#I'd say my mind is too dark for this show but uh

[faceofpoe]

... Gonna spend the next week wondering if Mr "I belong in here" Crosshair is going to break the silence by offering to take the stolen freighter he knows they're tracking off on a diversion lure suicide run.

[solxamber]

Trash Novel Chronicles: I'd Rather Date the Male Lead's Dad - Lilia Vanrouge x reader

When you end up in your best friend's favourite but absurd novel about breaking a fae prince's curse, you didn't expect to get attached to his little family too. Even more unexpected? You fell for the male lead's dad, but hey it looks like he likes you too.

Series Masterlist

You love your best friend. You really, really do. But sometimes—sometimes—the things they drag you into make you question your life choices. This time? It’s a novel. A bad one.

The plot is borderline unreadable, but somehow, it’s now your problem. Because of course it is.

“So, listen,” your friend had said, waving the book around like it was some kind of literary masterpiece. “Malleus Draconia, the fae prince, is cursed—chained up in this forest. The curse can only be broken by someone who isn’t attracted to him. But here’s the kicker: he’s so hot that no one can break the curse. For ten years.”

“Uh-huh.” You’d nodded along, already feeling your brain cells start to wave white flags of surrender. But your friend continued.

“The main character stumbles upon him after years of drama and frees him because they’re the only one not drooling over him. Then they fall in love, blah, blah, blah.”

At this point, you were barely listening. But then they dropped the bomb. Your eyes were shutting and you felt the sweet embrace of sleep call to you.

“Also, there’s this subplot where a magical plague of squirrels overruns the kingdom, the Saint betrays everyone by secretly being a double agent for some shadowy organization, and—get this—there’s a surprise paternity reveal where the devil is the father of the Saint who turns out to be the evil villain controlling everything.”

Your face had hit the pillow as your soul left your body.

And somehow, the next thing you remember is waking up dead. Or, more specifically, reincarnated. In the body of the heroine. In that story.

You can't believe the story was so terrible that it killed you.

The first thing you notice when you wake up is that the room is way too fancy for your tastes. The bed is massive, the sheets feel like they cost more than your entire existence, and the walls are adorned with tacky portraits of people who are probably supposed to be important.

“Oh, no,” you groan, rubbing your eyes. “This can’t be happening.”

But it is. You’re in the novel. The very one your friend had been yammering about. And not only are you in it, but you’ve woken up a full year before the plot is supposed to kick off. A year of waiting for terrible drama, an ex-fiancé who can’t take a hint, and a poor fae prince you’re supposed to rescue.

But you? Yeah, you’re not that patient.

“No way am I waiting a whole year for some garbage plot to unfold,” you mutter, throwing the covers off. “I’m just going to free Malleus now, take my reward, and live a quiet, drama-free life by the beach.”

With that plan firmly in mind, you march out the door.

It takes a bit of wandering through some overly cursed forest, but you eventually find Malleus’s “prison.” And honestly? It’s not nearly as dramatic as you expected.

There he is, sitting in the middle of a clearing, chained up in some kind of spooky-but-also-weirdly-ornate setup. He looks just as the novel described: tall, dark-haired, horns giving him an air of mystery and power. But what you weren’t prepared for? The way his eyes widen slightly in surprise when he sees you.

“I wasn’t expecting… company,” Malleus says, his voice soft, almost tentative.

You pause for a second. He looks intimidating, sure, but there’s something oddly… sweet about him. Like a guy who’d get excited over a party invite and then be too shy to actually show up.

“Yeah, I’m just here to get this whole ‘curse-breaking’ thing out of the way,” you say casually, walking up to the chains. “I’ve got stuff to do.”

Malleus blinks, looking a bit confused. “You… are not attracted to me?”

You snort. “Nah, not really. You’re nice to look at, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve got my own problems. Let’s just get you free so I can collect my reward and move on.”

He still looks mildly surprised but nods. “Very well.”

With a shrug, you reach out and touch the chains. There’s a brief flicker of light, and they dissolve. Just like that.

Malleus looks down at his freed wrists, clearly shocked. “It… it worked.”

“Yeah, wild, right?” you say, brushing off your hands. “So, about that reward…”

Before you can finish, Malleus stands and, in a tone so polite it makes you feel guilty, says, “You have freed me. Please, allow me to invite you to stay at my castle. As a guest.”

You blink at him. “Uh, no thanks. I’m good.”

Malleus’s expression falters for a moment, and you swear he looks a little sad. “But… I would like to repay you for your kindness.”

He’s giving you this look, all wide-eyed and hopeful, and you realize—he just wants to hang out.

Oh no.

“Ugh, fine,” you groan. “I’ll stick around for a bit.”

The way his face lights up is honestly too pure for someone who was supposed to be all intimidating and all-powerful.

When you arrive at Malleus’s castle, things get interesting real fast. You’re greeted by his entourage—Sebek, who looks like he’s one insult away from going Super Saiyan; Silver, who’s napping on his feet; and Lilia, who seems like the embodiment of chaos.

Sebek is the first to speak, scowling at you with righteous fury. “How DARE you approach Lord Malleus with such insolence!”

You roll your eyes. “I just freed him. You’re welcome.”

Sebek looks like he’s about to explode, but Lilia steps forward, his sharp grin making you instantly suspicious. “Oh? You broke the curse? Without being… swayed by our dear Malleus’s charms?”

“Yup,” you say, popping the ‘p.’ “Didn’t even break a sweat.”

Lilia’s eyes gleam with amusement. “Fascinating. You must have quite the willpower. Or perhaps…” He looks you up and down, clearly intrigued. “You simply have different tastes?”

You blink. Then, without thinking, you point at him. “Actually, yeah. You’re hot.”

There’s a beat of stunned silence, during which Sebek looks like he’s been hit with a brick, and Lilia lets out a delighted laugh.

“Oh, you are a delight,” Lilia says, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Perhaps you should stay longer.”

“You think I’m joking, but I’m not,” you deadpan, earning a grin from Lilia.

Silver, meanwhile, is still half-asleep and completely unfazed by your chaos. “Good job on freeing Malleus,” he mutters, yawning.

Malleus, who has been silent this whole time, finally speaks up. “You… do not find me attractive?”

You turn to him and sigh. “Look, it’s not that you’re not attractive. You’re, like… objectively pretty. But I don’t really go for the whole cursed prince thing.”

Malleus seems to process this slowly, his brows furrowing slightly. “I see…”

“But don’t worry,” you add quickly, feeling a bit bad for the guy. “You’re sweet. It’s a compliment, really.”

Malleus looks a little less confused and a bit more happy. “Sweet? No one has ever called me that before.”

You snort. “Well, I’m calling it now. And hey, you’ve got your freedom, right? Now you can get invited to all those parties you wanted.”

At this, Malleus’s eyes widen slightly, and you realize—oh no, he’s the type who really just wants to be invited to stuff.

“Oh,” you mutter under your breath, “you’re like a giant puppy, aren’t you?”

Malleus tilts his head, clearly confused, but before he can ask, Lilia leans in with a knowing grin. “I think you’ll fit in just fine around here.”

You sigh, rubbing your temples. “This is gonna be a long stay, isn’t it?”

Lilia’s smile widens. “Oh, most definitely.”

Later, you’re sitting around the dining hall with the group when Lilia casually brings up the dreaded plot points.

“So, when do you think the magical plague of squirrels will hit?” he asks, almost too casually.

You nearly choke on your drink. “The what now?”

“Oh, didn’t you know?” Lilia smirks. “There’s a prophecy. The squirrels will overrun the kingdom unless someone stops them.”

You blink. “This is real? I thought that part was a fever dream.”

Malleus nods seriously. “The squirrels are quite the threat.”

You slam your head on the table. “I’m trapped in a nightmare.”

Silver, half-asleep as always, just yawns. “I’ll take care of them. Probably.”

And that’s when you realize: maybe you should have let the curse be.

You didn’t mean for it to happen, but you and Malleus… well, you’ve become friends. It started small, mostly casual conversations where he’d hover around, awkward but eager, just happy to be included. There was this one time you invited him to tea, and the poor guy looked like he was about to cry from happiness. Now? You’re taking your frienship to the next level.

“Hey,” you say, strolling into the throne room where Malleus is doing the farthest thing from brooding. He’s just kind of standing there, staring out the window like he’s daydreaming about a really nice picnic. “Want to go to the market with me?”

The look on his face is priceless. His eyes widen like you’ve just handed him a golden ticket to the best party of the year. “You… want me to accompany you?”

“Yeah,” you shrug, as if this isn’t the biggest deal of his life. “I need to pick up some stuff, and I figured it’d be more fun with a friend. Plus, y’know, maybe someone will actually give me a discount if you’re there.”

Malleus looks like you just offered him the world “I would be honored.”

And that’s how you, Malleus, and the rest of his chaotic entourage—because of course they followed—ended up at the bustling market.

Sebek? Less than thrilled. In fact, you think he might actually be foaming at the mouth. “I cannot believe you are fraternizing with Lord Malleus so casually! Do you not understand the honor you’ve been given?!”

“Sebek,” you sigh, waving a hand dismissively, “we’ve been over this. I’m his friend. Friends do normal stuff together. You know, like going to the market.”

Sebek glares at you like you’ve just insulted his entire bloodline. “Lord Malleus does not engage in such trivialities!”

“Uh,” you glance over at Malleus, who is currently inspecting a row of intricately carved fruit. “He’s literally doing it right now, Sebek.”

Malleus turns to you, holding up a fruit shaped like a tiny dragon. “Would you like to try one? It is said to bring good fortune.”

You grin at him. “If you’re offering, I’m down.”

Sebek looks like he’s about to explode from sheer indignation.

“You dare—!”

“Sebek,” Malleus cuts in, his voice as gentle as ever. “I am quite enjoying myself. There’s no need to worry.”

You grin at the sight. “You’re really into this, huh?”

Malleus glances at you, a little bashful but still smiling. “I have never been invited to something like this before. It is… a new experience.”

Oh god, he’s so sweet. You feel like you’re corrupting a baby deer by dragging him into the real world, but it’s so worth it.

Lilia, however, is having the time of his life. He leans over, grinning like the mischievous little gremlin he is, and whispers in your ear, “I must say, you’ve got quite the charm. Lord Malleus rarely accepts invitations. You might be more important to him than you think.”

You snort. “Yeah, well, maybe he just really likes fruit.”

Lilia laughs, a sound that’s equal parts endearing and dangerous. “Or maybe he enjoys your company, hm?”

“Careful,” you say, flashing a grin. “Keep sweet-talking me like that, and I might start flirting back.”

Lilia’s eyes gleam with amusement. “Oh? I think I’d enjoy that.”

Oh god, he’s not backing down. Now you’re in the deep end. “Listen, if you keep going, I’m gonna have to ask if you’ve got plans for dinner.”

“I’m free this evening,” Lilia replies smoothly. “Shall I prepare a feast? Or perhaps we could have something more… intimate?”

You blink at him, unable to tell if he’s messing with you or if this is just how he operates. Either way, you’re so down to find out.

Before you can respond, Sebek cuts in, voice raised to what can only be described as ‘angry airhorn.’ “You will not speak so casually to Master Lilia!”

“Oh, Sebek, relax,” you say, patting him on the shoulder, which is a mistake because it feels like patting a brick wall. “He likes it.”

Lilia winks at you, thoroughly enjoying the chaos. “Indeed, I do.”

You smirk, shooting Lilia a playful look. “See? The man’s practically begging for attention.”

Malleus, meanwhile, has been watching this entire exchange with mild confusion. “Is this what humans call… flirting?”

You give him an exaggerated nod. “Yup. It’s a sacred tradition. Very serious stuff.”

“I see,” Malleus muses, looking between you and Lilia. “Perhaps I should try it as well?”

“Oh, please don’t,” Sebek groans, looking absolutely horrified at the idea of Malleus flirting. “Lord Malleus, you are above such trivial pursuits!”

Lilia is practically cackling at this point. “Now, now, Sebek. It wouldn’t hurt to let Malleus explore new experiences.”

You grin and elbow Malleus lightly. “Don’t listen to Sebek. You can totally flirt if you want.”

Malleus, sweet as he is, looks completely serious when he asks, “What would I say? I do not wish to offend.”

You pause, trying very hard not to laugh. “Okay, how about this? Try complimenting someone. Like…” You glance around and point at a vendor selling flowers. “Tell them they have lovely flowers.”

Malleus nods, taking this very seriously, and walks over to the vendor. You, Lilia, Sebek, and Silver (who’s been napping the whole time) watch as Malleus, ever the gentleman, says to the vendor, “Your flowers… are as radiant as the moonlight.”

The vendor looks flustered, blushing furiously. “Oh! Thank you, My Lord!”

You can’t help but laugh. “See? You’re a natural.”

Malleus returns to your side, looking pleased with himself. “I believe that went well.”

“Yeah, now you just have to work on *accepting* compliments,” you say with a wink, and Malleus tilts his head slightly in confusion.

“Accepting?”

“Yeah,” you grin, “like, if I were to tell you you’re the sweetest giant fae-dragon puppy I’ve ever met, you’d say…?”

Malleus looks genuinely flustered, his cheeks tinting the faintest shade of pink. “I… would say… thank you?”

“Good enough,” you laugh, nudging him playfully. “We’ll work on it.”

Sebek is muttering to himself about ‘disrespect’ and ‘sacrilege,’ but Malleus looks… happy. Like, really happy. He’s still a little awkward, sure, but you can tell he’s having a good time. Probably more fun than he’s had in years.

Lilia, meanwhile, is back at your side, leaning in close with that smirk of his. “You’re quite the influence, you know.”

“Yeah, well,” you grin, “someone’s gotta drag him into the real world.”

“Perhaps you’ll drag me into something as well?” Lilia purrs, his voice low and teasing.

You blink at him. “Keep talking, and I might actually propose to you.”

“Oh, I’m counting on it,” Lilia says, eyes glinting with mischief. “Perhaps later tonight?”

“Is that an invitation?” you quip, raising an eyebrow.

Sebek practically has steam coming out of his ears. “Master Lilia!”

But Lilia just laughs, utterly unfazed. “Oh, Sebek. You really must learn to loosen up.”

Silver yawns loudly, cutting through Sebek’s rant like a chainsaw through butter. “Can we get food now?”

You snort. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

Malleus, ever the polite host, nods eagerly. “Yes, let us dine together. A family outing is not complete without a meal.”

You pause, blinking. Family? Did he just call this a family outing?

Lilia catches your expression and chuckles. “Oh dear, it seems Malleus has grown quite fond of you.”

You shoot him a playful glare. “You make it sound like a bad thing.”

“Not at all,” Lilia says, smiling knowingly. “In fact, I believe it’s quite the opposite.”

Before you can respond, Malleus steps up, still radiating pure joy. “Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner tonight? I would very much enjoy your company.”

Sebek looks like he’s about to self-destruct from sheer disbelief, but you? You can’t help but grin. “Sure, why not? But if I catch you stealing my dessert, it’s game over.”

Malleus chuckles, his awkwardness fading just a bit. “I shall do my best to restrain myself.”

Lilia leans over, voice low and teasing again. “Perhaps you’ll save dessert for me, hm?”

You snort. “Don’t push your luck, old man.”

“Ah, but I’m a fae. Luck is my specialty.”

You shake your head, grinning as you walk alongside Malleus, who’s positively glowing with happiness. Yeah, this is one weird, dysfunctional family, but maybe you like it that way.

It’s quiet tonight, the kind of quiet that settles deep in your bones, making you feel both peaceful and unbearably restless. You find yourself standing on a balcony, overlooking the courtyard bathed in moonlight. The cool breeze whispers through the trees, the scent of night-blooming flowers drifting lazily through the air.

Lilia stands beside you, leaning against the stone railing, his usual playful demeanor absent. In its place is a rare solemnity, something you’ve only seen glimpses of before. You glance at him, noting the way the moonlight catches in his hair, casting soft shadows across his face. It feels... strange, seeing him like this. So serious, so quiet.

After a long silence, he speaks, his voice soft but weighted with emotion. “I was terrified, you know. Of losing him.”

You don’t need to ask who he’s talking about. Malleus. The curse that had wrapped around him for so long, a dark cloud that threatened to take him away. You had been the unexpected catalyst for breaking it, and while you hadn’t fully understood the gravity of it at the time, you’re beginning to now.

Lilia continues, his gaze fixed on the stars above. “I’ve lived a long time. I’ve seen many things, lost many people... but the thought of losing him...” He trails off, his voice catching in a way that makes your heart ache. “It would have broken me.”

You swallow, unsure of what to say. What can you say to something like that? You’re just... you. You never asked to be involved in any of this, never imagined that you’d become such an important part of these people’s lives. But here you are.

“I didn’t do anything special,” you finally manage, your voice barely more than a whisper. “I was just... there.”

Lilia turns to look at you, and there’s something deep in his eyes—something raw and real that takes your breath away. “Sometimes just being there is enough,” he says quietly. “You saved him. And in doing so, you saved me too.”

You shift uncomfortably, not because of his words, but because of the way they tug at something deep inside of you. A part of you that you’ve been trying to keep buried for as long as you’ve been in this strange, unfamiliar world.

You’re silent for a long time, your gaze fixed on the moonlit sky. The memories of your old life swirl in your mind—your family, your best friend, all the people you’ve left behind. You haven’t spoken about it to anyone here, not in detail. It feels too dangerous, too vulnerable. But standing here, under the moonlight with Lilia, you feel like maybe... just maybe... you can share a piece of it.

“I miss them,” you admit softly, your voice barely above a whisper. “My family. My best friend. I miss... home.”

Lilia doesn’t say anything, but you can feel his presence beside you, warm and steady. He doesn’t press for details, doesn’t ask questions you’re not ready to answer. He just listens, and somehow, that’s enough.

You take a deep breath, the cool night air filling your lungs. “It’s hard,” you continue, your voice shaking slightly. “Being here. Being away from them. Sometimes it feels like... like I’m losing pieces of myself. Like I’m forgetting what it felt like to be... whole.”

Lilia’s hand gently rests on your shoulder, a comforting weight that grounds you. “You haven’t lost yourself,” he says quietly. “Not even a little.”

You close your eyes, letting his words wash over you. You don’t know if he’s right, but in this moment, you want to believe him. You want to believe that despite everything, despite the distance and the pain and the uncertainty, you’re still... you.

For a long time, the two of you stand in silence, the only sounds the soft rustling of the trees and the distant chirping of crickets. The moon hangs heavy in the sky, casting everything in a silvery glow. There’s a quiet understanding between you and Lilia, a shared pain that neither of you needs to fully explain.

Eventually, Lilia speaks again, his voice so soft it almost blends with the wind. “The world can be a cruel place,” he murmurs. “But it can also be kind. And in moments like this... it feels just a little more bearable, doesn’t it?”

You nod, your throat tight with unshed tears. “Yeah,” you whisper. “It does.”

The night stretches on, and though neither of you say anything more, there’s a comfort in the silence. A bond formed in the quiet acknowledgment of each other’s pain. And for the first time in a long while, you feel like you’re not quite so alone.

Maybe, just maybe, you’ll be okay.

You’re not entirely sure how you ended up here, but somehow, you’re on a date with Lilia. Yes, that Lilia—lord of chaos, culinary adventurer, and general source of havoc.

The setting is picturesque enough: a meadow at sunset, complete with wildflowers and a gentle breeze. At least, it would be picturesque if not for the feast Lilia has prepared, which has a worrying amount of color, movement, and mystery.

“Surprise is the key to a romantic evening,” Lilia declares as he gestures proudly over the assortment of dishes.

You take a moment to assess the display. There’s a vibrantly colored stew that seems to be emitting steam with a life of its own. A platter of vegetables is twitching as if they’re reconsidering their life choices. And there’s a pie—definitely a pie—with something that looks suspiciously like an eyeball poking out from under the crust.

Lilia smiles at you, eyes glinting. “Would you like to try the stew first, my dear? It’s my own special concoction.”

You stare at it, then at him. “How many people have survived eating this?”

Lilia leans in, eyes full of mischief. “Define survived.”

You grin. “Only one way to find out, right?” Before he can respond, you reach for the bowl and take a large spoonful of the stew. Lilia’s eyebrows rise, clearly impressed by your boldness.

