#also guys I finally learned how to turn words into links!!!!

[jazzy-flowerr]

I may be cookin'...

But at what cost....? 😔

[ybklix]

𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲

dear lord, when i get to heaven, please let me bring my man (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡ fr omg

★ pairing: idol!lee felix x fem!reader

✦summary: You got your dream job on one of the most important day for fashion industry, everything seems like a fairy tale, until you meet one of the people you are working for, which complicates your thoughts, a guy with an angelic face, however he is for you the devil wearing custom couture Tommy Hilfiger.

✭ content - tags - warnings: smut / one night stand / use of “y/n”/ handjob / oral sex / soft degrading / dom felix / semi public sex / unprotected sex / etc lol

word count: 5.1k

(masterlist)

♡ notes: 2024 felix at the met gala ♡

a/n: had to write smth ab my man looking this good on a big day, oopsies / all fiction, don't really know how's behind scenes lol / i'm watching the series so i'm romanticizing the carrie type of writing, enjoy!

There’s an old saying… “what happens in Vegas, stay in Vegas”, and for the New Yorkers with enough amount of luck, the equivalent of that would be: “what happens in the Met Gala, stays in the Met gala.”

You either had to be a celebrity with high status, or a very wealthy person… or sometimes, just part of the staff; yes you were in last link, but you were still happy.

There you were, on the first Monday of May, standing outside of the iconic decorated stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on the also iconic, 5th avenue of East side of Manhattan. Living your dream, because this year, you were inside, and not anymore as a viewer.

Life was going great for you, you’ll graduate from college exactly in nine days, and you were booked as a tour guide in the Met Gala a month ago. It was your dream job, even though you majored in journalism, working for Vogue was always your dream to be, you’ve been applying for the Met ever since you turned eighteen, and finally there you were wearing a vintage YSL black dress, from a vintage store in Soho, whose rent costs more than you apartment’s, with some Manolo shoes, living your little Carrie Bradshaw fantasy. But that didn’t matter, yeah, she was a woman with a steady job and you only a freshly graduated who expected to get hired as soon as you get your diploma.

They prepared you the whole past month, and you picked up your ID last week; this was going to look wonderful in your resume. You loved fashion, arts, writing, you didn’t care there was another 500 people doing exactly the same as you, you were there, living inside your bubble of the gossip girl and devil wears Prada vibes.

A lot of people hated New York; but you never could, you had a nice apartment on west side of Manhattan and an incredible fashion taste. You had to work as a staff for one the most emerging kpop groups, Stray Kids, or at least that’s what you read about online, you did your research: eight male members, only two of them fluent in English and the rest of them just shy to speak it out loud… you weren’t that unfamiliar at all, you recognized kpop is one of the greatest genres these days, but you were twenty one and going through your finals as the provided you that information, so you followed their social medias, caught up a little in their updates, learned their names and faces —which was very important—, but couldn’t fully concentrate in how handsome they were or at least get yourself a little of fangirlism. Once again, you were sinking in the lasts and very important moments of college.

So the thing was simple, they usually bring their own people around but for this event was the exception, once they stepped on the radar of these popular stairs, they were under the Met Gala staff, that’s when you get in.

You were waiting for them standing among the group of people who would be working the same as you, all with their dress code in black-only etiquette, to go unnoticed. It was your first Met Gala, although you didn't want to flatter yourself either in such a big way, but you had chosen a sexy dress with your back uncovered, you wanted simplicity, but not too much. The heels were starting to bother you a bit until, as fate would have it, a stout black man in charge of monitoring, with headphones on his bald head and clipboard in his hand shouted in a strong New York accent to the group of people you were in.

“The following celebrities are Stray Kids, I repeat so you can listen in the back, Stray Kids is coming! Their team step up to lead them in.”

Nerves got the better of you, it was your turn; you had seen your other ‘colleagues’ guide their respective assigned celebrities, so now it was your time. You hurried to the entrance, along with another girl and two other men. The large black van pulled up to sidewalk and finally, just as you had researched, eight pretty East Asian looking men exited one by one.

You tried to identify the one you had previously studied as their leader and one of the English speakers, until he finally emerged just to one side of you.

“It's this way, boys” your coworker, who was a little ahead of you, led the way.

The eight of them walked a bit and met their designer, the legitimate Tommy Hilfiger, while among the chaos of noise and nerves you tried to identify each one you were working for; they were all wearing long coats but you could distinguish that it was just to hide their real attire.

But apparently you were not the only one nervous, it was also their first Met Gala, an incredibly big event, a bit out of what they knew, in one of the countries where the music market was of utmost importance to consider and succeed, each one of them recognized that this was an important day and simply one more step in their artistic career. They were all nervous and excited; but even so you noticed a somewhat monotonous expression on each of them, you thought it was just nerves. You got a good look at them all as they talked to their designer in charge and noticed how each one had their own charm, they were attractive and smelled quite nice. You thought about how much fun this job is for you, being around celebrities.

“And y/n, right?” he came up to you, the man who had previously been giving directions to your boys.

You nodded, confused, he went on to say:

“I’m informed that you will be going into the museum with them, you can take the lead” he said in a strangely kind tone.

You smiled at him, you had forgotten the last time you met a nice New Yorker. It was when you realized it was time, you took a breath with your cheeks and released them, once you saw they finished their little talk, you took a step so everyone could see you and introduced yourself; it was part of your job and you had been trained for it. You started with a “hi, guys”, told them your name and added that you would accompany them to the exhibit. You looked forward to going in there.

You got the attention of all eight of them, after all they were still men, foreign men excited for a new experience. Once you turned around as you led the way you questioned if wearing that open back dress was the best choice, you hadn't really intended it that way; you also didn't expect them all to be 100 times more attractive in person, the pictures you saw on the internet didn't do them justice.

All the members of Stray Kids were with their respective emotions on edge, but especially one of them didn't know how to control himself. Felix, who at all times kept a serious countenance was more than excited and his body was reacting to it, betraying him, he was aroused. He wasn't exactly in the mood for sex, but somehow he felt uncomfortably hard. He was simply an excited little Asian boy with a not-so-little problem. An erection in his pants.

Felix had the experience at these kinds of fashion events, but simply something about this city drove him incredibly crazy. Somehow he was thirsty for sex… but he didn't feel like he was at this very moment. He had to put on his best show and control his body, he slyly checked his pants and it was a relief that the design was perfectly loose so it couldn't be noticed. But it all got worse when he saw his pretty young guide and staff for tonight, with her pretty makeup and perfect hair done, with her back uncovered.

Felix read her name on her ID hanging on her body and checked slyly if anyone else of his friends and colleagues thought the same as him… he could notice it in the look of his friend Bang Chan, however Felix noticed the little importance that Chan himself gave her and continued treating her with kindness and courtesy, who from time to time gave her a certain look was his other friend Seungmin, who was the master of disguise, but not for Felix, not after knowing him so long and living with him.

But that was just the thrill of the moment, as Felix took full control of his body as he approached his final stretch, an interview and then the longed-for Met Gala stairs. Like a pro idol, he knew how to handle it, and everyone had a spectacular and memorable entrance.

You saw them from afar, Bang Chan had introduced you to each one of them and thanked you for accompanying them even though you hadn’t start yet, you thought he was an unreal man, in fact all eight of them were, their perfectly manicured faces and the subtlety of their make-up were to you so…. You were speechless; but if you had to choose one, putting yourself in the shoes of millions of girls around the world even of your age discovering an attractive boy band, maybe among them all… it would be the only blond guy with long hair. You thought between sighs how cute he was, you were down bad when it came to cute boys, also the long-haired ones.

You remembered his name, Felix; a little strange, it sounded like an old name but somehow it fit him so well, you thought; now you were not only fulfilling your dream job, you would be together with eight handsome men, you almost wanted to let out a little giggle, but it was time to monitor how well they took the pictures of your “bosses” as they posed on the carpet.

You waited a moment more before finally entering, it seemed like hours, until finally the doors opened for you and there suddenly you felt your heart burst, not even Felix's pretty face could have impacted you so much, the exhibition of unique pieces in the haute couture of fashion history.

“You can start to separate and see freely” you mentioned to them.

You saw them, they looked totally lost.

“Mm, I don't think so, we like to stay together” Chan answered with a nervous smile.

“Well, if you like, we can start here…” you spoke.

You didn't want to keep them tied up nor did you want to feel like a big deal, you were only going to accompany them and follow their instructions, however they seemed to follow yours; you gave yourself the task of showing them every corner and giving them a little summary of what each exhibit meant, however you couldn't help hiding your excitement, your eyes shone with care and all eight noticed your adorable expression, even those who couldn't fully understand you because of the language barrier, your expressions spoke for themselves. And Felix couldn't take his eyes off you the whole tour.

Felix didn't understand what was wrong with him, whether it was the excitement of the foreigner, the significant change of time zone, his pretty part of the assigned staff, or the incredible urge to have sex. He wasn't normally like that… well, at least not in places like these. He left the dirty thoughts for later when he was in the quiet of solitude. But just now he had those thoughts of how hot it must be to be fucking someone while wearing that perfectly tailored suit, making a mess among all the tidiness that went with it all.

He wasn't like that… but the more he thought about it, the more he was tempted, he thought it would be the only time he would see you, that you had to be professional and not at all indiscreet, that it would only be one night. He was becoming more and more convinced, what was wrong with him? He was handsome, young, successful and very well endowed, he only needed to show his gifts to someone. Felix thought if that someone could be you; this was not Felix who thinks dating and love were important, suddenly something came over him, like a haughty alter ego blinded by his dazzling fame, ready to just have sex.

The main event started, the dinner and the show, you had gotten a table, only confirmed by the exclusively selected staff in perhaps, one of the worst areas, still you were in, from going to see the Met outside on the street, to being seated next to a bunch of celebrities in the same room; you were so happy you could die the next day thinking you made it.

But once the show was over, little by little so was your spark, it was time to go back to your reality and take a cab home; the folks at that table were mentioning something about an after party, among them and a bunch more… but you didn't want the smell of celebrities and fame to leave your pores and get lost in some stranger's apartment.

You were about to check out when a short woman rushes up to you asking if there was any Stray Kids staff at the table.

“Here, me!” you showed her your ID quizzically. “What's going on?”

“What are you doing here? They're escorting you to the after party.”

Puzzled, you mumbled a “what?” and followed her hurried pace as she was leaving.

“After party, with who?”

The woman stopped in her tracks and turned to look at you.

“Well, who are you working for.”

Impossible, you thought. You were supposed to check out and you weren't allowed to go outside the museum, they couldn't just invite you like that, could they? Why would they? Besides you were working for the museum, not for them. Sadly, you had to make it clear to them.

You walked towards them who were already at the main exit leaving with other celebrities, you got up the courage and approached them.

“Nice to meet you guys, but I think it was a misunderstanding, I can't accompany you, I work for the museum… they didn't give me directions to follow you.”

“And what time do you leave?” Chan asked you with a hoarse voice and eyes fixed on you.

“Just now…” you added awkwardly, not knowing what to say as the eight men stared at you.

“Perfect” Chan said in a thick accent with a smile.

“Now you work for us, let's go to the after party” spoke in a cold, distant and arrogant tone the pretty blond boy who had caught your attention.

You had not heard him speak, not until now. You were too surprised by the contrast of his angelic face and his incredibly thick voice.

You were able to register your exit and hurriedly kept up with the boys.

“We liked the way you explained the exhibition, we will have you as translator now” Chan told you as he quickened his pace leaving you behind.

It didn't make the slightest sense what he just said. You don't even speak Korean.

You sighed and could not deny the excitement of living another adventure, it was not like they were forcing you, you were now going to go to the legendary Met Gala after party.

You got into a dark van along with more of their staff and in the minutes of traffic you were finally there. You couldn't believe it, for a moment you stopped thinking that things made sense.

Luckily you were not alone, but accompanied by another girl in the staff, all looked great but it was evident that no one wanted to socialize with you and it was difficult for you to do so; so you felt uncomfortable and out of place, questioning if you should really be there.

After a few minutes you noticed that Felix stood up from his seat, taking the button of his suit and slyly approached you.

“Can you come with me?” he whispered in your ear with his deep voice.

You froze, and followed him without thinking too much, something wasn't right when it came to him…. besides, you thought you had to follow his instructions.

Felix went to a private bathroom, you wanted to think that maybe he wanted you to take care of his coat… if not, why else would he ask you to accompany him; he entered quickly, in a suspicious way and then came out quickly looking around frantically, until he pulled you by the arm and took you with him to that small elegant bathroom, locking the door. You couldn't process the speed of the actions and suddenly, you saw his piercing gaze in front of yours.

What was going on?

Felix had enough, watching you flirtatiously talking to Chan, sweet talking all his friends, there was nothing else to explain but that he was horny and wanted to have you right now. You weren't stupid, you noticed his looks but wanted to ignore them, but it turns out that wasn't what he wanted.

So there you were, inwardly struggling whether to play along with whatever he intended to do or put your ethics above… you analyzed him, he looked so good with his long hair and white suit, you'd probably never see him again, you wanted to bite your lip just thinking about how dangerous and fast-paced some kind of sex like that would be, on the sly. But you couldn't make up your mind, this was about Conde Nast, your dream, not easy access to fuck.

Felix noticed too the early darkness in your gaze, reflecting lust, he was already hard from just thinking about your ass slapping his pelvis as he thrust his cock in and out your pussy mercilessly. You so wet, making a mess, the two of you indulging in passion while a bunch of people decide to party outside.

“I don't normally do this but… I may only see you once in my life…”

Felix said in a voice thicker than what you had heard and came dangerously close to you, who were glued to the door, perplexed.

“Felix…” you wanted to think clearly but his full lips in a perfect heart shape were distracting you.

“If you want to fuck me… you have to promise me to never tell anyone.”

Felix whispered plaintiff in your left ear, losing himself in the scent of you hair. You couldn't take it anymore, if he kept talking, you might cum at any moment.

You understood the situation of things and the importance of his comment, after all he was still a global superstar. But not telling would not only be a beautiful secret to take to your grave and something fun to remember, but it would also be beneficial for you, because under no circumstances should a female employee have sex with her assigned celebrity. You would be banned from all of Manhattan or the city if possible, public enemy number one.

He moved closer to your ear, thinly brushing his lips on it and making you lose control little by little by his approach. You closed your eyes, completely lost, fuck it, you would fuck him and never see him again, at least not this intimacy.

“Why would I fuck and tell...?” you whispered completely lost in desire.

He chuckled, and finally grabbed you by the waist. Felix sought your lips and you kissed slowly, deeply and passionately, the kiss was so strong that you felt the pressure of his upturned nose on your face. You knew it was so wrong at any angle analyzed… but it felt so right, his lips were soft and he moved them with agility, your hands were still glued to the wall in surprise, but gradually you relaxed and managed to hold on to the ends of his jacket.

Felix also relaxed and his right hand moved down to your naked back and slowly and nimbly he moved his hand in until he squeezed and caressed your ass, his actions surprised you that you almost moaned at the touch, separating you a little from the kiss.

He pulled a few inches away from your lips and, as he ran his hand all around your ass, he looked you over with a look of superiority.

“You're such a slut, only wearing a fucking thong, almost like you were ready for me” he said with a husky voice.

This time you felt his noticeable bulge brush against your belly and his soft touch made you wetter and wetter.

“Get on your knees, beautiful.”

He ordered and you obeyed. Felix was sick of feeling horny, he wanted a quick fix, to strip the tight garments off his cock and be attended to urgently, once he had enough of his own, he was going to take over pleasuring you fully.

Your breath was getting shorter and shorter and you felt his member on the fabric, you thought about how good he looked from below and in all possible angles, then you pulled down his pants, ready to give him the best blowjob ever —or at least you hoped so—, you couldn't resist, you simply pulled down his underwear too, finding his throbbing and delicious cock so needy, its tip was bright pink and poor Felix was already showing signs of small droplets of pre-seminal fluid, and to think he had a fine and angelic face…. You had never felt so hungry and desirous, you were totally possessed; you wanted it in your hands, in your mouth, pounding your face, pounding your cervix… so you felt it, that firm hard manly hunk, at the mercy of your hands, feeling every texture of his skin.

Felix gasped, lifting his buttoned shirt a little, revealing a bit of his smooth but working abdomen. You took some of his fluid and spread it all over his length, lubricating it, it felt so good, but you were also so needy and desperate, and the thin fabric covering your intimate area didn't help at all, you felt the garment getting smaller and smaller, you felt your wet pussy growing and throbbing causing a delicious friction; but you thought you had to be more careful, your whole outfit was black, one stain of semen or fluids and you had to pay for the dress.

You moved a little away from him, hoping that no droplets of him fell on your attire, still you held his erection tightly with your left hand, making frantic movements, back and forth.

He was ecstatic, it was all he needed, to be sexually attended to; the New York air suited Felix Lee wonderfully, and the New York girl… he thought… she was out of this world, her hands felt fantastic on his hard manhood. He wanted to cum roughly, but he wanted to do it dirty in his employee's mouth and pretty face… he would never act like the beastly thing he was doing in Seoul, but new place, try new things.

So between sighs and gasps, he lowered his gaze and tried to communicate with her.

“Use your pretty mouth.”

You never thought he was going to ask, you didn't hesitate for a second, and the grotesque sound of your saliva dripping on his cock were heavenly; his sex was hot and smooth, the texture felt so good inside your cheeks but once again, you are desperate for him to take you and start moving your guts.

Within minutes, Felix cum in your mouth amid moans and groans, and the softest but most effective hair pulls, to make you go exquisitely deeper. You never thought he was so vocal, with a voice like that, you were in heaven; and it took you only a few seconds to drink his cum, as a reward.

“I think we need to get rid of that dress” he said trying to catch his breath. “I'll buy you 3 more, no worries.”

He took you by the chin, inviting you to stand up and helped you take off the dress, you were so excited that your vision was blurred and you couldn't think clearly… what was his next move….

You were amazed at how incredibly hard and standing still he was even after he had just cum, you thought, after all kpop idols did have it all, great stage presence, big penis, music talent, and for sex too.

He sat you on the small counter, him facing the mirror, the stone was cold and you were finally, almost, completely naked in front of him, wearing only your thin thong. Felix wasted no time and positioned himself between your legs, kissing you deeply and desperately as you carefully felt the tip of his penis brush your wet center each time they came closer, he moved his kisses down, to your neck, massaged your breasts and kissed and sucked them mercilessly, you wanted to scream with excitement but you were acutely aware that there were people outside, never mind the noise of the party. Once on your chest, he turned his angelic face up, with a dark mischievous look and that's when you felt his thumb caress your clit.

You moaned in relief, finally your exhausted pussy was going to be given attention. His movements were slow until each time he increased the acceleration, you couldn't help but writhe in pleasure and when your body contracted ready to climax, Felix introduced his fingers inside you, he felt the softness of your insides so lubricated and ready to feel his erection beating you frantically.

“Look at me” he asked once he saw that your attention was focused for a few seconds on his right hand playing with your pussy.

“Uh-mm” you murmured, nodding softly, almost in moans.

You weren't thinking clearly but decided to hold back the urge to cum just to feel his fingers inside you for a few more moments. You looked into his big dark eyes; you felt that he looked more calm and serious with that gaze locked on you and his innocent freckled look, unlike you that your eyes was totally submissive and you were almost about to cry with pleasure, oh and Felix loved that, all that mess because of him.

“I'm going to cum, Fe…” you moaned.

But you couldn't even speak, he accelerated his movements and your belly contracted so pleasantly bringing you to your first orgasm.

“I'm not done yet; let me clean up that mess you made.”

And without warning, Felix leaned down, gripping your thighs tightly, two of his fingers still freshly wet from my fluids, marked on your thigh; Felix ran his hot tongue across your cunt, licking all your cum.

He began to eat your pussy carefully, almost accomplishing step by step and you loved the delicacy of what he was doing, you were seeing stars, you didn't want this to ever end, you wanted him on you all the time. You took advantage and also took hold of his tightly tied hair. He did it so well that you had to cum a second time.

And finally, the act you both had been waiting for since he locked the door; Felix had saved the urge and was once again swollen and throbbing, screaming for attention and action. He cleaned the edges of his mouth in a attractive manner.

“Shit, I don't have a condom” he said in annoyance.

“It's okay, I'd never have your baby anyway.”

Felix smiled and you watched his erection in front of your pussy, until he gently pushed it in, until you closed your eyes once again in pleasure.

“I'm going to cum inside you and make sure your pussy misses every part of me.”

Felix whispered hotly in your right ear as you pressed your bodies closer and closer together, until you ended up with your legs wrapped around his waist, crushing bit of his outfit, and your hands on his shoulders. And then, he rammed you fast and as delicious as no one else had ever done, you moaned softly to avoid any strange noises from outside. It was incredible, you thought, his rhythm was strong and constant and when you began to lubricate his penis more indicating your soon orgasm, Felix separated from you and in quick movements he changed your position, lowered you from the counter, turned your body and introduced his penis making you stand still and making you both see yourselves in the mirror.

You couldn't be happier, you loved the fiction of his shirts stuck to your body of the clothes he still had on, and he began to pound more frantically and wildly, giving way to the sound of your skins colliding and your fluids combining. Felix held you tightly by the waist as he pulled your body away and closer, controlling it in his own way, you wanted to help him, moving your ass a little but his grip was too strong. You were with your back arched, holding tightly to the sink, giving choked moans as you felt his strong thrusts. Watching him fuck you in the mirror was fucking hot, he looked so attractive with his half-open mouth letting out soft moans and his concentrated countenance, frowning and his eyes locked on your ass, then on you.

Felix grabbed your hair in his fist and pulled it to pull you closer to him and glued you to his body, just when you thought it couldn't get any better, his thrusts were deeper that way and you were touching the edge.

“Do you like the way I fuck you, little slut, huh?”

You tried to nod between gripping your hair.

“Say it.”

“Yes-yes, Felix, ahh it feels good.”

“You feel good too, sweetheart, you're doing a great job.”

His dirty talk close to your ear were just more elements to make you cum faster and faster and each time you were more and more surprised, as his pace increased, finally making you climax, for the third time.

Felix smiled in victory as he felt your pussy muscles first tighten and then relax releasing more of your luscious fluids, wetting and hugging his hard cock, Felix continued another small moment, until he cum gloriously inside you and a little more above your ass.

You were perplexed. The sexual connection had been real. You both tried to catch your breath, he helped you put your dress back on and as you changed, Felix felt a little bad about just using you for his carnal desires, for you honestly it had been just a good fuck and you had your feet on the ground being aware that someone like him and you could never be together.

“So… Are you officially working on something related for Vogue?”

You smiled, as you tried to touch up your makeup, it was a bit badly retouched.

“No, it's my dream, they just hired me as a one-off for this year.”

“Maybe you should learn Korean and move there, Vogue Korea is still Vogue, isn't it?” he mentioned flirtatiously.

You chuckled again, that implied many things and at the same time none for you.

“Go out first, y/n, then I'll go out. I'll transfer you for the dresses outside, I don't even have my phone here” he said, finally in his deep voice calmer, almost looking tender, in his thick accent.

You smiled and looked at him one last time, before finally leaving for the party. Leaving you wanting more, but also with nothing more than just sex in the city.

[jeyunhos]

Midnight feast | jyh [ Interactive story! ]

pairing: vampire!yunho x human!fem!reader cw: blood, drinking blood, vampirism, oral sex (female receiving), oral sex (male receiving), public sex, alcohol consumption, if I miss any tags let me know Summary: After your friend stands you up at a bar, a handsome, mysterious stranger tries to light up your day. A/N: Finally!! my second interactive story, this time with yunho. This story is a choose-your-own-path story, each link at the end will take you through different routes with different plots and endings. I always have a lot of fun making these so I hope you will too. This story is 18+, minors do not interact.

Keeping up with his desires was not always easy, as a creature of the night in modern days some things had gotten just plain complicated. Furthermore, it didn’t help that he was picky about his tastes and likes, but when he landed his eyes on a target he did not rest until he had it. 

He had to have you. 

He realized it when he saw you across the bar, all on your own, toying with a glass of an untouched beverage. You looked rather… disappointed, if he had to put a word to it; vulnerable women weren’t exactly his type, but something about you was dragging him in, it was making him thirsty. 

“A glass of wine, please, cabernet.” he had approached your side on the bar and turned to the bartender “And whatever the lady wants to replace that watered-down drink of hers.” 

It took you a second to realize that he was talking about you since you were too absentmindedly toying with the slim red straw that your glass had as decoration. 

“Oh, no, that’s-” you tried to refuse politely, not really wanting to offend the handsome stranger, but also not in the mood for some random guy to be hitting on you. 

“Please, I insist” he raised a hand in your direction, accompanied by a charming, captivating smile that made you feel warm within yourself. “I know what it’s like to be stood up” he added “Asshole boyfriend?” his eyes searched for yours with a tilt of his head. 

At that moment you took a proper look at him. He had deep black hair that somehow shined blueish whenever the dim bar lights angled enough to hit his face. He was wearing frameless glasses and a turtleneck sweater adorned by chain-like necklaces that were barely covered by his leather jacket. Fair skin that contrasted perfectly with his deep black eyes. Those eyes, certainly profound enough to drown you in them if you weren’t careful, you could tell. 

As you were weighing your chances to come out of this exchange unharmed, which you deemed very slim, the bartender came back with his order. Then you noticed the nails when he took a hold of the glass, they were long for a man and they were almond-shaped as well, covered in shiny, transparent rocks. 

Despite his attention leaving you briefly to properly hold his drink, his eyes were deeply focused on yours, awaiting an answer to his question that was purposely formulated to test his own chances with you, and it wasn’t like you were particularly interested…

But there was just something about those eyes. 

“More like an ungrateful friend” you finally spoke, as if something was compelling you to do so. 

“I know the type.” he tried to sympathize in hopes you wouldn’t push him away “Care for some company?” 

