#Olive sweetie you don't have to worry

[cyellolemon]

Will you

[uzurakis]

HERE TO SEND YOU BLUELOCK HEAD CANNONS! >:D

Can you do headcannons of the guys and how they would be like if they were teaching us how to play soccer? Hope this is interesting for you ^^, if you're interested to make them thanks in advance!

TEACHING YOU SOCCER?!

featuring: michael kaiser. itoshi rin. oliver aiku. isagi yoichi. bachira meguru.

n. yees darling, i was invested to write this (it's a challenging one because i don't really play soccer myself). hope i nailed it though, thank you to u too <3

MICHAEL KAISER. "nice shot!" kaiser exclaimed, clapping you on the back. "but don't get too cocky, mein liebling."

"learned from the best, i guess," you teased, nodding toward kaiser. "after all, my boyfriend's the world's number one striker, hmm?"

kaiser's eyes widened in mock surprise, a beam spreading across his face. "well, when you put it that way," he said, puffing out his chest with pride and sliding back his golden locks. "i suppose i am pretty amazing."

"ah, but if i'm the world's number one striker," he continued, trying to tease you with words, "then that must mean you have to kneel before me, right?"

you lifted an eyebrow, unable to stop snickering at his exaggerated claim. "huh, is that so?" playing along with his joke. "i guess i'll have to remember to bow down to the soccer king himself."

the guy grinned, clearly enjoying the playful exchange. "that's more like it," now his voice filled with mock superiority, typical kaiser. "but don't worry, i'll be a generous king."

ITOSHI RIN. "fine, i'll try my best, but just so you know, i'm not really good at teaching," rin confessed, feeling apologetic because he’s not used to teaching others. and now, his girlfriend wants to learn how to play soccer.

rin took a deep breath, trying to muster up some confidence as he began to explain the basics of dribbling. "uh, alright, first, dribbling. just try to keep the ball close to your feet for now," he instructed, a bit hesitant.

"oi, dont look at me, look at the ball," he reminded you. "sorry," you chuckled, truly didn't realize you weren't paying attention. come on, just look at him. "if i’m being honest, you look really hot like this," you teased, but, it’s true though!

rin's cheeks flushed slightly at your comment, but he quickly regained his composure. "focus," he replied. though there was a hint of annoyance, you couldn't help but sneak a glance at rin's face as he continued to give you instructions, his cheeks flushed slightly from your earlier comment.

suddenly, rin's voice broke through your reverie, snapping you back to reality. "i said focus!"

OLIVER AIKU. "keep your eye on the ball and follow through with your kick," aiku instructed while you attempted to pass the ball to him.

even when you struggled or made mistakes, aiku remained patient and supportive, offering gentle guidance to help you improve. "try to angle your foot a bit more next time," he suggested, as you missed the mark with your pass. "you're doing great, sweetie. just keep practicing."

by the end of the session, you were exhausted but thankful for aiku's patience and support. he wrapped his arm around your shoulders, a proud smile on his lips.

"you're making progress, sweetie," he soothed, genuine and affectionate. "with a little more practice, you'll beat me out here."

BACHIRA MEGURU. "okaaay, let's start with some dribbling drills," he said, bachira was overjoyed since this meant he had another friend to play soccer with. "try to keep the ball under control as you move around me, kaay?"

you nodded, determined to give it your best shot. as you began to dribble the ball, you stumbled a bit, but bachira was quick to offer a push. "nice job, baby! you're getting the hang of it," he cheered, clapping his hands in support.

with each effort, you gained confidence and dribbled past bachira with greater ease. bachira congratulated you on your small wins every time you successfully escaped him. "woah, that was awesome! baby, i’m so happy!" he exclaimed, giving you a high-five.

"great effort, babes! keep it up, and you'll get it," he encouraged, his words filling you with determination. “lets keep playing together!”

ISAGI YOICHI. "hey, it's okay," isagi said gently, stepping closer to you. "here, let me show you."

he moved behind you and gently guided your legs into the correct position, his touch firm yet gentle. "see? keep your body low and your touches light," he explained, moving your legs in rhythm with the ball. "you've got this, angel.”

with isagi's guidance, you began to feel more confident, dribbling the ball with increasing control. whenever you made a mistake, your boyfriend always offered gentle correction and encouragement.

"nice try, but try to keep the ball closer to your feet," he would say, his tone encouraging. "like this," demonstrating the correct form before guiding your legs to mimic his movements.

@uzurakis

[lecsainz]

Hey sweetie! Can I request something about prom proposal with Ollie Bearman?

I don't wanna dance if I'm not dancing with you

pairings: ollie bearman x fem!gf!reader

summary: ollie does everything to invite you to prom in person and be able to go to prom with you.

authors note: I don't know if this is how you wanted it, but I thought and thought about how to make a prom proposal and nothing came to mind. I hope you like it 🙃

word count: 2.2K

Late one evening, as Ollie sat in his hotel room, his phone buzzed with an incoming call. He picked it up to see Y/N's name flashing on the screen. With a smile, he answered the call, knowing that their conversations were always filled with excitement and joy.

"Hey, babe!" Y/N's voice bubbled with enthusiasm. "Guess what? I just bought the most amazing prom dress! It's this stunning gown that I know you'll love."

Ollie chuckled, grateful for the distraction from his racing worries. "That's fantastic, Y/N! I'm sure you'll look absolutely beautiful in it."

Y/N's excitement didn't wane. "And you know what else? I helped your mom pick out a matching tie for you! It perfectly complements the color of my dress. We'll be the most stylish couple at prom!"

Ollie's heart sank a little at her words. He knew he had to be honest with her. "Y/N, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice tinged with regret. "I have a testing session with the Prema team on the same day as the prom," he confessed, his voice tinged with disappointment. "I won't be able to make it."

Y/N's voice held a mix of sadness and understanding. "Ollie, I know how important racing is to you. It's your dream. I don't want you to give up on that just for me. If you have to go for the testing session, then go. I'll be okay."

Touched by her words, Ollie felt a pang of guilt. He wished he could be in two places at once, but his dedication to his racing career left him with a difficult choice.

"Y/N, I want you to enjoy your prom. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you deserve to have an amazing time," Ollie said, his voice filled with sincerity. "Maybe you could go with someone else, a close friend, so you won't have to miss out on the fun."

There was a long pause before Y/N replied, her voice soft but resolute. "Ollie, prom is not about just going with anyone. It's about creating memories with the person you love. And that person, for me, is you." Tears welled up in Y/N's eyes, but she shook her head defiantly. "Ollie, I don't wanna dance if I'm not dancing with you. It just wouldn't be the same."

Ollie felt a pang of guilt wash over him. He hated seeing Y/N upset, especially when it was because of his racing commitments. He knew he had to find a way to make it right, to be there for her on their special night.

With determination in his eyes, Ollie made a silent promise to himself. He would find a way to attend the prom and surprise Y/N, no matter the obstacles that stood in his path.

Over the next few days, Ollie worked tirelessly, speaking with his team and exploring every possible option. And finally, a glimmer of hope appeared. A solution presented itself, and Ollie seized the opportunity.

Ollie felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement as he stepped off the plane and into the airport terminal. His parents had been instrumental in helping him make this surprise visit to Y/N, despite the late hour. They had understood the depth of his love for her and the significance of being there for the prom.

As he made his way through customs, Ollie's parents greeted him with warm smiles and open arms. They had always been supportive of his racing career and understood the importance of love and relationships in his life.

"Son, we're so proud of you," his father said, placing a hand on Ollie's shoulder. "We know how much Y/N means to you, and we wanted to help make this surprise happen."

Ollie's mother added with a twinkle in her eye, "Oliver, you're lucky to have found someone who brings out the best in you."

As they drove through the quiet streets in the early hours of the morning, Ollie's anticipation grew. The love and support of his parents warmed his heart, and he couldn't wait to see the look of surprise and joy on Y/N's face.

He quietly entered the house, tiptoeing up the stairs to his bedroom. With a mix of excitement and relief, he reached for his phone and dialed Y/N's number. The phone rang, and he held his breath, hoping she would pick up.

"Hello?" she mumbled, her voice laced with sleep.

"Hey love," Ollie said, his voice filled with anticipation. "Could you do me a favor? Can you open your bedroom window?"

Confusion tinged Y/N's voice as she responded, "It's the middle of the night, Ollie. What's going on?"

"Just trust me, Y/N," Ollie said, his voice filled with anticipation. "Just look, please."

Curiosity piqued, Y/N dragged herself out of bed and walked to her bedroom window. She slowly pulled back the curtains, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw Ollie standing in his own bedroom, gazing back at her.

A gasp escaped Y/N's lips, and she clutched her chest, unable to believe her eyes. "Ollie? Is that really you?"

Ollie smiled and nodded, his heart pounding with excitement. "Yes, it's me."

With a deep breath, Ollie mustered all his courage and poured his heart out. "Y/N, you mean everything to me. I can't imagine going to the prom with anyone else. Will you do me the honor of being my date? Will you go to the prom with me?" he asked, holding up a series of handwritten paper, with the word "PROM?" in a style reminiscent of the You Belong with Me music video.

Y/N's eyes filled with tears of joy as she read the message. Her heart swelled with love, and a radiant smile spread across her face. She nodded vigorously, unable to find her voice.

"Yes, Ollie!" she finally exclaimed, her voice filled with happiness. "A thousand times, yes!"

his face broke into a wide smile, relief and joy washing over him. He couldn't believe he had pulled off the surprise, and seeing Y/N's happiness made every effort worthwhile.

Y/N's voice filled with anticipation as she made a request. "Ollie, can you come down to the backyard? I want to be closer to you."

Ollie's heart skipped a beat at her suggestion. Without hesitation, he agreed. "Of course, Y/N. Give me a moment, I'll be right there."

He swiftly made his way downstairs, phone still in hand, and stepped into the cool night air. The moon cast a soft glow on the familiar surroundings as he walked towards the shared fence that separated their backyards.

With each step, the connection between them felt stronger, their voices still intertwined through the phone. Ollie's heart raced with excitement, knowing that he was about to see Y/N in person, even if it was just a few feet away.

As he reached the fence, he looked up and there she was, standing on the other side, a radiant smile adorning her face. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, it felt as though time stood still.

Without a moment's hesitation, she ran towards Ollie, leaping into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist. Ollie caught her, a mixture of surprise and delight evident on his face.

She cupped Ollie's face in her hands, looking deeply into his eyes. And then, with all the love in her heart, she kissed him passionately, pouring all her emotions into that single moment.

Breathless, they pulled away, their foreheads resting against each other. Y/N's eyes glistened with tears of joy and disbelief. "I can't believe you're here." she whispered, her voice filled with awe and overwhelming love

Ollie couldn't help but smile, his eyes reflecting the depth of his devotion. "Nothing could keep me away from you, Y/N," he murmured, his voice laced with sincerity. "I would move mountains, cross oceans, and defy all odds just to be with you."

He gently placed her back on the ground, their hands intertwined, never wanting to let go. Y/N's heart swelled with gratitude and affection, knowing that Ollie had gone to such extraordinary lengths to make her dreams come true.

Ollie carefully took out the corsage he had prepared and gently placed it on Y/N's wrist. The delicate flowers and handwritten notes intertwined, symbolizing the moments and thoughts they had shared while being apart. Y/N's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she noticed the tiny notes attached to the corsage.

"What are these, Ollie?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Ollie took a deep breath, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "Every time we were apart, every race I competed in, I wrote a little note for you. They were my way of staying connected to you, of reminding myself of your love and support. Each note represents a moment I thought of you and carried your presence with me."

Tears welled up in Y/N's eyes as she gently untied one of the notes and read its contents. It was a heartfelt message expressing Ollie's love and admiration for her. She was overwhelmed by the depth of his affection and the effort he had put into expressing it.

