#I’m tired of explaining this to my team edward friends

[doreimifasola]

“Everything about me invites you in—my voice, my face, even my smell. As if I need any of that!” (Twilight 263-264)

me waiting patiently for people to finally realize that bella never actually loved edward. she was his prey the entire time! yes, bella was unhealthily infatuated with edward. but no!! no, bella was not unconditionally, irrevocably in love with him. she only thought she was because that is how vampires lure in their FOOD. edward even admits it himself; most (if not all) of his characteristics exist/are heightened to draw humans in.

and honestly? in the dark hours of the night, which bella now spends awake with him, I know it haunts edward. is it true love or did the sickly combination of meeting a vampire and bella hating her life make her want to turn? he'll never know because he can't read her mind.

plus, bella barely got attention, not even from her mother. of course someone thirsting over her would make that natural obsession worse. she was seeking attention she had never experienced before and it only made her more attached when she received it. from a literal supernatural being at that!

someone PLEASE find me a book quote where bella describes something she likes about edward that has nothing to do with his vampire qualities. until then I'm hearing nobody out!!

[pepperfishh]

The Autonomous: Chapter 5

The Autonomous: Chapter 5

The next day passes in a bit of a blur. We fought more, but I was paired up with Myra. The victory against her didn’t feel real. Myra was one of the lowest ranked in the class and she hadn’t really picked up any combat skills yet. Even sore, I beat her with no struggle.

I’ve decided to finally take a night to rest. No sneaking around. No extra training. Just sleep.

Unfortunately, it seems like that’s not what life has in store for me. The moment my head hits the pillow, the door to our dormitory is thrown open and several people with flashlights rush into the room.

“Everybody up!” Eric’s voice roars at us. Several other Dauntless members are with him, including Four. His eyes lock onto mine and I’m frozen.

“Are you deaf, initiate?” Eric moved closer to me at some point, and I jump when I realize how close his voice sounds. I was so busy staring I forgot to actually move.

Once everyone was out of bed, Eric barks out that we have five minutes to dress and meet at the train tracks.

I throw my feet into my boots and wait for Christina. I had been to tired to change clothes, so there’s nothing more for me to do. We run out and towards the tracks as soon as she’s finished, and our group of transfers are just behind the Dauntless born.

There are black boxes on the ground in front of the tracks. One is labeled “PAINTBALLS” which seems fairly self-explanatory. Eric calls out an order to grab guns. I’m close to the boxes, so I’m the first one to claim one and a box of paintballs.

Eric and Four are bickering over the train schedule when I see the reflection of lights at the turn.

“If you’re both done, it’s coming,” I say before moving closer to the tracks. Four and Eric fall into step next to me, both of them jumping on at the same time. The minute his feet hit the floor of the train car, Four’s arm is extended to help me.

I grab his forearm and he pulls me in. Once I’m in, I let go quickly without look at him and move to the other side of the train car to wait for my friends. Eric’s eyes are looking back and forth between me and Four, a certain curious amusement playing out on his face. His eyes catch mine briefly before I look away to watch Christina come to a stop beside me.

We’re playing capture the flag. The rules do not take long to explain. Eric and Four identify themselves as team captains, and of course, Eric picks first.

His choice of Edward makes sense. He’s ranked first in the class.

Four surprises me, and the rest of the occupants, when he briefly scans the initiates and then says “I’ll take the princess.”

I know he’s talking about me, but I refuse to acknowledge it. I’m not answering to that stupid nickname he’s given me. The standoff lasts about a minute with both of us refusing to say anything, when finally Eric cuts in.

“Tris, I think he means you,” he says dryly, rolling his eyes.

“Oh,” I feign surprise. “Well, my apologies for being confused.” I make a show of twirling in a circle as I move towards Four, dropping into a curtsey when I reach my destination. Everyone on the train laughs, but I’m just glaring at Four.

Eric motions to me with his gun, but says to Four, “You better watch out for that one. Friendly fire still counts as a hit.”

When Four looks down at me, I throw him the fakest smile I can muster. “Your pick, Eric,” he says.

“Peter.” Oh good, I’ll get the chance to shoot him.

“Christina.”

“Molly.” Another great choice.

“Will.” Is he just picking all my friends?

“Al.”

“Drew.” Well shit, there goes that theory.

Myra is the last transfer and she goes with Eric. They move on to the Dauntless born initiates and I tune them out.

As more people move to Four’s team, I start seeing his strategy. A few people are bulky, but the rest of us are small. In this game, speed is more important than strength, and Eric built out his team full of powerhouses.

As we go to jump off, someone trips me, causing me to almost topple out of the train. I don’t care who it was – I know it was either Molly, Peter, or Drew. But I ignore them and jump out.

Out team gathers around Four looking for instruction. One of the Dauntless born – I don’t know her name – touches Four’s shoulder and asks him where his team hid the flag.

“That defeats the purpose of the game, Marlene,” he says coolly. She whines again at him, giving him a flirtatious smile. I’m not sure why I find myself grinning when he brushes her hand off.

Before she can ask again, Uriah steps up and says “Navy Pier. They kept it at the carousel.”

“You’re starting to become a problem for me, Pedrad,” Four says in warning, glancing at me and then back at Uriah.

Uriah may be one of the first people I’ve seen that seems to have no fear of Four – I wonder how close they actually are. Because he simply grins back at Four and says nothing.

We start moving towards Navy Pier and arguments start breaking out over strategy. They hide the flag on the carousel, mimicking Four’s winning method, and I stay silent and observe.

There’s still too much disagreement. Dauntless born don’t want to trust transfers and vice versa. This may be a team sport, but everyone is still somewhat out for themselves.

Four doesn’t stop them; doesn’t interrupt at all. Instead, he sits down on the edge of the carousel and leans back to look at the sky. The stretch emphasizes the muscles in his chest, his arms, his neck, and I find myself unable to look away. I close my eyes to focus. I don’t have time for this.

There’s no point in their arguing or attempting to formulate a strategy with no knowledge of what the other team is doing. We need to find out. I look around and my eyes land on the Ferris wheel. That should work.

No one is paying attention to me and there’s no pause in the arguments as I walk away. I say a small mental thanks when I see a ladder going up the side.

Unfortunately, it’s old and rusty. I’m not 100% sure that it will support my weight. I step on the lowest rung and jump on it to make sure it will hold me. Satisfied that it will, I start climbing.

“Tris,” comes a low voice from the ground. I stop and look over my shoulder to see Four standing at the base of the ladder.

“Yes?”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m seeking higher ground to find the other team,” I reply. “I don’t think I’m doing anything.”

His smile is clear, even in the darkness. He starts climbing behind me without a word.

“I don’t need your help,” I snap at him.

“I’m well aware,” he says. I can’t find the sarcasm in his tone, but it must be there.

I don’t mean to slow down, but I do and he catches up to me. He’s talking the whole time, but I find it hard to concentrate. I feel almost dizzy and shaky. I’m not sure why – the height doesn’t bother me.

When he’s so close he’s practically touching me, I realize it’s him. His presence is messing with my balance. My everything. I hear his loud breath behind me, almost like he’s hyperventilating.

“Are you all right, Four?” I ask in concern.

He takes a gasping breath. “What are you?” he pants out. “Are you even human? Being up this high doesn’t bother you at all?”

He’s afraid of heights. I want to laugh, but at the same moment, a heavy gust of wind presses against me and I fall to the right of the ladder. Both of my hands are wrapped around the side pole in a death grip.

Four’s hand clamps around my hip, his fingers like fire on the bare skin just under the hem of my shirt where it’s ridden up. He squeezes my hip and then readjusts me gently back into place on the ladder.

“You okay?” he asks quietly.

“Yes.” Do I sound like what I think I sound like? Did he notice?

He continues to whine a bit as we climb higher.

“Tris, I think this is high enough!”

“No,” I call back, “I need to go higher.”

“For God’s sake, princess,” he groans. I want to hit him, but that would be counterproductive.

“You don’t have to follow me.”

He lets out a loud sigh. “Yeah, I do.”

The view from the top is breathtaking. I stand on one of the metal supports and spread my arms out on the higher bar. A moment later, he appears across the bar from me. He bumps me slightly as he gains his footing, and then I can feel the heat from his hands as he spreads them out right outside mine, caging me in.

My head is turning every way to search for the flag, but his seem locked on me. Makes sense, honestly, since he probably doesn’t want to look down.

“I found it!” I say happily. He turns his head to follow my eyes.

“Looks like the park at the end of the pier,” he agrees. He turns back towards the ladder, but we both seem to have forgotten how close we’re standing. I can feel the heat from his skin. Each puff of breath feels like sparks traveling down my neck.

“Right,” I say, clearing my throat. “You go ahead and start. I’ll follow you down.”

The team is still arguing as we approach them.

“Where have you guys been?” Christina asks when she spots us, looking from Fout to me.

“Well, while the rest of you struggled to come up with an idea,” Four says, “Tris climbed to the top of the Ferris wheel to scout the other team. We know where they are.”

The team asks for guidance. They all look to Four for instruction, but Four is looking at me. Slowly, all eyes follow and now everyone is looking at me. Somehow I’m now in charge. I look at Four in surprise, but he’s just got a small smile twitching at the corner of his mouth.

I suggest we split up. Christina and Uriah follow me. Christina takes off like a bullet while the other half draw fire their way. Uriah and I exchange glances and then shrug, taking off after Christina. We get held up a couple times, providing cover fire for opponents we see making their way towards us.

We catch up to her at the base of the tree the flag is hanging from, but all three of us are too short to reach. Uriah and I clasp our hands together to form a step. Christina understands immediately and puts her hand on our shoulders to pull herself up. Once she’s steady, we boost her up so that she can grab the flag.

As soon as she’s successful, she jumps down and the three of us hug each other tightly, screaming in victory. Christina holds out the flag for me and Uriah to grab hold of, and then we all turn and run through the field holding it above our heads while the rest of our team surrounds us. Uriah and I released the flag and helped them boost Christina up in the air.

I lagged back, grinning at their antics. I’ not supposed to be the center of attention, so I enjoy just standing back and watching my team enjoy their victory. A hand touches my shoulder as I’m walking.

“Well done, Tris,” Four says quietly.

When we return to Dauntless, no one returns to bed. The Pit is loud and lively. Our class seems to be mostly sticking together for the night. Molly, Peter, and Drew have wandered off on their own, the rest of us are sticking close – laughing.

It dawns on me then – regardless of my mission or whatever reason I’m here – all I have to do is pass initiation and this life is actually mine.

I didn’t really pay attention to whatever the drink was that Uriah pressed into my hands, but the way I’m feeling right now, I’m realizing it was alcoholic.

I’ve agreed to a game of Candor or Dauntless, and this is… well, fairly dangerous for me. I can’t afford to have loose lips.

“Alright then,” Uriah announces loudly, “Since we’ve got some new kids on the block, I’ll explain the rules. They’re simple. You have to pick Candor or Dauntless. If you refuse whatever you’re offered, you take off a piece of clothing. That’s it, guys, that’s the rules.”

I’m not sure when Molly, Peter, and Drew decided to join, but they’re part of the game now too. Even some of the non-initiates are milling around, contemplating taking part.

“I think the champion of tonight’s game should get the first go. So, Christina, who do you want to start with?” Uriah asks.

Oh no. Why would he give that kind of power to a tipsy Christina?

Christina is looking at me with an evil grin on her face. “Tris… Candor or Dauntless?”

This is dangerous. I can’t do Candor because I have too many secrets. But anyone good at this can still turn a Dauntless into a Candor if they know what they’re doing.

“Ummm… Dauntless.” Being brave is a lot easier than being honest. Unfortunately, the evil grin doesn’t fall.

Concerning.

“Okay, I dare you to kiss whoever you think is the most attractive person in the room.”

If I say no, it’s an immediate give away that I’m from Abnegation. But also, why are her eyes staring at Four?

No, you know what, this is fine. She should learn to be more specific with her questions. Attractiveness is different than interest.

I give a shrug and stand up, turning back and forth to see who is in the room. Oh, well, of course, all the attractive people just group together.

“Okay,” I say simply. I walk slowly to where Four is standing. I hear catcalls behind me and I’m sure Christina thinks she’s won something with this. I didn’t realize he was here, but I now catch Eric’s eyes from where he’s sitting on a ledge observing. He looks entertained.

By now, I know Christina is expecting me to stop at Four. The catcalling gets louder and more lewd when I come to a stop in front of the Dauntless born instructor. She’s a bit taller than me, so I look up at her.

“Hi, I think your name is Lauren, right?” She’s grinning, but nods at me. “Great, I’m Tris. Just wanted to make sure we were at least properly introduced.”

And then I lean forward with the intention of giving her a quick peck on the lips. Lauren, however, is a true Dauntless. The moment our lips touch, she wraps her arms around my back and pulls me against her.

I’ve never kissed anyone before. I’m frozen in shock for a moment, but the combination of alcohol and her tongue against my lips seems to open me up a little bit. After what seems like eternity, I pull away from her, breathless.

My eyes are wide in disbelief, staring at her. She just gives me a wink and then her eyes dart to Four standing next to her. I follow her gaze and see him staring at us with an odd expression. His hand is clenched into a fist. Is he mad? Is Lauren his girlfriend or something?

Lauren just laughs and shoves his shoulder. “Don’t be such a prude, Four.” That seems to break him out of whatever trance he was in, and I make my way back to my friends.

I look at Christina and she looks incredibly pleased with herself. “That is so not how I expected that to turn out, but somehow it was still so much better.” She nods at me. “Your turn.”

“Uriah!” I call out in a singsong voice.

“Dauntless!” he says immediately. As expected.

“I dare you to walk up to whoever in our class you think is the biggest threat to your rank and fight them.”

He smirks at me. “Tris, my dear, I’m not sure you understand how this game works. You’re supposed to hurt others, not yourself.”

“What?” I screech out. “Come on, Uriah. Be serious. Flattery gets you nowhere.”

“Back me up, guys,” he calls, looking towards the instructors. “Who should I be fighting?”

To my dismay, Lauren points at me and Four is giving me a sheepish look. When I glare at him, he just shrugs. My last hope – I look up at Eric. When he sees me look at him, he smirks.

“They’re not wrong, princess,” he says. “You’ve got the most movement up the ranks since the start.”

Uriah grins and takes a step forward, but I back up. “No way, Uriah. This is a conspiracy. You’re all full of shit!” I look behind me and make my plan. “Fine, let’s add in a test of fight or flight. In case you were wondering where I fall on that, I’ve fought enough these last few days.”

I turn and jump towards the small ledge and pull myself up before reaching for one of the hanging support ropes and swinging myself left and rappelling up higher. Now out of reach, I call down to them.

“I’ll fight you up here if you can catch me, Uriah!”

I tuned out of the next several rounds, using the rope as support as I swayed on the thin ledge to the music.

“Princess!” I look up at Eric who is calling to me from a ledge across the Pit. “Candor or Dauntless?”

“Well, Uriah hasn’t had enough to drink for me to feel safe coming down yet,” I call back, leading to laughter below. “So, I guess it’s Candor.”

Somehow, I think that’s what he was hoping for.

“Everyone in the room right now – marry, fuck, kill. Who do you pick?”

“Murder Peter,” I say without hesitation. “Like, 100% without guilt.” It was definitely the expected answer, but it still leads to laughter. “I think I need more alcohol for the other two.”

Surprisingly, I watch Four hand a bottle up to Eric for him to throw across to me. I’m impressed by my reflexes when I actually catch it. I open it and take a large gulp and then finish.

“Just for that, I’d fuck you Eric, as long as you bring me beer when I ask. And I guess I’ll marry Four” – I cannot believe I just said that – “he’s quiet, so definitely the least irritating. And look, I didn’t even ask him for a beer and he just did it. That’s husband material right there.”

Several people looked like they were about to say something, but bless Uriah for his interruption as a new song started playing.

“Oh hey, Tris, it’s your theme song!” he calls up. “I’ll forfeit our fight if you come down from there and dance with me.”

I start bopping my head to the beat, recognizing the song. “Yeah, I agree to your terms.”

“Careful, princess!” Eric calls out as I start stumbling down the ledge. I lose my footing once or twice, but it’s fine.

“I’ve got this,” I say, waving my hand at him.

The look on his face tells me he does not believe me. “Four,” he says. I’m not sure how saying someone’s name is all it takes as a demand, but it works because Four is already making his way to where I’m hanging and he’s climbing up.

I squint my eyes at him. “Um, excuse me sir, what are you doing? I might be drunk, but I know what I’m doing. You’re drunk and terrified.”

He’s rolling his eyes at me, but still walking up the wall with the rope. I try to scoot away from him, but my foot slips and my hand slides off the wall and I flail. He kicks roughly off the wall and bounds over to me, landing with grace next to me and grabbing me around the waist.

I’ve stopped breathing now, I’m pretty sure. Just frozen. My face feels warm and I know it’s not the alcohol causing the blush. If I could turn, I would glare at Eric for causing this, but I’m just a little too tipsy to try to fight against Four. So I release my rope and wrap my arms around him as he rappels back down the wall.

“You don’t have anything to prove to anyone here,” he murmured to me as he set me on my feet.

I open my mouth to say… something, I’m not sure yet. But I’m saved by Uriah who pulls me out of Four’s arms to dance.

And neither of us are particularly good dancers, but the song isn’t really one that you dance well to. It’s one you really jump up and down to. Uriah is holding both of my hands in the air and all we’re doing is jumping up and down and twisting back and forth, but it’s fun.

“I live now cause the bad die last! Dodging bullets with your broken past!”

Uriah is basically yelling the words to the song at me, but I do the same in return. Actually, many occupants of the Pit join in.

“I can’t hear you, I don’t fear you now! Wrapped in your regret, what a waste of blood and sweat. Oh-Oh-Oh!”

As the chorus starts up, Uriah spins me away and whoever grabs my hands stays behind me. So I’m looking at Uriah, but dancing with someone else and I’m not sure who. But at this point, there are so many people dancing that no one has their own breathing room anyway. I don’t care. I’m more focused on dancing and singing.

“I wanna taste love and pain! I wanna feel pride and shame! I don’t wanna take my time! I don’t wanna waste one line! I wanna live better days – never look back and say could have been me! It could have been me, yeah!”

At some point during the song, I’m pulled back closer to the person I’m dancing with. I absolutely shouldn’t be able to know who it is by the feel of his body, but dammit, I do. I lift my head and catch Uriah’s eyes. Yep. His expression – and Christina’s, which I catch out of the corner of my eye – tell me that is absolutely Four behind me.

The fuck is going on.

As the song is coming to an end, I feel Four’s arm wrap around my waist to hold me back against him and he leans down in my ear to whisper, “Candor or Dauntless, Tris?”

“Candor,” I answer, stupidly, because I’m drunk enough to answer whatever he asks me.

“What is your name?”

Song Credit: "Could Have Been Me" by The Struts

[like-rain-or-confetti]

Request: Ignorance (Volturi Leaders x Reader)

Judging by the atmosphere of the room, something was wrong. You turned to your three mates, skepticism all over your face.  "What's wrong?" You asked warily, watching for any changes in your mates faces, even the slightest micro-movement.  “Nothing you need to worry yourself about, my dear.” Aro responded with a reassuring smile. Whilst he was convincing, you didn't buy it. It didn’t take long for the thoughts to creep in, a reminder that you had been here before, in this exact situation. A thought rushed through your head but never left.  “This doesn’t have something to do with Bella...does it?” You asked.  “No.” Aro smiled at you gently.  Again, convincing but you noticed the tiny details within each of your mates and those details led you to believe this was a lie. 

You felt a pang in your chest, you had been here before. It always hurt to know your mates could and would lie to you again and again.  “Why are you lying to me?” You had visibly faltered, hurt etched across your face. You were met with silence at first.  “Why would you think that?” Caius responded.  “Marcus looks like he just kicked a puppy, you are trying to will me to believe Aro with your eyes alone and Aro has a particular smile when he lies.”   "It's a private matter." Aro responded.  "A private matter? So of course I wasn't included." You said with a cold smile. 

