#and don’t even get me started on the jokes the owner of the orphanage made

[joellalovestoread]

guys I’m going to be honest with you.

lazuli heitz makes me kinda gay…

[strawberry--bride]

DIABOLIK LOVERS Haunted Dark Bridal ー Sharon’s Route [PROLOGUE]

Monologue

The most painful thing in this world,

is losing your home. Your place-to-be.

No matter how dire the situation,

if you are surrounded by people who love and care for you.

No obstacle is invincible. 

Then ーー Where do I belong?

Having long lost the place I once considered home.

I spent many years in a place which would provide for me. 

I had food, a roof above my head, a warm bed to sleep in at night.

But could I truly call this my home? 

Those doubts would lurk in the back of my mind, keeping me up at night.

Until one day, I was made a special offer. 

If I complied, I would be given the thing my heart longs for the most.

ーー A new home.

Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Outside

Sharon: This is the place, right...?

( Woah...Amazing. I’ve never seen a house quite this big. They even have a garden! )

*Knock knock*

Sharon: Excuse meー! My name’s Sharon. I’m supposed to move in here today! 

...

...

( No response...? How strange. They should have been informed through the Church. )

*Knock knock*

Sharon: Hello...? Anybody home...!?

Sharon: ( What to do...? There doesn’t seem to be anyone home right now. It’s already getting dark. I can’t just stand here all night either. )

*Creaaaaak*

Sharon: ...Huh? Did the...door just open by itself?

( Does that mean I can go inside? I feel a little hesitant just entering someone else’s home butーー I was told I could live here so it should be fine, right? )

She enters the manor.

 Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Entrance Hall

Sharon: Just as I thought, the inside is equally spacious. I can’t imagine just one person living in such a large house all by themselves. Cleaning must take quite some time as well.

She puts down her suitcase.

*Thud*

Sharon: Phew...

( ...It’s so quiet. Almost as if the house is deserted. I wonder if the owner is out at the moment? In that case, I should probably wait in the living room. )

Sharon looks around.

Sharon: I guess it’s...that way?

*Rustle*

Sharon: ...!!

( I...Did I just...step on something? It felt...strangely soft and... )

???: ーー Oi.

Sharon: ...Kyah!

Sharon: ( A person...!? Oh my gosh. I just arrived here and the first thing I do is step on someone! )

???: ...

Sharon: I’m terribly sorry! I didn’t think there would be someone lying on the floor and...!

( ...Speaking of which, what were they doing down there anyway!? ...Sleeping? No way, right? When you have a house this large, you definitely don’t need to use the floor as a bed... )

???: Haah...

Sharon: Oh no! Are you feeling ill, perhaps? In that case, I shall call a doctor right away!

???: ...You’re loud. How am I supposed to enjoy my Rachmaninov when you’re screaming the place down? 

Sharon: Rach...mani...? ...E-Either way, if you’re not feeling sick, then what were you doing on the floor?

???: Wasting his time away listening to music rather than making himself useful, per usual, I would assume. Well, I suppose it is best not to have any expectations of this man in the first place, as he will only let you down in the end.

Sharon: ...!? 

( A voice...? Out of nowhere...!? )

Sharon: ...Wah!!

( Where did he come from...? )

???: Now, who might you be?

Sharon: Ah...I’m sorry! My name’s Sharon. I’m an orphan at the Catholic orphanage downtown. I was told by our related Church that the resident of this manor has been so kind to take me in. Are you...perhaps the owner?

???: ...I see. It seems you are the next...sacrifice.

Sharon: Excuse me?

???: Nothing. I was simply talking to myself. ...Ahem. My name is Sakamaki Reiji. The second eldest son of this family and one of the residents here. ...The man you had the ‘honor’ of meeting earlier is Shuu. While you may not suspect so given his deplorable behavior, he is - quite unfortunately - my elder brother.

Sharon: Reiji-san...and Shuu-san, was it? It’s a pleasure meeting you both!

Shuu: ...

Reiji: I assume that is your luggage over there? A room has been prepared for you. We will have one of our servants bring everything upstairs.

Sharon: Thank you very much!

( Thank god...So there wasn’t any mistake after all. )

Sharon: Oh! Right! I actually brought a little gift with me! They’re homemade muffins I made this morーー

*CRASH*

Sharon: ーー ning...!?

Startled by the loud noise, she drops the box with muffins.

*Thud*

???: YOU FUCKIN’ BASTARD!! I swear once I get my hands on youーー! 

???: Ahaha! I can’t believe you actually fell for that one! Lame-o!

Reiji: ...

Shuu: Haah...

Sharon: ( H-Hold on, hold on, hold on! Eh? Eeeeh!? I’m not dreaming, right!? That person just punched a hole through the wall!? )

Reiji: Ahem. ...Allow me to introduce. The one who destroyed the wall is the youngest son, Sakamaki Subaru. Next to him is Sakamaki Ayato, the eldest of the triplets. 

ーー You two, explain this situation at once!

Ayato: ...Che. Reiji. I didn’t do anythin’! Not my fault that Subaru ate those prank chocolates I left out on the kitchen counter.

Subaru: Fuck off! You definitely did that on purpose! ...I can still feel my mouth burnin’...!!

Sharon: ( ...Prank chocolates? I guess he means those filled with mustard and other spicy condiments, right? I didn’t know people actually bought those. )

Ayato: Of course! I was hopin’ to catch Kanato. Can you imagine what kinda face he would make when poppin’ one of those bad boys in his mouth?

???: ...Say, did you hear that, Teddy? ...I hope Ayato sleeps with one eye open tonight. He might just run into...unfortunate accident.

Sharon: ...Eh!?

( Another person just appeared out of thin air!? )

Ayato: Keh. The lunatic’s here.

Reiji: Sakamaki Kanato, the middle triplet. 

...Kanato, If you wish to commit a homicide, please do so outside of the walls of this manor. It takes forever to remove blood stains from the carpet.

Kanato: I don’t recall having to take orders from you.

ーー However, you’re lucky as I happen to be in a good mood right now. I believe I heard someone mention muffins? 

Sharon: ...Ah, yes! I made these myse...Huh? ...Oh.

Shuu: It’s not blood, but I think the carpet will need some cleaning regardless.

Reiji: Good grief...

Sharon: Oh no...! The box must have slipped from my fingertips when I heard the sudden crash and...

Ayato: Ah-ahー Look what you did, Subaru. It’s always the youngest child causin’ trouble.

Subaru: HAAH!? All of this started ‘cause you left those stupid chocolates out!

Sharon: ...They turned out really good too. What a shame.

Subaru: ...!! ...O-Oi...You...Um...My bad.

Kanato: ...Unforgivable. 

Sharon: Eh?

Kanato: ...HOW WILL YOU MAKE THIS UP TO ME!?

Sharon: ( W-Why is he getting upset at me all of a sudden!? It was obviously just an accident!? )

Um...I’m not sure...I could make some new ones later?

???: There, there, Kanato-kun~ Relax! Even if the muffins were wasted, there’s a delicious snack just waiting to be devoured...

*Rustle*

Sharon: ...!

( Someone wrapped their arms around me from behind!? )

???: ...Right here~ ...Nfu~

Sharon: ...Eh!?

( I-Is he talking about me!? )

Reiji: ...And finally, the youngest triplet, Sakamaki Laito. 

Ayato: Oi, Laito! No way you’re gettin’ the first taste again! I still haven’t forgotten last time!

Laito: Eeeh~? It’s not my fault you’re so slow, Ayato-kun~ However, if you’re so insistent on taking a bite out of her, I wouldn’t mind sharing, you know? I’m sure it’d make for a refreshing and thrilling experience~

Ayato: Geh! In your dreams, you perv!

Sharon: ( Taste? Bite...? Why are they talking as if I’m their food!? )

Excusーー

Shuu: ...Strawberries.

Sharon: Eh?

Kanato: What are you talking about? I don’t see any strawberries around.

Reiji: Shuu. Explain yourself.

Shuu: Your panties. They had strawberries on them.

Sharon: ...!!

( When did he...!? Ah! When I stepped on him...! )

Ayato: Pfftー!! Strawberries! How old are you, five? That’s hella lame!

Laito: Hm...~ Strawberries are not bad but with such a lovely body, I’m sure you could pull off something a little more erotic~

Subaru: ...

Laito: Oh, my bad~ I forgot baby bro was in the room. I suppose talking about a woman’s underwear is still a little too much for him to handle.

Subaru: S-Shut up...!!

Reiji: ...Enough! No more on this topic! ...Haah. Is it really that much to ask for you lot to behave? Just for one day?

Ayato: ーー Anyway, Reiji. Who’s this chick anyway? Tonight’s dinner?

Sharon: D-Dinner...!? I’m sorry but...Why are you all talking as if I’m food or something!?

Ayato: Shut it! Nobody asked for your opinion, Ichigo Pantsu.

Sharon: I-Ichigo paーー!? I have a name...! ...It’s Sharon.

Ayato: Yeah, yeah. I-chi-go Pa-n-tsu.

Laito: Hm~ This Bitch-chan does smell sweet just like strawberries. Perhaps I should call you ‘Ichigo-chan’ instead~?

Kanato: She really does. I’m sure her blood would taste just as sweet...Oh? What’s that, Teddy? You’d like to have a taste? Fufu...Good idea. I was just feeling a little peckish myself.

Reiji: Haah...I shall be in my study room. ...Ayato, Kanato, Laito. Please treat our new resident with some respect. It would be a shame to lose another one so soon.

Sharon: ...Wait, please! I’m afraid I don’t quite grasp the situation yet!

Reiji: Haah...Good grief. You must not be very smart, are you? Did you truly believe you would be allowed to stay here for free?

Sharon: ...Eh?

Laito: Nfu~ He’s right, Ichigo-chan. Everything in this world comes at a price. In your case...That would be the delicious blood pumping through your veins...

Sharon: M-My blood...? 

Ayato: Heh. You seriously haven’t realized?

Kanato: Teddy...Humans are truly so foolish, aren’t they?

Subaru: Che...Stop beatin’ ‘round the bush already and just tell her.

Shuu: We are Vampires. So the only thing a human such as yourself would have to offer, is your blood.

Reiji: In return, you will be allowed to stay here in this manor. Food, clothes and all other daily necessities willl be provided as well.

Sharon: Vam...pires? That must be some sort of joke, right? It was the Church who arranged this place for me! They would neverーー! 

Besides...Vampires only exist in fairytales!

Reiji: Good grief. This is why I simply cannot deal with humans. Not only are they incredibly foolish, they are horribly naive and trusting as well.

Subaru: In other words, you were set up. Just deal with it.

Sharon: ...

( No way, right...? This has to be some sort of mistake? Or a bad dream...? )

Shuu: Pwaah...Anyway, you guys do as you please. I’m going to my room to nap.

Subaru: I’m leaving too.

Reiji: Well then, if you’d excuse me now.

The three of them leave.

Sharon: ...

Laito: Oh dear~? Is that despair I see in your eyes? You poor little thing! Don’t worry, Laito-kun wil make sure to comfort you. After all, there is no better cure for betrayal than pleasure.

Ayato: Don’t be so down, Ichigo Pantsu! It’s not that bad of a deal! You get to offer your blood to Yours Truly after all!

Kanato: Fufu...I’m sure we’ll get along just fine. If you’re lucky, you might even make it into my precious collection one day~

Sharon: ...!!

She suddenly pushes them away.

*THUD*

Ayato: ...Woah!?

Laito: ...Aah~ Not bad, Ichigo-chan! I like myself a feisty girl at times!

Kanato: Ugh! ...What are you doing!? I nearly dropped Teddy just now.

Sharon: ...

She runs upstairs.

Location: Sakamaki Manor ;; Hallway

Sharon: Haah, haah, haah...

( Say, God...? )

( Is this my penalty...? )

( Are you punishing me for my crimes of the past...? )

Monologue

I just kept on running and running.

As said question repeated itself inside my head.

That must be it.

Those guys were exactly right. 

Humans are foolish. I was foolish. 

Foolish to believe I would be given a new home.

After all, people like me.

ーー They don’t deserve a happy ending.

ーー PROLOGUE: END ーー

[ Dark Prologue ] ->

[shackermanwrites]

Lifetime

Summary: When everything’s falling apart in your life, and you don’t know what to do anymore, maybe asking the universe for something isn’t a bad idea after all. In which Sol Reader finds herself in another reality after begging the universe for something. Everything is going well not until she was put into Levi’s squad.

Chapter 5 -> Chapter 6

Lifetime Masterlist

Before the sun even starts to set in the sky, you were already wide-awake staring at the wood ceiling above you. You barely got any sleep since you basically stared at the same concrete last night for hours. Rest just doesn’t like you, does it?

You slowly pull yourself up from your bed. Rather than wasting the time that you have in your hand you decided to start your day early. You fish through your closet to grab a pair of uniform and essentials you need before heading outside to take a quick shower. The shared bathroom for girls is not that far from your room, so you took your time to walk and gently kick some small rocks along the way.

As you walk outside the building, you can’t help but appreciate and smile as the cold wind hugs your body. It's already October that is why it is often chilly, especially early in the morning and at night.

You went inside the bathroom and entered a cubicle to shower. It was hard at first to contain yourself as your skin made contact with the cold water that almost made you scream as you shiver.

You took your precious time to clean yourself that the sun was already set when you exited the bathroom. There are also some people now on the grounds carrying woods, sweeping the leaves the fell on the ground, basically starting the day.

The peaceful scene beside you as you walk kept you company for a while that you didn’t noticed that a person was running towards behind you.

“Sol!” you turn your head to see Jean running towards you. He is holding some clothes and towels and his essentials.

You stopped walking to let him catch up. Both of you are wearing your uniforms except for your jackets.

“Morning Jean you're up early?”

“Morning, fucking Eren kicked me while he’s asleep that’s why I woke up earlier than usual.”

“Well, so much for having a roommate. Good thing I don’t have one.” You cheekily smiled at him as the two of you slowly stroll.

-

Your body fell in your bed while you let your jacket cover your face. You just realized that it’s still too damn early to even do things. You still have two hours before training starts.

Lazy as you feel, you manage to pull yourself up and marched your way outside your room to wake Mikasa up before meeting up with jean since both of you decided to go the market rather than spending the time in the dining hall to eat breakfast.

You like buying and looking at things that will catch your attention, while Jean just likes to stroll around the town area. That is why spending your time in town is equivalent to your hangouts. Back in the orphanage, there were not many people in there since it is located in a secluded area that is why you always visit the town if you had the chance. A thirty-minute ride from the headquarters is nothing compared to a four-hour ride from the orphanage.

“Mikasa, are you decent? I'm coming in.” You knocked on the door before opening it. You saw Mikasa adjusting the strap in her thighs while sitting on the side of her bed.

“Hey, good morning. Jean and I are going to town to look at some things in the market. Wanna join us?”

“Ah, I wish, but I have to go to the library. I need to return some books.” She replied while dusting off her jacket.

“Oh, that’s fine, ill see you in training later.” Mikasa smiled at you while she waves her hand as you exit her room.

People never really liked Mikasa in your training days, they are intimidated by her, and you can't deny that so were you. She was and still is seen with a book in her hand. The moment both of you had a first conversation always brings a smile to your face.

It was the day when you saw a book lying around the bench after your morning training. You thought that someone abandoned their book there, but you still waited for half an hour for its owner to retrieve it, but no one came. You brought the book to your dorm and read a couple of chapters. The book was so good and catchy to you, so you sketch on the book's first page. Later that night, you read it while eating dinner at the dining hall and that was when Mikasa approached you, saying that it was her book. She ended up liking the sketch you made on her book when she saw it and after that, she always sat with you.

“Took you long enough. What did you do there make out with Mikasa?” Jean teased as soon as you approached him.

“Yeah we did actually, idiot. Let's go were wasting time I want to buy some pens.” You didn’t think twice when you grab Jean’s wrist and drag him to the stables. Both of you ran like your lives depend on it.

You can't admit that this is basically a waste of time. Instead of sleeping and eating breakfast, you choose to stroll around the market to pass the time. You can't help it, in your trainee days you were basically worked up, there was no time to even breathe, you were waking up at 4 am and trained the whole day like a mad man until 6 pm and after that, you need to do specific tasks given to each person. The job can be cleaning stables even in the dark, cleaning the dining hall, lighting up torches around the headquarters, and even arranging rifles and guns to the storage room.

It was exhausting.

Both of you ride along with the cold wind that softly kisses your face and strands of hair. You glanced at Jean and it was the same with him. His eye is strictly glued to the road.

-

“Damn it Jean, just grab anything that you like, and I’ll pay for it, dumbass.” You muttered while you put bread in a paper bag provided to you.

“You sure? How much money do you have right now? I’ll pay you back when we get our pay, I promise Sol.” He didn’t even hide the apologetic tone from his voice while he eyes the bread and pastries in front of him while he rubs the back of his neck.

Both of you grew up in the orphanage, so Jean grew up without anything but luckily for you, your aunt has money and it is more than enough. She left you tons of money even when you were still a child, not that you can buy something from it back then, but she said that it could help you start when you grow up.

And here you are buying unnecessary things.

“Yeah, pay me by kissing Eren.” You replied as you wait for him to finish picking whatever pastries he likes.

“Please don’t joke like that next time.” He scrunches his nose, feeling disgusted by your remarks.

“Oh shoot, let's buy something for Mikasa too. She went to the library so she won't be eating breakfast too.” You quickly grabbed another paper bag and grabbed some bread and some sweet pastries for Mikasa since it is her likings.

You don’t know, but you suddenly thought of Captain Levi at the back of your head. It's not like a bad thing to get bread for him but you also consider that he is now your Captain and it would be weird if the three of you are eating some nicely baked slices of bread and he is just there watching the three of you devour it.

You stared at the foods in front of you as you carefully choose what you should get for him.

“You could never go wrong with cheese bread.” You mumbled under your breath.

-

You arrived back at the headquarters 10 minutes before the call time. You don’t need to stop by your room since you only bought food and a couple of pens.

On the other hand, Jean needed to went to his room back since he bought hair gels and a jacket that needed to be put away before training, so here you are silently sitting on the bench in front of your Captain’s office.

Absentmindedly, you gently swing your feet on the ground kicking small rocks.

“Reader.”

You straightened your back and stood up from your seat to face Levi. You didn’t even notice that he’s here. You didn’t hear any footsteps.

“Captain Levi, Good morning I'm sorry if I was sitting here.”

You carefully pick up the paper bags sitting on the bench while looking around to find other bars.

“Well idiot, they are here for a reason. Follow me, we will have a short meeting before training.” He tilts his head to the side, signaling for you to follow him.

You obediently followed him, staying behind him while hugging the bags in your chest.

Heart beating really fast as you were nervous about the training. You heard rumors that the Captain can be very rough when it comes to training since being in his squad only requires two training a week so it is acceptable that he will make the most out of it.

Both of you stopped at the familiar office you were in yesterday. The same smell and atmosphere of the room greeted you as soon as Levi opens the door for you.

You softly smiled at him before entering his office.

Instead of sitting in front of his desk, he ordered for you to sit on the couch before disappearing from your sight.

The office is quite spacious. There’s his office desk with two chairs in front of it, a couch with a small glass table, there are also two doors which you don’t know where it leads.

Not long before Levi came back with several papers in his right hand and pens on his left hand.

“Where are the others?” He put the pens and papers on the table and sat beside you, which caught you off guard.

You're not uncomfortable, just nervous especially being around him.

“Mikasa is running errands, but she’ll be back any minute now, sir and Jean went back to his room to drop his uh well hair supplies.” you didn’t know how to put the last words you said, so it made your tone of voice awkward.

You didn’t hear any reply from the Captain so you shift your gaze to the bags sitting on your thighs.

It's probably the best time to give it to him.

“Sir-“ you start before looking at him.

He was sitting casually on the couch, arms folded in his chest and lazily looking directly in front before turning his head to meet your eyes.

“Well, Jean and I went to town earlier, and we bought some foods for ourselves and for Mikasa so I also got you this.”

You handed him the bag, but he only exchanged his gaze to you and the bag you're holding.

‘I knew this was a bad idea.’ You scolded yourself in your head.

“It's cheese bread. This is good, especially in the morni-“ you didn’t finish your sentence when he cut you off.

“Why?” he softly asked you.

“What do you mean why? Its food captain.” Maybe it was a bad idea to also get him something since he can see it as an unprofessional act but being generous to things you can afford is something you should do.

His eyes did not leave yours for a couple of seconds before he slowly took the bag from you.

“You don’t have to, don’t do it next time, brat.” He rolled his eyes at you before peaking into the bag.

Levi felt uneasy and new to the feeling of being included in something. He grew up providing things he needed for himself without anyone’s help. That is why a small gesture, especially from a person he’s not closed with made him sentimental.

He didn’t have to say how thankful he was for that small gesture since you already figured it out while looking at his eyes.

Soon, Jean and Mikasa arrived at his office. You gave the bag to Mikasa as soon as she sat beside you on your right side while Jean sat beside Mikasa.

“Brats, take a paper and a pen in front of you and write your name and some shit, just write a sentence, anything.” He ordered to the three of you.

Jean was the first to get his hand on the papers and pen so he passed it to Mikasa and you being the last one to have a piece.

The three of you leaned forward to the table to start writing that is assigned to you.

‘Sol Reader, headquarters, I wish I could paint again, trees, flower.’

The three of you handed it to your Captain, and he immediately inspects it.

“You call this writing Kirstein? Unbelievable, even my horse can write better than you.” He hissed at him, causing Jean to lower his head in embarrassment.

It was only between yours and Mikasa’s paper. He holds the paper with each hand exchanging glances between it.

“Kirstein and Ackerman, go to the training grounds and don’t stop until I say so. Reader, stay here I need to talk to you.” He said in a casual tone.

You stayed seated while they gave him a salute before exiting the room.

“I don’t normally do this, but I figured that I have no choice. You have the best handwriting among the three of you and I needed an assistant when doing paper works and running errands. I hope you're okay with that?”

It's fine for you. You would have gladly and wholeheartedly accepted the task given to you.

But his voice, he was challenging you. With the tone of his voice and the way he narrows his eyes while looking at you, you are confident that he thinks that you cannot do it.

‘Motherfucker’

“I’ll even start today.” You hardly replied to him.

“Who said that you would start tomorrow?” Levi stood up from the seat and marched over to his desk, grabbing a shit ton of pile of papers.

“Deliver this to Hange’s office and make sure to do it quickly.” He stated as he placed the pile of papers in front of you.

‘Easy, I’ll show you that I can do this.’ You thought to yourself before starting to run errands.

-

You can’t do this anymore.

You placed your hands on your knees while you try to catch your breath.

The stock office is on the fifth floor of the building, and you are currently walking down the stairs after retrieving the papers Levi wants you to get yet your sore feet and calves are preventing you from doing so.

It is now 5 in the afternoon and you have been running errands the whole day now without a break.

You thought that you were only bringing papers for a couple of persons but no. You probably met all of the people in headquarters since you have been running all day delivering papers from Levi and getting papers for him.

‘Get this paper, deliver this paper, retrieve this, retrieve that, request for this request for that.’ It was the only words that came out of the Captain’s mouth the whole day.

You didn’t have the time to eat and drink, and you're so close to forgetting how to breathe.

You put your thoughts aside and pushed your body to walk down the stairs as you try to ignore the pain you're feeling throughout your whole body.

Maybe it was a bad idea to agree but thinking about it now, you also didn’t want to rat out Mikasa into this.

As soon as you reached Levi’s office, you didn’t bother knocking on his door before entering.

“Took you long enough for that one, do you min-“

You didn’t let him finish his sentence. You were already tired and just wanted to get this done.

“Can you just give me all the papers and I will deliver them in one go? Please just give them to me and I will make sure that it will get to them before the sun sets.”

Levi noticed the softness in your voice, not to mention how exhausted you look right now. He was surprised that you were not quitting despite running all day carrying piles of papers.

This doesn’t usually happen every day, he just wanted to test your patience and it is a surprise to him that you're now mad at him for bossing you around.

“I was about to ask if you mind having tea with me, sit.” He ordered while pointing to the chair in front of his desk.

You were taken aback by the words that came out of his mouth. You dragged your feet towards his desk and sat on the chair obediently.

You watched him pour tea on a clean white teacup with a gold lining on top of it.

“You're don’t for today. I'm honestly impressed that you manage to stand still.” There was no hint of mocking on his voice.

“I can manage more running but not just like this, sir. I need breaks too. I'll do better next time.”

You might have thought that you said something wrong by the sudden change of Levi’s facial expression. If your guess was correct, he was confused for a moment.

And you are right.

“You're unpredictable, Reader.” He shakes his head slightly as he places the teacup in front of you.

“I'll take that as a compliment sir, but I can assure you I feel the same about you.”

Carefully picking up the cup, you smelled at a hint of the fresh and bitter scent of the tea. You gently blow on it to cool it down a bit before sipping on it. The taste of bitterness welcomes your thirsty tastebuds.

“You can go back to your room after that. I'm calling it a day.” Levi grabbed another pile of papers from the floor and he immediately read the first paper while holding a pen in his right hand.

You watched him as he concentrates while he reads the paper and how his eyebrows are gently furrowed and how he absentmindedly plays with the pen on his hand by rolling it with his index finger and thumb.

“I bet I could already make a building with how much paperwork you have.” Those words left your mouth without thinking of it.

You cover your mouth as you look at him.

“I'm sorry sir, it's just you have lots of that, and it looks exhausting.” You shrugged your shoulders before drinking your tea again.

“Tch, that is why you're here, brat.”

You don’t know why but those words made you smile like a kid who just got their first toy. The feeling of being needed consumes you, and it makes you happy.

“Well then, I will do my best. Thank you for the tea captain.” You gently placed the cup near his and gave him a salute before exiting his office with contentment feeling in your heart.

[roseworth]

All Was Golden in the Sky

Description: Flynn Rider was 13 the first time he saw the lanterns. They were everything he thought they would be and more. What he didn't expect was for them to change his outlook on life. (Title inspired by "When the Day Met the Night" by P!ATD)

Word count: 2322

Relationships: Lance & Eugene, Rapunzel/Eugene

AO3

Flynn was 13 the first time he went to Corona.

He was excited to finally go somewhere where no one knew him as Eugene. In Vardaros, there were plenty of people that still thought of him as “poor orphan Eugene.” He hated it. He didn’t want to be known as an orphan, he wanted to be known as a legend.

That’s why he liked going by Flynn Rider. Flynn Rider was rich and famous, Eugene Fitzherbert was neither of those things.

He and Lance had just left the orphanage a few days ago. He planned on going back eventually, he just wanted to see more of the world than an orphanage. He also figured that they could get some nice things in Corona. They had heard about some big festival happening, and when they found out it was only a few days away, they decided to sneak out and go.

They were immediately met with crowds of people. Flynn had never seen so many people in one place. Might make it easier to take some things off their hands, he thought. If people were bustling around, there was no way they would notice a few dollars gone from their pocket. Lance and Flynn had done a little bit of thieving before, just some pickpocketing here and there, but Flynn wondered what it would be like to take something big. It’s not like any of those rich people would miss it.

Lance nudged him out of his thoughts and pointed to a shop across the street. Flynn squinted at the sign. “A Sweet Shoppe?”

Lance nodded. “Come on, when was the last time we had something good?” he said, walking towards the shop.

Flynn started following. “So what’s the plan?” he asked. Lance shrugged.

“I guess we’ll just take it and run,” he answered.

Flynn sighed. “We’ve been in this kingdom for 5 minutes, we don’t need the guards on our trail already.”

“Well, do you have a better plan?"

He hesitated, trying to think of something. “What if you distracted the owner while I took the candy?”

“See, now we have a plan! That’s called teamwork.”

“What? But I made the plan!”

“Yeah, and I was the one that decided to go to the Sweet Shoppe. So it was a team effort.”

Flynn rolled his eyes. They made it to the door and walked in, and he immediately felt out of place. Most of the other kids here were dressed in nice clothes (well, nice compared to the rags that the two of them were wearing). The kids there all had their parents with them, too. He watched as a kid tugged on her mom’s hand as they looked at the chocolate sculptures on display. His stomach flipped a bit watching these kids interact with their parents, but Lance was focused on the food.

He was ready to put the plan into action before the owner came up to both of them. “How do you boys do?” he asked. “I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. I’m Monty, but most people call me Uncle Monty.”

Flynn started to smile. He started to feel bad that he was planning on stealing from this man. He seemed to be nice, and he wasn’t trying to kick them out. That’s when he came up with a new plan. He glanced at Lance, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.

“Hi, Uncle Monty. My name’s Lance, this is Flynn. We came all the way from Vardaros for this festival.”

“We’re from the orphanage,” Flynn added, hoping to score some sympathy points.

“And we just really wanted some candy… because we’ve never had any before,” Lance sighed dramatically. That was mostly a lie, they had had candy before, but only on rare occasions.

However, it seemed to be working on Uncle Monty. “Well, gosh, I’ve got plenty of candy here, just take your pick!” he exclaimed.

Flynn did his best to make his eyes tear up. “But we don’t have any money…” he said sadly.

“No problem, it’s on the house!” he told them. “Everyone could use a little sweetness in their life.” Lance and Flynn smiled at each other and thanked Monty as they went to grab some lollipops. Then, they sat down near the cash register to continue talking to Uncle Monty.

“So what’s this festival for?” Flynn asked. “I know there’s something with the lanterns and the princess, but what does she need the lanterns for?”

“Oh, see, the princess was taken from her family as a baby, and now the king and queen send lanterns into the sky so she can see them and return someday,” Monty explained.

“Do you think she’ll see them?” Lance asked.

Monty shrugged. “We can only hope.”

Lance and Monty soon changed the subject, but Flynn couldn’t stop thinking about the lost princess. For all anyone knew, she could be dead, but they still threw this party to try to find her. He wondered why anyone would want to steal a baby in the first place, and he wondered what you would do with a stolen baby.

What was so great about a stolen baby anyways? If the kidnapper wanted a baby they could have just gone to the orphanage, there are plenty of kids there. What makes a princess baby better than any other baby, especially if the baby doesn’t even know she’s a princess?

He thought about Flynnagan Rider. In one of the books at the orphanage, Rider saves a princess from a fire breathing dragon, and the whole kingdom rejoices. The princess even offered Rider gold, but he said no because he just did it to save her.

Flynn wondered if he could do the same. Maybe he would find this princess and save her from whatever lizard monster or witch that trapped her, and the whole kingdom would regard him as a legend just like Flynnagan Rider (though if they offered him gold he wouldn’t turn it down like Flynnagan did).

He shook his head at himself. He couldn’t get his hopes up. The princess was probably far away by now, and everyone only knew her as a baby. He didn’t know how long she had been gone, but she definitely didn’t look like a baby anymore. If she didn’t know she was the lost princess, no one would.

“Flynn?” Lance said snapping him out of his thoughts. “You’ve been quiet for a while, that’s not like you,” he joked. “Whatcha thinkin’ about?”

Flynn smiled and shrugged. “Just enjoying this lollipop.”

Flynn and Lance spent the rest of the day talking to Uncle Monty. Monty looked out the window as it started getting darker. “You boys better get going if you want to get a good view of the lanterns. You never forget the first time you see something like that.” The boys thanked Monty for the candy, then were on their way to find a good spot, preferably in a large crowd. They planned to make some money off of this trip too. Just like they had done during the Empyrean Showers, they would wait until the lanterns were in the sky and do a bit of pickpocketing while everyone was distracted.

Suddenly, he looked up and saw a lantern in the sky. As soon as he saw that one, lanterns started raising all around him. “Wow,” he said. Lance was looking up too. The sky was entirely lit up with these lanterns. It looked amazing.

