#STOPP STOP STOP STOP ITS SO FUCKING ANNOYING

[yelloworangesoda]

CHARACTER AI STOP CALLING ME SKINNY CHALLENGE LEVEL IMPOSSIBLE

[theoriginalkaminari]

♡right. ....second chorus.♡

Katsuki Bakugou x CheshireCat!reader

This is part two since a lot of people liked the first one which made me really happy♡♡

Here is the first part!!: part one

Warnings, disclaimer, other stuff: Reader has a quirk that helps them cause mischief, this is kinda bad writing so my bad, also so sorry this took so long, thank you for your patience.

Enjoy at your own risk.

"Ohhhhhh"

"Please stopp...for the love of god.."

"Right."

"Thank you."

"....Second chorus. A-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP."

You and Katsuki have been going around in circles for the past 30 minutes trying to find Izuku. Little does Katsuki know, you warped the trees so they won't let Katsuki get to Izuku.

What? Its much more fun to have the blonde all to yourself.

"Stupid trees...your leading me away from him, aren't you?!" Katsuki growls as he stops walking, turning sharply to face you. With that devilish and mischievous grin of yours, you only shrug and look away.

This annoys Katsuki even further. "Mangy cat. Scram, go climb a tree or something!" He says, waving his arm dismissively as he storms away again. He won't get far without your guidance. The trees won't let him.

As Katsuki walks along, he doon notices the darker the path is getting. He can feel someone's eyes on him, making a shiver roll down his spine. What?! No! He's not scared. He's just...cautious!

Oh...but Katsuki can't help but feel like the trees are swallowing him as he continues down the path. If only you were there to hold him.

Of course, you could easily hop down from your position on the tree and reassure him, but its far more fun watching the little mouse find his way out of the trap.

A grin on your face, you lay on your stomach as you watch Katsuki walk around in circles. Of course, he doesn't know that. He thinks he's going the right way. He's too stubborn to admit that he's wrong.

Eventually, you grow bored and frankly quite dizzy from watching him circle around. So you decide to play with your food.

You clear your throat, practicing your vocals. "Kacchan..." you practice in a higher tone. No, thats not right. "Kacchan!" You say in a natural tone. No, not it either. That sounds more like Kaminari rather than Izuku. "Kacchan." You say after clearing your throat. Finally. Thats more like it, now you sound perfectly like Izuku.

Clearing your throat once more, you grab a megaphone out from the tree and speak into it. "Oh, Kacchan! Over here, to your left!" You call out in Izuku's voice, biting back laughter as Katsuki falls for it and attacks the trees to his left with a roar.

You can't help it, and before you know it, your laughing hysterically.

Katsuki growls, soon realizing that he has been tricked. He glares up at you, spotting you from your spot on the tree. "OI! DON'T THINK I DON'T SEE YOU, YOU FURRY BASTARD!" He shouts, throwing a rock at you.

Luckily, you catch it with smooth reflexes and throw the rock back at him, making it hit his forehead directly.

Katsuki growls and clenches his fists. "FUCK YOU!" He shouts, voice laced with anger.

You grin even more, your tail flicking side to side. With a playful tone, you call back down to him. "Be good and I just might."

You watch as Katsuki's face turns a bright red, before he takes a shaky step towards the tree....

[fapper]

full story of what happened in office hours 2 days ago and how i accidentally rizzed up the TA who is also my crush

*note: FAAM stands for "fine ass asian man" who is like, an acquaintance of mine idk

okay mind you this happened only 2 days ago bruh. okay buckle up cuz i cant stop thinking abt it 😭 so me and FAAM went to this review session for our midterm that was wednessday (i got a 75% btw) anddd i only went bc my crush who is also the TA was going to be teaching. soooo i came into the room and mans was sitting in the front so he didnt notice me, but later on he got to the blackboard and started yk teaching shit, and i made sure i was consistently looking at him to see if he'll look at me anddd i think he did like 3 times. not that many tbh anyways after review session we had office hours in a differrent room, so me and FAAM immediately head to office hours, and they have this annoying queueing system and there were A LOTTT of ppl in offce hrs that night, the room was full and there were only 4 TA's, and i only had my eyes on one guy HAHAHA ok so i mind u office hrs was from 6 - 8pm. i couldnt get help from him and i was waiting and waiting and waiting and me and FAAM kept talking abt him while he was in the room omfg 😭 FAAM was like 'wait so its him?' and he proceeded to point to the wrong TA and i was like, bruh FUCK no ITS NOT HIM DUMBASS like i think our behavior was hella obvious in hindsight bc we were literally talking abt him in front of himmmm bro 😭 FAAM was like 'you should go talk to him' BRO STFU YOU KNOW IM NOT! and i was likeeee 'what do u think of 'eagle' for my nickname for him?' (cuz he had a really big hairdo and it reminded me of wings ok) and FAAM was laughing and we were just kikiing like 2 old bithces bruh.

okay so it was 7:50pm. and at this point i was waiting for my turn to get help so i was literally on TIKTOK bored as shittt 😭. and i feel my crush stand up from his seat and slowly walk to stand behind me... and i was thinking 'aint no way' and then he says 'y/n?' (OKAY FIRST OF ALL HOW DO U REMEMBER MY NAME) and i was surprised at first so i jumped a little and he said 'sorry! 😭' and FAAM immediately says 'do you need a seat?' to the TA cuz we were sitting together and the TA goes 'noo its fine hahaha' but i told FAAM to be a wingman so he was insisting on it and so FAAM moves to the next chair and my crush sits next to me to help me. ight so boom

so immediately i start asking him questions and he was explaining hit to me and i couldnt focus fr. FAAM and i kept making glances at each other and every time we looked at each other we smiled real hard meanwhile the TA probably noticed all that shit HELPPPP I JUST KNOW MY CRUSH NOTICED ALL THE EXCHANGED SMILES ME AND FAAM HAD LIKE U COULD JUST TELL WHAT WAS GOING ON OKKKK!!! at one point when FAAM and i made eye contact and smiled i literally stoppped typing whatever he said and lost my train of thought bc i was trying not to laugh sooo hard bruh. meanwhile the TA is witnessing all this shit happen in front of him rn bruh (the TA was sittin between us 😭) so i notice my crush was starting to struggle in answering the question/ explaining shit so he started looking into the distance to think, and every time he got quiet i would look at his face and just look at him reallll good lmfaoooo omfg i kept looking back at his face while sitting next to him bruh. and one time when i looked at him, he smiled and closed his eyes and looked down like DAMN ARE YOU FR HAVING THIS REACTION TO ME LOOKING AT U RN? OMGGG so immediately i was like. ight he wants me. andddd lo and behold. my crush gives up and puts his laptop on our table and says "okay so im just gonna show you the solution dont tell anyone haha" *nervous laugh* meanwhile everyone in the class heard him and they look at our direction 😭 so me and FAAM laugh at this and when i looked back at the TA his face was literally PINK broooo.... im not fucking kidding he was blushign or something. and so as i was taking a pic i jokingly said "bro is about to get fired" and he was like no its fine and laughed it off. also hes just generally a nice guy like i had CHATGPT open in one tab and i said 'ohhh sorry not me having chatgpt open rn' and i closed the tab and the TA noticed and laughed and i said 'women in stem' and he laughed and said 'no yeah exactly' (i made the same joke the last time in office hours with him, he said 'i believe you' when i hinted that the hw answer i had was NOT INDEED MINE LOL) so i guess u could say i have that joker rizz the way he supports me and laughs at my jokes bruh. anyways after that i was like. 'thank you! *makes thumbs up gesture with both my hands* and he stands up and says something bla bla and i say thank you again and he makes the same thumbs up gesture with both his hands and turns around to help the next person.

bruh moment

do yall think he wants me? it was definitely not his normal or usual behavior, *this is random but his voice is so nice* and i feel like i made it really obvious that i liked him by joking with FAAM.

[cherrysnax]

bro i need a therapist

[phoebehalliwell]

I do really love Prue but she got too overpowered in season 3, especially considering she has the most offensive active power- all of a sudden she can walk up walls and levitate (despite saying earlier she can't use telekinesis to move herself) and do these insane high-powered leaps and overtakes Phoebe in martial arts with much less training. I try not to buy into behind the scenes drama since the real villain is Brad Kern but I do have to wonder if Shannen requested more action scenes. The martial arts thing especially bugs because Phoebe started training early on to make up for her lack of an offensive (or defensive) active power. Kind of ruins the vibe if Prue can do everything when the sisters are supposed to be supporting each other and working together to cover each other's weak spots and be stronger together.

i get that i actually kinda have the opposite opinions i really wish we all saw the sisters get more into hand to hand combat ik shannen was definitely into all that esp considering she did a lot of her own stunts so that probably wasn't sure intentional as they set off with prue's character but honestly its still very in character and quite frankly i loved that prue and phoebe went to martial arts classes together i just wished they would have dragged piper w them!! i would have love to see her throw a couple hands you know like uh oh it's and upper level demon so her freezing power doesn't work! oh no he's threatening her POP! knuckles to the nose baby! woulda loved to see it. and while i'm in the process of not answering the ask really i'd also love to bitch that we didn't do enough with phoebe's fighting!! the levitation was a really nice touch, sure, and we saw it added well in early s4, but like. like. you have an entire genre of film (kung fu movies) where if the fighting gets cool enough the people literally gain like levitation you know?? not to mention her premonition power! like!! that is literally so useful in a fight and i wish we would have seen her use it like a spidey sense or alternately win a fistfight while blindfolded just to emphasize how much control she gained over her power

and still not really answering your question but kinda it really bugged me how in the reboot in s2 when they did the power swap and all that how macy kinda just ended up parrotting mel's freezing power w her telekinesis?? like, granted, when mel was doing it in s1, she was freezing time (unlike piper who froze molecules) and honestly i liked that distinction and the development of the power but then once they switched to molecular acceleration/deceleration for mel (boooooooooo such a downgrade time powers were So Fucking Cool and now it's like. she can make things hot or cold. like. no!! they should have just gone full molecular immobilization + combustion and then in a moment of her honing her skills ideally aided by science macy macy's like you're not stopping time anymore some holding particles in place, so, instead of stoppping them, just slow them down, and idk maybe maggie adds something w her emotional placement power idk what they dubbed it they shot themselves in the foot calling telepathy empathy bc what she was doing earlier was clearly telepathy and what she was doing later was an extention of empathy) BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT!!! the point is, macy, using her telekinesis, could just hold a victim in place, using telekinesis. which is fine and all if ur like a telekinetic or whatever but like so annoying when one sister could already (used to) do that!!

but no to your ask specifically honestly i don't think prue was overpowered per se,, she did develop powers more quickly than her sisters so it would maybe be nice to see her plateau for a while, but all in all i really liked her powers and the way she used them (i also don't remember her establishing that she couldn't use telekinesis on herself??) i mean like if anyone was really ""overpowered"" it'd have to be piper as she's the only one with instant kill but um also she's sexy so it's a pass... but i think in general like piper with freezing still has the best defensive power (and honestly with explosivity has the best offensive power) so i don't think prue is taking that from her and then phoebe still has the psychic elements which yes astral projection is theoretically as "psychic power" but prue was clearly so severed from that she was just prue two: she's still corporeal! like it's not like rex who was invisible and was able to speak to the subconscious and manipulate people like hell that form was so Body Only it didn't even bring her magic with her. and then i also think it's kinda funny how in the end phoebe kinda gets her revenge in the sense that through empathy she gains deflection which was like one of prue's signature moves

[bunni-bino]

Hiya! Hehe I'm here in your ask box again 😌 so, you know how Zoro cares for his swords a whole lot and those are some of his most precious possessions. How about a scenario/headcannon wherein on his Wado Ichimonji, there's a small pendant hanging on the hilt, and inside the pendant is a picture of his s/o (or him and his s/o) hehehe 💖

Zoro Having A Picture Of Him + His S/O On His Sword

A/N : OMG STOPP THIS IS SO FREAKING CUTE, I LOVE— 💚 I fucking love this idea so much, thank you sm for requesting!! 🥺😭

Note : pretty short because I wanted to post something- weekends I don’t post nor write, just a reminder— unless I’m feeling inspired-

Summary : Coming across a sleeping Zoro, you find a peculiar pendant and find a pleasant surprise inside.

-

“Hey, Zoro!”

Hollering his name, you’ve yet to receive a response from the swordsman, making you exhale out and rub your head.

It was already nearing six, the sun was nearing its time to set and Sanji was currently prepping dinner.

While this was usually when Zoro was finishing up his training session, he has promised you hours earlier that he’d come in for some daily dose of cuddles and affection, and he was late.

“Where’s that Marimo?” You pout, arms crossing over your torso as you continue to walk around the deck before looking up at the crows nest.

“...” You stare in silence as you quietly let your inner self judge your incompetence to even try looking in one of the places Zoro is seen most. “I swear..”

The sharp and heavy exhale was heard from you, as you began to climb the ladder up.

Step by step, you arrive at the little door and open it up, before pulling yourself up and into the crows nest, before closing the door back so you didn’t accidentally fall and receive a possibly horrible injury.

Dusting your clothes off, your eyes scan the room quietly before landing on the resting form of your green-haired lover.

Zoro was sleeping.

His eyes shut and his chest heaved up and down steadily, the soft and all too familiar snores escaping his lips.

An arm was under his head while the other rested over his face and specifically over his eyes. His back was against the cushion of the couch horizontally, which was fortunately just big enough for his broad and muscular body.

The glistening sweat could still be seen on his forehead, and the sight of a dumbbell left ignored on the ground by the couch, showed that he had only just fell asleep.

Though you were annoyed you couldn’t receive your cuddles, you couldn’t help but admire the peaceful look of Zoro sleeping, while admiring just how much he was training and was glad he was resting at least.

Shaking your head at your swordsman, you simply let out a light sigh with a soft smile. Gently, you brush a few strands of his hair from his forehead.

Looking around, you walk over to the corner of the room and pick up a neatly folded blanket.

You open it up and carefully draped it over his body, seeing Zoro’s expression soften in the slightest in his sleep, due to the warmth the blanket gave.

“..stupid.”

You didn’t actually know why you did, but you just felt the need to insult him while he was asleep.

Smiling more, you stand up straight to leave and let Zoro sleep in peace, but something caught your eyes instead.

In the corner, against the wall, were Zoro’s three swords. You never dared to touch a single one since they were Zoro’s most prized possessions, but one of his swords were slowly inching and gliding off the wall.

So, naturally, you went over and picked the three blades up, having to exert some strength since they were a bit heavy.

“Geez, he’s able to carry three of these around with him?” You mutter, lifting them up carefully and cautiously, like they were glass, and began walking back to Zoro’s side.

Placing the swords onto the couch above Zoro’s head, your eyes sharpen and narrow towards a particular accessory dangling off one of his swords.

Specifically, his Wado Ichimonji.

Glancing to Zoro, you see him still fast asleep and turn back to the white scabbard of the sword.

You pick it up gently and focus your eyes on the hilt of it, seeing a pendant wrapped around it tightly. Your brows only furrowed at the sight of it, the pendant the size of a small rock.

“Wonder what’s inside.”

Slowly, you hovered your thumb over the clip and unlocked it, opening up the pendant.

Taking a closer look inside, you widen your eyes at the sight of an all too familiar photo. Specifically, a photo of the two of you.

