#also yes i put way more thought into this au than necessary shh

[darks-ink]

Ectober Week day 5: Harvest (AO3)(FFN)

Sequel to day 2: Disappearance/Alone, which I would recommend reading for context, but it’s not necessary, per se. No content warnings apply.

Vlad harvests the results of his newest plan to get his perfect little family.

The first few days after Danny returned home were a mess. Everyone was constantly trailing behind him, checking up on him, and being affectionate to him. They meant well, Danny knew, but he had spend the last year in the Ghost Zone with only Wulf for company. And while Wulf was also very loving, there was a big difference in how he showed it compared to Danny’s family and friends.

And beside the coddling by his loved ones, there was also the matter of official business. Danny had been missing for well over a year, and while the police might not have believed his parents when they were first called in, the constant presence of ghosts in Amity Park had changed their minds.

So now Danny (and his loved ones) had to explain how Danny had survived for so long in an environment like the Ghost Zone, and how he had gotten back. In the end, they cobbled together a mostly-true story involving Wulf and Phantom.

And then there was the matter of school. Danny had gone missing just after the start of his freshman year of high school, and had returned several months into the next school year. Several options were discussed, and in the end they decided that Danny was to join the freshman class next year. This way, he had time to recover from his traumatic experiences, or so the school decided.

Danny’s parents thought this gave them a good opportunity to settle Danny back into regular life, and Danny hoped that he could use this time to find a good balance between ‘regular life’ and what had been his regular life the past year; ghost hunting.

His parents were of the opinion that he should give up ghost hunting, of course, but were eventually swayed by the tag-team of Danny and Jazz – Danny didn’t want to stop, and Jazz thought that ghost hunting had become such a vital part of Danny’s life that quitting would have severe negative impacts on him.

So instead the Fentons and Phantom developed their truce into a proper alliance, making sure to wait a few weeks so no-one would connect Danny’s return to this sudden development, and the three of them started ghost hunting together.

Danny also taught his parents about the Ghost Zone, and its resident ghosts. They created extensive Ghost Files, focusing first on the ghosts that targeted Amity Park, but also noting all of Danny’s friends and allies.

Of course, after a few weeks of smothering by his loved ones, Danny was getting pretty sick of it. Sam and Tucker had listened to his begging and had started backing off, giving Danny time and space to himself, and Jazz’s extensive knowledge about psychology meant that she could tell that he couldn’t handle it anymore, but his parents struggled to do the same.

Having learned that their Portal was directly responsible for Danny’s disappearance, rather than indirectly like they had thought, meant that their previously collected grief and guilt had multiplied thousandfold. They tried to make up for it, and Danny loved them for it, but not even patrols or ghost fighting could get them off of his tail.

So when, roughly a month after he had come home, his mom and sister received an invitation to some kind of event in Florida, he was quick to jump on the opportunity.

They didn’t want to go, not without him, but the letter was quite clear about it. The invitation from the DALV company was directed towards Madeline Fenton and her daughter Jasmine Fenton, asking them to attend a mother/daughter science symposium in Florida, all expenses paid for.

In the end, Danny convinced them to go, telling them that he could spend the time doing some father/son bonding with his dad.

Mere hours after his mother and Jazz had left, the first ghost attacked. It wasn’t a particularly threatening ghost, just some kind of mutant animal, and Danny watched his dad deal with it without breaking a sweat. The only thing noteworthy about the encounter was that it had attacked FentonWorks, rather than some random civilian in the streets. But Danny and his dad shrugged it off, and went back to tinkering with some of their ghost hunting equipment.

But it wasn’t long before another ghost attacked, and another, and then suddenly they started attacking as one massive group.

Separately, they weren’t anything special. They were all animal ghosts, no more intelligent than their living counterparts, and all seemed to be based on North American animals, though severely mutated. Danny could spot rabbits, wolves, bears, and even a few beavers, among others. It was a rather bizarre ensemble, but not terribly threatening.

It was still rather suspicious, however. The large group of them, all specifically targeting FentonWorks, made Danny suspect that someone had send them on purpose. Whoever had send them clearly hadn’t counted on Danny’s presence, however, since it was clearly meant to be an ambush, intended to quickly overwhelm the humans present.

Danny’s ghost sense alerted him preemptively, and when the ghosts arrived, they were met by a transformed Danny Phantom and a well-equipped Jack Fenton.

The first ghost phased through the door, and was immediately blasted out again by a well-aimed ecto-ray from Danny. The next few followed the same pattern, getting knocked out the moment they came in by either Danny or his dad.

The ghosts wizened up and tried entering in a larger group, but Danny simply called on his cryokinesis and froze them solid, and his dad swiftly captured the immobile ghosts in a Fenton Thermos.

This seemed to drive the attacking ghosts into desperation, as they suddenly stormed inside, all of them attacking together. They were quick to pick up on the bigger threat, and went exclusively after Danny.

They were no match for Danny, however, and he swiftly dealt with them. He saw his dad picking off the stragglers, but the man avoided shooting the mass of ghosts, obviously afraid of hitting his son by accident.

After the ghosts were all dealt with, the two ghost hunters were left with barely a scratch on them, grinning at each other victoriously.

“Good job Danny-boy!” Jack crowed, clapping his son on the shoulder with such force that Danny flipped over mid-air.

“Thanks dad,” he answered, rubbing the back of his neck as he righted himself again.

He watched the man wander back downstairs, carrying several Thermoses filled with ghostly animals, and he couldn’t help wondering who had sent the ghosts after them, and more importantly, why. They weren’t targeting Danny, as he had feared, because they clearly hadn’t expected him to be there.

But he couldn’t think of anyone, and he decided that he had more productive things to do with his time, so he phased through the floor to rejoin his dad in the lab.

Vlad eyed the papers lying on his desk with contempt. He enjoyed his role as billionaire, and the power that came with it, but he could honestly do without the paperwork.

Playing with people, manipulating them to play to his wishes, was something he liked. To maintain his power to do so, he needed to do paperwork. He knew this very well.

That didn’t make it any less boring, though.

His thoughts wandered back to his latest plan to get his hands on the ever-stunning Maddie, and to get rid of the oaf that called himself her husband, Jack. He had send Maddie and her daughter (who seemed to be taking after her, rather than that idiot of a father) off to Florida, and had arranged for several of his mutant animals to attack Jack while he was alone.

While he was forced to admit that Jack and Maddie were a fairly competent ghost-hunting team, it was clear that Maddie was the main force. Without her, Jack would easily be overwhelmed by the mass of ghosts that Vlad had send after him.

He glanced at the papers again, before standing up, his mind made up. It had been a day since he had send out the ghosts, and he was sure that they had succeeded by now.

He is eager to reap the benefits of his ingenious plan, and set off to travel to Amity Park.

When Vlad arrives at FentonWorks, he’s… rather surprised. He had expected to find absolute carnage, the building wrecked by the flood of barely-sentient ghosts he had set upon it. Instead the house stood tall and proud, the bizarre metal contraption still balanced on top, and the garish neon sign still hung from the front as well.

In fact, the whole building seemed entirely undamaged. There was nothing that suggests that the ghosts had been here, but Vlad knows they must have been. There was a barely-noticeable hint of ectoplasm in the air which hinted at a large-scale ghost encounter, but it might also be a side-effect from the constant presence of ghosts in Amity Park.

He floats there for what feels like an eternity, wondering how his minions had failed, before deciding to throw caution to the wind and find out.

He glances around, making sure that there is no one around to see, and then transforms back to his human form, returning to the visible plane as well.

He hesitates for a moment with his finger hovering over the doorbell, steels himself for the apparently inevitable encounter with Jack Fenton that he was going to have to suffer through, and presses down. He listens for the thundering footsteps of the oaf, but it stays quiet. He considers the possibility that his animals had been successful after all and simply hadn’t damaged the building in the process, but then the door opens.

Standing in the opening isn’t Jack, however. The boy bore a clear resemblance to him, with black hair and crystalline blue eyes, but he was smaller and much slighter, and dressed in a t-shirt and jeans instead of a blindingly orange jumpsuit.

Vlad recognizes the boy, of course. He had seen plenty of pictures, had listened to Maddie and consoled her in the hopes of winning her over, knowing that the boy was likely long-dead. No one survived for long in the Ghost Zone.

Yet here the boy stood, frowning at him. Vlad groans inwardly as he realized that the boy didn’t know him, but flashes him a polite smile regardless.

He wasn’t sure how Daniel ‘Danny’ Fenton had found his way home after his lengthy trip into the Ghost Zone, but he was already here to solve one mystery, so he might as well attempt to solve this one too.

“I don’t believe we’ve met before, have we? Vlad Masters, pleased to meet you,” he introduces himself, offering his hand to the boy.

“Uhm, no, I don’t think so. I’m Danny. Uh, Danny Fenton.” He shakes Vlad’s hand, but continues to eye him with barely-hidden suspicion.

“Ah, the missing son, home at last. Your parents must be so happy to have you back.”

“Yeah, I guess so… No offense, but why does it matter to you?”

“They haven’t mentioned me, have they? I guess it’s not too surprising, as they likely had other things on their minds. I’m an old friend from college, and we’ve recently reconnected. Are they home, perchance?” He shot another winning smile in the direction of the boy, but it was clearly ignored.

“Mom is away with Jazz, but dad is home. If you come in I’ll go get him from the lab.” He steps away from the door to let Vlad in, and Vlad gladly entered.

“Please do, thank you.”

Danny vaguely points him towards the couch in the living room before racing off towards the kitchen, where Vlad knew the door to the lab was located. He couldn’t hear the conversation between the boy and his father, but the thundering footsteps coming up the stairs are hard to miss.

Jack bounces over and grasps Vlad in a bone-crushing hug of the Fenton variety, but was quickly coaxed to let go by his son.

“V-man, what a surprise! I see you’ve met Danny already!” he booms, and Vlad barely stops himself from wincing at the sheer volume.

“Yes, and I’m glad to see that he has returned to you in excellent health. Has he been home for long?”

“About a month, give or take. But we’ve been so busy with all the official stuff and informing everyone that we must have forgotten to tell you. Sorry, Vladdie!”

Vlad grimaces at the mention of another of his old nicknames, but quickly smooths out his expression again. “I completely understand, old friend of mine. Mind introducing us? We’ve exchanged names, of course, but I’m afraid I don’t know him outside of his disappearance.”

“Of course, of course! Danny, this is my old friend from college, Vlad Masters! And Vlad, this is my son, Danny!” He claps his son on the back with such force that the boy almost falls over, and Vlad instantly sympathizes with the kid. He briefly wonders how the boy had survived 15 years with this man as his father, but decides that Maddie must have protected her kids from any Jack-related danger.

“Dad,” the boy groans, “he already said all of that at the door when I let him in. Why don’t you tell us something new, like how you two know each other or something?”

Jack smiles broadly at his son. “That’s a great idea! We’ve got so many great stories, Vladdie and I, and some with your mom as well, of course. Let’s sit down on the couch and we can tell you all about our college days, right V-man?”

“Yes, that sounds good.” He moves towards the armchair, no doubt in his mind that Jack would have sat right next to him if he sat on the couch. Danny sat down on the couch instead, and Jack moved to sit right next to him.

They spend a short while talking about the past, about Jack and Vlad sharing a room in college, about their shared research into ghosts, and various other stories. The Proto-Portal and the accident involving it never came up, but Jack didn’t seem to be avoiding the topic on purpose. No, it seemed like it had just slipped his mind, as if it wasn’t important enough to mention. Unbelievable.

Vlad steers the topic back to Danny in the hopes of learning more about his disappearance, but the boy tells him all about everything except his time in the Ghost Zone. The boy seems rather restrained, and keeps eyeing him with suspicion, but Vlad isn’t sure why. Lingering trauma from his interactions with ghosts, maybe?

Suddenly the boy shifts, glancing away from Vlad and his father.

“Ah shoot, sorry dad, Vlad, I completely forgot that I had to meet Sam and Tucker at the Nasty Burger.” He quickly stands up. “It was nice meeting you Vlad, sorry that I have to leave so suddenly.”

Vlad waves him off. “Of course my boy, it was a pleasure meeting you as well. Perhaps another time, hmm?”

Daniel nods, and swiftly exits the house. Vlad watches him leave, and found that he was still no closer to uncovering the truth behind the boy. Well, perhaps it would come up in conversation between him and his friends.

And lucky for Vlad, he was a great spy.

He quickly excuses himself, telling Jack that he has to go to the bathroom. With the door locked, he transforms into his ghost form, duplicates himself, and then has the duplicate turn himself back into Vlad Masters. While he typically would have send a duplicate as his spy, he had already listened to Jack ramble on for far longer than he liked.

He sends the duplicate back to Jack, then turns himself invisible and phases out of the building, hoping to catch Daniel before he met his friends.

The boy turned out to be even easier to find than he had expected, because he hadn’t gone very far at all. Vlad watches the boy duck into an alley right next to the house, and frowns to himself. What was that boy up to?

He flies closer to take a look, and sees Daniel shiver and breathe out a blue mist. What on Earth was going on here?

The boy took on a defensive posture, glancing around himself warily. Vlad wasn’t sure what Daniel was planning on doing if he saw a threat, since it would most likely be a ghost and he didn’t seem to be carrying any weapons.

His question is soon answered, however, by a flash of bright light. He watches as a glowing white ring forms around Daniel’s waist, and oh. Even if the color was different, he knows what this means.

The ring quickly splits apart, and the two white halos follow their path across Daniel’s body. When they disappear, the ghost left behind is one Vlad recognizes from stories and photos – Phantom.

Well, that answers the mystery as to how Daniel survived in the Ghost Zone for over a year. He is a half-ghost, just like Vlad. He couldn’t believe it. Another half-ghost existed! He isn’t alone anymore! And even better, this half-ghost isn’t just anybody, he is Maddie’s son. Vlad has to have this boy as part of his family.

Vlad watches as Phantom (Daniel) launches himself into the air, once again surveying the area. He was clearly prepared for a ghost fight, but why? There was nothing to indicate the presence of another ghost, even if he was right.

But then a scream comes from a house nearby, and Danny zips off towards it. Vlad follows at a more sedate pace, and finds Danny intangibly shoving the Box Ghost through a wall. Once removed from the house, Danny fires an ecto-ray at the other ghost, quickly followed by an ice ray, which freezes the Box Ghost to the wall he had been blasted into.

“Well Boxy, I don’t know how you keep getting out, but hopefully you’ll stay away a little longer this time,” the boy mutters, uncapping the thermos he had slung across his back, and quickly captures the immobilized ghost.

Vlad silently judges the boy’s skills, and found that he was… rather impressed. He knows a thing or two about Phantom, of course, because who didn’t. But knowing about his abilities, and seeing him use them in actual combat are two very different things, especially now that he knew that he was watching a fellow halfa.

Seeing that Danny was about to fly away, and noting that they were in a rather isolated area, Vlad decides that this was a good opportunity to recruit the boy.

He slowly claps his hands, a grin on his face as he returns to visibility. “Well done Daniel, well done.”

The boy stiffens and whirls around, one hand tightened around the Thermos it held while the other started glowing green. He scowls at Vlad, but made no direct move to attack. Clever boy, prepared for a fight but not starting it. “I don’t know who you are and quite frankly I don’t care either. Who told you my name?”

Vlad tuts and shakes his head. “My boy, you told me yourself. Surely you didn’t think you were the only half-ghost in existence, did you?”

Daniel’s eyes widen, and Vlad felt his smile grow wider. “No way, really? But that means...” he trails off, eyes roving over Vlad. “Vlad? Vlad Masters, my dad’s old friend from college?”

And Vlad lets his own transformation wash over him, the black rings taking away Plasmius and returning him back to his human form. “Indeed, the one and only.”

Daniel flies closer, as if in disbelief, still inspecting Vlad. “But you look so- so different. And how? And-, and-”

Vlad raises a hand, stopping Daniel’s barrage of questions. “Slow down, slow down. Yes, I look quite different in my ghost form. It was quite on purpose, I assure you. As for how, an accident in college involving the prototype for your parents’ Ghost Portal.”

Daniel frowns at him. “In college? So you’ve been half-ghost for what, 20 years? But my parents didn’t know about the existence of half-ghosts until I told them. Were they not there when it happened, like when I had my accident?”

“No, they were there. In fact, it was your dad’s fault it happened in the first place. The buffoon plugged in the Portal while I was standing right in front of it, and it exploded outwards, right into my face! I had to go to the hospital for a terrible case of ecto-acne, it took me years to recover.”

“Wait, so did it not… instantly turn you into a ghost? And the explosion only hit your face, not your whole body? Was the prototype smaller than the regular Portal?” Daniel was eyeing Vlad with a calculating look in his eyes. Vlad quietly approved. The boy is clever, clearly takes after his mother. A worthy addition to the Masters family, for sure.

“No, it did not. The Proto-Portal was barely big enough for one to fit their head through, and the contaminated ectoplasm it spewed wasn’t strong enough for such a drastic change. At the time, it only leeched the color out of my hair and caused the ecto-acne. The rest came more slowly.

Which brings me to my next point. You’ve been a half-ghost for what, a year?” Daniel nods. “As you’ve figured out yourself, I’ve had my powers for more than twenty years. Even if your skills are fairly impressive, you could do with proper guidance and training from another hybrid. Join me, and I’ll help you master your powers, teach you everything I know. All you have to do is renounce your idiot father.”

“Dude, you’re nuts. I just got my own family back, and you think I’m gonna abandon them just to join you? No way.” Daniel scowls at him, and Vlad realizes that he had taken the wrong approach to recruiting the boy.

“I’ve done fine figuring out my powers alone, and now I have my friends and family to help too. I don’t need your help.” Daniel looks around them, and nods to himself before turning back to Vlad.

“Look, I’m guessing that you’re not here to cause any trouble, only to talk to me?” Seeing Vlad nod, he continues. “Good, in that case I should get going. My friends are waiting for me.”

Daniel turns around again and speeds off, almost immediately turning himself invisible. Vlad remains in the alley, sorting through his plans. He has to get the boy, but it clearly wasn’t as simple as he had hoped. He would have to win the boy over, make him realize how much better off he would be with Vlad as his father instead of Jack.

The best way to do this, Vlad decides, is to train young Daniel anyway. That way he can show the difference he would make, how much of an improvement he would be over that oaf. But how can he get the boy to agree to training, especially since he just offered it at too high a price?

Well, the boy doesn’t have to accept if his parents do. They must know that Daniel is Phantom, it’s too obvious for clever Maddie to miss, and if she knows then she must have told Jack. And if they accept their son, then they will likely also accept their old college friend.

And if he tells them that he has been half-ghost since the accident in college, then they will surely see the benefits to having him train Daniel.

Yes, that could work. He’ll have to return another time, when Maddie is home. A weekday, so that the children will be at school.

He shifts back to his ghost form and returns to FentonWorks, where he recombines with his duplicate and excuses himself, swiftly leaving the conversation with Jack. He has much to think about, but the seeds for a new plan have been planted. In due time, he will get to harvest the results, his beautiful new family.

And so, roughly a week later, Vlad returns to FentonWorks.

He rings the bell and waits, tracking Jack’s progress to the door based on his thundering footsteps. The door swings open, and there stands the enormous orange idiot himself.

“Vladdie! What a surprise! Come in, come in.” He steps aside to let Vlad in, his whole face lit up in a huge smile.

“Vlad? Surely you didn’t come all the way from Wisconsin just to visit us?” Maddie (wondrous, amazing Maddie) questions as she emerges from the kitchen, pulling down her hood to reveal her stunning violet eyes.

“I did, but worry not, it was no hassle.” Maddie frowns at him, but Jack claps him on the back and starts to guide him towards the couch before she could say anything else.

“Well, I’m glad to see you again V-man! Have a seat, and then we can talk about why you’re here.”

Maddie trails behind them, sitting down next to Jack on the couch. “Yes, although I’m not sure why you couldn’t have called.”

Vlad, seeing that he couldn’t sit on the couch next to Maddie, sits down in the armchair once again. “I could have called, yes, but I wanted to talk about something very important, and I feared it was too… sensitive to discuss over the phone.”

“Vlad, what is this about? Did something happen?”

“Not recently, no. I wanted to talk with you about the accident in college, with the Proto-Portal.”

Maddie and Jack share a confused look with each other, both trying to figure out why he brought it up. Maddie, clever as always, figures it out first. He watches as she grows wide-eyed and stares at him.

“You’re… Are you?”

Jack frowns. “Is he what, Maddie? I don’t get it.”

Vlad ignores the oaf, focuses on Maddie, and nods. “I am.”

He stands up, suddenly, and calls on his ghostly core. A single glowing black ring forms around his waist, where it splits apart and slowly makes it way over his body. The rings transform his expensive black suit into a much simpler white outfit, accessorized with a black belt, black boots, and black gloves. The look is finished by the high-collared cape he wears, the inside as red as his eyes. His skin is an unnatural blue, and his eyes empty and pupil-less. His hair is swept out of its ponytail and into a spiked haircut, as black as it had been before his accident. The rings fade away, and Vlad grins at his love and her husband, revealing sharp fangs.

“You’re- holy moly V-man, you’re-” Jack falls into an uncharacteristic silence, and he and Maddie share a silent conversation.

“Vlad, we’re… we’re so sorry. That this happened to you, and that you felt like you couldn’t tell us about this.” Jack nods, but for once doesn’t speak.

“It’s fine, I assure you. I will admit that I was pretty… peeved, but it’s been twenty years. I’m over it.” He waves off their concerns and returns to human form before sitting back down. “Now, there was something else I wanted to talk about as well.

Your son, Daniel, is a half-ghost as well, correct?”

“How did you find out, Vladdie? I mean, you didn’t even know Danny until you two met last weekend.”

“It was rather obvious to me. But then, I already knew that ghostly hybrids such as us exist, so it was a rather obvious answer for his miraculous survival in the Ghost Zone. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

Maddie frowns at him. “Then what did you want to talk about? You’re the one who brought up Danny.”

“Well, I’ll get straight to the point then. As I mentioned, I’ve had my powers for over twenty years. Your son has had them for barely a year. With my experience, I could help train him, and help him understand our… shared condition. We are the only two known hybrids, after all.”

“Vladdie, what a brilliant idea! I would love for you to help Danny! Just imagine,” Jack wipes away an imaginary tear, “my best friend and my son bonding over ghost hunting.”

“Yes, it sounds like a very good idea, as long as Danny agrees. He should be in his room, I’ll ask for him to come join us.”

She stands up and leaves, and Vlad curses to himself. He had picked a weekday in the hopes that Daniel wouldn’t be home, but the boy apparently hadn’t gone back to school yet, likely because he had only recently reappeared. Oh butter biscuits, he might remember Vlad’s previous offer and refuse again.

Maddie soon returns, Daniel trailing behind her.

“Danny-boy, Vlad here offered to help you train because he’s a half-ghost too! Isn’t that exciting!” Jack booms, and Vlad winces away from the sudden shout. He sees Daniel quirk a smile, but the boy quickly wipes it away in favor of frowning at him.

“Yeah, that’s… incredible. I dunno dad, I don’t really, y’know, know him.” He shrugs listlessly, and Vlad resists the urge to roll his eyes. Stubborn teenager.

“Well Danny, you could get to know each other during training, of course. Maybe we can try it out a few times, and if it doesn’t work, we can always take back over?” Maddie lays her hands on Daniel’s shoulders, clearly attempting to convince him. He wasn’t easily swayed, however.

“Maybe… Can we do the training here, in the lab?”

“I guess, but my dear boy, I have specialized rooms that we could use to train. Wouldn’t it be better to use those?”

The boy continues to frown at him. “We could, but if we train here mom and dad can watch as well. And Jazz, and Sam and Tucker too.”

“Well, it would be pretty enlightening to watch you two train, and I can see why you might want your friends to come visit during training as well. We’ve got space to train in the lab as well, and we can adapt it to your needs as well.”

“Yes, I suppose that would be possible. So how about weekly training here in the lab, every Saturday, starting this weekend?”

Daniel nods, but shoots him one last suspicious glance. “Yeah, that sounds good. Was that all?”

