#Tiny time donkey

[pbskidsnews]

Unexpected news drop with info about season renewals, and short-form content. There's too much to list here so I'll just drop an overview:

Molly of Denali has been renewed for a fourth season. New episodes start March 25th. This season will include a media literacy story arc.

New episodes of Daniel Tiger start on May 6th.

Short-form series for both Donkey Hodie (Donkey Hodie Bedtime Stories) and Nature Cat (Nature Chat with Nature Cat), about bedtime and the environment respectively.

A rare moment where PBS introduces acquired content. British television series Milo will be premiering in May. IIRC the series debuted a couple of years ago in the UK.

Full summaries for the Wild Kratts and Nature Cat movies

A new short form series cammed Tiny Time Travel

Full article here: Exclusive Clip: PBS KIDS' New Live-Action Series "Tiny Time Travel" - Plus Spring Release Schedule for Returning Shows and Specials - (laughingplace.com)

Looks like the Nintendo Direct isn't the only big thing happening today -- we have an absolutely atomic PBS Kids newsbomb!

Looks like PBS is venturing into live-action once again, following the massive success of Odd Squad (and Odd Squad UK, though that'll probably be marketed as Season 4 so assume it's under the Odd Squad banner). We have a new show drop, complete with teaser trailer! We also have more information on the shorts from Donkey Hodie and Nature Cat, information on PBS's move to airing acquired content alongside content they've made themselves, and a ton more. And fuck man if I don't mean a ton more.

I'd provide a complete rundown beyond the ask but I need a nap so I'll encourage folks to peek at the article for the full deets instead.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Tumblydove! (Especially from an underground source not on my radar...very interesting. Will have to add to my sources list!)

[symbiodyke]

so fucking sad. I won a raffle for a free tattoo from an artist I love but the universe decided today would be the day I have one of the worst migraines with aura in my fucking life and I had to cancel last minute. fuckin torn up abt it

also that stupid fema test went off on both me and my partner's phones while my migraine was full blast and I literally started sobbing lol

[ulmus-spellook]

Me cranking out tiny votive offerings for my prayers to the gods for a trump loss this week

It’s air dry clay, they are inspired by prehistoric art

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

Peter Anderson: Hi, my name is Peter Anderson. I'm from Peter Anderson Studio and we created the title sequence to Good Omens Season Two. So this scene is quite literally a continuation from Season One.

An interesting detail with this scene is the fly. The fly is significant because it stores Gabriel's memory.

Gabriel is hidden in every scene. This is the first time we see it.

This goat is half bird, half goat, representing a mistake in a moment of transformation.

In the pickled herring barrel, we have literally red herrings sticking out.

A lot of the gravestones have hidden engravings, easter eggs, all written by Neil.

[This one says: HERE LIES THE FORMER SHELL OF BEELZEBUB referncing Beelzebub having a new face in S2 :), another ones are: EVERYDAY, JANE AUSTEN, Here lies ADAM (the Adam from Adam and Eve is meant)]

Another hidden Gabriel.

Our same character that was trying to escape Hell in Season One titles is also trying to escape here, moving in the opposite direction to the rest of the procession. Except this time he's apprehended and dragged back into the procession.

Our Hell spider from episode four makes a little appearance in the background here.

Can you tell where the bus is going? Director Douglas McKinnon selected Powell and Pressburger's Stairway to Heaven to put on the billboard.

Another thing to note here is the type is all handmade specifically for Good Omens. The Alphabet only exists within the show.

The big floating turnip is a nod to Azirafel's magic tricks.

The Ladies of Camelot poster we pulled from the show.

We added plaques to the back of the chairs and Neil chose who to honour.

[There are: A TALE OF TWO CITIES by CHARLES DICKENS, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by JANE AUSTEN, THE CROW ROAD by IAIN BANKS (twice!) and GOOD OMENS by TERRY PRATCHETT (Neil missing for some reason :) <3)]

Saraqael made an appearance from Heaven.

Our Space is back from Season One. Aziraphale and Crowley are having a little dance here. A moment of flirtation. There's a tiny planet in the middle that comes into existence at this moment.

Our Scottish tartan hills make an appearance here.

The aeroplane and the airline is a little bit of a clue here.

[THY KINGDOM AIRWAYS 👀]

It's raining love hearts in reference to Aziraphale's attempt at making Maggie and Nina fall in love.

Here are elevators to Heaven and Hell. A wee thing to spot. Here is Gabriel in the lift arriving from Heaven.

We've updated our flags to reference some of the plotlines in Season Two. For example, The Second Coming.

The movie poster artwork changes every week, representing the episode plotlines and the minisodes. We made the posters to look like the time period and in this case we've got a Good Omens version of Buddy Holly.

[The posters are:]

In the snack bar some of our popcorn is actually communion wafers.

There are specific characters from Season One in the boxes watching the movie as the procession goes by. This includes some of our original concept art from Season One.

The duck playing the accordion is from a newspaper headline that someone is reading in The Dirty Donkey from one of the episodes.

[this is also from the Good Omens book :): "Daily Mail. 'Letter From America.' Um, August the third," said Newt. "Just after the story about the woman in Worms, Nebraska, who taught her duck to play the accordion."]

Each episode is showing a new movie on the screen, each one selected by Douglas, and has clues about what's to come.

The season one phone box tumbles in the background.

The big mountain is made of all the ingredients from Season Two and a couple of remnants from Season One. We are heading towards the biggest Easter Egg, which is the lift. We're heading towards the Second Coming..

[3rdgymbros]

━ 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐀𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝.

— pairing; none ! just platonic headcanons featuring jack, kalim and leona !

— summary; you ride the carousel with them at playful land

— notes; please donate to my kofi if you like my work. and know that i am mentally smooching everyone who reblogs my stuff.

❋ How Ernesto managed to rope the four of you into sitting on the most over-the-top, kid-friendly ride in all of Playful Land, you’ll never know.

❋ But here you all are, riding that carousel.

❋ Even before the ride actually starts, Kalim’s thrilled. He scrambles onto the back of a black and white cat, and he’s laughing and waving the minute the carousel starts spinning. Kalim doesn’t care if this ride is a bit “babyish”—he’s having the time of his life. His energy is infectious, and he’s already planning another round once you all finish.

❋ Jack and Leona are . . .

❋ Not as enthused.

❋ And that's putting it mildly.

❋ Jack is as stiff as a board, his large body dwarfing the tiny plastic cricket he’s currently sitting on. He keeps muttering about how he’s too old and too tall for such a kiddy ride, and his knuckles are white as he grips onto the pole, his face awkwardly serious. He sticks out like a sore thumb, and you have to muffle your laughter.

❋ But all bets are off the moment your eyes land upon Leona.

❋ The second prince of Afterglow Savanna is stuck on the most ridiculous plastic donkey you’ve ever seen. He has a look of utter disdain, like he’s questioning every choice that led him to this moment. Leona tries to act all cool and above it all, leaning back and crossing his arms, but that just makes him look more out of place.

❋ You can barely keep yourself together. Seeing Leona’s misery is too funny, and it just gets better every time you turn to look at him. You’re coughing and choking on your laughter, and you nearly lose your balance on your own ride – a giant plastic goldfish bobbing up and down in sync with the carousel’s tinny music. One second, you’re doubled over, pointing and laughing; the next, you’re slipping, and clutching at your fish for dear life.

❋ But nothing gets by the eagle-eyed Leona, and of course he’s witnessed your almost-fall. And now it’s his turn to cackle at you, since you finally look as undignified as he feels. He’s savouring the moment, arms still crossed, look of smug superiority — all while still bouncing along on that ridiculous donkey.

❋ And it cracks you up all over again.

❋ Though this time, you make sure to hold on tight.

[r0-boat]

Hi, I love your WHB headcanons, they make me smile all the time! I don't know if I can request something, ignore this message if it's not allowed! But if you can…

Can you tell us how you think the Kings (especially Satan and Lucifer) would react to finding out their MC's birthday? Would they give you some gift or perhaps for them, immortals, birthdays are a useless celebration?

Thank you very much for all your wonderful work! And…sorry if my English is horrible

Oh my gosh celebrating your birth would be a special occasion let's see how these kings celebrate it

Whb Kings celebrating your birthday.

Sfw cut for length

Satan

The nobles celebrated together in the hall of the castle. They have a party what humans call a potluck. Where they bring their own food and snacks and their gifts.

Since demons live so long their birthdays are not as celebrated except for maybe the birth of their kings. But even then a birthday was not really a devil thing. But that didn't mean they They didn't like doing it They want to celebrate birthdays the way humans do and what better way to celebrate it with a human!

They want to do everything a human does at their birthday even the most silliest things like pinatas or pin the tail in the donkey everything anything you mentioned they will add it. But they also want to celebrate you in a devil way so you end up just getting this weird mix of demon human celebration.

The nobles and Satan are celebrating your birthday together but later Satan will give you an extra special gift ;)

Mammon

His version of parties are more relaxed with golden ballrooms fancy dresses and suits with expensive wine and catering. He will grant you anything on your birthday and for your party anything you wish. Of course unlike the other demons he will not be talked in out of making your party what you deserve. Your venue will be at a golden Mansion with hot tubs pools endless five star foods.

Anything you suggest he will pump it up to tenfold. At a park? No problem You shall have your party at a beautiful garden venue with exotic flowers plants and fruits. In a familiar place like his house? No problem He shall make it work. (Bimet with a money donation booth)

Your cake must have the least be five tiers. All five flavors and fillings as well as designed to your desire. You will be working with a five-star bakery and they will provide samples to make sure your cake is to what you desire.

"anything you want my dearest, this day is yours I will make sure your birth is celebrated as a national holiday"

Leviathan

He keeps your birthday a secret He wants to be the only one celebrating it! And he gets mad jealous if you ever tell anyone. Of course you throw a hissy fit. And Levi assures you that he'll give you enough gifts to make up for the fact only he knows.

Listen Levi may be an envious little bug but he has his limits... He knows he'd rather be celebrating the day of your conception and he realizes the special day since he never had a birthday himself nor he wanted to celebrate his birthday because of his past. He doesn't even remember what day it was.

Anything you want any wish you want to Grant for the entire day he is yours. And I guess the other Hades nobles will give you gifts as well since you made such a big stink about it.

If you ever mentioned to celebrate your birthdays together his eyes will go wide and his job will go slack. You're willing to share a special occasion with him? He just fell even deeper for you.

Beelzebub

Parties are a Abyssos specialty! your party will be a grand celebration. Wild and fun not like the parties in Tartaros we're rich people got like fancy little birds with their tiny fancy drinks and little crackers and cheeses, chirping about how rich they are. A real party!

And of course the grander the party the more strict the planning will be. Beelzebub takes these parties very seriously You can call him a party aficionado. Of course what you want also matters so he will ask Bael to keep notes because he'll probably forget. You can pick the venue pick the snacks it's starting to sound more like a wedding than just a birthday party.

It will have the most fun most lively most wild venue. Devils from across the seven kingdoms will hear about it and want to come bringing gifts to party in Abyssos. The nobles and King talking excitedly how this will be the greatest party in millenia. Will it last a day no a whole week of partying!

It will take A LOT of talking if you want your party to be anything other than the greatest celebration that Abyssos has to offer. In the end you'll just get sad pouty puppy Demons just wants to give you the best that Abyssos has to offer and parties are their specialty :(((. They will give in because it's what you want and whatever the birthday human decides.

Lucifer

Angels do not celebrate birthdays The only birthday they celebrate is either God or Jesus. So it completely slipped his mind until you mentioned it. His eyes went wide Oh yeah human celebrate their birth...

He's not one to ask for a party or anything, He brings you flowers and gives you cake and a little gift. The gift is the most expensive thing he always gets you jewelry or something you like.

Asking you out for birthday dinner is something he would probably do too. The other citizens of Paradise lost is allowed to celebrate as they please. Gamigin is not okay with this He is planning a party for you right now. Lucifer thinks it's unnecessary but he will attend anyway.

He tells his subordinate to please keep in mind that your day should be up to you. And if the young dragon is planning on anything you do not want he will be punished.

[rooksamoris]

Amora, thoughts on this? And how can it be applied to the scarabia duo

omg my cousin sent me this video too!!

in regard to JAMIL <3

he definitely gives me cat person vibes (literally everyone in the middle east/north africa is a cat person from armenia to oman to algeria). i headcanon that scarabia has a bunch of cats around the place. jamil carries heavy baskets of laundry while kittens brush by his bare ankles as he walks about.

its so funny to sit beside him while the cats hide under his hair.

"Ah--out of my hair," he grumbles, pulling the kitten away from his hair. Its tiny claws were clinging to the thick strands, tangling them up with its excitable movements. When he sees the amusement on your face, he rolls his eyes and places the kitty in your lap, gently. He was always so mindful of how he held them, "Pull their hair instead, Za'afaraan (saffron)," he commands. He named the cats in Scarabia after spices. How cute.

i bet he and his family would go on park days too. it's a quick and cheap way of them getting to enjoy each other's company, but it is always so short lived. his responsibilities to kalim are all consuming.

Najma leaned over and glanced at her brother's phone, "Can't you put that down for a minute, himar (donkey)?" she asked, gesturing to the ma'amoul (date stuffed biscuit) and chai that was in front of them. His father had bought it from the souq (market) and his mother made the tea. It was the recipe she had taught him years ago. Jamil rolled his eyes, and shoved his sister's cheek away, "I need to make sure he stays at the estate." He kept his gaze away from his parents. There had to be some sort of tension and guilt... "Yeah, whatever..." Najma trailed off, before sipping her own tea. Her fingers traced over patterns on the sheet they sat on. Ornate swirls and floral motifs. Her unsaid words were weaving their way into the designs, never to be said, but to be seen in her dark eyes. When was the last time they had even spent family time like this? Her brother sighs and breaks his ma'amoul in half, "Here," he says, setting his phone down. Hopefully for longer than a few minutes.

as for KALIM!!

im sure he loves all animals, but cats?? he loves them, especially big cats. you can't tell me that the al-asim family don't have their own version of raja from aladdin. it gives jamil a heart attack at first, but soon enough this tiger is kalim's favorite thing in the world. the tiger ends up trained to protect and coddle kalim. whenever he's in the scalding sands, after greeting all his siblings, he rushes into the fur of his tiger.

"Ra'isa!" he yells, as he leaps against the large tiger. His arms wrapped around her back and then he nuzzled his cheek to its fur. There was a grin on his face as Ra'isa began to curl her body around him. You just stared in a mix of fear and apprehension. You glance between him and the tiger that was cuddling up to him. Of course, you expected chaos when you decided to visit the Scalding Sands with your boyfriend, but this? "Uhm..? Kalim..?" When his ruby eyes notice the look on your face, he laughs and grabs your hand, pulling you closer, "Don't worry. Ra'isa is very friendly with people I like," he reassures, guiding your hand over her fur. Ra'isa leaned into your touch, sensing her owner's adoration for you. When she curled her head in your direction, her face found its way to your belly, clearing signalling for your to scratch behind her eyes. Kalim leaned against the big cat, watching you with a look of joy. His two favorite people were getting along.

kalim's family is MASSIVE. i don't imagine they all go out too often due to how much security would be needed, but they all definitely have chaotic tea parties. you'd think with all that wealth the kids would not have to fight over who gets the last piece of ma'amoul or the last bite of fatta tamr (yemeni dish. its just small pieces of bint al-sahn mixed with minced dates and honey).

Kalim was holding up a box of assorted Turkish Delights away from all of his younger siblings who immediately rushed to his side when they heard he had brought them. He laughed as they reached up their short arms for the box, "There's enough for everyone, just get into a line," he said. The box was full enough to give each of them three pieces of the treats, and yet they still argued about who would get the first piece.

overall, yeah. arab men aren't scary. they literally kiss their homies good night, since when you greet a friend or are leaving for the night, you kiss each other's cheek.

[thatfandomslut]

Captain Princess Ophelia

Reneé Rapp x Reader

Word Count: 1.2k

Trigger Warnings: just a lot of fluff, Shrek, and a cute pregnancy announcement

Request:

basically some fluff where r and renee take care of r niece, like, domestic cute stuff

Reneé Rapp requests are open.

Other accounts: hoe4flo | ghostyanne

Discords: Mean Girls | Mean Girls RP (in need of people)

(S/n) - Sister's Name

When (S/n) dropped off Ophelia, the first thing (Y/n)’s six-year-old niece did was run to Reneé , wrapping her arms around her aunt as she clung on excitedly. It was the first time Ophelia had visited since (Y/n) and Reneé  moved into their own place now that they were married. “Are you sure you’re okay to watch her over night?” (S/n) inquired, chewing on her bottom lip as Ophelia flung her body from Reneé  to the toy chest in their living room, something put there due to them knowing she was coming. They were the types of aunts to absolutely spoil their niece, and that was evident by the toys overflowing in the toy box.

“Of course,” (Y/n) smiled, ruffling Ophelia’s curls gently. She was always down to watch the girl. Since they moved, they had been a bit busier and hadn’t been able to visit yet. This was the perfect excuse to spend time with their favorite tiny terror. “We are going to order pizza for dinner, watch Ophelia’s favorite movies, play with toys. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. You deserve this night out with your husband. So, go have fun. I’ll send you several pictures of all the fun we’re going to have tonight.”

(S/n) hugged (Y/n) and Reneé  gratefully as she made her way over to Ophelia. She crouched down before hugging her daughter, despite her being uninterested due to all the new toys. “Be good for your aunties,” she kissed her cheek gently before heading towards the door. “Bye, everyone, I love you all. If you need anything, do not be afraid to call.” (S/n) spoke before finally exiting. (Y/n) locked the door behind her, not because of (S/n), but because of safety. She looked over at Ophelia who was engrossed in the Superman action figure, who she paired up with a President Barbie from the Barbie movie.

“Ophie,” she called, sitting beside her niece. It took a moment before the girl looked over at (Y/n) with a big, curious grin that exposed her dimples. “Auntie Reneé  and I have a surprise for you. Do you remember that princess dress that you wanted? We got it for you in the guest room. Would you like to check it out, sweetheart?”

Ophelia nodded excitedly as she followed her aunts to the bedroom. Reneé  put Ophelia’s purple unicorn suitcase in the room before picking up the green, sparkling dress. “It’s so pretty! Like Fiona,” she absolutely loved Shrek after (Y/n) and Reneé  decided to make sure that she was cultured and understood what true cinema was. Ever since then, she has wanted a sparkling version of Princess Fiona’s dress and a pet donkey. Hence why she had a Donkey stuffed animal on the bed alongside the dress. “Don-kay!” she squealed excitedly, pulling the stuffed toy into her arms.

“We have another surprise for you,” Reneé  said as (Y/n) helped Ophelia into the dress. “We have made snacks from Shrek, and we are going to watch all the Shrek movies.” Ophelia wanted to watch all of the movies the last time they were together, but they didn’t have the time. This time, they were going to have a sleepover and they got various snacks, healthier than not as requested by (S/n), to keep her on theme.

Ophelia was ecstatic. For someone who could bounce off the walls, she was an amazing movie watcher. She loved sitting in between (Y/n) and Reneé  during all of the movies they watched together. (Y/n) ordered the pizza as Reneé  set out the snacks. There were green apples with ogre ears poked into them (thank you Etsy), gingerbread men talentedly put together by one of (Y/n)’s friends, pretzel sticks cleverly renamed Swamp Logs (thank you Pinterest), and water with green food coloring that they deemed to be swamp water. Ophelia was absolutely living the life.

As the three sat together, lounging on the couch, (Y/n) couldn’t help but look over to Reneé  with a smile. They had waited patiently for the movies to end to share the news with Ophelia. She would be the first in the family to know what they were going to tell Ophelia. She was going to help them tell everyone else. As Shrek the Third ended, (Y/n) knew it was finally time. She was a bit nervous to tell Ophelia, but she knew that this idea was amazing.

“Hey, Ophie,” (Y/n) got her nieces attention. (Y/n) took a moment to think about how she wanted to tell her, Reneé  putting a hand on her shoulder softly. “You know how in this movie, Shrek and Fiona were having babies?” She questioned softly, wanting to explain slowly since she knew this was a big announcement. Ophelia nodded with a grin. “Well, I am also going to have a baby.”

Ophelia processed this slowly, in her own time. After all, she was only six. “So, then I’ll be an aunt, too?” she asked, looking at Reneé  who was behind her. She wasn’t understanding completely, but that was perfectly fine. (Y/n) and Reneé  wanted to take the time to explain this to her. They knew she was probably going to have several questions.

Reneé  grinned a bit at the question, gently putting a hand on Ophelia’s shoulder. “Even better,” she smirked playfully, “You’re going to be a big cousin. Which means, when (Y/n) has her baby, you’re going to have another friend to play with dolls and action figures. You can even show them Shrek. But, first, we need to ask for your help. Only you can help us.” She explained to the curly haired girl.

As the two explained to Ophelia more about the baby and told her about the plan, they gave her a shirt. It said ‘World’s Best Big Cousin” in pink font. When (S/n) went to pick up Ophelia the next day, that was the shirt she would be wearing as she ran to her mom and dad and gave them a big hug. She was taking the idea of being a big cousin as seriously as a six-year-old could. She loved the idea of having a little cousin to play with, her own baby. Though, they did have to explain that her baby cousin would be at their house and not hers.

“Oh, you got her a new shirt,” (S/n) said before gasping loudly. She looked at her younger sister in shock before passing Ophelia to her husband carefully. She then threw her arms around (Y/n) and Reneé  happily. “I am so happy for you, too! Please let me be there when you tell Mom and Dad.”

(Y/n) hugged her sister back as she gave Ophelia two thumbs up. “Even better, we have Captain Princess Ophelia, her new big cousin title, to help us.” She told (S/n). They wanted to make sure Ophelia had a big role so that she knew her aunts still loved her. This was something that (S/n) noticed, appreciated, and loved as she held onto her sister.

“You two are going to be the best parents,” (S/n) expressed happily, wiping away the tears from her face then (Y/n)’s. “I can’t believe I didn’t even notice. We just went out the other night and you refused your favorite night drink: a margarita.” The group shared a laugh as they got to working on how they would tell (Y/n) and (S/n)’s parents.

[xoxobuckybarnes]

August 2024 Reading List

Complete

War & Peace and the Redemption of Bucky Barnes (Rated: E, Words: 51K) by ThePirateStorm / @fsbc-librarian

Summary: Bucky Barnes is running from his problems. He’s housesitting for his best friend while she’s on her honeymoon - the almost a year prior that he’s been staying in her house doesn’t count - when he’s woken in the middle of the night by an angel and a demon. Okay, maybe they’re not a literal angel and demon, but Steve Rogers *looks* like an angel, and his daughter Charli certainly *acts* like a demon. The father/daughter duo are running from their own problems, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t crash headlong into one another’s lives. Throw in a cursed book for good measure, and it’s about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Sleep, Baby (Rated: E, Words: 4K) by buckybarnesdeservestobehappy (hutchabelle)

Summary: Have a baby, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. And it is, but it’s also the most bone-crushingly tiring thing in the world. Bucky needs a nap, coffee, and sex, but his baby WILL NOT SLEEP! He should have known his husband always has a plan, especially on Valentine's Day. Written for the Hell Yeah Bottom Bucky Valentines Exchange.

Winter's Children (Rated: E, Words: 66K) by Neery

Summary: When their attempts to recreate the super soldier serum failed, Hydra started trying to breed Captain America clones from his genetic samples. Unfortunately, the serum's effects aren't passed down genetically, so instead of an army of tiny Captain Americas, they get a bunch of tow-headed, asthmatic, allergic, immuno-compromised little Steves. And then the Winter Soldier stumbles across Hydra's failed experiment...

tin cans with string (Rated: T, Words: 22K) by Somanywords / @somanywords

Summary: Bucky’s mother was looking at him knowingly, and she pulled out a chair for him, which he climbed into gratefully. “You’re an only child, aren’t you, Steve?” “Yes Ma’am.” “It ever gets to be too much for you, you just excuse yourself and come sit in the kitchen a minute. It’s a little noisy with the baby at times, but other than that you can catch a breath.” Steve looked up at her gratefully. She understood, and having someone understand was the best thing in the world. --an exploration of mothers, and of one that isn’t yours.