The picture was of you asleep, mouth wide and snoring away with some markings over your face. Zoro was sitting behind you, staring at your sleeping figure in the photo.

You could only sweatdrop at the picture, wondering why he chose such a photo in the first place, and just reminisced in the memory, remembering having woken up and nearly strangled Usopp and Luffy for their prank on you, and Zoro for not stopping them.

“Asshole..”

Sighing, you turn to the other side and widen your eyes a bit at it.

“This—!..”

This time, it was just you. But you were smiling brightly. Eyes closed, a loving and wide grin spread across your lips.

Feeling your heart melt at the touching memorabilia item that Zoro had, much more at the fact that it was tied to his sword.

Putting it back with the other two, you chuckle softly and look to Zoro, still sound asleep, and crawl over towards him.

Leaning to his face, you peck his cheek and watch as Zoro stirs a bit before relaxing again.

You were filled with so much overwhelming love and affection for your stupid swordsman.

And although you never would have imagined Zoro to have something such as that, it was just truly adorable and you couldn’t love him any more than you already did now.

“I love you, you stupid marimo.”

Giving a soft smile, you cross your legs and lay your arms on the cushion beside Zoro’s head and close your eyes, exhaling gently and decided to sleep a bit before Sanji finished cooking dinner.

“...good night, Zoro.”

If only you knew Zoro had been awake and watching from the beginning, his cheeks flushed and the warmest smile present on his lips, hidden under the blanket you put over him.

In a whisper, afraid you’d wake up, he simply closed back his eyes to go to sleep with you.

“I love you, you stupid woman / man.”

-

a/n : short and sweet and probably not that great but hope you enjoyed! ☺️💚

All my requests seem very similar to each other, or at least how it ends. I’m very sorry.

doing requests when I should be doing homework, ha... I’m so tired.

[yami-writes]

MHA boys with tiktok accounts

(🏷️) paring(s): Midoriya x reader, Kaminari x reader, Todoroki x reader (🔮) summary: Midoriya, Kaminari, and todoroki with Tiktok accounts (hcs) (⚠️) warning(s): just crack n fluff here (💌) note from Yami: inspired by a request I got the other day (check it out here) (hey yall, made this at 3am dont mind me. jus vibin)

~*~*~*~*

Midoriya

i think he would enjoy tiktok

you introduced him to it

and he thought it was cool so he decided to stay for the ride

His fyp is filled to the brim with all might.

Just all might.

Occasionally some other heroes

But mainly all might ✋

He WANTS to only follow you

But he's a pushover and too nice for his own good and ended up following everyone in class

Poor bby

If he ever does decide to post, it will have something to do with heroes

Probably just recording all of his all might merch

And occasional small vlogs of what it's like at ua

Or in the dorms

And there pretty fun to watch and get a lot of love

And of course people will demand more

And, like I said, he physically can't say no

So he does more

which never fail to get under 1.5mil veiws

he’s well known in the tiktok community~~

HE WILL COMMENT NICE THINGS ON EVERY. SINGLE. VIDEO. YOU. POST.

no exceptions.

A small dance video??

"angel, your so good at dancing!!! Plz teach me someday!! I wanna be in one of your tiktoks!! :)"

precious!!

or perhaps some sort of aesthetic video

“wow! this tiktok is so pretty! just like you, angel <3(a tiktok could never compare to you)″

ahhhhhhhhhh IZUUU

you always screenshot the comment and send it to him with your response

and u could see him blushing behind the screen

if u do decide to allow him to dance in one of your tiktoks, hes so happy

like, incredibly happy

as if All Might himself walked into the room

his face will light up like a PUPPY

ok i’ll stop.

after mina’s many lessons she was able to teach him to dance pretty well

now all you had to do was teach him the dance 

and it turned out really good

ill leave the dance and the overall quality of said tiktok up to u 😌

use ur imaginations loves~~

but regardless~

the tiktok yall made 

blew. tf. up.

the comments were full of

“OMG YOU GUYS R SO CUTEE 😍”

and

“PLZ DO MOREE!!!!”

probably the most popular video you have tbh~

and you bet ur ass when midoriya found out he was gonna do another one

GOD- 

you swear his smile could make a bitch go blind~

Follower count: 5.3mil & counting

Kaminari

i know for a FACT this bitch has tiktok

i also know he is a tiktok MASTER

he knows all the trends

and the memes

and is also quite well known

his fyp definitely has A LOT of memes

and trendy stuff

and he only posts trendy stuff

the includes dances, challenges, pranks..... PRANKS.

a lot of pranks from this man....

and you, dear, are one of his main victims

along with the rest of the bakusquad

and its annoying asf bc this idiot is wasting his damn brain space that he apparently has??? to plan out a PERFECT prank

and it works EVER. SINGLE. TIME.

there is no escaping him,

and its even worst bc these pranks of his are his most popular posts

by this point there is no stoppping him.

and dont even bother trying to get him back

he can literally sense a prank

like a second quirk or sumn-

rip 💀

he will SPAMM your comments

“FGUYJGYHUK”

“GO OFFFF”

“dat ass tho 👀👀”

“u really went: 🍰🍰“

“just suffocate me with your thighs already, boo!! 😭🥺”

lmafoooo 

you cant even be bothered to reply to any of his thirsty comments

which are always the first ones you recive...

and are always top comments

rip💀

now,lemme get this straight.

he will BEG

like- on his hands and knees beg

the be in one of ur tiktoks

specifically, a dance

even more specifically, a dance thats more on the~~ scandalous side

you know what i mean sis

rolls, hair whips, throwin it back, all the shit

hell- you have NO idea how much he would love to just be in the presence of you throwin him back sum ass 

damn

once you finally give in and do a tiktok with him

and he wants to pick the dance

obviously

yall prob did a doja cat song cant lie lmafo

“Candy” perhaps??

anyways, he’ll probably mess up on purpose just so u can throw it to em again

but once he’s had enough he’ll do it properly

after about 12 attempts that is-

but dont worry cause that video got LOVE

“THIS IS SO CUTE😍”

“PLZ DANCE TOGETHER MOREEE❤️💗“

and you know denki is gonna see this

you also know he, along with ur comments, also want more

good luck, dear...

follower count: 8.1mil & counting

Todoroki

you showed him tiktok

and he watched you in your dorm making some

and he wanted to try so you helped him make an acc

ofc the first thing he does is follow you and watch some all of ur videos

every single one, sis.

i think his fyp would be full of cooking tutorials

specifically, soba

he tries, he really does.

he still cont cook with out burning something, but there IS improvment

and he would post the most random shit

literally anything

a small bug he saw on his way to school?

filmed and posted.

and that shit gets VIEWS

how you ask??

good question dearie

lets just say Mr. Shouto Todoroki is HOT

in all aspects, no exeptions

people can and will watch his tiktoks just to see him

and better bet ur ass his comments are full of thirsty girls

but thats offtopic.

he also has small videos he recored of you

whether it was you singing or dancing

doing you makeup brushing your hair

dosent matter.

he’ll have a BUNCH in his drafts he likes to scroll through daily

he never told anyone, not even you

👀👀

he dosent comment on all ur posts but he does comment on some of them

only some

specifically, the ones he likes

i mean~ he likes all of them, but if he favors a specific one over the rest, he’ll let you know

“wow, y/n. i like this video more than your others. i guess thats why im commenting. anyways, i love the tiktok, but i love you more.”

he sooooo dryyyyyy

like put a heart at least man

ANYWAYS

he usually lurks in the comments, making sure everyone is staying their place

like a security guard lmao

he’ll privately message you his thoughts on your tiktok

it’ll be a long message with a mix of compliments but also questions

“i liked the song, but whats the song called? 

“how did you make that? I really liked it though.”

dry, but pure.

i dont think he would have much interest in  being in one of your tiktoks

BUT

if you want him in one of your tiktoks

he’ll offer to stand in the background.....

then you explain to him you want him to /participate/ in the tiktok

if you want him to do a dance with you

goodluck

this man is STIFF

every move you teach him is another jab at your soul

painful

if you gather up the courage to allow him to be in the tiktok

he’ll just-

leave

as in, walk out of the room leave

...what???

he’ll come back later and act as if nothing happened

and if u question him

“i lost interest.” 

yea, like a fucking child

the damn tiktok barley even started-

follower count: 10.9mil & counting

Masterlist

[zuffer-weird-girl]

Hauting existence (Chapter one)

Summary: She lived with a negletful life, choosing one way to survive this despicable kind of life, disowing her own name to something she decided to take as her own name,  “ Tsuyoi”, meaning of strenght. So this way she could at least have someone to count on, herself. While him had the good luck, born on a hateful and abusive familybut adopted by a kind yet strict agricultor... raised with morals.

Funny thing how these two actually manage to know each other

Chisaki Kai x reader

Warnings: I will see only if the feedback of this fic is good to continue, if not oh well that’s life. It contains beating, mental and physical abuse, curse words, prostitution, sexual assaultt and rape... need I say no more?

either way, enjoy.

You closed the door of the man’s car with a laugh. Winking at him as he cursed under his breath at receiving a call from a woman, probably from his wifem you didn’t doubt it.

“Best reply your sweatheart~!” You giggled at his desperation as he drove the car far away from the post. Adjusting the wig in your head as you walked until the street, being greeted by your “friends” as they whistled and looked at you getting to your usual “spot” as always.

“Rough shift tonight huh?” you heard a femine voice from beside you as you rolled your eyes and smirked at her.

“Kussaku-san.” You greeted as the older woman snickered and poked your shoulder with her fist.

Those weren’t your given names... Yet, no one would ever know your name as far as you et them. Kussaku could be Akemi-san while in day as she took care of her teenager son... a ngrateful one for that matter. She was ony a bit older than you but sadly worked on the same breadwinner as you...

“How many did that old man gave to you for one round?”

“Bastard is a married bussines man, so I charged him triple.” You waved the bills at her face as she laughed in shock.

“You’re such a evil little thing!”

“I do it for survival, just like all os us.” You spoke more seriously as the others left the place, leaving you and Kussaku to chat a bit until no “clients” apperead...

“If no more appear I’ll have to get back home with only 500 yen...” The older woman sighed and you had the slightest pity over her until she adjusted her purse on her shoulder “I have to get goin’ see ya Tsuyoi!” 

You snorted, supporting your weight on only one leg as you watched the cars pass bu the street... A van got closer and stopped by the gas station... You arched an eyebrow up until you saw a man getting out of the car, tall and buff frame with a mask on; the color of his hair was an oak and what caught your attention the most was the gold in her eyes. You smirked, bitting your bottom lip as you walked elegantly towards the man, ocasionaly wiggling your hips.

Supporting your self on where the man was picking some gas fro his car you smile devilsh.

“Heyy~” You purred, finally catching the attention of the guy as he looked down at you. One of his brown eyebrows up. “Wanna have a goo time handsome, for such a full course meal I will only charge the tiniest bit.” You licked your lips while looking up and down at his body, adoring how even despite him having a mask on how embarresed he got at your words, yet still stuck on the same stoic expression.

“My apologies, not interested.” He placed the cash on the balcony and gave you one look before leaving, you furrowed your eyebrows before trailing after him.

“No? Well, maybe is because you don’t want to dissapointed your wifey or girlfriend then?” You snorted as he stoppe, but soon got shocked when he gave you a look over his shoulder.

“Pardon. I guess maybe someone cant take “no” as an answer?”

You frowned and scoffed at how his cheeks liften up slightly, showing that dammed smirk beneath that mask of his.

“Full of yourself.” You mumbled as he rolled his eyes and got in his car as you chuffed, knocking on his window. “At least give me a ride back home will ya?”

The man looked at you with a deappan look, before sighing and unlocking the passenger door as you chuckled in victory and got in despite his annoyed look as he drove.

“Not much of a talker daddy’s boy?” You smirked from your seat, seing how his gloved hand tighten on the wheel as he breathed in and out slowly.

“Usually I dont give rides, esoecially for, well, your type of person.” 

“uhuhuhu!” You laughed in sarcasm at his words “I poked at the sting didn’t I??”

Although your lips parted in shock as a chuckle escaped hismouth looking at you from the corner of his eyes.

“I know what you’re got. And let me explain that was not what I meant, I usually don’t give rides for strangers... idiot.” He snorted at your scoff and continued driving. “You have a name?”

You looked at him with a devilish smirl, so maybe he was interested...

“Tsuyoi.” you almost purred your name as he scoffed.

“I meant your real name idiot.”

“Oi! More respect towards my name will you?! You got a problem with my name so say it instead.’

“Is a adjective this, not a name.”

“Well mister gramatic, is MY NAME.” you talked back as he pinched his nose with one hand as the other stayed tight on the wheel.

How much would you will be owning to that guy for this..?

“Where do I drop you off anyway?” you didn’t catched his wordsas you saw a car getting too close to your liking, and even before you could even coment something the car got in the side of the man, and hitted with such a brute force that made you scream and the car to fly out of the street. You heard the man shouting a curse as the car rolled in the dirt as you were throw out of it and landed on the grass with a groan,

“Fuck...” You groaned, touching a place on your fprehead and wincing, seing the fred velvet fluid on your fingers... You looked behing you and saw a masked man throw some liquid in the car and a bit on the grass from a safe distance before you widened your eyes at when them took a phosphor and dropped into the ground before walking away.

You cursed and got up from the grass to gasp at seing the man still on the car, passed out.

“SHIT!” you screamed and took off your heels to get to the upside down car and try to take off the seat bell out “MAN FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WAKE UP!“

Unknown to you was that you lost your wig and your truly hair fell as you shaked him and pulled the seat bell, wakening him up as he groaned before widening his eyes at seing you, how beautiful he found you on your true nature and how much you looked like a.. a

“Angel..?” he muttered as you screamed and begged him to move.

“SIR PLEASE WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE IS GOING TO EXPLODE!” you cried as he finally come to his senses and strated t figet to get out.

‘I’m trying! Its stuck”“ he shouted as you panicked seing the fire getting close until you let put a gasp, grabbing a knife you always carried for protection on your abandoned purse and cuted the seat belt out of him as you pulled him out of the upsided down car.

“COME ON!” You grabbed his arm and pu on your shoulders as both of you tried to run, only to the explosion to happen, sending both of you straight to the ground.

You got up, looking mortified at the scene in front of you as the man besides you groaned and got promped into his his arms as his eyes widened.

“For the love of...” He mumbled as you looked at him.

.

.

.

Continue...?

“That will be all Chisaki-san.” the woman spoke while giving him a paper as he looked over at it, looking over his shoulder to see you were gone.

His feet moved on his own and found you at the exit of the hospital, not getting why he finally got to breath again at seing you standing there.

“You seem like a magnet for trouble.” He sighed as you looked at him before rolling your eyes.

“I can say the same for you... The van was yours, I could have died because of you, ya know?” You mumbled as he stood tall besides you with a arrogant aurea that surely pissed you off to no ends.

“Yet you didn’t.” He spoke nonchantly, hands stuffed on his jacket as he mantained looking at you, until you clenched your teeth and snapped.

“Stop staring at me like that!” You shouted as he remained unfazed by your attics “ If you got nothing to pay for it or to complain about it so just leave dammit!”

“Can’t a person just look at something because is beautiful?” You gagged in your words at hearing him speak so nonchantly before seeing him, even witha patch up on his forehead still looking so good and beutiful, smirking, fucking smirking at you “Cat got your tongue brat?”

