#WHY do people think it's okay to rename other people's pets?? & then tell everyone ''oh yeah this guy's name is [wrong name]''

[pa-pa-plasma]

i don't get people who think other people's pets are theirs. like where does that type of fucked up even come from

[urlocalnctstan]

𝚃𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜

Genre : Angst, Fluff, Slow-burnish, Idol AU

Pairing : Jaehyun x Reader ft.Mark (other members too)

Warning(s) : strong language, age-gap, mature contents, weird writing style lmao, uh what else? idk but yeah

Disclaimer :The story is completely fictitious, idol-fan relationships are not common so some of you crazy ones out here, pls don’t get too delusional, your oppas will be your oppas only virtually, not in real life.

Playlist : Youtube Link / Written

Word Count : 5.4k

Summary : ‘Time and tide waits for none’- a quote that is universally accepted and believed. You both had had your experience of meeting the right one at the wrong time, the concept of love long forgotten after the sudden downfall of your relationship together. But will time eventually heal everything for you both?

The car came to a halt, your mind subconsciously drifting back to the humiliation you faced tonight back at the office.

“ARE YOU FUCKING DUMB, Y/N?” your boss was a fuming mess, his whole office scattered with the documents you had brought just a few moments ago. At the sight of the shredded papers, you felt you heart clench. You worked so hard for this project, disregarding God knows how many nights of your sleep. The feeling of abomination was slowly creeping up from the pit of your stomach towards the man who stood taut, seething in rage.

“HOW MANY TIMES DID I TELL YOU TO JUST DO WHAT THEY ASKED YOU TO?” He yelled, his fist furiously banging on his wooden desk, beneath his hand rested some pieces of the torn documents.

“Sir, even you know how risky it is to design as they asked to. If a blunder happens it is our company that is to be held accountable, not theirs.” you knew it was pointless to reason with the stubborn headed prick, but you had to try out your luck.

“Get out. Out, out, out. Get your fucking face out of my face.” He swished his index finger repeatedly, letting out a frustrated shriek just as I was about to exit his office. His wrath was nothing new in the office, as all the other employees shot me a rather pitying look when they saw me exiting the team leader’s office with hands full of ripped papers. Wow, my 2 weeks worth of sleep. Just wow. You didn’t bother to reciprocate their sympathetic glances, storming out of the corridor as you furiously started clicking the floor to your cabin. The jabbing of your finger on the glowing button that read ‘13’ was the only sound that resonated in the fairly empty area, earning annoyed looks from the two individuals who stood right behind you.

“Ah, fuck.” You banged your head against the steering, recalling the even as you clutched the handles harshly. “Why,” another bang. “do I,” bang. “live like” bang. “this,” bang. You could feel your face was burning without even touching it, streams of tears flowing down. Just as you were about to give yourself another bang, the sudden honk of a car made you pause amidst your ritual. Indeed all motherfuckers love to test my patience. You decide to ignore the rider, mainly because you were also partially at fault for resting in your car in the middle of the park. You twisted the metal keys as the ignition went off, signaling your car was ready to flee. Yet again, you were distracted by soft knocks. You prayed to God to help you not lose your shit, at this point you were questioning if He ever hears your woes at all. The soft knocks stop immediately when you started to pull down the window, the person straightening only crouch again.

“Y/n?” his called out unsurely, as if he were afraid of mistaking you for someone else. You knew that voice, and that is not good news. Shit.

“Mark?” you were surprised to say the least, not expecting to run into an old friend. “Oh my god! How have you been?” You shoot out of your driver’s seat, instantly being engulfed into a bone crushing hug by the male.

“I have been good. Oh god, I can’t believe this! I can’t believe I ran into you after so long!” Mark still held you tight your embrace, the sudden reunion making him feel giddy with excitement.

“Yes indeed,” you were the first to pull out from the hug. You took a moment to study him; black mask covering half of his face as he smiled widely, eyes crinkled and the signature cheekbones still the same as they were in the past. God, it’s really been so long. “What are you up to these days?”

“Er,” Mark scratched his head as he laughed nervously, unsure if he was allowed to give you spoilers about his new album. “I have been working on my solo album actually.” 

“Are you for real?” You found yourself hugging Mark again at the joy of his successful career. “I’m so so proud of you mate!”

“Thank you, thank you,” Mark swayed you lightly, his voice muffled due to the mask he wore. Mark was the one to pull out now, still keeping your caged as he placed his hands on your shoulders. “In no way I am gonna let you leave without a trace again,” he almost groaned.

“Promise, I won’t anymore,” you signaled to the stack of files that rested on the backseat of your car. “They won’t leave me alone.”

“I’ll just ask your boss to assign you with more tasks then,” he giggled mischievously, earning a light smack from you at the mention of such an absurd idea.

“I’ll track your way to hell to kill you again if you do something like that,” you hissed at Mark, who was still giggling at your frustrated reaction. The atmosphere became quiet as Mark looked up in the vacant sky, deep in thoughts while you waited for him to continue. Your phone buzzed against your leather coat.

[From Bullhead] : Don’t think I am overlooking your mess. This is the first and final warning from me.

You shivered, half from the cold and half from the text you just received.

“26th, sharp at 8 PM, my place.” He snapped his fingers, hooting at the realization of having a free day in his busy scheduled life.

“Okay, done.” You should have refused, you thought. But for some reason, you found yourself agreeing to his offer, you felt both sad and guilty for disappearing out of your friend’s life without a trace. However, you couldn’t ignore the greedy feeling you felt, the want to see him again. “I think I should be done around...7:30? So I think I’ll be able to make it.” You unlocked and handed him your phone.

“You have to make it,” his eyes focused on the screen of your device, swiftly typing what you assumed was him number. “Just incase, text me if I happen to forget - no I know that look, Y/n, you must text if that happens..” He rolled his eyes, knowing that how much you would be overthinking about possibly tiring him because of his busy lifestyle. Mark dialed his number from your phone before handing it back to you. You visibly snickered at the name he saved his contact with : ‘My Boo MarkLee <3’ 

“Stop pretending as if you never renamed my existence as Markie Boo,” he groans, remembering how this has been his another one of the hundred pet names he had. Your conversation was cut mid way as his phone loudly vibrated in his phone, swiftly pulling it out as the guy whined in annoyance.

“Yo, I gotta go now I guess, something came up at the company.” He looked sad, pouty. “See you around, yeah?” You were pulled into another hug by the male, he surely loved to hug as usual.

“Yes, yes. Now go. Don’t be late.” You patted his back, pulling out of the hug and shooing him away towards his car.

“See ya, Mom.” He beamed as he sped off with his car. 

“Dumbass.” You muttered, softly laughing at the name he would always call you by, despite being years younger than him. You rounded around your car, getting inside. The start was bad but the end was good nonetheless. The keys of your car jiggled as you closed the door. Again, you twisted the keys, your mood slightly better than before for which you were grateful. Your car’s ignition blared, as you positioned towards the exit of the park, subtly muttering ‘long ass ride.’

The digits ‘7:37’ glowed on the the small digital clock beside your desktop. You felt stiff, stretching your neck as your bones made those cracking noes. You stare at your toes, zoning out was your passion and you excelled at it. You snapped straight, letting out a deep sigh as you started to scheme the projects before you were to hand them over to your bullhead boss. Soon enough, you were done, muttering almost too loudly for everyone that you wished your boss would be napping off instead of being awake.

Good for you, your prayers were answered for the first time in a while. You quietly placed the files that contained all the details that needed to be checked again by your boss, quietly making your way out of his cabin as soon as possible. On you way, you informed his secretary you were leaving, her face wore distraught and annoyance but softens as she saw you approaching. Sometimes you felt sympathetic towards her, often asking the heavens to bless her with utmost patience and perseverance to deal with the bullhead.

The marble floor clicked with every step you took, the sounds eerily audible in the serene lobby. It was very rare for the lobby to be filled with people in evening, the employees would practically sprint off their seats as soon as the clock hits 7. You made your way out of the building, making a mental note to buy a gift for Mark on your way back to home. What would he like? Take outs? Homemade? Wine? You drove across the street before halting your car in front of the department store that was situated just a few blocks away from your office. The header of the store glowed, the alleys seemingly half-crowded with people of different occupations you assumed. You let out a hiss as you felt a chill run down your spine, it was almost the end of Autumn which meant Winter was just round the corner. You decided to rely on your instincts, deciding to gift your friend a fancy bottle of wine despite having zero knowledge about it.

You were never quite the fan of wine. According to you, the seemingly alcoholic drink was too expensive, plus the etiquettes that came along for its consumption would always just make your turn your head away every time you laid your eyes across one. You schemed through the white shelves filled with different tastes and colors of wine, each hailing from various corners of the world. “How do I even spell it?” You crouched down a bit to a bottle that had caught your attention, the exquisite name was starting to make your head hurt. It’s probably a white wine you thought, the transparent color of the liquid was what made you convince. But something rather nostalgic caught your sight, before you could even realize, you found your fingertips caressing the cold glass bottle of the red liquid that you held now.

“If were to be a drink, then what would I be?” You lazily laid sprawled across the couch in the living, while you boyfriend who sat on the marble floor across fumbles with the knotted bunch of cables. Jaehyun had his gaze focus of the wire maze in his hands, eyebrows furrowed and lips pouted in immense concentration.

“Peach milk,” he smiled, unbeknownst to you he was actually implying a double meaning for his answer.

“And why that?” You felt his choice a bit amusing, not really expecting that as an answer.

“Because I love your ass and boobs,” he winked, only to be hit by a pillow that was resting beneath your curled legs. Jaehyun felt himself giggling by your reaction, it was cute to see you being annoyed. “Babe, c’mon. I can’t lie about it.” 

“Never mind, just forget it.” You started to get a bit pissed, hurt as well because your sensitive ass thought he would probably say something sweet that would make you heart flutter. 

“Peach milk is my favorite, that’s the main reason why,” Jaehyun shifted his focus back to the cables, the last two knots were too adamant to let go of each other. You felt yourself smiling, too wide, he definitely knew you well. Cheeky bastard.

“What about me?” he asked, eyes still focused as he working on untying the last knot.

“Hmmm...” you shifted your position on the couch, now sitting up as you stared your boyfriend’s figure for a short while.

“Red wine.” sophisticated, classy, unique, warm. If you were to describe the aura around him, these would be the first choices.

However, your answer seemed to have caught Jaehyun’s attention, pausing in his tracks as he got curious as to why the specific choice. He had a huge grin on his face, he adored how you remembered the specific detail of red wine being his favourite, for he mentioned it in your first date which was 2 years back. But he knew there was more to it. He knew you too well. “But why red wine?”

You kept your gaze fixated on Jaehyun as he gets up from the ground, putting the cables in a secure manner to avoid another tie war. He hugged the pillow tight which you had previously thrown on him, before propping down beside you on the couch with a tired sigh, looking at you intently. It was as if you both were having a staring contest. So you rested your head on your right hand, both staring each other with soft smiles before you continued.

“You are much more to what everyone thinks you are,” you notice how Jaehyun cocks an eyebrow, still staring and trying to process what you just said.

“Just like wine, the more I know you, the more I know just how amazing you are. Both sweet and sour, but the balanced ratio of it is what makes you more admirable.” You admired how he was always able to balance things out, prior to what everyone believes about him, he had both good and bad sides to him. And that’s what made him more human, him acknowledging his flaws. That’s what made you fall for him.

Hearing you, Jaehyun thought he might dislocate his jaw anytime soon for smiling so hard. His heart started to do all sort of flips, ears starting to pink. It was at times like this when you don’t need words to express how you were feeling, silent but the communication was still present. Jaehyun slides his hand into yours, you glanced at both of your intertwined fingers before looking at him, his eyes full of hearts for you. You giggled, feeling shy at his intense stare but returning him the same way.

“I love you,” he whispered, his starry eyes which were only looking at you.

“Excuse me miss,” You jolt at the sudden change of voice coming from behind you. You whip around, a girl probably in her late teens stood nervously, her hands fidgets with the belts of her backpack. 

“Miss, you were kinda in the way so..” you felt flustered for absent-mindedly drifting into your dreamland while shopping for your friend, chiding yourself mentally in the process.

“Ah, I am so sorry,” you moved swiftly to the side to allow the teen some space to carry out her shopping. “Please, carry on.” You smiled softly. Though at the back of your mind you wanted to point out how she shouldn’t be consuming alcohol, but disregarded the urge nonetheless. Sometimes children should get to enjoy their minimal amount of fun in their youth too. You were still clutching the red wine bottle in your hand, eyeing it one last time before placing it back in the racks. You cleared your throat, as if to let the voices speaking inside your head know that you are not a stupid 20 year old anymore. You shake your head, glancing around to inspect if others were judging your state before proceeding to the counter for the random wine you picked which might have cost you half of your monthly salary. It’s okay to spend once in a while.

