#What did he MEAN a world without his brother being right there to help him was the better world??? What the FUCK did he mean???

[thevibraniumveterans]

Ok, can’t believe I didn’t realize this until like 3 minutes ago, but in his childhood, the only types of physical contact were all negative, and if I’m assuming right, his dad would beat him and hit him. I don’t know if his mom ever raised her hands against him, but it still didn’t help matters.

Then along came Yelena.

She means him no harm, and in fact was the first person who did NOT seek to manipulate or harm him in any way or form. Outside the incinerator chamber, she takes him aside and talks to him as a fellow person. Never once did she ever raise her hands against him. She sees him as someone to protect, someone who deserves the care he never quite received as a child, someone who is just as if not more broken than she is. It’s not pity that she shows him; she sees him and understands him. She is gentle with him, but doesn’t treat him as if though he might shatter at any moment. She shows concern for him. She cares about him.

I’d previously left my thoughts in comments on other posts, but I’d like to point out that while I really, REALLY like their dynamic (and whatever it is that they have going on), I don’t know if *I* personally see them together as a couple. That said, their relationship and dynamic does actually share characteristics of various types of other relationships and dynamics, so it’s not that easy to boil it down to one of several descriptors. What they have, has characteristics of friendship AND family (motherly, sisterly).

The bond that they have is really quite distinct, and transcends any kind of labels. There are multiple arguments to be made in favor of opinions such as “is she like a sister to him?” (Yes.), “is she his friend?” (Also yes.), “is she part of his newfound family now?” (Unsurprisingly, yes.), “can they be a couple?” (Sure, I guess.) And ALL CAN BE TRUE at the same time! They’ve formed an emotional connection with each other. She’s the light in his darkness, his grounding force, his tether to reality. He’s the brother she gained, the family she needed, the friend she can believe in. He asks for her when he doesn’t see her; she sees him at his highest AND lowest and still does not judge.

They are each other’s person and don’t need labels. Is it not too much to ask that they just exist outside of typical adjectival relationship descriptors, because they’re not typical in any way, shape, or form? They’re just as if not more broken than the rest of their teammates, and while they might not make each other whole, they still matter enough to each other.

There are so many other ways to describe their relationship and dynamic.

She makes him feel safe and accepted.

In two separate interviews with the New York Times and Men’s Health Magazine, Lewis Pullman says that Bob and Yelena’s chemistry was informed by the real life dynamic he had with his castmate Florence Pugh, saying:

“She is one of the first people who really sees him. They have this commonality of desperateness for connection and for meaning. That was something that I related to with Florence. She was so generous and compassionate toward me coming into this world. She saw that I felt like I didn't belong and didn't feel like I was going to be able to ever rid myself of this impostor syndrome. And she took it upon herself to be a very supportive, not just castmate, but friend. And that's hopefully what you see on camera.”

And

“So much of it comes down to Florence just being an outlier of a person and an artist. She is so full of joy and humor, and she experiences life in such a rich way. She doesn't let any moment pass without being very conscious and deliberate about it. I grew very close to her, and very fond of her, because she also took me under her wing. I think it was very much reminiscent of when she first joined the Marvel Universe and how intimidating it was. I felt instantly like I was in good hands. I trusted her. And so I owe it all to her. You know, anything that feels like it was real on camera was the result of Florence being so gracious, and human, and embracing.”

The way he describes his dynamic with Florence Pugh could also be used to describe what Bob has with Yelena.

❗️❗️spoilers Thunderbolts* ❗️❗️

So I noticed they were very tactile...And since the start!!!

Can we take a minute to talk about it 🫠

[matts-girlfriend]

It’s You I Welcome Death With- Chris Sturniolo

TattooArtist!Chris and MakeupArtist!Reader

chapter 15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

warning this series will contain, substance abuse, angst, arguing,tension,swearing, mentions of absent family, blood, abuse (not from chris). smut, oral, this is a warning for all chapters

He left the house without looking back.

Didn’t say a word to her stepdad. Didn’t glance at the room they were just in. Didn’t breathe until he hit the street and the cold air slapped him in the face like a fucking reminder.

He lost. Again.

She meant it.

That whole speech, his whole fucking soul on display and she still looked at him with those glassy eyes and said,

“I think we need to just be friends.”

He let out a breath that sounded like a laugh, but it wasn’t funny.

Nothing was fucking funny.

He got in the car, gripping the wheel like it might steady him. Like it could hold him together when everything else was splitting at the seams.

His jaw ached from clenching it too tight.

“Friends,” he muttered, mocking her voice under his breath like a bitter asshole. “Sure. Fucking besties.”

But it didn’t help. Didn’t clear his head. Didn’t fix the feeling in his chest like something was sitting there heavy, unmovable.

It was her.

That look in her eyes when she said it—“I think we need to just be friends.”

She didn’t cry. Didn’t yell. Just said it with this quiet, tired finality that fucking wrecked him.

His hands gripped the steering wheel so tight the leather creaked. For a second, he just sat there, the engine off, staring at his own reflection in the rearview.

He looked like hell.

And all he could think was — What the fuck did I just do?

How did it get here?

He tried to rewind the moment in his head. Back to the moment he followed her up to the office, her hand brushing his arm like she needed him to shut up and just walk. The way she acted so normal in front of her stepdad — eyes flat, voice steady. Like she’d practiced being fine.

He didn’t say anything till the door shut behind them. He couldn’t.

But the second they were alone, she turned to him with that look guard up, voice sharp, and asked, “Why are you here, Chris?”

And he told her. All of it. The truth, finally. That he didn’t mean what he said in the hotel. That he got scared and bluffed and said shit he didn’t mean because feelings real ones weren’t part of the plan. Not for him. Not for her.

And she just looked at him like he was a stranger.

She talked about how from her side, it felt like a fucking joke. He was gone in the morning, and when she walked out, she heard him talking shit about her to his brother.

He tried to explain — tried to tell her he didn’t mean it, that he was trying to protect something, maybe himself, maybe her, he didn’t fucking know. But she scoffed like she’d already heard it all before.

She said they were stupid for even thinking it could work.

And then she said the worst part — “You don’t know me.”

And that… that was when something snapped.

Because he did know her.

He knew that her favorite color was green not just because it looked good on her, but because she said if the world could only be one color, she’d want it to be green. Said it felt like hope.

He knew she loved makeup, sure. But he also knew she wanted to be a social worker. That she didn’t talk about it much because she didn’t think she was smart enough or stable enough or enough, period. But she wanted to help kids like her. Like Ava.

He knew she blamed herself every time that asshole stepfather of hers so much as looked at Ava wrong. Knew she carried the weight like it was her fault. Knew she’d burn the whole world down to protect her little sister, even if it meant burning herself in the process.

And he told her all of that.

Said it right to her face.

And then he watched as she blinked — just once. A tear slipped out, quick. But she didn’t crumble. She didn’t break. She just looked at him like maybe, maybe for one second, she believed him.

And then she said it.

“I think we need to just be friends.”

No yelling. No drama. Just those words, soft and final.

And Chris nodded.

He fucking nodded.

Because what else was he supposed to do? Get on his knees? Beg?

He wasn’t the guy who begged. He never had been.

But now, sitting in his car with his fists clenched and his throat tight, he was starting to think maybe he would’ve.

If she asked.

Because now, after all of it, the weight hit him full force.

He didn’t just care about her.

He didn’t just want her.

He was in love with her.

Fuck.

He let out a breath that sounded like it got punched out of him.

“I’m in love with her,” he muttered. Like saying it out loud would make it less terrifying. Less real.

But it didn’t.

It just made him feel sick.

Because he was in love with a girl who wanted to be friends.

A girl who didn’t trust him anymore. Who probably never would.

He started the engine, knuckles white on the wheel.

No music. No noise.

Just the sound of his world quietly coming apart.

a/n: i feel gutted.

taglist:

@courta13 @m4gz-png @lezleeferguson-120

@h3arts4nat @izzylovesmatt @sturnioliolo @hsemeria @sturniqloo

@venusbabysblog @chrisslut04 @crazy4weeed @chriscokewhore @chrisswaffles @urfavvvnyasee @sturnzluv @freshluvr @mattthemunchh @poolover123 @pleasantdelusionbear @carpentersturns @emosexyvirgin @emillionaireee @shamelessmilkshakefest @xoxochrissgf @sturniolodollx @joyfulheartwhispers @cutseylady @oopsiedaisydeer @steph1106

@laylaluvsu2000 @lvrsturniolo @chloe444 @yamommmasman @55sturn @whenlovesaround @luvs-booksss @vampyyluv @snowysosturn @moth-feeet @mx7ka @amb-3-r @ncm9696 @alinagrace11 @cherryystemm @bblbilly @d3vwrlds @chrismybouncyhouse @emeraldsturns

[astro-b-o-y-d]

I know a lot of Ford fans love the whole A Better World thing, but I feel like Ford would HATE it in hindsight and feel a lot of shame for writing those pages in the first place.

[cloveroctobers]

act right | Elias “STACK” Moore x black! Reader

A/N: I thought I might dabble in some mess that involves stack idk. This is a toxic moment!!!!! but you definitely have to be if stack is your type…or are you gonna fix him? 😆

Synopsis: in which reader finds it entertaining that stack is back in town and in her face, thinking you’re about to spin the block again. He must have forgotten who tf you are.

WARNINGS: language/minor usage of the N-word, mentions of violence, cheater!stack, side chicks and shit talking, built past relationship, most of reader’s background is based off of Katherine Dunham, & this was honestly a quick write on this cloudy weekend but I hope y’all like it?

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃

It’s truly an art, pretending that you don’t see someone staring at you. There were so many people in the juke joint, many old and new faces that you didn’t mind chatting with, after Annie made you one of the best Bee’s Knees you ever had. You had no doubts about it, considering the two of you had quite the bond especially when it came to events such as these.

Usually you had no issue blending into the room and once comfortable you made effort to socialize. And usually that always ended up with you on the dance floor, you being nicknamed as, “QOD, Queen of Dance,” who always seemed to take the lead once all eyes were on you. There were many years where you were forced to be held back, shield your gift and be what your parents wanted you to be. When they found out that you opened up your own dance school just in your teens, where you spent majority of your time after school instead of helping down at the struggling local newspaper shop, your family couldn’t be more than livid.

Little did they know by you opening up this school, helped contribute to expenses but it also brought on some guilt after your brother was left alone to run the newspaper stand by the trains, which led to him being paralyzed and wheelchair bond for the rest of his life. The hate in this world is a motherfucker and regardless if you were there or not when those events transpired, it still could have happened.

These were the times you were expected to live in.

People don’t understand that some brains can be delayed but that doesn’t mean your brother was a bad person or deserved what he got. He was one of the main ones who was proud to see you dance and told you that you could always be more than what momma and daddy wanted you to be. So? You kept on dancing.

Until you felt hands on your hips, facial hair prickling the side of your neck. His front pressing into the shape of your backside so easily he felt like he belonged there. You halted your movements, hearing his voice over the blues.

“Girl you sure do look good as hell,” he comments trailing his lips up the side of your neck breathing you in, “I’ve been looking around town for you but somehow I knew you’d find your own invitation.”

Your hands touch his and shove them from your body, you spin to face him with fire in your blood. Stack looks the same as you always remembered him, a handsome yet dangerous darkness that you didn’t sign up for.

“I’m not here to support you if that’s what you’re thinkin’,” you go back to swaying your hips and Stack can’t help but to run his tongue over his bottom lip, “I came here to dance.”

Stack laughs lowly, rough like gravel and like the texture of his hands. That same hand runs at his jaw as he watches the way you move without a care in the world, as if it wasn’t easy to gain an audience.

“Is that right?” His hand reaches forward again but even with your eyes closed, you reach out just in time to smack his hand away. Stack hissed with a shake of his hand, “…See you can do all that but you and I both know, you would much prefer to dance on me.”

Your eyes rolled open at that, stopping your movements as you peered over at him underneath the yellow light. Your hand goes right to your hip, where his hand should be but he lost that right. Lost that right when he lied saying you weren’t his first thought when he got to Chicago. You went out there to pursue your dream career whereas he went out there with Smoke to make money and fuck shit up.

That’s not what he intended to do with you.

There was a time where you believed Stack did love you but you would never be someone’s second thought.

A cold smile passes over your full lips, “Oh Elias…you think if I let you dick me down on this ol’ dance floor things will be forgiven? We had our fun in Chi-Town and you had even more with your hussies out there. Even gave one of them the ring that belongs to me and now you want to be in my face thinking shit is sweet? You should go play with Mary who’s over there lookin’ as if she could throw a tornado our way…she always did put up with your fuck shit better than me.”

Stack’s jaw ticked out of frustration. He didn’t need you to bring up old shit right now, not when he was already having a good night with the vibe of success in the air. When he spotted you, he couldn’t take his eyes off of you. Wouldn’t. He should have known coming over here wouldn’t be easy…something you never were. Stack ignored Smoke who told him, “If you go over there, you might want to Bob to the left since her hook’s always been sharp.”

It wouldn’t be the first time you took your frustration out on somebody. Obviously it wasn’t always the best choice and you knew when to apologize when you knew the person behind your wrath didn’t deserve it.

Elias Moore was a whole another story.

“I don’t give a damn about her right now,” Stack stepped to you but you didn’t flinch just folded your arms with a smirk on your mouth, “I’m talking to your ass. And I know you missed me as much as I missed you, sweetheart.”

“What gave you that idea?” You laugh, “Every call I never returned? I was too busy living life, just like you.”

Stack’s known all about your adventures after Chicago. From Martinique to Jamaica and Trinidad. His gut was telling him then to follow you, he should have followed you all over the world but his ego got the best of him. He even came to a few of the shows, tucked away in the dark corners of the theatre and felt like he was the loudest of applauses. He was sure you could pinpoint him out as you curtesy at the end of the shows, even thought about sending you flowers but felt like that would be doing too much. Especially when you caught him with one of the other dancers in the hallway.

He sniffs, fingers flexing at his sides, “You cant live no damn life without thinkin’ of me.”

There goes that ego again.

A scoff of a laugh flies out of your mouth, hand going to rest against your cheek afterwards as you peek into the anger on his face, just as you would when surveying one of the his drink’s you would always sample first before handing it over to him, much to his annoyance.

“If you really think that then I’m really about to break your heart, boo.” It’s your turn to step even closer to him, “You come and go out of my life as much as you please. What’s the harm in me doing the same?”

His teeth are flashing at you now, gold grill glistening beneath his beautiful smile. “You always did know how to knock a man off his feet.”

Your head tilts to the side, eyes almost glancing around his frame, just knowing what he was referring to. You shot him in the ass after you found out from some friends that he fucked Mary in the back of his car one night. At that point the both of you were just friends but…he should have never shown up and got in the way when you were letting out your frustrations! You claimed you were aiming for his leg once you got back into bed with him weeks later but the both of you knew better.

“And you always knew how to make love hurt.”

Something shifted inside of Stack at your snapping words just then.

It was no secret that stack hurt you.

When he was able to sit alone with his feelings and look back on it all, he knew he fucked up. There were times where he just felt like his brain did more than his heart would allow him. He knew you deserved better but ultimately he felt like nobody else deserved you more than him.

“Whatchu want a sorry?” Stack clasped his hands in front him, guard up, “Will that get you to stop acting so stank and admit that you’re not gonna find anybody that loves you more than me?”

You’re shaking your head now, “Fuck your sorry, Stack. Especially since you think that’s enough. I just wanted you to act right and you never could.”

Your hands softly trail against his chest and his breath hitches, tempted to watch your hands skillfully dance across his broad chest but like he said, he couldn’t keep his eyes off you. That moment of tenderness is brief as you shove him back, actually making him budge.

That makes a cruel smile past over your features, knowing you got him in a trance as you step around him, ready to bump shoulders with him but he side steps you. His hand shoots out to grip your wrist, turning you roughly back to him. He pulls you tight against his frame, making sure you’re nose to nose as you stumble. You’re breathing him in when you want to keep him out.

His mouth is open like he’s got something smart to say but his heart is the soundtrack in his ears instead of the harmonica now.

“If you don’t have anything else to waste my time with, then you best unhand me before I make you a new headline, Elias.” You say into his face, eyes strong and bold on his whiskey hues.

Stack’s grip slackens, very slowly because he still wants to have a hold on you. You’ve always liked your personal space and it took time for you to open up to him just as him with you. Maybe he shouldn’t be holding on if he didn’t know how to do it right or the way that you needed.

Just giving you the inch, you slip out of his touch, that lingers as it glides over your bare back in that low-cut dress. A wink is sent his way, making him twitch and let a sickening grin appear over his own face, although he knew you were far from joking, ready to set it off at any given time just like him—although you claimed to be a changed woman using forms of dance as the best outlet—Stack still knew you even if you thought he wasn’t shit.

You even shoo him away, yelling over the music, “Why don’t you get you one of those sidecars from Annie? Maybe that’ll uplift your spirits because it damn sure won’t be from me.”

And with that being said Stack had to swallow that as he watched you again, slipping through the bodies, dancing with a few on your way by, before finding another stranger to sink your body into. A scowl is on Stack’s face now, as your hips swung left and right while another nigga buried his face in what should be his.

Rightfully.

He promised he wouldn’t cause a scene tonight and he would keep his cool but he remembered faces. That nigga wouldn’t be allowed back in this spot ever again after disrespecting him. Once he was able to get moving again, he tapped one of his boys, pointing out some red dude that had his hands on you for his men to take care of some time tonight.

While he leaned against the bar with Annie giving him a knowing glance which he held his hand up to before she slid him a sidecar—without that decorative shit on the side of the glass she tried to give him last time during one of your birthday parties—Stack couldn’t help but to wonder if you’d ever dance his way again but deep down he already knew the answer.

Yet everybody that knew Stack was aware that he was hardheaded. Once he set his sights on something, he knew how to be persuasive…in his own way. It was his turn to smile behind the rim of the glass as he watched two of his men snatch the red man away from you as you twirled from his grasp, hands up in the air, briefly distracted from their attack.

When you turned back to the missing man, a look of confusion passed over your face before you shrugged, moving through the remaining crowd to plop down next to Sammie, who sported his own guitar lounging by the stage.

Some heartaches you freestyle around, twisting and turning, and some you drink through—and some may just cause you to bleed out.

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃𝄃𝄃

FIN.

[nervoussagittarius]

matt sturniolo and y/n being cute for 6 minutes straight

matt sturniolo x reader

summary: a compilation of cute moments between matt and his girlfriend, caught on camera

warnings: none

☼ you and the triplets had decided to take a trip to hawaii for a week vacation. the boys were vlogging for their channel in the airport when nick panned over to you and matt sitting side by side sharing a pair of headphones.

“matt how do you feel about going back to hawaii?” nick asked. as matt seaming didn’t hear what he said, you squeezed his hand you were holding pausing the music that was playing for you two.

you were about to slip your had out of matt’s when he grabbed it again using his other hand to pull your chair closer to his. “we’re very excited nick, aren’t we baby.” he said glancing between you and the camera

“i’m excited to eat really good food and be really tan”

“and i’m excited to see y/n in a bikini” matt replied as you jokingly slapped his chest.

matt looked at you again as he began to smother your face in kisses and you giggled.

“and that’s enough of those two” nick said turning to chris instead.

☼ you had just fallen asleep when the boys started filming for their new wednesday video. you had come over to hangout with matt. deciding you didn’t want to run to the grocery store with them, you quickly found comfort in matt’s bed.

“chris, can you read off the recipe?” nick asked, trying to find measuring spoons. the triplets were filming another cooking video for this week, and they didn’t have the best track record with making things the right way.

“nick, i don’t know what the fuck any of this means. why can’t you just read it and i’ll measure?”

“matt what are you doing? why aren’t you mixing the ingredients?” nick asked. he was starting to feel annoyed at the idea of making these muffins from scratch.