You narrowed your eyes at him and pointed a finger at him as you spilled acid with your words.

“Listen, you little shit. Just because you paid for my consultation to see if I had any broken bones doesn't mean you can at least have the fucking audacity to talk to me like that, did you hear me right?” you growled as he glred back at you, but soon a snort came out.

“Whatever you say.. brat.” You scoffed and marched your way away from him as he looked at you “To your concern, my name is Chisaki, Chisaki Kai... a true name. Hope to see you around.. Tsuyoi.” you could hear the snicker behind his voice as you flipped him ff and got on your way home.

If only you knew you would be crossing paths with this misterious man again...

[knuffled]

just practice - chapter ten

chapter ten is here, yay! hope you all enjoy it! somewhat important update in the notes at the end of the chapter on ao3 for those interested. thanks in advance!

ao3 link here

Holding the premier of the school play on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was a bold move in Annabeth’s opinion, so it was surprising that the school’s parking lot was nearly filled, although that almost certainly had to do with the fact that Piper was playing Viola in the school’s production of Twelfth Night. Her performances in the school plays had turned into something of local legend after all. It had all started when she landed the role of Ophelia as a freshman, a feat in and of itself, but it was the way that she had sent audiences home in tears each night of the production that had catapulted her to near mythic status among the student body. It had gotten to the point where even many members of the football team could be found patiently waiting in line to watch a Shakespearean play.

Ever prepared, Annabeth had come fairly early to help secure seats for herself and the rest of her friends. The moment the doors opened, she made a beeline for the rows close to the stage and found some center seats, but when the auditorium began to fill its seats quicker than she anticipated and none of her friends had yet to arrive, she was forced to concede all of the seats she’d reserved except for two, one on either side of her. As more and more of the seats began to get filled, She came close to sending a text in the group chat as her sense of worry grew. Fortunately, that was when Jason showed up, a grateful smile on his face as he sank into the seat next to her. He took off his jacket, draping it on the seatback, and rubbed at the dark bags beneath his eyes.

“You look like a panda,” Annabeth said, smirking.

Jason ran his fingers through his hair and scowled. “Very funny. I’ve been neck deep in planning for the stupid after-party, and it has been a total nightmare.”

“So I take it that working with Drew Tanaka isn’t a good time then?”

Jason rolled his eyes and said, “There’s just something about event planning that turns her into a demon. At one point, I legitimately thought she was going to skin me alive.”

“Very dramatic,” Annabeth teased, squeezing his shoulder. “At least the worst is over now.”

“I sure hope so,” Jason muttered. “Otherwise, I might not live to see another day.”

Annabeth was about to say something when her phone vibrated in her pocket. She fished it out and looked at the caller ID, which immediately sent a frisson of irritation running through her. That was probably the seventeenth time this random number had called her over the past two weeks. She didn’t recognize the number at all, but whoever it was happened to be incredibly persistent about calling her.

“That number again?” Jason asked.

Annabeth sighed and nodded. “It’s starting to get really fucking annoying.”

“You should just block ‘em and save yourself the trouble,” Jason said, shrugging.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Annabeth said, sighing. “I’ll do it after the show.”

Jason nodded and pulled out his phone to shoot some texts, presumably to the group organizing the after-party. Annabeth spent her time scrolling mindlessly through Twitter, waiting for Percy to show up, but he was still missing two minutes before the show was due to begin. It was only once the lights began to dim that Annabeth heard the familiar cadence of his footsteps behind her. Percy squeezed past the people who were already seated, murmuring apologies as he passed by, before he sank into the seat beside her. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and winced as he probed his upper back muscles.

Annabeth looked at him with concern and said, “Are you okay?”

“I’ve been better,” Percy said, grimacing.

“I swear your coach has been extending practices by an hour every month now since the start of the school year.”

Percy huffed a laugh. “You’re probably right. I swear, he’s trying to kill me. Literally every part of my body hurts right now.”

Annabeth frowned in the dark. In all his years on the team, she had never heard Percy complain about his body hurting after practices. His coach must have been pushing him even harder over this past month than normal. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

She leaned in to him to whisper to him and found her face heating up at the distracting scent of body wash and chlorine clinging to his skin, evidence of the post-practice shower he must have taken before coming here.

It took her a moment to collect her thoughts and mumble, “If you feel that bad, you should have just gone home. Piper would understand.”

“I’m not missing the premier just because I’m a little sore,” Percy said, shaking his head.

Annabeth paused before giving him a tentative nod and turning back to the stage, but she still felt lingering traces of embarrassment. That scent was beyond familiar to her and it had been for years, so she was troubled by how she had suddenly become so conscious of it.

Fortunately, the start of the play gave her a way to stop treading down that creepy train of thought. She had read Twelfth Night once during middle school, but it hadn’t made much of an impression on her. Seeing it performed now, the play was a lot better than she had remembered, but then again Piper had always insisted that there was a huge difference between reading a play versus seeing one live. For a high school play, Annabeth couldn’t help being impressed by the level of care and effort that had gone into every element of the production, from the set design to the lighting and wardrobe. Of course, the actors were great as well, but Piper stole the show as Annabeth had expected.

It took her a while to realize that Percy was mouthing lines beside her, nearly verbatim. At first, she’d thought she was hearing things, but when she stole a sidelong glance at Percy, she noticed that he was leaning forward in his seat, staring intently at the stage and whispering the lines to himself.

“But, indeed, words are very rascals, since bonds disgraced them,” Percy mouthed.

On stage, Piper said, “Thy reason, man?”

Percy whispered, "Troth, sir, I can yield you none without words, and words are grown so false, I am loathe to prove reason with them.”

Annabeth shook her head in amazement before knocking elbows with him to get his attention. He froze in his seat, face turning a gentle shade of vermilion in response to being caught, before turning to face her.

“You know all the lines?” Annabeth whispered incredulously.

Percy ducked his chin. “Not all of them, just the scenes where Piper has lines. Must have helped her rehearse them like a hundred times.”

“And let me guess, she didn’t ask for your help: you volunteered,” she said, sighing.

Annabeth found herself shaking her head again when he rubbed the back in his neck and looked away with a sheepish smile. It was amazing that Percy had managed to memorize all those lines, but it was even more impressive that he had done so while juggling all his other responsibilities. Her heart welled up inside her chest looking at him while he tried to not-so-subtly divert her attention back to the play, still blushing profusely, as if he didn’t realize he was more amazing in her eyes than anything Shakespeare could’ve ever written.

Before she knew it, the play was over, and Annabeth found herself waiting backstage with her friends for Piper to finish changing into her normal clothes. Leo and Frank spoke quietly to one another while Hazel was noodling with her phone. Jason drummed his fingers against his pants and rocked on his heels and kept looking down the hallway to the changing rooms with poorly suppressed excitement, practically embodying the spirit of a golden retriever. Percy stood beside her, leaning against a wall with his eyes closed, close enough for their elbows to touch.

When Piper showed up with an exhausted smile on her face, Jason rushed in and pulled her into a fierce hug.

“You were amazing,” he said.

Piper laughed tiredly and whispered, “Thanks, Jace.”

Jason stepped away suddenly and rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly embarrassed by such a public display of affection. Piper rolled her eyes and poked him with her elbow before turning to address the rest of them.

“Thank you all for coming tonight. I really appreciate it.”

“Jason is right,” Frank said. “You were really great out there tonight.”

Everyone chimed in with words of agreement, which flustered Piper a little, much to Annabeth’s delight. Piper rarely ever got flustered except when she got bombarded by compliments that she had rightfully earned. Percy was the only one who didn’t say anything, but he watched the entire scene with a soft smile on his face. Once she’d given everyone else a hug, Piper met Percy’s eyes, her eyes shining with gratitude, and a wordless understanding passed between them.

“So, after-party everyone?” Jason asked.

Piper leaned against him and nodded tiredly. “I could certainly use a drink right now.”

Jason smiled before turning to the group and saying, “It’s at Drew’s place. I texted the address to our group chat in case anyone didn’t remember it.”

With that, they dispersed and made their way to the parking lot. It was dark outside even though it wasn’t all that late, but it was nothing unexpected considering December was on its way. Annabeth buried her hands in the front pocket of her sweatshirt, but she still couldn’t help shivering as the wind howled past them.

Percy smoothed his wind-tousled hair with a scowl before he gave her a sidelong glance. “So I’m guessing your parents didn’t change their mind about the after-party then?”

Annabeth nodded. “They are still insisting that I spend some quality ‘family time’ with them for Thanksgiving. Whatever the fuck that means.”

“Maybe it’s a good sign,” Percy said.

Annabeth snorted and said, “Knowing Helen, I highly doubt that. It’s probably just going to be a miserable meal with passive aggressive comments for dessert.”

Percy stopped and gave her forearm a gentle squeeze, forcing her to meet his eyes, which shone with concern.

“If it gets bad and you ever need to get out of the house, give me a call, okay?”

Annabeth tried for a laugh, but it sounded hollow even to her ears. “Come on, Jackson. You don’t think I can survive one measly dinner?”

“I know you can,” Percy said, firmly but not unkindly. “But there’s a big difference between surviving something and not having to suffer because of it.”

She didn’t really know how to respond to that, so she just remained silent. Percy looked at her and waited for a short while before he sighed and dropped her arm. Annabeth could tell by the downturn of his lips and the furrow of his brow that he still wasn’t entirely convinced, but she didn’t plan on changing her mind. No matter what happened at tonight’s dinner, she was determined not to call Percy. A nameless fear had begun to take root inside her. She couldn’t say what it was, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible would happen if she continued to rely on Percy as heavily as she had. Maybe she was completely off-base or maybe she was simply imagining the whole thing. And yet it grated on her like an itch she couldn't scratch, telling her, compelling her to at least do something.

Percy scuffed his converses against his ankle and nodded again. “Well, I guess I'll see you when you come over on Friday then?”

Annabeth nodded and watched him leave before she made her way back to her car. She didn’t remember much of the drive back home. The spam caller called again at some point, but apart from that the only thing that stuck out was how the pit in the center of her stomach grew the closer she got to her house. When she wasn't eating outside the house, Annabeth usually holed herself in her bedroom until the rest of the family finished dinner before she went downstairs to microwave the leftovers and bring them back upstairs with her. Tonight, unfortunately she had no such avenue of escape.

Once she parked in the driveway, Annabeth continued to sit there in the dark, her hands wrapped around the steering wheel so tightly the cheap stitching on the faux leather dug into her palms. She couldn’t help thinking at that moment that silence wore many different faces. When she was with Percy, silence was companionable and radiated a warmth that felt like trust. When she went for a run, silence was open and peaceful, almost like a physical space where she could leave reality behind for a short while. When she watched Percy give his mother a hug before he left the house, silence was wistful and forlorn, wrapping around her heart like tendrils of smoke. But now, as she sat in the car outside her own house, silence was unforgiving and violent, like a shark sensing blood in the water, waiting for her to tear herself to shreds.

But eventually, Annabeth screwed her eyes shut and forced herself to take a deep breath before she finally made her way inside. She slipped past the door and quietly took her shoes off before heading to the dining room. The rest of her family was already seated and had started eating.

“Ah, Annabeth, we weren’t sure if you would make it, so we got started a little early,” Helen said, voice dripping with faux sincerity.

Annabeth pursed her lips and nodded sharply before she pulled out a chair for herself and sat down. She didn’t put much on her plate — barely enough mashed potatoes to make a mound drizzled with gravy, a small piece of grilled chicken, and some buttered vegetables — and tried to finish her food as quickly as she could so she could retreat to her room.

Of course, it didn’t take long for Helen to take issue with that. “Someone certainly seems to be in a rush today.”

Annabeth looked up from her plate and tried to quell the fire in her eyes, but it was difficult when Helen looked at her with that smile of hers like poisoned honey, while the coldness in her eyes communicated her utter and absolute disdain for Annabeth in a way words never could. Briefly, she looked to her father to see if he might intervene, but like always, she was disappointed. He was staring absentmindedly at the wall behind her, probably thinking about his research.

"I'm just really tired," Annabeth lied.

"And yet you had just enough energy to go to your friend's play," Helen said.

"It's almost like human beings have less energy over the course of a day."

She had tried very hard to keep the sarcasm out of her voice, but it didn't seem to matter judging by the tick of Helen's jaw. Annabeth couldn't help deriving a twisted sense of pleasure at the momentary collapse in Helen's composure.

Helen sighed with mock affectation. "Children your age are so disrespectful these days."

Annabeth shrugged nonchalantly. "Must be because we’re on our phones all the time."

A gleam passed in Helen's eyes. "Or maybe it's because you associate with the wrong kinds of people."

Annabeth furrowed her brow and deliberately set her fork aside. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

Helen raised her wineglass and took a sip before she spoke, and when she did her tone was feather-light. "Oh, it's nothing. As your mother, I'm just concerned when a girl your age spends all her time unsupervised, doing lord knows what, with someone like that Jackson boy."

Annabeth balled her hands into fists. “‘Someone like him’? You don’t even know him.”

Helen looked at her imperiously over the rim of her wine glass. “I don’t need to know him to know that he’s of the wrong sort.”

It took Annabeth a second to decipher what Helen had meant, but once she did the pit in her stomach burned with hellfire.

Annabeth barked a harsh laugh and crossed her arms over her chest. “So he’s the ‘wrong sort’ just because he isn’t white?”

“That wasn’t what I said,” Helen said mildly.

“No, but it's what you meant.”

For the first time that night, her father spoke, voice low yet firm.

“Annabeth,” he warned.

Annabeth bit her tongue and wrestled with the urge to scream. At that moment, her phone vibrated again in her pocket, so Annabeth decided to run with it. Anything to give her an excuse to leave.

Her chair emitted an unholy screech as she stood up. “I have to take an important call.”

Annabeth didn’t wait for Helen’s permission and left the dining room quickly, only just noticing the irritation in her eyes. She went upstairs to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her before pulling her phone out of her pocket.

When she looked at the caller ID and noticed it was that same spam number again, Annabeth clenched her jaw and made to reject the call before an idea occurred to her. If she couldn’t show any emotion around her family, well then this stubborn asshole who clearly couldn’t tell she wasn’t going to answer the phone would give her a good opportunity to vent.

“Hello?” Annabeth snapped, answering the phone.

The voice on the other end of the line sounded male. “Oh, um, hello. Am I speaking with Ms. Annabeth Chase?”

“Yes,” Annabeth spat. “And who are you?”

There was a pause — the speaker was clearly taken aback by Annabeth’s open hostility, but it didn’t take long for them to recover.

“I apologize if this is a bad time, but my name is Rick Waters. I’m the coach of the women’s cross country team here at the University of California, Berkeley. I just wanted to reach out to you regarding the offer of admission we sent you a month or so ago.”

A panicked flurry of thoughts blew through Annabeth's mind. “Oh, sorry, I thought you were a telemarketer. Did you say that you sent me an offer of admission a month ago?”

“Yes, we sent a letter in early October to be precise.”

“I never got anything in the mail,” Annabeth said, frowning.

“Oh, well I suppose that certainly explains things. Perhaps there was a mistake made somewhere along the way, but no harm done. I could inform you of our offer over the phone now, if you'd like."

Annabeth pressed a hand to her forehead and shut her eyes. "Um, yes, please do."