Mark was literally running around his apartment. Running. His head shot up as he remembered something. “Shit, fuck, are the bathroom lights okay?” he murmured to himself, sprinting off to the bathroom that was located in his vast living room first, followed by the ones in his bedroom and guestroom. Mark was still a newbie to the norms of living alone, him being a newborn living-alone man for sparsely 2 months. And he would barely be home due to his schedules. There were even times he would just forget his own bedroom.

“What else, what else,” he glanced over the whole area eyes drifting here and there before he realized something. Dumbass forgot to check if there were even enough food for two. Mark quickly scurried to the kitchen counter, the utensils were more than enough before checking his fridge. Beers? Check. Soju? Check. Kimchi? Check. Slices of chicken breast? Check. But the 33 year old still felt something was missing. Mark shifted his focus on the wooden shelf that was just above the kitchen sink, the transparent glass door of it making a creak sound as he opened it. For an apartment who’s owner was barely home, the shelf was definitely well packed and organized. It contained all sorts of ramen, tteokbokki and any other fast food you could name. “What else, what else, what else, what else,” he kept chanting, as if by some magic his chants of short memory would be heard and he would know what else was he missing out. He hunched over the lower shelf to inspect if all the sauces his housekeeper stores for him were present there. Absorbed in his thoughts, Mark did not notice the sudden sound of his bell going off, before the sounds just got repeated and even more louder. 

“What the fuck?” his eyebrows creased in annoyance, cussing out all the profanities he had in his vocabulary at the visitor’s insolent mannerism. Mark was beyond pissed, the person behind the other side of the door not only disrupted his memory battle but also had the audacity to ring the bell like a 3 year old in the middle of the night. Instead of just answering from the intercom, he directly opened the entrance door. “Look, it’s like 11 in the night - Hyung?” Mark halted his rant session as he realized it was Jaehyun standing in front of his house. Covered in black shirt, black mask, black pants - black everything, it would take a while for others who did not know him personally to recognize the member of the top boy group in the industry.

“Were you shitting or something,” Jaehyun smiled before casually giving his best friend a hug. Mark pulls out some of the spare slippers he had stored, while Jaehyun sits on the wooden step as he unties the knots of his black adidas. As Jaehyun get ups, he looks over to the other male standing in front of him, then down at the slippers and then again to the male.

“What?” Mark laughed, his hands shifting to the sides of his waist.

“Mark, please don’t go shopping by yourself next time,” Jaehyun silently judged Mark for offering him the fluffly colourful pink body and yellow polka dots slippers, similar to the ones he was wearing but the combination in opposite. 

“I got them from the BOGO offer going on in the supermarket just down the lane,” Mark wiggled his toes under the furry layer of clothing, slightly humming at the texture. “Bro this shit comfortable and cute, you can’t deny that.”

Jaehyun gives him another look, amused at how his bandmate’s old habits were still the same. “I help you out with your fashion choices next time. Don’t worry.” He patted Mark’s should, a sympathetic grin on his face as he anticipated the other male’s dramatic reaction. 

“Oh please,” Mark scoffed. “More like you need my and Johnny hyung’s assistance for your monotonous wardrobe!”

Jaehyun laughed at his friend’s rebuttal before lazily propping himself on the bean sack in the living room with a low hum. Oddly enough, Mark’s apartment felt more homely than his own apartment which was just above a few floors.

“But what brings you here?” Mark walks over to his fridge, judging by his friend’s sudden visit, he knew drinks had become a necessary part of the night. “And what about Hayoung?”

“What about her?” Jaehyun raised his eyebrow at Mark, skillfully catching the beer Mark had tossed to him after asking about Hayoung, Jaehyun’s, well complicated girl something.

“I though you guys might just....I don’t know, be official or something.” Mark stole a glance towards his friend, nervously opening his can. The momentary pin drop silence was an indicator, he indeed blurted something he should not have. The fizzy hiss of the beer can being opened barely broke the ice.

“I don’t do things like official,” Jaehyun scoffed, producing a low sigh after sipping the beer. Mark decided not to further press his friend, despite having an old unresolved grudge against Jaehyun somewhere deep within him. It had been years since all of that had happened, but he still felt hostility creep up inside every time he remembers that night, that week, that month. After all, it was you that Jaehyun had completely broken, torn and ripped apart.

Unbeknownst to the rummaging thoughts inside the mind of his bandmate, it took a while for the older to realize how oddly clean and organized the apartment looked. Jaehyun turned to Mark, eyebrows raised with mischievousness coating his words. “You having someone for the night tomorrow?”

Mark almost made a disgusted face but instead opted to scrunch. “Bro, I don’t have Tinder, neither do I wanna be a carrier of STDs.” Mark placed his empty can on the small glass table, simultaneously letting out a tired huff. Jaehyun almost took an offense to the statement, the attack was definitely but indirectly made towards him. But he decided to shrug it off, Mark was not lying after all. Jaehyun did not even know half of the girls’ names he had slept with, someday or another mixing up names which ends in him getting kicked out or being cursed out. That was what had happened that night as well. 

“Okay, I forgot. Hayoung, yes. Speak.” Jaehyun shot an incredulous look to the younger, as if he was able to read his mind or something. Mark only furrowed his eyebrows at the reaction.

“I-I....got kicked out,” Jaehyun’s voice was barely above a whisper, but the sharp eared male was able to catch his friend’s low murmur. Mark stifled his giggle, only to receive a glare from his friend. Jaehyun ran his fingers through his newly dyed lilac hair. Fucking embarrassing.

“But what made her do that?”

Jaehyun felt chills run down his spine as the scenario replayed in his head. He shivered despite the heater being on, an amused Mark glancing while chugging down the small remaining amount of beer. Mark was being a gentleman trying to conceal his laughter as Jaehyun rambled how he managed to fuck up yet another good hook-up buddy. At this point, Mark was not even surprised. Victim to his obvious facial expressions, Mark hated lying, and equally hated being lied to as well. Jaehyun side glanced his friend, a loud annoyed snort escaping from him. “Having fun, aren’t you?”

“Well, I mean it’s fun — sorry,” Mark clears his throat. He should be the type of friend who gives advices instead of laughing. Mark wiggled in his seat, distorting the empty can before having a perfect shot in the trashcan just a few feet away from him. Smooth one.

“I think I might retire, or just quit after the current contract ends,” Jaehyun felt tight, the words came out from him in a way too suffocating form. Mark visibly tenses, his laidback posture now crouching forward to his friend. Mark was too pre-occupied in his escalating solo career, the support he had been getting even before the official stage was way too much for him to fathom, but he was grateful for it nonetheless. A stinging guilt crept up inside him, chiding himself of being such an inconsiderate friend. “It’s high-time I start to live on my own accord.”

Mark decided to rather not pressurize the half-drunk dude with his numerous questions as to why or what has made him to take such a step. Jaehyun struggled to keep his eyes open, exhaustion was taking over his body ever faster now that he had booze in his system. Jaehyun would have rather opted to just spend the night on the couch (he preferred Mark’s limited edition long L shaped sofa over any king sized bed) but the guy decided to not get welcomed by his mate as ‘good morning.�� Mark put a hand on Jaehyun’s knee, an attempt to stop the non-stop stomping which was a very well-known drunk habit of him. Piling the blankets he just brought, the younger warned again, eyes like red lazer lights before trudging towards his bedroom. 

Feet wobbly, Jaehyun struggles to drag his build to switch off the remaining lights in the living room, glancing throughout the long empty space. He gulped down harshly, the familiar empty feeling creeping back to him which he had been avoiding for so long — for years. Jaehyun took a deep sigh, the heavy feeling feeling weighing down his chest as he took light steps towards the big glass window which granted him the view of the whole city. His eyes flickered at the luminous sight. He felt big but small, full, content but numb and empty. 

“Hyung, you’re still awake?” a sleepy voice spoke from behind, breaking out Jaehyun from his trance. 

“Huh?” It took a moment for him to process an answer. “Uh yeah. just like that. You go sleep.”

Mark shrugged, walking towards his bed as Jaehyun plopped down harshly on the duvet, wincing slightly as he felt a sprain in his lower back. With the alcohol slowly losing its effect on him with each passing second, Jaehyun started to feel more sober, more drawn back into the reality. He hated it. This feeling he was feeling.

Mark was having a rather difficult time to fall asleep. He even put on a random sleeping eye mask he uses for travelling, but alas that did not help either. He was too giddy, too excited for tomorrow. Pulling up the blankets over his head, Mark was assured he was safe from everyone, even maybe from God as a huge grin breaks out on his face. As much as he hates to admit it, Mark loved how things turned out to be the way they were.

“Oh god, this is so awkward. Oh god can I please please just die already?” Mark halted on his steps at the voice, glistening in sweats after the recent stage. He thought it would be an adventure to opt for the public washroom in disguise since the green rooms’ ones were all occupied by the rest of the members; and boy, Mark was really giving his all hold his pee.  

“OH GOD!” the sudden yelp caused the male to shriek quietly, muttering an inaudile ‘jesus’. Despite the odds, Mark decided not to test his luck, holding in the bubbling feeling just before explosion as much as he could. Muttering quiet curses, the male struggled to hold his posture as he stealthily tried to get to the other side of the stairs. Too busy in his on the way to urination voyage, Mark realized it was too late, he bumped. Bumped into someone. A girl. Hell yeah fucked. Panic crept at the back of his throat as he anticipated what was coming forth. Him being surrounded by numerous fan as he desperately tries to hold his pee. What a fucking sight.

“Look, I know you might be a staff or something,” Mark whipped his head at your voice. “But please just oh god,” you rambled, leaving the man standing with his legs crossed tightly in utter confusion. “I had no idea — Mark Lee?”

The colors from his faced drained, Mark turned casper for a split second. 

“PLEASE!” he was quick to react, half-whispering as he desperately caught your hands. “Please don’t just, uh.., shout or something.”

You immediately raised your hands in defense. “I uh have no reason to do so?” You stated, observing how he was literally squirming, it did not take you long to understand that the canadian needed to go the washroom as soon as possible. ”Oh!” You quickly moved. “Sorry for blocking your way!” Before he could even say thank you, you disappeared without any trace. Mark made a quick mental note to thank you, well that only if he ever happens to cross paths with you again. And deep down, he wised he would. On the other hand, you let out another distressed growl, promising to all of the heavens that never will you be ever accompanying your cousin sister, or let alone come to any concerts from now on. The stunt your drunken cousin had pulled just a while ago was humiliating enough, but of course, she had to spice it up by vomiting on the hallways just in front of the green room. You silently prayed and hope with all your might that maybe they will be generous enough not to sue you or ask for compensation for the mess, looking around cautiously for any employees before you sprinted off for the exit door, and yes, dragging the passed out stunt lady.

Mark felt as if he had a halo above his head, the water balloon inside him finally set free. But he had to race when he saw his phone buzzing with notifications, all of them belonging to his manager or the group chat of the members chanting same syllables ‘Where are you’ ‘show starts in 2′ ‘get yo ass here’. It did not take the rapper too while before he reached the green room, the makeup artists and stylists immediately wrapping themselves around him with brushes and hair sprays. He was smiling, genuinely smiling as he replayed the encounter he just had. Johnny raised an eyebrow with an amused grin on his face. 

“What’s with the smile, bro?” Johnny pulls up some random exercises to relieve the tension in his muscles.

Instead of dodging his question, Mark replied, still smiling, but wider. “The pee voyage was a nice one.”

Johnny judged the younger for a second before chuckling and heading towards the stage. The loud noises from the fans echoed throughout the whole arena, full of green lightsticks gleeming like blossoming spring garden. No wonder I called them grass, Mark thought. But today, he was looking for a rather specific individual, his eye scanning almost all the faces in the crowd. He hoped to see you again, smiling gleefully as he performed, but thought that it was too greedy of him to want this much in a span of a day. And so he performed, for the first time without any pressure of doing good, enjoying every moment of the stage he was on and yet again, wished that maybe, maybe your paths will collide with his again.

.

.

.

part 2

[kewltie]

Dragons were once thought as gods across the land. Legends spoke of how their footsteps would shake the ground wherever they'd tread, a beat of their wings was said to have cause windstorm to appear in the horizon, and their roars could call down lightning; they were indomitable beasts.