“Yes, thank you Danny. Let me know if you’re going out, okay sweetie?”

Daniel nods at his mother before speeding back up the stairs. Vlad watches him go, smiling to himself. Soon enough the boy would be his. But he has to be patient. It would be no easy task to win the boy over during their training sessions.

But Vlad Masters always got what he wanted, and what he wanted was his beloved family.

The training sessions go well, all things considered. Daniel might lack proper training, but he has acquired a lot of skills during his time in the Ghost Zone, and he is a good student. He listens well, follows instructions to a t, and is adaptable to no end. The only thing that holds him back is his impatience, but coaching from his friends and family help him stay motivated.

Vlad hadn’t been sure about the inclusion of Daniel’s loved ones when they first started training, but they proved to be more helpful than distracting. While he did his best to compliment Daniel’s progress, the support from his family and friends was much more powerful.

He often found himself watching Daniel during their breaks. The interactions between the boy and his family made him alternate between sick and pleased, sharp pangs of jealousy whenever Jack and the boy got along well but enjoying seeing his future wife and her son together. But it was Daniel’s friendship with the two teens that really struck a cord with Vlad.

He saw Daniel and Samantha and Tucker, saw them play and joke and screw around with each other, and he was reminded of his college days. He looked, and he saw Jack, Maddie, and himself. And he found that he missed that friendship.

He realized, suddenly, that he desired more than just a wife and kids. He wanted to be loved, not just as a husband and a father, but as a friend.

And as he continued to watch Daniel and his family, he realized that they were all irreversibly connected. Maddie and Daniel cared far too deeply about Jack, and Jasmine as well, to separate any of them. Doing so would change who they were, permanently.

And Vlad found that he didn’t want them to change. He didn’t want to break up this family.

And he was horrified when he realized what he had almost done. In his desperation, he had almost screwed up his only chance at happiness with Maddie, just because he wasn’t happy with what he had. He threw away his friendship with her just because he wanted more, because he wanted something he would never even get.

Because he could see, now, that Maddie was happy with Jack. Far happier than she would ever be with him.

But they hadn’t abandoned him, despite the fact that he carried some childish grudge against them for two decades. Jack still cheered him on like nothing had ever happened, and Maddie started to open back up as well.

Vlad vowed to himself that he wouldn’t let this chance pass him by. He was given a second chance, and by God was he going to take it.

He might not become Maddie’s beloved husband, but he could be her dear friend. Hers, and Jack’s, of course. He would rekindle their lost friendship, even if it was the last thing he would ever do.

And luckily for him, his old friends were more than happy to accept him back in their lives, and into their family.

“Hey, uncle Vlad?” Danny asks as he floats over to where Vlad was seated in a plush chair. They were in Vlad’s office in his new mansion in Amity Park, where Vlad had been working on, ugh, paperwork.

“Yes, little badger?” Vlad looks up from the papers spread over his desk to smile at the boy, seeing his grimace at the nickname.

“I was thinking about the first time we met. Back then you asked me to join you so we could train together. I refused, because you wanted me to renounce my dad, but then days later you came by and asked my parents instead.”

“Yes, I remember that. I was quite impressed by your swift take-down of the Box Ghost.”

“Right, right. But I don’t understand why you asked me to abandon my dad.” The boy frowns at him, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Well, dear Daniel, at the time that was what I most desired. My own little family, with Maddie as my wife, and you as my son.”

Danny quirks his eyebrow. “At the time? So not anymore, then?”

“No, not anymore. I’ve gotten what I always wanted, even if not the way I had envisioned it. A loving family to call my own.”

Danny floats over, wrapping a cold arm around his shoulders, and with a smile so bright that Vlad knew he had made the right choice. “Aww, I love you too V-man!”

Yes, Vlad thinks to himself, his plans had worked out quite fine. He had sown the seeds and finally harvested the results, and even if they weren’t quite what he had planned, the results were far beyond what he could have hoped for.

[weloveharrypotter]

Father Figure Pt. 3

Pairing: Fred Weasley x Student! Orphan! Reader

Summary: Today is the day Y/n pulls the pranks, and she managed to get away with it when it comes to the teachers, but Kat’s ex knows it was her, and it goes a little wrong (Au where Fred lives and it’s current time, cursed child never happens.)

Warnings: Cussing?, physical assault/fight, some blood, like one hint at abuse

“Are you sure, this can go very wrong if he knows it was you.” Kat said as Y/n prepared the dungbomb in the dorm room a sleeping Taylor was in.

“If he finds out it was me and tries to come for me, you know I’ll win.” Y/n replied.

“I mean… yeah but I don’t want to risk it.” Kat said worried.

“I’ll be fine.” Y/n said as she set of the dungbomb off and they ran to back to their dorm room.

“Ok, so that’s one down.” Y/n said with a smirk.

—————

It was now before potions and Y/n spotted the guy Taylor steals for him from everyday. She walked up and leaned against the desk.

“I’ll give you five galleons if you replace this gum with the one Taylor steals.” Y/n said quickly.

The kid looked up a bit scared.

“What if he-.” “He won’t. And if he tries I’ll be a few seats away.” Y/n said cutting him off.

The kid nodded, and Y/n handed him the galleons and gum. Once class started she took her seat.

A few minutes in sure enough, Taylor stole the gum, and moments later his hair started to rapidly change.

Everyone laughed but Taylor was completely pissed. The professor sent him to the infirmary for a cure.

——————

It was now lunch and many more pranks had happened all day. It has clearly taken its toll on Taylor, as he was snapping at everyone.

“We could actually get caught in this one-.” “Shh, we’re not going to.” Y/n said.

Y/n spotted Taylor getting up, and she spotted one of the people they mutually know sitting next to him.

Y/n walked up and sat in his spot. She asked the mutual about something in potions, pretending she didn’t know, while slyly dropping a few drops of the potion into his drink.

Y/n thanks the mutual and walked back to Kat.

“See, fine.” Y/n said.

Taylor came back and took a sip of his drink. Not too long later hair started to rapidly grow. Taylor and his friends freaked out as everyone laughed.

Y/n smirked as his friend rushed him back to the infirmary for the fifth time today.

—————

Y/n and Kat were on their way to charms.

“I can’t believe you got away with all of that.” Kat said.

“You still underestimate me?” Y/n asked.

“No, I don’t know how it shocks me everytime.” Kat said.

“I mean honestly, to do this and to have none of the teachers suspect us, and even if they did, there’s no evidence to prove so.” Kat said.

Y/n smiled with a little pride.

“Y/l/n!” Y/n heard and angry voice yell. They turned to see Taylor.

He stomped up to both her and Kat.

“What?” Y/n asked.

“I know all of it was you!” He said angrily.

“I don’t know what you mean?” Y/n said pretending to be clueless.

“You know what I mean you twat! Clearly it was you! Your the annoying, daft idiot who threatened me when I dated her! I remember!” Taylor yelled.

Most people started to pay attention, noticing how hostile it was getting.

“Clearly you didn’t, you cheated on her! So it looks like your the daft idiot!” Y/n yelled louder.

She was loud enough to draw the professor out of the room.

Taylor brought his fist up and punched her. He quickly grabbed her and threw her down, and she cut her cheekbone on something on the ground.

Y/n immediately got up and threw him to the ground. She climbed on top of him and repeatedly punched him.

She hit him so hard that blood was pouring out of his nose, and to the point where Taylor couldn’t even see.

Kat tried to rip Y/n off but couldn’t. A Hufflepuff who she thoughts name was Teddy, managed to pull her off.

“You fucking dick. If you ever fucking touch me again I’ll make you wish you were never born.” Y/n yelled fighting against the Hufflepuff holding her back.

“Ms. Y/l/n, calm down.” The professor said calmly.

“The two of you to the classroom now.” The professor said. The Hufflepuff holding Y/n back escorted her to the room.

The two walked in with the professor.

“What was that?” The professor asked slightly angry.

“She’s been pranking me all day, one right after the other, and has the audacity to deny it like I’m an idiot.” Taylor explained.

“You are an idiot and you have no proof it was me.” Y/n retorted.

“Well, for what just happened, I’ll be taking 50 points from Ravenclaw, for your actions, Taylor.” The professor said.

“What about Gryffindor. It was a fight, two people are involved in those.” Taylor said.

“She was defending herself, now, go. Your both excused for class for the day.” The professor said.

The two left and went their own way.

“What happened?” Kat asked as Y/n stormed away.

“He lost house points for Ravenclaw, I didn’t get anything taken away. We’re excused.” Y/n explained shortly.

“Ok so where are we going?” Kat asked.

“I know your trying to help but I could use time alone.” Y/n said making her way out of the school.

“I understand. But tell me when you get back, alright.” Kat said stopping at the corridor.

“I will.” Y/n replied before walking off.

————

Y/n had ran away to diagon alley. She needed to walk around and calm down. So that’s what she did.

It was hot, although it could be the fact she was still wearing the robes. She decided to turn into the nearest shop for air conditioning.

She smiled when she looked around and realized she was at Fred’s store. That’s also when she remembered she had to tell him how it went.

She looked around and spotted George who just finished with people. She walked over.

“Why hello again.” He asked looking over to her.

“What happened?” He asked. “Never mind it, where’s Fred?” She asked.

“In his office.” He answered. Y/n nodded and walked away. Y/n went to his his office.

The door was open and she could see him working on something at his desk. She walked up and knocked on the door.

“Guess who?” Y/n said.

Fred look up for a second, and didn’t notice her bleeding cheek and bruised left eye.

“Oh, Y/n good to see you.” Fred said.

“Nice to see you too.” Y/n said walking in closing the door behind her. She walked over to the desk and leaned against it.

“I’m assuming your here to tell me how it went?” Fred asked walking into her Evie looking for something.

“Indeed. It went well. He fell for every one, and I didn’t even get caught by any professors.” Y/n said as she sat on the desk.

“Well that’s bloody brilliant. Wait shouldn’t you still be in scho-.” He stoped in the middle of his word when he turned and saw the state of her face.

“What happened?” He asked as he rushed over.

“I said I didn’t get caught but professors. The guy who I was pranking, however, knew it was me. When I obviously denied it. He got angry, and he punched me.” Y/n explained.

Fred walked up and turned her face, and inspected the cut.

“It’s fine honestly. I’ve had worse.” Y/n said thinking about her life at the orphanage.

“I don’t care. I’m patching it.” Fred said putting his things down.

He walked he drove his desk and pulled out a first aid kit. He opened it and started to prepare to clean the cut.

“It’s so small, I’ll be fine.” Y/n tried to reassure.

“A small cut can do a lot of damage.” Fred said. He started to clean the cut.

“You said it was a guy?” Fred asked. Y/n chuckled.

“Yes, but you should see him. His nose was just gushing blood.” Y/n said and the smiled for a moment and shared a chuckle.

Fred’s smile faltered though. He finished cleaning and went to grab two small bandages to help keep the cut closed.

“What did they do to him?” Fred asked.

“Well, they took 50 points from his house, and I’m assuming it’s going to the headmaster and he’ll get further punishment.” Y/n explained as Fred put the bandages on.

“Not any from Gryffindor?” Fred asked as he finished putting the bandages on, and pointed at her robe.

“Nope. He hit first so it was ‘self defense’.” Y/n explained.

“Good, don’t hit first unlesss absolutely necessary.” Fred advised.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Y/n said as Fred walked over to a door. He walked inside and it seemed to be just an extra room to keep thing he brings from home.

A few moments later he walked out with a bag of ice with a paper towel around it. He walked over and handed it to Y/n, and she held it to her eye.

“But as I said, aren’t you supposed to be at school?” Fed asked.

“I got excused from class, and I got angry. So I came to diagon alley to walk around and calm down. It got hot and I came I got he nearest store to cool down, and it was this one.” Y/n explained.

“I also figured since I’m here I might as well tell you how it went.” Y/n added.

He nodded.

“Thanks for, cleaning my cut... and the ice.” Y/n said.

“No problem, darling. Definitely be more careful next time.” Fred said picking back up his work. Y/n nodded. The door opened and revealed George.

“Hey Freddie, hey-... sorry I didn’t quite catch your name.” George said.

“Y/n.” She answered.

“Well, hello, Y/n.” George said.

“Hey.” She responded.

“Freddie, do you remember when the dungbomb is going to be back in stock?” George asked.

“Tuesday next week.” Fred said.

“Do you have any fireworks?” Y/n asked thinking about her next prank. Fred chuckled.

“Daring I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but you should wait a little while before pranking again.” Fred said with a chuckled.

“That or until the eye is healed.” Fred added. Y/n pouted slightly.

“Don’t make that face, once your healed I promise I’ll help with your next prank.” Fred promised.

“I didn’t know you adopted a kid Freddie?” George said leaning against the frame.

“Shut up.” Fred said.

George smirked before saying something about returning to work. Y/n sat with Fred for a while.

“Alright, you should get back to school.” Fred said. Y/n sighed.

“I guess.” Y/n said hopping off the desk and took a step to the door.

“Oh wait!” Fred said. Y/n turned back.

He threw her a piece of taffy, and Y/n looked at it.

“I know better than that.” Y/n said.

“That ones alright, I promise.” Fred said.

Y/n eyed Fred a little suspiciously. He chuckled before pulling out a taffy and eating it himself. After a moment he was still normal.

“Thanks.” Y/n replied as she turned back around.

“No problem darling.” Fed said.

“See you soon.” Y/n said.

“See you soon.” Fed replied as she left.

——————

(A/N): thank you for reading so much. There will be another chapter. 😊

[straykats]

guardian angel // fake dating au

pairing: hwang hyunjin x reader wordcount: ... 4.7k a/n: requested // when i said i was getting carried away i thought i meant like. 2k. not 4k. this was almost +5k omg.

----------

“So the guys - my friends, that is - are betting $20 that I won't be able to ask you out, and a further $10 that even if I do, you won’t say yes.”

You stare at the boy, blinking in disbelief. “Sorry, what now?”

The bell rings, and people rush past the two of you to get to lunch. Hyunjin stays standing in front of you, arms crossed with a steady gaze holding your eyes. His tongue flicks out to lick his bottom lip, and you make a fist under the desk. Did he really think he had the right to even suggest such an idea-

“You heard me. You can say no, but it’d be a waste of $30.” He sighs. “Look, all you need to do is spend a day with me. It can be one hour. Just once, and then we’re done. I’ll buy you whatever you want with that money. Actually, I’ll just give you the money.”

You glare at him and stand up abruptly. He doesn’t move, his eyes watching as you gather your stuff. “What’s in it for you, then? Just here for the sake of teasing me again?”

You see his jaw clench in frustration, his eyes flashing with unnamed emotions. You turn to walk out of the classroom but Hyunjin reaches the door before you do, shutting it.

“Hyunjin, I’m not going to deal with this shit again-”

“Neither am I, okay? If I say no - heck, if you say no, then everyone’s going to keep making up rumours, so just say yes.” Hyunjin’s features suddenly change, a mischievous light in his eyes. “Say yes, and let’s really give them something to talk about.”

And that’s how, three hours later, you found yourself walking side by side with Hyunjin down the streets.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. High school was supposed to go smoothly, and Hyunjin was supposed to be some unreachable star that you could only watch. You had been friends (well, more than acquaintances, but you weren’t sure if ‘friends’ was the right word) for a year, sharing a chemistry class, and then drifted apart.

You had thought that that had been it - he was someone you had sat next to for a year, someone you associated with only because of a seating plan… but of course not.

You weren’t sure how it started, but the following year saw rumours arise. Rumours that you had feelings for him, and he for you, and you were both going out in secret. Most of the school knew it was just stupid rumours to fluster the two of you, but Hyunjin had laughed and gone along with it. Even when you’d asked him to stop.

“Geesh, it’s just a joke, y/n,” he had said, but he hadn’t known about the comments that you had received. Sexual things, all of them. Comments about why your hair was messy, clothes rumpled. Comments about your body. You hated those the most, because you couldn’t change anything. 

“So, turns out the guys aren’t going to give me the $10 unless there’s photographic proof that we went on a date.”

You let out a groan. “Walking next to you makes me anxious enough… and now you want to take a photo with me?”

“Anxious? Why would I- never mind that. Yes. I’ll send it to Seungmin. He’s the least likely to make such a big deal out of it… and then I’ll delete it.” He says the last bit with a sigh, and you thought he almost sounded sad. 

You’re grumbling under your breath, hands crossed in front of your chest. Hyunjin looks across at you and scoffs. You glare at him.

“Look, if you want to take a photo, hurry up and let’s get it over and done with.”

“But this is boring. Let’s-”

He grabs you by the wrist, dragging you towards a store. You can only let out a sigh, wrenching your arm away and following him grudgingly. 

You walk out ten minutes later, a cup of bubble tea in your hand. Hyunjin had ordered for you, and you didn't hate the flavour… but you wouldn't tell him that. 

"Okay, say cheese!"

"That's so cringey," you say, but you look at the phone anyways, holding your cup of bubble tea up.

Hyunjin leans in, and he's awfully close, his hair brushing the tip of your ear. It tickles, and you try not to laugh as he snaps a few shots. You feign a glare at him when he tried to move in closer.

"Bit close there, buddy."

"Stop moving- hey, this one's pretty cute."

You look at his phone, and he shows you a picture of you half turned away. Your brows are furrowed, but your cheeks are raised and lips between your teeth in an attempt at stop smiling. It was a weird face, in your opinion. How was that a cute photo?

You grab the phone from him and swipe. He's leaning in close again, cheek close to yours as you both examine the pictures.

"Why do you look good in all of them?"

"Natural talent, y/n."

You frown at him. "I hope you know how much of a dick you just sounded like."

He shrugs, snatching the phone back. "Well, I'll be sending a pic now, so if you don’t mind…"

He clicks around, and you notice him type a message. It takes him less than half a minute before he pockets his phone.

“So, now that the necessary part is over, shall we continue?”

“... Continue? I’ve spent at least half an hour with you. We have our photo - which you said you’d delete, so please do - and you even bought me a drink.” You nod your head slowly, thoughts clicking together before you turn to look at Hyunjin. “If I’m not mistaken, we could leave now and this would still be considered a date. Besides, we need to train back together.”

You give him a smile, but even you could tell it was more like a stretch of the lips. You were eager to go home already, to be in the safety of your bedroom. Alone. Without Hyunjin next to you. To be in your room, where no one could find something to whisper about.

Hyunjin stays staring at you. He’s relaxed, but his jaw is clenched, and you can almost see the cogs in his eyes running… but for what?  To find a reason to spend more time with you? No. To find something to say that isn’t rude or snappy? Probably. 

“Okay. Let’s go home then.”

He throws you a lopsided smirk before taking off. His hands are pocketed and his shoulders pulled back. He was tall, you remembered, and his legs unbelievably long. As always, he walked around like he was walking the red carpet.

You wordlessly catch up to him and walk by his side. 

The train ride home was also quiet. There was a tension in the air that you couldn't quite… name. It felt like any word you spoke was a risk, but you weren't sure why. Hyunjin seemed fine, whistling a tune like he was strolling through the park. 

You barely say a word, a soft goodbye the last thing the two of you exchange before heading your separate ways. 

-

“Did you hear? Hyunjin and y/n actually went on a date-”

“Shh! She’s right there!”

The fabric of your shirt was going to be incredibly stretched from the intense hold you had on it. You storm through the school, head bowed low. People were whispering already, and it was almost mortifying to hear their words. It was starting again, you could feel it. The rumours and the whispers. It wouldn’t be too long before the whole school new, and by then, you wouldn’t be speaking to Hyunjin again.

Which, if you were honest, was the last thing you wanted to happen.

You’re doing the one thing you never thought you would ever do - you’re looking for Hyunjin, and you knew where he would be.

Barging into his homeroom, you spot Hyunjin at the back, his head tilted back in a laugh. He was surrounded by two others - Jisung and Seungmin. Jisung spots you, eyes widening and hand reaching out to get Hyunjin’s attention. By the time Hyunjin sees you, you’re already reaching for the sleeve of his hoodie and pulling him out into the corridor.

It takes a few seconds to find a semi-empty area. You yank Hyunjin after you and finally twirl around to face him.

“Before you say anything, no, I don’t know how everyone already knows we went out. But I do have a genius idea."

Your foot is tapping the ground at a fast pace, and you feel like a character in Happy Feet.

Only, you weren’t so happy.

“Well, then you better find out how, because I already told you I’m not putting up with all of this again.”

He sighs, digging around in his pocket. “Well, here’s the $10 anyways.”

"That had better not be your genius idea."

"It's not. But it's the promised money."

“I don’t want the money.”

His hand stays hanging between you for a few more seconds before he shrugs and pushes the note into his pocket again.

“Look, I can ask Seungmin, but you can’t blame me for everyone talking about us.”

Talking about us.

The words hit some chord in you that you that made your entire body buzz with both anger and anxiety. Why were you the only one so affected by all this? Was Hyunjin not bothered? Were you just being dramatic?

You move to turn around, but Hyunjin calls for you.

“You know, people only talk and spread rumours about things they aren’t sure about. Things they don’t know.”

With gritted teeth, you pause. “What are you suggesting, Hwang Hyunjin?”

It takes less than a second for the corner of his mouth to shoot up in a self-satisfied smirk. “Date me. Go out with me. If you hate all of… the talk about ‘us’ so much, then let’s make it official, and then there won’t be any fun in making up rumours and teasing anymore.”

The world seems to slow down for a second, like a scene from a movie where everything blurs and fades out before suddenly coming crashing back. You’re not sure if you should yell at him for being so stupid or just walk away. 

“You’re kidding, right? This is your genius idea?”

He stays silent, his features falling lax again and shrugs, earning a scoff from you.

“Look, give it some thought. You know there’s some truth to what I’m proposing.”

Without another word, you shake your head at him and walk off.

The bell rings, and you join the stream of people heading towards their respective homeroom classes.

-

Hyunjin: there’s a party this weekend, so if you wanna take me up on the offer, tell me asap and we can go together

You throw your phone onto your bed with a frustrated sigh. You had avoided Hyunjin for the rest of the day, which wasn’t too hard, seeing that you only shared maths class together, and he sat on the opposite side. You’d found yourself sitting under the trees during lunch and recess, away from most of the student populace. Your friends had offered to come with you, but you had wanted to be alone.

Alone made it easier to think through everything.

You and Hyunjin got along rather well. Infact, had the rumours not started, you might have been rather good friends. You’d like to think that it was because of the rumours that you couldn’t talk to him properly anymore. You felt the need to be pushy, to shove him away - that was safe. Keep him at a distance, keep the rumours at a distance. 

But somewhere deep down, you knew you were just scared that you would prove the rumours right.

You were working on that, though. Not actually catching feelings for him. Which was going to prove hard. His proposal that morning did make sense - if you guys were to go out, then break up… there wouldn’t be any problems, right? No more rumours? Because why would people keep talking about something that actually happened?

Another ping comes from your phone, and you warily pick it up.

Hyunjin: when she leaves u on read :(

You: how did you even get my number?

Hyunjin: You gave me your number in chem??

Hyunjin: I missed a whole week and you said you’d help me if i needed

You: oh

You: i can't believe it's still saved on ur phone

Hyunjin: so what’s your reply to my offer and the party?

A curse slips past your lips, and your fingers move before you can think through everything.

You: fine.

Regret immediately fills your entire being, and you let out a groan. 

Hyunjin: Okay, see you tomorrow, honey ;)

You: say that again and i’ll puke

Hyunjin: h o n e y ;)

-

Getting up the next morning had been a hell of an ordeal. It was Friday; you only had to deal with Hyunjin for one more day, and then the party tomorrow night, and then you guys could stage some break up. 

You could do this.

Or, you thought you could, but by the time lunch came around, you weren’t too sure.

The morning had gone by breezily - Hyunjin had approached you on the way to period one - maths. 

“Couples walk together to class, honey.” He grins sideways at you as the pet name leaves his mouth.

While a part of you wanted to push him away, you reminded yourself that this was part of the act. The final act to end it all. You give in to the small, hopeful part of you from a few years ago - the part that wished Hyunjin was more a friend than a threat, and you let out a tch.

