#I've never met a cat that enjoys being in a car

[everydayesterday]

[currently playing the incredibly dangerous game of looking at cats available for adoption in the nashville area]

[writersblockedx]

Hi there!

I really love your fanfics!

I couldn’t use the link to submit a request so I’m sending it here !

What about a fanfic where Ried has a family but he’s kept it secret for so many years so they wouldn’t get hurt. He has a small daughter and a young son. One day at the office, he gets pictures of someone taking pictures of them with a threat so he has to come clean to the team and bring his family to the office to keep them safe and they are all shocked

Please no pressure for this fic! Love your work!!!

Securing Secrets / S.R.

Pairing - Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader Summary - Spencer has always attempted to keep his family safe. So much so, they had become a secret. But when their lives are threatened, he has no choice but to come clean and ask for the help of his team. Warnings - Stalking, mentions of violence and death Words - 3.8K 

A/n - I hope this is okay for you - I wrote a little more than I intended to but I still hope you enjoy!

Masterlist

It was no wonder why Spencer had kept his family to himself. When he had faced killers like Cat Adams and Tobias Hankle, he knew what humans were capable of - if he dared to even compare them to anything humane. So, he made the decision when he met Y/n to forever keep her a secret from his work. And when they started growing a little family with two children, he kept them a secret too.

Sometimes it killed him inside. As much as he loved his team, risking the lives of his family just wasn't enough for him. He had lost his first love, had his mother held captive, he wasn't about to risk his family too. He had learnt from his past - at least he thought he had done.

"Morgan, hey, no, you can't-" Y/n called towards their seven year old daughter whose sticky fingers had grasped a hold of a copy of fifty shades of grade. When she thought taking the kids on a day trip out to the book store would be easy, she hadn't imagined her seven year old reading smut. "You can't read that." She scolded before placing the book back on its shelf.

The bushy-haired girl gazed up at her mother, "Why not?" She huffed.

Her arm wrapped around Jay, their more reserved, four (and a half) year old. "Because it's an adult book. When you're old enough, you can read it."

"I am old enough, Daddy said I've got an advanced reading age!" Of course, she did - she was the daughter of the guy who could read 20,000 words a minute. Not to mention, she was going through the 'I'm old enough to do what I want' phase.

"Ask me again when you're 18, how about that?" She suggested before the child wrapped at her torso and stared up at her.

"Will Dada be home?" He asked.

Jay always liked coming home from their day trips to find Spencer already there, his head deep in another book or a case file. But days like that were rare - as much as both the parents hated such. "Erm-" Before she could give her son an answer, her phone started to ring. "That should be him." She gave the boy a smile before pulling out her mobile and seeing Spencer's contact staring back at her.

The man, from the moment they made it official, had always made sure to call her at the end of his working day. Whether he was in a hotel somewhere in the country, on the jet or if he was simply in his car, travelling home. "Hey, Spence, you should hear what Morgan wants to read-"

She could barely finish her breath, "Where are you?" He asked, his tone ever so stern that it was already making her nervous.

"The bookstore down town." She answered, already glancing around like she suddenly felt as if she was being watched. "Why?"

The girl could hear his uneven breaths on the other side of the phone, "I- Shit-" That's when Y/n knew something was wrong - her husband never swore...ever. "Can you come to the office? With the kids, we need you here."

"The office? Spencer, what are you talking about? I thought they didn't know."

"Yeah, well something's changed." Her heart started beating so fast that she wondered if Jay would be able to feel it. "Please, I need to know you're all safe."

She nodded and gazed over at her two children whom were waiting to hear about what Daddy had told her. "We'll be right over," She assured.

"And Y/n," He spoke, "In your car, in the glove compartment, there's a pistol, please, take it." What the hell had happened? Spencer could barely use a gun himself, never mind her. "I put it in there just in case and, just keep it on you until you get here."

"Okay, yeah." She didn't like the idea but, if someone was threatening them, if someone was putting her and her children at risk, she would do whatever was needed.

"I'll see you soon." Spencer huffed, "I love you."

"I love you too."

And with that, she ended the call. Only a single exhale dared to leave her lips before she stood. "Is Dada home?" Jay nagged.

She scooped the boy up into her arms, "No, but we're gonna visit him at work, okay?" Jay didn't seem happy about the idea but she'd rather the boy be safe than happy. "Come on," With her free hand, she grasped Morgan's finger tips tightly. "We need to go."

She rushed her and the kids into her parked car outside, making sure to look over her shoulder. Once she was seated in the driver's seat with the engine running, her gaze glanced to the glove compartment. Y/n needed to. Her hand leaned over, pushing it open and finding the gun stuffed behind a thick car manual. She grasped it for a moment before placing it on the passangers seat for easy access.

From there, she didn't take her foot off the gas. She was usually an ulta-safe driver. But, tonight, everything was different.

When they arrived to the BAU, Y/n pressed the button for the sixth floor and waited for the doors to glide open. With two children at either side of her, she wandered into the office. Her eyes instantly searched for Spencer. Instead, a blonde, colourful girl came running over to them. Well, walking as fast as she could in her thick heels. Garcia, Y/n assumed.

"Oh, you must be the lovely Mrs Reid," She sighed in relief when she came face to face with Y/n.

She glanced her up and down; there was no way this was JJ or Emily. "Penelope, right?"

The girl almost seemed surprised, "You- you know me?"

Y/n's face softened ever so slightly, "Of course."

"Y/n!" Her head turned from Garcia to see Spencer jogging over to her. Once he was close enough, he instantly engulfed the girl into a tight hug. "You okay?" He asked before pulling away and hugging his two children.

She nodded, "Yeah, we're okay, don't worry." When Spencer stood from hugging his kids, he gazed back over at his wife. She had grasped her hand from the back hem of her jeans, pulling out the pistol he had made sure she take. "Here, I've no idea what I'm doing with it anyway." Spencer took the weapon from her before her expression turned stern, "Now, what the hell is going on?"

Spencer's eyes instantly glanced down at their children; they didn't need to hear this. "Morgan, Jay," He spoke ever so softly to them as he leaned down, "Why don't you go with Garcia, she'll show you all her funky toys?" He glanced back at Penelope who was gleaming with a smile as she offer a hand for each child.

"Oh, yeah! I've got unicorns, fairies, fluffy pens, everything." She gleamed, trying to hide her fear for the true reason Spencer's family had been bought into the BAU. Once the kids took the woman's hand she gave one last look at the couple, "Let me know if you need anything."

The boy nodded before Garcia began leading the children towards her cave, "Someone- someone found you." He started to explain as he interlocked his hand with her, guiding the two over towards the conference room where the rest of the team were waiting. "I don't know how and I don't know who but- but around 30 minutes ago I had email to my work address. There's photos, almost a months worth."

Her brows narrowed at him, "Of what?"

"Of you."

Oh god. Despite all the effort the two had put in to keep their family personal, someone had still connected her and the kids to Spencer. And for whatever reason, they had become a target.

Spencer opened the door to the conference room, where the team were waiting. Most of them sat at the round table where they had several files and papers scattered in front of them. But at the entrance of Reid and his secret wife, they each turned. She offered them a weak smile before the man, whom she assumed was Hotch, spoke up, "Sadly we don't have much time for small talk, but we all want to help." He stood over towards Y/n and offered her his hand, "Aaron Hotchner."

She shook his hand, "Hotch, I should have known." And then she glanced around the table at the rest of the agents. Without hesitation, she named them all, "JJ, Emily, Rossi and Morgan." She smiled at each of them. "Spencer talks about you all a lot."

The boy next to her grinned every so slightly. "I wish we could have met differently." Morgan offered as he stood up, "Take a seat, we'll run you through what we know."

Y/n followed Spencer as the two sat at the round table and the tv screen in front of them started filling with papazzi-style photographs of the woman. Her grocery shopping, her at a bar with some friends, and even one from this morning: hand in hand with Jay as she led the two children into the bookstore they adored.

"You said this has been going on for a month?" How could that have been the case and she had no idea?

Hotch nodded, "We believe so yes."

"Who would want to do this?" She questioned; she wasn't exactly an interesting person. She had a normal life - as the pictures had proven.

Spencer took her hand, "We erm, we're not sure yet. We have one theory."

The tv screen clicked onto another slide. A woman's face filled the screen. A woman whom Y/n had heard far too much about: Cat Adams. "We know Adams has an obsession with Reid, and well, we know she likes to target his personal life," JJ informed as Y/n recalled the days in which Diana had been held captive. "If she somehow found out about you, it would have set her off."

"But she's in prison." Y/n pointed out.

Emily shrugged, "She was in prison when she found Reid's mother. She's- She's a master manipulator and ever since Reid first encountered her, he was the first man to challenge her." All of which Y/n already knew.

"If you really think it's her then-" Her eyes gazed over at Spencer, filled with worry, "You're going to have to talk to her aren't you?" It wasn't a question; she knew it.

Spencer sucked in a breath before he dared to nod.

It didn't take them long. Before Y/n realised it, she was watching out the window of the conference room as two prison guards held Cat by either one of her arms. She was smiling- no, she was smirking. She knew exactly what she was doing. Her eyes gazed around the office until she was forced into an interrogation room.

All they needed to know was who her contact was. Once they had a name, they could find them and put whoever that was in prison too.

Y/n stood next to Spencer as they stared at the woman through the double-sided mirror. "If she's done all this to get to you, why are we letting her talk to you?" The girl questioned.

"She always slips up in front of Reid." Emily answered - despite how much they all hated the idea.

Rossi was the first to pose another opinion, "What if we give her something she isn't expecting?" He suggested, "What if we don't give her Reid?" Surely, if the team sent in someone Cat Adams didn't expect, then maybe she would slip up just as easily - if not more so.

The older man shared a glance with Emily. A glance of which allowed them to silently suggest something; the two had an idea that wasn't yet shared with the rest of the group. It wasn't until Emily's eyes landed on Y/n that they started to understand what the two were thinking, "What if- What if we sent Y/n in?"

The girl scoffed; that must have been a joke. "You're kidding, right?" She laughed. "I mean, I'm not- I'm an agent. I'm a normal person. I can't talk to a criminal!"

"That's exactly what we need," Spencer spoke aloud without even realising, "She's expecting me, she's expecting FBI, send in someone different and it might just make her slip." Spencer turned to face Y/n, one hand gently cupping her cheek as he spoke, "Especially if we send in the very girl she's jealous of."

Y/n's head shook; she couldn't. She was with Spencer, but she wasn't a part of his world, "I can't."

"You can," His voice soothed, "You can do anything."

"We'll be right here," Emily assured.

Y/n glanced back at the window, at the criminal who had targetted her. If this was their best shot, then she might have to take it. Her family was at risk for goodness sake. Once they figured out who  her partner on the otherside, all this would be over. The girl sighed, "Fine," She finally agreed. "But if anything happens, if she does anything, please-"

Spencer was already nodding, "We'll get you out of there, don't worry." He promised.

His hands fell from her skin before she glanced between the other two agents, "How do I do  this then?" She asked.

"Go in there, vague questions, act better than she is, because you are," Emily mentored, "We need to figure out how she's orchestrated this."

With those instructions, the girl nodded and Rossi handed her the file. The one of which was filled with the stalker photos of herself and the kids, "See what happens if you show her these too, it might tell us a lot." He explained.

And with that, with that grace of a nod, a peck to Spencer's lips, the girl headed into the interrogation room.

Cat Adams was nonchalant. She had learnt a lot. She had learnt the best way to not let BAU agents know what she was thinking. But sending Y/n in certainly hadn't been what she expected.

The girl swallowed as she took the seat across from Cat with a very weak smile. She gazed up at the woman who had suddenly grown a sickly smile which made Y/n become nervous. She wanted to leave already, "Hi," Cat shrugged her shoulders and gazed softly at Y/n.

But the other girl was staring back with narrowed eyes, "Do you know who I am?" She questioned.

Cat leaned back and shrugged, letting out nothing but a hum. So Y/n leaned forward and placed one of the photos in front of the girl. It was just of her - no Jay or Morgan present. Just her, exiting her car as she headed to the store, "So you don't recognise this?".

She barely glanced at it, "Should I?"

"You know Doctor Reid though, don't you?"

Instantly, her demeanour shifted. But she desperately tried to hide it, "Bumped into him...sure." She shrugged it off.

Y/n thought for a moment before raising her left hand, wiggling her ring finger to show off her wedding ring to the girl, "Yeah well, I know him quite well." She said, watching as Cat's smile completely dissipated, "And he, well, he sort of mentioned you. I mean I sort of remember your name...remind me again? Carol? Cath-?"

"Cat." She cut in.

The girl faked a shock of realisation; this was exactly what Emily had asked: make herself look better than Cat.  "And you don't know me?" She glanced back to her wedding ring, "Wife." She spoke.

The girl huffed and smiled to herself like something was funny, "Yeah, good luck with that."

Y/n glared back at her, tilting her head. The words from Emily echoed through her mind. "And what do you mean by that?"

Cat doesn't want to answer that. More specifically, she doesn't want to answer Y/n. "He- he's complicated, I'm sure you're aware right? Girlfriend died, no dad around, mum got kidnapped, and well, god knows everything that's happened to his team." She almost finds it funny.

Y/n leaned her elbows against the metal table, "And you were the very person who took his mother. I know you, Cat. I know all you want is to win against my husband but tough luck, it's not going to happen." The girl tried to keep up her straight face but when facing Cat Adams, it seemed to be proving difficult.

