#The best part about bein an adult on your own doin whatever you want

[redeyesandchilifries]

I ate like half a tub of this chocolate honey crunch whatever ice cream and

That was a Mistake

[inkribbon796]

The Demons Inside

Summary: With an unexpected lull in their enemies’ activity, the heroes try to go digging for answers.

A/N: Visitation Day.

Things in the base had quieted down. The Suits seemed to be in hiding. A troubling scenario since there seemed to be no cause for it. Sure Spade hadn’t yet retrieved his hand, but he wasn’t actively trying to steal it or the nanites back.

In fact it had been two full days since anyone had seen Spade, the thefts died down but the occasional demon hunter was being killed in the dead of night. But the lull was somehow worse than having the Suits always on the move.

So the heroes took the time to reconvene, making sure to keep a sufficient amount of heroes out in the city because the Suits seemed to know too much about their movements to allow anything less.

“It’s just,” Marvin began another rant over Bing’s phone, Nate was in a meeting room with Bing, Logan, Yancy, King, and J.J. “How do they always know where we fookin’[1] are?”

“Yeah that’s what’s botherin’[2] me too, dude,” Bing said, his eyes narrowing in thought even though his shades were hiding it. “Almost like we got—”

A knock came at the door, despite the fact that the door wasn’t even closed. It was the Host, he walked in, “Might the Host suggest something to assist the heroes?”

“Yeah, shoot,” Bing shrugged, J.J looking at the Host suspiciously as the seer walked in.

The Host cleared his throat, “The heroes are asking information from every side except for the one being targeted by the Suits the most, surely there would be some reason for it?”

“Who, the hunters, they’s[3] hate us?” Yancy reminded.

“For now,” the Host offered, “but the Host would think the heroes would want all the information they could get.”

“I would fookin’[1] love that,” Marvin spoke up. “But I’m bein’ fookin’ blackmailed, ‘memeber?”[4]

“Well, then it is a good thing that Marvin is not here to communicate with them,” the Host reminded smugly, leaning closer to the phone.

Marvin was quiet for a bit, then, “Aww, Host, yer doin’ a fookin’ bang up job ta get inta my good graces, yeh hear?”[5]

“The Host regrets to inform Marvin that he is breaking up and as such will not even hear what the heroes will talk about,” the Host smiled.

“Ahhh, nah, whate’er[6] will I—” Marvin lamented overdramatically before hanging up on his own.

“Well,” the Host smiled at Bing and Nate who smiled back at him. “Now that is he will not be here, the heroes are free to do whatever they want.”

“That’s all well an’ good, but how are we gonna get a hunter ta actually talk wit’ us?”[7] Yancy questioned.

“I know a hunter who will talk first, fight second,” Nate realized, moving back the Host. “Lo, come on, let’s go before the Suits come out of hiding.”

“Right,” Logan got up, making sure he was masked before leaving.

The other heroes went to the garage, mostly because that was becoming the spot where they talked to people in privacy who weren’t part of the Coalition.

Logan and Nate brought a hunter with them who was the only hunter in the city who wasn’t actively trying to kill Nate on sight. Nate introduced them as Taylor.

“We’s[8] met,” Yancy reminded curtly, standing protectively in front of King, the hunter staring at him cautiously. “What made youse wanna bother talkin’ to us now?”[9]

“The Guildmaster might be better than her predecessor but she’s too proud to ask for help,” Taylor sighed. “Believe me, if not for Nate I wouldn’t be here either.”

Nate stiffened before his skin paled and dark purple lines spread down from his eyes. Mare smiled, “If you don’t want to be here, then no one’s stopping you from leaving.”

“Don’t,” Taylor warned Mare. “It’s bad enough he’s letting you hitchhike.”

Shaking his head, Nate snapped, “Mare, don’t be an ass.”

“Oh, I’ll just let you deal with the hunters on your own then,” Mare responded snidely.

“Anyways, I can try and help but I just want to know,” the hunter cut in. “How many demons do you have in here and how many of them actually have regular hosts?”

“Nate and Mare,” Logan pointed to the singer.

“No, I meant the others,” Taylor motioned to Yancy and King.

“Ehh?” Yancy raised an eyebrow.

“You’re two of three adult-looking spawnlings and then there’s the,” the hunter visibly looked sick, “the kid.”

“Look we’s really only demons in name, none ‘a us can possess people,”[10] Yancy shrugged “An’ we’s only became demons ‘cause we’s are a part ‘a Dark an’ Wil’s family.”[11]

“Demons don’t form families,” Taylor scoffed in frustration, as if the heroes just weren’t getting it.

“Well one of them did, and Dark carved up some of his own territory to give them their own,” Nate told them.

“Yes, well,” Taylor began. “It is an abnormally large pact, usually only two or three demons can have an alliance before they fall to infighting. It makes sense he would kick the three of you out.”

King made a scoffing laugh at that, “You clearly don’t know shit about Dark then. He wouldn’t have kicked us out, even if we’d tried to kill him. The three of us left on our own, and given half a chance Dark would drag us back to the Manor kicking and screaming.”

“Demons don’t do that,” the hunter repeated. “That goes against everything that makes a demon in the first place. Even empaths shove their spawnlings out of the nest the first chance they get.”

Yancy glared at them, “Look, if youse ain’t gonna listen ta what we’s gotta say, we’s just gonna go back ta whate’er the fook we were doin’.”[12]

The hunter took a deep breath, clearly not believing him but said, “Fine, fine. Just are you still in your original bodies, or in someone else’s?”

“For better or worse I’m still in my own,” King answered, clearly baffled by the question itself. Yancy answered the same.