Granted, you did not really want to get hit on tonight, least of all to go home and hook up with a stranger, but you figured why turn some free drinks and a nice conversation down? You decided to amuse him for a while. He was alluring, not bad on the eye at all, why not? 

After the first few minutes of awkward conversation and introductions, during which you learned his name was Jeong Yunho and he insisted on you calling him only ‘Yunho’, the conversation began to flow easily. It was almost as if he could see into you, that something was forcing you to keep talking about yourself no matter how stupid, embarrassing, or utterly unnecessary the information was. To every single bit of said information, though, he had an answer ready, some were of sympathy and understanding, and some similar stories of his own. You could feel a connection, a real connection that didn’t happen often. 

Yunho felt about the same way, the one difference was that you could feel it in your chest, and him? In the endless throbbing between his legs and the urge to make a mess out of that beautiful neck of yours. 

“...and I swear, the cat just climbed all the way up my leg and, before I knew it, it was on my head!” as he finished his sentence, he began to laugh at the reminiscing of his own story. 

You couldn’t help but laugh along; it’s not that the story was particularly funny, but he was enjoying himself so much it was infectious. 

“Must have been really talented, climbing a man as tall as you” you observed, your hand landing teasingly on his thigh “Gotta say, I’m kinda jealous” 

Maybe it was the booze of the few drinks you had had, maybe it was the fact that he smelled like morning dew, or maybe he was just ridiculously hot and you had started to get horny a while ago, but all this banter and laughing had gotten to you, and you were curious about what could happen next, or if he had the same interest in taking you home, hell, taking you at all. 

Yunho, smart and experienced as he was, picked up on the signal real quick, his eyes darkened at the prospect of having you, and if he was honest with himself, he’d rather that be sooner than later. 

“Well, we can’t have such a beautiful lady’s heart filled with such a nefarious feeling” he said as he took your hand and gently brought it up to his lips to press a kiss to the back of it. “Shall we move this somewhere else?” 

Follow him to the alley Follow him back to his home

[stevieschrodinger]

Link to Part One Part Two Part Three

TW Human trafficking discussions of injury

Steve feels like shit. He looks like shit. He’s pretty sure something might have straight up died in his mouth when he got that forty five minutes of sleep.

Everything looks good though. The fact that everyone else sprawled around the boardroom also looks like shit makes him feel a little better about himself. Well. Everyone but Nancy, obviously, who could probably walk out of a tornado and still look put together.

Steve only knows it’s morning because Carol just brought them all coffee. Carol does not come in out of hours. Steve learned that very, very early on. It was uncharacteristically nice of Carol to turn up with the little trolley from downstairs; it had a bunch of fruit and breakfast pastries on it, plus coffee.

She then proceeded to explain to Steve at great length how he looked and smelled like he’d been shit out by a bear, so, maybe she had motive. And that motive was being a bitch.

“Happy now, Steve?”

Steve’s got like, a whole bag of sand in each eye. Coarse, if they grade that kind of thing. Coarse sand. “Do you think we got everything?”

“I am confident that the team have done their utmost to pursue every avenue.”

“Nance, stop being a politician. That’s not a yes.”

She purses her lips at him in the way that she has, “can I have a word with you?” She scans the board room, “privately?”

Steve drags himself out of the chair, balancing one croissant on top of his coffee cup and grabbing a bear claw too, and then follows Nancy out and into a nearby office.

She doesn’t pull any punches, “I need to know how you know.”

Steve takes a big bite, then speaks with his mouthful, “can’t. NDA.”

She pinches the bridge of her nose, “and who, exactly, did you sign an NDA for?”

“The FBI.”

Nancy brings up her phone, showing Steve the screen. More precisely the headline on the screen, and Steve is thrilled that the picture they’ve used of Hagan is, objectively, fucking awful, “so Tommy Hagan was arrested last night, for Omega trafficking. When you walked into the office yesterday, oh so confident that everything relating to Hagan was going to tank…it was nearly ten full hours before this hit the news.”

Steve shrugs again, “N...D...A.”

They stare at each other for a long moment.

The door opens, Henderson’s baby face poking through. You would not in a million years think they guy was in his twenties, “Steve, morning! Sorry, I know it’s early…” Henderson seems to take in the state of Steve. Shirt rumpled, tie hanging loose, starting in on his second pastry, “but I kind of need to know why over a quarter of a million dollars was moved on Saturday, and where it went since it seemed to just...disappear?”

It takes, probably, less than a second for Nancy to leap to a conclusion like an Olympic fucking vaulter, and half a second longer for her to hit Steve with the file she’s holding.

“Er...not now, Dustin okay?” Steve manages to say, trying to shield his pastry and his coffee while Nancy gets it out of her system.

Dustin’s a smart kid, he watches Nancy slapping Steve with the papers...and just leaves.

She finally stops, pinching the bridge of her nose, and says very evenly, very quietly, “Steven Harrington, look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t buy an Omega.”

“NDA?” Steve replies quietly, uncertain, and then flinching when Nancy raises the folder again, “okay okay! Yes, yes I did. But! Under the FBI’s kind of...you know, instruction? I was evidence gathering! He’s at mine but I’m figuring out where his family are and I’ll take him back! It’s fine!”

“Why is he at yours?”

“They didn’t have anywhere for him, short notice, plus his feet are kind of messed up, from them like, hurting him. He’s been there a couple of years so doesn’t have anything, so I’ve ordered him some clothes and stuff. He’s fine.”

Nancy tilts her head, like a predator working out the distance they need to strike, “he’s...fine?”

Steve knows he’s fucked up. Nancy is using that tone. It’s...a very specific tone. “Err...yes?”

“You have an injured Omega, who has been held against his will, abused enough to be, at the very least, physically injured, never mind the emotional toll this whole thing may have taken...and he’s fine?”

Oh, no. She’s raised her eyebrow in that way she has. “I mean...yeah?” Nancy glares, and Steve backtracks, “I mean. Obviously he’s not...you know, perfectly okay, I guess. He’s been through a lot. But I made sure I fed him plenty, and he’s got some clean clothes on the bed. The bed in the room...I never actually...got around to showing him to...because I got, distracted. And it’s upstairs…” Steve can feel his insides sinking, “his feet are hurt. Shit.” Well fuck. Steve's...fucked up, probably quite badly now that he actually stops for thirty seconds to think about it.

Nancy sighs aggressively out her nose in that way she has, “Steve your security system is like fort fucking Knox, did you at least…”

But Steve’s already shaking his head, because he didn’t do that, either. He’s just...locked Eddie into a new prison. Shit.

He scrambles, feeling guilty, “I’ll give him some of the money. A lot of the money. Hagan’s...stuff. He can have the ranch?”

Nancy’s eyebrows shoot up into her hairline, “why on earth would he want the place he’s been kept prisoner for-”

Steve shrugs, “whatever he wants. He can bun it down if he likes, I’ll help. It’ll be like, therapy?”

Oh no, she gone from pinching her nose to rubbing that spot on her forehead, but then she seems to...deflate. Grasping Steve’s arm to hold him close, she actually speaks gently to him, which is, quite frankly, a million times more terrifying, “Steve. We’ve known each other a long time, now, so I say this with love. Money, wealth...is not the most important thing in life.” Steve opens his mouth to protest, but she shushes him, ���I know. Alright, I know it can help, and it makes life a lot better for a lot of people...but giving people things does not...fix anything. Money is not an apology. Gifts are not an apology. And I know it’s hard for you to...see it differently, okay? Because you’ve always been very...driven, and that’s a good thing! I know how you grew up and how your father was with you and I know you feel you have...something to prove, okay, so I understand, I do. But...a lot of people put higher value on...just. I mean, maybe just go home. Say that you're sorry. Look after the Omega for a couple of days, make sure he gets home, okay? Maybe prioritize that, for a moment. You know the office will be fine...and maybe you’ll see that other things in life can have value, hmm?”

Part five

@stylelovechild @steddieonthen @marklee-blackmore @sticknpokelightningbolt @resident-gay-bitch @somegirlsomewhere @mugloversonly @weekend-dreamer7 @lololol-1234 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @mx-jinxous @goodolefashionedloverboi @bogwitchlesbian @lunaraquaenby @steddieinthesun @pluto-pepsi @disrespectedgoatman @i-eat-spinal-cords @waelkyring @kal-ology

[jackactuallywrites]

Purely Professional

Pairing: Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley x Female Medic Reader

Rating: Mature (nothing too explicit but dick is hinted at)

Warnings: Ghost has a boo boo 😔 (blood, facial injury - split cheek and bruising)

Summary: You are the only medic Ghost trusts to treat him. Also you guys are friends with benefits!

Notes: Yes I do always headcanon Ghost with a broken nose. It’s HOT. Also I’m cleaning out the drafts

Word Count: 1,712

ao3 link

“He’s here.”

You didn’t need to ask to know who the other medic was talking about, nodding thanks to the medic as she left, and you quickly finished up with the young woman you were patching up, “You can take ibuprofen as needed, no more than two pills at a time, and space out the dosage to every four hours.” You wrinkle your nose, “I mean, you know how to take ibuprofen, just basic over-the-counter stuff. But come back if there’s any problems.” She nods, “Thanks, Doc.” You weren’t sure how many times you’d specified the difference between a combat medic and a military doctor, but at this point, it wasn’t worth the air, so you just nodded, gesturing for her to take her leave, “Anytime.” She grabbed the pillbox and made her way out of the room, leaving you to clean up the empty wrappings, tossing them into the nearby bin. You tore off the paper that was covering the bed, binning it as well and then rolling out another cover, making sure everything was fresh and clean. When you were satisfied, you walked out of the room into the waiting room, your eyes immediately landing on the one man who didn’t need to be named.

Ghost.

The intensity of his gaze was intimidating, his dark eyes glowering from underneath the skull mask as though he wanted nothing more than to take down every single person who dared to breathe the same air as him. At this point, the other medics had learned that he wouldn’t accept their help, refusing to utter even a single word until you were free. You leaned against the frame of the door that led into the hallway, beckoning him with a jerk of your head. He rose from his seat, seeming to dwarf everyone else around him as he walked through the room toward you, brushing past you without a word and striding straight into the open examination room, the cold silence seeming to emanate off him like a tangible aura, visibly affecting those around him, the other medics shrinking away from him as he passed.

You followed him into the room, closing the door behind you, “So, what can I help you with today, Lieutenant?” He sat down on the bed in the room, resting one forearm on his thigh, gesturing with the other hand to his face, consistently a man of few words. You stepped closer to him, “You’re going to have to give me a little more than that.” He grunted, reaching up to take off his helmet, setting it on the bed beside him, and then unclipping the skull mask, revealing the balaclava underneath. Finally, he pulled off the balaclava, revealing his clipped blond hair, and then his face, bruised and bloody, his cheek split open, blood already dried to his skin. His eyes, thankfully untouched, the black paint surrounding them unmarred, were on you, boring into your face as he watched you.

You didn’t waste time, reaching out to probe his face, your fingers gently holding onto his chin as you turned his head from side to side, inspecting the damage. It looked worse than it was; facial injuries always bled more, and though he tensed when you gently pressed his cheek, there was no sign of anything broken. After taking a moment just to be sure, you drew back from him, walking to the medical cupboard and taking out an antiseptic wipe, talking as you did, “You won’t need stitches.” He grunted, and you took this as permission to begin wiping the blood away from his face.

“So,” you began, always one to make idle chitchat as you worked, “who did you piss off this time?” Ghost watched you, his face solemn, searching your eyes before he responded, his voice barely more than a whisper, “Couple guys.” You smiled as you brushed the wipe over his split skin, “You know if you want to see me, you only have to ask.”

All the tension in his face seemed to ease then, his eyes softening as he looked up at you, “I know.” You took this as permission, gently nudging his legs open so you could stand in between them, closing the distance between you, allowing him to reach out in his own time, and after a brief moment, he did, his hands reaching out to gently rest on your hips, his fingers hesitant, still unused to the intimacy you shared. You cleaned up the rest of the blood on his cheek, giving him time to get used to your close proximity as you brought out a small plaster to cover his wound. In a moment of impulsivity, you pressed a gentle kiss to his damaged cheek, your reward his sharp intake of breath and the tightening of his fingers on your hips, pulling you closer toward him.

“You know,” you began, letting your hands rest on his shoulders, “the other medics are going to think you’re sweet on me.” Ghost let his face rest in the crook of your neck, his voice low, muffled by your shoulder, “I’m not sweet.” You smiled, letting your fingers trace over from his shoulders to the back of his neck, “No? What would you call this?” “Desperate.”

There was no mistaking the longing in his voice, the yearning, the way his fingers pulled you closer to him until your body was pressed against his. Already, his fingers were pulling at your shirt, just like he’d done so many times before, secretive fumbles in whatever vehicle or armoury was nearest, all beginning with some injury he only allowed you to treat, all ending with you wrapped up in his arms. You smiled, shifting one hand to stop his fingers on their insistent path underneath your shirt, “I think they’ll notice if I spend forty minutes in here with you.” Ghost didn’t seem entirely put off by the idea, his face tilting up as his lips began to move over your neck, gently nipping at the skin, his voice husky, “You love this being our dirty little secret, don’t you?”

It was impossible for you to lie to him; after all, he was special forces; no doubt he could sniff out every last secret of yours if he truly wanted to. His hand was already moving from your hip up to your cheek, forcing you to look at him as he pulled away from your neck, his pale eyes searching yours, “Admit it.” Every part of you seemed desperate to touch and be touched by him, and you held back a groan, “Yes. Which is why we can’t do anything in here.” His lips quirked in a smirk, “We wouldn’t want them to think you give this treatment to everyone.” You smiled, “I am supposed to be a professional, after all.” His thumb reached out to brush your cheek, “Couldn’t we both use a little unprofessionalism right now?”

The idea was tempting. Too tempting. You could feel those eyes of his melting away your resolve, and you shifted your weight from one foot to the other, biting the inside of your cheek, “What exactly did you have in mind?” There was a wicked look in his eyes, luring you into sin, to submit yourself to his will entirely, “What I have in mind would make too much of a mess and needs more time than we have.” You tilted your head to the side, curious, “So what do we do?” He was quiet for a moment, his eyes flicking over every single facet of your face, your eyes, your cheeks, your lips. He leaned into you, his nose bumping against yours, letting you feel that little ridge where it had been broken. His words were a murmur against your skin, softer than he ever seemed capable of, “I’ll be content with a kiss for now.”

It never seemed to make sense that a devil could be so sweet; you knew what he was capable of, you’d patched him up, you’d seen his medical records detailing what he’d been through, yet here he was, asking you for that simplest of intimacies. You obliged his simple request, leaning forward to press your lips against his, feeling the slight stubble on his skin prickle yours, his hand shifting from your cheek to the back of your neck, the one on your hip moving to the small of your back to pull you closer to him, encircling your body, his lips soft against yours, yet insistent, needy. He pulled away before you, leaning his forehead against yours, letting out a strained sigh, his hand moving from your back to his crotch, adjusting his trousers to disguise the growing bulge there. “The things you do to me.” His voice held some frustration, his fingers tightening on the back of your neck but loosening just as quickly, always in complete control of himself.

You could see the Lieutenant return, the way his back straightened, the grim determination returning to his lips. His hands fell away from your body, reaching for the balaclava and mask he’d put to the side, and you knew your time with him was coming to a close. You stepped back from him, tucking in your shirt, allowing him to resume that persona, covering his bruised face with the black balaclava and then finishing with clipping his skull mask back into place, his helmet finishing the transformation. All that remained of him were those soft eyes, out of place, surrounded by blackness. He reached up with one hand to tuck a loose hair back under your beret, his gloved fingers gently stroking against your cheek. “I’ll be seeing you.”

There was no doubt that he would find you to finish what you’d started here, but for now, he was back to business, standing up off the table and straightening out his uniform. You crossed the room to open the door for him, allowing the outside world view into your privacy, not that there was anything for them to see. He stalked past you without a word, yet as he passed, his hand reached out to gently squeeze your arse, sending tingles up your spine as he left you wanting, trying hard not to look like a lovesick dog as you watched him go.

[arc852]

Not Just A Drunken Dream

Summary: Jimmy goes to class with Joel and Grian, but as the humans are running late, they are a bit less careful and Jimmy ends up on the floor of the busy hallway.

Fortunately, he is found and picked up before he can be crushed.

Unfortunately, it wasn't by Grian or Joel.

Warnings: fear, anxiety, stress, very minor injuries, and dangerous situations

Word Count: 6909

AO3 Link

If you click to read this on AO3 do not read the character tags or you will be spoiled on who the third main side character is. Just giving you guys some warning if you wanted to be surprised while reading it.

This thing was a monster to edit because I wrote it four months ago and it was really bad but it's all done and great now! I'm really proud of how this turned out and I'm excited for you all to finally know who the third main side character is! I hope you all enjoy!

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

 Jimmy decided he wanted to go to class with Joel and Grian again. At this point in time he had gone with them to class plenty of times before. It wasn’t all the time by any means, he didn’t want them constantly worried about him, after all. And also it could get pretty overwhelming for him too sometimes. But, he thought today would be a nice day to go out.

 He had learned that, while biology was definitely not for him, some of Joel and Grian’s other classes were a lot more interesting and easier to understand. Like Joel’s history class. He loved learning about human history, it was always so interesting to learn all about what humans had done. It was a bit terrifying at times though. The things some humans did…and to each other no less…

 Jimmy shook his head. Despite all that, he really did enjoy it and he was looking forward to sitting in on another class.

 “Sure, let me just grab my hoodie.” Joel said after Jimmy asked if he could go with them. Joel rummaged through his dresser while Jimmy waited patiently on the nightstand and watched as Joel put on a cream-colored hoodie.

 Grian was already at the door, impatient. “Come on, we’re already running a little late.” Grian said as he glanced down at his phone clock. Joel rolled his eyes but went over to Jimmy and scooped him up, gently maneuvering him into the front pocket. Jimmy slid off Joel’s hand as soon as he was fully in the pocket and watched the hand leave as he settled comfortably, leaning against the wall that was Joel’s stomach.

 “All set?” Joel asked, though Jimmy could already hear, and feel, him putting on his bag.

 “Yep!” Jimmy yelled and when they were given his confirmation they finally left the dorm room. Jimmy hearing the click of the door as they left.

 Due to running a bit late, Grian and Joel ended up walking a bit faster than usual, which Jimmy could tell from being jostled around a bit more. It wasn’t uncomfortable or anything like that, the hoodie pocket had always been pretty stable even with harsher movements, but it was noticeable enough. Jimmy didn’t mind it though and knew him being a bit jostled around was needed for them to get to class on time.

 They entered the outside and quickly made their way down the path and toward a nearby building. Thankfully for both of them, Grian and Joel had their classes in the same building today, which meant if they continued at their current pace they should be able to make it on time still. That also meant they wouldn’t separate until they were already inside the building and if Jimmy remembered correctly, Joel’s classroom was first.

 Jimmy knew as soon as they had entered the building because, once again, same as always,  Jimmy got hit by how loud it was. Except this time it seemed a lot louder than usual. They hadn’t even entered the classroom yet and already Jimmy felt like he needed to cover his ears. Jimmy could only assume that because Grian and Joel were late that they hadn’t managed to beat the crowd of students coming and going and bustling around the halls.

 This meant that the halls were quite crowded and combined with the fact that Joel was still rushing toward his classroom, it shouldn’t have been surprising that Joel would run into someone. But with Jimmy unable to see and in a pretty vulnerable spot, especially since Joel didn’t have his hands in the pocket with Jimmy at all, Jimmy was more than just surprised by the powerful weight suddenly slamming into the side of Joel’s body. 

 Jimmy couldn’t help himself as he let out a scream, one that was drowned out by all the other loud noises in the hall. He was moved violently towards one of the openings in the pocket. He tried gripping the fabric around him but the suddenness of the hit had given him no time to prepare and he was never able to get a good grip on the fabric. Instead, his screaming continued as Jimmy found himself rocketed out of the pocket.. 

 “Hey! Watch it!” He thought he heard Joel shout but it was quickly drowned out by the pain of slamming into the floor.

 Jimmy groaned, the pain of landing on his back was bad and part of him just wanted to lie there until the pain subsided. But then he realized where exactly he was right now, in the middle of the hallways, with what had to be hundreds of humans walking through it. He forced himself up, ignoring the pain in his back, and nearly screamed again as a shoe slammed down next to him. He quickly scooted back from it but then had to jump out of the way of yet another shoe. 

 Jimmy breathing picked up, the pain in his back all but forgotten due to the panic. This was bad. Where were Grian and Joel? Surely they had noticed he was no longer with them, right? They had to be looking for him right now, right? It was hard to tell from this angle though. Right now, all humans were just legs and shoes, all with the capacity to crush him without even knowing.

 That thought alone nearly made Jimmy’s heart stop.

 Another shoe came at him and Jimmy dove out of the way but he wasn’t quite fast enough. He made it but not without the shoe grazing him just a bit and causing him to wheeze as he harshly hit the floor again. He took in some fast breaths as he scrambled up again, knowing any amount of sitting still would kill him. He needed to get away from here. He needed to find cover.

 Before he was able to do that, however, another shadow fell over him. Jimmy tried diving out of the way again, thinking it was another shoe but the shadow seemed to follow him. He looked up only to freeze as he realized the shadow belonged to a hand. Jimmy was helpless as the hand descended upon him from the crowd of shoes and legs and wrapped around him completely. Jimmy couldn’t help but feel panicked, because what if this wasn’t Grian or Joel? What if some random human had just picked him up?

 But then he was quickly lifted and placed in a hoodie pocket, a red one, and Jimmy found himself relaxing. The red was familiar and the grip around him gentle. There was no doubt that it was Grian who had found him. Jimmy felt himself go completely limp and he let out a relieved sigh. The panic that had been building was finally mellowing out and Jimmy did his best to get his breathing back under control.

 He brushed his hand over Grian’s thumb and there was a slight bit of hesitation before the thumb brushed along his side back. Jimmy hummed and settled against the warm hold. Though as he settled, he could still feel that Grian was moving faster than normal.

 The noise of humans quickly died down but Jimmy knew it wasn’t because they had entered the classroom. They were back outside. He could only assume they were headed back to the dorm after what had happened. It made Jimmy feel a bit bad that they were missing class because of him. But the scare from it all also made him glad they were going back in order to make sure he was okay.

 Jimmy could tell when they entered the dorm building, it was always a different kind of quiet than outside. Jimmy waited as he listened for the sound of keys in a lock and it didn’t take long for him to hear it. Before he knew it, a door was shutting behind them.

 The hand still loosely wrapped around his body solidified into more of a stable grip and pulled him out of the pocket. The hand then opened, allowing him to sit up and on the open palm, his back only protesting a little as he did so. “Thank goodness you guys were able to find me.” Jimmy said, his words filled with relief. “I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if I--if…” Jimmy’s words trailed off as he finally looked up.

 That was not Grian.

 And it wasn’t Joel either.

 And suddenly Jimmy couldn’t breathe.

 “You’re actually real.” The human said in awe. And then he grinned. “I knew it. I knew you weren’t just a dream.”

 Jimmy could barely breathe, barely think, but even he was confused by the statement. A dream? What was he-?

 And then it hit him. 

 “Y-You’re…You’re him. The drunk guy that saw me.” Jimmy managed to stutter out, tears pricking the corner of his eyes. He wanted out of here, he wanted off this hand.

 He wanted Grian and Joel.

 The human winced at his words and used his free hand, the one not holding Jimmy, to rub the back of his neck sheepishly. “Ah, right, right. That was uh…” He bit his lip. “You remember that, do ya?”

 Jimmy sputtered, mouth agape. “Do I-? How do you remember?! I-I made sure you didn’t! At least, I-I thought I made sure…” Jimmy looked down at his hands, his eyes wide with panic. All this time, he thought he had been fine. He thought the drunk human that had seen him some two years ago now had been too intoxicated to even remember. But apparently, he had. And now, Jimmy was in his hands.

 “I, well, it took a while to remember it if I’m being honest. And then I actually did think it was a dream for a while. But it just felt so real and…” He shrugged. “I don’t know, something in me just told me it couldn’t have just been a dream.”

 Jimmy clenched his hands into fists as he grit his teeth. So the human hadn’t remembered while Jimmy had been watching but…then gained his memory back later on? Jimmy hadn’t even thought of that as a possibility. 

 “Uh, what did you mean by you made sure?” The human asked, breaking him from his thoughts and causing Jimmy to look up at him again. He flinched a bit as their eyes met.

 “I…I stayed for a while after you saw me, watching, just to make sure you had forgotten.” He warily admitted. “I-I figured two days had been enough time, and drunk humans usually never remember anything anyway so I really thought-” His breath hitched. “Guess…Guess I didn’t watch for long enough.” He said through a choked up sob, tears starting to roll down his cheeks. This was it for him, it had to be, caught by the one human that had kept him up for countless nights in the past.

 “Whoa! Hey, it’s okay.” The human said, panic making its way onto his features and through his tone. His eyebrows pinched together in concern as he saw the little guy crying. “Please don’t cry little buddy, I’m not going to hurt you or-or anything else that might be running through that little head of yours.”

 The human looked around the room, head turning a bit too fast in all directions before his gaze fell on his nightstand. “Here, I’ll put you down. I’m sure being in my sweaty hands isn’t fun.” He nervously joked as he finally moved away from the door and over to his nightstand. He then placed his palm down on it, allowing Jimmy to get off on his own.

 Jimmy immediately took the opportunity and hopped off, glad to be on solid ground again. The hand lifted and went back to the human’s side and Jimmy was both relieved…and confused. He wiped at the tears still on his face, trying to stop himself from crying anymore as he warily looked up at the human as he backed up a few steps.

 “There we go. Is that better?” The human asked and when Jimmy didn’t say anything, the human looked panicked again. “Ah, oh, um…Oh! Maybe some introductions are in order? Yeah, yeah, um, I’m Tango! It’s nice to finally meet you.” Tango gave him a smile, though it was one full of nerves. “What’s your name?”