Katsuki’s people had dedicated more than a thousand year and generations of their blood, sweats, and tears to bring these great beasts to their heels. To be chosen by a dragon to be their soulkin is a special privilege reserve for the few—the strongest, smartest, and best people.

It's sacred. And not everyone can even touch a dragon, let alone—

“Who’s a good boy,” Izuku coos, rubbing his hands all over Kithura’s snout like he's an overly large and eager dog, and not at all like a holy beast of Katsuki's people. “The very best boy? You are, it’s you!”

Kithura lets out a pleased rumble, the end of his scaly tail swinging back and forth.

Katsuki pinches the bridge of his nose at the sight. This sickening, horrendous thing he's privy to. He should kill the both of them to save himself from this utterly embarrassing shitshow.

Laws and traditions are carved into the foundation of their society, but if Izuku not even going to bother respecting that shit how is Katsuki supposed to be rule over anything?! "Oi, get the fuck away from Deku, you stupid fat lizard," Katsuki snaps, temper fraying at the edge.

Izuku's hands startle to a stop and Kithura raises his overgrown head, snorting an offended fume out of his nose. Not fat, he grumbles, like that's more important than the stupid part. This is also somehow Izuku's fault too; his dragon didn't just turn into a lapdog overnight.

"Kacchan!" Izuku's face lights up at the sight of him angrily stomping his way toward them. "You're finish with the council meeting?"

Katsuki grunts in acknowledgement. "What the hell, Deku? He's not a damn pet." He gives Kithura a pointed look. Have some fucking dignity, he scolds.

Kithura just puffs out hot air and curls closer to Izuku in defiant of Katsuki's earlier rebuke.

"Oh, I know." Izuku smiles brightly. "Kit was just kindly keeping me company while I was waiting for you to be done." His smile widens even further. "I wanted to show Kit my appreciation."

Kithura grins down at him in the way that only a dragon can. Full of menacing teeth and bite, his jaw bigger than the size of Izuku's head but that doesn't stop Izuku from going soft and heart eyes at Katsuki's murderous fire breathing dragon who had crushed hundreds of his enemies’ skull under his foot.

"What," he says flatly with a twitch of his eye. "What the fuck you say?"

"I wanted to show Kit my appreciation?" Izuku repeats with a curious tilt to his voice. He bites down on lower lip unsurely. “Should I have not done that?”

"No," Katsuki snaps, right hand itching to reach for the sword his side so he can ram a hole into his own head, because seriously, the hell? "I meant, what the fuck did you just called my dragon?"

"Kit?" Izuku blinks. "Sorry, I just didn't want to accidentally butcher your partner's full name. It sounds beautiful when you say it, but I—I don’t think my tongue can bend that way." He scrunches up his face and then tilts his head up toward Kithura with woeful eyes. "But you don't mind being called Kit, do you?"

Kithura, that traitorous overgrown lizard, lowers his head and nuzzles Izuku's cheek appreciatively as Izuku once again idiotically coos at him like he's a demented puppy that Izuku had picked up from the road and not the horrorterror of the sky that everyone knows Kithura as.

Katsuki had spent his twelve summer out in the red desert battling for his very life against the searing heat, carnivorous cactus, and even the fucking sand was out to kill him. All of it so he could find a damn dragon that would speak to his soul and hear its cry; his soulkin.

He had fucking bled and fought his way to a giant slab of sandstone hilltop where he'd met him, napping leisurely under the glaring sun. With scales the color of a sunset, a mulish blend of red and orange, he was breathtaking and Katsuki had wanted him. His soul called out to the winged beast on top of the butte.

It took Katsuki nine days. Nine fucking awful days of fighting for his life and future to claim this wondrous beast as his own and have the honor name him. Once the beast had fallen and lowered his head before Katsuki in submission, he’d bestowed his title to him; Aku'kithuramulea.

In ancient Selvine, a tongue that had long lost its meaning to the outside world except here in brutal the brutal landscape, it translate to: the Unconquerable King of the Red Dunes. A fearsome and grand name to go along with a fearsome beast. A name that no one else but Katsuki had rightfully earned the privilege to give.

Names are power. It's ownership and subjugation.

Early on, Katsuki had shortened it to Kithura because even he's not an idiot to try to shove that mouthful pass his lips daily. Kithura is at least more dignified than some childish pet name Kit. But now his own fucking dragon had let someone else renamed him.

Katsuki glares at Izuku. "You can't go around giving nickname to people's dragon! That's disrespectful to the warriors who had bled for that honor," he bites out viciously. He turns toward Kithura meaningfully and glares. "And you! Don't let others renamed you just for shit and giggles. Where’s your goddamn pride as a holy beast?”

Izuku's face falls. "Oh," he says, voice small and crushing. His eyes drop down to his lap, hands anxiously clench and unclench in front of him. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know."

For a sharp, brief second Katsuki feels a stab of guilt hitting his conscience. And it hurts.

He doesn't have time to dwell on that thought for long because Kithura quickly removes himself from Izuku's person to shove his scaly head up at Katsku's face. Kithura's gold eyes narrows in reproach as his wings flares out and the air around them is charged with danger and a steady building anger.

No, no, he insists loudly in Katsuki's head. Be nice. Stupid little king. Deku is future hatchmother of little king's younglings, he huffs in annoyance like Katsuki is somehow in the wrong here. Now, he won't hatch eggs for little king anymore. Because little king is mean.

Katsuki nearly snap his neck looking at Izuku's puzzled but curious expression as he watches their one sided exchange before he turns toward Kithura in horror. "That's not how the human's body works! Does that large skull of yours only contain air or fucking what?!" he says, outrage thick deep in his voice.

Kithura sulks. Big brain, Kit has.

"Not your name," Katsuki snaps reflexively, but Kithura is already plowing on ahead anyway, won't be stop by anything once he got some ridiculous idea in his head.

I know. I am your soul, little king, Kithura tells him. But Deku is your heartsong. You want to mount him. To put your seeds in him.

Katsuki's face flames up as murderous rage sets in. This fucking dragon is going to be the death of him. He swears. “I-“ He resists flailing his arms around to deny it, because he’s not stooping to childish level. “I do not want,” he lowers his voice to an almost embarrassed mumble as he flickers his eyes toward Izuku’s expectance but puzzled face, “want to put my seeds in him.”

Why not? Little king needs a queen, Kithura insists sternly. Deku is great mate. He's kind. Clever. Loyal. Heartstrong. And more importantly, got that youngbearing hips. Will bear you many young ones. A full nest of them for Kit to play with. He looks on proudly down at Izuku as Izuku smiles ignorantly in respond. That fool.

Katsuki drops his face into his hands and groans.  

You'd chosen good, little king, Kit continues to prattle on proudly. There will many young broods in your future. Deku will breed well for your kingdom.

“Kacchan?" Izuku asks amidst the terse exchange between him and his dragon that he wasn’t mostly privy to. "Are you okay?"

Thank fucking stars for that because then he has to kill Izuku and then himself to save them all from the utter humiliation of having to explain the fucking garbage that came out of Kithura's brainless head. But apparently he's not done, because Katsuki hears Kithura rumble and moving his hulking body around.

He removes his hand from his face just in time to see Kithura snuggles up to Izuku again as Izuku looks upon him dotingly. “Would you like some snacks?” he asks like a total dumbass. Ugh. “I think I may have something for you.”

Little queen, hatch many eggs, ok, Kithura implores to him as Izuku turns around and rumbles through his leather satchel.

That’s it. Katsuki has enough.

"I'm going to kill you, you fucking dumb lizard," Katsuki declares, reaching for his sword. Soulbond be damned.

[ashleyspinelliburnbook]

S1E5: King Gus/Big Brother Chad

Before starting this post, I wrote a light analysis of the opening sequence, and in it, I realized that probably most of my previously-held beliefs about Gus’ character come from that alone. He gets gum all over himself and falls into the ball bin, which is on wheels, so it goes flying. Which is just...so not his character at all, it turns out. I mean, he might not be all Army macho like his dad, but he’s not a dweeb, either.

Anyway, this first episode just serves to further prove me wrong, and I’m cool with that.

King Gus

You know how the first season of a network TV show usually sucks? Like, it gets by on what it can get by on — famous actors, okay writing, a fun premise, or...famous actors — but if the show gets picked up for more seasons, it becomes the season where you’ll be selling it to your friends as, “If you must watch the first season, take it with a grain of salt”?

Animated kids’ shows are not! like! that! Some of the things that this show has already gotten into are, like, season three minimum for a network adult show. You know, let the characters live their daily lives for a bit, then start throwing wrenches. But already, we’ve had “what if two characters kissed,” “what if one of the main characters joined the Ashleys,” “what if Miss Finster had a boyfriend,” and now we’re getting “what if one member of the gang became king?”

That’s right — Gus, meek, dweeby Gus, is king of the playground. Temporarily. Until King Bob returns from his tonsillectomy.

How? Well, King Bob doesn’t want someone stronger than him, or smarter than him — someone who the people might like more than him. He wants a regular guy, someone who’ll do what he’s told, who can think for himself. And, as luck would have it, there’s our boy Gus getting gum all over himself (literally, as it turns out) — right place, right time.

TJ and Spinelli are stoked that their friend is king, and they start brainstorming all the ways that they’ll finally have a say in the goings-on of the playground now (Spinelli, for example, expresses an interest in becoming “Lord Emperor of the West Playground”). Gus is less excited, likely because he didn’t ask for this, but TJ assures him they’ll be around to give him advice along the way. In the meantime, he’s just gotta be “kingy,” TJ says.

(Side note: Without all his stuff on, King Bob kinda looks like a turn-of-the-century football player. Tell me I’m wrong.)

So anyway, Gus is sworn in, and he’s immediately taken by the idea of all the snacks he can eat. King Bob’s henchmen bring him crackers and his preferred brand (and vintage!) of apple juice, more snack food, a glow-in-the-dark yo-yo, and...cookies. We’ll get to the cookies in a bit.

Meanwhile, things on the greater playground aren’t going so well. TJ and the gang want to go up to visit Gus, but they learn there’s increased bureaucratic nonsense they have to endure first — namely, a ton of paperwork that may or may not ever go through. (You know the Brooklyn Nine-Nine episode where Amy is trying to submit paperwork for a block party request, and she does it all correctly, but she still somehow doesn’t have the right forms? It’s like that.)

Gus is then tasked with his first royal judgment: deciding which of two girls gets to keep a doll they’re fighting over. In true King Solomon style, he suggests cutting the doll in half. When one girl is fine with this and the other is visibly upset, Gus...gives it to the girl who’s fine with this. Oops.

“It’s the second-best decision you could have made!” his henchman says, and we continue.

Angered by not having the proper kind of cookies he desires, Gus imposes a cookie tax on the playground: every day, each student must bring him two cookies. He’s tasking the third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders with building a cookie mine in the meantime (as well as renaming kickball “Gusball” and mandating that each recess begin with the student body singing a song about...Gus).

It’s then that the gang say “to hell with bureaucracy” and just walk up the jungle gym to see King Gus, who’s happy to see them until they start questioning his motives. TJ, then Gretchen, then the rest of the school (more or less) get locked up — except for the poor kid who can’t pay the cookie tax, who’s sentenced to hard labor.

The kids stage a protest to usurp the throne of this cookie-centered dictatorship, but before it can escalate to riot levels (well, aside from the dodgeball-throwing and Spinelli getting a few good punches in), King Bob returns. There’s a smooth transition of power, and suddenly, Gus is no longer king.

“Uneasy is the head that wears the crown,” Mikey says, as the gang decides whether or not to be mad at not-king Gus. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Gretchen adds. And soon enough, they’re all friends again.

Spinelli does hear back about her application to be Lord Emperor of the West Playground, and I really want to know if that worked out and that she’s just, like, doing that from here on out. Maybe that’ll be my personal headcanon.

Takeaway: Boy, oh, boy, do we keep getting these #deep Gus episodes or WHAT? When are we gonna get a good Gretchen episode?

Big Brother Chad

This isn’t the most important part, but after watching this episode, I have to ask: Does this type of stereotypical nerd exist...anywhere?

Not to spoil the episode’s first big twist right away, but here’s the scoop: Vince, who, um, plays sports(?), has a big brother named Chad. And Chad...is a geek.

See, Chad uses pocket protectors. His suspenders hike his pants up past his ankles, he wears glasses that are taped together, he’s in chess club, he has a pet turtle, he’s the scorekeeper on the baseball team, and his idea of a good time is going to Compu-Hut and watching the employees “unpack the latest mousepads.”

Your garden-variety ‘90s geek, basically. A person I have never seen before, and a person who may not have ever existed all at once like that.

