#WOW I AM SO HONORED TO BE THE INSPIRATION!!

[justinepush]

OMG LOOK!!!

𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙪𝙣𝙯𝙚𝙡 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝟭: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚

˚*･༓☾ ❥˚˚*･༓ ˚𝐇𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐦...𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫...𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ☀️ Inspiration : @justinepush

[aventurineswife]

Could I request Welt, Aventurine, Argenti, and Dan Heng learning that their lover made loads of beautiful artwork (paintings, sketches, etc.) of the boys?

“Draw me like one of your French girls”

Summary: Your partner discovers personalized artwork created by you that highlights their unique qualities and emotions. As they react to the paintings, feelings of admiration and affection are exchanged, revealing the beauty and complexity of their personalities.

Tags: Welt x Reader, Argenti x Reader, Aventurine x Reader, Dan Heng x Reader, Artist!Reader, Romance, Emotional Connection, Art as an expression, Self-discovery, Vulnerability.

Warnings: Possible Fluff, Emotional Themes.

A/N: OMFG ITS GRANDPA WELT!! ��❤️

Welt Yang

Welt returned to his quarters aboard the Astral Express, exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders. As he entered, he caught a glimpse of something vibrant against the muted colors of the room. His heart skipped a beat. Scattered across the table were a series of paintings and sketches, each depicting him in various poses, some in deep contemplation and others caught in laughter.

You, sitting on the edge of the bed, smiled sheepishly. “I thought you might like to see how I see you.” you said, glancing at the artwork with a mixture of pride and nervousness.

Welt picked up a sketch of himself wielding his cane, a confident grin on his face, his eyes twinkling with humor. “You’ve captured me beautifully,” he remarked, his voice warm with admiration. “I had no idea I could look this… heroic.”

“Heroic?” you teased, nudging him gently. “You’re more than that. You’re wise, caring, and you always know how to lighten the mood.”

Welt chuckled, his heart swelling with affection. “Well, you certainly know how to brighten my day. This is remarkable.” He stepped closer, wrapping an arm around your shoulders as you both admired the artwork together, the bond between you deepening with every stroke of the brush.

Argenti

Argenti stood in the center of the makeshift gallery you had created in the heart of your home. A series of paintings and sketches adorned the walls, each one capturing a different facet of him—his unwavering resolve, his moments of vulnerability, and even the times he lost himself in the music of his lute, his voice echoing like a gentle breeze.

He reached out to touch a painting that depicted him gazing into the distance, the golden light of dawn illuminating his features, a rose cradled lovingly in his hands. “You’ve seen so much of me,” he murmured, turning to you with wide, appreciative eyes. “This is truly breathtaking.”

You smiled, a warmth blooming in your chest. “I sought to reveal your nobility, to show the world how beautiful you are, both in spirit and heart. Your dedication to beauty inspires me, Argenti.”

A noble light shone in his emerald eyes, and a soft blush crept onto his cheeks. “I am honored by your words,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity. “Yet, it is you who helps me see the beauty that lies within myself.”

“Perhaps,” you replied, stepping closer to him, “but your heart shines brightest, even in the darkest of times. You are a beacon of hope and resilience.”

He smiled, his expression gentle yet filled with determination. “Then let us stand together, side by side, as champions of beauty and honor.” he declared, his voice resonating with conviction. You both admired the artwork, where every stroke and shade told a story of valor and grace—a shared journey of healing and hope, bound by an unbreakable bond that reflected the essence of true knighthood.

Aventurine

Aventurine entered the luxurious apartment he shared with you, his mind racing with the day’s strategies and negotiations. But as he stepped inside, a glimmer of color caught his eye. There, on the walls, were a series of paintings—each one more stunning than the last—depicting him in various poses, from suave and sophisticated to playful and carefree.

“Wow, you’ve been busy.” he said, his voice laced with surprise and delight. His eyes sparkled as he approached a painting of himself lounging with a deck of cards, a devilish grin plastered across his face.

You peeked from behind a canvas, blush creeping across your cheeks. “I wanted to capture every side of you,” you confessed, glancing at the artwork with a mixture of shyness and pride.

“Every side?” Aventurine smirked, leaning against the wall with a playful tilt of his head. “I hope you included my best side—the one where I’m winning at cards.”

You laughed, the sound brightening the room. “You mean the side where you’re charming everyone out of their money?”

“Precisely,” he said, stepping closer to you, the air thick with unspoken affection. “But honestly, this is incredible. You’ve turned my life into art. Thank you.”

As you stood together, the colorful canvases framed your world, a testament to the love you shared—where every brushstroke spoke of adventure, risk, and undeniable charm.

Dan Heng

Dan Heng sat quietly in his corner of the Astral Express, a book in his hands, when you burst in, barely able to contain your excitement. “I have something to show you!” you exclaimed, breathless.

Curiosity piqued, he set the book aside and followed you to a small alcove where a collection of drawings rested on an easel. Each piece showcased him—his focused gaze while on duty, the serene moments of solitude he cherished, and even a candid sketch of him smiling at a passing bird.

“Did you… make these?” he asked, his voice softer than usual, a hint of disbelief coloring his tone.

“I did,” you said, your eyes sparkling. “I wanted to capture the parts of you that you don’t often show. You’re so much more than the stoic guardian everyone sees.”

Dan Heng felt a rare flush of warmth on his cheeks. “You see me,” he said, the words heavy with unguarded emotion. “I don’t often share these parts of myself.

“Maybe it’s time you do,” you encouraged gently, reaching for his hand. “You deserve to be seen.”

In that moment, surrounded by the delicate art that illustrated the depth of his character, Dan Heng felt a sense of acceptance wash over him. With you by his side, he knew that perhaps he could learn to embrace the person he was—past and all—starting with the love reflected in your eyes.

[f1rodrigo]

sweet relief | l. norris | part two

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ baby, i can't help myself...

summary: in which you fall for your best friend’s teammate and keeping it a secret proves to be harder than you intended. or when all you need is sweet relief the rest of the world fades away. pairing: social media au || lando norris x piastri bsf!reader fc: olivia rodrigo <3

inspired by the song ‘sweet relief’ by madison beer

ALL PARTS HERE

a/n : hi! thank you all so much for the love on part one!!! hope you enjoy this one just as much! this was supposed to be a bitttt longer but i hit the limit for photos i can add sooo this is part two for you all! part three will be more like part 2.5 but that'll be up sometime tomorrow! ENJOY<3

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

liked by yourusername, georgerussell, and 728,901 others

landonorris BRINGING THE HEAT

view all 782 comments

user1 its definitely hot in here now

user2 f1 drivers and their obsession with paddle needs to be studied

yourusername bringing the heat indeed

⤷ user3 PARDON? 😧 ⤷ user4 is this flirting... this has to be flirting ⤷ user5 yn bestie was that meant for ur priv.....

user6 please just give me one chance 🙏🏻

lnfour lets gooooo 🔥

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

liked by yourusername, mclaren, and 653,901 others

oscarpiastri ready to shine in Singapore 🇸🇬🤩

view all 567 comments

yourusername SHES GORGEOUS!!!! ready to watch you shine

⤷ user7 i am obsessed with them ur honor ⤷ user8 ughhh i know everyone wants her to be with lando but i am never giving up on my best friends to lovers

mclaren ✨✨✨✨

user9 oh my god i love him so much

user10 ITS SO PRETTY

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

liked by lnfour, team_quadrant, and 366,841 others

landonorris hang it in the Louvre @team_quadrant

view all 1,339 comments

team_quadrant So special to share this helmet with the fans! The Quadrant community designs are looking 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

lnfour This is going to look crazyyyy under the lights 🤯

user11 THIS HELMET IS AB TO GET HIM ON THE PODIUM TRUSTTTT

user12 holy shit he always has the best designs

user13 just won the singapore gp before its even begun 🔥

user14 i couldn't love him more what a special & meaningful design

yourusername beyond sick wow

⤷ landonorris wanna try it on then? ⤷ user15 THIS IS IT IM SLEEPING ON THE MF HIGHWAY TN ⤷ user16 he-he's flirting back ⤷ user17 lando girlies we've lost him

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

liked by yourusername, oscarpiastri, and 212,853 others

mclaren Chillin' together pre-race 🥶

view all 567 comments

user18 if theres one thing all f1 teams are gonna do its post their drivers in an ice bath this weekend

⤷ user19 fr but i am NOT complaining 🤭

user20 room for one more or??

yourusername now i need an ice bath

⤷ user21 NAHHHH ARE YOU GUYS SEEING THIS ⤷ user22 she's about to get a call from pr ⤷ user23 and will we ever know which one of them shes thirsting over??? sigh

landonorris 🥶🥶🥶🥶

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

liked by yourusername, oscarpiastri, and 951,685 others

landonorris whattttttaaaaa weekend ❤️

view all 2,710 comments

mclaren UNREAL 🔥

lnfour best weekend 🫶🏻

yourusername congrats :') so extremely deserved 🧡

⤷ landonorris 🧡 ⤷ user24 stay calm stay calm stay calm its just a heart emoji its just a heart emoji its just a- ⤷ user25 SINGAPORE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING 🙏🏻 ⤷ user26 its official i am obsessed with them they now own me ⤷ user27 this is great and all guys but i still need my confirmation that she was THERE ⤷ user28 pretty sure theres a video going around on twitter that people think is her with oscar and lando trackside before the race

oscarpiastri 👏

user27 carlando podium woah i am never getting over this🥹

user28 my heart i am so proud of you 😭

⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。 ﾟ☾ ﾟ。⋆⋆。ﾟ☁︎。⋆。

liked by yourusername, mclaren, and 113,578 others

oscarpiastri +10 places. not a bad night's work 👍

view all 2,710 comments

user29 MY ROOKIE OF THE YEAR LFG

mclaren Unbelieveable job!

user30 MY driver of the day!!!!🫶🏻

yourusername LETS GOOOOO SO PROUD OF YOU THATS MY GOAT

⤷ oscarpiastri people are going to come for you for this you know that right ⤷ yourusername and i will fight them all i said what i said #mygoatfr ⤷ landonorris 🧍‍♂️ ⤷ user31 "thats my goat" pls she is so unserious😭 ⤷ user32 oh my gosh they're the best thing to ever exist its true ⤷ user33 NOT THE HASHTAG SHE IS SO????? ⤷ user34 losing my mind over "i will fight them all" ⤷ user35 LANDOS REPLY???? he really said hello what about ME

[lightsoutletsgo]

love letters; with love from... — cl.16 (part 2/2)

pairing: charles leclerc x singer!reader

word count: >1000

warnings: some brief mentions of angst but nothing to heavy, they're so in love your honor, bad screenshots??

tysm for all the love for part 1! i never expected it to do as well as it did. hopefully you all love part 2 just as much! happy reading! love mimi 🤍

love letters; dear (part 1)

taglist: @arieslost @d3kstar @minkyungseokie @evie-119 @sltwins @maplesyrupsainz @charlesgirl16 @jaydaaasworld @rhythmstars @ravisinghs-wife @itsjustkhaos

You exhaled shakily as your eyes scanned the caption you'd drafted in your notes app. You didn't even tear your eyes away from the screen as Charles slumped down onto the couch next to you. "Everything okay mon amour?" You swallowed and nodded, offering your phone to him so he could read the caption. He was silent for a minute before he turned to look at you, tears in his eyes, "I am so so proud of you." You smiled, feeling yourself getting emotional, sniffling a little as he pulled you into him. You led there with him just enjoying the quiet comfort he provided before he spoke once more, "When are you going to post it?" You giggled and sat up, Charles following suit, "Are you gonna just drop it on instagram with no warning again?" You winked at him before unlocking your phone and typing out the post. Once you'd proofread it you hit 'post', immediately locking your phone and turning your notifications off as they already started pouring in. Charles gaped at you for a moment before scrabbling to find his phone, not struggling to locate it as it buzzed and vibrated constantly with new notifications, "You could have given me time to prepare!"

♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧

y/nsworld

Liked by charles_leclerc, landonorris and 25,942,833 y/nsworld here we are, a year later and another surprise for you beautiful people! 'all the things I love to tell you' is out now on streaming platforms everywhere! oh wow, how exciting it is to finally be able to tell you guys about this 🥹 this album is the second half to my healing journey and it's full of love and light and hope for the future. a huge thank you to my company and management for giving me the freedom to release my music in the way I felt I needed to. thank you to my friends for listening to these songs in the car at 3am and crying with me when we realise just how far we've come, for putting up with me stealing their napkins at dinner to write lyrics and for once again holding my hand until I felt ready to take a step on my own. as always, thank you to my incredible fans who inspire me to keep writing and whom without NONE of this would be possible. and finally to my love, charles, thank you for being my muse, my biggest encourager, my musical partner and my rock through the past year. this album is about you, for you and was made with you. thank you for letting me call you the love of my life every day. you're all I need until forever falls apart can't wait to see you all on tour soon! love y/n 🤍

View all 45,730 comments y.nmusic I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WAIT WHAT? ⤷ ynloverrr ISTG SHE CAN'T KEEP DROPPING ALBUMS ON US LIKE THIS

y/nupdates I'm gonna need someone to dissect everything about this post in a twitter thread 😭

taylorswift I'm so proud of you for this album 💜 can't wait to come and watch you on tour! Comment liked by y/nsworld

sabrinacarpenter I will let you steal my napkins anytime if it means I get songs like pancakes for dinner 😭🫶🏼 Comment liked by y/nsworld

francisca.cgomes I need to breakup with pierre just to experience falling in love with him again with this album Comment liked by y/nsworld ⤷ y/nsworld babe i love you sm 😭 ⤷ francisca.cgomes baby? i love you more ⤷ pierregasly you're literally MY girlfriend? ⤷ y/nsworld but she's MY wife Comment liked by francisca.cgomes

yncharles oh to be a fly on the wall when lando, lily and alex heard these songs for the first time 😭🥹 ⤷ y/nsworld coming to tikotok and insta reels soon my love 🫶🏼 ⤷ yncharles OMG OMG SHE REPLIED SKSKDKDFKJ ⤷ alex_albon pls don't use the clip of me sobbing over 'that part' Comment liked by y/nsworld ⤷ y/nsworld too late bestie 😄 ⤷ lilymhe I am still not over and will never get over "you might not like her" Comment liked by y/nsworld ⤷ y/nsworld I will never be over the hug you gave me when I finished playing it to you for the first time

charles_leclerc mon amour, it was an honor to be involved in your music journey and I am so thankful for every day I get to share with you. darling I'd wait for you til forever falls apart 🤍 Comment liked by y/nsworld ⤷ chachacharles THEY'RE MY ROMAN EMPIRE 😭 ⤷ charlesfann pls tell me someone else noticed charles credited as songwriter on 'til forever falls apart' 😭

ynmylove LETS 👏 TALK 👏 ABOUT 👏 HOW CHARLES AND Y/N USED SONG TITLES IN THEIR COMMENTS TO EACH OTHER 😭 ⤷ charlesandcarlos try not to cry challenge FAILED

on twt:

y/n's q+a on ig:

charles_leclerc

Liked by y/nsworld, maxverstappen1 and 12,942,833 charles_leclerc my incredibly talented girlfriend's album is out now! I am beyond proud to be able to say that she trusted me to help her not only record some of the songs but write them too. I didn't know I was much of a songwriter but looking into your eyes suddenly turned me into a poet ma belle.

everyday you inspire me with your creativity, your passion, your energy and your love for those around you. I could write you a million love songs and there would still be things left to say. you're all I need now until forever falls apart. j'taime mon amour ❤️ (if you haven't heard the album yet make sure you go and listen now!)

