#I’m also so worried he gave me an sti so this is the least he can do lmao

[teethpaste]

One of my FWBs just paid off lol I got his criterion channel login 🥳🙂‍↕️

Tonight’s choice : sorcerer (1977)

[quack-quack-snacks]

Time Will Tell - Chapter 1.17

My Time Will Tell Masterlist

My Cha Hyun-su Masterlist

My Navigation and Masterlist

The Time Will Tell Glossary

Warnings: Grieving, crying, Hyun-su having self depricating thoughts. Word Count: 2,156

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You waited by the entrance to the stairs all night, your eyes begging for sleep but your persistent worry over Hyun-su taking priority. The only time you got up from your seated spot on the ground was when you heard fighting.

You thought fighting was kind of a loose term for it, though. It was really just Sang-wook killing Yoon-jae after finding out he kidnapped and killed all those kids. You only saw a glimpse of the pictures from the phone he dropped before Jae-heon picked it up but it gave you enough of an idea of the situation. 

Okay... So Mr. Blazer has good style and a good heart. A great combination.

You hadn’t realized you dozed off until two familiar tiny people tackled you.

“Unnie!”

“What! What? Huh?” You woke up with a start, snapping your head up and not realizing who-what-when or where you were until you saw ⅔ rds of the three people you’d been missing horribly for the past week clinging to you like you’d disappear. “Oh, my- dongsaeng? You’re here!” You hugged them close to you, kissing both of them on the head as you tried to comprehend everything. When they pulled back from you, you saw how their faces were tear-stained and how the cries weren’t stopping. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” You asked them anxiously. 

“A-appa... he... Noona...” Yeong-su cried out in broken sentences, returning his head to the crook of your neck where he sobbed quietly. 

“W-what?” You asked nervously. 

“Appa f-fell from the window,” Su-yeong started to continue her brother’s words, “H-he’s gone.”

She also returned her face to the other crook of your neck, relying on you for comfort despite this being your first time hearing about it. 

Hyun-su and Eun-hyuk watched from further down the hall, their conversation being interrupted from the moment your siblings saw your sleeping form. They saw the shock in your eyes and the way your arms tightened around the two, squeezing them close and caressing their hair while whispering sweet words of comfort into their ears. Slowly, they continued their conversation from before the distraction, still glancing over at you occasionally but not focusing all their attention on your family moment. A moment you would probably want to remain private. 

The conversation stopped again when they looked over again and saw you walking towards them, your two siblings asleep on each shoulder. It was heartbreaking to see the unshed tears that gathered along your waterline as you stopped in front of them. You flashed them a quick, watery, halfhearted smile. “I’m gonna go put them in the daycare for bed and maybe get some rest too. I’ll see you both tomorrow,” you addressed them both before facing Hyun-su and speaking to him directly, your voice breaking halfway through. “T-thank you for bringing them home to me.”

He didn’t know what to say so he just nodded and allowed you to pass by him and Eun-hyuk. You sniffled, trying to keep it together at least in the presence of your siblings, not wanting even the slightest chance of them seeing you like that. You knew they needed you to be strong. You were the only person who they could turn to right now. You couldn’t break, for their sake. 

When you got to the nursery, you gently placed them down in the napping corner, placing your jacket over them when you found the small box labeled ‘BLANKETS’ empty. You didn’t wait long before lying down next to them, giving each of them a kiss on the forehead and resting your head on your arm. You knew you wouldn’t be getting any sleep that night, but it was okay.

As long as they were with you. 

You were right to think you wouldn’t get any sleep because you didn’t. You stayed up the rest of the night swallowing your tears and brushing your fingers through the two children's hair when they stirred. You heard the whispers, saw the shadows of the residents who gave you space - most likely a command from Eun-hyuk that you would thank him for later. You were thankful, but it just made the need to cry even worse. 

You stayed there until the morning light shone through the covered windows and onto the two beside you. You watched fondly as the light made the two stir but wasn’t enough to wake them up. It was relieving honestly. You weren’t sure you were ready to be strong just yet. 

Instead, you got up to leave the room, knowing they would be safe while you were gone, especially since you wouldn’t be gone for long. You traveled to the area of the lobby designated to food with a hollow look in your eyes. The supermarket had been completely cleared out since Seok-hyeon started his symptoms so the food could be managed and distributed properly. 

You could see the pity and sympathy each resident you passed by gave you but you paid them no mind. You didn’t want to think of what you lost. You wanted to think of what you regained. And what you regained was two of your precious family members that you loved so dearly. 

“‘Morning,” you said to Jae-hwan, the current resident in charge of the food distribution, with your lips curled up the slightest in a pathetic attempt at a smile. “I’ll come back for my sibling and I’s food in a bit but could I just have Cha Hyun-su’s portion? I want to give it to him myself.”

He looked surprised before a slightly disgusted expression took hold of his face. “Why would you want to do that? He’s just a freak, you shou-”

��I haven’t had a great past 24 hours, so I’d suggest you shut your mouth while I’m still feeling nice,” you warned, giving him a tired glare that still seemed to do the trick as he swallowed nervously. He nodded and served you Hyun-su’s portion without any further comment. You gave him a nod of acknowledgment when he gave it to you, no longer bothering with the fake smiles. 

The walk to the arcade room was a nice change of pace, the soft chatter that filled the main area quieting with each step you took and leaving you to yourself. As you entered the arcade, you made sure to be mindful of your volume since Seok-hyeon was still asleep, snoring peacefully on the couch. 

It bugged you that of all people, he got the couch, but what could you do about it? Hyun-su wouldn’t complain, you knew that much about him, so it wasn’t worth fighting for it if he would just give it up before it was given to him. 

Speaking of the boy, he was awake before you walked in, sitting on his makeshift bed and looking at nothing. 

You walked over silently and sat down beside him. He didn’t make any moves to show he noticed your presence besides the small twitch of his fingers which lay in his lap. You sat there with your own hands in your lap, waiting for the right moment to give him the food you held. After a minute, it seemed like there wasn’t a perfect time to hand it over so you just reached over and placed the food in his lap with a plop! 

He looked down to see what was there and saw a bowl of rice and a small pack of seaweed. With minimal emotions showing on his face, he turned to look at you in question. 

“A thank you,” you explained. “For bringing my family back to me. I would’ve gone up long before if I realized my dad…” You swallowed harshly and looked away when you felt tears building up in your eyes. “Just… Thank you.”

“I was just doing what I was told,” Hyun-su muttered rather dejectedly as he also looked away from you. “That’s all.”

“But that’s not all,” your voice broke and you looked up, trying to stop your tears from falling. “You saved them after my father lost his l-life and couldn't protect them anymore. After I couldn’t protect them. That is something I will never be able to fully repay you for, but I can at least keep you as well-fed as the rest of us. So eat up,” you insisted while abruptly standing up and walking back towards the exit when the first tear of many fell down your cheek. 

Hyun-su let you walk off without a word, too wrapped up in his shock over you wanting to thank him when he wasn’t even able to save your dad. While he knew his death wasn’t his fault and was the fault of that eye monster, it was still something he could have done to help avoid. Then those kids would still have their father. You would still have your father. 

It was as if you heard his thoughts as you stopped in the door frame and turned your head slightly. Not enough to let him see your tear-stained cheeks but enough so you were speaking more directly to him. 

“I don’t blame you. For anything. You did your best, and you helped people. You help people. That’s all I could ever ask for.”

And then you left the room.

You stopped by the bathroom and kitchen before heading back to the daycare, rinsing the evidence of tears off your face and grabbing your siblings and your rations. You carried them carefully but they fell from your hands the moment you heard the undeniable sound of your siblings’ wails. You ran, not caring about the food on the floor - it was all sealed individually anyway so it didn’t matter - you only cared about the safety of your siblings. You thought they would be safe by themselves, were you wrong?

No. 

You weren’t wrong.

The wailing was coming from your siblings, but it was also coming from Jin-ok as she embraced the two and they cried together. You sighed in relief, thankful none of them saw you so you could go back and grab the forgotten food off the floor before returning. You set the rations down on one of the small tables carefully and approached them. With a gentle hand, you alerted Jin-ok to your presence prior to wrapping all three of them in your arms. 

Once again, you allowed yourself to be an anchor of support for the people you cared about. It was something you’d done your whole life.

And it was something you would do again without hesitation. 

Sitting in a circle teaching your siblings how to make an origami flower was something you would expect to do on a normal weekday. After their days at school, you might’ve taught them so they could give a flower to their teacher. 

That life was over now, though. In this new life, you were teaching them how to make origami flowers for the funerals happening soon for Jin-ok’s daughter and the military man. 

“Then you fold it like this,” you showed them, creating the first ‘petal’ of the flower. 

“Noona, why can’t we get appa?” Yeong-su asked, sniffling while he tried his best to fold the origami. 

You sucked in a harsh breath, looking at your two siblings, both who were looking at you. “Well, appa fell down in a place where it would be too dangerous to try and get him back. And it w-would be too sad to see him. I don’t want you guys to have to see that,” you confessed, trying your best to keep your voice steady for them.

‘I have to be strong.’

“That doesn’t make any sense, though!” He complained, another teary state taking over. 

You looked at him sadly before motioning for him to come closer to you. When he did, you picked him up and placed him in your lap, hugging him tightly as he cried silent tears into your shirt. “We’re going to make a grave for appa, okay? We’ll make it really pretty and we’ll know that he loved…. That he loves us. So let’s get back to making those flowers, yeah?” You asked. He nodded in response and climbed off your lap, choosing to sit right beside you instead with his head leaning against your arm. 

You looked up at Su-yeong and saw her looking down at her half-made flower sadly. “Su-yeong,” you called her. She looked up with sad eyes. “Come over here.”

She waddled over to your other side - the side not occupied by her brother - and sat beside you, also leaning her head against your arm. 

You sat there with them, making your origami flowers and playing with their hair. You forced yourself to be strong and not cry in front of them, but it was so fucking hard. 

All you knew was that you would protect these children with your life. If you lost them, you didn't know how you would live with yourself.

[petrova121]

Leave your worries at the door….please and thank you!

“Be careful”

-Part 1 -Part 2

TW-violence, threats, smut, fights, blood,etc

Song-Back to black by Amy Winehouse

Enemies to lovers

𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁

- Klaus needs help getting a witch on his side for the purpose of wolfsbane, which was running low. The best idea coming into mind bringing along Elijah as ... .a form of reinforcement.but things do always take there turns

-Hey guys just a btw I’m still new to all this stuff so bear with me!

At least to say she did not sleep well that night, the rain was pounding. Her dressing room walls for a matter of fact weren’t helping. The cheap wooden material the walls were made out of was sure to break sooner or later, she was sure of it. “God damn Mikaelsons” she muttered tired and her eyes fell into a dump slumber.

In the little makeshift club, Klaus played poker with the owner, his old friend Smith. Smith had known Klaus back in the late 30s, after Klaus had turned him, taking pity on the old man in the state he was in. “So back to cause trouble eh?”Smith said putting down his cards to show a full house a full house. Klaus laughed a little, “No, no ... .well maybe but I’ll be forward with you, I am in dire need of more information about your little witch sensation Y/n” Klaus said still acting to consider putting his cards down. Smith smirked, he was sure he had won the game when he saw Klaus hesitate, he did win, Klaus had two cards and lost.

“Well, what about her? She's a show-stopping natural who gets my money flowing in” Smith said shrugging and glancing over to Elijah who was watching the storm outside from the small window but still intently listening.

“How did she end up working here? To what degree is her power as a witch? Most importantly how are we to trust she has a good flow ... .of wolfsbane” Elijah said his voice carrying out through the dimly lit room. Smith scoffed, in his mind, Y/n was nothing more than a girl who had a few connections and could do a couple of tricks with her magic but he did enough a lot about her past.

“Where to start, she left home when she high school finished early and didn't want a part of her father's life anymore even though she loved him, her father was a hunter. hunted vampires, werewolves, and even witches he deemed a threat. Her father had this moral code, or more like a stick up his ass” Smith said, grabbing a couple more hundred and throwing them on the table. “I think you two would get along Elijah,” Klaus said smirking, digging in his wallet for more to gamble on. He could always get more anyway. Elijah internally gave the biggest eye roll. “As for Y/n she had a knack for dancing and singing I let her join. Well for her dear father his moral code got him much respect, you would know a lot about that noble ass but...unlike you, he wasn't immortal. Unfortunately, he met his match. That was for sure the man well ... had a bloody end and I mean that in every way possible.” Smith said, shaking his head, his eyes full of pity. “That young woman, the witch you are currently preying on, was left with a very broken heart, her father was everything to her and he left her with everything. The house, the weapons he left behind, and loads of vervain and wolfsbane. But I suppose you could say she also has a sense of moral code drawn from fear. She stays away from all these things related to the supernatural world afraid she will meet the same end as her father. As for her power, she isn't the most skilled and does know a few things here and there to make sure she's safe ”Smith said and put down another full house beating Klaus again. A wide grin went across the old man's face, he loved winning. “There's more to the story but I wouldn't know she doesn't talk as much as I am making her to be,” Smith said, grabbing the cash he won, and stuffing it into a jar. Klaus didn’t care much about her backstory or the fact he lost about a thousand dollars to this stingy man. he needed to know her weak points and he could later on use her father against her Klaus hoped.

Elijah listened to the revelation, a flicker of pity went across his face for the woman, it outshined his annoyance a bit.Although Elijah knew that his brother would use this against her, he knew it was necessary. “How long since the man’s death?” Elijah asked, turning to look at both of them. Smith thought about it for a second tapping a finger to his chin. “6 years ago” Smith said, getting his cane. Fair enough time for her to process it, but yet again everyone was different Elijah thought. It wasn't enough to truly feel bad for her though, she was just another witch, right?

The next few days Y/n was on edge and didn’t know how she was going to get back home. Her fears were too strong to go alone. She couldn’t do it; she needed someone but everyone she called was picking up so she resorted to asking her boss, Smith. Back years ago he had helped intentionally to pack up some things and he wasn't the best person ever but she could deal with it she told herself. After the performance, she went to his back office. Which smells worse than the place itself. He was sitting counting the money he made from that night putting it in 15 different piles for the 15 different performers. “What” he said, his voice gruff.

“I’m assuming that hybrid tyrant came and spoke with you,” She said. She entered the room fully and closed the door. “He did, what about it?” Smith said, his eyes not once daring to get a glance up. “I need to ask a favor. I need someone to go up with me to my father's old estate, I can't go alone, I was praying that you could,” She said. There was a shear of uncertainty in her voice, she could almost feel the no coming out of his mouth.

“Not a chance,” He said, annoyed. “I don't have time and with you going on leave for a week I need to find someone to replace your ass, you think I'm just up and available just cause a vampire is threatening your life? Get.in.line his presence is threatening everyone” Smith said annoyed and maybe even pissed off. She frowned, she knew he was a rude old man, what more could she expect? “Then who the hell am I to ask?” she said

“Not my problem”

“It is your problem because he isn't just going to kill me he's going to kill you too if he realizes you didn’t help me” She spat back at him.

He finally looked up, he looked lifeless in his eyes. She could tell his jaw was clenching.

“Fine” he gritted out.“Talk to his brother, the noble guy”

An even bigger frown grew on her face. Elijah, she didn’t like him and she sure as hell if she had any other choice was going to spend a total of 7 hours back and forth from her dad's house. Maybe she hated his power, maybe his stupidly attractive face but it didn't matter.

She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding after a long moment of silence

“Where can I find him?” she asked.

“You familiar with the French Quarter?” he asked, leaning back in his seat. “Great,” she thought to herself. This family was more of a pain in her ass than she could think, from where the club was it was a good 20-minute drive. “Yes,” she said annoyed

“There's a bar right across from it, you’ll catch him there around 7..and if you're lucky, maybe even 6:30!” he said with fake enthusiasm, and then within seconds a huge frown

“Get out!”

She left and slammed his door shut with anger. The next following days she was now packing her bags and getting ready to confront the man who had his head way too far up his ass. “Where are you heading off to?” Rory said. She was leaning on Y/n’s door frame as she caught her packing up.

“What's it to you?” she said

“Well, you seemed mad when you left Smith's office the other day can’t help but think, are you finally fired?” Rory asked, a big smirk plastered on her face. Y/n was annoyed, of course, Rory wanted her fired, and then her competition would be gone. “Never knew you were this greedy Rory, and here I thought you just suck off the audience for more cash and I mean that in every SENSE,” Y/n said getting her last bag and turning around with a neutral face

“Whatever you say, your time is running up and I'm not the only one who knows that,” Rory said, her smirk not flattering. It was clear that Rory knew something that she didn’t. Was Y/n going to get fired? Did she hear the Mikaelsons talking to her? All questions that Y/n quickly kicked out of her head. She had one goal right now, it was not to entertain Rory and her endless shenanigans.

══════════

After basically speeding her way through the streets she made it back to the heart of New Orleans. She quickly parked and got out rushing to make sure she wouldn’t miss the original. Like Smith said he was in a corner drinking some fancy drink. Elijah had seen her before she even walked in. He was curious to see what she wanted. “Well Mr.Mikaelson unfortunately we have to meet again,” She said sitting across from him. “What do I owe for pleasure?” He said putting the drink down, licking his lips slightly from the remains of the liquor. “Your brother is desperate for Wolfsbane right or did I miss it when my life was threatened?” she said, clamping her hands together. She was giving him a pointed look which amused him further.

“Well yes, he is, now why are you here? I am going to make this clear. I am not one for negotiations, miss Y/l/n” Elijah said, his voice firm. Elijah stared right at her. He didn’t like how unreliable she was being at the moment, and it was causing him to think twice about why he even gave her his word. He also couldn't ignore the fact he would talk about bargaining with her for how undeniably gorgeous she looked at the moment. “I’m here to ask if you will come with me to my house,” She said getting to the point. She was already pretty nervous about it but put on a brave face. Elijah smirked, finding his entryway into a little teasing and fun.

“So straight forward” Elijah teased. Y/n realized what he was insinuating and got annoyed, like very annoyed. It was shown all over her face. Of course this man of cocky enough to assume that.

“No, I don't want you 6 feet near me or my bed if I had a choice by “my house ". I mean my dad's old home, that's where the wolfsbane is and I can't go alone. Let's just say my dad had a lot of enemies that didn’t like him and naturally they don't like me.” She explained to him lying through her teeth. Her dad probably killed every single enemy he had before he met his fate.

“Bold of you to assume what's what I meant,” Elijah said, the smirk growing wider.

“But I do have to ask why me? Don’t you have someone else?” Elijah asked, and this time he was sincere about it. He knew she was lying but decided not to tell her yet. He wanted to see how this would play out but from her point of view, it still looked like by his face he was playing with her. She couldn’t decide between smacking him or kissing him, out of anger.

“Because I have no one else I can trust at this moment and let's just say the person I did go to gave me what he says is a wake-up call,” She said and sighed “Will you do it or not?” She asked. Elijah looked at her, in his mind he was thinking of all the ways this little witch could surely stab him in the back, and take advantage of the situation but on the other hand, he could do the same to her. “How far is the drive?” he asked, tapping his finger on the glass.

“7 hours back and forth,” she said. Not too bad” Elijah thought, though the car ride could go two ways. She could be a pain in the ass or just quiet. He was hoping for quiet. “Well, I suppose I can dwell on it, how about this if I decide to go with you I'll be here tomorrow at 6 in the morning waiting outside this very bar. ” He said, leaning in his chair. "What do you mean to dwell on it?" she asked. "I mean think about it, it might not have occurred to you but I have responsibilities waiting for me, and the person that needs my most protection at the moment," Elijah said, he hadn't forgotten about Hayley for a moment. "Ohh, I get it you're looking after that girl who's carrying the miracle baby," Y/n said it all coming together. "Why? she's not your responsibility."She said, now crossing her arms. Elijah's eyes narrowed slightly. "She is, I made it my duty," Elijah said, getting another sip of the drink. "Why are-" she cut herself off. She didn't want to know why, she didn't need to know either. "Fine, think about it if you will," she said, slightly mocking his accent and getting up. He then did the same and straightened his cuffs to the suit. She got up to leave and he grabbed her wrist right before. “Do let me make one thing clear with you, I am being very cooperative at the moment. I wouldn’t see this type of mercy from my brother. I do encourage you not to try playing any games with me when it comes to well-being if I do go on this little trip of yours because it won’t be good for you” Elijah warned stepping closer to her. Her heart was starting to pound. “I can’t even put a scratch on you. How stupid do you think I am?” she asked in a hushed tone. She could see a few eyes from the bar staring at them. “You’d be amazed at how many idiots walk this earth,” Elijah said smugly. He let go of her, letting her get her bag.

“6 AM, I won't be late. I hope you do show up,” she gritted through her teeth. turning around and walking away out of the bar. Elijah got up and followed her. It felt like freedom when she took in the fresh cold air outside. Until she realized he was behind her. “And I am most certain we will meet again” Elijah said behind her and when she turned to look he was gone. She cursed under her breath and walked off.

“Be careful” she could hear whispering as she was walking but no one was there. She knew it wasn’t Elijah, it was those goddamn ancestors

[shadamyheadcanons]

So which comic/game/animated show has your favorite portray of Shadow (and also Amy)?

Don’t worry, there’s a tl;dr at the bottom.

Shadow: This is basic, but probably Sonic Adventure 2. Great character arc, great interactions with other characters, and my favorite Shadow character model of all time. Nothing compares to the flashy, structured look of Shadow’s quills in that one, and the animation of his skating is so much more effective in SA2 compared to more recent iterations. It’s no wonder he looked so cool in that game. He actually leaned into the strides like a confident speed skater. Some games and shows just have him push his feet forward, like he’s kicking his way through snow. It’s rarely slick like it used to be. He also has his best voice actor in that game (IMO). Sinister when he needed to be, calm and sincere when the time called for it, and he had just a hint of an accent that I’ve always liked for Shadow. I’ve never fully forgiven them for taking David Humphrey away from us after only...what, two or three games? Unforgivable.

Close second for Shadow is Sonic Heroes. I think that’s a less common choice, but it showcases some of Shadow’s best traits, sets him up with his Found Family, and proves he’ll do the right thing for the planet even when he doesn’t remember Maria at all. He’s good because he’s him, and even with the uncertainty of his memory loss, he seemed happier there than he does almost anywhere else. I like to think this is how Shadow would be if the ARK massacre had never happened: serious, heroic, but mostly carefree. I don’t agree that Shadow should have stayed dead after SA2, but if he’d never regained his memories at all and just moved forward with his life from there...idk. He was on the right track before he remembered G.U.N. ruined his life. At the very least, I think there’s a good chance he’d be legitimately happier. It’s worth thinking about. Oh, and David Humphrey voices him in this one, too. A+.

Honorable mention: his absolutely absurd appearances in the bizarre Sonic Dash and Spin comic. He’s portrayed as a delinquent...

...but he’s so deeply, wonderfully weird about it:

And he’s just. So...CUTE.

How did this happen?! I love it! XD

This isn’t even factoring in the CANON crush Amy has on him, though that certainly doesn’t hurt:

Dash and Spin is definitely the kind of comic you’ll connect with more if you know a bit about Japanese culture. I’m not surprised it wasn’t pushed in the US.

As for Amy, I think my favorite was Adventure Era Amy. She had the perfect blend of bravery and compassion. IDW Amy is great because she’s cool and can defend herself, but her bravery meant so much more when she couldn’t do that. She was the weakest on the battlefield with barely any strength to her name, but she always stepped up anyway. It also fed well into moments like the climax of SA2 because an ordinary girl who was counted out even by her own friends could still make a difference. I’ll never begrudge IDW or the pre-Frontiers comics for giving her the strength she’s rightfully earned by now, dammit, but I’m divided on this.

I also love Heroes Amy. She wasn’t OP like she is now, but she had a few new tricks up her sleeve, and they were hers alone. Propeller Hammer? Tornado Hammer? Her unique style of leadership through positivity that led even a fisherman, a child, and a Chao to victory? Damn impressive while still being believable for her skill and experience level at the time. She was making progress her way, not just through brute force. I usually prefer Lisa Ortiz as Amy’s VA, but Jennifer Douillard does a great job here. I think she’s at her best voicing Amy in Heroes. She finally got to be something other than just sweet.

The elephant in the room is her sudden, uh...aggression toward Sonic. Luckily, this is softened in the Japanese version. English gave us this:

“This time, there’s no way out of marrying me!”

...but in Japanese, it’s this:

“Sonic! Today’s the day I’ll get you to marry me!!”

It’s still too pushy, but she’s not saying “I’ll force you to marry me.” She’s saying “You’ll be so impressed with how far I’ve come that you’ll want to marry me.” It’s subtle, but it’s so much better, especially because Sonic pretends to lose and literally flees from her afterward while yelling, “Marriage?! No way!”

Lmao, what a coward. And Cream knows it.

Localization slandered Amy Rose in a horrible, permanent way IMO. It was after Heroes that the fandom decided she was a “crazy psycho fangirl.” It’s taken years for her to shake off that stigma, and I feel like she lost a lot of her spark in the process, at least in the games.

Thank God she still has it in Mega Drive and IDW.

I’m not the only one who feels Sega threw the baby out with the bathwater. Amy looks and acts too soft now if you ask me.

Girly is fine. Girly is good. This is Amy, after all. But...this?

