#WHO DID YOU PLAYED WITH AS A KID RABBIT BOY?!?

[ranarenee]

I'm allergic to colors and I have bunny disease.

[randomgurl2326]

Adam Relationship Headcannons

SFW

You two met after the whole Lilith and Eve debacle

You were sent to be his Guardian Angel down in the Garden of Eden. Honestly, he couldn’t care less about Eve when he first saw you

He was in the middle of the garden, talking to Eve and then you show up… man’s whipped. Simp I tell you

(Actually wished that you were made to be his wife instead of the baddie Lilith or the goodie-two-shoes Eve)

Again. Whipped.

Now, tho is guy… whewww. He may seem incredibly misogynistic to practically everyone around him. But he can be a total sweetheart

He would—if you didn’t know how to already—teach you how to shred on the guitar

Speaking of guitars, that gold strat that he had during the battle in the last episode is only used during a special occasion (case and point, when you two have a date night or after sex)

He also serenades you every chance he gets

After dinner

After a meeting

After sex

After just walking the goddamn promenade

I also think he would be heavenly (ha! See what i did there? No? Okay…) in the kitchen. Especially for date night. Adam knows how to make the best prime rib in heaven

(Lute totally hasn’t tried to blackmail the recipe out of him)

Adam is also very insecure about how he looks under his mask

Especially after having two wives ditch him for Lucifer

He definitely needs to be praised on a daily basis, even if it seems like he’s an egotistical asshole

Every day you tell him how handsome he is and he doesn’t believe you (c’mon have you seen him fuckin’ hot)

You two sometimes don’t see each other days on end because you both work so much. You being a high-ranking Angel/seraphim and him being well… the first man on Earth

If you guys go especially long for not seeing each other, you guys hole up a few days in your shared home spending time with each other among other things…

By the way, you and Lute are best friends, probably more than her and Adam

Like, seriously, if you’re not with him, you’re with her. Gossiping or fucking around, it’s heaven, there’s infinite things to do

You two are also very lovey dovey with each other

One time Sera had cover Emily’s eyes with her wings because you two were making out and feeling each other up in the middle of the Heavenly Court Room

Despite all of his faults, he’s a good husband to you, a great one actually. And if you two were to ever have kids, he’d definitely be the dad who everyone loves

He would introduce them to rock, punk, metal.

Definitely plays his guitar to get them to sleep every night

NSFW

Okay… he want lying about being the Dick Master. He can pleasure women, that is not a problem for him

Also, it might not seem like it, but he loves going down on you. Probably one of his favorite pass times actually

I swear, this man could make you scream his name within minutes. No joke

Don’t get me wrong, he loves receiving head

But just not as much as he loves eating pussy (Lilith and Eve missed out on that one for sure)

He also has a bigger dick than average

Probably 6-7.5 inches in length and hella girthy. Uncircumcised (duh), and a vein that runs up the bottom of it

Definitely knows how to use it

Every one within a five mile radius of your guys’ house… let’s just say I feel really bad for them

No joke, he is insane about pleasuring you

This probably also feeds into his insecurity about you leaving him (you won’t)

He for sure has a praise kink. Seriously, tell him he’s a good boy and he’s unraveling under your touch instantly

His favorite position is cowgirl (what can he say, he loves powerful women)

But he’s down for whatever position you want; missionary, warrior, against a wall, whatever

Speaking of wall sex, Lute has definitely caught you two more than once

The first time she did was when you two were in Adam’s office while he was supposed to be planning the next extermination. She came to ask him a question about it and there you two were. Goin’ at it like rabbits on the wall next to his desk

She couldn’t look you guys in the eye for three weeks. It was terrible

Adam also doesn’t seem like the type of guy to have sex toys or feel the need to use them

But, again, he’s whipped. So he’s willing to do whatever you want to do

Wont admit this to anyone but you, but he likes to sub every once in a while. Especially with all the ‘first man’ stuff weighing down on him he needs a way to get away from all that stress

Despite him making crude jokes about sex, he’s a very giving partner in bed

He had to make sure you cum at least twice before he gets his dick wet

Also, have I mentioned how good he is at eating pussy? Oh, I have? Yeah, well, he is (especially with that tiny bit of stubble on his chin… gahhh)

Just needed to get it out there

All in all, Adam is a very giving person in bed, can be selfish at times but will make up for it. He loves you too much for you to feel mad or upset (especially with him)

A/N: this was my first time writing for Adam and Hazbin in general. I hope you liked it. I love you all💚💜

[bananami]

STFUATTDLAGG

character/s: choso kamo x afab!reader

SYNOPSIS: meangirl!reader x loser!choso is a pairing that lives in my head rent free so when you all voted for choso to be the next hot man i wrote for i knew this was what would come out of it so let’s get into it whores

WARNINGS: this is college based bc u know why. 18+, nsfw, mdni, the whole shebang, kiddos avert ur eyes IT'S ALL SMUT / also just be aware i did use fem language for reader. as always, i did not proof read xxx

A/N: delusion is like drugs for simps, and i am the crackhead

Choso isn't like a nerdy loser, more like he’s just an emo boy, he’s got that alternative look going on and in a school full of preppy rich kids he stands out like a sore thumb. Of course this leads to some not so nice kids being not so nice to him, to which like he literally could not care less. He pays no mind to what anyone thinks of him beyond of course what his brothers think of him.

And as much as people aren’t nice to him, they do not fuck with him directly, lowkey scared of his reactions. Especially following a specfic incident in which someone tried to pick a fight with him. At first he was going to just let it slide but then they said something rude about Yuuji and this man laid them out. People were sent to urgent care and everything. Choso was put on suspension and almost kicked out, but their family friend is a lawyer and threatened to sue the school and anyways (if you know who you know who) so he was allowed back at school and everyone’s a little weary of him. This doesn’t stop the mean comments from coming.

And you. You’re no exception. You made fun of him every chance you got. The way he always did his hair in that weird double bun updo, or how he had his nails painted black, his various piercings and tattoos, the way he dressed so much different, was so much different, than any of the other guys you knew at school.

And you were so disgustingly attracted to him. While everyone would sneer and make fun of him and you played along, in reality you were internally berating yourself.

Choso did his best to ignore you but to be honest in the end you were just too fun to mess with. He thought it was cute how you thought you could hurt his feelings, how you really tried, and didn’t realize that he had a thing for brats and that’s just what you were. Everyone else was too afraid to say it straight to his face ever since the fight except for you.

One time he caught you staring at him and he couldn’t help himself, leaning over with a careless smirk. "If you spent less time staring at me and more time paying attention to the lecture maybe you wouldn’t be failing the class."

"Fuck you, Choso.”

"You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

You hoped he’d mistake your embarrassment for anger. He didn’t. You snapped back, as usual. "Maybe if you didn’t dress like such a freak, you’d actually have some friends.”

"Maybe if you weren’t such a bitch your boyfriends would actually stick around for longer than a few months."

The one stung, and you tried not to let it show. Thrown off your game, all you could bring yourself to reply back was: “don’t call me a bitch.”

He shrugged, as though he were bored with the conversation already. "I never said it was a bad thing, just that you keep dating dudes who can’t handle you."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

He doesn't answer though, and you spend way too much time thinking about what he could've meant. Was he implying that he could handle you? Was that why he constantly found ways to poke at you? Did he like when you were a brat? Did it matter if he liked it? It led your fantasies down a deep and dark rabbit hole that you spent weeks harping on.

Things get even worse after you realize that Choso might’ve been right about your grades slipping and staring at him in class and whatnot. And (for plot reasons of course) that would mean your professor paired you up with him for the final project so that you’d stand a better chance at passing the class.

Which is how you find yourself standing outside of his apartment door, debating how much you need to actually pass the course for your degree. You kept coming to the same conclusion. You definitely needed to.

"You just gonna stand at my door like a creep or can you move so i can let you inside?” He stood at the top of the staircase up to his apartment, watching you with another bored expression.

You're reaction is second nature. "I’m the creep? How long were you just standing there watching me? Maybe I’d already knocked and you didn’t answer so I was waiting. Let’s get on with it, I don’t need anyone seeing me hanging around-”

"Alright relax, princess. No one’s around to hear you act like you hate me. Come inside and I’ll grab us something to drink.” He opened the door to let you both inside, holding it open for you to enter first.

"First off, I do hate you. And second, how do I know you’re not going to poison me?”

"Don’t worry, I wouldn’t poison you. The plan was going more in the direction of choking.”

"Choked to death? Good to know.”

"You implied killing. All i said was choking.”

"Oh, gross.” You groaned. You pushed away the images that were brought to your mind. Choso's hand around your throat, fingers in your mouth, his breathy whispers telling you what else he'd have you choking on by the end of the night.

It's not too bad for the first few hours. You start out working on the project in the living room, but Choso’s neighbors are loud as all hell and you eventually ask if you guys can move into a room away from that shared wall. And (of course for plot purposes) that would be his bedroom.

"Your bedroom is exactly as I pictured it would be."

"This is the part where I make fun of you for picturing what my bedroom looks like."

"Yeah weird and creepy, just like you.”

"Your insults are getting less and less creative.”

"Yeah well….shut up.”

He’s surprised at that, usually you’d come back at him with something witty and clever and he actually enjoyed it.

It’s quiet and he’s sitting at his desk while you lay casually on his bed when he decides now’s as good a time as ever, and he might never actually get you alone again to say it.

"You ever gonna admit that you find me attractive or keep lying to the both of us?"

You wince. "I don't find you attractive. Stop flattering yourself."

"You flatter me enough with all the staring and drooling you do over me in class."

"You're obsessive," you snap at him.

"At least i can admit it."

You're caught off guard, stuck between wanting to ask what he means and not wanting to give in to the obvious baiting he's doing. When he throws the study material down on to his desk and plops down in front of you on his bed, it seems like he's resigned to not giving you that choice.

"Tell you what, I'll tell you all of the dirty and depraved things I think about on a daily basis, and you can decide after whether you'd like to share those same thoughts of yours with me or not."

"Why would I want to hear any of the thoughts in your head?"

"Because a lot of them revolve directly around you." He's leaned so close you're almost touching one another. Your silence is enough to spur him on. "I think you've never been fucked properly before."

You can't contain the look that falls on your face. "Seriously? This what you think about? My sex life is none of your business, but I'm doing just fine in that department, thank you very much."

He ignores you. "I don't think you've ever been told to shut the fuck up and take it like the good girl I know you can be." That shut you up real quick. Choso is on his knees in front of you, hands cupping around your neck, his thumbs running across your cheeks. "You're whiney little fucking attitude not do it for your boyfriends?" He teased. "They not know how to deal with you when you're being a brat, huh?"

You're head moves without conscious effort, nodding to agree with him.

"You just want some attention, don't you?"

Another nod.

"You want my attention, don't you?"

Hesitation. But you can't help yourself, his presence looming heavy over you, pushing you to admit what you'd kept in the dark for so long.

One of his hands slithers from your throat, down your chest, under the sweats you threw on in a rush to get to his apartment. You're so distracted by his fingers that you don't notice his face moving closer until his mouth is prying yours open. That's all it takes from him to have you stroking your fingers through his hair, pulling it out of the buns they typically are held in.

"Such a little brat." He's hovering over you, pushing your hips into the soft cushion of his bed with his. "Feel how hard it makes me?" He teases as he grinds his hips down, his clothed cock sliding against your center. Your eyes flutter and he grips onto your face with one hand, squeezing firmly. "You're gonna fuck me tonight. Nod if you understand."

You can't believe how quick your head moves up and down. "You're gonna take off those pretty little panties you wore hoping I'd get to see and slide up and down my dick until I tell you to stop. I don't want you cumming until I feel you've begged enough."

It takes no time at all for him to flip the two of you and prop himself up on his forearms. His pants are shimmied off and thrown to his bedroom floor alongside yours.

Your hands are desperate to line him up, anticipation building to have him deep inside of you, but his shoot out to pull them up and place them against his chest. "No, no, no. You don't get me inside you yet, not until you prove to me you deserve it." He urges you along his shaft, flat against his stomach. "That's right, be a good little slut for me and let me feel that pussy slide against my dick."

You watch him from above, his face contorting from concentration to pleasure to near desperation. You've never felt as powerful as you did riding him. Not a single one of your boyfriends ever turning you on as much as Choso was right now. He made you work for it, praising you when you did what he asked, and you chased that praise.

"Shit, look at that baby," he grabbed your hair and yanked your face down to watch yourself slide against him. "Need to feel you squeeze that pussy around me. Fuck, slide me in, slide me in-" his loud groans matched your high pitched sound of relief at having him seated inside you. "Fuck this."

He flipped the two of you back over, gripping each of your legs and forcing them up. "Hold right under your knees for me. Good girl, keep yourself open for me, let me just use you." He fell to his forearms as he plowed into you, giving you no time to get used to any sort of pace.

You tried your best to hold your legs, but you wanted so badly to touch him. One of your hands wandered back up into his lose hair.

