#It's honestly kinda remarkable to see such a head empty approach to the subject of SA in a fairly high-profile film in 2023

[dear-kumari]

The Pale Blue Eye pulls a pretty neat final twist that I've always wanted to see play out in a whodunnit, but unfortunately it also executes that twist in the lamest way possible

[idontblushsrry]

Request fic

Anon asked: 

Would you do a Hiei from YYH fic where Hiei and the reader are in "will they won't they" stage since they clearly like each other but she's not going to push Hiei and Hiei wants to ignore his feelings but he can't once he gets blatantly jealous when Shishiwakamaru makes a comment about her during the Dark Tournament after she turns him down for "not being her type"?

A/N: I kinda messed with somethings because I haven’t seen Dark Tournament in a hot minute.

Word Count: 1624

“Hiei, you’re glaring again.”

“Shut it Kurama. I’m not glaring, merely observing.”

An exasperated Kurama smiles at his friend who despite, verbal assurances that he was “merely observing” seemed to be growing increasingly irritated. Demonic aura rolling off his friend in waves as Hiei’s hand twitched to grab his sword.

The object of Hiei’s ire stood there completely unaware of the death looming over his head. Or maybe, he was all too aware. Shishiwakamaru had no issues when it came to taunting his rival team. You were no exception, the fact that you happened to actually catch Shishi’s eye was nothing more than icing on the cake.

The fact that Hiei looked ready to turn him into a sword sheath made this interaction all the more sweet.

All the while, you were caught in the crossfire between the 2 demons’ mind game/ ego contest. You continued your conversation with Shishiwakamaru out of pure politeness, every question he asked, you answered bored and disinterested, each answer getting shorter and shorter as time stretched on. To be truthful, you’d rather be back at the hotel, you were wasting the team’s precious training time by being here. You tried to shoo them off but Kurama insisted for the sake of being a gentleman and Hiei stayed because he wanted to “scope out the competition”.

Now the competition had more than ended and neither of them had any real valid reason to remain here, demons long gone, any stragglers you’d be more than able to avoid on your way back to the hotel. But you figured the same reason you were still here was why Hiei stayed around. Kurama probably just stayed behind to make sure Hiei didn’t add any extra charges to their long list of crimes.

“If you’re done wasting oxygen, Shishi, we’d like to head back now.”, Hiei, fed up with Shishi’s persistence speaks.

“If you’ll excuse me, your presence is no longer required. I can escort my Y/N back to the hotel if you’re that busy.”, Shishiwakamaru was all too aware of the underlining irritation in Hiei’s voice, more potent than his usual cadence.

That seemed to be the tipping point for Hiei because he grabbed his sword and nearly lopped off Shishiwakamaru’s head if it weren’t for Kurama placing a hand on his shoulder with a look that said ‘save it for the arena.’

Alright, this had gone on long enough, “Actually Shishi, I was thinking of heading back with them, it’s getting kinda late and I don’t wanna be here at night with just you...”, you mumbled the last part out a little awkwardly and gestured towards the exit where Hiei and Kurama stood.

Your “excellent” moderator skills seemed to have worked though because Shishi didn’t put up a fight. He smiled at you before gently taking your hand in his and placing a kiss on the palm of it. “Until we meet again Y/N, you hold my heart in your hands.” With a final smile directed at you, ignoring the way Hiei’s glare intensified, he walked away, leaving you to deal with the aftermath of his actions.

The aftermath being one pissed off fire demon named Hiei.

As you all made your way back to the hotel, you could tell that Hiei was very pointedly, ignoring you. He trailed behind you and Kurama before completely disappearing into the trees going who knows where.

The walk back with Kurama was silent but not unpleasant. You were mainly lost in your own thoughts, Kurama offered you a sympathetic smile but otherwise didn’t bother you. Any advice he could’ve given you would be repetitive, the both of you being closest to Hiei and knowing how he operates.

Upon coming back to the hotel, you note with nary a concern that Team Urameshi’s common room was completely empty. Fine, you needed to be alone with your thoughts anyways. All you wanted was tea, after that, you’d leave.

It did not appear that the universe was on your side as Botan appeared by your side with a cattish grin that said she’d found a new piece of drama to prey upon. 

“So, Y/N, me and the girls were playing truth or dare. Since everyone else is out, we were wondering if you’d like to join us?”

She said that all too innocently, it seemed she was either trying to lower your guard or she’d finally put her paws away. It did sound nice though, hanging out with Keiko, Yukina, Shizuru, and Botan in a situation more relaxing than hoping your boys don’t die every time they go out to fight.

“I’m sorry, I have to say no. I’m feeling a little tired from today and honestly, I’m just gonna pass out on the nearest surface, preferably a bed.”

She looked a bit disappointed, but understanding. “It’s just that I wanted you to see that Yusuke’s spirit beast had finally hatched.” 

“Oh, good for him, but I’m sure I can see it tomorrow. Aren’t the best things worth waiting for?” She looked a bit confused at your usage of the quote and you took that as an opportunity to leave. As interesting as Yusuke’s spirit beast sounds, you honestly were hoping to wait up for Hiei so you could talk to him about today.

Mind made up, you sped to your room, catching the faintest sight of a black puff of hair atop a blue...blob, before closing the door. You set your tea down to let it cool while you changed into your sleepwear. Pacing all the while and triple checking that your curtains were pulled back and your window was open.

“Why do you look so nervous?”

The sound of Hiei’s voice causes you to jump up in fear, tea cup almost spilling and dropping to the floor as a result. You turn around and see Hiei, perched on the windowsill, as dramatic as ever but also as serene as he’d ever been.

“Hiei, y-you’re here.”, a little caught off guard, you beam at the sight of him.

“Why wouldn’t I be here?”, he states that as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world, the implied affection doesn’t go unnoticed by you either. He jumps down from the window and enters your room, but that’s it. He puts his hands in his pocket and makes no moves to get closer to you beyond that.

Is he-? It’s faint but if you squint and the moonlight hits him just right, you could swear he was blushing. Hiei? Blushing?? You must be more tired than you thought because in what world does Hiei blush?

He opens his mouth to say something before closing it and you’re reminded, this is the world where Hiei blushes. The same world that forced him to compete in a tournament that could cost him his life. And the same world where he cares for you and you him but neither of you acting upon it.

“Hiei I-”

“Y/N look-”

At that you both laugh, feeling some of the tension in the room ease a bit after doing so. You try to urge Hiei to go first but he insists you speak, so you do. 

“I just wanted to say that I don’t have any feelings for Shishiwakamaru.”, you figured being blunt would be the best approach, Hiei appreciated it despite him being one of the most roundabout people you knew, “You know I only have eyes for you right?”

At your honest admission, Hiei looks a little guilty, eyes flitting about the room before settling back on you. His blush intensifies as a pout forms on his face, “I know that, I’m not an idiot like Kuwabara.”

Despite him looking like he wants you to finish this conversation for him, you remain silent. He had more that he needed to say to you, even if he didn’t know it.

His eyes took another trip around the room and he fixed you with a glare that said ‘seriously?’. You just smiled innocently and waited for him to continue.

“Listen Y/N because I’m going to say this once.”, he clears his throat, standing up straight and removing his hands from his pockets to point at you. “I find that you’re more tolerable than others. If I let my guard around you...I trust that you’d watch over me.” As soon as he finished, he looked away and plopped onto the floor, legs crossed.

You tensed the slightest bit, this subject was new to both of you, before forcing your body to move and making your way across the room to Hiei. You sat in front of him and placed a daring hand atop his.

To your relief, he didn’t seem opposed and even tangled his fingers in yours. Now both of you were staring into each other’s eyes, waiting for someone to make a move or say something. 

An unrestrained smile broke out across your face as you savored the feeling of Hiei’s hand in yours, the warmth of his calloused hands sending a fresh stream of butterflies up your arm and into your stomach. 

Hiei smiled too, a smaller one than yours but the happiness in his eyes more than making up the difference. It seemed like the two of you would sit there lovesick forever until Hiei, in an unprecedented show of boldness, leaned in and placed the gentlest kiss onto your lips.

It was clumsy, too firm at one point and angle a bit awkward, but it was so remarkably Hiei. The kiss was so brief that you were left dazed and wanting for more.

Hiei didn’t oppose when you pulled him in for another kiss, nor did he oppose the many that followed.

[realcube]

haikyuu!! boys learning that you speak another language 💬

characters: sugawara, oikawa, bokuto, akaashi & kuroo

thanks to anon for this amazing request 💞

(y/n) = your name

(L) = language of your choice

tw// self deprecating joke, swearing 

Kōshi Sugawara

honestly, idk how he didn’t know that you spoke a second language before y’all started dating bc he seems like the sort of guy to ask those sort of questions while flirting/making conversating

but anyway, he probably learned that you spoke another language on the first date

he took you on a study date to the library and one of the subjects he was studying was French, and he was clearly struggling

‘ugh, this is quite tricky- we’ve got a test coming up and i can’t even remember how to say ‘bread’. hah, i’m definitely going to fail..’

you rolled your eyes, leaning across the table to deliver a gentle chop to his head, ‘negativity begone!’

sugawara chuckled before relaxing back in his chain, fidgeting with his pencil as he shifted his attention off his revision sheets and onto you, ‘did you take a language this year?’ he inquired, trying to make conversation to momentarily take his mind off the piles of revision he had to do

you squinted, biting your own tongue as you attempted to equally divide your attention between your date and the complex maths question you were working on, ‘no, i couldn’t be bothered. plus, i can speak (L) so it’s not as if i’m a monolinguist.’ 

suga blinked rapidly at this new information; so wondering if he had heard you correctly, he questioned further, ‘you speak (L)? really? i don’t think you’ve ever mentioned anything about that before.’

you shrugged, letting out a slight sigh before placing your pencil down; realising that if Suga was going to continue talking, it might be rude for you to keep working. ‘oh, have i not? well- now you know!’ you hummed, shooting your boyfriend a sweet smile.

