#You come across another pair of twins. Clutching each other tightly.

[eldintower]

my honest take on the matter is that a divine gate at its most abstract & symbolic is bodies & bodies & bodies and so the divine gate of malenia & the age of rot, which is arguably spreading as the tarnished seeks the shards (the scarlet rot creeps into limgrave beyond the outermost smoldering wall #Yesss) was caelid & the batte of aeonia, the birthplace of a god. caelid is the gate of divinity as marika knew it, not the petrified husk which miquella sought. to me, this is a huge part of malenia's tragedy, that in becoming miquella's blade and grasping onto that part of herself until it is the only thing left, she secured her own godhood. part of me wonders if she even had some presentiment, but still saw it all through to the bitter end. one of my favorite details to go back to are the oracles of the haligtree & the implication that they're heralding malenia, especially in the wake of miquella's ten minutes of godhood. did they foresee that malenia would ascend- did they foresee that miquella would be stopped?

the twins together represent the beginning & end of marika's age- shaman village & caelid (i do think it's important how no miquella crosses are to be found in the Hinterlands, and yet one is in the specimen storehouse; to me, that does reflect the path marika took)- as well as their twinned trajectory in the minor erdtree & golden braid- kindness of gold unto a point of no return. there is a throughline here which i like very much: i think the original name of the shaman village has been lost to time in being sealed away with the rest of marika's past and in marika's own secrecy; can anyone say for certain what caelid used to look like? can anyone remember?

[wolf-saint]

"Mathematicians call them twin primes: pairs of prime numbers that are close to each other, almost neighbors, but between them there is always an even number that prevents them from truly touching. Numbers like 11 and 13, like 17 and 19, 41 and 43. If you have the patience to go on counting, you discover that these pairs gradually become rarer. You encounter increasingly isolated primes, lost in that silent, measured space made only of ciphers, and you develop a distressing presentiment that the pairs encountered up until that point were accidental, that solitude is the true destiny. Then, just when you’re about to surrender, when you no longer have the desire to go on counting, you come across another pair of twins, clutching each other tightly."

Paolo Giordano

[89rooms]

Twin primes: pairs of prime numbers that are close to each other, almost neighbors, but between them there is always an even number that prevents them from truly touching. If you have the patience to go on counting, you discover that these pairs gradually become rarer. You encounter increasingly isolated primes, lost in that silent, measured space made only of ciphers, and you develop a distressing presentiment that the pair encountered up until that point were accidental, that solitude is the true destiny. Then, just when you're about to surrender, when you no longer have the desire to go on counting, you come across another pair of twins, clutching each other tightly.

— Paolo Giordano, The Solitude of Prime Numbers

[empress-simps]

Strangers (epilouge)

▪︎Pairings: Kuroo Tetsuroo x Reader, Bokuto Koutaro x Reader, Bokuto Koutaro x Akaashi Keiji and Kageyama Tobio x Hinata Shoyo

▪︎Pronouns: She/Her [Fem!Reader]

▪︎Alternate Universe: Soulmate Au

▪︎Genre:Angst

▪︎Synopsis: Finding out your soulmate rejected the bond to be with someone else feels terrible.

Note: Thankyou for those who supported and loved this fanfiction, you're all probably surprised that I still posted the ending since this is way overdue! I apologize

》 Previous

》 Strangers Masterlist

》 Main Masterlist

8:20 p.m | Onigiri Miya

"Bokuto-san."

Akaashi looked up from his phone and adjusted his glasses, looking at the hyperactive male sitting across him as he animatedly chats with his the orange haired teammate.

The dual haired male stopped what he was doing and tilted his head in confusion.

"What's with the face Akaashi?" Bokuto looked at him, curiousity entering his features as the rest of MSBY team and Osamu were absorbed in their own conversation with one another.

Akaashi stared at him as he got lost in those golden eyes. He wondered how they mended their relationship with each other while he still clearly remember how nasty the fall out between them was.

They both learned that they're better off as friends. And that's something Akaashi will probably beat himself up for the rest of his life.

If only he hadn't confessed to bokuto. If only he hadn't kiss him. If only he knew right away they weren't going to last long...

Then maybe Y/n's and Kuroo's wedding invitation won't be showing up in his screen, taunting him.

He looked back at his phone again, gripping it tightly as he shaked his head. They'll probably send Bokuto's invitation too.

"What is it 'Kaashi? Tell meeeee!" Bokuto whined, getting the attention of Hinata, Atsumu, Osamu and Sakusa.

Atsumu raised his eyebrows and leaned closer to Akaashi, tryjng to peek at the words on his phone.

"What is i-"

He didn't get to finish asking the question when he felt a familiar hand slapping him upside the head.

"SAMUUUUUU!"

He yelled angrily while clutching it in pain. Osamu merely looked at him as he took off his apron and sat down two seats away from his twin.

"Ya need somethin'?"

Atsumu glared and prepares to tackle his brother. "Jerk! Yer gonna regret this!" He yelled as he tried to grab Osamu who easily dodged.

Akaashi, who was distracted by the fight didn't notice Bokuto leaning down at his phone. He only knew when he heard the clattering of chopsticks

"They're getting married?"

Bokuto's voice was clearly strained as Akaashi saw him look up to prevent anyone from seeing tears welling up his vision.

All the ruckus died down as the air grew tense, they all looked at Bokuto, pitying him. They knew that it was still a sensetive topic for him and none of them know the full story except akaashi and Hinata.

"I think I should head home now." The dual haired male croaked out as he hastily grabbed his things and left, making the rest of the team and Akaashi worry.

"You should probably follow him.. Y/n told me she's having second thoughts about sending him the invitation since..." Hinata motioned to the empty seat and tense atmosphere. Akaashi nodded at Hinata, fully understanding your reasons.

"I apologize.. He saw it because of me.." Akaashi mumbled, "It's fine, Bo san would find out either way." Hinata said as Akaashi left to follow Bokuto.

"Watch where you're going- oh, Bokuto?" Kuroo asked in surprise as he lowered his phone to take a look at his former friend.

Bokuto looked at him, "Oh, Kuroo." He mumbled, gripping his duffle bag with unreasonable force that Kuroo didn't fail to notice.

Just as Kuroo was about to head on his way, he was stopped as Bokuto gripped his shoulder tightly. Not too hard, just enough force to stop the dark haired male.

"Take care of her."

Kuroo looked back, "Isn't that what I've done?? I'm sure Y/n already sent you the invitation. I hope you'd come." Kuroo nods then went on his way.

Bokuto smiled, a bitter tone in his voice. "Hope I'd come to your wedding huh?? You're really trying to kill me, Kuroo."

Out of the corner in his eye, he saw Kuroo stopped in what seems to be your car. He guessed right, you went out of your car and greeted the male with a kiss.

Bokuto's instinct told him to run. The pain was still fresh like it happened yesterday. But the ground seemed to be like superglue, he can't move his feet as reality hits him hard more.

He can't love you like Kuroo does. He knows little about you, except for the fact you're his ex-soulmate.

And most of all— it's probably better to go back the way you both were before.

"Maybe in our next life, it's gonna be us."

Taglist [Closed]: @decaffeinatedtealover @lulu-102 @whateverfeelz @ginsan-eyes @pluviophilefangirl @bakuhoesbro @aonenthusiast @amecchii @jadasz @random-734 @sleep3deprived @snflwrkenma @archishaya @kissungjae @sakusasimpbot @its-the-aerieljeane @dimsumhomie @jessie9008 @crapimahuman @scaryassasin @ysatrap @denkibutinsteadofpikachuitspichu @johnnysactualgf @just-a-saltine @nekomavsnohebi @acsycharm @sazunari @baby-jichu @felixsamour

Those who are in bold means tumblr won't let me tag you!

[themusingmuslim]

“Mathematicians call them twin primes: pairs of prime numbers that are close to each other, almost neighbors, but between them there is always an even number that prevents them from truly touching. Numbers like 11 and 13, like 17 and 19, 41 and 43. If you have the patience to go on counting, you discover that these pairs gradually become rarer. You encounter increasingly isolated primes, lost in that silent, measured space made only of ciphers, and you develop a distressing presentiment that the pairs encountered up until that point were accidental, that solitude is the true destiny. Then, just when you’re about to surrender, when you no longer have the desire to go on counting, you come across another pair of twins, clutching each other tightly.”

— Paolo Giordano, The Solitude of Prime Numbers

“By the even and the odd.”

— (Qur'ān, 89:3)

[etherealdizzle]

DBD Yandere Trickster x Dom Female Reader

Trigger Warnings: Violence, Death, Blood

This new world was different for him. There were no rules, no consequences, and no playing fair. It was the fantasy that Ji-Woon Hak had dreamed of. He was allowed to kill as he pleased, with no worry of capture. No fear of having to stop because he was caught. He could do whatever he wanted and he was praised for it.

The survivors all looked at him with fear. He craved it. He was flashy, even more so once the entity brought him to this world. He was allowed to show off, to laugh in their faces as he saw the blood-curdling fear and desperation in their eyes. All of them feared him; all except one.

She had been here a long time and had seen the killers grow in numbers. A clown, a cowboy, a nurse, a pair of twins. All of them brought new dangers. But she adapted to the new threats and overcame her fears. She got tired of being scared a long time ago. There was no escape from this world. She tried desperately to leave. She tried to kill one of the killers, Trapper, but failed. They couldn’t be injured. They didn’t feel pain. All of her plans and attempts failed. So, she dealt with it.

Maybe that is what drew the Trickster to her in the first place. When he first saw her, she sighed. Like she was tired, like she didn’t care. It made him angry. He wanted her to fear him. But she didn’t. After he sacrificed her, he thought that would make him happier. But it didn’t. It angered him in a way. But in another, it impressed him.

As time went on, he understood her. She fought well, ran him around as gens popped left and right. The frustration made him more psychotic, more angry, but she still wasn’t afraid. She was too strong for it. Perhaps that is why the entity brought her here. To remind the killers that they aren’t gods, but people and things that still bowed down to the entity.

Sometimes he saw the entity in her eyes. Not like it was controlling her, but like she was controlling it. However, the look faded once the Trickster swung his bat, sending her to the ground with a scream and a thud. The Trickster giggled, dark and giddy, always happy to catch her. It was like a treat, catching someone so rare and enchanting. A well deserved reward for his work.

As she was on the floor, she grunted and cried quietly in pain Ji-Woon watched, frozen in place. She turned to him, her back to the ground and looked up at him. She frowned, waiting for a moment as all he did was stare. “Well?” She said, impatiently.

The Trickster raised his eyebrows. He had never heard her speak before. In fact, he never heard anyone speak. He didn’t even know they could. Her voice wasn’t soft, but powerful and fierce. He kneeled down next to her, hands outstretched to pick her up. But for some reason, his hands stopped. They were shaking, like he was nervous.

She huffed, rolling her eyes at him. “What are you doing? Let’s just get this over with already,” She complained. He obeyed her command. Her voice was beautiful, and he couldn’t help but comply with her wish. He grabbed her, grunting as he did with everyone. The entity might have given him strength, but it still made him work for some things. He hoisted her over his shoulder, and he felt her immediately trying to break away. He admired her. The thought flashed across his mind and he knew it was true. He threw her on a hook, her screams filling the air. Everyone was dead. No one was there to save her. She snarled her teeth at him as the entity stabbed her, taking her soul away. He watched her float up, always curious where they go. A new trial began. And another. And a few more.

He hadn’t seen her in a while. He grew impatient. Each trial without her only made him miss her more and more. He grew angry. Each time he saw someone that wasn’t her, he killed them as quickly as he could. The sooner he was out of here, the sooner he was to see her. The entity praised him for his work. But he simply didn’t care. He wanted her with him. He couldn’t exactly say why, because even himself didn’t have an answer. To prove himself? To admire her? Whatever it was, the anxiety and anger grew until he was nearly unstoppable. The entity noticed this, and put a stop to it. Killers that got too powerful were weakened.

When he entered into the next trial, the first thing he noticed was the snow. He couldn’t feel it, exactly. He could feel it land gently onto his skin, but the effect of the cold was lost to him. He had noticed the survivors shivering once, so he knew they were affected. He liked Ormond. It was open, which gave him a good chance of hitting his blades. He also liked the fog the snow gave off, allowing him to get a little closer before the survivors noticed.

As he wandered, he heard the sound of a generator being worked on.The progress was quicker than normal. There were a couple of people on it. He grinned to himself. Time to put on a show. He raised his knives, ready. He headed over there, but stopped dead in his tracks. He heard you. Laughing.

It was so beautiful. He could barely see you, the snow affecting his vision as he was still a little ways away. You were smiling, laughing at something. Who… who was making you laugh!? Ji-Woon frowned and clutched his bat tightly. No one else was supposed to make you laugh! Only him. Only he was allowed. He moved his gaze off you to the culprit. Felix.

Felix was relatively new to this world. He was inexperienced at loops and struggled to make the right decisions. It was easy to kill the new ones. It would be so easy to kill him now. The Trickster crept closer, and the two survivors looked around. Ji-Woon quickly hid behind a wall, suddenly afraid to let you see him. Why was he so nervous? Why was his heart pounding?

“You hear that? Sounds like the Trickster,” You said to Felix. Ji-Woon felt a warmth come to his face. You recognized his music. You were paying attention to his sound. That had to mean something, right? Even if it didn’t mean anything to her, it meant a lot to the Trickster.

Felix chuckled. “If he was coming for us, we’d know. That man loves showing off.” Felix sounded rude, snobby. Trickster felt his anger seeping into him.

“Like you can say anything,” You shot back. You were defending Trickster! Almost. Ji-Woon was breathing hard, like he couldn’t hold in his excitement.

“Come on, you love it! You like modest guys, right? That’s why you like me.”

“Ehh… what?”

“Really. You and me, I feel a connection between us. Seriously, I think we should-” Felix didn’t get to finish his sentence.

The Trickster rushed him, yelling as he ran, hitting Felix with his bat. The first hit made Trickster’s heart race, a smile and a laugh rose to his lips that he couldn’t even try to stop. He wanted to kill him. How DARE he hit on her! He hit him again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and-

“STOP!”

The Trickster immediately did as he was told. He lifted the bat, putting it at his side. He admired his work for a moment. Felix was dead. He didn’t get a chance. He didn’t deserve one. Ji-Woon was panting, breathing heavily as he looked to the one who ordered him to stop.

You. You stood there, anger filling your face as you looked Ji-Woon dead in the eyes. Your eyes weren’t filled with fear. Not even now. Not even when you glanced at the remains of Felix. The Trickster scanned your eyes, trying to figure out what you were feeling. “What are you- I mean what the fuck are you- ugh! What were you thinking!” You raised your hands in the air, making fists as you felt frustrated.

Ji-Woon felt the blood dripping down his face and his clothes. The blood from the bat dripped. Plip-plop. Plip-plop. He could hear his own heartbeat and nervousness as he tried to speak. “He… He was flirting with you…”

Your look now turned to confusion. You stepped closer to him, meeting his gaze. “So why did you do that?” You said, almost gently. Almost, but not quite. Still firm, and demanding an answer.

Trickster was silent. He was trying to figure out how to respond.

“Well?”

Ji-Woon looked down at his bat. Anything but your gaze. “I couldn’t let that happen to you. You’re not his.” He said. He knew now what to say. “You’re mine.” He looked you in the eyes, finally able to admit to himself why he felt this way.

He was in love with you. He admired you, he loved your courage, he loved your skill. He loved that you weren’t afraid of him. He loved you.

Your eyes widened, your mouth open in shock. You didn’t say anything, just looked at him, then walked closer until you were against his chest. You put your hands on his chest, resting your head on him. The Trickster froze for a moment, unsure what you were doing. But he understood. He dropped his bat, something he didn’t even know he could do. He wrapped his arms around you, one around your waist, and the other holding gently onto your head. He now knew what emotion was in your eyes. It was the same one that was in his.

[stardancerluv]

Comfort

Summary: Reader in one case…and well Roman in the other are having rough days. So here is how those rough days are handled. Enjoy!

Had a rough go of things yesterday and needed some character comfort! Hope you all like it.

Dan Torrance

Sighing, you trudged over to the boarding house. Using the key Dan gave you let yourself in. Seeing, he was still at the hospice. You pulled off your shoes and clothes that hung on you heavily. Going to one of his drawers, you opened it took out then pulled on one of his t-shirts and some of his extra soft pajama pants.

Closing the distance, you went over to his bed. Pulling the blankets back, you went and laid down. You pulled the blanket back. Sighing, you closed your eyes. The anguish that had filled you was lessening but still still there. A few tears, slid free from your eyes and after running down your cheeks, they came to rest on Dan’s pillow. After taking a few shaky breathes, you finally let yourself drift off to sleep.

Dan shivered as he let himself into his apartment. Turning, he locked the door. Hung up his coat, turning he saw you and swallowed. Your sadness hung like a fog in the air. Sitting in the chair beside the door. he began to loosen the laces of one boot before pulling it off and doing the same to the other one.

He wondered what had happened to make you so sad. You had been a good spirits earlier in the day. He could reach into your mind but he chose not to. When you were awake, you could tell him. Perhaps over dinner or while you watched something comforting on tv.

As he took in the mound of discarded clothes and even how tightly wound the blanket around yourself, it was evident you had not had a good day.

With his shinning, he reached out in warmth and comfort. Easing into his bed beside you. He brushed some hair that had fallen into your face. Even in sleep you looked ill at ease. He pressed a kiss to your temple. Softly he whispered with his mind and aloud, “I’m here.”

A soft sound came from you and turned you curled up to him but still remained deeply asleep. He was glad that he could be a source of comfort even as you continued to slumber on.

I know I used the hug…but that hug looked so amazing.

******************************************

Anger

“Come quick.” Zsasz, rasped into the phone.

You had gone out to grab a treat you and Roman loved. Fresh, warm croissants, a bowl which was the right size for the two of you and expresso. He was getting bi-weekly shot of botox to curb the chronic headaches.

Afterward, you’d sit and indulge while the rest of the world could disappear till the evening would encroach. Roman, would slip on a killer suit, a fake brilliant smile, and a pair of shades that would obscure his eyes; so no would see that the smile he gave them never reached his eyes.

Something happened. Something shattered his “me time.”

On the opposite weeks, he’d have a shave or a hair cut or get fitted for a suit. Those days, afterward, the two of you would sit, curled up on one of the many comfortable sofas or lounges and read the society pages. Genuine, laughter would come from him.

He’d share stories of how ridiculous all those people were. When he had been a kid, he had seen behind all their masks, you delighted in the stories. He’d gesture and speak with his hands and yet again, you’d see that smile that was rarely ever across his face downstairs.