As you began to turn away, Aro responded.  "We can tell you later-"  "No. It's fine. We all know you won't. Don't let me interrupt." You interrupted him with a forced smile. Marcus was the next to speak. "No, (Y/N), we'll discuss-" Once again you interrupted, if you had to hear their excuses or empty promises again, you’d make Alec take away your senses for good. "No, how about you don't bother and neither will I." "If you want to be treated like an adult, (Y/N), then I advise you stop acting like a child." Caius’ words made you freeze mid-step and your blood boil. So much so, you had no doubt every vampire in the castle sensed it. 

You had once made a comment that the three treated you like a child, whether it was the age gap or the fact you were human, you didn't appreciate it. You wanted them to trust you as you trusted them and instead they hid things from you under the pretences that you wouldn't understand. However, you swallowed back your rage, sending Caius a blank stare. 

“We have received word from one of the Denali coven that the Cullen’s have created an immortal child.” Aro declared. Caius turned sharply to his brother, clearly displeased that he had revealed the secret. You, on the other hand, looked taken aback.”Bella and...?” You trailed off. Aro nodded.  “You’re sure?” You responded quietly.  “I saw for myself.” Aro assured you. “We’re about to vote on the situation.Perhaps we could use your involvement.” Aro continued. However Caius was quick to let his thoughts known. "They're human, reckless and don't understand, so why allow them a vote? We know what must be done. We do not offer second chances and this is breaking another law. We cannot cloud our judgement because of (Y/N)." 

You used to be good friends with Bella, but that friendship had since fallen away ever since you had met your mates. Although, that was Edwards fault if anyone’s. You’d have likely never met if you hadn't gone to Italy with Bella and Alice. You turned to Caius with another hurt look upon your face. "I...I was going to agree with you." You said quietly. If the Cullen’s had broken the law, then what else could be done? Yet now Caius was treating you like the weakest link, like you’d betray them so easily. You crossed your arms before turning to leave the room.  “(Y/N)-” Aro  was following behind you in seconds and reached out for your arm but you pulled away from his reach. "Don't touch me." You mumbled, this time successfully leaving the room. 

Within a second, Aro was back on his throne with his others. Aro turned to Caius.  “I understand your motives brother but you don’t need to be so harsh.” Aro said icily.  “I’m not going to dote to them like you two. When it comes down to it, I will say what needs to be said. If either of you did the same, perhaps I wouldn’t be the villain.” Caius shot back.  “I’ll go to them.” Marcus said.  “Ah yes, Marcus to the rescue from the evil Caius.” Caius scowled.  “You do it to yourself, Caius.” Marcus said as he stood up. 

You looked up to see Marcus in the doorway of his room, where you had went after the altercation. “Marcus, i’m really not in the mood to do this right now.” You began.  “We didn’t want to upset you. We only had your benefit in mind.”  "No, you hold me at arm's length and then make me feel bad about it. Like I did something wrong when the truth is you don't trust me enough to even give me the chance." You responded sourly. 

Suddenly both Aro and Marcus were behind you.  “You’ve done nothing wrong, cara mia and we do trust you. Of course, we trust you.” Aro explained. “We choose not to involve you because it seems, in our eyes, unnecessary stress on you. It’s our job to do this but that doesn’t mean it’s you must endure it.”  “It’s not your job to shelter me!” You turned, arguing back. “I’m so tired of this!”  “Tired of what, cara mia?” Aro pressed, knowing something else was bothering you.

You tended to bottle things up and eventually the emotions overflow from the even the smallest of changes at times. "I am tired of it being three against one. I am tired of only existing when it's convenient to you. I am tired of making excuses for him and I'm tired with you assuming that I won't leave all three of you!" You said loudly making the two men pause. You had never mentioned leaving before and it had never even crossed their minds on what to even think if you ever brought it up, never mind do. Aro seemed to clam up, his expression unreadable whilst Marcus looked almost terrified.   "Don't say things like that! You don't mean it!" Marcus pleaded slightly. You stared at him. You sighed. Once again leaving the room. However only Marcus’ followed you this time.  "I'm trying to talk to you!"  "I don't want to talk!" You snapped back, storming into Caius’ room this time.   "(Y/N), I love you- we love y-" You interrupted Marcus.  "Don't say that!" You snapped. 

That was your weakness and you loved them more than you could describe but you couldn’t go ignored. They couldn’t wish it away with those three little words. You couldn’t look at Marcus who looked absolutely heartbroken.  “You’re pulling away.” He said quietly. “I can see it...you’re pulling away from us.” You said nothing and Marcus left the room. 

An hour passed and Caius entered the room briskly, Aro and Marcus remaining at the door. “You two, leave. (Y/N) and I need to have a conversation alone.”  “Excuse me?” You responded.  "You're angry with me and releasing your anger on them. Be that adult and if you have something to say. Say it!" Caius turned to his brothers. “Get out.” "It drives me mad that you overlook everything I feel and do whatever is convenient for you! And you win! Every time, you always get your own way!" You said almost immediately.  “It drives me to madness that I have to be careful with what i say because you assume the worst of me.” Caius shot back.   "I hate that you make me feel so inferior!" You said louder, the anger rising in you once more.  "I hate that you're so naive you fail to realise that I do this because you mean more to me than anything else! I want you to be happy, I want you to be protected!" Caius scowled. “I hate that you will drag out every situation until you win. Even now, you’re winning!” You argued back. Caius looked at you incredulously. “Don't you understand!? I've already lost! I'm losing you right now! Everything I have ever done is to protect you because if you're gone I won't be able to survive it! I'd rather you hated me and were safe than dead and loving me!" You moved closer, growing exasperated. "Caius, why don't you understand that there is other ways? I love you. I love all of you but everyday it's a tag team against me!" "You don't understand how much of a blessing you are and at the same time how stressful it is to know that any tiny little movement could hurt you!" Caius said flatly.  You stared at him and Caius sighed. “You’re so stubborn.” Caius shook his head. "You won't want to hear it."  "That's never stopped you before." You responded quietly. Caius sighed again. "I don't want to involve you. I fear that if I do and something hurt you...I can't fix it."  “That deci-”  "I don't want to force you to make any decisions! If you did, I couldn't live with you hating yourself. So if I did it and you hated me for it, I can live with that!" You were at a loss for words. Dumbstruck by Caius’ words. He had never been so vulnerable with you to actually admit his fears, especially involving you.  “I want you to be loved and i want you to be happy. I cannot without a doubt expose you to these things and believe you wouldn’t be affected.” “Caius...” You pleaded, tears welling in your eyes. “I lost my friend for you. i haven’t contacted anyone in months since coming here. Bella was my best friend and i lost her. I gave her up for you. It might hurt, but it hurts more knowing that the three people i gave everything up for, are holding me at arms length.” You took hold of Caius’ arms who said nothing as you continued. “I am willing to face all of that, if it means i have you three with me. I can face all of it. I am willing to face it all if it means i get to keep you at my side. I don't want you hiding things from me, or pushing me away. That hurts more than any of it.”  

A blur of black in the corner of your eye catch your attention. Once again Marcus and Aro were at the door. Meanwhile, Caius stared down at you with a surprisingly soft expression.  "The truth is that we don't tell you a lot of things...but that doesn't mean we want to hurt you." Marcus spoke up. "Listen," You said softly, tugging Caius' hand and looking over at Aro and Marcus. "You will never have to worry about me leaving. I could never leave you behind." You turned your gaze to Caius, stepping closer to him. "Look at me." You whispered and Caius' gaze shifted. "Never." You promised him. "There have been so many more good times than bad and none of them could keep me from you." You closed the distance with a kiss that Caius was just as willing to return. One of his hands moving to your cheek. Even Marcus couldn't hold back a smile when you reached out towards them, beckoning for them. You broke the kiss to declare. "If you two don't hug me in the next three seconds I will cry."

[ezgithechaotic]

The Parent Trap | Chapter Six; to love someone else

pairing: Harry Styles x Reader

AU: The Parent Trap,  dad!harry

series summary:  Identical twins Benjamin and Edward, separated at birth and each raised by one of their biological parents, later discover each other for the first time at summer camp and make a plan to bring their wayward parents back together.

chapter summary; There are so many thing to say, but so little time for Harry and Y\N. 

author note; well hello there, ı’m back. It’s been really long and I’m so soryy about it. But I guess you guys are used to it. I will try to write the next chapter soon! Don’t be shy to send me a message if you would like to talk and be friends. I don’t bite, I promise! 

I’m sorry in advance if I have any fault. English is not my first language. My askbox is always open if you want to talk. Please leave a comment about what you think, love you.  

Taglist is open. Please send me an ask or comment if you want to be tagged! (22\30)

The Parent Trap Masterlist,  main masterlist 

Life had a funny way of bringing people together, and it had no interest in their desires. Sitting on one of the blue couches, a coffee in her hand, the only thing Y\N wanted to do was run away and never look back. But she wasn't eighteen anymore; she had learned that running from your problems only circled you back to them. So, she did what every reasonable person would do, stayed put. But now, seeing her hand shaking while holding the silver spoon, Y\N was questioning every decision she ever made that brought her to this point. 

So much for getting over him Y\N, well done. 

"You look good." 

The moment words left his mouth Harry cursed himself silently. You look good. Of course, she did. Is that what he all had? After almost nine years, Y\N still made him tongue-tied. He wasn't the Harry who stood in front of thousands of people to perform; he was a boy again, and he hated it. He was eighteen again, seeing his producer's sister and thinking, maybe he is capable of love. Despite feeling like it was yesterday, Harry wasn't eighteen anymore. He didn't have the opportunities to be stupid and in love. It had been a long time since Harry had lost that chance. Wishing he could say sorry and explain anything wasn't going to solve anything, and it surely wasn't going to bring him his old Y\N, who was naive enough to fall in love with a worldwide star. She knew better now. So, maybe the only thing he could come up with was you look good. 

Even though a moment of sadness passed her face, Y\N was quick to pull herself together. She put a kind smile on her face, the way she did when one of her customers made her feel tired, but she still had to keep going. Harry had seen that smile before when he told her he had to cancel one of their dates, again or when he told her that they couldn't be seen together in public.

"You look good too." 

There it was again, her velvet-like voice. Y\N had always amazed Harry; she could be kind to everyone no matter what, even when the person across her was the reason for her broken heart. Neither of them dared to ask about their sons and each other. How would you ask about someone you chose to leave behind? 

"Can I..." Y\N could feel her anxiety riling up. She took a deep breath and tried sitting more straight. "How is he?" 

Harry's heart almost skipped a beat. He couldn't decide if he was stupid to send him away. Would it be less awkward if Benjamin was there, or would it be a dread to explain to him why his mother was standing in the middle of their guest room? 

"Look, I know we had an agreement." Y\N sighed. Harry didn't realize how much time it took him to come up with an answer until she spoke. "I only want to know how he is."

"He's... Well, he's good." 

Harry apparently lost his ability to form any good sentences that day, but it looked like he was talking to a brick wall. Y\N left her cup on the coffee table, now leaning and resting her elbows on her knees. 

"I feel like I'm doing a terrible job." Eyes fixed on the ground and watery, head between her hands, Harry couldn't remember the last time he had seen Y\N so vulnerable. "Edward is the sweetest boy, I swear. He's the perfect kid any parent could ask for. And I feel like I'm the worst mother for tearing him apart from his brother, for not giving him the life he deserves. And the only thing I can think of is would he be happier if he were with you." She was up suddenly, pacing around the room. 

"And how much I missed from Benjamin's life. Will, he ever know me, or Edward ever know you? Will they ever know each other? Will they ever forgive us for what we did?" She stopped, looking at Harry.  She couldn't remember how long it had been since she looked into his green eyes. She wanted to keep going. Scream, shout, cry. But she stood there, looking at him, waiting like he could give her an answer. 

Will I ever forgive myself for letting you go?

Y\N wanted to keep asking, but there was no point. She stopped a tear before it could reach her jaw, quickly. "God, I don't know how long I've been holding that in." 

Harry was dying to apologize, to ask if she was missing him as much as he was missing her. He was dying to fall at her feet and beg for forgiveness. Instead, he sat there, like an idiot.

"We were young, Y\N. We did what we thought was best. Wrong or right, there is no undoing it right now." 

Hearing her name roll off his sweet mouth woke something inside Y\N. She had so many things she wanted to say but didn't know where to begin. Her mouth was frantically opening and closing back again, but nothing came out. 

-

Sarah and Mitch were just outside the room, trying to listen to the conversation. "I swear he's so stupid," Mitch whispered. "Just say something!" 

"Hey, be quiet. I'm trying to listen." 

Before Mitch could say anything, he heard key sounds coming from the front door. He quickly turned to Sarah. "Camille wasn't visiting today, right?" He was praying that it wasn't Camille, but there wasn't anyone outside them who had keys to Harry's house. 

"Shit." 

-

"I know you're a great mother, Y\N; I know that. And I know we did wrong things, but that doesn't mean you're failing."

"I feel like I am." Y\N was still standing there, her fingers fidgeting with her white shirt. She wanted to yell, how could he possibly know what kind of mother she was? He was never there. Harry stood up with a purpose to walk to Y\N and maybe to hold her. But his actions stopped when the door to the guest room opened.  

And there she was, Camille Rowe with all her glory. Blonde hair sitting on her shoulders, red-colored lips, and long lashes, she looked like she came straight from a runway. And Y\N tried with all her might, but she couldn't hate her. Even though her pants were horrible, even though she always used her beauty to get away with her cruelty. And, true, the diamond ring sitting on her finger was no help, but still, she had no hate for her. It wasn't Camille's fault that she was at his feet, basically asking Harry to fix everything because she was too vulnerable.

How Y\N wished she could love somebody else that wasn't Harry. She wished she could move on as he did. But it was stuck, her whole life was stuck since he left her without any explanation. Sometimes she would feel so ready to love someone else, to find anybody willing to take her this broken. She tried so hard, lying to herself, making everyone believe she got over him. She didn't listen to any of his songs, watch anything that could be related to him.  She was running away for the last nine years, not once stopping and looking back. Well, look where it brought her to now, sitting in the same room with him and his fiancee, who had no idea how much history they had. 

"I honestly love everything piece you do." Did she? Y\N couldn't tell if Camille knew everything or not. But if she did, she was a damn good actress. And Y\N was terrified of what could come after this if she didn't leave that house right now. "I would love it if you worked on my wedding dress." 

Y\N's whole world was upside down at that moment. Her hair on her neck stood on end. Her whole body was shivering; she didn't know if it was rage or hurt. Still, the smile came up again. 

"I'm afraid I'm too busy with my new collection." 

"Well, I will have to find someone else, I guess." Camille laughed, her hand sneaking up Harry's leg. Y\N was burning, her blood felt like it was boiling inside her veins. She needed to get out of there, quick. "But I'm so glad Harry could reach somebody. He had been looking for that cardigan for days, now. I thought he was going crazy." She laughed again, unlike everyone else in the room but, apparently she didn't care. 

"It was no problem, honestly. Jonathan is a dear friend of mine; I was just doing a favor." Y\N couldn't believe how calm she sounded. Maybe she should have chosen to be an actress. 

"I'm sure you're very busy, but we would love to see you at the wedding. Right, honey?" Camille turned to Harry, waiting for his approval. Harry quickly nodded as if he was waiting to agree to everything she was saying. "Of course." 

"I'll have to see, I guess." Y\N didn't know how much longer she could pretend like everything bathed in sunlight. So, she got up, ignoring the shaking in her legs. "I should go, my team is probably waiting for me."

"It was lovely to meet you." Camille held her hand out. Her grasp was hard like she was telling Y\N to start running and never look back again. Still, Y\N stood her ground, firmly taking her handshake and smiling. Her eyes meet Harry's for a second. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she didn't think anything that she could say would turn this around. So, she lied instead. 

"Congratulation on the engagement. You two make a lovely couple." 

Y\N couldn't believe she could lie so effortlessly, without any trembling in her voice. Still, shaking Camille's warm hand and seeing her next to Harry with a diamond on her hand made her want to get in her car and run away to somewhere very far away that she could throw up. So, she did that. 

TAGLIST: @yllwtaxi @meredithhuntt @soullessbabee @xoxoellll @2kayla64 @sometrueaffection @fromthedt @angelbabyivy @kennedywxlsh​​ @harrymarvel @kisskillstudio @pouge-h @sunsetcurve-h​ @odetostep​ @yhound​ @chubby-dumpling​ @swtxel​ @moonstarrnghtsky​ @blackfarrahfawcett​ @deeppoetryface @butterflycloss​ @revise-it-all 

If your tags don’t work, please check if your email is verified on tumblr. 

[runtedfiction]

the best

day 5: domesticity @zelinkweek2021

ao3

AN: i could spend a lifetime writing sleepy domestic scenes. also shoutout to @itcantbe, whose sweet and thoughtful comments have kept me going all week :)

* * *

Four times there’s someone waiting at home.

* * *

“You’re sure moving in together is a good idea,” Zelda says when all their boxes are already combined, stacked neatly on the floor of their new apartment.

Link laughs. “You’re asking me this now?”

“I’m asking you this now.”

He kisses the top of her head. There’s natural light, oak hardwood, and a kitchen with an island. This is everything they wanted, so she’s not sure why there’s dread gnawing at the bottom of her stomach. The loss of privacy? The merging of two lives? The thought of there always being a loving, patient partner to come home to?

He smiles at her when she hands him the scissors to open the first box. “I’m sure.”

* * *

They move in over the course of a weekend, and Monday is right back to work. It’s a rough Monday too--there’s a memory leak in one of her team’s apps and she spends all day trying to plug it. When she takes the train home she nearly gets off at her old stop. Remembering that her new place is slightly farther is enough to put her in a crabby mood when she comes home.

“Hey,” he says when she walks in the door. A waft of something warm and savory scents hits her. He didn’t mention that he’d be cooking today.

“Hello.”

Link looks up from the cutting board--her “Hello” did sound a bit terse coming out of her mouth. “How was your day?”

She flops down on the couch. “Ugh.”

“Ugh?”

“Ugh.”

“Well,” he says, sprinkling something on top of whatever’s in the pot, “dinner is ready whenever. I’m killing the heat now.”

“Mmhmm.” She pulls out her phone and starts scrolling.

“Man,” he says, and he goes to the couch. “Bad day?”

She puts her phone down to bury her face in his shoulder. “The worst.”

(“Better that you’re here now” goes unsaid. She wants a bit more time to mope around.)

He threads her finger through hers. “I’m sorry bud. You wanna talk about it over dinner? I made that veggie soup you like.”

She perks up, just a bit. “The one with the pasta?”

“The one with the pasta.”

* * *

The rest of the week isn’t much better. When Purah messages her asking if she wants to grab drinks after work on Friday, Zelda reacts with every “yes” they have in their company Slack.

“Fucking hell,” she says, sipping on a too-expensive drink in a too-nice bar. “Memory leaks on Monday, urgent stakeholder requests later, and unredacted log info today?”

Purah shakes her head. “They don’t pay you enough.”

“Amen.”

Robbie and Impa come, and Purah buys everyone a tequila shot. Then Zelda buys a round, because why not, and soon the four of them are out on the street giggling and searching for a karaoke bar.

Her phone buzzes. It’s Link.

“Hello?”

(“Ooooooooh Liiiink,” Purah coos. Zelda chooses to ignore her.)

“Hi,” he says. “I’m heading out from Daruk’s thing; I’ll be home in like 30.”

“Ok,” she says, and checks the time on her watch. “Oh, it’s one already! Don’t wait for me, I’m not too sure how long it’ll be.”

“Ok,” he says. “Have fun stay safe.”

“Yeah, I will!”

They find a karaoke bar that’s charmingly shitty with a two drink minimum. As soon as they walk in, someone is doing a very bad but very passionate rendition of “My House” by Flo Rida. They also queue up for the stage--Impa is willing to do a basic Taylor Swift song with her because she’s a stellar friend--and spend the rest of the night dancing and drinking.

It’s somewhere between four and five when Zelda makes it back home, still drunk but mostly tired. She changes into pajamas and brushes her teeth far too quickly, careful to not turn on the electric mode so Link doesn’t wake up.

She climbs into bed as quietly as she can considering her head is swimming and she can feel the blood rushing through it. Link stirs a bit, and she’s relieved when his breathing goes back to normal. But then he turns towards her, and fuck, maybe she really did wake him up.

