#ah shit i forgot the heat pits on his face in the eating one >:(

[wazzappp]

Jaime doodle dump!

[vkookjamz]

⋆☽Kitten☾⋆

|| Prologue. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

| 𝐽𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑘𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑥 𝐶𝑎𝑡-𝐻𝑦𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑑 𝐹𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟 |

"𝘉-��𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭..?"

𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘬'𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯. 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦..

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

Y/n's POV

Eyes now widened, you gripped the arm rest on your left. Your ears stood up, becoming stiffened along with your tail twitching in alert.

Who said that- What said that?? That definitely wasn't your conscience- It sounded- familiar, but your mind couldn't seem to come up with anything to pair the voice to.

The voice was feminine, deep and smooth it sounded almost like a mother's who was singing their child a lullaby.

But deep down in the pit of your stomach you just had a feeling it was instead masking a siren. Who's sweet sound would slowly lure you into its trap leading to your ultimate demise.

'I will awaken' 'do not fear what you are that's their job' Who is going to wake up and why would people be afraid?

You felt your head get dizzy and your body heat up. You felt as if you were about to pass out until it spoke again.

Calm yourself.

That's rich, how exactly were you supposed to do that when you're pretty sure you've gone mad.

'you're not crazy y/n- just close your eyes, take a nap, you're probably just tired and hungry that's all'

You spoke to yourself, repeating affirmations inside your mind until you heard it once again.

ha..

Growing irritated at whatever this was, you heard the eerily seducing tone giggle softly, causing you to let a snarl form on your face as you growled under your breath.

Oh come on now it's laughing at you?? How the hell was this possible- one second you're just staring at the moon on your way to dinner with the boys and now you've completely lost your shit?

Dear child, I am you. You are me.

'what are you talking about- I'm me..'

"Uh baby girl? we're here" Jungkook rubbed your back softly, tilting his head as he scanned his eyes over you.

Inhaling a deep breath from your nose, your eyes snapped open glancing around the car you saw the other members lazily unbuckling their seatbelts.

They all were getting up with slight groans and happy sighs while putting on their masks and coats, preparing to enter the restaurant you all were currently in the parking lot of.

Shaking your head you frowned your brows together confused. Had you been asleep? Was what you experienced a dream?

You didn't remember falling asleep- just looking at the moon, then everything got quiet, then the voice. Your eyes never closed, you know they didn't.

Looking back at Jungkook you blinked a few times to focus then nodded quickly. "Ah- yes I'm sorry Appa- I spaced out I guess"

He chuckled giving you a cute side smile, shaking his head he quickly threw his own coat over your shoulders, helping you out of the car and reaching down to hold your hand, knitting his fingers together with yours.

"It's alright baby, now that you had a little snooze during the drive I'm sure you should be plenty hungry yeah?" he ruffled the top of your head closing his door.

"I-I- slept..?" you frowned looking up at him, your grip on his hand tightening. Jungkook nodded looking back at you with pursed lips letting out a small laugh. "Yeah the moment we got in the car you looked out the window for a moment then passed out- I was worried at first but Namjoon-Hyung said you were probably just exhausted since- you know, first time being a human and we did a lot"

So you had fallen asleep..

Maybe what you heard was just you having a dream, after all Namjoon was right, you had done a lot since you were in your new form.

And one time when Hoseok woke up to take out the trash in the middle of the night, he swears he heard racoons talking to him- but we all thought he was just too tired and his mind was playing tricks on him. Maybe it was the same with you?

"Yah come on you two! Tae is starving!" Jimin spoke with a chuckle as he jogged down to walk beside the two of you. Wrapping an arm around both yours and Jungkook's neck.

You smiled with a nod, looking between him and Jungkook then facing the doors of the restaurant as you all approached it. Hopefully dinner would put you at ease.

~Time Skippy~

After you all had entered the restaurant, you noticed there wasn't too many people inside, which was equally good and bad.

Good because that meant you wouldn't have any trouble finding a table, or have to wait to long for your food, but bad because with no people around, the boys wouldn't have to hide their crackhead selves as they ate.

And when they ate, they would be at the peak of their crackhead energy. It was embarrassing at times but you loved it regardless- so okay maybe it wasn't BAD, just them being themselves.

"Yah where is the meat- I need meat" Namjoon spoke scrunching his nose up at the sight of the many lobsters on their table.

Taking a large bite of his own lobster Jungkook hummed singing with his cheeks stuffed. "I need you meat~"

"Jungkook please don't be like Jimin and start singing memes-"

"To be fair Hyung, you ordered a ridiculous amount of lobster-" Yoongi pointed out taking a swig of his wine.

"Oh so you want me to ask the waiter to take yours back?" Jin raised his brows eyeing the second oldest.

Yoongi pursed his lips grabbing his plate and pulled it closer to himself. "....No"

"Exactly, now hush and eat like Taehyung, he hasn't said a word since he sat down so that means he's eating well~" Jin praised continuing to eat his own plate of food.

Taehyung's head poked up, his cheeks filled with his noodles as he held a fork with meat attached to it in one hand and his other dipping into his bowl of soup.

"Wah you're eating like a pig- slow down or you'll choke-" Hoseok chuckled shaking his head as he took a small bite of his own food.

Jimin merely smirked at Hoseok's comment as Taehyung pouted then scrunched his nose to frown as he proceeded to eat. You on the other hand where just sitting watching all of the males as they joked and ate, you hadn't even touched your salmon.

"Princess you're not eating are you alright?" Yoongi nodded over to you from across his spot at the table, your ears perked from under your beanie and you nodded with a small sweet smile.

"Ah yeah uncle Yoongs, I'm just watching you all- it kinda entertains me more than eating I guess" you chuckled as you picked up your fork, beginning to dig into your meal.

"Ahh, you know- this actually reminds me of our very first meal together you know? The night Jungkook-ah brought you home and we all ate ramen in the dorms" Namjoon smiled revealing his dimples at you, as the waiter came placing his well waited for steak in front of him.

Jungkook's eyes brightened as he licked his lips nodding at the other. "Yeah Hyungs sent me out in the middle of the night to get them food when I could've been kidnapped"

"Oh shut up you muscle pig you're too heavy for anyone to kidnap" Jimin laughed leaning back in his chair, his sweet smile causing you to giggle as you looked back at a slightly offended Jungkook.

"Yah I was fifteen! you never know!" Jungkook huffed. You patted his hand gently nuzzling your head against his shoulder with a purr.

"Actually- I don't remember much of that night- what was all of your reactions when you first saw me..?" you blushed sitting up as you took a bite of your food nervously.

Everyone seemed to smile to themselves after your question, which made you a little uneasy and worried- but you were still curious.

"Well, I opened the door for Jungkook so I of course was the first to see you- but then Jungkook told me to 'sHuT uP' so I had to hold in my excitement" Jimin nodded giving a little glare to Jungkook who sat across from him.

Taehyung raised his hand and sat up clearing his throat as he took a sip of his Pepsi with a hum. "Well I was next to see you, since me and Jungkookie shared a room at that time, and he looked really excited and very fond over you so I was happy you made him happy"

You smiled pursing your lips as you looked up to Jungkook who was blushing a bit. "Then I was happy because I remember when you first saw me you pounced on me and made Kookie jealous" Tae laughed causing you to choke widening your eyes at his words.

You forgot when you were a young kitten you had a slight crush on him-

"Anyways- uh, uncle Hobi what about you?" you laughed a bit nervously as you felt the slight tension in Jungkook's body at Tae's words.

"Ahhh, when I saw you the first time I was actually even more excited than Jungkook- I was prepared to beg him to let me help take care of you but he wanted that job all to himself- I guess he wanted you to understand you belonged to him" Hoseok smiled with his mouth closed as he ruffled your head with his hand carefully.

"Yeah plus when our manager found out we had you in the dorm and that Jungkook had brought you he kinda made sure Jungkook was the one doing all your caretaking since he didn't want all of us getting side tracked when we were still in the process of debuting" Jin nodded cupping both of his cheeks as he rested his elbows on the table watching you.

"But when I saw you, you were automatically one of my children as well, it's just my instinct to be the 'eomma' of you all" he smiled winking at you as you giggled in return.

"I don't think I ever told you this Jungkook-ah- but actually our manager at that time made it up to me wether or not we would keep y/n or not-" Namjoon mentioned at Jungkook who raised his brows.

"Really Hyung? what made you say yes?- I mean I'm glad you did but- you know-" Jungkook questioned.

"Well when I saw y/n she was very tiny- and like Taehyung, I saw she made you really happy and she kinda helped you open up more with us since you were pretty shy" Namjoon replied as he gave a reassuring smile towards the younger.

"Thanks Hyung.." Jungkook smiled bowing his head once as he wrapped an arm around your shoulder protectively.

You purred pleased, becoming soft at all of their answers before you let your eyes fall to Yoongi.

"And you uncle Yoongs..?" you asked tilting your head, blinking once curiously since the older male had stayed pretty quiet the entire time.

Everyone seemed to stare at him awaiting his response, since of course he wasn't known for sharing his own feelings too often.

"Actually, I love animals so I was happy with you" Yoongi shrugged, his small answer making you pout a bit along with everyone else around the table, which he noticed.

"Aish alright alright, I thought you were really cute and I would baby you when you were a kitten and sometimes I'd have Jungkook almost get a heart attack because I'd sometimes take you to have naps with me in my office after I'd finish writing music because you helped me sleep" Yoongi sighed running a hand through his hair.

You smiled blushing as your tail twitched pleased at his words, everyone seemed to have loved you from the beginning. Most people wouldn't be so accepting of animals especially in their circumstances at that time.

As everyone proceeded to laugh and praise Yoongi for his answer, you kept your smile letting yourself slip into your own thoughts.

You saw how far they all had come from where they had started. Their company was basically nothing when they started their group, they didn't eat some nights yet they worked their asses off practicing hours on end. And through it all they had and cared for you, loved you, and basically raised you as they grew up themselves. It amazed you that from how much they've accomplished, still they are so genuine to themselves as well as with their feelings towards you. Even now that you've almost completely changed into an entirely different person, they still accept you like they did the very first day.

Finally you managed to snap yourself back to reality, looking back up to Yoongi who sighed with a smirk as he looked at everyone.

"Alright, who's getting the check"

A/n: I hope this isn't too sappy-

-ⓙ

[johannstutt413]

Christmas in the Clouds

(requested by anonymous, who thought this would be cursed...HAH I say. HAH.)

It was Christmas morning, and like most of their employees, the Doctor wasn’t going into work today; they’d polished off most of their work the day before in a Christmas Eve crunch that would make any exec jealous, and now it was time for some serious R&R. They pulled out their trusty rolling paper, tossed in some of their favorite blend of grass, and smiled as they settled into their smoking chair, ready for a comfy evening in their house, just them and the THC.

It was an open secret the Doctor had started smoking marijuana some time after returning to Rhodes Island from their comatose exile in Chernobog; Perfumer, after several sessions with them, had determined they were entirely too anxious to keep up their current pace and not hurt or even kill themselves with a blood pressure spike, so she’d put together a blend of medicinal herbs - including marijuana, yes - to calm them down and prescribed it under the pseudonym “Smoke Balm,” which she got approved through Aak to minimize the number of questions asked by medical personnel. The best part, in the Doctor’s mind, was how easy it was to get more; Lena and Podenco grew the individual ingredients for a variety of other blends for other Operators, and they were more than willing to top the stash off whenever their boss asked them to, which meant the Doc essentially had a year-round season pass to Zootsville whenever they felt like. It was heavenly.

