#and eventually he falls asleep next to her on her hospital bed

[piracytheorist]

someone: how angsty do you want your identity reveal scenario to be?

me: so what if right after Anya's powers are revealed Twilight asks her why she tricked him into adopting her, if she was put into it by someone else in order to expose him, and Anya tries to tell him she wanted to help and he asks why would you want to help me and she's like "because you want a peaceful world where children don't cry" and he nearly has a flashback triggered by that and she runs and hugs his legs saying she wants to help and be good and Twilight just. Pushes her away. Gently and without physically hurting her but emotionally it's a massacre. And he sees her devastated face because of his rejection and realizes he has now caused her the pain he never wanted to see on another child's face, and he thanks whatever lucky stars he doesn't deserve that Yor is there because he cannot process anything else and just leaves out the door, leaving Anya to bawl in Yor's arms :)

[formulaonecrumbs]

can we get oscar older sister au? pleaseeee

little big moments

Oscar Piastri x older sister!reader

summary: oscar’s favourite person is his older sister.

warnings: hospitals, broken leg, implied dance injury.

A/N: projecting myself into reader cuz i’ve always wanted to be a ballerina :p enjoy my lovvvveeeee 🫶🫶🫶

⚘ ⚘ ⚘ ⚘

8 & 13

the monsters don’t wait for the closet door to creak open or the thunder to roll in.

they crawl out from behind his eyelids—sharp-toothed and angry—chasing him down a hallway that doesn’t end, his legs heavy and too slow. his voice doesn’t work. he’s trying to scream but it’s like all the air in the world is gone.

then suddenly, he’s awake.

his chest is tight. his throat hurts. he’s not sure if he screamed or if it only happened in the dream. the shadows in his room don’t look right, even though he knows they’re just his race car poster and the chair with his hoodie on it. still, his heart’s thudding and his eyes are hot and—

he climbs out of bed.

his feet are cold on the wooden floor, but he tiptoes anyway. carefully. quietly. his door creaks when he opens it, and he pauses, breath caught. no one stirs.

reader’s room is at the end of the hall. he knows the number of steps by heart. twelve small ones. he doesn’t knock—he never knocks—and instead just presses the door open a crack and peeks in.

she’s still awake. the warm, soft yellow of her lamp is still on, and she’s lying on her stomach, writing in the little purple notebook she always keeps beside her bed. her hair’s up in a bun, messy and half-falling apart.

he hesitates in the doorway, and she looks up like she already knew he was coming.

“nightmare?” she asks, voice low and gentle.

he nods.

she doesn’t say anything else. just shifts over and lifts the blanket.

he scrambles up onto her bed, dragging his pillow with him. he lies on his side, facing the wall, and she presses her chest against his back. her arm comes around his middle, warm and steady.

for a while, it’s just the quiet hum of her lamp and the soft rhythm of her breathing.

“what happened this time?” she asks, fingers brushing his hair.

he shrugs. “dunno. running. screaming. couldn’t move.”

“was i there?”

“no.”

“should i have been?”

he nods.

she hugs him tighter, her hand finding his and squeezing it once.

“next time,” she whispers, “i’ll be there.”

it’s the kind of promise he’ll remember forever. not because she says it like it’s big, but because she says it like it’s already true. like she would’ve fought every monster with her bare hands if she’d known he needed her.

he breathes in slowly, and everything starts to settle. the shadows look softer now. smaller. quieter.

and eventually, with her heartbeat behind him and her arm wrapped around his middle, he falls back asleep.

10 & 15

oscar hates hospitals.

he hates the beeping, the weird smell, the dull grey walls that make it feel like everyone’s holding their breath. he especially hates the food—the tray they gave her yesterday had some green mush on it that looked like it belonged in a science lab, not a lunch.

but he hates seeing her here even more.

she’s in a private room, one with big windows and soft blankets their mum brought from home, but it still feels cold. she’s lying back against her pillows, leg in a cast and propped up, her eyes half-glazed from the pain meds.

she doesn’t smile much these days.

so he comes armed.

he knocks once before coming in, even though she tells him every time that he doesn’t have to. her head turns slowly when he enters, and he sees that flicker in her expression—the one that means she’s trying to look okay even when she’s not.

“hey,” she says softly, voice a little hoarse.

he doesn’t say anything back. just climbs up into the chair next to her bed, backpack thumping onto the floor. he unzips it carefully, glancing toward the hallway like he’s expecting a nurse to barge in and arrest him.

“you didn’t,” she murmurs, already smiling.

he grins and pulls out a crinkly packet of oreos. “of course i did.”

she lets out the tiniest laugh. “you’re gonna get in so much trouble.”

“worth it,” he says, and then pulls out the second thing—a tiny ziplock bag of gummy bears, the good ones, not the off-brand kind.

her eyes go soft. it’s the most he’s seen her smile all week.

“gourmet,” she teases, reaching out with both hands like it’s the most sacred offering.

“only the best,” he says, but his voice drops a little at the end.

she eats slowly, more from the exhaustion than anything else, but he stays quiet while she chews, kicking his heels against the chair legs. he keeps glancing at her cast. it’s so big. it looks heavy. and even though she hasn’t said it out loud, he knows—knows she’s scared. knows something’s different this time.

she finishes her oreo and leans her head back, turning to look at him. “thanks, oz.”

he shrugs, suddenly shy. “s’not a big deal.”

“it is to me.”

her voice wobbles just slightly at the end, and that’s what breaks him.

he scoots the chair closer and leans his head gently on the edge of her bed, near her hand. she brushes her fingers through his hair, soft and rhythmic, and he doesn’t say anything. doesn’t ask why her eyes are glassy or why her hand trembled when she reached for the snack.

he just stays there.

because she’s always been the strong one—the dancer, the graceful one, the calm in his chaos. and now she needs someone to be that for her.

so he’s going to be. even if it just means sneaking in gummy bears and sitting beside her until she falls asleep again.

when he leaves later, he hides the empty wrappers at the bottom of the bin, like a secret only the two of them will ever know.

THE END :>

[penkura]

OP Men Holding Their Firstborn for the First Time

Note: This is in relation to my post of headcanons for these five men and their children. I just started thinking of which ones of them will cry, who will freak out over holding a tiny baby, who may reject the thought at first. And it came to this lol. I think the next one in this series will be names for the kids or babies taking their first steps! The baby fever is strong help. For now, please enjoy these men being soft about their offspring!

Ace almost has a heart attack when you try to pass your daughter to him, he swears he felt his heart jump into his throat when you ask if he wants to hold her, saying no that he's fine for now, but you insist he should. He doesn't do so for several hours, instead watching you with her as he works up the courage to have her in his arms.

What if my powers activate and I burn her? What if she cries and kicks? Oh lord, what I drop her??

"Ace, please. You need to hold her."

The look on your face, like you're begging him to hold her, finally makes Ace agree, sitting on the edge of your hospital bed to take your hours old daughter from you. You remind him to be careful of her head, make sure to support her, and smile when you finally get to see the two loves of your life together at last.

She doesn't fuss or cry or kick, instead staying fast asleep and seeming like she's snuggling into the warmth Ace radiates thanks to his Devil Fruit powers. He's just amazed by her, her tiny little nose and the beautiful, dark eyelashes that brush her chubby little cheeks. She's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen after you of course.

Ace fights not to cry but can't help the few tears that sneak out, wiping them away on his sleeve quickly, the one time he wears a shirt and it's the day you give birth to the newest love of his life.

Gosh, he always knew you were amazing. Now you've given him a family of his own, how could he ever repay you?

"Thank you for her...she's so perfect."

Ace can't seem to tear his eyes away from your daughter's little face, and that's okay with you. She's his baby too, he needs to have some time with her.

"What do you think we should name her, Ace?"

Oh. Oh crap, she does need a name huh?

~~

Law doesn't even have a chance to think about it, he's holding your son immediately after birth since he was the one to help you deliver obviously. Once your baby boy is wrapped in a towel Law hands him right to you before checking to make sure you're doing all right. Your vitals are all normal and stable, he's relived that you're both fine, while he watches you talk to your crying newborn.

You tell him that it doesn't count that he held your son right away since he's your and the boy's doctor, eventually getting Law to sit down and actually hold him as his father instead. Your son kept fussing and crying until Law finally got to hold him, the newborn quieting after a few moments but keeping his eyes shut tight and his little hands in fists as he kept whining.

Once he finally opens his eyes to stare up at Law, it's probably the cutest thing you've ever seen in your life apart from Bepo.

Especially once you catch sight of a few tears in Law’s eyes, making you smile softly as you lean back to just watch them. He's quick to rub at his eyes and make them stop, but the few sniffles you hear every bit tell you he's trying to stop himself from looking like a bigger baby than your literal baby he's holding.

He's never actually held a baby so tiny, not since Lammy was born. And to know this is his son, it's crazy to think about while he watches your baby boy start to fall asleep.

He really does wish his parents, sister, and Cora-san were there. They'd all love to meet your son, and you know he's thinking that, but you hope realizes that all the Heart Pirates are going to love your little boy just as much as his family would have.

And that eases the sting a bit, especially when they all do get to meet your son, and not a single one of them is without tears, beyond happy for you and their beloved captain.

~~

Penguin almost begs to hold your daughter once she's born and you're both stable. Law tries to push him away while he takes your daughter's vitals and measurements, asking how on earth you dealt with Penguin being so clingy the last nine months, which just makes you laugh.

"Go sit with your wife, damn it, I'll bring her over in a minute."

"But, captain--"

"Penguin, just come over here for now."

Penguin sits beside your bed and pouts until Law finally brings your daughter over, about to hand her to you before you direct him to your husband. Both ask if you're absolutely sure you want Penguin to hold her first, until you confirm it, and Law hands your daughter to her father, showing him the right away to hold her, before he leaves the three of you alone for a few minutes.

Penguin is absolutely enthralled with her. She's still fussy from being born, stretching out her little arms and legs, making cute little sounds, and he just can't believe she's finally here. He feels like you two waited an eternity for her to be born, now she has been! She's so small, she fits perfectly in his arms and it makes him want to cry so much.

"She's so tiny."

"And she looks just like you, Peng."

~~

Due to you having twins, you hold your son while Sanji holds your daughter, blubbering like the baby girl was because he's just so happy to have these babies with you. It makes you want to laugh hearing him cry, watching him kiss your daughter's forehead to try and calm her down while he dotes on her and you give your son attention.

"You're an angel, a perfect little gift from heaven!"

When you finally swap which baby you're each holding, Sanji still cries, happy to have a son too! He never really thought you'd have twins, or that they'd be fraternal on top of it! Both are so precious to him, you're precious to him, this little family you've now built together.

Your daughter has his hair, but your son looks just like you to Sanji. He kisses your son's forehead before looking at you and your newborn daughter, still unable to believe this is going to be his life from now on. You, and him, and your two tiny blessings.

"I love you so, so much."

He can't wait to call Zeff and let him know the good news.

~~

Zoro has no worries or qualms or tears when holding your son for the first time. Actually, it doesn't hit him for a few hours that he has a child now.

Your son is so quiet most of his first day outside the womb, sleeping and eating, only fussing when he needs something, but you're able to calm him down quickly. The way you're able to do that when this is your first baby impresses Zoro more than anything today.

It's only once you're asleep and he's holding your son again that it really gets to him. There's another person depending on him now, this one being his own flesh and blood, his newborn son that already looks just like him. His hands are so tiny, he's not even able to fully get his little fingers around one of Zoro's fingers.

Chopper made sure you both were left alone for the day, Zoro taking a bed next to yours and laying back with your son on his chest that night. That's when he realized just how small your baby is. His hand covered the newborn's back completely, his tiny hand fisting Zoro's shirt as he slept, small coos and whines coming from him every now and then. Zoro looks at you for a moment, before back to your son with a smile.

Your son may not have been planned, but Zoro's more than accepting of how his life is turning out.

~~

Note 2: I am absolutely willing to elaborate on these men and their children. If anyone wants to see something specific, just send me a message! I'll be posting more of my own thoughts too!

[noodlemoondle]

Sleep Aid ♡

Zayne x Reader ~ fluff ε٩(๑> ₃ <)۶з

word count: 1.2k

description: after a boring day at work you find yourself unable to sleep at night when you suddenly receive a message from zayne questioning why you’re still awake and offering to come over. after denying and trying to keep him at his home you are now getting out of bed late at night to let your graciously kind (and insanely stubborn) boyfriend into you’re home to help you sleep.

author’s note: hihi everyone!!! this is the first fanfic i’m ever actually posting! kinda confused a bit on how tumblr works so im sorry if the formatting is off but i think it’s all good other than that. i’m using this to test the waters on making a fic acc bc i’ve been waning to get on the writer’s side of it and not just the reader’s lolol. lmk ur thoughts and opinions id love to hear! hope u enjoy!!! ヾ(^▽^ヾ)

(p.s. this has been sitting in my notes app for a while so i’m so sorry for any grammar errors! i also apologize for the shitty title i’m not good at coming up with those T_T )

it was around 1 in the morning and you couldn’t sleep. you weren’t really sure why either you just couldn’t do it. not like you didn’t try, sleep just didn’t want to take you. you didn’t necessarily mind though, you weren’t scheduled to come in the next day. so instead of just fighting to fall asleep, you just decided to mindlessly scroll on your phone until you felt tired enough to actually go to bed.

hugging a pillow and facing the wall, you’ve been scrolling for god knows how long. until suddenly you received a message.

zayne: why are you still awake?

taken aback by the sudden text, your eyes slightly widen. you stare at the notification for a moment in disbelief until you receive another

zayne: don’t ignore me and act like you’re asleep. i can see that you’re active on moment posts.

well there goes your brilliant plan on ignoring him until the sun rises pretending to be asleep all along.

you: stalker

you: also i just so happened to not be able to fall asleep what’s your excuse hm?

zayne: i just got back from the hospital half an hour ago and got ready to go to bed and noticed someone up past her bedtime.

you: bedtime? i’m not 5 🙄

you: plus i don’t have work tomorrow so i can go to bed whenever

zayne: not necessarily. what time you go to bed also plays a factor in your rest not just how long it is.

you: blah blah blah. i’ll be fine. i have been trying to though!!! i just can’t fall asleep for whatever reason :P

zayne: would you like me to come over?

you: no!!!!!

you: i mean i appreciate the offer but i promise im ok! i’ll get tired eventually and fall asleep it’s just not right now. and you should go to bed you had a long shift and need to rest.

zayne: i’m not going to make a comment on your poor sleeping habits, but i dont mind heading over. sleeping with you helps me rest better anyways.

you: 😉

zayne: not like that.

you: 🙄

you: whatever. don’t come over i swear i’ll be fine and i’ll go to bed eventually! 😁

zayne: …

zayne: i’ll be there in 15.

you: ZAYNE!!! 🤬

just as he said 15 minutes later you hear a knock on your door. annoyed, you grumble and stomp over to the door to let him in.

you open the door making sure not to hide the sour look on your face, emphasizing the displeasure of him coming all this way. the moment you open the door a smile tugs on his lips, despite the upset look on your face. he chuckles and leans down to kiss the top of your head.

“hello, dear” he says against your hair. before he walks into your apartment.

“why are you here?” you quickly say with your bottom lip sticking out in a pout with your arms crossed over your chest.

“i thought i made it aware. you can’t sleep.” he states as he brushes a few strands of hair out of your face and behind your ear.

“but i already told you im fine!!! go back home. it is all good here.” you say like a child , attempting to swat away his hand and starting to try and push him out the door.

“what if i said that i couldn’t sleep?” zayne says as he slightly cocks his head to the side at you with a soft smirk.

you pause in your tracks, trying to think of something to respond, knowing exactly what he’s doing. the gears try to slowly turn in your head until you look up at him, and you see him looking back down at you with a knowing grin showing he already got what he wanted.

“…fine.” you mumble begrudgingly as you drag yourself back to your room.

zayne lets out a small breath of laughter as he takes off his coat and begins to follow you to bed.

you sit down and lean against your headboard. picking up your phone and continuing to scroll as zayne joins you in bed. there’s a few moments of silence where you don’t even notice him looking at you. it wasn’t until he suddenly reaches over and snatches your phone right from your hands that you’re reminded of his presence and how he invaded your peaceful home.

“HEY!!! give it back!!!” you say as you jump to him trying to retrieve your phone from his grasp, something you knew was pointless.

“it’s almost 2:00 am you need to go to sleep.” he says with a softer voice as he plugs your phone in on the nightstand closer to him.

“do i have to say it again?” you practically growl as you loom over on top of him.

“well, now i’m here.” his voice deepening, as his hands begin to caress the sides of your torso. a combination he knows gets you to do whatever he wants.

you finally give up. falling on top of him onto his chest where he’s quick to wrap his arms around you and help you get settled.

“it’s not working im still not tired.” you say annoyed trying to wriggle out of his grasp. another fruitless effort, but hey you’ll still try.

one of zaynes hand creeps its way to your hair and begins brushing it out, as he uses his other hand to wrap the duvet around you both tucking, mainly you, in.

“talk to me until you do.” he says, still playing with your hair.

“about what?” you look up to him, with a much calmer demeanor that you don’t notice, but he smiles at.

“your day. what did you do today?” he asks, beginning to scratch up and down your back.

you release a small yawn before you begin to speak. which he uses as a sign to move the hand playing with your hair to cup your cheek, softly rubbing his thumb along the apple of it. making sure to keep his lips pressed against your head.

“well i didn’t do much today. i had a mission i was supposed to go on, but then they sent another group instead. so i just sat on my desk doing some some work i’ve been putting off until i got bored and decided to go shopping. and then once i got off work i went to the convenience store to get some snacks. and i also hope you know you can’t do this every time i can’t sleep. i very often struggle to do so.” you ramble, your voice losing energy the more you talk and closing your eyes by the time you get to the end of it.

zayne cranes his head down to press his lips against your forehead, still cupping your cheek and rubbing it tenderly. he begins to speak against your forehead in a quiet gentle voice.

“i’m aware, but every time that i am able to, i’ll gladly come over and comfort you to sleep. it’s no issue at all. i assure you.”

by the time he finished speaking, zaynes voice lulled you to bed. of course he knew exactly what to do to make you instantly fall asleep. he nuzzles your face once more before turning off the bedside lamp. he curls himself around your sleeping form nuzzling his face into your hair before drifting off to bed himself.

“goodnight, my love.”

[munsonsmixtapes]

Live Your Fantasy (1)

Buddie x fem!reader

After falling asleep to your favorite TV show, you somehow end up in the universe and are shocked to find out that your in a relationship with your two favorite characters.

cw: MDNI (18+) eventual smut, reader gets into a car accident

This is in collaboration with always lovely @the-witty-pen-name and part two will be coming soon!

You come out of the bathroom having gotten ready for bed. You’re excited to turn on your favorite show, 9-1-1, to fall asleep to as you get comfortable under the covers. You turn on the TV and put on the episode that you left off on. 

The first emergency isn’t as bad as some of the others you’ve seen. It’s a car accident and it’s actually one of the ones with the least damage. It’s a collision and one of the women comes out with just a broken arm because of the air bag while the other woman and her husband are unharmed. 

That’s the last thing you see before your eyes flutter shut, sleep taking over your body. 

-

Someone’s calling your name. It’s repeated over and over but it sounds like it’s echoing, distant. Your eyes open and you’re staring into a pair of pretty blue ones. 

Buck lets out a sigh of relief when he sees that you’re awake, smiling more than you think he should since you’re a complete stranger. Wait, Buck? What are you doing here? What is he doing here? He’s not real, just a character on a TV show. But he looks so real that you could just reach out and- 

You wince when you try to raise your right arm, looking down to see that it’s pinned between the airbag and your body. Buck is speaking to you, but you can’t hear him because of how much pain you’re in. 

Ravi and Eddie are racing towards you with a gurney and before you can even register what’s happening, you’re out of the car and lying on it as they roll you as quickly as possible to the ambulance. 

“Buck,” is all you’re able to get out as you’re rolled into the ambulance and he gives your other hand a squeeze, telling you that he’ll meet you at the hospital. You don’t know much but what you do know is that you’re not in the real world anymore. You’ve somehow ended up on your favorite TV show. 

-

After they’ve gotten you settled and run some tests, it’s been revealed to you that not only have you broken your arm, but it turns out that you’ve suffered from a bit of memory loss because of the impact of the accident. It makes sense since this is all clearly just a surreal dream. It can’t be real. You refuse to believe it because this kind of thing isn’t even possible. 

Part of you wants to try to wake yourself up to put a stop to the madness but the other part, the bigger part, wants to see where this goes. It’s not every day that your dreams are so vivid so you think you might have to stick around to see what happens. 

