#and I might need a thought to give me new points but I'm flying blind there

[parlerenfleurs]

Every time my chosen dialogue/action option makes him smile my heart flies into a million tiny butterflies I swear. I need him to love me, I don't care in what capacity *shakes Harry by his smelly, second-hand rag of lapels* BE LOVEABLE IDIOT

Disco Elysium will NOT let me be friends with Kitsuragi Kim, even less romance him but I need to romance him so bad!! \Q^Q/

[wanda-little-baby]

Meteors and Love - Wanda x Reader

Summary: The last battle against Ultron, an unexpected rescue and a new beginning. Could it be worse? Yup...

Warnings: use of magic, scattered angst, dark humor (literally a sentence), mind control, wounds (light or slight), other Avenger stuff, and mostly teenagers in love and unaware. | 18+ DNI (mainly it is for violence)

A/N: It's full of surprises. It took me 2 weeks but I finally did it, I wrote quite a bit and some days I was fixated on certain points and I couldn't go on. So I apologize if I made you wait too long but happy reading folks!

Words: 5.910

Pain

Pain is all you feel every time you think about it (or better 'about they').

It stops you, leaves you destroyed for days, closed in a spiral. Normally, that would be where Natasha comes in, she would stay close to you and make sure you recovered. She didn't know why, but she knew she had to be close to you, and she did.

Every time, she would take you to your bed, she would lie down next to you and you would spend hours watching TV. When you fell asleep, destroyed by crying, you curled up against her, resting your head on her lap. She watched you rest peacefully, thinking about all the things you had been through and gently stroking your head so as not to wake up. Quite often, during those days, you would wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares about your parents and murmur. "No no no ... mom no!" you wriggled in despair complaining, until Natasha comforts you. "Shhh mom is here. I got you. Mom is here. You're safe, mom is here" she whispered making soft circles on your back, then you calm down by reducing your sobs to simple sighs while you snuggled again further into the widow. Every time she rocked you, you calmed down immediately.

She never thought she could ever have so much love for someone, not like that, not motherly love. She could not biologically do it, have children, not after the Red Room. But there in that moment, whenever you needed it, she was there. She had just met you, but she would have already gotten shot for you. She knows that she is not your mother, she knows that you are not her daughter, she knows that you lost your parents in a brutal way. She knows a lot about you, even what you don't want, but she loves you just the same.

Maybe she might someday become your mother ... Some day.

But now Natasha wasn't there and you needed her. You don't know why you miss her so much, you just had a fight, but you want her next to cuddle you. You would like to curl up little baby in her side and hold her in an infinite embrace.

Why these thoughts?

I have a mom!

She died!

Natasha can't be my mom, it wouldn't be fair to my real parents, and then I don't think she would want it.

No, now I just have to go and rescue her, that's why I'm worried.

For my friend, not for my mom.

Right?

So many wheels were spinning in your head as you escaped the armory to fly the jet, but suddenly you make a detour to the quarters. You walk into Natasha's room,

Wow it smells so much about her

and while you realize that maybe she gave you her room when you arrived you take a couple of her widow bites and put them on your wrists. They are the missing piece on the suit, now it's perfect.

And then you get back in the jet before you're late. You are undecided, you don't know what to do, then Wanda beckons you to stand next to her and you accept gratefully that someone wants to keep you close to her.

The flight proceeds well, every now and then Pietro comes out with a few jokes and winks at his sister (punished by a crimson look), this gives a starting point for some brief conversation and so you get to know them better. Now you can tell, you like them, maybe Wanda a little more but we can turn a blind eye to this.

And so, there you were flying over the skies of Eastern Europe, as Steve was about to deliver his usual pre-mission speech (only here, it's not really routine).

"Ultron knows we're coming. Odds are we'll be riding into heavy fire. And that's what we signed up for."

"But the people of Sokovia, they didn't." he points out, at which Wanda stiffens and with an impulse to calm her you take her hand in yours.

You would expect that maybe she would pull out of her right away looking annoyed, not that she would hold your hand harder, so be happily surprised when she does it so much that you stroke her top hand with your thumb.

"So our priority, is getting them out. All they want is to live their lives in peace. And that's not gonna happen today."

"But we can do our best to protect them. And we can get the job done."

"We find out what Ultron's been building, we find Romanoff, and we clear the field. Keep the fight between us." this time you tense up, you miss Natasha, she can feel it your thoughts are very strong and they are all about her so now she comforts you by tenderly stroking your shoulders

Here it is, the deep moment, the super soldier takes a breath ready for an iconic final speech. "Ultron thinks we're monster. That we're what's wrong with this world. This isn't just about beating him. It's about whether he's right"

——————————————————————

Once you arrived you split up, you were with Clint, Wanda and Pietro, and while the twin speedster alerted the police to start the evacuation, you and Wanda had to evacuate the civilians. "Are you ready?" she asks looking at you clearly insecure. "Nope, I have no idea what to do, the expert here is you" you says very nervously rubbing your hands anxiously through your hair.

"Okay, it's easy, you tries to do what I do I know you can do it" she tells you posing. "Are you sure, what if I can't?" you exclaim going lower and lower with your anxiety.

Then she takes your hand and mentally tells you We can do it and red threads start coming out of her hands. When you start too, you both come wrapped in a kind of barrier, do you feel your powers increase more and more.

Will it be because we are doing it together?

I don't know, but I like it.

Me too.

A sensation remains a sweet warmth that pervades you throughout your body, slowly becomes a burning fire that gives you new energy, you feel all your power coming to each Sokovian in a wide range to lead them out of whatever they were doing and bring them out from the city.

We are doing it!

Yes, I told you, together we can do it.

Thanks Wanda, it must have been the worst days since I dreamed of you but now I know why, for this reason, we are the same two girls with great power and a desperate need for friends.

Yeah, I really need friends

Tick ​​it off the list because I just became one.

Suddenly, lots of robots start popping up all over the place. "And where do these come from!" you exclaim breaking the bond and shooting one of the robots before it attacked civilians.

"From underground? They don't look like zombies," she points out with a slight smile. "Maximoff I didn't make you a dark humor girl. Go to Clint, at the bridge see if he needs help, I'll join you later" you joke in a mocking tone, urging her to go, surely in the fight you are more prepared than her.

Buying time, to allow Wanda to get away, take out a lot of robots, a little with magic and a little with a couple of super spy moves (all taught by the usual redhead). When you are sure that she is gone and that the field is clear enough you slip away and go to the bridge.

See Clint hit some of the robots climbing the bridge, while Wanda helps civilians escape. "Get off the bridge!" she says to the last ones left.

She hasn't seen you yet, she's too busy saving a lot of people, so she's surprised when you add yourself to her in the barrier she created. "Run!" she tells the crowd behind her after giving you a tender smile.

One of the robots that massed on the other side of the bridge shot Wanda and unfortunately passed the barrier hitting her in full. And the instant she collapses to the ground you crouch down disintegrating with your eyes (metaphorically, but with the help of a lot of anger it becomes literal) that stupid piece of wasted junk.

You squat and take her in her arms by brushing her hair away from her face to check if she is okay. "Wanda! Please don't die, it would be a very short friendship and I don't know you enough yet to allow you to die." you almost starts to cry at least until you see them open their eyes and make you a sweet hypermega grimace.

"I'm not dying, I can't give this satisfaction to my brother. But thank you, it was a long time since someone didn't care so much for me" she tells you trying to get up grabbing your hand for support.

"By the way, where is your brother?" you look around for the speedster. "Last time he was going somewhere then I lost him" reflects confused the prettiest sokovian you have ever seen.

"Lovebirds your honeymoon can wait, we have a big problem. The city is flying." Clint interrupts a particular moment (romantic? Maybe) causing a considerable embarrassment to fall on both of them.

"Is the city flying?" we both ask incredulously, ignoring the whole previous sentence. It seemed impossible before we saw the bridge split in two and rise several meters above the ground.

"It's flying! We are surrounded by robots, I fight with bow and arrow and our best chance of victory is two little girls in love. It's all absurd." he exclaims shooting a couple of arrows at some intruders in the conversation, obviously increasing the veil of embarrassment between you and Wanda.

Then two robots fly up to us and one of them starts talking. "Do you see the beauty of it? The inevitability. You rise, only to fall. You, Avengers, you are my meteor. My swift and terrible swomrd. And the Earth will crack with the weight of your failure. Purge me from your computers, turn my own flesh against me." was abruptly interrupted by an arrow in the head, promptly replaced by the one behind.

"It means nothing. When the dust settles, the only thing living in this world will be metal" he finished his macabre speech with his head severed by a clean red cut.

"Stark, you worry about bringing the city back down safely" Cap opens the communication (but why tell everyone?)

"The rest of us have one job, tear these things apart. You get hurt, hurt them back. You get killed, walk it off" (ahh! Here because) and so with something very encouraging Steve basically throws us into the fray, if we weren't already.

Just as if even the robots had heard it (they certainly did) they began to arrive more and more in number surrounding us. You were busy on one side while Wanda and Clint were busy taking out other robots and rescuing civilians.

You are too busy saving your ass from flying robots to see Clint and Wanda go to repair inside a building leaving you alone with all those robots, but after all you had something not to die, you had two people to protect and that was enough.

Your head however, thunders with screams, screams not yours, you know who they are and you suffer with her while you fight hand to hand with a dozen robots alternating with a bit of ingenuity. And then... silence. You see Clint coming out of a door, but Wanda is not with him so assume that she has stayed inside.

You try to fight but it almost seems that every robot you kill will get two more so you quickly find yourself back to the wall (or rather back to the cars). More and more robots are approaching and you begin to hope for a miracle because you will surely leave both pens at this pace.

Feel the tension in the air, this will be decisive for your lives, you would be ready to attack if a feeling did not block you.

Anger, but more than anger you feel the immense power that is emanating, it is familiar, you remember her.

As you suspected, the doors open to your right and Wanda comes out. She looks different, more determined, who knows what happened in that building. One by one she starts taking out all the robots, breaking them in half like wooden sticks and using some to make others.

Within seconds, there is only scrap metal scattered among the buildings

You're tired, out of breath from all the effort you put into clearing this area, but you're just as surprised at what convinced Wanda to go out and fight.

You have no idea, however, how relieved she is when she sees you there still alive even if with some wounds on your face.

She runs towards you in practice, and you go along with her by welcoming her in your arms. For a while she squeezes you lightly, she wanted to check that you were really there and that it wasn't one of her illusions.

She doesn't need to talk, it's a special moment and strangely neither would want it to end; so stay there a few more seconds to comfort yourself in the arms of the other.

But when you two become aware of your surroundings you also realize that Clint is looking at you with a smirk and you instantly break away with your cheeks flushed from the embarrassment of the intrusion in a so private moment.

The embarrassment is such that he looks at the ground hoping to sink into it (with Wanda), but then Clint decides to break a favor to "the couple".

"All right, we're all clear here" tried to improve a situation he created, failing, but at least we requested an update on the battlefield.

"We are not clear! We are very not clear!" Steve's words came out in chunks, clearly engaged in combat.

"All right, coming to you" a all serious he exclaimed. There is no time to finish the sentence that Pietro darted in front of him and took Wanda away babbling on some form of mockery. "Keep up, old man!" were the stupid words he darted out.

To avoid words or gestures that the archer would have regretted (perhaps) you invent a loophole. "Don't even think about it! Come on, we have a battle to fight there is no time for stupid jokes" you tell him as you pass him and approach Steve's position.

The area is large but you certainly arrive before Clint (actually you have long passed him, with a little magic push but better not tell him), you are looking for someone, you don't know where but you know who to ask while you keep running.

Have you seen Natasha?

Yes, further on, she is fighting alongside Captain America

Thank you. And you can call him Steve, don't worry he won't get mad

Follow the directions she gave you and then you find her there she is. You run into her, but she hasn't seen you yet so she is surprised when someone hugs her from behind.

But when she realizes who it is that is hugging her she lets go. "I missed you so much!" you whisper so that only she can hear. "You too," she replies, touching your hand to loosen your grip and turn to face.

"In the end I found Wanda, now we are friends" you said, while you were talking about Wanda your eyes were sparkling and there Natasha understood what was underneath.

Something that perhaps not even you had yet understood, you were in love with Wanda and from the way you talked about what you had done, she was too.

"I missed a lot huh? Now go, go back to her, I can stay here with Steve" she encourages you, squeezing you a little before pushing you slightly towards the area where Wanda was.

"Oh, but after we have to talk" you express while walking away walking in reverse.

When you turn and start walking towards the brunette, Natasha stops to look at you proud, she doesn't know why she is proud, that Wanda has made her relive the worst time of her life.

But she is sure of one thing, if you trust her then there will be a reason, now she feels just like a mother letting her child fly out of her nest.

Yes you really need to talk, she has to tell you how she feels about what's between you.

Now you are bringing all the civilians close under cover, it looks like the city has entered a cloud and you don't see much, but this is good because a wave has just ended and more robots will arrive soon so we have time to secure as many people as possible

You're checking how many people are missing when a known and unexpected rumor comes out of the radio.

"Glad you like the view, Romanoff. It's about to get better" you know who that voice is, you thought he was dead (it's not true, it's just an appearance), but you are so happy when you look outside.

The helicarrier!

He brought the helicarrier, you can't believe it, it's the perfect time. Don't hesitate, you take Wanda's hand and literally drag her out to make her admire that flying wonder.

Up close she is even more stunning, and even Wanda is enthralled by this charm as you drag her next to her brother.

In short, you look like children on Christmas morning by how delighted you are.

"This is Shield?" the young Sokovian asks the super soldier, as some lifeboats approach the floating city.

"This is what Shield is supposed to be" you and Steve answer at the same time, sounds weird but you took it personally when you found out your new "home" was largely a secret nazi organization so yes there is some pride in it.

"This is not so bad" the silver-haired boy finally admitted.

The boats were starting to arrive, so you two go back inside and round up the civilians to then sort them into the boats.

One has just landed near my and Wanda's position so try to shunt as many as possible into the pod to make them escape.

It's still dangerous so your senses are at their maximum and at the slightest noise that isn't a shouting your hair stand up ready for another calm disappointment (fortunately).

As you help all those people, the headset starts talking to itself (well, teammates talk, you listen) "Thor, I've got a plan" a flying Stark stated

"We're out of time. They're coming for the core" fighting, the voice of the Norse god came out engaged

You don't see the conversation so you can only imagine what they do from the sounds coming out of the earphones. "Rhodey, get the rest of the people on board that carrier"

"Avengers, time to work for a living" does this end this non-conversation by giving a command or making sarcasm? Really, you don't understand when it does one or the other.

"I think we have to go to church," you point out confused to the brunette in front of you.

She nods and you set off fighting down the path. The number of robots that keep popping up on either side is scary, but thank goodness you're both pretty good at turning them into metal husks.

As soon as we arrive at the church, the girl with the most beautiful green eyes in the world runs to her brother to check if he's okay, you understand it's a private moment between twins and you stand aside watching nervous.

Now only Nat and Bruce are missing (who is already greener than usual at this point) and while you assume they're coming, they arrive right away.

Now it was all of us as the last bastion between the end of this city (and of mankind) and that cursed Ultron and his undergraded clones.

Boldly as usual, with the same desire for battle, the blond Asgardian challenges Ultron. "Is that the best you can do?"

Obviously that's not all he can do, in fact that metal turd with a single wave of his hand recalls a huge number of other robots, leaving many quite shocked. "You had to ask" a quite tense Steve said.

Underlining the below the original Ultron (or at least an enhanced version of the original) spoke robotically "This is the best I can do."

"This is exactly what I wanted. All of you against all of me."

"How can you possibly hope to stop me?" mechanically he finished his short evil monologue, like he's not facing Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

We can beat him right? I hope so at least

"Well, like the old man say... Together" Tony said, glaring intently at the super soldier to his right.

Lo and behold, with a mighty roar from the greener version of Bruce, the robots began their charge.

The battle, the last one, has begun

You're ready, you've been training since you've been with the Avengers for a moment like this, and the last few days have only increased your warrior mettle.

After all, you had a good reason not to let those things get to the core, the lives of only a few billion human beings (not to mention the rest of animals, etc...), and among these you are lucky enough to find yourself together with your new family so yes you are ready to break some robots ass.

You see them arriving en masse, you're positioned next to Wanda (obviously) to protect the core, we're all busy making as many of them out as possible in one of those scenes that the cinema would love.

You mostly alternate between your tactical and magical abilities, passing some of your bots to Wanda a few times so she can take out others while you're in trouble.

In short, you two immediately prove to be a duo with a strong synergy, in the meantime the others also give themselves a lot to do, showing off the best of their abilities.

Clint and Natasha as always are one to protect each other's backs by shooting and giving a few shots when necessary, Thor, Tony, the new vibranium boy, mainly deal with the aerial threat because yes, those things also fly.

Steve gives his best with the shield and even without it he manages to make a lot of contribution, Pietro runs all around the church piercing through a lot of robots while the Hulk obviously smashes as much as possible.

It all happens really fast, and you hardly notice the big one is fighting off attacks from Tony, Thor, and the Vibranium Guy at the same time until you look at them and decide to joke about it. "They always have to have the bigger one huh? Selfish" you say as you pick up a robot and crash it into a wall.

Subtly you can hear Wanda laughing, and even you can't believe it in a good amount of time you can see a brief smile on Natasha's face.

After much effort, no more robots are seen (for now) and Steve is already proceeding to illustrate the next step. "We gotta move out. Even I can tell the air is getting thin."

"You guys get to the boats. I'll sweep for stranglers. Be right behind you." He gave indications, of course staying there had a high chance of dying without air but there could be survivors and it's better to check

"What about the core?" Clint asked thoughtfully, of course you would have expected anything but the answer that would have followed

"I'll protect it" Wanda promptly replied, she seemed very determined, I admire that "It's my job" she added looking at Clint, as if he meant a past dialogue between the two

I absolutely have to be told what happened in that building.

After exchanging a knowing look with Wanda, the archer then sets off "Nat. This way." he asked the redhead to follow him

Now it's just you and her left and you know she'll beg you to leave, but the talk is delayed when a flash of blue followed by the usual boy following. "Get the people on the boats" the girl gave orders to her brother who had just arrived.

"I'm not going to leave you here" the speedster maximoff protested, he had no intention of leaving his sister there alone.

"I can handle this" she stated harshly before destroying a robot that was running in her direction, earning a nod of maybe from the silvery blond "Come back for me when everyone else is off. Not before." she insists, getting an annoyed grunt that only gets on her nerves.

"You understand?" she then asked, in an already somewhat upset tone

"You know, I'm 12 minutes older then you" he said sarcastically, eliciting a tender chuckles from his sister and making her exclaim between smiles "Go".

Now that he too was gone, there were only you and her left. You knew what she was going to tell you but you wanted to stop it, but she beat you to the punch.

"Y/N please go too, I'll join you later" with the same courage in the words before she turned to you, but you weren't going to change your mind.

"I really don't think about it, I won't leave you here, there are more possibilities for two to protect the core" convinced, with a little frustration you explain your reasons.

"Y/N! Please, I'm not saying this for myself." she exclaims, and you can see she's begging you to go so you wait for her to continue.

"Pietro, he alone can get caught up in moments of heroism, and he can be really irresponsible. I'm afraid he will do something he can never go back from. Please protect him, is my only family" she pleaded, concern in her eyes, all this fear tugs at your heart strings and you can't not accept.

"If he'll keep you calm, I'll keep a close eye on him and I won't let him go for a moment" you try to reassure her from his premature concern, you think it worked because he mentally gives you a

Thank you

before you reciprocate and start following the other twin.

The last pod is quite far from the church, and since you know everyone will be going there you retrieve a motorbike on the road and speed through the destroyed Sokovian streets to the last starting zone.

You quickly approach the lifeboat, but you haven't seen your main objective yet. So you lean against the lifeboat and wait staring in case he shows up.

In quick succession, you recognize the sprinter, but you also see something else.

Clint, about twenty meters from the lifeboat holding a child left behind. You start to hear gunshots, and protectively streams of magic flow through your hands.

You see Pietro watching the two and then the Quinjet with Ultron in it about to shoot both the archer and the boy, and you know what he wants to do.

The movement is so fast that the instant he moves a car in front of the two, you before he gets a lot of bullets you wrap him in a protective barrier.

Well, you had saved Pietro, she would have been so proud of you (not Wanda, another person dear to you).

You kept your promise to Wanda, but as soon as the dust settles you fall to your knees and stay there stunned for a long time.

Your trance is broken when Pietro forces you back to your feet and escorts you to the lifeboat. "She asked you right?" he asks you as he lets a weary Clint sit next to you, you nod, to which he shakes his head smiling.

"I owe you my life Y/N, now without you I would have been lying lifeless for quite a while" he tries to play down, but seeing that you remain there impassive staring into space he sits next to you and remains silent.

You don't know why you don't care where Wanda is, but until you set foot on the helicarrier you don't hear from her. When you see her, you run towards her and hug each other, happy that it's over, but also sad about the end of the girl's country.

She tells you that finally before the city fell, Vision came and rescued her. Let's just say this save earned the Synthezoid some points in your eyes

She thanks you for saving her reckless twin's life and you both laugh as you make jokes at the expense of the brother who looks at you offended.

You spent the whole ride on the helicarrier with the twins, and while they were talking you seemed distant, like you weren't really there.

From the expression on your face Wanda understood that there was something bothering you but despite her trying to read your mind to understand why she couldn't enter, as if you had locked her out, it was serious if you had reached that level.

She didn't know what to do to make you open up, so she just had to wait and pretend everything was fine.

——————————————————————

Once you know, back at that big soaring building, you learned that Stark had sold the tower and the Avengers were due to move into an older Stark facility.

So it was time to pack up, and Wanda had no intention of leaving you. And so you ended up packing all your things in your room, not embarrassing at all (that's not true, it's very embarrassing).

"What do you want with all these copies of 'Around the World in 80 Days'?" she asks you dumbfounded, as she puts 5 copies of the same book in a box. "When I was little it was my favorite book, then when I moved here I looked for a long time for the same copy I had at the time, and so I found 5 copies" you sigh thinking back to your childhood, as you continue to empty the semi-empty library.

"You know we could finish in seconds right?" she affirms by twisting her wrist and finishing emptying the library with a red magic touch.

Then you answer with an amused grimace and think of an answer. "Yes, but then I couldn't tell you any more funny and lanky stories" you tease, tapping her on the shoulder.

"Do you really love sweaters that much huh?" she exclaims rummaging through your closet and picking up most of your sweaters making you smile slightly.

"Yes, indeed winter is my favorite season. I actually have many university hoodie and I haven't even gone, most of them I stole from Nat and the others I bought. Despite everything I'm smarter than most part of the students who graduate, you know with a lot of free time, being young, a quick mind to learn and the best AI in the world..." you constantly mumble moving various boxes on the bed while Wanda looks at you smiling

"You were right anyway. On the jacket. It fits me well, or at least it did, now it's all pierced." she suddenly changes the subject making you proud of the compliment and also making you blush a little.

"I can fix it for you. Even if now I should make you a new suit, rookie." you start off serious but then end up muttering between laughs, attracting an unspoken 'why all this laughter?' and replying before your lungs explode with laughter

"It's just that Natasha still calls me rookie and I've lived here for two years, I want to see now what excuse she will have for continuing to call me that!" you try to pull yourself together and go back to packing.

So the whole afternoon goes on down memory lane and telling the Sokovian girl parts of your life.

We were all ready to move in the next day now we just had to spend the night.

You haven't spoken to anyone else since you walked into the room so when she gets ready to go there is hesitation, she looks at you, you look at her, you contemplate every detail on her face and she finally decides to take matters into her own hands.

"Can I stay here for tonight?" you get surprised when she asks you, you didn't expect it but you nod right away and decide to get ready, it's going to be a long night.

The problem came when you insisted she put on one of your hoodies to sleep in as she had nothing on but the now rags she had from the battle, but after a grueling explanation as to why you didn't mind she finally accepted.

When she came out of the bathroom, with her hair still a little wet, wearing a hoodie of yours (your favorite) and a random pant, you felt weird, a weird feeling like a knot in your stomach or maybe butterflies.

But everything was interrupted when she approached you. "Are you ready? You told me about you, now I won't let you sleep until you know everything about me" she said as she pushed you to make her way into the bed.

"Very ready, but only good things. Bad things can wait for the next day. Promise?" you playfully ask, handing her your little finger, which she grabs, giggling.

You stay awake until almost dawn talking and laughing like teenagers. But then when sleep reaches you both collapsed like walls.

You can swear you feel Wanda while you're sleeping turning around and hugging you in your sleep curling up against your chest, but honestly you don't have the strength or the will to complain.

You're not sure how long you slept, but as you open your eyes and check your smartphone,

11:40

you let out a frustrated moan.

You're not alone in the room, so as soon as you let out that moan a brunette presence approaches you and hands you a cup of coffee on your bedside table.

You tend to stand still for a moment when the memories of the previous night come back to you and immediately a smile appears on your features. "Thanks, you didn't have to," you sigh as you take a sip of the caffeine-like drink.

"I woke up and you were happy dreaming and I thought I'd do something nice, don't worry it's your favorite" she explains sitting down next to you on the bed.

Magic?

Magic

"Where are the others? If I'd ever woken up by this time I'd already have Natasha on my tail." you try to think about the rest of the messed up sort of family you have.

"Oh, they've already left. They left us here after I insisted on letting you sleep" she tries to reconstruct the events during your sleep, leaving you thoughtful.

"What are you saying, shall we go too? I can't wait to choose my new room" you say, you decide to get up and hold out your hand to Wanda to lead her to your new shared house.

[tandaforever]

Armie is moving into a new flat after a split from obnoxious now-ex-boyfriend. Timmy offers to help and while they move the heavy and very inconveniently-sized-for-the-narrow-staircase-and-no-elevator couch, sparks fly and when at the end they notice Timothée has somehow lost his keys in all of the moving mess, Armie offers a shower and a beer at his new place. (your prompt)

Uhh Nonny -- I got carried away lol. Thank you, it was fun and easy. I like when things are fun and easy. 

"Tyler, please don't do this to me."

Armie felt utterly alone. The day had gotten progressively worse and he was just over it now. He needed to be in bed with his eyes closed. Certainly not pleading with his best friend on the phone, who had called to cancel on him at the last minute.

He sat down on the couch, which was getting dirtier by the second, and closed his eyes. He could hear Eli's derisive laughter echoing in his ear and felt his blood boiling.

Fuck off!

He shook his head roughly and that seemed to work. The only sounds he could hear now were of Tyler moving around on the other end of the line.

Armie never has to hear that wretched laugh ever again, he reminded himself.

He sunk back into the couch cushion, giving up on the idea of keeping the couch sweat-free. His t-shirt was drenched through and he was just so thirsty. He had broken his sunglasses earlier, so not only was the heat and exhaustion getting to him, but he was literally blinded by the sun just sitting at the side of the curb. He brought his arm up to shield his eyes.

"I'm soooo sorry Armie! I can't skip out on this meeting...I really need this sale. Could you call Ash? Maybe he can help."

Armie sighed. Typical.

"He can't come, he has an open house today."

Armie could hear Tyler swearing under his breath.

"I'll come as soon as the meeting's over, one hour...maybe two max. Just leave the heavier stuff in the van."

