#also my little sister’s bedroom is apparently too small for three middle-school girls to have a sleepover

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

update: now (just for tonight though) I have to share the downstairs area with four other people (as opposed to just one) because my little sister is having a sleepover tonight and Mom is also having them sleep downstairs which means I am going to get exactly zero sleep

[bqstqnbruin]

Secret Love Song

Hello, hello. Same message as last time! Donate, sign petitions, go to protests, if you want resources I will be happy to find them for you! Support BLM movements, black people should not have to fight for their right to live!

This was inspired by Secret Love Song Part II by Little Mix

I also still have two requests, so if you sent one of them in, please please please don’t think I forgot about you! I just suck!

__________________________

13 years old

Your mom insisted on having a party. Your neighbors were your best friends, and this year was ten years that they had moved in next door from Arizona. Keith was best friends with your dad, Chantal with your mom, and their three children were your best friends. Brady was closest to you in age, you were older by a little bit less than a year, which meant that you were still close enough in age that you were in the same classes until his parents decided he was going to go to Chaminade. Matthew was the annoying older brother who normally just included you in whatever teasing he released on Brady. Taryn was the younger sister who just hung around until her friends came along. Typically, it was just you and Brady. 

The two of you were sitting by the pool, people going in and out of the house while Matthew was in the pool with some of the other kids from the neighborhood. 

“So, if you were to date anyone here, who would it be?” Brady asked you.

“They have to be like, present at my house right now?”

“Yes.�� 

You look out to the pool, seeing no one that you would ever, in a million years, ever date. 

“Do I have to?” you whine, not wanting to say anyone.

“Yes. Here, I’ll go first. I would date Maddison.” 

“You really just asked me that question so you could admit that you like her, didn’t you?” He looks out at the pool to the girl he just mentioned, his entire face and his ears turning red, and not from the sun. You could read that boy like a book: every time she was mentioned, he lit up like a Christmas tree as his mom would say. 

He doesn’t answer, “So, who would you date?”

“I guess, Matthew?” you say, throwing out a name. You’ve always had a small crush on him, but you could never tell that to Brady. But truth be told, you weren’t interested in any of those boys but him, so it was probably the only time you could be honest. 

“What about me?” Matthew interrupts as Brady starts to say something, getting out of the pool and getting you wet.

“If I were held against my will only allowed out if I dated someone at this party, I would date you,” you exaggerate.

“Hm. Back at ya,” he winks, walking inside.

You feel heat rush to your face, just like Brady when Maddison was mentioned. You look at Brady, his eyes wide and mouth open. “Ok, no. Nope. Not letting that happen. Number one rule of friendship: you can’t date your best friends’ siblings.” 

“It can’t be the number one rule if it only applies to one person. That can be, like, the eighth rule of friendship.”

“Fine. But no dating my brother. That’s gross.” He shudders at the thought of you two together. Nope. Gross.

“Just remember, you brought it up.” 

16 years old

“Y/N, there’s a spot right here!” Matthew calls, patting the floor next to him. Everyone was sitting in a circle, playing spin the bottle. There wasn’t much to do in your neighborhood once it got dark; all the parents wanted you inside, so you, along with other kids in the area would just hang out in someone’s basement playing some stupid party game or watching a movie. Tonight wasn’t movie night.

“Alright, so whoever spins has to kiss whoever it lands on, and if you aren’t ok with kissing any given person in this group, then get out of the circle,” Maddison starts.

“How long is the kiss?” Brady asks, getting nervous. He wanted it to land on her; that crush of his only got worse as time went on.

“Uh, at least three seconds,” she says. Her house, her rules. 

You look across at Brady. With his brother sitting in the circle, he definitely didn’t want to kiss him, but Matthew is never one to turn down a game like this. Brady was sitting in the circle hoping to have his first kiss with Maddison. You, honestly, wanted to kiss Matthew. But Brady couldn’t know you wanted it. 

Maddison spins the bottle first. You can tell Brady is holding his breath, not breaking eye contact with the bottle as he prays that it lands on him, or at the very least, not on Matthew. Matthews elbow jabs your side, not hard enough to make you yelp, but hard enough that you jump a little and turn to him. “How much do you want to bet he freaks out if he has to kiss Mads.” The smile on his face is almost devilish like he wants Brady to freeze when it came to kissing his crush. 

You can’t help but smile back, something about him looking you that way, you have to reciprocate. “Stop being mean, you know how much he likes her,” you whisper so he’s the only one that hears.

“The only thing that would make this better is if-” he starts, his eyes flicking down to your lips before Maddison’s spin stops on Brady. 

You both burst out laughing as Maddison crawls over to Brady. His eyes are wide with panic, his entire face turning red even though you and Matthew both know how much he wants it. She grabs his face, kissing him. It takes him a second before he starts to kiss her back, only to be interrupted by Matthew yelling, “Atta boy, Brady!” You smack him in the chest, Brady pulling away, his face still bright red from the kiss. 

“Wow,” was all Maddison could say as she went back to her original seat.

The rest of the game, you have your phone out, not paying attention to your surroundings, but talking to Brady about how his dream finally came true. Your best friend just kissed the girl he’s had a crush on for at least three years. There was no way you could be any less than ecstatic for him. 

“Y/N!” you hear, snapping your attention away from your phone, “It’s your turn!” Maddison says.

You lean out and spin it. You want it to land on Matthew. But what would Brady say? You can feel your heart race as the bottle spins, slowing down to stop right in front of the person next to you. Of course. Brady groans at the thought of his brother and best friend making in out in front of him, everyone else cheering just out of the energy of the game. 

You turn to him as Brady leaves, him not wanting to see what’s about to happen. You really don’t want him to, either. Before you can even think about leaning in, Matthew has his hands cupped around your face, kissing you so passionately you can’t even think. You feel your self about to fall back with him on top before everyone starts to cheer again, causing you to pull away in shock. All you can do is repeat after Maddison: Wow. 

18 years old

“We can never tell Brady about this,” Matthew says, closing your bedroom door behind him. 

“I’m aware of that. But, how do you expect me to keep something like this from him! He’s my best friend!” you say, trying not to yell knowing that there was a party going on downstairs for your high school graduation. That night after spin the bottle had lead to many nights of him sneaking out and coming over, you two going on dates without telling Brady, him calling you in the middle of dates and asking you to hang out for you to just lie to him about what you were doing. Matthew was your boyfriend, but your best friend couldn’t know. 

“Hey, could you keep quiet? What do you think it’s like for me? He’s getting suspicious considering every time you’re brought up I apparently ‘change my mood,’” he uses air quotes, imitating his dad’s voice. “Brady isn’t an idiot, he knows I’m seeing someone and know you’re seeing someone. It’s only a matter of time before he puts two and two together.”

“What do you mean, you change your mood?” you tease, getting closer to him, resting your hands on his shoulders.

He pulls you closer by your waist, planting a kiss on the top of your head as the smell of his cologne wraps around you. “Apparently, I ‘light up like a Christmas tree’ whenever your name mentioned,” he says, imitating his mom this time. 

“I kinda want to hear you do Taryn next,” you say, getting on your toes to kiss him. 

He dodges it, his lips pursed in a smile, “That’s not a turn on, ya know.” 

You both start laughing as you hear music start playing outside. He kisses you, holding you around the waist, saying back and forth to the rhythm coming from your yard. You stay like that for a couple of minutes, Brady wondering where you went, your mom looking for you so you could start cutting the cake. 

“I wish we could have danced like this at my prom,” you say quietly. Your head is resting on Matthew’s chest, your eyes closed as you hear his heart beating.

He rubs your back, kissing the top of you head before resting his chin on it. “I know. But Maddison invited Brady as her date. It would have been so hard for me to keep my hands off you looking as gorgeous as you did.” 

You look up at him, nervous to say it for the first time. You want to, because you do. You’re the only know who knows..

“Y/N!” you hear your mom calling from outside. “Come out here!”

You open your window, calling down to her that you’ll be down in a minute, Matthew’s hand already on the doorknob ready to leave. 

“I love you,” you blurt out, not really sure why you chose now to say something like that to him. 

He walks over to you, kissing you with the same passion as the first time you kissed that night in Maddison’s basement, his hands finding the small of your back, yours running through his hair. He pulls away when your mom calls your name again, a smile on his face, his eyes bright. “I love you, too.” 

22 years old

Brady was surprised when you wanted to go to school in Calgary. One, your sights had been set on UCLA for as long as he could remember. Two, why would you choose a school in Canada that was close to his brother and not him? Three, Something was off when Matthew had suggested that you live with him to your parents so that they could save money on room and board; he was covering the rent already, and nothing changed cost-wise for you to live there. All they had to do was send money for food and he would be fine with you living there. 

He had been suspicious that something was going on between you two, but you would never break your rule about dating him. Would you?

In Calgary, you were free to be a couple, so long as no one took a picture of you two being lovely and shit and posted it or tagged you in the photos. It was a new world from the one you had been in back home. You could say I love you in front of other people, you could walk down the street holding hands, he could drive you to your place and kiss you in the front seat before getting out and going upstairs for more. It was amazing.

For Thanksgiving, Brady was flying from Ottawa to Calgary to spend it with you two; their parents and sister were off doing something for field hockey, so it was the perfect excuse for Brady to see what you had been up to. It was also your birthday; the first one you would be spending with your best friend since he went off for that development team program.

“Happy birthday!” Brady yells in your face, tackling you in a hug once you open the door he had been incessantly knocking on for thirty seconds. He shoves a gift into your chest, beaming at the fact that he picked out the gift for you himself. “Open it now!”

You laugh, leading him into the living room of yours and Matthew’s place, Matthew sitting on the couch as the food finishes up in the oven. “Look what Brady got me,” you wave the gift in front of him. He hadn’t given you anything yet, but you knew he would. He always did, just a little later, and not out in the openness of his living room. 

He rolls his eyes and smiles, trying not to pull you into him with you sitting that close, but with Brady there, he couldn’t. “Your birthday is technically tomorrow, you’ll get your gift later.” 

You shake your head, looking up at Brady beaming. “Are you sure you want me to open this now?”

“Yes, please!” He’s practically bouncing up and down in his seat out of excitement. You unwrap the job that was clearly done himself to find a silver bracelet. The charm was the Senators logo, with Brady’s number on the back. “You’re my best friend, and now you can’t get rid of me. Plus, I got a bracelet since you always wear your grandmother’s necklace.”

You can’t help but smile. You get up and give him a hug, holding him tight. “I love it so much,” you say, slipping it on your wrist, ��And, um, my grandmother’s necklace actually broke a while back. It’s costume jewelry, so it’s not like I could get it fixed anyway.” 

Brady looks at Matthew who can’t seem to make eye contact with him, but is fixated on you instead. He’s looking at you the same way Brady looked at Maddison when they were dating. Something was definitely up. 

The oven beeps, signaling it was time for dinner. You spend the entire dinner, the three of you, laughing, talking, at one point throwing pieces of bread at each other over some argument Brady and Matthew have been having since the dawn of time. 

“So, Brads, are you taking the couch tonight?” you ask him as you clean up and put away the left over dinner. 

“What, we’re not going to share your bed like we always do?” 

You whip around, nearly dropped the spoonful of potatoes on the floor. You and Matthew had been sleeping together in the same bed every night since you started school. None of your family had come to visit and stayed the night to catch you, but tonight might be the first time. You hadn’t slept in ‘your bed’ ever, it was the guest room. “Um, sure!” you say, obviously panicked, “I just need to clean up a little bit, would you mind putting this stuff away?” 

You practically throw the container at him, running to get Matthew. “Brady wants to share my room tonight but that’s going to be kind of hard considering all my stuff is in our room,” you whisper, pulling him down the hall.

“Well, fuck, what are we doing to do?” 

“Move stuff from this room to that room?” you suggest, pulling stuff from the closet to at least throw on the floor. He doesn’t say anything, he just starts grabbing stuff from the drawers to put into the drawers there. 

Matthew pushes the door to his room almost with you two inside, you still panicking over Brady wanting to share the bed with you. It’s not because it’s Brady, it’s because of Matthew. “How am I going to sleep without you tonight?” he asks, pulling close. 

“I don’t know. We have to tell Brady,” you whisper. 

“Not tonight. Not yet.” 

“Babe, it’s been five and a half years. Five and a half years is a long time to be lying to my best friend and your brother.” 

“I know. I know. We will before he leaves?” you don’t say anything as he kisses your forehead. “How about I give you that birthday gift now, huh?” 

He goes to his nightstand, pulling out a box about the same size as Brady’s clearly wrapped by someone who wasn’t him. He sits down on the bed with you, not taking his eyes off you or letting his smile fade as you untie the ribbon. You pick up the gold chain, tears falling down your cheeks as you hold up the necklace, “My grandmother’s necklace?”

“I took the broken one to a jeweler and had him remake it; real gold, real pearls. That way if this one breaks, you can have it fixed properly,” he says, taking it from you to put it on you. 

You can’t believe he would do something so thoughtful. You had no clue that he could even think of doing something like this. “I’m so in love with you. You really are the love of my life,” you say to him through the tears you aren’t holding back. “I love you, too,” he says, pulling you in for a kiss.

“You what?” you hear, snapping away from each other to see Brady standing in the doorway of Matthew’s room.

“Brady,” you get up and go to him, your tears turning from that of happiness of that of fear. 

“How long?” is all he can say, not able to look at you or his brother.

“Since that night at Madison’s.”

“When we were 15 and 16?” He looks at you, hurt that you went this long without telling him. Hurt that you went that long breaking one of the most important rules of your friendship. Hurt that you were happy and that you thought you had to keep it from him. 

You nod, Matthew standing up behind you, “Brady, we were going to tell you this weekend. Don’t be mad at Y/N.” 

“Whatever. Forget it.” He storms off into the bedroom, shutting the door, the click of the lock following as you crumble into Matthew’s arms, sobbing. 

The next morning, he was gone, on his way back to Ottawa without even saying goodbye.

 23 years old

Christmas was the first time you were going to be home since celebrating your college graduation, only for you to move right back to Calgary. You had gotten a job in the area, working right after graduation. You hadn’t talked to Brady since the Thanksgiving before, him still mad at you for not telling him about you and Matthew. He had been talking to Matthew because they’re brothers and they had to.

“He’ll come around, I promise,” Matthew tells you on the phone. You look out across your backyard. Your families finally knew that you two were together, but still insisted on having you stay in your respective childhood homes. From your window, you could see into Brady’s room. He would always have his curtains open during the day so that you could see each other. Since getting home, he hasn’t opened them once. “Stop looking into my brother’s room, you freak,” he says, still on the phone. You know he’s just saying that to make you laugh. You look over to his room, him standing there, waving at you like a child seeing a character at Disney World on a parade float. 

“Are you guys coming over for dinner later?” you ask him, trying to shake the fact that Brady still hates you off your mind.

“Of course! We would never miss Christmas Eve at your house!” You stay on the phone with him for a little while longer until his mom calls him to go downstairs.

“Alright, see you in a bit. I love you.” 

“I love you, too,” he says, hanging up and closing his curtains. 

You still had an hour before the Tkachuks and the rest of your family were coming over. You go downstairs to help your mom with the finishing touches as always, hearing her and your dad laughing and talking as the Christmas music plays in the background like every year. You get to the kitchen, “Hey, what can I help with?” 

At the counter, Brady is standing there with a bowl in one hand, a spoon in the other, mixing who knows what. Your parents look at each other, “Brady will explain it,” your mom says, pulling your dad into the other room. 

“Hi,” you let out, not really sure what to say.

“I’m sorry,” he starts, putting the bowl and spoon down and grabbing you in for a hug, “I shouldn’t have gotten mad like that.”

“No, you had the right to. I was lying to you for so long. You’re my best friend, Brads. I didn’t know what to do when I fell in love with the one person you told me not to.”

“It’s not like I can control your feelings. And I certainly can’t control my brothers.” You both laugh, still hugging.

“Are we back to talking now?”

“Of course.”

“And we can be best friends again?”

He leans away, smiling, tears on his cheeks, something you had never seen before, “We always have been and always will. You can’t get rid of me that easily. 

“I told you it would work out,” you hear, causing you to jump. Matthew walks up to the two of you, pulling you in for one big hug. 

“Well?” Brady asks, pulling away, “Are you gonna ask?”

“Right now?” Matthew asks, “I thought we wanted to do it later!” 

“No. Now. Right now.” Brady goes for Matthew’s pocket’s him swatting his younger brother away.

“Jesus, no, get off of me!”

“What are you two talking about?” you ask, Brady with a stupid smile on his face and Matthew looking more nervous than ever. 

“This,” Matthew says, holding out a ring.

“Are you-?” you start.

“Will you marry him?” Brady asks, jumping up and down.

“Dude!” Matthew smacks him with his other hand as you start crying, “That was my line!”

Between their bickering, you manage to let out, “Yes!”

“Yes?” 

“She said yes!” Brady yells, your parents and the Tkachuks coming into the room and hugging you three as Matthew slips the ring on your finger. 

“Now you’re really stuck with me,” Brady jokes, lifting you up in a hug,

“Dude! Just shut up and let me have my moment with her!” Matthew says, prying you away from him.

“You’re going to be fighting over me for the rest of your life,” you laugh, hugging both of them. 

[nyanzaya]

Ok so I had a REALLY weird dream recently so I’ll send this first ask as like the set up because it’s rlly long. 1/2?

(This involves Neko!Izaya so I thought you’d like to hear about it first) So background information first; for some reason I’m like “piloting” Izayas body. I’m making his decisions sort of??? I only found out when I walked past a mirror and everyone kept referring to me as Izaya (Prolly because I lined him back in middle school lol) and the fact that the other characters CLEARLY did not like the fact that I was still breathing. There’s a lot to unpack so I’m gonna be formatting this in a bulletin point way that’s in chronological order.

- So Izaya and a BUNCH of other DRRR!!characters are staying in this weird group of cabins in the shape of an upside down U, with a road heading into town. Starts off as a dirt/gravel road that goes into pavement. You know the ones.

- So Izaya/I am staying in this cabin building at the very end of the U on the left side. (Since this U kinda warps around the road into town) Across the road is one of the main “Bathrooms”. It’s got the showers while each cabin has like one of its own bathrooms. (This has meaning I promise)

- Within the cabin Izaya/I am staying in there’s at least three rooms. Shinra was in the next door over, while Shingen was in the room at the end of the hall. I saw him go back there once and never saw him a again for the duration of the dream. (So we’ll just call this the Kishitani cabin)

- The bathrooms across the road from The Kishitani cabin is shared with the neighboring cabin. The neighboring cabin was MUCH bigger but also had more people in it. So there was two to a room there, while in The Kishitani cabin we each got our own room. (Which when I first found this out the first thing that came to mind was “what a bunch of losers” lol)

- Shizuo Heiwajima was a resident in the neighboring cabin. Which means we have to share a bathroom w/ him :) (this is actually very unfortunate later on) His cabin contains the Van Gang (didn’t see a lot of them only glimpses), as well as Namie, her brother, and his gf Mika. I had a feeling that Namie was supposed to be staying in the Kishitani cabin, but left because,,,,, brother,,, ig)

- Nobody knows about Neko!Izaya yet, only Shinra and Shingen. And Izaya is hiding as a human VERY well (for now). We get kinda Fucked Up™️ later on too.

A finishing side note for now is that the weather outside is fucking FREEZING. There’s snow and ice slush everywhere, and the air is that really dry cold that burns your nose and lungs when you breathe. There would also be these gusts of really cold wind that would freeze the sides of the pine trees, so there wasn’t snow on TOP of them bist there was snow plastered to the SIDE of them. So right now we’re stuck in cold winter hellscape. Also I don’t know where Celty is, but Shinra had left to “go handle something” or whatever so he was gone for a good portion of time too.

Part 2/4? (This is way longer than expected.)

Mornings sucked because if you left the cabin you would almost definitely start freezing to death. Considering that, We just poked around our room for a bit and found nothing of interest. So it’s around midday now which means that the sun is out in full force and the outside is somewhat bearable, so why not go exploring right?? It can’t possibly lead to something catastrophic that would eventually put us at the brink of death.

- First place we go is to the “Bathrooms” across the little dirt road. As soon as we step through the door you just KNOW that Shizuo had been there previously and he was Mad™️. There was glass all over the floor from one of the broken shower doors, and it looked like someone did a very half asses job at cleaning up said glass.

- Enter: Namie. She apparently had the same idea and was wandering through the showers section of the Bathrooms as well, she had at least one other girl with her but I don’t remember who it was. Namie was also “talking” to me but it was more of just her trying to bicker. Clearly not liking that we had the same idea. So I eventually leave and go back to my cabin. I just remember wanting to avoid the other characters, because avoiding them meant avoiding unwanted conflict.

- I want to say this is the first night in this cabin, but at the same time it was like this had been playing out long before my weird dream had even started. So this is probably like the third or fourth night, and we were clearly avoiding a conflict that I was not present for.

- Middle of the night We hear thumping from down the hallway that works it’s way to my bedroom door. I initially think it’s Shinra walking around but that thought is quickly snuffed out.

- The man who opened the bedroom door was tall as hell and was clearly here for us. The man is having a hard time holding himself together, literally. Eventually his human persona wears off and we’re left having a showdown between us and this man made of GLASS. And this glass is SHARP. While trying to fight off the faceless glass demon/general asshole we ��die”, he got the better of us and stabs us through the hand and a few other places. I just remember the hand being the most memorable. Close quarters combat with him is not the way to play this.

- We come to about a kilometer out from the U of cabins, at night, in the freezing cold, buried in the snow like a shallow grave, and still bleeding. Between the gusts of wind you could hear something moving around, and so we knew we had to get back inside STAT.

- Now at this point in time there was no need to keep up the human disguise, so we just didn’t. Enter: Neko!Izaya

Part ¾

We get back to the cabin and the room is a disaster. The bed is skewed and the suitcase of stuff I had is nowhere to be seen. The floorboards are cracked too, and we can see something shining under them.

- We pull back the floorboards, or at least what’s left of them, and pull up a giant steel box. In said box was a pair of thick leather gloves, with sharp nails on the end, a note, and a small map of the region we were in. On the small map was several other little squares which I assumed would be more boxes like the one we just found. (The gloves also helped keep our hands from freezing up which was nice)

- The front door and our bedroom door were broken and would no longer lock so there was no point in staying. No one else seemed to be around either so we just assumed that we were in this alone and needed to kill this thing before it killed us, and maybe someone else. (I also think Izayas sisters were there at the cabins, because I remember that being a pretty motivating factor.)

- After a lot of running we come across some buildings and fences, which looked like a Zoo. Zoos need caretakers, and caretakers were people, and people meant help. So we get onto one of the main roads of the “Zoo” and immediately something is wrong.

- Dawn is breaking and there is still no one in sight. On top of that none of the animals look right. Everything was very much uncanny valley. None of the animals looked like animals, and they were all hyper aggressive. Even the ones that seemed like they were supposed to be harmless.

- So far there seems to be no signs of people, but the farther back we get to the more restricted looking areas, the more signs of human life. There’s crates and Jeep’s, and we even found someone working on a computer in a big open tent. Although when we approached her, she didn’t really respond.

- So we leave again and follow a road into town. Once the town was in sight (think old European style town), the glass man was back chasing us in full force. And it seemed that as long as he was being touched by direct sunlight, he would appear as human.

- Getting to the town and there are people EVERYWHERE. Townspeople walking in and out of shops, driving down the road, and just going about their business in general. It was comforting but also concerning considering that we were still being chased but this glass man who for some reason is targeting us.

Part 4/4 (another long part)

I figured that if I could lose him within the town then I should be home free. Unfortunately wherever I managed to parkour to, he would already be waiting nearby. And If we stopped moving then we’d get attacked again.

- He would make snide comments every time he would cut us off within the town, although after the first few times I stopped listening to what he was saying, and I think this might have pissed him off.

- Eventually we had gotten into this other building which was definitely upper class or something, if you were to judge it by the decor and the sheer size of it. One of the hallway walls had a HUGE painting of this Neko mother surrounded by her little kids. The painting was clearly very old, and I wasn’t expecting to see anything like that.

- In this house we found three more of those Steel boxes. One with a black trench coat lined with wool, and there was a picture of another Neko in the box that was wearing the same coat. On the picture it said something along the lines of “to whoever receives this coat, let it warm and shield you from the night”, something weird like that. Each box that had something in it also had a picture too. Which was interesting, since each time it was always of a different Neko. Anyway I got like some sort of undercoat and I think a thicker pair of pants.

- Obviously we had been found again and were forced to flee to the edge of town. There was a old rickety building that we ran into, and were then cornered in.

- At this point we had to fight him, and as it turns out as long as he is taking human form (in direct sunlight via the giant skylight in the main room) you could do a lot of damage to him. I didn’t want to get too close to him do at one point I had taken an old coffee table and hit him w that, since it wasn’t that heavy.

- The gloves were helpful when we had to use the nails and dig under the guys false skin to tear some of the glass out. The less glass chunks he had in him, the less mass he had and the less damage he could do.

- Once we had whittled him down to almost a skeleton of what he was before, we reached into where his face used to be and pulled out the one piece of glass that wasn’t the same as the others. It was 100% clear and had this weird glittery purple and orange in the middle of it.

- While trying to leave the building we ran into this old man who I guess was working in a facility below the building, who was coming up to see what the commotion was about. He also took the weird glass/rock from us

- That’s how we found out that those weird looking rocks had come down in a meteor shower a few months ago, and that you’re not supposed to put them inside of your house. This is apparently because he cold of the outside keeps them sedated almost. So when you bring them inside they’ll latch on to any sort of free floating objects to create a body for themselves. Which is why when someone put it in the main bathroom where all of the broken glass was, it was able it create a much stronger body.