That morning, however, wasn’t the best to start high off their ass, as the knock on their door signaled. They stood up, albeit a bit shakily, set their joint on a silver tray on their chair arm, and answered the door to find...Lena? “Good morning, Doctor...Did you forget about the Christmas party?”

“The what?” They blinked. “We have one of those?”

“Dr. Kal’tsit sent the invite out two weeks ago. Did you not get one?”

They thought for a minute, but there wasn’t really any hope of them remembering at this point - that blend did good work, fast. “Uh...”

“Regardless, I was hoping you and I could go together.” She smiled. “Especially since it seems you’ll need someone watching you tonight, as I imagine you’ll be taking your afternoon dose as well.”

“Yeah...sorry, I didn’t know.” The Doctor wasn’t sure why they were blushing. Maybe from the heat from holding the smoldering herbs to their face?

Perfumer pat them on the shoulder. “It’s okay, Doctor. Next time I plan on asking you on a date, I’ll do it earlier. See you tonight~”

“Yeah, I’ll see you tonight.” She left, and a few minutes after they sat back down, it clicked what had just happened. Maybe they shouldn’t smoke the second one today…

About ten hours and three joints later, the Doctor was going on a vision quest in the main hall as Lena led them around, arm in arm. The lights shone brighter, the music sounded more in-tune, and the Vulpo on their arm looked absolutely stunning, but in spite of all of that, there was a gnawing pit in their stomach that something wasn’t right...or maybe they were just hungry.

“The kitchen staff aren’t serving dinner until later tonight,” Perfumer explained as they walked to the snack table, “but this should be enough to tide you over for now. I’m going to get us some punch, okay? Stay by the brownies until I come back.”

“Okay.” They waved to her as she went off, which was apparently enough to earn a blush, before turning to the brownie plate and picking it up off the table.

Aak arrived around three brownies later, looking oddly dapper in his party get-up. “Hey, dude. Man, you look wasted; how many puffs did you take before you got here?”

“...Uh...” Were they supposed to answer with a number?

“Ah, whatever; I won’t stop ya from having fun.” He winked at them. “Waitin’ for my date, too. Can I get one of those?”

The Doctor looked at the brownies, frowned, and handed them the plate. “There you go.”

“Thanks, man.” The Feline took two and handed back the plate.

“Hey...” They counted the number in his hand. “That’s not one.”

Aak laughed. “I rounded down, man, don’t worry ‘bout it. Guess you got nervous about your speech, huh?”

“...Speech?”

“Yeah! You’re the boss, after all.” He laughed at the expression on the Doctor’s face, but after a moment he realized he wasn’t joking, and the Feline suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the poor bastard. “Shit, man, they didn’t tell you anything, huh?”

They shook their head. “I didn’t even know we had a party today.”

“No wonder you’re so out of it. Well, you’ll do fine, so don’t think about it too much.”

At that point, Warfarin arrived; if looks could kill, she’d’ve slain most of the room by now in that scarlet dress of hers. “Good evening, Doctor. Aak, you’re not bothering them too much, are you?”

“No more than a nibble on their neck would.” He grinned as she thumbed him in the center of his forehead. “Gotta go, my guy, but good luck tonight!”

“Yeah, man...You, too.” The Feline steered his Sarkaz date away from the Doctor, who suddenly had a real concern on their plate. What kind of speech was it supposed to be? And how do you give a speech when you can’t remember the sentence that came before the one you were saying just then after you said a sentence and forgot about the other one?...Wait, hadn’t they already thought that?

Perfumer returned with two tall plastic cups and handed them one. “There you go, darling...Is everything okay? You’re sweating now.”

“Aak said I have to give a speech tonight.” They gulped down the punch. “I’m not ready.”

“Ah, yes, the speech. I wrote one for you this afternoon.” She reached around the back of her dress and pulled out a set of note cards.

The Doctor set their empty cup on the table and hugged her. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” Lena’s face was now a Christmas light in and of itself. “I also spiked your punch.”

“Wait, what?” They let her go.

The Vulpo smiled back at them. “It’s a counter-dose for the Smoke Balm in your system. It’ll take some time to take effect, but by the time you need to make your speech, you should have all your faculties back.”

“Wow...You’re amazing.” That overloaded her systems, but the Doctor couldn’t tell in their current state. “Hey, is there somewhere I could sit? I’m kinda dizzy.”

“Ah, yes, the side effects...Coming down so quickly might fatigue your body extra. Let’s find somewhere to wait for the antidote to kick in.” She took their arm again, blushing more than she had in her life, and led them to a circle of chairs that, at first, was completely unoccupied.

Once people saw the pair sit down, however, they began to fill in around them; Podenco sat next to Perfumer, which meant Myrrh and a few others from the garden crew did as well, while Gravel took the seat next to the Doctor with a wide smile on her face. “Good evening, Doctor. How’re things?”

“Things? Things are good.” Lena was distracted right then, but that probably wasn’t a big deal. “How’re your things?”

“Good. I’d like to show you something, if you’re not busy~”

They shook their head. “Not really, but I gotta sit for a bit.”

“Oh? That’s fine.” The Zalak pulled a piece of mistletoe from somewhere and dangled it between them. “Here is just fine~”

“...I don’t get it.”

She giggled. “You don’t know? When two people are under mistletoe together, they have to kiss. It’s the law.”

“It is?” The Doctor looked over to Perfumer. “Hey, Lena? Is it a rule that people under mistletoe have to kiss?”

“Hmm? Why are you-” The Vulpo looked over, saw Gravel attempting to steal their date, and glared at her.

The Zalak cocked her head. “Is the Doctor with you tonight?”

“Yes, they are.” She held out a hand to the Doctor. “We’re on a date.”

“Is that true, Doctor?” The knight turned back to her mark-

-who’d plucked the mistletoe from her hand and was now eating it. “Piney.”

“...Doctor?” Perfumer giggled. “Well, I suppose you’re not under it anymore.”

“Huh? Oh, right.” They kissed Gravel’s forehead, which left her steaming in her chair.

Lena blinked. “I...hmm.”

“What?” The Doctor did the same to her. “Now I’m the mistletoe.”

“I...I suppose you are, but...why are you kissing everyone’s forehead?”

They shook their head. “Not everyone. Only if they’re shorter than me.”

“...Okay, then.” She stood up, letting go of their hand. “I need to use the restroom. Stay here until I get back, okay?”

“Okay.” As they walked off, the Doctor could feel the high wearing off as everything turned a little more grey, a little more quiet...or was that because their eyes were closing?

A few hours later, the Doctor woke up, still in the corner, with no one anywhere near him. They glanced around, confused. “Wait, wasn’t...wasn’t there a party?”

“There was.” Perfumer walked in from off to the side. “You slept through the rest of it. No one asked you for a speech after all - apparently Amiya does those now. Are you ready to go home?”

“...I’m sorry.” They really were.

She shook her head. “I should be apologizing, Doctor; I didn’t realize the antidote had a side effect-”

“I shouldn’t have had four Balms in the first place.” They sighed. “I’m a terrible date, and a worse person for making you drag me around like that.”

“Doctor, you didn’t make me do that. I wanted to.”

The Doctor looked up at her. “You did?”

“Of course.” Lena smiled at him, although it was a little shaky. “You’re my patient, after all.”

“You know you’re more than that to me, though, right?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“...You’re sure?” They stood up, holding out a hand. “You don’t seem confident in that.”

“I...the mistletoe stunt hurt, but I knew better.” She didn’t take their hand.

So they took hers. “Lena-”

“It’s fine.” The Vulpo’s eyes fell to the floor. “We aren’t actually a couple, so I-”

“Lena, look at me. Please.”

Perfumer looked up - and sprouting from the Doctor’s head was a sprig of mistletoe. “...Huh?”

“I don’t need this to kiss you.” They snapped it off their head and threw it behind them, into a smoldering fireplace which flared dramatically as the plant made contact. “I want to do that anyway.”

“Oh, Doctor~” She leapt into their arms to accept their kiss-

-and punched their arm to wake them up. “Doctor? You fell asleep.”

“...Did I?” They groggily looked around. The party was still going on, but it did feel like it was winding down. “Sorry. I think the Balm’s wearing off.”

“That’s good.” She was apparently cross with them in real life as well as in their dreams. Reality is often disappointing like that.

The Doctor turned to Lena. “Did something happen with mistletoe earlier?”

“...Nothing important.” The Vulpo looked back at them, completely neutral, as she stood up. “Dr. Kal’tsit said your speech is in ten minutes. I’ll take you to where you’ll be giving it.”

“Thank you...I’m sorry.” They followed suit.

She shrugged. “Sorry for what?”

“For making you work on Christmas Day.” That earned them a curious work. “And on our date, too.”

“It’s not work,” Lena protested.

The Doctor took her hand. “It hasn’t been a date, either...I’ll make it up to you.”

“That’s okay, you don’t have to.” Perfumer looked off to the side before they started walking. “I knew what I was asking for.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. The Doctor’s closing message is about to begin.” Dr. Kal’tsit said as she saw their HR head and primary tactician approach the raised platform she’d had set up for the night’s festivities.

The Vulpo patted the pocket where she’d put the speech cards. “Just read that and you should be fine. I’ll be sitting in the crowd with everyone else.”

“Okay.” They took a deep breath, and suddenly the world was brighter again. “Wait, what the-”

“Doctor, would you please come up to the microphone?” The green-haired Feline surrounded by knives - wait, knives? - called to them.

They walked up the mile-long staircase to the mike and looked out into the sea of blood and ashes- looked out into the audience, including Lena, who flashed them a thumbs-up. The Doctor cleared their throat, took a deep breath, and began to read.

“As the end of the first calendar year since my return comes to an end, I look at what we’ve accomplished as a company, and I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of you. I know that even before my return, you were hard at work, and you set a strong foundation for me to capitalize on, which I can’t thank you enough for. Since then, we’ve created a strong working partnership with Lungmen, initiated trade deals with multiple city-states, repelled Reunion forces from several locations and secured trade routes, stopped a volcano - a fricken volcano! - from erupting and burying a city, prevented a hostile takeover of Lungmen by the Rat King and his forces, and fought injustice and prejudice at every turn. It’s impossible for me to thank each and every one of you for your contributions, but as this year ends and another one begins, I hope to at least be able to return the effort and good faith you’ve given me and this company with my own.”

Applause...and then an awkward pause as the Doctor stood there, contemplating their next action before continuing.

“Truth be told, my own investment has been...lacking, I feel. Shortly after returning, I developed a chemical dependency which very nearly jeopardized this evening.”

Murmurs from the crowd.

“Going forward, I promise I will be fully present and engaged for gatherings such as these, as I refuse to repeat this sort of mistake...and to my date for the evening, I’d like to apologize with every fiber of my being. Let’s grab a burger or something tomorrow. My treat.”

Louder murmuring, which instantly fell silent when Lena called out “Sure!” from the back of the audience.

“Alright, now I’m done.” They chuckled. “Have a good night, everyone. Try to not get caught under the mistletoe at the wrong time, okay?”

A few people in the know broke out into laughs as the rest awkwardly applauded; Kal’tsit returned to the stage and announced the party was over, and as quickly as they’d taken their seats, the crowd scattered.

Except, that is, for Lena and the Doctor, who took their time walking arm-in-arm to her apartment. “You didn’t need to do that, Doctor; I knew you didn’t intend for the evening to go the way it did.”