It tastes... unusual. Like someone mixed spicy peppers, sweet berries, and some kind of very sharp herb. You take another bite, considering.

Lilia watches you, waiting for a reaction. “Well?” he asks, a hopeful glint in his eye.

You swallow, then nod thoughtfully. “It’s... actually good. Really good, in fact.”

Lilia blinks, his expression shifting from mischief to genuine surprise. “Really?”

You nod again, going in for a third bite, savoring the strange combination of flavors. “Yeah! I mean, it’s different, but in a good way. The spice, the sweetness... it kind of works.”

Lilia’s face lights up, his delight palpable. “You truly mean it? My culinary prowess is usually met with... trepidation.”

“Trepidation might be an understatement,” you say with a laugh. “But honestly? I think people don’t give you enough credit.”

From somewhere nearby, a strangled gasp echoes across the meadow.

“Master Lilia!” Sebek’s voice rings out, sounding more horrified than ever. You glance in the direction of the bushes where, sure enough, they’re rustling. Apparently, Sebek has taken it upon himself to supervise this date from afar.

Lilia chuckles, clearly enjoying Sebek's reaction as much as yours. “Oh, my dear Sebek. One day, you shall learn that adventure begins in the kitchen.”

You take a sip of the iridescent liquid before you—a drink that looks more like a potion than anything else. It’s sparkling, and it has the distinct taste of... glittery fruit juice? You’re not sure, but it’s oddly refreshing.

Lilia eyes you, his smile turning softer, more genuine. “I must say, you are full of surprises. Most would have fainted by now.”

“Hey, I can handle a little excitement,” you say, reaching for one of the twitching vegetables.

Lilia watches in awe as you pop it into your mouth and chew. “And?” he asks, almost breathless.

You blink. “Crunchy. Kind of earthy. I like it.”

Lilia’s smile widens, his eyes twinkling with delight. “Oh, how wonderful! My dear, you truly are one of a kind.”

Sebek’s dismayed groan echoes once again, and you laugh, glancing toward the bushes. “I think we’re breaking poor Sebek.”

“Well, that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?” Lilia replies, leaning closer to you. “And speaking of fun, I have something special for you.” He produces a bright blue flower, presenting it to you with a flourish.

You take it, giving it a cautious sniff. It smells like fresh-baked cookies, and you look at Lilia, raising an eyebrow. “A flower that smells like dessert? Now you’re really spoiling me.”

Lilia’s eyes soften, his voice lowering. “Only the best for someone who appreciates my unique touch.”

Before you can reply, there’s another voice—this one distinctly sleepy. “Father, what... what’s going on here?” Silver approaches, looking like he just woke up from a nap. He takes one look at the scene—the half-eaten dishes, the flower in your hand, and Lilia’s delighted expression—and sighs. “Are you actually eating this... willingly?”

You nod, grinning. “Turns out Lilia’s cooking isn’t so bad. It’s actually kind of great.”

Silver looks at you, then at Lilia, then back at you. He blinks, his brain clearly trying to process this information. “Father, are you using magic to manipulate their taste buds?”

Lilia puts a hand over his heart, looking offended. “Silver, how could you suggest such a thing? I assure you, our dear friend here is enjoying my cooking purely of their own volition.”

Silver sighs again, rubbing his temples. “I think I need another nap.”

Lilia laughs, turning his attention back to you, his eyes filled with affection. “You truly are something special, my dear. Few have ever dared, let alone enjoyed, my creations.”

You smile, giving his hand a squeeze. “Well, I guess I’m just full of surprises.”

Lilia leans in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Would it be too much to say I find you... irresistible?”

You chuckle, narrowing your eyes playfully. “Don’t push your luck, old man.”

Lilia smirks, his gaze full of warmth. “Ah, but pushing my luck is what I do best. Perhaps next time, I’ll cook an even more adventurous meal for us.”

You pretend to consider it, tapping your chin. “Define adventurous.”

Lilia’s eyes glint mischievously. “How about roasted phoenix feathers?”

“Phoenix feathers?” you echo, shaking your head with a laugh. “You know what? I think I like you just the way you are—absurd cooking experiments and all.”

Lilia’s expression softens, his smile turning tender. “I’m glad to hear it.”

With that, the two of you rise, arm in arm, leaving behind the bizarre remains of the meal. Somewhere in the bushes, Sebek is probably fuming, and Silver has most likely already fallen asleep again.

But as you glance at Lilia, whose eyes are still filled with excitement and warmth, you think that maybe absurd is just what you need.

You love this little family, but you had to gain equal footing with Sebek before you got attached any further. So you did what you thought would work the best— Challenge him in something he enjoys.

You and Sebek had been circling the field for a while now, your horses galloping side by side as you both tried to outpace each other. The competitive tension was thick in the air, though not hostile—it was more of an unspoken game to see who would crack first.

“So, you’re telling me you’ve been riding horses for *years*?” Sebek shouts over the wind, his eyes sharp with determination.

“Yup,” you reply, grinning as your horse picks up speed. “Equestrian club, since I was a kid. Surprised?”

Sebek huffs, his posture straight and rigid as always, but you can tell he’s impressed. “It’s… commendable. For a human, you’ve got some skill.”

“Some skill?” you tease, glancing over at him with a mischievous smile. “Is that all I get? Come on, Sebek, I thought you were competitive.”

He narrows his eyes at you, spurring his horse faster to pull ahead. “I am competitive! You’ll find I do not lose so easily.”

You laugh, nudging your horse to keep up. There’s a thrill in it—pushing each other, but not in a mean way. Sebek’s passion for horse riding matches your own, and it’s fun to finally find common ground with him. Plus, you’re enjoying the challenge.

The field blurs by as you both race toward the far fence, neither of you backing down. As you approach the finish line (or rather, the arbitrary spot you both decided was the end), you both cross it at nearly the same time, pulling your horses to a halt, panting slightly.

Sebek is the first to speak, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. “Hmph. You’re not bad.”

“Not bad? I’d say I’m pretty good,” you shoot back, grinning ear to ear.

Sebek scoffs, but there’s a lightness in his tone that wasn’t there before. “You’re still a human, but… I’ll admit, you ride with some honor.”

“Wow, high praise,” you tease, but you soften your smile. “Thanks, Sebek. You’re not half-bad yourself.”

For a split second, you think you catch the ghost of a smile on his face, but it quickly disappears as he straightens in his saddle. “Of course. Riding is in my blood.”

You roll your eyes playfully. “Oh, obviously. I bet you were born in the saddle.”

“Perhaps I was,” Sebek says, completely serious. You stifle a laugh, realizing he probably believes that.

But before you can retort, Lilia rides up, his usual mischievous grin firmly in place. “Ah, what’s this? A friendly competition between two of my favorite people?”

“Master Lilia,” Sebek says, immediately shifting into soldier mode. “We were just—”

“Competing, yes, I can see that.” Lilia’s grin widens as he glances between the two of you. “I must say, the sight of you both racing like that was… quite exhilarating.”

You smirk, not missing a beat. “What, did we impress you?”

Lilia leans closer, voice dropping into a playful tone. “Oh, darling, I’ve been impressed by you for quite some time now.”

Sebek looks like he’s about to faint from sheer mortification. “MASTER LILIA! HUMAN!”

You laugh, waving Lilia off. “Careful, Sebek, you’re gonna scare your horse.”

But surprisingly, Sebek doesn’t snap back. Instead, he looks at you, something softer in his expression. “I admit… you’ve shown me something today. Perhaps you’re not just a reckless human after all.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Wow, Sebek. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re starting to like me.”

Sebek grumbles, looking away. “Do not mistake my words. I merely acknowledge your competence. Nothing more.”

“Sure, sure,” you reply, still grinning. “But hey, anytime you wanna ride again, I’m game.”

Sebek glances back at you, his usual harshness softened just a bit. “Perhaps… I will take you up on that.”

Lilia chuckles, clearly pleased with the budding camaraderie. “Ah, it warms my heart to see you two bonding. Who knows? Maybe you’ll become the best of friends.”

You wink at Lilia. “Well, if Sebek keeps up, maybe I’ll make him my official riding partner.”

Sebek, for once, doesn’t argue. Instead, he gives a small, determined nod. “We shall see, human. We shall see.”

As you ride back toward the stables, you can’t help but smile. You’ve earned a bit of respect from Sebek, and who knows? Maybe you’ll turn this into a full-fledged rivalry—one with a bit more fun and a lot less shouting.

Lilia, of course, flirts all the way back, making sure to keep the mood light and teasing, much to Sebek’s increasing exasperation. But even he can't deny that today was fun

The day should've been as normal as you could have these days—your stomach had other plans. There’s this nagging craving in the back of your mind for ramen, but of course, you’re stuck in a medieval isekai world where even the concept of instant noodles would make heads explode.

You groan, pacing back and forth in your room. "Ramen, ramen, ramen..." You’re practically chanting it like a spell. Finally, you snap your fingers. "Alright! Let’s get some ramen going!"

With all the determination of a contestant in a cooking show, you head to the market, a list of makeshift ingredients mentally prepared. You have no clue how you’re going to explain seaweed or soy sauce to the vendors, but hey, you’ve gotten this far in life on sheer audacity.

Except, ten minutes later, you find yourself hopelessly lost. You had been walking with confidence, chest out, head high, until you somehow managed to wander into a part of town that definitely wasn’t on your mental map. Instead of bustling vendors and cheerful shoppers, you’re now looking at a spooky, abandoned-looking area, complete with dense fog and suspiciously creaky trees.

“This... This isn’t the market,” you mutter, pausing in front of a seriously ominous cottage. If there were ever a sign that said "DO NOT ENTER" in flashing neon, this would be it. And yet, for reasons unknown even to yourself, you approach.

Before you can bolt in the opposite direction, the door swings open with the most dramatic creak you’ve ever heard. A woman, dressed in black robes, stands in the doorway with a gaze that could curdle milk. Her aura practically screams witch, and not the cool kind either—the villainous, melodramatic kind.

“Well, well, well,” she sneers, stepping out with all the grace of a Broadway villain, “look who wandered into my lair.”

“Uh, yeah...” You trail off, scratching the back of your head. “So… this isn’t the market?”

The witch gives you a look so condescending it could melt iron. “No,” she hisses, “it most certainly is not. You’ve trespassed on my domain, little fool!”

“Right, so sorry about that,” you say, trying to backpedal. “I’m just trying to make some ramen, and I—wait, hold on, who are you exactly?”

Her eyes flash with annoyance. “You don’t know who I am?”

You blink at her. “Is this the part where you tell me, like in those cartoons? ‘Cause I’m getting major ‘I’m about to monologue’ vibes right now.”

The witch’s face twitches, clearly not used to people interrupting her villain speech. “I,” she says, pausing for dramatic effect, “am the witch who cursed Malleus Draconia!”

Oh, that witch. You’ve heard some stories about her, mostly from half-paying attention when your friend geeked out over the original plot. But now that you’re face-to-face with her... this is not how you pictured it. You tilt your head.

“So, wait,” you begin, trying to suppress a snicker, “you’re the one who came up with that whole 15-year curse plan? And your big finale was… what? Swooping in at the last second to save him and then expecting him to marry you?”

Her eyes narrow. “That was the plan.”

You stare at her for a moment, the absurdity sinking in. “...That’s ridiculous.”

“How dare you mock me?!” she shrieks, her voice reaching a pitch that probably scared some birds out of nearby trees. She raises her hand, dark magic swirling between her fingers, and you swear you can hear thunder crack in the distance.

“Okay, hang on,” you say, taking a cautious step back. “Let’s not get all zappy here. I’m just saying that’s a lot of effort for a plan that has, like, a one percent success rate.”

“Silence!” She’s fuming now, throwing her hand forward to launch the magic at you—and you brace yourself for the worst. You’ve seen this in movies before. This is the part where you get turned into a frog or something equally terrible.

Except… nothing happens.

The magic fizzles out midair like a dud firecracker, leaving a puff of smoke and an awkward silence in its wake. You blink. She blinks. You both stare at the spot where the magic should have been.

“Uh…” you begin, rubbing the back of your neck. “Was that supposed to do something?”

The witch looks at her hand, then at you, then back at her hand again like she’s having a serious identity crisis. “What...?”

“I mean, points for the drama, but I’m still standing here,” you say, waving your hand in front of your face as if checking for damage. “And I don’t think I’m a toad.”

She tries again, gathering more magic in her hands and launching it at you with renewed fury. But once again, nothing. The magic stops short, fizzling out like it’s hitting an invisible barrier around you. Now she’s just staring at you, dumbfounded.

You, on the other hand, are absolutely flabbergasted. “Okay, this is getting weird.”

That’s when Lilia appears—literally, out of nowhere. He casually steps out from behind a tree like this is all a normal Monday for him. “Ah, I thought I sensed some familiar mischief afoot,” he says, his voice cheerful, though his eyes glint with something far more dangerous as they lock onto the witch.

The witch recoils, visibly shaken. “Lilia Vanrouge,” she hisses, sounding more like a disgruntled cat than a fearsome sorceress.

“In the flesh,” he says with a light bow, his grin all sharp teeth and mischief. “What brings you out of your little hidey-hole?”

She glares at him but doesn’t say anything. She’s outmatched, and she knows it. With one last seething look at you, she vanishes into thin air with a dramatic whoosh of smoke, leaving you and Lilia alone in the now eerily quiet forest.

You turn to him, utterly confused. “What the heck was that about? Why didn’t her magic work on me?”

Lilia’s grin softens, his gaze turning fond. “Ah, I see I’ve forgotten to tell you. I placed a fae’s blessing on you some time ago.”

“Wait, what?” You gape at him. “When did you do that?!”

He chuckles, as if you asking when he bestowed a magical shield on you is the most amusing thing he’s heard all week. “You tend to attract trouble, my dear. I thought it best to give you a little extra protection.”

You blink at him, still processing. “So… you’ve been secretly protecting me this whole time?”

His gaze turns a bit more serious, the usual playful air dropping away. “I don’t want to see anything happen to you,” he says softly, the words carrying a weight you hadn’t expected.

For a moment, you’re left speechless, flustered even. The teasing and jokes you’re so used to from Lilia are gone, replaced by something… deeper. It throws you off your game.

“Well, uh…” You clear your throat, desperately trying to recover. “I appreciate not getting turned into a frog or whatever she was planning.”

His grin returns, and the moment passes. “You’re welcome. Now, shall we head back to the market? I believe you were on a quest for... ramen, was it?”

You let out a laugh, shaking your head as the absurdity of it all catches up with you. “Yeah, let’s do that. And maybe next time I’ll avoid wandering into spooky villain lairs.”

“An excellent plan,” he says, offering you his arm. “Shall we?”

And just like that, you’re back on track—albeit a bit more shaken than before, but at least you’ve got a magical blessing you didn’t know about and one very charming fae escorting you through the mess.

You’re sitting under a large tree in the courtyard, soaking up the rare bit of peace and quiet that’s fallen over your life. It’s a nice day, the kind that makes you feel all warm and content, the sun shining gently through the leaves. Beside you, Silver is leaning against the trunk, dozing off as usual. You’ve become used to his tendency to fall asleep mid-conversation, and honestly, it’s kind of adorable.

He stirs a little, blinking his sleepy eyes open and looking at you with a soft smile. “It’s nice to have moments like this,” he says, voice a bit groggy. “Especially after everything.”

“Yeah,” you reply, leaning back on your hands. “It’s been... a lot.”

Silver glances at you, his gaze thoughtful. “You really helped us. My family,” he says, his tone a bit more serious than usual. “Freeing Lord Malleus from that curse... it was no small feat.”

Your stomach twists a little at the mention of Malleus. It still feels surreal that you had a hand in such a monumental event. You shrug, trying to play it cool. “Eh, you know... just another day of accidentally stumbling into chaos.”

He chuckles lightly, his smile softening even more. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to thank you properly for what you’ve done. You really saved us all.”

You wave your hand dismissively. “Stop, you’re going to make me blush. I was just trying to make some money, and suddenly I’m in the middle of an epic quest. You know how it is.”

Silver hums, half-amused, and then casually drops the bomb on you like it’s the most normal thing in the world: “You’d be perfect with Father.”

Your brain short-circuits. “...Sorry, what?”

Silver, utterly oblivious to the internal crisis he’s just unleashed within you, looks at you with that serene, peaceful expression of his. “Father. You’d be perfect with him.”

The world screeches to a halt. *Perfect? With Lilia?* You stare at him, wide-eyed, your mouth hanging open in a most undignified manner. “I’m sorry, did you just—did you just suggest that I—me—should be with your father?!”

Silver nods, looking completely at peace with his assessment, like he’s just commented on the weather. “Yes. You two get along well. You make each other laugh, and he seems fond of you. And Father... well, he deserves someone who can make him smile like that.”

Your mind is racing at 100 miles per hour. “Silver. SILVER.” You clutch your head as if physically holding your brain together will stop it from spiraling into madness. “Do you have any idea what you just said?”

Silver, ever the calm and composed knight, merely tilts his head. “Was it something strange?”

“STRANGE?!” You’re flailing now, completely losing your cool. “You just casually suggested I should date your father! Who, may I remind you, is an ancient fae with enough power to casually toss me into another dimension if he wanted!”

Silver blinks, seeming to consider this for a moment. “I don’t think he’d toss you into another dimension. He’d probably just... laugh and then take you out to dinner.”

You’re having a full-blown existential crisis. Your face is bright red, your heart is doing somersaults, and you’re not sure if you want to scream, faint, or throw yourself into the nearest fountain.

Silver, meanwhile, is just sitting there, serene and utterly oblivious to the emotional chaos he’s just unleashed upon you. “Father’s a good person,” He says softly. “I think you two would be happy together.”

“I... I...” You sputter, trying to form words but utterly failing as images of Lilia’s teasing smile and playful banter run through your mind. And then you imagine the alternative: Lilia’s serious side, the one that is somehow even more terrifyingly attractive, and you feel your heart skip a beat.

“Oh no,” you whisper, clutching your chest. “Oh no, no, no... Silver, what have you done?”

Silver looks at you with concern now, finally noticing that you’re having what can only be described as a breakdown. “Are you alright?"

“NO!” you cry, standing up and pacing back and forth in front of him. “You’ve broken me! You’ve ruined me! I’m—Silver, your father is... He’s... and I... Oh, gods, this is too much. TOO MUCH!”

Silver watches you pace for a moment before quietly saying, “You’re thinking about it, though.”

You freeze mid-step. “I—NO! Maybe? Yes? I—Why would you say that, Silver?!”

He just smiles, a soft, knowing smile. “Because it’s true.”

You slump back down beside him, groaning loudly as you cover your face with your hands. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Silver chuckles softly, resting his head back against the tree again. “I’ve heard that before.”

And as you sit there, your mind spinning with thoughts of Lilia and all the ridiculous, impossible implications Silver’s comment has brought to life, you can’t help but think that maybe—just *maybe*—he has a point.

But you’re not ready to admit that yet. Not even to yourself.

“I need a drink,” you mumble under your breath, and Silver hums in agreement.

“Father would probably help you make it,” he says, and you let out a loud groan, flopping onto the grass in dramatic defeat.

“Silver, you’re killing me.”

He just smiles that peaceful smile of his.

It’s a quiet afternoon, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the courtyard. You’re standing with Malleus and Sebek in one of the palace’s gardens, the tranquil hum of life around you contrasting with the more serious conversation that’s about to unfold. You can feel the weight of what Malleus is about to say, and your mind spins as you prepare yourself for another emotionally charged moment.

Malleus takes a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. “For the longest time,” he begins, his voice soft and filled with an unspoken vulnerability, “I thought I would be stuck. Trapped in that cursed state forever. I had resigned myself to it, believing that it was my fate to be alone.”

You shift slightly, unsure how to respond to such raw honesty. Sebek, standing next to Malleus, is silent for once, his usual loud and defensive nature tempered by the gravity of his lord’s words.

“But then you came along,” Malleus continues, turning his glowing eyes toward you. “You broke the curse, something no one had been able to do. You gave me back my freedom, something I had lost hope of ever regaining.”