“Honestly, I think you can come up with something better than ‘honey’.” His hand snakes around your waist and he pulls you closer to him, avoiding the traffic of people running the other way. “Also, we need to set some rules.”

He gives you a look that reads “Are you serious? Rules?” but he doesn’t say anything. Reaching the classroom, you take a seat, trying not to stare as Hyunjin takes a seat next to you.

“I can’t believe this is the only class I share with my sugarplum… I better start sitting next to her more!” He says rather loudly, causing heads to turn.

You ignore the whispers that start, and shake your head at him. “Sugarplum is also a no.”

“Honey bear?”

“We already said no to honey.”

“Princess?”

“You’re certainly no prince.”

“Hey, that’s just mean!”

You crack a smile at him, and you’re both about to burst into laughter when the teacher enters. Class isn’t much different for the first twenty minutes or so. You’re looking at the board while the teacher talks, and you’re writing down notes and pointers she gives. The only difference was when you were told to get to individual work. 

“How do you like ‘kitten’?”

“I like kittens, but maybe don’t call me ‘kitten;.”

“I’m gonna assume ‘bunny’ is a no, too?”

“We’re getting somewhere, but you can do better.”

“Angel?”

You take a deep, shuddering breath. The word left his lips like sunlight, making your insides feel warm. “Yeah. I like that.”

“Okay, angel.” He pulls your notebook towards him and starts to doodle. “Just so you know, I don’t do work in class. I end up teaching myself at home half the time.”

“Well, I hope you know i do do my work, so don’t bother me.”

-

Hyunjin finds you at lunch by your locker.

“Y/n, Hyunjin’s coming this way-”

Your friends are worried, and they move to block you from view. It was a habit they had fallen into after you had voiced your concern about the whole ordeal. With a sigh, you shake your head.

“I know, it’s fine.”

“But if you guys are next to each other, the rumours- You heard the rumours too, right? That you went on a date?”

You push a tired smile on your face. “It’s true, we did.”

“You what-”

“Y/n, my angel! Let’s eat together!” Hyunjin bounces through the barrier your friends had created and throws an arm around your shoulders. “Hello, friends, I’m going to steal y/n today! We’re going to have a lunch-time date!”

Your friends can only stare, incredulous, as you reassure them that you were okay and you had agreed to this (which, honestly, you hadn’t. But you’d expected it to be happening, anyways).

His arm stays around your shoulders as he walks you outside the building. Passing by the basketball courts, a group of guys call out Hyunjin’s name. 

“Sorry, I’m hanging out with y/n!” He points at you as if to emphasise his point.

“You know, you’re making it very obvious you want everyone to know we’re dating, Hyunjin.”

“But isn’t that the point?” He cocks an eyebrow at you and grins.

“Wow, you guys are actually dating?” One of the guys let out a wolf whistle. “Good catch, man!”

It was starting again. You knew that it wasn’t like you would be left alone straight away, but this was stressful. It made you anxious.

You hear Hyunjin scoff, and you almost curl into him, hugging yourself. “Come on, let’s go.”

Picking up your pace, his arm falls from your shoulder. “Y/n, wait up!” 

Finding a bench under the tree, you quickly sit down. “Hey, I actually need to go to the library soon, so I can’t stay with you too long.”

“Library? I’ll come with you-”

“And then I need to see a teacher.”

The lies leave your lips quickly. It’s obvious to you that Hyunjin knows something isn’t right. He nods and doesn’t try to press on. 

“Okay, so why’d you come with me all this way then?”

You pull a peice of paper out of your pocket. You had written on it during your last class. Sliding it across the bench to Hyunjin, you watch his features scrunch up in confusion. He takes it into his hands and unfolds it.

Real rules for a fake relationship. (everything here stays confidential between us)

1. no sexual touching 2. no sexual remarks 3. do not say we’ve done it 4. no kissing on the lips. cheek kisses are permitted, but not in abundance.

“Anything you want to add?”

He reads the rules you have written, and then pulls a pen from his pocket.

Every bit of ink that left the tip seemed to taunt you, weighing you down.

5. no catching feelings.

“You write that like you’re that easy to fall for,” you whisper, moving to stand up. The words slip out quietly, and they almost seemed to be covered by the sound of the rustling leaves as the wind blows. You can't bring yourself to look at him right now.

“Well, it’d defeat the purpose of the whole fake dating concept, if you did.”

He wasn’t wrong, but the truth did little to conceal the strange bittersweetness in his voice. It did even less to ease the discomfort growing in your chest as you walked away.

-

Hyunjin: meet me here

Hyunjin: location attached.

It was after school now, and the ideal thing would be to go home and wallow in your discomfort and anxiety… but ignoring Hyunjin’s message would be an invitation for him to further question you. Besides, you could guess what this was all about, and it was probably only fair for you to explain.

You find him sitting in the corner of a cafe, thumb brushing across his screen as he aimlessly scrolls through his social media. You don’t greet him as you take a seat in front of him, placing your bag in your lap, and he doesn’t greet you either.

“I ordered some desert. It should be out soon.”

“Oh. That’s great.”

Gosh, you sounded so empty.

“So, do you… want to talk about it?”

You fiddle with the straps of your bag. “About what? Why should I?”

Hyunjin shrugs. “I mean… I know I make you uncomfortable, that much is obvious. But we were doing fine until lunch. You didn’t even see me for the rest of the day. Was it the whistling?”

A breath leaves your body faster than normal, and your jaw clenches. The desert arrives just as you start talking. 

You explain to him about the teasing - or, your side of it anyways - and all the remarks and comments you had gotten. It had been hard, and it was still hard, but he was right, it was getting better now. He stays silent the whole time, and you’re too scared to look at his face - did he think you were overthinking? Were you making it out worse than it actually was?

“... so I’m sorry, I guess.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I know, but I’m sorry I let it get to me and then avoided you for months on end, and now we’re “dating” and I still get thrown off.”

The desert - a slice of cake - sat uneaten between the two of you.

“Well, how about this,” Hyunjin straightens up. His voice is soft and gentle. He taps the table in front of you, catching your attention, and you look up at him. “After this, after we break up, let’s make up for the time we could have been friends. It’s not like I don’t want to be friends or anything, y/n.”

He offers you a smile that makes his eyes disappear, and you let out a shaky laugh. “Okay. Thank you.”

Shaking his head, he picks up a fork. “No need to thank me. Being friends again sounds nice. Now, eat, angel. You can’t expect me to finish this by myself.”

It was unplanned and you never thought you would have done it, but you spend the rest of the afternoon with Hyunjin. He (conveniently) needed to buy a new shirt and insisted on dragging you along. 

“Couples go on dates, y/n. Besides, you can help choose something that will match what you’re wearing tomorrow!”

His idea threw you off guard, but you laugh and go along with it. 

It was easy, hanging out with Hyunjin outside of school. You were free from the anxiety of being  caught together, or whispers and rumours and for a while - just a while - you wished that it could always be like this. 

“Try a size smaller.”

“But this is the style, y/n. Baggy shirts-”

“Just try a size smaller! It’ll look better with what I’m wearing.”

Hyunjin is skeptical, but he goes and tries the same shirt on in a smaller size. He walks out, and your jaw drops.

“Shut up, you look like a model.”

“Don’t I always?” His words come out half hearted, and you’re too in shock to see the tips of his ears go red. “Y/n, stop staring. I know I look good, but I can’t look that good.”

“Sorry, I just- dude, you look so hot right now!” Half of your brain was yelling at you to shut up, but the other half was so amazed by Hyunjin.

The shirt hung from his body like it was tailored to his size. It would look formal if he buttoned it up all the way, but you watched as he unbuttoned it half way and tucked half of the shirt in. It gave the outfit a new, messy but elegant look.

“If you rock up like that tomorrow, everyone’s going to be all over you.”

“Then you be my guardian angel,” He grins and looks at your reflection in the mirror. “I’m yours, aren’t I?”

Your heart lurches, and you remember that oh, right. You’re dating - fake dating, and it was all going to end tomorrow.

“Whatever.” You force a smile onto your face. “Hurry up and pay, ‘Jin. I need to get home before dinner.”

Hyunjin’s eyebrows are raised, and he points a finger at you. “I like that. ‘Jin.”

“Go pay then, ‘Jin.”

“Okay, okay, miss bossy pants!”

The next few hours are spent with hazy thoughts of Hyunjin in your head. He’s walking next to you, and you’re tempted to hold his hand. He’s sitting next to you on the train, and gosh, you just wanted to lean over and rest your head on his shoulder. He turns to walk to his street, and you feel the desire to hug him goodbye. You’re eating dinner, surrounded by your family, and you’re wondering what they would think if you introduced Hyunjin to them.

You’re laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and you’re wondering what it would be like to have him next to you, to sleep with his chest to your back, to dream next to him.

But you know you can’t. This just can’t happen.

You dream of him - of kissing him and holding him. Of laughing next to him and intertwining your legs, of sitting in the car while he drives.

You wake up with a strange feeling in your chest, his words from yesterday lingering in your head.

“I’m yours, aren’t I?”

You try to go about your morning without giving thought to the message he had sent you at some early hour.

Hyunjin: hey, we need to talk tomorrow.

-

The booming music does little to help calm your nerves as Hyunjin drags you through the house. You’re aware of the eyes following the two of you - Hyunjin and y/n, dating at last, and now on their way to find a quiet room. You could pretty much guess what they’d be saying tomorrow. There had already been plenty of jokes and comments made about the two of you, although more of them were praise and shock rather than sexual and discomforting.

You finally find a spare room - it must have been a storage room of some sort, for there were boxes against the walls and a dusty bookshelf with almost everything but books on it.

Hyunjin pulls you to face him, and you get your first proper look at him (for the whole night, you had been standing anxiously at his side with his arm around your waist.

The shirt you had chosen for him paired with simple black jeans. His ears were adorned with silver jewellery, and you’re not sure if his lips always looked that pretty or if he had put something on them.

“We need to talk.”

“Yes, you said that this morning.”

“I think I’ve broken a rule.”

It takes you a moment to figure out what he was saying. Your mind flashes to the list of rules you had written, and you let out a groan.

“You told everyone that we had sex?!”

He blinks at you rapidly, his mouth opening and closing in shock. “I- No! I didn’t mean that rule! I meant the one that I added.”

No sexual touching… No sexual remarks…. Do not say we’ve done it… No kissing on the lips…. No catching feelings.

Oh.

“And I really, really want to break another one right now.”

It takes all your willpower not to step away from him and cave in on yourself. 

The idea of breaking up was easier when you thought he didn’t like you. It was easier to keep your feelings at bay when you thought it was one sided.

“Hey, Hyunjin?”

His eyes seem almost glazed over. “Mhmm?”

“At what point is this all… real?” You sneak a glance up at him, holding his eyes when he meets yours.

“What- What do you mean?”

“If you kiss me now, would this be real? Or was it real from the moment we- you caught feelings for me?” 

It was him who caught feelings, not you. You had told yourself not to let it get too far.

“It’s… Do you not… You don’t…?”

Do you not like me back?

You swallow thickly, pulling your eyes away. “I can’t.”

“Okay.”

It’s Hyunjin who steps away. It’s Hyunjin who grabs a random cup someone had left in the room and pours it on himself. It’s for “staging” he says, to make it seem like you guys had had an argument.

He’s walking away, and his words from yesterday resonates in your head like a metal ball with too much momentum.

“Being friends again sounds nice.”

That didn’t seem too likely, after all this.

----------

an alternative ending has been written!

[snowdice]

Gaps in His Files (Part 4) [Relabeled; Refiled Series]

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Relationships: Logan/Patton

Characters:

Main: Logan, Patton

Appear: Remy, Virgil (but only in the epilogue)

Summary:

Logan Berry has learned many things the last 10 years: a lot of math and physics, a bit of humility, and how to be a hero being just a few. Through his education, his experience teaching, and his exploits as the superhero Bluebird, he’s changed in a lot of small and large ways. He has recorded these changes in well-organized documents and files. He’s even had to create two new file designations: a red one for files about his moonlighting at Bluebird, and a light blue one dedicated to his boyfriend, Patton.

When Bluebird is targeted by a memory device and all of those 10 years of progress suddenly disappear, Patton Sanders and Logan’s extensive files are left as his only resource to get those memories back. But what is Patton supposed to do when there are clear gaps in his files? And what does he do when he is one of them?

This is set 25 years before Sometimes Labels Fail though it’s story is completely independent of it and it is not necessary to read that one first.

Notes: Superhero AU, memory loss, past child abuse, past child neglect, unhealthy ideas about ones place in relationships, emotional suppression, self-deprecating thoughts, medical procedures mentioned, very brief unhealthy views of sex

Does anyone see the Easter Egg in here? Probably not. It’s pretty vague...

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Patton did not like driving Logan’s “special car.” It didn’t matter what position he put the seat in, he still either couldn’t reach the pedals or he felt like he was too scrunched up; the radio was (somehow) only set up to receive the local news station as well as some weird station that only ran a program detailing crop growing strategies which Patton thought must be some sort of cover for a channel sending messages in code (at least he really hoped it was because otherwise its existence was an affront to humanity); and he’d accidentally zapped himself with electricity while trying to adjust the temperature twice in the past and he still didn’t know if that was a feature or faulty wiring and Logan had refused to give an argument that convinced him either way. Not to mention, the car didn’t legally exist. If Patton got pulled over in this thing, what was he supposed to tell the police? Sorry, my boyfriend doesn’t have insurance, I’m pretty sure he built this death trap himself out of scrap metal because I can’t even discern the make and model.

“The corn! THE CORN,” the radio spewed.

“Yes, the corn,” Patton spat back. “I know. I heard you the first time.” Unfortunately, today, listening to the corn channel was better than listening to the news. The local news station continued to discuss and theorize what had happened earlier that afternoon over and over until Patton couldn’t take it anymore.

A memory gun had hit Logan. It had been a theory at first considering the things Lightwave and Logan had said along with the fact that Logan hadn’t seemed to remember how to fly, and had been all but confirmed a couple of hours ago when news that the police had investigated the dropped weapon leaked. Which all meant Logan was out there floundering with no idea what was going on or who he was. Patton wondered how much was gone. Had it erased all of his memories? Did he even know his name? He’d known enough to be able to use his powers, but was that instinct and muscle memory?

The theorizing on the local news station just made Patton’s blood pressure spike more with every passing second. Not that turning off the radio and being left alone with his own thoughts was much better. So…

“Crop rotation!”

Patton was the only person who knew Bluebird’s secret identity (at least, as far as Logan had told him.) Well… Remy might have guessed, but he hadn’t been officially told, and Patton doubted he’d be any help anyway. So, Patton was the only person who could really look for him. Sure, he was certain the police were searching (as well as some doubtlessly more dangerous people), but Patton was the only one who knew Logan.

You don’t know this Logan.

His Logan would have gone back to his apartment or maybe Patton’s if he were injured.

Patton gripped the steering wheel tighter. Okay. Maybe this Logan didn’t know where his apartment was. Maybe he didn’t know who Patton was. But he was still Logan, and Logan was rational and, more importantly, predictable. Patton would bet that in a circumstance where he knew nothing about what was going on, he would default to general survival tactics and what had he ranted and ranted to Patton about when they’d watched that one survival movie? Follow the water. Water is where you find food and shelter and almost certainly civilization if you follow it downstream. Sure, that was for when someone was lost in a forest or something, not already in a city, but Patton hoped he’d fallen into that strategy despite that, at least until he thought up something else better.

That’s why Patton had been driving up and down the river for the past few hours looking for anything suspicious and listening to someone blather on about corn. He pulled up underneath a bridge. It was a little bit away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but near enough to get to a more populated area quicklym and it had some good shelter around because there were trees. Patton bit his lip. If he thought like Logan, this would be a good place to stop. He decided to get out of the car and go out on foot for a bit.

Before exiting the car, he checked to make sure the mask was still in place. It felt strange on his face; he never really wore one. He clicked the locking mechanism which made the lights flash once but didn’t beep. He turned and froze when he met eyes under the bridge. The stranger didn’t speak but watched Patton intently from what looked like a makeshift house under the corner of the bridge. Patton edged out from beneath the bridge and headed toward the riverbanks. His shoes sunk into the mud a bit. It was starting to get dark which made it hard for him to search for things that looked out of place, especially when he was unfamiliar with the area. He was just running on blind Logan behavior instinct at this point. It was also starting to get cold. Patton hoped Logan had chosen to wear the winter super suit or he’d found a coat or something.

He wandered, looking into dark places and listening for any sounds beyond the river crashing into the banks. Around 15 minutes into his walk, his eyes caught on a large rock in front of a drainage pipe. Perfect, Logan’s voice said in his head. Patton crept over to check it out. No one was there, but it looked like someone had been recently by a smear of mud near the base of the rock that looked like someone’s foot had slipped there. Okay. He peered around him carefully, walking back toward the river. He had the sudden feeling of being watched. Up. He looked up at a small ledge along the bank and sighed in relief. “Thank god.”

Logan stumbled back a step when he realized Patton had seen him and turned tail to run again.

“Wait, L-” he cut himself off. He couldn’t risk it just in case someone was listening. There was a reason he had the mask and the car after all. Patton was the only one who knew his identity and Logan wanted to keep it that way. He thought quickly, head latching onto a story he’d been told one night curled up against a half-asleep Logan. “I’m Devora the Mood Goddess?” he tried.

Logan paused and turned to face him. “You know me,” he said peering at him from behind the mask still on his face.

Patton nodded, shoulders dropping in relief. “I do.” He offered a hand. “Come with me?”

He looked at the offered hand and then at Patton’s face. There was a moment of silence and then he nodded slowly and took a few steps down toward Patton. Patton grabbed hold of his arm when he got close enough, loosely so as not to startle him even though he wanted to latch on and never let go. Something loosed in Patton’s chest at the contact.

“Who are you?” Logan asked, accepting the touch, though he looked at Patton’s hand on his arm in confusion.

“In the car okay,” Patton requested. He nodded after a moment. “Are you okay?”

“I have body aches and from context clues, I assume memory loss,” he said, “but otherwise I feel well enough.”

“Good. Let’s get back to the car.”

They picked their way back toward the bridge through the muddy riverside. Patton groaned softly when there was an unmarked police car parked next to Logan’s car.

“What?” Logan asked at normal volume.

“Shh,” Patton scolded, but it was too late. A flashlight flared to light and turned to them the next second. “Hello Detective,” Patton said wryly. Patton had met Detective Silvia a couple of times, but of course she didn’t know that since Patton was wearing a mask. Logan knew her a bit more as Bluebird. She gave him a very suspicious look that grew almost hostile when she saw Logan was with him.

“Bluebird,” she said.

“So, I’ve come to understand,” Logan replied.

“I’m his friend. I’m here to help,” Patton said.

“Every villain in the city is looking for him, excuse me for not believing your word.” Patton sighed.

“He knows the code word,” Logan said.

She considered him and then shook her head. “I’d still be more comfortable if you came down to the station.”

Logan tilted his head at her. “No,” he said firmly. Then the detective yelped as her feet left the ground.

“Bluebird no!” Patton hissed. “The detective is our friend.”

“She is not my friend,” Logan replied with a frown. “I don’t know her.”

Patton rubbed his temples. “Just get in the car and put her down gently when you do.”

He went without compliant and Patton rounded the car. His eyes fell on the man he’d seen earlier, backed up against the wall with wide eyes. “Thanks for being concerned for him buddy,” Patton said.

They both got in the car and Patton drove away. He saw the detective being placed back on her feet in the rearview mirror. “Well, I’m going to have to send her a fruit basket,” he mumbled under his breath.

Want to read more? Click below!

AO3 Part 5

[alwaysahiccupandastrid]

Social Media AU - Social Killing (Part 24)

We’ll be taking a little closer look at the show itself next time...and we’ll see just how Richie’s performance is recieved by the fans 👀

I know the writing for the interview is small, so I’ve put the transcript below just in case anyone needs it!

Also, yes, I am in fact a giant moron who wrote that Social Killing was a weekend-show, and have only now realized that in the interview, it says “Wednesday night” because I wrote it like a month back and forgot I put that. Please pretend that the publication in charge of the interview got the wrong day, and that it is in fact Sunday nights!

----------

Our correspondent, Vincent Lewis, sat down with the main cast of the upcoming Hulu drama “Social Killing” this afternoon to learn more about the show, as well as what drew the cast to the project and what it was like to work together.

Vince: Hello, it’s wonderful to meet you all.

Riley Andersen: Aww, it’s nice to meet you too!

Vince: I can imagine it’s been a long day of press and interviews for you all.

Richie Tozier: Too long.

Jay B: It’s been insane to be honest. It’s unlike anything any of us have ever seen, I think.

Evan Harrison: Yeah, but it’s been fun too, in a weird way.

Vince: I’ll get right to it then. First of all, congratulations to all of you on the show, it’s been receiving rave reviews all around, and it looks like it’s set to be a hit.

Jay: Thanks.

Vince: So, can you tell us a little bit about the characters you four play? No spoilers necessary, just the basic so we know who’s who!

(All four look at each other and laugh)

Richie: I mean…

Evan: Ladies first!

Riley: (laughing) Geez, you guys are mean! Okay, so I play Hailey and she’s a cheerleader at Blackwood High, where the series is set, and she’s...complicated. She isn’t the stereotypical mean cheerleader you usually see in television shows, but she’s definitely not above doing what it takes for her to stay on top.

Vince: Interesting! Gentlemen…?

Evan: Okay, so I play Blake, who’s this kind of preppy, snobbish guy who went to boarding school but has transferred to Blackwood for unknown reasons. He knows pretty much all the town’s secrets since he comes from a rich family and so he kind of has his links everywhere in town.

Jay: I play Sean, who’s this beloved teacher at the school - all the students love him since he’s not stuffy or uptight. He’s kinda the cool English teacher who’s probably smoked a spliff with all his students at some point. But he has a double life that no one knows about, and he wants it to stay that way because he’s seeking justice for something that’s happened to him in the past few years.

Richie:...Oh shit, me. I play a guy called Ted, and he’s brand new to town because he’s looking for a new start after something super tragic happened in his past. So he takes the drama teacher position that just opened up, and he starts to realize that something is kind of off about the town - which, you know, is kinda understatement of the fucking century!

Vince: So everyone’s got a secret then…

Riley: Basically none of us can be trusted, that’s what you should know.

Vince: Now obviously, Jay, you’ve been working pretty consistently in the business since you were young - you would do Canadian kids DIY shows and Québécois dubbing, is that correct?

Jay: Yeah. God, how fucking lame is that?

Vince: No, no, I used to love watching those Canadian kids shows! But since becoming an adult, you’ve done all sorts - comedy, obviously, drama, horror, animation...so what led you to “Social Killing”?

Jay: Well, I mean, my agent sent me a script and I was like ‘holy shit this could be good’; then I saw that Richie fucking Tozier was getting involved and I was like ‘okay, drop everything, I have GOT to do this damn show now’.

Vince: Did you two know each other before doing the show?

Richie: I mean, kinda. He came backstage at some of my shows a few times, and I was like ‘this guy is fucking awesome’. He’s Canadian, so that’s why.

Jay: I’m a very proud Canadian, yeah. Sorry, America, but Canada is the greatest country in the world.

Riley: America sucks right now, so don’t apologize.

Jay: But yeah, I’ve always wanted the chance to work with Richie on something since he’s one of my favourite comedians, so this was a huge opportunity for me.

Richie: And then he actually met me properly and regretted that shit.

(All of them crack up laughing)

Vince: As I understand it, Riley, you’re not entirely new to the world of show business either, because before joining the show you were a dancer.

Richie: Wait, what??

Riley: Yeah, I was. I was a professional dancer.

Jay: Jesus Christ.

Richie: A fucking PROFESSIONAL dancer?!

Riley: Oh come on, you guys knew I was a dancer!

Richie: Not professionally! I thought you just did it for a hobby, not as an actual job!

Riley: Anyway...I danced back-up for a few people, did some background dance work on movies and shows, but this is my first time acting.

Evan: And she’s incredible at it. It’s amazing.

