#Mitch cave

[hazellvsq]

less discourse about whether the roman campers are child soldiers more discourse about how reyna/jason/percy/frank consistently tried to topple the democratic process of camp jupiter

[1d1195]

Thursday

Read Tuesday and extras here | 2.8k words

From me: based on this ask/suggestion

Warnings: fluff, a bit of angst

Summary: A lot of things are back to normal. Like coffee dates, movie nights, and sharing a skin routine with Niall. But some things are a little uncharted. Like onions, bookmarks, dishes, and exes.

“What’s your favorite day of the week?” She asked.

“Friday of course,” Niall rolled his eyes. “What else would it be?”

“Saturday, obviously,” Harry stared at his friend as he brought a glass of water from the kitchen. He held it out to her. “Here, kitten.”

“Thank you,” she said softly, taking a long sip before Harry took it back from her and placed it on the coffee table in front of them. “Thursday is my favorite,” she told the pair. Harry fell into the seat beside her, his hand immediately resting on the inside of her leg, squeezing her thigh gently.

“Thursday!?” Niall’s eyebrows pinched together. “You still have a whole workday left! Why would you like Thursday?”

She shrugged. “Just... it’s a good day, you know? It’s anticipating for Friday. It’s nice.”

Harry stared at her dreamily. She could feel him look at her in her peripheral. It had been a while since someone looked at her the way he was looking at her. It hadn’t been long since they admitted they still loved each other. Only a few months. They settled back into the same normal routines they had when they dated the first time. “S’cute, love,” he squeezed her leg. “What movie are we doing tonight, Ni?”

“What number are we on?”

Harry shrugged. “Oh, I haven’t a clue. Think Mitch is keeping us on track.”

Since they started seeing one another again, she hadn’t come to one of their weekly movie nights. It made her feel better about not being overbearing and needy. But Harry invited her every week. Niall too. You don’t have to be here because of Harry. I want you here just as much as he does—maybe more because I’m ready to tie you to a chair to stay, Princess.

So finally, after countless invites, she finally caved. Not that it was hard. She was excited to be there. Their group of friends had been making their way through the Best Picture Oscar winners since the award’s beginning. It was cool to see how things changed over time, and it was really adorable to hear the way Harry talked about it. “I don’t have to stay for movie night,” she reminded Harry quietly. “If you want time with just your friends without—”

Although his mouth opened to protest, it wasn’t Harry that answered. “Princess, don’t be ridiculous,” Niall rolled his eyes. “Course we want you here. Help us pick out food.”

Niall cast his phone to the TV screen and was scrolling through the nearby places that would deliver to them in the next hour when their other friends arrived. “M’feeling pizza I think,” Harry suggested.

“Pizza it is,” Niall selected their favorite pizza place and began selecting way more pizza than seven people could ever eat.

“Make sure there’s one without onions.”

Her heart fluttered that Harry remembered that about her after all their time apart. Part of her thought about just going with it, never admitting the change in her palate. But she didn’t want to lie. “Actually,” she cleared her throat. “I like onions now,” she admitted almost shyly. Like she wasn’t allowed to change her mind.

“Y’do?” Harry blinked and turned fully toward her. A delighted smirk on his lips. It made the dimple in his left cheek pop through prominently.

She nodded. “Not sure how it happened. Think I accidentally ate something with onions in it and didn’t pick them out like a five-year-old. It actually tasted good. I like French onion soup now and everything,” she explained.

Harry’s smile grew, he leaned forward and kissed her forehead as if it was a bigger to do than it was; like winning an award or something. “I told y’that y’would like them,” he chuckled. She rolled her eyes and buried her face in his chest. “So brave,” he teased.

“Oh, shut it,” she laughed. “Did you at least warn them that I would be here?” She asked.

“Sarah is really looking forward to seeing you,” Niall once more took the lead in explaining. “She is tired of being the only girl around.”

While it wasn’t fully said, she knew Harry had been seeing a girl. In one way or another. It wasn’t a bad thing, she wasn’t judging. But Harry got exceedingly cagey about it whenever she tried to broach the subject. “What about—”

Harry squeezed her thigh again. A silent directive to stop her question. Niall smirked as Harry cut off her inquiry (and Niall’s impending quip). “Y’could bring a girl home, y’know,” Harry reminded him.

“She’ll be so jealous of our princess here,” Niall winked making her laugh. It really felt so easy. So simple. Just being back where she was supposed to be. Like nothing had changed at all. “Holding out for the one, Harold. You should know something about that,” he said knowingly and finished placing the pizza order. His phone screen disappeared from the TV, and he left the room.

She didn’t want Harry to feel like he had to hide part of his life from her. They were adults. He was allowed to see anyone he wanted. “You know...you can talk about someone you dated—”

“We didn’t date.”

“—pardon, fucked,” she smirked.

Harry rolled his eyes, his cheeks turning a shade redder than she thought he needed to turn. It didn’t bother her that Harry had a life outside of her. He was unbelievably handsome. Unbelievably sweet. He deserved to be happy. She wasn’t jealous of someone else in his life when she had no claim to him in any way. “I jus’ don’t think s’polite t’talk ‘bout her t’you,” he shrugged. “S’rude.”

“Okay,” she nodded encouragingly. “If that’s how you feel, I just wanted you to know you could if you wanted to.”

Harry seemed a little less on edge about it after that, but she noted his grip on her thigh loosened. Even though she kinda liked how his fingers felt pressed into her skin. She figured she could tell him later when they were alone... and her clothes weren’t in the way.

*

They sat in the very coffee shop she used to work in. It was nice to get out and have an inexpensive date—even with two grown up jobs it was smart to sit and relax in the comfy seats and sip coffee they loved so much. It made her heart flutter that Harry still knew her order after so much time. Or maybe that was a comment on her stubbornness to change. “You should try the hazelnut drink they just got,” she smiled at him as they stood in line, holding hands. “It made me think of you.” The overlap of seeing him after two years and the new drink reminded her of all the things he loved and all the things she remembered loving about him. He leaned toward her and kissed her cheek.

Once seated, Harry stretched his legs; they invaded her space beneath the table. But it didn’t seem to bother her. He admired her concentration on the book she was reading; the little furrow of her brow, the way her lips pursed together. She was so adorable, and Harry didn’t think she even knew. Beneath the table he nudged her leg with his knee, and she glanced up at him. He could tell she didn’t want to look up from her book. But he smiled at her. A smile that made her heart and stomach twist because he was so Harry, so perfect. It made her smile back.

“Harry!”

Both their heads turned to the voice. But after a brief moment, she turned to look at Harry. Trying to piece together the recognition. She came up short, but Harry stood and greeted the girl with a hug politely. There was a little flutter of jealousy that pinched her heart and she waited patiently.

“Kitten, this is Hailey,” his voice was neutral.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she cleared her throat and stood.

Hailey was beautiful. There was no question about it. When she left, she was going to ask about a thousand questions. Starting with if she was a model. Then asking Harry if she knew what kind of hair products she used.

“Same to you,” she smiled politely. Her voice took on a new tone as she turned back to Harry. It was obvious her problem wasn’t with her, for which she was grateful. “Hadn’t heard from Harry in a while.”

“That’s my fault,” Harry’s voice was low. As if he was exhausted. She could tell Harry wanted out of this conversation. Curiosity was getting the better of her as she tried to imagine if she had ever met Hailey prior or heard the name in any stories Niall had told.

“How long have you been seeing each other?” Hailey asked. She noticed her tone was getting harsher by the second. Her glare bored into Harry’s face.

She opened her mouth to say, ‘a few months,’ and get her attention away from her boyfriend. But Harry beat her to the punch. “Two and a half years,” he told her.

Hailey quirked an eyebrow up and she tilted her head at him curiously because while true, technically, there was a large two-year gap between the ‘two’ and the ‘half’ part of his sentence. But it did make her heart happy that he was willing to let the gap slide into oblivion. It would definitely require explanation, but it was nice.

Hailey looked at Harry for a long moment. “That’s news to me.”

“Hailey,” he said quietly.

“I can let you guys talk if—”

“S’fine, kitten,” he said quickly.

Hailey looked irritated beyond belief. She wished she fully knew why because right now the only thing she felt was overwhelming uncomfortableness. Quietly she sat in her seat and folded the page of her book down. Harry did a double take and shook his head before turning his attention back to Hailey.

“You ghosted me,” she said.

Harry closed his eyes. “I did,” he admitted. “But we were never...”

“I deserved more than that.”

“You did,” he agreed. It clicked. The girl that Harry wasn’t dating. The girl he was fucking in some arrangement that she didn’t know about. Her cheeks felt warm just knowing what happened. Hailey looked pissed. Her eyes were fueled with anger. “But we weren’t exclusive.”

She continued to glare at him. “You’re an ass.”

“Yes,” Harry nodded in agreement.

It almost seemed like Hailey was mad Harry was agreeing with her. Not that she could fully look at the scene unfolding in front of her to truly gauge it. She was taking extreme interest in her coffee cup. Hailey grabbed Harry’s cup of coffee, pulled the lid off and she closed her eyes as Harry braced for the cold liquid to cover him. “Good luck,” Hailey said in her direction then marched off to the exit. Once out of the shop and everyone was watching Harry drip from head to toe, she jumped into action. She asked her former coworkers for some towels, and she felt her face heat with embarrassment on behalf of Harry. If she wasn’t there, maybe that wouldn’t have happened. Perhaps Hailey would have had a conversation with Harry that she fully deserved and she wouldn’t have felt the need to dump coffee all over him.

“Kitten,” Harry murmured as she dabbed at his clothes and cleaned up the puddle at his feet. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

She smiled weakly. “It’s okay. Are you alright?”

“M’so embarrassed,” he admitted.

She shook her head. “Let’s get out of here,” she squeezed his arm.

“But our date...”

She laughed quietly. “I mean, I wanted you out of your clothes anyway,” she teased.

Harry chuckled, his cheeks turning slightly pink with her flirtatious joke, and looked at his feet. “Yeah? You’re not mad?”

“Mad?” She asked. There was a long pause as she gathered their belongings, returned the towels to the front where she thanked them profusely. Then she held the door open for Harry, sticky with coffee. He shrugged.

“I didn’t...” He sighed. “I didn’t want to tell you about her.”

“Why?”

“Because, kitten. If I knew y’were fucking some guy for the last two years without any strings attached I would be jealous out of m’mind,” he explained. “I’d be jealous if there were strings.”

She made a mental note to keep her ex to herself. “Well... I’m not mad. I wish you had told me so you could have ended things—”

“She was getting attached. I didn’t want a relationship. I started cutting it off weeks before I heard from you. I had only seen her once or twice in the months prior. She texted every now and again. I didn’t want a relationship,” he repeated. She got a jacket he had left in his backseat to lay over the driver’s seat so he wouldn’t have a car that smelled like sour coffee for the rest of time. They could always wash the jacket.

“No?” She asked. Harry took his seat and waited until she was in the passenger seat to continue.

He shook his head. “Now that I have y’back... I don’t know why we broke up,” he tapped his hands on the steering wheel. Her heart fluttered. “S’obvious now. M’not... I don’t know, kitten. Dating didn’t make sense after you. I tried. Really,” he assured her. “S’jus’... you were... you are special.”

She bit the inside of her cheek and felt the heat warm her skin with adoration and embarrassment. “You don’t have to pretend like you didn’t have a life while I wasn’t around.”

“I know. And I was wrong for how I handled Hailey,” he assented.

“Maybe, yes. But she didn’t need to pour coffee all over you.”

“At least it was iced,” Harry chuckled. She smiled. “Are we okay?”

“Of course,” she giggled.

Harry sighed with relief and grabbed her hand. He kissed her knuckles. Turning the car on and backing out of the spot. “Since when d’you fold the page of y’book like a serial killer?”

*

Harry always sucked at doing dishes. When she stayed at his house in the beginning of their relationship it drove her nuts to no end. He used too many and piled them high. Then he would leave them without soaking for so long it was miserable. It wasn’t even her responsibility to do the dishes but she felt like it was after he did all the cooking.

Which was why when he finished making dinner for them on a night in, she was floored to see him doing the dishes right away. Soaking and scrubbing them as she had done so many times over.

“You don’t like dishes,” she mumbled in surprise putting leftovers in Tupperware and condiments in the fridge.

He smirked glancing over his shoulder. “Didn’t realize how much I was torturing you all the years ago.”

She gaped. “What?”

“Niall went t’do the dishes after me shortly after we broke up,” he chuckled. “Said, ‘no wonder she broke up with you; I don’t even want t’be your roommate right now.’ Y’should have said something, kitten.”

Her cheeks felt warm. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“No,” he nodded firmly. “It was pretty bad, baby,” he nudged her with his hip.

She giggled and took the large pan that Harry had used to make stir fry (something that she had forgotten he made so well. It was delicious) and began drying it. “I don’t know, seemed like a bitchy thing to say ‘hey, I know you just made dinner for me and it was delicious and a lot of work, but I kind of want to strangle you for how difficult it is to wash the dishes.’”

He flicked water at her making her wrinkle her nose. The expression was adorable, made her look even cuter than she normally did so that Harry’s heart skipped a beat. “Y’can’t hide stuff like that, kitten. Y’do that and I won’t know m’gonna lose you so I can fix it,” he winked.

“I hope you don’t lose me,” she mumbled.

He chuckled. “Whatcha say, love?” He wrapped his arms around her waist. His hands were still wet and he avoided her shirt as much as possible, holding her slightly awkwardly but it was cute. “Think m’gonna be stupid enough t’lose y’twice?”

She giggled and shook her head. “Not if I have a say in it,” she draped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. He seemed to melt into the kiss—forgetting his hands were wet and getting the back of her shirt wet as well.

Which was fine by him.

He wanted her out of her shirt anyway.

—

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[holidaywishes]

Out of Control

Hate Sex Part 5

Requested: 👍 and 👎

Summary: Over the last year, Auston keeps getting into trouble

Warning: angst, fighting,

Author’s Note: So, this is kind of like a prelude to the next chapter which was a request for a new chapter, I'll post the full request in the next chapter, I had it all as one but it was like 20 pages in Google Docs before I even got to the heart of the request and even this is still very long. Finding a way to make it all flow is what has taken me ages to edit and post, so this is my solution. hopefully, this means I’ll have the next part up soon but 🤞. Anyway, thank you loves and Happy New Year!

masterlist

masterlist part ii

the other masterlist

xx

Auston's P.O.V

You missed her. As much as you didn’t want to, as much as she made it clear that you’re not what she wanted, you missed her. You spent two months wallowing or focusing on nothing other than winning as if that could somehow fix everything. On the few days off you had between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, you drank until you passed out and you could tell that your mom was starting to worry but every time you slowed down, you thought of (Y/N).

  “Don’t you think this is getting a little bit dangerous?” Willy asked as he helped you up from the floor of your apartment after you’d fallen to the floor

  “I’m in my own apartment, we don’t have a game for a few days, I’ll be fine for practice,” you slurred as he set you back on the couch, “don’t worry about me”

  “Auston, this is ridiculous,” he scoffed, “if I’d known that this is where you were at, I wouldn’t have agreed to hang out tonight”

  “Calm down,” you huffed, pushing yourself up from the couch, nearly crashing into Willy as you did so, “I’m fine. We deserve to have a great New Year’s Eve, to celebrate!”

  “I think you’ve already done enough celebrating for the both of us”

  “Look,” you said, placing your hand on his shoulder, “Morgan and Tessa are having a baby… so we’re not gonna see him a lot. Mitch is… married. We can try to get him to come out but, chances are, he’s already got plans. We should be having fun, a few drinks aren’t gonna hurt anybody. Hangover’s don’t last forever.” You took a sip from the beer bottle you’d grabbed off the table and waited for Willy’s answer; he was about to cave, you could see it but you had to wait

  “Fine!” he agreed, sighing slightly

“Atta boy!” you cheered, walking to the kitchen to grab him a drink, “now, get started, I’m gonna go change.” The night started slow but when it finally got going, you did your best to keep the mood up but the closer to midnight it got, the more you noticed couples forming around you.