"Ya, alright." 

Armie was too tired to point out that he's already carried most of the boxes up to the apartment, and that he managed to unload the couch and deposit it on the curb, thinking reinforcement was arriving in the form of his now-flaky-best-friend. What he really needed help with, was carrying the damn thing up five flights of stairs.

“I promise I’ll come as soon as I can,” the line went dead and Armie slipped the phone back into his pocket, and reviewed his options.

He could somehow shove the couch back into the van and wait for Tyler. He looked down at the green velvet cushion underneath him and knew his arms couldn’t take much more, he’d probably end up hurting himself. 

He could just leave it here and keep an eye on it from his window upstairs. Maybe write a note and tape it to the couch, ‘please don’t touch.’ Armie laughed. The couch was in decent shape, and this wasn’t exactly the safest neighborhood in Manhattan. It would disappear the minute he turned his back on it. 

Well, he could always just sit here and wait, nod at every passerby and explain he wasn’t some whackjob sitting on a coach, in the middle of the afternoon… on the sidewalk. 

Armie groaned out loud.

Fuck my life.

“Are you okay? Do you need some help?”

He flinched at the sudden voice behind him, and when he got up to decline the offer, the words, 'Nah, I’m good’, got stuck in his throat when he turned to face the stranger. 

The stranger was a cute boy, a very cute boy, who was looking at him with equal parts concern and amusement.

“Umm…”

Speak, goddammit, anything, you idiot!

“You’re moving into 86, right? I saw the door propped open when I was coming out and thought it might be you.”

Armie looked past the boy to the open front door of the five floor walk-up he was moving into and smacked his forehead. He had forgotten to remove the door stop.

“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t mean to leave it open.” 

The boy smiled and shook his head. Armie was mesmerized for a second by the way the sunlight was hitting the boy’s curls, making the boy sparkle. 

“Nah, don’t worry about it.” The boy shifted from one foot to the other. “Uhhh… I live in the building too, second floor. I don’t mind helping, truly.”

The boy looked down at the couch, and Armie realized he’d been leaning one knee on it, his elbows resting on the back of the couch in an effort to close the gap between them.

Armie blushed and stood up straight. The boy pressed his lips together, waiting for Armie to answer. 

“I mean… that would actually be really helpful. Yes, please.”

The boy smiled, brighter than the sun and Armie’s despair evaporated instantly.

“My name is Timmy, by the way, what’s yours?”

The boy stuck out his hand, and Armie took it with one of those bro shakes. He wasn’t sure yet.

“Armie.”

Timmy’s forehead scrunched, and it was frigging adorable.

“As in…” He mimed a salute. 

Armie chuckled, well… an adorable dork.

“A-R-M-I-E, it’s short for Armand.”

“Ahhh, gotcha. Alright, where to?”

Armie winced, “Fifth floor.”

“No problem. Let me just…” The boy rolled up his sleeves (who wears long sleeves in this weather?!), and then looked at Armie expectantly.

“Alright, you want me to go first?”

Timmy considered. “How about I go first?”

“That’s cool.”

Armie bent down, and once Timmy did the same, he counted, “Alright, one, two, three–”

They lifted it up and with the two of them, Armie was pleased to find it wasn’t so heavy.

Timmy led the way into the building and when they got to the stairwell, they started to maneuver it up the stairs. 

Truth be told, the boy’s hand slipped a few times, and Armie’s shoulder bore the brunt of the weight but Timmy managed to hold on and kept charging up.

By the third floor, both of them were making these grunting noises, that confused the heck out of Armie,

There was a tight spot on the third floor landing, that no matter what angle they tried, it just couldn’t go up any further. 

“Alright, let’s take a breather.” 

They lowered the couch down, Armie’s thighs securing the couch.

Timmy wiped a sweaty curl off his forehead while Armie stood panting in exhaustion, using the top of his shirt to fan himself. Armie thought he saw Timmy checking him out for one wild second, but the boy was only looking down at the cushions with a puzzled look.

“How are we going to get it up?” he asked.

“Okay, let me see, do you mind switching?” Timmy shook his head and once Armie was sure Timmy had a hold on the couch, he sidled up the side of the staircase, the space so small that his back was digging into the railing to take Timmy’s place. Once he was at the top, he grabbed  one corner of the couch as Timmy rounded behind him to take up the rear. 

As Timmy passed behind him though, with space being as tight as it was, he ended up pressed right into Armie’s back, his crotch coming dangerously close to Armie’s ass, so much so that  Armie held his breath, willing his dick to behave.

Once Timmy was at the bottom of the flight of stairs, framing the couch, Armie took a moment to gage the angles. He felt his cheeks burning, and kept telling himself to calm down.

“Okay, I got it. We just need to lift the couch over the railing, like this–,” he showed Timmy with his hands, “and come up that way.” Once Timmy understood, he threw in, “Alright, now… PIVOT!”

Timmy laughed. “Can you not right now? I’m dying over here.”

Armie grinned, “Alright, on the count of three…”

After what seemed like a whole afternoon in that stairwell, they finally reached the fifth floor.

Timmy helped him carry the couch all the way to his new living room, and once it was placed in the spot Armie wanted it, they both huffed out at the same time.

“YAAS!”

“FINALLY!”

They started laughing hysterically, and when it looked like Timmy might keel over from laughter or exhaustion, Armie caught him swiftly and gently pushed him to sit on the couch.

“Thanks man, you literally saved me back there. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Water please!” 

Armie headed over to the fridge and took out two bottles of water. Good thing he had some, as he wasn’t about to go looking for his glasses packed away somewhere. 

He handed Timmy a bottle, and unscrewed his own and nearly chugged the whole damn thing.

So. Good. 

When he finished, he caught Timmy staring at him, and raised an eyebrow in question.

“Uhh sorry, I uhh – just never seen someone drink a whole bottle of water like that.. Heh.”

Timmy was blushing, and Armie thinks maybe the cute boy might be gay after all.

Armie smiled, “You know, I was feeling like all my friends abandoned me today, and could practically see Eli laughing with glee that I was struggling, so… I just… can’t thank you enough.”

Timmy shook his head and fiddled with the cap of his water bottle. “It’s nothing. I’m happy to help.”

After a moment, he asked, “Who’s Eli?”

Armie observed the boy’s face. Huh, interesting. The boy looked anywhere but at Armie.

“My ex-boyfriend. I moved out this morning.”

“Oh. And you’re sad about it?”

Armie laughed. “Nope.. Best decision I ever made. He wasn’t good for me. I know it now.”

Armie looked out the window, thinking about how hard he fought to end that toxic relationship. Eli didn’t give up without a fight, and things got real messy.

“To hell with Eli then!” Timmy declared, and it made Armie smile.

“It’s actually Ellis. He hated it when I called him Eli.” They both bust out in giggles.

After a while, Timmy stood up, prompting Armie to do the same. They stood there awkwardly looking at each other until Timmy said, “Well I guess I should be going. Don’t be a stranger though, Armie. If you need anything, uhhh – where’s your phone?”

Armie wordlessly passed over his phone and Timmy keyed in his number.

“There. Call me, okay?”

The boy bit his lips and Armie nodded, grabbed Timmy’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “I will, I promise.” Timmy smiled. 

He walked the boy to the door and once Armie closed the door behind him, he turned around and looked at the mess of his apartment.

A minute ago, it felt like home. Now it was just a place filled with boxes. He sighed. 

He was about to unpack a box of kitchenware when he heard a knock on the door. He checked his watch. Tyler’s meeting must’ve been quick.

He opened it, expecting to find Tyler’s apologetic face, but it wasn’t him.

It was Timmy, looking flustered.

“Armie…I… can’t find my keys!”

Timmy was constantly patting down his pockets, like it would miraculously appear like the philosopher’s stone if only he wished hard enough, but he came up empty. And looked at Armie, close to panic, so Armie dragged him across the threshold and sat him on the couch, his arm around him the whole time.

“Hey – it’s fine, we’ll call a locksmith. You can hang here until they come, alright?”

Timmy nodded.

“Do you want a beer?”

Timmy bit his bottom lip, thinking.

“Actually, I’m really sweaty right now. I’m dying for a shower. Do you mind?”

Armie was speechless. Who asks to shower at someone’s place they’ve only just met? But also, images of smooth, pale skin and slender hips ran in succession in Armie’s mind, and he found himself nodding.

Timmy smirked.

He got up and headed towards the shower, Armie’s eyes trailing after him. Before the door closed, Timmy poked his head out, dropped his boxers just outside the door frame and said, “Can you find me a towel?”

When Armie heard the shower turn on, he took out his phone and texted Tyler. 

‘I’m good here, don’t come, I’ll explain later.’

[nothing-but-dreamy]

FAKE DATE

Pairing: FFXV! NYX ULRIC x GENDER NEUTRAL!READER

Words: 10.822

Warnings: some cursing, fluff, mentioning of cheating

A/N: So.... this idea started as a quick idea for a one shot.... I guess, it got a little bit out of hand... but who cares... have fun... it's worth to read it

Summary: Your ex marries your cousin and because it's family, you have to attend there with a date. No matter how hard it would be for you. You talk with Crowe about it and she comes up with an idea: a fake date with one of her friends, Nyx Ulric. Nyx agrees reluctantly and even if he had sworn to himself to avoid meeting new people or rather to let them get too close … little did he know that you could change this plan without even knowing it…

"Crowe, it's horrible! I really tried to talk with my mother but she won't accept the fact that I don't want to come to this wedding. She said: 'We become a family. You're mature enough to work past all this'. Argh! I would love to scream.", you cried out, raking violently through your hair with your fingers.

"Yeah... Right... It's about maturity that you have to watch how your cousin marries your ex-boyfriend who had left you. For your cousin. This marriage is crazy. Since when do they even know each other?"

"For seven months.", you muffled into your hands.

"Wait! What? You met this idiot what? Ten months ago!"

"Yup. And then, we had a family meeting where he met my cousin. They got along pretty well. Maybe I should have sensed something there already. But I didn't.", you said heartbroken.

"So, he met your cousin behind your back, he cheated on you and your mother still wants you to join the wedding? Are really all of your family so stupid, sorry for that, to accept the fact that he’s a lying and cheating bastard?"

"Yes, they are!", you cried out, burying your face into your hands once again, "Just because he's some high-paid, upper class doctor. And you know what the worst is? I have to bring someone with me. A date. You know for the 'aesthetic'. It’s my mother’s twisted ‘perfect world’ thingy. But I don't have someone. I'm still hurt because of what he had done to me. I don't wanna meet someone new.", you breathed devastated.

Crowe nodded slowly, understanding your point because she was there as she had picked up the shattered pieces that had been your former self. Then, an idea popped up in her mind even if it was a tricky one, "YN, I might have a solution for your problem."

Slowly, you looked up, "Yeah... I already considered running away but I can't. My mother would find me everywhere."

Crowe chuckled, "No. Not that. Maybe we keep this running away idea as a back-up. No, I might have a solution for your date misery."

***

The next day, Crowe searched for Libertus and Nyx in the training area of the Kingsglaive headquarters. Finding them warping around, she watched them for a while before both men closed up to her for a small break.

"I will never really get used to this warping shit. My stomach makes somersaults all the time.", Libertus complained and rubbed over his stomach and chest to calm down the heartburn.

"Well, not every person is made for flying.", Crowe said teasingly what caused Nyx to chuckle and Libertus to roll with his eyes.

"So, what's up? It's a bit too early for you.", Nyx said, leaning against a pillar with crossed arms.

"Actually, I wanted to talk with you, Nyx. I... I need your help.", Crowe said carefully.

Nyx frowned as he saw the wariness in his friend's eyes, "And for what?"

"The thing is... I don't really need your help. It's rather a friend of mine.", Crowe said and saw how Nyx pressed his jaws together.

"Crowe? Is this another try to set me up with someone?", he asked serious.

Crowe gnawed on her lower lip, "No... Well... Not really?"

"Crowe! Come on. We already had that!", Nyx said serious, drawing his brows together.

Crowe raised her hands, "I know, I know. You made this clear the last time. But this is different. YN really needs help. Listen, their ex marries and they have to attend there-"

"Why? Why do they have to attend their ex' wedding?", Libertus asked confused.

Crowe grimaced, "Well, he's marrying their cousin."

"What?", Nyx and Libertus called out at the same time.

Crowe pinched the bridge of her nose, "It's a pretty shitty situation. This asshole cheated on YN with their cousin a few months after they started to date. But because he's such a great doctor, with much prestige and money, everyone seems to be cool with this wedding no matter how YN feels about this."

"Holy six...", Libertus whispered, shaking his head at how complicated this situation seemed to be.

"And why do you need me? What role shall I play in all this?", Nyx asked even if he already had an idea what would come next.

"Well... Not enough that YN shall be part of the wedding, they also shall bring a date along. Something about aesthetics or stuff. I dunno. Don't ask me. And that's the point where I need your help, Nyx.", Crowe said and looked at her friend with a pleading expression and a hopeful smile while Nyx stayed silent.

"Why don't you ask me for help?", Libertus asked, pointing at himself.

Crowe looked apologetically at the taller man, "Well, sorry, but I think Nyx is more of their type-"

"More of their type? Crowe!", Nyx called out, getting slightly agitated.

Crowe raised her hands in surrender, "Calm down. I don't wanna set you up with them. But YN shall bring a date to this already crazy and hilarious wedding. The idiot cheated on them for several months, left them and now, YN’s still very hurt. After the breakup and the announced engagement, they were a mess. I needed some time to collect all the pieces that were left from them. They're not able to date someone or to find someone new. So, I thought about a fake date. It's not a real date. You just have to act like it. Please, Nyx. You don't have to do much. Just accompany them to this wedding. Keep them company and distract them a little. Just have some fun."

Nyx considered the idea. He wasn't really in the mood for dates or weddings but he knew Crowe well enough. If she thought about this as a good idea, he really might be helpful. Nyx’ strong helper syndrome was now also kicking in once again, "So, just if I say yes, and I say if, what shall I do?"

On Crowe's lips grew a smile because she knew Nyx would say yes if he was already this far with his considerations, "Nothing much. You meet them. I guess they will pick you up or something. You attend the wedding in the church and the party afterwards together. That's it. You don't have any responsibilities except to be by YN's side as their date. Maybe support them a little bit during this whole carnival."

"And when shall this trickery be?", Nyx asked warily.

Crowe's face changed into a grimace once again, "That's the stupid part... It's this weekend."

"Crowe!", Nyx called out. It was already Wednesday.

"Hey! It's not my fault. YN also told me about it yesterday. Obviously, they tried to discuss this whole thing about the presence with their mother but she was very persistent with this point. Nyx, it's urgent. Next to you two, they're my best friend. I hate to see them suffer. It’s not fair because they’re a jewel of a person. That their ex shall get a happy ending after everything he had done is already the biggest joke. But now, he will become part of their family, as well. I really need your help.", Crowe begged.

Nyx took a deep breath and released the air slowly, "Alright, alright. I will do it. But", he said and raised his hand as Crowe already started to get excited, "I guess I need a tuxedo or something like this-"

"I will take care of that! You don't have to do anything like I said. I promise."

"Then, just one more thing. Maybe it would be better if we met before the wedding? You know, to check if we get along and if the chemistry is working."

***

"He did say yes?"

"You really had doubts?", Crowe asked with a smirk. Your reaction had been gold as she had told you that she had found a date for you: Nyx Ulric - one of her friends and colleagues.

In fact, you had heard a few things about him. That he was from Galahd, had lost his family and had a tendency to be a little bit gruff in front of others but with that he was just hiding his soft side, as Crowe had told you. To meet him and Libertus was long overdue, "Well... A little bit to be honest. I mean, he doesn't know me. I know we will just be acting but still it's like a blind date. What if we don't get along? It's all about chemistry and stuff..."

Crowe blinked and stared at you, "Well, I'm sure you two will like each other. In fact, Nyx mentioned the exact same doubts with the exact same words."

"Really? Well... it's maybe just coincidence.", you said, turning around to get something to drink from the kitchen.

But no matter how quickly you had been, Crowe had seen your blushing cheeks and grinned about it. It had been a long time since she had seen you like this: filled with life and pleasant anticipation.

"So, Nyx is okay with this whole fake date thingy?", you asked, while gnawing on your lower lip. You felt nervous to meet him even if he was a friend of Crowe.

Crowe smiled, "Don't worry, he is. You said you could get a tuxedo?"

"Yes! Of course. Just give me his size and I will take care of it. It's easy for me. Tomorrow, it can be here."

"Great. So, could I bring him here tomorrow? You two can meet and he can try on the tuxedo."

"Perfect idea. And I will cook something for us.", you said with sparkling eyes. You had no idea why but suddenly, you were even looking forward to meeting Nyx, your unexpected lifesaver.

***

"You said, I don't have to do anything.", Nyx complained as he made his way through the city the next day with Crowe by his side.

Crowe rolled with her eyes, "Yes and you really don't have to do anything except to try on one or two tuxedos, alright? It's not that I would drag you to a shopping trip. We meet YN at their place where you can try on the clothes. So, we will kill two birds with one stone."

Nyx had laid awake last night while thinking about this fake date idea. Sure, he wanted to help Crowe and her friend but that didn’t change the fact that there was a reason behind his reluctance to date new people. So, once again, Nyx asked himself if he really was doing the right thing…

*

As you heard the first knock at your door, you jumped by surprise. It was friday evening, the day before the wedding and it was arranged that Crowe and Nyx would visit you after they were done with their shift. But still, as your friend was there, you felt excited. You were even sick with nervousness to meet Nyx. He was the first guy you would meet after the horrible break-up and even if it was just a fake date, your hands became sweaty and your heart began to race.

The second knock brought you back to reality and you hurried to open the door, "Hey, guys. Come in-", you stopped as Crowe passed you and your eyes fell on Nyx who smiled at you warm and softly. Never in your life had you seen such a handsome, good looking man. Even your ex wasn't able to keep up with Nyx’ undeniable, rough sexiness. His eyes were the bluest and his lips the fullest. The stubble he sported and his greyish hair with the braids suited him perfectly. You noticed something wild in his appearance which got underlined by the tattoos on his face and ears. For the first time, you understood what Crowe had meant as she said that it was visible that Nyx was from Galahd. He wasn't hiding his roots and as it was for you, there was no reason for him to do this at all.

"YN?", Crowe asked as she saw you gaping at Nyx. Internally, she was pleased with herself. To see you like this told her that she had been right: Nyx was your type of guy.

Crowe's voice brought you back from your daydreaming, "Yeah... Sorry, I was just... Uhm...", you stammered.

Crowe grinned but stepped in to help you, "YN meet Nyx. Nyx this YN, my emotional support when I have to deal with too much of your bullshit."

You smiled thankfully, "Yeah... The support might be questionable nowadays.", you said shyly.

"That's okay. It will change again. I'm sure.", Crowe said.

"It's nice to meet you finally, YN. I heard a lot of great things about you.", Nyx said politely as you invited him in. As he and Crowe had gone to your place, Nyx was intimidated because of your fancy apartment complex. You were from Insomnia but because you were refugee friendly and even tried to help to improve the underground district your friendship with Crowe had been possible which calmed Nyx a little. But as you had opened the door, nervousness and excitement spread through his emotionally cold veins. Crowe had described you as nice, sweet and beautiful. But in Nyx' eyes, these words were far away from being suitable. Your eyes were clear and bright as you looked right into his soul. Your lips had such a rich color that they already looked delicious. Nyx knew he had to keep his composure together and actually he wasn't really interested in meeting new people as he always said like a mantra but you and your sweet appearance made it extremely difficult to stick to his plan.

"I'm sure Crowe made up a few things to let me look better.", you said chuckling.

As Nyx heard you laughing, his heart made a little jump and suddenly, he asked himself how it was even possible for someone to hurt you at all.

Pleased with Nyx' reaction about her friend, Crowe grinned, "No, I was always honest and I just told everyone how amazing you are."

"Liar. But that's okay. So, I... The tuxedos already arrived and the dinner is almost done. What about you try on the clothes, Nyx, and then, we eat?", you suggested.

"Sounds great.", Crowe said and went into the kitchen to check the oven for what you had prepared.

"Come on, I will show you the way.", you said to Nyx and guided him through your apartment into your bedroom, "So, Crowe gave me your sizes from your uniform. I got an anthracite and a black tuxedo. The only two colors my mother allows tomorrow. Just try them.", you said and shot the man next to a shy smile. Somehow, his scent was able to fill your small room so quickly that you knew it would be stuck there for a few days and you already were looking forward to it.

"Thanks.", Nyx said and cursed himself because he wanted to say more but he couldn't. Somehow, his tongue was tied up into a knot. Obviously, he had been out of training for human interactions a bit too long.

You were about to leave him alone before you stopped at the door once again, "I have to thank you, Nyx. I... If you wouldn't do that I'm sure I would die because of so many things tomorrow. I owe you really big. So, thank you really much.", you said with a shy smile and reddening cheeks. And before Nyx could say anything, you left the room and closed the door.

Nyx stared at the spot where you had stood. It was one thing to do Crowe a favor in helping you. But to see all these raw emotions mirrored in your eyes did something to him. Your voice had been filled with sadness even if you had tried to hide it. And somehow, deep empathy for you flooded his veins and anger towards your ex entered his muscles. He should accompany you? He swore to himself to do this and to watch out for you the whole evening. Because like Crowe, he already hated it to see you suffer.

*

"So, you like him, huh?", Crowe asked as you joined her in the kitchen.

You stared at your friend with shocked filled eyes, "I- I don't know what you mean.", you said defensive even if it wasn't really working.

Crowe grinned, "Come on, YN. I know you. And I saw how you were staring at Nyx. Therefore, you like him."

You felt your cheeks blushing and you even pretended to look after your cooking pots so you could avoid Crowe's smug smirk, "He's nice, yeah. I mean, I owe him a lot that he does this for me. I'm grateful for that."

"Yeah... Right. Grateful. Grateful with big, sparkling and hungry eyes-", Crowe said teasingly but got stopped by your elbow and in the next moment Nyx entered your kitchen to present himself. Crowe whistled, "Wow, look at this. I had no idea there could be a real gentleman underneath this gruff surface.", she said, which earned her an annoyed eye roll from the Glaive.

You smiled appreciatively, "Crowe has a point, tho. You look really great in this tuxedo.", you admitted. Indeed, Nyx had tried on the black tuxedo first and it was already a match. Because of the white suit shirt, his blue eyes seem to glow even more. His longer strands gave the tuxedo a nice, foreign touch you already liked, "If you ask me, you're done with testing. Is it comfortable?", you asked, checking the fit on his back.

"Yes, it's extremely comfortable. I had no idea it would fit so well.", Nyx admitted while the soft touch of your hands on his back gave him slight goosebumps.

"I'm not surprised. These are high-class tuxedos. They're very expensive. Don't worry, it's borrowed.", you explained as you saw Nyx' concerned expression, "No one should buy such things just for one evening. So, great. That was it. You're done. You can change again and then, dinner is ready. At least a little try to make it up to you and your time."

As Nyx disappeared in your bedroom once again, Crowe closed up on you with a smirk, "It's so good that I was right with my assumption that you two would fit together perfectly. And now, you will even have some eye candy to look at the whole evening. I'm the best friend you could ask for."

Instead of answering, you just rolled with your eyes even if she was right. But you wouldn't admit it out loud. Never.

*

"God, this was delicious, YN.", Crowe sighed satisfied as she leant back in her seat.

"I just can say the same. This was great. But if I may ask, what was it? I mean, I know the stuff you used but somehow the taste was … I never tasted like this before.", Nyx asked curiously. Whatever you had done, it was delicious but he never had found something similar in Insomnia before.

You chuckled, "Actually, it isn't something fancy. Vegetables, meat and rice. But the spices make the difference. You don't find these here in Insomnia. I got them from Lestallum. There's a huge market full of stands with spices and ingredients you won't find anywhere else. I like exotic stuff so this market is like a treasure."

While you had answered his question, Nyx was fascinated by the way your eyes started to glow in a new way. You were happy to talk about what you liked. Your happiness was contagious and made his heart jump. Nyx caught himself by the thought that this fake-date thingy wouldn't be as bad as he had thought in the beginning.

Crowe watched you and Nyx. She already saw the connection between you two and even if she respected your decision to be alone for a while after everything you had experienced, she saw that both of you were interested in each other. So, for her, it was the time to give you some space, "Oh, look. How late it got already. I have an early meeting tomorrow.", she said and jumped up from her seat, grabbing her jacket, "Thank you very much for this delicious meal and I wish you two a lot of fun tomorrow.", she said before she hurried out of your apartment.

Slightly speechless, you and Nyx looked after her. As Nyx met your eyes again, both of you were laughing. You looked at your clock on the wall, "Late my ass. We just have eight.", you pointed out while still laughing.

"You know what she's trying right?", Nyx asked with a grin.

"Of course. She's trying to set us up with each other."

Nyx shook his head with a grin, disbelieving that Crowe had pulled this trick, "And that although she knows that I don't want to date anyone.", he just said but regretted it immediately as he saw your face. It was a mixture of surprise and disappointment. Quickly, you tried to hide it behind a smile and that sight hurt Nyx even more than he thought, "Oh uhm... I- I didn't mean you... O-or this.. I.. I'm sorry, I...", he stumbled over his own words and cursed himself for speaking so mindlessly.

You waved with your hand to brush it aside with a weak smile, ignoring the disappointment, "Calm down. I know what you mean, Nyx. After what my ex had done, I'm also not much interested in dates. Don't forget that this will be just a fake date.", you said softly to reassure him before you collected a bunch of plates to be able to turn away from him.

But Nyx had seen the sparkling in your eyes that extremely resembled unshed tears. Once again, he cursed himself. Here he was, Nyx had promised to himself to protect you from everything that would happen at the wedding but was able to make you sad in his own way.

Quickly, he stood up, collecting the cutlery to go to your side, "Hey", Nyx said softly to get your attention, he smiled as you looked at him, "I'm sorry, YN. I didn't mean you at all. It's just...Crowe tried many times to matchmake me. It never ended well. I guess, it's because of my job as a Glaive. I try my best but... it's my work. I owe King Regis a lot for saving me. And I see myself forced to pay it back in protecting this city and its people."

"Don't apologize, Nyx. What you and the other Glaives are doing is honorable. Not everyone is able to cope with what you do all day for this city. If someone has a problem with that...well... it's just not the fitting person, I guess. The fitting person would always support you to make your life easier instead of making it more difficult.", you said and smiled.

Nyx was speechless about your caring words and your warm smile, "Thank you. You... I can see why Crowe cares so much about you. You're very sweet. And you know what? I'm looking forward to spending the day with you tomorrow."

You sniffled back a sob, "Thanks, Nyx. I'm sure it will be horrible tomorrow. Just the thought of seeing him makes me anxious right now. But to know you will be with me calms me already.", you admitted softly.

Nyx smiled but also wanted to change the heavy topic to something lighter, "So, about tomorrow. How shall we do it? Already have any plans?"

"Yeah, my idea was to pick you up but maybe it would be easier for you to come here so you don't have to carry the tuxedo around. I mean, if this would be okay for you?", you said while bringing Nyx to the front door.

"Sounds good. Oh, one thing. Shall I do something with my hair? It's not typical for Insomnian citizen-"

"No, please, don't!", you hurried but you looked away as you felt your cheeks blushing again.