View all 45,730 comments y/nsworld I love you more than any love song could ever express. my muse, my love, my life 🤍 Comment liked by charles_leclerc ⤷ ynloverrr OH MY GOD?! I'M SO VIOLENTLY UNWELL OH GOD ⤷ ferrar1 'looking into your eyes suddenly turned me into a poet'

y/nandcharles THEY ARE MY ROMAN EMPIRE

sabrinacarpenter This album is literally on repeat! I cried the first time I heard 'you might not like her' and every time since

charlesforwdc can we all please just appreciate the STUNNING piano in 'so this is love' Comment liked by y/nsworld ⤷ y/nsworld we were literally just messing about in the studio and decided we liked it enough for the album! ⤷ y/nvocals the fact they were both "messing about" and sound THIS GOOD IS INSANE

maxverstappen1 congrats mate! you nailed this project!

landonorris from sliding into the dm's to collaborating on an album is CRAZY ⤷ y/nsworld LANDO 😭😭 ⤷ f1fannn exCUSE ME? sliding what?! ⤷ charleswifey charles sliding in her dm's is crazy but understandable 😭 ⤷ charles_leclerc try the other way around... 👨‍🦯 ⤷ y/nsworld BABY! 😭

♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧♪₊ ⊹♬˚₊‧

[nokaru]

THIS IS INSANE THANK YOU SM YOU'RE AMAZING!!! AHHHHH

The bit about Javier and his real personality??!! You got him SO RIGHT THAT'S LITERALLY HIM

the line "despite being unstable they could still love each other" HELLOOOO I'm shaking AND TOGETHER IN PARISE I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!! WE SHALL BE TOGETHER IN PARADISE 🗣️🗣️🔥🔥

okay I nominate tumblr user tossball-stick for the Nobel prize please and thank you

something something cycles or whatever

willscuella, 1.3k words, not proofread much sorry, oneshot

hiii this was honestly basically written for @nokaru. your tags on my other willscuella post got me thinking about them, so between writing my transfem kieran fic, i decided to scribble this out. i am unwell 👍 i hope i saw the vision

click 4 fic 🐊

The first night wasn’t the worst. On the surface, you might think it would be. Being away from the gang for the first time in their lives after everything crumbled to ash, only having each other, being terrified for their lives, outrunning bounty hunters, Pinkertons, and their memories, all in one go. The first night stretched over into the first day  though, without any sleep. They hadn’t even had time to really think about things.

The first day stretched into the second night  which was more sleepless running. Paranoia and fear could push a man to survive on very little, and that was certainly what they were doing. Arthur and John, pointing guns at them, every person’s death, Dutch’s lost look, Guarma, it all was still fresh in their minds. They only had each other anymore. With nothing left but the lasting images and sounds etched into their brains, they continued to ride beside each other.

The second night dipped into the second day. No sleep, still, having barely stopped to eat either. Every break to take care of their bodies, not even themselves, was quick and with the hunger of a pack of wolves. Every last bit of dried meat, canned fruits and vegetables, every last tin of coffee and every last biscuit from Bill’s box of them. Every one was consumed without thought, every one was forced down for no reason other than it had to be. 

By the time they both had finally felt safe enough to rest, they were both beat. They had made good progress, running out west, but still had so much left to go. It was hard to commit to California, like they wanted. They didn’t dare argue about it now, though, survival was still pushing them. 

Bill puts up the tent, gets the area ready. Javier fishes. They had used the last of their provisions keeping themselves up on the run. Their bodies both ached, Javier was still nursing a limp from Guarma, yet they pushed on. Once Javier is back, Bill is cooking. It’s been silent the whole time. What is there to say?

Mealtime finishes. It’s not Pearson’s stew. They’ll never have it again. It isn’t long before that fact sets off a chain reaction in Bill, always quick to express emotion. Bit by bit, every wall in him had been breaking down, crumbling to dust before him. The thought of the meals that had been a comfort for so long of his life being permanently gone was enough to send him spiraling. 

Javier was never a comforter. He avoided people. He was around Bill because he had power over Bill. Power he didn’t have over most other people. He could control how Bill saw him, to an extent, and he didn’t have to make that version of himself pleasant or charismatic. He could be cruel, unusual, quiet, and scary, and somehow Bill would still be clinging to him, day in, day out. It was a surprise when his arms were wrapping around Bill’s shoulders on instinct, gently patting at his back.

The sobs went on for a long time. Too long, probably, they both were terrified of being found. Somehow, that was less of a priority than being there for each other. With screaming and wailing out of the way, they could get onto drinking. Not soon enough, either. Javier had been out of it ever since Bill had started crying, really, his comfort seeming to come from his brain’s autopilot. Tip back bottle after bottle, forget about it. 

Bill was trying to forget about it. He really was. About everything that had happened, about Javier’s current reaction. It wasn’t surprising, but a little disheartening. Bill had been there to comfort Javier through everything, and Javier was there for him, of course, but even in Guarma, Javier had not been vulnerable. He had stayed locked away in that shell. Bill had tried for years to chip away at it, yet he never seemed to make the progress John ever had.

“Are you okay, Javier?”

That was all it took, though, to shatter it, and to shatter it harder than John could have ever dreamed to. Within an instant, Javier was sinking his face into the chest in front of him, starting to really let it out. Screaming, crying, sobbing, hitting, all of it being channeled right against Bill’s skin. He held Javier, through it all, his arms keeping the other steady. 

Javier lasted longer than Bill did. So much had been packed away and repressed after all these years. By the time they were both done, they barely had time to sleep. Still, they crawled into the tent together, feeling closer than they ever had. They were inseparable now, never not clinging to each other. They were able to cry and talk to each other. Despite being unstable, they could continue on with love for each other. They didn’t need anything besides the two of them and their horses. Maybe they could actually be something, together, away in some paradise. Hope had started to turn up. They could trust each other, not like they trusted Dutch, but something new.

You might think that had been the worst night. The emotions from that night never really seemed to leave them, after all. It came close, neither of them would argue that. No, the worst came after weeks and weeks of nothing but travel. Travel, stop in a town, be too scared to make any money, struggle to buy something with what they had left, and then sigh and rely on Javier’s fishing once again. 

Occasionally, Bill might score them a deer. He never had learned how to trim it up, though, which never left them with food for long. Along with a shortage in more unnecessary supplies like food, they were quickly running dry. No more alcohol, nothing to soothe the still raw pains. By this point, even cigarettes had started to become numbered. 

Neither of them felt like people. They were animals, really, nothing more, doing everything they could just to survive. Eating fish, fish, fish. Nothing more, nothing less. Insanity would claw at better men, surely, but they were hardly such. Violent, unloveable degenerates. 

Unloveable. Unloveable to family, unloveable to each other. Every day was a test of patience. Every day they loved to learn something new they hated about the other. Every day the rubber band was pulled further and farther, stretched longer and longer. Then, a snap. It cracked through the air like gunfire, too similar to the previous gunshot that ripped from a chamber. 

It was Bill. Of course he was the first one to snap, over something stupid in the end. A missing packet of cigarettes was what the fight was about, Bill accusing Javier of having stolen them. Javier defended himself, of course, calling Bill an idiot. That was enough for Bill to start launching into rants and raves about every little thing, which only worsened their fighting. 

Javier was a weak willed man when it came to Bill, quickly indulging the urge to scream and yell and fight. They were launching at each other now, grappling and throwing each other about, hitting and screaming, crying, biting, threatening with knives. Guns were pressed to people's heads, unkind things were said. They concluded that sticking together was only prolonging the inevitable. They hoped they never saw each other again.

Of course, they would see each other again. Wide, open arms welcomed the both of them upon reuniting. It was like the fight had never even happened. It was hard to say why it had caused such a big rift between them in the first place. With a warm embrace after years of being alone, they soak in each other’s presence again, only hoping it won't end the same as last time.

[bruhnze]

Remember when i dressed up as a cop - Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle

Summary: kinda just plotless smut.. well a bit of plot, Ona thinks Lucy's new title is hot af.

Warnings: smut, roleplay, explicit language, minors DNI

Wordcount: 3k

Disclaimer: i don't know anything about doctors, so if this is very inaccurate i'm sorry xx.

Disclaimer 2: this is kinda cringe, atleast it was to write it so it better be enjoyed by atleast one of you!!!

Based on this request , hope it was a bit like you expected.

Remember when i dressed up as a cop.

It was just after the summer, after the busy start of the club seasons, Lucy and Ona had finally found a few days in which they could be together.

Ona had traveled to London and toured Lucy's house the night before but they had been too tired for anything else.

They had fallen asleep completely entangled, but when Ona woke up the bed was empty and she heard Lucy messing around in the kitchen.

Ona wanted to grab a large shirt to wear from Lucy's closet, when she was rummaging around looking for one that she always liked, she saw a framed object in the walk-in closet.

[Oh my god] Ona thought to herself when she saw what it was, the honorable doctorate that Lucy had received [fuck, she hadn't thought about it anymore after the day it had happened, she hadn't been able to go with Lucy that day, so appart from a Insta comment and some private texts there hadn't been much about it]

She chose a different shirt, a big plain white t-shirt and walked to the kitchen.

''Luccee?'' Ona asked in a sweet voice.

"Good morning baby, did you sleep well?" Lucy said as she stood in her boxers and sports bra making breakfast and putting it down on a tray.

''mhmm'' Ona said, looking at Lucy with a mischievous face.

''what? sorry I wasn't in bed, but I actually wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed.'' Lucy turned around and looked apologetically at her girlfriend.

"Maybe I have a nice way for you to make it up," she said with a cheeky smile.

Only now did the Englishwoman realize what kind of mood Ona had woken up in, she herself had actually been ready to go last night, but she understanded that Ona had been tired from travelling so they had kept it at cuddling.

Lucy grinned and walked towards her, she put her hands under Ona's shirt and pulled her in for a kiss.

After a few seconds of kissing Ona pulled away "no wait''.

Lucy looked surprised ''oh, i thought you wanted''

''Oh yes, i do but I have an idea" Ona iinterupted her with blush creeping up her face ''if your up for it''.

''Im listening'' Lucy grinned.

''well'' ''uhm''

''you can say it babe, i wont laugh'' Lucy said as she looked at Ona encouragingly.

''remember when i dressed up as a cop?'' Ona started.

Lucy's smile and big eyes made Ona laugh ''well we're not going to do exactly that''

The taller woman pouted ''tease'' her eyes grew big again ''wait, you want me to be the cop?''.

Ona chuckled ''well no, the thing is.... you gained a new title recently that inspired me''.

Lucy couldn't immediately understand what One was after.

''I haven't been feeling so good lately'' Ona tried.

Lucy was still looking at her questioning, she felt stupid that she didn't get what Ona meant.

''might need some physical examination doc'' the Catalan wiggled her eyebrows.

''the doctorate?'' Lucy chuckled ''you know it's not like real doctor right?''.

''sshhh'' the shorter woman put her finger on Lucy's lips ''are you up for it or no?''.

''well most certainly, i have to make sure you are allright, that is my professional duty'' the Englishwoman said, immediately stepping into the role, afraid Ona would change her mind.

"Okay, I had an operation yesterday, as a doctor you are going to see how I am doing now, i will see you in a sec." Ona leaned to Lucy's ear ''and docs have clothes on by the way''.

Lucy grinned ''wow, you really thought about it'' ''wait what was the operation''.

Ona thought about it ''uhm i dont know, something minor''.

Lucy laughed ''didn't think it through that thoroughly after all''.

The smaller woman gave Lucy a stern look before heading towards the bedroom.

..

At the bed, Ona took off her panties and laid down in bed wearing only the large T-shirt.

It took a while for Lucy to come to the bed, when she did Ona looked at what she had put on.

She stood next to her in nice trousers and a white shirt with a large white blouse over it, she had a lanyard around her neck with a card with 'Lucy Bronze' on it, she also had a laptop and a measuring tape.

But the thing Ona liked most were the glasses sitting on Lucy´s face.

Lucy cleared her throat ''hello, miss. Batlle, im doctor Bronze, I did the operation and I am happy to say that it all went very well."

"oh that's good news doctor, you can call me Ona by the way"

''okay Ona, how did you sleep?''

''pretty good actually, the other patiënt in the room wasn't to much of a bother''.

''im glad'' Lucy said as she pretended to type something in her laptop ''mkay, we need to do some postoperative tests, do you think you're ready for that?''

''i'm so ready'' Ona teased with a smirk.

''Good, first some questions, on a scale of 1-10, how much pain are you experiencing right now?''

''uhm 0''

''did the nurse take you of the IV this morning or at night?''

''this morning, a second ago actually''

''understandable, don't forget to keep up with your painkillers now, you take them preventivally for the coming week, if your in pain you took it to late, don't lag behind the facts''

''yes doctor i will''

''good, have you peed yet?''

Ona chuckled ''yeah why?''

"Well, it's a mandatory question after the operation you have had, we need to know whether you experience any problems urinating after the operation."

''okay, uhm no, everything feels pretty okay down under''.

''good, we'll get to that later too''. ''okay, that were my questions, now some inspection, auscultation, percussion and palpation'' Lucy showed off her medical knowledge gained from her own injuries.

''Okay doc, i dont know what that is but i trust you'' Ona was secretly impressed but Lucy took the role a bit too serious for her liking, it was supposed to be a sexy roleplay, not an acting job. She took the covers off of her ''what do you need me to do?''.

''uhm, i need your to turn your back to me please miss. Batlle, uh Ona i mean''.

Ona shuffled in the bed and sat with her back to Lucy.

''oh'' doctor Bronze said ''i don't know what kind of gown they gave you, but this one doesn't have an open back, i need some space for my stethoscope''.

''uhm, i dont know, i woke up in this, i can take it of if that helps''

''that would help Ona, if you don't mind''.

Ona quickly took of the shirt, and sat up on her knees with her feet tucked under her butt, trying to make her behind look good for Lucy.

She felt a hand on her back ''very good Ona, it looks very good''. Lucy pretended to listen to Ona's heart ''heart sounds good and clear, you have a strong heart, your vitals were very good during the operation too, do you work out?''

''yes, i am a football player actually''.

''aha i see, very good, you won't be out of it very long, you can play again in a few weeks''

Ona turned around smiling ''thank you doctor''.

Lucy swallowed hard seeing her girlfriends chest, it felt different in this role, she almost felt like she was the doctor forreal and not her girlfriend. She blushed and looked away ''uhm, if you can step out of the bed we'll do some streching to test your mobility''.

''okay, can i put that gown back on?''

Lucy looked surprised and a bit dissapointed ''uh, yes ofcourse Ona''.

Ona stood up and put the shirt back on.

The English woman pretended to type some more on the laptop for the time it took Ona. ''good, first you have to try to make yourself as tall as possible, arms all the way up, if you feel any pain please tell me''.

Ona stretched, her T-shirt barely covering anything as her arms rose.

''good, if you don't mind i'm going to feel your hips, to check whether the joints are commensurate to each other''.

''okay''

Lucy put her hands on Ona's hips below her shirt, just like she had done earlier in the kitchen, only this time she was not kissing Ona, she wished she was kissing her right now, put she had to stay in her role for a bit longer. ''good that's all good, now please try and touch your toes if you can''.

''mhm, i can''.

''Okay Ona, i'll step behind you, take a look at your hamstrings allright?''

''yup'' Ona muttered while bending down, she cheekily pulled her shirt along so that her ass was completely exposed.

Lucy couldn't keep the low moan from coming out of her throat [damn] she thought [fuck i've missed this ass].

Lucy gently let her hands travel over her girlfriends ass.

The Spaniard smirked to herself, feeling the older woman appreciate her body, she wiggled her butt a little, trying to get more of a reaction.

Lucy spoke in a low voice ''fuck Ona'' her thumbs now grazing the line where Ona's butt conected to her thighs.

The taller woman kneeled down and kissed Ona´s hamstrings softly, she littered kisses all the way up to her butt.

Ona had trouble standing so long in the position she was in so she set a step forward and leaned on the bed.

Lucy stood back up and let her hands travel under the shirt that was already hitched up anyways, and felt Ona´s back muscles. ''your muscles are in great condition''.

Now the English woman was at Ona's shoulders making her front press against the Spaniards behind.

Ona stiffend [fuck did she really feel that] she wiggled a bit more to confirm her thoughts.

Lucy chuckled at Ona discovering the strap she had put on earlier.

Ona couldn't believe how long this was taking and almost regretted suggesting this, she missed having sex with Lucy and it had been way too long for her liking. And feeling the thing Lucy was wearing didn't help with that.

After a bit more feeling Ona up Lucy spoke again ''please lay on your back for me'' she said in a serious tone.