  “Don’t do it,” Willy called to you as you pulled out your phone, “nothing good can come from checking her stories”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about” you lied

  “Celebrate here. Find someone here, it should be easy.” You rolled your eyes but tried to follow his suggestion, looking around at who wasn’t paired up. Your eyes landed on a petite (Y/C/H) girl in jeans and you decided to make a move, chugging the last of your drink before heading over to her

  “Hi,” you smiled as you leaned down to the girl’s ear and she turned around, “I’m Auston.” She smiled in return before outstretching her hand, you were suddenly flooded by images of (Y/N) in your head

  “Hi, Auston,” she said as you shook hands, bringing you back to the moment, “I’m Laura, nice to meet you”

  “Nice to meet you,” you replied, “so… wanna dance?”

  “I-” she hesitated

“No pressure,” you continued, moving closer to her, “we could always just wait around until midnight, sipping Champagne.” You felt someone knock your shoulder and you just scoffed, rolling at your eyes before saying to Laura, “some people hey?”

  “Yeah…” she started before you heard a voice from behind you

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he yelled

  “Back off, bro,” you replied, turning around to face this angry guy whose face was red with rage, pushing his shoulder once, “I don’t need this tonight”

  “Why don’t you back off, bro?” he added, getting right up until your noses were practically touching

  “Hey, what’s this romance about?” Willy joked, trying to calm the situation down

  “This clown was harassing my girlfriend” the guy said, gesturing to Laura, who was now crossing her arms in front of her chest

  “Whoa,” you started with a scoff and your hands up in defence, “I was not harassing her. I didn’t know she had a boyfriend, I didn’t know you had a boyfriend” you repeated, turning to Laura

  “Well…” she tried, “you didn’t really let me…”

  “She was waiting for me, dickhead,” the boyfriend spoke up again, this time forcefully turning you around to face him, “you should learn to show a little respect”

  “Coming from the douche bag yelling in the middle of a dance floor”

  “Auston…” you heard Willy sigh before dropping his head in his hand before the boyfriend’s eyes narrowed and his fist was flying through the air. The first punch flew past you and, out of pure instinct, you threw a fist in return; connecting with his face immediately. The small feeling of pride soon dissipated when his fist finally met your jaw and the crowd around you quickly stepped back so they didn’t get in the way of the fight. Eventually, you felt hands tearing you away and telling you to stop fighting before you were tossed out of the club. “What the actual fuck, dude?” Willy shouted, pushing your shoulder as you walked down the street with a bloody lip

  “How the fuck was I supposed to know she had a boyfriend?” you yelled in return

  “You didn’t have to get into a fucking brawl!”

  “It wasn’t a brawl, relax”

  “Auston, we just got tossed out of a fucking building,” he said angrily, “if you hadn’t been physically pulled away from this guy, it could’ve been really bad”

  “Well, then I guess it’s a good thing it wasn’t,” you scoffed, patting your lip to see how much blood was there, “I just need to get back home, you can do whatever you want. Happy New Year…”

  “What is going on with you?” he said calmly, stopping at the corner to talk to you, “you’ve been drinking a lot and now a fight? Even before we left, you were so out of it that you could barely stand”

  “That’s dramatic,” you scoffed, “I’ve been drunk a handful of times in the last month and this is one fight. It’s not like it’ll happen again”

  “Better not,” he replied, “because it’s not gonna impress her…” You rolled your eyes at his statement before the two of you went in your own directions. You weren’t trying to impress (Y/N) and, even if you were, you knew this wasn’t the way to do it. She’d hate this. Hate the bravado, hate seeing you like this. You just got caught up in it this time, that’s all. 

xx

4 months later

  “Rumour has it, Auston is the captain of the Leafs now,” Mary said while the two of you walked toward your brunch spot

  “Calm down, Mary,” you scoffed, “it’s just a rumour…”

  “That’s true,” she folded briefly, “there’s still lots of time for things to change, people to change, that kind of thing…”

  “I guess,” you sighed, pointing at a spot to sit when you walked into the restaurant, “why are you bringing this up anyway?”

  “It seemed like a big deal. I thought maybe you’d be interested”

  “Well, thanks but no thanks”

  “(Y/N)...” she smiled and tilted her head, “I know it’s been a while since you’ve talked to him, or seen him for that matter, but you were pretty invested for a minute”

  “I wasn’t invested”

  “I beg to differ” she responded before looking at the menu, forcing you to shake your head in annoyance

  “Look,” you said, “we… I took myself out of his world. Tessa and Mo are the ones I see, they’re the ones I’m friends with. Auston is just… he’s-”

  “Out of control” Tessa interrupted, apparently having heard the conversation you’d been having with Mary

  “What?” you and Mary said, watching Tessa and her pregnant belly maneuver into the patio seat

  “He got into a fight” Tessa finally said

  “I thought that was on New Year’s Eve?” Mary asked

  “Wait what?” you scoffed but the two of them continued

  “Oh yeah but that was then,” Tessa added, “he got into another one like two nights ago at some restaurant”

  “What was it about?” Mary asked

  “Who knows!” Tessa exclaimed, “Mo tried to ask but Auston just got mad and walked away”

  “Well, he’s young. He’ll move on,” you smirked to yourself, sure no one was listening to you only to be met by scolds from your two friends, “what?”

  “You don’t perhaps think this has something to do with you?” Tessa asked, irritated

  “Me?” you scoffed, “what would it have to do with me?”

  “Halloween, 2023” Mary said, dramatically

  “You mean 7 months ago?” you huffed

  “I was going for dramatic effect,” she continued, “but yes”

  “What about it?”

  “Seriously?!” both Tessa and Mary threw their hands up before Tessa tried to get through to you, “whatever happened at that Halloween party, however you ended it, whatever you said to him… it clearly affected him”

  “Hey,” you said sharply, pointing your finger in her face, “it is not my fault that he’s gone off the rails. He’s making his own decisions”

  “He’s hurt, (Y/N),” Mary said softly, “he had real feelings for you. You have to know that, don’t you?”

  “And you were feeling it too. Mo and I saw it, Mitch and Steph saw it, they brought it up after you stopped coming around when you knew Auston would be there. It’s okay to admit it…” Tessa added and you dropped your head, rubbing your forehead as you tried to think of something to say, if only just to get them off your back

  “I couldn’t imagine being in a relationship that started with so much negativity, so much drama,” you finally admitted, “it wouldn’t matter what feelings I had or how strong those feelings were, I’d always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for the toxicity to show up again and again and again. I saw his feelings, I heard him confess them to me, I felt it from him and I could tell he was being vulnerable with me so I… I made a choice to let things end before he could get any more attached. So he could realize that he’d be better off without the constant up and down of whatever we were doing”

  “And now he’s getting into fights,” Tessa said

  “Like he’s taking it out on the world,” Mary cooed, “he’s really hurting”

  “Mary,” you groaned, “I don’t know what’s going on with him, I really don’t, but even if he was really hurting, he shouldn’t be acting so immature. Especially, if they’re actually gonna make him captain.” Your phone rang suddenly and you were able to get out of this loop you’d found yourself in, except you couldn’t because Stephanie was on the other line screaming about Auston and Mitch getting into a fight, “slow down, what’s wrong?”

  “Auston is about to get beat up,” she said, clearly scared and on the brink of tears, “Mitch tried to stop it, tried to stop him, but Auston kept riling this guy up…”

  “Where are you?” you asked, Tessa and Mary looking at each other quickly before they looked back at you

  “Grace O’Malley’s” Steph replied

  “Grace O–” you sighed, “I can’t get down there in less than half an hour, you’re gonna have to find a way to calm him down”

  “Can’t you hurry? Just speed through some red lights?” she joked

  “I’m out with Tess and Mary, we took the train,” you said, watching Tessa mouth that she took an Uber, pointing at her phone. You waved her away and went back to Steph, “I’m sorry. Is he drunk?” you asked, not sure which answer you were hoping for. If he was drunk, you could understand it more but it would mean that he was drinking in the middle of the day, if he wasn’t drunk, he was just being an asshole

  “I think, maybe a little,” she admitted, “he’s had like three beers?”

  “You could call the cops?” you offered, voice squeaking as you suggested it, knowing no one would be on board with it

  “ARE YOU JOKING?!” yeah, there it was. Steph’s shocked yell said it all and Tessa’s face added to it. You rolled your eyes at the whole situation, “there’s no way that would fly with the coaching staff”

  “It’s not like anything would actually happen,” you mumbled to yourself to which Mary’s eyes went big and pushed you to do something, “give him the phone”

  “What?” she whimpered

  “Can you get the phone to him? Let me try to talk some sense into him…” you waited for her to give him the phone, looking at the girls in front of you waiting for answers but you could only shrug. You eventually heard a bunch of yelling and swearing on the other end while Stephanie took the phone over to Auston

  “Auston!” she yelled, “AUSTON! (Y/N) wants to talk to you”

  “I’m not talking to her,” he yelled at Stephanie, “tell her to fuck off.” You waited for some kind of response but it did seem like the fight was dying down, so that was a plus

  “He doesn’t want to talk to you…” she said truthfully, “but it looks like he’s out of the fight. I’m so sorry for calling, I was just nervous and I didn’t know what to do”

  “That’s okay,” you smiled to yourself, “are you okay?”

  “I’m okay” she said and you let her know that if she ever needed anything, you were happy to help however you could and then it was back to the two faces looking at you.

  “What?” you said dismissively as you hung up the phone and tried your best not to hear the anger in Auston’s voice anymore

  “Everything okay?” Mary asked

  “What was all that?” Tessa added

  “It’s all taken care of,” you replied, “Steph was a little worried about a fight Auston was in but it’s all over now. The three of you went on with your brunch as if the call never happened, as if Auston didn’t get into another brawl, but your mind started to wander. You started to think about how many fights he might have gotten himself into since the last time you saw him. Almost a year ago? That can’t be right, can it? You thought to yourself, you must have run into him at some point in the last 7 months. Playoffs? No, you were out of town for work. New Year’s? No, Mo didn’t have a party because Tessa was in her first trimester… the more you thought about it, the more you realized you had completely distanced yourself from him. But that’s what you said you wanted, wasn’t it? So, it shouldn’t be a problem. It wasn’t for you, but it clearly was for him. Yet, you couldn’t help but ask yourself, why, after almost a year, is he acting out now?

xx

  “He’s been doing this for months” Stephanie explained when you were out with her and Mary for brunch nearly 5 months since the last time, having yet another conversation about Auston’s downward spiral, “New Year’s was a tense night but he wasn’t out of control yet”

  “Probably because the season was still going” Mary added and Steph nodded

  “In between New Year’s Day and Michael’s wedding, he was all over the place. He went to France and like.. went down on some girl on a public beach but it was in a private cabana or something so there was no fine,” she continued. “When he was at the NHL awards, he took his sister to a casino and - from the way he explained it to Mitch - some guy wouldn’t leave her alone, hitting on her non-stop, so Auston yelled at the guy and the guy was drunk, he pushed Auston and they both had to be escorted out”

  “Oh my god,” you said before taking a sip of your drink, “and that fight at the pub was in the middle of all of this?”

  “Kinda,” Stephanie said, trying to recall the timeline, “the latter half for sure, close to Michael’s wedding. That’s about the time John told him that becoming Captain was gonna be a reality. It was like a wake up call”

  “John still thought that he was ready for it? After all of that?” you scoffed

  “I think he is,” Steph exclaimed quietly, “I think he’s just.. going through something”

  “We know what that is…” Mary said under her breath, straw between her teeth, with her eyebrows raised

  “Take a drink, Mary,” you said, rolling your eyes, “Steph, if he’s acting like this because he’s going through something in the off season, how’s he gonna be any better during the actual season?”

  “I mean, these Original Six hockey cities are insane to play for. The highs are massive and the lows are excruciating. Auston’s respected by the entire team and the coaches love him”

  “But,” you questioned, gesturing with your fork in your hand, “do they respect him as a leader or as a goal scorer? He’s got great scoring streaks and he’s friends with pretty much the whole team. The coaching staff love him because of what they can make from him and the guys love him because they like hanging out with him off the ice.”

  “What they can make from him?” Stephanie scoffed, “is that all you think they think of him?”

  “All I’m saying is that Captains are supposed to be leaders on and off the ice. They’re supposed to be stable. They’re supposed to have strong character and if Auston is fighting all the time, maybe he’s not ready to be Captain…”

  “Maybe he just needs the right push” Stephanie said

  “Or maybe he needs the right people to believe in him,” Mary added, “if he’s respected, he could do extremely well as Captain”

  “Or,” you stated quietly, because you knew no one else was going to say it, “he’s going to get eaten alive.” The start of the season was coming soon and hearing about Auston becoming Captain was impossible to escape; Stephanie believed in Auston, whether that was because Mitch believed in him or because she thought Auston was really ready for it, you weren’t sure and Mary was trying to play to your emotions, as she always did, so you tried to swerve the conversation into something else so you could enjoy your time together before life got in the way again.

When you finally made your way to the train, saying goodbye to Mary and Stephanie, you let out a long sigh before letting your mind go blank; your apartment was a refuge at this point. No one was going to bother you or talk to you about bad decisions you’d made in the past, you could just take your shoes off, free yourself from the prison that was your bra, and fall asleep on the couch - something that took immediate effect when you walked through the door. You found the remote and clicked on the power before tossing it lightly on the table in front of you

  “...I think everybody knows the news,” a voice said as the colours of the screen filled your dark apartment, “..to announce Auston as the 26th captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs”

“Are you kidding me?” you thought to yourself, scoffing at the cruel irony of not being able to escape him, even in your sanctuary.

[harryssyndrome]

Backstage To My Heart

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐 | 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞

The late afternoon sun spilled through the wide, arched windows of Harry’s music room, bathing the space in a soft, amber glow. The air was warm, still, and the room was filled with the scent of aged wood and leather, a mix of guitar cases and old vinyl records scattered across the shelves. Every corner of the room whispered of creativity—the walls were adorned with old tour posters, framed records, awards and Grammy won over time and the guitars that had borne witness to countless late nights of songwriting. But today, the atmosphere felt heavier, thick with frustration.

Harry sat in the middle of the room on a worn leather armchair, his acoustic guitar resting on his lap. His fingers danced along the frets, searching for the right chord, the perfect sequence to complete the song that had been gnawing at the edges of his mind for days. He played a progression, but something was off. He strummed again, slower this time, but the melody stubbornly refused to take shape. Each note felt flat, uninspired, like chasing a shadow that kept slipping away.

With a sigh, he leaned back and let the guitar rest against his knee, staring down at the notebook spread open on the floor. Lines of half-written lyrics spilled across the page, jagged and incomplete, just like the tune swirling in his head. He closed his eyes, willing the right words and sounds to come together, but the only thing that surfaced was a thought of her—Ashley.

She drifted into his mind like a soft breeze, uninvited but undeniable. He could almost hear her laugh, that melodic sound that always seemed to soothe him ever since he has met her. His fingers absentmindedly plucked the strings, and for a moment, he could feel a connection, a fleeting sense that he was on the verge of something. But just as quickly, the feeling slipped away, leaving him more frustrated than before.

"Focus," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as if to dislodge the image of her from his thoughts. He was here to work on the music, not to be distracted by memories of her. But as he tried to refocus, his phone buzzed loudly on the table beside him, breaking the quiet tension of the room.

Harry grabbed it, glancing at the screen—Mitch. He sighed and answered.