And you’ve only been in this life for a few hours and already feel more loved than you do in your real one. So many people have come by to visit you with different treats and gifts which catches you off guard. You don’t even know that many people but apparently in this universe, you’re very popular, which you can’t even complain about. 

You’re trying to get used to using your non-dominant hand when there’s a knock on the door. It opens and Buck comes into view, a wide grin appearing on his face as he closes the door behind him, making a beeline for you. 

“How’s my girl?” He asks as he leans over and presses a kiss to your lips before pulling up a chair to sit next to you, taking your free hand in his again. Wait a minute. Is Buck your boyfriend? How is it that one of the characters you’ve been crushing on since the beginning of the show has somehow ended up as your significant other when you somehow landed in his universe? You suppose you really are lucky here. 

“Good besides the broken arm. But they gave me some pain killers. I’m better now that you’re here, though.” You give his hand a squeeze and he leans down to press a kiss to your knuckles. 

“Good,” he nods and turns his head towards the TV that’s mounted on the wall that’s playing a news channel. He’s confused as to why you’re watching it but then he sees himself and smirks smugly. 

“I see, you missed me,” he gives your hand another squeeze before reaching for the remote. “But why don’t we turn it to something more lighthearted, hm?” He asks as he changes the channel to some sitcom before scooting the chair closer to the bed, pressing more kisses to your hand before getting settled in the chair. It seems like he’s not leaving anytime soon and you don’t want him to. You’re perfectly happy right here. 

You intertwine your fingers with his as he sits by your bedside, and you can feel yourself already growing used to this. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. You can’t stop yourself from stealing glances at him as his eyes are focused on the TV. You smile, taking in his features, somehow he’s even more beautiful in the flesh. He catches you looking, and it makes your face feel warm when he winks playfully. 

You were fortunate that you only had to stay at the hospital overnight, and you were discharged early the next afternoon. Buck came back first thing when visiting hours started so he’d be with you whenever they were ready to send you home. He insisted on having his arm around you the whole walk out from your room to his Jeep.

He held the door open and helped you into the passenger seat. He pulls the seatbelt across you, helping you buckle and then kisses you before going around to get into the driver’s seat. As he drives, he has one hand on the wheel and the other affectionately on your thigh. This is one dream you never want to wake up from. 

You have so many questions that you want to ask him, but you don’t even want to risk anything that would pull you out of this moment. You want to know everything about your life here, and it makes you feel almost giddy thinking about what else you could have here that your other life was lacking. You turn in your seat slightly so you can watch him as he drives. 

“Do you remember the day we met?” You ask him, dreamily. 

“Yeah, of course I do,” he says grinning as he reminisces. “Why, sweetheart?” 

“What was like- your very first impression of me?” You watch as the question makes him chuckle and he begins rubbing circles on your thigh with his thumb gently. 

“I mean,” he says with a contemplative sigh, “I’ve told you this a million times, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I didn’t think I had a chance in hell. God, I’ll never forget the first time I saw you.”

“Tell me about it, again?” You ask, using your free hand to hold his in yours. 

“You’re lucky I love this story,” Buck smiles, “Well when I was at the police station meeting Athena so I could give a statement, I literally couldn’t take my eyes off of you. You were typing up the narrative report for Athena and I was so distracted I kept messing up the details- which was really not good. Thankfully, she caught on and let me come back when someone else was working- I was so tongue tied. I just remember thinking, this can’t be the only time I see this girl. I have to see her again.” 

Okay, you can read between the lines of his story and figure out in this world, you’re a secretary at the police station. You smile as he ends up going on to how he asked for your number, how nervous he was on your first date… tons of little details about the beginning of your relationship you’re so amazed to hear about. 

He pulls up to a large apartment building you don’t recognize but you feel that relief in your body when you’re home after a drive. This must be your place. He helps you out of the car, and guides you up to your apartment with his hand on the small of your back the entirety of the walk. He has a key to the apartment on his key ring, and you wonder if you live together or if he just has a key to place. You're honestly fine with either, but part of you panics momentarily thinking about living alone while navigating with a broken arm. 

When Buck opens the door, the first thing that hits your senses is something from the kitchen that smells absolutely incredible. Walking into the apartment a little further, you follow the smell and you see Eddie in the kitchen making dinner. The sight makes you smile ear to ear. Of course, you would also be close with Eddie. 

“Hey, you’re home,” Eddie smiles, cutting the heat on the stove as he walks over to you. He pulls you into a hug, which you reciprocate with your good arm. “I was so worried when Buck told me that it was you,” he says, moving a hair out of your face. The gesture makes your stomach flip, that feels a little too intimate if you’re just friends. “I hate that you weren’t awake when I came to see you, but it’s the only time I had in between shifts.”

Before your mind can even process what’s happening, Eddie cups your jaw and kisses you gently. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he smiles, pressing his forehead to yours for a moment before he pulls away and takes a step closer to Buck. 

“Our girl is home,” he says happily, kissing Buck quickly before turning back towards the pot. “And I made chili to celebrate. Buck will help you to the table and I’ll serve you.” 

You’re so caught off guard by what’s happened since you walked through the door and are not sure how to ask what’s going on without raising suspicion. Clearly you’re all together romantically but you want to know how exactly this came to be. It must make a very interesting story. Maybe you can think about it for a bit while you take your time to enjoy what’s going on even though you don’t fully understand. 

Buck does as he’s asked and helps you over to the kitchen table while Eddie serves up your chili before bringing it over to you, setting it on the table in front of you along with a glass of water. 

Once they’ve served themselves, Buck and Eddie sit on either side of you and the three of you eat in silence which gives you plenty of time to think about everything. You can’t believe that this is your life. That you have two boyfriends, two men who are definitely the hottest you’ve ever seen. And they both clearly love you which makes you feel like the luckiest woman in the world. 

Eddie reaches for your free hand while Buck’s hand rests on your thigh as the three of you continue to eat, both of them constantly looking at you like you’ve hung the moon. 

You make an attempt to eat your chili with your free hand but of course it’s not easy because it’s your non-dominant hand. Eddie seems to notice your struggle and your frustration and he takes it upon himself to help. 

“Easy, mi amor,” he says gently, taking the spoon from your hand. He scoops some of the chili out of the bowl and you open your mouth, letting him feed you even though it makes you feel helpless. But there is something about being taken care of that you like, so you let him do it, especially when you see how happy it makes him. 

Eddie still feels new to this considering the fact that it was just you and Buck for so long. But seeing the way that you and Buck look at him, he knows that he’s in the right place. You both have told him so countless times but there are times where he feels like the third wheel. 

Once you’re done with dinner, the three of you head to the couch to watch a movie, your choice, of course. You all cuddle up and you decide that this is the only place you ever want to be, wrapped up in their arms, while they tell you how much they love you between kisses while your favorite movie plays on the TV. There’s no way you could ever leave now. 

Buck fell asleep during the movie so Eddie helps you into bed. You try your best to do what you can with your nondominant hand, not wanting to be completely helpless. Eddie watches you carefully and guides your arm when he can, taking over the task for you when you need him. 

“Thank you,” you say, watching his reflection in the mirror as he carefully helps you with your hair. 

“Of course,” he says with a small smile, meeting your eyes in the mirror. The way he looks at you- you swear you’ve never had anyone look at you like this. It’s so overwhelming. As he finishes up, he kisses your shoulder and then your neck and then your cheek. 

“Alright,” he says, “let’s get you in bed, yeah?” You nod in agreement and he follows you out of the bathroom to your bedroom. 

For a second, you worry that you’ll give yourself away not knowing where your clothes are. Eddie beats you to it, grabbing pajamas for you without even needing to look around for them. 

“C’mere,” he says, and helps you get your arms out of your shirt and over your head. You realize that he’s put you in one of Buck’s LAFD shirts as he tosses your other shirt in the hamper. 

You’re able to manage the button of your jeans and shimmy out of them on your own. You’re able to put on your pajama shorts on your own too. Eddie watches you, making sure that you’re okay. You don’t miss the way his eyes linger on your bare legs and it makes your entire body flush with warmth. 

“You’re so perfect,” he muses, his voice low, pulling you into his lap where he’s sitting on the edge of your bed. His hand rests on your upper thigh and the other wraps around your waist to hold you close to him. 

“I was so worried about you,” he mumbles, pressing a kiss to your hairline. “I’m so happy you’re home safe.” 

“Me too,” you reply, and rest your head on his shoulder. After a moment, you pick your head up and you watch how his eyes linger on yours until they flicker down to your lips. You’re brave enough to kiss him first, slowly connecting your lips to his. 

“I love you,” he mumbles against your lips, pulling you in closer. “God, so much.” 

“I love you too,” you return the sentiment, unable to help the way you smile. Your reaction to his words makes him chuckle, pulling you in for another quick kiss before he helps you into bed. 

“You need your rest,” he says, helping you pull the covers up. You pout when you realize he’s leaving. He can’t help but smile at your reaction. “Goodnight, mi amor.” 

He closes the door to your bedroom, leaving you alone. You reach for your remote on the bedside table and turn on the TV, intending to turn on 9-1-1 but of course it’s not in your “continue watching” so you settle for something else and fall into the best sleep you’ve had in a long time. 

-

You stand in front of the mirror as you look over your outfit. It’s your first day back to work and you have no fucking idea what you’re doing, but you’ll figure it out. That's what you’ve been doing the past few days and no one has suspected a thing. 

If anything, you’re worried about Athena finding out because you know you won’t be able to hide from her as easily as the others. She always knows when something is off. You know you probably have much interaction with her, but you still feel like you’ll need to be on alert.

So you take a deep breath, working on your strategy as Buck and Eddie enter your bedroom. They’ve been staying with you as you heal but both slept on your couch because they were worried about potentially hurting your arm in your sleep. They just wanted to be available for you if you needed anything since you need some rest. They have even had other members of the 118 take care of you when they were both on duty. 

In your real life, you can probably only count on one hand the amount of people that would be willing to look after you like that. Now that you think about it, you don’t really have anyone. Your parents live out of state and ever since you moved for your job, you haven’t really had the time to make friends. At least, that’s what you tell yourself to make yourself feel less lonely. 

“Don’t you look pretty,” a voice pulls you out of your thoughts. You turn around to see Buck and Eddie standing in the doorway, giving you their signature smiles as they take in your outfit: dress pants with a white button up top and a black blazer. This isn’t something that you’re used to wearing so you’re nervous about how you look. You’ve stared at yourself in the mirror off and on for an hour and now you’re close to not even going. 

They seem to sense your nervousness because they make a beeline for you and pull you in for a hug, both them squeezing you, but not hard enough to hurt your arm. When they feel like it’s been long enough, they both pull away before giving you kisses then helping you grab all of your necessities before escorting you towards the door. 

You head out to the street where Buck’s jeep is parked and they both help you get into the backseat and Eddie buckles your seatbelt while Buck gets into the driver’s seat. Eddie makes sure you’re settled before he gets into the passenger seat before you’re off to the police station. 

You don’t have anything to say, still trying to get used to this whole dynamic and it doesn’t seem to matter anyway since they’re both whispering and doing it just low enough to where you can’t hear what they’re saying. You feel like a little kid listening to her parents argue with the way they constantly look back at you when they don’t think you’re looking. You almost want to ask what they’re talking about but decide against it since it doesn’t seem to be your business. 

The car pulls into the station parking lot and Buck and Eddie escort you inside, both carrying some of your belongings as Eddie holds your hand while Buck has his hand resting on the small of your back. 

When the three of you enter the building, all eyes are on you which only makes you more nervous. You squeeze Eddie’s hand as people start cheering, leading you to believe that you’re really loved here which is a huge step up from your other job where your coworkers don’t seem to care whether you’re there or not. You matter here and that’s going to take some getting used to. 

You let out a sigh of relief when you spot Athena right exactly where you’re supposed to be. Bobby is right by her side and you don’t think you’ve ever been so happy to see two people in your life. They’re smiling wide as you get towards them and they earth take a turn to hug you which takes a bit longer than you should since you can’t seem to be able to let go of either of them. They’ve become your family and you can’t believe that you’ve actually gotten a chance to meet them. 

“Hey, baby,” Athena greets, giving your back a sympathetic rub. “How’s the arm doing?” 

“Fine. Still hurts a little,” you shrug, not entirely sure what else you have to say. 

“Well it seems that you’re healing up well. Especially with your nurses,” Bobby says, nodding his head to your boyfriends who are standing behind you like some sort of guard dogs. 

“Oh yeah,” you nod before turning back to them. “They’ve been taking great care of me.” 

“I’m glad you’re doing okay, kid.” He gives your shoulder a squeeze and you can see that he’s tearing up a little. “We were all so worried when we saw it was you in the accident.” 

“There’s no need to worry, Bobby,” you smile, trying your best to make his tears go away. Because if he cries, you’ll cry. “I’m perfectly fine. It’s just a broken arm and that’s it. I’m even back at work.” 

Even though he doesn’t always show it, Bobby always worries about everyone. It’s his actual job to make sure that everyone gets home safe and when he showed up to the call and you were unconscious, he didn’t know what to do with himself. But thank god you woke up and the only thing wrong with you was your arm. Everyone got to go home safe this time and he couldn’t be more grateful for that. 

He’s known you for so long, him and Athena having taken you under their wing when you moved to the city. They let you stay with them while apartment hunting and even after you got your own place, they still considered you a member of their big family and your accident has gotten him feeling all mushy, so grateful for all he has in his life. For who he has in his life. 

“I just worry about you,” he says with a sigh and you give him another hug, knowing that he needs one. Bobby’s always had a soft spot for you, considering you to be one of his own children even though he’s never said as much. He just reminds you of what his daughter would have grown up to be so he feels an even bigger need to protect you because of that. He just wants everyone to be safe. 

You’re the first to pull away and Bobby gives your shoulder another squeeze before moving to help Buck and Eddie with your belongings, disappearing into the break room, leaving you alone with Athena. 

Something is off, she can tell. You’re acting differently. You’re normally so talkative, but this morning, you’re quiet as a mouse. She knows you’ve been nervous about coming back to work, but you’ve never behaved this way before. At least, not around her. You’ve referred to her as a mother figure more times than she can count and she’s told you that you can come to her for anything. She wonders why you aren’t saying anything right now. It’s almost like you’re a completely different person. 

You know she’s onto you just by the way she’s looking at you. Athena can read everyone like a book and even though you don’t know her well, you know that also means you. It’s only a matter of time before she figures out something is wrong and you’re sure that she’s not going to believe you when you eventually have to tell her the truth.  

“Is something bothering you, baby?” She asks as you sit down at the desk, trying to organize your thoughts. You have no fucking clue what you’re doing and are afraid to ask. The computer in front of you as well as all of the documents neatly organized on the desk all look so foreign to you. How the hell are you going to explain why you can’t do your job? 

“No,” you shake your head. “No, I’m good, Athena, I promise.” You know she doesn’t believe you, but she lets it go anyway. 

“Alright,” she lets out a sigh. “I know this can be overwhelming, but we’re all here to help if you need it.”

”Thank you, Athena,” you turn to her. 

“Anytime,” she smiles before heading out the building to go do her own job.

 You feel yourself panicking again, like a kid who’s been dropped off at school for the first time. Everything is new and you have no fucking clue what you’re doing. Part of you wishes you could just tell somebody the truth so they could explain what your job even is. 

You turn to the computer and see that you need to log in. Thankfully, there’s a sticky note at the bottom of the monitor with your username and password that you’re able to use to log in correctly. Once you’re in, though, you panic again, your brain not making any sense of the icons on the screensaver. 

When Buck, Eddie, and Bobby come back from putting your things away, you click on something random, hoping they won’t catch on and thankfully, they don’t seem to pay it any mind. Bobby stands on the other side of the desk while Buck and Eddie get in one last kiss, the three of them wishing you good luck before fleeing the building, leaving you completely alone. 

You feel like a fraud. You’ve just been thrown into this fictional universe having no idea what’s going on. You don’t know how or why you ended up here, but you’re grateful for it. You just wish it had come with an instruction manual. Maybe then you could play your part correctly. You’re surprised that no one has caught on to your confusion besides Athena. Even your own boyfriends don’t seem suspicious which is confusing to you.  

As much as you love being here, you just can’t help but wonder why you are and how you even got here. You want to figure out the reason behind it, but you don’t think you can. Part of you thought it was all part of a surreal dream, and maybe it is, but you can’t help but feel like it’s real. 

You’d never admit it out loud, but this is what you’ve wanted for years. To be an actual member of the family you get to be a part of for an hour every week. You’ve been so lonely that you don’t even know how to process so many people loving you and wanting to be around you. It’s so much to take in. Especially when you’re not sure when this will end. You want to savor it as long as possible. 

You don’t know how alternative universe you ever managed to get work done. All of your coworkers seemed to be friendly with you, all of them at one point or another stopping by to chat. You do your best to stumble through today, reading through files, picking up on some clues on what the hell you’re supposed to be doing. You end up looking up your job description on the LAPD website so you can manage through today at least pretending to work. 

Buck comes by later to pick you up, he comes inside to say hello to everyone. He hangs back, watching as your coworker shows you pictures of their new grand baby and it makes his heart beat faster watching how your eyes light up and how talkative you seem to be. You’re starting to settle back in perfectly fine, just like he knew you would. 

“Hey, sweetheart,” he cheers, finally making his presence known. You smile, and you’re surprised at how quick the day seemed to get away from you. “Good first day back?” 

Your coworker wrapped an arm around you in a friendly way. “You know our girl, she’s an all star,” she beams, patting your back before gently pushing you in the direction of your boyfriend. 

“Don’t I know it,” he smirks, pulling you in and pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “Ready to go?” You nod, and he grabs your bag to carry it out to the car for you. 

Every time you close your eyes, you’re so worried that you’ll be transported back to your old life. Any day now, you’ll wake up in your room alone and the 911 episode you started will be playing in the background. At the same time, it almost forces you to live everyday here to the fullest. You want to take advantage of every single moment you’re here, and God, you’re praying that you get to stay.

part two

[thatfatbitxch]

The Muggle Wife

Pairing: Severus snape x muggle reader

Summary: Snapes muggle wife comes to work with him for a day.

Word count: 3800

Warnings: None

Prequel Part two

Note: I am a nursing student so I couldn’t help but make y/n a nurse. I wrote this mostly for myself but decided to share. Let me know if you guys want a part two.

∴.·:*¨¨*:·. ☙.·:*¨ ¨*:·.♡ .·:*¨ ¨*:·. ❧.·:*¨ ¨*:·.∴

The soft patter of rain against the window was the first thing Y/N noticed as she stirred awake, still nestled beneath the heavy warmth of the blankets. The second was the comforting weight of her husband beside her. Severus was rarely still in the mornings—he was always up before her, always already halfway through a book or preparing for the day ahead. But today, he remained in bed, his breath slow and steady, one arm draped loosely across his stomach.

Y/N turned onto her side, propping herself up slightly to look at him. He was still asleep, his dark hair slightly mussed against the pillow. The deep lines of his face, usually so tight with concentration or irritation, were softened in rest. It was a rare sight. She smiled to herself, taking the moment to admire him.

Outside, the grey sky stretched endlessly, the steady drizzle promising a slow, quiet day. Sundays were one of the few days they had together, uninterrupted. No work, no obligations—just the two of them. Y/N treasured mornings like this, where she could pretend that their lives were simple, that they weren’t so often pulled in different directions.

She reached out, running her fingers lightly over the back of his hand.

“Are you watching me sleep?” Severus’s voice was rough with sleep, his eyes still closed.

Y/N grinned. “Maybe.”

He let out a low sigh but didn’t move away. Instead, he turned his head slightly toward her, finally cracking open one dark eye. “That’s unsettling.”

“You’ll survive,” she teased, brushing her fingertips up his arm.

He hummed, letting his eyes fall shut again. “What time is it?”

Y/N glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “A little after eight.”

Severus exhaled heavily, his fingers flexing against the blanket. “Too early.”

She laughed softly. “For what? You’re usually up by now.”

“It’s Sunday,” he muttered. “Even I am entitled to a moment of peace.”

Y/N tilted her head, amused. “Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?”

He let out a low scoff, but she caught the faintest twitch of his lips.

She took the opportunity to shift closer, tucking herself against his side. His body was warm, and despite his usual complaints about being smothered, he didn’t push her away. Instead, he lifted an arm, allowing her to rest against him properly.

For a long moment, they simply lay there, listening to the rain.

It was Severus who eventually broke the silence. “Are you working today?”

Y/N sighed. “No, I have the next few days off.”

“Hmm.”