Does this look like an adventurer to you? She doesn’t to me. Something was lost along the way. :(

Let her be a proper hedgehog with a backbone! Let her have a bit of an edge to her! Cream can be the soft one.

tl;dr SA2 Shadow, Adventures Era Amy, and elements of Heroes for both. So...my childhood, basically. I don’t think it’s just nostalgia, though.

(Is it obvious I just replayed Sonic Heroes? I actually got to defeat the last boss for the first time!!)

[ladyvesuvia]

This Town || [H.P.]

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@potters-heart : Can I request a 🍪 for Harry Potter with the song 'this town by Niall Horan?

@harrysnosebleed : 🌸 harry potter + again + angst idk but i LOVE angst especially when the reader dies but i couldn’t think of a good word 🧍🏻‍♀️ congrats again on 100!! <333

This fic is a request for my 100 Follower Celebration Tea Party. Come and join!

READ THE FLUFF PREQUEL HERE

This hasn’t been proofread yet, so I’m really sorry. I swear I’ll take a look at it tomorrow. It’s currently 04:30AM and I have classes in four hours omfg hAHAHAHA hope y’all like it!!!

Click here if you want to be added to my taglist!

Pairing: Harry Potter x Fem!Reader

Requested?: yes

Summary: Post-war. Harry visits Little Whinging in his mid-twenties to reminisce the days before Hogwarts. i’m bad at summaries give me a break

Words: 3.3k

Song: This Town by Niall Horan

Category: Angst

Warnings: let me know if there are any!

A/N: Hi, loves! I decided to combine two requests together. Sorry if I strayed from the song a bit. I do hope you guys like it <3

So much — too much — has happened in the course of more than two decades. One minute he was receiving letters from the fireplace then losing friends and family the next. You’d think that after everything that has taken place there’d be more that would count as a happy ending, but no. At least, not for the esteemed Harry James Potter; who now stood in the same place he did years back when he first encountered the Knight bus.

He had left Ron and Hermione’s wedding instead of staying after the reception, apologizing over and over and saying he had to go because of something he didn’t dare explain. The playground in front of him was still standing. It was so simple to make believe nothing at all has happened — that he was only still sickly ten year old Harry Potter who lived with his aunt and uncle, that he hadn’t fought off danger Muggles could only fathom as fiction, that he was not a wizard as Hagrid had told him when he turned eleven, and most of all. . .

That he was the eight year old Harry Potter who the girl who lived across from the Dursleys’s waved her hand at, that he was the little boy she tried hard to reach out to.

It’s been so long since he even a glimpsed her. Heck, he had no clue if she was still the same or if she still lived in Little Whinging. He remembered the night they met very clearly in his mind, for no one would ever forget such a valuable memory such as that of dancing under the moonlight as the entirety of the neighborhood slept under unkempt bed sheets.

“Climb over the fence,” she had mouthed to him. That was the first time they met up close — she was standing on a ladder she extracted from her parents’ shed, throwing over a long rope made of her own sheets and pillowcases. Harry, although worried the Dursleys would awake, found himself ascending the make-shift rope anyway.

“Hello, what’s your name?” Harry could recall the curious gaze the girl gave him, and the peculiar wind of aura surrounding her alone. He remembered the way she set down a fake trunk made out of cardboard and covered in paint. When he did not respond, she had talked over herself. “I’m [Y/N] Papiermatchen.”

“Paper-what-now?”

“Unusual surname, isn’t it? That’s because I am a witch! Hocus pocus, whoever-you-are.”

“If you’re a witch, then you should know my name.”

“I said I’m a witch, not a psychic,” she had told him defiantly, pulling out a bowl with cut straws glued to the bottom that folded as she set it down on the grass. The bowl was poorly painted in black. “This is a cauldron. You make potions in it.”

“You’re not a real witch,” Harry had said a few moments after she had pulled out everything from the fake trunk and paid him no mind until he told her, “Magic isn’t real.” To which she gasped, deeply offended.

“How dare you insult my craft! Of course, it is.” Tucking her arms in annoyance, she unscrewed a few bottles that were also poorly painted in different colors. And when he still refused to believe her, the girl let out a groan of defeat and approached him. “Just play along, have you never played with anyone before? Or am I simply doing it wrong? I’ve never played with another kid yet, so I’m very sorry if I’m doing things I’m not supposed to. Now, what’s your name?”

“Har — Harry Potter.”

“Harry Potter? That’s not very wizardy! Your new name is Harry Quill. . .otter now. Harry still doesn’t sound very wizardy, but it can work.”

“Harry Quillotter?”

“Sounds magical, right?”

Harry chuckled at the thought as he walked away from the spot from where he was standing in the present time. He tried to ignore the memories, but it all kept coming back to him — the way she insisted magic was real, how she asked him if he wanted to play as a real wizard or an apprentice of hers, how she said she was supposed to use shampoo and body soap for the potions but went with soft drinks and yogurt and a bunch of edible substances from their fridge, how Harry’s stomach ached from consuming the ‘Hambottle Potion’ they made that was supposed to make his eyes turn brown — he wanted to find out how his father would have looked like — which they made out of mixing milk, salt, vanilla extract, heavy cream, three teaspoons of Coca-Cola, and yogurt, and how she had the audacity to smack his head for not doing the potion right.

“Pick a card, Great Harry Quillotter the Wizard.” The girl held out an array of cards in front of his face. Harry pointed at one at the middle. “No, not that one.” She had said. “Not that one, either. Agh — never mind, I’ll never get it! My uncle asked me if I was a magician but I told him I was a witch but then he said it was Magician’s code and a bunch of stuff like that so I told him, ‘Uncle, that’s stupid, a witch does magic as well!’ to which he denied. So that settles it, I am not talking to my uncle at all ever again.”

Harry admired her, being the outsider he is. He listened to her rambles, complying with her nightly made-up spell lessons voluntarily.

Every midnight, she’d press the ladder against the Dursley house’s backyard fence and fling her rope over as Harry sweatily climbed up. Then, as routine — as she had commanded because it is what happened in books she read — he pressed a kiss against her hand. She smelled of dried newspaper, probably because of her improvised witch hat.

She had even given him a wand made out of pencil and decorated with a hot glue gun — then showed him a burn she got from accidentally sticking it against her forearm.

As Harry took a stroll down Little Whinging, he thought of the million things he did with her in every corner they’ve been in as the young kids they were. A lamppost that was no longer working that stood just before a little bridge used to be only slightly malfunctioning, and it had been the object they pretended to tie a teddy bear to, which they rescued with a bunch of spells they made up.

Then there was also the bridge itself, where they pretended they were fighting a the biggest dragon with very rustic brown skin and fearsome wings. Now that Harry thought about it, that was probably why he felt compelled to the Horntail he fought during the Tri-wizard Tournament years back.

Afraid of his own emotions alone, he kept walking down the street, some of the streetlights flickering as he went past them.

And on the night of her birthday, she had been humming a sweet tune, a song she claimed to have been making on her own. Harry thought it was off-key, but so did she yet they hummed it together anyway. Then they slipped away from her home, taking a shortcut to the playground and they did a stupid thing that only happened in movies — danced under the stars. Being that none of them had a clue how to dance at all and that there was no music to make up for the awkward scene they’ve created.

That night, most of all, was the most special. Was it haunting? Definitely. Did he mind? Not at all. In fact, no matter how painful it was to be in the place you hated and love brings joy nonetheless — the good and the bad tend to get pitted together in the most unlikely places.

She’d been there when he reached his nadir, been there in his zenith, and he loathed himself for he was never there for her. Heck, he didn’t even know what became of her now in this day and age. [Y/N] Papiermatchen.

Come to think of it, the last time he’d seen her was from afar. It was when he got back from his third year and longed for the company of his godfather. He had been washing the dishes from downstairs and through the window he glimpsed the curtains of her windows from the second floor flapping, trying to escape.

It was a hot July afternoon, and he had just eaten a very stale lunch. He had put down the plate he was washing for a while to watch the girl water the two plants on her window sill. Mind you, Harry had never seen nor talked to her since her 10th birthday and seeing her at that moment just brought him back and reminded him that this is the third world he longed for apart from the Wizarding world itself.

But then, from the corner of her room, a guy about their age stepped out, holding another pot of plant in his hands. He had wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he set the pot on her window sill, which was now adorned in three plants that were yet to grow. Harry’s grip on the plate tightened, but he eventually let go and shut the curtain windows, not wanting to see more and so he continued washing the dishes. He’d been so desperate to get it out of his mind that he only thought of it all just now, as his fingers grazed the rusty railings of the bridge.

Harry kept walking until he reached the house he lived in for a long time. He could have knocked and asked to stay. . .but he didn’t. Instead, he kept walking the lonesome sidewalk, eyeing the chimneys of the houses he passed by. It’s just so funny how things never even change in a town as small as this. It was still just like yesterday that you wouldn’t even assume a Dark Lord had threatened to destroy the world. A person walking by wouldn’t know that the man in the sidewalk lost people he treasured once had only become nameless corpses in a war. They wouldn’t know a single thing, no.

Harry reached the end of the street and took a left, making his way towards her house to just stand in front of their broken mailbox. Should he just walk up to the door and knock? But what would he do next?

It is no secret that he had faced dangers that would have brought him to his doom and battled the Dark Lord himself, but standing in front of the doorstep of a house you’ve been to a thousand times instead of climbing through the fence was far more terrifying. He knocked thrice on the door politely and waited. A shuffle of heavy footsteps sounded from behind the door.

Any moment now. . .

But a weary woman in her late fifties opened the door for only a few inches, for a door chain separated them. Wrinkles marring her aged face and woeful eyes watched him curiously. “Yes, young sir?”

“Er — well. . . I’m looking for [Y/N]. Is she around?”

The woman seemed to consider what he said for a moment, shut the door, unclasped the chain, and swung it open, wider this time. “Come on in, sweetheart.”

Harry had never been inside her house, for they spent most of their time in the backyard, and in the playground. The woman, who introduced herself as [Y/N]’s mother, had prepared him a simple iced tea. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but the house reeked of incense. Smoke crept from upstairs, which confirmed his assumption.

The woman walked in from the kitchen, clutching a floral hat box against her chest. “Are your eyes green, dear?”

“I beg your pardon. . . ?”

“Sorry, I have deemed my senses unreliable in my unruly state. . . Where are my manners? You may call me Poppy, dear. So, are your eyes green?”

“Um, yes.” He stirred in his seat, taking in the frames that lined the walls of the stairs. The remaining pictures disappeared upstairs, the trail of smoke still present in its wake. The house’s indoor layout was similar to that of the Dursleys and every other house on Privet Drive, only that it seemed forlorn — from the ripped spots of floral wallpaper to the outdated picture frames. The pictures were too far to see clearly, but the nearest one that hung alone to his left showed a picture of the same girl he’d been seeing every night when he was younger.

“Oh, right, may I ask for your name?”

“Harry James Potter, ma’am.”

“Harry James. . . Harry Potter. Yes, yes, right, unmistakably. . . I believe” — she opened the hat box, pulling out an envelope — “this is yours.”

His eyes drifted from the envelope to the stairs, as if expecting Papiermatchen to come down, painted trunk in tow. But he realized it would be rude to keep the woman waiting with her outstretched hand. Harry took it hesitantly, scrutinizing it with deep thought.

“Pretty girl my little daughter, had a couple suitors but turned them down because of the eminent Harry Potter.” Poppy laughed to herself. “I see what she was all over about. You’re a dashing young man, Harry Potter.”

Not knowing what to say he asked the most dreaded question he had in his mind. “May I ask where she is right now? I mean, is she here?”

And now, as he stood in the damp grass of the most melancholic place he could find himself in, he found himself wishing he had never asked such a question.

Harry only knew her as Papiermatchen, but the neglected piece of stone with a name engraved on its body told him the things he would’ve loved to found out in another rendezvous.

Once more, he thought about the last things they’ve said to each other — they had sneaked back into the her backyard after dancing for half an hour in the playground, and she had patted his head while on her toes. “Great Harry Quillotter the Wizard, better known as Harry Potter, let’s meet again.” Letting her hand drop to her side, she pressed a peck against his cheek.

“Er — what was I supposed to say again? Right! Um. . . Mystical [Y/N] Papiermatchen the Witch, let’s meet again.” And with that, he climbed the ladder, hopped over the fence, and descended with the same rope he used every day. He didn’t look back, but now as he stood where he did, he started wishing that he had at least took a brief glance in her direction.

Out of all the things he expected to find in this town, it most certainly wasn’t a forsaken tomb with her full name carved in the center. He knew her desires, her fears, her worries, but never her full name. And now, as he read it over and over in his head, he thought it was very lovely.

Here lies [Y/N] [Y/L/N], the markings stated.

Harry seated himself on the damp grass, a lump in his throat forming. “Well,” he started. “I guess we meet again.”

The envelope, which he had stuffed in the inner pocket of his coat, burned the skin underneath. He then looked around the identical graves that surrounded him. “Although in very unideal circumstances.”

He would have looked at the grave again, but it only felt as though he was looking at a mere avatar. So he decided it was time to go home, for it was already two in the morning, as his watch had let him know. But, of course, before he left, he wanted to face the place he didn’t dare go to when he first set foot here.

The playground, albeit older just like he was, still looked the same if you squinted your eyes enough. Harry realized just now that one of the swings had been taken down, so he sat on the remaining one and lifted his own feet off the ground, eyes glued to the spot beside the seesaw, where they had danced for some time.

In that moment, as much as embarrassed he was at his poor dancing skills, he had the urge to tell her how he felt. Why, just why, had he not told her? Harry sucked in a breath, tearing his eyes away and wondered how many times he would have to turn the Time Turner and if it was possible to save not only her but everybody else he lost along the way.

Burning with remorse and affliction, Harry withdrew the envelope from his inner pocket and scanned the front once again. It was threatening to pop open despite the pretend wax seal which was made of red colored paper. The letter had been written eight years ago, when she was only seventeen. He gently pulled out the letter itself and started reading the first few parts.

Hi, Harry.

If you’re reading this and I’m not there, I’m assuming whatever’s watching over us is far cruel than the cat that screeched so loud that almost got us caught one night. See, this is the third fourth letter I’ve written so far. I’m not very good at writing letters, but this will have to do. There’s so much I want to say but my I my fingers are gettin calloused as I write this thing.

I just wanted to thank you for being my friend when nobody else would. Thank you for making the effort to climb over the fence and putting up with my pathetic terms when we were kids. It’s been a while since we talked, much less saw each other. I’m sorry I never put the ladder and the rope again. I don’t know how to write this down, but I guess all there is to say is that I don’t have much time.

But I do hope that in our next lives, fate won’t be too harsh on us and that the wait will be short and the meet will be long. For now, do live your life to the fullest. I’m worried that—

Harry tore his gaze away from the letter. He can’t read all of this right now, not when. . .

He stuffed the piece of parchment back to the envelope and into his inner coat pocket, eyes shut tight in thought. All she had to say to him in one paper back to back, and he could never respond. Harry took a deep breath and shoved the tears back wherever they were coming from and walked away from the swings to stand in the middle of the deserted street.

It’s funny how things never seemed to change in this little town of Little Whinging such as that one flickering lamppost. Its imperfection looked as though it were the only constant thing in this tragic world, and he didn’t know whether he envied or loathed it deeply.

Either way, he chucked down whatever anger he was feeling. [Y/N] would have loved for him to let out his feelings, but not like this. At least, not right now.

Because she had told him once that the only relevant response to affection you receive is to keep it for yourself and let it teach you how to grow. And she had given him so much more than the three words most people wanted to hear. They might not have said it to each other, but they showed it in ways most unlikely.

He’ll read the letter soon, when he’s ready, he thought to himself. Right now, he needed his friends. And so with one last longing look at the playground and what he can see of the little town he had almost grown to call home, he walked away and never looked back.

Taglist: @catching-the-train-to-hogwarts

A/N : I originally had a different ending in mind but I decided to merge two requests together hHAHAHAHA i also love angst sooo idk i might consider writing an alternative ending but it might ruin the overall charm the story has. Lmk tho :)) thank u for reading btw <333

Edit: if you recognize the “wait will be short and meeting will be long” part i literally love u and yes this is my kdrama phase saying hi

[outerbankswriting]

Could it be? Chapter 3 (JJ x Reader)

JJ x Reader

CH.1 - CH.2

Description: She has a crush on JJ, but he has always seen her as another one of the “dudes”, or  at least that’s what she thinks so she just doesn’t even try anymore, until things start to shift between the two of them. (A/N: I’M NOT GOOD AT DESCRIPTIONS BUT THESE IS JUST WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO HAPPEN IN OUTER BANKS WITH JJ)

CHAPTER 3

The sound of the birds chirping outside your window woke you up. A classic sound that never failed to make you fall more in love with your mornings.

As you opened your eyes, you saw a pair of of tanned and strong arms wrapped around you, which belonged to the boy with the golden hair you loved so much. He was peacefully asleep, his chest slowly rising up and down while his eyelashes fluttered every now and then. You carefully examined his face and felt a wave of anger fill you up as you stared at the cuts and bruises all over his cheeks.

The bruise on his left eye was turning purple and you don’t know what instinct got into you that made you softly trace your fingers across his face, careful to not hurt him or wake him up, but you failed at it.

His eyes slowly opened up and yours widened up, and you felt yourself starting to blush.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to wake you up,” you covered your mouth, “did I hurt you?”

He smiled lazily and to your surprise, pulled you even closer to him.

“Not really,” his voice was raspy and he closed his eyes again, “it actually feels nice, can you keep doing it?”

You bit your lip to contain the smile that wanted to get out and instead poked his side, making his eyes snap wide open.

“Hey! What was that for?!”

“Get your lazy ass up.”

As much as you wanted to stay in bed with JJ, the two of you were supposed to meet with the Pogues in less than an hour for breakfast and you knew they would get suspicious if neither of you showed up. Even though, no one knew about your feelings for JJ and probably would never even imagine the two of you being something.

“I can skip breakfast,” he groaned, “your bed is too comfy, I want to stay here.”

“No you won’t skip breakfast.”

You got out of bed, pulled your hair into a quick ponytail and headed into your bathroom to brush your teeth and wash your face. JJ was still laying down in bed with his eyes closed and you took the time to admire the sight in front of you. The sunlight making his blonde hair look golden and him looking angelic even with his face all bruised up.

“Come on JJ, get up!”

He groaned again but finally got out of bed after you threatened to poke his sides again. He went to the bathroom to get ready while you were deciding on which swimsuit to wear.

“Why do you have so many lotions here?” He said while brushing his teeth and clearly making a mess all over your sink.

“They’re not only lotions,” you grabbed the expensive cream he was holding and placed it back on the counter, “they’re also creams, toners and liquid soaps all part of my skincare routine.”

“Do you even need all of this?” He dried his face with your pink towel, making you giggle.

“Of course I do,” you grabbed the tiny cream container and tapped some eye cream on your under-eyes, “I’m practically out in the sun all day, I need to take care of my skin alright?”

“I just put sunscreen on and call it a day.” He curiously stared at you as you finished prepping your face.

“At least you put sunscreen on.”

“What happens if you don’t wear all that?” He was still staring at you, the crease between his eyebrows showing up.

“I would get wrinkles pretty fast and the sun could damage my skin a lot,” you put some lip balm on and felt JJ’s eyes staring at your lips, “my face would be an ugly mess.”

“I doubt you could ever look ugly.” He said carelessly and you felt your cheeks turn red.

JJ was never one to compliment your looks directly to you and if he ever did, it would be as a compliment from a nice friend but nothing more.

“Right,” you cleared your throat, “well talking about skincare, how are your bruises doing?”

He sat on your bed as if he were a child waiting for his mother to sit down next to him to check on him while you went to grab your soothing cream.

“They’re alright, I don’t even feel them.”

“Well show me.”

He slowly took his shirt off and you could tell he was still in pain, especially from the bruises on his stomach near his ribcage. The bruises were a deeper red and purple than last night, looking way worse.

“Oh JJ,” you shook your head and were careful to not hurt him as you rubbed the soothing cream over the bruises, “they look so bad.”

“They’re okay, nothing I can’t handle.”

“You know the others are going to ask about this right? It’s going to be impossible to hide them.”

“I’ll just tell them I ran into some Kooks.”

He put his shirt back on after you were done with the soothing cream and raised an eyebrow at you as you were still standing in front of him, looking at him with a worried look on your face.

“Y/N I’m alright, let’s go.”

He stood up from sitting on the bed and stopped right in front of you since you weren’t moving. You noticed how tall he was next to you and cleared your throat after also noticing how close you were again.

“You can’t go back home.” You looked straight into his eyes which went softer.

“Maybe not tonight but eventually I’ll have to,” he placed his hand comfortably on your shoulder, “he is my father and I can’t stay with John B forever.”

“Then stay with me.”

You were quick to say that. You were scared his father would hit him again, you didn’t want him to go back and be unsafe at a place that wasn’t supposed to feel that way.

“Y/N you kn-“

“At least for this week,” you grabbed his hand, “while my parents are away, come on.”

He paused and hesitated for a minute, not breaking eye contact with you.

“Alright then.”

Once he agreed you couldn’t help the smile taking over your face which made JJ smile back at you. He was secretly way too excited to stay with you for a whole week.

You hugged him, careful to not hurt his bruises but he pulled you closer, tightening the hug without caring about the pain coming from his bruised abdomen.

“Well I’ll go get changed.”

You broke the hug and went inside the bathroom to change into a dark blue bikini and some light denim shorts since you were spending the day at the beach with your friends.

Once the two of you were ready, you headed to the beach to meet your friends and while you were walking you argued whether to tell them about JJ staying with you or coming up with a lie.

“I think they’ll eventually find out.” You desperately ran your fingers through your hair.

“It’s only for a week,” JJ grabbed a beer from your beach bag ignoring the slap you gave him on the hand for wanting alcohol so early in the morning, “we can cover it up.”

“Why should we lie about you staying with me? It just makes the whole thing look suspicious when it isn’t.”

“Because if I had to stay somewhere it would be with John B since you know,” he paused and bit his lip awkwardly, “it’s not like I sleep at girls’ houses if I’m not banging them.”

“Excuse me, what are you trying to say?” You felt insulted for some reason.

“That they would assume we are sleeping together and you know about the no Pogue on Pogue mack-“

“Why would they assume that?!” You playfully punched him on the shoulder, “We’re friends JJ, no one’s going to think that.”

“I’m just saying that’s what I’m assuming they would think.” He jokingly raised his arms as if he were a victim.

“No they wouldn’t.”

“Why are you so closed off at the idea of them thinking that we’re banging?”

“First of all, stop saying banging and uh I don’t know it’s just crazy JJ, they would never believe it.”

“So you wouldn’t do it?”

“What are you talking about?” Your voice trembled and you cursed yourself for it.

“You wouldn’t sleep with me?”

His words almost made you choke and stop walking. Your heart was beating faster than ever and you tried your best to not let the nerves get the best of you and the fact that JJ was eagerly waiting for you to respond just made you even more nervous.

“JJ what even are y-“

“I’m just messing with you Y/N,” he chuckled as you were stuttering with your words, “I think we both know it could never happen, you know.. it’s a crazy thing as you said.”

“Okay that hurt.” You thought.

“Right,” you cleared your throat and faked a laugh, “it’s crazy.”

“I just don’t want them to know about my dad you know?” He gulped down his beer, “So I think it’s best if they just think I’m still staying at home.”

“Alright then, it’ll be our secret.”

He smiled at you and wrapped an arm around your shoulder pulling you closer to him.

“It was about time you showed up!” Kie waved at the two of you while Pope finished drinking an orange juice.

“Literally cannot believe you’re drinking beer so early in the morning.” Pope pointed at JJ’s finished beer.

“Tried to stop him but he’s stubborn.” You said as you sat down next to Kie.

“Oh look the queen of stubbornness is calling me stubborn,” JJ mocked you, “I just had to start the party earlier.”

“Right, at 11 in the morning.” Kie rolled her eyes at him.

“Was the tourist girl you slept with last night into BDSM or why is your face all bruised man?” John B raised an eyebrow at JJ, knowing he had clearly gotten into a fight.

You grabbed an orange juice from Sarah’s bag and tried your best to avoid eye contact with JJ and faked your best “what’s going on?” look.

“Unfortunately I ran into some Kooks and wasn’t even able to bang any girl,” JJ smiled and you felt sick to the stomach realising how good of a liar he was and wondering if he had lied to you before about his fights with the Kooks when it had probably been his father, “but I handled them like a champion.”

“Please tell me it wasn’t my stupid brother.” Sarah sighed.

“I won’t deny anything.” JJ shrugged and Sarah grunted.

“You know ever since you broke up with him, he’s been getting into more fights with us.” Pope shook his head at you.

“It’s not her fault man.” JJ was quick to snap at Pope.

“It’s because he’s still in love with you,” Sarah said to you as she finished her sandwich, “and he can’t stand the fact that you’d rather hang with Pogues.”

“Well I can imagine,” Kie added, “both his sister and his ex-girlfriend being part of this group, which not only consists of Pogues but also Pogues who hate him.”

“Talking about annoying Kooks,” John B joined the conversation again, “I’m afraid they’re coming to the beach party tonight.”

“For hating the Pogues they sure love the parties we throw.” Pope shook his head.

After finishing your breakfast and preparing everything for tonight’s party at the beach, all of you decided to head to your own places to get ready for the party.