“The Host was made from the Author’s fractured mind and is still in the same body,” the Host answered. “The Entity and the Madman’s children that are aligned with the heroes are of no moral concern to the hunters. As for Lunky, their body was made from the ground up to suit them and no other soul has or will be housed in that vessel. No child was sacrificed, so the hunters need not worry about that either.”

The hunter was just studying the Host, clearly looking for any sigh of malice of dishonesty. “Fine,” they forced themself to say. “Fine, we know the most about Spade, obviously.”

At that moment, Mini walked in with the toolbox, and Lunky was following close behind making their little screeching noises, but when the spawnling saw the hunter their demeanor instantly did a one-eighty.

Lunky screeched at them, clinging onto Mini. The little spawnling’s arms stretched out to try and bring King and Yancy closer to them.

“Hey, bud,” King smiled, walking over and Lunky stretched to slip underneath King’s cape to glare at the hunter.

The action got a chuckle out of the animal magnet. “You trying to be big and scary, Junior?”

Lunky screeched at their father in complaint.

“Oh, sorry,” King smiled, “I’ll let you finish. So big and scary, aren’t you?”

“Dark thinks they’re just trying to crave out their own territory,” King explained, seeing the cautious look on the hunter’s face. “I just move around a lot, so they don’t know what they want, but they like the park.”

Bing chuckled as he walked over and took his toolbox from Mini, and stealthily took Lunky and placed him on his own shoulders. The 2-D drawing held onto Bing’s synthetic hair and glowering at the hunter, little growls coming from the small demon. “I just think they’re so social that people are their territory.”

“Maybe,” King smiled, fixing his crown.

The hunter, with every ounce of self control and clenched teeth, turned away from Lunky and King to look at Nate. “Alright we’re almost 100% positive that Spade’s a demon. We’re fairly certain that Hearts and Diamonds aren’t, and if Clubs isn’t a demon he’s really close to turning.”

“You sure?” Nate asked. “He’s violent and he’s sadistic as fuck but he primarily uses tech.”

Taylor looked frustrated, “So, he’s just a particularly smart glitch, apparently if a demon can start a family then a glitch can have a brain and an attention span long enough to help take over a city.”

“That would explain why Anti in particular is always going after Spade,” Logan commented. “As I understand it, demons are naturally territorial.”

They all got to talking, the hunter giving what information they could and eventually when Mini had to get his batteries recharged and his nanites flushed and refreshed, the hunter got ready to leave. Bing set him up in the garage and Lunky guarded over Mini’s drive and chittering at Mini as Bing watched them in amusement.

As the hunter walked out, Yancy followed them. He wasn’t trying to hide or be quiet.

“What do you get from working with King and his spawnling?” The hunter asked.

“Lunk’s my nephew an’[13] Kay’s my brother, that’s all there is ta[14] it,” Yancy started lighting up a cigarette. “King an’ the kid haven’t done a thin’ so let ‘em be.”[15]

Taylor went quiet for a moment, “I’ve been a hunter all my life, it’ll take some time to get over the fact that you’re all demons and demons kill people.”

Yancy took the cigarette out of his mouth to sigh. “Youse wanna go after Ills fer bein’ a thief, Yan fer killing people, or e’en Bim fer bein’ the fookin’ worst ta people, that’s fine. But King’s not that type ‘a person. An’ youse only care about humans so Lunky is none ‘a youse’s business. They’s only feed off demons. Leave ‘em outta it.”[16]

“So long as they don’t hunt humans,” Taylor reluctantly decided. “ I can pretend they’re not demons.”

The ex-convict sighed, “Yeah, that’s the best I can hope fer[17].”

He turned and walked back towards the base, the hunter watched him leave before going their own way. The day started turning to dusk in the sky.

The Host was down in his library, walking back in from talking to the hunter and the other heroes. As he narrated he became aware of another soul in his personal room and his bat appeared in his hand. Wheeling around, the seer swung the bat and his narrations halted when it came into contact with an aura that was almost as strong as his and it absorbed the blow.

The Host saw Diamonds and struggled to force the man’s actual name but his voice was trapped, strangled by the weight of his own narrations.

“The Host demands to know why Diamonds has intruded upon the Host’s space,” the Host demanded furiously.

“You stopped Bing, you stopped his witch hunt,” “J.J” sneered. “You let me have at least another day or two of unsuspected free reign here. Why?”

“The Host doesn’t have a choice,” the seer spat. “The Host needs to win this time, he must.”

“When you win, we win,” Diamonds reminded smugly.

“When . . .” the Host fought to choke out the real name again, “If Clubs wins, the Host loses.”

And with that the Host struck with his bat and his aura against Diamonds, hitting him directly in the face, and it made him whip his head back.

One instant he was standing in the Host’s library and in the next he was back in the elevator, ears ringing painfully and nose bleeding.

“Arghhh,” Diamonds groaned, bringing his hand to his nose and making sure he was still looking like J.J.

He wasn’t, which was an easy fix and came at the right second because the elevator doors opened and Yancy was standing there talking to Bing, and Bing was looking right at him.

“****![18] Jay, little dude are you alright man?” Bing asked in concern.

“Yes,” Diamonds signed with one hand as he tried not to leave any of his blood behind, the alarm not faked in the slightest because he’d almost been caught. “Don’t know why I’m bleeding.”

Bing and Yancy quickly rushed J.J to Iplier who was coming through the base’s front door and he got a quick checkup, and in the chaos the two drops of blood in the elevator were left on the ground, as the elevator doors closed, bringing the elevator back down to the Host.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Accessibility Translations

1. fucking

2. bothering

3. they

4. But I’m being fucking blackmailed, remeber?

5. Aww, Host, you’re doing a fucking bang up job to get into my good graces, you hear?

6. whatever

7. That’s all well and good, but how are we going to get a hunter to actually talk with us?

8. we’ve

9. What made you want to bother talking to us now?

10. Look we’re really only demons in name, none of us can possess people

11. And we only became demons because we’re a part of Dark and Wil’s family.

12. Look, if you aren’t going to listen to what we’ve got to say, we’re just going to go back to whatever the fuck we were doing.