"Ollie, this is so incredibly sweet," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "I never knew you were doing this. It means the world to me, knowing that you carried me in your heart every step of the way."

Before they could delve deeper into their heartfelt conversation, the sound of footsteps approached. Y/N's father, having been awakened by their presence outside the house, stepped onto the porch with a mix of surprise and joy on his face.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he chuckled, seeing Ollie standing with his daughter. "Ollie, my boy, I didn't expect to see you here tonight. Shouldn't you be in another country?"

Ollie's eyes widened, his surprise evident. He had known Y/N's father for a while, but this unexpected encounter left him momentarily speechless. However, Y/N's father quickly reassured him with a warm smile.

"Don't worry, Ollie. I'm thrilled to see you here," he said, patting Ollie on the back. "You're always welcome in our home. Why don't you both come inside and get some rest? It's been quite a night."

Y/N's face beamed with gratitude, her hand intertwined with Ollie's. "Thank you, Dad. We'll take you up on that offer."

As they entered the house together, hand in hand, Ollie couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. Y/N's father's warm welcome reassured him that their love was supported by those who cared about them.

Inside the house, the warmth of Y/N's family enveloped them. Y/N's father, with a playful glint in his eye, turned to Ollie, feigning annoyance.

"Alright, you two lovebirds," he chuckled. "I'll let you off the hook this time, but remember, no funny business under my roof. Ollie, you're sleeping in the living room tonight."

Ollie grinned sheepishly, knowing Y/N's father was just being his protective, caring self. "Yes, sir," he replied, trying to suppress his laughter. "I promise, no funny business."

Y/N's father then added with a wink, "And don't think I won't be checking in on you."

They all shared a good-natured laugh, feeling the warmth of their shared connection. Y/N's father embraced Ollie like a son, and Ollie knew he was lucky to have such a loving and accepting family in his life.

As the night wore on, Ollie settled into the living room, feeling grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Y/N.

Y/N, unable to resist the desire to be close to Ollie, sat beside him on the couch. Ollie pulled her close, his arms wrapping protectively around her. They both sighed contentedly, relishing in the comfort of their embrace.

"I've missed spending nights like this with you," Ollie confessed, his voice filled with sincerity. "Being able to hold you, to feel your presence next to me, it's something I long for when we're apart."

Y/N's heart swelled with love, her fingers gently tracing patterns on Ollie's chest. "I've missed it too, Ollie. There's nothing quite like falling asleep in your arms. It feels like home."

As Ollie felt the gentle rise and fall of Y/N's breath against his chest, he couldn't help but smile. Her peaceful sleep in his arms filled his heart with love and gratitude. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, caressing her cheek with his fingertips.

As the night deepened, Ollie leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Y/N's forehead, his heart overflowing with love and gratitude. The soft touch of his lips against her skin conveyed a multitude of emotions that words alone could not express.

He whispered once again, his voice barely audible in the quiet room, “I love you, Y/N.” his words filled with tenderness and devotion. It was a declaration meant for her, a reminder of the depth of his feelings and the unwavering commitment he had for her.

Y/N stirred slightly in her sleep, sensing his affectionate gesture. A peaceful smile curved her lips as she snuggled closer to Ollie, finding solace in his embrace.

With a contented sigh, Ollie closed his eyes, cherishing the moment of pure serenity. In that intimate space, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace and happiness, knowing that he was sharing his life with someone who meant the world to him.

[opossumloverr]

✪ RAPHAEL HAMATO DATING HEADCANONS ✪

Summary:

Just some silly lil headcanons to start of the summa❗️🫶🏾

Warning(s):

None! all fluff up in here

A/N:

OKAY GUYS ITS SUMMER VAYCAY, IM BACK AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO FOR 75 DAYS, IM A FREE MAN, SO LET'S START IT OFF WITH MY FAVORITE BOY (Gender-neutral reader!)

I would like to start by saying this man loves you very much and would drop almost anything for you

You need help with a school project? Big red is on his way, you don't know what shoes will match the outfit you picked, oh what a coincidence! he just so happens to have a matching pair of shoes that fits you perfectly, you just want cuddles? lock and loaded baby, come at him

I think I can speak for everyone when I say we all need a Raph in our lives

He protects you from his brother's teasing, even if it's just playing or goofing, he is NOT taking any chances.

He loves to scoop you up randomly, you'll get used to it don't worry

Very cautious when picking you up though, doesn't want his spikes to hurt you, he will feel mad guilty if he was the one who caused you even a little bit of pain, even if it wasn't attentional (please comfort the man)

Appreciates the little moments he shares with you, oh my gosh I actually have the perfect scenario, just imagine...

After a long day full of fun cahoots and mysterious adventures, you two finally decided to go home, you usually go your separate ways after a day like this one, but it was rather late at night, and New York lets the creeps roam at this time, so he offered to ride the subway train with you, even though you were a bit hesitant but agreed cause there's no way your gonna allow yourself to get mugged in the middle of the night and like I said it was late at night so the subway cart that you guys were on was empty, he did wear a Hoodie and mask, just in case, the ride was silent, no noises but the constant screeching of the train tracks, but other than that it was just comfortable silence, Raph was lost in his thoughts, thinking about how the next day will be and how it will end, will it be a good or bad day? or something in the middle; what's the meaning of life? and what happens after death? Where does your soul go to, to heaven? or is it just pitch black forever, will today be his last day-- suddenly, he felt a lightweight on his shoulder, the thoughts that were coming in like a rapid wave started to smooth down to a calm stream of water, he glanced down at your sleeping figure, apparently you thought it was a perfect time to take a quick power nap, how cute! he coos softly at you, loving how you're so comfortable and calm around him. god, he loves you so much ♡,

"I promise I will always be here when you need me, you're my everything, sweetie"

Sorry guys I just felt a little kooky at the moment

If you like to play fight he's totally down, doesn't fight too hard obviously, and lets you win all the time, what a gentleman

He'll hold doors open for you, push your seat out, and then push it back in, hell, he would even do that thing where a guy puts his coat on a puddle so the lady could walk through it even though she's fully capable of walking around it

Takes so many pics of you and him at places, and has a particular folder on his phone with pictures of you guys

When it's family game night or movie night, he always invites you, you are practically a part of the family so why not? (The others don't mind)

It's so common to find you in the lair with how much you go down there on a daily basis

Yall have to do lovely dovey things in a private area cause of his brothers (mostly Leo, his bitchass) constantly changing the mood

Likes it when you watch him workout, it motivates him so much, sometimes he uses you as a weight

Loves to give you piggyback rides for some reason

He likes pickles, LISTEN LISTEN, if you don't like pickles in your burger you'll pick them out and give it to him cause you know he loves em (THE OLIVE THEORY ♡)

I GOT SOO MUCH MORE BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH I LOBE HIM BUT ILL KEEP IT INSIDE, FOR NOW, CAUSE ITS 5:08 AM RN 💀 sorry for being dead for 5 months, AGIAN, but imma be back on my grind now 🙏🏾 and I'll try to complete all of my 15 drafts 😓 and if you see any grammar mistakes, no you didn't.

[writer-ann-artist]

5 Years to Grieve, 5 Years to Love

»»————-　♔　————-««

»»————-　♔　————-««

Summary: 5 years, 5 years is how long we've lived without my brother and father. Now my brother is home and I couldn't be happier, after all we're twins. But he has secrets, things he won't tell us. I want to make his transition into home life better so I give him his space, and hopefully I can keep my secret safe.

»»————-　♔　————-««

"No don't go, stay." I roll over away from the sunlight and face the man I have fallen for.

"I wish I could, but I've been gone all day and night. I'm sure Ollie is missing me, Thea, too." I draw unseen images upon his bare chest.

"Fine leave me all alone." I'm dramatically pushed as my lover rolls away from my touch. I giggle at his theatrics. Worming my way back to his front I nuzzle into his neck.

"Oh, Malcolm. What will I do with you." He moves his head away from mine, but before I can pout he gives my nose a light kiss.

"Love me."

"Unconditionally." Is my response.

»»————-　♔　————-««

I made it home before anyone else, well except Walter. He decided to visit our home before Mom came. Only for me to see his gift for her behind his back. I wink at him in understanding so he knows I won't tell Mom. Prepping my face and body for the day, I find the perfect clothes and make my way downstairs. I find Tommy and the whole family in the foyer.

"Sweetie you made it home. How was your night?" Mom asked as she gave me a hug and forehead kiss.

"I'm sorry, I got busy." I told her honestly, my original plan was a short visit to see my 'friend'. Tommy hits Ollie's shoulder announcing he was going to talk.

"Oh yes busy, who you were so invested in conversation."

"At least I have friends outside of family." He fakes pain and holds his chest.

"Ow, dang. You don't have to go so hard." I couldn't help my giggle at seeing his theatrics.

"You're such a dork."

»»————-　♔　————-««

Tommy made plans for Oliver and says I absolutely, have to go. At least my inability to socialize will be something that hasn't changed for Oliver. Before we could leave mom tells me that my flowers were delivered.

"Oh, yes! Thank you! Would it be a problem to have someone put them in my room for me?"

"Of course, sweetie. They are already on the way." I quickly ran up and kissed her on her cheek. Then made my way out the door to meet Oliver in Tommy's car. As soon as I was in the car Tommy waved to our mom and drove straight to town. As he drove he explained to Oliver all that he missed. I had the impression that Oliver wasn't too interested in what Tommy was talking about. So I gave him my hand over his right shoulder so Tommy wouldn't see. But then he noticed the silence.

"Are you two doing your twin telephone thing? Cause I'm feeling left out."

"It's telepathy, Tommy." He made a mocking face at me through his rear mirror.

"It's annoying. Come on talk! You've been gone for five years be curious, be excited, something please." There was only a short pause before Oliver spoke again.

"So who is this mystery man of yours?"

"Ah, you see Ollie. That is the million-dollar question. No one knows and she won't answer." Tommy spoke for me making the situation sound worse than it was.

"Is that so?" Oliver squeezed my hand making me look at the side of his face.

"I'm not being selfish, trust me, Ollie. It's better if no one knows." I had to stop myself from mumbling.

"It's ok, tell me when you're ready." My twin rubbed my hand soothing my worry about him thinking the worst.

"See Tommy, that's how you're supposed to react."

"Now that's not fair he can read your mind." Oliver asked Tommy to stop at our father's old factory.

"I don't know why you want to be here Ollie, it's depressing." I felt the same way as Tommy, but not for the same reason. The last time I was here my father was alive.

"I wanted to see something familiar." Before I could comfort Oliver a van pulled up and a stinging sensation shot through my neck. My surroundings quickly turned to black, and my hearing dulled into silence.

»»————-　♔　————-««

I woke up to me and someone laying down beside me. There were deep voices saying words I couldn't make out. Along with the voices popping and grunting could be heard. My vision cleared enough to see Oliver's blonde hair. He was away from me sitting up. Dark figures surrounded him, hurting him in some way as his head would move in quick motions. I can't get anything out of it as my vision fails me. I fall back into the darkness only to wake up in my living room. Mom cradling my head, Thea holding my legs, and Ollie sitting in front of me.

"My everything hurts, what happened." I groaned hearing how raspy my voice became. Ollie held a glass of water for me. I smiled at the bendy straw.

"You were kidnapped sweetie, and the tranquilizer they used had Detomidine." Mom answered me as I sipped from my bendy straw.

"Ew" I heard Tommy's voice from behind my Mom and Thea.

"Tommy, your still here?" I tried to move but instead, my brain did some flips. Mom helped me lay my head back on her lap.

"Had to make sure my best friend was ok."

"Ha beat that Oliver." I tried to wave him off but instead, Oliver caught my water I almost dropped. Once he had removed the water my head stopped spinning. This allowed me to sit up on my own.

"Are you okay?" Mom asked full of worry. I held her hand in mine as I addressed her.