She shrugged, "Maybe not before, but now I have you." Her eyes narrowed and suddenly Y/n grew nervous; she was behind this. All of it. "And of course, you two little munchkins." Her shoulders squeezed and she smiled sickly.

"So you do know them."

"I know everything."

A shiver flew down her spine. She was behind all of this. And Y/n couldn't help but ask: "And what do you want?" Y/n had some idea. This had nothing to do with her or the kids; it was all about getting back at Spencer.

She giggled, "Well there would be no fun in telling you, would there?"

"You can't do this myself yourself," Y/n stated. Once they had the name of whoever it was on the outside, they could get over this: they could move on.

The girl on the other side of the metal table simply shrugged, "Who says I am?" And like that, it was confirmed. Not only the fact that she was behind this, but that she had partner and the outsider. And that was all they needed  - for now, anyway.

With narrowed eyes, Y/n glared at the girl and started to stand from the chair. She didn't need anything else. She took a breath before turning her back, "You might want to look over your shoulder." Cat taunted.

Something of which, the girl had ignored as she continued out of the interrogation room. An exhale fell from her lips as she found herself back in the company of people she trusted. Of people she knew...with Spencer.

His hand instantly reached at her waist, pulling her close. The feeling of her skin at his releasing a relief she couldn't stop. He was safe. He was loving. He was her husband, "Are you okay?" He questioned before anyone else had the chance to speak.

The girl nodded but gave no words. What was she meant to say after a face to face with Cat Adams? "She's definitely behind this," Emily confirmed.

"She's working with someone too," Y/n added as she eased into the familiar feeling of Spencer.

"So now we know that," Y/n started as she gazed between the three agents, "What do we do now?"

"Now," Answered Rossi, "We get Garcia."

And so the group of them wandered over from the interrogation room and headed to what they called Garcia's 'cave'. And safe tp say was. No windows, just a lot of screens and several different sparkly things. Plush teddies, framed stock photos of puppies and a slingy which Jay was playing with.

"Hi," Y/n gleamed as she greeted her kids once more, "You two been good for Garcia?"

The woman stood from her chair, "They're angels," She smiled.

"We need your help now," Spencer said as they quickly entered back into the situation at hand. They didn't have time for small talk.

"Of course, anything."

And so she sat back at her chair as Spencer came to her side, beginning to list the profile they had started, "Look for names that pop up in the guest book of the hotel Montana, it's the building next to our house." Spencer informed and Garcia became manically typing. "They'll have been a guest for at least a month, cross check that with anyone from Cat's old life, work, college, high school, anything-"

"Nothing."

"What if- I mean surely whoever this person is would be using an alias," Y/n suggested.

A theory of which Spencer agreed with, "Bring up a photo of the guests who have stayed for a month."

Garcia followed: there were three. As they scrolled through high school pictures and then college- "There!"

A photo matched. A woman, same age as Cat, sickly sweet smile, fire red hair and geeky glasses. And then the name: Amy Duke. They had a name. They had everything Garcia could find. "That's got to be her," Emily confirmed.

"Garcia, send us everything." And like that, everything was go-go-go.

Y/n barely had a chance to speak before her hand was reaching out to stop Spencer from running off, "Hey," She called.

His hands cupped at her cheeks, "It'll be alright, I promise." He gave a smile which could ease her nervous a million times over. "Go home, I'll be there soon."

And like that, he was gone.

Y/n said her goodbyes to Garcia before taking her kids hand in hand and heading for the exit. She tried to not think about what Spencer was doing, about the woman he was facing. It was all too overwhelming. Instead, she focused on feeding her kids and getting them dressed for bed. It was horrible when they asked about where Daddy was - if he was coming home. All she could tell them was that it was going to be fine...even if she wasn't so sure of such herself.

She perched at the end of Morgan's bed, her door open, giving the woman a view of a sleeping Jay in the room across the hall. She didn't dare to leave her children when there was danger still looming over them. The girl watched as her daughter's chest rose and fell with her breaths. And after what felt like hours, the front door rustled open.

Y/n became alert, she flew up to her feet and wandered carefully out of Morgan's room. She lingered at the top of the stairs; what if it wasn't her husband? "Spence?" She called, worrisome.

He was already rushing up the stairs at the sound of her voice, "Hey, it's me don't worry." He met her at the top of the landing, engulfing his body around her. "It's over, I swear, she's been arrested, Cat is back in prison." Relief flooded her. "It's all over."

Her head gazed up at him, a slight grin brushing over her lips, "What a way to meet your second family, hey?" She giggled. And while the day had been horrid, there was some good out of it - she wasn't a secret anymore.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

What do you think Divus was like during his student years in NRC?

Personally I think he was a mixture of Ace, Cater, and Vil. A mischievous troublemaker who was also trendy and sociable with a good fashion sense. Since he is the potion and science teacher, I think he was in Pomefiore.

Also I don’t know if this is true or not, but I heard somewhere that Divus mentioned that he was always followed by two lackeys, who I have no doubt are the twisted versions of Jasper and Horace.

We actually already know some things about Crewel's student days from canon (mainly taken from his Unified Exams voice lines and/or from Happy Beans Day):

Trein was a teacher at NRC when Crewel was a student. They didn’t get along (Crewel was not enthusiastic to see Trein still teaching at NRC), but Trein is credited with teaching Crewel to respect his elders. They continue to bicker, usually passive aggressively and cheekily from Crewel’s end.

Trein says that Beansfest got out of hand during the time Crewel was studying there, which led to there being stricter rules imposed for the current iteration of Beansfest. (It is not known if Crewel himself contributed to that aforementioned chaotic run.)

There was an incident when student!Crewel accidentally overturned a pot of mandrakes. Their screams shattered all the glass in the Alchemy workshop.

Trein says that Crewel used to get into many fights.

Crewel tells us what he wasn’t as rowdy as the kids are nowadays.

He’s still in contact with two of his “henchmen” (ie his juniors) that he met back in school. Crewel says they aren’t clever, but that he can be himself around them; he also trusts them to dogsit for him. These two men are most likely twisted versions of Cruella’s hired help, Jasper and Horace.

From what we know of the canon, here are some conclusions I've personally drawn:

Knowing Trein and Crewel's current relationship (they disagree on trivial things like whether cats or dogs are better; it gets Trein riled up), I assume that they've never really gotten along. Perhaps Crewel was a constant sore spot for Trein or was frequently reprimanded for his behavior in spite of having excellent grades.

Crewel has a voice line in which he advises the player to not wholly devote their efforts to studying and keeping their head down, or else they will become inflexible as adults. He also advises them to “go wild once in a while”, but not so wild that professors will scold you. This makes me think that Crewel had a similar attitude when he was a student himself. That is to say, he was a good student, but also had his rebellious streaks and moments of acting out. Maybe he went too far sometimes, which is why he now informs the player to not cause trouble for their teachers in the pursuit of seeking thrills or a break from their studies.

As the sender has mentioned, Crewel has good fashion sense and currently teaches science courses, meaning he must be proficient in the area. These traits make him a suitable ex-Pomefiore student, as that dorm tends to have students that enjoy aesthetics and excel in potion-making. (This is also the popular headcanon within the fandom.

Crewel has what I would call “refined” tastes and interests, such as sports cars. I feel like he also had this discerning eye for quality and trends as a student.

Crewel is strong-headed and asserts himself well. He walks into a room and just commands it. Because of this, I see him easily being kind of a “leader of the pack” kind of guy—a cool, charismatic person that others can’t help but follow or admire, even if they hate his guts or find him pretentious. I don’t know if I would call him friendly (like, I don’t see him as outgoing), but rather he’s just got a magnetic presence that attracts people to him and definitely knew how to navigate a complex social web.

He gives me the impression that lots of his classmates looked up to him or called him “aniki” (as a sign of respect) 😂 (Twisted Jasper and Horace definitely do this www)

Sometimes I feel like Crewel’s leadership capabilities weren’t used for the… best purposes? Like I’m sure he had his spats of immaturity and led his boys to pull off some stupid pranks or fights or whatever. Maybe they put Lucius in a tree so they can all get out of an exam while Trein is looking for his familiar?? But then they all get an earful about it later… That’s just one example off the top of my head!

The student!Crewel I picture is a lot like Vil in many ways, but stands on his own due to his wild side. Someone who is cool, confident, fashionable… with his own set of rules and a slight edge to him that isn’t very Vil-like.

I hope that sufficiently explained my thoughts ^^

[timberllania]

Amaricia Falls - Spring, Year 1 Summary

I've never done one of these, so go easy on me haha

A lot of things happened this Spring in Amaricia Falls. Marriages, births, adoptions, new jobs...

Modena

Karissa moved to Amaricia Falls recently graduated. She started on a tiny shack, and now has a small house to call her own. She met Tracy on her first day, and by the end of Spring, they got married. Lots of luck came to Karissa this Spring, she got a job in the field she wanted (Politics), found the love of her life, and even found a genie lamp!

Davis

Just like Karissa, Lilly had just moved in to Amaricia Falls. She had graduated from college almost two years prior to the move, and had yet to find a proper job. The move must have helped, as not long after settiling down she got a job in Science! Spring treated Lilly really well. She got a couple of promotions, and found a guy she likes, Donte.

Montgomery

Talitha and David weren't total newcomers, as they moved a little after their wedding. Before Spring, Talitha got pregnant with twins, Catherine and Vincent. The babies were born mid-spring. Neither David nor Talitha got promotions in their careers (David in Business and Talitha in Culinary), but they definitely made a bunch of friends.

Greene

Xavier and Wanda both got some romancing going during Spring. While Xavier found someone he believes is The One, Wanda just wanted to hook up a little.

That's not to say romance was the only thing going on. George made some progress in his career in Law, while Xavier and Wanda got jobs in Paranormal and as an Artist, respectively. Wanda even got a promotion already!

Miller (from now on Miller-Sinclair)

For the first half of Spring, Hellen lived by herself. This didn't last for long, as she got married to Miranda, her highschool sweetheart, and they ended up adopting a cat! Miranda started out Spring at her parents house, as a college graduate. She got a part-time job in education, and hopes to go full time soon. Hellen still hasn't been promoted in Show Business, but she knows it won't be easy.

Sinclair

For Zoe and Nicholas, Spring has been very peaceful. Nicholas got a part-time job in athletics, as he couldn't stand doing almost nothing at home being retired. Zoe is still retired, and is enjoying one of her hobbies, sewing. When Nicholas is at home, he is either getting skill points for his job or working on his car, which is almost finished.

Collins

At the Collins' House, not everything was calm, as a fire almost made them lose their kitchen. Cyril and Paloma are basically giving each other the silent treatment, and only focusing on Emma and their jobs. Emma learned all basic toddler skills, and even found out she likes science early on! Both Cyril and Paloma got promoted, in Journalism and in the Slacker career respectively. Paloma really wants a dog, which Cyril is definitely not going to like.

[marshmallowprotection]

okay okay so! I know it's not really talked much, I sure hope there's no questions repeating mine, but I wanna ask. What do you think are the RFA's biggest secrets that they keep to their grave because of how opposite it is to how they think or act?

i.e. Jaehee secretly having a thing for otome games and sometimes staying up overnight playing them. This is lowkey canon in my head.

God, I don't know. See, this is one of those questions where I could make it a silly answer or a serious one... and I'm not sure which way I'd rather take it. So, I suppose I'll make silly because I don't want to think about how dark some of those thoughts are.

I think Jaehee could very well play otome games. She seems like she would enjoy them for the story, though. I don't think she'd be deeply invested in the romantic aspect. She loves stories! She loves being able to get invested into a story because of something that hooked her in. God, help her the day someone asks Zen to voice a character in something. She'd be excited to learn more about that but, I think she'd only confess to playing it because of Zen being in it rather than her love of storytelling. Nothing to be ashamed of, I just think she's a little embarrassed.

Yoosung doesn't hide his love of cute things, in fact, he carries around a lot of cute stationary because seeing goofy characters makes his day. I imagine someone might try to say that's a secret that goes against his personality, but it doesn't. I just can't think of anything he'd hide from everyone.

Zen probably does like animals more than he's willing to admit. The reason why he acts up with his allergies around Elizabeth isn't just because of his on-sight sneezing in close proximity to cat dander or saliva, it's hugely in part because he won't allow himself to get closer to Jumin. He's set in his ways about Jumin, and having a reason to be far, far away from him is helpful. I feel like he likes animals, he'd just never admit it because of his dynamic with Jumin.

I don't see Saeyoung having a silly secret. He's got plenty of things he's going to take to his grave from his time in the agency, sure, but there's nothing I can imagine right now that he would try hiding from his loved ones. He's not an open book, but there's no reason for him to hide what he loves from you. I got nothing.

I don't think I have anything on Jumin because he is a character who enjoys things that go against his archetype. He loves learning about memes and using them when you least expect him to do something like that, he enjoys studying and even talking the supernatural even if it goes against logic and reason, he loves making meals with his love even if they're a little messy! Jumin doesn't have secrets like that. It's not like he tries to hide these things from everyone, either, they just don't ask and he doesn't see a need to open up to the others since he is often met with strange looks.

I can't think of anything for Jihyun, either. People have a hard enough time understanding him as it is, and him enjoy hiking doesn't seem like something this man could do because he's not been drawn with the hiker legs I know he'd realistically have.