He could barely keep his eyes open, mumbling all kinds of truths you were sure he would've kept locked inside had he not been so drunk on the feel of being inside you. "So fucking pretty," he kissed you sloppily, "such a stupid fucking brat, just needed my cock inside you. Feel like heaven, baby. Gonna let me cum inside your little cunt, right? Made me wait so fucking long to have you, I deserve it. Don't I deserve it?"

You can barely form any coherent words, setting for nodding and breathy uh huhs.

"So fucking mean to me, and look how good I'm being to you, huh?" You feel the light slap of his head against your cheek. "Say your sorry, beg me to cum inside your pussy."

You do beg, your apology comes out in between the stuttering and slurring of your words, but you beg and plead with him until he concedes. It his own orgasm that pushes you over, his groans and relentlessness that follow, pushing himself passed the point of no return. You can see the beginning of what looks like tears in his eyes, and he has to force himself to stop, his hips jerking from the overstimulation.

He kisses you ruthlessly, letting his tongue claim your mouth in a manner more harsh than it is anything else. And when he pulls away and his eyes settle back on yours they're equally as harsh.

"No more shitty little boyfriends that can't handle you. I'll handle you. You want my cock, you ask nicely. Understand?"

"Yes," you let your lips peck his, surprising him, "what if I don't wanna be nice about it?"

He smirks, "try it and find out. Now get on your knees and suck my cock like the good girl I know you can be."

[mud-castle]

Was thinking about Maine Coon Firestar last night and just had the image of him playing with the kits when a queen, just trying to be friendly, asks how old he is. It was meant to be a joke, like "you're a little small for an apprentice, how old actually are you?" in a teasing way, but then he - not knowing the rules yet - very honestly and proudly says he's three and a half moons old. There's some confusion before the queen realises he's completely serious and this suddenly explains everything.

He gets asked by another queen and the elders. All of them come to the same horrifying conclusion that this apprentice is a baby oh fuck

So after some discussion, Bluestar suddenly has every queen, some former queens and every elder in front of her, complaining and trying to get her to realise she's training a toddler to kill. The most confusing day of her life honestly how did all these cats fit in her den

Bluestar, talking to Firepaw, realises he's absolutely lying through his panicked teeth when he says he's six and a half moons and definitely not three and a half. Well shit. What is she even supposed to do here? Un-apprentice him? Promote him to the name -kit? Just let him keep training but don't send him to battle?

I thought it would be kind of funny if they had to invent a whole ass new type of apprenticeship specifically for this situation. He's still an apprentice, but he will be 'mentored' by the queens in the nursery (cared for properly) and by the elders. It's his duty to help out around camp and learn what he can from the elders and queens, with Bluestar still being a involved, but less so. The elders give him tips and tricks for hunting and tell him every story they know, the queens mostly take care of him and he might get to go on herb gathering trips if he's lucky.

They just invent an early apprenticeship role for kits that mature a bit quickly or need something to keep themselves occupied specifically for him. I don't know if they'd ever use it again, maybe for four and a half moon old kits, but it's just funny to me they had to scramble to find a way to be reasonable adults in the situation whilst also not breaking his heart about not being old enough for an apprenticeship yet

Kid's gonna be so good at making comfy beds and knowing every piece of clan history possible by the time he's six moons mark his words. Boy got adopted by everyone and they had no say in the matter lmao

That would be really cute. A sort of pre-apprenticeship to keep older kits busy when they're old enough to be feeling agitated by being in the nursery all the time, but too young to be apprenticed.

Lol, the image of Firepaw smiling with a missing tooth and proudly saying that he's three and a half moons old. Same vibe as a little kid going "I'm this many years!" And holding up three fingers.

It would also be really funny if after all this Firepaw still managed to get in the exact same amount of trouble he would've as a normal apprentice. The whole clan is in a panic when he's missing from camp one day and he comes back with a banished medicine cat he found and fed (who taught him how to catch rabbits???)

The other clans probably think Thunderclan is irresponsible but no it's just this one child who has more trouble making ability than all the other apprentices combined.

[cactusisconfused]

I HAVE AN IDEA :O

Cw: homophobia (brief), fluff, not beta read, he die like Roach.

-

Soap has a stuffed rabbit when he was child, a gift from his mother.

Growing up, the stuffed rabbit was one of Soap’s favorite things in the world. He’d take it everywhere- the park, grocery shopping or even any outings that his family went on.

He had slept with it too, kept his nightmares at bay. But as he grew older he felt ridicules for having such ties with some inanimate object- at least that’s how everyone else felt.

“Don’t you think it’s time you’ve moved passed that stupid thing John? You’re growing up to be man, you got act like one.” His father had told him one night, as Johnny cradled his stuffed bunny in his arms. He was six at the time.

He still slept with it, but he hated the glances his father would give him. He hated hearing the conversations between his parents. How his mother would always say “John’s just a boy, let him grow up on his own.” His father would always just scoff and say that it would be her fault that he would have a gay son.

John didn’t really know what that meant at the time, but he was scared of disappointing his father, so he stopped.

He stopped carrying the stuffed bunny everywhere, stopped sleeping with it. And sure, maybe the nightmares became more prevalent, but he was being more of a man now, right? He was being what his father wanted, right?

Eventually, John found himself thinking less and less about the stuffed bunny, somewhere in his closet.

Life went on. He got through school, watched his older sisters go off to college and he himself into the military.

It wasn’t until a long while later, that Soap remembered the stuffed bunny once more. He had been part of the 141 for a little longer than a year, and dating ghost for five months.

They had a gap between missions, about a months worth of down time, something incredibly rare for their line of profession. This time off landed, in a dark ironic way, perfectly as Soaps father finally kicked the bucket.

Soap would be going back to Scotland for the funeral, and with the best puppy dog eyes Ghost could muster (a sight that will never get old given it’s coming from a walk of a man) Simon would tag along.

Soap was relatively quiet about his dad, but what he did speak about made him realize he really didn’t like the guy. Growing up, Soap tried not think about his father, about the disappointment that always seems to radiate off of him, how he was never good enough for his father. And you know what, yeah he is gay, so what?!

Soap showed up for the funeral and was filled with an almost sense of joy at how neither his sisters or his mother looked distraught over the ‘loss.’

Of course, Soaps mother was over joyed to see her son and be introduced to Simon, which was a fun scenario to watch Simon maneuver around in.

The night, despite the day of the funeral, was cheerfully fun. Soaps mother made a wonderful meal, that screamed nostalgia for Soaps, and his sisters who shared every single embarrassing story about Soap’s youth to Simon.

By the time they all felt their energies zapped from them, they retired for the night. For the first time in years, Soap stepped into his childhood room. The posters are still the same, along with the bedding and the books on his bookshelf.

���Never knew you played football.” Simon says softly, his eyes carefully looking over the few medals Soap has acquired from his school years.

“Aye.” Soap started, moving their luggage into his closet to make more space.

“Was a goalie. Coach didnae lemme’ play offense, said I was ‘too rough. Wasnae all bad though, I actually-…” Soap had started with a light tone the memories flooding back to him. He hadn’t meant to create a lull in his words, and really only realized he did when Ghost called his name, now behind him.

“Johnny?”

“Ahm fine, sorry I just…” At this point Simon’s eyes drift to where Johnny’s are looking- at a worn, slightly dust covered stuffed bunny.

Soap felt like he was a kid again as he saw it. Felt that same happiness, but felt that same tension. If he picked it back up, would he still be good enough. He knows his father was a dick, but it’s hard to erase the words from his mind.

What catches Soap out of his thoughts, is when ghost carefully picks up the stuffed bunny, so gently he might as well be holding a new born baby.

Soap ready’s himself for some comment making fun of him for having a stuffed animal, but instead he’s met with Simon’s soft look. Of course Simon would never say anything like that to him, now that he thought about it.

If Soap ends up taking the stuffed bunny back with him, his mother says nothing but gives a knowing smile.

And if and when Johnny and Simon retire Johnny sleeps with the bunny hugged between the two men, that’s for him and his husband to know.

-

Lmao this was actually so wholesome. I also typed all of this out on my phone and I’m tired so please ignore typos, I’ll fix those in the morning.

[lovefromray]

Heaven knows i’m miserable now 🍂

@sarcastic-cookie wanted to be tagged so!!

More jeremy appearances..

Tw ; death discussed..murder discussed… murder..suicide mentioned..Manipulation?

The cold air hits you almost instantly, almost as instantly as the thoughts of murdering your mom and step dad swarm your head. Causing you to shakily take a breath and slide up , back against the pillows as you move to sit up, watching as the outside fog pools into your room..your window was wide open…you could have sworn you’d shut it.. You shake it off, maybe your mom opened it before she left to go shopping or maybe Alan had before going about his moving duties…? It didn’t matter..what mattered now as the fact you were alone…home alone with these new..horrible, disgusting and….somewhat interesting thoughts .

You could murder your mom and step dad…you could get away with it..it wouldn’t be hard to cover up either..no one knew you here , they didn’t know your family ; no neighbours had introduced themselves, your mother kept to herself when shopping..even back home so it’s not like she’d be making any friends here…and Alan hadn’t started work yet..he was just setting up the garage…a quiet place…sound proof too.. That’s how the kid before had murdered his father…luring him into the garage and asking him to help him with some wood work project before turning the electric saw on and ramming it into-

You snap out it , gulping as the thoughts spin around your head, causing the colour to drain from your face and..well..your entire body to shake..? not with fear but with interest..? you could actually get away with murder.

“You look awful today…did you sleep well.?” A voice whispers to you..but you’re too in your little murder trance to even notice that the voice doesn’t belong to your mom or Alan.

“y-yeah..i slept fine…” You mumble back , eyes stuck as you zone back into the world. Snapping back up and towards the voice…you gasp out , eyes stuck on the pale, thin, ghost like boy. Watching as he laughs and moves closer , putting his hands up dismissingly

“not gonna hurt you..” He hums out , smirking as he chuckles , “just wanted to check on you…see how you’re settling in..to..my room.” He stares , eyes stuck on you the same way a wild dog stares down at a helpless little rabbit.

“i…uh..-“

“what do i want? is that your pretty little mind is wondering ? hm?..” He laughs , moving to kick a box out of his way , it flies against the nearest wall causing him to flex his wrists before he jumps to sit on the bed…perching on the edge as he smirks at you again, laughing, “oh well…you know..kinda want you out…it’s not like i’ve been so obvious with it..!” He sarcastically states, you move to slide away.

His hand shoots up, forcing your body back down, “not so fast…i was just about to convince you to kill your stepdad..don’t ruin this for me, pretty…” He laughs , evil shining deep into his pretty brown eyes . His hand drops from its ghost trance , he moves closer .

You open your mouth to speak only for him to roll his eyes , his expression no longer happy or even cocky…he was bored, almost tense by how you raced to speak and leave .

You stare at him , “convince me?” You scoff , glaring at him, disgust and..well shock playing on your face since..this was the psycho who’d murdered his parents in the house…who was now a ghost? who was now…sitting so politely onto your bed..

“yeah..? come on..it’d be fun…” He laughs out , “just do what i did…get him alone -“

“alone in the garage…show him my wood work project i need help with and..”

“drive the electric saw right into his skull…and don’t stop until he’s limp and bleeding out..” He finishes your interruption , laughing loudly as he rolls onto the bed , evil radiating from him as he continues to laugh at his father’s demise and his own actions . He sits back up once he realises you’re not the slightest impressed or even…laughing with him. You were scared, you had every right to be…he was trying to convince you to murder your step dad.

You stare at him, quickly moving away from the bed, moving like some sort of prey..worried he’ll attack you or even stop you with his powers. He sits up, watching as you scramble off the bed and over to the window , clearly panting as you try convince yourself you were still hallucinating.

He rolls his eyes , moving over to his old records and record player , bored of your behaviour and now trying to play a song…one of his comfort songs..maybe one he played before he butchered his parents . He looks back over at you before sliding open the record player , placing the vinyl inside before playing it . Putting the sleeve back on the table , slinking next to you as he scoffs at you.

The music hits your eyes..you’d heard the song before The smiths ; Back to the old house . It’s distracting..it’s only on a low volume but it’s loud enough to overwhelm you in this situation. Your eyes snap downwards, over to Alan who’s not messing around in the yard with power tools, obviously aiming to cut down the treehouse himself.

“he’s gonna kill himself….” Jeremy laughs, his hand ghosting over your shoulder before he pulls at your hair , not hard enough to hurt but hard enough to pull your head towards him, your hand shoot’s up to dismiss him only causing him to laugh at you as he now messes with the strand .

“Get off..!” You mumble at him

“i will…if you kill him.”

“i’m not gonna kill him.”

“you should.”

“why?”

“so you leave my house ? let me go about my ghost business and…actually..” He smirks , pulling you along with him as he grabs a book ; the handbook for the recently deceased…

He flicks through it , pulling your hair so you can read it with him, he smirks before pointing to a page , “murder him…sacrifice him so i can swap with him…i can come back to life..and..we…pretty girl…can murder your mom together..!”