But see, the real twist is unraveled throughout the episode. Vince is bragging to the gang that his big brother is going to pick him up from school that day, and word spreads around school fast. Everyone remembers Chad — who it looks like his about five years older than Vince — but they haven’t seen him in a long time. (How big is this town supposed to be? Anyway.)

The entire student body is waiting outside after school to get a glimpse of Chad, who arrives...on a bicycle he’s fashioned himself along with a sidecar, which he calls “the Chadmobile.”

“Why, he’s nothing but a nerd!” King Bob proclaims, and the students all leave disappointed.

To Gretchen, a self-proclaimed geek, it all makes sense. “What fifth-grader would want to hang out with kindergarteners?” she asks, referencing the gang’s earlier reminiscing about all the things Chad taught them when they first started school. The next day, though, Vince isn’t convinced, even as Gretchen doubles down with, “Take it from someone who knows.”

At dinner that night, it all starts to click, though, as Chad regales the table with tales of his “really neat” biology class and the aforementioned mousepads story. Vince has a breakdown, crying, “It’s true! It’s true!” and that’s when things start to get a little weird for me.

See, Chad hasn’t been hiding any of this. The sign on his bedroom door says “Chad’s room: Earthlings keep out!” He sleeps in a racecar bed, upon which he’s playing 3-D chess. And, well, his whole look.

“You’re a geek,” Vince tells his brother, thinking he’s telling Chad something he doesn’t already know.

“Yeah, so?” Chad replies.

Weirdly, the thing that sells it for Vince is that he always thought his brother was cool because he listened to CDs. But Chad explains they’re “geek CDs: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sondheim, Gilbert and Sullivan.”

“Sorry, Vince, but I am what I am,” Chad says. “And the fact is, I’m a geek.” And then he logs into a chatroom he’s in with his friends.

Look, okay, part of it is weird that Vince didn’t notice that Chad was who he was sooner, especially when the stereotypes are in your face like that (and one of your best friends also fits those stereotypes to a T). But even if we haven’t all had the experience of checking in on a much older kid later in life, we’ve all grown up ourselves. In kindergarten, the fifth graders were impossibly tall, and therefore impossibly cool. In third grade, I knew someone who had a sister in high school. But as I reached those ages, I didn’t feel impossibly cool, or old, or anything. I knew myself a little better — I knew that I liked hanging out with the band kids, even though that wasn’t “cool” — but I wasn’t trying to be anything to younger kids. I was content having grown into myself (as much as any angsty high schooler can).

What really drives this point home is the end, where a bully that Vince got to stop bothering some younger kids earlier in the episode shows up with his big brother, who’s out to teach Vince a lesson. Chad shows up and threatens this kid...with not helping him with his math homework anymore, after which the other big kid immediately backs down.

“Just because I’m a geek doesn’t mean I’m not a cool geek,” Chad says. Because isn’t the real reward being confident in who you are — or, in this case, confident in who your older brother is?

Takeaway: What do we think of the name “Chad” these days? I think this was how I always pictured “Chad” as a kid, perhaps because of this episode and perhaps because I didn’t know any other Chads. Now, um, that name is seen...quite differently, isn’t it? I greatly prefer this Chad.

[midnightprelude]

A Tevene Interview

You may know that I’ve been working on a massive RP with some lovely friends, currently titled Tevinter Knights. You may not know that it’s going to feature a new Inquisitor, of my own making. World, meet Lyanna Lavellan. Tagging forward to whoever wants to play! :D

She looks like an older Ygritte, my love. 

Lyanna of Clan Lavellan, dual wielding rogue who can also shoot you from fifty paces, Herald of Andraste, and Inquisitor thought she was due for a quiet evening in Minrathous with Dorian and company. Evenings in Minrathous, however, are rarely ever quiet, as she had come to learn. To her dismay, she been cornered by an incessant Tevene journalist in the One-Eyed Ogre while waiting for her friends to arrive. At least the man had the foresight to order her a pint of stout and slide it across the table towards her. Her snow-white fennec Eirsyl, previously perched on her shoulder, gave the drink a curious sniff before curling up on the table, ears listening for any strange noises. Perhaps it may not be the worst evening she had had in the Imperium.

1. What’s your name?

Lyanna. You’ve heard of me. Everyone has these days. I can’t even go into a bar alone without being accosted. 

2. Do you know why you are named that?

I renamed myself after my mother and stepfather were killed by Orleasian peasants. I’m a full-blooded elf myself, but my dad succumbed to a wasting sickness when I was young, outside of Denerim. None of the human healers would treat him, until my mother found a human mage who was more compassionate than his peers. He did his best, but it was too late. My birth father died. But my mother fell in love with this healer, and they raised me together.

I… I don’t know why I’m telling you this. My name means something along the lines of shimmering rage in Elvhen (lea: to shine and nan: violent rage). I took the name when they were killed in a racially-motivated attack.

3. Are you single or taken?

Ha! Single, currently… But I have options. 

4. Have any abilities or powers?

I’m okay with a bow, but knives, either in close combat or thrown, is where I excel.

5. Stop being a Mary Sue.

Say that again and you’ll regret it, dearly.

6. What’s your eye color?

Green. Can you not see them?

7. How about your hair color?

A poet would say something silly like auburn, or copper, or russet. ‘Red’ suits me fine. 

8. Have any family members?

None that still live. I’ve made my own, though. The idiots I’m waiting for, namely, and quite a few more in the Inquisition.

9. Oh? How about any pets?

Do you think he’s just here for the company? No, Eirsyl here and I have been together for a very long time. Found him in Emprise. He was starving, kicked out of his litter because he was so small. He’s gotten me out of a fair number of close shaves as well. A dear friend. [She pats his head and the fennec nuzzles her palm]

10. That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like.

Ugh. Uninspired questions. And injustice.

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?

Hmm… there are a few I would like to do! Still holding out for the chance. [The interviewer turned around to notice three men in entering the room. Two were holding hands and the third walked ahead of them straight as a rod. One of the hand-holders, the blonde, waved, smiling.]

12. Have you hurt anyone in any way before?

Yes, but only those who deserved it. 

13. Ever… killed anyone before?

See… the previous. Many people. Orlesians. Templars. I don’t relish it, but sometimes a little blood needs to be spilt for a greater cause. I do my best to try and avoid it, but it’s inevitable at times.

14. What kind of animal are you?

A wolf. [She grinned wryly. Her fennec looked up at her, seeming hurt.]

15. Name your worst habits?

Oh, good, you said habits, plural. I have a few, unfortunately. I’m quick to anger and often need to be held back from causing mayhem. I sink into despair too easily. And I tend to pine after people who have no intention to give me anything real in return. 

16. Do you look up to anyone at all?

[At that moment, the three men made their way to the table. A tall mage sat to one side of her, kissing her forehead. The other mage, the blonde, sat on her other side. The third, the quiet one with the unusual tattoos pulled up a chair and sat neither directly adjacent to the mages or the interviewer.]

Yes. 

17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual?

Is that a proposition?! 

[The white haired man groaned. The other two chuckled.]

18. Do you go to school?

No, but I still do like to learn

19. Ever want to marry and have any kids one day?

Ha! Well, it’s been so long since a man has been between my legs that I’m quite certain I’ve forgotten how to do it. Doesn’t bode well for my fertility, that.

[The men look at her]

[She shrugs] It’s true and you know it.

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?

If I do, they’re misguided!

21. What are you most afraid of?

Failure.

22. What do you usually wear?

Eh, in Tevinter, it’s hard to get away with anything other than silks. That damned sun; I’ll never get used to it!

23. What one food tempts you?

I’m partial to a good seafood dish. Tevinter actually really delivers with that desire, I’m glad to say.

24. Am I annoying you?

…

25. Well, it’s still not over!

[She pulls a knife and stabs it through the table, laughing] You might watch your threats around me.

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?

I don’t have much money myself, but I have friends with more than they know what to do with, so I get by.

27. How many friends do you have?

Enough to satisfy me. Enough to keep me safe.

28. What are your thoughts on pie?

Oh, absolutely! Are you planning on ordering any!

29. Favourite drink?

You actually guessed correctly—a strong Ferelden stout to put some fire in your belly. There’s nothing better in the middle of winter.

30. What’s your favourite place?

The most sane place in the Imperium. It’s my real home, now. Just outside of Minrathous.

31. Are you interested in anyone?

Oh absolutely, but he’s either too daft or thinks me too much a fool to pick up on the invitations. 

I once asked him if he’d like to come with me to the bath house, I was feeling so… dirty. He said he had just showered that morning. I’ve decided that I’m going to join a convent. 

32. That was a stupid question…

A stupid answer for a stupid question.

33. Would you rather swim in the lake or the ocean?

Ocean, definitely. 

34. What’s your type?

She licked her lips. Wolves. 

35. Any fetishes?

Excuse me! [She moved close and whispered something in his ear]

[Interviewer: holding hands isn’t a fetish]

[She shrugs] I’m desperate, remember?

36. Camping indoors or outdoors?

Either, honestly, especially with the right company!

Well, my friends are here now, I think we’ve had enough. [she waved her hand, shooing him away]

[When he made no move to stand, she pulled her dagger from the table, and raised her eyebrows, grinning wickedly] I don’t repeat myself, friend.

[The interviewer frowns and sighing, picks up his papers, and exits the tavern.]

[sollea]

Dolorem et Consolationem Ch2

Ch2 to this 2521 Words. Prompt for this chapter was sent by @timesnine

“Isa, I need your help,” a hurried tone came from Lea as he grabbed at Isa’s hand, looking at his best friend with pleading eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I lost our baby.”

“Our… baby? What are you talking about?” Isa looked around, confused. Having a child with Lea, that wasn’t in the plans… or the past. His confusion was easily displayed for Lea to enjoy on his face. It hadn’t been too many days before that Lea had broken down, Lea’s anxiety-filled voice worried Isa. “We don’t have a baby?”

“Stop trying to figure out what I’m talking and just help me look.”

“For what?”

“Xion.”

Isa had a visible moment of understanding that was replaced quickly by confusion again. Lea was being too visibly stressed and the man was a bad liar. “Ah, is she our baby now? I wasn’t aware of that.”

“No, she stole our baby.”

“What?”

“Just help me look for her, Isa. I’ll explain when we find Xion.”

“Would Roxas know where she is?”

“Dunno, haven’t texted him yet. You could try if you want to?” There was a moment where Lea’s distress he’d forced into his voice faded, but he knew all too well that Isa was easy to pull along. Lea just had to sound genuinely worried about something for a few moments and Isa would want to make sure everything was okay.

It made him feel like a teenager again to use that knowledge, but it was for a good cause. Isa would forgive him.

That was all if he was even mad at all once they got where they were going. Lea doubted Isa would be able to look at what he’d left with Xion and be mad for even a second.

Isa let Lea drag him along while he attempted to call Roxas, getting no response either time he dialed the teen’s number on the phone.

“Is Roxas alright, he’s not picking up?”

“He might be hanging out with his other friends? Y’know, because Xion and I don’t get jealous over Roxas not hanging out with us and only us?”

“This is why I don’t tell you things, Lea. You were worried about this a second ago, can you get serious or tell me what’s going on?”

“That sounds like I don’t have any fun option. Just trust me, okay? I’ll get slightly serious and say this isn’t life or death or anything I’m worried about, but you gotta hurry up. Pretend it is. Pretend you’re not being so boring about this.”

“You worried me on purpose, Lea. That’s not… You can’t do that to me.”

Genuine distress seemed to radiate from Isa and Lea suddenly felt horrible. He reached for Isa’s face, pushing some hair out of his eyes then cupping his cheek. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I just wanted you to come with me. Should know better than to mess with you like that.”

As an immediate response to Lea’s words, Isa snorted. “I’m not actually hurt. You should know when I’m messing with you after all these years, Lea.”

Lea’s expression flattened as he looked at his best friend, his boyfriend, the man he was living with and in love with. He seriously wondered if it was worth it. Thinking about the fact that he had just gotten called out about messing with Isa’s emotions… didn’t matter, Isa was still the worst.

He pulled out his gummiphone and flipped through it to find Xion’s number, ignoring the smug look on Isa’s face as Lea sulked. Video calls were easy to do on the phone, which was good because he wanted Isa to hear the conversation.

“Xion?”

“Is something wrong, Lea?”

“Yeah, Isa’s being a douchebag, so you can keep what you’re watching.”

“No, that’s mean to me and Isa.”

“… Yeah, I guess it is. Anyways, uh. You’re still hanging around Radiant Garden with the gift, right? Since Isa was a party-pooper… ”

“I was worried,” Isa interrupted with a roll of his eyes.

