#and maybe being a little bit more prepared for heatwaves and stuff than I was this year

[thethingything]

we fell asleep for a while but it means now we're awake before sunrise and the sky is clear so it's a beautiful deep blue, and everything feels very still and quiet.

everyone's asleep and it's almost silent except I can hear the house creaking a little bit and there are very faint sounds of traffic in the distance.

I remember at one point towards the end of June when we'd been having panic attacks all the time, we had one night where we felt a bit better and around sunrise we ended up feeling really peaceful in a specific way, and it almost feels like that again

[needs-to-stop-looking-at-valves]

A friend told me requests were hoping so I hope I’m not to late, could you do a Blurr and hightide comfort story of Blurr just trying to fit in while trying his best to change despite what others think of him because of self conscious?

Oh definitely??? Let's do it???

(Also question for you guys-do you want me to like, write details on my writing before the actual ask? Like length and stuff? Or is how I'm doing it fine?)

"HA. Beat you to it AGAIN!"

Blurr was in the room before Blades. He zoomed so quickly in an attempt to get to the meeting room, he pushed Blades out of the way. It was such a sudden push, that had not Heatwave caught him, he would've landed right on his rotary blades. They looked down at him, making sure he was fine. Blurr was about to make a joke, something about his precious rotary blades, when he got a glare from the other three. Blades, being not only their medic, but a rather sensitive guy, was kinda precious to the team.

Then suddenly the tension was off of him. Why? Because of Hightide. He was walking into the room after them, with a strong gait. Blurr watched in fascination as he walked in with a second thought.

"W. Why is no one complaining that he just walked in before u-"

"Aye! Guppy! Get off the floor! In here!"

Blades was suddenly on his feet in a second, walking into the room, and accepting the seat next to Hightide. Heatwave let the others pass, before glaring at Blurr.

"You should try to be a BIT more like Hightide."

Heatwave left without another word, and it got Blurr to thinking. How was he really any different from Hightide?

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

It was a beautiful night. The sky was clear and dark, highlighting the full, bright moon above. The water looked as if it barely rippled, even as his ship sat there, patiently waiting. The sea water felt good against his paint, the breeze pushed him back ever so lightly. The sea was a beautiful mistress; temperamental, mysterious, yet kind. If he met a fem like that, maybe his ancient aft would settle down. For now, it was him, the sea, and the mech at the end of the dock, standing there and staring at him. He had been there for a few minutes by now, and at first, Hightide didn't say anything. He was used to those looking at him, being the size he was.

But at this point, he was as annoying as a crusted up barnacle. He turned to look at him, and nodded, getting ready to hear just what nonsense this sardine was gonna spill. Blurr walked up to the boat, hands on his hips.

"It's because you're big, isn't it?"

Hightide blinked. He looked him up and down curiously.

"That how the kids flirt nowadays? Back in my day, we were upfront, not confusin'"

"What-no? I'm trying to figure out how come the team likes YOU and not me. Like, earlier this morning, I tried to beat everyone into the meeting room, have some fun, and you just walk in! Suddenly they're acting like you accomplished something! What's so different between us?"

Hightide knew exactly what this was about now. He gestured for him to hop aboard, and Blurr obeyed. Hightide was expecting solitude tonight, and he knew he had to prepare himself for whatever scrap was about to come out of this. He dug into his subspace, and pulled out a cygar. After activating, he took an inhale, blowing the smoke into the salty air. It was so dark, he could tell the chemicals being ignited illuminated his face, given how the little one stared.

"Smoke?"

"Is THAT what makes you such a big deal?"

Blurr reached for it, but the question made him pull away, deciding he doesn't need it. He took another inhale, till his mind was as still as the water.

"No, it ain't the damn smokes. Lemme ask ya somethin'. What was different from how I walked in, versus you. Really think about it."

He let the kid think about it. But like a boulder, he sank, and sank fast.

"You're like, double my size?"

He might need more than one cygar for this. He took an inhale, before blowing it back into the open air.

"Ain't nothin' to do with size. I've met minis who pull just as much respect as Optimus. No, what made ya different, is how why ya did it. Why did you wanna go in first?"

"Because it proves I'm the fastest, duh."

Hightide sighed.

"Then that's what's itchin ya gills. Ya doin' it for the wrong reasons."

"But on Velocitron-"

"Last I checked, we ain't on that planet."