 “...Jimmy.” He said hesitantly, still worried about what was going to happen but slowly calming down a bit.

 “Well, like I said, it’s nice to meet you Jimmy.” Tango said, his smile gentler now. “I promise I don’t have any, uh, evil plans or anything like that.” Tango said with a little wave of his fingers at the word evil. “I just, I saw you and I didn’t want to see you hurt or-or worse.”

 Jimmy bit his lip. That’s right, he had been so caught up in everything that he had almost forgotten but Tango really had saved him. If not for him, he might have actually been crushed before anyone else even had a chance to pick him up.

 And, well…this was going a lot better than Jimmy would have ever expected. Tango had even put him down when he saw how distressed Jimmy was. He asked for his name, he promised no ill intent…

 Tango was really reminding him a lot of Grian and Joel.

 There was just one thing he had to be sure of.

 “So…you’re not planning on, uh, keeping me? Right?” Jimmy asked, eyes pleading that the answer was no.

 Tango’s eyes went wide. “Of course not! That’s included in the whole ‘no evil plans’ thing!” Tango answered. So not only was it a no, but a resounding no. Good to know. Jimmy then watched as Tango knelt down, so the human was more eye level with Jimmy now. “You’re a person, Jimmy. And I make it a habit to not kidnap, trap, and hurt my fellow persons.” Tango sent him another kind smile and this time, Jimmy returned it, even if his was a bit shakier than Tango’s.

 “Thank you, Tango. That actually really means a lot.” Jimmy said. He supposed there really were more good humans out there. Still, a borrower could never be too careful, but it’s nice to see that Tango was one of them.

 “Hey, no need to thank me for doing the basic human thing.” Tango said with a shrug.

 Jimmy shook his head. “No, really. Because not a lot of humans would…would be as nice as you.” The ‘basic human thing’ in regards to borrowers was not kindness. At least, if all the stories Jimmy had ever heard was anything to go by. And even if Jimmy currently had a 3 out of 3 track record for finding the good ones.

 “Oh.” Tango said. “Oh.” He said again as realization hit him. Right, he supposed Jimmy had a point. A three-inch tall person falling into the wrong hands…the things his mind came up with made him shudder. “Right, yeah, um…sorry you gotta, uh, sorry you gotta watch out for stuff like that.” Tango said, not really knowing what else to say. “I wish humans could be kinder.”

 Jimmy smiled softly and it was then that he knew, fully, that Tango was good.

 “You’re kind though. And that’s really all that matters right now.” Jimmy said, his small smile turning into a small grin.

 Tango’s cheeks flushed and he rubbed the back of his head, laughing nervously. “Just, uh, just doing what I know is right.”

 Jimmy giggled at the human’s flustered expression. Jimmy found himself feeling a lot more comfortable around Tango. The fact that Tango had proven to be kind mixed with the way Jimmy was somewhat used to humans now, it was surprisingly easy for Jimmy to relax. “Mind if I ask you a question.” Jimmy asked.

 Tango let his nervous laughter die off and as he met Jimmy’s eyes again. “Yeah, of course. Ask away.”

 “How did you…how did you see me in that crowd of people anyway?” Now that Jimmy’s mind was free of panic, it was actually something that baffled him. He could understand if it was someone who was actively looking for him, like Grian or Joel, but the fact Tango managed to see him in that mess had to have been a miracle.

 Tango’s nervous laughter returned. “Heh, um, well. Funny story that, I uh, I’ve…kind of made it a habit to look down a lot. You know, just in case…I saw you again. Or another little person. I didn’t want to accidentally hurt you or anything.” Tango released a breath. “I’m actually really glad I did that now, or else you might’ve…ya know…” Tango didn’t elaborate, but they both knew what he meant.

 “Huh, yeah, that’s…yeah. I’m really glad you made that a habit too, actually.” Jimmy agreed, pushing any thoughts of what could have happened far from his mind.

 “Can I ask you a question too?” Tango asked and Jimmy, though not expecting Tango to want to ask his own question, nodded. Tango’s eyebrows furrowed as he thought about his question and how to ask it. “Why were you on the ground, in the middle of the hallway, in the first place?”

 Jimmy blinked, realizing that was a fair question to have, actually. “Oh, I fell out of my friend’s…pocket…” Jimmy slowly trailed off, realization hitting him. His eyes widened, his body tensing up again. “Oh my word! They’re probably still out there looking for me! I gotta-I have to-!”

 Tango’s own eyes widened at Jimmy’s sudden panic. “Whoa! Whoa! Slow down, what’s going on?”

 “I was on the ground because I was with my friends and some guy knocked into one of them and it knocked me onto the floor! They’re probably worried sick!” Jimmy tried his best to explain. He had to assume his friends had noticed he was missing by now and were probably scrambling around trying to find him.

 Tango blinked. “You’re…friends?” He thought for a moment. “Wait, do you mean…your friends are human?”

 Jimmy nodded, his body still tense and raring to get back to them. “Yeah, Grian and Joel. They found me a few months ago and ever since then we’ve been best friends. But they still think I’m missing or…or worse.” Jimmy ran his hands down his face. He was probably causing them so much worry. The thought was stressing Jimmy out.

 “Wait, did you say Grian and Joel? As in the Grian who constantly wears red sweaters and causes mischief, the Joel who has a green streak in his hair and also plays along with said mischief? That Grian and Joel?" Tango asked and Jimmy looked up at him with wide eyes.

 “Uh, yeah? W-Why?” Jimmy asked, wondering how the heck Tango seemed to know so much about Grian and Joel.

 “Because Grian and Joel are good buddies of mine.” Tango revealed and Jimmy’s brain short-circuited for a moment.

 “...Wait, they have friends?” It was not meant to be a dig at them but Tango laughed and Jimmy realized how bad that had sounded. He tried to backtrack. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way! I just, genuinely thought they were each other’s only friends.” Jimmy shrugged helplessly. “They’ve never mentioned other friends before, anyway.”

 Tango nodded along, his laughter dying down as he placed a hand on his chin in thought. “Yeah, that makes sense actually. Grian and Joel have sort of stopped hanging out with me and the guys outside of class.” He looked down at Jimmy. “Though I can see why now.”

 Jimmy frowned. He didn’t want to be the reason Grian and Joel had stopped hanging out with their other friends. He was perfectly fine being left alone for a few hours if they wanted to hang out somewhere else. He didn’t have to always be around them.

 He would need to talk to them about that later.

 “I need to get back to them.” Jimmy said, getting them back on track. “I can’t begin to imagine how worried they are.” Well, that was a lie. He definitely could imagine it and he hated it. He really needed to let them know that he was okay.

 Tango nodded. “Yeah, of course. Uh, where do you think they would be, if they realized you were missing?” The question gave Jimmy pause and he had to think about it.

 “Well…” He started, thinking out loud. “They probably would have retraced their steps when Joel realized I wasn’t in his pocket. Meaning…if they didn’t find me in the hallways or outside…they’re probably back in their dorm room.” Jimmy worked out.

 “That’s as good as any place to start.” Tango said with a nod. “If they aren’t there, we’ll just head back to the building. We’re sure to run into them at some point at least.” Tango said and Jimmy nodded in agreement with him. Whether Jimmy was right or not, they would get him back to them. 

 Tango looked down at Jimmy and paused, realizing he would have to pick up Jimmy again for this. “Uh, how do you, ya know, want to do…this.” Tango stuttered out, waving at the both of them.

 Jimmy looked at him confused. “What do you mean? You’ve already picked me up before, you can just do it again.”

 “I know I have! But that was, you know there was a lot of panicy panic and not a lot of thinkificating involved.” When he saw Jimmy in danger, it was more of an act now and ask questions later sort of thing. “Besides, I feel weird just grabbing you.”

 Jimmy tilted his head, puzzled. A human feeling weird about grabbing him? That was certainly a new one to Jimmy. Grian and Joel never seemed to have any conflicted feelings about grabbing him or picking him up. “Joel and Grian do it all the time, so I’m pretty used to it.”

 Tango hummed at that, not knowing what to think. “Well…I would prefer you had some say in being picked up. So…” Tango placed a hand down next to Jimmy, palm up and flat. “...Hop on?”

 Jimmy looked down at the hand, hesitant. It’s not like he had never been offered a hand before, he remembers vividly when that was all Grian and Joel did for a while after they first met, but it was such a rare thing nowadays that Jimmy wasn’t used to it. The difference between just being grabbed and being offered a hand was that, when it was offered, Jimmy was the one putting himself in that position. He was really and purposefully giving his entire self and safety to the human offering him the hand.

 He supposed, when he was just being grabbed, it was easier to just let it happen. 

 And not only that, but this wasn’t Grian or Joel offering him a hand. It was Tango. Someone who he had just met and despite proving himself to be like Grian and Joel, it was still nerve-wracking to put himself in his hands. Especially when Tango was making him make that choice himself.

 But he needed to get back to Grian and Joel, and Tango was the quickest way there, so he took a deep breath and stepped onto the hand. He moved toward the center and, feeling weird standing, he quickly took a seat. Jimmy then looked up at Tango and gave him a hesitant thumbs up.

 “There we go, okay.” Tango said and Jimmy could just feel how nervous he was. It was kind of sweet, in all honesty. Even Grian and Joel had never been this nervous to handle him. “I’m going to put you in my pocket now, okay?” Tango said and when Jimmy nodded Tango lowered him to his hoodie pocket and let Jimmy inside. Jimmy slid off the hand and watched as Tango pulled his hand away but kept it at the very edge of the pocket, just in case.

 “Ready?” Tango asked, still nervous.

 “Ready!” Jimmy yelled back and then settled in as he heard the door open and Tango start to walk the dorm halls.

 It wasn’t very long at all before Tango had stopped, making Jimmy wonder just how close Tango really was to Grian and Joel’s dorm. A sharp knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts though and he tuned back in, hoping Grian and Joel were there.

 Tango heard a series of harsh whispers coming from inside the room but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. At least he knew they were in there. It took a long moment, long enough where Tango thought about knocking again, but the door opened before he could, revealing Joel.

 He looked awful, honestly. Tango couldn’t help but wince at just how distressed he looked. And when Grian came from behind to see who was at the door, Tango noticed he didn’t look much better. He knew they would be worried about Jimmy but actually seeing them like this almost broke Tango’s heart. At least he knew Jimmy was in good hands, if their amount of worry was anything to go by. “Um, hey guys.” Tango said with a little wave.

 Joel blinked. “Tango?” He had not been expecting him, though really he hadn’t been expecting anyone. “What are you-? Ah, nevermind, we don't really have time to chat or hang out right now, so maybe another-” As he spoke, he was already in the process of closing the door but Tango cut him off.

 “I found Jimmy.” Tango said, not beating around the bush.

 Both friends froze and slowly, Joel opened back up the door and both him and Grian looked at Tango with wide, incredulous eyes. “I…I’m sorry, what?” Joel asked, not sure if he had heard that right.

 Tango gently patted his hoodie pocket with the hand not still in there. “I found Jimmy.” He repeated and then pointed to the inside of the room. “I think it might be best if I come in?”

 They stared at him for a moment longer before nodding slowly and moving out of the way for Tango to come inside. Tango did and the door was shut behind him.

 “Alright Tango, you better explain yourself.” Joel said, his arms crossed as he tried to appear threatening. However, his disheveled appearance and his worry were still showing through too much for it to actually work. 

 Grian, on the other hand, did a very good job at burying his emotions in order to stare daggers at him.

 “Right, right, hold your horses.” Tango said, and then reached into his pocket since he figured showing them Jimmy was the best explanation he could give at the moment. He felt Jimmy crawl into his palm and he made sure to get a solid grip on him before pulling his hand back out, being very slow and careful just in case. He then lifted his hand to chest level and held it out towards Grian and Joel, revealing Jimmy sitting in the center.

 “Jimmy!” They both shouted almost at the same time, voices overlapping each other. Before Tango could even react, Joel took a step forward and snatched Jimmy off his hand, moving to cradle him between two cupped hands. “Are you alright? What on earth happened? Where did you go?” Joel asked question after question in worried relief.

 “And how did you end up with Tango?” Grian chimed in, close to Joel in order to look over Jimmy as well and make sure he was okay. But his gaze was locked onto Tango as he asked the question, Tango backing up a bit with his hands up at the intensity in Grian’s gaze. He had never seen Grian act like this before and, well, Tango could admit that Grian was scary when he wanted to be.

 Jimmy, despite the too many questions, was just happy to be back with Grian and Joel. “I’m okay.” He decided to start with, since that seemed to be the most important thing to clarify. “I’m not hurt or anything.” He explained, even as Joel was using a gentle thumb to feel around his body for any injuries.

 “That’s good.” Joel said with a sigh of relief, though he didn’t take his thumb back. Instead, using it to rub Jimmy’s back comfortingly. “But what happened? I got to class and put my hand in my pocket and you were just…you were just gone.” Joel’s voice cracked at the last word and Jimmy winced. He really had worried them.

 “When you ran into that person in the hallway, I…I fell out and onto the floor.” Jimmy revealed, knowing the reactions weren’t going to be good.

 He was right.

 “On…on the floor. Of the hallway.” Grian said through gritted teeth and with wide eyes. “In the middle of that crowd! Jimmy, how…” how are you not dead, went unsaid but Jimmy still picked up on it. He was good at that since Grian and Joel never really liked bringing up what could have happened to Jimmy in certain situations. At least, not in any detail.

 “It was…terrifying. But I was picked up only a minute or so later.” Jimmy looked over at Tango. “I thought it was you at first, Grian, since I was put in the pocket of a red hoodie but it turned out to be Tango.”

 Both Grian and Joel looked over at Tango. Joel seemed to only just remember that he was there while Grian continued to look at him with barely hidden wariness.

 “So you…saved him.” Grian said. Tango just shrugged and Jimmy frowned at that, answering before Tango could.

 “He did! He saw me down there and grabbed me to save me!” Jimmy exclaimed.

 Grian’s eyes finally softened, his wariness still there but much less prominent and he could already feel himself relaxing. “If that’s the case then thank you, Tango.”

 “Of course.” Tango said, feeling better with Grian not looking at him all scary like anymore.

 Joel though, still holding Jimmy close to his chest, still looked confused. “Okay, that is great and all and we do really appreciate it.” Joel started, but his tone became more wary as he continued. “But how are you not freaking out at Jimmy existing? You’re being pretty calm about all this.”

 And Joel’s words, Grian’s wariness came back tenfold and he looked at Tango with much the same gaze as before.

 Tango gulped at that but held out his hands. “Well, you see, I-” He cut himself off when he saw Jimmy run a hand along his neck, telling him to stop and not say anything. Tango really didn’t know why, but he followed along anyway. “I…uh, got all of my freak out when I talked with Jimmy at my dorm?”

 Joel raised an eyebrow. “Why was that said as a question, Tango? What are you hiding?” Joel still seemed a bit untrusting toward Tango, despite Tango bringing Jimmy back to them.

 “I’m not hiding anything! I, well…” Tango glanced down at Jimmy for help. Grian and Joel noticed and followed his gaze and now all three were looking down at Jimmy.

 “Jimmy? Do you have something you want to tell us?” Grian asked, his brow slightly raised. 

 Jimmy looked at the three of them before he couldn’t help but duck his head a little. He was used to being around Grian and Joel, of course. But Tango being added to the mix…that was three humans surrounding him from all sides, staring down at him with their full attention, and it was just a little intimidating if he was being honest. 

 Jimmy bit his lip, knowing that if he told them the truth of how Tango knew about him, they would freak out. Probably on both him and Tango. But he also knew that at this point, Grian and Joel weren’t going to let it go. He either told them now with little fuss or spend an hour arguing about it and then end up telling them anyway.

 He really didn’t feel like getting into a big thing right now. He was starting to feel exhausted from this whole day. So, he sighed and decided to reveal it. “Tango isn’t really freaking out because…he already kind of knew about me.”

 Grian and Joel’s eyes widened and Tango bit his lip as he watched closely at their reaction.

 “...Okay, but how?” Joel asked and Jimmy knew he wasn’t just going to let him leave it at that.

 “Um…remember when I told you about that time, when you two were celebrating the end of your first semester with some beer? About, how uh, I almost got caught by that drunk guy?” Jimmy asked with a nervous smile.

 It clicked right away for the two of them.

 “Tango was the drunk guy that saw you?!” Grian shouted as Joel’s jaw went slack. Jimmy winced a little at Grian’s volume and their reaction. Tango also found himself wincing, his body tense as he prepared to run if he had to.

 “I thought you said he didn’t remember seeing you?” Joel asked, getting over his shock enough to speak. Jimmy huffed a little and looked down.

 “I thought he didn't, but according to Tango…” He trailed off and looked at Tango, who took the hint to finish for him.

 “I started remembering a few days later. At first I thought it had been a dream but I just…I had this feeling it couldn’t have been.” Tango repeated what he had told Jimmy earlier.

 “Well that’s…hmm.” Grian started, only to stop talking and hum to himself, unsure.

 “I guess I am glad it was you and not some total stranger.” Joel admitted. “That could have been really bad.”

 “Yeah, imagine my surprise when Tango told me he knew the two of you. Why have you never mentioned him or any of your other friends before?” Jimmy asked, looking between Grian and Joel.

 Joel blinked and then shrugged. “It just…never got brought up? And besides, we never thought you were ever going to meet any of them.” He looked at Tango. “Turns out you two met long before us.”

 Jimmy supposed that was actually kind of true. It had been at least a couple of years before he met Grian and Joel that he had had that close encounter with Tango. That was honestly weird to think about.

 “Oh shoot, is that the time?” Tango suddenly said, catching a glance at Grian’s alarm clock. How words pulled Jimmy out of his thoughts “I gotta catch a class in about 10 minutes, so I should probably head out.”

 Grian nodded but as Tango made to leave, Grian stepped forward. “Wait.” Tango froze at the seriousness in Grian's voice and looked at him nervously. “You’re not going to tell anyone else about Jimmy, right?”

 Tango’s eyes widened. “No! Of course not! I would never ever.” He said and then paused, thinking something over. “But, I mean…you know, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad for you guys to tell the others.”

 Grian’s eyes narrowed. “Tango…”

 Tango put his hands up. “I’m not going to say anything! You don’t have to worry about that. But…you know the guys. You know Impulse and Etho and the others. Do you really think they can’t be trusted to know about Jimmy?”

 Joel rolled his eyes. “It’s not about trust! It’s about not having so many people knowing about Jimmy. The more who know, the more likely it could spread.”

 “But only if someone spills the secret.” Tango said with a raised eyebrow. “And I really don’t think anyone would. But, anyway, it’s not really up to the two of you, is it?”

 Grian and Joel blinked. “What do you mean?” Joel asked with a huff.

 “It’s up to Jimmy.” Tango said. Grian and Joel paused and looked down at the borrower and Tango couldn’t help but hum. “It’s his decision whether he wants more people to know about him or not.” It was important he reminded his fellow humans that Jimmy should be making the ultimate decision on anything that involved the borrower himself. And something like this definitely fell into that category.

 Tango then crouched down so he was eye level with Jimmy and smiled at him. “They can tell you more about our other friends later, but I wouldn’t be suggesting this if I didn’t think everything would be okay.” He explained a bit more. “Besides, I think you would get along great with the rest of our group.”

 Jimmy blinked wide-eyed at Tango, taken aback by that last statement. “You really think so?”

 Tango nodded. “I do. Think about it?” Tango asked with a slight head tilt.

 Jimmy hesitated for a moment before he nodded. “I will. Think about it, that is.”

 “Great.” Tango said and then slapped his knees as he straightened up before heading toward the door. He looked back behind him. “Hopefully we can see each other again soon! Bye Jimmy!” He waved and Jimmy waved back with a smile. “And bye to you guys too, I guess.” He joked as he also waved to Grian and Joel.

 And with that, Tango was gone. 

 And since he was gone, that meant all attention was now back on Jimmy. He was finally brought away from Joel’s chest and held between the two humans. “You are okay, right?” Grian asked softly, wanting to make sure.

 Jimmy took in a shakier breath than he had intended but nodded. Despite everything, he really was okay. Tango seemed like a really nice guy and even promised to keep his existence a secret. His mind, however, couldn’t help but replay the terrifying parts of the day. Jimmy did his best to not think about it though and shove it into the back of his head. “I’m okay. Just a bit shaken up, I guess.” Jimmy said, allowing himself to be a bit more vulnerable with Tango no longer around.

 “I bet.” Joel said and Jimmy realized his tone was no longer bordering on defensive. “You fell out of my pocket, onto the floor, and ended up meeting another human today. I’d be exhausted too.” He said and then sighed and looked away. “Stupid of me to not have my hand in there with you.” He mumbled to himself, so quiet Jimmy only caught a few words. But before he could ask about it, the conversation moved on.

 “You’re back with us now though.” Grian said, not only to them but to himself as well. “That’s all that matters.”

 “Yeah, and maybe no more trips to classes for a little bit.” Joel recommended and Jimmy nodded. He had no desire to leave the dorm room for a long time after what happened today.

 “I second that.” Grian said and then walked over to his bed to collapse in it. Joel, who Jimmy expected was going to be holding him for at least the rest of the night, sat down on his own bed and seemed to finally relax.

 “By the way.” Jimmy said after a few moments of silence. Joel looked down at him and Grian sat up a little to do the same. “What, uh…what are your other friends like?”

 He looked to Joel first, who was frowning. “You can’t seriously be thinking about meeting them, right? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

 Grian sat all the way up and rubbed the back of his head, sighing. “Joel, I hate to admit it, but Tango is right. That’s not our decision to make for Jimmy.”

 Joel sputtered. “It’s-I mean-Jimmy, you were the one who didn’t want more humans knowing about you in the first place!”

 “I know, I know.” Jimmy looked down. Meeting Tango had been nerve-wracking for sure but maybe it was only because of the way he had met him? Sure, he would probably still be nervous meeting the others despite knowing what he was getting into with them. But…maybe Jimmy wanted to try. Maybe he wanted more friends. Not that Grian and Joel weren’t good enough but more friends, more people to talk to, seemed…nice.

 Besides, if the others knew about him, he would no longer be stopping Grian and Joel from hanging out with them. They could all hang out together!

 Still…Jimmy couldn’t take making this decision lightly. He needed to think about it and calculate if the risks were worth it. But, honestly, if the others were anything like Grian and Joel, or even Tango, he figured he would be just fine.

 “I’m not sure about it yet. But…I am thinking about it.” Jimmy admitted and looked between the two to gauge their reactions. They both looked worried, which Jimmy thought was fair. “I would like to know more about the others though, in order to…reach that decision.” Jimmy continued.

 Grian and Joel were silent for a moment before Joel sighed. “Well…I guess we can start with Impulse. He’s Tango’s roommate.” Joel started and Jimmy was a bit surprised they were willing to do this right now but thankful all the same.

 The rest of that night he spent in Joel’s hands, listening to Grian and Joel talking about their friends.

 And once they had all laid down to finally go to sleep, after learning so much about these people, these friends of his friends, Jimmy couldn’t help but think about how much he wanted to meet them.

[ayellowdaylily]

Commander's Needs [NSFW]

» pairing: canon!Hange x afab!Reader » summary: Delivering Levi's paperwork to a certain Commander turns into something you could only dream about. » word count: 3.4k » notes/warnings: smut... p in v, please read my Hange headcanon for this! lots of pet names (dear, darling, good girl, love), Hange has a cock and boobs *Vine boom*, major slow burn » a/n: I had sm fun writing this so I hope you guys enjoy it (first fic on Tumblr so pls be nice T-T) this is also half not edited bc it's 3 am... so uh don't mind it being practically all over the place » song recommendations: Intro: Singularity by BTS » Ao3 link Happy reading ദി(。•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊

Only the sound of the crickets outside the window, as well as the quietness of the night, could be heard from Commander Hange Zoë’s office as they immersed themselves in some rather last-minute paperwork. The oil lamp’s flickering flame reflected off their glasses as they wrote, signed and stamped. 

The soft silence was suddenly broken by the sound of knocks at the Commander’s door, drawing their attention away from the messy paperwork splattered across the desk, to the unexpected raps. It was rather late, why would anyone come knocking, Hange thought as they got up from the chair.

“(Y/N), what are you doing here at this hour?” Exclaimed the Commander as they opened the door to reveal the sudden visitor.

“Oh- so sorry for the late disturbance,” You said with a panicked tone as you glanced nervously at the papers in your hand, guiding them towards the Commander’s direction. “Captain Levi had instructed me to give these to you.”

As Hange sensed your tense posture, they swiftly grabbed the papers from your hands, examining them with an apparent curiosity about their contents.

“No need to worry! So Levi’s got you to do his dirty work this time?” Hange asked jokingly as they leaned against the door frame.

“I was just passing by, I’m guessing I was one of the few still awake at this time. I don’t mind tho.” You replied with a shrug of your shoulders.

Hange removed their weight from the doorframe as they returned to their desk “Now that you’re here, I might as well enjoy the company.” They pulled a chair and patted it. “Come, sit down.” 

With hesitation, you slowly approached the seat and settled yourself beside Hange. The sound of a chair scraping at the floor broke the awkward silence as the Commander scooted themselves closer.

“So, besides being Levi’s mail person, what else do you do?”

You didn’t answer immediately as you gathered your thoughts, holding your tongue before answering.

“I volunteer in the medical bay quite often, if not I'm just your regular old scout.”

Hange took the time to examine you as you spoke, taking in every detail - from your hair to how the soft orange light cast by the oil lamp’s flame reflected in your eyes. You simply looked… captivating. 

“A medic, huh?” Hange finally spoke once they acknowledged they had been silent for too long. “That means you know a thing or two about anatomy, right?”

“I do, I’ve seen and learned lots of things.” You responded quickly as the Commander’s question took you aback.

Hanges eyes surveyed your face, looking for any hint of hesitation, but it wasn’t intimidating, it was… more curious than anything. Moist began covering the palms of your hands as they took their time to answer once more. Quickly, you wiped them on your pants.