Sebek clears his throat loudly, his usual dramatic flair coming to the surface despite the tenderness of the moment. “Yes, well,” he says, voice gruff but tinged with the awkwardness of someone who isn’t quite used to expressing gratitude. “I... suppose we should be... grateful. After all, if it weren’t for you, Lord Malleus would still be... cursed, and we wouldn’t be here together as we are now.”

You blink at Sebek’s begrudging admission, feeling a small smile tug at your lips. The fact that he of all people is thanking you, even in such a roundabout way, is oddly touching.

“Wow, Sebek,” you say, voice teasing but soft. “Who knew you had it in you?”

Sebek bristles at your words, his expression a mix of indignation and embarrassment. “D-Don’t misunderstand!” he exclaims, face turning a shade redder than usual. “I’m merely stating the facts! Nothing more!”

Malleus chuckles softly at Sebek’s outburst, his usual gentle smile returning to his face. “Sebek’s gratitude, no matter how begrudging, is indeed a rarity,” he teases lightly before turning his attention back to you. “But truly, I am grateful. You’ve given me back more than just my freedom. You’ve given me back... this.”

He gestures around him, indicating the garden, the palace, the sky above. “This life, this chance to be with those I care about. And for that, I owe you a debt that I may never be able to repay.”

You shift awkwardly, feeling a strange warmth bloom in your chest. “I mean, I didn’t really set out to save anyone,” you admit, your voice light but with an edge of honesty. “I just... wanted the reward. And then maybe to go home.”

Sebek’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and he opens his mouth to argue, but Malleus holds up a hand, stopping him before he can launch into one of his dramatic tirades

You hesitate, glancing between Malleus and Sebek. “I didn’t think I’d get attached,” you admit quietly, your voice softening. “But I have. Somehow, I’ve found myself... caring about all of you. This weird little makeshift family.”

Sebek looks as though he’s about to protest the “weird” part, but a stern glance from Malleus keeps him quiet. You can see the begrudging acknowledgment in his eyes, though—he knows it’s true, even if he doesn’t want to admit it.

Malleus hums thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on you for a moment before he speaks again. “Well,” he says casually, as if discussing something as simple as the weather, “if you’re so attached, perhaps we should make it official. Perhaps you should marry into the family."

You freeze. Did he just—?

You whip your head towards Malleus, completely flustered. “M-Marry?! What?!”

Sebek, on the other hand, looks as if someone just punched him in the face. His mouth opens and closes like a fish gasping for air, his eyes wide with outrage. “L-Lord Malleus, what are you suggesting?!” he sputters.

Malleus blinks, as calm as ever. “I’m suggesting marriage,” he repeats, as if it’s the most logical thing in the world. “If they are so attached to us, it seems a reasonable next step. Perhaps they should marry Lilia?”

Your face turns a bright shade of red as your heart pounds in your chest. “Wh-What?!” you stammer. “Lilia?!”

Sebek turns even redder, his face contorting in disbelief. “Master Lilia?!”

Malleus nods sagely, completely unfazed by both of your reactions. “Yes, Lilia. He has shown great affection for them, and they would fit well within our family. Would you not agree, Sebek?”

Sebek looks like he’s about to explode, but there’s an uncomfortable silence as he realizes… he can’t argue. He knows Malleus and Lilia both care about you. He knows that you’ve proven yourself to be a good person, despite his initial distrust. His mouth twitches, the words clearly struggling to escape his throat.

“I—well—Lord Malleus,” Sebek starts, looking every bit as if he’s been defeated by sheer logic. “I… I must admit… They are a suitable companion for Master Lilia… even if the idea of them marrying… well, it is quite… outrageous.”

You feel your soul leave your body as the conversation continues. Sebek can’t quite bring himself to fully agree, yet he doesn’t outright refuse the idea either. His loyalty to his lords binds him, and his begrudging acceptance of your presence has left him caught between duty and outrage.

“I—This—” you stammer, completely overwhelmed. “I—This is insane!”

Malleus looks at you with a calm smile. “Think it over,” he says, voice gentle. “You’ve already become part of our lives. Why not make it official?”

You open your mouth to protest, but the words die in your throat as you see the sincerity in his eyes. This isn’t just a flippant suggestion—it’s Malleus genuinely offering you a place in his family. But the idea of marrying Lilia? That’s… that’s a whole new level of madness.

“I—I think I need to lie down,” you mutter, pressing your hands to your temples. “This is too much.”

Malleus chuckles softly, and even Sebek seems to relax—if only a little. But as you glance between the two of them, you can’t help but feel a strange warmth in your chest. Even with all the absurdity, you know one thing for sure: you’ve found a place with them, whether you intended to or not.

The cat was just sitting there. Innocently perched on the branch, fluffy and regal like a tiny, judgmental king. You don’t even know what possessed you, really. Maybe it was those huge, adorable eyes or the way its tail flicked back and forth. But somehow, someway, you ended up halfway up a tree. Climbing a tree. For a cat.

“I just wanted to pet you,” you mutter, feeling slightly ridiculous as you hug the branch for dear life. “And now I’m stuck. Great.”

The cat stares at you, completely indifferent to your plight. You sigh, glancing down at the ground, which now seems alarmingly far away. Heights were never your thing, but in the moment, with that cute little furball teasing you, logic flew right out the window. Now, you’re clinging to the tree like a cowardly kitten yourself.

“Why did I think this was a good idea?” you groan. The cat blinks at you. “Don’t look at me like that. This is all your fault!”

And then, because fate has a terrible sense of humor, you hear a voice from below. A familiar, unmistakable voice—playful, with a hint of amusement laced through it.

“Well, well, what do we have here? It appears my dear little beastie has gotten themselves stuck.”

You nearly slip off the branch as you glance down to see Lilia standing at the base of the tree, arms crossed and an infuriatingly amused grin on his face. He looks every bit the mischievous fae, eyes twinkling with barely suppressed laughter.

“I—uh—this is—” You stammer, trying to come up with some kind of excuse, but nothing comes. You’re halfway up a tree. Because of a cat. No explanation is going to save your dignity now.

Lilia tilts his head, chuckling. “Were you planning on living up there from now on? Or should I assist you in returning to the ground?”

“Hey, don’t judge me!” you huff, cheeks burning. “The cat—look at the cat! It was really cute, okay?”

Lilia glances up at the feline, which is now licking its paw in complete disinterest. He raises an eyebrow. “Ah, yes, the cat. I see now. How could anyone resist such a noble creature?”

You groan, feeling your face get even hotter. “I—um—I might need help getting down.”

Lilia’s grin widens. “Of course, my dear. I was planning on catching you anyway.”

You freeze. “C-Catching me?”

“Mmhm. Just jump down, and I’ll catch you,” Lilia says, his tone so casual, as if catching people out of trees is just something he does every day. He spreads his arms out, waiting expectantly.

Your heart races as you eye the distance between the branch and the ground again. It’s not terribly high, but… still high enough to make you nervous. But Lilia’s standing there with that easy confidence, and the thought of staying stuck in this tree forever doesn’t exactly appeal to you either.

Taking a deep breath, you inch closer to the edge of the branch. “O-Okay. I’m going to jump.”

“Go ahead,” Lilia says, his voice soft. “I’ll catch you.”

With one last look at the disinterested cat, you finally push yourself off the branch. For a split second, there’s nothing but the rush of air—and then you feel yourself land securely in Lilia’s arms. You’re caught. Easily, gently. Like it was nothing at all.

He looks down at you, his face much closer than you anticipated. “See? I told you I would catch you.”

You’re breathless for a moment, your heart doing flips as you realize just how close you are to him. His arms are around you, holding you steady, and you can feel the warmth of his body through his clothes. He’s staring at you with that soft, amused smile, and you’re suddenly acutely aware of just how handsome he is.

“Oh no,” you whisper to yourself, “I’m swooning.”

Lilia raises an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“Y-You’re really smooth,” you blurt out before you can stop yourself. “Like, catching me so easily and looking at me like that. It’s—it’s really unfair.”

He chuckles softly, clearly entertained by your flustered state. “Unfair, you say?”

“Yeah, like—like, you’re so effortlessly cool and charming, and I—” You freeze, suddenly realizing what you’re saying. You clamp your mouth shut, but it’s too late. The words are out, and your brain has completely short-circuited.

And then, before you even know what’s happening, the words just spill out of you in a panicked rush. “Okay, I like you! No, wait—I think I’m in love with you! I mean, how could I not be? You’re so amazing, and I just—Oh god, I’m confessing! I’m confessing right now, aren’t I? This is a confession. Oh no, this is terrible. I didn’t mean to—”

You feel your entire body heat up as you bury your face in your hands, completely mortified. Of all the ways you could’ve confessed your feelings to Lilia, this had to be the worst possible way. You weren’t ready! You were supposed to be calm and collected, not blurting it out after getting caught in a tree!

For a moment, there’s silence. And then, you hear the softest chuckle from Lilia. His arms tighten around you slightly, pulling you just a little closer.

“You’re adorable,” he says, his voice soft and full of warmth.

You peek through your fingers, confused. “Huh?”

“I’ve known for a while that your feelings for me were more than friendly,” Lilia continues, his smile gentle. “But hearing you confess like this… it’s endearing.”

You blink, trying to process his words. “Wait—you’ve known?”

Lilia nods. “You’re not as subtle as you think, my dear.”

You groan again, hiding your face in your hands once more. “This is so embarrassing…”

Lilia laughs softly, and before you know it, he leans in and presses a light, gentle kiss to your forehead. Your heart skips a beat, and you lower your hands, looking up at him in surprise.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed,” Lilia says, his eyes soft. “I’m honored to be the one you’ve chosen.”

Your heart flutters as his words sink in, and you realize that, despite your mortification, he’s… accepting your feelings. He’s not teasing you or brushing it off—he’s genuinely acknowledging your confession. And more than that… he’s reciprocating.

“Lilia…” you whisper, your face still burning with embarrassment, but also with a warmth that you can’t quite describe.

He leans in a little closer, his nose brushing against yours. “You don’t need to say anything more, my dear. Just know that I feel the same.”

And with that, Lilia closes the distance between you, his lips meeting yours in a soft, sweet kiss that makes your heart race even faster. All thoughts of your earlier panic melt away, replaced by the warmth of his touch and the feeling of being completely safe in his arms.

As he pulls back, you’re left staring at him, wide-eyed and breathless. Lilia smiles down at you, his eyes twinkling with amusement and affection.

“So,” he says, his voice teasing, “was that worth climbing a tree for?”

You blink, still dazed from the kiss. “I… I think so.”

Lilia laughs softly, pressing another quick kiss to your lips before setting you down on the ground. “Next time, though, perhaps we’ll find a more dignified setting for your confessions, hmm?”

You groan, covering your face again as you mutter, “Please don’t remind me…”

But despite your embarrassment, you can’t help the small, giddy smile that creeps onto your face as you realize that, somehow, things turned out perfectly anyway.

You sit with Lilia on a bench beneath the shade of a massive oak tree, the same one he caught you from, nerves simmering beneath your calm exterior. He’s as composed as ever, leaning back against the tree with a small, amused smile playing on his lips.

Across from you sit Malleus, Silver, and Sebek, all three watching you with varying degrees of curiosity—Malleus with calm interest, Silver with that sleepy, gentle acceptance, and Sebek with what you’re sure is the beginning of a tirade bubbling just beneath the surface.

“We have some news,” Lilia says, breaking the silence with his usual playful tone. His hand slips into yours, squeezing lightly. “About us.”

Malleus’s eyes light up with interest, his draconic gaze honing in on the subtle intertwining of your hands with Lilia’s. “News?” he repeats, leaning forward slightly. “What sort of news?”

You exchange a glance with Lilia, and he gives you a nod, as if to say go on, it’s safe. Taking a deep breath, you steel yourself and blurt out, “We’re together. Like, romantically.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Then Malleus’s eyes widen, his entire face brightening with delight. “Truly?” he asks, a rare, genuine smile spreading across his face. “That is wonderful news! You will be joining the family then?”

You blink, momentarily thrown off by how happy he is. “Uh, well—eventually, I guess. We haven’t exactly planned a wedding yet…”

“But when we do,” Lilia interjects smoothly, eyes glinting with amusement, “you will be the first to receive an invitation, Malleus.”

Malleus beams, the delight practically radiating off him like sunlight. “I would expect no less. To witness your union—ah, it will be a grand day.”

Meanwhile, Silver gives you both a small, approving nod. His expression is calm, though there’s a softness in his eyes that shows he’s happy for you. “I’m glad,” he says, his voice as gentle as ever. “Father deserves someone who makes him happy. And you… you seem to do that.”

Your heart warms at the approval from Silver. “Thanks, Silver,” you say, offering him a smile in return.

And then there’s Sebek.

For a moment, he just stares at you and Lilia, his mouth working as if he’s trying to form words. You brace yourself for the inevitable protest, expecting him to shout something about how inappropriate it is, or how you could never be good enough for Lilia, or—

“You…” Sebek finally speaks, though his tone is less outraged than you anticipated. He scowls, but there’s an undeniable hint of reluctant acceptance in his eyes. “You’re together, then?”

Lilia nods, his smile never wavering. “Indeed, Sebek.”

Sebek inhales deeply, closing his eyes as if preparing for some kind of inner battle. You can almost hear him wrestling with his instincts, wanting to object but also unable to deny the truth of the situation. After a long pause, he finally exhales and mutters, “Well… I suppose… if it makes Master Lilia happy, then…”

You’re about to breathe a sigh of relief when Sebek opens his eyes again, pointing an accusatory finger at you. “But that does not mean you should grow complacent! Just because Master Lilia has chosen you does not mean you are exempt from proving yourself worthy!”

Lilia laughs softly at Sebek’s stubbornness, and you can’t help but grin. “Of course, Sebek,” you say, teasing him lightly. “I’ll do my best to live up to your high standards.”

Sebek huffs, crossing his arms. “See that you do.”

Despite his bluster, you can tell he’s not truly upset. There’s a begrudging acceptance in his stance, the same way someone might finally accept that their favorite hero isn’t perfect, but still worthy of respect. Sebek might not be able to fully wrap his head around the idea of you and Lilia being together, but deep down, you can tell he doesn’t disapprove. Not really.

Malleus, meanwhile, is still beaming. “I look forward to your wedding,” he says, sounding genuinely excited. “It will be a grand celebration. And I will be the first to celebrate your union.”

You laugh, finally feeling the tension melt away. “You’ll be the first to get an invitation, don’t worry.”

Lilia squeezes your hand again, his eyes warm as he looks at you. “Indeed,” he says softly, “and I think it will be a lovely celebration.”

As you sit there, surrounded by Lilia’s peculiar little family, you can’t help but feel a swell of emotion. For all their eccentricities—Malleus’s dragon-like mannerisms, Silver’s sleepy but sincere approval, and Sebek’s stubborn loyalty—you’ve somehow found yourself among people who care. Who, in their own ways, are happy to see you and Lilia together.

And as you glance at Lilia, who’s still watching you with that fond, amused expression, you realize something important: this makeshift family of fae and knights… they’ve accepted you.

Flaws and all.

The living room felt a little too tense for your taste today. You were sprawled out on a chair, arms crossed, listening to the absurd conversation that seemed to have spiraled out of control.

Malleus, sitting at the head of the table, had the "serious prince" expression that made you roll your eyes every time you saw it. Lilia was perched on the back of his chair, his legs dangling, thoroughly amused by the current predicament. Sebek stood in his usual soldier-like stance, ready to protect everyone from... squirrels, apparently. And Silver was doing his best to stay upright while leaning on a wall. He was losing that battle.

“It’s time to discuss the prophecy” Malleus said, his voice carrying an ominous weight you found ridiculous. “The Squirrel Plague will bring misfortune. Entire kingdoms will fall to their tiny paws.”

You blinked. “We’re seriously talking about squirrels?”

Lilia nodded with an overly grave face. “Indeed, my dear. Squirrels are resourceful creatures. Vicious even, if the stories are true.”

Sebek puffed up his chest, eyes blazing with his trademark fervor. “MY LORD, IF THOSE RODENTS BELIEVE THEY CAN THREATEN YOU—"

You leaned forward, waving your hand dismissively. “Alright, alright, let's not hype up the squirrels too much, okay? This whole situation is ridiculous.”

Silver, who had just about managed to pry his eyes open, muttered, “It’s not just the squirrels. I heard some people talking about... uh, the Saint being accused of spying or something.”

The room fell into silence for a second, everyone digesting that little bombshell.

Lilia’s grin widened as if the idea of spies delighted him. “Spies, you say? This is getting quite intriguing.”

You groaned, pinching the bridge of your nose. “Yeah, no thanks. Squirrels are bad enough, but spies? I’m not dealing with this.”

Malleus turned towards you, a slight frown on his lips. “I assumed you wished to stay here. You haven’t mentioned wanting to leave before.”

You sighed, shrugging. “I mean, I don't have any attachments to this place. I stayed because you guys were here. But right now, let's bounce. Immediately. The squirrels can have this place.”

Silver, rubbing his eyes, nodded. “They're right. It’s a lot of hassle, and honestly, the squirrels are starting to weird me out. I saw one trying to chew through the wall this morning.”

Sebek turned to Silver with his mouth agape. “A SQUIRREL DARED TO ATTACK OUR DOMAIN?!”

Lilia chuckled, nodding. “They’re getting bolder, indeed. I even had one throw an acorn at me this morning. It was a declaration of war, I tell you.”

You waved your hands at them. “Guys, seriously. I don’t care if we’re at war with the squirrels. I just don’t want to be here. Briar Valley sounds much nicer, doesn’t it? No plagues, no spy accusations, no rabid rodents.”

Malleus blinked at you, then slowly smiled. “If you wish to leave, then there’s no reason for us to stay. I thought perhaps you'd not want to leave the place you grew up in, that you would be attached.”

“Attached?” You gestured dramatically at the window, where you swore you could see a squirrel watching with beady little eyes. “Nope. I’m only attached to you four, and I’m not risking my life for some acorn-flinging rodents.”

Silver yawned, already giving in. “I say we go. Less hassle, more sleep.”

Lilia gave a theatrical sigh leaning on Malleus. “Well, I suppose the adventure ends here. Back to Briar Valley it is! And I’ll be sure to bring along some acorns... perhaps we can keep the spirit of battle alive.”

Sebek, his voice still full of misplaced enthusiasm, nodded fiercely. “IF MY LORD DECIDES TO RETURN, THEN I SHALL ENSURE OUR JOURNEY IS WITHOUT PERIL! THE SQUIRRELS SHALL NOT—”

You interrupted with a grin. “Yes, yes, Sebek. You’ll protect us from the squirrels. Good job.”

Lilia hopped off Malleus’s chair, already halfway to the door. “I’ll go prepare the portal. Who knows, maybe we can get there in time for the fireflies.”

You got up too, stretching and giving one last look at the living room. “I think I’ve had enough of prophecies, plagues, and espionage.”

Lilia grins "Maybe we could have our wedding in Briar Valley". Malleus, now entirely on board, nodded with regal finality. “Then we shall return to Briar Valley. I trust the squirrels will not miss us.”

Lilia snickered, and you felt him squeeze your shoulder. “Perhaps we should bring a souvenir,” he mused. “A squirrel, perhaps, as a reminder of this peculiar little chapter of our lives.”

You shook your head, laughing. “I think I’d rather forget it altogether.”

With that, you and your four favorite Briar Valley residents left—leaving behind the squirrels, the spies, and every bit of drama that had nothing to do with you. Peace, it turned out, was just a portal away.

With that, the group made their decision—no heroic stand against the prophecy, no attempts to sort out spy dramas. Just a swift, sensible retreat to where things were far less complicated. And honestly? That suited you just fine.

Alright! I liked writing this a lot, It's not as chaotic as my other isekai ones but I like how it turned out!

Also if the formatting is off, I'm so sorry but I fell spectacularly on my ass while ice-skating and can't sit long enough to edit on my laptop.

Also quick poll for the next trash novel one, I'll definitely finish all of them, this is just for which one should I post first. They're all almost done.

Series Masterlist ; My Masterlists

[peppermintquartz]

"Evan?"

"Yes, babe?"