The Catalan listened hastily and quickly turned over, and now laid on her back, legs still over the bed.

''How do your groins feel?''

Ona blushed, she was a bit embarrassed to open up her legs knowing she was dripping wet.

''Ona?''

''uhm yeah, they feel fine''

Lucy chuckled ''can i take a look to confirm?''

''yeah'' Ona parted her legs slightly, only to be 'helped' by doctor Bronze, pulling them further apart.

The taller woman groaned as she let her thumbs glissade along Ona's inner thighs all the way up to her groins.

''okay looks good but i think were dealing with an unusual case here''

''unusual?''

''yeah, your lower region looks to be very .. uhm .. wet''.

Ona blushed ''Luce'' she said in a whiny voice as she pushed the woman away.

Lucy smirked ''doctor Bronze please, and if your up for it i would like to study this closer, i really haven't seen anything like it before, does this happen more often?''.

The Catalan rolled her eyes but thought about an answer ''uhm, well, i have never had a hot doctor''.

''oh''

''yeah''

''would you prefer another doctor?''

''uhm, no.. i think you can help me best''.

''okay, well, i'll need to study it a bit closer''

Ona nodded eagerly, her core was begging to be touched.

Lucy didn't waste time, she went straight for Ona's centre, lapping at the wetness that wass collected there ''fuck Ona i missed your taste so much''.

The shorter woman moaned, she couldn't even make a joke about how Lucy was supposed to be a doctor, instead she went for ''fuck doc, i missed you too''.

The English woman's head was bobbing frantically between Ona's legs, she took off her glasses for better access and laid them on the bedside table all while continuing to eat her girlfriend out, she had thought about this about a million times when they'd been apart so she wasn't about to waste a second of it.

''fuck'' Ona muttered as she gripped at Lucy's hair ''im so-

Lucy hummed and continued at the same pace, wanting her to come.

With a few more seconds Ona reached her climax, she dropped her head back on the mattress ''fuck i've missed you''.

After Lucy had cleaned her up she craweled over Ona, coming up to kiss her ''i've missed you too''

They shared a kiss, Ona loved tasting herself on Lucy's tongue, she had really missed this.

''em fas correr millor'' (you make me cum best).

Lucy laughed ''this was just a warm up baby''

''i know, but even that is wayy better than when i do it myself''

''do you now''

''what''

''know that this was just a preview''

Ona smirked ''yeah, i know what your capable of and i know what you're wearing''.

''i was just wearing that as an accessoire''.

''so you don't want to use it on me?''

''fuck'' Lucy gulped ''yeah i do''

''get undressed then''

Lucy laughed ''patient is not so patient it seems, might have to write that down''.

''Shut up, get naked and put those glasses back on''.

Lucy shot one eyebrow up, questioning Ona ''someone's got a thing for my glasses?''

Ona blushed ''yeah i just rediscovered it, totally forgot about those''.

The taller woman smirked as she stood up ''Well then I'll put them on for you, and you take of that shirt please, where did you even get that?''.

''in your closet, well i first wanted to take another shirt but then i saw that doctorate and then i thought about you as a doctor'' Ona stopped talking, looking at her girlfriend undress.

''And now we're here'' Lucy finished for her laughingly.

''you're not complaining are you?''

''no, not at all, anything but''

''good''

''still need you to take it of tho''

Ona stood up from the bed, facing the now naked Lucy, who was only wearing her strap and glasses now. ''you take it off''.

''because you ask so nicely'' Lucy joked as she slowly took Ona shirt off ''you just want me touching you'' she concluded as she felt Ona shiver below her touch.

Ona chuckled ''well you certainly have the brains to be a doctor''.

''how bold we are today, might wanna shut up before I bend you over that bed again''.

The Catalan blushed "Well, if it's doctor's orders."

Lucy gulped ''yeah it is''. Ona didn't even wait for Lucy to say that but turned around for the bed, she didn't lean on the bed like earlier, instead she kneeled on the bed and arched her back.

´´fuck, you know you look good huh´´

Ona didn´t reply, she only pushed herself more towards Lucy.

Lucy slowly rubbed the strap along Ona´s wet slit. ´´teasing me with all those pictures´´ when she had gathered enough wetness on the fake cock she lined up with Ona´s enterance ´´posting all those thirsttraps on Insta´´ she kneeded the flesh of Ona´s butt ´´you know you make me crazy´´.

´´fuck Lucy please´´ Ona pleaded as she tried to wiggle backwards, only to be restricted by Lucy´s hands.

Lucy chuckled ´´yeah what do you want´´.

´´fuck me luce´´

´´who´´

Ona gulped ´´fuck me doctor´´. ´´please´´.

´´that´s right´´ Lucy groaned as she slowly pushed inside.

The Catalan dropped her head on her forearms, finally feeling Lucy inside her, something she had been thinking, and even dreaming, about for weeks.

Lucy slapped Ona´s ass, the loud sound filled the room. Ona arched even more, Lucy knew her girlfriend liked it a little rough.

As she came to a steady pace, positioning herself so that she hit all Ona´s spots just like she knew made her feel good, she reached out for Ona´s neck.

Lucy gripped her neck thightly with her hand, the other one still on the shorter womans hip.

Ona moaned as she began to shake on her knees ´´i cant, i´m-

''You can cum baby, come for me'' Lucy cooed as while she picked up Ona so that she didn't fall.

Sounds muffled by the mattress left Ona's throat as she came undone.

Lucy slowly dropped her on the bed and gently pulled out, leaving a couple of kisses on Ona's back.

When Ona kept laying like that, in a position that couldn't possiblely look comfortable, as Lucy thought, she carefully put Ona on her back and scooted her over to the middle of the bed.

''you good?'' Lucy chuckled.

''fuck Lucy, so good''.

''i love you''

''i love you too''.

''we can we can live out all your fantasies today'' Lucy said as she leaned in to kiss her girlfriend.

Ona smiled ''do you know why i didn't like you saying miss. Batlle''

Lucy frowned ''what''

''when you were the doctor, i said you had to call me Ona''

''yeah''

''because i'd prefer another last name''.

---

THE END :)

[tadc-harlequin-au]

Hey y'all, I'd just like to genuinely thank you all for the supportive messages and the donations. Really, I cannot think of words that would justify how grateful I feel for everyone's help. We're still on the waiting list for the police to investigate the break in, opting to check if there were any CCTVs nearby in order to check the criminals fleeing the scene of the crime.

Other than that, I'm doing much better mentally than yesterday, so I can most definitely write the 2000 followers special again.

I also wanna say how awesome and amazing this community is. I've never been a part of a fandom that pushes my creativity to it's highest, while being supportive and not being at each other's throats because being in the FNAF fandom does things to you. I was pretty popular on the fnaf twitter scene, but it was SO TAXING AND DRAINING that I don't consider it worth going back to.

This is genuinely THE BEST community I've ever had the honors to be a part of (Shipwrecked 64 came very close), and I'm very honored to be at the spot that I am at right now, as creator of the Harlequin AU.

Thank you for supporting me, in my best and worst times. Thank you for being interested in the story I want to tell, and even asking about the world of it as well as it's cast. Thank you for always taking the time to reblog and comment in my works, because I love reading everyone's special inputs.

A very, very special thank yous to all my friends who inspire me to become a better writer and artist, to @thescarletnargacuga who is technically the co-writer for this AU at this point lmfao, to @nobody-nexus for being an amazing and loving partner <3, and to @sm-babie for getting me into showtime, which is the major reason this AU and it's story even exists.

And I know I don't always get to see it because of my incredibly short attention span (and tumblr's weird notification system), but I also would like to thank the other artists who've made fanarts, fanfics or OCs for this AU. There's A LOT of them, that it overwhelms my brain and I'm just- wow. I'm just really taken aback at how much people like this small, incredibly canon-divergent AU. My brain is getting FRIED at all this in the best way possible but woo I need a bit of a breather haha-

I hope I can continue to provide quality Harlequin (and showtime) content, and I hope to keep this train rolling. Keep being awesome, and keep being creative, everyone! The regularly scheduled content will be back rolling on track very soon. :')

- Ziku/E-Specter

[tweetracer]

In regards to Allan requests.....can i request a little something for Reader!Doll (Ken or Barbie idc) x Allan meet-cute, or anything regarding love at first sight? Thanks!!!

✨Doll!Reader x Allan✨

💖 Every day in Barbieland is perfect but today is the most perfect of perfect days because today you arrive at Barbieland! You’re one of a kind, brand new, first of your name (and with the way you were selling off the shelves you won’t be the last!) and the Barbies knew immediately that they absolutely had to throw a super awesome blowout party with a bespoke song and completely original dance choreography.

💖 It was exciting! And… maybe a little overwhelming. Your line of Dream House (“Dream Living Apartment by Mattel”) had yet to leave the assembly line so Physicist Barbie was letting you have a sleepover at her place in the interim which was so sweet of her.

💖 The two of you were putting on the final touches of your outfits for the evening (with her complimenting your hair and you praising the flattering pantsuit she’d chosen for the night) before heading to President Barbie’s Dream House where the event would be hosted with you arriving as the guest of honor.

💖 “Ohmigosh! I am just so excited for your party tonight!” Physicist Barbie reached over to grab your hand excitedly, bouncing it a few times as you let out a laugh at just how happy she was. Everything really was perfect in Barbieland, wasn’t it? “It’s not my party, Barbie! It’s President Barbie’s party!” You amended with a bashful smile.

💖 “It’s a party for you though! Your first real night in Barbieland! Ah!!!” She cheered again, waving her hands about with a huge grin as her Dream Car turned itself down the street and began to slow to stop in front of the impressive bright pink building overhead. You could only smile and laugh, somewhat embarrassed by just how nice everyone is!

💖 Carpark Ken graciously escorted you from the vehicle as you followed Physicist Barbie up the regal stairs where a set of massive pink mansion doors opened up to a huge entryway- a wall of PinkSynthFunkBubblePop music hitting your ears in a way that would have been overwhelming if you were anywhere but Barbieland.

💖 The entire party was a blur; you were swarmed by Barbies- all asking you about yourself and what you do and how much you must already love it in Barbieland and Kens who wanted to show off with the cleverly choreographed dance breaks worked into the song.

💖 It would have been exhausting but you were in Barbieland! Barbieland wasn’t exhausting!…… right? You smiled and waved goodbye to another Barbie who’d come to welcome you (her Ken right on her heels- looking like she’d hung the plastic moon in the midnight blue backdrop of a sky). You couldn’t help but feel some weird twist in your chest and, had you been anywhere but Barbieland, you would’ve sighed.

💖 You obviously didn’t have a Ken- you weren’t a Barbie, after all (something you’d had to politely remind a few Kens when they referred to you as one) so why would you have a Ken? You took another pretend-sip of the imaginary sparkling cider when Doctor Barbie spun your way- her beautiful red hair billowing out behind her as she handed you a pair of roller skates.

💖 “Come on! You’ve gotta join in the next dance- we’re doing a Starlight Express inspired Jubilee-Groove Pop number in your honor!” She extended her hand to you and you took it without a second thought despite that same little twinging feeling you felt earlier. “Thanks, Barbie!” You called out, doing a little spin that (with the help of some Barbieland magic!) resulted in you coming to a smooth stop on your roller skates!

💖 “Wow, Barbie you look so rockin’ in those skates!” Came the cheerful caw of nearby Roadie Ken decked out in a glittery denim vest with slicked back hair. “Oh my GOSH, Ken! They’re not a Barbie!” Doctor Barbie scolded even as you waved his words away with a bashful smile. “Oh…! Well you look TOTALLY ROCKIN’, Ken!” He went in for a fist bump only for Doctor Barbie to roll her eyes and grab your hand, skating towards the dance stage. “They’re not a Ken either, duhh” Barbie groaned. Roadie Ken apologized profusely (clearly confused) but was cut off at the Jubilee-Groove Pop song started up, music loud and cheerful and just so Barbie.

💖 The choreography began and you moved through it automatically- like your body knew how to do each move without you putting an effort behind it. You smiled and moved along to the music- ignoring the Totally Nonexistent Part of you that felt like this wasn’t… your scene.

💖 You spun on your wheels in a beautiful pirouette before a Ken wheeled up, taking your hand in his and following in the choreography with a big grin. He opened his mouth to say something before you felt your body whirl in another direction without your consent. The choreography sending you from partner to partner- the Kens a blur of big white shiny smiles and the Barbies each a beautiful, capable individual but none of them were the right dance partner it seemed.

💖 Your body moved on its own, switching partners with elegant dance moves that timed perfectly with the rising music. Right as the pop music swelled you closed your eyes; letting your body move on its own. You felt your body grab a hand- a new partner, your eyes opened right as the music came to a head.

💖 He was… cute. With big doe eyes and deep red hair that framed a sweet face he was… different? He followed your movements just as easily as you slipped into each other’s orbit perfectly.

💖 “You aren’t a Ken!?” You blurted out, surprised even as you spun into into his arms on one roller skate. He laughed, pretty porcelain cheeks turning a shade of pink. “Oh! No, I’m Ken’s buddy, Allan. All his clothes fit me. Are you the new Barbie?” He asked, lifting you up as the two of you stood in the middle of the dance floor- the rest of the couples moving in a perfect circle around the two of you.

💖 “They’re not a Barbie~” came the singsong voice of a dancer spinning by.

💖 “O-Oh! I’m sorry I didn’t mean!” Allan started but you waved him off with an embarrassed grin, unable to tear your eyes away from his as the lights and music seemed to float and glitter around you. “Don’t worry about it” you said gently, surprised by how breathless you sounded despite not needing to breathe.

💖 The two of you seemed to be locked in this moment together- unable to tear your eyes apart as the two of you smiled bashfully. That weird feeling you had earlier- the one that said this wasn’t your scene, the one that felt like the music was loud- the one that wanted to sigh in Barbieland seemed to dissipate as the music finished.

💖 You introduced yourself politely, still smiling as you admired the way his eyes lit up at your name. “It’s very nice to meet you, Allan.” You said, knowing you probably looked silly with how big of a grin was on your face. But it couldn’t have been that silly because his smile mirrored yours and it looked so charming on him.

💖 “So would you like to-” Allan started only to get cut off as a new song came to life, dancers rushing the floor. “WhoAH!” Allan yelped as Model Ken whipped past him, sending the redhead tumbling forwards. Without thinking you reached out, catching him without hesitation and wrapping your arms around him with a surprised gasp.

💖 You stared deeply into his eyes from where you held onto him- blinking a few times at how close the two of you were. Something in your brain told you to press forwards- you don’t know why but you just needed to press your lips against his and-

💖 “Hey! Nobel Prize Winning Journalist Barbie invited you to the after party at her place! Let’s go!” The two of you jumped apart as Doctor Barbie approached you with a big smile, immediately grabbing your hand and wheeling you in a new direction. You were stunned, almost starstruck from the handsome doll you’d just been pulled away from.

💖 You hardly noticed Doctor’s Barbie’s words but nodded along, unable to stop yourself from glancing over your shoulder at Allan, who still stood looking just as spellbound as you felt. Your eyes met through the crowd and shared a shy smile, you lifted a hand to wave goodbye at him and he did the same.

💖 Something deep inside you stirred, making your face warm and your steps feel light. You think you were going to really really like living in Barbieland.

💖 (Somewhere in the RealWorld, a little girl sat in the backseat of a car with her brand new doll and the Allan her mother had managed to find on the back of the shelf of a Goodwill last Christmas; baffled that the discontinued toy had been for sale. “Honey? Honey- don’t smush their faces together like that, remember? You have to be careful! There’s only one Allan.”)

[shinechermont]

BLUEEEEEEEE 🥺

OUR BABIES!!!HANGING OUT TOGETHER!!! THEY LOOK SO CUTE JSNSUIDJEND THEYD BE BESTIES FRRR

teehee

Happy birthday @shinechermont !

Here our girls hanging out because I thought it'd be fun uwu

Rose

thanks @ari-cuno for organizing that collab gift thingie!!!

