn’t think it was too late, but people had started taking their leave shortly after dinner.

“Oh, my lady, you…” He chuckled, his smile bright with amusement. “You did something.”

She smacked her hand over her face. “I’m such an idiot.”

“Maybe,” Adrien said. “But I thought that was the most interesting dinner I’ve ever been to. For someone so ‘beneath their status’, you certainly put them all in their place.”

She groaned. What an idiot she was. How dare she say any of that. But having watched those people staring down at her… it was like being bullied back in high school and she’d sworn she’d never let people walk all over her like that again.

And while she’d felt empowered at the time, she realized that these were the kind of people who could tear her apart in the fashion world. They could destroy her.

“But,” Adrien continued, pulling her from her thoughts. “I honestly loved watching you do it.”

Her heart that had been racing with anxiety beforehand came to a screeching halt. And so did she, she soon realized when he turned around to look at her. “What?”

Adrien gave her a sweet, warm grin that could knock her to her knees at the moment. “I’ve been around people like that my whole life,” he said. “And it’s honestly so tiring watching all these really pretentious people who think they’re high and mighty because of their money and status, and some of them think they know everything.

“And then here you come,” he continued, taking a couple steps closer to close the distance. “Not a care in the world for their status or what they could do to you, and when they start bullying you, you just put them in their place and act like a queen doing it.”

She felt like she was going to pass out on the spot.

“And let me tell you, I am going to get some serious crap from my dad for showing you around tonight and escorting you out like we’re some couple instead of near strangers, but I honestly couldn’t care less. Because from what I can tell, it was worth it. And…” He shuffled nervously, glancing down at his feet for a second before meeting her gaze once again. “You’re a very interesting woman, Miss Ladybug, and I would really like if you would grant me the opportunity to take you out on a date.”

[antiquecompass]

Untamed Winter Fest Day 30: Wish

New Year’s Eve at Lotus Pier was relatively calm considering the family and place in question. New Year’s Day brought the whole family together in a large early evening meal, the first gathering of the year. Madame Yu released her iron-tinsel grip of holiday control to let everyone spend New Year’s Eve how they would. There was a small family dinner earlier in the night. Later on the kids would gather in the playroom under Madame Yu’s watchful eyes, excited to stay up far past their bedtime to watch the ball drop, all with fancy party crowns and plastic flutes of sparkling apple cider or grape juice. Mr. Jiang would also spend the night by his wife’s side, quietly, contently watching over the younger Jiangs, Yus, Jins, and now one little Lan.

A peaceful evening where they both could find quiet joy in their family.

Both of them had sacrificed much of their own happiness for the sake of their marriage, made so many mistakes in raising their children, and yet, somehow, they were allowed--gifted--this, to be grandparents and grand-aunts-and-uncles to a whole new generation.

A thing to remember, the power of forgiveness and kindness, as another year started.

Madame Yu sat in one of the rocking chairs, little Meihui in her arms, as he husband sat with the older grandchildren, blowing into noisemakers along with all the kids. She turned her eyes back to her first great-grandchild and said her thanks, over and over again, in her head to the gods, to the universe, to the young boy she’d been horrible to for so many years, to let her have this, even though she knew she didn’t deserve it.

A new year, a perfect time to make amends.

**********

Wei Wuxian firmly believed in ending the year the way he wanted to start it, which always meant in his Lan Zhan’s arms. His husband indulged him, and his love for the night and stars, and would always cuddle and huddle with him under a mountain of blankets on the family’s private pier. They’d stay there for hours, looking out on the water, the winter night sky above them, as they waited for one year to end and the other to begin. On a pier, with fireworks above them; a familiar, beloved thing. They didn’t check the time as they sat out there, could hear the cheers and the noise from the house when it switched over to midnight. They stayed out even after the new year officially started, warming each other, trading kisses and whispers and wishes for the year to come until it was time to sleep.  