Except all he does is sigh sleepily and reach for her.

Zelda, who was so exhausted and cold and tipsy a moment ago, melts.

* * *

The first time she plans dinner when he’s running late is mostly a success. She picked up a bottle of fancy French soda, the garlic bread is in the oven, and the sauce will come together soon.

There’s just one complication.

“You burned the spaghetti?”

She looks at the pot of clearly burned spaghetti. “No.”

He laughs, and redoes his ponytail to wash his hands and start slicing garlic. “Why didn’t you just get a bigger pot for the noodles?”

“Leave me alone,” she says, bumping her hip into his.

“No.”

He drops the knife to hug her. She tries to wriggle her way out of his grip to no avail.

* * *

When Sidon’s birthday rolls around, Zelda gets home earlier this time. Link insists that she go to bed, but he said he’d be home before three and she can wind down with some TV anyway.

(And if she checks his location every fifteen minutes and glances at the door every twenty to see if the lock will turn, what of it?)

When he does come in, she tries her hardest to look casual, and not like she’s been pining for the last two hours, and knew exactly when he would come home.

“Hello,” she says.

“Hi,” he replies, voice a little croaky. His hair is down fully, and he looks tired.

“Fun night?”

He shakes his head and smiles. “A little too fun. We went to that karaoke bar you recommended.”

“Nice!” She pats the seat next to her. “What’d you sing?”

“‘Home’.” When he sits down he smells like beer. “That Edward, something, Magnetic one?”

“Oh yeah. That’s a good one.”

“What’re you watching?”

“Oh.” She turns back to the TV. “Something silly. Paris Hilton has a cooking show now.”

“Huh.”

“Here’s a glass of water.” She lifts it off the coffee table. “Drink up so tomorrow morning isn’t that bad.”

His smile turns sheepish. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

“You know,” he says later while they watch Paris Hilton make the worst French toast in the world, “sometimes I hate going out.”

“Why?” she asks, surprised.

“Home is nice,” he explains. He puts his head on her shoulder. “Warm and clean. And”--he hesitates, and she wonders if he’s going to say something cheesy because he always stops before that—”you’re here.”

“So cheesy,” she says.

He scrunches up his nose. “I know.”

She laughs and takes his hand. “But I get it. Welcome home.”

* * *

Months later, over a bowl of vegetable soup, he asks her if she’s sure this was a good idea.

Zelda looks up from her phone. “What?”

“When we first moved in together,” he explains around a bite of pasta and carrots and beans, “you asked me if I was sure this was a good idea.”

She laughs, and takes a sip. The tomato flavor is especially tangy today. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Yup.”

“Well,” she says with a shrug, “this place is everything we wanted. Hardwood, big kitchen, good light.”

He rolls his eyes. “You know that’s not what I'm asking.”

She smiles. “I know.”

She places a hand over his. He raises an eyebrow and asks, “So?”

“I think,” she starts, giving his hand a squeeze. He squeezes back and smiles. “I think this was the best idea ever. Having someone to come home to is nice.”

His smile grows soft. “The best?”

She nods, sure of it. “The best.”

[herd-of-muses]

Vampires, pokemon, soulmates

//I first thought about having him playing a pokemon game. But why do that when you can have a pokemon au!

@amestrian-idiot corrected spelling and grammar and probably pokemon names spelled wrong!!

Edward yawned; he loved dark types more than it was probably healthy, so he had no problem standing in the cold of a winter night waiting for them to get tired of running around Granny's garden too.

He wasn't a dark specialist, because those people who only centered in one type were stupid and knew nothing about strategic relationships in a team of six; but he couldn't deny his love for such a cool type (which was only rivaled by steel types). And he could have as many of them as he wanted in his PC without breaking the balance of his great ass-kicking team.

As he watched Umbreon and Absol (Caius and Catastrophe, great names by the way) play chase while Mawile and Weavile (Blair and Frostbite) seemed to chat and groom themselves.

The sound of flapping wings broke the silence of the night. Clearer every second (Norma always had been pretty fast. Named by Winry, as to why her name is not something cool like Vampire or Bloodsucker) the impressive Crobat arrived in no time at his door, letting a fine letter fall by his side before perching herself on his shoulder.

It was a habit she had since he found the poor thing in an abandoned house he and Alphonse broke in to cause mischief.

Bloodsucker- Officially named Norma- was a small Zubat under a desk, too scared of the brothers to do anything and too alone to be normal.

When they managed to carry her back to granny, she'd told them the Zubat had a malformed wing, and probably would never fly.

Logically, that was the reason why she was abandoned by her parents as soon as she was born.Nature usually doesn't want any pokemon unable to live on their own. It wasn't unheard of mothers leaving some of their sick youth behind, to the benefit of the rest of the healthy ones in the litter. That's just how it works.

So she stayed with them. And she grew. And to rub it on whoever decision was to give her a malformed wing in the first place's face, she flew. Awkwardly at the beginning, better as she grew stronger, and by the time she was a Golbat, she could win races with other of their flying pokemon like his brother's Flygon.

Edward makes sure to remind him that every day.

Behind her, however, there came a bird pokemon he recognized a little later.

Roy's Talonflame, Gales.

The big bird had something in his powerful claws, and before he could do anything most of his pokemon were alert at the new intruder.

Most of them fluffing up to look more intimidating. It doesn't work when you're a cute Umbreon, he should tell Caius, but he feels a little bad by doing so.

Soon, they relaxed, when they realized it was only their usual delivery boy.

The pokemon left the package fall by Edward's feet just like Norma had done previously and perched on one of the fences.

Norma too perched, although upside down in the roof of their porch, and he went to bring water and food to the tired traveler pokemon.

Only when the needs of the flying pokemon were solved, he reached down to see what his beloved dork had sent him. Ed started to read the letter:

"Why do I even love you? You're so mean to me and my poor (as you would put it) flame-lame mono-bullshit pokemon team.

Even if I know how much you love riding on Rapidash or Arcanine, so they alone must have something charming for you.

Anyways, I'll take care of him very well, he seems to like the rest of the team so far.

Especially Charizard, he clung to Charizard. I'm watching them play as I write this. I should have expected a Houndour from you, I really should have. Anyways, writing this so I can explain: this isn't because you gave the Houndour to me, I'm not giving back the favor, she was here for a long time and I always thought of giving her to you, I just couldn't get the courage to do it.

So I had to wait until you had the same idea to man up and give her to her rightful owner.

I know how much you love this species and to be frank, it suits your bad-boy style.

But I'll let you see her by yourself. I hope you can come back soon, I miss your warmth by my side in bed (And if I hear a single joke about me having enough heat sources in the house, I'll kick you), and our strategies and how much it hurts the champion's brain that I can live with the monotype gym leader rule.

I miss you, Ed."

Edward read it several times, he missed his idiot just as much.

And he missed all his stupid smiles, and the chats while they had their morning coffees, and even that time when they did those stupid pokeblock recipes just to see how the pokemon would react to the treat, and all his flame pokemon that would get obliterated by the surf of a slowpoke and now he wanted to go back to Central, even if it meant leaving all his wonderful pokemon alone again.

He had to anyways; the season starts again the next week, so challengers would start to arrive, and neither his nor Roys pokemon would get as bored.

At last, he opened the box. It was big, no wonder Talonflame was going so slow; it had a smaller box with a Pokeball painted on it in one of the corners, it was big enough to fit a real ball inside; while the rest was filled with the usual: chocolate, one of the man's scarfs that smelled like him, some cute charms, toys for the mons.

But he was interested in the little box on the side. When he opened it, his suspicions were correct, a lunar ball nestled gently in a shaped pillow so it didn't move around.

Edward grabbed the ball and opened it. A beautiful blue Pawniard came into his view. He loved that man so much. He loved how much the other man knew him. And he loved the little oblivious pokemon standing in front of him.

As the other pokemon of the team came to check their new friend, Edward took a chain with a pendant hanging from the same box the Painwards Pokeball came in. "Sapphire" it read. He really did love that man.

[wastelandcrown]

logan lark’s adventures in trying to appease his parents

CHAPTER 1: anybody have a map?

Summary: Logan Lark is a fairly average high school student. By all means, he should be impressing his parents on all grounds. Except...he doesn’t exactly have a social life. So after his parents give him puppy dog eyes, he decides to join the local theatre's youth production. Good grief...His life is about to get weird isn’t it?

Warning: Potential ooc behavior, Roman is a theatre brat to the highest degree (Sorry Roman stans)

Notes: This fic is based off an idea from @under-the-blue-moonlight who very graciously let me use it! I’ve made a couple changes, mostly surrounding Virgil’s involvement and I gave Logan performance anxiety because I thought it would be neat. There will be warnings on the chapters that have potentially triggering talk.

Pairings: Eventual Intrulogical, Eventual Rociet, Eventual One-Sided Logicality, Platonic Analogical, Platonic DRLAMP 

Word Count: 2584

There he stands, at the precipice of his own destruction. By all accounts, it is fair to say that Logan is blowing this out of proportion. Wildly. Though he was doing much more than adequately in school, had a fairly stable mental health, and was better than most teenagers in regards to his physical well-being and room upkeep, it apparently wasn’t enough. Don’t misunderstand, his parents were in no way vindictive or cruel. Just...positive. Overtly so. In a way that made Logan cringe. How he, a man of logic and science, was ever made from these two extremely lovey-dovey saps, we will never know. Despite all his successes his parents still encouraged him to partake in activities with his peers. ‘Oh Logan, why don’t you join the school football team?’ ‘Logan, wouldn’t it be nice to make some friends at the local animal shelter?’ ‘Why are you always by yourself? Wouldn’t it be nice to make some friends?’ No, it would not. Not for him. Other people are stupid, especially teenagers. His whole life was planned on the cork board above his desk, and there was nothing important enough to make him deviate from his goal. 

To him, at least. To his parents, his social life being active was figuratively their number one priority. He’s been hoping for a calm dinner with his mother and father, he even enjoyed it most nights. He and his mother would discuss new things going on at the schools they respectively learnt and taught at. His father would discuss his work managing the popular local theatre. Discussing his father’s work tonight was a mistake.

“You know, Logan,” His father begins, and he knows where this is going, “The youth production is going to be starting up again soon.”

His mother smiles, taking his father's hand, “Loganberry, we think it would be good for you to join. You’re in your second year of high school and you don’t even talk to the kids in your class!”

“Mother, please try and understand, I really don’t think it’s necessary for me to find friends. I don’t enjoy having acquaintances, let alone having close personal friends.”

“Logan-” His father starts again but his mother pats his hand, and he quiets. 

She smiles at him and reaches across the table to put a hand on his cheek in a caring motherly gesture. 

“I know you don’t like other kids dear, but...think about it this way! It could be a fun experiment!”

Logan pauses, leaning into his mother’s touch, and nodding to show he’s listening. 

His mother started again, “You can gather data on a lot of different kinds of people, and then find out who you most enjoy hanging out with so that...in your...career…” 

Even though she’s trying, she stumbles, and his father picks up the slack, “So that in your career, you can find the people who you think are easiest to work with and be more efficient that way!” 

He knows what they’re doing. They’re buttering him up with some flimsy science experiment and explaining their position with a strange metaphor. But when both his parents are smiling at him like that...he can’t bring himself to say no to them. When he looks at them like this, he suddenly remembers how similar he looks to each of them. His mother’s dark brown hair, His father’s icy blue eyes, the glasses that sit snugly on both their faces...They smile at him so brightly that he just can’t say no to them. 

“Fine. I will do it, just this once.”

His parents erupt into literal cheers. He finds it a tad too much, but as long as they are happy he supposes he can put up with socialization and scheduling conflicts for a few months. 

That’s how he ended up at the theatre with his father at eight in the morning, on a Sunday in July. If it were his choice, he would be eating Crofter’s by the spoonful and reading some classic literature. Instead, he’s here. His father did get them both coffee, however. So he stands there awkwardly, nursing the cup that’s gone lukewarm, and he starts to feel nauseous. As he follows his father, he can hear the other kids. They’re loud. Too loud. Logan is going to hate this, he already hates this. He’s overthinking a bit, eyes trained to the floor when he accidentally trips. He’s bracing to be smacked in the face by the floor and his coffee when someone taller than him places a hand on his chest and props him back up. 

“Hi there!” Says the smiling man, who is tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He looks very kind and is wearing a Steven Universe t-shirt. 

“I-I apologize for that, I wasn’t looking where I was going.” Logan manages to stammer out. Had he been this nervous the whole time? He takes a deep breath and tries to get a grip. 

“Oh, no problem!” The man nods to his dad, “Hey, Edward! This is Logan?”

“Yes, he is! He’s usually a little more focused, though.” Edward nudges Logan with a smirk, and Logan has to nod and concede. He’s right, of course. He is usually more focused. 

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Logan! I’m Thomas Sanders, I’m the head on the performance department here! Your dad’s been talking you up for weeks, you’re going to fit right in.”

With these words, Logan feels himself flush a little. Leave it to his father to talk him up for no good reason. He had never even been in a performance before! 

“Uhm-Yes. Thank you-” Logan begins and is cut off by a large crash.

Thomas lets out a deep sigh and turns, motioning for Logan to follow. His dad gives him a big smile and a double thumbs-up, Logan gives him a small and tired smile in return. He wishes desperately he had refused his parents the second he enters the auditorium. On stage, an adult in an orange beanie is reprimanding a boy dressed like he just crawled out of the mosh pit of a rave. The boy is laughing maniacally as off to his side, a nearly identical boy in a strangely put together outfit is pouting and crying crocodile tears. Logan makes a note to steer clear of the neon-garbage-rave kid. 

“What did you do now, Remus?” Thomas asks with a sigh, as the kid points off stage and cackles. 

“Remus started this year off by glue-and-feathering Roman’s make-up bag.” The adult in the beanie says, and Logan looks shocked. They’re certainly going to kick this guy out, right? Right!? 

“Remus...Dude…” Thomas grimaces, making his way over to who Logan assumes is Roman and supportively patting his shoulder. 

“What!?” Remus nearly shouts through his laughing, “It was funny!”

“It was not!” Roman cries with such an intense amount of drama. 

This only makes Remus laugh more. 

He’s watching so intently that he doesn’t notice that someone has entered and is standing next to him. 

“Oh, Hello.” He politely mutters, turning to look at the person. He’s shorter than he is, and definitely a lot bouncier. Even at eight am, he looks joyful. His eyes are a lighter blue than his, and his head is a mess of blonde curls. He also has round-ish tortoiseshell glasses. He isn’t unpleasant to look at, aside from the fact that he’s wearing cargo shorts and socks with sandals. 

“Hi! Don’t worry about them, Remus does something like that every year! He likes a-uh...fun start!” The kid starts talking, and even his voice is joyful and bubbly. 

“I’m Patton Foster, it’s nice to meet you!” Patton offers Logan a hand, which he takes and gives a firm shake. 

“Logan Lark. Is it typically this rambunctious, or does it calm over time?” 

Patton looks down, a little sheepish, then offers Logan a smile, “It’s always like this. Sorry!”

“It’s not a problem. I’ll just need to adapt to my circumstances.” As he says this he knows that it is going to be an especially arduous task. 

Pointing to his cup, Patton starts speaking again, “Is your coffee getting cold? We have a microwave backstage if you want me to warm it up for you!” 

The offer is sweet and genuine, so he lets Patton take the cup and run off behind the curtains. If he’s going to be here, he should start on that experiment, so he thinks. Patton seems sweet, potentially too sweet. It may be a ruse, but if his behavior is genuine Logan thinks he might be able to get by in his interactions with him. At least he’ll be able to send him off to do polite tasks if he ever needs to. 

Returning with his coffee reheated, Patton is nearly bouncing on his heels. Throughout the early morning, Patton drags Logan around and Logan realizes the bouncing is just how Patton is. He scoots by as Thomas introduces the staff. The person in the orange beanie, Joan, is the stage manager. Stood quietly beside them is a darkly dressed kid who only acknowledges the audience with a nod, his name is apparently Virgil Storm and he is running lights and sound for the show. Logan wishes desperately he could be up there on that stage. Not because he’s decided he wants to be here, but because he wishes he had known tech was an option. Damn his father for making him act. There are only about twenty kids in the audience, and by the time Thomas is done explaining the rules and conduct, the time is reaching noon. When Thomas announces that the production they will be putting on is called “Hamilton” and is a musical, the others begin to cheer wildly. Now, Logan has no clue what Hamilton sounds like, but he knows it is about the Founding Fathers. Musicals have never interested him, and especially not one about men who owned slaves and were all hoity-toity. He’s heard of it, of course. His father talks about how it revolutionized musical theatre, but Logan has never been interested enough to ask any further questions. As everyone is buzzing, he turns to Patton and taps him on the shoulder. 

“Is that a good thing?” Patton looks a little puzzled and goes to answer before he hears an offended gasp from behind him. 

“A good thing!? Is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pride and joy, the musical that revolutionized musical theatre, the Emmy Award-Winning show Hamilton any good!?” Roman gawks at him and sputters like he’s never heard something so blasphemous in his life.

“I have no interest in musical theatre, therefore I was asking to gain clarity.” Perhaps saying this is a mistake because there are many gasps from other students, and Logan is pretty sure someone yells ‘Sexy!’

Roman snaps at him loudly and rises from his seat, “Why are you even here then!? You look like a nerd!”

“Roman!” Patton stands up and now Logan is cornered between them, “Don’t be rude!”

“Wha-Well I’m sorry that I’m confused as to why he’s here if he doesn’t even know about Hamilton!” He steps closer, cornering Logan even more.

Then he stands, “My father enjoys musical theatre and asked me to join, I don’t see what the issue is with my joining but if it truly perturbs you I suppose I will take my leave.”

He’s really grateful for this opportunity to abandon the theatre, and he turns to try and leave and ends up nearly chest to chest with Patton. 

“Hey now! There’s room enough for everyone here Logan!” Patton says brightly, and from the stage, Thomas nods. 

“Patton is right, Roman. We welcome everyone to try their hand at theatre, so please sit down so I can let you all go have lunch.” Thomas looks exasperated as Roman sits with a huff, followed by Patton and Logan.

On the stage, Thomas continues to explain what they will be doing, and then they’re being released to lunch with the goal of listening to the musical and beginning to practice their audition material. 

Logan manages to slink away from Patton, who had started talking to Roman about being nicer to the newbies or something. He had forgotten to bring lunch, which was probably fine. He’d just have to go and find his father and ask for some money. Pushing the auditorium door open, Logan finally notices he has attracted someone’s gaze. He makes eye contact with a glaring boy in a bright yellow hoodie, and he nods. The guy looks away and Logan shrugs him off. The front desk happily calls his father, who comes and brings him some money for the lobby vending machines and promises to buy him something more filling on the way home. This would severely throw off his new healthier diet, but he caves. After this day he would probably need some disgustingly greasy fast food to make him feel a little better. After the stunt with Roman, he’s not sure he’s going to go unnoticed. He buys a bottle of water and a granola bar from the vending machine and decides to sit at one of the lobby chairs to avoid the others. As he turns to find a space to sit, a voice from beside the vending machine makes him jump. 

“You’re not going to fuck up the show, are you?” The voice says, and Logan turns to find the same kid who was glaring at him before. From up close, he’s around the same size as Logan. His eyes are green-brown heterochromic, his hair is messy and brown, and one side of his face has vitiligo in a pattern that looks eerily similar to a reptile’s scales. He is glaring Logan down and he can’t help but feel a little intimidated.

“I don’t plan on it, no. Just because I am here against my will does not mean that I am going to attempt to make the show disreputable in any way.” He tries to say this confidently and he thinks he succeeds when the boy grins and offers him a hand. 

“Janus Devine.”

“Logan Lark.” And then he stops, and realizes he recognizes the origins of that name,“Are you by any chance named after the Greek god of doorways?”

Janus blinks, seemingly not expecting that reaction, “Shit-Yeah-How did you even know that?”

“I pride myself on being well-read.” Logan adjusts his tie as he says it and Janus gives a little chuckle. 

“Very good to know.” Someone yells from down the hall, and Janus rolls his eyes at the noise, “How would you like to come to join me and my...friends this afternoon?”

“It would probably be of good use to me.” He replies with a small shrug of his shoulders. Hopefully, these friends are nicer than that Roman fellow, but not as nice as Patton. 