“I want to be held accountable, so I decided to get the whole company involved. Besides, it was a convenient way of making sure we scheduled a second date.”

“Ah, clever.” The Vulpo giggled. “I would have agreed no matter how you asked, of course.”

They smiled back. “Of course...Well, we’re here. I should probably get some sleep now; I did a real number on my body today.”

“Oh, I’m sure...but are you sure you want to go all the way home to do that?” Perfumer didn’t let go of the Doctor’s arm as she swiped her keycard through her dorm’s card reader.

“Hmm...well,” the Doctor admitted, “I suppose I can stay for a little bit. Having a medical opinion of my condition would be nice.”

Lena nodded. “Oh, yes, I agree. I’ll be sure to give you a thorough examination.”

“...You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Gravel scared me with that mistletoe stunt,” she admitted, “and scent marking might not be as effective as I’d hoped. If you’d rather not-”

They spun around so they were holding Perfumer in the threshold, unlinking their arm so they could hug her instead. “I never said that. I’m just surprised you’re okay with moving so quickly.”

“You can never be too careful around Rhodes Island, Doctor, but you can be too cautious.” She hugged them close, gently leading them backwards into her apartment.

“True.” They pulled the door shut behind them once both were past the threshold. “Merry Christmas, Lena.”

Lena slid the Doctor’s mask aside with a finger and kissed them, eyes glittering in anticipation. “Merry Christmas, Doctor dearest~”

[epochofbelief]

can you write a fluffly feysand?

I know it’s been weeks but i NEVER forgot about this;)

--------

“I think I’m dying.”

Standing in the kitchen, I sighed as Rhys spoke up yet again from the nest of blankets he had made on my living room couch. His voice was nasally because of his congestion. Until about ten minutes ago, I had thought him dead asleep. But instead of sleeping off the terrible case of a cold he had, he’d apparently decided that a thirty minute nap was enough for him and had chosen to irritate me instead.

“You poor thing. I feel so sorry for you,” I called as I stirred the soup currently heating up on my stovetop.

“Feyreeeeeeee.”

I sighed, ignoring him. His soup would be ready in a few moments. I really did feel bad for him. But when Rhys was sick--wow he loved attention. He wanted me to take care of him, which I would. However, when he’d shown up at my place this morning -- Saturday morning!-- I had been in bed, prepared to sleep for four more hours. I had been both simultaneously touched that he wanted me to take care of him and at a loss for what to do. It was just a cold, after all.

I took the soup off the stove, poured it into an enormous bowl, grabbed a spoon and some napkins and made my way over to the couch.

“Is that soup I smell?”

“Yes it is, Your Highness.”

Rhys groaned. “I’m sorry I showed up relatively unannounced. But Cassian and Azriel are on this big fitness kick, and they’ve been up since five this morning lifting weights in our living room. Blasting rock music. I couldn’t take it.”

Oh. Well that made me feel better, considering Rhys and I had only been dating for a month. I didn’t know we were quite at that stage of whiling away ‘deadly illnesses’ (as Rhys had referred to his cold) with each other.

My heart softened. He really did look quite terrible, and if his roommates were working out so early, I was glad he’d thought to come here. I said as much, and he smiled.

I couldn’t believe that smile was finally for me! I’d been watching him at work for months, awed by his attraction and dedication to his job. We both taught at the local high school. I taught art and Rhys taught eleventh and twelfth grade advanced English. I’d seen Rhys speaking to students in the hall-he was there to help tutor them, provide supplementary materials, even give the rare few emotional support when they really needed it. It was that kindness that had drawn me to him. When Rhys had started his job at the high school three months ago, I’d still been dating Tamlin. After we’d broken up, I’d sort of developed a crush on Rhys. A big crush.

When he’d asked me out by chance a month ago, I couldn’t believe how lucky I’d gotten.

And now he was here. In my house. With a cold. So at odds with the attractive English teacher I hadn’t thought I’d stand a chance.

I liked this version of him even better.

“Soup!” He shouted when I rounded the corner to sit next to him on the couch. He stretched his arms out like a four-year-old, gesturing eagerly for the ceramic bold.

“Ah, ah, ah. If you’re so weak, you might need some help,” I said. I scooped a spoonful and brought it towards his mouth. Slowly, his eyes never leaving mine, he closed his lips around the spoon.

I forgot about how sick he was for a second.

“Wow, that’s good,” he said.

I shrugged, forcing my hands to remain steady, even when I couldn’t help noticing how attractive he was, even when sick. “It’s just from a can.”

“Anything you make, I’m pretty sure I’d love.”

I gave him the bowl and he placed it on the coffee table right in front of him. “Eat that. What are we watching?” I asked.

As I reached for the remote, Rhys let out an enormous sneeze.

“AAAHHHHCHOOOO!” He covered his face with his hands. “Oh, shit,” he added, the words muffled.

“This is why you use tissues,” I said, cringing away from him as he reached for the tissue box behind him.

“There wasn’t time,” he said.

“We have not been dating long enough for me to be seeing this right now.”

He wiped his nose. “I think we’ve been dating the perfect amount of time. In fact, each day just gets more--” He sneezed again, thankfully into a tissue this time. “Dammit, that was supposed to be really romantic,” he said when he had cleaned himself up again. “Let me try again. Each day with you gets more and more perfect, Feyre.”

I just looked at him, not sure what to say. His words had sent a rush of warmth from the pit of my stomach to the center of my chest.

I cocked my right eyebrow. “And what if I get sick tomorrow and show up on your doorstep unannounced, snotty and congested, behaving even more like a drama queen than you are now?”

“Hey!” He scowled at my words but it did nothing to mask the sudden light behind his eyes. “Even then, Feyre, that day would top this one. Especially if a miracle occurs and I actually make a recovery from this plague.”

“You’re so dramatic. Do your students see this side of you?”

“I’m an English teacher. Of course they do.”

I scooted closer to him on the couch and he drew a blanket across both our legs. “Aren’t you worried you’ll catch my disease and die?” Rhys asked quietly, his arm coming to rest across my shoulders. I rested my head in the hollow between his shoulder and his chest.

“I think it’s worth the risk.”

We spent the entire day on the couch, ignoring the stacks of papers/artwork we needed to grade, watching all six discs of The Lord of the Rings. I couldn’t help thinking that I wanted this to last for a long, long time.

[thereluctantinquisitor]

❝ I’ll pay for your [meal/coffee/groceries/etc] ! ❞ for modern darrus? :))

Okay so I used the prompt for inspiration but didn’t really incorporate the exact quote, so… don’t sue me!

                                                         –

“I, ah… just a second. Hold on.” 

Cyrus could feel his cheeks heating up as he frantically dug through his wallet, checking every card slot for a loose coin. Despite what felt like desperate tunnel-vision on his fumbling hands, he was hyper-aware of the line behind him, other people’s groceries already lined up on the belt, fingers thrumming along the handles of shopping carts. God, this wasn’t happening. This wasn’t fucking happening. He’d find something. He had to have something lying around…

Glancing up at the unimpressed cashier, he swore softly to himself, tossing his wallet on the narrow counter and digging through his pockets. His fingertips brushed paper, and fora second he allowed himself to hope, but he just pulled out an old receipt, crinkled beyond recognition, stained slightly blue from his jeans. He threw that on the counter too, his heart hammering in his chest because he was at the front of the fucking line and he’d been rummaging for over a minute and people were watching.

The cashier cleared his throat. “Sir, do you need to—”

— “No, I don’t.” In truth, Cyrus had no idea what the guy was even planning to suggest. Use his phone to pay? Go to an ATM? Yeah, sorry buddy, neither option was going to make this shit any better. He must have spent the last of his money on gas, and his paycheck wasn’t coming in for another five days.

Fuuuuck.

He glanced at the bag of groceries. It wasn’t even enough that he could pretend he had just got carried away and over-shopped. It was basic shit - water, a couple of cans of spaghetti, alcohol wipes, bread. That sort of thing. Someone coughed behind him in the line and Cyrus felt the last of his resolve waver and crumble to dust.

“Just… forget it,” he muttered, snatching his empty wallet off the counter and shoving it back into his pocket. “I don’t—”

— “Hey, there you are!” 

A loud voice interrupted Cyrus’ living nightmare. He turned to see a tall blond man working his way through the line, smiling sunnily, murmuring ‘excuse me’ and ‘sorry’ as he wove his way towards…

… him.

“Phew, just made it! Thanks for stalling. Forgot which checkout you went to.” He winked at Cyrus and placed a small pack of ibuprofen on the counter. “Don’t you just hate it when you remember something at the last minute?” He seemed to direct the comment to the cashier before turning to commiserate with the person next in line. Apparently the plight was universal, as both laughed quietly and nodded, as though partaking in some kind of inside joke. Still smiling, the blond turned back to the cashier, slipping a bill out of his wallet. “Anyway, really sorry for the hold up. How much?”

The rest of the transaction passed in something of a blur. The stranger paid for… well, everything. All the irritation Cyrus had sensed from the people around him before seemed to give way into a strange kind of exasperated amusement as the blond gave the line a final apologetic wave, scooping up the grocery bag and nodding his head towards the door. “Alright, let’s go.”

“Uh… sure.” In truth, Cyrus had no fucking idea what to do. The guy had his groceries. Well, more like commandeered his groceries. He could just take them, really. They were technically his. As the blond moved towards the automatic doors Cyrus found himself following like a lost puppy, although without the requisite enthusiasm. It was wariness that kept him a few paces behind the man, his attention on the bag swinging absently by his side.

What was he up to?

They paused once they were near the edge of the carpark, near a cafe in the process of recovering from the afternoon rush. The tall man turned, smiled again, then seemed to realise with a start that he was still holding the bag. “Oh! Here - sorry. These are yours.”

Cyrus just stared at the bag, then glanced back up at the blond. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know.” He waggled the bag, the paper crackling as it swayed. “But I did, so… you might as well take them.”

Every fiber of Cyrus’ being wanted to tell him to keep them. That he didn’t need them. But the empty pit in his stomach was a constant reminder that he wasn’t in any position to skip another meal. Shit, he’d salivated over canned spaghetti. 

So he took the bag.

“Thanks,” he murmured, then cleared his throat. “Look, I don’t have a lot right now, but I can pay you back. Just… I don’t know. Tell me a place to meet you next week.”

The blond seemed taken aback by the suggestion, paused, then broke into a bright smile. “Hey, I’m more than happy to meet up with you next week, but I don’t want you to pay me back or anything. Just… think of it as a favour.”

Cyrus shook his head. Mostly in disbelief. “A favour?” he repeated. “I don’t even know you.”

“Oh! Right.” The blond immediately held out his hand. “Darren Miller.” 

Feeling like he was constantly on the back foot and racing to catch up, Cyrus shook his hand on instinct. “Uh… Cyrus.”

“Nice to meet you!” His grip was firm. If anything, it lingered a little longer than Cyrus was used to but… not necessarily in a bad way. He wasn’t really sure how to explain it. When Darren did let go, it was with a kind of amused half-smile that did something strange to Cyrus’ chest. “There,” he continued with a satisfied nod. “Now we know each other.”

“Not really…” Letting his hand drop to his side, Cyrus tried to salvage some remnant of his pride. “Listen, I was serious about paying you back. I don’t just take money from people.”

Darren cocked his head, a lock of his blond hair flopping from one side to the other. “You didn’t. I gave it to you.” He shrugged. “Besides, someone paid for mine once. It’s kinda like… ugh, what’s that thing from that movie? With the kid and the assignment…?”