***********

Jiang Yanli often spent her New Year’s Eve in the kitchen. There were some foods that just tasted better the next day and it was easier to work in the kitchen when the rest of her family were otherwise occupied. It also helped that while she waited for things to set or cook or bake, she got to sit back and watch her husband in his own element. His gold and silver apron was already covered in flour. There was some in his hair and on his cheek. For a man so often put impeccably together, he was an absolute mess in the kitchen. He was in the process of making three different vasilopita. He’d learned to make them as a kid from his favorite nanny and it was a tradition he’d brought to their family during his first Jiang Holiday Gauntlet.

“Do you see something you like?” Zixuan asked, looking up from his cake tin.

“Yes,” she said. She walked over to him, dusting some of the flour off his face. “Is that a problem?” She trailed her hand down to the front tie of his apron and started to pull at the knot.

“We only have twenty minutes until the current cake is done,” Zixuan said.

“Then I suggest you get to work.”

His eyes strayed to the door and then back to her. He kissed her quickly before stepping away, grabbing one of the heavy wooden bar stools and shoving it against the kitchen door. It wouldn’t stop any hungry invaders, but it’d buy them some time.

“Eighteen minutes and counting,” she said as he husband finally returned to her arms.

**********

Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi hadn’t spent that many New Year’s Eves together. An amazing thing, really, considering how long they’d known each other. But Jingyi had only been attending the celebrations at Lotus Pier since he was eighteen. He was just barely twenty-five now, and the past year had been an utter whirlwind. Sizhui was only  in his second year of teaching at Lan Academy. They still had unpacked boxes in their house from the move back to the Berkshires. March saw the birth of their Little Butterfly, their Meihui. That had consumed most of their time, as Jingyi gladly put his career on hold to take care of their daughter. He still worked some days at the Lan Law Offices, Meihui strapped to his chest, but that was basically to do notary work and help file papers. Then there had been the Olympics in July, cheering and yelling themselves hoarse as Jin Ling competed and medaled in both individual and team events. They had to watch from home, but they’d done so with a house full of Lans and old friends from Lan Academy who were proud to see just how far their little peacock prince had come.

It had been a very busy year.

“Any wishes for the New Year?” Sizhui asked as he rested against Jingy’s chest.

They’d taken advantage of everyone else in the house being occupied, and the offered babysitting, to take a nice, long, relaxing soak in the large guest bathroom. Jingyi honestly couldn’t remember the last time they’d enjoyed a bath together.

“Sleep,” Sizhui said.

“Samesies,” Jingyi agreed.

“You can’t samesies a New Year’s wish,” Sizhui teased.

“Just did,” Jingyi said. He kissed the top of Sizhui’s head and cuddled him closer. “We either need to get out soon or we’re both going to fall asleep. That’s dangerous in this house.”

“I know,” Sizhui agreed. “But just a little longer.”

“A little longer,” Jingyi agreed.

*********

The past year had been amazing for Jin Ling. He doubted any other would top it, at least not soon, but he’d achieved a life-long goal and was finally in a relationship with the man he’d loved since he was sixteen. This year he’d gained that relationship, two Olympic medals, and a dog. It was kind of hard to imagine the new year could top this one.

But this time he was ending his amazing year and starting the next one with Zizhen at his side.

His only plan for the future was relocating to Rhode Island and moving in, finally, with Zizhen. No longer an entire ocean between them, both finally in the same place, at the same time.

They were in their own room for now, resting against each other, watching New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Eventually, as it got closer to midnight, they’d drag themselves downstairs to ring in the New Year with all the kids, but for now they were just taking the time to be.

Jin Ling never knew he could love such simple, quiet moments, with those arms around him, so very much.

He smiled as Zizhen kissed the top of his head.

“Falling asleep?” Zizhen asked. “Go ahead. I’ll wake you up in time.”