Vince: As I understand it, Evan, you’re also brand new?

Evan: Well, this is my first big role. I did some theatre for a few years, played some gigs at bars to get by, but this is what I really want to be doing. I was so excited when I got cast that I nearly started crying - it’s a dream come true.

Riley: Aww.

Vince: Finally, Richie… You’re a fantastic stand-up comedian, I love your work, but this is your first time acting in anything. What made you want to transition from stand up to television, especially now?

Richie: Woah, yeah, I mean...yeah. (laughs) Honestly, I wanted to do something new. A lot of stuff has changed in the last few years, mostly the content of my stand-up, and I want to distance myself from that old shit as much as possible. And, you know, I’m married now, we’re expecting our first kid soon, so it’s all super serious and shit.

Vince: Congratulations!

Richie: Yeah, thanks! So with the show, I wanted to just...show that I could do it, I guess. Show I was more than just some shitty comedian doing misogynistic jokes that weren’t true. The writers approached me originally since they wanted some humor in the show, but...I guess they liked the other stuff I did once I was on-set.

Riley: Just for the record, I like your new stuff better.

Jay: Oh yeah, for real.

Evan: I still remember seeing the comeback show, first time you did your own material, and I was so blown away. Not just the actual material, but the way you performed and talked about your friends on-stage...it was amazing.

Richie: Thanks, man.

Vince: So, what was it like for the four of you to work together? Were there any scenes where all four of you were present?

Jay: Oh, man…

Evan: (mock dying) Spoilers. Can’t. Give. Them. Away.

Richie: Yeah, you can't see it, but in the building across the road there’s a Hulu representative with a sniper ready to take us out if they think we’ll fuck up.

Vince: Alright, alright, I get it! But what was it like working together? Fun?

Riley: Oh yeah. Definitely. These three guys are super funny and great to work with, you know? Evan would sing songs on set between takes, and we’d all have little impromptu karaoke sessions. Jay is just...really sweet but funny, he keeps quiet sometimes but he genuinely is really fun to be around; he goes nuts about hockey. Richie kept us all laughing, of course, even when we had to shoot more challenging scenes - without giving too much about the show away, there were times where we would be filming, and we’d all be feeling down or tired, and it was really hard. But Richie would keep our spirits up by making jokes, and making sure we were all hanging in there.

Evan: Yeah, Richie’s the best.

Riley: He’s a talented actor too, which is nice to work with.

Jay: Aww jeez, Riley…

Richie: You’re making us sound awesome, and we look like assholes just sitting here nodding.

Evan: To be honest, I worked more with Riley than anyone else and she really undersells herself.

Richie: Yeah. She’s actually super funny - I mean, she’s great on the show but she pulls off comedy pretty well too. I think she’d do pretty well on a comedy show or something. You know, if the show doesn’t work out. (Winks)

Riley: Coming from Trashmouth Tozier, that’s like...the most wonderful thing someone has ever said to me. Oh my god.

Vince: Well, I was going to ask what it was like, being surrounded by all male leads - obviously there are females too, but you four are the focus, and you’re the only woman.

Riley: (laughing) Shh, I don’t think- I don’t think they’ve realized I’m not a guy yet! Don’t tell them!

Jay: Nah, she’s one of the guys clearly!

Richie: Wait, you’re a WOMAN? My life has been a lie, Riley Andersen!

Riley: The blonde ponytail and cheerleading skirt didn’t give it away then.

Richie: It’s 2018, anything can happen. I’d wear a cheerleading skirt. I’m sure my husband would be up for that.

Evan: I am very jealous that Riley got to wear the skirt and I didn’t. It would have made my ass look fantastic.

Jay: I’m not sure if my fiancée would be amused or terrified by me in a cheerleading outfit. I’m like 110lbs soaking wet, so fuck knows what I’d look like.

Riley: (throwing her arms around him) Jay, no, you’d look great! Be more confident in yourself!

Richie: (in a Canadian accent) It’s his Canadian modesty, eh?

Jay: (laughing) Fuck off.

Richie: (still-Canadian-accent) Still mad you left your tuque in the washroom, eh?

Evan: Oh god.

Vince: On that note...thank you so much for meeting with me. Good luck with the show!

“Social Killing” starts 9pm on Wednesday night on Hulu.

[artificialqueens]

Static (Shalaska) - Freyja

A/N: hello! this was the second and last (technically first but shh) prompt I did for @writethehousedown ’s spring fling week: “storm”!! Again, I just like having all of my fics in one place - and there’s nothing wrong with a round two ;)

Summary: X-Men AU (but you don’t need to understand anything more than: they have powers and there’s a school for it). Alaska is stuck at a school for mutants, but it’s kind of hard to have mutant pride when you hate your powers. Sharon helps with that. Until, of course, she wants to take Alaska flying with her. 1.7k

-

Alaska tries not to use her powers.

They’re a nuisance, and they’re grotesque. Her parents could hardly stand the sight of them, and she can’t blame them for it. If she had to look at herself while she used her ‘gift’, as the professor calls it, she’d be disgusted too.

Her parents had eventually tired of having her around, despite her efforts to make herself small and less of a nuisance. Her powers are just hard to control, and sometimes they made themselves known when her parents wanted to pretend like they didn’t exist. So her mother had called the ‘special school’ while her father looked at the website, and Alaska had pouted at them from the other end of the table.

“Some representatives from the special school are going to be here in two hours to evaluate you,” her mother had said. “Go get cleaned up.”

“I know it’s a school for freaks, mom,” Alaska had said, betrayal pooling in her gut. Her mother had told them she was an ‘emergency case’, which explains their quick action. She sure there are more important cases they could be rushing to. “Stop calling it that.”

“Sorry,” her mother had said, looking guilty.

“It is special, though!” her father had said, false cheer in his voice. He’d spun his laptop around to show the header of the website, which boasted a huge stone mansion on a sprawling green lawn. “How many teenagers get to live in a mansion?”

“200,” Alaska shot back. He wasn’t the only one who’d done research. “I’ll probably have to share a room.”

Her father sighed. “Listen, Alaska, if you don’t want to go….”

Alaska looked at the alarm on her mother’s face. “No. No, I’ll go. Don’t worry.”

And so she’d gone. And now she’s here.

She’s regretted that admission since the day she was shoved into a room with three other girls, but Sharon makes her forget about it entirely. She’d met the other girl during a sleepover made up of two of the dorms, and Sharon’s purple lipstick, ripped t-shirt, and half and half black and white hair, had been a breath of fresh air.

She’s also come to appreciate Sharon a little more than as a friend, but she’s determined to keep that hidden as best as possible. She’s already going to lose Sharon’s friendship once her powers make their way out into the limelight, and she doesn’t think she’ll survive if she loses something more than that.

She’s jerked out of her thoughts by a sharp kick to the bottom of her foot, Sharon’s pale face waiting expectantly for her to react. Alaska glares.

“Thanks.”

“It was necessary,” Sharon says. “I don’t know what planet you were on, but we lost communications with it like fifteen minutes ago.”

“Maybe that was on purpose,” Alaska drawls, and Sharon kicks the bottom of her foot again.

“Anyway, as I was saying,” Sharon says, ignoring Alaska’s glare. “You have to let me take you flying.” Alaska gives her a skeptical look.

“I don’t think so,” she says, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t really feel like getting struck by lightning.”

“It doesn’t work like that and you know it,” Sharon argues. Alaska isn’t convinced.

“Please?” Sharon’s expression turns entreating, eyes huge, and she touches Alaska’s arm gently. A static shock snaps against Alaska’s skin, but she hardly reacts, far too used to it. “Please. Alaska. I’m begging on my knees.”

“No,” Alaska says.

Sharon pulls back, frowning. “Brat. Listen, it’s my birthday next week. You have to do whatever I want.”

“You get one request,” Alaska reminds her. “The deal was not ‘Alaska will become Sharon’s manservant’.”

“It’s either this or telling me what your powers are,” Sharon says, ignoring her, and Alaska’s heart freezes in fear. Sharon is far too curious about her powers, convinced that no power could be disgusting, but then again, she hasn’t seen Alaska’s.

“This,” she says, and Sharon grins.

“Awesome. Let’s go.”

“Now?” Alaska laughs, disbelieving, and Sharon smiles down at her triumphantly.

“Less time for you to back out. Now, come on!”

Alaska follows somewhat reluctantly, abandoning her half eaten lunch with some remorse. She’d probably be too nervous to eat it, anyway.

Twenty minutes later, they’re standing at the top of the radio signal, Alaska frozen with fear as the wind whips their hair this way and that.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Sharon shouts over the wind, but Alaska’s gaze is glued to her feet, too afraid to look at how high up they are.

“I hate you!” she shouts back, and Sharon laughs.

“Here.” And suddenly Sharon’s hands are on her arms, pulling Alaska towards her. “Put your arms around my neck.”

Alaska strings her arms over Sharon’s strange hair (“It grows like that,” Sharon had said one night, both snuggled under the covers, a movie playing on Alaska’s laptop. “I used to hate it, but now I think it looks really fucking punk.”) with ease, taking advantage of the several inches she has on the other girl. She leaves a polite amount of space between them, but Sharon secures her arms tightly around Alaska’s waist, pulling them closer together.

Sharon grins, their faces mere inches apart, and Alaska struggles not to blush. “You ready?”

The sky starts to darken, the scent of ozone filling the air. Alaska thinks she can feel her body lightening.

“No,” she says.

“Too late to turn back now!” Sharon says happily, and lightning flashes behind her head like a halo. That same lightning seems to be flickering in her eyes, and Alaska feels a thrill run through her, her hesitance forgotten in the name of Sharon’s excitement. “Three, two–”

They’re in the air.

They shoot up higher and higher, raindrops splattering their skin and soaking their clothes. Alaska feels weightless, and she laughs as they slow down, floating high above the school grounds.

“How do you like it?” Sharon asks, face glowing with excitement. She’s beautiful - ethereal. Alaska thinks she might be in love.

Alaska grins. “This is amazing!”

“Want to do some tricks?”

“Jesus Christ, yes!”

Sharon shoots up a little more, the soft rain hitting their faces a little harder, and she spins, swoops, and dives. Alaska’s stomach dips like she’s on a rollercoaster, and she can’t stop laughing, chest filled with happiness and wonder. They come to a stop again, laughing with delight.

This is beautiful. Sharon’s gift is so beautiful, full of wonder and power, and Alaska feels a small spark of jealousy that her own gift isn’t quite so stunning.

To her horror, she feels a familiar prickling on her arms, and all she can do is stare into Sharon’s  eyes with terror. Sharon frowns.

“Are you okay?” Sharon asks worriedly. “Did something happen? Did I fuck it up? Alaska, I am so sorry–”

“No!” Alaska interrupts, horrified. “No, Sharon, God, I’m – fuck.” She looks at Sharon’s bicep, wide eyed and embarrassed, and she can’t do anything to stop Sharon from following her gaze.

A green vine has wrapped itself around Sharon’s arm almost protectively, and Alaska hates it for giving away her feelings, for showing itself at such an important moment.

It starts to bloom little white flowers, making itself flashier just to spite her.

Sharon watches it, stunned, and as she turns her gaze back onto Alaska’s face, Alaska can’t help the sob that comes out.

“I’m so sorry,” she warbles, and she curses the shake in her voice. “I try to keep it from happening, but sometimes–”

“Alaska,” Sharon says softly, clearly bewildered. “It’s okay.” But she’s starting to lower them back onto the signal tower, and Alaska has no doubt that she wants to get away as quickly as she can.

She’s ruined it.

“I’m so sorry,” she sobs as their feet touch the metal. She tries to pull away, but Sharon catches her arms, pulling her close again. “Don’t touch–” Alaska starts, but it’s too late. Sharon’s eyes are flickering over her arms, looking at the green stems and pink blossoms that have sprouted out of her skin. It’s disgusting, and Alaska feels nauseous at the thought of Sharon seeing this. She didn’t even get a chance to prelude it with a warning, a disclaimer - she’ll be disgusted.

She has no chance with Sharon now.

The realization makes all of the fight go out of her, and she slumps, disheartened, looking anywhere but Sharon’s face.

“Alaska–”

“No,” Alaska interrupts, upset and unsure of how to channel it other than through anger. “Don’t even try to lie to me. I’m disgusting. This is - this is disturbing, I don’t even understand how you’re still here right now,” she can tell her voice is getting louder, more distressed, but she can’t bring herself to care. “I would be–”

“Alaska,” Sharon says again, and the feeling of a hand on her cheek has Alaska snapping her mouth closed, startled. “This is beautiful.” She brushes Alaska’s cheek with her thumb, and Alaska feels something bend with her touch.

“Of course they’re on my fucking face,” she barrels on, anger and stress welling up within her again, but Sharon’s smile nips the feeling in the bud. No pun intended.

“No,” Sharon says, her other hand coming up to cup Alaska’s face. “Alaska. You’re beautiful.”

Alaska stares at her. “Really?” she says softly, and Sharon raises her eyebrows.

“‘Really?’” she mocks. “Alaska, you have flowers growing all over you. Purple, pink, white, green - you’re fuckin’ Persephone. You’re a goddess, you’re–”

Alaska cuts her off with a kiss, launching forwards and wrapping an arm around Sharon’s neck, her own fingers coming up to graze her jaw. Sharon stiffens for a moment, just long enough to make Alaska second guess herself, before she relaxes, deepening the kiss.

“I think I love you,” Alaska says breathlessly when they break apart. Sharon grins.

“I think I love you too,” she says. “I should have known flattery was the way to get you to–”

Alaska shuts her up with another kiss.

It’s nice, finally having a way to shut Sharon up. Maybe she’ll keep this kissing thing going for a while longer.

Tags - sharon needles, alaska thunderfuck, shalaska, lesbian au, x men au, fluff, hurt/comfort, freyja, tw self hatred, tw canon typical body horror (?)

[unexpectedcronchiness]

Pt 7 i think we’re at im just vomiting ideas heck yeah more wolfstar

Based on a text “ sirius is put in an arranged marriage with a pureblood witch or it can be muggle au but with a female (he's gay in this) and remus is the wedding planner “

no warnings on this one either it just fluffy

arranged marriage, who even thought of shit like that? still it wasn't remus' place to question. He walked into the room, prepared to give his "Ok so theme ideas, what do you like, what actually looks good" speech but he stops dead in his tracks

first off, theres a man alone here

usually both partners are together

and secondly hes absolutely gorgeous

this was going to be problematic, remus rarely thought anyone was attractive, but when he did, he fell hard

the man noticed him and stood up, and held out his hand

"sirius orion black, i see you have the, ah, pleasure, of working with my family on getting the union from hell organized"

remus couldn't help it, he laughed

he'd seen arranged marriage cases before, but legally he wasn't allowed to do anything, trust me, he checked

but never were people so blatantly outright in their discomfort or annoyance

honestly it was refreshing

laughing was unprofessional and he was being paid a hefty amount of money to make something tasteful yet elegant, so he steeled his face and started his speech

-----

days passed and he found himself spending more time than necessary with sirius

he couldn't help it

at first he was just curious but then it was something more, it was intense and new. Sirius was funny, charming, kind, witty and so much more

yet there was something subtle, something dark shadowing his features

something that remus couldn't help but be pulled to

he had his own secrets of course, being a werewolf was hard enough, but then managing the top wedding planner office in the wizarding world and trying to keep it all a secret was unbearable

yet he loved it

he loved secrets and the way they kept you warm, the way you were allowed to be possessive and cautious and no one thought any less of you because everyone has secrets. It's universal and completely personal at the same time

so he held onto his newfound secret that he was undeniably genuinely attracted to this sirius orion black.

------

" i was thinking for the flowers maybe something like an acacia blossom" acacia blossoms meant concealed love, amoungst other things, but concealed love was what he was going for but it's not like he would know what it meant

yet the way sirius looked at him after he said it unsettled him

his mouth agape, eyes wide in realisation

then he said "i rather like ambrosia" shit. Ambrosia, your love is reciprocated.

shit shit shit

what was he doing flower flirting with the heir to the blacks, one of the wealthiest pureblood families in the wizarding world

and ya know, that thing how he was going to GET MARRIED And remus was supposed to be helping him

"hmm maybe white lilies" it's heavenly to be with you but, "but, you'll probably like stephanotis better" stephanotis, happiness in marriage

sirius laughed

"do i look like i'd enjoy stephanotis better? besides, women aren't really my type. How about sterling silver roses?" Love at first sight, oh merlin

Remus couldn't resist

"so what is your type then"

sirius grinned cheekily

Dr.Remelems-the fluff monsterToday at 7:47 AM

"hmm, well let's see, men for starters, in case you didn't get my extreme subtlety. Camelia" you're a flame in my heart, shit he was good

he continued

"gold eyes, dirty blond hair, that shimmers in the sunlight, incredibly sexy scars, a nice sense of humor, an understanding of flowers is also deeply important, Carnation" My heart aches for you, admiration. Oh merlin he was in deep

"don't know where you'd find a guy like that he seems impossible, and aren't you supposed to be getting married. Gardenia, white heathers" You're lovely, secret love and wishes could come true, protection

remus hoped it conveyed everything he was willing to risk for this man

he would willingly risk an affair, he would protect this man, give him everything no matter what and he'd only known him for a month

sirius, as remus learned had absolutely no control of his emotions on his face, but at least he knew that he knew what it meant

sirius feigned casualness

"let me one up you, orange blossom, peony.... stehphanotis but with viscaria?" eternal love, marriage, happy marriage, happiness in marriage but when combined with viscaria, will you dance with me, did he, was he understanding this right

unable to play games any longer remus choked out

"did- did you just propose to me in flowers?"

sirius looked bashful

"well i mean uh yeah, but uh I'd need your help in getting out of this current uh, marriage thing if you wanted to do this i know thats not a yes but it would be difficult and i just-"

Remus cut him off

"jesus merlin and morgana yes."

"i do" he said solemnly

sirius looked happier than remus had ever seen him, no shadows, no undertones

"ok so i don't know how to get out of this current ya know marriage thing, i haven't made an unbreakable vow or anything, well yet at least and-"

"Sirius you brilliant man you, you've given me an idea"

----------

It was the day of the wedding. Sirius was standing at the alter, whatser name getting ready in one of the back rooms. The flowers they had chosen, spider flowers (elope with me, sirius and remus both thought it was funny) and remus was ready, in a suit that was probably more decorative than a wedding planner needed, but little did they know, he was probably underdressed

it was his wedding day after all

Remus went over to sirius, walking intentionally down the aisle as he did. It was on purpose yes, but everyone else didn't look twice as the ceremony had yet to start. silently, he gripped his wand and cued the music.

everyone turned to face remus in shock, sirius beamed, as a man should look on his wedding day. Cries of rage came from the black family as it clicked what was happening.

walburga black began to leap up, brandishing her wand but was stopped by an invisible force keeping her to the chair, and the chair to the floor. or ya know, a sticking charm

they'd figure out how to get it off eventually and he only needed a little bit of time anyways

being a wedding planner had perks

he reached the altar and grabbed sirius' hands.

The clergyman looked shook, but also suddenly understood the vague wording in his contract, shrugged, and went on with it

if remus was being honest, he didn't remember much of what the clergyman said, he didn't remember the cries of outrage from the black family

what he did remember was the look in sirius' eyes, the smile that was so large it threatened to come off his face, the tight, nervous grip of his hands

remus remembered that most of all

remus remembered hearing sirius say i do, tears in the old saps eyes, and then he remembered hearing it from himself

screams of protest and indignation sounded like music to his ears but then suddenly he heard clapping and cheers

he turned around in shock and saw that whatserface was in the aisle, in jeans and a hoodie, leading her family in appluase

*applause

as would later be explained to the black family. Remus had not taken an unbreakable vow to marry or love sirius for ever. neither of them could promise that. but what had happened however was meridith (as he learned her name was) and sirius had made an unbreakable vow to never marry eachother

turns out meredith was undeniably gay and had a girlfriend 

and so in the confusion they were wed, and the blacks could do nothing of it, for worries of risk admitting they were beanboozled by a their heir and his husband, or worse that they had made the worst match in all of pureblood history with two incredible gay queens.

yet something gnawed at remus

one day,  a year later, he went up to sirius

it was time, the secret didn't feel as warm and personal anymore

instead it felt dirty and aggressive, mean, harmful

he walked up to sirius

shit he was not crying, he was not crying but he started to speak

"i-i think it's time-time for you to know- and- and i just want- i just want to say to you, i love you so much, more than anything and imsosorry and"

"honey whats the matter, is this about your uh, 'furry little problem"

remus blinked

what

the heck

sirius couldn't help but chuckle

"darling you're hardly inconspicuous, ive known since we were 'dating"

remus couldn't help it, he bawled

sirius pulled him into his arms, tenderly holding him

"hey, hey, hey shh, hey, single full bloom roses, pink rose, rose leaf" i love you, i still love you, perfect happiness, please believe me, you may hope. Remus translated these automatically and allowed himself to finally feel content

THE END

-bonus- after the whole debacle purebloods thought twice about arranged marriages and let their kids be for a while, and so meredith took advantage of this and her girlfriend and her got married, (remus was the planner, they had all turned out to be quite good friends)

[unfortunate-stranger-losers]

Six Baudelaires AU, Part Three {AO3} {Masterlist} {Part One} {Part Two}

Chapter Thirty → in which the Baudelaires have had ENOUGH

“Row faster, orphans!” 

Violet shook her head. “No. We’re fixing Lilac’s bandages. Sit down and wait, jackass motherfucker shitbag.” 

It had been quite a while since they’d set off in the boat. Olaf spent most of his time gloating and bragging, but honestly, the kids had stopped listening after about hour one, and were focused on making sure the youngest two didn’t fall over the edge of the boat, Lilac’s wound stayed closed, and none of them strangled the Count and bloodied the edge of the boat. 

At the moment, Nick was leaning against Klaus’s arm, only shaking slightly as he helped Violet reset the bandages. Lilac was protesting, saying something about how she was fine and they could probably just let her do it, but Soli just put a hand on her face and said, “Shh,” and Lilac sighed and shut up. 

“I finally have the Baudelaire fortune!” Olaf ranted, cheering as he spun around the boat. “I removed that stupid Carmelita II nameplate so the ship is now The Olaf, as it should be! Everything is going my way! I want to buy a car and crash into people! Orphans, take us to the nearest car dealership!” 

“We’re in the middle of the fucking ocean, assface.” Klaus said. 

“And we’re not rowing anywhere for you, we’re waiting til either we land somewhere or die of starvation.” Nick said, glancing at the bottom of the boat. “Whichever comes first.” 

“I think you all are forgetting,” Olaf approached them darkly, “That I am in charge, and-” 

The Baudelaires shared a look, and then Violet and Nick leapt forwards. Nick gave him a swift kick to the stomach, sending him backwards, and Violet slammed his head against the wood. As he gasped, Nick leapt forwards and ripped his knife from his belt, tossing it to Klaus, while Violet found the harpoon gun under the seat and slid it to Solitude.  

“I think you are forgetting, prickhead,” Violet said, “That there’s way fucking more of us than there are of you.” 

Nick straightened, smiling a little, and he added, “We’re the ones in charge.” 

“You’re just a little bitch.” Solitude said, watching as Babbitt ducked towards the water to try and drink. 

“And the only fucking reason,” Lilac said, sitting up and grimacing as her stomach wound flared up, “That we haven’t thrown you overboard already is that we might need bait to catch larger fish to eat.” 

“So,” Klaus said, “I suggest you either help us row, or sit the fuck down and pray we get to shore before we get tired of your ass.” 

“Cazzo,” Sunny said, which meant, “Which won’t be long, dickhead.” 

Olaf stared at them, and they were pleased to see a flash of fear in his eyes. “Y-you’re forgetting,” he stumbled, reaching back to put a hand on the diving helmet, “That I have the medusoid mycelium! I can release it-” 

“Then do it.” Nick said. 

Lilac gave him a glare, and put her arms around Soli and Sunny. “I’d like to see you try.” 

They all stared at him, almost daring him. “Do it.” Klaus said. 