Nyx chuckled, shooting you a smile as you looked back at him, "Don't worry. I won't change anything if you don't want to. I just want to make sure that you will have a nice day tomorrow."

***

The next day, Nyx knocked at your door as agreed. Once again he was excited to meet you. This time because he was looking forward to seeing you again. Usually, if Nyx was dreaming during the night, he had nightmares but the last night was filled with dreams about you. This morning, he was more rested and relaxed than ever before.

So, as you opened the door, Nyx was already smiling and happy but as he saw you, his smile faltered and his expression changed into staring, "Whoa, you look amazing.", he breathed.

Your small smile grew into something bigger that reached each of your ears, "Thank you. Come in.", you said excitedly and stepped aside to let Nyx into your apartment.

Ten minutes later, Nyx joined you in the kitchen, dressed in the tuxedo and ready. You prepared some coffee before the car would be there to pick you up, "So, what's scheduled for today?", he asked and closed the buttons on his cuffs. At least, he tried it.

You watched him fumbling for a few moments until you joined him for help, "In fact, everything's pretty timed. We will drive to the church were the wedding will be held. And after that we will drive further to the Caelum Via where the dinner and party will be. I just hope we can escape during the party when the official thing is over. So, it's done.", you said softly. Your fingers were brushing along Nyx' warm skin. You lingered a few seconds longer before you realized what you were doing.

Nyx felt the connection between you and him as well. Your touch was small, soft and warm and everything he wanted to feel again and again. As he saw your caught expression, he smiled at you to show you that it was okay and he saw that you understood.

Coffee, smalltalk and just being with each other let the time run too fast and as your doorbell rang for the arriving car you felt annoyed because this, with Nyx, was pure fun.

Nyx noticed the change in you and placed his hand on yours, "I will be with you all the time. Or, I will be close to you. You're not alone in this, okay?"

You nodded reluctantly but forced yourself to smile. And with Nyx by your side, you left your apartment for the worst day ever in your life.

*

But Nyx stuck to his word and was with you. The car brought you to the church and he was about to leave the limousine as he noticed that you weren't moving at all. Ignoring the driver's glance, he leant over to you, avoiding touching you in fear to scare you, "YN?"

You stared out of the side window. There was the church, the church you wanted to marry in one day. Not exactly your ex but generally. Flowers were decorated everywhere and between the different colorful plants stood your family. Your mother, your dad, both of your aunts and uncles and Matt...your ex.

Nyx followed your gaze and saw the group of people. Even without asking he knew it had to be your family, considering the fact how you were looking at them. Nyx noticed the younger guy in the festive attire and knew instinctively that it had to be the groom. The guy was tall, slim fit and looked like a lot of money. But the way he moved and talked was easy to dislike because he looked snobbish. Nyx saw your distress and felt sorry. He could just imagine what you were feeling right now, "Listen, we can go if you want.", Nyx suggested softly.

You shook your head, "I can't. We're family. My mother would kill me."

Nyx sighed low, "I know family is important but... you're also important. And if you think you can't handle this under these circumstances then it's okay. You don’t have to."

Slowly, you looked at him, already thankful to have him by your side, "I can do that. I have to."

Nyx nodded, accepting your determination before he left the car. The driver opened your door and as you left the car as well, Nyx was already waiting for you, offering you his arm to link your own with it.

As you two closed up on the group of your family members, your mother was the first to spot you. Suddenly, Nyx noticed a slight change in your behavior. You straightened yourself, you held your head high but the grip on Nyx' arm also became stronger.

"Darling! You look great.", your mother said, grabbing your shoulders to kiss you left and right of your face without touching your skin.

As she leant back, you saw the huge, happy smile on her lips that only money could produce, "Mother, you look lovely. The whole decoration is breathtaking.", you said with a huge smile.

It was fake. Nyx could already spot the difference because the smile didn't reach your bright eyes. Then, your mother's attention shifted over to Nyx and he swallowed thickly by the sight of her mustering glance at his appearance.

You noticed her glance as well and stepped in, "Oh, right. Mother, this is Nyx. Nyx, this is my beloved mother."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, ma'am.", Nyx said politely and even bowed a little.

Internally, you grinned about her surprised expression because she never had expected such good manners with a guy who had Nyx' looks. You knew her well enough to know what she thought.

"It's a pleasure for me. Where have you two met if I may ask?", your mother asked.

You knew it was a test and you knew how to play this game, "Through a friend. Nyx is working for King Regis."

"For the King? That's amazing."

You saw the sparkling in your mother's eyes but before she could say anything else, you took Nyx' arm to guide him away, "Excuse us, we will go inside. Searching for our seats.", you said and without waiting, you passed the group to go into the church.

As you two were out of earshot from your family, Nyx leant to you, "That was smooth."

You grinned, "Have you seen her eyes as I mentioned the King? That was pure greed. It doesn't matter if it is money or prestige. She loves it. I'm sure she thinks you're a member of the royal family. And that's the reason why it's okay for everyone that my cousin marries Matt. He's a doctor. A high-paid surgeon. Money and prestige.", you explained.

As you and Nyx sat down, a thought struck his mind. He was just not sure if he should ask or not-

"You wanna know how I could land him?", you said as you saw Nyx' glance.

"No, not how you could land him. Rather...what you saw in him. I don't know you for long but...such a guy? I'm not sure if he suits you well…"

You nodded, "Yeah...trust me, now? I know that, too. But as we met, he was…", you stopped as you remembered the early time with Matt, "We met accidentally in a bookstore. Somehow, we ended in the same row of bookshelves and he bumped into me. Obviously, he liked me so he invited me for coffee. I agreed because he can be extremely charming. But if I think about it now, we never had something in common. I was imagining things and was blinded by his looks. Although ...well…recently, I've met a guy who is more handsome than Matt will ever be."

Nyx knew you meant him. In the way you had said it and how you looked at him told him whom you meant. Nyx' heart skipped a beat by the thought of how you saw him. In his eyes, it wasn't fair. Here he was, sitting next to you, starting to like you. He was attracted to you and still, he didn't want to have any love interest. It always ended badly and that was the last thing he wanted for you. Nyx wanted to say something, to lower your interest in him, but the wedding started and cut him off.

*

The ceremony was beautiful and romantic. You had to admit that even if you hated it. Your cousin looked wonderful and as they both brought up their vows in a solemn way, you had to suppress a tear because it was sweet and lovely what they swore to each other. Just the point 'I will never love someone else next to you' from Matt caused you to roll with your eyes. It was pathetic.

Most of the time, Nyx tried to stay focused on the wedding but it wasn't easy. His brain was busy with different things. On the one hand, he searched for a way to keep you on distance but whenever he had an idea, Nyx asked himself 'why?'. Why should he stay away from you when you were interested in him? He was interested in you, too. You were attractive, sweet and nice but also hurt. The last thing Nyx wanted was to take advantage of your sore emotions or to be the reason to get hurt even more.

"Nyx?"

Your voice brought him back to reality and he realized that the church emptied slowly, "Sorry, I was thinking about something."

"Totally get it. This wedding was...I don't know. Maybe it was the sweetest thing I have ever seen or the most hypocritical. But no matter what it was, it's over now."

"Then, if I may?", Nyx asked and offered you his arm once again.

Smiling, you took his arm and walked down the aisle with Nyx to leave the church.

*

As you reached the festive decorated ballroom of the Caelum Via, Nyx wasn't surprised anymore. You had told him that your family and even Matt's had a lot of money and they loved to show it. But even if you were dressed in something expensive and even if you knew how to act properly amongst all the other high society people, Nyx noticed that it wasn't really your world. You had been forced into it by blood and family relations.

You introduced Nyx to everyone you met on your way to your table. And not for one second, Nyx felt misplaced by you. You even gave him the feeling as if you were proud to have him by your side.

"Holy six, we have made it.", you sighed as you slumped down on a seat of the table you were aiming for, "Once again, I have to thank you."

Nyx smiled softly, "But I've done nothing."

"You're here. You're by my side. And you're not running away after meeting my family. You keep me sane. I would say you do enough."

Nyx watched you but he was sure he was right with his assumption, "You don't have the best bond with your family, do you?"

You chuckled dryly, "No, not really. It's better now but...I haven't become a lawyer like everyone else, tho. I mean, even my mother had been a secretary in a law office. There, she met my dad, who’s a lawyer. Like my uncles."

"So, you're kinda the black sheep?", Nyx asked amused and saw himself as confirmed: this world was not yours.

"Oh, yeah. You have no idea. That I dated Matt had raised my prestige in their eyes but…", you stopped as Matt and your cousin entered the ballroom under loud cheering, "I have no idea what I was for him. Time distraction? Toy? I mean, we had fun and I feel so stupid for not seeing anything coming."

Nyx had no idea what he should say to comfort you. Maybe there was even no way to comfort you at all. Things like this needed time to heal. But somehow Nyx got the impression that you were stronger than you seemed to be right now.

You wanted to say something but your mother and dad joined your table and gone was the calmness you had felt during the last few moments.

"Darling, have you congratulated Matt and your cousin?", your mother said, placing one hand on your shoulder and one on Nyx'.

That touch looked more possessive than you liked to see, "Of course, I did.", you said with a charming smile.

"Wonderful! Wasn't the wedding a dream? And the vows! I really had to suppress a tear."

"Yes, mother, it was wonderful.", you agreed.

"And you, Nyx? Everything's-", but your mother got called over by your aunts and excused himself again. Even your dad excused himself again.

Nyx waited till she was out of earshot before he turned over to you, "You haven't congratulated them, have you?"

"Of course not.", you said with a huge grin that made Nyx chuckling. You liked the way he smiled. You already liked his presence. He was calm and quiet but knew how to tell his stories to entertain you.

Quickly, the dinner got served and was done and the last part of this circus started: the party. You knew you couldn't leave right away. Even if you wanted to run away as far as you could, it wouldn't look too good. So, you stayed until you would find a good moment to escape.

"Hey, you wanna get some fresh air?", Nyx asked as he saw how you were watching Matt dancing with his partner closely to a slow, romantic song.

Like awakening from a trance, you blinked with your eyes and nodded as you looked at Nyx and his warm, encouraging smile. As you stepped out, you breathed in the fresh breeze with closed eyes.

Once again, Nyx caught himself staring at you in a fascinated way. While you walked across the balcony to the handrail, Nyx followed you slowly and thanked Crowe silently that he had met you, "How do you feel? You're still okay?", he asked carefully.

You turned over to him, "Yes. Yes, I'm feeling good. As I watched them dance, I noticed the way Matt looked at my cousin. He never looked at me this way and I'm… I'm getting okay with it. If they're happy then I don't care. Maybe this wedding was the right cure."

Nyx was impressed how strong you really were. He was sure that you were still hurt but it looked as if you were on the right way.

"Can I ask you something?", you asked, gnawing on your lower lip.

"Of course. I'm at your service no matter what it is. So, what do you desire to know about me?", Nyx said solemnly and smirked as he heard you chuckling.

"I know Crowe can use the King's magic. So, I guess, all Glaives are able to do that?"

"Yes. That's why we're members of the Kingsglaive. Not everyone is able to use these powers so, just the 'best' or talented of the refugees get picked out.", Nyx explained.

You nodded slowly, "It's too bad that refugees get used to fighting battles to secure this city instead of the citizens who actually live here.", you said while letting your eyes roam over the skyline of Insomnia.

"I'm okay with that. I mean, Niflheim attacked my home, Magiteks killed my family. If I can fight against them, I know I do the right thing. Taking revenge. At least as good as I can.", Nyx said low and also watched the scene in front of him.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Crowe told me about it once. Nothing much, just a few things. Is… Is this also the reason why you try to keep people away from you? In fear you could lose them as well?", you asked carefully. Maybe you were too bold but you felt a connection to Nyx that gave you the courage to ask these things.

With a sad expression, Nyx nodded. He was surprised that you had figured him out this quickly but maybe he wasn't such a riddle or you were really attentive when it came to him, "Yeah... you're not so wrong. I know how it feels to lose loved ones so I don't wanna put someone else through this as well. And as a Glaive things can turn bad really quickly.", he said and watched your reaction.

"I guess you're right."

Nyx nodded and felt an unknown pain stinging his heart that you thought like this as well.

"But", you started again, looking straight into Nyx eyes, "I got to know you a little bit today. Trust me, I understand your point but as I said yesterday, the right person wouldn't see a problem with that. I mean… you shouldn't be alone Nyx. No one should. And if you think life is so short for you, you should stop being alone and start to make the best out of the time you still have.", you whispered.

Without noticing, Nyx had closed up on you forced by your words. Unknowingly, you had hit a point: he was alone...rather he was lonely. He felt lonely when he was done with the training and went back to his empty home. He felt lonely when he came back after an exhausting fight on the battlefield. When he felt lonely, the flashbacks and nightmares became worse and darker. These were the times where he wished to have someone by his side who would be there for him. Who would drag him out of the darkness because their light was so much brighter than every shadow would ever be. Bright like your glowing eyes and your charming smile.

Slowly, Nyx leant forward and raised his hand without thinking about it. He just wanted to feel your skin under his touch. Softly, he placed his hand on your cheek and saw your surprise but you stayed where you were as if you wanted him to continue. Driven by your alluring scent, he closed the gap slowly and-

SCREESH!!!

The cry of a bird that flew above your heads let both of you jump away from each other. You and Nyx were breathing heavily while you two recovered from the shock. You smoothed down your clothes to distract yourself while Nyx ran a hand through his hair to do the same.

The situation became awkward but Nyx wanted to show you that everything was alright. At the same time, he wanted to show himself that everything was still alright between you and him, "Hey...uhm… You wanna see some magic?", he asked softly, almost shy.

You smiled, thankfully that Nyx had sensed the awkward tension, "I would love to.", you said while still recovering from the surprise that Nyx wanted to kiss you. Not that you would have stopped him…

Nyx grinned and raised his right hand. He showed you the bare palm and in the next moment, sizzling flames were dancing over his skin as if they were following a rhythm no one could hear. Nyx checked your reaction and was pleased as he saw your sparkling eyes, illuminated by the flames, and the growing smile.

Fascinated, you watched the flames. You felt the urge to touch them but as you closed up on the flames with your forefinger, you already felt the warmth so, you retreated your hand again, "It's hot! I don't know why I'm surprised but… Don't they hurt you?", you asked concerned.

Nyx chuckled, "No, not at all. If you can use elementary magic, you're safe. It's just painful for your enemy.", he said with a grin and was happy to see you smile again.

"Can you just produce fire? Or is there more?", you asked excitedly, totally hooked about the fact how cool this skill was.

"Two more. Lightning", Nyx said and killed the flames by closing his hand before his fist got enveloped by small, twitching bolts that ran across his hand like busy worms. But they became a bit too fast and 'overexcited' and Nyx casted them away before something could get hit by them, "And then, there's ice.", he said and changed the bolts into a subtle fog.

You leant forward to look closer but even in the dim light from the candles and the light coming from the ballroom, you noticed small, sparkling ice particles which were swirling through the fog. Whenever light hit them, they were glittering in every possible color like a prism, "I- I… that's so beautiful. I mean, it sparkles like millions of diamonds."

Nyx chuckled, he never had seen the magic he used on a daily basis as what it actually was: magic. It was something not many people could control. It was indeed something special, usually just reserved for the royal family and yet, he was also able to produce ice and let your smile grow even bigger than before as you had seen the fire, “I don’t know but I guess to see the world through your eyes must be wonderful. You seem to be delighted by the smallest things.”, Nyx said low but smiled as you looked up with a now shy smile on your lips.

“Life is more than just money and prestige. We are surrounded by wonders barely someone sees anymore. I mean, for example in Lestallum, the city uses the energy of a meteor that lies there for centuries. You should see the magical view by night. The golden and blue light dancing into the sky. I swear you never had seen something like this before.”, you said excitedly and once again, you noticed how Nyx was staring at you. It wasn’t unpleasant. Rather quite the opposite. It was a silly thought but somehow you had the feeling that Nyx could see more in you than just a little flirt and a nice kiss at some wedding.

It was crazy. As Crowe told you Nyx would be your type of man, you had laughed about it. After everything Matt had done you needed a break from dates and men and love and all these things. You didn’t want to quit it forever just a little longer but obviously your friend saw it differently and silently, you already thanked her.

Once again, Nyx was mesmerized by you. The way you saw things. How you looked at the world. How you looked at him. He was sure you weren’t flawless - no one was. But no matter what kind of flaws you would have, he wouldn’t care about it. He would deal with everything as long as he could keep you in his life. Giving him the magic he had lost somewhere in his life. Maybe you could be friends or … maybe even something more.

Nyx killed the ice and once again, he leant in for another attempt to kiss you. The moment was perfect again. The way you looked into his eyes and how your lips slightly parted told him what he needed to know - you wanted the same. So, he stepped closer, cupping your face with both hands softly as if you were made out of glass and while you leant forward to meet him on the half way, Nyx leant forward to kiss you-

"Hey, YN, can we talk for a moment- Oh! I’m sorry. Did I interrupt something?", Matt asked and grinned amused as he saw you and Nyx jumping away from each other like caught teenagers.

You cursed internally because it was the second interrupted kiss and you had no idea how many times Nyx would try his luck considering the fact that he even was willing to go this step at all.

Nyx saw that you were annoyed. And he felt the same. He had noticed that you wanted the kiss as well so it was clear for him to try it again but maybe all the interruptions were just signs for him to let it slip? Maybe he shouldn’t try his luck because he was still the Glaive who could die during the next battle. He looked from you at Matt who closed up slowly no matter if his timing had been good or not. And suddenly, Nyx saw that the guy had done this on purpose. He saw it in Matt’s gleaming eyes and in his smirk that he was amused about the fact to humiliate you once again. But as you had said before, he was part of your family now and maybe Matt just wanted to apologize or something. So, Nyx did the only logical thing that came to his mind, "Is it okay for you? I will get something to drink for us then.", he asked carefully, watching your reaction.

You weren’t amused about the idea to be alone with Matt but you nodded. You understood that Nyx might need a break. You waited till Nyx was gone before you crossed your arms over your chest, “You wanted to talk?”

"Yeah, this guy… Tell me, what did you have to pay him so that he would accompany you to this wedding as your date? I’m sure he’s a stripper or something like this. Poor soul-", the loud slap into his face let Matt stop in his sentence. While holding his stinging cheek, he looked back at you, surprised that you were even able to have such a power.

With raging eyes, you stared at him, standing your ground in front of him for the first time. All the anger and sadness you had felt had laid in this one single slap and even if you were no fan of violence, you noticed how relieving this had felt. It had been long overdue, "Don't you ever dare to talk like that about him ever again. He's a Glaive! Protecting you and everyone else in this city with his life."

"Oh, interesting! So, he's just a refugee? He’s not from here? Fascinating with what kind of people you spent your time with. Your mother will be pleased to know that.", Matt said with a smirk, turning around to go back into the ballroom to find your mother.

You called Matt back and he stopped, looking expecting at you with one raised brow. You saw the surprise about your courage in his eyes but the thing was your strength was never gone you just had forgotten to use it. You just needed a trigger to get back to your old self and Matt had found this point without knowing it. So, you stepped forward, keeping eye contact until you stood right under Matt’s nose. With a low but serious voice and a lopsided smirk on your lips you said: "You know, it doesn't matter what he is or not. It doesn’t matter what you or anyone else will think. He’s a soldier and it’s honorable. It doesn’t matter where Nyx comes from. And besides, Galahd was a beautiful, magical and unique place before Niflheim decided to destroy this jewel. No matter what you will do or say to whomever, Nyx will always be more of a man than you will ever be in your entire life, you little, lying cheater.", you said and ended your little speech with a sweet grin as you saw Matt’s shocked and surprised expression.

As you watched satisfied how Matt disappeared back into the ballroom and into the world he belonged to, your eyes landed on Nyx who stood there in the door frame with two drinks in his hands and staring right at you with big eyes.

With a soft, warm smile you walked over to Nyx, taking one of the drinks from his hands, “So, you heard what I said, I guess?”

“Y-yeah, actually every single word.”, he whispered, still not believing what you had said about him, “You had defended me in front of him. I- I mean, I have no idea what he did so you would react like this but … it was impressive to watch and … flattering.”, Nyx said honestly.

You nodded before you gulped down the stiff drink in one go to calm your nerves, “You know, to talk back to this asshole was long overdue. And … as long as he was attacking me it was okay but you … You don’t deserve this. Never. From no one. And mostly not from one person in this room.”, you said and somehow Nyx’ eyes were sparkling even more. Emotions were staring back at you which seemed to be buried away for a very long time.

Nyx, who was still flashed by you, closed the small gap, cupped your face and leant down to kiss you and this time, it worked. As he felt your warm, soft lips, he couldn’t believe it. An emotionally lightning shot though his body and electrified him within seconds as if he had been dead before for years. Your lips tasted as sweet as he had imagined and that you moved along with him gave him goosebumps.

Your heart skipped a beat as Nyx kissed you. It was perfect. It was the only way you could describe this whole scene: as perfect. Nyx’ full lips were warm and demanding in a sensual way. He kissed you not to say something he couldn’t find words rather because he just wanted you. To pull him closer, you grabbed into his suit shirt and jacket what caused Nyx to chuckle about your eagerness but you didn’t care. Like a thirsty plant for water, you were thirsty to taste more of Nyx.

Slowly, the kiss increased as both of you opened your mouths to taste each other's tongues, exploring each other. Nyx still tasted the stiff alcohol on you and breathed in your breath while deepening the kiss. He moved his hand from your face down to your back to pull you closer-

“YN! That’s not appropriate behavior for a wedding!”, your mother called out.

Slowly, you left Nyx’ lips, not seeing any reason to hurry at all. With a stupid grin you looked into the most perfect blue eyes you had ever seen which were sparkling with so much fire and joy as if their light had been rekindled after a very long sleep.

Nyx matched your grin and was still holding you in his arm, snaked firmly around your waist, not ready to let you go just now. Gently, he nudged your nose with his own, “What do you want to do now, YN? Any plans?”, he asked.

“We will leave this place. Together. Come on, Glaive.”, you said, taking his hand in yours to leave the balcony. As you passed your mother, who stared at you in shock, you said: “Goodnight mother, we will leave. Usually, I would say ‘it was a nice evening’ but that would be a lie.”, you said and stepped forward before you stopped once again, “Oh, and I didn’t congratulate the bridal couple because, well, for reasons. But I’m sure they will be happy together. Something tells me they deserve each other.”, and with that said, you left the wedding with Nyx.

Your mother was calling after you but you ignored her. But if you would have turned around one last time, you would have seen how your dad was grinning and cheering for you because in his eyes, you had done the best move possible.

*

While the driver of the limousine drove the two of you back to your place, none of you said something. You were just cuddling. As Nyx had entered the car, you had scooted over to him immediately, leaning your head against his chest while he laid his arm around your shoulders. You had intertwined your fingers with his and with your thumb you drew small patterns on his skin while you were smiling stupidly.

Nyx followed his own thoughts while burying his nose into your hair to breathe in your scent. But none of his thoughts were dark anymore. Rather, he asked himself why he had withdrawn himself the whole time and thought he would do the right thing? The only one he was punishing was himself and with you, he realized that he had done it far too long. The first kiss had been enough to spark the dying flame of all his hopes and dreams again. But the flame wasn’t just some smoldering. It was a roaring fire that filled his chest with all the emotions he had sealed somewhere deep all these times before. Just one kiss with you had been able to break this firm seal.

There was no turning back and Nyx would fight like on the battlefield to let this fire burn till he would die…

Still cuddled to Nyx’ side, he brought you to your floor and to the apartment door. You were about to open the door which would mean the end of the night as you turned around, flinging your both arms around Nyx’ neck to kiss him longingly.

Nyx didn’t need to get asked twice. He pressed you against the door, letting his hands roam over the fabric of your clothes to get a first feeling of your curves while he noticed how your fingers found their way into his hair. You played with the longer strands, tracing down the braids and stopping at the beads you found. Alone this touch was enough to make Nyx hungry for more.

You were surprised how soft his greyish hair really was. The whole evening you had asked yourself how Nyx’ hair would feel between your fingers but reality was so much better than what you had thought. Unfortunately, your lungs demanded oxygen and so, just very reluctantly, you left Nyx’ lips. He rested his forehead against your and was as breathless as you were but he was also grinning. Still playing with his hair, you pushed yourself to ask the question you wanted to ask, “You… Would you like to come in?”, you asked hopefully that he would say yes. For you, the night was still not over.

Nyx leant back, looked into your eyes and chuckled before he smirked about your confusion, “Of course, I want to come in. My clothes are still in your apartment. Remember?”, he teased.

“Oh, right… your clothes.”, you said, grinning from ear to ear, “How inconvenient this coincidence is.”, you teased back.

“Just open the door and I’m sure your clothes will join mine pretty soon.”

***

Two months later…

You stood in your kitchen, preparing the morning coffee as you did every day. The rising morning sun was illuminating your apartment in a magical, golden light. It was this kind of light and the smell of the brewing hot liquid that made it easy for you to lose track of your thoughts. Just two strong arms around your middle brought you back to reality and conjured a lovestruck smile on your lips.

You turned around in the arms to face Nyx who was matching your smile even if it was a tired one. Even his hair was tousled and so, you smoothed down the long, stubborn strands before you pressed a gentle kiss on his lips, “Good morning, handsome.”, you whispered.

“Morning, babe. I missed you in bed. I wanted to cuddle.”, he said, pouting.

You chuckled softly, feeling sorry to disappoint him, “I know but I have this important call in an hour and have to do a few things before- hey! Let me down! Nyx!”, you shrieked, laughing by surprise. Nyx had grabbed you to throw you over his shoulder. With you hanging upside down, he carried you back to the bedroom. You bounced slightly as Nyx let you carefully down on the mattress, “Nyx, come on. I don’t have time.”, you chuckled while he was crawling on top of you, kissing along all the bare skin of yours he could find.

“You said one hour. That gives me still forty minutes to have some fun with you. And then, you will still have some time to prepare whatever you want.”, Nyx said between a bunch of hot kisses along your collarbone before he continued over your neck, your weak spot he had figured out really quick.

You sighed, obeying him and his lips as you always did when he was in this kind of mood. It were two months you dated Nyx and it was still thrilling like in the beginning, “But this call is important. It’s with my dad. You know, because of the contracts I need for the refugee foundation.”, you moaned while Nyx bit into your neck. It was already difficult for you to keep your thoughts straight.

Nyx leant back, looking at you with a smirk, “With your dad, huh? He will understand it if you need some extra time. Don’t forget that he likes me. A lot. So, stop trying to resist me. It’s not even working. Just obey me and my lips.”, he breathed, leaning down, “I know you want me.”, Nyx whispered and kissed you passionately that you melted underneath him. Like you always did.

*

And Nyx was right. You were delayed and you apologized a hundred times to your dad but as you mentioned Nyx, your dad was understanding and brushed it off with a smile and a bunch of questions about Nyx and how he would be doing. In fact, since the wedding two months ago, your whole life had taken a complete turn.

After the wedding, Nyx stayed the night. And the next night. And the night after that. Quickly, the two of you had developed a deep, loving and strong relationship and three weeks later, you followed your heart: you had asked Nyx to move in with you. You didn't need much persuasion because Nyx was looking forward to being able to spend more time with you.