“Do you think you could take a look at my neck real quick?”

“Of course! What seems to be the problem Commander?” 

Slowly, Hange’s blouse revealed their shoulders as well as the upper part of their chest while they undid the first few buttons. You felt a soft plush crawl at your cheeks at the sight of Hange’s exposed skin but as the Commander turned around, you observed a swollen part of their skin located on the upper back.

“This spot has been killing me. I don’t know what the hell happened but can you take a look?” Hange said with their back turned, awaiting your medical remarks.

“Well, I think you have a knot in your neck… I’d need to take a closer look to be sure.” You explained softly.

“Do what you must, doctor.” Hange joked.

You gave them a soft hum before reaching out. The contact between your cold hands and the warmth of their body sent jolts up your spine as you touched Hange’s skin, softly touching the tense muscle.

Hanges nerves followed the touch of your fingertips on their back, they leaned into your touch a little, their breath catching in their throat when you started touching them in a not-so-delicate way, contrasting your previous soft touch.

“Have you been stressed recently?”

“Yeah, I’ve been a lot more stressed than usual lately. It’s been a rough few months, with the new position.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it…” You said as you continued to examine their skin with your fingers. “You simply have a muscle knot, you could always let it go away on its own, or I could loosen it a bit to help. But for it to get better in general, you need good nutrition and rest.”

Hange listened intently as you explained, their mind fixated on the way your touch felt on their skin. They nodded in agreement as you suggested to help loosen it slightly, but hearing your last suggestion caused a small chuckle to escape their lips.

“Rest? That’s a good one, I don't think I’ve gotten a good night’s sleep in weeks. I don’t have time for-”

“Commander!” Gripping their shoulders, you turned Hange around to face you. “It’s important for you to get rest. As a matter of fact, as your acting doctor, I want you to go to bed now! The paperwork can wait.” You persisted.

Taken aback by your insistence, Hange simply stared into your eyes. They weren’t used to someone, especially a lower-ranked scout, telling them what to do. The corners of their lips quivered as they fought back the smile threatening to spread across their face.

“You think you can tell me what to do? I have lots of important work to get done tonight.” Hange said with a teasing tone as they folded their arms across their chest. You knew damn well you had absolutely no right to order the Commander around, but you were genuinely concerned for their health.

“Commander, please. It really is important to take care of yourself. No matter how much “important” work you may have.”

The only reaction Hange gave you was a soft chuckle at your persistence. They weren’t used to someone being so headstrong with them, but they secretly found themselves amused by your determination.

“Alright, alright. I’ll rest. I guess you only have my best interest in mind, right?” Hange responded as she shook her head in defeat. 

“You bet, Commander!” You said with a bright smile plastered on your face that Hange couldn’t help but return. There was something about your presence that put them at ease, even though your determined attitude, they were enjoying this little back-and-forth banter.

“You’re feisty, you know that?” Hange exclaimed as they slipped their blouse back onto their shoulders, not bothering to rebutton the top buttons. “I like it” 

A soft blush began covering your cheeks as you ignored their last comment.

“No time for joking around, you need a good night's rest for once.” You said demandingly as Hange held up their hands in surrender with a faint laugh.

“Yes I’m going, I’m going.” They said in a low voice, getting up from their chair with a groan.

“One more thing though…” Hange continued, stopping you in your walk towards the door.

“What is it, Commander?”

Hange remained silent before they stepped closer to you, observing you once more with a curious gaze.

“Is it a part of a doctor’s job to also ensure the patient they’re checking on… enjoys the experience?” Their voice dropped to a lower, more intense tone as they asked you. Their gaze fixed so intensely into you.

Your words came out with a stutter as Hange loomed over you, their imposing presence slightly intimidating you. “O-our patients' experience is the most important part of the job.”

The Commander smirked at your stammered response. They could tell they were making you seemingly nervous, but your reaction only fueled their enjoyment and encouraged them to push further.

“Is that so” Hange taunted under their breath as they closed the small gap between you two, their strides bringing them overwhelming close, forcing your body to make contact with their office door. They raised a hand and delicately caressed your cheek while slowly tracing the outline of your face tenderly, their touch sending pleasurable shocks through your body. Faced with the Commander's unexpected boldness, you only stood frozen in shock, unable to react any other way. A soft snicker escaped Hange’s lips as they watched your flustered face and nervous stature. With their soft fingertips still tracing your face, they pushed away a loose strand of your hair behind your ear.

“You’re awfully red… aren’t you, my darling?” They murmured into your ear. Shivers were sent down your spine as their soft breath tickled your ear. The comforting warmth of Hange’s touch disappeared from your face, their hand slowly continuing its path along your body before it came to a stop at your waist, trapping it in an intimate embrace. To your surprise, your body reacted strangely to the Commander's intimate touch, the warmth of their hand against your skin sent sparks of anticipation down your spine, brewing a heat deep within you that you couldn't explain nor ignore. A smile slowly crept to Hange's lips as they felt your body tensing up to their tender touch. The Commander continued to revel in the effect they had on you, the hand resting at your waist travelled higher, their fingers dancing across your bare skin, tracing patterns that sent tremors of pleasure through your body. You couldn’t help but look down as your cheeks flushed in embarrassment and trepidation at their touch. The anticipation in you grew stronger and stronger.

“You’re terribly quiet, darling… speak up.” Their hot breath tingled against the crook of your neck as Hange whispered, the hand that was once simply resting by their side now forcing your chin upwards.

“Commander…” You muttered as their touch sent sparks of anticipation down to your core. Hange’s grin widened at the sound of your frailed whisper, fueling the desire boiling inside of them.

 “Call me Hange, dear.” Their lips ghosted against the line of your jaw, drawing you closer. The soft, velvety touch of their lips sent subtle shivers of pleasure rippling down your body, the tender caress was an inevitable invitation to your anticipation. 

“Coma- Hange” You whispered. With a hum of satisfaction escaping Hange’s throat, the sound of their name coming from your lips fueled their enjoyment.

“Ah, that's better. I like the way it sounds when you say it like that.” They continued to pepper your jaw with soft, tender kisses, their lingering breath hot and warm against your skin. Hange’s hand, which had journeyed to your stomach, slowly trailed downwards, the tips of their fingers tracing a torturous path along the hem of your pants, creating a delicious tension that left you yearning for more. Leaning even closer, now bodies fully pressed onto each other, Hange’s face left your jaw and brought their lips to your ear.

“You’re struggling to keep it together, aren’t you?”

The Commander couldn’t help but grin a little wider at the soft serenade of you moaning their name. It was such a sweet sound, yet it sent such terrible images through Hange’s mind. Pulling their head back slightly, just enough to view how much of a wreck they had created.

And there you were, Hange’s eyes darkened, taking in your flustered state. With a small smirk appearing on their lips, they permitted their hand to venture further down your body, delving under the waistband of your pants to trace the edge of your underwear teasingly. Such close contact near your core sent jolts of excitement through you. You felt yourself becoming wetter as Hange’s explorations became bolder. Your eyes were drawn to Hange’s lips as if magnetized, you felt the longing hunger grow inside you as you remained powerless. The Commander's gaze bore onto you more intently, noticing the way your body trembled as their hand discovered newer parts of your soft, lush skin. They couldn’t help but flicker their gaze down to your lips for a brief moment before returning to your eyes, boring the same eagerness as their own. 

“Hange.. Please” You muttered quietly, you couldn’t wait any longer, the delirious tension had taken your mind by force. 

“Please what, darling?”

“Touch me, please…”

It was as if a string had broken, releasing a rush of need inside of them. 

Hange didn’t hesitate for a moment before allowing their hand to venture downwards towards your core, their fingertips finding your sensitive clit through the thin barrier of your underwear.

In response, you simply let out a soft moan of their name. Relieving, that’s how it felt. Darkness overtook your vision as you closed your eyes, letting the sensation of Hange’s fingertips caressing your sensitive core overtake you. 

“Keep your eyes on me.” With a forceful hand, the Commander took your chin and tilted it upwards. You obeyed their command, letting your eyes bore into theirs, but, you needed more, you needed them.

“Good girl” They whispered, their voice soft and intimate as they leaned forward, gently resting their forehead on yours. The closeness intensified the moment, their words filling the air between you like a shared secret only for the two of you. Your core became needy. You couldn’t stop yourself from lifting one of your legs, wrapping it around the Commander’s hips, bringing them even closer than before. 

“More… Please, more.” You muttered under your breath, begging Hange to feed your core’s hungriness. Oh, how your sweet begging and your desperate moans drove them wild; the Commander was more than happy to comply with your request. Their movement was painfully slow as they pushed the delicate fabric of your underwear to the side, finally letting their fingers come into contact with your bare skin. Hange teased you ever so slightly as they dragged their fingers down your slit, covering them in your slick. 

And before you knew it, a finger entered your needy core.

“Is this what you wanted, my dear?” The Commander’s breath tickled your ear as they whispered, their finger thrusting into you. You could only gasp at the sensation, bringing your hands up from their idle position to venture into Hange’s messy hair, tugging and combing through it. It was Hange’s turn to let out a soft moan at the sensation, your touch sending sparks down their spine.

“The way you’re sucking me in, it’s driving me crazy.” They whispered, their voice raspy with desire. An empowering rush of confidence overtook you as you allowed your hand to trail down Hange’s body, slowly moving until coming to a halt at the bulge of their pants. The bold move sent a thrill through you, the touch of your hand against their evident arousal filled you with a sense of excitement. The Commander let out a gasp as they felt your hand press against their core, the unexpected feeling ignited a sudden wave of heat and desire that coursed through their body. The intimate touch sent a shockwave of sensations around their body, their body responding instinctively to your caress by leaning into your touch, they felt every ounce of restraint slipping away. 

Hange moaned your name as their eyes darkened, not being able to hold back, they entrapped your lips into a searing, messy kiss while adding a digit inside of you. It was sloppy, yet you were trying to memorize the feeling of Hange’s lips on yours. The warmth of the hand that was once softly caressing the skin of your jaw now left it unattended, while suddenly entrapping both of your hands together. Without warning, the feeling of Hange’s fingers inside of you disappeared. You whined in protest.

“Shush darling, let’s get to the good part, shall we?” 

The sound of your ruffling blouse could be heard as the Commander unbuttoned it impatiently, all while leaving scattered kisses across your neck. Finally free from the confinement, your arms wrapped around Hange’s neck as they ventured lower, continuing with lingering kisses down your body. Hange hummed ever so slightly into every kiss. With a swift move, they hoisted your legs onto their shoulders and brought you off the ground. Their hands under your thighs, they held you securely against them while guiding you towards the bed. Your back made contact with the plush blanket as Hange gently put you down, their lips trailing up to yours to meet in a tongued kiss. The Commander’s lips were now seared into your memory, their tongue dancing with yours. You let yourself sink into the mattress as Hange unbuttoned your pants, leaving your covered core in the air. You bucked your hips as they pushed their knee to your sensitive area, grinding yourself onto it to get the least bit of pleasure. Admiring the view, Hange swiftly undid the last buttons of their blouse before tossing it with the rest of the discarded clothes on the floor. The warmth of their hands returned to your body as they ever-so-slightly lifted your back off of the bed to unclasp your bra, revealing your breasts. Your hands covered your sensitive buds as the cold air hit them before being pried away. 

“Don’t be shy, love, we’re already past the point of no return,” The Commander whispered greedily. Before you knew it, Hange’s mouth was latched onto one of your breasts, sucking and twisting your bud with their tongue as their hands worked around your panties, slipping them off of you while you were too exhilarated from the new sensation. 

Your eyes trailed Hange’s now naked body when they finally removed their garments, revealing their pretty bust and their needy cock that leaked precum. Joining you on the bed, Hange gently lifted your leg, their lips began a soft trail of pecks up your body until you were face to face. Honey-brown eyes bore into yours, searching for hesitation.

“Are you sure, my love?”

“This isn’t very professional,” You said in a teasing tone before instantly regretting your choice of words.

“To hell with professionalism.” They muttered in a ragged voice before entering you without warning. Your pussy sucked in Hange’s cock as if it was built just for them. Soft moans of your name left their lips at the sensation. Each one of their thrust made their cock explore a new cove of your core, making your hips buck every time. Your hands cramped up as you gripped the sheets before you tangled them into Hange’s dishevelled hair. You hadn’t expected the Commander to fuck as if possessed, their thrusts were rough yet relieving to your neediness. Sweet nothings kept spewing out of their mouth as you moaned; you could barely hear yourself over the sound of your skin slapping.

“So good, so good,” Hange muttered frantically as they buried their face in the crook of your neck, the feeling of their breath tickling your skin added to the many sensations you were feeling. It was almost overwhelming. Hands now holding onto their back, you clung onto them, nails digging ever so slightly into their skin. The Commander's soft grunts kept resonating in your ears.

Your walls began clenching around Hange’s cock, your breath becoming more and more ragged. Each trust sent waves of pleasure through you, you couldn’t get enough. 

“Fuck, I needed you so badly.” They mumbled as their elbows came to rest beside your head. “You look so pretty, getting fucked like this, my dear” 

You let out a lewd moan as Hange’s thrusts became rougher, you could tell by how their cock quivered inside of you that they were close. With a limp move of the hand, the Commander brought your legs to their waist. You held them tight with your wrapped legs, letting their cock access you deeper. Each thrust, groan, and squeeze threatened to push you over the deep end. Hange overtook you, you let it happen.

“Inside me, please… Hange,” You said in multiple breaths as your walls began quivering around their member. They gasped loudly at the sensation while letting out a cuss.

Stumbling over your breaths, you became undone on the Commander’s cock. Legs quivering and nails digging into their skin, you moaned Hange’s name over and over again as they fucked you through your high before they plunged deep inside of you for their last thrust, filling you up with their cum. 

Slowly, Hange slipped out of you, a gasp escaping your lips.

A smirk appeared as their eyes examined your now fucked-out body, as well as the soft white that escaped your hole, spilling onto the sheets. Hange was admiring their work of art.

With a lingering kiss on your temple, the Commander let their body fall beside you with a squeak of the bed. “Let’s get some sleep now, my dear,” 

“You’re such an idiot,” You chuckled before snuggling into their arm tiredly. 

[quimichi]

NSFW [ SFW if NSFW isn’t okay- ] Malleus Hc? [ male reader if your comfy with tat, if not gn is good too :3 ] ignore if your not taking requests or this isn’t okay-

. . . . . . . . . ╰──╮MY DEAREST ╭──╯ . . . . . . . . .

(N)SFW MALLEUS BF HCS

Malleus x Gn!Reader

A/n: I do male reader, but since you said gn reader is fine too I did gn reader! I hope it's ok but obviously I can still do a male reader ♡

SFW

: ̗̀➛ first of all, damn you're lucky like---

: ̗̀➛ the fact that you're now in a relationship with the most powerful being of the school is mad scary for so many. After all, you're just a magicless human.

: ̗̀➛ but you are so much more to Malleus himself, and he takes a pot of pride in being your partner, boyfriend sounds so...weird to him

: ̗̀➛ Lilia btw is a super proud mom

: ̗̀➛ i have the add the adorable gargoyle stuff because it's a Malleus thing. He always takes his time and is open minded to youe interest, so obviously you are too! Whatever it might be he will try and study it to understand you better

: ̗̀➛ please help him tho, he may get a little lost in places of the internet if he ever trys to learn more on there

: ̗̀➛ insist on you two sleeping together. And INSISTS that you and Grim move to his dorm, his room to be specific, because the conditions you live in? We don't talk about them---

: ̗̀➛ once he got a taste of cuddling, it was over for you. He can and will get clingy at night, pulling you into his chest so he can hold you

: ̗̀➛ very protective and somehow greedy. Your attention is his, his animalistic dragon side may come out there but you can deal with it, so far that is-

: ̗̀➛ gets you way to expensive presents, mostly with pretty gems. Things like jewelry, or even other decorative pieces. All in your favorite color(s)

: ̗̀➛ loves to take late night walks with you, having your arms linked while slowly walking beside each other enjoying not only the atmosphere but each other's company

: ̗̀➛ will also read to you if you ever ask for it. Having you falling asleep right there in his arms ro his soothing voice really does sound like a dream

: ̗̀➛ lol he literally told Sebek to also protect you from any harm that comes if he can't be around you (which is like so rare he's glued to your side)

: ̗̀➛ baby can't use his phone right and would think that if he speaks to his phone with the chat open it will magically send the text to you, like you always do with voice mails---

: ̗̀➛ or he has his front camera open and doesn't know how to turn the view so he literally turns the whole phone and trys to blindly press the button

: ̗̀➛ he's so cute stfu

NSFW

: ̗̀➛ this guy is huge like---massive. You have to be around his size to really take it down good-

: ̗̀➛ rip to my fellow small people out there

: ̗̀➛ obviously he gives off big dick energy and this is what he has, a big dick. Like 9 inches, in cm that would be 22

: ̗̀➛ it's average in thickness but the length...damn: ̗̀➛ like i said before very protective, also meaning possessive. He will mark you up, with his smell and with any other sign he can. That's why he gets you the jewelry too. And also hickey's

: ̗̀➛ if you dont like those, he won't do any of them he respects you to much for this to push you into anything that you are not willing to at least try. Same with showing them, if you don't like people to know this way, he is very okay with this

: ̗̀➛ since he does love and respect you a lot, like literally adore and being obsessed with you, you will have the final word of anything. He is willing to try everything out of curiosity and will maybe bring something up himself, but won't MAKE you do anything. A no is a no after all

: ̗̀➛ so a no for him is definitely degration, like sry people who like it but no-

: ̗̀➛ [FEM REDER] a little yandere but would baby trap you at some point in life cause he knocks you up all the time with everything he has. So in the end, you are truly only his

: ̗̀➛ [MALE READER] would also let you take control once in a while. Yes, he is dominant for 99% but if you are also, just ask and take control he won't bite unless you want to, bite back even. Literally ruin this man's insides he will love it ♡

: ̗̀➛ seeing you so...rounded with his cum just makes him keep going, if you let him

: ̗̀➛ also, belly bulge. It's hypnotizing seeing himself going in and out of you, in and out...

: ̗̀➛ can go for so many rounds, because the Stamina he has is insane. Like he turns when you star begging for his dick inside you

: ̗̀➛ really loves to hear you, he knows you're obsessed with his voice but so is he with yours. He won't only whisper those dirty but also sweet things into your ear, making you weak. He wil also make you say things you were never expecting to say, without him forcing you. Same with the noises he can draw out

: ̗̀➛ He makes you shameless without even realizing it and it makes his brain go brrr

: ̗̀➛ to a point where Lilia heard it more than once-

[new-revenant]

A So Called Tamaranean

Edit: Ao3 Link!

Danny falls through a portal leading to a world full of superheroes. Unfortunately, he happens to bare an uncanny resemblance to a certain race of aliens here-Tamaraneans.

So my post about Danny being mistaken for a Tamaranean is being seen by more and more people, so I’ve decided to finally post this one-shot I’ve made around the time I made the original post. I have no idea if I’ll continue this or not, I kinda just wanted to write about my little idea for a bit and figure out how to write Nightwing. I think he would good with kids. I also only refer to Dick with they/them pronouns because it makes it so much easier to differentiate who’s who when referring to someone.

☁︎

The last thing that Danny remembered was green. Lots and lots of green ectoplasm. And before that? He was trying to escape from one of the many dangers of the Ghost Zone. He couldn’t even see what it was, but he sure as hell could sense it. Both with his ghost sense, and by being beaten up by it.

He never meant to go so far from the portal, so far from his home. And he definitely didn’t mean to get hit right into a different portal.

When he woke up, he couldn’t sense any ectoplasm at all. Death and decay, however, he could sense. And smell. He mostly smelled burnt rock, just like all the other times he got slammed into the ground by ghosts. He really needs to learn how to dodge one day.

His eyes fluttered open, then closed them just as quickly as dust went right into his eyes. He had seen smoke and rock, just like he expected. He groaned, trying to push himself up, but fell in an instant. He was so tired. And yet, he could tell he was still in his ghost form. How could he still be in his ghost form when he had no energy left? He had no idea.

So Danny laid there, trying to think about where he could be and why was he stuck in his ghost form. At least he thought he was stuck in his ghost form as he usually turns back into a human when he passes out.

Then he heard something. Something other then the ringing in his ears. It was a voice, maybe a masculine sounding one, that had an “are you okay?” tone to it. Danny would know because he’d been asked that hundreds of times before whenever he’d gotten injured. Instinctually, he tried to say that he was fine, but all that came out was a whimper.

Then the ringing in his ears got quieter, and he could hear the stranger’s footsteps coming closer.

“Hey kid, are you okay?” Danny could finally make out the person’s words. His eyes fluttered open again, revealing the person to have black hair, a pale face, and what looked to be a long black sleeved shirt with some blue on it, and a domino mask.

Was he in the 18th century again? Wait, had he’d ever been to the 18th century before? Well he couldn’t be now, not with the striking blue the guy had. Pretty sure they didn’t have blue dye like that back then. Oh god where the fuck was he? He had heard from all his ghostly friends-mostly Frostbite and Clockwork-that the Ghost Zone could bleed into other universes and timelines. Danny really hoped that was not the case. Danny had to get up.

He was in so much pain, his entire body stinging. But he pushed himself off the ground anyways, like he always did. When he sat up he saw the stranger stretch out their hand to him. Danny hesitated for a moment, before scrambling away from them because he did not trust them one bit. Well, maybe two bits but nothing more.

He hovered a bit off the ground, a good few feet away from the masked guy. They looked surprised, and looked at him rather analytically. Danny looked back at him analytically as well. The person seemed to wear this one-piece suit with black gloves and boots, with the wings of a blue bird-like symbol on their chest going across his shoulders and extending to their hands. They were lean and muscular and could probably take down many normal humans in a fight. And Danny.

Danny only hoped that this guy wasn’t some sort of weird murder or something. Maybe they were normal for this world’s standards. Maybe he was normal for this world’s standards. Probably not to be honest.

And then Danny was taken out of his questioning by a question posed by the stranger, “Are you a Tamaranean?” they asked. They weren’t speaking English, Danny could tell by the way their mouth didn’t match their words. Hurray for ghost speak.

“May-“ Danny coughed, his throat sore, but it was fine, he’ll get over it, he always does. “Maybe I am, why do you want to know?”

The guy smirked, making Danny feel a bit uneasy, “You did answer my question back in fluent Tamaranean.”

“So I did, again, why. Do. You. Want to know? How do you know about Tamaraneans? Who are you?” Danny was so confused about everything in this situation and he thought he asked decent enough questions. He had no idea what theses “Tamaraneans” were but he’ll play along as long as he won’t get shot.

“I’m called Nightwing,” they said calmly, “And I want to know what you are because I want to help you,” then they took a step forward. Danny was not expecting this and instinctively shot at them with ectoplasm. Danny yelped, both in surprise that he shot at them and at the fact pain almost immediately shot up his left arm. He could almost feel the nerves in his arm burn. That’s not good.

And yet Nightwing dodged it easily, skillfully, and didn’t seem too bothered by it. In fact, they seemed more concerned for Danny’s well being.

“I’m not going to fight you,” they tried to talk to Danny, “And I know how to help you, I’ve met other Tamaraneans, Tamaraneans who have powers like you.”

Okay so these Tamaraneans could also shoot green beams and fly, duly noted. And not all of them had these powers. God this place was weird. Danny couldn’t care about how weird he was or how weird his world was, but this place just felt weirder.

“You have?” Danny asked in a whisper to put less strain on his throat, floating down to the ground, holding his arm. “Who?”

“Starfire and Blackfire for one, those two have powers,” Danny noticed them happily say Starfire’s name and the tone of distaste they had for Blackfire. So Danny had an idea for which of the two was probably evil. Not really because the guy he was speaking to could still be evil and not to be trusted.

Nightwing then started to list more names of Tamaraneans, which Danny tried to pay attention to so he could give a good enough fake name to them.

“So kid, again, I just want to help you,” Nightwing bent down to one knee, like every non-teacher adult does when they want to talk to a small kid. “I may not know exactly what happened to you, but you don’t have to be alone.”

Danny didn’t expect to feel so...touched. Maybe this guy wasn’t too bad. Maybe he should just tell the guy what he was-actually that could still be a bad idea. Danny didn’t know if they would just flip like a dime and turn around and try to rip him apart. Molecule by molecule.

“What’s your name?” Nightwing asked. Their voice and face was soft, Danny noticed, but their body seemed alert, just ever so slightly tensed, ready for combat on a moment’s notice.

“My name…” Danny mumbled, looking away from Nightwing to think. In a moment of panic and many racing thoughts, he was able to think of something.

“Nightgale,” Danny said, a mirage of a smile on his face, “A bit like your name, isn’t it?” He was somehow able to remember that his last name used to be Fentonnightingale earlier in his family line, and got the name ‘Nightgale’ from it. Thank you infini-map.

“Yeah it does!” Nightwing laughed, “Well, it’s nice to meet you Nightgale.”

Danny really should’ve expected them to stretch out their hand again. He really should’ve been a bit less on edge then he was at that moment. And yet he shot Nightwing in the face when they tried to outstretch their hand.

“Sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean to-oh no no no no,” Danny panicked, looking around to see where he could escape to and he was in a goddamn field with a city surrounding the entirety of the park. Danny just now realized that he had absolutely no idea where he was. He just shot his only hope at figuring out how to get home-probably, knowing his luck, definitely.

And yet Nightwing practically brushed it off. Yeah they stood up, stumbled backwards, swore in pain, and had to remove their mask for a quick second to rub their eyes, but then blinked a few times and seemed okay.

“Well that wasn’t as bad as when the other two did that,” Nightwing muttered in English, “Did the other two do that? Yeah probably. Anyways” -Nightwing switched back to speaking in Tamaranean- “It’s fine kid, you can calm down.”

So Danny did calm down. Mostly. Not really as he was still muttering apologies. His arm hurt even more now.