“Mate, you alive in there?” Mitch’s voice rang out, a mix of humour and concern. “You’ve been off the grid for days. What are you doing, working yourself to death?”

Harry rubbed his eyes. “Just trying to crack this song. It’s not happening.”

“That’s your problem. You’re trying too hard. You need to loosen up.” There was a pause, then Mitch’s tone turned casual, persuasive. “Look, there’s this new pub down the street. Nothing fancy, but good drinks, good crowd. You should come out with me, take a breather.”

Harry hesitated, his gaze drifting back to the guitar. The idea of stepping away felt like giving up, but maybe Mitch was right. His shoulders were tight, and his mind was knotted with frustration. A break wouldn’t hurt, would it?

“C’mon, you’ve been in that cave too long,” Mitch added with a chuckle. “It’s just one drink. You’ll come back fresh.”

Harry let out a breath, feeling the weight of the past few hours pressing down on him. “Alright,” he finally said. “I’ll come.”

“There you go! I’ll swing by in ten. Be ready.”

As he hung up, Harry glanced back at his guitar, its strings still vibrating faintly from his last frustrated strum. The music would have to wait. Maybe stepping out, just for a while, was exactly what he needed.

He placed the guitar gently on the stand, grabbed his jacket from the hook by the door, and as he walked out of the room, the last of the sunlight began to fade, casting the room into a soft shadow, as if it, too, was ready for a pause.

As Harry and Mitch stepped into the pub, the cool evening air gave way to the warmth of low lighting and the hum of quiet conversation. The place was new but had the comforting charm of somewhere that felt lived in. The scent of wood polish and hops mingled in the air, and the soft strumming of acoustic guitar music played in the background, creating a laid-back, intimate atmosphere.

The pub was dimly lit with vintage Edison bulbs, casting a golden glow across the worn leather booths and dark wooden tables. Exposed brick walls lined the room, adorned with framed photos of local musicians and a few well-placed guitars mounted as decoration. A small stage sat in one corner, waiting for the night’s performer. The bar stretched along the far side of the room, made of dark mahogany, gleaming under the soft lights, with shelves stacked high with bottles of liquor that caught the light like stained glass.

As they made their way toward the bar, Harry took it all in, the rich warmth of the place immediately easing the tension in his shoulders. “Not bad,” he said with a nod of approval. “This place has a good vibe.”

Mitch grinned, nudging him with his elbow. “Told you. You need to get out more. You spend too much time locked up in that music room of yours.”

They reached the bar and slid onto the stools, the wood cool beneath them. Mitch motioned to the bartender, a young guy with tousled hair who looked like he knew his way around a cocktail shaker.

“What’ll it be, lads?” the bartender asked with a smile.

“Two glasses of your best whiskey,” Mitch replied without missing a beat, flashing Harry a grin. “No messing around tonight.”

Harry chuckled under his breath, shaking his head as the bartender poured their drinks. The clink of ice hitting the glass was satisfying, and the amber liquid swirled as the bartender slid the drinks toward them. Harry picked up his glass, feeling the weight of it in his hand. He took a sip, the warmth of the whiskey spreading through him, easing the lingering frustration from the day.

“Alright,” Mitch said, raising his glass for a quick toast. “To loosening up.”

Harry clinked his glass against Mitch’s and took another sip, leaning back slightly on his stool. For the first time in hours, he felt his mind start to settle, the constant churn of melodies and lyrics finally slowing down.

“So,” Mitch started, turning to Harry as he swirled his drink. “How’s the music going? Still wrestling with that new song?”

Harry let out a small sigh. “Yeah, still can’t crack it. Every time I think I’m close, it just... slips away.” He flicked his finger finishing the sentence.

Mitch nodded thoughtfully, taking a sip of his whiskey. “That happens sometimes. You’re too close to it, mate. Stepping back helps.” He leaned forward slightly. “Got any new ideas floating around?”

Harry shrugged. “A few. It’s all half-formed though. I’m trying to pin something down before the tour starts again.”

“Ah, the tour,” Mitch said with a grin. “That beast is always looming. Got all your setlists figured out?”

“More or less,” Harry replied, relaxing into the conversation. “But there’s always something last minute.”

Mitch took another sip of his drink, glancing around the pub. “Your family going to come to any of the shows this time?”

“Yeah, they’re planning to. You know how my mum is—she likes to be at as many shows as she can.”

Mitch chuckled. “That woman’s a legend. Always front row, cheering the loudest.”

Harry smiled, the thought of his mum’s unwavering support warming him. The conversation felt easy, familiar, as it always did with Mitch. But then, after a pause, Mitch’s tone shifted, just a touch more playful.

“So... what about you?” Mitch asked, raising an eyebrow. “When are you planning on settling down?”

Harry nearly choked on his drink, laughing as he set the glass down. “Where the hell did that come from?”

Mitch leaned back, grinning. “C’mon, mate. You’ve been on the road for years, music’s going great, but what about... the other stuff? You can’t stay single forever.”

Harry rubbed the back of his neck, trying to brush it off. “I don’t know,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Right now just doesn’t feel like the right time.”

Mitch cocked his head, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “And when is the right time?”

Harry swirled the whiskey in his glass, watching the amber liquid catch the light. He thought about it for a moment, then said, almost absently, “When I find the right person.”

There was a brief pause, and Mitch’s grin softened into something more serious. “Yeah, well, when you do, you better not let go of her.”

Before Harry could respond, the lights in the pub dimmed, drawing their attention toward the small stage in the corner. The hum of conversation quieted as a young woman stepped up with an acoustic guitar slung over her shoulder. She gave a shy smile to the crowd before starting to strum, her voice soft and clear, filling the room with a gentle melody.

Harry stared at the stage, the dim lighting casting a warm glow on the performer as she adjusted the microphone. For a moment, everything seemed to slow as the woman stepped fully into view, and his breath caught in his throat.

It was Ashley.

She wore a white dress fully covered with patch flowers that fell just above her knees, its full sleeves covered in delicate patches of white flowers. A black tie hung loosely around her neck, giving her a casual but effortlessly chic look. Her long hair flowed freely, tumbling past her waist, catching the soft light as she strummed her guitar, the stage becoming her canvas. She seemed both ethereal and grounded, her presence commanding yet calm on the stage she currently owned. Around her neck, a delicate locket caught the light, hinting at a personal story he longed to know.

As she began to sing, the gentle strumming of her guitar filled the pub, the audience hanging onto her every word. Harry's heart raced, an overwhelming sense of pride swelling within him as he watched her perform. She poured herself into each note, her voice weaving through the melodies with a depth that stirred something deep inside him.

The first few songs were well-known covers, classics that showcased her vocal range and emotional delivery. But then, as she transitioned into the next piece, Harry's breath hitched. It was his song—“Golden”—the very song he had poured his heart into, crafting it during one of those late-night writing sessions when the world felt both heavy and light.

He watched, entranced, as she sang the lyrics with a sincerity that took his breath away. Every word she spoke felt like a revelation, the way she brought his creation to life was like nothing he had imagined. The audience swayed with her, their eyes closed, feeling every emotion that washed over them in waves.

As the song neared its end, Harry felt a rush of adrenaline. Ashley’s eyes roamed the crowd, and for a split second, they locked onto his. He could see a flicker of surprise in her gaze, quickly replaced by a hint of nervousness. She hesitated for a moment, but Harry smiled widely and gestured with enthusiasm, giving her a thumbs-up. “You’re amazing!” he mouthed, and he could see the tension in her shoulders relax just a bit as she returned her focus to the song.

The final notes of “Golden” hung in the air, and the pub erupted into applause, cheers mingling with the clinking of glasses. Harry felt a rush of warmth flood through him, knowing she had truly captivated them. She beamed at the crowd, her confidence rising, and Harry couldn’t help but admire the way her spirit shone on stage.

After a brief pause, she took a deep breath, her smile widening as she announced, “Wow guys, thank you so much for sticking around with me this far! I never thought I would be doing this but it also never felt this right before so here’s a song I’ve written called ‘Carefree!’”

Harry's heart raced at the mention of her original work. He leaned in closer, eager to absorb every word she would share. The atmosphere in the pub shifted slightly; a sense of anticipation hung in the air, a collective breath held as Ashley began to play.

The first notes of “Carefree” flowed like a gentle stream, airy and light, but there was an undercurrent of yearning that pulled at the heartstrings. Her voice soared effortlessly, embodying the very essence of freedom and joy, yet with a hint of longing woven throughout the lyrics. Harry found himself lost in the moment, captivated by the way she expressed herself. Each note felt like a glimpse into her soul, and he was drawn deeper into her world with every line.

Around him, Mitch leaned closer, his eyes wide with awe. “I can’t believe this girl is playing small pub gigs,” he murmured, his tone a mix of disbelief and admiration. “With that kind of talent, someone should have signed her ages ago.”

Harry’s mind raced at Mitch’s words, a spark igniting within him. He turned his head slightly, watching Ashley as she sang, her face glowing under the soft lights. The realization hit him hard: she deserved more than this intimate setting. She needed the chance to share her music on a larger scale, to have her voice heard beyond these walls. The idea began to take shape—a plan to help her, to be the one who could give her the opportunity she so richly deserved.

As Ashley’s song came to a close, the audience erupted into applause once more, the sound echoing through the pub like a wave of appreciation. Harry felt his heart swell with pride, admiration, and something else—a fierce determination. He could help her.

He turned to Mitch, his mind buzzing with possibilities. “We need to do something,” he said, his voice firm. “I can’t just sit back and watch her play here when she has so much more to offer. I want to help her get noticed.”

Mitch’s expression shifted from surprise to understanding, and he nodded slowly. “I get it. You’re talking about getting her some real exposure, aren’t you?”

“Exactly,” Harry said, excitement bubbling in his chest. “I can talk to Jeff or use some connections. I can introduce her to the right people, get her a demo recorded. She needs to be seen. I can’t let her slip through the cracks.”

As he spoke, Harry’s resolve strengthened. He imagined Ashley on bigger stages, her voice filling arenas, her music reaching hearts all over the world. The thought made his pulse quicken; he could help turn that dream into a reality.

Harry said, his voice resolute. “She deserves more than this.”

Mitch grinned, raising his glass. “Now that’s something I’d like to see. Just don’t wait too long, mate. A voice like that… someone else is bound to notice soon.”

Harry nodded, his heart pounding with the possibilities. He wouldn’t wait. Not this time. He wouldn’t let her slip away, in more ways than one.

Just then, as the last notes of the performance faded into a warm, lingering echo, Ashley stepped off the stage, her cheeks flushed with exhilaration from the performance. Harry’s heart raced as she approached, and he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness bubble within him.

Harry stepped forward first, his voice genuine and warm. “You were amazing up there, Ash. Seriously, you sang ‘Golden’ better than me! I couldn’t take my eyes off you. That original song, ‘Carefree’? You’ve got a real gift.”

“Absolutely,” Mitch chimed in, leaning against the bar with a teasing grin. “If I were a record label, I’d be throwing money at you right now. But don’t worry, I’m not a label, so you’re safe from my awful negotiations.”

Ashley laughed softly, a light blush creeping across her cheeks. “Thank you, both of you. It means a lot to hear that, especially coming from you two. You’re both incredibly talented.” Her eyes sparkled with sincerity, and she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, clearly flattered yet shy under their praise.

“You were incredible. Seriously, you owned that stage.”

“Thanks!” she said, still beaming, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “It’s been a while since I’ve performed. I felt so nervous at the start but now it felt good.”

Mitch chimed in, nudging Harry slightly. “Yeah, you can thank me I guess! I brought this man here. Well in all seriousness, you’ve got a real gift, Ashley. I mean, I can’t believe you’re still playing in places like this. You should be out there making records!”

Ashley laughed softly, a hint of modesty in her demeanor. “I appreciate that, but I’m just starting out. I’ve got a long way to go.”

Harry smiled, noticing her modesty. “You deserve every bit of it, Ash. Honestly, I was thinking…” He hesitated for a moment, gauging her reaction. “What do you say to joining us at the studio? We’ll show you around and hang out for some time.”

Ashley’s eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and excitement washing over her. “The studio? You really think I could…?”

“Of course,” Mitch interjected, his enthusiasm infectious. “I mean, I don’t usually let just anyone into the sacred space where we create magic, but I think we can make an exception for a star like you.”

“Wow, I mean, are you sure? Is it okay?,” Ashley said, her voice barely above a whisper and Harry simply nodded. “Then I’d love that.”

Harry felt a rush of anticipation. This was the start of something beautiful, and the idea of collaborating with Ashley excited him. “Great! Let’s head over there now. I think you’ll love the place.”

The studio was nestled in a quiet corner of town, an unassuming building that hid the magic within. As they entered, the familiar scent of polished wood and fresh paint filled the air, mingling with the remnants of soundwaves that had been captured within its walls. The dim lighting set a cozy ambiance, with soft spotlights highlighting the various instruments scattered around the room.

Mitch headed straight for the coffee station, his usual humorous commentary filling the air. “Alright, who wants some terrible coffee? I make it just the way I like it—too strong and slightly burnt. Just how the pros do it!”

Harry chuckled as he moved to the center of the room, gesturing for Ashley to explore. “Feel free to check out the instruments. We’ve got a great selection here. I think you’ll be surprised at what you can do.”

Ashley wandered around, her eyes wide with wonder. She approached a vintage guitar hanging on the wall, its wood polished to a warm sheen. “This one looks beautiful,” she said, her fingers lightly brushing the strings.

Harry watched her, noticing how her demeanor shifted when she was surrounded by the instruments. The shyness melted away, replaced by a quiet confidence. “Do you play often?” he asked, genuinely curious.

“Not as much as I’d like,” she replied, picking up the guitar. “I usually stick to my acoustic at home. It’s easier to write that way.”

“Let’s hear you play then,” Mitch said, appearing with three mugs of coffee, the steam rising like a delicate fog. “You’ve already wowed us once tonight. Let’s see if you can do it again.”

Ashley smiled, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. She settled onto a nearby stool, the guitar cradled in her lap. “Okay, um… I’ve been working on something new,” Ashley said, her fingers gliding over the strings as she sought the right melody. The warm wood of the guitar felt familiar and comforting against her hands. She began to play a few soft notes, each one weaving into the next, forming a delicate tapestry of sound.

The studio was alive with a gentle hum of creativity as Ashley settled onto the plush couch, cradling her acoustic guitar in her lap. The soft glow of the overhead lights illuminated her features, highlighting the excitement in her eyes as she prepared to share her latest creation. She strummed a few chords, the sound resonating through the cozy space, and Harry and Mitch leaned in, intrigued, exchanging glances, both captivated by her focus. Mitch leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees, as Ashley began to sing:

“When the shadows fall and the night takes flight,

I’ll find my way through the darkness, I’ll be alright.

With the moon as my guide, I’ll dance on the edge,

In the quiet moments, I’ll make my pledge.”

The lyrics hung in the air, filled with a longing that resonated deeply with Harry. There was something magical about the way she poured her heart into her music, and he found himself mesmerized. When she finished, the room was quiet for a moment, the silence punctuated only by the soft strumming of her fingers on the strings.

Harry leaned back against the wall, absorbing the sound. It was clear that there was more to Ashley than met the eye; her talent extended beyond just singing. She poured her heart into the guitar, weaving intricate melodies that seemed to echo her emotions. The atmosphere in the studio transformed, the air thick with creativity and potential.

Mitch, ever the jokester, leaned over to Harry and whispered, “I think we might need to start looking for a new band name. ‘The Harley Show’ has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

Harry snorted, his gaze still fixed on Ashley as she played. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Mitch. But seriously, she’s incredible.”

As she finished, the last notes hung in the air like a beautiful memory. Ashley looked up, a bit shy, but there was a spark in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. “How was that?”