“i am not killing my step dad and i am not…helping you come back to life so you can go on another murder spree..!!” You gasp at him, which causes him to groan out of anger , throwing the book down on your bed before grabbing a fist full of your hair and pushing you back towards the window .

“you don’t even like him…!” He scoffs before his eyes return to Alan..alan who’s now..messing around with an axe ..

Alan who’s now…too weak to handle the axe..Alan who’s now fallen over , the axe stuck in the tree before it drops from a branch, falling before it hits his flesh…a wet squelch cutting through the air , bones crunching as the axe finds its way comfortably sunk into his neck, slicing it as his head rolls and hits the path below. Causing you to scream out , shaking your head as you quickly rush to grab your phone .

Jeremy laughs , “wow…guess we don’t even need to kill him-“

You’re quick to call the cops…screaming about Alan killing himself .

——————-

You return home after the local cops had interrogated you. Slowly slumping into the house , your weeping mother behind you. Her cries echoing through the house , tainting each room and..well filling the house with an incurable sadness. You look over to her, now hunched over the kitchen counter , stood right next to the..- no no this wasn’t about the ghosts you could see..this was about your mom. Her hands gripping the wine glass as she messily pours the wine bottle into the glass. You sigh out before pushing up stairs .

Blinking a couple of times, your eyes stung from all the lights and well…the image of Alan’s dead body . You sigh out before a familiar chuckle fills the small room

“there she is…!!!!” Before you can even speak, an arm snakes around your waist , lips ghosting against your ear , “hi..” He whispers against you, you don’t push him off. You don’t even speak, too traumatised to move . Almost slumping into him as he pushes you onto the bed, his free hand running through your hair

“look at you..huh…”He whispers against your ear, nuzzling into you as he practically cuddles you, “i’ll leave you alone if you sacrifice someone for me..!” He almost sings into your ear, chuckling but stopping once you don’t even respond .

He rolls his eyes, “you didn’t even like him.”

That snaps you out of it, your eyes dart back towards him as you try move away, almost crying .

“sh sh sh…pretty baby..poor baby..hm..” He whispers, cradling you as he cuddles more into you, “aw..poor baby can’t handle a little death…the death of a dickhead she didn’t even like..god you’re pathetic..” He laughs again before rolling his eyes , “fine fine..maybe you should just kill yourself if you’re gonna be so pathetic , huh? join me that way..?” Your eyes scan him for a moment before you push him off, watching as he scrambles up. He quickly disappears, leaving you to cry and sink lower into the bed as you hide under the covers; Jeremy’s words echoing through your mind once again .

[slickfordain]

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬.

Warning: Yandere behavior, but we all know I always write Yandere on Tumblr. No specified gender for you. Also, reader with my personality again— since some people liked it very much.

Edit: I forgot to say the kids in Genshin are all platonic 💀

Teyvat is aware of their divine using them as a vessel. Teyvat is aware Celestia cannot defeat you either… As Celestia was obviously made by you. However, you have some concerning habits… Some are very very cute in your harem’s eyes ~ While some makes them worry for your health.

You have a problem with making your Genshin self-insert insert having such a gruesome backstory, it makes them wanna cry and hug your self-insert in their world. Apparently, your insert is indeed inserted in the game— ahah, when you shut off the screen and log off of course ♡

Perhaps, let’s say Zhongli would pick up on how you eat a lot of food… It amazes him. You even have a lot of mora, that you only spend it on food and nothing else. It… Does make him worry— But Yanfei would definitely sign the chefs to make your favorite dishes, just in case ~

Xingqiu would pick up on how you write an unfamiliar word called “Fan-fictions”. It has some Japanese words such as “Yandere” and “Tsundere”. He listened further into your works, and goodness, he has never felt so called out in his entire life when you specifically explained what Yanderes are. If you liked writing about Yanderes… You wouldn’t mind him being one for you, would you?

Childe would laugh his ass off whenever he hears you talking constantly to yourself, pretending as if you’re responding to them. But this makes him think you’re trying to communicate with him and Teyvat, makes his heart sore so much. You’re so sweet and acknowledging everyone, specifically him. ♡

Characters such as Pantalone and Baizhu have a realization you love spending Primogems on wishes, and always wasting them. So what do they do? Mischievously somehow gain Primogems for you, which you didn’t complain about at all.

People also have heard about your hatred towards Albert for being a creepy stalker. Now, this made Mondstadt furious at Albert. Not only does he stalk poor Barbara, he even dared to boldly disappoint you. (Barbatos killed him ehe)

Barbara has never felt so loved this much, she wants to bawl her eyes out — to show how much she loves and adores you.

Characters like Razor and Raiden Ei have come to realization you love sleeping around so much, they’ve gotten to know you sleep in work from time to time whenever it’s break. They take this advantage to make a setup room for you, where either of them can hold you in their arms and cuddle as they sleep against you.

Beidou, Lisa and Yae Miko would often see that you especially get easily injured. I’m not saying they’re the only ones terrified— trust me, many people in Teyvat are going to kill whoever hurt you,,, but they are the ones who ends up hearing about your condition. They’re so worried when they find out you don’t scream in pain, nor do you care about it because you’ve always been clumsy since childhood. They’re so worried, they might have a heart attack someday.

The Adeptus’ pick on the fact you like listening to “8-bit” version of music… It sounds hard to play, but they can’t deny you did have taste in music. Makes the guy from Lantern lite quest more inretested with you, and wishes to know you more! Or more so… Perhaps Enjou would take interest in this.~ He’s just as silly as you, why not?

Dainsleif notices how you stare at his character with adoration and love his design oh so much, that he also knows you love drawing, just like Albedo. Hearing this, Albedo loves you to death, like… Literally.

Aether hearing you’re also unstoppable that even Unknown God can’t stop you? Goodness this boy is falling in a deep rabbit hole for falling for you~!

Paimon sees you as a mother/father figure too honestly… Paimon relates to you so much about food, and always gets so happy when you agreed by getting food. Despite your tired expression, she just wants to cry because you did not once call her an “Emergency food”.

How about your complex theories? Tighnari and Al-haitham will have a whole set of a store with written details about your theories. You did die when Teyvat was made, so makes sense why you didn’t know everything. (…. You ate popcorn and watched your show as Archon war was a thing.) Every theories, is about very interesting things.

Snezhnaya and Tsaritsa would be so happy when they find out your world was filled with snow (to those who live in a snowy weather like me), and would flex it off to other nations like cocky little bastards. They see this as a blessing, and would try getting to know your culture by just the fact you and them have snow. That would mean you wouldn’t be cold in their place, right?

How about Fontaine being in horror when they find about your Creepypasta and FnaF books? They’ll keep themselves aware of the woods and will isolate any innocent beings from anywhere that involves woods and trees. Jeff the killer and Jeffrey C. Hodek (canon Jeff) definitely traumatized numerous of the people in Fontaine, considering their skins got burned a lot.

Yelan being also surprised she and other rich people in Teyvat, are in fact not the richest people in their own world after learning that… Moras aren’t actually real money? I can see Mona laughing at their misery, even though she’s sad she doesn’t exist literally in your world. How the fuck is she supposed to kiss hug you huh?

Venti and Nahida being so drawn to your morning voice, hearing you cursing as they didn’t know what the meanings behind those languages meant. Nahida would stare at your face in awe, listening to your stories as Venti would too, making a song about it probably— only for it to go downfall when they realize you occasionally hurt yourself in work. They’re horrified. YOU FELL OFF THE STAIRS??! They’re gonna faint.

Cyno who is in love with a heated face when he learns you love jokes, hearing you making a dark humor that just has him down bad for you— and ends up laughing. Your dark humor never goes too far, and he just loves it that you can accept his jokes. He is definitely going to be very loyal towards you…

Imagine Scaramouche/Wanderer lovingly gazing at your side view as you try to do makeup real quickly before playing your game. It didn’t matter. He loved your little habit of always doing your makeup first— and then play. He’s patient, and will always try his best… Ends up killing Hilichurls under one second, oops~

With everyone in Teyvat learning about your habits, learning about your talents…

They officially are definitely in love with you. They will always love you. They know when it’s you, even if someone tries to look like you and act like you to get attention. It will never work. They don’t care what form you take, because they’re obsessed and in love with the idea of you. They will only love you, you you you. You’re genderless? They’ll love you, you’re a bully? They’ll love you. It doesn’t matter what form you take.

They will always love you, [Name].

I wanna do a small love hc with Dainsleif and Pantalone x reader because I’m in love with them ♡ but I also wanna do persona insert x canon… Man.

[if-whats-new]

Meet the Team!

Who are we?

Just a few Interactive Fiction enthusiasts who love sharing their interests with the rest of the internet!

But we're also:

-=-

Heyo! I'm Aj (she/her)

I got into IF through the app called Choices way back in 2017 and since then there was no turning back. It wasn't until last year when I got into text-based IFs. A friend on tumblr reblogged 'Defiled hearts', it caught my interest and here I am deep down in the trenches of IFs.

Listing my favourites isn't an easy thing cause there are so many I love. So I will list some that have been on my mind for a while: Infamous, Press Play, College Tennis: Origin Story, Drink your Villain Juice, Golden, The Golden Rose, Our Life Now and Forever, We Wretched Creatures, TWC , The Lonely Shore, Blood Choke and Midnight Sun.

I mostly help out with finding IF news and game updates in the wild.

-=-

How you doing?!? I'm Bex (she/her) *on hiatus

I started my journey with Voltage (now Love365) and dating sims or Otome games on my PSP Vita *sheds a tear*. I honestly don't know how I came upon IF, but I fell in love with ​Our Life: Beginnings & Always around 2021?

My favourites? Hmm, currently it would be: Love and Leases, Adoriel's Tears, The Abyssal Song, Keyframes, Our Life 2 and a bunch of Kickstarters that I can't wait for!

Personally, I'm married with no kids! And I work full-time as an administrator. Boring, I know.

In regards to the Zine, I normally do the formatting. Basically taking everything the peeps have found and putting it all into the Zine. I try and write some of the Highlights and try to dabble in the Editorial (if my work doesn't get edited).

-=-

Hello!!! This is Briar! (she/her)

I am one of the interviewers!

I got into IFs this year, and boy, my eyes were opened, and I got so obsessed that I decided to write my own (The Mighty Shifter). My personal favourites are TWC, Infamous, God-Cursed, and Viatica.

I am a uni student who is studying English literature. What else...? Have an amazing day/night!

-=-

Hey, hi and hello! I'm Dion (they/he)

I started my journey into IF through Episode, but due to poor non-female MC representation, I soon began to look for something else. My friend then introduced me to text-based games through The Wayhaven Chronicles and Mind Blind. I've been going deeper down the rabbit hole since!

I'm literally majoring in interactive media. IF is my life now, send help. (/j)

Some of my favourites would be: Mind Blind, Shepherds of Haven, Reanimated Heart, Seven days in purgatory, Chronicles of Taldun: The Remainder, seekL, LLLLL (aka LATEX, LEATHER, LIPSTICK, LOVE, LUST) and a lot of the stuff DOMINO CLUB does. (There isn't only IF, but that's what I usually go for. Definitely check them out if you're into creepy indie stuff!)

I'd call myself the jack of all trades concerning the zine. As of now, my main job is to be the social media guy and to do the different exports (playable Zine, Tumblr, PDF/.txt). But I also help out with news-searching and compiling + editing stuff for the editorial, column, highlight, letter and thanks portions.

-=-

Hey all, this is Jenn (she/her) *on hiatus

I am a youth sports coach (fútbol, softball, basketball) based in Los Angeles. I am in the process of applying for a master’s program (Sports psychology).

I did write and code a couple of IF games but never finished. I am a perfectionist and I couldn’t publish something not up to my standards. I started reading IF a couple years ago and I couldn’t possibly name my favorite. Some of the most memorable IFs are: The Exile, TWC, Crown of Ashes and Flames, Infamous, WWC, Zombie Exodus: SH, The Golden Rose, The Fernweh Saga, and Crown of Exile. I can definitely add more…

Basic responsibilities: Scouring the internet for IF news and frequently updating our existing database. I honestly enjoy the challenge. On a good day I can find upcoming IF titles and newly released demos. It’s so exciting to find new IF because I know someone will eventually see the same potential I do in that new IF.

-=-

Ssuuuupppp, I’m Sir tuskhany (He/Him)

I am one of the lovely interviewers who’ll be asking questions, you know grilling fellow authors on their IF, WIPS and favourite characters. The usual. As to why or how I started, I gotta say its cause of books and great authors like Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. And their respective series wheel of time and basically the whole Comsere universe. I tried following in their footsteps writing a few books of my own. But like every writer most of these ended up being WIPs I either abandoned or stopped. Still I didn’t let that stop me and started posting some of them, I am the writer of Borne of the sands a static webnovel with a few chapters and Dusk and Dawn my current ongoing project(Still a work in progress so forgive the grammatical errors. T-T).