13. and

14. to

15. King and the kid haven’t done a thing so let them be.

16. You want to go after Ills fer being a thief, Yan for killing people, or even Bim for being the fucking worst to people, that’s fine. But King’s not that type of person. And you only care about humans so Lunky’s none of your business. They only feed off demons. Leave them out of it.

17. for

18. Shit!

[atlafan]

Take it Slow - Part Thirty-Nine

a/n: okay this is my first shot at a harry:y/n fic, and it will be multiple parts. y/n had a bad experience with an ex over a year ago, and finally accepts her coworker and good friend Niall’s invitation to go on a blind date with his friend Harry.

Warnings: TW - Mentions of past abuse! Angst.

Masterpost (all previous parts can be found in the masterpost)

You follow Harry and wait for him to finish peeing, as he really needed to go before he could elaborate further. He sits on the bed next to you.

“So…what about marriage exactly?”

“Lou’s gettin’ ready to propose to El soon.” The color comes back into your face. “Why, what did you think I meant?”

“I…don’t know. Um, so when’s he going to do it?”

“That’s what we were talkin’ about. Said he wanted me there to take pictures without her knowin’. Soon, I think. He still needs to buy the ring. They’ve been together a long time, seems like the next best step.”

“They really love each other.”

“I think they wanna start growin’ their family more, but he knows she wants to be married first. He doesn’t personally care about the order of things. But he’d do anythin’ t’make her happy because she does so much t’make him happy.”

It warmed your heart to hear him talk about them like that. And it made you so happy to know he would want to be involved in such a special moment.

“Being an adult is wild sometimes.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, it’s like all of a sudden you and everyone around you starts checkin’ off these societal boxes, and sometimes you don’t even realize you’re doin’ it.” He sighs. “I barely see him as it is, once they really settle down…” He twiddles his thumbs in his lap. “I don’t know, it’s stupid.” You put your hand on his shoulder.

“It’s not stupid honey, I know how much you care about Louis. I felt the same way when Kate got married, well maybe not the same exact way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a stronger friendship like the one you and Louis have.”

“He’s a couple year’s older than I am, he did the university thing a little later. I just always sort of looked up to him, for whatever reason. He had more life experience, I could ask him anythin’. He was always there f’me, and f’Niall too. He’s like the big brother I never had.” He looks at you. “Sometimes you don’t realize that some of the best years of your life are happenin’, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it.” You give him a comforting smile.

“But then again, some of the best are ahead.” He kisses your cheek. “I’ve never felt this way before…about another person. I know next week it’ll only have been five months between us, and I know it looks like we moved fast in some cases, but I…just needed to have you in my life, as my own.” His words burn into you in the best possible way. “I’m so glad we’re doin’ all this, no one else I’d rather be livin’ with.”

“Other than Louis or Niall.” You giggle.

“Yeah, other than them.” He giggles too. “Seriously though, I love you so much.”

“I love you, Harry.” You kiss him. He looks down at his hands and twists the rose shaped ring on his ring finger.

“You mentioned that this was your favorite ring of mine.”

“Mhm.”

“Would you…like to have it?”

“Oh Harry, I couldn’t take your jewelry from you.”

“Please, just try it on, I’d like you to have it.” He takes it off and smirks. “M’actually not sure what finger this would even fit on, your fingers are so much smaller than mine.”

“Here try the middle.” You hold out your right middle finger.

The only other ring you wore was on your right ring finger. It was just a simple clatter ring, which you were more than happy to flip over when you and Harry made things official months ago.

“It’s a tad loose.” You giggle. “But I don’t mind, I don’t like when rings are super tight.”

“Yeah, but you might lose it. What size do you wear, I could have it resized.”

“But then it wouldn’t really be yours anymore. You wouldn’t be able to wear it when you wanted.”

“I’d only want you to wear it.”

“Well, I know my ring finger is a seven, so my middle is probably an eight. Let me see how it goes wearing it like this in the office tomorrow. If it comes off a bunch we can get it resized.” He smiles.

“Alright.” You hold out your hand to look at it.

“It really is a gorgeous ring.”

“Gorgeous ring for a gorgeous girl.”

“Are you sure you won’t miss it?”

“Just gives me an excuse to buy another one.” You scrunch your face. “What?”

“Nothing, my nails are just super chipped. I think I’m gonna paint them.” You get up and grab your polish remover, and a few different colors. “Care to join me in the living room? We can get set up on the coffee table.”

“We?”

“Sure. I have a nail kit, I’ll do both of ours.”

“Deal.”

You both go out to the living room. You start with Harry’s nails first. You trim his cuticles and file his nails after removing the polish.

“Do ya have any pastels love? I really like that peach color.”

“Sure!” You go through your bag of polish and find the one he’s looking for. “This one right?”

“Yup.”

You carefully put the color on his nails. You work on your own nails next.

“What color are you goin’ with?”

“You’ve inspired me to do a pastel as well, I think this purple?”

“Ohh, I like that color a lot.”

You paint your nails, and put them out in front of you to look at. You’re happy with your work.

“Who needs to go to a salon?” You laugh.

“I personally enjoy the hand massage you get at the end, but this was nice too.” He turns the TV on, and you blow on your nails. “Do mine.”

“You’re such a baby, blow on your own nails.” You giggle.