“can’t we just ask y/n for help? she’s good at this kind of stuff” chris explained trying to get his brothers attention. “fine chris just go get her”

chris walked into matt’s room, and seeing you asleep he thought nothing of it and woke you. “y/n, we need help baking for our video.” he then walked out assuming you would follow.

you quickly woke up throwing on one of matt’s hoodies and made your way to the kitchen. nick was the first to notice you and how you looked slightly lethargic from not being fully awake yet. “chris did you wake her up or something? why would you do that?” this caught matt’s attention and he quickly took in your current state.

“chris!” matt slightly exclaimed. he turned to you and walked you both to what he thought was out of the camera frame. he quickly pulled you into a hug “i didn’t know you were sleeping otherwise i would’ve never let him bother you. are you okay being in the video quick… cause if not you can go back to sleep. i’m really sorry for waking you”

“no no. chris didn’t know. it’s okay matt, i don’t mind” matt then grabbed your his hoodie pocket pulling you over to the table. nick went on to explain what the boys had done so far and asked if you could be there to double check their work. matt kept a comforting hand on your back as he stood beside you, and he kissed your head occasionally as you scolded chris on the messed up measurements he was adding.

☼ matt was doing a quick stream when you arrived at the boy’s house. you just got off work and all you wanted was to see matt and tell him you loved him.

silently you walked into matt’s room trying not to disturb him as you walked over. “hi baby! how was your day?” matt said pushing one side of his headset off his ear.

streaming would never stop him from giving you all the attending in the world. he loved showing you off. he pulled you over to his desk. “look guys, y/n just got here. look at how pretty she looks.” he gave you the biggest hug pulling you up into him. he gave you as kiss not caring that the chat was going wild over how cute you two were.

“can i sit with you?” you brushed a piece of hair out of his eyes. without hesitating he sat the two of you down on his desk chair. you guys talked with the chat for a little bit before matt grabbed his controller going back to the game he was playing.

you sat there contently stealing little glances at him, which didn't go unnoticed by the fans.

☼ nick was having one of his moments where he was very active on snapchat. he was answer everyones questions when all of a sudden, unbeknown to nick, you and matt were caught cuddling in the back of one of his pictures.

his messages were soon flooded with comments about the two of you and how cute you were.

nick shortly became disgusted with all the girls making comments on you and his brother. he passed his phone over to you to make a statement on the situation.

"hi guys, y/n here. nick gave me his phone to talk to you all. yes, matt is here, and yes we are cuddling." you began to giggle at how insane you felt. matt lifted his head from your chest at the movement, giving a shut eye smile to the camera.

chats started coming in specifically directed to you this time. you tried to answer as many as you could, but most were just saying how they love you and how matt always looks so "babygirl" when he's you're together.

you loved how accepting the boys fans were of your relationship. you started a new video focusing on matt's sleeping face resting on you. "please everyone, let's take a minute and look at how cutie patootie matt is. he's just so kissable and squeezable"

"okay give me my phone back. i'm officially disgusted."

"bye guys!" matt said opening one eye to look at the camera and wave.

☼ you and matt had decided to have a little date night while nick and chris went out with some of your friends. you guys hadn't had much time alone in the past couple of weeks so this was a nice change of pace.

the night started out simple. the two of you had a picnic at the beach and then you ended up stargazing out of matt's car. as both of you made your way back to the triplets house you thought it would be a good idea to bake some cookies and watch a movie for the rest of the night.

while you two were baking, you were unaware that nick and chris were on their way back with tara and jake. music was softly playing as you set the tray of cookies into the oven.

"dance with me." matt stated, grabbing your hand to spin you around. you let out a laugh as you wrapped your arms around his neck.

coming up to the front door, tara was vlogging the group upon arrival. chris unlocked the front door as they all entered. the music could be heard from the front stairs.

"should we try to scare them?"

"absolutely! just wait and let me get my camera back out"

as they all piled into the living room quietly, they noticed you two in your own world dancing to some mac miller song. your head rested on matts chest as he swayed to the beat.

"stop it. they're so cute. the girlies are going to die for this footage"

you and matt quickly glanced at the group of four. at the same time the timer went off for the cookies.

"alright enough with the cute coupley-ness. let's see how these cookies turned out"

---------------------

comments:

i love them. i don't know who i want to be more

its so funny how everyone is so in love with them being in love and nick is just grossed out 24/7

i love how y/n is never wearing her own clothes. only matts

they're so in love its not even funny

"i just want to see y/n in a bikini" me too matt. me too

[sunnyknight-original]

Dear My Dear -

an @forgettable-au fan-slideshow

At the end of their journey, Sans has remembered everything. And theres only one question on his mind now…

*now what?

Its lore time. omg theres so much-

The way ill organize this…lIll start with the GENERAL thing, before getting more spesific, and explain each slide in way too much detail.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

This is the hypothetical end to their journey. Sans and Papyrus remember what happened, and this is how Sans is handling it. A letter to Wingdings.

I was hesitant to make this at first for obvious reasons- we dont know how its gonna end!!! But I took this more as a “what if ?” scenario. IF they ever remember anything, how would Sans specifically, react? I mean thats gotta be tough.

Because of that though, lot of what happened to lead up to this is kept vague.

ill explain in way more detail how Sans got to the point of writing this letter, and how he feels in the end when I explain each slide individually. But the reason why, the MAIN ISSUE is…

Over the years, hes put so much effort into enjoying what he has. And- nothings even changed!!! So why does he feel so much has? Now that he remembers what he lost…WHO he lost. He cant help but have this voice in the back of his head that says “would it have been better if that never happened? if Papyrus never existed?” and of course he absolutely hates to think that! but the voice gets louder. Writing this letter, is an act of closure. Of laying to rest someone he never got to. Someone he never even really got to do much with.

(Excuse the shitty quality of the images- I promise they’re better. WATCH THE VIDEO)

my dear wingdings,)

Sans says “wingdings” here instead of “brother”. that’s important. Also its on a white void, showing a sorta “heavenly imagery” with the mention of Wingdings. Also Gaster is in a BLACK void, but hes talking about WD here, so, contradictions.

you never came back, and now…after remembering everything everything clearly i understand why.)

Sans and Papyrus are sitting by a fire at night. They are both sorta lost in their own worlds at the moment, but are more or less leaning on one another for comfort and support. They both need each other right now despite each other being the whole reason why they feel the way they do right now-

Papyrus is notably no longer wearing the white coat that somewhat resembles a lab coat. Symbolism! Growth!

(art note: I drew Sans as a lefty in this- cherish it. It was so hard to draw these hands at these angles- CHERISH IT.)

i don’t imagine you’ll receive this letter, but i, nonetheless, must send it. wingdings….oh ‘dings…)

the first part is somewhat of a self aware/sarcastic joke. Sans is writing this letter for himself- he doesn’t imagine Wingdings, the dead man, will ever see it. Nor would Gaster care to read it. Thats another important thing, this is NOT a letter for Gaster. This is a letter for Wingdings. which is for Sans

The star in the sky symbolizes a few different things- the main one being Wingdings ofc. But also Papyrus’ expectations of himself- which mainly come from who he was. He’s looking at it, reflecting, thinking of what Wingdings did, and what Papyrus has done. Who he is NOW, and if he ever was Wingdings.

Or if Wingdings just became him.

A square is a rectangle, but a rectangle isn’t a square type thing.

i was just starting to dream the silliest- the softest of dreams. i miss you. and i will always miss you.)

2 contradictions, what Sans used to think, vs what he knows now. The memories were fuzzy- he couldn’t remember The Royal Scientist, he just feels like he remembers some nice times. Before now knowing everything clearly. And he still misses it- slightly.

The reflections are blacked out at first, before showing their future selves. Before, there was no connection to the present because it wasnt true. It felt like/was 2 completely different things

but i cannot live like that.)

Sans can still tell, even without the rose tinted glasses view he used to have, he cant live missing the past and not living in the present. He always knew that, but repeating it here makes him feel better.

Pictured is Sans and Papyrus hiking up the mountain next to the city as the sun sets. Papyrus is in full view of the light, but is facing away in order to help Sans see it too. Symbolism!

and it seems you cannot live any other way.)

another reference to the fact that Wingdings cant live… at all now. But also an awareness that part of him lives on in Gaster. The thing that killed him.

I doubt hes going to change in any way by the end of the comics, he’s far to obsessive about angels and the player for childish stuff like “growth” and “changing for the better as a human being”

when i was with you, the world made sense. but now that we are apart, i see clearly that your world is not a world from which one can escape.)

When they were together, they knew what they wanted to be. They wanted to be scientists. But after being apart so long and experiencing so much uncertainty, Sans finds that mindset is unhealthy. Again, a lot of this is stuff he already knew, but is repeating to himself because after remembering everything, he feels as if hes back at square one.

As kids they would test echo flowers, for science purposes! We don’t know yet if WDs voice comes through on them, but I imagine not… maybe. But for this we’re gonna say no. Their speech bubbles are trying so hard to be circles- the scribbles also somewhat resemble stars because I thought that’d be fun.

But the last slide has it shown that he dug them out, also for science purposes!

He took the echo flowers from their roots, much later on in his lab career. That in itself isnt that bad, but it symbolizes that he doesn’t care much for taking things slow. He wants to test with echo flowers? **TAKES EVERY SINGLE ONE WITHIN A 100 MILE RADIUS**

Also the empty holes reflects sort of what happened after he died. All of the underground was left with holes to fill. Sans, a childhood/brother. Alphys, the royal scientist. Those are the main ones but he was THE ROYAL SCIENTIST im sure there were more (smaller) holes that may or may not have been filled.

Ok and the last thing the flowers being taken out represent- he took the ones specifically from when they were kids, and abandoned what was left for the grass to grow tall and the entire area to be, in general, a lot flatter. In his quest to basically never grow up and continue being the thing he KNEW he wanted to be since kindergarten- he’s taken everything and left the rest in the dust. He’s The Royal Scientist now, he “doesn’t need anything else.”

i’m so sorry. for everything. for everything long ago, and for starting up that machine again.

Sans knows he could have been better. He could have done things differently, and that thought messes with him, even before he remembered.

The 2nd image is Sans at Grillbys after another failed attempt to get Wingdings outside. Despite the fact that he could have done things differently, theres no real reason to be “sorry” But still, he cant help but feel like he should be. He could have done things differently- could have tried harder, and gotten Wingdings out more often- or at all.

Im not sure where the machine in Sans’ lab comes into play in this AU, but it worked for the purposes of this audio.

theres a good man within you, wingdings. but he is wrestling with a giant. and the giant WINS time and again.)

Before everything, there was still a good man inside Wingdings that Sans saw. But now that he’s Gaster he just cant see him ever changing... and yknow what hes probably right. Like Papyrus says! Anyone can be a good person if they just try!…Gaster just isnt trying

“Wins” being emphasized here, I enjoy, since its sorta a video gamey term. The giant hes wrestling is that/the player, after all. Also probably his ego

I also had fun with kid Wingdings and what he’s drawing. Ofc its all him and Sans plus silly little stars, but him being finished drawing Sans, but not yet finished drawing himself, symbolizes the fact that at that age he still didn’t really know what he wanted to be, I feel like Wingdings kinda remembers the past wrong. Sure he definitely had science on the mind, but younger kids are often filled with questions, he questions if thats truly where he’d be the happiest.

Thats the good man within him

you’ve broken my soul again, and i fear i have broken yours. and for that i will never forgive myself, but i need to let you go now.)

the star represents, again, Wingdings. And the moon represents Sans, which shines only under the Suns (Papyrus’) light.

The sun is beginning to rise, and Sans and Papyrus are beginning to leave. Sans puts out the fire, closing this chapter of his life.

Because of every reason he needed to relearn/re-reflect on listed here, hes ready to let Wingdings go now. Sans is the one to put out the fire here, and not Papyrus, cause this is from the perspective of how SANS handles putting this issue to rest. Papyrus can have his own fire to put out later

Another thing about putting out the fire, thats just kinda common knowledge to do especially at a public camping spot. Yknow what else is common knowledge to do so you dont disrupt the community?? NOT REPLANTING FLOWERS-

Its not that deep…but still-

i send you the radio you made many years ago when we were kids. not because i dont want it, but… because i care for it far too much and it reminds me too much of you.)

CALL BACK!!!!!!

Sans leaves this last memento to Wingdings, the last thing they have that has nothing to do with Papyrus. Because at this point theres no reason to keep it, in Sans’ mind at least. There’s also no reason to destroy it- Like he says, hes not leaving it out of malice, theres just no good that will come from keeping it and holding onto the past.

As the sun rises, here we see the brothers leaving. in contrast to before, Sans is helping Papyrus down. Helping him down from the spotlight, the expectations he’s set upon himself. Another kick that Papyrus still has much more to reflect on and think about, he’s still looking back at that light, at a shooting star, at everything he thought he wanted to be.

i hope one day you will find some kind people who with appreciate you. for it kept me thinking of you all these years.)

GASTER FOLLOWERS!!!

Despite everything, Sans still wants whats left of Wingdings, Gaster, to be happy and find something, anyone, that will give him true happiness. It’s left ambiguous however if they truly do, do that for him. If it’s at all healthy.

cause frankly i have no idea how theyll be included. but just like everything- i cant wait to find out

EDIT: something important (and really wordy-) I just remembered and forgot to mention: the wording change “i hope you will find some kind people who will appreciate you”. I chose this because I think it’s the thing Wingdings and Papyrus just want the most. To be appreciated- to be loved for who they are. Sans is/has been so happy that Papyrus has found those people in Undyne, Toriel, Asgore, and…hopefullllyyy Alphys? And now that Sans remembers Wingdings, and remembers how badly he wanted that, and how he never did. Sans cant help but feel horrible for him, and in turn, Gaster. Sans forgives Wingdings, and loves Papyrus…and….he just wants the best for Gaster. He hopes he can find true happiness in that twisted mind of his…

and i hope by returning it to you, i can finally be free. goodbye.

- your brother

As the sun rises, the star gets smaller and smaller and eventually the sun replaces it. Remember when I said Papyrus represents the sun? SYMBOLISM!!!

Also about that, the star shines brighter than anything, but the Sun is among a lot of clouds, depicting how isolated Wingdings is/was despite shining the brightest, vs Papyrus who also does indeed shine! but isn’t isolated whatsoever.

Now, remember when I said Sans saying “my dear wingdings” instead of “my dear brother” was important? well, he acknowledges that he is still Wingdings’ brother, despite everything. So he signs off as “your brother” but… He’ll always try to remember Wingdings fondly…but…he’s unsure if he considers Wingdings his brother anymore- just because of how much they’ve changed. Thats why the whole thing is called Dear My Dear.

the radio + letter remains there in the end. I briefly played with the idea of having them disappear as the sun came out, implying that Gaster took the radio and reas the letter, but that was before I realized it was much better for this to be for Wingdings specifically, not Gaster/Wingdings/whatever.

FINALE!!! PLUS SOME BEHIND THE SCENES INFO!!!

weeps pitifully this was probably the most fun i’ve had with a project/the most happy i’ve come out of one. Learned lots about my process’ and what works! so thats awesome It took a while to make, so theres a lot of stuff I changed or ideas I scrapped that I find interesting, so im gonna show some of that on my side/shitpost account, @o-sunny-day

also isnt this so awesome???? I got a computer so I got to post more images than just 10, THIS IS SO AWESOME!!!

Have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Heres to being a bigger, better, and different person this year! except not really because despite everything its still you.

un-unless you…got shattered across time and space…. then you’re-

well I mean that-….. hm…

does that…? hmm, well….

[grandprixprincess]

hermana part 2 || ln4

lando norris x fem!reader smau + written

part 1!

warnings: some language, slightly steamy scene (no smut but mdni!!), carlos being a protective big brother and lando being down bad

a/n: thanks for all the love on part 1! I decided to do a mix of written + smau for this part. requests are open for smau and text fics <3

landonorris posted

liked by maxfewtrell, yourusername, maxverstappen1, and others

landonorris perfect day in the sun with the best company. getting lots of rest and relaxation before the triple header 🤙

view all comments

user1 "best company" aka just y/n

user2 wait she was with him again today??? user1 yes! f1gossip just posted the photos. they were alone all day 👀

user3 omg this means y/n took these pics! y/n.jpg when?

maxfewtrell looks like my invite got lost

user4 💀💀💀

yourusername ☀️🤗

user5 queen y/n thank u for taking these great pics

f1gossip posted

liked by user1, user2, and others

f1gossip Lando Norris and Y/N Y/L/N were spotted getting cozy this afternoon. The two embarked on a private yacht for an afternoon filled with swimming and laughter. Eyewitnesses say the two were alone all afternoon. It seems like things are rapidly heating up with these two. The next time Y/L/N is seen in the paddock, will she be rocking red ❤️ or papaya 🧡?

view all comments

user2 LANY/N NATION WAKE UP

user3 i can't believe lany/n is real omg

user1 right?? people used to ship them during the carlando mclaren days and now it's REAL

user4 the hand placement omgggg

user5 i wonder what carlos thinks

user2 who cares? it's their lives not his

user6 y/n in papaya at the austin gp pleaseee

user5 ain't no way. she'll always support carlos first, he is basically her brother

yourusername posted a close friends story

story replies:

yourbestfriend not the private yacht on the FIRST DATE

yourusername technically our first date is tomorrow night yourbestfriend literally stfu you know what i meant

carlossainz55 don't stay out too late

yourusername 🙄

landonorris posted a close friends story

story replies:

maxfewtrell did you tell her that you've been secretly in love with her for like 5 years yet or

landonorris OBVIOUSLY NOT i'm trying to play it cool

oscarpiastri I think I missed a chapter

carlossainz55 get my sister back home early cabrón

landonorris leave us alone carlos carlossainz55 excuse me? landonorris NO SORRY THAT WAS Y/N SHE TOOK MY PHONE landonorris I'll make sure she gets home safe mate! 👍

You giggled as you watched Lando frantically type a message back to Carlos. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself!"

You played with the stem of your wine glass. It had been a dream of a day. You were now sharing a bottle of wine together to end the night.

"Your brother is going to have my head!" He finished typing his message out, feeling satisfied, before setting his phone back down.

Fighting the urge to roll your eyes, you said, "You know he isn't really my brother, right?"

Lando chuckled. "You try telling him that."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." You swirled your glass a bit, taking another sip. "He's always been protective like that."

Lando let out another chuckle. "Oh trust me, I know."

His response and tone piqued your interest. You turned your head towards him, seeing a sly smile on his handsome face. "What do you mean?"

Lando opened and closed his mouth for a few moments, contemplating his words. Finally, he spoke. "I may have tried to ask you out in the past, but Carlos sort of, put a stop to it."

Your jaw dropped in shock. "What?!" You tried to fully understand what he was saying. "When was this exactly?"

Without hesitation, Lando responded, "During Carlos' last year in McLaren."

The shock was evident on your face. Silence rang in the air as you tried to find your words. Lando took the opportunity to speak again.

"And again during his first year in Ferrari."

"What?!" You couldn't believe what you were hearing. When Carlos was at McLaren, you were taking a few years off from school to travel. Traveling the world ended up being easy to do when Carlos agreed to let you tag along to all the races as his "assistant". Carlos was on a new team in F1 with a rookie teammate that was your age. You and Lando became friends quickly, and it wasn't long until you began to harbor a crush on him.

It was a secret only you and Y/BSF/N knew about. You definitely didn't tell Carlos, because you knew how that would go.

Once Carlos left McLaren, you went back to school and your appearances at the races dwindled down to one or two a year. You and Lando went from spending every weekend together running around the paddock, to seeing each other in passing as you made your way to Ferrari and he made his way to McLaren.

"That little shit. I'm going to kill him."

You weren't sure if it was the wine or just how carefree and fun everything with Lando was, but you couldn't stop the fit of giggles that escaped you. After a few moments, Lando joined you in your laughter. Tears began to escape both your eyes.