- Afterwards he, or someone else, had given me a ride to just outside of the cabins we were staying in. It was starting to get dark but it wasn’t getting colder yet, so everyone seemed to be out and about. I saw Kyohei walking back to his cabin so I ran up to him and grabbed him to tell him not to let anyone touch anything outside, and to especially not bring anything else inside. Which I probably sounded crazy but he just went with it.

- During that time I got to talk to the other characters, only for a little bit though. I tried talking to Shizuo but every time I did he would clam up and ignore me. Which fair enough I guess, since very few people got along with me and I had disappeared for the past 24 hours.

- Afterwards it had started to hail, and that was around the time I decided to leave the camp and try and go home. Just to get anywhere else but there. When it stopped I took one of the trucks and drove until I reached a highway, which was very far out. When I went to merge though, the on ramp wasn’t connected to the actual highway. It was like it was never completed and there was a drop off straight down into a canyon. I just sat there in the truck for a bit and watched the other cars driving back and forth across the bridge over the canyon.

- The ramp was only one lane so I and to reverse all the way back to the road, and then back to the 7/11 I had previously passed, so hopefully I could make a phone call to get out of there. Though the dream ended before we got the chance to do that.

I’m sure that there is a lot missing considering that it’s rare for me to remember dreams in the first place. I’m also sure that Shingen had something to do with us being in that location during that time of year. But I hope you found some entertainment in this weird dream that will probably haunt me for a while. Love your blog btw and I hope you keep posting!

——-

I’m in the middle of traveling right now! But omf thank you for sharing this I cry,,, also sorry everyone I don’t know how to make a read more on mobile 😭

This is actually a super interesting dream I wonder what it means tbh LOL what has me is the Neko part I weep softly. This kind of explains why my muse for Iza(Neko!izaya) has been a little low, like it felt like he wasn’t “with me” if that makes sense!

The coat and the pictures I’m hhrhrh…. It’s super funny to me because it kind of falls in line for Iza’s mom and her kits with that picture of a mother Neko and her kids because that was all I could think of but still! This is such a sweet story in a exploratorive way and a interesting lore perspective because those pictures and items were left there by someone for a reason but we have no idea who 👀

Then how you/izaya is trapped there?? I need the part of the dream where we know why and who LOL but tbh maybe Shigen did have something to do with it 👀 damn nebula and their mysteriousness

Ty again for sharing this with me 😭 it really helped and I enjoyed! I have like,,,mild travel anxiety and this made me feel better💕 for the posting part,,,I will try jdhdjs i have to get back to the Iza/Zuo content but I been ensnared in Genshin Impact and FE: Heros and I’m stuck on Link Click LOL but, I hope to post more about drrr/hybrid verse/Iza+Zuo content!

[horrorkingdom]

Horror story 👻

Creepy Things Kids Say

Creepy things kids say to their parents. An internet forum posed a question: “What is the creepiest thing your child has ever said to you?” The responses were scary, spooky, disturbing and chilling:

A friend of mine’s child told him, “Daddy, I love you so much that I want to cut your head off and carry it around so I can see your face whenever I want.”

My 3-year old daughter was standing over her newborn baby brother, looking at him. Then, she turned to me and said, “Daddy, it’s a monster… We should bury it.”

My cousin used to freak he mom out as a child. Whenever her mom would ask her why she did something mean or wrong she would whisper, “The devil told me to do it!”

I was babysitting for a little girl and she asked where I had parked my car. I pointed out the window to my car across the street. She looked at me and said, “Go to it without looking both ways.” I asked her why and she replied, “I want to see someone die.”

One night, I was tucking in my 2-year old son. He said “Goodbye, Dad.” I corrected him, “No, we say goodnight.” He replied, “I know… But this time it’s goodbye…” I had to come back and check on him a few times during the night to make sure he was still there.

My 3-year old son was cuddling with his grandmother. He took her face in his hands, and stared straight into her eyes and said, “You’re very old and you will die soon.” Then he made a point of looking at the clock.

My little girl went through a phase where she would just constantly say ‘Hi’ to things. “Hi hi hi hi hi hi” One day, it sound sounded strange, so I asked her, “What’s that you’re saying?” She turned to face me and just whispered “Die die die die die diiiieeeeeee…….”

My niece was sleeping over at my parents’ house one night. She had all the lights on in the spare bedroom. I asked her if she was afraid of the dark, and she said, “No. I am afraid of what is in the dark.”

My 5-year old daughter said, “Mommy, when you die I want to put you in a glass jar so I can keep you and see you forever!” My 6-year old son laughed and replied, “That’s stupid. Where are you gonna find a jar that big?”

My 3-year old daughter was holding her newborn baby brother for the first time. She looked up at me and asked innocently, “So, I shouldn’t throw him in the fire?”

My sister was pregnant and we were having a conversation at the dining room table. My 4-year old son asked my sister if there was a baby in her belly. She told him there was. He slid out of his chair and headed for the kitchen, saying, “We need to get it out. I’ll go get the knife.”

When my son was little, I would sometimes hold him down and pretend to eat his face, saying, “nom nom nom.” One day, he said, “I’ll never eat your face, Mommy. I’ll cut it off and wear it as a mask…”

My 5-year old cousin drew a picture of a hideous, black monster. Then, she looked up at me and said, “He told me to draw this… He’s coming for you… You better hide…”

When I was about 3 years old, our cat had kittens, but they all died. I asked my father if we could make crosses for them, which he did. As he was making them I asked, “Aren’t those too small?”

Dad: “What do you Mean?”

Me: “Aren’t we going to nail them to them?”

(Several moments silence)

Dad: “we’re not going to do that”

My mom loves to tell this story: Apparently when I was 5 or 6, I told her that aliens had stolen her real son and replaced him with me, an exact copy. I said that someday, I would return to my home planet, but she shouldn’t be sad, because her real son was having a good life in our zoo.

My little cousin was thrown out of a Catholic preschool because he took off his shoe and told one of the nuns, “Shut up or I’ll take out your eye with my shoe, because I’m the son of the devil!” Apparently that was the last straw.

I was awoken from a deep sleep at around 6 AM. My 4-year old daughter was standing over me and her face was inches from mine. She looked right into my eyes and whispered, “I want to peel all your skin off”. For a few seconds I was terrified. In my sleep addled state, I didn’t know if I was dreaming or what was going on. Then, I realized what she was talking about. I had been sunburned the previous week and my skin was starting to peel.

My niece was sitting on the couch with a weird look on her face. I asked her what she was thinking about and she said, “I’m imagining the waves of blood rushing over me.” As it turns out, they had just come back from a local science museum. There was an exhibit on the circulatory system of blood in the human body.

My 3-year old son was telling me there was a man in his room. “Mommy,” he said. “The man has big yellow eyes and he is looking at you.” I tried to tell him there was no man and my son just told me, “Oh he is hiding now.” Two minutes later, he said, “Oh no Mommy, you made him very mad. Now he says he will come when you are sleeping.” Some time later, he told me, “I’m not going to be four. I’m doing to die and you will put me down, down, down in the hole.” I assured him that wasn’t true and asked who had told him that. He got very quiet and replied, “The man told me. But I will be scared, so after three nights you will die too and come with me.”

I was in the basement of my friend’s house with her 2-year old son. He took my hand, led me over to a brick chimney that had a rusty metal door on it and said, “That’s where the dead babies go…”

I was looking at houses with my brother and his 3-year old son. As we passed the school, the little boy said “If you buy a house here, that’s where your kids will go to school!” Then, we passed a pool and the little boy said, “And that’s where your kids will go to the pool!” Then, we passed a cemetery and he said, “And that’s where you’ll bury your kids!”

One night, when my daughter was 4, I overheard her talking in her room. I poked my head in and asked if she was talking to me. “No,” she replied. “I was talking to the little boy who lives in my closet… He’s dead.”

I jokingly asked my little cousin, “What’s the best way to get a girlfriend?” His response was, “Tell her to be my girlfriend or she’ll never see her parents again.”

One day, totally out of the blue, my 5-year old son said, “Before I was born here, I had a sister, right? Her and my other Mom are so old now. They were OK when the car was on fire, but I sure wasn’t!”

One day, my 3-year old son hugged my wife and said, very seriously, “Mom, I promise I won’t ever chew on your bones…”

My 5-year old daughter had night terrors and she would sometimes scream in her sleep. One night, I said “Mommy’s here. It’s OK.” She looked right at me and screamed, “Mommy? But who is that behind you?”

A few months ago, my 3-year old daughter was playing outside in our backyard. My wife was sitting on the back step and my daughter came up and asked her if she could play with the little girl on our slide. My wife said, “I don’t see any little girl” and my daughter said, “She’s right over there on the slide, Mom. Can’t I play with her?” My wife said, “I don’t see anyone” but my daughter kept insisting, “She’s on the slide and she is blue. Can I play with her?” My wife was freaked out said, “Let’s just go inside and get a snack.” For the rest of the day, my daughter kept looking out the back door, telling my wife that the little blue girl was lonely.

When my brother was very young, he was sleepwalking. My mom was trying to get him to go back to bed. He said, “I would, but the devil is behind you…”

One day, my 4-year old son said, “My brain is telling me to do things I don’t want to do.” I just hope his brain wasn’t telling him, “Burn them! Burn them all!”

As a child I would tell my parents daily that they were not my real parents and that my real parents died in a train accident. At first, they thought it was cute, but after a few months of this, they had to put a stop to my story.

Out of the blue, my 2-year old daughter said, “If you’re quiet you’ll stay alive.” I still have no clue where that came from.

My daughter and her friend were talking about dinosaurs. I asked her, “If you were a T-Rex, what would you eat?” She got very serious, looked me right in the eyes and said, “Children… I’d eat children.”

Last week, my 5-year old son asked me, “What do you see through the black circles in my eyes when you’re controlling me when I’m at school?”

My 5-year old son gave me a card he’d made at school. On the front, it said, “How you see yourself”. He had drawn a picture of me walking in a meadow. I was surrounded by blue skies, a blazing sun, green grass and butterflies. There was a big smile on my face. Inside, it said, “How you really are”. There was a picture of me in a jail cell, gripping the bars and crying.

I work in a preschool there is a small toy kitchen in our classroom that the kids use for playing house. There was one little girl who was playing with a baby

, rocking it back and forth and singing to it. Suddenly, she shoved it into the toy oven, slammed the door shut, turned to me and said, “Sometimes bad babies go in timeout!”

My mother told me that when I was a little girl, I saw some guy at the grocery store and started screaming and crying. It was so bad we had to leave and when we got back to the car, my mom asked what was wrong. I told her he took me away from my first mom and hid me under his floor and made me sleep for a long time until I woke up with my new mom. It totally freaked my mother out.

My daughter told me that there is a woman in her bedroom who watches her and sleeps on the ceiling above her bed. She also says the woman doesn’t like me and wants to eat my heart.

A few days after my dad passed away, my mother and I were awoken in the middle of the night by a furious banging noise. We went downstairs to find my little sister desperately trying to open the back door, yelling, “He wants back in! We have to let him back in!”

We had a small fire in the backyard and my baby cousin picked up a branch, lit it on fire and stared at it for a few minutes, muttering “burn…..burn….BURN!” Eventually, as the whole stick caught fire he started laughing maniacally and yelling in a deep demonic voice, “BUUURRRNNNNINNNGGGG! BUURRRNNNINGGGG! BUUURRRNNN!!!!” It was terrifying.

My mother told me that, when I was a child, I asked her what it was like to die. When she said she didn’t know, I told her not to worry because I’d find out when I was 21.

My aunt was very sick and my wife and I were talking about the cost of making arrangements for the funeral. Our 4-year old son walked in and said, “Why don’t you just set her on fire?” As it turned out, that’s how he thought cremation worked.

We were collecting my mother-in-law at the airport. While we were waiting, my husband picked up our son and joked about tossing him over the railing. On the way home in the car, our son spent the next 3 hours making a booklet titled, “All the Times My Dad Has Tried To Kill Me”. There were illustrations showing him in all sorts of peril, including being flushed down the toilet by my husband. My mother-in-law was horrified.

I was making dinner and my 5-year old niece casually walked through the kitchen and said, “I’ll get you, and I’ll make it look like a bloody accident”. It scared the heck out of me, but later I found out she was quoting a line from The Cat in the Hat.

I asked my 3 kids what they wanted to do when they grew up. My 10-year old said, “I want to be a teacher!” My 8-year old said, “I want to be a writer!” My 6-year old said, “I want to run the machine that cuts the heads off chickens!”

I was giving my 6-year old daughter a bath and she a couple of Barbies in the tub with her. One of the Barbies had no head. The head was floating in the water. I asked her to reattach the head because it was creepy. She responded, “Why Mom? It’s not REAL. If it was real, the bath would be full of blood, and THAT would be creepy…”

One night, I was reading my 3-year old niece a bedtime story and I fell asleep. When I woke up, it was dark and eerily silent. There was a nightlight on. I turned over and saw my niece. Her eyes were wide open and she was staring at me. Then, she whispered, “How did you get out of your box?”

I asked my nephew what he was drawing and he replied, “A skeleton-making machine”. On further inspection I saw that he hadn’t drawn a skeleton making machine but rather a flesh removal machine, complete with screaming naked men and a channel for the blood. Creepy.

My wife and I were giving our daughter a bath one night, when all of a sudden, she said, “You humans brought me here!” It took us four months to figure out that it was a line she heard in a movie.

Late one night, I was sitting at my friend’s kitchen table when her daughter walked into the kitchen and said, “Mommy, when I was older I crashed the car and died. Can I have something to drink?” My friend calmly gave her daughter a glass of milk and sent her off to bed. It gave me the chills, but my friend didn’t want to talk about it. She started crying and told me never to bring it up again.

When I was 6 years old, we moved house. I said my mother, “The lady who use to live here told me that she hates the wallpaper and you are covering up her note.” She just thought it was childish rambling and forgot all about it. Twelve years later, my mother was redecorating the house. She took down the wallpaper in the attic and found a suicide note scratched into the wall.

When my mother was pregnant, my little brother came into the room and pointed a nerf gun at her stomach. “Oh, no! Don’t shoot me!” my mom said playfully. “Don’t worry, Mom,” he replied. “I’m not trying to kill you, I’m just trying to kill the baby.”

A friend of mine brought her 3-year old son over to my apartment. I asked him what his favorite holiday was. He replied, “I like Halloween because I like candy and death!”

I was minding my own business, working in the garage when the door creaked open and my 2-year old son popped his head in and asked, “Daddy, are you dead yet?” I replied, “No…?” and then he just slowly closed the door.

I was at a friends house when his 4-year old cousin was getting ready to go to bed. He walked around, giving everyone a goodnight hug. I said to him, “Sweet dreams!” He stopped at the top of the stairs, turned around and with a very serious face said, “I’ll control your dreams and make them nightmares…”

My son was 4 and his sister was almost 2. I had to go to a meeting and I couldn’t read them a bedtime story. I promised I would read them two the following night to make up for it. My son said, “It’s ok, Mom, Auntie Tracy will read to us”. I felt the hairs go up on the back of my neck. “Who?” I asked. “Auntie Tracy, Mom,” he said. “She looks just like you. After we go to bed she reads and sings to us”. I had never told them that I was an identical twin and my sister died at birth. Her name was Tracy.

My wife was making a sandwich for our 4-year old son. He was watching her really intently and she asked what he was doing. He replied, “I’m watching you make a sandwich… so I know how to do it when you die.”

While I was cooking dinner one evening, my 4-year old daughter came in and wanted to help. “You’re not going to touch the stove, are you?” I asked. “No,” she replied. “Do you know why you shouldn’t touch the stove?” I asked. She looked at me and, in a very serious tone, replied, “Because I might get burned and die and then you’d have to eat me.”

I was blowing my nose into a tissue and my 6-year old daughter asked if she could see it. I said no and she responded with, “I promise I won’t eat it”.

[theladyofdeath]

After the Fall {2}

Throne of Glass fanfiction.

Warning: mature content throughout.

Centered dominantly around Aelin + Rowan, Lysandra + Aedion. Others make appearances throughout.

Click here for the masterlist.

“You’re not scared?”

Sam laughed, bright and beautiful. “Of course, I am. I’m scared shitless. But...I don’t know. I...we created a baby, A.”

Aelin smiled, despite the gut-wrenching fear that had been tearing at her since the little blue plus sign showed up on that pregnancy test days before.

Sam picked her up and swung her around before laying her back on his bed. Once he was hovering gently over her, Aelin pressed her palm against his stubbled cheek. “You don’t think we’re too young for this?”

“Of course we are,” he replied, simply. But that was Sam. Even the biggest things seemed like the smallest. He always looked at the bright side. Always saw the light at the end of the tunnel. “But it happened. It’s happening. And whatever you decide, I respect that. But, if you want to have this baby, A, I’m going to be the best damn dad in the world. Okay? I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be here, every day, supporting you, supporting our child…”

Aelin reached herself up to kiss him. “I have no doubt that you will be an amazing dad.”

Sam was everything a woman could hope to find in the father of her children.

Although she was only eighteen - shit, she even had months left until graduation, the year had just begun - she felt a steady calmness as she stared into Sam’s deep, brown eyes. “Am I crazy for wanting to keep it?” she asked.

“If you’re crazy, then so am I,” he smiled, pressing his lips to hers.

They were young, completely naive. They had no idea what it would take to become parents.

And Aelin had no idea that she would be forced to do it all alone. 

High school was over. 

Over, done with.

Not that the end of high school had been all that pleasant. She was eight months pregnant at graduation and had Mara two weeks after. The summer had been pleasant enough. Aelin had always been decent at saving up, so Mara was able to have what she needed and Arobynn paid the bills.

But after he died and life became clear for the first time in a long time, Aelin decided that her savings were running low and it was time to find a job. Three months was more than enough time after giving birth. Of course, it meant she could have to find care for Mara while she was working, but she would work that out later.

“The leaves are starting to fall.”

Aelin smiled. She had always loved Autumn. When the leaves changed colors and graced the ground with their presence, Aelin loved nothing more. “It’s beautiful.”

Lysandra agreed.

It was cold enough to feel a chill but warm enough to only need a light coat. Terrasen was breathtaking in the Fall. 

Mara was enjoying it, too. Her brown eyes were wide open beneath the hat that Aelin had forced her to wear. The blanket that Aedion had given her the day she was born, covered in cute pink, blue, and green cartoon wolves, was wrapped around her as she sat snugly inside of her stroller. 

“Hair salon down the street is hiring a front desk girl,” Lysandra said before sipping on her coffee.

Aelin scrunched her nose. “Eh.”

“Okay,” Lysandra said. “How about janitorial work? I know it doesn’t sound like too much fun, but I know the high school is hiring. For full time, the benefits aren’t bad.”

Aelin shrugged. “I don’t know.” Her voice was clipped, frustration settling in. “I’m not qualified for anything. I have zero experience. All of these places will probably want experience. All I have to offer is a high school diploma.”

Lysandra seemed to pick up on the tension and nodded. “So, what are you thinking, then?”

“That we walk until we see a help wanted sign,” Aelin said, although not too excitedly. “And someone will give me the time of day with a job that has great pay and fantastic benefits without wanting experience.” 

Lysandra had an urge to tell her that it was a shitty plan, but she held her tongue.

So they walked.

And after an hour passed, and Aelin had ignored every help wanted sign that they passed, Lysandra suggested that they stop for lunch.

Mara was in agreement.

They entered a small restaurant and bar and sat in a booth next to a window that looked onto the main strip. Aelin cradled Mara and gave her a bottle while Lysandra read to her off the menu. After agreeing to split a pizza, Aelin sighed. 

“None of the places we passed that are hiring are right for me.”

“Can we really  be picky?” Lysandra mumbled.

Aelin shot her a look. “I’m not being picky. I just don’t want another shitty job.”

“Shitty job?”

Both girls looked up from their subtle argument to find Dorian Havilliard giving them both a sly grin.

Aelin laughed, shaking her head. “I was wondering what happened to you.”

They had gone to high school together, had been in the same circle, but he had graduated the year before and fell out of touch after the death of his father.

“I work here,” he said, smiling, eyeing Mara as she fell asleep in her mother’s arms. “This must be your little one.” 

“Mara Galathynius Cortland,” Aelin said, proudly.

Dorians smile faltered. “I heard about Sam. I saw you at the funeral, but I didn’t want to bother-“

“It’s okay,” Aelin interrupted, because she didn’t want to get into it. “Anyway, how have you been? Still with Manon?”

Dorian’s smile had returned. “Yeah. Three years.”

Aelin felt a sudden pang of jealousy, but quickly brushed it away. “That’s awesome.”

“Hello?” Lysandra sang. “I’m here too.”

Dorian chuckled. “Always a pleasure.”

Lysandra grinned. “Likewise. So, what is it you do here?”

“Oh, I serve while I go to school,” he said. “Usually on nights and weekends, but I’m filling in this afternoon.”

“Are you hiring?” Lysandra asked. “A is in desperate need of employment.”

Lysandra grunted as Aelin kicked her in the shin under the table.

“A server just quit, actually,” Dorian said. “So, yes. I can get you an application-“

“No, that’s okay-“

“She’d love one,” Lysandra smiled. 

“But I’d have to be here on nights and weekends,” Aelin said. “Who would watch-“

“Me,” Lysandra said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I work weekday mornings, it’s perfect. You wouldn’t have to pay for daycare like you would if you got a day job.”

“I can’t ask that of you,” Aelin said. Meanwhile, Dorian stayed quiet and watched the two sisters go back and forth.

“You’re not asking. I’m offering.” Lysandra leaned against the table, smiling softly at Mara. “That’s my niece. And you're my sister. We’re family. There’s nothing I’d rather do.”

Aelin looked unsure, but before either of them could say anything more, Dorian left and came back, a piece of paper in hand.

“At least fill it out,” he said, gently, as he put the application in front of her.

Aelin promised to think about it, just as their pizza arrived.

. . . . . 

“Havilliard, huh?” Aedion grinned. “And Blackbeak still has a hold on him.”

Lysandra rolled her eyes. “They’re good together.”

“So are we,” he shot back.

Lysandra scoffed.

Aelin was grinning, though, enjoying the usual banter between the two. 

They were finishing going through all of Arobynns stuff. They had tossed the stuff that was worthless, and sold what little did have worth. The house was paid off, and left to them, so it was officially going on the market.

“I can’t wait to move out of here,” Aelin said, once the others had quieted down.

Lysandra nodded. “Same. This place just feels evil.”

Aedion said nothing, his smile gone. “You know, you two could stay with me until your apartment is ready.”

He had offered as much multiple times, but Lysandra wouldn't have it. Besides, it was a one bedroom which means the three of them would be in the living room. Aelin didn’t want to give Aedion that burden.

“They said they’d have it ready this week,” Aelin smiled. “We should be able to move in by Friday.”

Aedion nodded, although she could still sense his unease. He knew what had gone on within those walls, knew the horrors in which the girls had endured.

“You’re going to apply for that job though, right?” Aedion asked. “I can help with Mara, too, you know.”

Aelin did know. She also knew that being absent for Mara to go to work was a necessity, even though she wished it wasn’t. 

“Yeah,” she sighed, at last. “I am.”

Lysandra beamed. “Good!”

Aelin shot her a look.

Aedion looked back and forth between his cousin and the love of his life. “I sense tension. Why do I sense tension?”

“Aelin thinks she’s too good for waitressing so I had to give her a wake up call,” Lysandra said.

Aelin scoffed. “Not true! I never said I was too good for waitressing.”

“Liar.”

“Am not.”

“You don’t want to wait tables,” Lysandra said, forgetting what she was doing to cross her arms.

“Does anyone want to wait tables?” Aelin said, voice raised. 

“Yes!” Lysandra said. Aedion took a step back. He was in the middle of two women known to have tempers. Not a good place to be. “I’m sure some people love waitressing and are thankful for the job that they have.”

“I never said I wasn’t grateful for the chance,” Aelin snapped. “Obviously I’m thankful for any chance to support Mara.”

“Doesn’t seem that way,” Lysandra hissed.

Aelin threw down the photographs she was sorting through and stomped down the hallway, into the back bedroom where Mara was fast asleep.

Lysandra took a deep breath, rubbing her temples. “She’s being ridiculous.”

Aedion said nothing.

Apparently, that wasn’t the response she was wanting, because Lysandra spun around to face him, eyes ablaze. “What? Now you’re choosing not to kiss my ass?”

Aedion stared back. “I don’t know what your deal is, but-”

“What my deal is?” She spat, laughing humorlessly. “I have been going through my dead prick of a father’s shit all day, and you want to know what my deal is?”

Aedion, once again, said nothing. 

“You were tossed around the system, Aedion, which is shit, yeah, but I was adopted and it was supposed to be a blessing but instead turned out to be my own personal hell. Now he’s dead, but it’s like he’s still here, breathing down my neck,” she said, voice having calmed. “I hated Arobynn. I hate being here. I hate looking around, going through this junk, sleeping in my bed like nothing has changed. I still expect to walk out of my room and find him passed out drunk, ass in the air, in the hallway, or the kitchen, or that damn chair.” She gestured to an old, torn up lazyboy in the corner of the den.

When she said nothing else, Aedion took a step forward, and when she didn’t move, he put his arms around her. Both of them stayed silent, but Aedion’s gentle stroking fingers along the middle of her back was comfort enough. Lysandra kept her arms crossed against her chest, but she allowed herself to lean into him. 