**********

There was a time when Jiang Cheng often left the Vineyard for New Year’s Eve, attending parties in the name of Jiang Industries. He’d usually make it back for the New Year’s Day meal by the skin of his teeth, but it’d been nearly eighteen years since he’d last attended one of those parties. His plans had changed after that last New Year’s Eve party in Boston. A party where he’d been surprised to see Lan Xichen as well, across the room of Linda and Maryann Kenyon’s New Year’s Eve gala. It was the one year he didn’t make it back for the New Year’s Day meal, spending it instead with Xichen and the Nies. He didn’t know then that’d he’d be spending every single New Year’s Eve and Day with Xichen from that year on.

He straddled Xichen’s lap now, running a finger over his brow, as he remembered that night.

“Even with that mask on at the gala, I knew it was you, because of these eyes,” he said.

Xichen’s fingers tightened on his hips, pulling him even closer.

“I was so desperate to kiss you that night,” Xichen confessed.

“I wanted you to,” Jiang Cheng said. “I would’ve let you.”

“You weren’t ready yet,” Xichen said.

No, not he wasn’t. And he would’ve loved the kiss then, but he would’ve dismissed it as something Xichen just did to be nice, because it was New Year’s Eve, and it was midnight.

“And I wanted more than just a kiss,” Xichen whispered into his mouth, one hand now cupping the back of Jiang Cheng’s neck and guiding him down to his lips.

The house filled with loud cheers and yells for the New Year as the old grandfather clock in the hall stuck midnight and the fireworks started over the water.

Jiang Cheng clung to Xichen, kissing him over and over and over again, as much as he wanted to that night, and the following morning, as much as he wanted to every day, even after nearly twenty years together.

[fallen029]

Impressive

The bar was dead and there was really no reason for the two of them to both be on shift.

That's what Kinana told Mirajane that late afternoon, the hour teetering on evening, as they both, mostly, sat idly by. It was the rush before S-Class and, well, most everyone was off attempting to impress the new master. A tall order, considering who he was.

Laxus sat there in his mostly empty hall, sipping at beer and giving glares to any who dared to still hang around, rather than snatch up one of the final jobs that were tacked up on the board. It would be the first time he got to do it. Pick and test those in the guild. His guild.

As those probably not very worthy worried over what it would mean, to be picked, those who were certain over being picked fretted over just what demented things Master Laxus might subject them. It was a frightening time, all around.

Except, of course, for those who already received the highest honor in the guild. Mirajane and Erza. The latter was off, anyways, as she had been for a month, on an S-Class job, while the former seemed somewhat bored, as she always did, when the hall was so empty.

"You'll have a chance," Lisanna told her with a grin as she set out with Elfman, "to have the house to yourself. And the hall, practically."

"You can finally scrap the gum off the bottom of the tables," her brother offered helpfully and they were both grinning because they were getting to go off, on a job usually out of their talent level, but to impress the new master? They'd smash it. Definitely. Well, hopefully.

There were benefits in what they were saying, of course. Having the Strauss house, her house, to herself, would be very nice. And when the hall was so empty, she wasn't rushing all about mindlessly and tiredly attempting to keep order in the chaotic setting. Meal times were relentless and, recently, as the cold set in, everyone was staying in doors more, drinking to keep warm.

But for a moment, there was a reprieve and she should enjoy it, the woman knew. Yes. A calm before the storm that was everyone returning, all at once, packing the hall in hopes of their names being called out above the others. Considering the conciseness of this list, there would inevitably be hurt feelings, sulking, and drunken bar fights late into the evening.

It was, to say the least, a busy time for her.

So she should be soaking up the peace currently being gifted to her.

Kinana explained as much as they both stood behind the bar together, the older woman sighing some as she wiped down the counter top. The younger was all smiles though as she insisted that, if one of them had to waste their day away up there, then she would gladly fall on the sword.

"You deserve some time off," Kinana offered gently and Mirajane returned her grin, but it was with a slight shake of her head as well.