Taking the elevator, you wondered what could have destroy his mood. Mere moments ago, be had sent you off with a brief kiss on the cheek before laying down in his silken robe for the injections. His anger filled voice, greeted you before you saw him. He was raging, his blue eyes were twin flames. Your heart sank.

“Roman, I’m back.” You held up the bag and the covered cups that barely contained, the rich delicious scent of the expresso. “I got the tiramisu and croissants!”

You hazarded a glance. A put out looking Canary, rose an eyebrow as she looked at you. You shrugged. Zsasz, who had always had a flair for calming before you entered Roman’s life looked at a loss at what to do. When he looked your way, you gave him a half smile.

“You’re fucking back?” Roman, turned grabbed a pillow; his robe flapping around him.

You nodded.

“Fuck this, I don’t want any of that right now. Get the fuck out of here.” He snarled. His features rough.

When he had first pushed you away so angrily it had hurt. You ran and even thrown the goodies on the floor as tears had prickled your eyes. But now, you knew better.

You still couldn’t exactly dodge the pillows he threw. This one hit you square in the stomach, you wavered a little where you stood but you kept the expresso and bag of goodies safe.

“Roman, she only….” Zsasz’s voice trailed off as Roman grabbed another pillow.

“You two, get the fuck out of here too!” He held up the pillow.

An idea sparked in your as you watched him clutched and moved the new pillow in his hands. Putting, everything down you grabbed the forgotten pillow that had come to rest at your feet.

You walked over to where Roman stood.

“Oh Roman.” You said softly.

Turning, his anger still prevalent as it kept his features sharp. “Didn’t I tell you to fucking leave?” The edge was there but actually wasn’t as sharp. You could do it.

Quickly, you glanced, towards Canary and Zsasz, you gestured as if to say, I got this. You two can leave Zsasz hesitated but he left when you nodded.

That’s when you did it. You threw your pillow at him. It totally confused him. He dropped the pillow he had been holding. “What? What the fucking are you doing?”

You smiled and snatched, one of the pillows at his feet. “Throwing a pillow back at you.” You said simply.

“Don’t think I can’t land one harder.”

“Oh really? Do I get a running start?” You asked a playfulness entering your voice.

“I’d fucking run now.”

“Ok!” You ran just past him and grabbed another pillow.

Running again, you looked over your shoulder and watched as he aimed and threw.

Damn, moments later it got you square in the shoulder. An umph, came from you. He had been write it hit harder. “Hey that wasn’t much of a running start.”

“I never fucking promised anything.”

That’s when you threw yours. He dodged it.

“All you can do?”

“No!” But you grabbed and began running again.

Taking one of the other hallways you figured you could creep around and get him by surprise him.

You were rounding the corner, you glanced over your shoulder and didn’t see him. A tingle of victory began to fill you. But when you turned back to look in front of you, he was right there.

It so startled you, that you screamed.

He chuckled. Both of your hands lowered as you looked at each other.

********

A few fallen pillows were around the two of you, as you both were eating from the tiramisu. The croissants were already a distant memory.

When his feature were completely soft and there was even a twinkle that came from his eyes, you finally asked. You rested your head on his shoulder as you handed him back the spoon.

“What happened?”

He inhaled but then he exhaled. You glanced at him from through the strands of your hair.

He dipped the spoon in and enjoyed a good spoonful.

“Harleen Quinzel.”

You pressed your lips together. You knew not to ask for anything further. Her name spoke volumes.

Not wanting to remove your head from his shoulder you had to. If the two of you were going to enjoy the expresso, you had to. You handed him, his first.

He took a sip and slid you a look, a smile tugging on his lips. “Rematch?” He eyed one of the pillows that was the closest to the two of you.

@spn-obsessed-dean @vintagemichelle91 @xxxeatyourh3artoutxxx @ewanfuckingmcgregor @zodiyack @angel98624 @frenchgirlinlondon @emyliabernstein @thepeachreads @nebulastarr @itsknife2meetu @omghappilyuniquebouquetlove @poe-kadot26 @babydoll97-blog1 @hazel-nuss @vcat55 @feelthemadnessinside @johallzy @foreverhockeytrash @frostypenguinoz @professionalclown123 @chogisss @xxinvisiblexx @shantellorraine @xxvisionsxx @blondekel77 @saphic-stories @drarrylov3r @i-cant-hear-you16 @deadlymistress24 @yesqueenofthelight @generallj @thebeckyjolene @mrskenobi19 @bdffkierenwalker @aviolentdaydream @thebeckyjolene @blackberries45 @sithonis @hollow-r-us @reiaux

[fullmoonremus]

12:45 AM | Sirius Black x Reader

Warnings: major character death, angst 

Time/Era: Marauders era, Age 20 (and a smidge of 18)

Word Count:  2.8k 

Summary: Sirius will never forget that one night when he looked at the clock and saw 12:45 am. 

Request: yo, can I request a story where Sirius is dating Lily’s sister (twin/younger) and he realizes he likes her and they start dating and eventually get married and they’re both in the order but she dies on a mission and at the funeral Lily tells Sirius that she was expecting? Wow I’m kinda evil.

A/N: Thank you for the request and patience! Enjoy!

masterlist | sirius black playlist | read on ao3

“Evans!” James yelled, running towards Y/N. Y/N sighed, holding her books tightly to her chest and turning around. His Gryffindor tie flew across his chest as he came to a sudden stop. 

“I’m not Lily, Potter. Honestly, if you’re going to date my twin you need to be able to tell us apart.” 

James throws his head back with a loud laugh before shaking his head. “No, no, I know you’re not Lily. I just needed to talk to you,” He leans his hands on his knees as he struggles to catch his breath. “It’s insulting you think I can’t tell you apart. No offense, Y/N, but you don’t have the same….oopla that Lily has.” 

“Oopla? What is oopla?” Y/N asks, amused. Even after seven years of being friends with James, she never quite got over some of his strange analogies. 

“Something Lily has, don’t you listen?” James straightens his back and twists, cracking his spine. “It’s not that you don’t have oopla, it’s just different oopla.” 

Y/N shakes her head. “You know what, I don’t even want to know. Why do you need to talk to me?” 

“Talk to you? Why do I need to-” A lightbulb goes off in James’ head. “Oh! I know why I need to talk to you! Sirius was looking for you. Something about after graduation plans or something. I’m not quite sure, I didn’t ask.” 

“Do you know where he is?” 

“That’s another thing I don’t know,” A goofy grin filled his features as he spoke. 

“You don’t make for a very good owl, Jamesy.”

“Good thing I’m not an owl then,” James said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Do you know where Lily is?” 

“No clue, you would know better than me seeing as you have a map and all,” Y/N’s grin matched James’ and she started to walk down the hall. 

“Don’t you have twin telepathy or something?! Just use that and tell me where she is!” 

“Bye, Potter!” Y/N called over her shoulder while walking towards McGonagall’s office. She remembered vaguely that Sirius had a career counseling session with her today, so she figured that the small chance of bumping into him there would be worth her while. 

Y/N pattered across the floor as quickly as possible without running. Thoughts swirled in her mind about what Sirius may need her for; they weren’t the closest of friends, nothing like him and the other marauders, but recently their relationship has grown rather flirty. Her stomach fumbled over itself as she thought of Sirius, but her feet only sped up towards the classroom. As Y/N rounded the corner, Sirius walked out of his meeting with his pearly white smile blinding all who could see it. 

“Oh, just the lady I’ve been looking for! Hello, darling,” Sirius said, walking down the hall with various papers clutched in his fingers. 

“Hello, Sirius. Career meeting?” Y/N asks with a subtle gesture to the papers. He waved the papers in the air with a dramatic flourish. Each paper held some grand title about being an Auror and going to the Auror Academy. 

“Good! Apparently Dumbledore put in a good word for me, so the Order is recruiting me!” Sirius seemed to bounce on his heels, the rubber souls of his shoes squeaking on the wooden floors. 

“I’m so happy for you! Oh my god! Congratulations!!!” 

The grin on his face grew exponentially, “You know what would make my day even better?” 

Y/N hummed. 

“If you snuck into Hogsmede for a drink with me,” Sirius leans in to whisper in her ear. “Unless you’re too scared, of course.” 

Y/N sucked in a harsh breath through her nose in an attempt not to focus on his hair tickling her cheek, or how his lips almost brushed her ear. She cleared her throat and nodded. 

“Not scared if you’re not, I suppose,” Y/N croaked. “I’ve done it, like, a million times.” 

Sirius pulled his head away, making Y/N yearn for the smell of his shampoo. “I can think of one time, and you were latched onto my wrist the entire time, rambling about how we could get expelled for skipping class.” 

A harsh red stained Y/N’s chest, cheeks, and ears, which only made Sirius’ smirk grow. 

“I was a different person then,” Y/N countered lamely. 

“Yeah? That was four months ago, love.” Sirius’ hands worked on his papers, folding them four times before shoving them into the pockets of his skinny jeans. Y/N’s eyes followed his teasing fingers, her gaze accidentally lingering on his pants. “Eyes up here, Y/N.” 

The boy made a small tsk noise, wrapped his arm around Y/N’s shoulders, and his hips swayed slightly as he started leading Y/N to the entrance to the Honeyduke’s cellar. His fingers found the bottom of her hair and started twirling it in and out of his middle and pointer fingers as if it were a cigarette. 

“I’m a different person than I was 4 months ago, aren’t you?” Y/N hesitantly snaked her arm under his leather jacket and wrapped around his waist. This was definitely further than they had ever gone in terms of flirting, and Y/N couldn’t wait for more. 

“Perfect four months ago, and perfect now.” Sirius laughed playfully placing a big kiss on Y/N’s temple. “I’m just taking the piss, love.” He turned to the statue blocking the tunnel and said the secret password. “Ladies first, darling.” 

Y/N hesitantly walked into the dark tunnel and cast a simple lumos charm; the damp pathway illuminated in front of the two teens before twisting into the darkness. Sirius returned to his spot next to Y/N and began to lead her down the path. 

“So, I was wondering,” Sirius began, kicking a rock into the wall. Y/N noticed this was a habit of his. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” 

Y/N snuggled into his side, the warm cotton of the inside of his leather jacket brushing her soft skin. 

“And we’re graduating soon…” Sirius let his voice trail before pulling lightly on Y/N’s hair so she would meet his gaze. “And I was wondering if you wanted to spend some special one on one time with me after we graduate?” 

“Special one on one time? Like,” Y/N took a deep breath and took a leap into the unknown. “Hooking up? Is that what you mean?” 

Sirius chuckled lightly, “Not exactly, but I guess that would be a part of it,” Sirius’s cheeky smile was illuminated by the light of Y/N’s wand. “I mean becoming official. I know there’s something between us, and I know you feel the same way, so it makes sense.”

“So, you’re asking me to be your girlfriend?” 

“Precisely. Will you be my girlfriend?” Sirius stopped walking and looked at the girl under his arm. She smiled happily and lightly punched his stomach. 

“I can’t believe you asked me out in the middle of a dark tunnel!” She laughed happily and brought her arms up to his neck to hug him. 

“Hey! I thought it was a good place! Is that a yes, babygirl?”  

“Yes, you idiot, I’ll go out with you!” 

~

Sirius and Y/N’s relationship blossomed quickly after the tunnel; after graduation, they moved into a small flat right in the middle of London’s hustle and bustle. Sirius loved to go out and explore every inch of the city with his girl, which usually resulted in a lot of adventures and long nights. During these times, the couple really took the time to grow their relationship and become closer as a pair. 

Sirius proposed to Y/N in the middle of an ice skating rink on December 13th, 1978. It was perfect; the snow was floating down, gracefully sticking to Sirius’ hair and eyelashes, soft Christmas music was playing in the background and the entire atmosphere of the event was magical. It was a rather simple proposal, but it was more than enough for Y/N. The couple then had a stunning double Summer wedding with the Potters. 

Sirius did amazing in the Order, which Y/N later found out all the marauders had joined. Y/N grew used to Sirius being gone during the nights and coming back injured; this was something she would never wish on her worst enemy. The anxiety-ridden nights and the unbearably silent flat took a toll on Y/N’s mental health. The only thing that got her through these was her twin sister, who was in the same situation. 

The two girls often spent these lonely nights together in attempts to share the burden. The two waited into the early morning nights for something, anything, to ease their tired minds and let them know their boys were safe. Usually, one would send a patronus message or Remus would reach out with cryptic plans and whereabouts. Still, this didn’t completely resolve the paranoia in their minds. 

Sirius and James noticed this early on in their new careers. Sirius suggested they invite the two to join the Order, as you didn’t need to be an Auror to join. But, James disagreed with this idea because Lily was his world and he didn’t want her to get hurt. Without Lily, there was no James and he couldn’t risk losing her. Sirius countered that he felt that way about Y/N too, but keeping the two women in the dark was just harming their relationships and causing a mental decline in all four. It took some convincing, but James finally agreed. Thus, Lily and Y/N joined the Order. 

The two were brilliant additions to the group; both were extremely talented witches and they were beyond smart. They quickly grew to be vital members and went on increasingly more dangerous missions as time went on. The two were an unstoppable pair, and their near-identical looks only proved to be an advantage. That was until Lily got hurt. 

Lily and Y/N were on a mission to stop a group of death eaters from invading a small muggle village just outside of Cardiff. Lily got caught between the crossfire of two wizards and had a huge chunk of flesh taken out of her leg. Y/N had to make an emergency backup call and the two were apperated back to headquarters. That’s when James and Lily decided as a couple that Lily was not going to go on any more missions. 

Y/N, however, only increased the amounts of missions she went on. Specifically, she was after one person in particular.

“I don’t care, Y/N, you can’t go,” Sirius pleaded angrily from the couch. “You can’t go on a mission every day of the week. Just one night, love. Stay with me for one night.” Sirius stood and walked to Y/N, wrapping his arms around her waist and placing a kiss on her forehead. 

“Babe, I am so close to capturing Bellatrix and putting her in Azkaban. Please, I have to go.” Against her better judgment, Y/N placed her head on his chest. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in her husband’s arms and let his soft voice lure her cramped body to sleep. Y/N noticed she seemed to be more fatigued lately, but she placed blame on her heavy work schedule.

 “I need you here, with me, baby. Between your schedule and mine, I barely see you. I miss you.” Sirius’ hands massaged her hips as they talked, all anger and annoyance disappearing from his voice. 

“How about this, we both take the next two or three days off and lounge around here together.” Y/N pulled away from Sirius’ warm, inviting body and began to gather her things. “Please try to get some sleep tonight, I’ll be home by dawn.” 

“I promise, my dear. I love you so much.” 

A ghost of a smile played on Y/N’s lips. “I love you more.” 

~

Sirius was awoken by James’ magnificent stag patronus entering the flat to find him. Rubbing his eyes and sitting up, unable to distinguish what words James’ voice was repeating. Sirius looked at the clock: 12:45 am.

“Can you repeat that?” Sirius’ voice was gruff with sleep.

“Pads, there’s been an accident. You need to get to headquarters immediately, it doesn’t look good. We need you to make some calls.” James’ voice was filled with more panic than Sirius had ever heard in his life, and there was the faint sound of a woman crying in the background. The patronus disappeared as Sirius jumped up and magically changed into some clothes. 

“Thank merlin you’re here,” James pulled Sirius’ arm into the next room once he appeared. He had blood splattered on his face. 

Upon entering the room, everything started to fade. Y/N was laid on the floor, a large gash in her shoulder and head, with healers all around her preforming different spells and CPR.  To her left sat Lily, her fingers coated in the red substance and gripping Y/N’s cold hand. She was crying, more like sobbing, while she watched the healers work on her sister. Sirius didn’t know whether he wanted to cry, puke or faint. All three, his body screamed.

 On the outside, no emotion covered Sirius’ face and he stood frozen near the door. He felt as if he was watching the situation happen from outside his body, almost like he was playing a video game or watching a movie. 

“She’s not going to make it!” One of the healers yelled, preforming compressions on her chest. The healer to his right, who was working on the head gash, cursed loudly and punched the floor. 

“She’s going to make it, god damn it! I’ll be damned if she doesn’t!” 

James nudged Sirius with his elbow, and his soul felt as though it returned to his body. Jumping to her side, he grabbed Y/N’s hand and squeezed. 

“Y/N, I love you so much,” Sirius said through his suffering. 

Her gorgeous green eyes that were focused on Lily rolled to see him and her lips mouthed, “I love you too, Sirius.” 

Sirius swore a smile ghosted her lips as her eyes closed and a final gasp exited her lips. 

~

Sirius stood in front Y/N’s grave in a slightly wrinkled black suit.

 The funeral service had been beautiful; all of Y/N’s friends, family, and casual acquaintances had been in attendance. Her close friends spoke of her adventures and funny stories, her family spoke of her character and strong will, and her professors spoke of her intelligence and quick wit. It didn’t click for Sirius that she was really gone until Minerva McGonagall had asked him how he was holding up, and if there was anything she could do to help. Sirius had responded that no, there was nothing she could do and that he was currently staying at the Potters’ for company. 

Sirius looked at the grave in front of him; it was littered with flowers, chocolate, and everything in between. He looked to his side and found Lily, staring down at Y/N next to him. Her eyes were red and bloodshot, and her nose was rubbed raw. 

“I could have saved her, you know. I was trying to talk her out of going. I should have tried harder.” Sirius mumbled, his voice cracking every other word. 

“This isn’t your fault, Sirius. You couldn’t have done anything,” Lily sniffled. She had no tears left, but if she did, she would be crying. 

Sirius takes in a big gulp of air and stares down at the grave in silence. 

“This might not be the right time,” Lily took a deep breath and looked at her friend. His eyes were dry and his nose wasn’t red, but Lily knew how hard he cries at night when he thought James and Lily were asleep. “But you need to know.” 

“Need to know what?” 

Lily paused for a moment before reaching in her bag and pulling something out. 

“When James went to your flat to grab your clothes, um, he found this in the bathroom.” 

Sirius reaches out his hand for Lily to hand him the mysterious object. 

It was a muggle pregnancy test. A positive muggle pregnancy test.  ~~~

General Taglist: @petalevans @modern-m-a-g-i-c​ Harry Potter x Reader Taglist: @strangerpilot011 join my taglist!