Where You Lead, I Will Follow (Rated: T, Words: 11K) by attackofthezee (noxlunate)

Summary: When Steve was sixteen years old Peggy Carter had placed a tiny, blonde six pound, three ounce bundle into Steve’s arms. She’d kissed the top of Carter’s head, kissed Steve’s cheek and said “I can’t do this.” with such strength and conviction that Steve hadn’t even questioned her. “I know.” Steve had said, shifting Carter to rest against his chest, a hand on her bottom and the other cupping her tiny, soft head. “But I can.” AKA it's a Gilmore Girls AU and Steve loves his kid, Bucky, Stars Hollow, and coffee. In that order.

Seahorses (Rated: E, Words: 31K) by poppyfields13 & tinzelda

Summary: Now that Bucky’s taken over the role of Captain America, Steve feels like it’s finally the time to start a family. Bucky doesn’t know what to feel when Steve breaks the news he’s going to adopt a baby. He wants Steve to be happy, but he’s worried it will affect their friendship. Once Steve becomes a dad though, Bucky can’t help falling in love with the baby. And maybe Steve will finally see Bucky in a different light.

Loves Me Like A Rock (Rated: T, Words: 4K) by musette22 / @musette22

Summary: “You’re not that bad, Steve,” Sarah reassures him, though she can’t be entirely sure. “I’m sure you must’ve gotten a little better at flirting since your high school days?” Steve makes a face. “What on earth would give you that idea?” “Well,” Sarah says, reaching over to give Steve's hand a consoling pat, “you have other qualities, my darling.” “Such as?” “You could out-stubborn a donkey,” she answers, without missing a beat. “You’ve got a decent singing voice, too. Dogs love you.” Steve huffs. “Gee, thanks, ma. That's really helpful.”

A Wedding to Remember (Rated: E, Words: 19K) by SucculentHyena

Summary: It’s Becca’s wedding, her happiest day. Bucky just wants it to go as planned. And it does! Repeatedly.

Five Times Bucky Modelled For Steve (Rated: T, Words: 8K) by Selenay

Summary: The first time Steve drew Bucky, he had purple hair like something out of a cartoon. "I don't have a brown," Steve said when he got to Bucky's hair. "Sorry. It got broken."

sharing beds like little kids (Rated: M, Words: 17K) by tesselated

Summary: Steve and Bucky are childhood best friends who get separated when they're thirteen and Steve moves away. Five years later, they see each other at a party. ++ It seemed to Bucky that there had to be a certain all-encompassing awkwardness in going up to the guy you loved best when you were twelve and saying “Hey buddy, remember me?”

Love Thy Neighbor (Rated: M, Words: 7K) by hermionesmydawg / @anthonystan

Summary: Bucky Barnes has a few problems with his new neighbor: 1. He's hot 2. He's loud 3. He might be a secret superhero

if your heart's still open (Rated: E, Words: 8K) by steveandbucky

Summary: “What’s wrong, Buck?” “You really gotta ask that?” “Yeah, I do.” Steve clenches his jaw. “You were the one who ended things.”

WIP

Gold Must Be Tried By Fire (Rated: M, Current Words: 28K) by lavenderpanic / @lavenderpanic

Summary: The pamphlets about escaping abuse always glossed over this part, and Bucky finally understands why. Nobody would fucking leave if they knew how hard recovery would be. In the midst of a trial that questions every hard-won truth out of Bucky’s mouth, can he possibly allow himself to heal- physically and mentally? **Sequel to I Am Ash From Your Fire**

The Life of Jamie Barnes (Rated: M, Current Words: 9K) by deadto27 / @deadto27

Summary: The continuing adventures of Steve, Bucky and baby James from the Heart of Mine series through the years.

Rereads

Nothing Good Ever Happens on a Tuesday (Rated: T, Words: 28K) by megs_bee

Summary: Recently discharged soldier James Barnes is back in Brooklyn, down an arm and missing five years of memories, but he’s got his PTSD mostly under control, a fancy metal prosthetic, and what’s starting to feel like it could be a half-decent life. What he doesn’t have is any memory of the kid looking at James and asking him, “Are you my daddy?” -- or the gorgeous blond guy standing next to her. Steve Rogers lost his best friend Bucky five years ago, with no warning and no answers when he tried to find out what happened. So it was one hell of a surprise to walk into the grocery store one afternoon and come face to face with the man he thought was dead.

Prince Charming (Rated: E, Words: 55K) by Brenda / @brendaonao3

Summary: Bucky Barnes leads quite the charmed life. He has a thriving tattoo shop, a son he adores, the world’s best dogs, and a great group of friends — almost all of whom are in relationships. And maybe he'd been the one nudging them towards each other, but there's nothing wrong with a little match-making. The world could use more romance. As for him personally, well, he doesn’t need anyone for the long haul. Not when every girl he meets is someone who he thinks would be perfect for someone else. But then Steve Rogers comes into his shop looking for some ink, and maybe that’s the problem right there. Maybe what he's looking for in a relationship isn't a girl at all.

[llondonfog]

waltz right in

work really took it out of me this week. here’s some papa vanrouge. wc 1.3k who am i  you can waltz right in; i was made for you.

Lilia’s hearing was once legendary. 

Baul used to proudly remark to anyone hapless to the barrage of his booming voice how their own General Vanrouge had once determined the exact number of approaching troops, their accompanying horses, and the precise location of a squeaky cart wheel (rear, to the left) pulled by a three-legged donkey clinging to the foggy shroud of the Briar Valley forests blindfolded, tied to a tree trunk, and more than a little inebriated.

(That had been in the early days. The early days when Meleanor would roll her eyes with a smitten indulgence Lilia had not known she was capable of at Raverne’s earnest declarations of how to entreat the humans, how to enter into a new century of peace unlike any previously thought possible.

The early days, before any of them, with their brilliant youth and unlimited power, understood the true costs of war.)

His hearing is still quite keen, one of the few abilities left to him that has not begun to deteriorate so cruelly with time, only now he does not find himself attuned to the clanking of armor rattling the tranquil mountainside peace, the soft whisper of a sword unsheathing beneath the cover of darkness, or the curious and foreboding absence of animal chatter in the dense underbrush. 

Lilia wonders what the General would think, to know that his battle-hewed senses have so seamlessly shifted to listen for the quiet shuffle of socked feet over a wood floor and the stifled breaths haunted by the ghost of tears. 

He knows what, or rather who, he will find as he glances up from the half-finished letter he’d been writing to acknowledge the small figure lingering at the doorway to their living room, half-skulking in the shadows all the while gazing out at Lilia as if he might be the dawn itself.

“Another nightmare?”

Silver nods, eyes large and wet in the flickering light of the fire, and Lilia wonders again what the General might think, to hear how soft his voice has become, to know that the sight of a child, this one in particular, so in distress pains him worse than any iron-tipped spear driven deep into his heart. 

It startles him at odd times, frightens him even, how quickly he’s adjusted to this. 

The letter is easily forgotten, pen and parchment left aside on the table next to his current, lumpy armchair, as he wordlessly opens his arms to welcome the gangly bundle of tiny, sharp-edged limbs that wriggles its way into his lap, his own chin settling into a tufted cloud of hair that seems iridescent in the flame, catching the light as if Lilia held the sun itself in his embrace. 

(The sun or the moon, some days it is hard to decide which Silver takes after most. Either way, it’s blinding and Lilia has long made peace with the fact that he’s never cared much about his own health.)

Satisfied that the boy has made himself comfortable, Lilia coaxes a blanket from the sofa to float across the room and drape itself around them, swallowing a grin to himself at the rather adorable sight of only Silver’s eyes visible over his makeshift cloak. Their light and wonder has yet to return, and he nudges the boy gently until he can direct Silver’s gaze over to the shadows dancing together against the backdrop of the hearth. It’s easy magic, barely a drop in his dwindling reserves; a bunny hops carefree in a meadow of swaying flowers, a bird flutters its wings joyfully in an invisible breeze before soaring through the skies to return to its nest, a squirrel gaily scampering about the forest floor, collecting acorns— Lilia’s heart does an odd beat at that.

But it does the trick. Silver’s tense posture has begun to melt in his arms, and he’s even participating, calling out requests and giggling even when a shadowy butterfly breaks free of its scene to land on his nose, tickling his face with its intangible feelers before bursting into a soft shower of multi-colored sparkles. Lilia joins in his laughter, releasing the spell as they both sink back into the armchair, a tangled up bundle of smiles and limbs.

“It was so dark,” Silver whispers suddenly after their laughter has subsided and Lilia’s found himself absently stroking through that spider-silk hair with his claws, and the sheer ache of loneliness in his voice nearly takes Lilia’s breath away that he has to check to ensure he hasn’t accidentally pierced the boy’s arm. “And so quiet, Toto, there was— it was like I was the only person left in the whole world. I didn’t think anyone would ever find me again, I didn’t know how they even could.”

Lilia doesn’t know which is worse; the fact that Silver never dreams about that awful night when he was spelled into sleep for his own protection, or the fact that he dreams about the aftermath, about the long and lonely wait. 

But he knows a little something about darkness. And a little something about loneliness too.

“ . . . do you remember what you told me about the groundhog? What does he do each winter?” 

Silver scrunches up his face in confusion at the question, but instantly replies, hard-pressed to forget anything that involves his dear animal companions. “Hibernation?” His tongue trips over the word clumsily as he looks up for Lilia’s approving nod. 

“And as I recall, Malleus was out with you in the forest, so you asked him what that meant. Can you tell me what he said?”

Lilia watches with no small trace of fondness as the boy begins to parrot the words perfectly, amused by how completely Malleus’ words have been committed to memory.

“He said that groundhogs are a type of animal called a mammal, and that they burrow deep in the ground to keep themselves warm and safe during the winter,” Silver recites, a finger curling around a loose thread in the blanket while he thinks on the prince’s explanation. “They eat a lot of food before they do so that they can stay healthy, and then they sleep and sleep and sleep until the snow has all melted for good.”

Simplistic enough for his purposes. Lilia nods in confirmation as Silver settles back in his arms, the question remaining clear enough on his little face. “Don’t you think hibernation sounds a lot like your dream?” he murmurs, and the boy’s eyes widen now in wonder. “I imagine it’s pretty scary at first for your groundhog friend. He’s deep in a dark burrow, alone and away from all of his friends, and he knows it’ll be a long time before he wakes up.”

He lets Silver ruminate on that, and can see the awed appreciation in his gaze for the bravery of all the little creatures that know they must subject themselves to the order of nature for the chance to see a new spring.

“But there’s a difference you should be aware of,” he continues, and Silver’s head snaps up in confusion, mouth open— “You, my dear, are not a groundhog!” Lilia declares with a gentle tickle of his fingertips against the boy’s side and grins openly when full giggles erupt from the blanketed bundle in his lap, Silver squirming and laughing as he unsuccessfully tries to wriggle away from Lilia’s inescapable torment until the last of the worry pinched around his face vanishes for good.

“You are not a groundhog,” he repeats softly, and bends forward to press a kiss to the boy’s head. “And I will always find you when winter ends.”

“Always?” Silver asks him sleepily, fully spent from their conversation, and Lilia thinks about how much he used to hate the melting snow, the warmth of the sun in spring.

“Always.” 

[wangxianficfinder]

I'm in the mood for...

Feb 3rd

~*~

1. Hello! For the next itmf if like to request fics where karma comes back to bite people who've been mean to WWX. Particularly anything where Madam Yu gets what she deserves for being so horrible!

Thank you for all you do!! @greywake

Waiting for Spring by thievinghippo (E, 130k, WangXian, Modern AU, MLB AU, Baseball AU, Mutual Pining, Pining while fucking, slight angst, Happy Ending)

🧡🔒Truth Will Out (when caught on video) - End_OTW_Racism! by KizuKatana (E, 151k, wangxian, WN & WWX & WQ, graphic depictions of violence, modern cultivation, canon divergence, YZY abuses WWX , caught on camera, partial core removal, WWX kicked out of Jiang sect, livestreamer WWX, meet ugly, dual cultivation, smut, no war, WIP)

🧡 All will be well when the day is done by abCEE (T, 76k, wangxian, time travel, canon divergence, fix it, not YZY friendly, not Jiang friendly, butterfly effect, no sunshot, madam lan lives, lan WWX)

Trials and Tribulations by TriviasFolly (M, 39k, wangxian, Modern, A/B/O, Emotional Hurt, Hurt, Abuse, Physical Abuse, Mental Abuse, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, hurt/tiny comfort, abusive YZY, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, experimental drug trial, Drug Trial, Bonding, Heats, flirting with the ooc line, Wangxian Get a Happy Ending, Miscarriage, Mpreg)

Starlight by KouriArashi (T, 38k, wangxian, Stardust Fusion, Action/Adventure, Developing Relationship, Mutual Pining, Murder, Ghosts, Magic, Child Abuse)

🔒If Wishes Were Donkeys by NightOwl1 (M, 101k, WIP, WangXian, SVSSS, Time Travel Fix-It, Case Fic, Mpreg, Fluff and Humor, Dysfunctional Jiāng Family, Bad Parent YZY, WangXian Get a Happy Ending,   Period-Typical Homophobia, Crossdressing, LWJ and WWX Have a Breeding Kink, It’s All The System’s Fault, Post-Canon, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Warning: JGS, Good Uncle LQR, LWJ and WWX Are LSZ’s Parents, Inappropriate Humor, Family Feels) for that epic YZY comeuppance 🤣

~*~

2. heyyy thanks for all your hard work! do you guys have any favourites or recommendations on wangxian from the cloud recesses arch?

you think you know something you don’t by nu_breed (E, 12k, wangxian, Masturbation, Semi-Public Sex, LWJ Loves Rabbits, First Time, Pining, First Time Blow Jobs, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Missing Scenes, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, Canon Divergence)

Secrets by handwritten (onefromanotherworld) (G, 1k, WangXian, Fluff, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Getting Together, Smitten LWJ, Smitten WWX, courting gifts)

🔒 The Taste Of Cherry by chiyukimei (E, 6k, wangxian, WWX feels angry because he’s not being ravished, Cloud Recesses, Cherry Magic AU, Not JC Friendly, Lots of kissing, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Soft LQR)

when you love somebody, bite your tongue by sophiahelix (E, 17k, wangxian, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, First Time, Just the Tip, Only One Bed, Horny Teenagers, Slight Canon Divergence, Sharing a Bed, horny teen LWJ and his confused and furious yearnings, LXC matchmakes but he probably didn’t intend all this, Fantasizing, Size Kink)

Certain foolish perfect hours by danegen (E, 39k, wangxian, underage, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Canon Divergence, POV LWJ, Fluff, the yin iron plot stuff is actually still happening, but LXC is hiding the plot in his qiankun sleeves, Switching, LWJ is a good boy who deserves to have silly dates with his manic pixie boyfriend)

Losing My Mind by pupeez4eva (T, 6k, wangxian, JC & WWX, Humor, Protective JC, JC drinks a potion that lets him hear people's lustful thoughts, Teenage LWJ has a lot of feelings, Canon Divergence, Takes place when they are studying in Gusu)

Three changes. by orange_crushed (M, 18k, wangxian, fluff, hijinks & shenanigans, cloud recesses shenanigans, no war au, everyone lives au, romantic comedy, fade to black, friends to lovers, falling in love, harm to animals, non-graphic violence, sparring, developing friendships, hurt/comfort, first time)

🔒 The Hermit Agenda by wereworm (G, 11k, wangxian, LY & BSSR... lesbians, WWX aspires to be like them, also WWX calls BSSR his grandma bc it's not quite as funny otherwise, Humor, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Getting Together, WWX is dtpjz (down to punch jin zixuan))

The Golden Cutsleeve by syrus_jones (E, 77k, WangXian, Crack Treated Seriously, Fluff and Crack, Humor, Aged-Up Character(s), WWX POV, WWX is a gremlin, Internally Screaming LWJ, No Sunshot Campaign, First Times, Accidental Sex, Masturbation, PWP, Porn with Feelings, WWX experimenting with things he shouldn't like always, Happy Ending, Porn With Plot)

~*~

3. Hi, I and a friend are In The Mood For fics where a.) Nie Huaisang uses war fans. I'll also take b.) competent Nie Huaisang where he gets to show that while he's not a terror on the battlefield like his dage he's not someone you want to mess with when he decides to get serious.

3A)

shades of grey spill from my veins (bleeding ink all over the page) by Reverie (cl410) (M, 58k, NMJ/LXC, wangxian, NHS/WN, POV NMJ, Canon Divergence, Joining the "Wei Wuxian raised by the Nie Sect" Club, Mentions of WWX's life on the streets, Hurt/Comfort, Accidental Sibling Acquisition, Single Dad NMJ, NHS & WWX Friendship, Fluff, Humor, Happy Ending, Everyone Lives AU, Protective NMJ, Sunshot Campaign, Some angst, Blood and Injury, Kidnapping, Protective Siblings, Found Family) also might fit 3B

The Trials and Tribulations of Growing Up Series by ArgentInferno (T, 175k, WangXian, NHS & WWX, Canon Divergence, Falling In Love, Fluff, Growing Up, Teenagers being awkward teenagers, gender feels, Trans LWJ, Trans Male Character, Nonbinary NHS, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Experimental talismans cause trouble, Accidental Teleportation, Coming Out, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Magical Bond) It’s pretty slow burn but NHS is coprotagonist and it’s basically him coming to terms with his own strength and identity

3B)

the problem with authority by isabilightwood (M, 139k, WangXian, JYL/WQ, QS & JYL, Canon Divergence, Sacrifice Summon, only the summoner sticks around, slightly dark JYL, WQ lives, Slow Burn, Angst with a Happy Ending, Chronic Pain, Mild Sexual Content, Switch Wangxian, WWX has to be resurrected & LWJ find out before they can interact, but there's plenty of wangxian once they do, manipulative relationship) NHS is a secondary character but he works closely with the protags and is a formidable conspirator

~*~

4. Hello! For the next itmf can you rec some childhood friends/growing up together fics? I’m okay with any AU except a/b/o Thxxxx

down by the water by astrolesbian (E, 60k, WangXian, Slow Burn, Modern AU, Friends to Lovers, Surfer LWJ, Surfer WWX, Loneliness, complicated family relationships, mention of drowning, but no actual drowning is described, fluff and smut and angst, Reconciliation)

When we were small by deliciousblizzardshark (T, 7k, LXC & LQR & LWJ, Implied WangXian, Modern AU, Kid Fic, Good Uncle LQR, Neurodivergent LWJ, Baby LWJ, Baby WWX, Parenthood, Homophobia, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, POV LQR, Implied/Referenced Underage Sex, Grief/Mourning, Emotional Hurt/Comfort)

~*~

5. Hii Are there any fics where lwj actually finds wwx 's body after he dies? @karinasnowwwx

kintsugi | 金継ぎ| a transmutation by DrPanda99 (E, 1k, wangxian, graphic depictions of violence, major character death, Canon Divergence, dead bodies, evil spirits, Insanity, Unhappy Ending, Cannibalism, Explicit Gore, Dark LWJ, Post-First Siege of the Burial Mounds, LWJ Whump, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, Grief/Mourning, Body Horror) Mind the tags

~*~

6. Do you know of any fics that feature LWJ dealing with disability or chronic pain after the discipline? Tysm for your time.

🔒 the map of days by everythingispoetry (M, 20k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Permanent Injury, Recovery, Disability, Parenthood, Character Study, Thirteen Years of WWX’s Death)

Everything That Could Have Been by QueenXIV (T, 18k, wangxian, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Disabled Character, Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt, Canon Divergence, Guilt, Hurt WWX, Hurt LWJ, Angst with a Happy Ending, Chronic Pain)

恩仇仙人- Enchou xianren (Immortal Avenger) by AshayaTReldai (E, 163k, WIP, WangXian, Angst, Mental Anguish, Pining, Revenge, Execution, internalinter-clan politics, Reincarnation, TGCF notions of ascension and deity, WWX/LWJ marriage, First Time, Post-LWJ whipping, Injury Recovery, Issues of justice, Torture, Not friendly to the Clans - they all get their comeuppance, Hurt/Comfort, Dark LWJ, novel compliant characterisation)

~*~

7. Are there any time loop fics where Lan Wangji *specifically* seeks to have sex with Wei Wuxian? Before and/or after they are in a relationship. @any-mouse

~*~

8. Hello!!!

For the next ITMF,

Any fic where JYL claims WWX as her kid? If possible adoption.

Thanks a lot for your work!

The Teapot Plot by ToxicAngel13 (M, 52k, wangxian, LXC/NMJ, Misunderstandings, Plots, protective Jiang siblings, Golden Core Reveal, Golden Core Transfer Fix-It, Idiots in Love, Damn Jins, Post-Sunshot Campaign, Pre-Burial Mounds, Potential for M-Preg, Fix-It, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Idiots Everywhere, LWJ 's Biting Kink, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, Protective LWJ, Protective WQ, JGS is his own warning, Protective JYL) JYL see WWX as her son but it’s not official

~*~

9. This is a INTMF ask. I'm looking for fics that have both WWX and LWJ able to be a happy family and raise Lan Shizui together. I don't want any dark stories and I would really prefer light angst/cannon angst if there has to be angst. Just to be clear though I'm looking for fics that focus on domestic wangxian with baby Shizui. IDK if a fic like this exists and idk how to search for it. But I viscerally want to read it and I don't have the chops to write it. &lt;3 @omgnectarina

The Simplest Way Forward by harriet_vane (E, 70k, WangXian, Modern AU, Accidental baby acquisition, Kid fic, Green card marriage (but not really), Slow Burn, Endless Pining, Happy ending, [Podfic of] The Simplest Way Forward by knight_tracer)

🔒 Meet-Tired by SimpleSoupsandAppleTarts (T, 1.5M, WIP, WangXian, Modern AU, Single parent WWX, Meet-Tired, Fluff, Getting together, Slice of Life)

~*~

10. hii, this is for itmf I have 2 requests

A) marriage of convenience/ fake marriage in the modern era

B) I think I sent this before but accidentally categorized it as fic finder I'm sorry. mpreg fics in which they don't know the other is the father! / fics where one of them gets pregnant, and other doesn't know that they're the father. both pregxian and pregji r good

10A)

With No Particular Affection by Chrononautical (E, 92k, wangxian, Arranged Marriage, Modern, Kid Fic, Miscommunication, Family Drama, JFM & YZY's A+ Parenting, Canon typical consent during sex, canon typical violence revamped for a modern setting, canon typical behavior from villains and honestly I toned it down a lot, Good Uncle JC, Wedding Fluff, Wedding Night, Genius WWX, Street Kid WWX, Homelessness, Rich LWJ, Oblivious WWX, LWJ's canon typical communication skills, Cinnamon Roll WN, Implied/Referenced Suicide, WWX Has a Pregnancy Kink, WWX Has a Fear of Dogs, Curtain Fic, Domestic Fluff, Fluff and Angst)

A Marriage Story by DeviyudeThoolika (E, 38k, wangxian, NMJ/LXC, married wangxian, but there are some complications, because it’s marriage, Sex is complicated, Angst and Pining, Pining while fucking, Mature elements, Mutual Pining, HEA, Arranged Marriage, Sort Of, Misunderstandings, of epic proportions, One True Pairing, Good Sibling JC, Good Parent YZY, Fluff and Angst, in that order, Slow Burn, Angst with a Happy Ending, Everyone Loves WWX, Angst and Hurt/Comfort)

10B)

I have loved you for so long (even when I could only do you wrong) by h0peless_oblivion (E, 22k, wangxian, Modern, A/B/O, Mpreg, Friends With Benefits, Friends to Lovers, Getting Together, Unplanned Pregnancy, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Fluff and Angst, Mutual Pining, Miscommunication, but its cleared up fairly quickly, Reconciliation, Good Uncle LQR, YZY is good, Unspecified Setting, Misunderstandings, Mating Bites, Pregnant WWX, A-Yuan is Wangxian's son, Eventual Smut, Knotting, Mating, Wangxian's canon breeding kink) looks like a WIP, but the end chapters are bonus scenes and the main story is complete

Impermanence, Transience, Permanence by Best Bepsy (BepsyGray) (E, 39k, wangxian, canon divergence, unplanned pregnancy, mpreg, gore, sunshot campaign, assumed miscarriage, medical procedures, childbirth, golden core reveal)

On The Way Home by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 59k, wangxian, Modern, Mpreg, Non-a/b/o mpreg, Unprotected Sex, Unexpected Pregnancy, Friends With Benefits, Getting Together, Pining while fucking)

🔒 Per aspera ad astra by Sanguis (E, 17k, wangxian, Fantasy, Implied Mpreg, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Space Opera, Secret Marriage, Kidnapping, Explicit Sex, Sexual Frustration, Dubious Anatomy, Male Lactation)

A Joy That’s Hard to Find by airinshaw (E, 26k, wangxian, Post-Canon, Getting Together, Mpreg, Misunderstandings, Minor Angst, Anal Sex, Fluff and Smut, Kissing)

Family Pictures (Or: “Mark Rothko is very, very dead, Wei Ying.”) by belleweather (M, 37k, WangXian, Kid Fic, Post Mpreg, Modern AU, Cindarella Story, Mistaken Identity, Mistaken for Being in a Relationship, art conservator lwj, idiot WWX, (he gets better slowly), shockingly little actual sex omg what happened to me, fake/mistaken cheating, no actual infidelity)

Blooming in white by luckymoonly (T, 38k, wangxian, JYL/JZX, MM/WQ, NMJ/LXC, NHS/JC, Canon Divergence, Mpreg, Getting Together, Fluff and Angst, Happy Ending, hidden pregnancy, Mutual Pining, Drama, Misunderstandings, Everyone Lives AU, Miscommunication, WWX and NHS are BFF, matchmaker NHS, Fix-It)

Little fall of rain by luckymoonly (M, 10k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, Fix-It, WWX didn't know he was pregnant, Mpreg, Mention of Birth, Family Feels, Nielan himbo rights, soft LQR, Misunderstandings, jealous LWJ, Fluff and Angst, Happy Ending, Smut, Breastfeeding, Thirsty Granny Wen, JGS being his usual self)

Lan Sizhui's forehead ribbon by I_have_a_fleet_of_ships (T, 1k, wangxian, WWX & LSZ, Married Wangxian, Established wangxian, LWJ & WWX Are LSZ's Parents, WWX is LSZ's Parent, Oblivious LWJ, Gūsū Lán Forehead Ribbon, Good Uncle LQR, Fluff, Light Angst, Post Mpreg, Post-Canon)

~*~

11. Hey for the next imtf I'd like to request the following

A) BDSM AUs were WY safewords in the middle of wangxian's play. LZ realises how far he has gone and is (preferably) shocked. Other reactions from LZ are also fine.