As the laughter died down, the moment suddenly felt very intimate. Lando's face was extremely close, the rest of the world melting away. "I'm pretty sure I started having a crush on you after that first race weekend." You suddenly felt shy, but you couldn't stop the confession from slipping out.

Now it was Lando's turn to express his surprise, his eyes widening for a moment. He searched your face for a moment, almost like he was waiting for you to tell him you were kidding. Finally, he spoke.

"I really want to kiss you."

You were grateful that the sun had fully gone down now, so there was minimal lighting to help hide the blush creeping on your cheeks. Your heart felt like it was going to beat out of your chest as you whispered out, "Why don't you?"

Lando's adoring gaze had you captivated. "I've wanted to do it for so long now," he confessed, "I want to do it right."

You couldn't help the sly smirk on your face as you teased, "I think we've been pining after each other long enough, don't you think?"

Lando reached his hand forward, cradling your cheek in his hand. His thumb brushed against your cheek, causing goosebumps down your arms.

You wanted to live in this moment forever; Lando being this close, his lips inches from yours. Finally, you both instinctively moved forward, your lips colliding after what felt like an eternity.

You both stilled for a moment, trying to rack your brains over the realization that this was actually and finally happening. After a few seconds, you melted into the kiss, sliding your hands up to rest around his neck.

The two of you moved in sync. It felt like your lips were made for each other. Lando's hand around your head tightened, while his second hand found its home on your waist. One of your hands slide up Lando's neck and into his hair, playing with his curls lightly.

Lando slightly pinched your waist, causing you to gasp, which allowed for his tongue to sneak in. You responded with a slight tug on his curls, causing a groan to escape out of him and into your mouth.

You giggled slightly, breaking the kiss for a moment. "You like that, huh?"

Even though it was dark, you could see how Lando's eyes darkened. With no shame, he responded, "Yes," suddenly his hands slipped down, grabbing your thighs and easily moving you to straddle his lap, "You have no idea the effect anything you do has on me."

Now you were sure it was the wine giving you confidence when you ground your body down to feel his already hard erection. "Oh, I think I have somewhat of an idea." Your hands slipped back into his curls at the nape of his neck, tugging softly.

You relished in the way that Lando's eyes fluttered shut, his hands moving to your hips, guiding them as you continued to grind your body with his.

Lando was putty in your hands. You began to feel the heat in your core. You tugged on Lando's curls again, pulling his head back and eliciting a small moan from his lips.

Bringing your head down, your lips connected with his jaw, peppering him with open mouth kisses on both sides of his face before moving down to his neck.

Lando continued guiding the movement of your hips, his hands tightening around your waist and moving them faster as he felt your lips on his neck. You couldn't hold back the moan that escaped your lips, letting it ring out right in Lando's ear.

Lando was sure he was in heaven. Your moans were music to his ears.

He let one hand leave your hip and travel to your face, bringing you back towards his lips. Your lips collided again, this time with more urgency and desperation.

You both couldn't believe that you had let all these years go by wasted, when you could've been doing this the whole time. You were kissing each other like your lives depended on it.

Lando's hand moved up and down your sides, squeezing slightly, causing another moan to escape from you, and allowing his tongue entrance again.

You moved your hands down his chest, and began to play with the hem of his shirt.

Lando suddenly broke the kiss, breaking the blissful bubble you two had been caught up in.

"We should stop."

You felt fear creep up on you. Had you done something wrong? Did he not want this anymore? As if he could read your worries on your face, he softly brought his lips to yours again for a moment.

"Trust me, I don't want to stop," he began, chuckling lightly, "but I told you. I want to do this right."

You softened at his words. "You're right." You lazily played with his curls again. "Feels like we have to make up for so much lost time, but I'm not going anywhere."

Lando chuckled. "Me either. Now that I know you want me like I want you, you're never getting rid of me." Lando gave you a goofy grin. He moved his hand up, playing with a strand of your hair for a moment before tucking it behind you ear, "I could spend all night making up for lost time, and even then I guarantee I would be leaving wanting more."

You blushed, grateful again for the minimal lighting. Words lost you. Instead, you just gazed lovingly into Lando's eyes.

"Plus, Carlos told me to make sure you're home early, so..."

Lando relished in the way you rolled your eyes and chuckled softly.

The two of you always felt deep down that you had missed out on something great with each other. Now the universe was giving you a second chance to act on it.

yourusername posted

liked by yourbestfriend, iamrebeccad, landonorris, charles_leclerc, and others

yourusername 🌊🤙🖕

tagged: carlossainz55, iamrebeccad

view all comments

user1 not tagging lando is crazy 💀 girl we know

user2 shhhh let them cook up a soft launch user3 why would she tag him in this tho user1 that's literally lando's jolly lol

charles_leclerc hahaha the last photo

yourusername yeah that's actually me to carlos rn charles_leclerc never a dull moment with you two 😂😂

user2 her and lando used the same emoji. she posts his car but doesn't tag. he's in the likes. the soft launch of the century is about to begin. in this essay, I will-

user4 carlos in that pic is him reading these comments fr

user5 lando behind the camera of that first pic like 😍🤳

user1 we need y/n on lando.jpg stat

As you waited impatiently for Carlos to return home, your phone chimed, signaling another text had come through. You rolled your eyes, thinking it would be another message from Carlos, but you felt your heart skip a beat seeing Lando's name across your screen.

"Maybe Carlito thought you didn't like him, and was trying to help you out."

You stared at your sister's face on the screen in disbelief. "You're supposed to be on my side here."

Your sister laughed. "I am! I just also know Carlos wouldn't do something like this without a valid reason."

You heard a jingle at the door. "Speak of the devil, he's back."

"Call me later, don't give him a hard time, mana." She gave you a wave. "Oh, and have fun tomorrow night."

"I will, talk to you later." You gave your sister a wave back before ending the call.

You got up from your spot on the couch, walking towards the front door. You stood with your arms crossed as the door opened slowly. Suddenly Rebecca's head popped into view. You gave her a small smile.

"Your brother is behind me waving a white flag."

You couldn't help but laugh. "There shall be peace."

Carlos slowly came into view, his hands raised in defeat. He walked hesitantly towards you, waiting for you to react. Rebecca walked past you, giving your shoulder a light squeeze before disappearing into the bedroom.

"I don't want to argue, mano. I just don't understand."

Carlos stared at you for a moment before leading you back to the couch, sitting down and signaling you to do the same. "Listen, back then, you were so young and I was supposed to be looking after you on the road," he started, "and I know how it is once you get to F1. The fame, media, parties..." he paused for a moment, "The girls." He waited a beat before saying, "That's why I'm telling you to be careful with him now."

You had to fight the urge to roll your eyes. "Lando and I used to have movie nights every race weekend while you and other drivers would go out to clubs and party." You looked down, nervously playing with your hands. "And yeah, I know he does go out now and that he's been seen with different girls, but I know deep down he's still that same guy."

"You guys were kids back then, but now? Lando is usually the first to arrive and the last to leave the club now, always a different girl on his arm."

You finally looked Carlos in the eye, whispering out, "So you think I'm just another girl for him to flaunt around until he gets bored?" You felt your face get hot due to a mix of anger and shame. "I'm not good enough to be something real for him?"

The regret was evident on Carlos' face the second after you spoke. "No, no, hermana, you know that's not what I mean."

"Then what is it? Is it because he's your friend?"

Carlos chuckled. "No, no," he sighed, "I knew you liked him back then. I saw how you looked at him. That dreamy, goofy gleam in your eyes," he said, "and when Lando came to me and said he wanted to ask you out, I panicked."

You were listening intently now. "Why?" you whispered out.

"I think it was the first time I realized you were growing up. The idea of my hermanita dating anyone, nevertheless a driver, freaked me out." He laughed. "I just wanted to protect you from the craziness that comes with being with an F1 driver; I still do."

"Lando said he respects you, and that's why he stayed away back then. But now we're adults, and we're making our own decisions without interference from others." You couldn't stop the smile from creeping back onto your face. "I've always liked him, mano. I want to see where this goes."

Carlos couldn't help but match your smile. He liked seeing you this happy, and if that was because of Lando, then he was willing to be open-minded. "Okay, okay, I'm on board," he chuckled, "but I told you already. If he breaks your heart, he goes into the wall."

You rolled your eyes playfully. "You'd have to catch up to his rocketship in your tractor first."

Carlos' jaw dropped, disbelief written on his face. "I can't believe I've already lost you to the papaya army."

You let out a laugh, nudging his shoulder. "Hey, family always comes first. I'm a Ferrari girl first, papaya girlie second."

"Good, because that would be where I'd draw the line."

"I'm ready for next year, though. Blue is much more my color."

The two of you shared a laugh, before Carlos leaned over to end the moment with a hug. "I love you, hermanita."

"Love you too, Carlitos."

As you and Carlos embraced, you heard a door open slightly. Rebecca appeared, smile evident on her face, happy to see Carlos back in your good graces.

"Anyone down for a late night ice cream run?"

yourusername posted stories

story 2 caption: making them pay for my ice cream like: 🥺 👉👈 i'm just a baby

story replies to story 1:

user1 LANY/N ANTHEM???

user2 "we were supposed to be just friends" omg omg omg

yourbestfriend dude has my girl posting love songs on main already 😭😭😭

yourusername 😂

landonorris is this what they call a soft launch

yourusername 😂🫣 maybe landonorris hmm brb yourusername huh?

story replies to story 2:

yoursister hahaha he really said here have some ice cream pls forgive me

yourusername no but fr 💀

user3 girl you can't just post that song and move on this quickly!!

landonorris posted a story

story replies:

danielricciardo is little lando norris in love???

yourusername 🥹😭

landonorris ❤️

user1 oh ya'll are in LOVEEEE

user2 you guys ain't slick posting these back to back 😭

carlossainz55 thanks a lot, she won't stop playing this song now

oscarpiastri okay I DEFINITELY missed a chapter

a/n: yep there will be a part 3 because I can't stop myself lol if you'd like to be tagged, let me know!

Part 3

tag list: @npcmia @tinyhrry @that-one-little-soybean

[thevoidstaredback]

Danny couldn't tell you what he expected, but it most definitely wasn't this.

Time and Space were weird in the Infinite Realms, both bending to the will of their masters and no one all at once. They didn't follow a line or a path. Time and Space did as they wanted. Fitting, considering who their masters are.

The first time Danny was ten years old, his Grandfather killed him. He remembers that, in an effort to save him, his mother submerged his body in the Lazarus Pits he and his brother had been warned about ever going near.

As it was explained to him, the Infinite Realms has a base level of sentience at the very least. She allows herself to peak into the worlds She cradles to keep an eye on them. She found Danny when his mother had lowered him into the water and She claimed him as Her own. She bent Time to Her will, making Danny a toddler again, before bending Space to drop him in the world that would most allow him to grow. She promised that She would come back for him when the time was right.

The first time Danny was fourteen, after the second time he had been ten, he died. The parents he had learned to accept as his own tried to open an unnatural gateway into the Infinite Realms. He was the one to turn it on. The electricity of the mortal world killed him, but the energy from the Infinite Realms revived him.

He remembers the whispers barely heard under his own screams. Whispers and imprints of "I'm sorry" and "I do not mean to hurt you" and "You will only grow stronger" and "Welcome back, my champion".

Danny can count on one hand the number of times he's felt safe between the first time he was six and the first time his was fourteen. He can tell you the names of exactly two places he has never felt the need to hide from.

The day Danny turned fifteen for the first time, he told his parents what happened to him. He knew, instinctually, that they would not understand, that they are researchers before they are parents. But he held onto the hope that had been trained out of him when he was first four years old. He had hoped that they would go against all odds and accept and help him.

He shut down the portal the very next day. He destroyed it and all of his parents' lives work. He would not stand by and let them hurt his people when he could not be there to interfere. He escaped back into the embrace of the Infinite Realms through Vlad's portal, giving him the Order to destroy it. The only way for the citizens of the Realms to enter the mortal worlds was to use natural portals, as unstable and unpredictable as they are. He would not risk them again.

He finds himself wandering listlessly, letting the Realms take him where She wants him to go. Sometimes She takes him to places that are completely empty, places where he can mourn what he lost without anyone finding him. Sometimes She takes him to his mentors and friends. Sometimes She takes him where he needs to be.

Danny finds the boy just as the natural portal closes behind him, the sickly green and black oozing like a festering wound.

The boy looks similar to Danny. His hair is spiked, his clothing dulled shades of a hero's costume under a black cloak, a mask covering his eyes, his body being more filled out to match his age. But Danny, on every level of understanding that he is and ever will be capable of, knows that this is his brother.

"Damian?" he whispers. The Realms push him forward. "Damian!"

Danny cradles the body of his brother, slowly sinking to the ground the Realms produce for him to land on. He carefully peels the mask from his face and lays it beside the katana on the ground.

As expected of anyone who finds their way into the Infinite Realms without proper protections, Damian has no pulse. He is not breathing. He is cold. The wound under his sternum is not bleeding.

Danny brushed his thumbs under Damian's eyes, his hands on his cheeks. "What did they do to you, ahki?"

Despite having no mortal ability to do so, Damian's eyes opened. He started ahead, blinking when his green eyes met Danny's. "Danyal?"

Tears fell from his eyes as he nodded. "Hi, Damian. You're here early."

Tears fell from Damian's eyes as well. He knew where he was. There was only one explanation. He couldn't feel himself breathing, nor could he hear his heart beat or his blood flow. There was no pain from where his mother had run him through.

"She killed me!" Damian cried into his brother's shoulder.

Danny held him tighter. "I'm so sorry," No one should ever have to go like that.

"Father couldn't save me."

"It's okay."

"Dick and Tim and Jason and Cass-!"

"Shh, ahki. You will see them again. I'll make sure of it."

The brothers held each other as they cried. The Realms wrapped Herself around the boys, comforting them as she could. Her champion and his brother, both children She had claimed and would protect.

Part 1 Storyboard

@anarinette

[cumironi]

SUGURUUUUU, DO SOMETHING : GOJO SATORU, GETO SUGURU.

you and gojo are insufferable, especially when gojo decides he wants to be annoying and tries to get under your skin. you always come running to geto and telling him to do something about gojo.

warning. established relationship! satosugu, annoying gojo, crack, fluff.

dating two people means geto has to face the reality that things are never going to go smoothly, especially when one of those people is gojo satoru. gojo is, without a doubt, the most chaotic, arrogant, idiotic, and downright annoying person geto has ever known. but somehow, despite all that, he still fell for him. what makes it worse—or better, depending on the day—is that you’re just as bad, if not worse. you challenge gojo at every turn, matching his energy with your own brand of chaos, bickering with him constantly, pushing his buttons just because you know you can. and when gojo gets too insufferable, you always end up running to geto, whining and complaining about how gojo’s being too annoying, like it’s the end of the world.

it’s like living with siblings sometimes. gojo is like the older brother who lives to annoy, constantly teasing and provoking you with his smug remarks and over-the-top antics. he’ll say something completely ridiculous, like how he's the strongest and therefore always right, and you’ll immediately fire back, crossing your arms and throwing in your own sarcastic comment, refusing to let him win. you’re like the little sister who refuses to back down, always ready to bicker, never letting gojo have the last word. and of course, you make sure to drag geto into it every single time.

“suguruuu, did you hear what satoru said?” you’d whine, stomping over dramatically to where geto is probably trying to have a moment of peace. “he’s being impossible again!”

geto would sigh, watching you pout like a child, before glancing over at gojo, who’s probably grinning like the troublemaker he is, arms crossed, loving every second of your frustration. this dynamic has become part of geto’s everyday life—being stuck between two forces of chaos, both of you feeding off each other’s energy, sometimes making geto feel like the only adult in the room. but despite the headache that comes with it, there’s something endearing about the way you two interact. you and gojo fight like siblings, but underneath all the bickering, there’s a bond that only makes sense in its own twisted way.

sometimes, geto wonders how he even manages to deal with it. it’s not like he signed up to play referee between two people who are more alike than they care to admit. but somehow, he’s found himself in the middle, always caught between your dramatic complaints and gojo’s smug responses. there are moments where he swears he’ll lose his mind—like when you both argue over something ridiculous, like who ate the last piece of mochi, or when gojo does something outrageous just to get a reaction out of you. yet, even in the middle of the chaos, he can’t help but feel a strange sense of affection for the both of you.

and honestly, you both love dragging geto into your mess. if gojo’s teasing you too much, you don’t hesitate to run to geto, complaining in the most dramatic way possible, arms flailing as you explain how impossible gojo is being. and if you’re being a little too chaotic, geto is often the one who has to rein you in, pulling you away from gojo before the two of you tear the whole place apart with your constant bickering. sometimes, geto feels more like a parent than a boyfriend, but he’s learned to accept that this is just part of dating you two.

there are moments, though, when the chaos dies down, and you and gojo fall into a rare moment of peace, and that’s when geto is reminded why he stays. because despite the constant teasing, the never-ending arguments, and the headache-inducing energy you both bring into his life, he can’t imagine being without either of you. sure, it’s exhausting, but it’s also what makes life with you two so full of laughter, even if it’s at his expense half the time.

GOJO AND HIS STUPID MOCHI

just like right now, you’re lying on the carpet floor on your stomach, phone in hand, scrolling aimlessly through whatever can hold your attention for more than five seconds. the room is quiet, save for the soft sound of geto flipping the pages of the book he’s engrossed in, sitting on the couch just a few feet away from you. it’s peaceful—something that doesn’t happen often when gojo’s around, but you’re savoring the moment.

that peace doesn’t last long, of course. out of nowhere, gojo saunters in, mochi in hand, and without warning, he kicks your leg playfully. not hard, but enough to get a reaction out of you.

“hey!” you shout, glaring up at him from your spot on the floor, annoyance already building as he grins down at you like the menace he is. he’s chewing his stupid mochi like it’s the most important thing in the world, completely unbothered by the fact that he’s just disrupted your peace. typical gojo.

geto rolls his eyes and sighs as gojo enters the room, immediately breaking the tranquil atmosphere that was there only moments ago. and of course, it’s gojo who’s behind it, kicking at your leg like a child trying to get attention.

geto watches as you glare up at him, annoyance evident on your face. gojo only grins back, chewing obnoxiously on his mochi, completely oblivious to the scene he’s causing. geto shakes his head, can already feel a headache coming on.

“what?” gojo says, feigning innocence, though that smug grin on his face gives him away instantly. “just checking if you’re still alive down there.” he takes another obnoxiously loud bite of his mochi, crumbs falling onto the floor next to you.

“ugh, satoru, stop being annoying,” you groan, dramatically throwing your phone aside as you sit up, crossing your arms in a pout. “can’t you eat somewhere else? you’re getting crumbs all over the place!”

gojo smirks at your annoyance, clearly loving every second of it. he continues to chew on his mochi, purposely making extra noise, just to get under your skin.

“what’s the big deal?” he asks, feigning innocence once again. “i’m just eating my snack. not my fault you’re lying on the floor like a lazy cat.”geto can’t help but shake his head at gojo’s antics. he’s seen this scene play out countless times, and he knows exactly where it’s going.

you groan in frustration, pushing gojo's leg away, though he just keeps nudging you, clearly enjoying how riled up you're getting. “satoru, stop being so annoying already,” you whine, glaring at him as he takes another exaggeratedly loud bite of his mochi.

gojo snickers, enjoying your annoyance far too much, like it's the source of his entertainment. he keeps nudging you with his leg, purposely annoying you more as he chews obnoxiously on his mochi.