Blurr didn't say anything in response. It was as if he was just now realizing this. Hightide's head turned to the loud ringing of the bell. Hightide stood up, motioning for Blurr to follow.

"Lend a hand, sailor boy."

Blurr obeyed, helping Hightide pull the giant net full of fish. Blurr seemed confused as everything was pulled in, as if it was his first time seeing fish.

"Why are you fishing? That's not like. A thing we need to do."

"A little lesson for ya. Sometimes, ain't about what you can do for people, but you WILL do. You CAN kick their buckets in a race. But are you quick enough to slow down? You speed racers too excited to make it to the finish line-you leave everyone in the dust, and past the checkered line, be mighty lonely. And Optimus made me realize- no one really likes bein' alone."

He could tell it was a lot for the kids brain. He'd never been to the planet, but he could imagine telling a speedster NOT to speed was a lot to handle. Hightide lifted the net of fish over his shoulder, peering down at the smaller mech.

"You asked me why I fish. I fish for the fleshbags. Is it something I was built for? Do I LOVE it? No, and no. But help is in all forms. Fish is worth more than you think. Are ya gettin' what I'm saying?"

He felt like he was rambling. Maybe he was, especially given his old age. But he could see the look on his face. His optics really did cry for some sort of unity, with the lost look of a damn sea pup. He watched as a fish, still vibrant with life, somehow snuck out of his net, and fall onto the dock floor. Blurr reached down to pick it up, and the action knocked SOME kind of screw in whatever was in that head, for he gasped in realization.

"Oh Primus. Oh Primus I know EXACTLY what to do. You're the BEST, Tide!"

He was about to ask him just what he meant, before he leapt at him in a hug, before jumping ship, and zooming down the highway.

"He's gonna be fine. Just like me after another cygar."

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

Another morning, another meeting. Something about schedules or what have you. Did he think it was pointless? Absolutely, but hey, when on earth. He was about to walk past the team as he made it to their usual room, when he stopped, overhearing Blurr and Blades.

"So yeah, I just wanted to give you a gift to let you know I'm super sorry."

"Aw, Blurr. You saying sorry is enough. But I'll definitely accept a gift! What did you-oh dear God."

Hightide tried not to bust out laughing as Blurr just. Dumped the fish into Blade's hands. Blades held it, absolutely MORTIFIED. Blurr seemed to just now notice Hightide, and that dumb, hopeful face put a warmth in his old spark.

"Hightide totally gave me the idea!"

Blades chuckled uncomfortably, getting the hint that he was supposed to be grateful.

"Oh he...did. Lovely. Well uhm, thank you, Blurr. It's very...unique."

Hightide patted Blurr's helm, motioning him inside.

"Take a seat next to me, guppy. Let everyone see I'm proud of ya."

Blurr, giddy as he tried to keep his cool, helped himself inside. Blades looked at him in horror.

"My god Hightide help me. It smells."

"Smells like a kid is trying to make it up to ya. You're keepin' the thing."

"It's gonna stink up the meeting room.."

Blades groaned. But he walked on inside regardless, and for a moment, Hightide looked inside the room. An apology wasn't much of itself, neither was an old, stinking fish. But the kid was trying to take in the scenery instead of making it to the line.

And Hightide could sea that in him.

[beta-synch]

Apple Juice - GrillbyxReader one-shot

Something I wrote a while back on AO3 when I was particularly miserable and in need of the firehusband. I’m gonna post it here now. Hope you guys like it! Probably gonna post oneshots I come up with here, while my multi-chapter stuff will stay on AO3 and be linked.

Title: Apple Juice Pairing: Grillby/Reader Word Count: 2057 Warnings: Mentions of Menstration, but no pronouns are used for reader.

—-

Life for you was as average as the next person.

You had good parents, and a fairly good childhood. You didn’t have any real health issues. You had an apartment, and a job at a bake shoppe you could commute to with public transport. You had a loving and supportive boyfriend.

Well, your boyfriend was a monster, a fire elemental name Grillby to be exact, so maybe that was your little bit of something that made you different.

But anyway, you couldn’t really complain about your life. You trudged steadily on. Even when Mother Nature decided to come knocking, or a bug decided to screw with you, you marched forward, without complaint.

It seems Mother Nature had decided it wanted to let you have a general state of misery this week. With the heat wave going through, it would have been only just tolerable, but it seems that someone had decided to bless you this go around. You still felt like you wanted to eat anything and everything while feeling too bloated to even eat a grain of rice, and you were still a little more snippy than normal, but your flow was lighter than normal, and your cramps were nearly nonexistent. Maybe this week wouldn’t be so bad.