B) fics where FTM WY or LZ deals with having menstrual periods, how he navigates his emotions, how he copes with it etc. I'd be really thankful if you can find fics like this. I prefer wangxian fics but if there are fics like this for other pairings those are also welcome. @imstillthinkingaboutithmm

11A)

🔒 oh, these are real things by typefortydeductions (E, 15k, wangxian, Modern, The Porn Is the Plot, Kink Negotiation, Under-negotiated Kink, Safewording, Light BDSM, Dom/sub, Fisting, Sex Crying, lil bit of gender stuff, Panic Attacks, Top Drop) lwj isn't shocked, it's a bit of a softer scene

11B)

The Housewife's Guide to Causing Chaos by dvasva (M, 127k, wangxian, QS & WWX, NHS & WWX, LSZ & WWX, LSZ & LWJ, WIP, Canon-Typical Violence, Functionally Trans Character, Mild Sexual Content, Domestic Fluff, Love Confessions, Transphobia, Good Parents LWJ & WWX, Pining, WWX is a Tease, Grief/Mourning, Body Dysphoria, Fake Marriage, Canonical Character Death, Misunderstandings, Doting LWJ, Canon Divergence, Arranged Marriage, lying to your family about your demonic boyfriend taking over your wifes body for fun and pleasure, WWX is not in MXY's body, Misgendering, Mild Angst, Assumptions, Comedic Elements, non-sexual nudity, Blood, Discussion of Various Bodily Functions, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, 4 years of mourning instead of 13, The Juniors start a conspiracy board, Méishān Yú Sect, POV Multiple, Corporal Punishment, Trans WWX, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, pregnancy mention, Warning: Jīn Guāngshàn, Sexual Harassment, Threats) This might work? Instead of Mo Xuanyu, a woman sacrifices her body for wwx, and he has to adapt to having a female body, including menstruation

~*~

12. Hi mods! I was wondering if there is a post canon fic about Lan Sizhui unpacking the trauma of being the last living member of his family. Maybe with him talking to Wen Ning about what happened during the blood pool scene? Thank you in advance @rubberduckieassassin

this blood in my mouth by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 3k, WangXian, LSZ & WWX & LWJ, Post-Canon, POV LXC)

The Past Is An Avalanche Beneath Your Feet by John_lzhc (T, 6k, LSZ & WWX, Post-Canon, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Family Feels, Families of Choice, PTSD, Flashbacks, Grief/Mourning, best boy LSZ, Hopeful Ending, canon typical references to genocide)

~*~

13. Hi! Tus is for ITMF. I want canon diverge where wwx didnt die. I dont know how to explain it. Like instead going to burial mound he and wen remnants goes somewhere. Or he and wen remnants secluded themself in burial mound. Or wwx rescued wen remnants in quiet manner. Or he goes to gusu with lwj. And all those choice didnt result him died for 13/16 years. I accept anything including he run away with a-yuan after wen remnants dies. Thank you! @idontknowwhattowriteforusername

❤️ kick at the darkness ‘til it bleeds daylight by AlfAlfAlfAlfAlf, tardigradeschool (T, 75k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Eventual Happy Ending, Getting Together, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Inspired by The Parent Trap (1998), Kid Fic, teen shenanigans, two a-yuans, Fluff and Angst, [Podfic] kick at the darkness ‘til it bleeds daylight by contributor-sky (deepestbluesky), esbielle was also here (esbielle), glittercracker, GodOfLaundryBaskets, jellyfishfire, kisahawklin, Koontyme, Rionaa, semperfiona))

wide enough and wild by impossibletruths (E, 64k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Getting Together, Canonical Accidental Baby Acquisition, Families of Choice, References to Depression, Happy Ending, I Swear To God I’m Giving Them A Happy Ending, Overzealous Use Of Imagery, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Well Except WN But He Was Already Dead So, Fix-It of Sorts, podfic by semperfiona_podfic (semperfiona))

Just as the Snow Melts by draechaeli (T, 66k, wangxian, JYL/JZX, SL/XXC, Everybody Lives AU, Canon Divergence)

To Mourn the Young Man by Iamnotawriter (T, 57k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Canon-Typical Violence, BAMF WWX, Most people live, but not the bad guys, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Hurt/Comfort, Golden Core Reveal)

we’re starting at the end by Miss_Enthusiasimal (M, 92k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, Canon Divergence, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Golden Core Reveal, Burial Mounds, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Starvation, emaciation, Cannibalism, Self-Harm, Amputation, Suicidal Thoughts, Sunshot Campaign, let JZX and WWX be friends club) if time-travel is okay

Unbreakable Heaven, Luminous Earth by carolyncaves (M, 96k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, Secret Identity, almost to the point of uncomfortable identity theft, Sharing a Bed, Literal Sleeping Together, Mutual Pining, Getting Together, Suicidal Thoughts, Blood and Injury, Hurt/Comfort, Caretaking, Sexual Content, Domestic Fluff, Angst with a Happy Ending, Power Imbalancemainly between WWX and JGY in an entirely nonsexual manner, this isn't really a kid fic but the kids are there, as are some yunmeng sibling feelings, JYL lives, Not Everyone Dies AU, some COVID parallels, this is not a quarantine fic, but thematically WWX deals w things like face-covering for safety and loss of control, also assume all canon warnings, this AU is gentler than canon but isn't a complete fix-it)

Can almost hold the shape by Rookseeksraven (E, 81k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Post-Bloodbath of Nightless City, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Golden Core Reveal, Grief/Mourning, Blood and Injury, Major Character Injury, Kidnapping, Rescue, Canonical grief stricken JC, No JC & WWX Reconciliation, Dubious Consent, Dual Cultivation, LWJ Has a Biting Kink, Rimming, Anal Sex, Hand Jobs, Getting Together, Alcohol, YLLZ WWX, Angst with a Happy Ending, Talismans and Arrays, Fuck Or Die, kind of, Rape/Non-con Elements, The resentful energy cannot technically consent for WWX)

~*~

14. Hello! I'm in the mood for explorations of bad Lan Xichen, or Lan Xichen bashing. It's common to see JC bashing, but really, poor old JC was screwed by his family and lied to, I'd be enraged too. But how could LXC be THAT stupid? What happened to trust but verify? He's either truly truly stupid, or completely complicit. Maybe he loved being JGY's special one so much? I dunno. But no-one is that stupid. And the Lan sect has so much to answer for, with its cruelty and hypocrisy (they were at Qiongqi path as guards) (what, they didn't report to their sect leader? Really?). I understand angry old fart LQR a lot better, he doesn't care about anything but the sect and has no connections outside the sect, I can forgive him. But LXC just ignores his other sworn brother and his own little brother far too much. He is equal to if not more of a villain than JGY, who's just fighting for a place in an unjust world. LXC had that place and does not uphold the responsibility it gives him. Eat the rich, man, they suck. Why, yes I DO feel passionately about this, why do you ask? @lurkdot

break by justdoityoufucker (T, 3k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, LXC Critical, JC Critical, Canonical Character Death, Guānyīn Temple Scene, BAMF WN, Protective WN)

🔒 Bitter Recompense by mondengel (M, 1k, LXC & LWJ, Angst)

aftereffect by justdoityoufucker (orphan_account) (T, 3k, wangxian, LXC & LQR & LWJ, LXC & LWJ, Canon Divergence, Post-Canon, Cultivation Sect Politics, LXC Critical, Gūsū Lán Sect, JGY Survives, (and then dies))

🔒 Wasting Time, Asking Why by mondengel (Not rated, 1k, LXC & LWJ, LXC & JGY, wangxian, Angst, Character Study)

🔒 Ready for Blood on the Ground by mondengel (T, 1k, gen)

🔒💖 When has silence saved anyone? by Vrishchika (T, 6k, wangxian, LSZ & WWX & LWJ, post-canon, LXC critical, family feels, angry LWJ & LSZ, LXC gets scolded)

🔒 I Will Find You Again by Hidenka_chan101 (M, 19k, wangxian, LSZ & LWJ, LSZ & WWX, LSZ & LJY, Mentions of Death, Angst, Crying, LWJ is a Petty Bitch, Typical LQR, Unsupportive LXC, Gūsū Lán Juniors Dynamics, Canon Divergence, WangXian get their happy ending, Fever, Tender loving care, some smut, WN gets to flex his healer knowledge, Hurt/Comfort)

🔒 To Reveal The Truth by HeloSoph (M, 11k, LWJ & NHS, LWJ & WWX, LSZ & LWJ & WWX, SL/XXC, wangxian, Sad LWJ, Hurt LWj, Rogue Cultivator LWJ, Hurt LXC, Cultivation world Bashing, LQR Bashing, Scheming NHS, Pining LWJ, SL/XXC Get a Happy Ending, SL/XXC Adopt Ā-Qìng, Truth is revealed, Suicide, LWJ Has Feelings, LWJ wants to die until he doesn't want to anymore, Chief Cultivator LWJ, Sassy LWJ, Petty LWJ, Angst and Feels, Hopeful Ending, LWJ is a Little Shit, POV LWJ, JC Bashing, NMJ Bashing, Not Everyone Dies AU, Suicide Attempt, Implied/Referenced Suicide)

they might want to check out the gusu lan bashing tag on ao3

Search lan xichen critical tag on ao3

do they want LXC bashing in canon only, or in modern AUs

恩仇仙人- Enchou xianren (Immortal Avenger) by AshayaTReldai (E, 163k, WIP, WangXian, Angst, Mental Anguish, Pining, Revenge, Execution, internalinter-clan politics, Reincarnation, TGCF notions of ascension and deity, WWX/LWJ marriage, First Time, Post-LWJ whipping, Injury Recovery, Issues of justice, Torture, Not friendly to the Clans - they all get their comeuppance, Hurt/Comfort, Dark LWJ, novel compliant characterisation) link in #6

~*~

15. Hi! I’m in the mood for jealous wangxian! I love all the jealousy fics but is there one where lwj secretly seeks help in order to court/confess to wwx and ofc wwx thinks lwj is in love with someone else? Canon setting or modern, married, roommates.. anything is fine! I’ve read a bunch but I’ll read them again! @starfishderby

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16. IITMF Ask, I'm in the mood for good fics focused on Wangxian or Wangxian + duckling juniors night hunting. It doesn't have to be all that they do, but I'd like for it to be a large focus of the fic. I feel like I've seen one where they had multiple night hunts as a focus in the fic, but I don't think I actually ended up reading it so idk more about it, but recs where they do multiple hunts would be fun too.

爱不释手; never let me go by yiqie (E, 68k, wangxian, Case Fic, Blood and Injury, Demons, Body Horror, Mystery, The intrinsic horniness of wound tending, Yearning 2: The Electric Boogaloo, podfic by argentumlupine)

build me no shrines by occultings (microcomets) (M, 54k, wangxian, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, First Time, Getting Together, Confessions, Sharing a Bed, Hair Washing, Sentient Burial Mounds, Case Fic, Post-Canon, Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Light Angst, Flashbacks, mild body horror, foot washing, Happy Ending, Non-Sexual Intimacy..., then sexual intimacy, playing fast and loose with mdzs lore, WWX learning to accept intimacy without deflection, occasional LWJ humor agenda, Podfic by flamingwell Available)

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17. fics where lan wangji turns into a child and wwx and everyone has to take care of him!!

Tiny Little Boy by Dyapaya (G, 2k, hints of wangxian, Age Regression/De-Aging, Kid Fic, Cute, Fluff, LWJ bites people, Everyone Lives AU)

A Child's Wish by Hauntcats (Not rated, 13k, wangxian, WWX & Wen remnants, Celestial meddling, Not JC Friendly, Fix-It, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Everyone gets what they deserve, Age Regression/De-Aging, Child LWJ)

Before the Morning Sun by Vamillepudding (G, 12k, wangxian, JC & LWJ, post-canon, de-aging, protective JC, light angst, implied/referenced child abuse, kid LWJ)

🔒 A new found family by MusicMe_tc (G, 12k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Teenage Wangxian, Cursed LWJ, Soft LQR, Supportive LXC, Fluff, Feelings Realization, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Getting Together, Happy Ending)

A Little Happiness by Suspicious_Popsicle (M, 20k, wangxian, Post-Canon, Age Regression/De-Aging, if you’re looking at that last tag + the rating don’t worry, the rating is only for the very end)

i carry your heart with me by lulu_kitty (G, 12k, WangXian, Age Regression/De-Aging, Established Relationship, Post-Canon, Fluff and Angst, some knives but honestly this is mostly fluff, possessive littol a-zhan, wei ying may ONLY give attention to a-zhan, no one else it’s the rule)

~*~

If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[dilatorywriting]

Monster Mayhem: Donkeys & Dragons [PART 4]

Gender Neutral Reader x Malleus Draconia Word Count: 6.7k

Summary: 'Never tickle a sleeping dragon.'

🌶️Obligatory Warning for Some Descriptions of Violence & Mild Suggestive Content

[PART 1] [PART 2] [PART 3] [PART 4] [EPILOGUE]

As detestable as they were, at the very least your assailants were well organized.

You were plopped neatly at the center of the room, in a very conspicuous location that would have made it difficult for a hypothetical someone to, say, just flat-out torch everything in sight without also catching his very tiny, mortal, companion up in said firestorm.

The group of them split off to tend to their tasks with a frankly shocking level of competence and foresight. Was this how adventurers were actually supposed to work? They didn’t just—I don’t know—saunter into an abandoned castle on a whim and a prayer, with no real end goal in sight and nothing but the perpetual bounding of a singular, shared, braincell to keep them on their toes? There was a plan? What was this madness.

“How much time do you think we have?” one of them called, busy working to set up some sort of wire trap that, in your humble ‘I have faced this legendary dragon and survived’ opinion, looked like it would do exactly diddly squat.

“Enough,” the Elf Wizard shrugged, thin arms crossed tight across his equally gaunt chest. “These vermin don’t have the same concept of time as we do. It may return soon, but we may also be waiting hours.”

Hours? Hours? You fought the urge to groan. And then remembered it hardly mattered if you did or not, because you were still trapped in a bubble of perpetual Silence, and that just made you want to groan louder.

Assumed-Rogue nodded tersely in response and continued constructing his pseudo-trap. The long, red, stripes of his sleeves were odd things—very in-your-face bold for a dude whose job you assumed it was to slip through shadows unseen. But then you noticed that the threads he was spinning were pooling from those slashes of crimson, and alright, that was fairly cool. ‘Your failure of a stealthy design gets a pass this time, good sir.’

“You’re certain this is one of the Briar Beasts, Lord Flamm?” Armored Lady piped in, busy shifting through the various swords strapped at her hip.

“Of course,” he hummed, flicking through his spell tome. “Have I ever led you astray before?”

Armored Dude snorted from his place across the room. “You’re not the issue. I just have trouble believing one of those monsters would still be alive at all after all this time.”

‘Lord Flamm’ snorted. “And why not? They’re like cockroaches—thriving through the worst of the world and gorging themselves on its corruption. This one is no different.”

Your brows twitched irritably.

Thankfully, Silence was not an indefinite spell. And after about ten minutes of muzzled misery, you felt its sticky, gauzy, gunk wash itself out of your throat.  

“I’m getting the impression that you’re really not a fan of dragons,” you said, testing your volume.

Lord Flamm stared down at you with a hawk-eyed sort of sneer. His pale, green, glare felt like a tangible thing crawling along your skin.

“They are unnatural,” he huffed after a moment. “No creature should walk the planes of this world for such a great span of time. Immortality is a perverse transgression against the sanctities of life and existence.”

“You are literally an Elf,” you replied, incredulous. His face scrunched up like you’d forced a whole lemon into his mouth, and then he dropped another dome of Silence over your head.

Another ten minutes crawled by, and words returned to your tongue.

“Don’t you think you’re being a bit hypocritical?” you hummed, casually testing the arcane restraints binding your limbs. Those seemed to hold themselves in place with a great deal more fortitude than his on-again-off-again Mute Button, which was as frustrating as it was respectable.

“It’s not nearly the same. I was born into my burden,” he sniffed.

You blinked, confused. “I mean, so was Tsunotarou.”

Elf Wizard made a punched-out sort of noise, like you’d decked him right in the spleen.

“You named the beast?” he gawked. “Like a pet?”

“Look, man,” you grouched, offended on your scaly friend’s behalf. “If anyone’s the pet here, it’s me!”

Lord Flamm’s face went white, to red, and then nearly puce.

“Wait,” you spluttered. “That came out wrong—”

And then you were gagged once more.

The next time your muzzle was lifted, Lord Flamm was already pacing along the little, invisible, edge of the spell’s cage. You cleared your throat and he came to a stop a few feet away from where you were bound.

“I can see what’s happened here,” he said, stern, and you arched a brow in disbelief. You didn’t even have any solid idea what the fuck was going on, and you’d been living it for the past few weeks. He cleared his throat and glowered down at you. “You’ve been taken in by the monster’s wiles.”

You spluttered. “Not to just keep repeating myself, but really, if anyone did the ‘accidental seducing’ thing here, it was—”

He waved you off with a puckered grimace. “That hardly matters. At the end of the day, you are still the creature’s prisoner, and it is my duty as a man of integrity to assist you however I can.”

You frowned. Because while this whole thing had technically started as a hostage situation, it hadn’t really felt like one lately. Sure, Tsunotarou still threw tantrums that shook the foundation when you’d tried to put up a makeshift bathroom door, but he also listened to all your stories with the rapt attention of someone genuinely invested in the garbage pouring out of your mouth. He tucked you into your big mattress nest at night with his scaly nose, and endured all your griping with nothing but good humor. He showed you his treasures and told you terrible, dry, jokes that you were sure you only found so funny because he certainly hadn’t meant to be.

You sighed and dipped your head, expression shuttered.

Lord Flamm stepped forward and you felt a thin, gloved, finger tuck itself beneath your chin to tilt you back up to face him.

“I will save you,” he promised, something genuinely sturdy and righteous coating the words. “If you ask it of me.”

You took a deep breath in through your nose.

“There once a man from Trebucket,” you chirped, letting the jaunty tavern melody roll off your tongue like any good Bard ought to.

Lord Flamm arched a thin brow, in equal parts amusement and exasperation.

“Who really only wanted to find the dragon so he could fuck it—”

His face twisted in rage, and to the surprise of literally no one, you were Silenced yet again. Though this one felt the most like a victory so far.

And thus, the cycle repeated itself. Every quarter hour or so, the spell would drop and you’d start babbling some sacrilegious, borderline pornographic, nonsense that had him cursing you all over again. You counted each round of mockery softly in your head. Half to keep time, half to—

Your gaze trailed past the intricate, stone, entryway and caught. Perched atop the overhang were two gargoyles. Which was quite odd, seeing as you’d spent half a month living out of this room now and had never noticed them before (and you certainly would have, what with your host’s propensity for pointing out the gothic carvings each and every time one popped up in the castle’s architecture). Not to mention, they looked an awful lot like the pair of grey monsters which had been guarding the entrance when you’d first slunk in—the very duo that you’d sworn had tracked you and your friends with beady, gemstone, eyes and dug their pointed talons through solid rock.   

Ancient buildings always seemed to have a life about them—never quiet, never still. Always settling with strange noises and shifting shadows that danced oddly along surfaces that were forever decaying. And this castle was no different. So it took you really listening, really closing your eyes tight and straining your ears against the perpetual white noise, to make out the low grinding of the Gargoyles as they shifted atop their perch and curled their sharp claws.

You tilted your head at them, curious, and the one on the left seemed to bristle. As much as stone could bristle. The one on the right very softly dipped its chin, almost like a bow. Its purple, glass, eyes flashed in the lowlight.

‘Wait,’ that look said.

And so you did, sitting straighter and at proper attention.

The group of Dragon Slayers was still milling about making preparations. Eventually, one of the two yet-unclassified hench people slunk from the room, and when your gaze slipped back to the gargoyles, the one on the right was gone.

You made eye contact with the remaining carving, and it curled its lip at you like a grumbly hound.

There was a scream from beyond the threshold, and then a great clattering of noise not unlike an earthquake, or the resonating crunch of a building crumbling at its base.

Immediately weapons were drawn, shoulders hunched in panic. Defensive magic swirled through the air like ink in water.  

“What’s going on?!—”

With a shrieking roar, the remaining gargoyle lurched forward and collided with one of the armored attackers. The impact was like a crack of thunder, and it rattled around your skull like a gong.

And with that—dragon or no—the battle against the Hunters had officially begun.

With a panicked squawk, you began worming your still very bound self out of the dead center of this tornado of chaos. You flopped across the floor like a particularly determined caterpillar, or someone trussed up a in a sleeping bag with no limbs. You made it almost a solid twenty feet before you were scooped up by the back of your collar and dropped onto your knees.  

“Not so fast, you little cretin.”

And then there was a curved knife at your throat and a set of hands trapping your own. You gulped and the blade bobbed against your chin. Stupid rogues with their stupid stealth. You grit your teeth and clenched your fists, willing the meager scraps of magic that twirled in your veins to bob to the surface. You could feel the trace rumblings of a Thunderwave reverberating down your limbs, and it was certainly no Fireball, or Lightning Bolt, but maybe it would be enough to—

There was a spray of red, red, red and the Striped Rogue at your back collapsed in a puddle of gore.

Standing over the corpse of the felled assassin was a boy. Or, well, something that very much looked like a young boy. Or, not young. Just… It was strange. He was small, slight, with a cheerful youthfulness to him. But the mirthful expression lighting his crimson eyes chilled your bones like the seeping cold from a long-forgotten tomb. It was like looking at someone with dozens—hundreds—of faces. A kaleidoscope of lifetimes. It was disorientating.

“Hello, you,” the little demon cooed. He reached out to tap a clawed finger against your forehead and the arcane binds holding your limbs shattered on impact. “Let’s get you out of here, hmm?”