“We don’t have anything left, you piece of bastard shit.” Violet said. “And at least we’d get to watch you die, too.” 

Olaf froze, shocked at the cold, hard stares he received from each Baudelaire. They didn’t think he would. But they wouldn’t care if he did. 

“You… you’re too noble.” he said quietly. “You wouldn’t allow someone to die.” 

“We’re chef’s salads.” Sunny said. 

Olaf opened his mouth to say something, and then he froze, staring over their heads. 

“Well,” he said, “It looks like the tide has turned and a storm is brewing.” 

Nick narrowed his eyes. “You know what? Shut up, bastard-” 

“He meant that literally.” Solitude said, looking behind them and slowly grabbing Babbitt. 

They turned, and realized, just then, how many storm clouds were on the horizon. 

And also that a giant wave was headed right for them. 

“Fuck.” Klaus said, just as it hit. 

The storm at sea was definitely not a pleasant one. Nick grabbed tight onto Solitude, hugging her close as the boat swung around like a pinwheel, and the sails tore and rain pounded upon the siblings so much that they were not sure whether they were underwater yet or not, and lightning struck the mast of the boat, splitting it in two, and only missing Lilac because Klaus pushed her to the side. The waves burst into the air, ten times the size the Baudelaires were used to, and the splashes and droplets hit them, so cold that they thought for a while it might be ice. 

And then, with a deafening crack, the boat split, and the Baudelaires found themselves tossed to the waves. 

Lilac awoke on the beach, feeling again like she was on fire. 

She groaned and rolled over, her hair falling across her face as she felt sand underneath her. Her dress was soaked, her hair was wild… 

She was alone! 

Lilac tried to sit up, only for her stomach to remind her none-too-gently that she’d been cut only recently. She doubled over, but she still managed to get up enough, and she tried to yell for her siblings, but she was having enough trouble breathing as it was.

“Lilac! Lilac!” 

Lilac looked up, tears at the edge of her eyes. 

The voice grew more panicked. “Lilac? Nick! Klaus! Soli! Sunny!” 

Lilac finally gasped out, “Violet!” 

There was a pause, and then she felt someone throwing themselves at her back. 

“Lilac!” came Violet’s cracked voice, and Lilac gasped. “Oh, shit! Sorry, sorry! I was so scared you- do you need help?” 

Violet moved to be in front of her sister, checking her over, and Lilac said, “I’m fi-” before coughing quite a bit. 

“It’s okay. Here.” Violet put an arm under her shoulder, helping her stand. “Lean on me. We’ve got to find the others.” 

“Where are we?” Lilac blinked, glancing around at the sea surrounding them. “I don’t see land- what-” 

“A coastal shelf.” Violet said. “Nick! Klaus! S-” 

“We’re here!” Lilac breathed a sigh of relief as, Nick and Klaus ran into view, each carrying a shaking toddler. Their clothes were a wreck, and their hair was a mess, but they looked uninjured. 

“Babbitt’s here, too.” Solitude said, nervously patting her pocket. “But they’re sleeping.” 

“Thank God.” Lilac started to cry, and Klaus ran to help support her. “Oh, thank God.” 

“This place is a dump.” Nick said, stepping over scattered rope and half an anchor. 

“It’s a beach after a storm, Nick, what’d you expect?” Violet said. 

“Birds!” Sunny said, gesturing at the soaring seagulls. 

“Birdcage.” Solitude said, flinching as she pointed at a cage just a few feet from them, half-buried in the sand. “Not a lotta good memories there.” 

“We need to get somewhere safer.” Klaus said. “Coastal shelves are usually near an island.” 

“Then we just need to walk somewhere.” Nick said, glancing around. “Which direction?” 

“Anywhere, honestly.” Klaus said. “And- oh, shit, there’s the bitch.” 

They followed his gaze and then walked forwards. Several feet from them lay Count Olaf, unconscious in the sand. 

“He looks dead.” Sunny said. 

“God, I hope he’s dead.” Violet said. 

“I don’t, I wanted to kill him.” Nick said. 

As they approached, they groaned with annoyance as Count Olaf then sat up, coughing slightly. He glanced around, and as his eyes landed on the children, he said, “Where am I? Where’s my diving helmet?” 

“Coastal shelf.” Klaus said. 

“We ate it.” Solitude said. 

Olaf groaned. “Get me some coffee, orphans! I had a very unpleasant evening, and I’d like a nice, hearty breakfast before deciding what to do with you.” 

“There’s no coffee.” Lilac said. “We’re going to find an island.” 

“You’ll go where I’ll tell you to go!” Olaf said. “I’m the captain, and you’re my henchpeople!” 

“Naw, bitch.” Sunny said. 

“Need we remind you that we can beat the shit out of you if necessary?” Violet said. 

“I think your weapons are all gone, assface.” Klaus said. 

“So you can come with us, or stay on the coastal shelf.” Solitude said. 

“See how long it takes you to starve.” Lilac said. 

Then they headed down the coast, and after a moment, Olaf reluctantly followed. 

“Stab?” Sunny whispered. 

“Maybe later. Let’s find out where we are first.” Violet whispered back. 

They walked forwards for some time, occasionally glancing back to make sure Olaf hadn’t grabbed a weapon, but he seemed too busy grumbling under his breath to think of something like that. 

After a while, Sunny shouted, “Land ho!” and pointed into the mist, and the Baudelaires could see the shape of a narrow island ahead, with what looked like white cloth billowing on the beach. 

“I’ve discovered an island!” Olaf cackled. “I’m going to name it Olaf-Land!” 

“You didn’t discover the island, there’s people already living here!” Lilac said. 

“And they’ll worship me as their king!” Olaf said. 

“Someone’s coming.” Solitude said, pointing forwards. 

Indeed, a small figure was emerging from the mist. Olaf went on about how one of his subjects was approaching, but the Baudelaires didn’t care to listen. “Maybe it’s another survivor of the storm.” Nick said quietly. 

The figure got closer, skipping quite quickly, and they could see it was a young girl, maybe six or seven years old. She was wearing a white robe, so clean that she could not have been in the storm, and a belt that held a white seashell. She was playing with a pair of sunglasses that looked very much like the ones the Baudelaires wore for their concierge disguise. She was grinning, but when she approached the Baudelaires, she suddenly looked very shy. 

“Hello.” Lilac wanted to kneel down to get eye-level with her, but unfortunately she couldn’t do so without losing her balance, and Violet still had an arm under her to keep her standing. Instead, she contented herself by giving the girl an encouraging smile, as she asked, “What’s your name?” 

“Friday.” said the girl. 

“Do you live on the island, Friday?” Lilac asked. 

“Yes.” the girl nodded. “I got up early this morning to go storm scavenging.” 

“What’s ‘storm scavenging’?” Solitude asked. 

“Every time there’s a storm, everyone in the colony gathers everything that’s collected on the coastal shelf.” Friday said. “One never knows when something will come in handy. Are you castaways?” 

“I guess we are.” Violet said. 

“My name is Lilac Baudelaire.” Lilac introduced. “And these are my siblings- Violet is helping me stand, because I’m a bit injured.” 

“From the storm?” Friday asked. 

“Not exactly.” Lilac flinched. “That’s Klaus, holding Sunny, and Nick, holding Solitude.” She turned reluctantly to Olaf, who was suspiciously glaring at Friday. “And this is-” 

“I am your King!” Olaf announced in a grand voice. “Bow before me, Friday!” 

“No, thank you.” Friday said politely. “Our colony is not a monarchy. You must be exhausted from the storm, Baudelaires. It looked so enormous from shore that we didn’t think there’d be any castaways this time. Why don’t you come with me and find something to eat?” 

“That’d be amazing.” Nick said. “Thank you, Friday.” 

“Do castaways arrive here often?” Klaus asked. 

“From time to time.” Friday shrugged. “Mother says that everything eventually washes up on our shores.” 

“The shores of Olaf-Land, you mean!” Count Olaf said. “I discovered this island, so I get to name it!” 

Friday put the sunglasses on and peered at Olaf curiously. “You must be confused, sir. People have lived on this island for many, many years.” 

“Primitive people.” Olaf said. “I don’t see any houses.” 

“Houses get blown away during the stormy season.” Friday said. “So we live in tents, which provide nice ventilation during the hot season.” She sound out ventilation very slowly, as if she’d just learned the word. 

“I still say you’re primitive, and I don’t listen to primitive people.” Olaf said. 

“Then don’t.” Nick said. “You can stay here if you want, bi-” he glanced at Friday, unsure of what words to say in front of her. “-you can stay here, jerk. We’re going with Friday.” 

“You won’t go with some foolish child who won’t bow before her king!” Olaf then reached into the sand, and the Baudelaires gasped as he pulled out his harpoon gun. They all stepped in front of each other, and Lilac reached out her hand to grab Friday, but the child just stood there, unreacting. “Bow before me or I will fire this harpoon gun at you!” 

Friday just stared, and then she said calmly, “In a few minutes, all the inhabitants of the island will be out storm scavenging. They’ll see any act of violence you commit, and you won’t be allowed on the island. Please point that weapon away from me.” 

Count Olaf opened his mouth as if to say something, and then shut it again, and sheepishly lowered the weapon. The Baudelaires glanced at it, and noticed that he only had one harpoon left. Not very good for defending himself. 

“Baudelaires, please come with me.” Friday said. “I’ll show you where there’s food, and we can get you changed out of those clothes. Lilac, we have a doctor here who can help with that.” she pointed to the bandage. 

“What about me?” Olaf asked, his voice a little squeaky. 

Friday gave him another look, and then firmly said, “Go away.” 

She took Lilac’s hand, then, and showed the Baudelaires where to head. 

And once Friday turned around, Soli and Sunny both flipped off Olaf as they left.

[hoyoungy]

002. Sanctioned | Jun

genre: comedy, mentions of sex, college/roommates au, friends with benefits au | jun x fem!reader summary: dating does not come easy to apartment 417. sex is even worse. well, maybe it was just you. it seems like everyone you know is able to get laid, get a date - hell, even a hug! you look sad and desperate as you wallow in your dry spell, so when your roommates soonyoung, mingyu, and minghao try to be your wingmen on a saturday night, you end up signing a no-strings-attached contract with a very familiar, but very much willing face word count: 2239 a/n: the terms & conditions. warnings include swearing, mentions of sex, dialogue-heavy, and platonic relationships

part 001 , part 003

The following morning, you find yourself buried under a very soft comforter, feeling warm and fuzzy. The smell of freshly-washed linens hit your nose and the rays of the sun helped you naturally wake up to a beautiful morning.

All of those positive thoughts were an indication that you weren’t at home.

You jolted up in bed and took time to process that you somehow ended up from the party to Jun’s bedroom. You sort of remember being the only one left at three in the morning and you sort of remember still drinking the rest of his Moon Juice, but because of that poison, the rest was all a blur. After looking down at your bare legs and Jun’s oversized t-shirt, you can kind of assume how things went.

“Oh, shit,” you said without thinking.

“Good morning to you, too.” Jun walked into his bedroom wearing only sweatpants, his torso all tanned and exposed for you to gawk at.

“Ohhhh my God, Jun, what did we do…?”

“As you so kindly asked me last night, we ‘did the do’.”

“Oh God, is that how I asked you? Like, out loud?”

“Do you not remember anything at all?” he asked, sliding back into bed with you.

“Not really.”

“I guess I’ll take the blame for that - I’ll admit I put way too much Everclear in the Juice…”

“Was it good at least?”

“The Juice?”

“No, the… you know…”

“Oh, you mean the SEX?”

“SHH, your neighbors might hear you!” you blushed, hitting him harshly with a pillow.

“How are you a working, functioning adult?”

“I ask myself that every day.”

“Well, if you must know…” his hesitation made you nervous. You always needed some sort of validation that you were good in bed and sometimes it weirded out your partners, but it wasn’t your fault you were insecure! “Last night was probably the best sex I’ve ever had in my entire life.”

You looked at the shirtless man beside you with wide eyes and even pinker cheeks than before. That had to be the best compliment you’ve ever received. “Really? You mean it?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Dammit, and I don’t remember anything!”

“If it matters to you, you sure looked like you were enjoying yourself,” he smirked. “In fact, you enjoyed yourself twice.”

“Twice!? I wanna both die from embarrassment and congratulate you because I’ve never done that twice before! Damn, now I really hate not remembering anything…”

“Need me to help jog your memory?” Jun’s husky voice tickled your ear as he wrapped his arm loosely around your waist. Before you could cave in, he hissed loudly and pulled away. “Nope, nevermind, dick too sore.”

“Oh, my God, I’ve never made a guy’s dick sore before, either!” you cheered. “I haven’t got up yet, but I can definitely feel that I’m sore, too, so let’s postpone the memory-jogging.”

“So there’s a possibility that this will happen again?”

“I mean, unless you don’t want to?”

“Only if you don’t want it to.”

“…”

“…”

“So we’re both consenting to this, right?”

“Right.”

“That this could happen multiple times.”

“Yes, _____, that’s how this works.”

“Cool, cool, cool…” you said, nodding awkwardly. “Can I ask you something, though?”

“Ask away.”

“Not that I’m not thankful you’re agreeing to this, but why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“I mean… you’re Wen Junhui, you could literally be doing this with anyone.”

Since Jun transferred to your university, only the blind and those incapable of love could ignore his extremely good looks and charisma. You’ve always thought Jun was extremely handsome, but him knowing that, too, and telling you at least five times a day turned you off a bit. But hey, luckily for you, you were incapable of love, so this whole ordeal might work out.

“Of course I know that I could.” There it is. “That’s why I’m agreeing to do this with you.”

“Wow, the Wen Junhui wants to be fuck buddies with little ol’ me ~” you fawned.

“Lucky you, huh?”

“So should we like… write up a contract for this or something…?”

“Really?” Jun deadpanned. “You want to write up a contract so that we can have sex? Have you never done this before?”

“Uh, yeah…!” you scoffed, totally not lying. “I definitely have…!”

“God, you’re so vanilla.”

“Take that back,” you threatened. “I am not vanilla! I’ll have you know, I’ve done some pretty freaky things! And, might I add, I have never dated nor have I ever felt any emotional attachment to any man that I’ve ever slept with.”

“Congratulations, you lack empathy.”

“I just want to set some ground rules, ok?” you pouted. “Like, can we see other people, what are our safe words, make sure we’re both free of STDs -”

“Isn’t it kind of too late for that last one?” Jun noted, raising his brow at you.

“Oh shit, you’re right… Well hey, if we put it in the contract and one of us starts itching down there, we can take it to court and sue each other?”

“Good idea. Can you also make sure to include that you have to be on birth control or I have to wear a condom? Because I am not about to reproduce with you.”

“Well, duh, our babies would be dumb as shit. They’d be really hot, though.”

“Oh yeah, no doubt about it.”

“Wait, we need to write this down before we forget. We also need a witness or two.”

“Mingyu’s not going to be our witness,” he stated firmly.

“Somebody has to be! You know, one of Mingyu’s many hidden talents is writing up and officializing contracts.”

“Not that I personally care, but you really want your roommates, of all people, to know about what happened?”

“I could have done it with little baby Chan for all I care and I would still brag about it to them.”

“Your sex life is in shambles.”

“Don’t judge me.” You finally forced yourself to get out of his bed and dress for the walk of shame home. “Did you want to do this today, or should I make an appointment another time?”

“No, I can go today.” He got up on the other side of his bed and grinned when he found your bra. He tossed it to you before you could run over and hit him. “I know you don’t remember last night, but I did a lot of the work, so can you repay me by making me food?”

“Fine, you baby.”

“Yo,” you called when you and Jun arrived to your place. “Anyone home?”

“Your place is so nice for living with three other guys,” Jun mused.

“Mingyu does all the cleaning, to be honest.”

“_____, is that you?” you heard Soonyoung call from his room.

“Yeah.”

“Did you bang someone?”

“I did!”

“Yah, Minghao, Mingyu, did you hear that!? You each owe me $10!”

“Sometimes when one of us doesn’t come home, we make a bet to see what happened,” you explained to Jun, who seemed slightly scared. “At least someone believes in me!”

“I GOT YOU, _____!”

“NO WAY, she’s totally lying -” Mingyu swung open his door angrily to scold Soonyoung but then stopped midsentence when he saw you and Jun standing in the living room sheepishly. “Holy shit.”

“Why, what happened - Oh, what the fuck,” Soonyoung said as he joined you.

“Why is it so quiet all of a sudden - Oh… yikes…”

“What!? Why did you all say it like that!?” you pouted. Jun greeted everyone with a shy wave as your three mutual friends in front of you gawked at the two of you. Their eyes simultaneously shifted between the both of you, mouths slightly hung open and faces scrunched in disgust.

“Don’t tell me you two are doing it,” Minghao begged.

“Only once so far! It’s not like it happened before yesterday!”

“Uh, twice, actually,” Jun corrected, making you hit his arm.

“I’m gonna throw up,” Mingyu said, walking away to the kitchen.

“Wait no, we need your help! Can you help us write a contract?” you asked him.

“For what!?”

“A No Strings Attached contract?”

“You cannot be serious…”

“Oh, my God, she’s definitely serious,” Soonyoung face palmed. “Of course she’s not joking, that would be silly.”

“And you!” Minghao accused, pointing to Jun. “You’re agreeing to this!? Like, willingly?”

“Rude!” you shrieked, chucking a shoe at him.

“Is it that crazy?”

“Not only are you crazy to even agree to this in the first place, but you are insane because you’re here to sign a contract for it.”

“She sounded so cute talking about it, I couldn’t say no,” Jun smiled, nudging you playfully.

“This is the worst thing I’ve ever had to do ever.” Mingyu sighed, pulling out a pen and a paper, getting ready to help write your contract. “And a contract between the two of you, of all people.”

“It’s not like we’re strangers,” you pouted.

“That’s what makes this whole thing worse! This contract is going to have to be pretty in-depth since you two know each other. There’s a lot more room for error because of that.”

“Ok, then let’s start,” Jun proposed. He eyed the other two boys suspiciously as they got comfortable on the couches next to Mingyu. “You guys are helping out, too?”

“No, but we’re not missing the opportunity to witness this,” Minghao grinned. “Once in a lifetime opportunity for _____, am I right?”

“Why don’t you ever believe in me?”

“Shut up, all of you! So the contract is titled ‘No Strings Attached’, right?”

“Sure.”

“Ok, let’s make this as simple as we can. All the rules will be stated as is and we won’t categorize them into sections unless it’s necessary, so just tell them to me and I’ll just keep adding to them. This will be the ‘Terms and Conditions’. Got it?” You and Jun nodded simultaneous. “Great. What’s the first item?”

“Well, no strings attached means there will be no feelings involved, no type of emotional connection, just all purely physical,” Jun stated.

“Lucky you, _____ makes that easy already,” Soonyoung commented.

“With that being said, I’d assume that means you two are open to seeing other people then?” Mingyu asked.

“Yeah, and can you like, put in fine print or something that Jun and my partners have to wear condoms at all times and that his partners and me are on birth control for double the protection?”

“Good one, although I was hoping that was assumed and didn’t need to be written down… Ok, what else?”

“What should our safe word be?” you asked Jun.

“How about flamingo?”

“What, why?”

“It made you stop and think just now, right? It’s perfect!”

“Good call, ok flamingo it is.”

“You guys are so weird, you were made for each other,” Mingyu muttered as he scribbled down the silly rules. “Anything else?”

“No doing it with someone else and then us doing it on the same day. Sanitary reasons and I don’t want to be smelling some other chick’s perfume while we do it,” you cringed.

“If we’re doing it at your place, they either have to be dead asleep or gone,” Jun said, signaling to the three disgusted boys.

“Brush your teeth right before.”

“The host provides nourishment afterwards.”

“Staying the night’s fine, but no cuddling.”

“No public displays of affection, period.”

“If one of us is sick, no sex until one hundred percent recovered.”

“No toiletries or clothes are allowed to stay at each other’s place.”

“What!? But that one’s purely for convenience!”

“No, that’s how breaking the rules start! Haven’t you seen those romantic comedies where the girl slowly leaves her stuff everywhere at the guy’s place and now bam, she’s fully moved in?”

“Ok, but do you really think that I would -”

“Hold on!” Mingyu scolded, flipping through the messy contract pages. “I lost count after brushing your teeth! I think I got it all, though. If there’s anything else, just add onto it, you’ll figure it out as whatever you call this friendship progresses. Last thing for you to do is to sign at the bottom.”

Mingyu hands Jun the notepad first, who hurridly scribbles his neat signature on one of the two lines. The statement read, ‘We, Wen Jun & _____, hereby abide to the preceding statements above and understand the consequences if one or more of the rules is broken.’

“What are the consequences…?” you asked after signing your name.

“Don’t know, that’s between you two. Now I’ll sign as a witness, and Minhao and Soonyoung -”

“I’m not touching that! It’s contaminated with weird sex germs!” Minghao shrieked.

“I agree, I’m not signing anything. Just forge my signature, or something.”

“That’s not how - fine, whatever, the No Strings Attached contract has officially been sanctioned. Congrats, you two, you can do it like how the bunnies do.”

“Aw, thanks, Mingyu!” you grinned, pulling him and the other two boys into a big group hug. Jun only watched you four in amusement.

“Ew, don’t touch me!”

“Now that that’s over, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta make my buddy Jun here some food.”

“Why…?” Soonyoung asked.

“He, uh, needs to recharge from last night…” you blushed.

“Why did I even ask…”

[thirstyfortom]

High School Band AU: Ch. 20

The host beams, and his voice echoes down the backstage thanks to the sound system. 

 “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 17th edition of the Winter Festival, sponsored by Jae-bong’s dealership. Smooth and ready to go machines wait for you!”  

Gross…

You take a deep breath and stare at your reflection in the mirror. This is it… the day is today… all the feelings, all the confusion… and the goal was only getting to this day in particular. You never signed up for the drama, you just wanted to sing… and now you will!

“Are you ready?” Jaehee asks, walking into the dressing room.

“I am!” you smile. “Are you ready, Rika?” you ask, opening the curtain for her to step out.

“Oh my God… what was Saeyoung thinking when he sew this?”

“Well, uhm… to be honest, he did ask what I thought of red latex once… but I never answered, because I thought he was joking…”

“Always answer him, he’s never joking, believe me. Ugh… Jaehee, are you sure this was the only outfit he had planned?”

“I’m sorry, Rika. He did thinking of MC, we never thought you… would be taking the lead sing today…”

“Technically, I won’t.” she tilts her head, looking at herself in the mirror and trying to find a way to make this outfit look less weird. This was clearly not made for her, but… was it made for you? For real, what was Saeyoung thinking?

“Shh, don’t talk that loud, somebody might listen to us.” You reprimand them, looking around. The other girls from the other bands look too busy to pay attention to the three of you, but still… it would be trouble if somebody listened about this.

Because using playback is against the rules. Well, it’s not exactly playback… playback implies lip syncing over a recorded version of the song. There’s no record, you will sing live! You will just… be hidden in some strategic place and sing while Rika lip syncs and dances. That is… if she can move in the weird leotard Saeyoung said it was the outfit for the performance.

So… it’s not really against the rules… since there is no rule that… forbids someone to hide in some strategic place and sing while someone else performs on stage. It’s… it’s the organizing committee’s fault for leaving such a breach that some smartass like you could easily pass through when you’re that determined to do what’s right.

Because this is right! It’s… justice! Rika never left the band because she wanted to, she had a condition that made her leave. You would never had joined if she hadn’t left, and if you’d never joined, you would never had met V, fucked him and made such a mess with these people’s feelings, an unintentional mess, you’re aware of that, but still a mess…

So… so… it’s all payback. It’s about trying to make it up for all of them, including Rika. Yes, they never signed up for the drama either, they just wanted you to sing. And now you’ll sing.

“I’m pretty sure this is against the rules…”Yoosung muttered when you explained what you meant by ‘being Rika’s voice’.

“It is. Rule number III, paragraph 5 on the Winter Festival Musical Contest’s Statute: it’s strictly prohibited to perform over a pre-recorded version of the song presented. All performance is valid as long as it is live.” Jaehee states, wow, did she… did she really memorize the statute of this contest? And, what’s most shocking: there is a statute for this contest?