"Yeah I'm fine, I just want to sleep." Thea helped walk me to my room and Oliver followed close behind. Thea layed me down when Ollie spoke.

"Wow! You are really special to someone." I can only laugh into my pillow as I was still very tired. Thea combs my hair out of my face and speaks.

"She is really in love with him, Ollie, I only wish to meet him."

"So no one has met him yet?" I roll on my back and try to look up, but just shut my eyes again.

"It's difficult to explain, but like I said it's for the best." The only reason Mom and Thea know I'm even dating is that he insists on sending me gifts.

"Just sleep, sister please." So I did.

»»————-　♔　————-««

I was grateful, really, for Oliver's insistence on having a party. After he and Dad went missing I haven't had much to look forward to. Not that Thea or Mom did either. But they were able to cope better than I had. I decided to wear a silver floor-length dress. The high slit in the dress made it easy to show off my white pearl strap wedges.

»»————-　♔　————-««

After a family picture for Ollie, I spot Malcolm through the crowd. Calmly and swiftly I turn to my family and dismiss myself.

"I'll be back, I see a few faces I haven't greeted yet." I head in Malcolm's direction but keep my distance. Through our eyes we speak, he leads and I follow. He leads me to an unoccupied hallway in the house. Malcolm turns around letting me walk close to him. Once close enough he opens his arms allowing me to fall into his arms.

"I'm sorry about what happened, angel." He speaks into the crown of my head. His lips pressed into my skin making me hum.

"I'm fine, unfortunately, Ollie had it worse." Before I could pout about Oliver, Malcolm pulls me out of the hug to hold my face in his hands.

"Yes, but I care about you more. You look beautiful, my love." He stares into my eyes, saying so much more than his words. At least I think he is.

"And you are looking dashing tonight, Merlyn. Now is that for me or the family." He chuckles and wraps his empty arms around me. The gift bag on his occupied wrist taps my body as it sways from his movements.

"Oh my love, ever so eager. Yes, it is for you and your family's gift is with the others." I blush as he stares into my eyes.

"You shouldn't have." Though I'm in heels I still need to lean up on my toes to kiss this man.

"Please wait to open it later tonight. It's special." He spoke against my lips. Oh, how weak he makes me. Only for him though, no one else can make me feel the things he can.

"Oh my gosh, Malcolm! Next week.."

"Is our fourth anniversary." He sways with me as all I can do is stare lovingly at him. His hand reaches my face and he speaks in a whisper.

"I hate keeping you hidden in my life." I lean into his hand. I hate it just as much.

"I know, would it be so bad now? After so long?" I know my lip is pouting out. I can't help it as I look up to Malcolm.

"I don't know, but your brother being back may make it difficult. Not to mention the recent attack on you both." I hum sadly into his shoulder as we sway. I slowly pull away and look at the man.

"I should put my gift in its proper place." As I walk backward pulling his hands with me as he stays put. Once both our arms are outstretched I make a move to hold his hands. At the last second, I snag my gift off his wrist.

"Always so formal. I'll see you later." My lover chuckled at my actions as I moved further away from him.

»»————-　♔　————-««

Later that night in my bedroom. I almost run into my room when I was finally able to retire to bed. Behind closed doors, I kick off my shoes and beeline to Malcolm's gift. I take the card out of the bag and begin to read his handwritten sentiment.

'To my love, my light, the best thing in my life. I wish you everything the world I can give. For now, I give you this, I think you will like it. From your glorious lover, Malcolm.'

"Oh my gosh, Malcolm. What did you do now?" I open the paper bag to find many prices of tissue and black rose petals. Finally, a black velvet box falls out.

"You would think I have enough jewelry."

"I think you will make an exception this time." I nearly jumped out of my skin and on my ankle. It did hurt a bit, but nothing I wasn't used to.

"Oh my god! You can't do that! I almost died." He only laughed and stepped closer to me. He is really good at hiding in plain sight. Once close to me, he grabbed hold of my hand.

"My sweetness." He moved his hands to hold mine and the box.

"You need to be aware of your surroundings,.."

"I know, I know. I live a high-profile life and being kidnapped twice just proves that I need eyes in the back of my head." I hold in my scoff as he neals down and holds the box up.

"Malcolm."

"Please my love, let me talk before you panic. I never thought I could love again. Especially after Rebecca,.."

"Malcolm,.."

"My beloved, again. I have learned to love you. You as you, not you you showed the world or your family. The true unfiltered, you. I know at first we were just looking for something physical, but I fell for you. And I fell hard, and I know you feel the same. So my light, my love. Please say you'll be my wife." I lean into Malcolm and sit on his knee. I remove one hand of mine and hold his neck. I lean forward and right before I kiss him I give home my answer.

"Yes, Malcolm." When our lips touch he slides the ring onto my finger. We pull apart and I breathe out my words.

"I love you."

"I love you, my light."

[viktheviking1]

Moxxie had a charcuterie board for every occasion.

He had an array of meats and cheeses for boring Mondays, a different combination with some olives for romantic date nights, and a specific type of cracker that he preferred to eat when he was sad. Millie didn't understand most of the fancy words he used trying to explain the flavor profiles, but she did learn to interpret the boards. Sometimes she even found it easier than reading his face.

So when he walked into the office with a board with the sad crackers, some raisins, what looked to be muenster, swiss, and ham, she immediately knew he was having a pity party.

"Aw, honey. . . Not the raisins. You deserve more than raisins!" Mille rubbed his back as he sat down at the receptionist desk with the tray.

"No, sweetie, I don't. All I wanted to do was to help Blitz and his highness get back together, and all I've done is make things worse." He said, rolling a raisin under his finger, pouting.

"First of all, it was my idea in the first place, so if anything. I ruined their relationship." Millie said, popping a sad cracker in her mouth, and hopping up to sit on the desk "And second, we didn't ruin everything! Nothing's ruined! Stolas probably just needs some time to himself, that's all."

It was then that they heard a knock on the front office door. Moxxie quickly wiped the tears away with a handkerchief, and gave Millie a look, which she knew meant she had crumbs on her face. She grabbed the fancy napkin from him and roughly rubbed her face with it.

Moxxie nodded at her satisfied, “Come in!”

The door opened, revealing none other than Stolas himself, wearing his fancy prince attire, holding his tophat in his hands. It was odd enough for him to be here in the first place. What was even more strange was how nervous he looked.

“See! What’d I tell ya?” Millie whispered, hitting Moxxie happily, who waved her off, “What can we do for you, your highness?”

“H-hello, yes, um . . . “ Stolas cleared his throat, but spoke quietly, pointing at the office door, “Is Blitz here . . .?”

“No. Sorry he . . .” Millie started, then looked to Moxxie for help.

“He wasn’t feeling well so he stayed home today, sir. Loona did as well so she could take care of him.” Moxxie explained.

Stolas seemed to relax a bit at the news, “Oh good. That’s a relief.”

Moxxie and Millie exchanged a look.

“I-I-I mean,” Stolas smoothed out the nonexistant wrinkles in his clothes nervously, “Not that he’s sick! Heavans no! I-I just meant that- well . . . it was actually you two that I wanted to speak with today.”

Millie and Moxxie exchanged another look, worried.

Millie spoke up, “What is it, your majesty?”

Stolas walked over, carefully picked up one of the couches in the waiting area with one hand, placed it in front of the receptionist desk and sat down in front of them, “Well, I was wondering if either of you enjoyed writing letters.”

Moxxie unconsciously looked at Millie, but she just smiled, “What do you mean, your highness?” her voice was warm as honey, the image of innocence.

“Well, you see I recieved this through my mail slot recently.” He pulled out an envelope with his name scrawled out on the front, and placed it on the desk for them to see, “I wanted to know if either of you knew where it came from . . . ?”

The conversation paused for a beat and then Moxxie and Millie spoke simultaneously. Millie hopped to her feet on the desk, pulled a jagged knife out of thin air and shouted, “We’d die before telling you what we know!” At the same time, Moxxie burst into tears and shouted, “We’re sorryyyyy!!!”

Millie looked down at her sobbing husband, placing the hand holding the knife on her hip, “ . . . Babe, really?”

Read more on the Pompous and the Prick

[chocolate-teapots]

Jeon Jungkook- Could've Beens

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢

In which it's the last day of school.

Anything could happen.  

⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣

𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤: The aches and pains of growing up. Teens getting drunk. Occasional swearing. Long.

It seemed there wasn't an hour between my first macaroni necklace and my graduation just like there weren't five minutes between Jem and I screaming 80s tunes down the rocky highway in her brand new Chevy and sitting here on the beach at sunset wondering where had all the time gone and how we got all the way here.

Someone from the other side of the big table had the vision of driving down to the beach for one last goodbye before college. Some other tables caught wind and told some other people and before I knew it I was sipping lemonade on the sand as Jem joked with people she had never joked with before. 

Hell, she didn't even know who they were. 

"Oh, oh! And the time when he made an aide burst out crying the first day!"

It was loud. Between the enthusiastic outbursts of anecdotes, laughter and the guy's football game, you could hear the waves coming forward from seemingly nowhere. 

"Man those were good times..."

It was a weird moment. 

"Yeah who knew how fast it was gonna go..."

Happy but strangely downcast. We were hanging on to old memories as a way of not facing the unknown to come even if that meant bonding with people whose names you didn't even know.

But it was sort of fun. 

Sort of. I was still itching for the surfboard seatbelted in the back of Jem's car as it got colder. 

What was weird was the could've beens. The could've been times, the could've been friends, maybe even the could've been more than friends. It made me realise how much I held back in high school, and how much I'd been saving for college as if the hard work ended there. I always thought there was plenty of time later to party. 

Maybe I regretted it. 

Maybe it would've been nice to have more than a handful of people know my name. 

But Jem was more than enough to handle. 

"Hey," she scooted back over to me, nudging my arm and smiling that smile of hers that told me she didn't have a worry in the world "Wanna walk around?"

"Alright," I got up, dusting the sand from my blue shorts knowing it wouldn't make much of a difference. I turned around only to find her still sitting, lean dark olive arms reaching up to me and hands grabbing like a baby. 

"Come on help Nana up," she pouted using every cute baby curl perched on top of her head to her advantage. I rolled my eyes laughing at her groans and grunts even though she wasn't doing any of the work as I helped her to her feet. 

"You sure you can handle just walking now?" I ask her, squeaking our linked arms in concern as she chuckles, brushing the sand off her crotchet set. 

"As long as we stay within a mile radius of the jocks I think I'll be good," Jem taps my hand averting my attention to the shirtless guys sprinting around the sand for fun, giving us flashes into the future as old women walking along this beach talking about the good times as we were doing now. "It's good for the soul."

I stare at them and their strange rituals of body slams, butt taps and roaring, considering intensely:

"I'm disappointed in us for finding them attractive."

She looks at me once, considers then turns back to the scene as we pretend to walk with sluggish feet that don't seem to want to step at all. She disagrees. 

"The body knows what it wants sweetie. But forget high school guys. You won't even remember these guys after the buffet you're gonna get in Cali."

"I'm never gonna get rid of you am I?" I laugh at her shamelessness but with fondness at the idea of nothing ever coming between us. 

"Honey it's gonna take more than a measly 35-hour drive without traffic to get rid of me..."

I slowed down and pulled my eyes away easily, that same sadness for what was and never will be again overcoming me.

"You looked it up?"

Jem stops too, glassy brown eyes wandering mine as she struggles with the sudden realisation that yes-

"I looked it up."

We both knew no matter how badly we tried to forget the distance, life would never be as easy as it once was with her a couple of yards away from me. I'll try to settle all the way in California with her still here in North Carolina but there was that inevitable sinking feeling of 'did I appreciate that convenience of having her around enough when I had it?' 

I knew she thought the same. 

She has a noisy face. 

"But today," she shoves me out of my thoughts with her sing-song enthusiasm, she nods towards the guy's cooly as if she isn't gushing linking our arms again "we're technically still in high school till that sun goes down."