She smiled, recognizing that small sound for what it was—a quiet acknowledgment that he was pleased.

“Which means,” she continued lightly, tracing a slow circle on his chest, “we can actually spend the day together.”

Severus let out a noncommittal noise, but Y/N could tell he wasn’t against the idea.

They spent so much time apart during the week. Between his responsibilities at Hogwarts and her long shifts at the hospital, their days often blurred past one another. It made moments like this—lazy mornings wrapped in each other’s warmth—all the more precious.

She hesitated for a second, chewing her lip. She had been thinking about something for a while now, and if there was ever a moment to bring it up, it was now.

���Severus?” she asked, her voice quieter than before.

He opened his eyes again, glancing at her. “What is it?”

She bit the inside of her cheek before speaking. “Can I come with you to Hogwarts tomorrow?”

There it was—the immediate tension in his body, the subtle stiffening of his shoulders. His expression shifted, dark eyes sharpening with caution.

“No,” he said flatly.

Y/N sighed, but she had expected this. “Just hear me out.”

“There is nothing to hear,” he muttered, shifting to sit up slightly. “You do not need to be there.”

“I want to see where you work.”

“I work in a dungeon surrounded by idiotic children. There is nothing remotely appealing about it.”

She huffed, sitting up properly now. “Severus, I’m not asking to stay forever. I just want to visit. I want to see the castle, your classroom—I want to understand what your life is like when you’re not here.”

He ran a hand down his face, clearly agitated. “It is entirely unnecessary.”

She crossed her arms, tilting her head. “Is it really that bad? That I want to know more about your world?”

Severus let out a slow, measured breath, rubbing his temple. She could see the internal battle written across his face. He wasn’t just being difficult for the sake of it—he genuinely disliked the idea.

Y/N softened slightly. “Look… I know you like to keep your work and home life separate. I respect that. But I spend all this time telling you about my day-to-day life and I know almost nothing about yours, it’s a huge part of your life. I mean, I spend most of my days at the hospital, and you know everything about my job.”

Severus exhaled through his nose. “Yes, and I like hearing about your day, there’s not much about my job.”

Y/N laughed. “Oh, please, Apparently you got staircases that move, a giant squid in the lake, and ghosts floating around like it’s normal.”

Severus gave her a look. “That is normal.”

She smirked. “Exactly. And yet, I’ve never seen it.”.”

He glanced at her but said nothing.

She reached for his hand again. “Just one day. You don’t even have to introduce me to anyone. I’ll just sit quietly in the back of your class and watch.”

Severus let out a low groan. “That is worse.”

Y/N smiled. “Why? Are you afraid I’ll make you look soft?”

His scowl deepened. “No.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“The issue,” he said through gritted teeth, “is that my students are insufferable, and the last thing I need is them seeing me with my wife.”

She blinked. “So… they don’t know you’re married?”

Severus hesitated before looking away, his expression unreadable.

“Oh my God,” she said, covering her mouth with a laugh. “You never told them?”

“There was no reason to,” he muttered.

She gaped at him. “Severus! That’s kind of a big thing to leave out!”

He glared at her. “It is none of their concern.”

“Oh, I’m definitely coming now,” she said, grinning. “I have to see their reactions.”

Severus let out a low sigh, rubbing his temple. “That is precisely why you should not come. It is hardly a place for—” He hesitated before finishing the sentence.

“For a Muggle?” she supplied, arching an eyebrow.

His expression darkened. “For anyone with an ounce of common sense,” he corrected. “Hogwarts is not a place for idle visits. It is a school, not a spectacle.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Severus. Please.”

He turned his head slightly to look at her, his dark eyes scanning her face. He saw the sincerity in her expression, the soft crease of her brow as she studied him, waiting for a response. She wasn’t asking just out of curiosity—she genuinely wanted to understand him better. And damn it, she knew he had a hard time saying no when she looked at him like that.

He exhaled sharply. “You will hate it.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Severus scowled, his mind already running through all the potential disasters that could unfold. His students were incompetent enough on their own—throwing Y/N into the mix would only invite chaos. And worse than that, it would invite questions. His students had no idea he was married. He preferred it that way. He had spent years crafting an image of himself as the cold, unapproachable Potions Master, and the presence of his Muggle wife would shatter that illusion in an instant.

She reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his. “Please, Severus?”

He stared at her, his jaw tightening. He should say no. He should put an end to this ridiculous idea immediately.

“…Fine,” he muttered begrudgingly.

Y/N grinned, squeezing his hand. “I knew you’d say yes.”

He scowled. “You are infuriating.”

“And you love me for it.”

Severus didn’t respond, but the slight twitch of his lips gave him away.

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

An hour later, after a quick breakfast and much grumbling from Severus about how she would regret this decision, they stood near the fireplace in their home, preparing to Floo to Hogwarts. Y/N smoothed down her scrubs, glancing down at them with a small frown. “Maybe I should’ve worn something different.”

Severus eyed her attire critically. “You look perfectly fine.”

“I don’t exactly scream ‘Professor’s wife,’ do I?”

“You certainly don’t scream anything remotely intimidating,” he deadpanned.

She smirked. “That’s your job, isn’t it?”

He let out a long-suffering sigh before grabbing a handful of Floo powder. “Just stay close to me and, for the love of Merlin, do not engage with the students more than necessary.”

Y/N rolled her eyes but nodded. “Got it. No making friends with your little minions.”

“They are not minions,” Severus growled. “They are reckless, imbecilic—”

“Children,” Y/N interrupted with a pointed look.

Severus sneered but didn’t argue. Instead, he tossed the Floo powder into the flames, watching as they roared emerald green. He stepped inside and held out his hand. “Come.”

Y/N took a deep breath before gripping his hand tightly. “Hogwarts, here we come.”

And with that, they disappeared into the flames.

There was a rushing sensation, the world blurring around her as they were pulled forward at an almost impossible speed. The swirling green light engulfed them, and before Y/N could even catch her breath, they landed in a grand, dimly lit room.

She stumbled slightly, but Severus’s grip on her arm kept her upright.

“Jeez next time, warn me about what that feels like” she muttered, brushing off imaginary soot from her coat.

Severus ignored her, instead glancing around to make sure they hadn’t landed in the middle of some unwanted company. The office they arrived in was old and regal, lined with countless bookshelves and moving portraits. An enormous wooden desk sat at the far end of the room, and a fire crackled warmly in the hearth.

Y/N looked around in awe. “Wow. And this is just the entrance?”

“This is my office,” Severus corrected. “We are in the dungeons.”

She blinked, glancing at the dark stone walls. “Your office is in the basement?”

Severus gave her a dry look. “Dungeons.”

“Right, dungeons,” she said, barely suppressing a smirk.

“Come.” He gestured for her to follow him toward a narrow doorway leading to a long corridor.

Y/N stepped out behind him, and the first thing she noticed was the cool, musty scent of the stone walls. The hallway stretched on, lit only by torches flickering along the sides. It was eerily quiet, save for the soft echo of their footsteps.

“This is… very ominous,” she observed.

Severus merely hummed in response, leading her through a series of winding hallways. As they walked, the silence of the dungeons slowly gave way to the distant sounds of the castle waking up—muffled voices, the occasional burst of laughter, the clatter of footsteps on stone.

Y/N’s eyes wandered everywhere. The moving paintings, the candlelit chandeliers, the impossibly tall ceilings—it was like stepping into another world.

Severus, of course, was entirely unfazed, walking with the same long, purposeful strides he always did.

She reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together as they walked. “Are you really that miserable working here?”

Severus glanced at her. “I never said I was miserable.”

She raised an eyebrow.

He sighed. “It is… tolerable.”

She smirked. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said about your job.”

“I am attempting to maintain my patience with you,” he muttered.

Y/N only laughed.

As they ascended a stone staircase, the sound of students became louder. The moment they stepped into the main hallways, the atmosphere shifted entirely.

The castle was alive.

Students in robes moved through the corridors, chatting and laughing, their voices echoing through the massive stone halls. Some carried books, others had cauldrons or parchment in their arms. It was a chaotic yet strangely organized scene, and Y/N found herself grinning as she took it all in.

However, as soon as students caught sight of Severus, the energy changed. Conversations hushed. Students moved aside instinctively, pressing themselves against the walls to avoid crossing his path. Their gazes flickered nervously between Severus and—

Her.

It was subtle at first—just a few curious glances. But as they walked, the stares became more blatant.

Y/N could practically hear the thoughts running through their heads.

Who is that?

Why is she with Snape?

Wait—Snape has a wife?!

A few students even whispered to each other behind their hands, their expressions ranging from confusion to outright shock.

Y/N bit back a laugh. Oh, this is going to be fun.

Severus, on the other hand, was clearly unamused. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable. He didn’t acknowledge the students gawking at them, though Y/N could tell he was very aware of it.

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “Do they all think you’re a celibate vampire or something?”

Severus shot her a sharp look, his mouth pressing into a firm line.

She grinned. “That’s a yes.”

He inhaled slowly through his nose, as if summoning every ounce of patience he had. “Do not engage.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she said sweetly.

Severus led her through the halls, ignoring every wide-eyed stare and hushed whisper. It was clear that the sight of him with someone—let alone a Muggle—was an event in itself.

Y/N, however, found it thoroughly amusing.

Eventually, they reached the entrance to the Potions classroom. Severus paused before pushing the heavy wooden door open, casting her one last warning glance.

“Sit in the back,” he instructed. “Do not speak to the students. And under no circumstances are you to distract my class.”

Y/N placed a hand over her heart in mock sincerity. “I would never.”

Severus narrowed his eyes but said nothing, instead stepping into the classroom.

This was going to be interesting.

The moment Y/N settled into her seat at the back of the classroom, she felt the students’ stares practically burning into her.

It was obvious they were dying to know who she was.

Even as Severus swept into his usual lecture—his voice sharp and commanding—the students kept sneaking glances at her. Some whispered behind their hands, others tried to subtly turn in their seats.

Y/N smiled to herself.

Severus, of course, pretended not to notice. He moved about the room, giving instructions in his usual crisp, no-nonsense tone. “Your Amortentia samples are to be completed by the end of this period. Any foolishness will result in immediate expulsion from my classroom.”

A few students gulped.

Y/N had to resist laughing. Merlin, they’re all terrified of him.

As the students got to work, the room filled with the bubbling of cauldrons and the soft scribbling of notes. The scent of Amortentia—the powerful love potion—lingered in the air, a strange mix of everyone’s most beloved smells.

Y/N sat quietly at first, watching.

But it wasn’t long before one of the students—Hermione Granger, if she recalled the name correctly—turned in her seat and whispered, “Excuse me, miss, but… who are you?”

Immediately, all the students nearby went silent, their attention snapping toward her.

Y/N smiled, leaning forward slightly. “I’m Y/N. Severus’s wife.”

The effect was instant.

A ripple of shocked murmurs spread through the room. Several students exchanged wide-eyed glances, some looking downright baffled. A few even turned to gawk at Severus, who was currently occupied with examining a student’s potion.

“Wife?” Ron Weasley whispered, looking scandalized. “Snape’s married?”

“Since when?” someone else asked.

“Wait—how does that even work?”

Y/N chuckled, resting her chin in her hand. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you just look so… nice,” a Hufflepuff girl said hesitantly, as if she wasn’t sure whether she should be saying it out loud. “How do you—um—how do you get along with Professor Snape?”

Y/N grinned. ��Sev is an absolute sweetheart once you get to know him.”

A collective wave of disbelief washed over the students.

“Sweetheart?” Seamus Finnigan repeated, looking as if he’d just heard the most absurd thing in the world.

Several students immediately turned to look at Severus, as if trying to reconcile this new information with the man they’d known for years.

Y/N laughed at their stunned faces. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I promise you, once you get past all the scowling and dramatic cloak billowing, he’s actually really kind.”

A few students stifled their laughter at her description.

At that moment, Harry Potter—who had been unusually quiet—spoke up. “How did you two meet?”

Y/N’s smile softened. “Ah. That’s a story.”

That got their attention.

The students leaned in, completely abandoning their potions in favor of hearing whatever ridiculous story had led to their feared Potions Master getting married.

Y/N rested her elbows on the table. “Well, it happened one night when I was walking home from my shift—”

“Shift?” Hermione asked.

“I’m a nurse,” Y/N explained.

That sparked more interest

“A Muggle nurse?” Dean Thomas asked.

Y/N nodded. “Yes. I work in a hospital.”

A few students whispered among themselves. Clearly, this was fascinating information.

Severus, who had been preoccupied with monitoring cauldrons, finally seemed to sense something was amiss. He turned sharply, his eyes narrowing when he saw his students sitting in rapt attention—not to him, but to his wife.

“What,” he asked slowly, his voice low and dangerous, “are you all doing?”

Silence fell over the room.

Then, almost simultaneously, every student turned back to their potions, stirring frantically as if they had been paying attention the whole time.

Y/N bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

Severus narrowed his eyes, then shifted his sharp gaze to her.

Y/N only gave him an innocent smile.

With an exasperated sigh, Severus turned away, resuming his usual rounds through the classroom.

The moment he was far enough away, the students subtly turned back toward her.

“So?” one of them whispered eagerly.

Y/N smirked. “Where was I?”

“You were walking home,” Hermione reminded her.

“Right,” Y/N said. “So, I was walking home after my shift, and I found Severus lying in an alley.”

Gasps.

“An alley?” Ron whispered in horror.

Y/N nodded. “He looked like a homeless man.”

That was too much. A few students actually gasped again, while others smacked their hands over their mouths to stifle laughter.

“Wait—so, what did you do?” Dean asked, his eyes wide.

“I went to help him, of course! He was hurt. I assumed he was a regular person, and I’m a nurse—I couldn’t just leave him there.”

“So, you had no idea he was a wizard?”

“None at all,” Y/N confirmed. “He was just some grumpy, half-conscious man bleeding on the pavement.”

Seamus covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

A Ravenclaw girl raised her hand slightly. “And… what happened next?”

Y/N smirked. “I patched him up, brought him home, and he tried to be all moody and mysterious about it. But I wasn’t having it. He was injured, so I made him stay.”

The students listened, completely enthralled.

“What did he say?”

“He mostly just glared at me.”

“Did he at least say thank you?”

Y/N snorted. “Of course not. But, eventually, I found out he wasn’t just some random man. He was—well, him. And, for some reason, he kept coming back.”

“And now you’re married,” a Hufflepuff boy said in amazement.

Y/N smiled. “Crazy how life works, huh?”

The students exchanged looks, still struggling to comprehend this new reality.

Before any of them could ask more, Severus’s voice cut through the air.

“Get back to work.”

The students instantly snapped to attention, scrambling to focus on their cauldrons.

Y/N bit her lip, glancing toward Severus. He was giving her a very pointed look, his dark eyes filled with something between exasperation and why did I let you come here?

She only winked.

Severus inhaled slowly through his nose, then turned away, resuming his lecture.

The moment he wasn’t looking, one of the students whispered, “You have to come to every class.”

Y/N grinned.

After the final bell rang, signaling the end of class, the students took their time packing up their things. Usually, they were eager to escape the dungeon and their intimidating Potions Master, but today, they lingered.

They weren’t ready to say goodbye to Y/N just yet.

“That was the best Potions lesson I’ve ever had,” Ron muttered to Harry as they gathered their books.

Harry nodded in agreement. “Who knew Snape’s wife would be so cool?”

Meanwhile, a group of students had gathered around Y/N’s desk, talking to her in hushed, excited voices.

“You have to come back,” Seamus insisted.

“Yes! Please?” a Ravenclaw girl pleaded.

Y/N laughed. “I don’t think Severus will allow it.”

“Why not?” Hermione asked. “It’s educational, isn’t it? Learning about Muggle medicine? I’m sure Professor Dumbledore would approve.”

Several students nodded eagerly.

Y/N smirked, glancing toward Severus, who was currently rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he muttered.

“You’re being dramatic,” Y/N teased, standing from her seat. “It was fun, wasn’t it?”

Severus gave her an unimpressed look. “For whom?”

“The students loved her,” Dean interjected. “Honestly, sir, she should come to every lesson.”

Severus fixed him with a cold stare. “Would you all prefer detention?”

Silence.

Dean shrank back slightly. “…Noted.”

Severus exhaled, clearly exhausted, and turned to Y/N. “Come. We’re leaving.”

Y/N grinned, then turned back to the students, who still looked hopeful.

“Well, I suppose we’ll see,” she said.

A chorus of disappointed groans followed.

“Please?” a Hufflepuff girl begged. “Even just one more time?”

Y/N gave her a knowing look. “I doubt it will be just one more time.”

“Exactly,” Seamus said. “That’s why you might as well keep coming back!”

Y/N chuckled.

Severus, however, was at his limit. He grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the door. “Enough. We are leaving.”

Y/N let herself be led away, throwing a final wave to the students as they called after her:

“She’s coming back, right?”

“She has to!”

“She makes you bearable, sir!”

That last comment made Severus stop in his tracks.

The students froze.

Very slowly, Severus turned his head toward the direction of the voice.

Silence.

Then—

“GO.”

The students scattered, grabbing their things and rushing out of the dungeon in a chaotic blur.

Y/N couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.

“You love them,” she teased, squeezing his hand.

“I loathe them,” Severus corrected, his voice dripping with irritation.

Y/N only smiled, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek. “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

He grumbled something under his breath, but Y/N didn’t miss the faint pink dusting his ears.

Oh yes.

She was definitely coming back.

[slugg4rd]

Brain rot so bad I’m posting on Tumblr💔

Haymitch x gn reader rambling ig?!?!

Word count: 1.2k

He’s a stubborn alcoholic with depression who copes by being rude or otherwise sarcastic, you test his patience SO MUCH. He knows he hates you, that’s about it, but also he finds a good deal of fun in goading you and bantering with you whenever you’re around. This man is a handful, and he’s mean, and he has literally no patience for bs.

Idk how you win him over, the logistics don’t matter rn I’m going nutty thinking about him. Imo I love the whole co-mentor thingy, anything that forces him to be around you bc otherwise he’s off hiding somewhere moping. Like imagine being depressed together, fighting over your different tastes in drinks or coping. He’s hugging a whole bottle of liquor or maybe wine if it’s fancy enough and he’s scrutinizing your fruity cocktail like it’s any of his business.

Especially love the thought of getting drunk with him, at this point he just falls asleep when he’s buzzed but he’s trying to stay awake just to bicker and get as much of a reaction from you as he can. The only time he shuts up is if you roast tf out of him, he’d slump down into a chair or on the couch mumbling something barely coherent and then he’s out like a light.

Or, even better, you’re both sleepy drunks and start nodding off at the bar. You barely remember the walk to bed, all you know is somehow you’re still arguing with Haymitch. He throws himself onto the mattress, your mattress, both to piss you off and because he’s too burnt out to bother walking to his own bed across the hall. You flop down next to him and then all of a sudden you’re waking up hungover and half hugging that fool. The both of you freak out to find you’re in bed with one another, fearing the worst, and eventually having to accept the harsh reality that you spent the whole night cuddling and nothing more.

He doesn’t just refuse to admit he likes you, he’s literally oblivious to even the idea of it. No he definitely doesn’t enjoy your company, and he definitely doesn’t seek you out, and there’s no way he would ever think about you outside of your brief and unfortunate interactions. But then you start joking around talking about some pretty celebrity or a handsome victor from another district and suddenly he’s so defensive.

“Her? She’s two faced.”

“Him? He’s not even average.”

“Them? They’re frugal.”

He can’t even begin to realize he’s getting jealous, he’s too busy trying to shoot down all your compliments to these half baked crushes.

But if you compliment him he thinks you’re joking. You say he looks handsome and he’s all “Haha, very funny, y’know you look good too- with your mouth shut.” He’s gonna go for the jugular, but also he finds it getting harder and harder to insult you. Since when did your annoying smile become something he could tolerate? He must still be drunk..

You’ve wormed your way into his life and his head and suddenly you’re over at his house in the Victor’s Village, cleaning up for him while talking about self care and how he deserves it. You’re infuriating, and yet his lawn is trimmed and his walkway is clear of weeds and even his bookshelves are free of dust- and maybe he should go outside for a bit today and get some fresh air.

You’re tidying everything up and then he’s bringing you some old Knick Knacks, keeping track of your hobbies so he can leave you gifts, forcing you to sit down and relax for a minute between daily stressors. You call him an enabler and the laughter that follows makes your heart all fuzzy in the worst way. Every time you do something for him he thanks you in a way that makes it clear he didn’t think anyone would ever do this for him. And when you thank him for his gifts, his occasional reality checks, and his unwilling hospitality, he can’t help but feel more proud than he should that something he did held even an ounce of substance in your life.