"Well, we've been scouting all over the country for new runners for the incoming freshman class, and we were very interested in you. You are clearly a very talented distance runner, and I think you would be a wonderful asset and a great fit with our team here at Cal. All our facilities are state-of-the-art, and we have some former Olympians on our coaching staff in addition to a team of dietitians, physical therapists, and psychologists. I’ll pause here if you have any questions.”

“No, not at the moment, sorry. I’m just a little overwhelmed,” Annabeth said, mind reeling.

“I understand,” he said. “The reason I have been trying so hard to reach you, though, is because we need to know your decision before the 30th, which is in four days.”

Only four days? How the fuck was she supposed to write all those supplementary essays in only four days? It had taken her months to just finish the essays for the Common App.

“What is the process if I decide to commit to Berkeley?” Annabeth asked. “Like, am I required to send an application and include essays?”

“No, we wouldn’t need anything supplementary. We do, however, require a transcript, but we’ve already been in contact with your high school regarding that, and it was more than satisfactory. In fact, we were highly impressed with your academic performance.”

“Oh, um, thank you,” Annabeth said, feeling relieved.

“Of course,” the coach said. “One final thing I wanted to mention is that we would be willing to offer you a fairly sizable athletic scholarship should you decide to attend in the fall. It would cover a majority of your tuition and room and board fees.”

Annabeth leaned against her door and sank down to the floor, smiling so widely it hurt. The one fear she had had was how she would afford going to Berkeley, so she was beyond relieved that they were willing to give her a scholarship. For once in her life, it seemed that all her hard work had actually amounted to something. For once, her accomplishments actually mattered.

“Thank you so much,” Annabeth said quietly.

“Take some time to think about it, but please do get back to us by the 30th so that we can secure your admission. To be perfectly honest, the deadline for athletic recruitment ended in October, but I’ve been adamant with the Admissions Office that you were special and that the deadline be extended on your behalf.”

Annabeth's throat constricted and her heart squeezed in her chest. “I really don't know what to say. Just thank you so much. I really do appreciate it. I’ll be sure to get back to you by the 30th.”

“Wonderful,” he said. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

With that, the phone call ended, and Annabeth knocked the back of her head against the door and stared up at the ceiling, not sure whether to cry or laugh. As the coach had said, recruitment was usually finished by October, so the fact that she hadn’t received any offers from schools had been depressing. She had assured herself that her application was strong enough on its own to brave the conventional admissions process, but this was an immense weight off her shoulders. Of course, that meant that all those hours she’d spent on writing her stupid Common App essay had been pretty much useless, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

The only thing that soured her mood was the knowledge that she still needed to go back downstairs to deal with her step-mother now that the call was over. Annabeth sat there and looked up at her popcorn ceiling, trying to muster the strength to get up, but it still took her the better part of ten minutes before she finally rose to her feet and closed the door behind her.

:::

Friday at the Jackson household was often a rambunctious affair, but it was quieter than normal when Annabeth came to visit the day after Thanksgiving. But that was largely due to the fact that Paul happened to be away at a teacher’s conference, Estelle at a playdate at a friend’s house, and Sally was upstairs, working on her writing, which left Annabeth alone with Percy downstairs.

He had been the one to suggest that they bake something together, much to her relief. She had wanted to do something where she could turn her brain off, and there was just something about baking in particular that tended to calm her down. As Annabeth sat on the countertop, swinging her legs, and watched Percy riffle through the pantry in search of ingredients, it occurred to her that that was probably why he’d suggested the activity to begin with. The domesticity of Percy humming a tuneless melody under his breath while moving about the kitchen in his pajamas made warmth blossom in her chest.

"Are you gonna help out or are you just continue checking me out, Chase?" Percy asked, looking inside a cupboard for vanilla extract.

Annabeth felt heat rush to her face as she hopped off the counter. She tried to keep her tone light and asked, "What am I not allowed to check out my fake-boyfriend?"

Percy looked at her over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "Then surely you wouldn't mind if I were to check out my fake-girlfriend then."

Annabeth's heart fluttered in her chest. "It almost sounds like you're asking for permission."

It was hard to tell if the look in Percy’s eyes was teasing or challenging. "And if I am?"

Her throat had suddenly become completely dry. She wasn't sure if the move here was to say yes and double down or if she should play it off and change the topic.

She settled for the former and said, "And what would you do if I said yes?"

Percy's eyes darkened and his eyes darted to her lips for an instant before he cleared his throat conspicuously and turned away. “Good job. That should work when you get a real boyfriend.”

With that, the tension in the room dissipated into thin air, leaving Annabeth with a vague sense of dissatisfaction, although she couldn’t explain where it came from. Annabeth tried her best to put the interaction behind her and started helping Percy find the remaining ingredients, but she found her eyes wandering towards him without her permission. It was definitely because of the previous exchange, Annabeth reasoned, that she suddenly began paying attention to the way his back muscles strained against the fabric of his thin t-shirt when he reached up to get some nutmeg or the hard line of his jaw when she caught a glimpse of his profile as he turned away.

Her face began to heat up again, but this time it was because she was actually guilty of the crime she'd been accused of. She shook her head in an effort to dispel those thoughts, but she couldn't erase the images taking center stage in her mind's eye.

This was really fucking weird. She'd seen Percy practically every day for the last ten years, and his body had never distracted her like this, so it felt creepy and wrong. Yet, her eyes continued to wander towards him whenever she wasn’t vigilant, much to her embarrassment, as they started making the cookies.

They were nearly ready to put the chocolate chip cookie batter into the oven when Percy stopped and suddenly groaned.

"What?" she asked.

"I forgot the blue food coloring," he grumbled. "Mom and I ran out last time we made cookies."

Annabeth knew better than to ask him if it was really that important for the cookies to be blue, so she nodded and said, "Should we go to the grocery store?"

"Yeah, just let me get changed," Percy said, leaving the kitchen.

Sally made her way down the stairs and smiled as Percy went past her. She stepped into the kitchen and surveyed it for a moment before looking to her with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Well, at least you both don't make nearly as big a mess as you used to."

"Sorry," Annabeth said, her face heating up.

"Relax, dear," Sally said, laughing. "I'm just pulling your leg."

Annabeth managed a smile and said, "How was your book tour?"

Sally leaned against the counter-top and sighed. "Exhausting, but overall, pretty good. Each time I have to do one of them, they just keep adding more and more cities. I know that it's a sign my books are reaching a wider audience, but it still wears out an old woman like me."

"You're not old at all, Sally," Annabeth said genuinely.

A warm smile crossed Sally's face. "You're sweet, dear. How have things been with you?"

Percy came downstairs, now that he'd changed, and jangled his car keys. "Ready to go?"

Annabeth looked to Sally and felt a surge of gratitude when Sally told Percy, "You go on ahead. Annabeth and I are going to have some girl time."

Percy looked between the two of them for a moment before he shrugged and left the kitchen. Annabeth waited until she heard the sound of the garage door closing before she spoke again.

"How did you know?" Annabeth asked.

"Hmm, know what?" Sally asked.

"Know that I wanted to talk to you.”

"I've known you since you were seven, dear," Sally said, giving her a significant look.

Annabeth couldn't help the fact that that brought a smile to her face. "Percy told me that he got recruited by USC."

"Mhmm."

“I’m happy for him and everything, but- I don’t know. It’s just that college actually feels real now and not like something imaginary in the far off future,” Annabeth said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

"It’s a big change," Sally admitted. "But I'm sure you both can handle it when the time comes."

"I know,” Annabeth said. “I’m just worried about being apart from Percy and stuff.”

"Well, if you’re that worried, what if you found a college close by LA?" Sally asked.

Annabeth shook her head. "A recruiter from Berkeley reached out to me Wednesday night about joining the cross country team there. He said the university would even be willing to give me a pretty big scholarship, so I'm thinking of accepting."

"Annabeth, that's fantastic," Sally beamed. "Your parents must be so proud of you."

"They just asked how I was going to pay for it," Annabeth said, smiling thinly.

Sally's eyes softened and she pulled her into a warm hug. Annabeth didn't expect a lump to form in her throat, but it didn't surprise her when it happened. She knew from prior experience that Sally Jackson's hugs did tend to have that sort of effect.

"Well, for what it's worth, I'm so incredibly proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished," Sally said. "Lord knows how hard you've worked these past few years."

"Thank you," Annabeth said, trying not to let her voice quiver.

Sally pulled away and framed Annabeth's face in her hands, smiling softly. "You've grown into such a wonderful young woman. It’s almost hard to believe that bossy little seven year old would grow up like this."

Annabeth wiped at her nose as a watery laugh escaped her. "Well, one thing hasn't changed: I'm still pretty bossy."

"Well, no one's perfect, after all," Sally said, a twinkle in her eye. "I really don’t think you have anything to worry about, dear. Berkeley and LA are in the same state."

"It's a five hour and forty-two minute drive," Annabeth said. "I, um, checked on Google Maps."

"That’s not that bad," Sally said. “You and Percy can deal with that.”

Annabeth shifted on her heels. "No, it's not that. I know we'll be okay, but I'm just worried it'll change things."

"Well, I know that the way you two feel about each other won't change and that's the most important thing," Sally said firmly.

"Of course, things will be different, but that doesn't mean it has to get worse. This is just another stage you have to pass through in your life, just like Percy does. But despite all that change, you will still be Annabeth and Percy will still be Percy, and that is enough for me to believe you both will be fine."

Annabeth considered her words before nodding. "I still haven't told him."

"He'll be happy to hear it."

"I know he will," Annabeth said. "I just want to be less of a wreck when I tell him. I don't want him to worry."

Sally smiled and said, "That boy will worry about you regardless of what you do."

"He shouldn't have to though," Annabeth said desperately. I’m not worth it.

"No, perhaps he shouldn't," Sally admitted. "But he chooses to anyways, and who are we to say he's wrong for it."

There was a pause before Annabeth quietly said, "Sometimes, it feels like he loves so hard, so honestly, so naturally that it's impossible for me to catch up."

"That's just the way he is," Sally said, a sad smile on her face. "His name means 'To Destroy', but there's no one more protective, more loving than my boy. Been that way all his life, even when he shouldn't have had to. Because of that, I’m afraid that I've hurt him without knowing, hurt him in ways that can't be fixed."

"You mean with Gabe?" Annabeth asked.

Sally's eyes turned hard. "He started trying to protect me from him ever since he was six and I don’t think he has ever stopped. Even now, I can see he still doesn't completely feel comfortable around Paul, but he bears it for my sake. He has always been willing to cause himself pain if it means alleviating someone else’s suffering. Sometimes, I worry that he feels the need to be responsible for how other people feel.”

Sally’s words immediately made Annabeth think about her conversation with Kara and how she had said something similar:

I just remember being so fucking stunned. Like, your girlfriend is telling you she’s breaking up with you after cheating on you, and your response is to go be someone else’s fucking therapist?

Annabeth balled her hands into fists and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. She wasn’t sure what to say. She had never been good with words or emotions, but she wasn’t even sure if this was something that could be fixed with just words. If she were like Percy, maybe she could think of the right combination of words to say in order to make this better, but she wasn’t.

She hated this. All her life, Annabeth had been praised for being intelligent. Most of her identity was built around that fact. Whenever her life went to shit, the one thing she could count on was the fact that she was smart: it was the one thing that made her feel like she was worth anything. But lately, Annabeth couldn’t help questioning if she’d built her entire sense of self around a lie. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d been able to use her intelligence to solve a problem, or at least not any problem that mattered. It seemed pointless to have all this purported intelligence when life only sent her problems that couldn’t be solved just by thinking really hard.

Sally must have sensed Annabeth’s frustration because she put her hand on Annabeth’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Although she felt a bit better, it did nothing to dispel the underlying sensation of weight, like someone was sitting on her chest.

The garage door opened and Percy popped into the kitchen with an exuberant smile, holding a bottle of blue food coloring in his hand.

“Managed to get the last one!” he beamed before his smile fell and he looked between the two of them. “What happened here?”

Sally gave Annabeth’s shoulder another squeeze before making her way to the staircase. “Oh, nothing. Just girl stuff.”

Percy nodded but clearly looked unconvinced. Once Sally was gone, he turned to her with a question in his eyes.

“Girl stuff?” he asked.

Annabeth found herself settling for a half-truth yet again. It seemed like that was all she did these days when she spoke to Percy.

“A recruiter contacted me from Berkeley,” she said, looking at her feet. “They’re giving me a big scholarship if I go there to join the cross country team.”

Percy blinked before breaking into a smile and rushing to her with open arms. “Holy shit, Annabeth, that’s insane! I’m so happy for you!”

Annabeth returned his hug and smiled into his shoulder — Sally had been so spot on about his reaction that, despite her heavy mood, it was kind of hilarious.

“Thanks.”

Percy looked at her with a searching gaze. “Then why do we seem so sad?”

Annabeth rolled her eyes. “I’m not sad. I was just getting emotional with your mom about how much I’ve matured.”

“Hmm, you don’t look all that mature to me,” Percy said, appraising her.

“Asshole,” Annabeth grumbled. “I don’t seem to recall that being your opinion back when you were trying to get permission to check me out.”

Percy’s face flushed at the accusation, and his voice jumped an octave as he stammered, “T-That was to help you practice.”

“Yeah, sure,” Annabeth drawled. “Very convincing.”

“Now who’s being an asshole?”

“Couldn’t be me,” Annabeth said lightly.

“Of course not,” Percy said, rolling his eyes. “Now should we start making these cookies or not? I’m starving.”

Annabeth followed him to the batter and watched as he drenched it in blue food coloring, tongue poking out the corner of his mouth, and found herself desperately wishing they had more time. There was a delicate, almost exquisite pain that came with the awareness that this couldn’t last, but watching Percy roll misshapen balls of blue cookie dough made it easier for her to ignore it. At least for a while.

[imaginesmai]

Peter Parker-Peter’s Tingle

Requested by anon! Angst alphabet letter B with fluffly ending! Although is not really angsty! I hope you like it!!

Plot: Peter’s tingle must always be trusted; through the good and bad.

Warnings: pregnant!reader, pregnancy problems (sightly), giving birth. Let’s pretend Peter’s 18 for this fanfic! ALWAYS WRAP IT BEFORE YOU TAP IT

Cravings were weird, and yours were definitely the weirdest of them all. You were sure of it when, at eleven thirty of the night, you were walking down the aisle of a store that was fifteen minutes away from your house just because of those snacks that you used to have as a child. Walking into the store and greeting the old man in the front, you looked around until you spotted what you came in there for. They were ordered by colours, the weirdest flavours displayed in front of you. You smiled at the thought of shoving a bunch of them in your mouth, and you almost clapped. While you were picking as much of them as you could in your arms and balancing them in your pregnant belly, you thought about him.

Probably, it would have been a good idea to tell Peter.

Peter, your boyfriend and the father of your child. Peter, the super hero of Queens that fainted when you went to the bathroom on the cinema two weeks ago. Peter, who didn’t know where you were and probably was coming back from patrol in a few minutes. Yeah, it seemed a pretty stupid idea, coming down all the way to the store when your boyfriend is fucking spiderman and could just swing there.

But he had left the toilet seat up once more and you didn’t want to deal with him. Not when you knew you would melt with his cute brown eyes and his innocent self.