Cyrus quirked a brow at the man. “Pay it forward?”

It was, apparently, the correct answer. Darren’s face lit up and he nodded excitedly. “Yeah! Wow, I haven’t seen that in so long…”

“It was… kind of a downer. From memory.” Cyrus didn’t remember much of it - only that he cried at the end. But he was a kid at the time, which meant there was probably nothing to really cry over.

“Yeah, I cried so hard at the end.” Darren laughed as Cyrus watched him, wondering if the tall man could read his mind somehow. “But then again, I cry in most movies. And some ads. Have you seen that Thai life insurance ad? It’s so…” Something about Cyrus’ expression must have finally registered because Darren trailed off and, for the first time, a pink flush crept up his neck and onto his cheeks. “I’m… rambling, aren’t I?”

Despite himself, Cyrus gave a snort of amusement. “Yeah. A little.” 

Was it weird that a part of him wanted to add ‘but I don’t mind’? 

“Sorry. I do that when I’m nervous. AH, I mean—” For a few seconds, it seemed like Darren was planning to salvage his sentence, but then he just sighed and gave up with a sheepish chuckle. “Just… sorry. I’m not normally this bad.”

Nervous? Why would he be nervous? He’d just sidled through a grocery line like Cyrus’ knight in domestic armour. Shit, Cyrus was going to eat tonight because of him. “No, I… you’re fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Darren favoured him with a grateful look. Then his gaze flicked back down to the small grocery bag and a faint frown creased his brow. “Those… aren’t meant to last you a week, are they?”

Cyrus froze. How did he…?

Right. He said he could pay him back next week. Fuck, why did he even open his big mouth?

“It’s enough,” he said with a shrug. “I don’t need much.”

“Right. Okay then.” Darren was nodding, but there was something about his tone that suggested he didn’t believe the lie. Admittedly, it was a pretty poor one. “Hey, how about instead of meeting up next week, we might up again later tonight?”

Cyrus frowned. “Why?” He already told the guy he wouldn’t have the money until next week. 

Again, Darren’s cheeks reddened, and he reached up, scratching his cheek. “I dunno… might be fun? There’s this bar a few blocks away that does open mic Fridays. You get a mix of things - singers and comedians and stuff. It’s always interesting. If you’re, ah… y’know… interested.”

It took a few solid moments before Cyrus realised what was actually happening. “Are you asking me out?”

Darren chuckled, seeming almost relived that Cyrus had at least understood that much. “Trying to! Although I’m getting the feeling I’m not doing a very good job.” He sighed. “Sorry. I don’t really… do this often. If I’m making you uncomfortable just say the word and I’ll get out of your hair.”

“No, you’re… you’re fine.” In truth, Cyrus wasn’t used to being asked out. Picked up? Sure. He cleared his throat, acutely aware of the bag of groceries in his hand. “Look, I want to go with you, but I don’t exactly have the cash for eating out.”

“That’s okay! My idea, my shout. That’s how it works, right?”

Cyrus supposed that was true. Besides, if all else failed, it was a free meal. One that wasn’t from a can. So, he relaxed, regarding Darren for the first time with something other than skepticism. “You know what? Sure. Why not.”

The grin the blond man shone back at him was dazzling - it was like Cyrus had made his whole year in a few simple words. “Seriously? Great! Here, let me give you my number…”

As Darren rummaged around for his phone, Cyrus couldn’t help but shake his head slightly in disbelief. Of all things he expected to happen today, having his groceries paid for and going on a date was the furthest from likely. 

But hey, maybe sometimes even he got to catch a break. 

[maikatc]

Black Sun Tale | The Wolf

i don’t know how to explain, but this is another one of those chapters i have dreamed of writing for ages, so get ready for some things to turn up 

remember this is a first draft and only has minor edits, but enjoy! comments and reception are always appreciated. 

- 

“Oliver is weird.” Ayu crouched back to the alley wall with his sketchbook. 

“What makes you say that?” Annette asked, braiding her long strands of hair together. 

The tired-eyed boy bobbed his head down, contemplating the next words.

Wouldn’t Oliver not want anyone to know?

“He- he needs a lot of help.”

Annette’s eye curved up. “Like, mental problems help?”

“That too.”

The girl rested her head upon her knees. “Is it a Black Sun gang thing you don’t want me to know about?”

Ayu chucked his pencil to the stuff-pile. “Actually, I don’t even know if it has to do with that or not.”

“Wow. That’s new,” she placed back a finger she has on the ground. “So, how’s that going for you then?”

Ayu puffed his face in pondering of her question, his cheeks growing a wrong shade of red as he held air. He blew out, “God, I don’t know I’m doing anymore. This is just wrong.” He slapped his hands against his head. “I mean, I don’t think any of this is my fault but- would it be if I let something… really, really bad happen?”

She added another finger. “Depends. Do you have good intentions?”

Ayu slipped down onto the floor. “Do you think I know if I have good intentions anymore? Almost everything I do ends up fucking itself over.”

“Well,” she drew a circle on the ground. “You don’t have to make a decision now, don’t you?”

He covered his face up with his hoodie, enjoying the new scent before it wore off. “No…”

“Then that can be your answer for now. Unless the time comes or something extremely bad happens like you said.” She scuffed up his hair. “You can just go with the flow for now and think about it in the meantime.”

Ayu matted out the mess after. “I guess you’re right.”

“Hope that settles itself soon if ya don’t want me involved.” Annette grabbed a deck of cards to the side of her. “We can make it special next week by bringing dominos,” she mumbled. 

“Annette, can I text Oliver?”

She whipped her head back to him. “We haven’t given him a walkie yet?”

“Forgot to ask you at the mall.”

“Fiddlesticks,” she snapped. “Fine, just don’t go snooping around.” She handed him the phone with Oliver’s number already on the page. The picture on the side set Ayu unsettled with how unfittingly humorous it was.

He typed using his index finger and spelled out every word until autocorrect fixed up everything. 

It’s me Ayu

Do you wanna come over soon? Or when you don’t have stuff to do? (2:33pm)

Not right now (2:35pm)

“Are you gonna stay on my phone for a while? I got War set up for you.”

Ayu shushed her. 

You busy or something? (2:35pm)

“I should use this to practice spelling,” Ayu muttered.

“Not that bad of an idea,” Annette replied. In the corner of Ayu’s eye, she squinted her eyes against the art in a single card. 

Yeah, I’m kinda busy. Dying both physically and mentally at the moment. (2:37pm)

“Fuck.” 

“What’s he saying?” Annette chirped in. She peeped behind Ayu at the phone in question. 

“Not now.” He shoved her aside. 

Oh… do you wanna talk with me while? (2:38pm)

No. (2:38pm)

“Shit, shit, shit,” he whispered to himself. 

Then text me if you want anything. Annette can just talk to me on the walkie if you do later (2:40pm)

Okay (2:43pm)

Ayu sighed and threw his head back at the wall. 

“I hate it when they say ‘Okay’,” Annette commented. 

He lowered his eyes back at her looking at the screen and handed back her phone. “Here. Delete the conversation.”

“Wha- Why?”

“Just do it,” he ordered.

Icon sounds rang as she taped through options. “Can we at least play one game before I have to go?” She scooted a set of cards to the boy. 

Ayu glanced against the thin slices of paper. “You just wanna have fun, don’t you?”

“Not really,” Annette replied. “I just don’t want you to worry is all.”

***

“It’s been two hours, Lillie.” Ayu laid against his stuff-pile. “And I feel like he’s still dying.”

“What would you do if he was already dead?”

Ayu scoffed. “Like hell would I know. I learned all his ‘I wanna die’ stuff like two days ago and figured out he eats people two weeks ago. Those are two very different things and I don’t know how to feel about both.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“Do you think I could come up with an answer right now?”

She chuckled. “I suppose you’re right. It’s just that Oliver’s a bit more interesting than the other monsters, isn’t he?”

“Don’t say that,” Ayu reminded. “At least… don’t think of it as a fact.”

“I wonder if you could be considered a monster too.”

Ayu snapped, “Why would I be a monster?”

“You’re the reason they’re here, right?” She joked, “Oh, what if your first wish is the reason why he’s here now?”

The boy blinked up, mouth in silence. “Fuck…” He attempted to face-palm, only to sloppily hit himself in the face with his strength, hissing and repeating, “Fuck, I didn’t even think of that!” A well of tears heated up from the pain, but the guilt overpowered it all. 

Lillie gasped. Her voiced morph to that of a child as she spoke, “Ayu! Don’t do that!”

He smiled at her young voice through his tears. “You don’t have to worry, Lil. I heal fast,” he sniffed. He waved his hand across the air, hoping to be able to grab the girl’s hand. Though all he was met with was the smoke of Obodo. 

He sighed as his surroundings greeted him with traffic again.

The sting from his hit rang throughout his entire body. He blanketed a cold hand on it again. With the other hand, he wiped up the droplets on his face. “God, damn it,” he whimpered. 

Through his sobbing, he grabbed his journal and pencil yet again to the newest page. 

November 10th, 201X

I fucked up. 

The screeches of a walkie talkie’s static cut his train of thought.

“Ayu? You’re not asleep, right? Ayu?”

He shook his head and cleared his throat before answering. “What’s up?”

“The ceiling– ah– Oliver just texted me, or you technically.”

Shit. “What’d he say?”

“Kinda vague but he just said that he’s coming.”

Ayu blinked. “Wait, right now?”

“Twenty minutes ago. Just checked my phone and yeah sorry about that.”

He swatted his hand back to his almost bruise. “Okay then, gotta look decent. Bye,” he rushed and hung up. 

“Fuck,” he groaned. “Akeldama! I swear to God just help me for once.” 

“For a wish?” 

“For a favor,” he whined. “Can you just hide this thing in front of Oliver, please?”

“Why should I,” he asked. 

“Because you’re the one who did the favor of hiding my entire identity from the world and this is just a small bruise, not even my eye!” He hissed at nobody.

“Ha, I thought you’d be capable enough to do it yourself at this point.”

Ayu clenched his fists. “Come on. Can you just do it already?”

“Do it yourself.”

“Wh-,” he pulled his hair. “You asshole!”

Akeldama chuckled. “You shan’t need to panic over it. Besides you better shush your mouth; Oliver’s about to arrive.”

Ayu blabbered out gibberish in reaction. “Damn it, Akeldama why do you,” he jabbered while matting his bangs over the mark. 

Two steps echoed at the alley’s opening. “…Ayu?”

The boy turned around, knees wobbling in his crouched position. What stood ahead of him was as expected. Oliver’s small figure shadowed over Ayu as his breathing quickened. “Hey,” he stuttered, his eyes crooked in greeting. 

Oliver’s hood hid majority of his face. He stepped down next to Ayu without any words and rested his head upon his arms and knees. 

Ayu spoke out after two minutes of nothing. “How’re you doing?”

“Tired,” he replied. “Hungry and tired.”

“Then you haven’t…”

“No,” he answered. “I didn’t even want to go here but I did unconsciously.”

Ayu shook his head. “How does that even work?”

“I still don’t know after four years.” He pulled down his hood more. “Just be careful. If I go unconscious for an even longer time then that’s when it’s too late.”

Ayu chewed on his cheek. “Am I gonna know when that happens?”

“No. That’s why it sucks.” He muffled, “and I’m sorry for that.” He faced away from Ayu.

The black-haired boy tensed. Anything that happens won’t be that bad though. “How much does it hurt?”

“You wanna know,” he groaned. 

Ayu nodded. 