After a moment, she cleared her throat. “I’m- I’m going to talk to A.”

Aedion nodded and took a step back.

Lysandra didn’t meet his gaze. She simply turned her back to him and padded down the hallway until she turned the corner.

Aedion watched her until she disappeared.

. . . . . 

Aelin was watching Mara sleep. She would miss these days, when her baby girl was so small. The thought alone had made her feel lighter. The last three months had passed by in the blink of an eye.

This little gift was hers. She had made a tiny, perfect human.

“Hey,” Lysandra said, quietly, from the doorway.

Aelin jumped, then turned. “Hi.”

“I’m sorry.”

Aelin nodded and sat down on the edge of her mattress. Lysandra sat next to her.

“I don’t think I’m too good to be a waitress. I need a job. I realize that. I’m qualified for nothing. I wanted to go to college after high school, but I can’t do that now. You’re right, I can’t be picky. And I’d make great tips.”

Lysandra nodded. “I was too harsh though.”

Mara stirred from her spot in her crib, but didn’t wake.

She looked so much like her father.

“He was supposed to be here with me, helping me raise her,” Aelin began, voice breaking. “I’m so grateful for you, and for Aedion, but Sam was supposed to be the one to help me.”

Tears began to spill down her freckled cheeks, but Lysandra caught them and brushed them away. “I know.” 

They sat there for a moment, Lysandra’s hand on Aelin’s.

“I think we should stay with Aedion,” Lysandra said, and when Aelin gave her a surprised look, she added, quickly, “Just for tonight.”

Aelin nodded, slowly, as if Lysandra had somehow lost her mind. “Okay.” 

. . . . .

comment to be tagged.

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[be-compromised]

Recathon 2020 Masterlist

Hello and welcome to the Recathon 2020 masterlist! This masterlist will be comprised of all recs posted to this post (all 144 of them!), with some small edits. Those edits are: (1) Duplicate recs have been discarded. Fics appear under the first theme they were rec'd under. (2) "Self rec" and "rec one of your own fics you think didn't get enough love" have been combined. Unless otherwise specified, all recs are Clint/Nat or Clint & Nat. Also, unless otherwise specified all recs are fanfiction. On to the rec list!

Stories set in/focused on/including IKEA. Some Assembly Required by @alphaflyer Teen, no warnings: "They say that when you go to the seven circles of Hell, IKEA has taken over the suburbs and parts of the ring road.” Natasha and Clint enter an alien universe. Anything is Possible by @cassiesinsanity Gen, no warnings: It's 3 a.m. and Natasha is struggling to assemble an IKEA bed. Clint is woken up by her loud cursing and now they're in it together, both figuratively AND literally. #27 IKEA by @nympheline Teen, post-Avengers, angst: Clint and Natasha will never have normal lives. They have accepted this as fact. Once a month, they pretend by putting on some old rings and going to Ikea to pick out furniture. Or to Home Depot to look at paint samples. Or to Walmart to check out baby clothes. Because they will never have normal lives, but it’s nice to pretend. Things We Learn About Each Other at Ikea by Vera (Vera_DragonMuse) Chapter 7 of Drips and Drabs from Alliterative Domiciles, part of the Alliterative Domiciles series Teen, no warnings: Natasha and Clint in Ikea. Consumer Affairs by @galwednesday Steve/Bucky, teen, no warnings: “Tom,” Sara, the Senior Marketing Associate, said levelly, “if you don’t let me promote our bedroom product line using the Winter Soldier’s tweet reviews, I will quit. I will quit today. I will leave you high and dry with a junior marketing associate and an intern, Tom. The intern just started last week. He doesn’t even know how to work the copier yet.” Comedy! Frank & Matt: A Summary by Ariel Video. Matt Murdoch and Frank Castle. captain america | crack!vid 2 and captain america | crack!vid 3 by chrissy mae Video. Exactly what it says on the tin. Cursed Fork by canistakahari Steve/Bucky, teen, no warnings: There is a cursed fork in Steve’s cutlery drawer. Life of Crime by neveralarch Clint/Carol, Clint/Nat/Bucky, Kate/America, explicit, cntw: A supervillain AU where Clint shoots arrows at people and gets beat up a lot. So, not really that much of an AU. It's Raining Men by DailyAsgardianNews Video. Again, exactly what it says on the tin. xD Here Are All the Sensations of Being Alive by prettyasadiagram Gen, cntw: Contrary to what Clint likes to tell the new SHIELD agents, Natasha does have hobbies other than coming up with new and impressive ways to kill people with her thighs, even though the slight flinches and rabbit-quick swallows in the hallway are always hilarious. Natasha and a bedazzler. The Amazing Naked Avengers by vain_glorious Teen, no warnings: There were Avenger-sized mouse traps all over the damn bunker. All about as effective. Meaning no one got killed, but everyone is naked and bleeding a little. The Great Avengers Body Swap by vain_glorious Teen, no warnings: Loki and the Avengers spend a month in SHIELD's detention cells, because Loki cast a bodyswapping spell against them and got himself with it, too. The Importance Of Being Spidey by @copperbadge and @scifigrl47 Gen, no warnings: The Daily Bugle has some peculiar ideas about Clint Barton and a spandex bodysuit. Extracurricular Activities by @scifigrl47 Gen with background pairings, teen, no warnings: New York has a party for any taste. Some people like high class lounges. Some enjoy a good dive bar. There are gay bars and techno clubs and all night raves. And somewhere out there, there's a club where the dancers are dressed like Super Heroes, and Spider-Man may or may not be their headliner. Let's face it, the everyone assumed that Clint would be the first Avenger to take up pole dancing. He's a little distressed he's been beaten to the punch. Phil Coulson Knows Tony Stark's Super Villain Name by @scifigrl47 Gen with background pairings, teen, no warnings: Look, I’m just going to say SHIELD team building exercise with paintballs. Transfer Students by @copperbadge Gen, teen, no warnings: Five times the Avengers pawned kids off on the Jean Grey School. The Immortal Hawkeye by @copperbadge Clint/Bucky, teen, no warnings: Clint's a little older than he looks, and his DNA has a few surprises in store, too. Leader Of The Free World by @copperbadge Gen with Clint/Bucky, teen, no warnings: Clint Barton's presidential campaign started as a joke. It didn't end that way, except for Steve. 5 Times Steve Got Arrested and 1 Time They All Did by @heartsdesire456 Steve/Bucky, Clint/Phil, teen, no warnings: What it says, 5 times Steve Rogers ended up in jail (with and without Bucky) + 1 time all of the Avengers got arrested with him. Cap3 helicopter scene but with My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion by @darlingpeggys Video, uploaded to YouTube by punkrockchewbacca Clint/Other and Nat/Other recs Prince Charming by @brendaonao3 Steve/Bucky, Steve/Thor, Clint/Wanda, explicit, no warnings: Bucky's not looking for a girl, he doesn't need anyone for the long haul. Then he meets Steve Rogers and discovers that what he's looking for in a relationship isn't a girl at all. in deep with you by @topaz119 Clint/Darcy, mature, no warnings: Darcy could have, under normal circumstances, resisted the aesthetics (however awesome they are, and holy crap are they awesome), but there's an itch under her skin—apparently, nearly dying by giant, fire-breathing robots from space in the middle of Nowhere, New Mexico will start you questioning your life choices. Who knew? assume a defensive stance by hoosierbitch. Clint/Bruce, teen, no warnings: No one can understand why Bruce and Clint are together. Clint's loud, brash, irritating--exactly what Bruce doesn't need in his life. fast, thorough, sharp as a tack by @quidnunc-life Natasha/Maria, teen, no warnings: Natasha likes getting a rise out of Hill when nobody else can. longing for the last time by @quidnunc-life Natasha/Valkyrie, teen, no warnings: After they imprisoned Hela, after all her sisters fell to inglorious deaths, the last Valkyrie swore she would not love again. In Your Likeness by hailtherandom Clint/Natasha/Sam, explicit, no warnings, post-WS: In which Sam gets a mysterious package from a mysterious person and, after a spell of feelings and a trip to Switzerland, both of those mysterious things get used quite a bit, much to everyone's delight. Two (Sort Of) Truths and One Complete Lie by igrockspock Clint/Melinda May, teen, no warnings: Melinda May was married once. Good luck finding out to whom. Fic with low kudos/comments Smoke on the Horizon by AuroraShard Teen, major character death, post-IW: Clint falls back on old coping mechanisms after the events of Endgame. Pepper joins him. A short fic about dealing with grief. We Are Family by SneakyHufflepuff. Mature, cntw: Natasha had sister-relationships with some of the other girls in the Red Room, and Nat was hardly the only one to escape. Turns out Clint's going to have to meet the family after all. Self-recs/a story of yours that you wish got more attention the shorter story by @cloud--atlas Mature, cntw: "be careful what you wish for" is written in matter-of-fact writing on the little sign by the entrance. he only wishes to be dry, and idly he wonders if there is any way even that can go wrong. Portrait of an Outlaw by RedBirdBella Teen, cntw: Clint is an undercover police officer working to convict a gang of cat-burglars. After being unearthed he’s beaten up and left for dead in an alley. From his hospital bed, he’s asked to work with a sketch artist to put together portraits for each gang member. Unfortunately, he can only remember one. Diamonds and Rust by @alphaflyer Clint & Kate, gen, no warnings: Kate is back; there's going to be laundry. Driver Choses The Music by inkvoices Teen, mild self-harm: Clint shoves his bag in the trunk of the car – a standard, bland SHIELD undercover ride – and doesn’t ask how Nat acquired the keys. Doesn’t ask how, or even if, she’s gotten permission to take him off base, doesn’t ask what’s in the bag she shoved in his arms on their way out, doesn’t ask what they’re doing in a SHIELD garage at ass o’clock in the morning. Doesn’t care. Some Strings Attached by @topaz119 Explicit, no warnings: "You," Natasha says slowly, "thought we should do something for Valentine's Day?" Five Unrelated Rescues and One Reunion by @crazy4orcas Teen, cntw: Rescue: to free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger, or evil. Reunion: an instance of two or more people coming together again after a period of separation. Show a Little Faith (There's Magic in the Night) by @alphaflyer Teen, no warnings, Dust Bowl AU: Riding the rails in the last bitter winter of the dust bowl years, two drifters encounter something they haven't seen before. Personal comfort fics Woman in the Crosshairs by @freaoscanlin Teen, no warnings: In which Clint has a new hobby and Natasha isn't curious, until she is. Black Widow and Hawkeye, their partnership—and what it means—throughout the years. The Only John Wayne Left in this Town by @gyzym Clint/Darcy, teen, no warnings: Clint's got a secret love, and it's spelled b-a-n-j-o. and at night be warm by @quidnunc-life Teen, no warnings: If Kate would've just talked to him about the Dog Cops finale, then Clint wouldn't be lying in bed, staring pointlessly at the ceiling, when the Insomniacs Anonymous radio show comes on at 1 AM and changes his life three minutes at a time. The First Annual Avengers Convention by starandrea Clint/Phil, teen, no warnings: With damage estimates topping $100 billion, New York City faces a long and expensive road back. Charity organizations have stepped in to support the Red Cross and provide long-term relief, but the economy is struggling and money has to come from somewhere. Everyone wants a piece of the Avengers. Who better to help fundraise than the heroes themselves? Amateur Theatrics by galaxysoup Gen, teen, no warnings: In which Thor’s primary problem-solving method (a mighty blow from Mjolnir) fails to have the desired effect on a magical artefact, and his secondary method (a mightier blow from Mjolnir) proves to be actively disastrous. The Observable Universe by Serea Okelani (sarea) Teen, no warnings, Jane POV: Jane has a low tolerance for stupidity. Clint and Natasha take exception to being called stupid. Catching Bullets in our Teeth by anothercover Clint/Laura, Clint/Nat, mature, no warnings, slow burn divorce AU: Retirement, it turns out, is not a thing that Clint is adjusting to very well. Or, you know, at all. It didn't occur to him that when he dropped the team, it would mean he'd lose Natasha, too. Under the Mountain by flawedamythyst Clint/Bucky, teen, no warnings: Clint and Bucky get trapped in a cave. Natasha and Kate Bishop friendship fics All Night, All Right by MoreThanSlightly (cadignan) Kate/America, Clint/Nat, teen, no warnings: Despite being young and rich and hot and awesome, Olympic gold medalist archer Kate Bishop finds herself in a bar acting like the world’s saddest, dullest cliché: Area Twentysomething Drinks Alone Because Her Ex Is Getting Married Next Weekend. But then, from across the room, she catches the eye of a girl with a wicked smile and an even better right hook. Things start to look up after that. High School/Uni AUs A Whole Month of Detention by @marvelousmsmarvel Teen, no warnings: The first detention was his fault. The second detention was his fault. Not surprisingly the whole month of detentions to follow were his fault too, but Natasha had to admit, marking her flawless record with a whole month of detentions was the best thing she'd ever done. Just A Little Bit True by @lissadiane Clint/Bucky, gen, cntw: Clint is good at cheerleading and bad at flirting and has been pining for Steve Rogers broody best friend for years. Naked Pantomime in the Dark by @intosnarkness Steve/Tony, Thor/Jane, Clint/Natasha, teen, cntw, Modern High School Theatre AU: Clint Barton has been at Carver High for six weeks when they draft him into the theatre department, and his life is never the same. Two for the Show by mousie-tongue Mature, cntw: After her uncle is taken, young Natasha Romanov ends up in state's custody at a group home. She can tough it out alone... but somehow fellow resident Clint Barton becomes the reason she doesn't have to. Wet Hot Avengers Summer by Sarea Okelani (sarea) Clint/Nat, Tony/Pepper, Thor/Jane, teen, cntw: At summer camp, Clint’s met the girl of his dreams. Then he meets her four brothers. Circus or carnivale AUs On the Nature of Dust by inkvoices Mature, no warnings, 1930s dust bowl AU: For as long as he can remember Clint has always been getting into trouble for seeing things that he shouldn’t, or rather for getting caught at it. Oklahoma, 1934, and this time trouble comes in the form of a girl. No Magic Would Save Me by arsenicarcher (Arsenic) Gen, mature, cntw: Once upon a time, an angel with the unlikely name of Pepper came to the circus, and took Clint away. some moments more spectacular than others by @quidnunc-life Mature, no warnings: When Janet suggests a team bonding event, Natasha thinks she means… an art gallery, a movie, even bowling. Something like that. Not the circus. Not clowns. Not falling head over heels for a professional circus archer with an affinity for purple, slushies, and purple slushies. Cover Another Black Eye by @lostemotion Clint/Nat, Clint/Bobbi, teen, some child abuse: History will dub it the summer of love. Natasha neither knows nor cares about love, never has, expects she never will, but history's got one thing right: it's the summer when everything changes. Natasha and the Amazing Hawkeye(s) by @freaoscanlin Gen, teen, no warnings: It starts because somebody orders a hit on the Amazing Hawkeye. No, not that Amazing Hawkeye. The other Amazing Hawkeye. scramble in the summer sky by paperclipbitch Kate/America, background Clint/&Nat, teen, no warnings: Kate’s first week, when she was still pretty sure this was a terrible idea and also not one that real people actually had – seriously, in the twenty-first century, who ran away with the circus – America came up to her three days in and said without preamble: “is anyone going to come looking for you, Princess?” Space AUs The Highest State of Friendship by inkvoices Teen, no warnings: A futuristic space AU in which bounty hunters Natasha and Clint aren’t married. Actually they’re supposed to be hunting each other. We Have Done the Impossible series by Telaryn Explicit, cntw, Firefly fusion, baby fic: Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff were born - and in Natasha's case bred - to serve the Alliance. No one cared when they began sleeping together; under Alliance law an Operative like Natasha could take as many sexual partners as she liked so long as it didn't interfere with her duties. - A baby would interfere. In Two Straight Lines In Rain or Shine by OracleGlass Gen, no warnings, Firefly crossover: "On that barren dustball known as Budapest, Firefly picks up an odd pair of passengers. Homeward Bound: The Adventures of the USS Avenger in the Delta Quadrant by @alphaflyer Teen, no warnings, Star Trek fusion: Sent to track the rebel ship Black Widow and to try and persuade her captain and certain of her crew members to work with Starfleet in defeating the Chitauri invaders, the USS Avenger finds itself displaced to the other side of the galaxy. And that was before the Black Widow opened fire... No Straight Lines by anonymous Teen, no warnings, Firefly AU: “It's curved. You'd end up at the starting point.” Natasha pauses, tilts her head. “Space doesn't have an end,” she adds, trailing her fingers across his shoulders as she passes. Old school, post-2012, they all move into the Tower fics if you let me through the door we can let the world in by @geniusorinsanity Background parings, teen, no warnings: Tony Stark has always wanted a clubhouse. He gets something more than that. Exclusive by @copperbadge Canon pairings, teen, no warnings: Heroes In Manhattan: From Captain America's Hidden Talents To The Truth About The Hulk, We Debunk The Myths And Expose The Daily Lives Of The Avengers. In Great Transition by vain_glorious Teen, no warnings: One by one, the Avengers move into Stark Tower. well, let the drumbeat drop by jonesandashes and @pollyrepeat Gen, no warnings: Pepper leaves, and there’s no more pizza, and Thor’s already talked about Jane, and Tony suspects all of them realize, abruptly and simultaneously, that they actually have no idea what to do now. He is, in fact, pretty certain that they’re just a few minutes away from someone deciding to say something about the weather. It’s probably going to be him. Culture and Other Balls of Twine by LithiumDoll Gen, no warnings: “Okay, I realize this could appear to be poorly conceived - to those of limited vision - but what you have to understand is, I’ve actually just had the greatest, most outstanding idea ever.” Tony’s eyes searched heavenward and then he nodded soberly. “Yes, I believe history will consider this my triumph.” To Be Modified As Necessary by ignipes Background pairings, teen, no warnings: They only need ten rules to ensure (relatively) peaceful cohabitation. Experts at the Fall by @enigma731 Gen, no warnings: After the Battle of New York, Natasha just wants things to go back to normal. But that’s not so easy considering that normal means being a spy, and her partner’s decided to be a superhero instead. And it’s especially difficult when her new assignment from S.H.I.E.L.D. is to collect intel on the Avengers. Fics where Natasha isn't as confident as she likes to pretend to have a home by oceanofchaos Background/past pairings, gen, no warnings: She doesn’t need other people, but she’s beginning to think she might want them. She buries herself in her work instead. Bouncing Baby Sniper by vain_glorious Clint/Nat, Steve/Peggy, teen, no warnings: Clint is actually Peggy Carter's grandson. Favourite kinky fics Get Some by @eiluned Explicit, het anal, butt plug, DP: He had just taken a big drag of coffee, savoring the sugary leftovers at the bottom of his mug, when she turned to him and out of the blue said, "I want you to fuck me in the ass." Cue epic spittake. your mileage may vary by Nonymous Explicit, past abuse, latex, BDSM: Clint's not really sure how to handle this whole BDSM thing. Natasha's not really sure how to handle Clint Barton. But she's definitely gonna give it the ol' college try. Moving the Furniture by @copperbadge Steve/Natasha, mature, friends with benefits: Steve thinks about sex a lot, and he'd like to have some, if he could just stop being an idiot around the people he'd like to have it with. Dropping Glasses Just to Hear Them Break by @lostemotion Explicit, cntw: Clint's mission to kill the Black Widow ends up a disaster when he runs into a third party in the field and finds himself being turned from hunter to hunted. His former target offers her assistance, and soon he's in for a whole other brand of trouble. Favourite poly fics runaways are running the night by anothercover Clint/Nat/Bucky, other parings, explicit, cntw: Natasha, Nakia, Okoye, Jessica Jones, and Valkyrie are the War Dogs: an all-girl rock band navigating their sudden explosion of hard-won success. Clint is a stand-up comedian. Bucky works security. Good People by @paperairplanesopenwindows​ Clint/Nat/Laura, teen, no warnings: "You have ‘Thank God you didn’t die when SHIELD fell’ sex with your wife and partner once and then your partner runs for the hills and your wife turns into a lovesick teenager.” She's My Cherry Pie by sheis-theslayer Clint/Nat/Laura, Nat/Laura focus, explicit, no warnings: If Laura Barton has said it once, she has said it a thousand times: no one touches the food while she's cooking. Especially if it's her pies. But Natasha Romanoff never listens. Alliterative Domiciles by Vera_DragonMuse [series] Pepper/Tony/Bruce, Clint/Nat, cntw: Fluff, schmoop and Tower shenanigans Little Stranger by Not_You OT6, gen, pregnancy: Natasha is not fit to be a mother. She is bitterly aware of this, sitting on the closed lid of her toilet and watching another test come up positive. A Safety in the End by @cloud--atlas​ [series] Clint/Nat/Bucky, teen to explicit, cntw: The relationship adventures of Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov and James "Bucky" Barnes RedStar by @cloud--atlas​ [series] Clint/Nat/Bucky, teen, angst, musician AU: “Clint,” Kate says slowly as two figures emerge from the house, their shapes so achingly familiar Clint wants to wrap himself up in them and never, ever let go. “Are you friends with James Barnes and Natasha Romanov of fucking RedStar!?” this is how it began (this is the secret between) by @notcaycepollard​ Clint/Nat/Laura, mature, no warnings: "Laura's a translator for SHIELD," Natasha tells him. "We're keeping her." i am on a lonely road and i am travelling (looking for the key to set me free) by irnan Nat/Steve/Bucky, teen, no warnings: Wherein Natasha Romanov has a bucket list and a metaphorical feelings-cat, joins the Victoria Hand Rescue Society Inc, and is absolutely not dating either or both of her super-soldier BFFs from the 1940s, no matter what Nick Fury thinks. Friends and Ex-Lovers by @scifigrl47​ Clint/Bucky/Nat, mature, no warnings: Natasha knows exactly what a good thing she's got. She just thinks it could be better Three Step by @copperbadge​ Nat/Steve/Bucky, mature, no warnings: "How many times a week can a couple have a threesome with the same guy before it becomes some sort of three-way relationship?" Keeping Steve by @copperbadge​ Steve/Tony/Pepper, explicit, no warnings: The gifts from Tony and Pepper are nice, and Steve secretly likes showing off signs that he belongs to them -- until some offhanded teasing from Clint makes him wonder if they're gifts from his lovers or payment for services rendered. Hide and Seek by @cassiesinsanity​ Clint/Nat/Bucky, teen, no warnings: There are reasons you should never break into your friends' houses. Kate finds out one of them. Favourite fics 1000 words or less Slow and Simple Melody by limned Teen, no warnings: Today he isn’t expecting to find Natasha awake in the communal living room at two-thirty in the morning, but it’s a pleasant surprise. You Are My Sweetest Downfall by @nympheline​ Teen, mild angst: You know how Natasha’s hair is really long in Iron Man 2 and then for the Avengers it’s completely chopped off? I like to think that’s because she got hurt in a mission in between and loses her hair because of a really serious head injury and Clint’s just going to be a mess because she’s hurt and she won’t say much because she never does. And he tells her she’s beautiful anyway. tower of babel by @sweetwatersong​ Gen, no warnings: Someone very cleverly thinks up a spell to keep the Avengers from talking to each other. They've fallen victim to one of the classic villain blunders, though: Never underestimate Hawkeye. account rendered by Siria Gen, no warnings: Clint lies in the debrief. Favourite Clint/Laura fics Repair Work by igrockspock Clint/Laura, gen, no warnings: Clint says, “I'm retired. One hundred percent. Done with Avenging.” Laura says, “Will that be for five minutes, or for five days?” Fragments by @intosnarkness​ Clint/Laura, teen, no warnings: Clint Barton has brought home strays before, but never one as dangerous as Natasha Romanoff. small town girl by @topaz119​ [series] Clint/Laura, teen to explicit, no warnings: “Oh, nice,” Laura said. “A smartass.” Holding Out For A Hero by @alphaflyer​ Clint/Laura, gen, no warnings: Cooper Barton pens an essay about his father; Laura does damage control. Clint helps (sort of). Topical: favourite trapped/isolated/quarantine fics Time, Baby by cat_77 Teen, cntw: A mission gone horribly wrong leaves Clint and Natasha trapped, injured, and suffering a slow death of suffocation. Time and each other: they have one and kind of need to steal some more of the other. Chasing the Light by Sarea Okelani (sarea) Teen, medical/quarantine/virus themes: A mission that goes awry tests two assassins and their partnership. Kate sets up Clint and Natasha How To Win Friends and Influence People by @cloud--atlas​ Gen, no warnings: For the prompt: Bookshop AU. One is bookseller/bookshop owner, the other a customer. Instead of talking one of them tries expressing feelings through the books they buy. Hawkeye's Pet Supplies by SneakyHuffelpuff Gen, no warnings: For the prompt: AU where Clint and Kate work at a pet supply store. Natasha is a frequent customer, and Kate is suspicious of her motives. Serendipity by silverfoxflower Teen, no warnings: "Why are you still in bed?" Kate demands, kicking at a corner of Clint’s mattress, which, rude. Why were girls and cats always so rude to him. By the Book by @alphaflyer​ Teen, no warnings: Clint Barton's love life isn't just a car crash, it's a multi-vehicle pile-up. Kate decides to lend a hand. Five of Clint’s Relationships that Kate Didn’t Approve of (And One That She Does) by @alphaflyer​ Teen, no warnings: Exactly what it says on the tin Poste Restante by @alphaflyer​ Teen, no warnings: The vials with live pathogens, alien prosthetics and ant colonies aren't the worst things Clint's friends drop off at his place for each other. Matters don't really get hairy for Kate until Natasha Romanoff shows up, with a heart-shaped box that says "Neuhaus". Favourite AUs Brown and Gold by Koren M (CyberMathWitch) Teen, no warnings, Dragonriders of Pern AU: What if they were different people in a different place and time? (A time that just happened to have dragons.) Soiree by ruby_caspar Teen, no warnings, a Georgette Heyer Regency AU: The Dowager Duchess known as the Black Widow is the talk of the ton - rich and mysterious, the only way to meet this elusive lady is through the equally mysterious Mr Barton… no light in this valley by trysts Teen, cntw, wild west AU: It was a good way to end a bad year, Clint figured. Tomorrow Then by @scribblemyname​ Teen, no warnings, reincarnation AU: Neither of them remembers where it started. There is eternity and the earth tilting in the heavens, but there is no beginning. They are not human enough yet for beginnings. Maps by @cloud--atlas​ Teen, cntw, reincarnation AU: Natasha won't let go, no matter what he becomes. Mr. & Mrs. Barton (Or: Why Natasha Sends Jennifer Aniston an Annual Apologetic Fruit Basket) by @geniusorinsanity​ Explicit, cntw, Mr. & Mrs. Smith AU: Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl get married. Boy and girl neglect to do background checks. Not a Day Goes By (Not a Single Day) by @intosnarkness​ [HSAU Theatre 'Verse] Gen, no warnings: A Coda: On the life and times of Clint and Natasha Yesterday, Upon the Stair by @intosnarkness​ Mature, cntw: When she was little Natasha had an imaginary friend. But like all little girls, she learned to forget him as she grew up. So imagine her surprise when one day she comes face to face with her old friend. And he's pointing an arrow at her heart. Talking Like Peter Lorre by @freaoscanlin​ Gen, no warnings: Clint has a very important question for fellow zoologist, Dr. Natasha Romanoff. Or: the AU where they’re all scientists in Antarctica and everybody is cold. All Under Heaven by @cloud--atlas​ Teen, cntw: Wherein Clint and Natalia are nature documentary filmmakers, filming for the BBC in Guilin, China. We Together Make A City by @cloud--atlas​ Mature, no warnings: Written for the prompt: Clint was/is a musician. Soft Landing by @cloud--atlas​ Teen, no warnings: Natasha Mends broken hearts. It's easy until it's not. Here I Dreamt I Was A Soldier by @sugarfey​ Mature, cntw: Bletchley Park, 1942: Women are recruited from across the country to decode enemy transmissions. The war stories of Maria Hill, Natasha Romanoff, Carol Danvers and Kate Bishop. Like campfires in the dark by @scribblemyname​ [series] Mature, cntw: There is nowhere to run, nowhere to escape the Great Strangeness creeping over the earth. They don't need to run. Clint Barton, Vampire Slayer by Sproid Mature, violence: The adventures of Clint Barton, Vampire Slayer. Or, how to be a Slayer while working for SHIELD and with the Avengers. Something that made you go: "Wow! This person knows what they are talking about!" Habeas Matrimonium by @crystallitanie​ Teen, no warnings: Five times Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton pretended to be hitched (and one time... well) In The Service: Three Times Hawkeye Questions His Orders (And One Time He Doesn’t) by @alphaflyer​ Teen, cntw: Some Government jobs are more … complicated than others. Samsara by xahra99 Teen, no warnings: Burning down a monastery isn't the worst thing they've ever done. Natasha and Clint take on a mission in Tibet. Everything isn't quite as it seems... Domestic Clint/Natasha Junk Food and Dirty Socks: A Love Story by igrockspock Gen, no warnings: Clint and Natasha show their love in unusual ways. Exciting Adventures in Cohabitation by igrockspock Teen, no warnings: Clint and Natasha try to navigate the mundane problems of living together. Like how someone can't be bothered to pick up her damn socks, and somebody else keeps leaving empty milk cartons in the fridge. Friendship fics Frequently Asked Questions by Mad_Maudlin Clint&Kate, teen, memory loss: Today is Monday, March 18th. You started losing your memories yesterday. still officially lost by @pollyrepeat​ Clint&Coulson, teen, no warnings: “Barton has clearly imprinted on you,” Fury starts, and keeps talking right over Phil’s knee-jerk, horrified, “He has not,” to seal Phil’s doom by saying, “so I’ve decided that you’re going to take primary responsibility for him from now on.” something good waitin' down this road by defcontwo Clint&Kate, gen, no warnings: Hawkeyes' House Rules for Dog Ownership and Other Misadventures. Or: Clint, Kate, a dog, and a study in moving forward. When push comes to Chevre by @copperbadge​ Bucky&Various, gen, Bucky Barnes acquires a plot of land in Wakanda, buys some goats, grows peanuts and sweet potatoes, and fosters a wayward rhinoceros. That's it, that's the story. Silhouette by @mariana-oconnor​ Clint/Bucky, Steve&Bucky, Clint&Natasha, mature, cntw: After a mission in Mexico goes wrong, SHIELD Agents Barnes and Rogers are given the job of hunting down the notorious Hawkeye and the Black Widow, the only problem being: no one even knows what they look like. On the other side of the law, Clint's enjoying messing with their new SHIELD shadows, especially seeing how close he can get to Agent Barnes without him realising, but he makes the mistake of getting attached, and that makes everything more complicated. Best Kept Secret by AlchemyAlice Tony&Natasha, teen, no warnings: In which there is a secret friendship, and Tony can’t deal with feelings, so Natasha has to do it for him. These two features may or may not be related. Heartbreak and angst we were emergencies by @gyzym Explicit, cntw (please see story notes): It's not about being unmade; it's about remaking, one aching step at a time. This Bitter Earth by @cloud--atlas Teen, cntw, dystopia: The only beautiful things here are her and the stars. And he can’t reach the stars. White Blank Page by allisnow Mature, cntw: Debt is beautiful only after it has been repaid. Not Easily Conquered by dropdeaddream and WhatAreFears [series] Steve/Bucky, Steve/Peggy, Clint/Natasha, mature, cntw: “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” Peggy says, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Warp and Weft by legete Mature, body horror: The muscle apparently talked a little much for Loki's liking. Now Natasha has to pick out the stitches. Favourite long!fic your blue-eyed boys by Feather (lalaietha) [series] and the related series [to see you there] (Clint/Nat, Bruce/Betty and Tony/Pepper) and (even if i could) make a deal with god (Steve/Bucky) Various pairings, teen to explicit, extensive warnings - please see tags, canon-divergent after WS: post-Winter Soldier recovery fic > Specifically: what i thought, what i said (Clint/&Natasha, Steve/Bucky, teen, no warnings) and [your albatross: carry it with no regrets] (Mature, no warnings: Five moments in Clint Barton's life.) To Be Vulnerable is Needed Most of All by perfect_plan Steve/Bucky, Clint/Nat, mature, mental illness and PTSD: Steve is a shy comic book artist and meets his new neighbour, Bucky Barnes. Hyperfocal Distance by @freaoscanlin Teen, cntw: The AU where Natasha is an investigative journalist and Clint has a camera and is pretty good at shooting things with it. we are for each other by @quidnunc-life Steve/Maria, Clint/Natasha, teen, post-Avengers, no warnings: SHIELD has fallen, and Steve and Natasha deal with the questions that fell with the Triskelion: who are they, and who do they want to be? Which parts of their pasts are they going to rescue from the rubble? Where do they belong? letting me in or letting me go by @quidnunc-life Teen, no warnings: Natasha Romanoff has worked hard to become a successful member of SHIELD Investigations, and her hard work pays off when she lands a major job investigating corporate espionage at Stark Industries with Clint Barton and his apprentice, Kate. Working with other people isn't Natasha's forte, and she has her reasons for preferring to work alone; but Clint is charming and Kate is irrepressible, and soon Natasha finds herself wrapped up in a case that could prove to shake the skeletons out of her closet and upend everything, including the friendship (or more?) that's started to develop between her and Clint. Agent, Archer, Widow, Spies by @alphaflyer [series] Teen, cntw, James Bond fusion, excellent mission fics. Brooklyn Baby by sprinkle_of_cinnamon Bucky/Steve, Clint/Nat, mature, no warnings, AU: In which Bucky is just trying to live life and enjoy his unofficial official table at the obnoxiously hipster coffee shop but some guy named Steve stole his spot. Or, the time that Bucky unintentionally befriended the Avengers and had no idea. but the sky is the same by @sweeter-than Teen, no warnings: Takes place one year after Clint makes the unexpected choice to bring Natasha Romanov in from the cold. They've become co-workers and acquaintances, but Natasha is still as much a mystery to Clint as she was on the day he was first sent to target her. A story about making friends and making choices, set against the backdrop of daily life at SHIELD.