“aww, what’s the matter?” he asks, still grinning smugly. “can’t handle a little noise while you're sprawled out on the floor like a lazy cat?”

gojo takes another obnoxiously loud bite of his mochi, crumbs falling onto the floor next to you, making a mess as he continues to torment you. he seems to be having the time of his life, feeding off your irritation like it’s some sort of energy source.

you squeal in disgust when a bit of mochi cream falls onto your thigh. “ugh, satoru, that’s disgusting!” you snap, wiping at the sticky mess, glaring at him with pure irritation. “can you eat like a human being for once?”

gojo just snickers, clearly amused by your reaction. he leans down a bit, his grin growing even wider. “what? it’s just a little cream,” he says, eyes gleaming with mischief. “no need to freak out.”

you huff, trying to wipe the cream off as best as you can, but it just smears, and your frustration grows. “you’re such a slob! and i’m not lazy, by the way,” you add, shooting him a glare. “i was just relaxing before you came in here, ruining everything.” gojo’s, eyes twinkling with amusement as he nudges your leg with his foot again.

he chuckles at your reaction, clearly loving how worked up you’re getting over the little cream mess. he leans down further, his grin practically splitting his face. “oh, come on,” he teases, “it’s just a little cream. it’s not going to kill you.”

he watches you struggle to wipe it off, the cream only smearing everywhere, making the mess even worse. he can’t help but find it amusing, watching you get irritated over something so small. “and relax, lazy cat,” he grins, nudging your leg again with his foot.

gojo continues to grin, enjoying how easily he gets under your skin. “aww, look at you,” he teases, “you’re so worked up over a little mess.” he nudges you with his foot, again, clearly trying to provoke a reaction from you. “what’s the matter, too lazy to clean yourself up?”

you glare daggers at him, clearly fed up with his antics. you try to brush the cream off your leg, but it just keeps spreading, making the mess worse.

“i’m not lazy,” you protest, frustration evident in your tone. “i was just hanging out, minding my own business, when you stormed in here and ruined everything!”

geto sighs loudly, shaking his head. this interaction has become all too familiar to him. gojo’s relentless teasing and your over-the-top reaction. he knows it’s not that big a deal, but somehow, the two of you always manage to turn the smallest things into a full-on argument. he remains at his spot, silently observing, wondering if he should intervene or just let it play out, like he always does.

gojo leans even further down, his face now hovering just above yours, his smirk growing wider. he knows exactly how to push your buttons, and he’s enjoying every second of it.“aww, are you pouting now?” he coos, his tone dripping with condescension. “do you need me to clean your leg for you, or are you actually going to get off your lazy ass and do it yourself?”

you narrow your eyes, glaring up at gojo as he hovers above you with that smug smirk. his teasing, as usual, has hit just the right nerve. but instead of giving him the satisfaction of a full-blown argument, you huff in frustration and shift your gaze to geto, your voice turning into a dramatic whine.

“suguruuuu,” you whining as you push yourself up from the floor, marching over to the couch where geto sits, his book still open in his lap. “satoru’s being annoying again.” you plop down on his lap, leaning against his shoulder, seeking refuge from gojo’s relentless teasing.

geto can’t help but feel a mixture of affection and amusement at your dramatic plea for his intervention. he shuts his book and sets it aside, wrapping his arms around you as you settle onto his lap, seeking refuge from gojo’s constant teasing.

his expression calm, though there’s a faint amusement in his eyes. “isn’t he always?” he says with a sigh, but there’s a soft undertone in his voice that shows he’s used to playing the peacemaker between the two of you.

gojo, still lounging on the floor, just snickers from behind you. “huh? running to suguru now? can’t handle me on your own?” he teases, clearly having the time of his life watching you pout and whine.

you roll your eyes, crossing your arms as you lean further into geto’s shoulder. “he’s insufferable, do something,” you mutter, as if that’ll somehow make gojo stop, but deep down, you know it only fuels his antics further.

geto lets out a weary sigh as he rubs your back. he knows that asking him to ‘do something’ is almost pointless—trying to stop gojo’s antics is like trying to contain a hurricane—but he still gives it a shot for your sake.

he calls over to gojo in a gentle tone, “satoru, quit tormenting her.” but of course, that only makes gojo snicker loudly with glee, clearly enjoying the chaos he’s causing. “aww, but it’s so much fun seeing her all riled up!”

gojo pushes himself off the floor and saunters over to the couch, a mischievous glint in his eyes. he plops himself down on the opposite end, intentionally sprawling out and taking up as much space as possible. “besides,” he smirks, “she makes it so easy. look at her, all pouty and moping around. it’s adorable.”

HERE’S COME THE HEADLOCK!

as you casually strolled into the kitchen, your attention was glued to your phone, scrolling through messages and notifications. you could hear the sounds of gojo and geto chatting, their voices a comforting background hum.

gojo, ever the instigator, couldn’t resist the urge to mess with you. as you approached, he feigned a wild punch aimed right at your cheek, but in exaggerated slow motion, he pulled back just before contact, ending up with a playful poke instead.

you tried to brush it off, rolling your eyes and continuing to focus on your phone, hoping he’d take the hint. but gojo was relentless. he grinned widely, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he repeated the act, pretending to punch and then poking your cheek again.

“c’mon, don’t be so serious!” he taunted, a laugh escaping him as he leaned closer to you. “just trying to lighten the mood!”

finally, your patience wore thin. you glared at him, annoyance bubbling up. “satoru, stop it!” you exclaimed, your voice a mix of irritation and amusement. “why are you like this?”

gojo, hearing the change in your tone, couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer. he loved this game you played, the back and forth of irritation and affection.

he stood a little straighter, a smirk spreading across his face. “what’s the matter? can’t handle a little teasing?” gojo asked, his hand reaching out to poke at your cheek again. “i’m just having some fun, princess. lighten up a little.”

as you dodged to the side, trying to escape gojo's poking fingers, you couldn’t help but let out a frustrated huff. “you’re so annoying!” you exclaimed, rolling your eyes dramatically.

but before you could fully escape, gojo was faster. in one smooth motion, he snaked an arm around your neck and pulled you into a playful headlock, grinning widely as he held you tight against him. “annoying? me?” he teased, his voice dripping with mock innocence. “never! i’m just making sure you know who the real boss is here.”

you squirmed in his grip, trying to push him away, but it was no use; he was far too strong. “satoru, let me go!” you whined, despite yourself as he tousled your hair playfully.

geto, watching the two of you from the kitchen counter, chuckled softly at the sight. it was the same old routine, gojo playing the role of the annoying yet endearing partner and you fighting a losing battle against his antics.

he continued to lean against the counter, sipping his coffee as he observed. his eyes glinted with amusement and a touch of jealousy— jealousy that he wasn’t the one holding you close, yet amused at how you never seemed able to say no to gojo’s playful teasing.

gojo held you in the headlock, still grinning as he effortlessly held you against him. he enjoyed the feeling of you squirming in his grip, even as you protested. “what’s wrong, princess?” he teased, his fingers gently tousling your hair. “can’t handle a little affectionate torment?”

he chuckled, enjoying the feeling of his stronger grip against your much gentler one. “just admit it, you love it deep down,” he said, his voice oozing with mischief.

you squirmed in gojo's grip, feeling the warmth radiating from him, and let out a determined huff. “stop it! let me go!” you protested, playfully hitting his arm with all your might, though your strength barely made a dent against his muscle.

gojo only chuckled, unfazed by your attempts to free yourself. “not a chance,” he replied, amusement dancing in his eyes. “i’m just giving you some much-needed attention.”

you pouted, trying to muster the most indignant expression you could manage while still fighting back a smile. “i don’t need attention from you, you big dork!” you exclaimed, but the way your voice cracked slightly betrayed your amusement.

geto, still leaning against the counter, couldn’t help but laugh at the playful banter between you two. “just give in, princess, it’s easier that way,” he chimed in, leaning forward to watch the two of you, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

“never!” you shot back, determined not to let gojo win this round, even as you felt an annoyance bubbling up inside you.

gojo smirked, clearly enjoying the game of cat and mouse. he could feel the fight slowly but surely leaving your body, replaced by the telltale signs of your impending surrender.

he chuckled at your stubborn refusal, amused by your attempt to hold out. “oh, c’mon princess, you know you can’t resist me. just give in and admit you’re having fun.” and geto, watching the interaction, couldn’t help but chime in once more, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “he’s right, you know. you always lose at this game.”

you groaned in annoyance, tilting your head back to look at geto with a dramatic pout. “suguru, do something about this,” you whined, exasperation dripping from your voice. “why do you always let him bully me?”

geto chuckled softly, his expression softening at your plea. he pushed himself off from the counter and sauntered over, feigning contemplation as his eyes flicked from you to gojo and back again.

he reached out, a hand gently tousling your hair in a comforting gesture. “oh, my princess,” he said, his voice taking on a playful tone, “don’t pretend you don’t enjoy the attention. this is just how satoru shows his love, in his own obnoxious way.”

gojo, still holding you in the headlock, snickered at geto’s remark. “hey, hey, i resemble that remark,” he said, feigning offense. “i may be obnoxious, but it’s all in good fun, and you both love it.”

and geto, still standing next to the two of you, gave a good-natured roll of his eyes. “yeah, yeah, we know,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “just try not to torment her too much, alright? she’s delicate.”

you groaned dramatically, rolling your eyes as you tried to swat geto’s hand away from your hair. “his way sucks, and it’s so annoying!” you exclaimed, frustration bubbling up inside you. “why can’t he just be normal for once?”

gojo chuckled at your outburst, enjoying the heat rising in your cheeks. he didn’t let up on the headlock, still holding you tight against him. “don’t get your panties in a twist, princess,” he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. “we both know you secretly love it when i get under your skin.”

geto, still standing nearby, couldn’t resist the opportunity to chime in. “oh, she absolutely loves it,” he agreed, his eyes dancing with amusement. “don’t let her fool you. she’d be bored to death if you suddenly decided to drop the teasing.”

you rolled your eyes dramatically, feeling the heat of embarrassment creeping up your neck. “oh, please, both of you can just fuck off!” you shot back, your annoyance laced with a hint of laughter. “it’s not cute, and i’m not bored! i’m just trying to live my life without getting headlocked!”

gojo, still holding you tight, chuckled at your outburst. he loved seeing you worked up, even if it was out of irritation. “aw, come on,” he taunted, his voice dripping with feigned innocence, “you can’t deny you love it when i get possessive.”

and geto, still standing nearby, gave a sarcastic clap. “and the truth comes out,” he teased, his voice filled with an air of smugness. “she’s just a little tsundere, that’s all.”

IT’S MY SPOT!

it was one of those peaceful evenings, the kind where geto, you, and gojo had nowhere else to be, and the three of you had finally decided to relax and watch a movie together. the sofa bed had been pulled out, ready for the cozy night ahead, but as always, you were taking your time making sure everything was perfectly comfortable.

geto sat back, his legs stretched out lazily as he watched you standing in front of the sofa bed, already busy preparing your spot between him and gojo. he could see the concentrated look on your face as you fluffed the pillows just right, adjusting them over and over until you were satisfied. then you placed your favorite plushies in their usual spots, one tucked against the side of the pillow and another by your arm, always close to you during movie night. next, you unfolded your personal blanket and placed it carefully under the larger one that you’d be sharing with both geto and gojo, making sure everything was exactly how you liked it.

geto found it all a bit amusing, how much effort you put into making your little spot as cozy as possible. he knew this was your ritual, and he’d seen it play out countless times, but there was something about watching you in the soft light of the living room, focused on creating your perfect space, that made him smile.

“all set?” he asked with a small grin as you finally stepped back to inspect your work.

you huffed softly, giving the blankets one last tug before turning around. “almost. i’m going to grab my fluffy socks and some snacks,” you announced, heading off to the bedroom first.

as you disappeared down the hallway, geto noticed gojo’s eyes subtly following your movements, an amused grin forming on his face as he stared at the perfectly arranged spot you’d just made between them. he chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he glanced over at geto.

“she really goes all out, huh?” gojo said, smirking. “look at that—it’s like she’s building a little nest in the middle of the couch. i mean, she's got the pillows, plushies, her own blanket... i’m starting to feel like i’m intruding on her fortress of comfort.”

geto chuckled in response, his gaze still fond as he glanced at the empty space between them. “yeah, she’s always like that,” he replied softly. “everything’s gotta be just right before she settles in.”

gojo grinned wider, leaning back against the sofa bed as he stretched his arms behind his head. “can’t blame her, though. i’d make a nest like that too if i knew how. it looks damn cozy.”

as soon as gojo eyed your perfectly arranged spot for a little too long, geto knew something was up. gojo's smirk grew wider, and before geto could say anything, gojo moved quickly, diving into your cozy nest like it was the most inviting thing he’d ever seen. he sprawled out dramatically, kicking your pillows out of place, knocking over your plushies, and pulling the blanket up around himself as if it were his own.

he let out an exaggerated, satisfied moan, stretching luxuriously as if he had just found the perfect spot in the world. “ahhh, this is nice,” gojo said, grinning like a child who just got away with something mischievous.

geto frowned immediately, shaking his head. “you know she’s going to be pissed when she sees you, right?” he muttered, watching as gojo made himself even more comfortable in what was once your perfectly prepared spot. “you just destroyed her entire setup.”

gojo snickered at geto’s comment, thoroughly enjoying himself as he lounged in the cozy spot you had specifically arranged for yourself. “oh, she’ll get over it,” he said with a wave of his hand, sounding unconcerned. “it’s not like the whole spot is ruined. there’s still room for her. probably.”

he stretched out his long limbs, claiming even more of the space for himself, making himself look extra comfortable. “and besides, this is comfy as hell. i don’t know why she always fusses so much.”

geto rolled his eyes, his expression somewhere between fond and exasperated at gojo's antics. “because that’s how she likes things,” he pointed out patiently, used to gojo's lack of respect for personal boundaries. “you know she has her rituals. you've seen her do it countless times.”

geto rolled his eyes at gojo’s indifference. “you’re such a jerk,” he muttered, shaking his head.

he couldn’t help but notice how comfortable gojo looked, practically lounging like a king in what was supposed to be your spot. “and can you stop spreading out like that? you’re hogging the blankets.”

as gojo made himself even more comfortable in your spot, geto couldn’t help but be amused by the whole situation. he knew you were going to be absolutely furious when you returned to find your meticulously arranged spot claimed by gojo, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.

he sighed, shaking his head fondly. “she’ll be mad, though, when she comes back and finds you all over her spot.”

gojo snickered, unfazed by geto's words. “oh, she'll live,” he said with a nonchalant shrug. “she can find another spot. it’s not like this couch is tiny. and if not, she can just share.”

he pulled the blankets up even higher around himself, snuggling into the comfortable spot like he had no intention of moving. “besides, with me here, i’ve already made this spot a million times more awesome. she should be thanking me, really.”

geto rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by gojo’s antics. he knew exactly what gojo was doing— stirring up trouble, as always. “just don’t upset her too much,” he warned, although there was a hint of resignation in his voice.

gojo chuckled, unbothered by geto's warning. “oh, please. when do i ever upset her?” he teased, a cocky smirk on his face. “she loves me too much even if she says otherwise.”

geto shot him a skeptic look, knowing exactly how gojo’s antics always managed to get under your skin. “yeah, yeah. just don’t go too far. you know how she gets when you mess with her routine.”

and right on cue, your high-pitched, exaggerated whine echoed through the living room as you padded quickly across the wooden floor, your socks barely muffling the sound of your tiny footsteps. the moment your eyes landed on gojo, lounging all too comfortably in your carefully crafted nest, your face dropped in disbelief.

“satoruuu!” you practically shrieked, voice rising in frustration as you watched him ruin all your hard work. without even realizing it, you mindlessly dropped the bag of snacks you were holding onto the floor, the scattered contents only adding to the chaos.

“you ruined my spot!” you complained, rushing closer to the sofa bed, eyes wide with dismay. gojo, of course, didn't even flinch-his grin only grew wider as he stretched out even more, thoroughly enjoying your reaction.

geto chuckled under his breath, sitting back and watching the scene unfold before him. he had known this moment was inevitable, and here it was, playing out exactly as he expected.

gojo, not one to back down from a situation he’s created, only smirked wider at your outburst, enjoying your frustration. “oh, relax,” he said, lounging even more comfortably in the spot you had so meticulously crafted. “there’s plenty of room for you. join the party.”

you narrowed your eyes at gojo, clearly not amused by his casual response. without missing a beat, you climbed onto the sofa bed, grabbing your fluffy socks that you had planned to wear and immediately began hitting him with them. “that’s my spot!” you whined, smacking him lightly with each word for emphasis. “i made it for myself, not for your annoying ass!”

geto snorted, trying to disguise his amusement as you vented your frustrations on gojo. he knew deep down you'd been looking forward to your meticulously arranged spot on the couch, and gojo's intrusion had ruined your plans.

gojo, however, showed no sign of remorse. he continued to chuckle, attempting to swat away your attacks with your socks. “ow, ow, ow,” he complained in a mocking voice, “geez, take it easy! what’s the big deal anyway? it’s just a spot on the couch!”

gojo laughed, his smirk never faltering as he half-heartedly shielded himself from your sock attacks. “what happened to sharing?” he teased, clearly unbothered by your protests. he tilted his head towards you, his grin still infuriatingly playful. “besides, you didn’t say it was off-limits.”

you huffed, glaring at him before turning your attention to the mess of pillows and blankets he had created. “ugh, you ruined everything,” you groaned dramatically, tossing your socks to the side. “it was perfect before you decided to lounge all over it.”

with a determined huff, you placed both hands on gojo’s side and began pushing his body, trying to reclaim your spot. “moveee!” you whined, but despite your efforts, his stupidly heavy body barely budged an inch. gojo, still lounging comfortably, let out a low chuckle, clearly enjoying your struggle.

geto watched from the side, his expression a mix of fondness and amusement at your futile attempts to move gojo. he knew it was a lost cause, but it was entertaining to watch you try.

gojo, meanwhile, was having the time of his life. he smirked, feeling the weight of your pushes against him. “nice try,” he said, his voice dripping with feigned praise. “but you’re gonna need more than that to move me.”

frustration bubbling over, you let out a grunt and stood up on the sofa bed, glaring down at gojo. without a second thought, you lifted your foot and stepped on his thigh, giving him a few light stomps to really drive the point home. “moveee!” you huffed, each step accompanied by a demand.

gojo chuckled at your determined attempts to move him, but your stomps were far from effective. “aww, you really think stepping on me is gonna work? that’s adorable.” he replied, completely unfazed by your efforts.

he looked up at you, his smirk widening as he chuckled. “sorry, sweetheart, but you’re gonna have to try a lot harder than that if you seriously expect me to move from this spot.”

geto watched the scene unfold, his amusement growing as you continued to attempt to displace gojo from your spot. he shook his head in mock disappointment, leaning back against the sofa. “yo’re wasting your energy,” he interjected, a smirk on his face. “you know he’s not moving an inch unless he wants to.”

you let out an exaggerated, frustrated sigh, glancing over at geto with a pout as you kept stomping on gojo’s thigh. “suguruuu, do something!” you whined, clearly fed up with gojo's stubbornness. “he’s not moving, and he’s ruining my spot!”

geto couldn’t help but chuckle softly at your exaggerated frustration. seeing you stomp on gojo like an annoyed child was amusing, but he knew if it went on any longer, you'd get even more irritated. with a calm, easy smile, he glanced at gojo and spoke in a soft tone, “satoru, come on, stop annoying her and move already.”

gojo, however, seemed to be enjoying this interaction far too much. he continued to smirk as you continued to stomp on his thigh. “oh, cmon,” he chuckled, unbothered by your frustrated attacks. “it's cute watching her try to move me. she thinks she's actually doing something.”

with an exasperated groan, you got down from the sofa bed and grabbed gojo’s ankle, determined to pull him off your spot. “ugh, you’re so annoying!” you huffed, planting your feet firmly on the ground and tugging with all your might. but, of course, gojo barely budged, not even an inch.

gojo’s laughter rang out, clearly entertained by your failed attempts. “aww, look at her go,” he teased, resting his head back against the cushions. “she really thinks she can move me. it’s adorable.”