[shakespearean-dream]

took me long enough

honorable mentions to @vasyandii for general inspiration, @/x_.0rion._x on tiktok for the hate speech on the tie idea and @average-hyperfixator for helping me with AM’s eyes 😭 go look and follow all of them they are all very talented and cool 🙏

WOW my eyes hurt after looking at this for roughly four hours... and 36 minutes 🤦‍♂️ it’s pretty easy to tell if you look at my art for long enough that i very much lean towards desaturated colors, but i wanted to be a little experimental for AM and go neon— but girl. after i applied the effects to him that SERIOUSLY brightened him up and i had to back down and make the bg a darker pink😭 my eyeballs are already not on my side i do not intend to strain them any further💀

here’s the unedited but rendered version as a treat lol. u can for sure see what i mean here 😭

when i was trying to figure out what to do with AM i realized i haven’t put very much thought into my hc’s for him— which ykw that’s okay because there’s never a better time than rn. i imagine AM as more of a really envious toxic guy who claims to hate their ex (humanity in this case) but does literally everything he can to imitate them, mostly thanks to the radio drama cause damn did you hear how jealous he was there???? ridiculous 😭

so with that in mind i tried to give him a bit of the vibe of a kid just now realizing they can actually express themselves through their appearance—hair, makeup etc— but is still kinda being held back by their environment, or in this case his coding. eventually he’ll get it figured out and be able to consistently look human (even as glitchy and game looking as he is now, it takes a lot of energy to stay like that for extended periods of time) but for now he’s stuck as a rock or computer monitor most of the time. and it drives him SO nuts.

i’m not quite sure where to go with my thoughts from there, so if you wanna comment or throw an ask in my ask box we can talk about AM and his silliness 😭 i truly think he’s one of the most interesting characters in media just because of how powerful yet emotionally blinded he is. tbh, i live to create and be emotional and just be human so in AM’s situation i’d go a little crazy too. not kill everyone except for 5 people and torture them for 109 years crazy, but crazy for sure💀💀 i’d like to hear your guys’s thoughts about it :]

ok it’s late i’m gonna go conk out 😭 one more quick reminder to check out my commission page if you have not, there has still not been an update on yolanda 😔

gn!!!!

[lady-phasma]

Hello!

I've been a follower for a while, love your HotD stuff, but just wanted to say I am DELIGHTED that you're starting to write for IWtV! There is a devastating shortage of lestat x reader imo lol, I'm buzzing to read the one you posted a snippet of! We all need some Lestat-flavoured hedonism in our lives. I love thinking how he'd be with an equally hedonistic partner who encourages him and delights in it as much as he does. All that to say, welcome welcome welcome we are so blessed to have you writing for this fandom!!❤️❤️❤️ your work is always wonderful and I'm always glad to see you on my dash!

-floof x

Oh wow! Thank you so much! 💕 Seriously, that is so incredibly kind of you to say. I'm thrilled that I could come into this fandom after my Tumblr hiatus. The timing was great.

Interview was my first fandom and my first fanfiction. Around 1994/95 (before I saw the film) I read as many of the books as I could get my hands on and then my pre-teen mind overheated with the possibilities. Not smut then, obviously, but pages and pages of notebook paper filled with romance and drama between Louis and Lestat then Lestat and Armand. Lestat has been and always will be my first love. Armand became my second in 1998 when his book came out.

There is a devastating shortage of lestat x reader imo lol, I'm buzzing to read the one you posted a snippet of! We all need some Lestat-flavoured hedonism in our lives. I love thinking how he'd be with an equally hedonistic partner who encourages him and delights in it as much as he does.

You are so sweet! Thank you again. But also, I agree 1000% with you about the hedonism! Here's what's in my head at the moment: the snippet (I can't find the post to link it here for other people because Tumblr search sucks) is from a Dom!Lestat x fem!reader that might be along the lines of what you're talking about with that lovely brand of hedonism, we'll see. I was also inspired to write a Lestat x fem!reader after the finale. I'm going to go with whichever has momentum. I also really really want to write a gn!reader for him as well at some point.

Alas, I can't write full time, so I'll do what I can. I try to honor these characters as much as possible and treat them with the utmost respect to how they are in the series (and books) because they are all very dear to my heart. I am so glad I could come back to this fandom as an adult and actually be part of a fandom. I didn't even have the internet when I start writing for them all those years ago!!

(Also, those who might be interested I have two Armand x gn!reader fics on my masterlist.)

[crexmpuffff]

LOVESICK

Veldora x Reader

summary ☆ bro is down bad!!

─────────────୨ৎ─────────────

Veldora was never one for subtlety. When he liked something—or in this case, someone—he made sure everyone knew. And lately, all of Tempest knew exactly how Veldora felt about you, except for one person: you.

It started innocently enough. Veldora’s usual loud greetings became extra loud whenever you entered the room.

“Ahahaha! (Y/N), you have arrived! What a joyous day it is, made even brighter by your presence!” he’d declare, flexing his muscles for no apparent reason. Everyone around would roll their eyes or sigh, having gotten used to the dragon’s enthusiasm for showing off.

But you? You just laughed, brushing it off like it was typical Veldora behavior. “You’re so funny, Veldora. Always so full of energy.”

Veldora blinked. Funny? That wasn’t what he was going for at all. Didn’t you notice the extra care he was putting into everything for you? When he crafted that massive stone statue in your honor (which definitely ruined Tempest’s main square for a while), you just thanked him like he’d made you a little trinket.

“Wow, Veldora! That’s... impressive! Thanks!” You smiled brightly, completely unaware of the chaos it had caused behind the scenes.

“Doesn’t (Y/N) see that Veldora’s really into them?” Shuna whispered to Rimuru one day as they watched Veldora trailing after you like a puppy, constantly offering to do things for you. “I’ve never seen him like this.”

Meanwhile, Rimuru, Shion, and the rest of the gang groaned as they tried to figure out how to fix the destruction. Even the construction crew had to halt all other work just to clean up the mess.

Rimuru sighed, crossing his arms. “Nope, completely oblivious. It’s painful to watch.”

It only got worse.

Whenever you visited, Veldora’s attempts at impressing you became more and more extreme. One time, he tried to cook for you, which resulted in half the kitchen exploding. Thankfully, Shuna managed to save the day, but the whole ordeal made the kitchen staff beg for mercy.

“I—It’s just that my love for (Y/N) burns so brightly!” Veldora exclaimed, arms dramatically thrown into the air as the kitchen staff threw panicked glances at each other.

“But it’s literally burning everything down!” Rimuru muttered, shaking his head.

To make matters even more awkward, Veldora began hovering around you at every opportunity. He’d pop up out of nowhere, ready to offer his “mighty dragon assistance” for even the simplest of tasks.

“Need help carrying that fruit? I can crush the orchard with one hand!” he’d say proudly, flexing again.

“That’s okay, I got it, Veldora,” you’d reply, giving him a light pat on the arm, completely missing the lovestruck look on his face.

Around him, the others weren’t so lucky. Everyone was forced to endure his constant bragging about how much he cared for you, with him going on for hours about how you were the most amazing person in all of Tempest.

“Did you know (Y/N) smiled at me today? Truly, I am blessed!” Veldora would shout, while poor Shion and Shuna exchanged tired glances, the other villagers barely able to get a word in.

Rimuru had had enough. “Veldora, I get that you have feelings, but the whole city doesn’t need to hear about it every five minutes!”

“But they must know how wonderful (Y/N) is!” Veldora declared. “They are my inspiration!”

Rimuru pinched the bridge of his nose. “For the love of all things peaceful, just tell (Y/N) already! We’re all suffering here!”

But Veldora was too shy to do that directly. Despite all his boasting, when it came to you, his heart raced too fast, and his usual boldness vanished.

So instead, the citizens of Tempest continued to bear the brunt of his lovesick antics.

One day, while the townsfolk were cleaning up after another of Veldora’s “grand gestures” (this time, a giant garden of roses planted right in front of the town hall, blocking the entrance), you walked up to him, smiling as always.

“Veldora, this garden is so beautiful! You really didn’t have to go through all this trouble for me,” you said, oblivious as ever to his true intentions.

Veldora blushed—an unusual sight for the mighty dragon. “O-Of course! Anything for you, (Y/N)! I—uh... I mean, it was no trouble at all! Just a small display of my greatness!”

Rimuru, watching from the sidelines, facepalmed. “How much longer are we going to have to deal with this?” he muttered, as Shuna giggled beside him.

And so, life in Tempest continued with Veldora’s over-the-top affections, while you remained blissfully unaware, leaving everyone else to suffer.

─────────────୨ৎ─────────────

𖦹 please do not translate, repost, steal, or copy my work.

[deadbythemorning]

Project EVE (Harry Potter x reader) part 1

Synopsis: When accidentally sent back in time fifty years, Y/n turns to the most famous wizards for help

OR

Y/n must attend her final years of school fighting for her life at Hogwarts while trying not to fall in love with one of the most famous wizards in the world

Y/n sat up with a throbbing head and looked around her surroundings where am I?

She knew everything was still temperamental but everything had been successful so far, so why did it mess up with her?

Once she finally stood, she dusted off her hands and tried to find any sort of guide. Everything seems to be outdated here

Great

Y/n watched as the witches and wizards passed her on the busy street

Clearly no one in London knows what current fashion is

As if she were waiting for a browser to load, she scrunched her eyebrows in confusion

Somethings not right…

She quickly whipped around but bumped into a rather large figure

“Sorry bout that” she took a few steps back to get a good look at the figure and gawked

“Y-you’re Hagrid!”

“ ‘m sorry, I don’t recall ever meetin you”

Y/n then quickly shook her head “No, this has to be a polyjuice potion”

Now the giant was confused “You must’ve hit yer head pretty hard”

Her heart began to thump out of her chest “But you were in the Great War…”

“What Great War?”

Y/n looked at him as if he were stupid “The Great War against Voldemort”

Hagrid quickly hushed her while looking around “You shouldn’t say his name so carelessly, one of his followers might hear”

Followers? “I’m sorry” she takes another few steps back “What year is it?”

Hagrid slightly tilts his head to the side “Well it’s 1996”

♡

“I don’t know Albus, she sounds genuine” Hagrid whispered

“She sounds confused” Snape objected in his usual monotonous voice

“She speaks of a war” Hagrid countered which silenced them all “As if it’s no big deal” they all looked at each other nervously

“Well if she is from the future, we must send her back immediately” Mcgonagall sternly tells them “In any event that what she’s saying is true, she could change the course of history”

“So get a time turner and get on with it!” Flitwick urged

“It’s never that simple” Dumbledore finally spoke up which silenced their bickering “Whether we like it or not, she’s here for a reason. We should at least speak with her before we deem her a threat to our future or our students”

They all looked to one another before filing out of his office to meet the girl. Y/n on the other hand was too busy admiring the trinkets to notice they were all staring at her, it wasn’t until Hagrid cleared his throat that she finally snapped out of it and spun around.

“Oh..wow” she gently placed the lamp down and gawked at the group of teachers in front of her “You’re…you’re Severus Snape” she quickly bowed her head “Sir it’s an absolute honor to meet you, you were like, my biggest inspiration when I was a kid” she then looked over at the rest of them “Holy…I never thought I’d be in a room filled with the most famous witches and wizards in history”

“How did you get here miss…”

“L/n. Y/n L/n” she then paused to think “The last thing I remember is trying project EVE myself…and then waking up on some random street in London”

“Project EVE?” Flitwick asked while Y/n nodded

“It’s this thing my friend and I started to help people find their soulmate” Snape was quick to roll his eyes

“And what does EVE stand for?” Mcgonagall questioned

“Eve was the name of the woman who originally started the program” she told them “After she passed, my friend Fiona and I decided we were gonna finish what she started”

“And how does it work?” Dumbledore asked while Y/n twiddled her thumbs

“It’s actually quite complicated” she started “You’re supposed to cast a charm and then drink a potion” Y/n waved her hand in dismissal “It’s supposed to bring you to the location of your soul mate but clearly it faulted when I did it myself” she gives a bashful smile while looking down “You see, I specialize in potions. Spell casting has never been easy for me. Fiona wanted me to try it out since it was successful for her and a bunch of others, but I fear my spell casting ability is the reason I’ve been sent almost fifty years into the past”

“Simple fix then!” Flitwick smiled “We just preform everything correctly and she should be sent to her time!”

Although they all agreed, Dumbledore knew it could never be that simple and Mcgonagall knew just from taking one look at his face.

“Wow, this really has been an experience” she tells them while Snape hands her the potion “I mean to spend HOURS with the worlds most famous wizards, to drink a potion made from thee Severus Snape” she then scoffs “You know what? I’m not even mad that this happened”

“The faster you drink it, the faster you go home” Snape tells her while trying to get her to take the bottle from his hand

“Right” she opened the vial and put it to her lips but paused “What if it doesn’t work?”

“What?”

“What if it doesn’t work” she reiterated “I mean, you’re all brilliant but… if it doesn’t work, how will you know?”

They all looked between one another before Dumbledore spoke up “Do you know how to use the floo network?” Which earned another scoff

“Do I know how to use the floo network? That shit is ancient of course I-” she then quickly covered her mouth “I’m sorry”

Dumbledore lights the fireplace and everyone gets into positions “I can’t tell if she’s mad or an absolute genius” Hagrid muttered to himself while Flitwick nudged him

“Well, bottoms up” she chugged the disgusting liquid while Mcgonagall hit her with the charm, causing her to disappear.

“Well how do we know if it worked?” Flitwick asked and they all turned to Dumbledore

“Now we just wait”

They decided that an hour would be long enough for them to declare she was back home but it had only been ten minutes and the girl rolled out from the fire place “Well…” Y/n slowly stands up with a loud groan “I’m still here but now I’m covered in soot, so now what”

Disbelief was written all over their faces. They had enough problems at Hogwarts, they didn’t need to add to the pile.

“I suppose now we get you sorted” they all turned to Dumbledore and began arguing over his decision

“She can’t stay here at Hogwarts! She might disturb the course of history-”

“Sorted? We would have to make her a schedule and robes and-”

“Hogwarts doesn’t need to deal with more problems, we should simply hand her over to the ministry and let them-”

“This is a life changing event, I-I don’t think I should be attending class and studying. It’s bad for my mental-”

“SILENCE” everyone immediately stopped and turned to the older man “I will handle her finances along with her schedule but at the moment we’ve done all we can” they all turn to Y/n “We can’t let her wander around the halls without taking any classes, they might get suspicious. And as for sending her to the ministry, they might make her tell them what’s supposed to happen and they might alter history themselves”

Y/n then awkwardly raised her hand “History of magic was never my strongest subject, so I couldn’t tell them about the next fifty years even if I wanted to”

Snape scoffs “Was there a subject that you did specialize in?” He drawls and she gives him a cheeky smile

“Potions”

“I shall send everyone an owl explaining why miss L/n is here so everyone has the same story” Dumbledore tells them as he walks over to Y/n with the sorting hat “In the mean time”

♡

“Twenty five points from Hufflepuff” seriously, what’s with this point system? “And where might your tie be miss L/n?” Professor Umbridge asked

“Beats me professor” she replied nonchalantly while the older woman gave her a forced smile

“As a woman, you ought to dress more ladylike, you should care about your appearance” a tie quickly fastens its way around her neck “Another twenty points for unkempt appearance” Y/n rolled her eyes and waited for the book to gently land on her desk. None of it mattered though. OWLS, the tests, the studying. All she had to do was figure out what she did wrong and she’d be back home before no time “Miss L/n?” Y/n’s eyes quickly snapped up towards the front

“Yes?”

“Care to repeat what i just said? Verbatim?”

Y/n blew the hair out of her face while shaking her head “So sorry professor” she apologized while rubbing the stars into her left eye “I wasn’t listening to a word you said” the entire class laughed while Umbridge turned the same shade pink as her skirt

“Detention!”

Umbridge’s shrilly voice echoed through Y/n’s head as she wandered through the busy halls of Hogwarts. I guarantee she isn’t the reason Hogwarts is considered the best wizarding school in the world

Clumsily enough, Y/n didn’t realize there was a slight step in one of the corridors and fell right into someone “Watch it you oaf”

Y/n not so gracefully caught herself from falling and looked up at the boy “I’d say the same thing to you” she then tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear “There’s plenty of space in this hallway, consider yourself honored that I bumped into you of all people”

That certainly caught a few looks from passerby’s “Oi, do you know who you’re talking to?” One of his bigger friends asked

Of course she knew that was Draco Malfoy, but if she were to keep up this act, she had to be believable “No, should I?”