Your mother had called you after the wedding, scolding you for your behavior and how you could dare to bring a refugee as a date. But quickly, you gave her a talk about how bigoted she was and that she had to be more open minded if she wanted to keep you in her life. Very slowly, she realized that you meant what you said and gave in. She needed a bit more time but after a while she started to like Nyx, too.

It was helpful that your dad liked Nyx from the start. After the wedding, your dad had called you to congratulate you for your impressive act in front of your mother before you had left. In fact, he also had heard your little speech you had given Matt as you had defended Nyx and was proud about this as well. You had been speechless because til this day, you never had thought your dad would be proud about anything you ever did. And because the ice was broken between you and him, you talked about everything.

So, three weeks after the wedding, as you, Nyx, Pelna, Libertus and Crowe sat at Yamachang’s, you came up with an idea. You loved spending time with Nyx, Crowe and the others. You loved being in the underground of Insomnia where the refugees were living. You loved the different foods and the music, the atmosphere was unique and exotic but the circumstances the refugees had to live in were questionable. So, you had the idea to do something against it. You were already a big fan of the different cultures and you were convinced Insomnia would benefit as a city if it would use this unknown knowledge.

And with the help and support of your dad, who was hooked by your idea immediately, you started and planned a foundation to help the refugees. The infrastructure of the underground had to be changed and some things had to get modernised while the heart and the soul of everything had to be preserved.

You never congratulated Matt on his wedding and if he was at family meetings, you just refused to come as well. Your mother was raging. Your dad had your back with the most creative excuses. But now and then, when you were awake at night, and while you were watching Nyx sleeping next to you peacefully, you thanked Matt for cheating on you. Otherwise, you would never have found this treasure of a man who had turned your world upside down.

You never thanked Crowe for setting you up with Nyx and you didn’t have to because you knew she was already proud of her matchmaking skills. To see two of her best friends finding happiness and love in each other was enough regard for her.

Because in the end, she had done nothing more than finding a fake date for you, a friend in need…

[sergaku]

You Were My Nightmare

This is my @mlsecretsanta gift to you @galahadwilder. This is a sort of idea I have had for a while that I haven't seen before be done with other fics. It's a concept that I wish was in the show, but know its not gonna happen. Thanks to @gryffindorcls for the feedback. Was very nervous about this story til she read it.

The only thing Marinette could see was darkness. It was a cold darkness that sent a terrible shiver through her body. She took a step forward, letting out a surprised yelp as the darkness was replaced with a blinding light.

When everything returned to normal she noticed where she stood. She was still in Paris, but not a Paris she was familiar with. She stood atop a skyscraper, it being surrounded by a hazey blue. When moving toward the edge she noticed the blue was water. Everything was flooded, and when she looked to the sky the moon was destroyed, and silence was the only noise she could hear. 

"Marinette…." A voice with venom in its tone came from behind her. 

She turned around quickly to find Chat Noir standing there, eyes closed as if in a daze. She rushed towards him, only to stop when he opened his eyes. They were an icy blue and showed none of the kindness that normally accompanied them.

"C-chat? What happened to you? To this place?" Marinette asked with a shakey tone.

"Our love did this to the world Marinette." 

He began walking towards her, the black of his costume slowly being turned white along with his hair. Marinette just watched in horror as she began backing away. She tried to speak, but no words were coming out her mouth. It was only when she fell on her rear and tried to crawl backwards did she find her voice.

"Plu...ple...please Chat! We….we can fix th-" The cold leather of Chat's left hand connecting to her throat interrupted her. 

He stared deep into her eyes, his smile twisting into something wicked. His right hand glowing with the power of destruction.

"You made me into a heartless creature Marinette. It's time I return the favor!" 

Chat Blanc yelled out a blood curdling scream as he thrusted his hand into Marinette's heart. The only thing Marinette could do was scream from the intense pain, and finally woke up.

_____________________

Marinette shot out of her bed, screaming loudly as she clutched her chest. When she got a moment to get her bearings she noticed her room, and the dark Paris night sky. She gazed down at her hand tightly grasping at her shirt and let go, letting out a sigh before hearing her door open. 

"Marinette, are you ok," her father shouted as his large figure burst into the room. 

He held a baseball bat in his hand, reaching up to touch her hand as a way to console/protect her. 

"I'm…...I'm fine dad. Just had another nightmare is all" She pat his hand gently and gave her the best smile she could muster. "You can go back to bed." 

Without another word from Tom, he left the room. Though he was hesitant to do so. 

Marinette got out of her bed, ascending the trap door to her balcony wearing a jacket to fight the chill of the night. She felt the cold sweat on her face trickle down from her forehead as she leaned against the railing.

"Why...why is this happening now?" Marinette asked herself as she clenched her fists. "I thought I was over this….over feeling this way…."

"You can't exactly erase an event like that from your mind Marinette." Tikki chimed in as the Kwami sat on the girl's hand. "Chat Blanc was the most dangerous enemy you had ever fought. More than Hawk Moth."

"Yes, but this was months ago Tikki. I was able to talk with Master Fu about it. He helped me get closure...more or less. But why now?" Marinette felt her legs start to give out, forcing her to retire to the floor and sit against the cool metal bars.

"Maybe...maybe because of New York?"

"What? Why would that cause Chat Blanc to attack my dreams again?"

"Well….he could have 'returned'. Chat Noir was so distraught from failing you that his emotional state was incredibly low. Low enough to a point where if he was Akumatized as his civilian self, he would have most likely been able to turn into him." 

"I….yeah. I had that same thought. But, I didn't want that in my head. But this time I have no one to talk to. Master Fu is gone and if I tell Chat about Blanc he might be upset with me." Marinette trailed off at the thought of Chat being mad at her. She kept stuff from him sure, it was part of the whole identity thing. But Blanc? He is a bigger secret than her identity. One wrong move could turn that altered future to reality.

"Then you have to tell him. You can't keep this to yourself anymore. Chat deserves to know now. And it's your job as Guardian that you do everything in your power to make sure nothing bad happens involving the Miraculous." 

Tikki looked at her partner, a sense of agitation growing inside her from this situation. Tikki had to endure this for a few days the last time this happened. Now, it's been over a week. And it needed to end before Marinette could do any hero work.

"But what will he think of me? Of himself? It's not just me I am worried about. What if Chat thinks he himself as too dangerous to be around anymore. I am not replacing him with anyone else. No matter what!" The sense of determination in her tone to not replace Chat was the prime example for the love she showed him.

"The only thing that you can do Marinette is trust him. Because you know you can." Tikki gave Marinette a small hug on her cheek before retreating back into the room.

Marinette looked up into the night sky, watching the full moon hover above the world.

_____________________

Adrien had noticed how tired Marinette had been lately. He attributed that to late night studying, but now he wasn't sure. The way she stumbled through classes, her slurred speaking, her odd flirtatious tone, all off it was off. It was cute at first to see another side of her. Now, it was very concerning.

As Adrien walked into the school he noticed Marinette leaning against her locker. She looked like someone smashed a pillow against her face. 

"Marinette? Is everything ok?" Adrien asked as he made his way over to her.

"Huh? Oh Adrien. Yeah I'm doing just fine you know. Just fine indeed." Marinette responded with a yawn tackled at the end. "Just...just haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately."

Adrien looked into her eyes, spotting a hint of deceit in them. He placed his hand on her shoulder, which caused the young fashion designer to look up at him with a hint of red on her cheeks. 

"Marinette, if something is going on I want you to know that you have people to talk to. Alya and Nino are always there to listen if you have a problem. And…" Adrien spoke softly as he spoke. He felt his face heat up when he thought of the next words to say. "Especially me. I am always an open ear for you." 

Marinette gave a small smile as she nodded at the boy. She pressed her head against his shoulder, causing Adrien's entire body to tense at the sudden contact. He felt his heart throb, not knowing what this sensation that was coursing through him. 

When he looked down at the girl he couldn't help the smile that plastered his face. 'Had this girl always been this cute.' He relaxed his body some and pat her shoulder gently. 

"Thanks for talking to me Adrien. I feel a little better. But….I still got some stuff to think about." She lifted her head up, her cheeks showing a small shade of pink.

"No problem Marinette. I am always glad to help you if I can." Adrien gave her a smile and a nod.

'Now I just need to confront another girl who looks exhausted.' Adrien thought as he made his way to class. Not noticing the Kwami in his breast pocket flying away.

_____________________

Tikki was sitting in Marinette's locker, bundled up with a small pillow and tiny cloth blanket. She was soon joined by her partner Plagg, taking note of the sleeping creature. 

"Alright Sugar Cube, I need to know what's going on with her. Why is your bug so….groggy." Plagg asked as he shook her awake.

Tikki stirred a bit as she opened her eyes. She sat up, stretching her tiny arms and letting out a yawn.

"I don't think I should tell you Plagg. Marinette doesn't even want to talk about it fully with me." She answered melancholy.

"Yeah, when have I ever cared about that. Her demeanor is going to affect the dynamic of their teamwork. If she isn't up to snuff then we need someone else." 

"...fine. I will tell you everything…."

As Tikki explained the situation Plagg slowly began to break his stoic look. His ear dropped as he sat down in the locker. 

"So you know as much as I do. I can only assume that Hawk Moth found out who Adrien is and manipulated him. Used Marinette to...to turn him." Tikki looked up at Plagg, waiting for his reaction to this information.

"Huh. I don't know why she is so worked up over this. It's no big deal." Plagg just shrugged and shook his head. 

"Plagg! How could you-"

"Because it's them."

Tikki tilted her head as she gave a confused look. "What? What do you mean?"

"She is planning on telling him tonight right?"

"Yeah?"

"If Adrien is half as smart as me, then he will come to the same conclusion I have." Plagg spoke with a smug look as he gave a toothy smile.

"What do you mean?"

"You will just have to trust me."

_____________________

Ladybug stood on a random rooftop, waiting patiently for her partner to arrive. Another quiet patrol, no Akuma to distract her from her thoughts. The entire time she kept wondering how she was going to tell Chat. Can she bring it up casually? Make it the focal point of a serious discussion? 

Ladybug let out a sigh as she rubbed the space between her eyes. She felt the twinge of a headache approach from thinking about this too long. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a hand grasp her left shoulder followed by a voice. 

"Ladybug?"

On instinct she grabbed the hand with her right, side-stepping in the same direction whilst bringing her left hand in a chopping motion. She had no time to process who the person was before her hand connected to the person's throat, making them let out a gacking noise as they grabbed their throat and fell to their knees. It was then when she realised she just chopped her partner in the throat.

"OHMYGOSHCHATIMSOSORRY!"

She quickly dove to his side, patting his back gently as he let out a few coughs.

"It's….it's fine….*ack* should have ..announced myself." Chat's voice was raspy, doing his best to massage his neck to alleviate the pain. 

A few minutes passed and Chat was back to normal. Ladybug just looked at him as he explained his portion of patrol, not being able to focus on his words. When she looked at him she saw flashes of Blanc. His face twisting from his warm smile to that cold scowl. 

"Ladybug, something has been bothering you lately. I can see it on your face." 

These words broke her from her trance, and she shook her head and waved her hands in dismissal.

"Oh no no. I am fine Chat. Just got distracted." Ladybug clammed up, feeling her whole body stiffen as she stood in front of her partner.

She felt like a coward. She wanted to discuss this with him, but when she looked at him she couldn't. She couldn't bare to see the potential disappointment on his face. Her hands tangled together, rubbing her palms and jittering her fingers in a nervous fidget. 

"Ladybug, you can talk to me, you know that right? I am always here to listen to you." Chat gave her a big smile as he placed both hands on her shoulders. 

She only felt more tense at this. Her anxiety about the situation rising at a rapid pace. Her breathing became shallow as her world began to crumble.

"Nononono….I…..I'm…..I…."

Ladybug.

"No...I said no…..stop……" 

LADYBUG!

She looked up to see Blanc staring at her, his face getting close as his eyes narrowed. 

"I said NO!" 

She pushed his hands off her shoulders roughly, taking a step back as her fist connected with his jaw. She panted some as she saw her world return to normal, looking up to see Chat Noir standing a few feet back with his head turned. Her eyes went wide as she looked at her fist, feeling her fingers throb from the impact.

"Chat.." She took a step towards him, her voice shaky as she felt tears start to form in her eyes. 

Chat took a step back, his head moving to look down at the ground. "I'm sorry Ladybug. I didn't mean to overstep my bounds." 

"Chat no it's…" She took another step towards him.

"I can see that you don't want to talk. I will leave you be for the night." He took another step backwards. 

He turned around, grabbing his staff and extending it. Ladybug watched his movements and dashed toward him. Just as he jumped she grabbed his tail, bringing him back down as she fell on her stomach. He looked down at her as her face stared down at the floor.

"Don't leave...please….don't go." She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. 

Chat dropped his staff, rushed to her side and wrapped his arms around her. She felt a sense of warmth in his arms, a safe and secure place. She returned the hug, closing her eyes to enjoy this small, peaceful moment.

During their embrace Ladybug explained everything that plagued her mind. The events that transpired from her experience from Blanc, the nightmares it gave her, and how they returned on their return trip to Paris.

Chat looked at her, taking every word in and not interrupting. When she finished she looked up at him, waiting and scared of his reaction.

"I don't see the big deal."

"What! Chat did you not hear anything I said?!"

"I did. And it sounds like that Ladybug and Chat Noir were together after he found out your identity. And I assume the other you knew his. So I don't see how any of what you said could be your fault."

"But….he said that it was our love. He knew who I was. How could it not be my fault? Him knowing my identity that means that he-"

"Was manipulated. Ladybug I love you. The girl under the mask is who I yearn for. I would never do anything to ever harm you. I would rather destroy myself than have to do you any harm. Even if I was controlled by Hawk Moth, he couldn't stop the feelings I have for you. You are much stronger in my heart.

"The only way he could try is if he knew who we were and used that against us. And we know he would. Hawk Moth is very devious like that." 

Chat Noir took a deep breath and grabbed both of her hands, kissing them gently and looking into her eyes. 

"Ladybug, never keep something like this from me. I may not be able to do much, but I can listen. I can be there for you." 

Ladybug looked down, a new set of tears falling down her face at these words. She hugged him tight, feeling a warmth spread through her body as she sobbed. This man, this man right here was someone she could trust entirely. She would be lost without him. And he deserved to know.

"Marinette. You can call me Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

Chat Noir froze as she hugged him and looked at her when she said her name. His arms snaked around her tight, letting out a hearty laugh as tears went down his face. 

"I am so glad that it's you Marinette. And I am glad to say my name is Adrien Agreste."

They broke their hug as they dropped their transformations. Both of them looked into each other's eyes with an overwhelming sense of joy. 

"Adrien….."

"I love you, Marinette."

"I...love you too, Adrien."

They moved towards each other, both of their eyes closed as their lips connected. It was better than any other kiss they had before. It was better because it was the first of many in this new relationship.

_____________________

Marinette stood back on that building, back to the scene. She turned around, spotting Chat Blanc standing there with a Cataclysm charged. He charged at her, yelling out to her. She just stood there and spread her arms, preparing for the worst. It never came.

Chat Blanc stood there, his hand inches from her and about to destroy her. He looked up at her, anger pouring out his eyes.

"Why aren't you scared!?"

"Because I have no reason to be Adrien."

She placed a hand on his cheek, giving him a warm smile and kissing his lips. Blanc's eyes went wide at this, but slowly closed them. His Cataclysm disappeared and stood tall infront of her. His costume slowly changed from white to black, and then his costume disappeared. Adrien was left there with her and the world returning to normal

_____________________

Tikki looked at Marinette, smiling in her sleep as she grasped the Chat Noir plushie tight against her chest. No screaming, no cold sweat. She was at peace. 

"Well, I guess you were right Plagg. I'm excited for the future."

[c4-weeb]

Obey me boy head cannons!

Skater!Mc x the demon boys + undateables!

Alright so background! Human mc had invited one of the boys to go to a skating rink with her in the human world, since she is one of the main racers and a very frequent attendee at the place since she was 10. She knows the regular skaters and owners pretty well. Shes held with high respect there and is pretty talented. She has skate races and a whole team of great skaters, so what happens when one day she invites one of the boys to go on a date/ support her during a competitive roller derby? Also please do keep in mind I'm taking inspiration off the monster high roller derby cause that race was pretty cool and difficult to do so make it more modernized and human. You know... no swinging axes or kraken's trying to grab you as you skate. Though in reality that sounds like something Diavolo would put together for devildom roller derby's...

Lucifer

When he heard you beg him to come support you for your first race back in the human world he was a little taken aback. A roller derby? Him? I mean he wasn't going to be the loudest but he did find the thought of watching them succeed and wanting his praise amusing nonetheless....

....in reality he missed the Mc dearly and would appreciate the time with them, but he'd never say so out loud.

When you looked up to him from the stands he smirked at you, the pressure was on... that smirk was the one of judgement and "let's see how you do" which wracked your nerves with enough anxiety that it helped fuel the fire to make sure you succeeded.

When the Mc took off, being shoved by people bigger than her on each side, he was surprised when you fell back and the two idiots collided and she hopped over with ease and sped towards the front with amazing speed.

When The Mc and their team won, she came speeding to him and hugged him from behind and thanked him.

Later he took you out to eat in congratulations, the smile on your face from getting praise and food? All the stress from the day was relieved by that small gesture.

"I dont know why I thought I had finally found out everything I could about you, yet you just keep surprising me...."

Mammon

When the you asked for his support during a casual race at your local skating rink, with just your team mates going against eachother in a regular speed skate with a few obstacles, he wasnt so interested, saying he wants money in return for his support, when in reality he would have went anyways. But when you told him that since it was a casual race, people could bet on the racers, he agreed so fast and even begged to be summoned right then and there.

Expect him to be screaming at the top of his lungs for you to win

Isnt against calling you baby this loud in public

May or may not have tried climbing the fence when you got pushed

Definitely bet on you, and a huge sum of money too. So much faith 😭❤

Once you've won expect him to come flying at you, poor baby forgot you where on skates tho so you'd end up falling backwards to your friends amusement of your cuddly demon.

Tried threatening the owners to do another race so he could get money and failed

Sulked till you dragged him by the hand to skate in the neon lights since most people left it was just you two

Later he would drag you to either go to bet on races with him to gain more money or go to shower you in gifts, really depended on how well you could convince him to not go gambling, which had a 50/50 success rate.

"If I'm not going to get more money I might as well shower you in what I have, make you the prettiest gem for the whole world to see!" "Mammon you only won 200 dollars not a mil-" "sh, sh, shhhhh, shhh, no arguing! The Great Mammon is going to treat his treasure right tonight, ya' hear!?"

Leviathan

Now getting this otaku outta his room was an absolute struggle. So like a cat trapping their preh, you had to summon him to your house and put a blindfold on him for a special surprise.

Dragged his unsocial ass to the car and road down to the skate rink and took off his blind fold once you both got inside.

It took a lot of coaxing, but you finally got him to calm down enough to get a pair of skates.

If your skater friends said hi to him he'd hide by your arm like a scared 5 year old

The jealousy he felt of everyone in the room was unbelievable, because the poor boy has no balance for skating. On wheels or ice, his body just refuses.

You offered to help him learn and the poor boys face was fuming red, thankfully the neon lights and darkness hid it well.

He held onto your hand for balance throughout the whole date, only stopping to eat some pizza and play some arcade games.

After a few hours you headed back to your house to binge some Starwars, wanting to watch something different with him.....which eventually led to the both of you getting bored and going back to the new ruri-chan movie you guys binged countless amount of times on the phone together.

"H-hey! Hold on you're going t-too fast! No now you're so close I-....um... ack everyone can see us...so many people... but its worth it to show that your mine!"

Satan

Now Satan isnt much of a skater, nor a loud supporter, but with enough coaxing you finally got him to at least try and relax with you, doing a nice small couple's night at the skate rink

Really wanted to try human customs with you so there was little resistance

He would hold their hand as you'd skate

Even think of skating away from him and he will chase after you

This man's rage in his bones makes him a natural speed skater

Will tickle you when he catches you, starts a very one sided tickle war tho

If you wanna sit down, it's going to be in his lap, no rejections.

Will find it adorable if your friends make fun of how blushy you're getting as you hide in his chest

"Come now kitten, dont run away or I'm going to tickle you so hard that your face will hurt too much to smile at anyone else but me"

Asmodeus

This sweet baby was already dragging you to your room to glamor you up before the race.

Honey no need to say anything, he will make you the most gorgeous skater just tell him the vibes you wanna give off and he will hit the nail straight on the head and match your aesthetic.

Best expect victory photos.

Will record your victory and show it off to the group chat with the brothers.

Absolutely head over heels for you, hanging off your body in a hug and then going for a really close skate together

Might try to convince you to have some celebratory seggs but will 100% be making it known how much you excited him.

"Sweetheart look at all the likes our photos are getting! Everyone's congratulating you! Awe look at how viral my baby is! That was a VERY thrilling experience watching you, and you do need to take care of that body....shall we take this home and undress you so I can congratulate you the right way~♡?"

Beezlebub

Immediately agreed when you brought it up that you wanted to bring him to the skate rink, someplace you enjoyed going.

He knew skating was like a work out but was worried about finding skates his size there so he brought his own customized skates.

You better have snacks cause baby is gonna be starving.

Thankfully since you also work there and know the owners, you where allowed to hop over and take his order, putting it on your tab. 4 pizzas 2 Turkey legs 7 hotdogs and a pint of water (remember to stay hydrated)

If you bumped into a few of your friends and he WILL get along with them. He wants to be apart of your life, all of it, so he'll make it a point to get along with everyone in it for your sake.

If you ever look like you're going to fall he will be so close behind you it would be like slipping and falling back onto a brick wall who grabs you before you hit the floor.

If you fall forward he will grab your shirt but try not to choke you in the process

(If you do choke poor baby with be hugging you apologizing profusely)

You two try racing eachother but no matter what you dont win cause hes just too fast

Finds you challenging him over and over endearing and adorable.

"You're so adorable when you're chasing after me trying to win, but I'm hungry now...can we go eat again?"

Belphegor

Will complain once you ask him to go skating for date night in the human world

Wont stop till he finds out it has a sunroof along with the neon lights so he can look at the stars while skating with you.

Will only skate for an hour or two then passes out on your lap

Will not help at all when you fall, just laughs cause he is probably the reason you fell in the first place.

When hes skating he will take your hand in his the whole time and sorta lean on your shoulder while skating from behind you.

You two will stop periodically to sit at the small felt covered benches in the rink to look up at the stars (may or may not fall asleep on your shoulder so you're stuck there with him sleeping for 20 minutes)

You will be the last ones out

Must grab some food for Beel cause belphie promised to bring him home food.

Skating (more like you dragging him by the hand while hes in skates)back to your place and looking at the stars together at like 3am

Wont go back till he can officially cuddle you till the morning and leaves at 11am

"Hey look...theres Ursa major...*yawn* come on let's sit down again, I'm tired..."

Luke (only as siblings you take him skating)

Doesnt know how to skate

You end up teaching him and hes the happiest little boy ever.

If you take him to a race he'll be all worried that you got a scratch and starts to get protective over you when the person who pushed you comes near

Definitely eating cotton candy

Playing claw machines and you win him a stuffed piggy and he holds it near and dear to his heart cause it's from you

"Mc! Mc! Look I'm doing it! I'm skating! Sir oinkers and me are skating together! Thank you so much haha!"

Simeon

Happily joins to cheer you on during your races everytime. Got a race? Simeon will be there.

If you dont win he will comfort you and make the best of the situation by taking you to the food bar till it turns to a free skate again.

If you're injured he will pamper you and be ready with his first aid. Little angel kisses on every scrap and bruise.

So many forehead kisses of encouragement and praise 🥺😭

Can speed skate, so if you want to practice he'll help but if you want to relax he'll do that too.

Inlines? Regular skates? No matter what hes great at them.

Somehow he has great luck and every stuffie you showed interest in or every candy or prize there was that you would even look at, he would win on the first try.

"Dont worry! I'll carry it all. You just relax alright? You got pretty bruised from that fall."

Barbatos

Getting this man to stop working and go on a date will need a ton of patience, even Lord Diavolo has to convince him the little d's will do their jobs right while hes away.

Will take care of every scrape and bruise you get.

Man has glowsticks prepared to cheer you on

When it turns back to a free skate he will try his best to impress you and teach you little tricks he's picked up in his many years.

You try to convince him to eat some of the food there and he will politely decline and proceed to take you out to a nice fancy, but quaint restaurant.

"You were really quick to dodge them back there, yet you still got a few bruises, truly amazing for humans to get to that speed and dodge so fast. You're really a fascinating one arent you?"

Lord Diavolo

This man.... he made SIGNS

WILL be hollering when you win

The loudest in the stands

Glowsticks, glowing necklaces, bracelets, man is even wearing a glowing necklace around his head for you, glowing head to toe

So happy and proud 🥺😭❤

Definitely brought barbatos to help hold up the glittery signs him and the little d's made

Barbatos will leave with the signs after congratulating you and leaving you two to your date.

He will be a little off balanced when first skating cause the man went straight for the inlines 😂

Will be smiling the whole time, nothing can or will ruin it.

Absolutely in love with the skate rink because of you and even wants to add a few to the devildom so they can hold tournaments like the one you where in

Can get sad if he cant get you a stuffed animal while you're in the bathroom so he summons Barbatos again to help him while you're away.

Sends Barbatos away so you wont know he helped him get the prizes

Ends up getting you 6 stuffies and a phone case that doesnt fit your phone but it's the thought that counts right?

You win him a medium sized dragon from the claw machine and he sleeps with it every night and loves it like it's your guy's kid.

If he meets your friends he will find out just how much you've missed him as you get embarrassed, makes a mental note to see you once a week after that encounter.

Will eat 2 Turkey legs as you eat a slice of pizza and share a pitcher of soda with him

(He makes a mess of his face so you clean it off for him)

Will not want to leave and go back to the devildom so he'll insist on staying the rest of the night and walks you home

Will. NOT. LEAVEEEE! Master of excuses for why he should stay.

"But I dont want to leave! Theres still so much to do!" "Can I at least see your house?" "I wont leave until I see you're safe at home!" "Please can I stay the night, I miss having you wake up in my arms." "I want to see the morning sun rise with you before I go back"

[concerningwolves]

Hej, I actually have three questions: How do you handle plotbunnies? I currently have 14 - more or less fleshed out. But they are mere notes. Secondly: I'm in a bind with some of my pieces. The introduction is more or less there and I have a cornerstone (an important scene) but I don't know how to get there. Thirdly: Is there a tag or so for beat readers and how much research is good? I can sink week into research a single detail. Thanks.

(A note before I begin: as of 02.04.21, asks like this violate my ask guidelines. This isn’t a personal scolding, @quamatoc, but I just want to make you and readers aware that I won’t take multiple unrelated topics in a single ask anymore. More on this AG update here.)

Handling Plot Bunnies

Honestly, the most helpful thing I've learned is that it's okay to just... let your plot bunnies be. Leave them grazing on your metaphorical mental lawn. You don't have to do something with them straight away – in fact, managing which projects you work on and when, instead of chasing down every plot bunny you see, is an important skill to learn.