[ickle-ronniekins]

quick to judge

request from nonnie: Hi Erica! I love your writing sm, and was wondering if I could request a fic with either George or Fred (I’m partial to George but I love them both esp since they both live long happy lives 🙃) where reader is on a rival quidditch team (pref slytherin chaser but up to you!) and F/G have to get over their innate dislike of her because of the rivalry because she’s like the perfect girl for him? No worries if you don’t like the idea, I just wanted to ask, thank you❣️❣️

request from nonnie: if your requests are open can i request 11 & 23 from your writing prmopt list with george weasley? “knock it off, you tosspot! | “join us tonight?”

pairing: george x slytherin fem!chaser

prompt(s): “knock it off, you tosspot!” | “join us tonight?”

word count: 3.9k

A/N: i loved these requests—thank you darlings! i don’t write slytherin all that often so when i do, it’s a treat :) also just imagine sneaking around the castle with george weasley ugh i am weak for it.. hope you guys enjoy reading this story as much as i did writing it! x

tag list: @mintlibri @georgeweasleyx @seppys-return-to-madness @fopdoodledane @fredd-weasley @iprobablyshipit91 @darling-details @laneygthememequeen @lupinsx @keoghans @helloallthethingsilove @bobduncanlover @dreamer821 @feffffffy | message me if you’d like to be added, loves!

“Ugh—murder me, George.”

Fred is pulling at his hair whilst Angelina dishes new information to the entirety of the Gryffindor Quidditch team during the evening feast. George peers from his disheveled looking twin to the other end of the Great Hall, where he spots you in your green robes, blowing gently on a cup of tea before immersing yourself into conversation with another Slytherin Chaser next to you. Yep—much to the Gryffindor Quidditch team’s dismay—they’d found a new Chaser.

“C’mon now, give her a chance,” Angelina says in a hushed whisper, doing her very best to keep the team civilized. “Just because we.. strongly dislike most of the Slytherins doesn’t mean we need to feel that way about her, as well. I’ve actually heard very nice things.”

“Yeah?” Fred begins sarcastically, slumping in his seat. “Like what?”

“Like she’s a fair player,” Katie Bell answers.

“And a bloody good player, at that.”

“Ugh,” Fred says rather dramatically and rolls his eyes. He turns to Harry and George and nods in the direction of the girls, who are still speaking. In a lower voice, he asks them, “Can you believe this rubbish? ‘Give her a chance’. Merlin! When have Gryffindors and Slytherins ever gotten along? Look, I’ll be civilized,” Fred says in defense when Harry raises his eyebrows at him, “but there’s no bloody way in hell I’m taking it easy on her.”

“Definitely don’t need to take it easy,” Harry teases, “but we still need to play fair.”

George is hardly paying attention to the conversation in front of him; his hands are clutched tightly around his mug. He watches as a soft grin tugs at the edges of your lips, he notices the way your eyes glisten in the evening sunset light streaming in from the windows, the way you throw your head back and laugh—a laugh he cannot hear, but realizes, suddenly, that he’s dying too. Oh, no.

“Angelina’s right,” he says, trying to sound impartial before the boys notice his lingering stare. When Fred raises his eyebrows suspiciously at his twin, George carries on, “look, ‘m just saying—isn’t that what our entire team stands for? Sportsmanship, or whatever? I know we don’t have a good relationship with the Slytherins, but I reckon being nice with her may turn that around.”

Fred is taken aback at this and asks, “Being nice? Oi—what’s gotten into you? Feeling feverish?” He places a hand on top of George’s forehead and laughs as George slaps his hand away teasingly. A smirk spreads itself across his face and he turns to Harry and says, “Merlin—prepare yourself, Harry. He’s in love.”

George feels his stomach tighten and Harry stifles a bit of confused laughter. “What? How can you tell?”

George is rigid in his seat now. Love is such an overdramatic statement, but he can barely bring himself to roll his eyes at Fred; he’s still trying to remember how to breathe properly. Fred, as if placing George on display somehow, points at him— “Flushed face, dilated pupils, red ears—cold hands,” he grabs both of George’s hands to feel his skin is nearly ice cold, something that tends to happen each and every time George gets nervous. “There are four ways to tell our dear Georgie is smitten, Harry, and I’ve just named them for you.”

Coming to his senses, George slaps his brother. “You’re off your rocker, Fred.”

Fred laughs again and says to Harry, “Off my rocker, he says. But just look at her, would you? She’s just his type. Plus—she plays Quidditch. I promise you, Harry, he’s taken with her already.”

George tells his twin, “Lay off. Just trying to be impartial.”

“Right.” Fred says, smirking a bit while shooting glances toward Harry, who’s doing his best to not choke on his tea due to laughter. “Impartial. Try not to bat your long, beautiful eyelashes at her during our match then, okay, Georgie?” Raucous laughter bounces off of the walls in the Great Hall.

Then suddenly, Angelina scoffs and turns toward the group. George feels a sinking feeling in his stomach. “Ugh—I think I just saw her laugh at something Draco Malfoy said. Maybe we don’t need to be so civilized after all.”

�� -

George emerges with Fred and Harry from the changing rooms and they make their way onto the pitch for the match. He’s feeling much more nervous than ever before; he glances up into the stands and notices Ron, Hermione and Ginny, sitting and waiting patiently for the match to begin.

He suddenly feels his knees weaken when he notices you in your green robes just a few feet away.

You all mount your brooms and hover in the air; George was kind of hoping that the Slytherin team would introduce their newest Chaser to the Gryffindor team, but isn’t surprised when they don’t. He finds himself to be slightly sad at the thought, and then shakes his head to push away any feelings that will interfere with his playing. They just need to win and get this over with. Here’s hoping Harry catches the snitch before Malfoy, who’s hovering near Flint and laughing at each and every one of the Gryffindors.

Fred’s looking more on edge—like he wants nothing more than to send every single bludger right into Malfoy’s head during the entirety of the match.

“Reckon I could?” Fred asks George suddenly, hovering in the air, waiting for Madam Hooch’s whistle. “Send them Draco’s way, I mean.”

George laughs and replies, “Sorry, mate—unless you want Gryffindor to forfeit, I reckon you’d better resist the urge.”

It’s a short match, to say the least. Harry’s looking positively dreadful at the sight of Malfoy snickering on the other end of the pitch as he twirls the glistening Snitch in his hands. To Harry, Fred says, “Don’t worry about it, mate—they’ve got a good lineup this year. Better than, even. Bloody hell, I reckon we maybe should’ve taken that new Chaser a bit more seriously—”

“Don’t.” George cuts him off angrily, digging his shoes into the muddy field up to the castle. He’s feeling rather poorly after Gryffindor’s loss. Fred and Harry exchange confused looks.

Fred, wanting nothing more than to lighten the mood of the loss, asks his brother, “You alright there, Georgie? No longer in love?”

Harry laughs nervously, but it’s George’s annoyed-sounding scoff that takes Fred by surprise. George glances toward the Slytherin team, each member high-fiving one another due to their win. He feels anger bubbling up inside him and turns back toward the castle, his brows furrowed and face flushed red. He just wants to get back to the dormitory as quickly as he can. “Oh knock it off you tosspot. I was never in love—I can’t believe those slimy Slytherins won the match—erm, no worry, Harry, we’ll get them next time—” he says a bit softer when he notices Harry’s woebegone look. To Fred, he continues, “—can’t believe I ever thought that Gryffindors and Slytherins could get along.. Merlin. Next time I have such a wicked thought, Fred, do me a favor and knock me over the head with a spellbook of mine, would you?”

Fred laughs and slings an arm around his twin. “Don’t need to ask me twice.”

— -

Fred and George find themselves the last place they ever want to be—in the library, grudgingly working on an extra long Potions essay assigned to their class by Professor Snape in a moment of pure rage. Fred’s arms are sprawled out across the table and he’s laying across his blank parchment rather dramatically, groaning against the desk. George, on the other hand, is scribbling quite animatedly, wanting to get out of the library as quickly as possible. Then he spots you a few rows over, rolls his eyes, and writes even faster.

“It’s no use, mate,” Fred’s voice is tired, “I can’t do this. This schoolwork is nearly killing me. I’m going back to the Common Room; Ron said something about a game of exploding snap—you coming?”

“You go on,” George replies, not looking up from his parchment, “I want to finish this before the feast.”

Fred puts up his hands in surrender and exits the library as quickly and as swiftly as possible.

George is hoping he can finish this Potions essay within the next half an hour, or so—that way, he’ll have time to change and possibly get in on that exploding snap game before the feast in a bit. But he finds himself distracted. Not in a good way, though. He finds himself distracted by you.

Is it his imagination, or have you moved over a few seats? He shakes his head and looks back down at his parchment. No, it’s not his imagination at all—he looks up again and you’re directly across from him now, your hands spread out over your own piece of parchment and spellbooks, and you smile at him.

“Just wanted to tell you how great you were last week,” you tell him in a low voice so as not to grab Madam Pince’s attention, “really great. Probably two of the best beaters I’ve ever seen, you and your brother.”

Is this some kind of a joke? George furrows his brows and asks, a bit incredulously, “W-what?”

You laugh softly, closing your own spellbook. “Look, I know that the whole Slytherin versus Gryffindor rivalry thing has been going on since Hogwarts opened, basically,” your voice is light and airy, and George is now having conflicting feelings. Was he too quick to judge? “but I figure, that’s not how all Slytherin and Gryffindor relationships need to be. So, just wanted to say—really wicked playing; but don’t expect me to take it easy on you moving forward.” You beam at him, pack your things away and stand up to leave.

“What’re you on about?” George asks, now feeling incredibly defensive. “Is this some kind of ploy? Flatter us and make us all flustered so you can go ahead and absolutely demolish us in the next match like you have this last time? Well, it’s not going to work,” he tells you, closing his own spellbooks and placing them into his bag on the chair next to him. “I appreciate the compliment—you’re a wicked player too, but—anyone who’s friends with Malfoy isn’t someone I reckon I’ll be able to get on with.”

You’re a bit taken aback, George notices, when your face flushes red. You sit back down as he continues to pack up his things. “I’m not friends with Malfoy.”

George just scoffs.

You cross your arms defensively now and stand up with a jolt. “He might be my teammate, but I actually find him to be a right foul git.”

You push your chair in a little too loudly, and now George is feeling incredibly guilty. Maybe you were genuinely trying to be friendly. He gets up and grabs your arm before you exit the library fully. Taking a deep breath, he says, “Wait, wait—‘m sorry. Look, that was really bloody rude of me. It’s just that—”

You soften at his words; you uncross your arms, and grin softly. “I understand that friendships between our two houses can be a bit.. complicated.”

“Throw in Quidditch and we’re nearly done for.”

“Look, I was just being friendly.”

“I know. I appreciate that.”

Just then, a flustered yelp comes from right outside the library. Both you and George turn to look, only to see Crabbe and Goyle tugging on Malfoy’s robes, whose face is seemingly broken out in some type of hive. He’s yelling at the two of them to try any spell, rid me of this! But alas, whatever they do only tends to make the irritation worse. George erupts into laughter.

“What a git,” you say to George.

“Merlin—deserves that, he does. I reckon whoever can pull off that deserves a medal, or something.”

Again you cross your arms—but not indignantly this time. A smirk grows on your face and realization floods over George. He looks back and forth between a very upset Malfoy, and you.

“You?”

“Just jinxed some candies he was eyeing in the common room this afternoon,” you tell him, smirking even more, “I was just so sick and tired of him today. If I had to overhear how bloody wonderful his pureblood family is one more time, I was bound to punch him eventually—reckoned this wouldn’t be as bad for his rep.”

George is still stuck in his spot—his feet cemented into the ground, his entire body is rigid. He’s finding it hard to not peer at you with admiration. Malfoy’s long gone by now—his yelps are growing quieter and quieter as he, Crabbe and Goyle make their way down the corridors toward the Great Hall. You’re still standing in front of George, a smirk on your face and your hands now on your hips, basking in all your glory. Again, as if he hadn’t heard you correctly the first time, George asks, “Y-you? You pranked Malfoy?”

You wiggle your eyebrows at him and he feels his insides twist. Uh-oh. “Color you impressed, Weasley?”

— -

When George was taken aback by your friendly banter in the library those few weeks ago, he never expected to end up back here. In the library. With you. In the row all the way near the back, the row nobody ever visits, after hours in the dark; his hands tight around your abdomen, yours tangled in his hair, his lips on yours for what seems like hours.

The watch on your wrist begins to beep; as if gravity is pulling you both apart, you separate. George groans and tightens his grip on you. “Sorry, Georgie,” you say sweetly, pressing your lips gently to his once more, “got to run—can’t be late for Quidditch practice.”

“Ignore it, ignore it,” George says, eager to kiss you again, “I reckon you can be late just once. Right?”

Somehow still speaking coherently, you say heavily, “Yeah—that won’t look suspicious, or anything. H-how long d’you think we can keep this up?”

He nearly melts when he feels your smile against his lips. “Dunno, but, we’ve made it this far, haven’t we? Want to go public?”

“I don’t think our teams will like that very much,” you reply sadly, running your hands again through his soft hair. You jump up from the table and fix the open buttons on your shirt. “You’ll just have to find a way to sneak into the Slytherin Common Room, then.”

George, now feeling incredibly elated at your interest in mischief, wiggles his eyebrows at you. “Got a lot of faith in me, do you?”

You stand on your tiptoes for a quick peck and adjust his very askew tie. “More than you know. Now c’mon—have got to run, haven’t I? Promise to make it up to you later.”

Once successfully making it out of the closed library without being caught, and bidding you farewell (albeit a bit begrudgingly) in the middle of the corridors before you head to practice, George finds himself nearly skipping through the castle back to the common room. He pops through the portrait hole and immediately jumps onto one of the couches, sprawling himself out across the entire thing and seemingly pushing Ginny off the edge and into an armchair.

“No problem, Georgie, I wasn’t sitting here, or anything..” Ginny growls, taking a spot next to Ron.

“Where’ve you been?” Fred asks a bit angrily, placing his feet up on the table in front of them. “You completely disappeared after class and we haven’t seen you since!”

“Just taking a walk,” George replies, feeling his throat tighten up and knowing that this, full well, is lying straight through his teeth to his own flesh and blood. “Was finishing up an essay first, though.”

Fred, Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione all peer at him quizzically with furrowed brows. George can already tell there are questions bubbling up inside them, but the one that comes first isn’t exactly what he expects.

“Why—why’s your hair all messy?” Ginny asks, and George finds himself hurriedly running his hands through it, trying to smooth it down as much as possible, “and your lips, they’re all rosy! Who’ve you been snogging, George?” she giggles.

The confusion Fred was feeling toward his twin seems to subside as he smirks and places his hands behind his head, relaxing into the couch. “Oh—so there’s a girl? At least there’s a bloody good reason behind your disappearances. Who is it, mate?”

Quick on his feet (or so he thinks), George replies, “I’m not snogging anyone. You’re all out of your minds.”

“Give it up, mate.” Ron says cheekily. “We know.”

George swallows thickly. “You don’t know what you’re on about.”

As the rest of the group laughs, Fred pops a chocolate frog into his mouth and tells his twin, “Sure, George. Next time you sneak out for a midnight rendezvous with your girlfriend, be sure to tell her we’d all like to be introduced, eh?”

— -

“They know.”

It’s nearly ten p.m. and you’re sitting in George’s lap speaking in hushed whispers, running a hand gently through his hair at the nape of his neck as he finally is able to tell you about the encounter with his friends after your last meetup. The library is so much darker than the other night.

“They do?”

“Well, sort of,” he says, stroking your knee, “they at least have this theory that I’m sneaking around with someone. Which, they’re not wrong,” he grins cheekily, leaning up to kiss you softly, “but they don’t know who it is, and I’ve never actually told them that their theory is true.”

“D’you want too?”

“Do you?”

You run your fingers gently across his tie; the glistening of George’s eyes are evident in the moonlight streaming in through the windows. You sigh. “I’ll do whatever you’d like. I’m not saying that the sneaking around isn’t fun, because it definitely is,” George shoots you a cheeky smirk, “and I know that—that Gryffindors kind of have this rep to uphold, as do Slytherins—”

“I care more about you than a reputation, to be honest.”

He knows he’s said the right thing; a large grin spreads out across your face. “Me, too.”

George runs a hand through your hair and grins softly.

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

“Of course I am,” George replies, tightening his grip on you, “it’ll be so bloody nice not to ignore one another in the corridors now.”

You throw your head back and laugh; he’s nearly putty in your hands.

He says, making it final, “So we’ll tell them, then.”

“Together?”

“Yeah, together,” he agrees before lifting you up and placing you on the table, leaning you back against some bookshelves and pressing his lips to yours. He slings his arms around your waist and can feel the goosebumps rise on the back of his neck when you run a hand down his chest. Through a geeky grin, he says, “But not tonight, okay? I’m not quite finished with you yet, love.”

— -

George and Fred exit the Transfiguration classroom, nothing but a very long lunch on their planned activities list for the afternoon. The bump into Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Hermione in the corridors and immerse themselves in conversation.

“Fair warning, everyone,” Harry begins, looking ghastly, “Snape’s in a right awful mood today—can’t help but wonder if someone slipped something into his pumpkin juice.”

“Great,” Ginny groans, “just what I needed to hear as I make my way to the Dungeons.”

“Who’s up for a game of exploding snap later on?” Ron asks the group, loosening his tie a bit, “Just have to get through Divination first.”

Without answering, George then spots you rounding the bend. He knows you’re coming from Ancient Runes and heading toward the Great Hall for lunch, too. You both hadn’t told them yet. Hadn’t found the right time. It’s not as if houses can eat and chat with one another during the feasts, can they?

Without fully registering what he’s doing, George seizes his opportunity and bounces over to you, pulling you into a very tight and very noticeable embrace.

He watches as your eyes widen and begins to laugh. “Erm—what’re you doing?” you ask, pulling back. Then you whisper, “I thought we were telling them together, you know.. after we’ve had time to prepare?”

“I thought now would be a good time.”

You cock your head to the side. “Always keeping me on my toes, aren’t you, Weasley?”

He leans in and kisses you lightly. “Sounds about right, yeah.”

But before the two of you can head over to the group of Gryffindors you thought were distracted by conversation, you suddenly hear, “Well it’s about bloody time.”

You both turn your heads to see a very satisfied looking Fred, cheeky Ron and Harry, and happy Ginny and Hermione looking at you both as George’s hand tightens around your waist as the corridors become even busier.

“You knew?” you and George ask together.

“Well, Fred did,” Ron tells you both. “I swear, it’s like he’s got eyes on the back of his head, or something.”

Fred snickers and smirks at his twin. “Really think you could hide this from me? C’mon, Georgie, you know better. The two of you aren’t exactly subtle when you share stolen glances across the Great Hall every bloody evening,”

Everyone falls into a bit of laughter. As the younger ones introduce themselves quite excitedly and then reluctantly head off to class, you, George, and Fred are left in the emptying corridors with the rest of the seventh years also looking forward to a free period.

“Well, Freddie,” George begins, “she’s—”

Fred holds up a hand to his twin. “I know who she is, Georgie—” then, to you with a smile, he continues, “—but I know you as the Slytherin Chaser.. our opponent, if you will. I don’t know you as my twin’s—”

“Girlfriend,” you and George say together, making Fred begin to laugh. You continue, “Hope the fact that I’m a Slytherin won’t make it complicated.”