Arms full of snacks and weird things, you walked back to the counter; only to stop by the third aisle, where the baby section peaked. You were over the 7th month of the pregnancy, yet you had decided to keep the gender of the baby a secret. It was Peter idea, who wanted to surprise everyone with the little bundle. He liked to have arguments with Tony, saying that it would be a boy, smarter than Tony that would make the most incredible suit the world had ever seen. To what Tony proposed to create a bubble paper room in the tower just for the baby.

It had been an accident. The unsafe sex, the pregnancy, the baby. Yet you knew that Peter and you would love that kid, either if it was a girl or a boy. Shuffling through the clothes, you tried to pick gender neutral ones when your phone rang. The annoying tone of Spiderman, does whatever a spider can started sounding, and thank God it was so late and there wasn’t anyone around.

“Hey babe” you answered, putting on a happy smile even if he couldn’t see you.

“Y/N! Thank God you’re alive. I-I came from patrol, and I didn’t see you. Thought you would be over Tony’s? But he hadn’t seen you either. S-so I got a bit, uh, worried?”

“I’m fine, just needed a quick run to-where are you?”

In the background, you could hear strange sounds. At first, they seemed a machine working, yet the more you focused, the farther the sounds were from being that. You sighed when you realised that it was Peter’s swinging by the buildings, the metallic suit colliding with the air.

“Peter, you better not be talking while swinging.”

There was a pregnant pause, where Peter could only keep silence shamefully; but he didn’t stop. You left the yellow onesie on its place and turned back to pay for all your items; apart from the snacks, two Spiderman’s plushie and a sippy cup themed like captain America.

“I swear, this stress is bad for the baby”

“I’m fine, thanks for asking though” a new voice interrupted the conversation, your eyes widening. “Hey Y/N. How’s it going?”

You let your mouth fall open when Tony’s voice came through your phone, and had to tighten your arms around the products to keep them from falling. Your adoptive father had been against the relationship since you had known Peter, and actually made the show of chasing Peter around New York with his ironman suit. Your mother, Pepper, and you had to stop him before it actually got bad.

When he found out you were pregnant, Peter ended up unconscious in the med bay and, once more, your mother and you had shouted to hell and back. Now, seven months later, Tony Stark and Peter Parker made the best team in keeping Y/N Potts away from danger; danger being opening a can by yourself or doing some shopping.

“I can’t believe your brought him into this, Pete” you said, half angry half i-knew-it-would-happen. “I thought we said no more Tony in your paranoias! His old heart can’t handle it!”

“Hey, I heard that!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry Y/N, but my senses kept bugging me and I’m really worried. And-then I called Tony, to ask him if you were with him, you know I can’t lie to him!” Peter rushed out, actually afraid of what you might do against him. “I’m sorry.”

“Okay, good. Good” you rubbed your eyes slowly, suddenly dying for a warm bed. Was it you, or it was too cold in that shop? Damn the hormones and the cravings. “I just want to go home, I’m really tired. I don’t care anymore, just be here quickly”

“Minutes away, Y/N. Promise”

You decided to sit in ones of the chairs that was exposed on the shop. It was a weird shop, that sold too many things. But it felt amazing to have somewhere to sit. Peter insisted in keeping on the line while he got there, and something in his voice made you reconsider your quick nap and hum in approval. Then, he began talking about his patrol and about how he almost broke his leg rescuing a lost kitten.

Tony made the occasional appearance, adding some snarky remark or just making sure you were okay. It didn’t worry you that he was so overprotective; they always were. Teen pregnancy was always a risk. From school, to people and social media, to health problems. A lot of things could go wrong in a teen pregnancy.

Minutes passed and, before you knew it, you heard the owner of the shop gasp in surprise. A male voice called your name, and you answered half-heartedly, almost ready to fall asleep there. From where you were sitting, you saw Iron Man impressive suit peeking over the shelves, and calling with one hand to a small figure, who ran to your side in seconds.

“Hey” Peter’s soft voice made you smile, and soon his fluffy locks welcomed you.

Peter kneeled on your right, his suit covered hand resting on your thigh and squeezing it carefully. He had bags under his eyes and a tired smile adorning his face. His locks were all over the place, still not used to the new mask Tony had gave him. You couldn’t resist the urge of running a hand through them.

As if it was a routine, his other hand travelled to your belly, covered by a horrendous pre-mom jacket he had made you wear. Still, both of you felt the baby kicking softly where Peter was touching it, and you smiled happy.

“Young woman, consider yourself the main cause of my grey hair” Iron man’s voice said.

Tony stepped out of the suit, leaving it on guarding mood on the beginning of the aisle; Spiderman’s identity was yet to be revealed. Although he looked slightly annoying from being out of his lab, he had a fond shine on his eyes, that was only directed to a few people in the world.

“I’m sorry I got you out of bed, old man” you heard Peter’s stiffen a laugh. “I just wanted something to eat.”

“Next time you can just call me” Peter said. “You know I can drop anything for you”

He would, and you knew it more than well. When he had discovered you were pregnant, you expected a lot of things. Walking out on you, insulting you, questioning the father of the child, excusing himself of its life. But Peter Parker had only hugged you tight and promised you that he would never move from your side, whatever you wanted or decided. And even proposed to leave highschool and search for some job.

Thankfully, aunt May and Pepper took that idea out of his mind quickly.

“I could use some spiderman swinging right now” you said, using your best puppy eyes. You faked a small pout and watched as Peter’s eyes widened. “I’m really, really tired… I walked here and all. And I want to go to sleep. Like, now.”

“What? Why?” Peter panicked. “Do you feel sick? I can bright you a paper bin. Mr Stark, can you bring a paper bin? Or do you need anything else? Karen, can you call-“

“Kid, she’s fine” Tony rolled his eyes. “I’ve been living with her long enough to know those eyes. She’s just trying to get away with being lazy.

You chuckled and Peter relaxed his shoulders, muttering something to Karen about not bringing the ambulance. With his help, you got up from the chair and wrapped your arms around his shoulders. He hugged your back and rubbed his nose against your neck, curls tickling your cheeks. Tony said something about keeping it PG and going to pay for the snacks, but you didn’t move from the embrace.

Peter’s arms had something that made you want to stay between them all day, even if it was weird with a huge stomach in between. The hard plates of his suit felt uncomfortable against your skin, and it was too chilly for you liking; yet you enjoyed yourself for a little bit, not aware of what was waiting for you.

It had probably passed only a few minutes before you heard the man in the counter walking angrily towards you. Your lips were awfully close to his, previously having kissed his neck, cheeks and chin, when Peter pushed aside and the mask covered him quickly, just in time to see the man walking in the aisle with Tony hot on his heels. He was speaking so fast you couldn’t understand him, although it was true that your mind felt a little foggy. The lights bothered you, the noises were too loud and it was cold in that dammed shop. You only wanted to go back to bed.

Peter gripped your hand and managed to push you a little behind him, not liking the way that man was pointing an angry arm at you.

“…pay! You have to pay for everything! Now it’s useless!”

“Hey man, I already paid for everything. And gave you a tip!” Tony raised his arms, and with a sharp look stopped the suit from frying that man. “This is ridiculous, you can’t even properly speak my language.”

“No, you pay more! She sat, and now useless! No one is buying the chair no more, and shop close if doesn’t have money! Pay!”

“Mr Stark?” Peter asked, voice unsure but ready to jump into the argument. By then, you were leaning on his back, cheek pressed against his shoulder blade while his thumb caressed your palm.

The man shouted something in his language. Judging by the small black moustache, dark skin and long clothes, he was probably muslim. He kept pointing to the chair, as if he wanted desperately for you to notice something.

And, in an ironic way, you were the first one to do so. You should had probably noticed earlier; the discomfort, the constant need to pee. Those were alarming signals, but you had just confused them with cravings and maternity hormones. While Tony shouted back and forwards with the man, you got stuck looking at the red stain on the chair you had been sitting on mere seconds ago. Some of it had leaked to the ground, and just then you were aware of the sticky feeling on your legs. Looking down, you saw the grey leggings darkened, and you gasped.

“You al-“

Peter stopped at midsentence when he noticed the blood on your thighs. Once you were up and not sitting, he could see the beginning of a larger stain of red. He didn’t mind when his mask fell off and the muslim man stopped talking in surprise, neither when, in an attempt to catch you, he crashed with the shelves on his back and knocked over some diaper’s boxes.

“Y/N”

Tony had never heard such a desperation in the boy’s voice. He had you gripping on his forearms, face suddenly face and sweat rolling down your neck. His face wasn’t much better; wide eyes, tears already forming in them, and mouth open.

However, Peter didn’t get to say anything before you finally crumbled down on his arms while your world turned black.

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

As Peter swung through the buildings of New York, bag on his shoulders, all he could think was about the crib. The half-done crib you were trying to build in what would be the kid’s room, in the tower. You had decided to stay there, with Peter, and although he would miss May, he had been happy with the idea.

Until the moment came, and he had been too busy fussing over the avengers to build the crib; then, he felt miserable. It couldn’t have been his fault, as the little bundle had decided to come three fucking months earlier.

His heartbeat was wild on his ears, so loud that he couldn’t see or feel the wind that passed through him. If you were there, you would shout at him for going to fast. If you were there, you would make him focus on the task and forget about the damn crib. But you weren’t, you were in an hospital bed giving birth while he went for the bag, that thankfully he had already prepared.

In a daze, he found himself in the hospital. The whole ‘protect the secret identity’ was long forgotten, and he ripped the mask off his head in front of the nurse in charge.

“C-Can I help you?” the lady said, voice trembling. She blinked a few times, surprised to see such a young boy in the spiderman’s suit.

“Yes, yeah. I’m… Y/N Y/L/N. She’s-She’s my girlfriend. Pregnant” Peter stumbled over his words. “She-well, not any more. I guess? She’s giving birth. Early, thought. We had a problem in a shop and-“

“Room 311. That’s the third floor” the woman cut him, kind smile on her face. “Take the elevator, then it’s down the hall and to the right”

He didn’t even think. His mind was only a mix of white noise and blurry images passing through him. Peter ran to the elevator, resting his forehead against the metallic wall of it as it rose, exacerbating the swooping feeling he had been fighting since you fainted on his arms; like someone ripped the floor out from beneath his feet. He had been trying to prepare himself for that moment for months, reading all the available books he found and asking for advice to every person he knew.

But, the moment had arrived and he didn’t even had the crib.

There was a woman waiting outside room 311, sipping from a water bottle and wearing awful expensive clothes. She had her hair tied up in a bun, and Peter barely recognised her as the lawyer Tony had gotten for you. Without sparing her another glance, he sprinted past her and almost kicked the door open.

It was sort of a nightmare, what lied behind that door. Peter thought his mind filtered out the worse of it, yet when he opened it and found you sitting on a bed, the end of it covered by blood, he was ready to faint himself.

Tony was by your side, shouting something over the phone with a frown on his face. And you were crying. Fat, big tears were making their way down your chest, and Peter’s knees became jelly. He managed to step up to your bed.

“Y/N”

You looked up at him briefly, eyes squeezed in pain. You didn’t make any sound of recognition, but grabbed his hand in an iron grip and squeezed it. Peter immediately got the hint, and used his other hand to avoid the sweat getting into your eyes.

Tony got out of the room after nodding to Peter, taking the bag out of his white knuckles and placing it on the chair. Bile rose up to Peter’s throat when a particularly pained scream left your lips. You leaned over for a second, before relaxing slightly.

He took that as his cue to start whispering soothing words to you. They didn’t do much, and you only wanted to push him apart. But his voice was trembling, his hands were shaking and Peter had also tears on his eyes. So you let him keep talking while the next contraction hit you.

“You seem awfully close to passing out” you tried to joke, enjoying the few seconds of rest. Peter let out a nervous chuckle.

“That’s probably because I am” he whispered. “But I’m not! I promise, I’m not moving. Squeeze my hand, do whatever you want. I’ve read that maybe insulting me might-“

“Pete” you interrupted him, breathless. “I’ll be okay. The baby will be okay, doctors get preemies in here all the time, they know how to take care of them”

Peter’s thought went back to the unfinished crib, how he might had been the one not prepared. He would willingly give his life away from you. But taking care of another life? He wasn’t so sure about that. Even with the financial support of your mother and Tony, they were still a lot of things to solve. Like, highschool, life changes, his schedules.

He didn’t get to continue the list of things he could do wrong because it happened.

One second he was whispering just one more push to you, the next the room was filled with the sound of crying. It was like the first time he heard the heartbeat; it came from everywhere. It came from inside him, he could heart it in his bones. Already, Peter knew he could never forget it.

It wasn’t loud, just tiny mewling noises. The nurses rushed forward with clean towels to wipe away the blood. They were swaddling something in their arms, talking in hushed whispered. He can’t hear your voice calling him over the kid’s low cries. A blonde old nurse came forward, looking at you with soft eyes and asked you something.

Peter’s ears seemed to snap open to her words.

“Would you like to hold her?”

Vaguely, he registered the doctor talking to you about delivering the placenta next, but you nodded excitedly. Peter turned everything he had heard, seen or felt in his life down, and only focused on the blonde nurse standing by your side, offering up a bundle of blankets with a baby, his baby. The room became blurry because of his tears, and he had to sit down.

Next to you. So, Peter saw the little head between the blankets. And he cried.

“Remember to support her head-yeah, like that! I feel like you’re gonna be a natural.”

Peter didn’t actually heard what came after, neither did you. His ears aren’t ringing anymore, either. It was just him, the love of his life laying on a bed, and the bundle of happiness the world had decided to gift him with. A wriggling and squirming little baby girl, with her rounded cheeks flushed with red. Her tiny daughter.

The words made him choke on his sobs, and he covered his mouth with his hand. The love that crashed him was like anything else; it eclipsed everything, warmed him like a rising sun and washed away the thought about the crib.

There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do, there was nothing that meant more to him that that moment.

“Hi, baby” you whispered.

Blindly, she reached towards the source of the voice.

Ten years ago, you had met Peter Parker. A boy with asthma, thin and a little nerdy; that had given you a silly necklace with a self-made atom. The same way it had captured your attention, and since that moment you had stuck to his side, your daughter gripped it with chubby fingers, and her cries died down.

Peter felt as if he was staring at the sun. He put one hand on her head, and the baby, his baby, made a soft little whining sound. Her eyes fluttered open and, if Peter could, he would sit down again.

He couldn’t control the urge of turning your head to the side and crashing his lips to yours. You squealed in surprise, and some nurses gasped. You were both sweaty and with tears on your eyes. The kiss tasted salty, it was awkward because the position and couldn’t last long because they had to take the little girl to the NICU. But it felt like the most perfect kiss of all times.

“I love you” he cried, not bothering to hide his sobs anymore. “I love you, I love you, I love you…”

You giggle wetly at him, and pulled him closer for another kiss.

Things were going to be hard. Teen pregnancy, highschool, a premature baby and a whole new world waiting for you. But something in Peter’s gut, his Peter’s tingle, told him everything was going to be just fine.

Want to know more about me? Here is my Masterlist! Feedback is always appreciated!!