“Awww c’mon.” You roll your eyes, and bring his hands up to your face. You blow cool air on his nails.

“It’s quick drying polish, should be dry enough soon.” You put his arm around you, and lean into him. “Ugh, I do not want to go to work tomorrow.”

“Same here. Back to reality. M’gonna really miss bein’ able to fuck you at any hour of the day. I’ll have t’come to your office on your lunch breaks.” You look up at him and scoff.

“Very funny.”

“M’serious, I’ll do it.”

“There’s no way in hell I’d ever have sex in my office. That kind of stuff only happens on TV or in a movie.”

“Sure it does.”

“Harry!”

“What?”

“Have you had sex where you work before?”

“Not where I work, no.”

“You’re a deviant.” He laughs.

“Are you going to tell me you never had sex where you shouldn’t have?” Your cheeks heat up.

“Why do we always talk about our past hookups?”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes it is, I don’t want to discuss that kind of stuff anymore.”

“Just when you’re drunk.”

“Excuse me?”

“The other night, several of us revealed we’ve had threesomes, including yourself.” You groan and cover your ears. “Why are getting so shy about it all of a sudden?”

“Because I…I really don’t want to think about anyone else I’ve slept with. You’re the only person I want to think about in that way, alright?” He kisses the top of your head.

“Alright.” You both turn your attention back to the TV. “So…that was a no on fooling around at your office.”

“A big no.”

“Probably for the best, don’t think you’d be able to keep yourself quiet.”

“Me?!” You scoff. “Have you heard yourself when you really get going?”

“Maybe we should record it sometime and then we can see who’s louder.” You roll your eyes so hard you feel like they’re going to roll right out of your head.

“You’re a little stinker today, aren’t you?”

“What’s a matter? You don’t wanna make a sex tape that could potentially be leaked to everyone we know?” He asks sarcastically. “Pity.”

“You’re an idiot.” You laugh.

He tackles you down on the couch, and tickles you, making you laugh harder.

“Take it back.”

“Please! It’s too much!” Your eyes start to water. “I take it back!” He stays hovering over you. He gives you a second to catch your breath.

“That was easier than I thought.” He chuckles.

“I hate being tickled.” He kisses your cheek and then just under your earlobe. Your breathing hitches when he sinks his teeth in.

“Can I ask you something?” He sits up, and helps you sit up too.

“Sure.”

“Um…it’s about going in from behind.”

“Harry.”

“Can ya just tell me what about that position frightens you? Maybe there’s somethin’ I could do to-“

“No!” You stand up immediately. “I don’t have to explain anything to you if I don’t want to.”

“You don’t need to get upset, let’s just talk about it.”

“I don’t want to talk about it! This is the third time you’ve asked me about this, you should just take no for an answer. You’re lucky we’re even having sex at all, you know that right?”

“You know what? Just fucking drop it, okay? Forget I said anythin’.” You were riled up now, you couldn’t just drop it.

You mumble something under your breath and walk towards the bedroom. You slam the door closed. Harry sighs and puts his head in his hands. Before he can get up to go check on you, you’re coming back out, completely changed into your gym clothes, searching for your keys.

“Where are you goin’?”

“Where the fuck do you think?” His face falls.

“Don’t talk to me like that, please.” You roll your eyes and he stands up. “I swear to god, if you roll your eyes at me one more time.” You slip your sneakers on and get in his face.

“You’ll do what Harry?” He looks at you, jaw clenched. “That’s what I thought.” You brush by him and grab your jacket. Just as you’re about to leave, you sigh, and turn around to look at him. You were never one that liked to leave angry. “I’ll be back in a little while. I just need to cool off, okay?”

“Okay.”

//

While running on the treadmill, you try to wrack your brain on how your day did a complete 180. You had a nice lunch with his friends, and he even gave you one of his rings! You had a nice time doing his nails, and then…he just had to bring that up. You turn the speed up to run faster. How could you possibly look at him and explain that that was the position you were assaulted in. You knew he’d be gentle with you. Maybe you’d have a flash or two, and then maybe you’d feel better. You were looking forward to your next appointment with Dr. Mara now more than ever. Luckily, you planned to see her during your lunchbreak tomorrow, so you wouldn’t have to wait too much longer.

It wasn’t Harry’s fault, you were just mad that he brought it up again. You thought he understood that was a no go for now. Maybe you’d be able to work up to it, but right now the thought was just too scary. And what was it about that specific position that he wanted to do it so bad? You gave him everything else you possibly could. To be fair, you both had stuck to pretty basic positions. He was either on top, or you were. You used to like doing it from behind, you knew he’d be able to get in much deeper that way. The thought sends a shiver up your sweaty back.

Harry didn’t know what to do with himself while you were gone. He thought he might go to the gym too, but he also wanted to be home when you got back so he could apologize for setting you off. He was sort of annoyed with you. You could really act like a brat sometimes. He hated when you’d roll your eyes during an argument. It was something you did a lot, and it went right up his ass. He groans, and grabs his keys. To the gym he goes. He kept his gloves and bag in the trunk of his car.

The punching bag was the perfect thing to take his mind off your fight. He only stayed for about forty-five minutes. He didn’t like the idea of you coming back to an empty apartment. He was sitting on the couch shirtless, hair half up in a little pony on the top of his head, taking the tape off from around his wrists when you walked in. Usually he’d take the tape off at the gym, but he was in a rush. You were a sweaty mess. After running two miles, almost three, you did a few different strength sets. You furrow your brows at him. You had never actually seen Harry after a workout.

“You go to the gym too?” You ask quietly.

“Yeah.”

“That’s good.” He had so much power over you, and you had no idea if he knew it or not. He looked good enough to eat. “Your hair looks cute like that.” The smallest smile creeping on your lips, looking at the little hair tree on his head.