Fred can’t help but grin broadly. “Not with me, it won’t—especially if you make my brother happy.” George is relieved to hear this and can finally feel the knot in his stomach unwind. Fred keeps on, “Now—whatever effect you have on him is simply wonderful, Y/N. He’s coming back late at night with all of these incredible pranks up his sleeve, I dunno where he gets it—all I know is that it started happening right around the time the two of you began sneaking around.”

“Confession,” George begins, squeezing your hand now, “not all of those ideas were mine.”

And just as George had looked stunned in the library when he figured out that you’d been the one to prank Draco, Fred looks exactly the same. His expression is an exact carbon copy of his twin’s from that day. “Really?”

“Pranks Malfoy a lot these days,” George begins, looking down at you with admiration, “reckon he has it coming, too.”

You turn to Fred and ask with a smile, “Ruddy pumpkin head, isn’t he?”

Fred is certainly taken aback and wildly impressed. “I might just have to pick your brain, then,” he tells you and slings an arm around your shoulder, pulling you along with him as he heads to the Great Hall. He leans in closer to you to speak, leaving George where he’s standing, “Join us tonight, would you? Would love to compare some ideas, if you’re willing.”

You stop in the middle of the corridor and sling your arm around Fred’s back. You peer at George and grin, as if to say, See? We had nothing to worry about. George can’t help but laugh at Fred’s very elated grin when you ask him, “What’d you have in mind, Freddie?”

reblogs & feedback are always appreciated, thank you for reading and requesting, loves x

[littlemisswriter]

Reveal

Summary:

After the death of Pearl Attaway, their is an undeniable rift between Lily and Jacob. She feels as if he was easily mislead, unsure if he too had desired the attention of the older woman; now understanding yet realizing how her obvious feelings towards him would cause nothing but distractions, she distances herself. Though her actions have not gone unnoticed, Jacob is frustrated by her stubbornness yet disheartened by her missing presence as he had grown quite fond of his new partner in crime. However, with both assassins heightened by their emotions, the truth eventually unveils itself, the result being one Lily had not expected but welcomes warmly nevertheless.

[Hey everyone!! Feeling much better physically but still a little down in the dumps mentally, but don’t worry, I’m okay :) I am still writing, but I decided to give you a draft I had written for a long time. This was originally a scene I had based in the plot of my Syndicate book but I’m reconsidering its plot! So please enjoy x]

The afternoon sunlight had eventually slipped beyond reveal and left London to bask in the night. There was still movement of people sauntering through the streets and others finding refuge in nearby pubs in each borough. Though for some men and women who adorned the color of the Rooks, they found themselves festive after the assassination of yet another threat.

The handful that had been at Waterloo station to claim supplies from those with now cold hands sat back with a drink; and the few from that select group had found themselves comfortably aboard Bertha. All scattered across the carriage from the booth to bar, one would expect the atmosphere to be light.

Yet it had not been. For the leader stood emotionless at the bar, fingers tightly clasped around his ale as his eyes set to the shelves of alcohol before him. His mood had been dulled and all that could see this were concerned as it had been out of his normality.

"Mister Frye," a Rook that stood beside him had been bold enough to speak up. A man that was beginning to build trust with his boss from his unquestionable loyalty, and perhaps even a friendship, "somethin' on your mind?" The assassin could only scoff under his breath before drowning down the rest of his drink.

"Just dandy." His sarcasm hadn't gone unnoticed, though the Rook continued to tread lightly. It hadn't been much of a conversation nor a celebration despite Jacob's attempt to lighten his own mood.

But she has been vacant of her presence, and very much unimpressed by his actions as of late. A reaction he would expect from his sister, but never from her. Maybe that was his own naïveté assuming such things.

The locomotive slowly clamored down the tracks, passing through each borough and making way around London. The few on the train were unsuspecting to the pair of feet making haste beside them. The gravel crunched underneath the shoes and flung carelessly as a body leapt up and onto the train.

Hands grasping to the rails as they straightened their stance, a light sigh slipped past their lips. Their face remained covered momentarily as they made way into the nearest carriage. Gloved hands pulled the hood away, long brown hair slipping down past her shoulders as her identity came to light once more.

A wall between her and the now prominent sound of others stood tall, emerald eyes caught in the glimpses of candle light as she made way around into the open carriage.

Her presence was immediately recognized, a few Rooks calling to her in greeting as she tipped a halfhearted smile in response. "Miss 'arvard!" The acknowledgment of Lily's entrance had sparked the attention of Jacob, the man instinctively straightening his hands as his eyes bore into his partners. She had been unsuspecting to what she might walk into, though it should have come of no surprise to her by Jacob's presence. After all, they did reside on the locomotive together when not out redeeming London from the Templar's clutch.

Her heart could have skipped a beat, fists tightening subconsciously as her stare met his. His face had changed to something more of curiosity and... worry? But what he was worried about was uncertain; if was of her whereabouts late that night or perhaps a near conflict between the two, he hadn't been sure yet. Their gaze didn't last long, Lily snapping herself back to reality with a tightening of her jaw.

The night had been long and her muscles worn from distracting her emotions with undergrounds fights. Of course she had come out as a victor, her anger blind sighting her from any thoughts of loss in the ring. Her knuckles still pulsated red raw though now they were nothing but a dull ache. A scrap to her cheek and a lucky blow to her side was all but forgotten as she made way through the carriage.

Rooks had greeted her once more as she passed by, some offering small smiles while others a tip of their hats. "Miss Harvard," the Rook beside Jacob gave her a warm smile, tipping his own cap as she had politely returned the gesture with a nod. Her face remained taught as she bypassed her partner, body unable to stop from tensing as she felt nothing else but his proximity in the carriage.

There had been a moment of doubt, if she had been overreacting or causing more ruckus than she truly believed she needed to. But her thoughts diminished as quickly as they came, standing true to her own beliefs and expectancy of how one member of the Creed treats another. She had needed Jacob to trust her, to pull away from his close forming partnership with Pearl Attaway, but he was stubborn; just as much as she was, and was committed to seeing it through. Why Lily had reclined away from the woman so quickly she still hadn't quite settled yet. Was it due to the manipulating mannerisms or dark intentions covered with a silky smooth coax, or that she had caught the attention of her partner, displaying an obvious interest in the young assassin to a somewhat sexual extent?

Her fists tightened once more as she slammed the carriage door shut as she had open, exhaling a suddenly heavy breathe. Taking a moment in the cold yet refreshing air, she felt her hair whip lightly around her face as her eyes closed to enjoy the moment of simply nothing. Everything had been pent up for so long, a burden now taking place in her chest as a growing weight. But she ignored it, as with every other horrible emotion that had slipped past her barriers. Believing that there was even the slightest chance of a more romantic partnership with Jacob sounded nothing now but poppycock; her mind leading her astray with how well they worked together, how much the reveled in each others impulsive actions.

'Such a fool.' Her eyes slowly peeked open once more as she stepped across and into the carriage before her. Inventory and crafting materials surrounded her as she glanced around the room before making way through to the first carriage. But she was suddenly stopped, her muscles tensing again once more by a mere voice that she couldn't seem to get out of her head. "Lily," it was enough to halt her in her path, though she hadn't dared to look back. Not yet. "I..." His voice cleared, shutting the door and making way slowly to the woman he had followed; his partner. "Where were you today?"

She had made herself scarce, too intense of her own feelings and unaware of how to express them properly. So she hid from him, in hopes he wouldn't ask questions as he was now.

"Causing havoc." She was blatant, head having not yet turned despite hearing the slow sudden footsteps approach her from behind. The air was still, the silence deafening as Jacob looked down at the assassin. His brows drew together in confusion as he waited for Lily to look back at him.

"I would hope so." His attempt to lighten the situation had only had Lily's shoulders drop, the tension slipping from those muscles, yet not away completely. "We raided supplies from the Templars," another attempt, even hoping for even the slightest praise, something that would break her barrier and relax around him once more. And in a sense it had, though looks could be deceiving.

Lily turned her head, looking over her shoulder to again meet the awaiting stare of Jacob. His eyes darted between her own in a sense of waiting though it had only been met with a nod. "Good." A one worded answer. Her eyes drifted away, Jacob almost longing to hold her gaze as she made way to the end carriage again.

No. He couldn't let her go, not that easily. There was a rift and it needed to be mended. He wanted his partner back, to stand by his side as they reclaimed control from the Templars. "Lily, wait!" He had called, hastily walking after her as she slipped out the door and into the awaiting carriage. A bed, desk, warm fire and quiet room had been expecting her presence. As she had it, but was not expecting the intrusion of the younger twin, following her as he had in stubbornness. "Talk to me!"

"About what, Jacob?" Her head shook as she came by the study counter, beginning to tug away at her gauntlet though careful enough not to inflict any damage onto her person. "What is there to discuss?"

"This! Where we are," he came forward, outstretching his arms in a motion towards her, "I cannot bare another day of being ignored!" His choice of words had Lily's expression twitch in annoyance, slamming down her hidden blade as her attention turned hastily to the man, brows furrowed and jaw tightened.

"Oh, you don't like being ignored do you?" Her reference sparking confusion to the twin.

"What are you talking about? When have I ignored you, Lily?" 'When you had become captivated by another woman.' A Templar nevertheless that played him like a fiddle as he allowed her too. The thought having Lily's fists ball as she bit her tongue, wanting nothing more than to yell at his stupidity as well as her own. But she didn't, being taught better to manage her emotions by pretending they were not to exist. So she shook her head, turning once again to make way to the brandy sitting idly on the counter. It wouldn't fix anything, but it would reduce the intensity of her feelings.

Jacob scoffed in disbelief, running a hand through his hair as he watched her pour a glass of much needed relief. Though she struggled not to tighten her hand too tightly and break the glass, another problem she had not needed.

The silence had seeped through once again, dragging out the tension that coated thick to the air around them. She pushed away the brandy and made way to the chair before the fire. "Why won't you speak to me? Lily," he strode boldly across the carriage to come beside the fireplace, laying eyes down at her as she simply stared into the flames, "I cannot fix a problem if I do not know what it is." The circumstance had been worthy of hair tugging, to most not even worth the bother. But Jacob had stayed, almost surprising himself as he hadn't tolerated an argument this long with Evie.

Though even when they fought, she was his blood, his sibling, and deep down knew that she would never abandon him. That he would not lose her. But Lily... there was that possibility. A chance that he could lose her; her energy, her strength, her brutality when she fought, and that damned smile that had grown on him. Silence again as Jacob dug the tips of his fingers into his hips in frustration, not getting anywhere with Lily as his mind began to run wild on all the worst outcomes that may arise.

She sat, hands still tight yet forcing the drink to her lips. Explaining her emotions wasn't something she did often, and even now if she had wished too, she hadn't been sure of what to say to the assassin about what she felt. How would she even begin to word it? How could she say something so ridiculous and not expect to be ridiculed about it?

Yet... glancing at Jacob to see how pent up he was had softened her shoulders a bit. Her eyes cast to the expression of concern clearly etched over his face. He was deep in thought, contemplating his next action as she sat restricted behind her barrier. There was a longing to go back to their close partnership, to be as reckless as they were before. But if they were to possibly get to that point again than Lily had needed to at least verbalize some of the feelings off her chest.

The thought of being so vulnerable had her eyes clench shut as she turned her chin down to her chest as if relaying an unwanted bad memory. An action that hadn't gone unnoticed. Jacob could see she was fighting something, struggling to expose exactly what had kept her so distant from him. And despite it all, seeing her like this... he didn't like it. His heart could wrench at watching the assassin in so much turmoil. He softened. "Talk to me," just above a whisper, a tone that nudged at Lily in a way that she too had softened, "that's all I want."

It came as a sort of plea, her eyes slowly peeking open again to see Jacob now waiting patiently, desperate for communication. The way he looked at her had her heart clench, a stifled shudder slipping past her lips. Lily fought it with everything she had, but her barrier had been broken whether she liked it or not. And knew deep down that it had been broken for a little while now. She would succumb to it eventually, and as her body steadily fell limp under Jacob's gaze, she gave in.

" I tried," she sighed, looking back to the fire as Jacob stood eager to her response, lips sealed tight as he couldn't believe she had actually begun to speak, "I tried to tell you. I did," she shook her head, "but you would not listen." Her mind whirring as she attempted to organize her words into coherent sentences so they would make sense as she spoke. To clearly express what was bothering her so Jacob understood. She had no intention of repeating herself otherwise. "She was manipulating you. It was the way she-" a lump in her throat had cut her off, though with a breath she swallowed it down bravely and continued. "It was the way she was with you."

The mere mention of himself had Jacob's eyes widen slightly, leaning back in surprise that she had felt so strongly at how he was being tricked by a Templar.

"She was deceiving you, Jacob. And when you did not listen... I gave up." The words began to flow as she began to speak from a place that she had never trusted to speak for her before. The heart. "I couldn't stand to watch it. I cannot stand to see you be deceived. So I left you and your fate in your own hands." She quickly glanced up at the assassin, immediately regretting her decision by the self-conscious feeling that washed over her. So she took another drink to calm her nerves. "Jacob," she sighed, sitting up straighter in the chair as her eyes pulled the opposite way, towards a corner sitting in the shadows beside the fireplace, "before I came to London, I was alone. Everything I did, I only ever relied on myself. Matters of missions, to drinking," Lily glanced to her own glasses at the irony, "and everything in between."

Her words had made her vulnerable, almost fragile before him. Seeing her speak to him like this for the first time, it had his heart race. He wanted to comfort her and become understanding of what she had truly felt all this time. But more than anything, he wanted to help stop the negative emotions, the feelings of loneliness and self-independence; for he knew very well what it was like to indulge in such beliefs.

"And then one day I impulsively jumped on a train that led me straight to London." She huffed a dry chuckle, no humor evident as if relaying a sad memory. "And here, I met Henry. Evie..." Now committed to her words, her eyes shyly looked up to Jacob's once more, giving in to the vulnerability of her heat. "And you." He swallowed back, the moment having caught him wrapped tightly in all that was Lily Harvard. "And then, we became partners," a twinge of a sad smile tipped at the corner of her lips, "and we're just as reckless and wild as each other. That's how our partnership is." The words sat on the tip of her tongue, her mind still hesitating, screaming at her to stop talking. But it appeared it had been too late. "Until it changed."

Jacob took a step forward, head tilting slightly as he glanced down at her entirety before back into windows of the eyes that hid away everything that was Lily. This was new to him, but he was not scared nor had he any intentions to leave. "What changed?" He muttered, taking another slow step forward closer to her as she sighed, looking down to her drink while giving it a light swirl.

"The way I am with you." Her heart clenched, she could physically feel it as she bit back on her bottom lip. It was out. Everything she had tried to deny and ignored now lay open to the world between them. And all she feared, the rejection and the vulnerability lay in anticipation before them.

The twin assassin had understood, his feet leading him where he had wanted to go without a second thought. Kneeling down steadily as he watched Lily throw back the rest of her drink in a lame attempt to calm her nerves. She hadn't known what to expect, but she was scared to find out.

"Lily," she couldn't help but recoil at his tone, any word he said would have had her react as such. Her body becoming tense once again as she clearly avoided eye contact with Jacob. His heart beat through his chest as he raised his hand, reaching it out to encase her own in his. She flinched, snapping her head towards him with wide eyes, though he looked at her with nothing but warmth.

Perhaps... perhaps this hadn't of been as bad as she originally thought.

"You're truly daft," he lightly chuckled, pulling her hand towards him as his eyes remained on hers. A gasp leaving her lips suddenly as he slipped his fingers through hers for the first time. The warmth of the action and what exactly it meant sent a jolt of energy through Lily's body. She was shocked, caught off guard that Jacob had understood and reciprocated her feelings, "to not know that..." Now it was his turn to take an extra needed breathe. Discovering this confession hadn't of been as easy as all that, and how Lily's hesitation was validated, "that I've felt the same way. And you've been so blind to it." He squeezed her hand, leaning up on his knee and over the arm rest of the chair. "That I've longed your touch..."

His inched closer, breath now softly hitting the side of her face as she looked away in a sort of bashfulness. She couldn't believe how she was acting, anyone else having witnessed such actions would believe she had come down with a cold of some kind.

"Lily, Lily please look at me." She took a moment, but eventually locked eyes with him once more. The light tug of Jacob's hand in hers had her body subconsciously lean closer in the chair. "I want nothing more than you, in this moment." His breath now fanning across her face and sending a chill up her spine. "I never want to fight like that again. I thought..." Jacob sighed. "I thought I would lose you."

His eyes slipping down to her lips and up again as if he were asking. She bit her bottom lip and watched him do what they had both been longing after. His forehead pressed to hers, arm reaching over to grasp the other arm rest as he leant into Lily. Their lips brushed, her hand squeezing subconsciously into his as they did so. He smiled, ending the torture and pressing their lips together. The soft skin was welcoming yet foreign.

Exploring this new territory had hearts pound out of chests, shivers running up spines, and an eagerness grow in due time. Their lips moved off one another, daring to part momentarily before pressing together once more. Lily's hand had raised to cup Jacob's cheek, his grown stubble tickling her fingertips as he indulged in her lips. Mouths parted and breaths grew heavier as the excitement for a new beginning stemmed in the pit of their stomachs.

Lily hesitantly pulled away, keeping Jacob close though he hadn't needed any coaxing. His eyes opened to roam over that of Lily's face before sneaking a cheeky kiss to the corner of her lip; then her cheek, and even the tip of her nose. She couldn't help but smile as he offered his usual smirk, though the mood behind it had changed. It was for her, because of her, because he made her feel such a way.

Knowing that now they had crossed a line they never wanted to go back to, things would be different. How he would be with her, and how he would spoil her and everything in between. Their partnership was fun, and now their relationship would be too. The thought had Lily lightly laugh and muster a quick kiss to Jacob's lips again. The action having his brow arch in surprise, but the action quickly reciprocated.

[side-effect-of-the-meds]

Twinyards bonding ft. Neil @ the beach :’)

@s-ff-q-dr​ Here ya go bb. It’s quite a bit angsty tho. TW: blood mentions + allusion to Dr*ke

Aaron woke to the squawking of gulls fighting over something they’d found in the trash. Hauling himself up into a sitting position, he scrubbed the sleep from his eyes. 

“Ronnie,” Kevin whined, his eyes still shut, “stay.” 