‘how can one person be so smart and stunning?’ he mused, resting his cheek on his palm as his elbow was propped up onto the table

‘i should be asking you that, kōshi.’

he couldn’t help but roll his eyes at how humble you were; ah, if only you knew how much he admired you. 

suga could only imagine being bilingual yet you could effortlessly speak a second language fluently, he was sure that if you were to take up volleyball, the team would waste no time in replacing him with you 

anyway, he was so impressed that you can speak (L) and he shows it lol

like if you talk down on yourself, he’ll call you out SO quick regardless but he will also mention your second language somehow lmao

for example:

you groaned upon skimming the message your professor sent you along with your test result, ‘ugh, i got 68% - so fucking close to an A! i’m so stupid..’

you thought sugawara was preoccupied with cooking dinner until he came rushing into your room, making you jolt when he slammed the door open, ‘who’s stupid?! are hinata & kageyama in here somewhere? because i know that you weren’t talking about yourself!’

you buried your face into your hands to not only let out a elongated groan, but also so he didn’t see the small smile tugging at the corner of your lips

‘and i know that you didn’t call my gorgeous, intelligent, selfless, bilingual sweetheart stupid! take that back, (y/n). ’

and he would not leave you alone until you took it back IUFHEIEVAB

also, another example.

you walked by a bright pink trash can with Suga by your side and in the interest of ✨ comedy ✨, you chuckled and blurted out, ‘hey, that’s me.’

‘if that trash can is bilingual, then yes.’

Tōru Oikawa

you probably first told him you spoke (L) a while into your relationship  — but not too long — so maybe like 6 months

and you only told him bc y’all were having an argument over the schoolwork and you were sure that your method was correct while oikawa thought otherwise

but after a while, it kinda just turned into a battle of ‘who is smarter?’ rather than trying to figure out who’s method was correct 

so you just blurted out from spite, ‘tough talk coming a one-language-speaking peasant.’ 

oikawa rolled his eyes, ‘how many languages do you speak then, smart-ass?’

‘english, japanese and (L)’

he blinked rapidly, unable to come up with a snarky remark, he cocked his head to the side and inquired, ‘you speak (L)?’

you nodded, your lips curling into a smile, ‘yep!’

grrr curse your adorable smile >:(

oikawa was simply unable to be mad anymore ✋ must give kithes to his  trilingual s/o instead (づ￣ 3￣)づ

he smirked back at you before pulling you in by your waist and peppering an infinite amount of kisses across your face, ‘awh, i didn’t know you speak 3 languages. you’re so clever, angel.’  he said in between kisses, using his strong grip to sway y’all side-to-side as he expressed his love

 and oikawa is kinda an exhibitionist sometimes so he will definitely mention that when he hypes you up/shows you off at events

and mf will never stop-

even after the time-skip 🤠

he’ll bring you to a party celebrating a cup victory for his team and while everyone there is trying to praise him for his perfect sets, he’s quite tipsy and just goes, ‘thank you. thank you. but have you seen (y/n) tonight? they look so gorgeous- especially their eyes, i hope our kids have their eyes.’ he rambled, his speech a bit slurred so everyone had to do a double-take to make sure they were hearing him correctly

was he seriously raving on about his s/o when he literally just won a world cup?

‘oh and did i mention they’re four-lingual? literally. they speak English, Japanese, (L) and Portuguese so they could live here with me.’

it was embarrassing in the moment but at least there was no press at the party

plus, you both always look back on these moments and laugh tbh

also, just bc he was drunk didn’t mean that his words were empty - he meant everything he said, the alcohol only helped him voice everything confidently 

Kōtarō Bokuto

ok so he learned that you spoke (L) 6 months into your marriage

his big personality makes up for his ignorance-

you were on call with a mutual friend who could also speak (L), hence you were both talking in (L) lol

meanwhile bokuto was just sitting on the other side of the couch and it took him half an hour to realise that you were speaking another language 

however, you were hardly alert either considering it took you god-knows how long to notice that bokuto was staring at you with wide, starry eyes

and you literally just froze- then proceeded to excuse yourself for a moment before muting your microphone

‘bo, are you alright? why are you looking at me like that?’ you asked, concern clear in your tone as you dropped your phone to rush over to him, hastily pressing the back of your had against his forehead

bokuto shook his head abruptly, snapping out of his glazed gaze to pull you onto his lap, ‘were you speaking a foreign language just there?!’

‘yeah, (L). I’m fluent.’ you replied, rather shocked as he went from a statue to his regular, energetic self in the blink of an eye

he cocked his head to the side with wide eyes  — and it was moments like these were you could really see the resemblance between him and an owl  — before wrapping you in a hug, resting his cheek on your shoulder. 

‘i didn’t know that you could speak (L), babe! that’s so fuckin’ cool! do you think you could teach me?’ 

you giggled, both from his lively response and how the vibrations from his speech tickled your neck

‘sure, but i have to finish my call first.’  you hummed before springing to your feet, grabbing you phone and strolling out of the living room to continue the call in the privacy of your bedroom

and don’t think bokuto forgot about you agreeing to teach him bc he was planking outside of the bedroom, waiting for you to finish your call so he could jump out at you once you tried to exit,

‘HOW DO YOU SAY ‘I’D LIKE FRIES WITH THAT’ IN (L)?!’  

‘FUCK!’ you screamed, your phone falling out of your hand as bokuto just jump-scared you in your own home

you try to teach him ofc but it’s quite difficult for him to learn (L) while he’s simultaneously trying to learn English and Spanish 

he didn’t exactly give up on trying to learn it but the frequency of his lil’ questions of ‘how do you say this is (L)?’ and ‘how do you say that in (L)?’ became less and less 

however, whenever you speak (L) in front of him, he always looks at you with wide, dreamy eyes - completely in awe at how clever you are and he’ll take every opportunity he can to praise you for it

oh and he has you saved in his phone as ‘gorgeous, bilingual wifey 😩💞💕💖’

Keiji Akaashi

he probably learns that you can speak another language on the second or third date

y’all were talking about hobbies you wanted to take up, then akaashi pulled out his note titled ‘ ↳ languages i should learn’ and the first one he uttered was (L) so you immediately chimed in

‘oh! i can speak (L)! i could teach you  — if you want.’

akaashi couldn’t help but smile softly; even though he had a bunch of assignments due, along with all the approaching tests he had to study for, he just couldn’t say no to your offer  — you just looked so excited

plus, there was no harm in trying to learn a language alongside his schoolwork

he humbly accepted; further inquiring about your links and relations with the (L) language

anyway, you never really sat akaashi down to teach him (L) or make him take notes or anything, you’d just began with integrating the occasional (L) in an english/japanese sentence

you’d tend to change the noun and given the context, akaashi would be able to figure out what it meant

for example, if y’all were vibin’ on the couch with the TV on in the background, you might ask him to pass the remote but replace the word ‘remote’ with the (L) translation

there was nothing else he could’ve passed to you so he understood that you meant remote

so slowly but surely  — without even realising that he’s learning  — he picks up on quite a lot of the vocabulary 

and by the time y’all are married, he’s basically fluent

oh and on your honeymoon (which is in Italy btw, I just know he’d take you somewhere with a rich history) you are chillin in the pool then out of the corner of your eyes you see akaashi approach you from the edge of the pool, before getting down on one knee 

and you were so confused for a second bc you thought he was proposing again even you recall getting married to him just a few days ago ◉_◉’

however, once he pulled out a box that seemed too large to contain a ring, it piqued your curiosity even more, ‘akaashi?’ you stuttered, eyes wide.

he opened it to reveal a simple silver bangle, pulled it out then offered his hand so he could cuff it around your wrist 

now that the cold metal of the bangle came in contact with your skin, you were finally able to read the text engraved into the silver 

and it was ‘i love you’ in (L) 

Tetsurō Kuroo

you probably told him that you could speak (L) quite early on in the relationship tbh 

he was really proud of you but he only took much of an interest a bit later on

he was just like ‘(y/n), do you know any languages other than japanese and english?’ over some chocolate-covered strawberries

you nodded, ‘yeah, (L). why?’

kuroo gasped, excitedly slamming the kitchen counter with the palm of his hand, ‘i need you to teach me some curses.’

you giggled, taking another bite of your strawberry, ‘heh, why?’

‘because kōtarō keeps muttering things about me in portuguese and oikawa keeps snickering at it - i think they’re bitching about me so two can play at that game.’ kuroo whined before looking at you then shooting you a charming smile, ‘so can you help me?’

he’s adorable so you smiled right back at him and chirped, ‘absolutely not.’

however, you kept his request in mind when you graciously began replacing all your english curses with those in (L)

and obviously he caught on ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

thank you for enabling him, (y/n) 😌

[zi-i-think]

17 | Let's Refrain from Throwing Anything at Anyone, Please

Pairing: Zuko x Ama (OC)

Rating: SFW

Word Count: 6200+

Masterlist

.☽☼☾.

~ Ama ☾ ~

         The only source of light were the two candles in my room, on my bed stand. And let me tell you, the dusky setting did not help the overly cautious and alert war veterans that were Zuko and I. I sat up in the bed, slowly slipping my legs over the side to prepare for an attack while Zuko was at the door. I had no clue who was on the other side. At this hour especially, it was a bit frightening.

         Was it Suh? Was she here to finish me off? My mind jumped to a terrifying conclusion. My heartbeat picked up and my jaw clenched. I held a tight breath as Zuko carefully twisted the doorknob and opened the door enough to just see who it was.

         “What are you doing here?” The all too familiar voice of my brother asked Zuko. I let out my breath and almost wanted to laugh loudly at myself for getting so worked up. “Ama!” Sokka noticed me awake and sitting up. He excitedly sprinted over at full speed with the biggest grin. I barely had time to react and could only hold my arms out defensively when he practically jumped on me, pulling me into a tight hug.