My favourite series are the Keeper of the Day and Night, Infamous, Wayhaven Chronicles and Blood Moon.

The current story I’m working on was inspired by these however most of my inspiration came from static or interactive cyoas like the Slayers v4, Supernatural Investigator, Demigod v4, A Traveller!s Tale and Universal War. If you haven’t heard of them please give them a go they are amazing.

Have fun and stay posted!

-=-            

[i-eat-mold]

Opinions on 22 skk ever deciding to date?

ok guys you know i don’t often talk about canon/postcanon timeline skk but honestly its because i know if i begin i will get sucked into an endless rabbit hole. How can i possibly talk about this without foaming at the mouth? imagine how they feel about each other.

chuuya about dazai. dazai was the only “friend” he had in the mafia that had been with him since he joined. dazai helped him avenge all the other friends chuuya had that were murdered, both the flags and in the dragons head conflict, and as much as he might’ve hated the bastard, he made sure the sheep weren’t harmed and he always made battle plans that would give chuuya the choice to use corruption or not. they were together for so long, longer than any other friendship either of them had. Chuuya knew dazai was an extremely strange boy. despite his clown facade he could see glimpses of the sheer sadness and emptyness behind his eyes. Chuuya had gone through plenty of painful things himself, but he fought through it, the pain growing with him into his strength. and he wondered about what happened inside dazais head for him to be so utterly detached, so hollow, so sad. dazai saw chuuya suffer endlessly as a human, yet all it took to abandon him and his life in the mafia was odas death. just as in beast, he leaves with no word, no explanation, no goodbye, a relationship built on trust and unspoken respect. Chuuya, for as long as he could remember, was betrayed and abandoned and betrayed and abandoned and betrayed and abandoned over and over again. he knows damn well you can rely on no one but yourself, everybody leaves, everybody lies, and eventually dazai did too. he shouldn’t have been surprised but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. chuuya was left with a feeling of rage, pain, disappointment and hurt, yet again. yet again, the feeling buried behind his chest through the years, eventually becoming one more bitter experience that came back to the back of his mouth every once in a while when he thought about it.

dazai about chuuya. dazai was a child alienated from every adult in his life, always considered nothing but a monster and someone who you must never come near to. he made a friend, for one. he met a kid his age who he could play video games with and play prank wars against. he could mess with him and although they often found each other annoying, they were kids together. chuuya inspired him to keep living, at least to see what else could be out there, and while obviously oda was the nail in the coffin that made dazai turn sides, chuuya was the one who over the years shaped him into a better person and taught him about ethics (not in the most ethical ways but whatever). still dazai was born alone, he lived alone, and he would always be alone. on his hands there was a black sticky liquid that rotted everything he touched. he figured if he used gloves or was very careful of his every move he could go on about like a normal person but eventually everything and everyone around him stained, and the only way to prevent it was to not touch anything and stay away from everything he could slightly care about. chuuya was the complete opposite of him, his facade was of rage and annoyance but he had a heart so human and so big it couldn’t fit inside his chest, and personally i feel like dazai was deep inside at least a little jealous and grossed out by it. when oda, the only person who didn’t seem to rot away by the black stains died and he left the mafia he obviously couldn’t just delete chuuya from his mind, all those years of mutual respect and shared late childishness. he knew what chuuya had gone through, he knew he was an absolute piece of shit of a person for becoming just one more betrayal in chuuyas book, and he did it anyways. it became something that didn’t sit right with him for years.

years pass and their feelings, complex and painful, settle down in strange ways and aftertastes. you meet someone again, and they are a different person, and you are a different person, but the two children inside you are still best friends, soulmates, and you still know their worst fear and their deepest wishes, but you don’t know who will they hang out with on friday night, or how their job is going. you have to get to know each other again, you already know everything about each other, you know nothing about each other. theres a thousand things you want to explain, to cry on their shoulder about, to yell at them, so many healed scars to show them and so many open wounds to shove in their face, to forgive them, to tell them how much you resent them and forever will, to not say a word at all and yet have them understand all of it.

i personally think their relationship in their adulthood has so much to talk out and come to terms with, but they were partners for so long and so much love doesnt just disappear. if they acknowledged all the things between them that have gone unspoken since they were children they would make a great true couple.

1. because of how deeply they know and understand each other and how they always cared for each other wether theyd admit it or not and

2. because they are so utterly terrible and unbearable that them being together would be a disaster, but having them be with anyone else separately would be even worse bc the only people that can tolerate them are each other

[theaxolotlkween]

Some Nanite Project headcanon doodles and their explanations, going from left to right:

I doubt that Rex would say this exact thing but the idea is that, being a fairly lonely kid and someone who was probably easily bored even back then, Rex would’ve pestered the people around him a lot, which you know. Fair. I hc him as being a lot like he is now, but obviously more childish. Because literal child. So very inquisitive, curious, trusting, and empathetic, but easily bored and reckless. I feel like he would play on his own (or accidentally injure himself climbing on industrial equipment which just seems like something he just. Did. It also makes him currently being an adrenaline junkie make more sense) until he got bored (or injured) and then pester all the scientists around him that would tolerate him for long periods of time.

Next up is that Van Kleiss and Violeta Salazar (Rex’s mom) had similar or complimentary roles on the Nanite Project and thus worked together a lot. Judging by how Van Kleiss talks about Violeta in Written in Sand, they probably had a similar dynamic to Rex and Van Kleiss in that episode, except with a lot less sand and threat of imminent demise. This would be really funny to me. Also pictured Rex just hanging out, because he seems like he would be a momma’s boy. He is acting out a very tense and dramatic romance between these two cars and they are finally about to kiss. I also feel like current Rex would love K-dramas.

I honestly don’t think Van Kleiss hated or disliked Rex when Rex was a young child. I feel like he would’ve found him amusing at best, annoying at worst, and sort of weirdly endearing, but never being outright mean to him. Based on the tolerance he has for Rex’s shenanigans in the show while he has almost none for anyone else, even his own allies, this had to have started somewhere. If Rex was a chronic botherer, then someone who doesn’t get easily or outwardly annoyed would be the perfect target. Van Kleiss also still is not explaining shit, his favourite activity.

Finally, Rex naming ZagRS. This is actually one that I’ve had since I was about 14-15 because there’s no reason given for her name to be what it is. Like it’s not an acronym like GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disc Operating System), and it sounds kind of like Zagreus, an ancient Greek deity that I cannot find anything on except for who his parents might be and that he might have some connection to Dionysus. In canon, Caesar mentions that Rex speaking Spanish makes him laugh because he has trouble with pronunciation. This recently led to a whole-ass rabbit hole where I came up with the theory that Rex has just always had trouble pronouncing words because of ADHD, which fed into my already existing headcanon of Rex having named ZagRS. Also I think that Caesar was another person Rex bothered a lot because Caesar has a tendency to be pretty chill. I kind of wonder if they had to keep Rex away from ZagRS because she was designed to destroy any nanites that got out of the holding tanks.

I honestly love making these theories and headcanons so if you want to see more or have questions just pop me an ask.

[autism-autobot]

Lego Monkie Kid Fandom

Imagine if you will, that Black Myth Wukong exists in video game form in the lmk world.

(Spoilers for Black Myth Wukong bellow)

(I've been binging the cutscenes on YouTube, so I might be missing some things since I don't have the game)

MK decides to play it post Season 5, because of course he does, and is mortified by the beginning of the game.

The game starts out with Wukong's death at the hand of Erlang Shen and the celestial realm. We don't know at this point that Wukong and Erlang planned this because reasons. All we see at first is epic fight scene + Wukong gets got.

I doubt MK would be able to make it past that. On the off chance that he did, I think he would be floored by the portrayal of Red Son and his family because... if you've seen Red Son's (or Red Boy's) design, you know that that looks nothing like Red Son in LMK.

And then Red Boy ends himself.

Like... how would MK be able to make it past that?

Mei might be able to make it through the game (making jokes about Erlang being gay for Wukong once she gets to that part). If she does, she'll definitely tell spoilers to MK and Red Son.

And Red Son...

Oh boy...

The whole DBK affair + how Red Son was conceived and what for + his father's fate...

Yeah, he's not very fond of that game...

But each of them has to appreciate the work put into the storytelling and the soundtrack.

Imagine if they told Wukong, DBK, and Princess Iron Fan...

I think that's a whole other rabbit hole for another post.

@swkbiggestdefender @starrclown @istopaskingmemate @ainnur @nightmarebunnyking @then-be-a-warrior

Mutuals

@quitealotofsodapop @kyri45

People who are good at fanfics and au's

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Morg3n | Yandere Android

Inspired by none other than Meg3n

“Emile (Y/n), meet Morg3n. Your new playmate and helpful companion!”

“Hi there, Emile, (Y/n)!” 

You let Emile hide behind your knees as the red-headed android pulled his lips in a simulated smile. Tilting your head in tandem with the robot you didn’t bother voicing your feelings and instead sent a look to the beaming engineer in question. 

“Alright, I know what your thinking but Morg3n is our attempt at a better and less…violent rendition of the failure Funki attempted to release.”

Taking a stab at the rival company, Huey flipped his lengthy hair. Smiling with pride he pushed the android to come closer gesturing to Emille who was set on squeezing your knees and rubbing his face into the back of your thigh. You patted his braided hair, looking back at him to see his pensive face. 

“Uhm does Emile have to…pair with…uh Morg3n?” 

Huey’s smile drooped reading the hesitation in your voice before waving his hands in front of you. 

“W-well don’t you go thinking it will be like that other one! No no Morg3n here is going to pair with both you two and the parents. So there will be no problem taking orders if you even have to give them out. Soo Emile, why don’t you pair up with your new best friend?”

The engineer tried again bending to his knees to try and meet the child’s eyes. When his attempt came up with no results, he sent pleading eyes to you. Shaking your head you turn to Emile who looked up to you as you made your stand.

“Alright Alright fine. I’ll go first. You can watch me do it first okay bunny?”

Emile gave a hesitant nod reluctantly releasing you to bend toward Morg3n who held his hand out to you. Placing your left index finger on the pad of its his hand, you waited as a soothing chime rang from the android’s system.

“Good morning (Y/n) (L/n)! I look forward to being of service!” 

“Uh, morning?”

Huey stifled a squeal, “Now that you’re paired Morg3n can watch over your vitals and contact you should anything happen.” 

You attempted to pull your finger away only to find that the synthetic hand was lightly wrapped around it. When you hurriedly pulled away standing at full height to see the android’s smile widen and its eyes closed.

“Thanks for the welcome, (Y/n).”

You slowly nodded, turning to Emile with a faux confident smile. Urging him to inch toward the android’s outstretched left hand. Like a frightful rabbit, the boy reaches his hand out to the android slowly stretching a single finger from his closed fist. Immediately after the chime, he pulled away returning to the safety of your legs. 

“Nice to meet you, Emile! Do you want to play with me?”

“...”

“I have some crayons if you want to color with me! It's the big kind with a sharpener!” 

He looks up at you and you shrug with a smile. 

“Go ahead Bun-bun, it's okay.”

It didn’t take long for Emile to open up to the android. Gasping at the coloring skills of the android he was back to his bubbly self hardly looking over to your seat in the room. Sitting on the pastel-colored bean bags with Huey you kept your conversation to whisper. 

“I can’t believe he agreed to this.”

“What? Do you not trust my work?” Huey pretended to guffaw with a hand over his heart. 

“It's not that Hue, it's just that the reputation with that software is far from good. And if he would’ve at least pretended to care–”

“(Y/n), I think you’re getting wayy too worked up about this whole thing.”

“‘Too worked up?!’ I am practically the only guardian this kid has! If he’s going to put him in danger at the very least he could show up every once in a while!”

“Its sounds to me like you’re overreacting.”

“It's not an overreaction to be concerned about your child’s safety.” 

You and Huey reeled back at the android who was standing a couple of inches in front of both of you. Taking a shaky breath you, adjust your position to sit normally; Huey did the same albeit shakily. 

“U-u-uh Morg3n? We hardly noticed you!”

The android didn’t react instead turning from Huey to you; letting an artificial smile take its face. 

“Emile says he’s ready to go. He wants to celebrate my induction into the family.”

Peeking from around the android’s body at the table they had saddled together was Emile. Smiling to himself as he awkwardly organizes his and Morg3n’s colorings. In a messy pile, he runs over to you handing the papers to you as he excitedly made his plea.

“Can we go to that red and yellow place? The one we go to when we’re being sneaky? I want to show Morg3n the cool toys you can get! ”

He gave his best puppy dog face, hugging the robot alongside him. Puckering his bottom lip at you, you shook your head while looking at Huey.

“Well, I think some fries are a palpable celebration.”

He joined in, batting his eyes along with Emile as you put your hands over your face. 

“Gosh, you guys are insufferable.”