See, Saeran isn't the type to hide things, either. He's not going to lie about something or keep it a secret. He wants to be open with others and while there are things he'd probably only admit to his brother or to his MC, he's not keeping things to himself anymore. He's much too honest, and he doesn't have the notion of feeling embarrassed about something given the fact he wasn't raised to be ashamed of anything like most people are.

Rika consumed a lot of idol music and enjoyed musical theater for the longest time before everything went south. But, you know, I've always had this feeling that she loved Christian Rock and used it to cope with her religious trauma. There's just something silly about the idea of Rika sitting alone in a car, blaring music we've all heard used for a SasuNaru AMV in 2007 before. I don't think she'd admit that's what she does... mainly because she's lying to everyone and herself. She thinks it goes against her cultivated personality.

Vanderwood listens to the most bubblegum pop music you've ever heard in your entire life and he will not admit it.

[rowiewritesstuff]

Hello there ! I would like to ask for a match-up please♡ <:) possibly with TFP Autobots or Cons (only if you feel like doing it♡)

My name is Michaela and i'm 19. My height is 5'3 (159cm) and i am a ginger with mid long hair, freckles all over my face and honey brown colored eyes. My skin is pretty pale so i ususally wear light colored clothes like soft green and cream colored shirts (i mostly wear very baggy clothes cause i'm pretty slim) etc.♡ ^^

I'd say i'm pretty calm/shy person but sometimes my zoomies hit in and i have the urge to run around and playfight with anyone and anything i see (i love playfighting) :D i also very much enjoy spiritual conversations, stargazing, playing games and i'm also a sucker for atronomy. I love learning all about space. I'm pretty loyal and affectionate (ahem touch starved ahem) person what comes to friends and family i'm very protective of them. I am used to helping people so of course if you ask me for any help or anything in particular i am here to help. <3 I often try to play things cool and calm when anything bad happens but i am actualy screaming on the inside. I'm very careful and fearfull. I'm also trying to be open minded as much as possible and kind to everyone as long as they are kind to me back. I am basically your mirror. I also LOVE animals. Mostly parrots😭❤️ they are just so adorable when they show you affection🥺 the type of person when they see a random cat on street to stop by and just pet it or any animal😭❤️

Now what comes to my body i have a pear shaped body with pretty thin waist and a lot of small and big marks all over my arms, hands and legs. I sadly suffer from asthma so i need my inhaler at all costs if i ever get a asthma attack <:/ i am also lactose intolerant so milk is another no no for me. I rather spend time indoors but still i'm open minded for a nice car ride to any lake or water. I love swimming especially in sea.^^♡♡ my fav colors are orange, yellow, turquoise, black, soft green and white♡

I think that's all. I apologize if this is chaotic but i've never wrote a request :( i hope it's not too much♡♡ if you couldn't come up with anything feel free not to write anything at all <3 thank you so so much !♡♡♡♡

A daily note to take care of yourself, to drink water and eat enough food to keep yourself healthy !♡ ^^

I match you with: Optimus Prime!

You met Optimus during a Decepticon attack. You of course were taken to the base and assigned a guardian- Optimus Prime himself. Optimus first kept you at a distance, not wanting to get too close to you in fear you’d be used against him by the Decepticons. 

One day when Optimus was driving you home you yelled at him to stop. You were both in a secluded area out in the country. You jumped out of his cab as soon as he came to a stop and squealed in delight. He transformed thinking something was wrong but saw you looking at the sky.

“What are you looking at?” Optimus asked.

“The stars, the moon- everything.” You sighed happily. “In the cities, the smog makes it hard to see the stars. Here, you can see everything. It’s amazing.”

Optimus looked at you in awe, then to the sky. He’d forgotten what it was like to just enjoy the wonders of the world. He sat down and looked down when he felt something on his hand. You were cuddling to him for warmth as you fell asleep. He made sure that you got home safely, even going as far as placing you gently in your bed from your open window.

Optimus began taking you on regular trips to see things you liked. One time he took you to the ocean so you could play in the water. You didn’t care you were missing your swimsuit and simply ran in head first. Ratchet later scolded you when you got sick.

One day he took you to the jungle to see some monkeys and parrots, and you ended up being attacked by a tiger. He quickly scooped you into his hand and away from the tiger trying to eat you. 

When you started to breathe oddly after the tiger attack, he ran to Ratchet. Ratchet shook his head at you and handed you your inhaler. Optimus asked you what it was, and Ratchet explained. Optimus was concerned and began treating you even more like precious glass.

When it came to Decepticons, you were very cautious. You would always run and hide and call the base. One day a Vehicon scooped you up to hold you hostage against the Prime and you were terrified. You were frozen in their servo while they mocked Optimus.

“Let them go!” Arcee growled out.

“Fat chance Autobot scum!” They squeeze you tighter and you begin to panic. Your asthma begins to act up and the Vehicon looks down at you in confusion. “Is it broken?” 

Bumblebee takes the opportunity to slam into the Decepticon and snatch your body flying through the air. The rest of the Autobots quickly defeat the Vehicons and take you back to base to get your inhaler. From that moment on, Optimus was so scared you’d die before he could confess his feelings.

Optimus picked you up and placed you on his shoulder as he went to the top of the base. He sat down and offered his hands to climb on. He looked down at you with love. “I… must confess something.” 

You looked up with a knowing expression. “I love you too, Optimus.” 

The shock on his face was priceless. He then smiled softly, pulling you closer to his face. “Thank you, little star.”

[ghoultrifle]

i can't help but notice you've been giving out all these letters from santa, and yet you've forgotten to mention your own :0 but don't worry, it's because he sent it to me instead !! here's what he said:

"Dear Felix, Isaac has been incredibly good this year. Among other things, he started a Christmas-themed ask game to bring his fellow trans people a little extra joy during this holiday season! It's for this reason (and many more, of course) that Isaac has a place on my Good List this year. Naturally, because of this, he deserves all the wonderful presents in the world, but to help you out, I've heard he really enjoys Ghost, car games, and Fall Out Boy! Be sure to remind Isaac that he is loved and treasured this Christmas, and tell him Merry Christmas from me! Love, Santa"

(i threw in a bonus photo of my cat just for you <3 totally not because the photos aren't the greatest and you needed an extra one to make it up sdbfsdfkj)

(merry christmas, my love <3 you're such a wonderful human being and i'm forever in awe of just how kind and generous you are. i'm overjoyed to have met you, keep being your incredible self <33)

(i know Nothing about fall out boy but i'm at least 70% sure the picture is right, i'm sorrryyyyyy)

FELIX I AM GOING TO FUCKING CRY, YOU MENACE /aff

i have no notes, you've won christmas :') thank you for being there for me and listening to me rant about my silly car games, it means more than i could ever put into words <3 i will never get over that photo of dew and phantom it's so awawwgwghhhhh

i'm forever in awe that i get to talk to this amazing, funny, selfless person (and incredibly talented writer) every god damn day, i have no idea what i did to deserve this and i will never take you for granted <3

you're right !! it is a fob photo and when you get home i expect a constant stream of cat photos from you :3 /hj

[benkyoutobentou]

31 Days of Productivity Reading もう一回！: Days 26-27

Day 26: So I started my next book, 本を守ろうとする猫の話 , but I did not read my 25 pages yesterday. I only read the first prologue chapter, which was fourteen pages, but I was kind of like okay, no big deal, since there are six chapters altogether. I was just so preoccupied with other things that I couldn't focus on reading for long.

Day 27: I'll see how I feel tomorrow, but honestly I'm thinking about calling this challenge a win and stopping early. I've been reading so much that I'm feeling burnt out. I only read my 25 pages today and I don't want to read anymore. I want to watch a movie, I want to crochet, I want to sit and stare at a wall. I've learned so many new words, I've been seeing so many words being used across novels and remembering the readings and meanings (hi 襖 ) and I consider that a major win. I just want a break. Especially with other things happening in my life right now (one thing exciting but I won't share until its set in stone, and then the rest irrelevant), I just haven't been wanting to read books. Sorry for a bit of a depressing update, but just know that I'm personally happy with how this challenge went if I do decide to end it here! Maybe I'll shift to watching Japanese movies and keep updating you all on what I'm watching and how I'm enjoying them.

But here's a short synopsis of 本を守ろうとする猫の話 before I tell you about random stuff. Where I've currently read to, this book is about a high school boy named Rintarou whose grandfather passes away right before the start of the novel. Since he lived alone with his grandfather, he must close up the family bookstore for good before moving away to live with an aunt he's never met. While closing the shop one day, a cat speaks to him and asks for his help in saving books.

Anyways, let's talk about less bookish stuff. I've been playing in a community college orchestra since graduating university since they don't have oboe students there and rehearsals started up again today! Even though the quality is a bit less than what I'm used to, having a degree in music performance, I still enjoy getting to play in an orchestra again EXCEPT the fact that the drive to the college is atrocious! So I always go super early in the day and just hang out at a nearby cafe to read or study until rehearsal starts. But today the cafe closed at two pm. I got there at 2:07, rehearsal starts at 6. I got a smoothie and some avocado toast at the place next door, but it was a health food place so it was extremely overpriced and twice what I usually pay at the cafe. Sob. I read outside for a while until I moved to my car, then it was too hot there, so I just ended up sitting at the cafe's outdoor seating area (even though I felt bad about it) because there were other people hanging out there too. I saw so many people walk up to the cafe door and walk away. Unfortunately I didn't have anywhere else to go. So the moral of the story is don't close your cafe early. Thank you.

[tummymoth]

Of (Tattoo) Guns N' Roses [1]

Chapter 1: Sweet Child O' Mine (read on Ao3 here)

Chapter Summary: On his way home from work, Xie Lian finds a bedraggled cat in an alleyway and decides to take it home. His roommate Mu Qing is less than enthused, but the florist insists that he can cover the expenses.

Additional Info: Florist! Xie Lian x Tattoo Artist!Hua Cheng, roommate!Mu Qing, personal trainer!Feng Xin, some FengQing as a treat for us, strong language, meet-cute, fluffy as fuck in the future, slice of life, an unnecessary amount of flower research was put into this

A/N: A sleep-deprived night full of making headcanons of my favorite trope (florist/tattoo artist) with my favorite mutually obsessed paring has resulted in one of the most self-indulgent things I've ever written. Enjoy.

Word Count: 4,261

Next>

“You get what you pay for,” while a common adage, is a phrase Xie Lian has worked hard to defy every day. 

Why spend sixty dollars on a coat when he could layer on three sweaters he thrifted for five dollars each? No need to waste money on buying a new one either, when he could patch up the holes with a good, old-fashioned, needle and thread. The idea of spending 20 dollars on an umbrella? Obscene; especially when Xie Lian got a deal for his new favorite possession: a Hello Kitty umbrella. A steal, really.

Unfortunately for Xie Lian, his two-dollar, bottom-of-the-bargain-bin, flimsier-than-a-wet-napkin umbrella was unable to keep the wind and rain from seeping through three layers of woolen threads and soaking him to the bone. 

If his shivering form was anything to go by, it was apparent that the phrase, “you get what you pay for,” still reigned supreme.

It was with stiff limbs and an inverted umbrella in tow that Xie Lian speed-walked to his apartment in the rain (taxis are overrated, it’s important to get your cardio in). A steady rhythm of icy drops paired well with the post-workday din of cars screeching down the city street, allowing his mind to wander. 

What was Mu Qing making dinner tonight? He ate a piece of cantaloupe he packed for work in thought, eyes observing rainwater filling in the familiar cracks of the sidewalk. To be fair, it didn’t matter either way; Xie Lian was banned from the kitchen regardless. You set off the building’s fire alarm once, and everyone gets into a tizzy about how you “managed to set fire to congee” and  “should never be allowed within three meters of a working stove again.” Honestly, did people no longer believe in second chances anymore—

A pitiful yowl yanked Xie Lian back to reality. He squinted in the general direction it came from, trying to see past what was essentially a grey sheet of rain. It wasn’t long before another cry rang out, barely making it above the sound of traffic. His eyes zeroed in on the alleyway a meter or so ahead of him. 

What poor creature had managed to get caught in the rain? It wasn’t as if this was a summer shower either. Each drop of autumn rain that splattered on his skin leeched heat away from his body. He couldn’t imagine being weighed down by fur that couldn’t even offer warmth. 

Sure enough, there was a dirtied, soaked cat shivering as it pressed itself against the wall in an attempt to shrink away from the cold. It couldn’t have been more than two years old; it also looked like it could’ve been white, but with all of the dirt, smog, and—was that blood?!—caked into its matted fur, Xie Lian figured the poor thing hadn’t had a proper bath in ages. 

Making sure his steps were light—not that the cat seemed to be of the mind to care how loud he was—he padded his way towards it before squatting down. 

“Hello there, little one,” Xie Lian cooed, gingerly reaching out a hand while trying to shield it from being pelted by any more rain with his umbrella. “You shouldn’t be out in the rain like this, you’ll get a cold.” 

He received little more than another meow before his brown eyes met blue ones. The cat butted its head toward him, trying to lean its full body weight against his hand. Xie Lian shivered at how frigid to the touch its waterlogged fur was and made a move to withdraw his hand in surprise, but each time he tried to move away, the cat pushed further until it was practically in his lap. 

He chuckled and gave its head a few cursory pets, smiling in spite of the water that was slowly seeping into his pants. It was fine if they got grime and mud on them today, tomorrow was laundry day anyway. 