"Were you ever interested in Eddie?"

Buck nearly chokes on his juice. Coughing, he waves aside Tommy's startled concern. "Uh, I kinda need to. Okay. Are we talking in general or, like, specifically romantic attraction? Sexual attraction?"

Tommy shrugs. He's still shirtless at the moment, which means the morning light gilds his chest (and chest hair) in gold and bronze. Buck has seen this sight for months now, and he still utters a silent thanks to God for making Tommy's nipples ultra sensitive.

"Evan?" The older man tilts his head quizzically.

Oh, right. Buck sits back in his chair. "I guess I did kinda feel some way about him when he first showed up? I mean, he's good-looking. And he has very pretty eyes."

Tommy is chewing on a bite of sausage. "So how come you never made a move on him?"

"I don't know. Never thought about it, really. I mean, once he showed me Christopher, I just wanted to know more about the kid." Buck takes another careful sip of his guava juice. "And after that, either I was dating someone or he was dating. We were just punks trying to get through our own stuff. I never even considered it." He frowns at Tommy. "Why? What's got you asking?"

Tommy glances at his scrambled eggs and shifts in his seat. "Last night, when I was out with Hen and Chimney, they talked about you two being best buds. And Hen said that she'd thought you two would've made a cute couple." His cheeks flush a dark pink. "That was after several rounds of drinks, but, uh, it stuck in my head."

Feeling annoyed at Hen, Buck reaches under the table to pat Tommy's knee, knowing that it will be restlessly bouncing. His boyfriend, Mr Tommy "So Cool" Kinard, needing Buck's reassurance before he can once again be at ease in his skin. It makes Buck feel warm and protective.

"Maybe only in appearance," says Buck, thinking through the issue. "But our personalities would clash if we dated, I think. I mean, I'm not good at giving people space. I'd have smothered him by week two. You don't mind telling me if you need to be alone for a bit, and I like that you always let me know when you're ready to be us again. I don't think Eddie would ever say that until he's fed up, and then he'd shout it or give me the cold shoulder."

"You two seem to do well together as a unit though. And you love Christopher."

"Christopher is lovable because of who he is, not because I know his dad," Buck says, a little sharply. He squeezes Tommy's knee. It stops moving. "Eddie and I are best friends, and we love each other. But... I've seen him almost die, twice, and I would think that if I felt romantic love for him, that would have been the moment, you know? Buried in mud. Almost losing him to a bullet. But all I felt was terror of losing a friend I trust, and having to tell Chris about it if the worst happened."

Buck can't hide the tremor in his voice, and now it's Tommy's turn to hold his hand.

"I'm sorry you both had to go through that," Tommy says sincerely, his gaze soft.

Taking a deep breath, Buck exhales and smiles at his boyfriend. "With you, I just wanted to, I don't know, I was curious about you, about everything that had to do with you. I thought I only wanted to be your friend, and yet I was so upset after Eddie and you took off to watch the fight in Vegas, I kinda... Well, I was actually angry at Eddie, looking back on it. Irrationally so. I've never felt that sort of jealousy. And, yes, I did think it was because of Eddie that I was jealous, but the moment I saw you on the basketball court I wasn't angry at you at all. I was... Well, I was happy to see you."

Tommy chuckles. "I was trying not to show how happy I was to see you there too."

"So, yeah," says Buck. "Long roundabout way to say that yes, I did think Eddie is attractive, because I have eyes, but I've never felt giddy and light the way I do when you smile at me. Both of you make me happy, in different ways." He leans over to peck a kiss on Tommy's stubbled cheek. "I'm the luckiest man in the world."

Tommy relaxes. "No, I am." He takes Buck by the chin, exactly how he did it that first time, and draws Buck in for a proper kiss. "Thank you. Didn't know I needed to hear that until I did."

"I'm glad you asked," says Buck, "instead of stewing over it until it drives you mad. And I'll always be honest with you, okay? I promise."

"Ditto," replies Tommy, kissing Buck again, just because.

--

edited on AO3

[manheeiim]

revenge - rafe cameron

summary: someone hurts you and rafe gets revenge || warnings: y/n is hit and pushed, alcohol, rafe throws the glass, rafe kills someone but there are no details || genre: established relationship, angst || word count: approximately 1120

I said goodbye to my friends, still crying after what had happened only 15 minutes ago. My friends asked if I needed them to come inside with me and hang out with me for a bit but I declined their offer, saying that I'd be fine.

I walked towards the front door of Tannyhill, and my friends car drove off, I knew they were all worried due to my condition.

I tried to calm donw a little as I unlocked and opened the front door and was met with a mostly dark home. I made my way over to the kitchen, where I could see that the kitchen light was on, going to see if my boyfriend was in there.

I was seriously nervous for his reaction but all I wanted was him.

I walked into the kitchen and I looked over at Rafe, who was sat at the island, scrolling on his phone as he drank some liquor from a fancy glass cup. He looked over at me and immediately furrowed his eyebrows.

"What the fuck happened to you, Y/n?" Rafe sternly asked he slammed the glass down on the counter, causing me to flinch. He came over to me and brought his hands to my face, holding onto it a little too roughly. "Who did this?" He asked.

"I don't know." I cried out, as he moved his hands from my face to my arms.

"Tell me what happened." Rafe instructed, his jaw clenching at my state, wanting to know who did this so he could kill them, and with Rafe, he wasn't exaggerating when it came to thinking that. He'd really kill them.

"I... I was at the party. Everything was going good." I shakily said.

Rafe nodded, giving me a soft, "Uh-huh.", just wanting to get to what happened to you.

"I got a drink for myself and turned around and accidentally bumped into a girl a splashed some of my drink on her." Rafe nodded, listening to me, still holding onto my arms. "She got really made even though I apologized right away and started talking all this shit." I explained. "I don't know, next thing I knew she slapped me in the face." I told Rafe and I felt his grip on my arms tighten a little.

"What'd you do? You better have hit her back." Rafe said in a serious tone.

"I- I didn't. I really didn't want to fight so I just pushed her away from me and went to walk away. Then her boyfriend came over.." I said and that's when I really felt Rafe's grip on me tighten, holding the grip. It hurt, especially due to the condition I was in. I didn't bother to say anything though, I could already tell that Rafe was fuming.

"I- her boyfriend came over and started yelling at me for pushing his girl, even though she started everything and slapped me first. I only pushed her away to get away from her. He didn't care though and so he came over, slapped me in the face, and pushed me to the ground. It was concrete so... that's why I'm all cut up." I told Rafe.

Rafe let go of me, I watched him tighten his fists into a ball as his jaw clenched. "Show me the damn cuts." H told me, already being able to see some of them but he wanted to see all of them.

I stepped back and showed him the cuts on my hands, arms, and legs from catching myself when I fell onto the ground.

"The one fucking time I'm not your damn ride to the party, this shit happens." Rafe angrily murmurs to himself, looking down, taking deep breaths as he paced around.

I watched him, standing to the side now. He huffed to himself and I could see that his mind was racing. Rafe then grabbed the cup with the liquor and threw it against the wall, causing it to shatter everywhere.

"I'm going to kill that motherfucker." Rafe angrily told me as he came over to me. "What'd he look like, huh? Tell me." He said.

"Rafe.." I softly said, scared of what my boyfriend would do.

Rafe gave me a look, "Don't, Y/n." He said. "Tell me what the fuck he looked like." He then told me.

"I- he had wavy brown hair and uh, he was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and these sunglasses." I said, trying to give the best description possible.

"Alright, alright. Yeah, okay." Rafe softly said, more to himself as he paced around again. He then down at me, stopping in front of me. "Don't go anywhere. I'm going to deal with this asshole." He then said in a low voice and I knew when he said that, he meant more than him just beating the guy up.

"Rafe.." I softly said again.

"Shut up, Y/n!" Rafe yelled, causing me to flinch. "He thinks he can touch you like that. No fucking way. Stay here, I'll be back." My boyfriend then harshly told me. "I love you." He then said, leaning down and giving me a quick and harsh kiss before walking past me, grabbing his keys off the counter aggressively as he stormed out of the house.

I cleaned up the broken cup Rafe had thrown while just crying to myself about everything. When I finished, I went upstairs, showered, wincing at the feeling of the soap on some of my cuts, before getting into a nightgown and getting into bed.

I lie there for about an hour, completely lost in thought and worry, before the bedroom door opened. I sat up and saw Rafe coming inside, the room was dark so I couldn't really see anything but his figure. I turned the lamp on my nightstand on, looking at Rafe as he let out a sigh, taking his shirt off. I saw some bruises on his body as well, probably from the guy who'd pushed me.

I watched as he got in his pajamas before getting bed with me. I got closer to him in bed and turned the light off. He turned to face me, putting his arm over my torso.

"I took care of him, you won't have to worry about him anymore." Rafe lowly said.

I didn't know what to say. So, he really killed the guy. I suddenly felt really tense, my heart racing at the thought.

"I love you." My boyfriend told me.

"I love you too." I said back and I meant that, even if it was wrong, especially after what he'd done. He'd done what he did for me. To protect me. So, yes, I loved him. I always would.

ᥫ᭡ link to my masterlist

[trainsandkitties]

"Too late Icarus realized

his wings were melting. He had flown too close

to the Sun. With every desperate swoop of his

arms, more feathers fell and soon his arms

were almost bare. Down and down and down

went Icarus…"

(for best experience, play the video linked below in the background)

"With the entire world as our witness, the Countdown begins at Cape Canaveral, Florida" says a deep man's voice, the camera pans out, showing the launch team. The image is grainy and the voice echoes through the dark room. Only light coming from the telly.

The documentary goes on, recounting the events of the 1962 Friendship 7 mission- the first time a human orbited the earth. 5 years later, on a cold autumn evening, one soul seems to care for the broadcast. Observing with envy, as John Glenn set foot upon the spacecraft that would take him around the orbit. Glenn. That man refused to be confined to the Earth's face. How lucky he was. How lucky indeed. For so many are not only confined to the planet, they're confined to their beds, sometimes, their own bodies too.

The countdown begins. The clock strikes 9.47 and Friendship 7 ascends into the sky.

-Christ, are you watching that thing again?- Thomas entered the room

He was a stumpy lad, cheeky little pest. He hid his guilt well, as he felt at fault for his colleaugue's nearly fatal accident. Had he not mentioned streamlining to Sir Topham Hatt, maybe nothing would have happened. The race would have ended in disappointment, maybe even joy! Not such a tragedy. A tragedy that shook Britain to it's core.

He remembered those weeks that felt like years, when he avoided the gaze of The Flying Scotsman. A man he truly admired, but now- you could say feared. How could he look into the eyes of someone this distraught? The man who just 5 years ago buried his little sisters, now with another possible loss looming over him, all because of Thomas. All because of his pride and need to win.

-Must you all complain?- Gordon croaked -First Scott, then Victor and now you. What's wrong with watching it again? It's one of the very few things that make me happy.-

-Hey man I didn't mean it like that.- Thomas scratched the back of his neck- I just would have gotten bored already. So uh.. How- How are you feeling?-

His question was met with a look that could only be described as a visual representation of "if I could, I'd shove a crutch up your sorry arse."

-Nothing's changed.- Gresley murmured -Whole month's been the same. I think I'd rather sleep through it though.-

-Shucks, I think you've had enough sleep.- Thomas chuckled -Though I saw a guy down the corridor who's been sleeping for a few years now. Am I glad it's not you.- he paused -You're not hurting as much as you were though, right? Did Victor say when you can go back to work? Err.. I don't mind Rebecca!-

-I think I'm better.- the man looked down -Victor doesn't know yet. I'd say he thinks I won't work again.. You... you can go tell Rebecca she has a permanent job, I suppose.-

-Oh. Oh no, man, I'm not telling her that. You'll go home soon, get all better and you'll be back with your express.- Billinton seemed panicked -You're not going to just- give up, because your fucking leg hurts!-

-My crew is dead. And I don't want any dead passengers,, I don't want to die! I wish I could go back, but I can't! I won't recover. Nobody has ever recovered from a goddamn boiler explosion! What if it happens again? What if I can't do it because of the pain? Life isn't some fairytale where you bounce back from everything it throws at you! Sometimes.. You don't bounce back and.. you just need to accept it.- Gordon turned away from his friend and wrapped himself in the sheets -Goodbye, Thomas. I'll see you when I go home..-

-But..-

-Goodbye. It's time you leave.-

"Across Africa, races Friendship 7, at 17 545 miles per hour, 300 miles a minute, 4 miles for every heartbeat of John Glynn. Frienship 7 streaks through the nigth of tomorrow, and to the dawn of yesterday..'

[comicglitterr0909]

Confused. Vanessa Shelly/Afton x Fem!Reader

Vanessa Shelly/Afton x reader who is really bad with emotions. Reader basically had not the best life, and wasn't allowed to show emotions growing up, and so when reader starts catching feelings for Vanessa, you don't know what it is so they are really confused and awkward around Vanessa, also Mike kinda just doesn't exist in this lmao :D

Even though the pizzeria might not have been my first choice, it's really not that bad. Or maybe I'm just trying to convince myself of that…oh well. I close my car door, careful not to do it too hard, the door would probably fall off. I really needed this job, I have maybe 100 dollars to my name. Sighing I use the key that Mr Raglan gave me, I try to unlock it one way, it doesn't unlock.

“Shit..” I mutter to myself, I turn the key a different way, flip it around, I try everything and it just isn't unlocking. I stand there for like 30 minutes fumbling with this stupid fucking key, and just my luck. A cop car pulls up, oh cool they can probably help me, wait oh shit, they are gonna think im trying to break in. I worriedly look at the cop car and wave, the windows are tinted and it's dark out so I can't see who's in there. Fuck fuck fuck fuck, I try to use the key again, glancing back at the female cop who just got out of her car. She looks nice… she can help, wait, all cops look nice, that's their tactic. 

“Hey. What are you doing?” The officer says as I quickly turn around, I can feel my heart start beating faster, I'm usually fine around cops though, whatever it's just nerves. “Officer! Hi um I'm the security guard here, the key I was given isn’t working. I've been trying for like 30 minutes haha…” That was convincing and definitely not suspicious. Shit. She raises her eyebrow, looking me up and down, and glancing at the lock behind me. “You're really lucky that the owner said there was a new security guard, or I'd probably arrest you. Here let me try.” She says with a smile, I hand her the key without saying anything. Woah my stomach feels weird, am I sick or something?? It feels like my stomach has like… horses running around in it. Weird description but whatever…taking a step back I watch as she unlocks it on the first try. 

That's awkward. “How did you do that?? I swear I... I tried for like 30 minutes…” She turns around and gives me back the key, looking me up and down again, god what happens to me? It feels like I'm going to throw up every time she does that. What is happening to me?? “It’s fine, keys can be difficult sometimes.” She smiles at me, fuck I feel like a fool all I can do is just stand there looking at her, I think im having a stroke. No wait, a heart attack, that more likely feels like my heart is eating itself. “Um, thank you Officer.” Why did I say that so weird, god she must think i'm drunk or something.

“Please, my names Vanessa, Vanessa Shelly.” She holds out her hand for me to shake, AND I STARE AT HER HAND FOR LIKE 3 SECONDS BEFORE AWKWARDLY SHAKING HER HAND OH MY GOD. I'm freaking out, is it hot? No, it's cold, why am I sweating?? “Right, uh, y/n, y/n y/ln. It's really nice to meet you.” It's really nice to meet you? Did I really have to put the really, whatever i can't go back in time. “You too, mind if I stick around for a bit?” YES, wait yes what the fuck is happening why do I feel this way? “Yeah no problem.” I say like a fool, I don't usually overthink things like this. Or do I? Have I just not noticed? Huh, whatever. 

The night goes on, and my heart doesn't slow down, the odd feelings in my stomach continue as she talks to me, and asks me a couple questions. It feels like the night goes way too fast, and I find myself upset when it turns to 6am. Driving home all I can think about her, why? I think I just really want to be friends with her, probably, that's all it is. I get home and lay down on my bed staring at the ceiling, maybe this job won't be as bad as I thought it would be. 

The next day Vanessa doesn’t show up, maybe she never will. I also find out how creepy the pizzeria is and even though my life is practically in danger, I just keep wishing that I’d get to see her again, but just as friends though. Just friends. 

I pull into the parking lot of the pizzeria. Walking up in my goofy looking security vest, I sigh. Yesterday I was actually able to unlock the lock, after 10 minutes…but at least I got it. Ugh, time to try to unlock this for half of my shift. And just like I said, it's been 5 minutes and I still can’t get it. “Does it…go the other way or..” I mutter to myself, before I see headlights shining at me. SHES HERE. Oh god I feel like I shoulda put more effort into myself today, does my hair look okay. I zone out thinking about every possible thing that I could ever overthink, before finally getting snapped out of it by her. “Hey, need help with the lock again?” She says teasingly, grinning at me. Woah, my heart just went to the moon and back okay that's normal. “Uh yeah haha, still can’t seem to get it right.” She takes the key from me and just like before, unlocks it with ease, before handing the key back to me. “I'm gonna hang out again today, hope you don’t mind.” “Hah no, I don’t care, I enjoy the company.” Finally I said something without sounding like a 5 year old. 

We both walk into the pizzeria, without saying anything, as we are walking her hand brushes against mine, there it is again, that fuzzy feeling that only happens with her. Maybe I should google my symptoms. “So how's your day been?” She asks me, with a smile. “Oh, pretty good, better now that you're here haha.” I pause, DID I JUST SAY THAT, holy shit oh god what? What was I thinking?? “That's funny, I was going to say the same thing.” She says with a wink, before continuing to walk down the hall. Everything in my head was screaming at me, I had to remember that walking is something that you do if you wanna follow someone. So I started walking again, maybe I should ask her? She's a cop, she might know what's wrong with me.

We go over to the showtime area. “Hey, have you seen them perform yet?” “They perform?” “Yeah watch.” Vanessa presses the showtime button, and the animatronics jump into a song. I watch them with intent, probably the first thing I've thought about that wasn't Vanessa in 3 days. We both walk over to a booth and sit down, just watching and listening to them do their thing. “So this is cool isn’t it?” She asks, looking at me, I look over at her. That feeling again, I swear I'm having a stroke. “Y/N?” Yup this is a stroke why can’t I answer her? “Y-yeah, right, um yeah this is super cool.” I say looking down at the table, smiling and looking back at her. “Are you okay?” Vanessa asks me, looking genuinely worried.

I gulp and look at her nervously. “Um, not really? I don't know.” “You don't know? What do you mean what's going on?’’ She stands up and squats down in front of me, looking up at me. She takes my hands and holds them. I swear my heart just stops at that point. “Hey, talk to me, what's going on?” “Do you um” I clear my throat. “Do you ever get this weird feeling? Lately my heart has been beating faster than normally, and I'm really nervous and anxious and my stomach feels like it's being twisted up.” She looks at me, with those doe eyes of hers, with genuine care and worry. “And the weirdest part of it all, is it only happens around…well…you.” And with that, the worry on her face disappears into a softer one. She laughs and looks back up at me with a smirk. “Y/N have you ever had a crush before?” “A crush? What's that have to do with this, I’ve never had one before but I’ve heard- oh” And it finally clicks, all those movies i’ve seen are like this, a crush, I have a crush on her. Oh shit. I just admitted to her that I have a crush on her. As she watches me come to realization, I feel my face heat up. “Don’t start stressing yourself out, y/n, I like you too.” She says grinning and looking at me sympathetically. I’m still processing all of it, so I don’t really say anything for 10 seconds. “That's good, I um I like you too…a lot.” “Yup, I realized that.” She teasingly smirks at me. “So are we dating now?” I ask genuinely as she laughs again, standing up. “Wow, you really haven’t ever done this before huh? It’s cute, and yeah, we are dating, cmon.” Vanessa holds her hand out for me to take, and finally, it feels right. No more confusion, it feels right, being with her. I’m finally happy. With her :)

[kat-thepoet]

Veins of Violet

Logan Howlett X Fem!Reader

Part 14: First impressions

A/N: Enjoy!

Previous Chapters ☞ HERE ☜

4.2k words

I watched as the man—Logan, Hank had called him—stormed off down the hallway, his shoulders tense, fists clenched at his sides. There was something almost animalistic about the way he moved, like a predator barely keeping itself in check. A knot of unease tightened in my stomach.