I like to keep an Evernote notebook for each plot bunny, so I can update it whenever I get a new idea but don't feel like I'm abandoning the ideas or like I have to work on them Right Now. You could keep a physical notebook, a file, a digital folder full of word documents – it doesn’t matter what you use, so long as it’s something you can access easily and keep relatively organised. Sometimes fresh inspiration will strike and I'll realise that an apparently unrelated plot bunny is actually really useful for a current project, or I'll get struck with a full plot for a previously fragmented idea. Either way, it’s been really liberating to realise that I can just keep plot bunnies safe somewhere for later on.

Getting from Point A to Point B (Building the Plot)

► PLOT STRUCTURES & GENERAL NOTES

To get from place to place in a story, you need to think about what makes it tick. You don’t need to write scenes in order, though! For me, figuring out a plot is really just me asking myself a very, very long series of questions. If I know what the Big Scene is, I’ll work backwards, asking myself things and seeing how the answers could get me from point A to B.

You don’t have to figure out a plot freehand, either. If you’re struggling, you might find it useful to use a pre-made plot structure outline such as the. There are loads available online. Print out several different ones and see which fits best, put your important scene where you think it goes and work backwards, write all over them, use a giant whiteboard, write on the wall – if it helps, use it. Here’s a blog article on different types of plot structure.

I also think it's important to actually write. It's so easy to get caught up in plotting that you don't put your thoughts to paper. Make sure you don’t fall into that trap! I'm a plantser, meaning I like to do a mixture of pre-plotting and flying through drafts by the seat of my pants. Even if you’re a rigid planner, be sure to see how your ideas look in action by drafting out scenes.

► “WHAT IF?” QUESTIONS

“What if character A and B discover a secret? What if they have different opinions on what to do about the secret? What if this becomes a friends to enemies to friends to lovers plot?? – wait, no, what if they’re already enemies and this secret forces them to work together? What if—”

Brainstorm  "what if...?" questions and explore various options. You don’t have to make any final decisions – that’s the beauty of drafting! The point is to put together subplots and main plots, and see which one works best in getting you to where you want to go.

► GOALS, WANTS & AMBITIONS

A character’s ambitions, wants and goals are very important to a story. They help hook the audience in by giving them something to root for. Knowing what a character wants and what lengths they would go to to get it is crucial to driving a plot forwards, especially if your story is character-driven.

What does a character want? → A character can have multiple desires, but it’s helpful to pick one key thing that undercuts most of their actions. Maybe they want to find out who killed their mother, or escape from somewhere. Perhaps they want to steal a pretty gem. Maybe they want to be king, or they want to escape from their responsibilities as a ruler.

What steps is a character willing to take? → Some characters are willing to do anything to achieve their goals. Maybe they commit a crime, end up in prison, get nudged towards more heinous actions, and find themself in a situation they never would have expected. Other characters are more cautious, but get pushed to breaking point – and then make a Bad Decision that bring about a major plot point. The steps a character makes are what puts them on the path of your plot.

Could anything change a character’s desires, or influence them to take different/more drastic measures? If so, what, and how would this change plot events? → Let’s say that your cornerstone scene is when character A steals from character B, but A starts the story unfailingly loyal to B and only wants to protect them. In order to get to that cornerstone, you’d need to work out what could happen to change A’s priorities. Change is invaluable in getting from plot point to plot point. If something happens that changes what a character wants – i.e., a betrayal, a sudden exile, or a change in fortunes – it can push them down paths they wouldn’t have otherwise considered.

► CONFLICT & OBSTACLES

Just as characters need to want something; plots need conflict and obstacles to make them interesting.

What could go wrong? How would the character(s) try to solve the problem? → “How can I create problems?” is probably the most valuable question an author can ask when building the plot; asking yourself how the characters try and solve said problem just pushes it even further, like this:

Does the attempted solution work? Whether it succeeds or fails, does it have any unexpected consequences? → Say that your Important Scene takes place in a different location to where your characters start out. So, the thing that goes wrong means your characters need to flee (the solution), and it works! They’ve escaped! Only now, they don’t have anywhere safe to go, and so they end up going into the place where Important Scene happens. Or maybe they don’t escape, and their attempt means that they’re transported to a more secure location, which in turn gives them an opportunity to get to Important Scene Location.

Do A’s goals conflict with another character’s goals? What would the other character do to protect their own interests? → If your cornerstone scene involves a clash of two armies, you need to think about what could ramp up the tension between the two sides, and conflicting interests is a great way to do this. Maybe your protagonist is trying to save the world from impending doom, but the queen of a neighbouring land is blinded by hunger for more land and riches. Or, the protagonist is a queen-in-exile trying to wrestle the throne back from the tyrannical relative who usurped her. Think about how each characters’ moves against the other could drive the plot.

The key is to think of it as building a structure out of bricks or slabs. You have your cornerstone – great! – now you need to work out what parts go where.

Research and Beta Readers

Research is something I wholeheartedly and unironically love. I will actually give myself research days a treat for reaching certain writing goals! So, naturally, I'm going to say that there's no limit on how much research one should do to create a story. That said, there is one caution to keep in mind: research is good, so long as you don't let it stop you from actually writing OR let it turn your writing into something akin to an instruction manual. In early drafts, try replacing any specific information you need with a code such as [ELEPHANT] or [KX] – basically, something you can find easily with the search function later on when you’ve researched it.

To find beta-readers, I recommend using the writeblr tag. It's where the bulk of the community puts their stuff. Make a post like "call for beta readers" with information about your project and use the buzzword tags like "writeblr" "writers on tumblr" "writers of tumblr" "beta readers" and whatever genre is applicable. Avoid external links in the post, otherwise it won't show up in the tags.

[ASK GUIDELINES | KO-FI]

[kiefbowl]

Hi, im 23 and my boyfriend is 44. We've been together for just over a year and have been good together, we have open communication and mutual respect. I guess I'm just wondering, in your opinion, because I respect you and value your thought processes, if its still wrong or predatory? I love him very much, he seems to love me too. Am I being naive?

Thank you for the appreciation. I’d like to put a caveat up front that I can’t know what your relationship looks like, and the only one who knows what it’s like and how healthy it is is you. Additionally, a relationship can have healthy qualities and unhealthy qualities, and good people can have a bad relationship. Healthy parts doesn’t mean the whole is good. 

No, I don’t think you’re being naive. I don’t think there’s any value judgement to attach to a 23 year old entering a relationship with a 44 year old. It does make my eyebrows raise. I find it extremely difficult to believe a 44 year old and a 23 year old have a healthy, mutually beneficial relationship. I don’t think it’s impossible for large age gaps to exist in a healthy relationships necessarily, but when it happens with someone in their 20s, that rings alarm bells to me. Your 20s are still formative years, and it can be hard to see that while you’re living them. There’s a lot of growth you’re going to do before you turn 30. Your career probably hasn’t really taken root yet, your earning potential is going to (probably) increase (maybe even very drastically at some point), you probably don’t really own a lot of stuff and the stuff you own is most likely not all that important to you or of good quality, you’re still young enough to be under your parents insurance, your credit is likely not that great (not that it’s bad, but age of credit lines is a big factor in your credit score), among other admin things that might not seem that big of a deal but do help you form an identity. When I was 23, my responsibility as a consumer was nonexistent because I was poor, at points unemployed, at points living at home...it’s only in the past few years I could start challenging myself to live up to my values and a sense of character that’s important to me as a consumer because I can move around the world more freely. It comes with money, but also career position. So that’s one aspect of being 23...

The other aspect of being 23 is you are very, very, very young, and even without a lot of money it can be very fun to be very, very, very young. It can be a lot of fun being older, too. I’m not old, by any means, but from this point in my life looking forward I’m much more excited to get older than I was at 23. At 23 I dreaded it because it felt like I was running out of time to be young. You get older and you learn to accept it and you realize how much in your life can change in a short time and you realize there’s wisdom, position, and status to gain in each decade of your life. Obviously, not every one is fortunate and not everyone is going to have increasing good fortune as they age, but regardless of what you make or do, you learn and grow as you get older, and I think it’s easier to appreciate as your enter your 30s. So don’t worry about getting older, but let me tell you 23 is FUN. 

23 was also the worst year of my life. I couldn’t afford chicken nuggets. But my friends and I were also working a crummy starbucks job that gave me almost no responsibility. I would wake up at 11, smoke weed and eat cereal, watch netflix, walk to work, work 2:30 - 11, then go out to a bar with my friends and eat cheap wings until 2 am, go home and play with my cat and go to bed literally whenever in an apartment with no furniture to take care of. I’d be off on a random weekday and grab another random friend who was off to go on day trip in their shitty car to Milwaukee for the hell of it, or go take a long walk on the beach listening to music all day, or go downtown and go to a museum on a discount day because no one was there, or ride my bike in the summer sun to nowhere in particular in the middle of the day because people were at work, and then come back home and do fuck all. Then I’d do it all again, plus steal croissants from work and drink endless coffee all day. And it didn’t matter, I could wake up the next day energized. Yes, I was stressed out, and I didn’t always appreciate the joy that can be found in that life because of it also sucked ass, but the energy and fortitude you have as a young 20 something is a beautiful thing to live through. I wouldn’t go back to that life now having the space I’ve made myself in the world, but I love thinking back to it and I’m glad it happened. I had to work really really hard to carve my little place in the world (and I’m not done yet!!), but there was a moment right before I hit the pavement to make that happen where my life felt endless, fresh, uninhibited, palpable. 23 has a different freedom than 30 for me. Money allows me to move in the world freely at 30, time allowed me to move in the world freely at 23. At 23, you can do dumb things, party, hang out, be lazy, be reckless, make quick decisions, change your mind...and it’s good, not bad. It’s learning, and it’s fun. It’s celebration, and it gives you hard lessons worth learning.

A relationship is a lot of responsibility, and it can take the place of some of that youthful freedom. That’s not always a bad thing, love can be very fulfilling. When you’re strapped for cash, it can also be financially helpful. Two 20-somethings joining forces can get each other on their feet to be independent at a time it’s a struggle to do it alone. You’re in the same boat, you have the same struggle. But a 44 year old isn’t experiencing life the same way you are. And believe me, 44 year olds know that. A litmus test to to your bf’s intentions might be how he talks about that fact. Does it ever come up? Does he speak about it freely? Does he laud it over you or do you share experiences with each other like companions?

This isn’t the only factor to consider when trying to figure out if your bf is “predatory” in your words. Who your boyfriend may be and his intentions aren’t the only thing to consider when you want to figure out if you should be in a relationship with him. Who YOU are is equally important. I don’t know a 23 year old who wasn’t different the very next year. I don’t know a 24 year old who wasn’t different the very next year. I don’t know a 25 year old who wasn’t different the very next year. Maybe that’s true for every year, but the differences between my life one year to the next between 20 - 26 were striking. I walked out on two jobs when I had nothing in my bank account simply because “fuck this”....this year I was terrified to lose my job because what about my retirement fund. I work for “the man” now when 6 years ago I caused a mass walk out at work. I’m probably not going to have a radically different life next year. That wasn’t true of my early 20s. The switch from “my life is a mess but it can be anything” to “next year I should start a will and keep care of my assets” happens quicker than you think. Is he letting you live that life right now? Is he encouraging it? Believe me, you can be a mess at any age (and it can be a fun mess, too), and you aren’t old at 30 or even 40 or honestly even 50, you’re just not as tided to things in your 20s. Is he clipping your wings to be kept, or is he letting you fly recklessly into the sun just so you can see how far is too far? You just can’t get 23 back. It’s a lot harder to crash and burn and then pop back up without a scratch after your 20s. Does he want to crash and burn with you? Will he even let you without him? Does he know if you go out into the world young and messy you might learn a lesson or two that makes won’t make him appealing to you anymore? Is his love coming from a place where he wants you to thrive by your own mistakes? Is he excited to watch you walk out the door to take on a new day blind but fearless, just so you can come home and tell him the adventure you took and how it changed you? Or does he find that childish, exhausting, unfitting? Does he want to see you grow into “his” adulthood? Does he need you to fit into his established life more than he wants to live and work beside your unestablished life? I couldn’t even date someone younger with your age difference. They would be 8. But would I tell an 8 year old not to learn to ride a bike because I can just give them a ride in my car, or would I tell them it’s worth learning even though I know they’re going to scratch their knees up? If I loved an 8 year old, I know to see them thrive they have to scratch their knees up a little and I can’t get in the way of it, or they might not learn to ride their bike to take long rides in the summer sun. 

[justice4harwin]

Light’s Corruption- Chapter VIII

Summary: With few friends at the Little Palace, Alina must work to win the favour of her fellow grisha and their commander, who makes her feel light headed every time she sees him.

After training in Os Alta for two years, the king grows tired of waiting and demands the Sun Summoner joins a western post near the Fjerdan border along with the rest of The Second Army to test her abilities.

Something happens. Suddenly, Alina wants blood to run down the rivers and those who stand in her and The Darkling’s way will be blinded by her light and swallowed by his shadows.

It won’t be pretty.

Pairing: The DarklingxAlina

Rating: 18+

Do I have a playlist for this story? Yeah

Do I also have a separate bff playlist for Genya and Alina? Duh

Click here for chapter 7 in case you missed it. 

Chapter 8: Alina the Baker

Grisha at the Little Palace had a day of the week off every other week, which meant that Alina could catch up on some precious sleep in the confines of her soft, warm bed filled with softer pillows. Even with the weak winter sun shining down on her, Alina could've slept all day and well into the night. In fact, it was even better, for she'd be warmer. There was no such thing as 'too much warmth' for her. The hotter, the better.

Curled up like a cat over the luxurious bed, the Sun Summoner intended to sleep all day and night.

Then there was a knock on her door.

She didn't hear it and rolled over in a most unnatural way.

The knocking got louder.

She began to stir.

"Get up, Starkov!" Genya yelled from the other side.

"Maybe if I don't make any sounds she'll leave." Alina thought, clutching her eyes tightly shut.

"You know I can go get the keys, but that'll only give me time to get angrier!"

Groaning, Alina threw herself onto the floor and made for the wretched door.

The redhead swung in with her usual grace, her kit in hand as she hummed a melody strange to Alina's ears.

Slowly, Alina followed her.

"Wash your face and come sit here." she instructed, pointing at the vanity.

After doing so, the Tailor began to work on her hair.

"Do I have somewhere to be?" Alina asked, yawning.

"No, but with the Winter Fete so close, I wanted to try some different styles for your hair and make-up, so we won't waste so much time on the actual day." she explained. "Besides, the Duke is still here, so the queen's daily naps have become longer, which only makes it harder for the Duke to talk whatever it is he wants to discuss with the king."

Alina made an odd face through the mirror; Genya smiled at her ingenuity.

"They've been fucking like ra-"

"Ah, ta-ta-ta, I get it." the Summoner closed her eyes and waved her hands, not wanting to picture any of it. "Does the king know?"

Genya snorted, joining two braids into one.

"Please, he's a dumb child."

Alina yawned again, loudly.

"Look, I don't think my hair matters too much for the Fete, so how about we take a nap?"

"Lazy."

"It's early."

"So?" a red, perfectly trimmed eyebrow rose softly. "Who would imagine the Sun Summoner herself wouldn't want to raise with the sun?"

"Technically, the sun is always out."

"I'm also using you as an excuse to get out of the Grand Palace."

"Can we do something else, then?"

"No!" she yanked Alina's hair once more and tied it. Leaning over her friend, she arranged the three mirrors which sat atop the vanity so the other woman could get a good look at it. "What do you think?"

Alina stared at her reflection. Two braids started at the top of her head and joined as one at the base of her neck.

"I like it."

Genya placed a slender finger to her lips.

"Too simple." With a flourish of her hand, Alina's hair was freed once more, falling in dark waves down her shoulders. "Turn."

When she did, her friend leaned over and took her face gently.

"I thought you were sleeping better." she mumbled as she ran her fingers underneath her eyes, ridding it of bags.

"I am, I think."

"Have you been summoning?"

"Yes, but, …"

"But?"

Genya leaned against the vanity, waiting patiently.

"I don't know." Alina said, looking down at her hands. "I know Baghra is horrible, and she still hasn't called back for me-"

"Then you go to her."

"I don't want to." Alina confessed, even though she probably should. Who else would teach her? The Darkling? He was always on and off the Little Palace grounds. "What if I mess up too bad and no-one's there to stop me?"

"So you haven't been summoning." Genya concluded.

"I have!" she fought back. "Just a little."

To prove her point, she closed her hand into a fist, opened up, and let a small orb of light fly up to Genya's face, not too close to make her uncomfortable. The Tailor watched the light with a small smile, and slowly reached out.

"I thought it might burn me."

"I think it would if I wanted to hurt you, or if I put more effort into it."

"But you love me too much."

"I tolerate you." she joked, moving the orb up and above her friend's head. "Now you look like a saint." she said, trying to turn the orb into a halo. It flickered and didn't exactly do as she commanded, only shone brighter over Genya's features.

The redhead shook her hand.

"Move. With this light, I can probably mask my age a bit more."

"Oh yeah," Alina said as she stood up, a playful smile on her face. "Because you're soooo old."

Alina didn't actually know how old Genya was, but she was sure they were about the same age.

"Tomorrow I will be a year closer to grey hair so," Genya's fingers went over her face, getting rid of imperfections Alina couldn't see. "One can never start too early."

"Tomorrow's your birthday?" Alina asked, starting to smile.

Genya didn't seem so excited. She merely shrugged.

"Yes."

"What are you planning on doing? Are you having a party? How many people will be there? Are presents mandatory? Cause I don't have permission to go to the city to get you one, and it doesn't really matter because I have no money and I don't have time enough to do something myself. What sort of ca-?

"Alina!" Genya had to raise her voice a little to get her overly excited friend to stop. "We don't celebrate birthdays here. It's just another day."

The Sun Summoner frowned.

"So, not even a cake? Or the day off?"

The Tailor huffed, amused.

"What for?"

"To celebrate." Alina was no longer bouncing on her heels.

"Trust me, the last thing anyone in these palaces would think of is to celebrate my silly birthday." she said as if it meant nothing.

Alina sat on the carpeted floor; legs crossed.

"That's depressing."

"If you say so." she remained indifferent.

She peered up at her friend and got an idea.

"Should we have some tea?"

"After I test how to work your face."

Later that night, standing outside the kitchens of the Little Palace, Alina ran her hands over her kefta and stood as straight as she could, putting on her best scowl. She hoped she had picked up a thing or two from Ana Kuya and Baghra

She entered the place like she owned it. At first, nobody took notice, too busy with their tasks. She cleared her throat.

Nothing.

She clapped her hands twice, like Genya did to call upon the attention of her miserable shrews -not that Alina considered the kitchen staff to fall into that category- and everyone in the kitchen turned to her, adopting various expressions at the sight of her.

No-one seemed to know what to do or what to say.

Trying to seem somewhat commanding, Alina cleared her throat once more.

"I need ingredients to make a cake." she stated.

One of the cooks swallowed hard before she began to speak.

"If you'd like a cake, Miss, I can make-"

"I want to do it myself, actually." she said, placing both hands behind her back and praying to all the saints she could remember -there weren't many- that they took her seriously.

Still, nobody moved.

Alina guessed that it wasn't every day that a Grisha showed up and demanded to cook something by themselves.

Not wanting the kitchen staff to feel offended, she spoke again:

"It's for a friend, you see, so I'd like to give her something I made with my own hands."

Slowly, the same woman who had spoken nodded, and then smiled tentatively.

"There's fresh eggs over there, Miss."

As it turned out, Alina did need some help after all. She knew how to make a basic cake, but as soon as she said it was a birthday cake, a middle-aged man jumped on her, offended on behalf of Genya.

"You can't just give your friend something so bland." he had said, his face red as he gestured widely at the cake, like it was a disgusting piece of work. One might have thought Alina had insulted his family. "You need to fill it with something, decorate it, give it life and flavour!"

Yes. That, she had no idea how to do.

He pushed her aside hastily.

"Saint can summon light but can't make a decent birthday cake." he muttered.

Alina's mouth hung open, offended, but she said nothing.

She hurried up the steps with a big cake held as if it were a precious new-born child when she heard him:

"Miss Starkov?"

"Holy Saints!"

She came to such a sudden halt, the cake moved precariously on its base.

"Yes, sir?" she called, tense, not daring to turn back.

"I am glad I came upon you;" The Darkling said, and she could hear him approaching.

It was so great to have him back, but why did he have to arrive at that time? Couldn't he have waited a few more minutes?

"Was there something you needed?" she asked.

"I can't believe myself, but please say 'no'"

"No, no, I just wanted to inform you that you shall start training with me tomorrow. I will see you at the entrance just before dawn."

"I thought you had no time for personal training." she was reminded of their conversation one season prior. "And that you didn't want to show favouritism."

It was probably stupid of her to say those things, to make him look like he couldn't make up his mind, but she find it hard to filter her thoughts when he was in the vicinity.

"I remember our conversation very well, Alina." he said, and she could hear his voice closer. It was so deep and smooth. Alina took a deep breath and tried to steady her heartbeat. "But some circumstances have changed, and I decided to make an exception."

Any other day, she would've melted at his feet at the way he spoke, as if it were almost a dirty, scandalous secret only meant for them.

But she had Genya's cake in her hands. It was big, and heavy, and he couldn't see it.

"That's great!" she said, and she meant it. "Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to go. Moi Soverennyi." she bowed, and then clutched her eyes shut, cursing herself silently. Nothing showed more respect for one's General than showing them their behind.

"Are you hiding something, Alina?" he asked, sounding far too amused to her liking.

"Nope."

"Right. And I am the Black Heretic." he almost snorted. Alina frowned; he sounded so…normal when he did that. She wanted to hear it more often, she realized.

She craned her neck so she could get a glimpse at him. His eyes shone with mirth; the corner of his mouth was tilted up. She wanted to freeze him like that forever.

"It's nothing bad or illegal."

He chuckled, and his nose crunched up a little. Alina found it adorable, and she wanted to kiss him again, cuddle next to a fire by him, and make him laugh until his sides hurt.

"Alright, then. I shall let you be on your way." he took a step back, and Alina took a few steps forward before stopping at the end of the stairs.

"It's good to have you back."

She climbed up the stairs so quickly one might've thought a Squaller was pushing her up, and didn't give him opportunity to say anything back.

Alina moved her tea table to the centre of her room, where she placed the cake and a few flowers she had stolen from the various vases around the Little Palace to give it more life.

Smiling like an idiot, she closed her eyes and called her light just as there was a knock on the door.

Her light answered and her hand shot up, leaving a thin layer of golden dust hovering near the ceiling, giving the space a lovely ambience.

Hastily, she made sure everything was in order. The tea was hot, and there was plenty of kvas and wine for at least ten people. The kitchen staff had been more than happy to provide for her when they found out who Alina wanted to celebrate. Apparently, Genya was well liked among the otkazat'sya who worked on the Little Palace.

She hurried to open the door.

Genya waited on the other side, standing straight, an eyebrow arched up.

"You called for me? Is it urgent?"

"Yes!" The Sun Summoner answered, taking her friend's hand and dragging her across the expansive room.

She turned abruptly and placed her hands on Genya's eyes, blocking her view.

"For all the Saints, Ali, I don't have time to play around." she complained as she was dragged some more. "Just because the queen is spending another afternoon with the Duke of Balakirev doesn't mean I don't have other things to do and-"

Alina uncovered her eyes.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" she squealed, taking a step to the side and extending her arms to showcase the cake.

It was rectangular, decorated with red, blue and yellow flowers all over it. No white. Nothing about that cake was white.

The Tailor stared at it.

'Happy Birthday, Genya!' it read, in black, messy letters. While the middle-aged man from the kitchen had done most of the decorating of the cake, Alina had insisted on writing the words herself.

Still, The Tailor stared at it, mouth agape.

Slowly, Alina's smiled dropped, and looking at her friend in the eyes, she was horrified to find them wet.

A tear fell down Genya's pale face, and Alina rushed over to remove it.

"Gen?" she asked, extremely concerned. "What is it?"

But Genya couldn't say anything. Her mouth opened, then it closed, and it opened again as a small cry left its confines, the tears falling freely now, like a turbulent river.

Alina hugged her, rubbing her stiff back in circles.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." she said over and over again. "I just thought you might like it. I'm so sorry. Do you want me to throw it away?"

She felt how her friend shook her head, clinging to her with a vice like grip.

Alina was the one who wanted to cry now, seeing her closest friend in such a state made her eyes tear, and, oh damn, she was crying now as well.

They stood like that for a few moments, weeping like idiots, the hug a bit awkward since Genya seemed to hover over smaller Alina.

Slowly, the Tailor disentangled herself from the Summoner, and her friend let her go.

Genya delicately passed a finger underneath her eyes and adverted her gaze, although Alina could see the red in her eyes.

"Thank you, Ali. Truly." she said, her voice slightly hoarse.

Alina was at a loss of words.

"It's just a cake, Gen." she shrugged. "I just thought, we could celebrate together, if you wanted. We can invite anyone you want." she suggested.

Smiling just a little, Genya looked down at her hands and played with her fingers.

"No, it's just…"she took a deep breath and let it out. Alina waited patiently. "No one ever really did this for me before." she said, raising her arm towards her cake.

"A birthday cake?" Alina asked slowly, her voice tremulous and trying not to sound sad. "Well, it's not a big deal!" she tried to shake it off, waving a hand with a forced smile. "Back in Keramzin there was only one plain cake per month for all the children so-"

"No, "Genya interrupted, her voice a mere whisper that cut through Alina's heart like a sharp blade. "I mean, celebrated. No one's ever done this much." her eyes were like crystal again. "Thank you."

Alina felt uncomfortable. She really did feel sad for her friend? Had no one ever truly celebrated her birthday? She knew she had been given to the queen at a young age, but even before that, had her parents ever made something for her? Or at least said anything on the day?

Alina didn't remember much of her parents, but she did remember once a year, her father coming up to her with a small, strawberry tart. He and mamma would hug her more than usual and kiss her cheeks and play with her all day until the sun went down and her eyes dropped closed of exhaustion.

"Chasing the waters." she thought, absentmindedly.

Even before the Little Palace, had Genya never had any of that?

"I'm just, sorry I couldn't do anything grander on such short notice." Alina tried to smile. "I have a present for you" she was now grinning, although so very nervous on the inside. She walked over to her desk and took the envelope. "I didn't have time to make something so… it was very last minute. She came back to stand before her friend and extended the envelope, which Genya took with a look in her eyes that resembled disbelief and wonder. Alina's cheek reddened. "It's nothing. Really. Open it."

Genya did as she was asked, and Alina bit her bottom lip, trembling as she recalled, word by word, what she had put down on the paper with her finest ink.

"I have a friend,

with bright, red hair.

She has a loudmouth,

and a brusque, yet marvellous touch.

 She and I have known each other,

for only a couple of months,

But I know that in my soul,

She's well settled for long.

 Some will say she's pretty

Others will say she's pricky,

and while those all ring through,

I know the person behind those needle-like replies.

 I have a friend,

with bright, red hair.

She's always there for me,

as I'll always be there for her."

It seemed as if an eternity had passed before the Tailor looked up, fresh tears in her eyes.

"Did you write this?" she asked, voice cracked. Alina nodded sheepishly, and Genya said: "This is the shittiest piece of poetry I have ever read."