“You’re a persistent one, aren’t you?” he mused mostly to himself as he took a closer look at its coat to see if there were any injuries that needed attending to. The few streaks of blood he could see on its fur didn’t look fresh, but it couldn’t have hurt to get them checked out to avoid any infection. There was no collar around its neck either, so unless it was microchipped, he had no hope of trying to call the owners. 

With a small grunt of effort, Xie Lian scooped up the cat in one arm and hoisted himself up. Now that it was pressed close to his chest, he could feel the tremors that wracked the poor thing’s body. 

“I know we’ve only met today,” he said as he made his way to the nearest clinic, pointedly ignoring the feeling of claws digging into his sweater, “but can I ask you not to hate me if I take you to the vet? I want to make sure you’ll be okay before I send you home and see if we can find your parents.” 

The cat blinked back at him owlishly, shivering all the while. Xie Lian smiled. 

“To the vet, it is then!”

After about thirty minutes of sitting in the waiting area, the door to the veterinarian’s office opened and the cat stepped out, closely followed by the vet herself. 

“Aside from a few cuts and scrapes, he looks to be in good condition,” she announced, smiling at the cat leaping into Xie Lian’s arms before turning back to her clipboard and writing notes. 

Ah, so it was a he.

“We also gave him a bath to get rid of the dirt and dried him off.”

“That’s good to know, thank you so much for your help,” Xie Lian nodded his head in thanks and gave the cat gentle scratches behind his ears, admiring his newly blow-dried coat and fawning over him even more when he started purring. So he was a white cat. With soft fur too.

 “If it’s not too much, could I ask one more thing of you?”

“Yes?” The vet looked up from her papers with a raised brow. 

“Do you know if he’s microchipped or not?” 

“You don’t know if your own cat is microchipped?” 

His smile turned sheepish as he scratched the back of his head with a free hand. “Ah, no I actually picked him up off the street today. He was just sitting there in the rain, it was worrisome.”  

“I see…” After a few beats of silence, she pushed up her glasses. “When we conducted his physical exam we didn’t see any microchip. You could take him to a nearby shelter, but they tend to be at capacity around this time of year.” 

Xie Lian frowned. As far as he knew, there weren’t any no-kill shelters in his area. And while the question of whether or not he would be adopted wasn’t an issue—this cat was quite handsome now that the dirt and blood had been washed off—sending him off to another strange area didn’t sit right with him. 

“Could I take him home instead?”

She smiled and scribbled a few more notes. “I’ll go ahead and get you the proper paperwork so we can get him registered. That shouldn’t be a problem at all."

“Absolutely not,” Mu Qing deadpanned before Xie Lian could get more than a word in edgewise, arms crossed over his chest and a spatula in his hand. The pinched look of irritation on his face was almost intimidating enough to offset the pink checkerboard apron (also Hello Kitty themed) he was currently wearing. 

Almost. 

The smile Xie Lian was wearing felt a little more forced than it did thirty seconds ago, but he carried on regardless and closed their shared apartment door behind him, mindfully setting his newly acquired companion on the couch where Feng Xin sat and a hefty bag of cat food on the floor. The cat wasted no time in padding over to the man and pawing at his knee, eyes timid but curious as he inspected the threads on his pant leg.

“I don’t know…” Feng Xin trailed off as he let the cat nose at his fingers, enamored by how the small creature’s nose was cool to the touch. “I think it’s a great idea, Xie Lian. Mu Qing just hates the idea of cleaning up after a fellow stray.”

“You don’t even live here, cadger.” If Mu Qing’s eyes kept rolling like this, Xie Lian feared they would get stuck looking at the back of his head permanently. “You get no say in this.” 

“Oh my, that’s a fancy word for you. Is that the word of the week for your little book club—”

 “As I was saying,” Xie Lian began again, “I’ve named him Ruoye, and he’s an exceptionally well-behaved cat. I found him on the street today, and he was sitting in the cold all alone—”

“All due respect, I couldn’t care less how well-behaved that thing is,” Mu Qing interrupted as he shot a pointed glare in their direction. “It hasn’t even been here for more than five minutes and it’s already shedding all over the couch.” 

Feng Xin barked out a laugh. “See? Told you.”

“Can it, freeloader.”

“Mu Qing…” Xie Lian’s voice took on a pleading tone. 

“We’ve both been struggling with rent, we can’t possibly take in a stray cat.” He waved his spatula around emphatically. “I hate to be the one to say it, but this isn’t practical. You’d have to think about food, vet visits, bedding—” 

“I can make it work.” The gears in Xie Lian’s mind were already turning as he worked out the budgeting he’d need to keep track of. “The shop got a new regular about a month ago, and he tips really well. More than I’d like… but if he keeps ordering arrangements and tipping the same, the amount of income the shop would make from just him would be enough to cover any expenses for Ruoye.” 

Mu Qing was hardly convinced. “Listen, I don’t say anything about you spending money on buying treats to feed stray animals or letting them stay here to recover for a night if clinics are closed. I’m not your parent; if that’s your prerogative, then you should go for it. But to permanently bring one into a space that we share? Did you think this through?”

“I can take care of everything for Ruoye and still keep up with my half of the bills,” Xie Lian insisted. 

Feng Xin rose to his feet and stretched himself out, yawning languidly before he let his hands drop to his sides. “Sounds like he’s got you beat, you know how Xie Lian is when he’s got his heart set on something,” he simpered as he gave the cat of the hour a few head rubs, cooing when he leaned into his hand. After sniffing at his hand for the past five minutes, Ruoye had decided Feng Xin wasn’t a threat. “Anyways, when’s dinner gonna be ready?”

Rolling his eyes, Mu Qing headed back to the kitchen to check on the progress of tonight’s dish.  “I’m not feeding you tonight, you mooch. Go order takeout or something.”

“How am I supposed to tell my clients to train hard and keep to a diet if I’m stuffing my face with shitty food?” Feng Xin groaned as he followed after him. 

“Oh, I don’t know. Starve then, ”Mu Qing grumbled.

“You have the most bitter personality I’ve ever been unfortunate enough to meet. You are such an ass…”

“…”

“…but your cooking is actually decent.” 

“Maybe instead of starving you, I’ll just spit in your food,” Mu Qing muttered dryly as he pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. He turned to Xie Lian and, upon seeing that his stupidly optimistic smile never went away, Mu Qing huffed turned back around to rifle through the cabinets and grab three plates. He set them on the island before taking the pan off the stove and plating up. 

Tonight was steamed sea bass in a ginger soy sauce with stir-fried vegetables. For extra protein, there was also scrambled egg with tomato mixed in. Feng Xin hated tomatoes, but they were healthy and Mu Qing took personal joy in watching the man try to tough it out and force himself to eat them anyway. 

From the corner of his eye, Mu Qing could see sapphire eyes peek up at him in interest as he brought the dishes to the kitchen island and set them down. It seems as if the small thing had already begun to make itself at home and start exploring. 

He looked up. 

Xie Lian smiled back. 

Mu Qing stubbornly averted his gaze and shoveled rice onto each plate before grabbing chopsticks and spoons for the three of them. Maybe if he busied himself with setting up for dinner, his hardheaded roommate would drop the subject. Dealing with Feng Xin’s stupid face as he jovially pulled a chair up to the kitchen island was almost tolerable compared to Xie Lian’s silent begging. 

Sure, the man could handle rejection—it’s not as if he would ever push someone’s boundaries after a hard no—but having to tell Xie Lian “no,” was the same as asking Mu Qing to tell some kid that Santa wasn’t real. Easy in theory, but dealing with the knowledge that he was the bearer of bad news? Not so much. 

After a few more moments of fidgeting with placemats, Mu Qing dared to look up again.

The fucker never stopped smiling.

Sighing in defeat, he sat himself down and waved in the general direction of the couch. 

“Keep him out of my room, and we have a deal.”

He could practically feel the energy of their small apartment shift as his roommate’s face lit up. Xie Lian wasn’t one for raucous, incendiary emotions—even as a kid, he never took it upon himself to shriek or whoop loudly in joy—but his excitement was palpable nonetheless.

“Oh thank you, Mu Qing! You’ll get used to him in no time, I swear. He’s super friendly, he was even okay with me carrying him all the way home while I walked—”

“If I see any cat hairs in my cooking, I’m throwing him out the window.”

Sunlight filtered through the half-open blinds of the shop and bled streaks of gold across Xie Lian’s work table as he busied himself by carefully trimming chamomile stems before giving them a home in their new container. 

It was Ruoye’s first time accompanying him to work and, much to Xie Lian’s delight, he had been giving him zero issues at all. Instead of batting at every stem in his reach like Mu Qing said he would, the cat had taken a liking to the feeling of the sun warming his fur. Wherever there weren’t stray leaves or petals, he took it upon himself to sprawl out on his back, tail languidly lashing back and forth as he watched Xie Lian work. 

His current client had requested a bouquet for the bride of a wedding. When they both sat down to talk about the specifics, he learned how the two had come to meet and chose the flowers accordingly. Chamomiles for patience in adversity, and pink camellias to represent a deep longing. These two flowers combined with white clovers as fillers for the bouquet—a plea for the receiver to think of the giver—gave a quiet retelling of how the groom and bride had met and continued to fall for each other despite unkind circumstances. 

It pulled at his heartstrings, really.

There was just something about being able to pull together a piece that would be part of such a defining and joyful moment for so many people that made his heart smile. And so he stood there, painstakingly making sure every bloom sat just right. Xie Lian loved weddings—even more so when he was able to make an arrangement that conveyed a couple’s story.

He took a step back to admire his work and began to get lost in his thoughts—maybe he had time to run out and buy Ruoye a small bed he could use at the shop…?—when he heard the door chime ring up front. 

“I’ll be there in just a minute!” He patted his hands dry on his apron before giving Ruoye a quick pat on the head—after getting over the initial shock of such loud ringing, the cat had quickly grown desensitized to customers entering the shop and started to take the sound as a signal to accompany Xie Lian as he made his way toward the front. Was his client here for pickup already? He had told her it wouldn’t be ready for another couple of days.

Instead of a rather warm-spirited and peppy woman with brown hair and sun-kissed skin who wore whites and blues, Xie Lian found himself faced with a gentleman who looked to be entirely the opposite. 

Inky black hair was smartly slicked back into a high and tight ponytail, not a strand of hair out of place. Clothes as dark as night countered sharply with severe eyes and pale skin. Gold trim glinted against the black of his wool coat, nearly reaching the floor. And while his gaze wasn’t exactly frigid in the way he scanned the shop, nothing in his features made way for the implication of life. He was all harsh contrast and sharp angles. 

Save for the slight tinge of pink dusting his cheeks and nose that implied a brisk walk outside in the nippy autumn weather, he looked to be a walking corpse. 

“He Xuan!” Xie Lian’s eyes crescented as he smiled and took his hand to shake it, Ruoye still weaving in and out of his legs. Contrary to everything else about him, He Xuan’s palms gave off a pleasant heat. “You’re here for your order, right?” 

“Mn.” Other than a curt nod, the taller man didn’t contribute much more. His eyes only briefly lingered on Ruoye before he turned his attention back to the florist.

Xie Lian didn’t think much of his brevity—this was his third time ordering from the shop, and the rhythm of their exchange never deviated too far from yes or no questions—and made his way to the back again before wheeling out a two-tiered cart. 

Two arrangements sat atop the highest tier, while three sat on the bottom—all were in vessels of various heights and shapes. Each bouquet set a moody tone with near-black or burgundy petals and dark green ferns, with the only instances of bright color found in flesh-colored flowers interspersed throughout each piece for contrast. Both the flowers and He Xuan himself looked out of place in a store that had mostly warm, bright tones. 

“It’s not often I’m just given a color scheme and told to do whatever I want. Thank you for all the creative freedom,” Xie Lian said enthusiastically as he gently set each vase on the counter to ring them up. 

More freedom to do as he wished meant he could incorporate more unique flowers people didn’t typically order—sea hollies weren’t exactly the most popular compared to roses or tulips, and the snarly texture of contorted filbert branches wasn’t necessarily a crowd-pleaser either.  Using relatively unconventional materials drove up the cost of these arrangements, of course, but He Xuan had insisted that money wasn’t an issue during his first order. 

“There’s no need for thanks.” He Xuan’s tone was neither friendly nor antagonizing—it just was. “My boss enjoys your work. He says you have a keen eye for pieces that aren’t monotonous to the point of being an eyesore in the studio.” 

Unsure if he was to take that as a compliment, Xie Lian decided to change the line of conversation entirely as he punched in the necessary information to calculate the total, Ruoye looking over his shoulder as he perched on one of the shelves to his left. “You buy these for him as a gift? That’s quite nice of you.” 

“No, these are for display around the shop.” He Xuan sighed—the only other emotions he displayed other than apathy were either thinly veiled contempt or annoyance, and this was the former. “I’m his personal assistant. He sends me on errands or whatever suits his fancy.”

“Oh? Well, I assume my flowers suit his fancy, then. That seems like high praise, coming from him,” Xie Lian chuckled. 

“Very. He’s critical of other people’s works.” 

“Oh? Does he make a living as an art critic?”

He Xuan shrugged. “No. He’s an artist. Very highly acclaimed. Probably one of the best” It didn’t sound like he was bragging about his boss so much as he was begrudgingly telling the truth. 

“Well, it’s very flattering to receive praise from someone with so much skill,” Xie Lian replied with a smile on his face. “I’d love to see his work sometime.”

The black-clad man considered him for a moment. “I can talk to him about having you stop by.”