“Oh no, it’s going to be totally useless. We aren’t going to get anything done.” Deadpans Janus and Logan just stares at him a little confused.

“That was sarcasm, specks.” His counterpart tacks on when he sees the confusion on his face. 

“Oh, right” 

All he can do now is follow Janus as he walks down the hallway towards the loud group of people. Logan follows behind and watches Janus’ movement. He walks so confidently that it’s almost like sauntering, but it’s too slow. Too smooth. It’s like slithering. 

Taking a deep breath, he prepares himself for whatever horrible experiences await.

[solschem]

Just thought of a case closed like au where Tommy is basically Conan (important to note that the characters real name is Jimmy, but when he becomes a kid he uses the name Conan)

In the anime some dudes try to kill Jimmy, but it ends up making him a kid and only his inventor/ mad scientist friend knows (I’ll be referring to him as Doc). Because I never have an original thought, Dream is obviously the guy trying to kill him during exile and thinks he’s dead. Everyone else just thinks he’s off in exile or ran away. Now for some situations and dynamics I think might be cool. Also all of these will be anime logic cause it’s based off an anime. It’s all ooc now suffer through my rambles

You know that library scene where Jimmy has to think of a new name? I am absolutely keeping that it’s an requirement. Tommy finds Techno’s house and Techno discovers him in the attic. Tommy ends up backed against the bookshelves and sees the Iliad and Odyssey, and so when asked for his name he says Homer. 

 If Techno doesn’t realize it’s Tommy it would be like Richard and Conan, but if Richard was actually competent. Tommy might try to lead techno towards his and l’manburgs enemies. Techno would definitely notice, but he cares about the kid and entertains the thoughts until he realizes that there might be a point

honestly i just want to see techno doing his usual stuff and Tommy ends up following along. Most of the time causing trouble for techno, but sometimes he thinks something kinda pog and joins in on whatever destruction techno is doing (i know this makes techno one of those anime villains that occasionally team up for the greater good, but like that’s the point. Case Closed is an anime with the biggest case of anime logic like it’s the only way. Our favorite pig has to be reduced to this I’m sorry not sorry) 

Also I know that a competent Richard just wouldn’t be Richard but shhhhh let me have this

If Techno does realize he’s Doc. Like that inventor dude is perfect. Just tosses Tommy some potions and golden apples. Mainly lets him do his own thing, but as they get closer helps out a little. Definitely gives Tommy maxed out netherite armor practically immediately. 

Honestly whether Techno knows or not he’s still like Doc, but I think if he doesn’t know then he’s going to be a little more like Richard. 

Dynamic with Phil could go in 3 main ways 

Phil instantly knows because he’s immortal and has seen everything. He does some research to figure out how to turn him back, but he’s not too bothered and is in no hurry. Just mainly laughs and makes fun of him, especially if Techno doesn’t know. (Once Tubbo and Ranboo adopt Michael he takes the opportunity to bother Tommy and runs with it. Just sends him off for a playdate or comparing the two when Tommy does something childish) 

Phil doesn’t know but has seen this before. He eventually finds out and laughs about it, but techno would probably already know. Very similar to the first one, but shock value. I think it would be really funny

Phil doesn’t know and didn’t think it was possible. Maximum shock value and maybe some emotive wings thing here. Techno most likely knows, but would also be funny if he didn’t. Just the child that’s been living in his home is actually one of the dudes that betrayed him. (I think it would go with if Phil was the one to find him in the attic when he said the fake name. Just techno already knows and is slightly freaking out and Tommy just giving the worst name ever. Phil would definitely know that something is up, but he trusts Techno.)

Butcher Army things

Just doesnt happen for plot reasons, which is valid but come think of the drama and angst

If they come before Tommy is there then honestly it’s just the same plot, but Techno is even more cautious of Tommy, especially if he does know he’s Tommy. But also imagine he comes home from nearly being killed, and a random child he’s never met is there. He knows that Homer isn’t his real name, but he’s too tired to care and he’s not so heartless as to leave a kid out to die. No deal or partnership is made, just Tommy being told not to steal anything and to make himself useful. Basically just treated like Edward and allowed to exist in the same space. 

If they come while Tommy is there we know that Tommy won’t just stay hidden. He might get spotted in a window, he might rush out, he might be outside when they come, or my personal favorite 

As they’re taking techno away he might grab a bunch of random potions and weapons and run after them. Would most likely be caught and used as a hostage, but I bet people would be a lot more uncomfortable with a kid as the hostage (might even make some people second guess about l’manburg). But what if he is successful, and Techno is saved by a little Tommy/Homer. But what if Techno sees a random kid he doesn’t know show up with his own potions and spare weapons and helps him escape. It would be the greatest thing ever with Techno’s ultimate equivalency thing. He owes this kid a favor, which could lead to techno being more active in finding out what happened to Tommy. 

The library scene still happens cause it’s a requirement, but it happens after everything with the butcher army. So this either smooths over the whole thing of him actually being Tommy, or Techno doesn’t press on being told an obviously fake name. Either way techno would let him stay, but imagine the hijinks if techno doesn’t know

imagine the angsty moment when techno realizes that ‘Homer’ knows more about what’s happening to Tommy than he’s letting on and Techno gets frustrated and yells at him about if he really wants to find Tommy and the truth comes out

True Case Closed fashion would have some complicated plan to withhold his identity but this is Tommy and Technoblade we’re talking about. Without massive outside help that wouldn’t be happening, and even then it would just make Techno even more suspicious 

Scenario for if techno doesn’t know: he notices how similar ‘Homer’ and Tommy act and wonders out loud how old Tommy is. While he knew that Tommy was young, he didn’t think that Wilbur would have child fight in multiple wars and be vice president. Cue Tommy being flabbergasted

I know that has fix-it fic vibes but they exist for a reason. Let me imagine conflict resolution in peace

Imagine all the complications on people trying to figure out how Techno knows ‘Homer’

Crackfic style: When Tommy is asked why his name is Homer he in a panic tells people that his father really liked Greek Mythology. With all of Techno’s mythology references and Tommy being around him a lot people think Techno is his dad. 

The confusion, the misunderstanding. Phil congratulating techno and confronting on not being told, Phil knowing and laughing at the ridiculousness. 

Makes the most sense with if Techno already knows, but if he doesn’t he would probably have a talk on how he’s flattered, but that he shouldn’t be a father and blah blah blah. Maybe a talk about being equals? idk this is already in crackfic area it doesn’t make sense

People think they’re brothers. Honestly a lot of different ways this could happen, but would still be funny. 

Nephew!!!!! Would honestly be less likely to be disputed by Techno, but he probably still wouldn’t be a huge fan of it. Might follow after the dad rumor as who else would be that into mythology than Techno’s family? 

Family friend’s kid. Probably the cover story and where they end up with, but leaves a lot of room for speculation. What family? Who would trust him with a child? Is he just trying to hide his true relation? I view dsmp as basically a soap opera and by god I will make it even more of one

Most likely: a combination of everything. everyone has a different idea and no one knows the truth. 

If Tubbo was the one to know he would be the tech guy, but not like Doc was. He would be fully involved in helping Tommy get back to normal

Phil might find out if Tubbo asks suspicious questions 

Tommy would get a front row seat to Tubbo and Ranboo getting married and he would be happy for them but would not stop complaining 

People might think Tubbo is grieving by helping out a kid that acts a lot like Tommy

When confronted on where the kid came from he might mention how he told Jschlatt that he was pregnant and how could everyone else forget? 

Honestly ghostbur might bring that up and they just roll with it

When Michael comes around will absolutely tell Tommy to go “play with his brother”. Would be kinda similar to Phil with teasing Tommy about that, but more exaggerated. People might find out due to the teasing 

Ranboo

insert the million ways he can find out due to techno or tubbo

He moves in after doomsday and figures it out by ‘Homer’s’ mannerisms 

Maybe he sees Tommy become a kid and comes to the conclusion that the only place safe is with Phil, which leads to Techno basically taking care of him 

Would be so awkward but imagine the begging and explaining. Doesn’t make sense in terms of the smp but anime logic 

Butcher army drama intensified as Tommy is captured. Would fight whoever tries to hurt Tommy. 

If we go with true case closed style Tommy would secretly pass supplies to Ranboo, who secretly passes them to Techno with some dramatic speech and a soccerball, but that doesn’t quite fit here. 

Might have Tommy stay at his L’manburg house and it all goes terribly. They eventually go to Techno’s together cause i like the plot line

In this case Tommy might find out about Ranboo unknowingly being involved with Dream

Would put Tommy in charge of watching over Michael when the syndicate comes to snowchester 

If Tommy shows up when he’s already moved in it would be extremely complicated to explain but I don’t think they’d mind all that much? Techno wouldn’t like him stealing his stuff, but it’s less aggravating when it’s a child who probably had to steal to live. And anyways they took in Ranboo, who is basically a kid in need, and so how can they get mad at Ranboo for doing the same? Techno and Phil would let them be with the occasional offer to bring food, or let them stay while Ranboo makes an actual house

Tommy is probably there when the disc is found and there’s a whole range of scenarios to do there take your place

During Techno and Ranboo’s adventure for sponges and totems Phil would offer to watch Tommy. 

Insert what happened with Rachel almost figuring it out, but Phil isn’t fooled. He responded to the name Tommy and the signs are there. He has a long talk with Ranboo and Tommy about what’s happening when he gets back

Ranboo would absolutely try to pull off complex plans to get people not to notice, but because it’s Ranboo they believe him or ignore it. Tubbo would definitely press a lot more than others, but I don’t think Ranboo would break. He has no moral backbone but this isn’t for him to tell. 

Insert Tommy in a panic tells the syndicate his dad liked Greek mythology and Techno makes the comment of him not knowing that Ranboo liked mythology too. Phil would make the joke too, not mattering if he knows or not

Michael  

Just thinks Tommy/Homer is fun to be around. 

They get into trouble together, especially if Ranboo and Tubbo don’t know he’s Tommy. 

If they do know he’s Tommy they’re pissed 

Craziness for who knows about Tommy and/or Michael 

Tommy and Techno are worried/and or suspicious about Ranboo so one day they follow and find out about Tubbo and Michael. The syndicate checking out snowchester is so much more comical as Techno pretends not to know. 

Circle of secrets as Phil, Ranboo, and Tommy knows about Tubbo and Michael. Only Techno and Tommy know that ‘Homer’ is Tommy. Tommy is the only one who knows everything and absolutely holds it over techno’s head. Everyone knows that something is up, but asking would mean reveling their secret as well

yes this is the most anime like scenario that’s why im bringing it up

Phil would be most likely to just casually drop Tommy off with Michael. Techno might if push comes to shove. Tubbo would do so momentarily. Ranboo wouldn’t want to, but might end up doing it the most because he’s worried about people hurting Michael. 

Now what makes this like Case Closed is the attempt to get Tommy back to normal

aka it barely exists

Conan becomes normal momentarily a few times but then gets back to being a kid. It just keeps on going. The show is still running. 

There’s this attempt to go after Dream but it never really works, Dream might never find out. He somehow ends up in the prison anyways and still nothing happens

It’s just frustrating and nothing ever really happens we’re just all suffering

[theladysexpistol]

New Twilight book just came out so headcanons on how Bucci gang reacts to the reader reading Midnight Sun or twilight in general please? I don’t actually like twilight I just think it’d be hilarious also I love your writing 😊

I really really try to answer my inbox in order of requests but I had to do this one because never have I been so disappointed in my life I thought the “Midnight Sun” that everyone was talking about was an indie game made by a fire emblem fan that I’ve been waiting for like a year to come out. I still don’t know when it’s coming out

It’s called “Path of the Midnight Sun” please check it out guys the developer did like everything by himself and I am so sure it will be better than Twilight 😂😂😂