“Are you kidding?” Mitch exclaimed, setting down his coffee with an exaggerated flourish. “That was phenomenal! You should be on stage at Wembley, not just in this cozy little studio.”

“THAT was beautiful,” Mitch continued, breaking the spell. “You’ve got a real knack for this, Ashley. I mean, really, that was incredible.”

“Thank you!” Ashley replied, her cheeks flushing with warmth at the compliment. “It’s just a rough idea, but I thought I’d share it.”

“Rough idea?” Harry chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. “That’s not a rough idea; that’s a full-fledged song waiting to happen. You’ve got a real talent, Ash.” He leaned back, a grin spreading across his face. “You should definitely consider getting it recorded.”

Ashley smiled, a mixture of shyness and pride washing over her. “You really think so?”

“Absolutely,” Mitch chimed in, a playful glint in his eyes. “I’m just waiting for the day you’re headlining at Wembley. I’ll be in the front row, waving a big sign that says ‘I Knew Her When!’”

Ashley laughed, a light, melodious sound that seemed to echo in the room. “Thanks, guys. You’re making me blush.”

Mitch clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. “Alright, enough of the sappy stuff. Let’s get down to business. How about we record a little something tomorrow as a demo? Just to test the waters?”

Harry grinned, the atmosphere shifting back to playful banter. “Not a bad idea. What do you think, Ash? Ready to record your first hit?”

She chuckled, the nerves dissipating as excitement took their place. “What really!? I-I don’t know what to say… you’re not kidding right?”

“Nope, we’re being serious.” Harry asserted with a grin.

“I hope I don’t mess it up.”

“None at all,” Mitch replied, his tone light. “Just remember, if we flop, we can always blame it on Harry’s awful coffee.”

Harry rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “Fine, but if we do flop, I’ll make sure the coffee is even worse next time.”

They spent the next few minutes exchanging ideas, laughing and bouncing thoughts off each other like a creative ping-pong match. The atmosphere was light, filled with a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. Harry could feel the connection between them growing stronger, the excitement of collaboration igniting a spark he hadn’t felt in a while.

After a bit, Mitch checked his watch and sighed. “As much as I’d love to stick around and witness the birth of the next big hit, I really should get going. The family is probably wondering if I’ve been abducted by aliens or something.” He pushed himself off the wall and stretched his arms above his head, shaking off the lingering fatigue. “You two have fun with your songwriting, alright? I expect to hear some amazing things soon.”

“Thanks for stopping by, Mitch,” Harry said, clapping him on the shoulder. “We’ll be in touch.”

“Take care, guys!” Mitch waved as he made his way to the door, leaving Harry and Ashley in the cozy studio.

As the door clicked shut, a comfortable silence settled between them. Ashley fidgeted slightly, her gaze drifting toward the floor. “So… now what?” she asked, her voice soft yet curious.

Harry leaned back on the couch, looking at her with an inviting smile. “I guess we can talk some more about the music or maybe try to come up with some ideas? What do you think?”

Ashley hesitated, then looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Actually, I have an idea. Do you have any plans for the evening?”

“Nope, nothing on the agenda,” he replied, feeling a mix of curiosity and excitement.

“Perfect,” she said, her grin widening. “How about I take you to a secret place?”

“A secret place?” Harry raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Now you have my attention. What do you mean?”

“It’s a spot I found a while ago, tucked away from the city noise. It’s quiet and perfect for just hanging out. Plus, I think you’ll really like it,” Ashley explained, her excitement palpable.

“Lead the way, then,” Harry replied, standing up and stretching his legs. “I’m in.”

They made their way out of the studio, the cool evening air refreshing against their skin as they stepped into the street. The city around them was alive with lights and sounds, but Ashley seemed to know exactly where she was going, her confidence radiating as she walked ahead.

Harry couldn’t help but steal glances at her, captivated by the way she moved, her long hair cascading down her back and catching the soft glow of the streetlights. They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the pavement.

Finally, Ashley turned down a narrow alleyway, her smile mischievous as she glanced back at him. “Trust me, it’s just around the corner.”

“I hope it’s not one of those situation where you inject me with something and kidnap me” He quips, earning a playful punch from Ashley.

They stepped through the alley, emerging into a small grassland bathed in the soft light of twinkling fairy lights strung between the trees. It was a hidden oasis, with a wooden gazebo at its center and colorful flowers blooming all around. The atmosphere was serene, a stark contrast to the bustling streets they had just left behind.

“Ta-da! Welcome to my secret place,” Ashley said, her voice filled with pride as she gestured around.

The night air crisp and filled with the soft sounds of nature, the only sounds being the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of city life that seemed so far away now. Ashley, with a small smile playing on her lips, stopped in the middle of the clearing and knelt down, unzipping her bag.

“I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to use this,” she said with a grin, pulling out a soft, plaid picnic blanket. She spread it over the green grass, smoothing out the edges with her hands.

Harry chuckled softly, watching her with a mix of amusement and admiration. “A picnic blanket, huh? You really come prepared.”

“I always come prepared,” she replied, shooting him a playful look before gesturing for him to join her. “This place isn’t just for music, you know. It’s for escaping, for breathing.”

Harry sat down beside her, resting his hands on his knees as he glanced around, taking in the serene atmosphere. The fairy lights above cast a gentle glow, the trees around them swaying lightly in the breeze, while the stars twinkled brightly in the clear night sky. It was peaceful—far removed from the chaos of their everyday lives.

Ashley placed her guitar and bag by their side, then, with a soft sigh, she lay down on her back, letting out a tired breath. “I come here to forget about everything,” she admitted, her voice quiet, almost reverent. “When things get too overwhelming, I just need to lie down, stare at the sky, and let it all go.”

Harry watched her for a moment, seeing the exhaustion etched into her features. The day had been long, filled with emotions and new experiences, and he could understand her need for calm. Slowly, he mirrored her movements, lying back on the blanket beside her, their shoulders just inches apart. He stared up at the night sky, the stars twinkling like tiny diamonds against the dark canvas above.

It was quiet for a while, the kind of comfortable silence where words weren't necessary. The tension of the day seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of stillness that neither of them had experienced in a long time. For Harry, the weight of the world always felt like it was pressing down on him—whether it was the expectations of his fans, the constant scrutiny from the media, or the relentless schedule that came with being a global icon. But here, in this secret spot, all of that felt distant, almost irrelevant.

After a few minutes, Harry broke the silence, his voice soft but curious. “Why did you choose me to bring here? To share this secret with?”

Ashley turned her head slightly to look at him, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the lights above. She took a deep breath before answering, her voice gentle but sincere. “Because you deserve it. You deserve a place where you can forget about all the noise, all the stress… even if it’s just for a little while.”

Harry felt a lump rise in his throat at her words. He wasn’t used to people seeing him in this way—beyond the fame, beyond the persona. But here was Ashley, someone who understood, who saw through the facade and recognized the pressure he carried every day.

She continued, her gaze still fixed on his. “I know it can be difficult… always being surrounded by cameras, being tracked by people wherever you go. It must feel like there’s no place left to just be you. That’s why I wanted to share this with you. I trust you with this place, Harry. And I think you need it more than I do.”

Her words hit him harder than he expected, and for a moment, he felt a wave of emotion rise within him. She understood him—really understood him—and that realization brought with it a sense of vulnerability. He had spent so much of his life guarded, carefully navigating the world as Harry Styles, the king of pop, the world renowned singer. But here, with her, he could just be Harry.

He swallowed hard, trying to gather his thoughts. “You… you really get it, don’t you?” His voice was quiet, but filled with gratitude.

“I think I do,” she replied, her tone soft but unwavering. “I know I haven’t been in your shoes, but I can imagine how overwhelming it must be. Everyone deserves a place to be free, to breathe.”

Harry turned his gaze back up to the stars, blinking away the sudden rush of emotion. He hadn’t expected to feel so understood, so seen, in a moment like this. After a beat, he took a deep breath and spoke, his voice low but steady. “I’ve been thinking a lot about this, and I want to tell you something.”

Ashley shifted slightly, her attention fully on him now. “What is it?”

Harry turned his head to face her, his expression serious but filled with warmth. “I want you to be a part of my next album. I’m going to talk to Jeff about it. I think your voice, your songwriting… it’s exactly what the album needs. You deserve to be heard, and I want to help make that happen.”

For a moment, Ashley didn’t say anything, her eyes wide with surprise as she processed his words. Then, suddenly, she lifted herself up from the blanket, her hands moving quickly to wrap around Harry. She pressed herself against him, her body half on top of his as she hugged him tightly, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Thank you,” her voice quivered, her face buried in his shoulder. “Thank you so much, Harry. You have no idea what this means to me.”

Harry, momentarily taken aback by the sudden gesture, hesitated before wrapping his arms around her in return, holding her close. Her gratitude, the raw emotion in her voice, struck him deeply. He had known it would mean a lot to her, but this reaction was more than he had anticipated.

“You deserve it, Ash,” he murmured softly into her hair. “You’re incredibly talented. The world needs to hear what you have to say.”

She pulled back slightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but her smile was radiant. “I don’t even know what to say… I’ve never dreamt about it this way, it’s more than I deserve Harry. I don’t know how—”

“I know you deserve it. You’re capable of doing so much more, this is just the beginning!”

Harry smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “You just have to trust yourself. Just keep being yourself, keep creating. The rest will fall into place. But for now you’re stuck with me.” Harry tries to lighten the mood.

“Gladly.”

Ashley lay back down beside him, her head resting lightly on his shoulder, and they both returned to staring up at the stars. The moment felt surreal, but also perfect—two people, connected by their shared love of music and a mutual understanding of the pressures they faced.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Harry felt a sense of peace wash over him. And as they lay there together, enveloped by the quiet of the night and the soft glow of the stars above, he knew that this—this simple, quiet moment—was exactly what he needed.

A/N: and that’s chapter 2 for you! I’ll be posting back to back till 13th of October so make sure to like or reblog my story masterlist for the marathon updates. The little lyrical portion is also written by me🥰 so all of this is my original work. DO NOT REPOST MY WORK!!! I WILL FIND YOU. DMs are always open here and on IG by the same username. Thx for your support so far!

Special thanks to @daisyblog for helping me on this journey. I adore you!🫶🏻

Taglist: @prettygurl-2009 @sassamanda77 (THE TAG-LIST IS OPEN)

Posted on: October 1st, 2024

[haddonfieldwhore]

agree to disagree - hayden christensen

hayden christensen x gn!reader

word count: 1k 🎧 hayden playlist

summary: you and your boyfriend hayden cheer for different hockey teams, which leads to some playful arguments

warnings: none just fluff, reader is a seattle fan but honestly you could imagine any other nhl team besides the leafs, slightly suggestive at the end maybe

being canadian, hayden had always been a hockey fan, and always a toronto maple leafs fans at that; some of the most stubbornly dedicated fans there were in the national hockey league. while you hadn’t always been as invested in the sport as he was, your casual enjoyment was enough for you to watch games with him at the start of your relationship, and he was happy to see you fall in love with it as he had. the only problem was you hadn’t exactly fallen in love with the same team he had, instead declaring yourself a seattle fan after watching them play.

tonight was one of the odd times each season that your respective teams would be playing eachother, which always made things interesting for you and hayden.

“listen you know the deal; i can be a good sport and cheer them on when they’re playing any other team…” hayden smiled, while setting down a selection of snacks and drinks for during the game.

“i understand- they’ve brainwashed you from a young age into thinking they’re a good team to cheer for. there’s no hope for you now,” you teased, sitting down on the loveseat and flipping to the right channel. he shook his head but laughed, smiling as he sat next to you.

“yeah and remind me again, what was your team doing back then? oh right, they didn’t exist yet.”

“yeah- whatever. when was the last time the leafs won the stanley cup?” you smiled, and he nodded jokingly, leaning in to give you a kiss. you smiled against his lips, enjoying the playful competitiveness that hockey brought out in the both of you.

the game was off to a rough start for your team, with the leafs quickly gaining the lead and keeping it through most of the first. you had curled into hayden’s side, his arm over your shoulders.

“we can still put money on this if you want to,” he smiled, kissing the top of your head.

“i thought canadians were supposed to be nice-“

“i know i know, i’m sorry.”

“that’s more in character,” you laughed, leaning into his chest as his arms wrapped around you.

•

you groaned as mitch marner scored his third goal of the game for toronto, and hayden tried not to laugh at your reaction.

“he hasn’t scored in 9 games and now he has a hat trick-“

“someone’s starting to sound like a sore loser-“

“yes, well it’s very nice that he’s remembered how to play, but he could’ve waited until tomorrow,” you whined, and this time hayden couldn’t hold back his laughter, his chest shaking as he buried his face in the crook of your neck.

“you’re funny.”

“i hate you for getting me into hockey.”

hayden laughed again as he peppered kisses up the side of your neck.

“you love me and you know it.”

“i know, i know,” you sighed, tangling your fingers in his curls and pulling his head upwards to bring his lips to yours. he returned the kiss before placing a gentle one on the end of your nose, before you both turned your attention back to the game.

seattle managed to tie the game near the end of the third, and the teams stayed tied through overtime, until eventually the maple leafs won in the shootout. obviously happy that his team had won but still trying to be a good sport, hayden kept his celebrations minimal.

“do you want me to be supportive or to just shut up?” hayden asked, rubbing your back.

“go ahead and gloat, you earned it,” you caved, knowing you would want to cheer if your team had won.

“thank you baby,” he smiled, kissing you softly, watching his team celebrate their win on the tv. you tidied up some of the dishes from the snacks and drinks scattered around the living room and placed them in the kitchen. hayden walked up behind you, his arms snaking around your waist and his chin resting on your shoulder.

“i’m sorry.”

“you’re sounding canadian again,” you teased, trying not to be too upset about the result of the game; after all, you’re team had still gotten a point for making it to overtime, so it wasn’t a total loss. hayden placed soft kisses up the side of your neck, and you spun around to face him, trapped between his arms and the kitchen counter. your hands cradled either side of his jaw as you brought his mouth to yours, tugging at his bottom lip gently with your teeth. a groan rumbled in his throat as his hips pressed against yours, his hands landing on either side of your waist as your fingers tangled in his curls once again.

“let me cheer you up,” hayden mumbled, his forehead pressing against yours as your eyes met. you nodded slightly, and hayden helped you up to sit on the counter, positioning himself to stand between your legs. already missing his lips on yours, you pulled him closer again, moaning slightly as his hand gently gripped your throat.

“hay…” you whispered as he pushed you back slightly, your wet lips parted as you stared up at him.

“remind me again though,” he raised an eyebrow. “who’s team won tonight?” he asked, a smirk on his face as you pouted.

“don’t be mean-“

“awww, is someone a sore loser?” he asked, wrapping your legs around his waist as he tugged your body closer.

“i thought you said you were gonna cheer me up?” you asked, and he placed a kiss on your lips.

“i know baby, i’m only teasing, i’m sorry-” you interrupted him with another kiss.

“you’re apologizing again,” you teased, and he brushed your hair out of your face.

“well, look where i’m from, it’s in my nature.”

you laughed, kissing him softer this time.

“i love you,” you smiled.

“i love you too.”

“more than the leafs?” you raised an eyebrow, and hayden laughed, resting his forehead against you collarbone before looking up at you, a look of pure adoration in his blue eyes.

“maybe just a little bit more.”

disclaimer: all screenshots, events, and/or interactions depicted in this are a work of fiction. i have no association with any parties mentioned

[squiddy-god]

Groom of the deep sea

(ghost Azul x reader)

Re-uploading from terminated blog squid-god-supreme! This is my new blog after tumbler decided I was no long passing the vibe check for unknown reasons- this was a request of a sort of ghost groom azul.