[starcountesseevee]

A Rocket Coincidence (Part 18)

Part 17 / Part 19

     It seemed the weeks were flying by in a blur as Kali settled into a routine. Her and Mara alternated days working at Simply Yoga and on her off days Kali found herself bored again as the days grew chillier. Celadon City was far enough south that it didn’t experience a full winter, part of the reason Kali loved it there, she couldn’t imagine how people lived places like Freezington in the Crown Tundra where it was cold year round. Celadon did, however, get enough of autumn-like weather to make the holidays feel like well, the holidays. So to fill her time on her days off Kali threw herself into decorating their apartment and studio for her favorite holiday, Halloween.  

     "Are you sure this isn't too much?" Kali asked Mara for the hundredth time as she hung another string of cobwebs across Simply Yoga's front display window. 

     "It's fine." Mara laughed as she handed Kali another Spinarak cut out to hang. "Are you sure you don't want to come tonight? Jules really is okay with it." 

     "If I go then who will hand out all the candy?" 

     "I'm sure plenty of other places are handing out so it's not like you have to." 

     "I know but I enjoy it." Kali smiled. "So really I'm fine! You don't have to worry about me. You two have fun." 

     “Alright, alright.” Mara grabbed her keys and headed to the front door. “Save me a few pieces then will ya? Oh, and don’t wait up!”

     “No promises!” Kali finished hanging the last bit of cobweb before getting down from the stool and locking the front door while she headed upstairs to change. As she entered the apartment she nearly tripped over Nero and Rowan as the two came bounding over to her only to spin around just as fast, chasing each other back into the living room. Both their sleek black bodies were decorated with white bones chalked onto them courtesy of another bored morning Kali had. She set her keys on the hall tree next to Aslan’s pokeball. This year Halloween fell on a Saturday and while there would probably be an abundance of kids out that didn’t have school the next day Simply Yoga was also in close proximity to places like Echo so Kali was going to have the large Arcanine downstairs with her. Just in case. 

     She would have preferred to have Cliff there for security, among other reasons, but he had another mysterious work assignment elsewhere that he couldn't talk about. Which was fine, she thought as she pushed open her bedroom door. She knew getting into this he wouldn’t be able to be around all the time but that didn’t make her miss him any less. 

     Her costume, a purple Mismagius hat and dress she had found at the Halloween store, was already laid out on the bed waiting for her. As she changed she took a moment to adjust her bra and snap a quick picture, sending it to Cliff with the caption *What you’re missing.* just to emphasize that maybe he should have been there. She didn’t even get a chance to pick up the dress before she got a response.

     *That’d better not be your whole costume.* Kali bit back a laugh as she toyed with how to answer before deciding on teasing him a little more. 

     *And if it is?* She set her Pokegear down to pull on her costume where it remained suspiciously quiet as she finished dressing. As she reached for the hat she heard the ringtone go off and was only a little surprised to see an incoming video call. She grinned, he was too easy. 

     "Relax I'm just teasing you." She answered, laughing at the relieved look that crossed his face as he noticed how much more covered she was. 

     "Well maybe I just wanted to see more of the other costume." He backpedaled, trying to sound suggestive but Kali had a feeling he was trying to cover a bit of jealous worry.

     "Oh this?" Kali extended her arm holding the Pokegear as far as she could and with her other hand teasingly pulled the bottom of her skirt up to flash him a bit of bare thigh.  

     "You're killing me dollface." Cliff groaned, glancing behind him to make sure no one else was nearby. "If I wasn't at work I'd be having you take that whole thing off."

     "Oh what's that? I think I hear trick-or-treaters?" Kali cupped a hand to her ear like she was listening carefully.

     "Maybe you can call back after the kids go home and we can continue this, hmm?"

     "I dunno, it might be late." She teased.

     "I would stay up till sunrise to get to see you take that off, doll."  

     "I'll think about it." Kali blushed, dropping the hem of her costume.

     "I'll be thinking hard about it too. But right now I gotta go."

     "Alright, mountain man. I'll talk to you later." She blew him a kiss before ending the call.

     Kali put on the final touches of her costume and headed back downstairs, deciding at the last second to grab Ember's pokeball as well so Aslan would have some company. The two got settled on the floor in front of the receptionist desk, the large Arcanine taking up most of the room while Ember curled up on his back.

     Flicking on the storefront light Kali stepped outside to survey her work. She had replaced the lights in the large display window with purple ones and hung cobwebs in front of them to create shadows. Fake Spinaraks were nestled into the webbing and a few fake Zubats hung down in the middle as if flying; it was spooky enough without being over the top scary. Kali wasn't a big fan of bloody and gory Halloween displays meant to scare and preferred to keep things kid friendly, after all Halloween was her favorite holiday partly because of the fond memories she had of going trick-or-treating with her mom when she was a kid. 

     Hearing the unmistakable laughter of a group of kids Kali ducked back inside to grab the basket of candy, turning back to the door just in time to see three young children approach. One of her regular patrons waved at her from behind the trio who were oohing at the window display but when they spotted the large basket of candy Kali was holding their attention quickly shifted. They ran up to her with a shout of 'trick-or-treat' before diving into the basket to pick out their favorites. 

     For the first hour or so there was a steady stream of kids but after the two hour mark it slowed down. Kali was leaning against the doorframe considering calling it a night when she spotted a young man about her age escorting a small girl dressed as an Eevee, his face familiar but she couldn't quite place him. He apparently had the same feeling because he was scrutinizing her as they approached, the girl clinging shyly to his leg. 

     “Go ahead, Dee.” The girl released her grip on his pant leg and took a few cautious steps forward. He looked back up at Kali, recognition dawning on his face. “Oh! It’s you! From the Silver Conference, we tied in the semi-finals!” 

     “Yes!” Kali smiled, racking her brain for his name. “I thought you looked familiar, too. Cole, was it?” 

     "Yes!” Cole laughed nervously. “I'm sorry, I don't remember yours. But I do remember you used all Eeveelutions!" At this Dee’s eyes lit up and she stopped digging through the candy. 

     "Really! All Eevees?"  

     “Yupp!” Kali smiled warmly down at the girl who was staring up at her in wide-eyed awe. “Do you like Eevees? Is that why you’re dressed as one? What’s your name?” 

"I love Eevees!" The girl exclaimed, her shyness gone. "My name is Delilah and I want to be a trainer too! With all Eevees!" 

     “Nice to meet you, Delilah. My name is Kali.” She said mostly for Cole’s benefit. “Have you ever met a Flareon?” 

     “No…” Kali didn’t think Dee’s eyes could get any wider. She glanced back at the street but no one else was coming. 

     “Would you like to?”

     “You really don’t have to-” Cole began but Kali shushed him before calling for Ember who trotted happily to the door.  

     "It's so cute!” Delilah gasped excitedly as Ember approached. She reached a hand out but stopped herself and looked back at Cole. “Can I pet it?”

     "That's up to the nice lady." 

     "Can I pet it, please?" 

     "Of course. But hold your hand out for her to sniff first." Dee cautiously obeyed, crouching down closer to Ember who sniffed the offered hand before trilling and rubbing her head into it. Kali smiled, watching the two before turning back to Cole. “Your…”

     “Niece! Delilah is my niece, my sister’s kid.” 

     "She's cute. I didn’t know you lived in the city.” 

     "I don't, actually. My sister travels a lot so I help out from time to time while she's away so Dee doesn't have to move around." 

     "That's sweet." 

     "So, uh, do you...work here?" He glanced up at the sign. 

     "Yeah, my friend owns the place. I work here in between training." 

     "That's cool. Do you train somewhere in the city? I’m always looking for a new place to practice. Maybe we can train together sometime? I’m, uh, sure Delilah would love to see your Eeveelutions in action.” He glanced down at the young girl but she was paying them no mind. 

     “Oh, yeah, sure! There’s a park a few minutes from here I go to a lot.” They both glanced back as they heard another group approaching. “Well, hey, I don’t work on Tuesday. Why don’t you two meet me here around 10? And we can go?”

     “That sounds great.” Cole smiled before crouching down. “Alright Dee, we’ve got to go.”

     “Aw, okay.” Delilah was obviously disappointed as Cole took her hand.

     “See you Tuesday.” Cole and Delilah waved goodbye and Kali gave a small wave back before greeting the group that had just come up. 

     After they left Kali leaned back against the doorframe, looking up at the night sky as Ember sat down at her feet and began cleaning her paw. Ten more minutes, Kali decided, then she’d call it a night. After all, she had a call to make.

Part 17 / Part 19

[marril96]

The Distance Between Us

Chapter 5: Working Girls

Pairing: Rowena x reader

Summary: The time has come for your first tutoring session.

Editor: @cherrypierowena

It was Friday when you next spoke to Rowena.

She seemed intent on avoiding you all week, and you happily returned the favor. The less you saw (and heard) of her, the easier it was to pretend you weren't stuck being tutored by her for the entirety of this semester.

What were you thinking, saying yes to that?

You were an idiot.

Just as the last bell sounded, and you were on your way out, happy to start your weekend, the devil herself had to — just had to — walk up to you and say, "Tomorrow. Quarter past three."

You blinked as if you'd just been maced. "What?"

"The tutoring," she said a tad slower, in an overly exaggerated tone, as if you were dumb. "That thing you're making me do? Remember?"

You rolled your eyes. "You agreed for the same reasons I did. I'm not making you do shit."

She returned the eyeroll, which somehow managed to look even more dramatic, more exaggerated. You wondered if it hurt to twist her eyes like that. And if it did — good.

"Whatever. You coming tomorrow or what?"

Did you even have a choice?

The sooner you got it done, the better.

"Where?"

"My house," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

It kind of was. The way Rowena was, she wouldn't be caught dead with you — alone — in public.

"Sure," you say.

"Need directions?" she asked.

It was your turn to give her the are-you-dumb look. "I've been there countless times."

"Just making sure," she said, shrugging nonchalantly. "Don't want you to get lost."

Olivette, who was standing beside her, snickered.

Rowena smirked.

Nice. Already off to a great start.

"Don't you worry about me, sweetheart," you said condescendingly. Two could play this game. "Just make sure you're home when I get there. Busy girl like you, don't want you to stand me up."

"I won't, darling," she replied in the same tone. "I cleared me schedule just for you."

"How sweet."

"That's me."

Yeah. Sweet as diabetes.

Olivette pulled her arm, heading for the exit.

"Don't be late," Rowena said over her shoulder as she followed her.

"I would never," you shouted after her.

After the way she acted, you were tempted to. Badly.

*****

It was three o'clock sharp when you showed up at the MacLeod residence. Much to your disappointment, Crowley was out, doing whatever it was that he did on his own. Probably something not quite legal. Or moral.

You didn't ask.

You didn't care.

Just before you left the house, he sent you a message giving you his honest, heartfelt condolences. How sweet of him.

You hated to admit it, but it was oddly comforting. If anyone knew what it was like to study with Rowena — to be around Rowena for more than a few minutes, all alone — it was him.

Rowena opened the door dressed in something sparkly you thought she only wore to school to stand out.

Apparently, it was her regular attire.

Who would have guessed?

"You're early," she said in greeting, seemingly surprised.

"Hello to you, too," you said.

She scoffed and moved aside to let you in, then closed the door behind you.

The MacLeod house was small but comfy. The kind of house that made you feel right at home as soon as you walked through the door. Aside from their mother's, the MacLeod kids had two other bedrooms; Rowena had her own, and Crowley and Gavin, their younger brother, shared theirs. Not much space for a four-member family, but they made it work.

"Mother's at work," Rowena said. "Fergus is out. It's just you and me. And Gavin."

"Cool," you said.

Their mother was always working. Two jobs, you thought Crowley once said. Bills needed to be paid, and kids were expensive.

"Gavin won't bother us," Rowena said.

"Whatever."

You didn't mind the kid. From what you saw of him, he was a lovely little boy. A complete contrast to his sister.

She took you to her room. It was small, but somehow felt like home. The bed was by the wall in the middle, surrounded by a desk with a laptop on top, a large closet, a dresser, and, much to your surprise, two big bookshelves filled to the brim with books, hardbacks and paperbacks alike, all in seemingly pristine condition.

You would never admit it out loud, but you were impressed. You'd expected something more… pink. And sparkly. Maybe a few pictures of loser kids like yourself hanging on the wall, with targets painted on their faces in sparkly pink gel pen. The popular girl stuff.

Maybe she had those in her closet.

"It's just a room," Rowena said when she noticed you staring, a touch of smugness, of pride, in her expression.

You blushed. "Your books…"

"Aye, I've my own wee library."

A bit more that wee, it was. There were so many books!

"Don't touch anything," she added. "You can look" — she didn't seem too thrilled with that idea, either, but at the same time, she liked to be the one to impress — "but don't touch. I don't want you to damage the books."

You had to roll your eyes. "That's my sole purpose in life — damaging your books."

"For all I know, I might be," she retorted. "You seem like the type."

You cocked up an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"We wouldn't be in this mess if not for your damage."

Really?

Really?!

"You could've refused," you reminded her. "We both know why you didn't." Because little miss perfect wasn't so perfect after all. "Don't put your shitty record on me. I'm not the one bitching out the teachers."

At least when you did it, you did it out of earshot, around your friends.

If anything, Rowena could learn a thing or two from you.

Her cheeks flushed as red as her hair. "If you weren't such a failure, Mr. Shurley never would have blackmailed me!"

Maybe so.

But still…

"Maybe he doesn't like you."

God knew you didn't. Half the school didn't. Just because her group let her into their little circle didn't mean the entire popular scene liked her.

You'd heard the things they were saying about her behind her back. All the names they called her. The jokes they made about her.

Everyone knew the only reason she was popular, that she was someone, was that Olivette felt sorry for her. The same reason Lucifer started dating her Junior year.

Hell, you were pretty sure Rowena knew it, too. She couldn't not know.

But she put up with it. Because popularity was everything, even at the cost of dignity.

Being on top mattered more than anything. More than family. More than the people she'd trampled on her way there.

Despicable.

Rowena scoffed, looking at you as if you'd just suggested having live snails for dinner. "He loves me!"

You snorted. "Sure. Everyone loves you."

"People with taste do."

"Yeah, 'cause you're so lovable."

"Totally am."

As lovable as a splinter.

"Now, are you here to be rude or to learn?" she asked, changing the subject. "I've had to cancel plans to meet with you, you know. I don't want to waste my time."

You were the one being rude?

Typical Rowena.

"So sorry you can't make out with your asshole boyfriend for an extra hour this afternoon," you said sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes. "What I do with my time is none of your bloody business! But if you must know, I was supposed to go shopping with Olivette."

So she was in agreement with Lucifer being an asshole.

Interesting.

"My deepest apologies," you said mockingly, earning you another eyeroll.

Books, notebooks, and supplies were on the floor, on a neat pile beside the bed. You lowered your bag containing your own stuff beside them and sat down Indian style. Rowena joined you.

"When's your make up test?" she asked.

"Thursday," you said. You thought Ms. Hanscum would give you more time, but guess not. You had a tutor now. She expected results.

You expected another F.

Rowena sighed. "Well, let's see what it is you're struggling with."

How about everything? you thought sourly.

"This was in the test," she said, opening the textbook and pointing a perfectly manicured fingernail at the pages in question. "What exactly is it you don't get?"

You slid the book over to you, scanned the pages meticulously. So many numbers and formulas. Odd formations of numbers and letters that made no sense. Solved example problems that looked as strange as a foreign language. Questions you didn't — couldn't — understand, let alone solve.

You blushed as if caught doing something awkward.

This was embarrassing.

"Everything," you mumbled under your breath.

Rowena frowned, confused, curious. "What?"

You swallowed. Breathed in deep and hard for courage. "I said everything!" She blinked. You sighed. "None of this makes sense to me. Might as well show me hieroglyphs. I'll understand as much."

As if it wasn't embarrassing enough that a mean girl like her had to tutor you, you had to admit to your ignorance out loud.

This was fine, you told yourself. Totally fine. If she laughed at you, if she told her friends what a complete and utter idiot you were, so what? Wouldn't be the first time you were made fun of.

You could handle a bit of bullying.

You'd handled it before.

Go at it, Rowena, you thought. Do your worst!

Instead, her hard expression softened. No trace of a smile lingered on her mouth. No teasing glint in her eyes.

She looked… concerned.

What was going on?

"You really understand nothing?" she asked. Her tone was genuine, no mockery in sight.

"Yup," you said timidly, face falling to the open book between the two of you.

"Why didn't you ask Ms. Hanscum to explain?"

What was the point? You still wouldn't get it. Also…

"So you and your friends can laugh at me?"

Rowena looked appalled. "I wouldn't laugh at you."

"Sure you wouldn't." Just like she hadn't looked around at people who'd failed with a smug look on her face. Just like she hadn't stood aside as her friends teased and bullied and mocked people, and laughed along with them.

She was about to respond, but shut her mouth just in time. Good. You weren't in the mood for excuses and lies.

"Why don't we start with the first lesson?" she asked, changing the subject back to the topic at hand. "If you get a hang of that one, the other two will be easier to comprehend."