How do you even confess??? Do you??? It’s like one second nothing was there and the next you both just agreed that you were a thing, end of discussion. He’s yours, you’re his. You’ve basically moved in at this point, and you’ve been egging him on and showing him he’s worth the effort, and it’s starting to get through his thick skull that maybe there’s worth in improvement. You don’t fix him, as I said before, he’s stubborn, but he finds his own rationale getting weaker and weaker each time he tries to argue why he should go out for drinks tonight. And then when things break and you’re telling him just what he means to you, he’s finding himself falling into you like a damn safety net.

And once he’s got you he is not letting go.

Protective is one thing, this man is clingy. Like Velcro. But he’s a brat and he’s not going to let you tell him how needy he is, it’s just a coincidence that he’s always by your side. He’ll say he’s “keeping you in line” its “your fault” because you’re in his way, but you both know he’s been following you around on his own fruition. He’s attached to your hip at this point, literally. He has a particular affinity though, and that’s hugging you from behind. He just comes up like he owns the place and wraps his arms around your midsection, shoving his face into the back of your neck with the biggest sigh he can muster. And if you reach up to play with his hair that’s it, he’s going to drag you to whatever couch is closest and have an impromptu nap session.

Also did I mention he’s petty? Because he is. And he’s annoying unlike anything. You go to sit down in a chair? He’s already seated in it, patting for you to come into his lap. You want to try a bite of his food? He’s making you take it from his mouth. You need to shower? He’s asking to come so he can keep you company. And if you let him join you, he’s 100% sitting there watching while going on about how “you missed a spot” just to see how irritated you can get.

Letting him come into the bathroom with you when you shower is like making a deal with the devil. This man is going above and beyond for your attention while you’re trying to focus on the task at hand. He’s definitely offering to help you out, saying he can scrub your back for you and all that, it’s up to you whether you let him join or kick him out.

Either way after you’re done he’s so soft and tender, wrapping you in a towel and drying your face off, saying you look like a drowned rat while also telling you that you’re the prettiest thing he’s ever seen. He ruffles your hair with the towel just to squeeze it around you and grab you by your waist, pulling you until you kiss him. But if you’re still mad at him he’ll keep drying you off and messing with you until he can get you to crack a smile, and then he’s peppering kisses all over your cheeks as you push his face away.

He’s a nuisance, but he’s your nuisance, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Ummm anywho that’s all I got 🙏

[its-echo-song]

Childhood AU Ch 1.

“Come on! You can do it!” Donny calls from the branches of a large tree, leaning down, gripping on to one and holding his hand out. “Here! Just make it far enough to grab my hand and I’ll help you up!”

“I don’t think I was made for this!” I call through huffs of effort as I grab onto the next branch, hauling myself up onto it and taking a moment to catch my breath. Donny laughs. “You think I was? Look at me!” I give him a questioning glance. “You’re the one up there.” “I’m the one that looks like the Pillsbury dough boy.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Shut up! You do not!” I pull myself closer, finally grabbing onto his hand and he helps pull me onto the thicker branch where he sits. He shrugs. “That’s what mom says, but she also says I’ll grow out of it once I start doing sports.” “That’s a mean thing to say, Donny.” He furrows his brows, giving me a confused look. “Not really? I mean- it sounds that way but you don’t know her like that, she doesn’t mean it that way.” I’ve been to his house a few times, his mom is rough- usually yelling at him or his sister over unfinished chores or being too loud. When his dad is home she’s either fighting with him or gone. 

“Well- you don’t look like that, either way.” He flashes me his usual, carefree grin. “I’m not worried about it! Anyway, we’re almost there, we’ve just gotta get a few feet higher and we’ll be able to see it.” “It better be as cool as you say it is.” “I promise.” We start climbing again, finally reaching as near to the top of the tree as we can. He points and I squint out to the distance- he’s right. Someone’s building a castle out past the park. “Woah!” I lean forward, squinting and trying to take in more detail. “It looks huge!” “I wanna go see it, but it’s so far.” I nod. “Yeah, we’d have to get your mom to drive us.” “She won’t, she doesn’t like that park.” “Why not?” He shrugs. “There’s one closer so why would she go all the way out there?” “Maybe we could take a day and walk. Bring snacks, something to drink… I wish I had a bike, too, it would be easier that way.” I don’t realize where my footing is, when I shift to look back at him I slip. There’s a long second where all I can think is I’m going to die- then everything goes too fast for me to process as I tumble downward through the branches. I try to grab on to them, find one that can catch me, but several snap with the force of my fall. There’s a strangely dull thudding noise, the wind gets knocked out of me, and I hear Donny screaming from the top of the tree. I try to keep my eyes open, I can’t tell if they’re blurry because my glasses are gone or from how hard I hit the ground, but eventually I can’t control it anymore and I slip into darkness.

I have to force them back open, struggling to regain control of my brain. Once I’ve managed it, though, my other senses seem to follow suit, restarting with a slow fade in. I recognize an extremely familiar sound, ma crying. I turn my head to the side and she grabs my hand. “Harvey! Honey, you’re-” She takes a break for a moment to sniffle, stifling her tears. “You’re in the hospital.” I try to respond, but my mouth is so dry that my tongue sticks to the roof of it. I just stare at her, hoping she’ll understand that I understand. “You had a pretty big fall, but you’re going to be okay. It’s going to be okay.” It’s more like she’s reassuring herself than she is me, as she repeats it a few more times. Eventually I fall back asleep.

When I wake up again I feel a little less groggy, sitting up and looking over to my right- instead of ma, Donny is sitting in the chair next to my bed. He looks up as I move, letting out an excited gasp. “Hey! I’m glad you’re awake!” I nod, still not feeling like speaking with how thirsty I am. I gesture for a cup. “Oh, dad asked the nurse earlier, they said while you’re waking up you shouldn’t have a cup cause you’ll be groggy but they have this sponge on a stick thingy-” He holds it up. “Sponge water!” I take it from him, thankful for anything I can get at this point. A few passes like this and I finally feel like I can talk without rasping. “Thanks Donny- your dads here?” “Yeah, he let me skip school. Mom wasn’t happy about it but I promised I’d work extra hard so I don’t get behind.” “I’m sorry.” “You shouldn’t be! If anyone should be apologizing it should be me. The tree was my stupid idea.” “I still have my own brain, not like you made me.” “I still feel bad.” “It’s alright- not like you knew. It was kinda stupid of me not to look at what I was doing anyway.” “At least you’re okay though. I thought you were going to be dead when I was climbing down.”

“Ugh- I thought so too… We missed the history quiz.” He laughs. “Good, I didn’t study.” “Mrs Brooks is going to make you take it tomorrow.” “Oh well. You’re more important.” I grin at him, laughing lightly- which sends pain through my body, but I ignore it. “Don’t let your mom hear that.” “She’d kill me, for sure.” The door to the room swings open, Donny’s dad and my mom step into the room. “Donny, we’ve gotta go home.” He says, giving me a sympathetic glance. “Sorry, Harvey. I hope you get better soon.” Donny stands up, only to be ushered to the door by his dad with a hand between his shoulder blades. “Uh- bye Harvey!” “I’ll see you tomorrow!” I wave at him just before the door closes behind them. Ma stands next to the bed, fretting over my injuries- checking them, though I don’t think she’s actually supposed to do that if I’m not her patient. “Ma, I’m fine!”  She huffs out a breath, stepping back and looking at me with teary eyes. “Do you know what could’ve happened to you? You could’ve died!” “But I’m okay! I promise!” “You- They brought you here and I was on shift and nobody would tell me what was going on. I thought you-” He voice breaks and she begins crying again. “Harvey, I can’t lose anyone else. Especially not you. You’re my rock.”

Guilt piles up in my stomach, I avoid her eyes. “I know. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.” “No, you won’t. I shouldn’t have let you run all over god's green earth on your own like that- Sal and Christy didn’t keep an eye on you and I almost lost you for good.”

“It wasn’t their fault-” “-I know you see it that way but you’re not an adult, honey. They’re responsible for you when you’re over there and they let you get hurt.” “But-” “-I told Sal you and Donny won’t be playing together any more.” “What?! Ma!” Instantly, tears spring into my eyes. “No! Please don’t! He’s my best friend!” “He’s a bad influence.” “He didn’t do anything wrong!” “Harvey, I said no!” She snaps at me and I find myself going quiet. She sighs, slumping into the chair and rubbing her temples. “I’m sorry- I’m doing what’s best for you. I’m trying my hardest here, bud… I’m doing it on my own.” I hate seeing her stress like this, I hate when she feels like she’s failing me. I know she's doing her best, and I’m just stressing her out by fighting. I wipe my tears away and take a breath, trying to swallow down the misery. “I know… you’re doing good, ma.” She gives me a grim smile and grabs my hand. “You know I love you, right? I’ll always love you.” “I know, I love you, too.” It’s not the first time, it probably won’t be the last time, but I’m saying it out of habit more than feelings. Trying to fix her, take away the stress I’m causing. “Can I go home today, though?” She smiles at me, the tension leaving her. “Yeah. I’ll go ask when we can leave.” She stands and relinquishes her grip on my hand. It isn’t until I get home and into my bedroom, hours later, that I finally let myself cry about Donny. It hurts, my head throbs and my ribs send searing pain through me, but the sadness of knowing I won’t be allowed to be his friend anymore aches deeper than the physical wounds.

The hours pass and I remain in my room, wallowing. Ma calls me to dinner and I tell her I’m not hungry, even after she insists I come out to eat, I just tell her I’m too tired to. She sighs and closes my door again, I hear her turn on the tv and start watching some sitcom. 

I lay on my back and listen to cheesy dialogue and laugh tracks, trying to figure out what I’m supposed to tell Donny tomorrow.

Eventually I fall asleep, when I get up in the morning ma has already left for work. A note on the counter catches my attention, ‘come straight home from school and be sure to lock the door.’ I sigh, picking it up and crumpling it in my frustration.

I hate sitting here by myself, cleaning, cooking, and pretending I’m not home when someone knocks on the door. Donny had been an escape from it, an excuse to get away from the sounds of fighting neighbors that scare me, from the shouting of someone on the street, from loud bangs that I swear are gunshots. 

But what else am I supposed to do? I don’t want to cause trouble, I don’t think ma could handle the stress. It’s already bad enough as it is.

I grab my backpack from beside the door, checking that I have my keys, and lock up behind me before heading to school. Donny is waiting for me outside, as usual. “Hey! How are you feeling? I’m so glad you’re here, I was worried I’d have to deal with Mrs Brooks by myself.”  “It’s not like you skipped class, your dad called the school right?” “Yeah but I feel like she’s always mad at me.” “That’s cause you goof off.” He shrugs. “If it’s boring, it’s boring.” “Then don’t complain when she’s mad that you’re not listening.” “Okay, I should’ve known better than to try and get you to sympathize with me.” “What does that mean!?” “Teacher's pet.” He teases, nudging against me and laughing. “Of course you’d take her side, you’re mister perfect.” “Oh, shut up! I just understand why she’s like that, is all.” “Okay, whatever you say.” He starts toward the doors. “Let’s go before we’re late.” I know I have to tell him. Eventually I will, but I don’t want to think about it right now, and I don’t want to tell him while he’s cramming for the test retake. We have until lunch time. After that, I can tell him while we eat. But when the time comes, and we’re sitting in the too-loud cafeteria, I can’t bring myself to broach the subject. It’s Donny who ends up pushing the conversation to a point where I need to say something. “When you’re over today I’ll show you the new secret I found about the game- it’s really cool, there's this hidden area-” “Donny, I can’t come over.” I feel nauseous saying it.

“Oh. Well, okay, tomorrow then.” “No, I mean- my mom said we can’t hang out anymore.” “What?!” “Yeah… I guess we’re just stuck hanging out at school.” “No! That’s not fair! Why?” “Uh-” I’d rather not say, I know he feels bad for me falling in the first place. “I don’t know, she’s just… being unreasonable.” “It’s because of the tree thing, isn’t it?” I look down at the table, staring at my mostly-uneaten sandwich. “Yeah.” “That’s not fair though! You’re okay! And you shouldn’t be grounded because of me! It’s my fault!” “I’m- I’m not grounded. She thinks you’re a bad influence.” He stares at me, jaw dropped. “What?” “She thinks I’d never do something like that… if it weren’t for… you.”  “... do you think that?”

“What!? No! Of course not!”

“It’s just… I had to talk you into it and… I mean-”

“No, don’t even go there. It was still my choice. Anyway, it’s not like I died.”

He sighs and slumps down a little. “What am I supposed to do now?”

“Well- you’ve got other friends, don’t you?”

“But they’re not my best friend! What if I came over and convinced her?”

“That’s a bad idea.”

“Why? She’s gotta at least listen, she can’t just ban us from hanging out forever.”

“I really don’t think she’d like it, it might make her more mad.”

“Okay well… I guess I hope she changes her mind soon, then.”

“Me too.”

[strikethematch18]

Of Sleep, Humanity, and Tainted Sorrow

Instead Of Sleep Universe (IOSU)

Dazai x F! Reader, Dazai x Chuuya, Dazai x F! Reader x Chuuya

Word Count: 2,696

This is an offshoot of my Bungou Stray Dogs oneshot Instead of sleep, I like to call this the Instead of Sleep Universe. While this could probably be read as a standalone, I would not recommend it. I’ll make sure to link the original. Instead of Sleep

To recap: Reader is a member of the ADA with an ability called Instead of Sleep which allows her hot project her current exhaustion onto someone else and enter their dreamscape, or subconscious. Her ability only works if she is tired beforehand and suffers from extreme insomnia because of this. “Instead of Sleep” ability is loosely based on the Ao3 tag “I wrote this instead of sleeping”

The original ship was just Dazai x Reader, but I’m a greedy indulgent little shit with a love for why choose books so this installment is Dazai and Chuuya with Reader.

This has not been proofed or edited. I am also considering writing a second part.

m.list

The relationship started with just you and Dazai, you thought it was monogamous, you thought it was just the two of you, faithful to each other. So, when you found out you were "the other woman" you were actually heartbroken beyond belief. Not only were you unable to sleep because of your ability, but you were unable to eat, you took up cases left and right and going home to change and stare at your ceiling most nights; sometimes your coworkers would come into the office the next morning to find you in the same position you were in when they left, at your desk doing your work but also nearly everyone else's too.

Every member of the agency tried in their own way to get you to settle, relax, eat at least a little something, or take a small nap. Well, all except for Dazai, he had tried in the beginning but your kept your distance as much as possible. Ranpo would leave snacks or force them into your hand. Yosano would drag you to the infirmary after a laborious case under the guise of a checkup but would make you lay there for a minimum of 30 minutes if you didn't manage to fall asleep for at least some rest. Junichiro and Kenji both trying to brighten your mood with jokes or tales from home. Kyouka would place the stuffed bunny she kept on her desk in your lap if she noticed you were fiddling with your hands more than usual and seemed anxious. Atsushi even guided you to an open section of the office a few times where he arranged the futon kept in the office for just in case scenarios, would force you down, and would turn into Byakko for you to contently sigh and curl into the tiger and at least run your fingers through the fur and let the tension slip from your shoulders and occasionally your eyes droop until you'd fall into a small slumber, that was about as much sleep as you would get. The president on more than one occasion would try to send you home and to not come back until you rested, but you both knew it was fruitless cause.

This carried on until eventually you had passed out from the lack of care your body was receiving on top of falling sick and found yourself in the hospital for a week and a half. When you woke up early in your stay there was Dazai in a chair pulled up next to your bed with his head in his hands and a certain redhead mafia executive leaning in the doorway to your room.

Come to find out, Dazai was bisexual and was interested in a polyamorous relationship and was working up the nerve to tell you about it and his relationship with Chuuya. He knew he never should have entered that relationship with you without you explicitly knowing. And was he ever sorry, seeing your weakened state and how much smaller you looked in that hospital bed amplified that. He stayed away because it's what he thought you wanted, that you were disgusted, never did he think you were going to find yourself sick in the hospital.

And well, Chuuya at the time was indifferent. Sure, the Mackeral should have done a lot different, but he didn't know you as well as he did Dazai. He did know you through Osamu, he knew details about you; hell he kept pestering Dazai to tell you early on so save both of you from the pain; he didn’t know things had gotten this bad. He didn't know you, but he wanted to, especially after he saw your smile and heard your laugh for the first time, even more so when it was over a piece of commentary regarding something dumb his ever so smart partner had just said.

Over time, your relationship with Dazai repaired and grew with Chuuya. Eventually, you found yourself in the best relationship you could ever hope to be in. Sincerely loved by both men and spoiled beyond belief, you didn't think you deserved it but were grateful you did. Most nights you spent in-between the two, curled into Dazai with Chuuya wrapped behind you; in fact most nights you actually got at least a few hours of peaceful sleep - this was the most rested you had been in years.

That's part of why you were worried when a joint mission with the ADA and Port mafia required the once double black to team up for a mission that was going to take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Despite the usual efficiency between the two on missions, this was week three without them. You had managed to sleep maybe a collected 8 hours during that time. The three of you called regularly, sometimes it was enough to lull you into a light sleep but it never lasted a full hour. You would try to assure them that, yes you were getting some rest, but both men could hear the exhaustion in your tone as you tried to pretend for their sake.

So, when during one of your calls during a day you had off and you were sniffling and your voice sounded just a bit off, Dazai and Chuuya knew they had to finish this mission and finish it now. Of course they asked what was wrong and if anything happened just to make sure that wasn't the problem and you said you were sure it was just allergies despite it raining, it became clear to them your immune system had taken a hit. Which per past events, a simple cold had the high probability of moving downhill quickly.

You never had a particularly strong immune system, lack of proper rest tends to weaken its defense and ability to recover. By the end of the call you had let the coughs you were trying to hide slip and your voice was rougher than when the conversation started and you sounded absolutely exhausted. Keeping up the facade proved to be hard as the time went on.

This was more than enough to get double black to act quickly and end this. They had more than enough to report and act on. If their new plan went the way it was supposed to they would be back to you by tomorrow morning. By the evening hours the mission was completed, their bags were packed and Dazai and Chuuya were on a train back to Yokohama. Paperwork was done on the journey back and dropped off at its respected location before they made the trip back to mafia executives apartment where all three of you have been living. Dazai had made sure to tell shachou both of you wouldn't be in today or tomorrow, longer depending on how sick you were. Fukuzawa's eyes widened when he heard you were sick and told the brunette to not worry about coming back until you were in peak health, either of you. He knew Dazai was imperative to your recovery, sleep is a powerful medicine and you rarely got any without the detective.

After completing those quick tasks they met each other at the red heads building simultaneously and and hurried up the floors to reach the apartment. Getting ready to put the key into unlock the door both could hear a chesty cough and both looked at each other with wide eyes.

"Honey, we're ho-ome~!" Dazai announced sing songedly.

"Welcome back you two," you replied hoarsely before falling into the fit of coughs and slight wheezes.

Spotting you sat huddled in the corner of the sectional couch wrapped in the largest and fluffiest blanket they owned, Chuuya dropped his bag where he stood and made his way over to you. Watching you try to catch your breath worried him beyond belief as it reminded him of when you first officially met in that hospital room.

Placing his hand your forehead his frown deepened, "Oh lovebug."

Coughing a few more times you replied, "Sorry Chu."

"It's not your fault lovebug, let's get some medicine in you and get you in bed, okay?" Without giving you a choice he tugged you towards him before slipping an arm under your knees and the other on your back and lifting you up blanket and all. Dazai didn't miss the soft smile creeping onto his partners face as you nuzzled into Chuuya, relishing in the affection you've been deprived of the last few weeks. Wordlessly he made his way to the bathroom medicine cabinet and grabbed everything needed before walking into the shared bedroom and setting them down before preparing to change clothes. Osamu knew Chuuya was going to hold you and keep you to himself for a few minutes so you knew he was really there and to assure himself you were safe, so it gave him ample time to get things together. Taking off his typical ensemble and putting on a pair of charcoal sweatpants and pulling the navy t-shirt on just as Chuuya brought you into room, he got his first actual look at how exhausted and sick you looked. You seemed miserable and in more pain than he originally thought, but most importantly, you were so tired. And he knew better than to touch you until medicine has been taken.

That was the next action of business. Get you to take the multitude of medications he procured from the cabinet. He knew you were weak and feeling horrible but you never liked taking things, so often it was a fight. Nonetheless he proceeded to place each pill in a small cup for the pass off. If he so much as brushed your hand he knew you would be asleep almost instantly. And while sleep would help, it wouldn't be enough to get you back to peak health, not without the medicine. In the cup was a few vitamins, a decongestant, a cough reducer and something to hopefully bring your fever down. Currently placed in his pocket was your emergency inhaler left over from when you were able to come home from the hospital from before you had reconciled with him and your other lover.