Something tugged at your brain as you gaped at that mess of choppy, black-and-pink, hair, and the glittering irises that matched the blood splattered across his cheeks almost too horribly well.

“Are you… Lilia?” you asked, dazed.

“Well done, little human,�� he trilled, lips curling in delight as he hauled you back to your feet. “But there will be time for proper introductions later. Let’s get you somewhere safe first, before my silly ward really does tear this whole castle down.”

“Tsunotarou is here?” you frowned, anxious. “But these people are here to kill him.”

“We’ve done our best to keep him away for as long as possible,” Lilia hummed. “But I doubt he has much more patience for skulking about in the shadows. He never did,” He sighed, long and world weary. “And I loved this old haunt so much too. I hope it survives.”

“You—” you gawked. “You’re talking about the castle?!”

“Of course,” Lilia smiled, perfectly sweet. “Swatting these pests is going to cause more damage than they’re worth to begin with—”

You were yanked out of the path of an encroaching blade, and Lilia sidestepped the pair of you smoothly to safety.

“You’re not going anywhere!” the Paladin thundered, hand whipping out to leash a whirl of vibrating, bright, magic around Lilia’s wrists. “This fight is mine! And you will have no other!”

“Ah,” your savior sighed, looking down at the faint, yellow, glow circling his skin. “Now that is a doozy.”

The great sword came down with a crash, and Lilia ducked away from the destruction with ease. He gave you a light tap on the shoulder, pushing you forward, and you felt the flush of a Haste spell nibbling at your limbs.

“Go on ahead,” he said, with all the nonchalant politeness of someone lamenting that they were going to be late for afternoon tea. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”

BOOM went the now glowing sword as it sliced through the air where your savior had been standing not a moment before.

“Do not take me so lightly, wretch,” the Paladin spat, and Lilia’s civil little smile twisted into something that sent shivers racing down your spine.

“If you insist,” he beamed, with a level of enthusiasm that was bordering on sociopathic.

You didn’t stay to see the fallout. Lilia’s orders to flee aside, you knew well enough what a cat looked like before it pounced—that smug, animalistic, satisfaction that came after deciding that it was going to play with its meal for as long as it liked. And the grinding, snapping, howling noises coming from their direction was enough to reinforce that looking back would be a very terrible idea indeed.

You’d only just made it past the threshold and out in the grand hall beyond when there came a whining groan that sounded familiarly enough like the protesting noises the banister would make whenever Tsunotarou dropped too much of his weight on top of it. You peered back into the room, and from the darkness at its rear emerged a long, thin, snout.

The Great, Ebony, Dragon slithered forth from the blackness like a snake through the grass. The sharp drag of his claws against the stone was earsplitting, and when he spread his wings behind him, he seemed to cast the entire cavern into shadow. Faster than you could blink, one, two, three of the Slayers were scooped up by those massive, pointed, teeth and tossed through the air—wherein the pair of gargoyles descended upon them like a set of well-trained attack dogs. Your dragon swiveled to spit black smoke across the rest of the echoing room and its occupants. Between the swirling smog seeping from his throat and the blackness of his wings, the brilliant, green, glow of his eyes were the only source of light in the gloom. It was all horribly eerie, but mesmerizing in a way that reminded you exactly why so many ballads and epics had been written about the terrible might of Dragons.

He reared his head back and roared. His bellowing seemed to shake the very foundation of the castle, and the sparks jumping from behind his canines bit through the smoke with harsh little pop-pop-pops. And man oh man, he reallymust have been taking it easy on you and your duo of idiots, because this would have had the three of you shitting your pants on the spot.

From there, the battle more or less became a one-sided massacre. The stone soldiers flew through the air, decimating the opponents as their master demanded. Occasionally there was a flash of pink, and then a cheerful laugh followed inevitably by a noise that was all kinds of unpleasant. And at the center of it all was your newfound friend—picking apart the opposition with all the careful rage of someone determined to sear the consequences of these Hunters’ folly into the memories of their lineages for ages to come.

And then—amidst all the quite frankly epic fighting that you would have to tell Ace and Deuce all about when they came back to visit—you noticed that not far from where you were hiding observing was a familiar, angry, gaunt face. Lord Flamm’s elaborate black and maroon robes swirled around his ankles as he paced, and he was leering at the chaos unfolding not a hundred feet away with an expression that calling murderous would have been kind.

You bristled immediately, limbs lancing through with a tight sort of indignation.

He was just—right there! Standing all the way out here! When the rest of his party was busy being chewed to itty-bitty pieces!

And sure, rationally you knew that Wizards were squishy, glass-canons not meant for close combat more intense than a round of rock-paper-scissors. Sure, when you and your idiots had been facing down a dragon, Ace and Deuce had ordered you and your equally ill-armored self to run for it. Someone had probably hurled the Elf from the room the moment combat began, or demanded he whirl away to safety.

But you wanted to be angry. Because this was the man who had strode, eyes wide open, into a hornet’s nest with the sole intention of crushing the poor bugs beneath his heel. He deserved to bear the brunt of the miserable, stinging, backlash.

It certainly didn’t help that he was glaring down Tsunotarou with near frenzied loathing. The tome in his hands was flipped open to a dense spell that you couldn’t even begin to make sense of, and he was casting. Something tedious, and extravagant, and with enough somatic nonsense to make your head spin. His gloved fingers glowed beneath a growing mote of magic that shone horrible and bright in the natural shadows of the castle. Whatever sort of magic it was, it was strong enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end and push frantic adrenaline through your veins. Sigils swam through the air, and you swore you could feel it sapping at your own tiny pool of mana. If this was some kind of spell that would gobble up magic, then a dragon who was nothing but magic—then Tsunotarou—he would—This spell might actually—

You ran at that wretched little bitch with everything you had, and tackled him to the ground just as a bolt of crackling, pale, force magic boomed from between his fingers. The spell shot wide, and you thanked every divine being you could think of for the enduring shittiness of Wizard Muscles.

“I should have known you’d risk your life to save that unholy monster,” he seethed, rolling back to his feet and sending you tumbling off the side.

You stood firm and silent between this awful, garbage, Elf and the Dragon he so hated.

Lord Flamm raised a hand in your direction, incensed, and then you watched as something sharp and frightened slithered its way across his features. No sparks danced along his fingertips, no black miasma curled from his palms. You shoved your hands into your pockets and rocked back and forth on your heels like the most obnoxious piece of shit you could be.

“Wow,” you drawled, low in your throat. “That was impressive. I mean. How many times did you cast all those spells on me earlier? I’m shocked you have anything left.”

The already dark look coloring his face twitched into something truly foul.

“You were doing that on purpose,” he snarled. “You vile, loathsome, bumbling ignoramus of a bard!—"

“Ah, stop, stop!” You beamed, fanning yourself with a limp wrist. “You’re going to make me blush~”

You ducked out the way with a yelp as a mote of fire whizzed past your ear—singeing far too many hairs at it went. Because fuck fuck fuck. Cantrips were still a thing. And he was powerful enough that those simple, little, bits of magic would still probably be more than enough to fry the meat off your bones.

“It’ll be enough to kill you,” he seethed—like he could read your thoughts—teeth tugged into a hideous, gaping, sneer.

Your mind zipped through every possible escape route and settled frantically on the only option that had ever truly seemed to save your ass.

“What white teeth you have?” you tried.

He roared and another shot of brilliant, red, flames careened over your head.  

You ducked out of the way with a squawk just in the nick of time, nearly faceplanting into a wall in your haste.

And thus ensued a terrifying but morbidly hilarious Benny Hill chase through pillars, and behind rocks, and into holes. You killed your singular, daily use of Misty Step just trying to get out of one of said holes. And your brief attempt at tossing up a Mirror Image to throw off his groove did little but get you whacked with a Counterspell that made your bones ache.

Just as you’d burned through the last of your meager magic and were genuinely preparing to just try and deck the guy again, black smoke began to curl through the hall—soon followed by the ominous roll of thunderous growls and the heavy grindingof a gigantic beast clawing its way into the room.

You threw yourself at the dragon with more enthusiasm than was probably proper for a situation like this, and he immediately ducked his head to catch you against his snout. He curled himself around you with a rumbling snarl and your vision was drowned in a shifting sea of ebony scales. You squished yourself into his bulk with a shuddering sigh, fingers clutching a bit uselessly at the slippery surface of his natural armor.

A burst of orange flames rolled harmlessly off Tsunotarou’s scaled side and his lips curled unpleasantly over his canines. You could see the licks of emerald fire rolling off his tongue—dancing along his white teeth and lighting the hall in an ominous, sickly, glow.

Before the pair of you, Lord Flamm looked half-mad. If not fully consumed. His party wiped, his hostage freed, and the creature he hated so fiercely baring down on him with no escape.

He let his head fall back with a discordant trill of laughter and grinned at the approaching dragon without a hint of repentance. Fear, perhaps. Panic, certainly. But no remorse. He raised his hands once more, and another dredge of his own fire sparked along his fingers.

“And he shall smite the wicked and plunge them into the fiery pit.”

The Great Briar Beast of Old opened his gigantic, black, maw and choked the hall in a torrent of emerald fire.

And Lord Flamm and his Dragon Slayers were no more.

You stared intently at the singed corridor, as if waiting for one of the piles of ash to jump to its feet and pull a sword. Which you might have excused as paranoid fretting if you hadn’t heard of necrotic magics capable of doing exactly that. But after a long moment of waiting with bated breath and tight fists, the monsters did not rise from their graves, and all seemed to be truly well and over.

You let out a gigantic gust of a breath and collapsed bonelessly against the dragon at your side. After a solid minute or two of just awkwardly trying to find a good way to hug a giant lizard more than a dozen times your size, Tsunotarou slipped out of his scales, and then he was warm and fleshy in your arms once more. Still too big, still earth-shatteringly strong, but human-shapedenough that you could merrily settle into his embrace without the risk of becoming a pancake.

“Tsunotarou!” you chirped past the lingering haze of smoke. “You’re okay!”

“Me?” he gawked at you. It was an awkward angle to make eye contact, seeing as he’d latched himself onto you like a particularly determined koala, but he managed nonetheless. “You were worried about me during all of that?” He blinked those wide, neon, eyes at you like you were some horribly long and tedious math equation that he couldn’t even begin to make sense of. “You were the one who was captured!”

“They were Dragon Slayers,” you entreated, brow furrowed. “They didn’t need me for much of anything. Of course I was worried more about you.”

When the constipated look on his face refused to fade, you prodded him gently in his side.

“Look, I promise if we ever run into Bard Poachers I will be exponentially more cautious.”

He didn’t look particularly convinced—whether because he was trying to suss out of if something like ‘Bard Poachers’ were an actual, factual, threat upon your person, or because you’d just openly hurtled yourself at a clearly overpowered, feral, wizard with no regards to your already shitty constitution to speak of, so a promise to ‘be more cautious’ was about as good as saying that maybe next time you wouldn’t outright flirt with death. Only subtly. A lil’ bit.

You reached up to smoosh your thumb along the sharp slant of his frown and smooth out the harsh edges that were practically digging into his jaw.

“Tsunotarou, if you keep making that face, it’s going to get stuck like that,” you warned.  

“Malleus,” he interrupted, firm. You blinked up at him slowly and your hand fell back to rest in the nonexistent space between you.

“A what?”

“Malleus,” he repeated, and you felt the weight of the word dance through the air like sparks. Like an invocation, or a curse. “My true name.”

You waited a moment in shocked silence before slowly repeating your own name back at him. He startled and snorted a laugh into your neck, some of that lingering, terrible, tension finally seeming to seep out of him.

“I am well aware of what you are called, Child of Man.”

“…I know that,” you mumbled, fighting the urge to fidget. Malleus, Malleus, Malleus. The syllables sat heavy on your tongue, like your mouth couldn’t figure out how to push them past your lips. “I thought you said that dragons don’t give out their real names.”

He drew back just enough to cup your cheeks in his ashy palms, brushing a clawed finger back and forth against one of the small cuts littering your jaw.

“There is power in a name,” he said. “It is not a gift readily bestowed.”

Then why—

You swallowed, nervous, and one of his thumbs tracked the movement along the hollow of your throat.

“This way, if you call for me, I will always hear you,” he promised, eyes going flinty and venomous as he gazed at the cinder piles of smoking intruders. “And something like this will never happen again.”

“I—I mean,” you spluttered. “Me being—And this being—I mean—” You cleared your throat. “That hardly seems like a good enough reason to—to—” To put something so important into the hands of someone who literally broke into your house less than a month ago. To give something so precious to someone so human.

“Isn’t it?” he smiled, that sharp anger melting back into something painfully soft. Your poor heart kickstarted itself all over again. He ducked forward to press his nose into your temple, and you could feel the soft puff of his breath as his grin sharpened into a smirk. “Though I would have liked to bestow my titles on you in other ways as well, if this little hero would be amenable.”

You squawked, and the only thing that shook you out of the immediate spiral into ‘did he really just ask me to—am I really going to be stuck in every goddamn bard’s trope existence of—of—'  was the merry laughter that bubbled up from somewhere behind you. 

“Careful, my Prince,” Lilia hummed from his place perched atop a particularly large heap of rubble. “If you come on too strong, you’ll only scare them away. Humans are flighty like that, I’m afraid.”

You could feel Malleus’s pout against your forehead.

“Not my human,” he grouched. His hands dropped from your cheeks to encircle your waist and clutch at your lower back. “And that besides,” he continued testily, “you were the one who only just this morning insisted I take decisive action.”

“That’s true,” Lilia agreed with a gentle bob of his head, resting his pointed chin against his palm. “But perhaps three sentences at least before the proposal?”

Malleus blinked, slow and serpentine, before flicking his neon gaze back to you. “That does seem fair I suppose. What do you think?”

“I think,” you gawked, trying and failing to process any of the words that were coming out of their fanged mouths, “that I am having a stroke.”

“NOT ACCEPTABLE!” boomed a voice from overhead. “YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO FALL ILL AFTER ALL THE EFFORTS WE TOOK TO KEEP YOU SAFE!”

You jolted in shock, and Malleus’s talons flexed reassuringly at your waist as he gently turned you back-to-chest so that you could face your accuser. He nestled his chin into your shoulder, and you could feel his horns bump against your skull as he tried to burrow in as close as possible. Which all would have been thoroughly distracting, but then you noticed that one of the Gargoyles from early had landed directly across from you. Its spiked head was swiveling back and forth as it appraised you like some particularly ruffled cockatoo. And that in itself was bizarre enough to help you focus on something other than the weight along your back and the steadily rising heat in your cheeks.

“Uhm, hello?” you tried.

“WE HAVE ALREADY MET!” It screeched. “THERE IS NO NEED FOR INTRODUCTIONS!”

“It talks,” you blanched.

“OF COURSE I SPEAK, YOU IGNORANT ENTERTAINER!” The Gargoyle thundered. Its yellow eyes flashed in indignation. “HOW COULD I NOT LEARN TO COMMUNICATE IN A RESPECTABLE FASHION WHEN SERVING SOMEONE SO MAJESTIC AS HIS MAJESTY?!”

“I think,” the other Gargoyle said, slipping forward so silently you could hardly believe it was made of such strong stone at all, “that what Sebek is trying to say, is that we are happy to finally be able welcome you into our home, even if it is under less than ideal circumstances. And that we are very pleased to be able to speak with you.”

“THAT IS WHAT I ALREADY SAID, SILVER!” the spiky one snarled. No one else looked particularly bothered by his ceaseless volume, so it was probably normal. He stuck his carved nose into the air with a harumph. “AND I HAVE HEARD OF THE WAYS OF YOU TRAVELING STORY TELLERS! IF YOU BREAK MY MASTER’S HEART, YOU WILL SUFFER AN ETERNITY OF TORMENT AT MY HAND!”

Malleus growled, low and rumbling, from over your shoulder. Instantly his stalwart guardian cowed—head dipping like a kicked a puppy.

“Of course,” it continued, much softer. “I don’t think this human would do that. And—And I think my master has made a very good choice in his mate, and I will be happy to serve you too.”

Lilia sighed a sigh that sounded very much like a doting mother overflowing with parental affection. Like the kind of noise one may hear on a cozy Sunday afternoon while helping prepare dinner, or while sitting on a little, floral, couch and sifting through little paintings of grandchildren. There was still blood splattered all along his cheeks.

“It’s so lovely to have the family all together again,” he cooed. “And I do think that you will make such a marvelous addition.”

“Oh. Well. Thank you,” you nodded jerkily, just as your knees buckled and you collapsed to the floor.

.

.

On the first day of the new month, Ace and Deuce made their way back to the forgotten castle nestled in a pool of lava.

“We should never have left them,” Deuce grumbled for what was maybe the ten thousandth time. Ace was sick of hearing it. He was even more sick of the fact that despite being constantly inundated with various versions of ‘oh, we’re such terrible friends,’ the little, twisting, spike of guilt in his gut never grew any duller. Wasn’t that how it was supposed to work? Something-something-repetitive-exposure-therapy, or whatever? This sucked. He wanted a refund on this whole ‘conscience’ thing. Maybe it wasn’t too late to sell his soul and become a Warlock or whatever. Surely that would help.  

“We didn’t have a choice,” Ace reminded him. Again. “They’re okay. I know they are. We’re going to show up and they’ll be, I don’t know, lying in a bed of gold being hand fed grapes or something.”

Deuce made a rumbly, whining, kind of noise that made him sound even more pathetic than usual and Ace sighed, determined to instead focus on the rickety rope bridge swinging beneath their feet.

The ancient, looming, monstrosity of a building was just as cold and dark as it had been the first time. If anything, it was more filthy. With walls stained with seeping ash and the charred, skeletal, remains of something that Ace was definitely, absolutely, not going to think about scattered throughout the grime.

The two of them made their way to the heart of the castle until they were standing at the entrance of a grand, cavernous, chamber that may have once been some sort of ballroom.

Ace didn’t know what he was expecting. Slaver’s coils maybe. A chain around your ankles and rags drooping from your shoulders. Or maybe you wouldn’t even be there at all—long since swallowed down as a little, midnight, snack.

He certainly wasn’t expecting to see you lounging contentedly atop a mountainous heap of soft blankets, with the master of this castle—terror-incarnate, death from above, an eldritch beast ripped straight out of legend—curled along the lumpy hills of your grandiose pillow fort, its great head nestled at your back as you reclined against its scales and chattered away. Like the goddamned, rambling, idiot you had always been.

One of the dragon’s large, green, eyes shifted towards the intruders at its door, and Ace froze in place. You paused your chattering to raise your hand with an excited little wave. Your tattered traveler’s clothes had been replaced with something silken and soft enough that it would probably melt in his fingers, and it swayed like mist around you as you made your way to your feet. You were practically dripping in platinum, and diamonds, and emeralds, and—he was going to stop counting them before he gave himself a conniption.

And yeah… it wasn’t exactly a throne of gold and gemstones, but it was almost just as impressive. And immediately indignation swept through Ace with a horrible kind of vengeance. Because how dare you actually be living it up over here when he had been so fucking worried just lying about all that cool stuff to keep Deuce from storming the castle gates?

“You made it!” you chirped, perfectly merry despite the gigantic maw full of sharp teeth hovering at your shoulder.

“Of—Of course we did,” Deuce stuttered, his blue eyes flicking back and forth so quickly from the dragon, to you, to Ace, to the dragon, to you—that Ace genuinely thought he might be having a seizure. “We promised we would.”

You stopped in front of them with a considerate little hum, sharp eyes tracing and cataloguing their varying reactions. After a moment of what was obviously some very smug preening and even smugger ‘I win this round’ silent gloating, you slipped out of the piles of entangled jewels with an exaggerated shrug. With the exception of an intricately carved emerald pendant hanging softly between the hollows of your collarbones, the rest of the infinitely expensive and rare gems fell to the ground with a series of clattering chatter.

“All that shit is so heavy,” you whined. Whined. Like you had any right to complain about anything at all for the rest of your existence. You leaned forward with a wink. “I was just hoping it’d make your thieving, money-hungry ass, jealous.” You smirked, proud. “And it looks like it worked, you goddamn traitors.”

Ace was about to splutter out the most scathing remark his spiteful little brain could come up with, when Deuce ruined everything by rushing forward like the blubbering idiot he was and scooping you up into a bearhug.

“You’re okay! You’re okay!” he wailed. “We missed you so much!”

“Speak for yourself,” Ace huffed, and twinged miserably when it came out sounding far too soft. He cleared his throat and decided to take a different approach. “You know, last time I was sort of joking about the whole ‘bards and dragons’ thing. But it looks like you’ve made yourself real comfortable. And here I thought you were always super opposed to the ‘fucking my way out of my problems’ stereotype.”

However, because the universe seemed determined not to give Ace any kind of win for the rest of his natural existence, instead of getting all embarrassed and mousey, you just huffed and turned up your nose at him.

“Well obviously not as a dragon,” you complained. “Do you know how big he is? How would that even work, huh?” The aforementioned dragon lowered his gigantic head to settle on the ground at your side, and you leaned against him good-naturedly when he grumbled low in his throat. “Yeah, no,” you said to the beast, rolling your eyes. “Nice try, but no.”

Deuce immediately choked and started hacking up a lung, and Ace wanted to die.

“You can talk to it?” the redhead asked instead of keeling over.

You shrugged.

“Not like this. But I’ve learned to interpret most of it.” You wiggled your fingers. “It’s my sixth sense.”

Ace’s nose scrunched. “Yeah, right. If anything, it’s your ‘I’ve been dicked down by a dragon and think that makes me soooo special now’ sense—”

The great, ebony, monster growled and the Fighter’s mouth snapped shut like someone had taken a hammer to his jaw. You snickered goodhumoredly and elbowed your companion gently at the base of one of its long, sharp, horns.

“He’s just joking around,” you said to the winged horror. “You don’t have to get all defensive.”

There was another grumpy sneer, but the dragon simply settled more heavily at your side with a defeated sort of huff. The gust of a sigh sent a wave of scorching heat along Ace’s front, and he fought the urge to cow immediately and beg for his life. Because apparently that wasn’t going to be necessary, because you had—you had—

“Are you in love?” Deuce blurted, because unlike Ace, the Barbarian was pure, and good, and still didn’t fully understand how eggs worked, let alone the concept of Fuck or Die.

And then you surprised him yet again by getting as flustered as he’d expected you to when he’d accused you (rightly) of bending over for a goddamn fucking dragon.

But before you could answer, the dragon lifted its head to press its temple against yours. Or, as well as it could do that when it dwarfed the lot of you the way an elephant might hover over a mouse. Mostly it just ended up being a very, very, delicate head bump. A deep, warbling, purr started from its chest and rolled all the way up and past its sharp, white, canines.

“Uhm,” you tried again. “You guys are invited to the wedding, I guess.”

“The what?!” Deuce howled, before promptly falling to his knees to fan himself like a devasted matron in a church.

You sighed and rubbed at the back of your head, clearly embarrassed. You mumbled something under your breath that sounded a bit like ‘it’s kind of a whole saga, y’know.’ And Ace, in all his infinite good will, decided to take pity on you just this once. And also because you were clearly loaded now, and all good friends know that sharing is caring, right?

“Come on then, Bardy,” he smirked, leaning down to kick Deuce flatter to the floor—half to knock the guy out of his frantic spiraling, half so he could perch on his back like a chair. Because the stone floor looked really uncomfortable, and he had a feeling that trying to slip into that nice nest of blankets of yours would not end well. “Tell us a story.”

.

.

.

[TAG LIST] CLOSED

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[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Between the Ropes… a Jey Uso x Rhea Ripley fanfic.

Chapter 24: Spread Thin No More..

*READER DISCRETION STRONGLY ADVISED*

Rhea curled up on the bed, her sobs filling the otherwise silent room. She buried her face in the pillow, trying to hold back the overwhelming wave of emotion but failing. The pain she felt deep inside, a mix of grief, confusion, and fear, spilled out in uncontrollable tears.

The sound of her crying stirred Jeyce from his sleep. Rubbing his eyes, the little boy sat up in bed, confused by the muffled sounds of Rhea's sobs. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light, before he quietly slipped out of bed and walked over to where Rhea was sitting. He placed a small, gentle hand on her shoulder, his innocent eyes full of concern.

"Why are you crying, Rhea?" Jeyce asked softly, as if afraid to upset her further.