“I can ask Starfire to teach you how to control your powers,” Nightwing started. Danny has heard this spiel before, but this time he actually had a bit more trust in this random, and honestly somewhat terrifying stranger than he had with Plasmius. And Danny did not want to wait through it.

Danny grabbed Nightwing’s hand and looked up at them with the most pleading eyes he could muster. It worked as Nightwing’s face softened and they had finally shut up.

“Okay Nightgale, we’re going to go somewhere safe, then I’m going to get Starfire over to help you out, does that sound good?” When Nightwing asked that, Danny didn’t felt like he was being talked down to, unlike when other people said similar things. Maybe it was their tone.

“Where are we going? Where are we now?”

“Oh, right, I probably should’ve said that earlier. Well, for one we’re on the planet Earth, and right now we’re in Blüdhaven, New Jersey, the town I protect.”

“Protect?”

“Yeah, I’m a vigilante, which basically means I fight crime and protecting people who can’t protect themselves.”

Ah, now things started to make sense. This guy is a superhero. No wonder Danny felt oddly safe being with Nightwing. They just radiated safety-ness. Danny’s eyes lit up with glee, someone he could finally related to!

Even while slinking into the dirty, bloodstained shadows of Blüdhaven, Danny was skipping around Nightwing. He was in a weird place and situation, but he felt like a giddy kid. Nightwing moved with precision and grace that Danny wished he had.

Danny saw billboards and signs that seemed to mention other heroes as the two went. Random people calling out to Nightwing when they saw them, Nightwing sometimes giving them a little wave. Danny mimicked them, and each time the people gasped at him. Danny was able to pick up that these Tamaraneans that Nightwing thought he was weren’t common, so that’s probably why they looked so shocked.

It was nice, and for a moment, Danny forgot that he was a stranger to this world-that he wasn’t supposed to be here. This place was new and exciting, yet familiar all the same. Maybe he’ll stay a little longer, it’s not like he could just will himself to leave anyways.

For now, Danny was just a kid, exploring a world similar to his own, yet alien at the same time.

[illiterateaffairs]

don't thank me | stiles x reader

masterlist

pairing: stiles stilinski x f!reader (best friend/witch) + allison friendship :)

word count: 836

warnings: none!

summary: set in season 1, stiles decides to thank allison for getting lydia to go to the winter formal with him

author's note: the first of hopefully many shorter drabbles that follow stiles x bestie/witch!reader throughout the series that live in my newly minted 'every little thing' universe. i startd a masterlist linked above and will order them how i envision them taking place, and anything that veers off in a different direction will be labled "alternate endings". lmk if any of this makes any sense anyway enjoy and pls tell me what you think!!

“Allison, hey,” Stiles pants, walking up beside her with a pile of dresses in his arms.

She chuckles, watching him struggle to hold the clothes, “Having fun?”

“Yeah, the time of my life,” he jokes back, setting the stack down on a table beside them.

The two of them were shopping for the winter formal, along with you and Lydia. It had been less than an hour since he had learned that Allison had gotten Lydia to agree to go with him, and yeah it may have been because she owed her for making out with Scott behind her back, but that still meant he had a date with the girl he’s been crushing on since the third grade. 

He thought he'd be more excited, but he’s chalking it up to the nerves and disbelief. Definitely not because he’d started questioning his supposedly platonic feelings for his best friend. 

As he watches Allison browse the dresses on the rack in front of her, he can’t help but be interested in how she’d gotten Lydia to go along with this. 

He clears his throat, “Um, so I guess I should be thanking you for setting this all up. I mean, I know it was because Lydia owed you, but you didn’t have to do this for me...”

Allison gives Stiles a small smile as she interrupts him, “I appreciate your appreciation, but I can’t take all the credit.”

He furrows his brows, “What do you mean?”

“It wasn’t really my idea as much as it was Y/N’s.”

Stiles is taken aback by this information, “What- Y/N’s?”

Allison nods, attempting to go back to nonchalantly looking at dresses, “Mmhmm. I was venting to her about the whole Scott-Lydia thing, and she mentioned how much it bothered you too, so…she suggested a way for Lydia to pay me back by also giving you a shot.”

After a few moments of silence, Allison turns her head and see’s Stiles staring blankly into space and has to hold back a laugh. “So, you should really be thanking her, not me.”

Stiles stutters and looks down at his hands, trying to figure out why this piece of information is bothering him, “What, uh, made her suggest that?”

“I don’t know, maybe the fact you’ve been obsessed with Lydia since you guys were kids? So she tells me,” Allison murmurs, “I mean that's true right? You like her?”

“Lydia? Yeah of course, I mean what's not to like?” He stumbles, still not making direct eye contact with the brunette.

“Because if you’d rather go with someone else, you don’t have to…”

“Who else would I go with?” Stiles asks, finally looking up with his eyebrows pinched.

Allison shakes her head with a casual shrug, “I don’t know. You should go to formal with someone you really like.”

Stiles makes a face, “Do you really like Jackson?”

Allison rolls her eyes, “As a friend, yes.”

Stiles rolls his own eyes and looks away again.

“And you really like Lydia? Just Lydia?” Allison continues.

Stiles gives her a glance, wondering why she’s asking. “Yes…Lydia’s the only one I’ve ever liked.”

Allison hums. “Good. Then we’ll all have a lot of fun at the dance together.”

Stiles nods and gets lost in thought again. On the one hand, it makes sense why you, his best friend, would come up with a way for him to get a dream date with his crush. On the other hand, the idea of you so easily setting him up with someone else hurt his stomach. 

He doesn’t get the chance to unpack that further as Lydia stomps up behind him, asking him to bring the dresses he’d collected for her to the dressing room. He internally groans, picking the stack back up and following her to said dressing rooms.

As Allison watches them walk off in amusement, you appear on her other side. 

“Black or silver?” You ask, holding up two sets of heels. You watch her stare pointedly at you instead of answering, “What’s that face?”

“You’re still really going to stand there and act like you’re fine with Stiles going to the formal with Lydia?” 

Your shoulders slump, “I told you to let it go - and you already went through with it, too!”

“Doesn’t mean I agree with it,” Allison sighs, “I don’t see how watching Stiles on a date with someone else is meant to help you move on if that’s what you’re trying to do.”

You shrug, “It makes him happy, that’s what matters to me.”

Allison inwardly rolls her eyes and goes back to the racks, “You’re both idiots.”

“What was that?” you ask after hearing her mumble.

“I said you’re a lovable idiot,” Allison grins at her.

You snort, and shove her lightly, “Silver or black?”

“Black,” Allison finally answers and you nod in thanks, turning to go buy your shoes.

Allison shakes her head watching you retreat. 

Loveable idiots, the both of you. And one day you’ll both stop denying it.

author's note: in my head allison and stiles were best friends and deserved more scenes, so she is also besties with the reader because thats my best girl <3

[weepingtalecowboy]

Wars got tuned lol

Usually Tune never says anything to Wars during Hyrule warriors (because timeline and everything)

But what if Tune was just thinking that he can win his older bro over without telling him they once were brothers

Because Warriors managed it as well so he would figure it out too he will just be affectionate and shit (Warriors was doing the same so he obviously has to prove that he can do it better)

So when Wars met Tune

Tune was just acting like they already knew each other for years and then proceeded to wipe the floor with Cia

(he overheard time and Warriors talking about her and now that he is in on the conflict he ain't letting her into a 30 mile radius of Wars if he can beat her beforehand)

So Wars pushed him away in the beginning out of anxiety because his only other stalker was Cia and he knows how that turned out (an entire war)

That convinced tune to try harder because he ain't losing to baby time at being the best younger sibling

So Wars had to deal with Tune giving him fairy food (which made wars question how and why he has the exact same measurements of HIS own personal fairy food recipe )

Creepily hovering next to his window with his face pressed against it and awkwardly attempting at making conversation with him (Tune was busy fighting Lana for this spot lol he EARNED the right to protect his brother from her likes)

Break into Wars apartment and then raid the fridge like he lives there yet leaving when asked because he respects the other’s privacy (considering how much he breaks in he might as well be no matter how often Wars changes the locks )

And asking if he can be friends with him at every single opportunity

Wars was NOT enjoying Tune's company at all (Tune was hearth broken lol)

But because Tune was reliable and unsettlingly ready to DIE for him when necessary and loyal to an undesirable degree (like Lana but more effective)

He would just have to accept that he is friends with a lunatic who has a very bad habit of asking him if he can join him in his fucking bed (Wind wants comfort he really doesn’t realize that he sounds like an absolute maniac)

But accepting Tune is a force that can’t be stopped gives him a few advantages

For example Lana is afraid of Tune so if he stays close to the maybe serious criminal then she will stay in line

That applies to every single person in Hyrule who has a crush on him

At first he thought that Tune also has a crush on him but Tune quickly corrected him because in his words “that is fucking disgusting you are so disgusting ew,… ewwww”

So because it is not a creepy crush he really has no idea what that guy's deal is

Because what else is there that would explain why the other wants to go kill somebody for him just because

But at some point he decides that the pros of having someone crazy that asks very intrusive questions but respects decisions like NOT getting to stay at his place

Are better then the cons of having no crazy friend to scare away undesired other crazy people

So Tune forcefully got to make friendship bracelets with wars

Wars pointing at Tune : sometimes you need a crazy friend to scare away other crazy people

Tune not explaining shit to him : We are friends finally :3

Wars : how the fuck are you still in my apartment !?,”,!? I changed the locks twenty times already!

Tune : ;) friendship

During linked universe Warriors had the biggest realization of history because why the fuck was Wind so bad at keeping their relationship from the future (past..it’s complicated) a secret

He obviously was much much better at it (.. he isn’t Wind just has no sense of boundaries and doesn’t care if a random guy is offering him a scarf in his sadness so warriors is correct in his books)

Time is disappointing in every single aspect of their life but learned from his own adventures that telling those idiots that they are idiots doesn’t diminish their idiocy

[theoneeyedgoldenwolf]

Brothers not bound by blood

Whumptober 2024, number 13: Team As A Family

Inspiration:

Summary: One small question while fixing the Captain’s hair after a prank he had done leaves Time hurt. The answer he had sought for years wasn’t what he had waited for. 

CW: Pranking, hurt feelings, cursing, literally stabbed to back, magic blockers, poisoning, arrows into bad guys, Wolfie attacking and mauling a bad guy, the Chain attacking and taking down the bad guys, near death situation, short bit of afterlife

Notion: - Time’s hair is much longer than in the comic for braiding reasons! =P Especially the hair at the back of his head since the bangs are perfect already. ;) - *facepalms* This didn’t feel whumpy enough and so I went and got Time literally stabbed to back. -.-‘ - Also, when the Chain was commenting on Time’s purring, I didn’t mean Legend to be the last one to talk. Sorry, Ledge, for the words I put you to say! XD So, this is one of my ideas how the Chain can stay together. =) I got two more ideas but those might take quite a while before getting written.

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The day had been going well. Time had declined from the offers of practice while claiming that he wasn’t as fast as the others and laughing things off while claiming he just was too old. But, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t supervise things as Warriors had taken his place and put the boys through their moves.

The Chain had gathered together for meal and the Chain’s leader finally had a chance to talk with his older brother. Yet, as he approached the high ranked soldier, he couldn’t help but feel entirely mischievous. This whole situation reminded him of the past he had had with the other Link.

“Captain.” Time called while coming over. The younger male, whom over twenty years ago had been older than him by a decade or so, turned around to face him.

“Yeah?” Warriors called before bit gasping as the one eyed male placed his hand onto his hair. Yet, he couldn’t help but enjoy of the situation and how things had, in a way, changed between him and his brother.

“Thank you for training with the younger Heroes today.” Time told while honestly meaning his words.

The war hero grinned and chuckled. “I was glad to give these youths some guidance.” He replied warmly. It was always nice when the others actually listened and learned from each other. They all had lot of experience and knowledge when it came to fighting with different weapons but it all was different from each other. That made it unique and allowed new attacks and moves that the others had never even thought about.

Suddenly Time pulled off while looking disgusted. “Eugh…” He almost whined while trying to calm down.

Warriors freaked out entirely by that. “WHAT?!” He screamed out while grabbing his hair. “WHAT IS IT?!” He nearly screamed while already starting to go through his hair. That, along with his looks, his armor and, most of all, his scarf were always in tiptop condition. If SOMETHING was messing things up, he would NOT accept such!

“I’m serious, Old Man. WHAT IS IT?!” The Captain demanded while messing up his hair while trying to figure the situation out. “A spider?!” He queried in near panic before something far more horrifying struck his mind. “DID A KEESE POOP IN MY HAIR?!” He shrieked in disgust and terror.

Time tried to wave his hand in dismissing way. “No…. It’s nothing. I overreacted.” He claimed but his older brother didn’t see the mischievous and victorious grin on his face. He was chuckling almost evilly as he headed back to the camp.

Hyrule had the bad luck of having just come back from gathering some healing herbs from close by. He hadn’t seen his oldest brother’s look as Warriors already dashed to him and started to shake him. “RULIE! WHAT’S IN MY HAIR?! TELL ME!!!” The war Hero panicked while barely even giving the youngster a chance to check the situation.

The half-fairy’s reassurances weren’t enough to calm the Captain down. Time watched with a grin as his older brother went from one Link to another. Few, such as Sky and Twilight, actually checked his hair and tried to assure him of there being nothing out of ordinary. Others took the chance to mess with him and claimed all kinds of things. Especially Legend seemed to enjoy of the moment.

The Chain’s leader was actually bit surprised that Warriors didn’t realize the similarities between this situation and the dozens during the war. The one eyed male had been one hell of a gremlin back then as a ten year old kid. He had pulled this trick on him so many times that it was almost worryingly odd that the high ranked soldier hadn’t already realized to pick up on the telltale signs of the prank.

After the meal the war Hero was still wary of his hair and desperately trying to check it. The rest of the Chain had already settled for the evening and gotten off of their gears. Time just couldn’t take it anymore so he moved over to his older brother. “Sit down to the ground, Wars.” He half commanded and the Captain followed the request.

The one eyed male sat down onto the log behind the younger male and started to go through his hair. “I fooled you, you know.” He told and grinned a bit when the man below him went rigid. “Just like so many times during the war.” He continued and chuckled when Warriors whined and slumped. “There’s nothing wrong with your hair. And I’m already fixing the knots and whatnot you’ve created.”

The Captain huffed but he closed his eyes and just enjoyed of the situation. “No braids, little brother. You owe me that much at least.” He commented while knowing how eager Sprite had been to do such little things.

Time rolled his eye and shook his head. “Still don’t understand what you have against braids.” He playfully grumbled while working with harder knot with delicate and gentle actions.

“I’d rather not answer that one.” Warriors replied but he could notice that the others were curious for the answer too. The Chain’s leader didn’t pay attention into the curiosity of the others, especially of Hyrule, Wind and Wild.

“Hmm… Maybe I should do a braid just because of that answer.” The Old Man mused with a mischievous grin. He began to tug on the hair a bit while entirely faking like doing a braid in there.

“Please, don’t.” The war Hero begged while hiding his face into his hands.

“Oh, I know a better one.” The oldest Link nearly smirked. “How about I start to tickle you? I know all the places where I can turn you into giggling breathless mess.”

“Sprite!” The Captain exclaimed while feeling like wanting to pull away from the place. Yet, he needed someone to get his hair fixed. He ended up whining as Time laughed behind him.

“You either answer the question after all these years or I’ll pick one of the two ideas of mine.” The one eyed male told calmly while still working with the fixations.

“You don’t want to hear the answer.” Warriors warned bit sharply.

“I think I deserve the answer after all these years.” Time replied while wondering what could be such an answer that the other one didn’t want to give out.

“It’ll hurt and I don’t want to hurt you or anyone else.” The war Hero told bit unwillingly. He gulped as the hands in his hair stilled for a moment as his little brother thought the answer through.

“Just tell. I’m sure we’re all old enough to understand it’s just one opinion.” The Chain’s leader commented. Still, he couldn’t help but feel bit of dread about the situation. Yet, it had already gone too far to back away anymore.

Warriors debated for a moment longer before sighing heavily and slumping with his ears drooping. “It’s girly.” He finally whispered. He nearly flinched as the hands in his hair stopped moving again. He could easily feel the shock around the camp by his words.

Time gulped thickly while trying not to let the words hit him. “Well…” He started with strained voice before bit shrugging. He was fighting to stay calm and forced his bit shaking hands to continue to fix the Captain’s hair. “T-that’s just one opinion.” He continued and inwardly cursed at the slight tremble in his voice. “I like the braids. It reminds me of home and fairies. They’re affectionate beings and do braids all the time. Hyrule’s half-fairy so doing braids is kinda like in his blood. Wild likes them for their uniqueness and different way of keeping his long hair off the way. Wind’s curious and just wanting to learn new things.” He explained as carefully as he could while knowing he wasn’t in one piece anymore.

“Anyway, your hair’s fixed.” The Old Man stated out firmly while standing up. He patted his older brother’s shoulder. “I’ll head off to bed. Wake me up for the second shift, thanks.” He told while avoiding eye contact and heading off to his things.

“Sprite…” Warriors called while not really knowing what to say. “I… I’m sorry.” He half shouted after him but all he got was a dismissive wave of a hand. He looked around in near distraught. “Guys… I… I’m sorry….” He whispered without really knowing what else to say as he knew Time hadn’t been the only one he had hurt.

The war Hero glanced once at the bedrolls and almost flinched at the fact of Time having his back towards them and he could hazard a guess of him having curled up too. He wasn’t shaking but the Captain was certain he was crying. This wasn’t the first time he had caused this kind of hurt to his brother. The first time had been in the war when he had claimed to Sprite that Hylians don’t purr. That hurt and shock in the kids eyes had killed him but he couldn’t fix it back then and now he had hurt his little brother all over again.

The Captain gulped a bit as he noticed the glares the others were giving him. Twilight was trying to calm Wild down while whispering reassuring words. Wind was in Sky’s arms and Hyrule was being consoled by Legend and Four. The roughest glares came from the Veteran and Ranch Hand. The Chosen Hero just was disappointed and sorrowful. The Smithy was trying to figure the situation through and kept his gaze off of him.

“I’ll take the first shift.” Warriors whispered while keeping his gaze in the fire.

“Might not be a good idea. I doubt Time wants you to wake him up.” Twilight nearly snarled the words out.

“I’m taking the first shift. I have no intentions of waking Time up for any of the shifts.” The war Hero sated out as firmly as he could. “I need to think. I need to find a way to apologize to him and to each of you.” He told much softer. “I did warn but I didn’t mean this kind of hurt.”

“He’s going to be mad for not being awakened for his shift.” Four commented calmly. He wasn’t among those whom had taken the words roughly but he sure as hell didn’t like others hurting his brothers no matter whom they were.

“I can deal with the gremlin but not with the hurt.” The Captain replied bit roughly before already apologizing. He sighed heavily and slumped. “He can be mad at me all he wants but I want to fix this. I can’t take it when I see him or any of your hurt. I just…” He explained before trailing off with a heavy sigh.

 “Why do you think braids are girly?” Sky queried while trying to get into the bottom of things instead of letting the situation harm everyone any of worse.

Warriors shrugged. “Everyone whom I’ve ever seen having braids during the war and after it were all women. Sprite had those but he was a kid and surrounded by the fairies. I didn’t think much about that.” He answered as calmly as he could.

The Chain nodded and Sky was ready to go even deeper into the conversation before Hyrule took the chance. His voice was quiet and he kept his gaze on the ground. “The braids aren’t just for girls. Not with fairies. Some braids mean leadership. Some stand for specific title and status. Each fairy has their own signature braid to tell them apart from the others. It’s a sign that this person was helped by them specifically. That they were there first. It’s a sign of gratitude and caring. It’s a mark of family in a way of saying I give you my braid and you give yours so we’re together now. The braids mean the world to fairies.”

That explanation left the whole Chain silent around him. It took a while before Sky spoke softly with a small fond smile. “Braids are fun to do. Sun loves them and I’m always trying to find new ways to make them unique.”

“The flowers that are used have meaning.” Wild whispered quietly while leaning against Twilight and keeping his gaze off of everyone. “Sometimes it’s easier to speak through the flowers than to say the words out loud. And it means a lot when Time and Hyrule add them into my hair. They tell what they think of me without words. It means the world to me when they don’t say what flowers are used and I get to see them by taking a pic of the braid. It gives so much.”

“It’s a soothing action when I’m having a nightmare.” Wind told bit uncertainly and playing with the rim of his tunic. “Aryll does those little braids whenever she notices that I’m sleeping restlessly. It works the other way around too.”

Unknown to the Chain, their leader was listening to them talk. It felt bit nice to hear the others try to explain things and fix the situation. Still, it had been his older brother whom had called the braids girly. He took that much more to heart than if it would’ve come from someone unknown. The braids had been part of his life for as long as he could remember. The fairies did them already the day he had had hair to braid. He liked the feeling. He liked the memory of those flyers. He didn’t really have a braid of his own but three fairies had already claimed him as theirs. Navi, Tatl and Proxi. It was family and home. And now….

Time carefully shifted and tried to dry the tears. It was like when Wars had told that Hylians didn’t purr. That only cats did that sound and but people didn’t. They weren’t animals. He had learned it from the fairies. They purred whenever they really were happy and at peace. Showing that they were enjoying of the actions and words. And then, it all was shattered. Just telling it was wrong. That it wasn’t supposed to be done or received. It was like saying he didn’t belong with the fairies whom called him as their brother not bound by blood. He couldn’t even anymore think that he could ask for Hyrule’s signature braid to be claimed by the fourth fairy in his life. He had always had a fairy for a bigger quest and on this one it was the Traveler. Now, he felt like had just been robbed of that right.

The one eyed male simply hid his face as the Chain finally headed off to bed and left Warriors to the first shift. He didn’t know what to do and even less what to say. So all he could do was to lay there and try to figure it out. Without him realizing it, he fell asleep at some point of the night.

The Old Man stirred into quiet talking. He tried to catch the words but the whispers were too silent for him to hear. He bit shrugged and just shifted before falling back asleep as it clearly wasn’t anything of bad and he still recognized the voices belonging to his boys. Yet, it still confused him a bit why Warriors was talking with Hyrule out of all of them after last night’s situation.

When the Chain’s leader woke up next time, the voices were louder. It still took a moment for his sleepy mind to catch the words and figure out whom was talking which line. Yet, he frowned when he realized that the topic of braids was still going. He yawned and forced himself up from bedroll. He scowled the moment he realized that everyone else was up already.

Time sighed heavily before facing the campfire and going over to the others. When his gaze fell into the war Hero, he stopped dead on his tracks. After moment of shock, he felt a grin tuck on his lips before letting it on. “So, am I asleep or am I really seeing the Mr. Braids-Are-Girly actually having braids in his hair? And a fancy ones too.” He queried while very much being ready to NOT let his older brother live this down anytime soon.

The Captain blushed brightly while feeling entirely nervous. He shrugged a bit while wanting to disappear right then and there. The others were waiting for the situation to unfold as they had already cleared things off.

The war Hero had woken Hyrule up couple of hours earlier. They had talked about braids and what they meant to the fairies. Much to the half-fairy’s shock, Warriors had eventually asked for one that would stand for a Captain and one for the meaning of a Hero. The Traveler had needed bit of coaxing and assuring before he created them along, with his brother’s acceptance, one that meant for older brother.

The others had been woken up about an hour later by Hyrule out of Warriors’ request. This was what he could do to show he hadn’t meant of anything bad. That he had just needed answers and explanations to why the braids weren’t just what girls did. He had never thought about the reasons or meanings of those creations. But, having seen the hurt his words had caused and the answers from his brothers, he was ready to give the braids a chance.

And right now Warriors had a braid that rounded his head. At his neck, starting off from the braid-crown at the middle of the back of his head, was another braid. On the sides of his face, in front of his ears, were braids too. In each of the braids was one single flower, a cherry blossom, except for the crown-braid which had four in it. That meant for seven flowers in total.

“The flower stands for warrior.” Wind piped in and Time nodded while still grinning.

“I’m aware but thanks.” The one eyed male replied before walking over to his older brother. At there he began to investigate the very ornamental braids.

“Hyrule did them.” Warriors whispered while bit fearing of how things would go down from here. “The crown with a tail stands for captain. The left side’s one stands for a Hero and the right side’s for a brother.” He explained while feeling like slumping beneath the checking his little brother was doing. “I…. I-I kinda asked for them. Hyrule had said fairies got braids for everything so….” He trailed off and bit shrugged.

The Chain’s leader stayed silent while listening before frowning. “Since you already got three, may I do a fourth one?” He inquired while already taking hold of the hair on middle of his brother’s forehead.

The Captain would’ve rather nodded but he couldn’t really dare to move as the one eyed male was already working without waiting for his answer. “S-sure…” He mumbled while not having any of idea what kind of braid it would be. At least Hyrule had described things and explained it all.

“There.” Time finally told and pulled off with a slight grin. Warriors feared for there to be a knot instead of a braid but at least no-one was laughing or trying to suppress such. Yet, when he glanced at the older male, he frowned. The look on his face was sorrowfully fond. “Proxi’s braid.” The Old Man explained quietly. “You were claimed by her before me.” He reminded gently.

“You… You remember her braid?” The Captain queried bit startled.

Time sighed and shrugged. “She taught it to me since I don’t have a braid of my own.” He answered bit tentatively.

“If a fairy teaches their braid to someone, that means for absolute family.” Hyrule told with slight shock. “You’re her brother through and through by that.” The war Hero was more shocked of the information than what his little brother was.

The one eyed male blushed a bit while smiling bit shyly. “I… I-I guess that goes with Navi and Tatl then too.” He whispered quietly, almost mouthed the words. He gulped once and pulled away from the war Hero before turning his gaze into the dying flames of the campfire. He needed to stay in one piece and not break down. He was their leader after all!