And a noisy mouth. 

It's like a scene out of a movie; a bunch of sweaty shirtless guys playing football, the guys stop and whistle at the two blushing schoolgirls as they walk past for daring to show some leg but it wasn't that kind of movie. 

Embarrassment overcomes me when It's in fact Jem who does the whistling, in a loud, saliva-between-the-fingers kind of way. I wasn't quick enough to run away or short enough to hide behind her as around 20 pairs of enchanted eyes fixed on us, laughing and flexing playfully at the attention. Some whistle back, some kiss the air but I'm nudging her a new waist, still unable to help the uncontrollable laugh clogging the back of my throat. 

We turn to walk away when the show is over. 

Then number 21 turns. 

Jeon Jungkook turns to look at us with a  squinted playful gaze, a hand blocking his view from the sun until a sort of recognition hits. His large palms reduce the size of the football to nothing and it was tough to look away, almost a challenge as he glistened in what little sun we had left of the day and the dusk cut his body into sculpture. In just a pair of black swim shorts, curly long hair and a telling smirk he was exactly who my mother warned me about when it came to 'boys' and exactly the guy described in the books I hide under my mattress. 

I held my breath. 

Everything in me turned to mulch. 

It was slow, it was thick as we just stare straight through each other, trying to figure the other out with him apparently doing a better job as he sort of...winks? He bites his bottom lip in thought and to fight his grin before turning back to the game and I look back instinctively to see him playing like before.

And everything suddenly returns to natural speed as we walk away. 

"What the hell was that!" Jem pulled my arm out of its place and stretched the sleeve of my sweatshirt beyond its limits. 

"What do you mean?" I played it off cooly, trying my best not to expect too much for fear of being disappointed. But it wasn't a lie either. I genuinely had no idea what just happened, if it even did happen. There was a robust possibility that I imagined the whole thing. Any minute, my dad would call me down to breakfast and cuss me out for being late. 

"This girl," she muttered in frustration standing before me in a confrontational way despite her excitement, she was gesturing so wildly I had to hold her arms to her side "That! With Jeon-run-over-me-with-a-lawnmower-Jungkook! He was eye-fucking you!" 

"He was not," I laughed her off like a fly in the wind, trying to get out of the uncomfortable attention by putting my hands in my pocket. "...Was he?" 

"Girl, you're delusional. If this was Salem you'd both be burning on a stick for fucking through air!"

"People weren't burned at the stake for eye-fu-"

"I'm just saying!" She interrupted before her eyes went wide and her eyelashes dug into her eyebrow, I was just glad she paid attention those last few classes in history. She looked over my shoulder, too mortified with my dumbness to make eye contact "Oh wait-shit. Don't turn around he's still looking!"

He was!

Fffffffffffffuuuuuuuucccccccckkkkkkkkk!

"You idiot! I said don't look!" Jem slaps my arm to fight the idiot out of me but her slaps always hurt more than she realised. 

"Ow! When you say don't look of course I'm gonna look!" I yell back, covering my stinging arm and angling it away. 

She pushes me with brutal force. I push her back and simultaneously defend my honour by trying to stop her.

"Don't pull that reverse psychology on me, you know those classes were my nap times!"

Our previous flirty walk was thrown into the ocean as we push each other like dicks until we fall to the sand in front of the very boys we were secretly attempting to impress. We laugh our ass off on our backs, stomachs aching at our desperate and stupid selves. 

The hysterical laughter hurts my stomach until it doesn't. Something else settles in the cavity the laughter left. 

"You remember the first time I talked to him?" I say out of nowhere, calmness and nostalgia in my voice. 

Why was I thinking about that?

"When your pen exploded on his shirt?"

"Uh-huh."

I laughed breathily, finding it funny how Jungkook was just like the rest of us when he moved. He was picked on for being the only Asian guy, he was the weird gamer kid about 2-3 years ago and then he got hotter, he got superficial, and he got chicks. 

"It was so embarrassing. You know when a guy is super good-looking like you try to deny it and it means literally nothing to you but you still wanna make a good first impression? So he asks if he could borrow a pen, I give it to him and it explodes on the spot against his shirt..." I drift into that warmer-than-usual math class and that Billabong off-white t-shirt. 

"It wasn't even anywhere close to being my fault but it was still horrifying."

"It was a really nice shirt."

My voice is drifting, almost lethargic as I remember yet another could've been. It was funny how when I gave him that pen I thought it could change my life, like a single interaction with this guy would bring him back for another pen. And, another. And, another.  I don't care now, I laugh at the memory but I cried so hard after that class and thought about skipping the next day. 

"Funny thing is he won't remember."

Jem doesn't say anything. 

"I do."

I frown at the sky, judging its distance. 

"For some reason, I think about it all the time."

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢

It would be stupid to assume that at a beach full of nostalgic teenagers with little to nothing to lose there wouldn't be alcohol. It was darker, the sun floating perfectly on the sea level like a perfect egg yolk and dying the sky red and the only person sober enough to notice this was me. 

At this point Jem was on the opposite side of the fire, slurring through her compliments to this guy and this girl who she found out was in her calculus since the beginning and whom she-

"-wish I got to know ya'll sooner!"

Before giving them a messy hug and moving on to the next bunch. 

I was obviously driving us back. 

Jem's confidence and sheer audacity were things I had always envied. While she told complete strangers her deepest darkest secrets and made everyone fall in love with her in seconds, I just sat here looking at the ocean wishing I was somewhere else. 

I didn't really know how to put myself out there. 

It's impossible. 

You can't try too little cause then you're an arrogant ass or try too hard cause then you're desperate!

There weren't many people left/conscious, just pickings from every social circle all jumbled together discovering each other for the first time. Some were telling each other they'll love each other equally even from miles apart, some were making out and stopping every now and then to say: 

"Even if this is it, I'll never forget you."

"There'll never be anyone else."

There were friends promising to keep in touch through blubbering tears that would devastate Jem and me when the day would eventually come for us when I'd never see her through my windows again. There were people from completely different sides of the field coming together, laughing, flirting, joking and celebrating their fear of becoming accountable, of becoming adults. 

I leaned back into this thought, smiling into the warmth of the fire and enjoying the grit of sand in my palms. 

It was nice. 

Maybe they were just drunk. 

"Can I sit?"

The tone was too confident to be someone I knew.

I dragged my gaze up a muscular leg, wet black swim shorts and a sandy black hoodie to the casual and expecting expression of Jeon Jungkook. I look over to Jem but she's in her own world, babbling something about instant noodles with no intention of making fun of me again tonight quite yet. 

"Sure."

I was a little stiff, straightening up a little and dusting the sand off my palms. I was suddenly very conscious of my exposed legs. But there was something about this being the last day and all where he meant nothing to me, that everything he stood for meant absolutely nothing and would be washed away at the end of his high school career as easily as the sand on the shore. Between the crackling of the fire, the faint surrounding conversation and the ocean view, not even boy stress could phase me now.

I waited for him to talk. 

Maybe he didn't want to talk. 

 Maybe he just wanted to sit.

"Designated driver?"

That's fine too. 

I look at him not understanding at first until his brown eyes flicker towards the glass Calypso bottle in my hand. 

"Oh, I'm not much of a drinker," I shrug, somehow less concerned with appearing cool than I thought I'd be. 

It was just Jungkook. 

It was the last day. 

"No?" he asks with a charming smile, leaning back with intrigue and glancing at me bit by bit. 

Until he smiled. 

"You can't tell me you actually like the taste of that stuff," I laugh remembering the disinfectant-like taste of that blue stuff Jem made me try once and the morning of blue vomit that came after it. 

"No you're right, it tastes like shit," Jungkook bursts into small controlled laughter, pulling a face as if he'd just watched his buddy eat a raw onion. He leans in ever so slightly as if he's about to tell me what brand of underwear he wears or even which one I wore but instead he comments: 

"But it's not really about the taste is it?"

I study his face for a minute, the beauty spots, tanned skin and flawless complexion. The way his hair has dried in curls and his cheeks a little red from the heat of the fire. 

"I guess not," I laugh too, looking down but not really because it was funny but because it was true. 

As he takes another sip from his red cup, it settles in how strange it was seeing him up close. Since I didn't interact with his group on a daily basis, I had come to convince myself they none of the popular kids were real and now here I was with one of them, feeling strangely comforted by his odd company. 

We were both staring out at the fire and the sea beyond it; him because he was cool and didn't have to and had no desire to look at me and me because I didn't want to, I didn't dare to.

"You know, aside from English I never really saw you around," Jungkook quite comfortably thinks out loud, enjoying the way his bare feet sank into the sand "where have you been hiding?"

I simply didn't know where else to look.

"You know me?"

"You sound surprised."

"Well, we've never gotten personal before."

"Not true. I borrowed your pen once and it basically detonated, so pretty personal to me."

"You remember that?" 

"Of course I do. I've been looking for you to give you my dry cleaning bill. That was my favourite shirt you know."

"Oh, the lifelong embarrassment is plenty of compensation..."

And again the little laugh we did together got littler and littler until it was quiet again and we were fixed on the ocean but this time it was because I wanted to, and my eyes burned a little less. 

I began to feel guilt for the cold way I was trying not to get to know him and my judgements about his attempt at being company. I turn to him barely, looking at his legs rather than his eyes which are more muscle than actual leg.

"I haven't been hiding..."

He turns.

"You just...?"

You just haven't been looking. 

He knew I had more to say. 

Jungkook knew how to manipulate the sharp edge of black eyes, he knew that his tendency not to blink would egg an answer from me from heaven knows where. 

"I just..."

I laugh nervously.

It's desperately dry.

"I..."

He was dangerously patient. 

"I keep to myself."

I frown at my response, unable to think of anything else to say that wouldn't offend him and make him tuck and roll away from this car wreck. I cared so much about what I said and I hated that. I was sorry that I had to take it out on him, despite him actually being a seemingly decent guy. But I couldn't stop. 

Surprisingly I get the impression that Jungkook already knows. He stares at me for an excruciating amount of time after I answer his question, where I'm painfully staring straight ahead pretending not to realise. 

The truth was that I wasn't hidden at all. I notice Jungkook every weekend when I surf since he runs for miles along the shore and despite sharing classes with the guy for years, we cross paths like less than strangers. I in no way resent him for that.

We were just two people whose paths were never meant to cross.

"How'd you decide that?"

I was beginning to get comfortable.

The heat, delicacy and unexpectedness of the moment made me lethargic.  

"Jungkook, we both approached this life in wildly different ways..."

I hesitate.

"It doesn't matter in the long run but... 

...I never felt the overwhelming desire to follow yours."

"And no matter what the movies say, it sure does matter to a lot of people

from which side of the fence you hail."

Jungkook respected this honesty. His smile was softer than it was before but there was something swimming in his eye that almost wanted to prove me wrong, to convince me that maybe one of us made the wrong choice. 

"I swear I'm adorable when you get to know me."

Jungkook chuckles endearingly, touching a hand to his heart to make sure there wasn't a hole.

"If you try."

I chuckle unfazed, bringing my knees to my chest as I start to feel the cold. 

I didn't doubt him for a second.

"You're drunk."

"I'm not drunk. 

Jungkook's eyes gloss over as he stares at the spot of sand next to my foot. 

"You wanna know something about my fence?"

I was a little too invested in what he had to say.

"I sat right there..." he turns and points to a large rock a couple of yards away.

"For about half an hour trying to get the courage to come over here and talk to you."

I laughed. 

Not at him, which at first he didn't seem to understand but because I was the one who didn't understand. 

"Me? We barely know each other."

"Exactly, we barely know each other and yet one look 

and you'd already decided you'd rather not." 

I didn't really have anything say. He wasn't wrong, and he was right either but I couldn't say that it didn't cross my mind. Not talking to the guy and judging him based on what I knew about him made me no better than them.

"I don't like it when guys say they're not like other guys..."