         Aching pain shot through my body at both the sudden movement and his strong arms crushing. “Ow. Sokka. That hurts.” I grumbled through my teeth. In the back of my mind, I scolded myself. Didn’t seem to mind the pain a few moments ago.

         My brother immediately pulled away, and yet again, his jolting movements to push himself off me only hurt me more and I groaned lightly. “Sorry.” He apologized with an apprehensive side smile. He kept his hands on my shoulders, his eyes studying me like I was some sort of extraordinary creature. “You’re an idiot, you know that?” Even though he used his humorous expression, I still saw a tear forming in his eye.

         “Me? An idiot?” I faked a bewildered tone and dramatically placed a fanned hand over my chest. “I believe a proper description would be an unimaginably attractive and remarkable nincompoop.”

         Sokka scoffed and shook his head at me. “She’s making jokes. Of course, she is.” He mumbled to himself, etched with disbelief, amusement, and a tinge of disappointment. “You had us all worried. Katara and Aang even postponed their honeymoon.”

         “What?” My shoulder slumped and I frowned. “They were so excited for Ember Island. They didn’t have to do that.”

         “Oh, okay. So the next time someone almost permanently departs from the living, everyone else should just go out and enjoy themselves.” My brother crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a chiding look.

         My brother was naturally a grumpy, glass-half-empty kinda guy. I was used to his little taunts and nonsense scoldings, but there was always some humor laced in everything he’d say. But right now, there was none of that. He showed nothing but deep concern. It was starting to anchor me to the gravity of my situation. How I quite literally almost died.

         My face softened but the rest of my body tensed up. I inhaled deeply, internally hoping that the subject changed quickly.

         Luckily, Zuko was still in the room. With his arms crossed and a perplexed frown, he approached the bed but stood beside us while my brother and I were still seated on the side. “Sokka, what are you doing up?” He redirected the conversation. I wasn’t sure if it was because he saw my dejected look or because he was just curious as to why Sokka was here.

         “Couldn’t sleep.” Sokka shrugged. “Spent most of the night tossing and turning. Then I heard some talking in here, thought my big sister had finally woken up.” He ruffled my hair. I just rolled my eyes at him and raked my fingers through my smooth hair. Katara must have made sure I was cleaned and well taken care of. “What about you, mister Fire Lord? What are you doing up? Specifically in my sister’s room.”

         Zuko and I glanced at each other. His face flushed nervously and he opened his mouth unsurely. “Uh… just talking,” Zuko answered stiffly. I wanted to slap my own forehead at him. This gorgeous buffoon.

         “How convincing.” Sokka mumbled, glancing away from Zuko and I in disgust. His mind probably just went to the worst possible thought.

         “Not like that. What I mean to say is that we were just discussing things and then you came in-” Zuko rubbed the back of his neck as he talked quickly.

         “I don’t need to know.” Sokka interrupted him, his hand out in between him and Zuko. I chuckled lightly at the interaction. “Anyways, I should go get Katara and the others! They’ll be so happy to know that you’re awake.” My brother excitedly jumped up from the bed.

         My hand immediately grabbed his wrist, stopping him from walking away. “Sokka, no.” My firm tone made him look at me with confusion. “Let them sleep, I’ll see them tomorrow and can get the rundown of everything.”

         “Don’t be ridiculous, they won’t mind.” He shrugged and tried to leave again. But my grip only got tighter. Sokka wasn’t fighting against my hold, afraid that he’d hurt me.

         “Please, Sokka. Just don’t tell anyone I’m awake till tomorrow.” I didn’t want to, but my voice was small and begging. I hated it. And I hated the pitiful look my brother was giving me.

         He nodded quietly and when my grip softened he slipped his hand away. “Fine. But if Katara complains, you’re to blame.”

         “I can handle that.” I forced a small smile on my lips. I’d rather deal with her scolding than to have to deal with so many people in my room at the moment.

         Tapping Zuko’s bicep, Sokka cocked his head towards the door and asked “You coming?”

         “In a minute,” Zuko replied. His focus was on me while I placed with my fingernails. Sokka looked like he wanted to say something but instead decided against it. Looked between Zuko and me skeptically while he backed away towards the door without another word. Once the door was shut, Zuko sat down next to me, placing his rough hand over mine, effectively making me stop fidgeting. “What is it?” He asked softly, rubbing small circles on the top of my hand.

         “What do you mean?” I asked back, pretending to be absolutely clueless.

         “I saw the way you tensed up. How you’re refusing to see anyone. You can talk to me, you know?” His other hand came up to cup my cheek. I nodded gently, fluttered my eyes closed, and leaned into his hand affectionately, adoring the warmth that radiated from his fingertips.

         It was a gift and a curse really. How he was able to read me like that. On one hand, it could push me to seek help or to talk it out. But that’s also why it was a curse. I wasn’t ready to talk about what I was feeling. I wasn’t even sure what it was myself.

         “I know. Honestly, I just need a moment to myself. If you don’t mind.” I sighed, opening my eyes to directly see Zuko stiffen slightly.

         He nodded rapidly. “Yeah, whatever you need.” He stood up, smoothening out his red tunic from earlier wrinkles. I smiled, gazing at him as he nervously did that. No matter how suave he got, there was still a tiny bit of that awkward part of him that I fell in love with all those years ago. Leaning down with a soft smirk he pressed a delicate kiss on my forehead. “Please don’t hesitate to come to talk to me when you need it.” Hid lips grazed over my skin delicately while he spoke, barely hovering over my forehead.

         I bit my bottom lip. My heart fluttered at his touch and his vocal expression to be there for me. It was ironic how a few years ago the roles were reversed. “Alright,” I whispered. His tender touch left me entirely, suddenly making me feel so cold. He walked away backward half the way out, keeping a warm gaze on me the entire time before he was out the door.

         I was left completely alone. In a dimly lit room. With just my thoughts. A shaky breath escaped me. It’s been itching to come out since I woke up. I shut my eyes tightly and took a deep, quivering breath in.

         I… died. But how was I still here? I wanted to ask, but that would mean having to talk about it. Call me selfish, but I’d prefer not to talk about how I died and then was revived only minutes after waking up. Not if I was only just grasping the fact.

         My inhales and exhales went on for a while. Until I realized I needed to get out of this bed. Swinging my legs over the side, I stood up. But, I wasn’t prepared to put so much weight on my legs, and stumbled back on to the mattress. I moaned in discomfort. My sore muscles ached everywhere. Like they were being pulled and tugged in every direction. Once the pain subsided, I stood back up, more slowly than last time, and carefully made my way to my bathroom.

         A hot bath was just what I needed. I was only in my nightgown. Making it simple to painlessly slipped it over my head and discard it on the floor. Standing there, completely bare and in front of a large mirror, I felt vulnerable.

         Even with my clothing on, a person could tell that I was toned. I wasn’t overly muscular, but not scrawny. Overall I looked healthy. But once the layers of clothing were removed, my scars were revealed. The unhealed scabs from when I was a kid, the training mishaps, the acne scars on my back. And now, two new ones decorated my skin. On my upper abdomen, a light pink and sharp oval scar painted my skin. And the second was on the opposite side of my body, on my back.

         I had no problem with scars. I liked to think that they told stories about people, whether good or bad. And sometimes they showcased just how beautiful a person was. Zuko’s scar was a prime example. What once made him feel disgraced and like a failure now meant more. It showed how he was able to change into a better man and to lead the world into a new era. He took his father’s horrific mutilation and turned it into a symbol of who he was. It was beautiful in my eyes.

         But the new one in the mirror… It made my stomach drop. My fingers hesitantly tracing over the soft skin. The memory of the sword sticking through my body flashed in the mirror. The feeling of blood sticking my clothing to my skin. The knowledge that I was dying and didn’t want to. Trying so desperately to stay alive.

         A wave of lightheadedness flooded me. I sank backwards, gripping the side of the bathtub to steady myself. The sound of running water got louder and louder as the truth settled in.

         I died.

.☽☼☾.

         Just as expected, my room was crowded the very next morning. Extra chairs had to be moved in to provide seating for everyone who was deemed useful to help tell the story of the other night and to discuss the situation at hand. I was almost completely clueless. I still didn’t know how I was alive. I didn’t know what happened to Suh or Azula. There were so many questions and even more sub questions to them. But, I supposed they would all be answered in a minute.

         I sat in my bed, leaning my back against multiple pillows while I was anxiously waiting for everyone to get here. Currently, the only people missing were Zuko and Aang. The others made small talk, their voices low like how one would speak at a hospital.

         “Are you comfortable?” Katara asked me quietly, placing a soft hand over mine.

         I nodded at her with a small smile. “Yes, Kat. I’m comfortable. But we really didn’t have to host a meeting in my room.” I raised a half-amused brow at her.

         My sister shrugged her shoulders and avoided eye contact with me. “Just being precautionary.” She mumbled, pulling away from me to stand comfortably, with her arms crossed and leaning on one leg.

         A quiet and short knock at the door resonated through the room, Letting us know that either Aang or Zuko was here. Without waiting for a response to come in, the door opened and they both entered. Aang went straight to Katara while Zuko strolled behind him, but instead was trying to get to me. Flashing me a handsome smile and carrying a cup of tea.

         Stopping next to Katara, he handed me the ceramic, blue accented cup. “Uncle Iroh made it for you.” He told me. Smiling widely, I gladly took the drink. The heat of it almost instantaneously warmed my hands and the herbal aroma of it gave me instant comfort.

         A pleasant sigh left my lips. “He didn’t have to, but I’m not complaining,” I commented as the cup came up to my lips for a sip.

         “Alright, now that we’re all here,” Aang got right down to business, clasping his hands together. “We should probably address… everything.” Zuko backed up to the last seat available. It was further from me than I’d like, but it was probably best for Katara to be directly next to me, anyways.