___________________________________________________

“Wow, I will never get used to the average life of the rich.”

Huey busied himself with checking out the lobby of the mansion, while you carried a sleeping Emile inside. Familiar with the position you were prepared to kick the door closed, stopping when Morg3n did it for you. 

“Ah thanks, Morg3n.”

“My pleasure.”

The android matched your slower pace, arms holding the unfinished meals from their celebratory lunch. You hummed in approval appreciative of the help, attention pulled away by Huey’s distant yelling.

“Whoa! You have a hot tub!” 

You wanted to yell at him ‘I don’t have anything’ but you didn’t want to wake Emile. Focusing on getting the kid to his bed you made your way to the elevator. Hearing a distant crash of pots and pans you groaned, realizing you couldn’t leave the engineer alone. With your hands full and feeling desperate, you looked to the android who was already looking up at you. 

“Could you–”

“Direct him to the elevator, it’d be a pleasure.”

“Thanks.”

By the time you were finished prying Emile’s hands from your neck, Morg3n was waiting outside the bedroom with a quieted Huey in tow. 

“Hey, glad you were able to join me…how did you know where we were?”

“Uh, Morg3n has a highly educated program for GPS and floor mapping. All it really needs is a simple scan of the property and voila!”

You hummed a little sending a look at the now closed door and the red-haired android. Thinking for a moment you gestured for the both of them to follow you making your way into one of the many guest rooms on the same floor. 

“Huey you can shack up in this room for the time being.”

“Ahhh!” 

“Yes yes, I know the princess–”

“The princess curtains on the bed!!”

Like a child, he sprinted past you to curl himself into the translucent fabric. Mumbling daydreamy nonsense as he fantasized to himself. You shook your head again taking up Huey’s abandoned engineering pack and leading Morg3n to Emile’s play area. 

It was a modest space, compared to other children of similar status. There were some toys a single game system, and an easel surrounded by neatly placed paintbrushes and crayons. There was a small table with matching chairs, next to an outlet. With practiced ease, you set up the temporary charging station that resembled a child’s chair. “Well uh here you go Morg3n, Emile will probably come running first thing when he wakes up. So uh just charge up until then.”

“Sure thing (Y/n).”

“Uhm also Emile wanted to make sure you got your own blanket.” 

The android tilted its head as you moved to the linen closet. Pulling out a crochet blanket that had a pastel green and orange pattern. You walked back to the seated android draping the cloth over its shoulders as you tucked it in. Barely caring about the amber olive eyes watching you with precision.

“I didn’t really know your name so I couldn’t prepare it in time but give me a day and I’ll easily knit your name in.”

“Thanks again, (Y/n).”

*Yawn* “Yeah yeah don’t worry about it! Now charge up while I get my own nap.”

With that, you walked out of the room flipping the light switch off and closing the door of the playroom. Leaving the android that had lowered its head to open its eyes as it flashed streams of blue code all the while timing the nap its primary users were making.

_____________________________________________________

“Come on then you two we have to make it to Morg3n’s appointment.” 

“Morg3n! Let’s do one more lap, pleaaaassseee?”

“It’s best to ask (Y/n) first.”

Big brown eyes and frowning lips turned to you in his charming puppy dog face. You kirked your head to the side with raised eyebrows to which Emile beckoned Morg3n to mirror him. You sighed before smiling and throwing your shoulders up. 

“Fine.” 

“Yay! Let’s go!”

“But when I come back, I want shoes on!”

“Okayyy!”

“I will make sure of it, come on Emile.”

You shook your head carrying the basket of wet towels to the washer and dryer. On your way, you passed by the lounging Huey who was sunbathing with a tanning reflector. Kicking his chair, the engineer startled awake scanning around before spotting you disappearing into the depths of the estate.

“H-hey did’ya need sumthin’?”

You shouted without turning,” We’re leaving for the investment viewing in 20. Be ready. I’m not waiting for you.”

“Hey, I am the inventor aren’t I? How about a little respect?”

“Oh okay, Mister Inventor are you riding with us or taking a taxi?”

“Are you kidding?! I’m riding with you guys! How can I go back after discovering the wonders of a limo.”

You laughed as you turned to the hallway of your destination. As you loaded the machine you could only hope the meeting passed without incident.

___________________________

“What a glorious reinvention!” 

“Hopefully with better software this time!” 

“Shut up you this thing’s going to be the biggest thing the black market has ever seen!”

“And if we can guarantee it works as intended it’ll be more than just a glorified ipad.”

It sounded as though the investors were pleased by both demonstrations. You shifted your feet and adjusted your suit, feeling stuffy in your professional wardrobe. You kept your eyes trained on Emile and Morg3n watching as they played as usual, occasionally flicking to the former father. Who was rubbing at his bearded chin as he watched his son or more likely the android.  A pit was forming in your stomach as you could visualize the gears turning in his head. 

It wasn’t long before the investors had trickled out, off to their complimentary brunch leaving you, Huey, and Emile’s father to enter the testing room. Looking up from his building blocks Emile stumbled crashing into his father’s suited legs. 

“Dad! I’m so happy to see you! I really really wanted you to meet–”

“Morg3n.”

The android stood upright, glassy eyes trained on the man.

“Yes sir.”

“Who are your primary users?”

“Dirk Filler, (Y/n) (L/n), and Emille Filler.”

He chuckled in disbelief, “Nice.”

Emile visibly deflated as he stepped out of the way to watch his father inspect and prod at the android. Your heart ached at the way Emile tried to mask his pain, letting his arm swipe at his eyelids. Walking over to him you rubbed at his shoulder, a silent show of support to his pain. In response, his hand moved to hold onto yours.

“This is spectacular! The polymer skin type you’ve used makes for such a realistic look.”

“Thank you, sir!” 

The two continued to converse; with Dirk gushing over Huey’s decisions. Both are completely oblivious to the tension. Fed up with it you turned to leave with Emile stopping when Dirk jokingly called out to you without turning from Morg3n.

“Off so soon? Wouldn’t you like to be included in one of the greatest achievements in history?”

“Forgive me if I’m wrong this has been done before has it not?”

Huey flashed you a look of horror while Dirk let out a belly laugh finally turning around.

“So fiery today! What, haven’t had your fill of coffee this morning?”

“I’m actually more peeved that you haven’t greeted your son for the entirety of this meeting.”

“Oh is that all?” He sent a mocking wave directed at Emile before putting his hands up. 

“There happy now?”

“No. You know what I meant.”

“You are impossible to please.”

“I’m not the one who’s impossible. Now if you’ll excuse us.”

You picked up Emile who was already wetting your shoulder with tears as you made your way out of the room. 

“Come on Morg3n.”

Already trotting past Huey and Dirk was the android. You continued to walk out already hearing the tapping and mechanical whirring of Morg3n on his way. Dirk laughed again slapping his thigh before shouting out.

“Ha think about it (Y/n) pretty soon that little bots going to be able to do your job without the nagging.”

Morg3n’s whirring stopped and so had his footsteps as he turned to face the man. You stopped turning to hear Mog3n’s automated voice.

“That’s not possible. Human children require a healthy and emotionally intelligent guardian to raise them. Even if that person is not the original parent or working on their own.” 

Morg3n wasted no time continuing to walk to your side leaving Dirk and Huey in stunned silence. You hid a smile behind Emile’s head as you began to walk again. While Morg3n’s voice was monotone the sass was there and everyone understood it. 

“Thanks, Morg3n.”

“No problem, (Y/n).”

____________________________________________________-

It is the dead of night. All subjects in the estate were fast asleep. Save for the engineer who was staring down his creation. 

Posted in the darkest corner of the room was Morg3n watching both his primary users slumbering within (Y/n)’s designated bed. With no illumination but Morg3n’s own glassy green eyes; Huey would have missed him otherwise. 

Unable to find sleep, the engineer could only find solace in the programmed behavior of his creation—specifically the need to charge. Only to find that the android’s charging station was vacant. 

It scared him. 

And if it scared him he knew he’d best tell you. The one friend who seemed to have a sense beyond the common kind. Like a savior, he relied on you often so it’d behoove him to inform you of such disturbing blips in the android’s system.

But looking into the unmoving eyes of the android, he had a sneaking premonition that he shouldn’t reveal the mechanical threat standing guard in your room. 

“Rghh Hue? What’dya want?”

“Uh…water…I don’t know how to use y-your fancy fridge.”

You groaned, patting half-asleep Emile before creeping out of bed. He was slow to follow watching how those glowing eyes trained on him as he followed you out of the room. Somehow feeling safer as he walked further away from the room with you as the lead.  He didn’t bother watching the door to your room creep open further, instead rushing to your side as you led him to the kitchen.

Perhaps there were still a few bugs from the original model. 

[quitealotofsodapop]

MKEgged AU-

Someone tells the younger Spicynoodles children that their parents aren't going to love them when Spicynoodles announce their second bio baby.

Spicynoodles have to pretend to be very stern when they're called in the school about their older kids fighting and biting the idiot. The minute they're out of sight, Xiaotian asks who wants ice cream for being good siblings.

Prev.

The second MK pregnancy occurs in the middle of a very awkward time.

See, MK and Red had been in the process of adopting the little calf twins Shuixian & Chuju + their protective foster brother Zishan.

Red and MK had started talking about the idea of adopting another child around the time the girls (Xuancao & Yingsu) had started primary school. Each of their three kids had come to them from unusual circumstances, and it only seemed "right" to open their hearts to one or more little ones lost in the foster system.

Megapolis, being like any modern city, still has orphans and abandoned children who need homes.

And sadly, demon children are most often forgotten...

It was relatively easy to organise a visit to one of the group foster homes and meet the children there. MK and Red made sure to downplay their identities, hoping that the organisers wouldn't try to "sell" them on a child.

During their visit, a pair of calves slowly approach the couple out of curiosity. They barely reach past Red's boots, and tip-toe inch by inch as the couple are greeted by other hopeful children. They share the same ragged plush rabbit doll, each twin holding an arm.

Shuxian & Chuju: (*very shyly point at Red Son's head, patting the little budding spots on their own skulls*) MK, understanding: "Oh Red~ I think these little ladies want to see your horns better." Red Son, surprised: "Really? You want to see my horns?" Shuxian & Chuju: (*happy nodding*) Red Son, kneeling down: "That's no issue. I'm half-bull demon myself. My horns only grew in the last few decades..." Shuxian & Chuju: (*pat at Red's usually-hidden horns, their little hoofed fingers unfazed by his fiery hair. It's like they've never seen another ox demon before.*) Red & MK: (*share defeated, adoring smiles*)

They think's the most adorable little thing on the Mortal Plane. And Xuancao & Yingsu had been requesting that they bring them home a baby sister or two...

Shuxian & Chuju (named for their yellow and white furs respectively) are a pair of minotaur-like ox demons. They had been passed over for adoption many times due to their lack of humanoid features. For the longest time, they had only each other to lean on. For all anyone knows, Red really is the only other ox demon they've ever seen.

However, as the couple ask if the girls would like to come and live with them - the calves shake their heads.

Red Son: "Hmm? How come?" Both toddlers: (*walk toward the older kids' section of the foster home, pointing at a door with "time-out in-session" written on a crude sign*)

MK and Red share curious looks. Did the girls have an older sibling?

Inside the room they see a little boy, about the age of five, sitting alone in a pen amongst the empty play room. He's been crying, and appears to have scuffs on his face.

The demon couple immediately inquire about the boy - only for the owner of the group home to brush off their concerns.

Group Home Organiser: "That's Zishan. He's been having these random tantrums where he starts headbutting everyone, boys and girls alike. He's not related to anyone as far as his birth record shows. I think your potential girls are attached to him for some reason."

That "some reason" is quickly discovered when another child in the group home pushes one of the calves to the ground during playtime. The girls' beloved rabbit plush is torn out of their hands.

Zishan lets out the loudest roar he can and rips the netting of the "time-out pen" open; charging at the larger child.

It's love at first sight for MK and Red. Their new girls had long anointed the "troublesome" child their big brother since very first time he had a "random" headbutting spree.

You could say that they "Bought 2, got a 3rd extra!".

As the parents are at home finalizing the paperwork - MK has a sudden Feeling.

The same Feeling he had around the time he learned he was pregnant with Haoyu...

MK: "Red, hun?" Red Son: "Yes, my dear sunflower?" MK: "When's the last time we did Bedroom Twister?" Red Son: (*chokes on drink at the sudden question*)

One emergency-pregnancy test later and...