Tom Tags:

@delicately-important-trash

[tears-of-boredom]

the problem might just be visual media. trying to watch merlin and frankly i fucking hate this kid already, only 26 minuted into the first episode. also who's that weird girl whose hair looks like a spirit halloween wig. and i know that the old lady is disguised as that other lady and is planning on killing the prince, you don't have to play the evil music everytime we see her. and also are you expecting me to like, root against the lady? like are you seriously trying to pit me against someone trying to kill the future monarch? and oh the dragon appeared just now. it was unbelievably easy to break into the dungeon it seems. also when merlin went to deliver the medicine to the evil lady in disguise, im sorry but why did the doll catch his attention. or the random book? like i know its so he can figure out that she evil and all, but like you could really do it any other way. also merlin is being kinda creepyyy i dont know maybe announce yourself if you step into someones room, and dont just let them believe youre their maid. and oh god i thought the girl with the dollar store wig was the princess,, like the daughter of the king, but arthur just looked at her funny so i think i was wrong in that. and you know what im just gonna finish the episode while writing my thoughts on here...god all of their dress is so boring. like not to be too negative but you couldn't think of anything cool? oh the lady is doing her plan lets goo kill the prince please oh wait why is there cobweb i dont understand no FUCKING MERLIN DONT STOPP HER YOU FUCKING BITCH THAT LITTLE FUCKER WHAT DID YOU DO?? YOU FUCKING ROYALIST...no but seriously i knew her plan wasnt going to work obvs. ive seen the tumblr girlies blog about marthur or whatever the shipname is. also no story would be that fun. and yeah im not going to watch another episode of this. sorry but its just not interesting to me, i can already tell id be too fucking annoyed all the time to enjoy it at all. tbh the whole time i just wanted to stop and go read some fanfiction. i guess i just prefer written media over visual. or maybe all these shows just are really annoying.

[hirstories]

Abraca—switch! Or The Tale of Edward Elric vs. the Mischievous Body-Snatcher

Chapter 1

“Cano—” The folds piling up on the man’s forehead smoothed when he gave out a long, tired sigh. ”¡Que mucho tu jodes!” he added, hitting one of his knees for added emphasis.

Edward raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by the man's actions. He'd been warned beforehand by the people of Little Big Canyon that this man wasn't pleasant, that he sometimes was downright vicious. Good thing he spent a month learning the local language as best as he could so he would be prepared for situations like this one.

Edward kept his gaze fixed on the shriveled figure sitting cross-legged a few feet away from him.

During that moment suspended in time, Edward translated in his head what he just heard. Cano meant blondie an expression he has come to hate ever since he set foot in the Far West. And the rest...Edward paused. Did the old fart had the gall to call him a pest?

At that moment, the man snapped his fingers; Edward couldn't help but glare back at him. And of course, his glare bounced off the man like an alchemical rebound. If it wasn't for the dark void of the man’s eyes, Edward would think he was facing the Ice Queen herself. He shook that disturbing image from his head then went back to the purpose of his visit.

“Don Paco,” Edward began, this time his tone matched his growing irritation. “¿Me va a ayudar o no?”

The man didn't respond to his plea for help—no surprise there. The man kept staring down at him, eyes unblinking.

Edward did his best to keep his calm but that shriveled, old prune was testing the limit of his patience...and his courteousness. He flashed Don Paco a tight smile in hopes to elicit a reaction—any reaction—from him but the bastard remained as unmoved as before. Edward straightened his posture and squared his shoulders. His amber eyes narrowed ever so slightly wondering if there was something wrong with this man other than having a nasty attitude.

Right then, Don Paco’s cold expression morphed as if he'd read his thoughts. The wrinkles on his face—especially his crow’s feet—cut his toasted face the same way the canyons in the surrounding area cut the slick rock.

Edward caught a flash of gold amongst the man’s gnarly teeth as Don Paco placed his hands on his knobby knees.

A thunderous cackle ripped through the arid air, a sound so disturbing, that made Edward regret wanting a response from Don Paco—even seeking him in the first place. But Edward had to make this detour.

The first time Edward first heard of Don Paco was when he reached the first outpost in East Creta. The locals there told him of a tribe in the Far West where all sorts of miracles happened. As he traveled deeper into Creta, those tales began taking more shape. Apparently, miracles did happen when Don Paco was involved and many folks braved the badlands for a shot at salvation. Of course, when he later found out, mercenaries made a decent living by helping these people cross the unforgiving terrain.

There was a moment during his impromptu investigation when he decided that Don Paco sounded like a tribal version of Doctor Marcoh—maybe even Father Cornello.

In El Paso, the gateway to the Far West, Edward had a fascinating conversation with the local bartender. The bear-of-a-man referred to Don Paco as something more than a healer—he was a sorcerer. When Edward kept asking the bartender for more details, the bartender left his station and went into the back room. When he returned, the bartender showed Edward a photograph. To Edward, the photograph looked a typical family portrait, except for one huge detail. The bartender was sitting in a wheelchair, his atrophied legs struggling to stay put in the foot rests. Before Edward had a chance to ask how he got cured, the bartender told him that Don Paco used some type of red stone on him.

The snapping of fingers brought Edward back to the present.

“Wandering can get you into trouble around this parts,” Don Paco said with a mocking smile.

Edward glared like he did the first time the old man snapped his fingers at him. Just when he was coming up with some colorful words in the man’s native language, Don Paco continued speaking.

“Not everyone that comes to see me can be helped,” he said, then inched forward to peer into Edward’s eyes.

“What peculiar eye color you have—like a cat.” After a short pause, he said, “Give me your hand.”

Don Paco offered his open palm when Edward didn't do as he commanded.

Edward’s eyes settled on the withered hand before looking at Don Paco’s equally withered face. He gave the man a smart smile while thinking about his next move. Edward wasn't a State Alchemist anymore, nor he was an actual alchemist for that matter, but he wasn't going to give a free pass to a man he suspected of having a Philosopher’s Stone in his possession, at least not before making sure the stone wasn't being used for evil deeds.

And that’s how Edward humored Don Paco by going along with whatever he indented to do with his hand.

Long, spindly fingers connected by knobby knuckles encircled Edward's hand like a daddy-long-legs that's ready to attack an enemy.

Don Paco focused all of his attention on Edward’s palm. After a few long minutes of quiet contemplation, Don Paco made a gurgling sound in his throat and spat on it.

“What the fuck!” Edward cried out. He even tried to pull his hand away but the man tightened the grip on it.

Don Paco looked up for a second, and said, “Patience.”

Edward grunted in response. He was close to losing it when Don Paco began moving the spit around. Just when Edward was getting ready to sock the man, Don Paco’s face went blank.

“There's a child inside a white void. He—no, ‘It’—says it is the all encompassing Truth but he’s no more than a Trickster.”

Edward remained still, his eyes widening in both shock and awe.

“A life stained red by sin,” Don Paco continued, “You—that is, your younger self—wanted to seek atonement, so you danced with demons in order to ‘regain what was lost’.” He moved the spit some more. “You were ready for anything—you were ready to surrender your own life if it would ‘balance the equation’...for Al.” Don Paco cleared his throat then smacked his dry lips together. “A blood sacrifice wasn't needed. You made a deal with the child that was now a young man. The Trickster was amused by your offer and took your gift without a second thought. He fooled you.”

Edward narrowed his eyes at Don Paco. That man in the middle of nowhere was well-informed. But there was no way he could know about his personal struggles unless he has ties with the Cretan military, and even if that was the case, he doubted they would give this crazy, old man detailed intel on him in the first place.

Edward tried to free his hand again and break whatever the hell this man was doing to it (to him) but Don Paco wasn't budging.

Don Paco set his hard gaze on one spot in Edward’s palm. With his index finger, he traced the line that curved towards his heart and index fingers.

A smile broke the man’s contemplation; his ebony eyes met Edward’s. “Your girl...she's quite the looker.”

Edward scowled even deeper.    

Don Paco continued reading his palm. His intense gaze was gone, replaced by a lewd grin.

Dirty old man! “Hey!” Edward snapped and yanked at his hand, but the fucker was stronger than he looked.

If Don Paco didn't let go of his hand soon, he was going to end up in a world of hurt. At the count of three, Edward curled his left hand into a fist. Just as he swung, Don Paco let go of his hand. The sudden shift in momentum made Edward lose balance, he had to use both hands so he wouldn't fall face forward.

“You’ve lived quite an interesting life, cano,” Don Paco said as he confronted Edward’s anger. “You're no ordinary human, that's for sure,” he mused.

Tilting his head to the right, he mumbled, “Interesting indeed.”

Edward didn't pay attention to the man’s words, he was too busy cleaning old man spit and dirt from his hands with his handkerchief. He put the dirty handkerchief back in one of his pant pockets then stood up. He wiped the dust from his pants then leaned to pick up the hat he'd purchased in a Cretan outpost some odd weeks ago. The hat itself was an atrocity but it had wide wings that protected his face from the harsh sun.

Only after he put the hat on was when Edward returned his attention to Don Paco.

“Well, that was certainly creepy...and disgusting.” His forehead crinkled as he thought of the strange experience. He glanced over his shoulder to locate his horse, who at the moment was enjoying the shade of the only large tree in the surrounding area. “I better get going,” he said when he turned to Don Paco.

Edward leaned over to pick up his suitcase. He then did a one-eighty and walked away.

Red stone be damned.

The first thing he was going to do when he returned to town was to make a quick phone call to Central Command. Colonel Bastard should know that there might be a Philosopher’s Stone in the Far West—

“I thought you wanted my help!”

Edward stopped, rolled his eyes, and let out an annoyed sigh.

“I'm no longer interested,” he said, then continued walking.

“Weren't you listening to what I was saying, pendejo?” Don Paco yelled. “I can help you with your alchemy. That is what you're ultimately seeking, isn't it?”

Edward kept walking to his horse.

“I know you crave it!” Don Paco added, “That titillating feeling coursing through your body as you connect with the Most Sacred Energy.” His face twisted into a cheeky grin before he let out a loud cackle. ”It's better than una paja, right?”

Even though Edward wouldn't go as far as to compare the energetic surge to jacking off, he couldn't deny that Don Paco was right in his assessment of its mechanics.

“You're not interested in my offer, not even in the least?” Don Paco insisted when he didn't receive an immediate answer to his question.

What the hell is his problem? Edward waved a hand and said, “Not at all!”

He kept walking.

“I don't believe you.”

Edward stopped abruptly and turned around. “Weren't you listening, asshole? I said I'm not interested,” he spat.

An even bigger smile slithered across Don Paco’s face. “Is that what you're going to tell your brother and your girlfriend when you return home?”

Edward blew off right then and there. “You leave them out of it!”

In his rage, he didn't see Don Paco’s eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

“Have they ever told you how they feel about you losing your alchemy?” Don Paco said, his words punching past Edward's offense as if it was made out of paper. “Are you that dense that you can't see the guilt your brother carries every day because he knows you surrendered your alchemy, your sense of Self”—he punctuated—”for his sake?”

Edward dropped his suitcase, the heavy luggage raising a soft cloud of dust all around him when it hit the ground.

He then pointed an angry finger at Don Paco before cutting the man off. “I'm warning you—!”

“And what a terrible boyfriend you turned out to be!” Don Paco said, feigning dismay while at the same time retaking control of the conversation. “That hot babe of yours is hurting on the inside because she knows you haven't really returned to her side”—he shook his head in disappointment—“she's afraid that your loss of alchemy will always get in the way of your relationship.”

“Shut your trap, old man! You know nothing about them!” Edward snarled.

Don Paco was talking shit. Both Alphonse and Winry understood his choice—his sacrifice!

But Edward went silent when an unsettling thought caught his attention.

Alphonse persistence of traveling separately so they could cover more ground and learn more about alchemy. And Winry’s insistence for him to get on the train—

“Not only I can tap into your consciousness, cano, I can also tap into the energetic imprint of everyone that's interconnected with you,” Don Paco said, picking up where he left off. “Look, I already said that I'm willing to help you with your problem, and believe me muchacho, that is considered an honor around these parts.”

Don Paco’s words brought Edward back to the moment; his face darkened.

“Let me guess, next you're going to tell me that you're going to perform a miracle?” he scoffed. “The Philosopher’s Stone can't restore the ability to use alchemy.” His words were dripping cynicism but he didn't care. That old bastard had overstepped his bounds a long time ago.

Don Paco blinked like an owl. Moments later, a low rumble started in his chest that exploded into a full fit of laughter. “Cano”—he waved his index finger in playful reproach—“You're even sharper than I gave you credit for. I’m liking you even more than I already do.”

After a minute or so, Don Paco’s amusement dwindled, and after wiping off some mirthful tears, he said, “No stone, cano, only magia, magick—and that is magick with a ‘c’ and a k’—not its bastardized form.” A pause. “If you accept my help, I will be using on you a type of ancient art form the likes you've never seen in your life.”

Edward opened his mouth to object, but closed it. For some odd reason that went beyond all logic, that old prune piqued his interest.

Don Paco stood up and approached Edward. “I don't blame you for not trusting me, cano." He looked at Edward from top to bottom. Amused, he added, “I would be doing the same if I were in your shoes.”

Edward’s brow tensed. The way that old man talked and moved reminded him of a snake that had encircled its prey.

“There's no point in hiding it from you,” Don Paco said when he saw he was losing Edward's interest.

He buried one hand in his shirt and pulled out a long silver chain. At the end of the chain hung a silver skull and in its jaw, glistened a red stone. “When magick fails—and that doesn't happen often, I must add—then I use the Sanguine Star to accomplish what I started, which is to help people in need.”

Don Paco looked the Philosopher's Stone for a brief moment then turned his gaze upon Edward.

“Like you, I know what this is made out of,” he continued. “This stone contains the souls of the People of the West.” His gaze became lost for a second. “It was handed to me by a Cretan deserter who was against the genocide of our people.”  

Edward remained silent. He couldn't help but think about the similitudes between Ishval and these People of the West. One thing was for sure, the Philosopher's Stone always leaves heartbreak and misery behind.

”The Being living on the other side of the Gate isn't God.”

Don Paco’s comment snapped Edward back into awareness; Don Paco noticed this and smiled.

“Don't get me wrong,” he said, then added, “‘It’—Truth, as you better know it—possess immense power, but this Being isn't the Creator. This Being controls a power similar to magick to ‘pass judgment’ upon us mortals, and we let it this Being abuse us simply because we don't know any better.”

Edward gave the old man an incredulous look.

“Tell me, cano, why would God pass judgment on us lowly humans?” Don Paco rushed to ask.

Edward raised an eyebrow. The old man was certainly pushy, and he also knew how to ask the right questions. Don Paco kind of reminded him of Rose when they first met in Liore. She also asked him questions. Should he amuse himself at this man’s expense like he did with poor Rose all those years ago?

“I don't know." He wanted to hear what the old kook had to say about the subject.

Don Paco grinned. “The answer is: he doesn't.”

Edward suppressed a snicker.

Don Paco went on to say, “All religions preach that God is perfection, so it's safe to assume that God’s creation is also perfection. Wouldn't ‘passing judgment’ contradict all this?”

Don Paco’s words struck a chord. He’s thought among similar lines especially after Truth took his stupid Commanding Officer’s sight even though he wasn't at fault for performing a human transmutation. Truth—God, Goddess, Creator—shouldn't have taken anything from Mustang, yet it did.

“I see that my words had an effect on you.”

Edward returned his attention to Don Paco. He pressed his lips into a thin line and paused before saying, “In my final transmutation, I exchanged my Gate of Truth for my younger brother’s mind, body, and soul. Tell me how the fuck can you cancel this exchange without using the stone?”  