Rhea lifted her head, wiping her tear-streaked face as she turned toward him, trying to force a smile through the pain. "It's nothing, sweetie," she replied, her voice trembling.

Jeyce wasn’t convinced. His little eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Do you want a hug?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Rhea, feeling her heart warm at his tenderness, nodded. "Yes, I would like that very much."

Jeyce wrapped his small arms around her waist, pulling her into a hug. Rhea held him back, his tiny gesture of kindness soothing her aching heart. As they sat there, Jeyce’s embrace was like a lifeline, grounding her in a moment of quiet solace amidst the emotional storm she was struggling to weather.

After a moment, Jeyce pulled back just enough to look up at her with big, innocent eyes. "Would you like to watch my favorite movie?" he asked, his tone brightening as if trying to cheer her up the only way he knew how.

Rhea gave a small nod, her tears slowing as she wiped her face again. "Sure," she said, her voice still shaky but touched by his thoughtfulness. "What’s your favorite movie?"

Without missing a beat, Jeyce climbed onto the bed and grabbed the remote from the nightstand. He turned the TV on and navigated to the movie he wanted to show her. With a bright grin, he pressed play on Shrek.

"Shrek always makes me happy," Jeyce said confidently as he lay back beside Rhea, resting his head against her arm as the movie started. "It makes me laugh every time!"

Rhea couldn’t help but smile, despite everything. She pulled the comforter over both of them as they settled in, the familiar sound of the movie filling the room. Jeyce’s little hand found hers, holding it tightly as if to remind her she wasn’t alone.

"You know," Jeyce said quietly after a while, "my dad told me it's okay to cry. He said it's how we let the sad out, so we can feel better."

Rhea nodded, her eyes still on the screen, though her thoughts were far away. "Your dad’s right," she whispered, squeezing his hand. "It is okay to cry."

Jeyce gave her a reassuring smile, like he knew she needed that extra bit of comfort. "And after you cry, we can laugh at Donkey and Shrek. That helps too."

Rhea let out a small, genuine laugh at his words, the first one she had felt in what seemed like forever. Jeyce was right, in his own sweet way. Watching the movie with Jeyce snuggled close beside her, was a reminder that even in the midst of overwhelming pain, there could be moments of light—no matter how small.

As the movie played on, Rhea felt herself begin to relax, her tears finally subsiding as she allowed herself to just be in the moment. For now, this was enough. And she held onto the simple comfort that Jeyce, in all his innocence and kindness, had offered her when she needed it the most.

The next morning, Jey stirred awake on the couch, blinking as the bright morning light filtered through the window. His head pounded, but the ache in his chest felt even worse. He ran a hand over his face, regretting the words he had thrown at Rhea the night before. It had been out of anger, a mix of frustration and hurt, but he knew he had gone too far.

The clock read 8:21 AM. Jey sat up, rubbing his tired eyes, and took a deep breath before getting to his feet. He didn’t know how to make things right, but he knew he had to try. Walking through the quiet house, he made his way to the guest room where Rhea and Jeyce had stayed.

When he softly opened the door, his heart immediately softened. There, on the bed, Rhea and Jeyce were curled up together, fast asleep. The TV screen was frozen on Shrek 3, Netflix asking if they were still watching. The remnants of the night were etched on Rhea’s face—her eyes puffy and red, her cheeks still streaked with dried tears. Jeyce had his little arm draped over her protectively, his mouth slightly open in peaceful slumber.

Jey stood there for a moment, feeling the weight of everything—his own pain, her pain, and the mess they were trying to navigate together. The sight of them, however, softened the turmoil in his heart. It reminded him of what really mattered. Despite all of the hurt and confusion, they had this—each other.

Jey quietly stepped inside and gently closed the door behind him. He moved to the edge of the bed and sat down beside Rhea. The sight of her so vulnerable made his chest tighten. He reached out and softly nudged her awake with a kiss to her forehead.

Rhea stirred, blinking a few times as she slowly came to. Her eyes, still red and swollen from the night before, met his, and for a moment, they just looked at each other in silence.

Jey’s voice was soft, filled with regret as he pushed her hair back gently. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek. “I shouldn’t have said what I did. I was hurt, but... that wasn’t fair to you.”

Rhea didn’t say anything right away, her gaze shifting briefly to the still-sleeping Jeyce beside her. She swallowed hard, the pain of last night still lingering. But something in Jey’s eyes told her that he was genuine, that he meant it. The anger he had shown last night was replaced with sorrow, with love.

Jey took her hand, the weight of his words heavy but sincere. “I’ll wait for you,” he continued, his voice almost a plea. “I’ll wait for you to be ready, for us to move forward—whatever that looks like. I just need you to know... I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I love you.”

Rhea’s throat tightened at his words. She fiddled with the ring on her finger, the weight of it reminding her of the promises they’d made. She wanted to say something, anything, but the emotions were too tangled, too raw. All she could do was nod slowly, blinking back the fresh tears that threatened to spill over.

Jey leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. “We’re in this together,” he whispered, his breath warm against her skin. “No matter how messy it gets. I’m not giving up on you. On us.”

Rhea exhaled shakily, her fingers tightening around his hand. She didn’t have all the answers. She didn’t know how they would fix everything or where to go from here. But in that moment, feeling the warmth of Jey beside her, the comfort of his words, she realized that maybe they didn’t need to figure it all out right now. Maybe it was enough, for now, to just be there for each other.

As she closed her eyes and leaned into him, Jey pressed another soft kiss to her forehead. They had a long way to go, but they had each other. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to start with.

Jey and Rhea stayed close, holding on to each other in the quiet comfort of the moment. It was as though everything else faded away—the hurt, the confusion, the uncertainty—all replaced by the simple act of being there for each other. For now, that was enough.

Eventually, Jeyce stirred, waking up slowly as he rubbed his sleepy eyes. When he saw his dad, a sleepy grin spread across his face.

Jey smiled back and ruffled his son’s hair. "Morning, buddy. What do you wanna do today?"

Without missing a beat, Jeyce responded, "I need new shoes!" His tone was serious, almost like it was a matter of life and death. Rhea couldn't help but burst out laughing, the tension from the night before easing a little more with the innocent request.

Jey raised an eyebrow, amused. "Shoes? You’ve got more Nikes than I do!"

Jeyce shook his head, resolute. "I want Vans like Rhea."

Jey turned to Rhea, narrowing his eyes in playful accusation. "Are you corrupting my kid with these cheap shoes?"

Rhea grinned, raising her hands in mock defense. "Hey, Vans are practical! They’re cheap, and they go with everything."

Jey smirked, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Cheap, huh? I love cheap."

They all laughed together, the air between them lighter now, the dark cloud from last night lifting as they shared the moment. Jeyce, always full of energy, scrambled off the bed and ran toward the bathroom to get ready for the mall, excited about his new shoe hunt.

Once the sound of the shower started, Jey turned back to Rhea, his expression softening again. He leaned in, pressing another kiss to her lips, the gesture warm and sincere. "Whatever you want at the mall, it’s on me. No arguments."

Rhea raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. "Oh, really? Are you trying to buy my love back?"

Jey gave her a mischievous grin, leaning in a little closer. "Maybe."

Rhea rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. She poked him lightly in the chest. "You’re ridiculous."

Jey shrugged, still grinning. "Anything for my wife-to-be."

The moment felt lighthearted, playful, but there was an undercurrent of sincerity in Jey's words. It wasn’t about the money or what he could buy—Jey was trying to show her that he was still committed, still willing to do anything to make things right between them.

As Rhea leaned back into him, resting her head against his shoulder, she felt that maybe, just maybe, they were going to be okay. There was still a lot they needed to work through, but as long as they had moments like this—filled with laughter, love, and a little bit of teasing—they could get through anything.

"Alright," Rhea sighed playfully, "but if I see something expensive, I’m not holding back."

Jey laughed and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in closer. "Deal."

—

Jeyce and Rhea stood in front of the wall of Vans, their eyes wide with excitement, as if they had just entered a candy store. The vibrant colors and unique designs of the shoes mesmerized them. Jeyce looked up at his dad, Jey, with hopeful eyes. “Dad, would you be willing to get some Vans as well?”

Jey sighed dramatically but couldn’t hide his smile. “Of course,” he replied, ruffling Jeyce’s hair.

The three of them began picking out shoes. Jey chose a classic black pair, while Jeyce selected two pairs: one with a checkerboard pattern and another in a bright red. Rhea, feeling adventurous, opted for a floral print and a bold blue. Once they had their selections, they approached the counter.

The sales associate rang them up and said, “That’ll be 271.81.”

With a smile, Jey handed over his credit card. “What a steal,” he joked as they walked towards the food court, bags in hand.

Once seated at a small table, they decided on some Chinese food. Jeyce dove into his sweet and sour chicken while Rhea enjoyed her fried rice. As they ate, Jeyce looked up with a big grin. “I’m having the best time,” he said, his eyes sparkling.

Rhea beamed at Jeyce. “I’m glad! So, what do you want to do after the mall?”

Jeyce thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. Finally, he said, “The aquarium!”

Rhea turned to Jey, her eyes alight with enthusiasm. “Fishes? Do you want to go see the fishes?”

Jey looked at his fiancé and his son, both of whom wore identical eager expressions. He couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. “Alright, alright. We can go see the fishes,” he relented, laughing at their enthusiasm.

“Yes!” Jeyce exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air.

After finishing their meal, they made their way to the aquarium. The trio stepped inside, and Jeyce’s eyes widened in awe at the sight of the large tanks filled with colorful fish swimming gracefully. Rhea walked beside him, her heart swelling with joy as she watched Jeyce's excitement.

“Look at that one!” Jeyce pointed at a bright clownfish darting in and out of the coral. “Can we get one for our house?”

Jey chuckled. “When we move into our home.”

“Yes!” Jeyce insisted, his voice filled with hope.

As they wandered through the aquarium, Rhea captured moments on her phone, taking pictures of Jeyce and Jey next to the various exhibits. The sounds of bubbling water and the soft murmur of other visitors created a calming atmosphere, and Rhea felt her heart heal a little more with each smile shared between them.

Eventually, they reached the jellyfish exhibit, and the glowing creatures captivated them. Jeyce stood in awe, entranced by the way the jellyfish pulsed and floated gracefully in the water.

“Wow, look at them! They’re so pretty!” Jeyce said, his eyes wide with wonder.

Rhea knelt down beside him. “They really are,” she agreed, smiling at the delight in his voice.

Jey, standing a bit behind them, couldn’t help but feel grateful for this moment—the laughter, the joy, the connection they were building as a family. He stepped closer, wrapping an arm around Rhea's shoulders, pulling her in for a moment.

“I’m glad we did this,” he said softly, his eyes shining with affection.

Rhea leaned into him, feeling content. “Me too. It feels nice to just enjoy time together. Let’s take a picture.” she replied, looking up at him. Jey called Jeyce over and Rhea held out her phone as they took a selfie by the jellyfishes.

After taking some pictures, Jeyce pulled from them and headed towards the next exhibit. “Come on! There’s more to see!”

With Jeyce leading the way, Rhea and Jey followed, both knowing this day would become a cherished memory in their new family journey.

---

After a long, eventful day at the aquarium, Jey drove Rhea and Jeyce back to Jon and Trinity's house. The car ride was filled with laughter as Jeyce excitedly recounted his favorite moments from the day, while Rhea smiled, resting her hand on Jey's.

When they pulled into the driveway, Jey parked the car, feeling a knot tighten in his chest. He had no doubt the photos were already circulating. As soon as they stepped out of the car, Jon opened the front door, a knowing smirk on his face.

"How was the aquarium, bro?" Jon asked casually, but there was a glint in his eyes that told Jey something was up.

Jey shot Jon a look. "How'd you know we went there?"

Jon raised his phone, showing the screen to Jey. “TMZ, man.”

Rhea groaned, rolling her eyes.

Jey clenched his jaw. He hadn’t even had a moment to relax before the tabloid had already plastered their faces online. The tension between his shoulders tightened as they walked inside. Rhea, sensing the shift in Jey’s mood, crouched down to Jeyce’s level.

“Hey, little man, how about you take our new shoes to the guest room? Your dad and Uncle Jon need to talk about some boring adult stuff.”

“Sure!” Jeyce beamed, oblivious to the tension, and ran off with their bags.

The moment Jeyce disappeared, Jon handed his phone to Jey, already opened to the TMZ article. Jey scanned the headline:

"IT'S CONFIRMED! WWE SUPERSTARS RHEA RIPLEY AND JEY USO ARE GOING STEADY AMID PENDING DIVORCES."

Jey's heart sank as he scrolled through the article, the images that accompanied the story filling the screen. There they were—pictures of him, Rhea, and Jeyce, all smiling and carefree, caught completely off guard at the aquarium. One photo showed Rhea hugging Jeyce, and another captured all three of them walking together, looking every bit like a happy family. The final photo captured Rhea kissing Jey's cheek while they were standing by the Dolphin exhibit.

"Shit," Jey muttered under his breath, his anxiety spiking.

Rhea leaned in to glance at the photos, her expression tightening. "We didn't even see them… They must’ve been hiding."

Jey’s phone buzzed, breaking the moment. His stomach dropping when he saw the name on the screen: Takecia.

He stepped toward the patio door, glancing at Rhea before saying, “I gotta take this.”

Rhea nodded silently, concern in her eyes.

Jey stepped outside, closing the door behind him, the cool evening air doing little to calm the storm brewing inside him. He reluctantly answered the call, already bracing himself.

The second the line connected, Takecia’s voice burst through the speaker, seething with rage.

“What the fuck, Jey?!”

Jey winced. “Takecia, I can explain—”

“Explain? Explain what? That you’re fucking parading my son around with her in public? Do you know how humiliating this is? I have to find out through TMZ that Jeyce is all happy with her now? Are you fucking kidding me?!”

Jey tried to keep his voice calm. “Takecia, it’s not like that. We just took him to the aquarium, that’s all—”

“Oh, that’s all?!” She cut him off, her voice venomous. “I don’t give a shit if it’s ‘just the aquarium.’ You had my son with her! And there’s a picture of her hugging him! Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? Like you’re trying to replace me, like you’re trying to—”

“I’m not trying to replace you!” Jey shouted, his frustration finally spilling over. “Jeyce is our son, and he loves Rhea—”

“Don’t you dare,” Takecia spat. Her voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Don’t you dare say that to me, Jey. He is my son, and if I see one more picture of him with her, I swear to God… I’ll make this divorce a living hell. You hear me? You want this to be easy, huh? You think I’m just gonna roll over and let you play house with her? Think again. I will withdraw the divorce, and you’ll be stuck with me. I’ll drag this out for years if I have to. You’ll never be with her. I’ll make sure of it.”

Jey’s heart pounded as her words sank in. He stood there, stunned, unable to respond. He knew she was serious. Takecia wasn’t the type to make empty threats. If she followed through, if she really pulled the divorce, he’d be trapped in a legal nightmare, unable to move on with Rhea, unable to be free.

“Takecia…” Jey’s voice was tight, torn between anger and desperation. “Please, don’t do this. Don’t drag Jeyce into this. He—”

“You dragged him into this the moment you let him get close to her,” Takecia snapped. “He’s coming back to San Francisco. Tomorrow.”

Jey’s grip tightened on the phone. “Tomorrow? Takecia, he’s—”

“Tomorrow, Jey. Or I’m done. And you can kiss any chance of being with her goodbye.”

The line went dead, leaving Jey standing on the patio, his pulse racing, the weight of her words crashing down on him. He felt trapped, cornered, like his entire world was collapsing in on itself. Everything he had worked so hard to keep together was falling apart, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

For a long moment, Jey just stood there, staring at his phone, his mind racing. How was he supposed to tell Rhea? How could he face her, knowing he had just agreed to keep her away from Jeyce, knowing he had just made a deal with Takecia to keep his son in San Francisco?

He couldn’t. Not right now.

Jey slipped his phone back into his pocket, his hands trembling as he walked back inside. Rhea was sitting on the couch, her eyes on him, but Jey didn’t meet her gaze. He couldn’t. The guilt was too much.

“Everything okay?” Rhea asked softly, sensing the tension radiating off him.

“Yeah,” Jey muttered, his voice flat. “I just… I need to check on Jeyce.”

Without another word, he headed down the hallway to the guest room, where Jeyce was sitting on the floor, excitedly arranging his new shoes. The sight of his son, so innocent, so unaware of the storm raging outside, made Jey’s chest tighten.

“Dad, look! I put them in order, see?” Jeyce beamed, pointing to his perfectly lined-up pairs of Vans.

Jey forced a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, I see, bud. They look great.”

Jeyce looked up at him, his smile fading slightly as he noticed the shift in his dad’s mood. “What’s wrong, Dad?”

Jey sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t know how to say this, didn’t know how to explain something that wasn’t fair to his son.

“Jeyce… you have to go back home tomorrow.”

Jeyce’s face fell. “What? But I don’t wanna go home. I like it here. I’m having fun with you and Rhea.”

“I know, buddy. I know.” Jey’s voice was thick with emotion. “But your mom wants you back home tomorrow.”

Jeyce frowned, his bottom lip trembling slightly. “But why? I don’t wanna go back. It’s boring at home. Jaciyah’s always mad at me.”

Jey winced at the mention of Jaciyah. He knew why his oldest son was mad—because of Rhea. Jaciyah had been caught in the middle of all the mess, and he didn’t hide his resentment.

“I know it’s hard, Jeyce,” Jey said softly. “But you have to go back. It’s not forever, okay? We’ll figure things out.”

Jeyce shook his head, his eyes welling up with tears. “I don’t care about figuring things out! I just wanna stay with you, Dad! Why can’t I stay with you?”

Jey’s heart broke as he pulled Jeyce into a tight hug, holding him close as his son’s small body trembled with emotion.

“I’m so sorry, Jeyce,” Jey whispered, his voice cracking. “I’m so, so sorry…”

Jeyce sniffled, pulling back slightly to look up at his dad. “I don’t wanna go,” he muttered again, his voice quieter now, filled with resignation.

Jey nodded, his own heart shattering with every tear that fell from his son’s eyes. “I know, buddy. I know.”

As Jey held his son, the weight of everything threatened to crush him—the impossible choices, the heartbreak, the love he felt for both his children and Rhea. No matter how hard he tried to keep things together, the pieces kept slipping through his fingers.

--

Jey gently ran a hand over Jeyce’s head, watching his little chest rise and fall, peaceful and unaware of the turmoil around him. Jey finally tiptoed away from the sofabed where Jeyce had finally fallen asleep and he slowly closed the door. Promising his son Waffle House before their flight had been enough to coax him into restful slumber, though the pain of sending him back to San Francisco gnawed at Jey’s insides.

Jey felt anything but peaceful. His heart weighed heavy with guilt, and the walls of the guest bedroom seemed to close in on him as the reality of tomorrow's departure loomed. He knew he had to tell Rhea. There was no putting it off anymore.

He left the room quietly, walking down the hall toward the living room where he could hear soft murmurs. As he approached, the voices grew clearer—Rhea, Jon, and Trinity. They were sitting together on the couch, their conversation halting the moment Jey entered the room. Their eyes turned to him, sensing the tension radiating from him.

“Everything okay?” Jon asked, concern written on his face.

Jey nodded briefly, though his eyes sought out Rhea. “Can we talk for a second? Outside?”

Rhea hesitated, but seeing the heaviness in Jey’s expression, she nodded and rose from the couch. Jon and Trinity exchanged a glance but said nothing, letting the two of them have their moment.

Jey led the way to the patio, pushing open the sliding door to step outside into the cool night air. The scent of rain filled the air, the skies dark and pregnant with an impending storm. They sat on the sectional under the awning, the world around them muted and quiet, as though waiting for something to break.

Rhea sat beside him, crossing her arms as she leaned back, watching him closely. “Did you get Jeyce to bed?”

Jey nodded, but he said nothing else. His gaze drifted toward the edge of the patio, his mind miles away. Rhea waited for him to speak, sensing that something was off, something deeper than just exhaustion from the long day.

Seconds passed in silence. Then minutes. With every tick of time, Rhea’s anxiety began to claw at her, the space between them filling with a tension so thick it felt suffocating. Jey was never this quiet, not with her. Not like this.

She shifted uneasily, her breath catching in her throat as the silence dragged on. The longer he didn’t speak, the more her nerves coiled tighter, like a rubber band on the verge of snapping. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but the weight of his silence held her back, as if somehow she knew the answer wouldn’t be something she was ready to hear.

Then, without warning, a loud crack of thunder ripped through the sky, shaking the air around them. The storm had arrived. But neither Jey nor Rhea flinched. The sudden roar did nothing to break the invisible wall of silence that had built between them. The rain began to fall, heavy droplets pounding against the roof and ground around them, creating a rhythmic, almost hypnotic sound. They were protected underneath the awning, but the storm felt like an echo of the turmoil inside Jey.

Finally, Jey drew in a deep breath, as though he had been holding it this whole time. He rubbed his hands together nervously, the words he needed to say lodged in his throat, stuck somewhere between regret and dread.

“Takecia called,” Jey began, his voice low and strained, almost drowned out by the rain. “She saw the pictures.”

Rhea’s heart dropped. She didn’t need him to explain what pictures he was talking about. The ones that had clearly sparked something far worse than just public gossip.

“What did she say?” Rhea asked quietly, though part of her already knew it wasn’t going to be good.

Jey clenched his jaw, his eyes still avoiding hers. “She’s pissed, Rhea. More than pissed—she’s… She threatened to drag out the divorce. She’s furious that Jeyce is around you.”

The words hung in the air, suffocating.

“She said if I don’t bring Jeyce back to San Francisco tomorrow, she’ll pull the divorce. Make this hell. Keep us stuck for years.” Jey’s voice wavered, the weight of his helplessness evident. “I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t know how to fight that.”

Rhea remained silent, her body still, her heart sinking further with every word he spoke. She felt the ground shift beneath her, the solid foundation she thought she had with Jey cracking under the weight of the reality they were facing.

“I told her I’d take him back tomorrow,” Jey continued, his voice barely above a whisper now. “I’ll take him back, and I’ll be back here later in the day… But I agreed to keep him away from you, at least until things calm down. At least until—”

Rhea’s chest constricted as the words reached her. Jeyce—her little buddy, her light in this storm—would be taken away, and worse, she would have to stay away from him to avoid fueling Takecia’s wrath. And Jey… Jey had agreed to it.

Rhea remained quiet, her hands gripping the edge of the cushion beneath her as she tried to process the hurt swelling in her chest. The storm around them raged louder, the rain pounding harder on the patio roof, but inside her, the quiet grew deafening. She didn’t want to look at him—couldn’t look at him—because she knew if she did, the pain in his eyes would only make hers worse.

The silence stretched again, this time heavier, more painful than before. Jey’s fingers tapped against his thigh anxiously, the sound barely audible beneath the rain, but it was the only movement between them.

“Rhea,” Jey whispered, breaking the stillness. His voice was pleading now, desperate. “Say something. Please.”

But Rhea couldn’t. The words wouldn’t come. She stared ahead, her throat tight, her mind reeling from the weight of everything he had just told her. There was nothing she could say that would change any of it. There was nothing she could do to stop the storm that was already tearing through their lives.

Jey turned toward her, his expression pained. “Please… Rhea…”

She still didn’t answer. The only sound was the relentless downpour and the rumble of distant thunder.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Rhea spoke, her voice quiet, almost hollow. “Can I… Can I have a few moments to myself?”

Her request caught Jey off guard. He looked at her, his brows furrowing, but he could see the tension in her body, the way her hands trembled slightly in her lap. He nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat as he rose from the sectional.

“I’ll… I’ll be in the room,” Jey murmured, feeling the sting of her withdrawal, though he didn’t blame her. How could he?

He stood there for a moment longer, watching her as she stared out at the rain. It hurt to leave her like this, to walk away when all he wanted to do was hold her, tell her that they would get through it, that everything would be okay. But he knew that wasn’t true—not now, not after what he had just said.

Jey turned and walked back inside, leaving Rhea alone on the patio, surrounded by the storm. She stayed still, watching the rain cascade from the roof, her mind numb, her heart aching. Each drop felt like a ticking clock, each thunderclap like a hammer on her already fragile heart.