Also this ask is also hilarious

~~~

Giorno

- Giorno, as cool and composed as he is the majority of the time, gets really unsettled and nervous at the mention of vampires

- He missed all the craziness around Twilight so when he asks what you’re reading you then have to explain almost all of Twilight but as soon as you mention vampires he starts sweating

- Giorno knows nothing about his father so he wonders vaguely if his dad sparkles in the sun like the Twilight vampires do (no, Giorno, he did not. God can you imagine Dio sparkling I think that would make him WORSE than he already is)

- Thinks the romance and love triangle is unnecessary and wishes the books were more about the struggles of vampires

- All in all he finds it a little ridiculous but wouldn’t judge you for reading it

Bruno

- Knew about Twilight, never read it though

- He thought Edward and Jacob were both hot and didn’t care about Bella so that’s where he stands

- Chuckles when he sees you reading it and finds out you’re a Twilight fan (or a begrudging one)

- He’s quite amused and will let you tell him everything if it fires you up

- Not interested in reading it at all, but loves that you aren’t embarrassed to read it again and would never think less of you for it

Abbacchio

- Was secretly a Twilight fan, never told his family or closest friends growing up

- Team Edward. Really liked vampires (he’s lying he still does). Imagine if he knew Giorno’s dad was one

- When he walks in and finds you reading Midnight Sun he stops and stares in silence for a while. You stare back. Neither of you know how to react

- Eventually Abbacchio will manage out a “can I read it when you’re done?”

- No spoilers. He needs the authentic reaction just like he did for the originals

Mista

- Mista is vehemently against Twilight

- (He was Team Jacob, he will never forgive the slight against his fave)

- Has a huge, cacophonous reaction when he sees you reading the sequel or whatever this book is

- Then he pesters you to tell him what happens in it

- Wraps an arm around you and cuddles with you while also reading over your shoulder

Narancia

- Narancia is also anti-Twilight, but it’s because he, like me, thought Midnight Sun was a cool indie game coming out

- He was really tired of all his friends talking about it when he was younger

- Doesn’t complain when he sees you reading it though, just kinda indignant

- Pretends the book does not exist, tbh. But if you need to talk to someone about it he will begrudgingly let you tell him. He does like to listen to your voice so it doesn’t really matter to him

- May interject with exclamations about characters, he knows way more about these books than he wished he did

Fugo

- Never read Twilight, but kinda heard about it

- Like Giorno you kinda have to explain it to him

- Unlike Giorno he immediately finds it to be all kinds of bs

- Is literally offended they would say vampires sparkle. Fugo you don’t even know vampires actually exist, why are you offended.

- Although he doesn’t really care that you are reading it, he wants you to enjoy yourself after all

- Every time you pick it up though you will hear a very quiet, disgruntled “Vampires that sparkle? Seriously?!”

Trish

- Absolutely read Twilight. Probably also was Team Jacob (she and Mista have secretly bonded over many things and this is one of them)

- Bought the book and didn’t know you already did. Now you have two copies of what I’m sure will be a (sarcasm) fantastic book

- Honestly it’s a wholesome experience reading the book and reacting together, even if it’s Twilight saga

[literaila]

i mean, they don’t seem close? at all. plus, bella is already with edward, so that wouldn’t really work. i suppose i’m on team edward too, since it wouldn’t make sense with anybody else. yesss, that’s true- but still. you have good taste.

:(

oh, dancing. i remember once in 3rd grade we learned tap dancing and all that. then we tap danced in the auditorium, in front of like, parents and stuff. it was horrible. ahhh, okay. what records do you have so far? katy perry? you like her? also, was it the one in august? searched it up. how’d you come up with it? it seems really cool. something about stealing a necklace, right? do they succeed and get it? what’s so special about the necklace, anyways?

you aren���t a know it all, more of a.. well, i can’t really explain it. but you like cool things like brain stuff, and etc. you’re just someone who is very interesting, and therefore smart. because i said so.

yayy :D he told on me after, said it hit him. did not even come close to his body.

yes, but.. i dunno. i just want to know what they’re thinking and what goes through their heads. since they’re adults, they’re smart and all. and i’m just interested- they have more of a life than us, anyway.

golden retrievers are adorable!! literally. they’re so cute. and you have another dog?? and a cat?? i love huskies! what’s the cat like? i mean, you have 2 dogs and a cat- do they get along well?

probably not. she was cool and all, but we weren’t close or anything. also, have i told you i’ve been talking to my old teacher? before corona, so, from 2 years ago. she gave me a hug!! her birthday is in august, her favorite color is yellow, and favorite flowers are yellow roses. i kinda wanna get her something, but how would i give it to her? she said just me greeting her makes her day. that’s sweet.

how did your day go, my love?

— 🐢

….yeah you’re just gonna have to read new moon. nothing else to it.

i’m just going to pretend i didn’t see that :D

it was probably adorable. i’ve never tap danced but we did a “butterfly whirl” dance in sixth grade and… well i thought it was fun but it probably looked ridiculous. dancing in school is so strange. uhh i have all one direction albums, i’ve got a jenny lewis album, calm by 5sos, billie elish, disney, and an old one i don’t know the name of. i’m not a huge fan but my aunt bought tickets for me and we actually showed up and got front row tickets for free so. it was in september. uhh well it’s not really a necklace. i mean, a couple of the character think it is. but, plot twist: it’s actually a caged girl. so.

the most frequently used word in my everyday vocabulary is “actually…” so. yes i am, but, you know, can’t change that now.

…that’s true. i guess they’ve lived longer and done things.

he is adorable thank you for noticing. i actually have two other dogs. and a cat. uhh they’re fine with each other? i mean— not best friends but. fine.

that is very wonderful. she is a very smart person, clearly. not surprised. ah yes, little observer. you could mail it to her? that’d be cool. i’m sure she’d appreciate the thought either way.

uhhh a bit less good than i’d expected but. you know. i’m really tired recently so i slept some more. read some of my book. pretty much it.

-v

[rachelanne2018writes]

Vignettes of Love- An Unexpected African Souvenir (Part 2)

Summary: Who's up for a Modern Take on Shelagh's (famous) Delivery from Season 6, Episode 8?

Six months later.

Fall came gently to Poplar that year. Gentle fog encompassed the borough throughout September as the temperatures became more mild and pleasant.

While most of Poplar enjoyed the cooler days and anticipated fall festivals and traditions eagerly, Shelagh anticipated something more. Patrick and Shelagh were expecting a child born from their physical love for one another. By science, this child was a miracle after Shelagh's diagnosis of scarring in the endometrium, the uterine lining.

Unfortunately, Shelagh's pregnancy hadn't been smooth and free of complications. A nearly two-month stay at The London for observation and specialist treatment had been necessary. They didn't know how they would have managed if nightly FaceTime sessions wouldn't have been an option.

In the end, Shelagh spent four months on bed rest, between the hospital and her specialist's request "that you observe another few weeks of rest and only necessary duties, Mrs. Turner. I'm sure you and the family will manage, so long as everyone does their part." To which Patrick sardonically refuted in the car with "I wouldn't mind showing him a bit of life in Poplar, then he might see that for households to work, they need everyone."

"Patrick, I'm sure he means well." Shelagh fell silent. "I'm sorry, Shelagh, I think we're all excited that you're finally coming home. To say that Timothy, Angela, and I have missed you would be an understatement; I don't know what we would do if you had to be in that ghastly place for a day longer."

Although Shelagh smiled at his response, Patrick could tell that, deep down, she felt something more. He figured that no matter what Shelagh was feeling within, eventually, it would bubble to the surface, and she would tell someone. Whether that person was himself or Sister Julienne, Shelagh would have the reassurance and some type of answer that she needed.

Shelagh didn't want to admit it to Patrick, but she missed the team at Kennilworth Row Maternity Hospital and Nonnatus House Midwifery Clinic. Those people, those colleagues, were her friends and a different type of family. Shelagh had been part of both teams since July of 1948 when she arrived fresh out of training at The London. As Shelagh reminisced of her time with both teams, she slowly grew more tired, and eventually, her eyes closed.

"My dear Shelagh, it's good to see you home again." Sister Julienne's gentle voice called as it roused her from an unintentional nap. "Oh, Sister, it feels so good to be back home with Timothy, Angela, and Patrick." "I sense a but there, my dear." "Oh, Sister," Shelagh paused as tears rose in her eyes, "The specialist at The London is insisting that I have a Cesarian Section." "Oh, my dear, Shelagh." "Sister," Shelagh spoke through her tears, "There isn't any indication that it is necessary." The only thing Sister Julienne could do was reassure Shelagh that no matter how the baby came into the world, what mattered most was that baby was safe.

After nearly three hours of reassurance, Shelagh fell back asleep, and Sister Julienne discussed a bit more with Patrick Turner what the specialist was referring to.

"Pardon me, Doctor Turner, but might I inquire about what the specialist at The London told Shelagh?" "Have a seat, Sister; I was working on reviewing all of his notes. I'm not sure what the Specialist, Doctor Evans, was thinking when he made that recommendation."

After taking two hours to pour over Shelagh's note from The London, they had a plan, but both Sister Julienne and Doctor Turner wanted to talk it over with at least one other team member that might be present at Shelagh's delivery.

This team member was Trixie. Trixie recently returned from a specialized training course in Obstetrics and Gynecology, starting at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, for Gynecology training, and finishing up at Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, Georgia for Obstetrics Training.

After a short discussion, Trixie, Sister Julienne, and Doctor Turner concluded that rather than taking Shelagh into The London and putting her into a situation. And living with a Cesarian Section, that she did not want, when the time came- Shelagh could labor at home with Sister Julienne and Doctor Turner for as long as was comfortable, and then deliver the baby at the Maternity Hospital that she loved so dearly.  When suggested to Shelagh, the plan overwhelmingly received the go-ahead.

A little over a month later, the plan went smoothly. Shelagh had begun to feel some gentle contractions late one Tuesday night and was able to spend one last night in bed at home before laboring until six the next evening at her home. At that time, it was decided by Sister Julienne that they should find Patrick and go ahead into the Maternity Hospital.

Two hours after they arrived, Edward Patrick "Teddy" Turner made his appearance. It was bliss for both Shelagh and Patrick, who felt as though they were in the right place, surrounded by friends who had become family and familiar surroundings that meant something to them. Shelagh experienced no complications, and when they followed up with the specialist, he was not happy. The specialist explained all of the very unlikely complications and how by delivering in a hospital that was not 'as well equipped and state of the art' as The London, they had taken an unnecessarily risky route to delivery. To this, Patrick had a straightforward reply "Both my wife and I are medical professionals. I know that, had I followed your demands- the delivery would not have gone as smoothly as it did, nor would y wife be in a place to have visitors, all of whom are people we care deeply about, mind you. If I have anything to say about your recommendation of unnecessary medical interventions, it will be to encourage my patients to seek specialist care elsewhere."

With these remarks made, Patrick took the baby from Shelagh, and the trio made their way out of the room and home to their other children, leaving a very stunned specialist to explain himself to the Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The Chief who happened to be a friend of Patrick Turner's from Medical School and the Medical Corps.

Author’s Note: So, ah, it turns out that writing is a great activity for when you're stuck in quarantine and don't feel too great...

Read: More Writing coming soon. It's either this or Uni work, and I gotta keep the procrastination streak up somehow.

[artificialqueens]

A Vampire in Paris: Part 3 (Gigi/Crystal) - Chae

A/N: well this took ten times longer than i expected… so sorry for the wait! (was anyone waiting? idk) hopefully I can update this at LEAST once a week for now ee. anyway thank you all so much for the support on the first two chapters, i’m so glad people enjoy my wacky fashion-vampire fantasy

Summary:  Gigi has an… interesting encounter with the supermodel trio and makes some big changes with Crystal

—-

Well, this was a situation.

Gigi broke out into a slight sweat as Aquaria, Naomi, and Valentina peered right into her soul at the cafe. She smiled awkwardly as she took a sip of water, seemingly the only one who actually drank… or ate. And she was eating a salad! In Paris! What the fuck were they looking at her like that for?!

The youngest model was still tired from the previous night, trying to push down her discomfort with happy thoughts of kissing Crystal. The ginger had tried desperately to look her best for her lunch date with the supermodels, shocked that they still didn’t seem impressed. After a long bout of silence as the three older girls eyed Gigi eating, Valentina piped up across from her.

“Gigi… what’s that short for?”

The aforementioned girl swallowed a lettuce leaf. “Genevieve. Genevieve Regina Goode.”

“That sounds like a movie character,” the tan beauty laughed. “I like your name.”

“Thanks. How did you get Valentina?”

“What do you mean? That’s just my name.”

“Oh,” Gigi cringed internally.”What’s your last name?”

“Hm, it’s been so long I don’t remember,” the girl smiled dopily as Aquaria slapped her arm next to her, annoyed. Gigi raised an eyebrow and Aquaria smiled fakely.

“We don’t really use our last names, except for Naomi because hers is easy,” the blonde said through her teeth, glaring at Valentina. The latter looked, confused, between Gigi and Aquaria. From next to her, Gigi could sense Naomi giving Valentina a look as well. 

“Oh!” She finally said, her face contorting into realization. “Yeah, we don’t use them,” the latina nodded. 

Gigi looked down, feeling as if she’d stumbled onto something she shouldn’t have—which was exactly what she wanted. Maybe she should press further…

“Why haven’t you guys eaten? These salads have a lot of good vitamins and stuff. I know we’re pressured into being like a size-negative-ten but what you ordere-”

“We already ate,” Naomi interrupted. “And if you feel self-conscious, sweets, don’t. Salads are good for you.”

“And you won’t have to worry about it much longer,” Valentina added earnestly. However, her kind… sentiment (?)… was not appreciated by the other two.

“Oh my god, shut up!” Aquaria whacked her on the back of the head. “You wanna get fired or something?!”

“I’m sorry guys,” Gigi tried to stop the drama. “I didn’t mean to intrude on whatever is happening-”

“No, no no! It’s not your fault,” Naomi explained, placing a freezing cold hand on Gigi’s shoulder. “It’s just that Valentina…”

“Valentina doesn’t know what she’s talking about, doll,” Aquaria smiled.

“Guuuuys I’m sorry!” Valentina whined. “I just keep forgetting she’s not a va-”

“Member of our team!” Aquaria shouted. “She’s not a member of our team,” the Italian jerked her head to the side, leaning towards Valentina and whispering something in her ear. The brunette’s eyebrows curved upwards as she whispered frantic sorries to her friend, who appeared absolutely venomous. Naomi rolled her eyes.

“We should head out and do some shopping, no? Maybe Val will be distracted by all the shiny things,” Naomi got up, rifling through her small purse for cash. Gigi nodded, just wanting to get out of this situation as soon as she could.

Soon enough, they were browsing at a beauty store—and yes, Valentina was distracted by the sparkly eyeshadows (go figure). Gigi wandered away from her ‘friends’ to the hair section, nearly passing by the dyes before a thought popped into her head. She grabbed two boxes of color and a toner off the shelf and smiled, paying for her items before finding the rest of the group. 

“Bought stuff already?” Aquaria looked at Gigi’s bag quizzically.

“It’s not makeup or anything, just had to restock,” the redhead lied.

“Oh, nice,” the blonde turned back to the lipstick she was trying on. Gigi filled the silent air by perusing the makeup counters, trying to not look too interested.

Naomi was texting someone with a coy smile plastered on her face, causing Gigi to remember something else odd she hadn’t addressed yet. 

“Aquaria?” She asked.

“Hm?”

“How did you get my number? I never found out.”

“Right. I asked Adore.”

“Adore doesn’t have my number…”

“Adore has everyone’s number,” she snapped, clearly looking annoyed. Gigi shrunk back and bit her lip. “The bitch has her ways,” Aquaria added.

“Can’t Fame access everyone’s data n’ stuff?” Valentina said offhandedly.

“What? Fame? Like Miss Fame?”

“Valentina, I’m going to rip your head off and smash it with my stiletto,” Aquaria threatened. 

“I thought Fame was… dead?” Gigi pressed.

“She is.”

“She is.”

Both Naomi and Aquaria looked the new model dead in the eyes, not a hint of intonation in their voices. Valentina, once again, looked at them confusedly, but held her tongue. Gigi felt the same glare that Raven had pierce her soul once again, and decided that enough was enough of these creeps. She stole away into the next aisle and ordered an Uber to pick her up ASAP. She peeked over the display and told the girls she was going to the bathroom, to which they nodded in unison without leaving their tasks. On that note, Gigi slinked out of the store and as far down the street as her heeled feet would take her.

She texted Crystal as she waited for the Uber, impatiently tapping her foot on the concrete ground.

Sexy Robot🥵🤖

heyyy, wanna meet up at your place? i have a surprise 

Hot Clown🤡🔥

DUH OMG u know I can’t wait 

when are u comin?

Sexy Robot🥵🤖

I’ll be there in like 20 mins 

Hot Clown🤡🔥

I can’t wait to see u🥺🥺🥺

Sexy Robot🥵🤖

keep your panties on, boss

Hot Clown🤡🔥

Don’t ever call me boss again you whore 

Sexy Robot🥵🤖

only for u ;)

Gigi smiled as her Uber finally arrived, excited to talk to Crystal after what happened the night prior. She’d not only had a steamy makeout session with a hot designer, she’d kissed the girl she liked when they were both semi-sober-ish. Her happiness was short-lived, though, when she received a text from Aquaria on a group chat she’d been added to. She exhaled nervously as she shut the car door, telling the driver where to go.

Hottest Hoes in Paris⭐️⭐️

Aquafina

Has anyone seen Gigi?

You’ve been in the bathroom an awful long time bitch

French Vanilla Fantasy

no :(

did she leave?!

GIGI WHERE ARE YOU

Bebe Badde

aaaa sorry guys I wasn’t feeling well!

LegsLegsLegsLegs

Awe babe you should have told us

Feel well soon

French Vanilla Fantasy

i send all my love to you!! 💛💘💚💘❤️💝💚💞💓❤️💘

Aquafina

Ya feel better!

Gigi sighed, having successfully escaped the strangest outing she’d ever been on. The drive to Fatelle was shorter than she’d expected, the model barely realizing she had reached her destination before paying the driver and nearly leaping out of the car. She sped into the lobby, saying hi to Adore before bounding to the elevator. She was almost giddy at the prospect of seeing Crystal again, unfamiliar with having a crush this strong. Gigi felt like she and Crystal fit together like puzzle pieces: anything she didn’t have, the designer did, and vice versa. But they still came together in the same picture, with the same values and dreams and—gosh, they were a match made in heaven.

Gigi gripped the shopping bag as she reached Crystals floor, finding her room (Crystal had texted her where she lived a few days prior) and knocking on the door. It opened almost immediately to a grinning Crystal, dressed in cute casual clothes and fluffy ugg slippers.

“What’s the surprise?” She said right away, letting the younger girl inside.

“First of all, hi,” Gigi rolled her eyes, giving the shorter girl a quick peck on the cheek. “Second of all, you’ll see. Third of all — you will not believe the day I’ve had.”

“Dang, it’s two PM!”

“And shits wild!”

“Spill.” Crystal plopped on the couch, motioning for Gigi to join her. The ginger kicked her shoes off and made herself comfortable, propping her tired legs on the coffee table. 

“So I met up with Aquaria and Naomi and Valentina…”

“No way!”

“Yes, Aqua invited me. And it was insane.”

“How?”

“Would you believe me if I told you that I think Fatelle is the Illuminati?”

“Honestly, with some of the shit that’s been going on…”

“Right?! Okay, they literally kept saying Miss Fame might be alive?”

“She’s alive in my heart, but… it’s been a whole century.”

“And they acted like it was real! And then Valentina said that I wouldn’t have to eat soon?“

“What? Why?”

“Like I wouldn’t physically need to eat.”

“That’s fucking weird.”

“It was the strangest thing. Am I in the Twilight Zone?”

“Maybe you’re in the Twilight! Edward or Jacob?”

“Edward.”

“Good choice. Edward.”

The two shared a chuckle, Crystal’s eyes flitting to the bag Gigi had brought.

“Is that the surprise?”

Gigi smirked, getting up and pulling out a box of bleach, purple toner, and a box of natural red dye. “Don’t think I didn’t remember what you said!”

“No! Oh my gosh you’re the best!” Crystal grabbed her dye and grinned widely, eyes crinkled in a cute way. “We have to do this now.”

“Raven’s gonna be pisssssed,” Gigi remembered, not really caring anyway.

“Raven is basically Edward’s cousin, who cares?”

“Oh shit she is like Edwards’ cousin! Bitch looks all pale and dark haired and ooky and spooky.”

“My mind.”

“Your mind.”

The two made their way to the bathroom, opening their goodies and setting up to do each other’s hair. Crystal wrapped a towel around Gigi’s shoulders, knowing her process would be much more time consuming.

“Have you done hair before?” The model asked as Crystal mixed up the bleach.

“For sure, I dyed my hair back to brown so I could look professional when I came here,” she laughed. “I had neon green before, remember?”

“Right!” 

Gigi couldn’t say she wasn’t nervous when Crystal began applying the dye to the ends of her hair, but trusted the designers judgement and vision. It was her fashion show, after all. The older girl worked quickly, yet thoroughly. She was used to working with her difficult curly hair, so it was easy for her to comb through Gigi’s nearly-straight locks. Strand by strand, she painted the bleach on with her gloved hands, unaware that her work was nearly causing Gigi to fall asleep at the calming feeling of her hair being lightly tugged. She model nearly dozed off when Crystal started massaging her scalp to make sure the roots were coated. Finally, Crystal was happy with her work, snapping Gigi back into reality when she placed a shower cap over the models head.

“Sleepyhead, you’ve gotta do my hair now,” Crystal discarded her latex gloves, brushing the back of her hand against Gigi’s cheek. “In half an hour you gotta take a shower with the toner, and then when you’re done, I take a shower and then we both have new hair!”

“I have a suggestion,” Gigi yawned. “Why don’t you keep giving me a head massage and I go to bed?”

“If you want your hair to fall out, sure.”

Gigi rolled her eyes, getting up to open the red box dye. She took out the components, following directions to mix the bottles together and shake it up. Apprehensively, she started squeezing the fluid all over Crystal’s hair and running it through the coils. “Is this right?”

“Just make sure every strand is coated, but yeah!” she smiled at Gigi through the mirror, and Gigi smirked back.

“So, do we need to talk about last night at all?” the model asked as she worked.

“Do you think we need to?”

“I mean, if we’re on the same page, no.”

“Are we?”

“What’s the definition of the same page, then?”

“Um… I liked kissing you?”

“Good, then we’re definitely on the same page,” Gigi blushed. She looked in the mirror for a second and laughed. “I look like a lunch lady!”

“Shush, you look pretty no matter what.”

“Says you, Crystalline Elizabeth.”

“Says the model, Genevieve Regina!”

“Oh. Well.”

“You bitch! You’re supposed to tell me how great I am.”

“Crystal Methyd, you are perfect.”