“May I teach you my braid?” The Traveler whispered and bit startled the Old Man as he hadn’t realized the half-fairy having come over.

Time felt uncertain, even fearful. He opened his mouth and shut it few times while trying to figure out what to do. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to at least nod but his older brother’s words of braids being girly were going around his head. He felt like he didn’t have the rights to accept even though Hyrule was offering to claim him as his brother.

“Go for it, Sprite.” Warriors whispered and startled the Chain’s leader quite thoroughly. “Family means the world. And I know what the fairies mean to you. What the eight of us mean to you.” He told bit sorrowfully. “I’m sorry, little brother. I should’ve rather talked about this instead of just claiming stuff.”

The oldest Link hesitated for a moment before he hugged the younger male tightly. After that he pulled off, took a deep breath and faced the half-fairy. “If you truly wish to claim me as your brother, then I accept.” He spoke in Fairy Language before bowing his head and closing his eye.

Hyrule smiled fondly and leaned his forehead against Time’s. “Brother. Now, before and forever.” He whispered before pulling off and beginning to braid the left side’s bangs while, in Fairy Language, explaining how the braid was done. After that he made another braid to right side with the meaning of a brother.

“You are ambidextrous but you prefer left so that is why my braid is on that side. You protect your family with your left side. They say heart is on right and hence I place brotherhood into there to be part of your life forever.” The Traveler explained in Hylian so that the others would understand the reasons for specific sides chosen.

“I wish I could return the favor. I really wish I had a braid of my own.” The one eyed male whispered bit sorrowfully. “For this reasons all I can give is the mark of brotherhood for both sides.” He continued before braiding the half-fairy’s hair. He knew he should’ve talked in Fairy Language but he wanted the others to know that he was claiming Hyrule as Hyrule had claimed him.

The half-fairy closed his eyes and bowed his head a bit while fully accepting the braids. Once the Old Man was done, Hyrule glomped him on that second. Time returned the hold while finally relaxing. He was family of four fairies now.

When they pulled off, Hyrule went to do a braid for Wild while the Champion worked with the breakfast. Wind dashed over to Time and eagerly requested for a braid or few. The oldest brother of the nine Links created the braids for brother and Hero. After that, one by one, the others came over too and asked for their hair to be braided.

Warriors watched the situation unfold and slowly calmed down. He couldn’t deny that the braids looked really amazing. They were elaborate and loving. And they had lot of meaning. That was what finally started to get him to accept the braids as something more than what girls did just because. And suddenly he realized something which got him to snap his gaze into the half-fairy.

“Hyrule, what’s the braids for a General and a Princess?” The war Hero queried with a slight frown. As the Traveler explained the unique braids, the Captain could easily recall the similarity in the braids Impa and Zelda had worn during the war.

After the meal the whole Chain was getting ready to head forward. Time approached Warriors and made sure the others wouldn’t listen in. “Wars.” He called carefully and the Captain turned around. “I know we should get to the town and restock but if you’re not yet ready to go around the public with braids, we can head different way. We can create arrows of our own and Twilight can hut with Wild. It’s nothing we haven’t done before.”

The war Hero was bit startled of the reminder but he thought for a while before shaking his head. “Nah. I’ll manage.” He answered and smiled reassuringly. “These braids mark me. Captain. Hero. Brother. I am all of those and claimed by one of the fairies as part of their family.” He continued surprisingly confidently before gently forcing Time to lower his head to lean their foreheads together. “I’m sorry, little brother, for having hurt you.” He apologized before bit grinning. “Oh, and please, do purr when you feel like it. Heard someone claim such heals. I’m sorry about having been such an idiot back then.”

The Chain’s leader was fully taken off guard but he sighed in relief and relaxed. “Thank you.” He whispered quietly before pulling off. “If you’re sure of this, then we should head forward so we can actually do some restocking today already.”

“I’m sure.” Warriors replied firmly and his little brother nodded once before going off to finish getting ready. He couldn’t deny of being bit worried but the braids were him. They told his rank, title and family. They told everything without needing to wear any markings such as the armor or scarf. And they were quite unchanged throughout the eras too.

The Chain arrived to the town, by Time’s accurate knowledge, at sixteen minutes over one. It was still lunch time but no-one was up for eating as Wild’s breakfasts were usually such amazing ones to keep one going well through the day if needed. The Champion did offer to handle meal but the others were more willing to get the restocking done and get to laze off for some hours before evening meal.

The Old Man stayed by his older brother while sharing off who searched out what. He had already noticed the attention they all had gained so far. It was why he had Wild with Twilight and Sky just to make sure he got the needed support if someone decided to be an idiot about the braids. Hyrule was with Legend while Wind left with Four.

“How are you so far?” The one eyed male queried before letting his older brother leave the Inn they were going to stay for a while.

“I’m used to the attention.” Warriors replied before tad shrinking under Time’s gaze.

“Not what I asked.” The one eyed male sated out bit warningly.

The Captain sighed and shrugged. “Still getting used to the braids but they’re telling who I am.” He told before bit slumping against the wall behind him. “But, that’s not what people see. They see the braids but they don’t see their meanings.”

“Do you want the braids off? Hyrule won’t mind. He would understand it.” Time offered bit sorrowfully but his brother shook his head. “You sure? You’re getting quite a lot of notion. And if they don’t understand the meaning of them, you’ll be getting the wrong kind of attention.” He warned while not wanting to put the war Hero into bad place.

“Army will understand. Commoners don’t.” Warriors replied firmly while standing up straight. “I’m a Captain and a Hero. I know who I am.” He stated out and nodded firmly to show he was ready to face the world.

The older male nodded back and took a deep breath before following the high ranked knight out of the Inn. He stayed by him but slight bit behind just to let him deal with things without him interfering unless needed. Most just watched and were very plainly curious while his brother just either ignored the stares or gave a grin and possibly a wink as thanks for the attention. Some acknowledge his rank and saluted while alarming others of his presence too. The war Hero replied into the actions accordingly.

And then there were the people whom either entirely ignored the signs and clear telltale marks of who they had in their notion or weren’t aware of them. The Chain’s leader hated the looks the fools threw at his brother and he was ready to strangle them for it. Warriors ignored most of them but he could see it affecting him. Eventually, when one of those fools came too close and clearly had wrong ideas in his head, the one eyed male couldn’t take it anymore.

Time growled and slammed his arm diagonally on full length into guy’s torso while striking the guy’s back roughly against the wall behind the man. “Show some respect, you bastard. You are in the presence of the man whom is both the Hero of Hyrule and the Captain of Hyrule’s army.” He snarled while glaring on full force at the man.

The said Captain of Hyrule’s army was taken fully off guard by his brother’s actions and words. He stared bit startled at the scene before calming down. He was entirely grateful of the protection the older male gave him but he also felt bit bad that he had been forced into this situation.

“Are you just fucking oblivious or entirely stupid for NOT recognizing the markings claiming him high ranked?” The one eyed male continued with almost cruel voice. “Everyone knows how fairies do their braids and mark those they care and respect. You have NO rights to your actions.”

The man in the Chain’s leader’s hold flinched and slumped. He muttered some kind of apology. “Brother.” The war Hero called before his little brother could go further with his words. “He already got it. You can let him go.” He told as calmly as he could. Time growled and pulled off but his glare didn’t lessen. “You’re lucky he’s lenient today. He could’ve easily crushed you.” Warriors told with a slight grin before turning his gaze into the taller male. “Come on, Sprite, let’s just continue.” He half called while turning to head forward.

The Old Man huffed and tore his glare off of the guy. He blinked once slowly and let himself calm down as he followed the Captain. Yet, before he got more than two steps forward, he felt dread lodge into him. The movement had been too fast for him to react before the hand was over his mouth to silence the loudest part of his scream as a knife was struck into his back.

Warriors jerked and turned around in a flash. “SPRITE!” He screamed out as he saw the guy they had just encountered to be right behind his little brother with hand over the one eyed male’s mouth. Time gave out a pained gasp as the knife was yanked out of him and brought into sight while the guy’s hold on him shifted to lower to hold him up.

The man smirked and snapped his fingers. Right after that other men came from the close by alley and surrounded them. The Captain gasped as two of the guys took strong hold of his arms. Yet, his gaze was fixed into the oldest of the nine Heroes.

Time was gasping for air. He had closed his eye but his face was twisted in pain. He was trembling and losing fast his strength and consciousness.

“Magic blockers and poison.” The guy behind the Chain’s leader mused with a smirk. “Works beautifully together. He’s not having much of time to live anymore.” He told and his smirk only widened at Warriors’ growl and struggling. “You can either come nice and easy with us or you can watch your brother die slowly and agonizingly.”

“Oooh! I know what this means.” One of the men suddenly told while coming closer to his comrade and Time. The one eyed male whimpered when the new guy’s hand brushed at his face and took hold of the braid. “Fairy braid. Connection.” He smirked cruelly while playing with it. “If it’s broken before twenty-four hours have gone past, it’ll mean the offer was declined and it can never be renewed.” He tugged at the hair and earned a new whimper from his victim. He licked at his lips with a sadistic look on his face. “How about I break this, hmm?”

“N-no…. P-please….. D-don’t….” Time whimpered while forcing his eye open. The look he gave was a pathetic plea compared to the cruel glare he had only moments ago given. “P-please… I-I’m begging of you….” He nearly prayed as the guy tugged at the braid again. He flinched as the guy laughed when he noticed him crying.

The war Hero was growling loudly and desperately fighting against the hold. “LEAVE HIM ALONE!” He screamed while hating the sight of his brother whimpering. The poison clearly had rendered him unable to fight back. The magic blockers wouldn’t prevent him from struggling or giving a death-glare to these bastards so it had to be the poison. And that freaked the crap out of Warriors as he realized how quickly and strongly it was affecting.

Suddenly the guy toying with the oldest Link’s braid screamed in pain. That one eye snapped open and took in the situation of the man having an arrow in his hand. He recognized it swiftly even though the short lived shock was already moving aside and the poison’s cruel work came back.

Soon two more screams were heard and the Captain dashed forward as he was freed. He glared on full force at the guy behind his little brother and punched the bad guy cruelly into face. He swiftly caught the Old Man and lowered them both down to the ground. If Wild was there with his archery skills, the others weren’t far.

And, just like on cue, the massive wolf dashed into the scene and crashed into the guy whom was closest to the Chain’s leader and his second in command. The canine growled cruelly before already sinking its teeth into the bastard. The man screamed as the Sacred Beast tore him apart in rage.

The Chain quickly showed up right after Wolfie. The swords swung through the air and forced the bad guys to back off.  Sky tackled the guy whom had stabbed the one eyed male into the back. He wanted to kill the bastard but he had heard the word poison so he thought keeping the man alive was wiser idea at the moment in case they’d need information from him. Hyrule just dashed through the group and straight to Time and Warriors. He, like the others, had heard the muffled scream since they had, instead of going for restocking, followed the duo around. Sadly, they had been keeping bit too long distance just to make sure they wouldn’t be noticed and they wouldn’t overhear possible conversations. They just had been worried for Warriors going around with braids and attaching unwanted notion.

“T-the b-braid…?” Time almost slurred while looking desperately at his older brother. He was entirely terrified of the guy having done something to it.

“It’s intact.” The Captain assured while checking the braid. “Nothing to worry, little brother.” He assured as calmly as he could. “Just stay conscious, little brother. Just stay with me, Sprite.” He nearly begged while noticing the sleepiness the one eyed male was fighting against. Yet, with the reassurance about the braid, he relaxed more than he should’ve.

Hyrule was already working with his healing magic before growling in anger. “I need the knowledge of the poison! It’s blocking me out!” He shouted while trying even harder to get his magic in. He wasn’t even capable of tapping into his leader’s magic like every time before. The magic blockers didn’t stop external magics from getting inside. Those only blocked one’s own magic’s usage. The poison though….

It was enhancing the magic blockers so much that it almost got the magic to turn against its own wielder. It blocked the magic from leaving one’s body and from getting inside there. It was keeping the stab wound bleeding and unhealable. It almost paralyzed its holder and made breathing hard. It was weakening and killing the one having the poison within them. The worst thing was that it didn’t matter if one fought against it or not, it still got stronger with every passing second.

“We’re running out of time!” The Traveler nearly snarled as he watched Sky and Legend interrogate the guy whom had stabbed Time. At first each of their attempts failed but when they picked the man’s own knife up and noticed the dark purple goo on it, they threatened to stab him with it. The thought of getting poisoned with the same shit he had used got him finally to talk and tell what the poison was.

“Wild! Sky! I need you two!” The half-fairy almost commanded the moment he got the needed knowledge. The Chosen Hero was there before he even finished the sentence and the Champion jumped down from the roof before he took the Paraglider out to land safely. The moment the duo was by him, Hyrule already started to name herbs, plants and whatnot while commanding the Knight of Skyloft into getting the ingredients mixed the right way.

As the potion of sorts was on making, Time shakily raised his hand towards Warriors’ hair. The Captain swiftly took hold of his hand but the one eyed male almost fought to get it free so he loosened his hold. Slowly and weakly that hand found its way into the crown-braid. “Cap…” The Chain’s leader almost just mouthed the word out before continuing forward from there. “H-hero…” He mumbled, nearly slurred it before going for the third braid. “Bro…” He gave a weak and fond smile before softly exhaling while closing his eye. His hand fell limply down onto his chest.

“S-Sprite…?” Warriors called fearfully. “Sprite!” He half shouted while bit slapping the older male’s cheek. “SPRITE!” He screamed in near terror as he realized how quiet and unmoving his little brother was. “SPRITE! WAKE UP! DON’T DO THIS TO ME! WAKE UP!!” He screamed in terror while crying.

Before the war Hero could’ve cradled his brother into his arms, Hyrule was right back. He forced the golden colored liquid down the Chain’s leader’s throat while already initiating his magic. He nearly threw the small bowl out of his hold before slamming both of his hands down into the Old Man’s chest. The sudden arching and soundless gasp coming from the one eyed male startled everyone else except the half-fairy whom had been waiting for this reaction. Time wasn’t awake but at least he was breathing and alive.

It was hours later before Time stirred. He smiled fondly as he felt the action of someone running their fingers through his hair. Before he realized what he was doing, he already purred. Yet, nearly instantly, at the same time as the hand stilled in his hair, he stopped in shock. He hadn’t meant to do that sound. He slumped and felt entirely ashamed.

“Sprite? You awake?” Warriors called while gently resuming into his earlier action. He saw the older male gulp once before slowly opening his eye. The uncertainty and shame he saw in the gaze nearly killed his heart. Yet, he forced himself to smile fondly at his little brother. “Hey there, little brother.”

The one eyed male sighed and closed his eye while hiding his face into his hand. “Go on, you can say it. Purring is not meant for Hylians.” He half grumbled and turned to his side so his back was towards his brother.

The Captain was bit shocked of the situation but he soon grinned. He laid down and pulled the Chain’s leader into his arms. “Fine, hugging time, it is.” He stated out before getting tad startled as Time chuckled. “What?” He queried with a frown.

“Double meaning, dear big brother, double meaning.” The older male replied with a clear grin on his face. He chuckled again when the war Hero groaned.

“Just shut up and enjoy of the embrace.” Warriors playfully snapped and tightened his hold around the Old Man. Yet, he soon sighed heavily and hid his face into the other male’s hair. “I nearly lost you, Sprite.” He whispered bit fearfully while tad tightening his hold. “I freaked out so bad.” He mumbled with bit breaking voice.

Time sighed heavily in sorrow and carefully turned around in the younger male’s hold. After that he wrapped his arms around him and held tight. “I’m here, big brother.” He assured while moving to his back and pulling the Captain to his chest so he could feel and hear the heartbeat of his little brother. Yet, the moment the weight was there, the one eyed male hissed in pain and Warriors pulled off on that instant.

“You’re still healing.” The war Hero whispered sorrowfully. “The wound needs to heal on its own since the poison almost killed you. Hyrule was able to counter things and get the healing to work bit faster than normally. Still, it’ll take few days before that wound’s gone.”

Time carefully moved to his side and tried to relax. “I think I’ll just take a nap.” He mumbled while bit curling up.

“You’re allowed to have braids. And you’re allowed to purr.” Warriors told firmly while laying down in front of the one eyed male.

The Chain’s leader frowned and opened his eye. “What?” He queried bit confused.

“I’m sorry I made you feel like you didn’t have the rights for those.” The Captain whispered while gently starting to run his fingers through the golden hair of his little brother. “I was an idiot. I’m supposed to protect and defend you. Not bring you down.”

Time huffed a bit and closed his eye while trying to relax. “We’ll talk about this when I’m more coherent to understand.” He mumbled while just wanting to get off of the conversation. Warriors simply nodded even though it went unseen.

Few days later the stab wound in the one eyed male’s back was healed. The Chain still made sure they’d have a day off just to be certain that their oldest brother was to his best condition. He was just going past the living room of the Inn towards the dining room to catch something to eat when he noticed all of his boys circled around something. He frowned and tilted his head a bit in confusion before going inside. “What are you guys doing?” He called curiously.

“Braiding.” Wind almost chirped happily.

“Brai— Wait, what?” Time gave a slight startled move before moving closer to his boys. “What exactly are you braiding?” He inquired while seeing all eight as Hylians so it wasn’t Wolfie they were doing braids into. He bit thought that the boys had found broken rug and were having fun with that. Them having broken the said rug did cross his head and got him bit uncertain.

“Come and see, little brother.” Warriors called while grinning. That got their leader even more worried of the situation but he went to check on the situation. He was quite taken off guard when he saw the very beautiful and very ornamental braid made by several long pieces of different colored yarns.

“Up to you to finish it.” Hyrule told with a fond smile while the Chain moved off the way. Time stared at the creation in shock and awe. There was one piece of yarn, a golden one, still off of the creation while the braid had eight yarns already together. He half crashed, half sat down to his knees while feeling almost unwilling to touch the creation.

“According to Hyrule one can make their own braid and claim it as their mark.” Legend started calmly.

“The braids the fairies have, are slightly bit altered from their own family’s mark to make them their own.” Sky explained with a fond smile.

“We’re not fairies but we’re a family.” Four stated it out as a certain fact.

“So, we made our own braid.” Wild continued with a bit shy smile.

“Our mark. Our braid. Our family.” Twilight said firmly.

“All it anymore needs is your line, Sprite.” Warriors told fondly.

Time stared almost wide-eyed at the braid made out of yarns. He didn’t know what to say or do but he picked the last piece of yarn with bit trembling hand. He felt hesitant and uncertain while feeling like he’d be destroying something the others had created. “Go on. Make it finished.”  The Captain coaxed gently.

At first the one eyed male thought about just starting from middle where the Chain had left unconsciously an empty spot for the yarn and just wrap it around the other yarns gently and carefully. Yet he soon scratched that idea. It would ruin the creation and seem to suffocate things. So, instead, he very carefully and bit uncertainly began to slip the yarn into middle of the whole creation while having it in straight line but going up and below the other yarns to make it like the others were rounding it and claiming the straight line as part of them. For some reason it reminded him of all the times the Chain had piled on him for Hero Pile of Support and Comfort to show they were right there for him. Together and close to one another but not suffocating. Him being the protective leader but them being right by him to defend him too.

“Brothers not bound by blood.” Time whispered quietly after letting go of the golden yarn.

“I think that’s perfect name for the braid.” Hyrule commented. “The nine Heroes of Hyrule, brothers not bound by blood, a family through and through.” He mused fondly. “May we do this braid and claim you as ours?” The half-fairy queried while looking at his oldest brother with hope and love. The others were equally hopeful while clearly wanting to do this for him.

The Chain’s leader was unable to talk as he felt the lump in his throat. All he could do was to bite down to his lower lip and nod. He felt the tears in his eye so he closed it and let out a bit shuddering breath. The Chain moved behind him and each of them took hold of his hair. “Just hold the middle one straight, please.” Hyrule asked and his oldest brother did as requested.

“You okay, Sprite?” Warriors called as each of the Heroes were holding one piece of the braid while carefully, on their own times, swirled them around the others. Time was actually smiling while feeling tugging and moving his hair around to create the unique braid.

“Y-yeah…” The one eyed male half mumbled. “J-just….” He trailed off and tried to dry the tears.

“This is your braid, Time.” Hyrule said firmly and softly. “This is our braid.” He continued while making sure it all went as supposed to. “This is the braid of family.” He concluded while fully understanding how much this meant to the Chain’s leader. “You are family to four fairies and you are family to eight Heroes. With this braid, we claim you as our brother now, before and forever.” He explained and bit grinned as the seven others echoed his last line.

Time gasped in shock before already hiding his face into his hand while crying. He had never felt this loved and cared about before. Like the fairies before in his life, he now had eight brothers by the rules of the fairies. His brothers. His family. He barely was capable of talking when he whispered with slightly broken voice: “Thank you.”

“Can I get the braid next?” Warriors requested and the others nodded. Once the braid was done for the oldest brother of the nine Links, he kissed his little brother’s head. “It’s official now, Sprite. You are our brother through and through.” He told fondly.

Time turned around swiftly and pulled each of the Heroes into a tight hug. He would’ve loved to hug them all simultaneously but he wasn’t capable of that. Still, it was clear how much this action, the braid and the whole situation meant to him.

The rest of the Chain, one by one, requested for the braid too. The one whom got the braid to be done for them, held the middle one straight. The rest moved places for each other so in the end, every single one of them had held and moved each of the pieces of the braids. This further claimed the braid as theirs and made them even more of a family according to the Rules of the Fairies.

None of the nine Heroes wanted even one damage to come to the new braid so they stayed at the Inn for the day and the night. They weren’t going to allow any kind of chances that they’d decline from this offer and family. Each of the braids had been given with the words of With this braid, we claim you as our brother now, before and after. It was to show that this brotherhood would never break.

It didn’t need more than one stray fairy whom saw and heard the situation. She very quickly informed her kin of the new braid, of the new brothers and, most of all, of the new family. The moment the news reached the Great Fairies, the family of nine brothers were already, unknown to the Heroes, welcomed and blessed by the fliers. And Fierce Deity, connected to the family of nine brothers, was entirely doing all he could to expand the blessing and acceptance of the Great Fairies and their small sisters and brothers. Even though it wouldn’t come into the knowledge of the Heroes of Hyrule, this braid and the acceptance and blessing by the Great Fairies, fairies and the Fierce Deity would make it certain that they would be in contact even after they would have to leave back to their own eras.

Until then it was more often than not Warriors whom actually requested for the braid to be done for him. After him, usually, it was Time out of unconscious mutual agreement unless he specifically asked not to be next. Then, out of whom was the quickest, the rest of them half shouted off for a turn and taking numbers in a way.

Then, at one time, as the Chain had become very good at braiding their marking, the Chain’s leader purred contently while very much liking the action and, even more so, the specific braid. The others hadn’t heard him do such before so it took them off guard and they stopped the braiding. Yet, that also was when Time realized what he was doing. He jerked in shock and clamped his hands over his mouth even though it wasn’t where the sound came. He slumped with ears drooping.

“Just purr, little brother.” Warriors whispered and gently kissed the top of his leader’s head. “It’s good to see you enjoying.”

“Fairies purr. It’s natural to them.” Hyrule commented while nudging others to continue with the braid. “You were raised by them so it’s natural for you too.”

“I like to listen cats purr. Wish I knew how to do that.” Twilight told while wanting to glomp his mentor and find a way to make him purr again.

“Do that sound again! It was so comforting.” Wind nearly begged.

“Agreed. There’s something entirely enthralling and special in the sound you made.” Four told while bit frowning as he tried to figure the whole thing out.

“The Remlits purr too. It reminds of Skyloft and makes me feel safe.” Sky mused fondly while checking the line of hair he had in his hands that there weren’t any of knots or such as he waited his turn to swirl it around the braid to get it to correct place. “Since fairies purr, I now understand why their presence is so comforting and making me feel so at home when surrounded by them. I didn’t make that connection during my quest and, well, not until now.”

Legend hesitated for a while and already blushed but luckily everyone was ignoring his situation. “You make it sound so beautiful.” He mumbled and felt like wanting to disappear at the round of Aww-sounds. Yet, for his luck, no-one started to pick on him for that line. Though, the Veteran thought it was due to them wanting to make Time feel secure, happy and having full rights to do unconscious things such as purring without fearing to be ridiculed.

Hyrule took the next turn to have the braid done for him and he purred loudly and happily. Showing that there was nothing wrong with creating the sound. The others, with mixed results, tried to purr too when their hair was braided. Mostly the others tried not to laugh or giggle at the failed attempts but everything was done out of affection and made sure no harm was meant. Hugs and closeness were shared, especially from the oldest of them as he often felt bit overwhelmed and in need of gentle touches. The others were happy to provide him what he was needing. So, usually, those days were filled with leaning against one another and hugs.

When the end of the quest came as the evil was defeated and timelines were saved, the nine portals opened up to separate them. Yet, before they could even start to say their goodbyes, the area was filled with fairies whom were followed by the Great Fairies from all of their eras. Right after them, Fierce Deity came into sight with a slight startled and bit pained gasp from Time. The Chain straight off came next to their oldest brother while feeling contradicted of the situation. The God of Protection moved to the fairy kin and turned around with a fond smile.

“Hero of Time, my dear friend…” The Deity started calmly. “I have been doing my best to ensure you could keep contact to the family you have gained through this quest. Yet, I feared that I was not powerful enough while having been reduced into a mask and connected to you.”

The Great Fairies glanced at each other before one of them was chosen to be the one to speak on everyone’s behalf. “Dear Heroes of Hyrule, our brothers…” She began gently while sticking to Hylian Language for everyone to understand. “…The day you together created the Brothers not bound by blood -braid, was the day you gave us the rights to ensure nothing would break the ties you have created.”

Another Great Fairy stepped forward with a fond smile. “Hero of Wild, take your Slate and open it.” She requested and the Champion did as she asked of him. Yet, he gasped the second he noticed the new feature within his device. She nodded firmly and the fairies, in small groups, came to the Heroes.