         “Yes. I need to know everything that happened.” I enthusiastically agreed. Pushing away the growing feeling of anxiety. It felt like a thick bubble was growing in my chest, making it difficult to pace my breathing. But I managed to play off like nothing was wrong. Keeping a curious expression and keeping an eye on Aang, letting him know that I was listening.

         “Okay, so I guess I’ll start with when you threw Azula out of the venue.” Aang’s voice was etched with wariness. Like he was walking on eggshells.

         “Honestly, if anything good came out of that night, it was watching Azula get thrown out of the window.” Sokka chuckled. Breaking some of the uneasy tension of the room.

         “Other than your sister getting married?” Katara refuted. Her eyes narrowed at our brother and crossed her arms over her chest like she was challenging him.

         “Ohhh.” My voice progressively got higher while I brought my tea up to drink again.

         “Okay, let me backtrack. It was one of the good things that came out of that night.” Katara huffed at her brother’s poor attempt to save his ass. But she didn’t push it any further.

         Aang cleared his throat, getting the attention back. “Moving on. After you went after Azula, the rest of us were left with the others working with Azula. We were able to get most of them outside so that the guests wouldn’t be in as much danger.”

         “Were there a lot of them?” I interrupted. Remembering that I didn’t get a good look at exactly how many people Azula recruited. My focus was solely on her. Seeing nothing but red at the time.

         Aang shrugged. “We couldn’t get an accurate count. Maybe 30 or so.”

         “We have 26 of them in custody, but we’re almost positive that some of them were able to escape,” Sokka added, his humorous personality was put aside to join in on the seriousness of the situation.

         The room got silent; perhaps one of the oddest things for this particular group of friends. They were dancing around anything that was related to my death. Like I’d crack at any moment. I realized that I’d need to push them a bit in order to have my questions answered rather than just get them told to me naturally. “Okay, so what about Suh? Was she apprehended?”

         “Suh escaped,” Zuko answered me regrettably while no one else wanted to. He hunched over in his seat, leaning his elbows on his thighs and intertwining his fingers.

         I held my breath for a moment. On the exterior, I nodded understandably and looked composed. But on the interior, I was stiffening. Fear engulfed me at this new knowledge. The woman that I simply thought was just a weasel snake and posed no real threat, was now someone who’s name made me quiver.

         “Cool cool cool,” I responded while softly nodding my head. “Any leads on where she might be?”

         A loud and irritated huff came from Toph as the woman lounged in her chair like she had no care in the world. “Nope. The wench disappeared in the snow like the coward she is.”

         “She could be on a boat to the Fire Nation or maybe even the Earth Kingdom for all we know,” Sokka added in exasperation. His jaw clenched slightly and his hand ran through his loose hair. Suki took notice in his annoyance, placing a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

         My eyebrows furrowed as another question came up. “Why didn’t anyone go after her?” I tried to hide the bothered, hurt tone in my voice, but it still spilled ever so slightly.

         “We were kind of preoccupied. Ya know with you dying and 300 plus guests to protect.” Katara looked at me with her eyes narrowed and a frown in a baffled expression.

         “Alright, so what are we doing to find her then?” I stressed. My shoulders hardened and my face twisted in frustration.

         “We have guards placed all around the South Pole on the lookout for her and we’ve sent out messages to the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom that she is to be brought into custody,” Sokka answered.

         My first instinct to shout at them, tell them that’s not enough. But reason kept me from doing that. Sokka was good at planning and organizing things like these. I trust that he knows what he’s doing. “And Azula?” I moved on. The room was quiet again. “Oh, for the love of Tui and La, can you all please stop dancing around each subject and just tell me everything,” I grumbled a bit too angrily.

         “Ama…” My sister softly started, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Do you need a minute, we can discuss this later-”

         “No! I don’t want to discuss this later.” I exclaimed in exasperation. “I died! Okay! Moving on. Give me the rundown, we figure out the next steps and move on with our lives. The sooner this conversation happens, the sooner that can happen.”

         “Are you sure? You seem a little… emotional.” Commented Aang in a nervous matter, noting my paler than usual complexion.

         “For once, I agree with Twinkle Toes. Ama, you’re acting differently and it’s actually kind of concerning.” Toph repositioned herself in her seat, sitting up more intensively.

         I composed myself quickly, burying the boiling anxiety deep inside. “Yes, I’m sure,” I answered calmly, with a light smile. Doing my best to act like I normally would.

         Everyone in the room looked a little hesitant, sneaking quick and confused glances at each other. “Alright.” Aang sighed. “Well, Azula’s currently locked up. She’s been interrogated and everything. There’s just one thing we don’t know.”

         “What did you say to her?” Zuko finished. His brow curving upwards slightly, matched with a curious but hopeful glint in his eye.

         “What do you mean?” My face twisted and my head tilted in confusion.

         “Ama, Azula was the one who saved your life,” Katara informed me smoothly, also giving me an inquisitive look.

         My jaw fell and my eyes widened. “Azula saved me?” I repeated in a whisper; more to myself than to anyone else. “How?”

         Katara sat next to me on the bed, placing her hand over mine. “I was able to heal your wound after you died, but Azula was somehow able to use electricity to restart your heart. Bringing you back to life.”

         "I always knew there was a soft side to her." Ty lee commented quietly. She was gazing at the floor in deep thought. Her ever so chipper smile was absent from her expression and instead looked glum and distressed.

         "But that doesn't excuse everything she's done," Mai added, louder than Ty Lee, and with more anger and hurt. Her lips were pursed and her eyes narrowed. "Ama, you’re the last person who needs to place your vote in what to do with her. Because someone," she glared at Zuko. "Still hasn't made any definite decisions on whether to do the reasonable thing and put her in an isolated prison or some other absurd idea.”

         “I don’t want to do anything drastic just yet,” Zuko spoke with a grumble like he’s explained that a thousand times before. Straightening up in his seat in defense.

         “Killing her would be drastic, not throwing her in jail. But then again, it’s not like she doesn’t deserve it.” Toph commented in a mumble.

         “How is making Azula pay for her crimes drastic?” Sokka embitterly and loudly wondered. “Not only did she have people murdered, but she also committed crimes against the Fire Nation. Against you, Zuko.”

         “Azula didn’t have anyone killed.” I corrected him. Everyone looked at me with worry. To they’re knowledge, Azula ordered for her henchmen to murder my friends and Mulan. And while it was her associate, Suh, who tried to kill me. I was almost positive that Azula didn’t really want anyone dead. “I need to talk to Azula,” I said suddenly, throwing my legs over the side of the bed to get up and leave.

         Katara immediately stood up as well, placing her hands on my shoulders to keep me on the bed. “Ama, you need to rest!” She forcefully told me.

         “I slept for like 2 days, I don’t need rest.” I countered matter of factly, swiping her hands off my shoulders. I would only admit to myself that my arms ached at the movement. But my stubbornness kept me going and I tried to stand up.

         Yet again, my sister forced me to sit down again. “Yes, you do. Your wound might be healed, but we really don’t know how your body is. After all, you were… dead,” She hesitated to say the word. “For a good few minutes.”

         “You weren’t like this when Aang woke up after he died.” I pointed out, motioning my hand to her husband and looked over at him. The poor man looked so terrified in his current position. Aang was great at solving problems, being the Avatar and all, but he seemed to have no clue how to help solve this particular debacle between his wife and her headstrong sister. “Sorry to use you as an example, Aang. But your the only other person I know who’s died and came back to life so-”

         “Will you stop treating this like dying and coming back to life is something normal.” Katara tensely sucked in a breath and shook her head at me. She may have just exploded right then and there based on how her body shook in frustration and the vein that almost popped out of her forehead.

         “Well, it has happened twice in Team Avatar,” I commented, bouncing my brows and shrugging nonchalantly.

         Everyone in the room collectively sighed. They were all so in sync I might have thought it was planned. Katara pinched the bridge of her nose and shut her eyes tightly, her other hand resting on her hip. “Snowcone, you need to learn to keep your mouth shut.” I heard Toph sigh deeply. I kept my eyes on my sister, already knowing she had something to say.

         "First.” She started, now crossing her arms and giving me a stern look. “Aang was in a coma for weeks in comparison to you waking up after two days. Second. We had Spirit Water. It works and we knew it. We don’t know anything about how the lightning worked or how your body is reacting. You can’t just jump up, go on runs, or in general just use your body like you normally would.”

         My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. “I can’t train?” I worried. My breathing was already starting to get irregular and heavy. Beating the absolute shit out of training dummies was my favorite and reliable way to relieve stress. It kept me active and alert. Without it, I was left with what? I didn’t even know.

         “Give your body time.” My sister’s voice was comforting and her hands came up to rub the sides of my arms. The simultaneous up and down motion and the small circles she made with her thumb was enough to calm me down before I started to get too emotional. “For now just go on walks, rest more often. Don’t push yourself physically.”

         “Fine.” I let out an exasperated sigh and gave my sister a heavy expression. “But, I still need to talk to Azula, though.”

         “Why?” Mai wondered dully, but behind her dank tone and her languid face, there was a deep dislike for Azula. Maybe even hatred. I understood why. It was Azula who had manipulated her father to have her brother and many other kids kidnapped. In their childhood, it was Azula who’d tormented her friends.

         I definitely still held hatred for the malicious woman. But the other night I saw something else too. A lost woman who had no one to turn to. Guilt was consuming her. So much so that she planned an elaborate suicide attempt. I needed to know more. Especially since she saved my life. “She said something the other night. I just need to know what she meant.” I told them the bare minimum. Because Azula said a lot of things. There were some things she said that were more concerning than others. But overall, her entire plot was loosely lined up. There were gaps that needed to be filled and actions that needed justifications. “After all, if it weren’t for her I wouldn’t even be here right now.”