Who the hell was he?

For a moment, I just stood there, frozen, replaying the brief encounter in my mind. Logan's eyes had been so intense, filled with something I couldn't quite put my finger on—desperation? Anger? Whatever it was, it left me on edge. He looked at me like I was supposed to know him, like I was supposed to say something, do something, but I had no idea what.

I turned to Hank, who was still beside me, his expression a mix of concern and something else—sympathy, maybe. I didn't like that look; it made me feel like I was some sort of fragile thing that needed handling with care.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice and failing.

Hank hesitated, his gaze flickering down the hallway where Logan had disappeared. "It's nothing ," he said finally. "It's... complicated."

"Complicated?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes. "That's one way to put it. He just barges in here, glaring at me like I've done something wrong, and then storms off without a word? Who does that?"

Hank gave me a small, placating smile. "Logan's not usually like that," he said, choosing his words carefully. "He's been through a lot lately."

I crossed my arms, frustration bubbling to the surface. "And I haven't? Everyone here keeps talking to me like I should know what's going on, but no one's actually telling me anything. I feel like I'm stumbling around in the dark, and now this Logan guy shows up, acting like I owe him something. What's his deal?"

Hank's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "I know this is all really confusing, Violet. And I wish I could explain everything, but... some things are better left alone until you're ready."

"Ready for what?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin. "Everyone's treating me like I'm going to break if I get too much information, but I'm not some delicate flower. I can handle it. I just want to know the truth."

Hank sighed, looking like he wanted to say more but was holding back. "Give it time," he said gently. "Logan... he's just as lost as you are right now."

I frowned, not liking the sound of that. How could this man, this stranger, be just as lost as I am? It didn't make any sense. But before I could press further, Hank changed the subject, guiding me away from the hallway and back toward the heart of the mansion.

As we walked, I couldn't shake the image of Logan's face—those intense eyes, the way his jaw clenched like he was holding back something dangerous. It was like he was a bomb waiting to go off, and I was just the spark needed to set him off. But why?

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Hank and I continued with our tour and began walking through the mansion. As we passed by what looked like a huge living room, I spotted Laura sitting on one of the couches, her expression distant.

"Laura?" I said, confused as to why she was here. "What are you doing here?"

She looked up at me, then quickly glanced at Hank, like she was waiting for his permission to speak. The hesitation in her eyes made something inside me twist uncomfortably.

"I, um, uh..." Laura stammered, clearly unsure of what to say or how to say it. I could see the struggle on her face, and it only made me more frustrated.

Hank, sensing her discomfort, gave her a reassuring nod. "It's okay, Laura. You can talk to her, just... don't overwhelm her, alright?"

That did it. My anger sparked again, burning through the thin veneer of calm I'd managed to put up. Overwhelm me? Why did everyone keep treating me like I was some fragile thing that might shatter at the slightest touch?

I could feel the emotions I'd been holding back start to bubble up, pushing against the walls I'd built around them. The frustration, the confusion, the deep, gnawing sense of loss—it all came crashing down on me like a wave I couldn't escape.

"I don't need to be handled with kid gloves!" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. "I'm not some delicate flower! I'm—" I faltered, struggling to find the right words. "I'm just... lost. And no one will tell me anything! I can't remember, and it's killing me inside. Every time I try to reach for something, it slips away, like trying to grab smoke. And all of you—" I gestured wildly around me, "—are walking on eggshells, acting like I'm going to break at any second!"

I could feel my eyes start to sting, the frustration and helplessness threatening to spill over. Without another word, I turned and stormed off, not caring where I was going as long as it was away from everyone. The walls of the mansion felt too close, too suffocating, and I needed air—needed space.

I didn't stop until I was outside, my feet carrying me into the cover of some trees behind the mansion. The cool breeze hit my face, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside me. I leaned against a tree, trying to catch my breath, but the weight of everything—the memories I didn't have, the life I could barely remember—pressed down on me, making it hard to think, hard to breathe.

It was like I was drowning in a sea of confusion, with no shore in sight. And the worst part? I didn't even know where to start swimming.

As I sat down behind the tree, the cool ground beneath me, my head began to spin with a sudden, sharp pain. It was as if a vise had clamped down on my skull, tightening with every breath I took. The voices came back, flooding my mind with a cacophony of sounds—laughter, screams, crying. The noise was unbearable, each sound piercing through my thoughts like shards of glass. I couldn't tell if they were my own memories or someone else's, and that uncertainty only made it worse.

I pressed my hands against my temples, trying desperately to block out the noise, but it was like trying to hold back a tidal wave. The sounds kept coming, wave after relentless wave, threatening to tear my mind apart. I felt like my head was going to explode, the pressure building to a breaking point.

As I curled in on myself, trying to comfort my head, trying to distract myself from the pain, I heard footsteps behind me. They were soft, tentative, but I couldn't bear to deal with anyone right now, not when it felt like my mind was unraveling.

Without looking back, I managed to choke out, "Go away," my voice tight with the effort of holding back the pain. I didn't care who it was; I just needed to be alone, to find some way to make the noise stop before it drove me completely mad.

But the footsteps didn't retreat. Instead, they hesitated, lingering just out of sight. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to focus on anything but the relentless noise in my head, hoping that whoever it was would just leave me in peace.

I could still feel their presence, the weight of their gaze pressing down on me, refusing to leave. The pain in my head was unbearable, but the stubbornness of whoever it was only added to my frustration. With a shaky breath, I forced myself to turn around, ready to snap at them to go away. But when I looked up, the words died in my throat. It was Logan.

He stood there, a few feet away, his expression a mix of concern and something deeper, something I couldn't quite read. His eyes, those intense, haunted eyes, softened slightly when they met mine, but it did little to ease the turmoil inside me.

"You," I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper. I wanted to tell him to leave, to go away like I'd demanded, but the pain was too overwhelming, and all I could do was stare at him, struggling to keep it together.

Logan didn't move closer, but he didn't leave either. He just stood there, watching me with a quiet intensity that made it hard to look away. It was as if he knew, as if he could see the battle raging inside my head, and despite everything, he wasn't going to leave me alone to face it.

"Violet," he said softly, his voice a low rumble that somehow cut through the noise in my head. 

His words should have irritated me, should have made me want to lash out at him for not listening. But instead, there was a strange comfort in his presence, something solid to hold on to in the chaos. I didn't know why, but part of me felt like he was the only thing keeping me grounded, the only thing keeping me from completely falling apart.

I didn't have the strength to argue, so I just turned back around, curling into myself as I tried to weather the storm in my mind. The voices, the pain, everything was still there, but somehow, knowing Logan was behind me, standing guard, made it a little more bearable. And for now, that was enough.

Logan hesitated for a moment, as if unsure whether to come closer. But then he took a slow, deliberate step forward, and then another, until he was right next to me. Without saying a word, he lowered himself to the ground beside me, the weight of his presence both comforting and overwhelming. We sat there in silence, and gradually, the voices in my head began to fade, retreating into the background until they were finally gone.

The relief was so sudden and profound that it left me feeling raw and exposed. Before I could stop myself, I felt the tears welling up, the frustration, confusion, and fear all boiling over. I tried to hold them back, to keep it all contained, but it was useless. The dam broke, and I started to cry, the sobs coming out in ragged gasps.

Logan moved closer, his arm slipping around my shoulders in a tentative, almost hesitant gesture. He pulled me into a side hug, his touch firm yet gentle, as if he wasn't sure how much comfort I'd accept. Part of me wanted to slip away, to push him back and put up the walls I'd been trying so hard to maintain. But another part of me—stronger, more insistent—wanted to stay close to him, to lean into the warmth and solidness of his embrace. And that confused me. 

I didn't understand why, but being next to him felt... right. Like somehow, despite the mess in my head and the tangled web of emotions, this was where I needed to be. So I let myself stay, resting my head against his shoulder as I cried out all the pain and frustration I'd been holding inside.

Logan didn't say anything; he didn't need to. He just held me, his presence steady and unwavering, as if he was silently telling me that it was okay to let go, that I didn't have to carry this burden alone. And for the first time since waking up in this strange place, I felt like maybe I didn't have to.

So I stayed there, letting myself be vulnerable in a way I hadn't allowed in a long time, taking comfort in the quiet strength of the man beside me. And for reasons I couldn't explain, I didn't want to be anywhere else.

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After some time, my tears began to subside, the sobs gradually quieting into shaky breaths. I moved slightly away from Logan, releasing myself from his touch. The warmth of his arm left me feeling strangely cold, but I needed distance to gather my thoughts. Without looking at him, I asked the question that had been burning inside me since our first encounter.

"Who are you?" My voice was quiet, but there was a desperation behind it that I couldn't hide.

Logan looked at me, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. For a moment, he didn't speak, as if he was searching for the right words—or perhaps trying to decide whether he should say anything at all. But I couldn't let it go. I turned to face him, my eyes pleading for the answers I craved, the answers everyone seemed determined to keep from me.

Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of whatever he was holding back. "I'm Logan Howlett," he said, his voice low and rough.

I already knew that. I wanted more than just his name. I needed to understand why this man, this stranger, seemed so connected to me, why his presence stirred something deep within me that I couldn't explain.

"I already know that," I replied, my tone firmer now, pushing past the lingering vulnerability. "But who are you, really? Why do you... why does this feel..."

I trailed off, the words tangling in my throat. I couldn't quite put it into words, the way his presence affected me, the way it felt like there was something just beyond my reach, something vital that I couldn't remember. But Logan just looked at me, his expression conflicted, as if he wanted to tell me everything but was holding back.

"I'm... I'm someone who cares about you," he finally said, his voice almost a whisper. "More than you know. But right now, all you need to know is that I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

It wasn't the answer I wanted, but there was something in his tone, in the way he looked at me, that made me believe him. And maybe, for now, that had to be enough. But as much as I wanted to trust him, the gnawing frustration of not knowing who he truly was, of not understanding the depth of his connection to me, still lingered. "Why can't you just tell me?" I asked, the pleading note returning to my voice. "Why does everyone keep treating me like I'm made of glass? I can handle the truth, Logan. I need to handle it."

He looked away for a moment, his jaw tightening as if he was wrestling with something inside himself. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and filled with regret. "Because," he said slowly, turning his gaze back to me, "I'm not allowed to tell you. I'm sorry."

His words hit me like a slap in the face, and I felt my frustration spike again. It wasn't enough, and his apology didn't make it better. I rolled my eyes, unable to hide my annoyance. "If you're not going to tell me, then just stay away," I snapped, the hurt and anger mixing in my voice. "I don't need a stranger to comfort me."

The word "stranger" hung in the air between us, heavy and painful. I saw something flicker in his eyes—hurt, maybe, or something deeper that I couldn't quite read. But I didn't care. I was too angry, too frustrated with being kept in the dark, and I couldn't stand the thought of someone hovering around me, pretending to care, when they wouldn't even be honest with me.

Logan didn't say anything, but the way he looked at me made my chest tighten. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, his expression conflicted. For a moment, I thought he might get up and leave, and part of me wanted him to. But another part of me, the part that was scared and lost, wasn't sure what it would feel like if he actually did.

"I'm not your enemy, Violet," he said quietly, his voice rough with emotion. "And I'm not going to leave you alone in this. Even if you hate me for it."

I wanted to argue, to tell him I didn't need him, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I turned away, wrapping my arms around myself as if to shield myself from the confusing mess of emotions inside me. 

"Just... give me some space," I muttered, feeling exhausted and defeated.

Logan didn't say anything for a long moment, but I could feel his gaze on me, intense and unwavering. Finally, I heard him stand up, the sound of his footsteps retreating a few steps, but he didn't go far. He was still there, watching over me, even if it was from a distance.

And despite everything, despite the anger and frustration, a small part of me was relieved that he didn't go too far. And I hated it.

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After a few more moments of sitting there, I finally managed to calm down and gather my thoughts. With a deep breath, I pushed myself up from the ground and made my way back inside.

Logan was no longer in sight, which was good—at least, that's what I told myself. I didn't need him around, hovering like some silent guardian. I needed space to think, to figure things out on my own terms.

I headed to the kitchen, my throat dry and my mind still swirling with questions. A glass of water was all I needed, something to ground me, to bring me back to the present. But as I stepped into the kitchen, I stopped dead in my tracks.

There, standing by the counter, were two familiar faces—Wade and Vanessa. And beside them, as if the universe was playing some cruel joke, was Logan.

Wade was in the middle of some exaggerated story, his hands gesturing wildly as he spoke, while Vanessa looked on with an amused smile. Logan, however, was quieter, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, his gaze distant—until he noticed me. His eyes flicked to mine, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something like relief cross his face, but it was gone before I could be sure.

"Violet!" Wade's voice broke through my thoughts, his usual enthusiasm completely undeterred by the tension that seemed to hang in the room. Before I could react, he was already across the room, wrapping me in a tight, almost bone-crushing hug. I weakly returned it, grateful for his familiar energy but too drained to match it.

"Wade," I mumbled into his shoulder, trying to muster a smile as I patted his back. His embrace was a bit overwhelming, but there was something comforting about it too—like being wrapped in a blanket of chaotic but well-meaning affection.

Wade finally released me, his grin wide and genuine. "You look like you could use about five more of those," he said with a wink, though his eyes held a hint of concern.

Vanessa, who had been standing nearby, got up and came over to hug me as well, her touch much gentler but no less warm. "How are you feeling, Violet?" she asked softly, her voice filled with a tenderness that made the knot in my chest tighten. It was as if she could sense the emotional storm I'd just been through, and her hug was like a lifeline, something to cling to in the chaos.

I hesitated, my eyes flicking back to Logan for a split second before I forced myself to focus on Vanessa. "I'm... fine," I said, though the word felt hollow, even to me. "Just needed some air."

Wade grinned, clearly oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. "Air, water, fire—whatever you need, we've got it here. Well, except for fire. They don't trust me with matches after the 'incident.' But don't worry, I've got a lighter somewhere."

Logan rolled his eyes at Wade's antics but didn't say anything. I could feel his presence, heavy in the room, and it made it hard to focus on anything else.

"I just came to get a glass of water," I mumbled, making my way to the sink, hoping to avoid any more awkwardness.

Vanessa gave me a small, understanding smile. "Of course. Take your time."

As I filled the glass, I could feel the weight of Logan's gaze on me, and it took everything in me not to look back at him. I didn't want to deal with whatever unspoken tension was brewing between us, not now, not after everything.

But as much as I tried to ignore it, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted in that moment behind the trees—something I wasn't ready to face but knew I couldn't avoid forever.

I couldn't stand what I was feeling, even though I didn't even know what I was feeling. It was all too much—too confusing, too overwhelming—so I left the kitchen quickly, hoping to escape before anyone could say anything more. As I turned to leave, I heard Vanessa call out behind me, but I didn't stop. I just needed to get away, to find some place where I could breathe, where I could be alone.

My feet carried me instinctively to the medical wing, the only place in this massive mansion that felt somewhat familiar, even if it was for all the wrong reasons. I wanted to lay down, to close my eyes and shut everything out, just for a little while.

But no matter how quickly I walked, Vanessa still managed to catch up to me. She was persistent, and as much as I wanted to be left alone, a part of me knew she wouldn't let that happen.

"What's wrong?" Vanessa asked, her voice gentle but filled with concern as she finally caught up to me.

"I just... I don't even know," was all I could manage to say, my voice shaky and uncertain. How could I explain what I didn't even understand myself?

Vanessa stayed by my side as we walked to the bed where I'd been confined for a week. It felt strange, standing there again, staring at the place where I'd been so vulnerable, so lost. But right now, it was the only place that felt remotely safe.

We stepped inside the room, and I closed the door behind us, shutting out the world and all the confusing emotions that came with it. I moved over to the bed and sat down, feeling the cool, sterile sheets beneath my fingers. Vanessa stayed close, her presence steady and comforting, even as my mind raced with thoughts I couldn't quite pin down.

I didn't know what to say, didn't know how to explain the storm of feelings swirling inside me. All I knew was that I felt like I was on the verge of breaking, and I didn't even know why.

Vanessa sat down beside me, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. "It's okay, Violet," she said softly. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. Just take your time."Her words were kind, but they only made the knot in my chest tighten. I wanted answers—I needed them—but every time I reached for one, it slipped through my fingers, leaving me more lost than before.

"I feel like I'm drowning," I whispered, the confession spilling out before I could stop it. "Like everything is just... too much."

Vanessa squeezed my shoulder, offering silent support. "You've been through a lot," she said gently. "It's okay to feel overwhelmed. No one expects you to figure it all out at once." I looked at Vanessa, the desperation clear in my voice. "Can you please just tell me what happened?" I begged, my eyes searching hers for any sign of the truth. "It's only been a day, and I feel like I'm driving myself crazy trying to put the pieces together with no guide."

Vanessa's expression softened, a mix of empathy and concern filling her eyes. She took a deep breath, clearly weighing her words before she spoke. "Violet, I wish I could tell you everything," she began slowly, her tone careful and gentle, "but there are things that... it's not my place to say. I know how frustrating that must be, but it's for your own well-being."

I felt a surge of frustration rise within me, the confusion and helplessness threatening to spill over again. "How can keeping me in the dark be good for me?" I asked, my voice trembling. "I just want to understand—why won't anyone help me do that?"

Vanessa reached out, taking my hand in hers. "I'm not trying to keep you in the dark, I promise," she said softly. "But there are things about your past, about what happened, that are complicated. It's not as simple as just telling you the facts. Your mind and body have been through a lot, and sometimes, forcing memories or information can do more harm than good."

I bit my lip, trying to hold back the wave of frustration that threatened to overwhelm me again. "I'm just so tired of feeling lost," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't stand not knowing who I am or what's real."

Vanessa squeezed my hand gently, her gaze steady. "You're not alone in this, Violet. We're all here to help you, even if it doesn't feel like it right now. But you have to trust the process, as hard as that is. The pieces will come together, I promise you that. It just takes time."

I nodded, though the reassurance felt hollow. I wanted to trust her, to believe that things would eventually make sense, but the uncertainty was suffocating. Still, I held on to her words, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she was right. That the answers would come in time, and that somehow, I would find my way through the darkness.

Next chapter: Part 15: A change of scenery

[greyspirehollow]

Bound. For... Science. [Request]

Pairing : Quaestor Valdemar x gn! reader

Fandom : The Arcana visual novel

Warnings : brief depiction of scientific stuff ; fluff

Summary : Could you have imagined that the scary and mysterious Quaestor Valdemar would become the person you see on a daily basis? Probably not. You even have a surprise for them...

They didn't pay much attention to you at first. Nor did you pay much attention to them. If you were honest with yourself, you probably couldn't have seen it coming. Once they started looking into your general direction however, you couldn't be any more nervous. You can't exactly remember how or when it started, but they had crept up on you so many times that you couldn't keep count anymore. Good thing your heart wasn't too jumpy (to their greatest disappointment).

You were minding your own business in the library, devouring a tome written by probably your favorite scientist : the genius who is Wilfried Magnes, an eminent biologist who had just published the third part of his theory on the evolution of species, this volume being dedicated to camouflages. You were so absorbed by the author's words that Valdemar had to clear their throat to get your attention. Your head whipped around at the sound, and you let out a relieved sigh. You were about to speak but they interrupted you : "Come. I would like to show you something..." and with that, they tugged three books out of the library's bookshelf, opening a secret passage. Your eyes widened as they grinned. Oh they were going to have fun scaring the sweet heavens out of you. You reluctantly closed your book, tucked it under your arm and went down with them.

You'd half expected the elevator to just give up and drive you both down to your respective deaths, but it seemed to be holding itself together. And that is the days you reached Valdemar's dungeons. They looked... Undeniably giddy. It was fun to scare mortals after all. And well... You didn't feel... the best. You hesitantly followed them, the strong smell of blood and iron hitting your nostrils, making your nose scrunch and a discreet cough escape you. And they seemed unfazed, inhaling the dungeon's scent blissfully. The more steps you took forward, the less you were sure you'd come out of this alive. You two then reached the main hall, operation tables lined across the walls and seemingly frozen in time since the last time they were used. Your eyebrows knitted in worry, your gaze falling onto Valdemar who had a wide, sharp-toothy grin on full display. "This-" they gestured around "-is *my* haven. The heart of all my works, where lies the remains of the most unspeakable procedures one can think of. Feast your eyes, maybe this is, who knows... the last thing you'll see~" your heart thumped violently against your ribs, and your eyes couldn't look away from- oh, what was that?