CW : kidnapping, ghost azul, implied drowning, this is really short I should make a longer one tbh, reader is called bride

The warm salt air was only cooled down by the gentle breeze sweeping across the docks and licking the waves of the water below. Fingers running across the warped wood at the end of the old wooden docks you stared at the water that looked so inviting. 

Ghostly pale and ashen skin like sea sand, a face appeared in the dark Water like it was beckoning you to follow. Cool sea water wets the pads of your fingers and your palm as it descends. 

"Y/n! Hey there!" An older woman calls out to you. You reel back, drying your hand on your pants before scrambling to get up. "Ah! Miss monty, I didn't expect to see you here at the docks-" you chuckled lightly. "Well Deary I saw you over the water like you were about to fall in" she says before her smile falls. "These Waters are haunted, they say, the spirit of the sea witch, don't go chasing faces in the Water now!" You're Sure she meant that last part as a joke but if only she knew. 

Deep below the sea, in a cave lit by glowing flowers and algae, luminescent blues and deep purple hues making shadows on the sea creatures face. Inky black limbs that held a purple hue as they sat in the sand and pad of large sea plants. 

Blue grey eyes gazed with longing at his ashen hand, touch still lingering against the pads of his fingers. "Jade, floyd '' he called and as if waiting, the two eels swam out from the dark corners of the inky black cave. "Yes Azul?"  Floyd answers. "The human, the one who almost jumped into the sea with me- the way their touch felt- like I was alive" he mused, eyes turning to the eels at his side. "Get them"  With that the eels were off. 

"Say, you wouldn't happen to be who we're looking for? Hmm shrimp? " the tall man asked. You took in his odd appearance from where you sat, his teal green hair and sharp, striking grin that seemed almost unnaturally wide. Most striking However was his Mitch matched eyes that seemed to lull you into a trance, "I believe they are indeed azuls bride" another tall man, the same appearance but flipped, said beside you. "B-bride-" you began but soon they were already off the docks, hitting the water without a single splash. "Yeah yeah shrimpy~ " the one called Floyd started "you see our boss has been quite lonely without you" the other continued. "What- wait wait, what do you mean without me-" a sour look seemed to pass over the two men in the Water, they swam closer without a ripple. "Hmmm, doesn't shrimpy remember? " Floyd tilted his head. "To be expected, but I'm sure in time they will want to pick up right where they left off" 

And with that your wrists were grabbed by ice cold and slimy hands, your body hitting the Water was the only warmth that hit your body after chills ran down your spine. 

All lights faded to black as your lungs burned and your fate was sealed.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Jesse Duquette

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

January 25, 2025

Heather Cox Richardson

We have all earned a break for this week, but as some of you have heard me say, I write these letters with an eye to what a graduate student will need to know in 150 years. Two things from last night belong in the record of this time, not least because they illustrate President Donald Trump’s deliberate demonstration of dominance over Republican lawmakers.

Last night the Senate confirmed former Fox News Channel weekend host Pete Hegseth as the defense secretary of the United States of America. As Tom Bowman of NPR notes, since Congress created the position in 1947, in the wake of World War II, every person who has held it has come from a senior position in elected office, industry, or the military. Hegseth has been accused of financial mismanagement at the small nonprofits he directed, has demonstrated alcohol abuse, and paid $50,000 to a woman who accused him of sexual assault as part of a nondisclosure agreement. He has experience primarily on the Fox News Channel, where his attacks on “woke” caught Trump’s eye.

The secretary of defense oversees an organization of almost 3 million people and a budget of more than $800 billion, as well as advising the president and working with both allies and rivals around the globe to prevent war. It should go without saying that a candidate like Hegseth could never have been nominated, let alone confirmed, under any other president. But Republicans caved, even on this most vital position for the American people's safety.

The chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Roger Wicker (R-MS), tried to spin Hegseth’s lack of relevant experience as a plus: “We must not underestimate the importance of having a top-shelf communicator as secretary of defense. Other than the president, no official plays a larger role in telling the men and women in uniform, the Congress and the public about the threats we face and the need for a peace-through-strength defense policy.”

Vice President J.D. Vance had to break a 50–50 tie to confirm Hegseth, as Republican senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky joined all the Democrats and Independents in voting no. Hegseth was sworn in early this morning.

That timing mattered. As MSNBC host Rachel Maddow noted, as soon as Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), whose “yes” was secured only through an intense pressure campaign, had voted in favor, President Trump informed at least 15 independent inspectors general of U.S. government departments that they were fired, including, as David Nakamura, Lisa Rein, and Matt Viser of the Washington Post noted, those from “the departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Labor, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, and Agriculture, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Small Business Administration and the Social Security Administration.” Most were Trump’s own appointees from his first term, put in when he purged the inspectors general more gradually after his first impeachment.

Project 2025 called for the removal of the inspectors general. Just a week ago Ernst and her fellow Iowa Republican senator Chuck Grassley co-founded a bipartisan caucus—the Inspector General Caucus—to support those inspectors general. Grassley told Politico in November that he intends to defend the inspectors general.

Congress passed a law in 1978 to create inspectors general in 12 government departments. According to Jen Kirby, who explained inspectors general for Vox in 2020, a movement to combat waste in government had been building for a while, and the fraud and misuse of offices in the administration of President Richard M. Nixon made it clear that such protections were necessary. Essentially, inspectors general are watchdogs, keeping Congress informed of what’s going on within departments.

Kirby notes that when he took office in 1981, President Ronald Reagan promptly fired all the inspectors general, claiming he wanted to appoint his own people. Congress members of both parties pushed back, and Reagan rehired at least five of those he had fired. George H.W. Bush also tried to fire the inspectors general but backed down when Congress backed up their protests that they must be independent.

In 2008, Congress expanded the law by creating the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. By 2010 that council covered 68 offices.

During his first term, in the wake of his first impeachment, Trump fired at least five inspectors general he considered disloyal to him, and in 2022, Congress amended the law to require any president who sought to get rid of an inspector general to “communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer.” Congress called the law the “Securing Inspector General Independence Act of 2022.”

The chair of the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, Hannibal “Mike” Ware, responded immediately to the information that Trump wanted to fire inspectors general. Ware recommended that Director of Presidential Personnel Sergio Gor, who had sent the email firing the inspectors general, “reach out to White House Counsel to discuss your intended course of action. At this point, we do not believe the actions taken are legally sufficient to dismiss” the inspectors general, because of the requirements of the 2022 law.

This evening, Nakamura, Rein, and Viser reported in the Washington Post that Democrats are outraged at the illegal firings and even some Republicans are expressing concern and have asked the White House for an explanation. For his part, Trump said, incorrectly, that firing inspectors general is “a very standard thing to do.” Several of the inspectors general Trump tried to fire are standing firm on the illegality of the order and plan to show up to work on Monday.

The framers of the Constitution designed impeachment to enable Congress to remove a chief executive who deliberately breaks the law, believing that the determination of senators to hold onto their own power would keep them from allowing a president to seize more than the Constitution had assigned him.

In Federalist No. 69, Alexander Hamilton tried to reassure those nervous about the centralization of power in the new Constitution that no man could ever become a dictator because unlike a king, “The President of the United States would be liable to be impeached, tried, and, upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors, removed from office; and would afterwards be liable to prosecution and punishment in the ordinary course of law.”

But the framers did not anticipate the rise of political parties. Partisanship would push politicians to put party over country and eventually would induce even senators to bow to a rogue president. MAGA Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming told the Fox News Channel today that he is unconcerned about Trump’s breaking the law written just two years ago. “Well, sometimes inspector generals don't do the job that they are supposed to do. Some of them deserve to be fired, and the president is gonna make wise decisions on those.”

There is one more story you’ll be hearing more about from me going forward, but it is important enough to call out tonight because it indicates an important shift in American politics. In an Associated Press/NORC poll released yesterday, only 12% of those polled thought the president relying on billionaires for policy advice is a good thing. Even among Republicans, only 20% think it’s a good thing.

Since the very earliest days of the United States, class was a central lens through which Americans interpreted politics. And yet, in the 1960s, politicians began to focus on race and gender, and we talked very little about class. Now, with Trump embracing the world’s richest man, who invested more than $250 million in his election, and with Trump making it clear through the arrangement of the seating at his inauguration that he is elevating the interests of billionaires to the top of his agenda, class appears to be back on the table.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[merrybloomwrites]

Little Things (Chapter 3)

Summary: You finally feel comfortable enough to slip into your little headspace. It's scary at first, but Harry and Louis are there to care for you, no matter what age you are.

Word Count: 3.8K

CW: mentions of past abuse, dom/sub au dynamics, littlespace, non sexual age-regression

Previous chapters: one ; two

AN: This chapter focuses on reader slipping into little headspace, and really is what I've been waiting to write and share for months. I woke up this morning and sat to write the entire thing basically in one go, which never happens for me. I hope you all enjoy it!

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

Your first few weeks living with Harry and Louis are wonderful. You had never let yourself imagine what it would be like to live in a loving home. Not when you never had hope that you’d escape the nightmare you’d grown up in.

But now here you are. Living in a beautiful house, the adopted submissive of two dominants who love not only each other, but you as well. They show how much they care for you every day. They made routines and rules that aren’t overwhelming but still cater to your submissive nature. 

They were even gentle the one time so far when you’d broken a rule. It was three weeks in, and part of you needed to test them, to see if their love really is unconditional. You needed to make sure that they wanted you even when you acted out. So you’d broken a rule, then had an attitude when they asked you about it. 

As your punishment they gave you a gentle spanking, just three swats each over your clothes, then had you write lines. They made sure to give you aftercare, then served dinner and tucked you in that night, same as always. The whole incident made you feel ever more secure in your situation, now knowing that they’re willing to keep you even if you’re not perfect. 

You’ve been living with them for about five weeks now, and still haven’t slipped into your little headspace. There have definitely been a couple of times when you started to get fuzzy, a telltale sign that your mind wanted to regress, but you just weren’t ready yet, so you fought that off and managed to stay up. 

Louis and Harry were doing everything they can to help you be comfortable with slipping. You’ve all had a few conversations where you explain your past, and therefore, your hesitancy with trusting anyone when you’re not fully able to take care of yourself. 

Harry had suggested a pretend little day, where they’d do everything they would have to do when you regress, but while you’re still fully up. That way you would know exactly what they would do even when you aren’t fully present mentally. You hadn’t agreed right away, but last week you’d finally caved. 

The need to drop is weighing on you, and it’s only a matter of time until you succumb to your nature. So you’d spent a day pretending you were in little space, specifically that of a four year old. They’d help you eat, played with you and did crafts, and bathed you that night before bed. It had been odd letting these men help you with these things, but the day had done its job. You were no longer scared to drop with them. You knew they’d be gentle and loving and would take good care of you. 

You’re thinking about this one morning while you finish washing the breakfast dishes. It’s one of your daily tasks. Harry makes breakfast and you clean up. You love being able to help out in this way, and it always starts your day on a positive note.

Just as you’re putting the last dish in the washer, Harry says, “Mitch and Sarah asked if we could watch the kids for a bit so they can go Christmas shopping. Would you be up for that? If not I’ll just go and you and Louis can stay home.”

You think about it for a second before saying, “That sounds fun. I’d like to go.”

“Great, it’ll be a family outing then,” he replies. It makes you feel warm inside, the way he refers to you as family. You’re not sure you’ll ever get over how good that feels to hear. “Once you’re finished here, go get ready and then wait in the living room. We’ll be leaving in half an hour.” With that, he places a kiss on your head and walks out of the room. Those are other things you love, the little shows of fatherly affection as well as clearly stating what you’re meant to do when there are any routine changes. 

You’re excited to spend some time at Mitch and Sarah’s. You’d met them a couple of times and they’re always so kind to you. Plus they have two adorable sons, Rory, who is almost four and Theo who is only a couple months old. And you don’t really want to be away from Harry right now. For some reason you feel a deep need to be close to both of them at the moment, and the thought of one of them leaving the house makes you anxious. 

A short while later you all arrive at Mitch and Sarah’s and the couple heads out to run their errands. This leaves the three of you to watch over the two young boys. You get to feed Theo a bottle and help Louis put him down for a nap, and then you play with Rory while Harry and Louis watch. 

But as time goes on, you start to feel kind of out of it, more shy and quiet, so you head to the living room for a couple minutes. Louis finds you there and says, “You alright, love?”

You smile and say, “I’m okay. Just wanted to sit for a couple of minutes.”

“Okay, if you need anything tell us, okay?”

“I will,” you reply. Just then, sounds come through the monitor alerting Louis that Theo has woken up. Everyone ends up together in the living room and you spend the next hour watching Louis and Harry play with Rory and Theo. You watch how sweet and gentle they are, and you realize that’s how they’ll be with you when you slip. And you start to crave that. You want to be coddled, and held, and cared for. 

The fuzziness starts to get overwhelming, but you do your best not to slip yet. Not while you’re still out. You want to be home with just the two of them.

You’re grateful when Mitch and Sarah return and it’s time to head back to your place. You do your best to act normal when saying goodbye, but it’s clear the others pick up that something is bothering you. 

You struggle with the car door, needing to try twice to get the right grip to open it. The same thing happens with your seatbelt, Harry eventually coming to sit beside you and click it in. He stays with you as Louis drives home, and he asks you what’s going on.

“I’m slipping,” you quietly explain. Both men hear, and are filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. They love everything about you, and can’t wait to meet and learn about the younger versions of you. And yet they know how big of a deal this is, and they need to be careful right now to make sure this is a good experience for you. 

Harry reaches out and holds your hand, helping you stay grounded for the rest of the drive. Once at home, the three of you head to the living room. It’s become your favorite spot in the house, and you love sitting on the couch with Harry on one side and Louis on the other. It’s where you want to be when you finally enter headspace. 

The two men cuddle up next to you, giving you the support and comfort you need to allow yourself to slip. It’s noticeable when you finally do. Tension leaves your body and when you open your eyes there’s a glimmer of childlike wonder there. 

“Hello there, little one,” Louis says.

“I’m not little!” you reply, but not in your normal way. “I’m six! That makes me a big kid.”

“Ah, well yes of course you’re a big kid!” Harry says. He won’t admit it, but he’s slightly relieved that you didn’t slip all the way, and you’re still old enough to clearly communicate. 

“And what would our girl like to do today?” Louis asks. 

“Hmmm,”  you say, putting on a big show of thinking. “Can we play dress up?”

“I think we can make that work,” Harry answers. Half an hour later finds the three of you in Harry and Louis' large bathroom. You and Harry are in big dresses, pretending to be princes, while Louis is in an outfit similar to that of a prince. You’re doing Harry’s hair and makeup, bright colors splashed on his cheeks and eyelids. You look at your masterpiece with pride, and don’t notice the proud look Harry and Louis share as well while they watch you. 

The three of you spend the afternoon playing prince and princesses, then coloring, then making a pillow fort. Dinner is a simple meal, and you discover they’ve been hiding mac and cheese in the house this whole time! After dinner you all get into comfy pajamas and watch a disney movie together. You start to nod off during it, and Harry carries you up to bed with Louis following. They tuck you in as always, but this time they stay and sing until you’ve fallen asleep.

The next morning you wake up and you’re no longer in headspace. You're nervous to go downstairs, not sure what to expect.

“Good morning, love,” Louis says in greeting. “How are you feeling today?”

“I’m good. Not in headspace anymore,” you reply, nerves clear in your voice and you sit next to him at the table.

“And that’s completely fine, Y/N,” he says, reaching out a hand to hold yours. 

“You’re not disappointed that I’m already big again?”

“Not at all!”

“And you didn’t think it was weird yesterday when I was?”

“No sweetheart. We’ve told you before, we love you, every version of you. It doesn’t matter what age you’re at, we love you just as you are.” 