“Since Isa was a party-pooper,” Lea continued with a huff, sticking his tongue out at Isa then looking back to his phone with a fond smile. “Could you just tell us where you hid out?”

Xion giggled. “You’re funny, Lea. I’m by the fountains? I thought they were pretty and nice to wait by.”

“Alright, thanks. See you soon, that’s not the direction I started going in.”

“Bye, Lea! Isa!”

“See you soon, Xion,” Isa said, placing his hand on Lea’s shoulder and bringing himself into the view of the phone’s camera. It was always nice to receive a reminder from Isa that he really did love that girl now that he saw her as a person and not some kind of doll. The call ended with a happy wave from Xion, her eyes widening as she quickly turned off the phone mid-run.

“Well, let’s get going.”

“Lea, what was she running at? There’s nothing here that’s shock-worthy anymore. The heartless problem has all but disappeared and Xion wouldn’t be…”

Lea just sighed and shook his head, placing his hand on the one Isa had placed on his shoulder, gently bringing it down and keeping a hold on it. “Don’t bother trying to guess, you might get it eventually, but it’ll still be a good surprise. So just come with me, okay?”

Not thinking about things didn’t seem right to Isa at this point, he was always thinking. It was a constant need for years. Not to mention it was just how he was, but it was Lea asking. “Fine. I’ll stop thinking about the surprise. I’ll just think about how much I need to kick your ass for trying to scare me into running around the town looking for something with you.”

“I wanted to have a dorky adventure with you.”

“Then ask next time. I’ve been joking about being mad, but, seriously, Lea. You can’t scare me into doing things. You’re stupid, but I thought you were smart about it.”

“I’m stupid?”

“Lea.”

“Okay. I’m sorry, Isa.” Squeezing Isa’s hand, Lea started to tug him towards the fountains. Discussion wasn’t something they both wanted to do at the same time, things never lined up in a way that worked out well for both of them at the same time. The last serious discussion they’d had was on their kitchen floor together in the dead of night and Lea still wasn’t ready to talk again.

They didn’t even get to the fountains before they heard Xion’s voice, laughing and calling out for someone to stop drinking the fountain water. Isa paused and looked at Lea, eyebrows scrunched together as he tried to figure out what was going on yet again.

Then it seemed to click all together in Isa’s mind.

“Lea, did you-?”

Lea cut Isa off quickly by putting a hand on his mouth, much to Isa’s immense displeasure. Before Lea could get out the words he was planning on saying, Isa licked Lea’s hand in retaliation.

Lea immediately pulled his hand back and wiped it on his pants. “Eugh, Isa, gross.”

“Don’t put your hand on my mouth.”

“Don’t lick me!”

“I’ll keep that in mind la-”

Again, Isa was cut off. “Isa!”

“You said no licking you, I was just saying I’d remember you said that. I have no idea what you’re so offended by, Lea.” Isa shrugged before he continued to walk towards the fountains without Lea, a speed to his walk that rarely ever happened. He was excited. Lea was happy.

They found Xion kneeling over, giggling with her feet in the water, moving from side to side as she tried to hold something small and active. There was a small bark from her arms as she stood up and turned around.

And a small puppy was wiggling in her arms, trying to get free.

“Oh, hi, Isa. Lea said to keep the puppy hidden, but he was too… puppy-like?” Xion smiled sheepishly at Lea as he walked up, sad that she hadn’t been able to do what was asked of her.

Lea, naturally, just smiled at her and ruffled her hair as Isa walked over to inspect the puppy with a small smile on his face. It had been quite some time since Lea had seen Isa look so soft and happy with anyone else in the area.

“May I?” Isa asked, reaching a hand out towards the dog.

Xion looked up and smiled again, nodding. “Of course. Lea and I got this puppy for you! See, he’s got little angry eyebrows. Lea thought it was funny… because he’s super sweet, but looks mad all the time?”

“Ah, like me. I see.” Isa glanced at Lea and rolled his eyes, looking back to the dog with the soft look back on his face immediately after looking back at the dog. He gently took the small, wiggly puppy into his arms. “Does he have a name yet?”

“Not a good one. You should name him, he’s small enough it wouldn’t be bad to rename him,” Lea said, moving to stand next to Xion so he could face Isa and put a hand on the small girl’s shoulder. He looked like a proud bird, puffed up and stupidly fluffy, ready to say some nonsense to amuse everyone in the area.

“Balsam,” Isa said in a calm, sure voice while looking down at the puppy in his arms.

“Like the salad dressing?”

“No, Lea. Why would I name a dog after salad?”

“It’s like the moon, right?” Xion wasn’t entirely sure about her answer, but the moon was almost familiar to her now. She knew some of what Isa knew from when she copied his abilities. “The… thin one? That you have on your pin?”

Isa smiled and nodded, his smile a proud one. She knew about the moon. “Yes, it’s a moon of rest and restoration. I think it’s what we all need.”

Lea rubbed at the back of his head. “Sorry for not being a huge moon nerd. My next guess was a kind of tree.”

“And you say knowing the moon makes a nerd. That’s not even a type of tree that grows in this world, Lea.” Isa laughed at

“I think that’s a really good name, Isa.” Xion spoke while reaching up to pet the dog, bringing attention back to where it should be. “He’s very soft, I hope you like him as much as Lea said you would. He said you’ve always liked dogs.”

“I have. Don’t let him fool you, though, he’s got the softer spot for any animal. His parents were nice people, but even they got tired of him and his animals.”

“That’s only because I brought home a snake once. Dad didn’t like that one. I think I snuck that one into school since I couldn’t keep it at home…”

Xion covered her mouth, eyes closing as she laughed. “You two are so funny.”

“Oh yeah? You really think so? How ‘bout the time Isa named a dog we found ‘Stinky’?”

Xion looked at Isa with a small gasp, as if offended for this poor dog’s dignity.

Isa just sighed. “I did not name the dog Stinky, Lea. I said that as a joke and you wouldn’t let it go. I never once called him Stinky, even when I was saying he was smelly.”

“Lea, that means you named the poor dog Stinky. That’s awful.” Xion crossed her arms and wiggled her shoulders to get Lea’s hand off so she could look properly grumpy at him. She started to giggle as soon as she looked up at her tall friend, quickly breaking the act.

“You sound just like Isa. He kept saying it was awful too.”

“See, Xion? I tried my best to keep the dog’s dignity. He was already a stray then Lea names him Stinky. Horrible.”

“I’m glad Lea wasn’t in charge of naming me.”

“No, I’m very unsure where your name came from. I’ve neglected to ask Even if he’d know since I don’t… enjoy being in the labs.”

“I just knew it one day. Xion is me, even when I wasn’t my own person.”

Lea and Isa’s expressions both dropped and they stood there silently for a moment, unsure what to say. The silence was broken by the small puppy with the angry eyebrows barking.

Xion looked at both adults and their worried expressions and smiled. “It’s okay. I am now. And maybe I used to be too, but not before I knew my name.”

Isa nodded and carefully handed the puppy to Lea so he could place a hand on Xion’s shoulder. They’d discussed things that had happened when he was Saïx before, but Isa still touched her like he’d break her in half with the slightest amount of pressure. He spoke to her like he was walking on eggshells. While he knew neither of them liked nor appreciated this, he was worried. “Based on what I’ve been told, you may have been your own person since your body was given and semblance of a heart.”

Xion looked at his hand on her shoulder, feeling the awkward air. “It’s okay, Isa… I know what I was and I accepted that.”

“It was a lot, what you were put through. More than any child should have to face.”

“I…”

“Got me a dog with Lea. Yes, thank you,” Isa said with a nod, already unsure of what else to say, especially while Lea was there.

Xion responded by letting out a breath then smiling. “Yeah. Balsam’s a way better name than snowy. He’s way too dark to be named Snowy.”

“The… dog was named Snowy? That’s a… very cute name.”

Lea laughed and handed the dog back to Isa. “Yeah, well, I thought it sucked. And you already have Balsam locked in, dontcha?”

“Yes, Lea, I do. It’s a better name.” Isa looked down at the puppy. “Did you get a harness? A leash? Have you just been letting him run around by the fountains?”

Xion and Lea looked at each other, Xion genuinely confused by the question. Did dogs need things like that? Why hadn’t Lea gotten things the dog needed?

Lea laughed and rubbed at the back of his head. “Well, y’see, I didn’t think about that when I got the dog. Nobody’s walking around with dogs on leashes.”

“Yes, but this is a puppy. Do you want him to get lost, Lea?”

“No.”

“Xion, would you like to see what a puppy actually needs? Alongside the toys I’m sure Lea purchased that are for much older dogs.”

“Oh, okay. Do you know where they put in a pet store?” Xion asked, excited to have something that she could do with Isa that wasn’t going to be saturated by the guilt and frustration Isa felt towards his actions towards Xion. It was easy to see in her bright eyes. Lea could’ve sworn they were getting slightly greener.

“No, I don’t. Please, lead the way.” Isa looked to Lea. “Are you coming? You apparently need to learn how to actually take care of a puppy, stray or not.”

[aliceaddellheidde]

PART 8

Zdenka

After a while in the car, we stopped in front of the red brick house with white windows. Niall nearly run out fromthe car. We went to the house. Robin hugged Gemma, Anne, and Harry. Louis leaped at them too and Liam shook his head. No one noticed me, so I was looking aroundthe corridor. I caught every detail.

„Time to eat.“ Anne said. We all followed her. In front of the dining room, Niall grabbed my shoulder and pulled me into the room. I always responded to the touch with pull, so I pulled away now as well because of my unhappy past. This probably will never change. Fortunately, he quickly went to the table. Liam, Louis and Gemma sat opposite. Anne and Robin sat at the end of the table. The only free chair was between Niall and Harry. Like really? One of them wants to date me, and the other behaves weird. It will be fun.

Anne came from kitchen with a big pot. ,,We have creamy carrot soup especially for you.” Robin laughed and smirked atLouis who was reached after ladle. But Anne's hand stopped him. ,,Guest first!” I took a soup and then napkin and spread it on my knees. I started eating. It was an excellent creamy, carrot soup. Almost like in the restaurant.

,,So, Zdenka, tell us something about you.” Anne said with a smile. Oh shit. Do not talk much. And do not forget about decent education!I placed the spoon in the plate, wiped my lips, folded my hands into the lap and looked at Harry´s mother „Well I do not know what you want to know. There is not much.” I admitted. I'm a terribly boring, do you want to hear that?,,Are you studying here? Or did you come to London for a holiday?” Robin asked. Really?,,No, I do not. I graduated few years ago. I work as an Au pair.” I smiled on him.

,,Where did you come from?” Liam asked ,,I am from Slovakia. It is a small state in Central Europe. I came to London two years ago.” You certainly have not heard about that state.,,How old are you?” Robin asked. I was surprised by the question. You does not ask for the age of lady!Anne looked at him with a raised eyebrow. ,,I'm 24 years old.” I answered. ,,Seriously? I would not say you are so old” said Harry and he smiled at me. ,,Everybody says it, to be honest, but thank you.” That was true. People were saying I'm looking like 16 years old. I started eating a soup.

,,And what did you study?” Robin asked again. I put the spoon in the plate, wiped my mouth and folded my hands into the lap. ,,Why are you doing this?” Niall asked. I wanted to answer him, but Robin asked the first one. So, it's a priority. ,,At high school, I studied as a social worker and at college I studied as a free time animator. So, since 15 I've been working with people.” And now solve what I actually studied.I laughed to myself. I smiled calmly and looked at Niall. He looked at me with those beautiful, blue eyes. Hey, bitch! Go back to the ground! Now!,,And this” I pointed on napkin - ,,is part of dining manners.”

I continued to eat soup. Damn! What if I offended them?Again I put a spoon and repeated that stupid ritual. ,,Excuse me, I did not mean to say that you have bad dining or something. It's just that I was taught to eat like that.” I apologized. ,,That's okay.” Anne said. Harry wanted to ask something. ,,For God sake, let the girl finish her soup!” she screamed at her son and I got scared too. But I had to laugh at it. This is not right! Oh my manners again.,,I'm sorry.” I whispered to Harry. He just raised his eyebrows. I shook my head and finally ate the soup.

Robin brought the new plates along with rice bowls. Then he returned with large roasts full of roasted chicken legs. ,,Finally a normal meal!” Niall exclaimed. He was pulling for food, as if he had never eaten. When he sat again, he unwittingly hitmy shoulder. ,,Sorry.” we said at once. When I finished my fifth piece, I noticed that only the last two pieces of meat remained on the roast. I was still a little hungry. I´m eating too much. Correctly I should eat one or two and not five. A stupid etiquette. If Mrs. Woodward had seen me now. She would be unhappy with me. But what am I supposed to do?