Xie Lian immediately backtracked and waved a hand dismissively.  “Oh no, I would hate to impose. I’m sure he’s a busy man if he’s sending you out so often.”

“Yeah. Busy,” He Xuan muttered under his breath and bent down a bit to peer at each of the arrangements set on the counter, eyes carefully analyzing Xie Lian’s work. 

After a few beats of silence with no words coming from the other, Xie Lian decided to busy himself by tidying up the drawers at the register to avoid rushing him. He was a relatively neat person—his upbringing didn’t give him a chance to be a slob—but try as he might, he could never avoid falling into the trappings of a junk drawer. There were wayward tealights, a pair of dull scissors he forgot to throw out, stamps, white ribbon, and… were those wilted leaves? God, that wouldn’t do—

“You’ve outdone yourself this time.” He Xuan cleared his throat as he stood back up and produced a wallet from his coat pocket. “How much do I owe you?” 

“It’ll be four hundred and twenty-five today.” 

He raised a brow at him, which was probably his version of openly gawking at someone. “That prices each arrangement under one hundred.” 

“Correct.”

“The simplest ones you’ve done before are worth at least ninety.”

“Well I would actually sell each of these for upwards of ninety-five dollars—what with the rarer flowers and all—but since you’ve been ordering so much from here, I decided to just bundle it and price them at eighty-five each.”

He Xuan’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly. “You are grossly underselling yourself. We’ll pay the full amount.”

“No, I really don’t mind.” Xie Lian waved away the notion, suddenly feeling sheepish under his deadpan stare. “You’ve been such a loyal customer over the past couple of months—”

“I insist,”  the taller man interrupted as he handed his card to him and proceeded to rifle through the bills in his wallet. “If you aren’t willing to charge full price, I’ll add tip to compensate.”

“Ah…” he trailed off, unsure of how else to decline without sounding rude. He Xuan took that as an invitation to continue talking and pointed out the least opulent arrangement out of the five. 

“What you do is artistry.” There were no layers of awe or sugarcoating to be found in his voice. Just as He Xuan pointed out his boss’s apparent skill as an artist with zero embellishments, he appraised Xie Lian’s skill (skill??) as a florist as if it was a simple fact of life.

“I wouldn’t consider myself an artist.” He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. “This is just a hobby I happen to be making money off of, really.”

“It isn’t even a question of using rare flowers or not.” He Xuan continued as if he didn’t hear him. “This piece has more typical flowers, yet you clearly know what you’re doing with its composition. The height, sizing, and colors complement each other, and by adding filler plants with more structure, you made a vertical arrangement with an angular feel without having to fight against the organic form of the flowers. You should be pricing for your skill, and all the time you’ve spent honing it.” He stopped to consider the arrangement again. 

“This one is easily worth one hundred or more.”

Xie Lian was absolutely dumbfounded for a few seconds before he found his words. 

“This is the most you’ve talked during a pickup, and it sounds to me like you have a keen eye for art just like your boss,” he jibed at He Xuan with a chuckle as he ran the card through and made to grab his receipt from the printer. 

“So you admit it’s art.” His tone was still hard—almost abrasive with its ever-present underlying current of annoyance—but Xie Lian found this to be the friendliest he’s been and decided to take his words for what they were. 

Once the transaction had been completed and He Xuan was able to (very carefully) load the flowers into his car, Xie Lian returned to the register and reached up to give Ruoye a scratch behind the ears. 

He slowly blinked his eyes at Xie Lian as a low, pleasant rumble sounded from his chest. 

“You’ve been so good today,” he cooed as he began to give the cat full-body pets. “I oughta get you some treats. Maybe a bed so you have your own spot at the shop.” 

Ruoye continued purring.

Next>

[cumberbatchedandproud]

get to know me ask game :)

Thanks for tagging me @rhaenys-queenofkhyrulzz

RULES: bold the ones that are true and tag people to do it.

APPEARANCE

(Dark) blonde hair // I prefer loose clothing to tight clothing // I have one or more piercings (5, all ears) // I have at least one tattoo // I have dyed or highlighted my hair // I have gotten plastic surgery // I have or had braces // I sunburn easily // I have freckles // I paint my nails // I typically wear makeup (at work, outside, but not at home, not sure it's typical though...) // I don't often smile (one can never smile ENOUGH, right !! (And mean it, of course - Nam Seon Ho's false smiles do no count!!) // I am pleased ok enough with how I look // I prefer Nike to Adidas // I wear baseball hats backwards (don't wear caps)

HOBBIES AND TALENTS

I play a sport (used to classic dance and grs until my 18th or something) // I can play an instrument // I am artistic (kind of writing whenever the mood hits? does that count?) // I know more than one language (native french, english and dutch ok enough, some basic italian (especially when it's close to french, lol) few mostly forgotten spanish and latin from school, and i wish bits of wherever i ever went to holidays would stick for longer than the holidays but alas... sigh... (i always try to communicate the basics hello please thank you sorry in the language of the country i'm in...) // I have won a trophy in some sort of competition // I can cook or bake without a recipe (don't expect any michelin star though, but i know how to survive) // I know how to swim // I enjoy writing // I can do origami // I prefer movies to tv shows // I can execute a perfect somersault // I enjoy singing (false, on my own, in the car) // I could survive in the wild on my own (I WISH !!!) // I have read a new book series this year // I enjoy spending time with friends // I travel during work or school breaks (as much as possible, if only to go back home and visit the family :)) // I can do a handstand (against a wall, does that count, lol)

RELATIONSHIP

I am in a relationship // I have been single for over a year (after +20years of being together... the kids are so worth it anyway!!) // I have a crush // I have a best friend who I've known for ten years // my parents are together // I have dated my best friend // I am adopted // My crush has confessed to me // I have (HAD) a long distance relationship // I am an only child // I (TRY TO IF ASKED) give advice to my friends // I have made an online friend (I love you all even if I haven't actually met you all) // I met up with someone I have met online (a few people, years back, at two events)

AESTHETICS

I have heard the ocean in a conch shell // I have watched the sunrise // I enjoy rainy days (occasionnal dance in the heavy rain included) // I have slept under the stars // I meditate outside // the sound of chirping (cigales and crickets) calms me // I enjoy the smell of the beach // I know what snow tastes like // I listen to music to fall asleep in the car // I enjoy thunderstorms // I enjoy cloud watching // I have attended a bonfire // I pay close attention to colors // I find mystery in the ocean // I enjoy hiking on nature paths // spring autumn is my favorite season

MISCELLANEOUS

I can fall asleep in a moving vehicle // I am the mom friend everything // I live by a certain quote // I like the smell of Sharpies (??) // I am involved in extracurricular activities // I enjoy Mexican food // I can drive a stick shift // I believe in true love // I make up scenarios to fall asleep // I sing in the shower // I wish I lived in a video game // I have a canopy above my bed // I am multiracial // I am a redhead // I own at least 3 dogs (cat person here sorry, i have 2 at the moment)

and not asked but for who might wonder now that we're at it, i'm a SHORE person most of all, and my innate job calling was to be historical archivist (in case you hadn't already guessed from my compulsive need to try to classify and organize and keep record of about anything and everything on 100 subblogs lol (and failing - never enough TIME, damn it, grrr))

tagging EVERYONE who would like to do this (COME ON !!! and please DO tag me so I can read it all :))

[vincells]

OOOO WAIT FOR THE OC ASK GAME BASED ON ACTUAL STORY STUFF:

2 for both characters and world, 1 for plot, and 3 for meta :DDDD (you dont have to do all of these LMAOOO)

What do the characters look/dress like?

The story takes place in early 2010s, as everyone is around their mid to early 20s. Bing's the oldest so they'd be about 30 now?? I think?? Everyone has their own style, but it does strictly follow 2000s fashion cuz of their age! Like an idiot, I've never bothered drawing character sheets as no character has set clothing.. but I can boards I created for a general idea of what they'd wear!

Bing;

Warm, heavy clothing you'd almost consider for mountain wear. Thick boots, lots of flannel. Not exactly a very fashionable person, but they get by with what they got.

Salem;

Modest, loose fitting dresses. Doesn't like wearing pants simply because they feel uncomfortably tight (no matter how baggy). Very much spring esc type wear due to the southern heat.

Samuel;

More retro esc clothes leaning closer to the 80s! Considerably, childish t-shirts paired with the shortest shorts. The football jock!

Stanley;

Lots of sports jackets & shoes like Nike & Adidas. While it seems like his clothes are name-brand most of them are from Goodwill or fakes lol.

What are the visuals/aesthetics of this story?

I actually have a Pinterest board made that shows off the general aesthetic :D

What is the plot of this story?

Around '07, a car was found totalled near the outskirts of Columbia, SC. The vehicle was in such disarray that it looked almost as though it had been warped into the tree it had collided into. Branches protruded out of it's windshield, as glass laid upon the forest floor. Only one of the victim's was known to be conscious, later confirmed to be the driver, who for whatever reason had not called for help. It was presumed they had sat there instead, in a state of shock, until help arrived. In sheer terror, they stared, watching the life bleed out of their passenger's eyes.. Listening to the gurgling sobs, as his jaw lay slack. 4 hours. They did nothing for 4 hours.

They never came to his funeral.

Time did nothing but further erod his sister's mind; a shell of a woman was all she was. Yet with time can prosperity, as that husk became something more. A solution. Justice.

How does the medium inform the storytelling?

I HAVE... NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS.. if it's regarding how the story is being told, I don't really know? as much as I love this story, I don't know if I have the full capability to write or produce the high level content I want to make. I would love to turn it into an actual ARG but, to be honest, I don't think I have the time or talent to pull that off :(

the most I think I can do is just Tumblr rambles, tbh, as nothing I produce will properly match what is going on inside my brain. hey, maybe I might bring the game back? (most likely not BUTT it's a nice thought). The best way I can explain how I'd LIKE for the ARG would be similar to lasagna cat? or the DAD arg. Like, I don't exactly enjoy up front analog horror. I want to create something where when you first watch it it's like, "wtf was that?" yk??? Similar to to Jack Stauber's content, I want it to be weird/unnerving but not on purpose. It's something you really have to go digging for story telling content. It's not supposed to make sense as it's all content directly from a woman who is slowly losing her mind.

ALSO IK NO ONE ASKED FOR THIS, but I figured since I've never exactly.. discussed this that it'd be good to go ahead and add plot 5

What are these characters relationships to each other?

Salem & Stanley are infact siblings! Along with that, Bing is Samuel's older, albeit adopted, sibling. Despite being the oldest, Bing has always had a close connection with their brother's friends, whom he met in highschool. They were always seen as the "mature" role model. Finally, Salem & Bing could technically count as partners , or even exes, as they have pending feelings for each other for a while. However, neither of them really admit to that.. The most you could say they are is a situationship who have hooked up in the past.

[evelynndecipio-blog]

July 6, 2021

Dear Evelynn, The letter did find me well! Specifically for the reason that I received the letter. I like your owl a lot. He does seem pretty proud of himself for delivering his package, and how can I blame him? I'd be proud of myself too if I flew... however many miles he flew; I really have no idea how far away you live. I do hope there's not too much distance between us. It would be great to see each other in person over the summer, other than just summer camp. If I'm being entirely honest, I'll probably forget everything you've taught me within the next month. Come August, I'll be saying 'hocus pocus' again. Or did I ever actually stop saying that? I don't know. I'll definitely be at camp, though, so I'm glad to hear you will as well! I'll be the one screaming loud enough that everyone in the stands just wants me to shut my pie hole when you catch the snitch to win the match. The other seeker doesn't stand a chance; they'll be blinded by the fire in your hair and the storm in your eyes, unable to look away until they crash into a goal post. At least, I know I would. Come to think of it, riding a broom is rather unsafe with you around... Oh, that reminds me! I need to get a broom of my own! Learning on the school brooms has been fine, but I don't want smoke trailing behind me when I finally make the quidditch team... unless it's cool smoke. You know, from fire that's supposed to be there, instead of like a blown engine or something. Brooms don't have engines, though, do they? Do they smoke? Does anything I'm saying make sense? Probably not, because every time I talk at the mirror, I realize that I don't understand a word coming out of my own mouth. Crazy, right?

I forgot what I was supposed to be talking about. Let me check your letter again_____ Oh, right. Rich people, big houses, you apologizing for something you should never apologize for. Eve, you should know by now that any time you talk to me at all brightens my life, as the sun's rays would when they grace the cold face of the earth, reminding its inhabitants that there is a life to be lived, and hope to be perceived. Oops. I'm not supposed to be writing poetry for you, am I? That's awkward. I suppose I could cross it out, but what if it makes you smile? Tell me if it made you smile when you reply. I forgot where I was again. Okay, I remember now. Honestly, I can't believe how big some houses are. What do these people do that allows them to live that way? I'd probably get lost in a house like that. I still turn the wrong way sometimes when I'm trying to use the bathroom down the hall from my room at night. How can I be expected to remember things like that when I'm half asleep? Let alone navigate a palace. My only hope would be if the butler put a tracking device on me or something. Which is actually not something my mum would object to doing as it is. The closest thing I have to a fireplace in my room is my window during the summer. If I'm cold, I just lay in the sun like a cat. It's pretty great. I don't think I've ever met this Healy person, though now I'm very curious. How tall does a half-giant grow, I wonder? I almost wish I could be one. I don't enjoy being short. I'll be taller than you someday - just you wait. Then you won't have to look down when I compare you to a summer's day. I can't believe you have to do summer school! And you'll be doing extra homework at Hogwarts? That's terrible! I'd just die. My will to live would be shattered. Doing homework that involves magic is bad enough, but at least it's better than math or English. I'm so sorry to hear that. If you need someone to rescue you, just tell me and I can get my dad on board. I won't even have to beg. One word from you and we'll prepare the getaway car. In case you're being watched, the code phrase is 'Romeo and Juliet.' Not for any particular reason, of course. It just seems ambiguous. In any case, I'm so glad you decided to send a letter, and I hope we can keep communicating! I may ramble a bit, but at least you can tune me out this way. ;-) You should help me go broom shopping sometime, because I have no idea what I'm doing. Help. With admiration from much too far away, Marshal p.s. I do have a mobile number! It's xxx-xxx-xxx. Feel free to call or text me at three in the morning! I always have a joke ready to go if you need one. It's a skill my dad taught me. p.s.s What do you call a dead fly? A flew.