Your gaze landed on something behind them, in the faint distance : a shelf, upon which rested various things, but it is the white spot that caught your attention. You gasped, and it is as if all your fears... vanished. Wiped out in a snap of fingers. You excitedly walked over to the shelf, put your book aside, and took the human skull in your hands. "Gods, that's a beautiful specimen!" you exclaimed "how did you manage to extract it- i-it's in perfect condition ! what did you use to clean it? no don't tell me- let me guess- uh hydrogen peroxide* ? or did you clean it by hand?? Who- no wait ; I think it's... it's definitely a man's, and I'd say in their... in their 40's? something? did you-" you interrupted yourself with another gasp as you spotted the wet specimen of a heart sitting on the shelf. You carefully put the skull down "wait wait wait- you do not have a heart contaminated by a dark magical parasite- you do !!! How did you even get your hands on that ?? How did you remove it without getting- no way, you have- NO, stop it-" then your hands reached for a small closed test tube "you do not have a sample of a necromancer's magical decay !!! Where the hell do you even go to get that ?!" you gasped and picked up and examined specimen after specimen, object after object, rambling aloud. Valdemar could only watch with utter confusion as you rummaged excitedly through the shelf, all giddy. But soon, they grinned ; they seemed genuinely excited at the idea of explaining each and every single procedure they went through for each item, and so they went to stand by your side as they started rambling themselves. Your excitement was contagious - mainly because they didn't exactly have anyone else to share their passion with. And so when they started to go on about every recent experiment they'd done you clasped your hands together, looked them in the eyes, and said, determined : "teach me."

And that's when you became Quaestor Valdemar's apprentice. You two would spend most of your time in the dungeons, and at times you would giggle excitedly when performing a dissection with them, or when you found something exciting. Ah, science. Wonderful science. The word got around eventually, when people saw you practically live at the Palace and with your very own labcoat, gloves and apron. Countess Nadia eventually gave you one of the guest rooms to reside in, and that's basically when your new life began. At times, you would conduct experiments of your own in your basement. You did it before you'd met Valdemar, but now that you had a person to show your work to, one can say you'd become productive. You had obviously endlessly rambled about Magnes' theories of evolution to them, and they happily reflected upon it with you. The Quaestor had even brought up a few names they knew, and well, despite being somewhat outdated (and for some proven wrong and so put a little on the side in scientific history), and when I mean outdated I do mean dating at least a millenia back, you had heard of or read about some. Sometimes you would pester them with tons of questions about the scientific breakthroughs and theories of their own epoch, and they did reluctantly reply to some of them, despite your unquenchable thirst for every piece of knowledge you could get your hands on (the mind of a great scientist).

You loved the time you spent with them. But there was one thing you were particularly excited about... You hadn't told them yet. You'd simply mentioned how it would be nice to go for a simple walk in the streets of Vesuvia, enjoy the sunlight and the fresh air -because as much as you liked the dungeons and your basement, you didn't exactly appreciate the smell down there, unlike them- and to your surprise, they'd agreed. You'd reserved your places in advance, thankfully, because you knew that despite being relatively niche still, it was nonetheless booked by all the other scientists of the city. And of neighboring cities. And countries. Now that you thought about it- the scientific field was a rather closed circle, but people really came from everywhere. Anyways. As D-day approached, you couldn't help but feel both excited and anxious. Valdemar seemed to have noticed : you were talking a lot faster than usual, and your movements were a bit less organized than they usually were. You'd always dismissed it, saying it was only 'seasonal'. Not sure how you could prove that to them, but they didn't question you further. When the day finally came, you were absolutely restless. You laid there in your bed, it was probably... 3 AM. And you were successively falling asleep and waking up by periods of thirty minutes. Gods, this was torture... You tried tiring your eyes by reading Magnes, and... It worked, actually. You sighed as you finally managed to sleep through a few more hours before sunrise.

But once you did wake up for good... Oh you were worse than a grasshoper. You couldn't even focus on the experiment with Valdemar- you couldn't even stay sitting for more than two seconds. When the clock struck noon, you agitated even more, insisting that you and them go on that walk in Vesuvia NOW. They initially resisted, but their patience ran thinner and thinner with your insistence. "fine, FINE ! We'll go on that stupid walk!" they said, irritated. If you were honest with yourself, you would've dragged them by the horns if they'd continued to refuse. They sighed, annoyed, as you gripped their arm and pulled them out of the dungeon. Valdemar knew something was up. No human -especially not you- was so excited about a walk in the streets. You were definitely up to something, and they didn't like the fact that they didn't know what it was. But your (nearly feral) eagerness did ease a bit of their concern : it was entertaining to see you so jumpy. You'd not talked about anything scientific on the way to your... surprise. You were afraid that you might accidentally spill the beans. And you wanted it to remain the most surprise it could be. You both walked the busy streets of Vesuvia, the sun hitting your labcoats, reminding you that they were actually a clear color, nearly white, making you squint your eyes every time you glanced at Valdemar. Now that they thought about it... They weren't exactly used to the outdoors. They haven't been recently, anyway. It was nice to feel the warm sun on the skin of their face again... They allowed themselves a small smile behind their mask.

After what felt like endless turns, you smiled with undeniable joy as you both reached your destination. You walked a few steps ahead of them and cheerfully announced : "Tadaaa ! Welcome to the Third Edition of Vesuvia's annual Scientific Exhibition !!", with a wide and toothy smile. Valdemar's eyes widened slightly. They'd never heard of this event before... They looked at the building which hosted it, and the crowd of what were definitely scientists -or at least curious souls- lined up at the entrance, the sun hitting the bright red of the laid out carpet and the banners on the walls, embroided with the event's symbol. You excitedly waited for their reaction. They smiled and looked back at you "ooh, so that's what you were all jumpy about..." you chuckled, slightly embarrassed "I really wanted it to be a surprise..." you said sheepishly. They hummed : "well, that is definitely a pleasant surprise... Shall we go in?" You nodded eagerly as you went to wait in line with them. They struck conversation as you both waited :

"What does... what happens there, if I may ask?

-Well, it is an event that allows scientists of all backgrounds to come and show off either their discoveries or their handiwork. There are also often books and manuals being sold, as well as materials and products -ouh, I could definitely use a few brand new scalpels- but there can also be specimens. Last year I've seen reconstruction of animal skeletons, things like that.

-My, that is most interesting... *they replied, their eyes sparkling with interest* I do hope this will be a fruitful experience.

-Oh, it most definitely will!

-How come I have not been informed of such event? You said it was annual?

-Well, it's still very niche, and not many people outside the scientific field know about it.

-But the Countess must've known, no? Third edition- meaning this is the third year they're doing this. Ooh, or maybe it was put on hold during the years of the Plague... Meaning it was Lucio who-... Hm. He most definitely wouldn't have told me. He must've said yes for the event to be hosted without even giving it proper attention. Tsk.

*you chuckled*

-Well, now we're here, and I'm pretty sure the Countess will give the exhibition a bit more care and attention from now on..."

You both arrived at the reception, and the man behind the desk looked up to both of you "Ah, greetings, Misters.. Misses...?"

"Doctor." you both replied at the same time, on a nearly identical tone. The receptionist raised an eyebrow and blinked, before reading over his list "hm.. Ah yes ! I do have two Doctors : Dr. Y/N and Dr. Valdemar?" you beamed "that is us!" the receptionist nodded and handed you a quill "I'm just going to need you both yo sign here..." and you both did. The man bid you a good visit and you both walked into the building, excited to see what would the exhibition hold for your curious eyes. Valdemar had noticed the little paper at the entrance, and decided to tease you about it : "You didn't take the couple's discount?" you briefly froze in your tracks and stammered "wh- uhm I didnt- I ju- uh... Should I have?" They laughed "No, I just thought maybe you could've spared a little bit of money... Those places were expensive, no?" your cheeks reddened and you frowned "don't worry about that- Let us enjoy science!!" They nodded and followed you through the building.

And the event did NOT disappoint. You went from person to person, lingering on some more interesting than others. you bought supplies, both for the dungeons and for your own little experiments at home, and you and Valdemar spent a copious amount of time with a surgeon, Dr. Milestone, who had successfully extracted a whole human nervous system, which was on full display under a glass protection for you to admire. Both of you swarmed him with questions, undoubtedly interested. Maybe you had even... Intimidated him somewhat. If it weren't for the exhibition's most interesting part, you would probably have spent a lot more time with him. You both walked into a separate room, which was basically a small amphitheater, and when you sat down, an auction began. There were various specimens -live or dead- being sold, but you hadn't managed to get your hands on any, despite the juicy offer of an amnesic brain and two hundred coins for a complete collection of the tools of the late scientist Oscar McArthy, a reference in the world of science... But that was a very little loss compared to the amazing afternoon you spent with Quaestor Valdemar. And they seemed to be thinking the same thing. However, around 5PM, you'd lost them in the crowd. Unable to catch a glimpse of them, you went and waited by the entrance, thinking it would be the most logical thing to do. They appeared again around half an hour later, and before you could scold them, they apologized, and you weren't so upset anymore.

Eventually, you both returned to the Palace around the evening. You didn't head straight for the dungeons however... Your legs felt weak and all the excitement, all the attention and focus you gave the exhibition had drained you. You let yourself slump down onto the couch of one of the drawing rooms with a groan, already feeling your eyelids begin to weight and threaten to close. Valdemar only chuckled at the sight "Can I at least sit down, too?" you briefly sat up "oh- yes, sure.. sorry" and made room for them. But as soon as they sat down, they grabbed a pillow, placed it on their lap and patted it gently. Your eyes widened at the invitation, and before you could wonder why they'd even done that, they said : "it's the least I can do for such a wonderful afternoon.". You didn't need to be told twice. Your head slumped down on the pillow on their lap and your eyes closed with a comfortable sigh.

It's not before they were sure that you were knocked out asleep that they started gently running their fingers through your hair...

*nota bene : I am in no way a scientist, so I may give inaccurate depictions of certain elements in the story.

Bonus !!______________________________

The following day, around breakfast, Valdemar came up to you : "I didn't have time to give you that yesterday - you were pretty tired." they handed you your copy of Magnes' theory on camouflage and you raised an eyebrow "what do you mean? I hadn't lost it..." you opened it and your eyes nearly popped out of your sockets- there, on the first page, was a handwritten dedication :

"Y/N, may your thirst for science and knowledge never quench"

-W. Magnes

"you.... when did you ...?" your voice squeaked as you stood up from your seat. Valdemar only smiled smugly. "He was surrounded by quite the crowd... We didn't even notice him, near the auction room. But I did manage to capture his attention briefly." You didn't even question how they'd gotten the book -since you were pretty sure you'd left it at the Palace- or the fact you missed the chance to see your favorite scientist, you were nearly crying, this was just so sweet of them to do-

You nearly knocked them off their feet with the force of your hug "oooowhhh, Valdemar !!" you squeaked out "there there, it's nothing." they said, patting your back, seemingly amused "I could kiss you-" you said. "ah- maybe not for such a futile favor?" the replied, a little embarrassed. You didn't care, but if they didn't want to be kissed, you wouldn't kiss. But you wouldn't let go of them either.

"Y/N, will you let me go now, it's roughly been three hours-"

[h0nology]

A Long Walk

Let's take a long walk around the park after dark, find a spot for us to spark

warnings: not proofread. wrote this at 12am, half asleep but its been on my mind for too long. fluff, kissing

You exit out your office, hurrying down the steps, eager to get home and start your long weekend.

Thump!

Your briefcase hits the ground as your body collides with another. Without even looking at the person in front of you, you reach for your briefcase but they beat you to it, picking it up and handing it to you.

“In a rush to get home, huh?”

When you looked up at the man, you weren't expecting to be met by such a beautiful face and familiar too but you couldn’t quite put your finger on where you’ve seen it before.

“I need every second of this weekend.” You let out a soft laugh, still mesmerized by the man in front of you.

He looked at you for a second, his eyes scanning over your face as a smile crept up on his. "Ah, I see," he chuckled. "Is this your office?"

You look back at the beautiful building that you are lucky to call your office. It’s been a long time coming, but you're grateful that your writing career has brought you here.

“Yes it is, actually.”

He clicks his tongue, looking up at the building before shoving his hands in his jacket pockets as a cool breeze passes. "Hey, uh, would you like to go on a walk with me?"

“A walk?”

Wasn’t really in your weekend plans but you couldn’t seem to say no to the handsome man in front of you.

"I'm Pedro, by the way. Sorry, I should've started with that." He says, pulling his hand out of his pocket to shake yours.

You gladly shook his hand, telling him your name in return. "Yes, Pedro, I'd like to go on a walk with you.” You replied with a smile.

He smiles back, surprised that you had actually said yes as you two began to walk side by side.

“Do you always go on walks with strangers or am I special?”

“There’s a first for everything.” You shrug, looking up at him.

"True," He agrees. "So, big fancy office. What is it that you do?"

“I’m a writer.” You tell him

“Oh really? What do you write?”

This was your favorite question, you loved talking about your writing.

"Anything my heart desires, really. My range is as vast as romance to sci-fi.” You reply.

“Is that what you’re working on right now?”

"Well, I wouldn't say working on...writer's block has been a pain in the ass.” You admit.

“Writers block…” He chuckles, “That’s a new one.”

“Enough about me, though.” You wave it off, “What is it that you do?”

Pedro was honestly in shock that you didn’t know who he was, but also in awe. He had finally found someone who he could click with, without it feeling forced or uncomfortable. He wanted to ask you ‘You really don’t know who I am?’ but then he’d be the jerk.

“Well, I act.” He tells you, “I’m an actor.”

You were expecting a photographer or a bank teller, anything but that. You admit it's a bit sad how out of touch you are with the internet. You don't really follow the latest shows and movies because you're usually nose deep in a book or writing your own.

“Do you find that hard to believe?” Pedro asks after you don’t respond.

“No! No, not at all.” You laugh, “What are you in?”

“Have you heard of Narcos?”

You wish you could say yes. You didn’t want to downplay his accomplishments of what he has acted in but you really have never heard of it.

“I’m lame, I’m sorry.” You shake your head, chuckling a bit.

“You’re far from lame, trust me.” He says, “Plus, it’s good to know this could be something genuine.”

“This?”

“Us.” He clarifies.

“So there’s an us now?” You ask, looking at him, “Get a girl a drink or something first.”

You just happened to be walking up on a smoothie shop, you swear you hadn’t seen it until Pedro smirked at you, doing a weird and overly dramatic gesture towards the sign. You laugh, walking in as he held the door open for you. The two of you entered the small and crowded space, placing your order and waiting for the blended goodness to come out. You took a seat as Pedro stood and waited for the smoothies, mindlessly you took out your notebook, jotting some thoughts down that had came to your mind as you studied the room around you.

“Inspiration flowing?” Pedro’s voice snapped you out the trance you were in.

“Yeah, that couple there reminds me of my characters.” You point your pen at the couple sitting down, the girls head resting on her boyfriend’s shoulder as he typed on his computer.

You hear Pedro chuckled before speaking, “Cmon, I want to show you something.”

You finished up your jotting, closing your notebook before standing up and following him out the shop, letting him lead the way to wherever he wanted to take you. As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the sky, Pedro eventually hooked his arm with yours. The sky was painted in hues of pink, orange, and gold, and you couldn’t stop the thoughts for your book from coming in.

You two stopped in front of a pond, the sun reflecting on it beautifully. There was a bridge in the distance, the sun slowly but surely setting behind it. The gentle breeze whispered through the trees as you two stood there. You had finally turned towards him, looking up at him with his beautiful brown eyes.

“So why’d you want to show me this?”

“I wanted to show you something as beautiful as you.”

He's full of surprises. You didn't expect that at all, trying to hide the smile creeping onto your face. Your eyes dart between his eyes and lips, as his do the same, before he leans in and kisses you.

Your lips met tenderly, like two delicate petals brushing against each other. Time seemed to stand still as you savored the moment. It was a gentle exchange, filled with warmth and affection.

“Maybe you can put that in your book.”

[winters8child]

It´s been a long, long time

Chapter 108

"Hey, Steve," I whispered, sitting down in front of the gravestone, the grass prickling against the bare skin of my legs. The summer heat had been relentless these past few days, and the stone felt warm beneath my fingertips. Coming here alone had been tough, but I would have to get used to doing many things by myself in the future.

I was giving Bucky the space he asked for. He’d called me last night, but I was in the shower when it happened. I thought about calling him back, but part of me hesitated. Maybe I wanted to respect his need for space, or maybe I was afraid he wouldn't answer. Either way, he didn’t call again, and I convinced myself that he would if it was really important. But the silence felt heavier than I expected, like a knot tightening in my chest.

I traced the letters of Steve’s name, the familiar shape of each line grounding me for a moment. "I wish you were here," I murmured, feeling the sting of tears I’d been holding back. "I feel so alone in that huge house."

I had thought about selling the house and moving back to Brooklyn. It was a beautiful place, full of light and warmth, and there was so much space—perfect for a big family. I could imagine other people's children running and laughing in the backyard, their joy echoing off the trees. But mine never would.

The emptiness of it all seemed to swallow up the laughter that should have been there. The rooms felt too large, the silence too heavy. It was as if the house was waiting for something that would never come.

"Sometimes, I just wish I could have gone with you," I whispered, my voice breaking as tears welled up. My fingers traced the edges of the gravestone, feeling its heat against my skin. "Living feels like a mistake... If you’re up there... if you’re with our son... I don’t want to be here anymore."

Bucky was the only reason I’d held on, the one thing tethering me to this life. But now, he’d decided that it was all too much. There was nothing left keeping me here anymore, and the emptiness was swallowing me whole. My mind drifted to dark places I tried so hard to avoid.

I didn’t want to stay at the cemetery any longer, but the thought of going back to that empty, echoing house felt even worse. And I couldn’t show up at Bucky’s doorstep—not now, not like this. The weight of it all crashed down, and I buried my head in my hands, tears streaming down my face. The sudden buzz of my phone startled me. I fumbled to pull it from my bag, my heart leaping when I saw Sam’s name on the screen.

"Hey, Sam," I said, my voice shaky despite my best attempt to sound normal. It felt strange hearing from him after so long, especially after everything we'd been through together. We'd shared so much when we were on the run, but since Thanos was defeated, we had hardly spoken.

"Hey, what's up? It's been a while, so I thought I'd give you a call. How are you doing?" he asked his tone light but with a hint of concern underneath. He sounded cheerful, but there was a hesitation in his voice like he already knew things weren’t great.

I hesitated, unsure how much to say. "I'm... managing. It's just—" I paused, my voice catching, "—it’s been tough, you know?"

Yeah, I get that," he said. "Listen, why don’t you come down here for a while? I’m in Louisiana with my family. It might be good for you—a change of pace. What do you think?"

I paused, the idea sinking in. I had never been to Louisiana before, and everything around me lately felt like a constant reminder of Steve. Maybe getting away from it all, even for a little while, was exactly what I needed. "You know what? That actually sounds like a great idea."

"Great! We’re having a big barbecue this weekend—why don’t you join us? I’ll send you the details," he said, the relief clear in his voice.

"Sounds good... and, uh, thanks, Sam. This couldn't have come at a better time," I admitted, thinking back to the dark thoughts I’d had just moments before.

"Anytime. See you then!" he replied before hanging up with a click.

I sighed, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders as I looked back at Steve's name etched into the stone. "I don’t know if you had anything to do with that, but... thanks," I whispered, wiping away a tear.

Three days later, Sam picked me up from the airport. The hot Louisiana air felt thick and almost suffocating, but even so, I’d rather be here than alone in Brooklyn.

"Hey, it's good to see you," he greeted me with a warm hug, a big smile lighting up his face. Already, I felt a little lighter.