"Sure," you replied. You weren't expecting much; if Ms. Hanscum, who'd spent years earning her degree, couldn't teach you, you doubted a mere high school girl could.

Still, it was worth a try.

You could use the extra credit, and plus, you'd promised Sam you'd cooperate. Rowena had apparently told him she had no patience for slackers. You didn't particularly care what she thought, but at the very least, you could prove her wrong. You could work hard and do your best. Make her earn her extra credit and clean record.

"Okay, so you see this problem?" Rowena asked, pointing to a set of numbers she'd written down on a piece of paper.

"Yeah."

You wished you didn't.

You had a feeling these numbers would show up in your dreams tonight. And every night after that.

Math was a bitch.

"Do you know how we got 3?"

You shrugged. "Nope."

She might as well have asked you to translate lettering from ancient artifacts.

Rowena sighed. Not quite happy, but not exasperated, either. "Let's look at it differently. What's something you like?" She looked around, lost in thought. "Money?"

"Sure."

Everyone liked money, you supposed.

She grinned. "Great!"

Was that genuine joy on her face?

"Say you have one hundred dollars. I borrow you twenty. Sam borrows you five. You want to buy a… DVD."

That was one expensive DVD.

"What kind?" you asked.

She frowned. "What?"

"What kind of DVD? Like, which movie?"

"Gone with the Wind?" she suggested.

You made a face. "I'd never buy that! Especially not for that much money."

"It's a bloody classic!" she exclaimed, outraged.

Well.

Somebody loved old movies.

"Don't care," you said. "It's old, needlessly long, boring, and, uh, did I mention old?"

Rowena looked as if you'd just admitted to murdering her entire family in cold blood.

"Make it Mean Girls. It's symbolic, at least."

She scowled. "Fine. You want to buy Mean Girls."

"Perfect," you said with a sugary-sweet, diabetes-inducing smile on your mouth.

She rolled her eyes dramatically. Her favorite thing to do, it seemed. "You get to the store, and you find out it's on sale."

"I love sales!"

"Everybody loves sales! Anyway, the DVD you want…"

She went on a long, complicated explanation of prices, tax, sales, calculations, and formulas. At first none of it made sense, just as it hadn't back in Ms. Hanscum's class. But the more she explained, the more details she provided to the imaginary scenario with money and DVDs, it started to settle in.

It took a good ten minutes, but by the time she was done, you understood the problem.

And when she gave you a few problems she'd made up herself to solve, same structure with different numbers, you did it.

Correctly.

Soon the two of you moved on to other lessons. Rowena was surprisingly patient. You expected her to scream and shout and call you names. Instead, she explained everything thoroughly, five times if she had to. She didn't talk down to you. Didn't make you feel dumb for not knowing things that came naturally to her. Didn't rush you or chastise you for taking too long to solve the problems she'd given you.

She spoke softly and kindly, and gave you time to think solutions through.

She was, dare you say, better than Ms. Hanscum herself.

"I think that's about enough for today," Rowena said.

You looked at your phone, eyes going wide at seeing the time.

Two hours had gone by in a flash.

"Yeah," you agreed. "That was way too much math for one day."

Rowena giggled.

It was cute, you found yourself thinking. A strangely cute little sound.

"Would you like to come over tomorrow?"

You blinked. "To study?"

"What else?"

"Isn't that a bit… soon?"

"Your make up test is Thursday, right? It's better to prepare really well." She shrugged. "Not saying you have to. It's just a suggestion."

You didn't want to.

You never wanted to see these numbers — any numbers — again.

You especially didn't want to see them that soon.

But…

Rowena was right. The more you prepared, the more you studied, the better.

It wasn't like you had anything planned, anyway. Sunday was a boring day.

"Okay," you said after a moment of thinking it through. "Same time?"

"Aye."

"It's a deal, then."

"Don't be late."

"I'll be here at three again. Three fifteen sounds a bit weird, to be honest."

She made no response to that. Merely shrugged as if it didn't bother her. "Says you."

"I'll be going, then," you said. "Say hi to Crowley for me?"

"Whatever," she replied, annoyed.

You took that as a yes.

The first session went rather well. You hadn't tried to kill each other and you'd managed to learn a thing or two.

Maybe having Rowena MacLeod as a tutor wasn't so bad after all.

*****

Tags: @werewolfbarbie @oswinthestrange @songofthecagedmoose @apurdyfulmind @getthesalt-sam @metallihca @salembitchtrials @jay-eris @hellsmother @elizabeth-effie @victoriasagittariablack @rowenaswife @wonderifshelikesroses @xfireandsin @liddell-alien @hotdiggitydammit @lae-lae @darkhumorsblog @gaysnakess @angel7376 @cherrypierowena @ruthieconnells @evil-regal-vampiress @collectorofsecretsandsouls @angel-e-v-a @melisandre02 @a-queen-and-her-throne

[beanfic]

New Roommates - Ch.1

Word Count: 1715

Warnings: Talk of a loss of a parent and some soft angst about moving.

Author’s Note: Here it is! My official entry for Kansas’ YouAU challenge! This series is going to be in the first person from MY PERSPECTIVE! It was quite the experience of writing about myself, but I hope you enjoy!

I glanced up from the marble sink to look at myself in the toothpaste-stained mirror in front of me. This was going to be the last time I ever looked at myself in this crappy motel-like apartment that I had been sharing with a cousin and an aunt of mine. 

I had just moved to Ohio about a month ago - all the way from Portland, Oregon -  with my Mom and we ended up moving in with my Mom’s sister and daughter. I shouldn’t be complaining about their apartment, but I am definitely not upset about moving out. Even if my Mom doesn’t want me to, but it was about time I grew up and moved out! I am a 23-year-old anyways.

Today I was finally moving in with my new roommates that I had found on craigslist. Yes, you heard that right. Craigslist. My mom wasn’t very happy either when I told her, but it was the best I could do with the budget I had. I was desperate to get away from my overbearing mom.

Their craigslist ad didn’t seem too sketchy either! It was three boys all around my age, two musicians and a videographer. It seemed like a good fit for me being an amateur photographer. The pictures of the apartment also seemed very nice. Much nicer than our current living situation. 

I think my mom was happy to be moving out of my Aunt’s home as well, even though she is moving with her Mom, but that is because my Grandmother is not doing the best healthwise. That was the reason why we moved out here to Ohio actually. My Aunt told my Mom that she was done with “taking care of my grandmother by herself”, and because my Mom is a very caring person we packed up and headed out to the wonderful state of Ohio. 

It’s not like Ohio is a bad place. I have been here multiple times because my family was based here on my Mom’s side, but Portland has always been home for me. It was where my Dad had grown up, and we would always go hiking together, but unfortunately, he had passed away from cancer when I was in middle school, so it has just been my Mom and me since then. Now that I am 23, I am ready to grow up and move on with my life as an independent woman!

“You can do this Sav,” I whispered to myself as I narrowed my eyes towards the brown-haired girl in the mirror staring back at me. My hair was tied half up with a black scrunchie and I wasn’t wearing any face makeup besides for some eyebrow product and mascara.

I usually didn’t give myself pep talks in the mirror, but this certain life event required one. I never thought that I would be moving out and moving in with strangers in a state you had just moved to, but I guess there is a first for everything?

I thought back to the first time I had met the boys. They invited me to a pizza parlor that was right down their street, and I was not really expecting them to look like what they did. When I saw the names Tyler, Josh and Mark on the ad I was expecting some jock looking guys but instead it was three guys who were some of the nicest human beings I had ever met. 

I remembered that Tyler had shaken my hand first and introduced everyone else. He rubbed me as sort of the leader of the trio. Mark seemed like the funny one, and Josh was quieter. He definitely was the cutest out of all of them, but I already told myself that I am not going to fall for any of these men. They were my roommates. Potential friends. Not a potential romantic interest. 

“Ready to head out?” my Mom’s high pitched voice called out from the bathroom door. 

“Just a second!” I looked back up at myself. I focused on my hazel eyes for a brief second before turning away and grabbing my bag that was filled with all my toiletries and bathroom goodies. My Mom was standing on the outside of the bathroom door with my three suitcases. One was filled with my clothes, the other filled with my blankets and trinkets, the last one was filled with anything else that wasn’t too breakable and didn’t fit into one of the boxes.

The nice thing about moving into an apartment that already has people living in it is that all I need is my bedroom and bathroom stuff since they have everything else! It was much easier to do this compared to first packing up an entire house when I moved to Portland.

The car ride over to the apartment was awkwardly quiet. I sat in the passenger seat with my Mom in the drivers. I looked out the window and counted the number of trees I saw. There were 32 until we turned into the apartment complex. It wasn’t too far away, which was nice, I suppose. 

Fortunately, their apartment was on the top level so we did not have to listen to any footsteps above our heads, and the three-level of staircases weren’t too bad either. I opened the car door once my mom had parked and stretched a little before grabbing my suitcases and a couple of boxes from the car. A moving truck was coming in about twenty minutes with my all my bedroom furniture and other various boxes that could not fit in the car. 

“Sav!” a familiar voice called out from above me. I squinted and looked up to see Tyler leaning over the railing on their small balcony. 

“Hey, Tyler!” I waved back.

“Mark and I will be down in just a second to help you!” He turned around and vanished. I looked over at my mom to see her reaction to seeing Tyler for the first time and she just smiled. 

“He seems very nice!”

“He is! All of them are! I told you I was going to be fine.”

“I know, but you are all I have so of course I worry!” She leaned over to give me a small one-armed side hug. The sound of footsteps rushing down the metal stairs became louder and louder until the two boys were standing in front of you. 

“Mark! Tyler! This is my mom,” I introduced them all and watched as my mom shook their hands carefully. I finished grabbing my items from the car while they exchanged some typical adult conversation.

“Well, I guess this is it! Are you sure you don’t need my help?” My mom asked and I nodded.

“They can help me once the movers get here! I promise I will be okay. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, I love you!”

“I love you too, Mom.” I wrapped my arms around her one last time before she headed out. It was weird officially moving out. I was going to miss my mom, but I know this was going to be really good for me. 

“Here, I can carry these two boxes if you get those two suitcases,” Mark told Tyler. They started heading up the stairs and I followed behind. 

“Thank you for helping me!” 

“Of course! We are here whenever you need it!” Mark called back.

“Oh! I need to introduce you to Kae!” Tyler turned around and gave me a wink.

“Who is Kae?”

“His girlfriend,” Mark answered for him.

“Partner. Their pronouns are they/them so if you could try your best to respect that, it would be awesome because apparently somebody can’t!” Tyler glared up at Mark who was stopped on a step to take a breather.

“Sorry! I’m getting better I promise! But they’re the coolest, I bet you will get along with them!” Mark explained. I got nervous about meeting somebody for the first time, but maybe it would also be nice to have another friend that wasn’t somebody I live with. 

“Why is Josh not helping?” I asked.

“I think he was taking a nap, he was out pretty late last night.”

“Yeah, partying,” Tyler interrupted.

“He parties a lot,” Mark explained. 

“Y/N!” sang a cheerful voice from the door to the apartment. Kae stood in the doorframe smiling and waving down to me. “I’m so glad I get to finally meet you!” 

“Hi Kae!” Once I got to the top of the stairs I placed my bags down and smiled towards them. “Can I give you a hug?”

“Thank you for asking first, yes of course!” Kae’s arms wrapped around mine as we embraced. 

“Not gonna lie, I already feel so much more comfortable even though I have known you for, what two seconds?” I admitted. 

“They have that impact,” Tyler added on, meeting you at the top of the stairs. Kae smiled sheepishly. 

“I heard that you are fairly new to Columbus so I decided that I will take you to all the coolest spots!!” Kae clapped their hands excitedly. They opened the door all the way so I could bring my bags in. 

The apartment opened up straight into the living room. There was one long gray couch facing a decent-sized television. There were also two blue beanbags on the ground. Behind the couch was the kitchen table. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a rectangular wooden table. 

Behind the table on one side was the sliding glass doors to the small balcony. There were two planters out there filled with various succulents. On the other side of the kitchen table was the kitchen.

The kitchen was small, and not the cleanest, but it was still better than the previous kitchen I had been forced to cook in. There were stools next to the counter which looked like they were made DIY, or fixed up, who knows. 

There were two hallways both with two bedrooms. Tyler and Mark’s bedrooms were down the left hallway, while mine was down the right hallway from the front door. My room was right across Josh’s, and I had to share a bathroom with him. 

Josh didn’t seem like a bad person to have as a bedroom neighbor. 

Hopefully.

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

tag list: Tag list: @takenvysleep @fromcalmto-ill @svintsandghosts @reginawashere15 @breadbinishigh @ohprettyweeper

[princelockedinatower]

Peppermint

The dark streets aren't a place for anyone or anything at night, that is... except for the ones who have no place within the light to begin with. 

I and the others I am meeting are the exception. 

I waltz down the carriage lanes of this old sleepy town in my favorite dark jeans and a black knitted sweater, a forest green cloak draped over me with the hood down, catching wisps of dark figures in the corners of my eyes. These creatures are not quite of this world, nor is the figure, visible only by the translucent outlines of white waltzing along with me tonight. The common folk need not fear these creatures, unless you know they exist they are impartial. Then even if you do, leaving out some seeds and honey as an offering will keep you from harm, give them blueberry tea if you want some good luck. 

Tonight I climb the hill just beyond the old yew tree the fae adore and that everyone refuses to cut down least they fear a despicable end. No one besides me and a few others dare to climb it at night, they say strange things happen there, dark figures prowling about almost like regular animals, yet their limbs too long and narly. When climbing you’ll get an ice chill down your spine, a sinking feeling in your gut and the one clear thought you can manage out is something along the lines of: I should not be here. 

The way I and the other I am meeting ward this off is by leaving generous offerings before we ascend. I find McDonald's fries generally please them, so arriving at the foot I leave four extra large fries and a pack of chicken nuggets, right beside my coven’s other offerings. I can see no figures awaiting me from where I stand, a bad sign usually but I start up the hill against my better judgment. 

Reaching the top, my calves are burning, the trek never gets easier. I lean down to massage my right calf, my dyed red hair falling around me and pale skin a sharp contrast in the full moon’s light. As my hood falls over my eyes I spot two figures lying on the ground, one covered with a light blue cloak, dark tightly braided hair and face peeking out, the other a maroon cloak and a hot pink dress. 

I address the girl with the maroon cloak first “You hiked this thing in heels? What are you? Cat woman girl?” I ask rummaging through my bag for my supplies. 

Bonita laughs “You wish hun, got your supplies?” she says sitting up elbowing Makena. 

I nod, both of them standing and whipping out their supplies from their own bags. 

We start to set up the temporary alter as Makena speaks, getting our attention “Bonita, Roxy-” she hesitates on her next words, half way done her particular task to set up “This might be the last time we pray and do a spell together, you know, with all of us off to college in a few weeks,” she says, her voice wavering a bit while fiddling with her long curly hair. 

Bonita’s eyebrows shoot up and she makes a face before chuckling “If you’re implying that we’re gonna grow apart sweetie while we’re in college you better evaluate dear Roxy’s OCD level schedule of communication and visits,” 

Makena blushes and shrinks but laughs with us at my expense. 

We make short work of setting up the rest of the altar and preparing to pray. 

Tonight I’m going to pray to Sarasvati for help forming and performing my Valedictorian speech, something I desperately need. I’ve been rewriting it for a week now and still haven’t made any headway. I also need to pray to my main hoe Soma to make Grad amazing and Dhat to bless the spell we’re about to do. I’m not sure what Bonita and Makena pray about, or who to, guess I never really asked. Regardless we each get into our preferred positions and pray to whichever gods and goddesses we choose about whichever we want. 

The graduation ceremony took place in pitch black, the sun already set, small shifts of movement coming from the rows of seats and the rafters, family and supporters brought together alive and passed, human and not. The only light coming from the spotlights on the stage as Principle Chiba gave an inspirational and touching speech that moved everyone here. Applause began and continued as I replaced Mr. Chiba at the podium, soon it died down and I spoke a silent prayer I would do well before I began.

“Fellow classmates, graduates of 2018, I will not bore you with a lengthy speech going on about things that don’t matter, we all have better things to do. Instead I will give you some words of advice given to me by someone I miss dearly, who has gone on to University in a very far away place yet I remain close to. That advice is to simply, remember to call. Call to say how beautiful the leaves are on the trees outside your dorm window. Call to ask how they’re doing. Call to just say I miss you. Call to make them open their bedroom window because they’re home for the Holidays and you’re outside freezing, 20 ft up in the air on a tree and regretting every life choice you’ve made up to that point. So call, it keeps you close to those you care about. Thank you.” 

I don’t think we called enough. 

Sitting here, awkwardly in this cafe we used to come to in high school when conversation just flowed, I wonder what went wrong. I know we didn’t follow the schedule, school and life got in the way, but… that shouldn’t stop us from reconnecting.

“So, any special someone in your guys lives?” I ask, a small forced and nervous smile on display as I grasp my mug. 

My sister Sofia shoots me a sarcastic thumbs up. I’m tempted to flip her off. 

Bonita nods “Their name’s Avery, they’re pretty nice,” she says looking down into her mug.

“I’m not seeing anyone right now actually,” Makena says, taking a bite of her pastry. 

I nod my head, this is not going well “That’s nice,” I take a sip from my mug, racking my brain to come up with something to start a decent conversation. 

Makena pretends to get a text and looks at her phone “Sorry guys, it’s been fun but my mom wants me home to make sugar cookies, see you later!” she says practically sprinting from the table.

I know she was pretending because she always has her ringer on, in high school it used to get her into so much trouble. 

I remember when it went off in the middle of a lock down drill, school took it away for three days, and like any teenagers would we concocted elaborate schemes to get her phone back. None of them worked of course, including the one where Bonita tried to tell the receptionist she was Makena was mom, but we had fun nonetheless. 

“I should actually go too, I got some stuff that I need to attend to,” Bonita says laughing half halfheartedly.

I nod and watch her awkwardly leave. Letting out a defeated sigh I let my head fall into my arms. Why was talking to them after a year so hard?

“You ok?” my sister asks, sitting down across from me. 

The phase sent me over the edge, tears started spilling into my cardigan then running down my cheeks as I lifted my head. Unable to speak, I shake my head. 

She grabs a tissue from her bag and hands it to me “You know you could always try doing something you guys used to do back in high school together,” she suggests sipping her drink.

I sniffled “I don’t know, I noticed Bonita wearing a cross and Makena started wearing a hijab,” I used the tissue to wipe away the tears “They’ve changed a lot…”

My sister nods “Sorry I’m not more help…” 

“It’s ok, they’re allowed to change it’s just I didn’t expect them to so much,” I say, my phone starting to vibrate. 

It’s Vincent, one of my new friends from Uni, I answer it “Hey tic tac, whatcha need?”

He laughs “Nothing, just want to know how the old reunion is going,”

“Not well, but I know that’s not why you’re calling, what did you do this time?”

“Can’t a friend bug another friend anymore? And besides it’s not me, it’s your roommate, apparently she accidentally turned your sheets orange when washing them,” 

I chuckle, and rub my face “How bad is it?”

“Bad, very bad, looks like leftover prison suit material was used, then bleached in some places,” 

I laugh genuinely “I’ll be sure to pick up new ones when I get back then,” 

“Good, those sheets have seen better days. What’s up with your friends? Thought you were really excited to see them,”

“Well, I was, but… they’ve changed a lot. They’re not the people I used to know back in high school and I don’t know how to reconnect with them,” 

Vincent sighs “You’re not gonna like what I have to say about this but you need to hear it,-” he pauses and I scrunch up my face. What could he possibly have to say that I wouldn’t like? “-Sometimes, through no fault of anyone involved, relationships just… don’t last,”

I blank for a second, shocked he’d even say something like that. “What the hell? What am I-” 

“You didn’t let me finish!” he interrupts his voice weakly raising an octave. I huff but let him continue“Sometimes they don’t last because people just change too much, and that’s no one fault, people need to change so they can grow. And sometimes that means you change so much people lose connection because there’s nothing to connect with. That doesn’t make sense, umm, ok, take two people at the start of a relationship. They both love to… drink coffee so every day they go out to drink coffee,”

I chuckle a little raising an eyebrow “Coffee? That’s the best you can come up with?”

He shushes me playfully “Anyways, so a little later in this friendship one decides to give up coffee due to Insert Reason Here and they stop hanging out as often. Since their entire relationship is based on coffee and now that’s been taken away, they don’t have anything in common. They drift apart and remember each other as a good friend they had,”

I nod and ponder what he said “So… people can just drift apart? In that situation aren’t you supposed to try to make new common interests?” 

“Yah, but sometimes that just doesn’t happen for whatever reason and that’s where my wisdom comes in!” I can feel his overblown and ridiculously camera smile of annoyance from the other side of the country.

“I’m throwing a pillow at you when I get back,” I say going to hang up, his laughter ringing out. 

My sister’s nowhere to be seen, probably went to the washroom. I remain sitting, my drink all gone and the sun dipping down to paint everything a nice shade of orange. 

I wonder if Vincent had a point. I had tried to reconnect with my friends, but they just… were too changed from when I knew them… I could keep trying, but how many times would I sit through awkward conversations that lead nowhere before we reconnected or they started making up excuses not to come? 

I sigh out loud and play with my empty cup. Why do people and relationships have to be so difficult? 

I realize Vincent’s right… Why for the love of the gods does Vincent have to be right this one time? 

Sighing again I begrudgingly move up my flight up to this Thursday, two days from now. My parents moved after I graduated high school and my sister was seeing her friends so it wasn’t like it was an inconvenience to anyone. 

My sister reappears and sits down “Sorry, didn’t want to interrupt your phone call, had to go to the washroom,” 

“That’s ok, I was just about to leave, -” I stand up and hesitate to continue “-I also moved up my flight to this Thursday…”

“You sure? Shouldn’t you try to reconnect a little harder?” she asks, walking with me to the door.

I sigh “Yes, sometimes people just grow apart and despite their best efforts they just don’t recover,” I mentally kick myself for quoting Vincent, the jerk would never let me live it down. I grab a peppermint from the little bowl as we exit and pop it in my mouth.

“Sounds like you’ve made up your mind.” she comments getting in her rental car “Want me to drive you to the airport?”

“Sure, I’d like that,” I say with a sad smile. 

Watching her drive off and getting into my car, I feel my heart droop, finally realizing that was the last time I’d probably see my old friends again but, I also feel like a sense of dread has been scrubbed off of me. 

[redefiningthirtysomething]

Ever have a family member that you didn't like? so much so that if they weren't related to you, you would never even consider being their friend? I have one, and that's my little sister. Sad isn't it? It wasn't always this way.

Before I get into why we don't speak, I'm not coming from a place of judgement. I'm nobody to judge, which she doesn't understand. She thinks I judge her, but in all honesty she has made poor Choices and she doesn't take accountability. I decided to set boundaries with her and that makes me "judgy" apparently.

Let's call her Rain. Rain is 5 years younger than me, so that makes her 32. She's the baby of the family and has really taken that title to the next level. This girl has always been the "crazy" one, partying a lot, following bands on tour in Mexico, boy crazy ... always getting her way. That's ok too, as long as she was always being safe. I understood that when she was 18, 19 ... 20. Rain talks a lot of shit for someone who doesn't have their shit together, and I swear it comes back to her each time. Whatever she was talking shit on happens to her.

Anyway, I can go on and on about her crazy childhood and teen years, I could probably write a book about it, time I dont have right now though. I'm just going to jump forward a bit.

2012. She went through a divorce a few years ago from the father of her kids. Very ugly, bitter divorce. Rain has 2 kids, a girl who's 10 and a boy who's 6. Rain got pregnant by a one night stand And they were forced to get married by his parents, they are very religious and felt it was the right thing. I didnt agree with that, but she went ahead and did it. They tried to make the marriage work, they got pregnant again with the boy, hoping it would help them. Rain was fed up though, she hated her life, she wanted to go out and party, be with her friends who were living their lives, but she couldn't. She hated it. She used to live next door to me, we lived in a small apartment in LA and when the neighbors moved we told them to apply for it and they got it. They lived there for about a year until one day Rain decided to leave. She took her kids and they moved in with my mom. Her husband was beside himself, he asked me for advice. I didnt know the ins and outs of the relationship, things are always different behind closed doors right ? She claimed that he beat her, he controlled her, abused her. He claimed she would sneak out to go party and didnt want to care for the kids. A lot of back and forth ... very different stories. So, he stayed in the apartment for about another year before he gave up and filed for divorce. He hoped she would come back, but she was very happy living her new life. She was living rent free and was able to go out, since our mom was home and able to watch the kids. Ok, cool.

Divorce was done and she was free. She started dating, sleeping around ... no judgement, she was single. As long as she was safe. BUT, we found out she moved some guy into my moms condo without my mom knowing. My mom works and travels alot, so it's easy for this to happen. But when my mom found out, she was upset, but didn't do anything about it. I was mad only because she has a little girl and she didn't really know this guy. Ya know? Plus the kids didn't have their own rooms, they slept with her. It was just weird for me. Anyway, couple years later they broke up and he moved out. Then another guy, and another one ... I didn't like the fact that her kids met all these new guys, or that she moved them in. It's like she cant be without a man.

Ex husband fought for 50/50 custody (thank God) and had them on the weekend. Every weekend. Also, ex husband got remarried but Rain doesn't get along with new wife. I wonder why to be honest, I met her and she's nice. I guess it's a territorial thing ? The kids love their stepmom, so that's all that matters.