         Toph giggled loudly, shaking her head and resting her forehead on her hand. “If you think Azula is capable of some sort of redemption, you're even more blind than I am.”

         Furrowing my brows and crossing my arms over my chest. “I never said that!” And with a light shrug and my eyes softening, I avoided making eye contact with anyone as I focused my gaze at the still-hot tea while I grabbed it off the bedside table. “But perhaps there may some a smidge of hope that-”

         “Ama!” Katara interrupted, her eyes staring down at me with concern and her tone a tad bit high-pitched like she was offended by my words. “After everything she’s done in the war, crashing my wedding, she had Mulan killed! She’s also responsible for you dying!”

         “She had my brother kidnapped!” Mai added. This time she wasn’t expressionless when she looked at me. Her lips curved down and slightly parted in disgust, her brows curved up like she was puzzled. This may have been one of the few times I’ve seen her express multiple emotions at once.

         “Suh attempted murder, not Azula. And it was Azula who saved my life!” I defended the woman who I never thought I’d advocate for. “As for everything she’s done years ago, she was still a teenager. At her age, Zuko was still a bratty and spoiled prince. She just didn’t have the guidance he did with Iroh.” I scanned the room. Each person had their own expression. Whether it be contemplative, like Aang, or irritated, like Mai.

         There was only one person who I couldn’t read. Zuko.

         The Fire Lord sat at the edge of his seat, back into his hunched over position. His elbows rested on his knees and his chin rested on his intertwined hands. His eyes were kept on me and when I looked over, our eyes met. He didn’t look expressionless or dull. Maybe calm. Maybe hiding disgust. Maybe something else.

         My sister's long, tired sigh broke the silence. My eyes tore from Zuko’s to give Katara my attention. “Well, I suppose if you need to talk to Azula, I’m okay with it.” She caved. “But not now. This morning has been draining enough and you need to rest.” I rolled my eyes and huffed at that. But if I argued against her, I don’t know if she’d still clear me to even leave the room. “If everyone else is okay with it, you can go after lunch.”

         I looked towards the group with begging, hopeful eyes. “I think it’s a good idea to talk to her.” Aang nodded, giving me a kind smile.

         “Fine.” Sokka irritatedly answered, crossing his arms and leaning back into his seat. “I’ll be ready to say ‘I told you so’ when the time comes.”

         “Mai?” I shrugged my shoulders curiously at her.

         The reserved woman let out a long sigh and her long, black nails tapped the armrest while she rolled her eyes. “Whatever. As long as you’re just talking and not pardoning her for all the crimes she’s committed.”

         “Of course not, Mai,” I assured her. I may have been able to give Azula a chance at redemption, but no way was I about to forget everything she’s done. From tracking down Aang and the rest of the team to ruining Katara’s special day, Azula was guilty. Yet despite all of that, I wanted — no — needed an explanation from her. To hear Azula express her intentions in full detail.

         Ty Lee jolted out of her seat, her chair made a painfully cringing screech as it rubbed against the floor. “Excuse me for a moment.” She said meekly, avoiding all eye contact while she walked towards the door. Just before stepping out, she looked over her shoulder. “And I think talking to Azula is a great place to start.” She quietly made her input and left the room.

         Everyone stared at the closed door in surprise. Ty Lee was a small person with a big personality. To see her act so shy was completely out of character. Something was bothering her. And it had to do with Azula. But what? That was the question. Ty Lee adored the firebender since they were kids. She valued her relationships with others wholeheartedly. But Azula betrayed that friendship long ago. I wondered what Ty Lee was feeling. Seeing her old friend again. It must have taken a toll on her just like on everyone else.

         Mai worryingly stood up moments after Ty Lee left. “I’ll go see if she's okay.” She mumbled hastily, walking the steps Ty Lee took out the door.

         “Well that was weird.” Toph commented, bouncing her eyebrows and then slouched in her seat. “I suppose you need my blessing now. Sure, go talk to the crazy lady. Tell her ‘Toph sends her regards’ and throw a rock at her for me, would ya?”

         I couldn’t help laughing at the thought of chucking a rock at Azula. “Tempting, but I think she’d be less inclined to talk to me if I threw a rock at her.” I replied while my laughter died down.

         “Do it after.” Toph shrugged, completely unbothered.

         Suki giggled slightly and Sokka snorted a laugh, looking at the ceiling dreamily. “That would be a sight.”

         “Let’s refrain from throwing anything at anyone, please.” Katara sighed and rolled her eyes. “Zuko, Suki. We’ve still yet to hear from you guys.”

         “You guys know me.” Suki shrugged her shoulders, giving us all a thin smile. “If taking to Azula is the best course of action for the time being, I’m okay with it.”

         All eyes were now on Zuko. He kept his eyes on me, rather than paying anyone else any attention. A small smile played on his lips. “Azula is my sister. I know that what she’s done is inexcusable, but I’d like a more in depth explanation from her. So yeah. I think you should go.” His eyes flickered to his hands and then back at me. He wanted to say something else, I knew it. Maybe it was the fact that there were still so many of us in one room or maybe he was still mulling it over. Either way, he held back. And left his words at that.

         “Alright then. I guess, it’s settled. Ama talks to Azula later today and a definite decision on what happens to her will come short after.” Katara concluded the conversation. “Did we miss anything? Is there anything else we need to know?” She pondered glancing at everyone.

         My lips parted slightly. Do I mention that I bloodbended the other night? Without the full moon? Yes, it was important information, but it still felt so surreal to me. And no one really needed to know about it, right? It’s not like I’d use it ever again. But then again. The rush I felt when I had full control over someone else. It was exhilarating. Made me feel powerful. But I shouldn’t feel that way. It was a horrid thing to do. The other person went through excruciating pain. But I still revealed the feeling I got. Would the others judge me for it? No one would hate me for bloodbending, I knew that much. But for enjoying it…

         “Nothing? Okay, good.” Katara spoke before I even had the chance to speak. I let out a relieved sigh. I didn’t have to come clean about anything just yet. “Alright everyone, out. Ama needs to rest.” I rolled my eyes in a playful tone at her overcautious procedures. But I appreciated it deeply.

         Zuko took the few steps to the side of the bed, beside me, with a gentle smile. I beamed at him as the tall man leaned down, pressing a short and simple kiss on my lips. “I’ll come by for lunch.” He told me, pulling away from me.

         “Would you? I hate eating alone.” My fingers intertwined together and went under my chin as I looked up at him with begging eyes.

         He chuckled lightly at me, never letting his eyes leave mine. “Can’t think of anything else I’d rather do. I’ll see you soon.” I could hardly contain my smile at the promise. Walking around the bed, Zuko headed to the door, where everyone else had been watching with wide eyes, smirks, or grins.

         Katara’s jaw was dropped, her eyes flickering between Zuko and I as a light blush found my cheeks and the Fire Lord grinned. “Haha! I knew it!” Suki triumphantly punched her fist in the air.

         “Next time wait until we leave the room.” I heard Toph grumbled, following Suki out.

         Katara’s surprise face morphed, and she now looked at us with amusement. “Maybe a warning next time you guys get back together.” My sister giggled. “Was not expecting that.”

         Zuko just shrugged at her and then looked over his shoulder to wink at me before he walked out the door. Aang also chuckled at the scene, but right before he stepped out with everyone else be pause. “Actually.” He mumbled and then looked over at me with his brows slightly furrowed. “Ama, may I talk with you for a minute. Won’t last long.”

         “Yeah, of course.” I smiled at him positively. The door closed behind him as he walked over to the stop that Katara spent most of the meeting.

         His grey eyes and smile were soft as he looked down at my sitting figure. “I just want to say how much I admire your ability to try and give Azula a chance to change. I know it’s hard given everything she’s done. But it shows a lot of growth on your part.”

         “Thank you, Aang.” I nodded appreciatively. “Means a lot coming from you.”

         “As the Avatar, I know.” He grinned proudly.

         I huffed a laugh and shook my head, “As a part of the family.”

         Aang’s face turned crimson. “I’m family?” He goggled, his smile only getting wider.

         “Aang.” I chuckled, lightly punching his arm to avoid hurting myself. “You’ve been family for years.”

         “Yeah, but now it just means more.” He rugged the back of his neck, still as red as a tomato. “Anyways, I’ll let you get some more rest. And just let me know if you need anyone to talk to. Like you said before, I’m the only one who’s died and come back to life before.”

         I bounced my eyebrows at the reminder, giving him a forced, flat smile. “I’ll keep it in mind, Aang.” I told him.

         Flashing me one more smile, the Avatar left the room. Leaving me alone. At least, until noon. Biting my bottom lip, I felt my face heat up at the thought of Zuko coming in later for lunch. Our friends just found out we’re back together and we’ve made it pretty clear that our old feelings are back. And while Suh was still out there, she was no longer a part of the equation. There’s nothing stopping us from being together.

.☽☼☾.

Here she is! College is kind of a pain. I really tried to post last week but I got a lot of wok and given that I haven't done schoolwork in months, it's been rough. Let me know what you guys think! I love feedback and constructive criticism. Please don't be shy!

Hang loose, amigos 🤙🏼

[allicekitty13]

Guess I’ll See You In Another Life

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Alice has never quite felt like she belonged in her life, frequently dreaming of another life. When she meets a mysterious stranger who seems eerily familiar will she finally get some answers?

For Jalice Week Day 6- Reincarnation

Help me, my God, this got messy. Least I got the best seat, 'Cause we put on one hell of a show. Waiting, I just keep on waiting. For the final curtain, 'Cause I just can't let go of your love. - Slow Grenade, Elle Goulding.

Alice Brandon had always been the best history student; her teachers often commenting on how it was almost as though she'd lived it. Sometimes she wondered if maybe she actually had. At the age of thirteen, she'd learned about reincarnation, a subject that had stuck with her. While an outlandish explanation, it would explain the lifelike glimpses of the past that frequently crossed her vision.