“I didn’t even go anywhere,” Aaron grumbled. Kevin threw an arm around Aaron and nuzzled into the crook of his neck. Aaron could feel the smug, sleepy smile he wore but he couldn’t be bothered to be a brat. Not when laying in Kevin’s arms felt so good. Maybe a few hours wouldn’t hurt. They lay there in a tangle of limbs until the smell of eggs grew too strong and Aaron’s stomach began to voice its outrage. It took some doing but Aaron managed to bribe Kevin into getting out of bed with more kisses than he deserved. Kevin deserves all the kisses, Aaron thought to himself as he dragged his boyfriend down to the kitchen. 

Erik and Nicky called greetings to the pair as they sat down at the table. Plates had already been set out for them. Erik and Nicky were discussing the plans for the day but Aaron couldn’t find it in himself to pay attention. Instead, he found his gaze drawn to the kitchen. At the stove, Neil worked quietly as Andrew sat on the counter stealing ingredients. Taking a spoonful of the eggs he was cooking, Neil offered it to Andrew. To Aaron's surprise, his brother accepted it. The small smile that unfurled across Neil’s face made it apparent that he hadn’t expected it either. 

“Do you want me to feed you too?” Kevin whispered, his breath ghosting the shell of Aaron’s ear. 

“Shut up, Day,” Aaron said as he shoved him away. Kevin laughed and spooned another helping of bacon onto his plate. They spent another hour there at the table. Neither Neil nor Andrew joined them. As the clock struck eleven, Erik stood up and started clearing the table. With some gentle coaxing he managed to convince everyone to go and get ready for the day’s activities. 

They dressed quickly and were out the door an hour and a half later, record time The sun was up, beating down on their poor heads. Neither Andrew nor Aaron were built for the heat. It wasn’t long until the backs of their pale necks had turned a bright red. Suddenly a shadow fell over Aaron. A big floppy hat fell over his head, covering his eyes. 

“Better?” Kevin asked as Aaron pushed the hat off his face. 

“Yeah,” Aaron mumbled. Kevin’s smile grew wide. The sheer brilliance of it outshone the sun framing him. God, I love him, Aaron thought. “Fuck off,” was what he said. Lacing his fingers through Kevin’s he turned away and prayed Kevin would mistake his blush for a sunburn. As he did he caught sight of Neil again. 

Leaning up against the railing, he stared off into the distance. A forlorn look had settled over his face as his shoulders sagged.  Despite the day’s heat, he had his arms wrapped tightly around himself as though he was cradling himself. Andrew returned from the ice-cream cart and offered Neil a bite of the monstrosity he’d bought for himself but Neil wasn’t paying attention. Aaron saw his brother open his mouth but was too far away to hear what he said. Whatever he said was enough to bring Neil back but not to pull more than a half-hearted smile from him. Instead, he left Andrew there in favor of walking down the boardwalk towards Erik and Nicky.

The six of them spent the remainder of the day out on the pier. A carnival was set up at the edge. Upon learning that neither Kevin nor Neil had ever been to an amusement park, Nicky frog-marched the pair up to the ticket booth. Purchasing all day passes, he sat them all down to figure out a game plan. 

“So we’ll start with the merry-go-round, then the drop, next the Pharaoh’s fury, and then….” and on and on Nicky went. “Alright, so you’ll take them right, Erik?” 

“Sure but what about the twins?” he asked. 

“They’re coming with me.” Andrew let his head fall onto the table with a loud thud. “Don’t be so dramatic, Andrew,” Nicky chided. “Come on, it’s going to be fun!” Kevin kissed Aaron goodbye before tugging Neil out of his seat. He walked quietly beside Kevin as Erik started up a conversation. Muttering a steady stream of curses, Andrew got up and plodded off after Nicky. 

“It won’t be that bad,” Aaron offered as he caught up to his brother. Andrew cast him a dark look that begged to differ. Aaron huffed a sigh. It was going to be a long day. 

It was. No matter what ride Nicky took them too, Andrew refused to get on. What his brother’s problem was, Aaron didn’t know but he was determined not to let his sour mood put a damper on Nicky’s enthusiasm. Sure, Nicky’s chipper attitude could be annoying, but Aaron knew it was an act. There was far more to Nicky than met the eye.

Aaron had always known of Luther and Maria’s homophobia but he’d never known the depths of the despair that Nicky had faced living with them until… Aaron shut his eyes against the swell of emotions. Memories of broken glass and blood stained bed sheets and Andrew’s manic laughter filled his head. The weight of a hand on the back of his neck shocked Aaron back to the present. A pair of hard brown eyes were locked on him. In them a flicker of fear and spark of anger glinted. Andrew cocked a brow in a silent question. Aaron shook his head and he felt the weight of his brother’s hand drop away. 

“Oh my god!” Nicky shrieked. “There’s no line for the drop! Let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s go,” he cried as he snagged Aaron’s wrist and pulled him along. As they made it to the ride, Nicky let go. Aaron fell back a little ways. 

“One ride,” he said. 

“No,” Andrew said. Aaron turned to glare at him but Andrew wasn’t looking at him. Instead, his eyes were watching a point in the sky, the seats of the ride as they ascended up into the clouds. 

“Wait. Are you-”

“Shut up,” Andrew snarled. Aaron clamped his mouth shut then. They watched as the riders made it to the top. The seats hung there for a few seconds, prolonging the suspense. And then, it fell. Screams filled the air, already a buzz with the cheers of other fairgoers. The ride stopped midway in it’s descent before slowly rising once more. “One ride?” Andrew’s voice was so soft that Aaron almost missed it. Almost. 

“Just one,” he replied. A few minutes later, the ride slowly descended and the passengers disembarked, laughing at themselves and one another. 

“Nicky,” Aaron called. He jogged up behind his cousin and tugged him down. “Let us go alone.” Nicky’s brows furrowed in confusion until he saw Andrew step past the barrier. His eyes went wide and a massive smile split his face. 

“Not a word, Nicholas,” Andrew hissed as he made his way to the middle seat. Strapping himself carefully into place, he worked his jaw. Aaron took the seat beside him. Belted into place, they pulled the bar down over their shoulders. Out of the corner of his eye, Aaron caught sight of his brother’s leg. bouncing like mad. 

“Hey-”

“Don’t.” Again, Aaron fell silent at his brother’s command. Behind their heads, the ride clicked and jostled. Instantly, Andrew’s hands were clutching the fabric of Aaron’s shorts. “FuckFuckFuckFuckFuck,” he cursed as the ride began its ascent. Up, up, up the ride went alongside Andrew’s anxiety levels. His grip on Aaron’s shorts tightened with every click of the ride until his knuckles were white. 

“Andrew,” Aaron called. His brother whipped around to look at him. His eyes were wild, practically feral. Instinctively, Aaron reached out and grabbed the back of his brother’s neck. The effect it had was astonishing. Almost immediately, Andrew’s eyes cleared, the sea of terror parting enough to show that some semblance of humanity remained behind in his brother. “Breathe.” Andrew sucked in a deep breath and let it back out slowly. “Hold my hand, yes or no?” 

“Yes,” Andrew hissed through his teeth. With seemingly a great deal of effort, he uncurled his fist from the material of Aaron’s shorts. Dropping his hand from his brother’s neck, Aaron laced his fingers through his brother’s. The pair of them pressed back into their seats, their gazes locked on each other as the ride stopped at the top. “Aaron?” The slight wobble in Andrew’s voice was like a punch to the gut. In the endless seconds they sat there at the top of the drop, Aaron vowed he’d never do anything like this to his brother ever again. 

And then, they fell. A scream tore from Aaron as they plummeted. Andrew’s eyes were screwed shut, his face twisted in pain. Down, down, down they went. The ride halted abruptly just beneath the midway point but their stomachs kept going down. As their seats rocketed up Aaron’s screams turned from terror to joy. He laughed hysterically as they shot back up. 

“Drew, you’re missing it,” he gasped between fits of laughter. He watched as Andrew pried his eyes back open. His grip on Aaron’s hand tightened but Aaron didn’t mind the circulation being cut off from his hand. The ride dropped them once more and, this time, Andrew kept his eyes open.  

A few minutes later the ride began its slow descent back to Earth. Aaron’s laughter continued until his feet touched the ground. 

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked, wiping the tears from his eyes. 

“That was horrible. What kind of person enjoys that?” Andrew asked as he lifted the bar off their chests. 

“People who aren’t absolute losers,” Aaron replied. Undoing his harness, Andrew got out of his seat and nearly face planted. Another bout of laughter overtook Aaron as he watched his brother struggle to stand. The adrenaline had faded from his body and left his legs too weak to hold him up. It lasted until Aaron tried to get out of his own seat with similar results

“Who’s the loser now?” Andrew shot back but Aaron couldn’t be bothered by the insult. Instead, he was all too focused on the half-smile his brother now wore. 

It wasn’t long before the sun started to set. Andrew, for his part, did go on a few other rides. He’d willingly climbed into the spinning teacups and deliberately spun them too fast. Stepping off the ride, he stumbled over to the closest trashcan and promptly emptied his guts into it. Nicky wasn’t far behind him.

They met up with Erik and the others at the entrance as the last of the sun’s rays began to fade. Neil seemed to be in better spirits after a day at the carnival but it didn’t last long. The second his eyes fell upon the sandy shores of the beach, his smile came crashing down. What it was about the beach that triggered such a change in mood, Aaron didn’t know and, frankly, it wasn’t his business. Bottling up his curiosity, Aaron let Kevin regale him with stories of incompetent ride operators and sleezy carnies with rigged games. 

They beelined for a little restaurant at the edge of the boardwalk. Seated on the open-air balcony, the view of the moonlit ocean was amazing. Neil sat with his back to the view between Erik and Nicky. Despite being the closest to it, there was no way he could hear the lapping of waves from where he sat. Tipsy from their drinks, the group made their way back to the beach house an hour or so later. 

“Les go, Aaron,” Kevin slurred, tugging him towards the bedroom. Aaron followed him and helped Kevin undress. They fell into bed trading drunken kisses before falling asleep in one another’s arms. That night, Aaron dreamt that he was back on the ride only this time, it wasn’t him screaming. It was Andrew. Tears rushed down his face in rivers as he screamed and laughed. Blood flowed from a cut in his head, flooding his eyes and mixing with his tears. Pieces of glass were still embedded in the flesh there. 

Aaron woke with a start, panting as sweat poured down his face. Kevin had moved to his own side of the bed in his sleep. Despite the amount of thrashing and noise that had undoubtedly accompanied Aaron’s abrupt awakening, he was still asleep. Of course he was. Slipping out from beneath the covers, Aaron made his way to the bathroom. He flicked the lights on after he’d closed the door and saw himself in the mirror. It wasn’t really him though. Once more, he saw the terror-filled eyes of his brother as they hung there, miles above the ground. Splashing water on his face, Aaron kept his gaze off the mirror before hurrying back out. Bypassing the bed, he grabbed a jacket and headed for the door. Shuffling across the sand in the pale moonlight, Aaron headed towards a figure at the edge of the water. 

“What are you doing out here?” he asked. 

“Needed some space,” Neil replied. “You?”

“Needed some air.” The two of them lapsed into silence. This was how it always was:  Aaron tried to say something and Neil put in as little effort into responding as he could. To be fair, that was exactly how Aaron had treated Neil since the day they’d met. Not for the first time, Aaron kicked himself mentally for his lack of foresight. There were a lot of things Aaron wanted to say to Neil. Fuck you for being closer to my brother than I am, was definitely pretty high on the list. How’d you do it? What makes you so special? were too. Thank you, was still number one. 

“My mom died on a beach.” All those thoughts flew out the window. The pieces of the puzzle slowly clicked into place: Neil’s silence, his lack of attention, Andrew’s insistence on going to the beach for the summer. This is it, Aaron. He’s giving you a chance. Don’t you dare fuck it up. 

“That sucks,” Aaron said.

“Yeah, it was pretty shit.” 

“How’d she die?” 

“My dad stabbed her.” And, in that moment, Aaron wished that he had been the one that Nathan had stabbed. Honestly, there was very little he wouldn’t do to get out of this conversation. And then, God took pity upon Aaron’s wretched and gave him one last chance. “I know she was a bad person. She beat me and made me hurt in ways that none ever should but...”

“But she was your mom. She was all you’d ever had,” Aaron whispered. 

“I tried to tell him but he just doesn’t understand. It’s not his fault and I know he’s trying to help” Neil insisted. “But, sometimes, he just makes things worse. Sometimes it’s just so hard.” Neil’s voice broke, shattering like a mirror and, in every fragment, Aaron saw himself. 

When Tilda died, Aaron hadn’t shed a tear, not for her at least. Instead, he’d lain in his brother’s hospital bed, wailing. Aaron had all but given up his faith by then, but he’d held his brother’s nearly empty body close and prayed. “Don’t take him away. Please, please, please, God. I can’t go on all alone. Please, let him stay.” And He’d heard him. Andrew had made a full recovery and was up and walking a few days later. But, at the time, Aaron had not known whether God had returned his brother to him as a gesture of kindness or an act of cruelty. 

To save Aaron, Andrew had killed the only family Aaron had ever known. All that he’d been left with was a cold and distant uncle who saw him as a mark of his mother’s failure, a cousin who pretended his problems away, and an empty husk of a human being for an older brother. Andrew’s attempt to fix Aaron had only broken him even more. 

Being here on this beach was hurting Neil and potentially damaging his relationship with Andrew. Anyone who knew Neil knew that he was only ever truly at home on the court or by Andrew’s side. No one on earth could possibly fathom what it took to be one of the monsters, to stand by Andrew Minyard. Even to them, there were times when Andrew was all vice with no discernible virtue. Aaron had long since realized that Neil loved Andrew with all his heart; more than Kevin, or Nicky, or even Aaron did. For Andrew, the man he trusted to protect him, to drag him out to the place where Neil had lost his only family… It couldn’t be easy. Nothing with Andrew ever but this was pushing it too far. 

Tears tracked slowly down Aaron’s own face as he put an arm around Neil and drew him close. Who they were for, Aaron didn’t know. Maybe they were for Neil, a man who’d never been shown an ounce of love in his life, and yet, was so full of it. Maybe they were for Andrew, a man whose love was just as wicked and sharp as the knives beneath his bands. Maybe they were for himself, a man who still hadn’t learned how to love at all. 

They sat there in silence, letting the salt of their tears mix with the briny ocean water. By the time Neil’s breathing had evened out, Aaron’s tears had been spent. Scooping up a bit of water, he cleaned the tear stains from his face, careful to avoid his eyes. He waited for Neil to do the same before they walked back to the beach house together in silence. Light spilled out onto the porch from the open door. Entering, they found Andrew waiting for them in the living room. 

“Go to bed, Neil,” Aaron said, his voice dangerously quiet. “Andrew and I need a minute.” Neil cast a worried look at Andrew, who only motioned for him to go. Aaron waited until he heard the snick of the bedroom door closing before turning on his heel. He walked back out, knowing his brother would follow. Making his way down the stairs and out onto the beach, Aaron made sure to put a good deal of distance between himself and the house. He didn’t want to accidentally wake the others. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Aaron stared out at the water. There was no point looking at Andrew; he’d only be wearing his blank facade. “I hate Neil Josten.”

“You’ve made this abundantly clear,” Andrew drawled. 

“Do me a favor and shut up for a few minutes. You didn’t seem to have a problem doing that before,” Aaron snapped. Why he turned to look at his brother, Aaron didn’t know but, in doing, so he caught the flash of surprise that passed over Andrew’s face at his outburst. Andrew’s mouth clamped shut. Taking a shaky breath, Aaron tried to see past the red. “You’re hurting him. Being here is hurting him. Have you ever seen him cry?” 

“Neil doesn’t cry.”

“What did you think he was doing out here by himself?” Aaron watched as his brother worked his jaw. “You are more than the knives in your bands. We don’t just keep you around for protection. We drove all the way out here because you said you wanted to go to the beach. You wanted something. Nicky gave up his plans for Germany to be with you. Erik flew all the way out here. Kevin was going to spend the summer with Wymack at the National Court. Kevin gave up Exy for you! We’re here because we wanted to support you. Andrew, we’re here because we love you. And no one here loves you more than Neil does.” 

“Aaron-”

“Don’t you ‘Aaron’ me!” he countered. 

“I know!” Andrew roared. Aaron’s fury faded a fraction. “Do you think I can’t see what it's doing to him? Do you really think I’m that stupid?” Yes. “He needs time, Aaron. He needs new memories. Today, he spent the whole day running around with Kevin, enjoying something other than Exy. Today, you spoke to him without picking a fight. Do you think I didn’t see you holding him? The next time he thinks of the beach, he’ll still think of her but he’ll think of us too.” The red tint around Aaron’s vision faded enough to see the truth in his brother’s words. As his anger subsided, Aaron’s thoughts drifted back to the months after the crash. 

“When you drove me across town to see The Wallows…”

“I knew you were afraid to get in a car with me. I wanted to show you that you were safe, that I wouldn’t hurt you.” There were tears pouring down Aaron’s face now, clouding his vision. He heard the sound of sand hissing beneath his brother’s feet as he closed the distance between them. “Yes or no?” 

“Yes,” Aaron whispered. He felt his Andrew’s arms wrap around him and he left himself sag against the solid weight of his brother. Clinging to the material of his brother’s t-shirt, Aaron’s body poured out more tears than he’d thought was humanly possible. Four years ago, Aaron had wondered if God had been playing a cruel trick on him when Andrew recovered from the crash. Now he knew it was the greatest act of kindness that anyone could have given him.   

[rohad93]

Moonlit Masquerade: ch 5

It started on Monday morning.

Amity got to school early so she could have some peace and quiet away from her siblings and classmates to study for an upcoming test in her abominations class. The twins had been especially chaotic all weekend while their parents had been out of town for business, blasting music and just being a general nuisance, though not directly to her. 

Of which they informed their children with a simple note on the counter when they had discovered when they had come home from school on Friday afternoon. No goodbyes or anything.

Nothing unusual about that though. 

At least Edric and Emira hadn’t bothered her much, while their parents were away the twins took the opportunity to play; which suited her fine. 

She’d spent most of Friday evening trying to decipher Luz’s sudden… touchiness. Not that she was complaining. She didn’t think it was a human thing, Luz had always been physical with her affections but Friday just seemed extra.

Or she was just seeing what she wanted to see. The thought caused her to frown. Every time Luz got close she sent her into a spiral. All she could think about was how kind and amazing she was and how much she wanted to be near her, which caused the inevitable panic as so many emotions flooded her at once. Ones she wasn’t well equipped to manage, apparently. 

This was ridiculous, she could be completely calm and the second Luz’s stupidly cute face and smile popped into view, it felt like her heart was going to beat right out of her chest as it slammed against her ribcage. 

Somehow, someway, she needed to get a handle on this, Luz probably already thought she was a spaz after she had fled from her Friday and tossed her entire lunch tray across the cafeteria, splattering a few students when Luz just set a hand on her shoulder. 