“Are we getting ready together Y/N?” Kie asked as she helped you clean the mess everyone had made on the beach.

“Um I don’t know Kie,” you tried to catch JJ’s attention to know if he was heading to your place but he was too busy trying to jump into Pope’s back, “I have to organise some stuff at home.”

“Well if you change your mind you can go to my place, my dad made some delicious lasagna.” She winked at you and made her way home.

You walked towards JJ and Pope to try and figure out JJ’s plan for the night.

“So,” you smiled at your friends, “are y’all hanging out before the party?”

JJ was quick to realise what you were trying to find out.

“Yeah I’m heading over to Pope’s.”

“Wanna come?” Pope asked you.

“No thanks, I have some stuff to do at home before the party.” You smiled at your friend’s offer and he nodded.

“Hey Y/N,” JJ grabbed your arm and pulled you further from Pope so he couldn’t hear, “before heading to the party I’ll quickly go to your place to drop my bag with all my clothes and stuff for the week okay?”

You nodded at him and waved goodbye to your friends.

You took a shower as soon as you got home and decided to clean up your room, not because of JJ or anything right? 

You played some music as you did your makeup and waited for JJ to let you know he was outside so you could let him in and the two of you could make your way to the party, but time went by and he still hadn’t shown up.

Kiara texted you telling you to get earlier to the beach so you could help her organise the recycling bins to accumulate the plastic the party would leave so you figured JJ wouldn’t come any time soon and decided to just leave to the party on your own.

As you were closing the front door of your house, you heard someone moving behind you and figured it would be JJ, but as soon as you turned around, you were met with the one person you wanted to see the least.

Rafe Cameron.

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CH.4

A/N: this one was a pretty long one! sorry for any grammar mistakes, I’ll make sure to fix them tomorrow. thank u so much for everyone letting me know you’re liking the story so far! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! sending love.

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taglist: @babygirlizz​ - @atabigail - @poguesrforlife​ - @behappyitsemmalie​ - @jane-dough - @yeeedolan - @dontjinx-it - @sofiaconlaz - @fangirlwithme​ 

[coffeecaffineandeverythinginbtwn]

Here is my @maribat-secret-santa-2020 gift for @liquid-luck-00

I’m really sorry It’s not finished (i had trouble finishing it due to school and some rough mental health problems) but I will be posting the outline so you can know the rest of what I had planned!

again i’m so so so sorry it’s not done. happy new year! please enjoy!

:readmore:

Marinette and the Runaway Assassin

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Marinette Grason and the Runaway Assassin

The first thing they could remember was always flying.

Their parents always told them that the first thing a Grayson ever did was fly.

Whether it be him tossing his sister in the air as she did flips, or flying on the low swing trapeze with his mother and father. they were born soaring.

Their family was the best of the best. Humans with the agility and grace of birds. Their family never stayed on the ground for long. Nothing could keep a Grayson on the ground.

Until they fell.

Their wonderful parents never flew again.

~

Dick was trying his best to keep it together, for his sister, but the pain was almost too much. He was just 16. What was he supposed to do now? He wasn’t of age to care for Marinette and he certainly didn't have much money at all.

It was two days after the fall that killed their parents. Dick had cried himself to sleep, so full of grief, stress and uncertainty the night before. He wanted, no, needed to keep his sister safe, but what were they supposed to do? Live on the street? Marinette deserved better than that. Not to mention her schooling. There was just so many things he needed to think about he had no idea if they’d ever even survive -

A knock sounded at the door, startling Dick from his thoughts.

“Excuse me,” a deep voice came from behind the door, “I would like to speak to a mister Dick Grayson.” With those words the pit inside his stomach grew. It was probably some social worker coming to separate him from the only family he had left.

Dick opened the door and saw a large man with dark hair and blue eyes in a suit, “If you’re here to take me and my sister to some orphanage, leave now. It’s not going to happen. Get lost.” Dick, the normally polite boy, ended his statement by quickly closing the door.

“Wait!” The man jumped in, using his foot to jam the door. “I’m not a social worker. Mister Grayson I presume?” Dick just narrowed his eyes and nodded his head, “My name is Bruce Wayne. I was hoping to come to an arrangement that would greatly help you and your sister.

Dick had the urge to scoff, but he let the man, Bruce, continue.

“You see, I lost my parents at a young age as well. I want to make you and Miss Marinette my wards. You two would both get to live in my manor with your own room and have all the things you two would need to live a happy life. And you would not be separated. This can all happen effective immediately, as soon as you say the word. So, What do you say?”

This was insane. It was everything he and Mari could need. They could lead a normal, safe, and good life. There were so many goods that could come of this and yet…

Graysons are never tied to the ground my little robin. We must never be afraid to spread our own wings and soar. We are free spirits and we fly our own way.

With only that thought in his head, his ressove hardened.

“While I appreciate the offer Mister Wayne, I’m afraid I have to decline.” He began, “My parents used to say that we should never let ourselves be tied down. They were free-spirited and loved to travel. I want my sister and I to continue their legacy.”

Bruce looked a little shocked at this, and also a bit put out., but he quickly covered it with a determined look of his own.

“I see. If I cannot assist with housing, please let me help in any other way possible. Money is no issue, I can promise you that.” Bruce looked so ready to help them. And hell, if they couldn't use the help.

Dick was at a loss for words, “I- Mister Wayne- I can’t thank you enough!” Marinette would get to have the life their parents would have wanted for her. He didn’t have to worry about money any more. They could be free and go where the wind would take them. This flood of relief he felt did ease his grief a little for only a moment. It was one weight lifted off his shoulders.

“It’s the least I could do Mister Grayson.” He nodded, looking a bit relieved himself.

“Please, call me Dick Mister Wayne.” At that Bruce’s mouth quirked upwards the tiniest bit.

“Only if you call me Bruce.”

~

Over the next few years, Dick and Marinette went everywhere imaginable, traveling with the circus.

Eventually they decided to travel at their own pace. Marinette instided they spend more time in their favorite countries. They spent a few months in each, both gathering a love for each culture and language. Marinette especially took a bit of every country with her, absorbing each like a sponge.

Without the circus to keep them active in their travels and with barely any means to keep themselves protected, Dick and Marinette accumulated a mesh of different fighting styles. Neither ever truly mastered one, but both fought in a way very specific to them.

~

Currently somewhere in Italy, the two were waiting for one of their mentors to arrive for a meeting.

“Duckie!!” Marinette, now nine, ran to her brother with that particular spark in her eye, “Duckie! Guess what!”

Dick, smiled a little at the familiar nickname, “What’s up Nettie?”

Marinette jumped up and down excitedly. “Look what I can do!”

The small girl smiled and ran a little ways into the field nearby and did three handsprings to the shock, and pride of her brother.

“Good job Marinette,“ A voice that was not Dick‘s called from behind them, “I’m glad to see that you are improving well.”

An overall average looking man in his late 30’s wearing a firm, yet warm expression walked towards them.

Their mentor, Malachi Dobraski.

“Uncle Chi!” The Marinettw siblings voiced, running to him.

Malachi’s mouth turned upwards at the sibling’s outburst. “Yes, yes I have finally arrived. You two are, of course, ever so humbled to be in my presence.” There was a stretch of silence before the three burst out in laughter.

“Wonderful to see you two as always.” He said as he bent down to give Marinette a hug.

“So what did you need Malachi? You never call meetings so early in the month.” Dick said as he turned to face him.

Malachi hummed in an impressed manner, “Very astute Richard. I asked you here today because I wanted you to meet a friend of mine I had mentioned earlier. Gina, If you remember.”

At the mention of the woman Marinette perked up, The one who travels all around the world like us? We really get to meet her?” She topped off her questions with a wiggle of excitement.

“We’ll have to see about that Nettie.” Dick spoke fondly as he smiled at his sister’s antics. He then turned his attention to Malachi, “Will she be in town soon? You’re rarely one to throw out praise for no reason and you’ve spoken highly of her in the past.”

“She is a lady well deserving of my praise, Richard. To answer your question, yes. Ms. Gina will be in town Thursday evening.” their mentor said with another small grin.

Dick hummed while tapping his chin, “That’s about two days from now. Unfortunately me and Mari probably won’t be able to meet with her right away. We’re tied up until Saturday I believe. Will she be in town for long?”

“Gina is a free spirit, so it’s hard to say. However she has been interested in you two since I mentioned I was taking students again. I expect she’ll stay long enough to meet you.”

“That’s great!” Dick said, as cheerful as ever, “That settles it then.”

“Yay! We get to meet aunt Gina!” Marinette exclaimed, jumping up and down.

Instead of correcting his sister, Dick just shook his head with a laugh. Why does everyone we hear of instantly become family?

~

Marinette sat at a tall table in a quiet cafe. Her tiny legs swung eagerly underneath her as she hummed to herself. Her brother was up at the counter ordering their drinks. She was sketching, or trying to. It was really hard to focus when she was so full of jitters.

Today was the day they were supposed to meet Ms. Gina and while Marinette was excited, she was just as, if not more, nervous. She has always been this way with new people.

————————

That is the end of what i have written BUT NOW the outline:

Section One

Dick is older in this 16/17

Mari is 5 or 6

They grow up with their parents, until they die, again.

Dick is old enough to be emancipated/take custody of Mari

(Bruce didn’t adopt them but he helped Dick get emancipated and gave them loads of money)

Their parents were free spirits and loved to travel

Dick decides they should keep that alive.

The two stay with the circus traveling for around a year

And they continue to travel for 1 or 2 years

They meet Gina

Dick kinda wants to settle down Gina recommends Paris

They go to Paris

They get an apartment (thank you plot convenient Bruce money)

(she’s around 10 or 11 now. He’s 19 or 20 now)

Dick wants Mari to make friends or get a feel for regular school so she goes to FD

Section Two

Separately, Damian and the league are in turmoil (the coup happens)

Thalia might die Idk

Damian, not knowing what else to do, flees to Paris?

Tom and Sabine have always wanted children but were never successful

They find this aggressive child on the streets of course they take him in

Damian would grumble about their ‘lower status’ but would of course be secretly grateful and surprised at the unconditional love and care he receives from T and S

Section THree

Back to Mari

Being raised by Dick, she learned to be true to herself and also headstrong

She takes no crap from Chloé

(She eventually learns of her situation with her mother and they become less aggressive towards each other)

(she also learns a lot of different skills and fashion things)

Section Four

Damian arrives at FD

(He’s like 10 or 11 Mari is like 11)

Damian and Mari are both ahead of the curriculum (Both home schooled) same class

She is her kind self, doesn't know anyone else well and Dami is another new kid.

They stick together out of a sort of necessity

He’s cold at first but (go figure) he softens for her eventually

They slowly grow closer as friends

Dick becomes another behaviour mentor and Brother esq figure to Dami

Dick also sees Daminette’s in love right away

He teases Mari about it

Bada Boom they're 13 now

Section Five

Miraculos canon GO

Mari gets ladybug Dami gets cat

Mari doesn't get a crush on Adrien (the gum incident doesn’t happen because Chlo and Mari are on better terms)

Mari and Dami both immediately recognize each other in costume

Mari’s outfit is black with red detailing sans her cape/glider that’s full red with the five black spots. Has deep red boots that go up to the knee. Her ribbons are longer and can detach to use as a makeshift ribbon dance things (she also goes by Ladybird instead of Ladybug)

Damian’s outfit is his assassin outfit but black and tan undertones with cat ears (his pupils don’t change to slits) Damian goes by Leopard

Dick notices a change immediately He confronts Mari, She caves and tells him too

(She consequently reveals Damian’s Identity as well. No one could have that kind of chemistry with Mari that quickly)

He signs her up for many martial arts classes (She already had training in a few, picking up a lot from her travels)

Damian also helps train Mari in some ~Assassin Skills~

Basically, they’re bad asses.

The only thing stopping them from defeating Hawkey boy quickly is the fact that they can’t find where he is

Section Six

Moving on, Salt

Lila happens

Lila still sets her sights on Adrian (he’s got money at this point Damian is just a baker's boy to Lila.

Lila isolates the two from the rest of the class, even more so than they already were

Damian thinks the class are even bigger idiots

Lila is still an awful person and wants to make both Dami and Mari’s live miserable

Lila tries to go to Dick about Mari “bullying” her

He laughs in her face (he choses laughter instead of seething anger. thanks Hawky)

Lila then tries to get through to Tom and Sabine about Damian

This time it works, they have less reason to trust Damian (and he was also a major prick when they first took him in

(this happens over a year or so. Lila slowly gaining the trust of the class and Tom and Sabine)

The environment gets very toxic Dami and Mari decide to leave the school and go to online schooling (like at college level)

Section Seven

Time skip. They are 16 now

The two have had feelings for a while, they now realize them

Dami is less emotionally stunted, having both Dick and Mari around (Tom and Sabine too but they kinda suck now) so he doesn’t panic much

Mari is full panic mode

Dick is just in the corner all smug-like. (“you didn’t know you loved him? I’ve known this for years”)

Que pining

Lots of pining

There’s some angst, Tom and Sabine are negligent towards Damian (not mean but still neglectful)

He ends up staying with Dick and Mari more often than not

Eventually they both confess after a particularly rough akuma battle (the one where mari becomes the guardian?)

Both of them almost watched the other die. That was too heartbreaking for either of them to not confess

So they are together now.

It was an easy transition, they were already married pretty much

They’ve already figured out who Hawky boy is. They just need evidence

They get evidence. They also discover Lila was working with him

They take care of the Hawkmoth situation

Section Eight

Everything is good now right? Wrong

Batman Finally goes to Paris once Hawky is defeated,

(he kept in touch with Dick all these years and knew what was going on, {He practically became their “uncle Bruce”} He only stayed away cuz Hawkmoth)

When Damian sees Bruce visiting Mari’s House he freezes,

Mari: “what's wrong Dami?”

Dami: *whispers in her ear*

M: “He’s your WHAT???”

D; *whispers more*

M: “I- You- Um- WHAT”

D: *walks up to Bruce* “Hello, I know this is an odd way to meet but I am sure you know of Thalia Al’ Ghoul.” *B nods wairily* “Yes, well, I am your son. And unfortunately hers as well.”

“Yes, I’d be perfectly happy to do a blood test.”

Dick and Mari are shook

“Damian, You must come to live with me in Gotham”

Dun

Dun

Dunnnnnn!!!!!

End Part One

Again I am sincerely sorry I was not able to complete this story in time. Like I said before, I will (maybe/probably) be finishing this and planning a part two! I hope you enjoyed! (even though it’s the first fanfic i’ve written)

[tobiosmilktea]

where orchids grow — kageyama tobio

2.1k words | genre/s: hanahaki!au, angst, hurt/comfort | warning/s: mentions of death, mentions of depression | pairing/s: kageyama x reader, platonic!tsukishima x reader

↪︎ in which an innocent little crush led to your downfall

a/n: i wrote this almost a year ago when i first started this blog. i thought the writing was really mediocre so it has been sitting in my drafts ever since,, BUT it’s finally getting to see the light of day cause i’m cleaning out my drafts :)✨ pls be easy on this one ewbd

it haunted you in your dreams, squeezing and grasping and clutching at your lungs until your final breath gave way–until they shriveled up into nothing as flower-torn chest had killed you. well... not yet at least.

no matter the amount of effort you had put into suppressing your feelings for the setter until it was nothing but a withered memoir, you couldn’t help but lay upon your bed, restless, as you recalled the flashing images of bloodied flowers that had been freshly thrown up from your lungs earlier this evening. you liked to think you’ve learned to control your emotions and feelings around kageyama well enough that the aching feeling of growing flora in your chest wouldn’t effect you that much, but of course the feeling was still evident. however, it was earlier this evening when the setter split half of his meat bun for you after a practice game and the sheer look of care and admiration in his eyes forced a rose to travel up your esophagus.

it was so horrifyingly beautiful, a disease growing flowers within its host, wrapping until it plants itself to the point of rupturing the owner’s heart and lungs due to unrequited love. you hated it—despised for that matter as the memories of your past self screeching in pain and heaving to breathe. your face turned alabaster.

your heart thudded against your rib cage as the feeling of suffocation of chrysanthemums, daises, roses, tulips, cherry blossoms, and dandelions echoed within you. your hand rested upon your chest. the feeling of such ghosted atop your rib cage where you could faintly feel the growing stems of flowers and weeds.

there was an evident aching within your heart that wasn’t from hanahaki, rather from the thought of how brutal it was caused an immense pain to compete with the actual disease. the first incident of you throwing up bloodied flowers was the moment you got home one day. you were walking home with kageyama after hinata went ahead as he had his bike with him, leaving you two to your own demise (he had a little hunch about your feelings for the raven-haired boy, but he never bothered to confirm it). it was then you two reached the entrance to your house in which you two bid a farewell. you were so enthralled with how beautiful he looked with his dark blue eyes that shined thousands of stars.

it was game over for you.

you stumbled through your front door to which your mother worriedly asked if you were okay. you could barely mutter out a response as the roses and daises and chrysanthemums fought their way out of your system, throwing up your one-sided feelings in hues of thick crimson and hollow chests. 

from then on, you had routine check ups at the hospital. in fact, you had an entire team of doctors taking care of you due to how rare the condition is. you see, hanahaki disease only occurs to those so massively in love with another, whose feelings can compete against the strongest love of all, that a simple little crush wouldn’t cause all this commotion. unfortunately, friendly love wasn’t enough to ease her homemade raptures.

they also said it was long term illness, well... long term taking into account how well you can endure the pain. occasionally there are those who can endure the pain their entire lives, yet there are the majority who simply die from the excruciating pain within a few months. the only true way to cure yourself from hanahaki was to either get kageyama to match your feelings or to get surgery to remove the constantly growing flora.

the thing is with surgery is that the moment you get it, your feelings for that person completely disintegrate. you can you no longer feel the same love as it is permanently gone. you can never regain those feelings ever again.

that was the fact that scared you the most.

despite knowing you can no longer take the pain and that you needed this surgery, there was a twinge of hope within your aching psyche that perhaps there was a chance. a chance that kageyama tobio would look at you for once that wasn’t just a friendly gaze. a look in which he would come to realize that he was in love with you. and because of this, you endured the pain a little longer.

the only downside was that no one else besides your family knew about your condition. not even your friends. and yet, with most secrets that are difficult to keep, eventually it will get out. tsukishima found out sooner than you’d had hoped.

you and tsukishima shared the same class and one day kageyama had visited your classroom during lunch, giving you his favorite milk from the vending machine as payback for helping out the volleyball club and with tutoring. it then when you felt your cheeks burning cherry red and the infamously familiar sting within your lungs. he then gave tsukishima a melon bun that he owed and the moment kageyama walked away, the blonde middle blocker immediately noticed the pain written across your face.

you pushed the carton of milk in his hands when you dashed down the hallways towards the restroom. fortunately, you were able to make it in time, locking yourself down in one of the stalls and profusely throwing up sticky and bloody flowers with hot streaming tears pricking at your eyes and threatening to spill. you immediately wiped them up. you couldn’t let anyone see you like this.

you flushed the toilet and watched the water turn red to clear when it went down the drain. you sighed, leaving the stall and looking upon yourself at the mirror. you looked absolutely terrible. from the dark circles under your eyes from nights filled with insomnia due to the aching pain, to your eyes still red from sobbing in the stall, and now to your hollow cheeks.

and because of the constant radiating pain, it became increasingly difficult for you to eat proper meals, leading for you to loose an unhealthy amount of weight. yachi was the first one to notice the sudden weight loss and the constant state of indifference. she knew there was something wrong, but she was too afraid to ask you. eventually, she asked if you were depressed one day and somehow you couldn’t bring yourself to say no.

afte leaving the restrooms, you were surprised to see taukishima waiting outside the doors and you were immediately trapped. the harsh glare staring down at you and his more than worried voice eventually led you to finally confessing what was wrong with you. and for the first time in your life, you’ve never seen the middle blocker so worried and caring. that his usually harsh demeanor and signature teasing remarks were softened because the thought of losing you scared him deeply. besides yamaguchi and yachi, you were the closest friend he had and he would hate to lose one his friends.

he would often ask you, “are you considering the surgery?” to which you wouldn’t know the answer to and that you were still waiting for the rare chance kageyama could’ve like you back.

it surprised you the sudden look of disappointment that etched across his bespectacled face.

during practice or during games where you suddenly get coughing attacks whenever you were around kageyama and talking to him, it was tsukishima who would immediately pull you away from the others and take care of you. he was the one to help you clean you after yourself and wipe your tears. eventually, the rest of the school believed you two were a couple.

however, there was the day were the pain was too insufferable. you had hanahaki for six months at this point where the disease would get into the most dangerous stages that one day you called tsukishima up one and finally made the decision.

“i’m tired of waiting, kei.” you muttered harshly as your voice was getting more and more hoarse each day. it was getting worse. you two sat nonchalantly on some random playground swings. the sun was setting and the blond was carefully gazing at your eyes that was soaked in honey. “i’m getting the surgery this weekend and I want you to come and take care of me.”

“of course.” 

it felt like everything was going to be okay when he said that.

you woke up to hush chattering, as if a a big group was in the room trying to speak softly, yet failing to do so.

“guys she’s awake!” a voice exclaimed. It sounded like hinata.

suddenly a whole herd of volleyball players came surrounding your bed, their expressions had looks of smiley relief melted upon their faces as they didn’t hesitate to bombard you with questions. the poor nurses could barely get past the towering high school kids as the thought of you being okay was more than enough to fuel their adrenaline.

“i’m glad you’re okay now, (y/n).” sugawara beamed at you.

“yeah!” cut in tanaka loudly, “i can’t bare to lose my favorite first year all because of a stupid crush!”

your eyes suddenly widen. the rush of fear and worry filled you as you looked at tsukoshima who was standing at the end of your hospital bed.

“i had to tell them, they were threatening me.” he scoffs lightly.

“we don’t know who your crush was though, so you’re okay!” added nishinoya who patted your shoulder gently.

daichi then cleared his throat, capturing the team’s attention. “we should probably go and let to the nurses take care of her. we have practice too.”

the room was suddenly filled with loud ‘yes, captains!’ as they all piled out of the room, leaving only kageyama to stray behind slightly. tsukishima looked at the you two briefly before closing the door. this was something that you and tobio had to discuss.

there was a feeling of soreness atop your chest, possibly from the stitch that ran down your center of your torso that was in the process of healing. tbe tall setter approached your bedside, scratching the back of his neck. usually whenever you looked at kageyama an itchy feeling would arise in your throat and your chest would feel tight, and yet the moment you laid eyes on him, you felt nothing.

“tsukishima told me what happened,” he starts. the initial fear of confrontation diminished into nothing but acceptance. you couldn’t hide your previous feeling forever. “you should’ve told me.”

you sighed, “i was going to... but then i started getting the symptoms and i knew that there was no point in telling you when you didn’t feel the same way.”

“but if you told me, maybe there was a chance i would’ve helped you get better.” the setter tried to state, only making you want to roll your eyes and scoff.

shaking your head, you pulled your hand out of his. “that’s not how it works, kageyama. your fake feelings would only make it worse and i don’t want to be with someone who’s dating me out of pity.”

“but i don’t pity you, i—”

“it doesn’t matter, now.” you shook your head and cut him off, “you don’t have to worry because the surgery removed my feelings for you permanently. you don’t have to feel guilty about it anymore.”

kageyama gulps, nodding as straighten his posture. “but i almost killed you.”

“i’m here now, aren’t i? i’m okay.”

the setter still couldn’t help but feel his chest tighten and his gut wrench. “are we still friends despite all this?”

you nod. “of course, that’s not even a question.”

before their conversation could continue, one of the nurses knocked upon the door and opened it slightly. “sorry to interrupt, but all visitors must leave now. the visiting time is up.”

“oh, alright.” the volleyball player swiftly bows and waves goodbye to you before leaving the hospital room.

he cleared his throat the moment he stepped into the hallway, all uncomfortable and itchy. quickly catching up with the rest of his teammates that waited for him at the entrance, he quickly grabbed a water cup from the waiting room and gulped down its contents immediately—yet the feeling didn’t stop.

“kageyama, hurry we need to get to practice.” hinata calls out to him.

drinking one last cup of water in the desperation to heal his scratchy throat, he threw the disposable cup aside.

“i’m coming!” yet his voice was far too hoarse to be heard.

general taglist: @yongboxerrr @tanakaslastbraincell @kellesvt @kitsunetea

[seriouslyhooked]

I’ll Stay (Vulnerable)

Cannon divergent oneshot based in 3A when everyone is back from Neverland. CS-centric, and involves Emma coming to grips with her feelings for Hook much earlier.  Available on FF Here and AO3 Here.

A/N: Hey everyone! In this chapter, we are taking things back to season 3 and we are rewriting it. I know, I know, you’re all shocked. Me – a devoted follower of fluff and hope – is going to rewrite a storyline where Emma and Henry left everyone behind and forgot them? Yup. Absolutely. Would write this fic a hundred times in a hundred different ways if I could. In this divergent little drabble, we made it through Neverland and got rid of Pan without any more curses or nonsense. Everyone knows what could have happened, but they avoided it, and now Emma is grappling with the fact that something more than a ‘one-time thing’ is happening between her and Hook. Inspired by the song ‘Vulnerable’ by Selena Gomez.

The irony was not lost on Emma that sleep was eluding her.