Red Son: "Five weeks..." MK, silently panicking: "Yup." Red Son, hugging him close: "The children will have opinions on the matter." MK: "Yup." Red Son: "Are you considering options?" MK: "Yeah. But you're gonna think I'm crazy." Red Son: "Try me, Noodle Boy." MK: "I still want to bring the girls and Zishan home... but I still want this baby too? Demon Monkeys cook for two years according to Wukong and Mac, so it's a lot of time to prepare." Red Son: "And it's very early to announce. The children can settle in and adapt long before we tell them." MK: "You're on board too?!" Red Son, genuine smile: "MK, back before I even had the courage to admit my feelings for you, I said I wanted to be with you for the whole ride. And I will do so again no matter how many times you choose. Even with three extra passengers." MK, happy crying: "You're such a sappy bull!!" (*throws arms around Red's neck and kisses her*)

Shuxian, Chuju, and Zishan are welcomed into their new home and family within the next week. They quickly single out Yeye Bull as their favourite grandparent, The old demon king is completely spellbound the girls' adorable cow-eyed faces and their brother's protective-if-hot-blooded nature. DBK is somehow even more soft than when he met Haoyu and the older girls.

This perfect family dyanmic becomes strained when it gets harder for MK to hide his condition...

Wukong, gold-vision activated, pointing at MK's stomach: "Egg." MK, eating three bowls of noodles: "Egg." Wukong: "How long?" MK, nervous smile: "About the same time the trio came home with us?" Wukong, tired smile: "You're a Shí Bǎomǔ through and through, MK." MK, confused: "Thanks??" Wukong: "Hopefully she isn't as eventful as Haoyu was." MK, excited: "SHE!?!"

The pregnancy announcement goes as expected. DBK and PIF are overjoyed and immediately demand to know the due date and if they have thought of any names. Pigsy and Tang both have minor fainting spells before hugging their son tight, both crying incoherently. Mei and Sandy start comparing ideas for a new baby room. Macaque goes into "grand-monkey-mode" and quietly grooms MK's fur, mumbling that the baby will have dark hair. Xiwangmu and the Ox great-grandparents are also ecstatic, jumping in each other's arms like dear girlfriends.

But amongst the joy of the announcement; someone (likely Li Jing tbh) makes the accidentally-insensitive declaration of "Now you'll have a real daughter!"

*record scratch sound*

The room gets quiet.

MK and Red get this look on their faces, soon followed by every family member with a braincell.

They realise that all of the children are present, and their face's have just dropped. The older twin girls, Xuancao and Yingsu, run from the dining table - trying to subtly hide their faces. Haoyu looks confused; why are they upset? Don't they know they are *real* sisters?

Similar moments like these occur through out the next week or so.

Zishan is the most explosive. Alone, he throws his plush monkey toy (his "welcome home!" gift) to the ground and screams that he hates them.

Shuxian and Chuju revert to the silence they once held when they first met the couple. They even begin storing their most precious items in garbage bags under their beds. As if they're preparing to be moved to another group home...

Not even reassurance from their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles, or even Mei seems to lighten their spirits.

It all comes to a boiling point one day when MK gets a call from the primary school.

There's been a fight.

At first, MK and Red assumed it was Zishan - he did have earlier altercations with other children that year. Or even the elder girls - both were bottling up a lot of emotions, and it wouldn't surprise them if either had lashed out in class.

But when they get to the office they see Haoyu.

Haoyu. The same child who's only stain on his academic record was "singing too loud in class" or "lost focus and fixated on spider on his desk for an hour".

Their eldest child has a black eye and tissue shoved up his nostrils. He looks wrecked. But the kid beside him looks like they met the business end of a chair.

Which it turns out they did.

Apparently there was an incident. A classmate in the lunch room had claimed that Haoyu's parents "had no need for the fake kids" anymore - in front of the monkey demon's little sisters...

It doesn't take a genius to imagine why.

MK and Red do their best "aghast parent" acts as Haoyu is given a month of detention. The offending child is given the same for their insensitivity and rough-housing.

The moment they get outside and start walking to pick up the younger kids, MK gives his son the biggest smile ever.

MK: "You're a good brother A-Hóng [little rainbow]. I'm proud f you for sticking up for your siblings." Red Son: "I'm impressed that you didn't send that child to Diyu. You certainly have better self-control than I would have in your shoes." Haoyu: (*surprised tiny smile. His one adult fang is chipped.*) :3

The younger children are surprised and overjoyed when dinner that night is ice cream and cakes. Pastries cooked by a very proud Granddadsy and Yeye Bull.

The very public demonstration by the eldest Spicynoodles child seemed to quell much of the worries the younger children had about the up-coming baby. In their minds; it proved that their big brother saw them as his *Real* siblings no matter what. The chipped fang his seal of promise.

And maybe that means that Bama and Baba, and all their relatives aren't lying when they say that they're *Real* to them too.

A week later at the end of a PTA meeting' MK nearly gouges the eyes out of one of the other parents after overhearing them ask why he "didn't return the rejects" when the pregnancy was discovered. the fight got out of hand. Pigsy joins in on MK's behalf after telling him to not stress himself out.

Seems that over-defensiveness comes from his side of the family.

[anarcoqueer1994]

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4

"Are we going to talk about it?" Steve says into the previously quiet room, the only noise coming from some afternoon soap opera that had been playing on the TV. They were on the couch, with a very intentional space between them, both too scared to get closer. Steve and Eddie had been awkward around each other since they came back into each other’s lives. Anytime they start getting comfortable, feeling happy, warm, safe, with each other, inevitably, one of them, usually Steve, would put their guard back up. But despite his reluctance to want to get close - to want to protect his heart, he finds himself unable to stay away. Everything had come crashing back the day he ran with Eddie’s near lifeless body in his arms. In that moment, he would have given anything, been anything, done anything to make sure Eddie survived. And he did. He is here with Steve, and now they share matching scars bonding them together for life.

And he knows he shouldn’t bring up the past, that he should be content being Eddie’s friend, but he can't stop thinking about what they had, or what he thought they had. And every time he falls down this rabbit hole in his mind, he always comes out other side with the sinking, devastating realization that he still loves Eddie, is still in love with him. So, maybe he needs to talk about it and drudge up the uncomfortable so he can confirm to himself that Eddie doesn't love him, never has, at least not like he wants, so he can move on, and maybe one day form a real, platonic friendship with the boy who stole his heart in the 9th grade, and never gave it back.

After almost a minute with no reply, Steve clears his throat, turning in his spot on the couch so he can face Eddie, who is insisting on gluing his eyes to TV in front of them instead of meeting the other boy's eyes. "Eds?" Steve tries again, this time less forceful, more shy, almost nervous.

Eddie keeps silent, not sure what to say. How can he admit the truth, that he destroyed the best thing in his life. And Why? Because some stupid fear that Steve would hurt him, that jocks and freaks never worked out, that they were destined to burn out and break away from each other. His mind goes back to the image of Steve smiling on his chest, the first and only time they made love. He had looked so happy, so in love. Then it flashes to heartbroken way Steve looked at him that day in the bathroom, how he could tell he was holding back tears. There is a knot in his stomach because he knows he ruined everything, and nothing he can do can turn back time.

"Eddie, please...just look at me." He hears Steve plead, breaking him from his thoughts. He finally gets the courage to turn his body, meet Steve's eyes, and it breaks his heart. He can see the worry, the anxiety in his eyes, like he has been building himself up for this conversation, and Eddie wasn't making it easier on him.

"What, Steve? What is there to talk about?" He finally chokes out.

What Steve says next surprises him. "I just want to say... I'm so sorry..." Steve starts softly, like he has been thinking on this, living in some self-made guilt. Somehow, he thinks he is the one who should have been apologizing. "I pushed you too much when we were younger. That night I told you I loved you, and before then... we were just kids, and I was way too clingy and..."

Eddie listens to Steve ramble, and he is honestly dumbfounded. Somehow, despite Eddie being at fault here, Steve has found a way to blame himself, and that honestly made the remorse Eddie felt even worse, the guilt building stronger in his stomach, and he just needs Steve to stop talking, stop blaming his self. He knows Steve would do that with people like his parents, blame himself for their neglect, and it kills him that he caused Steve to do the same thing. He finally cuts Steve off, "Stop!" it comes out more forceful than he meant, his heart dropping when he sees Steve snap his mouth shut and flinch slightly.

Eddie lets out an exasperated sigh, more at himself than Steve, before he starts to talking again. His voice is soft, gentler. "Steve, you don't need to apologize. You did nothing wrong." Steve opens his mouth to argue, but Eddie continues before he can. "I mean it, Stevie. " The old nickname comes falling out of his name like second nature. "You weren't the one who messed up."

Steve is more confused. How could it not be his fault? He had to have done something, anything... because why would Eddie dump him for nothing? It didn't make any sense. He stares at Eddie, now being the one unsure what to say, finally settling on, "I don't understand..." He feels stupid even saying it out loud. "If I did nothing wrong, why did you end things, Eds?"

Eddie watches as Steve's forehead furrows with confusion. He just wants to reach across and smooth out the worry lines on Steve’s face. "Because, I'm an idiot."

"No, you're not. You are one of the smartest people I know." Eddie feels bad that Steve would still defend him despite everything.

Eddie laughs sadly, shaking his head. "It took me 3 times to finish senior year, big boy. So, I'm not that smart. And even more proof that I'm an idiot... I ruined the best thing that ever happened in my life..." He gives Steve a sad smile.

Steve wants to reach across the couch, grab Eddie’s hand in his, and tell him it's okay, that the past is in the past, that he didn't ruin everything. But he knows it can't be that simple. He whispers, "Why did you....you know, end it?"

Eddie looks away. He knew this conversation would eventually lead to this, but it does not mean he was necessarily ready for it. He takes a shaky breath before daring to look back at Steve. "I just wanna say, I did love you. That night I told you I did. I wasn't just saying it to be kind or whatever you tell yourself. Steve, I still love you, so so much." He chokes out. "But you were so popular, and you had all these jock friends. And I was...am" He corrects, "just some freak, some weirdo, man."

Steve looks more confused. Eddie just confessed he still loved him but then rambled on about him being popular and Eddie was not, and Steve didn't understand what that has to do with anything. "So? Why does that matter? I never saw you as a freak, Eds. Did I do something to make you think that?"

"No, Stevie, you didn't do anything. I got into my own head. My friends, I don't know, they started talking about how all the popular kids are the same, and that people like...like you would just get tired and throw people away. And I don’t know why, but that scared the shit out of me. I didn't want you to hurt me..."

"So you hurt me first.' Steve finishes for him sadly. It breaks Steve's heart all over again. No matter how hard Steve had tried and showed Eddie he cared, Eddie still didn't trust him enough not to hurt him. Makes sense, Steve knew he was an asshole, and Eddie must have seen it too. But he really tried. He doesn't even realize he started to cry until a hand reaches over to wipe away the tear. He instinctively recoils.

"I am so sorry... " Eddie says as he pulls back his hand.

"It's fine." Steve lies through a tear streaked face.

"No, Stevie, it's not." Eddie interrupts, reaching out before thinking better of it, quickly shoving his hand back in his lap. "I shouldn't have done that, I shouldn't have hurt you just because I was scared, man. "

Steve shakes his head. "No, you were right, man." Steve says pointedly, in his best mean girl voice, defenses going up. "I probably would have hurt you. It's what I do best."

Before Eddie can reply, Wayne walks into the living room, having woken up from his nap after working the night prior. This was usually Steve's signal that Wayne can take over for a while. So he quickly gets off the couch, "I...um should be going."

"Wanna stay for dinner, son?" Wayne asks.

"No, thank you...I um told Robin I would come by and help her with something." The defensiveness was gone, his voice was weak. And before anyone can get another word in, Steve was out the door, and Eddie was left feeling crushed. He saw the look on Steve’s face when he left. It mirrored his face from all those years ago when he left heartbroken in the bathroom. And once again, it was Eddie who caused it.

The next day, Wayne had off, so Eddie was not expecting Steve. He was kind of glad, not sure if he could face him, accept help from him, after yesterday. It was eqrly, but he was already up, mind racing. He tries to ground himself, mindlessly pluck away at his guiter, trying ignore his thoughts, but that proves fruitless. He doesn't know what he expected after Steve found out the truth. Maybe part of him hoped that the realization that they both still loved each other would be enough to nullify the pain, and they could start over. But now he has no idea how to fix this. And there is this stupid aching pain eating at him because he realized he would do anything to take away the hurt he caused Steve, and, even selfishly, wants Steve back. The conversation yesterday opened up the feelings he was trying to ignore. But he can't do that anymore. He has to face that when it came to Steve, he was absolutely fucked.

He is ripped from his thoughts from the pound on the door. Wayne had to run into town, and Eddie assured him he would be fine. So he was alone. Eddie makes his way to the front door, still a little slow, but he is getting there. He doesn't know who could be at the door but definitely does not expect who it is; Henderson and Robin. They both looked angry.

"What are you guys doing here? It's like 9am." Eddie says, pretending that them being here is somehow a coincidence and no way at all related to Steve.

That delusion is swiftly destroyed when Henderson, ever so eloquently, asks, "What the hell did you do to Steve?"

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4

I thought I was going to be able to crank out part 3 and 4 (the final part) in one swoop, but I got the flu and I am dying so here is more angst, and hopefully part 4 will be done by next week. Let me know if you wanna be added to the tags and thank you everyone who said kind things about the first few parts. I appreciate all the comments, likes and RBs. You all have been so sweet!