She sighed and shook her head. The fact that no one, much less Luz, had caught on to her strange behavior was the one silver lining here she supposed.

The idea of trying to tell Luz how she felt made her feel like she had swamp-flu; nauseous, clammy, and fevered. Her fear of being rejected by the object of her affections was still alive and well, a shadow on her heart. 

Trying to ask her to grom had been a disaster in and of itself. 

Though it did have the unintended perk of getting Luz to dance with her anyway, even if it wasn’t exactly the circumstances Amity had hoped for. She’d never admit it, but when she had crafted her gromposal she had envisioned something a little more… romantic. Her cheeks flushed pink at the thought. 

Partly embarrassment and part disappointment for having allowed herself to believe for one minute that such a thing had been possible.

Yes, Luz had technically gone to grom with her, she loved every moment of their dance and taking down Grometheus together, and she would always hold that memory fondly in her heart, even if it was tainted with the bitter disappointment she felt at the words Luz had said after saying she would go to grom with her.

‘That’s what friends do.’ 

Something in her twinged at the memory just as it had when those words had passed Luz’s lips.

Luz had taken pity on her and her cowardice at not being able to just hand that little slip of paper over to the one person she wanted to see it more than anything.

She shut her eyes tightly, clutching her books to her chest at the ache there. With another sigh, she pushed the thoughts aside as she walked down the hall to her locker.  

There were no students around at this time of morning and the halls were quiet as she walked up to it, already beginning to open her bag as she stopped in front of the locker. 

Before she could reach out to tickle the creature into opening its mouth, it opened, promptly spitting something out at her.

She shrieked, holding up her hands to ward off the projectile.

Whatever it was bounced off her harmlessly and fell to the floor. 

Blinking, Amity lowered her arms to look at the bouquet of Blood-Blossoms at her feet. 

“Huh?” she said aloud to the empty hallway before reaching down to pick them up. 

The large, bell-shaped flowers with bright yellow centers and petals the color of, well, blood, were beautiful. 

Why had someone put these in her locker? Blood-Blossoms were expensive and traditionally only given with romantic intentions.

She turned the bouquet around in her hands before noticing a small slip of paper tucked between the stems. She pulled it free and unfolded it. Her face heating up as she read the words written in a gentle sloping hand.

‘Amity, 

These flowers could never be as beautiful as you, but I hope you like them anyway,

Your Secret Admirer.’ 

A little heart dotted the ‘i’ in her name.

Her flush spread to the tips of her ears in a wash of crimson

She folded the paper and looked back at the flowers, reaching out a careful hand to run her fingers over them.

The petals were soft and smooth under her finger tips as she examined them. She took a tentative sniff. A deep, sweet, floral scent filled her senses.

She couldn’t help the soft smile that had worked its way onto her face as she gazed at them.

At the far end of the hall, a pair of dark brown eyes peeked around the corner, out from under a hood.

Luz grinned stupidly to herself before quickly dashing down an adjacent hall, feeling giddy and cheeks pink at the thought of the look on Amity’s face as she examined the flowers fondly. 

That was more than worth having to get to school at an ungodly hour to ensure she made it before Amity, who was notorious for arriving even before their teachers at times. 

Also the snails she would need to pay Eda back by making potion deliveries all of Saturday, as well as her mentor’s subsequent teasing when she had told her what she needed the money for. Despite that she had handed it over readily. 

Her heart fluttered in her chest.

So totally worth it!

That night Amity put the flowers in a vase on her desk, admiring their beauty as she worked on her homework, the note was slipped into one of her desk drawers. 

Even if she was completely enamored with Luz, it was still flattering that someone went through the trouble for her and they were beautiful.

“Hey, Mittens.” Amity tensed up, whipping around to see her sister leaning against the door frame, but not her brother.

“What?” Amity asked, exasperated already.

“Good evening to you too,” Emira chuckled as she walked into the room and immediately noticed the new addition to her sister’s desk. 

“Oh, those are pretty, someone gave you Blood-Blossoms?” Emira turned to look at her with a cocked brow. “Who's that brave?” she asked teasingly.

Amity rolled her eyes but relented, one twin wasn’t usually too bad, it was when her brother and sister were together and feeding off each other that they could become unbearable. 

Also, they were twins, but there was a certain bond she and Emira shared being sisters, there were things she could, on a rare occasion,share with her sister that she just couldn't share with Ed.

“I don’t know.” she shrugged. “They were in my locker this morning, from a secret admirer.” She watched Emira reach out and touch the petals with gentle fingers, admiring their beauty. 

“Oh, mysterious, wonder who has the hots for you…” Emira grinned as Amity’s cheeks reddened. Her little sister always was so easy to fluster. 

“I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter,” she grunted, turning back to the papers sitting in front of her. 

“Aw, you're no fun, why not?” Emira pressed, poking her sister in the arm. Amity violently swatted at the offending appendage with a growl, making Em grin.

“I don’t have time for that sort of thing and I’m not interested in anyone like that,” she huffed and Emira chuckled, making Amity look up at her with narrowed eyes.

“Come on, Mittens; we both know that’s not true.” She smiled knowingly and Amity felt herself seize up at the words. She had to be bluffing, there was no way Emira knew.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She frowned and Emira rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest, cocking a hip as she stared down at her little sister with a knowing look.

“Hey, it’s okay, I get it; those dark brown eyes and round ears are pretty cute.” She grinned as Amity burned red at her words. 

With a twirl of her finger, a pink spell circle appeared and her door slammed closed as she jumped up.

“Does Ed know too, who are you going to tell, what are you planning?!” she all but snarled and the amused smile on her sister’s face fell away. 

A wave of guilt washed over the older girl that Amity’s first reaction to her revealing that she knew about her crush on Luz was panic and fear did not make her feel great, not that she could blame Amity.  

She and Edric had been a little much there for a while. They both agreed that the diary incident and the danger Amity had faced afterward because of them had been over the line and they needed to do better.

They loved to give their straight-laced little sister a hard time, but they did love her and never meant to really hurt her, physical or otherwise. 

“Hey, hey, relax, Amity.” Emira held up her hands and Amity paused at the use of her name. “Ed doesn’t know.” she rolled her eyes. Her brother could be a dork at the best of times and occasionally as oblivious as Luz. “I’m not going to tell anyone,” she promised. Amity slowly relaxed, all her tight muscles going slack.

“You’re really not going to tell anyone, not even Ed?” she asked with suspicion still lingering. 

“Nope, keep it just between sisters.” she smiled, walking over to the door. “You could do much worse, Luz is pretty fun, not to mention cute.” She winked at her sister over her shoulder before leaving just as quickly as she had come. 

Amity huffed to herself before turning back to her desk and trying to focus on her work. 

Now all she could think about were warm brown eyes and that bright smile.

~ ~

Tuesday Amity had class with Luz, and she both adored and hated it in equal measure.

Well, maybe 80/20 with adored eeking out the win by a hair

On the one hand, working with Luz and her antics was fun, doing silly impressions of their abominations professor, passing her notes with cute doodles and making wonky abominations from her messed up abomination slurry never failed to make her giggle like a schoolgirl…

Which she supposed, she technically was. 

On the other hand Luz distracted her. A lot.

When she was around it was a task to get anything done with her smiling at her like that, or nudging her with her elbow to show her something every few minutes. 

She sighed as she walked into class, surprised to see Luz already at their normally shared table.

She was flipping through the book Amity had given her last week with rapt interest and jotting notes into one of her notebooks.

She smiled, glad that Luz was actually using it, she had been nervous that she had only accepted it to be polite, but she had her face buried in the yellowed pages, eyes scanning the words with rapt attention that was rare for her.

She didn't even notice Amity walk up to the table or set her books down before sliding into the seat beside her.

“Hey, Luz,” she called, making the human jump, head whipping to face her in surprise.

“Oh! Amity, hey!” She rested a cheek on her fist and forced a grin, hoping the witch couldn’t tell how nervous she was. 

‘Remember what Willow said, be patient, play it cool…’

“Are you ready for the test?” Amity asked as casually as she was able while she arranged her notes on the table.  

“Test?” Luz blinked. 

Amity turned to her and could see the confusion slowly morphing to panic on her crush’s face. 

“Oh, crud, I forgot about the test!” she hissed. Slapping her hands against the sides of her face and squishing her cheeks in a panic. Luz’s panic shouldn’t have been funny but her face, smooshed between her hands, was too cute for Amity to resist the quiet chuckle that escaped under her breath, Luz caught it though.

“It’s not funny, I completely forgot to study this weekend, I’m gonna fail…,” she groaned, dropping her face onto the book's open pages with a thump. 

“No, you’re right, I’m sorry. What were you doing all weekend?” she asked.

“ Um…,” Luz hummed from her face down position as she thought about how she, Gus and Willow had spent most of Friday night and Saturday brainstorming things she could do or give to Amity to win her over and Sunday she’d had to help Eda collect potion ingredients in the woods. “Errands with Eda…” she settled on, looking up at the gold eyes peering down on her, which was partially true.

“I guess it couldn’t be helped then,” she sighed, sliding her notes to the middle of the table between them. “We still have some time before class starts, we can cram,” she offered, looking back at Luz, who was smiling at her in a way that made her stomach do a somersault. She forced away the heat that she could feel crawling up her face.

“Thanks, Amity.” 

The witch nodded jerkily, staring down at her notes and suddenly feeling bold, scooted her chair closer to Luz. Just so they could both better study her notes of course.

‘Play it cool… play it cool!’ Luz chanted in her head as she tried to focus on Amity’s class notes. 

Amity seemed totally unperturbed, but diving into class work, she was in her element and totally oblivious to Luz’s internal struggle.  

This was going to be harder than Luz thought.

[strayen-fx]

Counting Stars

Bang Chan x reader

Genre: Angst, Fluff

○○○

You felt something so right by doing the wrong thing.

You were never a party person--you were never a people person, actually. You hated crowds, especially crowds that contain more than three human beings.

And that is precisely why your parents were more than surprised when you told them you were going to prom.

It was already D-Day, and the mix of shock and interest in the faces of your folks would have made you feel so guilty. But, for some reason, you were feeling nothing at the time but excitement. You told them your friend's date ditched them on the last minute--lie--and that they needed company for the night--another lie. Maybe. You hoped it wasn't a lie. You really wanted to believe that your friend wants your company.

You told them your friend has already rented something for you, and that you were going to get fixed in their house. When your parents asked you to take some pictures, you rolled your eyes and reasoned: "Going to prom is uncomfortable enough. Do I really need to do something even more uncomfortable?"

Do you need a ride home? "I'd stay with my friend overnight."

What time will you get home? "I don't know." Truth.

Your parents were too surprised, and also too excited by the fact that you were trying to get out of your comfortable box, that they didn't bother to question you any further. They trusted you and your decisions. You were their quote-baby-unquote, but you were big enough to handle yourself. They were holding on to that.

And so, before your parents could change their minds, you headed straight towards Chan's home.

°°°

"You can't be serious."

"Why wouldn't I be serious?"

After spending a few hours watching Interstellar (Chan's choice), you stepped out into the early night in your hooded sweater, jeans and sneakers. Chan was sporting an almost identical look, and together, the two of you looked like a pair of troublemakers heading off to wreak some havoc.

You pointed at Chan's motorcycle. "You expect me to ride that machine of destruction? Do you even know the fatality rates? They're crazy. Over the last year--"

Chan laughed, cutting you off. He expected that kind of response. "No need to pull a PowerPoint presentation, Y/N." He placed his hands on your shoulders and tried to meet your eyes. "This night is all about 'getting out of your comfortable box,' remember? This is the first step."

"The first step was lying to my parents," you corrected him.

"Touché. So this is the second step."

"Being twin masked-riders prowling the night? That is our second step?"

You tried to remind yourself that this is Chan: resident troublemaker, outlier, the obvious suspect. Of course he's using a bike. Sure, he's got a huge black bike that he probably uses for his personal illegal matters. Or at least, that was what people said about him. You have believed such rumors for, what, three years?

And then, a week ago, the two of you were brought together for a school project. You finally realized that all of the rumors were just that: rumors. Made to taint his reputation, because people need Chan, you know? They need guys like Chan so they could point their finger towards someone else and say: that's the bad guy.

One week of being with him was enough to erase all the negative impressions that had seeped into your mind. It was enough time for you to realize that everyone else was just... well, blind.

Chan grinned, handing you his spare helmet. "There's a whole big world to see. You won't see any of it if you won't move your feet forward."

°°°

Chan felt something so wrong by doing the right thing.

Given, you were the one who suggested the whole thing: ditching prom, having a night drive all across town (not in a bike, though--that wasn't part of your plan). But still, when you clamped your arms tightly around his waist, Chan felt something tug at his insides. It was a foreign feeling, but his mind knew it was something wrong. Something he shouldn't be feeling, especially not towards someone like you.

You were the poster picture of a good kid. Headed off to an Ivy League school, offered scholarships, loved by teachers and the school board. He was almost the exact opposite.

He has also been a regular talk of the school body, but not because of his achievements or anything of the sort. He was labelled a rebel, a scapegoat, someone who is always off to no good. Because he got a kid hospitalized for messing with his friends back in freshman year.

The kid tried to tingle with the breaks of Lee Felix's car. It would have caused a major accident costing the lives of more than five people, but that part of the story didn't matter. News that Chan has some tendencies began circulating, and the label stuck until senior year.

Once people see a small stain in you, they begin seeing nothing else but that stain. It's hard to get out of a label, especially if people were seeming to enjoy seeing you crumble. Chan didn't crumble, of course. He stood tall. But still.

He felt like you being with somebody like him was just plain wrong.

He wanted to give you the chance to step out of your comfort zone and see the vastness of the world. You deserved at least that. So when you approached him with your special request, he didn't have the heart to decline. You trusted him despite everything you may have heard from him. That was more than enough for Chan.

He wondered if you could hear his heart pounding through his back.

°°°

"Chan.... this is so.... beautiful."

Chan entered the woods, and for a moment you were genuinely afraid for your life. But then a serene lake came into your view, and you knew it was the right decision to trust him.

Chan parked a few meters from the water. You immediately took your helmet off and ran towards the bay, your hands clutched over your heart in deep admiration. You have always loved water -- it helps you calm down, especially during those times when you felt like being you was the biggest mistake you've ever committed.

"I have no idea we have a lake around here," you said, smiling widely.

Chan grinned. "You can't find it in the books, wise girl."

You jokingly glared at him before staring back into the water. You thought: Chan's right. There is a whole big world to see.

If I have Chan, maybe I can start seeing the world around me.

The lake was glistening faintly, the moonlight reflecting off its surface. It was nothing special, really--just another lake in a small town under the vast collection of stars, but being with you there made Chan feel like he was standing at the top of the freaking world.

And at that moment, Chan felt so weak.

°°°

It has been at least an hour since you arrived at the lake. Chan took out a blanket and some snacks, and the two of you sat talking as you watched the stars in the night sky. Actually, it was mostly you doing the talking, which was out of character. Chan was oddly quiet and distracted.

And you were afraid. Not of Chan, of course, but of the invisible wall that has suddenly appeared between the two of you.

"Hey. Is everything all right?"

Chan nodded, his expression stone-hard and unreadable. "I just kinda think we should go home now."

"What?" You checked your watch. "It's not even midnight, Chan. Is anything wrong?"

He pursed his lips. Then he began standing up, collecting your trash into a small plastic bag. "Come on."

You stood up, confused and exasperated. "What is wrong with you?"

"Everything!" Chan shouted. You flinched. His gaze softened and he continued, "Everything is wrong with me, Y/N. You shouldn't even be talking to me."

And you understood. You understood what he was talking about.

"Chan..." You reached for his hands and held them within yours, relieved that he didn't try to yank them back. "Look at me. I know what those guys say about you. I have heard of all the rumors, the bad words, the accusations. They say you're unpredictable, that you hurt people, that you're...." You sighed. "But I also know that they're not true. Chan, in just a matter of week you have shown me how beautiful this world is. You taught me how to see things in a different perspective. You have shown me how to break free from my mechanical life. Hell, you even made me ride a bike."

A soft laugh escaped Chan's lips. You smiled. You brought your hand to his chest, right over his thumping heart.

"Chan. I know you better than those people. Their opinions do not matter. This heart? This heart contains all majestic and spectacular things. This heart contains the most amount of kindness I have ever felt. This heart gave me warmth. I hope you could realize how much you're worth. How beautiful you are. How ethereal you are. How--"

Your words were cut off with the feeling of Chan's lips on yours.

He was warmth and radiance and perfection, and though the kiss only lasted for a few seconds, it has left your mind in a swirling haze of euphoria.

You thought: He kissed me.

You thought: Did that happen? Did that just happen?

Chan pulled you into a tight hug, and nothing else mattered anymore. You hugged him back, easing yourself into the comfort of his wildly beating heart.

"Let's stay like this, yeah?" Chan said, and he meant something much more than embracing each other under the moonlight.

You giggled. "Until we have finished counting the stars."

Chan smiled. "Until the universe run out of stars."

[addercharmer]

Izumi is sleeping soundly when the emergency ringtone she set for Rei starts going off.

She's literally jumping out of her bed as she hits the answer button, wide awake and ready for anything.

"Rei!" She exclaims, worried as all hell as she throws a hoodie over her shoulders.

"Please...park...Touya…" Is all Izumi can make out, she's pulling on her slipper boots when the call is cut off as soon as she opens her door after getting them both on.

"Shit, shit, shit." She swears as she throws open Nezu's door.

"Dad! Rei called, call Tsukauchi and Recovery girl!" She shouts at him before she's slamming the door behind her and bolting out of the house as quickly as she can.

She runs full sprint to the park. Izumi sees Rei holding Touya who is bleeding from multiple cuts. Natsuo and Fuyumi are clinging to her skirt, and Shoto is in a baby carrier on her back, all of them shivering in the cold from the lack of proper clothes for the cold.

Izumi runs to them, she pulls Touya into her own arms before she crouches in front of the two kids holding onto Rei.

"Get on kiddos, we are gonna be moving fast." She tells them calmly, she feels four arms wrap around her throat and four legs around her waist, standing carefully to adjust to the weight.

"Follow close Rei, we aren't far away." Izumi says over her shoulder as she starts to move as a fast jog, Rei keeps up well but Izumi can tell she's running on fumes.

The door is unlocked as Izumi crashes into the house, she doesn't bother kicking off her shoes she just bolts to the dining room to lay Touya on the table, she heads back to the living room and crouches by the couch where Rei is sitting clutching Shouto closely.