"No, you go," the Takeover mage insisted. "Honestly, Kinana, you deserve the time off just as much as me. And surely there's something you wanna do? Tonight? Everyone I'd want to spend the time with is gone off on jobs."

"W-Well," she hummed as she thought, "I did want to get down to the mark and-"

"Then go. Right now." Mira was still all smiles. "I'll hold down the fort just fine."

She had without help, after all, for some time before she took Kinana on.

Mirajane was glad to see the younger woman go though. For more reason than one. And, as she finished with her wiping down of the bar, she only took her time then, to go around to the only three tables occupied, and refill drinks and check in. Make idle conversation.

It was the Master's table that she saved for last.

"You just send my workers away now, huh? Think you got that power? Mirajane?" He snorted as she filled his mug of ale back to the brim, foam forming a perfect bubble atop. "Without even speaking to me? Your master?"

"I'm the head of the bar staff, Laxus."

"Master," he corrected, "Laxus."

But she gave him a look as she bent over again, the table, feigning as if she were straightening some of the papers he had strewn about the table. Instead, her eyes were only on his and Laxus shifted uncomfortably as he got a new view down her dress.

"Maybe you'd be more comfortable working your office? Master?" She raised an eyebrow. "If you'll allow me, since I would never dream of doing something without your permission, I'd like to close up early tonight."

"This early?"

"If you'll let me."

"Give it another hour. In case someone comes by looking for dinner." He stood then, taking his mug and now piled papers with him. "Bring me mine to my office after you finish up in here."

"Of course," she agreed with a grin at his fleeing back then, as the man headed to do as she'd suggested. "Master Laxus."

"Ya kickin' us out, Mirajane?" Cana complained with a slur, over where she was downing a barrel. There was no fear in her, about being picked for S-Class; there was no way Laxus wouldn't pick her. He wouldn't dare.

No way.

Showing out was for those who didn't have an in with the man.

And the Thunder Legion, still, because they'd show out no matter what. Even if all three became S-Class, they'd still challenge themselves constantly, to go above and beyond.

But not her. Not that year. She wanted to drink her days before the announcement away.

"Yes," Mira told her in no uncertain terms as there was a bit of a groan from those gathered about. "But...how about a free round? For everyone?"

That got a cheer and Mirajane grinned. It would teach the new master, anyways, for trying to talk down to her about permission and all that.

He was too busy, anyways, sitting around in his office, not considering deeply his picks for S-Class and who was impressing as of late, or even focusing on the paperwork before him. No. Laxus could only watch the clock and clench his jaw, annoyed he'd held out for another hour, because it was killing him, so much, the waiting.

It wasn't hunger. No. He'd drank his fair share for the day and it was suppressing, honestly, the majority of his appetite. No. His meal was far from his mind.

But time just seemed to be dripping by and he could only think about it, think about how long it was taking, when it would end, and he could stop pretending to care anything about the guild. How could you care about the guild? Or any of the things that went along with being it's master? When you knew what was coming soon enough? Soon enough, but still not nearly fast enough.

"Is everyone gone?"

"Uh-huh," Mirajane hummed as she came into his office, bearing a tray of food. Setting it down on the man's desk, she smiled brightly as his eyes didn't even fall to inspect what she'd brought. "Some not so happily, but we're all alone."

"And you did your...what do you do? To close up?"

"Well, tonight I scrapped some at the gum at the bottom of the tables and-"

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Fucking gross."

"You could always help. You know."

"The fuck I can. I'm the Master. Did you forget?"

"No."

She was humming too as, now just standing before his desk, she seemed to deflate a bit. The excitement wasn't brimming inside of her, like it was the man; rather, she was kind of tired and thankful, at least, for getting to escape the place so early. Unlike it would have been were it done Kinana's way, however, it was now, hopefully, with the accompaniment of the man before her. That was more than enough to produce satisfaction for Mirajane; it made the whole thing worth it, even. Still, a sigh of contentment was all that left her mouth, rather than the joyful sneer that consumed Laxus'.