"Cause what if they are? What's wrong with that?" 

"Like what makes you think you're so special to decide you don't belong to that?"

"What if I am just a stupid old jock?"

"Are you?"

Jungkook shakes his head honestly, curls shaking with it and laughing at the idea of him doing anything of the sort. It wasn't him. 

"You'd know that if you ever asked."

Nice job. I'm glad I was moving away. 

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not."

My eyes went wide.

"I'm not. I mean I had to talk to you about something right?"

His expression settles into a challenging smirk, his head tilted back to take more of me into his view as I flush in agreement, snorting through a laugh at the state of this kid. 

"You could've asked about my hobbies instead of absolutely crushing me."

"I know you surf. I see you at the beach every Saturday morning. You never wave back."

Jungkook smiles through a pout as if he even waves in the first place. He stares and continues to run, sometimes his pace slows slightly but it's ever so slight that I fall into the water from concentrating. 

Just from concentrating. 

"Shut up you don't wave."

"I knew you watched me run."

I flushed, slapping his arm in embarrassment. I don't know why. I just did. 

"The point isn't that you're a pervert. The point is...

It's more memorable this way, no?"

I neither cared to notice nor was ever in the position to notice before how Jungkook's eyes shone when he was waiting for an answer to a question. It pushed an answer out of you even if you didn't think you had one or made you so lost you forgot he even asked a question in the first place. 

When he laughs it comes from deep down, all the way from when he was little making it sound a little boyish. 

I didn't realise how close we were sitting until he brushed my leg when he put down his cup. 

It was silly how much that excited me. 

"You going to college?"

I take one more look at him before looking away. He had the prettiest red scattering of blush growing from the corner of his jawline.

"Yeah UCSD, San Diego."

I didn't want to talk about college tonight. Didn't really want to think about it. It just made me sad. 

"Makes sense. Jump out of class and into the ocean right?"

He smiles again- he doesn't stop smiling like a little kid at SeaWorld.

"Something like that."

"Excited?"

"Hard to be."

"Leaving a lot behind?"

"Mhm. It's a big step- the biggest step. 

"I just hope it's everything I hoped it would be, you know?"

He moves my way.

"That's the dreaded thing. You won't know until you just do it. 

But trust me even having the courage to even think about doing

something like that is worth something. Shit, I admire you." 

I fight with the silence. I got eyes and ears there was a reason I didn't pry about his future beyond just being an asshole. For the last two weeks or so, everyone whispered about how Jungkook didn't get his football scholarship for college cause of his grades. I felt bad for the guy, knowing little to nothing about that which he's made for but certain he was destined for it. He wasn't very smart. But, I could tell he knew that I knew. 

Everyone knew. 

Jungkook knew. 

I knew as soon as he didn't bring a pen to his Literature exam. 

I clear my throat. Treading lightly.

"You staying local?"

He shuts off a little, fixating on the ocean once more where the egg yolk was almost completely submerged in the water. 

"I might've got a last-minute spot in Long Beach. 

Hey, you might have a friendly face on the flight!"

"Right."

I laugh at his enthusiasm, catching my mind from drifting to the thought of a 7hr flight in his company. 

"Might?"

"Well, they said I could only major in exercise science if I joined the football team, did extra credit and basically retake the whole year over the summer. Turns out those grades? Pretty important."

"Win-win though right?"

He didn't sound excited. 

He was quiet for a while. I checked what I said in fear that I overstepped again. He looked to any regular passer-by like he was enjoying the ocean air against his face, breathing in the salt and smoke. But, I could see from our close proximity that there was something else. 

"I thought maybe I'd get to start again in college. 

I thought maybe I could try not being the dumb football guy. 

But maybe that's who I was meant to be."

I finally began to realise who I was sitting next to. Slowly I was learning more about Jungkook and it made me melt in his company, enjoy it and delusionally imagine us on that plane together with my board laid across our laps. It was a funny idea that I might know more about this guy than any of his friends, his parents, his cool cousins or strange uncles. It was scary how much trust you could have in someone after just an hour. 

"Only you can tell yourself who you're supposed to be. 

College is a lot of money to waste on finding yourself and what you love."

I check to see if he's listening. 

He really is.

"You've always known you wanted to do marine biology?" 

"I'm lucky. I'm one of the very few that will be able to study what I've always loved every day. The ocean. It's crazy how something so simple we see every day can be so complicated that we've only explored a fraction of it. God knows what's out there. I don't know if that's terrifying or exciting but I'm gonna find out." 

I get comfortably carried off into my thoughts, unable to stop my inner monologue from surfacing until I'm not thinking anymore, just imagining getting to feel that initial cold wash of water every day and getting paid for it.  

Jungkook is looking. He's studying me. His eyes weren't shining but his small hoop earnings were, mocking me for being so uncool and stupid. No one could ever pull those off like he did.

"I'm sorry I-"

"I'm glad you didn't keep to yourself today." 

His tone was different. He made my heart stop though it hurt more to admit it than just to feel it. At the end of the day, what difference did it make? I was blissfully aware how after tonight Jungkook and I would likely never see each other again, how we would be just a picture in the yearbook and a face we might shockingly come across in 10 years time. But I wanted to indulge myself with this moment, in the delusion that this was a could've been even if just for a few hours. 

"I'm glad I got to know you."

Even if it was just a little.   

[spindly-chair-legs]

A: Babe what if we are too old to have this baby? O: Don't worry about it sweetheart. The docs said the baby's healthy, haven't they? A: They did, but I'm more scared of what comes then. Babies need lots of care and energy and what if we don't have it anymore? O: We have loads of energy, sweetie. And even if we didn't we already have 2 amazing kids that will be happy to help us out if we need them to. A: I guess you are right. It's just... I don't want to put the burden on them, you know. Dad used to tell talk about the way he was practically raised by auntie Beatrice and I just don't want to put our kids through the same thing. O: Yeah, but wasn't your grandmother like single mom that was going through university and working as a teacher at the same time? You have me to help out with things and we both have loads more time to be with the kids. A: I love you, Oliver. O: Love you too, Annie.

[sweetandsoursaws]

It took a little bit of that tantrum before Envy figured out they were being called out. They quickly dropped Lark's mannerisms from there, relaxing into a half-lidded gaze, crossing their arms as they gave the other a look up and down, skeptical and almost bored.

Of course, while Envy truly is a low-key and somewhat hard to impress character, they are nearly always acting. Acting less interested than they are, less worried than they are, more on top of things. In reality, they had a background buzz of caution with this apparent living cartoon character. Very difficult to say whether it was just some low-level trickster, or so much as a proper deity. Envy had met some deities from other dimensions; they always had to be cautious and ready in case they were outranked.

"Sorry sweetie, I can't just let you play with my kitty without supervision. What kind of pet owner would I be?" Their voice took on a lilt, and they gave an exaggerated (facetious) pout. Lark cringed in the background. Envy hadn't been this bold about saying that kind of shit about their relationship before. But things were kind of different now. Lark had miscalculated while trying to break out of Envy's hold, and wound up further snared. Envy essentially owned him now.

"How's this; just don't make him question his sanity too much, or crave death more than he already does, and we shouldn't have too much of a problem." Extending an olive branch, because again, Envy could be in over their head here, they don't know. They'd let Lark back into the driver's seat, although Lark's whole disposition had already fallen to pretty damn depressed, ears dropped and looking anywhere but at the creature he'd find delightfully exciting (and/or terrifying) in other circumstances.

Lark didn't even know what to say after Envy just dumped on him like that. He didn't even particularly appreciate Envy "rescuing" him. What's a little existential terror compared to being possessed by a sin that made him treat his friends like shit?

Of course, the Perfect Person COULD in theory whisk Lark away from Envy's grasp anyways. Envy is a cardinal sin, and that's not nothing, but their power rather pales in comparison to extradimensional beings.

What a pain! Delight is short lived for this poor bastard, which really should not surprise it at this point, given its long history. Nothing ever works out for it! Nobody would ever entertain just a little bit of the Perfect Person enjoying itself! How was everyone so cruel and selfish? When would the Perfect Person get its day?!

"Hey, hey, hey!" The Perfect Person says, seeing immediately through those whole possession shtick given its narrative position (as in, outside of the whole thing). "You can't do that, you're cheating, that's cheating! It's not fair!" He says, pointing right back at Envy in Lark's body, momentarily stamping its foot upon the ground in a classic angry cartoon character gesture. He seems particularly peeved in a way quite unusual for those who know the man casually, ears pinned back, mouth decorated with a wavy tense frown, eye screwed up in anger, and a cartoonish scrawl graphic appearing over its head for the duration of its little temper tantrum before it winds down, relaxing a bit and letting the doodle above it dissipate.

"I'm just playin' around," it says defensively, raising its paws now as if to communicate 'Hey, now'. "I wasn't being serious or nothing! You don't need to be here, you should go away- and stop listening in, and don't wait to yank the steering wheel out- let him back out, I just want to play!" It speaks emphatically now, disposition shifting to be a bit pitiful, begging, eye wide and sparkling up at Envy.

Quite simply, the Perfect Person wants everything to go its way. It wants to talk to Lark, not this other whoever, and it wants to bother someone who can't be rescued at a moments notice! Was that really too much to ask?

[escapetodreamworld]

Nightmares

So I wrote this so I could sleep with a clear conscience tonight, last night i had a really really bad dream, and my dream did terrible things to Alma, so I wrote this as an I'm sorry and I decided I'd share it, tbh it's shit, it's not a real fic, just something I wrote so I could live with myself again.

Summary: Alma has a nightmare and you comfort her.

823 words

You don't understand what woke you up, it wasn't normal the way you woke up, you lay still, trying to understand what happened, waiting to see if something makes itself known, maybe you'll hear a kid sneaking out of bed and tiptoeing through the house. You know every sound with the loop, when every gust of wind blows, so it must have been a kid doing something they aren't supposed to be doing that woke you up, that or someone made their way into the loop, but no screams or crashes come to your ears.

What you do hear is a sharp intake of breath, followed by a sob. You sit up, look at Alma confused. Wondering if the sound came from her or Olive in the next room. Your question is answered when Alma lets out sobs, her face looks strained, and she clenches her eyes tight. You're careful not to touch her, but you start trying to wake her.

"Alma, darling, wake up." You say, quietly. But Alma just turns her face into her pillow. You hear your name come out in a cry and your heart breaks "Alma, please wake up, sweetie." You say, almost in tears. It doesn't work so you touch her shoulder, the moment you do she jumps, completely getting out of bed and stare at you, shoulders tensed. 

You stay there, sitting on your knees staring at her as she stares at you. "Alma." You whisper as gently as you can, you see her shoulder loosen, Alma sits on the edge of the bed, her back to you as she puts her head in her hands. You crawl over to her, still sitting on your knees, your nightgown luckily being the shortest of your nightgowns, stopping at mid thigh. You sit there, waiting for her to calm down a bit more before you touch her.

After a few moments you hear Alma sniffle, and you can't take it, dropping on your knees in front of her, you place your hands on her knees, rubbing them, trying to sooth her. "Alma, darling, what's wrong." You say softly, worried anything you do can hurt or scare her.

Alma looks down at you, the moon shining through the window in front of you gives you just enough light, so you can see the tears on her face. You gasp slightly, having never seen Alma cry, you cover your mouth quickly after gasping, in order not to upset her. 

After you are sure you want to make another sound like that you remove your hand, placing it on her knee again, tracing patterns above her knee with your fingers. You slowly lift one hand in the air, letting Alma see it as you slowly move towards her face, Alma doesn't make a move to stop you or flinch away so you gently cup her cheek, wiping away her tears as the spill from her eyes.

Alma leans into your hand, and sighs, the tension in her body lessening. "Alms." You quietly whisper your nickname for her, she weakly acknowledges you by giving your wrist a peck, as she stares down at you. "What happened Alma?" You ask,you don't know if she'll tell you but I try anyway.