The blonde scoffed “But let me guess, you know who Potter is?” The golden trio stopped and glared at the blonde

Y/n let out a loud sigh and shook her head “I honestly don’t know nor care for whoever Potter is” she swore she could hear a pen drop “I don’t care for popularity status’s, or wealth status, or blood status, I’m just here…until I’m not” she loosened the tie that strangled her “I’m glad you all enjoyed the show, but if you’ll all excuse me, I have to find my way to potions” it wasn’t until she took her dramatic bow that she noticed the golden trio

“Draco aren’t you going to do something?” Pansy questioned but the blonde stayed quiet. He was too stunned to speak, it wasn’t every day someone talked back to him

Great, now everyone thinks I’m crazy

Y/n let out a loud groan once she reached an empty staircase

I can’t leave soon enough

Just then, the staircase began moving, which made the girl quickly grip the railing

I can’t tell if this is brilliant or absolutely terrifying

She then took a sneak peak over the railing, immediately regretting it

Terrifying

♡

“Professor I’m so sorry I’m late” Y/n huffed as she barged into the potions classroom. Everyone stared at the girl whose robe hung off her one shoulder and her tie barely hung around her neck “The staircase kept moving on me” she chuckled while yanking the potions book out of her tote bag “I can’t lie, that’s pretty fucking cool”

“Ten points from Hufflepuff for your tardiness and fifteen for your foul use of language”

Y/n then scanned the area for an empty seat “Apologies” she told him while sliding over to her spot “This school is just so much bigger than what I thought and I need a map! And-”

“Another five points for interrupting my class” Snape interrupted her rambling

“I’m sorry professor I-”

“Another five points for back talking”

“I-” Snape held up his hand and Y/n slumped in her seat in defeat

“Don’t worry” her seat mate whispered “Snape’s always like that”

She then blew the hair from out of her face “Don’t meet your hero’s they say” she mumbled while flipping her book open

“Hero?” She slowly sat up in her spot “You really must not be from here”

She then turned to the boy next to her “Y/n L/n”

Her heart quickly sunk “Harry Potter” just my luck huh “Where are you from?”

“America” the boy looked up at the board before turning his attention back to her “You’re a long way from there”

Y/n let out a scoff “Yeah, you have no idea” she then covered her face with her hands “I’m sorry…about earlier”

“Sorry for what?” He asked “You’ve got guts for standing up to Malfoy”

“Yeah, but I sounded like a complete asshole” she moved a few of her fingers to take a peak at the green eyed boy “Sorryyyy”

Harry shook his head with a smile “Don’t be, it’s nice to finally have someone not point and stare at me”

She then moved her hands and tilted her head “You’re really famous around here huh?”

The boy let out a soft sigh “Not for the right reasons”

Being put on a pedestal your entire life must be exhausting, especially when the whole fate of the wizarding world rested on your shoulders “I’m sorry to hear”

Harry shook his head once again “Don’t be sorry, it’s not your burden to carry”

♡

“She’s only been here a day and she’s already costing us all our points!” A Hufflepuff whined

It had only been a day and nearly every fifth year began talking about her. Everyone (except the Hufflepuffs) admired her nonchalant attitude, they were impressed with how smart she was, and most importantly, she had a personality that drew you in.

Y/n was heavily under the impression that she was intimidating because no one dared speak with her at lunch, but they definitely talked about her.

“She’s arrogant” Ron tells Harry and Hermione “I mean causing a scene like that on your first day?”

“She’s probably stressed” Harry defends her “Moving to a new country, having everyone constantly stare at you”

“You should’ve heard the way she talked to Umbridge this morning” Neville added

“Why are you defending her?” Ron questioned “Do you fancy her or something?”

“I don’t see how” Hermione mindlessly added on “She speaks so highly of you” a loud gasp was heard and everyone turned to the Hufflepuff table

Pansy Parkinson had just dumped an entire pitcher of pumpkin juice on Y/n “Maybe now you’ll learn to respect Draco you dirty mutt”

Y/n slowly stood from her spot and calmly wiped the liquid off her face “Maybe I will when he doesn’t send his lap dog to fight his own battles” Pansy went to pounce on her but with the flick of her two fingers, Pansy quickly flew backwards “This day just gets better and better!” She mumbled sarcastically while grabbing her bag

♡

“Why don’t we try again”

“Why don’t you try hiring teachers that don’t resort to torturing students as punishment?” Y/n snapped back

It hadn’t even been a full week and yet, she was done with the Hogwarts experience. The constant stares, three detentions back to back, and harassment from Slytherins. One more minute and she might blow someone to smithereens.

“Maybe if you weren’t such a delinquent, you wouldn’t be punished” Snape drawls and Y/n rolls her eyes

“We’re not getting anywhere!” She pulls her hair in frustration “I’m not even going to London anymore! I’m just ending up somewhere around the school”

“That doesn’t mean we should give up” Mcgonagall tells her “Again” Y/n let’s out a groan in frustration “Like it or not miss L/n, this isn’t your time. You being here compromises our future, your future. And if we stop now, life as you know it might never exist”

With one last pout, Y/n takes the potion out of Snapes hands and chugs it “Ready when you are” she muttered in disgust

Flitwick casts the spell without a moment’s hesitation, sending Y/n into another whirlwind of absolute hell.

Y/n fell into a chair, notes flying everywhere, many weird looks and whispers were shared amongst other students. The library, great

Well that’s another failed trial and a waste of time

She slowly collected her notes that were sprawled out on the table

“Didn’t think you knew how to read” Y/n moved the hair out of her face to reveal a cocky Draco

“Here to dump more liquid over my head?” She asked without looking up from her notes “I thought that was your girlfriends job?”

Draco sneered “She’s not my girlfriend”

“Oh, so she’s another one of your brainless goons” Draco rolled his eyes

“They’re not my goons”

“So they’re your friends” Y/n shook her head “You choosing to be friends with them is…a very bold decision”

Draco crossed his arms“You have a smart mouth, you know that right?”

She shrugs her shoulders “I’ve been told on occasion or two”

He gently picks up her hand “Maybe if you learned to shut it, you wouldn’t have this”

Y/n quickly snatched it back “Or maybe that old toad shouldn’t be torturing students”

Draco looked around before leaning down towards her ear “You know if you were friends with me, this would never happen”

Y/n rolls her eyes “Oh you’re just that popular huh?” She asked sarcastically and he shrugs his shoulders with a smirk

“I’ve got quite the influence around here”

With one last raise of the eyebrows, Y/n stands from her spot “Dully noted”

“Wow Malfoy in a library?” They both turned their heads to see the golden trio

“Is studying an uncommon thing here?” Y/n muttered, making Harry quirk an eyebrow

“I’m sorry if some of us learned how to read weaslebe” Ron quickly frowned

“You don’t have your sidekicks Malfoy” Ron sneered “Are you sure you can fend for yourself?”

“Look” Y/n started “I don’t know what you guys have going on, but leave me out of it” she then left the group to figure out what she would do now.

♡

I would rather get hit with crucio than listen to her for another minute

Umbridge did absolutely everything in her power to make sure they didn’t actually learn spells, which seemed to irritate everyone. She could understand reading a few passages, but writing it three times afterwards to retain the information?

Suddenly a wad of paper hits the back of her head.

With an irritated sigh, she slowly turned around to see who looked guilty. There had only been one person looking at her, and she can’t say she was surprised.

“Open it” Draco mouthed and she slowly complied

Slytherin party tonight I’ll pick you up at eight

Y/n crinkled the paper back up and continued to stare out the window rather than do whatever assignment Umbridge assigned

Another note hit her head

Don’t ignore me

Being surrounded around a bunch of teenagers that didn’t like her honestly sounded like a blast, but getting home before she was stuck taking OWLS sounded like it was in her better interest

“Passing notes are we?” Y/n slowly looked up from her textbook to see Umbridge staring down at her “Fifty points from Hufflepuff for disrupting class”

Y/n quickly sat up with anger “But I didn’t do anything!”

“Another fifteen for raising your voice!” Y/n slowly deflated in her seat “You should know that you need to respect your elders” Y/n wished she could just slap that smug smile off her face. Y/n glared down at the note on her desk stupid parties, stupid Slytherins, stupid school, and stupid teachers. The note burst into flames, causing an uproar from the class “MISS L/N!”

“I didn’t do anything!” She lied

“To cause such disruption-”

“My wands not even out!”

“DETENTION!”

♡

Y/n rubbed her hand as she listened to Snape describe the newest potion they’d be learning. She was completely over it, she couldn’t get home soon enough.

“You’re doing that wrong” Y/n muttered once taking a glance at Harry’s potion

“How?” He questioned “I’m doing everything the book is telling me”

Y/n sat up to peer over into his cauldron “You can always tell if a potion is brewed correctly by its look and smell”

“Correct” Snape confirmed “Five points to Hufflepuff”

Harry looks down with a huff “So what did I do wrong?”

With a flick of her wand, Harry’s potion disappeared “Show me what you’re doing” Y/n lazily watched the boy brewed the potion until he goes to grab a handful of dragon scales “Wait” she grabs his wrist “It’s too early” she slowly lets go of his arm “Mix it until it turns green”

Harry eyes the potion before turning to her “Looks pretty green to me”

Y/n rolls her eyes “That’s a forest green, we’re looking for Granny Smith green” as Harry began to stir the potion, it grew lighter in color, making him smile with excitement “Adding the dragon scales before fully activating troll bogeys will cancel all effects of the potion” once it turned the desired shade of green, Y/n slid over the basket of dragon scales

“You’re really good at this” Y/n lazily shrugged her shoulders

“Potions is about the only thing I’m good at”

Harry let’s out a small yawn “I doubt that’s true” she watched as the boy rubbed his eyes and tilted her head in confusion

“Are you not getting any sleep?” She asked “This is probably the fifth time you’ve yawned in the past ten minutes”

The boy nods while meeting her eyes “I keep having these nightmares” he shakes his head in dismissal “I know, it’s pathetic-”

“Not at all” she tells him while laying her head down on the desk “I used to have frequent nightmares about my father” she admitted “He went mad when me mum left him, she moved to London to continue working on new spells she was creating. My father thought that if he could invent something better, it would win her over and she would come back home….but the more I wrote to her and the happier she sounded, the more it broke him. He was obsessed…and I was just a kid…jealous that he spent all his time on some spell. So I went to his study and burnt all of his work in hopes he’d realize that she wasn’t coming back, that he was the reason she didn’t want to come back. My father was outraged, so completely out of his mind that he tried using the killing curse on me. I mean I was lucky you know, the spell bounced off the mirror and hit him…but sometimes I dream about if it did hit me, or if he hit me with the cruciatis curse” Y/n slowly sat up “Since I clearly wasn’t getting any sleep, I just spent all my time brewing potions” she quickly jumped up “Harry don’t let the potion scorch! Keep stirring it!”

Harry did as he was told and nodded “Right, I’m sorry”

“Don’t be” she shrugged her shoulders “Snape already graded my potion”

“No I mean about your father”

Y/n sucks the back of her teeth “Don’t worry about it, I didn’t mean to spew my traumatic back story at you” she helps him bottle the potion and clean his mess “What I was trying to get at was I’m a master of crafting a dreamless potion and the draught of peace” the bell rung and everyone quickly filed out of the room “If you ever wanna give it a try for one night of peace, just let me know”

Once Y/n tossed her book in her bag, she shuffled out of the classroom along with the others, but it didn’t take Harry long to make up his mind “Y/n wait!” Right before Y/n was able to make it to the stairs out of the dungeon, Harry grabbed onto her hand “Do you think you could craft me a couple of those potions?”

Y/n looked around before taking a step down “These are powerful potions Harry” she warns him “Stripping away emotions for a good nights rest, it can be dangerous, trust me” Harry slowly lets go of her hand “That being said, I’ll make you one of each. One to soothe your anxiety and one to get you a full eight hours of rest”

“Anything is better than nothing” there was a lost look in Harry’s eyes that Y/n couldn’t help but feel bad for him. Sleepless nights, people telling you you’re crazy, isolating you, she’d probably go mad too

“Don’t tell me you’re hanging around Potter” an arm plops down around her shoulders “Trust me, that cry baby will hurt your social status” Harry gritted his teeth in annoyance while Draco and the others laughed

“Look Malfoy! He’s about to run off and cry in his pillow!” They continued to laugh while Harry stomped up the stairs

“Harry….” you go to chase after him but Draco stops you

“Leave him, I’d imagine he wouldn’t want a girl to see him cry” that’s when Y/n finally shoved his arm off of her

“You’re such a prick Draco” she pushed past the others and left the dungeons

♡

Y/n spent the rest of the week crafting said potions for Harry, completely disregarding the more important task at hand. Surprisingly enough, Harry was almost impossible to find these days.

I could just give it to him next week

Y/n huffed as she readjusted her scarf. Someone mentioned seeing Harry at hogsmead but she searched everywhere for the boy for hours, it began to feel like a wild goose chase. Her gloves began to feel useless along with the three pair of socks she wore, the crunchy snow slowly seeped into her boots and the misery hit her like a truck.

He’ll be fine getting it next week

“Y/n?” The girl whipped around to see the boy she frantically searched for

“Harry” she huffed out “Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you?”

A smile spread across his rosy cheeks “You have?”

She nodded while reaching into her pocket “I wanted to give you these” she hands him the small vials “I didn’t want to make it look suspicious to lingering eyes”

Harry’s heart swelled with adornment “Thank you Y/n” he looks back up at her “I really appreciate it”

Y/n shrugs her shoulders “It’s no biggie” she sniffled a bit “I would want the same, yknow?”

Harry couldn’t keep his eyes off the girl. The way the snow clung to her hair, the way the snowy background made her big soft eyes look even warmer, the way the color pink slightly dusted across her face “Do you fancy Malfoy?” He blurted out

Y/n scrunched up her nose “No, why would you say that?”

Harry felt rather embarrassed by the sudden outburst “You just…you’re always around him and you avoid me like the plague” The girl stood there stunned, not knowing what to say. She’d been trying to figure out a way home, studying for pointless tests (especially the OWLS), not to mention the constant detentions Umbridge kept giving her, she didn’t realize she was isolating herself from her friends “I’m sorry, it’s just with Umbridge and Voldemort returning and Dumbledore ignoring me, I’ve been stressed”

“That Umbridge is definitely something else huh?” Harry looked down with a smile “If I’m being honest, my hands are just as full as yours, sorry if it seemed like I was avoiding you” and with that, she shrugged her shoulders and left the boy standing there

“Y/n wait!” Harry called out while chasing after her

Y/n stopped in her tracks and turned around to face the boy “Oh, I uh needed to grab a few books from the library, but you’re welcome to join if you’d like”

Harry shakes his head “I think what we both need is a distraction” she quirked a brow and the green eyed boy grabbed her hand and dragged her away from the school.

“Harry” Y/n nervously watched as he grabbed his broom “Is now a bad time to mention I have a deathly fear of heights?”

Harry held his cheeky grin as he mounted the broom “I promise, you’ll love it” the very second Y/n climbed onto the broom, Harry took off which made the girl loudly scream in fear

“HARRY POTTER YOU PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW!” The boy laughed and lifted them higher into the air “You’re MAD”

“Don’t you trust me?” He asked but frowned when she stayed silent. That’s when he got the brilliant idea to dive hundreds of feet out of the air

“HARRY!” She screamed while holding onto his waist for dear life

“You said to put you down” she could hear the cheeky grin in his voice

“I don’t want to die Harry!” She called out while squeezing her eyes shut and laying her head against his back

“Do you trust me?” He repeated and she nodded her head

“If putting my trust in you is the last thing I do, I’ll haunt you in the after life Potter”

Harry quickly pulled the broom back up “Sounds like Malfoy’s rubbing off on you” Harry sped off on the broom again, making Y/n squeal “Aw come on, you can’t tell me you aren’t having just a bit of fun”

Y/n shook her head “I’m sorry if my screams of terror made you think otherwise” she retorted, Harry couldn’t help but laugh.