Ok, now we are in 2018. I'm pregnant with Olivia. We had a falling out for a few months because she stole 2k from our mom. Not cool. They have the same name, so it was easy for her. So I hadn't spoken to her but the day I gave birth she showed up at the hospital. We spoke as if we were never in an argument. It's weird how sisters can do that, right ? I let it go, if mom didn't care why should I. After having Olivia my mom wanted me to stay at her place for 2 weeks so she could help me while I recovered. So, we moved in right after I got out of the hospital. First couple of days were nice, rain was there and was helping with the baby. Her kids were ecstatic to have us there, Bella was having a blast. I had heard of a new boyfriend that she had, but I hadn't yet met. She wanted to take it slow and not introduce him yet. I understand since all the rest were douchbag.

Rain received sad news about an ex boyfriend from high school who had been killed in a hit and run. I remember him, he was the sweetest. They had remained friends over the years so she was devastated. She planned to attend the funeral but didn't want to take her kids. Since I was staying there I offered to watch the kids, I didnt want them to have to go to the funeral.

Side note: I rarely offer to help with her kids because she never shows up the time she says. Also, I used to pick up the kids from school and I had to take them to my place until she got home, usually late and I had to help with homework and dinner. It was hard for us sometimes as we had things to do and we had to take her kids with us. However her kids love us, they say we are the parents they wish they had.

Ok, back to the story. She goes to the funeral.

Day 1: A few hours go by and it's getting later and later. I'm about 5 days post partum, so naturally I'm exhausted. Mom is at work, so we're just at my moms place hanging out. I text her, no response. I text again, no response. I'm starting to worry. I put all the kids to bed and assure the kids they'll see their mom in the morning. Around midnight my phone rings and it's an unknown number. I answered right away since I was worried about rain. It's one of rains old friend from high school who attended the funeral. He says to me that Rain had a lot to drink and was not able to get home. He says to me that she's ok, it was a rough day for all of them and he would bring her home in the morning. I had no choice, so I agreed and we hung up.

(Come to find out later that was her boyfriend on the line, pretending to be a friend from HS, she had left the funeral hours ago)

Day 2: We wake up and we get the kids ready for school. I'm still trying to get used to the new baby while juggling breakfast for the kids. Her kids kept asking about mom, so I told them she was at her best friend's house because it got late. Eli drove all the kids and then left for work. I'm home all day at my moms, had a few visitors wanting to see the baby. No word from Rain yet. No word from Rain all day. Eli picks up all the kids after school and brings them home. We make dinner and play, while attempting to call and text Rain for an answer. Mom is calling Rain leaving voicemails telling her to get her ass home. No call backs and no reply. We all go to bed. Around 2 am I heard my bedroom door open but it was dark and I could not see, I heard keys and the front door close. It took me a minute to get up, post csection, it's hard. Who was here?

Day 3: woke up, its daylight and bright in the house. I go to the kids room, maybe Rain showed up last night, maybe shes asleep. I walk in to see the kids asleep, but no Rain. I walk into her closet and I see stuff has been taken, shoes and clothes. I look for a toothbrush and it's gone. Perfumes, gone. Hmmm did Rain come last night to get her stuff ? I text Rain, now I'm mad. I'm frantically texting her that she better reply and I threaten to call ex husband. Oh? Guess what ? I got a reply. Interesting.

She texted something along the lines of: hey, its Rain. Sorry I haven't texted you. I'm having a rough time with S death. I need some time. I feel so lost. I'm with J at his place (J is her new boyfriend) . Are you ok to watch the kids, I'll be back. I'll text you.

My response: uh, well yea I mean I guess bit what should I tell them ? When are you coming back? Look, I know this is rough so I'll hang on to them until tomorrow, cool ?

I got no response after that, but at least I know she was ok. I updated mom and middle sister and we all felt better but were still shocked about how inconsiderate she was being.

Day 4: no text or phone call at all. We get the kids to school, pick them up, get homework done. Kids shower and go to bed. Her daughter who was maybe 7 or 8 at the time was worried. She was texting her too, I read her messages : mom, please come home. Where are you ?

I was so mad at this point. Her daughter was so worried and slept at the foot of the bed every night waiting for her mom. So Infuriating. I'm still exhausted and in pain.

I get a call from cousin in Florida, at around 10 pm which his time was 1am. He calls me and asks me what's going on? I had not yet told him what was happening so I was wondering what he was referring to. Rain had just called him. She was drunk out of her mind in DTLA in some bar, she was crying and yelling about how she Hates her life, how she Hates being a mom and Hates everything. Cousin told her to calm down and that he would call me to go pick her up in DTLA. We called her back on three way but cousin told me to be quiet. I listened to that mess for 30 minutes before I had to hang up. She was yelling and cussing, she told him NOT to tell me because I'm judgy ass bitch, wanna be perfect mom and I'll talk shit to her.

At this point, I'm over her. How can she do this to her kids? To me ? I'm over here, still freaking bleeding after my delivery, making sure her kids are safe and fed and loved. While she's out partying ? At bars ? I called cousin back and told him that I will not go get her in DTLA.

Day 5: I think this was a Thursday now, we had picked up the kids from school and went to shakeys pizza for dinner. No texts or calls from Rain all day. I was considering calling ex husband since the weekend was getting close. But, I remembered that he lost his weekend privileges for hitting the little boy. I didn't know what to do at this point.

Side note: little boy has behavior issues, he's been held back from kindergarten for his behavior and bad grades. He spit in his step moms face and ex husband hit him with a belt that left a mark. Rain took him to court to get full custody. He didnt lose the kids however, he had to attend parenting and anger management classes, which he did and his case was dismissed.

Day 6: no word yet. I texted her boyfriend and I told him to bring her home. I told him she has worried children. I asked him if he knew she has 2 kids at home. Want to know what his reply was?

Thank you for your concern.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN !!! ??? Really?? A big fat Fuck You. I think at this point my blood pressure rose, I got heated and my neck started to pound. I cried out of frustration and sadness for my niece and nephew. I thought, what if I adopt them ? I thought about bringing them with me to AZ? Ex husband would fight me for them though. I called friends for advice. I asked middle sister for guidance. Everyone told me to report her to child protection services. But I couldn't because of the fear they would take the kids to a foster home. At that time I couldn't take them to my place. It was small and would not meet criteria for 2 extra kids. Nobody could take them if we needed. I prayed about it.

I had my finger in the phone ready to call CPS, but I couldn't do it. My mom begged me not to she begged me to continue to help with the kids until Rain got home. She told me we needed to help her, she was not ok. I didnt call them. I couldn't. I love those kids. I couldn't put them through that.

I texted Rain in one final attempt. I told her she needed to pick up her kids from school and if she did not then I was going to report her. No answer.

Turns out I didnt have to. Daughter spoke to a counselor at school and the school reported it. When Eli went to pick up the kids they did not release them to him, CPS was there. They called me shortly after and asked me what was going on. I explained to them. They called ex husband but since he couldn't take them at the time due to court restrictions they asked his parents to take them. His parents home did not meet criteria and they were taken to a foster care for the night.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I cried that night. I cried so hard. I was so mad. I was infuriated. How can she do this to them ? Did I fail them ? They must have been so scared. I had my new baby in my arms, breastfeeding and crying for those kids when I should have been enjoying every second with Olivia. I went home that night. I couldn't stay at my moms anymore.

Day 7: I wake up in a fog, still upset from the night before. I check my phone and I had a missed call from middle sister. I called her back and she tells me Rain was able to get her kids back last night from CPS and she is at home. How did that happen I ask ? Middle sister said that she thought I called CPS last night and told them it was all a misunderstanding and I was just upset about babysitting for a few hours.

What? I didn't call ...

Someone impersonated me. She had someone call pretending it was me ... that really scared me.

I called my mom and she said yes, Rain has the kids. CPS apparently asked my mom if this was true that Rain had been gone only for a few hours and my mom totally covered for her.

My mom reason behind it was because she doesn't want the kids to go to a foster home.

I didnt speak to my mom for 2 months after that call.

A couple days after that I received a text from Rain and she basically told me off and told me that she can't believe I reported her. I told to her that I did not make the call...but I should have. We completely blocked each other from everything. She told everyone we know, friends and relatives that I reported her. That's fine, I'll take it.

Get this though, this girl can't get it together to save her life. She has now lost custody of the kids to ex husband. After so much drama, her showing up late for drop offs and pick ups, showing up drunk, starting fights with new wife, picking kids up late from school ... ex husband documented everything and he got a video of her drunk at pick up. The kids now live with him in a house and are doing so well. They're so happy. They chose to live with dad. Oh and the things the kids told the judge, so sad. Apparently she doesn't even cook for them. She's allowed visitation every other weekend. She still lives with my mom, has NO job, no goals... she just parties and hangs out with that douch.

My mom was out of town when this court meeting happened and Rain lost the kids, so nobody actually heard why she lost them. Apparently she told mom that it was because of me, that the judge said MY NAME and that I wrote a letter or some bullshit. And my mom question me about it. First of all, so not true, they cant just use my name and say things without me being there, seriously. I wonder about my mom sometimes.

Ex husband allows me to talk to the kids whenever I want. He was the only person who thanked me for keeping his kids safe and loved. And yes he did ask me for help in taking the kids from my sister, but I said no. I decided to stay out of that.

That is something that I will never ever forgive my sister for. What she put me though, my family... and what she put her kids through. I'm not a perfect mom, not at all, but you just dont do that. And although I see her around at gatherings or holidays, we dont speak. She's not there, I completely ignore her. I go about my time with the family. I have a very strong set boundary with her and she knows it.

She knows that I didnt report her but she needs someone to blame. She cant accept her fault, but she knows. We know.

[thefinalcinderella]

Tsurune Book 2 Chapter 4-Unsolicited Statement (Part 1)

To all the people who sent me messages the past month: I swear I will answer them tomorrow!

Glossary here

Full list of translations here

Translation Notes

1. The word used here is sanpaku, a Japanese term referring to when the whites above or below the iris are visible. The literal translation here is “having a sanpaku with all his strength” but since that makes no sense I had to do some creative interpretation

2. I believe this refers back to the first chapter of Book 1 when Minato mistakes Masa-san for a ghost or zombie. Yokai has a lot of different meanings (since there’s so many types of them) including ghost or spirit, so that’s why Minato told everyone to forget what he just said,  probably

3. This is a real game. It’s the Japanese version of the Game of Life

4. Minamoto no Tametomo (1139-1170) was a samurai with many legends, such as sinking an entire ship by shooting a single arrow into its hull and having a left arm that was four inches longer than the right one so he had a longer draw

5. If you read/watched Chihayafuru you’ll probably be familiar with the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, which are one hundred classic poems by one hundred poets.

6. This is poem 77 by Emperor Sutoku. I used the translation here

7. Shugendou is an old religion that combines Shinto, Buddhism, local practices, etc. Apparently they train in mountains a lot

8. Altair and Vega, aka Cowherd and Weaver Girl or Hikoboshi and Orihime, are the two stars involved involved in the Tale of Cowherd and Weaver Girl, which Tanabata is centered around. The tale involves two lovers separated by the Milky Way who could only meet each other on the seventh day of the seventh month by crossing a bridge of magpies

9. You’ve probably seen this in various anime, like MHA, but a cavalry battle or chicken fight is where a team with one person is carried by three people have to take headbands from the other teams

10. The school year in Japan starts in April and ends in March, so anyone born between April and March of the next year would be in the same grade, so even though Ryouhei is born in February he is one year younger than the other boys 

11. The original combined guuguu neru (which means sleeping soundly or snoring as you sleep) and schlafen. I debated whether to keep it like that or not before deciding to translate it

12. Egg drop soup is a Chinese dish of chicken broth with wispy beaten egg

13. See Chapter 2 of Book 1 for this incident

Previous | Next

Nanao grandly stretched towards the sky that signaled the end of the rainy season.

He was in the corridor on the third floor of the school building. As he walked, girls followed him in succession, and the other students trembled and gave way to them. Thanks to Shuu arriving at Kazemai High School a few days ago, the Nanao Fan Club was not able to admire Nanao in hakama, and they were falling into a state of starvation. Perhaps because of that reaction, he was more surrounded by girls than ever, and the boys, who felt nothing but animosity, made sour faces. However, there was a way to deal with this.

“Thanks for waiting, Kacchan!”

When he opened the classroom door and shouted that, there was Kaito, who made impressive sanpaku eyes. (1)

“I’m not a little kid, so stop coming to get me. We can go to club by ourselves, at least.”

“But Kacchan, weren’t you the one who said not to be late?”

“Good grief, what a pain.”

When Kaito stood from his seat, the girls surrounding Nanao left, scattering in all directions.

The power of the Kaito Barricade was immense. The fact that Kaito won’t sit back when it came to Nanao was a lesson etched into the bodies of those who adored and idolized Nanao. But, because he could also drove away the undesirable suitors—in other words, the girls who were secretly acting before the others—they maintained a reasonable distance as to not wake the sleeping gatekeeper.

How dependable. That kind of skill was not something one resolved to try to learn.

However, Nanao felt a little sorry.

“Nanao. Kaito-kuuun. You guys are early!”

Ryouhei ran up to them with a smile. By chance, he also met up with Minato and Seiya, and so the five walked to the kyudojo together.

Minato, who had a bandage around his left wrist, was chipper, raised his left hand as he was walking and made his tenouchi in mid-air. Similarly, Ryouhei was also pretending to shoot a bow. Seiya and Kaito kept watchful eyes on the two, who were both in a state of impatience for not being able to draw a bow sooner, so they would not get in anyone’s way. It was a charming scene with a fine combination of people, but Nanao’s heart was not there.

Because, recently, there were “footsteps” coming from an empty room in Nanao’s house.

On the second floor, there were sounds, as though a child was running lightly.

——Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Three years ago, they moved to their current house. For their parents, it was their dream home, and for Nanao and his three-years-younger sister, it was a newly built, beautiful home with large bedrooms. Their school districts changed by moving, and he and Kaito ended up going to different middle schools, but the distance between their houses hadn’t changed much and it was a comfortable home.

However, for the past few months it had become possible to hear footsteps. Although they hadn’t been deciding on a time, there were many instances of the inside of the house falling completely silent. It couldn’t be called a boast, but neither Nanao nor his parents had any psychic powers at all. They could not tell any experiences like seeing ghosts or talking to time travellers. And yet, everyone in his family had been hearing those footsteps. Thanks to that, it was a bit scary to stay home alone.

When he talked about it during their break in club practice, the girls covered their mouths with their hands.

“Uwah, scary!”

“Isn’t that really dangerous?”

Seiya mimicked Nanao’s tone.

“…There’s footsteps coming from an empty room, you know? On the second floor, there’re sounds, like a little kid is running lightly… Tap, tap, tap, tap…”

“Stop——!”

“Takehaya-kun, you’re awful—!”

Seiya gave a little chuckle.

“Sorry. But, what is that phenomenon, really? There’s also the possibility of rats, tanukis, or weasels.”

Nanao shook his head.

“Nope. We called someone to check to see whether or not there are small animals settling in the attic, but there was nothing unusual.”

“Is that so, hmm.”

Minato, quietly listening to everyone talk, muttered just a few words.

“A little kid’s footsteps…that sounds like a zashiki-warashi…”

“Zashiki-warashi…that’s the yokai that looks like a child and brings luck to those who see it, right?”

“Ah, no, forget what I said!”

At the word “yokai”, Minato hurriedly withdrew his remark. Beside him, Masa-san was holding back a laugh. (2)

Ryouhei’s eyes were sparkling.

“Awesome! Having a zashiki-warashi live with you is the best. I wanna meet it too! I wish one would come to my place as well.”

Hearing that, Kaito wrinkled his brow.

“Ryouhei, aren’t you no good with spirits?”

“Nah. I hate ghosts, but I like yokai.”

“Once again, the distinction between what you like and don’t like is practically nonexistent. How are they different?”

“They’re completely different. Ghosts are scary, but I want to be friends with yokai.”

“Yeah, I don’t get it at all.”

Next to Kaito, whose brow wrinkle was getting deeper and deeper, Nanao was thinking.

I see, so there is also that kind of explanation. If I think that, then those footsteps aren’t scary.

They’re lucky footsteps.

If that’s the case, let’s warmly welcome our sudden visitor.

A corner of Nanao’s mouth lifted.

The next day, the place Ryouhei headed for was a large estate surrounded by white walls.

Even when standing before the gate, the only thing that could be seen was a single path leading to the forest, and the essential residence could not be seen anywhere. Ryouhei could not hide his surprise at how a place like this was owned by one person.

“What a huge place. I wonder if this is the intercom?”

Ryouhei pressed the button.

“Sorry for how sudden this is. This is Yamanouchi Ryouhei from Kazemai High School speaking. Is Fujiwara Shuu-kun at home?”

“——Please excuse me, but have you made an arrangement with him?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“——I am afraid I must decline visits from those who have not made arrangements beforehand. I am sorry.”

“I understand.”

Ryouhei hummed while he walked along the white wall.

When Shuu returned home that evening, the butler, Toujou, was waiting for him. He seemed somewhat agitated.

“Yamanouchi—Ryouhei came here?”

“Yes. As he had been waiting before the gate for a long time, I allowed him to enter, based on my judgement. Please forgive me.”

“No, it’s no problem.”

“And, there is another matter. To tell the truth, I, Toujou, unintentionally succumbed to my youthful impulses… That young man is quite strong. I was overwhelmingly defeated.”

“Defeated?”

Toujou was speaking in an unusually roundabout way. In the first place, it was the first time he showed in a guest without confirming with him. Shuu opened the door to the guest room.

The room was decorated with a bamboo for Tanabata that was so tall it almost reached the ceiling. A single table was placed in the center of the room, and sitting in front of it was Ryouhei, who grinned at Shuu from ear-to-ear when he noticed him. He could practically see the illusion of a tail wagging back and forth. What’s more, to his surprise, even his little sister Sae and his mother were there.

Shuu felt vertigo and pressed his hand to his forehead.

“Shuu-niisama, welcome home!”

“…What are all of you having so much fun with?”

“It’s a board game, Shuu-niisama. Sae has made a lot of children!”

“Children?”

Sae showed him a Japanese board game with the slogan, “Life has many ups and downs. Aim to be a billionaire!” (3) His grandfather left it to him as a present when he was young. You spun a roulette and advanced your piece by the number of spaces you got, and aimed for the goal indicated on whichever space you landed on. The pieces were in the shape of automobiles, and pins of people were inserted into the seats, but as children were born, the number of pins riding in the car also increased. Sae’s car piece was full.

“Will Shuu-niisama be joining us next?”

“No, please, the four of you should continue on like this.”

At Shuu, who declined, Ryouhei grinned meaningfully.

“In that case, I guess you don’t feel like beating me?”

“…Alright. Let’s do this.”

After the game began, toy banknotes went flying. Thirty minutes later, the winning order was decided with Shuu’s mother in first, followed by Sae, Ryouhei, Toujou, and Shuu. Shuu could not accept himself being in last place, but it felt fresh having those faces surround the table. Afterwards, they played many other games, and then took dinner together. When the meal was finished, Sae was completely attached to Ryouhei.

Ryouhei sat next to Sae on the couch, and showed her something on his phone. It was the figure of Shuu drawing his bow at Kazemai High School.

“Shuu-niisama is so amazing! He looks so heroic!”

“For the Japanese bow, there aren’t only two choices of hitting or missing, and hitting correctly is in itself incredibly hard. Shuu-kun is super amazing. He is already a god.”

Shuu’s mother put a slim finger to her mouth.

“Well, I had thought that getting the highest score comes from hitting the centre of the target…”

Sae grasped Ryouhei’s hand.

“Shuu-niisama doesn’t talk about it at all. He told us not to come and cheer him on.”

“Hey, Sae.”

“Isn’t it okay? Ryouhei-san, could you please give me this picture?”

“Gladly.”

Sae borrowed her mother’s phone and took Shuu’s picture, then gently hugged it close.

“Well then, I also have a gift. Please write on it by time you go home and tie it on the tree.”

A strip of paper for Tanabata was placed in Ryouhei’s hand.

Shuu and Ryouhei moved to Shuu’s room.

The sight of his always prim mother swinging from joy to sorrow was strange and lovely. It had been a long time since he had heard his mother’s laughter from up close.

“Sorry about that, Sae said something unreasonable.”

“Not at all. Your mom is really pretty. As expected of a parent and child, you really look a lot like her.”

Shuu was shocked.

“…Where do you think we are alike?”

“When we were getting in the bath at the hotel we were staying at for the regional tournament, I saw you washing your hair, but I think it’s around the nape of your neck or behind your ears, like, the back of your head.”

“The ‘back of our heads’ are alike…?”

“Yeah, exactly alike. When you and Sae-chan and your mom are together, you really get the sense of, 'This is the bloodline.’”

At Ryouhei, who stated that so definitively, Shuu burst into laughter. Normally, when people said that they were alike, it was their eyes, voice, way of speaking, and other traits like that. That unexpected answer was unbearably funny.

He felt like that even if he and Ryouhei were standing in the same place, the scenery they both saw would be different. Ryouhei’s everyday was brimming with new discoveries, and it was brightly coloured.

“By the way, what kind of business did you have here, Ryouhei?”

“That’s right. I wanted to repay you for lending me your arrow.”

Ryouhei handed him an amulet.

“It’s from a shrine famous for the guardian of sports and Emperor Sutoku, but the god of improvement in kyudo is also enshrined there. My dad had a business trip so I asked him to get me one. You’re also matching with Minato and the other guys.”

“Thank you. This will encourage me.”

Shuu accepted the small pouch.

When it came to historical archery masters, the name of Nasu no Yoichi, who shot through a fan on a ship during the Genpei War, would come foremost to mind, but the person who was deified at the shrine was Minamoto no Tametomo, the eighth son of Tameyoshi and military commander during the Heian era who was said to have used a powerful bow and was unparalleled. Legendary tales of him, such as him being a giant who was over two meters tall and his left arm being longer than his right arm, and that it took five people to string his bow, remained through the ages. (4)

On the other hand, Emperor Sutoku was the seventy-fifth emperor, and famous as one of the poets for the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. (5)

Though a swift stream is

Divided by a boulder

In its headlong flow,

Though divided, on it rushes,

And at last unites again. (6)

——The flow of a river is swift, and even if it is blocked by a rock and divided, I believe I will definitely meet with you——.

This poem was regarded as a love poem, and it still attracted the hearts of many women even now. It seemed that the feeling of longing for someone remained unchanged in any age.

Thought was humanity itself.

It was something brought into existence by people.

People were always thinking something. They were creatures who could not stop thinking.

Practitioners of Shugendou (7) meditate and become ascetics as a means to suppress the “thoughts” which were brought about by people, in order to reach the level of the gods and Buddha. By casting away worldly thoughts, which were part of a wicked heart, with the chanting of sutras and the relentless sounds of waterfalls, and by being forced to concentrate intensely under the circumstances of being side-by-side with death, one would recall the bodily intuitions which were naturally endowed humans, as living things.

Words were thinking itself. Those who were able to not think of anything without training to do so were probably babies who had yet to learn words, people who were sleeping, and the dead.

Reaching the level of the gods?

Babies and the dead—— ?

The wind that came dancing in from the window blew through Shuu’s and Ryouhei’s hair.

“Ryouhei…I can see it now. I found the hidden door…”

“Hidden door? Where is it?”

“You can also find it. Follow me, I’ll be waiting.”

“Shuu-kun, don’t say difficult things like that. I don’t really understand, but okay.”

Ryouhei laughed lightly, carefreely.

Let’s open that door.

A spiral staircase leading upwards is there.

A staircase that has the same shape as DNA. Inherited memories.

To the place we must aim for.

To where light is shining——.

Before he went home, Ryouhei tied the strip of paper, on which he had written, “Family trip to the southern islands”, to the bamboo.

“Shuu-kun, what did you write?”

“Nothing. Just my name.”

“Oh, so it’s a wish only the other person knows. Mm, I hope it comes true.”

Shuu smiled gently.

In his head, Ryouhei recited the words Sae whispered into his ear when she gave him the paper.

“This is kept a secret from Shuu-niisama, but when you write your wish here, it is not Altair-sama and Vega-sama who grants it, but Father——.” (8)

After his committee meeting, Nanao went to the kyudojo by himself. There were only a few scattered signs of people in the school, probably because most students were either already going to club activities or going home.

With the Nanao Fan Club no longer shadowing him, Nanao regained his everyday life. There were still the sounds of a child’s footsteps at his house, but it was charming if he thought of it as the mischief of a zashiki-warashi. With this, he was able to concentrate on practicing until the national tournament in August.

As he was walking in the hallway with a light gait, some people who were passing by deliberately bumped into him.

They were three third-year boys.

“Oh, sorry. No girls today, Nanao-sama?”

“You’re going to club now? Kyudo doesn’t suit a shallow guy like you at all. Or are you aimin’ for a university sports recommendation spot? Doesn’t seem like you’d have a lot of rivals for kyudo. Maybe I should do it too!”

“What about Kacchan?”

“Kacchaaaan!”

Nanao clenched his fists behind his back before the third-year boys whose faces were distorted in loud laughter.

Don’t say my cousin’s name with your filthy mouths——.

He wanted to say that.

He wanted to punch them hard.

However, if he caused trouble here, he would be playing into his opponents’ hands. If Nanao caused a problem, he would then not be able to go to the national tournament. Because their own activities for their future courses were going badly, they were looking for an unwitting scapegoat. At their cores, they were not dissatisfied with the other person, but irritation at themselves for not being able to study for university entrance exams, even though they thought they must do it.

“Yo, Nanao-chan, why so quiet?”