On the drive from the airport to his place, we talked about the weather, the incredible food here, and his family. Not once did he mention Steve or ask how I was coping, and for that, I was grateful.

The house was nestled by a lake, surrounded by woods; it reminded me a little of the fishing cabin where we’d stayed while on the run, but this place was much larger and felt more open. Sam introduced me to his sister, Sarah, and her two sons, AJ and Cass. They welcomed me as if we’d known each other for years, making me feel at home right away.

Sarah showed me the room I’d be staying in—a spacious bedroom with a large bed and its own bathroom. It felt cozy and comfortable, a perfect place to escape for a while.

At least that’s what I thought until I found out they had invited Bucky too. The barbecue was already in full swing—people chatting, drinking, and waiting for their burgers. That’s when I spotted him, talking to Sarah. They seemed to be getting along well, judging by the smile on her face.

He’d cut his hair and shaved, looking different, almost like a weight had been lifted. He even smiled at her, which made me hesitate. I thought about slipping back into my room, avoiding the whole situation, but the barbecue could go on all night.

"Look who’s here!" Sam called out as I stood frozen on the porch. Bucky turned, and for a moment, his smile faded, his eyes locking onto mine. But then he quickly recovered, noticing the people around us. He grabbed Sam by the arm, pulling him aside to whisper something in his ear.

I caught a bit of their exchange as Sam led me toward the others. “Don’t be ridiculous,” he said before turning his attention back to me with a welcoming grin.

"Hey," Bucky greeted, lifting his beer casually, though there was a slight tension in his eyes.

"Hey," I replied, forcing a smile. "Didn’t expect to see you here."

Bucky turned to Sam, his tone light but pointed. "Yeah, right back at you. Someone forgot to mention that."

Sam laughed, giving both of us a pat on the back. "Must have slipped my mind. Anyway, I’m starving," he said, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

Sarah glanced between us, sensing the tension. "I'll see you around then, Bucky," she said, quickly excusing herself and leaving us alone.

I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying to ease the awkwardness. "New look?" I asked, attempting to break the ice.

"Uh, yeah, it was time," he replied, tapping his foot nervously, his gaze shifting around us. "Listen, I can leave if this is too awkward for you."

I scoffed, my arms crossing defensively. "You were the one who said you couldn’t be around me anymore."

He shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes. "That's not what I said! I just needed some space... I called you, and you never called me back..."

I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off. "You said to call you if I needed anything, and I did call, but nothing—no text, nothing." His voice was rising, and I could see agitation building within him.

"I'm sorry, okay? I was hurt!" I stammered, my voice quieter but still laced with emotion.

"That's why I stayed away in the first place," he said, shaking his head, frustration etched on his features. "We would just end up hurting each other."

"Well, it didn’t work," I replied, a lump forming in my throat. "I’m hurt, but I’ll respect your wishes. I’ll give you the space you want." I took a step back, trying to create some distance between us.

"This isn’t about what I want," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He shook his head again and downed the rest of his beer in one swift motion as if hoping to wash away the tension hanging between us.

Just then, Sam returned with two plates piled high with burgers. "Who wants some burgers?" he called out, handing one to me.

"Thanks," Bucky murmured, his gaze already drifting toward one of the tables further away, where he took a seat, clearly eager to put some distance between us.

I turned to face Sam, raising an eyebrow. "Did you do this on purpose?"

He looked guilty, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. "Well, he kept bugging me about how he screwed up and didn’t know how to fix things," he admitted. "So, I thought a little push might help. You can't fix things if you don't talk." He leaned in closer, a hint of encouragement in his voice. "So... talk."

I sighed, feeling the weight of Sam's words. "I wish it was that easy, Sam."

"Well, you've got plenty of time; he's staying at the house too," Sam said with a grin before he disappeared back into the crowd.

My gaze shifted to Bucky, and I felt my mouth fall open in surprise. He was staring at me, his burger untouched on the plate. A look of discomfort crossed his face when he realized I was watching him, and he quickly turned his attention to Sarah, who had settled down next to him.

Their laughter echoed in my ears, and I felt a knot tightening in my stomach. The warmth of the barbecue seemed to fade, replaced by the chill of uncertainty.

Next Chapter

[savanaclaw1996]

When You Wish Upon a Star-Idia Shroud x Fem! Reader (TwstOber 2023)

Day 1 of the TwstOber2023 challenge by @raven-at-the-writing-desk. Note: I only know some stuff about Idia, so bear with me on this!

Warnings: Wish Upon a Star event spoilers!

Word Count: 1,067 words.

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

(Y/N) looked up at the evening sky above. Thousands upon thousands of stars twinkled brightly in the inky darkness of the night sky. You had seen stars in the night sky back in your world, but in the world of Twisted Wonderland, the stars in your world's sky paled in comparison the stars in that world's sky.

Tonight was the night that the stars that everyone at NRC wished upon were sent straight towards the heavens. As you watched Idia pound his drum in his Stargazer outfit and Deuce and Trey wave their wands, the crystal stars floated from the tree they were on and surrounded Ortho.

Then, Ortho started to float upwards towards the sky. Before long, he started to rocket towards the sky, the crystal stars trailed behind him, swirling around and around until he was just a speck in the sky. Once Ortho reached the exosphere, that was when he released the stars.

You watched in sheer awe as the crystal stars started to rain down across the heavens. "So beautiful..." you whispered, captivated by the beauty of the stars.

Once the Star Sending ceremony was over, you went over towards Idia who was walking down the hill. "Idia-senpai!" you yelled, making him stop in his tracks. Idia froze, his muscles going tense. "Uh, oh. The prefect's here." he thought, starting to sweat bullets.

What should he say to you? What should he do? What if he makes you feel awkward with his weird talk?

"Uh, (Y/N)-shi..." he started to say before you wrapped him in a huge hug, earning a high-pitched squeak from him. "That was awesome. I've never seen such a beautiful display before!" you gushed happily. "And you performed it marvelously!"

Idia swallowed as his cheeks turned pink along with the tips of his flaming hair. "Eeek! She's so close!" his mind screamed. He tried to speak, but his vocal cords were frozen. It took him quite a while to find his voice. "(Y-Y-Y-Y/N)-shi...Y-Y-Y-Y-You're...!" he stammered.

"I really had a wonderful time watching the whole thing." you said, letting him go. "Well, I'd better head back. Grim's been bugging me about making him a tuna fish casserole. See you tomorrow!" you said as you left.

"Ah, (Y-Y-Y/N)-shi! Wait...!" Idia cried out, trying to get your attention, but you didn't hear him. You were already too far. Idia sighed. He missed it. He missed his chance to tell you how he felt about you.

"Hah. I should have known. There's no way that (Y/N)-shi would ever look my way. In her eyes, I'm just a total freak." he mumbled sadly to himself as he headed towards his room in Ignihyde. He sat down in his chair and buried his face into his hands.

"Nii-san, what's wrong?" a robotic voice piped up. Idia looked up and saw his younger robot brother Ortho hovering beside him. Idia let out a tired sigh. "It's (Y/N)-shi. I missed my chance to tell her how I feel." he said.

"She probably hates me... Who am I kidding? It's obvious she doesn't like me." Idia then clawed at his blue fiery hair and groaned in frustration. "Auuuugggghhhh! Why does it have to be so hard to tell someone how much you like them?! If this were an otome game, it'd be easier to tell someone your true feelings!"

He then collapsed onto the floor. "I'm done. It's over." he whined. Ortho sighed. "Nii-san, get a grip on yourself. (Y/N) (L/N)-san doesn't hate you at all. In fact, she made a wish concerning how she felt towards you."

Idia sat up and looked at Ortho's optic lenses. "Really?" he asked. "Yep. Let me show you." Ortho said as a holographic screen appeared before Idia.

As Idia watched, he saw your face appear on the screen. "What do you wish for, (Y/N) (L/N)-san?" Ortho asked. (Y/N) thought for a second before a beautiful smile appeared on your face as you looked at the dull crystal star in your hands.

"I wish..." you started to say. "I wish for Idia-senpai to have more confidence in himself and the things he does."

After you made your wish, the star in your hands glowed. "Why would you wish for that?" Trey asked. "Well, it's because Idia-senpai is sometimes insecure about himself and the things he does. It's not his fault he's a total introvert." you started to explain.

"He constantly looks down upon himself and loses confidence. I don't know what his past was like, but I want him to know that he can do anything. I have no doubt whatsoever that he can achieve anything if he has the courage to pursue his dreams."

Idia stared at the screen, not believing what he was hearing. Is that what you really thought of him? "Plus, I happen to like Idia-senpai." you continued to say.

Idia froze. What?! You...like him?! "He's smart, he's brilliant, he's quirky, and that's fine. I happen to like quirky people. They're super cool. Not to mention that's he's got the cutest smile." Idia felt his heart beating wildly as his cheeks turned pink and his blue hair turned a flaming red.

His mind was going a thousand miles per second. "She likes me?! She likes me?! She likes me?! She likes me?! She actually likes me?! She thinks my smile is cute?!" He honestly didn't know what to think. Finally, his overworked brain shut down and his head felt light. Before Idia knew it, he keeled over and blacked out.

"Nii-san? NII-SAN! Get a hold of yourself! Nii-san!" Ortho yelled, quickly patting Idia's cheek. But Idia didn't respond. He was still out cold. "Jeez...!" Ortho sighed as he went into the bathroom and filled a glass full of ice-cold water.

He then returned to Idia's side and poured the cold water over Idia's face, promptly waking him up. Idia sputtered as he wiped the water from his face. "You okay, Nii-san?" Ortho asked.

"Does (Y/N)-shi like me? Does she really?!" Idia asked desperately, grabbing Ortho's shoulders and staring at him. "It's true, nii-san. (Y/N) (L/N)-san truly does like you." Ortho replied. Idia's cheeks turned pink again and his hair turned red.

"She likes me! She actually does like me!" Idia thought, his heart feeling light and joyful. Tomorrow, he's going to be honest with you and tell you his true feelings just like how you were true with yours.

[oogaboogaspookyman]

Heehoo Rosebud prom fic let's fucking GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

B belongs to @ilovejoll !

[BLOOM TOGETHER]

It's a beautiful day, free of Solver bullshit, and the gang is free to have a normal life for once

"You are cordially invited to a do-over prom, as both a thank you for saving the planet and to simply just have a good uninterrupted prom as it was previously ruined by the Doll incident. There will be drinks, food, dancing, music and more. We hope to see you there. Signed Liam" Uzi read the note.

"Uhhhh..." Uzi looked at N, then V, then B, expecting an answer or something.

"Prom sounds good! I'd like to have a normal one for once, unlike the last two! Haha!" N joked, "ow-" and getting a soft punch on the shoulder from V for making a joke about the gala. Hypocrite makes jokes about murder and all that stuff but she won't handle jokes about the gala what a frickin' jerk.

"I'd really like it, if i'm being honest, first actual prom where i get to show off with no freaks to get in the way!" V spoke ego. Jerk.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Smily face. Excitement.

"No." B deadpanned.

"Whaaa?? Why not??" N whined.

"I'm not going there, no thank you." B crossed their arms.

"Finally we agree on something! Yeah i'm not going either, i would rather kiss B than wear some stupid dress again" Uzi deadpanned.

"What the fu" B is giving Uzi a strong questioning glare.

"If it makes y'all happy you're wearing suits instead!" V groaned, earning an "EW THAT TIGHT SHIT?! NUH UH!" from Uzi. She hates prom in general.

"What if i wore a dress?" N asked, trying to convince Uzi. Uzi just looked at him like a puppy begging for food. "I'll take that as a yes!"

"Uzi you are weak." B deadpanned once again, now fully throwing their short-lived respect for Uzi out of the window.

"I'll wear a dress for you~" V spoke in a sing-songy tone, trying to convince B. They just looked at the nothingness, imagining V in a dress. "You can wear whatever you like!"

...

"UGHH fine i'm going too" B groaned, slouching in defeat as V puts her fists in the air in victory.

Finally. Oh and we ran out of. Batteries. Just saying

The door is kicked open by a bundle of legs (minus one, to whom it belongs seems to be against kicking doors).

"Hey guys we shouldn't be kicking doors..? Seems kinda disrespectful" N put his hands on his hips as he looks disapprovingly at the gals.

"It's an authority thing, you'll get it one day!" V, however, waved her hand at it, dismissing it and earning an "Alright..?" from N.

And lo and behold, the gang is all here! N is wearing a white dress with wavy cyan accents and fluff at the bottom of it. V is wearing a short red dress with a thigh cut that seems a little tight for her, which she (apparently) doesn't mind. Uzi is wearing a grey suit with purple and yellow accents and Cyn is wearing her iconic bow. B is wearing a dark grey suit with red accents and a red tie with black stripes. They're all ready and dressed up for prom!

"Back at it again at the Krispy Kreme!" Uzi exclaimed with pride. She is cringe and she is free.

The entire room went quiet (yes the music stopped too) and looked at the gang like they were fucking insane. Especially Uzi, but that's something i don't need to specify if we're being honest.

...

"Isn't this supposed to be a thank you for saving this stupid frickin' planet?!" Uzi exclaimed once more, now outraged by the reaction from the students.

The host is right. Don't be liars now.

"There's my new bestieeeee!" Lizzy walks up to V and hugs her, earning a low growl from B and thus letting go immediately to calmly say "Gurl chill out we're just besties hugging each other"

"Anywayyy the freak is right, this is a thank you prom for saving the planet of Copper 9 and we should make it as such for her, so as much as we don't like her we should set aside our..." She turned to look at Uzi, like she's judging her for no frickin' reason, then sighs in presumably defeat "Huge differences and treat her like a hero, alright everyone?"

... Metaphorical crickets.

"Yeah let's not be uncool with Uz? She saved our home!" Thad added as the entire room was quiet in a mixed bag of doubt, fear, disgust and so on.

The room suddenly explodes in cheering and joy, showering the heros in respect and love. The music continues.

"b-bite me..." Uzi had never experienced this much love before, aside from N, so she's flustered and maybe defensive.

Prom is going swell, with everyone dancing to the music and enjoying their time here, some drinking the punch that is hopefully not spiked and having their share of the snacks.

As they dance and dance, eat their share of the snacks, and hopefully don't get drunk from the punch, something tugs at B's hand.

"Ah?" was B's response to it, and they turn to see V with a smile on her face.

She points at the dancing floor with her thumb, asking them if they'd like to dance with her, and B's response was a nod. It's a yes, then!

Suddenly, B is pulled to the dancing floor and it's as if time slowed down with the music...

"Do you know how to dance?" V asked, and B responds with "I guess?", unsure of themself at the moment.

"Only one way to find out~" B loves when V gets all daring and fearless. They love that about her.

One foot, then the other. One foot, then the next. One to the right, the other to the left. Fucked it up? That's okay, you can try again. One foot, then the other.

It's when they finally begin to dance properly that the rest of the students at the dancing floor suddenly back off and start cheering them on and the music starts building up to the drop.

And then... To the sky the lovebirds fly, away from everything.

Woah.

Uzi looks at the two of them in the sky, mouth agape and eyes wide open, hollowed out from the surprise. She looks at N and points at the scene at the sky, "I wanna do that too!"

"Maybe one day, let's just let them have this one!" N chuckles.

It's so quiet up here, in the sky, the music is faint and the noise is practically nonexistant. It's just the two of them now, hugging each other, yet leaning their faces away to not make accidental contact.

"Do you remember that time we met?" B asked in a soft tone of voice, reminiscing.

"God yeah. You were kinda a dork confessing to me that day, y'know?" V teased playfully, earning a "hhh yeaaaa" from an embarrassed B.

...

"I have no idea what to say to you, i want this moment to be perfect..." B looks away before looking back at the Dissassembly Drone female's eyes.

"Then don't say anything... It's already perfect when you're in it, okay?" V reassures them that everything is okay, as long as they're together. Nothing is in the way of anyone anymore, they get to have a normal life in Copper 9 now, there is nothing stopping them from starting a family if they so wished... It's over, they can rest.

"I love you..."

"I love you too, B..."

The lovebirds lean in for a kiss, and stay like that for a bit before pulling away, giggling like little children at each other as their foreheads touch. They can see their own eyes in the other's visor.

It's all gonna be okay now. It's over.

[THE END]

[thelampisaflashlight]

Cryptid Biology Season 2: Something Special

[Previous entry in this series: Here. The ghouls participate in a time honored tradition in celebration of the summer solstice... or Dew has an encounter with Special in the woods.] Below the cut.

Dew can feel his heart beating in his chest as he runs through the darkness, ducking and weaving to avoid branches and thorn bushes that appear just inches away from him before disappearing into the black surrounding him.

He curses, feeling his muscles scream at him to slow down, to stop, but if he does, he'll get caught.

Breathing heavily, Dew stumbles over a root, but manages to keep his footing... only to trip and fall over the next one, landing upon the ground with a heavy thud that would hurt a whole heck of a lot more if not for the bed of decaying leaves on the forest floor.

He groans and attempts to scramble to his feet, but when a boot against his back keeps him from rising right away, he relents, flopping back down with an angry huff.

"First you failed to outrun me during the Imbolc hunt, then you ran into me at the one for Ostara, and don't get me started on that pathetic attempt to hide from me during Beltane... and now here we are again." the ghoul above him chuckles, eyes glowing red, face just barely visible with Dew's lackluster night vision, "I think you're getting in my way on purpose, Tadpole."

"Stop calling me that, Special, you prick..." Dew grits out, "Maybe you're the one chasing after me, huh?"

Special hums and grinds his foot down.

"Mn, no, I don't think so." he says, crouching down, "I'm not much of a hunter, you see, I've always been more of a scavenger; I take what the others leave behind, so normally I'd wait and see who's left..."

He moves to press his knee into Dew's back, applying more pressure as he leans forward to whisper into his ear, "You're too much work, so for me to catch you, either nobody wanted you this time, or you're deliberately making it easy for me, because after our first encounter, you've been aching for more..."

Special brushes the hair from his neck and presses a kiss there, "...Haven't you?"

"Shut-" Dew starts to shout, but can't as Special's jaws lock onto his nape, it stings, both from the act itself, and from the toxin dribbling into his wounds from the ghoul's mouth, "Uh-huunh..."

"There's a good boy." Special coos, licking Dew's blood from his lips, swiping his tongue over his teeth for good measure, "Feels better than when a quint fucks your mind, doesn't it? I know it does... It's such an instant relief."

His hand comes down the massage the wound, grinning as the skin heals over from his touch, while also aiding in spreading the venom faster.

"There we go..." he says, finally lifting himself from Dew's body and flipping him over onto his back, "Well, look at you~"

Dew's whole body feels flush, and his breathing has yet to settle from his mad dash through the forest, so he has to look like a sweaty mess, but Special doesn't seem to agree, reaching down to cup his cheeks with his hands, shaking his head teasingly back and forth.

"Aren't you just the sweetest thing?" he grins, then pats his face lightly, "Hm, guess we should get this show on the road then, huh?"

Dew mumbles something and raises his arms slowly, wiggling his fingers, and Special blinks at him for a moment before snorting, "Oh, poor baby, can't take your shirt off yourself? You need me to do it for you?"

"Feeeel allll... wiggly..." Dew supplies unhelpfully, giggling as Special hooks his fingers under the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head in one fluid movement, "Umph!"

"The venom's making you a little silly, isn't it?" Special squishes Dew's face again as he wads up his shirt and tucks it under his head, "That's good, you always seem so uptight..."

He spreads his fingers over his chest, thumbs poised beneath his nipples, "You know..."

"Most people come to these hunts so they can do nasty, freaky things in the woods without consequence." he says, teasing the small bud, "But you, and pardon the joke, are something special, huh?"

"You just wanna be loved.... adored, taken care of..."

Dew mewls as Special descends to nibble at his neck again, fingers rolling his nipples around in soft, slow motions.

"Are they not treating you right, sweet thing? Hm?" Special asks, "Should I talk to that water ghoul you like so much and tell him he doesn't need to be rough?"

"I like... I like rough..." Dew replies meekly, eyes shutting, "S'okay..."

Special makes a disappointed little noise and pulls back.

"You know I don't like liars, Dewdrop." he chastises, "But if that's what you want-"

Dew's eyes widen as Special's hand begins to wrap around his neck.