Where have you been all my life?

“Alright alright” Harry finally lands onto the pier of the now icy black lake, smiling to himself as their legs finally touch ground.

“Oh my” Y/n peeled her eyes back open sighing with relief “Harry Potter, you’re absolutely mad” A bittersweet smile formed on Harry’s lips once her grasp on his torso loosened “You know, I think if we were supposed to be in the air, we’d be born as birds”

Harry shakes his head while turning around “I get it, you’re afraid of heights” he watched as she tries to straighten her hair out “But at least you were able to forget about everything for a few minutes”

“Yeah, because I was worried about falling to my death” but he’s right “Thanks Harry” she gave a sheepish smile while watching the snow fall even harder across the lake “We should probably head back though”

“Wait” Y/n gave a blank stare as Harry’s heart pounded out of his chest “I’m getting a bunch of students together and teaching them how to defend themselves since Umbridge won’t” Harry blurted out

“Oh that’s-”

“Would you like to join?” His heart thumped in his ears as he awaited her answer “We have a secret location that’s perfect for the spells we’d be practicing” Harry couldn’t explain it but he felt like he could tell her anything. The girl that didn’t care that he was the boy that lived and didn’t stare at him like he was some freak every year. The girl that wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or stand up for herself. The girl who he swore was just as smart as Hermione, if not smarter. The girl who always seemed to make him forget about the horrors of reality.

“Why not?” she replied while shrugging her shoulders “I prefer performing spells rather than reading about them” a giant smile formed on the boys face

♡

It was a simple spell and it frustrated her to no end that she couldn’t preform it. As Y/n’s hands shook in anger, she decided to put her wand away and grab her book, the last thing she needed was to throw a tantrum in front of everyone.

Snap your wrist to preform incantation

She read over the same page about a hundred times and yet, she had no luck

Maybe I really am only good at potions

A frown made its way onto her face as she paced back and forth in her small corner. The other spells seemed rather easy, but of course the one defensive spell they teach gave her the most trouble.

Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll be gone before Harry drags me to war

“Alright, that’s enough for today” Harry announced “Great job everyone, you’re making excellent progress”

“Same time next week” Ron tells them as they all file out

Unfortunately for Y/n, she was stopped before she could make her escape “What happened?” Harry asked her with a head tilt “You separated yourself from the group”

She rubs her eyes “I know” she then shook her head “Im just a very slow learner and I was getting extremely frustrated”

A small smile played on his lips “I thought you liked preforming spells rather than reading about them?”

She playfully rolls her eyes “Whatever Harold, I’ll just learn it next week”

“I could teach you” Harry quickly spat out to stop her from leaving “Show me what you’re doing”

With a slight moment to think about it, she dropped her bag onto the ground and pulled her wand out. Once Harry took a few steps back, she took her stance and aimed at the dummy “Reducto!” Not that she was surprised, but nothing happened.

Harry nodded once she turned around to face him with disappointment “I think it’s your hand movement” he walks over to stand in front of her “You’re jabbing your wand”

“No” she pouts “I’m flicking my wrist like it’s telling me”

Without thinking, Harry gently took her hand in his own “You’re flicking your wrist downwards” he moved her hand up and down “Try rolling your wrist in a scooping motion ” after showing her what to do, his grip loosened but his touch definitely lingered.

“Reducto!” The dummy exploded upon impact causing a big smile to make its way to Y/n’s face, a smile that Harry slowly grew to love “I guess you are a good teacher” she tells him while turning to face him

“You guess?”

She shrugged her shoulders with a cheeky grin “I guess”

♡

Y/n felt more confident now that she knew what she was doing, which was perfect since they were dueling this week.

Once everyone congratulated Hermione for absolutely humiliating Ron, a hand gently tapped Y/n’s shoulder “Why don’t you try?” Harry asked and she shook her head

“I just learned the spell” she turned to look at him “I don’t want to embarrass myself”

Their eyes locked onto each other’s, Harry’s green eyes were swimming with a devious glint “Hermione, Y/n would like to go next!” He called out, causing the girl to slap his shoulder

“Hermione?” She whisper shouted “Do you want people to laugh at me?”

Harry shook his head “I’m helping you prepare for the real deal” Y/n awkwardly walks over to the witch and everyone cleared way

“C’mon! You got this Hermione!”

Y/n anxiously readied her wand as everyone cheered the witch on. Sure she was good at studying, but actual spell casting was her downfall.

There was a determined look in Hermione’s eyes, like she had something to prove to Y/n.

“What are they waiting for?” A student whispered and Hermione used this distraction as her chance to attack

“Stupify!”

“Protego!” A light shield covered Y/n and blocks the attack

I didn’t think that would work

“When did we learn that?” Someone else asked upsetting the witch in front of her

“Stupify!”

“Protego!” Y/n’s heart thumped out of her chest from the last minute save. However, Hermione grew annoyed that every and any spell she threw at her, Y/n would block

“It’s not much of a duel if you don’t attack” she huffed while readying herself. Nothing life threatening, just throw something at her “Stupify!”

“Expelliarmus!”

A stream of red shot out of Y/n’s wand while a yellow one came from Hermione’s, forming loud gasps and awes from the crowd as each color fought for dominance. Y/n had no idea how she did it but knew that she couldn’t let go now. Hermione knew she couldn’t stop now, she couldn’t let one surprise stop her victory.

But it was too much for both of them to handle, this was new ground and it was almost terrifying. Hermione’s wand jerked to the left, which made the spell hit her full on. Not only did her spell send Hermione and her wand flying, but the Stupify Hermione casted hit someone else.

“Harry!” Y/n quickly whipped around to see the boy laying on the ground. She quickly pushed through the crowd and kneeled at his side

“Harry are you alright?” She inspected the boy as he held his shoulder “Where does it hurt?”

“Harry” Hermione huffed with regret “I’m so sorry” she apologized

“It’s alright” he told her as he sat up “I’m fine” that wince said otherwise “That was brilliant you two”

“Harry we need to get you to the hospital wing” Hermione urged but he shook his head

“We would have to explain how I got hurt to miss Pomfrey” he then stood up “Besides, I’m fine, really”

“If you’re worried about Pomfrey telling Umbridge, I can heal you” everyone turned to Y/n “It’ll be easy” one shrug of the shoulders was enough to win Harry over “I can brew a quick potion and put some ointment for the pain and bruising, he’ll be perfectly fine tomorrow”

“You barely know how to cast spells” Ron tells her “Why would we trust you with him?”

What have I done to get on Ron and Hermione’s bad side?

Y/n then looked over to Harry “Do you trust me?”

Harry didn’t hesitate to nod his head “I’ll meet you guys back at the common room” he reassured them “Continue on without me, I’ll be fine” Hermione gave Harry one last apologetic look before he turned to Y/n “Shall we?”

From the way Harry described the pain, it might’ve just been a dislocated shoulder, but that didn’t stop him from acting extra whiny.

“We just have to get to my room okay?” She told him as she knocked on the large barrels in front of the Hufflepuff entrance

“What happens if you knock on the wrong barrel?”

She turned to him as the door unlocked “You get sprayed with vinegar” she jerked her head towards the door

“That’s so-”

“Awful” she finished for him “I was in for a pleasant surprise my first day” she led him around the cozy room, earning weird glances from lingering Hufflepuffs “I had to have a ghost tell me which barrels to knock on because I was drenched”

She finally came across a single room on the first floor and opened the door for him “How did you get an entire room to yourself?”

She shrugged her shoulders while closing the door behind him “I think it’s because I started so late” or probably because they thought I’d be gone after the first week and didn’t want me interacting with too many students “Please, sit” she conjures a cauldron and a bunch of random ingredients begin floating in the air “Can you take off your shirt?” Harry’s face flashed a bright red “I just want to make sure there’s no broken bones” the boy goes to lift up his shirt but immediately winced in pain “Here” she sat down on the edge of the bed “Let me” her fingers gently hook underneath his vest and she’s able to remove it without causing much pain to his shoulder. Once removed, she then unbuttons most of the buttons on his shirt so it would just fall off his shoulder, revealing a giant dark purple bruise on his very pale skin “Let me know when it hurts okay?” She gently pads her fingers around his chest, arm, collarbone, and shoulder of course. Harry on the other hand couldn’t breathe, as if he were in a trance that he never wanted to wake up from.

That was until Y/n shoved his shoulder back into place, causing the boy to erupt in a painful groan “Blimey Y/n!”

“Did that hurt?” Her eyes finally flicked up to meet up with his

Those beautiful orbs of hers, he could swim in them all day “You were brilliant today” he whispered, afraid that speaking too loud would scare her away

“That was absolutely terrifying” she admits “You got hurt”

His eyes flicker down to her lips “Good thing I have a great doctor”

Y/n shook her head with a smile “How convenient for you” she then stands up to make her potion “I figured since I was slow reflex wise, I’d be better off as a healer. So I spent most of my time learning how to make medicines”

“I never taught anyone how to use Protego”

A small smile played on her lips as she mixed the ingredients together “I used to want to be an auroa” she answered “You can read about these spells all you want, but it’s completely different actually preforming them and using them on other people” once the potion turned the right shade of orange, she scooped a cup out for Harry to drink “And if I can’t immediately do it, I think I’ve done something wrong and no longer want to do it” she sits down next to him and hands him the pumpkin shaped cup

“Y/n I don’t think you realize how brilliant of a witch you are” Harry tells her softly

“Yeah yeah” she urged him to take the cup from her “If I had a bit of patience, I could thrive in one subject” Harry winced at the bitter taste but drinks it nonetheless “How bad would you say the pain is?” She asked while leaning over to grab a small jar of ointment

“7.5” he answers quickly “Maybe even an eight” with a nod, she unscrews the top and uses three fingers to scoop some out “Maybe you could teach me a few spells one day” his voice gets caught in his throat as her fingers spread the cool gel over his skin

“The student becomes the teacher” she smiled but grew concerned at his silence “Are you alright Harry?” the boy couldn’t speak so he opted on nodding “You don’t have to lie to me” she tells him “I haven’t made the potion in so long, if you feel funny, you need to tell me”

Oh he definitely felt funny… “How often did you make the potion?” He finally speaks up

“My friends were troublemakers, both witches and muggles” she answered while grabbing more ointment “However, my muggle friends did absolutely anything they could to be in harms way. I couldn’t exactly tell them I was giving them a healing potion or rubbing magical ointment to get rid of the pain, but when I was younger, I used to kiss their injury and tell them I did it to make it better. And the next day, they’d be completely fine” she then puts the lid back on the jar “They would joke and say my kisses had magical healing abilities but I would just say it was the “organic smoothie” I made them”

Harry couldn’t breathe, he swore she could hear his heart beating out of his chest but all he could do was blurt out eight words “Will you kiss it to make it better?” Y/n slowly looked up at the boy who burned red

“Honestly Harry” she playfully shook her head while leaning over to put the ointment back on the night stand “You’re such a baby” she then leans down to gently kiss his collarbone “And now my lips are gonna go numb” she wipes the ointment off her lips and stands up to finish cleaning “Come on, let’s get you out of here before someone tells Umbridge I have a boy in my room”

♡

It’s not that Harry purposefully hurt himself, but ever since he found out Y/n was good at healing, he’d been purposefully hurting himself.

It was all minor injuries, things that could easily be fixed at the hospital wing, or even a weeks worth of rest. However, why go to madam Pomfrey when he could get a kiss from Y/n?

It’s not that Harry wanted to be hit by the bludger, but it did work in his favor. He would go back to Y/n, where she would scold him while he marveled at how brilliant she was, and she would give him a kiss. Besides, he’d been “injured” almost every day for the past two weeks. If he came back with another small cut, she might catch on.

Harry was knocked off his broom and nearly fell to his death if it weren’t for Hermione’s quick thinking. A time out was called to address his injuries but Harry could only think of one thing.

“Harry!”

“Are you alright mate?”

Harry nods while slowly sitting up “It was worth it” he strained

“What? Being hit straight with a bludger and falling hundreds of feet out the air?” Harry gave the girl a look before opening his hand to reveal the snitch

“HARRY POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFINDOR WINS!!” The stadium goes into an uproar while a determined Harry picked himself up

“We really need to get you to the hospital wing” Hermione tries to put his arm around her shoulder but he shrugs her off

“The hospital wing will be full” he tells her “I’ll just go to Y/n, her dorm is closer than the hospital wing. Besides, the pain is manageable” he was in excruciating pain

Hermione gave Ron a look and the ginger shrugged his shoulders knowing exactly why he preferred seeing her “Alright” Hermione finally agreed “Do you need any help with anything?”

Harry nodded “Could you take my broom back for me?”

Y/n would’ve attended the game but Mcgonagall had been on her arse to find a way back home…not that she knew anything about quidditch anyway. I’m sure he’ll win

Her concentrated thoughts came to an end once a knock came from her door “Come in” she called out which revealed a beat up and bruised Harry “Oh my-” she quickly jumped out of bed and ran to his side “Harry what happened?”

The books and notes flew off her bed so she could gently lay him down “Bludger came after me” he tells her “Knocked me straight off my broom” he hissed

Y/n sucks her teeth “I don’t understand how quidditch is safe for students to play” she tried removing his armor but immediately stopped when he let out a loud groan “Harry, I think you should go to the hospital wing”

Harry quickly shook his head “It’s full at the moment” her hand stopped on his jersey “It’ll be okay, I trust you”

She knew the boy was stubborn and lugging him across the castle wasn’t the best idea, so she let out a soft sigh “Did you guys at least win?” Her eyes flicker up to his and he nods

“I caught the snitch” her hand gently makes its way to his face, which he gladly leans into

“I’m sure you did” she tells him in a baby voice before standing up “I have no clue what that or a bludger is but I’ll put the ointment on you so you’re not as miserable”

“I could never be miserable around you” Y/n stops and looks down at him with a quirked brow

“I can tell you’re in a lot of pain Harry” she gently sits next to him and unscrews the jar “Extra pale skin, excessive sweat, quickened heart rate, dilated eyes” she lifts his Jersey up and was completely mortified to see the black bruises dance along his chest “It’s unbelievable how reckless you men are” she nagged while scooping ointment out

“The bludger hit me” he defended but she still held her scowl “I’m fine Y/n” she didn’t say a word but continued frown “Hey, look at me” his hand stops her from rubbing the gel on him which quickly makes her look up “I’m fine”

She was first to look away, obviously still mad that he would play a sport so dangerous but she could feel his lingering eyes “Once the pain subsides, I’ll check to make sure there’s no broken bones” she explained while putting the ointment away “But with the chest plate, your ribs might just be bruised” if this is how hard it hit him with gear on, I’d hate to see what it could do without it

“Do you want me to take my shirt off?” Y/n’s eyes darted to his “So it’ll be easier…to access my chest” Harry wanted to punch himself for sounding like an idiot

“I mean…” she shrugged her shoulders “It’ll help but I don’t want to put you through anymore pain” Harry then goes to rip his clothes off but Y/n stops him with a laugh “It’s fine Harold” she gently takes his hands in her “I appreciate the consideration though” she then let’s go of his hands to inspect his chest again “Hmmm…” her fingers drew circles around his bruises “I think I have just the potion for this” she then jumps from her spot and searched her cupboard “I think…this might help” she tosses a bottle at Harry which he easily catches “Bottoms up”

The vile liquid poured down his throat and she gives him a cheeky smile “What on earth was that?” She then sits next to the boy and lifts up his jersey

“Well would you look at that” she smiled while putting the jersey down “No broken bones, bruised ribs” she looks up to meet his eyes “Just like I told you” a frown covered Harry’s face as he knew what would happen now “I ought to make you some of this ointment since you wind up hurt every other day…you might be a wee bit sore but that should subside in like three days” she tilts her head in confusion “What’s wrong? Does something else hurt?”