“… Life is burning and my body is aching all over,” he stated. “And there’s a pit in my chest and stomach that keeps pounding every single second that makes it even worse.”

Ayu made a hum and nodded. A cold sweat dripped from the corner of his head. “Good to know.” 

A loud horn blasted throughout the streets following with a police siren. Ayu bolted his eyes up at the sound; however, as he strayed his eyes to Oliver, his shaken hands pulled down on his hood, covering up his entire face. 

Ayu’s expression closed up. 

“Oliver, why’re you hiding your face?”

 The covered-up kid said no words; he sat still against his now crossed up arms. Only a murmur could be heard to Ayu. “You can look yourself. Don’t think there’s any point of hiding it from you.”

You are right now though, he retorted. With a hesitant hand, Ayu slip the hood off Oliver’s head.

His face was that of a fantasy. He kept his eyes shut however his skin deteriorated from his eyelids to his cheeks. His veins carried through with a clear black against his pale brown skin. The black markings crept throughout down to his neck and further to his hands as Ayu gazed. Soon, the cursed child opened up his eyes, stricken with fear. They weren’t lavished with a soft green; they were painted over with a bloody red while the white morphed to a musty yellow. 

“Holy fuck,” he breathed.

Oliver averted his stare and sighed. “It gets worse as time goes on. Usually starts the day I have to eat.”

“Can… can anyone else see this?”

Oliver shook his head. “No. Like I guessed, you seem to be the only one.”

Ayu held no reply. The sight of someone in a state like that… God knows if I’m the one who made this happen.

He pondered over a turnover of the situation. Though, all he could turn to was a half-assed solution. 

“Since no one can actually see you like this,” he started, “do you wanna go somewhere? Like the park or something?”

Oliver stared back at him with dead eyes. 

“I mean- only if you feel like it. We don’t have to-”

He nodded. “Sure.”

“Wait,” Ayu paused. “Yes?”

Oliver bit his bruised lip from what Ayu could tell. “We can go there.”

“I- alright then.” He jumped up, dragging Oliver up by the arm. He grew an off-beat smile. “Let’s get going.”

His face’s bruise still stung. 

***

The day at Felle Park went by with only clouds striking over. There was no change with the children running around and playing and yelling all over. 

Ayu let Oliver to cling on to him as support while he stumbled across the sidewalks. The extra weight was only a feather for the twig. Ayu spoke to him in casual talk, both waiting and receiving no replies. 

It was only when they entered into the playground did Oliver break away from Ayu. 

“Huh?” 

Oliver stumbled and wobbled across his path. Ayu, with only a question mark forming in his head, followed. 

“Oliver, what’d you wanna do here?”

The kid plopped his way onto the swig-set. 

Ayu cocked his head as he still got no reply. 

Oliver dug up his feet against the dirty mulch. And his swing swung itself back and forth with barely any force. 

Ayu shrugged and sat next to him on another swig. By a big kick, he already set himself flying. 

Throughout a minute, he launched himself off the swing without a shred of patience. 

There wasn’t much to remember by; there were other things at the park that was more exciting in Ayu’s favor. He looked back at Oliver, still rocking his swing without effort, digging himself a little grave for his feet. 

Ayu walked up towards him and sighed. “Don’t you wanna go on the slides or the merry-go-rounds?” He muttered to himself, “The merry-go-round is my favorite so-”

“I’m fine.” He answered in a mute tone. “I just go on the swings since I can think better. Plus, moving a lot makes it hurt more.”

Ayu’s brows furrowed. “Then why did you let me take you to the park?”

“I blacked out a little while you were asking, Ayu. Besides, it seemed like you wanted to.” He assured, “Now if you go and play then I disappear on you, don’t worry since I’m probably off eat-”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Ayu paced. “Oliver, I’m trying my best to be a good person for you. I really am. But if you aren’t working together with me then… then-”

“Why don’t we go to the forest?”

Ayu paused. Oliver’s question lingered at the tip of his mouth. “What?”

“It’s quiet there, unlike here where everything is too loud.” He lifted his head up with a small crease of a smile. “Just nice there in general, yanno?”

Ayu leered at him. The words sat there in front of him, all suspicions and hunches charged up in between. 

It’s a trap, isn’t it? 

“Oliver, you remember the last time we were there?”

“That doesn’t matter,” he scoffed. “I like the silence anyways.”

“… You sure about that?” 

He nodded in boring eyes. “Yes. The children here are rather annoying in reality.”

“That isn’t him.”

“Ah,” Ayu took a step back. “Let me just… think about it for a second.”

“Why don’t we just go already,” he spat. “It’s an easy question, Ayu.”

“I-”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to be a good person for me?” 

Ayu looked back. What exactly’ll happen if we do?

“He’ll try and eat you,” Lillie replied in his head. 

But what if I can find a way to stop him? It’s not like I’ll actually die from him. 

“Are you truly risking that?”

“As long as Akeldama doesn’t do anything,” Ayu sighed under his breath. 

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” he brushed off. “But let’s go to the forest like you said. 

“Thanks.” He stood up, cleaning up his cardigan from the mulch. He stepped his way towards the gate entrance of the forest. “Come on, Ayu. The playground really is hurting my ears a little.”

Please be fine. “Yeah, sure,” he replied with wary eyes but followed. 

*

The two walked across the woods of Felle with steps rigged from one another. Ayu babbled, but also attempted to study Oliver despite how distracted his ramblings grew. 

“So, you think of Lucia, right? She’s like a bad kid after Lexi died. But really, the only reason why she got mad after her death was because of her bloodline with Aria and Coco.”

“Mhm,” Oliver replied. 

“She was pissed enough to just leave the group so that meant Evie and Hiro had to do the rest of the work, which that just caused an entire mess to happen.”

“…That sounds really interesting, Ayu. I like it.” Oliver gave him a warm grin. 

Jokes on you, my writing is shit. 

The grass they stepped upon crackled onto the muddy ground. Rocks scattered throughout the pathway leaving tripping spots. 

“Are you sure ‘bout that, Ollie? I’d say my stuff is too confusing.” He scratched his head, kicking a rock and waiting for a reaction. 

Oliver perked up. “It’s not that confusing, Ayu. Just takes a good mind to understand.” He chuckled, “Like solving a puzzle you can say.”

Ayu glared. “You’re just saying that because you’re smart.”

Oliver turned to him with lowered eyes. “If you’re saying I’m smart for understanding, wouldn’t that make you smart for creating it?” 

“It’s not that I’m smart; I just don’t have any other life,” Ayu retorted. 

Oliver only giggled. And Ayu almost found it genuine. Something gratifying to hear, in truth.

The trees’ whistles were absent compared to Ayu’s walk prior. Solely crickets and cicadas chirped in the distance. The disappearance of the cars, the crowds, the animals, the flower songs, it all isolated Ayu with what only appeared to be Oliver.

They walked on with the redhead leading the path. He passed logs with ease; he stepped along the embedded footprints through his every movement. 

Ayu just tripped over a little mud valley. 

Oliver smirked at him. “You haven’t been here often, haven’t you?” 

Ayu lifted his head to see a blackened hand in front of him. He shook his head with eyes shut. “Just blame getting distracted.”

He dragged him up. “Doesn’t matter now. We’re almost there anyways.” 

This is it. “Almost where?”

Oliver walked down further. “You’ll see… right here.” He shoved off a branch of a tree, opening a recollection. 

The same stump laid barren in the middle of the dirty field. No rays of sun fell upon them as they entered. Rusty stains of blood still dressed up the grass while all the clumps of meat had disappeared. 

Ayu’s mouth ran without him. “Oliver, why did you bring me here?”

The kid went to sit on the small stump. He mouthed silent words with a blank face: 

“Sorry, friend.”

In only a blink, he was out of Ayu’s sight. 

“Shit.” Ayu turned in all directions to find the fellow. “So that’s how he does it, huh?” He took a deep breath then a big gulp. 

His eyes twitched to every direction. “S-so is it gonna be some magic?”

No reply. 

“A knife?”

Silence. 

“Your damn teeth…?” He huffed. 

His heart raced; his breathing quickened in impatience; his hands shook with anticipation. 

He whimpered out. “Oliver, I know you’re trying to kill me right now but…” He winced at pressing his bruise. “If I ever did anything, and if I ever do anything, I’m sorry. I’m just a dumbass.”

He cried to the air as his eyes burned. “I’m not gonna die but I don’t wanna hurt you. I don’t care if you can’t even hear this.” He paced his way to stand on the stump. “I’m sorry that you’re in pain; I’m sorry that your life is like this now; and I’m sorry if it’s all my fault!”

His last words echoed through the field. 

However, a rustle in the bush replied to him. 

He whipped his head back at the sound. The bush remained mute until a familiar voice rang in Ayu’s head. 

With a stone-cold voice. All he spoke to him was, “Get ready,” before the beast pounced. 

In a split second, a large yet slim figure leaped out of the bushes towards Ayu. It threatened the boy with its mouth and fangs open wide in front of him. 

Ayu jumped out of the way with lucky initiation. He tumbled against the ground through his fall. Flinching through his now scratched up limbs, he pushed himself up and his eyes met what was growling at him. 

The figure was covered up in black fur, marching around the terrain with its boney paws and cutting up grass with its bladed claws. Its glare shined bright with vermillion while a dark mist eroded from all over its wolf-like body. 

“Holy fuck,” Ayu gasped. 

The wolf pounced yet again at Ayu, only for him to jump out of every attack. Left and right, he played mouse for the beast as it continued to grow more and more vicious with its snarls. 

“Okay, what the hell can I do here,” he panted. 

“Beat it,” he replied. 

Ayu’s legs ran weak the longer the tag game went on. His late signal began buzzing in his head as he cursed it. 

Time dwindled while the wolf started to match his speed. 

“What the hell do you mean by just beat it? Like-” He brought himself to a halt before another attempt of clobbering him. 

The boy held his breath as the wolf got closer; and right before it could make a bite, Ayu socked him. 

The wolf flew off to the side of the field. It jerked against its injury and whimpered from the pain. 

Ayu’s lifted his body up from impact. His ears grew white noise; his mind turned into static. He stared blankly at the creature with dead eyes. 

“Beat it before it gets to others, Ayu.” The repeated command was the only thing he could here. 

He strolled his way to the monster, weak and immobile. It went on to cry for its pathetic life. He started with a kick, making it grimace, then kicked it again countless of times. He was deaf to its whines and pouts, he only watched it curl up and struggle to defend itself.

It took until the thing deteriorated into a black form, deep and pure in an abyss, and it transformed back into a small boy. He shook and whimpered against the hits. 

Ayu froze. 

The boy sat up in quivering arms. In only a second he vomited a dark red liquid. His skin paled and his eyes widened of shock. He pulled back his burgundy hair, no speed aiming him, just staring at the pool of blood. But like an alarm, his eyes darted up to a stilled Ayu, who only stared back with burning tears. 

“Y-you’re still here…”

Ayu got down to where Oliver sat and clung onto his shoulders to form a hug. 

He cried, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He repeated his apologies to no end.

Oliver’s movements weren’t there, no flinches, no fidgets. He mumbled out few words. “You’re not dead…”

Ayu held him back, still holding his shoulders. “I know! But I hurt you because of it like an idiot!”

“No… no, that was fine,” he argued. “You were the first to ever- wait did I make that bruise-”

“That doesn’t matter!” He sniffed, “You’re the one that’s hurt because of me.”

Oliver’s face softened. “That’s more impressive than anything, Ayu.”