Seeing the pills in a cup and small glass of water in his partners hand waiting to be handed to you Chuuya took the liberty of sitting on the side of the bed leaving you in his lap. Surprisingly but also unsurprisingly, you gingerly and gratefully took the cups into your slightly shaking hands to take the medicines. At least Dazai had the foresight to start off with the pills rather than any liquids, he knew you hated taking medicine in liquid form.

Noticing a slight bulge in Dazais pants pocket he asked, "Is that the inhaler?"

Glad his partner got the hint he confirmed it was before Chuuya took it upon himself to reach in and take it out while Dazai took the empty cups from your hands, longing to touch you but restraining. After looking at you Chuuya couldn't help but see how much these simple actions took out of you, exhaustion wearing you thin. Even keeping your head up was a struggle. He knew the inhaler could help, anything to help your lungs breathe better and decrease your wheezes. But he also knew you had very little strength left.

"Okay lovebug, we're going to tag team this, you know the drill," After getting the inhaler placed he counted down from 3 and pressed down to release the medicine.

You couldn't hold it in for long, forced to release a painful cough into your lovers chest, "Sorry Chuu," your hoarse voice rang out quietly.

"Bug its okay, you're sick and that was inevitable."

"I know. Just don't want you to get sick."

Coming back into the room after exiting the en suite bathroom Dazai chimed in, "We've got immune systems of steel we'll be fine. And if we're not we'll have the cutest nurse to take care of us."

Too tired to let out even a small laugh you smiled and responded, "yeah, I guess you're right.”

Chuuya went ahead and did a second dose of the inhaler, much like a similar response to before. After taking a coughing fit that had both men concerned for you wellbeing, they looked at each other reading each others minds as to whether or not they should take you to the hospital.

Half lidded, you looked at both of their faces and knew immediately what was on their minds, “I know what you two are thinking, and no, I’m not going to the hospital.”

”But love, you’re really sick, we’re just worried,” Dazai expressed wanting nothing more than to cup your cheek in his hand

”If-,” you began before coughing again, “If I get worse then you can take me. But I really just want to sleep first.”

Both men collectively sighed, in sync with each other after years of partnership. They knew any further arguing would be fruitless, also aware that they would have a hard time saying no to you when you were this sick and they had been away for the last few weeks.

Noticing the silence and your boys downtrodden faces you decided to break the silence, “So how was the mission, any issues? Take names? Kick ass?”

They knew what you were doing, and any other time they would have enlightened your antics, but chuuya could feel some of the fight leave your body as fatigue set in from the exhaustion and unconsciously knowing you were in a safe position. And so he gave you a small response to motivate you for later.

”You know I don’t kick any asses but yours and the shitty fish over here,” he smirked, “But I did kick some other things if you catch my drift.”

Before you had the time to continue your stalling tactic, wanting to spend time with Dazai and Chuuya that you had missed over the last few weeks, the later placed you in the middle of the bed so you would be between the both of you, as you were most nights. Dazai carefully pulled the blankets up so all either man had to do before crawling in to cuddle you from either side was pull their side of the corner back enough. While he did that, Chuuya changed out of his work clothes into a soft pair of pajama pants, and a silly t-shirt you had gotten him early into your relationship that he was too proud to admit out loud that it was his favorite thing in his closet next to his signature hat. After his quick change, the redhead crawled in behind you, not quite around your body like the koala he is just yet- he was waiting for you to settle yourself with Dazai who was turning out lights around the apartment.

Looking at both his lovers waiting for him expectantly, one smiling with a dopey grin, and the other with flushed cheeks and glossy, tired eyes, he couldn’t help but want to relish in the moment but run to both of them for some well deserved rest at the same time. He sauntered over to his side of the bed, gently pulling back the covers and climbing in. Wiggling his eye brows, opening his arms to welcome you, you giggled lightly and rolled your eyes before you inched your way into them. He became inpatient and proceeded to pull you closer against him, not missing the small pout from the man on the other side of your now aware of the gap between the two of you causing the brunette to smirk.

Sighing in contentment at finally having you in his arms, your head to his chest, Dazai smiled down at your face, admiring your beauty even when you were so sick. He waited for Chuuya to settle around you before he expressed ‘love yous’ to both of you. Osamu could tell you were seconds away from sleep as he kissed your forehead, officially activating his ability, as you begun some of the best sleep you swear was the best in your entire life.

[littlestarbigsky]

soda sickfic for the curtis bros fic prompts 💕

back on my curtis brother’s bs gang !!!! i missed writing these hooligans💕 lol this ended up being much longer than i thought but who’s complaining there lol.

this is a few years pre-canon, i’m gonna say darry is around 15 which would put pony and soda at 9 and 11 ;)

hope this is okay🩷

“hey, pepsi, i brought you some more medicine,” mama pushed the door open, cold medicine and some water in her hands. she was in her hospital scrubs and needed to leave soon, but she wanted to see her baby first.

the flu had finally hit their home, cycling through everyone over christmas, and soda was the last to get it, and his bout was proving to be easily the worst. the boys were still on winter break from school, but their parents still needed to work, and with no sick days left, they didn’t have many options.

as she sat down next to him on the bed, she couldn’t figure out if he was asleep or not. she didn’t particularly want to wake him up, lord knows he had enough trouble falling asleep any old day. with soda being sick, ponyboy had been sleeping in darry’s room to keep the two of them from getting sick, and they always had an even harder time sleeping when they were apart.

just when she was about to leave the room to let him sleep a little longer, he stirred next to her, rolling over and blinking his glassy brown eyes up at her.

“there he is,” she smiled, smoothing his hair back, briefly pausing on his forehead to check his temperature. “how about some more medicine?”

soda didn’t give much of a response beside a big yawn and a lazy shrug. it was so strange to hear him so quiet. it made her heart ache to know how lousy he had to be feeling to not be chatting away every chance he got.

she helped him sit up in bed, giving him the medicine and his water, which he took quickly and shuddered at the taste. mama moved to sit next to him and he snuggled down into her side. he seemed to notice her scrubs, which could only mean she was going to work, and he looked up at her, panicked.

“i have to go to work today, baby,” she frowned. “but darry is gonna take care of you today. your dad and i are both gonna try so hard to get home early for you tonight, but we don’t have any more sick days until the new year.”

soda blinked sadly at her, cuddling closer for a few more minutes of his mama holding him tight to her before she had to take off.

“that’s it,” she rubbed his back and kissed his head. “go back to sleep, you’ll feel better when you wake up.”

it didn’t take long for him to fall asleep, barely five minutes had gone by before she was ready to leave for work, but her baby boy was limp and fast asleep against her. she slid out and tucked the blankets back around him, kissing his feverish head quickly before leaving him to sleep.

the sun was high in the sky when soda woke up again, and at first, he couldn’t even move with how tightly he was tucked in. someone had obviously come in and readjusted his blankets while he was still out cold.

it was nice for a few minutes, before he realized how hot he was. he started squirming and trying to get himself free, but his sleep addled brain couldn’t seem to figure a way out of his predicament, so he settled to thrash around unsuccessfully until he felt someone grabbing his shoulders to settle him down. he didn’t know who it was, but he felt the blankets loosening, so he wasn’t about to start complaining.

“stay still, kiddo, let me get you out of this,” it was darry’s voice, of course it was. soda stayed put while darry untangled his arms and torso from his confines, and the second he felt free, he launched himself into darry’s arms.

“hey, sleepyhead, you sleep okay?”

soda nodded mutely into darry’s shoulder. truthfully, he hadn’t really seen darry or ponyboy in a few days while he’d been sick, their parents not wanting all three of them to be sick.

eventually, soda let go of darry and pulled back, asking sheepishly, “where’s pony?”

“he’s in the living room watching astro boy, you wanna come watch with us?” darry asked.

soda looked longingly at the door before he nodded slowly, wincing slightly from the ache in his head. darry frowned and checked the clock on the bedside table.

“it’s been long enough, do you want some more medicine?” darry asked gently, turning to grab the bottle from the dresser along with his water before soda could even answer. when he turned back around, he was met with soda’s big brown eyes full of tears.

“oh, baby,” he set the bottles down quickly and sat down next to his little brother on the bed. “mama said you took it so well this morning, what’s going on?”

“i don’t know…” soda cried, his shoulders shaking as darry pulled him close. “it just… it’s not mama…”

of the three of them, soda had always been the one who was good at taking medicine and was fondly regarded as “the easy one” when it came to being sick. for him to refuse to take medicine could only mean that he was feeling pretty nasty. darry felt like he should be hurt by soda’s words, but they made sense. he would be upset if mama wasn’t taking care of of him, how could he hold that against soda? he rubbed soda’s back, running a hand through his hair and taking deep breaths to keep him calm and grounded.

“i know i’m not mama, but could you please try to take it, honey?” darry quietly pleaded with soda. “it’ll help you feel better faster, it might help you sleep, too.”

soda sniffled, a few tears sliding down his cheeks. darry wiped them away quickly with the sleeves of his sweatshirt before turning around and grabbing the medicine and pouring him a dose. soda took a steadying breath and downed the medicine in one swig, snatching the water and gulping it down even faster.

darry watched almost as if in slow motion as his brother’s chest started to contract and he gagged and his eyes went glassy and terrified. for a moment, he really thought soda was going to be sick. darry reacted as fast as he could in the on way he knew how. he placed a hand on soda’s chest and gently blew on his face, and watched as his eyes focused, and his breathing managed to calm down.

soda took a deep breath and fell into darry’s arms, shaking and breathing heavily.

“good job, baby,” he whispered. “you did it, i’m so proud of you.”

soda curled up against darry, his face buried in his brother’s shoulder as he tried to pull himself together.

darry squeezed him gently, “you wanna go watch some tv with pony, kiddo?”

soda sniffled, “yeah…”

“okay, i think we can make that happen,” darry smiled, scooping up soda with his blanket still wrapped around him and kicking open the bedroom door, carrying his little brother down the hallway to the living room.

pony was on the couch, fully focused on his show, which had changed from astro boy to mickey mouse. he looked up when darry set soda down next to him, a smile growing on his face. without word or warning, pony crawled over and curled up next to soda the moment he was settled on the couch.

"honey, i know you missed soda, but we don't need you getting sick, too," darry tried to say, but pony just snuggled in further.

"hey, pony," soda smiled, throwing an arm over his baby brother and pulling him into the blanket.

pony looked up at darry with his big green eyes and darry knew he was helpless to separate them. pony and soda had always been two peas in a pod in a way darry had never been able to touch. before soda could get too invested in the show, darry asked quietly, "mama left some soup for you to have, you feeling up to eating something, bud?"

soda seemed to shrink slightly. he shook his head nervously, "can we try later?"

darry bit the inside of his cheek, but nodded, he had already gotten some water in him, that should be alright for a little while. what soda probably needed more than anything was rest. pony seemed to read his mind, because the moment darry was about to suggest that soda try to sleep, he reached out his hand, inviting darry onto the couch with them.

he grinned and smiled sheepishly at soda, "not sure if i can say no to him."

soda grinned and reached out his own hand, silently asking him to join them. darry sighed and fell down next to soda, letting his little brother curl up next to him. darry threw his arm over soda's shoulders, reaching to rest his hand against the back of pony's head. soda sniffled, his stomach growling loudly. he buried his face in darry's neck, breathing deeply. darry just smiled and ran a hand through soda's messy hair.

he pressed a kiss to soda's forehead and whispered, "get some sleep, kiddo."

when darry woke up, the sky had gone dark outisde and his parents were lifting both of his sleeping baby brothers off the couch.

"he feels warm..." his dad, who was cradling a sleeping ponyboy in a blanket, whispered to mama.

she frowned, readjusting soda in her arms, "he's probably just hot from laying up against this one all afternoon. i'm gonna wake him up and get some food and more medicine in him, i'll probably stay with him tonight."

he nodded, carrying ponyboy back to his room. mama stood for a moment, sadly looking at soda and brushing his hair back.

darry sat up, “mama?”

mama whipped around and smiled at him, “hi, sweetheart, you feeling okay? you have a good nap?”

“is pony sick? i’m sorry…” he mumbled, his exhausted brain not fully processing much of anything.

“oh, no, baby, he’s alright,” she leaned down and kissed his forehead. “just a little warm from being all snuggled up with soda all day. are you feeling alright?”

darry took a moment to decide if he was okay. he was tired, but that was just because he had just woken up, nothing new was hurting, nothing felt funny. he nodded.

“good,” mama smiled. “i’m gonna go get this one some food and medicine and back to bed, daddy’s getting pony to bed, if you hurry you can listen to the end of his bedtime story.”

darry smiled and rolled his eyes, it had been a long time since he’d needed a bedtime story, but he stood up from the couch and started toward his room. mama caught his arm before he could get too far, and he turned around.

“thank you for taking care of them today, honey, you didn’t have to do that.”

darry just shrugged and smiled, “they’re my brothers, i’d do anything for them.”

[ailithnight]

A King In Arkham

Henceforth, you will need an AO3 account to read this there.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Danny was having a very confusing week.

It started with being kidnapped from his room in Arkham by a human tank that called himself Red X. Red X took him to a "safehouse" which was actually a repurposed warehouse. Then fed him the first non-hospital meal he'd had had in months.

Danny is a bit ashamed to admit he moaned at the first bite of a burger from the local fast food franchise. He'd all but forgotten how good food could be. Despite the mask, Danny got the impression that X was giving him a look at the sound. What kind of look, Danny wasn't sure.

Confusion or amusement would make sense. Danny could certainly imagine himself confused or amused if he heard someone moan into their Nasty Meal. But for some reason, some instinct told him that the emotion behind the look was closer to anger with an undercurrent of sorrow. Which Danny just couldn't wrap his head around. What about him appreciating a good burger could make X angry and/or sad?

Then again, maybe Danny shouldn't bother trying to wrap his head around Red X's behavior at all. The whole experience with him made no sense. He kidnaps Danny, apparently as a favor for someone who wasn't Vlad. Feeds his victim and puts him in bed. (Its too soft, too warm, Danny can't sleep in it. X gives him another one of those weird looks when he finds Danny splayed out, not quite dozing on the cool concrete floor.)

And the next day just, drops Danny off in some random woman's office at the Gotham Gazette's headquarters. Leaving him there at the ass crack of dawn like his job was done, instead of meeting with anyone to hand Danny off to whoever he'd been kindnapped for. Nothing about his interactions with Red X made any sense.

But of course, that was just the start of the week.

The woman who came in to find Danny in her office then proceeded to, well, scream first, which was an entirely justified reaction to finding an Arkham patient in you office the day after a break out. But then, instead of turning him over to the authorities, she gave him a bottle of water and proceeded to spend the next several hours 'interviewing' him. It was afternnon before she finally called security to have Danny returned to Arkham. If he hadn't still been so used to skipped meals from his time Before, he's sure his body would have been protesting the extended interview loudly.

Once the police picked him up, they interrogated him for another few hours about how he escaped. Danny was nothing but honest, though of course they didn't believe him. No one did these days. But that's okay. Eventually they were able to pull the Arkham security tapes to corroborate Danny's story. Once the saw it for themselves, they finally relented and called a transport truck to take Danny home.

Of course, then the Arkham guards had to spend an hour reprimanding him for the 'escape attempt'. He tells them earnestly that he had nothing to do with his own kidnapping. No one believes that of course. It seems they think that Danny's previous good behavior was a manipulation tactic.

They tell him no one will be falling for that again. That's fine. They tell him he's lost privileges for a month. That's fine too. Tell him he's lucky they don't move him to the max security wing. Danny doesn't think he'd mind if they did.

Finally, finally, they let him go back to his room around 7:30. It's a couple hours yet until lights out, but Danny doesn't care. He almost collapses into the thin mattress. It is by no objective means comfortable. But it is familiar. And Danny finds comfort in that. He falls asleep easily.

Some hours later, after lights out, Danny jolts awake from a... dream? It wasn't quite a good dream, but it wasn't quite The Nightmare either. It's already slipping out of his mind, but he has the vague sense it involved X and burgers and a chill creeping in his throat.

It must couldn't have been an entirely pleasant dream. For one, Danny doesn't get good dreams anymore. For another, he opens his eyes to a familiar black void hovering above him, the pit in his stomach deepening with her lingering touch.

As much as her presence makes his sins weigh heavier on his soul, Danny can't help but give Spectra a small smile. That... startles her, he thinks. In an instant, the cool hand leaching warmth and resonating with that hollow ache inside him is gone. He misses it.

The next morning, Danny has a new therapist, again. Seeing this one is a punch in the gut. There aren't really a bunch of similarities. Just blue-green eyes and long red hair. But just those 2 is enough to hurt. To remember that Jazz will never get to be here, sitting in that chair, talking to her patients, making Arkham a better place like she'd wanted ever since she heard Harley Quinn's story. Jazz will never get to chase her dreams and it's all his fault.

Danny tries, he really does and even mostly succeeds, to not get lost in his own head while they go through the normal routine. It's always the same question. Except... this time it deviates. Dr. Sparrow doesn't press at the self harm issue like all the others. She presses her lips, clearly dissatisfied with Danny's answer, but she lets it slide.

"Would you like to talk about the break out, Danny?" For the first time in 3 long months, Danny has heard a new question. Of course it's that one, but still, it's new. Danny can't decide whether or not he likes it. He shrugs.

"It happened. I got kidnapped." Dr. Sparrow is looking at him weird. She doesn't look unhappy or doubtful. In fact, she almost looks understanding, like she believes him. She looks too much like Jazz. It hurts. Danny looks away.

"You understand why it is difficult to believe you were an unwilling victim, don't you, Danny?" He shrugs. "Not only are very few people privy to the information that you are a patient here, but security footage also doesn't show you putting up any kind of a fight against your supposed kidnapper." She even sounds like Jazz, presenting her logical arguments.

"I... I don't know what you want me to say." She sighs.

"I just want to understand. I can't help you if you don't talk to me, Danny." I can't help you if you don't talk to me, Little Brother. Danny can't help the full body flinch. Anger, misplaced aggression surges under his skin. It feels like ice in his veins.

"Understand what! Everyone I love is dead because of me! Because I tried to take one shortcut and couldn't handle the consequences! And this! This is the better outcome! This time I won't hurt any more people." The reminder of what his grief causes makes the anger evaporate, leaving behind that familiar hollowness. "That's all that matters. As long as I don't get anyone else killed... Vlad is the only one who could hurt me in any way that matters. S'long as I don't end up with him, I don't care."

Danny is pretty sure he knows what J- Dr. Sparrow is going to say about that. He doesn't want to hear it. He can't stand to hear it. So he lets his mind slip away. When he tunes back in, the guard is there to escort him back to 26B. He glances at Dr. Sparrow. Her grim frown and worried eyes are too familiar. It makes the hollowness shudder, a spark of oh so dangerous care catching inside.. He wants to... he needs to...

"I'm sorry, Dr. Sparrow. For shutting down." Her eyes widen, concern vanishing into shock. "You remind me of my sister. She wanted to be a psychologist here too." With that, he turns around and lets the guard lead him back to his room.

The rest of the day is mostly a haze to Danny. He's peripherally aware of someone bringing around lunch, then later dinner. Danny briefly picks at the food, but he doesn't think he's hungry.

The third day starts with them telling him Dr. Sparrow cancelled there therapy session. She won't be seeing him anymore.

That's good.

She doesn't need to waste her valuable care on him. She's better off treating someone who could actually get better. Someone who can do more than just not cause trouble. Someone worthy of a life outside of Arkham.

It'll take them at least a day or 2 to assign him a new doctor. Danny expects the rest of the day to be a blur in his room. But some time after lunch, a guard comes and escorts him to a section of the hospital Danny has never been before. The visitation wing. There, waiting in a small privacy room, is the Head Doctor, the Cheif of Security, and a stranger in a trench coat who for some reason makes Danny's skin crawl with a desire to get very far away very fast.

The Cheif of Security looks at Trench Vibes, clearly disgruntled. "Is this really necessary?"

Trench Vibes responds in a heavy British accent. "Official Justice League Dark business, mate." Danny's surprise is almost enough for him to actually feel it. "Word has it, kid's got ghosts. I'm just hear to check up on that." Head Doctpr sputters a moment.

"Surely you don't mean to imply the ghost's could actually exist? Ghosts are not real, sir." Trench Vibes snorts.