Tears fill your eyes at this, and you look to Harry who is nodding along to show he agrees with everything Louis just said. You’re speechless as they both hold you. It’s hard for you to believe that just months ago you were still living in a house of horrors, afraid to slip even a little bit, and now here you are. Safe, loved, and looking forward to entering littlespace again. 

It happens a week later, but under much different circumstances. You’d felt just fine getting into bed, but halfway through the night you have a terrible dream. You’re stuck in it for what feels like forever before you finally wake up crying, yelling out for your Daddy and Papa.

Harry and Louis hear commotion and quickly run to your room. They’re shocked to see you sobbing and reaching out for Harry while saying daddy repeatedly. He picks you up and you wrap your limbs around him, holding on tight. He feels dampness where your waist rests, and realizes that you’ve wet the bed. 

Louis is rubbing your back when Harry tells him this, and he walks away to feel the sheets. The wetness there confirms Harry’s theory and Louis quickly begins to strip the bed and clean it up. But you notice his absence and start crying out again, this time for papa. 

It becomes clear in that moment that little you has chosen names for both Harry and Louis, but they can’t focus on that right now. Getting you changed and calm is their only priority. 

“Papa’s here, baby,” Louis says and he comes over to rub your back once again. “I’m just cleaning up your bed honey. Can you let daddy clean you up as well and then we’ll all go cuddle? How does that sound?”

“Okay,” you finally say between gasps of breath. Harry stands and rocks you for another moment, whispering calming words like, “Daddy’s here”, and “you’re safe,” and “Papa and I have you now”.

His soothing finally works and your sobbing turns into an occasional tear. Harry places you on the changing table and cleans you up, getting you into a new outfit, a pullup going on in place of underwear just to be safe. 

When he’s finished he goes to lay you down in your bed but you fuss once more and say, “No, daddy! Wanna stay with you and papa!” 

“Okay honey, you can stay with us tonight,” he says. Louis grabs your favorite stuffed animal and the three of you make your way to their bedroom. Harry places you down and Louis quickly lays next to you, knowing you’ll be upset when Harry steps away to change his dirty clothes. 

As predicted you start to ask for daddy again just Louis reassures you that he’ll be right back. Finally, all three of you are cuddled together in bed. You’ve forgotten all about your bad dream and are quickly lulled to sleep, surrounded by the warmth of your Daddy and Papa.

The next day you’re still in the headspace of a three year old, but this time a happy one. It’s a day filled with play and giggles, ending with a bubble bath and time in the rocking chair with your daddy as you drift off to sleep.

Once again you're slightly unsure how to feel when you wake up out of headspace. You know they’ve said they love you at any age, but this time they had to bathe you, help you with using the toilet. That has to change the way they see you, right?

You know they’re watching you through the monitor so you say, “I’m not in headspace anymore,” just to let them know. You get up and do your normal routine, and when you get downstairs you see they’re going along with a normal day as well. Nothing has changed, and they still act the same as usual. You’re once again reassured by this, and you’re really starting to believe them when they say that no part of you regressing bothers them. 

Time passes and you slip into headspace more and more, typically for just a day at a time, and always somewhere in the four to seven year age range. 

But now it’s almost the anniversary of the day you were rescued and brought to the shelter. This has you thinking more and more about your home and all the abuse and neglect you experienced there. Your anxiety has been rising for days, and your brain needs to shut down. It needs rest, and an escape. It needs to slip even further than you have yet while living with Harry and Louis.

You just don’t know how to tell them that. It’s scarier than all the other times you’ve slipped. You know that you’ll be fully dependent on them if you allow yourself to do what your mind needs. 

For days you keep it to yourself, hiding the fuzziness you’re feeling and doing everything in your power to stay out of headspace. 

Louis has to head out of town for a couple of nights in order to get prep work done for a few festivals he has coming up. This adds to your anxiety, since you’ve never been separated from either of them for more than a few hours. 

He leaves Monday morning, and you’re good. You’re managing. Tuesday is harder, and most of your energy goes into fighting off the need to slip. 

By that evening you’re exhausted. You’re cranky, and scared, and that causes you to act out, throwing a tantrum unlike one Harry has ever seen. 

He goes to reprimand you and that tips you over the edge. You start to cry, big tears rolling down your cheeks. You fall into Harry, no longer able to support yourself. He carries you over to the couch and places you in his lap, rocking and shushing to soothe you. 

When you’ve finally calmed down you look up at him, your wide eyes red and glimmering from your tears. 

It isn’t until you start calling Harry “Dada”, that he realizes what’s going on. You’ve gone into headspace, and you’re younger than he’s ever seen you before. He doesn’t know what to do, but when he sees your eyelids droop, he decides the first order of business is to get you ready for bed. He starts with a warm bath, then brings you to your room. He opens a drawer they’ve never used before, the one with nappies and onesies. He gets you dressed and cozy and then sits with you on the rocking chair. After singing you to sleep he gently places you in your bed and raises the rails on the sides to ensure you won’t fall out. 

Finally he turns on the monitor so he can watch you and then goes back to the kitchen. He makes himself a cup of tea, and calls Louis.

“Hi love!” Louis says cheerfully as he answers the phone. “How’s it going? How’s our girl?”

“It’s uhm. She’s-” Harry stutters out.

“What’s wrong?” Louis asks, immediately picking up on Harry’s tone. 

“It’s Y/N. She’s in headspace.”

“Is she alright?”

“Yea it’s just- She’s young Louis. Like, I think infant young. I got her in bed but, Lou, I don’t know what to do! I don’t want to mess this up.”

Louis is quiet for a second, thinking of the best way to reply, and finally says, “Harry, listen to me. You absolutely know what to do. I trust you completely with her care. But, I’m going to talk to Oli so I can come home right away. Not because I don’t think you can handle this on your own, but because you shouldn’t have to. We’re a team, and we always work together. Hopefully I’ll be home in a couple of hours but if she wakes up, you know what to do. Change her, soothe her, feed her. Those will be her main needs right now. If she’s as young as you think she is then we have those meal replacements in the pantry to make her a bottle.You can do this.”

It’s Harry’s turn to take a pause before he says a quiet, “Thank you, Louis. I feel like I should have seen this coming. She was off all afternoon and then just exploded on me and the next thing I knew she was in my arms calling me dada. It just scared me. But I helped her calm down and then gave her a bath. She’s in bed now.”

“It’s completely understandable to be scared. But it sounds like you did all the right things. You should get some rest in case she wakes up in the middle of the night before I get back,” Louis says.

“Yea, I think I’ll do that. I love you, Lou.”

“I love you too, Harry. I’ll be there soon, definitely by morning but hopefully earlier.”

“Be safe,” Harry implores and Louis assures him that he will be. After saying goodbye, they hang up and Harry listens to Louis’ advice. He gets ready for bed, and goes to lie down, but he’s too worried about you to sleep. He instead goes back to your room, settling in on the rocking chair so he’s close by in case you need anything. 

Harry doesn’t know when he falls asleep, but he’s woken up by sounds in the room. He’s confused when he sees two people in the bed, until he pieces together that Louis is home. Louis is home and sitting in your bed, holding you in his lap and feeding you a bottle. Harry watches for a moment before getting up and moving closer.

“Hi, sun,” Louis says, smiling up at Harry. 

“Hi,” Harry replies sleepily. “Is she alright?” 

“Started fussing a few minutes after I got home. Gave her a change and figured she might be a little hungry. Why don’t you head to bed and I’ll settle her back down?”

“Are you sure? You just spend hours on the road.”

“Ah, well, I spent hours sleeping in the car while Oli drove. So I’m good for a bit. Go get some rest.”

“Okay,” Harry says. He leans down to press a kiss to Louis’ lips, then one to your head, and then heads to bed.

Louis stays with you until you’ve finished eating. He lays you down and makes sure you’re asleep before leaving the room as well.

After a quick bathroom break, Louis climbs into bed next to Harry, who is still awake. 

“How is she?” Harry asks.

“She’s perfect. Peacefully asleep, and well cared for. You did a good job, Harry. You don’t need to worry. I’ve got the monitor going, we’ll hear her if she needs something. Let’s get some more rest.”

Finally they both fall asleep, and the house is peaceful.

For the next two days, you remain deep in littlespace. Louis and Harry diligently care for you, ensuring you’re clean, fed, and happy. They do start to worry and call Emily from the shelter who reassures them that this is normal. She explains that it’s a good thing. It shows how much you trust the two men. And it’s giving your mind a much needed rest.

You finally come up a little at a time. It’s hard for you to readjust to being big again. You’re unsteady on your feet after a couple days of not using them, and Harry and Louis support you to make sure you don’t fall. They give you soft foods at first, scared that you’ll choke on anything else. You have an accident that night while you sleep, and Louis helps you clean up. You’re surprised to find that this no longer embarrasses you. It’s a form of intimacy you never thought you’d have, but you trust him and Harry so much that it doesn’t feel weird. It feels right, letting them in and allowing them to see all of you, both physically and mentally. 

The next night after they tuck you into bed, you think back to one year ago. At that time you never could have imagined this. Having a home full of love where you’re wanted and protected. You can’t help but get back out of bed to find Harry and Louis one more time before you go to sleep. They’re in the kitchen, worried when they see you out of bed, but you smile at them to tell them nothing is wrong. 

“Thank you,” you say. “Thank you for taking such good care of me. I love you, daddy, I love you, papa.” You give each of them a kiss on the head and they give you one in return. 

From then on you’re never afraid to slip into headspace again. You know that Louis and Harry will always be there for you, and that’s all you need.

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

AN: Thank you for reading! I have a couple more ideas for this dynamic but I'm not sure when I'll do those. If there's anything you want to see let me know!

[thestylesindependent]

You were toying with giving the song ‘Here Comes The Comeback’ to Harry – why did you ultimately decide to keep it for yourself?

“Mixed feelings, I suppose. When I made it, I was kind of embarrassed by it and I didn’t think it was something for me. I didn’t hear the strengths in it at the time. Sarah said, ‘Play it for Harry’ and I was like, ‘No!’ Then about 24 hours later, I sent it to him and immediately, he loved it. Every time I saw him he’d be playing it off his phone so I thought, ‘Hm, maybe there’s something in it’. Eventually, we were making part of ‘Harry’s House’ and he’s like, ‘Can I have it?’ So I did hear him sing on it and it stayed like that for a while, then he put it on the shelf and no one talked about it so I asked for it back.

“I was still in this Bert and José bubble and that didn’t belong in there at all – it’s like putting a square in a triangle hole. So I think I eventually caved in a little bit and thought, ‘Well, it can be more than just this thing I’m forcing it to be’. I kept hearing his voice on it when it wasn’t there, though, so I was like, ‘It’d be fun if you came back on it a little bit’, so I think he comes in on the second verse and stays in for a little bit.”

[moleculegirls]

uhm. little sorta setomu drabble? uhm its like 1000 words so pretty small? i think?. yeah idk what to call this but here idk. inspired by @femmedeadlox's little setomu drabble because that was literally so cute and i loved it

Through the sound of blood pumping in his ears, he could barely hear the now muffled sounds of mobs. He near collapsed to the floor, scrambling to the furthest wall from the monsters as he fumbled with his pickaxe. Clutching at the wood hard enough that he'd likely have to draw splinters from his hands later.

Each breath came out like a hiss, muscles twitching and firing at random as he attempted to clear his head. Slowly drawing in breath after breath, each one slower than the last. He wasn't fighting anymore, he was safe. A fickle sense of awareness crawled through his body, feeling every small movement he took as if still checking for any new hits landed on him. Deep breath in, then out. Shoulders retreating down, goosebumps flattening, and magic slowly loosening its hold on his surroundings and focussing in on keeping the barrier between him and the monsters just beyond it.

He gives himself a quick check over for wounds, cave spiders can be venomous, even without a bite. A simple scratch can tick away at your health, even if the spider happens to be the average sort. Seto himself has had a long run of helping through ailments caused by small doses of toxin or bacteria, enough to recognize the poisonous substance by scent alone.

He runs a nervous hand down his forearm, landing at a bracelet-like obstacle. He paused. Jason had given him this quite a while ago, something akin to a breakthrough in communication that came adjusted with a little built in responding system in its creators wake. Jason was sure to be asleep by now, likely along with everyone else.

He felt around the device, examining in the near complete darkness of the barrier until he found a small circular button. The screen lit up a dark buffering blue colour.

"Ah," He blinks, eyes adjusting to the influx of light. the screen blinks back up at him, still calibrating.

"Good," a heavy sigh of relief rattles from inside his chest, nervous hand thrumming through his hair. It works. "Good."

"Hello!" the little figure inside greets him, "Oh, it's you!"

Seto murmurs in agreement, voice halting as a scuttling sound passes above him. His eyes trail where he assumes it to be. 'It' likely being a larger cave spider. His heart still thrums away in his chest as he listens for scuttle of its claws to trail farther and farther away from him. The whole area still felt off kilter with the knowledge of various mobs just beyond the barriers he'd set, even feeling occasional brushes of spider legs against it making him shiver intermittently.

"Where are we today? It's a little late." The autoresponders chipper ding as his text appears onscreen distracts him.

"Underground." He barely percieved the unusual hushed tone of his own voice. The time had passed him by, the adrenaline of getting nearly killed must've kept sleep far from his foremost thoughts

"And you're in need of a little conversation I assume?"

Seto nods, before correcting himself, the autoresponder cant see him.

"And a light." he adds.

The statement was false, of course. Seto could summon his magic at any time to make a light.

The AI easily adapted to his hushed tone and short responses airing out his distress simply by giving him company despite not knowing what situation he was in or where he was at. He wasn't even sure it knew who he was. 'Minimu' (as Jason had dubbed it) aparently couldn't do anything too complex, just basic intake- Jason had told him all about it while he handed over the small device before leaving to hand out the next to jerome and mitch. He appreciates the little device's presence immensely, he'd have to be sure to sing its praises to Jason as soon as he was able to.

The cold of the cobblestone against his back makes his hair stand on end, he's sure his cloak would be drenched without the spells he made the night before. They're probably wearing and fizzling out by now..

Each sound made outside his little hovel still has his heart trembling.

"Where are you right now?" The ping of the responder's message cuts through his thoughts

"Ah," He looks towards his coordinates, watching the numbers flicker by before his eyes lock onto them. The knot in his stomach loosened a little as he considers them, "Only a couple hundred blocks from spawn."

"And how close to your place?"

"Pretty far, but decently close to Brice's." His doors were always open, at least to Seto.

"Great!"

Seto doesn't respond. Moments pass like minutes, he leans his head back and closes his eyes, counting the seconds like a clock. Day would be approaching soon. Could he stay awake long enough to just wait it out? He would likely get attacked by phantoms the moment he hit the surface too, so it might be now or never. He swore under his breath.

The screen flashed, shocking him out of his head. The screen looked back at him, "What is it?"

Caught off guard, he replies "Huh?"

"You seem upset, what's up?"

"Oh, uhm..." He pauses "I'm waiting to muster the strength to find my way out of here. I didn't want to do it alone." The last part comes out quiet. He looks up and away from the screen, eyes catching on each crack in the stone.

"I screwed up this time."

The AI pauses, screen going blank as it intakes his words, each one spelling itself out on the screen like a reflection without ever seeing his face. Talking to the AI is surprisingly refreshing. It's comforting being judged only on his words, not having to coax his expressions or body language out of his natural distrustful manner. He'd bet that Jason accounted for his lack of technological skill while making the auto responding system. The thought made him smile internally. He'd have to ask later about how it works.

"My apologies." Seto looks back to see the words flashing out on its screen, "If I was more able, i'd try to help."

Seto blinks, surprised once again. He didn't know an AI could feel inadequate.

He shakes his head, breathing out a smile. "No,"

"You're just what i needed."