“No, it isn’t!” He whined, and he didn’t stop until his throat clogged up. 

Oliver’s voice returned. “Ayu, are you choking!?” 

He coughed, “No- just,” coughed again, “crying a bit too much I think.”

“Oh god.” Oliver pulled a hair strand. “I forgot how dehydrated you are.”

“It’s fine-”

Oliver stood up immediately. “Here. I’ll get water for you.” He flinched and pressed on his stomach. “Christ- I’ll just be paying you a favor of being, well, alive.” He dashed off without Ayu’s ability to speak. 

“Wait!” His voice rasped and burned his throat. “You don’t need to do that!” He stumbled up and ran after him. 

***

Once they gathered themselves up, Ayu and Oliver traveled back to the alleyway. The streets still filled with chatter and city smoke worked alongside the sky to keep the world grey. 

“How did you manage to buy a six pack?” Ayu sat beside Oliver. He clenched on a water bottle in his hand and sipped upon it.

“Easy: water’s cheap and I always have spare change in my pockets,” Oliver noted. His arm wrapped around his stomach; Ayu stared at the motion. 

He questioned, “You’re more awake now, aren’t you?”

He nodded. “You woke me up pretty- not entirely harsh but you were just trying to save yourself.” He hissed at the wound. “I’m still probably gonna get sleepy again after a while so… might as well tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

Oliver fidgeted a hand on a loose cardigan string. His markings still laid across his body and the rims of his eyes started bleeding into a black as well. “Coincidentally enough, the day you first saw me like that, I met someone while I was unconscious… I’ve been talking to them since then ‘cause it seems as if she knows what’s going on with me.”

You mean the guy you talked to a few times? “Who is that?”

He sighed, “From what she claims, she’s my biological mom.”

Ayu choked on his own water. “What?”

“That’s how I know the fact that I won’t change.” Ayu caught the kid’s watery eyes. 

“… But what if-”

“And apparently,” Oliver rambled, “she just wanted me to live a ‘normal life’ for seven years straight until it all hit me like a brick but even when it started, she’s hasn’t been able to talk with me until now.”

An idea circulated in Ayu as Oliver spoke. “W-wait, so does she know your entire situation?”

“Yeah.”

“And just can’t say it directly?”

“Probably.”

Ayu took a chug. “Can’t you ask her about how to deal with this then? Like when you attacked me, it looked like you were using some power.”

“That’s right,” Oliver added. “I forgot but, what exactly happened while I was asleep?”

“Attacked me in a wolf form. Thought you were another monster like a moron and almost tried to kill you I think.”

“Oh God.” Oliver placed a hand over his head. 

“Still sorry ‘bout that.”

“Still more of a me-problem.”

Ayu cleared his throat. “Okay but yeah, you may be less sad if you actually know what you’re doing in the first place from her.”

Oliver remained silent, then took a deep breath. “… How did I not think of that before?”

“I dunno,” Ayu shrugged. “Maybe we’re both dumbasses.”

“Yeah, guess you’re right.”

No replies or comments were made for a good four minutes. Ayu wandered in thought to reach for another question. 

“You said your mom isn’t allowed to explain things, right?”

He nodded. 

“Who’s not allowing her,” Ayu asked.

Oliver left his hand on his chin. “She doesn’t say their name, just that they’re their leader.”

“Their leader? Of what?”

“Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that too,” Oliver rushed. “My mom’s like 4 centuries old and lives in an immortal society that has to kill for their monthly membership payment.”

Ayu stilled. “Okay, what the fuck is your family tree?”

“Based on what I can tell,” Oliver stated, “fucked.”

Ayu sided his lips. “The leader’s the one who makes the rules for ‘em, right?”

“Yep.”

He took another bottle of water. “Do you think I can come with you at some point?”

Oliver raised a brow. 

“I feel like the leader may have something to do with the monsters.”

“And why do you think that?”

… There’s no evidence, huh? “Just a hunch. Like, a vague dude who’s some cruel ruler? Sounds like a normal villain.” 

Oliver squinted his eyes towards him, but shrugged. “Guess that can make sense.” 

In a split second, Oliver shook forward from the alley wall, making a yelp. “Fuck!” He pressed on his shirt. 

Ayu paled, his eyelids pinching up. “You still need to eat… don’t you?”

“It’s fine.” Oliver raised his hand towards Ayu. “I probably have enough strength to just- …”

“Just what? Eat?”

“… Kinda.” Oliver sighed. “I forgot to tell you one last thing.”

Ayu bit his cheek. “What?”

His hand rested on his left arm, grabbing it. “I’ve had my black sun mark for a while now. But, it popped up somewhere that I didn’t wanna show.”

Ayu took a glance at his movements. “Your arm, right?”

He nodded. “I should explain… Remember how I starve a lot?”

“Yeah?”

“I uh, usually tend to treat myself when I can’t handle it much longer.” He trembled. “After I think the first year, I started realizing how good… it tastes. But I didn’t wanna hurt anyone. So,” He lifted up his sleeve. 

What bared on his wrist, right on top of a vein, was his black sun mark; however, further down his mark varied in streaks of scars and cuts. The blood seeped of violent reds and purples. And through some courses of marks, black began to show through the blood scabs. 

Ayu gawked at the amount of lines made by the child. Thoughts ran throughout his little brain and screamed out to him from the sight. You’re the reason.

It almost brought him to tears again.

“The blood helps me distract myself.”

Ayu lifted his head up to Oliver, concern and guilt written all over his face. Though, Oliver faced away, and Ayu couldn’t assume any other face aside from loathing.  

Ayu took a gulp. He whimpered, “Stop… don’t do that anymore, please.”

“It’s alright, Ayu. It heals right after I get some food.”

“But that’s too much of a risk, Ollie.”

“Trust me,” Oliver reassured. “It’s okay that I do this. I’m careful about it.”

He huffed, “You have a damn good reason for starving yourself. This’ll just make it too much.” He grabbed the spot where the sun mark was. 

Oliver squeaked. “Ayu- You’re holding on too tight again.”

“Promise me to just- …” Ayu breathed, lessening his grip. “Just do it less.”

He let go of Oliver, face ridden in regret. 

Oliver swiped his arm back and covered up the scars with his sleeve again. “I… thank you.” He clenched onto his shirt as he stood up, already walking away from the conversation and Ayu. “I should probably get going.”

Ayu avoided his eyes again. “Are you going to…?”

“Not sure,” he answered. “I probably will eventually.”

“Right.” He nodded it off. 

They stayed in position for a time’s notice. 

“Sorry about hitting you,” Oliver added. “… See ya.”

Ayu didn’t watch as he walked away. He instead covered up his bruise again, shame whistling out of his entire being.

“Bye.”

-

Ten Dollars | Bread and Water | Red Eye | Crimson Capture | November 1st | A Mother | A Demon | A Child | Next >>>

[isabelle-c-r]

Inescapable

Author’s Note: Okay, I’m a tiny (extremely) bit obesessed with Cody Fern (and by proxy Michael Langdon) right now, so I need to get this story out of my head so I can be less obsessed.

Michael x Original Character

This is a bit of a prequel, and introduction to the new character. Not smutty (yet), but a bit of fluff, just wanted to do some building.

“You okay kid?” a voice asked as Michael slouched down in the back pew. He looked, surprised to see a woman not much older than his “current” age looking back. Long, messy dark blonde curls hanging around her face.

“Um, I guess,” he said, feeling the pit in his stomach growing, the one he thought would never go away.

“Ah, so it’s that kind of day. Looks like life took a giant shit on you.”

“I’m fine,” Michael spit crossing his arms over his chest, wanting to disappear.

“You’re not a very good liar either,” she said sliding closer, he could hear the smirk on her face.

He glared to the side quickly, “Why do you care?”

“I’m a Satanist, not an asshole. Plus, look at you,” she said brushing a matted curl off his temple without thought. The motion scared Michael, but he didn’t stop her. 

“It’s been a rough few days...” Michael started to brush away a tear as he shifted in his seat, thinking of his Ms. Mead.

“No shit,” the girl said reflexively, immediately regretting it as she saw the solemn look dragging down his beautiful features. She leaned down in the pew, trying to meet Michael’s blue gaze. “Hey, I don’t normally do this, but my house is near by. If you want you could come over, shower, eat, rest. I could clean you’re clothes for you.”

“Really?” he said blinking through teary eyes. “Thanks, that’s actually really nice.”

“Well you look like you could use a break.”

After the service, the woman and Michael got into her car, and she was right about her house being close, just five minutes away from the church. Neither of them spoke the whole way, only listened to the radio. The woman thought it was best to leave the boy alone, as he looked so defeated. Michael was too weak and weary to make idle conversation, but knew that he’d have to eventually, though he wondered how long he could keep it together before it all poured out.

“My name’s Michael by the way,” he finally said as they got to the steps of her house.

“Adrasteia,” she said as she theatrically swung open the door and gestured for Michael to get inside. “Come on.”

“Adrasteia? What is that?” he asked, stepping in cautiously, grazing past her body, face to face, his heart beating a bit faster at her proximity.

“It’s Greek actually, but you can just call me Ada. I don’t really have a preference.”

Ada led Michael into her kitchen and placed him at the island counter before immediately heating up a big bowl of leftover pasta.

Looking around the room Michael began to wonder how someone as young as her had a house this nice. “So how did you... how did-” he began.

“How did I get into Satanism?” she said looking back at him with lively ocean eyes before dealing with the microwaved pasta. “Lucifer’s an old friend of mine.”

“Is he how you got this house? Sign your name on a contract in blood, that sort of deal?” he smiled weakly, a light chuckle on his lips, responding to what he thought was a joke.

“There’s always blood involved where the devil’s involved, but this house was all me. I worship, but my soul’s still very much mine, and I plan to keep it that way,” Ada said as she slid the bowl of pasta infront of Michael. 

Michael smiled weakly again as he picked up the fork. “I wish I was as certain about things as you. I had some sort of direction once, but now...”

Ada sighed not wanting to see the beautiful boys face be so sad. “Kid, what happened to you?” she asked leaning up against the island directly across from him. 

“Why do you keep calling me kid? We’re pretty much the same age.” Michael was frustrated, not wanting to be a child anymore, needing to be a man.

Reiterating, she said, “What happened?”

For a moment Michael considered not saying, that he might sound crazy, but before the thought could run through his brain fully his mouth was moving.

“Well, my father abandoned me, my mother tried to kill me, the woman who raised me committed suicide, and my Ms. Mead was murdered, that was four days ago,” he said taking a bite and pausing to appreciate that he could actually taste food, grateful to not be numb anymore.

“What the fuck. Is that true? How are you- well on second thought, look at you,” Ada said as she looked at his dust coated, sweat soaked clothes. “What have you been doing since... four days ago?”

“Mostly just sitting in a circle and threatening to die if my father didn’t give me some sort of sign.”

Ada tapped her nails on the counter, trying to understand. “Okay... who’s your father?”

“The one you worship.”

“Excuse me?”

Michael took a deep breath. “This anti-christ gig is not all you guys hype it up to be,” he said pointing his fork at her.

“Can’t be that bad,” Ada said with crossed arms, not as warm as she was moments before, her ocean eyes turning stormy.

“Look at me,” he said with no hint of amusement as he met her unwaivering gaze. He saw the realization rise in Ada’s eyes as the doubt and skepticism began to fade away.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?” she said looking him dead in the eye.

Michael didn’t say anything, he just lifted up his hair to reveal the mark. Ada rushed to his side, her cold hands making Michael vibrate as she lightly touched his devil’s mark.