"Do you want this?" he asks, applying pressure to his throat, "Or do you want me to treat you like you really want?"

Dew groans and kicks his legs slightly, squirming under his grasp.

"Want-"

"Yes?"

"...Don't wanna say it..."

Special pouts.

"But I want to hear it, c'mon, baby, when you're with me, what's your name, huh? How do I treat you?"

"Pri..."

"Yes~?"

"You're a prick." Dew cackles, and Special sits back, rolling his eyes.

"You may be easy to catch, but you're hard to break, I'll give you that." He sighs, "But I'll be damned again if I don't love picking you apart."

"Hehe~"

The multi-ghoul slides down and begins undoing Dew's pants, but the zipper refuses to open and he gives a frustrated noise.

"Just pull 'em off..." Dew says, struggling to move his legs around from under Special's body.

"I have a better idea-" The ghoul tugs Dew's pants down to about mid thigh and leaves them like that, the dense, folded over fabric restricting his movements, "-that's much better."

Dew wriggles, trying to slide them down further, but he can't get the leverage and gives a defeated hiss.

"I could just..." Special pushes his legs back towards his chest, "Yeah, I can work with this."

"H-Hey now-"

Special cranes his neck at him, "What? Suddenly you're embarr-Oh. Oh-ho-ho-ho~"

Dew's ears have flicked back, the tips almost as red as his face.

"What do you think? Should I take you like this, or perhaps I should lay you on your side? What is my princess thinking now, hm~?"

"Just-"

A stick snaps and Dew goes stone stiff, whereas Special lowers himself over his body, territorial, a growl emanating from his throat, wholly unexpected from such a usually jovial, prankster type like him.

What or whoever was approaching seems to get the hint and approaches no further, but the ghoul above him remains locked in his protective stance, glaring out into the darkness.

After a minute passes, Dew can finally hear the sound of retreating footsteps, and not even a second later, he feels something prodding at his entrance, causing him to tense and squeak.

"How annoying..." Special mutters, hastily working Dew open, not giving him any time to adjust, forcing a series of involuntary chatters and chirps to escape his mouth, "We'll have to rush things a bit now, I'm sorry."

"Who was-" Dew tries to lift himself up to look around, but Special pushes him back down, "Hey-"

Special clicks his tongue.

"Humans."

Dew furrows his brow.

"The siblings-"

"Not them." Special hisses, then tilts his head back, letting out an annoyed groan, "Dammit..."

"Then who? The gardener-"

"Outsiders."

Dew forces himself up onto his elbows, wobbling as Special helps him tug his pants back up.

"Careful now, don't want you falling down again..." Special chides, wrapping his arm around his waist as they stand, "...Fucking, of course, those bastards would sneak around on a night like this... I bet they're running back to the other side of the lake now."

"We should go after them-" Dew starts, but the second he tries to pull away from Special, his head starts swimming, "-Fuck, Phil, how much venom did you give me??"

"I wasn't expecting our little rendezvous to be interrupted by a pack of mortal morons, so I gave you a little more than last time..." he pinches his brow, "We'll have to inform the other-"

A loud cracking sound startles them both, making Dew stumble, but he is quickly captured by Special, who narrows his eyes in the direction of the noise.

"Do you think that was the trespassers or..."

A second, louder crack echoes through the woods followed by a chorus of human screams.

Dew cringes and Special begins to make a clicking sound, a common distress noise among ghouls, neither of them is sure what's going on at this point, and the lack of any other sound once a third crack sounds sounds has them both on edge, until...

"You better run, you fuckin' little shits! I have more where that came from!"

"...Bea, I think they got the point, put the bb gun down-"

...Ah.

Mountain heaves a heavy sigh, taking the gun from the gardener, who looks positively miffed, even in the lowlight cast by the lantern in the earth ghouls other hand.

"Give that back-" the hotheaded woman starts, but instead of giving her back the gun, Mountain scoops her up and jostles her around a bit before tossing her over his shoulder and lumbering back off into the forest, "YOU BITCH!"

Special and Dew watch the retreating pair in silence, looking at each other after the two are gone from sight again.

"...I'm getting too old for this..." They both sigh in unison.

"Still though, how did they get passed the barricades?" Dew wonders aloud and Special shrugs.

"They could have swam to this shore for all we know." he remarks, "It's happened before, so I expect the next budget meeting will involve putting something in place to prevent this from happening again..."

"We can't just magic some shit in place?" Dew questions, "Like with the woods along the main road?"

"People getting turned around in the woods is one thing, because they usually make their way back out, if we turn them around in the water, they could drown..." Special reasons, adjusting his grip on Dew, "...Not that they wouldn't deserve it with all the signs we have posted about these kinds of things. They've probably learned their lesson for now."

Dew hums.

"...So."

"So?"

"...Now that they're gone-"

"Yes?"

"...You know what I'm thinking?"

Special looks him up and down.

"...That we should track them down and eat their bones?"

Dew pinches the bridge of his nose.

"No, I-"

"-want to get railed within an inch of your life to make up for that frankly unnecessary distraction?"

"...You really are a prick."

"And you happen to like them very much, so it's a win-win situation for us all, isn't it?"

[from-the-clouds]

You've been developing a little crush on you econ professor Kendall Roy, but have been trying to not think about it, until you run into him in the wedding of a mutual acquaintance and see him in a suit for the first time. You're seeing a whole new side of him on the dancefloor but you're too flustered to talk to him. You're waiting your turn at the open bar when you hear a familiar baritone voice behind you calling your last name. You turn around and find your econ professor looking at you with an amused lopsided grin on his face. His cheeks are just a little bit red from all the wine and his tie is loose around his neck, the first button of his shirt undone. He stares at you for a while, smiling, but suddenly collects himself and takes on a more serious expression, as if trying to summon back some of that authority he wields in the classroom. But it's too late. You know you're about to make a series of bad decisions tonight.

OMFG yes, i love this idea and so i wrote a little blurb (hope you don't mind)

cw: alcohol mention.

When you see him, your jaw drops just a little bit. It's the last person you'd expect to see here, and you're only used to hearing your name from him when he's about to chew you out in class -- not that you mind, of course, because you sort of like the attention.

"Dr. Roy?" you ask, almost not recognizing him at first glance. You're used to seeing him in plaid blazers with reinforced elbows, or collared dress shirts poking out from underneath his impossibly soft-looking sweaters. Right now, though, he's in a black suit that fits him like a glove, though his shirt is slightly wrinkled, his tie loose around his neck. You don't think you've ever seen him smile the way he's smiling at you now -- sometimes he'll smirk to himself if someone makes a good joke during a class discussion, but he always shuts it down right away and is back to business.

The wedding reception is well underway, and it's supposed to end in fifteen minutes, but no one on the dance floor seems to be slowing down anytime soon, including the bride and groom, which is why you're at the bar for another drink -- you're not quite drunk enough yet to embarrass yourself on the dance floor.

When he recognizes your clear shock and confusion, his face shifts then, smile fading as he looks at you underneath his dark lashes. "You should really be at home, studying for the exam on Monday."

He says it so sternly, that you feel yourself straighten up out of habit. "I uh- well, I-I-" you rack your brain for an excuse, until he breaks out in a smile again.

"I'm joking, please," he steps closer to you, and you laugh nervously. "Relax, I won't bite."

You feel a little bit of anxiety fade, but a different kind of tension now hangs in the air, because you don't think you've ever been so close to him before. Close enough to see that his eyes are hazel -- not brown, like you'd previously thought. And the color of his eyes weren't the only things you thought about.

"I did actually already study," you say softly. "Last night."

"I'd expect nothing less from one of my best students."

"Okay," you roll your eyes. "You don't have to lie."

"I'm serious," he says, still grinning.

"Oh, you are?" you ask, and can't help but smile a little, too. "Because if you really feel that way, you sure have a funny way of showing it."

He takes one step closer, so he can whisper in your ear above the noise of the music. Instinctually, you drift closer to him, bare shoulder brushing the soft fabric of his suit jacket. "Cut me some slack. I'm a highly-respected member of the faculty. I can't play favorites."

"That's fair," you nod. "But I think you like making people scared of you."

"Are you scared of me?" you can feel his breath hit the shell of your ear, and you can't manage to hide the way it makes you shiver. You draw back, and snort. The way he's looking at you -- so focused, so attentive, makes your head spin. But you don't know whether to say no, or tell him the truth. When you don't answer right away, he shakes his head. "Well, we can't have that, can we? What are you drinking?"

"Vodka soda," you say, gesturing towards the bartender who you are convinced is purposely ignoring you. "But I've been waiting forever."

"Here," he says, stepping alongside of you. All he has to do is straighten up, and snap his fingers, and the bartender turns to look at him standing there, nods once before walking over.

"See, even he's scared of you," you nudge your professor playfully. He chuckles, his hand falling to your lower back, and you all-but melt, shifting your weight on your feet so you're closer. You know this is highly, highly inappropriate, but you can't resist.

His touch doesn't leave you, not even after you get your drinks, clink your glasses, and catch him staring at you over the rim of his own. You have his attention, and you aren't going to let it go to waste.

[madameminor]

A Hunter Perspective - another unintentional essay

I guess ima put this out there, just for myself.

I'm fully on Hunter's side.

Don't get me wrong, I am madly in love with Crosshair, madly, passionately. I'll pick smut with him over Hunter any day. I see his faults and love him for them even as they drive him further into misery and darkness.

I also will fight fiercely that Hunter has done/is doing all he can to protect his family. And truthfully, I don't think he's made any mistakes.

"But he left crosshair behind in episode 1!" Crosshair was trying to kill him and his squad, and he had no idea why. He thought his brother had betrayed him. I also would have gotten the hell out of there, in massive pain at the betrayal, wondering what the hell was happening. I have also been someone with access to money and supplies - who has then suddenly not had any money or supplies and had to take care of my household (and thats just with my cat. Three brothers and a kid? Nuh uh). Then I find out he's being mind controlled - how the fuck am i supposed to fix that? And again, with no resources or money? Now guilt is eating me alive, but I can't do anything about it, I have no idea what to do. THEN I find out there is a way - and Wrecker might be going the way of Crosshair? Fuckin yes I'm going to go get that shit out of all of them and myself. Oh, and then the mind controlled one comes and tries to kill us again, and the ONE. THING. that I know that can save his ass and keep him from killing us is destroyed in the process. Like, I no longer have access to it. Great. So NOW what do I do?

"They pointed their guns at Crosshair when he was going to save Omega!" Uuuuh, yeah. He just admitted that his chip had been REMOVED. They didn't know when and if he'd TRIED TO KILL THEM after it was removed. He also shows open hostility to Omega. I'd be jumpy, too. Even Tech, the SMART ONE, who just explained his perspective, had his gun out. So it wasn't that far fetched. Is that their fault, OR HIS? Natural consequences, bro.

"They abandoned Crosshair on that platform in Kamino!" Dude, they gave him chance after chance, saying "come with us." Sure, maybe they didn't trust him fully, but after that whole episode, they trusted him enough to let him back on their ship. And he. said. no. In a way, he said "fuck you, no". And since he's still showing loyalty to the empire, how do they know that if they knock him out and drag him along, he isn't going to somehow contact the Empire and get them all captured or something?

"He didn't immediately go get Crosshair!/ He didn't listen to Crosshair and stay in hiding!" Aye caramba, this guy just can't win. First premise, again, traps laid, betrayal happened, how does he know this isn't a trick? And he's still hurting, with fewer resources, and he just found a HOME for them all. If they fall into a trap, they're also putting Pabu at risk. Second premise, his squad made the choice - and he knows who his squad is. If he put his foot down and said "no, we're not doing this, he's warning us to stay away", THEY WOULD HAVE GONE ANYWAY. He knows his team, his family - they don't follow orders. They would have snuck off without him, and he wouldn't have been able to help.

"He's being mean to Crosshair when Crosshair is hurting!" - Yeah, Ima allow this man to be petty and angry for a second. His brother who betrayed him, turned his back on him twice, blamed it ALL ON HIM instead of taking responsibility for his own actions (which he finally does at the end of this episode), tells him ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what happened, and just shows up expecting trust again? Actively, fuck you (said to Crosshair in this situation). Even Omega is like "YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THEM." Hunter has never been allowed to be openly hurt and angry. Not once this whole show. And now the one he can be vulnerable with is back, he's feeling his emotions - he's PISSED and HURT and ANGRY. He's tired of being the good one, and all of this guilt and other stuff laid at his feet. And what does he ask? "What did you do to betray someone ELSE? You're not even going to TRY and explain why you're here now? Just going to silently simmer and expect us to be all hunky dory?"

Maybe this is just cause I'm an older sibling, and sober in a 12 step (a community that actively acknowledges hurt, but taking responsibility for the lives you've hurt), and taking care of recovering teens who also whine about how the world is so unfair and never want to take responsibility that their actions are their own. (They all have pain, but thats an explanation, not an excuse. You don't get to call someone by their dead name and gender or spread rumors that another client is a pedophile and then act the victim. No.). But I'm team Hunter. I understand him, and he doesn't deserve half of the hate he gets.

I also understand where Crosshair is coming from. I know his hurt and his fear and his rage and everything. I've been him, too, in my active addiction. But guess what, buckaroo? The only difference between you and a droid is you are in charge of your actions, and you have to live with the consequences. I had to do it. Rex and Cody had to do it. Hunter has been doing it (warranted or not). Now, its your turn.

And this last episode - he started to.

[fuesch]

Agatha All Along 1x06

Oh, look who's confirmed to be Jewish. Now everybody who's been prematurely ranting can chill. Yay!

It's a magick mitzvah even. Is that an actual thing or are they witchy Jews.

A golden lion embroidered on that dark fabric - I'd love to be normal, but how can I when it reminds me of the silver tigers on the jacket we first saw Peter in?!

WTF, Billy's dad looks like a bearded version of Director Hayward to me. Those eyes are way too similar.

Billy's met Lilia before?! Okay, so he's not Billy M. yet and the way Lilia is talking makes it seem there'll be no merging of the Billys, the original B. Kaplan will actually die. How depressing.

I can't believe the sigil came from Lilia! And why?!

Whoa, the Hex exists already. The original Billy K. only just got that prediction from Lilia and has so little time left. There wasn't much "now" to enjoy anymore. D:

Whoa, Wanda had even broadcast on radio! AFAIR I never thought about that other people might pick up that signal! There must be some out there still watching with antenna or dish, who have actually seen Wanda's show.

Oh, his parents actually call him William. Well, that's a nice way to differentiate the characters without involving last names.

Alice!

If nothing is physically wrong with Billy, does that mean he has healing powers?

Poor freshly reincarnated Billy having a really bad and confusing time. And his new parents as well. :o(

Billy and Eddie making out - I'm slightly scared of going into that AAA tag now, there'll be so many disappointed Agatha/Rio shippers who thought it would be their ship doing the smooching.

"Nothing in my life has felt normal until I met you." Awwwww.

Woah, I'm starting to think there was actually something to those theories about ep 5 being Billy's trial. In his room are the Eastview pennant and the chain of tetraeder-covered lights we saw in the trial house.

A "trans lives matter" poster in Billy's room. Of course he's a good boy.

Ooh, Billy did some research. "Strange occurences persist to haunt Westview residents" Interesting, tell me more!

Avengers training exercise gone wrong. Uh huh.

I didn't watch the mid-season trailer, but saw a cap on Twitter. The quality wasn't great (which kept me from brightening it in Photoshop, as there was nothing more to see), but I did see some hair sticking out from under the hat. Hey, you know who has somewhat long hair? And that outfit is so unlike Peter, that it's gotta be his disguise. Today I saw a post on my Twitter timeline linking to an article about Mr. Bucket Hat's identity and couldn't resist. I held the mouse over the link to read the URL and had my confirmation. So I changed my plans and instead of doing preparations for stuff, I watched the episode.

Was super excited when I saw that the episode link on D+ is a cap of Billy & boyf in an underground garage. Which, you know, is the place where one would meet someone who's hiding their identity. And despite seeing this announced in that cap, I can't believe it's Billy meeting Peter. I mean, they're multiverse family, they've met before, yet neither knows this, ARGH!

What was Mr. Bucket Hat throwing and then putting in his pocket? My first thought is something with a sigil on it, but then he wouldn't remember Westview.

Bohnerrific69. Sorry, I LOLed way too loudly. But should you use that name when you're hiding from the authorities and maybe others?!

IS THAT WHAT THE BEARD WAS FOR?!?!

"Randall" isn't any better, Randy! Somebody give this man some help coming up with aliases!

"Bub"? Hmmmmm… boy, do I wonder where Horny Stiffy picked up that word. What a mystery, we shall never know.

OMFG, Peter, what did they do to you?! The Hex was such a bad time for him that he's still having a bad time 3 years later. My poor baby. I wonder if all the protection stuff he has all over actually does something. But if not, at least it should ease his mind somewhat.

I wonder if there's anything interesting on his shirt. Anyone know what it says?

Agatha stole your house? Baby, that belonged to WitSec. Maybe he really does have a sigil, but it only works on his actual identity, not the Hex one. I mean, it looks like he's been to a witch, so maybe while there he asked to forget who he is so he wouldn't miss his old life in his own universe. Does he even know he's run away from witness protection? If not, that would explain the unwise choice of screenname.

"I was a terrible influence on Wanda and Vision's kids." No, no, you were the best uncle! That's really not something to feel guilty about.

Agatha had Peter poison Sparky! FFS, Agatha! "Woof" - "Hey!" I second Peter's comment.

Hearing Peter say speedster gave me heart tickles.

He has a one-man show! So 1. He really seems to think the identity Monica uncovered is his real one, 2. He's not hiding, WTF?! No way WitSec didn't find him. Maybe they leave him alone because he's living under an alias and his show isn't popular enough to attract attention?

Poor Billy thinking Wanda and Vision are dead. But as long as he can't remember them, it shouldn't be that bad.

Oh, so Agatha caused disasters in the non-magical world too. And she's Jolene?!

"Fun facts: Murdered her entire coven." Fun indeed!

Billy really is on the Road for Tommy! Oh, right, as a survivor of the Witches' Road, Agatha would be very useful. I had forgotten about that.

Wait, has Agatha always been wearing that Bohner family reunion shirt ("pitch a tent" XD) when she was at home with Rio?! Dammit, I feel a mighty need for that shirt now. They better give us that merch. Never mind, thanks, @xmcu-fietro!

Okay, but that shirt means that the name wasn't a creation of the Hex, holy shit! Are you telling me WitSec seriously gave him that name? Peter must have managed to piss them off beforehand.

Joe Locke was so close to losing it in that "poking the bear" scene. But since he kept it together, they could use that take. Good for us, hee.

The actors seemed to have fun. I guess that excessive pen clicking was also improvised.

"I do not wanna go back in the closet." XD

So the sigil was still working when Billy suspected his real identity, as well as when he said it the first time to Agatha. So what would finally break it?

Agatha manages to free herself from the mud. And what about Lilia and Jen?

Billy with the hoodie of shame. He's really is so much like his mom.

"It's nice to see you again, Billy." The soft way she says it sounds like she means it. Did she always like the Minimoffs or did she just decide to adopt him because she had suspected him to be Nicky?

Huh, the sigil is broken, but I don't understand how. Sure, Billy just crushed it the thing it was on, but that won't have done it. Ugh, I have no patience, dig up Lilia and make her answer my question!

Just after the topic of body count, Agatha asks where Billy got his new body. Whoa, what if he thinks he killed William? I mean, maybe she does, but I hope he doesn't.

"all that power you can't control without throwing a temper tantrum." Your multiverse grandpa would be so proud!

"She chose a town full of strangers over her own flesh and wires." I mean, she kinda had to take down the Hex, there wasn't much choice, Agatha. Not to mention that witch that nagged her into it.

Tommy is out there, Billy can sense him! *mewl*

"Gosh, you really are a Maximoff. Otherwise none of this would be nearly as dramatic." XD But this is why we love them!

The pathetic way I was waiting for Evan Peters (huh, look at #6 being the Peter episode again) to show up in the credits in hopes of getting hints about the character from the background image. It's just the Westview map with the Hex.