The Summoner tried to not let her hurt show on her face, but a moment later she was being engulfed into another bear hug.

"I love it." Genya whispered almost fervently, clutching her tighter. "Thank you."

They spent the afternoon drinking tea, eating cake, talking and laughing. Genya had admired the piece for a long moment, as if trying to burn it into her memory, before she cut into the first two portions.

After a while, when there was no more tea and they grew tired of cutting, they sat themselves down on the carpeted floor, cake and all, and dug in directly from the base as they helped it pass through with kvas and wine.

"What do you mean?" Alina asked as they both laid on top of the soft, fur carpet of the floor, facing up, unable to move.

"Another rule of the General to keep his Grisha humble: no birthday parties." Genya answered, her speech slurred and the last part with a deeper tone, like she wanted to imitate Kirigan.

"That sucks!" Alina spat, just as drunk as her friend.

"Yeah!"

"Parties are…cool." she stated, raising her index finger as if to make a point. "There's cake,"

"Ugh." Genya's hand flew down to her stomach. "I can't move."

Alina ignored her.

"There's presents, if you're not an orphan." she giggled at her own misery. "There's more cake, and there's people."

"There's always p-people at the Tiny Palace." Genya reminded her, kicking off her boots.

Alina did the same, her hands blindly reaching up to the couch for the small pillows.

"Yeah;" one of the pillows hit Genya in the face, and the Tailor whined about it as she placed it underneath her head. "But there's no birthday cake, thanks to General Handsomest. And no birthday parties." She counted to three in her head, shot up, grabbed the blanket at the back of the couch, and let herself fall again on top of the rug.

Saints, how had she and Genya managed to eat that entire monstrosity?

She threw the blanket over her body and kicked until it covered her feet. Genya clumsily pulled at it so it'd cover her as well.

Alina frowned.

"There's people at parties."

"Yes, Alina." Genya closed her eyes.

Alina's frown deepened, some of the blurriness in her mind clearing.

"People talk at parties."

Genya opened one eye.

"Are you going to get us in trouble?"

Alina, who could barely put the dots together as she thought of how full of cake she was and how funny everything looked from where she was laying on the ground, and how handsome the General was, and how she wanted to kiss him again and slap him for leaving her like that, turned her face towards her friend.

"Only if General Handsome caught us." she said.

Genya sighed.

"Fine. But turn your head to the other side. I don't want your puke in my face."

Giggling at the disgusting image, Alina did as she was told.

Their hands found each other underneath the blanket in a soft hold.

"Happy birthday, Gen." Alina mumbled, the lack of sleep due to her preparations for the afternoon and all the alcohol catching up to her.

"Thank you, Ali."

A/N: Hope you liked it! This is probably the last sweet chapter before things gradually start to get darker *evil laugh*

Click here for chapter IX

[cosmiccandydreamer]

Stability Chapter 7

Otis Driftwood x Reader

( I don't own these gifs)

"I'll never be your beast of burden

My back is broad but it's a-hurting

All I want for you to make love to me

I'll never be your beast of burden

I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting

All I want for you to make love to me"

Otis heard you before he saw you, dancing and singing in your cut off shorts and tired shirt. Your walkman swung dangerously back and forth on your hips as you sang to the rolling stones song while you washed your car. It was a super hot summer day in the unforgiving heart of texas. The car was your baby. It was a gift from Otis for your birthday, you had fallen in love with it when they towed it to the house after the last group of victims was captured. You told him you always wanted one of these so he and Rufus secretly fixed it up for you. He still insisted you go everywhere with him in his truck but you convinced him to let you drive yourself once in a while ( but not too far ) Spraying the hose over the hood you leaned over to get the farthest part, your ass poking out in the air.

"Am I hard enough?

Am I rough enough?

Am I rich enough?

I'm not too blind to see"

It was obvious the music was so loud you didn't hear him as he dragged a screaming victim toward the shed in the back. He stopped dragging her for a second to watch you and laugh softly. Well, that's adorable and hot as shit he thought to himself. The poor girl he was currently dragging took this opportunity to claw and bite at his hand in an attempt to get away in. For A split second she did, She wiggled out of his grasp and tried to take off towards the road. He quickly grabbed her and threw her on the ground pulling her by the hair back towards the house. All this while you were none the wiser, enjoying your song on your headphones. He resumed his spot leaning against the house staring at you.

"I'll never be your beast of burden

So let's go home and draw the curtains

Music on the radio

Come on baby make sweet love to me" 

 

You sang the last part a little louder using the sponge as a microphone. You were getting into this what you assumed was a solo performance. Swinging your hips back and forth you grabbed the hose and sprayed all over the trunk of the car. He was thrusting the girl back and forth by her hair to shush her as he leaned against the side of the house watching you. "Damn bitch shut the fuck up!, I'm trying to enjoy the view". He looked toward her in disgust that she would dare shrek and distract him. "Mister please let me go, I won't tell anyone". " I SAID SHUT UP" 

He suddenly heard the music better now, he looked up to see you with your headphones down now around your neck the music softly playing in a muffled tone. Staring at him with a smile slightly leaning against the car. " Whatcha doing there is handsome?". " Watching you " he smirked. 

"Am I hard enough?

Am I rough enough?

Am I rich enough?

I'm not too blind to see"

"Oh are ya now? So ...what are you gonna you do with her?" You pointed with the sponge at the dry heaving girl still on the ground with her hair in his fist. "Ah I don't know" he looked down at her then back at you " any ideas?" He lifted an eyebrow at you. "Maybe a few" you bit your lip a little tilting your head to the side. " I was going to tie her up in the shed and try that experiment I was running with you the other night but I don't think she's gonna survive. She also won't stop squirming", he chuckled and thrust her a little bit more back and forth. She muttered something inaudible. "That's fine," you said, tossing the sponge into the bucket. " We can tie her to the bed after she might stop squirming then." You flashed him a wicked smile.

 He winked at you, "my god woman you are wicked...have I told you I love you lately?" He asked, clearing his throat, the bulge that started to grow in his jeans was becoming more and more distracting. "Hmmm" you replied " maybe but you can show me how much you love me later" you leaned on the hood of the car allowing for him to get a good view of your shirt.

 He hastily sucked in the air standing up quickly, "hold that thought" he says turning back toward the shed. "Hey! " You shouted he turned back to you real quick, spinning the poor girl as well, her feet and legs dragging.  You took the soapy sponge and tossed it at him, smacking him in the chest soaking his white shirt. He cursed under his breath then laughed, wiping his face with his other hand. "You are gonna pay for that as soon as I'm back from tying this bitch up". He looked back at you one more time while heading back to the shed. 

Oh, little sister

Pretty, pretty, pretty girls

Ooh, you're a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl

Pretty, pretty, such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl

Come on, baby, please, please, please

 

"God I hate this fucking song can you change it?"... "OTIS hello?". Baby sat up from the floor of the van and snapped her fingers at Otis. "Hey get your goddamn fingers out my face woman the fuck is wrong with you" he angrily swatted at Baby's hand as she attempted to snap in his face again. " I said I don't like that song so change it" "I don't give a flying dick what you like, I'm drivin' and we're leaving this song." She slumped back angrily onto the floor. Earning a chuckle from her father Spaulding. "S'not funny daddy" she snapped at him crossing her arms. "Oh lighten up there kiddo you know the rules, the driver picks the music". 

Spaulding had finally met up with both of them at the motel. Although it had taken him a while due to some personal delay he arrived there in the nick of time to help finish off torturing the poor victims. After killing the rest of the family the daughter of Roy and Gloria was left to wear her father's skin on her face and be hung up behind the door to scare the unfortunate housekeeper when coming to assess the room. unable to get her father's skin off and running in a frantic the daughter unknowingly ran into the highway to be hit by a semi-truck. Using the van they stole from them they attempted to meet you at the next stop. 

Otis only hoped they weren't too far behind you. Suddenly Baby perked up and glanced at the passing billboard." Just in case anyone's interested, I think I'm gonna be wanting some ice cream in about 10 miles" she excitedly looked back toward her father and then to Otis. Otis looked over at her and repeated her [in a mocking tone]  "I think I'm gonna be wanting some ice cream in about 10 miles." Baby looked back at home with an angry expression "Hey DON'T you fucking imitate me, it's fucking rude!"

Otis:" Fuck you", Baby: "Fuck you! "Two fucking seconds for the kid, is that gonna kill you?" Spaulding interjected getting real sick of the interaction between the two of them.

"Yes, it is going to kill me! I have calculated the time, and two seconds is the exact amount of time that is a hazard to my fucking health!" Otis replied visibly getting more and more annoyed with the idea of stopping. " What the fuck is your problem? I'm in and out in two seconds!" Baby snapped at him. 

   

Spaulding laughed a little "You know? I think I'm gonna get me some tutti fucking fruity." "Tutti fucking fruity, that sounds good!" Baby said nudging her father. "I'm glad that finding y/n doesn't mean shit to either of you now I know who is taking this seriously" he gripped his hands on the steering wheel in anger. These fucking idiots he thought to himself. " Wow excuse you…. How dare you imply I don't care about finding my BEST FRIEND. You know she meant the world to me before She meant the world to you, she was my best friend before she was your wife ok? I met her first… don't think because I'm not sulking like you I don't worry about her. But she's stronger than you give her credit for and you've been treating her like a child!!!". Otis didn't respond to her, he was getting madder by the second. He simply gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

 "I suggest we go see Charlie lay low there for a night before heading to the next motel," Spaulding said looking over at Otis. " Why the fuck would we do that?" Otis asked, slightly gripping the steering wheel even harder. Being away from you this long was not good for his mental health. It was throwing him off his game. It was making him anxious and nothing made him anxious. This was a very foreign and uncomfortable feeling to him. He wanted to get rid of it and to do that he had to find you. He only anticipated being away from you for maybe 12 hours and even the thought of that made him very uncomfortable. 

It's now been days this is unacceptable he needs to find you. "Look I saw on the news that the police are already on your tail. It's best that we throw off their scent a bit and lay low one more day can't hurt y/n is a smart girl she's gonna be alright". Otis didn't reply, he simply looked at the long stretch of road. Spalding continued, "I would hate to lead anyone to her Otis, Baby is right we care about her too but she's tough and smart I'm sure she's seen the news she will get the idea why we aren't there". "I don't trust that fucker Charlie" Otis finally replied with a sigh. Spaulding chuckled "yeah welp get over it". 

They drove through the rest of the afternoon only stopping for ice cream of course to prevent any distress from Baby and Spaulding. Pulling up to Charlie’s fun town, Otis’s annoyance grew more by the second. He hasn't been back here in years, he used to come on occasion to enjoy some of the girls here, but that quickly changed when you came around. He didn't like or trust Charlie, he had an inkling that this man was only out for himself no matter what Spaulding said. 

[yourcreepyneighborhoodelftwink]

As the Hero fell upwards through the sands of time, the days rewinding like the gears of a clock, he landed calmly on the cobblestones of Clock Town Square, at the dawn of the first day. He had been through this many times before, and had grown accustomed to reliving the same 3 days, helping the same people with the same schedules, slowly making more and more progress each time. At least he didn't feel an enormous time crunch, even with the threat of the moon hanging above him, he was always able to rewind the days, and could take days to rest, to sleep or ride Epona or play with the inhabitants.

He rarely did, but it was nice that the option was there.

He was pulled from his thoughts by Tatl getting his attention with a soft tinkling sound, looking over at the stand near the Deku flower, and the note pinned to it.

"That's certainly new…" she said cautiously as they approached, Tatl reading aloud to Link.

The pair exchanged a confused and frightened look. It wasn't signed, but they knew exactly who left the note for them.

BEN sat on the edge of the field, their boots hanging over the barrier where the grass turned into sand, looking out at the canyon leading to the beach. It had been so long since they had entered their game, only playing it from the outside. Perhaps they had been showing too much love to Breath of the Wild lately and not enough to the dark masterpiece of their former prison, or perhaps it was the only world they could enter that felt truly real, where the sun was warm and the wind blew. They HAD become a bit spoiled, learning that adding weather effects and random wind blowing did wonders to immersion when they entered a game.

They closed their eyes, speaking up before looking behind them.

"You didn't have to rush over here. "as possible" doesn't mean "instantly", you know…" BEN said gently, lowering their ears with a guilty smile.

Link frowned softly, keeping his distance from the elf. He couldn't draw his sword AND sign, after all, so he would have to make due. "You didn't specify. I've learned better than to provoke you."

BEN couldn't exactly blame his caution. It's why they were here, after all. "My bad. I'll be more specific next time. But I suppose it's neither here nor there now…"

"...is there something you want, BEN? " Link asked, clearly a bit anxious by being asked to meet.

"...a few things. I won't lie and say there isn't a favor I'd like to ask the both of you-"

"Like you have any right to ask Link for anything, at this point!" Tatl quickly interjected, turning red in anger. "You've terrorized us for no good reason, revealed truths we didn't need to know, and then just left us alone one day!"

"-BUT," BEN continued, "that isn't my main reason for being here. First and foremost... You're long overdue for an apology from me."

Link and Tatl looked at each other in confusion. "...pardon? " Link questioned.

"...I've been doing a lot of thinking and self reflecting lately. Especially because I finally have reason to want to improve myself. And I think I've gotten pretty far in trying to right the wrongs of my past, and try to change as a person. But I still never gave the both of you a proper apology, or even an explanation for how I treated you…" BEN sheepishly said.

Link looked down at the seated person, absolutely dumbfounded. All the times he had been attacked by BEN came instantly into his mind, only to not even be able to so much as scratch them in return, even the might of a Goron doing nothing to them. All the times he had been followed and told he was insignificant, worthless, a joke of a hero, told he was nothing more than a bland, boring conduit for the player of a game in a world far grander than his own. Only for BEN to just... Disappear one day. Gone. Vanish into thin air, and only return occasionally, seemingly at their leisure. Something... Didn't add up to him, and he wasn't sure what on Earth made them suddenly stop tormenting him, and now want to make things right.

"...I'll hear you out, at least," Link finally said, stepping forward to sit next to him. If nothing else, were he going to harm Link, BEN would have done it by now.

"Not that it makes us all hunky-dory yet," Tatl offered, settling on Link's shoulder.

BEN smiled softly, letting out a relieved breath. They stayed quiet for a moment, deciding their words carefully. "I'm not... Sure where to start. So much has happened to me. I guess I should start when we first met. When I first entered this game. It was my favorite game, and with me when I died," they started.

Tatl interrupted, jingling softly. "...when you died?"

BEN nodded softly. "When I died. I was just about your age, Link, about 12. More specifically, when I was murdered. Father simply... Got tired of me, I suppose. He tricked my religion's leader- we refer to him as The Father- into thinking it was my time to Ascend when it wasn't. The whole explanation of my belief system isn't important in this, just that I was robbed of something very important and sacred to me because of it."

"That sounds horrible," Link signed.

"It was... And I was only 12, and not the greatest at understanding or expressing my emotions... I was so angry, absolutely furious at losing that chance, as what had been done to me. I've always had a strong sense of justice, if you can believe it. I don't easily stand for people wronging me. But when I died, my spirit was trapped in this game. All that rage bottled up, with nowhere to release it... Until I started releasing it on you. Very unfairly."

"I'll say," Tatl said, though there wasn't much bite behind her words.

"Eventually, someone played the game, and I was able to break free, find someone else to torment. And after that, start lashing out at everyone who had hurt me, making them

PĄŸ,"

BEN continued, their voice glitching out just a bit at the final word.

"...i moved on to more innocent people after that. I was out of control. To the point where my goddess, Luna, intervened. She stopped me herself, gave me a new body, made me into a young adult so I wouldn't be trapped as a child forever, and I carry the souls of everyone I hurt in my blind sadism, until I join her again one day. And I've worked hard to be a better person now. I've found so much to make my life wonderful, and to make the most of my second chance…" BEN trailed off.

"...but you still want to make amends to everyone you've hurt," Link finished for them.

"...I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't think I can be forgiven. But I really AM sorry for how I treated you. Both of you. Of everyone I've lashed out at, you're the least deserving of it. No matter WHAT'S happened to me, it's NO excuse for how much I've hurt you. And even if you never forgive me, I would love the opportunity to make it up to you…" they finished softly.

"...would you excuse us for a moment?" Tatl asked, flying a slight distance away. Link glanced over at BEN before rising to his feet to follow, and speak with the fairy alone. BEN politely stayed looking forward, allowing them the privacy.

"...do you believe them?" Tatl asked.

"...yeah. They seem genuine," Link admitted.

Tatl nodded softly. "I do, too. There's much simpler ways to trick us or convince us if that was their intention. Even if they said they wanted a favor, this is a lot of lengths to go to for just that…"

"I wonder what they want," the hero mused, glancing over at BEN.

"...maybe ask? Perhaps you can also ask a favor of him, test his sincerity," she said.

"What would that be? " he asked.

"Well, you've said you're curious about his world, whatever it is that our entire world is only a game in, a small part of. Maybe you can ask to explore his world. It'd give you the opportunity to spend more time with him and let him earn your trust, anyway," she offered.

Link nodded softly, then whistled to get BEN's attention. "Alright, BEN, we've talked it over. First, I want to know what favor it is you want…"

"Actually, it's a favor specifically from Tatl," they explained.

"Wait, me?" she questioned.

"...my daughter has watched me play this game a lot. And she's absolutely fallen in LOVE with you, she ADORES seeing you on screen. Her first birthday is in a few months, and there's... Circumstances about my life, and now hers, that will make her very different from other children, with so many secrets to keep. She could really use having a companion by her side, a friend to offer wisdom and company and help when she needs it. A copy of you, like how I copied Epona, to watch over her and make her feel less alone…" BEN said.

"...you have a daughter?" Link asked.

"And a boyfriend. Soon to be husband," BEN explained, holding up their hand to show off their ring.

Tatl let out a soft chime at this. "Well... I'm certainly flattered you think I'd make a good companion to her…"

BEN smiled softly. "I don't expect an answer today, don't worry. There's still a few months before her birthday. And I understand if it's not something you're comfortable with…"

"...we have a proposal for you, in that case," Link began. "You want to make amends to us. We're admittedly curious about this world outside of our own. So, let us explore. Show us your life, and what lies outside this "game", and earn our trust. Then we'll consider it."

BEN thought this over. They'd have to be careful, but this wasn't impossible… "...I can't completely remove you from the game. I'd have to copy you, then merge the copy and your true self after. It's basically the same thing, though, you'd keep the memories and everything. And you'd have to do EXACTLY as I say, I... REALLY can't have attention drawn to myself or the people I live with. If there's something that catches your attention, you can't gawk, just stay calm and ask me. And there's going to be a LOT, the real world is nothing like this one. Hylian sign doesn't match up with any sign language in my world, so you'll at least be able to speak freely. But if you can do that, and trust that I'm keeping us both safe when I tell you to do something... I'll happily show you around."

Link considers this, then nods. He holds out his hand to BEN, who shakes it.

"Then we have a deal."

[jjbakaloskaiagathos]

A Bird in a Cell of Passione: The Butterfly is Flying to the Light 🕯

In the previous chapter:

- Don is waiting for you.

Chapter 2:

Carina has frozen. She cannot believe her ears. The girl attempts to look at the young man’s face to understand it is a joke or not. His serious facial expression and tight grip represents as an important intention.

Finally, the man has taken the hand. He understands that he might to scare Carina in a big way. The man has coughed up, touched a jacket and pointed the opposite direction from the exit.

- Follow me, please.

Carina has no other reason not to go with the stranger.

They are walking in complete silence but there is a chance to see the man. Obviously, he is so handsome. The stranger is tall height, following Carina like a guiding star. He has fair hair represents as strands, falling on the face, but they do not cover his violet eyes. They are pretty beautiful and at the same time his glance provokes anxiety. Perhaps, it seems like that because of unpredictable circumstances but maybe his eyes really saw something terrible. The stranger’s nose is straight, the cheekbones are sharp and the lips are so full a bit.

- This man looks like Dorian Gray. It is Dorian Gray who has already sinned. I hope he doesn’t hide something what he is afraid of. Perhaps, he hides the same portrait, - this thought has arisen in Carina’s head when she has stopped to look at the stranger.

They have already approached the stairs which leads the first floor. Although the stuff of interior is amazing and breath-taking, it doesn’t seems like Heaven’s door. On the contrary, setting foot on a new stair, the girl’s heart beats hardly. She is scared by the unknown place, people and situation. However, she has found out how the first floor of mansion looks: the same expensive furniture but this place is not crowded as others. All mafia’s members are polite but their speeches are false.

- Perhaps, one of this people definitely sold his or her soul to Satan to improve the status, - Carina is thinking, heavily breathing.

The longer the girl is on the floor with these mafia’s members, the more it seems to her that the hall is full of liars. She needs air.

- Oh, they must take a bigger room. Everyone walks in the group of two people: a person and the huge ego... I hope no one reads thoughts here.

Finally, the man and Carina went into a long dark corridor where there were no people who greet the girl’s companion every now and then. Apparently, he occupies one of the main positions at the mafia. The ex-model does not even know his name...

- You have come back, Fugo! I'm tired of waiting for you. Where are you all getting stuck today? - a voice hears ahead.

Carina has looked out from behind her companion, is named Fugo, and has seen a young man in front, leaning against the wall next to the wide door.

- Stop it, Mista. I’m late for five minutes. G... Don wants her.

After these words, the girl looked at Mista’s eyes. They silently met their glances, obviously enjoyed the view.

Mista represents as a real Italian and seems even taller than Fugo. His hair is hidden under a funny hat, but based on the color of the eyebrows, Carina can guess that Mista is a brunette. The eyes are framed by long eyelashes and plump lips are broken into a satisfied smirk.

- Okay, you may come in. Don is waiting for you, - says the man, smiling.

Сarina only nodded when Mista opened the door. It is interesting that she was not blinded by a bright light. On the contrary, the room is dark. The moon has lit up the place and its shining is breaking through the windows.

When Carina stepped on the marble floor, she was struck: the stranger, who appeared in the orchard, is sitting at the large table.

- Boss, I brought her.

- Thank you so much, Fugo. Enjoy the event with Mista.

The word “Boss” is entering Carina into trance. She did not believe in her eyes and her stupidity.

- You called me discerning but I didn’t realize who you are! What a disgrace!

When the door closed, Carina was standing without any movement. The ex-model does not know what she should expect: punishment, praise... Death?

- Often I have dinner by myself but I think you can make up a company today. Will you do me an honor?

Сarina nodded and obediently took the place in front of Don. There are a fish and vegetables on the plate.

- I don’t know your tastes but I guess that you are going to eat it.

- I’m fine, thank you so much, - says the girl calmly, looking down at the dish.

- Are you afraid of me?

- I respect you. Do you want to hear these words?

- Why do you think like that?

- I suppose the true authority must be based on respect and fear should disappear. Otherwise, a rebel can lead people and this power can be overthrown. Don, you control all mafia and its members then you need to get support and love, - answers the girl, spreading peas on the plate.

Finally, she has made a decision to look at Don because he said nothing. Boss is smiling and approval is being read on his lips.

The dinner lasted about forty minutes. The conversation was full of interesting and serious topics and the man asked some general questions about Carina. She answered honestly but partially, suspecting that Don has already checked the girl’s file.

Drinking the second glass of wine, Boss says:

- It’s too dark outside. How are you going to get home?

- I'm going by taxi.

- I think that Fugo can give you a ride.

- This is not necessary, thank you. I don’t want to bother your colleague.

- Everything is fine. I want to know that you will get safe and sound.

Сarina was embarrassed a bit but she understands that refusing is not a good idea. She was silent when Don was calling Fugo.

- I want to thank you for the dinner. However, I noticed you didn’t eat anything. Didn’t you like it?

- Everything was delicious on the plate but I'm just not hungry.

That is a lie. When the girl is being nervous, she can never eat.

- You are lucky that I’m not going to lick your cheek to find out a liar you or not, - says Don, looking teasingly at ex-model.

Carina feels cold drops of sweat on her back, listening to this strange phrase. She is saved by knocking.

- Boss, did you need me?

- Yes, I did. Can you get this pretty girl to home? She will tell you her address.

- Of course, will be done.

- See you soon, Carina, - says Don with a smile.

When ex-model left the office, she noticed the man who wears strange hat. He waved to her and then disappeared into the familiar room, closing the door behind.

- Giorno, the last time we were in that club and I chose a blonde for you. Our Don can just say that he likes dark-haired chicks more, - says the bodyguard, touching the man’s shoulder.

- I have no idea what you're talking about, Mista, - answers Boss shortly.

- Oh, come on, dude. By the way, why did you say that you usually have dinner by yourself? We always eat together.

- Don’t tell me that you overheard.

Carina is following Fugo. She noticed that he does not laid back because of this sudden responsibility.

- Sorry, can I go into the ladies’ room?

- Okay. Hurry up. I'll be waiting for you.

Carina has nodded in agreement and started to find the place. When the girl finished, she did not see her companion. However, ex-model noticed two middle-aged men who have greeted Fugo particularly friendly lately.

- Maybe they have met him. Come on Сarina, just ask.

The girl took a deep breath and approached. Noticing her, mafia’s members smiled.

- I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I'm looking for my friend and his name is Fugo. He is accompanying me...

- Ah, you're looking for Pannacotta. I think he has already come down and is waiting for you.

- Oh, thank you! Sorry for interrupting. Good night!

Carina has gone away.

- I didn’t know that Don prefers such cute whores.

- Now this isn’t important. Who is she?

- I never saw her here. Obviously, she is another pawn.

- We need to take Panacotta hostage and get rid of the girl. Before that, I want to see how she can sob when I will tear her clothes.

Smiling at each other, the men raised their glasses and drank.

⬅️ To be continued

[meeraria]

Hii, I'm so shy asking this but I read somewhere you have a list of upstead moments, would you share it with me? If it's not too much 🙈

I am very sorry I just saw this!! I hope you haven’t sent this a long time ago. I’ve finished the last season recently but I haven’t done this one yet. and pls don’t be shy!! I am so happy you asked. not many people like them.

I don’t have time stamps just some shorthand notes to remind me of the scene. and every instance they call each other by their names (I had this idea to gif them or make a video etc.) but all the moments are in chronological order so if you see the third moment before the first one when you’re watching an episode that means you skipped the first two. the list is under the cut.

ps. there might be some other moments that I liked that are not necessarily upstead.