[landwriter]

Since you're asking for prompts: can we hear more about Hob's cat whomst Dream instantly appropriates as his own? 😶

It was not, actually, love at first sight.

Hob had found Dream and the cat staring at one another in kitchen, with equally affronted expressions that were immediately turned upon him when he walked in.

"Right," he'd said, and addressed the cat first, to Dream's visible chagrin. "Cat, this Dream. He's very nice. And Dream, this is a cat. I don't have a name for her yet, but we've been making friends over the past couple months," and then he'd looked back down at the little black cat and said, "Haven't we? Haven't we, sweet one?" and when he had looked back up from giving her a scratch under the chin, Dream had gone.

Hob had found him sulking in the living room.

"Love," he'd said, "She was in the alley behind the pub. Skinniest little thing I've seen. I've been feeding her what I can, but with the weather turning, and she'd warmed up to me so much-"

"I did not ask for this," Dream had said. And fair play, Hob had thought, because adopting a pet sort of was one of those, well, couple's decisions, wasn't it? But Hob wasn't about to let either of them go back out into the cold night.

"I know," he'd said, and sat down on the couch too. "That wasn't very fair of me." But Hob wasn't a very fair person in general, so he had tucked his body against Dream's, and wrapped an arm around him, then murmured lowly into his neck, "Although, you didn't ask for me either, did you?"

And Hob had made up with Dream that way, and the next day he brought some tuna home and the cat forgave him too.

continued on AO3 / below the cut: (~2K)

The two of them never quite warmed up to each other, though. Sometimes, Hob would come into a room to find them both there, gazes locked in a silent battle of wills, before one stalked off and the other looked smugly at Hob. But they coexisted, more or less, and after a few months, Hob figured that was how it was going to remain. It was alright. He had enough affection for both of them. They didn't need like each other as well. It would have been nice, though.

---

The cat - Hob had never picked a name for her and Dream certainly wasn't going to offer one - so in time she went from being the cat to The Cat instead, was not an indoor, domestic creature like Hob. She had been born outside, been a kitten outside, and would come and go as she pleased.

Dream was not sure why she had traded it for days and afternoons in Hob's flat above The New Inn, but he could understand. Hob had a special kind of persistence to him. A special kind of patience and warmth. And he never made her stay in when she wanted to explore at night.

But Dream was growing uneasy with it. He knew the world of humans better than he ever had, and it was not an especially kind world for a small cat, no matter how fierce she'd assured Dream she was, time and time again. There were dogs. Cars. Long falls.

Hob didn't seem to think about it at all. He didn't look up in the evenings when brakes squealed outside. He didn't walk through the flat in the grey light of early morning looking for a small black circle of fur sleeping off her adventures in one spot or another.

Dream could not stop thinking about it. Hob loved the cat terribly. And the cat was clever, and quick, and sounded like a tiny four stroke engine when she was happy. He refused to say anything to Hob, lest Hob assume his own worries, and have the precious peace of he enjoyed in the evenings be ruined by Dream's helpless fretfulness.

He tried to temper The Cat's appetite for exploration instead, to no avail. He knew it was hopeless. Cats kept their own counsel.

---

His eldest sister met him for a walk on a fine spring day.

"I hear you two have a cat now," she said, apropos of nothing, eyes sparkling.

"How?" he asked, appalled. He felt bizarrely stricken by the thought of his sister knowing about The Cat.

She jostled his shoulder playfully. "Oh, you know me. I hear things," she said. Then she looked a bit closer at his face and said, "Oh, Dream, you idiot. Don't be silly."

Dream felt his face flush and he scowled. "And I would rather it be you than anyone else, sister. Of course. When it is time. But," he said, and trailed off.

Death stopped walking and turned to face him. "But what?"

"Hob loves her," he said, pathetically.

"Most things that live are loved," said Death.

"Can you not-?" asked Dream.

"I could," she said, and smiled. "But I've already made one exception for someone you love. I can't be seen playing favourites, you know."

Dream felt several different objections spring to his lips at once, but then his sister's expression lightened into a teasing grin, "Besides, little brother, I'm sure you can think of something."

"Ever helpful, sister of mine," he said. At least he had asked. Cold comfort that it was. Perhaps he would be able to change her mind in the future.

Death kissed him on the cheek. "I have to go back to work, but tell your husband hello for me, won't you? That's for Hob, by the way. You get this," she said, and punched him softly on the arm, "It's normal to worry about the ones you love, Dream, yeah? Just because it hurts doesn't mean it has to be fixed."

And she strode away and Dream stood there feeling like all little brothers sometimes feel.

---

Hob noticed him staring at The Cat that evening more than usual. The Cat noticed him as well, of course, but pretended not to, mostly because she could.

"Having a squabble, are you?" asked Hob. He'd started making little jokes about what he thought was enmity between them. Yes, the presence of The Cat had been...discomfiting, at first. But it had not been enmity between them for months now.

Dream looked up guiltily. "We have yet to come to an understanding," he said, which was true enough.

Hob scoffed softly. Dream felt impossibly fond. "Well, I wish you two the best of luck in your negotiations." He cupped Dream's face and kissed him. "I'm off to bed. Early morning lectures, nothing worse. Both of you enjoy your nights," he said.

Dream stared after him and so did The Cat. Then the bedroom door closed with a soft click and The Cat got up, very casually, jumped down into his lap, and curled up. She found it incredibly amusing to let Hob think she disliked Dream, and the only reason Dream didn't ruin her ruse out of greater loyalty to Hob was because he feared all his feelings of concern and worry would spill out at the same time. She knew this, of course, and was tremendously smug about having her way.

She impatiently bumped her warm little head up into Dream's hand and he curled his fingers into her fur. For while they had their differences, Dream's chin scratches were objectively superior Hob's, and she had set her feud with him aside the moment she realized it. Dream, of course, had the unfair advantage of millennia of dreams of people petting their cats, and millennia of dreams of cats being pet. No other being, he thought, with some satisfaction, could pet a cat better.

Since Hob's term had started, they had done this on his early nights, settling on the couch, Dream sometimes with a book, sometimes with just his thoughts, until she had her fill of attention and got up from his lap to slip like a small shadow out the window. Then Dream would brush the fur off his clothes, and attend to his duties in The Dreaming.

The Cat stretched and hopped onto the windowsill. She stopped, and looked back at Dream, eyes bright with curiosity. You'll think of something, his sister had said.

Dream stood and looked down at her. He affected an air of disinterest. "Are you not bored of it yet?" he said, "Night after night."

She swished her tail.

"All the same. Birds, trees, insects, what else is there? Only variations on the same theme. Are they not? How tedious it must become," he said, "For a Cat such as you."

She made to take her leave, hurt and irritated.

"No," continued Dream, "It is below your station, I think. You are a fine emissary of the night. Walk with me, and explore a greater darkness. Come and witness my work, if you wish. Come prowl in the minds of men instead of their alleyways."

He turned away at once, not waiting for her reply. She hopped down from the windowsill.

They went into the night together.

---

The only consolation, thought Hob, of early mornings, was getting to read the morning edition of the paper while watching his husband complete the crossword before he even got to the business section. Dream had already plucked it out and was smirking down at it. Perhaps the clues were particularly obscure today.

Hob picked up the paper and turned it over to the front page. He took a sip of tea and choked on it immediately. Under the masthead, in sensationally large font, was the headline:

Black Cat Crossed Your Path? Scientists Theorize Collective Unconsciousness After Same Cat Reported In Nation's Dreams

Dream smiled as he completed the crossword, thoroughly unconcerned with Hob's wheezing gasps.

"Darling," said Hob, after evacuating the last of the Earl Grey from his lungs. "Dream."

"Yes?" asked Dream.

"Did you perhaps invest The Cat with your powers of office last night? After I went to bed?"

"She was bored," said Dream.

"Right. So you gave her the power to walk with you through dreams. Because she was bored," he said.

"Husband. No such thing. I also did it because she is well-suited to such work." Dream sniffed, haughty. "It certainly suits her more than chasing birds and running in between cars," he said.

Hob's phone vibrated. It was a text from Rita, another Classics professor, who had been over for lunch once or twice before:

Robert, that cat of yours was in my dreams last night. She recognized me. Explain yourself.

As he read it, another notification popped up. His teaching assistant, Michael:

lol hob the first year papers are getting to me, i dreamt ur cat was watching me mark them last night. allegory??

His phone vibrated again. Hob put it on silent and very deliberately placed it back on the table face down. He looked over to the living room where The Cat was stretched out on the rug and emitting tiny little snores, and then at his husband who was looking at him like he dared Hob object. Well-suited indeed, thought Hob.

"Apparently so," he said, and started in on his eggs before they got cold.

It was wonderful that they were finally getting along.

[more-cardigan-than-woman]

Christmas at the Manor

Summary: You spend your first Christmas with the Batfam.

Characters: Readerx Dick Grayson. THE WHOLE FAM (Minus Cat Mom)

Words: 1.6k

Warnings: Swearing, fluff, presents?

An: Am I a month late? Yep. Do I care? Yeh, a bit. I got distracted. But this was to cute not to share.

“Ok, I think we've got everything,” Dick said, stuffing all the presents into the bag.

“What about Jason's-”

“Yep, first thing I grabbed,”

“And Dami’s-”

“All good, honey. It's right here," he patted the pocket of his winter coat.

“What time are we meeting them?”

“Gotta be at the mansion by 5, everyone else will probably be late,”

“Except Tim,”

“Yeh, he'll probably still be in his room working,” you gathered up the bags of presents, Dick hauling two over his shoulders.

“Well it's just gone 4 think we should go? I don't wanna be late for my first Wayne Christmas,” you said, zipping up your overnight bag.

Xx

You pulled up to the mansion in the rented car, adjusting your coat to keep the tiny flecks of snow from sneaking onto your skin. Your eyes danced over the fairy lights that glittered over the large building.

“Love, this is beautiful,” you said, smiling up at it.

“Yeh, it is,” Dick agreed. You failed to notice his eyes watching you when he said that, he was truly in awe of you. The lights creating a soft glow on your face, you looked like a Christmas angel all decked out in white.

“Master Grayson, Miss L/N” Alfred spoke, seeming to appear from thin air, “allow me to help you with those.”

“It's ok, Alfie we got it,” You smile politely at him, taking your bag in one hand.

“Miss, I must insist. My mother would be turning in her grave if she knew I'd allowed a lady such as yourself to carry her own bags,”

“Well when you put it like that,” you chuckled, handing Alfred your bags. He turned and began heading up towards the building.

“I could use some help,” Dick said, struggling to balance the rest of the bags in his arms.

“I'm sure you can juggle them,” Alfred winked at you, gesturing for you to follow him inside.

“A circus joke? Really?” Dick called from behind you, “you're getting used to the lush life already honey,” he teased running to catch up with you both once he had all the bags stuffed under his arms.

The doors to the mansion flew open and the warmth radiated through your skin. The smell of a warm fire and the pine that decorated every inch of the place filling in your nose. It was the white Christmas you'd always dreamed of. When you were a spy you never got a chance to actually stop and enjoy the festivities and you would be eternally grateful to Bruce for giving you the chance to settle down.

“You two are the first to arrive, let me show you to your room,” Alfred said, guiding you up the stairs.

“Thanks Alfred,” Dick hummed, the man after placing the bags on the ground, “we’ll be down in a sec, let the others know we’re here.”

“I'm certain they are aware,” he smirked, placing your suitcase on the stand, closing the door behind him as he exited the room.

Xx

“Are you nervous?” Dick asked as you were freshening up in the bathroom, he was unpacking all the gifts onto the bed and putting some of your clothes into his closet, for next time. He hoped there would be a next time.

“Why would I be nervous? I've met everyone before,” you brushed it off. You were nervous though, because with Dick being so busy it was down to you to get everyone's gifts and while you were sure they would like them. They were- well they weren't traditional.

Dicks hands wrapped around your middle spinning you towards him, his lips meeting with yours as he pulled you closer leading you towards the bed.

“Maybe we can ease those nerves before my family decides to bother us,'' his voice low and sultry as his lips began nipping your neck.

“Hmm, what did you have in mind, Master Grayson?” you tease, a low growl escaping his throat. His hand sliding up the tight line of your thigh as he pulled you to straddle him. You lean down pushing him onto the bed.

The door flung open and both of your heads shot towards it.

“Little privacy,” Dick said, his hands gripping on your ass.