The next day, half way through your shift, your throat was feeling a bit scratchy.

You prayed it was just you being thirsty, with the heat wave going through and being around ovens all afternoon. But, as the day went on, your throat only got worse.

You knew the beginnings of a cold in your body. And you wondered what god in the heavens you pissed off for them to decide that having your period or a cold wasn’t enough, you had to suffer through both at the same time.

You mentally through your arms up and cursed out the gods.

After work you went out to the nearby pharmacy and bought two bags of cough drops, a box of tissues, Dayquil and Nyquil, and a pack of apple juice cartons. If you were gonna suffer through this, you were going to do it prepared.

By this time, you could feel your nose begin to run. Fuck everything.

Returning to the apartment you shared with your boyfriend, loot in tow, the only response you got when he saw you with groceries from the Rite Aid down the street was a quirk of his firy eyebrow. He probably saw the apple juice.

“It’s not going to be a fun week for me.” You shruged. Grillby’s face pinched in concern.

“You only… buy that… when you have…. fallen ill.” He gently wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you close. Grillby sometimes had trouble speaking, and normally used sign language, especially when working at his bar. But, when he felt comfortable enough with someone, like you and his regulars, he would choose to speak. His voice was soft and low, like the embers of a fire about to go out. He would speak slowly, carefully pronouncing each word. You had told him a number of times that you didn’t mind him not speaking, but he insisted on it.

“Yeah, and I wish I wasn’t so familiar with the signs of it.” You sighed, your head dropping onto Grillby’s shoulder. “But, shit happens. And now, I’m dealing with it. I’ll be fine, it’s just going to be a little harder now.” Grillby tenderly ran his fingers through your hair, nuzzling and kissing your temple.

“I will… be here for you. Always. And I… will do my best…. to comfort you.”

You smiled and hugged him tight. His heat was soothing, especially when your cramps were bad or your muscles were sore. He was soothing in general, with his quiet affections, a sweet reassurances. How did you get so lucky?

As you two turned in for the night, you popped the Nyquil before exiting the bathroom and crawled into bed with Grillby.

—–

It was… ok of a day. It was a back and forth thing all day. It was a Tuesday, so while it was slow enough that you could do everything you needed far ahead of schedule, it meant shit for tips. While your lighter than normal period didn’t give you any paralyzing cramps, the cold had made your body ache tenfold from normal. Even your medicine was having a fit. What with the Dayquil allowing you to breathe, but your throat still felt like it was on fire. Then you had run out of cough drops you had jammed in your pocket before leaving, and the Dayquil had decided it would stop working just after your shift.

To top it off, it was raining with a particularly oppressing mugginess. This usually happened after heatwaves, and while you liked the rain, the sleepiness it brought you was not welcome right now, and the mugginess made you feel sticky. So, you sat at the train station, stuffed up, achy, exhausted, irritated, and miserable, wanting nothing more than to go home.

Once the train arived and you could finally head home, you wondered if you should stop by the bar. Rain usually meant the bar was busier than normal, with people trying to get out from the downpour, but coupled with the humidity, you were sure Grillby was feeling a little suffocated. With your mind made up, you walked the 10 minutes to the restaurant after the train stopped at your destination.

As you predicted, the bar was a little more crowded than normal. Luckily, there was a seat over at the bar, right next to a very familiar figure. You plopped down in the stool, fully expecting the woopie cusion.

Sans snickered beside you, but you didn’t feel up to lightly chiding him as you normally did. Instead, you just rested your head on the countertop. And that seemed to alert Sans to your poor state. His eye sockets widened in shock.

“Whoa. You uh… you ok there?” You stared blankly at the space in front of you. You were thankful for his concern, but you could only make a ‘mmrrreerrgggg’ sort of sound in response with your now sore throat.

“Sounds like you’re about to uh… croak, hehe.”

Of course he would make that joke.

“I’ll let you have that one. Kinda walked into it anyway.” You chuckled a bit with him, despite the wheezy sound to your laugh.

“Ok, but seriously, are you alright?” He placed a cool, skeletal hand on your forehead. “You don’t really feel warm.”

“Don’t get fevers with colds anymore. Haven’t had a fever since… mmmiddle school? I think I read somewhere that it’s uncommon in adults.”