[theradicalscrivener]

Trevor: The Pickup

Simon stop by the lab to pick up Noah and take him to his new home. Noah's more than ready to leave the lab, but I'm sure he'll find something to stress out about anyway.

(P.S. Ya boi's got Linktree and Bluesky now)

[First Chapter] || [Previous Chapter] || [Next Chapter]

For the past week Noah’s entire world had been a single desk in the lab and even that felt massive. The table felt like a city block but without the buildings. Off in the distance he could see his old workstation. It was only maybe five feet away, but at Noah’s size that may as well be miles.

Noah wasn’t trained in all the biology and chemistry aspects of the work they did at the lab, but he was very good with circuitry and programming. He was constantly at work plucking away at a keyboard as he devised schematics and equipment that would help the researchers interact with the smallest of the shrunken people.

Noah could hardly believe that now he ranked among those smallest. Not even a quarter centimeter tall. He was a few scant millimeters. The edge of his old keyboard now loomed over him like a twenty-foot wall. He wouldn’t even be able see over the edge of it let alone press the keys. At his size, even had he leapt with all his might, the keys just would not budge. He was so tiny that he could easily slip into the gaps between the keys and explore the inner workings of the keyboard like a spelunker crawling around in a cave system.

Yet, for as small as Noah was, his brother was even smaller, and Mitch was even smaller than that! Rex was a mere third of a millimeter, and Mitch was so tiny that he measured in microns! A unit of measure usually reserved for bacteria or germs! Mitch was literally microscopic, and yet, Noah was so small that he could not only see the guy but interact with him as well. Whenever Noah and Mitch interacted, Noah couldn’t help but marvel at how tiny Mitch was. Mitch appeared to be nearly an inch tall in Noah’s hands. The tiny guy was as tall as the uppermost segment of Noah’s pinky.

 It wasn’t that Mitch made Noah feel huge. The truth was quite the opposite! Noah had done the mental math. If Mitch appeared less than an inch to him then Noah appeared smaller than that to other people. Mitch appeared almost two centimeters tall to Noah, but Noah himself was two millimeters! As tiny as Mitch was in Noah’s grasp, Noah was nearly a tenth that to everyone else! Whenever Noah would hold Mitch on his fingertip, his mind would flash back to just the other day when Simon had held Noah in much the same way. Noah could still vividly recall the billboard sized eyeball staring down at him. He remembered how tiny it made him feel and the blood would rush to his face and his crotch once more.

When the day to leave the lab and move in with Simon and Trevor finally arrived. Noah wasn’t sure how to feel. He was excited to have his freedom and to no longer be under constant observation, but at the same time, the sheer scale of the world in the lab got to be overwhelming. What would life be like when he got out into the real world? He was so easy to lose track of at this size. Every so often, the researchers would lose sight of him and even though he would leap and wave his hands and shout at the top of his lungs to get their attention, they didn’t even register he was there! If he had trouble getting noticed by people that knew to look for him, how hard would it be to be noticed out in the real world? … and did he even want to get noticed?

Whatever the case, Noah took some comfort in knowing that he wouldn’t be doing it alone. Simon had a lot of practice dealing with tiny guys, Noah’s brother being among them. If Simon could make Rex feel safe, surely Noah was in good hands, and even better, one of Noah’s new roommates was a hot, shrunken guy that Noah was not a blood relation to.

Trevor may only be four and a half centimeters tall, but he was massive by Noah’s standards. Trevor stood almost twenty times taller than Noah himself making Trevor appear to be a one-hundred-foot-tall titan! Their interaction during the other day had been brief, and Noah had been a bit high-strung at the time, but Noah couldn’t help but glance at Trevor’s fat cock when Trevor loomed over him as they both stood atop Simon’s finger. Trevor’s huge, thick dick was longer than Noah’s entire body, and it wasn’t even hard! Even soft, Trevor’s fat cock was so thick that Noah wouldn’t be able to wrap his arms around it! And when hard, the thing would be easily twice Noah’s height! Noah not so secretly couldn’t wait to get a chance to experience it firsthand, but he wasn’t sure how best to bring it up. Even if Simon and Trevor seemed to have no problems fooling around with other guys, they were still a couple, and it still felt weird to suggest something saucy.

As the hours ticked away and the clock hand crept ever closer to the minute of Simon’s arrival, Noah was going mad with excitement and anxiety. Noah still couldn’t believe he had gone through with the experiment. What was he thinking willingly letting himself get shrunk! He was now so small that he could ride a housefly like a horse! Whatever future he may have had in academia was now permanently paused. He had thrown everything away to live as some guy’s pet! Less than a pet! He was too tiny to even be that! He was an insect given permission to live on the periphery of a god! A super sexy, nice, amazingly hung god…

Noah shook his head. Why was he so horny! He needed to at least pretend like he could think about this rationally! Yet, every time he tried to think about what he had done and what it meant for his future he just got excited and aroused all over again! How did he let Rex talk him into this!? Why did no one talk him out of this!? How dare they let him indulge his deepest fantasies!

Fortunately, before Noah could spiral too hard, he heard the telltale buzz of the lab door being unlocked. Noah looked towards the doorway and stared in awe as Simon stepped in. Noah couldn’t help himself. The second he saw Simon, his eyes lit up and a huge smile spread across his face. He hopped and jumped as hard as he could and waved his arms to try and get the titan’s attention, but of course he was far too tiny to be spotted from across the room.

Simon knew where to look. One of the lab techs had gestured him over towards Noah’s table. Once there, Simon knelt down so he was eye level with the tabletop and peered down for any sign of the tiny figure of his friend. Eventually, Noah’s hopping and waving managed to get his attention.

“There you are!” Simon said pleasantly. He reached a finger down for Noah to climb aboard. Noah quickly scrambled onto Simon’s fingertip and was once more overwhelmed by the sheer scope and scale of the giant. Even just Simon’s fingertip was the size of a parade float. Noah could lie down atop it and have plenty of room to spread out, but the size of Simon’s fingertip paled in comparison to the size of his face. Even just Simon’s eyeball was the size of a hot air balloon. People say they could lose themselves in someone’s eyes, but for Noah it felt literal. As Simon lifted his finger up to his eye, soon Simon’s iris and pupil were all Noah could see.

“Woah. You’re really tiny. Are you sure you haven’t shrunk even more while you’ve been staying here?” Simon teased.

Noah’s heart skipped a beat. Was it possible? Was he even smaller than he had been the other day? Noah knew it wasn’t possible. He had been under constant observation. The researchers would have noticed if something like that had happened, but even so, Noah felt his heart pound and his cock throb at the mere mention.

Noah tried to steady himself. He tried to rein in his libido long enough that he could at least act like he was a professional, and part of that meant speaking to Simon in a calm, rational manner. Still, Noah was far too tiny for his words to ever reach Simon as they were now. Simon would need his earpiece in for that so Noah reached up and tapped his ear to signify that Simon should put his earpiece in.

“Oh! Ok,” Simon replied and lifted his fingertip up to his ear.

Noah stared in awe as an earlobe the size of a municipal swimming pool filled his view. Simon’s ear was so large that Noah could walk along the ridges with ease. It was so large, in fact, that Noah could crawl directly into the opening which was now so close that he could easily hop off of Simon’s fingertip and land directly in the entryway of. This was not what Noah had intended, but he was both fascinated by the prospects and lacked any other way to easily communicate with the giant.

Noah took a deep breath to steel his nerves and hopped onto the firm cartilage of Simon’s earlobe and then made his trek inside. Noah marveled at the entrance to the cave-like structure as he stepped forward. It was hard to believe that he was so tiny that he could crawl through someone’s ear canal like this. Crawl wasn’t even the right word. Noah was so tiny that he didn’t even have to hunch over to fit! He could walk down Simon’s ear canal as easily as he could a dark hallway in a country fair funhouse. He would have to jump to slap the roof of the passageway. For a split second he had to fight the urge to do just that, as if he was once more back in middle school and jumping to slap the top of the doorframe of every classroom he entered.

Noah’s surroundings shuddered. He had to place a hand on the side of the passageway to steady himself to keep from being sent toppling like a background crewman on Star Trek. Then just as suddenly as it had begun, the trembling stopped.

“Oh. That tickles,” Simon said with a chuckle.

The voice was so strange sounding. Noah could feel the sounds as much as he could hear it. It was as if the sound was coming through the very walls of the cavern. Noah was hearing Simon’s voice reverberate through the giant’s very bones which caused the giant’s already deep voice to pitch down making it even deeper and bassier.

Noah slowly crept deeper and deeper down the tunnel. As he did so, the light from the entrance quickly faded leaving him in near complete darkness. The only light he had came from the blinking diode on his collar – an addition Noah had added to make it possible for his coworkers to keep track of him in case of a power outage or if they needed him to scout the dark recesses behind the desks. The light from the rhythmic blue blinking diode made Noah’s surroundings seem even more alien than they already were. The pinkish flesh of Simon’s ear canal appeared purple with each flash, and Noah would occasionally catch sight of soft, waxy looking lumps that were as large as his torso.

With each step he took, the air grew warmer and more humid. The air grew stagnant. The smell of wax filled Noah’s nostrils. As Noah made his way deeper, he could steadily feel the rhythm of Simon’s heartbeat pounding hard and harder in the tunnel. Noah wasn’t sure if this was just because he was getting deeper inside the giant or if Simon’s heart was beating harder for some reason. Either answer made sense. No doubt having a tiny person crawl around inside his head was far from a relaxing experience.

Noah eventually reached a dead end. He stood before a large, circular wall of what appeared to be taut leather. This had to be the eardrum. It was so massive that it was like staring down a loading dock shutter. The surface seemed to quiver in time with the echoing heartbeats that filled the tunnel. Noah was so fascinated by the alien looking structure that for a moment he forgot his original goal and just stared at it in awe. His hand moved as if possessed. He reached forward and ran his fingers experimentally across the quivering membrane.

An intense shudder coursed through the entire cavern followed by a low bassy rumble as Simon replied, “Oh, I don’t like that…”

“Did that hurt?” Noah asked.

“I wouldn’t say hurt… more like itched,” Simon replied.

This snapped Noah from his trancelike state. “Oh! You can hear me!” Noah replied.

“Barely. It’s like hearing a whisper down a hallway… it’s a little creepy to be honest…” Simon replied.

“This was your idea!” Noah replied.

“What? Mine? I thought you wanted this,” Simon replied.

“I was trying to get you to put the earpiece in so we could talk,” Noah replied.

“Oh, right. They made me take that off when I went through the security checkpoint,” Simon replied.

“You just put me here without even questioning it…” Noah said, shaking his head.

“Hey. This is pretty tame compared to some of your brother’s requests,” Simon replied.

Noah was about to make some comment about how he and Rex were not the same, but before he could, Simon said, “Anyway. One sec while I get the earpiece.”

The giant moved so suddenly that Noah was sent toppling as Simon rummaged through his pockets to find the device. Fortunately, Noah wasn’t sent toppling directly into the eardrum. He doubted he had enough mass to damage the membrane, but he doubted it would be comfortable for the giant either way. Then, just as suddenly as the movement began, the shifting stopped. After a brief pause, Noah heard Simon’s voice once more.

“Testing. 1. 2…” Simon said. Noah could hear the sound through the collar, but it was nearly drowned out by the rumbling of Simon’s deep voice through the cavern. Now that Noah was splayed out on the floor of the tunnel, the reverberations of Simon’s voice through the walls made Noah’s entire body rattle.

“Yeah. Yeah. I could hear you even without the mic,” Noah grumbled, but as soon as he began speaking, he heard his own words echoing back at him far louder than before. The vibrations in the air from his own words made his body tremble which was the first red flag for Noah that something was weird.

“I can hear you well too,” Simon replied.

“Great. I guess I don’t need to be in here anymore then,” Noah said.

Noah climbed back to his feet and tried to wipe himself off. He felt greasy now. The walls of the tunnel were coated in a thin layer of wax that had rubbed off on him as he rolled around on the floor. He’d need a bath after this for sure… which presented its own obstacles.

Noah made the climb back through the tunnel towards the entrance he had come through, but as he made his way closer to the exit, he steadily began to realize that the passage was not getting brighter as he went. No light was coming through, and it didn’t take Noah long to figure out why. After all, he could hear his own words being broadcast down the hallway which had to mean…

“Did you put it in on the same side that I’m on?” Noah asked.

“I guess so. Sorry. It’s a habit,” Simon replied. Again, Noah could feel the words better than he could hear them through his collar.

Noah had to once more brace himself as the hallway shuddered. He had to shield his eyes as light suddenly flooded into Simon’s ear canal. For the brief second that it was visible, Noah marveled at the device. Even just the circular, rubber earbud was larger than he was. He was so small that if he climbed aboard, he could wedge himself in the circular gap in the center of the rubber tip.

Noah’s eyesight had almost adjusted to the sudden brightness of the lab lights when suddenly something else caused the light to dim. It didn’t block the light completely, but Noah soon realized that Simon’s fingertip was once more positioned for him to climb aboard.

Noah lingered for a moment at the entryway to Simon’s ear canal. He was still trying to process what he had just done. He was so tiny that he could literally fit in a guy’s ear! It wasn’t even a tight fit! Noah tried to shake the imagery of Simon’s eardrum looming over him like some kind of necromorph infected airlock, but the experience had been too surreal and too intense to be so easily ignored. It didn’t help that Noah was rock hard, but that was about par for the course nowadays. Everything reminded him of how small he was, which got him boned all over again.

Noah climbed aboard Simon’s fingertip and was once more lifted to the giant’s eye so Simon could speak to him face-to-face as it were. “So. Are you about ready to head to your new home?” Simon asked.

“Y-yeah!” Noah said. He was beyond excited, but it was still such a huge step forward for him that his nerves were getting the better of him.

“Great. Let’s go finish the paperwork,” Simon said.

“Y-yeah! … but, uh… is Trevor not with you?” Noah asked.

“Oh, he’s here alright,” Simon said.

From Noah’s perch on Simon’s fingertip, Noah could only really see Simon’s eye, but he could practically hear the smirk in Simon’s voice.

“He’s with your brother. They wanted to get your seat ready for you,” Simon teased.

“Wait. My seat? What do you-…” Noah began to ask, but before he could finish, his own mind filled in the blanks.

“O-oh… you don’t mean…” Noah stammered.

“Of course I do. Rex has made it very clear how much you wanted to ride along with him, and there’s plenty of room for both of you,” Simon said.

“D-do I have a choice?” Noah squeaked.

There was a pause. Simon’s demeanor shifted slightly. His eyebrow raised curiously, and his massive eye seemed to do an intense scan of Noah’s posture and body language.

“Of course you have a choice,” Simon said in a soft, soothing voice.

“Wait, really?” Noah sputtered.

“Yeah. Really. I was suggesting it because I thought you would enjoy it, but if you aren’t ready, I brought Rex’s compact. It should be plenty roomy for you,” Simon explained.

Noah’s mind reeled once more. Rex’s compact. Noah had more or less built the damn thing! He had used an old mini figure playset as the base, but he had handcrafted all the gadgets and gizmos that made it possible for his spec-sized older brother to converse with others. He knew firsthand how tiny the thing was. The whole thing used to fit in the palm of his hand, and now he could fit in it! He could more than fit it in. The miniatures that the original playset was designed for were nearly an inch tall. Those were massive by Noah’s standards. He wouldn’t even reach their knees! He would reach halfway up their shins at best!

“Oh, wow…” Noah murmured as his mind raced. He was now so tiny that he would be shorter than the lead of the pencil he had used when drafting schematics for that enclosure!

“You ok?” Simon asked.

“Y-yeah… I was just thinking…” Noah murmured. His voice was so soft that even had he been his old size it would have been hard for Simon to hear, but fortunately, his collar mic picked it up.