“Gotta keep it off of m’forehead somehow.” He shrugs, finishing with the tape. He gets up to throw it away. He leans against the island and looks at you while you guzzle down some water. “I need to go rinse off. Did you wanna go first, or can I?” Both of your eyebrows raise.

“Um, you can go first if you want.”

“Thanks.”

He turns and goes into the bathroom. You go into the bedroom once you hear the bathroom door click. You strip yourself of your sweaty clothes, and wrap a towel around yourself, waiting for your turn in the bathroom. He was in and out quick since the two of you showered earlier today. His towel hangs low on his waist when he comes out. You swallow hard.

“Left the water on for ya.” He says without looking at you. This sets you off again.

Why the fuck was he mad? You roll your eyes again and suck your teeth. He catches this. Before he’s able to grab you, you slam the bathroom door shut and lock it. He groans and puts on a pair of sweatpants. He goes out to his desk, and puts his earbuds in.

You scrub yourself angrily. You were seething with rage. Your workout having done shit for you. Maybe you were feeling hungry from having such a light lunch. You remember you need to meal prep your lunches and you sigh. You dry off, and throw nothing but a t-shirt and underwear on. If he was going to act like an asshole, you were going to make him miserable. He didn’t acknowledge you when you came out, which was just fine with you.

He looked over his shoulder and saw you taking a ton of things out of the fridge. Were you going to make dinner? He sees you grab your Tupperware. Nope, you were meal prepping. You had said you would do it for the both of you, he wondered if you still would.

You were being a brat, but you weren’t going to be a jerk and not make his lunches, especially after you told him you would. You filled a pot with water, and put it on the burner to boil. You were going to make a veggie stirfry with the black bean pasta Harry likes so much. As the water was boiling, and the pan was heating up, you chopped up all of the veggies. You rummaged through the cupboards for your second set of Tupperware.

Whatever you’re making makes Harry’s stomach growl. It smelled so good. When you were done you put everything away, and stacked it all in the fridge. You took a sticky note and labeled which ones were yours and which were his. Yes, it mattered. You cleaned everything up and sighed. You were starving now, and you knew he had to be too. You walk over to him and tap him on the shoulder, and put a hand on your hip. He just realizes now you’re barely wearing clothes. He takes his earbuds out. He wonders what you’re going to say.

“I just made all our lunches for the week. Could you make something for dinner? I don’t really care what.”

“Thanks…um sure.” He saves what he’s working on and gets up. You plop down on the couch.

Harry decides on some tofu curry. It was pretty quick and easy to throw together. It was also something you could have for leftovers tomorrow night. About twenty minutes later it’s done. He sets up the plates at the island.

“Babe?” You look over at him. “Dinner’s ready.” You pad over to the stool.

“Smells good, thanks.”

You clean your plate. It really was delicious. You help him clean up the pans, and run the dishwasher.

“I’m tired, I think I’m gonna turn in early tonight.” He says. It was nearly 8:30. “Might read for a bit.”

“Alright.” Were you two really not going to talk about this? He’s about halfway down the hall when he turns around. Your arms were crossed and your foot was tapping.

“You’re infuriating sometimes, you know that?” You snap your head to look at him.

“Excuse me?”

“No, I’m not excusing you. You’re so fucking stubborn. All I did was ask a simple question, and you blew up at me for no reason.”

“It’s a sensitive subject, Harry.”

“I understand that, but as your boyfriend and the person you’re sleeping with, it would be nice to have some clear communication about why I can do something one way, but can’t the other way.” You bite the inside of your cheek, not wanting to cry. He walks closer to you.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Can’t you at least try?”

“No!” The tears form, and come rushing out of you, staining your cheeks. “It’s too much!” Your breathing quickens, and you feel like your heart is going to beat out of your chest. Flashes come through your head. Your breathing gets worse and your entire body starts to shake. You start sobbing uncontrollably. You were having a panic attack.

“Shit, Y/N, what…I’m sorry.” He pulls you into his chest. “You’re okay.” He brings you both to the floor, and he continues to hold you against him. He rocks you gently as you cry into him. “I’m right here, you’re okay baby.”

“You…” Your breathing slows down a bit. “You just couldn’t let it go, could you?” You look up at him, eyes red and puffy. “I’m not fucking around Harry, drop this one.”

“Okay.” He kisses the top of your head. “I’m so sorry, I won’t bring it up again.”

He’s thought it before, but now more than ever, if he ever ran into Jake again, he would fucking strangle him without hesitation.

“We can get up now.” You say to him. He helps you to your feet, and you wipe your eyes on your shirt.

You both do your nightly routines, and get into bed. Harry puts his glasses on and reads from his book, like he said he was going to do. You find something to read on your phone. You didn’t need much help getting tired, you felt tired enough as it was. You turn over so you don’t have to face him. Eventually he turns his light off, and moves to cuddle you.

“Harry, I don’t really feel like that tonight.” His mouth opens to say something, but instead he just sighs and turns over the other way.

This was the first time since you two started spending nights together, that you didn’t cuddle or even touch. You fell asleep just from pure exhaustion.

//

When your alarm went off the next morning, Harry’s eyes were completely blood shot. He had cried quietly for a little while, but mostly he just stayed awake all night. He couldn’t turn his brain off. He felt terrible for working you up the way he did, but never did he think that you’d be so mad that you wouldn’t want him to touch you. He hears the bed creak as you get up. You rub your eyes and go into the bathroom.