4x21 first time at the back of a van

4x22 jay on haileys desk

        erin is the one who calls her hailey for the first time

4x23 hailey meets will

        hailey looks after jay when he leaves

5x01 jay touches hailey on the shoulder for bust

        hailey calls him jay for the first time, to Kev and Ruz

        look at each other at the hospital

        if you need anything

deleted scene: jay I got your back. he is quick to escape her. pats her back. she respects. he’s with his brother

5x02 looks at jay when he starts lying to suspect

        sits on her desk

        jay checks out hailey in the interrogation room

        jay calls him upton. for the first time

5x03 they open doors to cupboard at the same time

        butchers blade-look to each other

5x04 sb assumes hailey is ruzek’s gf

        stops a witness from prosecuting ruzek

        ruzek calls her hailey cause he thinks she’s gonna snitch, jay tries to stop him

5x05 hailey puts her hand on jay’s shoulder jay looks and she recants

        they save the kids look at each other

5x06 Le Snob (he’s not in love yet-doesnt look at her)

        jay brings her jacket

        mcgrady you run the log hailey they look at each other

        their hands touch when jay gives her the camera

        j: is this really about the case? h:see u 2morrow

        jay(grabs her shoulder): u sure u ok? let me know if you need anything

        how’supton? jay: idunno  

5x07 look at each other to open door

        voight: you got a take hailey? neutral

        microphone up (first time saying jay 2hisface)

        looks at hailey so she’d start the fight

        iknowwhathesaw, was what u said true. jay is pissed

        first fight: voight says hailey. she denies jay’s request

        jayx4 points the gun at her

        hailey calls him, he rolls eyes

5x08 first time calls her hailey (don’t need no babysitter)

5x09 hailey texts him, rolls eyes

        I’ll stay with the suspect hailey

        big potato talk (she’s driving)

        flirty let’s check out his alibi

        he looked at her and then they look at each other but it’s fast (questioning junkie)

        they take a selfie, he puts arm around her she wants to but stops herself

5x10* camila episode

        introduces her as hailey - but she’s gay

        we’re gonna talk about her, now (calls her jay) I’m fine lie.

        you can’t talk to her - jay you’re not thinking straight

        thinks she betrayed her

        “back off jay”

         looks at him over camila’s shoulder

         they look at each other - after camilla’s dismissal

         hailey is worried about him

         she threatens camilla, saying I - his real name is jay x2

5x11 if you’re not serious I need a new partner (shoulder tap)

        he wants back to therapy cause of ultimatum

5x12 “jay come back.” platt’s birthday (shoulder punch)- lookateachother

         he uses her desk like he doesn’t have one

         she pushes jays back to get to voight

         they’re hiding together

5x13  look at each other at restaurant

         how’s therapy going?

         “jay!” - spots the suspects

5x14  flag dispute

        look each other when they get shots fired

        sits on hailey’s desk

        I used to be a soldier-looks at hailey x2

        she admires that he respects the kneeler

5x15 she puts arm on his shoulder

        sits on hailey’s desk about q

        italian guy flirting, women are more loyal then men

        jay, you got her?

5x16 bomb-she falls down he grabs her

       he sitting on her desk

       cF(6x13) calls her to ask about voight

5x17 he’s sitting on her desk

        uh-oh i just saw a rat arm tap

5x18* titus episode: jay also calls adam ruz?

        how do u know this guy?

        looks after she explains

        i pitch jay as a potential buyer

        you look like a real couple

        hailey, thought he bit but

        you were hailey’s case officer, she’s my partner

        hailey, we gotta talk about this, did he rape you

        i can handle this jay- I said the same thing u called me out (shoulder tap)

        touches her arm, booth notices

        he asked me if i slept with her,

        hailey you’re way too emotional

        jay: me too. hailey’s solid,hailey’s gonna callme

        he reaches for his gun when booth gets handsy with her

        5 time hailey, please (grabs her shoulder)

        looks after her when arresting

        comes to her house, hailey u got him

        two deletes scenes: therapy is over

        you’re incredibly aloof about your private life

5x19 sitting on hailey’s desk, gives her jacket

        looks at homeless jay

        saves her life, you good? good.

5x20 look at each other during shootout

        talk about erin

5x21 he and kevin fight and she calms them

        h:I just talked to halstead

        sarge if you need sth - she’s same to everyone

        he’s sitting on her desk

5x22 hank x trudy hug (personal ship)

        jay comes back from crying grabs her shoulder, she grabs his hand

        jay sits on her desk

deleted scene: pushes her out of line of fire

6x01 trudy comes to see hank (personal ship)

        “jay” go be undercover junkie

         gets his jacket to him

6x02 look at each other in morgue

        she uses his computer

        she looks at him worried before they go busting

        damn it jay. jay, I almost shot you

        need me to talk to u. I don’t need anything jay.

        innocent man, jay. second fight? keeps looking at him

        jay, back off. she pushes him hard, grabs his chest

        she grabs his arm to pull him back

        “you’re too close jay” I’m done being your punching bag -his eyes never leave her

         he’s shot, she’s distressed jay x 4 (she checks his body)

         Hailey, I’m sorry. touches his knee as she gets up then cries

deleted scene jay I thought you were with will, pats arm working this case?

6x03 halstead calls her. she slept with adam

        I gotta meet jay

        you’re like never late. he looks at her after she dismisses him

        checks to see if she follows

        gonna grab halstead and dig in

        look at each other

6x04 greets her when nobody notices

        she gets  the suspect by jumping on him (gay moment for me)

        ready? eye contact

6x05 she knows how to handle idiots

        makes way for her like the first time they met

        I don’t care if we’re sleeping 2gether talk to voight (to adam) LOVE HER

6x06* voight learns about upzek

        i dont do violence

        adam undermines her, she gets angry

        look at each other when talking to voight

       keeps looking at jay when he talks

       hailey we gotta talk. I confirmed his alibi

       hailey you did what you have to, she cries to him about her guilt adam interrupts.

       nothing good comes from workplace romance (he has some feelings?)

       even when he’s debriefing; he looks at hailey. adam doesn’t

       I know u don’t wanna talk about it flirting. she’s sad

       tries to explain to adam: this halstead thing

6x07* looks at him when they’re listening to wire

        he wants to help kev, she grabs his arm to stop

        legally blind witness flirting

        bomb goes off - are u ok? grabs her

        va is dead, she checks on him, he look at her. all with eyes

        pushes her in the room, through her shoulder

        u got me? yeah.

        burqa woman incident. jay x2 , hold on. hailey x7, stop

        we’re not mind readers hailey. *whispering softly you’re not in war anymore*

        look at each other, in the interview

        she doesn’t believe the guy he does.

        sits on her desk

        introduces her as upton to racist woman

        save the commentary and scroll look

        this thing between us. I screwed up hailey. I have bias (her hand on his shoulder)

        looks at her when they walk (feelings maybe?)

6x08 u know she’s with me right?

        adam compliments, jay looks at her

        steals a pen from him in the background when antonio is on the phone

        kev’s suspect calls her out look each other.

        kev asks to talk to snitch, she taps jay to leave

6x09 when adam talks about commitment she gets scared

        jay calls everyone by surnames except “hailey”

        flying blind is fun flirting

        “jay” spotted a camera

        sweeps the house, touches her arm

        suspect pushes her, he catches her and adam punches

        she dresses kim’s vest (gay shriek)

6x10* hailey, come on x2

        she’s angry. looks at him. he look to voight

        voight: trudy. ride with me to the scene (personal)

        asks his opinion on ruzek and iad.

        he catches upzek. she’s upset he saw.

        “a guy I’m dating upzek talk with voight”

         we’re always gonna be good talk

6x11 kelton comes. look at each other.

6x12* he gets agitated, she supports him with her looks, he checks for support

        “jay you allright” kelton denied funds. hailey, we got him rn.

         looks at the bus stop. supporting love. looks.

        she catches him over the body “jay, you ok?” hailey arrived after me.

        she’s angry and he looks at her.she leaves he stays. head salute.

        hailey, what’s up. jay you went dark. is that what you think? jay…

        voight warns him. she’s worried behind.

        she looks you ok? he looks yes go. first nonverbal.

        voight compliments him.

        long week. u can’t right every wrong “jay”. flirting then adam calls. go..

6x13 surveillance flirting about kev

       what the hell look at her

6x14 kim catches upzek

        she gets kidnapped he’s worried

        he’s ok with voight’s tactics cause she’s missing

        he fights with ruzek.

        she’s proud of kim. (personal)

        ruzek goes to kim first.

        he stands up when he sees her. he’s so sad and angry

        she checks jay. he’s upset

6x15* he’s talking to her on the phone

        check if he’s coming behind her

        pushes back her chair to sit on her desk

        “Hailey he’s headed to you” “squad advise my partner ” x 2

         upton are you copying? copy jay are you ok? hailey he’s armed.

         jay! we’re coming in!

         you good? yeah you? yeah

         she’s driving

         jay we’re good. “do what your ladyfriend tell you to do”

         looks at her before he gets out

         they look at each other, he says no she listens

         she keeps checking on him, he assures her after

         he has a hunch, she supports him. he thanks with eyes, she says np with eyes

         he defends his hunch, she silently supports him. then look at each other for thx

         eyes talk: come with me? right now? ok?

         suspect says he’ll snitch, they look at each other we got it

         I’ll follow you blind talk. (she half-confessed her feelings to him)

6x16  “sarge what you don’t let me and hailey go?” “hailey?” and gets her jacket

         I’m halstead and she’s upton.

         I’ll catch up with you, forearm grip

         he waited at the entrance

         serial killer talks to her, he gets nervous

         runs to the car/him, “I got Hailey”

6x17 sitting on her desk

        looks at her, checking out buildings

        “oh yeah good one” arm pat

        looks at her when she’s not looking and looks away when she turns

        throws usb to him, he catches

        they judge the juvie guy together

        voight offers himself to suspect he checks her face to see what she thinks

        they look at each other this time when they been judgey

6x18  sitting on her desk

         hands on her desk when she’s not there like it’s his :)

6x19 towering over her while she looks at the footage

        jay! blue buick

        she tries to help the victim and looks at jay to see if she can he looks no

        she supports kim no qs ask when kim barges in, normally follows the rules

        ruzek keeps checking on kim-believes her immediately  like jay and hailey

        he was sitting on her desk since before hank came in

6x20 she doesn’t wanna meet ruzek’s family?? i dunno

        pats her arm after she’s shot at

        they shadow ruzek but she calls it off. jay doesn’t interfere & looks the whole time

        ruzek wants answers he tries to cover and supports her and tell ruz to let it go

        ruz thinks it’s cause of burzek but it’s not.

        “jay talked to”

         she holds off the op he’s worried a little in the car.

         upstead communicate silently and without questioning

         she checks on jay while he fights the suspect

         she questions her relationship with adam, platt says if he’s not the one end it

         she breaks up with ruzek, and admits they’re not the one for each other

6x21 she’s a bit cocky to the suspect and he smiles a little whilst he turns???

        TRUDY AND HANK what could have been

         they sit at their desk together

         “hailey tell the port supervisor…”

6x22* voight explains the plan, they look at each other worried

        he breaks into the car so fast she flirting

        “jay you close”

         she crashes to save him

         “I’m going where you go” they’re both surprised he said it

         he protects her first when they’re shot at in the van, ‘we’re good“

         she looks at her happily when there’s a lead

         they arrest their shooter together, “me and my partner”

         he’s pressured, she notices. “you’ll forget about me” “hailey” never.

         he want to confess sth but she stops him?

         adam kisses platt :)

         he’s sitting on her desk

[phoebehalliwell]

What do you think about PiperxCole? I feel like it is the only ship with Cole that has potential to be endgame Because she is stubborn enough and she would be ready to turn a blind eye to all his wrongdoings if it's necessary. However, I'm absolutely sure that all four sisters deserve better than Cole. I know I wrote about PaigexCole last time, but I never suppose this relationship would last)

i mean out of all four potential couples, i feel like piper x cole really rank last in like the x factor y’know like there’s no special spark between them. i think the only time they really came close was in the seven year witch with like the whole  you always were the smart one. cut the crap. and direct. i miss that… actually no, i don’t. but even then, there’s just always the deep baked indifference towards each other. like both prue, phoebe, and paige all felt very strong emotions all across the spectrum towards cole. piper always seemed just unbothered by him, so i really can’t see that developing into any form of passion.

that being said, if it were to play out this is how i’d do it: piper picks dan over leo and leo moves on to new charges and leaves the charmed destiny forever. and piper’s happy. for a little bit. but she’s still dancing around this magic thing and it’s clearly putting a strain on their relationship and both her sisters are like you have to tell him the longer you wait the more painful the blow so piper prepares a seven course meal and writes a full speech and dan’s like okay What is Happening and piper’s like I’m a Witch and dan’s like okay What does that Mean? and piper throws up a glass in the air and freezes it above their heads and Dan Is Terrified. so he’s like i need u to respect my distance here because i definitely need time to mull this over and piper’s terrified bc she’s convinced she’s ruined everything and between you and me, she sorta has. dan has this specific vision of him settling down in the suburbs with a white picket fence and two point five kids and he thought he saw that with piper but he really can’t see that with a witch. so piper’s alone. again.

but then there’s this new guy. a da. who’s single, smart, endowed employed, a man who loves sleeping in on sunday, sunset bike rides, cuddling by a roaring fire and late-night talks. a man who loves love as much as she does. but piper can’t, she’s been too hurt by leo, by dan, she can’t fall blindly again. but cole’s already put so much effort into this persona that he’s unwilling to switch to some other sister. so he acts patiently. he won’t be a boyfriend first. just a friend. who’s there, who understands. and it’s strange, but he finds himself caring for piper. there’s something about her that just believes in love and fairy tales and happy endings so wholeheartedly, and cole scoffed at it first, writing it off as childlike delusions, but it’s not that at all. piper’s a grown woman with two feet planted on the ground who still believes. and cole finds himself starting to believe too.

their first kiss is after coyote piper. cole was at the reunion as piper’s guest, and he witness that whole fiasco, and, unbeknownst to piper, also knows that she almost died that night. so piper’s back at the club cleaning up after the reunion and cole walks her and her face is like so beet red. and cole’s just like. that was uhh some night wasn’t it? and piper’s just like yep! it uh that yeah that is um yep! and cole just laughs softly and piper finds the knot in her chest coming undone because it���s clear cole isn’t looking for some big explanation for the night. so he helps her clean up and they two talk and cole definitely has a thousand and one opportunities to kill her but he figures he since she almost died earlier that night he’ll give her a break. just this once. he doesn’t even remember what he says that makes her kiss him. he does remember the kiss itself. it’s tentative, but it doesn’t feel scared. it feels like a wish. a wish that maybe he feels the same way. he kisses her back. barely above a whisper, piper mutters please don’t hurt me. she’s not asking him, she’s asking the universe. she’s asking that he doesn’t leave her, that she doesn’t screw it up like she did all those times before. cole’s heart breaks.

so now cole has to do some introspection because despite everything he’s ever learned, despite everything he’s ever done, he really really doesn’t want to hurt piper. he knows that another heartbreak like this would break her, so much hurt in so little time, and he fears it might shatter her belief in happy endings and in true love. and the belthazor part of him is like oh what a bummer a dead witch doesn’t believe in true love anymore god what a loss but cole really just can’t bring himself to doing that to piper. he won’t. but he doesn’t know how to make that jump, how to switch sides, how to choose her over evil. sure, maybe with the protection of the charmed ones he could stand a chance, but he can’t get that without first exposing himself as a demon, and that would hurt piper too.

piper can tell he’s growing distant and all her old fears are creeping up on her again and she’s convinced it’s something that she’s done and she’s bouncing off the manor walls like fuck jesus fuck i’ve done it again because i can’t be happy because all i do is screw thing up because that’s how my life is i will never get a moment of happiness and her sister’s are all like no, sweetie, it’s just a misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding, i’m sure he’ll come around, he loves you i can tell and piper’s all like okay whatever actually i can’t take this anymore i’m going to drown myself in work i’ll be at the club if you need me please don’t need me byeeeeeee but uhh joke’s on her she’s at the club inventorying when cole shows up. and cole doesn’t know what he’s gonna do. part of him wants to come clean, part of him think he should just try to drug her with a memory potion and then run away to start a new life in cabo. he’s flying by the seat of his pants. they stumble through some awkward beginning of a conversation before piper freezes him. or, at least, she tries to. and cole just holds very still. yes, he wants to tell her the truth but being like oh yeah the freezing thing doesn’t work on me because i’m an upper level demon but don’t worry! i’m not trying to kill you anymore because i’m in love with you just feels a little too flippant. so, when piper throws up her hands and he feels like soft thud of the magic, he holds still.

oh and piper goes off, man. she like screams into a dish towel and just then turns to him like Tell Me What You Want, Man!!! Oh my god! just tell me! tell me. is it me? it’s me. i know- just. just tell me! just tell me what we’re doing here, because i need to know because i love you and it Terrifies me. so just tell me. tell me you don’t love me so i can get this over with because it hurts to goddamn much to sit here and chit chat- and cole’s like reeling it’s so much information all at once and he might explode from trying to keep a straight face when a figure shimmers into the corner of the club and gets ready to hurl an energy ball at piper. cole acts before he thinks, diving over the bar to knock piper out of the way of the blast. piper’s in shock, and tries to pop her head over the bar to see what just happened and almost gets hit by another energy ball. she panics and freezes the demon only to have an energy ball fly past her, hitting the demon square in the chest, vanquishing it. she turns around to see cole behind her, hand still in a throwing position. she can’t form words. cole looks at her. i’m sorry. and, uhh, for what it’s worth: i love you, too. he shimmers out.

piper freaks out. like she Freaks Out. Like Freaks The Fuck Out. but uhh long story short she keeps calling him and they talk through it yada yada yada they don’t make cole human and they don’t make cole the source and a wedding via holy matrimony cements cole’s place in good the end :)

[shawnpetermuffins]

Pictured with You (Epilouge)

A/n: we have come to an end to this story of mine. Thank you for sticking around for so long.

Summary: It's been a year, and you're looking for something to do on this week long vacation.

Warnings: fluff

Word count: 1.9k

***

One year later

We wanted a week away from the craziness. Just one week for ourselves and our friends to hang out and not care about having to work - me on the finishing touches of the new album, which I'm actually stressing about right now because y/n still knows next to nothing about it. And that's stupid of me because literally every song is about her and if she tells me she doesn't want that then I'm screwed because I have nothing else to give the label.

She's kicking her feet softly from the edge of the pool, looking nothing less than breathtaking as the blinding sun hits her body just right. I swim away from my friends and to my rightful spot between her legs. Y/n looks down at me when I press a gentle kiss to the tops of her thighs. "Whatcha thinking about, love?"

She hums, running a lazy finger down the column of my neck. "Nothing. Just like watching you have fun, is all."

"It'd be more fun if you got in with me."

"I think you have attachment issues, Mendes."

"Yeah?" I bite playfully at her knee and she laughs, trying to push my head away. "Might have a point there… but I'm not gonna fix that."

"Gonna cling to me more?" She teases as my hands snake around her body, resting softly on the curve of her butt.

"Mmm…" I mumble against her neck. "Never gonna stop clinging to you. Gonna hold you like this forever and ever."

"Don't threaten me with a good time."

"Get in with me," I beg, jutting out my bottom lip as her hands lace through my wet curls. "I'll carry you." That gets her attention.

"Okay," she nods. "Well get me in, rockstar." I smile up at her and swiftly, but carefully bring her down into the pool with me. She shudders at the feel of the cool water against her warm skin. "Fucking hell, it's cold!" Her teeth chatter as she rests her head on my shoulder, arms wrapping tightly around my neck to steal my body heat. We stay like for minute, allowing her to get used to the unfamiliar temperature. "We're good," she mumbles and I slowly move us over to our friends who are goofing around, splashing each other.

"Oh good, she came to join us!" Brian exclaims. Before I know it, y/n is tugged from my arms and being spun around until she's finally thrown into the pool, completely submerged in the chlorine filled water. "There," Brian says triumphantly, with a laugh. "Now you're on our level."

She pushes her baby hairs out of her face with a shake of her head and an exaggerated eye roll, "so thoughtful, Bri. Thanks for that." She splash him once before taking my outstretched hand.

"Sorry, honey," I mumble into her hair, pressing her back to my front. "He caught me off guard."

"S'okay." Her head rests against my chest as we watch them make fools of themselves, not a care in the world. I whisper the words of the song playing into her ear and she falls deeper into me, wrapping my arms tighter around her waist.

"Y/n/n?" I say after a while of comfortable silence drifting between us.

"Shawny," she scrunches up her nose, hating the cutesy nickname, but she can't help that it comes out when she's a little tipsy. I love it though, and kiss the tip of her nose.

"Move in with me," I request, my head buried in her neck.

"What?" She giggles, turning in my arms.

"Move in with me," I say again.

"Where's this coming from?" She wraps her arms around my neck once again.

I shrug, "I mean, you've been going over there a lot more often recently. And… I have a drawer full of your clothes already."

She hums, "well I think I'd need more than just a drawer if we decided to do this."

"I'll get you your own damn closet if you want."

"You'd have to move houses if you did that."

"Then let's look for one. We can find one with a closet just for you, and we can make you your own dark room."

"Whoa there, big spender. That's a big commitment. You sure you can handle all that?"

I nod, "Yes. Hell, I'm ready to marry you right now if you say yes."

She looks up at me with a smirk. "you asking me something, Mendes?"

"Depends on what your answer is," I counter. "What do you say, honey? Will you marry me?"

"I think… my answer is… yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes," she nods, a big smile on her face.

I laugh, pressing my forehead against hers before kissing her deeply. "Oh god, baby. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Let's do it tonight," I plead, my eyes closed.

"Tonight?"

"Yeah. Let's fly out to Vegas and just get married."

"You really want to? I don't even have a dress."

"We'll get you something there. Come on, y/n. Say yes?"

"You," she pokes my chest with her pointer finger, "are completely insane."

I shake my head, "is that your way of saying you'll do it?"

"Well duh," she rolls her eyes as if it was the most obvious thing that we were gonna do this.

"Yo, what is with you two? Do you ever let go of each other?" Connor asks, splashing us.

I hold y/n's head against my chest before I ask. "You guys down for a quick road trip?"

"Where?" Brian asks, shaking out his wet hair.

"Vegas," I say with a cheeky grin.

"What's that look? What are you planning?" Connor questions.

"Y'all feel like being witnesses to a wedding?" Y/n asks, sparing only the smallest of glances to our friends. They're in complete shock. But it only takes a second before they're jumping on top of us, screaming out congratulations.

"Shit, let's go! We hit the road now, we can be there just after sunset." Brian is already pulling himself out of the water.

---

"Nervous?" Brian claps my shoulder while I fix the collar of my shirt.

I chuckle, "dude, my heart feels like it's about to burst out of my chest. I've never been more nervous in my entire life."

"Well what's that thing you always say? Nerves mean you care?"

"Yeah," I nod. "But, god, man. I'm getting married. Did you ever think that was gonna happen? Like this, no less?"

"Hey," he holds the sides of my face and slaps my cheeks. "Don't stress about it. The love of your life is just on the other side of that door. You're just minutes away from your forever. This is going to be the best day of your life."

I swallow the lump forming in my throat, "Yeah. You're right. It's y/n." I can't help but laugh. Because I say it like I'm not still a nervous wreck every time she looks at me. Like my heart doesn't skip a beat every time she smiles. Like I don't forget what I'm about to say because I get lost in those piercing -

The door opens and Connor starts walking down the aisle, arm linked with y/n's, and I swear my breath catches in my throat. She looks beautiful in the white blouse we just got her, and the high waisted, ripped jeans that she insisted on wearing because a skirt was just not her. And I agreed, but to be fair she could tell me she wanted to wear a paper bag and I would have went along with it because I just want her. It's not until she's in front of me, wiping at my cheek that I realize I've been crying watching her walk toward me.

"Hey, come on, bub. Marrying me can't be that bad," she jokes.

I laugh, wiping roughly at my face, "Jesus, no. You're just so beautiful."

She flips her hair playfully, "Well then what are you waiting for, Mendes? You gonna marry me or not?"

Mendes. She's about to be a Mendes, and I can't wait.

---

I wake up the next morning, sheets thrown haphazardly over me and the beautiful girl in my arms. I watch her figure for a few minutes, once I've adjusted to the bright light the sun brings into the room. Her hair is all over the place, but still framing her face perfectly as her eyes moved rapidly behind her eyelids. Her naked chest is just barely covered by the white bedsheets, one arm thrown over her stomach. And then my eyes land on that dainty ring she fell in love with the second I slipped it on her finger last night and it hits me that I'm laying in bed next to my wife. And I let myself think about how I get to wake up next to her forever. It's the most perfect moment.

Until my phone rings beside me and suddenly it isn't anymore.

"Hey, Andrew," I whisper as I answer his FaceTime call.

"WHAT IS THIS I'M SEEING ABOUT YOU GETTING MARRIED?!" Andrew's loud voice booms through my phone and I flinch because y/n stirs beside me.

"Shh…" I point my phone to my girl who is still sleeping, thankfully.

"You got married. Don't you think that's something you should tell your manager so that he's not blindsided early the next morning by all of these pap photos and articles and hundreds of texts and emails asking if it's true?"

"Well I am sorry I didn't tell you."

"So you did? Shawn, what were you thinking? This is everywhere right now."

"I was thinking that I have the most perfect woman by my side and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with her and that I wanted the rest of my life to start right then and there. That's what I was thinking. I'm sorry I didn't tell you and I'm sorry that it's online. But I'm not sorry it happened. I have everything I've ever wanted right here next to me." I look over to see y/n looking up at me with a sleepy smile.

"Shawn," my manager tries to grab my attention, but I can't seem to focus on anything other than the smiling woman next to me.

"If you'll excuse me. My wife just woke up and I would like to give her a proper good morning." I shut my phone off and reach over to brush a strand of hair from my girl's face. "Hey there, beautiful." I say quietly and lean down to press a soft kiss to her lips.

She hums, "good morning, handsome."

"Sleep well? You were… very tired last night," I say with a smirk and she moves to slap me, but I'm quick to catch her wrist.

"Nuh-uh, Mrs. Mendes." She giggles into my chest. "What? What's so funny?"

"Nothing," she shook her head, her hands on either side of my face. "It's just the first time I've heard it like that. I like it."

"Me too."

"So Andrew's mad."

I shrug. "He'll get over it. Now come cuddle," I lay on my beck and open my arms for her. It doesn't take long for her to shrink into my side, head on my chest.

"You still want to be married to me?" She murmurs, half asleep once again.

I press my lips to the crown of her head, "for the rest of my life, baby."