“Grayson,” the stern voice said, “you should greet a man when you enter his home,”

You rolled your eyes and hoped that he couldn’t see from the way you were straddling his brother. You shuffled, moving to hop off Dicks lap when his fingers dug into your hips,

“In a sec squirt, give me 5 minutes.”

“You'll only need 2,” the boy smarmed, slamming the door behind him.

“Dick,” you slap him playfully, “don't be mean to Dami, he misses you.”

“Yeh, but can't we just make-out for a minute and then we’ll go out?”

'You're re insatiable,”

“Only for you, hon”

His lips meet yours and he rolls you, pinning you underneath him. Forgetting all about the young boy who is probably waiting behind the door to burst in. Your hands gripping onto his shirt while you devour each other.

"We- we should go, the others will be here soon," you mumbled into his mouth. Truthfully you were getting way to worked up and if you stayed like this you would miss dinner entirely.

"Just one more minute," Dick sighs, holding your face close to him as he peppers you with kisses. You pull back but his hand keeps you close as you sit up and fixing your top and redoing your pants while you attempt to fix the mess his hair has become.

Once you are both again presentable he leads you downstairs and into the sitting room where Damien and Bruce are waiting. Steph and Cassie are sitting by the fire, showing each other videos on the phone. Jason is spread over a couch with a book resting on his face. Duke and Tim appear to be plotting something. They looked perfect, like the big family Christmas you had always dreamt of.

"Nice of you to join us," Bruce said, looking up from his conversation with Damien.

"Took you long enough," Damien shook his head at you, taking another cookie from the tray.

"Got distracted, is all," Dick says, pulling you down to the love seat, "we doing presents now or after dinner?" He asks eager to see how his family responds to the gifts you had personally picked out for them. Their eyes all perk up at the question and you can tell it's going to be now.

Quick hands all race to the tree grabbing out individual presents and ripping and tearing at the paper like little kids. You wait patiently not expecting their to be any for you, why would they? It's not like your apart of their family yet, your just Dicks girlfriend and this is only your first Christmas.

"Those are for you," Dick, whispered in your ear. His head gesturing towards the last of the gifts under the tree.

"What?" You give him a quizzical look.

"You didn't think we would leave you out?" Steph pipped up, gathering the bundle and placing it on your lap. "You idiot," she flicked you on the forehead, "this one's from me," she pointed to the one wrapped entirely in purple. You carefully unwrapped it, pulling out the white sweater, it was beautiful and soft.

"Is this-" You rub it on ya face, "-is this cashmere? Thank you Steph," she winked at you. Laying the sweater on your lap you begin to open all the thoughtful gifts they had gotten you, watching closely as they did the same. Waiting for the reactions when they found their way to your gifts.

Jay was the first to open his, "is this a joke?" He chided turning the book over in his hands, "because if it is this is the best gift ever," he opened the book his eyes nearly budding out of his head, "this needs to be in a plastic sleeve," The first edition of Frankenstein had been hard to find, but the look on his face was worth it. The laughter he was keeping in to keep his breath from such a precious item had been worth every penny. "I know Dick couldn't buy anything this good, thanks Y/N" he said coming over to give you a big Jay bird hug.

Damien followed soon after, seemingly confused by the folder that lay in front of him. That was until he opened it and saw his true gift. "Is this?"

"Yep," you said "I liked to come with you."

"Father! Look!" He said holding the folder to his father's face, "Y/N got me a mission for Christmas!" Bruce narrowed his eyes at you before going through the folder. All of your research in an illegal tiger trade operating in Star City. You had wanted to deal with this yourself but new Damien would love the opportunity to branch out. "When do we leave?"

"You'll see I marked the date of their next trade, we can strike then." You smiled proudly, pointing out the dates on the makeshift calendar.

The rest of the Family including Alfred, who you had gotten a vintage tea set that was once a favourite of Elizabeth the First opened your thoughtful gifts. Each more astounding than the last and by the end you were the new favourite of everyone except Bruce. The kids agreed that Dick was banned from getting them gifts and you were now in charge. If you weren't apart of the family before, you sure were now.

You spy Bruce's face forlorn as he was the only one not to receive a gift from you. The only trouble with it was, well it was massive.

"Dinner is served," Alfred called from the dining room and as you entered you saw Bruce's gift already set on top of the mantle.

"What's this?" He asked, probably wondering why the fuck a sheet was hanging from the wall.

"This is from all of us," Dick said, "but it was my beautiful honeys idea," He nuzzled his cheek into your hair.

Very carefully Bruce unveiled the painting all of his kids with him in the middle and Alfred off to the side. It was a master piece and had taken months for you to organise all the kids to sit for it. But seeing the stern and hard Batman cry made your heart swell.

"I just-" you paused, unsure if this was a good cry or if you had overstepped. "I wanted to say thank you for all you've done for me and I know-" you couldn't finish you words as he wrapped you in a bear hug all but squeezing the life from you.

"Thank you," he whispered, "It's wonderful,"

"Please don't squish her," Dick said tapping him on the shoulder. Bruce leant back his hands resting on your shoulder the other on Dicks. He gave you both such an affectionate look. He pulled his son in for a big hug, his voice quiet when he spoke directly into Dicks ear, "Don't mess this up Dick, you better marry this girl,"

"I intend to," he smiled so lovingly watching as you sat down at the table in the seat that had remained empty for far too long.

[omnivorousshipper]

Can you please write an au of Rowen meeting before F6 and starting to date then when the team goes to London and sees Owen's photo, Roman shouts "My boyfriend is a criminal!?!?"? Bonus if you can add Shobbs!