His mind wandered back to the princess. The king and queen were willing to do all of this for their daughter because of how much they cared about her. The people of Corona sent out hundreds of these lanterns into the sky because they all cared about this baby that they hadn’t seen in years.

It made him think about his parents. He had always thought of them as rogues like he wanted to be, and that they would come back to the orphanage soon enough. But seeing this made him think that wasn’t meant to happen. The king and queen worked so hard to find their daughter, and his parents had left him at an orphanage.

His parents didn’t really love him. He hadn’t exactly made himself hard to find, that’s why he always came back to the orphanage. He was ready for his parents to come back to get him at any moment, but seeing how much effort the princess’s parents put into finding her, he realized that his parents didn’t care.

His eyes started to well up with tears, but he quickly blinked them away. He’s Flynn Rider, Flynn Rider doesn’t need anyone. All he needed was money and fame. Flynn Rider, legendary thief. He liked the sound of that. And once he stole enough that he didn’t need to steal anymore? He would get himself an island all alone. He still wouldn’t need anyone, he’d have his own island. With lots of money. And maybe girls.

He and Lance had both gotten distracted by the lights and didn’t do any pickpocketing, but Flynn was thinking past pickpocketing now. No orphan pickpocket was ever thought of as a legend. “Hey Lance?”

“Yeah?”

“What would you say if we didn’t go back to the orphanage? And started stealing more instead?”

Lance grinned. “I would be on board. Lance and Flynn, legendary crime duo, right?"

Flynn nodded and grinned back. But he and Lance wouldn’t be a duo forever, Flynn Rider didn’t need anyone else. Every man for himself, he thought.

**

“What are you thinking about?” Rapunzel questioned, slightly nudging his side. Eugene had been silently staring at the lanterns for a while. They were sitting in their boat as the lights floated in the sky, his arm around her as her head rested on his shoulder. Eugene turned to her and smiled. “Just thinking about the first time I saw these lanterns.”

“When was that?”

“I think about 15 years ago. It was the first time Lance and I went to Corona. It was… bittersweet.”

“Why bittersweet?”

He sighed. “It was the first time I think I truly understood my parents weren’t coming back for me. I saw what your parents were willing to do to find you, and I realized that my parents weren’t even looking for me.”

“Eugene…” she said softly, grabbing his hand.

“It’s alright, though, that’s when the “sweet” part of bittersweet comes in. Because of that, I realized that I wasn’t gaining anything waiting around at that orphanage, so that’s when Lance and I decided to go out on our own and start living life,” he said. “If that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have met you. Plus, meeting you did end up leading me to meet my dad, so it all worked out in the end.”

Rapunzel frowned. “I still don’t like the thought of little Eugene giving up all the hope he had, even if it did lead to us meeting. I would live in that tower for the rest of my life if it meant you could live a happy life.” He gave her a small smile.

“Sunshine, I’m the happiest anyone could ever be because you’re not living the rest of your life in that tower.”

She leaned further into him and smiled, but she couldn’t get over the fact that Eugene stopped dreaming because of a lantern ceremony thrown for her. But it didn’t matter what happened in the past. They couldn’t change it, they could only love each other in the present. They were there, and they were together watching these lanterns for the fifth time in a row.

“You know, we’ve probably been watching these lanterns together for years without knowing it,” Rapunzel thought out loud.

Eugene looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“You said you were watching these lanterns 15 years ago, I was at my window watching them too. We were watching the same lanterns for years before we met.”

He laughed. “Well, when you put it that way, maybe we really were meant to be. Along with the hundreds of other people watching, too,” he teased.

She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean,” she retorted with a smile.

“What’s even better is when I first heard what happened to the Lost Princess, I decided I would be the one to save her. It was gonna be an epic Flynn Rider quest, save the damsel in distress and earn the gratitude of the kingdom.”

She giggled. “Was the real quest everything you dreamed it would be?”

“Well, I gotta say, when I played it out in my head I didn’t think I would die. Not to mention, I’ve been the one in distress far more than you,” he quipped.

Rapunzel laughed again, then lifted her head up to kiss his cheek. They fell into a comfortable silence as they continued to watch the lanterns light up the sky. She thought about how every lantern in the sky was released by someone. Each person had their own story of why they were there and what the lanterns meant to them. The lanterns were more than just her way home, it was a way of connecting for all of Corona.

She looked at Eugene. He was her dream and the love of her life, and it all started because of the lanterns. She didn’t want to think about where they could both be right now without these lanterns. Too much of life is spent on “what ifs,” and all she wanted to focus on was “now.” Right now, she is happier than she ever thought anyone could be, and didn’t even want to imagine her life differently.

“I love you,” she said, beaming. She didn’t know how to tell him everything she was thinking, she hoped those three words encapsulated it enough. Given by the look he gave to her in response, they did.

“I love you too, Sunshine.”

[moshymosh]

Double Identity

Pairings: Steve Rogers x Enhanced!Reader

Warnings: Tooth rotting fluff, mutual pining.

Songs used in this fic (Credits go to Lin-Manuel Miranda): Alexander Hamilton- Listen to this here, Burn- Listen to this here, Who lives, who dies, who tells your story- Listen to it here

A/N: I love the play, Hamilton, though I've never seen it in person, I've watched an animated version and I honestly cried like a baby, this is the animated version I love to watch check it out! Listening to some of the songs on the soundtrack it gave me some inspiration so I cranked out a fic for you guys, enjoy. I might turn this into a series or a mini one if everyone seems to like it and would like the idea of the series Feedback is appreciated and encouraged, send me some request too (Song lyrics are in Bold, Thoughts in Italics) None of the gifs are mine credits go to the owners. First part of Drunken shenanigans will be coming up tomorrow, ill try to write it out, when I have a break from the holidays. Also Happy holidays.

Summary: What would you do if your secret double life is about to come to light? Y/N is an avenger by day and a Broadway star by night. When the Captian decides that the team needs a break, why not go to a Broadway show. Most importantly why not go to the one she’s been secretly starring in?

Steve calls the team to the common room, telling them that he has a surprise for them. Once everyone was in the room, he grins, holding up tickets to see the Broadway show "Hamilton."

"I've decided we're all in need of a little R&R." Steve smirked at the awestruck team.

"Yo, Cap? You feeling ok?" Y/N said, holding her hand up to his forehead in a joking manner. She couldn't stop the thumping heartbeat in her chest at the feeling of her hand, touching his smooth skin.

Steve batted her hand away, laughing all the same at her teasing, despite that his heart was going crazy for the girl. The girl he has been head over heels for since she joined the team. He fell for the sound of her laugh, the sound of her voice when she sang, even if he wasn't her intended target.

See, Y/N was a human siren, much like the mythical creature, minus the fins and only being in the sea part. Y/N learned to hone in her powers, controlling it to affect only who she wanted. Even without being under her spell, she had a beautiful voice; it sounds like freshly falling snow or the peaceful quiet morning after a night of storms.

"I got the best seats in the house." Steve said, waving the tickets in his hand, grinning like an idiot. Y/N's heart stuttered at the sight of his child-like excitement.

"What's the play called?" Natasha asked, looking at Y/N beside her, knowing about Y/N's massive crush on the Captian.

"It's a play called "Hamilton". I've heard good reviews." Steve said, looking at Natasha, not noticing Y/N's face paling at the sound of the play's name. Y/N coughs to cover her nervousness, causing everyone to look at her.

"I think I'm going to stay here. I don't feel so good." She says before turning around and heading to her room, leaving no room for arguments. What the team doesn't know is that she is in that play. She is one of the main characters, Eliza, who is Hamilton's wife.

After sometime hiding in her room, she made sure the team had left. They planned to go for an early dinner. Y/N snuck off to the theater after setting F.R.I.D.A.Y. to tell the team that she was resting if they would call to check up on her.

When Y/N arrived, she was quickly ushered to the dressing rooms to get ready. After she was in costume, she peeked out from behind the red velvet curtains. She spotted her teammates in the fifth row in the center seats. Getting nervous, she closed the curtains and went to her place on the stage.

The opening song began to play as the curtains opened, and a hush fell over the crowd. Y/N fell into her element. She never used her powers on anyone who didn't deserve it, like the crowd in front of her they didn’t need her influence to fall in love with her voice.

When it was her part to sing, she stepped forward to her second mark. Her voice rang clear.

"When he was ten, his father split, full of it, debt-ridden. Two years later, see Alex and his mother bedridden, half dead. Sittin' in their own sick, the scent thick."

The cast members that were singing the opening song with her began to sing as she stepped back in line with them

"Alex got better, but his mother went quick."

A sense of recognition fell over her teammates, but they all shook it off, remembering that Y/N was at home. The play continued on, but Steve couldn't shake the small feeling that he knew the woman who was playing Eliza. His thoughts drifted to Y/N vowing to bring her to see them play, thinking she would like it.

When the first intermission started, Steve stepped out into the lobby with the team. Some of them went to use the bathroom, others to get some refreshments. Everyone who saw them decided to not interrupt their night with pictures and autographs. Steve stepped to a quiet spot and called F.R.I.D.A.Y. to check on Y/N. F.R.I.D.A.Y. said her programed response. Steve sighed, wishing she was here and hung up.

Steve headed back to his seat despite another twenty minutes remaining on the intermission. Behind the stage, Y/N chatted with her castmates, while checking her phone, seeing that F.R.I.D.A.Y. messaged her about Steve calling to check up on her. She sent a message back telling F.R.I.D.A.Y. that if Steve calls back to tell him that she is asleep. Receiving a conformation, the call for places rang out backstage. After a costume change, and putting her phone away, the play was reaching the point for her solo song.

Reaching her place and began to sing while acting out what she was supposed to.

"I saved every letter you wrote me, from the moment I read them. I knew you were mine, you said you were mine, I thought you were mine." 

Steve almost choked on his own tongue. 'That can't be her; she's sick at home.' He thought he glanced over at his team, who all looked like they thought the same thing. Shaking it off as it's someone who has a similar voice, he settled back into his seat.

Y/N reached the end of the song, singing out the final line of the song, with the emotion her character required.

" I'm watching it burn. The world has no right to my heart. The world has no place in our bed. They don't get to know what I said. I'm burning the memories, burning the letters that might have redeemed you. You forfeit the place in my heart. You forfeit the place in our bed. You'll sleep in your office, instead, with all of the memories of when you were mine. I hope that you... burn."

Steve's suspicions were slowly being confirmed. He was in awe that if this was Y/N, she fooled all of her teammates. Steve was falling even more for her if that was the case. He felt a sense of pride that his girl was on Broadway, singing for the whole world. Steve shook off his thoughts as the end of the play approached. Y/N took to the stage again as the final song started.

Y/N felt the spotlight on her again and began to act and sing her part.

"I put myself back in the narrative. I stop wasting time on tears; I live another fifty years. It's not enough. I interview every soldier who fought by your side. I try to make sense of your thousands of pages of writings; you really do write like you're running out of time."

At this point, she's facing the crowd, arms outstretched holding papers in her hands. That's when it hits the team that it is, in fact, Y/N. Standing on a stage, singing her heart out and not at home in bed. Steve begins to grin like a fool, heart beating wildly at the sight. Steve was hanging onto the edge of his seat. He vows to confess his feelings after the play is over.

"Oh, can I show you what I'm proudest of?" 

Y/N's voice drops, so she sings softly.

"I established the first private orphanage in New York City. I helped raise hundreds of children."

Her voice raises to project more emotion into the song, giving everyone in the crowd chills.

"I get to see them growing up! In their eyes, I see you Alexander! I see you every time! And when my time is up, have I done enough?"

Her castmates join in with her singing.

"Will they tell your story?"

The song dies down to a softer pitch, and Y/N wraps her arms around herself as instructed to do, as she sings her final line. Tears are running down her face, putting emotion into her character.

"Oh I can't wait to see you again, It's only a matter of time."

The play comes to an end, and the crowd gives a standing ovation. The cast bows and gives their thanks to the crowd who came out to see them perform. The cast left and went their separate ways after the crowd had left. Y/N stepped outside, exiting through the back, in hopes of sneaking back to the tower before everyone got back. Her duffle bag was slung over her shoulder, carrying her change of clothes. Closing the door behind her, trying to make as little sound as possible. When she turned, she saw Steve, leaning up against the building.

Y/N stopped short with a gasp. "Steve!" Putting a hand over her heart, to try to slow its rapid beating. "Wha-... Uh... How did you find out?"

"That doesn't matter now. There's something I need to-" Steve was cut off by Bucky, rounding the corner of the building.

"Hey, Steve! You find Y/N?" Bucky said but stopped walking towards him at the sight of Y/N.

"Dude! Trying to confess my feelings! Get out of here, jerk." Steve said, making a shooing gesture that caused Y/N to giggle. Y/N stepped forward, placing a hand on Steve's shoulder, causing him to turn around.

Y/N crashed her lips to Steve's, throwing her arms around his neck. She ran her fingers in his hair, which had grown slightly longer over the past months. Steve's eyes widen in shock but quickly closed them, pulling her closer as he melted into the kiss. 

Y/N pulled back, gasping out an "I feel the same way." Before Steve crashed his lips back to hers.

"Good, cause I don't think I'm going to let you go again." Steve mumbled against her lips.

"Good." Y/N whispered as they pulled apart, resting their foreheads against each other. 

"Good." Was Steve's reply.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Do not pity the dead. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love." - Albus Dumbledore

[dopescotlandwarrior]

A Hero Among Us-Chapter 13

Previous Chapters on AO3      A special thanks to @statell​ for all the help

Chapter Thirteen 

Warning: Explicit sex

Jamie ordered the entire compound locked down for three days of rest. Every man was torn back with dark hollow eyes. Even Misses Crook looked exhausted and walked to her rooms like a zombie. The rain had stopped for now and Jaime bravely pulled his shirt off and jumped into the frigid lake running the soap over him In haste and jumping out quickly. Claire brought towels to her husband and appreciated his gesture knowing they would be chasing their own piece of heaven and the smell of a clean Jamie was a fast track for her.

The men had moved all of their personal belongings to the new house and there was no reason to ever go back unless they wanted to retrieve the moldy dishes left in the kitchen sink. Jamie watched the men joke their way to the cabins, always lighthearted and too tough to be daunted by any task. He felt immense pride in his kinsmen and vowed to do right by them financially. He felt his wife pulling him to the house where he would show her no mercy taking what he needed from her. He felt a shiver of anticipation race down his spine and sting his balls.

There was something magical about their new bed. The mattress was firm and supportive making him forget his own name at times. The sheets were made from the highest cotton fiber count making them soft and cool to bare flesh. He kissed Claire from her knee to her core, very slowly making her back arch and spread her legs wantonly. Claire dug her fingers into Jamie’s hair and wondered why he was taking so much time.

“Jamie darling, I need you now, please don’t make me wait.”

Jamie was wedged between her thighs an inch from her core snoring loudly.

Claire pressed her hand to her lips to keep the sound of her laughter from waking him. She pulled her legs away from his head and covered him with a sheet before opening the french doors to the gorgeous spring day. She knew he would sleep better if the air was cool in the room. She felt powerful arms reach for her pulling her to his chest, still sound asleep, the man knew he wanted her close to him, conscious or not. Jamie would wake after sleeping through the day and half the night with a hunger for his bride. He worshiped her body for hours sending her on multiple trips into the erotic wind. With the dawn, he growled her name before collapsing into another day-long sleep.

Fortunately Misses Crook was up to receive the fresh fish and turkeys brought by the industrious men who needed meat, and a lot of it. She had three turkeys roasting outside and the fish frying in the kitchen by mid-afternoon.

Cho staked out his enormous garden and was turning the rich black soil to make ready for the seed that was donated by the nearby farms. The owners would have blushed with pride at their own generosity if they knew anything about it. He chose a spot that got full morning sun and he anticipated a huge bounty of tomatoes, corn, squash, lettuce, cauliflower, peppers, and more. Cho was happier than he could ever remember being. He understood the weight of his position here and was grateful for the trust placed on him.

Claire slipped quietly to the nursery and held the stuffed bear to her chest feeling the tears and the pain of her heartbreak. She curled up in the corner surrounded by all the discarded toys and cried her eyes out. The blood this morning was proof of what she already knew. No baby grew deep within her. It was the only thing that would heal this orphan, a family or her own, a child she would never leave, a completion to her own story.

Jamie woke to a gut-wrenching hunger and followed the aroma to the kitchen looking for Claire. He filled his plate and checked in with the men while he ate, still looking for his wife. Returning to the kitchen he looked at Claire’s false smile and swollen eyes and his heart broke. He would never reveal his disappointment to her because she was already so sad with the confirmation she was not pregnant, again. He tried to pull her out for a walk around the property but she returned to their bed to grieve in private.

Jamie walked in the fields that surrounded their property for hours. Just before he stepped on their land again he felt something poke him in the back. He was so lost in his thoughts it caught him off guard and he froze, lifting his arms in surrender. The bloke was taking his time and Jamie felt his anger rise over the assault. He twisted and viciously struck out at the man hearing the scared scream of a horse right before he was launched off his feet by a swift kick to his chest. He watched a white stallion gallop away, swinging its head in anger and kicking into the air. “That is one beautiful horse.”

Jamie held his wife through the night hoping she would find her joy again. Just as he did every month as they lived their heartbreak separately, alone.

For the next two weeks, Jamie brought fresh hay out to where he was accosted by the horse and replenished what had been eaten the night before. He suspected the horse belonged to the previous owners and wanted his comfy stall and daily feed again. Jamie kicked himself for scaring the beast half to death and hoped he could lure it back to the life it was meant to have.

The soft April breeze was warm and scented against Jamie’s face. He sat on the porch off their bedroom and looked at the vineyard below. The first thing he did every morning and the last thing every night was to check the vines. He never considered they wouldn’t grow, it never occurred to him. Now it was all he thought about because the new growth was three weeks late. Ben was away seeing friends and Jamie needed him back before he lost his mind.

The month of May arrived to double Jamie's anxiety over the vines. He stroked Donus and gave both horses a morning apple suddenly feeling his skin start to crawl and his back muscles tense like someone was there and watching him. He could feel this presence, above him, in the hayloft, but continued about his chores. Another five minutes and he definitely saw something move through the cutout above the stalls for hay distribution. Grabbing a rake he brought the claw end down on the edge of the hayloft making a terrible sound. He heard a squeak and dropped the rake to climb into the loft and kill the varmint. Seeing the shadow of something under a pile of hay he viciously grabbed at it shocked to feel a shoe and pulled it away from the hay.

“What are ye doing in my hayloft?”

Long soft curls covered a cowering head. The shirt was torn and the pants were filthy. The shoes had a large hole in the top.

“I asked ye a question, what are ye doing in my hayloft?” Realizing it was just a child he toned his voice down and spoke quietly. When the child raised his head, large blue eyes looked at him from a heavy fringe of lashes. The fear in his eyes seemed to disappear as the boy sat up and started yelling in French. Jamie laughed at the youth.

“So, ye say this is yer land and I am the trespasser? Why think such a thing, ye’re a child. Where are your parents?”

The boy knew he was risking being turned over to the authorities who would lock him into an orphanage which to him was more like a prison. He switched to his broken English and endeavored to look angelic to the man.

“I live here and work for the lady until they left. She told me to go home and I came to the barn after she let the horses go. I have been here ever since but you did not see me, milord, because I am too fast.” The child laughed at that and Jamie bristled at the thought of being observed covertly.

“How do you eat?”

“I steal food and have done so from you milord but I can work for meals and I am very hungry right now.”

The aroma of food cooking filled the air and Jamie was not surprised it made the child’s stomach growl. There was more to learn from this boy but seeing his flesh on bones he decided to feed him before turning him over to the Sheriff.

“C’mon let’s get ye fed. Ye mind yer manners and don’t steal anything or I’ll tan yer hide before givin ye to the law.”

The boy had to strain his neck to see Jamie’s face and he realized he was seeing his first giant which was almost as thrilling as eating. Jamie kept the child away from the Highlanders so he could learn more about how a tiny French boy ended up in America, alone. The kid explained he stowed away on the first ship available when he was running away from an angry merchant. He ate the apples in his pockets and fell asleep until nightfall when he planned to escape but the ship was already moving toward the open sea. He stole food and picked up a bit of English watching the passengers from his hiding place below deck.

“I stayed in the dark for a year, milord and when I could stand it no more I snuck out in daylight because I had to see the sun. A girl saw me just as I was running back to hide. She did not tell but brought me food each day after that.” The boy smiled while stuffing food in his mouth, “she had love for me,” and then he laughed almost choking in the process. Jaime slapped him on the back until he calmed down and started eating again.

“Ye werna on the ship for a year, maybe it felt that long but it wasna.”

“Yes, it was a year.”

“The captain would have to miss America and sail all the way around the world for it to take a year.” Jamie was not used to someone questioning his word and it was making him angry.

Claire saw Jamie sitting in the kitchen and went to him smiling, “Jamie darling, I have been looking for …” She looked at the child who had a drumstick hanging out of his mouth and a spoonful of beans ready to shovel in. His round face and pale blue eyes seemed to enchant her until she found her voice.

“And who is our visitor?”

“What’s yer name kid?” Jamie’s voice was gruff and impatient earning him a cold look from Claire.

“Claudel, milord.”

“Did yer mother give ye that name?”

“I suppose, I did not know which one she was so I could not ask her. The madam allowed me to sleep under the stairs and the ladies all treated me the same, so I never knew. One of the girls died of fever and I cried, just in case it was my mother.”

Claire was horrified at what she heard. This poor child brought up in a brothel without the care of a mother. She looked at the angelic child and wanted to cry for him.

“You need more food young man. Which is your favorite? I swear you are skin on bones.”

“I like all of it, milady, thank you.” The boy looked into the angry eyes of the giant and tried to redeem himself.

“Six carriages have arrived at the other home milord.”

“How would you know anything about our other home, boy?”

“I see everything milord.”

“Do ye now? Are the vines at the old house growing new shoots yet?”

The boy laughed and pointed at Jamie. “This can never be milord they look normal now but they are dead.”

Jamie’s heart rate shot up as he realized this child had seen them steal the vines and replace them. He now had a keen interest in making him an ally.

“So, ye say ye work for food, how would you like to work here and we keep ye fed?”

“Thank you, milord, you are a savior to me!”

Claire completely missed the hidden threat of their exposure as she was contemplating what to do with the child. “Well, Mister Claudel, you are too young to be outside. Misses Crook will find you a suitable room in the house and you will start your lessons tomorrow.” She looked at Jamie nod his agreement. “Starting with a bath and clean clothes, let’s go.” She motioned for him to follow her and before they were out of sight, the boy turned to Jamie.

“I have watched long enough to see you are good people, I would not have told what I know.”

Jamie just stared at him feeling very manipulated by the little genius. He felt angry and called after the boy, “ye have the name of a lass and I willna use it. From now on yer name is Fergus and ye better jump when ye called.”

“Yes, milord,” was heard from down the hall.

Misses Crook took over scrubbing the child and locked him in the bathroom while she altered some clothing found in the attic. When Fergus emerged for dinner he looked like a respectable boy except for the intelligent gleam in his eye. After supper, Fergus was sent to bed and was out the window and running before the bedroom door clicked closed. He ran into the fields that surrounded the property and whistled a couple of times before a beautiful white horse came out of the brush and stopped in front of him. He stroked its neck and the horse looked behind him and whinnied. Jamie watched the boy from the shadows and gasped as another horse approached Fergus with a very young filly. All three were the same color white and breathtaking. Fergus gave each adult an apple he had stolen from the kitchen and the baby allowed him to stroke her. Jamie watched with interest and followed but once the sunset, he lost him in the dark and gave up. He would say nothing about this until he learned more about the little thief.

The moon rose in the sky providing enough light for Jamie to see the outline of the boy coming back. He held one large, moving sack and a smaller one in the other hand. He set the big sack down every ten or so steps like it was too heavy to carry. Jamie watched him disappear into the barn and when he came out he secured the door behind him. Fergus looked up at the second floor until he spotted one curtain closed, the other open, and knew which room was his.

“Gettin back up isna so easy. Maybe we plant a sturdy ladder to ease yer nightly shenanigans, aye?”

Fergus spun toward Jamie, wide-eyed and terrified. “I’m sorry milord. I had a dark job to do for Misses Crook. She misses her chickens and is sad without them, so I got them for her, they are in the barn.”

The boy talked so fast Jamie could barely understand him. He walked to the barn and there were five chickens pecking at scratch, also brought by Fergus, he assumed.

“Goodnight Fergus. I’m sure ye’ll find a way back up there by morning.”

Jamie was exhausted and couldn’t wait to see his wife. He felt the heavy weight of his responsibilities every day and he didn’t like the complication of the little thief under their roof. He prayed for tolerance, patience, and a means to ingratiate the lad before he figured out how to blackmail them. He rubbed his forehead and counted the stairs left to climb.

Head back, eyes closed he let his thoughts drift in and out, seeing memories of Claire bundled up on the swing kissing his cheek because she could not speak. He smiled, and suddenly his eyes slammed open with a gasp shooting him to his feet so fast he felt dizzy. How could they leave it behind! The swing was still at the old property. He needed to get it back, right away and hoped it had not been noticed by the Randalls. He crept out the backdoor to retrieve the raft holding the lamp up trying to find the rope.

“What are ye doin?”

Jamie nearly shot right out of his skin and almost dropped the lamp. “Christ, Angus, I think yer tryin to kill me sneakin up like that.” Jamie tried to control his ramming heart. “ Since yer here, yer comin with me.”

“Can I come too?”

Jamie whirled on a black figure hunkered down about twenty paces away. He saw the red cheeks first as Rupert stood up and walked toward them. He tipped his bucket of crayfish at the other two men and chuckled. “Where might ye be goin?”

Jamie rolled his eyes and told them about getting the swing for Claire as he pulled the rafts out of the water grass and to the shore. Jamie held his heart and the other two men talked like friends, or maybe enemies, Fergus couldn’t be sure. Crouched low to the ground he peered around the corner of the house and watched them. The men made enough noise to wake the dead, he decided, and when they faced forward to row he snuck quietly onto the third raft and laid down very still.

Fergus was thrilled with his trip across the water. The dark shoreline could barely be seen and the houses stood as black squares in the distance. He felt very lucky these men did fun things like this.

At the opposite shore, Jaime turned around to tie the raft and the sight of Fergus smiling and waving filled him with rage. Fergus jumped from raft to raft until he stood in front of Jamie looking up and smiling. Jamie glared angrily and wondered what kind of message was in the boy’s smiling eyes and face. He had no idea but decided to surrender and stop trying to control the lad. “Keep quiet or ye swim back.”

The white swing was clearly visible in the moonlight and Jamie felt relief it was still there. They worked fast and when the chains came down Jamie caught them quietly. They placed the swing on the raft without taking it apart. They all felt a bit nervous and decided to get away from this shore as quickly as possible.

Jamie pushed his oar deep into the water and felt his beefy back muscles pull it through. He looked back at Fergus holding the swing like it might fall off the raft. Jamie smiled at him and kept rowing. Back at their own shore, he found a perfect secluded yard to hang the swing and hoped Claire would be happy to have it back. Three men and a boy disbanded to their beds happy with the night’s work.

The next morning the butler walked toward the house and noticed the big swing was gone. He pointed to it but none of the servants could remember it being there. Just before noon, Frank senior stood up and stretched asking his wife if she was going to pull her worthless ass out of bed today. She didn’t answer him causing his blood to boil. In a rage, he pushed her from behind and her body was lifeless, literally, she was dead.

Jamie’s eyes opened to a room full of sunshine, one of the rare days his exhaustion won the battle with his eyelids. He wandered outside to check the vines and saw a dozen men throughout vines looking closely at the arms of the plant. Jamie started running feeling a huge relief. The men were smiling as Jamie reached a vine and dropped to his knees to scrutinize the tiny bumps that had grown overnight. A heavy hand came down on his shoulder snapping him back.

“Looks like I got here just in time.”

Jamie looked up at Ben and shook his head no. It was indeed a miracle to know the vines were alive but the budding was a month late. The grapes would never be ready in time. “They are growin too late in the spring Ben.”

“Nonsense! I’ve seen this before after a transplant and mother nature will… ah heck, I don’t want to spoil it for ya!”

“Wait…Ben, it’s alright, I dinna mind if ye spoil it for me.”

Ben smiled indulgently at Jamie. “It will take about a month for the new growth to catch up to vines that started in April. It’s one of nature's miracles, she does not like waste. Speaking of waste, I purchased ten acres of two-year-old vines from the natives on my way back. The vines are already out of the ground and will arrive later today. It’s a long time to be away from the earth but hopefully, we can save some of them and add to the vineyard.”

Jamie’s head was spinning from all he heard in the last ten minutes and Ben saw the vacant expression on his young face.

“These vines are Cabernet Sauvignon and I have a hunch this variety will be very popular. We need to augar at least ten acres on the hills. You might want to ring the bell and get us moving!”

Jamie looked at Ben and suddenly understood. His eyes got huge and he ran for the bell ringing it for all he was worth. As the men gulped porridge and grabbed toast they ran for the equipment barn finding ten augars. Other men were splitting wood for stabilizing poles. Jamie saddled Brimstone to ride into town for supplies.

The same symptoms gripped him with each trip to town. The darkness that invaded his mind laying waste to any joy that had been there, a pounding head, itching hands, and a locked site-Line to the bank where his enemy still drew a salary and a breath. He felt his feet moving and tried to stop himself but this was long overdue. It was time to settle a score and he felt giddy relief it would be over soon. He took a seat and waited, allowing gruesome fantasies about the killing fill his head. He finally asked the manager where Rodney Benson was. The manager lowered his voice saying he was found dead behind the bank four months prior. The killer was never caught. Jamie thanked him and left, passing Frank Randall senior, unbeknownst, on his way out.

Through the summer, the vines grew, the berry clusters were thinned, mother nature was cooperative with healthy amounts of rain, no droughts, and no floods. Misses Randall was buried next to her son. Randall senior and his servants gave up when the vines did not grow and returned to England.

Ned formalized the deed from Romania and filed a new deed in Claire’s name for the old property. She was free to inhabit the house and land, grow and sell her crop, and would hand it over if her husband's surviving family came to claim it. She and Jamie owned both shores and would make the most of them in the coming years.

When Ned returned to the vineyard in late July he requested Jamie and Claire accompany him into town in their best clothes. Misses Crook made a masterpiece of Claire’s hair in the current style and pinned a fancy hat with a large feather to her hair. The dress she wore was one of her best from London. Jamie helped his wife into the carriage to sit with Ned while he and Fergus drove the horses to town.

Thinking their surprise would be dinner at the best restaurant in the region the moods were happy and celebratory. Ned pounded on the roof of the carriage and guided Jamie down a side road. Jamie brought the horses to a stop and looked at the commercial photographer’s building. His heart squeezed so hard he clutched his chest and looked down at Ned helping Claire out of the carriage. When he jumped down the men exchanged a knowing look and Jamie clutched Ned’s hand as if to stop him from leaving.

“Jamie, I came to San Francisco two years ago to find you, or find out what happened to you. It is time for me to return to Scotland and I will make your sister a very happy lady.” Ned looked down and struggled with his emotions. “I am rather invested in your lives now so promise you will write to me. Tears are not good in pictures but I see your love and it is returned. Your father would be so proud of the man you’ve become, you are the best man I’ve known besides Brian, and I hope you never change.”

Jamie was fighting weird and sad emotions that were very foreign to him, or so he thought. Sorrow, abandonment, a final goodbye, a loss in his soul he could drive a train through. He could barely remember a time when Ned was not standing next to his father. It was like having his father back when Ned was there and he didn’t want it to end.