“I know I am.”

“Who’s the bitch now, bitch?”

This went on as Gigi finished applying the color to Crystal’s hair, placing her own cap over the voluminous mass of hair. Crystal checked the time. “You should go take a shower, Gi. And make sure to leave that toner on for ten minutes!”

“Got it,” she replied as Crystal exited the luxury bathroom into the bedroom. 

“I’ll leave you out some comfy clothes, hm?”

“What, you wanna cuddle and watch movies with me later?”

“Uh… yeah.”

“Thank god. I’ll see you soon,” Gigi leaned in for another quick peck on the cheek, a new habit she’d grown quite fond of. She shut the door and turned on the tap, waiting for the water to warm up before undressing and stepping inside.

Gigi was tired, but the steam against her skin helped balance her energy once again. She removed the shower cap, eyes widening at how light her hair was. She was used to her red hair turning almost-black when wet, but it was now a dirty brown color under the water. The dry strands were a nearly-white yellow. This will take some adjusting to, she thought as she quirted a glob of toner in her hands. She worked it through her hair for a couple minutes, careful to get every last bit. The next ten minutes were spent trying to keep her head out of the shower whilst keeping her body in, which was a difficult task that often left Gigi shivering without the warmth of the water on her body, only to put her arm or leg back in.

The model stepped out of the glass shower into the bathroom that was nearly identical to her own. She wiped the fog away from the mirror and stood, as she did, scanning her body. She was healthy, but extraordinarily petite. Many her size would have bones jutting out, maybe even appearing emaciated, but not Gigi. Her figure was all smooth lines and gentle curves. She had a waist and hips, but they certainly weren’t defined. Her breasts followed the outer curves of her chest, small and close together. She was a model. She looked like a model.

Gigi grabbed a towel once she noticed the goosebumps on her arms, using it to dry off and then wrapping it around herself. She decided to use the hairdryer as well, since apart from her hair taking forever to dry on its own, she wanted to see what it looked like now. As her locks returned to their normal state, Gigi could see that Crystal did a near-perfect job. Her hair was evenly colored a light-barbie-doll blonde all around — not too yellow, not too silver. She certainly looked like a barbie doll. She felt like one.

The girl exited the bathroom into the attached bedroom, calling out to Crystal that she was done. She found a set of satin pajama shorts and a shirt, surprised that the designer owned something so fancy. She changed quickly, feeling more than comfortable in this outfit.

As Crystal took her time in the bathroom, Gigi grew… bored. She felt lonely scrolling through Instagram all by herself, so she shut off her phone and sank back into the couch. Her eyes flickered from the ceiling, to the window, to the TV, and finally, to the bedroom entryway. Gigi wasn’t really the mischievous type, but hey, when in Paris. She smirked as she got up, starting by looking through Crystal’s dresser. Nothing of importance, really: just makeup, underwear (oh hey, those were garters… she wondered what those would look like on Crystal…), stacks and stacks of jewelry. So the model opted to look through the closet, a favorite activity of hers. Crystal’s wardrobe nearly burned Gigi’s eyes out when she first opened the doors. Colors and patterns everywhere, unorganized platform shoes falling over the floor. It was so bad, it was beautiful. Gigi began with the shoes, definitely wanting to steal some of them for herself.

As she got lost in Crystal’s fashion tastes, she failed to hear the shower shutting off and Crystal entering the bedroom, the newly-ginger letting out a yelp as she realized Gigi was there. The younger girl whipped around to see Crystal attempting to cover herself up with her hands, flustered beyond belief at the fact that she was…

butt naked.

[poppy-pelican]

Darkness on Fire (chapter 2/5)

Rating: Explicit (although not until later chapters)

Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26692747/chapters/65460514#workskin

Chapter 2 Summary: Hawkeye and Mustang discover some secrets about Van Hohenheim and his family, and their simple bodyguard job quickly gets complicated.

Two Years Later

 Chris Mustang should have known raising a boy around an establishment like hers would come back to bite her in the ass. When her nephew was tragically turned into a vampire, she had expected him to sulk and pout about it. But no, Roy relished his new night life, as he called it. Currently he was tasting his third woman of the night, always out in the open for anyone to see. Chris had asked him to take it back to a private room—many times—but he claimed it was good for business. He dropped by once a week for his meals unless work kept him away. It was always the same. He never took one of her girls to a private room, always drank from their wrists, and was never exclusive with a particular woman like her many other vampire customers.

The only steady woman in his life was his dedicated assistant, Riza Hawkeye. Chris checked her watch. It was past five in the morning. The stoic assistant would be arriving soon to remind Roy to leave before sunrise. He hadn’t explained why he returned from the militia with his alchemist teacher’s daughter as his shadow. When Chris had poked around for information from others, the truth of it had been enough for her to refrain from searching for anymore answers on the subject.

Vanessa, whose wrist Roy was tasting, giggled as he licked the wound shut with an exaggerated waggle of his eyebrows. She blew him a kiss and sashayed over to a vampire couple who wanted a quick bite to share before dinner. Vanessa was best suited for that kind of meal, seeing as she was a vampire herself.

Roy slunk over to the bar, his gaze flicking revealingly to the door where he expected his assistant to appear.

“I’m going to be unreachable for at least a week,” he said. “An old friend asked me to come for a visit. Elizabeth will be accompanying me.”

“Oh?” Chris asked. The two of them were part of an elite, off-the-books team for the new fuhrer. They were slowly hunting down the last of the previous regime’s supporters—the ones who wanted humans to submit and produce blood like livestock. But since Roy mentioned Hawkeye’s codename, that meant this assignment was not from Grumman. A more personal assignment, then?

“Enjoy your visit,” she said.

Roy checked the door again, not even attempting to hide it.

“She’s late, huh?” Chris asked. “That’s not like her.”

“She was running an errand for me. I’m going to be annoyed if she doesn’t get here before sunrise.”

Chris held back a smirk at his barely concealed worry. “Are you going to need a room?” she asked.

The question went unanswered as Hawkeye finally walked in the door, folding a dripping umbrella.

“Did you get held up?” Roy asked.

“Hi Chris, could I get a quick coffee?” Hawkeye asked, ignoring the question.

“Sure thing.”

As she listened to the pair’s hushed conversation, she saw she already had a pot of coffee ready. She didn’t recall making it, so it must have been one of the girls.

“It took longer than expected, but I got what you needed,” Hawkeye said. “We can talk more about it tomorrow night.”

“You’re going to make me wait all day?”

Chris put the mug down in front of Hawkeye, who thanked her quietly.

“You should get home, sir. Not only is it raining, but the sunrise is soon.”

“Rain,” he grumbled.

“I have an extra umbrella in my bag,” she said. She tossed it at him. “I’m going to drink this and then I have a few more errands to run.”

He gave a petulant sigh, but waved goodbye and was out the door. After the rest of the vampire customers had either left or taken one of Chris’s safe rooms, Chris returned to Hawkeye, pouring herself a glass of white wine.

“How did your meeting tonight really go?” Chris asked.

Hawkeye clutched the mug closer to her.

“It went fine.”

“It seemed like you were shooing my boy away,” Chris said. “Have something to hide?”

“I just didn’t want him to burn any bridges because of me. Our contact can be difficult, but he always has the best information.”

“So…there’s a reason to burn bridges?” Chris inferred.

“Not on my account,” Hawkeye said. “Next time I will just make sure to bring your nephew along. I don’t like surprise vampire meetings. It was supposed to be just myself and the contact.”

And there was the info Roy would take issue with. He never wanted her to deal with vampires on her own—and with good reason.

“You don’t look compelled now, but…” Chris looked Hawkeye over. Her skin was paler than usual, her eyes red and tired. If nothing else, the blood would give her a small energy boost. “I have some vampire blood on hand if you need.” As her bar grew into a neutral ground for vampires to meet, she had long ago started keeping the stuff on hand.

“I probably should. To be safe. Though I can’t see why they would have bothered,” Hawkeye said. “Aside from trying to intimidate me with the vampire they brought along, it was a simple exchange. Though… I may have threatened to blow his head off,” she said with a half-smile. Hawkeye’s reflexes were legendary. Few humans could hit a vampire target so unerringly.

Chris gave a throaty chuckle. “That’s one way to take care of things.”

She pulled out a lockbox she kept under the bar for special customers. Compulsion was a tricky thing. During active compulsion, it was easy to notice, particularly if it was someone you knew well, but if the vampire compelled you to forget, that was a different matter.

She opened the box, glancing at the tiny bottles of blood. “I don’t have Roy’s on hand, if you’d prefer his, I keep it upstairs.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

“How about this one,” Chris said, holding up a labeled bottle for Hawkeye to take.

“Maes Hughes?” Hawkeye asked curiously. Hughes was a good man—and a lucky one. It wasn’t six months after Roy transitioned into a vampire that Hughes followed him into the nightlife, although with far less enthusiasm than Roy. Hughes’s spirits rose once his girlfriend assured him she wouldn’t leave him over some fangs and a change in diet.

Hawkeye thought it over for a minute before grimacing and adding a few drops to her coffee.

“He’s a frequent donor. He likes to help out,” Chris explained, watching as Hawkeye took a sip.

“No compulsion,” Hawkeye confirmed. “And I’m pretty sure this coffee is made of tar because I can’t even tell there’s blood in it,” she said with a wink.

Hawkeye finished her coffee, leaving just as the first rays of light began to peek across the rooftops. The rain had stopped, and she left her umbrella behind with a subdued wave before she went out the door.

Chris ambled over to the umbrella, picking it up. Inside she found a note wrapped around the handle, “Mustang’s sire is back in Central. Be careful.”

Chris crumpled the note, feeling deeply unsettled. She knew how desperately Roy and Hawkeye wanted to put an end to deceptively young Selim Bradley’s life, and yet they were leaving town. It gave her a bad feeling, but she could only trust the pair would take care of each other and return safely.

 #

 “Why the hell did Hohenheim ask us all the way out here?” Roy asked, looking around the small village of Resembool with skepticism. They had arrived on the sleeper train, and sunrise would be soon. Roy was uncomfortably aware of the lack of safe houses in the country compared to Central. “Pretty sure the people are outnumbered a thousand to one by sheep.”

“Let’s get going. Hohenheim said he’d meet us near the general store,” Hawkeye said, marching ahead without waiting for a response.

Roy let her gain some distance as he did one more scan of the area. While Hawkeye held her own, she was only human and therefore much slower. Usually they would drive together, but it seemed the invention of the car had yet to trickle its way to the rural areas of Amestris. Instead there was enough quiet that Roy could hear Hawkeye’s delicious heartbeat thumping along even a hundred feet away.

He caught up to Hawkeye with ease, even though he carried both their bags. Hohenheim had been incredibly vague and unforthcoming about how long they would be needed or why, so Hawkeye had insisted they pack enough to get by for at least two weeks.

Hohenheim appeared at the end of the road, his unusual golden eyes almost glowing in the moonlight.

“Welcome, little brother,” Hohenheim greeted. He refused to stop calling him that no matter how often Roy reminded him he hated it. Exactly like an older brother, Roy supposed. “And the lovely Miss Hawkeye. I’m glad you’re here. My wife is excited to meet you.”

“Your wife?” Hawkeye asked, her curiosity leaking out.

“The mysterious Mrs. Hohenheim?” Roy asked.

Hohenheim chuckled lowly. “Yes, although she kept her maiden name, Elric. Resembool is her hometown, actually. She wanted to raise the children here.”

“Children?” Roy asked, his surprise mounting. “As in—your children?” Although Hohenheim had taken Roy under his wing after his untimely death, he had never mentioned children, not even his wife’s name. He was exceptionally private.

“Yes, we have two boys. Edward and Alphonse. Ed is eleven, Al is ten.” Hohenheim sighed like an exhausted but doting father. “They are a handful. Very talented alchemists for their age. And…fledgling vampires.”

“That is not what I was expecting,” Hawkeye said bluntly.

Roy shook his head, hoping to clear it. “Something tells me our sire knows about them.”

“I’ve no idea how he heard about them, but he sent a…letter” Probably not a good letter. “Usually I can talk him out of his delusions, which is why I’d like to deal with him promptly. Did you find out his location?”

“He’s in Central,” Roy said, looking at Hawkeye intently. She had been very close-lipped about her meeting with Raven other than the basic facts she had gleaned from him. “He’s been spotted at his usual haunts there.”

“Good,” Hohenheim started walking at a brisk vampire pace. “I’ll take you to my house. Sunrise isn’t far off.” Then he quickly retraced his steps, turning sheepishly to Hawkeye.

“Just give me the directions and I’ll find my own way there,” she said, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. She hated when her humanness was a burden.

“All right. The boys can let you in. They are still very tolerant of the sun.”

Roy was intrigued. He had heard of vampire children, but they were rare and—like these boys—kept hidden until maturity. No wonder Hohenheim settled in such an isolated town.

 #

 Riza would have considered staying in town and renting a wagon if she’d known most of her walk would be uphill. Sunrise had come and gone, and the August sun was stretching across the rolling hills. She shed her light jacket, carrying it over her arm the rest of the journey.

She was almost there when she finally came across other humans. An adorable family with a young daughter.

“Are you looking for the automail shop?” the mom asked, crinkling her eyes in a friendly smile. Perhaps she thought Riza’s arm hidden beneath her jacket was automail.

“No, just visiting some friends,” Riza replied, hoping she didn’t come off too rude. She wasn’t sure she should let anyone know who she was visiting.

“Well, we are the doctors in town,” the man said, introducing them as the Rockbells. “If you need anything, stop by the clinic.”

Riza thanked them and continued up the hill. As she spotted a house that fit with Hohenheim’s directions, she spied two boys tussling in the shade of a large tree. They had the same coloring as Hohenheim.

She studied the boys. They looked so human, but there was something different about their movements. Faster, stronger, like a vampire. Any concern about their control around a frail human fled the moment they spotted her and reverted to human speeds, coming over to greet her politely.

“You Uncle Roy’s friend?” the smaller one asked. She stifled a laugh at him referring to Roy as uncle. Probably more of Hohenheim’s teasing.

“Yes, Riza Hawkeye. Are you Edward and Alphonse?”

“I’m Ed. This is Al,” the taller one said, sticking a thumb toward his brother.

“Nice to meet you. You can call me Riza if you’d like.”

“Do you want to see our treehouse?” Ed asked abruptly, gesturing up above in the branches, where there was in fact a small wooden fort with a tire swing underneath. “It’s so fun during the day, but Mom never lets us play in it unless there’s an adult around.” He grinned charmingly. Riza was being played.

“It’s already past bedtime,” Al said dutifully, but his pretty golden eyes also lingered on the treehouse.

“How about a quick look,” she said. “I’ve never been in a treehouse before.”

The boys cheered and clambered up the rudimentary ladder. Riza followed, feeling awkwardly tall as she hoisted herself up into the cozy wooden house.

“What’s this?” she asked, holding up a girl’s doll she almost sat on. It reminded her of one she had as a girl.

“Oh, that’s just Winry’s. She uses this during the day when we can’t come out. We’re only allowed to play with her in the evenings,” Ed said matter-of-factly.

“Winry Rockbell? I think I met her on the way here.” She doubted there were two girls with such an unusual name.

“Yeah, that’s her!” Al said excitedly.

The boys showed her around the treehouse like it was a grand house, rather than a small structure Riza couldn’t stand up fully in. The most interesting thing was the obvious remnants of alchemy. It looked advanced, from what she knew, and when she asked them about it, she wished she hadn’t. Alchemists were all the same. They would’ve talked her ear off if Al hadn’t started yawning, reminding her that vampire children slept during the day.

Inspecting the Elric home from the outside, Riza was unsurprised to find all the windows had locked shutters, and as the boys opened the door, they were very careful to only crack it as much as necessary to open it. Riza followed them in, most interested in finding a glass of water before getting to work.

Hohenheim popped his head out a door.

“Did they show you the treehouse?” he asked.

“It was a very nice treehouse,” Riza said, not wanting to get the boys in trouble. “And I’d never been in one. I just had to take a peek.”

A woman with chestnut brown hair and twinkling green eyes appeared beside him.

“Hello, you must be Miss Hawkeye. I hope the boys weren’t keeping you out too late.”

She introduced herself as Trisha Elric before ordering Hohenheim to get some refreshments while she corralled the boys into their bedroom.

Mustang was in the pristine kitchen drinking a glass of wine, looking comfortable at the kitchen table.

“We’ll wait for the boys to go to sleep and then fill you in,” Hohenheim said, offering her a glass of water and a plate of cheese and crackers.

By the time Riza had eaten and freshened up in the bathroom, Trisha had joined them at the table.

“The boys are asleep. They—they know a little about Van’s sire, but we don’t want to frighten them,” Trisha said, grasping her husband’s hand.

“While I don’t anticipate any real danger to the boys or Trisha, I would feel better if another vampire alchemist was with them while I was gone. And I requested Hawkeye because we need someone who can go into the daylight like our sons, just in case.” Hohenheim said.

Riza wondered what had been in the letter he mentioned earlier, and why it had made him bring outsiders into his family home after all this time. Not just any outsiders, the Flame Alchemist and the Hawk’s Eye. Riza was sure he had others he could trust equally, and while she was touched by his trust in them, she knew they had been chosen for their considerable skills. Even though Hohenheim didn’t expect danger, if there was any, it sounded like he wanted to be prepared for it to turn deadly.

After discussing Hohenheim’s plans, Trisha showed Riza and Mustang around the house while Hohenheim went to make some last preparations.

“You’re welcome to anything in the kitchen,” Trisha said. She tilted her head, glancing between Riza and Mustang before she asked, “Will you be needing blood, Roy?”

“I knew I’d be roughing it, so I overindulged last night,” he replied. It should hold him over, as long as he didn’t exert himself excessively. Riza could guess what Trisha was wondering, but Riza hadn’t given Mustang blood since the first time. She had an agreement with Mustang that she was a delicacy only to be used in emergencies. It had been…too much, the one and only time he’d been at her vein.

“I apologize that all we have is animal blood. I drink it whenever Van is gone,” Trisha said.

Human blood was limited in small villages like Resembool. Riza didn’t have to look at him to know Mustang was mentally groaning. Human blood was not only more nutritious, it tasted better. While Trisha and Mustang could give one another blood, vampires were tetchy about sharing with those in committed relationships.

“Do your sons drink much blood?” Riza asked.

“No, we occasionally add our own to their drinks, but they don’t need much. And Van and I do very well drinking from each other.” Trisha’s cheeks turned rosy. Oh.

They moved onto the sleeping arrangements. “Van said you two have known each other a long time and wouldn’t mind sharing a room,” she said. Trisha looked amused. “But he can be a busybody. So do you mind sharing the study? Otherwise we can put one of you up in the living room.”

Riza looked at Mustang, who only raised an eyebrow as if to say it was her decision. She’d either look like a prude or like she was sleeping with her boss.

“We can share,” she said. “I’d take the couch, but I don’t want to be in the way.” A compromise, she hoped. She really didn’t want to be a bother.

“I promise not to bite,” Mustang said teasingly.

Riza bestowed him with her most unimpressed look while Trisha laughed.

After Trisha left them to get settled for bed—because it was already almost noon and they had been up all night—Mustang couldn’t resist heckling her.

“You know, I wouldn’t be offended if you didn’t want to share,” he said quietly, an attempt for them to not be overheard by the family in their rooms. “I could even take the couch.”

“It’s not like I’ll be sleeping much,” she said, realizing too late how that sounded, so she spoke quickly. “I’ll try and keep watch during the day. You can be on duty at night. It’s just a matter of adjusting my sleep schedule.”

“You planning to stay up all day?” he asked, sorting through his luggage. “You’re no good to me half asleep.”

“No, not today. I’ll go to bed earlier tomorrow. Could you wake me if I sleep past sunset?”

“Sure,” he said. “Are you going to wear that godawful thing you wore to bed when we stayed in Dublith?”

Riza scowled. The last time they had to share a room, he’d mercilessly teased her about her nightgown. It was a shapeless, high necked, long-sleeved gown that went down to just below her knees. But it was insanely comfortable, and she didn’t care what Mustang said.

“This one is short sleeved for summer,” she said innocently.

“That’s not better. How old are you, anyway? Eighty?”

He knew very well she was twenty-one.

“I brought an extra one in case you need something to sleep in,” she offered, infusing such sugary sweetness that he wrinkled his nose.

“I should burn it. It’s hideous.”

“It’s just for sleeping in,” she said.

“It makes you look like a stuffy virgin.”

Riza laughed, pulling out her hairbrush.

“I am a stuffy virgin,” she said. “So it’s doing its job.”

She thought nothing of the comment for a brief moment before she realized her blaring mistake. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, the constant presence of Mustang since they boarded the train, or the fact that she was still a little in shock over learning Hohenheim had two vampire children, but she had let herself become too comfortable with Mustang. Flirtatious.

Mustang was even more surprised.

“That’s impossible! How did I not know this?” He promptly cleared his throat. “Not that I should know. But…you’ve had several boyfriends.”

She tilted her head, her smile falling.

“I’d rather not show off my body, especially my back, to someone I’m not serious about.” She could never date an alchemist, or anyone untrustworthy who could decipher her tattoo. It limited her prospects, but not as much as the odd hours of her job with Mustang did.

“And now I feel like an ass. I’m going to bed before I put my foot in my mouth again.”

“Probably best for both of us, sir,” she said, disappearing to the bathroom.

 #

 Hohenheim left as soon as it was dark, and Roy went up to make sure Hawkeye was awake. He paused outside the door, listening to her heart beating in the languid rhythm of sleep.

He knocked loudly on the door, grinning as her heart jumped awake. Then, because he was a foolish man, he opened the door to make certain she was awake. She stood in a hurry, hair tousled, eyes bleary.

And there was the ridiculous nightgown. This one had touches of feminine ruffles at the shoulders, and looked silky and soft. It was perfectly innocent.

This one, just like the one she’d worn in Dublith, seemed conjured from hell to torture him. He expected Hawkeye to wear something like all the female soldiers of the militia had. They’d been boyish and simple. Bland.

He rarely let himself think of her as anything more than a friend. That stupid nightgown had derailed all professional thoughts. He was itching to hike it up to her hips, revealing more skin inch by inch until—

“Did you need something?” she asked, turning to grab her bag.