,,Take them Niall. I can see you looking at them.” Gemma said. ,,Will you mind if I take one?” I asked, but I regretted it. Now they look at you as a murderer. You better keep your mouth shut woman.I gulped.,,Ok, no. Niall take both of them.” I wanted to run away.I would not even think of such forwardness in the past.

Niall looked at me. ,,No, take it. It just made us feel surprised. You ate as much as Niall did. More than us.” Anne spoke and smiled at me. I blushed and lowered my head. ,,Excuse me, it's inappropriate. Niall justeat them.” I looked at him and smiled. He smiled at me too and put one piece on my plate. ,,But ...” I began, but he interruptedme. ,,Eat.” he ordered and I obeyed.

,,Does anyone want a dessert?” Anne asked. We both noded. Anne just shook her head and smiled. ,,You would be a great couple. I just do not know who would feed you.” If that was true. But who would be interested in me.Everyone started laughing. That's right, it's funny. I´m ridiculous.I was blushingagain. ,,Don´t worry. They always laugh from me.” he whispered in my ear with his Irish accent. I got goose bumps. I remembered one sentence that was in my unwritten guide.,,I was taught that every meal should be tasted during a visit, so if there are no allergies to it.” ,,That's what I totally agree with.” said Niall. ,,Clearly you agree. The more food, the better, right?” Anne smiled, placing pieces of banana cake in front of us. ,,When you eat this, you will be sick for sure.” Gemma said, shaking her head. ,,Harry, there's a banana in it.” Niall said and smirked on curly boy. He looked at the cake and ran into the kitchen. I started laughing. Niall watched me with a weird look, so I stopped. The loud laugh in society is not tolerated! Another note.

Harry returned with a full mouth. ,,At least shut your mouth.” his mother said. ,,Can´t.” he said sitting down. I started eat, but Harry was still trying to swallow all cake in his mouth.,,Try to drink. It will do better.” I said to him and I smiled again. He frowned, but he obeyed. ,,Will you tell me who taught you the ,,right dining”?” He asked. ,,The person I worked for.” ,,You worked for the Queen?” Yes, of course.,,No. Not for the Queen, but for someone who is important in certain social circles, where it was required of me.” You don´t need to know exact name. Girls can have their secrets.,,You really told us a lot.” Louis said. ,,It is not important where I worked.” I laughed. ,,Excuse me, please.” I got up and walked away to the toilet I sawin the corridor.

,,She is nice, but a little weird.” I heard Robin said. ,,What did you expect? She knows us from yesterday and today she is in our house.” Anne said. ,,That was your idea mom.” Gemma interjected. I didn't listening them more.

I walked out of the bathroom and Niall waited in the hall. I pulled away from the door so he could come in. He didn´t move, so I went back to the dining room.

,,Zdenka wait.” he called after me. He said my name so beautifully. ,,Yes?” I turned to him. ,,I'd like to apologize to you for that in the hospital. I was hungry and tired, but that does not justify me. I just wanted you to know it was not because of you.” Why he has to be so adorable when he looks at me? Who would not forgive him. ,,Oh, Niall. Don´t worry. Nobody can always have a good mood.” I laughed and walked away.

The table was cleaned and everyone, except Gemma´s parents, sat in the living room. Liam said they had gone somewhere. I'm alone in the house with four crazy boys. Yippee. I forgot about Gemma. At least someone normal.I sat down on the edge of the corner seat, just as Harry walked into the room. ,,That guinea pig is hungry again. It's like Niall.” he murmured under his nose. ,,I've heard you!” Niall cried and walked inafter Harry. They both headed in my direction. ,,You have a guinea pig Harry?” I asked. ,,I don´t, it´s Gemma’s.” ,,Can I see it? I also had a guinea pig a few years ago.” I looked at Gemma. She got up from the chair and I quickly followed her. I walked aroundHarry and Niall. They both looked after me.

We went into a large, bright room with bed, wardrobe, table and a few shelves. ,,You have a nice room.” ,,This was my room. Now I'm living with a friend in the apartment. Fluffy was brought here by my mother, because he could not stay alone.” She picked a hairy creature as big as a little rat from cage and handed it to me. It had long hair that tickled my hands. ,,It´s beautiful.” I carefully sat down on the floor and began to pet it. ,,It remind me ofmy guinea pig.” Gemma smiled and watched as the Fluffy stretched over me and was slowly falling asleep. ,,He likes you.” ,,Yeah, animals like me. It is worse with people.” I sighed. ,,Harry likes you and Niall too. Just choose one.” She laughed. ,,Of course. Harry is your brother, and I think he's been doing this to every girl. I really do not know what he would got from me. And Niall is a sweetheart, but that would not work. I'm not good foranyone.” I said, ,,Maybe to Fluffy. He´s amazing.” We both laughed. ,,It's great when it starts screaming around the house for food. Gemma, rename him to Niall.” Harry's voice came from the door. I frowned at him because Fluffy woke up. He rolled his eyes and sat down on the bed. Moment later other boys came. Louis sat down next to Harry, Liam on the chair beside the table, and Niall sat down next to me on the floor. We touched with shoulders. He gently scratched Fluffy behind his ears and he fall asleep again.

My phone was ringing ,,One thing” from boys in the corridor ,,We found a Directioner.” Liam laughed. I put the guinea pig on the ground and ran over my phone.

,,Hello beautiful. What do you need?” I asked my best friend Rachel. ,,David invited me to dinner and I need to buy clothes. I can´t go there in jeans.” She was nervous. ,,All right. I will be there in minute.” ,,Thank you.”

I went back to room. ,,I don´t like to ruinfun, but my friend needs my help.” Niall sadly loveredhis head, but then he looked at me quickly again. ,,I'll giveyou a ride.” he said and was getting up from the floor. ,,It´s not necessary. I'll take a taxi.” He shook his head and left the room. ,,He´s terribly stubborn.” Gemma laughed and hugged me. Liam waved at me and Louis huggedagain. Harry was hanging on us. ,,You will choke her. We have to go.” Niall said from the door. Harry frowned at him. Then he let me gowith a kiss on cheek.

I left house with red face and there was still car ridewith Niall. He opened passenger's door for me, sat on his seat, I told him the address, and we drove away. ,,Did you have fun today?” he asked after a moment. ,,Yeah. I think it was quite good for the first time. I would like to stay longer, but unfortunately I can´t.” I answered silently. I would be so happyif that car ridehad lasted all day and I could watch Niall. His hair, a beautiful face, an amazing, irresistible smile, beautiful blue eyes and the perfect lips that must be incredibly soft... .

,,Hey Zdenka, are you listening to me?” he asked me. I blinked and returned to reality where Niall was lookingat me with a raised eyebrows. ,,Yes. Well, actually ... not really, sorry. I was thinking about something.” ,,Then I'll take you on one shot and maybe I'll learn something about your thoughts.” Niall said and began laughing. He pointed on my t-shirt with sign "One glass away from telling everyone what I think". ,,Nice t-shirt.” He was blushing a little. ,,Thank you.” Even I was blushing, but fortunately thanks to Mrs. Woodward, I was able to accept compliments. ,,Purple is my most favourite colour.”

We started to slow down and turned to a gas station. We went out and while Niall was tanking, I went to buy water. A moment later he entered, paid, and went back to the car. Some girl ran out of the car in our direction, followed by another two. ,,Niall! Niall! Will you give us an autograph?” He looked at meapologetically.,,They're your fans.” I shrug my shoulders and took step back.

Niall started signing. Then the girls noticed me. ,,Are you dating?” One of them asked. ,,No.” I shook my head. ,,We're just friends.” ,,That's good, because Niall is mine.” She laughed a little madly. ,,Not at all! He´s mine!” her friend called out to her. They started laughing. They took photos and left. We got into the car and Niall started to apologize. ,,It happens to the famous people.” I laughed. He started laughing with his typical laugh. ,,Surely your photos will be on the Internet. So you'll be famous too.” ,,Please. Nobody caresabout me.” ,,I don´t believe it. Such a pretty girl like you should be interesting foreveryone.” I looked out the window so he can´t see my red face. Seriously he said I'm pretty? Niall fucking Horan thinks I'm pretty! This was not just a hallucination.

His phone rang. ,,Will you take it, please?“ he asked, looking on the road. ,,I can´t pick your calls.” ,,And I can´t drive with the phone in my hand. Besides, Harry´s calling.” He glanced at the display and then at me. I rolled my eyes and accepted the call. ,,Hey Ni. Have you already taken that chick to her friend?” ,,Ehm Harry, it's me, Zdenka.“ I heard laugh on the other side. ,,Ah, and where is Niall?“ ,,He is driving.“ ,,Just tell him we'll meet in the studio when he dropsyou.“ ,,Ok, bye.“ He made muah soundinto the phone. He sent me a kiss? These lads are really weird.I shook my head and Niall looked at me curiously. ,,You have to go to studio after this.“ I told him and I returned the phone onits place. ,,We are there in a moment.“ What? How fast the ridewent. Maybe we'll see again. It was fine with them even when it was short.

He stopped in front of Rachel's house after few minutes. He stepped out of the car and opened car door for me. I took off my belt, took my backpack and stepped out. ,,Thanks for the ride.“ I hugged him. I did not care that hewas a world star. Try to resist when Niall James Horan is standing in front of you! He wrapped his hands around my waist and hugged me firmly. I felt his breath on my neck. I had goose bumps on whole body and I was barely breathing. I was like teenage girl. ,,You are welcome. Have a nice day with a friend.“ he whispered. ,,I'll try.“ He let me go, went back into thecar, waved at me and left.

I walked to the house with wide smile. Rachel did not have to ask anything, she knew what was happening. We went shopping in a small shopping centre. Rachel chose a long, knee length, green dress and a white shoes without a heel. We returned home an hour before David appeared in frontof her door. They went hand in hand on their dinnerand I put my headphones on and went home.

I took a shower and turned on a laptop. I found an email from Gemma. She wanted to know when I would stop again and that Harry still talks about me. I shook my head and wrote to her to say hi to that fool and I´ll call her. Then came Facebook message. Ni93 wrote to me:

Ni93: Hi 

Me: Hello

Ni93: We just finished in studio. How was shopping? You did not look very excited about it.

Me: Yeah, it was fine. I do not like shopping, but what wouldn´tyou do for the best friend. You might have had more fun in the studio.

He did not write anything for a long time, so I turned off my laptopand went to bed. I could not sleep. Finally, I got stuck in front of the tv. I watched the DVDs until the fifth at morning. Outside, the sun was already rising and I just stopped Iron Mana and Captain Americas in their fight. I crawled under the blanket and finally fell asleep.

[willandlyra]

no one would know the sound of a ghost

in which nico hates his neighbours until one of them shows up at his door claiming his apartment is haunted, and he requires a partner in ghost busting. 

word count: 5228

read on ao3

::

Nico, so far, has not had much contact with his new neighbour, dubbed currently as ‘Will from next door’ and that’s exactly how he likes it.

Their current encounters start and end with the following:

1.   Will moving in just as Nico leaves for work. Headphones in. Minding his own business. His eyes accidentally meet in the lift with who he assumes is the guy moving in from the impractical amounts of boxes he’s holding. Will says, with too much enthusiasm for nine in the morning, “hi! I’m Will”. Nico smiles, and doesn’t say anything because he can’t remember how to formulate words.

2.   Later in the same day. Will still transporting a couple of boxes of things when Nico returns home a few hours later. He actually manages to introduce himself this time. Will drops one of said boxes on Nico’s foot. Great start.

It’s nothing personal to Will, despite his early morning enthusiasm that one time and the fact that Nico actually yelped quite embarrassingly in a very public hallway when half of Will’s possessions collided with his toes. Or – that might have a tiny bit to do with it, but truthfully, Nico doesn’t really care for any of his neighbours.

Not because he doesn’t like them, per say. The ‘nothing personal’ title carries on from Will and is shared between the entirety of his apartment building. The fact is, they’re his neighbours. On principle, no one likes their neighbours. Neighbours are 90% of the time annoying and nosy and invasive. They’re too loud – the guy living in no.196 before Will was always playing his music at an unforgivable volume for three am, and Nico supposes the mistrust has carried.