Alice Brandon had always felt like she never really belonged. Frequently dreaming of another life far too impossible to be real, yet she felt more at ease in those dreams than she ever had in reality. Everything always felt slightly off in her waking life, as though she was never supposed to be there. Alice sometimes wondered if she was even human, allowing herself to get lost in stories of Ghosts, witches, angels, and vampires.

---

It was a Saturday night, and she had a date with James. They'd been seeing each other for a few months; it had been fun, she guessed. But he seemed to want to move things in a more serious direction, and Alice honestly just wasn't that into him. She'd never been very interested in much more than casual sex with anyone; no relationship had ever felt right. Most things in life never felt right. Not the career she'd chosen as an interior designer, not her apartment. Even her family felt like they belonged to someone else.

Alice suggested she and James go to a club if she would be stuck with him for the night; she wanted to dance. She loved dancing; it felt that off sort of familiar she'd become accustomed to like she'd danced with someone special a long time ago. But she was only twenty-five, too young to have long time agos besides there had never been a someone special.

These were the thoughts flittering through her mind as they entered the club; self-reflection was inherently better than James' ramblings. "Alice, are you listening?" She looked up at his comment, prepared to make a transparent excuse for her actions. However, before being able to get a word out, she became quickly distracted by a pair sitting at the end of the bar, barely able to make out their forms through the wildly flashing lights. There was a man hunched over a glass with shaking hands, having a conversation with the most beautiful woman Alice had ever seen. Her golden hair almost glowed even in the dim lighting. When the woman stood, she was abnormally tall with unnatural grace; truly angelic.

The woman seemed agitated with the man as she strode away, passing Alice as she glode toward the exit, stopping with recognition as her eyes landed on the petite woman's face. "Ah, Alice. It won't be much longer then." It was an offhand comment meant more for herself than for Alice.

"Whatever you say, Rose." Alice stopped in her tracks, causing James to look down at her in confusion. She'd never laid eyes on that woman before, yet she was confident she was called Rose. Not only that, but how had the woman known her name.

"Oh," The woman smiled hopefully, "So it is working." She beamed at Alice before she walked away, muttering, "Damn fool never listens to me."

Alice shook the encounter off, pushing it to the back of her mind to never be thought about again. "Friend of yours?" her date had inquired.

"I've never seen that woman before in my life." She replied, eyes still trailing the woman as she exited the club. James didn't seem to care much about her response, launching immediately into a story about his week at work managing a local bank as soon as they'd taken their seats. Alice tried to listen, but the conversation, much like the man himself, was impeccably boring. She took a sip of the drink James had ordered her, a cocktail she didn't particularly care for, something she'd told him on numerous occasions when the hairs stood up on the back of her neck.

There was a pair of eyes watching her every move; she tried to ignore the feeling and focus on the exceptionally dull conversation, but in the end, whether due to boredom or curiosity, she looked. It was the man from before; his stare bore into her soul. He wore a sad expression, offering her a slight smile. Alice felt a rush under his gaze, as though she'd only just been brought to life in that moment. She was drawn to the man; Jasper was his name. A flash crossed her vision, a glimpse of golden light, of a bedroom that wasn't hers yet seemed so remarkably familiar. She was lying next to the man, just talking and laughing, it was such an intimate scene, and she was disappointed by her inability to hear what was said.

It was strange; she'd only ever seen glimpses of the past. But she'd never met this man; it didn't make any sense. First, the blonde woman, now him, Alice, felt such a personal connection to them both. She needed to talk to that man, more than just in the hopes he may have answers; she desperately needed to be near him. But as she excused herself from the tedious conversation, she caught his silhouette sneaking out the side door of the club.

What a sneaky bastard, she thought with a smirk as she navigated her way through the crowds of dancing clubgoers following him into the alleyway. He was leaning against the brick walls, hands in his pockets, a cigarette dangling from his lips. "Of course you followed." His tone flat as he lit the smoke.

"How do I know you, Jasper?"

He smirked in her general direction before looking away, choosing to stare at the rain that fell gently onto the pavement as though his thoughts weighed heavily on him, as though the conversation was causing him emotional agony. "I've lived this film before; I never like the ending. Just... try to stay away, Alice."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's better this way," He approached her, his eyes boring into hers with such affection that it should have made her uncomfortable coming from a stranger. Somehow though, it felt right. It felt familiar. Alice felt like she could spend the rest of her life under his gaze. Was this that feeling she'd been searching for on all those Tindr dates? That feeling she would never get from James? Jasper placed the sweetest of kisses on the crown of her head with the saddest of smiles and simply walked away.

Alice wanted to say something; she was confused; she had no idea what he was talking about. She needed to ask him what had happened. Wanted to tell him whatever it was they could move past it, to tell him that she needed him in her life. That she suddenly felt empty watching him walk away, but he'd fled the scene with no indication of where he'd gone. She left the club immediately, abandoning James after her interaction with Jasper. Informing him over text, she couldn't see him again. Of course, she felt terrible about ending things that way. It was a low move, but she couldn't face him after the life-changing experience.

Jasper had known her name, just as she'd known his. That man knew something about her that she didn't, and she was going to find out what that was. He clearly knew her, but he must not have known her very well. Alice was nothing if not resourceful. She was cunning, a bit manipulative, and made sure she always got what she wanted. All that being said, she was back at the club the next night, sans James.

She sat at the bar, keeping a close eye on the door so as to make sure she didn't miss him if he returned. So she was a bit surprised when the newly familiar voice spoke from behind her like music to her ears. Feeling as though she was breathing for the first time since he'd left the previous night. "You never were good at doing what I asked." He'd whispered in her ear with a smirk.

"That's me, not too great at taking orders." She spun around on the stool to face him, her breath catching in her throat as she looked he came into view, taking a moment to steady herself before continuing. "I kinda, do what I want."

"Come on, Alice." He held out an arm, which she promptly linked her own through, allowing him to lead her out of the loud building into his car. He remained silent as he drove through the streets, devoid of any people at the late hour. It was crazy, getting into a car with a complete stranger, one who became more and more of an intriguing mystery with every word he spoke. He was a puzzle she couldn't get enough of; it didn't matter where he took her. She would follow this man anywhere.

"Rosalie says you remembered her." He finally broke the silence on the highway outside of town; it was a deserted area; the only thing surrounding them vacant cornfields.

"The woman from last night? I wouldn't say I remembered her; I just knew her name. Like I knew yours." She bit her lip, wondering if she should tell him everything. She wanted to, feeling as though she could trust him. Somehow knowing he would never judge or hurt her. "I see things sometimes, crazy as that sounds." She caved, staring out the window. "Glimpses of the past, but it was different than usual when I ran into her. I saw us in an office laughing. And then, with you in the alley. I saw this beautiful golden room exceptionally well decorated; we were lying on a bed talking. It was so intimate..."

"I remember that night."

Alice looked over at him; he was smiling warmly but offered nothing else. "How is that possible? Why do I feel like I've known you forever when I've only just met you? Why do I feel like I can trust you with my life, that I'd do anything for you?" She trailed off, feeling so small as the words exited her mouth, the thought so insane as she knew nothing about the man, yet the honest truth all the same. "Why do I love you?"

Jasper turned down a dirt path into a wooded area. "I'll explain everything soon; I swear." She accepted this response, with the inexplicable blind faith she'd place in this stranger to whom she felt so connected. As though their souls were intertwined.

Jasper stopped the car, not saying a word as he exited the vehicle, coming around to the passenger's side to open the door for her. They were in a clearing surrounded on all sides by trees; a spring ran through on one side, it's babbling sound, giving a calming romantic ambiance to the scene. Looking up, Alice saw the most unobstructed view of the stars she'd ever witnessed. "Beautiful." She gasped out.

"Yes, you are." Jasper stared at her intensely. He offered her a half-smile before walking over to the middle of the clearing lying down. "Do you want to hear a story?"

"Are you always this cryptic?" She was so confused but obliged lying down next to the man staring up mesmerized at the twinkling stars.

"Once upon a time, there was an angel. He graduated with top marks…"

"Angels, go to school?"

"Alice, do you wanna hear this or not?"

"I'm just saying."

"Yes, there's a university and employment options. Anyhow, the angel had a friend who was being promoted. The friend gave him a glowing recommendation to her boss, and he was hired. He had to work with this demon; he didn't like her at first but grew to find her smart, cunning, confident, charismatic, incredibly sexy…"

Suddenly it clicked; numerous flashes of her former life rapidly crossed her vision. Dancing in her apartment, stolen kisses in their office, bedroom declarations of eternal love, that annoying mortal Bella. She saw herself standing before the god of the underworld, of her home refusing to yield. The look of helpless desperation on Jasper's face as Aro smote her. It was overwhelming; she was elated. "You're just listing adjectives now. I'm great; we get it." She chose to joke.

He seemed to understand as a relieved smile crossed his expression, "Why do I love you again."

"You just listed like five reasons, pretty sure you were gonna keep going too."

He continued recounting their story with a chuckle. "It didn't take long for the angel to fall in love with her. But their love was forbidden, and when they were found out, the gods banished them from the afterlife. Unfortunately, there was more to their punishment. The demon was cursed to be reborn every twenty-five or so years. She always finds the angel, no matter how hard he tries to stay away."

"Why would you want me to stay away? I would think you'd be elated every time I come around? Like 'Hell yeah, my girl is back. I love my awesome eternity girlfriend so much because she's basically the best, and I'm lost without her.'"

Jasper turned mournful again, scooting close, inviting her in for a hug that she readily accepted, clinging to the man desperate to do anything that might erase his despair. "You keep dying in the worst ways; that's been my punishment. I've seen it every time, held you in my arms as you faded away twenty-four times. We never get more than a few weeks together."

Alice reached up a hand to stroke his cheek allowing him to lean into her touch. "I'm so so sorry."