“stop laughing!” you snapped, your frustration only growing as you tugged at his ankle harder. “you’re not even trying to move!”

meanwhile, geto just watched from the sidelines, his amusement evident as he sighed softly. “satoru, don’t you think you’ve had enough fun?” he asked, though his tone was still lighthearted, knowing how stubborn both of you could be.

gojo smirked, clearly enjoying the scene he had created. “nahh, i haven’t had enough fun yet,” he chuckled, “watching her try so hard to move me is hilarious. it's like she thinks she's dealing with a regular guy, not the strongest sorcerer in the world.” he lounged even more comfortably in your spot, enjoying your futile attempts to move him. “come on, keep it up. i’m curious how long she’ll give up.”

you glared at gojo, feeling the frustration bubbling inside you. with an exasperated sigh, you threw your fluffy socks at him in a huff. “fine! you can keep the spot!” you exclaimed, your voice a mix of annoyance and defeat.

turning away, you plopped down on the edge of the sofa bed, your back facing both him and geto. you crossed your arms tightly, trying to stifle the feeling of irritation welling up inside you, but it was hard to hold back. the playful banter was fun at first, but now it just felt like you were being teased for no reason.

gojo chuckled softly, your display of frustration only fueling his amusement. he made a show of adjusting himself in your spot, lounging even more comfortably. “aw, she’s pouting,” he commented, a smug smirk on his face. “how adorable.”

geto, however, could sense the shift in your mood. he knew how much you valued your little spot on the sofa bed, and gojo's stubbornness was starting to take its toll. “satoru,” he said firmly, “that’s enough, you've had your fun. stop teasing her.”

gojo simply chuckled, unfazed by geto’s words. “oh, cmon, it’s harmless,” he replied, still lounging in your spot. “she knows i’m just messing around. no need to be so serious.”

geto's expression hardened, his patience wearing thin with gojo's stubborn attitude. “it’s not harmless when she's clearly upset,” he said sternly, “stop being a jerk and move already.”

your body began to tremble slightly as the annoyance and frustration bubbled over, and before you knew it, tears began to spill down your cheeks. you tried to hold them back, but the overwhelming feelings were too much to bear. it was like everything had built up and finally cracked open, and you couldn't help but cry from the sheer irritation of it all.

gojo's smug expression instantly melted away the moment he noticed your tears. his smirk faded, replaced by a look of surprise and even a hint of guilt. “hey...wait a minute,” he said, shifting his position to sit up properly. “don't cry, i was just messing around.”

geto, sitting nearby, instantly noticed the change in your mood as well. his expression softened, a look of concern replacing his earlier annoyance at gojo. “idiot,” he said quietly, “look what you've done...”

you felt the warmth of gojo’s hand on your shoulder, but all it did was irritate you further. with a small, shaky shrug, you tried to shake his hand off, turning your back to him as tears continued to fall. “don’t touch me,” you murmured, your voice thick with emotion.

gojo's hand hovered awkwardly in the air as you shook it off, and his heart dropped at your response. his teasing smirk had disappeared completely now, replaced by a look of genuine remorse. “princess, i... i didn't mean to make you cry,” he said, his voice filled with guilt.

geto, watching the scene unfold, felt a pang in his chest as he witnessed the sudden change in the atmosphere. he knew this was all gojo's doing, and he silently shot him an accusing glare.

gojo’s face fell as soon as he realized how deeply he'd upset you. panic flickered in his eyes as he quickly scrambled off your spot, frantically trying to put everything back exactly the way you had it. he grabbed your pillows, fluffed them awkwardly, and placed your plushies back, but everything looked off, far from the cozy nest you’d spent time making.

“look, princess, i’m moving now,” he said hurriedly, his voice shaking slightly with worry. “you can have your spot back, i’m sorry—really. i didn’t mean to upset you this much.”

he glanced at you nervously, trying to gauge your reaction, his earlier confidence completely crumbled. he wasn’t used to seeing you like this—tears falling, body shaking—and it made his heart ache. “i swear i was just playing around, baby, but... i see now i went too far.”

geto watched quietly from his spot, his accusatory glare softening as he saw gojo’s genuine attempt to fix the situation. though he didn’t say anything, he gave gojo a small nod, silently telling him that this was the right way to handle it.

as gojo sat back, giving you all the space you needed, he added softly, “please don’t cry, princess. you can have your spot back just the way you like it. i promise i’ll behave.”

you shook your head stubbornly, not wanting to face gojo right now. “no,” you said softly, your voice muffled as you moved to geto’s side instead— not the side where your spot usually are— curling up against him and burying your face in his neck. the warmth and comfort of geto’s presence calmed you, his steady heartbeat reassuring you that everything would be okay.

you could still feel gojo’s gaze on you, but you didn’t want to acknowledge it. you just wanted to escape the frustration of the moment and find solace in the familiarity of geto’s embrace. “i don’t want it anymore,” you murmured, trying to hold back the remaining tears as you clung to him, seeking comfort in the way geto always made you feel safe.

geto's arms instinctively wrapped around you, cradling you gently against his body. he held you tightly, his fingers running through your hair in a soothing motion. “shh, it's okay... there you go,” he murmured, his voice soft and comforting.

he gave another glance to gojo, noting the pained expression on his face. geto's heart ached as he saw how genuinely guilty gojo looked, clearly realizing the consequences of his actions. gojo remained silent as he sat back, his eyes fixed on the two of you, watching with a mixture of regret and longing.

gojo took a deep breath, his heart heavy with guilt as he watched you nestled against geto. he could see the way your body trembled slightly, and it made him realize just how far he had gone with his teasing.

hesitantly, he moved to sit beside you, his presence bringing a wave of warmth but also uncertainty. he reached out, running his hand gently along your back in an attempt to comfort you. “hey,” he started softly, his voice laced with remorse, “i’m really sorry. i didn’t mean to upset you. it was just a stupid joke.”

he watched your reaction closely, hoping to see some sign that you could forgive him, while his fingers continued to stroke your back, trying to convey his sincerity and desire to make things right. “please don’t cry. i promise i’ll behave,” he added, his tone earnest as he looked at the back of your head, hoping you could see how much he truly cared.

geto felt your body tense slightly as gojo moved closer and began to gently run his hand along your back. he could sense your confusion and the conflicting feelings that must be going through your mind.

he held you tighter, his embrace a silent reassurance that he was there for you no matter what. geto remained silent, letting you decide how to respond to gojo's apology, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths as he waited for your response.

you let out a soft, muffled protest against geto's shoulder, your voice barely above a whisper. “no, you ruined my spot,” you said, your tone still laced with annoyance. even as you clung to geto, the frustration bubbled beneath the surface, a reminder of gojo's earlier antics.

you peeked up at gojo, your eyes still glistening with unshed tears. “it was perfect the way i had it,” you continued, your pout returning as you tried to suppress a smile despite the situation. “and now it's all messed up because of you.”

as you spoke, you felt the warmth of geto's embrace grounding you, giving you the strength to voice your feelings. it was hard to stay mad when you knew gojo hadn't intended to hurt you, but the frustration still lingered.

geto's smile widened slightly as he held you, recognizing the familiar cycle all too well. he knew that on days when you were more sensitive, gojo's playful teasing could easily tip the scales, leaving you upset. it was a routine he had come to accept, a dance of emotions between the three of you that always ended in laughter and understanding.

he kept his arms wrapped around you, providing a steady support as you sulked against him. in that moment, he didn't need to say anything; his presence alone was enough to convey his comfort and care.

gojo's heart twisted at the sight of you pouting as you spoke, a mix of guilt and affection filling his chest. he knew how much you valued your little spot and how much effort you had put into making it your own.

he sighed softly, his hand still rubbing soothing circles along your back. “i know, sweetheart, and i'm really sorry,” he said, his voice filled with genuine remorse. “i shouldn't have messed it up like that. i swear i'll fix it. i promise.”

gojo couldn't help but wear a sheepish expression, even as he tried to maintain his playful demeanor. he shifted closer, his voice softening. “i really am sorry, okay?” he said, looking between you and geto. “i didn't mean to ruin your spot. i’ll make it up to you, i promise.”

but even as he spoke, he couldn’t resist adding with a hint of mischief, “next time, just make it a little harder to mess with, alright?” it was a typical gojo remark, but beneath it was a genuine desire to see you smile again.

you lifted your head from geto’s neck, a fire igniting in your eyes as you glared at gojo. the moment your gaze met his, a mix of irritation and affection bubbled up inside you. “you’re so annoying!” you exclaimed, hitting his chest lightly with the back of your hand. “you better fix my spot and make it up to me later!”

gojo, catching your small, half-hearted hit against his chest, couldn’t help but smile wider. he knew he’d won this battle. the sight of you pouting and hitting him was all too familiar.

he chuckled playfully, feigning a wince from your weak attack. “alright, alright, i will!” he replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “just give me a moment, princess. i’ll fix your spot and you can give me a list of ways to make it up to you later, how’s that?”

you let out a short hum, still sulking slightly as you crossed your arms and relented, “alright.” despite your annoyance, you could feel the warmth of his affection breaking through your frustration.

gojo chuckled, clearly delighted by your reaction, and repeated your words in a playful tone, “alright.” then, leaning in closer, he pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering for a moment as he whispered another apology. “i’m really sorry for messing up your spot. i promise it’ll be even better once i’m done.”

you pouted a little more at the sound of your own words echoed back to you, but the feeling of gojo's kiss against your forehead was undeniable. it softened your heart, making it impossible to stay mad at him for long.

geto, still holding you against him, watched the two of you with a mixture of affection and amusement. he could sense the tension easing, and even he had to admit that seeing you and gojo making up was one of his favorite things to witness.

[cressidagrey]

Looked to the Sky - Chapter 1

Summary: 

Eira Archeron was neither a Valkyrie, nor a Seer, nor the High Lady of the Night Court. She was, however, Azriel‘s mate with her own mysterious, untrained powers.

Also known as: Azriel tries to court his mate the human way.

Warnings: 

THIS IS THE LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE SEQUEL! SO READ THAT FIRST IF YOU WANNA READ THIS ONE OTHERWISE THIS MAKES NO SENSE!

Elain Bashing, Low Self Esteem, Azriel is kind an idiot, Rhys is for once a good older brother, and without @k-godling this would have never happened.

(super pretty dividers by @tsunami-of-tears)

Azriel was currently regretting his life choices that had brought him to this moment. 

“Wow,” Cassian drawled as he stared at the wall in Azriel‘s room in the House of Wind that was covered in…research. 

Intelligence. Information. Whatever one wanted to call it. 

And Azriel was ready to rip his hair out. 

“I did it all wrong,” he growled, slamming the dusty old tome the shadows had procured for him closed…only for them to take it out of his hands and open it up to check for themselves. 

“What did you do wrong?” Cassian asked as he stepped nearer to the wall, staring at all the things Azriel had pinned up there. 

It was a complete and utter mess

“This said that I should have given Eira a gift when I made my first courting overture.“

What kind of mate was he, when he couldn’t even follow the bloody rules of human men for her? 

He had been supposed to procure a gift before even asking her to let him court her. He should have started with that gift. Actually no, they would have been supposed to dance together at a ball, then he should have made that decision to court her, then he should have gotten the first gift and then…

“Well, you could argue that since your shadows bought her things, you did it?“ Cassian suggested and Azriel growled.

“That’s not the same,“ he snapped. “I am supposed to give her a gift that shows my deep affection and appreciation of who she is as a person…What in the world am I supposed to give her?“

Cassian chuckled at Azriel’s frustration, stepping closer to the wall and peering at the various items pinned up.

“You’re overthinking this, you know?“ he said, a smirk on his face. “Just give her something that’s meaningful to you and her, something that shows her how important she is to you.“

Azriel growled. This was not helpful. "Also how is a pearl necklace a show of deep affection and appreciation?" he asked Cassian. Cassian just stared at him. "That was one of the first suggestions the book had," he said with a sigh. The book about human courtship rituals. Well, one of them at least. It was better to get his information from more than one source after all.

Cassian crossed his arms over his chest, his smirk only widening. "Well, apparently humans think that something shiny and expensive is the way to go," he teased. "You’re not exactly giving her a ring yet, so you could consider it a placeholder."

Azriel's eyes darkened. "I don’t want a placeholder," he growled. "I want something real. Something that shows her how much she means to me, not just how much I can spend on her."

"Could it be that you are taking this a little bit too seriously?" Cassian said carefully.

Azriel bristled at Cassian’s comment. “Of course not,” he said sharply. “This is Eira. My mate. This isn’t like some casual fling I’ve had for a little fun. This is different, and I won't just let it go without putting the effort in that she deserves.”

Cassian held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I know, I know,” he said, a slight hint of amusement in his voice. “Believe me, I’ve never seen you so worked up over a female before. It’s just…you’re acting as if the fate of the entire world rests on this courtship gift.”

Well, it did. The fate of his entire world. The fate of his children. He needed to get this right.

“You’re being dramatic,” Cassian said, shaking his head. “It’s not like the gift is going to ruin everything. You’re acting like if you don’t get this right, the whole idea of you and Eira being mates will just poof into thin air.”

He growled in annoyance. 

“Are you trying to court my sister or kill her?” Nesta's voice came from the doorway, her arms crossed as she stared at his wall.

Azriel whipped around to see Nesta standing in the doorway. His irritation deepened at her unexpected intrusion.

"Court her, obviously," he grumbled.

Nesta sighed. "“This is obsessive, Az. Also creepy," she told him drily. "You are approaching this like Eira is the King of Hybern and not your mate."

Azriel let out an exasperated growl. He wasn't obsessed; he was just being thorough. He had never cared about anyone as much as he did Eira, and he didn't want to mess this up.

"I’m simply doing my due diligence," he replied, trying to sound as firm and confident as possible. "I won’t fail her. I won't.”

Nesta rolled her eyes at Azriel’s comment. “Then stop acting like she’s some adversary to be conquered and start treating her like your mate already,” she said. “This is about your love for her, not your obsession to control every little detail.”

Cassian snorted, chuckling. “Only you, Az,” he chortled. 

Azriel shot Cassian a dark look, clearly not amused by the comment. “This is not a laughing matter, Cassian,” he said through clenched teeth. “This is serious. I need to get this right, and I can’t afford to mess it up.”

"How about you start with what you know about her? What are her hobbies?" Nesta suggested.

"I am not buying her needles or a shovel or a rolling pin. Or a toy for Nyx," AAzriel responded immediately. He had already gone through all her hobbies: Sewing, gardening for fruits and vegetables and cooking and baking.

Cassian let out a snort, clearly amused by Azriel’s response. “Why not? Those could all be very useful gifts,” he teased. “Especially the rolling pin, I bet she could beat someone over the head with it. You know, for that assassin instinct of hers.”

"Or I could borrow it and hit you with it," Nesta muttered under her breath.

Cassian chuckled at Nesta’s comment. “I’d like to see you try, Nes-“ he began to reply, but was cut off as Azriel growled at them both.

“Enough. I don’t need you two bickering.” He massaged his temples, trying to hold back the headache that was starting to form

"Well, doesn't Eira sing?" Cassian suggested.

Azriel paused slightly and he thought for a moment, recalling a memory of hearing Eira singing softly to herself.

"Yes," he said quietly. "She does. But that doesn't help me at all unless you have an idea in that thick skull of yours."

"She used to play the harp," Nesta said quietly. “Well, not the dead trove harp. A real, human harp,” she clarified.  

Azriel's interest was piqued. "She plays harp?" he asked, turning his attention to Nesta. "In all the time we’ve been together, I’ve never heard her mention that."

"We all learned some kind of instruments. It was vital for a well-rounded education. She was the only one who enjoyed it," Nesta explained.

Azriel thought for a moment. That actually sounded ideal. His shadows immediately perked up at the idea, starting to whisper amongst themselves.

"A harp…" he mused. "A harp could be perfect. If I can manage to find one that's good enough."

Cassian chuckled. "You'll probably spend the next year researching harps, won’t you?" he teased.

"I don't have time for that," Azriel responded.

Cassian rolled his eyes. "Sure, you don’t," he said dryly. "That’s why you’ve been holed up in this room for the past three days researching things humans consider romantic. I bet your research for this is more extensive than your missions."

“She's more important than a mission," Azriel said evenly. "Also, Hybern was less terrifying."

"Go buy her a harp, Az. Alternatively, if you want her to start crying, buy her a kitten," Nesta said with a shrug. "Though maybe not...Though that will only live a decade and then she’ll be heartbroken."

"Why should it die that quickly?" he asked Nesta, furrowing his brows.

Nesta gave him a deadpan look. "Have you never met a cat before, Azriel?" she said. "That’s how long kittens live. A decade, at most. And that's not even considering the time it takes a cat to grow from a kitten to an adult. You’ll be lucky if Eira gets fifteen years."

"Magical cats live...a very long time," Cassian disagreed.

Nesta stared at Cassian. “How long do magical cats live?” she demanded. 

"Well, theoretically forever," Cassian said with a shrug. “Unless they are killed by a predator of course.”

Azriel sighed. He could see where this was going. This was one of those decisions where there was no clear-cut right path.

Cassian, sensing his hesitation, chuckled. “Come on, Az. Where’s that ‘mysterious broody spy’ everyone loves?”

"Kitten or Harp?" he muttered.

"Just buy her one and keep the other for her birthday," Nesta suggested.

Azriel shot Nesta a glare. “Stop thinking so far ahead when I can barely decide on the first one,” he muttered, making her laugh. 

Cassian just smirked. “That’s rich, considering how much work you’ve put into this entire thing.”

*******

Eira had always liked being outside. 

When they had still been in that godforsaken cottage, Eira had taken her mending outside...had doted on that little patch of horrible earth that had only ever managed to grow a couple of potatoes, carrots, radishes and green beans...so many green beans...

But she had loved it. Even the small, withered things she had been able to grow there, it had been her tiny corner outside. She had prised her hands with dirt, tended to those potatoes and carrots, and had felt alive. Now she was terrified to even look outside the window.

Now, Eira would have loved to simply lock herself in her closet, because there was no window there...to go hide there, because maybe there she would be safe…

It was irrational, she knew that. She couldn’t help it. Every time she looked out of a window, she saw them again. Saw these horrible dark uniforms…saw the faces of the men she had killed. She saw them again and her chest burned in response, her stomach turning, bile rising in her throat.

She couldn’t help it. 

"It's healing very well," Madja told her, weathered fingertips trailing over the closed gash just underneath her breast. Eira stared at the ceiling, wishing herself far, far away. It had healed well. In just a few days, it had closed, just a thin red line reminding her of what had happened.

A thin red line and the feeling of lightning crackling underneath her skin. 

Eira winced as Madja touched her tender skin, the scar still sore to the touch. Even with her accelerated healing, it would take some time before she would fully recover.

"Are you still experiencing any pain?" the elderly healer asked kindly, her eyes studying Eira closely. Eira took a deep breath, trying to find her voice. The pain was the least of her worries. She had felt worse. So much worse.

"No, not much," she replied quietly, her eyes fluttering shut. "Just a little...some twinges, here and there."

Madja nodded, her expression a bit sceptical. She had probably seen hundreds, maybe thousands of patients in her life, and she could likely tell when they weren't being entirely truthful. "Are you sure?" she pressed gently.

Eira’s face twisted into a grimace. She didn't want to be....she didn't want to be weak. She didn't want to...She had seen how Cassian's wings had been shredded, how Azriel had an ash bolt shot in his chest...and neither of them had complained. And she...she had a single knife stuck inside her and it felt like…

“Eira,” Feyre said, her voice taking on an edge.

She knew that Feyre was right, she knew that she should be honest with the healer. But saying it out loud, voicing her fears and anxieties, would just make her...so pathetic.

Still, she took a deep breath and looked at Madja, meeting her gaze. "It...It hurts," she admitted quietly. "More than just...it hurts, whenever I move."