Don Paco shook his head. “Well, that was stupid,” he tsked.

Edward curled his upper lip. “You know what? Go to hell!" he turned around and continued walking. “That's what I get for listening to crazy people,” he mumbled as he moved along.

“I'm sorry if I offended you!” Don Paco said. “I'm a hermit, cano, that doesn't help with social skills.”

But Edward couldn't care less.

“To tell you the truth, even my fellow tribesmen can't stand me,” Don Paco admitted. And when Edward didn't stop, he added, “To answer your question, I'll be conjuring a gateway between the physical realm and the White Void then I'll astral travel to the White Void and persuade Truth to give you back your Gate of Truth.”

Edward slowed his pace until he came to a full stop. He gave out a tired sigh before turning around. “And that's it?” Maybe it was the relentless sun, maybe he had enough of Don Paco’s bullshit, or maybe it was a combination of the two, but he couldn't stop himself from being bitterly sarcastic.

Instead of being offended, Don Paco offered Edward a sympathetic smile.

“Cano, you always had your God-given gift within you. In its natural state, it was active but now is dormant. The connection will be restored once I speak with Truth.” He waited a few seconds to see if Edward would walk away. When Edward didn't, he added, “I'll tell you something. It takes me one day to make the preparations for the Transcendence Ritual. The passage to other realms is the strongest at midnight. If you're feeling lucky, and want to gamble with fate, then be here tomorrow at least one hour before the clock strikes midnight.”

Edward simply stared. After a brief pause, he turned around and left without saying a word.

[royalnightoutphff]

Chapter Twenty-Eight

**A/N: This chapter was a lot of fun to write! Let me know what you think :)

“Aunt Lexy, are you gonna come back?” Deacon asked her as she shoved her deodorant, laptop, and phone charger into her backpack.

“Of course, kid,” she said, turning to him and running a hand through his hair. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“When will that be?”

“In August! A few days before your birthday.”

“Will you get me a present?”

Lexy sat on her freshly made bed and patted the area beside her. “What would you like?”

“I want legos, like the ones that were on tv this morning.”

Lexy nodded even though she didn’t have the slightest idea what he was talking about. “For sure, kiddo. You’ll have them in August.”

Deacon hung his head. “I’m going to miss you.”

Lexy threw her arms around him. “Oh, I’ll miss you too. But it will be August really soon. And you can call me every day.”

“You promise?”

“I promise,” Lexy said, holding out her hand for a pinky promise. “Now, go get dressed so you can ride with me to the airport and see the big planes.”

**

Her daddy drove her to the airport. The sun was barely above the horizon and this time it just felt different. When they finally pulled up to the Nashville airport, Lexy didn’t want to get out of the car.

“Go on,” her father urged, pulling her suitcase from the back of the truck. “Tell that boyfriend of yours I said hey.”

Lexy had already cried that morning and she didn’t want to again so she simply kissed her father on the cheek and reached into the back to hug each of the kids. She made promises to Deacon about his legos and one to Liza Belle about some chocolate before holding Levi close to her. Then Lexy took a deep breath and headed towards the check-in counter.

Fourteen hours after she left the truck, Lexy had made it to London. The line for customs had taken an hour and she was sure Harry was bound to be annoyed at waiting. However, when she reached the exit, she was not greeted by Haryr, but by Mitch.

Mitch gave her tight hug before taking her backpack and both suitcases. When Lexy exited Heathrow, she was overjoyed to find that the sky was clear and blue, almost as if it was welcoming her back to the city.

“How was your flight?” Mitch asked, opening the passenger side door for her.

“Long,” she replied, buckling her seatbelt. “It was delayed for an hour and I had one of the middle seats. This kid kept kicking my seat the entire way.”

Mitch gave her an apologetic smile as he pulled the car onto the motorway. “You should tell Harry that. The boy’s probably never had a middle seat in his life.”

Lexy laughed. “Where is he anyway?” It was nearly half past five already and she knew he got off work at five. But because she was in a new country, her phone wasn’t working and she wouldn’t be able to hear from him until she saw him in person.

“He’s been held up by some sort of plans. He was in quite a mood when I left him though, so don’t worry.”

“Good,” Lexy smiled. “Where are we going then? His office?”

“I’ve been instructed to take you to Kensington.”

Lexy smiled to herself and looked out the window at the passing buildings. There were so many things she’d missed about the city; the accents, the history, the culture. She’d even missed the sound of Greg James’s voice from Radio One. She wondered what it would be like when she went back to Oxford. She wondered if she should text Michael.

Before long they pulled through the gates of the palace and Lexy felt like she was home again, even though it wasn’t really her home.

Mitch led the way to Harry’s flat and Lexy found herself gaping at the decorations on the wall and the extravagance of it all, as if she’d never seen it. It was one of those times when she realized just how lucky she was. Mitch used a key to unlock Harry’s door and then turned on the light.

Lexy was immediately struck by how little things had changed. There were still unwashed dishes in the sink, envelopes spread across the island top, and the sounds of the television playing softly in the background, as if Harry had forgotten to turn it off.

Mitch wheeled her two suitcases into the middle of the kitchen and put down the handles. “Well, I’ll let you be. I’m going to head back and see what Harry’s up to.”

“Thanks Mitch,” Lexy told him, giving him one last hug and watching as he closed the door behind him.

With nothing but her backpack, Lexy walked into the living room where the television was playing the news. She placed her hands on her hips and looked around the room, taking in the photos on the wall that were still the same ones she’d seen six months before: the one of Harry with his mother, the one of Harry and William and their father, and the one of Harry and George.

Lexy smiled and sat down on the couch, taking out her edition of Anna Karenina in Russian and desperately trying to focus on the princess. But it had been nearly twenty-four hours since she’d last slept, and no matter how excited she was to see Harry, the fact that he wasn’t there yet allowed sleep to overcome her.

** “Lexy,” someone shook her softly at first then a bit more roughly. “Lex, come on, wake up.”

Lexy figured it was Deacon and responded by rolling over.

“Lexy, come on, wake the fuck up.”

Her eyes flashed open at that and she was met with a pair of blue eyes. Her eyes ran over his face, over the beard that was just a bit longer than before, over his eyebrows that were knitted together in concern, and then finally over his teeth that began to show from her hesitation.

Lexy threw her arms around his neck and clung onto him like he was her lifeline. Harry held her even tighter in response, breathing in the scent of her hair. Harry’s suit jacket was rough on her skin but she didn’t care; all that mattered was that he was there—physically, in front of her.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t pick you up. I got held up—something’s going on with Invictus.”

“Doesn’t matter,” she mumbled against him. “You’re here now.”

“Are you still tired?” He asked, still not letting go of her.

Lexy knew she was—the nap hadn’t been enough to quench her tiredness. But the thought of spending more time away from him made her heart ache.

“I’m not really ready to let go of you yet.”

His chest vibrated against hers and he ran his arm down her back. “That’s not quite what I meant. Let’s go to bed?”

Lexy mumbled against him in agreement that time and Harry’s chest vibrated against hers. He didn’t let go of her like he promised, gripping her waist and leading her towards his bedroom.

Then Lexy saw the object in the hallway and stopped walking. “Did you buy a piano?”

Harry shrugged. “You said you played when I visited you at Oxford once and I realized you didn’t have one at home, so I thought you might like to play.”

“You bought a piano for me?” Her brain was already calculating the amount of money that had to have cost. Thousands of dollars, easily.

“Well, no. I just had it relocated. We’ve probably got a dozen scattered around the palace.”

“Harry,” she choked out. She didn’t know why she was so emotional, why she felt like she was about to cry.

“Lexy,” he said in response. “I want you to be happy here.”

“I am,” she said. “I’m happy where ever you are.”

Harry snorted. “Here we go with the fucking rom com again. We might as well recreate Love Actually.”

Lexy cracked a smile at that and sat down on the piano bench, pulling him down beside her. She let her fingers fall to the keys as Harry’s jacket fell to the floor behind them.

“What should I play?” She asked.

“Anything but Ed Sheeran.”

Lexy laughed again and Harry grinned just to see her happy and began to play. She watched Harry as she began to play, watching as his expression changed when he realized the song.

“Can you feel the love tonight? The peace the evening brings, the world for once in perfect harmony, with all its living things.”

She knew Harry was staring at her, watching her, and she was surprised that she felt so comfortable to be singing in front of him. She’d only ever sung to the kids. Then, she was even more surprised when his voice joined hers.

“So many things to tell her but how to make her see? The truth about my past, impossible, she’d turn away from me.”

She looked at him, smiling. “He’s holding back he’s hiding, why won’t he be the king I know he is, the king I see inside?”

Their voices joined together. “Can you feel the love tonight? The peace the evening brings, the world for once in perfect harmony, with all its living things.”

Harry started to laugh, halting her playing by putting his arms around her and pulling her into him. “God, I have missed you so much. You’ve got to tell me what your fascination is with this movie, though. I can’t have this getting out to the press.”

Lexy laughed even louder and hugged him tighter. “Thanks for the piano.”

“Not at all,” he shook his head, grinning. “Thanks for coming to London.

“I can’t believe I’m here for a whole month,” she mumbled into his chest.

“Me too.” Then he put a hand under her chin and lifted her head up. Lexy smiled when their lips met, loving that his lips were still well taken care of. “I’ve been waiting two months to do that.”

Lexy simply smiled, standing up and holding her hand out, as if the house didn’t belong to Harry. Harry eyed her but nevertheless took her hand. They walked down the long hallway, arms swinging between them.

She pushed open the door to his room and turned the light on, immediately being met by an unmade bed. Lexy clucked her tongue. “Why didn’t you make your bed?”

Harry rolled his eyes and kicked off his shoes. “You’re the first person who’s been in here since January. I didn’t think I needed to.”

Lexy laughed but stopped when she saw that Harry was unbuttoning his shirt. She was overcome with a feeling she’d never felt before. Harry didn’t notice, shrugging out of it and then pulling off his undershirt. She watched as he unbuckled his belt and then grabbed a pair of joggers off of the floor, walking into the adjoining bathroom without a word.

Lexy swallowed and sat down on the end of his bed, looking at herself in the mirror. She suddenly felt self-conscious in her Princeton t-shirt and jeans, her hair a mess from the plane and in absolutely no makeup. She heard the water turn on and then off again before the door opened and Harry was standing there, a toothbrush in hand.

“Oh Lex, I forgot to tell you, but I bought you a toothbrush.”

Lexy’s stomach began to feel a bit strange. It was getting so serious. “You did?”

“Yeah, I always forget toothbrushes whenever I go somewhere and I thought you would like to have one for yourself. Plus, Kate got you this cup that has an L on it.”

Lexy eyebrows furrowed as she got up to see what Harry was talking about. Sure enough, amidst all the products on the sink, was her very own cup. It was blue with a matching toothbrush in it. Harry had remembered her favorite color.

“That’s for me?”

“Just for you.”

Lexy walked forward and picked up the toothbrush. “But I don’t have any toothpaste.”

Harry smirked. “Lucky for you, I happen to have some right here.” He picked up a tube of Colgate and handed it to her.

“I can use your toothpaste?”

“You can use my toothpaste,” Harry assured her as he picked up his own toothbrush and began to brush his teeth. Lexy stared at him, wondering how one human being could be so attractive doing such a mundane thing.” Then she put her own toothpaste on her own brush and copied him.

It was such a couple thing to do and Lexy thought she would never have the chance to do it. But they brushed their teeth together and then walked back into Harry’s bedroom together. Harry turned out the overhead light and got into bed, leaving the room lit by his bedside lamp. Lexy stared at him from the foot of the bed. Grinning, Harry patted the bed beside him.

“Are you waiting for something?”

“No,” Lexy shook her head. “I’m just not in my pajamas yet.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. Lexy couldn’t help but notice that he was completely ready for bad, especially with his lack of shirt. “Do you want to borrow something?”

Lexy thought about how uncomfortable her jeans would be and nodded.

“I have some joggers in the top drawer. You can wear whatever you’d like.”

Lexy did as he told her, digging through it until she found a pair of athletic shorts. Aware that Harry’s eyes were on her, she quickly stripped out of her jeans and into them. Swallowing, she turned back around and got into the bed.

“You’re nervous again,” he noted after he turned off the lamp.

“No I’m not.” She said defiantly, though she avoided his gaze and turned on her side. “I’m just tired.”

Harry didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Then she felt him gently roll her over so that he was leaning up on his elbow, towering above her. “Hey, it’s just me.”

Lexy didn’t know why there were tears in her eyes. “I just can’t believe you’re here.”

“Well technically, I’ve been here all along,” he smiled, wiping his thumb across her cheek. “Why are you nervous?”

“I’m not.” She was still avoiding eye contact with him.

“Lexy baby, look at me.” She blinked, swallowed, and then did as he asked. “I love you.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “I am nervous.”

“I called it,” Harry said smugly, as if he had won a bet. “What’s got you nervous?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hmm,” Harry mumbled. “I think you should tell me a story.”

Lexy frowned. “What?”

“Who was your best mate growing up?”

“Sara. We did everything together.”

“Other than Sara. Someone you’re not related to. Give me something juicy.”

Lexy tried not to laugh at how ridiculous Harry sounded saying the word “juicy” and thought for a moment. “This guy named Remy. He was an Indian boy who moved with his family in the middle of second grade. By middle school I was in love with him. We dated for a week and then broke up.”

“Where’s he now?”

“Still in Tennessee. When we got to middle school, he started dating my other friend at the time. As all middle school boys do.”

“That must have been devastating.”

“Yeah. He was my first kiss and everything. I thought I was going to marry him. I had our wedding planned out in my science notebook.”

“So that’s why you’re not good at science,” Harry teased. “You missed it all in middle school.”

Lexy laughed. “What about you? Who was your first love?”

“This girl called Emily. She was absolutely perfect. She wore her hair in plaits every day and we would play army together. She let me be captain.”

Lexy grinned. “That’s so cute.”

“Yeah, I was so happy. William always got to be captain, except when I played with her.” Harry rolled his eyes.

Lexy laughed and then realized she wasn’t nervous any more. She narrowed her eyes at him. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Make me not feel nervous.”

Harry showed his teeth and shrugged. “Just one of my many talents, I guess.”

Lexy rolled her eyes but sat up and kissed him anyway.

“I’m glad it worked,” he mumbled against her lips.

Harry let her take control and Lexy enjoyed it, getting to know his mouth all over again. Harry’s hands twisted into her curls, tugging gently at them when Lexy let go of him.

“I genuinely think you’re the best kisser I’ve ever met,” Harry told her, his eyes shining. “Or maybe it’s just because it’s you and I like everything you do.”

Lexy laughed. “You’re the one telling me not to turn this into a rom-com and look at you.”

“I refute my previous statement. Love Actually was pretty damn good.”

Lexy smiled, leaning forward to kiss him again.

That was how they stayed for a while. The lights were off, the air was col, and there was nothing to be heard but their lips against each other’s, again and again. “You make me feel so young,” Harry whispered when they broke apart again.

“Alternatively, it’s because you never grew up.”

Harry gasped. “I’ll have you know I happen to be plenty adult. I have my own car, pay my own bills, and drink whiskey. You can’t say you do that.”