"Why are you, sorry? You offered me a way out; I told you I'd never leave you. Now we're stuck in this loop. I can't imagine how it feels to die over and over. I'm the sorry one; it's my fault this happens to you. Sometimes I wonder if you should have taken Aro's offer."

"I might die every few decades, but I get a clean slate ya know. You just have this endless cycle of agony; you don't get to forget. You've just had to live with it all this time. I'd much rather just die every so often than live with that eternal numbness. And don't you dare blame yourself, we both made a choice. One that I don't regret in the slightest, mind you. I'd do the same thing every time, even knowing my fate."

"I would too." He brushed her bangs out of her eyes, "Those seventy-two weeks I've gotten to spend with you have been the highlight of the past five hundred years."

"You counted the weeks? That is the most romantic, sappy dorky thing I've ever heard... kiss me, you absolute nerd." Jasper leaned in, hovering for a moment before their lips connected. Almost as though he'd been longing for this moment for quite some time. Of course, she realized what to her was a sudden desire, for him was two decades in the making. Unable to endure the anticipation Alice closed the space taking her time enjoying his taste, his warmth, the overtly pleasant feel of his mouth on her own. It was unlike any kiss she'd experienced prior; it wasn't enough, it would never be enough. Filled with passion and desire, she hungrily increased the pace pouring her soul into the action, wordlessly communicating every sudden feeling that had overtaken her. She was his, always had been, always would be.

Jasper broke the kiss, one hand rested on her hip, the other wrapped around her shoulder lovingly holding her possessively close as though he feared she would disappear before his very eyes. They remained in the clearing for hours; he caught Alice up on her past lives. He told her about the significance of the spot where they lay, how he'd woken up there after falling from heaven, how he returned to the site every so often to reflect on the choices they'd made.

When the sun began to rise, both realized how tired they were. Jasper drove them back to Alice's apartment. He'd tried to kiss her goodbye at the door, ever the gentleman. She'd pulled him inside, demanding he stay. They had finally been reunited; she refused to be parted again so soon. Of course, as always, he relented, never able to deny her anything.

Alice called out of work before crawling into bed, falling asleep in Jasper's arms, entirely content, able to rest easy for the first time since childhood.

The pair awoke only a few hours later to the ringing of Alice's cell. She begrudgingly extracted herself from her position curled up around Jasper, immediately missing the comfort of his warmth. As she glanced at the caller ID, she was livid; James' name was shown across the screen. Furious that she'd left the safe comfort she'd awoken in for this? She declined the call and furiously tapped out a short message alerting James in no uncertain words to not contact her again.

"Who was it?" Jasper asked, voice heavy with sleep reaching out for her, pulling her small body back in as he pressed gentle kisses to the nape of her neck.

"Just a clingy ex."

"Want me to beat him up?"

"Not worth the jail time." She laughed, shoving the fact that time wasn't something they had an abundance of if her past twenty-four incarnations were any indication. "What do you want to do today? Because if you think you're spending it without me, you've got another thing coming."

"Sounds to me like you're the clingy one."

"Oh shut up, you love me." His response came as a series of teasing kisses, causing her to smile widely at the surality of how her life had changed overnight. Just yesterday, Alice had felt lost as though she didn't belong anywhere, and now here she was waking up next to this man who adored her. She finally had the answers to a lifetime of questions; everything had fallen into place in peaceful bliss.

Jasper had to reluctantly pull away when his own phone chimed from the bedside table he'd left it on. He quickly replied to a message before turning his attention back to Alice. "How about coffee?" She agreed readily, scurrying out of bed to dress.

She found him waiting in her living room when she'd finished, keys in hand, ready to leave. He took her to a coffee shop only a few blocks down the road from her home. Inside, an anxious Rosalie sat waiting with three cups on the table in front of her.

"Rosie!" Alice rushed forward in excitement, embracing her former partner.

"It's so good to see you, A. You look fab as always; I'm pleased to see five hundred years hasn't impacted your sense of style."

"You've been checking in a lot recently Rosalie, are you going to finally tell me what's going on?" Jasper asked after he and Alice had taken their seats at the table.

"Not yet, not until things are set in stone. But it's looking good at the moment. Have things been going better than usual on your end?"

"Yes, actually." He smiled fondly at Alice. "It's been amazing."

"I'm tentative to say this... but if Maria is successful, you may get to come home."

"The gods will never allow that, at least not without sacrifices we aren't willing to make."

From Jasper's side, Alice nodded aggressively in affirmation. "I won't concede. Not now, not ever."

"Things are changing," Rosalie spoke in hushed tones. "I've already informed Jasper of that. Neither side is happy with what's happened to you; it's far too cruel. Carlisle and Aro were trying to set a standard to scare us from making the same choice, but it's had the opposite effect. Maria has a plan, but it has to remain of the utmost secrecy; she and I are the only two who know the details."

"Sounds sketchy; I mean, Maria is the best of the best if anyone has a chance of executing whatever the underworld you two have planned, it's her. Just... don't put yourself in harm's way for our sake." Alice reached out as she spoke to squeeze the angel's hand. "You're important to me too, partner."

"I promise, we'll stay safe; besides, we're in too deep to back out now. It should come to a head by the end of next week... Just." She looked at Alice very seriously. "Stay alive until then, okay?" Alice nodded with a newfound fierce determination. If Rosalie and Maria were risking it all to save them, she would do whatever it took to help on her end.

Rosalie seemed to accept that response as she stood and promptly exited without even a goodbye. Leaving just Jasper and Alice alone with their coffee and their thoughts. They sat in comfortable silence, holding hands across the table, words not needed. Alice saw James only a fraction of a second before he saw her. As he noticed, her hands intertwined with Jasper's, a fury set over his expression, and he stomped over to their table. Seeing the murderous look in Jasper's eyes, she squeezed his hand, hoping the action would communicate that she had a handle on the situation. Still, his glare as James arrived would strike fear in even the boldest of demons. She kind of liked this protective side of him.

"Don't even start," She cut James off before he'd had a chance to open his mouth. "I'm not your problem anymore, James. I told you from the get-go I wasn't serious about our relationship. I'm sorry about how I ended things, that was cruel, and I could have handled it better. But we were never exclusive, and I've told you that I'm not interested in moving forward with you in no uncertain terms. What I do with my time is up to me; please leave me alone."

Jasper and Alice sat in tension, waiting for him to get upset, to yell, or protest. In the end, he only smirked, leaving with a comment about how he'd been seeing someone else for weeks anyhow. Evidently, he hoped the statement would cut at her pride as he glanced back to see how his words had affected her. Had the confrontation occurred yesterday, it may have worked; she would have questioned what was wrong with her, how she always messed things up. But everything had changed; as she sat now in a hopeful bliss, she gave up no reaction.

The next two weeks were the best of Alice's life, time spent with Jasper never seeming to be enough. Going back to work the next day was a struggle; she spent most of the day fanaticizing about the man who had suffered so many years just for her waiting back at her apartment. Not actually making any progress on the interior design project due in only a few days. They spent their time cuddled on the couch watching movies, playing video games, and engaging in some of the most mind-blowing sex Alice had thought possible.

Every day was tenser than the last, both expecting her untimely demise to come any day. Jasper took advantage of every second, stealing a kiss at any opportunity, always had an arm around her when possible, expressing his love in every conceivable way whenever he could. Her heart went out to the man; Alice imagined she'd likely do the same in his position. If she knew she'd have to live every day for two decades awaiting his return, she knew she'd savor every second.

Alice had crawled into bed one night knowing something was wrong, his sadness so intense she could feel it radiating off of him. She'd settled into his arms, as usual, placing delicate kisses across his bare chest. She'd hoped that a comforting touch would be enough to lift his spirits. When it didn't help, she scooted up in the bed to brush his hair out of his face, "What's wrong, babe?"

He didn't respond at first, choosing to gently brush his thumb over her shoulder in lazy circles. She'd learned over the past week not to be offended by his long silences, that he liked to think his responses through before speaking. So she enjoyed his closeness while she waited until he eventually spoke. "I'm afraid, what if Rosalie fails? I'm terrified that I've gotten my hopes up and this won't work. I don't want to lose you again." It was a topic she'd been avoiding but knew was inevitable.

"Then we find each other again next time, we keep finding each other until something does work. Look to the possibilities of the future, not the pain of the past. Just promise you won't try to stay away from me ever again. That you'll always come find me as soon as you can. Swear to me that you'll never give up even if it takes all of eternity."

His reply had been simple as he pulled her tighter against him, "Okay, I promise."

Rosalie had been right on schedule; she'd texted Jasper precisely two weeks after their last meeting. Her relief evident as she laid eyes on Alice, still breathing, still in one piece, still alive. Her appearance was in shambles, as though she'd been through a harrowing experience. "Your free, both of you." She exclaimed on the verge of tears. "We did it! You can come home."

"What are you talking about, Rose?" Jasper gaped in disbelief.

Rosalie explained how after learning of Maria's loud protests of the punishment Jasper and Alice had received, she had approached Maria. The outspoken demon had been working behind the scenes to convince the demons of how Aro must have ulterior motives; after all, seduction is a sin, so wouldn't seducing an angel, the purest of all beings, be considered quite an accomplishment? Something to be celebrated?

Rosalie had wanted nothing more than to help her friends; the punishment was unjust and didn't fit the crime. She'd felt so betrayed by Carlisle for doing this. Angels were pure beings of goodness and kindness; it didn't make any sense that her friends had been cast out for love, the purest thing in the universe. Angels were meant to be forgiving; why had Carlisle offered Jasper no opportunity to repent. There was so much Rosalie didn't understand, but she knew there was no way she could trust the gods.