"That was smart thinking, you know." He was standing, ignoring his food completely still, as he moved around the desk and over to the woman. "Get rid of Kinana, then get rid of all the patrons. Now it's just us. Me and the demon. Like is should be."

"Of course, Master."

"No more Master." He was before her now and, reaching out, his pushed her hair back, exposing her neck just enough for him to press a kiss there as he let out a slow breath. "Just Laxus."

"Dragon."

"That works too," he snickered as her head fell to rest on his shoulder as well. "It's a special time though. You know."

"I know."

"So much tot hink about and consider."

"It's stressful for me too."

"How?"

"No one's here. At all. The majority of my pay is from tips."

"I could solve that."

"Give me a raise?"

"You're my demon." He lifted his head and now his smirk seemed kind of smug. "How about ya quit working in this dump-"

"I mean, it's your guildhall now, so I probably wouldn't call it-"

"-and live with me, eh? I'll take good care of ya."

"Think I'll pass."

"Your loss." His eyes were still alight regardless. "My place has central air, heating, no annoying siblings that are still living at home because they're not as worthy as I am-"

"They're trying to impress you right now." Her tone changed then, as effortlessly as always. Still, she was sure to add, "Everyone is."

It would be her undoing though.

"Everyone, huh?" He snorted, first thinking of those losers that, at one time, he'd love to kick to the curb. The ones still being their typical bar fly selves, sitting around the guildhall and offering up nothing for their new leader. But then, his own tone changed and his smirk felt even more dickish. "Not everyone."

"Yes, everyone." Mira didn't catch it. "Elfman really wants another chance at-"

"The Scarlet bitch isn't impressing me."

"Excuse me?"

"And you," he kept up, rather than continue on down that path (it had no good outcome for him), "aren't impressing me."

"We're already S-Class."

"And?"

"And?" she challenged back, but Laxus was taking a step away from her then, back to his desk chair, which he fell into with an easy grin.

At her raised eyebrows, he only remarked, "I'm still your master."

"I thought you said no more master?"

"Just for a bit," he decided. With a toothy grin, he was sure to add, "Now impress me."

"Are you serious?" She even laughed some, Mria did, while he returned it with the same gleam in his eye he'd had since she joined him in the office. "Laxus?"

"Master."

"Dragon."

"Master. Right now."

"You're silly."

"You're not gonna get out of it. I'm Master." It was becoming easier and easier to declare himself that, in those days. "Impress me. Mirajane."

He felt so powerful and in control then that it was a huge blow to his ego when she started giggling into her palm.

"Hey," Laxus complained, eyes falling easily into a glare. "You're not supposed to laugh! We were having a moment."

"In your grandfather's office? Now that's gross."

"My," he grumbled, "office."

"Well, I'm not having sex here. Sorry."

So was he.

Still, Laxus scratched at his cheek as he grumbled, "Well...I did mention I have air condition, right?"

"It's cold out."

"Got heat too."

"But not that cold."

"Demon-"

"You know," she hummed then and, when she came over to him now, it was with shining blue eyes and an innocent expression, "I do have the house to myself. For the next few days. Since my siblings are out risking their lives to impress you. Master."

"Laxus," he corrected once more, but softer now as he considered. "We've never stayed at your house before."

"Well, someone else is always there."

And it was imperative that no one knew they were together. Neither were quite sure why, had never had a full conversation on it, but had long come to the conclusion, together, that it was just best if things stayed between the two of them.

So far, this was very much the case.

"No." He even shook his head. "It's 'cause you live in a dump."

Her expression and gaze changed. To one he had hoped to avoid that night.

"Uh, no. I don't."

"You sure?"

"Laxus-"

"Dragon." Getting to his feet, he grabbed his coat. "Did you forget?"

"Nope." She smiled to, once more, as he came to lay it over her shoulders. "I didn't."