You wash your face and brush your teeth. You run your brush through your hair and you’re happy with how it looks. You decide on a pair of navy slacks, a white blouse, and your blush pink blazer. You go back to the bathroom to put your makeup on. You adjust your earrings, making sure they’re properly secured. You knew some of the ladies at work would ask you about them. Next you put your rings on. You hold the rose in your hand and sigh. You slide it onto your middle finger and look over at Harry. You think he’s asleep, and he pretends to be when you walk over to him. You press a long kiss to his forehead and leave the bedroom.

You had calmed down significantly after getting some sleep. You make a quick smoothie, grab your lunch, and head out the door. Your morning at work consisted of lots of people catching up in the breakroom. News about both yours and Niall’s promotions had gotten out, and everyone congratulated the both of you. He follows you to your office after everyone dispersed.

“Nice ring.” He smirks.

“Thanks.” You sigh, sitting down.

“What’s wrong?” He frowns. “He suffocatin’ ya already?”

“No…we just had a little fight yesterday.”

“’Bout what?” He sits down in front of your desk.

“Niall…no offense, but I really don’t wanna talk about it.” He furrows his brows at you. As long as he’s known you, you never not wanted to talk about it. You always wanted to talk about it.

“Are you okay?”

“I will be.” You say snappily. He also knew you hated being asked about something after you’ve basically said to drop it.

“Look, if he did anythin’-“

“He didn’t do anything! It’s not that big a deal, we had a fight, okay? Couples fight sometimes. You’re going to tell me you and Sarah don’t argue?”

“We have. But I doubt our arguments are nearly as serious as whatever you’re holdin’ onto here.”

“It’s not appropriate to talk about here.”

“Bullshit, we’ve talked about a lot of things here.”

“I said I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Fine.” He stands up to leave. “Lunch later?”

“Can’t, I’m seeing Dr. Mara during lunch today. Harry and I are looking at that apartment after work. Shit, I need to text him that I’ll just meet him there.”

“You didn’t talk about it yesterday?”

“Couldn’t, we weren’t really talking to each other.” You say taking your phone out to text him.

“What?” You look up at him.

“It’s fine. Just drop it, okay?”

Niall sighs heavily and leaves your office. You head out around 11:30 to get to Dr. Mara’s on time. What you didn’t know was that Harry was coming to your office to surprise you for lunch. When you weren’t in your office he went down the hall to Niall’s.

“Hey mate.” Niall looks up from his sandwich.

“Hey, what are yeh doin’ here?”

“Came to see Y/N, know where she is?”

“At therapy, she changed her appointment so she could look at the apartment with you this afternoon. She didn’t mention it?”

“Um…no.”

“Close the door.” He gestures to it. Harry does as he says and sits down. “What the hell happened yesterday? She wouldn’t tell me anythin’.”

“Did she seem mad?”

“No, more like neutral? She was expressionless. Noticed your ring on her finger.”

“Yeah, I gave it to her yesterday. We had a nice day and then it went to shit.”

“Why?”

“If she didn’t want to tell you, she’d probably be mad if I told you.”

“Mate please, maybe I can help.” Harry runs a hand through his hair.

“Well, a couple of times I’ve asked her about tryin’ a different position.”

“You two just started doin’ it, do ya have to get fancy with it so soon?”

“S’not fancy. Just wanna take her from behind.” Niall’s jaw tightens. “She got mad because this wasn’t the first time I’ve mentioned it. And when I asked her calmly to talk to me about it, she blew up at me. She went to the gym to cool off, and so did I. Thought it was better when we both got back, but I did somethin’ that set her off again. We barely spoke the rest of the evenin’. We ate dinner, she even made my lunches. Then we started fighting again before bed because I couldn’t take the passiveness anymore.” He groans. “Then she had a panic attack. It was awful, and when I tried to hold her when we went to bed she told me no.” He starts tearing up. “I didn’t get any sleep.”

“Good.”

“What?”

“You don’t deserve sleep after that.”

“Care to enlighten me?”

“Harry, when Y/N was assaulted, Jake fucked her from behind.”

“Fuck.” He puts his face in his hands. “I didn’t even think of that cause she’s let me do other stuff from that angle.”

“You have no idea what that did to her, mate.” Niall thinks back to the blood from your sheets. “It…well it wasn’t good.” He sighs. “She had a panic attack?”

“Yeah, I was petrified. Her whole body was shakin’ and she couldn’t breathe. I sat us on the floor and held her to me so I could rock her. I got her to calm down.”

“She probably didn’t want ya spoonin’ her last night because she didn’t want to feel anyone’ touchin’ her.”

“How am I gonna fix this?”

“You’re gonna have to wait for her to come ‘round.”

“It’s gonna be so awkward tonight.” He groans. “Hopefully she has a good therapy session.”

[shewhohangsoutincemeteries]

stay

Rocket Raccoon x Gender-Neutral Reader

Requested by: @b-oys-do-c-ry​

Summary: after the events of endgame, you’ve tried to settle back into life with the guardians, but feel the need to return home to your family and help them adjust to the new reality. rocket catches you packing.

Characters: rocket raccoon, reader, mentions of other guardians

Warnings: the relationship is understandably platonic. only warning is for mild adult language and angst

Word Count: 2,380

MARVEL MASTERLIST or CHECK OUT MY FANFIC DEDICATED BLOG

One of the side effects of living with five other ‘people’ on a ship with only three bunks – one of which was actually a converted storage space – was that you didn’t have a lot of space to call your own. Sharing a room with Drax, Mantis and Nebula meant that you really only kept the essentials, along with a few sentimental knick-knacks you’d picked up both back on Terra and in ports across the galaxy. On the bright side, that meant that the phrase ‘packing a bag’ could be taken quite literally. Almost everything you owned fit in a single duffel bag.

“What’re you doin’?”