As memories of the past year filled his head he realized that Ned was the driving force to leave their vineyard and move the plants, Ned pushed them to find a new property, Ned found the Romanians, Ned filed the legal papers to secure their claim. Ned came halfway around the world to find him and now it was time to go back.

“Thank ye, Ned. Ye saved us and gave us the best advice. I am grateful and sad to see ye leave. Please tell Jenny I love her and we will visit in three years' time.” Jamie hugged Ned and hoped it would last a lifetime.

For the next hour, they were blinded by flashes of exploding chemicals as the photographer took multiple pictures, including one with Fergus between them.

When Claire finally let go of Ned, Fergus helped her into the carriage. The two men exchanged a long look and a handshake and Ned watched the carriage roll toward their home. The angle of the sun bounced off Jamie’s copper hair until the horizon swallowed them.

Claire cried as she bathed alone. She would miss Ned more deeply than the others knew because he had become like a father in her mind. She imagined her father was just like him; smart, loving, funny, and intensely protective. Realizing Jamie’s heartache would be far greater she ran her special soap over her skin. The scent made Jamie putty in her hands and she would love the sadness from him. She pulled her special robe around her body and combed through her long coils fluffing it around her face.

The bedroom door opened and Jamie looked at his gorgeous wife as she walked toward him. She sat facing him across his lap and prayed he would let her love him. Jamie held her tentatively.

“I need ye lass,” he whispered.

His eyes flicked up to hers and he twisted, lowering her to the bed. Pulling the ties of her robe he let his eyes see every inch of her. He noticed her chest rise and fall with arousal and he knew a kernel of thought planted in her fertile mind would grow without tending. She has been thinking about loving me and her body is ready to chase her release, he thought. He brought his nose to her skin, between her breasts and filled his lungs with her scent feeling his erection snap to attention. He gently pressed her hands to her side when she tried to take control. “Please give me your body, Sassenach, I need ye, my heart hurts as if my own da was leavin me again. He caressed her from neck to core and watched the movement of her ample breasts as his fingers drew closer to her trigger.

“I’m sorry Sassenach,” he whispered. “To relieve my heartache, you must suffer.”

His hot mouth covered her nipple and his tongue danced lazily across it. For the next hour, he held her hands above her head as he touched, tapped, and sucked every inch of her. Claire felt her orgasm was close, brought on by flexing her thighs together. She started to close her eyes and felt it suck her in until Jamie pushed her legs apart with a deep kiss that said: “not yet,there is more I want to touch.” He lifted her body and turned her over, running his hand over her beautiful butt. Pressing his hand under her he gave a stimulating rub that made her moan and move her hips toward him.

“Open yer legs, lass, let me in.”

Jamie grabbed a fist full of hair and thrust into her body, holding her against him. Claire gasped loudly and waited, hoping he would release the pent up arousal caused by his slow loving. He pushed into her several times and wrapped his arm across her chest lifting her to him, back to chest, pushing her legs open with his knees. It was a slave position where he could hold her down and thrust up into her reaching depths that threatened her sanity and his. He pulled out of her abruptly and was under her before she cleared the lust haze that was holding down her brain. He looked up at her smooth flat stomach, the swell of her breasts, hard nipples, head thrown back in ecstasy.

The Sassenach had many sides to her. With Fergus, the men, the horses, or Ben, there was a little shift in her personality to best embrace that moment in time. Throughout, her impeccable manners and grace defined her. Not here. When he pushed her sexually she became a polar opposite of his refined wife. She was a sensual being, needy, greedy, taking what she wanted to feed a hunger only he could satisfy. The contrasting personalities were an endless source of fascination to him.

“Look at me Sassenach. Watch me lick you and hold back as long as you can. If you look away I will stop, love. Tell me yer ready.”

“Ready, yes ready!” She panted and watched Jamie’s tongue claim her inside and out. She was losing her grip and dropped her head back and closed her eyes ready for the release and then nothing. “No!” She moaned “Pleeease Jamie.” She opened her legs even more and looked down at her protruding bud hovering right above his lips. “Open your mouth,” it sounded like an order and Jamie smiled, opening his mouth and pushing his tongue against her core. “Suck it,” was a harsh whisper. His lips closed around it and she felt the brain spinning sensation of his expert attention. When she had completely lost her mind he flipped her and invaded her body with fingers and tongue until she screamed his name for a solid minute. Before she landed back on earth he was able to spin her again and her pussy was stuffed with an over-aroused cock and a voice was telling her to make him come. “Now Sassenach, grind on me, slam yer pussy down on me. Do it. Make me come.” Claire was still half out of her mind and Jamie’s demands fueled her arousal again. Claire leaned far back and brought her feet forward. She touched him where they joined and Jamie pressed into her making her gasp. He looked down and almost lost it, seeing an erotic image he would never forget. Claire was chasing another orgasm and seemed to know exactly what she needed. “Touch it!” Jamie set his fingers on either side of her clit so the harder she rocked him the closer she came to the promised land. He watched her beautiful face and bouncing breasts until he felt the sting of his ejaculation start. He grabbed her hips and forced himself into her body feeling the velvety muscle constrict around him like a strong hand. He moaned into the intense orgasm as her body finished him.

Claire felt him pulse inside of her as he panted for his life. Her body felt like jello and the room spun as he pulled her down next to him. Still panting he looked at her closely and pushed the hair out of her face. He was terrified he had gone too far and he called to her.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, did I hurt ye? Are ye alright Sassenach? To say anything more would incriminate himself for being a brute and he felt wretched inside. He watched closely as she opened her eyes. She smiled at him like they just discovered the lost treasures of King Solomon. An erotic secret between the two of them. She purred, pushing him to his back on the bed and closing her eyes to the exhaustion. Jamie felt overwhelming relief and a new level of trust from his wife. As always, he had a deep desire to dance a jig but she was already in her dreams so he closed his eyes to oblivion.

When Jamie’s eyes opened a few hours later they felt like sandpaper. He dragged himself to the barn to feed the horses, including the beautiful pair of white Arabians and the baby that Fergus lured back into their protection. Fergus fell in beside Jamie as he always did, noticing the giant was quiet and sleepy today. They walked to the flat acreage where the white grapes were nearly bursting. Jamie held his hand out and Fergus pushed the hydrometer into it. Jamie’s eyes had closed, a trick Fergus had seen more than a few times. Milord could remain standing yet fully asleep including body twitching and dreaming. Fergus guided his hand to a cluster where he plucked a grape and started snoring. Fergus continued the test as they had done every morning for a month and his young eyes went wide at the Brix rating. He ran to the bell and yanked it over and over again snapping Jamie’s head up, suddenly wide awake. “Christ, why today?”

Jamie ran into the whites taking multiple Brix readings and agreed with Fergus, it was time.

The cabin doors flew open and the men poured out into the vineyard like a practiced fire drill. Jamie was running for the holding containers and pulling them into the vineyard three at a time. Cho led his Chinese pickers with a quiet dignity until they could no longer stand it and they broke away and started filling their bags.

Claire was aware of the shouts and happy whoops outside and quickly surmised the harvest had begun. She was numb to it and pressed herself deeper into the corner of the nursery. Hot fat tears shimmered in her eyes until they spilled over, one after the other. Tucking her thighs up close to her chest she laid her head on her knees and gave into the sobs as she grieved her empty womb. When she could cry no more the nursery door would be closed for another month and someday, many months, she hoped.

By mid-morning, she felt strong enough to join Jamie and offer her help. With a fresh rag in hand she Pulled the used rag away she saw several drops of blood on an otherwise clean rag. She stared at it wondering what to make of it. Normally, her first day was a heavy flow. She counted on her fingers and stood stunned realizing her courses should have started a week ago. Stabbing her legs into breeches she bound her painful breasts, shoved her hair into her hat and lifted her leg to slide down the banister. Opting instead to walk down the stairs, she wondered if this was her first time descending to the first floor on her feet.

Claire waited as long as she could before walking into the vineyard to request time with Cho. He looked up from his vine and dropped his bag to rise and bow. Through crimson cheeks from embarrassment, Claire told Cho exactly what was happening. She laid on the mats in his home and nodded her head at the packet of needles he held up. She squeezed her eyes shut and was surprised when Cho asked her to sit up. She felt nothing and wondered if he decided not to do the treatment. It took little time for Cho to see the direction of her Chi.

Claire stared at Cho with wide eyes that started to tear up. She was afraid to ask but could not stop the tears. Cho took her hands, “there is life in your womb Mistress, your Chi flows through it. Congratulations.” He helped Claire to her feet and saw the light shining in her eyes. This child would be blessed with the love of a strong mother, he thought. He smiled to himself and returned to the vineyard.

Misses Crook watched the mayhem from the window, still a bit heartbroken by Ned’s departure. She watched Claire walk slowly toward Jamie and rolled her eyes sternly at her breeches and hair piled under a hat. Lost in her own thoughts, she watched Claire whisper in Jamie’s ear and he dropped to his knees hugging her. Misses Crook’s hand flew to her mouth as her eyes went wide. “Sweet Jesus, there’s a bairn comin!”

Jamie held his beautiful wife in the middle of the chaos and felt his tears of joy coming. He led Claire to their rooms and stripped her before pressing his head to her abdomen. He was flushed and starry-eyed, suddenly pulling her to the bed and tucking her in protectively. Claire was giggling so hard she could hardly speak. When she would try to climb out from the quilts he would pull her back with a determined, happy face.

“Jamie darling, I will not take to my bed, there is too much to do and I am very healthy. Please don’t worry or it will be a very long year, my love.” She kissed her hero with all of her heart and they locked eyes for a long minute. “Now, get back to work before all the men decide to abandon the grapes as you just did.” He hugged her once more and ran from the room.

Fergus had a hooked tool and his canvas bag was a bit longer than he was, so he dragged it from one plant to the other. When he saw Jamie he reached clear to the bottom and pulled out a cluster triumphantly. Jamie looked at the sun bouncing off the sharp edge of the hook and wondered if this was a good idea, and then laughed at his ignorance. How could he ever assume control over this weird and wonderful little kid. Fergus laughed and pointed at Jamie, “milord was sleeping and I read the number and pulled the bell. It is lucky I am here!”

“Aye, very lucky. Now get back to work.”

[samwrights]

Plastic Flowers [ 3 ]

Chapter 3: When My Mind is Uncertain, My Body Decides

Warnings: Language

Escaping from the orphanage, the Exemplary Home for Girls, at a young age, Hitoko “Kohta” Ohta was never very good at socialization, especially considering the copious amounts of bullying and hateful remarks she received for being ‘quirkless’ and having such a volatile soulmate mark. If the children she grew up with knew that she was running a cafe and bar, they would all be shocked at her running such a social career. While she was fairing well, deep down Kohta knew handling certain situations was still incredibly difficult for her. So when she was met with her soulmate once again, Hitoko could only speak what was on her mind with no filter. “Didn’t I tell you I never wanted to see you ever again?”

Katsuki was taken aback at the bite of her words. That...wasn’t how he pictured this conversation was going to go. The two of them were soulmates—shouldn’t this woman be falling to her knees and kissing his feet like his fans? How was he supposed to react to her abrasive nature? The only way he knew how, obviously. By getting angry, or rather snarky. “Yeah yeah, whatever. You knew that wasn’t going to be our last encounter, soulmate.” The word slipped from his lips with such distaste. Hearing the word so spitefully filled Kohta’s chest with dread, a small frown tugging at her lips. In this current moment, she could feel her deep rooted fear of an ill relationship with her soulmate coming to fruition, but did her best to ignore the heavy feeling. Not like she wasn’t goading it with her own negative contributions.

“I don’t really care.” Kohta replies as nonchalantly she could muster, turning her attention back to her other bar guests as an attempt to look away from his unnerving crimson eyes. She wished she hadn’t. Apparently her regulars had heard the “S” word slip from the blonde’s mouth, now each of them were overzealous and filled with excitement.

“Oh, come on Kohta! Give him a chance!” One of her regulars jeered, causing her to roll her violet eyes. If she did not dearly love the older gentleman sitting at her bar top, she would have tossed his old graying ass out for making any form of commentary. But the man had been coming to her for as long as she had open; she could almost consider the nameless man a friend. Almost.

“Fine, what do you want?” Her arms folded over her chest impatiently as she stared at Bakugo. She couldn’t explain to herself, or anyone else for that matter, the sudden change in mood from jovial to hostile or why her soulmates presence pissed her off so much. Most likely due to him being the reason she had to close for so long, or least that’s how she rationalized it in her own mind. Being so out of touch with her emotions, it was challenging for Kohta to understand that her response to fear was anger, very much like the young, scowling blonde mad that stood in front of her.

“Just another round for Eijiro and I.” For what was probably the first time that he could ever recall, Bakugo was intimidated. It wasn’t that Kohta was scary, but the fact that she was just so brash and short with him left him the slightest bit of discomfort. What if...what if they really didn’t end up bonding and he did end up completely losing his quirk? No matter how much Bakugo tried, he could not parish that thought from rearing its ugly head over and over. When the brunette returned with two tall beers, Katsuki made sure to leave twenty five hundred yen on the counter, a small token of kindness, in attempt to soften her seemingly stone heart. Confused, Hitoko looked at him with furrowed brows.

“It’s only twelve hundred?”

“The rest is for you. Come find me when you can catch a break.” Was all he said before fleeing back to his table over where the pool table once stood and returning to his now seated best friend. As Hitoko stood completely dumbfounded, her regulars sitting at the bar top began hollering and cheering at the gesture of goodwill. Flustered, she turned away, putting the entirety of the bill into the register without taking the change out of the drawer as a security measure. Kohta began wiping down her counters, trying to ignore the words of encouragement coming from her customers to take a break and spend some time with her newly discovered soulmate. As if they couldn’t notice she was still ignoring the blonde.

“Come on, Kohta go talk to him!” One of her female patrons shouted, her husband clapping her on the back in pride as she spoke. The brunette only laughed it off, telling them teasingly to quit it before she cut them off for the evening. She didn’t want to talk to him; she was still inexplicably angry with him and the fact that he had the audacity to show up in her cafe after being kicked out was the icing on the cake for Kohta. While neither the brunette woman or the blonde man could believe the other was their predetermined life partner, whatever omniscient power up above that branded them as such must have been laughing at the two of them—their stubbornness and temper only a taste of their similarities. It was only a matter of time until they discovered that.

“Dude, will you quit looking so antsy?” Kirishima asked his best friend out of annoyance and concern. Since Bakugo had returned from the counter, the blonde had not stopped fidgeting once. He was constantly tapping his fingers along the wooden top of the table, checking over his shoulder, and anxiously bouncing his foot on the footrest of the bar stool he sat upon. “She’ll come to you.”

“Tch.” Katsuki let out a click of his tongue before letting his nervous ticks continued to get the best of him. “Why would I care if that shitty girl comes to talk to me or not?” Kirishima grimaced, the red head resting his chin on his palm as he looked to his friend in worry. Despite nearly two months passing since the soulmates had their first encounter, Eijiro noticed the most subtle changes in Ground Zero's behavior. With him being more on edge, Bakugo was more irritable than normal. And while Eijiro was no therapist, he had no doubt meeting his soulmate was stressing Katsuki out. If it were only an internal issue, Kirishima might not have been as worried as he was. But considering that the blonde hero's explosions were slowly weakening, as he learned from a recent training session, and he started losing control over them—Kirishima knew Kohta and Bakugo needed to at least talk, and soon.

"Hey, Kohta. Nice to see you again." Speak of the devil, Kirishima thought. The red head responded nonchalantly, not picking his head up from its rested position as the owner casually sauntered over.

"Thought I told you little shits to never come back to my bar, Kiri." The brunette woman's tone wasn't as snippy as it had been before. While Kirishima could tell she was joking, Bakugo looked as rigid as ever at the sound of his soulmate's voice. It wasn't as whimsical as he had imagined, now that Bakugo was truly listening. Picking it apart, he noticed her voice had much more soprano to it than he remembered, almost as if it wasn't as feminine as his memory recalled. It was almost off-putting; or rather Bakugo was searching for reasons as to why he had chosen not to pursue his soulmate. In his own mind, it was his choice as to why they weren't bonded—there was no way she chose it to be so. Every girl wanted him, Kohta was and would be no different.

"Yeah, yeah." Red Riot waved his hand in disregard before sitting up straight. "I don't think I had the chance to properly introduce you two last time." Kirishima would be damned if he wouldn't be a proper wing-man to his best friend, especially in such a crucial moment. "Kohta, this is my friend Katsuki Bakugo. And Bakubro, this is Hitoko Ohta."

"My friends call me Kohta." By now, the brunette was leaning on her elbows atop the boys' table, taking up the space to assert her presence. It seemed she was more willing to cooperate, to them at least, but by no means was Kohta going to play nice. "For now, you can call me Ohta." A click of Bakugo's tongue left his throat as a sign of frustration. He knew what she was doing—attempting to establish her dominance. If she thought she was calling shots in this relationship before they had even bonded, he would need to put her in her place. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Kohta droned sardonically as her dull purple eyes flickered between the two pro heroes.

"Just grabbing a drink, is that a crime?" Bakugo drawled, taking a sip of his tall beer.

"Funny that you come here of all places." Kirishima looked at Bakugo in expectance, as if trying to lead him into speaking with his own soulmate. How had this stupid man been top of the class at one point, the red head wondered. For someone so book smart and academically disciplined, Bakugo was incredibly dense. When Ground Zero said nothing, the red head interjected to keep conversation going.

"Well, Bakugo here didn't really get much of a chance to talk to you last time. I figured you two needed some time to chat." The unbound pair both snapped their attention to the red head, Katsuki giving him a glare harder than Red Riot's quirk, while Kohta just looked nearly disgusted. The thought of forced conversation that lead to feelings of any kind made her cringe.

"We don't need you to hook us up, ass hat." Bakugo snarled, the collective pronoun not going unnoticed by the other man at the table. However, Kohta stayed quiet as she felt the power of her quirk beginning to wane. When she glanced over, she could see the lifelike qualities in her favorite mannequin, Jiroda, was beginning to dull. The movements of the doll were becoming more stiff and rigid, her skin was losing color and beginning to shift to the cloth texture of the mannequin she was created from. Kohta needed to put the doll to rest, and fast.

"He's right, Kiri. If we want to bond, we'll figure it out. But right now, I gotta go." She said hastily before heading back to the bar counter. The boys watched her as she left, Katsuki not missing the motion of a male patron’s hand gently caressing the curve of her ass under her black skater dress as she walked by their table. Out of instinct, Bakugo stood up, though he was unsure where the sudden urge to deck the guy in the teeth came from. Before he could even take a step in her direction, Kohta stopped and snapped her head around, a fierce burn in her eyes as she glared. "Can I help you?" She seethed, poison dripping from every letter.

The man she turned to face was an older gentleman, possibly ten years her senior, with a salaciously wicked grin on his face. "Maybe. I know I can definitely help you." Kohta let out a quiet snarl as her heart raced with rage.

"You got thirty seconds to leave before I force your ass out of here." She bit back.

"What are you gonna do about it, princess?" The man sneered again, standing to tower over her. In addition to his age, the nameless man before her had a good two feet on her height, as well as at least a hundred and fifty pounds on her. Needless to say, he could kick Kohta's bony ass without a doubt. Still, Kohta wasn't going to let this perverted old man who stroked her bottom do that to her in her own bar. Despite the nearly depleted energy of her quirk, Kohta attempted to summon a male mannequin to act as a body guard for her, but she failed to feel the metaphorical thread connecting her to an inanimate doll in her utility closet.

"I think the lady asked you to leave." The gruff voice of Bakugo could be heard from behind the bar owner as he gripped her shoulder tightly, his calloused fingers digging into the bare skin of her arm. Hitoko turned around to see the blonde bomber standing mere inches away from her, a cross look on his face. "You might wanna scram, cocksucker." The older man just let out a scoff before reaching for Kohta's wrist.

"Let me know when you're done playing with boys—you look like you could use a real man in your life." Before anybody could blink, Katsuki grabbed the man's arm that was reaching for his soulmate with bone-cracking force.  The nameless man began barking at the blonde to let him go, though neither he or his soulmate paid attention.

"I've got this, Hitoko." Bakugo's voice was low and thick with anticipation. She was torn between going to get her slowly crumbling mannequin away from public eyes, but Kohta very much wanted to see a fight break out between her soulmate and this creep. With her better judgment, she reached a thin hand up on her shoulder to take Bakugo's hand off of her shoulder.

"Just throw him outside; I don't need you wrecking my bar again." Kohta paused before looking at the nameless man once again. "Thanks for taking out the trash for me." As soon as she walked off to deal with her issue with her quirk, Katsuki faced the man once again before reaching for the collar of his shirt.

"Well you heard the lady, let’s go."

"If you think I'm going anywhere with you kid, forget it." With fast acting reflexes, a small explosion went off in Bakugo's free hand before he slammed the pervert's head onto the wooden table he sat at.

"It wasn't a fucking suggestion. Now get the fuck out of here!" His patience was running very thin, almost to complete nonexistence as he picked the guy up by the collar. A bit of blood stained the table from where the man had hit his head, which Kohta would have his head for, but Katsuki didn't care—this scum of a bastard touched his soulmate. The bar was entirely silent as the blonde bomber carried this man, whom despite being at least double his overall size, straight to the front door and tossed him into the street. Stomping forward, Bakugo gave a swift kick to the stomach to the nameless man left on his hands and knees. "I don't ever want to see your fucking face in here again. And if I ever see your grimy hands on my soulmate ever again," by now, Ground Zero was crouching in front of the creep, who was now overwhelmed with fear and fright. "I will fucking kill you."

When he reentered the bar, an uproar of applause greeted Bakugo, much to his surprise. He had just assaulted a patron of the bar—why were people clapping? The act in of itself should have disturbed him. He was a professional hero, the number two in Japan. And he had just hit an "innocent bystander", so to speak. So why was he filled with undeniable rage at this man who had caressed a woman's butt in public under the skirt of her dress? Because it was wrong, he reasoned. It was sexual assault, unwanted advancements. He would have done it for anybody had he been a witness. It had nothing to do with the fact that this salacious man touched his soulmate. Speaking of which, where was that irritating woman? Crimson eyes scanned the bar top, behind the espresso bar, and out into the cafe; the brunette was no where to be found at the current moment.

"She's in the back, dearie." An older woman called out to him from the bar top. A grumble let Katsuki's lips as he pushed through the swinging door. He wasn't sure what to expect, never actually having been behind the scenes to retail since he started his pro career, but a stairwell to his right, another swinging door to the left and a utility closet dead ahead of him was not what he thought would be there. The utility closet was open, and while he couldn't quite make out what was in there, he could see the hem of Kohta's skirt, her slightly tanned and tattooed legs, as well as her black leather boots.

"Hey, Hitoko!" Katsuki didn't want to startle her, especially after such an incident. Her head whipped around at breakneck speed, her glasses nearly flying off her face.

"Who said you could come back here?!" Panic and alarm coated each of Kohta's words as she put away one of the now blank mannequins she was just using her quirk on. Hoping that Bakugo couldn't see into the dark room, she carefully stepped out before slamming the door shut and locking the closet with the keys that hung around her neck on a lanyard. The heavy breathing that left Kohta's lungs did not go amiss by the blonde as he carefully approached her, despite the heavy scowl on his face and everything in him telling him to run.

"I just wanted to check on you, shit head."

"Well, a-as you can see I'm perfectly fine, so can you please just—"

"You're hiding something."

Hitoko Ohta and Katsuki Bakugo stood in the interconnected stairwell in the back of house foyer of the Upside Down, staring at each other in an uncomfortable manor. The man had accused his soulmate of hiding something, not just from him, but maybe herself and the entirety of society. Kohta looked as if she were going to cry, her anxiety raising her heart rate as she feared her soulmate would learn of her slowly weakening quirk. The quirk she had lied about ever having—and now she could barely hold one mannequin for more than twenty minutes. Crazy to think just a month or so ago, she was able to control six dolls to such a grandiose heist; now it was taxing to even do one. "I-I'm not hiding anything." She stumbled.

"Yeah, you are." Katsuki snarled lowly. Every step he took closer, she took one step back. It was the first time he took notice to how intimidated she truly was by him. Which, in his mind, didn't make sense. She was bold and brash and didn't take shit from anyone, much like himself. But now here she stood with her back to the utility closet door, and Katsuki blocking her exit. He felt...guilty. Or maybe it was shame? Shame that he was the one scaring his soulmate this much. "Look," his voice dropped its usual bite. "You don't have to tell me now. But you will, eventually."

"And how can you be so sure?" She bit back. With Kohta feeling backed into a corner, her fight or flight response began kicking in. With no where to run, she had to retaliate.

"Because we're soulmates, idiot!" A small gasp left the brunette woman's lips as Bakugo grabbed her shoulders tightly. And despite the volume that his voice crescendoed to, there was no hostility in his tone. As her ears processed his words, he almost sounded as if he were imploring her. "It might not be a big deal to you, with you being quirkless and shit, but this creates a problem for me. So I have to know," Katsuki's head was hanging low enough that his blonde strands tickled her cheeks, muffling his words slightly. Still, Kohta could hear him clear as day with how close they were. She was gnashing on the skin of her lips as a nervous habit. "Will you at least try this out?"

"'This'?"

"Us, idiot. Don't make me fucking spell it out for you." Katsuki grit his teeth, feeling absolutely weak. He felt stupid, embarrassed, small, every negative emotion under the sun—he felt ever fiber, every cell of it down to the core of his being. "I-I won't be able to be a pro anymore. I'm starting to lose control of my quirk because we haven't established our bond." With his voice barely above a whisper, he bared the raw emotion that coursed through his veins. Even more so, Kohta could actually feel it. She figured it was mostly due to their close proximity, owing none of it to the fact that their souls were resonating on an ethereal plane.

"F-fine." Her word faltered as spoke, attempting to sound stern or even annoyed, rather than the fright that actually came through. "So how do we do this?" Her question was innocent enough; being an orphan, Kohta never got a formal education aside from the basics of language and arithmatic, especially after she escaped from the home. She never received sexual education which, by national and international standard, included how to solidify soulmate bonds. Not that she tried to soothe her curiosity or seek out her own answers, but she refused to take responsibility for that.

"Wait, are you shitting me?" Katsuki asked. How did she not know?! But she was merely silent, looking at him completely deadpanned. "Fuck, you're serious." He grumbled. By now, his crimson eyes were staring into hers, the hue reflecting in her large glasses. "Fuck, okay. You have to tell me now if there's any bit of doubt that you wanna do this." Between his sentences, Bakugo let out small aggravated sighs. What omniscient, all-knowing being was laughing at him, he wondered. Not only did his soulmate not like him, he had to entirely explain the concept and process of their predestined partnership to her.

"Of course I have doubts about this." Kohta said finally, gently picking his large hands off of her shoulders. While still scared, she stood tall and stared at him with bravery burning in her violet orbs. "I never went to school, never had crushes on boys, I don't even fully know how a soulmate partnership works—just that everyone has one and about the markings. Otherwise, I have been on my own for the last ten years, and I've been getting by just fine. But," Kohta gingerly took his calloused hands in her own, holding them very loosely only by his pinkies. "You're my soulmate, right? I trust that you wouldn't intentionally threaten me, I guess. And if you do, well…" Her voice dropped a couple octaves as she broke eye contact with him. “I’m a glutton for punishment; I’ve always been hellbent on self destruction.”

Bakugo wasn't sure if it was her defining words that caused his next actions, or if it was the ever growing anticipation is what did him in. But one moment, the two of them were hand in hand, the next his hands were holding her hips and his lips were on hers with bruising force. A fire ignited within the two of them individually as the burning pain of their soulmate marks finally dulled. At first, Kohta wasn't sure where to place her hands, but finally settled for wrapping them cautiously around his neck. Katsuki had never felt such an electrifying feeling in his life—and he had been shocked by Denki. With a hunger burning in his belly, he pulled himself as close as he physically could to Kohta, overwhelmed with the need to nearly suck the life out of her.

Kohta threaded thin fingers into his messy blonde locks at the nape of his neck when she felt his tongue tentatively lap at her lower lip. A grumble of pleasure erupted in her throat; is this what it felt like to be kissed? Why hadn't she done this sooner? Had she known, she would have made out with every remotely attractive guy she had close encounters with. Despite how incredibly riled up she became as Katsuki's tongue tangled with hers, Kohta could feel her lungs begging for air. Finally giving in to her need for oxygen, she pulled away breathless and panting.

"You feel that?" Bakugo asked in between his own attempts at catching his breath. When Kohta didn't reply, the blonde gestured down to his left arm where his nearly full red soulmate mark was receding into a faint scar at a snails pace. It was a minute detail, but one he noticed immediately.

"I-I don't get it." Hitoko whispered quietly before looking at her own words, noticing hers began to mirror his.

"The marks start out like black tattoos." For the first time since meeting him, Hitoko heard Bakugo speak without malice or voraciousness marring his words—it was the first time she heard his actual voice. Maybe it was the hormones clouding her thoughts, but she wanted to hear him speak more, even if it were nonsense. To her, his voice held a pleasantly domineering tone. "When soulmates meet, it becomes white and slowly fades into a deep red the longer they go without bonding. We almost ran out of time."

"What would have happened if the whole thing turned red?"

"Loss of control over my quirk was part of it. Some people go crazy if they never bond, some kill themselves." Oh, Hitoko thought. The morose thought of suicide over not bonding with a soulmate seemed like an extremity. Then again, what did she know? Nothing, considering she had never sought out more knowledge on this topic in hopes it would contribute to her avoidance in meeting her own predestined partner.

"So...now what?" Momentarily forgetting that Kohta wasn't educated on the subject, Katsuki rubbed his eyes vigorously in irritation. Truly, he wanted to avoid having to explain the entirety of bonding to her and he would be damned if he had to do it right this second.

"I really don't want to fucking explain this right now." Bakugo said bluntly, though the gruffness had yet to return to his voice. It was...strange. His entire life, he had been so angry, so volatile towards anyone and any thing. But as he stood here, even with such a daunting task at hand, he lacked his typical hostility. For once, he felt calm. "How about you and I talk about this some other time when you aren't supposed to be working?" Realization slapped Kohta in the face—shit how long had the two of them been in the back room?!

"Oh, fuck." She muttered before attempting to regain her composure. "You're right, we'll deal with this later. Now get out of my back room, Bakugo." Blood pounded in his ears as his name left her lips. Despite his previous gripes about how her voice was far from his imagination, his name sounded like a delicacy coming off her tongue. Why did it sound so right, he wondered, as she was nearly out the swinging door in front of them that lead back to the cafe.

"Hitoko." Still using his natural, smooth timbre, Bakugo called out to the brunette woman while trying to grasp one of her wrists that was closest to him. He managed to pull her back to him, effectively spinning her around to face him once more. "It's Katsuki." Was all he said before he leaned down and planted his lips on hers once again. He wasn't sure why he did it, or who was even controlling his actions at this point anymore. It didn't really matter who, it just felt right to him.

The kiss this time around was much more brief, only lasting a fleeting moment before Katsuki pulled away and let Hitoko go. Instead of being flustered as she was previously, she was grinning at him with her prominent cheek bones lifting up her glasses slightly. "Hey, Katsuki. It's Ohta to you." Was all she said before exiting the small conjoining room, leaving him a brush bitter. He would be damned to the ninth layer in hell if she thought he was going to call his soulmate by such a formal, unfamiliar name.

By such a temporary name.

That name was going to change one day.

Plastic Flowers Masterlist

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Thank you guys for checking out this story! I’ll be updating the chapters every Saturday! Chapter title taken from The Front Bottom’s song “The Plan (Fuck Jobs) off their album “Back On Top”.