Feyre squeezed Eira's hand tightly. Madja nodded, her eyes studying Eira with a careful, almost calculating gaze, before it softened, a flicker of sympathy passing over her features.

"I suspected as much," the healer said bluntly. "A wound like that can heal on the surface, but sometimes the internal damage is more severe than it appears." Eira‘s breath hitched. The internal damage. The internal damage she had done to herself when she had killed these males…when she had…burned them alive. 

"You should rest," Madja said quietly. "You need to give your body time to heal completely, or you'll risk making the damage worse...you can leave the room and sit outside...but you should not do anything strenuous like gardening or training or whatever else you normally get up to. Though the sunshine outside would do you well," Madja pointed out.

Sunshine...outside. Outside. Alone the thought made Eira break out in cold sweat.

Her breathing turned shallow at the thought of being outside. She knew she couldn't stay in this room forever, but...the thought of being outside...Alone...In the open air, with no protective walls around her...It made her heart race. She could feel Feyre's worried gaze on her.

Madja also studied Eira carefully. "No training," she said pointedly, "but you should try to go outside for a little...Sunshine and fresh air will do you good. It's good for healing."

"I...I’ll try," she managed to choke out, her voice barely more than a whisper.

She didn’t want to go outside. She didn’t want to leave her room.

Madja finished, and Feyre went to bring her to the door…leaving Eira alone. She forced herself to sit up, to pull her nightgown back together…and then escaped into the bathing chamber. No windows. No windows meant she was safe. Once the door to the bathing chamber closed firmly behind her, Eira allowed herself to finally break. She sagged against the door, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Alone. No windows. Safe.

She was vaguely aware of tears falling down her face. It seemed like that was all she ever did these days, cry herself into exhaustion. She didn’t even know how often she had woken up that particular night…how often the shadows had come to soothe her back to sleep. The shadows came every time Eira awoke with a start, her heart pounding or tears streaming down her face. They were always there. 

They would whisper to her, wrapping around her like a comforting blanket, soothing her back to sleep.

You are alright, they whispered now too. You are safe.  She wondered if they didn’t have anything better to do. No more important people to spy on. Why don’t you wash your face? the suggested gently. Water. Face.

Wash her face, repeated Eira mentally, slowly gathering her thoughts.

The shadows were right, of course. She should wash her face. Her eyes looked as tired and red-rimmed as she felt. Perhaps washing her face would...would help her feel somewhat better, even if only a little.

She took a deep breath, as she dried her face on the towel the shadows found for her…and then they fluttered around her like a swarm of excited butterflies, bringing her a new nightgown and dressing gown. She took a moment to examine them.  

The nightgown was a much darker colour than her usual ones, a deep, rich blue instead of the usual whites and creams. She looked at the dressing gown, taking note of its heavier fabric. The shadows were right to have chosen it - the nights were getting chilly, after all.

But still… “Did you steal it from Feyre?” She asked weakly, even as they helped her shrug out of the old dressing gown. They let her deal with her nightgown, never touching her naked skin anywhere but her hands and face if they could help it, as they drew the new one over her body…and then stuck silky soft slippers on her feet.

The shadows didn't respond to her question, and for a moment Eira wondered if they even heard her. But she had no time to dwell on it further: they were already working on her hair, untangling her braid with deft, careful movements and brushing it out. They started to braid it again, a new, different braid than the usual ones she wore, pulling it back from her face. The braiding was precise and quick as if they had done this many times before.

“How did you learn that?“ she wondered quietly.

The shadows paused for a moment, almost as if they were contemplating her question. They continued braiding her hair though, a little faster than before.

Practice, they whispered, their voices low and quiet, barely above a whisper.

Eira let out a small huff. Sometimes, she had the distinct impression that the shadows were purposefully not answering her questions, or giving her a non-answer, as they had just done. But she didn’t have the energy to press them for an answer, no matter how much she wanted to hear one.

So instead, she just leaned against the sink quietly, letting the shadows tend to her hair.

You should go outside. The sun is shining. The healer said it would be good for you.

No. She didn’t want to go outside. She didn’t want to…She wanted to stay in this room, in this safe, dark and windowless room…

She didn’t want sunshine. Didn’t want fresh air. 

It would do you good, the shadows continued, their voices low and soothing. Go outside. Sit in the sun.

“I can’t.“ she forced out.

The shadows paused in their work, just for a moment.

You can, they insisted firmly, their voices growing almost persuasive. It’s good for you. You will feel better once you go.

She highly doubted that. Her hands turned clammy at only the thought.  As soon as the shadows finished braiding her hair, they flitted away, making a beeline for the door. Eira tried to call out, to stop them, to tell them that no, she couldn’t go, but the words died in her throat, the door opening before she could even try.

Rhys was there, standing in the middle of her room.

She had no clue what he even wanted from her. She had spent the last couple of days…resting. Sleeping half the day away, which wasn’t helped by her nightmares at seemingly every damn moment…Nesta and Feyre had kept her company when they had. She hadn’t so much as sneak a peek at Azriel since their…talk two days ago. Though his shadows were a constant companion of hers, doting on her like a cat would do to a sole kitten. 

Now…Eira’s heart thudded in her chest at the sight of him. He didn’t look angry, but he didn’t look...friendly either. He just looked at her with watchful, careful eyes as she stared back at him, frozen like a deer before a hunter.

The silence was thick, stretched thin like a rope that was about to snap. Eira bit her lip, unable to tear her gaze away from Rhys’ searching stare. She could feel a sheen of sweat on her skin, her heart thudding so hard she was surprised it hadn’t burst out of her chest yet.

Her knees trembled, and she nearly pitched forward, if the shadows hadn’t caught her. The shadows appeared out of thin air, wrapping themselves around her like a silky, dark blanket as she swayed on her feet. They held her up, stopping her from falling to the ground.

Rhys was suddenly at her side, wrapping his arms around her as well, his hands warm and firm against her cold, clammy skin.

“Shhh, I got you, little one,” he shushed her. Rhys’ voice was soft, gentle, and soothing, his hands firm around her. Eira sagged against him gratefully, her body trembling and her breath coming in short gasps.

“It’s alright. I won’t let you fall,” he murmured, as he scooped her up, easily carrying her like she weighed nothing.

She thought she probably didn’t. Just because he didn’t have arms the size of tree trunks like Cassian did, didn’t mean that Rhys wasn’t an Illyrian warrior trained in his own right. 

He had absolutely no problem with just swinging her up like she did to Nyx. 

“Bed or do you want to brave the garden?” he asked her carefully. “Madja said some fresh air would be good for you.”

Of course, he already knew. 

She swallowed, her heart racing.

Bed was safe, comfortable, and familiar. She wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the day there, under the covers and away from the world. To go outside...to face the wide-open sky...that was a terrifying prospect.

“Bed,” she whispered.

Rhys nodded, carrying her over to the bed and gently placing her on it. The shadows fluffed the pillows behind her, letting her lean against them in a comfortable position.

She expected her brother-in-law to disappear again, though she had no clue why he had even come to see her in the first place. Didn’t he have something more important to do? Like, run this court maybe? 

But he didn’t disappear again. Instead, he sat down next to her, not touching her, just staying close enough that she could feel his presence. “Madja said the garden would be good for you,” Rhys insisted quietly. He wasn’t looking at her as he spoke, his gaze fixed on the wall across the room. “Fresh air, sunshine...she said it would help you recover faster,” he continued, his voice neutral.

Recover. Recover what? Recover that bit of her that had died on that playground when she had killed these men without even thinking about it? She had taken multiple lives. And she was just supposed to be fine with it?!

Eira chewed on her lower lip. She knew what the healer had said, but...the thought of going outside, of being away from the safety of these four walls, was enough to send her heart racing in her chest.

“I...” she started, her voice trembling. “I can’t.”

Rhys turned to look at her then, his expression carefully neutral. “Why not?” he asked, his voice quiet but firm. ”It’s just the garden,” he said evenly.

Eira felt a flicker of irritation rise in her chest at his words.

”it was just the playground,” she shot back shakily. Rhys visibly froze, his eyes widening as he flinched visibly. She could see the pain in his eyes, the hurt and the guilt...but she didn’t care. She couldn’t care.

“Eira...” he started, his voice suddenly hoarse.

“I can’t,” she whispered. She knew it was stupid. She knew. But she couldn’t help it. It must be ridiculous to him, to a 500-year-old warrior that she was afraid of facing the outside but she couldn’t help it. She was utterly terrified. 

“You need to heal,” he said quietly, his voice gentle but firm. “You need the sunshine, the fresh air. You can’t just stay locked up in here forever...” She could. 

She really could. 

If it stopped her from feeling like dying, she would stay right here for the rest of her life. 

“What…What is it that scares you?” Rhys asked her gently.  Her breath hitched in her throat at his question.

She opened her mouth, trying to find the words to explain how terrified she was, how the very thought of leaving this room filled her with a sense of dread that was nearly paralysing… “I don’t want it to happen again,” she choked out.

Rhys’ face darkened at her words, his eyes filling with anger and pain.

“It won’t,” he said, his voice tight. “I won’t let it. You’re safe, Eira. No one will hurt you in that garden. I swear.”

Eira wanted to believe him, wanted desperately to cling to his words like a lifeline...but she couldn’t. The fear lodged in her chest like a rock, refusing to be dislodged.

“You can’t promise that,” she whispered, her voice small and shaky.

“Yes, I can,” Rhys cut her off. “You’ll go outside and I’ll be right there. And if any rogue darkbringers suddenly show up, I’ll mist them with a single thought,” he promised her fiercely. “It won’t happen again.”

Her breath caught in her throat, her heart beating furiously in her chest. It sounded so easy when he said it like that, so simple. He would keep her safe, keep her protected...

“Let’s just try it,“ Rhys said softly. “We can go back inside if you can’t stand it, little one.”

Eira chewed on her lower lip, her fingers trembling in her lap.

Just try it. We can go back inside if you can’t stand it. 

Those words gave her a small flicker of hope, a lifeline to cling to. Eira took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Alright,” she agreed weakly.

Rhys smiled at her words, the expression strained but genuine. He stood up from the bed, holding out his hand to her.

“Come on then,” he said gently. “Let’s go sit in the garden.”

Eira swallowed, her entire body tense with anxiety. She looked at his outstretched hand, feeling her heart race at the thought of taking it.

For a moment, she couldn’t move, her entire body frozen and immobile. But then, with trembling fingers, she reached out and slowly took his hand.

Rhys’ hand was warm, strong and firm around hers. He held her hand gently, as if he were afraid she might break, and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“That’s it,” he murmured gently. “We can go as slowly as you need.”

She nodded weakly, her knuckles turning white as she gripped his hand tightly. Slowly, hesitantly, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Her body trembled as she stood up, her feet feeling unsteady on the floor.

Rhys was there, hovering close to her side, supporting her gently as she took her first shaky steps away from the bed. The shadows flitted around her like dark, flickering butterflies, whispering reassuring words that she could barely hear over the pounding of her heart.

“Eira…how about you let me carry you?”

Her breath hitched at the suggestion, her heart skipping a beat.

Her first instinct was to refuse, to shake her head and insist on walking on her own. But her legs felt like jelly, her steps unsteady and shaky...and she hated the thought of looking weak, of being lifted like some helpless child.

But as much as she hated it, she knew she would crumble if she walked on her own, her legs giving out like a newborn fawn.

So, with a small, defeated nod, she agreed.

“I…alright,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Rhys wasted no time in scooping her up in his arms, lifting her with ease. She tried not to let it bother her, not to think about how pathetic she must look, being cradled like a child.

The shadows fluttered closer, their dark forms brushing against her skin as they whispered gentle words of reassurance.

You’re doing well. one of them whispered in her ear, its voice low and soothing. The High Lord is right here. You’re safe.

"It will be fine," Rhys promised her as he carried her down the stairs, making no appearance that the extra weight of her in his arms bothered him in any way. "Just outside. We'll sit on the terrace, and nothing bad will happen."

Eira clung to his words like a lifeline, her hands trembling as they clutched at his shoulder.

She tried to ignore the way her heart raced, the way her blood thundered in her ears...she tried to focus on Rhys’ voice, on his words assuring her that it would be fine.

The terrace wasn’t far, it seemed. Soon enough, they were there, the doors swinging open silently as they approached.

Outside. Out of the relative safety of the house. Outside.

Eira clenched her teeth, the panic rising in her chest.

The air around them was fresh and crisp, the faint scent of grass and trees filling her nostrils. The sun streamed down, its warmth caressing her skin...and yet, Eira felt cold, her breath coming in small, shallow gasps as her heart thumped against her chest.

The wide-open space, the vastness of the sky, was suddenly so much more overwhelming. It felt like it was pressing down on her like it was closing in...

She heard a deep rumble of thunder, could feel something static-y in the air...felt the taste of metal in her mouth...

"Take a deep breath, Little One," Rhys soothed her. "It's alright. We are there already..." Just a moment later, he put her down onto the soft cushion that covered the lounge area on one side of the terrace...a place where she had often laid down Nyx for his afternoon nap this summer...

The plush cushions were a familiar comfort, their softness reminding her of the times she had spent with her nephew…

She tried to focus on that, on the memories of those times instead of the overwhelming feeling of being outside...but as she looked around, as she took in the sheer vastness of the sky stretching out in every direction, it was almost too much.

Her breath came in short, sharp gasps, and she found herself clinging to Rhys’ arm, her fingers digging into his skin.

"You are alright," he promised her again. She knew it was ridiculous. He must think she was utterly mental that being outside scared her, overwhelmed her into silent fear.

Eira was sure he must think her completely insane: Scared of being outside, of being in the open...it was ridiculous. It was pathetic.

But she couldn’t help it, no matter how much she tried to calm herself down, to shove her fear back down. It had a hold on her, a tight grip that she couldn’t shake no matter how hard she tried.

"It's alright to be afraid," Rhys said quietly. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about."

Eira tried to believe his words, tried to take comfort in them. But it was hard, so hard. Her fear felt so stupid, so silly, so pointless.

She should be able to handle being outside, shouldn’t be so terrified of it…and yet here she was, clinging to Rhys like a frightened child, her heart thundering in her chest. The High Lord of the Night Court had volunteered to be her protector and she was still utterly and completely...terrified.

The shadows fluttered around her, sensing her fear, her terror...whispering softly in her ear, trying to calm her, to soothe her. But even their attempts couldn’t stop the way her body trembled, the way her heart raced.

Rhys wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer to his side. His touch was gentle but firm, a silent reassurance that he was there, that she wasn’t alone.

"You have every right to be afraid, Eira. That doesn't make you weak, little sister. It only means that you went through something traumatic and you haven't fully dealt with that yet," Rhys said softly. "I still wake up from nightmares. So does your sister. Cassian, Azriel...all of us deal with that as well."

"I am pathetic, " she whimpered.

Rhys’ expression darkened at her words, his jaw clenching.

“No, you’re not,” he said, his voice firm. “You’re the farthest thing from pathetic, Eira. Some fully fledged warriors would have taken one look at these Darkbringers and ran. They wouldn’t have stood their ground.” He huffed, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t you ever call yourself that again? Do you understand me?”

"In what world am I brave?" Eira asked weakly, her hands still trembling, fear settled in some kind of panic in the back of her brain, leaving her utterly spent and exhausted.

"You threw yourself between my son and a knife, Eira," Rhys told her drily. "In what world isn't that brave?"

Eira’s breath hitched in her throat as he spoke, and her mind suddenly filled with the memory of that day.

She had done that, hadn’t she? She had thrown herself in front of a knife for Nyx, not caring what happened to herself as long as the baby was safe… For Nyx, she had done that. She hadn't thought twice about it either.

But it had been for a good cause, in a moment of crisis. This…this was just her being weak. This was her reduced to a trembling, blubbering mess, too scared to do anything but cling to Rhys like a child for comfort. How did that make her brave?

"I know it doesn't feel that way right now, but it does get easier," Rhys promised her softly.

She wanted to believe him, she really did. But right now, it was hard. The fear felt so overwhelming, so all-consuming, that it was hard to imagine ever feeling anything else.

Eira took a deep, shaky breath, her body trembling as she tried to control her emotions. But despite her attempts to steady herself, she couldn’t seem to calm down. Her heart raced, her hands clammy, her breath coming in short, anxious gasps.

“It’s alright,” Rhys said softly, his voice reassuring. “I’m right here. You’re safe.”

The shadows fluttered around them,  brushing against her hands in a soothing caress.

Slowly, slowly, the fear that had consumed her began to ease, the frantic thumping of her heart returning to a more normal rhythm. She took a deep, shaky breath, feeling her body relax slightly in Rhys’ embrace.

"I am scared all the time," he continued softly.

Eira felt a flicker of surprise at his admission, her eyes widening slightly. She had never, ever considered that Rhys might be afraid. He was so powerful, so confident and in control...it almost seemed impossible to believe.

“But...why?” she asked, her voice small and wavering. “What could possibly scare you?”

Rhys chuckled softly at her question, a humourless sound that seemed almost bitter. “Plenty of things, little one,” he replied, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “More things than you could imagine.”

Eira frowned, her confusion growing. She had always assumed that Rhys was above fear, that he was somehow above the worries and anxieties that plagued the rest of them. To hear him admit otherwise...it was jarring, to say the least.

“What...What are you afraid of?” she asked softly, her voice so quiet she could barely hear it over the sound of her heart beating in her ears.

Rhys was silent for a moment, his expression growing more serious.

“Losing my mate,” he said quietly. “Losing my son. I'm afraid that if I don't keep them safe if I make a single mistake, it could all be taken from me.” He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as he spoke. "I'm afraid that one day I'll wake up and it will all have been nothing but a dream. That it was never real.”

She had never considered that he might be scared...that he might feel the same way that she did, the same fear and uncertainty that gripped her heart with a vice-like grip.

"It's real," she promised her brother quietly. "It's real, Rhys."

Rhys smiled faintly, his expression softening slightly as he looked down at her.

"I know it is,” he said quietly. “But it doesn’t make the fear go away."

Eira felt a pang of sympathy in her chest at his words.

She knew all too well what it was like to feel the weight of fear, the way it could consume you and control you and leave you feeling helpless. And yet, to hear Rhys, the High Lord of the Night Court, a man so powerful that he could crumble mountains with a snap of his fingers...

It was almost surreal.

“How do you deal with it?” she asked quietly, her voice quivering slightly. “The...the fear. How do you make it go away?”

Rhys was silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful.

"I don’t make it go away,” he said finally. “I don’t think that’s possible. The fear is always there, lurking in the back of my mind, waiting for me to let my guard down." He paused, his gaze fixed on some point over her head. “I just…I try to keep it at bay, remind myself that it’s just a feeling, that it doesn’t have to control me. I focus on the people I love, on the things that matter."

Eira felt her heartache at his words. She knew that feeling, that constant fear that lurked in the back of your mind, waiting for a moment to strike. And yet, to hear Rhys say that he felt the same...it almost made her feel better, to know that she wasn’t alone in her fear.

"Look at the flowers growing...Look at your vegetable patch," Rhys said softly. "Feel the fabric underneath you...Look at Nyx being happy and smiling..." She looked up to see Feyre walk outside, Nyx on her hip who happily squealed as soon as he saw Eira.

Eira's heart lurched at the sight of the baby, her chest constricting with emotion.

Nyx wriggled on Feyre's hip, reaching out his tiny arms towards her, babbling happily as he recognized her. Eira couldn't help but smile, her heart melting at the sight of the baby's little face. Feyre smiled, walking closer to Eira and Rhys, with Nyx bouncing on her hip.

The baby was babbling happily, his eyes fixed on Eira as he reached out for her. "Look how happy he is to see his Aunt Ra Ra" Feyre said gently, a fond smile adorning her lovely face.

"Ra Ra!" Nyx cheered at that moment, and Feyre sat him on Eira's lap, sitting next to her.