To your surprise, she starts quietly telling you, her voice so soft you almost strain to hear her. "It was Victor, it was me finding him, the hollow, eating his eyes. But then it changed, it was you and the children, dead, I couldn't protect any of you, you died without me there, you were in a pool of blood, the kids eyes were gone, but they weren't cut open like yo-" Alma starts crying, you leap up, hugging her, Alma immediately clings to you, grabbing at you gown, pulling you as close as you could get as she sobs against you.

You stay hugging her, whispering into her hair as you kiss her head. "It's okay, everyone's okay, we're okay." Alma holds on to you, but you manage to get her to lay down with you, positioning her so her head is on your chests so she can hear your heartbeat. You lightly scratch her back, letting her relax as she feels your nails graze her back. She's still fisting your gown, holding on for dear life, but you don't mind.

You start talking to her, using a soft quiet voice to sooth her. You tell her about what Claire said to you, and how Millard played a prank on you, Alma mumbles something about how Bronwyn told her about Millard's prank on you. You can hear the tiredness in her voice, so you continue talking to her about things, about how the twins, were fighting over yet another toy, it doesn't take long before Alma's asleep in your arms, you know you can't move her with waking her up so you just close your eyes and fall asleep as well.

[birdtown-if]

'shipping ROs with ROs from other IFs' thing because everyone is doing it and I thought it was a great idea!

Oliver's picks

Yniol from The King's Hound @the-kingshound — He loves to feel protected and Yniol's middle name is probably 'best-bodyguard-ever'. He'd also be constantly admiring their strength, and honestly, can't blame him.

Khari from Sinners & Saints @sinnersandsaints-linwrites— They are very different, but he'd probably feel intrigued by them. He'd love the fact that Khari actually protects people and defends those who need it. Khari is also daring; they would def drag Oliver to do things he doesn't want to do but would enjoy afterwards.

Rylan from When Twilight Strikes @evertidings— It may sound like a weird pairing, but hear me out. Slow burn. He wouldn't fall in love with them at first because, at first glance, Rylan is too much for him. But eventually he'd grow from being exasperated by their careless and flirty attitude to being genuinely worried about Rylan getting hurt, and he'd start caring for them and yeah.

Blake from Off Script @offscriptif— What can I say? Oliver digs magic. Like, a lot. They probably have lots of things in common, reading about magical beings and being the introvert within their groups of friends. I feel like they could bond very easily. (I'm not sure if you've watched Arcane, but I feel like they both would love Viktor???)

Diana's Picks

Ellis from Body Count Game @bodycountgame— Where do I start; Ellis is the coolest person alive. They are bold, they are humorous, they are nice. They know what they want and when, and Diana definitely would fall for someone like that. She agrees with all those things and some more, and would crush hard on Ellis 100%.

Elysia from Wicked Hearts @wickedhearts-if— Elysia's kind, affectionate and compassionate, all things Diana isn't. She'd feel drawn to her loving nature, and would want to protect her at all costs!

Luisa from Novaturient @kalorphic— Her calmness contrasts heavily with Diana's short-temper. They'd balance each other out (more like, Luisa would balance Diana 😅) but I could see them finding a middle ground in which they would really get along. Diana could learn lots from Luisa's level-headed attitude.

Kalipso from Peripety @gamingperipety— Kalipso is an assassin. I'm not sure if that would be a great pairing or a terrifying one...maybe both. Whenever Kalipso did anything of the sort, Diana would just raise a thumbs up and smile. "You're doing amazing, sweetie!"

Catherine's Picks

Roan from Sinners & Saints (lin again)— Ended up tagging Lin's characters twice because I'd already drafted Oliver with Khari before she posted lmao. I can see them getting along, since they're both fairly easygoing. Catherine would listen to Roan talk about whatever for hours on end. She enjoys having deep meaningful conversations, and what can be more meaningfull than talking about things they love with passion? It can be anything, she'd be down for it.

Ellis from Rabbit Hole @if-rabbithole— She's drawn to heroes with kind and brave hearts, and Ellis would definitely meet all her standards lmao. She would enjoy figuring him out, finding the cracks in his perfectly crafted surface. There's always something to be found in heroes- something they don't want people to know. Well, she would 100% want to know.

Keira from Gold Rush @goldrush-if— Someone who is organized, clever, and learns languages? There wouldn't be a better person for Cath to strike a conversation with. She'd want to learn all she knows, and would gladly exchange ideas with her!

Syren from Wicked Hearts — Catherine would feel drawn to them, in complete awe of their shapeshifting abilities. Her curiosity would make her ignore any red flags she may find along the way, because "how did you do that?" and "can it be learned?" are the most important questions to ask.

[maeum-your]

i'm still a bit upset that you told me to go to sleep and then uploaded a chapter two hours later but there are more important things to discuss now.

Y/N HAS PINK HAIR?? i bet it looks amazing but she's gonna get killed by her mom 😭😭 why did no one stop her? i blame jake for getting her drunk. jake, you've got a big storm coming *snap*

i guess she at least doesn't have to worry about the kiss anymore if her mom sees her hair? but i'd prefer a confrontation with jay over a confrontation with that woman.

wishing y/n all the best and fingers crossed that this ends well!!

i already apologized two times but I'm sorry 😭 it really wasn't planned!!

i wanna have pink hair too, I'm so jealous of y/n 😭 first she gets to make out with jay and then she gets my dream hair color :// at least she has a horrible mom to make up for it LMAOOO y/n, sweetie, i am so sorry for the slander ily

if someone started meowing and barking and mooing you'd stay far away too 🤥 and i can assure you she probably tried to scratch and bite sunoo when he came too close so yeah

poor jake was clueless and just doing his job 🤧 normalize blaming sunghoon for all of this mess!

i hope she gets out of this alive but i don't know if she'll survive remembering the kiss, seems like she is already on the verge of drowning herself in the shower oliver wood style 🥶

[shortyisweird9]

'Lonely ghost serie'

Chek and heartache- part III

Tw⚠️:swearing, referring of dark themes such as suicide attempt and mental illness.

The morning rays hit your eyes gently, tangible by their warmth,as you forced yourself from another dream of nothing but blank.

You groaned as your cat,Didi, comes running towards you: purring, meowing and chirping in pure happiness. You knew the reason she does this; your previous cat, Martha or Dildo- your roommate Sergiu called her that because of her dickish attitude with him- used to do this everytime so the little one, Didi, just followed her mother's lead.

Everytime she does that is like a small needle stabs at your heart especially when just 2 weeks passed since Martha died of old age- the black cat was adopted when she was senior, abused and malnourished, your heart knew you couldn't leave her to be laid to rest like a nothing. You adopted her, she bit you and you petted her, she hissed you hugged her, you did everything you could think of to show love even brush her fur with a wet toothbrush end to mimic sweet kisses coming from her mom. The cat soon realized that and started living again. Cautious of your other 3 roommates, cuddly with you.

Anyway, you got sidetracked with reminiscing. You heard your friends in the kitchen, Sabrina throwing away the take out boxes and Sergiu preparing some tea, probably to calm his stomach after all the spicy curry he ate last night.

You fixed the oversized white t-shirt and pull the marine blue shorts out of your bottoms, Didi already waiting you by the door.

You all, Sabrina,Sergiu,Ace and you, live in a quaint apartment, turned from campus housing, right next to one of the malls of the city. It had two small bathrooms, a living room , three petite bedrooms ,a tiny kitchen, a rounded balcony and a hallway. It was much smaller than your family home but it was in a central zone where your family home was outside the city's boundaries. You chose it not only because you wanted to spare your family from driving you to university but also because you needed your freedom, your space. Your parents were very understanding of that.

-Y/n e trează? ( "Is Y/n awake?") Ace asked as he sipped on his black cofee.

Without, he would pretty much be a grumpy hedgehog with spiky tealish mohawk. And who wouldn't love that?

-Nu încă, ah! Uite-o! ("Not yet,ah! There she is") Sabrina exclaimed, getting up to hug you and leaving the smoking tea cup by the window.

"Hello." You said ,voice grungy and eyes shut from the light.

You felt the warm hands of your Arabic friend on your face filled with moles and couple of marks from recently popped pimples, you let yourself be engrossed into it ,the touch starvation you carry like a cross chosing for you.

You hear her laugh, she always had a pretty laugh and a prettier smile . She was the beauty of the group, with big puffy sand yellow curls, brown skin with red undertones and black eyes who glow in pure happiness. She was stunning and a sweetheart with an obsession on the colour red and butterflies.

"Someone is needy." Ace teased.

"Shut up or I will staple those hair triangles on your scalp. "

You wanted to say something better but Sabrina then started massaging your lower face in a circular manner with her thumb. You knew you couldn't do anything anymore except melt.

-Anyway ,unde e Sergiu? ("Anyway, where is Sergiu?")

-Ți-o făcut ceai, cane e pervaz. S-o dus până sus să o ajute pe Florentina.("He made you tea, the cup is on the windowsill. He went upstairs to help Florentina.") He said, taking another sip of his cup.

-Ooooh, Florentina. You two began as Ace shook his head in amusement.

You and Sabrina were known to be ruthless in your teasing of the guitarist with long brown locks and beard.

Florentina was a crush of his, a freshman in the University of Arts who played the violin beautifully. Small,with olive skin, long red hair keept in a 1960s hairstyle and green petite with a triangular shaped face. She was a sweetie with a love for fantasy book ,autumn and ferrets.

-Oh, yeah?

-Dup, iubitul ei se mută cu ea. ("Yup, her boyfriend moves in with her")

-Oh.

Ace sucked in his lip ,his face filled with disappointment just like theirs now.

-That sucks.

-Numai spune,Sabrina.("You don't say,Sabrina")

Just then, the door clicked shut. Sergiu is back, this will be awkward.

-Ce vă uitați așa la mine?("Why are you looking at me like that?")

Neither of them could properly looked into the warm brown eyes of the man whose glow seemed to fade a bit, Sergiu was a stubborn man who shut his feelings deep inside, only through his song you could tell he was suffering. Just like you, I suppose.

-Am auzit...("We heard...")

You bit your lips as your long fingers played with each other, twisting and tugging while your nerves grew. Last thing you wanted was another fight where you all force the man to open up. He had suicidal tendencies, sometimes he came too close to actually do it but you were there and you needed to be there now too, even if he doesn't like being taking care of.

Sergiu rolled his eyes at you, his heart hurt from how rigid your posture was, eyes were worried about him but also scared, teeth grinding themselves not out of anger but out of care and fear.

He knew you hated arguments and shouts with dying passion. You always cried when someone raised their voice in less than friendly manner, you hated this reaction of complete terror, you hated looking weak but now you hated letting your friend burn himself because of an unfortunate love triangle. So you swallowed your nerves and braved on, it's about him ,not you.

Sergiu wanted to protect you all from this negativity, especially you and Ace. You had a big event to organise , Ace's sex reassignment surgery is coming up soon. You both have your own problems to dwell ,you didn't need to have him as one too.

However somewhere in his head, a voice telling him that he was wrong ,that voice that took the shape of you in the night of July.

You were crying, your grey hoodie wet from the rain as you cling desperately to him, not daring to move.

He was the reason why you crying, why you yelled profanities our of worry for what he was about to do. He...He tried to throw himself off a bridge ,the same bridge you two first shared your kiss.

That dark episode still irked your minds in the darker moments, late in the night nothing but your mind to keep you company and that's torture in itself.

You thought you could help him, change whatever hurts him and make it go away. That was your biggest mistake, you can't change a person that's not your duty , your duty was to support them through tough times and help them see the light at the end of the dark tunnel. A duty you solemnly swore to uphold even if he didn't liked you to. There's no fucking way you let him do that again,not if you can be there for him. Like he was always there for you, your big guardian with a guitar that spews flames in shape of songs.

-Y/n..