Taglist:

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Living with a Hybrid Part 7 (Hybrid!Taeyong x Reader)

Summary: You’re giving Taeyong the massage he wanted and end up having a pillow fight.

Contains: fluff

Warnings: none

Wordcount: 3,8 K

A/N: I know all of you have been waiting for the Taeyong and Y/N to take the next step after all this drama. Here it is. There’s gonna be a lot more of this in the near future and we’ll find out more about Y/N past. So look forward to the next chapters.

Enjoy!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

________________________________________________________________

He wanted me to decide where to begin? Well if that was what he wanted than I had to come up with a strategy. I decided to work my way from the top to the bottom starting with his head and then working my way down to his feet. We should probably change locations since the couch wasn’t the best place to give a massage since it was a bit too small.

“How about we move to the bed since it’s bigger and it would be easier for me to massage you?”, I suggested.

“S-Sure”

We stood up and walked into the bedroom. Taeyong sat down on the bed and I positioned myself behind him, kneeling on the bed so that he could rest his head on my thighs while I massaged it. I pulled him towards me making him lay down.

“I will start with your head and work my way down. Is that ok for you?”, I asked making sure that he was comfortable with my plan before I started.

“Yes”, he answered and looked up at me with the cutest smile on his face.

Seriously. How could someone be this damn cute? My heart made a little jump and then continued to beat in a rather fast way.

“Are there any places that you don’t want me to touch or where I have to be really careful?”

I read that hybrids often have spots on their body that are especially sensitive like their ears and tail.

“No. You can touch me anywhere you want to”, he answered.

“I-I mean not anywhere like my…y-you know what I mean”, he added flustered which made me giggle.

It was cute how he was instantly thinking something naughty and turned red like an innocent child. Maybe he was truely innocent even though he always denied it whenever the boys and I made inappropriate jokes that he didn’t really get.

“Ok. I will consider that”, I said trying not to laugh since he already looked annoyed.

I moved my hands to his head and began with softly massaging his sensitive ears. His fur was warm and it had a really nice touch to it. I just now realized that I never really played with his ears before. I would always make sure to not touch them when I pet his head since I didn’t know if he liked it.

Hybrids normally don’t let anyone touch their sensitive body parts. I read that they only allow it when they really trust someone. I even read an article that talked about hybrids that fell into a coma from a sudden contact. It said that there are some hybrid species that fall into a state of permanent shock when they experience unexpected touches or actions. I’ve been catching up on a lot of reading about hybrids since I got to know Taeyong and Haechan. It was really interesting to learn about their habits and nature. For example I found out that cat hybrids like Taeyong especially showed their affection whenever there was time for it. A professor that had been studying hybrids for over 20 years now had concluded that touch starved hybrids would especially show a lot of affection since they didn’t want their owner to experience the same as they had gone through. It was fascinating to learn this much about them.

Taeyong had closed his eyes and began to purr. That was sign enough for me to know that he enjoyed it. After some time of drawing random patterns on his ears I moved on to give him a scalp massage. His purring intensified and I saw goose bumps appearing on his skin.

“Keep doing that. It feels amazing”

I smiled at his praise and applied a bit more pressure on his scalp. He squirmed under my touch and I moved on to his temples and massaged them in circular motions. Taeyongs eyes were still closed and his mouth slightly opened, hums occasionally leaving his lips. It was nice hearing only our breaths and the sound of my hands working on his head. The atmosphere was calm and I really welcomed that.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. As long as you keep massaging me like that”

I giggled at his answer.

“Where were you before Louis? Like were you in an orphanage or did you have a family? I was curious since I’ve been catching up on a lot of reading about your species. I hope it’s not too personal”

“No. It’s ok. You know, I don’t remember much about my childhood so I can’t tell you where I’ve been during that time but I know that I moved to a hybrid school kind of thing after I turned 18. You can think of it like something like a boarding school for hybrids. We would live there and learn just like humans do.”

“So you lived there before getting adopted”

“Yes. Louis was my first owner. I can still remember the day he adopted me. I thought he was a nice guys since he was dressed in nice clothes and looked very healthy and he was really friendly every time he visited. Before you get adopted for the first time you go through an adoption test week. I had to move in with him for a week and if I liked it there, I would get to stay and they would fill the adoption papers.”

“That was before they changed the laws and made your species equal, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So what happened during that test week?”

“Everything went smooth. I had my own room, we would eat together and have fun. The inspector of the school would come over every day to see how I was doing and if he was being nice to me. Nothing happened during that week and after that the papers were filled and signed. I then was counted as property of my owner. The first few weeks were just normal. But I noticed that the mask he had put on all this time until the adoption was done was crumbling into pieces and his real face was suddenly showing. You know what happened after that”, Taeyong explained and his voice had a slight bit of disgust and sadness in it.

“So he was just putting on an act to get them to sign the papers and then move on to being cruel again. What a bastard”

Taeyong laughed at me swearing.

“Don’t laugh. I’m just telling the truth. He doesn’t deserve to be your first owner. Such an asshole like him deserves to rot”

As I was done with his head I leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead. He opened his eyes and looked up at me with a slight blush on his cheeks.

“You know. I don’t consider him as my first owner anymore”, he mumbled, his blush turning a bit darker.

“Aww. Taeyongie. I feel honoured”

“Cutie”, I added and ruffled through his hair which made him giggle.

“Would you lay down on your stomach please?”, I asked and he nodded.

He turned around and positioned a cushion to lay his head on. I moved from my position behind him and crawled over to sit on his thighs.

“Let me know if I’m too heavy”, I said as I sat down positioning myself so that I could reach his back and shoulders.

“You’re as light as a feather”, Taeyong added and purposely let his tail sweep over my face tickling my nose with his fur almost making me sneeze.

“Hey!”, I protested and poked his sides making him flinch and giggle quietly.

“Don’t make me regret that I’m doing this for you”, I warned and laughed as he attempted to do it again.

I grabbed his tail and moved it out of the way rolling my eyes. Taeyong just giggled. As I started to massage his back I noticed that the fabric of his shirt was kind of in the way and it would be more convenient if he would take it off.

“Is it ok if I take off your shirt? It’s in the way and I can reach your tense muscles better without it.”

He hesitated a bit before he answered as if he wasn’t sure if that was really the reason why I wanted to take his shirt off.

“It’s ok if it’s you”, he said which instantly warmed my heart and cheeks.

I was really glad that he couldn’t see my face right now since it was burning with heat. I cautiously moved my hands under his shirt and moved it out of the way. He helped me with taking it off and then laid back down in his original position. I moved my hands over his soft skin from the small of his back up to his shoulders were I softly let one of them run over his neck. I was really glad that the bruise was almost gone now. There was still a slight green shimmer but most of it had healed well.

“You’re still blaming yourself, aren’t you?”, Taeyong asked after some time.

“No. I just thought how glad I am that the bruise is almost gone. It doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”

“No. Everything is fine.”, he answered in a calm voice.

I retrieved my hands from his neck and looked at the skin on his back. There were some small scars that would always be there his whole life. All his other bruises were healed and couldn’t be seen anymore. Even the cut on his cheek had healed without scaring. It would have been too sad if his beautiful face would have been marked for a lifetime. I traced the small scars with my fingers before I began to massage his shoulders. I could feel how tense his muscles were and had to really put pressure on the knots I felt under his skin. From time to time some moans left Taeyongs lips.

“Am I pressing too hard?”, I asked concerned since I didn’t know if he was in pain.

“It’s perfect like this. It hurts but in a good way”, he assured.

I continued to put pressure on his shoulders making him moan even more. Moving on to his back and lower back I worked my way down. Meanwhile he had put his hand in front of his mouth muffling his moans since he felt a bit embarrassed about letting such lewd sounds leave his lips. As I finished his back I moved on to his legs. I felt a bit embarrassed to massage his butt and tail so I thought I’d rather skip those body parts. I would have better access to his legs if he would take off his jogging pants too, but I didn’t want to make this awkward. I began to massage the outside of his legs moving more to the inside of his thighs. The closer I moved to the inside the more he squirmed and whimpered. I was getting worried and stopped what I was doing.

“Are you ok? It sounds like you’re hurting”

“I’m just really sensitive there. But it’s ok”, Taeyong said turning his head so that he could look at me.

As he saw my concerned face he moved his arm to grab one of my hands. I looked at him.

“It’s ok, really. Don’t worry about me. You’re not hurting me. I would tell you if it would hurt”, he assured and stroked the back of my hand with his thumb.

“Just continue what you’re doing. It feels nice”, he added and let go of my hand.

I continued the massage still always making sure that he was ok. I know I was probably overthinking every move I made but I didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable in any way. I knew that his feet were ticklish, so I was extra careful when I massaged them. Taeyong laughed wholeheartedly when I purposely tickled him as I was done with the massage. He squirmed and grabbed my hands as he turned around to stop me.

“I’m done”, I announced and smirked as I tried to tickle him again.

“You should also pay some respect to your elders. Don’t be so rude”, Taeyong warned which just made me laugh.

“I’m older than you. You should watch your mouth, little one”, I teased and saw his mouth open wide.

“What? How? You still look so young. I would have thought you were at least 4 years younger than I”, he explained shocked and looked me up and down as if he was searching for something to prove that I am not as old as I just said.

“Are you trying to insult me?”, I asked and placed my hands on my hips offended.

“What? No. I’m just saying you look really good for your age”

Now I really felt offended. What got into him to be so damn rude? As I turned away from him, he realized what he just did.

“I shouldn’t have said that, right? God. I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that”

Taeyong scooted closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me closer to him. He nuzzled his head against my neck as I kept ignoring him.

“Don’t be angry at me, please. I really didn’t mean it like that… You can let your anger out on me. I deserve it.”, he mumbled against my neck.

I turned my head towards him in shock and just now realized what he just said. I grabbed his arms from around my waist and removed them just to turn around and look at him directly. His eyes showed no emotion and when I lifted my hands to cup his face he flinched and closed his eyes.

“Never say something like that again. It is not ok to let out one’s anger on someone else and you definitely don’t deserve it. Taeyongie, look me in the eyes”

Even after opening his eyes he still avoided my gaze.

“Taeyong, please”, I pleaded and he finally locked eyes with me.

“Did you think I was gonna hurt you just now?”

He swallowed hard before he nodded.

“You know that I would never hurt you in any way. Don’t ever think that I would change my mind on that. How could you think I would do that to you?”

I really was shocked that he thought that I would be able to hurt him. He shrugged his shoulders and then began to talk.

“I hoped you wouldn’t but for a second I thought you would…I didn’t mean to upset you and I felt so bad as you ignored me. I just don’t want you to hate me, please”, Taeyong said, tears building in his eyes.

“Taeyongie, listen to me. I could NEVER hate you. You are too important to me that I could do that without hurting myself with it. We’re family, ok? And family has got their back, always.”, I explained.

He nodded in agreement and pulled me closer to him. I pulled his face towards me and kissed away the tears streaming down his face. He hugged me tight and nuzzled his head against my neck.

“I like you”, he sniffled, “I like you so much”

My heart skipped a beat for a moment before it started to race like crazy. I hugged him back and softly kissed his bare shoulder.

“I like you too, Taeyongie”

I noticed tears building in my eyes too.

“Should I call you noona now?”, he asked and moved so he could look at me.

“Oh hell no. Please don’t. You can call me anything you want but not noona”, I said already regretting telling him I was older.

“But I wanna call you noona”, he whined.

We looked at each other and bursted into loud laughter. Now both of us were crying of laughter.

“You are such a dork”, I laughed and attacked his sides with my hands knowing how ticklish he was.

“Noona is too”, he smirked while saying this and tried to squirm away from me.

“You really don’t know when to close your pretty mouth, boy”

He giggled uncontrollably while I tickled him. I placed myself on his lap pinning his hip to the bed like this so he couldn’t escape me. After some time he just gave up and let me tickle him without resistance. His laughing face and his little giggles were the cutest things I ever saw and heard. I could listen to those noises forever.

“So you don’t have anything to say anymore?”, I asked smirking, my fingers still lingering on his skin ready to continue to tickle him.

“Nope. I don’t want to anger you, noo-“

Before he could end his sentence I pressed a finger to his mouth.

“I’m telling you. Call me noona one more time and I’ll tickle you to death”, I threatened causing him to just laugh.

“That sounds like a wonderful death”, he declared with a dreamy look on his face.

“How can you still be this cute after being threatened? That’s not fair”, I whined climbing down from his lap.

“I can’t help it. It’s just my face you know”

Taeyong grinned and winked at me. I just grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it in his face. What started as a simple gesture of annoyance quickly turned into a huge pillow fight. Even though this boy was thin and looked like he wouldn’t be that strong he could really throw a punch with his pillow. One hit send me laying flat on the floor. Our laughter filled the room while I tried to escape his attack stumbling over pillows that had landed on the floor. Dodging his attacks wasn’t easy and it got even harder as he equipped himself with 2 pillows. I couldn’t even land one hit on him that even made him tumble just a tiny bit. It was as if I was fighting against a wall. Taeyongs next hit send me landing straight on the bed. He climbed onto my lap and continued to attack me.

“I give up. You won”, I said in defeat holding up my hands.

“Tell me I’m the ultimate pillow fight champion”, he laughed and stopped his attack for a second.

“You are the ultimate pillow fight champion”, I exclaimed and saw him put down his pillows.

“Could you now get down from me?”, I asked trying to stand up again.

“I could. But I don’t want to”, he grinned and placed his hands on my shoulders keeping me stuck on the bed.

“You know that I could still reach your hips and tickle you if I wanted to get rid of you right now?”

“Oh. You wouldn’t dare!”

“You wanna see?”

I moved my hands to his hips and he even began to giggle before I even touched his bare skin.

“I didn’t even touch you yet”, I laughed and just rested my hands on his hips.

His cheeks flushed and he let go of my shoulders letting me sit up. Taeyong still didn’t move so he was still sitting on my lap his hands now resting on his thighs. His tail was wagging behind him excitedly and he looked at me with big puppy eyes. I booped his nose and saw his mouth form into a smile.

“Aren’t you a cutie”, I said, petting his head.

He closed his eyes and began to purr. Taeyong pushed his head against my hand and moved my other hand to cup his face. I smiled at the cute gesture and quickly pecked his nose. He opened his eyes and looked at me. I saw his gaze wander from my eyes down to my lips and back up. He suddenly leaned forward and quickly pecked my lips before he moved back again. His cheeks were just as red as mine right now.

“I-I’m sorry.”, he stuttered and tried to get down from my lap but I stopped him.

“Don’t be. It’s ok”, I said and smiled at him.

“We should go to bed. I’m tired”, he mumbled, climbed down from my lap and grabbed his pyjama.

He somehow seemed to be in a bad mood right now. Should I have said something else after the kiss? It was just so sudden and unexpected that I didn’t know how to react. I changed too while Taeyong already laid down on the bed. As I was done I walked over to my side of the bed and laid down. He was laying with his back towards me. Normally he would instantly come to cuddle with me but it seemed like something was wrong. I scooted closer and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Are you ok?”, I asked whispering since I didn’t want to startle him.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry”, he mumbled quietly.

“Are you sure? You can tell me everything, you know that”

He stayed silent and didn’t move. I cautiously wrapped my arm around his waist and snuggled against him.

“Is it because of the kiss?”

I noticed his body tense a bit before he nodded and then turned his head towards me.

“I’m sorry for kissing you. I should have asked you if it is ok, but you looked so adorable. I couldn’t stop myself”, he said with an apologetic look on his face.

“Hey. Turn around”

He turned his body towards me and looked at me with his puppy eyes. I quickly pecked his lips and then smiled at him.

“Now were even”

His cheeks turned pink and he quickly hid his face behind his hands. I giggled at his sudden shyness, softly grabbed his wrists and pulled his hands away. His pink cheeks looked absolutely adorable. Taeyong snuggled closer and wrapped his arms around me, laying his head down on my chest.

“Are you happy now?”, I whispered.

“Yes. Very happy”

I heard the smile in his voice and hugged him tight.

“Can I ask you something?”, he mumbled and turned his head to look at me.

“Sure”

“Are you like this to everyone? I mean this affectionate and loving?”, he asked curiosity in his voice.

“You mean like giving out kisses like I did to you and Haechan? No. I’m just like this towards you. You’re special. So there’s no need to be jealous”

“I’m not jealous. I was just curious”

“Sure. Whatever you say, sweetheart. And now we should sleep”

Taeyong snuggled a bit closer before he closed his eyes. I kissed his forehead one last time before I closed my eyes too.

“Good night, Cutie”

“G-Good night”

Next part

[majingojira]

Superman Real-Time Aging Timeline

As a followup to my Batman Timeline, here’s Superman!  

After this, it’s either Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, or The Flash, but I don’t think any of them will be this complex.  After all, it’s Superman! 

A thing to understand, just as a general rule, there are other Kryptonian and Kryptonian like species running around.  Sort of.  There are basic species and then several derivatives, which have since become their own cultures, but all hold to the same general roots of which Kryptonians are a part of.  These include, but are not limited to: The Kree, The Kherubim, The Viltrumites, and The Daxamites.  There are others, of course, but that should give you an idea of what’s out there in the vast reaches of the universe.  

As before, I won’t really go into villains that much (unless people ask me to do a quick rundown, at which point I’ll do my best).  

Another thing to note is that, for the purposes of the crossover timeline, things are a lot less powerful than the comics would have you believe.  A lot of people who engage in crossover timeline work tend to work from a “World Outside Your Window” approach.  So, while weird things happen, they aren’t well known or accepted.  

But we live at a time when flat-earthers and all sorts of reality denial run rampant.  

But the short of it is, ya know how the Golden Age Superman couldn’t fly and could only jump 1/8th of a mile? That’s basically where we are at.  Artillery shells can harm him, but bullets can’t.  He has amazing senses and laser-eyes, but only his descendants who study advanced Chi-altering martial arts can exceed the limits of flesh and they are the ones who truly fly.    

This is also why things that would normally be a joke for Superman to face in a crossover turn out to be actual threats.  

But the comics do exaggerate in part to inflate Superman’s abilities to avoid conflicts if at all possible.  Yes, as Watson to Holmes, DC is to Superman as far as this timeline is concerned.  So, we get to take everything with a grain of salt. 

I mean, remember last time when Cass pissed of the editors? Same deal. 

Okay?  Here we go! 

The Crisis: The Crisis is an Even that is, was, and will occur across the multiverse (or segments of it).  It occasionally seeps into time and space at different points.  Since we are here, it can be assumed that the villain was defeated.  It’s a weird time-space thing.  

Pre-history: A humanoid space-faring race suffers through many rises and falls over several thousands of years of development.  This leaves strange pockets where their descendants become their own race on different planets.  Krypton was one such planet.  A heavy gravity mining colony orbiting a red sun.  The species race, now called Kryptonians, managed to maintain some technology of their glory days but did not explore much outside their homeworld.  They augmented themselves into a race of “Supermen” to survive the harsh environment of the planet and the dangers of mining.  This included nanites which acted as solar energy storage for emergency lighting and welding.  However, the mining had begun destabilizing the planet...

1894 - Hugo Danner born. 

Lex Luthor born.

1900 - The overlord Shao Khan (a.k.a. Mongul) of another realm known as “Outworld” challengers Earth to Mortal Kombat for control over its lands.  He is tricked into doing this, as Earth isn’t another realm, but a whole planet that he could not absorb into his own even if he tried.  For the next 10 years, champions are selected to battle his champions.  10 victories on one side will ‘seed’ territory to the other.  Or, so Shao Khan thinks. 

1910 - Hugo Danner fathers Arnold “Iron” Munroe.  

1916 - Kal-El is born. 

1917 - The destruction of Krypton, leaving only a handful of survivors.  Among them are Kal-EL and the city-ship Argo.  Kal-El is found on earth by the Kent family who adopts him and names him Clark. 

The Argo City ship is affected by space-time and moves slower than Kal-El’s warp rocket.  As it travels to “Pick Up” the stray (Kal’s rocket), they encounter a parasitoid alien life form (”Xenomorph”)that manages to slaughter many of the Kryptonians after assimilating their genetics. Kara Zor-El is the only survivor and manages to destroy Argo before heading to the only family she has left.  The time-dilation effects mean she still thinks of Kal would be a defenseless baby.  (modified Superman vs Aliens) 

1930 - Clark Kent’s growing powers truly start to develop.  He helps out in secret most of the time with the odd ‘disaster’ or two.

Hugo Danner fakes his death.  

1932 - On a visit to New York for the first time, Clark runs into an early instance of true “Supercrime.”  A group of criminals uses terrifying prototype mecha to cause all kinds of hell for law enforcement and people alike.  The young Clark does his best to put a stop to them, but the true end for the gang comes from in a hail of bullets from the vigilante known as The Spider. (Satan’s Murder Machines/Superman (Comic Strip) “The Bandit Raiders of Metropolis”)   

1937 - Clark Kent moves to New York City, THE Metropolis, to work at the Daily Star paper (later renamed the Daily Planet).  He also debuts as Superman later in the year. 

1938 -  The Sarmaks of Mars, responsible for the 1898 invasion of earth, land a small invasion force in New Jersey.  The Military is brought in to put it down, but are unable to accomplish much until a “Man of Action” (Superman) appears and routs the Invaders as they reach the edge of the Hudson River. (The War of the Worlds/It’s That Time Again 3: Even More New Stories of Old-Time Radio  “War Between Two Worlds”/Superman: War of the Worlds).  The event is broadcast partly by Orson Wells but is forced to say that it was all a Halloween radio play by a group of “government agents.” (Funny story, James Moriarity formed a group to aid the Martian Invasion and the thing went so badly for him that he created an organization specifically to make sure no one ever found out how big a mistake he made which eventually evolved into a general ‘coverup’ NGO.  Nothing is more fragile than the ego).  

1939 - Lex Luthor and Superman begin their rivalry.  But at the time it is overshadowed by the so-called “Ultra-Humanite” who desired a new body to host his amazing mind.  Superman and Batman meet for the first time stopping one of the Ultra-Humanite’s plans. 

1940 -  The Masked Vigilante Boom of the 1940s begins in earnest, with many people taking to vigilantism to battle crime. Black Canary and Green Arrow get their start among many others.

The Rocketeer: The Cargo of Doom - The Rocketeer deals with people smuggling animals from Skull Island, Superman lends a hand with the Megaprimatus kong brought with them that the comics later dub “Titano.”

The first Toyman, Winslow Schott, starts bothering people. 

1941 - Formation of the Justice Society.  As a social club for vigilantes and superhumans to unwind in.  They mostly share stories and shoot the breeze, but occasionally teamed up for larger missions, especially when America entered WWII. But it’s primary purpose is networking and recovery.

Many of the Fleischer Superman cartoons occur around this time, except when noted. 

1942 - All-New Collectors’ Edition #c-54 “Superman vs Wonder Woman” - Diana of Themyscira learns about the Manhattan Project and is utterly horrified.  Clark and Diana have a confrontation about it, that does get briefly physical.  They put their differences aside afterward (the threat of a Nazi bomb is a good reason to do so), but Diana starts to grow warry of the American Government. 

1943 - Puck first bothers Superman as Mister Mxyzptlk.  

Clark learns the full story of Krypton and first encounters Kryptonite (World’s Finest #271)

1944 - Superman creates his own “Fortress of Solitude” to hold dangerous things he encountered before it evolved into a general “Home Away from Home” he could visit. 

1945 - The Last Days of the JSA

1946 - Alexis Luthor, son of Lex Luthor, is born.  

1948 - Superman: Terror on the Midway/Mighty Joe Young - A large gorilla is brought from Africa to perform at a nightclub in Los Angeles.  Lois is doing a report on it for the Planet when three drunks manage to get backstage and manage to both get the gorilla, Joe, drunk, but harass him to the point he breaks out of his cage.  The gorilla goes on the rampage, breaking lions out of their cages as he does so.  Lois helps people escape as Clark changes into Superman to subdue the Lions.  He also assists in getting Joe back into his cage as the police arrive to shoot what lions Clark had not yet rounded up.  When the incident goes to court, Clark covers the case. The court, however, rules to have Joe destroyed.  His owner, the nightclub owner, and several others sympathetic to joe engineer his escape -- only to be stymied by a burning orphanage.  Joe’s rescue of the orphans, Superman rounding up the drunks who sparked the conflagration, and Clark’s editorials sway public opinion and Joe is brought back to Africa.  

Clark Kent and Lois Lane wed.  

The House of Un-American Activities starts to target Costumed Vigilantes.  The Justice Society disbanded in response.  Diana Trevor, Wonder Woman, starts working from inside the system to counter McArthy and J. Edgar Hoover.  Subtly and openly, be it the Holiday Girls (secretaries make excellent spies) or secretly abetting other superhumans. Still, most costumed vigilantes retire at this point.  As for the rest… Some are apprehended, others sign up with the government, and others still are killed in FBI Raids.  

As Superheroes are under fire from the government, several class-action lawsuits also hound more public figures of superheroes, and only a few survive with their reputations and resources intact.

1949 - Joel Kent is born to Clark and Lois Lane-Kent.  Clark scales back his Superman work to take spend more time with his family. Joel is born without Superman’s fantastic abilities, but he is better than average almost everywhere else.  

1950 - Jonathan Kent jr. was born to Clark and Lois Lane-Kent.  Jonathan, however, is closer to his father than his brother. This causes some animosity between the boys as they grow older. 

1952 - Richard Tyler, Hourman, is arrested as part of the FBI crackdown on costumed vigilantes.  Very few remain active.  Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Shadow, and The Avenger are the most prominent.  Superman and Wonder Woman working with the Government, The Shadow, the Avenger, and Batman operating outside the law.  

1953 - The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms/Superman “The Arctic Giant”/Batman #104 “The Creature from 20,000 Fathoms”  – A prehistoric monster is awakened by nuclear testing in the arctic and proceeds to swim down to New York, sinking ships along the way. Superman confronts the beast as it lands in New York, driving it off for a moment before the military arrives to deal with the creature. When they manage to injure the creature with an anti-tank weapon, they release a deadly bacterial agent among the populous. Batman (Bruce Wayne) is able to deduce a method for dealing with the agent and the creature hosting it: radiation treatments.  The man who first saw the creature manages to introduce a radioactive isotope to the monster’s system. The creature dies from its wounds in the midst of a roller coaster fire at Coney Island. The film omits the interference of costumed vigilantes, the Batman story, in particular, doing its best to be as far off as possible to the point where it doesn’t even make sense as a Batman story. 

Clark Kent becomes the editor of the Daily Planet after Perry White retires. 

1955-1975 - The Vietnam War. 

1955 - John Henry Irons is born. 

John Wilson and his family are lynched. He survives, dons a mask and grabbing a hammer, he hunts the Klan as the vigilante John Henry.  

David Xanatos born. 

1956 - Clark Kent first discovers the Phantom Zone Projector, a device from his homeworld, and learns of the various criminals held in there, such as Faora and General Zod.  Some of which escape from time to time.  

1958 - John Wilson is killed, but his legend as the civil rights defending, Klan smashing vigilante John Henry endures.  

The malicious data life form known as Brainiac firsts demonstrates an interest in Earth.  

1959 - The Centre incident occurs.  (DC: The New Frontier)

Diana Trevor works out a government organization to better employ multi-mystery-man operations in the future with her at the head and thus limiting access to their identities or technologies by the other branches.  This is often called “The Justice League” or “The Avengers” among other things.  The laws about costumed vigilantism are changed somewhat.  

Kara Zor-El’s rocket finally lands on earth.  The press dubs her “Supergirl” when she joins in the “Family Business” and, being from a highly enlightened society that’s generally moved beyond barriers of gender or race, is extremely frustrated by the primitive mudball that is 1960s earth. 

1960 - Wilson Fisk, who often claims to be a son of Lex Luthor, becomes the “Kingpin of Crime.”

1961 - The first appearance of the Parasite.  

1963 - Incredible Hulk vs Superman - Superman attempts to apprehend the Incredible Hulk, but finds more dangerous foes about. 

1964 - The children and relatives of many World War II heroes; including Jennifer-Lynn Scott (Jade), Iron Munro, Dee Tyler (Phantom Lady II), Tsunami (Miya Shimada, a Deep One), and Artemis Crock (Tigress II, daughter of Paula Brooks, Tigress I) among others; form a short-lived adventuring group called the Young All-Stars or All-Star Squadron. An adventure to the Maple White’s Lost World and meeting Hugo Danner (and his superhuman progeny) ends the team.  Hugo Danner survives the encounter but is left brain-damaged.  His later rampages are given the moniker of “Bizarro.”

Alex Luthor ‘takes over’ as the primary Luthor giving Clark and his family hell. 

1965 - To battle monstrous threats, robotic sentries dubbed “Sentinels” or, more aggressively, “Terminators” are created.  Though defeated early in their lifespan, they are often re-created in various models.  The Data Life Forms these shells attract are often genocidal and highly dangerous.  This is the start of the aggressive timeline of the rogue A.I. known as “Skynet” that continually attempts to ensure its creation and the destruction of humanity. 

1966 - Kara Zor-El changes her moniker to “Power Femme” to coincide with the feminist movement she supports.  The press still calls her “Power Girl.”  She sometimes shows up to aid protests and has several clashes with the police.  And by clashes, I mean “People hurt themselves trying to hurt her while she protects as many as she can.”  It doesn’t help as much as she’d like. 

Darkseid first shows an interest in earth. 

Natalia Luthor, a niece of Alex Luthor, finds herself involved in her uncle’s business when she clashes with Supergirl. 

1969 - Lois Lane passes away.  

1970-1971 - Joel serves in Vietnam, and is generally horrified at what happens.  he does his best to help where he can, but the system works against him.  He rescues many people, one of them, Mei-Li, eventually becomes his wife.  Together, they have a son.  They name him Conner Kent.  The experience mellows him significantly.  He reconciles with his brother. 

1970 - The Kent State Massacre occurs.  Kara takes it very hard, having missed the protest to deal with other disasters.  

Jack Nimball takes over as the second Toyman. 

1972-1977 - A covert war against various demonic and subterranean attackers is waged primarily across east Asia, the front line of defense being various ‘Super-Robots’ such as Mazinger Z and Getter Robo.  These use a modified ‘spirit engine’ to essentially use raw willpower to make up for what the technology lacked, but it had terrible side effects and the technology was eventually abandoned, if not outright banned. It is likely these helped in the creation of the Biomegas.  

1972 - Lex Luthor passes away.  

1973 - Diana Prince/Wonder Woman and Clark Kent take the time to comfort each other after the deaths of their spouses.  This results in the birth of Athena Prince/Eiko Megami.  She is raised primarily in Japan for the education system.  Her power is best described as “Ungodly.”

Birth of Biko Daitokuji/Kiri Fujikawa, daughter of Tony Stark and Rumiko Daitokuji/Fujikawa (last name dependent on adaptation).  They do not marry but keep open ties to each other.

1974 - Jonathan Kent takes over primarily as “Superman II” Though Clark still helps out where he can. 

1975-1984 - The Biomega War is waged in Japan and in its coastal waters.  It appears to end with the death of Doctor Shinka in 1984.  Parts of him, however, survive, and biomega drones, beasts, and kaiju occasionally rise up from the depths after his defeat.  They appear to be derived from the Centre.  

1975 - Karen Kent Jr, named for her aunt, is born to Joel Kent and Carol Star-Kent.

David Xanatos receives instructions on how to become rich from his future self, as well as the coins to do it.  

Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man: A Duel of Titans - Superman (Clark Kent) and Spider-Man (Peter Parker) are tricked into fighting each other by their foes, Doctor Octopus and Lex Luthor. The two heroes quickly team up and defeat the evildoers.  