--

Rhea stood there, rain pouring down around her, but she felt no relief from the cool droplets; instead, they only mirrored the storm raging inside her. Each raindrop that hit the ground echoed her heart’s breaking rhythm, and with every thunderous roar, her thoughts grew louder, drowning out any semblance of calm.

She felt like she was suffocating in the reality of the moment. The weight of Takecia’s words hung over her like a dark cloud. How could Jey agree to send Jeyce away? Did he not see how much the boy needed her? Did he not understand the bond they had built, the laughter, the hugs, the little moments that made it all worth it? But now, it felt like everything they had worked for—everything they had been building together—was slipping away, just as quickly as the water washed away the earth.

Rhea’s thoughts spiraled deeper. The news headline flashed through her mind like a bad dream, the weight of “pending divorces” pressing down on her chest. She felt like she was in a nightmare where no matter how much she tried to fight back, the darkness would always win. Was this really how it was meant to be? A love that felt so right turning into a complicated mess of accusations, hurt, and a child caught in the crossfire?

As she stared into the rain-soaked night, Rhea's composure began to fracture. The anxiety that had been coiling tighter and tighter in her chest finally snapped. She gripped her knuckles almost white, as the first sob escaped her lips, raw and broken. The floodgates opened then, tears streaming down her cheeks unchecked. The pain, the fear, the overwhelming sense of loss—it all crashed down on her like the relentless rain. She felt utterly alone, drowning in her thoughts, in her heartache.

Hours seemed to pass as she stood there, the storm outside matching the tempest inside her. She thought of Jey, of their love, and of how they had fought against the odds to be together. But now, with Takecia’s threats hanging over their heads, it felt like a ticking time bomb, one that was ready to explode any moment, taking everything with it. Jey’s voice echoed in her mind, pleading with her to say something, to react, but she had nothing to say. She was lost.

Finally, Rhea took a shaky breath, her heart heavy with a decision she never thought she would have to make. She pulled out her phone, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through her contacts until she found Damian’s name. Before he could say anything, she blurted out, “Where are you at right now?”

“Hey, Rhea. I’m home in New York at my loft. Why?” Damian’s voice was warm, but Rhea could hear the concern behind it.

“Can I fly out tonight?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

“Of course,” Damian replied, sensing the urgency in her tone. “Just call me whenever you get in, okay?”

Rhea silently agreed, even though he couldn’t hear her. “Thanks, Damian.” She hung up the phone and quickly booked a flight to New York, her heart racing as she made the arrangements. She knew she needed to get away, to breathe, to think. She couldn’t stay here, trapped in a whirlwind of pain and uncertainty.

Rhea ordered an Uber, and as she walked back inside the house, the darkness felt suffocating. The lights were off, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in her mind. She let out a deep breath, the air heavy with the weight of her decision. Standing in the silence of the empty house, Rhea felt the gravity of what she was about to do.

With trembling hands, she pulled off her engagement ring, the metal cool against her skin as it slipped off her finger. The symbol of her commitment to Jey felt like a noose around her heart, and she dropped it on the counter without a second thought.

Next came her necklace, that had held memories close to her heart. The necklace that contained her baby's ashes. She unclasped it, feeling the weight of it fall away. Jey’s chain, followed suit, and with each piece of jewelry she removed, Rhea felt a part of herself unraveling.

Finally, she slid off the permanent name bracelet Jey had given her, the one that had felt like a promise of forever. She hadn’t realized that tears continued to fall, pooling on the counter beneath the pile of jewelry, glistening like her shattered dreams.

Just then, a notification pinged on her phone—the Uber had arrived.

Rhea took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She glanced around the house one last time, a place that had once felt like home, but now felt like a prison. She was leaving it all behind: the laughter, the love, the hope. But she knew, deep down, that she had to do this for herself, for her heart.

As she stepped out into the night, the rain continued to pour, but this time, she felt a sense of clarity. She was choosing to walk away from the hurt, even if it meant leaving Jey behind. With each step away from the house, she felt a weight lift, even as another settled heavily on her heart.

--

Thursday October 10th, 2024 8:45 AM.

Jey jolted awake to the piercing sound of his alarm, confusion clouding his mind as the memories of the previous night flooded back. He squinted against the morning light, realizing he was still wearing the clothes from yesterday, crumpled and heavy with the weight of his despair. Rhea hadn’t returned, and the thought struck him like a dagger. He glanced over to the other side of the bed; Jeyce was still asleep, blissfully unaware of the chaos surrounding them.

With a heavy heart, Jey swung his legs off the sofabed and trudged out of the guest bedroom and into the living room. The house was eerily quiet, and a feeling of dread crept in as he turned toward the kitchen. He spotted Jon and Trinity leaning over something on the counter, their expressions tense and guarded.

“Where’s Rhea?” Jey’s voice broke through the silence, his tone sharper than he intended. As soon as he spoke, Trinity quickly covered whatever was on the counter with a plate, a sudden movement that sent a jolt of anxiety through Jey.

Jon stepped closer, his face serious. “Let’s talk, Jey.”

Jey felt irritation bubbling inside him, a mixture of anger and fear rising to the surface. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded, trying to sidestep Jon, but Jon blocked his path.

“Not now, Uce,” Jon said, his voice firm.

“Get out of my way!” Jey pushed Jon aside, urgency driving him forward. Trinity freaked out as she backed away, Jey reached for the plate that Trinity had tried to hide, lifting it with shaking hands. When he saw the contents, his heart sank.

There lay Rhea’s engagement ring, Jey's cuban chain, her necklace, and the permanent bracelet he brought with her—all carefully placed together in a small pile, glinting coldly in the light. Jey’s face turned white, and a scream tore from his throat, raw and heart-wrenching.

“NO!” he shouted, tears flooding his eyes as he clutched the jewelry to his chest. “Rhea! Why?!”

Jon rushed to him, crouching down on the floor beside his brother, refusing to let him go. Jey leaned into Jon's embrace, the warmth of his brother a small comfort amid his crushing despair. “I can’t believe she’s gone,” Jey cried, his voice trembling. “Why did she have to leave me?”

Jon held him tightly, whispering soothing words, but they were drowned out by Jey’s sobs. The world around him faded, replaced by an all-consuming sorrow. Rhea was gone, leaving behind these painful reminders of a love that now felt like a distant dream.

Just then, Jeyce appeared at the kitchen doorway, rubbing his sleepy eyes. “Dad, why are you crying?” he asked innocently, his small voice cutting through the chaos like a beacon.

Trinity instinctively stepped forward, kneeling to guide Jeyce away from the distressing scene. “Come on, sweetie, let’s go find something to do,” she said gently, ushering him away from his father’s heartbreak.

Jey cradling the jewelry in his hands, the weight of it almost too much to bear. The tears streamed down his cheeks, each drop a testament to his agony. He buried his face in his hands, sobbing uncontrollably as Jon held him tightly, refusing to let go amid the storm of Jey’s emotions.

The reality of Rhea’s departure settled over him like a suffocating blanket, heavy and inescapable. He felt as if he were losing everything—the love of his life, the dreams they had shared, and the family they were building together. In that moment, as he held onto the remnants of their love, Jey realized he wasn’t just grieving the loss of Rhea; he was mourning the future they would never have.

“Why, Rhea?” he gasped, his voice trembling with despair. “Why did you have to leave me?”

With every sob, Jey sank deeper into his emotional turmoil, feeling utterly lost. He knew he needed to find a way to keep his family together, but in his pain, he couldn’t see the way forward. All he could do was cry, the sound echoing in the empty kitchen, reverberating his heartache as Jon stayed beside him, holding him together in the face of a devastating loss.

--

Damian moved around his kitchen with a sense of purpose, scrambling egg whites and cooking turkey sausage links, the familiar scents filling the air. He poured a steaming cup of coffee, savoring the aroma that wafted up, hoping it might bring some comfort to Rhea. Once the food was done, he carefully arranged everything on a plate and headed toward the guest bedroom in his loft.

He pushed the door open softly, finding Rhea sitting up in bed, her gaze fixed on the window. The light from the overcast sky painted her face with a muted glow, but her expression was anything but bright. She looked utterly exhausted, her body slumped with the weight of everything that had transpired.

“Hey,” Damian said gently as he sat down next to her, placing the plate of food in her lap and setting the coffee on the nightstand. Rhea absently picked at the eggs, not truly focused on what was in front of her.

Damian took a deep breath, the heaviness in the room palpable. “You wanna talk?” he asked, his voice low and soothing.

Rhea shook her head, a firm ‘no’ conveyed through her body language as she took a bite of the turkey sausage link. Damian nodded, understanding that she wasn’t ready to share her thoughts or feelings just yet.

“You wanna invoke the 24-hour rule?” he asked, and Rhea nodded ‘yes’ in response. The 24-hour rule was their mutual agreement, a pact that allowed each of them to retreat into their own emotional space during traumatic events. It was a way to avoid bottling up feelings, ensuring they could express themselves later without holding onto grudges or resentment.

Damian watched as Rhea finished her food, taking a sip of her coffee with a distracted expression. He gently rubbed her back, wishing he could alleviate the pain that radiated from her. But he respected her need for solitude. Without another word, he rose and grabbed the plate and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

As the rain began to pour outside, Rhea got up from the bed and moved to the window, opening the curtain wider. The dark, overcast sky provided the only light in the room, creating an almost somber atmosphere. She sank into a bean bag chair nearby, curling up into a tight ball as she watched the rain cascade down the glass.

With each droplet that fell, Rhea felt her own tears flow freely. She allowed herself to cry, the sound of the rain drowning out her heartache. The storm outside mirrored the tempest within her, each tear a release of the emotions she had been holding inside. She felt lost, overwhelmed by the weight of her decisions and the consequences that followed.

Time slipped away as she sat there, wrapped in her thoughts and feelings. The rain continued to fall, each drop a reminder of her sorrow and confusion. She longed for clarity, for a sense of peace that seemed so far away. But for now, all she could do was let the tears fall, allowing the storm within her to match the one outside, each sob a step toward healing as she navigated through the aftermath of her heartache.

--

Jey, Jon, and Jeyce waited for a taxi. Jey had moved their flight towards a later time and added Jon to the itinerary, desperately needing his brother’s support. The thought of facing Takecia alone filled him with dread, and he felt a weight pressing down on him. Memories of Rhea flooded his mind—the laughter, the love, and the heartache—and he struggled to reconcile the man he once was with the uncertainty of the present.

When the taxi finally pulled up, they climbed in, Jeyce nestled between his father and uncle. The ride to Jey's old house was filled with an uncomfortable silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Jey’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions—thoughts of Rhea, the love they had shared, and the heartbreak that loomed over him. He could feel Jeyce’s innocent presence beside him, and it made his heart ache all the more. He knew Jeyce deserved a stable family, and yet here they were, caught in the chaos of broken relationships.

Upon arriving at the house, Jey and Jeyce got out, leaving Jon in the taxi. Taking a deep breath, Jey approached the door and knocked. It swung open to reveal Jaciyah, his oldest son, standing there with a serious expression. The sight of him stirred a protective instinct in Jey; he wanted to shield his boys from the pain of their fractured family. Jeyce tried to hug his older brother and Jaciyah rubbed Jeyce's back. Jeyce went inside and up the stairs to his room and Jey's eldest son now faced him.

“Where’s Rhea?” Jaciyah asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.

Jey looked at his son, feeling the gravity of the moment. “She left,” he admitted, the pain evident in his tone. The words felt heavy on his tongue, as if they carried the weight of his failure as a husband and father.

His expression shifted from curiosity to shock, and Jey could see the turmoil unfolding in his son's eyes. Without a word, Jaciyah closed the door behind him, stepping out with Jey standing on the porch, feeling some sort of relief. Moments later and to Jey’s surprise, Jaciyah stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him in an unexpected hug. Jey was taken aback, warmth flooding through him amidst the chaos.

“Are you coming back to be with Mom?” Jaciyah asked, his voice small and uncertain, as if he were afraid of the answer.

The question struck Jey deeply, a dagger to his heart. It forced him to confront the reality of his situation. “I may have hurt your mother, but I won’t go back to someone I’m not in love with,” he replied, his voice steady despite the heartbreak inside him. The honesty felt raw and liberating, but it also stung with the realization of what that meant for his family.

Jaciyah stepped back, confusion swirling in his eyes. “Don’t you love us?” His question hung in the air, heavy with emotion.

That question pierced Jey’s heart, and he struggled to find the right words. “I let go of someone I loved for you and Jeyce,” he said softly. “I love you, son.” His voice was filled with conviction, but inside, he felt the cracks beginning to show. How could he explain the complexities of love and responsibility to a boy who only wanted to feel secure?

Jaciyah nodded, understanding slowly dawning on him. Without another word, he retreated into the house, leaving Jey alone on the porch. The door closed softly behind him, a symbol of the reality he was trying to navigate. Jey turned back to the taxi, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Climbing in beside Jon, the eldest Uso could sense the tension in the air. Jon glanced at him, concern etched on his face. “You okay?” he asked, his voice low.

“No,” Jey admitted, running a hand through his hair, frustration and sadness mixing within him. “I just… I don’t know what to do anymore. I thought I was doing the right thing, but now everything is just a mess.”

Jon offered him a reassuring nod, understanding the depths of his brother’s pain. “You’re not alone in this, Jey. We’ll figure it out together.”

Jey sighed, the gravity of the situation settling in. He watched the familiar streets of his old neighborhood blur by outside the window. Everything felt different now—changed by the events that had unfolded in the past few weeks. As they drove off into the fading light, Jey’s heart was heavy with the knowledge that life would never be the same again.

Now, he was left grappling with the consequences of his choices, not just for himself but for his sons. Jey felt torn between his love for Rhea and the family he had built with Takecia. He could only hope now.. that there is a silver lining left.

--

As the plane soared through the clouds, Jon and Jey sat side by side, the hum of the engines a constant backdrop to their thoughts. Jey's gaze was fixed on the engagement ring resting in his palm, a heavy symbol of the life he had once envisioned. The ring, meant to signify love and commitment, held within it the ashes of their unborn child—a tangible reminder of loss that gnawed at his heart. He felt completely and utterly hopeless, adrift in a sea of grief and regret.

Jon glanced over, sensing the weight of his brother's silence. He opened his mouth, searching for the right words of encouragement. “Jey, I know this is hard. You loved Rhea, and this is a lot to deal with. But you’ve got to remember that—”

“Just stop,” Jey interrupted, his voice barely above a whisper. The edge of his frustration cut through the air, and Jon fell silent, the words of comfort dying on his lips. Jey continued to stare at the ring, lost in memories of laughter and dreams that felt increasingly distant.

The entire flight passed in a blur of turbulence and quiet contemplation. Jey’s mind replayed the moments he had shared with Rhea, the laughter, the plans for their future, and the hopes they had for their child. Each recollection felt like a knife twisting deeper into his heart. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had failed them both, and the silence of the cabin echoed the void inside him.

Finally, the plane touched down, jolting Jey from his thoughts. The familiar sight of Pensacola brought a pang of nostalgia mixed with dread. As they navigated their way through the airport, Jey felt as though he were moving in slow motion, every step weighed down by the burden of his emotions. The bustling crowds felt foreign to him, their laughter and chatter contrasting sharply with his internal struggle.

Once they reached the parking lot, Jey slid into the passenger seat of Jon’s Mustang. The roar of the engine ignited a spark of adrenaline in him, but it quickly faded. He felt as if he were sitting in a car headed for a destination he didn’t want to reach. The air was thick with unspoken thoughts as Jon navigated through the streets, the familiarity of their surroundings bringing a hint of comfort.

After a moment of silence, Jey finally turned to Jon, his voice shaky. “What should I do?” he asked, vulnerability creeping into his tone. He needed guidance, someone to help him find a way forward, but the weight of his grief made it hard to see the path ahead.

Jon took a deep breath, knowing this was a delicate moment. “Maybe give her some time,” he suggested gently. “It’s possible she just needs space to sort through everything. You know how overwhelming this can be.”

“Time?” Jey echoed, a bitter taste in his mouth. “She deserves to be here with us. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.” Anguish rippled through his voice, the desperation evident as he clutched the ring tightly in his hand. “I can’t lose her, Jon. Not like this.”

“I know, Jey,” Jon replied, his voice steady and soothing. “But rushing in might make things worse. You’ve both been through so much. Maybe if you give her a little room, she’ll find her way back to you.”

Jey leaned back against the seat, frustration battling with understanding. He knew Jon was right, but the thought of being apart from Rhea felt unbearable. The longing to hold her again, to reassure her that everything would be okay, twisted in his chest like a vice. The ring felt heavier than ever, a constant reminder of what was lost and the hope he still clung to.

As they drove through the streets of Pensacola, the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over everything. Jey's mind raced with possibilities and fears, each one battling for dominance. Could he truly give her the space she needed? Would she come back? And if she did, would it be the same?

In the fading light, Jey's heart ached with uncertainty, but he knew he had to try. He had to believe that love could bridge the chasm between them, that with time, healing could begin. As they approached their destination, he resolved to find a way to show Rhea just how much she meant to him, to remind her that they were in this together—no matter how dark the road ahead might seem.

--

Friday October 11th, 2024

As the sun struggled to break through the heavy clouds, casting a muted light through the rain-soaked windows, Damian prepared breakfast with a newfound sense of purpose. He deftly assembled a bagel sandwich, layering fluffy scrambled eggs, melted cheese, and savory ham. The enticing aroma filled the kitchen, a difference to the heavy silence that enveloped the rest of the loft. With another steaming cup of coffee in hand, he made his way back to the guest bedroom, ready to check on Rhea once more.

Pushing the door open gently, he found Rhea nestled in the oversized bean bag chair, her body wrapped in a thick blanket. She was staring out the window, transfixed by the relentless rain, her expression distant and hollow. It was as if the storm outside mirrored the turmoil inside her. Damian couldn’t shake the thought that Rhea seemed to have absorbed the weather’s despair; at this point, it felt like she might have some control over it.

“Hey,” he said softly, clearing his throat to break the silence. Rhea turned her gaze toward him, and he was struck by how exhausted she looked. Her hair hung in disarray, and the shadows under her eyes spoke volumes of sleepless nights and unanswered worries. “Have you slept at all?”

She shook her head, her eyes dull. “No.”

“The 24-hour rule is up, Rhea,” he said gently, sitting beside her on the other bean bag chair. “It’s time to lay it all out.”

She took the bagel sandwich he offered, her fingers brushing against his as she accepted it. Taking a tentative bite, she chewed slowly, as if trying to find the right words hidden in her discomfort. Finally, after a heavy silence that seemed to stretch on for an eternity, she let the floodgates open.

“Takecia saw the photos,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “The ones TMZ posted. She lost it when she saw Jeyce and me hugging.” Her hands trembled as she spoke, the weight of her emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

Damian felt his heart sink at the mention of Takecia’s name. “What did she say?”

Rhea inhaled deeply, her brow furrowing in frustration. “She threatened to withdraw the divorce if Jey didn’t bring Jeyce back home. She basically had him choose between the kids or me.” Her voice trembled with anger and pain. “I can’t believe it’s come to this. It’s not fair to Jeyce or to me.”

“That’s so unfair,” Damian replied, his tone low and empathetic. He reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, wanting to shield her from the emotional storm that was brewing within her.

“I thought it was real,” she continued, her voice cracking. “I thought we could make it work. But now everything feels like it’s falling apart.” Tears began to well in her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away, but they escaped regardless. “After I called you, I took off all the jewelry Jey had given me. I just… I couldn’t look at it anymore.”

“Where is it?” Damian asked softly, genuinely concerned.

“On the counter,” she replied, her gaze dropping to the sandwich as if the act of speaking had stripped her of her strength. “I just wanted to remove everything that reminded me of him.”

Damian felt a surge of protectiveness for her, a fierce desire to help her navigate through this heartbreak. “You shouldn’t have to go through this alone, Rhea. You deserve to be happy and supported.” He squeezed her shoulder gently, wishing he could take away her pain.

“I don’t know what to do, Damian,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “I feel like I’m caught in the middle of something I can’t control, and I’m terrified that I’ll lose Jey.”

“You can control your choices,” he encouraged, his voice steady. “Take it one step at a time. You don’t have to rush anything. We’ll figure this out together.” He held her gaze, hoping to reassure her that she wasn’t alone in this fight.

As they sat in silence, the rain continued to patter against the windows, a soothing rhythm that seemed to hold its own wisdom. Rhea slowly set the sandwich aside, her mind racing with possibilities and fears. She felt lost, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, but maybe, just maybe, with Damian by her side, she could start to find her way back to herself.

“I just wanted to build a life with Jey, and now it feels like everything is slipping away,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I never wanted to hurt anyone, especially not the kids. I love them, and I thought we could create a family together.”

Damian nodded, his expression softening. “It’s okay to feel that way. Your feelings are valid, Rhea. But you have to remember that love doesn’t mean sacrificing your happiness or compromising your values. You deserve to be with someone who loves you fully, not someone who makes you choose.”

Rhea took a deep breath, contemplating his words. “You’re right, but it’s hard. I keep thinking about the memories we shared, the plans we made. I just don’t want to lose the connection I have with Jey.”

“Losing a relationship doesn’t mean losing love,” Damian reassured her. “You can still care for them from a distance. Sometimes, letting go is the only way to truly grow.”

As they shared this moment, the rain continued to pour, a steady reminder of the storm outside. Rhea felt a small flicker of hope igniting within her. Maybe she could find a way to embrace the uncertainty, to navigate the tumultuous waters ahead. “Thank you,” she finally whispered, her voice tinged with gratitude. “For being here.”

“Always,” Damian replied, offering her a reassuring smile. “We’ll face this storm together.” In that moment, Rhea felt a glimmer of strength return, realizing that she had a friend in her corner, ready to help her find her way back to herself amidst the chaos.

Rhea took a moment to collect herself, her heart still heavy with the weight of her emotions. She turned to Damian, her voice barely above a whisper. “Damian, could you do me a favor?”

“Anything,” he replied, his expression earnest.

“Can you go to a store for me?” she asked, her eyes pleading. “I just need some clothes—nothing special, just enough for today and tomorrow. I don’t have the strength to go out, let alone face people in public.”

Damian nodded without hesitation. “Of course. I’ll grab whatever you need.” He paused for a moment, then added with a teasing grin, “Even if I don’t particularly want to go to Target and be seen buying women’s underwear, I’ll do it for you.”

Rhea managed a small laugh, a brief reprieve from the sadness that had enveloped her. “Thank you, Damian. I really appreciate it.”

“Just sit tight,” he said, standing up. “I’ll be back before you know it.” He started walking towards the door but stopped, he turned to Rhea and said, “Happy Birthday.. for what it’s worth.” Rhea actually couldn’t believe it… she had forgotten her own birthday.

As he left the room, Rhea returned her gaze to the rain, which continued to pour relentlessly outside. The sound was both soothing and melancholic, a perfect reflection of her tumultuous feelings. As she watched the droplets race down the windowpane, she couldn't help but think of Jey. The pain he must be feeling gnawed at her heart, an echo of the hurt that had become all too familiar.

Rhea closed her eyes for a moment, envisioning Jey sitting alone in the guest bedroom, grappling with the same emotional storm that raged within her. She remembered the way his face lit up when he talked about his kids, how fiercely he loved them, and how much he had fought to keep their family together. The thought of Jey being caught in the crossfire of Takecia's demands was unbearable.

She could only imagine the torment he must be experiencing—torn between his love for Rhea and his responsibilities as a father. Did he feel hopeless? Did he blame himself for the chaos? Rhea wished she could reach out to him, to tell him that they could find a way through this together, but the reality of the situation weighed heavily on her.

Her thoughts drifted to the moments they had shared, the laughter, the joy, and the intimate conversations that had woven their lives together. It was painful to think about how quickly everything had unraveled. She felt a deep sense of loss—not just for the relationship she had with Jey, but for the future they had dreamed of building together.

A shiver ran through her as the chill from the rain seeped into the room. Rhea wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders, feeling small and fragile against the weight of her emotions. She wanted to believe that things could get better, that she and Jey could find a way back to each other. But how could they when everything felt so broken?

Just then, her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from Trinity: “Hey, where are you? We’ve been worried about you.”