Eira felt her heart melt as Nyx settled himself on her lap, his little body bouncing with energy.

The baby looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, his little fingers reaching out to grab at her hair. He babbled happily, his voice high-pitched and cheerful.

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close to her chest as he continued to babble and coo.

Safe, untouched. 

She was safe. Maybe one day she would believe that again. 

[daytaker]

The Gang React to You Breaking Your Ankle

Lucifer

"This was bound to happen sooner or later."

I mean, really, with all the stunts you play with his brothers and that sorcerer, it's more surprising that you didn't break anything before now. Thank goodness your room is on the ground floor. Now, here is a schedule of where you need to be and when, along with the brother who is your designated companion at all times to ensure you don't get stuck somewhere or fall over and break something else. This is a rotating position so stop fighting all of you!

Mammon

"Holy shit, humans break easy, huh?"

Assuming for the moment that Mammon didn't accidentally get your ankle broken by pulling some stupid stunt for Devilgram clout and involving you in it, he'll be extra careful with you for a little bit. People keep jostling you in the hall! Don't they realize you're basically made of glass and paper?! He'll clear the halls for you to hobble by with your crutches. Yep, you're earning all sorts of new friends.

Leviathan

"E-sports are the best activity when you're injured."

What a convenient excuse to drag you to his room more often than usual for anime marathons and all-night gaming sessions. Like Mammon, he's a little uneasy about this revelation about just how delicate you are, but nobody gets injured playing video games. He's basically protecting you from your next inevitable accident.

Satan

"Stop trying to do so much on your own."

Satan acts extremely annoyed when he sees you trying to hop somewhere without your crutches or lifting anything more than fifteen pounds unaided. Of course, he's just worried about you and expressing that in the most practical way he can. He repeatedly reminds you of advice on improving your recovery rate he found in medical books and the blogs of reputable physical therapists (he always checks into their credentials).

Asmodeus

"Poor thing! Let me spoil you!"

And that's basically what he does, whenever he gets the opportunity. This is a great excuse to get some much needed R&R, in his opinion, so the two of you will be visiting spas and getting massages and you aren't walking anywhere anymore, he is one of the Rulers of the Underworld and you are going to be carried on a litter, so help him Gardonus.

Beelzebub

"You need to eat well to get your strength back."

Prepare yourself for Beel's version of "eating well". You only had three eggs for breakfast? You'll never heal at that rate. Have another six and some bacon. Here's a protein shake. It's designed for demons so it's probably a little grittier than the soft stuff from the human world but it's exactly what you need. No, he doesn't have any science to back this up. Yes, he expects you to clean your plate.

Belphegor

"Of course you got hurt, running around all the time. You should just relax with me."

Little did you know this was all part of Belphegor's master plan...

What a perfect opportunity to spend every second of the day with you. Now that you're forced to sit around and avoid being too active, he has you right where he wants you (specifically, under the blankets with him while he sleeps). He'll remind you at every opportunity that you normally run yourself ragged, and you've earned some time to laze around. And now that you're injured, you have the perfect excuse!

Diavolo

"Your poor human bones... My home is always open to you if you need somewhere more convenient to stay. Please take care of yourself, in the meantime."

Rest assured, he will provide you with all transportation necessary to and from RAD. Or perhaps you would like to try remote classes? Leviathan finds them productive! And if you need anything, please let him know. He'll be in touch about five times a day just to make sure you remember that.

Barbatos

"I am only a phone call away should you require my assistance."

And he will be on call at all hours of the day and night, just in case. You'll be treated like royalty when you visit the castle too, of course. (Even more like royalty than usual, that is.)

Solomon

"Oh, that? Here."

He just magics your ankle better. There, there, little apprentice. He's surprised you didn't do that yourself.

Simeon

"What are you carrying? I'll take it for you. No, I insist!"

Simeon will be a perfect gentleman, helping you up and down stairs and carrying your books and shopping for you. He's very concerned about you somehow re-injuring yourself, and even when you're alright to walk without crutches anymore, he still *really wishes* you'd use them for an extra week or two, just to be on the safe side.

Luke

"You did what to your ankle?! Ankles can do that?!

Congratulations, you've introduced Luke to the concept of broken bones, and he will find the human skeleton creepy and gross for the rest of his life.

--------

@thefandomthings I know this isn't exactly what your ask was, but it's similar, so I hope you like this!

[demonlorddiva]

Obey me! Brothers when your drunk!

You did really good on a test you’ve been working on and Diavolo said you could have anything you wanted! Any other human would ask for money, a vacation, or anything their hearts desired. But you? Your simple. Without the ability to buy human world alcohol in the devildom you asked diavolo to pick you up some for a night of fun! (And chaos) you decide that staying home and drinking is the best option as to not be in danger of other demons. How will the other brothers react?

*Obvi the reader is over 21 or the age of consuming alcohol in their country

Lucifer

You decided that since drinking demonus with him was one of your regular dates in his office, you could do the same thing and drink with him!

He’s glad to see you don’t want to leave the house. And that you want to drink with him makes him even more at ease

Plus his pride is soaring that hes the first person to see you drunk

The night is simple, drinks, music, and a wonderful conversation

It’s not often he gets to let loose and drink to his hearts desire, and with you? What a better time

If your walking funny he immediately picks you up and takes you to his room at the end of the night

He wants to make sure your okay through the night (and he wants to cuddle) (he’s v affectionate when he’s drunk)

He knew the night was happening, so by his bedside is pain meds, water, electrolytes, the whole nine yards

Will cuddle you in the morning and tease you about the silly things you said

Mammon

PARTY TIMEEEEE

You don’t wanna leave the house

He whines

You put your foot down

INDOOR PARTY TIMEEEE

You know he has his room set up for the perfect movie night, pillows, blankets, popcorn, the whole nine yards

Has a drinking game set up so you both can play

And ofc he set up the rules so you would both be hammered even before the movie ended

But the popcorn ran out and you guys are still hungry

Y’all have to hold hands as you go downstairs to the kitchen to make some instant noodles for each other

Lucifer catches y’all being too rowdy and forces y’all to go to bed

Mammon is absolutely WRECKED when he’s hungover (the hangsiety is real) not to mention his head pounding and his stomach hurting

You both spend the next day cuddling, with you telling him how much you love him, and how you think he’s still so cool even after you saw him faceplant on the floor

Levi

A night??? With you??? And you’ll be drunk??

He assures you multiple times that your safe and he absolutely doesn’t want to take advantage of you (not that you were worried in the slightest about that) (Levi bb calm down)

Y’all decide to play devil beerio kart (it’s like beerio kart if you’ve ever played, I’ll explain the rules)

Basically NO DRUNK DRIVING

During one race, you have to finish your beer (or other drink) you can drink it all before the race, stop any time in between, or stop before you finish the race and chug your drink

After a few races y’all are LIT

You guys end up yapping for a while before you put on an anime and cuddle (Levi’s to drunk to be nervous)

When you both wake up your hurting and hungover and Levi is FREAKING

The hangsiety is real with him

Just keep cuddling with him and tell him it’s okay and to fall back asleep

Satan

He seems like the guy who doesn’t care to drink

But for you? And to see you drink? But of course

I think y’all pull out a board game or card game and take a shot every time you lose

He’s curious after every drink how your feeling even though his ability to remember things is getting fogged

He’s giggly when he’s drunk, and that’s a somewhat rare sight in your day to day life so you spend the rest of the night laughing and talking

Hates that your hurting in the morning (even though this was your idea)

Has all the medicines and drinks for you on hand to help you feel better

Demands silence in the house so your headache doesn’t get worse

Asmo

PARTY TIME

I mean.. this is a special occasion right? Just because you can’t leave the house doesn’t mean you can’t have fun!

A slumber party is in order with all the works! Face masks, popcorn and snacks, and doing your nails of course.

Y’all get silly and chat and gossip all night

But you have to tell him NO PICTURES even if he begs

I feel like y’all get super sappy drunk girl talking

“NO YOUR THE GREATEST PERSON IVE MET”

At some point, after a bit of drinking someone (both of ya) get the great idea to start prank calling people

You: “is your refrigerator running?”

Beel: “uhhh yeah”

You: “well then you better go catch it!!” *click*

The other brothers had to deal with Beel guarding the fridge in fear that it would ‘run away’

We all know you guys are BIG BABIES the next day being hungover

Be prepared to cuddle and complain together all the next day

Beel

He also doesn’t seem to be a drinking guy

But he’s down to try anything! I think he’d like cocktails with fun ingredients

DEF loves Bloody Mary’s

So I think that’s the night, y’all spend your night in the kitchen coming up with different drinks and getting drunker along the way

Y’all order WAYYY too much Chinese takeout and have a great time

Feel like beel gets sappy when he’s tipsy and tells you how much he cares about you and y’all snuggle and stuff

Makes you a DELICIOUS hangover meal for you

Like a Waffle House setup but at home

Def cuddles you and is worried if you feel bad the next day (I feel like beel doesn’t get hangovers)

Belphie

Feel like he’s not a drinker as well

But the opportunity to drink with you? And he’s the only one who can see? Oh yeah he needs to see this

Y’all decide a movie drinking game.

Example: watch pirates of the Caribbean and drink every time they say captain or ship

Y’all get lit QUICK

Decide to pull a prank on Lucifer and you guys talk FOREVER about the plan, what your gonna do and it’s happening TONIGHT

.. queue YALL falling asleep and never do anything LMAO

The next day is full of bedrotting and sleeping

He makes fun of you for anything silly you did

But you can make fun of him back, the way he was stumbling was really funny

In true drinking fashion I wrote this while I was drunk HELLO

Obviously not proofread love you!!! Been really sad about the story not continuing with obey me so I’ll be posting my drafts and more ideas a bit more often for a while

[iconicname]

What I hate most about fanon woobie Tim drake is that he has to be the center of Jason's world. It literally doesn't matter what type of dynamic they have.

If they're acquaintances jason will be dumbed down and has to ask Tim for help, putting Jason in his debt.

or worse Tim will just insert himself without any social repercussions (as in no one fucking likes it when they're boundaries are violated even if they "need" it).

If you're going with the family routes where everyone is brother or sister, Tim has to be Jason's favorite brother (Dick Grayson who?). Because of how "nice and cool" he is or alternatively because tim is some poor wittle baby who needs big strong jason to take care of him.

Or jason and Tim are just "best friends" but it's never shown, jason just takes one look at this expensive saltless cracker and gets hit with the "omg child soldiers are bad! This poor kid 😟" but it only applies to Tim and Tim only.

If they're angst in the dynamic, there's never any nuance. Because they lovvveeee to hammer in the "titans tower incident😱😰😨😱😭😢😥😩" but never how tim was speaking so nasty about jason (a dead kid he did. Not. Know.) Because he was insecure.

It'd be nice if it was a story about how Tim was insecure ( not in the cutesy uwuw baby kinda way i mean the i shit on the dead because i can't handle feeling inferior to my predecessor) and Jason just didn't like him, but they work their differences and they wouldn't exactly be friends or anything but they were least acknowledge each other in a positive way through being Robin and stuff but that would never work because Tim is a character who can never be lifted without bringing others down. Because outside of Robin, he literally has nothing for him, and he knows it.

And like it's one thing if jason was like Dick. (Got fired. Had a crisis. Moved on.) because at least Jason would have the ability to defend himself/prove tim wrong whatever. But he wasn't. He was tortured to death for the cause.

The total lack of empathy from Tim is astonishing. It reflects a lot on his character. Forget Jason for a second. what type of hero shits on the lives lost to your villains?

Imagine your crying because your loved one died in a villain attack and Superman is like "ummmm they died because they fucking sucked and were inherently inferior. Not me though, I would have survived I'm better than them"

Yall don't think that attitude didn't stay when jason got revived? It definitely would, jason is the pariah, and if Tim felt safe enough to shit on a dead kid who at that point has not directly "defied batman" you think he wouldn't say that type of shit to the other robins, around jason or to his face?

Even if he didn't, jason would know because let's be real 🙄

But no, there's no nuance. Instead, jason has to grovel at Tim's superior feet, while Tim gets to feel benevolent and magnanimous with every godamn interaction.

(Also Canonically jason was basically testing Tim's mettle as Robin which Tim supposedly succeeded, thats why Jason left instead of idk knocking Tim out or something. If Tim is truly traumatized and can't be in the same room as someone who aggressively sparred with you, what the fuck are you doing out in the streets in tights you bitch baby go back home.

And if Tim isn't traumatized, the flinching and godforsaken whimpering just reeks of someone using their higher status "elite class robin" to get someone of lower class "street rat, pariah" into trouble. Like Tim going, " All I have to is flinch and act scared to get Bruce and other vigilantes to hurt you. It doesn't matter what you do, they'll never take your side. "

Which sounds ridiculous, but I've seen fics do this many times, and it's never acknowledged outside of "jason should stop being evil and keep apologize over and over"

Because fanon woobie Tim is never with fault. Even if he does something that might hurt someone, it's always overruled because he was "right" or too socially inept to understand what he did wrong thus instantly forgiven (a trait Bruce shares)

Fanon woobie Tim's feeling and conforts is always the priority, it doesn't what any other character is going through, Damian, Jason, Dick, Stephanie, Tim is automatically more important, and if another character has conflict with him that means they're in the wrong.(another trait Bruce shares)

Fanon and Canon Tim is defined by his insecurities, and he refuses to acknowledge or overcome it.

Which is why even in "jason centric" stuff Tim is always there in his face, and jason HAS to have a good opinion of him, he HAS to say you're a good robin. He HAS to say you're my favorite brother. He HAS to constantly affirm that Tim is smart and a good person. It doesn't matter if the titans tower Chapter is included or tim was on a victim blaming spree. jason has like/admire him anyway and should feel so stupid for not seeing it sooner.

[desturns]

──── long day. m.s.

warnings. nada :) just something fluffy before i release this filthy oneshot on this man yall stay tuned. not proofread! <3

୨ৎ

matt was ready for this day to just fucking end already.

between two back-to-back hour long meetings, grocery shopping for the house, almost getting into a car accident because some idiot didn't know how to work his turn signals, driving around for a total of 7 hours, filming a car video, and having to review some stuff for his personal project; it was just all too much. not to mention the loads of laundry he'd have to do once he got home. if he even decided to do it tonight, that was.

he didn't want to whine, he wasn't like that. sometimes life wasn't all laughs and jokes and he'd have bad, long days. and that was okay. he was used to the long days by now. but, that didn't mean they never took a toll on him. much like now.

matt was driving home in silence after dropping nick and chris off at a friends house. they'd ask for him to stay for a bit, hang out and maybe play a couple of games, but really, all matt wanted was to sleep. wash all of their dirty shit and fold them, but sleep among all. because he knew he'd finally get to rest and that he'd finally be with you again.

you'd texted him just a few hours ago, letting him know you had gotten off work and brought him some cookies from some store that he didn't really take the time to read about. all he cared about was that you were home, waiting for him, and he just couldn't wait to wrap his arms around you like he did every night.

when he finally parked and made his way inside, he could hear the faint sounds of music playing. his ears perked up, his first genuine smile of the day making a brief appearance, and his feet moved one in front of the other until the music was louder and he was right outside of his bedroom.

…let the music groove you, let the melody move you…

he couldn't help but laugh to himself, shaking his head with slight disbelief. of course, out of all things you'd listen to when you were by yourself was the ‘lemonade mouth' soundtrack.

without hesitation, matt opened the door and the smile that was already on his face only softened at the sight of you, what he assumed you were doing, looking through clothes on the rack. your back was turned to him and you were moving back and forth on your feet, dancing along to the song played on the tv. if he listened closely enough, he was sure you were singing along, too.

he'd think after hours of teaching your dance class you'd be tired and already laying down with a face mask on, maybe watching one of your favorite reality tv shows and sipping on a hot chocolate despite it being the middle of spring. you hadn't noticed him yet and if you did, you weren't paying him any mind. you were just dancing to yourself, sorting through clothes, in your own little world with mumbled lyrics occasionally escaping you.

matt almost didn't want to disturb the moment. seeing you like this, where you were unapologetically yourself and unashamed about the things you enjoyed, only made him fall deeper in love with you. that's when he noticed his laundry hamper was empty and the clothes you were sorting through were his.

had you done what he's been dreading to do ever since leaving his brothers? he looked behind his shoulder and, low and behold, the washing machine was on. he could see it shake a little, something he didn't even notice as he walked by since he was too focused on you and your music.

you'd taken the time to do the laundry for him without even needing to ask him and suddenly disturbing the moment didn't bother him too much. you had taken this off his plate and with no complaints. his exhaustion faded away and after making his presence known, you two sharing a hug and you reminding him about the cookies, he gently guided you to the bed while placing small kisses on your neck.

you always knew how to make the long days just a bit more bearable and for that, he was going to show you just how thankful he was.

----------

desspeaks! honestly this is like a little filler of sorts. figured i'd give you guys one more fluff before getting into the nitty gritty of things. and thank u guys SM for the love on my last one, it truly means a lot to me especially since i didn't expect such attention.

[cocobirde]

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃 | JOHN DORY

request. @Striped_Scheme on wattpad Requesting a JD x Reader where they've been dating since BroZone days but he kinda just left her with no goodbye and tries to reconcile and convince them to come help and save Floyd lol ("Technically we never really broke up"☝🤓) word count. 2.2k warnings. the word fuck lol. timeline. pre-trolls trilogy, pre-trolls band together. song. baby it's cold outside with some slight alterations (tell me he wouldnt. i DAREEE you.) a/n. honestly. idea was good, but my writing was not it so apologies but love u... thanks for reading lolz... probably rushed... (i do that alot in my writing how to not rush help me) no doubt ooc characters, characters will always be ooc.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

"He's gone? What do you mean gone?"

Floyd could sense your distress. Panicked voice squeaking and your eyes darting all over the small backstage area for your boyfriend, on how exactly he could've left without you catching him.

You were in front of the stage, courtesy of being the partner of a band member, which was amazing but also granted limited viewing if they went too far back. From what you did see, the expressions were a solemn mixture of embarrassment, anger, disappointment.

You barely paid attention to the fans, who were also attempting to go in the same direction as you. Getting caught up in them took a whole lot of convincing the security.

But still, you were just at the door, and you heard him through it. Where had he gone? Was he okay? He fell from a very tall place in front of a crowd of fans, which was probably more damaging to him compared to actually getting injured—but not for you.

You watched him stumble backstage, stumble.

Baby Branch hid behind Floyd, wrapping the little leaf-sewn vest around his body, looking from his older brother to you, worried.

Where's the rest of the band?

"He just left. Everyone did. The band's..." Floyd paused, sighing, "BroZone's over."

You stood confused, your brows furrowing at his words. Over? How could they be over? This was just the start of their world tour. The band couldn't just break up over one failure.

"Over?"

They weren't that fragile, were they?

You loved all the brothers; they were like your own family, but your worries were set on only one of them for the time being.

"Did J at least say where he was going?"

Floyd nodded his head but remained unsure of what your thoughts would be on his answer. He glanced down at baby Branch, who was huddled around his leg.

"He was upset, really upset," he explained. "Said he was going to go hiking to the Neverglades... alone."

The change in your face told him everything, and he was quick to extend his hands in front of him. "But John Dory always says crazy things like that, and he never goes through with them. I'm sure he probably just went up to The Point."

That did seem like a logical explanation, and it was. Floyd may not have been the oldest, but he always had reason and logic behind his smart words.

"You're right." You were still stressed, no doubt, but that calmed your fears down. "Are you guys gonna be okay?"

Floyd spared another guilty glance at Branch and nodded, offering a soft smile and urging you to go look for your lover.

▃▃▃▃▃

The troll tree was huge, and even with its large size, it was hard to find any area that wasn't already occupied. Trolls made sure to take advantage of all their space; it was their home, and they made the most of it.