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #9 “Truth, Justice, and Scooby Snacks” - Clark Kent brings in Mysteries Inc. to help solve a haunting at the Daily Planet. 

1977 - Jonathan Kent trains with Muhammad Ali to better handle opponents who are as strong or stronger than himself.  

1980 - The being known as Lobo first appears on earth.  

Shao Khan challenges earth to Mortal Kombat and picks up an unexpected “Kombatant” - Jonathan Kent.  Appalled by the entire thing, he, as Superman, smashes not just the competition, but the entire contest of Mortal Kombat that cycle.  The whole thing is thrown out, but Shao Khan is infuriated by this insult.  Since the contest is considered a wash, his win streak remains unbroken...

Spider-Man and Superman: The Heroes and the Holocaust - Doctor Doom has a plan, involving the Parasite, Wonder Woman (Diana), The Hulk, and Superman (Clark).  The timely interference of Spider-Man, however, disrupts his plans for world conquest.  

1982 - Natasha Irons, daughter of John Henry Irons, is born.  

The first true Arm Slave, the M4, is developed.  Military use of giant robots (they tend to max out at 8 to 10m tall without exotic materials).  

David Xanatos has his first clash with Superman in one of his dealings.  The comics dub him “Lex Luthor” in many of his appearances. 

Superman has his first encounter with a Banshee.  

1983 - The “Doomsday Plan” to destroy several different superheroes begins forming.  It culminates in elements from Project Metalbeast/Weapon X and Project Cyborg being applied to the original Mr. Hyde and lacing his body with radioactive substances such as Kryptonite.  They dub this creature “Doomsday.”

The Terminator - The Skynet timeline sends two robotic assassins after its greatest foes.  Against John Connor, it sends a T-800 Terminator. Against the Academy of the Strange/The X-Men/The Doom Patrol, it sends TN-001 Nimrod.  

1984 - Superman Annual #11 “For the Man Who Has Everything” - Shao Khan/Mongul attempts to get revenge on Superman, but is stopped by the combined efforts of Wonder Woman, Batman, and Robin.  

1986 - Doomsday is unleashed.  Superman I and Power Girl I are crippled.  Superman II is killed.  The monster is killed and, in the light of the full moon, Hyde rejects the implants and continues on his horrible path restored to his former pre Doomsday glory.  In the wake of the tragedy, Conner Kent tries to fill in for his Uncle and Grandfather and is dubbed “Superboy.”  John Henry Irons creates a powered armor for himself and helps out as “The Man of Steel” or just “Steel.”   The Skynet timeline also sends an agent, a “Cyborg Superman” to try and defeat its future foe.  

1987 - Biko Daitkouji gains a controlling interest in her father’s company. 

Project A-Ko - The daughter of Superman and Wonder Woman, under the pseudonym “Eiko Megami”, or just A-Ko, enrolls herself in a Japanese school, where she meets up with (and gets into a rivalry with) “Biko Daitokuji”, the daughter of Tony Stark.  An intense rivalry develops over a ‘friendship’ one has and the other desires.  It eventually devolves into a routine of Biko building a large machine or powered armor and getting into a fight with Eiko before school on a regular basis.  Even an alien invasion (a single rescue ship causing havoc over one city) goes unnoticed until the target of their friendship is revealed to be their target.  They put aside their differences briefly to get her back.  The alien ship is crippled and can’t leave without heavy repairs.  The aliens may be the Zentradi from the Macross series – the all-female Meltrandi side of their species at least.  Its timeline placement is only here due to another crossover cameo and it may be set in the year 2009, but the only real available/likely time for both the character parentage to occur places it here.  The newspaper her father is seen reading contains a reference to the Fleischer Superman short “The Bulleteers”.

Project A-Ko: The Plot of the Daitokuji Financial Group – 3 weeks after the events of Project A-Ko, during summer break, Biko and Eiko continue their rivalry as Biko’s father’s company tries to find the alien ship and raid it for technology.  Unfortunately, every agency imaginable interested in alien technology trips over themselves trying to get the technology, and they end up with nothing once they anger Biko.   The aliens once again manage to escape and hide amongst the populace, resigning their fate to earth until rescue can come.  Eiko’s father is once again seen reading a “Daily Plenet” newspaper with a story discussing another Fleischer Superman short (the very first one, in fact).

Predator

Superman vs Predator - When the “Predator” self-destructs, his ship does not. when an alert signal is sent, another Predator comes to earth to clean up the mess but finds humans using the technology to insidious ends, as well as a worthy opponent: Superman (Conner Kent).  In his first real big case, Conner is kept off-balance by the experienced hunter, but the plot is foiled and Conner manages to defeat the predator.  

1988 - Karen Kent Jr. starts acting as Supergirl II. “Cir-El” is created by a cloning project.

Biko Daitokuji, in an effort to impress someone, starts acting more heroically and takes the moniker “Iron Woman” (as the band Iron Maiden didn’t want the name on a superhero).   She also sometimes refers to herself as “Rescue.”

Project A-Ko: Cinderella Rhapsody – Biko and Eiko clash again over summer break, but this time over a guy.  Ciko, the girl who had their ‘friendship’ earlier, feels left out until it turns out the guy Eiko and Biko are chasing likes Ciko instead of them.  The JSDF is called out over the two girl’s squabbling, including weapons employed against the Frankenstein Brothers Sanda and Gaira (War of the Gargantuas). A brief appearance from the leads of the anime/manga Yawara! The Fashionable Judo Girl occurs in one scene where Eiko is working at a fast-food restaurant.  They were customers. 

1990 - Project A-Ko: Final – Kei’s arranged marriage drives Eiko and Biko into more of a tiff than usual, but they are left to themselves when a battle group of ships finally come to rescue the trapped aliens and their princess Ciko.  She is taken back home and the fleet leaves.

Mortal Kombat - Shao Khan is defeated in Mortal Kombat.  

Superman and Batman vs Aliens and Predator - This story is a mess, but here’s what is known from it: Batman (Bruce Wayne Jr.) and Superman (Connor Kent) are drawn into the ritual hunting of some Xenomorphs by Predators on earth.  It goes sideways, Batman and Superman intervene and help the predators get back home with a “And Don’t come back!” message.  The Predators take it as a challenge. 

1991 - Mortal Kombat II - Shao Khan decides to just invade the earth anyway.  He does so while EIko Megami is on vacation.  The Invasion ends swiftly and Shao Khan slain.  This forces a change in how the magical realms handle their conflicts.  A year later, the Unseelie Accords are adopted by most major supernatural ‘nations’.  

1994 - Karen Kent Jr. becomes Power Woman/Power Girl II. Conner Kent becomes “Superman” in the public eye at long last. 

Arm Slave technology filters down to the public sector.  Heavy construction mecha, known as Labors begin to see use in Japan and later the United States.  These machines are 6 to 10 meters in height.

1995 - The first known instance of Labor-based crime occurs.  After this, police forces with heavy labor use in their districts adopt Special Vehicles Units, police squads that pilot labors, to counter labor crime.  These “Patrol Labors” eventually get nicknamed “Patlabor” Military contractors see this as an excellent testing bed for many technologies that would later be employed on military labors and arm slaves.

Conner Kent and Cassandra Sandsmark wed, but she keeps her name as is. 

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Superman vs Terminator - Parallel to the events of T2, Terminators are sent after another foe Skynet foresees--Superman (Conner Kent).  Working together with Sarah and John Connor, Superman is able to put down the threat from the Skynet timeline, as well as finish it off in the future.   At least, one future...

Shock-Jock Leslie Willis becomes Livewire. 

1996 - An angel with the ‘human’ identity of Linda Danvers aids the Super-family and becomes known as Supergirl III.

Buffy Anne Summers is called as the next Vampire Slayer.   

Wilson Fisk passes away, and his mantle as Kingpin of Crime is taken up by “Gentleman” Johnny Marcone.  

The formation of “Young Justice” - a friendly hangout of many second and third-generation superhumans.  Members include Conner Kent, Cassandra Sandsmark, Tim Drake, Carrie Kelly, Helena Bertinelli Jr, and Bart Allen.  With many others joining the group as time goes on.  Their exploits are occasionally disseminated as either the “JLA” or “Young Justice” depending on the tone of the adventure. 

1997 - David Xanatos, after marrying and having a son, reforms. 

1998 -  Superman/Gen13 

Savage Dragon/Superman -  Superman III (Conner Kent) and Savage Dragon work together on a case in Chicago involving criminals being mind-controlled by parasitic worms. 

Superman/Savage Dragon - Superman and Savage Dragon battle a New God known as Killroy.  

1999 - The third generation of Arm Slaves begins the prototyping phase.  The development of the Lambda Driver alters the development of this mech.  Many of the early bits of technology are taken from prototyping the technologies in police Labor units.

The vampire known as Angel sets up “Angel Investigations” to help the helpless.

Hiro Okuamura attempts to be a “Heroic” Toyman.

JLA/Witchblade - Sarah Pezzini, wielder of the Witchblade, goes to the “Justice League” for help understanding her artifact (primarily Cassie Sandsmark).  The Witchblade then jumps around the group’s female members to find ‘better’ hosts before Sarah shames it into coming back to her.  

2000 - Linda, has taken to calling herself “Lee” leaves the material world behind and moves to the mystical between-worlds city of Bette Noir and eventually becomes its ‘mayor’.  

Conner Kent and Cassandra Sandsmark/Wonder Woman III have a son together, Jon Kent III.  

Natasha Irons takes over her father’s mantle as Steel II.   

Superman III (Conner Kent) confronts the darker actions of his contemporaries who call themselves “The Authority” ... and schools them.  (“What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and The American Way?”)

2003 - Cir-El/Mia Kent is adopted by Conner Kent and Cassandra Sandsmark, starts operating as Supergirl IV.

Sunnydale is destroyed and the number of Vampire Slayers goes from a single lineage to over 2000 at any one time. 

The Darkness/Superman - Superman confronts the current wielder of the Darkness, Jackie Escatato.  

JLA/Cyberfoce - An informal group of heroes aid a covert cyborg team with some cyborg-zombies.  

2004 - Fallen Angel Reborn- In order to regain her lost powers, the Old One in a Human Shell, Illyria, travels to Bette Noir to reclaim her icons, and battles Lee the Fallen Angel for them.  Illyria learns something about her new state and accepts that she, herself, has changed. 

The Circle of Black Thorn (also known as The Pride) and Wolfram & Hart are defeated by a group of Runaways, the vampire Angel and his allies.  Angel and his cohorts are caught in a temporal loop as punishment while the children escape.  Massive destruction is initially wrought, but undone via time loop. Many people in LA have vague memories of what happened, eventually leading to the production of the film “Last Angel in Hell” starring Nicholas Cage. 

DC Comics insists Mia wear a blond wig to better display the “Iconic” supergirl.  She really doesn’t like the new look.  

2005-2015 - The Biomega Kaiju menace trickles through with various attacks until it comes to a head in 2015 when it revives the Centre.  The beast is destroyed, ending the Biomega threat...for now. (Atomic Robo and the Ring of Fire, Pacific Rim)

2008 - The Cellphone camera becomes common.  This means that supernatural events are part of common knowledge, but a combination of factors (not lining up with common religious beliefs, the “Somebody Else’s Problem Field”, charlatans continuing to operate regardless, etc) mean that while people ‘know’ they don’t really do much about it, deny its existence, or think of them in completely wrongheaded ways.

Livewire’s powers are finally put under control and she is allowed to perform “Community Service” with her abilities as a hero.  

2010 - Jon Kent starts adventuring as Superboy III.  

*

And that’s where things have left off.  

[oneofyatosfollowers]

They Had Masks For Faces

Fanfic: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13309462/1/They-Had-Masks-For-Faces

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19177903

The circular room was dimly lit by the fire place. It's red hue illuminated the different masks lining the walls and the animal-shaped furniture. At its center, a large throne with wolfish features held this world's dictator. The man had grown since his first appearance. His once light brown hair turned black and curled, the rough scowl he started showing at the sight of any 'misbehavior', and his nails- now broken and torn- knocked against the metal with restrained patience. The beast, 'Father' as he called himself, didn't turn away from the fire when the child first stepped in the room. The boy, a blonde fourteen year old wearing a green parka, stood shaking at the doorway with a brave face. On his left hung a satchel, filled with a blue-eyed black cat and three items of the dead. The door that connected both worlds, his only escape, was blocked by a closet.

"So...Yukine... you made it out alive." Father said, his voice much darker than the one he used to lore children. "And I see you let vermin into the home."

The wolf chair circled around to have them face each other. Father's once maroon eyes now glowed an angry red as he glared down at the cat Yukine carried with him. In fear and retaliation, the cat hissed at the man, growling even as Yukine shielded him from sight.

"This is Yaboku. My-my friend. I want him with me." Yukine couldn't meet Father's eyes, feeling like a child who just broke a snow globe on the carpet. His father had never looked at him in such a way. Sure, he was a bit of a moody teenager, but he never did anything to warrent such angry disappointment. Not for the first time, Yukine wished he cherished them better.

"Yes. Believe me, I'm fully aware who he is," the man drawled still staring at the cat in what looked to be confusion. "I'm just surprised he let you bring him back here. I found it impossible to be rid of him. But I suppose it makes sense, he surely knows who you are. Even if you don't know who he is."

Yukine's eyes met with the cat's. The stray that everyone says always seems to be around, but never seemed to have an owner. Yukine had found the feline sitting outside his window sill the past couple nights, there to cheer him up when he looked at pictures of the life he moved away from. His fur warm and his eyes comforting. And eyes the type of blue that shine in the dark, pressing him on, always there supporting him even when they're apart. Yukine shook his head and fiercely looked to meet Father's eyes. This man was not his dad. This wicked monster didn't even hold a candle him. Yukine was here to fix the mistake he made. To get his mom and dad back, and apologize for not heeding his dad's warning about going through the door.

Taking a breath Yukine demanded, "I want my paren-"

"You know I love you? Don't you Yukine?" Father stood, he face one of hurt, but his voice was smooth and playful. He stood and began walking towards the boy, the fire casting a shadow over his tattered black clothes. Yukine could do nothing but stand frozen in terror as Father leaned down and caressed his face, humming in amusement. When the red eyes bored into Yukine's amber ones, he was reminded of the Other Suzuha. His new neighbor's counterpart, created by Father to be without the heartbreak of his girlfriend moving away. Like every person in this world, a fake imitation, with matching maroon eyes. But this new friend was the one who took his hand and brought him to meet the 'improved' neighbors. Who laughed and joked with him in the carefree way the real Suzuha just couldn't. The boy who was forced to smile after trying to help.

"This isn't love." Yukine's voice shook, "This is hell."

Father stood straight in shock for a moment before laughing. Something under his clothes jingled as he began circling the blonde.

"Well, as much as I would love to keep chatting with you, we might as well get down to business. I already know you found three of my children."

"They aren't your kids. You stole them!"

"They wanted to come," Father's face was unreadable and his voice devoid of any emotion. "But I suppose they are what pushed my own child to escape." he murmured.

Yukine scowled at the nerve he had to call himself a father before digging into his bag, Yaboku moving out of the way. Yukine held to objects out, hovering over Father's open palm. As quick as he showed them, they were gone, and Father's hand snatched nothing but air. Father's eyes, flickered with hatred, quickly smoothed over to one of question.

"I'm not done." Yukine held the objects and bag tighter, Yaboku's tail flicking around as he gazed between the two. At this, Father laughed again.

"Ah yes, of course! You still have to find your old father and mother." He laughed harder.

For a split second, Yukine was worried he fed them to wolfs like he did to Suzuha, but that would be breaking his own rules.

"So? Where are they?" Father plopped himself back on the wolf throne, allowing Yukine to search the room. The child restrained himself from showing any sign of panic, quickly scanning the room for clues.

"I'll be impressed if you can find them! Especially since you won't have this." Father pulled a small red torii gate from his clothes. Something Yukine's mom made his dad when they were young and this was his childhood home. Something everyone in this god-forsaken house seemed to have. Something his dad gave to Yukine, to protect him while they moved back into his old orphanage. Yukine growled, that torii gate had helped him see the objects of the ghost children. His dad would be upset if he lost it.

Seemingly reading his mind, Father quirked an eyebrow then tossed the wood into the fire place. Yukine took a sharp intake of breath, whispering 'no' to himself as the demon fire devoured the gate with some difficulty. Father stood and gazed down at the object, a wicked smile stretching his face. In his hand, one of the ghost children's items seemed to move. Making sure Father was distracted, Yukine looked to see it was the ribbon that belonged to child known as Mizuchi. The forlorn expression carved into the mask she wore shimmered into view.

"You have to be clever, Yukine, brother told me you were. Father plays by rules that are twisted and bent. He'll win if you try to beat him fairly. He won't let you go." Mizuchi spoke in the wise voice of heartbreak. The one who gave her life to this side and spend her days with her adopted father and brother, helping to lore in children like her. Only later to be killed during escape. Now, a ghost girl with only a stray cat to keep her company. (Who she oddly also called 'brother'). Yukine nodded to her in silent thanks, putting the objects back under Yaboku in the bag. He glanced over at the small door that started it all.

"They're behind there!" Yukine proclaimed loudly, catching Father's attention. The man smiled, standing back at his full height.

"Are you sure about that, Kiddo?" Father drawled as he walked over.

"Yes. I'm sure." Yukine balled his fists up, done with this charade.

Father walked over to the small door, large smile never leaving his face. He pulled a long chain from under his clothes and up over his head. On the end dangled the key, the same one that sat innocently in the kitchen drawer with one eye engraved on it bow. With the flick of his hand, the large bird-like closet moved out of the way. Finally breaking eye contact, he turned to begin cutting the wallpaper away.

Yukine backed away, his breathing starting to pick up. Step one was completed, but now came step two. Without the torii gate, how was he supposed to find his parents? Just as tears began pricking his eyes, Yaboku began wriggling violently. Before Yukine could see what was wrong, Yaboku leaped from the bag and landed softly on the mantel of the fire place.

"Here." the cat growled under his breath, slitted pupils flickering at a long wine bottle with coins. When Yukine tried to return home without them, their hallway mirror had shown his parents, trapped behind glass as coins continually fell at their ankles. Having been in the bottle this entire time, the pile of coins was up to their chests. Yukine had to tear his gaze away when Father made a noise of triumph.

"There now, you see." Father looked back at Yukine, his eyes a blood red. The door opened slowly without help, it's creaking echoing around the room. "It seems you were mistaken, Yukine. I don't see anyone in here! I guess that means I win!" Father stepped lively toward the wall and plucked off a smooth white mask with the eye drawing on it. Yukine put his hands in front of him, eyes darting between the mask. Father's voice only rose in glee, "Once you put this on, you'll be mine for eternity!"

Yukine paniced and looked at Yaboku for help. The cat was frantically trying to push the bottle to Yukine, it tipping dangerously over the edge. Yukine jumped to catch it, saving his parents from falling to their death. Father caught on quick.

"You ungrateful- children should not lie to their parents! You will be punished!" Father roared in an inhuman voice, lunging at Yukine with mask in hand. Faster than he could think, Yukine shoved the bottle of coins in his bag and ripped Yaboku off the mantel.

"Take this!" Yukine yelled back, catapulting the yowling cat at the man's face.

Father cried out in pain as the black stray clawed at his eyes and throat, blood spraying the two of them. Yaboku attacked with a venenge, having told Yukine his hatred for the man and his mutts, even at the best of times. Yukine whispered a quiet apology before dashing to the open door, yanking the eye-key out of the hold. He dropped to his knees, getting his body inside before turning to lock it. Just in time for Father to fling Yaboku at the wall, the cat's body hitting the wallpaper with a thud before he scrambled to his paws with a hiss.

Father held his bleeding face, "Arg! You awful, awful brat! You'll be punished severely when I get my hands on you! Do you hear me!" His lips now pulled back from his teeth, he once again rushed at Yukine with a burst of speed.

Yukine's eyes rivaled a deer's in head lights, and in his fear, forgot what he was doing. Father's red eyes drew ever closer before his hands grabbed hold of the door, his massive frame ramming into the wall. Only then did Yukine snap out it, trying desperately to pry the monster's fingers off the slate of wood. Father growled, stretching his other hand into the portal as he tried to get his hands on the child. Yukine threw himself back, out of man's reach. In fury, Yukine brought his feet up and kicked Father back. Scrambling forward, Yukine grabbed the door and once again tried to bring it close, almost succeeding, till Father crammed his cracked nails through the frame. He cried out in desperation as he pulled the door back open inch by inch. Yukine grunted as his shoulders pulled forward, sweat dripping down his temple.

Suddenly, three pairs of hands ghosted out from his bag, each of them layering his own, adding strength. Together the children pulled and the door crunched Father's fingers, giving way as he yelled and pulled them out, before slamming shut again.

"Hold it!" Yukine commanded the ghosts and he struggled to put the key into the lock. Father threw his body against the wall again and again, the door shaking under his might. With a yell of triumph, the key entered the lock and turned it with a deep click. The hands disappeared and Yukine crawled as fast as he could through the tunnel, the door to his world up ahead.

"Come back! My son! I need you! Please! Come back!" Father wailed. The door drew closer each time his body hit the wall, each bang of a fist, and every scratch of his nails. All the while, his cries repeating like a broken record.

After what seemed like an eternity, Yukine crashed into the portal's end, hands working it open as the gateway grew smaller and smaller. He reached the door to his house- his real house- and threw it open. He leaped into the living room, moving quickly to grab the door and close it.

"Don't leave me! Don't leave me! My son-"

Father's cries were silenced when the lock was slid into place. Yukine's trembling hands placed flat against the door, slowly letting out the breath he seemingly held the entire time.

The wall made a massive boom, pushing Yukine back an inch. He looked at the door, air rushing in and out of his lungs so fast it made him light headed. Sitting up, he stared at the door for a while longer, as if Father was going to bust through at any time. But when he was met with silence, Yukine brought the bag onto his lap. It appeared much bigger now that it was missing a cat, the ghost children's items sitting dull in the corner. The bottle, Yukine noticed, was also missing. His heart leaped in his throat, first at the thought of his parents being trapped, then at the thought of having to return to the other world. He fell back on his hands, his finger tips touching cool metal. Yukine turned to see coins littering the floor. Shards of glass mixed in, a pile of it under the dusty fire place.

The old squeak of the front door echoed through the empty house.

"Yukine?" His mother's sweet voice called through the hall. "Yukine, we're home!"

His father's louder, more obnoxious, voice followed after, "Where you at, Kiddo?"

"Mom? Dad!" Yukine stood on his feet as the two walked into the entry way.

"Yukine? What-" His mother's voice was lost as their teenager ran and pulled them into a family hug. Both of them making noises of surprise.

"Your okay." Yukine mumbled into their chests.

His dad, ever the one for contact, laughed and hugged him tighter, "Missed us?" he teased.

His mom was a bit more receptive, "What's with the sudden hug? Is everything alright? Oh my god, there's glass on the floor!" the family turned to look at the mess his fight had made.

"Aww. My coin bank." His father pouted in that embarrassingly exaggerated way of his. Regardless, Yukine flinched and looked down and shame.

"I-I'm sorry." Yukine spoke to the ground. But his dad wasn't upset. He didn't shout, or throw things, or toss him behind a magic mirror. Instead he just smiled down at Yukine in that soft and bright way of his before ruffling his hair.

"Don't worry about it. Hiyori, can you grab me broom?" he asked. His mother nodded and continued her way down the hall. Yukine stood to look at his dad, really looked. His eyes really did rival that stray's, and his hair was ebony like the fur.

"Don't worry, you'll grow as handsome as me someday." His dad looked at him with a cat-like grin. Yukine blinked out of his haze and felt his face burn.

"Oh please, don't flatter yourself." Yukine's snark didn't have nearly as much bite as it used to. "You just remind me of my new friend that's all."

"A new friend? Hey, that's great! I'm glad you made another one."

"Yeah well, we actually might not be. I don't think he's very happy with me right now."

A beat of silence past as Yukine's worry for the feline ate away at his insides. He had spent a long time there, avoiding Father and his minions with ease, but...

"Im sure it's fine. You're a sweet kid. My kid! He'll come around." his dad patted him on the head again with a warm hand, then made his way back to the front door. "Besides, anyone would be angry if you picked them up and tossed them at their arch nemesis."

His old boots thudded down the front steps as his son stared open-mouthed at his back. Before a noise could present itself, his mother had reappeared.

"Wait, Yato? What about the broom?" she called.

"Just leave it there! I'm getting the rest of the groceries!" His dad responded.

Yukine dashed past his mom, ignoring her call of alarm. If Yukine was hearing right, his dad's voice was a smoother, deeper version of the Yaboku's. And while his dad spoke a lot of nonsense, what he just said hit far too close to home.

"Dad!" Yukine hopped down the steps just as Yato was hauling paper bags out of the back of the car. Yukine stopped just in front of him, still a bit out a breath. Before he could get a word out, a bag was hefted into his arms.

"Perfect. Take those inside, I'm cooking your favorite tonight! To make you feel more at home." Yato said with a smile.

Yukine furred his brows, wishing he could put his dad back in the bottle just to shake him around. His mouth opened in another attempt, only this time he was interrupted with a quiet meow. Both men turned to see a black cat appear out from behind a log. Its crystal blue eyes narrowed with annoyance, directed at Yukine. Yukine smiled sheepishly, waving his fingers at the stray. He felt his dad's eyes on him, a look he hasn't seen since he was small. The same blue eyes looked at him, then the cat, then back at him. Yukine forgot all of his prior questions, instead turning to face the cat.

"I'm sorry I threw you. Thank you for all your help." he said to an expecting face. Not hearing his dad ask for his thank you as he stuck his head back in the car. Yaboku blinked slowly, then strutted over to the car. Yukine struggled to put his bag down as Yato placed more bags on the ground next to Yukine's. The cat stopped not even a foot away, dropping to a crouch with a look like a hunter. For a second, the boy feared the cat was going to attack him as he did Father.

Instead, the cat sprung into the waiting arms of his dad, nuzzling his look-alike with more affection than he ever showed Yukine. Yato returned in kind, stroking the cat rhythmically.

Yato spoke, "You know, Hiyori wanted us to move here. Not me. I didn't expect to come back, ever." Yukine wasn't sure who his dad was talking to, but he refrained from interrupting. "But when she heard Tenjin was renting out the down stairs to adults only, and that Kofuku and her husband were living in the bottom, she insisted." Yato turned his eyes on his son, the cat mimicking near perfectly. "Of course, it took some convincing. It helped that you were my kid."

Yukine could only blink in response. His head starting to hurt trying to painfully piece together his dad's mysterious past. One his mom had said was something he didn't like to talk about. Kofuku, on the other hand, had a bit more to say. Apparently a bit older than Yato, she was in the orphanage when Yato had 'appeared out of nowhere' and 'randomly disappeared and reappeared'.

The cat meowed a bit softer this time. Butting his forehead to Yato's and closing his eyes. Yato closed his eyes as well. He spoke after a beat of quiet, his voice like a whisper.

"I see. So she was finally able to pass on." He sounded unbearably sad. Yukine's heart tugged, hoping his theory wasn't correct, but at the same time seeing that it was. The real Suzuha had mentioned his mother talking about Yato's missing sister.

"Good for her," he said as he finally let the cat down. Yaboku then moved to rub against Yukine's legs, purring. The heavy atmosphere was brightened by his mom appearing in the doorway.

"What's taking you two so long? You guys alright?" Hiyori asked, a worried expression crossing her face. She held the broom and a couple of band aids wrapping her fingers. She never really listened to Yato.

"Uh, yeah!" her husband called, a bit of a forced smile on his face. Him and Yukine took the bags and made their way back into the house, the cat having vanished in thin air. "Actually...I'm going to take Yukine to visit his aunt! Over by the old well, remember? Just till dinner time." At his mother's sad expression, Yato leaned down to peck her lips. "Unless you need help?"

Hiyori seemed to snap out of it. "No! No! I can handle things here. This is great. You should go. I thought I would have to convince you but, please." By the time she finished rambling, she had already gathered all the groceries into her arms, carrying it into the kitchen with ease. His dad laughed at the sight, love brightening his features. Normally, Yukine would gag but, right now, it filled him with a warm happiness.

His bag seemed to shift on his own again, having been forgotten.

"I, uh." Yukine hoped this didn't damper the mood too much. "I have her, uh, ribbon?" he drifted off at the end. Praying he didn't just make a wrong assumption. For a moment, the look that flashed across Yato's face looked too much like Father's, sorrow and anger. But the look he gave Yukine, was the soft, wise, lonely look of his sister.

"That'll be great. Thank you." Yato smiled and made his way back out the door. "And I'll make sure we ask your mother to make you a new torii gate."

That night, Yukine dreamt of golden ghost children and black cats that talked nonsense. As the creature that walked between worlds was curled in front of an old sakura tree, black tail wrapped around a rock tied with a red ribbon.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Diamonds made of Dragon Tears -  Ashratherose

*** Epilogue ***

It'd been a little over a year since Eren had last stepped foot in Mitras. The day they'd finally left the castle, both Armin and Mikasa had pleaded with him to stay, but he couldn't. It was time to leave, to start a real life with Levi outside the city and despite all the tears, he was excited. Excited for a future for his family where they'd no longer be expected to be anyone but themselves. It hadn't been easy to reestablish themselves, but the plot of land they wanted had been transferred into their family name, Armin making sure no matter what came that their family line would always own the plot a few hundred metres down from where construction of the orphanage began the following summer. Their own adventures with building were a fiasco. Having the space of the tower had been nice, but now he had children to think of, and with the clutch on the way, Eren only wanted enough space for their small family. His own little cottage, where he'd be playing housekeeper and wife. Levi felt it should be bigger for when guests came, which resulted in a compromise. Levi's study was built to back the nursery, with space for a spare bed should guests come. Using his magic to raise the walls from the ground, he'd felt like he was cheating, simply turning up to the middle of nowhere and magicking their house into existence. The walls he could do. The plumbing... not so much, and his skills with roof making... were nonexistent. Well, they existed, they were just slightly crooked... Levi laughing far too hard at his attempts, though after promised he'd take care of it, it was nearly a month of leaking ceilings before he did, and that was because his pride wouldn't accept help from the team of builders Armin had hired for the orphanage. They'd had a great laugh too. Much to Eren's embarrassment. It wasn't like he knew the building crew would be coming out to survey the orphanage site before they'd fixed things up.