Harry shook his but lifted up his jersey “Can you kiss it to make it feel better?” Y/n gave him a small smile

“You truly are pathetic Harold, I hope you know that” she leans down towards his chest, inhaling his deep musky scent before finally letting her soft plump lips kiss him. Her hair tickled his bare skin but Harry didn’t mind, he couldn’t breathe, he didn’t dare to. But this time she did notice his breath hitch “Did I hurt you?” She quickly asked while looking up at him but he shakes his head

“You could never hurt me” y/n rolls her eyes

“You’re too cheesy”

♡

The happiest memory huh?

Y/n glumly watched as everyone conjured their patronus. Yes, it was a hard spell for some but she couldn’t even think of a happy memory to even try.

“Excellent work Ginny!” Harry congratulated with a smile

“That’s so cool!”

“Luna!”

The blonde girl stopped to think for a moment “Expecto Patronum!” Everyone awed at the rabbit that hopped around the room

“Y/n” Harry walked over to her

“Pass” she lazily replied and he frowns

“Reading about the spell is nowhere as beneficial as trying, just try”

Y/n looked around at the others “Can’t think of any happy memories, just come back to me later”

“You don’t need to cast a full body patronus” he tells her while grabbing her hand “Just think of the last time you were happy” Harry slowly let go of her hand as she pondered

The first thing she could think of was Harry flying her around on his broom, his contagious laugh echoed in her ears while she screamed loud enough that people in Hogsmead could hear her. A small smile played on the corners of her lips “Expecto patronum!”

A hazy light blue shot out of her wand and a small body began to form “Brilliant” Y/n turned to meet his gaze “You’re absolutely brilliant” but the moment they shared was cut short due to the room shaking. Y/n’s patronus completely disappeared once the room shook again.

Harry protectively stepped in front of Y/n as everyone cautiously looked around. Without a moments notice, a couple of students went flying along with debris.

Umbridge proudly stood at the hole in the wall while Draco dragged Cho to the front as a trophy. Y/n knew something like this was bound to happen, Umbridge couldn’t have been that dumb.

Everyone filed out of the room of requirement and into Umbridge’s classroom to endure two hours of torture. It angered Y/n, being disciplined, tortured because they wanted to learn how to protect themselves. If she didn’t know any better, she’d assume Umbridge was working for Voldemort.

Y/n was used to the pain, she’d been in detention at least twice a week for the entire school year. What did bother her however was hearing the kids sniffle and muffle their cries from the pain. They didn’t deserve it, hell, none of them did, all it did was add fuel to the flame.

“It hurts” a young blonde boy cried to the Weasley twins

He’s just a kid

Y/n reached into her robes and pulled out a familiar tub of ointment “Hey” she gently called out to the boy “I’ve got something that’ll make the pain go away” she knew she wasn’t the most liked, especially from Ron or Hermione’s friends, but attempting to offer comfort was better than nothing “I use it on Harry all the time, look” she opened the jar and grabbed a glob of the medicine “It works almost instantly” after a small not of approval, Y/n rubbed the ointment all over his hand “See”

The boy looked up with much gratitude “You’re right” he sniffled “I don’t feel anything anymore!”

“Hey” Fred peered over the boys shoulder “Do you think we could borrow some of that?”

Y/n quickly nods “Of course” she rubs the gel over their hands and the twins smile

“Bloody brilliant!” George exclaimed “Ron, Hermione, Y/n here has something to help with the pain!”

Soon, a small group began to huddle around her, curious to see what the chatter was about “You crafted this?” Hermione asked once she tried it

Y/n nods and the witch furrows her eyebrows “Then you’re a bloody genius” Ron interrupted while marveling at his now pain free hand

“There isn’t anything about this in any medical books” there isn’t now, but there will be in approximately fifteen years

“I…made it myself” Y/n lied, she had to lie, it might hurt the future more if she didn’t

“Here, try this” they all passed the can around and for once, Y/n felt like she wasn’t the black sheep

“Hey” Harry whispered

“Hey” the boy gently grabbed her hand

“You’re always fixing me up, why don’t I help you for once?” Her big orbs softened once they met his green ones

“Yeah…okay sure” her voice as equally soft, terrified to alert the others. Harry smoothed the gel over the scar etched onto her hand

“Thank you for this” he tells her “For keeping their hope”

Y/n shrugged her shoulders “They don’t deserve it, frog face will get what’s coming to her”

The group cleared out, leaving just the two of them alone in the hallway, which made Y/n grateful because Harry lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed it

“All better” he whispered so softly that a mouse could barely hear it

“Thanks Harry” she could feel her cheeks heat up “We’d better get going before we get caught breaking one of Umbridge’s ridiculous rules”

♡

Luckily for Y/n, she was able to convince Mcgonagall and Snape to skip her OWLS, deeming it a use of her time that she could be using to figure out a way out of there. However, Mcgonagall wouldn’t let her get off that easy. Yes she got to sleep in while everyone took their exams, but she had to regroup with Snape to asses her progress later that evening.

“Harry!” Y/n whisper shouted “What are you doing here?”

Harry cautiously looked around the classroom “I’ve been looking all over for you”

“Snape agreed to help me with something” she tells him while frantically looking outside the potion’s classroom “He’ll be here any moment so you have to-”

“I broke my nose” Y/n stops and lets out an annoyed huff

She didn’t bother asking how he broke his nose or why he didn’t just go to the hospital wing, she just pulled out her wand and flicked it at his nose. Harry winced in pain but she just grabbed his arm to drag him out the room

“We can discuss how this happened later, but right now you need to leave” Harry frowned in disappointment, the only time he’s spoken with her was at their meeting, which Umbridge had to ruin “Oh” she held the sides of his face and placed a gentle kiss on his nose “There” she takes a step back “Will you leave now?” She eagerly asked with a smile but Harry just gave her a blank stare “Harold”

“Y-yes” as if all motor functions turned on all at once “Later” there was so much he wanted to tell her, so many things happening at once, but he didn’t want her to worry about him nor come with.

Harry stumbled out of the classroom to make his way to Umbridge’s office, bumping into Snape on the way

“Potter” he spat “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Harry quickly shook his head “I was just on my way- I’m sorry” Snape frowned when the stuttering boy sped away. He knew something was going on, and he was determined to figure it out.

Snape entered his classroom to see Y/n reading over notes, and it was almost like he finally placed the last piece of the puzzle together “Is there any reason in particular that Potters a blushing fool down the hall?” Snape asked but Y/n quickly shook her head

“No idea” she then rips her notebook open “Now you said you made different variations of the potion, as did I so we could compare our results”

Snape walks over to his shelf of potion ingredients and stops “Would you be okay being stuck here?”

She tilts her head in confusion “What do you mean professor? I think we’re close to figuring this out”

Snape let’s out a sigh “In the events that we can’t figure out a way to send you back to your time, would you be completely disappointed?”

The thought never occurred to her that she might not go home “I mean professor Mcgonagall might be upset, I don’t think she likes me” she shrugs her shoulders “I mean I have no purpose here, no one really likes me, and I can’t do much because I don’t want to interfere with future events”

“I didn’t ask if Mcgonagall would be disappointed” he snapped “I asked if you would”

It was a tough hypothetical question. Magic was far more advanced where she’s from, everything was so much easier “ I might be a little disappointed but… I don’t really have anything in the future” she answered honestly “Both of my parents are dead and I can’t be stuck third wheeling my only friend, that was the whole reason of me taking the potion” images of Harry then flashed in her mind “However, I think I could manage being stuck here if I were around the right people”

Satisfied with your answer, Snape finally turns around “You may be dismissed”

Y/n’s eyebrows scrunch in confusion “But we didn’t-”

“Every variation of the potion I’ve made of the potion results the same, failure” Y/n looks down at her notes but he cuts her off before she could speak “It was very…obvious that they wouldn’t work, none of them turned a lilac color once finished”

“But we haven’t tried it”

Snape hits the top of her head with the notes “Would you rather be stuck in the stone ages where you’ll have absolutely no one?” Y/n pouts and Snape walks over to his office “If anything was wrong, it would be the incantation like you’ve said. Now you are dismissed” Y/n gets up from her stool with a huff but Snape stops in his tracks “And L/n”

She quickly looked over to him “Yes sir?”

“Stay away from Potter”

Her shoulders slumped “I know I know, don’t mess with the future”

“No, he’ll drag you into more trouble than you could imagine”

She never thought Snape was lying, but she figured it was easier said than done. As she walked back to the Hufflepuff dormitory, she thought about how this one school year had been more adventurous than the past three years of her life.

“Harry’s in trouble!” Ron yelled and Y/n quickly turned around

“That was faster than we thought” Neville told the others as Y/n jogged over

“What do you mean Harry’s in trouble?” She cautiously looked around and Ron attempted to hide his annoyance, but failed miserably

“Harry wants to go to the ministry to save his godfather” Luna tells her “But he needs our help”

Neville nodded “It’ll be sending him to his death if he goes alone”

Ron rolls his eyes “It was their idea to ask you to come” he then stubbornly crossed his arms “You don’t have to c-”

“Of course I’ll come!” The words Snape uttered a mere hour ago completely slipped her mind as the group ran to find Harry and Hermione

“How’d you get away?” Hermione asked as they ran into the group

“Puking pastilles” Ginny smiled “It wasn’t pretty”

“I told them I was hungry, wanted some sweets. We found Y/n along the way”

But something wasn’t right…

Y/n couldn’t figure out what’s supposed to happen or not, not everything was written down in the books. This seemed like an obvious trap, but none of them seemed to care. They only knew three defensive spells, one of which only three of them could properly preform.

“Hey” Harry whispered as the rest of the group walked off “Thanks for coming”

Y/n nodded while following the others “I wouldn’t be able so sleep if I just let you go alone” a small smile tugs on her lips “And so I know what kind of potions to brew when you inevitably get hurt”

Harry let’s out a small laugh “Are you going to be okay with flying?” Y/n quickly stopped in her tracks

“Flying?”

The green eyed boy nods “That’s how we decided we’d get to the ministry” Y/n’s eyes widened as she watched the others mount the beasts

She rips her eyes away to turn to Harry “I think I’ll take the floo network”

Harry let out a short laugh “How about you ride with me?” He asked while mounting his own thestrial “That way I can tell you all about how I broke my nose” she honestly couldn’t care less about his nose right now “Do you trust me?” He asks again while holding out his hand

“Oh come on” Ron calls out “We haven’t got all day, you’re either going or you’re not”

But Harry and Y/n couldn’t even hear how irritated Ron was, all they focus on was each other. How his green eyes swam with anticipation and hers flickered with worry.

Death eaters will probably kill me before I die from falling off

Y/n slowly grabbed his hand and jumped onto the creature. Once Y/n’s arms wrapped around his waist and her head leaned onto his shoulder, Harry nodded at the others with a determined nod and quickly took off into the air.

Y/n appreciated the small talk but was absolutely terrified and wanted nothing more than touch ground.

“How did you get out of taking your OWLS?” Harry asked the girl

“I told Snape I didn’t feel good so he told me I could take my exam after hours with him” she quickly spat out “But more importantly, how are you feeling? You passed out? Umbridge slapped you? She threatened to use the cruciatis curse on you?” Of course Harry told her all about it, making sure not to leave a single detail out

♡

“This is it” Harry tells the group as they run down the isles “It has to be here somewhere”

But a single prophecy stuck out to her, causing her to stop in her tracks

Y/n L/n

Why would I have a prophecy?

The curiosity got the best of her as she slowly grabbed the orb off the shelf “Harry?” They all turned to Neville “It has your name on it”

The boy nervously grabbed the orb and let them all listen to the prophecy “Wait…” something isn’t right “Harry!” They all looked up to see a lone death eater approaching them

“Where’s Sirius?” Harry asked with much determination

“You should learn the difference between dreams” he held his wand up to his face “And reality” Lucius Malfoy? “You only saw what the dark lord wanted you to see”

This isn’t good Y/n’s heart anxiously thumped, we need to get out of here

That’s when a sickening laugh echoed throughout the room “Bellatrix Lestrange” Neville muttered

“Harry” Y/n whispered “We need to go”

“Neville Longbottom, is it? How’s mum and dad?”

They all turned to the boy “Better now that they’re about to be revenged!” Harry was quick to hold back the boy

Lucius held his hands out “Now, let’s everyone…calm down”

So stupid…what’s supposed to happen now?

Are we supposed to be here?

Did I change the events of history?

“YOU FILTHY HALFBLOOD” Y/n jumped at the sudden loudness and snapped back to reality of the situation. They were surrounded by death eaters, all with the intent to kill. Seven students against fifteen (that she counted) wanted murderers, but despite it walking into her inevitable death, Y/n trusted Harry with her life. And if Harry wanted to fight, she’d fight for him with her very last breath.

“I’ve waited fourteen years” Harry finally tells them and Y/n takes this as her cue to get into a fighting stance

Lucius sucks his teeth and gives a ‘sincere’ sigh “I know”

“I guess I can wait a little longer” Harry turns to the girl “NOW!”

“Stupify!”

They all began to let spells fly while scattering like rats “Protego!” The spell deflected and Harry was fast to grab Y/n’s hand

“We have to go” she nodded at his determination and ran hand in hand with the boy. Death eaters were everywhere, and if it weren’t for the fact that they wanted the prophecy, they’d probably throw killing curses left and right.

“Levicorpus!” Y/n then bounced the man off the ground and against a shelf “this way” Harry followed her lead and was soon met with the others

“What now?” Neville asked while death eaters closed in on them

“REDUCTO!” The sudden explosion blew a big gust of wind towards them and Y/n turned to the group “I didn’t think that one all the way through” shelves began collapsing whilst prophecies shattered

“Quick!” Harry yelled “Towards the door” the boy yanked Y/n along as they truly ran from death. Being crushed to death didn’t cross Y/n’s mind at all, but it would probably be less painful than being captured.

The group barged through the door and one by one fell to what they believed was their death. Harry pulled Y/n close and wrapped his arms around her, using himself as a safety net. Y/n buried her head into his chest to hide from the horrors of their inevitable death.

But they stopped.

There was no sudden thud, there was no sound of agonizing screaming, the only thing that reminded her that they were alive was the fact that she could feel Harry’s heart beat out of his chest.

Then they hit the ground with a small thud. Y/n rips her eyes open and looks up at the boy “I almost feel as if I should yell at you for telling me I wouldn’t fall to my death”

Harry let out a small chuckle “But you didn’t”

The thought of death eaters being near didn’t bother either of them as they stared into each others eyes “The boy who lived was willing to die to keep me alive” she tilted her head to the left and smiled “I promise the fate of the entire wizarding world is much more important than me”

Harry shook his head “I told you I’d never let you fall to your death and you put your trust in me”

If Y/n could lay on top of Harry all night and just talk to him, she would, but she finally snapped back to reality and climbed off of him

“Well it’s not called the department of mystery’s for no reason” Ron commented while Harry spun around

“Do you hear that?”

Hermione was quick to shake her head “Hear what?”

“It sounds like voices”

She gave the boy a weird look “There’s no voices Harry”

But she was wrong “I can hear them too Harry” Y/n reassured while Luna nodded

“Everyone get behind me!” But it was too late, everyone except Harry was swept up by a death eater and taken hostage

“No one has to die Potter” Lucius told the boy as he jabbed his wand into Y/n’s neck “Just hand over the prophecy and we’ll let everyone go”

So I don’t get crushed to death, fall to my death, I just die by the hands of a Malfoy… maybe I should’ve befriended Draco after all

If the fate of the future lies in my hands, we’re all so screwed, I can’t recall any of these events in any history book

Just then, she was whisked away by an auroa

“Thank Merlin you’re here” she told the woman with purple hair

“Don’t thank us yet” she then zapped the wizard that dared attack them “You need to get to safety”

Y/n nodded

I need to get Harry and I to safety

Y/n ran around the room, watching as aurors and death eaters fight across the room

“Protego” she had no business fighting someone who wanted her dead, so she figured as long as she was able to get to Harry unscathed she could just use offense spells

“Where do ya think you’re goin?”