"Should I be worried though?" he asked as they left that night, with her home the destination in mind. Mirajane had put some foil over his untouched dinner, knowing that he'd be hungry for it soon enough. "About this place?"

"What about it?"

"You know, old houses and all their...issues."

"Like you just live in the most modern apartment in the world."

"What about lead paint? Huh? That's a thing, ain't it?"

"Unless you're eating paint chips on the regular, I think your safe."

"Any rusty nails about? That I might step on? I'm a guild master now, Mirajane; I can't be taken down by tetanus."

"I don't even know what that is." Still, Mira thought some as she said, "I do have a big dog though."

"A what? You do not."

"I do so."

"I've never heard you mention this."

"Well, because he's the neighborhood's dog, really. But mostly mine. He sleeps in my front yard. So you'll have to run for it."

"Run for what? The dog?"

"The door. He doesn't like strangers."

"Maybe I don't like dogs, huh? And I'll just fill him up with lightning."

"And maybe you won't be invited inside."

"I'm liking the sound of my place more and more," he griped with a frown down at her. "Demon."

But she only held her head high, continuing on at his side as she said, "But it's missing the most important thing."

"What's that? Huh?"

"Me, dragon."

Well…

"Besides," she went on as he only stifled a bit, unable to find a suitable retort (when she had him beat, she had him beat), "I still have a lot of impressing to do, once we get there. Don't I?"

"Yeah," he was able to get out, excited by the thought now. He found himself adding regardless, "But keep your dog away from me."

"If you start coming around more, you won't be so much of a stranger."

"Get your brother and sister out of the house more and maybe I'll think about it."

"Really?"

Mira skeptical, but Laxus' arm only fell over her shoulders, pulling her close. They usually didn't do this, so publicly. It was bad enough, him walking with her, his fluffy coat draped off his shoulders, but they could easily just claim he was being a good guy, walking her home and all, jacket for the cold. This gesture, however, was far harder to explain away. Still, Mirajane didn't resist his hold and, as they walked along, she wished they could be like this more.

"One day," Laxus promised, softly, when she expressed it to him later that night, looking rather content in what he claimed was too small of bed, for the two of them, and sheets not fit to grace the body of such a high esteemed man. As she sat beside him, toying with her guitar, the music lulling him to sleep, Laxus only shut his eyes, impressed less by the woman and more with how good it felt, how real it felt, to just be them, there, in her home. "Demon."

She sure hoped so.

[ase-trollplays]

1-5, 9, 13?

1. is there a muse that you wish gets more attention?

HANNAH NANNAH. I love my baby monster so much, but I hardly get to use them. They’re a difficult muse to get into, but when I feel them I feel them hard, and I desperately want them to have friends and people to talk to.

2. if you HAD to choose, who’s your favorite muse?

Hell, this is a tough one. D: It’s a tie between Karell and Cacoph. Cacoph is just such a fun, wholesome, friend-shaped boy who just wants to make people happy and stay out of trouble. He’s so much fun! Karell is also super fun because he just has no filter. He says and does whatever he’s thinking, and he gets into all kinds of mischief and says and does stupid crap all the time, and it’s super liberating playing someone so completely carefree.

If I had to choose between the two of them, I think Cacoph would take it.

3. which muse is the trickiest to get into character for?

Probably Allmah. She’s a completely irredeemable, awful, terrible person, and i have a really hard time playing evil characters. I mean, Sonja and Shadah are both evil, but they were two of my first fantrolls, so they developed a lot and have more to fall back on. Allmah, though. Something about her just makes her so much harder to get into character for. DX

4. is there a muse that not a lot of people roleplay with?

There’s Hannah, who I mentioned before. There’s also Psilar, Shadah, and Varoll. Honestly, it’s partly my fault because I don’t rp with them as much as I should.

5. if you HAD to choose, who’s your least favorite muse?