He could hear her trying to form words or think of something clever to say, the shock coursing through her. All he could think of was the trace of her touch on his skin. He wanted to look at her, see the surprise. Ada backed away, taking him in, seeing the beauty underneath all that grime.

“I thought you’d be-”

“Taller,” Michael finished with a closed lip smile, making her chuckle ever so briefly. 

“If I’d known... I would’ve made you something... I made you microwaved pasta,” she said with slight panic.

“Honestly, it’s not a big deal. I’ve gotten over it, my father seems to have forgotten about it. And the food’s delicious, but what I could really use is a shower.” Michael attempted to run an elegantly fingered hand through his dark golden locks.

“Yeah, yeah, of course, you can finish this later, follow me,” Ada grabbed his upper arm before letting go, realizing whose arm it was, though Michael wished she had left it there. She lead him upstairs to the main bathroom.

Ada grabbed a t-shirt and sweat pants from the dresser in the master bedroom, leaving Michael to his business. 

Michael had been grateful for the food and the warm shower as he scrubbed the four days of dirt and sweat off his body. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want to do anything. He felt helpless and alone, and no matter how powerful he was, he couldn’t change that feeling. He went through all the shit he had been through in his short life. Everytime he lost faith in humanity, everytime something confirmed his beliefs, someone came along to contradict them. Someone like Grandma Constance. Someone like Ms.Mead. Someone like Ada.

When he got out, Michael looked at himself in the mirror. He had been a child not long ago, but now, he was something else. He looked like a man, but he wasn’t sure what he was.

“Hello? Michael? I have some clothes for you to change into...” Ada said as she stepped in with a pile of neatly folded clothes in her hands.

She paused when she came in, taking in his lean, golden body, towel wrapped around his hips.

Walking over, Michael took the clothes from her, lingering on her cool hands. He watched her eyes flicker between his own eyes and his lips. Tentatively he leaned down, eye focused on one thing.

Their lips barely touched when she put a hand up to lightly push him away. A ripple of goosebumps rising in her wake.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I thought...”

“It’s okay, no need to apologize. I just... you’re... you’re too young for me,” she said bending down and picking up his dirty clothes. “Come finish eating when you’re dressed.”

Michael looked down at the clothes in his hands. ‘How can I be too young?’ he thought. They were practically the same age, in a manner of speaking of course.

When he arrived back in the kitchen feeling warm and clean, he was surprised to find that Ada wasn’t there. Michael still ate his food diligently, trying to fill the pit, always starving in some way. He ate in silence and he didn’t enjoy it. He wanted her watching him, marvelling at him.

When he was done he went looking for her.

“Hello? Adrasteia?” he called out as he wandered up the stairs, looking for any signs of life.

“In here!” she called out. 

As he stepped in Ada finished up what he assumed was a letter. “Hey, sorry about that.”

“No problem,” he said, and re-adjusting his posture, straightening his back feeling more himself. “Is this where I’ll be sleeping.”

Ada looked at him with some surprise. “Uh, sure, just let me go get a fresh change of sheets,” she said rushing out of the room.

Michael walked up to the bed. Sitting down he forgot how good a bed could feel and without thinking he laid down. His eyes got extremely heavy as if with every bat of his lashes a layer of clue was adding to the resistance. He wasn’t fully aware of Ada coming back into the room, but he felt her.

She laid down beside him, chest to back, and wrapped her arm around Michael. He turned over instinctually, nuzzling into her chest.

“Do you think I can do it?” he whispered in a light  child-like voice.

She craddled him to her as you would a child, petting his hair. 

“Do what?”

“Whatever it is I’m supposed to do. What everyone thinks I should do,” he said with a fading voice.

Ada breathed deeply, taking in his scent as she hugged him closer. “You can do whatever you want, as long as it’s what you want, not what anyone else wants. The worse life is the one lived for other people. Be yourself, beautiful boy,” she said and lightly kissed him on the forehead as his breathing slipped into the steady rhythm of sleep.

Looking down at his golden head, Ada smiled. She thought of all the things she’d done to get him -every choice and deal made, all the little details that led to his creation- and how easily he had almost thrown it all away. But she would always forgive him. He was hers more than anyone elses.

“My beautiful boy,” she whispered to herself.

***

Adrasteia was at the black mass,watching Michael as he made the sacrifice. He’d woken up after that night feeling rejuvinated, more sure of himself though he knew he still needed direction. When he slit the throats of the man and woman he looked to Ada who stared back with a slight smile. He decided instantly that he wanted her with him, in anyway he could get. She had brought him comfort when he thought he would never feel again. He was grateful.

The others landed on him like vultures, hoping he’d give them some piece of the world’s carcass.

“Everybody fuck off,” she said when the group kept asking questions. She could see the annoyance on his face. “I’m sure Mr. Anti-christ will answer all your questions when he’s done eating.”

They all backed away as her gaze cut through them.

“Can I ask you something?” Michael said between slow mouthfuls.

“Sure,” she said brushing away a stray strand of gold from his face, Michael’s eyes following each movement with intense concentration.

“Would you... would you be able to stay with me?”

“Stay with you?”

“I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do, it’s a bit terrifiying, but I feel comfortable with you. No matter what I do, I think I want you to be there with me.” Michael lower his face as he could feel himself blush at the thought of her arms around him and his head on her chest.

“Michael...”

“You don’t have to answer now.”

“Is there anyone else that you felt comfortable around? Someone that loves you?” she asked with nervous eyes.

Michael looked at her, a bit hurt that she was asking, that she was trying to pawn him off. 

“Someone that will always be there,” She said with a sigh before looking up at him with smile. “Someone you haven’t known for a day.”

“There was... My Ms.Mead, but she’s gone now,” he said with a sombre tone.

“Oh, the one that was murdered?” 

He nodded slowly.

“Hmmm, in that case, I have an idea. Let science succeed where magic has failed.”

Michael had no idea what to expect when Ada shuffled him in the car the next morning. He knew that he was disappointed. He’d dreamt of her that night. He dreamt of just being with her, feeling her next to him, knowing she was a warm constant that made him feel not alone anymore. He’d woken up with tears in his eyes.

“Where are we going?” Michael asked as they drove down the coast in her red convertible. 

“To someone that can help you figure out what to do next, and who might be able to bring back your Ms.Mead,” Ada said, her wild hair blowing like a rabid animal in the wind. 

“Are you gonna come with?” he asked looking over at her. He wished he could see those ocean eyes through the sunglasses. He couldn’t figure out what she was thinking, and it frustrated him beyond belief that he couldn’t even see through a crack into her thoughts. 

Ada reached over and took Michael’s hand, thumb lightly carressing the back of his hand. “I think it’s best if I stay behind for this part, the fewer disctractions the better.”

“But you wouldn’t be a distraction,” he almost pleaded.

Ada looked over at him, noting his inability to hide anything he was feeling. She didn’t let go of his hand, just squeezed it tighter.

“You care so much don’t you? You want to feel love just like the rest of us, but you need to save that for later. As you’ve already seen it can be a terrible weapon that your enemies will use against you. If I’m not a distraction, then I’ll be a weakness.”

Michael didn’t say anything else. He just thought over her words. She would be a weakness. The witches had so easily taken away his Ms. Mead, they would do the same to her if they learned of her existence, if they found out he had any connection to her. He didn’t want another charred corpse in the place of someone he cared for. The only way he could have her was to complete his mission. He needed to end the world. He needed to kill the witches. He needed to win.

He held her hand till the end.

“Will I ever see you again?” he asked kneeling down on the drivers side of her car.

The building they were infront of looked like a spaceship, one made entirely of glass. But it was silicon valley and it seemed to almost be a competition between companies to see who could make the most “futuristic” building.

“I hope so,” she said taking his hands in hers, kissing them ever so lightly. 

Michael went to stand up, but Ada hadn’t let go of his hands. She wouldn’t let go. 

“Ada?”

Ada reached for his upper arm and pulled him down to her, taking his face in her hands and kissing him without though. Michael breathed into it, his own long fingers lacing into her soft hair. Ada moved her lips slowly against his, guiding him through his first kiss, his first rush. His body flooded with heat and energy. There was something incredibly perfect about the feeling of being with her. Michael felt Ada’s thumb ever so delicately brush over his mark, as if it were some precious thing, as if he were. 

They didn’t want it to end, but Ada knew any longer and he might never leave. He might forget his purpose and take her away, seal her away from anyone else so that it could just be the two of them, alone forever.

“Be what you are, not what they make you. Goodbye, beautiful boy,” she whispered in his ear before pushing him away and driving off. 

Ada didn’t look back. 

Michael did.

[silverlight013]

Ebony and Fire Chapter 4

Chapter 4

My eyes flutter open to the sight of the familiar hotel room; my head pulsates with an agonizing pain. I groan as I brush my unruly bangs out of my eyes.

"Welcome back to the land of the living." I follow the sound of the familiar voice over to a chair that is beside me, and sitting in that chair is someone I recognize immediately.

Samn…

I sit up slowly, my skull still splitting. "Ugh, what the hell happened? I feel like I got hit by a truck again…" That came out wrong…I wasn't struck the first time…at least I don't think I was. I think I'd remember if I was run over…right?

"You collapsed…in the middle of the road." I take a better look at her as my vision seems to clear of its sleepiness could. She is in the chair, but her jacket is off and is hanging on the back of it. She looks tired…and I can spot the remains of old battle wounds across her arms.

Those must be from here…I never wrote her with any scars, which means, they'll heal fine.

"I hit my head didn't I?" I rub the back of my head lightly, there's a bump there and it stings like a son of a bitch.

"Yep, and then you were out like a light…or maybe you were out before you hit the ground. Either way it doesn't matter, what matters is you passed out."

"How long was I out?" I sigh and adjust so I'm sitting cross-legged beneath the blanket. Her face slacks in sadness for a minute.

"Couple hours actually; it's pretty late…about eleven or so." My eyes widen in surprise.

Holy shit…first I was unconscious when I got here…then I ate dinner only to walk outside and pass out for a few more hours…

I glance down at my palms, they shake slightly. Samn shifts in her chair and I glance back up. "What is it?"

"We…need to talk…"

"About?" I kinda know where this is going…

"Everything…like; what's your name gonna be here? Where are you going to say you came from? Basically stuff that helps to protect world order. If I have to do it then so do you." I nod slightly.

Since they've already met her I can't use my real name…that would be confusing…and if I try to tell them I'm from Earth they'll ask me about it and that would lead to way too much fourth wall and world order breaking bullshit…

"Hey." She gathers my attention again. "Under no circumstances are you to meddle in any of this world's affairs either. No matter what these boys are destined to do you can't try to change the future in any way. It's bad enough I'm stuck here trying not to fuck shit up, but two outlanders? If we're not careful this could get messy real quick. So because neither one of us belongs here, we can only observe…" I stare at here for a moment until laughter bubbles up and I can't contain it. "This isn't a laughing matter! What is it about worldly dimensional paradox destruction that seems funny to you?!"

"It's not, but you are. You're whole damn life as a Keyblade Bearer has just been you meddling in one world after another and now you're telling me to be careful and observe? It's like the pot calling the kettle black." Her face sours immediately.

"Yeah and whose fault is that?! I didn't choose this life; it grabbed me by the ankles and sucked me into a pit of darkness." Her sour turns pouty.

I know it's my fault…and I'm sorry…but you don't know this world the way I do…you don't know it's tragedy…and if my being here can help soften the blow or comfort these boys for even a second…I'll gladly say in the darkness for ten years…

"Yeah…I know…" I sigh as every memory of this place rises up reminding me how broken it made me.