“Um, breakfast is being served,” he replied, backing out of the doorway before he said or did anything else moronic.

Downstairs, Roy helped Trisha in the kitchen while they waited for the rest of the household to appear.

“Can you show us some flame alchemy?” A young voice asked from behind him, when breakfast was nearly finished. “Dad says you can set a whole building on fire.”

Roy turned and found the two brothers dressed and bright-eyed. They had the look alchemists get when knowledge is in front of them. Unfortunately, flame alchemy was something he could never teach them. He’d made a promise to Hawkeye.

“I suppose I could give you a quick demonstration if your mom doesn’t mind.”

Trisha laughed. “Sure. I’d like to see it, too.” She leaned back on the counter, watching expectantly.

Roy pulled out his gloves.

“Why do you have the transmutation circles on them?” Ed asked, curious.

Another benefit of becoming a vampire had been losing the need for drawing circles when transmuting.

“They are the original ones from—before,” he explained. “I still need the gloves for the spark, so I’ve kept using them.” Maybe one day when they needed replaced, he would just make them plain white. Then he looked at the boys watching in giddy anticipation. “Do you two need to draw them out?”

“We still need circles sometimes, but the older we get the less we need them,” Al said.

“I can do without one most of the time now,” Ed bragged.

“But you burn in the sun twice as fast as me,” Al pointed out, sticking out his tongue.

“Perhaps time for the demonstration,” Roy said, then with a snap he created a small flame in his hands, shaping it like a sunflower.

The Elrics ooed and ahhed as Roy did a few fanciful tricks, happy to use his alchemy for something good. He was also honest enough to admit to himself he loved to show off.

Hawkeye appeared and Roy extinguished the flames immediately. She had never outwardly said so, but he suspected she inherited her father’s dislike of showoffs.

“Time for breakfast,” Trisha said.

“Too bad Dad said we can’t ask him to teach us any flame alchemy,” he heard Ed mutter to his younger brother.

Roy would have to remember to thank Hohenheim for that later.

As they ate breakfast, the boys made a grand case for running to see their friend Winry before she had to go to bed. On this, Roy allowed Trisha to decide, and she practically pushed Roy and Hawkeye out the door with her children. He got a strong feeling she wanted time to herself.

“So you haven’t been able to go out much lately?” Hawkeye asked the boys, full of sympathy as they cut through a grassy field.

“Not during the day,” Al said forlornly.

“But Mom said we could invite Winry over to the treehouse either this afternoon or in the morning— since Riza’s here.” Ed looked hopefully at Hawkeye.

“That’s up to Mustang,” she said.

“That should be fine,” Roy agreed easily. The boys cheered and began plotting all the games they would play. Kids should be kids, Roy thought, and the treehouse was right in the front yard.

The Rockbell home was busy winding down for the night when they arrived, but they welcomed the boys and their escorts in with kindness.

Yuriy and Sarah Rockbell asked after Trisha.

“She stayed home to relax,” Hawkeye explained, doting on the family dog. Typical Hawkeye. If there was a dog, she could not resist making friends with it.

“I don’t blame her,” Yuriy confided. “Those boys probably talk even in their sleep. Winry is the same.”

“It’s good she has friends her age nearby,” Hawkeye said. “It’s a talkative age.” Her comment brought Roy back to little Riza Hawkeye growing up a little neglected and lonely in her father’s house. He’d once found her telling her dog about her day at school. After that, Roy made an effort to ask about her studies, and even then it had been like pulling teeth to get her to speak to him. Maybe what she’d needed was friends her own age, not an awkward teenage boy.

Granny Pinako shoved a bunch of sweets at them all, drawing Roy from his memories, and Winry brought some of her automail prototypes to show her friends. Now Roy understood why they were friends with the girl—she was as clever as they were.

“How am I supposed to know if it’s any good?” Ed asked her.

“Can’t you feel how light it is? But it’s still very durable!” she told him crossly.

“I think you should let me transmute some skulls on it. Make it look cooler,” Ed suggested, and their arguing turned into some kind of game of chase around the house with Al and even the dog joining in. It gave the adults a chance to talk.

“Of course we know you by reputation, Flame Alchemist,” Sarah said, once they got past the watered down version for why Roy and Hawkeye were bodyguards to two pre-pubescent boys.

“We were volunteers for the militia ourselves,” Yuriy said. “We appreciate everything you did for our country.”

Roy heard the genuine feeling in his words, but it left a bitter, crawling sensation behind. His mind went to that night, his body operating without his control, burning everything—and everyone—in sight. Hawkeye had rightfully put him down like the monster he was, though he wished the responsibility had fallen to someone else.

“Not to bring up troubling memories,” Yuriy added. “We just wanted to thank you.”

“We owe you just as much thanks,” Hawkeye said, recovering quicker than Roy. “There were more injuries than a bit of vampire blood could fix.” And many of the vampires tired of the chore, although Roy had never minded. He had always wanted to help others, and now in his veins he carried a gift to heal injuries more easily than alchemy.

“It was the least we could do. We know the good that vampires can do. Hohenheim saved my mother’s life,” Yuriy said, nodding at Pinako. “And this was fifty years ago,” he grinned, lightening the mood.

“How old is Hohenheim anyway?” Hawkeye asked.

“Old as dirt,” Ed yelled from across the room, laughing at his own joke.

Later, with promises to send Winry over in the morning, they left with two very hyperactive kids. It was in this excitement they showed their supernatural traits most. The boys played a game of leapfrog that was more like two leaping leopards. The boys never would have stayed under the radar in a busy city, but the country fields were vacant except a few bleating sheep.

“You can run ahead with the boys if you want,” Hawkeye said. “I can tell they are dying to run home faster than my human pace.”

“They probably walk slowly for the Rockbell girl all the time,” Roy said.

“Actually, we carry her,” Ed said. He skidded to a stop in front of Roy, uprooting clumps of grass in the process. “She’s not heavy and she likes to go fast.”

“Why don’t you give Riza a ride?” Al chimed in, joining them. “I bet you could jump over the sleeping sheep faster than we can!” Then he promptly looked panicked as Ed elbowed him. “Please don’t tell our mom about sheep jumping.”

“Sheep jumping?” Roy grinned wickedly. He thought of little Riza Hawkeye who hadn’t known how to enjoy herself. It was never too late, was it? “Come on, Hawkeye. Brace yourself.” He tossed her over his shoulder before she could protest.

 #

 “Did you like sheep jumping?” Al asked Riza eagerly as they came to the last bend before their house. Riza’s feet were happily on the ground again.

“I think it would’ve been more fun if I hadn’t been upside down,” she said, glaring at Mustang who pretended to fix his hair—which was no messier than usual.

“Yeah, we carry Winry piggyback,” Al agreed.

“It’s best to always ask before throwing a woman over your shoulder,” Mustang said. “Next time I will ask. Probably.”

“To be fair, it was fun,” Riza said. And if she’d wanted him to put her down, she would have made him do it. There was something to running fast, though she could have done with less jostling.

Trisha welcomed them back, and everyone scattered. Riza went to familiarize herself with the property while Roy did the same at vampire speed. Riza would have to do another circuit in the daylight to cover her bases.

Beginning her struggle to change her internal clock, Riza went to bed hours before sunrise, long before the vampires in the household. In Central, this was usually when she woke up for the day, but after pulling a couple of late nights, she fell into a heavy sleep.

 #

 When Mustang woke Riza, at first, she thought it was for her turn to take watch, but his posture was too urgent.

“Someone’s outside,” he said. “Get some clothes on. Come downstairs.”

Trisha and the boys were gathered in the living room with Mustang when Riza came down. She’d pulled on the clothes she wore yesterday in record time.

“You two do not leave this room unless I say so,” Trisha was saying, more fierce than Riza had heard her yet.

It was well past sunrise. Mustang and Trisha were captive to the house.

“I think there’s a fire right against the front door,” Mustang said, addressing Riza. As he spoke, she could suddenly smell the smoke. “If I stand back, you can open the door and I can take care of it.”

Riza nodded and walked to the door, her gun in one hand. Smoke seeped in through the thin cracks around the door. Riza waved at Mustang, his gloves at the ready, but he was hidden around the corner in the shadows.

The doorknob was too hot to touch, so she grasped it with the hem of her shirt. Unlatched, the door slammed open, a stack of firewood tumbling toward her. She jumped back against the wall as it blew a wave of heat into the house before Mustang smothered it with a crackle in the air.

“I hear someone out there,” Mustang warned.

Kicking the burnt wood out of the way, Riza stomped out of the house, eyes squinting in the bright sun.

The horror at seeing Yuriy Rockbell’s vacant blue eyes staring at her distracted her just a moment too long to avoid the knife in his hand.

 #

 The smell of Hawkeye’s spilled blood permeated the house, mixing with the fumes from the smoke. It was too bright to look. Roy’s eyes already ached from putting out the fire, but he had heard her gasp in surprise before she grunted in pain.

He snarled, almost lunging to the door when Trisha yanked him back.

“You’ll burn,” she said simply. “Edward—”

Ed rounded the corner, Trisha restraining him by the shirt so he couldn’t run out of the house.

“It’s Dr. Rockbell!” Ed said darkly. “He’s compelled.”

The sounds of scuffling continued.

“I have his weapon,” Hawkeye panted. “If Ed and Al can help me—”

Al darted out, followed by Ed—whose shirt ripped as he escaped his mother’s grasp.

A moment later the boys dragged Yuriy into the living room. Trisha tore into her wrist, giving him her blood while simultaneously compelling him to calm.

Hawkeye stumbled in next, clutching her abdomen, dripping with mouthwatering blood. There were also several deep gashes on her arms.

Roy’s fangs went to his wrist, pulling her against him in one swift motion. He held his dripping wrist to her lips, which she kept firmly closed.

“Riza,” he said gently. “Don’t make me compel you into drinking this. You need it.”

At last, she parted her lips and latched onto him, eyes closing as she sucked. Roy watched her throat flex as she swallowed, the warmth of her mouth and the subtle flick of her tongue on his skin delivering sensuous shivers down his spine.

As his blood joined with her body, a strange possessiveness he couldn’t explain came over him. He only knew he wanted to sink his fangs into her neck.

“Feel better?” he asked, hoping to distance himself. His own thirst was growing. He’d have to dig into the stash of animal blood after all. She’d taken more than he expected.

Hawkeye withdrew, a little blood dribbling down her chin, which she licked.

Roy’s fangs ached with the need to bite, but he forced himself to look over her injuries. Only faint marks remained of what was visible. The boys brought a first aid kit and a wet cloth to wash the blood off, so Roy left Hawkeye with them while he went to speak to Yuriy. He looked dazed, slumped over on the couch while Trisha patted his back.

“Is she all right?” the doctor asked him, looking worriedly at Hawkeye.

“She’s doing better,” Roy answered, probably not as kindly as he should have. He reminded himself it wasn’t Yuriy’s fault. “How are you?”

Yuriy rubbed his arm. “She broke my arm—understandably—but it’s healing as it should. I think it was a clean break.” He sighed heavily.

“Do you remember being compelled?” he questioned.

“It was a woman. Dark hair, very pretty.” Yuriy grimaced. “I was letting the dog out before bed and she was outside the house, waiting. She wanted me to get—” his eyes went to where Ed and Al were doting on Hawkeye.

“I see,” Trisha said, folding in on herself. “They were just baiting Van to leave.”

Roy nodded in quiet agreement. His sire wanted to collect those boys, and he had sent one of his followers to retrieve them. The woman who compelled Yuriy would surely try again.

“We need to leave—tonight,” Roy said.

[big-idiot-wolf-boys]

Nightfall: Twilight Reimagined -3-

-1- -2

   Not much to say here, besides “forgive my excessive use of italics” lol!

                                                        ****

    When I opened my eyes, something was different. There was a crispness to the air that hadn’t been there yesterday, and no fog blocked the view of the forest from the window.

    I jumped out of bed and raced to the window, then groaned. 

    Instead of my beloved sunshine, there was an even layer of snow dusting the yard, my truck, and surely the rest of the town. Not only that, but the rain from yesterday had frozen, creating a sheet of ice on the road and the driveway. Pine needles froze in complex, spiky designs on their branches. This was the worst-case scenario I had imagined when packing in Phoenix only a week ago. I longed for the sun of my home, I was clumsy enough on dry ground- ice was especially dangerous for me.

    Charlie left for the early shift at five in the morning, so it sometimes felt like I was living alone. Instead of resenting Charlie for it- like I had with Renee- I found myself enjoying the alone time.

    I had a quick breakfast, rushing in the excitement to go to school. This was the first time I had wanted to go to Forks High, and it was a little unnerving. It wasn’t the classes or my new friends that inspired this sudden drive in me. Deep down, I knew it was because of the Cullens. I was excited to talk to Edward, and unravel the mystery of his family.  After blabbing about my whole life to him yesterday, he owed me some answers about his.

    Anyway, I was supposed to be suspicious of him. Why did he lie to me about his eyes? And when I thought back to his glare from the previous week, it scared me. Still, he was so beautiful, and friendlier now. I got tongue-tied just thinking of his face, the topaz color of his eyes.

    While navigating the ice to get to my truck, I only fell once. I had to hold on to the door handle to maintain my balance when clambering in. It was becoming clear that today was not going to be my day.

    My thoughts wandered not to the mysterious Cullen family, or the very real possibility of slipping on ice, but to my new friends. How people were reacting to me here. I’d noticed the appreciative looks from some of the boys of Forks High, but it didn’t make any sense. I looked the same as I always had. Maybe back home, people had seen me at my most awkward and still thought of me that way, not that I was less awkward now. Maybe it was because I was still new around here. Maybe they’d get bored of me soon. Whatever the reason, Mike’s clinginess wasn’t something I had been prepared to deal with. I was glad to have been adopted into such a large group of friends, though. There was always someone to talk to.

    It seemed like an unexpected positive to driving a steel truck was the ease with which it drove over the ice. The weight prevented a lot of slide. I parked at the back end of the lot and carefully climbed out of my truck. A glint of silver at the corner of my eye caught my attention. After holding on to the edge of the truck and inching my way closer, I crouched to peer at my tire. Had I driven over a nail? 

    No, there wasn't a nail sticking out of my tire, but a thin, spiked chain crisscrossing over the rubber. Charlie must have gotten up even earlier than normal to put the chains on. I felt myself getting choked up. Would Charlie’s little acts of kindness ever stop taking me by surprise?

    As I stood, fighting back this rush of emotion, there was a deafening, shrill screech. My head whipped around, and I observed several things vividly-- my brain seemed to be working double, maybe triple, speed.

    Half a dozen cars away, Edward Cullen was staring at me with a look of undiluted horror on his beautiful face. Others were standing around him, but their faces blurred into a sea of blank features; something more pressing needed my attention. A large blue van hurtled towards me, sliding on the sheet of ice that was the parking lot. It was headed for the back corner of my truck. Right where I was standing, in fact. Bullseye. The van’s tires were locked, brakes squealing in protest. There was no way to stop this van from hitting me. I wouldn't even have time to blink.

    Before the impact could happen, something hit me. Hard. It wasn’t from the front, where the van was still coming from-- instead, I was slammed sideways, my head bouncing off the blacktop with a sickening crack, then something pinned me down. I couldn’t move.

    I was now pinned behind the car I had parked next to and the van was still coming. It had hit the corner of my truck, and was spinning towards me for a second time.

    Something was out to get me today.

    “You've got to be fucking kidding me.” Someone muttered, causing me to jolt. How had I not noticed someone right next to me? The voice was familiar, and when paired with two pale hands shooting out in front of me, there was no mistaking who it was. The van skidded to a stop right in front of me, Edward’s hands were pressed, seemingly unharmed, into a large dent in the side paneling of the van. Another sickening sound, more of a crunch. 

    Time was still moving faster than normal, Edward’s hands were a blur. One practically teleported to the underside of the van, and the other swung me around until I bumped the unharmed car I had parked next to. Another metallic screech pierced my ears and the van finally seemed to settle. Glass tinkled onto the blacktop, right where I had been laying.

    There was a collective hush for three whole seconds. Then someone screamed. I could hear both Angela and Jessica shouting my name, other classmates scrambling to call 911, and others still- calling for the adults. Staff members’ feet pounded on the pavement as they came running. Above all that noise, I could hear Edward speaking to me intently.

    “Bella, are you alright?”

    “I’m…” My voice was thick. “Fine.”  I tried to sit up, and realized that what was pinning me down was Edward himself. He was holding me in an unbreakable vice.

    “Careful,” He warned. “It looked like you hit your head pretty hard.”

    Oh, yeah. I was suddenly aware of my head pounding, centered around my left temple.

    “Ouch,” I grimaced.

    “Yeah, I thought so.” It sounded like he was suppressing a laugh, and a quick peek up confirmed his smirk.

    “Wait…” I reached up and pushed my hair back from my face as I tried to collect myself. “How did you get over here so quickly?”

    “What do you mean?” His face immediately lost any sign of amusement. “I was right here.”

    This time, Edward allowed me to sit up. He then slid as far away from he could. Despite this, I could only decipher concern in his eyes. My brain was once again fogged up by his intense gaze. Or maybe that was the head injury. 

    What were we talking about again?

    That’s when the crowd broke through to us. Some had tears on their face, others were shouting to get back or come closer.

    “Don’t move,” Someone, I think it was the gym teacher, instructed.

    “Get Tyler!” Someone else yelled, this time Mike.

    There were too many people, their movements frenzied, and Edward was pressing on my shoulder again. I tried to focus on my breathing.

    "Just stay still," He ordered.

    “Don’t tell me what to do,” I said, irritated. That was good. If I focused on the irritation, I wouldn’t get overwhelmed by, well, everything. So, I stubbornly pressed on, knowing I was right.

    “Bella,” He sounded exasperated. A perfectly delivered tone, as though he were an actor. “I was walking right by you, I pulled you out of the way.” He turned the full force of his gaze on me, as if trying to tell me something without speaking.

    Drop the subject.

    “No,” I insisted.

    “Please, just drop it.”

    “No.” I set my jaw.

    “Trust me,” He pleaded, and combined with the force of his gaze, I almost gave in. Then I heard the sirens in the distance.

    “I’m not dropping it.” We would have to finish this another time. “Explain later?”

    “Fine.”

    “Fine.” I snapped.

    It took a team of EMTs, and a couple of staff members, to move the van away from us. Then they brought the stretchers in. I almost wished I had been knocked out so I didn’t have to see everyone staring at us. Edward refused a stretcher but when I tried to do the same, the jerk told them that I had hit my head. 

    They put me in a neck brace, strapped me onto a stretcher, and loaded me into the ambulance. By now, it seemed like the whole school had arrived, and they were all watching. I waved to Angela to let her know I was okay and she answered me with a shaky smile. Because Edward wasn’t in a stretcher, he got to ride shotgun. I was fuming.

    To make things even more embarrassing, Charlie arrived before the ambulance could drive away.

    “Bella!” The panic overrode the cop voice, cutting down his intimidation factor.

    “Char- dad, I’m okay. Really.” 

    He turned to get an opinion from one of the EMTs. I rolled my eyes. Fine. While Charlie spoke to the EMT, I had time to consider what had happened. From the back of the ambulance, I could see a dent in the car next to my truck that hadn’t been there when I parked next to it. It was a distinct shape, humanlike. It looked like Edward had braced his back against it to stop the van. But it was impossible. He couldn’t have stopped the van and he shouldn’t have dented the car. He would've died.

    Then there were the other Cullens. They had watched the accident with varying degrees of surprise, disapproval, and anger, but no concern for their brother or his safety.

    I tried to think of a logical reason for all of this but I couldn’t quite make all the pieces fit together. Maybe I had started to go crazy.

    It was just my luck the ambulances receive police escorts when they go to the county hospital, I felt ridiculous the whole time. As if to rub salt in the wound, Edward just waltzed right into the front doors of the hospital all on his own, whereas I had to be unloaded from the back. I clenched my fists.

    They sent me to the Emergency Room, of course. A long room with rows of beds separated by cheerfully patterned curtains and nurses bustling about. They took my blood pressure and temperature.

    I tore the neck brace off, feeling defiant, as soon as the nurse walked away, and stashed it under my pillow.

    Just as I was getting settled, another round of chaos kicked up. Tyler Crowly had arrived. They put him in the bed right next to mine. He had a bloody bandage around his head and looked a hundred times worse than I felt. 

    “Bella, I am so sorry!”

    “Tyler, I’m okay, but look at you! Are you okay?” I asked, worrying my lip between my teeth. We talked as the nurses began to work on Tyler. They unwound the bandages, exposing a triad of slices over his forehead and left cheek.

    He dodged my question. “I thought you were gonna die, Bella, I was going too fast,” His words began to blur together, “And I hit the ice funny, and,” The nurse started carefully picking glass out of Tyler’s wounds with a small pair of tweezers.

    “Tyler, I’m okay.” I insisted.

    “How did you even get out of the way? It was like you teleported.”

    I hesitated for a beat. “Edward pulled me out of the way. Cullen.” I winced at how unnatural I sounded. 

    “Really? I didn’t even see him.” Tyler frowned. “God, it happened so fast. Is he okay?”

    “Yeah,” I said sourly, “They didn’t make him use a stretcher or anything.”

    I knew I wasn’t crazy! Tyler hadn’t seen Edward there because he hadn’t been there. But what had happened, then? How did he get there so fast? It didn’t make sense. 

    Soon, I was wheeled off to get my head x-rayed. I insisted again that I was fine, but Charlie overrode my word. I was right, there weren't any siogns of damage in my scans. I asked if I could go home, but the nurse said I needed to see a doctor, just in case.

    So I was stuck, listening to Tyler babble apologies over and over. Eventually, I resorted to pretending to fall asleep just to get him to leave me alone.

    Some time later, a soft musical voice cut through my near sleep, and Tyler’s frantic mumbling. “Is she sleeping?” It took everything in my power to not bolt up like I’d been shocked.

    Edward was standing at the foot of my hospital bed, a smirking angel. I halfheartedly glared at him.

    “Edward! I’m so sorry, man, I lost control on the ice-” Tyler turned his stream of apologies on someone else, finally.

    “No worries,” Edward waved one hand casually, “At least you didn’t hit anyone.” He flashed a set of sparkling teeth, then sat on the foot of Tyler’s bed, facing me. 

    “So? How are you feeling?”