Lexy stuck her tongue out at him. “Whiskey isn’t even good.”

“Tomorrow I’ll make you more chicken nuggets.”

“Our first meal here. So romantic.”

Harry laughed again. There was so much laughter that night. “Alright, we should sleep. I’ve got work tomorrow.”

“Can I come with you?” Lexy asked as they readjusted themselves. Harry on his back, Lexy curled on his chest.

“Absolutely not. You would be bored out of your mind. Now, go to sleep.”

“Whatever you say, princess.”

“Oh dear God,” Harry laughed. “Shut up and go to sleep.”

Lexy huffed but nevertheless closed her eyes and listened to the beat of his heart. She listened to the sound of him breathing and tried to match hers to his. There was nothing quite like the feeling of his arm tight around her waist, her face flush to his abdomen. She was so glad she’d called him, so glad she hadn’t let the world ruin it for her.

And though she was still young, and they’d only been together for five months, Lexy was sure she could see herself falling asleep like that every night for the rest of her life.

[usertoxicyaoi]

I LOVE IT WHEN U SAY HELLLO LIKE THAT IT MAKES ANONS FEEL SO WELCOME AND UR SUCH A NICE PERSON ITS MUCB APPRECIATED (sorry for the caps)

Stop saying she should stop it! It's beautiful and you feel welcome here and when she shouts HELLOOOOO ANON! It has an familiar feeling! So please, please, please, just do it how you like it. Please.

i love it when you say hello to us, it's nice, you are really nice :) these anons are just tryina pick a fight ew

NOOOOO DON'T STOP SCREAMING HELOOOOS!!! THAT WAS SO ADORABLE GURL

Don't worry about the whole "screaming" thing lol. It's probably just a joke, plus YOU CAN SCREAM AT ME AS MUCH AS YOU WANT BB

I always thought it was very cute that you greeted us so enthusiastically

NO WAIT STOPP! SCEARM HELLO AS MUCH AS YOU WANT!! FUCK THESE GUYS!! WHY THE FUCK IS IT EVEN A PROBLEM!? ITS NICE☺️☺️ DONT LISTEN TO THESE HATERS🙄THEY ARE TOO JUDGEMENTAL AND IRRELEVANT. YOU DO YOU

I love your hellos - it always amazes me how people can be annoyed by such trivial things? why? chill out maybe? you keep doing you!

^ this

vs.

this:

no, a simple 'hi!' is good, but the whole, obnoxious 'HELLOOOOOOO' is like too much

........ a’ssalaamualaikum everybody. 

[victorclays]

last episode woooo

wait....what’s happening??? where the fuck are we now?

run dude run!!! i dont know if you’re a wolf or waht but run babe!!!

scott mccall and chris argent, runnin round saving creatures of the nigth! get it boys!

hello alec you seem nice. are you his new beta? i hope so.

SHIT YEAAAAAAHHHHH MY BOYS ARE BACK BITCHES LOOK AT THEM!!!! long suffering eyeroll: check! Derek jumping through the air like the badass he is: FUCKING CHECK!

mkay so the little growls that derek does when he’s fighting and not doing like full on growls are really cute and attractive all at once.

awww poor Duke, i’ll miss you. weirdly

derek knows shakespeare and i love it

fuck yeah jackson tell him babe fuck his shit up!!!!

good GOD he’s annoying. like....just his voice makes me feel gross. just...fuck off bro

oh hey, i forgot about theo, oops. we’d he go?

his poor toe!!!! also, both them boys day dream about holding each other and that’s all i need to know, and like, past events leave it open to like either one of those being true....so like...i’mma say they saved each other and call it a day. cuz i dont trust either of them to tell the truth

hell yeah mama mcall take back that hospital like your badass self

“its seems to be a situation of unfortunate overlap” holy shit i fucking missed him.

also derek’s “becoming blind?” and stiles voice cracking “yeah, terrified of it always have been” i missed them oso fucking much holy shit i’m okay this is fine

Derek: its good to see someone hasnt lost their optimism

Scott: not yet

Stiles: *staring blankly* i have

poor stiles, he’s like, i hate this place why did i fucking come back here? fucks sake.

Peter noooooooooooooo! close those pretty blue...too late. son of a bitch.

hey jackson, i missed you i love you

yeah take a look. he’s so sassy and persuasive.HE STILL HAS A TAIL YAAAAAASSSSSS

“okay lets break that up” he’s so adorable

“now that we’ve all contributed you wanna get the hell outta here”

stiles stop saying ethan!!!

“i thought you’d never figure it out” and his releived look yaaaassssssss

yo that flannel is looking GOOD

why does that guys stand so weird???

oh fucks sake can we stopp walking into bullets???how did you not fucking hear her???

“no you’re not okay thats yellow wolfsbane its gonna kill you” glad he doesnt sugar coat it

MAZE RUNNER TRAILERRRRRRRRRRR this movie is gonna make me so freaked out when i see the stunts, but he’s okay so i’ll be okay

shit yeah boys fuck those assholes up oh mason you poor thing

“you still have a tail” “its so gross” hahahahaha oh my god they’re gonna be best friends now and jackson is gonna be miserable

fuck yeah team work moves are great!!!! mama mccall to the rescue!!!

DEREK CLOSE YOUR EYES!!!!!! STOP DOING THE CUTE GROWLS AND CLOSE THOSE EYES!!!!

oh HELL yeah papa S comign to fuck your shit up boys!!!! listen to the music you are in trouble!!!! and that saunter, you dead

“yes sir....sheriif” damn fucking right

her hair looks weird when she’s made of stone

THAT’S FUCKING CHEATING!!!!!! WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT THOUGH???? IF YOU’RE A SHAPE SHIFTER LOOK FUCKING NORMAL YOU FREAK

uuuuggghhhhh not her.... seriously, just gonna throw all of derek’s abusers at him??? cool cool cool STOP FUCKING TOUCHING HIM!!!!!! but like hey i guess acknowledging that she’s his worst fear shows that she was actually an abuser. and not a romance plot, so that’s good i guess....

show me her death or it didnt happen, show her die, let me see her die!!!!

OH SHIIIIIITTTT ummm.....you cant just throw dark stiles at me like that!!!! a girl was not fucking ready for it at all!!! ....that fucked me up a little damn. i’m okay!!! this is fine!!! holy shit man

how did i not get spoiled for dark stiles at all???? how???? i am baffled but also grateful!!!! i mean i almost died just then but its chill cuz i love him

okay so my feeling is.....shape shifting, and fears, and like....teleportation or some shit..is just A LOT.

can we just keep dark stiles instead of this mush mouth mummy man? cuz like....i have trouble hearing him and also...he walks weird and it makes it hard for me to take it seriously....

also like, i feel like using stiles voice would have given a way better chance of him opening them...but hey thats just me whatevs

okay okay he’s just gonna go DO THAT, they’ll grow back right? hopefully. i mean like...if not...who cares but like...ouch

i feel like....there would be way more blood......what the everliving fuck is that thing? oh it was a berserker nrvmd

dont you fucking DARE shoot him!!!!

STILES SAVED EM!!!! THATS MY BOY!!!!

oh hey coach!!!! he seriously just lives there, there’s no way, he totally lives in that office and no one fucking questions it

alright i guess that’s kinda cool, he cares and can take pain now, good for you theo. i still dont like you. but go you i guess.

kill him chris!!!!!!!! kill them both fucks sake!!!!

alright cool but is she dead tho??? cuz i wanna see it.

dude that was awesome!!!! parrish that was cool as fuck!!!!!

whats wrong girl??? you scared??? how’s it feel??? pretty shitty yeah?

derek’s like “fucks sake these teenagers”

“you’re right. i am a great caoch” FUCK I LOVE HIM! MY CUPCAKE!!!!

is it bad that i really wanted isaac to show up at the end. like....i knew he wasnt gonna but....but i still wanted him too.

we did it kids. we made it. it’s been real. peace out teen wolf.

[sending-the-message]

I Just Had The Creepiest Text Conversation With My Friend by CR_Jones

Not too long ago one of my best friends, Mario, and I were having a text conversation about making plans to go see the new IT movie that is coming out later in September. Mid conversation, Mario started talking about something completely unrelated and continually texted me a series of very creepy text messages.

Me: (Talking about plans to go see IT) Yeah I guess we’ll just see who can drive that Friday whenever we meet up. We’ll just play it by ear.

Mario: Stopp touchhingg the therrmostat its soooo coold in here

Me: What?

Mario: I’mmm soo coldd

Me: What is this? What are you talking about?

Mario: Theee thermmostat stooopp touccching itt

Me: How could I possibly be touching your thermostat right now?

Me: Are you drunk or something? Why do you keep texting like that?

There was about a twenty minute pause here before he texted me back.

Mario: SOoo CoLDdd

Me: You’re starting to freak me out Mar. What is this about?

I try calling him but he doesn’t answer.

Me: Mar can you answer your phone please

Mario: Whehere arre the ligghhhts

Me: Dude, seriously what the fuck are you talking about?

Mario: It’ss soOO DarRKKkkK

I try calling him again. Nothing.

Me: ANSWER YOUR PHONE FUCK FACE!!!!

Me: I’m going to kill you if this is a joke you’re genuinely starting to freak me out.

There was another long pause here before I finally started texting him again.

Me: Mar?

Me: Are you still there dude?

Me: ????

I try another call, still nothing.

Me: ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE!!!

Mario: ITt’sS soOooO COcold here

Mario: SOoo Cooldd

Mario: sOofd COoolddsa

Mario: Sosofo coOOLsd

Me: Please stop this

Mario: sosfOFJl coLODOJ

Mario: SooJDOK COlLDLOhfa

Mario: SOojfdoCdnlsODkwnqq

Me: FUCKING STOP THIS DUDE!!!

Mario: SODJjdsifajoiCodlfOPAJjdapODNOonfda

Mario: sofsadjpOIDSIsnfSiIJDOSpdSfjoebdfIHSOIHSfiodshvdf

The rest of his texts after this are just nothing but gibberish. He would send me a new one about every five minutes and continued to do so well into the night. I continually told him to stop whatever it was that he was doing and tried calling him several more times, but nothing was working. I finally said fuck it and just put my phone on silent and tried going to bed hoping that Mario would get bored of this “prank” that he was trying to pull on me once I stopped responding to him.

I woke up the next morning and immediately reached for my phone where I saw that I had over one hundred unread messages all from Mario last night. Most of them were just lines and lines of the same shit that he was texting me earlier. Nothing but gibberish. Nearly 112 messages of it.

He had kept texting me well past the time that I had fallen asleep, and he had continued to send them in the same, five minute intervals that he had done before. He had finally stopped texting me at 3:00 in the morning, his very last message being “bye.” I don’t know what game he was trying to play, but I was thoroughly annoyed that he had decided to pull this prank on me completely out of nowhere. He actually had me going there for a second near the middle of the conversation when I was genuinely starting to get scared and worried, but now I just found myself pissed off at his dumbass shenanigans.

I sent him a text a little after waking up to see whether or not he was done with his bullshit.

Me: Are you done texting me gibberish?

I waited all morning for a response, but didn’t get one. I wasn’t going to text him again until he answered, so I just stayed away from my phone for most of the day. At about 5:00 in the afternoon I heard a knock on my door.

When I went over to answer it I was completely surprised to find two police officers standing there. A man and a woman, both with worried looks across their faces. They asked me if I had been in contact with Mario recently and I immediately felt my heart rate go up knowing that this was no joke. I told them that I had been in contact with him and asked if something was wrong.

They informed me that Mario had been missing since 4:00 p.m. yesterday and wanted to know if I had recently talked to him at any point before that. I told them that we had been texting each other all afternoon yesterday and that he had continued to text me well into the night. The officers shared a confused look with each other and asked if they could see the messages.

I invited them inside and showed them my phone. They examined the text messages together for a very long time whispering things back and forth to each other before finally turning to me. They told me that the time stamps on the messages didn’t make any sense. I asked them what they were talking about and they said that Mario had left his phone behind whenever he had gone missing. There was no way that he could have sent those texts because he didn’t have his phone with him.

I felt my entire body stiffen and go cold.

The police officers asked me if I could come in for some questioning which I agreed to do. My phone was confiscated as evidence and I had to continually keep explaining the same story over and over again to several other police officers once I got to the station.

While I was in the interrogation room going over the same story for the fiftieth time with one of the higher ranking officers a detective burst into the room and whispered something into the man’s ear before quickly leaving. An awkward silence filled the room for several seconds before the officer finally spoke up. He said that he was sorry to inform me, but Mario’s body had just found in the woods near his house. He had apparently died early this morning from currently unknown causes.

At first, I wasn’t able to put together what the officer had just said. I had heard the words and everything it just wasn’t getting through to me. As soon as it hit me though I could feel the tears starting to bubble up behind my eyes. He told me that he’d give me a few minutes and then left the room. I let it all out then. Crying and slobbering like a five year old, all over the interrogation table in front of me.

I stayed with the police another couple hours giving them any last minute information that they needed before I was able to leave. It was already dark out by the time I left the station. My phone was returned to me as I was walking out the door, and I drove home which is where I had another crying fit while lying down in bed.

I must have fallen asleep at one point because I was awakened in the middle of the night by a call that was coming in through my phone.

I reached over and answered it without looking at who it was. I said hello in my “I have just woken up” voice, but no one responded. While it was quiet I felt like I could just make out very soft sobbing coming from the other end of the line.

“Helllooooo?” I said again pulling the phone away from my ear to see who had called me at such a late hour.

My heart nearly stopped.

The call was from Mario’s phone.

I checked the name again knowing that there had to be some mistake. The police station had Mario’s phone why would they call me from his phone this late at night?

I put the phone back to my ear.

“Who is this?” I asked, not in the mood for any games.

There was no answer, but the soft sobbing continued. I was starting to get angry.

“Who the fuck is this!” I almost screamed.

“I’m soooo coooolddd.” Someone whimpered from the other end.

I felt my stomach drop. It was Mario’s voice, I was sure of it.

I could feel fresh tears starting to come as I heard the sound of my dead best friend’s voice.

“Mar? Is—is that you?” I managed to choke out.

But it wasn’t him I said to myself. There’s no way that it could be him.

There was no answer for the longest time. The soft cries from the other end of the line continued but neither of us said anything.

“Ittt’ssss soooo daaaarrrrkkk hereee.” Came Mario’s voice once again. He sounded frightened and alone. The sobbing got louder.

It was almost more than I could take. Was I dreaming? There was no way that this was all actually happening, but it seemed too real to be a dream.

I didn’t know what to say at this point. The crying, Mario’s voice, it was almost too much for me to handle.

“Mario, please.” Was all that I was able to get out before completely breaking down into tears.

After I said that though the sobbing on the other end of line stopped. There was dead silence for what seemed like several minutes, but couldn’t have been longer than a couple of seconds. I waited for Mario to say something. After another pause someone who was definitely not Mario said something.

“Bye.”

Then the call was dropped.

My breath hitched and I stopped crying completely. I felt a chill run down my spine as the voice repeated itself inside my head. It was not Mario’s voice. It sounded nothing like what he was saying before that. This voice was deeper. Much deeper, and it had a weird distortion to it. An almost animal like distortion.

I pulled up my recents just to make sure that I really did just receive a call from my dead best friend’s phone, and sure enough there it was. Mario (mobile): 3:00 a.m.