After what felt like an eternity fighting to get Henry back from the clutches of Pan and from the brink of danger, they were finally home. They’d staved off another curse, circumvented another terrible twist that would have ripped them all apart once more, and, most importantly, her kid was safe, sleeping in his bed and on the road to healing from this terrible adventure.

Over the past week, Emma had barely closed her eyes. Leading them through Neverland and navigating the wickedness of Gold and his father was a constant struggle. The physical toil and the emotional pain had been profound. She was exhausted and weary, but still, sleep would not come.

Here in the loft, the air was quiet, and the mood was peaceful. The moonlight trickled through the glass pane of her window, and the curtains caught in the breeze filtering in from outside. The temperature was perfect, cool and refreshing, but warm under the covers. The bad guys had been beaten, Storybrooke was safe, and the calm seemed stable, at least enough to last through the night. But it didn’t matter. Despite her best efforts, Emma could not sleep. She’d tried everything, but none of it would work.

It’s never going to work, she said to herself dejectedly. Not until you face this.

“Yeah, that’s not happening,” she muttered aloud, shutting down the part of her that wanted to work things out instead of always avoiding.

She heaved out a sigh of defeat and tossed the rumpled sheets off of her. Climbing out of bed and tiptoeing to the kitchen, Emma made sure to avoid all the noisiest parts of this apartment. She didn’t want to disturb Henry or her parents, but she couldn’t handle being cooped up in that bed. It was getting her nowhere. In fact, it was making things worse. Lying there in the dark, she was bombarded by memories and what ifs. It all was overwhelming, and enough to drive her mad.

Wordlessly she moved to the kitchen and found herself reaching for the ingredients needed for a calming cup of cocoa. Despite the lateness of the hour, she knew it would be a small token of comfort in a long, unrelenting night. The motions of preparing the sweat treat were soothing. This was a ritual she had grown accustomed to, and was mindless enough to lose herself in. But this late-night activity, which usually saw her through the worst of days, didn’t yield the desired effect. Her thoughts still wandered, circling back to a particular pirate who perplexed and provoked her.

I don’t understand his motives, she said to herself, knowing this was her cynicism taking the lead. Why is he still helping? Why take the risk? What is he after?

Why does he have to be ‘after’ anything? The reasonable part of her brain replied. Why can’t you just accept that he cares about you?

Because it can’t happen.

It already has. The kiss, in Neverland…

It was a one-time thing.

It doesn’t have to be.

It does.

It doesn’t.

It does.

You’re scared.

Of course, I’m scared! He’s Captain freaking Hook!

He’s just Killian.

“He’s not just anything,” Emma murmured as she mixed in the chocolate, watching the warmed milk turn to a rich, silky chestnut color. Here was the kernel of truth she was terrified to admit. To Emma, Hook wasn’t just a villain or a pirate. He was more, intricate and messy and moving and intriguing.

During their time in Neverland, Hook had awakened something in her. It started with the kiss, that sinful encounter that drove her to distraction, but also struck her heart, piercing armor she had been building up for years. Okay, maybe it started before that. There were plenty of heated glances, and barbed bits of repartee between them that almost felt like foreplay, but the kiss lit a fuse she didn’t realize existed. It was meant to be a power move, a strategic plan to shut him up, maybe the vent some of her frustrations out, but the consequences lingered, and they were ones that Emma never saw coming.

She could still taste him even now, the ghost of that embrace tracing touches on her skin. Pressed up against him, the roughness of leather and metal, the scrape of his beard, the taut lines of his body… She’d given into him in that moment and lingered in the pleasure. When they kissed, Emma allowed herself a minute just to feel and to live. For a fleeting blip of time, the world wasn’t crumbling around her. She was restored and she was hopeful, but it had to be just once. She wasn’t meant to want any more than that. She certainly shouldn’t still be thinking of it now, but here she was. And she was thinking of more too, thinking of the ways he’d risked himself, the ways he’d supported her, the way he’d saved her father. She acknowledged in the silence of her self-dialogue that she had grown to count on him, and that she felt drawn to him, even when his obvious role had come to an end. She should have been eager for him to go, now that the task of defeating Pan was over, but the thought of him leaving left an aching, empty feeling in her chest.

Over the past few days, Hook had luckily shown no real signs of setting outward. He was still sarcastic and cocky and cutting. He was practically gleeful every time he got to torment David, and his actions towards Neal and towards Gold were downright frosty still, but there was honor underneath it all and a respect he gave the others and this town that spoke to a more gentlemanlike nature. She had seen him when they located Henry, and observed a genuine relief when she was reunited with her son. She noticed the way he minded the others, helping far more than he hurt, and how he bit back the bullshit bad guy act when they just couldn’t take it. He could read a room, and he often did, though he hid behind the swagger and the accent. And more than once there was something that colored his gaze, swimming in the blue depths of his eyes. When he looked at her, he hid nothing, and let the weight of his affection flow between them. He may not say the words aloud, but he laid it all out there, showing a vulnerability she never imagined but desperately craved. He wanted her, and Emma… well Emma wanted -

“Couldn’t sleep?”

Emma jumped, her hand moving towards her chest and making contact with the speedy pacing of her heartbeat. Adrenaline spiked in her system, but she immediately relaxed when she saw it was only Mary Margaret. Emma worried for a moment that the conversations playing in her head may have been whispered out loud, but her mother (God that was still so weird to say), showed no awareness. Seeing as Mary Margaret was incapable of keeping secrets, Emma knew her own were safe. At least for now.

“No. You?”

“I wish,” Her mother said, reaching into the cupboard and coming out with cinnamon, bringing a small smile to Emma’s lips. “I never can after these escapades. But your father? Out like a light the moment the bad things pass. It’s almost like it never happened.”

“Lucky guy,” Emma joked, and her mother chuckled, a thoughtful expression coloring her face.

“We are all lucky tonight. It was almost so much worse.” Snow’s words had the lilt of unshed tears hanging on the end. Emma could see the mistiness in her mother’s eyes, and felt the weight of her worry. “We almost lost you again, Emma.”

“I know, but you didn’t,” Emma said, placing a hand on her mother’s shoulder. Snow placed her own hand over it and took a deep breath, nodding. She wiped two stray tears away quickly but collected herself.

“Everything that’s happened… well it’s put things in perspective for me.”

“Like what?”

“I was wrong, Emma. In Neverland, when I practically interrogated you about Hook.” 

To say that this was unexpected was an understatement. Emma was shocked at the acknowledgement, even though she appreciated the words.

“It’s fine.”

“It isn’t,” her mother emphasized, and Emma stayed quiet. Snow was right after all. It wasn’t great. It had caused more pain in a series of painful events, but Emma planned to just move past it and leave the discomfort behind them. “I didn’t understand what you had been through. Even worse I jumped to my own conclusions. I was pushing you towards Neal, thinking Hook was the bad guy, but in the end, looking at the full picture, that’s not really the story, is it?”

“No, it isn’t,” Emma agreed. “Honestly, I can’t really follow the story anymore. I feel…”

“Lost?” her mother asked. Emma nodded.

“Yeah. Crazy right? We leave Neverland, and somehow I’m more lost back home than I was there.”

“Maybe,” her mother mused, as Emma poured two glasses of cocoa. She handed them to Snow for added cinnamon, but she was curious as to her mother’s hesitation.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, are you really lost, Emma? Or are you scared of facing what it is that you want?”

The words were a swift punch to the gut, but Emma sustained them, taking a sip of her cocoa and braving up to respond honestly. “The second one. But it’s insane. How is it possible? A few weeks ago, I’d never even met this man. He’s a pirate – a villain from a story that I read as a kid. Things are moving so quickly, and yet their standing still. I don’t know what to do.”

“Do you trust him?”

“As much as I trust anyone,” she admitted, the truth coming out for the first time since meeting him.

“Do you care for him?”

Emma nodded, not daring to say that part just yet. Her mother’s eyes softened, a look of love despite the strangeness of this suitor.

“Does it have potential?”

“I don’t know,” Emma whispered, but the feeling in her chest that had been there for a while now was blooming something fierce. This may not be her gut, per se, but it was something adjacent, an instinct and an emotion screaming out that there was more than meets the eye here. This was different. This was special.

“If you think about the future, is he there?”

“I think I want him to be,” Emma said, knowing there wasn’t much thinking to be done. That was what she wanted, and now, she’d finally confessed it.

“Then you have your answer. It’s just a matter of facing it and doing what you need to do.”

Her mother’s observation hung between them and Emma realized Snow had immediate expectations. “You mean now? But it’s late.”

“So? He’s a pirate. I don’t know much about them, but I’ll hazard a guess that they don’t keep normal hours.”

“This is crazy.”

“Affairs of the heart usually are, Emma. You’ll recall I once bashed your father in the head with a rock, and yet the thought of going one more day without him by my side…” Emma’s pulse skipped a beat at the mention of her heart. Another sign that deep down she had known for quite a while what she wanted. “You’ll never sleep until it’s settled, honey. Believe me, I know. You take after your mother, just as I took after mine.”

Emma didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry at her mother’s joke, but she found herself hugging Snow close and thanking her. From there, things got a bit hazy. She was working off of adrenaline, moving to her room and changing out of her pajamas before heading into the Storybrooke night. It was just after midnight, not tremendously late, but by small town standards it was as quiet as quiet could get. Everything was closed now, the diner, the inn. Even the bar was locked up tight, and that was as late-night as Storybrooke ever got. There was no one around, just Emma and the pounding of her heart. Still, she kept moving, following the advice of her mother and the sense of what-if that had nagged at her all evening.

Soon enough she was at the docks, following the lamp light, and headed in the direction of the Jolly Roger. It wouldn’t be difficult to spot, as the only Enchanted Forest vessel in the harbor, but still Emma worried. What if he’d left in the dark of the night? What if he believed her when she said this didn’t matter? What if she was too late?

When the ship came into view, she exhaled a sigh of relief, but it was quiet. The lights were out. There were no signs of movement anywhere. And then she heard it. Singing, feint at first, but louder as she approached the boat. The voice was deep, but ruggedly refined. She knew it was Hook, but she’d never actually considered what he’d sound like in a song. His voice was beautiful and a little haunting, the seafaring shanty being one of heartache and loss. It was somber and serene, but despite its content, it was also a little bit hopeful. At least to Emma. Because if Killian was up signing instead of sleeping in his quarters after all they’d faced in the past few weeks, maybe that meant he was thinking thoughts like the ones that she’d been plagued with.

On their voyage to and from Neverland, Emma came to know this ship intimately, and the wooden planks called out to her. They were familiar and welcoming, two things she never believed she would ever say. It would be so easy to come aboard and just announce herself. But instinctively she knew it wasn’t okay to board this ship without permission. Insecurities crept in at the realization. She was intruding. This wasn’t right.

This was stupid, she reasoned to herself. I should have waited until morning. I should have –

“Swan?”

The voice she most wanted to hear played strange tricks on her now, sending a shiver of anticipation through her system and a tiny bit of terror as well. She looked to the deck but didn’t see him, then she realized the voice had sounded out from a higher locale. Her eyes climbed the great mast of the Jolly and there he was, perched atop the crow’s nest. With a coordination and grace reserved for the movies, he swung down from the great height with a rope from above. The action only tensed the hard lines of his muscles even more, and Emma took each movement in, unable to look away.

Hook was still dressed in a way she was used to seeing, but now he was missing his jacket and his vest. His hair was tousled, and his beard a touch darker, or perhaps that was a trick of the moonlight. She’d never seen him like this before. He was somehow even sexier than usual, and it overwhelmed her. He descended from the ship at a hurried clip, moving towards her with purpose and precision. He closed the distance between them, until they were mere inches away from one another. When he was near enough, his eyes searched her whole being for signs of trouble, and his hand came out to reach for hers in a show of comfort. She extended hers in kind, and her body came alive at the contact. Her breathing caught as her eyes met his cerulean gaze, brimming with intensity and earnestness.

“Emma, love, are you all right? Is it Henry? Has something happened?”

The worry in his tone was evident, and the honesty she felt flowing off of him broke the last fragments of her will power. She couldn’t take it anymore. She was in this, and it was damn well time that she act like it.

She practically leapt into his arms, pulling him down by the v of his somewhat unbuttoned shirt and kissing him as she’d wanted to ever since walking away back in Neverland. The instant delight that came was heady and addictive, and this time Emma knew that she could savor it. There was nothing looming on the horizon – nothing poised to stop them or intrude on this big moment – and for the first time in a long time, Emma felt free. Free to feel and free to want something only for herself.

Hook needed only the briefest moment to respond. He practically purred out his approval, the growl he let loose buzzing through her and setting her ablaze. His expert use of hand and hook left her shaking. He pulled her even closer, closing the remaining space between them, and enveloping her in every part of him. Emma stopped knowing where she ended and he began. God, this was perfect. Easily the best kiss she’d ever had. How could anything possibly feel this good? His hard body had her squirming in his grasp, seeking any semblance of friction and relief. She’d been carrying desire for this man for too long, but compartmentalizing and hiding it away. Now it flowed freely, surrounding her, engulfing her, and leaving her breathless.

She wasn’t the only one trying to soak in every moment. Hook was just as ravenous, nipping and teasing her with touches designed to seduce and to entrance. He was hot and fierce and alluring, the scent of rum and salt and sea air clinging to him. It felt dangerous and daunting, but also natural and filled with need. Like magnets flung towards impact, two opposites attracting and finding something more. Many parts of this were familiar, but then it changed, sparked fire, and blazed to something past her comprehension.

With the benefit of privacy and time, Hook took control and guided the kiss. He was dominant and demanding in ways Emma never allowed another man to be. It set her soul on fire, and tilted the world into a whole new point of view. This heated embrace stole every shred of sanity Emma had left, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. Neverland was about her making a statement, and tonight was as well. But Hook would have his say this time, and he showed her so much more through luscious actions than anyone ever had with words. This kiss was a revelation, a seduction any siren would be proud of, and here she was, caught within the storm but finding that she loved it all the same.

Coming up for air was a struggle, mostly because now that she had done this, Emma didn’t want to let go. But after the fervor of first contact, they both knew that they had to talk about this. For Emma, it was time to fess up, and to confess that the fear of taking a chance was overwhelming, but that the fear of losing a chance at this was even more jarring.

“It’s difficult for a man to determine if he’s dreaming when a woman as lovely as you appears like this, Swan.” Killian uttered the words as his fingers traced along her jaw. His hook held her hip in place, the cool metal a source of strange comfort. Emma nuzzled in closer, leaning against his palm and breathing him in as her eyes closed. “But in all my years I’ve never had a dream that compares to you. So it must be real. Please, Gods above, let it be real.”

“It’s real,” she whispered, pressing another soft kiss on his lips. “We’re real. I’ve been scared as hell to say that, but I…”

“I understand, love. It’s wholly unexpected. And I’m not exactly the kind of man a woman like you deserves.”

“Don’t say that,” she pleaded, and the pain in his eyes sent a sharp sting through her heart. Obviously he didn’t see himself the way she saw him. But maybe with time, things would be more clear.

“It’s the truth, Swan.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Aye.”

“Do you want me?” He nodded immediately, his hold on her tightening, whether or not he realized it. Her lips curved up to a small smile at that, and she not so secretly loved how sure and certain he was in this.

“Yes.”

“Would you ever hurt me?” she asked, her voice breaking slightly, and the pain of her past surging up in darkened memories.

“I might, love, but Gods strike me down if I do, because it’s the last thing in the world I’d ever want.”

“And that’s how I know,” she whispered. Looking at him with new conviction, willing him to believe her. “That’s the difference with you, Killian. I see you, I see your heart, and I know you see me. Not the savior, not the sheriff, not the lost little girl or the woman with walls. You see me. Just me.”

“You’re all I see, Swan. Have been for some time.”

She didn’t know who started their next kiss, but she felt the frenzy of it all the same. It was just as magnificent as before, but this time sincerity simmered throughout as well. The understanding they were reaching made it all the better. Knowing they were both going to jump here gave her comfort, but there were still some words to say.

“I don’t really know how to do this,” she admitted, running her hand across his chest as their foreheads touched. She looked down to avoid an embarrassing exchange. Patiently he waited, but when she stayed stock still, he tilted back and brought up his hook. He gently nudged her chin back up, prompting her to see that there was nothing like judgment in his eyes.

‘Neither do I. But we’ll see it through. Together.”

“I’m not good at letting people in.”

This time he grinned, looking like a man who was up for the challenge of scaling her walls. She almost rolled her eyes until he took her hand in his and pressed a gentle kiss upon it. It was an intimate gesture that made her heart soar. Who was this man who could be so roughish and rough one moment and yet gentle and sweet the next?

“That makes two of us.”

“I’m going to fuck this up,” she affirmed, assured of the missteps she would make and wanting him to realize she was so much less than perfect.

Now he looked frustrated, and his voice ground out in a graveled, gruff tone. “Not possible.”

“How do you know?”

‘Because you’re you, Swan,” he murmured, pressing sweet kisses to her face, to her neck and jaw, then her lips once more. “You’re rare and remarkable and real. You can do anything you set your mind to, anything but push me away. I’m in this, Emma. Entirely and completely. It’s soon to admit that, but you deserve the truth, and you’ll always hear it from me.”

“I really want to trust you,” she whispered, clutching onto his shirt and letting this one last worry live between them.

“And someday you will. In the meantime, I can wait. I will wait. As long as it takes.” That was all it took. Peace finally claimed her, and something in her settled.

“Okay,” she murmured, leaning in to hug him and basking in his heat and the gentle thrumming of his heart.

“Okay,” he replied, a lilted whisper in her hair as he held her close.

They remained out there for a while more, but neither needed to say anything for them to realize what must come next. Emma needed to go home, and he would see her there, safe and sound. They walked together, down Main Street in the moonlight, hand in hand, with the closeness of lovers, and the poise of two similar souls seeking comfort in each other. No one was around to see them, but Emma knew they would very soon. She wasn’t going to hide this, and someday they’d walk in the light together, letting everyone know exactly where they stood.

When they were back by the loft, Emma stalled, not wanting this to end. She wished she could invite him up for a drink, a drink that would no doubt turn to more, but she couldn’t. Instead, they needed to say goodbye for now, but she found she wasn’t sure how.

Killian took the moment to pull her in, kissing her one last time, and saying again with actions what words could only half describe. This kiss was sweet but insistent, a reminder and a promise of all that he would give and all that they could have if they chose to be together. When they broke apart, Emma was certain in him and in herself. This was happening. This was right.

“Until tomorrow then, love,” he whispered, pressing one last kiss upon her cheek.

“Good night, Killian.”

His eyes lit up and he smiled at her use of his real name. She made a promise to herself that she would use it more often. He waited for her to go inside, and only when she’d done so did he finally walk away. Leaning against the wooden door, Emma sighed in relief and smiled.

This is the start of something good. Something true. Something… happy.

And with those final thoughts, Emma headed back to bed, and found that sleep came swiftly, bringing with it dreams she hoped would come to pass.

……………..

If I gave you every piece of me, I know that you could drop it Give you the chance, I know that you could take advantage once you got it If I open up my heart to you, I know that you could lock it Throw away the key and keep it there forever in your pocket

If I gave the opportunity to you, then would you blow it? If I was the greatest thing that happened to you, would you know it? If my love was like a flower, would you plant it, would you grow it? I might give you all my body, are you strong enough to hold it?

If I show you all my demons And we dive into the deep end Would we crash and burn like every time before? I would tell you all my secrets Wrap your arms around my weakness If the only other option's letting go

I'll stay vulnerable, yeah I'll stay vulnerable, yeah I'll stay vulnerable

If I hand you my emotion, would you even want to take it? If I give you all my trust now, would you fumble it and break it? If I let you cross my finish line, then would you wanna make it? I think I'm ready, won't you come and flip the switch and activate it?

If I show you all my demons And we dive into the deep end Would we crash and burn like every time before? I would tell you all my secrets Wrap your arms around my weakness If the only other option's letting go

I'll stay vulnerable, yeah I'll stay vulnerable, yeah I'll stay vulnerable

If I show you all my demons And we dive into the deep end Would we crash and burn like every time before? I would tell you all my secrets Wrap your arms around my weakness If the only other option's letting go

I'll stay vulnerable, yeah I'll stay vulnerable, yeah

If I show you all my demons And we dive into the deep end Would we crash and burn like every time before? (I'll stay vulnerable) I would tell you all my secrets Wrap your arms around my weakness If the only other option's letting go

(I'll stay vulnerable, yeah)

Post-Note: So, what did you think? Honestly, I had no intentions of writing this chapter right now. I knew the song needed to be in the mixtape, as I love it, and it fits so well with this series of CS love stories, but I have a number of other fics I am working on now that need attending to. Nevertheless, here we are, and luckily, this has proved to be the perfect palate cleanse for my other writing. My multichapter stories will be back soon. I’ve already started writing, and in the meantime, we all get an added little romantic bonus. Hope you enjoyed this dose of fluff, thank you all for reading, and know that I’m wishing you safe, healthy, and well. xE.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9,Part 10,Part 11, Part 12,Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24,Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31,Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38,Part 39,Part 40, Part 41, Part 42, Part 43, Part 44, Part 45,Part 46,Part 47, Part 48, Part 49, Part 50, Part 51, Part 52, Part 53,Part 54,Part 55, Part 56, Part 57, Part 58, Part 59, Part 60,Part 61,Part 62, Part 63, Part 64, Part 65, Part 66, Part 67, Part 68,Part 69,Part 70, Part 71, Part 72, Part 73, Part 74, Part 75,Part 76,Part 77, Part 78, Part 79, Part 80, Part 81, Part 82, Part 83,Part 84,Part 85, Part 86, Part 87, Part 88, Part 89, Part 90,Part 91,Part 92, Part 93, Part 94, Part 95, Part 96, Part 97, Part 98,Part 99,Part 100, Part 101, Part 102, Part 103,Part 104, Part 105,Part 106, Part 107,Part 108, Part 109, Part 110,Part 111, Part 112,Part 113, Part 114, Part 115,Part 116, Part 117, Part 118,Part 119,Part 120, Part 121, Part 122, Part 123,Part 124, Part 125,Part 126, Part 127, Part 128,Part 129,Part 130, Part 131,Part 132,Part 133, Part 134, Part 135, Part 136, Part 137, Part 138,Part 139,Part 140, Part 141, Part 142, Part 143, Part 144, Part 145,Part 146, Part 147, Part 148,Part 149, Part 150, Part 151,Part 152, Part 153, Part 154, Part 155, Part 156, Part 157, Part 158,Part 159, Part 160, Part 161, Part 162, Part 163, Part 164,Part 165, Part 166, Part 167, Part 168, Part 169, Part 170,Part 171,Part 172, Part 173, Part 174, Part 175, Part 176,Part 177, Part 178, Part 179 , Part 180, Part 181, Part 182, Part 183, Part 184, Part 185, Part 186, Part 187, Part 188, Part 189, Part 190, Part 191, Part 192, Part 193, Part 194, Part 195, Part 196

[schrijverr]

Bi-sties

Reggie starts to question his sexuality. After a talk with Julie he discovers he’d bi, later he comes out to Luke and Alex,who love him

On AO3.