“Well, take all the time you need,” Simon said.

“I-it’s fine, really… I’d like to ride along with Rex…” Noah said softly.

A huge grin suddenly spread across Simon’s face. “Great! I’m sure Rex will be excited to see you,” Simon said.

“R-right… So, uh… how do we do this?” Noah murmured awkwardly.

“Just come with me,” Simon said with a wink. He then looked up and waved to a nearby researcher. “Hey. Where’s the restroom?” he asked.

[First Chapter] || [Previous Chapter] || [Next Chapter]

[wmnylander]

not going to panic about the result tonight because we got absolutely caved in by the bolts in g1 last year and ended up winning the series so tonight doesn’t matter unless we win then it means we’re shoving mitch in the c*p in about 2 months

[sergeifyodorov]

in all seriousness:

the leafs Actual Problems

reaves is genuinely bad + kampf is largely pretty bad (i love him but it's true)

non-core4 lines are arranged... suboptimally (KNIES NEEDS BETTER LINEMATES)

who is even alive on our dcore rn + NO depth.

penalty kill kicking our asses (was good tonight though)

constant problems disrupting other teams' cycles AND setting up our own, which leads to constant cave-in shifts

the leafs Fake Problems

mitch marner (oh my God he has One bad on ice sv% streak and people start crucifying him) and the 1634 combo

tyler bertuzzi (honestly? alex kerfoot with a missing tooth)

[fionajames]

prompts

A/N: Hello guys!!! I decided I'd send a list of various prompts for you guys to send me as requests. Absolutely anyone is free to use this! There are one word, dialogue, idea and song prompts!!!

One word prompts

hiraeth 

lost

catacombs

bloodhound

whisper 

broth

brine

froth

angel

wheat

camp

cry

shadow

bramble

herd

pack

wild

runaway

solstice

courage

tracks

woods

hike

firefly

quill

moon

sun

stars

spirit

song

splinter

clear

ice

sea

clouded

hum

jinx

limbo

wire

barbed

spear

sword

breath

holly

sink

drown

canine

willow

twine

whistle

Song prompts

not strong enough (boygenius)

meet me in the woods (lord huron)

cherry wine - live (hozier)

sweet tooth (cavetown)

1979 (smashing pumpkins)

bloodhound (the foxing)

rory (the foxing)

still feel (half alive)

best friend (rex orange country)

be nice to me (the front bottoms)

wires (the neighbourhood)

running with the wolves (AURORA)

the night we met (lord huron)

i’d rather be alone (boodahki)

cocaine jesus (rainbow kitten surprise)

romantic homicide (d4vd)

duvet (bôa)

breezeblocks (alt-J)

me and the devil (soap&skin)

heavydirtysoul (twenty one pilots)

father (the front bottoms)

waterfalls coming out of your mouth (glass animals)

genesis (grimes)

devil like me (rainbow kitten surprise)

rockstar (boywithuke)

bad habit (steve lacy)

my ordinary life (the living tombstone)

notorious (neoni)

nothings new (rio romeo)

lighthouse (the waifs)

step on me (the cardigans)

inside out (duster)

the man (taylor swift)

mind over matter (young giant)

rises the moon (liana flores)

sparks (coldplay)

mama’s boy (dominic fike)

way down we go (kaleo)

evergreen (richy mitch & the coal miners)

yorktown - the world turned upside down (original broadway cast of hamilton)

i love you so (the walters)

505 (arctic monkeys)

labour (paris paloma)

worldstar money - interlude (joji)

willow (taylor swift)

leave a light on (tom walker)

pretty boy (the neighbourhood)

lovers rock (tv girl)

the last great american dynasty (taylor swift)

you’re on your own kid (taylor swift)

ho hey (the lumineers)

stubborn love (the lumineers)

dear arkansas daughter (lady lamb)

watching him fade away (mac demarco)

o children (nick cave & the bad seeds)

Idea prompts

running through wheat fields

running through garden hose droplets

dancing in the rain

walking in the bush

splashing in the sea

horse riding

rolling down grass fields

trekking through forest

swimming in forest creeks

rock hopping

daisy chains and crowns

collecting wood for fire

bonfire at night

walking on abandoned highways and roads

lighthouse exploring 

cartwheeling and playing in fresh grass

morning dew and crisp morning air

dirt under your nails

tree climbing

abandoned towns

walking on train tracks

wooden boats

island exploring

baking in then morning quiet

watching movies very late at night

staying up late at sleepovers

corn mazes

wheat fields

frozen lakes

frozen forests

paper planes

jam jars

friendship bracelets

barbed wire fences

blood dripping on tiles

scratchy vinyl music

empty dark cold nights

canine teeth

fireflies in fields

camp cabins

sea shanties

sibling play fighting/rivalry (blood or not)

road trips with loud music

picnic dates in the forest

busy arcades

bookstore dates - the smell of old books

playing soft acoustic guitar in nature

playing fiddle and dancing around campfires

stargazing

laying in bed awake

Dialogue prompts 

“please kill me”

“i’m everything you can not control”

“i am the monster you created”

“am i that easy to forget?”

“i will never hesitate to put my life on the line for you”

“stars can not shine without darkness”

“i miss the old you”

“remember who you are”

“please don’t leave”

“listen here pal”

“how much is enough”

“i remember smiling the whole way home”

“i never told you i was falling in love”

“do you want to go wander around aimlessly?”

“you still feel like home”

“no matter what, you’re still my brother”

“i could never hate you”

“let me help”

“help me, please”

“we’re just kids”

“water is so exciting with straws”

“i can’t stop thinking about you”

“get in the blanket fort”

“when they smile, i forget how to breathe”

“platonic love is just as important”

“i’m homesick for a place i’m not sure is real”

“smile more, it looks beautiful on you”

“runaway with me” 

“dance with me?”

“come back to bed”

“your bleeding on my floor”

“stars sparkle in your eyes”

“sarcasm is a weapon”

“can we just go back?”

“i miss how it used to be”

“hold me”

“any closer to them and i’ll kill you”

“i’ll be by your side forever”

“are you ok?”

“it’s going to be okay”

“i’m going to cry, but happy tears”

“can i crash on your couch?”

“we’ve got more than two people crashing in our house”

“i belong with you”

“you’re my soulmate” 

“hold my hand, please?”

“they smile when you message them”

“i want to live”

“sing to me”

“we’re finally home”

A/N: @techs-goggles9902, @skellymom

[heartpunished]

Not to be all thirst trappy on main but this is a great representation of what Mitch actually looks like. The right amount of facial hair, the scruffy length of it all and those muscles. Before transformation, they were built up from the constant building and repairing the buildings and objects ( carts, trolleys, etc. ) of the farm and just general life, but as Morvanth they stacked on as he became the behemoth and after the length of time that he was able to effortlessly climb cave walls and mountains, he somewhat stayed stacked when he accidentally broke the curse laid upon him.

Just imagine how powerful he'd be if he learned to assimilate and didn't give off those cornered wild animal vibes.

random muse edits ∞ // non-mutuals dni

[hurlingsupport]

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (Gender Neutral Reader Insert)

Chapter 15: Misguided

<- Previous Next ->

The four of you watch in tense silence as Mitch and Tiff gather their supplies. The couple that usually seemed so sickeningly lovey-dovey were now acting like snippy children fighting over past problems.

“Uh, what's going on?” Darius finally asks. “I mean, do we really need all this to go look for Brooklynn, Kenji, and Hap?”

Your lip twitches into a snarl at the mention of Hap. But what really irritates you is the silence that follows after Darius's question. Tiff shares a look at Mitch, refusing to hide her irritation as she walks off without a word.

Turning to your group, Mitch decides to save some face, unlike his other half. “We just wanna be prepared for whatever we might encounter along the way.” He walks closer, dropping one of the bags he was carrying onto a nearby box, “After all, the boat will be here in three days. You wanna be rescued in one piece, don't you?”

You grip your arms tighter at his words. Either he messed up, or he was changing the narrative they were trying so hard to push.

“What?” Yasmina sputters, standing up from her seat. “You said the boat would be here in two days.”

“Two to three days. Right, babe?” He turns to Tiff, who reappears with a better act of positivity.

“Hundred percent.” She hums in agreement. “Now grab that ‘stuff’ we need from Hap's yurt.”

“I thought no one was allowed in his yurt.” You say curtly, trying your best to keep your cool. It was becoming increasingly clear that you all were in danger.

“Alright. Why don't you guys have some chocolate? It's from France.” Tiff walks over, shoving a chocolate bar into your hands and pushing you away from the group. “And over there. Go on.”

The chocolate is crushed within your grip, the poor treat being the only victim of your rage because Darius's pleading eyes prevent you from lashing out at the actual culprit.

Once the four of you make some distance from the adults, you throw the bar to the ground. Even if it would have been a good snack, especially on this hopeless island.

“I can't be the only one that thought that was weird.” Yasmina whispers, and when no one responds, she continues: “How do you forget what day the boat is coming back?”

“And they're being kind of shady about all that stuff they're packing.” Sammy nods.

You stay quiet, watching Darius shake his head.

“You guys are just paranoid.” He mutters, though his voice holds no confidence in that statement.

You all stare as Tiff returns with more bags, placing them on the table with the rest of the luggage. She sends a wave towards you all with a terribly happy smile. You glare at her while the others reciprocate the gesture. And once Tiff turns away, the three of you ogle at Darius until he caves.

“Fine.” He sighs. “I'll prove you guys wrong. Here's the plan: I'll go check out Hap's yurt to make sure there's nothing suspicious, while Yasmina and Sammy distract Mitch and Tiff.”

Darius turns to you, a determined expression on his face. “And you; you're coming with me to see with your own eyes that there's nothing to worry about.”

A scoff leaves your lips in response, but you don't argue with the boy. It's not like you wanted to be right. In fact, it would be better for all of you if you were wrong. It's just becoming so increasingly clear that Mitch and Tiff aren't being truthful, and you'd rather run for the hills before they realize you're all catching on. Even worse, you had no idea where Brooklynn and Kenji were, along with that ruggish man. Your group was in a bad place, and it was all because of adults, again.

Darius and you crouch behind bags and suitcases, slowly making your way towards the yurt Brooklynn tried so hard to break into. Luckily for you two, and unluckily for her, Mitch and Tiff must have disabled the alarm so that they could get in, granting the two of you free access. Another helpful aspect was Sammy and Yasmina's distractions.

Darius makes his entrance first, with you following close behind. It doesn't look too suspicious from a first glance, which Darius rubs in with a scoff and pointed stare as he picks up a stray mug.

“Real suspicious.” He murmurs. You only roll your eyes in response.

Further in, however, Darius gasps as you grab something much more malicious than a coffee mug. A knife that's been sharpened for use, along with a few others. It seems they have quite the collection, ranging from small dangers to a machete. Darius purses his lips when you stuff a switchblade in your pocket, but he doesn't say anything, and so neither do you.

And it doesn't stop at sharp, thin blades. There's an axe or two, bear traps, and even a crossbow. No one who takes pictures of animals, especially rare ones, carries these types of weapons. These people aren't photographers. They're hunters.

Your head snaps towards Darius when he shrieks, and you run towards him when you see him on the ground.

“What? What happened?” You whisper, only to gasp when you see the skull just barely concealed by a heap of fabric.

“It's - it's a skull.” Darius shudders, leaning into you when you start pulling him off the floor. “A dinosaur skull.”

Your heart practically stops at his words. No, these people weren't just hunters. They were poachers. And while it may not seem like a big difference, it made your guys’ fates all the more unpredictable. These people didn't mind getting their hands dirty, and who knew what they'd do to get a pretty penny.

A chill runs across your skin as sunlight meets your face. You and Darius watch in horrified silence as Mitch enters the yurt. He doesn't say anything for a few seconds. And maybe it's because he expected it, especially when his eyes run across your form. It's as if a lamp clicked on in his head.

“You and your friend find anything cool?” He asks, the cruelty in his voice awfully clear in the dim tent.

“You're not eco-tourists.” Darius says with clenched fists. “You're–”

“Big game hunters, yeah.” He circles the two of you, making his way towards the table full of knives you had been eyeing earlier.

He runs his fingers across the wood, counting, calculating. He grabs a knife, and when he looks at you, you know he's noticed.

“Honestly, I'm glad you've seen this, Darius.” He still stares at you as he admits this, and you feel as if he's trying to say something else. “Friends shouldn't lie to each other.”

His fingers brush against the metal of the knife, standing so casually as the two of you fear for your lives.

“You said you got our distress beacon.” Darius cries, backing away from the man.

“Oh, yeah, no idea what that is, but we just didn't want you to start asking questions.” His eyes leave the knife in his hands, instead meeting your own. “Not that it did anything to deter you.”

Your breath comes back to you when he places the knife down, but the smile on his face screams that the danger hasn't left.

“And, despite that, it all ended up working out. I feel a little bad for you, actually.” He barks out an empty laugh that has all the hairs on your neck raising like hackles.

You nearly jump out of your skin when Darius's hand grabs ahold of your own. You briefly wonder if he's preparing to make a run for it, but when you spare a glance towards the boy, you realize he's simply terrified.

“Bought this ACU tablet off the black market.” Mitch throws a plain, black tablet at you both, in which you fumble to catch it with one of your hands being squeezed by Darius. “It was supposed to help us track the chipped dinos, but…”

Darius taps the screen, a red, crossed out wifi signal popping up on the screen. “The grid's down.”

“Uh-huh.” Mitch nods, fumbling with a crossbow. “And despite Hap coming highly recommended, he's been pretty useless at finding dinosaurs.”

The man makes his way towards the two of you, causing Darius to let your hand free.

“He doesn't know half the stuff about them, or the island, that you do.” He walks past you, reaching over and ruffling Darius's hair. “So, now you can help us!”

Darius spins towards Mitch, brows furrowed in betrayal. “How could you possibly think I'd help you kill dinosaurs? I thought you cared about them!”

“I do!” Mitch argues. “I've been waiting my whole life for this! Living, breathing dinosaurs, up close and personal?”

He looks almost disappointed when he turns to the triceratops skull, caressing the front horn. “But Isla Nublar is under UN quarantine. The dinosaurs, they've been abandoned, forgotten. We're the last people to ever see them.” He spins around to face Darius and you. “I am trying to preserve the memory of Jurassic World.”

“By creating more fossils for scientists to study?” You hiss, creating distance between you and the stranger just ahead of you.

“You don't get it!” Mitch shouts, forcing a flinch from the both of you at the sudden show of aggression. “Thanks to us, these magnificent creatures will live on forever!”

Frighteningly swift, Mitch closes the distance between you three, placing a hand on Darius's shoulder despite the fear on the boy's face. It's not surprising when Darius rips his shoulder out of Mitch's grasp.

“By mounting their heads on your wall!” Darius yells, his voice a mixture of anger and disbelief.

Mitch only sighs, “Oh, I'm disappointed. I really thought we understood each other, D.”

He grabs both of you by the backs of your clothes, forcefully pushing the two of you out of the yurt. He’s stronger than Tiff, you notice.

“But I'll make this easy for you guys.”

His hand travels down, fingers entering your back pocket and pulling out the pocket knife you stole. You don't put up a fight, even as his hand goes back to your shoulder, and his blunt nails dig into your sweater. Your eyes squint as sunlight suddenly attacks your vision, only to regret even opening them. Yasmina and Sammy stand stiffly, both in almost the exact same position you and Darius are in, but with Tiff instead of Mitch.

“You help us bag the dinosaurs we want, and we'll take you and your friends home. You don't…” he pulls the both of you closer, and despite his words being directed towards Darius, you feel the same amount of horror. “...and we leave you all here. Abandoned and forgotten, just like the dinos.”

His hands finally leave your guys’ bodies as he leans down to match Darius's height. “So, Darius… what's it gonna be?”