Some of his neighbours are sweet, sure. Mrs Anderson opposite says hello with a sweet smile every time she encounters him in the hall or lift. She’s approaching eighty-one, and is under the impression that his name is ‘Dave’, but it’s the thought that counts. Piper across the hall is very nice, if not… over enthusiastic, and he supposes if she wasn’t his neighbour, she’d be his friend. As it happens, she is his neighbour, and he has to hear her loudly singing when she leaves her apartment for work every morning. Nice.

That’s a problem with neighbours: you know bits and pieces about them and their lives and their characters, but not enough to know them as people. You get to know all of their crazy and their ugly when you’re listening to mini soap operas through the thin walls dividing your homes, and you accidentally spy upon their irritating habits, and catch them at bad moments, and see all the sides of a person they wouldn’t reveal to a stranger on the street, by pure accident.

That’s all you see though. Some of them are friendly, and they aren’t shy about it, and waves and smiles and greetings are exchanged in the hallways but you don’t know them well enough to find a redeeming quality for all of the pet peeve criterias they fill.

His neighbours have all kinds of crazy. When Piper starts laughing she doesn’t stop until she looks as if her lungs are about to rupture, Mrs Anderson dresses like she’s in a time warp from 1988, Leo down the hall collects cactuses in different shapes and sizes, and Nico himself spends half his time yelling at his laptop at incompetent people on Mythomagic forums.

He hasn’t had many encounters with Will yet, but when he does, it’ll top the list so far.

::

It’s a Friday night, and Nico is ready.

He’s had a week of work – gross – and he’s ridiculously tired, but instead of sleeping, Nico has a way better idea. He has a glass of wine already poured into a glass, sitting idly on the coffee table beside a box of chocolates that he was probably supposed to send to Hazel. Adam Sandler movie (everyone has guilty pleasures) is at the ready. Fluffy bed socks are on. Door is locked. Ready.

He sits down, grin on his face, and breathes out a sigh of relaxation.

…Which is precisely when there’s a knock at his door.

Nico groans. Quite loudly. He sort of hopes that they get the message but as the only response is a couple of other rat-a-tat-tat knocks on the door, he supposes not.

He considers ignoring it and pretending he’s not in – but they’ve probably already heard the groan, and the light from the hall is obviously going to travel through the gap underneath the door itself, and he doesn’t know who is there, anyway. It could be Billie Joe Armstrong, ready to declare his love. It probably isn’t, but it could be.

Nico sighs. An irritated one this time, and it’s not really necessary but it’s kind of for good measure. And then he drags himself up off of the sofa, and feels like he’s pulling dead weight as he slowly, very slowly, makes his way to his front door.

He’s not sure who he’s expecting to find at this hour (it’s only nine in the evening, but whatever, Nico’s an old man when it comes to socialisation in the night). It could Billie Joe. It probably won’t be Billie Joe, but he hopes it is. It could be the boy he got into a fight with in high school - Octavian - who swore revenge, ready to punch him in the face. Could be his ex boyfriend from two years ago turning up with a baby basket, screaming “it’s yours!” before disappearing into thin air, like in all the movies - not that he's sure how that'd work. He isn’t particularly expecting any of these – probably someone who forgot their key, or someone begging for money who somehow got into the building. Maybe his landlord for a surprise inspection, who knows.

He opens the door, and out of all the ideas that sprang into his mind, and all the logical and rational people it could have been, Nico is not expecting it to be Will from next door.

“Um,” Will says. He looks a little like a deer caught in headlights. Maybe he has the wrong address. “Hi.”

Nico stares at him for about ten seconds and then, rather than responding with a traditional greeting, blurts out, “do you have the right address?”

Will blinks several times. And then he says, “yeah. I mean. I wasn’t looking for anyone else. I’m here because – well, for you.”

Because that doesn’t sound creepy at all. What the fuck. Nico’s going to have to rename him Will from next door to Will from the wanted serial killers list.

“Right,” Nico says. There’s a short pause. He shifts uncomfortable, and adds, “for, um, any particular reason?”

Please don’t say homicide, Nico thinks.

“This is going to sound kind of crazy, I know-“

Oh God. He’s going to say homicide.

“But I think my apartment is haunted?”

There’s another pause. This one stretches out longer, an awkward silence in which Will hastily shuffles, waiting for a response, and Nico just gapes at him.

“You what?”

“I… think my apartment is haunted?” Will repeats, and okay. Maybe he did hear right, then.

“Um,” Nico says. “Right. That’s. Well. Unusual.”

“I know,” Will agrees. “But weird things have been happening since I moved in, and. I don’t know. You’re the closest neighbour I have, and sometimes I hear you – accidentally, thin walls, sorry – discussing the existence of aliens on the phone late at night. At least, presumably the phone. Maybe to yourself. Which is fine. But. I just mean, it made me think you might be the most appropriate person to approach here.”

Nico stares at him for a long moment. “You do realise this isn’t like, the ghost busters head quarters or something?”

Will snorts. “Obviously,” he says. “It’d be a pretty stupid ghost to live right next door to the HQ of its nemesis, after all.”

It’s a kind of funny comment. Nico wants to laugh, but he’s still gaping at Will, not really sure in any way how to respond to him.

“Are you fucking with me?” he asks. “It’s been a long week, man. I’m not feeling it. Come back on Wednesday, maybe. I can cope with Wednesdays.”

“I’m not joking,” Will insists, looking a little desperate. “Like. Genuinely. My apartment is being haunted. I am being pursued by a poltergeist, I am literally certain of it. And it’s been going on for months, ever since I moved in, and I just ignored it and tried to rationalise it but my Cheerios just got knocked off of the kitchen table for no reason, and they’ve spilled everywhere and I have had enough.”

Nico just says, “why were you eating Cheerios at nine pm?”

Will shrugs. “Mid-life crisis.”

“You’re not middle aged though.”

“But I will be, some day, and I’m having a crisis about it.”

Same, Nico thinks, nodding. Because he totally relates.

“Same,” he tells Will from next door. “I feel that.”

“Thanks,” Will says.

“New question, why were you eating Cheerios, they’re bloody gross.”

“They aren’t, but that’s not the point. I reiterate: I think my apartment is being haunted. In fact, scrap that. My apartment is being haunted.”

“Okay,” Nico agrees. “Your apartment is haunted. What – I mean, I’m not trying to be rude here – but what exactly can I do about that?”

“I need you to help me search for paranormal activity,” Will admits hastily, and Nico just stares at him. Again.

“Wait,” he says, a few moments later. “You are literally being serious right now.”

“Yep,” Will sighs. “Completely. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Nico says automatically. Is it? He doesn’t really know. He’s never been asked to hunt for paranormal activity before. Particularly not with someone he has literally spoken to twice. And neither of them were exactly intimate encounters.

“Thanks.”

“Why?”

“Because my apartment is being haunted,” Will says. “Oh, you mean – well. I can’t go alone. Everyone knows you never take on a poltergeist or whatever that is alone. I tried telling my friend, but he thought I was joking. And, um, my other friend recommended psychiatry. So far you’ve only crossed one off the list. So that’s a good sign.”

“Jesus Christ,’” Nico says. He shakes his head in disbelief, and he’s kind of really feeling like he needs to sit down for a bit. Or maybe for the rest of his life. That would work.

“Is that a no?” Will asks, defeated. All of this staring has given him a good look at Will from next door. He’s cute, that’s for sure. Blonde hair, blue eyes, most likely helps old ladies cross the street. He really is attractive – although most people are, if you haven’t got laid since 1968. Nico may or may not fall into that criteria.

Also, Will had these big blue eyes, hard to say no to. He’s really cute.

Also, Nico’s seen this film before, and it totally sucks.

Turns out ‘Jesus Christ’ doesn’t mean no after all.

::

Nico does what any good neighbour would do, and allows Will in, and offers him a coffee.

“Yes, please,” he says. “My coffee always seems to end up going drastically wrong. I blame the ghost.”

“Are you sure you’re not just really bad at making coffee?”

“I’ll have you know, I’m an expert,” Will retorts. “I’d show you, but honestly, I’m too scared of accidentally breaking the mugs. The ghost has made me very superstitious.”

Nico eyes him wearily, thinking, why the fuck did I let this lunatic inside of my apartment?

“I’m sure it has,” Nico says. “Can I ask when the supposed haunting began?”

“Right after I moved in.”

“And what exactly were the signs?” he presses, feeling a little too self-important. Nico’s enjoying this, though, in spite of the serial killer possibility still being a fairly high risk. He feels like a ghost buster. Maybe this is actually what he was born to do. If, you know, ghosts actually existed. He has no idea what he’s supposed to do or ask, and he’s kind of making it up as he goes along – it reminds him of the improvisation exercises they had to do in high school drama. A simpler time.

“Well, it’s really cold, for a start…” Will begins, and Nico can’t help but interject.

“The whole building is,” he tells him. “The heating is kind of shit. Don’t supposed they mentioned it in the sale, though.”

Will frowns. “Maybe the whole building is haunted,” he says, and Nico doesn’t reply, because if he did he would probably bang his head violently against the table.

“What else?”

“Things keep breaking. I keep dropping everything when I shouldn’t be. Things just fall off the table or out of my hands even when I’ve got a firm grip.”

“That’s called butterfingers,” Nico informs him. He feels that on a pretty deep level. Maybe he isn’t the ghost buster after all. Maybe he’s actually the ghost.

“I still think it’s the ghost,” Will says defensively. “I was never this bad before!”

“Really?”

Nico’s not sure why, but from looking at and talking to Will, he’s kind of drawn the conclusion he’s the type to break a good few mirrors in his lifetime.

“Well,” Will says. “I don’t think so.”

Nico sighs. “What else?”

“Weird noises.”

He raises his eyebrow. “As in…?”

“Like. I don’t know,” Will shrugs. “This kind of… groaning sound? But not like, I mean, not in a sexual way. I’m pretty sure I’m not just eavesdropping on someone getting laid by accident. It’s more of a… pained wailing.”

“I see,” Nico says slowly. “And what time would you say this occurs most of all?”

“I don’t know. Like… eleven in the evening until two in the morning, mostly, I’d say?”

Nico coughs. “Right,” he says, and then swiftly moves along onto another question.

Will does not need to know that the supposed ‘ghost noises’ he’s been hearing every night are actually the sounds of Nico losing at Silent Hill.

::

The last time Nico got invited back to a guy’s place in the evening was probably over three years ago. Also, it wasn’t to search for paranormal activity and the proof of a poltergeist, so Nico’s really not sure whether he’s winning or losing tonight.

“Here it is,” Will says, opening the door. “I don’t know whether you’ve been in here a lot before, with the old tenant, but. I’ve moved it around a bit.”

“Yeah, no, it looks good,” Nico says. “I like your set up a lot better than Percy's.”

“Percy?”

“Old tenant,” Nico tells him. “I came over a few times. The place always smelled of fish. It was gross.”

Will wrinkles his nose. “Ew,” he says. “Bet you’re glad that he left.”

“Oh, I am,” Nico says. “He was definitely not one of my better neighbours. He’s moved away with his girlfriend now, thank God, though I’m pretty sure they’re only together because she’s a pescatarian.”

“Makes sense,” Will shrugs. “Did he ever mention anything weird while he was living here?”

“99% of the shit he says was weird,” Nico tells him. “But if you’re talking about in relation to the ghost, then no, he didn’t.”

Will groans. “Why am I the only one being targeted?”

“Maybe the smell of fish scared him off?” Nico offers helpfully. “Or maybe he was being… haunted, and I just wouldn’t know because he never approached me about it quite as, well, forwardly as you did.”

“I was tired of suffering in silence,” Will says defensively.

“I’m not hating,” Nico raises his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Although, there is another option.”

“Which is?”

“He doesn’t exist. The poltergeist, I mean, not you.”

“I mean, that’s a possibility,” Will muses. “But I still have pretty high confidence in its existence. Do you not believe in ghosts, then?”

“Not really,” Nico admits.

“But you believe in aliens?”

Nico flushes. “That’s a debate for another day. It’s a bigger likelihood. Look at the size of the universe, Will. You really think this planet is the only one to harbour intelligent life? Will. Will, listen. They’re out there.”

Will stares at him for a few moments. “And you don’t believe in ghosts?”

“…Not really?”

“So you think we just get born out of nowhere and remain on the planet for an unspecified amount of time and then just die? Just like that?”

Nico shrugs. “I dunno, but if I were a ghost, I sure as hell wouldn’t be spending my days in the afterlife haunting random apartments.”

Will considers this. “Me either, but maybe it was resting in peace, but then the previous tenant angered it with the fish, and now it’s out for vengeance.”

“Okay, now that’s something I’d do,” Nico nods. “I agree with the current actions of the ghost.”