“Well, uhm… yeah! As long as it is live, it’s valid, right? I can sing live while Rika just moves her lips in sync… Jumin?”

“Yes, MC?” he looks almost scared when you call his name

“I have the feeling that you had a chance of taking an exclusive look at the stage before the competition… am I correct?”

“I… yes, it would be a safe assumption if you consider I… may have given a little financial incentive to someone who knows someone who works at the city hall and had more details on the festival’s logistics…”

“So you bribed someone.” Zen rolls his eyes.

“Something like this. How did you know, MC?”

“Just a guess, you seem like a control freak enough to do whatever that helps the band and your friends, even if it’s a little illegal.”

“I’ll try to take it as a compliment…” he nods.

“Of course. So… Jumin, would there be some place behind that stage where I could hide with a mic and the acoustic would be good enough so it would like the person on stage is singing?”

“I… I suppose the acoustic behind the stereo box would be convincing and Saeyoung could keep an eye on you…”

“Whoa! Jumin, what are you even doing, man? Are you really… considering this?” Zen asks, then your eyes meet his. “I’m sorry, MC, but this sounds… like an awful idea.”

“And also dangerous, she could be electrocuted behind the stereo box…” Jaehee sighs.

“Not necessarily, I’ll have to check the wiring to turn my pick-ups and the instruments anyway… I could double check and make sure MC is safe…”

“Now you too, bro?”Zen shakes his arms in a dramatic way.

“Look, I like this as much as you do, Zenny boy. But I’m trying to be practical here, we have a really good singer and someone who used to be a really good singer, the good singer won’t sing if we don’t help the former good singer and the festival is in three days. You do the math.”

“And… it’s what MC wants…” Yoosung says in a calm tone, but doesn’t look at you. Ugh… you really need to talk to him once this festival thing is over… “Zen… you’re happy as long MC is happy, right?”

“I… I didn’t mean it like that, I…” he sighs “Sure.”Ugh… you really need to talk to Zen too… “What do I have to do to help you in this?”

“Uhm… excuse me…” Jaehee clears his throat. “But you’re forgetting that, as the manager, I have the final say on this, and I say this is a very stupid decision.”

“Jaehee!” you widen your eyes.

“I’m sorry, MC, you know I don’t mean to offend you, but… what you’re suggesting is insane, is dangerous and is wrong. We can’t do that just because you feel bad for Rika…”

“But I’m not doing just for Rika, I’m doing for all of them, I’m doing for you, Jaehee…”

“For… for me?”

“Let’s face it, Jaehee. I can sing well, but I’ve messed up with you all, I didn’t mean to, but I did. Rika did some bad shit too, but… she is a better member than I could ever be, and she has no voice… but I do. I’ll use my voice to make it up for what I’ve done, that’s… that’s all I can do for you, so… please, Jaehee… let me try to make it up for you.”

She stares at you for a few seconds, then at the other members.

“Rika? Is that what you want too?”

“I… I would be lying if I said I don’t miss the old days…” she smiles and looks at Yoosung, who smiles sweetly.

Jaehee sighs.

“I suppose if it is a unanimous decision between all the members, I can’t really oppose…”

“Thank you, Jaehee…” you sigh in relief and smile. “Thank you, you won’t regret it… so, hey Saeyoung! Guess you’ll have to sow a new garment…” you turn to Saeyoung, grabbing his arm and dragging him to where Rika is.

And this flashback would end here. If… it was your flashback. But it’s not, it’s Zen’s.

“We gotta talk.” Zen says to Yoosung and grabs his arm and guiding him to where Jaehee and Jumin are.”Okay, so what are we going to do? MC is… acting a little… impulsively… yes, I know what this word means, you jerk!” he glares at Jumin.

“I haven’t said anything, but yes, she’s acting impulsively, and if even someone impulsive like you can see, we really have a problem…”

“MC… I tried to convince her she didn’t do anything wrong, but she keeps insisting on this and putting us in a compromising situation...” Jaehee sighs.

“And Rika… she’s not thinking straight too… these girls are just… ahh, what are we going to do?” Yoosung asks, looking behind to make sure Saeyoung is distracting the two girls properly.

“Do you think we can convince Saeran on snapping MC out of it? She would listen to him, right?” Zen suggests, probably knowing it’s not a great suggestion.

“He won’t listen to us, he’s another one we need to deal with, but let’s focus on MC and Rika first… they are both well intentioned, but… I don’t think good intentions will solve anything here… we’re screwed…” Jaehee sighs.

“We aren’t.” Jumin states bluntly.

“How come?”

“Rika is a little easier to deal with, believe me. I think… if I talk to V, he will help me find a solution.”

“He really should, since this is also his fault…” Yoosung scoffs.

“Yes… and… mine as well, since I’m such a control freak who does illegal things for my friends and… have a little weakness towards women…”he raises his head, as he just had an idea.

“What are you talking about right now, dude?”

“That V should deal with Rika, but I’ll take responsibility for MC. But I’ll need help from all of you… especially yours, Zen.”

***

You leave Rika alone and go to the hallway, drinking some water will calm you down and… make you avoid thinking too much how would it be if you were the one preparing to face the audience today.

“Oh hey, Yoosung! Are you ready?” you ask, trying to be as friendly as you can, but… wasn’t being friendly the problem in the first place…? Ahh, think about this later, now you have to focus on singing… and not being electrocuted.

“Almost, MC… thought I could kill some time while we wait for Zen…”

“Zen? Why? He’s not here yet?”

“No, he… uhm… had a problem with his bike, but he’ll be here soon, don’t worry.”

“His bike? Is he… is he okay?”

“Yes, sure! It was just a malfunction, he’ll make it in time. But… just in case, Jumin said I should be ready to take the vocals if it’s needed…” he chuckles nervously. Well, you don’t want anything bad to happen to Zen, but… it would be nice to sing with Yoosung again… well, watch him sing with Rika or… something like this…

“If it’s necessary, I’m sure you’ll do great, Yoosung!”

“Yeah, I… I think I will, no, I will!” he nods reassuringly, and it’s so cute you can’t help but smiling. “Can you believe? Me singing in front of an audience if it’s needed? I would never even considerate this a year ago, or… uhm… a… a month ago…” he glances at you before lowering his head.

“Yoosung… I… I am really sor…”

“Please don’t start apologizing again, MC. “

“But I have to, I… hurt you, I thought you had a crush on your cousin, I pushed you away because of this, I-I…”

“And you boosted my confidence, you made me realize I’m as talented as Zen, you even encouraged me on showing my best side to the girl I liked, even if she didn’t realize it…” he chuckles, surprisingly not in a nervous way. “So, please… don’t apologize for making me find a better version of myself.” He smiles and pats your shoulder, and being comforted by this version of Yoosung is really encouraging. “And… if you don’t mind me saying… if you want to apologize, you should… talk to Saeran…”

“I… he won’t listen to me, Yoosung, he…”

You get interrupted by Zen and Jumin showing up in the hallway. Yoosung smiles and greets them.

“Zen, are you alright? I heard your bike got broken…”

“Ah yeah, there was a little problem ,but it’s fine. Thanks for worrying, babe.”

“Yeah, it would take even longer if I sent a car… I knew your bike will be a fastest option, though not that safe…” Jumin ponders.

“And there’s also the fact that I’m a really good driver with my bike, you jerk! You should see how I nailed the traffic next to the airport!”

“Airport? What were you doing at the airport, Zen?”

“I, uhm…”

“He went to pick someone up, MC. Someone that really should be here today, and… probably the only person who can put a little sense in your head…”

“Sense in my…? What are you talking about, Jum…” you freeze when you notice a third person showing behind the two guys.

Not just any person, a woman. Not just any woman…

“M-mom?”

← Chapter 19 | Chapter 21  →

[motleystitches]

he thinks of doing good (but it’s been a while) 4/7

(Now on Ao3)

Summary:

Most days, Cassian Andor prefers not to remember he is officially married to Jyn Erso, but rumors of the Death Star bring them together again while the Alliance and the Partisans keep an uneasy truce. (Arranged marriage AU with a dash of Victorian-ism later on)

#rebelcaptainweek: Prompt- Nerve(s)

In a vague way, Bohdi recognized that he should be less afraid, but the Partisans’ presence on Jehda had clearly changed in the years since he had left. The city itself had almost become unrecognizable.

Nonetheless, he came from Galen Erso, bearing important information. Galen Erso, who wore an imperial uniform but spoke in the soft unobtrusive way of a man with conviction and intelligence.

Bohdi admired him. He sympathized with him. When he was younger, the Temple of Whills had foretold a great fortune for Bohdi. Galen told him it was more than superstition. The word “Force” had gone out of the lexicon by the time Bohdi was old enough to read the news and Galen didn’t use the word. Instead, he revealed an idea that encompassed all and went beyond language. In fact, Bohdi thought it strained to be reflected outward from inside him.

“Do I know a Bohdi?” Saw asked, as if he had no memory.

“I came from Galen Erso!” Bohdi shouted, wishing Saw would remember. He had already given him the holodisk. “Jyn’s father.”

Saw peered at him. “Jyn? Jyn? My child? My daughter? Why aren’t you with her?”

-=-=

For a woman with a pleasant face and a pleasant accent in the standards of the empire, his Partisan partner had difficulties observing the niceties of society.

The way she talked about the backwardness of the Republic, the necessities for reform of how to maintain a peaceful galaxy, the way she railed against the selfishness of the older houses, eyes luminous and cheeks flushed in the most dimly lit restaurants- she captured attention.

Cassian’s felt his indulgent smile becoming a permanent mask, his thoughts straying to escape routes in the event of aborting the mission.

She would turn and say, sweetly, “What did you think of Colonel Raju’s party and his blue friend?” as if they were a real couple and so what if mid-rank human Imperials at their table now all looked to him, expectant.

Cursing inwardly, Cassian mumbled a reply: quiet, unobtrusive, forgettable. He was a spy. He had orders. They did not include sparkling comments on Raju’s friend that the audience wanted. Someone at the table, however, did have a comment.

The Empire staffed its armies with human men, but it could not erase a few thousand years of infrastructure. Women like Kestrel’s identity still conducted the operations of the government, solved the logistical issues, and placed their favorites into key positions: their sons, brothers, and lovers.

Second-lieutenant Joreth Ward was clearly failing at being a promising candidate despite his wife’s best efforts. No matter, the mission was the deliver the comments, arguments, small-talk, rumors, and gossip that fueled the diplomatic chatter in the Galactic City to the Alliance. Perhaps his Partisan partner did the same, perhaps not. He was learning the shape of her smile at a good meal, a ribald joke; he could not yet know whether any of it was genuine. Or in fact, if she had another objective like he did.  

A week later, Cassian had to move to an old sector in the Galactic city to one of the first designed towers of the Empire.

“For your safety,” their host told them, the strain in his face almost visible. “This is a better place. All the amenities of the Empire.” Something had happened, yet Cassian had received instructions to keep the ruse and the ruse is kept better if his ignorance was genuine.

It seems ridiculous, but Cassian couldn't question the messenger. Kestrel had dropped his arm the moment their host left. Cassian offered to put her jacket to into the closet. Joreth Ward was a polite and reserved man, nonetheless solicitous of his wife.

Then she kicked off her shoes and shucked off whatever clothes she was wearing with the bedroom door half open while Cassian measured the deliberate evenness of his breath until she appeared in front of him, dressed again. Her eyebrow raised as she watched him brushing off the lint. “You can actually hand it to the housekeeping droid.”

Cassian had never used a housekeeping droid before this mission, but had had never been necessary to blend into the personal lives of his targets. It occurred to him to wonder where she came from, how long she had been with the Partisans. Not long, perhaps, but it was impossible to tell whether she was younger or older than him.

The imperial-designed towers were taller than the apartment they had been living. She was standing very far away from the windows. Perhaps she came from a planet where there were monsters in the shadows. Perhaps, she was merely unused to heights.

“Why do you do this?” he asked, as the housekeeping droid traveled to the bedroom and bleeped sadly as it collected the clothes on the floor.

“Unlike you, I wasn’t raised on a backwater planet,” she answered, flippant, as if he hadn’t seen the calluses on her hands beneath the soft gloves she wore, as if she didn’t understand his question.

Cassian used one of his newer practised smiles, meant to be disarming though not quite in the character he was currently playing. He hadn’t had much chance to use it before. She looked at him for a moment, startled, then something like wariness settled around her. It was so strange that Cassian frowned.

He woke in the middle of the night. “Move over,” she said, as if she didn’t have a perfectly good bed of her own. Then, her words warm in his ear while he nudged the safety on his blaster, she said: “My room is bugged.”

He offered to sleep on the floor. Half an hour later, her hand was on his shoulder. “The bed is too soft,” she said, almost tentative.“What’s your name?” she asked.

There were worse discomforts than sleeping with his belt and the sheath of his vibroblade digging into his hip, but how could she know? Cassian wanted to ask, but her face had become familiar to him, and the starlight climbing through the windows seemed to demand some sort of clarity. Truth could give the impression of intimacy. Perhaps she would share what she knew with him. The Alliance needed the info. He gave her his name. At least, a part.

“We need to sleep in the bed sometimes, Jeron,” she whispered. “Or one of us need to have an affair.”

Cassian almost scoffed, but she was right. He could be as unexceptional as he liked, but together they invited scrutiny. Security had been increased since their arrival.

The bed for either of them was not large, but they were not large people. Layers of cloths separated them. Cassian surreptitiously moved the weapons beneath the bed.

From the pillow beside him, she yawned. “Goodnight, Jeron.”

And Cassian had a flash of thought that he had committed some fatal error in judgement. The target would have to be eliminated sometime during the assignment, but suppose she was here to prevent it? She was too unlike the Rebels he had known: too rough, too polished, too young and too old all at once, as if she had never chosen the path of her life, but merely hurtled through space, affected by every gravity. Such people were dangerous. They were informants, traitors, or confused- used by whichever side had them first.

He watched her. He started learning the pattern of her breathing when she was asleep, the expression around her eyes, the accidental brushes of warm unguarded skin. He started to notice the myriad little ways she remembered what his favorite foods were, the ways she knew the side of bed he preferred. She took him to dine with her (their) imperial friends, scouted out offices for secrets. He spent as much time looking at her as he did anyone and listened for the goodnights with his name with something of a feeling of expectation mixed with an uncertainty that he could not name.

And then she kissed him.

They were in the gilded office of the highest ranking Imperial governor of the sector. The palace was a museum. “Is it better or worse if he didn’t mean any of it? That everything just fell into his lap without him actually wanting the reward?” she said, half wondering.

Cassian was looking at the play of muscles on her back visible beneath the gauzy fabric of her gown, melding into the line of her back, and the curve of her hips. He had been feeling progressively drunk without alcohol since the party began. His fingertips tingled to touch the skin within reach and yet not. And she would look back at him with her eyes-

He did not reply.

“What do you think?” she asked again. She turned and caught his gaze, not quite steady on her face. “Oh” she whispered, so softly that he thought he imagined it. Then she smiled and he knew that smile and the knowledge made Cassian still, waiting. She came closer and put her hand on his cheek, feathering gloved thumb over his mouth.

“He’ll suffer for it,” Cassian wet his lip and rasped, his tongue tasting silk.

“Perhaps more because how oblivious he is.” Her eyes flickered past Cassian’s shoulder, then her lips met his.

The heat of it blazed a hot trail down his back. He knew her clothes; knew her movements. He groaned from her mouth upon his again, ached from her hand on his skin, thrumming with anticipation, expectation. There was a danger in the body, the warring that this was not quite correct but also quite necessary somehow. He was already dizzy by the time her hand made its way below his waistband.

“Shh-”

But he couldn’t help it. He wanted to touch her. “Let me,” he said, pleasure between his legs, heat between their bodies, unknown and overwhelming, so sudden the desire threading through all awareness. He needed to know whether she felt the same. He wanted.

She shushed him again.

“See,” she said.

“Yes,” Cassian answered, staring at her flushed face, her swollen lips, felt the weight of her body on him, against him: skin and muscle that makes him forget his own, eyes that penetrated that told him it did not matter. She reached out and caressed his face, her fingertip tracing along the corner of his eyes, his mouth. He turned toward it and kissed her naked palm.

“How reassuring to know the young are still young,” remarked a voice behind her. Her eyes widened, surprised. A dinner companion. The dry and acerbic tone of the wife of the general. “Lt. Ward, glad to see you’re the sort to reserve yourself for what mattered. We had wondered and almost despaired. You have the fortune of a charming wife.”

Cassian froze, but the door closed, the click of the door audible.

His pants were still down by his ankles. The embarrassment faded when she looked up him and smiled, dazzling in its warmth. Cassian couldn’t help smiling back.

“You will come with me, after, right?”

“Anywhere,” Cassian had answered, thinking only of her hand on him, them intertwined in the comfort of a bed, their bed.

He had not yet learned this about himself: that Draven had made him a spy out of what he imagined to be his own failures. Cassian knew, after two months, all the answered that Jyn Erso would want; and that he would continue to lie, even unintentionally, so that his most ardent promises could and would dissipate like smoke.

Third lieutenant ward was a promising officer of the Empire, but Cassian Andor was already the best intelligence officer Alliance had ever seen. His life was the Rebellion’s.

-=-= 

Bohdi had forgotten.

“Bohdi,” Jyn said gently. “You’re the pilot.”

Yes, the pilot. He wanted to be the pilot. He told Jyn that. He was the pilot. He flew. Galen said he was the pilot.

“Jyn,” he remembered, “I met your father.” And he remembered Galen and there was Jyn. And he became confused, as if time had run forward and then backwards and then forwards and then all over again.

“You are alive,” Jyn said, her voice cutting through. “You are with us now.”

“You’ll always be safe on Jehda,” Saw had said. She was the same age as him. Saw wanted a place for a base of operations: he promised protection. Like many of other planets, The Temple of Whills wanted blood ties as show of good faith. They would keep each other safe and there would be no secrets.

Cassian hovered on the edge of his vision. Jyn was standing far away from him.

“Eadu,” he told them.

-=-=

[jimlingss]

A Bed of Roses [4]

Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5

Words: 5850

Genre: Fluff, Angst, Superpower!Au

Summary: Superpowers are suppose to make you invincible, someone who could save the world, a hero. It’s not suppose to be like this...not like this. 

“Where were you….before all of….this?” Yoongi speaks quietly but his voice is still rough, coated from dreams and snores. You turn to him, laying side by side on his tiny bed. His eyes widen when you’re millimeters away from his lips but your eyes flicker to his and you turn back to stare at the ceiling.

“...with my sister...living a happier life.” You answer with a reminiscent smile.

“Sister?” He asks with a lift of his brows. He wonders if he’s intruding too much on your life but with a lurch of boldness, he asks anyways. “Where is she?”

“Far away from this mess….thankfully.”

“Was she…..not part of the accident?”

“She was.” Silence weaves itself in between the space of you and Yoongi but it’s not the uncomfortable kind. You blink several times, lashes dusting on your cheeks and for a moment you think Yoongi’s dozed off again; temptation seducing you to do the same. “What about you?”

You turn to him when he doesn’t answer but he’s not asleep, instead staring at the ceiling in a daydream. “Music…..I made music.”

“Really?” He turns to you, witnessing your earsplitting grin. “That’s amazing Yoongi.”

He smiles softly back. “Yeah…”

“I’d love to hear you one day.” You ponder thoughtfully out loud.  

Before Yoongi can respond, the door suddenly bursts open and you lurch, startled; the serenity shattered.

The both of you swivel your heads over to where a short boy you don’t recognize is standing with his face scrunched up in disgust. He takes a good look at how you’re laying next to Yoongi and “ew” is all he says before the door is slammed shut again; as quickly as it was opened.

//

The boy is fairly young, perhaps around the age of your sister and your curiosity can’t help but keep jabbing you in the ribs. Who is he and why is he suddenly on this floor? You have questions and a desperate craving for answers.

The rest of the guys had caught wind of the new stranger and soon, you were all crowding outside the rec room while peering in carefully as if observing a new species. “Just go in!” Jin harshly whispers, giving a slight nudge.

“Shh!” You swivel your head around with a finger on your lips. “What if we scare him?” The mysterious boy was already a foot shorter than you and bombarding him with the seven others towering over him...didn’t seem like the best idea in the world. You didn’t want to intimidate the poor kid.

“Aish, for goodness sakes! What’s the worst that can happen?” Yoongi grumbles before pushing Jimin, creating a domino effect and everyone stumbles into the room. Taehyung almost face plants onto the floor, but thankfully he grabs onto a chair and giggles out of relief.

The boy immediately shifts towards the group and his eyes widen for a second before returning to an expressionless face. He blinks and doesn’t say anything. The others look towards you for help and you step forward with a smile. “Hi there...couldn’t help but notice you were new! What’s your name?”  

“Joongki.” He deadpans.

He’s wearing the same khaki green shorts and short sleeved shirt like the rest of you. Black jet hair, round cheeks that show his youth and a heavy frown reminiscent of the burden he carries. The more you stare, the more he reminds you of your sister.

“Like the actor?” Taehyung’s brows lift.

It’s takes a moment for the boy to respond, boring eyes into Taehyung. “You’re an idiot.”

His jaw drops and Jimin’s eyes almost bulge out of his sockets. Everyone freezes, gaping at the brutally honest boy. Yoongi snickers out of disbelief. “How old are you?”

“Thirteen.”

Jin’s face twists into distaste. “People like that exist?!”

“Then you're still a brat…” Yoongi muses with a half smirk, cocking his head to the side and his arms crossed. Obviously, he feels a sense of superiority over the boy after learning his young age.  

“Excuse me! You’re like more than a decade younger than me!” Jin adds on, rambling at this point, exasperated at the age difference.

“You’re just old.” Jungkook chimes in and Taehyung giggles.

“ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Jin screams, shaking his head and closing his eyes.

“You’re half of fifty.” Namjoon hums and Hoseok’s bright grin is blinding when Jin continues to shout.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!”

You can’t hide your own laughter but when your peripheral vision catches a flicker, you turn to the adolescent. Though he’s still emotionless, there’s a crinkle of amusement in his eyes and he’s watching the group intently as if you all were clowns and this was his circus.

He seems to notice your gazing and scrunches up his face, sticking out his tongue. Much to his dismay, you laugh at his cute antic and bashful, he suddenly bolts up from his seat. Everyone turns to him, watching as he spurts off but not before stopping abruptly and staring at Yoongi. He blinks twice and Yoongi blinks back. Out of nowhere, the boy kicks Yoongi in the shin and then bolts out of the room.

You all watch in disbelief, stifling back some giggles as Yoongi curses under his breath and glares at everyone.

//

“MEAL TIME! IT’S MEAL TIME!” The nurse walks up and down the hallway, knocking on all the doors. The way she rounds everyone up, it reminds you of a farmer feeding its cows….lovely.

Another nurse behind her is pushing along a cart but instead of being filled with the usual syringes and medication, it holds trays of food...if you could even call it food. You don’t know what’s worse to be completely frank, the medication or the ‘food’. But when you step into her line of vision, she hands you a tray anyways to which you mumble a ‘thank you’. Jimin who’s behind you, also takes one and when the both of your eyes connect, you simultaneously nod.

Slowly, you begin to tiptoe into the rec room and Jimin follows with a good away distance. According to the new rules, everyone was supposedly suppose to eat alone in their rooms but the rule was quickly disregarded. You all gathered in the rec room to eat together and it was far better that way, far less quiet and far less lonely.

The nurses didn't mind much, not wanting to have to speak to you all more than was necessary and not wishing to dip their hands in your affairs. But everyone still tried to keep a low profile, trying to not draw attention or make them think that you guys were planning something (like destroying the world with your powers, no matter how ridiculous that seems...people are more delusional than you thought).

As you take your seat diagonally to Jimin, the rest slowly flood in, situating themselves in the chairs around the round table.

You grimace as you take off the plastic cover of the tray. You swear that this is punishment for the chaotic ordeal at the cafeteria; when you thought there could be nothing worse than the potato soup, you were very wrong. Now it was some sort of brown mush that took you ages to chew, sticky gum-like texture that scratched your throat every swallow. Whatever it was, you could only deduct that it had beans in them.