"Sure. Next you'll tell me that magic ain't real either." Head Doctor opens his mouth to rebut, but then a golden light swirls around Trench Vibes' fingertips and that seems to make the Doctor rethink a few things. "Now, if you'll give me a few minutes with the kid, then I'll be out of your hair." He waits for the Doctor, Chief, and guard to all leave the room before he even looks at Danny. "I really hope I don't have to be the one to tell you your a little bit dead, kid."

"Danny."

"John Constantine."

Welp, no reason to lie here. ". . . I know I'm half ghost."

"Good. Well, not good that you're half dead, but good that you know. That would not be a fun conversation. Not that this one is much better. You're being haunted?"

"Not much anymore. It's okay." Trench Vibes, John Constantine, just gives Danny a disbelieving look. "Honest Mr. Constantine. I think they're getting bored since I won't fight them anymore."

"Anymore?"

"I'm from Amity Park. Ghost fights were a pretty regular thing there."

"I'm sorry, what? You're telling me there's a town under seige by ghosts and we didn't know about it?"

"You didn't... know? I mean, it's probably fine now. The ghosts mostly came to give me grief. Plus, I'm sure Vlad has dismantled my parent's portal by now."

"Portal?"

"To the Ghost Zone."

"Your parents had a portal to the Infinite Realms!?"

"Is that what you call the swirling green place?" Mr. Constantine sighs. He reaches a hand into his coat, but comes up empty. Whatever he was reaching for must have been confiscated before he could bring it into the hospital.

"So let me get this straight. Your parents opened a portal to the... Ghost Zone. No doubt flooded your whole town with enough ambient ecto to allow powerful physical manifestations. You somehow ended up half dead. Ghost start appearing. They fight you, you fight back, and now that you've left this Amity Park, those ghosts followed you here to continue haunting you."

"Pretty much."

"Why did you stop fighting back?"

". . . We aren't in Amity anymore. They can't hurt anyone."

"They've been hurting you." Trench Vibes has a scathing deadpan. If Danny could muster any feeling, he might be ashamed. Of course, as it were the closest thing he's experiencing to feeling right now is that prickling sensation that he should not be anywhere near Mr. Constantine.

"They can't hurt anyone that matters." Mr. Constantine abruptly stands.

"Nope. Nope, nope, nope. I am not equipped for this. I am reporting back to the Bat and then I guess I'm going to Illinois to figure out what the hell happened and why Dark didn't know about it." Mr. Constantine vanishes in a flash of light. A few seconds later, the guard comes and takes Danny back to his room.

At some point during day 4, Walker visits. Again, the surprise is almost strong enough to break through the cold hollow feeling in his chest. Almost. Walker had only visited once, the day they sent him here, to gloat over seeing the Halfa Punk finally imprisoned for his crimes.

The warden glances around his empty room, then settles for staring at Danny. Time passes, lunch and dinner a blur where Danny, for the 4th day in a row, barely eats a third of each meal. Walker is stares at him the whole time. It's kind of creepy and Danny almost wants to snap at him. Almost. Instead he lies on. his cot and traces cracks in his ceiling like he's looking at constellations. Finally, just after lights out, Walker does more than stare. He speaks.

"Effective immediately, your previous sentencing has been overturned and all other charges are dropped. You are no longer Wanted, punk. Keep your nose clean. I never want to see you in my prison again." Danny spends most of the night thinking about Walker's change of heart and not being wanted as a ghost anymore.

The fifth day is mostly normal. Spectra shows back up. Danny doesn't make the mistake of smiling at her or acknowledging her at all really. He doesn't want to scare her off again. He missed her. She seems upset. She practically gouges his heart out with the ferocity with which she plunges her clawed hand into his chest to feast. She's not in the slightest gentle with how she drags more and more misery from him, through him. Danny doesn't mind the ache. He's just happy, to whatever empty extent he can be happy, that someone is reaping some meager benefit from his still beating heart.

Day 6 passes much the same with Spectra hovering over him the whole day.

Finally, day 7. The final day to finish out the most disorienting week of Danny's short life. The grand finale of confusion starts with Danny back in the visitation wing. Spectra stays with him right up until they walk into that same little room from 3 days ago, where Danny sees Mr. Kincaid, the social worker he met once when he arrived in Gotham, and a man in a fancy business suit. Mr. Business stands up and smiles, looking for all the world like Danny had made his day by walking in the room.

"Hello Danny, my name is Bruce Wayne."

[keyboardsmashess]

The Siren, or The Heart of the Matter

Chapter Six: The Crystal, or Cleo's Mother is Right for the First Time in Recorded History

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x OFC

Warnings: language, eventual smut (but not in this chapter), fluff, eventual canon-typical violence (but not in this chapter) MINORS DNI. A/N: I'm still sticking with Marvel Mondays as the regular Update Day, but I've been writing so much lately that I may post random updates as well. This story has really taken off in my mind, and I hope you are all loving it as much as I do! I have a taglist now! Let me know if you want to be added to it!

Summary: Cleo and the Avengers start to learn more about her new abilities. Some of the changes are more unexpected than others.

Chapter Directory

After I spill a careful selection of my guts to the room at large, three of the four Avengers exchange a look and Natasha tells me they’ll be back in a bit. Barnes hangs back, but remains stoically silent. So much for getting any answers of my own.

My body is exhausted, but my mind won’t shut the hell up, so after trying and failing to sleep for a few minutes, I stand as smoothly as I can and grip the hospital gown tightly behind my back. I’m not a prude, but I still don’t want to show one of the world’s mightiest heroes my rainbow underwear. I watch him carefully, and he watches back, but he remains silent and still. I decide to largely ignore him for the time being - a decision I suspect he will appreciate.

The room is fairly sparse - my bed, one of those adjustable-height tables next to it with a cup of water and the wallet Captain America returned, plus a few folding chairs. No windows, just that one-way mirror with the little crack staring at me. There’s a single row of cabinets beneath a counter off to one side, so I make my way over there to snoop around. I venture a glance back to Barnes - he doesn’t move, but I detect the smallest bit of curiosity in his eyes so I give him a wide, toothy smile and keep exploring when he looks away.

In the first section, I find the requisite medical supplies one might expect in any doctor’s office. I resist the urge to steal a handful of rubber gloves.

I close the double doors gently, moving on to the other set. They start to give before snapping shut, a lock audibly clicking into place.

“I apologize, Miss Blake, but you do not have access to this storage area.” The British-sounding voice comes from nowhere and everywhere, and I stand up so quickly my head spins.

“What the fuck, who are you? Where are you?” I think Barnes huffs a laugh.

“I am Just a Rather Very Intelligent System, an artificial intelligence created by Mr. Stark.”

“For someone who loves a nickname, he sure gave you a mouthful,” I mumble.

“You may call me JARVIS.” Can AI chuckle? I swear to gods he - it? - chuckles.

“Got it, thanks. And your presence in my hospital room slash jail cell is because Stark asked you to keep an eye on me? Same as Grumpy Smurf over there?”

“That would be correct, Miss Blake, though I detect Sergeant Barnes may not approve of the nickname.” the AI says. 

It feels like talking to a human and it creeps me out a little if I’m being honest, but today has been incredibly exhausting and I don’t have the energy to wage an ethical war against AI right now, so I shut my mouth and nod. “Sure thing. Sorry, Grumpy Smurf.” Barnes’ stoic face twitches minutely.

I make my way back to my hospital bed for lack of anything else to do. I wonder what dad would make of all this? I think to myself. He’d probably be thrilled, honestly, to be discussing his life’s work with a handful of superheroes - he’d call it proof of some government conspiracy to cover up what he’s always known to be true. And despite my years on the wagon, so to speak, I can’t help but agree.

I think back to the book, trying to remember anything else I might have seen before falling asleep - if I even did simply fall asleep. The swirling golden letters spring easily into my mind’s eye, almost startling me with their vividness, and I start to feel short of breath. 

Come on, Blake, you can’t keep passing out, I tell myself. I try some box breathing and, when that does little to help, I press a hand to my chest to try to ground myself. I freeze.

“What the fuck?” I whisper, feeling the edges of something hard and geometric in the center of my chest - right around my heart chakra (according to Trudy, my yoga teacher). Barnes tenses next to me, but I ignore him.

I slowly pull back the neck of my hospital gown. Peering down, I spare a moment of gratitude that I’m still wearing my bra before I see this thing - this mass - sticking out of my skin.

“What the fuck.” I say a bit louder. It’s clear, with irregular and multifaceted edges, and I’m reminded of the quartz crystals Trudy liked to decorate her studio with. The only difference is that this one appears to have been cut down the middle before being stuck to my chest. That, or… I reach down and run a finger around its edges, pushing and pulling at it, but it doesn’t budge. It does, however, hurt a little when I try to move it. My hands are shaking. This thing has fused with my skin. The back of it is inside my chest.

As my panic rises, the crystal starts to glow faintly. “What the FUCK!” I shout, scooting backward. As if I can escape my own chest. Barnes rushes to my side, and I’m too distracted to think much of the concerned look on his face.

My expletive brings Natasha bursting back into my room, but she stills when Barnes puts a hand up - to reassure her or keep her back, I can’t tell. 

I look up at them, wide-eyed and white as a ghost. “I have - did you see - this thing is - I’m fucking GLOWING!” I sputter, pointing at my chest.

Barnes lowers his hand with an eye roll. I shoot him a glare while Natasha steps closer to me slowly. Cautiously, I realize. 

“Yes, I’ve seen it.” She raises her hands, palms facing me, like I’m the one with weapons. Hell, maybe I am - I don’t know what this thing does. “We’re still trying to figure out what it is, but until we do, you need to remain calm.”

“Calm. I need to be calm? Calm is for people who haven’t spontaneously turned into Troll dolls,” I half-shout, my voice much higher in pitch than I mean for it to be. My chest glows brighter, shining through my gown and into the room.

Natasha’s eyes widen by a millimeter. “If you can’t control yourself, we’re going to have to sedate you, and I get the feeling you’d like to avoid that if at all possible.” Her hands are still up, but she’s moving closer.

“No,” I choke out, looking back down at my chest. “Not a huge fan of sedation, now that you mention it.” I try some breathing techniques again, and apparently retaining consciousness is enough of a motivator that the glow fades. I tap my fingers to my forehead, my cheeks, my shoulders, my wrists, and it fades some more. Barnes watches me closely.

When Natasha lowers her arms, I relax enough that the glow completely subsides, leaving me with a regular crystal. Regular, that is, save for the fact that it’s stuck in my fucking chest.

Barnes finally returns to his spot by the door, apparently believing I’m not going to lose my shit any time soon, and leans against the wall. Natasha settles into a chair near my bed.

I wait a moment, but they are infinitely more comfortable with silence than I am, so I break quickly and look at Natasha. “Any chance you were having a fun little hallway meeting about letting me skedaddle on home?”

Her face softens a bit, but Barnes scoffs before she can reply. “No way in hell,” he says.

I want to argue - gods does this man make me want to argue - but I’m also quite concerned about the rock formation currently growing out of my chest, so I decide I’ll stay put if I have to. I meet his gaze, not backing down. “In that case… got any jello?” Barnes’ metal hand twitches, his face lined with annoyance. I should probably shut up. Then again, I’ve never really been great at that. 

Instead, I bat my eyelashes and grin widely. “Strawberry’s my favorite.” I try not to laugh as he storms out of the room. “But orange is fine, too!”

******

The next 24 hours pass by in a very stressful parade of doctors, scientists, and a rotating selection of superheroes. The only constant is Barnes, who stands stoically by the door regardless of who comes and goes. Clearly, he’s been appointed as my watch-dog, but he’s like the guards at Buckingham Palace - no matter what I try, I cannot get him to talk to me.

I get very little sleep, but that, at least, is something I’m used to. By the time I start wondering if Stark will let me use his phone to google how long it takes a person to develop bed sores, someone knocks on my door.

“Come on in,” I say with false positivity, looking up from the cootie catcher I made with one of my printed lab results. They haven’t let me have my phone yet, and a girl can only read unintelligible medical speak so many times. Barnes takes a few steps back to make room for the crowd. A handful of doctors trickle in, followed by Stark and a fresh face I recognize from real life, not TV.

“Dr. Banner!” I smile. “You probably don’t remember me, but I attended several of your guest lectures at Culver. They all went way over my head, of course, but my best friend says you have ‘the best ass in science’ so she made me come with her.”

“Uh, thanks,” he says, his ears turning faintly pink.

Stark flops down casually on the foot of my bed. “Sure, make yourself comfortable.” He ignores me, so I poke him with the cootie catcher. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m besties with Iron Man, but we’ve become friendly over the past day. It’s far better than the silent treatment I’ve been getting from the ever-present Soldier. “Want me to tell you your fortune? Fair warning, you probably have a higher-than-average white blood cell count. Good news is, it doesn’t seem to be terminal.”

Stark chuckles. “Maybe next time, kid. This isn’t a social visit.”

“I see.” I take in the group of doctors and drop the folded paper in my lap. “Well, let me have it, then. Why am I turning into a geode?”

A few of the doctors look uncomfortable, so Dr. Banner steps forward. He’s holding a very hefty folder. I suspect I will soon wish it was less hefty. “We’ve been running a pretty wide variety of tests, Miss Blake. I’ve looked at everything, down to your DNA, and…” he trails off. “Well, it seems that a very specific and very strong energy signature has found a way to… to merge with you, for lack of a better word. The size of the energy was large enough to flag as dangerous, which is what brought you to our attention in the first place.”

I’m too confused to respond, so Tony cuts in. “The energy he’s talking about has given you some interesting abilities, which is why you fell in our jurisdiction.”

I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose nervously. “What kind of abilities?”

Dr. Banner gestures to Tony, who sighs. “Well, don’t lose your cool again, but I mentioned your apartment building. Before we knew the thing we were looking for was, well, you, when the team was talking to you in your apartment, you kind of pulled a Hulk on them.” He turns to Dr. Banner. “No offense, buddy.” Banner just shrugs.

I shake my head. “I don’t remember that.”

Tony nods. “Yeah, we figured as much. They said you passed out, and then your bling there started to glow, and next thing they knew the entire building was shaking. They grabbed you and got the hell out of there, but not before it came apart like it was hit with an earthquake. Luckily, Barnes is a paranoid bastard and had already evacuated the building.”

He nods to Barnes, then. “When we got you here, we didn’t know what you were capable of, so I restrained you. Sorry about that, by the way - seemed like a good idea at the time. Anyway, according to Barnes, once you started to wake up and realized you were strapped down, you flipped your lid and passed out again. This time, you didn’t bring down the building, you… Well, according to JARVIS, you made the restraints vibrate until they reached a frequency that shattered them. Which, by the way, should not be possible.”

My voice is small when I finally find it to speak. “So I pass out and destroy shit?”

Dr. Banner speaks up then. “In your defense, it’s more like you pass out and defend yourself.”

I give him a small smile, then freeze. “When I screamed, I cracked that glass and you all covered your ears. Well, except Grumpy Smurf. ” Tony nods and Barnes shifts a bit on his feet, not meeting my eyes. 

“Exactly. And once again, that shouldn’t be possible,” Tony says.

My cheeks go pink. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know why I thought to do that in the first place - I’ve never done anything like that before.”

“Probably the same instinct to defend yourself, like the Doc said. No harm, no foul.”

I think for a moment, putting the pieces together as best I can. “So where did these… abilities, you called them - where did they come from?” And how do I get rid of them?

“I’m still working to identify the source of the energy - it’s nothing I’ve ever seen before - but based on what we know so far, and your medical records, we believe it wasn’t something you were born with. In all likelihood, this all started with the book you… encountered at the library.”

I’m silent for a moment. “Wait, you got my medical records? I don’t remember signing a consent form.”

Stark gives me a flat look. “Not the time, kid.”

I sigh. “Ugh, fine. So based on medical records that you definitely obtained in violation of HIPAA, this started in the library?” The doctors nod. “How can you tell?”

Banner opens the folder and rifles through a few papers. “There are some notable differences between our results and the record of your most recent physical. You’ve never had the kind of in-depth testing we run here, of course, so I can’t compare everything, but I can make some pretty good guesses. It also seems like the spikes we’re seeing in your white blood count and the changes in your lymph nodes are fairly recent - like the last day or two, recent. Your larynx, tensor tympani, and stapedius don’t appear to be within the normal range.”

“Sure, yeah, I know exactly what those are,” I say with an eye roll.

Stark pats my shoulder. “Your voice box and ear muscles.”

I nod faintly, so Banner keeps going. “And the most obvious change…” He finds the papers he’d been searching for and pulls them out, seeming to debate whether or not to give them to me.

“Come on, Jolly Green. Get to the heart of the issue,” Stark says. A few doctors pale considerably.

Banner looks almost pained as he hands the papers over. I stare blankly at the first few that are filled with lines of test results and blink up at him. “I may be getting my doctorate, but it’s not going to be the kind that tells me what to do with this.”

“Ignore those for now.” Stark reaches over and grabs the sheets of results, leaving me with a scan of my upper body. 

At first, I can’t tell what I’m supposed to be looking at, so I simply scan it. My eyes run over my intestines, my lungs, and - “Wait, where the flying fuck is my heart?” I choke out, voice strangled.

“We, ah, we believe it’s been replaced,” one of the other doctors pipes up helpfully.

“Last I checked, it wasn’t exactly exchangeable!”

Barnes’ metal fingers flex, so I follow his gaze to my chest and realize I’m glowing again. 

I’m glowing. From the crystal. The crystal in my chest.

I look up, eyes wide. “You’re telling me this - this thing - it’s just replaced my -” I take a deep breath and try to keep my voice level. “You’re telling me I have a crystal instead of a heart?”

Banner scratches the back of his neck, a tad sheepish. “That’s our best guess.”

I collapse back into the pillows, a hand over my chest. “I don’t have a heart. I’m heartless,” I say to nobody in particular. A giggle burbles up from somewhere deep inside me and I can’t hold it back, its sudden noise startling several of the doctors. It isn’t alone and, before I know it, I’ve collapsed into a fit of near-hysterical laughter. Stark watches me warily and Barnes tenses up, looking ready to spring into action at any moment.

“Well,” I choke out between laughs. “There’s a first time for everything.” Banner and Stark exchange nervous glances. 

I try to catch my breath and remove my glasses, wiping at tears that are leaking from the corners of my eyes. “My mother was right.”

[sloanesallow]

The Call of the Void | Chapter 6

Shy girl meets distracted boy. Chaos ensues. This is my "canon" retelling of Siobhan Sloane and Sebastian Sallow's story. (full synopsis here. Chapter summary: Restricted section you say? 4k words Chapter warnings: Peak Sebastian energy. Sloane says more than 5 words, and freaking Peeves. [Ao3] | [Wattpad] [PREVIOUS] | [NEXT]

VI: R E S T R I C T E D

Siobhan doesn’t attend any of her classes on Thursday.

Instead of greeting the sunrise from the courtyard, she makes her way to the infirmary while the rest of her housemates are still asleep. Her hands haven’t stopped shaking since the troll attack in Hogsmeade, the ancient magic threatening to break free with every beat of her heart. The new wand only intensifies the burning sensation, and she’s terrified of losing control, again.

Siobhan has enough to worry about as a new student—an outsider—struggling to catch up with her peers. She isn’t naive to the rumors about herself, the whispers that have already labeled her as ‘awkward’ and ‘undeserving’ of her acceptance to Hogwarts. She’s too quiet, too inexperienced, and perhaps worst of all, not from wizarding society. If they learn she is a ticking time bomb, she can kiss any hope of being considered normal goodbye.

Nurse Blainey takes pity on Siobhan after assuring her there is nothing wrong, offering a calming draught and a cot by the window. That is where she spends the day, watching the clouds and owls and the tiny specks of students below as they traverse the courtyards walking from class to class. Guilt gnaws at her stomach for behaving so cowardly—her father would be disappointed if he knew she was hiding away—but she allows herself the reprieve, given the circumstances.

The only other person who knows anything about ancient magic is Professor Fig, but he is still in London, and she is alone. At least that is something she’s used to. It isn’t until sunset that she returns to the Hufflepuff common room, timing it so that her housemates are in the great hall for supper. She crawls beneath the covers of her small bed with the hopeless wish that she’ll wake up in Nottingham and find this was all just a bad dream.

She doesn’t.

Siobhan remains there on Friday morning, feigning sleep when Poppy attempts to rouse her for breakfast. When it’s quiet she slowly sits up, tucking her knees to her chest as she contemplates where else she can take refuge today. She doubts Nurse Blainey will allow her to loiter in the hospital wing again, not unless she develops a real illness. Professor Weasley will only encourage her to attend Flying class, and that is the last place she wants to be.