You jumped slightly as a voice sounded behind you, a mix of confusion and amusement coloring his tone. Turning from the bag on your bunk, you offered an awkward shrug of one shoulder to Rocket. He was standing in the doorway, arms folded over his chest and an eyebrow cocked.

It was amazing that after everything that happened with Thanos, you’d been brought back into existence and Rocket still seemed for the most part, the same gruff, smart-mouthed guy you’d bonded with when you’d first joined the crew.  There were a few greyer hairs around his muzzle now, and sometimes he seemed more tired than anything else, but otherwise, he just seemed happy to have you all back.

“Nothing. What’s up?”

“You’re missin’ dinner.”

“And you came all the way to the other end of the ship to tell me that?” you joked, mirroring his posture. You smirked jovially down at him. “I’m touched, man.”

“Shut ya mouth,” he groused back at you despite the beginnings of a smirk of his own on his face. You laughed despite your unease at being caught out, shaking your head. “Groot’s fussin’ about you not bein’ there.”

“Sure, he is,” you replied snidely, smile widening. It was unlikely that Groot had even raised his head from his game long enough to realize you weren’t there. “That’s why he’s here bugging me instead of you.”

“Watch it, humie. You can’t be butt ugly and friendless.”

“Ah, there’s the Rocket I know and love.” you teased. “And please, you know I’m gorgeous.”

He snickered, nodding almost absentmindedly. “Yeah, yeah. Ego like that and you’ll be putting Quill to shame in no time.”

“Oh, shudder the thought.” you said with a dismissive wave of your hand. You turned back to your bed, speaking over your shoulder. “Don’t worry yourself, Rock. I promise, you’ll never see me getting into a pissing contest with a Norse God.”

“Because you’re leavin’?”

You stopped, hands hovering over your bag. You closed your eyes for a moment, exhaling a long sigh through your nose. You had tried so hard to do this quietly.

The last thing you wanted was the crew fussing over your decision or trying to get you to change your mind. You didn’t get a lot of privacy or time alone between ports, but you’d figured that the notion of a hot meal would be enticing enough to the rest of the crew to grant you at least twenty minutes in which to pack your bag. You’d barely made it more than five.

You’d told Quill. Two weeks ago, you’d found him alone, pouring over the screens that held the scans he hoped would lead you to Gamora. The new Gamora… an old Gamora. The Gamora that didn’t know you yet. It had taken him a while to comprehend what you were saying, to pull himself out of his thoughts long enough to understand. He’d tried to convince you to stay, tried to tell you what he thought you needed to hear, but he’d finally agreed all the same. You were to get off in a couple of days when you were Terra-side again. He’d agreed not to tell the others – it was your business to share.

Honestly, part of you was sure it would have been anyone but the anti-social Rocket to come looking for you… but maybe another part of you wasn’t so surprised by it at all. He’d been more attentive since the second snap, more concerned. Of course, he’d shake you off with an insult and a scoff if you pointed that out.

“Damn it,” you breathed quietly, turning around and fixing him with your best attempt at incredulity. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You’re packin’ a bag, Y/N.” he said pointedly, nodding his head toward the bed behind you.

“Maybe I’m just… reorganizing.”

“Into a bag.”

“It’s a… system. Keeps everything in one, easy to access place.”

“So does your locker,” he pointed out, gesturing under your bed.

“Well, only if you want to get all… logical about it,” you admitted in a childish grumble. When his only response was to lean against the edge of the doorway and give you an exasperated look, you sighed, running a hand through your hair. You sat on the edge of your bunk, shoving your bag to the end of it. “How many of you did Quill tell?”

Rocket’s expression turned offense. “So, you are leavin’.”

“Ah, shit.”

“And you told Quill, but not—not the rest of us?”

“I, uh… well, yeah?” you tried for a humored smile. It curled the side of your lips awkwardly. This whole conversation was making you way too uncomfortable. You didn’t do emotional confrontation. A gunfight on some random planet all in the name of the adventures of the Guardians of the Galaxy, sure. But talking about your feelings? There was a reason you got along so well with every other emotionally constipated crew member on this damn ship. “I needed him to steer the ship in the right direction. Did you think we were going back to Terra because we’re already out of mac and cheese?”

“What the fuck, Y/N?” he growled, clearly unamused by your attempt at humor. “You’re leavin’ and you weren’t even gonna tell us?”

“Of course, I was!” you protested. “Just… figured I’d wait.”

“’til when exactly?”

“…until it was time to get back on the ship?” you said, almost hopefully. Rocket rolled his eyes disparagingly, fixing you with a long look. The cold disappointment… the betrayal… in his eyes made your blood freeze, and he shook his head as he turned away. You called after him as he left. “Rocket. Rocket, c’mon, man—I just…”

You fell back onto your bed with a huff, staring at your ceiling. “Goddamn it.”

***

Two days. It had been a bit over forty-eight hours and Rocket still wasn’t talking to you. Sure, he wasn’t the most sociable guy on the ship to begin with, but this was different. This was cold.

The two of you usually exchanged good-natured, sarcastic barbs as easy as breathing, only to round on whoever told you to shut up first together. It was fun, easy, and something you never really thought about – your friendship with Rocket was always something you didn’t really have to think about – it was reactionary. So, to be thinking about it now… you’d been completely lost at what to do for the last two days.

He didn’t talk to you, and when he absolutely had to, it was curt. The sarcasm he still flung your way under his breath didn’t hold the same humor. More than once, Quill and Mantis had cast you questioning glance at the change in his attitude towards you, but all you could do was shrug. You weren’t even completely sure as to why he was acting this way; you were friends, sure, but it was Rocket. He wasn’t exactly the touchy-feely type.

“Hey, Rock.”