    “I told you,” I sighed. “There’s nothing remotely wrong with me, but they won’t release me until I see a doctor. Why aren’t you being monitored like me and Tyler here, huh?”

    “It’s all about the connections,” Edward told me, clicking his tongue twice. “Lucky for you, I’m your connection.”

    Edward looked towards the ER doors, and I followed his gaze. A young doctor breezed in, and my mouth almost dropped open. He was the youngest doctor I’d ever seen, and more attractive than half the movie stars I could name off the top of my head. These things, in addition to his paleness and golden eyes, indicated that this was Dr. Cullen, Edward’s uncle. 

    “Isabella!” The doctor said in a cheerful voice. “How are you feeling?”

    “It’s Bella, and I’m fine. Seriously.” I was getting too tired to keep up much of a polite mask, but I smiled at the man.

    “Bella, then.” He nodded, and moved to switch on the board that displayed my x-rays, “Your x-rays don’t indicate a break, which is, of course, good news. Edward said that your head hit the curb pretty hard, are you in pain?”

    I glared at Edward, who was innocently in conversation with Tyler and didn’t even notice. “No. I feel fine.”

    Either my word wasn’t good enough, or Dr. Cullen was a stickler about procedure, because he started to lightly probe around my skull. When his cool fingers made contact with my throbbing left temple, I winced.

    “You’re sure your head doesn’t hurt?” He asked, raising a brow. 

    “I’ve had worse.” I shrugged. “Clumsy.”

    “I heard the chief arrive as I came through, you can head on home with him. But, Bella, if you start to feel dizzy or sick, I’d like for you to come back.”

    I held back a groan. “You mean I can’t go back to school?”

    “I think you should take it easy for the rest of the day.”

    I glanced between Edward and the doctor. “Well, does he get to go back?”

    “Someone has to recount our tale of glory,” Edward said, smirking.

    “Frankly, I’m surprised they didn’t just close school for the day,” Dr. Cullen said with an amused smile. “It looked to me that most of the student body was in our waiting room.”

    Crap! I groaned aloud this time, rubbing a hand over my face.

    “Would you rather stay here?” 

    “No!” I scrambled out of the bed before he could try to convince me.

    Luck was just out to get me today, I slipped on the linoleum and Dr. Cullen steadied me by the shoulder, looking concerned. Edward, however, looked like he was trying not to laugh.

    “I’m fine,” I promised again. He had no idea how clumsy I was, even on the days without head injuries. 

    “Some over the counter painkillers will do you just fine- if you need them.” The doctor suggested, stepping back. 

    “I’ll keep that in mind.”

    ”Well, Miss Swan, it appears luck was on your side today.” He said, signing my chart. I almost laughed, hysterically thinking that the doctor might have read my mind, ironically commenting on my luck. 

    “Lucky Edward pulled me out of the way, you mean.” I corrected, with a side glance to the aforementioned classmate.

    “Yes, of course. Now, if you can excuse me…” He trailed off, shuffling his papers and moving on to speak to Tyler. I narrowed my eyes. Whatever Edward was hiding, the doctor was in on it.

    “Tyler, it looks like we’re going to be taking you in for x-rays, you’re be stuck here a little while longer.” I overheard the doctor warn. As soon as I was sure he was done with me, I rounded on Edward.

    “Can we talk?” I asked in a low voice. He blinked, before taking a distinct step away from me. 

    “I thought you wanted to get home.” He countered tensely.

    “Home will still be there in five minutes. Let’s talk.” I paused, before glancing up at him from under my lashes and adding, “Please?”

    I honestly hadn’t thought that was going to work, but Edward’s glare softened, and he sharply turned to march down the hallway. I slid on the linoleum when I hurried after him, and when he suddenly stopped- I bumped into his back. 

    “Oops, sorry,” I huffed. 

    “Can you at least watch where you’re going?” He asked, glaring at me. 

    The hostility had finally made a comeback, then. It was bound to happen sometime if his past behavior was an indicator. I didn’t back down. 

    “Look, you promised to tell me how you saved me.”

    “I saved your life, does the ‘how’ really matter?”

    Grinding my teeth, I leaned forward. “You promised.” I reminded him.

    “Bella, come on!” He was getting impatient, maybe he’d slip up. “I don’t know what to tell you, I was standing right by you. You must have hit your head really hard.” 

    “I don’t even have a concussion, so it seems pretty unlikely that I imagined you on the other side of the parking lot.” I hissed. 

    “Can’t you just let it go?” He turned to pleading now. 

    “No! I just want answers - I’ll tell people you pulled me out of the way, if you want. That’s not even a lie. But you were standing next to your car across the lot, all I want to know is how you got to me so fast.”

    “What do you think the truth is? Clearly you won’t accept my word.” 

    “I know the truth,” I insisted, speaking in a quiet rush. “I know you were six cars down from me, standing next to your car. Tyler didn’t see you next to me. That van should have killed me - should have killed you! - But it didn’t!”

    “Your hands, your back, left a dent in the cars. You should be all kinds of,” I lowered my voice as a nurse walked by, “Fucked up. My legs should have been crushed, but you pushed me out of the way, you held the van up to do it.” My anger was reaching new heights, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. How dare he try to convince me none of this had happened? 

    Edward was staring at me like I had lost my mind, but his eyes were cold; defensive. 

    “You think I’m strong enough to do something like that?” He asked, velvet voice twisted into a kind of surprised sneer that made me just want to slap him. I didn’t buy it for a second.

    “Like I said,” I snapped, “I know.” My hands were tense at my side, a focused effort. 

    “You know that sounds crazy, right?” He asked, patronizing now, “No one would believe you.”

    “I…” blinked up at him, “wasn’t going to tell anyone.”

    This time the surprise Edward displayed seemed more genuine. “Then why do you even care?”

    “I could have died, but I was impossibly saved. Don’t I deserve to know how? Or why?”

    “Can’t you just be glad instead?” He pleaded. 

    “Thank you!” I snapped, throwing my arms up in exasperation before crossing them over my chest.

    “You’re not letting this go.”

    “Not even a little.” 

    “You’re not going to get any answers.” 

    I glared at him until the moisture in my eyes dried up some. He raised a brow, like he was waiting for something. I tried not to be distracted by the way his hair caught the light, or the shape of his lips. It was like having a staring contest with a beautiful statue.

    “Why did you do it?” I finally asked. 

    It was my turn to take him off guard. It looked like he short-circuited for a moment, fumbling for an answer. 

    “I don’t know.,” He said, turning on his heel and walking away. 

    My body shook with anger. I deserved to have answers when it came to matters of life and death. When I gathered myself, I slowly made my way to the double doors at the end of the hallway. 

    The waiting room was more crowded than I had thought possible. It really did look like the whole school was here, and it was more people than I thought. They were waiting for news. Waiting for me, Tyler, or even Edward. The first person to make it to my side was Charlie and for that I was grateful.

    “I’m okay,” I reassured him, before he could even ask. 

    Instead, he just wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tight for a long minute. 

    “What did the doctor say?” He asked when he finally stepped back. I tried to hold in a sigh. It wasn’t Charlie’s fault I was in a bad mood.

    “Dr. Cullen saw me. He said I was okay, not even a concussion. He said I should go home, but to come back if I feel sick.” I recited in a dull voice. Mike, Jessica and Angela were pushing their way through the crowd-- towards us. “Can we go? Please?” 

    He took pity on me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and leading me to the automatic doors. I waved meekly at my friends, hoping they would just let us pass by. And despite hating to ride in the cruiser under normal circumstances, I was relieved to do so, just to get home. 

    While he dove, Charlie rambled about how he had been worried about me, how glad he was that I was okay, and even made an offhand comment about putting Tyler’s license on hold. Later, I would try to talk him out of that, but right now I could only think of the Cullens and what they were hiding. Edward’s defensiveness was only confirmation that I was onto something. 

    We parked in front of the house but when I tried to get out, Charlie cleared his throat and looked at me sheepishly. “You… might want to call your mom.”

    “You told her?” I groaned. 

    “Sorry, it’s in the Dad Handbook.”

    I indulged in a little bit of teen melodrama and slammed the door when I got out. It had been a long day, and Charlie would forgive the outburst.

    Renee was hysterical when I called. It took more than a dozen reassurances that I was fine before she would even listen to me. She begged me to buy a ticket to Phoenix - she would meet me there, she promised - but I resisted. The mystery of the Cullens consumed me, even if Edward was beginning to piss me off. It felt stupid and dangerous, but it kept me grounded to Forks. 

    The best thing to do would be to go to bed early, and reassure my parents with the extra bed rest. I took a couple of Tylenol - my head was beginning to hurt in earnest after that phone call - after changing and brushing my teeth. Charlie checked on me three times that night. 

    When I did finally sleep, my mind was still plagued with thoughts of the Cullens.

[alternitavely]

Werewolf idea Chaper 8

@lovely-llamas-bro @kitkat-the-snacc

________________

When he awoke, the German wanted to rest further.

He had the time to do so, as he still saw Nikolai by the fire sitting in comfortable silence with the Captain who seemed to appreciate the time to think. He stood slowly, as to not alert the sleeping Marine next to him, and brought the Kronorium to open, reading through the ancient knowledge that tore at his sanity at every waking moment. He paced sluggishly, gripping the tome in a death-like grasp as he tried to understand what had gone wrong, why he couldn't open another portal. He tried over and over, the metal of the summoning key cutting into his skin as he gripped it tightly, his frustration getting the better of him.

Nikolai had been observing the doctor in silence, eyes following his movements. He felt like his eyes were coated with mollassess with how dreadfully slow he paced, but his body was tense. He could see the German loosing his patience as he read the book of forbidden tales, and worried that even he didn't know what to do now. Though the Sargent knew little of what Richtofen had planned for them, he had bits and pieces that he coaxed out of or over heard the Doctor muttering to himself. He could see clear as day that Edward was terrified, which in turn scared Nikolai. The German frantically tried to put forth a wall to calm his team's burning desire to understand, but they all knew it did little to protect him. Nikolai worried that if he didn't feel safe with the other three, it would be the death of the Disturbed man. The Russian sighed, and stoked the flame, watching the embers rise and die out as they cooled.

Richtofen's frustration grew for each page he turned only to leave it having found no answers. He slammed the book shut, casting it to the ground and running his hands through his hair. He sighed deeply as he looked up at the sky between the large branches of the low hanging oak tree, miss swinging with the cold wind and stars dancing in the empty black void of space, hidden partly by thick clouds. He could see the moon, in all of it's not-quite-full glory, hanging above him as though taunting him with the answers he so desperately sear he'd for.

Werewolf's definitely weren't that strange compared to what he'd read and experienced, but how had he managed to bring himself to such a specific circumstance?

Why had the beast that attacked him not come back to finish what it started, and why had he only seen one of them? As far as he knew about wildlife, wolves hunted in packs. He huffed and gave a scathing look at the large rock orbiting some version of the Earth before walking away, grabbing the Kronorium and tucking it beneath his arm as he went to sit by the fire. He seated himself on the stump of a fallen tree, avoiding Nikolai's gaze as he stared into the fire, mind buzzing with questions, nervous.

He glanced to the Russian, and mustered up his courage. He'd might as well admit it now before a situation arose, he thought to himself.

"I know," he started, sitting up straight as he continued avoiding the Sargent's gaze, "you have many questions, Nikolai. And I know that me telling you the same things over and over is frustrating, and that you have no real reason to trust me."

He turned to the other man.

"But something I will be honest with you about is that I'm now just as lost as you. I've read and re-read every line in this dammed book," he gestured to the book that now sat next to him, giving it a nasty glare, "and yet I cannot find an answer for what has happened."

He sighed, hearing the Russian shuffle a bit, still listening intently to the German.

"I know you think that I am using you all, but I swear to you that is now why I cannot tell you what is to come."

He paused, looking for a reaction in Nikolai's face, any signal that he should be on the defence. When he found none, he continued.

"It is frightening to me that I am untrusted by our last hope. You three are vital to securing a future without these demons that plague us, and I need you to know I will sacrifice whatever it takes to keep you all safe."

He let out a deep, shaky breath and felt his chest loosen it's tight knot when he finished. Nikolai nodded a bit, and thought hard on the information given to him. For a few minutes, the two were silent, Richtofen not meeting his eye as the Sargent searched his face for some kind of give. The Russian saw the Doctor's tense stature and realised that to him, this was absolutely terrifying. Edward was never the biggest on the block, always one built to hide when he knew he couldn't handle a situation. He knew that the Doctor had been the one at the short end of the stick all his life, no stranger to the wrath of large men. His gaze softened when his raising hand led the other to flinch, bracing himself. Nikolai set his hand gently on his shoulder and brought the German to look at him.

"I am sorry that you feel unsafe with us, Doctor. I assure you it was not any of our intentions, and certainly not my own." He said solemnly. "I know you feel as though I wish to bring harm to you, but I do not. I am sorry that I have been so hostile towards you. I only want for this nightmare to end."

Richtofen gave a small smile, one that for once reached his tired eyes. Nikolai hadn't seen such light in the man's eyes before, and couldn't help but feel his chest swell with pride in himself. He knew it would take time for him to completely trust the deranged Doctor, but he would take that time if only to make the trek easier for all of them.

Nikolai still had a concern, however. The German being fearful of a larger person is perfectly reasonable, especially in his weakened state. But what Richtofen showed as reaction to him had to be something sated over time, something that scarred him deeply. The Russian wasn't one to prove into others personal lives without reason, but he feared the Doctor being unable to handle himself should they be in a dangerous situation.

"Maybe Nikolai looks too deeply into things," the Sargent spoke carefully, seeing the German's head peak up curiously. "But I have noticed you seem.. skiddish towards Dempsey and I, and I cannot help but wonder if there is some underlying reason for your fear of larger people?"

Edward's head shot up, both startled and a bit weary of the sudden inquiry.

"I am not sure I know what you are talking about, Nikolai. Perhaps you are simply looking into things." He suggested, firmly dismissing the Russians question. He blinked hard, and chidded himself for doing so. He was supposed to be making connections, not enforcing barriers.

"Sorry." He said, "I suppose it is a habit of mine to be a bit.. touchy with things. It is not something I wish to elaborate on, however," he explained, "I assure you it will not be something of concern. I know you push only out of such."

Nikolai nodded, appreciative of the honesty. The German had slowly opened up to a more casual conversation with the other man over time, and all too soon the sun rose once more. Takeo, who decided remaining silent was his best skill at the time, was happy to see his Russian friend be on better terms with their unstable leader. Though, he didn't appreciate his time to rest and contemplate being inturupted. Dempsey was still asleep under the tree when Richtofen returned for his things, and he felt a small smirk play on his lips as he crouched down to stick a wet finger in his ear. He laughed at the Marines disgust and helped him up, thanking him for his hospitality.

"There's nothin' to thank me for Eddie, everyone needs a break every now and then." Tank brushed off, giving the German a small slap on the back.

The four continued onwards, trekking through the deep woods for hours until they found themselves on a cliffside that hung over what looked to bed the remains of a fallen city, much different than any they had ever seen. Deciding their need of supplies was worth the risk, a slow and cautious creep through the empty agreed set them on edge, every small noise or movent sent attention snapping in it's direction. Eventually, Takeo spotted something written in barely readable English;

"PHARMACY"

The men raided the store for whatever they could salvage, bandages, water, medicinals, bags holding ad much as would fit.

"Looks like we really lucked of this time, huh?" Dempsey cried in a victorious note as he found a small stash of non perishable food. When they had all but emptied the small store, the moved on finding nothing of interest for a while. Richtofen flipped through his Kronorium from time to time, attempting to make connections but being unsuccessful. When they reached deeper into the city they noticed small barricades with empty bullet shells around them, blood scattered all around.

Nikolai grew concerned.

"Where are the bodies?" He asked, just before an echoing cry rang through the tall buildings and streets. More and more voices quickly joined, and the Survivors all felt dread fill the deepest pits of their souls.

The onslaught had begun.

[neiboltstreet]

Careless Conversations

so, i’m still obsessed with steddie so have this modern au bullshit with no pennywise and anything else that could hurt my boys!!

“And, some guy on the other team was far too into winning, Stan! Like, I pitched and he missed the fucking ball and I thought he was going to kill me.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Was ready to win the fight too though.”

“Oh? Was you gonna show them who’s boss, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Stan lets out a laugh, it’s quiet and soft, the same as his voice had been for the last thirty minutes. He didn’t want to wake up his roommate, not again. He’s piling up them free passes to make noise for when Eddie actually comes to visit him. Which, Stan remembered, wasn’t too long from now. Not too long at all.

Soon he’d get to have Eddie actually next to him, mumbling about who knows what, all saccharine and hushed. And, Stan would get to press chaste little kisses all over him as he does. Have his hand just tucked under Eddie’s shirt to massage at his lower back just as he likes it. Listen to every word the smaller boy could say. All the while, just mumble far too loved up replies into him. A mix of ‘yeah’s and ‘mhm’s.

He’d get to see him first thing in the morning. Eddie had grown his hair out just a little, it was fluffier now, has more volume to it. It probably looked wonderful in the morning, just little loose, messy curls. And, Stan would rake his fingers through it before scratch so lightly at his scalp. Have Eddie practically purring under his touch. Have a lazy, morning smile on his lips when he feels Eddie nuzzle up into his neck, tuck himself there like he was made to fit - like the final piece to the puzzle that was Stanley Uris’ life.

“I also got you something when I went shopping.”

“What was it?”

“You can’t know, it’s a surprise for when I get there.”

Stan knew what it was but he didn’t want to falter than far too happy tone to Eddie’s voice.

Eddie has shared what he bought on instagram, set it under close friends only and put in the corner: pls don’t tell stan !!.

It was some kind of watch, a couples watch. They would have one each, and when you touched it apparently the other would be notified that the other was thinking of them. It was sweet. He knew Eddie had been saving up far too long for them. Had worked too many extra shifts at his college’s coffee shop. Worked his little ass off just to give him something. And, it made his heart swell.

“Baby-love?”

“Yes, Stanley?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He couldn’t see Eddie but he could imagine the little smile on his lips. Corners of his mouth only just tilted up, too tired for anything more than that. He could imagine because the response was followed by Eddie’s loved up little sigh. A very telling sigh.

It only happened when Eddie was on the verge of passing out. Stan heard it more often after their more heated calls. When the pair where coming down from too good of a high and Eddie is nothing more than little sighs that said much more than Stan could explain. The sighs that sometimes even said ‘I love you’ and Stan would just whisper it back, a little breath and all heart eyes that Eddie couldn’t see.

It was moments like that where Stan was too content with giving his life away for Eddie Kaspbrak.

Stan’s pretty sure he’s going to marry Eddie. He hadn’t said that, he didn’t know how. It was big words for a twenty-one year old. They had been together since they were fifteen though. It wasn’t as if he had met Eddie a year ago. Although, even if that were the case, Stan was sure he’d still marry him in a heartbeat.

They hadn’t discussed it but Stan would be happy to take Eddie’s last name. He knew how much it would mean to Eddie. For Eddie to keep his dad’s name going after losing him not too long ago. They could have both really. Edward and Stanley Kaspbrak-Uris. Or, Edward and Stanley Uris-Kaspbrak. Stan preferred the first, he’d rather not have his initials be SUK. Richie would never let him live it down.

“Are you getting your own place after this year? Before you start the postgraduate stuff?”

“I think so, yeah. Just me, myself and I.”

And, maybe Eddie. He didn’t want to pressure that idea into him though. But, Stan didn’t know that Eddie had spent the past few months looking at different jobs near Stan. And, had maybe viewed the undergraduate course for his programme at Stan’s college. And, well, maybe Stan had done the same.

And, just as a precaution, a simple just in case - he knew how overbearing Eddie’s mother could get at the idea of moving away - Stan had looked at places back in Derry.

But, Eddie had spoken non-stop about ditching Derry. Moving to a big city like Stan had.

“Are you sure your parents don’t mind me being around for Hanukkah?”

“They love you, Eddie.”

“I just don’t wanna fuck it up.”

“It’s gonna be fine. We’ll teach you how to play dreidel, it’ll be fun.”

Eddie was coming down a week early to just spend with Stan before he spent Hanukkah with Stan and his family. Just a them holiday kind of thing. Listen to Eddie hum Christmas songs while he worked on something, trying to not make it too much of a big deal.

Stan had noticed, just a little, that Eddie was far too careful with the whole Christmas thing. Stopped himself from saying it, called the next few weeks their holiday season. If he sang Santa Baby out loud, he’d change the lyrics to holiday baby. And, it was cute. It was really cute.

“You falling asleep, baby?”

“Not yet. Comfy though. Your shirt is really comfy.”

“Yeah?”

And there’s the little sigh. That loved up fucking sigh.

“Bet you look all cute. Can’t wait to see you like that right next to me, Baby.”

“Hmm?”

“Yeah. Can give you more too, can take them with you. You wearing the jersey?”

“Mhm.”

“You bringing it to wear here?”

“Yeah.”

“Good good.”

Stan covers his mouth to silence the little yawn that escapes him. His eyes close though, far too happy to think of seeing Eddie in the jersey again. Stopping his mind from wandering off into dangerous territory for an 11pm phone call.

That fire was put out rather quickly, alerted by the soft breaths that came from his earphones. Quiet and paired with the subtlest whistle that Eddie always had when he slept. The tiny little wheeze.

“I love you, Stan.”

“Love you too, Baby.”

The call was coming to an end. Neither ended it straight away though, just let the silence settle for a bit. Listening to Eddie shuffle around, probably tucking himself in the covers and nuzzling into a pillow.

“Goodnight, Eddie. Sweet dreams, my love.”

“Night, Stan. See you on Saturday... for real.”

“For real.”