Rhea hesitated for a moment, her heart racing. Should she tell her where she was? She knew Trinity would want to come and be with her, but part of her wanted to keep her location a secret, to hold on to the solitude for just a little longer. After a moment’s thought, she typed back, “I’m okay, just taking some time for myself.”

Trinity replied almost immediately: “Rhea, please. We’re all here for you. Jey just wants to talk with you. He needs to understand why you gave up… it’s not fair to him.”

Rhea’s heart ached at Trinity’s concern. She wanted to reach out, to feel the comfort of her friend’s presence, but she couldn’t bring herself to disclose her location let alone face Jey. She took a deep breath and replied, “I know, but I just need a little more time. I promise I’ll reach out soon.”

Trinity’s response was immediate: “Just know that we love you and want to help. You’re not alone in this.”

Rhea felt a small flicker of warmth at her words, the reminder that she had a support system, even in her darkest moments. She took a deep breath, allowing the love from Trinity to seep into her heart.

As she settled deeper into the bean bag chair, Rhea closed her eyes and listened to the rain, allowing it to wash over her like a balm. She envisioned a brighter future—a future where healing was possible, where love could be rekindled amidst the chaos… but as she thought about Takecia’s words, Rhea decided to just do what felt right.

Rhea’s heart raced as she dialed Hunter’s number. Her hands trembled as she waited for him to answer, the weight of what she was about to do pressing down on her chest like a suffocating blanket. When he picked up, his voice was full of energy—clearly excited about the plans he had for her and Jey in the upcoming weeks.

"Rhea, hey! I’ve been meaning to talk to you. We’ve got some great stuff lined up for you and Jey!”

At the sound of Jey’s name, Rhea’s heart shattered into a million pieces. She couldn’t bear it. Couldn’t bear the thought of being connected to him, hearing his name, or thinking about the life they had almost built together. Her voice cracked as she spoke.

"Hunter... I need to ask you something." There was a long pause, and she took a deep breath before continuing. "I need two weeks off... for my mental health."

There was a moment of hesitation on the other end of the line, as if Hunter was processing her request. "Rhea, I get it, but you know how big these upcoming weeks are. It’s everything we’ve been working towards for you. Are you sure this is the right time?"

Her heart was screaming no, but her mind and body were so broken that she couldn’t imagine going on. Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought to keep her voice steady. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Hunter the real reason.

"Please, Hunter," she begged. "I need this. I can’t... I just can’t right now."

Hunter sighed heavily. "Alright," he finally agreed, his voice softening. "Take the two weeks, Rhea. Get yourself right. But come back ready. We’re counting on you."

"Thank you," she whispered, barely able to get the words out.

After hanging up, she sat in the silence of Damian’s guest room, feeling the weight of her decision bearing down on her. It wasn’t just about work or the plans Hunter had for her. It was about everything—Jey, the life she had lost, the endless pain that had become her reality. Rhea’s fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of the blanket draped over her lap as she let out a long, shaky breath.

She stood up, her legs feeling heavy as she walked around the room, searching for something. Her mind wasn’t entirely clear, but it didn’t matter. She found an old notebook and a pen, and with trembling hands, she opened to a blank page and began to write.

"Dear Damian,

Please go to Pensacola and take care of Bella, Barry, Luna, and Storm. They’re at Jon and Trinity’s house. If they ask you to, speak at my funeral—you’ll do your fellow Terror Twin justice. I did this for me.

I love you, Damian.

Tell Jey I will always love him, no matter what.

—Demi.”

Rhea stared at the note, her chest tightening as she folded it carefully and placed it on the bed. A small part of her wanted someone to find it, wanted someone to stop her. But that part of her felt so far away, buried under the unbearable weight of her heartache.

She walked slowly to the bathroom, her feet dragging as she opened the medicine cabinet. Damian’s bottles of painkillers stared back at her. She grabbed two of them, her hands trembling even more now as she unscrewed the caps. She didn’t think twice. She couldn’t think twice. The thought of continuing on with this endless, soul-crushing pain was too much to bear.

She poured a handful of the pills into her palm and swallowed them dry, one after the other. The taste was bitter, and they scratched at her throat, but she didn’t care. She finished the first bottle and then the second, swallowing every last one of the pills.

Rhea stumbled back to the bed, her vision already beginning to blur as the effects of the drugs started to take hold. She lay down on the mattress, feeling her body sink into the softness of the sheets. Her head was spinning, and her eyelids felt heavy as lead.

In the quiet of the room, the sound of rain outside the window grew softer, more distant. The world was fading away, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she welcomed the numbness.

As her eyes fluttered closed, the last thing she thought about was Jey—his face, his smile, the way he had held her when the world seemed like it was falling apart. And even though she couldn’t bring herself to keep going, she knew, in some small corner of her heart, that she would always love him.

But she couldn’t do this anymore.

With her final breath, Rhea let herself drift away, the rain falling softly outside the window as the world slipped from her grasp.

—

Damian entered his loft, balancing the shopping bags filled with clothes he’d picked up for Rhea. He called out her name as he kicked the door closed behind him. “Rhea! I got some stuff for you to try on. Thought I’d pick up a few things that might fit your style." He walked further into the space, expecting to hear her voice in response, but all he got in return was silence.

He frowned, feeling a slight knot form in his stomach. He made his way down the hall toward the guest bedroom, the bags rustling against his legs. “Rhea?" he called again, his voice a little more urgent now. Still, there was no answer.

When Damian reached the door to the guest bedroom, he pushed it open. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on the bed. Rhea was there, sprawled out, her body still, a blanket loosely draped over her. For a brief moment, he thought she was just sleeping—her body turned slightly to the side, her hair cascading over the pillow.

But something was wrong. Damian's heart skipped a beat as his gaze flickered to the small, crumpled piece of paper next to her. His hand trembled as he picked it up, recognizing her handwriting immediately.

"Dear Damian..." he read, the words becoming a blur as panic surged through his veins. His eyes widened as he processed the rest of the note.

"No... no, no, no," Damian muttered under his breath, dropping the bags onto the floor. He rushed to Rhea’s side and grabbed her shoulders, trying to shake her awake. Her body was limp, her head lolled to the side as though she were a broken doll.

"Rhea, wake up!" Damian’s voice cracked as he desperately shook her again, but there was no response. His hand moved to her wrist, trying to find a pulse, but his fingers were trembling too much to get a clear reading. His breath quickened, panic swelling inside of him as he realized what was happening.

He fumbled for his phone, his hands shaking violently as he dialed 911. Each ring felt like a lifetime, the panic mounting with every second. Finally, the operator answered, and Damian’s voice was shaky, barely able to get the words out.

“I—I need help! My friend... my friend—she’s not breathing! I think she—she took something. Please, please, send someone now!” His words tumbled out in a frantic rush, his voice breaking as he explained the situation. Tears welled in his eyes, his chest tightening as he looked down at Rhea’s lifeless form.

The operator’s voice was calm, trying to guide him through the steps, but Damian could barely focus. He was trying everything, his mind racing as he listened to the operator tell him to begin chest compressions, to do anything to keep Rhea’s heart beating until help arrived. His hands pressed down on her chest, his mind flashing to every moment they had shared, every laugh, every time they had called each other their "Terror Twin."

"Come on, come on, don’t do this to me, Rhea. Please!" Damian’s voice cracked with emotion as he continued to push down on her chest, desperate to keep her alive.

The minutes felt like hours as he continued, his own breath ragged and shaky. In his mind, all he could hear was the haunting final words of her letter, echoing over and over again.

"I love you, Damian... tell Jey I will always love him."

Damian didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. His hands pushed against her chest until his arms ached, until his vision blurred with tears. All he could do was wait, his heart breaking as he fought to save her, praying with everything he had that it wasn’t too late.

The sound of the ambulance sirens blared in the distance, and Damian felt like time had slowed to a crawl. Damian’s hand repeatedly pushing on her chest, whispering her name, begging her to wake up. His heart was pounding in his chest, a steady drumbeat of fear and helplessness. When the door burst open and the paramedics rushed in, Damian scrambled back, his voice hoarse from shouting, his hands still shaking.

One of the paramedics, a middle-aged man with a calm but urgent demeanor, knelt down beside Rhea. "What happened?" he asked, already checking her vitals. His partner was busy opening a medical kit on the floor.

“I—I don’t know,” Damian stammered, his voice breaking. “I—I just found her like this. There was a note, and—” His voice trailed off, his chest tightening with panic. “She—she might have taken something. I— but I don’t know what.”

The paramedic frowned and quickly glanced over at his partner. “What kind of pills?” the paramedic asked, his voice steady but firm.

Damian shook his head, his mind spinning. “I don’t know!”

The paramedic didn’t waste any time. He barked out orders to his partner, who was already pulling out an oxygen mask and a portable defibrillator, while Damian watched, frozen in place. The first paramedic carefully inserted an IV into Rhea’s arm, the needle sliding under her pale skin as he connected her to fluids. Then, he began attempting to insert a breathing tube into her mouth.

Damian’s heart raced as he watched, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The room felt like it was spinning around him, his thoughts a chaotic mess. He barely registered the paramedic speaking to him again.

"We’re taking her to the hospital," the paramedic said as they lifted Rhea onto a stretcher, strapping her in. “Her pulse is very weak, but we’ve got to move quickly.”

Damian nodded numbly, following them out of the loft. His mind was clouded with panic and confusion as he climbed into the back of the ambulance with Rhea. He sat beside her, his heart heavy with dread as the paramedics worked quickly around him. The ambulance doors slammed shut, and the sirens wailed again as they sped through the streets.

Damian’s breath hitched in his throat as he looked down at Rhea. Her face was pale, her eyes closed, her body still. One of the paramedics was monitoring her heart rate, while the other inserted another IV in her arm. Damian watched, his stomach twisting with fear as they carefully placed the oxygen mask over her face and began attempting to intubate her.

When Damian saw a flicker of movement on the heart monitor—an indication of a weak but present pulse—he felt a glimmer of hope. But it was fleeting, as the reality of how fragile she was set in. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, and held on tightly.

"Come on, Rhea. Stay with me," Damian whispered, his voice trembling as he leaned closer to her. He could feel his own pulse thundering in his ears, the weight of his fear pressing down on him like a heavy burden.

The paramedic next to him glanced up at the monitor as the heartbeat began to drop. “We’ll do everything we can.”

Damian nodded, squeezing Rhea’s hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles as tears welled in his eyes. He couldn’t believe this was happening. He was terrified that he might lose her, that her note—the one he hadn’t even had the chance to fully process—might be the last thing she ever left behind.

As the ambulance sped through the streets toward the hospital, Damian leaned his head back against the cool metal wall of the vehicle, his eyes never leaving Rhea’s still form. He couldn’t lose her, not like this.

"Please," he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. "Please don’t leave me, Rhea."

As the paramedics wheeled her in, Damian stood frozen as the nurse gently but firmly informed him that he couldn’t accompany Rhea into the surgery room. His grip on her hand loosened reluctantly as the nurse pulled the stretcher toward the double doors, leaving him standing alone in the hallway. His chest felt tight, as though someone had taken the air out of the room.

"Please, take care of her," he whispered to no one in particular, but his words felt hollow, lost in the sterile noise of the hospital.

The nurse's parting instructions echoed in his mind. Wait in the waiting room. But Damian couldn’t bring himself to do it. He felt utterly powerless. His feet carried him aimlessly down the hall, his mind a swirling storm of regret and helplessness. He couldn’t just sit and wait. Not when Rhea’s life was on the line, not after what had just happened.

He stumbled into a nearby corner and pulled out his phone, his hands trembling as he scrolled through his contacts. He found Hunter’s name and pressed call, his fingers gripping the phone so tightly it nearly slipped from his grasp.

Hunter picked up after a few rings, his voice filled with his usual commanding tone. “Damian? What’s up?”

Damian swallowed hard, trying to steady his voice, but the weight of the situation came crashing down on him all at once. “It’s Rhea,” he said, barely able to get the words out. “She…she just tried to—she just tried to end her own life, Hunter.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. When Hunter finally spoke, his voice was full of shock and disbelief. “What? No… I just talked to her, Damian. She didn’t say anything about this! What the hell happened?”

Damian felt his throat tighten. “I don’t know, man. I didn’t even see it coming. I found her in my loft with a note and she wasn’t breathing. The paramedics said her pulse is weak. The doctors are taking her into surgery now.”

Hunter’s tone shifted, becoming more urgent, almost panicked. “Stay there, Damian. I’ll get in touch with Rhea’s family right away. Just don’t move. Keep me updated.”

Damian nodded, though Hunter couldn’t see it. “I’ll stay. I’m not going anywhere.”

They hung up, and the silence that followed was deafening. The reality of what had just happened finally started sinking in. Damian had known Rhea was struggling, but not like this. He hadn’t seen the depths of her pain until it was almost too late.

Desperate to get away from the noise and the sterile lights of the hospital, he spotted a private, handicap-accessible bathroom down the hallway. Without thinking, he pushed the door open, walked inside, and locked it behind him.

As soon as he was alone, Damian collapsed against the wall, burying his face in his hands. The sobs came fast and uncontrollable, wracking his entire body as the weight of everything he had been holding in came crashing down on him. He didn’t know how to handle this, how to process the thought of losing her. He had tried to be strong for her, to be the one person she could always rely on, but he had missed the signs.

He had failed her.

Tears streamed down his face as he leaned his head back against the cool tile, his breathing ragged and uneven. He replayed every moment in his mind—the way she had seemed so distant, how she’d stopped talking to him, how he had chalked it up to the stress of everything that had happened with Jey and Takecia. He hadn’t realized that Rhea was drowning in her own pain.

His phone buzzed in his hand, but Damian ignored it. He didn’t have the strength to talk to anyone else. Not now. All he could think about was the sight of Rhea’s lifeless body on the bed, her skin cold, her pulse barely there. The image was burned into his mind, and it terrified him.

After what felt like an eternity, Damian slowly pulled himself up from the floor, wiping his face with the back of his sleeve. He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. He couldn’t fall apart. Not now. Rhea needed him, and if she made it through this, he had to be there for her. He had to be the person she needed, the one who wouldn’t give up on her.

But as he stared at his reflection in the mirror, Damian couldn’t shake the gnawing guilt in his chest. He couldn’t help but wonder if he could have done more, if he could have somehow saved her before it had come to this.

“Please,” he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. ���Please let her make it.”

And with that, he unlocked the door and stepped back out into the bright, sterile hallway, the weight of his fear and guilt still heavy on his shoulders. Now, all he could do was wait.

—

Three hours later, Jey, Jon, and Trinity sat on the couch , idly watching TV. Jey was cuddled into a pillow, resting his eyes, when suddenly, all three of them perked up at the sound of breaking news.

“Breaking News: 28-year-old Demi Addams, known professionally as WWE Superstar Rhea Ripley, has been rushed into surgery after attempting to take her own life. This news was confirmed by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, as he was seen leaving WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. CNN’s New York Native Jessica Dean is on the scene.”

The screen shifted to show the reporter standing outside Mount Sinai Hospital, her expression serious. “Thank you so much. I’m standing outside Mount Sinai, where doctors are working extensively on Mrs. Addams. Unnamed sources have shared information that Mrs. Addams was found by fellow WWE Superstar and close friend of Mrs. Addams, Luis Martinez, also known as Damian Priest. WWE sources have further declined any type of interview at this time, but we can only hope this young wrestler has a fighting chance. Kathy, back to you.”

At the mention of Rhea's name, Jey's heart sank. He stared at the screen, his expression blank, the weight of the news crushing down on him.

“Jey?” Jon’s voice cut through the silence, but it sounded distant, muffled. Jey didn’t respond, lost in a haze of disbelief.

“Jey!” Jon's tone turned urgent as he reached over and shook his brother’s shoulder. “Snap out of it!”

Jey blinked rapidly, finally focusing on Jon and Trinity. The fear in their eyes matched the chaos swirling in his chest. “What... what do we do?” he whispered, his voice trembling.

“We need to get to New York. Now,” Jon replied, determination flooding his tone.

Trinity nodded, her expression fierce. “We can’t just sit here. Rhea needs us.”

Jey felt a surge of adrenaline push through the fog of despair. “You’re right. Let’s go.” He jumped up from the couch, urgency taking over as he ran to the guest room to throw some clothes in a duffel bag.

Jon and Trinity quickly followed suit, their hearts racing with a mix of fear and determination. They wouldn’t let Rhea face this battle alone. Together, they would fight for her.

—

Damian sat in the waiting room of Mount Sinai Hospital, anxiety gnawing at him as he paced back and forth. He was now joined by Hunter, who had arrived moments ago with a team of security and assistants. Upon arrival, Hunter informed Damian that he already contacted Rhea’s family and they were on the way in from Australia. The tension in the air was palpable, and the atmosphere was thick with worry. Rhea was still in surgery, and the uncertainty was eating away at everyone present.

“Do you have any updates?” Hunter asked, his voice low but firm, trying to maintain a sense of control amid the chaos.

“Nothing yet,” Damian replied, rubbing the back of his neck. “They’ve been in there for hours. I just can’t believe this is happening.”

Hunter nodded, his brow furrowed with concern. “Rhea’s strong. She’ll pull through this.” But even he seemed unsure, glancing toward the surgery doors as if willing them to open.

Damian took a deep breath, his mind racing. He knew he needed to reach out to Jey. “Do you think I could text Jey?” he asked Hunter, desperate for his friend to be there.

“Of course,” Hunter replied, nodding in understanding. “He should know.”

Damian quickly pulled out his phone and typed a message, sending the hospital’s location along with a brief note about Rhea’s condition. Almost instantly, he received a reply. The tension in his chest eased slightly as he read Jey’s response: I’m about to board a plane. I’ll be on my way.

“Jey’s coming,” Damian said, looking up at Hunter with a mixture of relief and urgency. “He’s already at the airport.”

“Good,” Hunter said, a flicker of hope crossing his face. “He needs to be here. Rhea will want to see him when she wakes up.”

Just then, the waiting area door swung open, and a nurse emerged, her expression serious but compassionate. The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward her, anticipation hanging heavy in the air.

“Is there news?” Damian asked, stepping forward.

“She’s still in surgery,” the nurse said, her tone calm yet firm. “The doctors are doing everything they can. It’s a delicate situation, but we’re monitoring her closely.”

Damian felt his heart race again, and he glanced at Hunter, who nodded in acknowledgment. They needed to hold onto hope. As the minutes turned into what felt like hours, Damian couldn’t shake the feeling that Rhea’s fight was far from over, and they would all be right there, ready to support her when she needed them most.

—

Another four hours had passed, and Jey, Jon, and Trinity were finally on their way to Mount Sinai Hospital. It had been an hour since they landed in New York, and they decided to drop their bags at the hotel before heading straight to the hospital because they still hadn’t received an update. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air, and with every minute that passed without an update, Jey’s anxiety grew.

As they approached the hospital, Jey was taken aback by the sight before him. The entrance was lined with hundreds of fans, each one holding candles and posters adorned with messages of love and support for Rhea. Some signs read “Stay Strong, Rhea” and “We Love You, Rhea!” The sheer number of people rooting for her surprised Jey, filling him with a mix of admiration and sorrow.

“This is incredible,” Trinity said, her voice filled with awe. “I didn’t realize how much she meant to so many people.”

Jey nodded, feeling a sense of warmth despite the grim circumstances. “She deserves all of this and more,” he replied, his heart swelling with pride for Rhea.

They were dropped off in front of the hospital, where police officers were stationed, carefully checking the identities of those entering. As the trio walked toward the entrance, the crowd erupted in cheers, calling out Rhea's name. It was a testament to her impact, and Jey felt a surge of emotions as they made their way through the throng of supporters.

One of Paul’s assistants approached the police officer at the entrance, explaining who they were and instructing him to let them through. The officer nodded and waved them in, and as they stepped inside, Jey spotted Damian sitting down with Hunter, both looking worn but relieved to see them.

“Jey!” Damian exclaimed as he stood up, pulling Jey into a quick embrace. “I’m glad you made it.”

“What happened?” Jey asked, urgency in his voice as he searched Damian's eyes for answers.

“I still don’t know,” Damian said, shaking his head in frustration. “She’s been in surgery for hours now. It’s been excruciating waiting without any news.”

Jey felt a knot tighten in his stomach. “What can we do?” he asked, desperate to feel useful.

“Just being here means everything,” Hunter interjected, placing a reassuring hand on Jey’s shoulder. “Rhea needs to know that she’s not alone in this.”

As they settled into the waiting area, Jey glanced around at the faces of the fans outside the hospital, each one holding onto hope for Rhea’s recovery. He felt the weight of their support, and for the first time that day, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, Rhea would pull through this.

—

After another hour of tense waiting, a doctor finally emerged, his presence commanding immediate attention. “I’m looking for Demi Addams’s family,” he called out, and everyone stood up, anticipation flooding the room.

The doctor motioned for them to follow him, leading them into an empty conference room further inside the hospital, away from the bustling emergency room. Four WWE security guards stood at the door, ensuring their privacy as the doctor prepared to deliver the news.

“Thank you all for coming,” he began, his tone somber. “I’m Dr. Morris. I’m here to provide an update on Demi’s condition.”

The group leaned in closer, their hearts racing as they braced for the worst. “Demi has experienced a hypoxic brain injury,” Dr. Morris explained, his gaze serious as he addressed them.

Paul, unable to contain himself, interjected, “Can you elaborate on that?”

“Due to the drug overdose, her brain was deprived of oxygen for an extended period,” the doctor continued, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of his words. “She has been placed on a mechanical ventilator and is currently in a coma.”

Trinity gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in shock. “Will she make it?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear.

Dr. Morris hesitated, his expression pained as if he was grappling with the words. “It would be best if her parents were here to say their goodbyes first,” he replied gently.

Paul stood up, desperation etched across his face. “Is there any chance?” he pressed, tears brimming in his eyes. “Please, just tell me there’s a chance.”

The doctor’s expression remained grave. “She has about a 5% chance of waking up,” he admitted. “And a 3% chance of a full recovery.”

The room fell silent, the reality of the situation crashing down on them. Jey felt the walls closing in as he struggled to process the devastating news. Tears streamed down his face, and he broke down completely, the weight of Rhea’s condition overwhelming him. Trinity held him in her arms as she saw her brother in law, completely broken.

“Is there any way we can see her?” Jey managed to ask through his sobs.

Dr. Morris nodded, but his gaze was serious. “There’s a two-person max for the ICU at this time,” he explained. “I can bring in a nurse to escort you.”

After a moment of discussion, the doctor offered for Jey to go in first, but he shook his head. “I want to see her alone,” he insisted, his voice shaking with emotion.

Damian and Paul went in first, followed by Jon and Trinity. Each of them emerged, their faces pale and stricken with grief.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jey mustered the strength to face the reality of the situation. He was led to the ICU by a nurse, who motioned to the door. As Jey stood before it, he felt his heart racing in his chest. He opened the door slightly, and the sight before him nearly brought him to his knees.

Rhea lay there, surrounded by machines, her body still and vulnerable. The nurse held him up, noticing the change in his demeanor. “If you can’t go in, it’s okay,” she said gently.

Jey took a few short, shaky breaths, his mind racing with memories of Rhea—the laughter, the late-night talks, the love they shared. Damian saw him from a distance, his own eyes freshly red from crying. He rushed over to Jey and the nurse, placing a comforting hand on Jey’s shoulder. “I’ll take care of him,” he said firmly.

Jey turned to Damian, his voice breaking. “Don’t make me go in there, man,” he pleaded, the fear and heartbreak evident in his eyes.

Damian’s eyes welled up with tears as he looked at Jey, feeling his pain. “You have to go,” he urged softly, his voice filled with compassion. “She needs you now more than ever.”

With that, Jey steeled himself, knowing he had to face the truth. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open wider and stepped into the ICU, not ready to confront the reality of Rhea’s condition.

[carmillascrusade]

Game of love | Larissa Weems x f!reader

Images do not belong to me. Summary: Parents weekend is upon you and you find yourself at the fair with Morticia and Larissa. Confessions ensue.

Word count: 2,940

A/N: I figured I would post this fic that I wrote donkeys ago while I’m working on a multi-chapter fic. It isn’t proofread😨 I feel like my writing style just changes all the time and I can’t get it to be consistent.