It happened when one of them roughly grabbed Nanao’s collar, and Nanao glared back at him. Someone ran in from ahead of his field of vision and tackled Nanao.

Ryouhei held Nanao, carried him over his shoulder, and ran away as they were. At this extremely sudden event, the left behind third-year boys stood still, open-mouthed.

Nanao was carried on Ryouhei’s shoulder, folded in half around his waist, until they passed through the hallway.

“…Ryouhei, could you put me down soon? There’s a lot of pressure on my stomach and it hurts, and blood is rushing to my head.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Nanao stretched his body with a sigh after he was dropped onto the ground. He had often been the one to ride on top in cavalry battles (9), but being a high schooler and getting shouldered like a sack of rice was proof that one never knew what was going to happen in life.

After he fixed his disheveled hair, he looked at Ryouhei and saw that he was frowning.

“I went to get something I forgot in the classroom, but does that kind of thing happen a lot? Why did you stay quiet even though they said all that to you?”

“It’s not like I don’t understand their feelings. We were walking in a big group and I guess it was an eyesore. Since a long time ago, I’ve been raved about by girls, which means that I’m trashed by the boys. I guess I’m, like, used to it.”

“Don’t get used to that kind of thing. It makes me sad.”

“Ryouhei…”

“So, I’ll listen instead. Tell me all about it, Nanao.”

Ryouhei’s earnest eyes pierced through Nanao.

The reason why so many people could not refuse Ryouhei’s requests was probably because rather than it being Ryouhei’s own desire, he seemed to have read the other person’s mind. He correctly guessed the hidden wish that the person concerned had not even noticed themselves. And, Ryouhei did not notice it either.

“I see, mm. Alright, then can I complain for a bit?”

Nanao opened his mouth wide.

“If you want to complain, come tell me one by one, not in a group! And, who the hell’s putting trash in my shoe cupboard and desk! Don’t do this sneaky, petty harassment. Don’t freakin’ underestimate me just because I’m short!”

“Yep, yep…hmm? Short?”

“While I’m at it, I’ll tell you this too. Even though you were born after me, why the hell did you grow so much taller! It’s unfair, you know!”

Ryouhei was born in February. (10) He scratched his head.

“I guess it’s because I do bouldering at the community center and I hang down? Also, maybe it’s because I sleep a lot. Since you aren’t conscious when you’re sleeping, the energy used by my brain might have been used for growing.”

“They do say that a sleeping child grows well. I’ll sleep a lot from now on too.”

“Yeah, sleep, sleep!”

“In German, sleeping is ’schlafen’, so combine it with 'snoring’, (11) and let’s call sleeping a lot 'snorefen’.”

“I want to snorefen?”

“Let us snorefen?”

The two clutched their stomachs as they laughed. If Hanazawa, Shiragiku, and Seo were there, they would probably have no idea what was so funny. The dumb conversations of boys were undecipherable codes to girls.

“That’s right, Ryouhei. Listen to one more thing I have to say.”

Nanao winked.

The area, which had undergone land readjustment, brought to mind the image of a Northern European townscape. The roadside trees were still young, and houses with the newest designs stood in rows.

Ryouhei was standing before Nanao’s house. The other Kazemai kyudo boys were also carrying supermarket bags in addition to their own luggage.

Nanao’s parents’ hobby was overseas travel. Moreover, they were free-spirited backpackers who loved budget travelling without knowing their whereabouts. On that day as well, they left without advance notice, and since his sister was staying at a friend’s house, Nanao was staying at home by himself. When Ryouhei heard about that, the first thing that came out of his mouth was,

“Let’s go meet the zashiki-warashi!”

And so, under the guise of a study meeting, this halfway test of courage was held.

Ryouhei tied the strings of his apron and took out foodstuff from the bags. He was responsible for the arrangement of the salad. Minato wrapped dumpling wrappers around the ingredients with practiced movements. Surprisingly, Kaito was also good at wrapping dumplings. Nanao and Seiya finished deep-frying the chicken and making the egg drop soup (12), respectively.

“Seiya, could it be that we’re really good at cooking?”

“Yep. I think we can probably live on our own right away.”

They sat at the table, and then Minato removed the lid of the hot plate. The room was filled with the smell of dumplings. They stretched out their chopsticks as though to say, “Finally!”

“Ittadakimaaaasu. Whoa, it’s really tasty! This is super good!”

Ryouhei was vigorously stuffing his cheeks, and Nanao also looked satisfied.

“How about that fried chicken and dumplings? There’s no way the zashiki-warashi wouldn’t come out if we make it smell such a nice smell, right?”

“Let’s set some aside for it. It’ll be disappointed if we have nothing for it, even though it took the trouble of coming here.”

Kaito spoke.

“You guys actually believe in it? Isn’t it just Nanao being scared?”

“And yet, didn’t you stop coming to my house for a while when you heard about the kid’s footsteps, Kacchan?”

“Shut up,” Kaito said, then gulped down his Oolong tea.

After they finished eating, they played games in the room. Nanao’s house was well-equipped with game consoles ranging from stationary to portable, and the number of games was impressive as well. They took turns entering the bath, and gamed until it was late.

They got tired of talking and soon decided to enter their futons. After they laid out their futons out in the guest room on the first floor, Ryouhei threw himself down, lying spread-eagled.

“The zashiki-warashi didn’t show up at all.”

“We might have been too noisy. If anything, there are lots of times when it’s quiet. I guess it’ll be a game once we enter our futons.”

They lowered their voices and waited for that time to come. However, even after one hour, there was not one sound. Before they knew, all five of them fell asleep.

Suddenly, Ryouhei woke up. He saw that it was still the middle of the night from his phone that was next to his pillow. Nanao, who should have been sleeping next to him, was not there. He wondered if he went to the washroom, but he never returned. Ryouhei left the room that was filled with the sounds of sleep.

He stood down the stairs and saw light coming from the second floor. He climbed the stairs, as though drawn in by the light.

He peeked into the room where the light was coming from, but there was no one there. The window was left open, and the night sky spread out outside the window. Wondering if it was carelessness after all, he entered the room to close the window. When he placed his hand on it, there was a sudden voice.

“Oh, don’t close it.”

When he poked his head out the window, he saw Nanao sitting on the roof of the first floor.

“What are you doing?”

Nanao pointed up at the sky.

“Look, a sky full of stars.”

“Can I join you?”

“Sure.”

Ryouhei sat next to Nanao on the roof. It was chilly and the soles of his feet were cool.

It was a starry night.

A star fell soundlessly.

Moonlit nights were nice, but nights where the moon was hidden were also special. The tiny stars that couldn’t be seen normally twinkled. Words failed him before that beautiful sight.

Ryouhei sighed.

“Is Kacchan sleeping?”

“Yep.”

“Good. He’s the one who’s scared, so I was wondering if he was too afraid to sleep.”

“Nanao, could it be that you’re Kaito’s guardian?”

“What, no way, too much work. Ryouhei, what’s your wish for the zashiki-warashi?”

“A family trip.”

“Ooh, that sounds nice. Like to a hot spring?”

“…My sister is timid, so she can’t leave the house. She’s been shutting herself in our house for a long time.”

“…Huh?”

Ryouhei looked up at the night sky.

“My sister is kind, smart, and athletic—a sister I can really brag about, but apparently there are people who hate that. At the school she transferred to, there was an unspoken understanding to not stand out more than so-and-so, but she didn’t realize that and did her best for everything. That’s why she ended up not going to school anymore.”

“Is that so… That’s terrible.”

“She found the ’Kaeru kerokerote e pero kero’ you taught me really funny. (13) You’re a genius at words that goes down well with her.”

“Well, as expected of the great me.”

“But, sometimes I can’t understand her. She says she doesn’t want to see me, and yet when I leave home for competitions, she orders me to call her… I don’t get her at all.”

“Oh, that’s because she spoils you. I think that if you try talking a bit selfishly to her, she would be relieved… Though if you try to test another person like that, they might leave instead.”

“She spoils me? No way. I’m worried if I did anything to make her hate me, but in the end, I can’t do anything.”

“I don’t think she hates you at all, in fact, I think she loves you. It’s really reassuring to have someone by your side.”

“I wonder about that…”

“You can bet on that, because I said it. Believe in me, 'kay?”

Nanao said, shining brilliantly with his back against the stars.

It was as though he was being told that by a prince. If the girls from the fan club were there, they probably would have swooned.

“Yeah. You’re Nanao-sama, after all.”

“That’s right. And, since you listened to me talk about my stuff the other day, next time, tell me more about anything that’s going on with you, like about your sister.”

“…Okay.”

He was wondering if he really had to talk about his sister, but Nanao listened to him without making fun or turning too serious and gloomy. Minato and Seiya knew about it, and that was precisely why he never mentioned her with them. He wanted the image of her in their minds to be as cool as she used to be.

When I meet with everyone, I’m so happy, I have so much fun, and I can’t help but feel pumped.

Right after the two brought their faces together and smiled, a boy with the face of a Deva king appeared.

“Hey, what the hell are you guys talking about in the middle of the night?”

“Kacchan!”

Kaito crossed over the window frame and sat between Nanao and Ryouhei.

“It’s pretty cold here. You guys need to get to bed soon.”

“But what are you doing, getting up in the middle of the night, Kacchan?”

“The two of you were gone when I woke up, so of course I would have to come and see what’s going on.”

“Pretty sure you woke up because you were scared, though.”

It happened when Nanao squinted.

——Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Footsteps.

The three exchanged glances.

“I could really hear the footsteps! So cool!”

“Isn’t it just someone who got up?” Kaito said.

“No, that’s definitely the sound of a little kid running!” Nanao said.

Ryouhei turned towards the house and placed his hands together.

“Zashiki-warashi-chan, please grant my wish!”

Nanao and Kaito also placed their hands together. Nanao sent a glance at Kaito.

“You have a wish too, Kacchan?”

“No, I’m just doing it because I got dragged into this.”

“Whaaaaat, that’s such a waste.”

“And what are you wishing for?”

“…It’s a secret.”

——Tap, tap, tap, tap.

The footsteps came again.

Right when Nanao and Kaito closed their mouths, somebody’s voice leaked from next door.

“Kou-chan, no running inside the house! It’s the middle of the night!”

The three looked at each other.

——The true identity of the zashiki-warashi is Kou-chan!?

The baby from the house next door, who still couldn’t walk yet when they moved there, had started walking, and it had only been the sound of the baby running around in the house that travelled into the adjoining Nanao’s house. He never knew that sounds from next door could be heard so well in wooden houses.

The three stared at each other for a minute, and then Nanao and Ryouhei burst into laughter, unable to hold it in any longer.

“What the hell were we doing, making our wishes to 'Kou-chan…’ Isn’t it one in the morning right now? Why is a little kid getting up so late at night?”

“I heard that babies are still bad at sleeping, so they inadvertently go to bed in the evening and get really energetic at night. But I can’t help it, this is too funny…”

Ryouhei couldn’t stop crying from laughter, and Kaito was too amazed to say anything.

In the end, Minato and Seiya also got up, and they also went up to the roof.

The five gazed at the starry sky for a long while.

Previous | Next

[graceful-defender-of-paris]

Theonsa high school sweethearts

2

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20115370

Sorry for the late reply!

(2347)

If you had asked Sansa a month ago or even five minutes ago what she thought about Theon she would have said he was like a piece of furniture, he was always around the Stark household.

He had always been Theon her brothers best friend. Theon who was her brother in all but name if Robb had his way, he was an honorary member of the Starks.

So why was it that after being dragged along by the rest of the family to Theon's swimming gala. So she of course was disgruntled because she had planned to visit Margaery to watch ‘Love Islands’. each year they took attractive singles from all over Westeros and put them on an island, the year before they were in the Arbor but this year they were on Dragonstone, it was so exciting! Especially since Margaery's brother Garlan was on so it was basically her civic duty to watch it and support her friend's brother.

But, instead, she was watching Theon. In his swim shorts, that showed off his surprisingly toned body with a chiselled abdomen that the droplets of water cascaded so attractively down, as he pulled himself out of the water, her eyes were drawn to his muscled biceps that glowed as though sun-kissed in the fluorescent lighting of the Winterfell leisure centres swimming pool.

Oh, gods, she might have a crush on Theon.

This was TERRIBLE! No no no this cannot happen , she absolutely cannot like Theon because he is much older (a year above her) , he is a notorious womaniser and worst of all he definitely sees her as his little sister.

So, all in all, she was definitely screwed.

There was no way she could ever look Theon in the eye again, let alone be in a room with him so obviously, her best option now was to run away and join the silent sisters.

Yeah, that could work.

They were going to arrive home late-probably after midnight so she would have to watch Love Island on catch up at home. After Winterfell academy swim team won they were all invited for a celebratory meal where Sansa found herself increasingly panicked at the realisation that Theon was not just hot but extremely hot.

So she did what any normal person would do. She panic texted her best friend Margaery.

[Sansie]

Okay so

Has Theon suddenly become hot or have I been blind my entire life?

[Margie]

You’re only just realising??

If I wasn't having my world rocked by your stupidly hot brother I'd jump on that

Also, have you realised that you are in love with him yet?

[Sansie]

please don't use 'world rocked' and 'hot brother' in the same sentence ever again

AND I AM NOT

[Margie]

Sure San…

[Sansie]

I mean it!

It's just that

Did I blackout for ten years or something cause I swear he was Robb's annoying best friend yesterday but now he's all attractive and annoying and oh god's I like him don't I?

[Margaery]

Yep

Now go get him before anyone else does

Since there were so many of them the family had been split into their mum's people carrier and Robb's small Toyota Prius, unfortunately for her, she was in Robbs car, which also seated Theon. She was in the back in the middle seat squashed between Arya and Theon and wondering if her life could get any worse.

She was terrified to even check her phone in the case any more of Margaery's messages came through and he would see it- which had happened with Rickon earlier.

He kept making kissing noises at her and Theon and now she found herself here.

It was nearly impossible to ignore him now. All her senses were heightened when he was around and now all she wanted was a scented candle of him, How he managed to smell like the sea and Winterfell would forever elude her but gods it was intoxicating.

Arya had been giving her odd stares as though she had been acting weird- which given the situation was understandable but it was when Theon whispered close to her ear “are you okay Sans? You're not acting like yourself” that she really fell apart.

Turns out all it took was watching Theon get out of a swimming pool for her to question everything in her life and then some.

She squeaked out an affirmation that was supposed to mean “I am fine” but sounded more like a smothered cry for help. Which Theon took to mean “I'm cold” as he took off his jacket, put it around her and put his arm over her shoulder and snuggled her closer to him.

And to make it worse, she fell asleep.

“Sans”

Her pillow seemed to be wriggling so she held on to it tighter to keep it still

“Sans, c’mon you have to let me go now”

Why was her pillow trying to talk to her?

“hrmph”

She could hear a little some bickering that sounded like one of her brothers but she just wanted to go back to dreaming of a world where Theon didn't just see her as his little sister.

Ahh Theon

Unbeknownst to her, of course, was that she had just said this out loud in front of said object of desire

“Uhhh… okay” her pillow seemed confused, “Sansa, Robbs about to drop me off at home, I'm just going to remove your arms from me so I can get out..”

Wait, what? Was she lying on Theon? Suddenly a rush of adrenaline shook her awake and she was keenly aware of how she was lying on top of Theon

She blearily tried to blink the sleep out of her eyes when she saw Theon's sea-green eyes staring intently at her, his mouth broke into a relieved smile and she fell deeper.

“You can keep my jacket, I know its cold, it's about a minute or two till Robb drops me off and I didn't want to have to wake you while everyone was watching” his eyes darted to Robb and Jon who were happily oblivious to the affairs of the back seat, and Arya who was texting away on her phone.

[Sansie]

Oh god it's so much worse I've gone completely 0-60 and now I can never show my face again

I slept on theon in the car

[margaery]

That's it?

No outburst of I love you?

boring

though if you were going to do a random declaration of love I would've liked to be there so I could do it justice in my maid of honour speech

[Sansie]

Let me live! ive only realised I liked him four hours

[Margie]

And he's liked you for at least the past four years

Honestly, I'll be dead before either of you make a move

I heard Jeyne has a thing for him, so really confess your undying love soon before we have to go on a ben & jerry's rom-com binge to mend your broken heart

[Sansie]

JEYNE?!?!

I'm so screwed :(

[margie]

You're using emojis

It's worse than I imagined

******

Its been three months since her startling realisation that she had a crush on theon and so far she had done absolutely nothing about it- not for Margaery's lack of trying.

“You know he likes you back” Margaery all but declared in the middle of the hallway on their way to geography- the one class she hated (she was failing at geography). What made that matter worse was that her teacher, Mr Luwin, had organised for Theon to tutor her for her upcoming exams.

Apparently, her teacher was out to get her as well.

“He doesn't! And I don't want to make things awkward for him and Robb. I also don't want to fail geography”

“c’mon! You cant say that you haven't loved every minute of your late-night study sessions” Margaery teases, Sansa could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks at the thought of Theon in his oversized hoodie and messy hair sitting at the desk in her bedroom.

“That's irrelevant.”

Margaery shot her an incredulous look and opened the door to their class, “you never know until you try and I have it on good authority that he would be very open to you advances” and gave Sansa a knowing wink before sitting at her desk.

Ugh, there was really no escaping it anymore was where Margaery would rest until she finally jumped the bones. And at the rate she was going she thought that theon probably would just be bones before she finally had the guts to tell him.

Thought of theon consumed her throughout geography and she found herself at a complete loss when she was called upon to answer in class.

“Miss Stark?, I asked you a question.”

She felt her heartbeat race as she stuttered out “um, could you repeat the question please?”

“How many islands make up the archipelago of the iron islands?” Mr Luwin repeated

She knew this one, Theon would always talk about his homeland and the way his eyes crinkled when gushing about the bracing wing and the waves crashed against the rocks had embedded itself in her mind “31 Sir”

“That's right Miss Stark” She let out a breath of relief, perhaps she might survive this after all.

****

She had taken Margaery’s advice to heart, so she had decided that tonight would be perfect. He was coming over for their study session and her parents and younger brothers would be away for Rickon’s Skagosi fighting tournament, Jon would be at his “nights watch” band practice and Margaery had promised her that she would keep Robb occupied.

She didn't want to know how , all Sansa knew was that she needed to do something now- or forever hold her peace.

Maybe that's a bit too much , she thought. No need to scare him senseless like “oh hello theon thank you for helping me study, by the way, let's get married”

‘Bzz’

‘Bzz’

her phone vibrated alerting her of incoming texts. She had been in the middle of getting ready- but not too ready for Theon's arrival and she rushed over to check her messages.

One was a snap from Margaery with her fingers crossed with “GOOD LUCK!” and “GET IT GIRL” splashed across it, the other was a message from theon.

[Theo]

Swim practice finished early so I’ll be there in ten

I'll lift some coffee on the way, your usual?

Oh no.

She was supposed to have at least another hour to prepare herself. She was supposed to be calm and collected not frazzled and panicked.

[Sans]

Sure :)

Crap she must sound like a prat.

She began pacing the house- her room couldn't contain her anxious energy and was midway through her second tour of the living room when Arya ambled in and said “could you please stop pacing! Just tell theon that you like him and be done with it” she had forgotten that Arya was home.

Spluttering she could barely form the words to try and denounce her claims when the doorbell rang.

Her eyes locked with Arya’s and it was a race to open the front door. Arya was using her training to vault over the sofa but Sansa’s determination drove her to push herself faster until she almost slid past the door entirely,

Her hair was a mess, Arya had just clung onto her jacket- which coincidentally was a leftover from theon when she had slept on him so long ago and opened the door. To a quite perplexed theon.

Her mothers teaching kicked in after the awkward pause since opening the door, she shook off Arya's grip and welcomed theon “Come on in!” in her best imitation of her mother's hostess voice.

Arya had other ideas, “Sansa likes you, you like Sansa. Can you two go off now and stop moping?” and pushed Sansa into Theon's arms before trudging up the stairs to her room to presumably notify the family group chat of this occurrence.

She thought Margaerys matchmaking was bad but now she was screwed.

No way to come back from this.

There was little that Sansa could really do about her predicament, Theon had dropped their coffees to catch her, “uh, hey sans” theon appeared confused as she looked up at him and then a mischevious glint appeared in his eyes and he teased “so you falling for me?”

She felt embarrassment take over as her worst fears were realised.

Pulling herself up with as much dignity is possible she turned to theon to say “There's no need to make fun of me if you don't like me that's fine and I can study just fine on my own” and made to close the front door on him.

Mother would baulk at her for such rude behaviour.

Before the door could close theon had stuck his foot in the gap preventing her from pushing him out, “Sansa,” her heart sunk further theon never used her full name. “Do you want to maybe get coffee?”

She nods tentatively in response.

Theon smiled in relief and he offered her his arm- if Margaery was here she would say his arm.

The remnants of their spilt coffee lay at their feet but maybe this was her chance, maybe he does like her.

As he opened the car door for her he bashfully asked “Was, was what Arya said true? Because, uh… if it was I would say that feel the same way about you.” she leant against his car stumped at his revelation. Sansa struggled to find the words to say to him and her eyes became drawn to his lips before dragging them back to the ocean pools that were his eyes.

So, instead, she pulled him in closer to her and placed a quick, barely-a-kiss on his lips.

He murmured “Do you have a map? Cause I got lost in your eyes”

Idiot she thought but still found herself giggling at it.

He held her closer to deepen their kiss and she could feel his smile that threatened to break out.

[thesecretfandom]

At First Light: One Year Ago (Prologue)

A/N: I’m very excited to announce At First Light, my Riverdale/Until Dawn AU fic! This has been a huge project for me, challenging and fun. There are a few things you should know before you begin reading. At the end of each chapter you will have a choice (In the form of two options that will link you to the next chapter). Each choice you make will affect the events of the story, so be careful. Also, I will warn you that this is based on a horror game, so I tried to make it as scary as possible. If that’s not your cup of tea, read at your own risk. Otherwise, enjoy!

Word Count:  ~30,000 for entire fic.

Rated: M

Warnings: Horror Themes, Major Character Death

Summary: One year ago a group of friends gathered together at the family lodge on Mount Blossom. When one friend, and brother, goes missing on their night of fun, their lives are changed forever. Now, a year later, the remaining eight friends have gathered again to celebrate the life of their friend, until all hell breaks loose. It’s up to you to decide. Who will survive Until Dawn? Choose wisely. 

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

“Gather ‘round ladies and gents!” Cheryl Blossom announced theatrically. She made up one half of the twins hosting the party at the lodge on top of Mount Blossom, formerly Thornhill Mountain. The girl with the bright red hair stood in front of the massive fireplace in main living space of her family’s extravagant lodge. Next to her stood her brother, Jason. They were as identical as two twins of opposite gender could be. Skin as white as the snow that fell all over the mountain that cold January night, their hair the same hue of red, almost unrealistically vibrant.

“We’ve invited you all here this weekend to celebrate friendship in a world of fantasy!”

Jason threw an arm around his sister. While Cheryl was loud and exuberant, Jason was a bit more quiet and laid back. They balanced each other out.

“What Cheryl means to say… alcohol is in the kitchen. We have beer, wine, tequila, whiskey, and vodka, as well as various mixers. Food. We have chips, popcorn, trail mix, and whatever else you can find in the cupboards. Nothing is off limits tonight, just don’t jump into the fire or hurt yourself in anyway.” Jason glanced around at the other seven people gathered around him. Josie and Archie cuddled in a recliner, Reggie had already cracked open a beer in the kitchen, Veronica perched on the back of the couch where Kevin sat awkwardly between Jughead and Betty, who kept throwing secretive glances at each other behind Kevin’s back. It was really a ragtag group of friends. Each with such a unique personality that even Jason didn’t understand how they’d all become best friends. “So, no rules tonight. Have fun!”

Cheryl stepped forward, regaining the spotlight. “Speaking of fun… we’re going to be playing truth or dare! And this isn’t some middle school game we’re playing. If your truths or dares aren’t rated at least PG-13, I will give you one rated R.” Cheryl stuck her hands defiantly on her hips. “No arguing, hostess rules.”

The wind howled and the creaky old windows rattled. A loud crash exploded from the kitchen.

“Sorry, dude.” Reggie was standing in small puddle surrounded by shards of glass. “The wind just kind of freaks me out.”

“Jesus, Reg.” Jason sighed. He left his spot in front of the fireplace to walk into the smaller, but no less extravagant kitchen. “The night has yet to begin and you’re already destroying my property.” He joked.

The night proceeded just as any other party made up of nine high school seniors may be expected.

“Jughead, you haven’t had a turn yet.” Archie slurred.

“Ah yes, Jughead. Truth… or Dare?” Cheryl crooned.

“Do I seriously have to participate in this stupid game?” Jughead was as sober as it gets. After dealing with an alcoholic father for most of his life, there was no amount of peer pressure that would get him to take even a sip of the beer Archie had forced into his hand.

“If you don’t choose, I’ll choose for you.” Cheryl replied with a smirk. “Choose wisely. Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you, just this once.”

“Fine, give me a dare.” Jughead shifted on the lumpy couch. The Blossom’s had really let the place go in recent years. He remembers when they were kids coming up here every weekend in the summer, bunk beds set up in two of the many bedrooms the lodge boasted. Cheryl and Jason’s parents had stopped their regular trips to the mountain, so now the one time of year this mountain was inhabited was when these nine teenagers gathered here each January for a weekend of skiing, drinking, and for some of them… sex.