Barty crouch Jr? Y/n shook her head as the manic man stood before her “Don’t know who you are nor care, Aguamenti!” She sprayed a jet of water at the man, causing him to wipe his face in confusion “Alarte Ascendare!” The man flew into the air and she took this chance to make a run for it

“Avada Kedavra!” Y/n stopped in her tracks and her eyes widened as Sirius was struck by the killing curse oh Harry…

Y/n quickly ran over to Harry and wrapped her arms around the grieving boy. “Harry” she held onto the boy as he screamed “Harry come on we have to-” the boy pushed away from her and chased after the manic woman “HARRY!” She goes to chase after him but someone else holds her back

“I HAVE TO GO” she yelled as she struggled to escape their grasp

“We have to get you to safety” Lupin informed her, Y/n whips around with worry covering her face

“What about Harry?” She asked with teary eyes “He’ll die by himself out there”

“He’s not by himself” he comforted “Now we must hurry”

Y/n knew from that moment forward, she’d be intertwined in this mess and that there was only one way out. She knew she wouldn’t be able to go home without ending this once and for all, she would have to fight in the wizard war to protect her future.

[phynoma]

I am beyond honored to be one of the artists for @pitviperofdoom 's 2024 Big Bang fic, To Assume a Pleasing Shape

Since their fic is inspired in part by Bluebeard, I wanted to try and capture a sort of old book print vibe.

I absolutely ADORE this fic and I am wowed by @rhywhitefang's portraits for it! Thank you so much to you both, and to @pilesofnonsense for running the Rusty Quill Big Bang!

Find Pitviperofdoom's post HERE and rhywhitefang's post HERE

[napoleonic-sexyman-tournament]

Propaganda for Michel Ney:

This man. THIS MAN HAD SO MUCH CHARACTER. HE’S LITERALLY THE KIND OF MAN THAT INSPIRES GOOD FICTIONAL CHARACTERS NGL!! Since he’s up against a british person, here is a description of him by the Times of London:

“... his name rendered illustrious by 25 years of eminent services and brilliant exploits, was dear to the country, and even the enemies of France admired in him the character of the Great Captain. All allowed him to possess as much generosity of sentiment as bravery and skill at the head of armies. No trait of weakness, adulation or rapacity, had ever cast shade over his loyalty and military virtues. His sole defect seemed to be a certain vehemence of character and expression, which rendered him little suited to public affairs.”

And his death was so tragic. In Waterloo, he had made a fatal mistake with the cavalry, and he decides here that he will die. We don’t know exactly what happened here. Did he have so much PTSD from russia and years of war that he made such a stupid mistake (AA ALSO AFTER the disaster of russia campaign he isolated himself so much. Poor man🥺)? But one thing’s for sure, this man wasn’t a coward. The Bravest of the Brave was not a man who’d mess up in the war and just run away. On those grassy fields, Ney tried everything to get his men’s attention and when all hope seemed lost he shouted in the faces of the enemies “See how a marshal of France meets his death!” It seems in that moment his greatest want was to be killed by english bullets. But Victor Hugo recounts this and adds the ironic line of “Unhappy man, thou wert reserved for French bullets!”

…😭😭😭😭ISN’T THAT JUST…. SO POETIC AND TRAGIC?????

AND DON’T EVEN. DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW HE DIED!!!!

This man sobs afterwords he gets tried for treason against france basically for siding with Napoleon. But with how unfairly they zero-in on ney’s wrong doings, this was a blood sacrifice. To help him, his lawyer reasoned that the place Ney was born from technically was no longer french, since it has been annexed by Prussia from the 1815 treaty of paris…

But this guy. OH nOnoNonononononoNO, this red-haired, lion-looking, emotional honor-filled patriot has the audacity to interrupt his defender and say loudly without the slightest doubt or hesitation "I am French and I will remain French!"

….

Come on. COME ON!!!! How stupid is he???!! How idiotic!! He just closed another door to survival because of what??

because of honor….. Wow, can you imagine that? He has given everything all his years of service, all his years of being a husband, a father, a son, all his years of rest and peace of mind to France. He has done so much, and even when…EVEN WHEN FRANCE SLAPS HIM ACROSS THE FACE AND SAYS “you traitor” He shouts back “I am French and I will remain French!” aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA OMG….. what the hek…who is this man????

So he is executed as a traitor. There are different versions of his death but here are a few:

By Rochechouart:

“He [Ney], of course, refused to kneel down and be blind-folded; he merely asked the Commandant Saint-Bias to show him where he should stand. He stood facing the platoon, who held their guns ready to fire. Then, in an attitude I shall never forget, it was so noble, calm and dignified, without bravado, he took off his hat, and availing himself of the moment when the Adjutant stepped aside and gave the signal to fire, he said these words, which I distinctly heard: Frenchmen, I protest against my sentence; my honour..." As he said these words he placed his hand on his heart; the volley was fired, and he fell. A rolling of drums, and the shout of "Vive le Roi" from the surrounding troops closed the mournful ceremony.”

Such a death made a deep impression on me, and turning to Auguste de la Rochejaquelein, Colonel of the Grenadiers, who was beside me, and who, like me, deplored the death of the bravest of the brave, I said: ‘There, my dear friend, is a lesson how to die.’”

By M. Laisne:

“He [Ney] took some steps, removed his hat, and in a loud and clear voice: ‘I protest,’ he said ‘before heaven and mankind, that the judgment that condemns me is iniquitous; I appeal from it to Europe and to posterity’ …. Before these words there was presented to him a handkerchief to bandage his eyes. He answered with exaltation, ‘do you not know that a soldier does not fear death.’ He advanced again four paces, laying his hand on his heart and said to the soldiers: ‘Do your duty. It is there that you must hit, do not miss me.’ Instantly he fell dead.”

And finally a very close person to him, Ida Saint-Elme:

“Ney got out of the carriage. He was wearing civilian clothes: a long dark coat, a white necktie, black breeches and stockings, a tall beaver hat with curved brim. He uncovered. His slightly raised head showed that his face wore a tranquil expression. He looked first to the right and then to the left. He caught sight of me. Then, as though fearing to compromise his faithful friends by the least sign of recognition, he bent his brow downward a trifle.”

“He walked on with firm step. At that instant I discerned through the mist, in the centre of the square of troops, and standing out from the dark background of the wall, the firing squad. I tried to rush forward. Belloc pulled me back, and forced me into the cab.”

“Then I dropped weakly upon the seat. A few minutes elapsed, each a whole century long. Then I heard a sharp report. I went into a dead faint."

His death is so tragic and amazing. It really shows out his character and was the initial thing that got me interested in him as a person. Anyways, basically, this dude is such a tragic glory-lover but also very heroic and inspiring.

So therefore HE ISS SEXY GO VOTE FOR NEY!!!

.

[ledalasombra]

The Granddaughter

Chapter 1 - Reunion

The motorcycle cut through the city traffic passing through different scenarios from the fashion district to the noblest region, stopping in front of the big gates of the Wayne mansion. She rang the intercom looking at the mansion in front of her through the gate.

“How can I help you?” She was slightly startled by the sound of the intercom that didn't take long to be answered.

“Ahn... I'm here to see Alfred Pennyworth? Sorry, this was a little awkward” She took a deep breath, removing her helmet “My name is Marinette Pe… Marinette Dupain-Cheng, I am here to talk to Alfred Pennyworth.”

Marinette can hear the sound of something breaking on the other end of the line, frowning “Monsier, is everything alright?

“Marinette? When did you arrive in Gotham?” There was a pause and she sighed lightly “Enter and follow until a little after the main entrance. There is a place where you can stop the bike. I'll meet you there.”

“I'm on my way...”  she replied, giving a slight smile, knowing that she managed the feat of surprising him. She replaced the helmet quickly, redirecting the bike to the indicated place, looking with great admiration at the whole place. The front gardens and the mansion building were beautiful. She removed her helmet after getting off the bike, attaching it to the bike and grabbing her purse afterward.

“Grandpa!” She said, hugging him next with a wide smile on her face and her eyes full of tears “it's so good to finally be able to see you!”

Alfred smiled as he hugged the young woman in front of him. She was so much like her mother Julia that he felt as if he had been given a new lease on life.

“I didn't know you were coming to Gotham... Sabine and Tom didn't tell me anything. Let's go inside, I'll make us both some tea, and in the meantime we'll talk and I'll finish up dinner.”

“ Can I help you?” she smiled while holding his arm “ This place is amazing grandpa! So much to be inspired by... The architecture, the details and that garden! Wow, that place is beautiful!” She spoke with eyes shining like a child, as they walked through the halls of the mansion.

Alfred gave a slight smile at the enthusiasm of the granddaughter he hadn't seen in almost a year. And despite the long time without seeing each other, the bond between them was strong. They constantly spoke through voice and video calls, she sent constant photos about everything that happened in her life and Alfred was happy about that. Everything he lacked with Julia, all the closeness and trust he would have liked with his late daughter, he gained with his granddaughter. Not even the distance allowed them to be separated or absent from each other's lives. Though only Bruce knew of her existence, they shared a unique family bond. He would have liked to be physically present in Marinette's life, but he knew it wasn't fair to make a 4-year-old child live in the chaos that was Gotham, the chaos that was the Wayne family.

When they reached the kitchen, Alfred indicated a chair for her to sit on, immediately putting the water on to heat, then bringing all the material to prepare tea for both of them.

“And then, mademoiselle, to what do I owe the honor of your visit? Why didn't you say you were coming to Gotham? I would have picked you up at the airport” he asked sitting down opposite her, she immediately took his hand. Alfred smiled at the gesture, knowing how much she liked and asked for physical contact.

"If I had, it wouldn't have been a surprise." her smile fell quickly, becoming slightly anxious “shouldn't I have come? Oh, I'm interfering with your work, aren't I? Oh my god I should have warned you and not just knocked on your employer's door...”

“It's okay my dear, I'm sure Master Bruce won't mind. He will certainly want to meet you” she said patting her hand lightly, seeing her expression calm down.

“I came to see how you were doing and to give you the news that I've moved on to the University of Gotham” she said extremely excited about the matter “and I start classes next month! I arrived in the city two days ago and it's been so busy. Everything is so different around here...”

“I thought you liked living with Sabine and Tom? I thought you were going to do Esmond, as you commented several times…”

"Paris has been my home for years, but I can't stay there after everything that's happened... With the whole Hawkmorth affair and I don't have that many friends to lock me up there..." Marinette looked at her grandfather with sad and tired eyes, taking a deep breath. She had already told him everything she could and what had happened to her from the beginning. Alfred was her only blood family, all she had that was related to her mother. For years, even apart, she formed a relationship of trust and friendship with her grandfather, telling him practically everything. She trusted him as much as she trusted Tikki and hoped that one day she would be able to open up to him the only part of her life he wasn't yet aware of.

The young woman took a deep breath, hearing the noise coming from the kettle and getting up “let me prepare it. I brought an herbal preparation that my old Mandarin teacher taught me. I know you don't like just any tea, but for some reason whenever Master Fu made it for me I was reminded of you.” she said as she walked over to the stove, bringing the kettle over to the table, failing to notice how her grandfather made her back stiff and tense with the comment.

Alfred watched his granddaughter take a can from inside her bag, opening it carefully, giving a slight sad smile with the memory that came through the aroma of tea. She put a little of the mixture on the porcelain, adding the water next, looking at the clock so that she wouldn't waste the preparation time. He was intrigued by the name quoted by his granddaughter. It couldn't just be coincidence, but he saved that information for now.

“And what happened to him?” he asked seeing her give a sad smile.

“He passed away in London together with his wife 2 years ago. I visited them from time to time, they were quite old.” she sighed looking at the clock again. “According to him, the secret of a well-made tea is not only the herbs used, but also the time for it not to become bitter and, above all, the energy we put into it when we prepare it. He helped me a lot when Hawkmorth came along, especially with my anxiety attacks. He helped me with some self-defense classes as well. In return I helped him with the massage shop schedule and some shopping.”

Alfred drank some of his tea and smiled. It tasted great and took him back to a past he hadn't told anyone about. He looked at the can that was on the table, smelling the herbs, realizing in his memory the same preparation he hadn't seen since his youth. He took a deep breath looking at his granddaughter weighing what he should say or not, taking her hand he saw her eyes go towards him.

“When I was in the war many years ago, before I met your grandmother Marie, I met a man named Wang Fu.” He paused, watching his granddaughter hold her breath, “he made that same tea and said that, like everything else in life, nature requires balance. For a good tea, we need good leaves, which require time and patience, the latter being a virtue. I confess that this was a quality I lacked at the time” he smiled slightly at the memory “We met a few times, until one day he found me seriously injured. He took care of me for 3 days until I was able to recover.” she paused, adjusting her posture, “Fu was a rather peculiar man, you might say. He followed the war from afar, although he tried not to intervene. In those three days that we were together, I met his fiancée, Marianne. She was part of the French resistance, just like her grandmother.” He paused with a sad look on his face, patting his granddaughter's hand lightly, "He gave me a second chance, which completely changed the course of the war."

Marinette took a quick breath at the two words spoken by Alfred and he couldn't help but show his surprise when he heard what her granddaughter mumbled. “Sass?” she spoke Kwami's name almost instinctively, bringing her hand to her mouth right after. She saw Alfred smile slightly, placing her hand between his two.

“Certainly he was very agreeable company for several months, until the war was over. Wang Fu said it was too dangerous to remain where he was and left a few days later with our mutual friend.” he smiled slightly patting the hand he was holding “We kept in touch after many years. It was Fu who told me about the existence of his mother, Julia, who until that moment was unknown to me. He was a great friend and is an irreparable loss.” Alfred make a pause, looking Marinette in the eyes “But what intrigues me at the moment my dear is how you met him and know that name.” he said letting go of her hand, hearing a faint alarm coming from the direction of the oven. He got up then to check on dinner.

Marinette was speechless upon hearing her grandfather's story. She held her teacup in both hands, trying to center herself and think of what to say. At least that explains the protective aura coming from Alfred that she always felt when she was with him. She takes a sip from her tea, and close her eyes quickly, sucking in air and concentrating. When she opened it she could see Sass's aura around her grandfather, letting a tear flow. Alfred, like Luka, was one of the true holders of Sass, which explained so much on her mind. She got up going to the island in the middle of the kitchen and pulling the bench to sit down, seeing the door open then, turning her attention to the person who entered.

"Alfred, I'm going to need..." Bruce stopped talking as soon as he saw that Alfred wasn't alone. He adjusted his posture giving his charismatic smile, watching the young woman who was sitting, apparently talking to the butler. "I didn't know I was interrupting, sorry Alfred."

Alfred finished removing the dinner that was almost complete from the oven, seeing the door open and hearing Bruce come in, he sighed deeply, shaking his head, and approaching his granddaughter, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“Master Bruce, let me introduce you to my granddaughter Marinette Pennyworth Dupain-Cheng. Mari, this is Bruce Wayne. Every male in our family has worked here at some point.”

Bruce flashed a wide smile that Marinette found forced, but ignored in favor of Alfred. However, what bothered her was the aura that emanated from him. She closed her eyes briefly, taking his hand towards the man in front of him, giving a slight smile.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Wayne. My grandfather spoke a few times about you.” she said squeezing his hand.

“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Dupain-Cheng. Alfred told me about you, although he is very secretive about his own family.” Bruce responded with great enthusiasm, which made Marinette tilt her head slightly and Bruce slightly raise his eyebrow.

"Marinette, please behave yourself..." Alfred caught her attention with a slightly raised eyebrow, looking at her and then at Bruce. His granddaughter just sighed, looking at him.

“I'll ignore it this time. I have to go, I have dinner with Uncle Jagged tonight and if I don't make it on time, I'm sure I'll get several calls from him coming to the restaurant.” She saw Alfred nod, realizing he recognized the name from conversations they'd had earlier. She went to the table, picking up her bag and stopping again in front of Bruce who looked at her intrigued. “It was a pleasure to finally meet you. I hope we can talk more properly next time” She gave a slight smile and turned her attention to Alfred. “I need to use the restroom before I go.”

“As soon as you leave the kitchen, it's the second door on the left.” He watched her leave, turning his attention back to Bruce, “Master Bruce, I'm going to ask you two important things: the first is that you be original with her, Marinette can see right through all this media act. Second and most important, my granddaughter has had some very difficult things in her life and I would like you to make a big effort not to start an investigation into her life. She is a strong and very sensitive person, you will realize that over time...”