Yet, despite all that, Eren was having the time of his life. Luca loved the space, happy to run around and annoy anything that moved. They'd brought chicken with them when they'd left the city, only Luca didn't know they weren't for playing. More than a few sent to early deaths by the dragon trying to befriend them. Not making the same mistake twice, Levi built a barn to the right of the house, space outside the structure for their horses, which gradually grew to house their cow, and then the replacement chickens Farlan and Isabel brought out with them on their first visit. Up from the barn, Levi built a greenhouse for his herb collection, which Eren left to the professionals when it came to the glass fit out of the space. Gradually, over the next six months, their home came together. Levi's vegetable patch requiring a small infusion of magic secretly more than once. His husband tried his hardest, but... Eren didn't know he kept killing everything. You sew the seeds. You water everything in. You weed and watch it grow. Somehow things went from being green one day to yellow and brown withered sticks of sadness the next. After the third failed crop, the Omega couldn't let his alpha continue to suffer. Denying all knowledge of the magical intervention, yet they both knew it was there, but neither of them spoke of it. Especially when comparing Levi's vegetable patch with Eren's small orchard. They'd purchased a variety of fruits and vegetables when leaving Mitras in an attempt to stock up, which didn't happen with Luca around, so Eren had sewn the remnants and now was the proud owner of some very impressive apple trees that were starting to encroach on the left side of their cottage. Luca especially appreciated being able to steal apples when he felt, though most of his time was still spent chasing after Viren. The pair of them... he loved them... but they were as thick as thieves. If they could be in out, out of it, covered in it, or hiding it, they were. Viren's first steps had been at the castle, their pup then deciding to make them wait a week before trying again... and after that... he never stopped moving. Each time Eren took his eyes off him, he was off. More than once Luca had to hook him by his nappy to prevent his escape, and more than once he'd turned around for what seemed half a second only to turn back to find Luca covered in Viren's food... mostly thrown at him. Each day his son looked more like Levi, right down to the look of annoyance they'd both share when scolded over spilling water from the bath. Their house might not be the nicest, but Eren was extremely proud of it... once things had been straightened out. He loved to watch Levi and Viren in the garden, his husband would sit their son in his lap to pull weeds, or when he Levi would put Viren on the back of their cow. He honestly didn't know who looked more confused, but each time Viren would giggle and scream for his "daddy". Most of the time the pair were together outside, Luca would inside with him. Being too pregnant to pick him, Luca had had to conquer climbing up on the kitchen bench on his own. A space definitely not made for their son, but mercifully his growth had slowed down so he could only just wedge himself there, ready for pats, kisses, rubs and most importantly leftover food. Levi was just as bad when he was cooking. As his pregnancy had progressed, his husband treated him like a princess while fucking him like a whore. Every single chore below waist level was taken care of by his alpha, and every single surface in their house had been christened at least once... Armin claiming he was traumatised for life from overhearing them when he and Mikasa came to visit for Eren's birthday. The joke was on him, they'd fallen into bed on the spare bed Armin was using earlier the same day... then we're forced to strip the whole bed with how carried away they'd been.

Now... now he was regretting that sex ever existed. Levi had gone on the fortnightly run to the city for supplies, and almost the moment his mate had left, his waters had broken. Entertaining a toddler while cursing contractions and attempting to control his magic, was not making for a fun morning at all. With Viren on his hip, Eren was making breakfast when the telltale sudden short gushing feel had come, then the telltale trickle as the warmth spread down his inner thighs. Levi hadn't wanted to leave, teasing him over how sweet he'd smelt that morning as they lazed in bed basking in each other's warmth. Assuring him he'd be fine, he'd waved his husband off. Swearing without thinking, his son had promptly echoed his cry of "fuck", in his cute little voice... all of which had brought him to still standing in the kitchen attempting to make Viren's breakfast while Luca clawed at the kitchen door, probably trying to attempt to free himself so he could go find Levi and not have to deal with him in labour alone. With tears rolling down his face, rising panic and contractions that he was sure he was never going to get used to, all he wanted to do was curl up in their nest and cry until Levi came home.

* Reaching the end of the road to their property, Levi didn't feel right. Eren had assured him that he was alright, that nothing would happen while he was in town, and that nothing would happen for a few more weeks. Yet, the feeling in his gut was telling him otherwise. Faced with either riding home to find Eren perfectly fine and laughing in his face, or heading to town only to come home to some kind of emergency, he knew which he'd take. Unhitching the wagon from his horse, it was a choice that took no thought at all. The past year and a half hadn't all been sun and roses, in the early days he wasn't sure how they didn't kill each other, then there were Eren's nightmares, his nightmares, a leaking roof and lack plumbing... some days it was a damn miracle they'd even got their house together in the end. Mounting his horse, the filly shifted skittishly, barely used for much more than a cart horse. Nudging his heels into her sides, she reared, nearly throwing him in the process. God. He missed his old horse. Holding his reins tighter, he urged her into a gallop, kicking up dust recklessly as he raced to return home.

Leaving his horse next to the front door, Levi didn't bother taking off his muddied boots as he jogged into their house, Eren would probably yell at him, but that was a discussion for another time. The moment he'd entered their yard he could feel his omega's pain. His gut feeling proving right again. Almost breaking the kitchen door down, he bellowed "Eren!" Only to realise Eren was still in the kitchen, Viren on his hip as he leaned heavily against the kitchen counter, Luca chirping and trilling as he nudged at Levi's legs "Levi... it's... it's started... I'm sorry..." What. Wait... oh... oh fuck... rushing to his side, he lifted Viren off Eren's hip "Ok. It's a bit early, but it's ok. What do you need?" Eren let out a long breath "I need to shower. Viren and Luca need breakfast..." "Ok... sh... sugar. Ok" Piping up, Viren smacked him with his hand "Fck" Blinking at his boy, he then shot Eren an accusing look "I didn't mean to. My waters broke and it slipped out... you'd be swearing too if you looked like someone had stuffed you with melons" By a year, Eren had looked like he was well and truly stuffed, by 13 months he was a horny mess with constant back pain. 15 months he looked like he couldn't get any damn bigger without physically bursting, it'd eased a little but he was well and truly bred to the brim "Let me get the boys settled. I don't want you getting in and out the bath on your own" "Mmm... mmm... ok... why is it that the contractions are always worse than the pushing part?" The pushing part was the part that had him worried. The contractions didn't cause Eren to shit blood or spend weeks torn and hurting... "Levi, don't you dare go pale like that. This is happening. It's going to take a few hours, but this is happening" "Sorry. You're right. Whatever you need" Giving him a pained smile, Eren pushed himself up to stand, his hands going to his hips as he whined softly in discomfort "Shower, and you'll need to write to Historia. She's supposed to be coming next week to stay, but fuck being in labour for that long" "Then... nest?" Their nest had gone up nearly a month and a half ago, Eren blushing adorably when Levi had sprung him layering his clothes into their sheets and furs "Barn... need to organise the barn..." Out of concern for their house, they'd made space in the outer half of the barn where the hay usually lived. There was no way Eren could give birth anally with the size of the eggs he was carrying "Ok. Breakfast for the boys, shower and barn" "What did you do with the horse and cart?" "Well..." "I married an idiot. You feed the kids, I'm going to shower" "You're not getting in alone" "There's a chair. I'll be fine" "Eren..." Raising his scolding finger at him, Levi swallowed down a smile "Don't give that. I was freaking out until you walked through that door. You're here now... don't... don't make me think I have to go through this alone" Reaching out, Levi wrapped an arm around his omega "You're not alone. You're not. I could feel something was wrong. I couldn't go to town because I was so worried about you... I'm here now... you're not alone" Eren smelt intoxicating, Levi forced to pull away "You're ok, Sweet Boy. You're ok. I've got the boys, you shower and I'll be right in"

Luca wouldn't settle, for the first time that Levi could remember the little dragon didn't want his food. He was still trying to nudge and rub against Levi's legs, pushing him towards the bathroom door, only for a crashing noise to come from the direction of the bathroom. Yelling at Luca to look after Viren, Levi ran straight into the kitchen door in his hurry to reach Eren, grazing himself impressively on the wall as he then tried to get through the door before it was open enough. Striding through to the bathroom, he found the shower rack had broken, causing the commotion. Eren was sitting in the shower chair he'd insisted on leaving in there given how helpful it'd been last time, trying to pick things up with his toes "What are you doing?" "I tried a little magic... and the rack fell down" "You scared the shit out of me. I thought I was rushing in here to find you on the floor" "I'm fine. My magic's just... off" "That's it. Shower time is over" His instincts couldn't take it "I only just got in!" "I can't... you can bath... but I can't..." Eren's face softened, Levi, realising he was tearing up. Fuck. He'd forgotten to write to Historia and now his alpha was getting the better of him, not wanting anyone close to Eren at all "I'm ok. But if you want me to bath, you kind of need to help me?" "Sorry. I..." "Levi, it's ok. We talked about this. I'm going to be ok... it's going to be ok. Here, come here. Luca can watch Viren" It wasn't ok. Viren's birth had been hard... he'd truly thought Eren was going to die. Catching him watching him one night, Eren had drawn his fears out, holding him as he snivelled pathetically in fear of losing his husband "I'm sorry" "It's ok. Birth is scary. I'm scared too... but we have a few hours. My contractions aren't that close yet. Now, come bath in my juices with me" "That sounds revolting" "You're lucky. I'm sure my mucus plug..." The colour drained further from Levi's face "I don't think I want to know" "Probably not..."

It wasn't his fault they ended up going for it like rabbits in the bathroom. One minute he was crying and Eren was crying, then Eren was in his lap and crying for a different reason. The only small mercy was that he didn't knot his mate, instead, he slipped out at the last moment and had to deal with his omega pouting at him over it, despite the fact he'd come twice as it was. Nuzzling into him, Eren sighed softly against his cheek "I need to shift soon. I won't be able to talk to you" "So soon?" "Mmm. My magic's already playing up" "I'm not ready for this. I don't know how to... what to..." "Levi, you're going to be great. We've talked about this, and it's going to be easier as a dragon. Remember? I told you I'll write if something's wrong" A sketch with a claw not writing. What if Eren couldn't change back...? "I don't think I can do this alone. I know you said to write to Historia, but... my alpha... I'm a failure as a mate" "You're not a failure. We know how screwed up instincts can be. I trust you. You're my husband and I trust you. Can you bring the boys out to sit for a while? After I've shifted? Luca can handle Viren, but I need to know they're both ok" "I..." He didn't know what to say. It was absolutely horrible. He adored his boys, but Eren was all he could think of "You can do this. You did this last time" "And you bled. You bled and you hurt for weeks..." "But I recovered. And look at Viren. Our baby. Every single day I thank the gods for him. I thank you for him. You're letting your fear do a me" "You're saying I'm spiralling?" "You are. It's time to get out. Can you bring the furs from our nest? I want your scent" "My scared scent?" "Your scent is still yours. You're going to get through this" "I'm supposed to say that to you" "We'll get through this, Levi. Just you wait until you see how many eggs you've knocked into me" Apparently, there was a chance of unfertilised eggs having not been absorbed completely and may be birthed. Not that he was going to be able to tell the difference. The nursery had been set up with a crib loaded with furs to settle their clutch into... but would one crib be enough? His mate wasn't... he hadn't seen his toes or his junk in the last 9 months... "You're spiralling. Here, I'm done soaking. Help me up"

Luca disappeared the moment Levi opened the kitchen door to retrieve everything Eren had asked for. His breakfast still untouched, while Viren had enjoyed himself by the look of it, his mashed apple smeared across the boy's face, hands, arms... the floor. The cupboard... Luca had obviously helped their toddler with the mess, before abandoning him to take all the blame and leaving Levi to clean it all up. If Eren saw the mess, he'd probably break down into tears then try to clean it all up instead of fussing over where he wanted to give birth. The stables hadn't been Levi's first choice. He'd wanted Eren in a soft bed, warm and safe... then his omega pointed out that he needed to be in his dragon form, and that he'd lost control of his magic last time and that he liked their small cottage in one piece, and he'd folded like a deck of cards as he agreed to everything Eren wanted. Anything to get him through this alive and safe... even if it cost them the clutch in the process.

Making it outside, Eren was sitting on a bail of hay, Luca standing next to him. Viren running to his brother, rather than his mother as he realised his best friend was right in front of him "Sorry. Daddy gave him mashed apple when he should have given him anything else" "It's fine. It gave Luca and me a chance to talk. He's scared, but he doesn't want to leave me. He's such a sweet boy" "He is. Now, I have all the blankets you want. Where should I place them?" "I was thinking of laying down with my head on the hay. I'll be on my side, so it'll be better to have them near my nose" "And you're going to shift soon?" Eren nodded "Yeah. It might help with the contractions too. I didn't miss them" "I... are you sure? So soon?" "Levi, I'll be ok. Luca won't leave my side, he's made that clear. When the... birth actually starts, he's going to play his part by watching Viren" It was his job to be by Eren's side. Luca was his damn son, not their baby sitter. He shouldn't have to be strong for his baby brother and his father who was having a miniature breakdown over Eren being so pained and in such a vulnerable position. Headbutting Eren lightly, Luca started licking at his cheek as Eren wrapped his arms around him "Ok. Yes. You're staying with me. Mummy isn't making you go away baby boy, and at the end of this, you're going to have more siblings to play with. You and Viren. You're my big baby boy, and I'm so proud to be your mother" Crying as Luca turned his attention away from him, Levi placed the bundle of furs down beside Eren so he could scoop their toddler up "Are you sure you're going to be able to communicate if something does go wrong?" "Yeah. Luca will know too. Come give me a kiss before I shift" Leaning down, Levi tried not to be jealous of Luca being in the way. Kissing his husband, he rested his face against Eren's "I'm not ready" "I can't exactly say no and try again later with this" "That's not what I mean. I want to talk to you. Hold your hand and rub your back. Know how bad it hurts and be with you" "I'm still me" That wasn't what he meant. Eren didn't sound happy with him, probably because he'd accidentally insinuated that dragons were too beastly to communicate "Message received. If you want to shift, go ahead. We'll be right here with you" "I know. Historia did say I should shift back pretty soon after I birth the last egg. I love you so much... and if it gets too much, or if my magic... if my magic is too much... take the boys and go" Tears rolled down Eren's cheeks. Levi feeling guilty for making his mate feel crappier when this was a real issue "I'm not going anywhere. Your magic won't hurt us" "I could bring the roof down on you" "And a freak storm could too" "Which would probably be my magic. I'm going to shift... before I end up crying even harder" "You're going to be ok" "Yeah... and we're going to have another pup or two..." "That are going to look just like you. With those pretty scales of yours" "No... I want them to look just like you. I love you" "I love you too. And I'm going to love them... whatever they look like" "You're making me cry" Like Levi wasn't also an emotional wreck "I'm sorry, Sweet Boy. You shift and get comfortable. I'm not going anywhere"

* Eren's labour continued into the night. His husband panting as his contractions grew worse. Luca refused to leave his side, even for bedtime. Their son insisted on laying with his nose against Eren's, licking, chirping softly, and nuzzling each time Eren would huff if pain, while Levi had a large clawed foot resting on his leg. He couldn't hold Eren's hand, so it was the closest he could be and the best he could do as he tried to keep Viren preoccupied. Forced to leave to given Viren his dinner and settle him in bed, he couldn't give two fucks about the mess he'd left out by his husband. Viren's lunch, three nappies, his lunch that he was forced to make after Eren glared at him when he returned without food. He'd also glared at him when Levi's horse had come wandering over, reminding them both that the alpha hadn't closed the gate, or moved the animals to the other end of the barn. Still. He didn't like leaving. He'd nearly missed being there as it was, sure he would have returned around sunset, yet Eren had been terrified over everything and he'd only been gone a good half hour to an hour tops that morning. He wouldn't have been able to even hold his husband before he shifted, nor soothe his worries, though Eren did most of the soothing.

As the night progressed, the temperature dropped. Eren nuzzling at Luca until Luca finally headed into the house, the look on his face clear that he'd be back out the moment the sun rose. Finally alone with his omega, Eren whined softly, calling him closer. Moving to stand between his husband's front leg and saddle, Eren shifted again, trying to rub against him in his own dopey way "How do you feel? Can I get you anything?" His mate had barely drunk any of the water he'd brought from the well for him. Shaking his head, he shifted shakily onto his stomach "Hey, are you close? You need to be resting" Whining, Eren rolled back, nudging at him with his leg "You want me to check?" Huffing like he was relieved Levi finally got the message, he placed his hand on Eren's side as moved towards his slit. He hadn't thought about adding to the glowstones on the outer side of the barn and regretted that Eren had to give birth in the dark with all the light and warmth of the house illuminated mere metres away. The first thing he noticed was Eren's dick. He'd forgotten how massive it was in his dragon form, and because his husband hadn't exactly had it hanging out with the kids around "You're horny? Is that it?" Huffing and rolling again, that was definitely it. He shouldn't be as surprised as he was. Eren had been a horny mess during the first clutch. Sliding his hand down, he skipped his mate's neglected dick, instead running his hand along Eren's opening. With his hand so close and intimate, he could feel the almost back to back ripple of his lover's strong muscles "You're close... it won't be long now" Thumping his tail, Eren didn't want to hear it "I feel like you're trying to tell me that if I don't make you cum, you're going to use your breath on me" When Eren didn't reply, Levi laughed softly "I told you'd I'd give you whatever you want and need"

Lapping and sucking at the soft flesh of his mate's clit, Eren's tail was thudding as he huffed and groaned, wriggling against Levi's mouth as the alpha thoroughly pleasured him, he knew by the weak way Eren tried to trust he was close, his rhythm shot completely and his pace exhausted yer desperate. With the kids taking up so much of their time, and settling in, making their home a home and organising the farm, then the random visits from Isabel and Farlan and few from Mikasa and Armin, and, Ymir, Historia and their girls, the only them time they really got when was the kids were sleeping or busy, and there wasn't space enough in their room for Eren to shift. He wasn't sure he knew what he was doing, but Eren was enjoying it, and his mate tasted amazing... so it was kind of a win. Sucking harder, Eren threw his head back hard enough to shake the barn, his dick spasming as cum gushed to join the wet puddle beneath the spent organ. Pulling back with a smirk, he tried not to laugh at his mate. His own arousal a smouldering mess he wasn't sure what to do with "Good?" Thudding his tail weakly, Levi's ego was stroked by the affirmation. Mindful of the puddle, he moved back to Eren's soaked opening, slipping his hand in deeper this time to essentially "finger" his dragon, he could feel their eggs, so close to being birthed but again there was nothing he could do but wait, hoping that massaging the muscle wasn't actually making it feel even worse for his exhausted love.

It was about 2 hours later that Eren finally birthed their first egg, a long and pained whine as the emerald egg slowly slid from him. Having spent the time trying to rub down his dragon and work him through the contractions the best he could, Levi was wincing at the size of the thing, easily as big as Luca's egg had been at the time of his hatching and enough to make him nearly regret impregnating Eren by accident. Setting the egg down carefully, the second that slid out in the connecting... grossness?... he didn't know what to really call the bloody mucus, was smaller and plain green. Exactly the same as Eren's lifeless clutch. His heart dropped as the third egg was the same. Eren panting softly, despite the pain Levi could feel through their bond. His mate was trying his hardest to be strong, though his lungs must be giving him grief with the cold air, uncharacteristic of a spring night.

The rest of the eggs came much more slowly than the four. The 6th another brilliant green egg, freckled with speckles of grey across the surface, yet the rest remained an empty clutch until they reached the last, the 9th egg a smaller egg than the previous two, Levi nearly placing it aside with those that were lifeless until he noticed that it shimmered grey under the light. Passing the birth, it took his husband half an hour before he took his human form again. Wrecked and dripping with sweat, Eren was barely conscious as Levi gathered him into a thick blanket, his mate trying to reach for their eggs as nasty coughs began to bubble. Nuzzling Eren's hair, he was forced to make the call. Eren needed warmth now, and to rest somewhere that wasn't a dirty and disgusting barn "You did so good. Three good eggs, baby. Three. I'm so proud of you. So proud"

Carrying his mate into the living room, he laid him down carefully in front of the fireplace, Eren crying out weakly as Levi moved away from him "I'm going to get out clutch. Our beautiful clutch, and I'll be right back. You want to see our clutch, don't you?" Nodding wearily, Eren's eyes were sliding closed as he did "I'll be right back, beautiful boy. I'm so fucking proud of our family" He was crying. He couldn't help it. Three perfect eggs. Eren had given him three more children. He couldn't be happier or prouder.

Returning with their eggs, Levi placed them down beside Eren, rousing him by cupping his husband's face. Exhausted green eyes blinking up at him questioningly "I've got our clutch, Sweet Boy. I thought you'd want to see them" Needing assistance, Eren's eyes filled with the same love and wonder he'd have for both Viren and Luca "I am so proud of you. You rest my love. I'll clean everything up" Like Eren's blooded thighs and arse. He prayed some of Eren's magic had healed things down there, but as he moved his mate to make preparations, he found him torn and bloodied. Not quite as badly as Viren, but enough to make his heartache. This time they'd wait. Eren would go back onto contraceptives, and they'd wait for the time they were ready for another child if they were ever really ready. They'd never planned for five children. Five small mouths to feed and five tiny personalities they'd be responsible for the rest of their lives. Though Eren was happy now, there was no way to tell if he'd feel that way with nightly feeds, nappies and long nights ahead of them. He could only pray this didn't break his husband or send him spiralling into a drop or melancholy episode that he couldn't recover from. He could only pray that he wouldn't lose his memory further, and wind up another "child" to his husband. He was so fucking proud of Eren. So proud the omega was his forever. And so beyond proud and relieved that only three eggs had been viable. Despite the exhaustion he felt, his primary concern was still Eren.

Cleaning Eren carefully and applying ointment to the wounds, Levi moved him from in front of the fire to their bed. A fresh kettle of boiling water positioned so the steam rose into Eren's face to ease his breathing and coughing. Outside the sounds of a storm had begun to rage, the day the perfect kind for spending in bed, even if that hadn't been his intention all along. With their clutch wiped down and placed carefully into folded blankets it sat with the other eggs Eren had birthed, across from the omega so they'd be the first thing he saw once he woke. The bleeding between Eren's legs had eased, yet each cough seemed to expel a little more, so he'd left the towel there, knowing Eren would be embarrassed once he woke. Settling down beside his husband, Levi couldn't take his eyes off of him. So in love, he wasn't sure love described his feeling anymore. They'd been through far too much to make it here, yet there was no place he'd rather be for the rest of his life. He didn't miss the castle like he probably should. He didn't miss the people like he probably should. He didn't miss the riches like he probably should. This was all thanks to Eren. As long as he had his husband by his side, he could do absolutely anything.

* Propped up in bed, Eren was tender. He was sore in all the wrong places, and he was exhausted beyond words, yet he was happy. Beside him, Levi had fallen asleep holding his hand, his head resting on the omega's shoulder exactly how he'd been when he'd been talking softly with him over their clutch. Three eggs. Two painfully large and a smaller third that had him worried for their child, but all of which intact and that was the main thing. He'd unexpectedly birthed 6 more eggs, which was upsetting to see given they could have been potential lives, yet relieving as hell given three eggs was equal parts ecstasy and stomach dropping fear. Curled around their clutch was Luca, who looked as proud as Levi and Eren both felt. Viren didn't understand that mummy was tender, so his son was sitting in his lap, nearly reducing him to tears but he couldn't let him go. This was his family. His crazy hectic family that had just grown by three more. Kissing Viren's hair, his pup was nearly asleep too. When Viren has started crying Luca had led him into their room. Levi climbing out of bed to clean their son up after he'd wet the bed, then feed him before returning him all smiles and giggles, both of them handing Eren a glass of water which he downed gratefully. Listening to the rain against the roof, he hoped the small and quiet moment wouldn't end. This is what his mind needed far more than the walls of the castle. A solid floor with no dungeons or cells beneath. A roof over his head and ridiculous over the top love and pride for his family.

Levi was apologetic when he woke, quick to lift Viren off his aching stomach as he scolding him for not waking him earlier. His poor husband had had to suffer through helping him birth their clutch, he deserved some kind of medal for his patience. Or at least a long holiday away. Preferably one where someone would wait on Levi like Levi was him. He felt bad knowing he'd be even more useless until his body healed and his magic returned, yet Levi was acting like all his demands were completely natural. Like he hadn't turned into some kind of hormonal monster obsessed with his dick more than his feelings for the last month or so. He didn't deserve such a wonderful husband.

Despite Levi warning him not to push himself, Eren was never great at bedrest. Insisting that he needed to get up, he stubbornly refused to admit the idea was terrible as he shuffled through the house to the toilet, regretting every life choice once he'd sat. He regretted it, even more, when it came to cleaning up then shuffling back through the house to the kitchen where Levi was preparing what had to be dinner by now. Refusing to let him help, Eren retrieved the note pad and pencil he kept for jotting down things they needed from town to pen his letters to Historia, and Armin and Mikasa. All three of them were going to be mad at him for going into labour early. Historia was excited to be there for him. Freya just as excited for him, writing shortly after they'd moved out of the city. She'd been amazing when he'd been forced to set foot in Marley again, then stay for the month in the manor he loathed so much in order to sort things with Asana and Onyankopon. Both wonderful people, but not quite sure how to handle him when each room held nothing but pain for him. Handing the throne over had been cathartic. To be finally free of its shackles completely had taken weeks to set in. Yet the thing that had truly healed his heart on the past was when Levi took him to visit Zeke's grave. His husband simply announcing one morning that he needed to borrow Eren for the day, then handed him a bouquet of red flowers that he "needed for when they reached their destination". Everyone had been so careful when it came to mentioning Zeke around him that he hadn't thought they'd approve of him visiting his grave, so for Levi to go that far for him, to let him sit and pour his guilty out to the man he'd been so briefly married to... he didn't think any other alpha in the world could do it. Keeping a distance so that Eren might have some privacy, Levi had told him he was proud of him once he was done, and to know that Dina hadn't disposed of Zeke like was garbage... he'd needed all of it. When he thought of the past, all he could think of was that it seemed like a dream now. He'd wanted so desperately to learn magic. He'd forcibly educated himself into a neat book induced coma so he wouldn't simply be a housewife. So he'd be an amazing mage that changed the future. He'd never thought he'd be here, being a housewife and being as ok with it all he was. He loved their little farm. He loved being simple and normal. He loved that no one stared at him or judged him, and he felt proud of keeping their house organised. He wasn't living up to Erwin's wishes of him being Armin's advisor, but it wasn't like he wasn't Armin's go-to man with most things. A letter between the castle and their farm only took an hour or so to arrive. Armin frequently writing back and forth a dozen times a day, sending eagle after eagle when Eren would take too long to reply. His friend having established the orphanage was well on its way had turned his eyes to Shinganshima. The place of so many painful memories for the three of them was to be rebuilt. Mikasa had led a small army to clean the city of those less than desirables, most driven to crime with the unstable economics, and most sent to work prisons on the west side of the island where the goal was rehabilitation and training. The not so hopeful side being that there were those past such methods. Armin had been forced to see his first hanging, something that had distressed them both greatly and ended up with Armin coming for a weeklong visit to get his legs back under him. Being the idealistic and loving fool he was, the blocks where their family homes had sat were to be turned into memorial parks. They could never take back those memories, but it felt right to remember the good times and to provide other people with similar happy memories there. Once the official opening came, they'd all be attending, but that was some time away. The only thing Eren regretted was that he'd never known what happened to Grandpa Arlet's, his mother's or his father's bodies, and wasn't able to lay the three most important parental figures of his childhood to rest. Sighing to himself, they were all thoughts for another day and his instincts were demanding he return to his clutch, despite wanting to finish his letter and to help Levi. Jumping as surprise kiss was dropped upon his head, Levi then slipped his arms around him, resting his chin on the omega's shoulder "Everything ok?" "Mmm. Yeah. Just thinking about what we've been through to get here" "A metric fuck tonne?" "Pretty much. I want to go back to our clutch, but I also want to finish these" "Historia? And to Armin and Mikasa?" "Yeah... you should write to Hanji and then to Isabel and Farlan. They'll all want to know" Isabel and Farlan were considering moving out to live closer, but Armin didn't trust anyone else with keeping the game populations in check, begging them to stay an extra winter before they moved out to work remotely. They'd be living on the other side of the road that led to Mitras, closer to thicker woodland once things had settled. They'd even found a cottage to rent from a farmer with a rat problem. Farlan hadn't seemed convinced, while Isabel was over the moon. Naturally, Isabel got her way. They'd be keeping the store in Mitras and dividing their time in a move Levi called "stupid" "They can wait. I'm making some clear broth for you, your stomach will probably appreciate it more than anything heavy right now" "You're amazing" "I'm really not" "You are. I've been thinking about it nonstop... I wouldn't be alive without you. I couldn't do any of this without you... I'm sorry I've placed so much responsibility on your shoulders" "You haven't. You're selling yourself short my love. Go rest, if our roles were reversed you would be doing all of this for me. I'll finish the letters and sign them from both of us" "Thank you. My instincts want to stay in our nest, but my mind..." "Is telling you to be an idiot by moving far too soon. Rest. We've got three beautiful children to think of, and three beautiful eggs to be proud of" Leaning back as Levi stood, Eren stared up as his husband's face with a smile on his lips "I love you" "I love you too. My Omega. My mate. My husband. My dragon. My Sweet Boy and stubborn little shit" Snorting out a giggle, Levi silenced him with a kiss "Now go" "Yes, master" "Don't start that shit unless you want a whole other clutch" "Oh god. Nope. My everything down there is a big fat nope right now. I'm behaving" "That's a first" "It might also be a last..." "Gods give me strength. Why did I marry you again?" "My charming personality and wit?" Levi shook his head "No. It was your arse. Definitely your arse" Faking offence, Eren pushed himself up to stand, forcing Levi to move out the way before he was headbutted. His alpha raising an eyebrow at him as he tried to appear huffy "Do these breasts mean nothing to you at all?" Taking a moment to gawk at him, Levi covered his mouth as he laughed "Go to bed already, you shit. I'll be right in" "Good. I wouldn't want this arse to be lonely" Moving to hug him again, Levi was careful not to press against his stomach "Oh come here. You know I love every single part of you" "You're a god damned sap, Levi Ackerman" "Only for you" Kissing him gently, the shared three more before Eren broke off with a happy hum "Mmm. Best alpha ever"

*** Historia kept to her original schedule of arriving the following week, dropped off by a dragon that wasn't Ymir the princess had stopped by the castle on her way to pick up gifts from Armin and everyone else. A stupidly ridiculous amount of gifts and enough food to last at least a month or two saving Levi from having to ride into town... not that he needed to at the moment.

Being in their own cottage the alpha's instincts hadn't gone as wild as they had when Viren was born. He didn't have to contend with everyone's shitty scents, or constantly worry over being disturbed by their friends. Eren seemed to be recovering much better from birth too. He was sleepy, spending the next few days napping and allowing Levi to pamper him properly, then stubbornly decided bedrest was over when he found out his magic had flared out of control during the birth, or rather after. Both of them had been relieved that he hadn't used his breath, or blown anything up. That the storm his magic created only hit after the birth and no real damage was done to the barn.

Foolishly letting Luca and Viren play outside, Luca had come back with a dozen white roses in his mouth for Eren. His husband then demanded to know what had happened and Levi was forced to admit the scale of the magic released during the birth. Outside their house was seemingly endless fields of white roses, running all the way up to the orphanage up the hill. Their vegetable garden now resembled something of a jungle, as did Eren's greenhouse. The tree surrounding their farm, and on their farm, had seemingly tripled in size, again, all the way up to the orphanage where the start of the orchard Eren had insisted they needed was now bursting with fresh fruit waiting to be plucked. It wasn't just the plant life that seemed to have received a boost. Animals seemed to be everywhere. Levi wasn't stupid, he knew Eren couldn't speed up a pregnancy with magic, yet wherever he looked there fox kits or baby birds, a random cat had turned up then had her kittens on their back veranda. Trying to keep Luca and Viren from the had been an experience, which only grew to include Eren once he knew of them. Said cat and kittens now living in their living room, thanks to Historia who planned to take two of the litter of five back to Draecia once they were weaned from their mother given they reminded her of her girls. Ymir had apparently been teaching them all the wrong things. Each time she'd yell, the three dragons would take off running to hide, but given their size, the girls were generally bigger than the scrub they were hiding behind, Ymir's even larger form not hidden in the slightest. She'd been teaching them that if they couldn't see their mother, she couldn't see them, then blaming Historia's magic each time they were found within minutes. For all her complaining and teasing, Historia was beyond a proud mum and had pretty much adopted the boys as her own leaving Levi to focus on Eren and their clutch. Luca had been completely taken by the kittens until they started moving around too much for him to corral them all back to their mother at once while chasing after Viren and guarding the smallest egg of their clutch. Their son chirping in alarm when the kittens started climbing on him and wanting his attention, his red eyes wide with a silent cry for help that had Eren laughing softly at their boy.