-Te rog, Sergiu. Nu ascunde. ("Please, Sergiu. Don't hide.")

Your eyes were desperate for him to talk it out in any shape or form. They implore for him to vent, to not hid between fake lies like " I am okay" or "I'm fine."

-Bine,bine. Tu ești șefa. ("Fine,fine. You're the boss.")

————————————————————

They talked and talked and cried and laughed and cried again. A never ending circle of venting ,small earthquakes which instead of fracturing the friendship , it onlyakes it stronger as it should.

-Te simți mai bine?("You feeling better?") Your voice ran timidly on the top of your apartment building, watching over the brutalist styled architecture.

-Un pic, doare știi dar asta îmi arată cât de îndrăgostit sunt de ea. Iubirea adevărată pentru mine nu se referă doar la a iubi doar dacă te iubește reciproc, nu , să iubești fără să forțezi persoană să te iubească înapoi. Să îi porți de grijă, să o protejezi, să o ajuți fără să fi un egoist, fără să te aștepți să fi iubit înapoi. ("A little, it hurts you know but this shows how much I love her. True love for me doesn't mean to love just so they will love you back, no, to love someone without forcing them to love you back. To care for them, to protect them, to help them without being an egotistic, to love without expecting to be loved back.")

-Poetic.

He laughed at that , starring at the setting sun ,his lit cigar forgotten fumed between his painted fingers. His hair blown gently by the wind , he looked like a masterpiece.

-Scuze..pentru tot.("Sorry...for everything. ")

-N-ai de ce. Mi-ai făcut chec până la urmă așa că balanța eternă este restabilită.("You don't have a reason to be. You made me chek in the end and thus the eternal balance is restored.") You joked, munching quietly on the piece of cake, his jacket keeping you warm.

-Haha. Cine ar fi crezut că checul are fi o gustare bună când îți dai vent.("Haha. Who would have thought that chek will be a good snack when you vent.")

Indeed, who would have thought of that but one who cried in the sore days filled with heart ache.

————————————————————

Hey,guys!💖

Hope you like the third part of the serie, I wanted to focus on "your life" and your friends backgrounds this time. The translations are not 100% word to word but enought to give you context.

Anyway, I hope you like it. Stay safe!

Tagged 💗💗:@moolujk @gaysludge @simonsbluee @yoyoanaria @cherry-piee @magenta-skyline @yikesyikesyikes95

[loveforpreserumsteve]

Letting Go: "ALN" Story (Pre-Serum Omega!Steve and Alpha!Bucky Modern Domestic AU)

Eighteen:

Two days before Hanukkah, was the first junior high dance for Finn. With his dark auburn curls recently cut short and styled by his wonderful Uncle Silas, and wearing a new baby blue sweater, he posed for the obligatory pre-dance pictures. All with his big brother good-humoredly teasing him.

"Are you done yet?" Finn complained.

"Almost," Bucky said, still taking more pictures.

When the doorbell rang, Finn sighed out in relief, "Thank god."

"Oh no, you're not getting off that easy," Steve chuckled, racing to answer the door. Opening it, he found the Maximoff twins. Grinning, he greeted, "Don't you two look handsome."

"Thank you," Billy and Tommy told him.

"Well, c'mon in," Steve held the door open wider for them. Their father, Vis, followed and Steve asked, "No Wanda tonight?"

"Had to work night shift," Vis answered with a shrug.

"Everyone get in close," Bucky instructed, taking some shots of the trio.

"Dad," Finn groaned in annoyance.

"Don't, 'dad,' me," Bucky playfully warned.

Playfully, Finn rolled his eyes, but posed for another picture. All the while, Oliver and Ian kept making funny faces at the preteens behind the older alpha. Steve pressed his own lips together to stop himself from laughing.

"Vis, you want a picture of you and the boys?" Bucky asked, looking away from his phone screen.

"No, that's okay," Vis assured, "We took pictures with Wanda before she left for work."

Nodding, Bucky put his phone away. Giving Finn a hug, he wished their second oldest, "Have fun, alright?"

"I'll try," Finn good-naturedly scoffed.

Bucky kissed Finn's forehead and let him head over to the closet to get his winter coat. Steve could feel tears building in his eyes because no matter how many firsts their children had, they were always so cherished. And as Steve realized, it didn't get any easier over the years. For half a second, Steve thought about asking for just a few more pictures.

Hugging the twelve year old, Steve said, "You're gonna knock 'em dead."

"Pops," Finn playfully rolled his eyes while his alabaster white cheeks started to redden.

"Have fun," Ian called from the sofa as the three preteens left the house, leading the other father out too.

Sniffling, Steve caught the few tears that escaped from his eyes before heading for the kitchen, "Who wants hot chocolate?"

"Me," many of the other family members chorused from the living room.

"Here, I'll help," Ian stood from the sofa and reached for the mugs over the coffee maker.

A small smile started tugging at Steve's lips with the familiarity. It was nice having Ian there. It was even nicer to realize that he felt comfortable enough to not only help, but know where everything was. Steve wasn't sure when exactly it had gotten like that, but he was glad it had. It reminded him of how things were with the other kids their children had befriended.

"So, Ian," Steve started, putting the water on. "What are you doing Sunday?"

"Um," Ian worried his lower lip as he thought, "I don't think I have anything. Why d'ya ask?"

"Well," Steve let the water heat. "As you know, Hanukkah is starting this weekend, and I thought that you might like to celebrate with us."

For a moment, Ian just blinked at him. Almost mystified by the older omega. Steve didn't let it bother him though. He just continued filling the mugs with the cocoa powder. When Ian still didn't say anything though, Steve looked over at the teen to make sure that he wasn't in shock.

"Are you sure?" Ian finally asked. "I mean, I don't have any gifts."

"Oh, sweetie, you don't have to bring anything. That's not what the holidays are about," Steve assured. Then, he leaned closer and teased, "Besides, the kids have so much stuff that they wouldn't need a gift for years."

At the corner of Ian's lips, a small smile tugged. Which, of course, only made Steve's own grow. Especially when Ian softly chuckled.

"Still," Ian shrugged. Quietly admitting, "After everything that you and Mr. Barnes have done for me, and just your kindness in general, I'd like to not show up empty handed."

"My husband and I – like our kids – want for not," Steve clarified. But he was touched for the suggestion, regardless. "You don't need to bring anything except yourself."

Ian was back to chewing on his lower lip as he asked, "Can I think about it?"

"Of course," Steve assured, getting the kettle off the hob when it started whistling.

Stirring the cocoa until it was mixed completely, Ian decided, "Okay."

"Okay," Steve nodded, placing the hot beverages on serving trays, "All set."

"No," Ian nervously chuckled as he shook his head. Clarifying, "Okay, I thought about it. I've made my decision. I'll be here Sunday."

"Great," Steve sincerely enthused, wanting to hug the boy because that pesky paternal instinct that flowed deep in his veins urged that perhaps the boy didn't get a lot of those at his home. "You'll have a blast!"

Oliver good-naturedly scoffed at the statement and told his boyfriend, "You'll have a migraine by the time it's over."

"Stop," Bucky playfully swatted at the back of Oliver's head. Assuring the older teen, "It's not that bad."

And since Bucky was on Ian's side, Oliver decided not to push his luck. It was clear on his face that he had some questions, but he wasn't going to ruin the relaxed mood of the room.

Kit didn't have those same reservations.

"Does this mean that Ian's family now?" The nine year old innocently asked.

Steve pressed his lips together to keep himself from blurting out a confirmation. Instead, he shared a look with his mate. If it was up to Steve, he'd wrap Ian up in his arms and properly welcome him into their family.

"Yeah," Bucky decided, taking a drink of his hot chocolate, "It means Ian's family."

TAG LIST: @t3a-bag

[memesiders]

Ghost AU Part 2 :)

(This was the last part I had saved so figured I'd post it :) Will be working on Part 3 soon!)

Hazel eyes stared back at Mel as she studied herself in the bathroom mirror, setting down the eye liner and studying her work. The dark circles under her eyes refused to go away, no matter how much high coverage concealer she packed on. Her normally rich olive skin was so pale she almost looked like a ghost herself. "You look miserable," she sighed to her reflection, smoothing some highlighter onto her cheekbones and up her temple. She reached into her makeup bag and pulled out a dark wine colored liquid lipstick, carefully running it over her lips. Not sure this helps make me look more alive, but oh well, she thought, looking over herself once she was finished. Another loud sigh left her lips and she pushed away from the counter, bundling her vibrant hair into a messy bun, shorter strands escaping the hair tie and framing her face.

The hairs on the back of her neck immediately stood on end, a primal emotion washing over her that made her heart beat faster.

"Fury," she said softly, eyes darting around the small room. Something pink flashed in her peripheral vision and she spun on her heels, grabbing onto the doorway to steady herself. "I... I'm sorry about last night. You didn't even do anything and I yelled at you. But..." She took a deep breath, her shoulders slumping.

"When you get like that around Lawson, I... You can't be like that around my baby brother." The phantom took form then, standing only a few inches away from the girl. Jaw clenched and arms crossed, the woman studied Mel.

"I know not to harm the brat; you know this by now," she replied, but her words fell on deaf ears. "You've made it more than clear he's completely off limits. Besides, I'd like to stay far away from that creature..." Fury uncrossed her arms, reaching out a tentative hand. Her fingers curled around a few of the bright loose stands, wrapping them around her finger before giving them a quick tug. "You're the worst creature of all." Mel smiled at this action and Fury couldn't help but give a small smirk.

She and the child had almost never gotten along, but the mortal had still managed to wiggle herself into Fury's small, cold heart; not that she'd ever admit it.

"Melinoe," her mother called. "Come eat, your bus is almost here!"

"Coming!" Mel shouted back, flipping the bathroom light off. "Alright, let's behave today, agreed?" Fury scoffed, stepping aside as the girl dashed down the hall.

"I'm always behaved, when it matters."

Mel hurried into the kitchen, throwing herself into the empty seat at the table that waited for her. She quickly tore into her breakfast, shoving a giant forkful of egg, cheese, and tomatoes into her mouth. "Easy, killer," her dad chuckled, looking up from the folder spread open in front of him. "Don't want you to choke."

"It's moms Huevos Rancheros; I literally cannot control myself," she shot back, following it up with another big bite from her breakfast. Her father laughed, reaching over and messing with her bun.

"Well try and show at least a little restraint, alright kiddo?"

"No promises!" They both chuckled and continued on with their morning, nearly oblivious to the beings that entered the room.

"Ooh, Huevos Rancheros," Strife groaned, staring at the dish longingly. "I can see it, I can smell it, but damn do I want to taste it; just once!"

"Maybe if we were corporeal," War grumbled. "I'd love to be able to feel my sword sink into the gnarled body of a demon just once more, feel my blade pierce its putrid heart." Strife looked at his brother, cocking his head slightly.

"Riiiiight... I mean, that sounds fun too." War sighed and reached out, grabbing one of the dining chairs. With a gentle tug the chair was sent flying across the kitchen, crashing into the wall. Mel's mother shrieked in surprise, a hand flying over her chest as she attempted to calm herself down. Mel choked on her food and quickly glanced from the broken chair to her mother and back again.

"It's an accident," she rushed out, her pulse jumping slightly. "It's War; he just doesn't know his own strength! I- I'll work on it with him-"

"You shouldn't have to work on anything!" her mom snapped, quickly clamping her lips together. The woman closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. Mel looked down at her half eaten plate of food, picking at the remaining eggs. "I'm sorry, sweetie." Her mother was calmer now, and had regained some of the color she'd lost. "You should probably get ready to meet the bus." Mel nodded quickly and pushed her plate away taking a last gulp of orange juice before standing.

"It wasn't her fault," War grumbled his hands balling into fists. "Why must they treat her this way?" The air in the room swirled, the kitchen cabinets fluttering open and closed. The adults in the room quickly looked at each other with wide eyes, fear palpable in them.