"Off we go kiddos, go sit with your mom. I'll take care of Touya until Recovery girl gets here." She's gentle but firm when she talks to them, she knows better than to sound panicked, it takes a lot of effort to stay calm.

On her way back to the dining room she grabs the first aid kit from the small closet, she's already opening it as she puts it next to Touya's head on the table.

"Sorry Touya, this will probably hurt." She whispers to the unconscious boy.

First she pulled out scissors and cut away his shirt and pants. She's angry, so, so angry at the wounds on the child she wants to go and beat up Endeavour right now.

"Tsukauchi-san and Chiyo-san are on their way, Tsukauchi's E.T.A is five minutes, Chiyo's is half an hour." Nezu tells her from the entryway.

"Awesome, I can get the surface wounds stitched and splint any broken bones, she will just need to check the rest." Izumi says as she's pouring rubbing alcohol over her hands and into one of the collapsible bowls from the kit, she won't use it again unless it's to wash her hands the same way a second time.

She's snapping on her gloves before she pauses. "Can you call the gang over? Rei is gonna be busy with Tsukauchi and I can't watch all the kids if I'm in here with Touya. You also know where the USB is for evidence, I've been updating it daily." She asks and then explains and directs, she feels the pinch between her eyebrows as she concentrates on too many things.

Nezu nods at her and heads back to the living room leaving her alone to work on the injured boy, Izumi is thankful that she can leave everything else to him now and focus on helping Touya.

The doorbell rings as Izumi is halfway through wiping down Touya's body to see the wounds better, the cuts are bleeding heavily and it's worrying her about the amount of blood being lost. She ignores it and finishes what she's doing, she ignores whoever just walked into the room trying to talk to her as she resets Touya's ankle and then wrist.

He wakes and screams loudly when the snap of his wrist bone going back into place echoes along with it.

Izumi has to push him back down on the table. Her hands are firm but her voice is gentle, suddenly there are another pair of gloved hands pressing on Touya's shoulders.

"Hey Touya, it's Izumi, I don't know if you remember me from the park but we played tag together." She says as she wraps the wrist tightly, even though he's fallen unconscious again at the pain, she needs to talk right now just to filter some thoughts.

"I'm sorry I hurt you but I had to put your bone in the right place." She explains. "I'm also really sorry that it's gonna hurt when I stitch these cuts closed, I will put numbing cream on them, but sometimes it isn't enough. A few of them I could glue together but I never trusted the glue to hold personally, I used to have to stitch myself up a lot so I got pretty good at it, really I should get my first aid certification."

Izumi notes she will have to wipe each cut again before she uses the cream and starts stitching. She feels terrible that she has to hurt Touya to help him.

She starts with first turning Touya over to get at the worst cut that goes diagonally across his back, from left shoulder blade to deeply into his right buttock, it's the longest and deepest, any deeper would have nicked his spine.

"Shit." Izumi hears Oboro swear from where the other hands are helping her.

"Put a doughnut shaped cloud under his face." She demands quickly now that she knows her helper can make Touya more comfortable.

She loses herself in the motions. Clean, cream, stitch, clean, cream, stitch, as she moves from cut to cut. She can feel herself humming and trying to comfort herself and Touya who is still unconscious.

Oboro at one point was ordered to go get the other two first aid kits, Izumi had almost run out of thread and she felt her needle becoming blunt making it that much harder and no doubt more painful to use.

She's working on the last cut that is a deep split through the corner of Touya's bottom lip when she's broken from her trance by something hitting her lightly on the thigh.

"Good work girl." Recovery girl says to her before she's pulling a chair over and hopping up on it.

"We will have to expand further on this talent." The woman says again as she examines the stitches and splints critically before nodding in approval.

Izumi just nods herself and backs away from the table with a heavy sigh, she's tired and her neck and shoulders hurt from being bent over and the constant repeated motions.

"I scanned him with a portable device that allows me to check bones and inner tissue as you worked." Recovery girl tells her and turns the machine to show Izumi. "Tell me what you see."

"Bruised ribs, bruised lower intestine, broken left wrist and right ankle, broken nose, concussion, multiple contusions." Izumi list's blankly. "I don't know how to set a nose." She also admits woodenly, she hadn't noticed that it was broken.

"Come here." Recovery girl directs, her voice is a lot sharper than Izumi was used to.

Once Izumi is close enough Recovery girl grabs her hands and frames Touya's nose with her fingers, then simply uses her hands over Izumi's own to jolt the cartilage back into place.

"Like that." Recovery girl says simply. Izumi feels a little sick at how the woman just...seems to be fine with a child laying on a table covered in stitches with broken bones.

Recovery girl's lips then stretch and she plants a kiss on Touya's head and right ankle. "All I can really do is clear up the concussion and heal the broken ankle." She admits, this time Izumi can hear the sorrow and it loosens the tight feeling in her chest.

"Go clean yourself up girl, the others need to know the boy's status, and you can't tell them covered in his blood. Shirakumo too, he can make a screen so they won't see you."

Izumi feels like she has been wrung out, she is numb but present. She and Oboro walk behind a wall of clouds up the stairs, he uses the bathroom first to clean his arms of the small amount of blood on them, he leaves his hoodie in the bathroom as well because of the blood from where he had to lean across the table, thankfully his shirt is clean and he doesn't have to borrow one of hers.

Izumi gets into the shower fully clothed, she just stands there under the spray lost in her anger and sadness.

She collapses on her knees and cries, roughly ripping her clothes off her body and throwing them at the wall of the shower. She wanted to scream but knew that it would be heard so she just choked on her sobs behind her hands, she hadn't been able to protect them, she failed and now a seven year old boy was paying for her mistake.

Izumi made herself calm down, she forced it all into a box to deal with later, she knew once she had spoken to Tsukauchi she could break down trusting the others to comfort Rei and her children, Izumi couldn't, she knew she couldn't.

Struggling back to her feet, Izumi was happy that her hair was in tight twin braided buns and that she had kept her hair from being under the spray of the water. She started to scrub her skin. It wasn't the first time she had been covered in blood, just the first time it wasn't her own, she sobbed a little, but held on to her emotions as best she could.

Once she was dressed and back downstairs Tsukauchi stops her from getting closer to the others in the room.

"Nezu-san, could you please tell me of the events that happened tonight." Tsukauchi said after Izumi had agreed to speak with him in the kitchen.

"I was woken by my phone ringing, it was a special tone just for Rei-san. I didn't hear much of what she was saying but I did catch 'please, park, and Touya'. I knew they were in a bad way, abused people generally recognize each other. I woke dad and then ran to the park where we met them. I took Touya from Rei-san and had Natsuo and Fuyumi climb on my back. We ran here where I then set Touya's broken ankle and wrist before stitching up thirteen cuts of varying lengths and depths. Recovery girl then showed me a scan from some machine she had. Bruised ribs, bruised lower intestine, broken left wrist, right ankle, and nose, concussion, multiple contusions. Recovery girl then taught me how to set a broken nose." Izumi speaks clearly and carefully, she was being recorded and with Tsukauchi's quirk she had to be careful.

"Thank you Nezu-san." Tsukauchi stands and bows to her.

"Wait, please. You need to help them, he will kill them if this continues." Izumi begs, she can feel tears running down her cheeks again, she can't help herself, can't stop herself anymore. "Please."

Tsukauchi sighs and keeps walking. Izumi doesn't know how long she sits at the table crying before she feels a paw on her knee.

"Dad." Izumi cries harder, she pulls him into her lap and holds him as she cries into his shoulder.

He hums a soft tune for her and just lets her cry on him and hold him tightly as he pats the top of her head.

"Come now, the others need to be settled. Keigo has offered his bed for the children, and I have offered mine to Rei. I have also called the school to let them know that all six of us will not be present tomorrow." Nezu says as he wiggles in her hold, to get free.

She lets him go, and waits a little to stand and follow him, her tears have run dry, but she still feels hollowed out.

[storiesbymads]

EIGHTEEN ( joe liebgott . )

Y/N met Joe a few days after she graduated from high school. loosely based off the one direction song.

warnings: none but it gets kinda sad @ the end ig

wc: 4.3k

Graduation was days away and Y/N could feel the air escaping her lungs just thinking about it. She had been dreaming about this day for the past twelve years and it was actually happening. Although, now that it was here, the moment felt bittersweet. She was about to leave all the childhood friends she’d made for a junior college across the country in San Francisco. It was almost too surreal for her to handle. A week from now, she’d be somewhat situated in an apartment she’d only seen once without her parents or really anyone that she knew. She would be starting her life.

The last few days of senior year could not have gone by any slower. Final exams had been the week prior so the classes she was attending were really just excuses for all of her classmates and teachers to get emotional about the time they’d spent together. Y/N counted down the minutes until she could finally get out of there. While some of the girls she’d come to know as her best friends were allowing themselves to shed a tear or two and give close to a million hugs to people they’d shared maybe a conversation with in their time there, Y/N kept finding herself in her daydreams about what her new life was going to be like.

“I cannot believe it’s our last day of high school,” her friend Annabelle said. There were about twelve girls all scrunched up at one lunchroom table in an already overcrowded lunchroom. Thankfully, the number had dwindled slightly over the years and now Y/N at least had enough room to put her elbows on the table when she was eating.

“I know! I’m gonna miss you girls so much,” another girl named Cecile said. Y/N swore she saw the slightest hint of a tear in her eye as she said it. Y/N took a bite of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich without another word.

The amount of nerves surrounding her as she stood on the small auditorium stage astounded her. She attended a small school with her graduating class maxing out around 200 and yet the room felt like it was about to explode. All of the classmates around her were decked out in the signature royal blue of their highschool with bright smiles and hazy eyes from the brightly flashing cameras. Y/N fidgeted with the tassel on her cap as she waited for the ceremony to begin. A few of her friends were sitting a few feet away from her. The deafening heartbeat in her ears stopped her from being able to hear what they were talking about. It wasn’t until one of them nudged her ribs that she realized the lights had dimmed slightly and everything was starting.

The announcer’s speech, thankfully, hadn’t lasted longer than a few minutes and the graduates had started making their way across the stage. Before Y/N knew it, she was walking across the stage and shaking hands with the principal and various other administrators she’d come to know over the years. Her legs were numb and she was surprised--and very grateful--that she made it across the stage without so much as tripping. She even silently thanked her mother beforehand for discouraging her from wearing the three-inch pair of heels in her closet.

“The Class of 1936! Congratulations!” her principal announced as a wave of blue filled the air. There were graduation caps everywhere across the auditorium. It was going to be extremely difficult to tell whose was whose at the end of the day but that didn’t stop a single student from completing the tradition. One student’s cap even managed to land in the rafters for a few seconds before coming down.

It was difficult to locate her parents in the crowd in the moments after. Everything seemed to be simultaneously happening in slow motion and hyper speed since her first step across the stage. She spotted the top of her mother’s head across the room and rushed over to meet them. Both of her parents had been leaning up against the wall near the exit speaking to another couple until they noticed her semi-running towards them. Her father pulled her into a tight hug and made a comment about an eyelash messing with his eye the entire ceremony. She gave her mother a soft smile when he finally let her go. Her parents gave a small goodbye to the couple next to them and joined hands with their daughter on the way out of the highschool for seemingly the last time in their lives.

The sound of her alarm clock buzzing at 6:30 in the morning caused a loud groan to fall from Y/N’s lips as she begrudgingly pulled herself from the warmth of her duvet and into her adjoining bathroom to start her day. It was moving day. Well, technically. Most of her furniture had been shipped out to her apartment a few days prior but today was the official moving date. She had to be at the train station by 8:00 with the last of her belongings. Judging by the fact that Y/N was brushing her teeth with her eyes still very much closed, it was evident that she was very much regretting choosing the earliest departure time to San Francisco available.

Her two suitcases were packed and stacked next to the front door of her parents’ home and she kept glancing at them during the entire duration of breakfast. In her mind, she was going over every item that she needed to bring and checking the mental checklist she’d gone over about twenty times over the past two days. She knew it was overly redundant but she couldn’t bear the thought of forgetting something and not being able to retrieve it until the next major holiday. It was unlikely, though, that she would forget something as her childhood bedroom was practically barren save for the twin bed and the wire coat hangers in her closet.

“Honey, if you look at those suitcases one more time,” her mother lightly scolded. She was glad her daughter was so excited for something but she was still slightly bitter to the thought of her daughter leaving home so soon after graduation.

“I’m sorry! I can’t help it,” she sighed. The plate of eggs and bacon had barely been eaten--mostly just moved around with a fork--and was growing colder by the minute. Y/N knew she wouldn’t be able to eat with the amount of nerves building up in her stomach. She spared a final glance at the luggage

“Your mother’s right,” her father sighed and blew the steam off of his cup of coffee. Y/N was surprised to see the newspaper usually tightly clutched within her father’s fingers nowhere in sight.

“So, what’re your plans for the day?” Y/N asked after a few moments of silence. She had completely given up on her plate of food and had pushed it further towards the center of the table.

“Oh, you know. Mope around the house wishing our baby were still here with us,” her mother said dramatically, pretending to wipe a tear from her face.

“Very funny.”

“She’s not joking,” her father chuckled into his mug. It was odd to see him this way. Both of his hands were tightly wrapped around the white porcelain and he still had his reading glasses on rather than the contacts she was so accustomed to seeing. Come to think of it, her mother looked quite strange, too. She was still in her evening robe and had made no effort to remove the curlers from her hair.

“Are you not accompanying me to the train station?” Y/N asked. She watched her parents share knowing glances before they each turned towards her.

“Your father thinks it’s best if we say our goodbyes here. He knows I’ll cry like a banshee if we do it in public and he wants to spare you the embarrassment,” her mother said.

“Oh,” Y/N mumbled and glanced down at her fingers fiddling with the hem of the tablecloth. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Oh Honey-”

“We can come with you if you want!”

“No, no. Dad’s right. Plus, if you start crying I’m sure to start crying and then where would we be,” Y/N allowed an airy laugh to brush past her lips at the thought of her and her parents all crying and smushed together in a dysfunctional group hug.

Due to the fact that Y/N had taken probably the longest nap in her life on the train, her legs felt as stiff as the concrete beneath her feet as she tried (and failed) to make her way out of the station in a normal looking way. Every step looked more like a waddle combined with the luggage that felt ten times heavier getting off than getting on settled on either one of her shoulders.

“Need some help with that, doll?” One of the various taxi-cab drivers asked. It took her a second to locate which one was addressing her but it was easy enough to identify him when she noticed him quickly approaching her with a hand out.

“Uh,” she mumbled. “Yeah-Yes. That’d be great, thank you.”

“Just doing my job,” he sent her a wink as he helped her load the luggage into the trunk of the bright yellow vehicle. Y/N allowed herself to take in the appearance of the man as she got into the backseat and told him her destination. He was quite skinny but that didn’t take away from the overall build of him. In fact, it seemed to make her more attracted to him. His lips seemed to be plastered in a permanent smirk and his hair was way too perfect for him to just have thrown some gel in it and called it a day. It was good enough to land him a hair modeling gig, in her opinion.

“How long will you be staying?” the driver asked and made eye contact with her through the rear-view. His eyes had a mischievous glint to them.

“I don’t look like a regular to you?” she asked with mock offense.

“With that accent? Not a chance, dollface,” he said. They retained eye contact for a few more seconds before his sight flickered back to the road in front of him. Y/N was thankful for the added background noise of the radio at that point.

“You’re actually taking me to my new place,” Y/N said after a few moments of awkwards silence. She found herself fiddling with a slightly ripped piece of leather on the seat beneath her. She felt his eyes on her but by the time she looked back up at the mirror his eyes were focused on the road once more.

“How do you know I’m not a creepy stalker? Now I know where you live,” he joked as he reached a red light. She was able to get a good look at his eyes in the mirror now. The sunlight coming in from the windshield allowed her to notice the swirl of chocolate in his irises. Multiple car honks behind them startled the driver into pressing on the gas a little too quickly, startling Y/N and almost causing her to faceplant into the back of the seat.

“Sorry about that, doll,” he muttered and adjusted how he was sitting ever so slightly and allowed one of his hands to rest on the center console rather than the wheel.

“So, are you?” she asked.

“What?” his eyebrows scrunched together and his grip on the wheel tightened.

“Are you a stalker?” Y/N allowed herself to relax into the seats more. She didn’t really care if he was a stalker. She just never wanted him to stop talking.

“You’ll be glad to know that I am not, Miss…” he voice trailed off, obviously asking for her name.

“Y/N Y/L/N.”

“Joe Liebgott. Nice to make your acquaintance, dollface,” he sent her another wink through the mirror. Y/N felt her heart sink slightly when she noticed her apartment building only a few feet away.

By the time Joe had found a parking spot in front of the building, Y/N could feel her heart all the way in the souls of her feet. She had no idea why she was reacting this way. She had only known this man for, what, twenty minutes? And their one striking conversation had been about whether or not he was a stalker. She had no right to get this attached to him.

“You know,” he started. “I could give you a tour of the city if you’d like. You know, since you’re new and all.” He flashed her a million-dollar smile as he handed her the two pieces of luggage from the trunk.

“I think I would really enjoy that, Joe.” Her heart was beating so fast it could have jumped right out of her chest and made it back to her parents’ house before she was able to get inside her new apartment.

“Great,” he said. He opened up the passenger side of the cab so that he could reach into the glove box. He pulled a pen out of his shirt pocket and began scribbling on the blank side of the receipt he had just pulled out of the compartment before handing the small piece of paper to her. In very messy handwriting, she noticed he had written Joe (not a stalker, he promises) followed by a phone number and a smiley face below all of it.

“I’ll make sure to call you, Not-a-stalker-Joe.” Y/N’s face had heated up an extreme amount and she hoped that Joe wouldn’t think anything of it.

A few days passed before Y/N worked up the courage to actually call Joe. Maybe it was the fact that it was eleven o’clock at night. She always had been braver when she was tired. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t been able to get the cab driver out of her mind since he dropped her off at her place. Especially at night when she was alone with her thoughts. He got her head spinning and her heart racing without even being in the same room as her. She could only imagine what it would be like when she took him up on that tour offer.

“Hi, is this Joe?” she asked as politely as she could. She regretted calling the second he picked up.

“Depends…” his voice was raspier than it had been a few days ago. There was a possibility that Y/N had woken him up. “Who is this?”

“Y/N,” she said. Her nerves were skyrocketing at this point. The past week or so had not been easy on her heart.

“Who’s the stalker now?” he chuckled lightly into the phone. She heard rustling from the other side and assumed he was moving around on his bed. Having the phone by the bed seemed like a smart idea to her and she wondered why she hadn’t thought of moving hers there.

“You gave me your number, you know,” she said, twirling the cord around her finger.