Update: Part 4 is posted

@bookbinderbitch @sadcanadianwinter @livie1507 @jamieweasley13 @sleepyboosstuff @beawritingbooks @nelotegreitic @katherine-sylvia-hanna0212 @plyerice27 @0body0disphoria0 @aizawa-emma @baron-zemo-trash

[ikeromantic]

Nanny Belle and the Midnight Princes pt2

Nanny Belle does her best to keep her favorite little princes entertained, while welcoming the kids from Jade, Benitoite, and Obsidian too. Diplomatic crises, chaos, and cuteness everywhere! Approx. 2800 words

“Can I help you?” Nanny Belle put herself between the dangerous looking Obsidianite and the princes, wondering how he got past the nursery guards. She didn’t know who he was or what he wanted, but she wasn’t letting just anyone stroll in.

“I need to check the room. Out of the way.” 

“I’m afraid I can’t let you past. You aren’t on the guest list.” Belle stood her ground, trying to see behind him so she could signal a guard. 

The man’s hand brushed his hip as if he was used to carrying a weapon. “Move, or -”

“Don’t be such a bully. The Rhodolitian princes aren’t going to murder me. I’m in less danger here than home.” A small, pale boy stepped past the man, and surveyed the room. His eye lit on Chevalier and a smile spread across his lips. “There you are.”

“Not you again,” Chev groaned. 

Nanny Belle knew who he must be. The younger Obsidian prince, Gilbert. He wore an eyepatch, and carried a small, worn plush bunny rabbit. “Prince Gilbert. Be welcome.”

The little boy’s one uncovered eye scanned her as if she were a page in a picture book. It felt as if he peeled back her polite smile and proper manners, to see right inside her to the real person underneath. It was unnerving. “Thanks! I’m gonna go play with my best friend.”

Behind her, she heard Chevalier sigh. “That’s wonderful.” Belle wasn’t sure what kind of play Gilbert meant. Chev didn’t like children’s games, but she hoped whatever he wanted to do, the two of them would have fun. It would be good to have someone that could pull the quiet blonde prince from his shell.

Prince Gilbert plopped himself down beside Chevalier and pulled out a book of his own. “Have you read this one?” 

Belle didn’t get to hear Chevalier’s reply as the Obsidian serving man took her attention again.

“I will be here, by the door. Watching.” The man’s grim voice felt out of place in the brightly decorated room, with the laughter of children as counterpoint. “Should anything happen -”

“Walter, leave the nanny alone.” Prince Gilbert’s voice was anything but childlike as he addressed his servant, one bright scarlet eye fixing the man from across the room. 

Walter, the servant, bowed low and gave Nanny Belle a nod. Then he stepped to the side, just in time for Clavis to come barrelling through the door with a young girl in close pursuit. 

“Stop right there! Stop! Someone stop him!” The little girl skidded to a halt just past the doorway as Clavis tucked himself behind Nanny Belle’s skirt. 

“Princess Mirielle, why are you chasing Prince Clavis?” Nanny Belle knew who the girl was the moment she opened her mouth. The slight Jadean accent combined with her fine clothes and imperious manner left just the one option.

“I can answer that.” Sariel followed a little ways behind the girl. He had another child with him. A small boy, about Luke’s age, with the Jadean royal look about him. Golden eyes and light, olive toned hair. He had some bright colored goo around his mouth, as if he’d tried to eat a particularly vibrant crayon.

Princess Mirielle stomped her foot. “That - that monster tried to poison my baby brother!”

Sariel’s lips curved up in a tiny smile before he caught them and forced his expression back to one of severe neutrality. “Prince Clavis, is this correct?”

Clavis, hanging tightly to Belle’s skirt, peeked around her to look at the councillor. “No! I just made him a snack. But the cookies we found were boring, so - so I added some stuff. But it’s not poisonous!”

“And what did you add to make the cookies . . . not boring?” Sariel’s left brow rose a fraction.

“Umm . . . some rhubarb custard because it was such a nice color pink, and a dollop of caviar, and a pickled herring! I was going to put a strawberry on top but I couldn’t find any.” Clavis smiled brightly, clearly proud of his efforts. “It was the most funnest thing I ever tasted!”

Nanny Belle kept a sigh on the inside. “I see. Thank you for telling us Prince Clavis. But next time you want to share a special snack with a new friend, you need to check with me, ok? Prince Tio might not like the same foods you do, or he might be allergic.”

Mirielle stomped her little foot again. “It was disgusting! I demand he be punished!”

Sariel didn’t miss a beat. “You have my word that there will be consequences, princess. I will see to it myself. But for tonight, please let bygones be bygones.”

She looked as if she might argue, but Prince Keith stepped in, a gentle smile on his face. “Come on, sis. Tio is just fine. Right, Tio?” He ruffled his brother’s hair affectionately. 

Prince Tio laughed and hugged his big brother. “Yep!” 

Mirielle relented, though she still gave Clavis a suspicious glare as she walked past him to the toy chest in the corner. 

Belle shared a look with Sariel. This was going to be a challenging evening. She was intensely glad for the servants helping out through the room, but it was up to her to keep all these little royal kidlings entertained until the party ended. 

“You’re doing wonderfully,” Sariel mouthed silently, his gaze warm. Aloud he said, “I trust you have it from here. I will be back later to check in.” He gave her a slight bow, and hurried out, back to his duties.

Nanny Belle turned to take in the scattered children. Leon was still on the balcony, looking wistfully toward the ballroom. The lights and music from the celebration carried all the way across the palace grounds. Luke was sitting and munching happily on a honey roll, while Gilbert chattered to Chevalier in the corner. 

Prince Keith was showing his siblings the telescope on the balcony under the suspicious gaze of Licht. Nokto was smiling at Princess Mirielle, while Yves played quietly with a set of toy soldiers at a table. Jin was drawing in his sketch pad, glancing up occasionally to check on his brothers. And Clavis - where was Clavis? He’d been right behind her.

Just as Belle was about to panic over a lost prince, one of the guards came in with the missing boy tucked under his arm. “My lady, this one was trying to follow Sariel out. Where should I set him down?”

“On the bench there, where I can see him.” Nanny Belle gave the prince a sharp look. “Prince Clavis, you know you are meant to stay here at our party.”

He gave a heavy sigh, shoulders falling. “I just wanted to go help Sariel. He said he’s real busy tonight.”

Belle could tell he was genuine in his desire, even though Clavis’ help often made more work than it ever resolved. Still . . . “I see. Well . . . would you be willing to help me tonight instead? I’m quite overwhelmed with all these foreign dignitaries here.”

Clavis studied her with his bright gold gaze, then grinned broadly. “I will be the best helper ever!”

“Wonderful.” Nanny Belle ruffled his hair. “Since nearly everyone is here, I think we should play a fun game. Would you help me set up a place for duck-duck-goose?”

“Yes!” Clavis clapped his hands together. “I’ll get some cushions!” 

Belle watched him race off to get started. She intended to keep a close eye on him, but just then one of the maids brought Rio in from his nap. The little blonde moppet looked every part a little prince, in a blue velvet onesie with an adorable light blue sash and fancy cufflinks. 

Rio smiled when he saw the nanny and held out his arms to her. 

“Aren’t you just a cutie?” Nanny Belle took him from the maid, listening as she gave a quick update on him. She thanked the maid and then turned back to check on Clavis. The cushions were all laid out and ready for duck-duck-goose. She didn’t see anything obviously suspicious about them either, but went to check anyway. 

Clavis hurried to her, stepping right in front of the arranged cushions. “Did I do a good job, Nanny?”

“It looks great.” She eyed the little prince, trying not to look suspicious. “Why don’t you let everyone know it’s time to play a game, hm?”

“Yes!” Clavis raced off, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Time for duck-duck-goose!”

Belle leaned down and lifted one of the cushions, checking it for the usual. Itching powder, sticky jam, dye . . . it seemed completely clear. She set it down, mildly surprised. “Alright. I guess he really did just set these out like I asked. Hm.” She put Rio down on the one she checked as the other kids came over. 

“I heard you the first time,” Jin sighed, as he came strolling over. 

“Yeah. First time,” Luke echoed, putting a little, sticky fist on his hip. 

Prince Keith came over, with Mirielle and Tio in tow. Mirielle went for the fanciest cushion on the floor. It was light green, with delicate lace stitched across the cover in a floral pattern. The moment she sat down, a loud toot sounded from beneath her. 

Mirielle jumped up, her cheeks stained bright red. “That wasn’t me!”

Keith was looking at her with raised eyebrows, unsure how to react, while Tio giggled. Jin was struggling to keep his expression neutral, but Luke wasn’t old enough to understand and he was laughing too.

Belle didn’t need to guess what happened. She could see Clavis’ grin from across the room. She hurried over and knelt down to pull a leather sack from under the pillow. It was supposed to be used as a bed warmer, with hot water, but someone had filled it with air and left the valve open just enough to make noise when it was squeezed. “Ah! I was looking for that. I am so sorry Princess Mirielle. I don’t know how it found its way under your pillow.”

The princess crossed her arms. She clearly wanted more, but was struggling with her emotions. 

Keith came to her rescue. He grabbed the bed warmer from Belle’s hand and stuck it under his pillow, then sat down hard to expel the last of the air from it in a loud, obnoxious honk. This set Tio to laughing even harder, and even the other princes cracked a smile. “Oh! Now I’ve done it too!”

Mirielle looked at him, and then at the other princes. She seemed to consider whether or not she should stay angry, then sighed and sat down carefully. “Fine. But I don’t forgive whoever did that.”

“Yes. Whoever that might be,” Chevalier commented from his reading spot. 

“Aren’t you going to come play,” Leon asked.

“Absolutely not. I have no interest in such a ridiculous game.” Chev looked back down at his book.

Gilbert stood up from beside him. “I’d like to play.” 

At this, his servant Walter took a step forward. “I can’t allow that. This game -”

“Can’t allow?” Gilbert’s red gaze fixed on his servant. Some silent struggle continued between the two of them. Nothing was said, just a long, intense look. 

Walter’s face went red, staining him from eartip to eartip. He bowed his head, looking down. 

Gilbert said nothing for several tense moments, then sat again. “I’d rather read with Chevalier anyway. I’m too old for duck-duck-goose.”

His servant didn’t respond, but his posture evinced a deep relief. 

Belle wasn’t sure what was going on between them, or why it should matter if the little Obsidian prince played the game or not. Despite Gilbert’s dismissive tone, she had a feeling he really did want to play and decided she would find a game for him tonight, one way or another.

Once everyone but Chevalier and Gilbert were seated in the circle, Jin agreed to be the first goose. He stalked around the other children, a big smile on his face. “Duck . . . duck . . . duck . . .” When he got to Emidio, he tapped him and shouted, “GOOSE!”

Emidio leapt up and chased him around the circle, just a hair too slow to catch the first prince before Jin slid into his seat. “I almost had you!”

“Almost,” Jin agreed.”

Yves snorted. “Almost doesn’t count in duck-duck-goose.”

“Almost doesn’t count in anything,” Nokto added.

“Let’s all be kind while we play our games, hm?” Belle intervened before the boys could get out of hand. 

It was clear that Emidio’s pride was stung, but there was nothing to do for it now. Belle watched as he made his way around the circle, tapping each person. “Duck. Duck. Duck.” When he got to Rio, he poked a little harder than necessary and shouted “Goose!”

Poor Rio, barely old enough to understand the game, struggled to his feet. He rubbed the back of his head, lower lip trembling. Just as Belle was about to step in, he lurched after Emidio. Of course, he had no chance to catch the older boy. Emidio plopped down in Rio’s spot a moment later, leaving the toddler to continue the game.

Belle wasn’t sure if he quite understood, but Rio surprised her with a gap-toothed grin. Then he started his own walk around. “Du-du-duh-”

“Duck, ya moron,” Silvio snapped. “D-u-c-k. Duck. Why’re we letting this idiot pup play anyway?”

Rio slapped the back of Silvio’s head and shouted, “Goose!” Then ran pell-mell around the circle, practically falling into Silvio’s spot as the Benitiotian prince reacted with surprise. 

It was the first time Belle ever saw Rio do something . . . mean. He’d been careful tapping the other kids, but the slap to Silvio’s head was definitely not accidental. She couldn’t exactly blame him though. Silvio was quite rude. 

“That - snot nosed little - I demand he be punished! Ya can’t just slap a prince!” Silvio’s voice was shrill and his jewelry jangled as he gesticulated at the toddler who now sat smugly in his spot in the circle. 

Belle curtsied. “I’m sorry, Prince Silvio, on behalf of Rio. He’s still growing and isn’t always very coordinated.”

Silvio looked like he might say more, but all the other royalty were looking at him. After a moment, he deflated, grumbling under his breath. Then he started around the circle. 