"War," Mel said, spinning on her heels. "Please, stop." The ghost seemed to ignore her, the rattling only getting worse.

"Brother, stop," Strife ordered, his usual cheerful tone now completely stripped of humor. "This won't help her."

"They've upset her!" War exclaimed, one of the cabinets slamming closed. Everyone jumped and Mel gulped, her heart beating faster.

"War, please, stop! We- We have to get to school!"

"You'll only further upset her if you don't cut it out," Strife warned. "Look at her; does she look okay with this?" War glanced over at his human, studying her. The worry etched on her face, her small frame trembling, the shine in her eyes as tears began to build; and just like that, all was calm in the home. War sagged forward, grimacing.

"Thank you," she breathed, a sense of relief washing over her.

"Go," her mother said suddenly. Mel looked at her mom.

"I'm so-"

"Please, just take your brother and go." Her mom turned away from her then, gripping the counter to keep steady. "Have a good day at school." Mel furiously blinked back tears, grabbing her brothers hand and leading him to the door. The two backpacks next to the door levitated off of the ground and Mel swiped them up quickly, noting the faint smell of gunpowder.

"Thanks, Strife." The siblings stepped out into the crisp autumn air, the cold biting into her nose and cheeks.

"Are you okay, Meli?" Lawson asked, looking up at her curiously. Mel dabbed at her eyes and forced a smile, nodding.

"Yeah, I'm fine! It's just my allergies acting up." She tried to sound as cheerful as possible but the look on her little brothers face told her that she wasn't doing a good job of it.

"Is mommy mad at you?"

"No, she's not. She just doesn't want us to miss the bus." As they reached the end of the gravel driveway, a loud engine roar shattered the silence, a large yellow school bus turning down their street. "See? We would've been late!" Law smiled and wrapped his little arms around her side, squeezing tightly. She smiled and smoothed down his messy hair.

She looked up and spotted a familiar black blob sitting on the power lines across the street. The crow had been around for as long as she could remember, seeming to follow wherever she went. She'd offered the bird a few shiny bits and baubles and though it seemed grateful for the gifts, it would never get to close or allow her to pet it.

Death sighed from beside the two humans, staring longingly at the crow across from them. "Dust, you fool. Why do you continue to stick around? There's nothing left for you here." The animal cawed loudly in reply, attempting to tell him off, and the reaper chuckled. He missed the bird, not that he'd ever admit it; missed stroking his midnight feathers, the feeling of his talons sinking into Death's shoulder when the creature was too tired to carry on flying or felt lazy, missed the occasional peck or two; he missed everything.

"That thing's still around," Fury asked, moving to stand next to him. "How long has it been now?"

"Fourteen years since he tracked us down."

"And he still hasn't left; you two must've been great friends." Death hummed in reply, his gaze torn from the bird as the school bus pulled up. The door hissed and opened, the children quickly climbing on. Fury groaned quietly, following the humans onto the bus. Her lip curled immediately as she studied the scene before her, her hands rising to rest on her hips. The children on the bus were loud, wild, and disgusting, nothing unusual; still, it never ceased to amaze her just how annoying human offspring were.

"Just five minutes with these brats and they'd reconsider raising their voices above a whisper," she grumbled.

"You'd also scar them for the rest of their lives," Strife chuckled, popping into the bus. War followed close behind, barely hopping on before the vehicle pulled forward, leaving the house behind them.

"At least they'd be behaved." One particular child shrieked just then and Fury snarled, grabbing one of the girls pigtails and yanking it hard. The girl nearly flew from her seat. "Shut up!"

"Fury," Death warned. The girl pulled herself back up, her eyes wide with fear. She clutched the pigtail to the side of her head and quickly looked around, searching for the culprit.

"What?"

"Can we not go one day without you harming an unsuspecting child?"

"Can I not go one day without the incessant prattling of prepubescent children?"

"Someone get this girl a Snickers," Strife muttered, jokingly elbowing War's side. Fury cut her gaze to him, reaching for her whip, when she remembered it wasn't there. It was with her body at... She frowned to herself; where was her body? She still couldn't remember. None of them remembered how or where they died. The only thing she could remember was waking up tethered to an infant. Her eyes drifted to the teenager in the back, oblivious to the ghost that was watching her. Sixteen long years with no knowledge of how she and her brothers had perished. It irked her every single day, and she would never be able to get answers; not while she was attached to Melinoe.

"Fury," War said cautiously, careful to not provoke his temperamental sister. Fury hissed softly, turning her attention back to her siblings. Without saying anything, she disappeared from view, leaving only a wisp of pink smoke in her wake. The others exchanged glances but said nothing; their sister would calm down eventually. Hopefully she wouldn't cause any harm before then.

[lovysmtalks]

Welcome to the family

Hello there lovely! 💕

⚠️!!TW: mention of abuse, Mature language!! Read at your own risk ⚠️

It was a normal day for Marinette Cheng.

Working.

Working.

Working.

Working.

Did I say working?

Well who could blame her. Working at a the office would never be easy...

After a while,

She heard a knock on the door.

She looked up to see her dear mother bringing her a cup of coffee.

"Hello maman." Said Mari looking up from her papers putting her significant sweet smile on her face.

"Hello ma chérie (sweetie), how is work going?" Asked her mother gently patting her head softly.

"Its going ok, it would be great if it would be that much." Said the girl looking at her mother with tired eyes.

Sabine looked at her little girl with a soft glare.

"So, how is it for you? Got any new clients?" Said Marinette while picking her cup.

"Well, yes and no." Said the woman looking at her daughter.

Mari blinked two times,

'What did she just said?' Thought the girl.

"What do you mean by that maman?" Asked Marinette.

"Well, I have a mission for you, after your training today. You need to go to this club." Said Sabine putting a picture on her desk.

Mari looked at the picture.

'That's where the fricking Joker goes?! What the-'

"I know what you think" says Sabine pulling out a tissue after Marinette dropped the little cup of coffee on her lap.

Marinette looked at her mother with a 'no-shit-sherlock' look.

"But, we have heard that he's abusing his girlfriend" said Sabine trying to convince her Daughter.

"Mom, that's basically their relationship, he's a psychopath who manipulates and kills, and his girlfriend is well known to be seduced and manipulated by him" said Mari searching the article on her laptop.

"I know that, but a trust worthy source told me that she is seeking for help, but she can't get away from him" said her mother feeling pity for the woman.

"I-" Mari looked at her mother ready to refuse but then realization hit her.

"Ok, I'll do it, but I need a male body costume, dont forget I have some "things" in the way" said Marinette getting up from her desk, putting the papers down.

"On it ma chérie." Said Sabine smiling at her daughter.

After her mother left

The started thinking how she can convince Joker to give his girlfriend.

And then it hit.

'Money' thought the girl,

'But hes well known to get the money and shooting the person after' she thought.

Well, she didn't want to die tonight.

'Hmm, maybe getting him drunk enough to not realize what hes doing?' She thought looking at an her desk.

She walked to it and opened one of the locks

'Sleeping pills? Well, at least give it a try' she thought.

***

After 6 hours, everything was ready, she was looking convincing enough.

The pills were on her pocket.

She took a bodyguard with her just in case.

"Be careful love. Please come back safe." Said her mother.

"I will maman, don't forget to prepare the room for our guest" Marinette said to her mother as the woman fixed her tie.

"I'll see you later ma'am, I'll make sure to bring her home" said the guard as they got into the limousine.

***

The drive was long enough for the two of them to discuss how the plan would work.

"So, when we get there my name will be Benjamin Oliver, I am 35 years old, a rich man looking for a partner." Said Mari pulling out the fake Id.

"Yes, when we get there I will be behind you with the money."

Said the bodyguard looking at the road

"Before that I need to bait him into drinking something so I can put the pills in" said Mari verifying her pocket for the pills.

"Understand sir."

***

When they got there, the two of them blended in with the other people when a voice came behind her.

"Eyyy, my old pal!" Said the intoxicated voice.

She turned around to see Joker himself behind her holding a glass of alcohol

'Well, that was quick, now just go with the flow' the girl thought.

"Oh hello Joker. How are you doing?" Asked Marinette making her voice strong and masculine.

"Ya know, business as usual" said the man taking a seat beside her.

"Ah I see. Well, i heard some rumors that you sell something special." Said the girl trying to bring up the situation.

The man took a while to think what she meant until the realization hit him.

"Oh yea. Why? Are you intrested?~" said the intoxicated man.

Mari put her hand around his shoulder trying to put the pills in his drink.

"Yes, I am indeed. How much?" Asked Marinette after finally putting the pills in his glass

"Whoa, pal, dont you wanna see her first?" Laughed the man at her serious face.

"Well yes, I would love to see the lady." Said the girl making a sign to the guard to come with her.

"Follow me my friend." Said the man as he started to push people out of the way.

They walked to the other side of the club when they stood infront of a golden haired woman In a short sparkly dress.

The woman had bruises on her arms and legs, While her neck was covered in a little bandage that was just hanging there like it was supposed to be on the floor a long time ago.

"Oh Harley, I would want you to meet my friend...uhm..?" The man looked at her waiting for an answer.

"Benjamin. Benjamin Oliver." Said Mari looking at the woman who started shaking after seeing them.

"So how much would you pay for the chick?"Asked Joker, not carrying about the poor female form behind him.

Marinette clapped her hand and the bodyguard opened a suitcase full of packs of 500 dollars.

"Is this enough?"asked Marinette observing the man starting to yawn.

"Yes. Now Harley dear, you are going with Benji while i-" Joker could finish his line as he collapsed on the floor with his face on the couch.

"Quinn, you are coming with me." Said Marinette as she pulled out a little outfit out of the guards backpack.

Harley looked at her Puddin one last time before she nodded her head and took the outfit.

"Go to the bathroom and change, the guards will distract the people so they wont come here, understood?" Asked the girl.

Harley nodded and headed to the girls bathroom with Marinette following behind.

***

After the woman changed, they got out of the club getting into the limousine.

After some moments of silence Harley started speaking.

"Listen here man, just because you got me out of there doesn't mean I'm going to be your sex toy, got it?" Said Quinn trying to make her voice sound angry.

Marinette just nodded her head and the drive continued in silence.

***

When they got to the mansion.

Harley tried to make a run but her leg gived up on her after the first 5 steps.

"No need to run Harls. We are making sure you are safe" said Marinette helping the woman get up from the cold stone.

Harley tried to argue but she was too tired to fight back, so she accepted her faith.

Once they got inside, they were greeted with the warm of the household.

"Marinette, my baby! You are safe!" Said her mother running at her from the stairs.

"Wait, what?" Questioned Harley as she sat down on the warm couch.

Marinette washed her face with a tissue removing her masculine makeup from her face and taking the wig off.

"Whoa, a Kinder Egg with surprises aren't ya?" Said Harley laughing a little.

"Hello dear, my name is Sabine Cheng, welcome in our home."

Said Sabine handling the woman a pack of ice.

"Sabine Cheng? As the popular Lawyer?" Asked Harley out of curiosity.

"Yes, that Sabine" smiled Sabine as she saw the girl started to panic.

"Dont worry, we are good guys, we wont turn you in, but we want to help you get better." Says Marinette as she took off her suit.

"How does your husband let you take random strangers in?" Asked Harley chuckling a bit as she felt more relaxed.

Marinette's smiley face turning stoic as the words got out of her mouth.

"Did I say something wrong?" Asked Quinn worryingly.

"No-no, just my ex-husband wasn't a man of his word" said Sabine patting gently Harley's hair.

"He is a disgraceful man and a cheater." Said an old man coming down stairs.

"Hello Master Fu. I forgot to tell you about our guest." Said Mari as she got up to hug the old man.

"Dont worry about that little ladybug, everything is ok." Smiled the man at the girl.

"And welcome to the family Harleen"

(How Mari looked in her disguise | )