“That’s my kind of answer.” The room was silent. Everyone in the room waiting for Jughead’s sentencing. Not once had he ever participated in one of Cheryl’s games, so something must’ve made tonight different. “I’ve got the perfect dare for you. Jughead Jones, I dare you to…kiss Betty Cooper on the lips.”

Betty’s cheeks turned a shade of bright pink, while Jughead’s eyes widened to twice their usual size.

“Go on.” Cheryl crossed her arms over her chest. “Pucker up.”

Jughead glanced at Betty, Kevin still sitting between them. “Do you mind?” He said to the boy sitting in his way.

Kevin hopped out of his seat so quickly, it was as if his pants were on fire. He immediately took a seat next to Veronica, though he stared blatantly at Betty and Jughead as the black haired boy leaned closer to Betty.

“It’s just a stupid game.” Jughead whispered. Betty nodded slightly and Jughead placed his lips on hers for a split second before pulling away. Betty’s cheeks had already turned a brighter shade of pink.

“What did I say?” Cheryl said. “PG-13 at the least. That kiss wasn’t even good enough for a Disney princess. Try again.”

Jughead glared at Cheryl and wondered yet again why he’d allowed himself to be dragged into this game. Cheryl fixed him with an equally as intimidating stare, tapping her foot impatiently. Jughead glanced around the room with the hope that someone would talk her out of this so he could go back to hiding in a corner like he was used to. All of this attention, it just wasn't…

Betty interrupted his thoughts. She suddenly leaned into him, kissing his lips. It was barely more than a peck,  but apparently enough to satisfy the Ice Queen Cheryl. She threw up her arms in defeat and finally sat down next to her brother.

“You’re up, JJ.”

Jason cringed at his sister’s nickname for him. Eighteen years old and their childhood nicknames could not be shaken. He took a swig from his beer to drown out the reminders of his childhood. Being a Blossom wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Not that anyone would believe a rich kid like himself had any problems, but Cheryl understood. Maybe that’s why they were so close.

“I’ll take a dare too. But maybe be a little more original this time?”

“I’ve got one for you.” Josie piped up. “I dare you, Jason Blossom, to go out to the guest cabin and back. And you have to bring something back from the cabin so you can prove it.”

“Easy peasy.” Jason set his beer on the coffee table and walked toward the door. He pulled his black, winter coat off of a hook, zipping it tightly and donning the hood. “See you on the other side.”  He offered up a military salute before disappearing into the freezing night air.

Jason walked briskly down the well known path to the guest cabin. The wind howled through the trees, blistering cold wind whipping over his cheeks. His feet crunched through the rapidly hardening snow as he struggled against the cold.

A loud crack startled Jason and he stumbled backward as the large oak on his left succumbed to the winter storm and fell with a crash in front of him.

“Shit…” Jason brushed snow off of his pants as he stood. The oak tree was now blocking the entire path. He’d have to climb over if he wanted to complete his quest. In the distance, Jason could hear the crunch crunch crunch of footsteps. “What the fuck, guys?”

He was sure it must be his friends following him into the woods to scare him. The footsteps got louder as they got closer. Jason frantically looked around; no one on the path behind him, no sign of anyone in the woods surrounding him, was that a shadow behind that tree?

“Very funny, guys.” Jason back up until his back hit the trunk of the fallen tree. “This wasn’t part of the dare. Go back to the lodge!” He was shouting against the wind, but he could still distinctly hear the footsteps as someone appeared from behind the tree, and it wasn’t one of his friends.

“What the fu-?” Jason turned, scrambling over the tree trunk. A branch caught his legs and he stumbled. The man was still following him, and Jason ripped himself free. He sprinted as fast as his freezing joints would carry him through the woods.

He left the trail, hoping the congestion of the thick forest would slow down the man chasing him. Sharp branches ripped at his body. He felt a slow trickle of blood drip down his cheek, but he had to keep running. He didn’t even know where he was anymore when he suddenly burst out of the forest and slid to a stop overlooking a steep drop-off. The cliff had to be three stories high, with a spattering of rocks gathered at the bottom.

Jason didn’t know where to go. He couldn’t turn back, or the man might catch him, but he would surely die if he tried climbing down the steep cliffside. He didn’t have time to make a decision because the dark shadow of a man emerged from the woods. He stepped slowly toward the boy quivering on the edge of the cliff. He was holding a gun in his arms, his face covered by a gas mask. The strange man slowly lifted an arm to the boy, but didn’t step any closer. It looked like he was trying to…

A series of loud crashes and screams came from the woods and the man spun on his heel, gun lifted as he shot out a burst of flame that didn’t quite reach the trees. When he spun around the man caught a glimpse of the terrified boy as he slipped and disappeared from view. His screams lasted far too long; the man waiting until he stopped screaming before walking to the cliffside and taking a knee. The boy was nowhere to be seen, but he knew the fall would have broken his body and soon… the snow would erase any sign that he’d ever been here.

—————————————-

“JJ should be back by now, don’t you think?” Cheryl was pacing back and forth, having called off their game of truth or dare when Jason left. “It’s been an hour. He should be back!”

CHOICE

Send Archie and Reggie to look for him.

Wait until the morning. 

[resonance-and-d]

Random bits of Hogwartstuck AU I may or may not write

Dave Lalonde, the letter is addressed to.

It's not your last name, but when you looks closer, you sees that instead of just an address, it also says, "The hidden apartment, small bedroom."

The return address says, "Hogwarts."

You are curious, and it's not like this Lalonde guy who shares half your name is gonna come get the letter. It doesn't even have a stamp on it, what the fuck.

You open it.

The letter inside is full of crazy shit. A school of witchcraft and wizardry. Magical book lists. They want you to reply by owl.

Welp. That's a prank, alright. You would suspect John, but it's too weird to be a prank from him- John is a lot of things, but a subtle mindfuck like addressing a letter to the wrong name is a bit beyond him. Nope- this is meant for someone else.

You toss the letter in the garbage along with the junk mail, and don't think much more about it.

The next time you gets the mail, a couple days later, there are three more letters, identical to the first. None of them have stamps, and they're all addressed to Dave Lalonde.

"Huh," you say. When you open one, it is the same as before. Book list. Supplies. Welcome letter. Reply by owl.

You look up to see an owl on a bike rack outside.

"The fuck?" you say.

The owl is large. It also looks exhausted. It looks at you with an intelligence you usually associate more with corvids than owls. Crows are the smart ones- owls are generally pretty dumb.

You think, well, why not?

You find a pencil and scrawls a hasty reply.

My name's Dave Strider, you writes. I think you're sending this to the wrong address or something. Great prank though, I've got a couple friends who would be super impressed. I like the weird parchment, that's a nice touch.

You go outside. The owl is still there.

"If you bite me," you says, "All the crows around here are going to mob you. They know me. They like me. I feed them."

The owl just stares wide-eyed. Because it's an owl, and doesn't speak English. Duh.

You cautiously approach. There's a little tube on the owl's leg, ready for a letter. You roll up your reply and stick it in. Mission accomplished.

The owl nips you a bit and then flies off.

"Fucker," you mutter, and when a passing troll gives you a weird look you flip him the bird.

The next letter, the next day, is addressed to Dave Strider, and that's when you get really annoyed. Bro is on the couch when you walk in. You toss the bills at Bro and walk into your room with the letter.

"What do you have there?" Bro asks.

"Stupid prank letter," you say. "Someone trained an owl to deliver letters, can you believe it? I didn't think owls were smart enough to train."

The next minute, the letter is torn from your hands.

"Hey!" you say, spinning to face Bro.

Bro is already reading the letter.

"Well damn," he says. "I thought for sure you must be a squib. Hell if you ever showed any talent when we were strifing."

"Huh?"

"You're a wizard," Bro says, monotone. "Congrats."

You can never tell when Bro is fucking with you, but you're pretty sure this has got to be one of those times.

"Whatever," you say. You finish the walk to your room, and shut the door.

"Egbert, John," the hat calls out. John walks up to the stool, looking slightly nervous. The hat sits on his head for only a moment before it announces, "Gryffindor!" Ther's a lot of applause from the table in red. You're kind of hoping to get into the same house as him- he's the only person you know here.

(Rose and Jade don't count yet. You just met on the train, even if they're John's friends already.)

There are a few students in front of Rose in line. Eventually the call of "Lalonde" comes, and then, because the universe hates you, the first name that comes with it is "Dave."

Everyone looks around, especially Rose. Awkward. You maintain your poker face. You're going to run into trouble if "Strider" isn't on the list anywhere, but there's nearly half an alphabet to go between now and then. Maybe you'll think of something before you get there.

"Dave Lalonde," the professor at the front of the room repeats. She looks slightly put-upon, lips going thin.

She turns to the tall, wide man who brought you all across the lake. "Surely we haven't lost a first year since the train?"

Someone gets the bright idea to count all of you. Meanwhile, one of the girls at the blue table- Ravenclaw- gets up and walks over to chat with the professor. She looks lot like Rose (like you).

"No one missing," the man- Hagrid- eventually reports. No plan has occurred to you yet.

"I see," the woman says. She shakes her head.

"Lalonde," she calls again. "Rose."

Rose goes up. "Slytherin," the had declares after a short pause. Rose goes to the green table with applause A guy who looks very much like a younger Bro gives her a hug.

"I need to go," you announce, and push past the troll behind you-

"Watch it, fucknugget," he says absently-

-and you abscond.

You don't make it very far. You are nearly immediately lost, and make up for it by flashstepping along as fast as you can. You don't know where you're hoping to go, but you need to get away. Maybe you'll go live in the woods. The woods sound simpler than your life right now.

You turn a corner and flashstep straight into the Ravenclaw who'd spoken to the professor a few moments ago.

You both fall over. You manage to do a fuckin' pirouette over her and hit the stone wall hard enough to knock the wind out of you.

"Are you okay?" she asks, once she's made it back to her feet.

You manage to catch your breath, and sit up. "mfine," you manage. You're about to flashstep away again, but she catches your hand and the human contact freezes you to the spot.

"Dave?" she asks. She looks really hopeful, emotion written all over her pink eyes.

"Strider," you say. "Dave STRIDER, and everyone keeps getting my name wrong, or- or lying to me by fuckin' omission by never telling me about magic or where I was born, and if you have somethin' to say it had better be clear as the finest crystal because I have had it with mysterious bullshit, I have enough bullshit to start my own farm and fertilize it for years-"

She pulls you into a hug, which is kind of alarming. She's not even that much older than you- maybe 13 years old, maybe 14, hard to tell. But she's surprisingly strong.

"You're my little bro," she says. "No BS, no mysteries. Rosie doesn't know she has a twin. We never thought we'd see you again."

It isn't long before a professor comes along. "You're missing your own sorting," he points how. But he clearly sees you're in the middle of a moment, and he doesn't sound pissed. Just- worried.

"I don't understand," you say, more to this girl who says she is your sister than to the professor, who is still taking in the situation.

"Our dad absconded with you when you were a baby," she explains. "No one knows why. You've been missing all this time." She is still holding your hand, apparently afraid that you might run again, but she has released you from the hug.

You want to call BS, but she doesn't seem to be kidding. And this makes more sense than you would like to admit.

"Wait," you say. "Does that mean that Bro is actually..."

"Ambrose Lalonde," she says.

"He can't be my dad," you say in a voice that comes out small. "He's just- Bro."

The professor has realized this is a pressing issue. "Should I call your mother?" he asks the girl, whose name you still don't know.

"That's prolly a good idea," she says. "We're eventually going to need Dirk and Hal and Rose, too, but let's wait a minute on that." She looks at you with something tender in her eyes. "Dude's been through enough tonight," she says firmly. "Let's not be all overwhelming right now."

You are ushered to an office, where some "House-elves" bring you and the girl- Roxy- some food. You realize you've reached your weirdness quota for the day because you don't even blink.

[an-anaemic-pen]

Project Phoenix Chapter 1

The Manifestation

Summary: Kate’s a normal teenage Midgardian girl; except there’s a Loki in her attic, and now S.H.I.E.L.D.’s after her, and also, she has powers. Apparently, she’s meant to save the world. She just wanted to finish school and maybe fall in love—at least she’s accomplishing one of those.

Relationships: Gen, F/M (Loki/Original Female Character)

Rating: M (Graphic Depictions of Violence, Underage if you squint bit—nothing occurs while characters are underage, Sexual Content)

Kate walked down the dark hallway, the floor creaking as she went. If she ever decided to sneak out this most certainly wasn’t the way to go. Once she reached the light switch located next to her mother’s bedroom door, she stopped and grabbed the switch. “And God said,” she began, then flipped on the switch. “Let there be light! And there was light.” It wasn’t something new; whenever she turned on a light while in darkness she said it.

She continued the few feet past her mother’s doorway and to her bedroom doorway to peer in. It was the biggest out of all the bedrooms and she got it all to herself. Ever since her sister had moved out for college, she had redecorated and made it her own. Some nights when she couldn’t sleep she would stay up until midnight reading online or writing. As long as she was quiet enough as to not wake up her parents, whose rooms she was sandwiched between, she could do whatever she wanted.

She walked into her dad’s room, which was situated at the end of the hallway and whom she shared a wall with, and went over to his desk. He was the kind of person who had a little bit of everything, so asking for what she needed had been relatively easy. Kate opened the middle drawer on the filing cabinet, pulling out the small speaker. It could be attached by USB and the video she had been watching was too quiet to hear, even at full volume.

She shut the drawer and walked out of her dad’s room, turning the corner to her room. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a figure in the darkness. Her hand flew up to flip the light switch, but it was so awkwardly placed that she merely hit the wall with her hand still a few inches away. The thing in the room grabbed her bony wrist and pinned her there, expertly staying the shadows and away from identification.

Kate, like every other teenager in the modern world, had a mental disorder. Her anxiety had given her countless panic attacks and the only thing stopping her from submitting to one at that moment was the medication that kept her calm despite the adrenaline coursing through her body.

She held up the speaker, which was surprisingly hefty despite the fact that it was only slightly larger than the average pencil case. “I will cut you if you don’t let go of me, you rotten egghead.”

What happened next was what Kate least expected to happen. The thing… laughed. It still didn’t let go of her hand, but it laughed.

A cold hand grabbed her other wrist, making her drop the speaker. She tried to scream. It cut her off by seizing her and taking her into the shadows so suddenly that her voice was rendered useless. The thing was cold and sent a chill down her spine. She was used to being cold in the poorly-insulated house, so she didn’t really mind all that much. The thing she did mind, however, was whatever was grabbing her and holding her captive in her own bedroom.

It held her in the darkness, one hand over her mouth and the other with both her wrists behind her back. “Do not scream,” it whispered in her ear. It sent chills down her spine. Oddly enough, she recognized the voice. Where she recognized the voice from, she couldn’t remember. It always seemed that in the moments she needed her memory most it enjoyed walking out on her.

To hell with that, she thought. As the creature removed it’s grip on her face, she let out the loudest, most blood-curdling scream she could muster.

The thing released its grip on her completely and she fled from her room, meeting her parents at the bottom of the stairs. Her heart was racing. Her breath was shallow.

“There’s someone in my room,” she gasped as she hugged her dad. “It grabbed me.”

Kate’s parents shared a glance and she was transferred to her mom’s arms. Her dad grabbed a baseball bat her brother had leaned against the wall that afternoon and ventured upstairs.

Despite her brain telling her not to, she let go of her mother and followed her father. “He stayed in the darkness and he was really cold.” She was certain that within a short period of time bruises would form on her wrist as proof of what had occurred.

Her father reached her room, flipping on the lights with the baseball bat in the air. Kate peeked around his back, alarmed to find nothing in her view. Her father checked under her bed and in her closet, but nothing was there. He traveled around Kate, checking all of the other rooms just to be sure.

As he was looking in the master bath, a cold hand slipped underneath Kate’s hair and around her neck. It covered her mouth and something breathed in her ear. Even when she tried to scream, her vocal cords didn’t work.

“I don’t want to hurt you. I just want to talk,” it whispered.

Half of her wanted to scoff, while the other half wanted to run as far away as she could. She chose the latter and slipped away from its grasp, whirling around at her doorway. There was nothing there. Absolutely nothing.

“Dad!” she called, her voice shaking. “It’s still here.”

Her father returned, checking the bedroom once more. Her mother had joined them upstairs. She put her hand on Kate’s shoulder.

“Are you sure it’s not just the medication? You did just recently start a new dosage.”

Kate swallowed. She had just recently started a large dosage of new medication and some of the other effects were still lingering. But, they usually went away after a week. For now, the explanation would work. It was just her medication messing with her senses. When she went to her next psychiatric appointment she’d ask about the symptoms. “Maybe...” Kate said, nodding. She had to reassure herself. “Yeah, it probably is.”

Her mother hugged her. “We’ll call the psychiatrist tomorrow and ask him about it, okay?”

Kate nodded her head. “Okay.”

Her mother kissed her head and went back downstairs. Her father soon followed after taking out his gun and some ammo, just in case, and leaving them in his room with a prompt ‘don’t you dare even think about touching it’. It wasn’t necessary; Kate knew not to go near it since she had never actually fired a gun in her life. She turned her back to the dangerous weapon and picked up the speaker from her floor.

She settled down on her bed, fiddling with the audio settings until the speaker was working and continued her movie. The cold fingers brushed against her ear, but she saw nothing in her peripheral vision. She tried to ignore the sound of her heart beating in her ears. She knew for a fact that if she looked down at her chest she would see her skin rising and falling with the pumping organ. She always could when her heart rate was high. “You’re not real,” she said through gritted teeth.

It spoke like a gust of wind. “Yes, I am.”

This had to be her medication. “That’s just what a not-real thing would say,” she shot back.

Kate heard what sounded like a snort and her door shut. She heard the handle jiggle as it locked. Her heart sped up. Heat flushed her torso and she removed her jacket. Gravity had shut the door. The wood was uneven somehow and sometimes it shut on its own. It hadn’t locked—that was her imagination.

She continued her movie, ignoring whatever was going on. None of it was real. It was her medication messing with her brain. She would either lessen her dosage or adjust to the symptoms and they would go away; that’s how it always worked with these types of drugs.

She breathed in through her nose. One, she thought. She breathed out through her mouth, blowing on her screen unintentionally. Two. She breathed in again. Three. She breathed out again. Four. She had to stay calm. Once she was cool again she could watch her movie to take her mind away from the attack. Then she would be okay again.

As she breathed again, there was a whisper in her ear. “Five,” it breathed. She could have sworn she felt lips brush against the top of her ear.

She gritted her teeth and ignored it. She breathed out. “Six,” it said.

This wasn’t working, not with her anxiety taunting her like this. If the manifestation was going to count along with her, there was no way she would be able to calm down.

“Seven,” it said as she breathed in. She furrowed her brow. She had to get to ten, just for her own satisfaction. Once she got to ten, she wouldn’t restart like usually. She would find some other way to calm down. Eight, she thought. She just had to think of the number before it could say it.

“Eight,” it said with her thoughts.

She closed her eyes and cradled herself. She breathed in deeply. Nine. She was almost to ten. She was almost there. She could do this. Then, she would find another way to calm down. She would meditate or punch something. Sometimes punching something helped. It physically got rid of the adrenaline without fueling it, instead of just letting it trickle its way out of her systems.

She held her breath, waiting for a few moments as the carbon dioxide built up in her body. Her record for breath holding was 40 seconds. She didn’t have a plan of beating it, but maybe she could just to get the make-believe thing beside her to shut up.

“You’ll pass out if you do that, or is that your plan? I’ll still be here when you wake up.”

She turned away from the voice, holding her breath as long as possible. Maybe she would beat her record. She mimicked the motion of breath to try to trick herself, artificially enlarging her lungs and making them smaller just to hold her breath a little longer. But she couldn’t hold it any longer. She released her breath in a loud huff and the thing beside her brushed against her ear. “Ten,”

Kate opened her eyes and whirled around, letting her clenched fist hit the air without holding back. It smacked into something, the something proceeding to stumble back, trip over her laundry hamper, and painfully hit the wall. Thankfully, it didn’t leave a dent.

Whatever was keeping the thing invisible disappeared to reveal a tall, pale man. Kate stared with wide eyes as he picked himself up and brushed himself off as if he hadn’t just slammed his head against a wall.

Kate’s mouth hung agape. The man in front of her didn’t exactly look like a man, yet a man all the same. He was pale, with jet black hair and bright green eyes like no others. “You’re—” she began, but she didn’t know what to say. How did one address someone who had magically turned un-invisible in front of them, and looked exactly like their favorite character?

“Loki, yes, I know.”

Kate took her computer off of her lap, her panic flushing away. She was numb in a mixture of awe and fear, yet the adrenaline she needed wasn’t flooding her systems as it should. She shifted her legs so one was crossed like before and the other was pulled up against her chest. If this Loki-looking person tried to attack her, she would be able to leap away. She swallowed. “Dad!” she called, not taking her eyes off of the man in front of her as she turned her head towards the door.

Like lightning, the man pinned her against the wall with his hand over her mouth. She squeaked as her head slammed against the calendar she kept beside her bed.

“Do not blow my cover,” he said through gritted teeth.

There was no reply to Kate’s call for help, she assumed because her door was shut and her family was downstairs. She realized she was alone in this fight. So, she did the only thing she could think of doing; she parted her lips and drug her tongue up and down the man’s pale hand, doing her best not to flinch at the strange taste. She wasn’t sure that was how hands were supposed to taste; it wasn’t as if she knew how hands were supposed to taste.

He recoiled. “You vile thing!” He briefly inspected at his palm to make sure she hadn’t mortally wounded him with her saliva. Once he knew he was unharmed, he wiped his hand off using the sheets on her bed.

In the moment of distraction, Kate leaped to her freedom, grabbing the man called Loki by the collar and using him as she swung around. She landed on her feet, moving towards the door. She had to make it to the door. She was the fastest kid in her school, she always had been the fastest. Nobody could beat her.

Yet, he was faster. With the speed of an Olympian, he pinned her against the door. She hit the solid wood with a thud and her vocal chords vibrated without her intention so that she yipped. The house around her shook the slightest bit like when her father walked after a hard day at work. The man pinning her to the door leaned in so his face with less than an inch from her’s. “If you scream, you will die.”

Kate narrowed her eyes. Is that his best threat? She inwardly laughed. “Hallelujah,” she said through gritted teeth.

A few moments after, a voice called up the stairs. “You okay, Kat?” It was her mom.

“Just fine!” the man pinning her against the door called in her voice. “I just hit my knee against my dresser!”

“Ok!”

The man looked back down at Kate, her hair moving as he breathed in her face. She noticed his breath wasn’t all that awful. Had he brushed his teeth before attacking her? “Now, if you let me explain I will tell you as to why I am here, mortal,” he whispered. “Will you shut your mouth for one moment and let me speak?”

Kate simply glared back. She wasn’t just going to let this ‘Loki’ win. So, she opened her mouth. She didn’t make any noise, but her mouth was still open. It wasn’t her best quip, but she couldn’t exactly talk, so it would have to do. Besides, being a smartass had always been one of her strong suits, whether it was intentionally or not.

“You think you’re funny?” he grabbed her hair with his free hand, pulling it just enough that it hurt, but not enough to pull her head along with it. He leaned more of his weight against her head, pressing her skull painfully into the wood. With his elbow, he shut her mouth.

Through gritted teeth, she spoke. “Get. Off. Of. Me.”

The man scoffed. “You think you can command a god?”

“There’s only one god and it certainly isn’t you.” Kate allowed her knees to buckle, leaving the man to support her as a deadweight.

He smiled, flashing white teeth. “You weight one hundred pounds, mortal. If you wanted to make this more difficult, that was not the answer.”

Kate simply glared back at him.

“Are you going to listen to me?” the supposed god asked.

“Give me a reason to, other mortal.”

She made him laugh again. Either this man found everything funny, or his laughter was fake. Kate assumed it was the latter of the two. “I should tell you, I am most certainly not mortal. I have lived thousands of years before your birth could even be considered, and I shall live on many thousand years after your death. And reason for you to listen to me? I can make you someone.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “Another person on the list of those who have been sexually assaulted as children?”

The man looked genuinely stunned. He was silent for a moment, his face contorted. “What? No. Why would you think that?”

In the moment of his confusion, Kate began to support herself again with one foot. “Because I’m fifteen, you idiot, and I’ve been pursued before.” She used her other knee to kick him square in the crotch. It was her turn to be genuinely stunned when he barely flinched.

“I told you I am not mortal, little one,” he snarled, his voice a thick with annoyance.

“So, you’re a eunuch?”

The man closed his eyes, his face showing how done he was with Kate’s lack of compliance.

She smiled as best as she could while having her cheeks squished. Annoying this man was actually quite fun. Especially because his pride made him fall for the bait so easily. “Fine, fine.” She did her best to lighten up. She was still trying to figure out how to pay attention and obey her instincts, and for some reason, they were telling her to listen to what he had to say. “If you get off of me I’ll listen to you. I make no promises I won’t call the cops afterward, but I’ll listen to you.”

He sighed. Kate heard him say ‘thank the Norns.’ under his breath. And, although she was willing to comply for the moment, she had to get in one last gibe in an attempt to annoy him until his end. “Thank you, Norns.”

The pale man gave her a look but relaxed his grip on her brown locks. Kate began to support herself again as he stepped back. “Sit,” he said, gesturing to the bed.

Kate raised her eyebrows, shifting her weight and crossing her arms. She looked at him.

He sighed and gave her a flat look. “Please.”

“I suppose I will,” Kate sighed, tilting her head and looking up at him with sad eyes and clasped hands. “My bed does look rather comfy.” She hopped onto her bed, settling down as best as her frayed nerves would allow. She gestured to the center of the room. “State your case.”