Ships: none

warnings: none really, but tell me if I missed anything or if you want me to tag something.

~~~~~~~~~

It wasn’t like Reggie had never thought about it. Of course his brain had drifted to the possibility that he might like dudes when Alex came out, but he had quickly established that he liked girls and with the confidence in his own sexuality, he had allowed the thought to be forgotten.

And then Luke had to go out and prove he had “chemistry with everyone he sang with.”

When he began to sing it was kind of funny actually, but then he kept getting closer and closer until he was cradling Reggie’s head and looking him straight in the eyes. And suddenly Reggie’s thoughts were anything but straight.

Luke had been hot and for a split second Reggie wished the other would kiss him.

He knew he was completely flushed and his brain was fried, since he allowed that first through to actually come out of his face.

But that wasn’t even the worst part, the worst part was Luke kissing his fingers and the pressing them to Reggie’s lips, indirectly doing what Reggie had hoped he would. KISS HIM.

His face must practically match his flannel and he needed to get out of this situation quickly, so he cleared his throat and said: “Girls, am I right?”

And when Alex said no, a small voice in his head, couldn't help but agree.

After that it was just a spiral. Reggie managed to be himself in front of his friends, but inside his head was a mess. It felt as if his whole reality had shifted and he was starting to question every crush he’d ever had.

That did not help, since he was very sure that all the crushes on the pretty girls had been 100% real and not faked, but how did he like boys then? If he did, that was. Could he like both? No, that would be weird, he’d never heard of that.

Maybe he was straight with an appreciation for boys? But that did not seem right after he had found himself fantasizing over big muscles holding him tight.

So maybe he was gay with an appreciation for girls? No, he still looked at soft lips and wondered what it would be like to kiss them or how it would feel to put his hands on their hips.

The whole thing was just really confusing.

He was still thinking about it a few days later, just lying on the couch and looking at the floating chairs while Alex and Luke were off to their usual haunts. Heh, haunts. That would have made him laugh if he wasn’t so preoccupied. Preoccupied enough to not notice Julie enter.

She looked at him for a moment, before she asked: “What’s bothering you?”

Reggie startled violently and fell off the couch. He pouted as he got up and said: “Hey, you don’t scare a ghost, okay. That’s our job.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” Julie told him in favor of ignoring his comment.

“Uhm,” for a moment Reggie thought about just spilling his guts, but he didn’t want to bother Julie and he was afraid of what she would say, “Nothing, absolutely nothing. Why’d you think that?”

Julie raised one disbelieving eyebrow and answered: “So all the distracted looks and the moping when you think no one is around is nothing? I somehow find that hard to believe, Reggie. You know you can talk to me right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I do.” and he did, Julie was super nice and she never judged, which was exactly why Reggie didn’t want to lose her over his own stupid emotions, “It’s just dumb, that’s all.”

“And why is it dumb?” Julie asked.

He gestured vaguely in the air and shrugged: “Just confused about me, but nothing to worry about, I’m fine. It won’t come between practice.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about Reg, I’m worried about you.” Julie told him kindly, “If it’s too personal to share I will respect that, but if I can help, know I won’t judge and can keep a secret.”

Reggie bit his lip, the offer was very tempting and it had been eating him up inside for so long now that he just wanted answers. He glanced between Julie and the floor a few times, then he softly admitted: “I think I’m not straight.”

It was almost inaudible, but Julie was listening very closely. She sat down next to him on the floor and said: “That’s completely fine, you know it is.”

“Yeah, I know, but then I think I might not be, because I’ve liked girls my whole life and I still do, but then Luke. You weren’t there, but he was trying to prove chemistry and he sang to me and for a moment I thought he was gonna kiss me and then I realized I wanted him to kiss me. And now I’ve been thinking about it, but it’s all confusing and I hate it.” once he’d started it was hard to stop talking, so he rambled on until he ran out of steam.

Julie put an arm around him and pulled him to her side, where he sagged into gratefully. She was quiet for a moment, then said: “I don’t want to push anything on you and if it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t, but I think you might be bisexual.”

“Bisexual?” Reggie had never heard that word before.

“It means being attracted to two or more genders, so boys and girls for example.” Julie explained.

He looked at her with wide eyes of disbelief as his brain tried to process what the fuck he had just been told. There was a word for it, he wasn’t weird or crazy. Still he double checked: “And you can just do that? It’s not weird?”

“Not weird at all.” Julie assured him.

“Wow, that’s cool.” he exclaimed, then after a beat of silence he softly said: “Julie? I think I might be bisexual.”

“That’s cool, Reggie. Thank you for trusting me with that. I love you.” Julie wrapped him up into a hug, which he returned wholeheartedly.

They stayed like that for a while. In that time Reggie’s thoughts drifted from relief to anxiety of what Luke and Alex would think. He knew that they accepted Alex, but this was different and maybe Alex would think he was faking it or Luke would regret coming so close to him after finding out he liked boys as well.

It seemed that Julie really was a witch or at least a mind reader, because she asked: “What are you thinking about?”

“Bout the boys. I don’t know if I want to tell them yet.” Reggie mumbled guiltily.

“That’s okay. You don’t need to come out if you don’t want to, just take your time.” Julie assured him, “I didn’t tell anyone for years after I figured it out.”

“You’re bisexual?” Reggie asked, surprised.

“Jup.” Julie grinned and showed him a bracelet with pink, purple and blue, “This is the bi pride flag. Flynn gave it to me after I told her. I used to have a huge crush on her, you know.”

“I can imagine that.” Reggie grinned back, looking at the flag again, it was pretty he thought.

“I can ask her to make you one if you’d like?” she asked.

“Would you do that?” he replied.

“Of course. We’re bi-sties, we need to match.”

Reggie snorted, before thanking her, after which they sat in silence for a few moments, just thinking, shoulder to shoulder.

Then Luke and Alex entered and practice began and the conversation drifted from Reggie’s mind as he got swept up into the music.

But he could not shake it completely.

He was intimately aware of every time he came close to Alex or Luke. He stopped skipping over to the other to share a microphone with him and didn’t touch Alex as easily anymore. It was dumb, he knew it was, but he couldn't help but think they would think he was coming onto them.

Vaguely he recalled that Alex had done the same, before he’d come out and they forced him to hug them again because they’d missed it. But that was Alex, Alex was different, Alex wasn’t a flirt like Reggie was.

Julie was still safe, though, and Ray. So, he would be in the house talking to Ray or jamming with Julie during the practices and that was nice, but he did miss the contact from his brothers.

His new behavior hadn’t gone unnoticed by his best friends, however. So after band practice a few weeks later they cornered him. Luke pouted sadly as he crossed his arms and asked: “Why are you avoiding us?”

“What? Me, avoiding you? You’re crazy, I’m not doing that. I’m right here, aren’t I?” Reggie tried to deflect.

It didn’t work, Alex just gave him a look and said: “Reginald, we’ve known you for too long for that to work. Just tell us what’s wrong. If we did anything, we’ll fix it, okay?”

He was quiet for a moment, then he shrugged: “It’s nothing. It’s dumb, I know it’s dumb, okay? Just working through something right now.”

“Are you okay?” Luke sounded worried and Reggie hated that he had made him sound like that just because he was being stupid.

“I’m fine.” he assured Luke, trying to sound as genuine as he could.

They both stared at him for a while, then Alex carefully said: “I don’t want to disbelieve you, but you also said that every time you fled from your parents fighting, so I’m kind of having a hard time doing that right now.”

Reggie looked at the floor and thought about it. He knew they would be accepting, probably, most likely, and he didn’t want to create a rift between them and he did miss them, even if they were right next to him.

Apparently he had been quiet for too long, because Luke carefully asked: “Reggie?”

He sighed, it would be better to come clean, he knew Julie would be in his corner, so they wouldn't kick him from the band and he’d been keeping his distance just fine. He could keep doing that no question.

“Do you know what there colors mean?” Reggie asked, pushing up the sleeve of his flannel to show the bracelet hidden beneath.

Luke and Alex inspected it closely, before they both admitted they didn’t.

That made it a bit harder, because now Reggie had to explain it and that was really scary. He bit his lip nervously, then softly said: “It’s the bi pride flag.”

He’d done some research on his own, Julie had loaned him her laptop, so he was a bit more confident in explaining, but he still was so anxious.

“Pride as in gay?” Alex asked, recognizing the lingo Willie had explained to him.

“Uhm, yeah, kind of, bi is like bisexual and it’s when you’re attracted to two or more genders, so I like boys and girls. I never really noticed until recently and when I did it was pretty rad, because I wasn’t weird or on my own, but then I thought you guys might think it’s weird and then I kind of spiraled and I’m so so sorry.” tears were falling from his eyes as Reggie took a deep breath, probably to continue rambling, but he was cut off by a hug.

“We love you, bro.” Luke said, “It’s cool that you found your own word, I’m happy for you man.”

“Yeah, you know we won’t think less of you or something. I’m glad you figured yourself out. Love you, dude.” Alex squeezed him tight.

Reggie cried into both their shoulders, glad to be home and with a weight off his shoulders.

They were startled out of the moment by the door opening and Julie saying: “Hey, sorry guys, I forgot my bag so I’m just here to- Are you guys okay? What happened?”

Luke and Alex started to explain at the same time: “Well-” “you see, Reggie here, uhm” “Got something in his eye.” “Yes, something in his eyes, yes. And we were trying to get it out.” “Exactly, that.”

“She knows.” Reggie snorted behind them.

“What?” they turned to him.

“Julie helped me figure it out, she knows.” Reggie explained.

“Oh you told them!” Julie looked at the exposed bracelet and connected the dots, “I’m so proud of you, Reg.” she turned to Luke and Alex, “And you’re good friends for trying to cover for him, that’s really sweet.”

“Well, yeah, I know how it feels.” Alex said.

That made Luke and Reggie pull him into a hug, while Julie made a sad face, before she too joined the cuddle pile. Their little heap of acceptance and love. Their family.

[fletchphoenix]

Forget What I Said, It’s Not What I Meant

Chapter 14!!!!! I’m not gonna say much other than thank you for your support and onwards with the chapter :) Also late update because I had D&D and then had to study so sorry!

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

When Varian arrived at Rapunzel’s house, everyone seemed to pick up on what happened. There were no ‘Where’s Hugo’s or ‘Why do you look so sad?’s or any questions, just everyone treating him like he was porcelain or really really delicate..it annoyed him. Sure, he didn’t want to talk about it, but tip-toeing around the subject and acting as though he’d break down in tears at even the mention of Hugo just felt demeaning. It was his decision, admittedly an incorrect once, but his decision nonetheless. He was the one who initiated the breakup, so why would he be the upset one? That wasn’t to say he wasn’t either, it’s just...agh! Feelings were confusing!

  Things didn’t change at dinner, everyone averting their eyes from him as they just sat down and proceeded to shovel food into their mouths as fast as they could, as though trying to avoid the elephant in the room - that being Hugo’s empty chair beside Varian’s. He frowned and ate as everyone avoided eye contact with him. Now this was just a joke. He wasn’t upset- He really wasn’t! Sure, he desperately wanted the other boy back and every second without him felt like agony, but hey! He wasn’t having a blatant mental breakdown at least! He desperately tried to make conversation, but everyone else seemed unbothered, just staring at their own plates, so he quickly relented with his attempts and joined in with their unspoken pack to silence.

  After the dinner was done, he sat outside on the porch with the wind slowly blowing through his hair as he shut his eyes and let himself be taken away, deep in thought. Was what he did right? Was his mother being truly honest with him? There was no way Hugo could’ve known that his...well he still didn’t even know the relationship between him and Donella, Hugo had never had the chance to tell him, had done what she did to his mother. He couldn’t have been too old when it happened either, only around five or six so it was unfair to just dump all of his baggage on him and take out all the anger. He just didn’t know if Hugo would even forgive him for how he acted out…god, he’d really messed up this time. He still couldn’t wipe the thought from his mind of how broken-hearted Hugo looked as he screamed at him in the apartment hallway, their happy photos relentlessly staring them down to mock the hurricane of negativity he’d created. He let out a sigh. Maybe he was a monster and everyone before was right..maybe he should’ve been the one to go into a coma, not his dad..maybe-

  “Hey kid, you alright?” Cass asked as she sat beside him, a frown on her face before she closed her eyes and let herself relax, Varian averting his eyes and avoiding the question. A weight on his back prompted him to look over at the woman, the hand there rubbing small, soft circles like Hugo used to. “I get it, breakups are hard. And they really do suck when you still love the person you hurt, but...I can tell this wasn’t what either of you wanted. You still love him and I can tell from every little movement you make. So talk to him. Chances are he still loves you just the same as he did before, he just doesn’t feel as though he can express it to you. You’re gonna have to be the one to tell him you still love him if that’s what you want. If he’s what you want. I love you, kid, and you love Hugo. And I sure as hell knows he loves you. Just..do what you think is right to reconcile with him, we all can’t bear to see you sad.” she finished, her eyes still shut as Varian stared at her in confusion.

  The rest of the night and the whole of Thursday, Varian had thought about what Cassandra had said, it echoing in his brain to no avail as he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Was she right about Hugo truly loving him that much? Surely he couldn’t after all the..less than desirable things he’d yelled at the other boy. Regardless, he’d brought his phone out and pressed Hugo’s contact, immediately typing before hesitating when done. He had the text typed out ‘Hey Hugo, can we meet up at two at the coffee shop? We need to talk.’ but he couldn’t bring himself to send it. It felt like when they first talked, him struggling to even send a simple ‘Hi’, but this time the stakes were higher and their whole relationship depended on it. He sighed heavily and glanced over at his cat, who was sitting in his lap, and he could swear Ruddiger gave him a slight nod. Shakily, he pressed ‘Send’ and prayed to God that Hugo didn’t hate him or ignore him. 

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

  Today was Friday, and Hugo didn’t know why he’d decided to read the text Varian sent him, or agreed to meet up with the younger boy, but here he was, walking down the pitch black streets of Corona town at two in the morning with the only light emitting from his phone screen and helping guide him through the winding roads. He still wasn’t even sure why he’d even picked up his phone and read the text, let alone agreed, after he’d torn his heart in half right in front of him with seemingly no remorse, but hey, he was on his way so might as well agree. There was no backing out, not anymore. He had to face his problems head on - he was done with running from the other boy, even if he’d caused him so much heartache and trouble in the past few days which he DEFINTELY didn’t deserve whatsoever.

  He quickly made his way down the road, the uncomfortable heat and humidity of summer causing his clothes to stick to his back. It felt as gross as it sounded, him cringing at the sensation. He hated summer, he always had. Always way too warm, and the orphanage never had air con, neither did Donella’s house so he suffered this time of year with no remorse from the sun until autumn saved him from his pain. Hopefully it’ll all be worth it, he thought as he opened the doors to the place he knew oh so well, immediately strolling to their signature booth and spotting the raven haired boy already sitting there with two coffee cups: a vanilla latte and a black coffee for him, a familiar sight minus the coffee cups. “Hey, don’t I usually buy the drinks?” Hugo asked, forcing a grin on his face before taking a seat.

  Varian still looked as beautiful as the day he’d told Hugo to leave, Hugo’s eyes taking in every detail as all the memories flooded back to him and tears threatening to roll down his cheeks as he let them take down the wall he’d placed there. He missed him so much it was hard to even describe. He’d missed the freckles on his shoulders, the way he’d subconsciously cuddle closer to his boyfriend when watching a horror movie, the way that when he laughed, he’d let out little snorts...he missed all the little things, the little imperfections that he adored. However, there were more worrying aspects now that he looked closer: dark bags under his eyes, his skin unbelievably pale. It wasn’t noticeable if you hadn’t known him long, but..Hugo knew him well enough to know he was troubled. Still, Varian forced a slight smile and shuffled closer. “Yep, well I thought I’d switch it up a little being as I kinda..forced you out of your house at two in the morning. Which..brings me to why I brought you here.”

  The boy paused, a look of hesitation on his face before he bit the inside of his cheek, let out a deep sigh and proceeded. “I was wrong, Hugo. I was so so wrong to pin this all on you when you didn’t even know. I don’t want our mother’s pasts to dictate our future, because the truth is..I love you. I still love you and I never stopped. You brought..so much light into my life over the past six months and once I let it go, I couldn't focus again. You may hate me and..I don’t blame you whatsoever, but I adore you with every fibre of my being and I mean it when I tell you that. I love you, Hugo Atkinson.” He concluded, tears building in his eyes as silence followed his confession.

  Before he knew it, arms pulled him into an embrace and Hugo placed teary-eyed kisses all over his face, laughing shakily as he kept saying “I love you” over and over to the other, those three words forming a symphony that Varian knew he would never get bored of. He exchanged the kisses with gentle pecks of his own, whispering confessions to the other boy as he finally let himself admit just how much he truly missed the other’s presence in his life. But now..now he had him back and he wasn’t going to lose him.

  “I love you too, Varian. I..the past few days have been agony without you. I don’t know how I managed and-oh my god I’m so sorry for yelling at you on campus I-I should have listened to you..it wasn’t fair of me to act like that towards you when you were trying to apologise I just-I felt so alone and lost without you-”

  “Hugh..hey, look at me. I forgive you. Now..how about we get outta here and back home?” Varian asked, Hugo nodding eagerly in agreement with what he said. After all, it had been a few days since he’d been back at the apartment and, in all honesty, Varian wanted someone to cuddle with him for the night..

  The two boys stood, hand in hand, and completely discarded the two coffee cups on the table as they strolled down the street towards the apartment. It was dark, but they didn’t care, content to finally be in each other’s arms once again and happy. It was all either of them ever wanted for the agonising few days that they were apart, and now they finally had it, neither were going to let it go. Even as the uncomfortable heat pounded down on them, Hugo’s complaints just made Varian laugh and giggle even more, moving closer to the other male and squeezing his hand a little tighter. He could listen to the other complaining all day, but now wasn’t the time.

  As he’d unlocked the door to let both of them in, Hugo stood in amazement. Everything was the same, pictures still hung on the walls as they had been before, books still in the same places and his goggles still on the table in the hall where he’d left them beside the bowl they kept the keys in. He let himself adjust to the sight, though it was familiar, it still felt different despite nothing changing. Varian however paid it no mind, simply stating “What can I say? I missed your incessant use of green.” before pulling Hugo along towards their living room.

  Almost immediately as they went through the doorway to the living room, Hugo had pulled the younger boy into a passionate kiss, Varian’s hand threading his fingers through his hair gently as he took in the taste of the boy which he couldn’t quite forget, but desperately wanted to remember ever since they parted. It tasted just how he remembered - bitter like freshly ground coffee, just how he liked it. He let Hugo deepen the kiss and pin him against the painted green wall, hands roaming aimlessly over each other as they both reminded themselves of just how much they adored each other, before Hugo picked him up and carried him along the hall towards their room, Varian giggling the whole way across. 

  Hugo promptly dropped him on the bed and laid beside him, a wide smile on his face as he peppered kisses over his face and shuffled backwards slightly to allow Ruddiger to sit in between them. The cat had gotten a lot skinnier somehow, Varian had assumed Hugo was sneaking him extra snacks sometimes. Ruddiger seemed much happier to see his old rival too, purring and nuzzling his cheek as he greeted his other owner. Hugo also seemed relieved to see the proclaimed ‘fat bastard’ as he gave Ruddiger many many cuddles and an abundance of kisses to his furry forehead. Varian felt his heart fill with more and more love for the boy lying across from him, his hand slipping over his.

  “I’ve missed you both so much, I love you so much Varian.” He’d whispered to the boy, cuddling both the cat and the raven haired boy closer to his chest and placing gentle kisses to his forehead too without a care in the world before slowly kicking off his shoes and jacket before laying down again. Varian followed suit, his head now resting on his boyfriend’s shoulder and Ruddiger sitting at their feet as they cuddled even closer than before.

  Now everything was how it should be, back to normal with him in his boyfriend’s arms as they both drifted off to sleep. Just how he liked it and just how Hugo liked it, finding comfort in each other with their rekindled love. It felt right. Like the universe was back to normal.

  Varian could get used to this.

[florenceandthemachine]

i am in major need of some soft and happy stackson so talk to me about when they first get together and they can’t keep their hands off each other, both in a gross way like making out in front of all their friends and not giving a fuck but also being lovey dovey as shit all the time and surprising the hell out of the whole town because it is not what they were expecting at all.

BB I hope you are ready for a Full Canon Rewrite because honestly, they would probably get together after something super, terrifyingly emotional. Like after Jackson’s monster-master-driven apparently death, it would be Stiles who had leaped forward, and clutched Jackson’s body like his own life depended on it—and then, to everyone else’s shock, Jackson wrapped his arms around him just as tightly, his face now fully wolfed out, not a kanima scale in sight. 

It would be... unexpected. But if anyone could defy the odds, it was Stiles.

And Jackson, of course. But only when Stiles was involved. 

They weren’t disgusting, though. Not at first anyway. Nothing compared to what Stiles had to put up with in the past, between Jackson and Lydia and Scott and Allison. 

It would start with the little touches—the tenderness between the two of them would be undeniable. Stiles would be the type to be walking in the halls next to Jackson, texting with one hand, and the other would instinctively latch on to Jackson—his hand, or his arm, his backpack strap, and ultimately his belt loop, tethering himself to Jackson in a way that made Jackson flush. Jackson would never bring it up, of course, too worried that if he were to say anything, it would stop. 

But it would never stop. 

They would sit front and center in any of the classes that they had. Coach only tried to separate them once during Econ, and they had both done so disastrously bad on their next test that he immediately gave up. After all, they certainly weren't a disturbance in class, it was just kind of.... hard, sometimes, to watch two idiot teenagers in love sitting in the front of the class.

Stiles would be the one who instigates almost all of their contact, but he would only be comfortable doing it because he knows Jackson not so secretly loves it. He would be the one to link their legs at the ankles when they were studying in the library, if they were at a table too far apart for them to hold hands. He would be the one to loop an arm around Jackson’s shoulders during their pre-game locker room rituals, and he would be the one who almost pulls Jackson into his lap during pack meetings. 

(He worried, for all of twelve minutes, that Jackson was just tolerating his touch—he had tried to stop it only once, and after nearly an hour of Jackson being far grumpier than usual while simultaneously staring at Stiles hands, Stiles had idly gripped Jackson’s shoulder, given just the smallest squeeze, and watched the tension bleed out of his face almost instantly. So, obviously, the touching was a win win.)

The only hard part would be getting Jackson to understand that touch was okay between the two of them, in public. Private Jackson was plenty affectionate, but in public, while he responded well to Stiles touch, getting him to instigate anything was nigh impossible. 

Stiles, as usual, dealt with it in a sneaky and underhanded way that appealed to Jackson and his wolf and would probably make Scott frown at him, so he considered it a win. 

In the end, all he had to do was sigh and kiss Jackson’s knuckles while they were walking in to school, smiling sheepishly when Jackson looked over to him with an impossibly dopey smile. 

“Sorry. I just, uh, I like this. Like it when you touch me, you know? Makes me feel like I’m yours.”

His heartbeat was steady—he was telling the truth, of course—but just as he expected, Jackson’s eyes blew wide, and suddenly he had his arms full of happy werewolf, dipping him into a deep kiss on the school steps like they were in some kind of Disney movie. 

If he had known what kind of monster he had released, Stiles would have done that so much sooner; because Jackson, he was basically insatiable once he realized he was allowed to initiate physical contact. And Stiles loved it.

Holding hands in the hallway wasn’t enough anymore. Jackson would have his arms round Stiles waist, walking perfectly in step, close enough that Jackson could point out the rare odd calculation as Stiles poured over his notes, and Stiles could laugh at some snarky observation that Danny texted him. 

Sitting together at lunch wasn’t enough anymore. Jackson would sidle up behind him, arms around Stiles and chin on his shoulder, huffing impatiently when Stiles was too absorbed in something to notice him right away—and that said something, that Stiles was so comfortable with Jackson in his space that he didn’t always notice it, it said something that Jackson both loved and was terrified of.

Hell, even going through doorways wasn’t enough anymore. Jackson would open the door for him and then guide Stiles through, let his hand rest on the small of Stiles back in a way that was the perfect balance between sweet and possessive.

Stiles would, completely unconsciously, lean into any touch that Jackson gave him. 

But no, they weren’t disgusting. At least, not at first. And not in the broad public eye. Publicly, they were fucking tame, or so he told himself, ignoring the way his breath hitched when Jackson bit down on his collarbone, smothering his own groan in Jackson’s mouth when he finally came in their hiding spot beneath the bleachers, whipping an undershirt out of Jackson’s gym bag to clean himself up before sixth period started. 

(Jackson acted like he hated it, but Stiles wouldn’t even entertain the notion that Jackson didn’t love having Stiles’ scent so close to him all day.)

They had actually waited a long time, teenager-wise, before they started fucking. Jackson was afraid of being Stiles first, to be frank, and Stiles was willing to deprive himself of the bounty of Jackson’s body for as long as it took to convince Jackson that he wasn’t just in it for sex. 