Eventually, she finds the strength to slowly get out of bed and dress for the day, wondering if she’d be sent home if she were to fall off her broom. The only thing that shakes the thought from her head is remembering a student from the day before, languishing over something called Skele-Gro. She takes her time walking through the castle, pretending she is simply lost (she is) when a Prefect asks why she isn’t in class.

When she finds herself in the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower, she realizes there is another place she can avoid her responsibilities, if only for one more day. Except, when she enters Professor Fig’s classroom, she’s surprised to see him pacing back and forth beyond his open office door.   

“Professor?” she calls out to him as she steps inside the cluttered space.

He barely acknowledges her presence with a hum before glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you be on the flying lawn, Miss Sloane?”

Siobhan falters and flashes a guilty smile. “No?”

Fig sighs but doesn’t probe any further. “Your father did say you were a terrible liar,” he quietly laughs and winks. “Your secret is safe with me. Broomsticks aren’t for everyone.” 

She sighs, thankful he is back. “I’m glad to see you.”

“And I you,” he replies, his expression shifting into one of worry. “I heard about the attack in Hogsmeade. A troll? Thank Merlin you are in one piece.”

Barely, Siobhan thinks to herself, shaking her head. “It was wearing armor and was…glowing, like the dragon’s collar. Like the armbands the goblins wore in Gringots.”

“Goblin silver,” Professor Fig says, looking even more troubled than before. “Ranrok must be using it to control the beasts. But how? And why Hogsmeade, of all places?”

“Because of…me,” Siobhan’s voice wavers as she speaks, a terrifying reality that unsettles her every nerve. Her skin crawls with the memory. “Ranrok was there, with a man named Victor Rookwood. They want the ancient magic. They want me.”

“Without a care for innocent bystanders, it seems,” Professor Fig murmurs, brows furrowed. “I wager Ranrok did not expect a student to be capable of defeating a troll.”

If it is an attempt to make her feel better, it fails. Siobhan wrings her fingers together to stop them from trembling, swallowing thickly to steady herself.

“I—it happened again,” she starts to explain. “I lost control.”

“What do you remember?” Professor Fig calmly asks.

Siobhan remembers very little, only that one moment she was watching in horror as a troll lumbered toward her, and the next it was in a crumpled heap on the cobblestone, its flesh marked by ancient magic. Her silence is answer enough.  

“Were there any witnesses?”

“Y—yes,” she answers, her pulse quickening. “Sebastian Sallow.”

What she does remember is his reaction, wide brown eyes staring at her in disbelief. She does not like to think about how he’d gone from smiling at her to watching her like an unstable kettle, ready to explode.

“He saw everything.”

“Mr. Sallow is one of the more…curious students at Hogwarts,” he says with a slight frown. “He’ll have questions if he hasn’t pried them out of you already.”

“He didn’t,” Siobhan shakes her head again. “He…he was nice to me.”

Professor Fig’s eyebrow twitches up but says nothing for a long moment and he ponders their discussion. 

“It appears Ranrok wants what we found in that vault—the locket.” He pulls said locket from his pocket and places it on top of the parchment spread across the desk. “There was an inscription. When spoken, this map appeared. Though, I’m not sure where we are meant to be led.”

Siobhan immediately focuses on a specific area of the map. “Here,” she points. “There are traces of magic.”

“I suspected as such,” Professor Fig nods. “That is the library, the restricted section, to be exact. Students typically need special permission to enter, but if you are with me—”

“Fig! I have work for you,” Headmaster Black interrupts, striding into the room without regard to the ongoing conversation. His sudden appearance causes Siobhan to flinch. “Come.”

“I am with a student!” Professor Fig counters in annoyance. “And my schedule is—”

“Your schedule will wait, indefinitely, as will your student,” the Headmaster briefly glances at Siobhan but it is clear he does not care for her presence. “I would think that after all the trouble you caused bringing her here, you would be eager to make amends.”

He leaves no room for further arguments. “My office. Five minutes.”

Siobhan remains silent as Professor Fig scowls.

“I’ve never known a more infuriating person,” he lets out a deep sigh. “I must apologize, Miss Sloane. Our trip to the library will have to wait. I shall find you after I’ve satisfied whatever inane tasks Phineas has for me.”

 She wants to protest, but Professor Fig is already rushing after the Headmaster. Alone, she inspects the map again and frowns. There is so little they know about ancient magic, and yet it seems like all she’s done is wait, instead of learning more. What if it takes over again and she hurts herself—or worse—someone else? She’s fearful, yes, but with a possible answer staring her in the face, she feels compelled to act.

Restricted section…

Siobhan straightens in recognition, recalling something Mr. Sallow mentioned on the way to Hogsmeade. She glances at the clock in Professor Fig’s office before leaving, wondering where Sebastian might be on a Friday morning. The possibilities might as well be endless, so it’s kismet when she quickly spots him loitering in a nearby alcove. He notices her approach, and for a moment she thinks he might run off, given what happened the other day. Instead, he looks…relieved.

“There you are,” he says, eyes darting over her form in a way that makes her skin prickle. “Where have you been? You didn’t attend any of our classes yesterday! I was worried something dreadful had happened.”  

Worried? Why is he worried about her? Siobhan is about to comment that something dreadful did happen when he continues. 

“Shouldn’t you be in Flying class?”

“Y—no,” she furrows her brows in confusion. “How do you know that?”

“Never mind,” Sebastian waves his hand in dismissal and that’s when she notices the white bandage wrapped around his palm. Before she can express her worry, he swiftly hides the injury behind his back. “Never mind,” he repeats with a sheepish grin.

Siobhan doesn’t know Sebastian very well, but from the limited amount of time they’ve spent together, she’s picked up on his overzealous demeanor. It’s intense, and certainly not a personality type she’s encountered before, especially from the opposite sex. Back home, the boys her age are aloof and think of her as the wallflower she is, if they think about her at all. Other than Poppy—and now him—nobody at Hogwarts has shown much interest in her.

“What happened to your hand?” she hesitantly asks.

“Potions accident. Weasley’s fault, really,” Sebastian softly chuckles as he shrugs. “Not to worry, Nurse Blainey assured me yesterday that I’ll make a full recovery.”

She blinks. “Yesterday?”

“Mhmm.”

“But I didn’t see you—”

“So that’s where you were hiding!” he exclaims, cutting her off. “I had a hunch you were up there, but Ominis said to leave you be. Are you alright?”

Siobhan hesitates, skeptical of his interest in her well-being. It isn’t like they are friends—are they? She nods, though she knows it isn’t convincing. She gestures to his bent arm, diverting the attention from her discomfort. “It wasn’t a potion accident, was it?”

He lifts and stares at his hand as if he’s forgotten it’s attached to his body. “It’s nothing.”

“It was me,” she says after a moment, even if the gaps in her memory make it difficult to be sure.

Sebastian’s smile fades and he relents, carefully removing the bandage for her to see. There’s remnants of a burn on his palm, red and splotchy skin that reminds her of when she accidentally spilt hot water on herself as a child. Guilt makes her chest feel heavy.

“I did this?” she asks in a whisper, stopping herself from reaching out.

“I’ve been hurt worse,” he assures, flexing his fingers. “It looks worse than it is, and since injury caused by magic can’t be healed by magic, I’ll just have to suffer.”

Siobhan frowns.

“Kidding,” Sebastian smirks, and with a flourish, he brandishes his wand in his right hand. With one quick movement and a murmured charm, the bandages wrap themselves back around his marred skin. “Good thing I’m ambidextrous.”

“It’s my fault, anyway, touching you without thinking,” he continues, a little more seriously as he repockets his wand. “You’d just blown up a troll with glowing blue magic! I’m surprised I didn’t melt.”

Siobhan shakes her head in frustration. “I don’t know how that happened.”

“That makes two of us,” Sebastian quips, even as his concerned expression returns. “Are you going to tell me about what we saw in Hogsmeade? Why does Victor Rookwood, of all people, seem so interested in you?”

It is easy for Siobhan to assume that Rookwood and Ranrok are after the same secrets she and Professor Fig are attempting to unearth. She doesn’t know what ancient magic’s role is—yet—but understands quite well that she is in danger. If the magic doesn’t kill her first, they certainly will. 

“I—I’ve never met him before,” she replies. “I think he’s working with Ranrock.”

He scrutinizes her—she isn’t lying, but she isn’t ready to tell him the entire story yet, either. She has a promise to keep to Professor Fig, and she isn’t sure whom else she can trust.

When Sebastian realizes she isn’t elaborating, he sighs. “You don’t have to tell me, but it’ll be hard to help you when I don’t know what’s going on.”   

“Help me?” Siobhan repeats, back to being confused about his enthusiasm.

“Of course!” he beams. “If you can defeat a troll, then I’m sure you can defeat an opponent in a duel, with proper guidance that is. I’ll tutor you.”

It’s a statement, not a question. 

“Oh,” she responds, momentarily stunned. “T—thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he smirks and she feels her face go hot. Sebastian turns to grab a notebook from a not-so-neat pile on the nearby chair. “Speaking of, here. Yesterday’s notes for Transfiguration, Arithmancy, and Herbology. The last bit might be a little sparse…Professor Garlick says I haven’t the greenest thumb, but I’m still better at tending to plants than Hobhouse.”

Siobhan looks down at the notebook and flashes a tiny smile. She wasn’t expecting such a nice gesture and is grateful for the surprise, as overwhelmed as it makes her feel. Maybe Sebastian is a friend, after all.    

“I—” she pauses, hugging the notes to her chest as she contemplates just what to say. The wizarding world is still so new and fantastical to her that it’s difficult for her to make sense of the situation. Sebastian waits patiently for her to keep speaking. “I need to find something for Professor Fig, but it’s in the restricted section of the library.”

“Restricted section, you say?” he questions, delighted at the mention. “Is that why you were looking for me?”

“I wasn’t—”

“You’re a bad liar, Sloane.”

She’s too flustered to respond—is she really that transparent? Sebastian Sallow is one of the strangest people she’s met at Hogwarts by far, but something tells her he wouldn’t take that as an insult.

“I suppose I could wait to get a note from him, but—”

“Oh no,” Sebastian interjects, amused. “You can’t lure me in like that and expect me not to be interested. If you’re serious about sneaking into the restricted section, I’m your guy.”

Siobhan doesn’t think her cheeks can get any warmer. 

“Meet me outside the library tonight,” he instructs in a more serious tone as he gathers his belongings. “And tell no one.”

That evening, after dinner and a long bath, she sits on the edge of her bed in the Hufflepuff dormitory, watching as her roommates get ready for sleep. Poppy eyes her with suspicion, but Siobhan doesn’t say anything until Lenora and Adelaide are tucked away and snoring.

“Poppy?” she quietly captures her friend’s attention, hesitating before she asks. “If I wanted to sneak out after curfew—”

Poppy raises her hand and grins. “Say less.”

For the second time that week, Sebastian finds himself pacing, anxious as he counts his steps, waiting. Last time, he’d all but been forced into the situation by Professor Weasley, but tonight’s rendezvous is one he volunteered for. His thoughts are scattered—why did he agree to help Sloane? Sure, he’s curious, but he’s also sleep-deprived, overloaded with assignments, and should be using his free time to help Anne.

Considering everything that happened to them in Hogsmeade, he should be wary, if not downright terrified to be associated with Sloane. Barely two weeks and she has the attention of not only the leader of a goblin rebellion, but a gang of dark wizards. Either she has incredibly bad luck, or there’s something more serious going on. If Sebastian had the gold, he’d bet on the latter. But he’s always been fond of puzzles, and the mystery surrounding the new girl is too tantalizing to ignore.

He flexes his fingers when his wrapped palm begins to itch.

Curiosity kills the cat, or maybe it just burns.

Unlike Wednesday, Sebastian doesn’t let Sloane sneak up on him. He senses her arrival in the central hall and watches as she slowly makes her way to where he is waiting on the staircase landing. She’s dressed as if she’s heading to class, blazer and all, and he wonders what it would take to see her not so put together.

“You’re late,” he teases.

“I got lost,” she nervously explains, fidgeting with her sleeves. “I’ve never broken curfew before.”

“First time for everything.” 

When he crouches down, she follows suit, the two shuffling toward the nearby banister that overlooks the library entrance. It’s quiet, save for the prefect’s footsteps as they patrol the area. Unsurprisingly, Sloane looks worried.

“How do we get inside?”

“Sneakily,” Sebastian offers in a hushed tone. “Has Fig taught you the Disillusionment Charm?”

She shakes her head.

“Could’ve fooled me,” he continues. “What, with all the secrets you two are keeping.”

He means it as a joke—mostly—but if there’s anything he’s learned by now, it’s that Sloane might as well be impervious to his charms. Infuriating, but compelling—it won’t stop him from trying again. He pulls out his wand and she does the same, staring at him expectantly.

“It’s deception, rather than true invisibility, but as long as you keep your distance and stay quiet, it’s the perfect spell for getting into places you’re not supposed to be,” he explains before demonstrating the wand movement. “Like this.”

It takes Sloane a few tries, but Sebastian swears he spots the faintest smile just as she becomes shrowded, a translucent form he can barely make out in the dim light. He casts his own charm and the two start their careful descent down the stairs, pausing occasionally when a prefect passes by. She stops just as they enter the library proper and he is about to question her when he spots Scribner, doing whatever it is a librarian does after dark.

“Damn,” he curses under his breath, blindly reaching out to tug on Sloane’s arm. “Quick, behind the bookcase.”

In the nearby alcove, Sebastian removes the cloaking charm and takes a moment to think through their options. Scribner is usually gone by now, but of course she’s decided to stay late on the one evening he’s chosen to help Sloane. So much for making up for Hogsmeade.

“What do we do?” she whispers, visible again. Realizing he is still holding onto her arm, he lets go.

“Don’t worry,” he assures in an equally hushed tone, pulling a small key from his shirt pocket. “I lifted the key this afternoon, after our little chat. Figured it was best to come prepared.”

He hands it to her and then gestures to the other side of the room where a selection of bookcases are locked behind iron bars. “I’ll create a distraction so you can sneak over and unlock the gate. I’ll be right behind you. Trust me.”

Sloane hesitates, glancing from him to Scribner and the restricted section to him again. She nods, charming herself once more. Sebastian takes the cue, shrowding himself again before finding a perfect spot for a distraction—or destruction—they sound the same in his head.

One swift cast of incendio later, and Scribner is scrambling to investigate, leaving the path to the restricted section clear. He moves swiftly, grinning to himself when he sees the lock click open and the gate door open just enough to slip inside. Sloane keeps her disillusionment charm active until they are well out of Scribner’s sight.

“See?” he can’t help but chuckle. “Was that so difficult?”

Despite her earlier urgency, Sloane takes her time browsing the dusty bookshelves once they enter the lower levels. Sebastian idles along, taking advantage of the leisurely stroll to see if there is anything he missed during his last illicit visit. She focuses on an elaborate tome, but he stops her before she can pick it up.

“Don’t let it fool you,” he comments. “It’s charmed to look more useful than it is. Just gibberish.”

Sloane nods in understanding and he can sense her eyeing him as he traces the spines on a row of old books. “What are you looking for?” she asks.

“I’m looking for a cure for my twin sister, Anne,” he replies, before remembering that he hasn’t told Sloane about her quite yet. “She’s…sick. Has been for some time now, and wasn’t able to return to Hogwarts this year. It’s strange, not having her with me. She’s a Slytherin too, so the common room is less quiet than what I’m used to.”

“Everyone else has given up, but I haven’t,” he continues, a flare of anger makes his face feel hot. “I won’t let her down.”

“Why here?” Sloane asks after a few moments, still watching him as he flips through a book that has more to do with ancient wizard mating rituals—in Latin, of all languages—than cures for unknown curses. “Why the restricted section? Can Nurse Blainey not help?” 

“No!” Sebastian snaps, sighing when she flinches just enough for him to feel awful about his reaction. “We’ve tried everything. Not even St. Mungos was able to do anything,” he says in a softer tone. “That’s why I’ve been researching on my own. If I can’t rely on others, at least I can rely on myself.”

Sloane says nothing, but he appreciates her silence. Sebastian doesn’t like to talk about Anne’s situation, simply because there is nothing he finds more irritating than people’s hollow sympathies. Especially when they act as if Anne is already dead. She isn’t, and won’t die. Not if he has anything to do about it.

“What are you looking for?” he asks, changing the subject.

“A book,” she answers, without much more elaboration. “I’ll know it when I see it.”

“Cryptic,” he replies, smirking. “I like cryptic.”

They eventually move on from the area, down into a storage area that even Sebastian hasn’t explored. There are very few books, and when they reach a dead end, he’s about to suggest they double back when—

“Who have we here? Sebastian Sallow and the little lost lass, out exploring where they shouldn’t be!”

Peeves.

“Naughty, naughty! You’ll get caughty!”

Fucking Peeves.

Sloane bumps back into Sebastian, startled, as he glares at the poltergeist. “Peeves,” he warns through clenched teeth. “Don’t—”

“I’m going to tell!” the poltergeist cheerfully sing-songs, repeating the phrase over and over as he floats away.

“The hell you will!” Sebastian shouts after him, only pausing to reassure a panicked Sloane. “I’ll stop him, or at least come up with a convincing story for Scribner. I happen to be an excellent liar.”

She shakes her head, ignoring his comment. “I don’t want you getting into trouble for me.”

“A little too late for that, Sloane,” he remarks with a lopsided grin. “I’ll be fine. You’ll just owe me.”

Sebastian rushes away, glancing over his shoulder one last time to see Sloane’s concerned expression. “Thank you.”

Much like a game of cat and mouse, Peeves is waiting for him, laughing as he leads the way back to the main floor of the library.

“Sebastian Sallow, alone with a girl,” he taunts, flipping upside-down. “And here I thought they made you hurl.”

“You are the most insufferable spirit to inhabit Hogwarts!” Sebastian hisses, to which Peeves blows a raspberry at. “Ugh!”

As soon as they are back in the main library, Sebastian isn’t surprised to see Scribner but still freezes when she shouts at him in her shrill voice.

“Sneaking?” For a librarian, she is loud. “Again, Mr. Sallow? I had thought we were through with this mischief, but it’s clear that detentions are insufficient.” She clicks her tongue in disappointment as Peeves mockingly swirls around him. “I’m afraid I’ll need to report this to Headmaster Black.”

Oh, goodie. 

For once, Sebastian decides to keep his mouth shut, but that only seems to irritate Scribner further. She narrows her eyes at him and glances around the room. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots a flash of Hufflepuff yellow before it disappears like a flickering candle. Somehow, he knows she is still there, listening.

“Peeves informs me that you didn’t come alone tonight,” Scribner accuses, waiting for his confession. It would be very easy to throw Sloane to the proverbial wolves, especially when he has no reason to protect her from trouble. Professor Weasley’s words echo in his mind and he briefly recalls the way Sloane smiled inside Tomes & Scrolls.

He’d like to see it again.

Merlin, he hopes tonight wasn’t for nothing, and that Sloane will finally tell him what the hell is going on.

He gulps, then straightens, meeting Scribner’s gaze full on.

“There was nobody else,” he says, confidently. “I came alone.”

Thank you for reading! Reblogs, likes, comments and kudos are appreciated!

[gabessquishytum]

CW hospitals and medical stuff heyo! This is based partially off of my experience and therefore will probably be more on par with things in america.

Hob and Dream both get sent to the ER separately. Hob over a sport’s injury and Dream having some incredibly horrid insomnia issues. Hob and Dream sit next to each other coincidentally and unfortunately for Dream, Hob’s a talker. Dream is not even listening half convinced Hob’s lost it when they both suddenly notice an Elderly woman and her son come in, she is in a lot of pain and the son says he’ll be back to take a smoke break.

“he’s going to leave her here” Dream mutters the first time he’s spoken in the hour they’ve been there.

“No that’s horrible! Who would do that to their mother?” Hob asks

“people have problems, you don’t know about,”

hob hums thoughtfully,

“I’ll bet you twenty dollars her son comes back”

dream simply nods feeling he is about to become twenty dollars richer. When thirty minutes later the son comes back.

“yes,” Hob whispers “hope in humanity triumphs!”

Dream grumbles and starts digging through his purse.

“I was kidding, I don’t need the money, I’m Hob by the way”

“I know,” Dream says. “I also know you were born in 1989”

Hob is taken aback “how’d you know that?”

“you loudly proclaimed your date and birth when you were getting checked in”

“oh you cheeky bastard I like you,”

so for the next six hours that they are waiting they swap stories and make more bets. Hob finally gets a room and dream bemoans the fact that he forgot to ask for Hob’s number. Until… Dream gets his room and hey turns out he’s rooming with Hob!