So the pair hatched a plan to create an army of demons and angels who wanted a change. They staged a coup, dethroning both Carlisle and Aro. Maria had seized the throne of the underworld for herself, her first action being to release Alice from her eternal sentence of death and rebirth. The angels had set up a democracy of sorts; Rosalie was in charge for the time being. The angel had blushed profusely upon telling her friends that she was God now, and they could return home without conceding their love.

"Okay, what are we waiting for!" Alice had exclaimed, beyond ready. Elated at the concept of going home, of being free to spend all of eternity with the man she loved. The man she'd suffered for, who'd suffered for her in equal measure.

They were greeted to cheers, hugs, and tears, both awarded a much-needed vacation before going back to work. Returning to the office where the entire ordeal had started.

"No way, she's still here?" Alice gaped at the file sat on her desk as Jasper looked over her shoulder in equal bemusement. Alice shook her head as she snapped her fingers, summoning the mortal soul they were meant to sway.

"Hello, again, Bella."

[naceisonthecase]

Perspective

Hey, @fyeah-marvel it’s your Secret Santa!! I loved working on your gift and I really hope you like it. Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Prompt: Family fluff, post season 5 including Deke *it’s more heartwarming than fluffy tho*

Word Count: 1909 

It had been over an hour since it had started to snow and it didn’t look like it was going to let up anytime soon. Inside, the perfectly concealed cabin the heat from the crackling fire made the storm outside nearly obsolete. Jemma was busy in the kitchen finishing off preparing tea. She placed a third mug on the tray along with a saucer of milk, a small bowl of sugar and a teapot of freshly brewed tea before carrying it towards the lounge.

Pausing in the doorway, she watched Fitz. His feet were kicked up on the coffee table and his head was bent over his tablet. He looked deep in thought, his thumb and index finger resting on his lip and cheek as he read. This Fitz had missed quite a lot and his return had been a major adjustment on the both of them and for the rest of the team. Looking down she saw the ring encircled around her finger and sighed. They had needed this getaway she reminded herself— for longer than she cared to admit. Using the door frame to balance the tray, Jemma wiggled the ring off her finger and dropped it into the pocket of her jumper. She took a deep breath.

“Tea’s ready!” She beamed, entering the lounge.

Fitz powered off his tablet and straightening up tossed it gently beside him on the sofa. He began to reach for a mug but stopped, hand hovering over the handle for a moment. “Who's that there third mug for?” He questioned, pointing to the collection of mugs arranged on the tray in front of him.

As if on cue, the front door burst open and Deke stumbled into the cabin covered head to toe in winter gear.

“Looks like you found the place alright.”

“Would’ve been easier without all this cloaking business.”

“You know why it needed to be cloaked.” Jemma replied, moving to help Deke out of his jacket. “In any case,” She went on, hanging the jacket on a hook. “You’re just in time for tea.”

Deke walked across the room and settled down on the sofa next to Fitz, who had been giving him the stink eye the entire time. Waking up unexpectedly in the present day feeling as if the last six months had been a complete waste and finding out you had a grandson, who had come back from the future from a chapter of your life that you, the current you, had planned on helping to solve. It was very unsettling. And now this twenty-something year old grandson was sitting there beside him acting completely nonchalant as Jemma handed him a steaming mug.

“So, what have you two lovebirds been up to? Conceived my mom yet?”

Jemma and Fitz exchanged an uneasy look. “So, how is everyone back at base?” Jemma asked turning back to Deke, quite happy to change the subject.

Deke was scooping spoonfuls of sugar into his drink. “Uh, everyone’s — good. Coulson and May are still off on their little excursion. Haven’t heard too much from them. Elena, Daisy and Mack are putting up holiday decorations. Daisy’s now glad her powers are back in working,” he paused, looking over at Fitz who had tensed up beside him, “order.” He took a large gulp of his tea, coughing on the too hot beverage. “That there’s hot.” He said placing his mug back on the table, forcing his coughs into laughter.

Jemma placed a hand on Fitz’s leg and gave it a small squeeze hoping it would help calm him. They hadn’t outright told him what had happened, but Daisy had been keeping him at arms length and it wasn’t long until he knew something was up. He knew what had happened with Daisy wasn’t his doing but that didn’t stop him from feeling horrible for betraying his friends trust. It was another reason they needed this time away, taking the time to regroup before rejoining the team.

Fitz moved from her touch. “I think I need some fresh air.” He said, pushing himself up off the sofa and headed to wear his jacket hung on the hook next to Deke’s. He quickly shrugged into it and stuffed his feet into his boots. And he was out, the door quietly closing behind him, before Jemma or Deke could find any words to stop him.

Deke sat blinking after him for a moment, his mouth slightly agape, as he muddled over the short conversation. Then he stood from the sofa and paced around the lounge, muttering under his breath. “I shouldn’t‘ve come.” He said, loud enough for Jemma to hear. He hit his stockinged foot against the sideboard in frustration, his quiet mumbles turning into a not so quiet string of curses. Jemma turned her attention from the closed door to Deke who was now sitting on the arm of an armchair, rubbing at his sore foot. She rushed to his side, sitting next to him she placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t take any of that too personally, Deke. It’s honestly none of your fault.”

“Sure felt like it was.” Deke said to his foot.

Jemma sighed. “He’s been — we’ve all been through a lot and he just needs a little time. I have an idea,” Jemma said before getting off the armchair and disappearing into the kitchen.

Deke heard the click of the fridge opening and shutting and Jemma returned with something wrapped in parchment paper.

“Made this just in case.” Jemma handed over the package to Deke, who gave it a curious whiff and folded a corner over to peek inside.

“A sandwich?”

“The way to your grandad’s heart is through his stomach. It also helps him open up about what’s going on up there.” Jemma said, tapping the side of her head to emphasize her point. “Talk to him.” Jemma urged.

Deke got back into his winter gear, with the sandwich tucked safely in his jacket pocket, and ventured back into the winter wonderland. Luckily, the storm had begun to blow over. Fitz was sitting on a snow covered bench not far from the cabin, his elbows resting on his knees as he looked into the distance beyond the cloaked cabin. He turned watching Deke approach.

“Uh, Jemma said this was for you.” Deke said, taking the sandwich out of his pocket to hand to Fitz and jammed his hand back into his pocket. Fitz unwrapped the sandwich it as soon as it was in his hands and took a bite, sighing happily as he chewed (“Prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella. Mmm, with just a hint of pesto aioli”).

“Well, I’ll just sit here while you eat then.” Deke said, sitting down on the empty part of the bench, his hands still deep in his pocket.

An uncomfortable silence fell between them, the sounds of Fitz chewing and the occasional chirp of a bird the only sounds that were heard.

“Never really knew my dad. He was a deadbeat so I wasn’t missing out on much.” Deke said after a while, taking a hand out of a pocket to casually itch at the side of his face before putting it right back in again. “Oh well, makes it kinda cool that I get to know you I guess.”

“My old man wasn’t the best either.” Fitz said, surprising Deke. “Left when I was ten. Honestly, it terrifies me that I’ll turn out like him.” He paused, playing with the edge of the sandwich parchment. “Even more so that I already have.”

“Are you kidding me?” Deke said. “You are nothing like your father. Not now, not ever. You should’ve heard the stories my mom told me about you. The way she spoke about you you’d think you were some kind of super parent.”

Fitz screwed his eyebrows together and looked at Deke, not knowing if he should truly believe someone he just met. He had never thought of himself as a parent, had promised to himself a long time ago to not have kids so there would be no fear in repeating that cycle. That was before Jemma. Before Deke had annoyingly proclaimed with his very existence that he hadn’t followed through with that promise.

“Here,” Deke reached back into his pocket and took out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Fitz. “Think of it as part one of your Christmas gift.” He stood from the bench. “Good talk.” He added with a small smile and started heading back towards the cabin.

Fitz unfolded the paper. It was a faded photograph of himself, a little greyer around the edges, holding a little girl no more than five years old a perfect mix of him and Jemma clutching a stuffed monkey to her chest. They were in some kind of lab and he was pointing at something out of the frame while beaming at the little girl who was staring in amazement at whatever he was showing her. Fitz turned the photo over and transcribed in writing he instantly knew was Jemma’s it read ‘Daddy showing Peggy May his latest project — her own TARDIS’. He turned the picture back around and stared at his face, he looked the happiest he’d ever been.

Deke had trudged halfway back to the cabin when something cold and hard hit the back of his neck. “Hey! What was that?” He asked, turning around.

Fitz had stood up from the bench and was grinning back at Deke. “Hey, laddie ever had a snowball fight?”

“A snow ball what?”

“Come, let me show you how to make the perfect snowball. I was loads better than Jemma back at the Academy, let her win. But don’t tell her that.”

Two hours later it was growing dark and they both ventured back into the cabin soaked and freezing but happy.

“You two had a good talk I see” Jemma said smiling as she gathered up blankets for the both of them.

“It was decent.” Fitz remarked, clapping Deke on the back heading to grab a shortbread cookie and a fresh mug of tea Jemma had laid out before collapsing onto the sofa with a sigh.

“Hey, Jemma!” Deke said, falling onto the couch beside Fitz. “Next snowball fight you should join us.”

Jemma sat on the other side of Fitz. “That sounds like a lot of fun.” She took her freshly poured mug of tea and took a sip.

“Fitz said he was letting you win at the Academy.” Jemma was choking on her tea from the statement, even though she’d had that inkling for years. Deke shoved a cookie into his mouth and grabbed for another. “He has some awesome tricks up his sleeves.” He glanced at Fitz, who had slumped into the sofa cushions, covering his face with a hand. “Or, sorry physics.”

Even after the photograph and the snowball fight Deke was still his same old annoying self. Fitz too knew it didn’t solve everything for himself — he still had to return to the team feeling as if he’d broken someone’s trust, the Framework had still happened and there was still so much from after his time in jail that he didn’t understand. But Deke did help him with one thing. Seeing that little girl in the photo proved that despite everything they had gone through he and Jemma would be alright. And for right now that was enough.