“For a tour of the city. Not a late night rendezvous,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I can call again in the morning.” Her face was burning with embarrassment; the pressure managed to trail all the way down her spine, it seemed.

“No, doll, don’t worry about it. It had been a pretty boring night anyway,” Joe sighed. Y/N could imagine him running his hand through his hair. Then the image of running her hands through his hair popped into her mind.

“So, about that tour?” she asked. She really hoped she wasn’t being too forward. He was the one that offered.

“You up for it? Tomorrow’s my off day so you called just in time,” he said.

Y/N was barely able to sleep an hour that night. She didn’t know if it was the nerves (it was) or if it was the seemingly endless downpour of rain outside. After her fifth wake up, she decided trying to sleep was a lost cause. She slipped out of bed and out of her bedroom into the open concept of the rest of her apartment. The clock on the wall beside her stove let her know that it was edging on 4:15. Somehow, she managed to turn on her coffee pot and actually make herself some in her zombie-like state. She felt the liquid warm her right down to the tips of her toes.

Around 7am Y/N was beginning to regret skipping out on anymore sleep. Her eyes were droopy and she could barely keep them open long enough to read more than a paragraph on the morning paper. She figured this would be as good a time as any to start getting ready. She probably should’ve worked out a better plan with Joe before hanging up last night; she had zero percent of a clue as to when he would be picking her up that morning.

Y/N’s shower lasted longer than usual due to her starting the whole ordeal by just standing under the hot water with her eyes closed for about ten minutes. She’d even let her mind wander to thinking about Joe being in said shower with her but quickly shook the thought away as she began applying her coconut scented body wash. By the time she was finished, the originally scalding water was beginning to grow cold and Y/N was practically shivering trying to push the hot-water knob past its limit.

She decided to fix herself a third cup of coffee after getting dressed to aid her in doing her makeup in a way that wouldn’t make her look like a raccoon. A few years ago she had tried to do a Smokey eye after about three hours of sleep and she was not going for a recreation of that this morning.

9am was beginning to roll around when she heard a knock on her door.

“Morning, doll,” Joe said when she opened the door. He had his hair slicked back and a collared shirt left unbuttoned about three buttons.

“How’d you know which apartment was mine?” She chuckled lightly. She could have sworn he hadn’t followed her up to her door the previous day but she could’ve been wrong.

“I watched from my car to make sure you got in okay. I was really hoping I remembered which door it was and didn’t go knocking on some old lady’s door,” he said and ran one of his hands through the gelled hair. Y/n glanced over the balcony of the complex to see the bright yellow taxi parked in the exact spot it was in yesterday.

“That was very sweet of you, Joe,” both of them had a slight red tint to their faces as they made their way down the stairs and to the taxi. He opened the door for her before jogging around the front of the car to get in himself.

“The best tour of your life begins now,” he said before starting the car up.

“So how old did you say you were?” Joe asked after about twenty minutes of awkward silence.

“18. You?” Y/N said. She really hoped he wasn’t 37 or something or this whole ordeal would have gotten really awkward really fast.

“21,” he said and turned down the radio knob ever so slightly. She couldn’t stop herself from thinking about how nice his fingers looked. “Now our first stop…”

It had been months since Y/N had first met Joe but she swore it felt like the pair had known each other forever. She felt more comfortable around him than anyone else she had ever met. They went on one or two more dates after their tour before Joe asked her to be his girlfriend. Everything between them was moving incredibly fast for Y/N’s usual tastes but she couldn’t be happier at the given moment. Joe made her feel alive. Her fingertips burned with every touch and her insides were practically doing backflips any time he complimented her or so much as held eye contact with her.

“Good morning doll face,” Joe said with his raspy morning voice that Y/N adored more than anything. She groaned with displeasure at being roused from her sleep but she gave him a soft smile when she finally opened her eyes. Joe was running his fingertips lightly across Y/N’s bare back as the thin sheets of his bed covered their lower halves. Her hand moved from being placed at the top of his abdomen to gently stroking his jaw. There was the faintest of stubble growing in and she would never tell him how much she really loved it.

“Morning, handsome,” she mumbled into his chest. She began trailing kisses from his chest up to his collarbone and back down again. Joe used his free hand to stop her antics and pull her face up to kiss his lips this time. In a few short moments, Joe was able to flip the pair of them to where he was resting over Y/N with one of his hands beside Y/N’s shoulder to support his weight and the other securely positioned on her jaw.

“That was a very good way to wake up,” she said and ran her thumb across his slightly swollen lips. He let out a soft laugh before poking her in the side and laying down on the bed beside her.

“I think I’m going to go get a shower. Care to join me?” He asked with a smirk. They had showered together before but it had never ended with them cleaner than when they entered.

“Not today, baby,” she said, which earned a very over exaggerated groan from Joe as he forced himself out of bed and into the connected bathroom.

She, too, pulled herself out of the bed and grabbed Joe’s button up off of the floor and buttoned it up just enough to cover all the necessities. She heard the creak of the hot water knob as she exited the bedroom to make herself some much needed coffee. Neither had gotten the recommended 8 hours of sleep and she was wondering how Joe was able to be so animated about everything already.

Their one-year anniversary came around faster than anything that Y/N had ever experienced. One day she was living in her parents home desperate to graduate from high school and now she was living in her boyfriend’s apartment (unbeknownst to her parents) and celebrating a whole year of dating. And it had been the most magical year of Y/N’s life.

“More wine?” Joe asked her as he pulled himself off of the couch. Y/N whined slightly as her side was hit with a gust of cold wind.

“Yes, please,” she said and handed up her empty wine glass.

“You got it, doll,” he sent her a wink and went into the kitchen to fill both their glasses. Y/N couldn’t help but watch him the whole time. She never thought that she’d be this head over heels for a man— especially this far along in a relationship. Before Joe, the longest she’d had a boyfriend had been about two months and they barely even talked during that time.

Joe glanced over at her from the kitchen just barely making eye contact with her before Y/N shifted her gaze to the record player in the corner of the room near the small television. It had been playing static for about an hour now but the both of them were too comfortable to care enough about flipping it.

“I love you, Joe,” Y/N said after a few more moments of silence. There was a loud crash in the kitchen that caused her to surge up from her seat and rush over. Before she was able to bend down to clean up any of the broken glass, though, Joe pulled her in by the hips to smash his lips against hers.

“Say it again,” he said when he pulled away with the biggest grin Y/N had ever seen.

“I love you, Joe.”

“I love you, Y/N/N. So much,” he pulled her in for another kiss, sidestepping around the broken wine glass to set her on the kitchen counter and placing himself between her thighs. His hands trailed from her hips to rest on the sides of her knees.

Almost four years had passed since then. Joe was set to leave for boot camp this afternoon and Y/N was barely functioning at this point. He had become such an integral part of her life since she arrived in San Francisco. She had no idea what she would do if he didn’t come back to her. Hell, she barely had a clue what she would do if he did come back to her. She knew nothing would be the same after all of this.

“I’ll write to you whenever I get the chance, baby doll. I promise,” he mumbled into her hair. Y/N had not left his side once in the past week and she didn’t plan on leaving it until he was on that train.

“I’m going to miss you so much, Joey,” she said.

“I know. I’m gonna miss you too.”

“I’ve loved you since I was 18 years old, Joe. I’m 22 now and somehow I love you more and more each day. Promise me you’ll come home to me,” she said. There were tears beginning to leak out of the corners of her eyes. He wiped one away with the pad of his thumb.

“I promise to try as hard as I can to come home to you, baby doll,” he said and pressed another kiss to her hair.

[fallinallinshawn]

Autumn Days Series || Mendes Triplets Fic (Part 1 - The Autumn Equinox Tradition)

Summary: You spend your favourite season with your three best friends. [Friends to Lovers au] [Werewolf au] [Choose Your Own Ending]

Warnings: none? (Raul says dumbass, lol)

Word Count: 2.2k

Moonlight gently streams through the sheer curtains covering your bedroom window, bathing your room in a soft silver glow. You nestle into your blankets; sleep is just beyond your reach.

Taptaptap. Taptaptap. Taptaptap.

The noise against your window happens in rapid succession; three quick taps, three times in a row. You do your best to ignore it and roll over, hoping to let sleep take you away. The tapping continues and you realize two very important things: one, is that there’s only three people in the world who throw rocks at your window like that and two, is that they’re not going to stop until you acknowledge them. You groan, it’s well after midnight and you have no intention of leaving the warm comfort of your bed.

Buzz, buzz.

Your phone goes off next, dinging three times. You sit up, slowly blinking your eyes open, and grab your phone from its place on your bedside table. You press the home button and your phone lights up, the time reads 12:45 AM. With an irritated sigh you tap on the group of iMessage notifications; sure enough, they were at it again. Your phone screen opens to the group chat you have going with the Mendes brothers.

Y/N and the Menbros

RM: We know you’re awake in there. Get up!

PM: You have 2 minutes to get out of bed or we’re coming in!

SM: Your 2 minutes have expired, Buttercup!

You glare angrily at your phone. Before you can reply, the latch on your window is jimmied open and Raul hoists it up. Three bodies tumble into your bedroom, landing on the floor beside your bed with a loud thud! You reach across your bed for each of the stuffed bears the boys had given you for Christmas when you were nine; you throw the bears at them, hitting all three square in the face as they stand.

“Do you have any idea what day it is?” Peter asks exasperated. He throws his hands up in the air before settling them on his hips, the grey bear clenched tightly in his left fist. His glasses have slid down his nose a little, and you can’t help but giggle at how much he resembles their mother when she used to scold the four of you as children.

You cross your arms over your chest. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Don’t be such a baby. It’s not like you were sleeping anyway,” Raul chides, leaning against the windowsill. He holds the black bear loosely by one of its ears.

“Y/N, it’s the Autumn fucking Equinox!” Shawn tells you pointedly. He leans his head down and softly noses the brown bear’s face.

You shake your head with a sigh. “I can’t believe I’m friends with the three of you.”

The triplets heave a collective sigh of annoyance when you don’t respond, and wait for you to offer up the usual excuses as to why you won’t be joining their adventure. In truth, you don’t have a reason not to go this time, you’d simply forgotten what day it was. You consider getting up and changing out of your pajamas, but decide to let the brothers stew for a few more minutes.

“I really was trying to sleep,” you say, “I had a long day and I’m exhausted.”

Their reactions to your words are instant. The three of them share a look of guilt. They return your bears to the bedside table and turn to head back through the window, silently bidding you goodnight.

You hold out as long as possible before falling back against your pillows in a fit of giggles. “Oh, man, you should see your faces!” You clutch your stomach; your sides ache. “You look like a litter of kicked puppies!”

The boys growl low, then launch themselves toward you. Within seconds you’re at the bottom of the pile as three pairs of hands attack your sides, tickling you mercilessly.

“Say uncle, Y/N,” Shawn commands. Their fingers continue to dig into the flesh of your torso, they don’t let up.

You squeal, kicking against them. Your laughter rings out around the room. “Never!”

“Say uncle, and we’ll stop.” Raul rolls out from underneath Peter, just enough to pin your shoulders to the bed.

You clamp your jaw shut, grit your teeth and shake your head.

“Just remember, you did this to yourself!” Peter admonishes. He shares another quiet look with his brothers, and the three of them flop their large bodies across you and each other, one by one. The added weight of them is ridiculously heavy, it’s impossible for you to wiggle free now. 

“Say uncle, dumbass.” Raul’s voice is muffled by Shawn’s chest against his face, but you can tell he’s smiling all the same.

You wiggle once more then submit to their playful assault. “Okay, okay! Uncle! Get off of me!”

Peter, Shawn, and Raul roll off of you and stand up again as if nothing happened. They each wear foolish grins of triumph on their faces. You sit up, shaking your head. Boys.

“What was that for?” You ask with a pout. You’re not angry, not even close, but you want to see how long you can guilt trip the three rambunctious wolves in front of you. It’s petty and childish, but it makes you giddy inside all the same.

Shawn shrugs. His chocolate curls are wild, he’s let his hair grow and it only adds to his charm. “That was for calling us a litter of kicked puppies.”

“And for guilting us into leaving without you, though unsuccessful,” Peter adds quickly. His glasses were misplaced in the pile, and he leans comfortingly into Raul’s side. He seems unbothered by the fact that he can’t quite see any of you clearly in the dark of your room.

“Did you honestly think we wouldn’t drag you with us? Really?” Raul tips his head to the side, studying you with soft eyes. His hands are stuffed into the pockets of his leather jacket; hair slicked back in his signature style, though one curl rests above his left eyebrow.

“I certainly hope not. It is the Autumn fucking Equinox, after all,” you mock Shawn’s earlier tone and scrunch your nose up. Autumn is your favourite time of the year, and you’ve been waiting for today in quiet anticipation. “I really did have a long day, it must’ve slipped my mind by the time I finished studying.”

The boys say nothing else; instead they move around your room quietly, they’ve done this before and they know exactly what they’re looking for. Shawn goes to your closet, he rifles through it in the dark for a few seconds, then turns back around with your black puffy vest in his hands. Raul’s at your dresser before you can even remind him where your favourite sweater and leggings are, he looks up at you with a smile, already holding the garments in his hands. Peter’s the last to move, even without his glasses he knows where he needs to go—in all honesty, he doesn’t really need them as much anymore. He pulls your brown boots from the shoe rack on the floor of your closet and sets them down in front of you, then softly pets a hand over your ears.

——————————

It began the year you met the Mendes family, when you moved in right next door at age nine. Your dad had been looking for a place for you two to settle down away from the prying eyes of nosy neighbors, and stumbled upon the quiet little hamlet you live in now. It wasn’t easy for him to run his apothecary and raise his young hybrid daughter, not without people offering their unsolicited opinions. So he found a small town that he hoped you would love, and the two of you moved at once.

You met the Mendes Triplets the day you moved in; you kept seeing the same face wearing different clothes, and couldn’t help but wonder why the strange boy kept changing. What could he possibly be doing that got him so dirty every time you saw him? It wasn’t until the wind picked up that warm autumn afternoon, that you finally had your answer. Your hat was blown from your head, leaving your cute little ears on display for the world. Your ears were the least of your worries—(“That’s a brand new hat you just stole!”)—you chased your hat through the gate to the backyard, and stopped as the wind carried it over the fence, into the backyard of the neighboring house. You stood there contemplating whether you really wanted to bug your dad to go next door and demand your hat back or if you could live without it, but before you could make your decision, a small head of chocolate brown curls popped over the side of the fence.

“Hey! It’s not nice to throw things over the fence!” The small boy scolded in a gruff tone, his face twisted in disgust. He held your hat in his tiny fist.

You blinked up at him in stunned silence; how rude. Just then, another head appeared over the fence, this one too with the same brown curls, though unruly. He shared the first boy’s face, but he looked kinder.

“Raul! It’s rude to yell at the neighbors!” This boy, you realized, was the rude one’s twin. He turned to you with a soft smile. “Hi, I’m Shawn. This is Raul. Who are you?”

“Y/N. And I want my hat back,” you stated firmly, crossing your arms over your chest. You narrow your gaze at Raul. “Your brother’s rude.”

Shawn grinned sheepishly as yet another boy joined him and Raul over the fence. Smaller than the other two, he offered you a soft smile and looked at the boys next to them. They were all brothers, that’s why you’d seen the same boy in different clothing all afternoon—they were triplets. Shawn ruffled the smaller boy’s hair. “This is Peter, he’s the youngest.”

“Hi,” Peter replied shyly, leaning his head into Shawn’s palm. “Raul, give her hat back. We’re nine, how old are you?”

“I’m nine, too. Do you guys live here?” You smiled back at Peter, the first smile you’d given any of them, as Raul dropped your hat over your side of the fence.

Shawn’s eyes traveled up your face to rest on top of your head, his smile widened. “Hey, look—you’re a wolf, too! Like us!” He pointed to your ears with the sweetest little smile, you couldn’t help but return.

“Well, sort of,” you began quietly. Your gaze traveled to the ground; you flattened your ears. “I’m only half of a wolf. My ears are like this all the time, Daddy says they’ll probably go away when I get bigger.”

The triplets noticed your embarrassment and shared a silent conversation; Raul rolled his eyes, but nodded his head in approval. In the next instant, Shawn helped Raul over the fence, who then turned around and grabbed for Shawn. Once both boys were firmly on the ground, Shawn stood on Raul’s shoulders and pulled Peter over with them. Now, all four of you were standing in your backyard. The boys crowded around you, each one wore varying expressions of awe and concern.

“Hey, it’s alright,” Peter cooed gently, placing a tentative hand on yours.

“Yeah! You don’t have to be embarrassed, we like your ears,” Shawn assured you, looking to Raul next.

Raul puffed up his chest. “If anyone ever has anything to say about it, you come and find us. We’ll beat them up for you.”

You looked up, replacing your frown with a beaming smile. “Thanks! Does this mean we’re friends now?”

The triplets each held their left pinky out in the middle of the circle. “Friends for life!” They exclaimed as you hooked your pinky with theirs.

“Hey, I have an idea. Maybe we can ask your dad if you can come over to our house for the Autumn Equinox?” Shawn’s excitement was hard for you to ignore and you tipped your head to the side slightly.

“That’s a great idea, Shawny! You can run with us tonight!” Peter squealed in delight.

“We’ll protect you, Y/N, we promise. You’re part of our pack now,” Raul said. He looked between you and his brothers, grinning with pride.

As Peter softly pet his hands over your ears, you considered leaving your hat at home.

——————————

You’re pulled out of your trip down memory lane as Raul incessantly snaps his fingers in front of your face. “Hello? Earth to Y/N. Where’d you go just then?”

You shake your head and smile up at the oldest Mendes boy. “I was just remembering the first time we did this, the day we met. It feels like I’ve known you guys my whole life.”

“To be fair, we met when we were nine, and we’re 19 now. You basically have,” Shawn tells you with a chuckle.

“Get dressed,” Peter says, “we have an Autumn Equinox to run!”

The first day of autumn, when day and night are the same length, the beginning of your favourite season. You’re going to spend it running wild and free until sunrise with the three boys who stole your heart on your first day as their next door neighbor. The boys with the same face—Raul and Shawn and Peter Mendes, the Menbros; your best friends.

All three of them smile at you knowingly; this is tradition.

Yay, the first part in the Autumn Days series is here!

I’ll keep it real with you, chief, I love writing this series more than I love writing I Know Your Heart.

I know, I know. Scandalous! But don’t fret, IKYH is going to be completed! I’m just going to do it alongside this one.

I can’t wait to see all of your reactions to the official beginning of Autumn Days.

Oh! And please remember, none of my stories can be reposted anywhere outside of tumblr without my consent.

As always, feedback is greatly appreciated and encouraged. Remember to leave a like, comment, and reblog if you love it!

-Aurie <3