“Huh, ok then. But, I’ve seen you sick before and you were… not so obviously miserable?”

“Got a double whammy. I’m also on my period.” Sans winced. He also was familiar with you on your worst of menstrual days. “Yeah, it’s been rough.”

“And… I am hoping…. that this…. will help a bit.” Grillby seemed to appear out of nowhere, producing a little box of apple juice from somewhere under the bar. Sans seemed very confused. You on the other hand, were practically beaming.

“Thank you, dear.” You took the carton, pulling off the little plastic bendy straw and poking it through the hole in the top of the carton. You took a big sip, feeling the juice cool your throat, and sighed.

“What.” Sans looked completely lost. He looked from you to Grillby, hoping for an answer while gesturing helplessly to the apple juice.

“It is… a comfort thing… for them.” Grillby explained.

“Ah. Right. Only family and Grillby know about this.” You waved the carton a bit in reference. “See, when you’re a human child, you’re not really able to swallow pills yet. So, they came up with nasty liquid stuff that ruins your taste buds for a while. Mom normally tried to give us OJ to wash it down, but I didn’t like the way the medicine made it taste, so I ended up refusing it altogether. Then mom went and bought cartons of apple juice, and I could actually tolerate the taste of it after taking medicine. So, that was all I ever had to drink when I had a cold. When I got old enough to figure out how to swallow pills, juice boxes just became a comfort thing. It’s still what I buy when I’m sick.”

“You couldn’t have bought like, a jug of the stuff? It would probably last longer.” Sans questioned.

“I am an adult. I have a job, I pay bills, I will drink my fucking apple juice, that I bought, from a carton if I want to.” Sans raised his arms in a surrender motion.

“Alright, alright. I’m sorry for questioning the apple of your juice boxes.” He smirked. You rolled your eyes. “You know, if I didn’t know you and Grillbz as well as I do, I almost would have thought he was subtly calling you childish. But you’re not wine-y enough and G would never do something so unjuicetifiable.”

“Yup, ok, that’s it. I’m going back to the apartment. And I’m taking my apple juice with me.” You got off the stool and walked around behind the bar, Sans laughing all the while. You gave your boyfriend a peck on the lips and a quick squeeze. “See you tonight. Don’t work too hard. I love you.”

“Take your medicine…. and get… some rest. I love you.” He hugged you back and placed a kiss on your forhead. You left the bar, feeling a little lighter.

—

It was some hours later that Grillby finally returned home. He shucked off his coat and shoes and glanced around. The lights were off, but he could hear the sound of the tv in the living room.

“Grillby…?” Came your raspy voice. Entering the living room showed you, sitting up on the couch, hair askew and sleep clouding your eyes. He then noticed a few empty juice boxes, one of the bags of cough drops with several wrappers, used tissues, and an empty pill pack on the table. You must have been waiting up for him, but the drowsiness caused by the Nyquil must have put you to sleep. He had told you to get some rest, not stay up for him. He sighed and shook his head, smiling fondly at you.

“Come on. Let us… get to bed.” Grillby carefully scooped you up. You mumbled a bit, but curled into him, your arms looping loosely around his shoulders. He carried you to the bedroom, laying you out on the bed before climbing in next to you. You subconsciously rolled over to cuddle him like always, and he returned it by pulling you closer.

“Love you…” You muttered.

“And I, you.” Grillby gently brushed strands of hair from your face. Even in sleep, you still had a slight look of misery. Tomorrow, he was going to make you something nice for breakfast, and maybe take the day off.

And he did just that. Since it had been your day off as well, Grillby greeted you that morning with waffles and more boxes of apple juice. You were delighted, mood shooting up. You two then spent the day on the couch, cuddling and watching movies. He used his heat to soothe your aches and would bring you whatever you needed. You at one point had jokingly told Grillby not to coddle you, but that had gotten a reply of kisses all over your face, making you giggle horsely.

“It is not…. coddling if… you are… feeling so terrible. I will not… stand to… see you miserable. I promised… to take care…. of you. And I will.” You buried yourself into his embrace, feeling overwhelmed by his dedication to you. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” You croaked, no longer sure it was the cold affecting your voice. You peeked up from his chest when you felt him move, finding a box in you line of sight.

“Juice?” He offered. The medicine must be making you loopy, because the sudden offer of the juice box after his little proclamation made you laugh.

Life was average for you. But, when it decided to throw you a curveball, you were glad you had to have someone so loving by your side.