The small fliers, with all possible colors of the world within their glow, carried smallish devices between them. “Please, accept our blessing.” Third one of the Great Fairies almost pleaded and the nine Links carefully took the small, round things into their hands. With Wild, though, the thing quickly was within the Slate.

Fierce sighed a bit and gave a sorrowful look to Time and Twilight. “I know you have thought that the name of the braid does not entirely hold true but, forgive me to stay this, it does. The two of you are not related as you believe. You are from different timelines but the end result is the same. It sadly goes crossed in your case and hence not related by blood.” He explained while making the braid’s claim entirely true between all nine Heroes.

“Guys…” Wild called while looking both entirely baffled and delighted at the same time. “These things… We can communicate through them. It’s like the Rock of Connection and my Slate. It’s like letters. It’s…..” He nearly choked on his words while looking so happy. “It’s like the portals. We can get back together whenever we wish. Call, letters, the sight of the others on a call like my Slate and Wind’s Rock of Connection and real honest portal to get back together.”

“Well, in that case…” Time started slowly before already grinning widely. “Don’t hesitate to drop in at the ranch whenever you wish. You’re all welcome to home at any time.” He promised fondly. The moment the others, besides Wild, understood the actual meaning of the small items in their hands, they already glomped Time while promising to visit often and telling that everyone was more than welcome to their eras and homes too.

The first one to make the visits to the others after that day was none other than Wild. He, with all the tech in his usage, figured the items swiftly and right after that already began to visit the others to teach them how to use the connection items. Before it even was fully realized, the Lon-Lon Ranch became more often than not the place where they all got together. Yet, even though it was used to keep contact and visit each other, it also became a way to request help and in no time the whole Chain was together to clear off whatever problem it was as it ranged from normal everyday problems and such into taking down ferocious monsters and cruel bad guys.

About a year later, during one call from Time to all of his brothers, the Chain got one hell of a surprise. Their leader was first having his back to the camera of sorts before, while grinning widely, turning around and introducing his bit over a week old baby girl. The room was filled with “Aawww!”, “Congrats!” and “What’s her name?”.

“So, when do you boys think you could come over again to meet her properly?” The one eyed male queried and the Chain, even though everyone at their own eras, glanced at each other through the shared screens.

“How about straight off?” Warriors half queried.

“Perfect. We’ll be waiting.” Time replied and grinned even wider. “My little princess needs her eight God Fathers, you know.” That almost got his brothers to faint before already scrambling into action and getting to the ranch in record time. Soon they were truly introduced to Linnea and their family had just grown by one.

When the natural end of the lives of the Heroes came, Time did not end up as the Hero’s Shade. He had had long and amazing life with his family of the Chain, Malon and their daughter. He got to see her grow into adulthood and worry for her safety with the eight brothers of his. He even lived to see his precious daughter to get married and to watch over her two kids. Not just all this, he also got to be there as the Chain found the love of their lives, got married and had kids. This was the life his counterpart in Twilight’s own timeline wouldn’t have.

As the Hero of Time met with the other Links at the afterlife, he wasn’t certain things were right for Twilight. Yet, even though the Rancher hadn’t met with the one he shared his blood with, he met with the real family he had of the Chain and the one eyed male. The Chain’s leader’s Cub was more than happy to be here than with a person he shared blood but knew nothing of. This was the family he knew and wanted to be with and, in the end, that was more than enough for Time as he had one hell of a huge family by him.

[toadallytickles]

NEST 2024 + Gatherings Going Forward (again)

Attended my 4th NEST this year! This is just a quick point-form summary as I’m still dropping and wanted a write-up before I fly out this weekend to see my moms!

Perhaps I wore my “tickle me I’m cute!” shirt on Friday- and perhaps it got me pinned and gang tickled by 4 friends UGH- I haven’t been gang tickled since last June which is WILD honestly. Kinda hoping wishing this June it happens again 👀

Learning that it’s okay to let people touch me. 🙄😒 From my past writing “AUNT 2024 + Gatherings Going Forward,” I shared that I’ve denied myself from playing with friends until everything felt perfect, but recognized that I set the bar way too high and that maybe I just fear that “awkward first session” because I’m really awkward with touching and this fetish. At NEST this year I’ve allowed friends I’ve met and connected with at previous gatherings to tickle me in the con-spaces to break that touch barrier in a fun, familiar way for everyone. I also let myself engage in pick-up sessions with friends to get that “awkward first session” out of the way! I had to reassure myself throughout the weekend that it was okay that they were touching me, and they were touching me because they wanted to~.

My nesting partner is choosy about the gatherings he attends as he wants to focus on those he has connected with already, and can find gatherings overwhelming at times. This NEST made me feel similar- I want to continue attending gatherings, and I love meeting new people, though going forward I’m going to focus on regular attendees and friends I know from previous gatherings. There are a lot of regulars and mutuals I would love to get to know better and potentially play with- I’m just really awkward and don’t know how to approach people, and in turn I feel I accidentally give off a closed-off vibe. I would like to be part of my friends’ friend group, I just don’t know how to integrate! NEST going forward, I would love to volunteer and help out more to continue making the gathering the best it can be!

Oh, I had my first Wawa experience! I tried their Caramel Cookies and Cream Frozen Cappuccino, IT WAS SO GOOD, Starbucks Frapps could never. definitely kept me up way past my bedtime! 😋 Also the mascot is a (Canada) Goose because Wawa was originally a dairy farm in Wawa, Pennsylvania, and the Ojibwe word “we’we” means “Snow Goose.” Now I need a Sheets experience~.

I got to try out @ticklingduck's vibrating tickling rods! @mister-ttt and I did record content including them! They are like a small Pursonic (without it stopping after 2 minutes~)! 😏 I also BOUGHT ONE!! 🎉 @ticklingduck's socials: Etsy, Twitter, Tumblr.

Wore my Geurdo Link cosplay on auction night, even though I was not participating in the auction, and I was extremely shy so I just sat in the audience and didn’t really show it off LMAO!! (Still editing the tickle video featuring this cosplay, previews are in the NEST Server and on my OF~).

I’ve had the literal pleasure of forming a play partner dynamic with a local friend, and he has really built up my confidence, self-esteem, and has helped me be more self-sex-positive. It was exciting to carry that sex-positivity into some sessions this weekend, and I learned that I really like being consensually sexually violated by friends.. 🥴💦 don't look at me.

This weekend really validated my growth and boundaries. Finding this gathering somewhat personally hard to navigate because I wasn’t meeting my exact wants (a me-issue, not NEST's), that helped me recognize that I’m not the same person I was at my first NEST and other 2019 gatherings, and that I’m truly growing. I wasn’t able to navigate NEST like I did in 2019, so now I know I’m on the right path and know what I’m exactly looking for.

And finally on the last day of the gathering, I’m sitting in the lobby in my lazy travel fit, not showered, sporty wind-breaker, capris, my glasses, pink paw print socks + sandals of course, and a guy I’m pretty sure was not part of the NEST group asked me if I was “Kyle-“ and there were other men around. I say no, and guy just wanders back to where he came from. Assigned Kyle at NEST. I have not felt gender euphoria in a long time. 🥹

anyway, the end. looking forward to the next gatherings~

[luffyvace]

Vinsmoke Sanji x reader who fights his royal treatment~

@starrymiko suggested/requested these!! This a fun idea I’ve never seen before, because most people ik wouldn’t reject royal treatment from a hot guy—turns out I have a lot to learn (😂💗)

I really don’t how to explain this as a short title so here’s the post where they explain it better than me: Vinsmoke Sanji with reader who rejects his royal treatement

also going to link the posts they got inspired by/read to give them this idea:

Dating ~ Sanji Vinsmoke ~ headcanons & Dating ~ Sanji Vinsmoke ~ headcanons pt2

Sanji loves hard when he loves

And he certainly loves you!

He’s also a very expressive man!

whether he despises you or wants to marry you, he expresses how he feels!

usually verbally too

But he also has practically all love languages, and he tones them to your favorites

but one trait that definitely sticks is his need to take care for who he loves!

so when you reject it?! “But my ethereal and whimsically attractive darling?! What do you mean??”

you explain that you don’t want his coddling and that you can do things on your own, as you prefer your independence

even though that’s not the full story, technically

Pushing him away is pretty darn hard as we see in the anime with Nami and Robin. He’s been trying and failing for 2 years..So if your his s/o this simps’ definitely not just gonna be like “ok 👍” and simply walk away 🤷‍♀️

Alr I apologize for that dad joke.

he’s gonna try every love language in the book to try and get you to open up, you two are dating after all, so maybe your just shy? Awww so cute! His dearest is embarrassed~ Physical Touch is probably the first thing he’d try and the first thing you’d say no to. Mainly since he’s a simp and touching is too direct for you. You guys are a really ironic couple since you’re almost scared of love and he’s all about it.

He tried to initiate contact of all types and got rejected each and every time. Let me carry you for a romantic walk as I hold your bags! 💥💥 “I said got it! 💨 🎒😑” Well at least let me carry the bag to your room! It’s really heavy! “No! I can do it on my own!” But darling- “NO!”

tbh you can hit him as much as you want but he won’t hit you back. So whenever you argue or fight about these kinds of things you usually end up winning the argument

for acts of service literally everything is a no- I washed your laundry for you! “What! Don’t touch my clothes! I’ve got it!!” I got that thing you’ve been searching for! “I wanted to find it myself! Now it’s not as rewarding! I could do it on my own! Stop doing things for me!” Darling, let me help~ 😞 “no way!”

tbh the only thing you let him do is cook for you because he is the cook, and even so, if you want to fix a snack you prefer to do it by yourself. It makes his love for cooking grow even more and he looks forward to daily meals because he can finally take care of you! 🩷

receiving gifts is probably another thing you’d reject seeing as though you’d figure you can get it yourself. But words of affirmation and quality time? May or may not be so bad for you! I’ll let you decide :) if you allow him to display his love in these ways he’d be overjoyed and just assume this is your preferred way of display of affection, and that the other 3 aren’t your forte 💗💗

when he finds out he’s truly scaring you away simply by treating you right and respecting you, he figures somethin’s up.

he’s gonna get to the bottom of it too, whether you like it or not because you, need. it. He knows what it feels like to bottle up your past and smile at the future, despite the fact that the past is still hurting you inside, and it’s like a ticking time bomb before you implode.

He knows he doesn’t want that for you. (Especially after whole cake)

So he’ll gently pry as much as he can with out upsetting you too much. It’s also helpful if you visit your home land, because then he can learn what it was like for you growing up.

if he finds out a person did this to you? They’re cooked.

LOL- literally tho, he’s going Infrit Jambe and lighting’ ‘‘em up! 🔥

if they’re a women he’ll explain the situation to Robin and Nami who’ll certainly want to help you, and they’ll beat up that trifling tramp! 💥

(even if you don’t visit your homeland this still applies ⬇️)

after that Sanji would want to ease you into being used to respect especially and his care too

now if your just naturally independent he’ll try and let it go as best as he can, but he does want you to command respect, because if you let others disrespect you, that proves you have no respect for yourself.

and it’s essential to be able to at least stand up for yourself on the grand line.

but don’t worry! If you won’t do it, he will for you! 😏 No? Well then stand up for yourself dear! 😊

🔥🧑‍🍳

🍜🍳🥘🥞

🔥🔥🔥🔥 Let. Me. COOK.

[nitrowyverine]

Finally played the TOUCHSTARVED Demo! Still thinking about it over a week later.

(Above: Steam banner image for TOUCHSTARVED from Red Spring Studios)

I love it SO MUCH. and i have QUESTIONS. my extended thoughts below the cut [Demo spoilers included]

General thoughts:

this game is SO up my alley that it's insane. local goth gaming nerd is kicking their feet and giggling

the music? and sound design? It's honestly incredible, even beyond the infamous Every Time We Touch cover (Which is how I found this game). We all have to be giving more props to the music/sound work, it absolutely punches the experience up so many notches. When a soundtrack is released I'm immediately keeping it on hand for all my tabletop needs

absolutely enamored with the backstory mechanic. It adds so much individual depth to the character. you can feel attached to your MC without them being a complete blank slate. I absolutely love that different MC backstories have you pick up different details about the characters. (My favorite is The Hound immediately picking out who the leaders are amongst the group, in contrast to the other MC backgrounds)

I wanna eat the backgrounds. I wanna eat them whole. They're so detailed and colorful and have a great sense of depth. 100000/10

Specific character thoughts/theories:

(Images courtesy of the Touchstarved character Lore posts from the Red Spring Studio socials. I'll be linking them in each of the character's names)

Ais:

Thank you, Red Spring studios, for blessing the players with the ability to bite him if you're an ass to him the entire demo. You truly know what we want

Lore seems to indicate that Ais came over from the demon realm for some unknown reason, and was possibly some kind of demon king or leader? Fascinated to learn what happens there

Ngl the Seaspring looks like it would taste good. My favorite raspberry/rhubarb tea looks just like the Seaspring water. Gimme the group juice.

Question: If Ais gets infected with MC's madness....does that mean. the WHOLE groupmind gets infected? Humans and soulless alike? That's a city-destroying disaster waiting to happen

CONCLUSION: Most likely to adopt 6 dogs instead of picking up the groceries. Least likely to let you have the car aux cable.

Kuras:

I do believe Kuras is the actual best shot at a cure/treatment of all candidates. Assuming the curse is some level of demonic, an angel's touch is probably the best bet.

Let me be clear here though, I do think he might just go "Well you can just like. not have arms" and take them. That is a possibility

Most of the other characters I can get a rough idea of what they want and why. Kuras? I have NO idea what his goal is, which is very frightening.

Twitter bio image does say "Repentant Angel", and that his fatal flaw is "his sins can only be repaid through suffering". Possible linkage to Lovent's fall? Or another major disaster?

its okay sweaty we all get The Guilt (tm)

If Kuras somehow gets MC's maddness (I have a feeling it may not effect him? but if it did) that would just. end the world right there.

CONCLUSION: Most likely to be the one guy you might be able to bring home to your parents. Least likely to put on oven mitts to take a frozen pizza out of the oven.

Vere:

I love Vere for being the character I thought I could trust the least, turning into a character I actually trust allot. I trust him to be extremely dangerous. He probably wasn't lying when he said his heart is on his sleeve.

Also, big props for having him just kill you in one of the demo endings. What a guy, I love him, no notes

Wait what he's over 100 according to his birthday post. thats, allot? older? than I thought?. okay yeah the lore posts mention he's a possible deity figure. not comforting

Vere is very fae-logic coded. Like, the words he says can be true and false at the same time. Don't tell him your name, he will cannibalize you for fun, etc etc ya know fae stuff.

i will protect him always

CONCLUSION: Most likely to fuck your dad. Least likely to be your new stepdad.

Mihn:

Mihn is much dodgier than the rest, but I think that makes them more trustworthy. They're not as interested as playing games.

I nominate Mihn as a secondary protagonist, since Leander, Ais, and Kuras seem to be interested in them quite a bit. Even Vere has a rivalmance kinda thing going for Mihn. If MC didn't show up, that would be the dating sim right there

I'm excited by the lore post and the implications that Mihn is from Lovent (or has traveled there? and survived?) and potentially getting greater lore expansion about the world surrounding Eridia

I think it's interesting that their strength stat is relatively low compared to the others, yet they're one of the characters that actually uses their strength in the demo.

Also, I think we see the least of their "monstrous form" of everyone in the demo (minus their ability to dodge in and out of shadows). I'm thrilled to see what their monstrous form actually entails.

Mihn would survive bloodborne. That's it thats the entire thought

CONCLUSION: Most likely to do all the work in a group project. Least likely to be chill during Mario Party.

Leander:

OKAY ALL OF MY QUESTIONS ARE HERE. I AM DEEPLY AFRAID. Something is absolutely wrong but we have no current ability to pinpoint what it is.

I've seen theories Leander is dead. However, in Vere's route, he mentions that Leander smells like aftershave. While this could be part of an extra-elaborate ruse, hair doesn't grow after death (Minus the appearance of it happening due to natural decay processes) so he wouldn't need to shave. However, I am betting on him being involved in some sort of un-death cycle.

actually I can guarantee his story is all about cycles. Has anyone else mentioned how his belt is the triple goddess symbol.

you know. the symbol of maiden/mother/crone. birth/life/death. beginning/middle/end. like

Moving on, the vast majority of his smiles are forced (Mouth is smiling, but there's no eye movement/crinkle that would indicate it's genuine). That is enough of a red flag but honey I am so much more worried about my next point:

WHERE DOES HE GET HIS MONEY. He's constantly buying rounds of drinks for a packed bar. It's briefly mentioned his clothes are nice. He pays for anything MC needs. However, says Bloodhound rates are "Free". Where does he GET HIS MONEY for all of this. Twitter posts from Red Spring point out he doesn't accept bribes (at least overtly).

WAIT I'M REREADING THIS POST WHAT THE FUCK ARE THE SILENT CRYPTS.

Looking again at Leander's stat post. The Ouroboros in the background is. Not comforting. Also, "Forbidden Magic"? yeah I have a feeling we know why he's not in the Senobium

Theory, potentially Leander is currently being paid by the Senobium to maintain lowtown/Silent Crypts order? I think there's still a connection between them. Like the Senobuim can remain detached while having ties to whatever horrible things Leander is doing.

Okay, in the twitter relationship charts it says that Kuras has looked out for Leander "Since he was young". Kuras probably knows. SO much we don't.

When Mihn scolds Leander for not telling MC to be off the streets past dark. I think Leander intentionally "Forgot" to mention that. I think he wanted the MC to see how dangerous Eridia was so MC would stay closer to Leander for safety. I think it was a very intentional manipulation tactic.

(Furthermore, did he actually cast a spell of luck on MC when he gave them the lilies from his introduction magic trick? Then bet on the MC living through the day?)

I do think Leander's surprise at MC going out to the Seaspring was genuine, since his spit-take clashes so starkly with his cool-guy demeanor.

I also have a feeling that Leander has been past the veil/shroud. he's doing something fucky and the veil is prime fuckery territory.

(Are we...going to get a timeloop story????)

CONCLUSION: Most likely to dramatically use himself as a human bridge over a small puddle (as an excuse to get walked on). Least likely to remember to go to bed after playing Stardew Valley for 13 hours straight.

Touchstarved game things I'm concerned about:

(I feel like I wouldn't be doing my game designer duties if I didn't point out my concerns as well. To be fair, there aren't many.)

I hope the bad endings get fucked up, story-wise. Since it's a horror game, I know it might turn some people off to have things go super wrong, but I really hope they do. I want to see some endless pain vortexes, some real Juniji Ito-style suffering. But I would also understand if the devs want to softball some of the worst outcomes for the sake of widespread appeal.

We all have countless examples of kickstarter games looking strong out the gate, but then falling flat upon release. While I have high hopes for Touchstarved, I do know the reality and intense difficulty of kickstarter games. I'm really hoping the demo isn't the best the studio will have to offer.

OVERALL: I am rooting for the Touchstarved team/Red Spring Studio all the way! I'm thrilled to see where this game goes. I am poised on this purchase button and ready to buy when it releases.

[arc852]

First Meetings 2/3

Summary: How Jimmy met Grian and Joel.

Warnings: anxiety, being/feeling trapped, hunger pains, fear, helplessness, arguing, and being grabbed

Word Count: 6756

Part 1

AO3 Link

It's finally here! So sorry about the wait, this chapter gave me a lot of trouble but I think I'm pretty happy with how it came out!

This is the meat of their first meeting, so we finally get to see just how badly it really went lol. I hope you guys enjoy!

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

 Jimmy woke up with a start to a blaring, ear piercing sound. He let out a yelp that was thankfully covered by the loud sound as he sat up, breathing heavily. As his brain caught up with him, he realized it was the sound of an alarm. He’d learned that humans usually set them so they could wake up and get to class on time. But if it was the weekend, then why was it on? And why had no one turned it off yet? Jimmy held his hands against his ears, trying to block out the sound.

 “Joel! Turn off your alarm!” Jimmy heard Grian yell over the blaring bleeps, sounding annoyed and groggy, having also been jostled awake by the alarm.

 Joel groaned and Jimmy watched as Joel’s hand came out from the bed and blindly tapped on his phone. The noise stopped and Jimmy let his hands fall with a sigh of relief.

 “Seriously, Joel?” Grian asked.

 “Sorry, I forgot to turn it off!” Joel said, also annoyed by his own mistakes.

 “The two days we get to sleep in and you forgot to turn your alarm off for one of them.” Grian continued.

 “I get it! You can shut up already!” Joel yelled back and then both were silent for a long moment. Jimmy thought they had both fallen back asleep until Grian spoke up again.

 “...We should probably get up.” He said and then Jimmy felt the bed above him shifting before Grian’s feet hit the floor to Jimmy’s right.

 “Yeah, yeah. I can’t go back to sleep after that anyway.” Joel agreed and Jimmy noticed him getting up and out of bed as well.

 As the two humans went about their morning routines, Jimmy’s stomach growled and ached. Jimmy licked his lips as he realized it had now been a full day since he had last eaten anything and about the same since he’d had a drink of water. He was really starting to feel the effects of that now.

 Still, there was nothing he could do about it.

 Jimmy curled in on himself and watched the humans walk around the room, doing various things. They finally picked up their old clothes, throwing them in two separate hampers in the corner of the room. They then both took turns in the bathroom, walking out dressed and then started discussing breakfast.

 Jimmy tried to tune them out as they talked about food, feeling his stomach ache with every mention. 

 “I don’t really feel like going anywhere though.” Jimmy caught as he zoned back in. It was Joel who had spoken.

 “We can get it delivered then.” Grian answered and then it was silent for a moment. At this angle, Jimmy could only see their legs and feet, so he was unsure what they were doing. “Okay…you want the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich?” Grian asked and Jimmy realized they must be ordering on their phone. He had seen a lot of college students do that before.

 Food delivered right to your door, whenever you wanted, sounded like a dream if Jimmy was being honest.

 “Yeah, but add avocado and ham. Extra toasted.” Joel listed and Jimmy could just barely hear Grian typing on his phone now that he knew what was happening. 

 “Got it…” There was another second of silence. “Okay, it’s all ordered. Should be here in 25 minutes.”

 “Cool. Wanna look for another movie to watch while we wait?” Joel suggested and Jimmy could already see him going over to his desk to grab his laptop. The typing on the laptop was a lot louder than the phone had been.

 “Sure, I’m down for a movie day.” Grian said and then met Joel over by his desk. Both humans were hunched over, talking back and forth over what movies they wanted to watch that day. Jimmy barely paid attention to what they were saying, not really understanding it anyway.

 25 minutes later, at least, Jimmy assumed it was around then considering what Grian had said before, there was a knock at the door. Jimmy jumped, startled by the sudden loud thud and his eyes honed in on the door. Grian went to answer it, opening the door to grab the food. 

 “Thanks.” Grian said, food in hand and then shut the door as the delivery driver started to walk away. Grian turned back around and placed the bag on Joel’s desk.

 The aroma hit Jimmy all at once. It smelled so good.

 Another ache in his stomach made him wince.

 “Here, you can grab yours. We can watch the movie on my bed.” Grian said and then picked up his sandwich and the laptop, heading closer to Jimmy. Jimmy tensed slightly but of course Grian was coming this way, he was underneath his bed after all.

 “Sounds good to me!” Joel said. “That just means I get a crumb free bed tonight.”

 “You better not be leaving crumbs in my bed.” Grian said and despite Jimmy not being able to see him, he could picture the glare on his face clear as day.

 “What happens, happens.” Joel said and then chuckled. He grabbed his sandwich, unwrapping it and taking a bite as he headed over toward Grian and his bed. Jimmy watched with increased interest as a piece of bacon dropped from his sandwich and onto the floor.

 Joel paused. “Whoops.”

 “Joel.” Grian said, disappointment clear in his tone. “Could you not?”

 “Oh come on, it wasn’t even that much.” Joel continued walking, getting into the bed on the opposite side Grian did.

 “You’re not even gonna pick it up?” Grian asked, incredulously.

 “Eh, I’ll do it later.” Joel said, muffled from a bite of food.

 “Unbelievable.” Grian said but didn’t get up himself to go pick it up either. Instead, Jimmy heard the start of the movie going as the two humans got comfortable and ate their food.

 Jimmy was barely paying any attention to them though, all his focus was on that small sliver of bacon that had fallen from Joel’s sandwich. He licked at his dry lips, wanting nothing more than to run out there and grab it.

 But he couldn’t. Not yet at least. Grian and Joel had just barely started their movie, they could still not be fully engrossed into it yet. 

 But also, he couldn’t wait until they went to bed either. He was sure the bacon piece would be picked up and thrown away as soon as they were done. Jimmy couldn’t let that happen though. He needed to eat. He also needed water but that was something he would have to try for later on. Maybe he could try and get into the bathroom and up to the sink later tonight?

 He shook his head. He needed to focus on what was in front of him first. And that was a piece of food that was threatening to disappear if Jimmy didn’t act fast enough.

 If Jimmy waited just a bit longer, he could run out quickly and grab it before either human had a chance to look up. And hopefully, if they tried to look for it and saw that it was missing, they would only assume they had accidentally kicked it away.

 It was his best option and his only one at this point. He really needed to eat, so he would have to take the risk.

 He waited until Grian and Joel were halfway into their second movie. The humans had already finished eating and had tossed their trash onto Grian’s side table, not wanting to get up to throw it away yet. They seemed completely engrossed into the movie, at least as far as Jimmy could tell. If he was going to do this, now would be the time.

 Jimmy took a deep breath and got closer to the edge of the bed, but not quite going out into the open yet. He heard the movie playing in the background, the humans themselves quiet as they watched. He eyed the bacon halfway across the room and then, without any more hesitation, Jimmy quickly and as quietly as he could, took off.

 He darted across the room, making it in less than a minute. He quickly picked up the piece of bacon, holding his prize close to his chest. He was about to turn around and head back to under the bed, when suddenly, he heard one of the human’s gasp.