Hi friend! I know you sent this in a long, long time ago, and I'm so sorry about that!! I hope still enjoy this!

~~~

Life couldn't be more perfect.

Laying in bed, head propped up in his hand, he stared down at the sleeping figure next to him.

Owen had entered his life like a hurricane and Roman couldn't be more thankful.

After the heist in Rio, Roman had traveled the world and had enjoyed everything he could get his hands on. Food, alcohol, women, men, riches, and everything in between. Along that road, he had bumped into the most gorgeous person at a car auction.

Owen had slid up to him, voice dripping with honey sweet promises if he let Owen outbid him on one of the many cars. Safe to say, Roman didn't let him, but when he met the man's narrowed gaze, he wiggled the keys in front of him and gestured him to follow him.

And that's how he made love to Owen for the first time in the newly acquired car.

Roman had given the car to Owen, he wasn't an asshole after all, and Owen stayed by his side.

When Owen wasn't off working, he would be almost attached at the hip with Roman. He shared all the worldly pleasures Roman could find and showed him news heights of joy Roman never knew existed.

They had stopped in Egypt to enjoy one of the many luxurious hotels. Owen was wrapped up in the silk sheets, completely naked underneath them. His face was peaceful as he slept.

Or so Roman thought.

"I'll have to leave soon," Owen mumbled and cracked on eye open. Roman couldn't help but caress his face and smiled at his sleepy expression. Owen was a lot like a cat: wanted constant attention, wasn't afraid to use his teeth and claws, and could nap at a drop of a hat.

"Do you have to?" Roman pouted. "Can't you tell your mom you'll be late?"

"This job isn't for my mom," Owen yawned. "I've been freelancing for a bit."

"But you just got back from Russia."

"And now I have to go on another trip, love," Owen smiled at him. He reached up and cupped the back of Roman's head to pull him down for a kiss. It was slow and full of passion, but it didn't go any further. "It won't take more than a week at most. I'll be back before you know it."

"If you say so."

"Don't worry, I'll even bring you back a souvenir."

When Roman dropped Owen off at the airport, he felt his heart sink as he saw his boyfriend disappear into the crowd. He wasn't exactly sure what Owen did for work, but he knew he was in the family business with his mom. At least he was family orientated.

Sighing, Roman was about to call for his own private jet when his phone rang. Raising an eyebrow, Roman answered.

"What's up Dom?"

--

"So what? We're expected to work for the Hulk now? Why do I smell baby oil?" Roman wrinkled his nose and nearly flinched when he saw Luke Hobbs come out of nowhere.

"If you think you can't handle it, then the door's right there, Pearce." Hobbs sent him a steely look, and Roman responded under his breath about him being a hard ass.

"You've got the best crew in front of you, Hobbs. What'd you got for them?" Dom crossed his arms and all eyes turned to Hobbs.

"I've been hunting this target for the last few months. Across four continents and seventeen countries. You're going to help catch him. His name is Owen Shaw-"

Roman let out a choking noise as Hobbs said that name and threw down the file he had been holding. Hoping against all hope, Roman desperately wished it wasn't who he thought it was.

Staring back up at him was Owen.

His Owen.

"Shaw was the head of his squad, a high ranking captain and spy before he went rogue. Now, he's pulling jobs all over the European and Asian continent-"

"There's no way!"

Everyone turned at Roman's outburst, who desperately wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

"Got something to tell us, Pearce?" Hobbs asked, eyebrows raised and arms crossed.

Oh fuck.

"You've got this all wrong!" Roman insisted. "There's no way he's a criminal!"

"I beg your pardon?" Hicks snorted. "That guy has blown up several government buildings because he was bored."

"He wouldn't do that!"

"And how would you know that, Rome?" Brian asked. "Do you know him?"

"I- no, yes, maybe, I don't know!"

"It's yes or no, Pearce," Hobbs growled. "Are you helping him in his heists?"

"What?! No!" Roman clenched his fists. "My boyfriend would never-"

His mouth snapped shut.

Everyone was staring at him wide eyed.

"Boyfriend?" Han scoffed. "You sure know how to pick them."

"If anything, he's out of Roman's league." Tej pointed out.

"Hey!" Roman glared. He and Owen were perfect for each other.

...which he might have said that part out loud by the large grins the crew were sporting. However, Hobbs wasn't smiling.

"Can you contact him?"

"Uhhh. What happens if I do?"

"Are seriously this dumb?" Hobbs snapped.

"Hey! I'm not just going to let you arrest my boyfriend!"

"Either you call him up and we talk this out, or I hunt him down and throw him him prison where you can talk to him through a window."

Roman gulped. He would rather the first option. Pulling out his phone, he tapped his foot nervously as Owen's phone rang, but didn't pick up.

He called three more times and left several texts before looking back at the crew. None of them looked impressed.

"I could try calling his brother..."

"His brother?" Dom asked.

"Yeah, he and Deckard are really close-"

"Wait." Hobbs' body went rigid. "Deckard Shaw?"

"Um, yeah. He's a really nice guy and loves Owen a lot-"

"I know who he is." Hobbs snapped.

"How?"

"Because we've been dating for a year." Hobbs sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Mouth hanging open, Roman couldn't believe he wasn't the only one dating a Shaw.

This was going to be interesting.

[maybeijustwanttobeme]

Fear of the Knight: Chapter 7.

Pairing: Bruce Wayne x Female!Reader

Warning: swearing, spoilers, violence and mention of rape

Summary: After a childhood and youth together, Bruce and [Y/N] live separate lives full of secrets. A new serial killer in Gotham unmasked the truth of the city, but the lies of Bruce and [Y/N] also were unmasked. What is the cost of the lies?

Notes: English is not my first language.

Masterlist: Fear of the Knight

Sorry for the delay, between my elbow surgery and the end of the semester I wasn't able to write, but I'm back (again)! I hope you enjoy it. Leave a comment if you want to be tag ⭐️

-[Y/N], are you sure? I don't think it's a good idea to look for the vigilante.- Neera was worried.

-Of course, I'm sure. I already convinced Gordon to let me call him. I need to do this. He's the only one who can finish them off. I need to be free, and even if I have to go to jail, at least no one will be able to control me.

-You're one of the few good people I know in Gotham, but you're still a person, and you're going to make mistakes. You helped me! A stripper with no future! How many women from the Iceberg Lounge have you gotten out of that miserable place?

-32… but Annika…

-You're not going to be able to save us all. Just keep trying to change lives. I got your back, little bird.- both smiled at each other.

-How do I look? -[Y/N] asked as she showed her uncoordinated outfit to avoid being recognized.

-Horrible- answered Neera sincerely.

-Perfect!

-Now, we're going to get you out of this hospital.

-[Y/N], we can still go. What if he sees you as a threat?

-I don't think so -[Y/N] chuckled and showed her cast.

-What if I stay with you?

-No, I need you to go to the Wayne Foundation and give Annika's case- she said while tapping the envelope with evidence that they had worked in the hospital.

-I can do it tomorrow…

-No, I need Bella and Harvey to commit. I need to put the killer behind bars.

-How do you know the Wayne Foundation is going to cooperate?

-I'm going to speak directly with Bruce.

-[Y/N] - Neera gave her a worried look. Neera knew part of her history with Bruce. Neera was her best friend. Although [Y/N] wanted to tell her everything, she knew that she would put her in danger if she knew the whole truth of her life.

-I know he'll help.

-How?

-His parents. Martha and Thomas would have helped.

-If you insist. Call me when you get home.

-Sure.

[Y/N] got out of the car while trying to catch her breath. What floor had Gordon said?

Women liked him. He liked them, too, but he never stayed in one place long enough to form a lasting relationship. His relationships after [Y/N] had been just a fling and were just for pleasure. He was not sure he wanted one; he could only fantasize about a future with [Y/N]. Oh! But Selina was a beautiful woman, dangerously beautiful. She also understood his nocturnal world.

-I told you, baby. I can take care of myself-Selina said sensually before leaving, but he realized that she stopped when she saw a person. He turned around, thinking it was Gordon, but his heart skipped a beat when he saw [Y/N] standing there.

She had her hair fluffy, and no makeup and her bruises stand out more. She had an old Gotham University sweatshirt and shorts too big for her. She finally combined it with tall purple rain boots and a yellow raincoat. Bruce wanted to smile seeing her like that. He could almost hear her laugh looking for puddles like when they were children.

-You knew?- Selina asked her as she walked towards her like a cat hunting her prey.

-What are you talking about?

-Don't pretend to be stupid. It doesn't fit you. Since when did you know about Annika? - Selina's anger against [Y/N] was clear.

-I found out the last night we met - [Y/N]'s body language was defensive. She definitely wasn't looking to have that conversation with Selina.

-And you weren't going to tell me?

-It's not that I have your phone, and these days I've tried…-she was interrupted.

-I don't see you moving a finger.- [Y/N] changed her body language to an offensive one. She wasn't going to let Selina make her feel any more guilty.

-I'm not going to go looking for the killer. I'm going to have Harvey look him up as PR. I already told you that I don't have a death wish, and looking for the killer would be looking for the same destiny. Do not take justice into your own hand, Selina. The consequences can be high.

-I don't see anyone looking for justice for Annika

-And what do you think I'm doing here? - Bruce witnessed a battle of women who wanted to be right that was basically a battle of titans in front of him.

-You are not different from them. Taking dirty money and living off it.

-I have no choice. My fate may be the same as Annika's. I'm still a valuable little bird but replaceable. If you want to hunt down the killer, do it. I'm going to do it my way- [Y/N] with her look and tone, she left no option for Selina to say anything else. Selina followed her path as if she had never bumped into [Y/N].

Bruce watched [Y/N] take a deep breath as if she was taking courage.

-Stop judging me with your gaze.- she told him while trying to fix her hair in a ponytail, but she couldn't because of the cast. Bruce's fingers itched to help her. Since the day he'd seen her at Mitchell's house, he'd dreamed about her soft hair.

-Why could I judge you? Because of your friendship with Penguin? Or with Falcone?

-You don't know a thing, Bat.- the two stared at each other. Bruce didn't know what to say. He didn't want to talk much either. She could somehow recognize his voice. [Y/N] didn't know where to start.

-The cat got your tongue? - [Y/N] tried to joke around to break the tension. She didn't know where she had gotten the confidence to joke around with the Bat. Maybe it was the pain meds. Bruce still didn't say anything.- Uhm… I'm here to tell you a theory I have about the rat and answer any questions you may have about the mob.

-I thought you worked with them. - Bruce's tone was harsh.

-The most appropriate thing to say is that I work for them, although that would be to say that I have a choice.

-I saw you very comfortable with Penguin- he replied.

-Oz has saved me on several occasions. He is a friend.

-And Falcone? - The tone of both began to be increasingly hostile.

-He is more like my captor.

-I don't see you locked up.

-If I wasn't locked up, I wouldn't have come to you.

-Why are you locked up?

-Because of a bad deal I made a few years ago.- Both remained silent for a few seconds.- Could I tell you my theory? I'm not here to talk about my personal life.- the Bat nodded.- You remember Reed 'Piggy' Porcello, right? It was your first case with Lieutenant Janice Dure.

-How do you know that?

-I worked with Mitchell. We've heard about you since the first case. You remember it, right? - he just nodded again. The vigilante was a man of few words.

-Porcello was one of the few people who started working for Oz and Falcone, who worked for Marroni and my dad. And not only that, but since they were arrested, Porcello has had positions within the government. Why do you think Falcone paid to get him out of jail?

-Do you think he is the rat?

-Don't know. I just think it's a bit suspicious. Porcello betrayed Falcone, and he's still alive and working for him and the government.

-Like you.-he told her as recrimination. Bruce was trying to stay calm, but he wanted to know why [Y/N] was involved with them.

-I'm not the rat-her tone and gaze were strong. He knew she wasn't the rat, but he needed to confirm that information.

-I saw Penguin giving you money.

-It was for Colson. I'm a perfect disguise to move papers and money around, but I've never done anything else

-And being the key witness in the trial of Marroni and your dad? -[Y/N] felt that question was an offence.

-That is my worst mistake.- she needed to undo the lump in her throat.- I'm not the rat because I would have let your cowl be taken from you at the funeral - she argued.

-One theory is that you're using Porcello for us to investigate him, so you can go free.

-I am not the rat!-she almost cried.

-Why not? Your theory is that Porcello is a suspect because he is working for the government and Falcone. Also, he worked for Marroni and your father. But you are in the same position. Why him and not you?

-Because I lost everything, and he won.- her face had changed to one of rage. [Y/N] had gone through endless emotions during this confrontation.

-What did you lose? You own your father's company, the family house…

-Just on paper!-she interrupted him.- My family's company is dedicated to money laundering and their operations. My family home is destroyed. Until a few days ago, they decided where I lived. They choose my car, and my job and control some of my money. As Colson said, I'm their favourite doll.

-How did you end up like this?

-A bad deal. I want all of them in jail, and even if I have to go with them; I will be free from their control. I'm going to jail on my own terms.

-Why don't you tell me everything?

-No, it's my story. It's personal.- she returned to a more neutral tone but determined to prove her point.

-Do you really believe that Porcello is the rat?

-I don't know.- another silence.- Only when I think about it, who is the one who has won the most? Only Porcello comes to mind. Also, they don't call him Piggy just because he's fat, but because of the carnage, he commits when they ask him for a job. Since he started working with Falcone and Mitchell, he was no longer just a criminal, but a politician. Mitchell paid him well for his jobs outside the office. The rat is someone we can't imagine.

-Can you talk to Porcello?

-No

-Get some proof?

-No. I can't be near Porcello.- her tone did not give rise to discussion, although Bruce preferred to insist.

-Why?

-It's personal.

-It's hard to work without some proof.

-Kenzie is close to him. You could ask about Porcello; he's always in the Iceberg Lounge.- Bruce kept thinking that it couldn't be Porcello. He had watched him after the GCPD didn't put him in jail, and nothing indicated that he was the rat- You still don't trust me, do you?

-It can't be Porcello

-Why?

-It's personal - Bruce wanted to play with her too.

-I'm not the rat.

-What was that deal, [Y/N]? - he changed the subject. He hoped he could convince her to tell him the truth about her involvement.

-It's my life! I haven't told anyone. Why would I tell you?

-If we solve this case, it could help you set free.

-I can't… I can't. I don't trust you.

-Do you have any documents from them? or something that can serve as a clue?

-No, they are clever. They use paper so it can be destroyed and not tracked. I told you that Porcello is very close to Kenzie, look for him, he will talk.

-How do you know he would talk?

-Just tell him that you have the audio of [Y/N]. It's not proof, but he will sing if you ask him.-

-What is the audio from?

-It's personal.

-They'll know you talked to me. If you tell me the whole story, I can pretend I found it somewhere else, but with the half of the story, they'll know it's you. I'm not going to put you at risk.- That was true. There was no universe where Bruce would put [Y/N] at risk.

-Nobody knows the whole story.- she confessed.

-You protected my secret, and I'm going to protect yours.- [Y/N] thought that maybe she would never have a similar opportunity that someone could know her story to help her be free. What could an outlaw do? She looked into his eyes and saw absolute sincerity. Alos, I kind of familiarity like when you listen to someone you love.

With a sigh, she began her story with her.

-After college, I went to Metropolis to work for Lex Luthor on his PR team. At first, my dad didn't care until my work began to stand out, and my dad asked me to return to work in the PR of the family company. I told him no, the company was at Marroni's disposal, and because of that and… for… nothing, I didn't want to return to Gotham.

-The whole story, without gaps. - The Bat said with a certain sweetness.

-Because of Bruce Wayne, everything reminded me of him. During those two years in Metropolis, I was happy. I was starting a new life.- [Y/N] smiled as she remembered her life in the quiet city of Metropolis.- My dad wanted me so much in Gotham that he sent people to destroy my car, my aparment and follow me everywhere I went. I felt so insecure that I had to go back. My dad told me that it was temporary job, and I accepted.- There was a brief pause accompanied by a sigh.-After almost two years of work, I managed to raise the image of the company and my family. When I wanted to move out, my dad told me no. He was desperate because the GCPD had already started the whole investigation. He needed the family image, and I couldn't leave because he controlled my money, my car, my apartment, everything. I was going to sneak out after a night out with some friends at the Iceberg Lounge, but he found out. That's when I met some of Piggy's fury. Oz's men stopped Porcello. Falcone found out about my situation, and some of his men came looking for me to talk to the Boss. Falcone and Mitchell told me that if I was a key witness for the trial, they would take me out of my dad's control and give me their protection. They were going to give me control of life again. I accepted, and that was the worst mistake. My dad found out about that, and he sent Porcello again. He was goint to give me something worse than death.- she couldn't hold his gaze for a second and breathed again to gather courage for the next thing. Bruce felt his body burn with rage. - I knew my dad would do something, although I never imagined that he would send someone to rape his own daughter. From previous experiences, my apartment had cameras and microphones. When Porcello arrived, he destroyed the cameras, but not the microphones. Those are the audios I mentioned you before. Kenzie was with him, and he wanted to participate. Oz's men got there in time. Porcello only managed to break my wrist. Porcello and Kenzie spoke with Falcone, and they came out alive and with new jobs. Porcello stayed longer and left with his political job. -the melancholy in her voice turned to rage.- I was furious, and I went to talk to Colson, he ignored me. That's when I met Harvey. He told me that I should keep those audios for some future blackmail. The two of them were protected by Mitchell. To compensate me for that, Mitchell gave me a job with him and promised that Porcello and Kenzie would never come near me again.- her voice calmed down to a neutral one.- After the trial, I wanted to leave, but Falcone wouldn't let me. He told me that my company would be managed by them, and I would receive my monery as "owner". I told them no, and Porcello took me to the dock. That night Falcone told me I was replaceable, but they wanted to help me for helping them get Marroni out. I could being their little bird, or I could easily end up at the bottom of the pier. Nobody would do anything, I had no family, and if society replaced the Waynes, of course, they could replace me. - she smiled reluctantly at the end of that part of the story. - That's how I came to work for them. In these 3 years, I have been with them, Oz has protected me, and Mitchell gave me a job, but everything was conditional on what Falcone wanted. Porcello's betrayal made me think that he was going to go to jail or they were going to kill him, but they just gave him a little slpa in his hand, and he went on with his life; that's why I believe he is the rat.

-You never saw another escape window?

-Yes.- [Y/N] didn't want to tell the Bat, but she needed to get everything out, and he seemed to be a good listener.- When Bruce Wayne settled in Gotham after his constant travels, I thought he could buy my freedom - [Y/N]'s head was starting to hurt, and she felt dizzy.

Bruce felt a tightness in his chest. He had never hated himself so much in his life. He pushed [Y/N] out of his life to protect her, but he never realized she was already living in hell. Despite that, she was always looking to help people with a smile.

-I'm sorry for everything. I'm going to resolve this and give you your freedom as it seems you have done with the women of the Iceberg Lounge.- he promised her. Bruce would died rather than let her Falcone's hands again.

-I want justice for Annika, for everyone who suffers because of them.

-I will keep your secret it as if it were mine.

-Thanks. Do you think it's Porcello?

-No, when he made his deal with Falcone, the GCPD should already have a rat for the trial. But I need to talk to both of them because Porcello might know the rat to make a deal with Falcone, especially after the bombs incident. You're right. The rat is someone who won too much and was close to the circle of Marroni and your dad. - he told her sincerely.

The phone of [Y/N] interrupted the conversation. It was Neera.

-Hi, what's going on?

-You're good?

-Yeah, what happened?

-It's about the Waynes. I don't know how much support the Wayne Foundation can give. Just watch the news when you can and call me

-Okay. I'll call you- she didn't understand anything Neera was saying, but she sounded anxious. The Waynes?

-All good?- he asked when he saw her confused

-Yeah .. just something about the Waynes.- she wanted to move, but her dizzines made her fell. The Bat was faster and took her into his arms like a side hug. [Y/N] was on his left side. So close, she was able to look at a tiny mole just like Bruce's. She saw his lips, and they were just as delicate. She looked into his eyes as blue as Bruce's. She needed to touch him to know if he felt the same way. Bruce saw how [Y/N] looked at his lips, and he desperantly wanted to kiss her. He had kissed Selina a few minutes ago, and he had liked it, but [Y/N]'s lips were like a drug. Of the things he missed the most on his trips were her kisses. Wherever [Y/N] wanted t kiss him, from the most simple and tender on the cheek to the most seductive on the lips. When he looked into her eyes, he knew she had found out his secret.

-Bruce….- she whispered.- I need to call him… something about the Waynes.

-I'll look for you when I hear from them .- he was still holding her in one of his arms. It was almost inhuman to let her go.

-Take care… I… I should go.- [Y/N] now needed to find out if it was Bruce the vigilante. Bruce released [Y/N] little by little, and she just as slowly walked away from him.

-[Y/N]. Be careful. I'll be watching you

-No, as you can see, I can take care of myself. Solve the riddle and stay alive.- [Y/N] needed the vigilante to live. Was it Bruce? That question would eat her until she discovered the truth.

Bruce watched her go. Now more than before, he needed to discover the rat to free [Y/N], but what about his parents?

Tag list: @she-wintersoldat @angeliken @t-stark35@cc13723things@aniya7 @xingqiusliegee @frozenhuntress67 @y-napotat @uncle-eggy @lwtmonster91 @bookloverfilmoholic