On the side, there was a soggy piece of salad and a carton of milk that was somewhat sour, oddly enough.

Just as you're pounding the mush with a spoon, something red catches your eye. “How do you keep getting apples?” You perk up to Jimin with bright eyes.

“I just ask them you know…” He answers in a matter-of-fact tone. Your hand slowly begins to creep up the table, hesitantly looking at him, egging him on with a sly smile. He laughs and your smile grows wider. “Just take it.”

You quickly snag the apple off of his tray before he even finishes speaking. “I get a lot of satisfaction watching you eat it.”

“Here.” You slide your food tray over to him, repulsed with the brown paste. “Trade.” Jimin’s smile instantly falls and he grimaces at his double portions, glaring at you playfully. You laugh but he begins to eat yours anyways.

“Is Joongki not joining us?” You ask when everyone’s gathered and they look around, shaking their heads.

“I don’t know.” Jungkook shrugs his shoulders apathetically, stabbing his wet salad with a fork.

“I’m gonna call him then.” You put your apple down, standing up and marching out the room before anyone can protest.

You find him in the hallway, the nurse handing him the last tray on the cart. They both walk off and his eyes follow their backs, as if unsure of what to do. He glances at his food and is stuck standing like a statue, wondering what he should do and where he should go.

“Hey there!” He jumps startled by your voice and you hook an arm around his shoulder. “Wanna join us in the rec room? Everyone’s eating there right now.”

He turns you with an unwavering gaze. “Why should I?”

“Because it’s fun!” You answer as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. You pull him along as he frowns, exhausted with your energy and aware you won't take no as an answer.

You drag him into the room and when you let go, he follows from behind, taking a seat awkwardly next to you. The atmosphere is tense, slightly heavy as everyone is watching the mysterious boy and he can feel their stares, stiffly staring at his lap.

But then his eyes wander to the red fruit on the table. “You.” He calls out and you turn to him, following where his finger is pointing to. “Are you eating that?”

“Want it?” You ask, holding the apple with your hand.

“Yes.” He answers shortly and honestly. But without waiting for a response, he steals it from your palm.

Yoongi shift uncomfortably, eyes narrowing into the skin of the boy. “Don't you know that you're suppose to speak formally to people older than you? No one taught you any manners?”

“Yoongi, it’s fine.” You turn to him and upon hearing your response, Joongki sticks his tongue out, mocking while cocking his head to the side. Yoongi scoffs out of disbelief, rolling his eyes.

Joongki takes a bite of the apple and you watch with anticipation. But as he chews, he suddenly stops and then in one motion, he spits it out. It goes flying across the table, almost landing in Hoseok’s tray but Hoseok screeches and moves his tray swiftly. “Ew. This is disgusting.”

Jin freezes as the words leave the lips of the young boy. Jimin instantly feels the crash of emotion and glances at Jin. “How can they give us shit like this?” Joongki suddenly stands up.

“Are you not eating?” You ask.

“No. Fuck this.” The boy curses and then proceeds to throw the apple on the table, kicking his chair, shoving his hands into his pocket and then marching out of the room. Everyone watches baffled but you're more so amused.

There's an unsettling silence in the air, everyone picking at their food and forcing it down their throats. Jungkook is the first to speak up, breaking the quiet after minutes. “I’m not very fond of him.”

“He’s a brat.” Yoongi snaps back almost immediately.

Jimin twiddled his fingers nervously in his lap, trying to push away the feelings of irritation that creep on his shoulders that are not his. “But he’s just a kid.”

“That's not a good enough excuse.” Yoongi scoffs again with a frown.

Jin hums in agreement, swirling his mush with a spoon. “He wasted perfectly good food.” He says bitterly, staring at the crushed apple and sighing.

Taehyung grins. “It was so funny how he kicked Yoongi earlier.”

Jin suddenly puts down his spoon, eyes big suddenly as if he remembered something. “When I first saw him, he looked at me and called me ugly!....HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE WITH THIS FACE?!!?!?”

Jin’s hand frantically motions his entire head and Hoseok laughs. “Don’t worry. He did the same with me.”

Then it’s Namjoon who begins to whine. “He called me stupid looking and thought I was forty years old….he asked what a grandpa was doing here….forty years old.” He sighs defeatedly and you, Hoseok and the youngest trio laugh. “I’M STILL IN MY TWENTIES!”

Yoongi still shakes his head, the humour not reaching him. “I don't like him...not at all. Kid gets on my nerves.”

You grin at the irony, speaking lightly with a hum. “He’s defiant….doesn't that remind you of a certain someone?” You eye Yoongi closely and he halts his jaw, chewing the same mouthful of mush for the past five minutes.

“But I'm not rude.”

“Well….” You lean back in your chair, stretching your limbs before putting your arms behind your head. “He’s honest...and it's refreshing.” With a breath, you sit up and snag the milk carton off your tray.

“Aren't we all sick and tired of lies anyways?”

Everyone stops and stares at you, wondering how you can speak so lightly about a topic that’s so entirely grim. Lies, lies. It's always been lies. You've been taken from your home, trapped against your will, imprisoned, quiet concealment and being promised of release, promised that the burden would be lifted. But here you were….here they were. 

You open the carton of milk with ease, bringing it to your lips while wincing at the sour, gooey texture.

//

You find Joongki sitting on a bench out in the hallway, shuffling a deck of cards. He begins to chuck them, seeing how far they can go while not minding the huge mess he was making.

“What ‘cha doing?” You call out in a sing song voice and he swivels his head over, startled.

After a moment, he gains composure and focuses back on his game. “Can't you see? Or are you blind?”

You laugh at his snarky rhetorical question, plopping down next to him. “Fun game.”

“It's boring.” He huffs out tiredly, still throwing cards. “Why is this place so damn boring?”

“Hm. Really? I don't think so.” He turns to you with a frown and you tilt your head at him. “The people here are pretty interesting….so it's not boring.”

He stares at you for a long moment and you stare back but more intently, an unwavering gaze that doesn't shake, doesn't lie. Suddenly he bolts his head away, embarrassed and the tips of his ears red. “You're strange.” He mumbles out and you laugh.

“Am I?”

“And mysterious….you're honest but it feels like you're hiding something.”

“Well aren't you sharp?” You grin at him, ruffling his hair gently to which he grumbles at and then slaps your hand away.

//

Joongki, walking down the hallway, quickly notices Yoongi who doesn't even spare him a glance. He opens his mouth to say something but then Yoongi brushes past him. He sighs defeated and turns to be on his way but then your words ring inside his head.

“Hey….” Yoongi continues walking, ignoring the boy who’s following behind him. Joongki screams louder. “HEY!”

“What?” Yoongi turns on his heel.

Joongki blinks twice before speaking again, surprised that he answered him. “So...you make people fall asleep whenever?”

Yoongi narrows his eyes in suspicion. “How’d you know that?”

“Read the nurse’s report.” He answers proudly with a smirk and Yoongi scoffs.

“What do you want from me?”

“Prove it.”

“What?” Yoongi frowns, creases forming between his brows. “Why do I need to prove it to you brat?”

“Cause I wanna see it.” He answers as if it were obvious.

There was a risk, a strict law that carried heavy consequences.

If the nurses or (god-forbid) doctors caught anyone using their powers intentionally, they'd be detained for several days and some wouldn't even return. It was fear and rumours that clouded everyone, chained them into the building and kept them from breaking free. But it was because the doctors, nurses lived in a worser fear, afraid that these supernatural humans would kill them.

“Why? You scared?~” Joongki cocks an eyebrow up, egging him on. Yoongi scoffs and he doesn't know why he answers the way he does but he's never been much a goody-two-shoes before, rules were just guidelines after all.

“Fine….let’s do it.”

Joongki almost lets a happy giggle slip his lips but he grins instead.

The two walk closely together, quiet steps as if burglars in an unknown house. They make their way to the rec room and Yoongi’s eyes land on Jimin who’s unsuspecting, turned away in a chair, facing the barred window and reading some sort of novel.

“Watch and learn.” Yoongi whispers quietly and then brings up his hand forward. In one motion, he snaps his finger and the sound rings, echoes and fires straight through Jimin’s skin.

In an instant, the novel hits the ground and Jimin’s shoulders slump, lost in a heavy slumber. “Woah…..” Joongki turns to him with bright eyes and Yoongi crosses his arms smugly.

“What are you two up to?” The two boys both jump in surprise at your sudden appearance, a few meters away from them with a questioning expression. “Are you creating trouble?”

They both freeze, twisting their heads around as if they got caught stealing. “Uhhhh...ummm....do it to her...” Joongki whispers, pulling on Yoongi’s sleeve.

“Do what to me?” You ask curiously, catching his words.

And Yoongi complies to Joongki’s request, a mischievous glint in his eyes that you're surprised to see, never having witnessed before. You cock your head to the side, staring at him, soaking in the image and he doesn't notice, bringing up his hand instead.

In one motion, Yoongi snaps his finger and the sound rings, echoing and fires at your skin but somehow….it bounces right off.

“What?” Yoongi snaps his fingers again. And again.

“What are you doing?” Now you ask a little less curious and more so annoyed at how he just keeps snapping his fingers at your face.

Yoongi snaps his finger one last time before bringing his arm down. “That’s….so strange.”  

The sound of his snaps ring, echoes but they all ricochet, never hitting you.

//

“Woah…..so you can make people angry?” Joongki’s leaning over the table, practically sprawled on it as he leans forward to Jungkook.

“Uh...sorta.” Jungkook bends backwards, trying to avoid the face of the boy but still smiling anyhow.

“I watched that fight..in the cafeteria...I was there.” Joongki’s eyes flash over, as if so entirely intrigued with Jungkook and Jimin watches with amusement.

Jimin is still exhausted, sickly tired and still confused as to why he was suddenly knocked out for a few hours. Somehow he thinks it might be related to Yoongi…....

“So you're like the hulk?” Joongki asks again with a grin, leaning away from Jungkook and flexing his non-existent muscles. “UGHAAAHHHHH!” He screams as if he were making a transformation.

Jungkook laughs, genuinely for the first time in a while.

“You're like…..super cool…..I like you.” Joongki speaks, his lips slipping and then he turns away embarrassed.

Jungkook smiles. “Thanks.”

//

When you finally twist in bed the next morning, you're surprised not to hear Yoongi grumbling. Fluttering an eye open and turning your head around, he’s gone.

“What...the...”

“ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The loud ruckus reverberates down the hallway and your feet find its way into the rec room.

Joongki has his arms wrapped around Jungkook’s neck, latching onto his back as Jungkook spins around in a supersonic speed. “ARGHHHHH!” Jungkook grunts out, spinning faster as Joongki continues laughing, feet flying and hitting Yoongi in the knee.

Yoongi winces in pain. “HEY!”

Taehyung is pouting at the sidelines, trying to run in but not get hit by the helicopter that is Joongki. “Let me play! I want to join!”

Jimin is beside Taehyung with the same glint in his eyes, a burning desire to be a part of the fun. Namjoon and Hoseok are watching, clapping and laughing. Meanwhile, Jin is scolding them, afraid that his brown-mush food is going to get kicked into the air. “Hey! This is dangerous!”

“I want to play too.” You chime in and everyone freezes, swiveling their heads at the doorway where you’re standing.

Joongki jumps off of Jungkook’s back, relieving him of the heavy weight. “You should stop appearing out of nowhere.”

You pout. “Can I want to play too?…”

“I’m going to die if I have to lift you.” Jungkook sighs out with sweat dripping from his hair.

“HEY!!” You shout at him with the point of your finger. “You calling me fat?! Wanna fight?!”

Taehyung seizes the moment as Jungkook’s distracted and jumps on his back. “Meeee too!!!”

Without being able to answer you, Jungkook instantly collapses onto the floor as if he were a paper doll, Taehyung flops on top of him and everyone erupts with laughter.

//

When it’s time to eat again, everyone’s rounded at the table with their trays of food. This time you have your own apple, not needing to steal off of Jimin; you had ran to the nurse and she instant;y winced away, cowering in fear but when you just asked for an apple, she opened her eyes again and slowly nodded.

“Taehyung…” Joongki speaks with a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.

“Hm?”

“Your power?”

“What?”

“What do you do?” Joongki reiterates, holding up his hands and flipping them over. Taehyung seems to understand that and makes a sound of acknowledgement.

“Ah….Animals.” Taehyung manages a small smile. “I can hear them talk….”

Joongki stares for a moment before turning his head back to his food. “That’s cool.”

Taehyung huffs out a breath and you don’t miss the bitterness in his smile. “They’re a lot meaner than we think….”

“Hm...interesting.” Joongki turns to you this time, a deep gaze burning your skin. “What’s yours?”

“My power?” You cock your head to the side with a grin. “Well, I’m glad you asked...it means you care a little about me right?” You flash a wink and he scoffs, face flushing for a moment.

“What is it?”

You hum for a moment, as if contemplating an answer. “I bloom flowers….kinda lame, right?”

Joongki stares at you, as if really soaking every feature that is you and then he inhales a deep breath, still lost in thought. “...I don’t think that’s all….”

You smile at that, quickly shifting the attention back to him. “What’s yours? It’s only fair since you asked all of us.”

He finally looks away from you, eyes redirected towards an empty spot on the table. “....I can detect if someone’s lying or not….” He yawns as if it was an everyday, light conversation. “But I can’t tell lies.”

“Oh...well, honesty is the best policy, right?”

He glowers, slumping in his seat while biting back bitterness in his sharp words. “But sometimes people don’t want honesties.”

“But not everyone can be honest…” Namjoon says, hands interlaced together with a thoughtful expression. “...telling lies are easy, anyone can do it. Honesties are harder. In many ways...you’re free from webs and burdens that lies carry.”

Everyone broods over Namjoon’s intelligent words, silence falls over your shoulders as you ponder deeper, lost in a trance until Yoongi breaks it.

“I personally never liked sugar coated things.”

“Wait.” Jin interrupts, bolting his head towards Joongki. “...does that mean you really think my face is ugly?”

“Yes.”

“HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE!” Jin shrieks out, mouth dropping and everyone grins. “Do you know how many roses I used to receive on Valentine's Day?! And I went to an all boys high school. ALL BOYS!”

“Used to.” Joongki smirks as everyone’s laughing. “You said used to!”

Jin opens his mouth, absolutely baffled and speechless. You reach over, patting his back in comfort while trying to speak over your giggles. “Don’t worry Jin...you’re handsome to me.”

Jin frowns, still unsatisfied. “I can’t believe I’m being bullied by someone half my age.”

Just about as the laughter begins to die down, a lightbulb flickers inside your head. “Ah, Joongki! I completely forgot about the tradition!”

“Tradition?”

“Yeah, whenever someone’s new around here, they have to participate in an eating contest!” Everyone turns to you inquisitively but no one interrupts with your bright smile.

“Wait..eating this shit?” He takes a spoonful and tries to shake it off, proving his point of how disgusting it is but the mush stays glued to his spoon instead.

“Yeah. I had to do it when I came but unfortunately I lost. Even Jin participated and he lost.”

“Who’s the champion then?”

“Jungkook.” Upon hearing that name Joongki swivels his head over to the boy called with bright eyes.

“No...no, I’m not doing that again.” Jungkook waves out his hand. “Last time it was potato soup so at least I could swallow it easier. Now it’s scratchy beans.”

“Aw, c’mon Kook.” Hoseok chimes in with a giggle and the rest join in.

Soon everyone’s counting down as the two hold their spoons tightly in hand. As you shout ‘zero!’, they shoot off into a spurt of stuffing their mouths. Every so often, Joongki glances up at Jungkook to see where he’s at before rushing downwards again. The two are so neck in neck, fueled solely through competitiveness that everyone is hitching their breaths, darting eyes back and forth in anticipation.

Just at the two minute mark, they’re shoving the last spoonful in their mouths, chewing furiously. “Done!” They both call simultaneously, raising their hands.

“Woah...they finished at the same time!” Jimin grins in amazement.

“It’s a tie!” You declare out.

“No! I definitely called out first!” Joongki stammers out, throwing down his spoon.

“Nope. Jungkook definitely finished first.” Yoongi pipes up, teasing the boy.

“No!” Joongki’s jaw drops and the two of them bicker back and forth, banters filling the table. Jungkook’s still out of breath, lips swollen from spoon shoving and Taehyung laughs, hitting his back painfully hard.

Jin turns to you with a smile, looking into your crinkled eyes, reading your mind. This is nice.

But as he hears your thoughts, his own releases into the world as if he spoke with his voice but his lips are sealed. We’re like family.

You turn to Jin with an even brighter smile and you couldn’t agree more.

We are family.

//

Joongki becomes an important member of the group, a pillar that you can’t see without. He follows Jungkook like a shadow and even though he’d never admit it, you’d like to think he looks up to Jungkook like a role model, an idol and an aspiration to become. He and Yoongi on the other hand, are always teasing each other, endless banters that always hurt Jin’s head. But the teasing is playful and it reminds you of a brotherly relationship and the spite that was once present, completely vanishes.

Jimin is the first on the victim list, subjected to Joongki’s pestering and snarky remarks. You’d like to think that Jimin is far too kind, easily taking in the kid’s torment with a soft laugh. Hoseok is second on the victim list, Namjoon the third and Jin the fourth. Ironically, the only person that seems to annoy Joongki himself is Taehyung who constantly chases him around, trying to play games and gain Joongki’s affections.

When Taehyung becomes too much, the ‘victims’ begin to fight back, Jin starts on a tangent of nagging or Yoongi begins scolding, Joongki always runs behind you for protection. Without fail, you always defend the boy and then he sticks out his tongue from behind you, as if you are an unbreakable shield.

And things are good.

But good things never last...

At least not in a place like this.

//

“Why are you so nice to me?” He asks you one evening after dinner and you’ve showered. The both of you are sitting alone together on a bench outside the hallway, near the empty reception area. The quiet simmers around you peacefully, comfortable and warm. “I heard your conversation...I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but you were defending me.

He turns to you emotionless but eyes soft. “At least, at the very beginning...everyone hated my guts, except for you.”

“Well, I never said you weren’t a brat.” You tease him. “...but you kind of remind me of my sister.”

“Sister?”

“Yeah, she’s the same age as you...of course not as disobedient but still…”

“Y/N.”

“Hmm?”

“You...your powers…” He says carefully as if treading on top of an unwoken monster. “There’s more to it, right?” You smile gently, letting him know that you won’t be upset or angry. “Can you be honest with me?”

“I never said I wouldn’t.”

When Joongki parts his lips and his vocal chords rumble, words escape his lips and he is honest when he speaks. He unveils your secret in a single statement, in a few syllables that you’ve kept hidden for so long in fear of what they would do to you. They as in the authorities, the nurses, the doctors that all feed you endless lies.

But when Joongki speaks your secret, you smile. “...Right?” He asks for confirmation, wondering if his theory is wrong.

“Hmmm….” You hum out to him. “You’re pretty smart for a brat, aren’t you? You little genius.” You ruffle his hair tenderly and he faintly peels it off after a quiet moment.

“Joongki.” He turns to you with eyes that are slightly glossed over. “...do you want to see it?”

“Yes.” He answers without hesitation, straightforward and sincerely. But then he closes his eyes, pursing his lips as if in deep pain, loathing himself for letting his honesty slip, cursing his burden.

“But, I don’t want to leave you guys.” His voice gets softer with each word. “...you’re my family now.”

You huff out a light laugh. “You’re silly. There’s so much out there….the entire world…” You stare at the ceiling, clutching the edge of the bench tightly. “...more than this building...more than us….freedom. Don’t you miss it?” You sigh and he bites his lips, forcing himself to not answer.

“....and this doesn’t mean it’ll be the end...you’ll see us again. We’ll meet up and all crash at Yoongi’s house.” You nudge him playfully and he grins at the idea. “All nine of us can live together, annoying and leeching off of him.”

The idea sparks daydreams between the both of you, smiling and lost in ‘what if’s’. But they're just dreams and Joongki’s face quickly falls. “This level….we-we can’t be cured.”

“But there’s me.” You answer, swallowing past the painful lump in your throat. “You can’t lie, Joongki. I know you want freedom...no matter how happy we may be in here...we’re still trapped.”

The young boy tries to swallow back the honest answers but it crawls up his throat, strangling him and threatens his tongue. He hitches a breath, closing his eyes in deep agony but he bites down on his cheek, refusing to say anything. He so badly wants to say ‘I’m happy with you all here’, ‘it’s enough for me’, ‘I want to stay’, but he cannot lie.

“Just promise me one thing.” You shatter the silence and he flutters his eyes open, staring straight into your soul.

He speaks barely in a murmur. “What?”

“That you’ll live well….happily, for all of us….for me…”

“Is this the end?” He asks and you shake your head.

“No. It’s not.”

“Then...I promise.”

You take his hands, placing them in yours gently and closing them. Shutting your eyes, you concentrate on where your hands are and the presence of the boy. Your skin tingles, goosebumps rising as it begins to heat up. In a flicker of a second, a sharp pain shoots up from your hands, running up your spine and firing straight into your skull.

A strangled cry escapes your lips no matter how hard your teeth are clenched together. Your muscles strain and your limbs are numb, as if your skin has all melted off and the bones are about to shatter, being compressed. Your heart stops beating.

A bright light floods into the back of your eyeballs and you yelp, keeping back an agonizing scream. You can feel your body begin to fall backwards but you keep upright out of pure will and your hands glow. It burns, as if fire is igniting to where his hands are and you desperately want to pull back but you keep it still.

Inhaling a sharp breath, you flicker your eyes open as your vision returns, the sad reality dawning again. A dull, constant and never-ending pain settles all around you. And your heart begins to pump again.

//

When Joongki leaves, everyone but you is completely baffled, bewildered and believing that it’s some sort of sick joke.

All he does is burst into the rec room where everyone’s situated, wearing a jacket and a pair jeans, presumably what he came in. He’s out of the horrid army green, prisoner-like attire and looks instantly a thousand times better; normal and you're almost envious.

“Losers!” He calls out to you all while sticking out his tongue. “I’m cured!” He declares shortly and proudly.

He runs to Yoongi and sends a flying kick to his shin. Yoongi’s too frozen to react, a delayed ‘ow’ and a ‘what?!!’ falling from his lips a few seconds too short. But Joongki then reaches over and gives a fleeting hug to Yoongi.

After a second, the boy marches to Jungkook and hesitates for a moment before boldly hugging him, squeezing him tightly while burying his face in Jungkook’s shirt.

Jungkook is still confused, slowly patting the boy’s back with a dazed expression. After a good moment, Joongki lets go with his cheeks completely flushing.

Joongki then turns to you next, swallowing hard. The both of you stare at each other for a long moment and he bows his head, eternally grateful. You smile tenderly, lifting a hand out and ruffling his hair. He mutters a soft ‘goodbye’ that you repeat and then he turns to the rest of you all.

He grins brightly, the brightest you’ve ever seen on him before. He soaks in the image of you all, standing and sitting around the room wearing the most confused expressions. He glances at you one last time before turning on his heel. “See you later suckers!”

When the others eventually ask you how it was possible or what had happened, you simply shrugged. But you have to bite back the honest answers that crawl up your throat, threatening your tongue.

And when the boy is gone, it is emptier, a little less lively but you still feel like you’ve set a bird free from it’s cage; even though now that cage has become yet another anchor on your shoulders.