He didn’t react to your entrance other than a small flick of his ear in your direction. He was on the late shift piloting the ship back to Terra, and you’d spent the last four hours staring at the ceiling of your bunk, sleep unwilling to take you. So, you dragged yourself out of bed, pulled on a jacket and your boots against the cold of the ship, and headed for the cockpit. You hadn’t had a chance to talk to him without interruption he left the room whenever someone else entered.

“Are you really giving me the silent treatment here, man?” you asked after a few moments, exasperated. You moved to sit in the co-pilot’s seat, pulling your jacket more tightly around yourself. “C’mon, Rocket. Seriously.”

He didn’t take his eyes off the sky. “I’m busy, Y/N.”

You followed his gaze with a raised eyebrow. “Yes, I’d hate to distract you from this completely empty expanse of space we’re travelling through right now.”

He sighed at your sarcasm, giving you a sidelong, exasperated look of his own. “What’re you doin’ here, Y/N?”

“Right now?” you replied. “Right now, I’m just amazed you’ve managed to string more than two words together in my presence.”

“Just…” he paused, shaking his head as he searched for the words. You felt your stomach twist at the seeming uncertainty you could see in him; this was different. Rocket didn’t consider what he said; no, he’d just shoot back with whatever first came to mind, consequences be damned. For all his faults, he always seemed so certain of what he meant when he spoke, even if it was just a quick insult or a jibe. This wasn’t that. “Just… what do you want?”

“I want you to talk to me, Rocket.” you said. “Like before.”

“Why bother?” he shrugged, his voice gruff. He was back to refusing to look at you. “You ain’t gonna be around much longer, anyway.”

You sighed, fixing your eyes on the wide, black emptiness in front of you. That view used to excite you, a promise of adventure. Ever since the snap, it just felt… cold. “Look, I… I gotta go home, Rocket. They need me there. Everyone being back… it’s more complicated than we thought it would be. But… but me leaving, it’s not a big deal.”

“Sure, it’s not.”

“Dude,” you bristled at his tone despite yourself. “Why are you being like this?”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re pissed at me!” you exclaimed, throwing your hands up in annoyance. You stuttered over your words for a moment, lost, before standing and shrugging dramatically. “Look, just forget about it, Rocket. I don’t know why I bothered coming up here in the first place; why the hell would I ever expect you to actually fucking talk to me instead of just being a complete dick about this.”

It wasn’t until you were stepping back onto the ladder to leave that he spoke again, his voice so quiet you almost missed it. He was still sitting in the pilot’s chair, his eyes still on the stars. “Don’t.”

You stopped short, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in his voice. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t…” he exhaled slowly, a steadying breath. “Don’t go.”

Your brow creased, and you moved slowly back towards his seat until you could see his face again. He looked embarrassed at speaking up, his ears drooping back. In fact, you were almost certain that under all that fur there could be a blush burning in his cheeks.

“Why not?”

“Be… because… ah, fuck…” he muttered to himself, a paw rubbing almost nervously at the fur on the side of his neck. “Because we… we need you here.”

“You… no, you don’t.”

Rocket finally turned to look at you, incredulity in his eyes. “We don’t? What about Groot?”

You paused, pressing your lips together as your stomach dropped. You loved the plant, you’d helped to raise him, and leaving him behind was one of the hardest things you were facing right now. Leaving any one member of the crew behind was going to be hard, but Groot… he was still a kid. “He’ll… he’ll be fine. He’s got all of you here, and he probably… he probably won’t even realize that I’m gone.”

Rocket raised an eyebrow at you. “Really? You think he’s an idiot?”

“No! I think he’d have to get his head out of that goddamn gaming device for more than thirty seconds to realize I wasn’t around?” you shot back in frustration. “Is that what this is about? You think you’ll have to look after him by yourself if I’m not around? Are you seriously pissed at me because you’re losing a babysitter?!”

“I’m pissed because you’re leaving me!” he shouted, the intensity in his voice surprising the both of you. He seemed to realize he’d admitted something he hadn’t intended a few moments too late, and he rolled his eyes at himself, tugging irritably at the fur at either side of his neck.

“…Rocket?”

He growled in frustration, rubbing his paws over his eyes. When he finally spoke again, he sounded tired… weary. “Just… you have no idea. You have no idea what is was like… all of you were gone. Gone, and I was…”

He broke off with a long exhalation and a slow shake of his head, his eyes closed. When you spoke for him, you could barely bring your voice above a whisper. “Alone.”

Rocket’s breathing shook slightly, the only sound in the ship’s quiet cockpit. You moved to kneel beside his chair, your gaze beseeching. You almost reached out to touch him but thought better of it. Honestly, you weren’t sure anymore if that was still a trigger for him.

“Rocket, you’re not alone anymore. We’re all back. Just because I’m gone doesn’t mean the others will be too. You’ll still have Groot and Quill and Nebula… everyone else will still be here. You’re not going to be alone; is that what this is all about?”

He sighed, opening his eyes. “It don’t matter. You go, that’s one more time, one more person I’ve got to mourn. And I don’t think I’ve got it in me to do it again.”

“Rock…” you murmured. You could feel tears welling in your eyes, and you could see them in his. You steadied yourself, wetting your lips. “I need to go home.”

He turned to face you, his jaw set. “Then don’t stay.”

“What?”

“Come back. Don’t stay on Terra.”

“I don’t…”

“Please.”

You stopped short; you didn’t think that in all the time you’d ever heard Rocket say ‘please’.

And that was, suddenly, all that it took.

“Okay.”

.

.

.

tags: @lovely-dreamer19 @spacesuitsforemergency @wittyforachange @wefracturedmotivation @january-echoes @glossyloner @capitalnineteen​ @dragon-chica​