Allmah, hands down. She’s just. Literally the worst kind of person. She’s a user and abuser, deceitful, untrustworthy, and will stab you with the same hand she fed you with the second she decides you no longer benefit her. Everyone should hate her. She’s terrible.

9. why were you drawn to each one of your characters?

Psilar Thiomi, and Cacoph -- Who I’ve lovingly named my wholesome trio -- are just so good and nice and caring of others and friendly, and I love characters like that.

Florah is my sweet baby and I want to see him get better and be happy. I also like to play him because he acts sort of like a funnel for when I’m feeling down. I struggle with mental illness -- Primarily depression and anxiety -- and I tend to project that onto him. I guess you could say he’s a comfort character.

Karell, I already explained above what draws me to him. XD

I’m drawn to Maeron because it’s kinda fun playing someone so opposite to myself. I’m an introverted shut-in with anti-charisma and living my life vicariously through rainbow blooded grey aliens. She’s a fun-loving, charismatic sex bomb with huge personality. It can be uncomfortable roleplaying her sometimes, but overall playing my complete opposite it kinda fun.

As for everyone else? I can’t really say why I’m drawn to them. I just like them and want them to be happy. c:

13. what’s a weird headcanon you have for each of your muses?

Jesus that’s like fourteen headcanons holy shit. @_@ I dunno if I can come up with that much on the fly, so I’m gonna go through some of their tags and pull stuff from there.

Corali can’t write with her right hand; the fingers on her metal arm aren’t great at delicate work, so after giving up on trying to re-learn how to write with her right hand, she trained herself to write with her left.

Cacoph’s hatred of crickets comes from his lusus dropping one on his face when he was two sweeps old.

There are very few trolls in Psilar’s bloodline that are cisgender; the number of cisgender Alalias there’s ever been over countless generations stretching (probably) thousands of years can be counted on one hand. Psilar is agender, their ancestor is a trans man, and their descendant is genderfluid.

Thiomi is ridiculously punctual. You could set a watch to her. She has the inexplicable ability to always be exactly on time for any appointment or plans, even if something unexpected happens. If she’s ever late or doesn’t show up at all, it’s a sign that she could be in danger.

Florah keeps his midriff bandaged up because he hates seeing the massive scar left from being impaled. He only removed the bandages to shower, and even then he keeps his eyes closed so he doesn’t have to look at it.

Shadah takes really short showers. She’s not one to relax often, and she only does what’s necessary: Get in, wash up, rinse off, get out. She doesn’t even take warm showers because she doesn’t like waiting for the water to heat up, plus the cold water helps her be more alert.

Karell has a collection of brightly colored booty shorts with different things written over the ass. He takes a lot of pride in his collection and will gladly show it off if asked.

Sayble’s favorite genre of music is polka.  He considers it a guilty pleasure and refuses to tell anyone out of embarrassment.

Sonja actually used to follow the mirthful messiahs religion when he was younger. However, many of the other subjugs he met were either lazy faygo chuggers, overly sexual, or hyper violent. He left after only a week without having even joined a troupe or a sect. He kept wearing the paint to hide his freckles for several sweeps, though.

Maeron used to have a beauty mark on her left cheek, but the explosion that scarred half her body burned it off

Due to corrupting herself, Allmah’s blood is extremely toxic. There is a 95% chance you will die within the hour if you consume any part of her. If you survive, then CONGRATS! NOW YOU’RE DEMONICALLY CORRUPTED TOO!

If Varoll really likes you, she will insist on having something with your scent on it, and if she really, really likes you she’ll give you something with her scent as well.

Hannah was somehow the calmest yet most high maintenance grub ever. They were content to spend hours just laying somewhere soft and quiet or placed in really warm water.But they got overstimulated super easily, so most of the time they were screeching because they were being held too much, or where ever they were was too crowded, or there was too much noise, or someone handling them had a Bad Texture on their clothing, or someone made eye contact too much, or they were too cold