[arejare]

FINALLY!!!!! I’m so done but proud and happy i’ve managed to do this little piece of thing and i’m able to share it with you all! Welp... while the grammar and spelling mistakes should be eliminated, now you have to deal with my awful accent! XD I know here and there it’s something odd... it’s not a professional thing, but i had fun with it :) Plus... have a liiiittle look out for the next chap in the end ;) And because i know i’m not so good in pronunciation have the full text under the cut:

Toriel and I hobbled through the door of her small apartment. It was one of the smaller dark grey apartment buildings near the entrance to the town. The only hint it was inhabited by the lovely goatmom was a balcony full of the golden flowers, collected from the meadow in the abandoned ruins near my crash in the old cabin. But this I figured out later. Barley through the apartment door, I collapsed and fell to the floor. “Oh dear!” Toriel grabbed me firmly and dragged me to the next soft surface she found. It was her small green couch, covered with dozens of pillows with the same flower pattern. With a ‘Huff’ she sank to my side and her paw grabbed my sweat-covered face. “Can you hear me, my dear?” “Y…yes… “ My mind started to slip away. “Stay awake, please… Don’t fall asleep…. Can you tell me your name? What are those strings? Stay awake, hear me?” “…reja… Arejare… I’m… Arejare and…” It took a moment before her second question arrived my mind and then an icy terror froze my spin. It cost me all my strength to warn her: “DON’T touch them! They’re poisonous! Oh stars…Please… Don’t…” Toriel jerked back by my loud voice. “B… but they… some stuck…” “Stuck‽” I leapt up, “Oh, no…they…no. Please… This can not have happened! They need to get out of me! Oh, all your stars, no… no, no, noo…” Darkness devoured me. A high-flare pain in my right arm and a scream awoke me. “Shh… shh… It’s all right, dear. Calm down, the worst part is over.” “What…?” The burning pain slowly decreased. A warm and furry palm stroked my cheek trying to calm me down.  I sighed and squinted my eyes as a fresh blaze panged in my head. Oh… and my headache was still here. Hello again… The entire way from the shack to Toriel, a dull and pricking pain pulsed through my head and left only sticky cotton candy-like memories until I awoke again. I couldn’t remember if or how much we talked, I sighed anew. “We must cut out some strings.” The goatmonster broke my chain of thoughts, “Some were stuck in your veins and they have begun to melt with you together as well… We couldn’t stop it. This was the last one, I think… Isn’t it?” The question was directed in a wary tone to a rangy figure with a cracked white head. Gaster? I rubbed my aching forehead. How strange… “Careful, my dear!” She caught my hand and kept it in her soft, warm paws. “Hm?” I looked back to the goatmonster and to the still silent, dark and maybe former royal scientist behind her. Deep-red blood splatter spoilt the white of his button-down shirt. The unholy red of my own blood shone on the rolled up sleeves and the bones of his forearms. He was cleaning some strange looking instruments without a response to Toriel’s question. She looked back at me. “They were everywhere.” Everywhere? I looked down myself, lying on a grey tarpaulin with some blood soaked towels and a blanket over my body where bloody spots bloom like macabre flowers… Everywhere… I flushed… and felt dizzy. With a little moan, I let my head fall back. Blood… So much blood… As if he could read my mind, Gaster finally spoke. His voice a distance, sonorous tone: “You have lost a lot of blood. I’ve done my best to cut only what was necessary, but I’m afraid there are some more left. One I couldn’t cut or drag out. It’s on the left side of your head but you won’t see it if you cover it with your hair. It is possible that there are ore in deeper spots that I can’t extract. I really hope, they are not in your veins…” “Not… Wait…‽” I hesitated, “Why I can understand you‽” The tall monster looked back astonished, tilted his head to left. “Why you should not?” I bit my lower lip but regretted it immediately as I broke the skin and could feel a little, sharp stitch. I could taste my own blood. Great… More bleeding. “I don’t know… It was a feeling…” I tried to save what could be saved. Brilliant question, AJ, really. I wasn’t somewhere. I was in an unknown AU and had to be careful what I said. I had to keep my thoughts together. His suspicious glares persisted for an awkward moment that seems to go on forever. Finally he shrugged and put the last of the sharp looking instruments in a shabby old leather bag beside him. Then he concentrated on cleaning his hands with a towel, that a second floating pair held ready. “Did you touch the strings?” I asked them both. No matter how I was feeling I needed to know that they were okay. “Maybe I. I’m not sure… I could have when I have carried you?” Toriel replied with a worried look. “But I don’t feel anything different?” “Shit…” I mumbled, with a sigh, but I immediately get a serious look from Toriel. “Language, child.” “Sorry… Erm…” “You said the strings were poisonous? What do they do exactly?” Gaster interrupted me with an expression that could barely hide his curiosity. He had finished his cleaning and now his full attention was on me. “Well… It’s a little bit difficult. They affect magic. So… I… “ I shook my head “It’s easier if you try to do some magic, but Toriel… Be careful, if you do so.” I stumbled over her name and sent a short prayer upwards with a hope that none of them noticed my second multiverse-traveler mistake in a row. Holy skies, I must be in really bad condition. “Hmm…” Thoughtfully she looked at her paws and, with an undulating billow in the air, she summoned two flickering flames. Almost immediately they pixled and glitched into a negative version of themselves. Their the bright color went black as warm reds transformed into a cold blue with only faint hints of red and yellow within them. They looked like Error himself. Toriel yelped in surprise and again in pain as the little flames flared up. She tried to extinguish them by clapping her paws together but one sprouted legs, hopped down from her palm and ran around, until Gaster stomped it into the ground. “Wh… What in all heaven stars name was that‽” Gaster yelled with an angry look at me. There was a deep blue glow in his eyes as he hissed: “Did you know what would happen?” “NO! I didn’t know what would happen. I… I’ve only seen it happen once before how a monster got infected by the strings… But she had an other kind of magic…” I stopped and pieced together the puzzle, “The magic… reverses itself and turns against its owner, I guess…” The conclusion would fit with Error’s goals also. I trembled. What if I was a living virus now? There were still strings inside me… “How can we heal it, human?” Gaster frowned at me, and cleared his throat. “Uh… I mean…” “You’re right, I’m a human… And as far as I know it will only least for a couple of hours. But until then, using magic wouldn’t be a good idea.” “How… did you get them?” Toriel whispered. She lifted her eyes and gazed to me. “How could a … young human get into so much troubles?” I clinched my jaw. I’d known this question would be coming but I had hoped I would have more time… and fewer headaches. In a mindless gesture I pressed the ball of my left hand to my temple and whimpered. A zigzag cut crossed my palm in a burning but harmless way while my head flared up in bright caustic pain. After a few seconds it gradually pulsed into a deep, dull ache with a burning string pricking against my left eyeball from the inside of my head. My eye started to water. When Toriel saw the tears she awoke from her starring and stroked them from my cheek.“Don’t worry. You don’t need to speak about, if you don’t want to. I’m not angry with you, my dear.” Gaster coughed slightly and gave me a look that told me he wouldn’t let me off the hook so easily. I knew he would continue with the questioning when he got the chance to catch me alone. “So what should we do now? You can’t go outside in your condition. And you must rest a bit more. At least, until you get some new clothes. And you will need some food,” Toriel spoke more to herself than to us.“If you don’t need me anymore I …” But before Gaster had a chance to escape Toriel turned around and cut him off: “Of course I need your help, Wingdings! She can’t go outside as long as she looks human. We need something to disguise her. You know what happened to the last human…” She mumbled the last sentence and turned her face away but I could herd her; loud she said: “Bring me your make-up and something she would fit… And call Sans. We need someone who can slip out of a dangerous situation and take her with him.” I blinked in surprise. She sounded so bossy. But then I remembered I was in a kind of a mobster AU and of course Toriel, as an ex of Asgore, strong in her won right, was a Boss in all possible kinds. Gaster bowed his head. His face bare of expressions. Then he took his bag and left the room with a silent click of the door revealed his leaving. “Well, my dear… I think I will bring you something to eat… Stay here until I’m back. And if you feel better you can take a shower. With a little luck Wingdings will be back shortly so and we can start to prepare your disguise.” She smiled at me and stroked over my hair again. “Thank you. But why are you so nice to me? I’m a stranger… A human…” “You need help… And you… I think it’s reason enough for me to help.” “But you wouldn’t have had to do it… And now, you got infected with Err…. the strings and it’s my fault. I’m sorry.” “Don’t worry, my dear. It was my decision to help and I’m stronger than I look like,” added she with a smile. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll bring you something to eat.” With a quiet groan she got up and left the room. I took the opportunity and looked around. I laid on a green and golden yellow carpet, right in front of the green couch where I collapsed earlier. There was a blood soaked pile of red and black at my feet that I recognized as my clothes. My body was still bleeding from a countless number of cuts, red and blue from internal bruising. Looking over the damage, I assumed the bloody mess of cloth hat was my clothes was nothing more than scraps. Almost every inch of the walls are hidden by bookshelves of various heights and widths. This familiar look let me smile. I’ve loved books my entire life and can’t imagine a world without it. However, the title of the books ranged from human fairytales and novels to guidebooks of how to take care of snail colonies, to cooking books. The room was barren of other furniture, beside a little sideboard with a lamp on top. I wonder why are monster households so empty. Did it depend on how much they earned or did they just need more space? Toriel wasn’t a small creature, that for sure. I shrugged at my own thoughts and then hissed immediately. My body felt like one big wound and the throbbing pulse in my head made it difficult to think up to the next thing I would do. While I was idling with my thoughts, Toriel had created a whole tray of deliciously looking food and a pot of sweet smelling tea. She knelt down by my side put the tray with food beside and helped me to sit up. I flinched. It felt like being pierced by a thousand needles. I couldn’t hide my facial expression from Toriel. She hummed in a soft tone to calm me down. I looked back thankfully and eyed the food she brought. I was curious. How would monster food affect me? Would it heal me or was it more like normal human food? There was only one way to figure it out. I reached for the half filled cup of tea. “Be careful, my dear. It is still hot.” She smiled and I wonder how often she got the chance to take care of someone. She looked so happy right now. “Thank you,” I whispered and smiled back. It felt impossible not to be grateful and feel safe when she was around you. Despite her warning, the tea was cold enough to drink. The scent and sweet taste reminded me of the scene of sweet violets. I inhaled deeply and sighed in delight. The warm steam of tea was enough to let me felt better. “What flavor is this tea? I don’t recognize it.” I added when Toriel look confused. “It’s a golden flower tea,” she explained “They are really common here.” “It smells wonderful… And a little bit like forgotten memories…” She frowned. “Oh, sorry. Did I say something wrong?” “No, no, my dear. It’s… a really accurate description for the scent, I think,” she mumbled. I flinched. Oh good god, how could I be so rude? I already knew what happened in her past and still I messed up with such a stupid comment! At least, now I know that in this AU almost the same had happen. Poor Toriel. I wondered which role Asgore would play here… “I’m really sorry if I said something unpleasant… maybe a bad memory?” I couldn’t stop myself, damn. What was wrong with me? “You should eat something, Arejare. You need it. Wingdings and Sans will be here soon, as well.” “You’re right. Sorry, again.” I sipped the now cold tea and relaxed a bit more. Now the food. I grabbed after a piece of sliced bread with some sort of marmalade on it, that spread a sweet smell of fruits. It turned out it was a raspberry jam. After the first bit, I realized how hungry I was. I ate so quickly I barely registered the delicious meal and hurried to fill my starving self as fast as I could. Toriel smiled at me. Slowly but unstoppable, I felt better. I could felt how I my wounds closed. I sighed in relief. Nice. So monster food would heal me. As the last scarp of food vanished, a gentle knocking from the door disrupted the quite peace. Toriel pushed herself upright and went to the door but didn’t open it. Another, more specifically knocking sound: Exact two knocks. I chuckled and so did Toriel. “Who’s there?” She asked with barley held back laughter. A voice, muffled through the door, said: “adore.” “Adore who?” Toriel asked again. “adore is between us. open up!” The goatmonster and I laughed loudly as she opened the door. I lain at an inconvenient angle and couldn’t see anything, but I could hear her ask in Sans and Gaster. In a small snickering voices, she and Sans exchanged other puns, until Gaster had enough and interrupted them both with a harsh “There’s not time for that!” “aww, Dings. if not now, then when? take it easy. it couldn’t be as bad as…” I’ll never supposed to know how bad it could be because Sans stopped immediately as he saw me. The small skeleton shut up and froze where he stood. “Aw, it couldn’t be SO bad. I feel almost better!” I pouted. “if that’s better than before, you where supposed to be dead, kid.” “Are you kiddin’ me?” I tried to relax the still frozen skeleton who continued to block the way into the living room. It doesn’t work. I clenched the hem of the blanket. Toriel gingerly pushed him into the room. He slid to my side to get a closer look of my battered body. The little pinpricks in his dark eye sockets scanned from here to there until they stopped and squinted for a closer inspection of my head. He reached for something above my left eye but stopped before he could touched it. “should they be there?” He asked in a wary tone. I sighed. “No. But it couldn’t be changed anymore.” Only now did he dare to look me in the eyes. His eyelights shrinking to distant glooming pinpricks, like fireflies in the dark night of his eye sockets. Fireflies in a gloom of light cyan blue gloom. The sound of shuffling feet snapped us out of our paralysis. “what happened to ya?” “I fell…” I thought a moment about my words and add: “Literally.” His grin became more skeptical as his probed further. “is that so?” I nodded, trying to keep my expressions neutral. “ya looked like someone who’d had a brush with the death just hours ago, but ya don’t get that way just from falling…” He raised his left brow bone “so tell me, what happened  f o r   r e a l   n o w.” The deep black of his eye sockets and combined with the drop in his voice sent a burning flash of fear down my spine. Holy crap! That voice… if you hear it for the first time you wonder how could anybody resist to urge to run away or hit their final reset. “Sans, that is enough.” Toriel was my savior again. “Don’t push her. She will talk when she is ready. Have you guys brought the make-up?” Sans glared at me for a moment longer than he turned around, his static grin became friendly like before. “sure. Paps sent ya a dish of his latest spaghetti. wanna try a bite while we ‘finish’ her?” “I dare you!” She frowned. “Why are you so untrusting?” “why ya not?” He asked angrily. But then he sighed. “bo… Toriel. why do ya do this? ya don’t even know her… and she’s a human.” With the last sentence Sans glanced at me. His voice grim and deep. I felt awkward. Not only because Sans played his creepy card, but also I felt gross. I needed to take a shower and use the bathroom. Meh… That’s stuff you wouldn’t see shown on TV and merely read in a book, but this was real. And though monster food became energy without needing to pass your system, I had a real human breakfast (or whenever I fell down. Boy… Was it really just this morning that I have had breakfast? It’s felt like weeks…) I wasn’t even sure (but I supposed she wouldn’t) if Toriel had something like a toilette in her bathroom… Oh stars… The longer I thought about it, the more pressing became my need of a bathroom… I hadn’t even been listening to the rest of the conversation around me and suddenly I blurt out loud: “I need to shower, right now! I mean… When I get made-up it shouldn’t be on dirty ground, right? Toriel…? Please…?” “Oh, of course, my dear!” She jumped up: “Come on. I will help you up.” With fast, practiced handhold, Toriel quickly raised me up while I took care to hold the blanket wrapped around me. As I passed by, Gaster starred at me like a dangerous but fragile experiment. When I catch his eyes following me, he hissed with a light blush of dark blue on his cheekbones: “What? It’s not like I haven’t seen you n… undressed before?” Now it was my turn to blush. I didn’t want to be fthe first wo look away, but Toriel, carefully, yet forcefully, led me out of the room. We went through the short hallway, passing a closed door until we finally stepped in front of one door with a silly little chibi-goat face on it. It had a big, goofy smile on its face. I glanced away to the left, and noticed the corridor opened to the kitchen. That could be useful for later. “Do you want me to stay and help you, my dear?” She was trying not to look worried. “Thank you, but I think I can stand by myself. But should be anything wrong I’m sure you wouldn’t be far away,” I said, smiling. She nodded, opened the door for me and flipped the light switch. I sent her another smile and went with slow steps inside. Closing the door behind me I took a deep breath and looked around. The bathroom was empty as I expected. But, thank you all stars, it has a toilette! It rested beside a huge and still comfy looking bathtub with lion feet. I sighed in relief and took my shaky legs to the so eagerly anticipated seat. After I satisfied my needs, I slowly made my way to the slim mirror, hidden between the door and a shelf with typical bath equipment. A small peek at the articles let me chuckle anyway: “MTT delightful honeycomb shampoo for extra fluff”. The little distraction couldn’t last longer as I finally stood in front of the mirror. With an anxiety writhing in my chest, I unfolded the blanket – and winched. I knew I got wrecked, but not that I looked like thrown through a shattered house of mirrors… I felt dizzy again and had to remind myself to breath. I hadn’t noticed I’d stopped. Carefully I traced with my fingertips over my bloody crusted cuts and deep purple bruises. I could feel the difference between a cut caused by my fall or one caused by one of Errors strings. The latter cut deeper than the others and were cold and damp to the touch. The deepest ones had odd blue-purple veining, that branched out like I had survived a lightning strike. The same odd marks crossed the left side of my head and ended at my temple. With the beat of my heart the veins pulsed in a soft glow of teal. I shivered. It was that same beat that sent little picking needles through my head. And there was… something else… But I couldn’t put a finger on it. I looked at myself and frowned. Maybe I would it figure it out when my headache got better. Then I saw my empty ears. Where were my earrings? They were fragile and very old so maybe they broke and I… lost them? Oh stars, no…! Damn… I looked away and sighed, dumped the pain deep inside me. They were everything that was left from my family… But… I took a deep, calming breath. I had to focus… Once, I’d gotten familiar with my busted body, I noticed that I had gotten a new haircut as well and groaned. Yes, I was being a little bit vain about the length of my hair and so I wasn’t pleased to saw my precious long, dark hair was slashed into a kind of undercut on my left side. Surely the pulsing string was the culprit. Thankfully my hair had been in a high knot when Error hit me and so there wasn’t any damage to the top layer. I sighed again and took a short look at my backside, which – surprise, surprise – was also cut in pieces and covered with bruised marks, that were becoming darker by the minute watching them… I hummed in exhaustion. But I couldn’t let myself linger on it. One step at a time. First, taking a shower; then getting out of this AU; and THEN kicking Error’s ass so hard that he flew through time and space. A n d  w h e n  I’ m  d o n e  w i t h  h i m  even Gaster will look more complete than him. But first: Showering… I stepped inside the cabin. Speaking of Error… What – and especially how much – should I tell Gaster and Sans? Because, they WILL ask. I sighed again – I’ve been doing that a lot, in the end, this might become a bad habit. Nevertheless I would have to consider answers, which I could give them… When I got out of the shower, I saw a bunch of neatly folded clothes on the rack, near the sink. Toriel must have left them while I was showering. Curious I rummaged through the clothes and picked a large white button-down shirt, a loose-fitting suit pants (they where to large but fitted in the wide), a boxers, a few suspender and a long, worn-out and anthracite coat. I would need a bra too but there was no one either. I sighed (Oh, yes, this is definitely becoming a bad habit!) and took another look through the clothes to see if anything could help me out. Finally I found a simple grey t-shirt that would normally be too tight, but it would work as a temporally bra-surrogate. I also found a dark green tie at the bottom of the pile and I decided to give it a try. I lost some time trying to tie the tie until I made a halfway decent knot. With a laissez faire look, I gave myself a mischievous smirk in the mirror - and giggled. It was a good feeling. The clothes helped me feel a bit better, more like myself again. I took a deep breath and headed out of the bathroom. When I reached the living room, I saw Toriel and Gaster sitting on the couch while Sans sat with crossed legs in front of them. They hadn’t noticed me yet and chatted in such a light and relaxed way that I felt like the intruder that I am. I cleared my throat so they wouldn’t think I had been trying to eavesdrop them. Immediately the mood changed. It made me nervous, but no one prepared to attack me. Okay, Toriel and Gaster weren’t, but Sans’ glare was a little harder to read. It waved somewhere between suspicion and curiosity. Not that Gaster greeted me as a friend but anyway he was polite enough to hide his feelings behind a neutral face. Strange enough that it was Gaster and not Sans who was hiding… Maybe it was caused by this kind of AU. “Arejare, dear. You look much better! I’m sorry we couldn’t offer you some better clothes, but I hope, they will do for now.” “Of course! Thank you, Toriel… and… you both.” I avoided to naming them, unsure how I should call them. Gaster or Wingdings? Sans was Sans, but… They were both so suspicious and wary. Besides they tried to remain aloof, but I didn’t buy it. And I was sure they knew it. The show was for Toriel. I sighed inwardly, smiled, and kneeled at Toriel’s side. Still each move hurt a little bit. I wouldn’t allow the pain to keep controlling me. Nevertheless, it wasn’t a real safe place at all like Toriel had tried to imply. A skeletal hand appeared in front of me. I looked surprised at Sans, who offered me his hand. His gaze hidden by half-lidded eye sockets, which let him look way more relaxed than he surely was. Slowly, I took his hand and we shook them. “Sans. Sans the skeleton. pleasure to meetcha. Taken by surprise I replied: “Hi, Sans the skeleton, I’m Arejare the human. Pleasure’s all mine…” Somewhere deep in my fandom-contaminated mind, I pulled out the next lines, “Tibia honest, first, I thought you would try to pick a bone with me. It rattled me down to the bones. It was a skele-ton of work to compose myself again and it would be marrow of me to think of you this way, I don’t think you would have the heart to do this. And I won’t tell you any fibulas, when I say I wouldn’t have the guts either. But I’m afraid the puns are ulna used up. So I’m really hippy if you would find this a little humerus. And after all of this I hope it made Sans to you.” When I finally closed Sans busted into laughter, joined by Toriel. When I had started, he had looked confused, but with each pun, his grin became wider and wider. “Oh my stars, I’m so DONE with you both, right now!” Gaster cringed at our relieved laughter. Well… This Gaster wasn’t on the pun-train or I went to far for him. “i think it’s hilarious. i’m in,” Sans smirked at Gaster who shot him a glare that clearly screamed ‘You betrayed me!’ But Sans doesn’t care and shrugged. He turned back to me and said: “i liked the last one,” and winked. Gaster crossed his arms. His flying hands clenched in fists, as he glared and grumbled in my direction. Once Toriel could catch her breath, she smiled at me with pride. I felt as if I had passed a secret test, and I couldn’t resist one last pun to Gaster, “Oh, please, don’t give me that sternum look. They’re real rib tickler!” Sans giggled again. “okay, kiddo. i think we can work together. anyone who can appreciate a good pun deserves a chance.” “So… Tell me, human. Why are you here and what is your plan?” Gaster watched me with his wary glare again. He didn’t trust me. I couldn’t blame him, an odd human with even more odd poisonous-strings all over their body, which affect monster magic appears at a place, which is normally human-free. I was dangerous in his eyes – and he wasn’t wrong in the end. But not in that way the might thought about me. I would never kill a monster on purpose. Even to hurt a monster was far away from my intention – except for Error. Maybe in self-defense I would hurt, but never… never kill. So what will I to do now? “I… have to hide myself… and to wait for someone. We… got separated and I don’t know if she even presumed where I could be and I have no chance to inform her… “ I lifted my eyes and face up to Gaster and Sans “The strings shouldn’t rest in me or melt with me eighter. They should disappear or go back to their owner. He attacked me with them. Tossed me away from my friend… She couldn’t do anything. It happened so damn fast…” I sighed deeply… Toriel patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry, my dear. We will find your friend and you can meet her again. What’s her name?” I considered for a moment. I was sure, they would help, but still… “Writer Universes. She’s a fire monster with magenta and cyan color. She’s wearing a monocle on the left, a long red scarf with a bow in her back and has and golden upside-down heart-necklace…” “fire monster, hm? well, maybe I know someone who could know her…” I bite my inner lips not to blubber again. Surely Sans talked about Grillby… But he can’t know where Writer was, nobody could know. I hoped she was well... Damn, Error! When I get his fucking ass, he… “We should prepare her now. It’s not much time left and maybe somebody has seen how Toriel and the human went in. “ “alright. knock yourself down, bro.” With these words, Sans crossed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes, while he leaned against the couch. “No way, Sans! You’ll be instructed to help!” “Dings, three monster for one face? Isn’t that a bit too much? less is more, bro,” he winked. Gaster growled. “I’ve operated her already. Now it’s your turn to do something.” “i’m here just the jump out, remember?” He blinked to Gaster with one open eye. But the taller skeleton retorted with a grim glare until Sans unfold himself with a sigh and turned to me. “okay, sweetie, let’s revamp ya...” I blinked. Did he just call me…?