(They had come painfully close to it, one Tuesday night when Jackson was staying at his place—literal months after they started dating. Stiles was on top of Jackson and Jackson was being so responsive to his touch, so good, and Stiles could barely hear anything over his own heart hammering because finally, the time felt right, this was right, they were both ready and—

and then Scott had come bursting through his unlatched window.

“Stiles, are you okay? I was patrolling and your heartbeat sounded super fucked up and I wanted to be sure that OH MY GOD MY EYES JESUS CHRIST WHAT THE FUCK YOU TWO OH GOD I AM SO SORRY I DIDN’T MEAN TO OH MY GOD.”

Jackson, the asshole, had almost laughed himself into a coma, but Stiles was so red you could fry an egg on his face, his self confidence gone in a flash. Jackson made it up to him with lots of cuddling and reassurance and Thai food while they watched a movie. stiles had said “I love you” for the first time that night, and even though he reassured Jackson that he didn’t have to say it back right away, Jackson just beamed at him and parroted it back almost instantly.

[The first time they did have sex, neither of them lasted longer than a minute, and suddenly Jackson was the embarrassed one, and it was perfect.])

Once they had started, though, it brought a whole new level of insatiable to their touches. Stiles no longer just held Jackson’s arm while they walked, he let his fingers trace every vein and contour of muscle beneath his shirt, in a way that was so blatantly pornographic—and somehow completely innocent—that even the most sexually comfortable bystander felt the need to avert their eyes. 

When they studied, it wasn’t enough to have Jackson’s hand on his thigh—Jackson would let his fingers ghost over Stiles shorts, or pants, or whatever, his fingers getting closer and closer to Stiles groin with every trace, pretending like he didn’t love how Stiles would lean closer to him, until he was basically in Jackson’s lap in the library. 

They had kissed in the locker room before, sure—but now it was to the point where Scott announced himself, loudly, when entering, if there was even the slightest suspicion that the two of them were alone in there (and even then, he had walked in twice to find the two of them very, very scantily clad, blushing bright red and avoiding eye contact with Scott and one another).

Sties, in his defense, had started to fight fire with fire, meaning that each time Scott complained about them at the lunch table (and okay, maybe that one time where Jackson had licked some ranch dressing off of Stiles palm was a bit much), Stiles immediately redirected with some embarrassing thing he had in his Scott folder—which proved to be entirely unnecessary, because less than a week into Scott and Allison bringing Isaac into their little romance, Stiles had more ammo on Scott than he ever wanted to have on anybody else, ever.

Their relationship was fairly public, and that was easy to see, but... there was so much more that came with that. There was a certain level of trust between them, the kind that Stiles would never have imagined before—but once Jackson had those walls down, it was like they were down for good. Stiles was there for every moment of it—he could still remember the first night he had to wake Jackson up from a nightmare, being extra mindful of the claws, the first time he had walked in on a fight between Jackson and his parents, had witnessed first hand what he could only call a temper tantrum where Jackson had nearly shredded his own mattress. 

(Whenever Jackson had an outburst like that, Stiles always took note of the things he took his aggression out on. It was always his own things, never Stiles, and never anything that Stiles held near. It was... fascinating, and so sad, all at once.)

Jackson, in turn, could tell when Stiles was on the brink of a panic attack by the sound of his heart alone, and had actually (literally, unfortunately) ripped a door from its hinges to get to Stiles before he had completely spiraled out of control. Jackson was better than Scott, even, at getting his breathing to even out, his heart to slow. And for once, Stiles actually had the chance to talk about what was bothering him, what had pushed him over the edge in the first place.

Full moons were some of the best worst nights that they had together, because Jackson basically went “full beast mode” as Stiles called it. Basically, anyone or anything came near Stiles, and Jackson could not be held accountable for his actions. Stiles loved it almost as much as the day after, when Jackson was soft and a little embarrassed and Stiles got to pamper him with kisses, and soft touches, and so much love. 

So, alright, maybe they were that disgusting couple, but they were in love, and Stiles didn’t care who saw it. They were together through literally the worst parts of their lives, and now they got to be together for the best, so who cared?

Stiles had his arms around Jackson when Jackson decided to come out to his parents. Jackson was there for Stiles when Stiles told his dad about all the supernatural stuff. They got through some of the incredibly harder points of their own lives with one another—and all the physicality along the way—and Stiles wouldn’t have it any other way. 

After all, as much as he loved Jackson taking his hand as they got ready to walk the stage and receive their diplomas, as much as he loved Jackson giving him a kiss when they all tossed caps, as much as he loved Jackson kissing his wrist when he got down on one knee in that ugly ass graduation robe in front of God and everybody (and he cried, oh God did Stiles cry), he loved the man behind it even more. 

[briefololtragedy]

Of menus and audio-books

Pairing Kakashi Sakura

Rating M

Summary: Sakura and Kakashi both want their dinner date, but Sakura's work keeps getting in the way. Sakura asks for Kakashi's help with tasting the menu, lets see what happens. The coffee shop saga continues

also posted to AO3 , follow up to Pakkun’s plan and Frazzled Friday

Sakura couldn’t believe the last two weeks she has had. Two weeks ago she was supposed to have dinner with Kakashi, but she kept having to put it off for work. She really needed to make a note to never cater ever again. She thought nothing could be worse than catering for that 16th birthday party, a shiver ran up her spine thinking of all the pink and sparkles. Hana, Sakura loved her to death, but between her changing her mind about the menu every other day and then Kiba constantly showing up in the coffee shop, Sakura was on her last shred of sanity. Kakashi still visited with Pakkun, but for not as long and his visits were what was getting her through this hell. She knew that Kakashi wasn’t fully comfortable talking with her when Kbia was present. 

Burning...something was burning! She looked around and realized it was her muffins that she put into the oven. Sakura made a mad dash to the kitchen, smoke was billowing out of her oven. The muffins were beyond saving. Throwing the tray into the sink she couldn’t help but let out a frustrated yell. The shop wasn’t open yet, not for another 30 minutes, so there were not any customers to scare away. 

And it was just at this moment her phone decided to ding. Not even two seconds later the phone was flying across the kitchen. Yep...here come the tears. She didn’t know anymore if they were out of frustration or actual sadness. Hana changed her mind again and wanted to go into a different direction. Sakura already decided that this day sucked. She just wanted to crawl back into bed and cuddle up with a good book. Silver flashed across her mind, cheeks flushed. She wouldn’t mind cuddling with him either. 

Sakura didn’t know what to make of their relationship. He was more than a customer, but she wasn’t sure what he wanted. She wanted to get to know him more, wanted to see him outside of these stupid walls. She wanted to shave her legs, do her hair and makeup, and wear a dress for him, well more for her, but she wanted him to be there to appreciate her. A small voice said she also wanted to appreciate him, take that scarf and more off of him. 

After her 10 minute freak out she got up from the floor, retrieved her phone and went to work. She was on the phone with Hana when he came in, he was earlier than usual (very odd). After talking Hana down from the edge, no she would not do German Russian fusion, what even the hell was that! She will handle the menu and told Hana to not worry about it. She couldn’t help the flutter in her chest when watching her favorite duo take a seat. She thanked whatever deity was looking out for her since Kiba was nowhere in sight. 

“I think someone played a prank on you and messed with your clocks. You do know that it is 9am?” Kakashi was yet again hard at work on his laptop, Pakkun at his feet. She sat across from him, well she more like flopped into the seat, but it was a long day and it was only 9am! 

“Hmm, maybe I just really wanted to see you.” Kakashi felt worn down, he didn’t want to beat around the bush. He was here finally when Sakura wasn’t busy with a certain customer. It was over a month since he had started to frequent Sakura’s coffee shop and he really wanted that dinner date. It didn’t help that Genma started talking about the pretty pink haired coffee shop owner when he was drunk the other night. Images flashing through his mind. He also wanted to take her up on her offer of helping him with his audiobook debacle. Kakashi decided that today would be the day, they would set the actual day for their date.

“I’m sure a busy editor like yourself has better things to do.” Sakura took a pause. “I’m sorry we haven’t been able to get our dinner together. This catering event has been a huge headache. You and this little guy have been so helpful.” Why couldn’t they seem to get out of these four stupid walls. 

“I’m never too busy for coffee or your dessert of the day.” Sakura couldn’t help but smile, it was then she decided to throw her shoulders back and give herself a mental pep talk. “So my client changed the menu again, this is a short notice, but how would you feel about testing out the menu I came up with tonight?” It felt like an eternity as she waited for his answer. 

Kakashi wanted to jump up and cheer, but he was not Gai. “Tonight would work.” His palms were not sweaty, he was not a teenager anymore. However, he felt himself melt at that wide dazzling smile. “Perfect! I’ll send you my address. Does 8 work?” 

“8 sounds good.” He would have made sure that it worked. Kakashi watched her walk away and couldn’t help but chuckle at the flour she had on the back of her jeans, highlighting her amazing backside asset. Eight couldn’t come fast enough. 

Sakura couldn’t help the extra pep in her step throughout the rest of the day. Mei looked at her like she grew a second head when she was giving customers free upgrades on their coffee orders. Sakura even had time during her break to make a menu and grocery list. She would have plenty of time to get what she needed, exercise (cause of her sugar addiction), and start preparing the food. She felt good, she hadn’t felt this good in a long time. Sakura had decided on a simple green fit n flare dress that came to her mid thigh, hair was in a messy bun, and just a little bit of makeup. 

A knock on her door brought her back down to earth. She froze and was at a loss for words at the sight before her. Kakashi was wearing dark loose fitting jeans and a light grey henley shirt. She could see part of a tribal tattoo peeking out from under his right sleeve. Then there was his scarf, or more importantly the lack of a scarf. Internally she started to whimper, it wasn’t far for him to look like that. 

“Kakashi please come in. I’m not making everything that I was thinking of serving for the event, but wanted to do a variety. You wouldn’t mind giving me your opinion on the other foods too?” Sakura felt more comfortable talking about food or more work related topics. She didn’t trust herself with him. Previous boyfriends didn’t like it when she was more “aggressive.” 

“Sounds good.” Kakashi couldn’t help, but appreciate Sakura’s appearance. She always looked stunning, but now...  He could see her muscular thighs, small waist, toned arms, and her rear. He had admired one of her best assets earlier today and couldn’t help stare as she led him through her house.  

“Here is the menu I wrote up. Whatcha think?” Sakura was leaning over her kitchen island resting on her elbows. 

Kakashi looked at the menu in front of him: Short Rib Crostini with Cambozola Cheese and Cherry Jam. Kimchi deviled eggs. Apple stuffed pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon. Butternut squash soup, tomato soup with mini grilled cheese crouton. Caramelized onion, goat cheese, and mushroom flatbread. Teriyaki salmon mini burgers. Medley of roasted vegetables Desserts in a shot glass: Tarrimsu, white chocolate blueberry cheesecake, lemon meringue. Trio of hot chocolate and cookies 

“There will also be fruit and vegetables, fresh dip...Oh and some homemade crackers. I was thinking of baked brie with apricot jam. There were fresh apricots at the store and couldn’t help making some jam.” Before he could speak his stomach decided to join the conversation. 

“Hmm , maybe I should stop talking about food and we should go to the eating part. I made the deviled eggs, flatbread, vegetables, tomato soup and grilled cheese. Then the hot chocolate and either chocolate chip or snickerdoodle cookies.” All of the smells that hit him when he first walked in all made sense now. He could smell the cookies, but really caught his attention was the eggplant in the mix of roasted vegetables. 

“That sounds like a perfect plan. I forgot to ask if it would be alright to take you up on your offer from a couple of weeks ago, and have you listen to me read?” He had tried reading for Jiraya earlier, but all he got was a sour face from the man. 

“It's the least I can do. Let’s eat!”  Sakura found the conversation was easy. Kakashi gave some comments on the food, she noticed how he went back for more eggplant. She also had to pat herself on her back for not being too awkward. She found herself talking about Naruto and Jiraiya. Along with stories of Ino. Kakashi shared about his dogs, how he rescued them, he had more than just Pakkun. He had been in the army, but left after 5 years. He found himself settling into the publishing business with his passion for books. 

Kakashi had settled into her sofa, while she decided to clean the kitchen before dessert. Guilt overtook him while he watched her do the dishes and clean off the counters. He found himself making his way to help her, she seemed shocked when he pushed her over to dry while he washed. It seemed like her friends didn’t volunteer often to help her clean. 

The dish water had gotten his shirt slightly damp on the front, allowing for it to cling just enough to get an outline of his abs. It was getting hotter in her kitchen and the oven was off. She was taken out of her thoughts when she felt an arm grazing her back. “Sorry, I finished washing and decided to help with drying, the only other towel was to your right. You were lost in thought I didn’t want to disturb you.” 

“Sorry for zoning out. Let me get the hot chocolate ready. Do you want white, milk, or dark chocolate? Also cookie choice.” She had decided on white chocolate and snickerdoodle, hmm this sugar was going to go straight to her ass. 

“I’m starting to think you are made out of sugar. I will have dark chocolate. Hmm I think I’ll try both, I’ve been a good boy.” Sakura felt warm again, how was she going to get through him reading one of those stupid books. 

“The night is still young, hope you stay a good boy. Lets go to the living room for your contribution to the evening.” Kakashi was having second thoughts. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to practice?” He didn’t want her to run away or ruin what relationship they had.

“Kakashi it's the least I can do! You have been so much help with all of this, have a seat.” Kakashi went back to sitting on the sofa, placing his hot chocolate on the end table. The chocolate chip cookie was already gone. Sakura made herself comfortable on the other end of the sofa, she was sitting facing him, one of her legs under her, she was sipping on her drink and occasionally dunking her cookie into it. 

“Alright here goes nothing.” Kakahi cleared his throat as he started to read. 

“We shouldn’t be doing this, Maalik.” Elena looks forlorn. The wind blows her chestnut hair in front of her face obscuring her crystal clear blue eyes. They are meeting in their safe haven, far from the eyes of their families. A small stream flowed through the area, wildflowers surrounding. The trees provided shade from the gruling sun. A ray of light had cut through the trees and onto Elena, it was their oasis.. Maalik couldn’t help but give pause. She was beauty, nothing could compare. He could feel his palms become sweaty and his heart race as he looked at her. 

Kakashi noticed that Sakura was adjusting in her seat. She was cupping her mug with both hands staring at him intently. He continued on. 

“You say that everytime we meet, my love.” Maalik’s smoky voice penetrated through the air. He couldn’t help, but bring his hand to her face making her look him in the eyes. Elena’s heart was beating so fast it felt like it would come out of her chest. All thoughts vanished from her mind as she looked into his brown eyes. His arm went to wrap around her waist, pulling her to him. Elena’s hand was resting on his chest and she could feel his heart beating like a drum in his chest. 

Sakura could feel some discomfort between her legs grow. She wanted to rub them together. It should not be allowed to have his deep baritone voice so smooth, warming her all the way to her bones. 

“Every time I see you I can’t help but feel like your beauty grows, it puts the flowers to shame.” He couldn’t help but bring their lips together. It had been weeks since they last saw each other. Elena was hesitant at first, but wasted no time to deepen the kiss. They both were acting like people dying of thirst getting water for the first time. Before Elena knew it she was laying on the grass, Maalik hovering over her. Their kiss never broke. 

Kakashi’s heart was beating fast. He was sure he was blushing. Sakura’s eyes had started to glaze over. He wanted to reach out and move that strand of hair from her face. 

“Please...Please Maalik it's been too long. I need you.” Maalik didn’t have to be told twice as he ventured down Elena’s body leaving wet trails as he made it to his destination. 

“Sakura… are you alright?” She had been fidgeting in her seat. “I...” All self control had abandoned her and she lunged. She shoved the book out of his hands as she settled herself on his lap. Sakura cupped his face in her hands and went in for the kiss. She could taste the lingering chocolate and cinnamon from dessert. Part of her wondered if he would pull away, but once she felt him deepening the kiss with hands going to her hips she cheered internally. 

Kakashi was wondering if he was dreaming. The slight nip on his lip assured him this was reality. He couldn’t help, but to slide his hands up her thighs to her hips. He took note of the ripple of her muscles with his touch. Kakashi pulled her closer to him. A low moan escaped him as Sakura started to slowly circle her hips against him. The small whine she created when he had to pull away broke part of him. They both were panting heavy just from their kiss. 

“I have wanted to kiss you since the first time I met you. Do you know how much I desired to pull that stupid scarf off of you? “ Sakura’s voice had taken a husky quality to it, while they had stopped their current activity she continued to stay on his lap. 

“Sakura you are no better, with those tight jeans and aprons you wear. How a baker has this great of an ass I will never know.” To emphasize his point one of his hands went to squeeze her ass lovenly. This time it was Kakashi initiating their heated lip lock. His hair was so soft between her fingers. A pleasant sensation ran up her spine as he rubbed small circles on her hip. She wanted to explore more of him. 

Sakura found her right hand venturing downward, tracing the outlines of his pectorals, down his abdominal muscles, to rest just above his jeans. She slowly pulled away from him, resting her forehead on his, as she slowly unbuttoned his jeans to slide her hand to her goal. The moan and bucking of his hips was the only sign she needed to continue. She could feel Kakashi’s lips on her neck, him lightly biting at times. Sakura almost had to give pause once she had his sizable member in her hands. She licked her lips as she started to slowly work up and down his shaft. Her position was slightly awkward as her hand was between both their bodies. She wanted to move with him and found herself circing her hips with his rhythm. 

Kakashi felt like he was in overload at the moment. The taste of her neck and mouth still lingering, then the feel of Sakura’s hand as she worked him, and then her hips grinding against him it was almost too much. Before he could speak he found himself standing up with her in his arms. The small squeak she let out was adorable, but it was her wrapping her legs around him that he focused on. 

“Bedroom?” At his question Sakura pointed her head in the direction of her hallway. As he made his way to his destination he couldn’t help but kick off his jeans as they fell down. Once he found the right door on his own. Sakura had decided to start licking and biting at his neck, hands wondering. At least she had released her hold on little Kakashi because he didn’t think he would have the self control to not take her against the wall. 

He made quick work of his shirt after laying her down, while Sakura made quick work of her dress. 

Sakura started to feel self conscious as she looked at the greek god in front of her. The tattoo that she saw earlier extended up his shoulder and over his right pec. She was so wrapped up on her thoughts she didn’t notice Kakashi staring. 

While Sakura made some of the most delicious desserts they didn’t make his mouth water as much as the woman in front of him. Her breasts were covered by a white lace bra, but looked like they would fit perfectly in his hands. His eyes trailed down her flat stomach to her matching pair of white panties. It was time for his second dessert. 

Sakura felt her bed dip as Kakashi joined her. Her arms locking around his neck as he started to kiss her. She couldn’t help but to rub her legs together as one of his hands went to her breast, messaging it. He started to trail down her with kisses. Him making quick work of her bra as he latched onto one of her nipples, while he messaged the other. After a few minutes he switched. The pressure between her legs was building and she couldn’t help her whimpers and moans. She wanted more. 

As if hearing her thoughts he ventured down her stomach pausing where her underwear started, then it was gone. His thumb started to rub circles over her clit before he replaced it with his mouth. He started sucking gently at first then the pressure started to build, especially once he placed two finger into her pumping at a lazy rhythm at first. Her back arched and she was coming. 

Kakashi came back up to kiss her and she could taste herself. She wasted no time in wrapping her legs around him as he positioned himself. Finally he slid inside, stretching her deliciously. 

____________________________________________

They laid intertwined both exhausted from their multiple rounds. 

“You don’t like my scarf?” Sakura rolled her eyes as she nestled into him more. “Shut up and don’t make me regret spending my day off with you.” 

Extra- Pakkun's thoughts:

Pakkun thought all was well 2 weeks ago, yet his owner can't seal the deal with the pretty shop owner. Pakkun has his life set and Kakashi had to ruin it. Tonight just takes the cake! Kakashi left him! Kakashi had looked like a nervous teenager when he left, mumbling to himself as he walked out the door. It almost sounded like he was giving himself a pep talk. Pakkun looks to the sofa where the other human is sitting, sipping a beer, while having a toothpick in his mouth, why was this guy even here! Pakkun had become accustomed to tuning out this human. he vaguely hears a ding of the phone. "Well peanut looks like it will be just us. Kakashi wont be back tonight, lucky dog." Genma has a smirk on his face.

Pakkun doesn't want to be with Genma and he also sees his hopes of a belly full of dog biscuits crumble. Surely if Kakashi was visiting Sakura he would have taken Pakkun along.

[honestlyhufflepuff]

Being Human

Day 1 of jamweek, with the prompt “dance.” Summary: Steven is at a school dance with Connie shortly after the events of Prickly Pair, but finds he can’t handle crowds as well as he used to. The two of them have some catching up to do. Genre: Fluff, hurt/comfort. Word count: 2568. I had intended this to be a drabble, but it ended up being a whole dang short story that I drafted in one sitting because I have no chill. Brief song lyrics included are from the song “Human” by Dodie.

***

Steven stood in the bathroom next to the crowded school gymnasium. The bass from the music inside thumped inside his chest, and his heart battered in tandem against the inside of his rib cage, trying to escape through his throat.

A long time ago, Connie was the one who was nervous at school dances. Then she danced with him on the beach, and they fused, and now he was the reason she liked dances at all. She’d been gushing in the car about all the catching up they could do, and all the friends he would meet, but so far he wasn’t doing great on either of those fronts.

He was fine in the car, at reminding himself to look happy. He tried to smile. He tried to add that familiar upwards inflection on his words that projected a carefree person. He tried to laugh and chat and be the friend Connie needed to have a good time at a school dance like she deserved to.

She’d found it odd that he had so many clothes in the back seat of his old car, and he somehow managed to avoid telling her he’d been living there for the past week. He just couldn’t face the gems after all the things Cactus Steven said. There was so much about recent events Connie didn’t know, but Steven told himself tonight was not the night to bring her down. Tonight they didn’t need to be burdened by the past or the future.

Then they got to the school, and Steven saw the sea of teenagers. One of his old favorite songs played, the people laughed, the lights flashed, the cheap streamers glittered, the balloons bounced around the room, and all he could focus on was how fragile these humans were. How different he was from all of them. He couldn’t remember being around this many people at once since Little Graduation, and that time he’d almost- no, he couldn’t complete that thought. He felt the familiar tight, sick sensation inside him before his skin glowed pink, and now he was in the bathroom glaring at his own reflection, while Connie was alone on the dance floor.

He tried the deep breathing Garnet taught him. He paced the room. He clutched the sides of his head. He thought of things that used to calm him down. No matter what he did, as soon as he went back to the mirror the pink crept back across the bridge of his nose.

“Get it together!” He hissed at himself, “She’s waiting for you! It’s just a dance! Why are you so bad at this now?”

“Steven?” A voice whispered from the doorway.

“Connie!” he yelped, covering his face, “Hey, you’re not supposed to be in here!”

“We’ve shared a body before. I didn’t think a door would bother you.”

“Yeah, fair point,” he muttered.

“I was just worried about you,” she said, “You’ve been in here for a while and-“

“I’m fine!” he blurted out, his voice high pitched and strained.

“Steven, do we need to go somewhere else? Are the people here too much?”

“What? No, why would you think that?”

She sighed and closed the door behind her, “You can stop covering your face like that. You’re turning pink, aren’t you?”

“No, I- wait, how did you know about that? I’ve never done that around you.”

“Look,” she stepped a little closer to him and slowly pulled his hands down from his face, holding them tight in hers, “I’m sorry I didn’t hear it from you, but you’ve been shutting me out- again- which also isn’t cool. I kept calling and you weren’t answering, so I called Pearl.”

“What? No, no, no!” He yanked his hands from hers and resumed pacing the room, “That stuff wasn’t hers to tell! I just- I didn’t want you to see me like this! I wanted to be- to feel- how I used to. Just for one night, with you, I didn’t want this-” he jabbed a finger at his face flooded with diamond essence- “to follow me! Did she tell you everything Cactus Steven repeated?”

“Cactus Steven? What are you talking about?”

“She didn’t tell you about that?”

“No, we both agreed it was best if I heard the details from you. She just told me you were having a hard time dealing with stuff, and with these new powers of yours. She sounded so worried,” Connie hesitated, touching the flush of glowing pink on his cheek, “Are these powers like-“

She didn’t finish the sentence, as his eyes already gave her the affirmative answer. They were both thinking of that day when another Steven emerged from his lone gem, all primal rage and power. Steven had been terrified that side of him would hurt people, even as he himself lay dying, and now he could feel that same power thrumming and bubbling just under the surface of his skin all the time.

“She did, um, tell me that you haven’t been living in the beach house,” Connie deftly changed the subject, “So those clothes in the car-“

“Yeah,” Steven sighed, “I’ve been living in the Dondai. Camping, too. It’s been kind of fun, actually.”

“Steven!” she rebuked, “Why didn’t you tell me any of this? I knew we were both busy, and not seeing each other as much, but I thought if something like this happened you would talk to me! I thought we’d finally learned how to do this together!”

She stomped her foot with that last word, making Steven jump as his skin faded back to it’s normal hue.