The first night Luca had made off with their egg, Eren had been in absolute tears thinking something horrific must have happened. That he must have done something in his sleep, somehow broken it or such. With his wailing mate in their nest, Levi tore the whole place apart, not thinking to look in Luca's bed, given that Viren usually climbed in there and was the lump between their fur blankets. It'd been a long night comforting his mate, Eren wanting to sleep with both their boys and the two remaining eggs, which lead to the discovery when Levi went to retrieve the two boys, finding their missing egg protectively hidden by their oldest son. Returning it to Eren, his husband calmed enough to be confused by the situation, holding his egg close as he nuzzled into the grey scales. Luca hadn't been raised by dragons, yet he instinctively wanted to protect the smallest and most fragile of their eggs, which Eren cursed himself over for not thinking of sooner. It took another few days for Eren to get what was going on. Historia calling them in to show them the sight waiting in the living room. Sitting on the lounge chair, Luca had Viren tucked up close to him, as he licked and nuzzled at the egg, their son deciding that he wanted his own little family with Viren like his parents. Puberty was still a long way off for their boy, yet he seemingly wanted a clutch of his own someday. Eren couldn't bear to let his eggs out of his sight just yet, so Levi was left to gently explain to their son that he had to wait to until his sibling was born before he could play with them, then Historia was left to distract the boys with the kittens while Eren returned the egg to their clutch. Both of them feeling like dicks when all Luca wanted was to share the love. It was simply too soon. Historia assured them it was quite normal to feel that way for the first month at least, then things would get easier for them, provided Eren stopped trying to fight the dragon side of his instincts and let him feel his chronic need for closeness. This resulted in his omega wearing his eggs in a sling against him almost every waking moment, then sleeping with their clutch between them every night. This didn't stop their son though. Within the first month Luca managed to slip in and steal the same egg three more times, each thinking he'd carefully hidden it in his bed, only for Levi to retrieve it and break his heart a little more.

A month passed after the birth, then a second. Eren starting to struggle over waiting for their clutch to hatch. Mikasa and Armin had written constantly for updates, but there weren't any to give, Levi left to answer their letters as Eren poured his attention into raising Viren and Luca, Viren having decided he needed to be glued to his mother's hip the moment Historia left. They both knew it could take some time to meet their new family members, but neither of them were particularly good at waiting. Three months after the birth, Mikasa and Armin came to visit at Levi's request. Farlan and Isabel needed help with their cottage, and though the journey was an easy ride, Eren didn't want to leave the farm and Levi didn't want him to be alone during the day. Not when the smallest thing going wrong had him doubting himself. His mate dropped a bar of soap in the bathtub, then cried against him for half an hour over being useless when it led to him accidentally setting the bath mat on fire. His magic was still a little iffy, but Eren had been trying to do everything without magic since giving birth as it was. It seemed to Levi that his husband was denying that part of him with each growing day. Hence calling in his husband's two best friends to distract him. He'd also written to Historia, but the princess was stuck with helping her brother and unable to come down to spend time with Eren.

It was the morning of Mikasa and Armin's visit that their first egg hatched. Curled around his husband, he'd woken to find their bed soaked beneath Eren. It wouldn't be the first time Eren had had an accident, but as he shook his mate awake, it was like his melancholy wasn't there at all. Shooting up, his words fell over each other, Levi confused as he hell until Eren scrambled around the other side of their clutch revealing the cracked emerald egg. He'd mentally named all of them. Eggbert. Eggeles. And lastly spatula, their little egg that had adventurer further then it's siblings. Eggbert was the one hatching, the thin membrane pushed by a tiny clawed hand. In his rush, Eren didn't notice that Eggeles had also cracked slightly as he pulled Eggbert into his lap, breaking the membrane ever so slightly so a tiny claw could hook against it. Holding Eggeles, the egg was a way off of hatching. Whispering and encouraging their tiny child, they needed a little more help to free themselves, letting out an adorable sneeze as their black eyes met Eren. It was like looking at mini-Eren. Their child's scales the same shades of green as Eren's facial scales, and they were all legs as the fell out into Eren's lap, shaking its head before sneezing all over Eren's arm. Scooping their baby dragon up, their tiny arse filled Eren's hands as Eren cooed, bringing them close to nuzzle nose to nose with them "Levi... look..." "I can see, Sweet Boy... but have you noticed what their twin is doing?" Levi mentally winced at twin. They were triplets, but twins what it came to the size. Lowering their child, his husband's face lit up all over again at the cracks in Eggeles "No way..." "Ready for baby number two?" "I... I thought it'd be like Luca..." "You're going to have to figure out names now" "We're going to have to figure out names now. We can't name them over their sneezes" "Luca did make it easier in that respect" "He did... do you want to hold your baby?" Was that even a question? Taking their dragon pup with shaking hands, the small dragon eyed him with wide eyes "Hello baby, I'm your daddy. Your mummy didn't even introduce himself. He's been waiting to meet you" Darting out its tiny tongue, their pup licked the top of his nose "I'm not naming them Sneezy or Licky" With a small crack, there was a gush of fluid into Levi's lap, the alpha flinching at the unpleasant sensation "Is that what it feels when your water breaks?" "A sudden gush when you're not expecting it? Kind of... I think there was more fluid with Viren" "I don't like it" "Then it's a good thing you're the alpha. Here, pass me our baby back while you help..." He paused. None of their prospective names seemed to suit now that they were meeting their children. Eren nodded as finally smiling again, and despite thinking he'd never spill his secret, he desperately wanted to keep his husband smiling "Eggeles" Eren scooped their pup back into his hold "I'm not naming my baby Eggeles" "No, I named the egg Eggeles" "You named our eggs?" "It helps with the memory thing. You're holding Eggbert" Eren wrinkled his nose "My baby isn't an Eggbert. Do I want to know what you called our third baby?" "Probably not" "I can't believe you named them without telling me. Tell me you didn't give them an equally horribly name?" "Uh... Spatula" Eren's eyes widened the way they do before he usually started yelling. Lowering his tone, he brought their baby to his chest, covering their small head with his cupped hand "You named our baby Spatula?!" "Not what you were eggspecting?" "Spatula?! Why?" "I don't know. I ran out of egg names. Besides, it's already had an eggciting adventure with Luca" "You keep making egg jokes and I'm going to fry you" "Come on, Sweet Boy. See the sunny side up" "Your brain is scrambled. Your upsetting our baby" Nuzzling into Eren's hand and chest, their dragon pup didn't seem too phased that they had idiots for parents "They look just like you. Their scales are the same colour as yours" "I don't feel much magic coming from them. Not like Luca... but kind of the same at the time. Maybe because they're a quarter dragon. Or is it eighth? I'm half, but you're full human..." "Leave the maths for another time" Ducking his head, Eren smiled softly "I'm sorry I've been..." "Shhh. We'll talk about it after Eggeles is here" Scowling at him, Eren wasn't going to let it drop anytime soon

Eggeles didn't have the struggles Eggbert did. The moment the shell had cracked enough, the baby dragon was tearing through the membrane with a tiny roaring squeak, announcing to everyone they were there. Gathering their speckled baby up to his face, Levi smiled as their front two feet went right to his cheeks, their baby "roaring" in his face again "Hello, Feisty! Look at you... You're adorable my baby. I'm your daddy" The speckles through the dragons tiny scales were the same shiny iridescent grey Eren's full form held "We have Sneezy and Feisty... and Spatula" "At least they won't be lost in a crowd with those names" "See if I ever let you between my legs again" "You're not mad. I know you're not... Mikasa and Armin are coming today too, and I'm thinking that I won't be going to see Isabel and Farlan" "Is that today? Why didn't you remind me? They don't get to hold our babies. Not until Luca and Viren meet them properly, and even then, I don't want to let them go. They're both so small... We'll need to move the kittens too... How is our cottage so full?" "Because you and the kids fell in love with the kittens, then Historia was swayed by them" "If she waits much longer they're going to be off having adventures before she can take the two she wanted" They were 12 weeks or so, weaned from their mother and attacking innocent feet with their tiny razor claws. Like Eggbert and Eggeles would be doing now they'd hatched. Placing Eggbert down, Levi placed Eggeles next to them, Eggeles immediately attacking their sibling in order to pin them down and groom them "I think they're both like you. Eggbert has your scales, and Eggeles has your personality. Coming out screaming then right into cuddles" "Eggeles freckles are the same grey as your eyes... and we're not keeping these names" "They'll work for now" "Mikasa will kill us if we name them that. I mean, we don't know what sex they are yet. Historia and Ymir lucked out with their names because when both their children shifted they were girls, but I have no idea" "We'll work it out. Was Luca this small? They seem so tiny" Tiny and determined. Coming into the world fighting and kicking as they wrestled with each other "Luca was smaller. Did... is the third egg..." Lifting Eggeles egg from his lap, he placed it by the twins, both deserting playing to start crunching on the shell. Picking up Spatula, he turned the egg gently "No. No cracks. They probably need a little longer to grow, right?" "Yeah. Yeah... it would have been nice to meet them too. I hope they're ok in there, and I hope these two won't shun them" Eren's smile turned sad, the omega placing the second egg remnants by their hungry children. Taking Eren's hand, he placed it on their third egg "No one's going to shun anyone. This little one is waiting to make a scene of their own when they come" "What if they're hurt like Luca was?" "Do you love Luca any less for his wing? Or for his lack of magic?" "No. No, he's exactly who he's supposed to be" "Exactly. This little one will be perfect, no matter how long they take to finally grace us with their presence. Luca already adores them, Viren's given all the eggs kisses and says goodnight to them at bedtime since they were born. They're going to be fine" "I really hope so... It's like they've heard all about Mikasa and didn't want to face her wrath of not yet hatching" "They're smart little dragons..." Which owned his heart the moment they'd hatched. He also didn't wish to take his eyes off them, but without the boys there's it didn't feel right "... I'll bring the boys in while you watch them" "Ok. Levi. Thank you. I know I've been down again, but thank you. For this. For us. For them. For everything" "You're welcome, Sweet Boy"

Viren was already awake, their son reaching for him the moment their eyes met. Lifting his precious pup from his bed, Levi winced when his small leg pushed his soaked nightshirt against his skin. He was definitely getting old. Despite the morning light he was freezing, and more than one joint had seemed to have seized up as Viren tugged at his hair "Daddy has someone he wants to introduce you too, but we need to wait for Luca" Luca was sitting on his bed, his head on his front feet as he silently watched them "Come on, Luca. It's time for you to meet your new siblings" Climbing down slowly, Luca moved to stand by Levi, licking at Viren's foot when his best friend failed to reach for him. It was unusual for Viren to spend the whole night in his own bed. He'd normally always climb in with Luca given Luca couldn't fit on the toddler's bed "Aunty Mikasa and Uncle Armin are arriving today too. They've missed you, boys. The ask more about how the pair of you are doing than Eren or I" Luca was still put off by Viren not reaching for him. Leading the boys back to their room, Eren had both baby dragons in his hold as he smiled "Boys, these are your new siblings. Do you want to come meet them?" Luca didn't move "Viren didn't sleep with him last night" Placing down both dragons, Eren reached out towards their son "Oh Baby Boy, come here" With slow steps Luca moved around the bed, then hesitantly climbed up on the edge. Wrapping both arms around their son, Eren nuzzled into his scales "My big boy. I love you, my baby. You're always going to be my baby boy. My precious little baby boy. Having you has made everything better, and just because Viren didn't sleep next to you, doesn't mean that your baby brother doesn't love you any less. You're the best big brother in the world, and I'm relying on you to help keep this household running. Someone's got to teach these two everything in life. And all the important things like how to chase after a ball, or how to play hide and seek. Where the best spots in the sun to nap are. How to steal food stealthily... Mummy loves you so much and wanted to make sure you met your new siblings right away. What do you think of them?" Chirping softly, Luca licked at Eren's face before lowering his head down towards the two dragon pups. Cautiously he sniffed at them, before taking Eggbert by the nape to bring them closer for grooming. Eren's whole face lit up as he met Levi's eyes, nodding like Levi couldn't see that Luca seemed pretty chuffed to be a big brother to the pair. Maybe it was dragon thing? He had no clue. He'd thought being married to a dragon would result in him learning just what the hell dragons got up to. What all their prayers and spells meant. All the kind of cultural things. He'd learned a big fat fuck all from his husband. Eren didn't know jack shit. Then he'd randomly sprout the information like he'd known all along when really it was mostly an educated guess. He was just as confused as the day he'd learned Eren was part dragon, but watching their dragon pups he wouldn't change a damn thing "It's ok, you can place Viren down"

Viren wasn't sure about his new siblings, the toddler starting to cry the moment Eggeles placed their front foot on his leg. Luca was quick to abandon grooming Eggbert in favour of licking at Viren's tears, all forgiven between the pair as Viren wrapped his arms around Luca and Luca climbed up to sit behind the toddler, despite the weird angle and how much it must be hurting his neck. Chirping at his siblings, Luca sounded like he was trying to scold them, only when both chirped back at him, he seemed startled and appalled, looking to Levi like he'd been gravely insulted. Scooping up their pups, the pair continued to chirp, Eren scolding them for teasing their big brother and failing to silence them as they did. Given chirping didn't work, Luca tried trilling loudly, both pups echoing the sound, trying out trill them, Luca was only digging the hole faster. Too curious and too young to understand, his siblings weren't meaning to mock him, yet Luca didn't understand, trying to almost hush them up as he started to "Lu", leading to the pair wriggling and squirming as they grew louder. Dragons were idiots and now he had four of them... Gods give him strength.

[ryuukia]

[Translation] Tsukiuta. -if- Black Rabbits Kingdom Booklet Novel: Afternoon

I promised I’d finish this before the year ends, so here’s it is (this emotional rollercoaster). This is the last chapter in the black novel.

I’m not sure if Ruby moved past page 1 in the white novel but I guess we’ll figure out together how to work on it.

Special thanks to @ryota-kunstranslations and @moonlit-manifesto for assistance and proofreading. Please don’t repost/reuse my translations!

“Ahhhh……, having some black tea after work is delicious.”

As he elegantly held the beautifully shaped teacup in his hand - a present from the Western Kingdom of Cats - I was unable to directly see his smile.

“G-good work today, Haru-san.”

Kakerun, Kakerun, your face is so puffed up.

That’s what I thought, but there’s no way I could point that out.

Because after all, I have the same expression myself.

On the other hand, Aoi-san and Hajime-san who were sitting next to him, were sporting bitter smiles.

The only one who’s unchanged is Arata…… The one who disrupted that silent atmosphere.

No, he probably wasn’t even thinking at all.

“Haru-san, you’re in top shape today as usual.”

“That’s right. We had pretty good accomplishments. No…… Actually I have two or three stories though.”

“Haru, don’t overdo it too much.”

“If the king says so. Then I’ll keep this ace up my sleeve for the next time something similar happens.”

As he said those words with a grin, the smiles imprinted on Kakeru’s face and mine hardened.

Today, a very important meeting was organized in order to decide the budget of the next fiscal year.

However, today’s topics can only be considered as some sort of opening ceremony, including a general estimation of the amount of money for each branch. For about the next ten days, all of the details will be worked out. Even right now, a mountain of official papers containing enormous numbers is currently piled up in the room next to Hajime-san’s office.

Just by looking at that mountain of documents from distance, I somehow feel a light shiver running through my body. I heard Hajime-san and Haru-san speak while they are focused on those reports.

‘Since the basics are already set inside our heads, we don’t really have to look over the documents, you know? These are only needed for information sharing and formality’s sake.’

Despite having the usual and other things being explained in such a smooth manner, that afternoon I came to realize that the king and the prime-minister are to be eternally unreachable.

(Ah wait, even so, I was told that the other countries’ kings and prime-ministers are far from being like that! These two here are just on an entirely different level! There’s no way it means I’m falling behind, that’s what it is, yeah!)

…… Wait, I’m straying from the topic.

In any case, that important meeting took place, but at the very end of it, today’s main conflict.... or rather, how Haru-san divided the money himself caused a public hearing.

No, I’ll make this clear.

I call it a public hearing, but in reality it’s more accurate to call it a “public execution”.

The other party consisted of some shady merchants that were caught for tax evasion, based on an investigation conducted days ago.

Furthermore, it seems that a huge amount of money was stolen that way, and the gentle Haru-san outright lost his temper when we found out they’d been selling weapons on a large scale in order to incite wars with other countries.

In the end, there was a public execution but, …...yeah, in any case, it was scary. It really was.

There’s no doubt everyone was thinking about those attendants that came out from that meeting.

(The crime is not worth the price…...)

I swore in my heart that even in poverty I’d live a pure and upstanding life, I sure did.

“Haru, sometimes you gain too many victories.” Hajime-san said slowly.

During that meeting, he stood on his throne in the centre and watched over the process without saying too much.

Despite not knowing why, I stretched my back.

The words uttered by Hajime-san always have a deep significance to them and seem to accumulate within me.

It feels like one day they will become my own source of encouragement.

“Although it was a good fight and you were victorious, don’t overdo it. There’s no need for you to make enemies.”

As he heard Hajime-san’s words, Haru-san smiled bitterly.

“Ye~s, that’s right. I get it. I know, it’s a bad habit. But even so……”

Haru-san had said before that he hated wars.

Especially wars started for no good reason because of humans’ selfish desire to shed blood. Those are things he’s unable to forgive.

“No matter the country, every king is working desperately to build a peaceful world where living quietly is natural. But, you won’t be given benefits just by being there. On top of the service given to you, hurting other people with what you do is simply unforgivable.

He spoke calmly, but hearing Haru-san, who is always gentle and kind, saying such strong words as “I hate” and “unforgivable” surprised me a little.

I guess he noticed that.

Haru-san looked at me and said “Sorry”.

That made me remember.

If I’m not wrong, Haru-san came from an orphanage that rescued war orphans.

This country was also dragged into a war for three years until Hajime-san became the king, and since then it’s been peaceful like calm waters.

Until a while ago, people had nothing else to focus on except fighting.

(...... There were a lot of casualties.)

Haru-san muttered only a few words.

“Because of personal circumstances, I guess I lose my temper sometimes.”

While saying so, Haru-san’s imposing ears lowered a bit.

I shook my head in a hurry.

“But, looking at it now, I feel relieved. Haru-san wasn’t wrong. Besides, I’m sure the reason why Haru-san got angry is a gentle one!”

“Koi……”

The one who laughed was Aoi-san.

“Ahaha. The truth is that I feel sorry for those teary-eyed merchants, though I’m also relieved.”

If Aoi-san opens his mouth, even the slightest dull mood would be quickly dispelled and cleansed.

As one would expect, he’s the symbol of luck the entire country is proud of and a real sparkling prince.

His cleansing powers in this kind of situation are splendid.

“The measures taken for the crime they committed are legally justified. The measures aren’t misplaced and I think that in this way, this will be a good discipline for those kinds of people. Right, Hajime-san?”

Upon being asked for agreement, Hajime-san laughed abruptly without missing a beat.

I felt the temperature around me rise instantly.

“Well…… I guess you’re right. There was no incorrect word in your judgement this time to begin with, so all the merits for discovering both the tax evasion and the business they did behind our backs go to you. …… You helped a great deal. Good work, Haru.”

Any person from this country knows that the consoling words and compliments coming from the king are, probably, magical words meant to uplift your spirit.

“Thank you. Aoi-kun, and Hajime too.”

Seeing Haru-san laughing with his usual gentle expression made me sigh in relief.

The moment that I felt relieved, I felt hungry. I took a bite from the homemade apple pie in front of me that Aoi-san had just sliced.

The aromatic fragrance of the flaky crust tickles the tip of my nose and makes me happy.

As soon as I started to chew, the apple pie’s flavour started to overflow in my mouth and the sweet syrup made my head quiver.

“Nn~~~~”

Sweet, but not heavy.

No matter how many slices I have, I can go confidently through the entire hall and say this is the most delicious pie.

If he were to open a shop, that shop would have queues just to get in, there’s no mistake.

(And if Aoi-san’s face were to be on the shop window, it would be impossible to buy without reservation.)

I ended up thinking how people who can do anything are amazing, about how delicious the apple pie was, about other things I was impressed by, and just like that, I quickly finished eating.

But even so, I can still go on.

Another helping! Thus, I stretched my hand triumphantly towards the piece I’d been eyeing since forever……

“Ah!?”

A hand stretching from my side managed to get it before I did, making me unconsciously shriek.

Nevertheless, the owner of that hand didn’t hesitate at all to smoothly bring the pie to his mouth.

“Aaand, it’s gone!! Wait, Arata! I wanted that one! You absolutely saw I was about to grab it, didn’t you!?”

Arata looked at me in a dull manner after swallowing with a gulp what he was chewing and said:

“First come, first served.”

He snorted at me and then continued laughing.

(Darn it!)

“You’re right! You’re right! But to think that it was taken by you, it makes me angry!”

“What’s with that. There are more left, so just eat another one. Let’s see, you should eat the most delicious one there.”

“That’s Hajime-san’s! Hajime-san’s been thinking of having that slice since a while ago, it’s obvious!”

“......”

“Hajime-san, it’s alright. I was already thinking of giving it to you later but, don’t worry, you weren’t being completely obvious at all!”

“Kakeru, you’re applying salt to the wound, you really are.”

I stood up from my seat trembling, but still acted cool while my partner Kakerun and Haru-san comforted Hajime-san.

So I faced my nemesis, and declared.

“It’s a duel, Arata! I’ll take you on for that pie grudge!”

…...It’s decided.

To the sir with the camera, if you want to take a photo, do it now.

“The one who’s going to regret this is you……. Okay then, what’s the duel?”

Arata replied glaring, and then stood up from his seat like it was a chore to move.

“Swordsmanship, of course! After all, Koi-kun here has recently developed a special killer technique to go with his powers!”

As soon as he heard about a ‘killer technique’, I felt Arata get spirited.

“What was that, so cool! …...Just joking, now bring it on, c’mon! I have hundreds and hundreds of killer techniques!”

“They’re hundreds only if they’re actually successful.”

“Aoi, be quiet.”

“Ah, okay.”

As we noisily bickered, we went out into open space in the middle of the vast courtyard.

Hajime-san and the others didn’t really say anything since the reason why we are crashing into each other is not to hurt the opponent, but to improve our skills for when we’ll have to protect others or ourselves, and also because it’s relatively a common sight.

How should I put it, Hajime-san’s ears were still lowered and Haru-san was grinning.

I wonder why.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

I may not be the smartest or the most sparkling and radiant.

But even so, the fact that I love this country gives me an unbreakable confidence. Bigger than anyone else’s.

So……

“The one to defend the Black Rabbits Kingdom’s peace will be me!”

La fin

Every man’s life is a fairy-tale written by God’s finger.

[curious-fools-howl-to-the-moon]

CHAPTER 1.

I’m posting a chapter to my story and not immediately deleting it???? Don’t worry, there’s still time!! Lol

This is the beginning of my fic, so it does move slowly and it’s pretty long! But if you decide to read it, I hope you like it!!

                                        -BRIDGTON, OHIO. 2011-

"Hey Delilah, ready for the lunch rush?" her boss Pam asked with her usual unimpressed tone and a raised brow. Pam was the owner of the diner and always made sure Delilah knew it when she got in one of her random moods, which never had a consistent pattern. 

She was a redhead, which Delilah thought was rather fitting given their typical stereotype. Hot-headed, unpredictable and at times she even wondered if the soulless trait was true. She always wore her hair up in a bun with a pen in it, like she was dropped in straight from the 60's or something. She could be a real piece of work when she wanted to be, but Delilah couldn't really complain, or at least not to her face anyway. She literally took her in off the streets and gave her a job when she had nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"Am I ever ready for the lunch rush?" Delilah replied with a sigh as she wiped off crumbs from the bar counter with a rag and swept them into the floor. She hated this time of day, it was always so busy. People were hungry and when people were hungry, they got rude. Sometimes even downright just hateful. The names she's been called working in this place might floor some outsiders, but it was a typical every day for her.

The bell above the front door chimed as voices of teenagers entered the building. Delilah's spirits lifted a little, the teens were usually always nicer than the older customers. She grabbed the pen and paper from her apron and waited for them to be seated before walking over to them. She noticed one of them, Jerome Robinson. He was a regular here and she basically had his order memorized no matter what time he came in. The other three people that sat with him she didn't recognize. "Hey, Jerome." she tried to muster a smile but it came out like a smirk, as per usual. "Same as always?" she asked.

He nodded. Jerome was younger than Delilah, probably by 8 or 9 years. He was darker complected and pretty damn adorable. When Delilah first started working here he would hit on her a lot, almost every time he came in. He'd lean his arms on the counter and ask how her day was going and she couldn't help but to laugh at him. It was pretty obvious he had a crush, but after she told him she was 27, the flirting magically eased up. That is, unless he wanted to try to get a free meal or drink for his friends and sometimes she would amuse him by bringing him a soda on the house.

"The usual for me, and some fries for my friends please." he grinned to her and she scribbled it down onto her notepad. Jerome looked to his friends, muttering something that received a few nods and whispers back before he turned to face Delilah again. "And 5 sodas too, if you don't mind." he added. He was always so polite, something that Delilah admired. She could be pretty snappy with people, and sometimes it wasn't all their fault but most of the time it was.

"Coming right up." she said with a nod as she turned away from them and started towards the counter. Those three words have become a reflex to say, like saying 'excuse me' when walking through a group of people or 'bless you' when someone sneezes. It was annoying to her but it was the only thing she could think of to say to a customer that couldn't be met with a snarky or sleazy remark.

"Jerome's order and a large fry." Delilah said as she slid the paper through the small window between the kitchen and the counter. "I'll get the sodas if you'll cook." she paused, "Please?" she heard Pam mumble a 'ok' like reply and that was good enough for her. She hated cooking but especially in a place that served meat. It made her sick to her stomach. Most of the time Pam would just tell her to get over herself and do her job, but there were other times, like today, where she wouldn't have the energy to argue with her.

Delilah grabbed five glasses from counter and lined them up. "Ice." she mumbled to herself before walking in the back to grab the bag of it from the freezer. It was heavy but more cold than anything else, her hands started to feel numb as she carried it through the room and back to the front. "So, what's been going on with you guys lately?" she asked in a grunt as she placed the bag onto the counter.

Jerome was quiet for a  few moments and for a second Delilah thought he hadn't heard her. But then he bounced back as if nothing were wrong at all, "Not much of anything, really." he said casually and shrugged. She didn't think too much of his pause, she was too focused on trying not to spill ice all over the floor.

"Still mowing lawns?" she asked as the ice clanged against the sides of the glass cups.

"Yeah." he answered a bit shameful, "Like I've said, it's just a Summer job. I'll be leaving for Harvard by the end of it anyway, it's just to keep my pockets full for a while." he smirked and nodded, Delilah did the same as she sat the bag of ice right side up. It was nearly empty now so she placed it in the nearby sink. Jerome spoke again, "Should stop cutting Mr.Hodges lawn though, he's barely paying me worth my time."

She grabbed the liter of soda and began filling the cups, "Who?" she asked, her brows furrowing. Bridgton was a small town, everyone pretty much knew everyone. Maybe not by name, but definitely by faces. Even so, she had never even heard of a 'Hodges' before.

"Bill Hodges." Jerome answered matter-of-fact as he rested his arm on the back of his chair. "He use to be a detective down at the station." he shrugged, "He's retired now though, has been for a couple years." Now he looks confused, "You haven't heard of him?"

Delilah shakes her head, "I haven't. I don't really keep track of the uh...law enforcement around here." she mutters as she straightens herself up and finishes pouring the drinks. She glances to Jerome and his friends to see that a few of them are now wearing worried expressions. She can't help but to laugh, "Relax, I'm not a criminal." she says and their shoulders fall a little. "Not after I got my reports sponged anyway..." she mutters with a smirk and their eyes grow wide.

"She's joking guys." Jerome says with a smirk as he tries to reassure his friends. It's barely working and he looks back to Delilah, "Tell them you're joking." He says with a smirk, but she doesn't. Instead she just shrugs her shoulders and leaves them with an uneasy feeling. Trying to hold in laughter, she places the drinks on a tray and brings them to the table.

"Here ya go." she says as she places them in front of the teens. "Your food should be out soon." she says and turns away from them to walk back to the counter. Within seconds the five friends began conversing, filling the entire diner with their voices. 

Delilah leaned against the counter and took out her phone, checking her text messages. She had one, which was surprising considering she didn't have any friends, or parents as far as she was concerned. If your Dad ditches you before you were even born and your Mom leaves you on the steps of an orphanage like in some old black and white film, they're not very good parents, are they? Pam was the closest thing she had to any kind of parental figure, and she almost found her too late.

Pam found Delilah at around the age of 19. She was into smoking and even dabbled in drinking from time to time, despite being under-aged. She was living on the streets and whatever she was wearing is what she found in the dumpster or if someone was nice enough to give it to her. Which most of the time, they weren't. Pam felt sorry for her and took her in to work at the diner part time. Part time turned into full time and that led in to her basically living here for almost 8 years. Delilah was thankful but always had an odd way of showing it. Sly remarks and sarcasm were usually the way to go for her. But being raised by the streets of Ohio will do that to you. She knew she wasn't exactly normal, but she tried her best for those who she thought deserved it.

She didn't really like to reflect on her old life, before she started working here. It brought up too many memories, way more bad than good. She just liked to focus on the now, work towards the future instead of feeling sorry for herself in the past. But sometimes those memories would creep up on her, right when she was least expecting it. And when that happened, she dealt with it. Usually with drinking, a habit she's been trying to break for basically her entire life. She's been better at dealing with it, she'll admit. It's definitely better than it was 9 years ago.

She opens the text to see it's from Heather, a girl she barely knew who came into the diner a few months back. She was new to Bridgton and was looking for anyone to cling onto for a type of security, or at least that's what Delilah assumed. She was as nice as the typical stranger and when her food was served to her she insisted on getting Delilah's number. So they could 'text and hang out' sometime, which occasionally happened. With Delilah's work schedule it made having things like a social life pretty difficult. She mostly heard from Heather when there was new town gossip or if she wanted her opinion on the guys she was dating. Delilah's brown eyes scan over the letters in the small green bubble in the left side of her screen.

'Have you heard of Under Debbie's Blue Umbrella?' Was all it said. She checked the time to see it was sent just a few minutes ago. Her brows furrowed as she texted back, saying she had never heard of it and asked what exactly it was about. Within 30 seconds there was a reply.

'It's basically just a new type of chat room. It's not like FB or anything like that, so I thought you might like it. All they'll see is your username, no pictures. I'll make one too, so we can keep in touch besides texting.' she wrote. Delilah's lips pursed at the message. She always liked the idea of chat rooms. Nothing too personal, but still a way to communicate with people from around the world. Her fingers found her keyboard as she wrote back.

'That's cool. I'll check it out after work. Thanks for letting me know.' she wrote and then she hit the send button. Pam had been nice enough to buy her a cellphone when she first started to work here. Mostly to only use in emergencies, but that rule didn't last long. Before she knew it Delilah was texting as fast as any teen, despite being a  little late to the party. Seconds later her phone buzzed, another message. She opened it to see it was Heather, again.

'Gross, you're still working there? We gotta get you someplace better. Upgrade in your future. TTYL.' Delilah smirked to herself and shook her head, not even bothering to reply to the text. Instead she just pushed her phone back into her pocket. She was fine where she was, or rather, she knew this was as good as she was gonna get so she was fine where she was.