But even with every taken, there was one place that was free from everyone else.

A special spot reserved for you and your lover.

The Point.

Little knew about the spot, and those who did ensured it remained private.

Hidden in the leaves was a branch sticking out high enough to conceal the ugly Bergen town that surrounded them and gave them access to the beautiful night sky.

You and John Dory liked to go there a lot. Whether it be dates or to blow off steam (not like that for the weirdos), if he'd go anywhere after an accident like today, he'd go there.

He was very athletic and made a show of it whenever you'd go together, carrying you up. Bridal style or pulling you up with his strong locks—the point was, you had trouble going up on your own.

It took a while—a hard struggle—but it'd be worth it to see your boy up there and cheer him up.

They couldn't just break up; they just needed their leader to see that.

"John Dory?"

You called upon reaching the top, pushing the heavy leaves out of your way, careful not to slip off the branch.

"Baby, are you here?" Your voice was soft; you didn't want to alarm him. He could be really sensitive sometimes.

That thought brought a faint smile to your face. A smile fell upon the realization that he wasn't up here. If not up here, where could he have gone?

Home?

Knowing JD, you doubted it. If this was as serious as Floyd had put it, as serious as he looked, he wouldn't have just gone home.

And so your search ensued.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

You spent days looking for him. Not a spot in the tree was untouched or unsearched by you. Somehow, the troll had just disappeared. No signs. No letters. No goodbyes.

He left you alone to suffer. Wondering where he'd gone, if he was okay, and if you guys were okay.

It was a coincidence, truly.

How on the day you reminisce when he left you without even a word explaining his sudden disappearance all those years ago was the same day you'd find John Dory on your doorstep.

"Come on, baby, could you let me in?"

"Baby?" you scoffed, remaining with your back slammed against the door in exasperation. "You lost the right to call me that a very long time ago."

One moment you were having a nice day, reading a nice book by your fireplace, enjoying the pitter-patter of rain outside, and the thunder struck, shaking you in the best way possible.

And the next...

"It's cooold..."

He whined, banging on the door desperately.

You couldn't bear to look at him; the second you already spent doing so when you opened the door was enough. He had a face that you'd never forget.

How'd he even find you?

"Go. Away." you growled.

"But it's cold outside."

You clenched your jaw, glaring at the door handle as he shook it. JD used little effort to push at the door; by the weight of it, he could tell you were against it. Not that it mattered.

He was strong; he could easily open it if he wanted to.

"You simply must go."

"Baby, it's cold outside."

If John Dory thinks a little singing is enough to serenade you, he is more of an idiot than you are already aware he is. You weren't a teenager helplessly in love with a silly musician from next door, you were grown.

Mature.

His tricks weren't going to work on you.

"The answer is no."

"But baby, it's cold outside."

He put more pressure, pushing, and you cursed for the lack of a lock on your door.

Trolls don't do locks! They don't have anything to worry about!

Except ex-boyfriend's trying to come in and ruin your life all over again.

"The welcome has been-."

"You should feel so lucky I dropped in."

You rolled your eyes, sarcasm dripping with your words, "So nice and warm."

He pushed the door, slipping a leg in to stop it from shutting completely, peeking a crack. You groaned and peered through it at him.

Sharp glares were directed at him, and gosh, if only looks could kill, he would've dropped dead right now.

He looked stupid.

Stupid puppy eyes with his stupid goggles and a stupid pout on his stupid face. He was soaked from head to toe, the rain falling on him more and more every second he stood outside.

My, did he look pathetic?

BANG!

He shrieked, desperation on his face and voice, jumping at the loud crash of thunder, lighting up the dark sky.

He turned back to you, singing rapidly.

"Look out the window at that storm!"

"Ugh, okay! Come in!"

His face lit up, the door swinging open, and he rushed in, soaking your carpet with rain as you shut the door behind him, slamming it hard enough that the whole house shook with force.

He glanced at you in surprise, getting a glare in return.

JD opened his mouth to speak, obviously nothing nice with the smug look on his face, and you were quick to shut him down.

"Don't."

He clamped his mouth shut, smirking and holding his hands up in defense. "I wasn't gonna say anything."

"Stay."

You urged with a pointed finger, walking off to your bathroom in search of a towel.

"Yes, your majesty."

You hated him with every fiber of your being, but you weren't cruel. He might've been, but you weren't. Any troll would do the same as you; offer him some refuge from the storm outside.

Returning with a towel, you didn't bother passing it to him, tossing it and smacking him right in the face.

Maybe you were a little cruel.

He reacted with a huff, taking it and wrapping it around himself, not bothering to dry himself like ordered, but more like a shelter from the cold.

"Is that how you treat your boyfriend after all these years?"

John Dory tutted, shaking his head in disappointment as he took a single step in your direction.

"Boyfriend?" you scoffed.

"I mean, technically, we never broke up."

Oh, you wanted to punch his little ugly face so bad.

"You disappearing without saying anything was us "technically" breaking up." You did air quotations with another roll of your eyes, speaking before he did, exasperated.

"Why are you even here, John Dory?"

He stayed silent for a few moments, pondering what exactly to say. What could he say? He knew it was stupid of him to even come in the first place. He knew you'd be angry, upset, but not like this.

You didn't look the slightest bit happy to see him.

His smugness dropped along with his shoulders, and he took a breath.

"I need your help."

He looked dead serious. So serious.

You shook your head, your lips curling up in disbelief. "You need my help. Right." your arms crossed, "You leave, disappear off to who knows where, say nothing, suddenly come back after 20 years, and you decide you want my help?"

A short and dry laugh left you.

John Dory really was unbelievable.

"I knew you wouldn't want to see me..."

"I don't want to see you." You cut him off with a grimace, ready to say more-

He had that same desperate look.

Honestly, it brought you back. It brought you back to all those years ago, when both of you were young.

John Dory was always a terrible boyfriend, cocky and arrogant, bossy, too busy with BroZone to give you the time you needed. It hurt you. You loved him so much, and he didn't seem to always reciprocate those feelings. And each time you guys would argue and break up, he would be the first to return with a bouquet of your favorite flowers.

"Leave me alone, John. You can't just come back and expect me to accept you. That's not how life works! If you wanna be in a relationship, you have to commit-..."

"Can you please just listen?"

He stared at you with a small pout, furrowed brows, eyes pleading into yours for you to give him a second chance. His stupid, loving eyes knew exactly how you worked. How exactly to work you.

The only difference right now was that he came empty-handed.

Nevertheless, it effectively shut you up.

"I fucked up all those years ago, I know. I fucked up leaving you. That's the biggest mistake I've ever made. I should've said goodbye, apologized, invited you to come with me- I should've done something!" He ranted, "But I didn't. And I just left..."

John Dory expected you to say something. One of your snarky remarks and cut him off, tell him he's wrong or right, and degrade him on what a terrible person he is because he is well aware of it.

But he's trying.

"Baby, you of all trolls know how terrible I am at apologies," he sighed.

And you didn't bother to correct him on your name; looking at him up and down, eyes still narrowed. You were still angry, you'd probably be angry for a very long time, but for the moment... you'd put it aside.

"What do you need help with?"

His face lit up, beaming at you at your acceptance, not denying him completely, not shunning the troll out, and kicking him back into the rain. You were hearing him out.

You noticed the look and huffed, "Just because I'm asking does not mean I'm going to say yes."

"Floyd's been kidnapped."

Your expression softened, and your mouth fell open in a quiet gasp.

"Kidnapped?"

"I got a letter from him saying he got kidnapped by popstars Velvet and Veneer." He went on and explained the story about how he went to see him and help him escape, only to fail: "-The only way to free him is by singing the perfect family harmony."

You loved Floyd to this day. It'd been years since you'd last talked to him, heard of him at all, but the same amount of affection you felt for the troll remained.

"I need to get the band back together. And... I really can't do it on my own. I'm not sure if they want to see me any more than you did-."

You cut him off a lot.

"I'll help," he grinned. "But not for you. For Floyd. Don't think I've forgiven you yet."

"Yet?"

"Shut up."

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

[ahsokaismyqueen]

Saving the World or Not Pairing - Steve Harrington x HendersonSister!Reader Summary - Steve's gone off to fight Vecna while you've stayed behind to distract the bats. What could possibly go wrong? Word Count - 2.5k Warnings - Language. Canon typical violence. And yes, I'm going to go ahead and tell you, Eddie ain't dying in this one. Because I don't want him to, and in this universe I'm the boss. :P Steve Harrington x HendersonSister!Reader Masterlist

You knew the exact moment when you decided you weren’t going back up that rope into your world. You watched as Dustin appeared overhead, safe in Hawkins, and Eddie yelled at you to “GO!”. The thought didn’t make you panic. It was something you felt with certainty. Steve wasn’t back, they needed more time, and you weren’t leaving this place without him. 

Dustin screamed at you from overhead, but you ignored him, turning to Eddie. “Keep him safe all right?” You grabbed the backpack filled with backup weapons and turned back towards the front of the trailer. 

“Woah, woah, woah, where the hell are you going!?” Eddie said, grabbing your shoulder and pulling you back around to face him. “We said we wouldn’t be heroes!” 

You gave Eddie a small smile, putting a hand on his shoulder and giving him a squeeze. “He’s not back, which means I’m not going anywhere.” 

Not giving him the chance to say anything else, you ran out the door, grabbing one of the bikes you guys had left outside, and took off. “Come on you bastards! Come and get me!” 

You didn’t allow yourself to panic. You didn’t allow terror to swallow you whole and pull you under. Even when the awful screeching of those bats echoed through your stomach as they started following you. You cycled through every one of your friends’ faces and reminded yourself that you were doing this for them. You were doing this to keep them safe, whether it meant you would get to see them that way or not. Whether it meant you were sacrificed or not. As long as everyone was okay . . . It would be worth it. 

Steve’s smiling face had just formed in your mind when a vine grabbed a hold of one of the wheels of your bike, the sudden jerk throwing you off and sending you flying into a decaying car. 

You heard glass shatter, then it was black. 

————————

The world came back into focus like a slow motion action movie sequence. Your eyes opened and pain hit your body like a freight train. A groan left your lips as you attempted to sit up, and you felt blood dripping down the side of your forehead. Some of it fell into your eye, tinting everything in red. You looked up to find that you had flown through the windshield of the car, landing miraculously in the passenger seat. 

That was when you heard the screeches. 

You looked in horror out the shattered window as the bats swarmed Eddie. He had come after you. Your best friend had followed you, and was now being attacked. You gasped as you saw one almost get him around the neck, and knew what was going to happen next. 

No. 

You did not waste a year of your life not being friends with him to watch him die like this. The world needed Eddie Munson. They needed someone to befriend the outsiders, to make everyone who felt like they were outsiders feel like they had a place they belonged. Your brother needed Eddie Munson. You needed Eddie Munson, and he was not about to die.

You were sure it was the adrenaline that allowed you to push all that pain down and climb back out through the window, not even wincing as your hands touched the broken glass. You slid down the hood and fell to the ground looking around for something, anything to help. A few feet away you saw it, the bag of extra weapons. You crawled over to it, trying to think of what was in there and how it could help. 

The first things you pulled out were all too small. They could never take on that whole swarm, and then your hands touched the lighter. Your mind flashed back to senior year, you, Steve and the kids setting the hub on fire. No matter what it was, fire seemed to hurt everything in the Upside Down. A lighter wouldn’t put off enough flames to get all of them though. 

Then your eyes fell on Steve’s hairspray. 

With every ounce of energy you had left, you pulled yourself up, clutching the lighter in one hand and the hairspray in the other, and stumbled over to where the bats were. They had just gotten Eddie to the ground with each holding down one limb when you reached them. “Fuck all of you.” You said as one noticed you and dived for you. You pressed down on the nozzle and lit up the lighter, flames exploding out in front of you and burning the bat to a crisp. 

You did your best to keep the flames away from Eddie, but you knew you had to get them to let go of him, and they did when the threat of the flames got too close. The flames incensed them, the screeching rising to a noise so loud that it hurt your ears, but they were off of Eddie, and he was still breathing. You had to stay on guard for both of you, but the bats had a healthy fear of the fire. God you hoped the hairspray would last long enough. You could feel it getting lighter, and let out a, “shit!” as it sputtered for a moment. 

“Uh Henderson, how long is that thing gonna last?” You heard Eddie ask, and you glanced over at him to see him attempting to sit up with a wince. 

“Keep your ass down Munson! You shouldn’t even be here! I told you to go back!” You said, angry that he had put his life in such danger. 

“You know I can’t let you take all the glory.” He grunted, but stayed where he was, holding onto his stomach. “And you’re my best friend. I’m not leaving you behind.” 

Tears started to fill your eyes at his words, but you forced the emotion down as the hairspray sputtered again. “No more friendship ending fights?” 

“And no more keeping shit from each other.” Eddie agreed, and you glanced down at him to see him smiling up at you. 

Before you got the chance to say something, the hairspray gave out in your hands. “Fuck.” 

Eddie tugged you down to the ground and you both wrapped your arms around each other, trying to protect the other from the bats, but then the strangest thing happened. You both froze as the bats screeches faded, and thuds told you that something was hitting the ground all around you. Looking up you watched in disbelief as the bats dropped all around you, dead. “Holy shit.” Eddie said. 

Relief filled your body, and you let out a breathless laugh, pulling away from Eddie to get a better view. “They must have got him. They must have got Vecna!” 

Eddie fell back to the ground on his back then, letting out his own laugh of relief. 

You took that moment to glance at his wounds, noting how similar they looked to yours. Ugly, but it seemed like the bats had been stopped before they got anything vital. “I know it’s more metal, but we should have just gotten matching tattoos instead.” You told him. 

He laughed again at your words, but then groaned in pain clutching his stomach. “Shit, don’t make me laugh. It hurts.” 

“Yeah, I know it hurts dipshit.” You said, shoving his shoulder. 

It was then that you heard your name and Eddie’s name being called and looked up to find your brother limping towards the two of you. 

You made yourself get to your feet, shocked by the sight of him and pulled him into a hug at once. “You dumbass, you were supposed to stay where it’s safe.” You told him, pulling back to look at him. “What the hell did you do to your leg?” 

“The two of you are the dumbasses! What were you thinking?! You promised Steve you wouldn’t try to be a hero!” He said, and you were shocked to see him looking close to tears. 

Tugging him close again, you ruffled his hair as you hugged him. “I’m okay, D. We’re both okay.” 

“You don’t look okay. You look like shit.” He murmured into your shirt. 

“Always keeping me humble, aren’t you little bro?” You said, and then pulled back again to look at him in the eyes. “Now tell me what you did to your leg.” 

It was at that moment the whole world began to shake. You pulled Dustin to the ground, being careful to make sure he didn’t hurt his leg more, and sat down between him and Eddie who was now sitting up again. “What the hell is going on?!” Eddie shouted over the rumbling. 

You didn’t know, but it couldn’t be good. Panic started rising in your chest once again as you thought about Steve, Robin and Nancy, a couple of miles away, unsure of what was happening to them. But the bats had died, so that had to mean they had killed Vecna, right? As soon as the shaking stopped, you found yourself wanting to run toward the Creel house to assure yourself they were all right, but Eddie’s wounds needed to be wrapped, Dustin needed something for his leg, and your head was still bleeding from flying through a car. There was no way you could make it through the miles in the woods and even if you could, you knew they’d never let you try to do it alone. 

So all you could do was wait, glancing up at the trees every few seconds hoping for the sight of them, and getting more anxious with every second. 

“They’re coming back.” Eddie tried to reassure you as you bandaged his wounds. “Harrington’s so in love with you I think he would have taken Vecna on himself to get back to you.” 

You gave a faint smile, but your heart wasn’t in it. It wouldn’t be until he was back. “It almost sounds like you approve.” You teased. 

“Yeah, well . . . Maybe he’s not as big of a douchebag as I thought.” Eddie admitted. “Kinda looks like a badass right now for sure.” He gestured behind you. 

You spun around so fast it made you dizzy for a second, but there they were, coming out of the trees. Alive, safe and only looking a little worse for wear. “Steve,” you gasped, stumbling to your feet as he took off running towards you. 

Within moments, despite your lack of coordination, Steve had your face in his hands, looking over you with concern. “Jesus Christ, what the hell happened to you?” Then he looked over at Eddie who was now supporting a bandage and Dustin who had a makeshift splint. “What happened to all of you?” 

Reaching out, Steve let you pull him even closer, needing the touch to reassure yourself he was okay. “I uh, might’ve flown through the windshield of a car. Eddie might have gotten attacked by the bats trying to save me, and Dustin might’ve fallen back down into the Upside Down trying to come back and help us.” He looked more and more upset with every word. “I promise it’s not as bad as it looks. Head wounds just bleed a lot.” 

“That’s true.” Robin confirmed, and you shot her a grateful smile, relieved to see that she looked fine as well. “But . . . You’re probably going to need to get that looked at.” She said, wincing when she looked at your forehead. 

“I told you not to play the hero. To get yourself out of here the moment shit started to go south-” Steve started to say, but you interrupted him. 

“Steve, I’m fine-”

“You flew through a goddamn car windshield-!” 

“And I might’ve also used up all your hairspray making a flamethrower.” You admitted. 

“It was metal as hell.” Eddie piped up, grinning over at Dustin who smiled back at him. 

You and Steve both shot them a look which wiped the grin from their faces. 

“Why couldn’t you for once look after yourself!?” Steve asked.

Although you knew he was worried about you, you couldn’t help but be a little frustrated at his words. “You needed more time! I got you more time.” You saw him open his mouth to protest, but kept going before he could. “And you’re not stupid. You knew there was no way in hell I was leaving without you, the same way you wouldn’t have left without me.” You tugged on his shirt to emphasize your words. “We’re a team Harrington, and I’m not abandoning you. Ever. You’re stuck with me for the rest of our lives, and you better start getting used to-”

Steve’s lips cut off your words with a hard kiss. It was rough, it was passionate, and it was punishing. A kiss that was so intense it was impossible for you to tell if your dizziness was from it or the blow to the head. You were so caught up in him, so caught up in the relief that he was alive, that he was okay, you didn’t even notice when he pulled away until he spoke. “It won’t be for the rest of our lives if you keep almost getting yourself killed.” 

He had a point. You wrapped your arms around him, resting the good side of your head against his chest. “I’ll try to work on that.” You said, letting out a sigh as he put his arms around you as well, holding you close. 

Steve groaned, but didn’t say anything, instead turning his attention to Eddie. “Thanks for looking after her Munson.” 

Eddie’s grin was sincere when he looked at him. “She's my best friend, Harrington. Always will.” 

“And you,” he said, focusing on Dustin, “Are an idiot, listen to your sister next time.” 

“What the hell-!” Dustin started to argue, but you interrupted him. 

“Did you guys feel that big earthquake too? I mean I know we felt them already, but this one-” you stopped at the expression on Steve’s face, and watched as he glanced at Robin then Nancy. “What’s going on?” You asked, stepping back so you could look at all three of them. 

Nancy spoke then. “The shaking started right after Henry’s clock chimed . . . Four times.” 

“But . . . That’s not possible. You - you guys killed him right? I mean the bats all fell out of the sky dead-” Eddie said. 

“By the time we got to the body, it was gone.” Nancy admitted. 

The implications of that sent your mind reeling. Was there a possibility that he survived everything that they had done to him? 

“Max.” Dustin said, and it was at that moment that Nancy’s first words caught up with you. If the clock had chimed four times . . . “We’ve got to get back! We’ve got to see if she’s okay!” He started back in the direction of the trailer, and you hurried to catch up with him and help support his weight. 

Max had to be okay. You weren’t sure what had happened, but she had to be okay. You had promised that you were going to take her shopping and for ice cream when all this was over. Besides, she was so strong and brave . . . nothing too bad could have happened. 

But when you and Dustin burst through the door to the trailer and looked up at the ceiling to the gate, you realized how wrong you were.