Your desk was overflowing with paperwork and unfinished report cards, the sheer size of the work you know you have to do was overwhelming. Dull flames danced in the fireplace, licking the fresh log you put in there a couple of seconds ago, eventually setting it alight. Tiny particles of ash blew around the room, weightlessly floating around, suspended by the air encompassing the room. Oh, what it would feel like to be weightless and free. 

Parents weekend was fast approaching. In two days parents of all would be congregating in the school and the local town- much to the displeasure of the sheriff, and yourself. Two days. You had a measly two days to finish off your work and all the report cards that sat mocking you on your desk. 

With a sigh, you accepted your fate and began to silently plough on with your work. Hoping, no praying, that parents weekend wouldn’t drag. After all, there is only so much socialising you can do. 

Parents weekend came faster than you expected. From the frosted window of your office, you could see cars pouring in through the front gates. Hopefully nobody you went to school with would be here. 

Checking the mahogany grandfather clock that sat in the corner of your office, you glanced at the warped needles to determine that it was only 4 o’clock. Plenty of time to get these reports to Larissa. 

Gathering the pristine envelopes in a bundle, you dashed to Larissa’s office hoping that none of the parents had made their way just yet. 

To your dismay, as well as Larissa’s by the fall of her face, you entered her office as Morticia Frump and her family were there. Huffing softly, you crossed the room with the intent of handing Larissa the reports and leaving as soon as possible. 

It wasn’t that you didn’t like Morticia, no, she had been your friend during your years at Nevermore together. It was just that you hadn’t spoken to her in years since her marriage, and her presence meant that her husband was here too. Gomez Addams, you thought with distaste. You disliked the man, loathed him even; Larissa had loved him unconditionally and he chose someone else. Who wouldn’t choose Larissa?

Maybe you were just biassed. Maybe your hatred came from the fact that she loved him and not you. Loved him even though you had always been by her side. Loved him even though you have loved her since you were children and never stopped. 

Larissa is the sun, and your life revolves around her; because without her, you wouldn’t be alive. 

You were snapped out of your thoughts by Morticia’s silky smooth voice calling your name, claiming that she hadn’t seen you in years but you still look exactly the same. 

Forcing out a smile at her clearly fake interest in you, you replied. “Yes, I haven’t seen you since you left Nevermore and got married. You still look as wonderful as ever, Morticia. The gods have been kind.” 

“Hmm, I suppose they have. But look at you! The gods have certainly been kind there.” She said, sickly sweet, whilst her eyes roamed up and down your body. 

Larissa’s mouth twitched at that, her perfect smile falling ever so slightly before being abruptly put back in place. She coughed in impatience, dragging both yours and Morticia’s attention towards her. 

“Might I remind you that we are here to talk about your daughter, Ms Addams.” Larissa said with a clipped tone. 

Morticia laughed at that, gliding over to you and placing her arm on your elbow. “We have all weekend to talk about Wednesday, Larissa. I just want to catch up with my friend. Is that so wrong?”

“No, I suppose not.” She huffed, aggravated at Morticia’s audacity to touch you. 

Morticia grinned wickedly at her before turning back to you. “Would you like to go to the fair with me tonight?” She asked, still sporting that sickening grin. 

You pondered her request. While it would be fun to catch up with her, you also knew that she had a deeper motive. She was playing a game that you would rather not play a part in. 

“I suppose we could go to the fair tonight,”

“Oh wonderful!”

“On one condition,”

Her smile fell at that and her eyes narrowed dangerously. “And what is that?” She gritted out. 

“I want to invite Larissa too!” You chirped. If you were going to play this game, you may as well have fun whilst doing so. 

You glanced over at Larissa, smiling wistfully. If only she loved you the way you loved her. 

Morticia huffed at your request, agreeing and inviting Larissa to the fair with the two of you. Fully expecting Larissa to turn down the opportunity in favour of working, you were pleasantly surprised when she agreed; her tone still clipped as she answered Morticia. 

Excited at the prospect of getting to spend time with Larissa outside of the school grounds, you quickly gave her your finished reports, fingers lightly brushing against her own, causing your cheeks to tint pink at the heat radiating off them. Excusing yourself from the room, you made your way back to your room with an extra bounce in your step. The glee radiating off of you noticed by all that passed. 

Tonight was going to be amazing. 

The temperature had dropped drastically since this afternoon, resulting in you looking like a stuffed chicken in your winter clothes. You had decided to wear your favourite jumper, an egg shell coloured woven piece crafted of the finest wool; gifted to you by Larissa of course. 

A small vibration in your pocket alerts you to a message. Pulling your phone out proved to be a great difficulty with your frozen fingers. Larissa had messaged you, letting you know that she and Morticia were sitting on the table closest to the entrance. 

Easy enough to find you supposed. 

Plodding over to the entrance, your eyes scanned the area, desperately searching for the familiar platinum blonde hair you loved so much. Your eyes lit up as you spotted her with Morticia. They seemed to be sat contesting in a nonverbal contest, staring at each other with such contempt that the average onlooker would recoil in fear. 

Rolling your eyes, you slid onto the bench next to Larissa; snapping the women’s attention towards you, eliciting beaming smiles from the both of them. Smiling back, you looked at the outfits the other two were wearing to find that you were the only one dressed appropriately for this weather. 

Huffing in discontent, you eyed both of them wearily. What kind of people don’t wear coats in freezing weather?! It is ridiculous! 

“How aren’t you two freezing?” You blurred out, narrowing your eyes at Morticia specifically. At least Larissa had a blazer on, Morticia just had her iconic dress adorning her body. 

Morticia just laughed at you whilst Larissa offered you a small smile. “My blazer is warm enough for me. Not all of us need to wear twenty layers to stay warm.” She said, lightly joking about your inability to stay warm. 

Your turned your head away from her in false anger before spotting the burger van. Larissa loved burgers. “Larissa!”you shouted excitedly while tugging on her arm. “Look, there’s a burger van! Do you want a burger?” 

Larissa saw the excitement on your face at the prospect of buying her a burger. Unable to deny you, she nodded her head. Beaming at her, you shot out of your seat and bounced over to the burger van. 

She looked over at you fondly. Ignoring Morticia’s prescense completely in favour of watching your retreating form. Morticia wasn’t too pleased at the disregard of her presence, so she decided to start her plan. 

“So,” she drawled. “Do you really think she loves you back, Larissa?” 

Larissa’s eyes narrowed at that, sensing the thinly veiled  threat Morticia had laced into her words. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She snapped back. 

“Oh, but I think you do. You look at her like she holds the world in her hands. Only a fool would miss it.” 

“I do not.”

“Very well. Let’s make a bet, shall we?” Morticia paused, waiting for an answer. Seeing that Larissa was refusing to speak to her, she continued on anyway. “I bet that by the end of the night, she will be looking at me the way you look at her.”

“And if she doesn’t?” Larissa countered, praying to the gods that they wouldn’t let Morticia take something else away from her. 

“Then I’ll leave you two alone. Deal?” 

“I’m not making petulant bets with you, Morticia. Especially over her.” Larissa seethed, angered by the fact that Morticia would even dare use you in her childish games. 

Glancing over to the side, Larissa saw you bounding back with her burger and two trays of chips in hand. The fact that you hadn’t bought anything for Morticia amused her greatly, eliciting a slither of hope that, just this once, Larissa wouldn’t lose somebody she loved to Morticia Frump. 

You sidled back into the bench next to Larissa, handing her the chips you bought her along with her burger. You had bought her her usual order and yourself some chips. Larissa’s chips were adorned with tomato sauce in the corner whilst yours had vinegar slathered all over them. 

Reaching out to grab a chip, you realised that you forgot to get Morticia anything. Eyes widening at your brief amnesia, you shot her a sheepish look across the table, hoping that she wasn’t too offended. 

Morticia sat with a scowl, arms folded across her chest as she stared at the two of you. Larissa smirked back at her, waving her burger around; the silent message was clear. You had bought Larissa food and not Morticia. 

It wasn’t until you began eating before you realised that Morticia didn’t have anything to eat. Was she expecting you to buy her something? Shrugging your shoulders you figured that she just wasn’t hungry. 

Turning to Larissa, you asked her a question. “What are we going to do first, Rissa?” 

“Hmm,” she hummed, mouth still full of food. Deciding to tease you slightly, she chewed on for a while, pretending to be deep in thought; causing you to stare eagerly with those doe eyes she loved dearly. “ I think that we should go to the darts stall. I would be honoured to win you a teddy.” 

Your squeal of excitement broke through the crisp night air, scaring the previously resting birds causing them to chirp restlessly at the disturbance. Smiling up sheepishly at them, you shouted a quick apology before throwing yourself into Larissa. “Please, Larissa! Please win me a teddy!! I will love you for all eternity, I love teddies!” 

Shooting a dazzling smile your way as you hung on her arm, chest pressed flush against her body, she sneered at Morticia across the table. You wanted HER to win you a teddy, not Morticia. 

Not one to lose a challenge so quickly, Morticia rose, drawing your attention. “Well,” she started, seething because you were still holding onto Larissa. “Shall we make our way to the darts stand? I’m sure I could win you a larger teddy than Larissa.” 

“We will see, Ms Addams.” 

Tensing slightly at the tension between the two, you pulled on Larissa's arm- directing her over to the darts stand. A few games in Larissa won you a medium dragon teddy. It was black with iridescent purple scales and big bulging eyes. You loved it dearly, holding it to your chest as you watched Morticia play. 

You both watched Morticia intensely as she threw each dart. Each of them hitting the bullseye. Larissa’s smile fell as she watched the games handler grab a giant panda to give to Morticia; her prize now feeling insufficient. 

Morticia smiled triumphantly, outdoing Larissa was her favourite way to pass time. Handing you the panda, she shot a smug look at Larissa and her downcast eyes. 

You grabbed the bear off Morticia and gave her a small smile, too engrossed in the dragon Larissa won you to care about the oversized panda. 

Morticia waltzed off, claiming that she wants to go on the ferris wheel next. You turned around to look at Larissa, the oversized panda dangling dangerously close to the floor while you clutched your dragon. Larissa’s eyes were hung low, a wounded expression singed on her face. 

“Rissa? What’s wrong?” You asked. 

“It’s silly really. No need to worry, sweetheart.” She touched your chin slightly, angling it up so she could smile down at you. 

Your heart pounded in your chest at the pet name she gave you. Beaming up at her, you reached for her arm, tugging her lightly towards the ferris wheel. She would tell you what was bothering her when she was ready. 

You and Larissa arrived at the ferris wheel to greet an angry Morticia, apparently displeased at your refusal to trail after her like a lovesick puppy. Her eyes flicked to your panda trailing across the floor, eyes narrowing at you clutching Larissa’s teddy to your chest. 

Huffing slightly, she motioned for you and Larissa to get on the cart. Larissa sat down first, patting the seat next to her, motioning for you to sit next to her. Plopping down next to her, you shuffled as close as you could; holding your dragon on your lap, placing the panda between you and Morticia- much to her displeasure. 

Carnival lights glistened peacefully as the whirring of the ferris wheel drowned out the laughs of joy from below. Larissa’s breath was coming out in slow puffs, visible due to the cold chill of the night air. She was far more beautiful than any other woman. The prettiest to ever exist. 

The top of the ferris wheel was far higher than you were expecting, triggering your fear of heights. Sensing an oncoming panic attack, you grabbed hold of Larissa’s hand as you were in desperate need of grounding. Noticing your inner turmoil, Larissa rubbed soothing circles over your hand, whispering sweet nothings in your ear. 

With Larissa help you calmed down. Desperately wishing that the ferris wheel would end shortly, you closed your eyes and rested your head on Larissa’s shoulder; still grasping her hand dearly, unable to let go of the comfort she provides. 

The ride ended not long later and you got off with wobbly legs and tear stained cheeks, still clutching Larissa’s hand. Morticia watched you with a mix of rage and jealousy. Why hadn’t her plan worked? Not one to back down so easily, she sauntered up to you, offering you a ride home in her car. 

Politely, you declined. Stating that Larissa had already offered. You watched as Morticia’s level headed facade began to crack, her face twisting in anger as she finally accepted that her plan had failed. Swiftly turning on her heel, she stomped out of the fair without even saying goodbye. 

You turned to Larissa confused as she smiled down at you. Why had Morticia reacted that way? Shrugging your shoulders, you let Larissa tug you towards her car- you were in desperate need of a break from all the walking. 

Sitting down in the leather seats of Larissa’s car, you placed your dragon in your lap and the panda by your feet. Shooting a smile at Larissa, you placed your seatbelt on and turned towards the window. The full vibrations and the quiet whispering ls of the radio lulling you into a deep slumber. 

Pale wisps of sunlight filtered through the closed curtains, arousing you from your slumber. The familiar scent of Larissa filled your senses as you suddenly became aware of the weight on your stomach. Slithers of silver, platinum blonde hair fanned around your face, perfectly manicured nails spread over your stomach, and a warm body pressed up against your back. 

Turning around, you were greeted with Larissa beautiful face; mouth open and eyes closed, mumbling about something in her sleep. Giggling softly, you leant closer into to her and inhaled her scent. Not wanting to wake her up, you reached for your phone, took a picture of the both of you, and waited for her to wake. 

You could feel the moment she woke since her grip tightened as she became aware of her surroundings. Raising your head off of her chest, you greeted her with a blinding smile, to which she returned. 

The velvety hues of her groggy voice filled the air as she spoke to you. “ You stayed?” She questioned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. 

“Of course I stayed. Why wouldn’t I?”

“ I figured you would be disgusted sharing a bed with me.” She admitted. 

“Of course I wouldn’t, Rissa. Only a fool would be disgusted at sharing a bed with you.” You replied with earnest. 

“Is that so?” She hummed. “And why is that?” 

“Because, you’re the most beautiful woman in the entire world. You radiate grace and elegance. And I find myself utterly enraptured with you.”

“You do?” She asked, her face contorted in confusion. “Why on earth would somebody be enraptured with me?”

“Because I love you, Larissa. I have always loved you. I wake up and you’re the first thing on my mind. I sleep and all I dream about is you. You’re the highlight of my life and I could never live without you.”

“Well then. It’s a good job I find myself utterly and hopeless in love with you too, isn’t it?” 

A/NII: Can’t wait for the Christmas holidays so I don’t have to do anything for two weeks.

[short-black-diamond]

loved the sae and kaiser scenario about the reader getting hit on please may i request: barou rin and karasu for the next one (female reader)

THANK YOU

yessss let's do this! Also thank you for putting in the gender my love. Also how were you able to put in three of my favourite characters?? Like are you a mind reader or???

Warnings: Barou's is a lil suggestive and I'm surprised by that myself, Rin's a lil angsty but just a tiny bit, Also Karasu is jelly and protects you

---

"You belong to me." ...part two

part one

Barou:

He can't believe it actually happened while he was there. The fucking audacity the guy had to approach you, his beautiful, gorgeous and perfect queen, and that on a saturday morning?

You guys were about to go on a camping trip and wanted to buy a few things on the way, but that also included food because Barou wanted to eat something fresh and healthy.

And it also just so happened that you were looking at eggplants, thinking that they'd go well with tomatoes, shicken breasts, and beef.

That guy approached you then and smirked at you. "You comparing them, sweetheart?", he asked, and Barou had tickmarks appearing on his skin. but you just said yes. "Also don't call me that, I am-"

"You know? None of these can please you like I can.", the guy then declared with a seductive smirk. You cringed before you pointed to Barou.

"I don't need yours or any of these eggplants when I have my boyfriend right here. And also,", you added, "my boyfriend has the biggest cock in here, so shut it and fuck off, you donkey."

The guy scoffed in annoyance before scrolling away. Barou huffed proudly when you told the guy off and called him a donkey. However, he was still mad at the fact that a peasant dared to approach his queen.

"What does that guy even think...!", he growled, wanting to teach him a lesson, but you just grabbed his arm. "C'mon my love, he's gone, and I don't really like eggplants anymore. Let's go to the herbs isle."

Barou nodded at you before he smirked. "I've got the biggest cock you said?", he quoted slightly, and you blushed. "I-I've tried to defend myself, you know?!"

"So the first thing you think of me is my dick?", he asked in a low chuckle. You shook your head as you two went to the other isle while you tried to explain yourself.

Rin:

You two were on an appointment because you had to get you new vitamins and you needed a receipt. Rin waited in the waiting room for you as he looked through his phone.

When you came out of the doctor's room, Rin stood up and followed you to the receptionist. A handsome guy was sitting there, and he looked at you with a blush.

Rin noticed that, but wanted to see how you'd react. He stood there with a little space, making himself nearly invisible as he stood right behind you so neither you nor the guy behind the counter could see you.

"Say, are you single?", the guy asked with a polite smile. You frowned at him before you turned to the waiting room. 'Did Rin go..?', you thought before you answered. "No, I'm in a happy relationship."

The guy pouted cutely. You'd for sure give him a chance if you weren't already together with Rin, and he was the best option to have.

"Really? Huh, you're a really pretty woman, and I didn't see a ring on your finger, that's why-", and he stopped talking when you pulled at your necklace. A ring was attached to it.

Rin blushed heavily and played with the thought of spawning right up next to you to declare that he was your lover.

"Is this proof enough?", you asked. "If yes, then can I have my receipt? I'd like to leave now."

The guy blushed again, but this time in embarassment before quickly arranging your papers and giving you the receipt before apologizing with a red face.

You shook your head. "It's alright. Have a good day!", and with that, you went out. Then you called Rin.

"Rin? Where are you?", you asked, looking around. You were sad at the fact that he "left". But, you heard his voice from your other ear, not the one which was pressed against your phone.

"Right here.", he answered softly before hugging you. You huffed. "Where were you? I just got hit on!"

"I was behind you the whole time...I wanted to see how you'd react...and w-well, you did just fine..", he mumbled as he buried his face in your neck, blushing furiously at the memory of two minutes where you conversed with the guy and proudly showed of your promise ring which Rin gave you.

"Of course. There's no one else besides you who I love, Rin.", you answered honestly before you kissed the side of his face.

"Wanna go to the apotheke with me?", you asked with a smile, and this time, Rin took your hand instead of staying behind you.

Karasu:

You guys were at the beach, along with his teammates. Karasu introduced himself as you best friend (ouch), because he wanted to keep your guys' relationship a secret from his friends, for they would tease him relentlessly.

But, he also took the risk of having to watch you get hit on by Otoya and Oliver, who both tried to seduce you by standing on either side of you.

"Say, sweets,", Otoya started, looking at you with a smirk. "Are you really single?", he asked as he ogled at your body. You felt uncomfortable.

"I..", you started before Oliver cut you off, daring to touch you. His hand went up to your waist as he pulled you closer to himself, creating some distance between you and Otoya.

"Seriously? Asking if she's single right away? Bad move, Otoya.", Oliver remarked before he looked at you with a reassuring smile. "Please don't mind him, he's just a pervert."

You felt even more uncomfortable, but before you knew it, Karasu's arms slung around you as he stood behind you. You looked up with a blush.

"Let me correct myself,", Karasu seethed as he glared at the two cheaters/fuckboys. "____ is my girlfriend.", he delared, and you blushed with a smile.

Oliver and Otoya only looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Damn, I wanted to suggest for me and ____ to go to a secured place and-" "Not happening."

"Heh, I would suggest a threesome-" "Nuh-uh!"

---

Bwahahaahaahah why is my mind so dirty...

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

What native Gallifreyan species are there?

Gallifrey has a diverse range of fauna, both native and introduced. Despite claims of minimal ecological impact, the installation of the Eye of Harmony and millions of years of Time Lord civilisation have significantly altered Gallifrey's original biosphere.

🦋 Invertebrates

Beatitude Flies: Begin as maggots and pupate into golden-winged nocturnal insects. They use nectar to create helium in their bellies and are attracted to light and decay.

Butterflies: Various species flutter across Gallifrey.

Bees: Essential for pollination.

Gullet Grubs: Likely to live in digestive tracts of larger mammals, or similar environments.

Blossom Thieves: Possibly insects that steal nectar or pollen.

Scrubblers: Likely small, cleaning insects.

Neversuch Beetles, Sandbeetles, Waspbeetles: Various beetles.

Dustworms: Likely live in dry, dusty environments.

Scissors Bugs: Possibly predatory insects with sharp mandibles.

Flutterwings: Gigantic insects (3 meters by 25 meters) that never land. Five races include Wild Endeavor, Mandrigal, Silver-Band, Blue Crystal, and Perdition.

Snails

Water-Sligs: Likely aquatic or semi-aquatic molluscs.

Web-Spinning Insects: Including spiders about an inch long.

Other dangerous invertebrates: There are also nasty creatures that live beneath big stones.

🐟 Marine Life

Singing Yaddlefish: Notable for their song, and they can be eaten.

Kittensharks: Hatch from eggs and presumably grow into Catsharks.

Axolotl Salamanders: Amphibious creatures with regenerative abilities.

🐍 Elapids

Taipan: A venomous snake, 10 metres long.

Venal Snakes: Possibly nest-stealers or highly venomous.

Bat-Snakes: Presumably flying snakes.

Dinosauria: 20-meter-long reptiles resembling brontosaurs with thick chitinous scales and serrated teeth.

🦅 Avians

Owls: Symbol of Rassilon.

Flurry Birds: Likely small, fast-moving birds.

Trunkikes: Game birds whose eggs are often eaten.

Air Diamonds: Fly in the upper atmosphere, possibly crystalline or bioluminescent.

Song Birds: Various species.

Gargantosaurs: Dinosaur-like creatures, twice the size of a hab-bloc, with two legs, vestigial wings (with purple and white feathers), and four eyes.

🦣 Mammals

Plungbolls: Thumbnail-sized furry creatures living in mountains, attach en masse to warm objects.

Taffelshrews: Edible rodent-like mammals.

Fledershrews: Bat-like, mushroom eaters, nearly extinct.

Cobblemice: Mice that sprout wings.

Rovie Mice: Field-dwelling, long-lived if kept safe, sometimes pets. They have short memories.

Moss-Rats: Possibly rodents that live in marshes with moss-like camouflage.

Vex: Burrowing animals.

Gallifreyan Womprats: 1-metre-long rats with fifteen legs.

Pig-Rats: Inhabit the Drylands, presumably combining porcine and rodent traits.

Rabbits

Flubbles: Small six-legged koalas.

Unnamed rounder rabbit-like creatures

Ounce-Apes: Might be tiny monkeys that are particularly agile.

Sealak: Perhaps a kind of seal, often eaten.

Bear-Ass: A donkey-like animal with bear-like qualities.

Horse-Cats: Probably a horse/cat hybrid-like species.

Sagittary: Horse-like creatures.

Elephants

Pig-Bears: Can be trained as pets.

Wolf-like Creatures: With long snouts and black-and-white striped fur, almost as big as adult humanoids.

Broakir: Live in foothills, often hunted for food.

Baanjxx: Arboreal browsers that like to eat hallucinogenic cerub nuts. As a child, the Doctor was kicked by one in the head, apparently.

Cows

Walrus

Gallifreyan Marlot: Purple and unique in all of time and space. Probably a bit cat-like.

House Cats: Revered as symbols of intelligence. Traditionally, Presidents kept them as pets.

🐱 Killer Cats (C.A.T.S)

Killer C.A.T.S: These sapient creatures possess instinctive precognitive powers and cat-like physiology. Known for their lethal gladiatorial contests, they despise Time Lord traditions and live in the Gin-Seng Sector of Southern Gallifrey. Their culture includes mercenaries and oracles; they are telepathic.

🏞️ Ecosystem Preservation

Though Gallifrey's outer ecology has suffered, the Time Lords have used technology to preserve many species. Extinct species have been collected, ensuring none become completely extinct. The more fearsome creatures are contained in the Death Zone, while xeno-zoos hold alien species from other worlds.

🏫 So ...

So there's your whistlestop tour of the species on Gallifrey. One day, I'll try to put these onto a species distribution map. Oh, by Rassilon's Beard, I just gave myself more work.

Related:

💬|🪐🌍How is Gallifreyan geography different to Earth?: The landscape of Gallifrey.

📺|🌳🍎The Fruits of Gallifrey

💬|🐾🐱What could be some biological traits of Gin-Seng cats?: Looking at who the Gin-Seng cats are, their biology, and their place on Gallifrey and in society.

Hope that helped! 😃

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