“Connie, I-“

“Seriously, Steven? Are we even still friends? You’d rather go through all this alone than just pick up the phone and call me back?”

“Connie, of course we’re still friends! Or at least, I hope we are. I know I’ve been a terrible friend lately. I’m sorry I shut you out, I just-“ his voice broke and some tears spilled down his cheeks- “I just-“

“You just didn’t want to worry me?”

He nodded and let out a surprised yelp as she grabbed his waist, pulling him towards her. Steven felt his shoulders slump and tension release he hadn’t realized he was holding. He nuzzled into her shoulder, breathing in her familiar scent, and a few strands of her soft hair tickled his nose. Her form was small and warm against his own. His fingers clutched at her back, as a few of his tears soaked into the soft velvet of her royal blue dress.

“Well, stop it,” she said, “I can handle a little worry. What I can’t handle as easily is losing you.”

“Ok,” he whispered into her hair, his broad arms wrapping across her shoulder blades like a life preserver.

“Anyways, Pearl said she thought you could use a fun night out. And I guess that’s what I was trying to make this.”

“Wait,” he backed up to look at her face, and Connie wiped a tear from his cheek, “You asked me out just so I could have a fun time? That’s the same reason I came with you- so that you could have a nice night where you didn’t have to worry about studying and stuff. I was trying really hard to be fun to be around.”

“Well, maybe we can just stop trying to perform for each other. You know I’m not fun to be around all the time, either, but that’s ok! No one can be the life of the party 24/7. Sometimes I get anxious, and bossy, and sometimes I just talk forever about my special interests before I realize the person I’m talking to is lost or bored!”

“I could listen to you talk about anything. I want to be as passionate about things as you are.”

She stared at him for a few seconds before exhaling “Stars, I forgot how cute you can be. You don’t have to be the life of the party for me, Steven. I want the whole person, not the stage persona.”

He granted her the best smile he could muster and breathed “Thank you,” as he nestled back into her hair. He loved hearing her say stuff like that, but he couldn’t help but wonder if those words would still come so easily if she knew all that the gems did. He’d have to tell her everything eventually. He knew he did, if he wanted any hope of their friendship lasting. For now, maybe he could just cherish being held by her while it lasted.

The music from the dance drifted in through the bathroom vent, muffled and distorted. It was lilting and slow, and Connie placed her hands on Steven’s waist, swaying him softly in rhythm with the song.

He felt the smallest grin creep onto his face and he took her hand in his, the other one resting on her shoulder. They began to spin in small circles on the yellowed school linoleum, ignoring the lingering scent of urine and just general teenage boy. All that mattered to Steven was that Connie was here. It mattered that her weight in his arms reminded him that he was alive, and that he was loved. It mattered that she was smiling at him, and that he was smiling back- a real smile this time. He felt lighter than he could remember feeling in weeks, his insecurities softening just a bit, and as Connie spun him under her arm with the climax of the song, his feet began to float off the ground.

He was about to lift her up into the air with him when a boy walked in the bathroom.

“Hey!” he shouted, bulging eyes resting on Connie like she was a witch “You’re not supposed to be in here!”

Steven dropped back down to the ground, causing Connie to lose balance until she slipped on some water spilled on the floor. She tumbled down, pulling Steven with her until they were both in a heap by the urinals.

“Are you ok?” they asked in unison. Their faces were inches from each other, and they both exploded into giggles at the absurdity of the situation.

“Um,” said the boy who’d intruded on them, “I’m just gonna go to the other bathroom.”

Steven and Connie erupted in more laughter as the boy slowly backed out of the room.

“Connie!” Steven chuckled as he helped her up, “Oh no, your dress has bathroom water on it!”

“Eh, this old thing? It’s cool.”

“Yeah, you still look beautiful in it.”

Connie blushed and rolled her eyes as she offered her elbow, “M’lord? Shall we return to the ball?”

“Yes, M’lady,” he said, stifling another laugh.

They walked out of the bathroom and Steven was flooded with the lights and noise of all the humans around him. It was easier than it was at first, but his heart still raced, and he didn’t know if he could ever relax in a place crowded with humans again. At least, not until he figured out how to manage his pink powers first.

“Hey,” Connie studied his face, “I know an even better place to dance.”

“Oh?” asked Steven with a sideways glance.

She nodded, “The beach.”

“Why, is there a party or something?”

“Yep. A party with only you and I invited.”

“Connie, you don’t have to do that. I thought you wanted me to meet your friends and-“

“That can happen another time, but it’s a beautiful night and the DJ here kind of sucks.”

He laughed, “The DJ on the beach is just my phone on shuffle.”

“Wow, that’s an impressive set up! You’ll give Sour Cream a run for his money.”

And with that, she led him back to the car where they drove to the closest stretch of beach. They abandoned their fancy shoes, and twirled and danced until they fell into the sand together.

With the ocean waves calming him, and being able to look at the stars as he talked instead of directly at her, it was a little easier to open up to Connie than he thought it would be when she started gently probing him with questions. His account of the last few months was stilted, hesitant, and rife with self deprecation, but it was a start.

“You know,” said Connie after a while, when Steven had said all he had the strength to, “I had a hard time adjusting after all that stuff on Homeworld, too. It was hard for me to talk to you about it, because I knew you already felt guilty about us almost dying there, so I got some outside perspective. I started going to therapy and opened up to my parents a little more, and they were actually really helpful. I hope you can get that, too.”

“Some perspective?”

“Yeah, and some help. And I want us to be there for each other through that process.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” Steven said, sitting up to stare at the waves, “Ugh, of course I should have realized you were struggling, too! I’m so sorry you went through that without me.”

“You were kind of off in space toppling an intergalactic space dictatorship. I get it. But thanks.”

They sat for a few minutes letting the waves lap up to their toes and carry away their thoughts. It was so familiar, sitting on the beach with her, yet he was having thoughts he’d never had the other times they came there. He thought about how much he wanted to kiss her, but the timing didn’t feel right. He wondered if it ever would. Things were just left too raw and vulnerable at the moment to go adding another layer of complexity to the mix.

“Hey,” Connie straightened and grabbed Steven’s phone, “There’s a song I want you to hear. Time for one more dance?”

“Always,” he said, pulling himself up.

With the intro, Steven recognized the song and began humming along as they swayed with it. Connie began singing the lyrics to him in earnest, gazing at him with her wide brown eyes, and Steven was entranced:

“I wanna pick you up and scoop you out I want the secrets your secrets haven’t found

Paint me in trust I’ll be your best friend Call me the one This night just can’t end Oh oh”

He spun Connie, and as she twirled back towards him she stole a kiss on his cheek. He flushed a deep pink, and this time it was nothing to do with his gem.

“Will you share your soul with me? Unzip your skin and let me have a see

Paint me in trust I’ll be your best friend Call me the one This night just can’t end Oh oh”

With the next lines, Connie stopped dancing, and they both sang to each other:

Oh, I’m so human We’re just human.”

She wanted to remind him that he was human. And that humanity was not less because of his alien heritage. He was allowed to be fragile sometimes. He was allowed to not have to be everyone’s savior.

The first 17 years of Steven’s life had been taken by Homeworld. Taken by the war, and the thousands of years of mistakes made by his mother. He’d finally learned how to be a Crystal Gem. Maybe in the next 17 years he could learn about being human.

[got7thotsss]

28 11- Bambam

Warnings: Swearing Summary: Y/n and Bambam vibe on impulse Pairing: Bambam x Reader Word Count: 1.4k A/n: This is the only idea that sprung to my head with Bam, sorry about that. Happy New Year!

You have always loved parties. Every single party you’ve been invited to, you have attended. Even the shit ones that basically no one turned up to. You were always there. Not always drunk mind. It wasn’t that often you drank. You were incredibly aware of the effects alcohol had on you and so it was in your right mind to stay sober most of the time.

For example, you were impulsive as it is when you’re fully sober. Constantly buying things you don’t need, just because. Hitting on the cute guy across the street, even though he’s clearly stood with a girlfriend. The list is endless. It’s also ten times as worse when you’ve been drinking. The number of people you’ve slept with whilst under the influence of alcohol is crazy. In an attempt to prevent you from getting countless STDs and STIs, you choose to only drink at one party a month.

The party you’re currently in attendance of is a wild one. As you waltz around the party, switching between dancing in the living room to the bass-filled tunes blasting extremely loudly and standing out on the balcony smoking. You use the cigarettes as a method of not drinking, you smoke at the parties when you don’t drink and drink at the parties when you don’t smoke. You switched it up one time and did both, unfortunately it turned into a terrible experience, the cigarettes causing the alcohol to taste vile.

You’re just heading back into the party when you catch his eye. The slim, broad-shouldered hottie. Everyone had their eye on him, he had to push numerous drunk people off of himself and that was just in the past fifteen minutes. He only had his eyes on you. Bambam is an avid partygoer, just like yourself. He enjoyed the rush that grinding his body with different strangers gave him. He recognised you from multiple parties you had both attended.

You spot him as you grab yourself some water from the fridge. You always love his outfits, there’s never a dull moment with Bambam. Today he’s wearing tight black jeans with a black muscle shirt with an album cover displayed on it, tucked in. This paired with a white denim jacket. You’ve never wanted to jump someone on the spot more. Your eyes meet across the room and you take this as your signal to go and talk to him.

You weave your way in and out of the large crowd of people dancing and reach Bam on the other side of the room. You shoot him a sly smile, to which he returns. You open your mouth to introduce yourself but are stopped by Bam’s lips landing on yours. You’re stunned but immediately respond to the kiss, which leads to a full on make out session against the wall.

He enjoys the mixture of the taste of smoke and ice water on your lips. It makes him want more. He tastes like Pepsi, which you love. You don’t know how long you stay there, locking lips with Bam. But eventually one of you pull away, then you mutually agree to make your way to the bedroom that you know is going to be free. The joys of having a friend host a party and leave you with the key to the master bedroom.

“So, Y/n. Tell me about your dreams.” That’s all it takes for you to reveal your deepest ambitions to essentially someone you only really met today.

You tell him all about your ambition of being a photographer, about how your parents don’t believe in you and are forcing you to become an accountant, like them, and do your photography on the side. Bam then tells you about his own dreams of being a fashion designer and how his own parents want him to also take a more practical career path, but he decided to follow his own dreams instead of theirs.

“Wow, I would never be able to stand up to my parents like that.” You respond, after he finishes his own tale, “I think they would actually disown me if I did that.”

“At least you still get to do photography on the side though. That’s pretty decent of them to actually let you stick with it as well as doing what they want you to do.” He says, making you nod your head.

“Yeah, they can be pretty reasonable when they want to be.” You say, smiling. You look around the room, you didn’t realise before that the window was sealed shut, no opening. No wonder it was starting to get really warm in the room.

You pick up the bottle of water that you took in there with you and take a sip, then offer it to Bam, who was also starting to overheat. He gladly takes the bottle, then gulps down half the contents. He gives you a grateful smile, then moves to remove his jacket. You notice a glimmer of black on his skin and gasp.

“What? Do I have a bug on me or something? Quick, quick get it off, get it off!” He exclaims, brushing his hands across his body in a panic.

“No, no, nothing like that. I just noticed your tattoo.” You say, giggling at the frantic man in front of you.

“Oh, right.” He laughs, “You scared me.”

“How many have you got?”

“Bugs? None, I hope. The freaky little shits scare the crap out of me.” You give him a look, “Oh, tattoos. Ya know, just a few. Don’t you have any?”

“Nope.” You state, “I’ve been meaning to get one, I’ve just never actually gone and done it.”

“Grab your shit, we’re going right now.” He says, standing up and marching towards the door. You decide it’s in your best interest to go with him, so you follow him. He leads you to the door, then grabs your hand to pull you out of the house. You let him pull you down the street to a sleek, white Lamborghini.

“How the hell did you afford that?” You question, as he opens the door for you. He just shakes his head at you. After climbing into the passenger seat, you put your seatbelt on as Bam runs around the car and climbing into the driver’s side. He starts driving and you watch him intently, his hand grips the steering wheel in concentration.

“Oh, don’t worry, I haven’t been drinking.” He says, after noticing you staring at him.

“I didn’t even think about that, not gonna lie.” You say, making him chuckle, “Where are we going?”

“We’re just… Coming here.” He says, pulling over on the side of the road. You look up and see a walk-in tattoo parlour.

“Ah wow.” You state, taking in the bright lights. You both exit the car, then Bam once again grabs your hand and leads you into the tattoo shop. You silently observe as Bam chats with the tattoo artist, then he turns to you and smiles.

“C’mon Y/n, you’re up first.” He says, pointing you through to the room that the artist was starting to walk through. You walk through that way and get situated on the bed.

“Bam already chose the tattoo, you just have to pick the place you’re having it.” The artist explains, getting the inks ready. You nod your head, then think about all of the areas you’ve thought about having a tattoo.

“Can I have it on my ankle?” You ask, pointing down to your left ankle. He nods, then starts pulling your jean leg up. You watch as he pulls your shoe off, then cleans the area. He starts up the needle gun and you watch as he starts up the tattoo, “Bam. Can you come and hold my hand?”

Bam appears in the doorway, “You’re not gonna break it, right?” You shake your head, so he nods and walks over to you.

After fifteen minutes, you and Bam switch positions, him on the bed and you stood by holding his hand. He’s getting the tattoo in the same place as you, he doesn’t squeeze your hand as hard as you were squeezing his though. You assume that’s just because he’s used to the pain of the tattoos.

“You’re all done now, it’s a bit of a strange couple tattoo to have, but I’m not one to judge. I’ll just be through there, when you’re ready to come and pay.” The tattoo artist says, before standing up and leaving.

Both of you look down at your ankles then smile, “28, 11?” You question.

“Today’s date, the date of your first tattoo and the date that you met the love of your life.” Bam explains.

“The love of my life?”

“I can just feel it, we’re going to fall in love baby.” He says, smiling smugly at you.

[winchesterbrotherstan]

Teen Wolf- Wolf Moon (1.01)

Pairings: Stilinski siblings, Scott McCall x Allison Argent, lowkey Scisaac 

Summary: Scott is attacked in the woods and develops new skills. While the Stilinski triplets try to figure out what’s happening, Scott hones in on the new girl, leaving Isaac feeling dejected.

Warnings: blood, cursing, animal bites, uhhh... wolf?

Word Count: 7793

“Ya know, that guy kinda looks a lot like you, Gabe.” Stiles pointed at the screen as a boy with a red school jacket and headphones made a face.

I looked from the TV to one of the boys. Their faces were alike, and they were probably the same height. Gabe’s hair was longer, and his face wasn’t as worried.

He snorted, “He does not.”

Stiles reached over and ruffled his hair. “Does too.”

Gabe uncurled himself from my side and pulled the pillow from me, hitting Stiles in the face with it. Stiles shot up, throwing his blanket over Gabe. The taller boy ran to the living room, positioning himself on one end of the round table. Gabe struggled to rip the blanket off before running after Stiles.

“Stiles, you dickhead!”

“Language!” My dad yelled from upstairs.

I laughed and got up from the couch, shuffling over to see my brothers circling each other around the table.

“Boys, come on.” I chuckled, seeing the playful snarl on Gabe’s face.

I rolled my eyes as Stiles growled. I decided I would film the disaster and ran upstairs to get my phone. I heard Dad on the phone with someone. I leaned against the door of his room.

“A body in the woods?”

“Yeah, two joggers found it.”

“But only one half?”

That sounded strange.

“Yes, sir.”

“So let me get this straight. Two joggers went for a run in the woods, and they found half of a twenty something year old girl’s body?”

“Yep.”

“Alright. I’m on my way over now.”

“Okay. State police will meet you there.”

“Okay. You have a nice night, now.”

“You too, sir.”

He hung up the phone before getting ready to leave. I ran and got my phone before scrambling back down to the boys, hoping my dad wouldn’t catch me.

“Lup, some help?” Stiles made a face.

“No.” I laughed and pulled out my phone so I could start to film.

Gabe turned and flashed a pearly white grin at the camera before talking himself up.

“Stiles, I’m gonna take you down.”

Dad came down the stairs, raising an eyebrow as he walked right into the middle of Gabe’s attempt to tackle Stiles. Stiles gasped as our father hit the ground, followed by the youngest Stilinski.

“Dad, are you alright?” Stiles and I rushed to his side, both stepping over Gabe.

He grunted as we helped him sit up. “I’m okay. Gabriel, what the hell was that?”

Said brunet flinched at the mention of his full name.

“Sorry Dad.” He mumbled, scratching the back of his neck.

“I don’t know what you kids are doing, but I’ve got to go. I’ll be back by morning.” He groaned as Stiles helped him to his feet.

Gabe sighed as I pulled him up, ruffling his hair.

“What? Why?”

“Work calls, kiddos.” A pat to each of our heads.

“Dad, come on. Can’t it wait? Stiles and I play tomorrow and we won't be able to go out afterward if you're too tired.”

Dad placed a reassuring hand on Gabe’s shoulder and squeezed.

“Being the sheriff isn’t easy, Gabe. I’ll be back in time to see you guys tomorrow morning.”

Gabe huffed as Dad walked to the closet at the front, pulling on his jacket.

“Lupus, can you order some pizza for tonight?” He called.

I wandered over to him, shuffling on my feet.

“Sure.”

“I’m sorry, kids. I promise we’ll go out some other night.”

Stiles dropped his head onto mine. Gabe chewed at his cheek and nodded. Our dad grabbed the keys before opening the door.

“Oh, and kids?”

He turned back to see us. Our three heads snapped up, eyes wide.

“Make sure you go to bed at a reasonable time.”

He shut the door without another word.

Stiles let out a small sigh and Gabe let his shoulders slouch. He looked up at Stiles before looking down at me.

“What kind of pizza do you want?”

I only looked up at Stiles, who was staring holes into the door. “I wonder where he went.”

I grinned.

“We’re not getting pizza, are we?” Gabe asked as Stiles grabbed the keys to the jeep.

                                                          ***

“Wait, half of the body?” Gabe leaned forward, looking from Stiles to me.

“Yeah, they only found half of a girl’s body. Are you gonna make her say it again?” Stiles looked at him in the rearview mirror.

Gabe rolled his eyes. I ruffled his hair. He pulled back and fixed it before leaning forward again. I went to mess with it again, only to have him catch my hand and hold it.

“Are we stopping by to pick up Scott?” I asked.

“Yeah. You guys wait in the car.” Stiles said as we pulled to a stop in front of Scott’s house.

“Fine.” Gabe scoffed as Stiles left.

I climbed over to the back, leaning against my baby brother.

“Isn’t Dad gonna yell at us for this?” He asked, looking down towards me.

“Only if we get caught. And if we do, we’ll blame it on Sti.”

“Like hell you will.” Stiles popped back into the car, Scott sitting shotgun.

“Hi guys.”

“Hey Scott.” We spoke in unison.

“Do you wanna get Isaac, Lup?”

“No, I don't wanna drag him into this mess in case we get caught.”

Stiles scoffed. “We’re not gonna get caught. But fine.”

Stiles drove off to the woods. The ride consisted of Stiles making jokes and Scott rolling his eyes while Gabe and I stared out the windows in the backseat. Stiles parked in front of the sign stating that entering the preserve at night was forbidden.

“We're seriously doing this?” Scott jumped to the ground before helping me out of the car, Gabe following behind me.

Stiles grinned as Gabe shut the passenger door. “You're the one always bitching that nothing ever happens in this town.”

Gabe sighed and shoved his hands in his jean pockets as we walked past the sign. Stiles turned his phone’s flashlight on.

“So what did we drag you from tonight, Scott?” I fell into step with him, my brothers ahead of us.

“I was trying to get a good night's sleep before practice tomorrow.” He answered.

“Right, 'cause sitting on the bench is such a grueling effort.” Stiles called over his shoulder.

“No, because I'm playing this year. In fact, I'm making first line.” Scott said proudly.

“Hey, that's the spirit. Everyone should have a dream, even a pathetically unrealistic one.” Stiles called again.

I rolled my eyes and patted Scott’s shoulder, “I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”

Scott smiled before speaking, “Just out of curiosity, which half of the body are we looking for?”

“Huh! We didn't even think about that.”

“And, uh, what if whoever killed the body is still out here?”

“Also something we didn't think about.” I chewed at the inside of my lip as we climbed over a small hill, Gabe stumbling over his feet and muttering a curse.

“It's… comforting to know you've planned this out with your usual attention to detail.”

“I know.” Another sarcastic grin from Stiles as I helped Gabe steady himself.

Scott stopped to take a puff of his inhaler. I stayed behind with him as Stiles kept walking.

“Maybe the severe asthmatic should be the one holding the flashlight, huh?”

Gabe noticed something and threw himself at the ground. I pulled Scott down as I dropped too. I realized there were officers right in front of us. Stiles got to his feet and started to run.

“Wait, come on!” He called after us.

Gabe and I exchanged looks before going after our brother, leaving Scott behind. We could get caught and be fine, but if Scott’s mom found out, his life would be over.

“Stiles! Wait up! Gabe! Lupus!”

Stiles was still ahead, Scott somewhere behind us once on his feet. One of the policemen shone a flashlight at Stiles, telling him to stop where he was. I yanked Gabe to hide behind a tree with me, Scott having the same idea a few yards back. I heard Dad speak as he approached his only visible child.

“Hang on, hang on. This little delinquent belongs to me.”

“Dad, how are you doing?”

I heard Stiles’s nervous chuckle and stifled a giggle. 

“So, do you, uh, listen in to all of my phone calls?”

“No, heh. Not the boring ones.”

“Now, where’re your usual partners in crime?”

Before Stiles could mention Scott, Gabe and I left our spot, Gabe dragging me to our father. 

“I told them it wasn’t a good idea.”

“So it was you who listened in?” He shone the flashlight at me.

I only glared at Gabe, hopefully giving Scott time to get away undiscovered.

It didn’t work. “Where’re the other ones?”

I knew Scott was probably still behind the tree.

“Scott didn’t come along.” Gabe started.

“Yeah, he wanted to get a good night's sleep for tomorrow’s game. I didn't grab Isaac. He's probably at home.” I added, not lying.

“It’s just the three of us in the woods.” Stiles said.

“Alone.” We smiled.

Dad took his light off me and aimed it towards the woods.

“Scott, you out there? Scott? Isaac?”

No answer, not even leaves shifting around. The three of us bit back grins, knowing Scott was still there, just well hidden.

Our father sighed and looked back to his three children before staring me down. I faltered and gave a nervous smile.

“Well, young lady, I'm gonna walk you and your brothers back to the car. And you and I are gonna have a conversation about something called invasion of privacy.”

I knew I was in for it, but hey, at least Scott got away and we had fun. Gabe managed to lighten the mood as our dad walked us back to the Jeep, making jokes about how tomorrow was gonna go for him and Stiles. We piled into the car, Gabe in the back, Stiles driving, and me in the passenger seat.

“Be careful driving home, okay kids?”

The three of us nodded.

“Bye Dad.”

He sighed and shook his head slightly.

“Bye.”

I rolled my window up as Stiles drove away. Gabe sighed as our dad fell out of sight.

“How’s Scott gonna get home?” He asked.

Stiles only shrugged. “He’ll be fine.”

                                                         ***

I rolled my eyes and held the door of the Jeep open for Gabe as he got out. Jackson had just hit Scott with the door of his overpriced car and was now scowling at him. We walked towards Scott and returned Danny’s wave. Jackson smiled at me but I rolled my eyes again. Everyone on the lacrosse team wanted to be good with the manager, even the captain.

Scott had called us last night to let us know that he had lost his inhaler and had been bitten by some animal when he went to look for it.

“Okay, let’s see this thing.” Gabe nudged Scott, eager to investigate the wound.

He had always had an affinity for things like that, and he was probably gonna be some sort of first responder when he grew up.

“Ooh!” Stiles grimaced, having always hated the sight of such grotesque things.

“Yeah.”

Gabe reached out to peel back the bandaging, but Scott moved back.

“Whoa! It was too dark to see much, but I'm pretty sure it was a wolf.” Scott shouldered his bag and we started walking.

“A wolf bit you?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Uh huh.”

“No, not a chance.” I shook my head, the only one of the four without a lacrosse stick.

“I heard a wolf howling.”

“No, you didn't.” I shook my head again.

Scott scoffed, “What do you mean, no, I didn't? How do you know what I heard?”

“Because California doesn't have wolves, okay? Not in like 60 years.” I laughed at him.

“Really?”

We stopped walking, “Yes, really. There are no wolves in California.”

Scott shoved his free hand into his jean pocket. “All right, well, if you don't believe me about the wolf, then you're definitely not gonna believe me about when I tell you I found the body.”

“You… are you kidding me?” Gabe jumped in.

Scott shook his head, “No, man, I wish. I'm gonna have nightmares for a month.”

“Oh, god, that is freakin' awesome. I mean, this is seriously gonna be the best thing that's happened to this town since-” Stiles’s attention turned to the popular girl as she walked towards us. “Since the birth of Lydia Martin. Hey, Lydia-”

She walked right past us without even glancing at him.

“You look…like you're gonna ignore me.” He turned to Scott. “You're the cause of this, you know.”

“Uh huh.” Scott smiled.

“Dragging me down to your nerd depths. I'm a nerd by association.”

The bell rang and we started walking again.

“I've been scarlet-nerded by you.” Stiles accused Scott.

                                                         ***

Stiles took an empty seat in the back and I sat behind Gabe, next to Stiles. Scott took the only free seat near the middle of the room.

Mr. Kent started writing on the board as the late bell rang.

“As you all know, there was a body found in the woods last night.”

Scott looked at us, and I grinned softly while Stiles winked and Gabe shook his head. Isaac wasn’t in class yet, which made me a little sad, because I would’ve liked to see his reaction to the news.

“And I am sure your eager little minds are coming up with various macabre scenarios as to what happened.”

Multiple girls were preoccupied with their lip gloss and passing notes.

“But I am here to tell you that the police have a suspect in custody,”

Scott glanced at us, but Stiles only shrugged.

“Which means you can give your undivided attention to the syllabus which is on your desk outlining this semester.”

A bunch of kids groaned as we started to flip through the pages. I noticed Scott flinch out of the corner of my eye, but I shrugged it off. Maybe he got a paper cut. He looked around frantically. I caught his eye, asking if he was okay. He only waved my attention off, focusing on something through the window. I stared at him, confused by his strange behavior.