 Jimmy tensed but tried to keep his nerves calm. The humans were watching a movie after all, they could just be reacting to that. Hopefully.

 Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

 “What…is that?” One of them spoke, Jimmy didn’t care to distinguish who it was, too busy feeling his nerves spike as he realized they had seen him.

 Jimmy dropped the bacon and ran toward Joel’s bed, not wanting to risk trying to get back underneath Grian’s. As soon as he had moved, he heard the humans’ shout something and jump off the bed, their movie paused and all but forgotten.

 Jimmy could feel the thuds of the humans’ feet as they followed after him but thankfully Jimmy had a head start. He was able to reach underneath the bed before either human could catch up to him. Jimmy went all the way to the back wall, pressing himself against it as he looked at the legs and feet of the humans only a few feet away from him. His breaths were rapid and his eyes were blown wide as he realized just how dire of a situation he was in.

 He might have managed to get under the bed in time but he was far from safe.

 The humans had appeared to pause for a second as soon as Jimmy disappeared underneath the bed. “Was that some sort of mouse?” Joel asked, though his unsure tone was enough to tell that he already knew the answer to that question was a resounding no. Still, Grian answered.

 “That was definitely not a mouse.” Grian said, breaths slightly heavy at the sudden excitement. “It…It looked like a tiny person.”

 “Okay, so I wasn’t just seeing things then. Good to know.” Joel said. “A tiny person…”

 Suddenly, without warning, Grian’s knees hit the floor and he twisted his body so he could peer underneath the bed. His eyes scanned the area and Jimmy felt himself freeze, a shiver running down his spine as he met eyes with the human.

 The human’s eyes widened, filled with shock and awe. “There it is.” Grian practically whispered, the shock also clear in his tone. “It…It really is a tiny person.”

 “Really?” Jimmy heard Joel say but he tried his best to block it all out.

 Jimmy wanted nothing more than to just not be here. He was trapped, not just underneath the bed, between a wall and a pair of humans, but in the entire room itself. Even if he managed to hide again, which was looking close to impossible now, he was sure the two humans would tear the entire room apart looking for him.

 And they would find him. Because he was trapped.

 Jimmy was suddenly finding it very hard to breathe. His worst fear was coming true and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He pressed further into the wall, trying to ground himself, trying to forget for just a moment that there were a pair of human eyes on him, just long enough to try and catch his breath.

 Unfortunately, this meant he wasn’t paying attention to what the humans were doing. He suddenly heard a noise of strain and foolishly looked back toward the human only to nearly jump out of his own skin as a hand started to reach for him. Jimmy yelped, wishing for all the world that he could just melt into the wall. But, thankfully, it seemed Jimmy was safe for now, as the hand only got about halfway underneath the bed before it stopped. 

 They couldn’t reach him.

 Small victories.

 “I can’t reach it.” Grian said with a grunt and then the hand retreated after a moment, once again leaving a clear view of Grian’s face. The human bit his lip. “Hey, it’s okay. You can come out.” Grian said, speaking to Jimmy for the first time. “Come on little guy.”

 Jimmy didn’t so much as move a muscle, let alone answer. Like he would just walk right up to the human. They must think he was an idiot or something.

 Jimmy realized, as soon as the thought entered his mind, that they probably did. Maybe not in those simple terms but…were they even aware he could understand them? Humans always looked down on his kind, not quite seeing them as people. And based on the condescending tone Grian used, it wasn’t hard to see that that’s what was happening here.

 Grian tried reaching for him again and Jimmy couldn’t help the small whimper that escaped him. He knew Grian couldn’t reach him from here but he couldn’t help but keep his eyes on the hand trying, afraid that if he were to tear them away that, somehow, the hand would grab him.

 Unfortunately, he was so focused on Grian, he had forgotten about Joel.

 Jimmy’s attention jumped to the legs of the bed, which were suddenly moving forward. Jimmy frowned, his scrambled, fear-filled brain trying to make sense of what was happening. The darkness let up as the bed moved, revealing the lights above. Jimmy looked up in confused fear, his eyes darting back and forth between the new opening and Grian.

 And then there was a hand descending down, heading right toward him. Jimmy had no time to even try to run, the only thing he could do was duck down, trying to make himself even smaller. It didn’t help though, in fact, it made it worse. The hand engulfed his entire body in less time than Jimmy could comprehend and he found himself completely enveloped in the fist, his body scrunched up even tighter at the lack of room. He then felt the hand shoot back up, bringing Jimmy with it.

 As he was brought up, another hand joined the one he was trapped in. He now found himself held in between two hands, which, while offering him more room, was no less terrifying.

 Jimmy struggled within the hands confines, kicking away at the fingers that were larger than his entire body. They didn’t so much as budge though, his efforts and struggles all for nothing. His breathing came out in short pants as he realized this. As he realized he had been well and truly caught. 

 “I got it!” He heard Joel exclaim, much too close and far too loud. Jimmy flinched away but there really was no point when he was literally in the human’s hands. He was already much closer than he had ever wanted to be to a human.

 “Nice work, Joel.” Grian said and Jimmy heard some shuffling. He could only assume Grian was standing back up. 

 Jimmy closed his eyes. He could imagine the two humans, both surrounding him and staring down at where he was still hidden from view within Joel’s cupped hands. Looks of awe and curiosity, faces full of smirks and grins. He wouldn’t have to imagine for long though. 

 He opened his eyes back up just in time to see a small gap start to open up in Joel’s hands. Jimmy tensed up even more and couldn’t help the yelp as the fingers parted away to reveal a giant eye. Jimmy backed away as much as he could in the cramped space, but while it but distance between him and the eye, it only put him closer to the curve of Joel’s hand. He froze, doing his best to stay in the center of the hand, to avoid the most contact.

 The eye was wide as it took him in before it left and the gap quickly closed back up. “This is so weird…” Joel said, trailing off. “I can’t believe this is real.”

 “It doesn’t even look like there could be anything in your hands.” Grian said, his voice in awe.

 “Oh, it’s-he’s? Definitely in there.” Joel said with a slight unbelieving chuckle. Jimmy weakly tried to kick at the walls of flesh again, despite knowing it wouldn’t do anything. “This is so weird. I can feel his tiny legs kicking me.”

 “Okay, well come on. Open up, I want to see it.” Grian said.

 “Okay, okay.” Joel said and that was all the warning Jimmy got as Joel’s hands opened up. Jimmy shut his eyes tight, not unfurling himself from his curled up position. He didn’t want to see them. He didn’t want this to be real.

 Unfortunately, he wasn’t given a choice, as suddenly, the human’s thumb slid itself underneath his curled up body. It managed to easily break apart his curled up position and ended up pressing gently against his chest before maneuvering him into a seated position in the hand. He was manhandled so easily, so casually. His struggles didn’t even compare.

 The thumb didn’t move. It stayed pressed against his chest and Jimmy felt constricted, like he could barely breathe. Even though he knew the pressure wasn’t enough to block any air, the panic was doing a good enough job of that anyway.

 “Wow, his heartbeat is going crazy.” Joel commented, able to feel Jimmy’s pulse under the pad of his thumb. The human’s voice pulled Jimmy’s eyes up in that direction and…well, it was exactly like how he had imagined it. But worse. The humans were so close, their eyes looking him up and down, full of that awe and curiosity he had guessed but that still had Jimmy’s heart racing even faster at actually seeing it. He cowered further back into the hand, though the thumb still pressed against his chest kept him from being able to move too much.

 “He’s probably scared.” Grian noted. “Or maybe it’s because of how small he is. Don’t small creatures have faster heart rates?” He looked toward Joel, eyebrow raised.

 Joel blinked at him. “I don’t know, why are you asking me? You’re the biology major here.”

 Grian chose to ignore that and looked back down at Jimmy. “It’s probably a bit of both, honestly.” Grian said, and then leaned down a bit more, his face coming closer to Jimmy. Jimmy let out a small whine, trying to lean back as far as he could away from the human. “It’s okay little guy, we’re not going to hurt you.”

 Jimmy swallowed the lump that had been forming in his throat. They were speaking to him again and of course it was with that same condescending tone. But even without the tone, could Jimmy really even believe them? The words were empty, something to be said in the hopes that they could get their little catch to calm down and be easier to control. Jimmy knew perfectly well how humans worked.

 “Can he even understand us?” Joel asked, his awe turning more toward curiosity as he looked right at Jimmy’s face for any signs of recognition.

 “I mean…he’s very human-like. I’d be a bit surprised if he couldn’t.” Still, Jimmy saw the look of doubt on Grian’s face. Grian turned to look back down at Jimmy and titled his head. “Can you understand us?”

 Jimmy froze, not knowing what he should reveal. Would it be better to answer? Worse? Jimmy didn’t know. He didn’t know what these humans wanted from him. He blinked back some tears, refusing to cry. And then, with a lot of hesitation, Jimmy nodded. Better that they ran with him being more human-like than turning to him being more animal-like, he supposed.

 Despite Grian’s earlier words, both humans looked very surprised that Jimmy could indeed understand the two of them.

 “Did…he just nod?” Joel asked, looking to Grian to see if he saw the same thing.

 “He…did. Wow, okay, so he really can understand us.” Grian said, his eyes wide. “That’s amazing.” He breathed out, his awe returning tenfold.

 “Wait, if you can understand us,” Joel started, turning back toward Jimmy, who flinched. “Then does that mean you can also talk?”

 Despite the fact Jimmy didn’t think he could talk right now, at this moment, due to the panic still invading his chest, he gave another little nod. Might as well tell them that too, while he found himself revealing things. Wasn’t like it was a huge leap anyway, from being able to understand them to also being able to talk. 

 He watched as Joel grinned at his nod, an excitement in his eyes that had Jimmy’s nerves feel like they were on fire. “Well, you have to say something now. Don’t leave us in suspense.”

 Again, Jimmy didn’t think he could even if he wanted to. The pressure on his chest was starting to become uncomfortable now and if he opened his mouth to even try, he feared no words would come out. He shook his head and looked away, not knowing how they would react to him denying them something.

 Turns out, the reaction was a pout from Joel. “Oh come on, you can’t tell us you can talk and then not.” Joel reached out with his free hand and poked Jimmy in the side. Jimmy flinched back, his eyes wide as he watched as the hand stayed close. As if ready to attack again. “Might think you’re lying to us.” Joel’s eyes glint with mischief, his tone teasing.

 That scared Jimmy more than anything, though. And suddenly things were becoming just too much. His focus zeroed in on his chest, the pressure on it was overwhelming now and Jimmy couldn’t help but want it off. He braced his hands against the thumb and pushed. He knew it wouldn’t budge, he knew he was too weak to move it but he had to try.

 But surprisingly, the thumb did budge. In fact, it moved off his chest entirely. Jimmy sat there with his arms outstretched, blinking in confusion. That brief confusion soon turned into another bout of fear though, as Joel’s other hand came close once more, invading his space to snag one of his outstretched arms in between his thumb and forefinger. Jimmy’s breath hitched and he froze, scared that one wrong move would have his arm torn in two.

 “Look at his little hand. It’s so small.” Joel said, his tone turning to one of child-like awe. Grian’s face came into view once more, trying to get a better look. 

 “All of him is small, Joel.” Grian said but he was smiling, also staring at Jimmy’s trapped arm in awe. They seemed to have moved past him being able to talk, at least for now. “Okay, my turn.” Grian suddenly said.

 Jimmy was still trying to process what that meant when Grian’s hand suddenly descended upon him. His arm was dropped as Joel’s hand moved out of the way, making room for Grian to pinch Jimmy on his sides with two fingers, lifting him up and away from Joel’s palm. Jimmy kicked his feet, panic overtaking him as he looked down at the size of the drop. He had never had any problem with heights before but now, held so carelessly between pinched fingers, he was scared he would slip from the hold and drop below. A drop that would surely kill him.

 Fortunately, he was not in that pinched hold for long. Instead, transferred over and placed down on Grian’s palm. There was not much difference between either hand, though Jimmy noted Grian’s hand was slightly colder than Joel’s had been.

 “Hey! I wasn’t done holding him!” Joel exclaimed as Grian had forcefully taken Jimmy from his hands. Grian tutted at him, holding Jimmy close to his chest as Joel tried to reach back for him.

 “You gotta learn to share.” Grian said, a smirk on his face. “And you’ve held him for long enough.” Grian said, chuckling as Joel huffed and pouted, his arms crossed.

 “Fine.” Joel grumbled, but his demeanor quickly changed, coming up next to Grian in order to still see Jimmy clearly. He grinned. “It feels cool holding him though, right?”

 Grian hummed and Jimmy felt a shiver go down his spine at how Grian was scrutinizing him. Grian’s thumb came over to his side and started rubbing along his arm. Jimmy tried to flinch away but, of course, he was trapped on the hand. “It’s definitely weird.” Grian said after a moment. “Having an entire person in your hand…” He trailed off, the thumb lifting slightly to move some of his hair out of his face. Again, Jimmy flinched.

 This was painful, agonizingly so. Not knowing what was going to happen. Not knowing what these humans had planned for him. They were still in the awe and curiosity stages, still content with simply looking and touching him. Which was already terrifying enough. But soon, soon that would pass and something would actually be done to him. The thought left him shaking.

 Grian frowned. “I think he’s still scared.” Grian said, noticing the slight tremors coming from the little person in his hand. 

 “Oh, you’re right.” Joel said, also noticing. “It’s okay, little guy, we’re not going to hurt you. Promise.” Joel said, repeated Grian’s words from earlier. “I mean, come on, we haven’t hurt you so far, right?”

 They hadn’t hurt him yet. That much was true. But again, words didn’t mean anything. Besides…there were worse things they could do to him, if they truly weren’t planning on hurting him. Worse things…like being trapped, or kept…or…

 Jimmy was shaking even harder now, his mind going to the worst possible things. 

 Joel frowned and turned to Grian. “He wasn’t shaking like that in my hands. You should give him back.”

 Grian glared at him, holding Jimmy a bit closer. “He’s fine, I can handle it.” Grian was not giving up his turn with the tiny person so easily. Grian turned his attention back to him, once again moving his thumb, this time to rub against the little person’s back. “See? You’re okay.” Grian said to the guy.

 Jimmy was certainly not okay. The furthest thing from okay, actually.

 “Okay, my turn again.” Joel said, not letting anyone process his words before diving in and grabbing Jimmy from Grian’s hand. Joel’s fingers curled around his body, just a little too tight and Jimmy gasped.

 Instead of putting him back on Joel’s open palm though, he was kept like that. And Jimmy squirmed within the grasp, his chest tight with panic and the pressure.

 “Joel!” Grian exclaimed, so loud that Jimmy winced, unable to block his ears because his arms were trapped in Joel’s grip. “Give him back!”

 “Nope. Gotta learn to share.” Joel said, repeating Grian’s own words with a smirk of his own. “Besides, I think it’s time we got some answers.” At those words, Jimmy froze. He glanced up, meeting Joel’s eyes on accident. He knew them knowing he could talk would come back up.

 Grian’s frustration at Joel taking the tiny person from him ebbed away as his own curiosity got the better of him. It seemed both humans had forgotten about his fear.

 Or, more realistically, they were just ignoring it now.

 “So…what are you?” Joel asked, bringing Jimmy closer to eye level. Both humans were looking at him again. Not that they had ever stopped but now they were really looking. Like despite asking the question, they were still trying to figure it out for themselves.

 Jimmy shifted, at least, as much as he could in the grip. What would they do if he didn’t answer? Would the grip around him grow tighter? Would they take back their words of not hurting him? Jimmy didn’t want to find out but his throat still felt blocked from fear. “I-I…I…” He tried, his voice shaky and his words stuttering. 

 Grian and Joel leaned in even closer, eyes wide with awe. “He really can speak.” Grian muttered, despite the fact Jimmy had only managed to say the same one word three times.

 The hand finally opened up around him, and he all but fell into Joel’s open palm. There was no sense of relief for Jimmy, though. “Come on, what are you?” Joel asked once more, pressing him to try and speak again. Jimmy tried his best to swallow the lump in his throat.

 “I’m…I’m a borrower.” He finally forced out, not meeting their eyes. Joel blinked, having gotten his answer but not knowing what that meant.

 “A what?” Joel asked, feeling confused. He wasn’t sure what he had expected, but it definitely wasn’t that.

 Grian hummed, looking like he was in deep thought for a moment, the name triggering something deep in his mind. “Why does that sound familiar…?” He muttered to himself. Joel turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow.

 “Huh?” He asked Grian but Grian just shook his head.

 “Nothing. Not important.” Grian turned his attention back to, what was apparently, a borrower. “So, what does that mean? What’s a borrower?” Grian asked.

 Jimmy winced, but he had known simply saying what he was wouldn’t be enough for them. “I’m like you…just smaller. We, um, borrow things from humans…in order to survive.” Though it was easier to talk now, his panic had not lessened at all. He refused to look up at them as he spoke, afraid the words would catch in his throat again if he did.

 “I’ve never heard of anything like that before.” Joel commented and looked to Grian who only gave a shrug in response. Joel grinned as he turned back towards the borrower, poking him in the side again. “Although, based on what you described, it sounds more like you’re a little thief instead.” 

 Jimmy tensed, Joel unknowingly hitting a sore spot for Jimmy and his kind. Before he could stop himself, the words flowed. “We don’t steal, we-we just take what you wouldn’t miss.” Jimmy bit back and then shot a hand over his mouth when he realized what he had said. But instead of being angry, Joel let out a surprised laugh.

 “Oh, so the borrower can also talk back, huh?” Joel grinned and Jimmy felt a deep fear settle in his gut. “That’s so cute.” Shame rose up and showed on Jimmy’s cheeks. The condescending tone was starting to grate on his nerves.

 “I think that still counts as stealing.” Grian also chimed in and then reached over and once again plucked Jimmy off of Joel’s hands. Jimmy yelped and Joel startled, turning to glare at Grian.

 “Okay, no, that was definitely still my turn that time.” Joel said, his tone frustrated. Before Jimmy could even fully sit down on Grian’s palm, Joel was grabbing him again. 

 “Joel! Seriously, I want to hold him too.” Grian said, eyes narrowed and then reached his hand to grab for Jimmy again. Joel pulled his hands back, jostling Jimmy and making him feel dizzy. “You’re actually going to hurt him if you keep grabbing him and moving him around like that!”

 “Hey! You’re the one who grabbed him first!” Joel yelled and Jimmy placed his hands over his ears, their voices too loud, too much.

 Everything was too much. Their voices, their touches, their anger. They didn’t see him as a person, just an object, something to argue over, something to keep and look at and-and-and--

 “Stop!” He yelled and both humans froze. Jimmy was currently in Grian’s hands again, but Joel’s hand was close by, having reached out to grab him once again. They looked down at him, eyes wide and Jimmy had to quickly look away as tears began to form. They fell as he closed his eyes tight, hugging himself. “Please stop…please…please just let me go…”

 It was silent for a long, long moment. Jimmy could feel his heart beat in his head, pounding as he waited for what the humans would do to him. He shook as he let himself finally cry, it being long overdue.

 “Oh…blummin’ hell…” He heard Joel mutter and Jimmy flinched. The hand he was on started to move then and Jimmy gasped and held himself tighter, waiting for the grip to close around him and squeeze, or for him to be put in some sort of-of cage or jar or something…

 Jimmy’s eyes flew open as he was placed on a hard surface and looked just in time to see Grian’s hands leave. He looked around, expecting to see glass or bars but…he had simply been placed on the nightstand. Joel’s nightstand, if he wasn’t mistaken. 

 “Hey…” Grian’s voice cut through his thoughts and he flinched, eyes snapping up to look at the two humans towering over him. They looked…sad. Maybe even upset. That only terrified Jimmy more, his fear outweighing his confusion. Grian, when he noticed Jimmy’s attention was on him, continued. “We’re…we’re really sorry. We didn’t…we didn’t realize how much we were scaring you.”

 Jimmy blinked, his mind going blank as the confusion came back. They were…sorry? What? What was going on?

 “We were just…curious.” Joel chimed in, his words falling a bit flat. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked away from Jimmy. “I guess that’s really not an excuse though, huh?”

 Jimmy didn’t know what was happening. One minute they were fighting over him, treating him like a toy they had found, and now…now they were apologizing to him? “What…What are you doing?” Jimmy’s voice was still shaky, his cheeks still wet with tears, but he had to know.

 Grian winced. “We’re apologizing. Because…we messed up.” Grian and Joel exchanged a glance with each other, before Grian turned back to Jimmy. “And, well…you told us to stop. So we did.”

 Jimmy took in a shaky breath, unbelieving. “I really wasn’t expecting you to actually listen.” At his words, both humans winced once again.

 “Yeah…” Joel said with a sigh. “That’s definitely on us.”

 There was a pause, all three of them not knowing what to do. Jimmy could still feel himself trembling but now the fear was joined by something else. Something unknown. After a moment, Grian lowered himself to be more eye level with Jimmy. Jimmy flinched at the sudden movement and eye contact and Grian bit his lip at the reaction.

 “I know it’s not much, but we really are sorry. We’re not going to hurt you and we’re not…going to grab you again.” Grian said, his voice far softer than Jimmy had ever heard it. “We definitely went about this all wrong.” Grian said with a slight self-deprecating laugh.

 “Really wrong. We’re idiots.” Joel said, his tone also self-deprecating. “Grabbing you, fighting over you. We were treating you like a blummin’...I don’t know. But we weren’t treating you like a person.”

 Grian nodded in agreement and Jimmy’s eyes widened at their words. Could they really be…but that didn’t make any sense. Humans weren’t like that. Right? They acted like Grian and Joel had before, not…not like this.

 “Hey.” Grian said again, getting Jimmy’s attention. His smile was small, not quite meeting his eyes, and his voice low. “We should have asked this first but…what’s your name?”

 Jimmy felt his throat close up at how much he wanted to cry again. No one had asked him his name in…years. Of course, this was also his first time talking to anyone in just as long. But the sentiment was still there. Especially to be asked his name by a human…things really had taken a 180 here.

 “...J-Jimmy.” He managed to get out. It felt weird to say his name out loud.

 “It’s good to meet you Jimmy.” Grian said and if it was weird to hear his own voice say his name, it was definitely weird hearing it come out of a human’s mouth. “I’m Grian. And this is Joel.”

 “I know.” Jimmy said and then hunched in on himself when he realized what he had said. But the humans didn’t appear angry, just…confused.

 “You know?” Joel asked, uncrossing his arms and tilting his head.

 “I-I mean, I didn’t, I…well…” Jimmy tried to come up with something, waving his hands in front of him as he did so.

 “You must have overheard it, right?” Grian chimed in, interrupting Jimmy’s stuttering. Jimmy tensed, looking at Grian.

 “I…yeah. You’ve…you’ve said it a few times. To each other.” Jimmy answered, his eyes glancing away as he lowered his hands.

 “Oh, yeah I guess that makes sense.” Joel said and then paused for a moment, thinking something over. “If you don’t mind me asking…where did you come from?”

 Jimmy didn’t know why he felt inclined to answer. Maybe because the humans were acting so different from before, maybe because he still felt fear at them going back to that if he didn’t, but either way, Jimmy found himself answering. “I live in the uh…the walls. Of this building.”

 Joel hummed. “I guess that…makes sense?” He didn’t sound too sure of that though. “But then, what were you doing in our room?”

 Jimmy bit his lip. They already thought he was some sort of thief, what would they think if he told them he was trying to borrow from them. Would they be mad?

 Grian frowned at Joel’s question, wondering the same thing. But as Jimmy didn’t seem keen on answering, Grian decided to go back and walk through everything that had happened. They first saw Jimmy in the middle of the room and when he ran, Grian swears he remembers him dropping something…

 Grian stood back up and looked behind him toward the floor. Something small caught his eyes and he went over to it, bending down and picking it up, bringing it with him as he went back to his full height. His eyes widened with realization when he saw the object Jimmy had dropped was the piece of bacon from Joel’s sandwich. The one that he had dropped on the floor earlier that day.

 “Were you…trying to find food?” Grian asked, turning back around to look at Jimmy. Jimmy’s eyes were wide, his shaking growing once again.

 “I…” Jimmy started but quickly trailed off, his arms reaching to hug himself. At the piece of food, he was suddenly reminded of just how hungry he was. The fear had dulled the ache in his stomach but now it felt like it was eating itself. The empty gnawing feeling making him curl around himself even more.

 Not to mention, his dry throat. The tears had been a bad idea. He was so thirsty. The mix of fear, hunger, and dehydration was quite the messy combination.

 Both Grian and Joel looked at each other and then at Jimmy and then at the piece of cold, stale bacon in Grian’s hands. It was nothing more than a crumb, trash as far as the humans were concerned but Jimmy had risked his life for it. “Oh for goodness sake…” Joel muttered to himself.

 Jimmy bit his lip, eyes not leaving the piece of bacon pinched between Grian’s fingers. His stomach pains were becoming too much. And with everything else boiling over and being too much, he needed his stomach aches to lessen. He needed something to lessen and his hunger looked to be his best option right now. He swallowed thickly and glanced back up at the humans, hoping they wouldn’t be mad. “Can…can I have it? Please?” He forced himself to ask, trying to ignore the shame he felt creeping in again.

 Something in Grian and Joel broke at that. To be so hungry that you would take trash left on the floor was…awful. Not to mention how scared Jimmy still was of them. To ask them despite his fear was telling, that was for sure. The two humans looked at each other for a long moment, an understanding passing over them. They nodded, knowing what they had to do. Grian turned back to Jimmy, keeping his tone as soft as possible.

 “No.”

 Jimmy’s breath hitched and the arms around his midsection tightened. Of course it was going to be a no, of course. He shouldn’t have asked, now they knew how desperate he was. They could take advantage of that now.

 “Hey.” Grian’s voice cut him out of those thoughts and Jimmy looked at him. “It’s not what you think. It’s just…” Grian looked to Joel, who nodded.

 “We think we have a better idea.”