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It was finally closing time. They had been so busy that Delilah thought the day would never be over. It seemed like just as she started to put a plate away, someone was already asking for their order to be taken. The last customer left close to 5 minutes ago and now she was cleaning off the last booth, well 'cleaning', she was really just sweeping crumbs into the floor. She leaned up and felt the muscles in her back and arms tense, she got a decent work out today. She walked to the counter and tossed the rag into the sink. "Ok, Pam." she said, clearly tired from the day. "Tables are clean and I'm heading out."

Pam's displeased voice came from the kitchen, "Give me about 15 more minutes and I'll drive you there." she said. Pam was her neighbor and it wasn't just convenient, she made Delilah buy the house nearest to hers as a way to keep an eye on her. Delilah knew she meant well, but she could be a bit overprotective at times for a woman who doesn't even have a real daughter.

"That's ok." She replied, "I'm just gonna start home now instead." She appreciated the offer, but she didn't wanna sit here for 15 more minutes with angry Pam and then have to take a car ride with her. She'd take her chances with Ohio's weirdos of the night.

"Suit yourself. Have a good one." she said, sounding a little less angry but a little bit disappointed that Delilah had rejected her offer. She knew she was just looking out for her, but she was 27 years old and there were most things she could do on her own now.

"Night, Pam!" she called out as she pushed open the doors and walked out onto the streets, hearing the bell ring above her head for the last time tonight.

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She was already a few blocks from the diner now and the night had been surprisingly quiet aside from the occasional car that passed by. That was something she wished she had, a car. Even if it was some run down old model, so long as it ran and got her from point A to B, that's all she would ask of it. It would sure beat walking home at night and definitely beat taking a ride with Pam. She sighed to herself, she probably would have had enough money saved up by now to buy her car had she not been so Hell bent on getting her own house. Every check she gets goes directly to paying it off, which meant giving basically her entire check to Pam, who was the one who bought her the house in the first place. But she'd take privacy over walking home any day.

A slight breeze blew through the air and she breathed it in. She had missed the Fall and Winter, it seemed like it went by so fast and now it was Summer. Her most hated season. She looked up to the sky as she walked, "Can you make it a little colder?" she asked the air, "Just so I can breathe comfortably during my work shifts?" she scoffed and turned her attention back in front of her. Seconds later she heard a rumble of thunder and almost instantly, it started to rain. 

No, it started to pour.

Delilah quickly pulled her hood from her jacket over her head as she started sprinting towards a nearby awning. "This is not what I fucking meant!" she yelled to no one but couldn't even hear herself over the pit and pats of the rain. She approached the awning and stood underneath it, her hood still sitting on top of her head. 

She looked ahead of herself to see everything being drenched in rain, including other unlucky people who were trying to run to some type of shelter. She glanced beside her to see someone else who had just barely escaped the downpour, he was on his phone. Lucky guy, must be waiting for a ride. She looked back down the street to her left, she wasn't too far from home now, maybe just 5 minutes if she really booked it. She pursed her lips as she tossed the options around in her head. "Fuck it." she said as she started to run when a hand grabbed her arm and stopped her in her tracks.

She whipped around to look and noticed it was the guy who was on his phone, or at least pretending to be.  She squinted at the stranger but it was way too dark to make out any features. The only thing she could tell was that it was a man, a huge man. He wore a hood over his head, which helped cover any hair he might have had. He spoke and his voice was deep and threatening. "Where are you off to?" he asked.

"None of your business." she said as she attempted to snatch her arm out of his grip, but to no avail. "Get your fucking hands off of me!" she yelled, but was mostly muted due to the rain. His hand tightened around her arm, his fingers digging into her sleeve.

"A pretty girl like you don't need to be out here by yourself." he said as he stepped closer to her and his other hand landed on her other arm. He leaned his face near hers, she could smell the cigarette smoke on his breath. "Let me take you home..." She felt sick, nauseous. She had heard of this kind of thing happening before but never thought it would happen to her. He had her restricted, pinned. It was now or never, her heart was racing and her body was shaking with fear. She had to try something, anything. It was fight or flight. And she was in fight, completely.

She slammed her head forward with as much force as she could muster, sending the predator stumbling backwards. He muttered something under his breath she couldn't quite make out but had a feeling she knew what it was. She swung her leg back and then forward again, the steel toe of her boot making full contact with his groin. He fell onto the ground, holding his privates and she turned around and ran. Her heart still raced in her chest as she pushed down the vomit she felt creeping up in her throat. The rained poured down heavy on her and she didn't even stop to look back herself.

She didn't stop running, even when she was sure he wasn't even remotely close to being behind her anymore. She couldn't stop, her legs wouldn't let her. She approached the door to her house and stopped long enough to clumsily fish her keys out her pocket and open it, running inside and slamming the door closed behind herself. 

Her breathing was rapid, her chest rising and falling faster than it ever had before. She turned around and attempted to lock her door, her fingers trembling as they fiddled with the locks. After a few seconds she finally managed it and tried to breath out a sigh of relief but it was caught by the vomit she pushed down earlier. She stumbled to her kitchen and barely made it to the sink before she threw up, her whole body tense and curling inside itself as she did so.

She reached blindly to her left and grabbed a towel to wipe her mouth as she leaned away from the sink. She breathed out and ran her hand over her forehead up to the top of her head. "Fuck." she muttered, "Fuck, fuck, fuck." She breathed out again, "Calm down, Lilah. You're good." she tried to convince herself. "You did it, you got away, you're ok." she swallowed and felt another lump but pushed this one down. As much as she kept telling herself she was ok, it was hard to shake the feeling of it all.

She made her way over to her couch and sat down on it, trying to catch her breath. Her legs felt like jello as they basically gave out the second she sat down. A million thoughts ran through her head, what if she hadn't had the strength to fight back? What if he had a gun? Or a knife? What if he just shot her there and kidnapped her? No one would've known where she went or where to look. She leaned her head back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. "I should've just waited." she said to herself, feeling the rain drops slide down her face. She breathed out again, this breath much more stronger than the rest.

"Fuck."

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She had been home for more than a couple of hours now and once she finally managed to lift herself from the couch, she grabbed dinner. A microwave mac and cheese meal that she scarfed down, whether her body wanted to let her or not. She knew she had to eat and she didn't have the energy to make anything. She threw what was left in the trash and headed over to her fridge. She opened it and looked inside, seeing a bag of water bottles which was obviously the best choice right now but then her eyes landed on the last 6 bottles of beer she had stuffed in the back. She told herself once she was finished with those, she was done with it completely. She saved them, for special occasions or nights when she just really needed them. Tonight was one of those nights. Definitely.

She collapsed on her couch again, her laptop opened in front of her. Her 2 beers sat straight up on the coffee table, one was empty and the other was getting there. She had a video opened, 'funniest fails' compilation she saw on the homepage. She had her head rested on the couch pillow as she watched it. She wanted to make herself laugh at least once tonight, try to bring some calmness back to her body. If that meant getting shitfaced and watching people fall on their faces, so be it. She took another swig of her beer when her phone rang in her pocket. She sat the drink down and paused the video as she fished it out of her pocket. She looked to the screen and sighed, it was Heather. She answered and held the phone to her ear.

"What?"

"Well, hey to you too. Where are you?"

"Home, where the fuck else?"

"Um, maybe Under Debbie's Blue Umbrella ring any bells?"

She didn't sound upset; not at all, she was just teasing. Something that Delilah wasn't sure she was in the mood for right now, but she didn't bother snapping. "Oh, yeah. I..I totally forgot about that. Tonight's been kinda crazy." she said, hoping the vagueness would deter her, but of course it didn't. It was Heather.

"A crazy night? YOU? What happened, did you blow up a microwave dinner?" she laughed and Delilah rolled her eyes despite being on the phone.

"No, just...crazy shit." she said as she hit the speaker option on her phone and sat it on the couch, "I'll go to the website now...Debbie's umbrella?" she said as she closed her video tab and opened another, typing it in as she spoke.

"Under Debbie's Blue Umbrella, Lilah." she emphasized every word. "You're not already _that_ drunk are you?" she said, sounding a bit concerned.

"No. It's just a fucking long name." she said as she typed it in, correctly this time. "Ok, I'm here. I'll make my account and call you back."

"You better. I miss chatting with you, you never go to Facebook anymore." she sounded like she was pouting and Delilah couldn't help but to scoff.

"Yeah, yeah. Cya."

"Later."

She hit the end call button and turned her attention back to her screen. There were two people standing under a blue umbrella on the homepage, all huddle together like a couple. All while rain drops slid down the screen at an lagging pace. She clicked on the 'register now' button.

"Name and password...." she said aloud to herself as her eyes scanned over it. "Hmm....." she picked up her phone to look up names but noticed her reflection before anything else. The rain had taken a huge toll on her makeup. Her eyeliner was smudged and her mascara was smeared, she was thankful to herself that she didn't wear lipstick today. She stopped herself and furrowed her brows for a moment. Then she tossed her phone back onto the couch beside her and clicked on, 'name/password:'. Her fingers glided across the keyboard as her new name appeared before her eyes.

[SMEARED_MASCARA]

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[coloredinsanity]

spiffy title

"You worthless piece of shit!" The man's voice boomed as the empty glass whiskey bottle crashed into the wall and exploded before the slurred voice followed. "Where the fuck are you hiding..." he held his breath as he quietly sat in the back of his mother's closet and held his bruised arm.

/x/

Just down the street another young girl sat next to the window in the dark powerless apartment with the rain hitting the windows... Her parents were in and out all day but nobody stopped long enough to even speak to her - The food in the fridge had rotten in the past few weeks but she found a box of stale cereal that was...edible. The locked door was to high for her to open so she had no choice but to just...wait.

/x/

The social worker just so happened to pick them up on the same day.

The five year old boy, Seth stayed quiet as he watched out the window of the car with several large visible bruises on his face and neck. His dark brown hair unkempt in a mess on his head that desperately needed a cut...   The three year old girl, Alexis was carried out of the apartment by the police officer and put into the backseat beside him. Underweight and with large dark circles hanging under her eyes. Her long blonde hair also matted and tangled as much as his if not more so with bits of food. She reeked although he figured it was due to similar circumstances to himself and the nervous look in her eyes made him react as he reached over and patted her shoulder.  

/x/

The orphanage was both exciting and overwhelming. Within a week they went from neglect and lonely to having a thousand voices at any time. Kids and adults.

There was always food - especially little Alexis had gotten fairly spoiled due to her state when she came in from people who'd seen her on the news. Even one of the cafe workers who'd come by with treats for the kids always saved her a special piece of strawberry cake she seemed to like.

Seth found himself lost in the books but also was constantly trying to understand how stuff worked even if that meant destruction - It wasn't clear what the two found in common but as he'd regained his health Seth had basically become Alexis's self proclaimed protector and 'brother' as that was the only word she'd understand due to her stunted vocabulary.

/x/

"Somewhere~ Over the rainbow~"

The voice was practically angelic in the children's eyes but most of them were usually surprised by the appearance of the owner as they walked outside... The girl in the leather jacket and disastrous hair tapped her combat boot on the ground as she played her guitar.   She wasn't the disney princess esque hero that they expected but she was probably one of the funnest and kind hearted people that visited them. She'd drag a whole cast of people behind her - A man with colorful hair that'd bring animals or a woman with tattoos that did magic tricks that were beyond the realms of there imagination.

Her eyes noting the new children as she worked her way through the song, Slowing it down so the younger children could sing along and smiling brightly.. She'd claim this was her favorite audience.

Alexis ran off ahead of Seth towards the music and lingered closely as she listened and watched the guitar with interest, Clutching his hand once he'd caught up to her and the woman's eyes darted to her's as she smiled and sang, Alexis joining in after a moment of hesitation.

"If birds, fly, over the rainbow... Then why then, oh why can't I?"

The quiet girl gleamed a little bit as she looked between the singer and her brother as for such a limited vocabulary as a child she seemed to know the lyrics quite clearly and she sang it quite well.

She extended her hand with a smile. "I don't believe I've met either one of you."

Seth reached forward slowly and shook her hand. "I'm Seth and this is my sister, Alexis."

The singer shook both there hands and nodded a little. She could tell just looking at them that they weren't really related but she knew how family wasn't judged by blood but she also knew the chances of them getting torn apart was quite...high.

/x/

"What do you think about kids?" The question blind sighted Jackson for a moment but when he'd decided to go along with being with Angeline he knew he was in for some weird stuff - she'd admitted everything to him in a 50 minute video before asking him out. Supernatural battles, Evil scientist parents. It sounded like a joke but he realized that she was telling him so this time things would work and that there wouldn't be a bunch of lies straight out the gate.

Angeline flopped onto the bed in one of his shirts with the gallon of ice cream gripped in her fingers with two spoons in it. He reached over and took a scoop as he pondered and smiled. "I'd like kids... But only when you're ready."  

Angeline nodded a little as she stuffed a mouthful of ice cream into her mouth and looked at the ice cream as she swallowed and spoke softly. " I can't actually have kids since I got stabbed... But, I met these kids at the orphanage yesterday... I - I don't know what it was but the minute I saw them I felt like I wanted to just hold them and protect them.  I talked to the staff. Marie said that they've been there for a year and a half and they had a rough start -  I mean. It's your choice to, Jackson. Maybe go down tomorrow with me..?"

He nodded a little with a smile as he rubbed her shoulder before stealing another bite of ice cream from the container.

/x/

Jackson was won over within seconds by Alexis's sweet attitude as she'd opted to hug his leg at one point and didn't seem interested in letting go and Seth - Well.  Angeline was currently putting out the fire he'd managed to create out of crap he found on the ground but was laughing like crazy despite how upset the employees were. She saw past the 'destructive nature' and realized how clever he was to reroute the lighter the way he had.  

She also seemed to do a better job of explaining to him why what he did was dangerous and why it didn't work the way he wanted it to.  

The signatures were signed within minutes.

[lovelylemontrash]

my thoughts while watching Netflix Death Note

so I decided to just write down everything that’s going through my head while I watch this sin of a movie

spoilers and lots of swearing. I don’t think this will make any sense, but whatever

*Netflix presents* oh fuck this!

oh the music is nice

is that Mis- Mia being a grumpy cheerleader??!

what is up with this wannabe edgy intro??

oh fuck. it's Turner.

ohh he so smart 🤢🤢- wait did he..... did he take money to write other people's homework?

I hate Mia so much already.

she's smoking????!!!!?!?

*Turner and Mia look at each other* FUCK OFF!

why is the Death Note logo a disco light??

there's a storm just because the Death Note fell to the ground???

also why did they make the Note so ugly?

god.... I haven't even passed three minutes yet.........

*Mia pushing a bully* YEAH! I still hate you though 🤷🏻‍♀️

the first time Turner talks and he's just yelling. fuck. you.

Turner actively looking for a fight and Mia laughing about is honestly the worst.

Turner is swearing?- oh my god! YES! he just got punched in the face!!

hold on. did Mia just leave him on the ground passed out in the rain? good.

??? does Mia have a different boyfriend??

we finally reached 5 minutes (and 23 seconds) I don't think I can do this.

at least there's an apple

Turner being a wannabe bad boy™ makes me wanna puke

*Turner reads the first rule of DN* "whoa" me: actually laughs out loud

Ryuk having an extra™ entrance. the only good thing.

Turner's fucking scream when he sees Ryuk made me laugh-scream

Turner you're a fucking loser being scared of Ryuk like that.

god....... I still love Ryuk

fucking Kenny....

Turner: "I don't have a pen." Ryuk: I got you. Turner, internally: FUCK

that was way more gore than I expected omg!

hold the fuck up. Ryuk's not doing this out of boredom??

did the teacher have no problem with the classroom being a mess??

WHERE IS SAYU?

*sees Dad Turner* fuck you and fuck off.

Turner and Dad Turner fighting is bullshit.

Turner: "Don't trust REI-YUK" me: excUSE ME? WHO?

fucking Rei-yuk......

ok. I'll admit. Turner offering Ryuk an apple is nice stuff.

Ryuk: "Its pronounced Ryuk." me: oh thank god.

Ryuk??? actually???? knowing the rules???? incredible.

why can't he just let them die from a heart attack gdi

at least Ryuk's having fun

Dad Turner being happy about someone dying????

me: god I hate everything about this Dad Turner: "Love you, son." me: I...... am not..... crying.....

did Ryuk just do the fucking caveman Spongebob pose

fuck off Mia!

why is Mia like that

Mia: what's a Death Note Turner: a whaaat??? never heard of it before. don't know what you mean..... but ok I'll tell you me: honestly what the fuck

Mia not being able to see Ryuk is hilarious tbh

Turner just trusting Mia right away???? dumb.

Mia: I should NOT BE TURNED ON BY THAT

I really hate everything and everyone about this movie. fuck.

oh god they're making out. ABORT MISSION.

are we gonna get to know more about the old owners of the Note? I hope so.

oh no. there having sex. stop please.

Turner: "[Kira] means "light" in Russian and Celtic" me: um, no, please fuck off.

Turner: "It also sort of means "killer" in Japanese" me: FUCK. OFF. PLEASE.

he can't name himself. that's bullshit.

he's trying to make them think he's Japanese?? Are you... fucking... kidding me??!??!

when they're suddenly speaking German and you scream

ok. 30 minutes done. starting to see it as some fucked up comedy/parody

L is here..... let's see how it goes....

L....... speaking....... Japanese......? thank you.

Is Turner just killing whoever he wants without an actual plan or something?

am I actually....... liking..... L?

ok but why is the Turner house so big?

it's ya boi Watari in the house. nice.

oh. classic L logo.

L: "He wants us to believe that he's Japanese [...] he's not." me: *doesn't know if I should laugh or cry, so I just scream*

Turner and Mia are just casually talking about that stuff in class?? secrecy maybe???

I hate this relationship.

Watari just fucking handed Dad Turner and ice cream cone I'm yelling!!

Turner: "oh shit." me: I know, right?

the US flag aggressively blowing in the wind behind L........ why?

L: yea I'm gonna appear on live TV that's a good idea

Ryuk: "Now I'm rooting for this guy." Turner: "Would you shut the fuck up?" me: AHAHAHAHA

Ryuk just laughing because he knows Turner is fucked is a big mood

L: then I'd be dead sweaty :)

there's a shit ton of thunder in this movie

Dad Turner: "Wata-ree" me: >:(

funnily enough, L seems to be the most accurate to the original.....

Turner: "Stop fucking around with the Deat Note." me: pleASE!

Turner: "we don't kill innocent people, Mia." me: ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT

omg is Mia gonna steal the Note??!

ok. at least the music isn't bad.

Ryuk wants Turner to get rid of the Note and I'm living

*Ryuk threatening Turner* me: *already throwing the biggest party*

I. Fucking. Hate. Mia. Sutton.

me: I hate both Turners. So. Much. *Turner hugs his dad* me: I......... hate..........

L: "Light Turner is Kira." me: oh? I mean, yes! I..? just.. like that..? ok.

them showing original Ryuk is just a reminder that I could've used this time to finally watch the DN anime.......

oh no. I actually like this L...

L removing his mask made me scream.

Mia: "I'm a fucking cheerleader." me: >:/

also the whole "killing Ryuk by writing his name in the Note" thing? bullshit.

his name isn't just Watari??? wth????

"the target will be spared" um??? what???? no!!

Watari has tattoos I'm screaming

but nice way to put in the whole orphanage plot...

nevermind. that's fucked up.

L worrying about Watari? good shit.

why does L have that sad look with his sad eyebrows?? what is this??

L almost crying made me almost cry

L: "Your son is Kira, James!" why does this sentence sound so wrong..? oh. because they fucking called him James.

...a white policeman threatening a young black man................. hm.

I made it through an hour. about forty minutes to go. wish me luck.

I can't believe they managed to make Ryuk ooc......

Turner is kinda stupid, isn't he..? did he really not figure out that Mia took the Note?

are they trying to turn this into a horror movie? with the damn orphanage??

snek

They really put a fucking high school dance part in this movie I can't believe it

I'm watching with subtitles and just.... [Io Echo's "Stalemate" plays] mmmmmmthIS TIME STALEMATE BUT JUST!! YOU!!! WAAAAIIIT!!!! ... I should be watching the musical rn....

I AM SCREAMING!!! Mia has a fucking "Normal people scare me" thing in her locker!!! THIS EXPLAINS EVERYTHING!!

whyy do they keep saying wataree??

🎶 take my breath away 🎶 🎶 take my breath away 🎶

Mia what the fuck?! also Turner why are you so fucking stupid?

is L gonna kill Turner?? Is he gonna fucking do it?? Fuck yeah!!

oh! cute detail: Turner runs to the PC room and on the wall it says, really big: "RULES"!

ah. we're finally getting to the big climax with the ferris wheel

L driving through a sign that reads "Drive slow. Drive safe."

this chase scene is way too long and unnecessary...

SHOOT HIM SHOOT HIM!!!

FUCK. OFF! stupid asshole just knocked out L

we're at the wheel and I hate everything

Turner: "If you love me.." me: shut up. shut. the. Hell. UP.

Mia just took the Note. and i can't even put into words all the thoughts I have about how fucking stupid these two are.

can they both just die. please.

welp

...did they just take that one scene from amazing Spider-Man where they're falling........

0/10 too many flowers

ok Mia is dead. bye bitch.

and of fucking course Turner doesn't die fucking shit

new Kira :/

so Turner is in a coma and they're trying to put L in jail .... :/

noooo he got the Note back no no noohohooh

he fucking woke up :/

oh fuck Dad Turner figured it out!!

Turner using rapists and child molesters to help him is kind of.......... hm.

L found the page!!

shut the fuck up Turner

oh no!! L can't kill Turner because they added that whole bullshit. fuck.

Ryuk: "You humans are so interesting." me: it's too late, Ryuk. even you couldn't save this movie.

the credits actually look kinda nice hmm...

oh wow. I survived.

final thoughts?

-way worse than I was already suspecting, somehow 

-Mia was the worst character ever 

-I didn't think I could hate anyone more than Light Yagami, but then Turner appeared 

-L was.......... really nice. I like him. And I can explain why, but I'm just too exhausted rn 

-they......... kinda ruined Ryuk which makes me really smad because I love him so much... 

-overall: huge pile of bullshit; don't think I can ever watch this again, not even as a joke 

-I need to listen to the musical on loop now to cleanse myself

[schonart]

The Starks (Peter Parker x Stark!Reader) Chapter 2

Relationships: Tony!Father x Reader!Adoptive daughter           

Peter Parker x Reader

Um I need to say that This story was planned last year so it won’t match with the plot of Spiderman Homecoming. Just a fanfic you know....

Let me know if you want to be tagged!

+) minor edits made because i got confused with when American high school’s over. (in Korea school’s over around 6 o’clock p.m.)

Chapter 1

-

[Name] picked up her bag and headed to the kitchen. It had been a crazy week. Going shopping with Pepper, getting to know other Avengers, learning rules of the Tower, things like that. She entered the kitchen and everyone were there, enjoying their breakfast.

“Good morning, [Name].” Vision was the one to greet her first. Everyone turned around to do the same. [Name] returned their greetings and sat down next to Natasha.

“Cereal or waffle?” Clint asked.

“Waffle please.” She replied as she poured milk into her mug. Tony bought her a mug of her favorite color with her name.

Clint got her two chocolate chip waffles which she ate delightfully. She just couldn’t believe that her life could change just like this. Few weeks ago, she was sitting in her room, craving for a book because she didn’t have money to buy some. She was also envying other kids who could go to the McDonald’s if they wanted to. She wanted a family who cared for her and whom she can love.

Now she was surrounded by super heroes, her new family, like it's nothing, eating breakfast.

Tony coughed, “Now remember sweetheart, be back by-:

“5. Don’t go anywhere but school, don’t talk in class, pay attention to what the teachers’ are saying.” [Name] smiled, “I know Father.”

Tony grinned, and quickly added, “And don’t doodle in class.”

“C’mon! That’s the best part of the class!” Clint protested for [Name]. Tony shot him a glare.

“T.A.D.A.S.H.I. is going to be watching you, remember that.”

[Name] gave Tony a small smile, remembering the back-up AI Tony assigned to her. It’s not like she didn’t appreciate it. She liked T.A.D.A.S.H.I. It was just that, she felt like being watched. But Tony insisted. The public didn’t know he had adopted a kid but it won’t take long for them to konw. If they do, she was going to be an easy target.

“Tony, give her a little space. Are you trying to brainwash her or something?” Steve joked.

“She’s a Stark from now on. There’s no ‘giving space.’ And just in case something happens to her.” Tony answered, giving Captain a frown.

Noah stared silent until from her phone, T.A.D.A.S.H.I. said, “Ms. Stark. The car is ready.” She immediately stood up. She learned that watching Captain America and Iron Man argue is one thing she should avoid if possible. Although Natasha said it was interesting how they fight.

“I need to go now Father.” She said.

“Did you finish your waffle?”

Noah hesitated, “Would you mind if I take it with me?”

Tony shrugged, “I don’t.” And with that Noah took off.

-

She got into the car where Happy was waiting for her.

“Excited for your first day in school?” He asked with kind manner.

“I’m not sure. Spring break is just over and… Um…. Lot of things happened to me. New school seems like nothing.” She stared out the window.

Happy glanced at her through the back mirror, “You know, you could’ve went to better school than Midtown High. Why did you decline Mr. Stark’s offer?”

Noah blinked, thinking. “Too much pressure. And for some reason, I don’t want to leave Queens.”

“Isn’t that where the orphanage was? And it’s like 30-minute drive from your new school. I thought you would hate that place.”

Noah nodded sadly. “I just, don’t know.” And she remained silent for the rest of the drive.

“Mr. Stark would pick you up later.” Happy said when they arrived at the school’s parking lot.

Noah looked confused, “Wouldn’t that attract a lot of attention?”

Happy chuckled, “Your last name is already drawing attention.”

“Right…” Noah mumbled. The car stopped.

“We've arrived. Have a nice day!” Happy said. Noah thanked him and walked out of the car. Because of the car, she was already grabbing quiet a lot of attention.

She hurried into the building. Screaming kids, toilet paper in the air, kids making out furiously in front of the lockers, a nerd getting bullied….

She grinned unconsciously. She felt quiet com….. She shook the feeling away and headed to the principal’s office. The principal greeted her with a huge smile on his face, which almost made Noah feel uncomfortable.

The principal guided her to her first period classroom, chattering happily about how nice it is to have her here. Noah just quietly listened, not paying much attention to it.

The principal knocked the door, opened it and walked up to the Physics teacher standing in the front of the class. The principal whispered something into his ear, and then left, wishing Noah a good luck.

The teacher silenced the whispering students and introduced Noah to them.

“Everyone, this is [Name], [Name] Stark.”

The whispering grew louder, “Stark? As in Tony Stark?” “Did Iron Man had a kid?”

The teacher shushed them, “Why don't you introduce yourself to us?”

Noah gulped, glanced at the teacher then faced the class.

Noah didn't know what to say but the teacher gestured her to hurry up so she had no choice.

“I, uh, hello. I'm [Name] Stark, pleasure to meet you. And uh….”

She looked at the teacher to indicate that she was done. He waved his hand and she quickly walked to the very back row of the class and sat down on a random seat. Which happened to be next to a brown haired boy. He had been staring at her from the moment she entered the class.

He tapped her shoulder, she looked at him. “Hi, I’m Peter.”

Noah nodded and turned all her attention to the teacher, trying to comprehend everything he was talking about. Until a piece of paper slipped to her desk. She ignored it at first but the boy tapped the note, to grab her attention. After an inward sigh she picked it up. She glanced at him, who was grinning at her.

It had bazillion of questions scribbled in it. For example, ‘Are you really Tony Stark’s daughter?’, ‘How does it feel like to know the Avengers in person?’, ‘Did you hold Captain’s shield?’, and ‘Have you tried picking Mjolnir up?’

She looked up at the boy, who was smiling, then at the teacher, who didn’t really seem to notice her, then back to the paper.

She could already hear T.A.D.A.S.H.I. scolding her for passing notes. He has proven to be a very bossy AI, unlike F.R.I.D.A.Y. But she felt guilty and read through the note, scribbling down the answer to the questions and after spending about 3 minutes on the paper that probably would mean nothing in her life, she handed it to the original owner.

She thought she could finally listen to the class in peace but he passed her another note few minutes later, filled with another millions of questions. They were all about the Avengers.

She glanced at him, who looked quiet excited. His expression told her that he had even more questions waiting to be answered. She felt her phone buzzing, her AI warning her, but she’d rather get scolded by him than being rude to the person she just met. Even though it was rude for the boy to pass note during class in the first place.

Then another note came. It was starting to annoy her but she answered them, without complaining. By the time the bell screeched, telling them the class was over, she already felt exhausted.

She stood up, worrying about what Tony was going to say to her. She exited the room and put one earphone on her ear. T.A.D.A.S.H.I. immediately began to scold her. She didn’t protest. Then someone grabbed her shoulder and she took a sharp turn to see the Boy. Peter, was it?

“Hey, uh, which class are you heading to?”

[Name] sighed in her head, trying to act as polite as possible, she showed him her schedule. From the earphone, her AI was asking if she was even listening to him.

Peter read through the paper and grinned, “Hey, you have lots of classes with me! C’mon, I will take you to the next class, I have the same.”

[Name] couldn’t help but to feel horrified but followed him. After all, he was just trying to be nice to her. He was a talkative one. And he seemed so excited that it was almost amusing, though she didn’t show.

So [Name] was dragged around everywhere including the classrooms, cafeteria, and even gym, all by the same boy.

Peter was in 4 of her classes, out of 7. He seemed to be happy about it, befriending Tony Stark’s daughter. But [Name], even though she kept it silent, was annoyed. Extremely annoyed.

Peter was the most talkative boy she’d ever met, and the smartest at the same time, but that didn’t seem to matter much.

Just because she was a Stark. Just because of that she annoyed to hell by her classmate. And most of other kids, even though they seemed quiet curious about her, didn’t approach her. So she was basically stuck with this weirdo. She didn’t want to seem indecent so she let him annoy her. Painful. Very.

[Name] wished for a quiet school life. But in reality she was surrounded by very talkative boy and his even nerdier friends. Which was definitely something she didn’t expect.

So when the school was all over, she practically ran away from Peter.

“Miss, you are in a big trouble.”

“Father never told me not to pass noted during class so I’m fine.” She retorted, a struggle to rationalize herself.

“You are smart enough to know Mr. Stark’s intention, miss.” T.A.D.A.S.H.I. scolded.

“If you stay silent, nothing bad would happen.”

“It looks like that boy is following you, miss.”

[Name] turned around to see Peter Parker running toward her, calling her name.

“Hey [Name]. Are you going home?”

She nodded.

“I was wondering if you are interested in-“ he shut himself up, mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. [Name] turned around to see a super car, entering the school parking lot, grabbing every student’s attention. Then right in front of them, Tony Stark got off, enjoying the attention he was getting.

“[Name], sweetie, come on. We need to go now.”

[Name] obeyed, walking toward him. She turned to see Peter, just staring at Tony. She quickly got into the car and the car sped out.

“Was that your friend?” Tony asked.

Noah shrugged, “I guess.”

“Good to know that you are doing well.” He said, looking proud of his daughter.

“So anything happened? T.A.D.A.S.H.I.?”

[Name] gulped, praying in her mind that the A.I. would shut his mouth.

“Nothing much sir.” She sighed inwardly, relieved. Tony nodded.

“Alright then. When we get back, finish your homework first. I’ve reserved a restaurant to celebrate your first day in school.”

[Name] wasn’t sure if that was necessary. But she didn’t want to decline the offer so she nodded.

“Okay then. Oh we arrived, see you later sweetheart.”