This is all…just a game…isn't it?

There's a knock on the door which startles both of us. Samn glances at me, but then regains composure and stands. "Uh…come in?"

I listen closely as the door opens with a creak and two pairs of shoes clack along the floorboards. I watch the entryway as two familiar figures come around the corner, making me break into a smile.

"Ah, I see you're finally awake." Ignis' lithe form strolls gracefully across the floor to my bedside before lightly sitting on the end of my bed.

"You fell pretty hard. We were really worried about ya." Prompto had come in behind Iggy but was now sitting on the couch on the far wall.

"Yeah sorry 'bout that." I can already feel my face heating up with embarrassment.

"How are you feeling?" Iggy's smooth accented voice causes me to look up at him and I get trapped in his emerald eyes, the embarrassment melts away.

"I'm alright, my head just hurts…" He nods, looking concerned.

"I see…are you perhaps hungry at all? You didn't eat much before you ran outside." I shake my head 'no' "Thirsty?"

"No thanks, I'm fine, really." I catch Prompto yawning out of the corner of my eye. "Since it's so late maybe you should go to sleep, you guys seem tired." He stretches his arms above his head and stands.

"Yeah probably, but I wanted to make sure you were okay before I hit the hay." He makes his way over to Samn and rests his hands on his belt while he leans on one foot. It seems to be his default resting position.

"That's really nice of you Prom, thanks." Calling him by his nickname takes him by surprise and a hint of blush dusts over his already freckled face.

Oops…I didn't mean to call him Prom…it just kinda slipped out…I'll have to be more careful.

An awkward blanket of silence befalls the room as no one seems to know what else to say. I sit there for a minute and attempt to break it.

"Well…as you can see, aside from a bit of a headache, I'm fine so you can all go to bed."

Ignis frowns slightly and turns to Samn who is now leaning back in the chair. "Will you be staying with us tonight?" She sighs and nods before rocking herself up to her feet and stretching.

"If that's alright with you; with it being so late I'd rather not risk the daemons on the road or try to camp out."

"You're welcome to this room then. Prompto and I can figure out sleeping arrangements in the other room." Samn walks over to Ignis, who is still on the edge of the bed and places a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks Iggy. I just gotta go out to my truck and grab my bag." She throws me a look that only I can translate as, 'Don't-fuck-up', and leaves. Prompto looks up from his phone game abruptly.

"That reminds me! Iggy I can't believe we both forgot!" He sticks his phone in his back pocket and walks over to the other side of the extra bed and bends down to pick something up out of my view. "When we found you, this wasn't too far away." Prom swings around and my breath catches in my throat.

"My bag!" I reach out for it with grabby hands as he walks over to me, dropping it in the place where Ignis had previously been. Once Samn had left he had taken her chair.

"It was really weird cause you came through and then a few seconds after so did this bag." I pull it closer to me and am about to unzip a pocket when my brain catches up to what he actually said.

"Came through?" I look from Prom to Iggy. What does he mean 'came through'?

"My apologies; with you being asleep for so long, we haven't had the time or opportunity to tell you how we came to find you." Concern coats his face as if remembering it hurts him in some way, but our eyes meet and the look disappears. "Care to hear the story?" I nod slowly and glance quick to Prompto who is back to his default, Ignis takes a deep breath.

"We were on our way to Galdin Quay from Hammerhead and I was the driver, when all of a sudden a blue light appears and like lightning, it shoots across the sky, quite frankly I was reminded of how Noctis warps. We all were entranced with it, we watches as it shot in a random manner until finally it stopped and you fell out of it. I slowed down and watched as you slowly drifted to the ground. You actually landed on your feet, but then I had to slam on the brakes because from your feet you collapsed into the road. Had I not stopped, I surely would have hit you. After that we all got out and rushed to your aid, you appeared battered, like you had lost a fight, but you were sleeping. It wasn't until I tried to wake you that we realized you were unconscious; then I felt your forehead and realized you were burning up." He pauses giving Prompto the chance to jump in.

"Yeah, it was pretty scary to be honest. Once we realized how sick you actually were Iggy scooped you up and rushed you over to the Regalia so he could use some restoratives and try to get your fever down. He wouldn't let any of us touch you. He made us search the area for any other people or belongings and that's when we found your bag."

I fell…from the sky in a lightning bolt…?

"So you're telling me I fell out of the sky?" I glance between the two men and Ignis pushes up his glasses.

"Yep!" Prompto is obviously tired but is still enthusiastic about the story.

"Wow…" I glance down at my old black JanSport backpack, with its' ripped off label that I had replaced with a Batman logo patch along with a few other patches and a few buttons. "You guys didn't go through it, did you?"

"What kind of gentlemen would we be if we did?" A small smile creeps across Ignis' lips; I watch them for a moment before turning to unzip my bag.

"Oh wait!" I snap my head to Prompto. "We didn't look through your bag, but you had some sort of phone in your back pocket and I did put it in one of the bags pockets."

My phone?!

"Which one?" He points to the second from the front; this bag in particular has about 4 or 5 total pockets. I hope by opening it he didn't see anything that could get me into trouble…the outside patches and buttons are only references to the original work and might crack the fourth wall with questions, but it could still be saved…but if they say anything inside…that would probably blow the wall apart…

"I like your patches by the way." I look up at Prom and smile before pulling out my iPhone 6.

Well good news is, the screen didn't crack when I fell… I click the 'home' button and it lights up.

'No Service'

Not really sure why I expected anything else…I'm literally in a different world, different dimension…I sigh then see my next problem.

'50% battery'

Shit…this won't last long at all…and I doubt they have iPhone chargers in this dimension… I dig around a little. But come to think of it…I think I have one in here somewhere… I continue digging and pull out my cord; it's the USB. I dig and dig for my little power brick, but it's missing. I sigh, giving up. Prompto notices and looks at me curiously.

"Something wrong? Did it survive?" I turn slightly so the phone is out of view. I should be careful…they might not have this type of technology in this dimension.

"Yeah, it survived, but it's at 50% and I have a charger, but it's only the USB…my little power brick is missing." I sigh, but his face lights up. "What…?"

"Y'know I think I might have an extra." Before I can even say 'thanks', the little Chocobo is already running out the door. I look back at Ignis who just adjusts his glasses and shrugs.

"So now that we're alone we have some things to discuss." He stares at me with piercing green eyes, my heart plummets and I feel the color drain from my face.

Did I do something wrong? Is he gonna tell me I can't stay anymore? This isn't like him, he looks so scary…

His face softens as he senses my fear. "My apologies, I didn't mean to frighten you, it's just late…" He pushes his glasses up and sighs.

"It's cool…" My voice is soft as I try to calm down. The door opens and my head snaps to the entrance. I expect it to be Prompto, but Samn comes around the corner with a huge duffel bag slung over her shoulder and a big pillow under her other arm.

"I just almost literally ran into Prompto outside, he seemed more excited than usual…what happened?" I shrug as she makes her way across the room.

"He went to go get me a USB power brick for my phone."

"Your phone? Since when do you have a phone?" She throws her bag down and it bounces on the bed, I cringe slightly, but look back up at her.

"Since Prom remembered I came here with my own bag…" A frown crosses her face.

If I could write her thoughts it'd prolly be something along the lines of 'Be careful, if your bag falls into the wrong hands we're all fucked.' She's prolly thinking the same thing about my phone…

She seems like she's about to say something when the door opens again, this time it is Prom. He walks into the room and tosses something at me. I barely have time to react and end up juggling it a little as I try to catch it. I look down and it's a little bright green cube.

"Thanks Prom."

"No prob…uh…do you remember your name yet?" He frowns when he realizes he doesn't know what to call me.

Oh shit! What do I say? I can't give them my real name, can I? What about a fake one? An alias…I have a lot of those don't I? Let's see…Sam Silverfield? No…Julius Carter? No…what about Willow? No…ah shit…I'm taking too long to answer!

"No…no I haven't." I can't believe I just lied to them…

"Oh! Um…that's okay. I'm sure you'll remember it soon." Prom awkwardly feigns confidence as Samn finishes making her bed.

"Alright boys, out with you. I'm exhausted from driving all the way here after my hunt and Little-Miss-Amnesiac here needs to get on a normal sleeping schedule." I glare at her as she puts her hands on her hips.

"Alright. Night girlies." Proms normal excitement returns and I smile at him calling us 'girlies'. He puts two fingers to his forehead and gives us a half ass salute before heading to the door. Iggy stands slowly from the chair and adjusts his specs once more.

"Don't hesitate to knock on our door if you need me. I'm a light sleeper, and probably the only one who will wake up." He sighs, seeming exhausted as well.

"Okay Iggy." I smile up at him and he seems to…blush…what is that?

"Don't worry, she's safe with me." It takes every ounce of my being not to roll my eyes at Samn.

Yeah, okay.

Ignis nods. "Alright, sleep well. Goodnight all." And with that he leaves me and my creation alone.

Awkward seconds pass after the door clicks, but then she gets up and decides to lock it. When she returns she drops herself on the bed with a huff and sprawls out on her back with her arms under her head.

"Sooo…" I start, but have nothing really to say.

"Ugh it's so nice to not have to sleep on the hard ass ground…and tomorrow I'll actually be able to take a hot shower, not a camper shower…" She seems generally happy with her current situation but after a second her face goes stone. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you how dangerous the contents of your bag are. Notebooks, sketchpads, doesn't matter what it is; anything that represents me or any place that isn't here that you didn't draw right now, is a danger. All of it is dangerous and could cause some sort of paradox or flux…" I sigh, well aware of the consequences.

If I accidentally spill the beans on anything for Samn or accidentally call Ignis 'Specs' before the time is right, the boys might catch on…or become suspicious.

"Also Ignis didn't seem to believe that you can remember my name, but not your own. Nice job on that by the way oh mighty-creator, you could have picked literally any name."

Part of me knows she's only teasing…but the way she says it…just hurts. "Please don't…"

"Fine, fine; but you'll have to come up with a name for yourself at some point. Not to mention that since there's no way home for either of us, you'll have to learn how to fight, so you can go on hunts and earn Gil of your own. Don't worry though, I'll stick around long enough for you to get settled in and then I gotta go back to my other jobs."

I'm totally worried…

"I can't believe you're going to leave me alone with them." She turns her head, but her hands are still behind it, she seems surprised.

"Well…yeah…to be honest there's no safer place than with them. It'll be dangerous, sure, but they protect each other with their lives, I'm sure they'll do the same for you."

"But what about you? You'll be alone." She laughs at me.

"Are you worried about me? Well don't be, you already said that I don't remember this adventure, and while not remembering is gonna suck, it also means that I survive. I'm not worried, but I'm not gonna go crazy either; I'll be careful." I nod and yawn loudly. She smiles before rolling on her side to face me, holding her head in her hand. "C'mon, let's go to sleep."

She reaches over to the bedside table between us and turns off the lamp that sits there. I place my bag on the floor, without checking any other pockets and lie down myself.

"G'night Samn."

"G'night."

I stare up into the darkness as a familiar feeling rises within me. "Hey, Samn?"

"Hmm?" Her voice tells me she's already half asleep, but my chest tightens and I need to say what I'm thinking.

"I'm so sorry…for everything."

"Mmhmm…"

Without feeling even the slightest bit better I roll over facing away from her and hug my knees to my chest, fighting everything inside me down while I anxiously await sleep.

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