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Tommy & Meena

Tommy: All my tutus better be accounted for, like Meena: 😅 Meena: Not to engage in the bitchy showbiz stereotype Meena: but your size is not the size of the 3-7s Meena: and I don't need to rock one from the sidelines, sadly Meena: I did ask Tommy: Calling me fat & not inviting me out for juice? Oh it be like that, yeah? Meena: Never! Meena: The totally casual impromptu photoshoot would have you believe I had longer than 5 minutes to neck it down, I know Tommy: Not even in there with the 3-7s & already a savage Tommy: good luck to 'em Tommy: None to you Tommy: Who hasn't sacrificed their final mins to look fabulous? Standard, full supported fare Meena: They are hilarious Meena: some of them are SO serious though, reminds me of you Tommy: I could fire the same call out back at you Tommy: not least 'cause you're teaching in the holibobs Meena: How could it possibly be a call out? Meena: you'd have to be to get into the school you did Meena: I'm only teaching for the same reasons I 🩰 in the first place, for fun Meena: that's 🤓 at best Tommy: We started claws out Tommy: but I'll play nice & tell you to break a leg Tommy: just don't let the kids have too much fun, be a health & safety nightmare 🦺🤓 Meena: 😱 Meena: remind me never to be in the play-that-shall-not-be-named with you (as if), 'cos you'll be dropping the M 💣 like it's no thing Meena: as long as they look cute for their ma's and none of them cry, I think I get a 🥇 Meena: just a favour for Anne honestly, who has overstretched herself (not an awful pun, I 🤞) as per Tommy: Tights are a given for 🤩👏🌹 but my mastery of a Scots accent less so Tommy: I'll drop the M word like it's a 🔪🩸 to distract from my flaws, no problem Tommy: my sister witches & I love a curse Tommy: Oh dear Anne 😔 Meena: Are you more of a 🌈 or a 🐀 man? Meena: Yes, I noticed, there were some definite signs of voodoo in their room Meena: her daughter is meant to help her out now she's older but she never does 🤷 Tommy: 😂 is that a trick question? Tommy: Gutted I haven't found a club called the 🌈 passage yet Meena: 😳 Nooooo Meena: ew, what would 🐀 man even entail, gross Tommy: I mean, I've been asked if I'm a friend of Dorothy in loads of ways but now that's my new fave Tommy: I don't reckon you're ready for 🐀 man, maybe work up to it from 🐁 boy Meena: Oh God 😰 If only I was that witty and not just a nerd 😅 Meena: very nutcracker Tommy: Don't make your 📚🖋 sound 💀 dull before I've even read one Tommy: Julie Andrews would not approve Tommy: Witty & pretty & bright Tommy: it's the only way Meena: It's not Shakespeare Meena: so that's either a 👍 or a 👎 depending upon your literary persuasion Meena: not 🌈 Meena: though arguably 🐀men and 🐁boys hate the bard, well known fact so Meena: The thought of letting her down is 😿 Tommy: Loads of people find Shakespeare confusing Tommy: I like good, strong words that mean something Tommy: & I don't reckon they'd let 👑 Julie down, she seems like she'd be a fan herself Meena: Even if my plots get a little too convoluted or my dialogue doesn't quite reach passing for reality Meena: it's no Tudor English or iambic pentameter so 🥇 Tommy: 'Course you can take it as a win if you don't need a full glossary in the back Meena: or modern translation on the next page Meena: that'd be a sick burn Tommy: My ma needs a Scouse to understandable English translation hanging over her head Tommy: but you'll know that as you've been round Meena: I think I've got the basics down Meena: or she makes it more basic when she talks to me Tommy: Or she lays it on thick for me 'cause every dialect coach wants me to talk posh London as the starting line Meena: is sabotage mum cooler than stage mum? Tommy: probably depends how she feels about curses & broken legs Tommy: but it's a fresher take at least Meena: at least if you do, it's not her 💸 down the drain, just your time and effort Tommy: means I've got the basics down too, like Tommy: not her hard earned cash Tommy: never that Meena: Her basics are more fun that Ana's Meena: not saying a whole lot Tommy: she could have the good grace to be your step ma if she was gonna be so wicked Tommy: can't get the tropes these days Meena: she's not get the green paint out levels of bad Meena: the chores are cinderella levels Meena: but it's a big house and I'm grateful Tommy: Elphaba is well complex & a gay icon, neither of which Ana can claim Tommy: her wickedness & descent into insanity are totally understandable when you unlock her tragic backstory Meena: I'm just saying, don't get to work on the mini farmhouse to drop on her head Tommy: 🥱🙄 Meena: oh right, you're far too cool to do ANYTHING with your holiday now Meena: not even set decorating Meena: 🥱🙄 Tommy: is that a burn or is it the glare of my ⭐dom? I can't tell tbh Tommy: it isn't the heat of the Irish summer that's for damn sure Meena: you're strictly lead roles only now? Meena: oh, how you've changed Tommy: I'll never turn down a 👻 my ma & weird sisters would kill me Meena: so method Meena: I'll take tree #2 at this point Tommy: You'd be an amazing tree #2 Meena: *graceful bow of my branches* Tommy: you always were the best at keeping your révérence in character while the rest of us were over the 🌜 to be done Tommy: I expect nothing less Meena: even if that's a case or rose-tinted 🕶 Meena: *of Meena: I'm about everything being a little more pink Tommy: I can't decide if it's less hurtful being called a blind 🐁 or fat 🐀 Tommy: I'll get back to you Meena: At the risk of calling you sensitive...it's either that or I've got really rude in my old age 😅 Tommy: Both would be the rosiest Meena: 😊 Tommy: 🧠 Meena: Squidgy Tommy: if you want something to sink your 🦷🦷 into Tommy: 👛 Tommy: still pink Meena: Yours too? Tommy: Yeah Tommy: you don't own the 🩰👑 aesthetic Meena: This town ain't big enough for the both of us Meena: 🤠🔫 Tommy: Lend me those joggers and I'll lay down my weapons Meena: Sharing clothes should not still be an option Tommy: if you wanna keep body shaming Tommy: but there's no other real reason why not Meena: I'm talking my neverending growth spurts, not yours Tommy: measurements please Meena: am I not a lady? Tommy: are you? not for me to say Meena: I'm 5'10 1/2 Meena: too tall to pair in all the ways Tommy: not with me, honey Meena: You're old, too Meena: 🕞 for a lot of boys in my year to hit puberty 🙄 Tommy: I ain't thrown my back out yet, cheers very much Tommy: love the confidence Meena: wise old 🦉 eating all the blind 🐁 and fat 🐀 Tommy: the innuendos 🖋 themselves Tommy: love an old predatory 🌈 stereotype too Meena: okay, you're not THAT old Tommy: my 🦴 & 🦷 tell a story Meena: and what a 📚🖋 it shall be Tommy: don't get me started on my 👀 sight Tommy: look like an 👴 & I'll sound like one yelling at a ☁ Meena: thank god for contacts Meena: or being your partner would have been much scarier Tommy: I could do those old routines with my eyes closed Meena: Me too Meena: and backwards #humblebrag Tommy: 😏 Meena: stealing Ginger's words there, sadly Tommy: there's no such thing as an original idea, yeah? Tommy: what I go with when it's time to do choreo Meena: preach it and I won't feel as much of a fraud Tommy: You'll have been to church more recently than I have Tommy: it's her thing, right? 🙏 Meena: Being Catholic is not exclusively HER thing Meena: but she is remarkably good at it, yes Meena: 🎨 Tommy: not in this town or with that attitude Tommy: are you even 🍀 if you don't out devout each other tbh? Meena: she isn't even Meena: Brazilian and better than you 😘 Tommy: Again, not with that attitude Tommy: she's lived here years, like Meena: So has your Ma Meena: she's about as 🍀 Tommy: She's basically 💍 to one & doesn't possess the 🌈 urge to merge Tommy: it's stubbornness Meena: 🙏 to the choir Tommy: 🍻 Meena: didn't steal any of your beers, thank you Meena: just had a juice Tommy: We'd be having this out face to face if you had Meena: father's son Meena: I get it Tommy: ❌🥊 ✔🩰 Meena: that's definitely not original Meena: 😿 Meena: life story = stolen Tommy: Anne's no Julie Walters Tommy: but I've played him as a kid in the 🎶 Meena: Rude Meena: she 🚬 as much Tommy: Still? Tommy: ☠ Meena: Of course Meena: she doesn't try to have it out the window during classes anymore though, so that's progress Tommy: Talk about rose tinted Tommy: such good memories those Meena: They're the only ones I've got so Meena: I think so Tommy: When she has you back next, tell her that in this house we swear by 🚭 patches Tommy: might save a life Tommy: & give you a chance to make some more decent memories Meena: Noted Meena: I make memories just fine now Meena: but you only get one childhood Tommy: Peter Pan just made me 😢 anyway Tommy: What the fuck is that ending? Meena: The one we all get Meena: they told you in the first line Meena: All children, except one, grow up ✨ Tommy: No need to keep it in the family like that though Tommy: Fly though another window, Peter you heartbreaker Meena: The reason he showed up in the first place was to hear Wendy's stories about him Meena: she knew what she was doing telling her daughter about him Tommy: You go ahead & pass yours down but I'm just saying, I won't be encouraging my kids to run off with my first love Meena: No, silly Meena: she wanted him to come for HER, she thought she could still fly, still go with him Meena: she grew up without noticing, by accident, she didn't mean to Meena: that's why it's 😢 Tommy: Like I said Tommy: didn't need it girlsplained Meena: Do when you don't get it Tommy: Everyone knows she wanted Peter to come back for her Tommy: the thirst was real Meena: You're just being childish on purpose now Tommy: I'm saying probably don't let your kid go off with him when you know the same thing's gonna happen Tommy: that's bad parenting, like Meena: She doesn't regret it happening Meena: just because all children have to become adults doesn't mean deny them of the wonders of childhood, idiot Meena: get Jane on accounting instead of having adventures in Neverland, okay Meena: SUCH a Mr Darling, you, I had NO idea Tommy: Or get her a lad she can grow up along side & not have to 😢 at the window for Tommy: it don't have to be Neverland or bust Meena: Yes it does, he IS childhood, you don't get to take it or him with you Meena: Wendy took all the lost boys back with her, that didn't make her miss Peter any less Tommy: Our dog was a shit nanny I did alright out of it still Meena: Well, my brother was worse so I win Tommy: 'Cause I was your hot boy at the window Meena: Something like that Tommy: feels like flying to me Meena: When you remember. When you can. When it works. It's that easy. Tommy: I mean, it's less catchy than just do it ✔ but I don't hate it Meena: Take it up with Neil and Nike Tommy: crusades are for term time Meena: no cardboard sword or shield for you then Tommy: If I can't stab anyone with it, I don't want it Meena: okay, psycho Meena: no need to go that far to prove you've changed from the boy in the window Tommy: 😂 Tommy: if I have to be on stage, gimme a decent prop Tommy: not much to ask Meena: ... Meena: #diva Tommy: #reluctantboardtreader Tommy: Ro's a better actress & Ali's a better singer Tommy: I need something to mess about with to keep me standing still Meena: it must be rough, having talented sisters Meena: one thing I can't accuse Drew of Tommy: Nah, like you said, only get the one childhood Tommy: it made mine loads better Meena: Cute 😊 Tommy: Don't need to tell you Tommy: you know 'em as well as I do Meena: Yeah Meena: well enough that there's no need to disagree Tommy: feel free to hit me with a cardboard sword if you're gutted Meena: My insecurities in my own abilities don't make me lash out 👅 or 👊 Meena: could make a thinly-veiled reference to you in a story though so, consider yourself warned Tommy: other people are safe from mine, so there's no warning needed for you Tommy: not gonna challenge you to a dance off Meena: not in your holidays Meena: gotta rest Tommy: There'd be fuck all point doing it in term time Tommy: in a virtual one you could easily blame the lag Meena: You calling me a cheat? Tommy: pointing out how effortlessly you could Meena: You're meant to say I wouldn't need to Tommy: I don't need to say that Meena: Rude Tommy: It's a compliment Tommy: we both know you wouldn't need to cheat & even if you did, you wouldn't anyway Meena: Yes, but it was rude you weren't gonna say it Meena: but now you have so ha 😊 Tommy: Says you who wants me to rest up all hols like an 👴 Meena: You said it first, actually Tommy: Where? Meena: you called me out for working in the holidays Meena: which implies you ain't Tommy: what so if I ain't teaching I have to be resting? Tommy: oh please Meena: what are you doing? Meena: didn't 👀 you Tommy: [a selfie from wherever he's taken Rocky cos that's what I like to think he's doing since he wasn't there] Meena: figures Meena: almost definitely would've 👂 him Tommy: Yeah Tommy: my 🎧 only do so much Meena: He's so cute though Tommy: it's the 🦇👂 Meena: and the freckles Meena: and the gappy teeth rn Tommy: 🙄 good save with the 🦷🦷 comment Meena: ? Tommy: Come on, who else in my family has a face full of frecks? Tommy: they're both taken though Meena: oh please Tommy: 🥱 Meena: You don't need to tell me about people fancying your siblings Meena: story of my life Tommy: he's 💪 but what else is there to say? Meena: Are you expecting me to answer that? Meena: don't be weird Tommy: I'm saying it's not much of a story, long hair & a six pack Tommy: so I won't be telling you I fancy him Meena: I likewise fancy none of yours, freckled or otherwise Tommy: Lovely to clear that up Meena: 🤷 Meena: Okay then Tommy: 👌 then Meena: Really? Tommy: Yeah really Tommy: what else? Meena: Alright Meena: nothing Tommy: there's something Meena: Beyond not getting why you're being so snappy about it, there really isn't Tommy: I can handle an attitude check Meena: Are you alright? Meena: Bored...school-sick? Meena: doesn't sound right but you know Tommy: Bored is closest Tommy: but that doesn't sound right at the beginning of summer Tommy: at least we can blame Rocko, congrats to him Meena: The pressure to have the best summer ever!!! gets to us all Tommy: & for that we can blame the insta feed Tommy: love none of being my fault Meena: Sure we can think of something if you wanna feel that classic guilt to make you feel at home Tommy: 💭 gotcha Meena: not promising full 🧠 power to it Meena: am on costume duty so Tommy: I can't decently sew but I've never missed with a hot glue gun so Tommy: ✨ Meena: Yeah? Meena: That would actually be a big help Meena: talk to Ali, she had a million ideas, as per Tommy: 'Course Meena: Of course I just see the limitations of the vague 'Summer' theme I'm meant to follow, but she sees nothing but endless possibilities Tommy: sounds legit Tommy: I'm on my way back, no doubt she'll jump on me soon as I get through the door for all hands on deck Meena: Sorry and thank you in advance Meena: it was all I could do to convince her I had to get back to cook dinner so she is certainly in full project manager mode Tommy: it'll cure how schoolsick I am, we're always adding 🎀 or ✨ to something so it'll pass for something else more fabulous Meena: that's the spirit Tommy: if you can't turn a 👻 into a 👸 or vice versa you might as well fuck off home Tommy: does Anne want them full JonBenét Ramsey 💄👑👶 or is ALL on the costumes? Meena: Oh God Meena: thankfully she's not gone that crazy in her own old age Meena: JUST costume Meena: though some of the mothers see fit to attack them with lipgloss, hairspray etc but that's their own M.O. and we don't need to go there for 'em Tommy: Small mercy, like Tommy: does she have any lads this time? Meena: not in the 3-7s Meena: pretty sure there's a lad in the 7-12s though Tommy: Oh Anne Meena: not every lifetime a Billy Elliot comes about, clearly Tommy: way to not capitalise on my success Meena: um, okay bighead Meena: did you think you'd start a revolution in 🍀 with your talent, like Meena: calm down 😅 Tommy: The point is, literal poster boy material right here & she hasn't made a single one Tommy: 🚬 is an expensive habit Meena: ugh Meena: 🤫 Tommy: 😂 Meena: going to make a very unflattering poster of you when I get home Tommy: I can't wait to be tagged in the 📷 Meena: I'll just put 'em up 'round town Tommy: Ooh like a scavenger hunt Tommy: I knew I wouldn't be bored for long Meena: was vibing public smear but yes Meena: it can be that too, you're very welcome Tommy: trying to shame me again, I 👀 Meena: if the 🩰 fits Meena: ask yourself why Tommy: You're a Meenie, there's why Meena: 😏 Meena: been a long time since I 👂 that Tommy: I'll pull your hair next time I see you if you're feeling nostalgic Tommy: what are mates for, like Meena: Got all summer Meena: see if I get to that level, like Tommy: if the 🩰 fits Tommy: I know Meena: mine barely did Tommy: if you're gonna keep teaching, you'll need a new pair Meena: I know Meena: they're so expensive though Meena: and who knows Tommy: Anne'll have you back in a heartbeat Tommy: & there'll be a pair here that'll fit, my ma don't throw anything of ours away Meena: I don't know how she manages to live off what she makes Meena: never mind the idea of this being anything more than a favour Meena: the shoes will be a help though, I'm gonna pay for how small those ones were tomorrow Tommy: Sugar daddy Tommy: there's a definite twinkle in her eye Tommy: I'll get in the loft or wherever the fuck else when I get back Tommy: you're a [correct guess of the size of her foot because obviously] yeah? Meena: OMG Meena: to be her daddy he'd have to be at least 90 😂 Meena: ✔ Meena: Thanks, like, IOU Tommy: Don't worry about it Tommy: get me Anne's 💘 goss & we're even Meena: not taking up 🚬 to get in on those breaks but aside from that Meena: do my best Tommy: yeah, don't Tommy: I've heard somewhere it's  ☠ Meena: 😏 Meena: not that dedicated to the ballerina lifestyle Tommy: I won't tell, that HARSH truth would break dear old Anne Meena: Somehow I don't think so Meena: no poster girl, like Tommy: she 📞 you, I'm still waiting by mine Meena: 💔 Meena: she knows you're far too busy being a 🌟 to recruit Tommy: Yeah yeah Meena: You know she'd be beyond over the 🌙 to see you Tommy: I'm not twirling in to take your job Tommy: how out of order Meena: sounds like you have trouble controlling 1 kid Meena: never mind a class of Meena: not scared Tommy: he's my brother, he's feral Tommy: & you're rude Meena: he's feral because he's YOUR brother orrrrrr Meena: and I am not! Tommy: if the 👂s fit Tommy: have you forgotten what I was like OR? 'cause if you're trying to be polite, you've misjudged the timing Tommy: & yeah you are Meena: I'm not sure feral is the word I would use for you now or then Meena: you can interpret that as politely or im as you wanna Tommy: He's obviously not following in my exact footsteps then, 'cause who could Tommy: only you Meena: we were good partners Meena: 🤠 Tommy: 🏆🥇🥈🏆 Tommy: I'll dust 'em off when I 🩰 hunt Meena: you'll need several feather dusters Meena: 👴👵 Tommy: or a well flamboyant sleeve Tommy: 😏 Meena: very romantic of you Tommy: when you're having your goss sesh with Anne, the tea is that I didn't wear 💄 in public until I was nearly 12 Tommy: it'll help her control those 👶🤡 urges Meena: there's nothing summer about sweating off stage makeup Meena: poor babies Tommy: 🥀 Tommy: not the vibe Meena: definitely not Meena: not a fun sponge, they can have as much glitter as they like Meena: but full glam on a toddler ain't it Tommy: Thank Christ for the shared sanity Tommy: some of 'em at school would put full glam on a 🐶🐱🐰🐹 Meena: 🙄 Meena: it makes sense for the West End Meena: but the stage in the community hall is not that far from the what, room for 50-100 sitting? Meena: 🤡 features not necessary to see the facial expressions Tommy: Mmmhmmm Meena: when will I see you on stage then? Tommy: West End or community hall? Meena: 😅 Meena: former, obviously Tommy: Like I said, reluctant boardtreader Tommy: I only do the acting school makes me do Meena: yeah, but lots of shows must have some dance roles, right? Tommy: They do & I do 'em as & when Tommy: Billy Elliot already having been mentioned, like Tommy: I've got loads of auditions ✎ in this summer for all kinds of things Meena: well, let me know next time, will you Tommy: 'Course Meena: trying to keep your 🌟 secret or your fam from the audience, like? Tommy: Don't reckon having my ma in the front row would let me really shine, do you? Meena: I see where you're coming from Tommy: I can do without Fraze taking the piss about every role I don't get, like he understands the odds, as well Tommy: but if you wanna come, you can come Meena: like it's not one of the most competitive markets 🙄 Meena: so many people never get a role, like Tommy: he likes being a shit to be one Tommy: the role he was born to play Meena: yeah Meena: sounds familiar Tommy: gimme 2 more sisters over either brother Tommy: even if they were better 💃💃 Meena: wouldn't know Meena: source material varies on how fun that would be Tommy: 'Course it does Tommy: can't get the backup when I need it Meena: I'm 🤔 Meena: unless you're part of a twin duo of sisters, it's usually presented as more 🥊 than 💖 Tommy: Jo & Amy, not Jo & Beth Tommy: I've got Bea & Ro as well as Ali, I get it Meena: That about sums it up Tommy: I'd still take 'em over my brothers, know you can relate Tommy: Hell, I'd take the mystery sister we don't talk about & I've never met, over Fraze Tommy: there's a 📚💡 for you Meena: definitely 🖋 worthy Tommy: 👍 Tommy: [pictures of like all the trophies and other stuff he is finding as baby dancer mems cos he's back home] Tommy: more inspo Meena: Obviously, if this were any story, she'd be a teacher at your school Meena: 💃genes Tommy: she could be Tommy: I wouldn't know Meena: I bet most of your teachers are Anne types though Meena: so, too old, and not a hint of resemblance Tommy: Loads of 'em are young & 💪 so I love the added incentive not to 😍 a teacher Meena: you wouldn't anyway Meena: not a guy, a sister Tommy: I'll let you know if I run into her in 🌈 passage Meena: might be a coincidence too far Tommy: AHa! 🩰 Tommy: when do you need these? Meena: 🙏🙌 Thursday, but Ali and Ro said they'd come to do measurements then so you can throw 'em at 'em Tommy: Am I not invited? Meena: Are you coming to steal my spotlight? Tommy: I'll go hang with Carly if you can't handle our ⭐️🌟✨ Meena: her plans sounded like they involved 😴 Meena: 10am class was not her preference, I don't think Tommy: 🧸😪💤 Tommy: I can work with that, rest, yeah? Meena: I don't think you were invited there either Meena: you should probably come Tommy: she's not as savage as you Tommy: who is, like Tommy: but alright, Meenie Tommy: check your attitude by thurs & I'll come Meena: oof! 😤 Tommy: I'll teach you this counting trick Fraze used to have to do when he was lil Meena: I know how to count Meena: key 💃 skill Tommy: the whole way to 10?! WOW Tommy: I thought you just 👀 me Meena: 😒 Meena: you're very rude Tommy: 😂 Tommy: you're adorable Meena: you sound like my brother now Meena: not a cute look Tommy: what am I if not the big brother you should've had? Tommy: fairy godbrother is going a bit far, like Meena: We've established I'm alright for 'em Meena: you're not getting a free sister here Tommy: 🥺 Meena: 😠 very mean very serious Tommy: I realise I'm gonna have to drag you away from Anne, she's hardened you Tommy: you used to be like 🍦 Meena: melts in the ☀ Meena: so ideal Tommy: melting wins 🏆🥇🥈🏆 remember Meena: all my 🏆🥇🥈🏆 live in your loft, or wherever your mum keeps the precious memories Tommy: you don't have any of 'em? Meena: a few 🥇🥈s Meena: my room's not a shrine to past victories or anything as tragic Tommy: I'll bring you one of the smaller 🏆 you can put a 🌱🌿 it'll be very chic Meena: That's student decor 101, is it? Meena: 👍 cheers, though Tommy: at my school it's full shrine, past, present & future Tommy: so I left mine at 🏠 Meena: just another competition Tommy: Yeah Tommy: I don't need to be surrounded by 🏆🥇🥈🏆 to know I need to go for gold Tommy: it's a scholarship requirement Meena: no need to get in a pissing contest with the kid who's been Simba for 3 runs, like Tommy: I'd be a FANTASTIC 🦁👑 Tommy: but if they have to 👀 at my decor to know it, I'm fucking up somewhere Meena: is this a bad time to tell you you aren't black Meena: can't say it's unfair on that specific casting Tommy: I learned the hard way when I performed that rap, cheers for letting me by the way Tommy: best friend goals that day Meena: it was Meena: very creative Meena: who am I, was I, to stomp out that spark 😏 Tommy: 🔪💖 Meena: 😂 Meena: oh god, hope your mum kept evidence of that Tommy: she did Tommy: my 🧢👟 styling was unforgettable before I even opened my mouth Meena: if you wanna beef with Anne, start with the hip-hop dance classes Tommy: Jesus Tommy: what a time Meena: So innocently problematic Tommy: You should write about Anne Tommy: she's lived a life Meena: I have Tommy: so if I trade you the rap footage, can I read it? Meena: Hmm Meena: tempting but Tommy: come on, what's more embarrassing than 👶 Vanilla Ice? Meena: my writing being nothing more than scribblings, potentially Meena: I don't really share it Tommy: I'm not asking you to insta it & tag Anne Tommy: Please Tommy: I'll be a perfect 😇 about it Meena: Okay Meena: but it's as serious as your rap career so no serious criticism please Tommy: you're the best, Meeps Tommy: & I'll be on my best behaviour Meena: Believe it when I see it, slim shady Tommy: maybe you'll 👀 it when you believe, Wendy Tommy: living for that compliment though tbh Meena: couldn't risk biggie Meena: as you're feeling so #fatshamed today Tommy: 😂 Tommy: & you don't wanna go for 🍦 Meena: Where did I say that Tommy: When you gave me a weather forecast Tommy: #notideal Meena: that was about melting myself, thank you Meena: no offer was made Tommy: let's go for 🍦 then!! Meena: !! SO AGGRESSIVE Tommy: !! I'M STARVING Tommy: & unlike Rocko I've got all my 🦷🦷🦷 & they're all sweet 🍬🍭🍦 lovers Meena: I know Meena: not as cute but more #relatable Meena: I have to finish dinner but then I can go Tommy: making it or eating it? Meena: I'll just make it Meena: don't want to spoil my 🍦 Tommy: 🙂 am I cute yet? Tommy: 😁😁😁 Tommy: 🦷✨ Meena: do you have all your stickers from the dentist still too? Meena: massive show-off Tommy: if she could've peeled 'em off & saved 'em, they'd be here Meena: so cute Meena: if I'm ever feeling suicidal I must bring it up Tommy: one word for it Tommy: & one exit strategy Tommy: suicide by bad cop Meena: suitably theatre of me? Tommy: I support it Meena: your support means SO much, obvs Tommy: 💐👏 Meena: throw 💎💰 please Tommy: I'll raid the dressing up & monopoly boxes Tommy: bear with Meena: ooh bagsie thimble Tommy: I remember Tommy: actually am best friend goals here Meena: obviously you want the dog, but you have to fight your dad for it Tommy: I'll end up with the 🎩 Tommy: can't escape the 🤩 Meena: it suits Meena: who ends up with the boat though? Tommy: Ali if she can customise it to look more like a pirate ship Meena: so Ro gets the wheelbarrow Meena: makes sense Tommy: She loves The Secret Garden Tommy: then & now Meena: I support that Tommy: 🤞 you'll support how it influences her 💡s for your summer theme Meena: it's definitely more spring to go full 🌷 🌹 🥀 🌺 🌸 🌼 🌻 Meena: unfortunately Meena: 🐙 🦑 🦐 🦀 🐡 🐠 🐟 🐬 🐳 🐋 🦈 is a bit 😬 Meena: seashells and mermaids is most likely what we'll go with and what the girls and the ma's will like best Tommy: I know we're all 💔 over the cliches Meena: it's basic but workable Meena: you will have to reign them both in or it'll be 😬 or worse Tommy: I can do bad cop Tommy: uniform optional Meena: 😂 Meena: not swoon worthy Tommy: are any of 'em? Tommy: not to personally shut down uniformdating.com Tommy: but like Meena: nurses not do it for you? Meena: or firefighters Meena: army men Tommy: okay I'll give you 🔥 men Meena: See Meena: something for everyone Tommy: 👌 hothoses.com or whatever can stay up Meena: ewwwwww Meena: shh Tommy: 😂 Meena: you're still sweet and innocent Meena: leave my memories as they are Tommy: 👶😇 Meena: more like it Meena: 👀 you Tommy: you're gonna see me covered in melted 🍦 that'll be more like it Tommy: not knocking any 🦷🦷 out though Tommy: line has been drawn in the sand Meena: that's fair Meena: I said 🚭 Meena: we're even Tommy: 🤝