Will frowns at him, and points to the pile of broken ceramic, Cheerios and milk on his kitchen floor.

“Really?” he asks dryly. “I don’t.”

::

“How exactly do we detect paranormal activity anyway?” Nico asks, and Will, for a moment, looks perplexed.

“Ah,” he says. “That could be an issue. Don’t you need like, all kinds of fancy scientific equipment?”

“This isn’t a science fiction novel, Will. I’m pretty sure those kinds of tools don’t actually exist.”

“Such a sceptic,” Will sighs, mournfully. “And so young, too. So sad.”

“They didn’t need high tech equipment in paranormal activity the movies though,” Nico says, ignoring his previous comment. “You have a video camera?”

“Nico, those movies weren’t real…”

“Obviously,” Nico says, rolling his eyes. “But we have to take inspiration from somewhere.”

“True,” Will admits, and he complies. They set up Will’s old video camera in the kitchen, where Will insists most of the ‘incidents’ seem to happen, and wait a while.

“We should search the apartment too,” Will declares. “There might be, you know, weird demonic markings on some of the walls or something, that’d indicate there’s a demon here, right?”

“Or that a previous tenant was into the illuminati,” Nico says. “But sure.”

Nico goes along with it anyway, though he’s not entirely sure why. This is hardly on the top of the list of things he was planning to do tonight, but maybe, on the odd occasion, socialisation with a stranger does end up being better than sitting around watching bad Adam Sandler movies and being bitter. Not that Nico would ever admit it.

Also, who knows – maybe the whole ghost buster thing could end up being a pretty good career change. Nico’s not really feeling being in marketing for the rest of his life. Or for a second more than he has to be. So that could work.

“Hey, Will,” he calls. “Wanna go into business as professional paranormal activity experts?”

“Sure,” Will says. “I’ll come up with a theme song. We’ll probably get sued for being crap, though.”

Nico waves him off from the other side of the room. “I’m pretty sure whether or not you have been released from the haunting of a supernatural entity is a matter of opinion, and entirely subjective.”

He turns to look at Will, who is stood by the wall trying to look behind the photo frames and tiny flower pots (seriously?) for any, like, small 666 signs or something, presumably, and absent-mindedly thinks about how he has great legs.

“I’m pretty sure it isn’t,” Will says, turning around, and yeah. Great legs. “But it’s fine. We’ll work with it. You found anything?”

“Nope,” Nico says. “Zilch.”

“Me too,” Will frowns. “Subtle, ghost, subtle. I’ll give you credit for that. You’ve got moves.”

“It isn’t real,” Nico says. Because probably.

“Or it’s just more subtle than you are,” Will says, shaking his head. “My legs are great. I’m with you there.”

Nico blushes, and Will grins.

“Sorry if I-” he starts, but Will waves him off.

“I’m kidding,” he says. “It’s fine. Also, it’s been ages since we set the camera up, shall we go and check it?”

Nico blinks. “It’s literally been about forty-five minutes. If that.”

“Like I said, it’s been ages.”

::

They turn the footage onto fast forward, and watch for any – Nico doesn’t know what. Demonic figures. Floating plates. Suddenly falling kitchen appliances, or something like that.

Nothing happens, though. It’s a still image of a kitchen (with Will’s evening-breakfast still spread out, all over the floor, nice) that just happens to be the backdrop for a bit of blur and zoom indications, and a clock showing the time at the bottom.

But nothing happens.

“There!” Will says. “Nico, go back, I saw something!”

It turns out, all that Will saw was a bit of dust moving in the corner between the wall and the cupboard.

“You disgust me,” Nico says. “Clean your kitchen. Also, the cereal.”

“I don’t know if I should. Can’t I send stuff like that in to be analysed in labs and stuff? Is that a thing?”

“No,” Nico replies. “Clean it up. I’ve almost slipped on that milk at least three times.”

::

Like a good Samaritan, Nico offers to help clean up the cereal disaster, and promptly slips on the milk.

::

“See,” Will tells him, holding an ice pack to his head, which he had hit pretty hard on one of his kitchen counters. “I told you weird incidents and disasters kept happening here.”

“I slipped on spilled cereal ingredients,” Nico reminds him. “If you always leave your paranormal encounters left around on the floor like that, no wonder you’re always tripping over.”

Will frowns. “That’s a fair point,” he says. “I’m still recording some more, though. Just in case.”

“You do that,” Nico says encouragingly. “I’ll just. Be here. Icing.”

“Ah, right,” Will says, biting his lip. “Sorry about that. Your injury, I mean.”

“It’s okay,” Nico replies. “I mean. I don’t know what I was expecting when I came over here today, but it probably should have been something like this.”

“I… kind of feel like I should be offended right now,” Will frowns.

“Can you blame me? The first day we met, you dropped a box on my toe,” Nico points out, and Will’s eyes widen.

“Oh god, I’d forgotten about that! I’m so sorry!”

“Don’t be,” Nico says quickly. “It’s fine. All is forgiven.”

“Maybe it was the poltergeist?”

Nico groans on impulse. “Please stop,” he says, and when Will looks at him a little strangely, he feels self-conscious, and asks, “what?”

“Nothing, it’s just…”

“What?”

“You sounded a lot like the ghost noises I hear at night just then.”

Oh, fuck.

::

They manage to leave the recording going this time for almost an hour. Key word: almost. They spend the time sat dutifully in Will’s bedroom, googling things like, “paranormal activity detection”, and “is there a ghost in my house”, and “are ghosts adverse to fish?” on their phones.

It’s been a long time since Nico was in a guy’s bedroom as the clock neared towards midnight. He’s usually wearing a lot less clothes and not researching the likelihood of having a poltergeist in a newly-built block of New York apartments, but he’s having a pretty good time regardless. Maybe on occasion, the supernatural is better than sex. He considers this, and then decides that probably isn’t true. Maybe they should be combined. Will is still pretty, after all. Sex and the Supernatural. If the ghost buster business doesn’t work out, at least he has a great name for his future T V show.

“Will, the building isn’t haunted,” Nico says, for probably the 59th time. Nothing I’ve found backs up your idea. And if it did, it wouldn’t matter. It’s the internet. It’s all bullshit.”

“Well someone’s feeling cynical,” Will says, and Nico couldn’t agree more.

“That’s me,” Nico agrees. “Full time cynic. Non-believer. Para-sceptic.”

“…Who believes in aliens?”

Nico scowls. “We’ve been through this.”

::

They check the tape again, and there’s nothing.

“I told you so,” Nico sings gleefully, and Will glares at him.

“I don’t like you,” he says. “I’m glad I dropped box on your foot.”

“Hey!”

::

Will, as a good, courteous neighbour (who is blatantly copying Nico’s ideas) offers Nico a cup of coffee.

“I thought you said it always goes drastically wrong,” Nico reminds him, wearily.

“Oh, yeah,” Will says.  “But I mean what’s life without a little risk? And it’s not like anyone has ever died.”

“That… doesn’t really reassure me, to be honest.”

Will rolls his eyes. “Live a little.”

Nico laughs, and when Will gives him a questioning look, he just says, “come on. Isn’t that a little ironic? We’re literally searching for a ghost right now. And you’re telling me to live a little. Jesus Christ.”

“Get out of my house,” Will says. And then. “Do you think I offended it?”

Nico does accept the tea, though. Mostly because he wants to see how horrifically bad this can go. Also, he’s never been one to turn down free coffee. Also, he’s running out of coffee at his own place, and it’s the strategically correct way to go.

Will takes extra care getting the milk out and boiling the kettle and pouring the water into the mug without accidentally burning half of his skin off. He’s doing quite well, actually, Nico was expecting more disasters by now. He’s pleasantly surprised.

Will hands Nico his cup of tea with a proud look on his face. “Didn’t even injure myself,” he beams. “I’m very proud.”

“I’m proud too,” Nico tells him. “Go on. Have your tea. You deserve it.”

“I do,” Will agrees. His tea is on the counter, cooling down, and Will glances at it. “I’m the master.”

“You are.”

“I’m glad we can agree.”

“How could I ever disagree?” Nico says. “Come on. High five.”

Will grins. Nico thinks about kissing him for 0.2 seconds until he promptly rejects the thought. He’s still a stranger, even if they have gone on this ghost hunt together, and discussed business initiative, and he’s really cute. That changes nothing. Obviously.

He raises his hand in waiting.

And then, as Will reaches up to give him said high five, disaster strikes. To be fair, it was bound to eventually. But as Will’s hand raises up to meet Nico’s, his elbow goes flying out in the direction of the counter, and the mug, in the collision, goes flying, and topples off behind Will’s arm and crashes onto the floor and promptly splits into about ten different pieces as the tea drenches the cupboards, the newly cleaned floor, and Will’s leg.

“See!” he exclaims. “This is what I mean! Things like this! They happen constantly! I’m cursed, I tell you, what the hell.”

“Will,” Nico says slowly. “You do realise that you knocked the mug off the counter, right? Not some ghost or invisible being. It was literally you. Hence the coffee on your elbow.”

“Yeah,” Will says. “I mean, that’s usually what happens, but that doesn’t mean a ghost isn’t here, dictating the events.”

Nico gapes at him. “Oh my god,” he mutters. “Will! You idiot, you’re not being haunted, you’re just clumsy.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s not just clumsiness,” Will argues weakly, but Nico knows that they both know he’s right. “It happens way too often to be a coincidence.”

“It’s not a coincidence,” Nico says.

“Yeah,” Will agrees. “I have a poltergeist.”

“No you don’t. It’s normal. It even has a name.”

“It does?”

“Yeah. It’s called really clumsy.”

“Ah,” Will says. He seems to ponder the thought for a moment. “Maybe I’m not being haunted then.”

“Did you mean, no shit?” Nico says, sarcastically, and Will laughs.

“Okay, you were right, I suppose,” Will shrugs. “It was kind of fun though, right? I hope I didn’t waste your evening. To be honest though, I don’t know for sure yet. I’m still not entirely convinced. It could just be hiding from you.”

“Nah, you didn’t. I mean, I had fun,” Nico says. Will gives him a small smile. Nico realises that the amount of emotion they are lowkey showing is disgusting, and dives into the other topic. “To be honest, you might be right, it could be,” he says, and he nods.

“Or maybe you’re the ghost. And you’ve just dressed yourself up in human form.”

Nico shrugs. He kind of really wants to kiss him, still. He can’t believe he’d spent his whole Friday night searching for a ghost. The things he’ll do for a cute boy is quite embarrassing. “You have no way of knowing,” he says, egging Will on.

Will pokes him in the side. “Hmm,” he says. “Feels real, to be honest.”

Nico gives him an innocent look. “Well, I mean,” he says. “There’s only a few ways to find out. Proper scientists conduct investigations, don’t they?”

“Experiments are very important in any case of paranormal activity,” Will agrees, a glint in his eye, and a grin on his face. Nico smiles back, too, and Will’s eyes drop to his lips and linger. Nico may not be quite as subtle as the poltergeist, but at least it’s led him to be able to take a hint.

He leans in quickly, and before he can change his mind he presses a chaste, gentle kiss on Will’s lips, lasting for a few seconds, before he pulls back, only half an inch, still so close to Will, and says, “wait, shit. That’s what we were talking about, right? I didn’t get the wrong idea?”

Will laughs a little. “That’s what we were talking about,” he confirms. “And you had exactly the right idea.”

Nico breathes out a sigh of relief, and Will pulls him closer and kisses him again, properly this time, slow. And if this is what the ghost chase has been leading up to this whole time then yeah, Nico definitely hasn’t wasted his Friday night. They keep kissing, slow and soft, and Nico can’t help but smile against his lips.

Maybe neighbours aren’t all bad, he thinks.

“Wait,” Will says, pulling back. “Maybe we should go to your place. You know, just in case the ghost is watching.” There’s a twinkle in his eye, and Nico wants to groan, but he wants to kiss him more and so he does, and again, before he actually answers him.

“Thought I was the ghost,” he says, and Will shakes his head.

“Nah,” he says. “I think you’re normal. Well, to an extent. You did just assist a near stranger in a hunt for paranormal activity for the past, like, four hours.”

Nico rolls his eyes. “Never mind,” he says. “Poltergeist or no poltergeist, I can’t do this here. I’ll be too distracted by the memory of searching for signs of the illuminati.”

Will laughs, and kisses him again. Says, “yours, then?” and yeah. Nico can work with that.

::

The last time Nico invited a boy back to his apartment past midnight was a while ago, and though it didn’t come after a lengthy search of a non-existent (he hopes) poltergeist and the emergence of a career in ghost busting, he has to admit that he likes the way it went a lot better this time.