Nanny Belle was a little worried he would try to revenge himself on Rio, but instead he tagged Leon, who gamely went for Keith. Keith grinned when he was declared goose.

“I’m not very good at these kinds of games, but let’s see . . .” Keith went around the circle twice, pretending to ignore his little brother who obviously wanted to be tagged next. When he ‘goosed’ Tio, the little prince leapt up with a happy grin and chased his older brother around the circle, just a hair too slow to catch him even though it was clear that Keith wasn’t really trying to escape. 

Tio giggled when Keith plopped down in his spot. “Oh no! Now I get . . . umm . . .” Tio’s eyes went wide as he realized his predicament. He could pick his sister, Luke, Licht, or Nokto. Mirielle arched an expectant brow, but Tio went around her with a quiet ‘duck’, and passed Licht and Nokto as well. He got to Luke and the two little ones exchanged a wide, expectant grin. “Goots!” 

Luke wobbled to his feet and the two of them chased each other around the room, running wide of the circle on their chubby toddler feet. 

“Hey! That’s not fair! That’s cheating!” Emidio glared at the two little ones. 

Licht sighed and shook his head. “It’s not cheating unless it gives an advantage. They just aren’t playing the game right.”

Belle shooed the two back toward the circle, but their flight around the room effectively ended the game. Thankfully, it was dark enough outside to guide them out to the balcony, where they could take turns on the telescope. 

Even Chevalier and Gilbert joined the group for this event, excited to get to see the stars through the refractory lenses. Nanny Belle watched them with a cautious eye, making sure everyone got a turn, adjusting the telescope as needed while the stars marched across the velvet black sky. 

The party in the ballroom was still going strong. Music echoed from the open windows, and the sound of laughter. Belle was glad she didn’t need to attend such events. The bickering nobles and the moody king held no allure for her. She knew it wouldn’t be long before Jin and Chevalier would be required to attend. And where Chevalier went, Clavis would follow.

Clavis. 

Her eyes darted around the balcony. He wasn’t waiting to look through the telescope. When had he . . . then she remembered. Just as everyone else sat down to play, where he’d positioned the pillows well away from the door, Clavis had slipped away.

[thehardy-boys]

The Platform Part 2 (Tommy Shelby x Reader)

Thank you all for your responses to my first part! You all are so lovely and supportive! Here's part 2 and I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: Nothing...not yet.

Part 2

For the rest of the week (y/n) worried that she might have offended him. Was she supposed to think he would remember her? Was it an insult to his memory to assume he didn’t? She racked her brains for hours in the dead of night only to feel foolish for even caring. It wasn’t like they had ever been close. They played together when they were kids but then she left. And yes…after the war that moment on the platform as she sifted through all those men, all those men with death in their eyes, for her brother. But that was it.

The Thomas she remembered was a quiet, thoughtful boy. He had a wild imagination and was always coming up with new games for all of them to play. (y/n) didn’t know who this man was now. Small Heath feared him. They feared the Peaky Blinders. And (y/n) was sad to admit she was fearful of him too.

Come Thursday afternoon she gritted her teeth before knocking on his office door.

In and out. That’s all. She repeated to herself.

“Come in.”

He looked up from his paperwork when she walked in. (y/n) did exactly as she had practiced numerous times in her head: she walked over and placed the drafted issue on his desk and said, “Is there anything you would like me to tell Mr. Beavers?”

Thomas stubbed out his cigarette bud and sat back with a sigh. He watched her as she stood like a statue in front of his authoritative desk. She could feel his eyes like a physical touch. She watched as the danced all over her face, her hair, her neck but no lower.

“Have a drink with me.” He got up and turned his back to pour two glasses of whiskey.

“No, thank you. I’m still working Mr. Shelby.” She shook her head as he held out the glass.

He set it down on the edge of the table and took sip from his own.

“How’s your mother?”

(y/n) was taken aback. She stood there for a minute processing his question.

“My mother? She’s sick.”

Thomas nodded, “And you’re looking after her? That’s why you came back?”

“Yes. One of the reasons.” She felt bewildered. What was this?

“What were the others?”

“I don’t understand Mr. Shelby. My reasons for returning are entirely my own.” Was this some kind of interrogation?

She watched him down the rest of the glass and clench his jaw at the sting. Thomas remained standing but slowly walked around to the other side of the desk. But as soon as he came within an arm length of her, she took a step back. It did not go unnoticed. She watched as his eyes flickered towards the distance she had created.

“I’ve heard things, that’s all.”

“Heard things? Gossip, you mean?”

He made a noncommittal noise.

“Well, it’s no one’s business. Keep believing the gossip, I don’t care if the people here spin tales.” (y/n) knew she was being a bit to hostile, but she came in hoping to just throw him the issue and leave and now he was putting her through a round house of questions.

He raised his eyebrows at her tone, “Polly’s just worried.”

She turned her head, so she didn’t have to look at him anymore, “That’s very kind of her but I’m fine. If that’s all, Mr. Shelby?”

“How about after your work?”

“I’m sorry?” Thomas had leaned back against the desk crossing his arms.

“After your work do you drink?”

(y/n) still was unsure of where this line of questions was heading.

“Come to the Garrison to have a drink,” he cleared his throat, “with me.”

Her heart betrayed her by missing a beat, but she ignored it stubbornly. No this wasn’t going to happen.

“No, I’m sorry Mr. Shelby. You’re technically my boss now. I don’t think it’s appropriate.” Before he could argue she left. Her heart jack rabbiting all the way back to the office. She was ashamed to admit she was scared he would run after her with his razors, spin her around, and threaten her, or force her to join him. No such thing happened. The day went on. She stopped by her mother’s on her way home. Nothing changed. The old woman was just one day closer to the end.

(y/n) spent the night thinking of the broadness of Thomas’s shoulders. Silly girl. She berated herself. Silly girl.

(y/n) was a loyal worker. If she was given a job, she would do it. And that’s why every week she dutiful went down to the Shelby Limited offices and dropped off the issue. Thomas never asked for another drink. He would sometimes give her a message for Mr. Beavers but that was it. No more questions. No more interrogations.

One Thursday he had pointed out a packet of papers on the coffee table he wanted her to bring to her boss. She walked over and leaned down to flip through the contents, trying to assess how much time it would take to process. As she straightened up, she flinched at his sudden proximity; he had been leaning over to have a look, as well.

“Sorry, Mr. Shelby. I didn’t hear you.” She admitted softly trying to regain control over her heart.

(y/n) took a small step back. He took a step forward. Her eyes widened and she glanced down at his feet then up to his face. But he never gave anything away. She took another step back and he followed with his step forward. His eyes fixated almost violently on her face. One step back and one step forwards.

“Mr. Shelby…” She began with a slight tremor that she hated herself for.

“Are you afraid of me, (y/n)?”

She watched him bite the inside of his cheek subtly. He was calculating. Analyzing. Waiting.

“Yes.” She admitted softly.

His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. He looked angry but he turned around and walked all the way back to his desk and fell into his chair.

She grabbed the packet and left. Not looking back. Never looking back.

The next Thursday she careful placed the issue on his desk and he hadn’t even bothered looking up.

She cleared her throat, “Mr. Shelby, I can give this responsibility over to someone else. Ms. Lowe would be more than willing to take over.”

His head shot up, “Are you that afraid?” His question was accusatory.

“No, no. I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Thomas snorted placing his pen down, “Shouldn’t it be the other way around? I’m making you uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Shelby. I am. I just – over time I’ll become less afraid.” And she meant it. The truth was she wasn’t so afraid of what he had done, of his illegal dealings but more afraid of what she wanted him for. Afraid of how he haunted her mind at night and her day dreams.

“I don’t want Ms. Lowe.” He said while drowning her to death in his eyes. And that was that.

Life didn’t change much even with this new additional Shelby connection. Small Heath was still an unhappy place. (y/n) was still tired. Her mother still mumbled and hissed for her to leave and (y/n)’s head still hurt every day after leaving work.

Only because Evelyn had been pestering her non-stop did she bother to say anything.

“Ms. Lowe wanted to know when the next singing night would be at the Garrison.”

“Ms. Lowe?” Thomas furrowed his eyebrows. He always remained sitting at his desk when she dropped the issue off now, kept his distance and she was thankful. He was much less intimidating this way.

“Yes, Ms. Lowe. The woman you met before, blonde hair, red lips, single.”

He raised his eyebrows, “What about her?”

“What I just said.” (y/n) huffed a laugh at Thomas’s purposeful obtuseness. It was an annoyingly endearing trait that she remembered from when they were kids.

Thomas quirked his lips slightly and (y/n) was astonished to admit that she hadn’t seen him smile once seen she had met him all those weeks ago. Then again, the war changed everyone. He had that look in his eyes same as her brother, that all those men had. The look of absence. The missing piece. Something taken.

“You can tell her there’ll be one this Saturday.”

“Great, now she can finally leave me be.”

“She’s botherin’ you.” His cigarette case opened with a click. He offered her one, but she declined.

“She has quite the crush on you. She’s been asking me to drop hints. Although don’t tell her I point blank told you or she’d have my head.”

He took a long drag while watching her.

“A crush?”

(y/n) nodded.

“Why don’t you come with her on Saturday?”

(y/n) scrunched her nose, “I don’t really get along with her, but I’ll tell her the day. Can I tell her you’ll be there?”

He blew out the smoke, “No, no I won’t be there.”

It was the following week when (y/n) encountered another face from her past. She had entered Thomas’s office before realizing that he wasn’t alone. Another man was sitting in front of the desk.

“Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Shelby. I can come back later.”

“No need. We just finished.”

The other man had turned around upon hearing her voice, “Bloody hell! (y/n) (l/n). I can’t believe it.”

John Shelby walked over and pulled her into a tight embrace. He was all muscle now. (y/n) remembered how soft and sweet he was as a kid, round face, and chubby cheeks. Always running after her and helping her climb up the trees out in the wild. His face still carried that mischievous twist.

“John, It’s so nice to see you, again.” He put her at arm’s length to have a good look at her.

“My god. You’re an absolute stunner, (y/n). Thomas was right.”

“John, remember what I said about the meeting this evening.” Thomas’ voice was close behind his younger brother and there was an edge to it, a warning.

“Alright, alright. I’ll see you ‘round (y/n). Don’t be a stranger, now.”

“Of course not, John.” She chuckled.

Then she was left with the other brother, “Here’s the issue, Mr. Shelby.”

He took it from her and tossed it on his desk without look at her, in fact he wasn’t meeting her eyes at all. Thomas methodically went about taking out and lighting a cigarette. His silence was beginning to unnerve (y/n).

“Is there something I can report to Mr. Beavers?”  

“I want to do a few pieces on horses.” He gestured vaguely, “I want a few articles on their nature, their training, their value.”

He blew out a puff of smoke and walked over to one of the sofas. He gestured to the opposite one. (y/n) followed his suggestion.

“Is that something people are interested in reading about?”

“I’ve frequented the race tracks for several years now. The more people ‘round here who feel like they have an understanding of horses will be more likely to make a bet. It develops a market.”

(y/n) shrugged, “Alright, I’ll take your word for it. I’ll tell Mr. Beavers to assign someone.”

“I want you to write it.” He pointed to her with the same hand that held his burning cigarette finally meeting her eyes. The shocking blue of them always caught her off guard.  

“Me?” She was in disbelief, “I don’t know anything about horses! Besides, I’m a general editor not a writer.”

Thomas scoffed, “I know that you write about half the articles in that paper already. Mr. Beavers told me.”

(y/n) averted her gaze to the beautiful oil painting of a horse on one of the office walls. She sighed.

“I still don’t know anything about horses.”

“I’ll arrange a time I can take you out to the stables. I’ll show you ‘round the horses.”

(y/n) sat there just staring at him. She just couldn’t understand. What was his angle? What did he want? She rubbed her forehead. It was just another chore.

“Alright, Mr. Shelby. If that’s what you think is best. I’ll tell Mr. Beavers.”

She got up to leave but he leaned forward and snagged her wrist. She stopped moving immediately and looked over at him. His hand was gentle around her arm. It was loose enough for her to shake him off. He was surprisingly warm. She saw him looking into her eyes, waiting for her fear, a flinch, a tremor, and she was certain if he saw it, he would let go immediately.

“What do you think of John?”

“I’m sorry?”

“You treat him differently. You’re not the same as you are with me.”

“I – well, he’s younger than me and he’s not my boss. I remember practically babysitting him when we were kids.” She shrugged, “It’s just different.”

His face remained a perfect mask of indifference.

“Maybe you don’t understand how you look, Mr. Shelby.” (y/n) tried again.

“How I look?” His eyebrows raised.

“Like you’d rather be anywhere else than here. You’re very serious, Mr. Shelby. It’s hard to feel at ease around someone like that.”  

His hand slipped off her wrist, “I’ll let you know when I can take you to the stables.”

(y/n) hesitated for only a moment. It wasn’t her responsibility to make Thomas Shelby feel good about himself.

Part 1 ---- Part 3