“Is there a problem, Miss Stilinski?” Mr. Kent asked.

A few people laughed. I sighed and mumbled a response, redirecting my attention to the papers on my desk. My eyes skimmed over the syllabus, but I didn’t really read it. I kept my attention on Scott, now curious as to why he was acting so weird. His eyes trailed from outside to the door, just as it opened. The vice principal walked in, followed by a beautiful tall girl with dark curls that cascaded down her shoulders.

“Class, this is our new student, Allison Argent. Please do your best to make her feel welcome.”

Scott’s eyes followed her as she took a seat behind him. He smiled to himself as he turned around, handing her a pen with puppy dog eyes. She seemed confused at first, but she finally accepted it was a grateful smile before thanking him. Stiles and Gabe were oblivious to the situation as Mr. Kent spoke, “We'll begin with Kafka's Metamorphosis, on page 133.”

I rolled my eyes just as the door opened. I looked up to meet blue eyes and a head of curls. I grinned as he took the empty seat next to me.

“Who's that girl?” He pointed with his pencil, opening his textbook.

I grinned and leaned over, flipping his book open to the right page.

“New. Name’s Allison. She's already got Scott wrapped around her little finger.”

Isaac grumbled and stared wearily at them as Mr. Kent gave us a lecture on today's topic.

                                                         ***

The hallway quickly filled up with people as the bell rang, and I clung to Gabe’s side in an attempt to not get separated. Isaac patted my head as a farewell before venturing off to his locker. We made our way to our own lockers, Stiles close behind. Scott was already by his own locker, backpack slung over his shoulder as he stared across the hallway. Gabe followed his line of sight and scoffed as he opened up his locker.

“Can someone tell me how new girl is here all of five minutes, and she's already hanging out with Lydia's clique?”

“Because she's hot. Beautiful people herd together.” Stiles said as he popped his locker open.

Jackson joined Allison and Lydia, which made Stiles glance away. He was in love with Lydia, and Lydia was going out with Jackson. Gabe tossed his books into his bag before grabbing his lacrosse stick. Gabe and Stiles began to argue over something, probably who was going to make first line and who wasn’t. Gabe had always been better at sports than Stiles, but Stiles was faster in a classroom sense. I grabbed the books I needed and slid them into my bag, slamming my locker shut. Scott jumped, eyes wide as he looked in my direction.

“Scott, are you alright?”

He snapped out of whatever trance was holding him and nodded as he watched Allison get dragged away by Lydia.

                                                         ***

“But if you play, I'll have no one to talk to on the bench. Are you really gonna do that to your best friend?” Stiles wheezed as we ran to catch up to Scott.

“I can't sit out again.” He tossed his bags onto the bleacher. “My whole life is sitting on the sidelines. This season, I make first line.”

Gabe tossed his bag by my feet before making his way onto the field. Stiles sat down next to me, already knowing that he had no chance of playing. Scott was smiling at something behind us, but I didn’t feel like turning around. My guess was that it was Allison.

Coach Finstock came up to me and my brother.

“I want McCall on goal today.”

“Coach, he’s never played.” I answered, confused.

“I know, that’s the point.”

I nodded and marked it down. “Okay.”

Coach went to Scott, shouting his name before tossing him a goalie’s stick.

“You're on goal.”

“I've never played.” Scott brought up the same point I had before.

“I know. Scoring some shots will give the boys a confidence boost. It's a first day back thing. Get 'em energized, fired up!”

“What about me?” Scott asked.

“Try not to take any in the face.” He slapped Scott’s cheek lightly before turning to the rest of the team and clapping his hands. “Let's go! Come on!”

I sighed and got comfortable on the bleachers as Coach signaled for me to blow the whistle. My lips instantly dropped it when I realized that Scott was groaning and holding his head, his stick on the ground in front of him. Isaac stepped out of his place in line to shoot me a look, probably about Scott. I dodged his glance. Something was wrong. It didn’t stop Jackson from stepping up and launching his ball at the goal. Scott, unfocused and disoriented, took it to the face. I groaned as he fell backwards. Everyone, Coach included and Isaac, my brothers, and I excluded, laughed.

“Hey, way to catch with your face, McCall!” Jackson called out through his laughter.

It stopped when I glared at them. Stiles shook his head at Scott as they made eye contact. Scott got up and brushed himself off, picking up his stick and moving his head from side to side. He nodded at Gabe, who let out a short breath before running and aiming for the goal, right behind Scott. Scott caught the ball in his stick and nodded to himself. The guy behind Gabe seemed impressed that Scott McCall had actually caught a ball.

Stiles blinked as he realized what had happened.

“Yeah!” He called out.

Coach blinked twice, obviously confused. Gabe stepped aside to let the boy behind him shoot, eyeing me. Scott had terrible hand-eye coordination, we all knew that. He stopped shot after shot, surprising us all. I had long since abandoned my clipboard and pen, now focused on Scott’s newfound skill.

A boy stepped up to go next, but Jackson shoved him back using his lacrosse stick, practically baring his teeth and growling as he ran towards him, making his shot. Scott caught it with little to no effort. Stiles jumped to his feet, flailing slightly. Everyone on the bleachers clapped and Gabe and I grinned, happy that somebody had finally managed to be better than Jackson. I noticed that even Lydia was cheering for Scott, which only added to Jackson’s anger towards him.

“That is my best friend!” Stiles shouted.

I saw Jackson shoot Lydia a stare, and she only responded with a face before slowly looking back to Scott, her smile reappearing. Coach seemed impressed and I made sure to make a note of how Scott McCall had managed to stop Jackson Whittemore’s shot.

                                                         ***

The boys and I were in the woods, hastily going back to the spot Scott had been attacked. Stiles and Scott let the bottom of their pants get wet, but Gabe and I decided to jump the final stretch instead. I landed on solid ground, and Gabe slipped, getting one foot stuck in the creek. Scott turned and pulled him out without a problem.

“I don't…I don't know what it was.” Scott continued the conversation he and Stiles had been having earlier. “It was like I had all the time in the world to catch the ball. And that's not the only weird thing. I, I can…hear stuff I shouldn't be able to hear. Smell things.”

“Smell things? Like what?” I joined in, popping my head between their shoulders.

“Like the mint mojito gum in someone’s pocket.”

Gabe and I exchanged glances. My leggings didn’t have pockets, and his were empty. We both looked to Stiles.

He shoved his hand into his jean pocket. “I don't even have any mint…mojito… ”

He stopped mid sentence as he pulled the piece of gum from his pocket. I snorted and turned back to Scott.

“So all this started with a bite.” I said.

“What if it's like an infection, like, my body's flooding with adrenaline before I go into shock or something?” Scott started to panic.

I grinned at Stiles. You know what? I actually think we've heard of this.”

“We have?” Gabe raised his eyebrows.

I elbowed him.

“It's a specific kind of infection.” Stiles finished.

“Are you serious?” Scott stopped walking.

“Yeah. Yeah, I think it's called lycanthropy.”

“What's that? Is that bad?”

“Oh, yeah, it's the worst. But only once a month.” Stiles explained.

“Once a month?” Scott was still frantic.

Gabe rolled his eyes as Stiles spoke again.

“Mm hmm. On the night of the full moon.”

Stiles and I howled at the same time. Scott pushed Stiles back by the chest and flicked my forehead.

I laughed and followed after him as he started walking again. “Hey, you’re the one that heard wolves howling.”

“Hey, there could be something seriously wrong with me.” Scott exclaimed.

“I know! You're a werewolf!” Stiles let out a little growl.

Scott ignored him and kept walking. I trailed after him, Gabe at my side.

“Okay, obviously I'm kidding. But if you see me in shop class trying to melt all the silver I can find, it's 'cause Friday's a full moon.” Stiles said, hands on his hips.

Scott stopped walking and Stiles ran straight into me. I pushed him back as Scott spoke.

“No, I…I could have sworn this was it. I saw the body, the deer came running. I dropped my inhaler.”

He bent down, searching through the leaves and sticks for his inhaler. I bent down near him and helped him look.

“Maybe the killer moved the body.” Gabe offered, toeing through leaves to see if he could find the inhaler without using his hands.

Gabe hated bugs.

“If he did, I hope he left my inhaler. Those things are like 80 bucks.”

Stiles suddenly hit Scott’s shoulder and adjusted himself. Gabe and I popped to our feet, followed by our hypothetical werewolf.

There was a man a couple of years older than us standing not too far. Black leather jacket, black pants, black shirt, black shoes, black hair, glowing pale skin. He walked towards us, looking upset.

“What’re you doing here?”

None of us spoke. Stiles scratched at his buzz cut hair.

“Huh? This is private property.” He spoke again.

I snuck a glance at Stiles, who was staring at the man, mouth open. Gabe must’ve noticed too, because he was the first to speak up.

“Uh, sorry, man, we didn't know.”

“Yeah, we were just looking for something, but…” Scott trailed off.

The man’s expression turned expectant, as if he wanted to know what we were looking for. It hit me then that he looked familiar, and it was only because our father had worked a case in which his whole family was involved.

Scott shook his head, “Uh, forget it. Uhm.” He just shook his head again.

Derek Hale looked Scott straight in the eye and tossed him his inhaler. Scott caught it. Derek turned tail and left.

Stiles stared after him. Gabe sighed and I let out a breath.

“All right, come on, I gotta get to work.” Scott nudged Stiles, who snapped back into attention, his hand smacking at Scott’s chest.

“Dude. That was Derek Hale. You remember, right? He's only like a few years older than us.”

“Remember what?” Scott looked confused.

“His family. They all burned to death in a fire, like, ten years ago.” I jumped in.

“I wonder what he's doing back.” Gabe mumbled.

Stiles scoffed, shaking his head before walking off. “Come on.”

                                                         ***

“Stilinski!”

Stiles, Gabe, and I turned at the sound of Coach’s harsh call. He rolled his eyes and pointed at me. I patted my brothers’ shoulders before running over to Coach.

“What’s up?”

“Go find Jackson. This thing starts in five and I still haven’t seen him. Find McCall while you’re at it, too.”

I nodded, “Yes Coach.”

I turned back to my brothers and rolled my eyes. “I’ll be back in a few.”

They nodded and made their ways to their respective spots. Stiles on the bleachers, Gabe on the field. I went back inside the school, going for Scott first. I found him at his locker, but before I got to him, Jackson came up and slammed his locker shut.

“All right, little man. How 'bout you tell me where you're getting your juice?”

I closed my eyes and bit my tongue. Whatever was happening to Scott was going to get him in some very big trouble.

“What?” Scott shook his head.

His eyes darted my way, like he somehow knew I was there. But then his attention went back to Jackson.

“Where are you getting your juice?” Jackson left a pause between each word, speaking as if Scott were stupid.

Scott looked confused, his eyes squinting before he looked back at Jackson. “My mom does all the grocery shopping.”

I bit my tongue again, trying not to laugh. I knew he was being sincerely pure and not sarcastic, but it was funny.

“Now, listen, McCall. You're gonna tell me exactly what it is and who you're buying it from, because there's no way in hell you're out there kicking ass on the field like that without some sort of chemical boost.”

Realization dawned on the hypothetical werewolf, “Oh, you mean steroids.” His eyes danced around Jackson’s figure. “Are you on steroids?”

Jackson shoved him up against the lockers. “What the hell is going on with you, McCall?”

I wanted to jump in, but I wanted to know what was up with Scott. He told us less and less about what happened every day, so maybe something he would let slip here would help.

“What's going on with me? You really wanna know? Well, so would I! Because I can see, hear, and smell things that I shouldn't be able to see, hear, and smell. I do things that should be impossible, I'm sleepwalking three miles into the middle of the woods, and I'm pretty much convinced that I'm totally out of my fucking mind!”

Jackson blinked a few times, confused. Scott let out a huge breath and leaned his head back against the locker.

“You think you're funny. Don't you, McCall? I know you're hiding something. I'm gonna find out what it is. I don't care how long it takes.” He punched the locker, right by Scott’s head.

Scott flinched. I stepped into sight, my teeth clenched and my eyes dead on Jackson. He scratched the back of his neck, eyeing me.

“Hi, Lupus.”

“Get your ass to the field. Coach’s been looking for you.” I jabbed my thumb over my shoulder and he ran off.

I went up to Scott.

“Are you alright?”

Scott nodded, obviously shaken. “How much of that did you hear?”

I grabbed his shoulders. “All of it. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Scott forced his breathing to calm and nodded again, this time more genuinely. “Yeah, I’m alright.”

I nodded. “Alright, let’s get you on the field so you can make first line.”

We ran out of the school, Scott speeding up so he wouldn’t be late. I ran after him, catching Stiles and Gabe eavesdropping on our dad’s phone conversation. I yanked Gabe by the back of his jersey.

“Aw, come on. I was listening to that.”

“You’re playing, now come on.”

He sighed but picked up his lacrosse stick as he walked over to Scott. Stiles came sprinting, his voice high. “Scott! Scott, wait up.”

“Stiles, I'm playing the first elimination, man. Can it wait?”

Stiles grabbed ahold of his shoulders, “Just hold on, okay? I overheard my dad on the phone. The fiber analysis came back from the lab in L.A. They found animal hairs on the body from the woods!”

Scott pulled free. “Stiles, I gotta go.”

Stiles called after him as he ran out onto the field. Gabe quickly followed suit. I sighed at Stiles and started walking off to join the team.

“Wait, no! Lu! You're not gonna believe what the animal was!”

I sighed again and turned to him, eyebrows raised expectantly.

“It was a wolf.”

I shook my head in order to clear it. I patted his cheek as Coach blew the whistle.

“Let's go! Gather round! Bring it in, come on! Come on!”

Scott put his hand up in the air. I followed his line of sight to Allison Argent.

“Got a question, McCall?”

“What?” Scott snapped out of his reverie, now back on Earth.

“You raised your hand. You have a question?”

“Oh. No. I was just, uh…Nothing. Sorry.” He averted his eyes to the ground.

“Okay. You know how this goes. If you don't make the cut, you're most likely sitting on the bench for the rest of the season.” He patted Stiles on the arm.

“You make the cut, you play. Your parents are proud. Your girlfriend loves ya!” He grabbed hold of Cole’s helmet and shook his head from side to side. Ouch.

“Huh? Everything else is, uh. Cream cheese! Now, get out there and show me whatcha got! Come on!”

Jackson screamed first, trying to pump the boys up. “Let's go! Let's go!”

Jackson and Scott ended up on opposite teams, against my pleading. Of course, as soon as Scott got the ball, Jackson knocked him flat on his back. Scott laid for a few seconds, angry. He sat up quickly however, ready to kick Jackson’s ass. Scott got the ball first, leaving Jackson in his dust. He dodged every defensive attack, finishing with a backflip and a perfect shot.

Everyone on the bleachers stared. They slowly began to clap with Stiles, and the gentle clap reached roaring cheers.The rest of the team ran up to him, congratulating him. Gabe hung behind, glancing at a pissed off Jackson before looking at me.

Coach blew the whistle. “McCall! Get over here! What in God's name was that? This is a lacrosse field. What, are you trying out for the gymnastics team?”

“No, Coach.”

“What the hell was that?”

“I don't know. I…I was just trying to make the shot.”

“Yeah, well, you made the shot. And guess what? You're startin', buddy. You made first line. Come on!” He slapped Scott’s cheek before running off.

Everyone in the crowd applauded again, standing. Stiles looked from Gabe to Scott to me, a worried look on his face. I patted his leg.

“I know.”

Gabe caught my eye and mouthed something at me. He had to repeat it once or twice, but I soon understood what he was saying.

That’s not normal.

I shook my head. He was right. Whatever was happening was anything but normal.

                                                         ***

Gabe was sleeping on his bed, laptop still on his lap as his head fell back against the headboard. Stiles was sitting at his own desk, printing out article after article he thought could be useful. I was sitting on Stiles’s bed, a mythology book open in my lap. I had highlighters and sticky notes, all thanks to Stiles. I was working on wolfsbane while he tackled lycanthropy. Gabe had been on silver before he had fallen asleep. There was a knock on the door. I shoved my book off to the side and made a leap for Gabe’s bed, slamming his laptop shut. Stiles closed his at the same time the door opened. I fell next to Gabe, expecting our dad.

It was Scott.

I sighed and Gabe grumbled, now awake.

“Get in. You gotta see this thing. We've been up all night reading. Websites, books. All this information.”

“How much Adderall have you had today?” Stiles asked with a small smile.

“A lot. Doesn't matter. Okay, just listen.”

Scott sat down on Stiles’s bed, tossing his bag aside. Gabe sat up straight, now listening to what Stiles was saying. I sat at the foot of his bed.

“Oh, is this about the body? Did they find out who did it?” Scott asked.

I shook my head. “No, they're still questioning people.”

“Even Derek Hale.” A grumpy Gabe added from behind me.

“Oh, the guy in the woods that we saw the other day.”

“Yeah! Yes. But that's not it, okay?” He flailed his hands.

Scott was still smiling. “What, then?”

“Remember the joke from the other day?” He attempted a laugh, but only a sad wheeze came out. “Not a joke anymore.” Lines appeared on his forehead, but they only made him look younger.

We were only 16. If any of this was real, why did we have to deal with it? We were just kids.

I jumped in for Stiles. “The wolf. The bite in the woods. We started doing all this reading. Do you even know why a wolf howls?” 

“Should I?”

Stiles jumped to his feet, clearly taking over again. “It's a signal, okay? When a wolf's alone, it howls to signal its location to the rest of the pack. So if you heard a wolf howling, that means others could have been nearby. Maybe even a whole pack of 'em.”

Scott leaned forward, and I couldn’t differentiate sarcasm from genuine wonder. “A whole pack of wolves?”

“No!” Stiles paused. “Werewolves.”

“Are you seriously wasting my time with this? You know I'm picking up Allison in an hour.” He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder.

Stiles reached out and stopped him, hand on his shoulder. “We saw you on the field today, Scott. Okay, what you did wasn't just amazing, all right? It was impossible.”

Scott looked hurt, maybe even a bit taken aback. “Yeah, so I made a good shot.”

“No, you made an incredible shot, I mean…” He took the backpack from Scott and threw it back onto the bed. The way you moved, your speed, your reflexes. Y'know, People can't just suddenly do that overnight.” Stiles said.

Scott sighed, looking down at the ground.

“There’s also the vision and the senses, and don't even think we didn't notice that you don't need your inhaler anymore.” I piped up.

I get the feeling Gabe would’ve added something if he hadn’t been so tired.

“Okay! Guys, I can't think about this now. We'll talk tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?! What? No! The full moon's tonight. Don't you get it?” Stiles grew more frantic.

“What are you trying to do? I just made first line. I got a date with a girl who I can't believe wants to go out with me,” Scott got closer to Stiles, who sat down at his desk again, “And everything in my life is somehow perfect. Why are you trying to ruin it?”

Stiles scoffed and pulled out a paper. “We’re trying to help. You're cursed, Scott. You know, and it's not just the moon will cause you to physically change. It also just so happens to be when your bloodlust will be at its peak.” Stiles spoke nonchalantly.

“Bloodlust?” Scott repeated, incredulous.

“Yeah, your urge to kill.” Stiles shrugged.

“I'm already starting to feel an urge to kill, Stiles.”

Gabe scrambled for something on his desk. “You gotta hear this.” He opened a book and took his seat behind me once more.

“‘The change can be caused by anger or anything that raises your pulse.’ All right? We haven't seen anyone raise your pulse like Allison does.”

I sighed. “Scott, it pains me to say this, but you’ve gotta cancel this date.”

“I'm gonna call her right now.” Stiles said, taking Scott’s phone from his bag.

“What are you doing?” Scott let out a high pitched complaint.

“I'm canceling the date.” Stiles went to drop back into his chair.

“No, give it to me!”

I felt the tension rise seconds before Scott pinned him against the wall, fist aiming for Stiles’s face. I leapt up as Scott redirected his fist for Stiles’s desk chair. It fell flying backward. Gabe pulled me back to him, all eyes on Scott.

“I'm sorry. I…I gotta go get ready for that party. Guys, I'm sorry.” He shouldered his bag before quickly leaving the room.

Stiles thumped his head against the wall. I ran to him, pulling him into a tight hug. He didn’t resist. Gabe pulled the chair up, staring at it. Stiles tensed up.

“What’s wrong?” I pulled back but my hands didn’t leave Stiles’s.

Gabe angled the chair towards us so I could get a better view. The back of the chair had four long scratch marks.

I sighed. Stiles was right.

                                                         ***

I noticed Scott near the pool, struggling to keep upright.

“Ise.” I cut the blond off. “Just give me a second. “

I ran over to Scott, hands on his back. I tried to steady him and waved my hand in front of his face.

“Scott, are you okay?”

He didn’t seem to hear me. I followed him into the house, dragging Gabe along with me to make sure he didn’t fall flat on his face.

We brushed past Stiles, who instantly noticed something was wrong with his best friend. “Yo, Scott, you good?”

Another girl saw it too, “Are you okay?”

Scott kept going, in his own world.

Stiles shrugged his “nothing we can do now” shrug. I sighed and followed after Scott. Allison came behind me, watching with me as he got into his car and took off. I ran off to get Stiles, only to run straight into Gabe.

“Where’s he going?”

I pushed past him, dragging him along. “I don’t know.”

“Are we getting Stiles to drive us to his house?”

“Yeah.” I looked around, trying to find him in the crowd of people.

“Lu! Gabe!” He was standing near the snacks.

“We need to go.”

“Now?”

“Now.” Gabe took the cup from his hand and put it down on the table.

“Hey!” Stiles whined as we pulled him out to the street.

“Scott left.” I said.

“Uh, guys?” Gabe stopped cold.

I looked up at him. He pointed. Allison was getting into a black car. I realized Derek Hale was in the driver's seat. He sent a wink our way before driving away.

“Okay, let’s go.” Stiles tugged at the hood of my jacket.

Gabe climbed over the seat and into the back. Stiles started the car up before my door was closed.

                                                         ***

“Where’s the spare key?” Gabe asked as he put the rug back in place.

I looked over at Stiles, who produced the key from his pocket, a shy smile on his face. He unlocked the door and ran up the stairs, Gabe and I following. Stiles knocked on Scott’s door.

“Go away.”

“Scott, it's us.” Stiles pressed his forehead against the door.

The door opened slightly, but it didn’t budge any more against Stiles’s weight.

“Let us in, Scott.” I tried as Gabe and I joined Stiles against the door.

“We can help.” Gabe pleaded.

“No! Listen, you guys gotta find Allison.”

“She's fine, all right? We saw her get a ride from the party.” Gabe ran a hand through his hair.

“She's, she's totally fine, all right?”

“No, I think I know who it is.” Scott sounded like he was in pain, but he was obviously strong enough to hold the door back against the three of us, who were pushing on it.

“You just let us in. We can try-”

“It's Derek! Derek Hale is the werewolf! He's the one that bit me. He's the one that killed the girl in the woods.”

My blood ran cold and the three of us stopped struggling with the door. Stiles looked at me, then at Gabe.

“Scott. Derek's the one who drove Allison from the party.”

There was a second of silence before the door slammed shut. Stiles instantly tried the knob, but it was locked.

“Scott!” I slammed my hand against the door.

There was no noise. Gabe sighed.

“Guys, he’s not gonna let us in.”

I sighed and shook my head.

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s just go check on Allison.” I ushered the boys down the stairs.

                                                         ***

Stiles pulled into the Argent driveway. We scrambled out of the car. I knocked on the door. Stiles pushed in front of me just as her mother opened the door.

“Hi, Mrs. Argent. Um… you have no idea who we are. We’re friends of your daughter. Uh, look…this is gonna sound kind of crazy, um…really crazy, actually. You know what? Crazy doesn't even describe-” Stiles ran his hand over his hair.

“Allison! It's for you.” Mrs. Argent cut him off.

Allison appeared on the stop of the stairs, a look of disappointment on her face. I felt Gabe let out a breath. I smiled softly and waved. She waved back before making her way down the stairs. She said something to her mother, who left.

“What’s up, guys?”

“Uh…” Stiles licked his lips before looking down to me.

“We just wanted to make sure you got home safe.”

“Right. Because Scott left me stranded.” She folded her arms across her chest.

“Which was totally not cool. That’s why we wanted to make sure you were okay.” Gabe grinned.

That seemed to get a genuine smile from her.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks for checking in, you guys.”

The three of us nodded, similar smiles gracing our unsimilar faces.

“Do you wanna come in?” She moved back, opening the door further, giving us access to the house.

“Oh. Thank you, but we can’t.” I gave her a sympathetic smile.

“You have to go check up on Scott now?” She put one hand in her pocket.

We all nodded.

“Sorry.” Stiles mumbled.

“It’s okay.”

“Um, we should go.” Gabe backed down the steps first.

She nodded, wished us luck, and closed the door.

                                                         ***

“There he is.” Gabe leaned forward and pointed.

Stiles stopped the car next to a shirtless Scott. I climbed over into the back as Scott got into the passenger seat, looking like a lost puppy.

“You were gone all night.” I rested my chin on the seat, looking at the not-so-hypothetical werewolf.

Scott sighed, clutching at his arm. Gabe took his jacket off and handed it to him.

He gratefully accepted it and slid it on. “You know what actually worries me the most?”

Stiles looked at me in the rearview mirror before turning his eyes back to the road.

“If you say Allison, I'm gonna punch you in the head.”

I glanced at Scott, who looked like he was suffering.

“She probably hates me now.”

“Ugh. I doubt that. But you might want to come up with a pretty amazing apology.” I patted his shoulder. 

Gabe jumped into the conversation, “Or, you know, you could just…tell her the truth.” 

“And revel in the awesomeness of the fact that you're a fucking werewolf.” Stiles cut him off.

Scott and I glared at him.

“Okay, bad idea. Hey, we'll get through this. Come on, if we have to, we'll chain you up ourselves on full moon nights and I’ll feed you live mice. I had a boa once. I could do it.”

Scott scoffed a laugh, and Stiles grinned. I smiled and leaned back into the seat.

                                                         ***

“Lup! Hey!” Isaac ran to my side.

“Hey!” I pulled him in for a hug, my eyes still on Scott, who was talking to Allison.

“I haven’t talked to you all day. What’s up?” He sat next to me on the steps.

“Not much. What’s up with you?”

He followed my line of sight.

“Oh, you’re watching over your new star?”

I rolled my eyes and looked at the blond next to me.

“Speaking of Scott, what happened to him at the party the other day?” He looked back to Scott, who was leaning in for a kiss with Allison.

“He got sick.” I answered.

“New girl still got him?” He asked, a bit of distaste in his voice.

“Look for yourself.” I leaned against him, looking at the not-so-hypothetical werewolf and the new girl.

Before they could kiss, Allison ran off into a red SUV. Scott turned and started to walk our way. He stopped in his tracks before turning around and looking at the man who was presumably Allison’s father. Scott waved meekly, and the man smiled back.

Scott turned back, a look of fear and confusion on his face.

“Lupus?” A pair of fingers snapped in front of my face.

I turned, looking back at Isaac.

“What’s wrong?”

Isaac shook his head in response and got to his feet, holding a hand out to help me.

“We gotta get to practice. Come on.”