“hey stranger,”

“Robert”

Dream sits down primly on his bed. Hob’s injury is fairly severe so he has to stay a few days, and so does Dream but Hob’s not exactly sure why, they’ve always got him hooked up to the vital machine but he doesn’t seem…sick? by day three Dream is defeated. “Hey Dream…what’s wrong?”

“they won’t let me go home, until I get a full eight hours,”

“oh…”

“I CANT sleep hob! I don’t know what’s wrong with me! Why can’t I do a basic human function like every other human being!” it then occurs to Hob that he’s never seen Dream sleep, Dream was awake when hob fell asleep and already up when Hob woke up. Hob assumed he slept while the other was sleeping but apparently not.

“you want to try something a tad bit unorthodox?” “I’ll do anything,” dream practically begs.

“wanna cuddle?”

“but I’m hooked up to the monitor and-“

“I’ll come to you,”

“but your foot”

“I’ll come to you”

Dream finally nods and Hob hobbles over to his bedside they managed to get themselves in an order where dream was laying on top of Hob’s chest.

“Comfy?” Hob asks, and Dream practically purrs like a cat. hob rubs his back with one hand and runs his fingers through his think dark black hair with the other and Dream? Dream falls asleep and stays asleep. the next morning Dream’s doctor comes in and is like “Did you mess with the monitor it says you got a full eight hours,”

“No sir, I simply found a natural remedy,”

Hob waves to the doctor, he’s back in his own bed.

the doctor still wants to monitor Dream for a few days to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. Eventually Hob decides to just stay in bed with Dream, it’s easier on his foot that way. and once the two have fully recovered after a few weeks, they go on their first of many dates.

-🦎 anon

Thank you for sending this!!! The dialogue you've added really made me melt, they're so sweet. I love the image of Hob, well, hobbling over to Dream with his broken foot. The doctor and the nurses on duty all pretend to be cross about breaking hospital rules, it's really not allowed, blah blah blah. But no one actually tells Hob to get out of Dream’s bed. They can see that he's curing their grumpiest (affectionate) and most horribly sleep deprived patient, and despite the rules they're not going to interfere with such clear progress.

The problem comes when both of them are discharged. Dream will no longer be able to sleep on top of Hob. But there is one solution - Hob could do with a bit of home help, with his foot still unusable. Dream immediately offers his services (he's a terrible nurse but he tries his best, bless him) in exchange for a solid 8 hours passed out with his head on Hob’s chest.

When they finally leave Hob’s flat for that long awaited date, Hob still has the cute hobbly walk, and Dream still has dark circles under his eyes. But they're MUCH better together. And yes, Dream is moving in to Hob’s place properly tomorrow <3

[mrsalwayswrite]

To Call Forth Love- Chapter 21

Thank you to everyone still following this fic! A/N at end of update!

Words: 5400

Warnings: language, fluff, and moving the plot forward.

Series Masterlist

Morning tumbled into afternoon, highlighting Kari still in Ivar's bed with no inclination of changing position. Even if she felt enticed to move, the sleeping form of Ivar with his head in her lap, prevented her. Pride and Prejudice played quietly on Ivar's TV across the room from his bed. Initially, Ivar picked out a different movie but once he dozed off, Kari carefully snuck the remote and changed it to one of her favorites. 

Her hand carded through his hair gently, silently loving the way the silky strands of his hair felt between her fingers. Why he was born with such fantastic hair was unfair, so Kari greedily soaked in every moment she could touch it. She knew her own brunette locks most likely appeared mussed at best and like a cat attacked her at worst. Yet even disheveled and grimy, she had never felt so desired or adored. Every hour since she had woken up in the large, plush bed, Ivar spent worshipping her. His hands and mouth never strayed far from her, as if magnetized to her skin. Either peppering soft kisses along her exposed skin, ravaging her mouth with domineering kisses, tracing doodles on her hands or back with those calloused fingers, or making her cry out his name as he drank from her core like it was his favorite liquor. 

They spent hours in his bed, talking about anything and everything, watching movies, snacking on protein bars, fruit and other random things found in the kitchenette, although Ivar grumbled the whole time that the housekeeper had not properly stocked his room. 

Eventually, Kari did get her delightful cup of coffee, accidently moaning in bliss at the taste. It was delicious and warm and exactly what she needed at that moment, like a shot of pure sunshine and energy into her body. But when her eye fluttered back open, it was to be pierced with a dark, ravenous look in Ivar's blue eyes and she hastily put the cup down before he pounced on her. 

The delightful liquid had cooled off by the time she was able to return to it. 

As the day passed, Ivar's exhaustion showed through and the soreness permeating in her body made itself loudly known. She had taken some pain relievers and propped herself up against Ivar's headboard to watch the next movie. Ivar returned to his seemingly new favorite position of his head in her lap, and quickly fell asleep, even as he repeatedly told her he was fine. 

While the Pride and Prejudice played, Kari allowed her thoughts to drift and swirl like falling snowflakes caught in a gentle breeze. The past twenty-four hours were a turning point for her. It was as obvious as the blazing sun in the sky, but the future was as murky and cloudy as a foggy, chill morning. Logically, she knew she should still walk away, to protect herself and Ivar. It would be the smartest thing to do. And yet…she was tired of running. Tired of excuses. Ivar came for her at that hospital, even after she pushed him away. He still came and rescued her, saving her from her terror and pain. Maybe it was selfish but she decided to ignore logic and allow her heart to take the reins. Even as it scared her slightly because she knew…down to the core of her being…she knew she was falling in love with Ivar Lothbrok.

And undoubtedly, there would be repercussions for that simple fact. 

Abruptly, the bedroom door opened, slamming against the wall behind it and causing Kari to startle and jump in her seated position. 

“Kari! Oh my gods! You're okay!” Gyda exclaimed, standing in the doorway with eyes wide. Relief poured off of her in palpable waves. Without waiting for permission, she darted into the room, leaped on the bed and wrapped Kari in a suffocating hug. 

Smiling, Kari squeezed her back, ignoring the spiked tingles the hug shot through her sore muscles. 

“What the fuck?” Ivar grumbled, having lurched up at the loud impact of the door, a predatory alertness covering him until he recognized his half-sister. Currently, he rubbed his eyes and glared at her with all the fury of a wet cat. “Gyda? The fuck you doing here?”

The blonde ignored him, pulling back to look at her friend. “Ragnar called this morning and let me know about the accident. How are you feeling? Torvi is here too, we both wanted to make sure you're alright.”

Kari glanced towards the door but did not see Torvi. “I'm okay. Sore…but it could have been worse.”

“Gyda…go away.” Ivar flopped back down next to Kari and threw an arm over his eyes. 

“Ivar, shut the hell up.” Gyda snarked then softened her tone when talking to Kari. “Do you need anything? How can we help? Ragnar said you were pretty shaken up.” 

“I promise, I'm okay. I'm just taking it easy right now.”

“Good. Can you come out and see Torvi? She's in the kitchen waiting, she was pretty worried about you too. She thought if we both came in, it might overwhelm you.”

“Of course! Let me just–”

“No, she fucking won't!”

Kari glanced down at the cranky man next to her. “Ivar, it's fin–”

“I told you, we aren't leaving this bed today. Torvi can fuck off. And Gyda too. Now get the fuck out of my room!”

“Why are you such an asshole?” Gyda glared. 

Ivar sneered, still with an arm covering his eyes. “It's a gift.”

“Ivar,” Kari cooed, gently traced one of the lines tattooed on his chest, “just for a few minutes, okay? You did say earlier we needed something else to eat, maybe I can grab something and come back?”

“No.”

“Ivar, please?”

“Fuck! Fine.” Ivar grumbled childishly, still refusing to look at either of them. “Just a few minutes then you're coming right back or I'm coming to get you.”

“Thank you.” She leaned over and kissed the top of his head.

Gyda climbed off the bed first with Kari carefully following, her movements betraying her body's tender state. Once she stood up, she immediately remembered she was still only in Ivar's t-shirt, something with that not-so-subtle raise of her eyebrows, Gyda definitely noted. 

“Um…I should–”

Gyda waved her hand dismissively but the smirk on her face said otherwise. “It's fine. Ubbe and Torvi are the only others here.”

“Still, I probably–”

“Sweatpants are on the first shelf inside my closet.” Ivar mumbled from the bed. 

“Thanks.” Kari followed his instructions, only taking a brief moment to acknowledge the dark walk-in closet and the vast amount of clothes and shoes in there. She grabbed a thick pair of black sweatpants that felt more like sleep pants. She rolled the bottom cuff a couple times so she did not trip over them but they fit well enough otherwise, if baggy. 

Glancing at Ivar one more time, who had not seemed to move positions, she followed Gyda out of the bedroom and down the hallways. Following the statuesque blonde, dressed in yoga pants and a cute top, Kari wondered if Ivar's bedroom had been an addition to the house she had noticed in the past. That would make sense with the winding hallways to get there and everyone else's bedroom seemingly upstairs. 

Finally arriving in the kitchen, they were greeted with the sight of Torvi, Hvitserk and Ubbe speaking quietly before noticing the two's arrival. On seeing Kari, Torvi immediately rounded the large kitchen island and wrapped Kari in a tight hug. 

“How are you doing?” Torvi asked, arms still banded around her. 

“I'm okay.”

Torvi let go and shifted back to be able to see Kari. “If you need something you tell us, that's what friends do.”

A wave of emotion for this family that gradually chose to allow her into their inner circle crashed over her like a tsunami, making her eyes watery. All she could do was nod, heart tripping over itself within her chest. Torvi squeezed her hand before slipping to her side and encouraging her to move further into the expansive kitchen. 

“When did you get here, Hvits?” Gyda asked, breaking the hovering silence. 

The flaxen-haired brother shrugged. “Father said you would be coming to check on Kari. Figured I'd come too in case Ivar gets cranky.”

Gyda snorted. “Too late. He didn't like me stealing Kari from his bed.”

“Oh, really?” Hvitserk teased, coming around the island. His gaze zeroed in on her, scanning her head to toe, at odds with the light tone of his voice. 

Without a second thought, Kari drifted away from Gyda and Torvi and took those few steps to meet Hvitserk for a hug. Instead of tackling her like Gyda did, or firmly holding her like Torvi in a sisterly hug, Hvitserk seemed to hesitate, hands lightly touching her but not pulling her closer. It was not until Kari wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face to his chest that his concern fell away and he firmly held her close. 

“I know you said you're okay, but…” His voice drifted off above her ear, arms still around her. 

“I promise. Just sore.” She whispered back. “My head and neck hurt the worst but overall it's fine…and thank you. For being there yesterday. I couldn't have–”

Running a hand over the back of her head, he softly shushed her. “Don't worry about it. I'm glad I could help, even if it was just to drive. You'll tell me if you need anything, right?” 

“I promise.”

“Good.” He leaned back and eyed her clothes with a scrutinizing look. “Mmmm…those look big on you. I think you'd look much better in mine. Want me to grab something?”

She laughed, swatting him as he chuckled. “Stop it.”

He winked at her but finally released her from the hug, moving to stand by her side. 

“So what the hell happened? Whose car were you in?” Gyda asked, taking a seat on a stool, clearly not wanting to waste another minute without knowing the details. 

“Oh, someone ran a red light, I think? They hit the back of my neighbor's sedan. Spun us a few times.” She ideally traced a pattern on the countertop, trying to ignore the nerves tapping away at her mind in memory of what happened, forcefully ignoring the budding panic building in her gut that festered if she thought about it too long. 

“What neighbor? The one with the crush on you?”

Kari mentally sighed because of course, Gyda would remember that. “Um, yeah…he…he actually asked me on a date before we were hit.”

“Wow, bad timing.” Torvi murmured. 

“That goddamn motherfucker!” 

Kari startled, head whipping towards the open entrance that she and Gyda had entered through. “Ivar?”

He slowly walked into the kitchen, shirtless with a dark pair of sweatpants riding low on his hips and a menacing snarl on his lips. “I should've hit that fucker. Fucking trying to take what's mine!” 

“I mean, it wasn't like–”

He stomped over with the aura of an impending hurricane, completely ignoring everyone else as he yanked her against his body. He towered over her, but his voice dropped low in a commanding tone that made warmth unfurl in her belly. “You're mine. My girlfriend.”

“I told him ‘no’.” She softly said, cradling the side of his face, gazing into those devastating, blue eyes. “Even then…I couldn't think of anyone but you.”

At her gentle statement, that writhing anger visibly deflated from his body, soothed by the truth in her words. Tenderly, he pressed his forehead to hers, holding her there for the span of a heartbeat as if soaking in her presence, before planting a gentle kiss to her up-turned lips. He slowly stepped away, moving around the kitchen island like this was a normal occurrence, blatantly ignoring the questioning gazes bouncing between Ivar and Kari. 

In contrast, Kari fidgeted under the scrutiny, unsure what to say, lips tingling from the sensation of their observed kiss. 

“So…are you two…together?” Gyda was the brave one to ask, looking at the brunette for confirmation. 

“Uh, yeah…we are.” Kari blushed, tugging on her earlobe even as a small smile tilted her lips up. 

“Fucking finally!” 

She glanced up at the ceiling, silently begging for patience with her boyfriend, but still smiling. It felt good to admit it aloud. To acknowledge what had been steadily growing, harboring in her chest but unspoken due to fear and doubt. Now allowed to fly freely like a bird released from its cage. 

“Congrats, Kari. I'm happy for both of you.” Hvitserk said, giving her a quick hug.

“Thanks, Hvitty.”

Hvitserk walked around the counter and gripped his brother's shoulder with quiet words spoken, seemingly congratulating him. 

“You're happy, right?” Torvi murmured from close by, glancing over at Ivar. 

Kari took a second to reply, coating her answer in quiet honesty. “Yeah…yeah, I am.”

Torvi's answering smile was bright. “Good. Then we're happy for you too.”

“So why now? What changed?” Gyda asked. “Not that we aren't happy that Ivar will stop fucking moping around but ya know?”

She replied slowly, wondering how she could make anyone else truly understand what changed. “He–he came for me. Without hesitation. I gave the hospital his number as my emergency contact and…he came. I didn't think he would…after everything and how long it had been…but when I saw him there, it's silly but I knew I'd be okay. No matter how scared I was. With him there, I felt safe. That he would take care of him, and it'd be okay.”

“Wow, that's so sweet.” Torvi cooed, a hand lightly covering her mouth as if the words slipped between her fingers. 

“Oh my gods, Ivar is giving you the biggest heart eyes right now. Fuck, never thought I'd see him do that. What did you do to him?” Gyda teased, gaze cutting to the dark-haired Lothbrok. 

Ivar snarled, whatever softness dissolved instantly as he glared at her. “Shut the fuck up.”

“No, it's a good look on you. Makes you less scary.”

“Gyda, I swear to–”

Ubbe placed a firm hand on Ivar's shoulder and spoke over him. “You know we only tease because we're happy for you.”

Ivar glanced up at his elder brother then rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that made Hvitserk snort. Without another word, he turned and opened the fridge behind them. 

Thank the universe for Torvi. She asked Kari a question, dissecting the lingering tension with skillful care. “Are you taking some time off work to rest?”

“Yeah, Lydia gave me to the end of the week. I called the boutique and my boss said I could have today off.”

Torvi snorted. “That's generous of her. Did you tell her what happened?”

“Yeah…I said I could come in over the weekend.”

“I'm guessing she was not pleased.”

Kari shrugged. “I haven't worked there long enough to earn her good graces, I think.” She hesitantly eyed Gyda, who was staring at her with nothing short of a confident, smug look. “What?”

“Oh… I was just thinking about how I said that by the end of the year you'd be naked in Ivar's bed. It's nice to know I'm always right.”

“OH MY GOD!” Kari whisper-shouted, at the blonde who just winked back. Heat bloomed on her cheeks at the crass reminder, but then she simply wanted to melt into the floor when Gyda turned her gleefully, evil attention towards her half-brother. 

“Isn't that right, Ivar?” Gyda asked. 

“Gyda, no–”

“What?” Ivar set two water bottles on the counter, already turning back towards the fridge. 

“No! Please, Gyda!”

“Just reminding Kari that I always knew she'd end up in your bed.”

Turning back, Ivar narrowed his piercing eyes. “Where she would still happily be if you didn't come and drag her away.”

“Happily, huh?” Gyda goaded. 

Those piercing eyes shifted to Kari, a predatory smile crawling onto his face and heat flaring in his eyes making them shine as he practically purred his reply. “Mmm…very happily…and very satisfied. When I was done, she wouldn't be able to walk for days.”

“IVAR!” She gasped, her breath sticking to her throat, while those around laughed. Yet even as a deeper embarrassed flush colored her cheeks, butterflies swan-dived in her belly at the flooding memories of how satisfied Ivar had certainly made her. 

As if sensing the direction of her thoughts, Ivar moved to place both hands on the counter and lean against them, highlighting his biceps and broad, muscular chest, his gaze never leaving hers, as if daring her to say something, to be the first to look away. 

She had the sudden urge to trace those striking tattoos across his chest with her tongue. 

“Come on,” Torvi nudged her, making her sharply inhale as her mind snapped back to the present and how she and Ivar were not alone. “Let's go sit down.” 

“Ah, sure. Okay.” Kari squeaked, ignoring the heat dancing in her veins. With a brief peek at Ivar, she hastily followed Torvi towards the living room with Gyda following in their wake. She did not need to turn around to feel Ivar's gaze on her back. 

The three sat down on the massive sectional couch, close to one another with Torvi in the middle. 

As Gyda settled, Kari glared at her. 

“What?” The blonde had the audacity to ask. 

“You're a bad friend.” 

Gyda threw her head back with a loud laugh. “I'm sorry, you're just so easy to tease and…okay, it's nice to see you happy. I promise I am happy for you two. But I did call it! I told you!” 

“Still a bad friend.” Kari grumbled half-heartedly. 

Gyda smiled. “I'll make it up to you. Oh! I never told you about my latest date! I promise the tea is worth the tease.”

“It better be some pipping hot tea.”

Torvi nodded, a smile tilting up her own lips. “Oh, it is.”

Gyda launched into her story that quickly had Kari laughing and willing to forgive her friend for the embarrassment. The three continued to chat and gossip comfortably when the brothers eventually followed them, taking up their own spots around the sectional. 

“Here.” Ivar handed Kari a water bottle from where he stood next to her. 

“Oh, thank you.” She shared a grateful smile with him, a pleased vine tangling around her heart that he thought of her and found a way to take care of her. 

Shock splashed across her like a bucket of cold water as, without preamble, Ivar dropped onto the couch, but instead of sitting next to her, he laid down and put his head in her lap, with his face pressed against her stomach and arms wrapped around her hips. His body took up most of the empty space on the sectional couch. Blinking, she could only stare as he snuggled against her. Only a moment later for an undignified squeak to escape her when he rubbed his face between her legs teasingly. 

“Ivar!” She hissed. “Behave.”

“Mine.” He murmured back, but thankfully seemed to settle after reminding her of their status. 

Gyda smirked like the cat that caught the canary while Torvi only raised her eyebrows on Kari's other side, but they continued chatting uninterrupted. Ubbe and Hvitserk argued between each other on the opposite corner of the sectional about what video game to play. 

Since walking out into the kitchen, a lingering tension finally eased out of Kari's shoulders, allowing her to relax. These people she had only known for a few months, people that were becoming important to her, they approved. It should have been a simple concept but Kari found herself smiling at the feeling of friendship and acceptance flowing like a fine wine within the room. Even after everything that happened three weeks ago and since then, these people, Ivar's family, were genuinely happy for them. What a heady feeling that was for her. 

“Oh, hey!” Kari said, one hand holding her water bottle and the other lazily tracing the tattoos on Ivar's back. “You never told me how your trip to Istanbul went to visit your mom.”

“It was fun. We're already planning a trip to Morocco together.” Gyda shrugged, happiness faintly dimmed. “It kinda sucked because she seemed kind of distracted. I guess something went down between her and that asshole she was dating…Kalf, remember? Anyway, they broke up. Whatever it was, it must have been bad  because he doesn't even work for the company anymore.”

“Holy shit. What happened?” Torvi asked, shock and concern evident in her tone. 

“She won't say. All I can figure is that it must have been something really shitty. But fuck him! I didn't like him anyway!” 

“I hope your mom is okay.” Kari consoled, her heart sad for Lagertha, yet that notion was mentally shelved as she was surprised to feel a smile pressed against her stomach. She glanced down at Ivar with a furrowed brow. “What?”

“Hmmm?” He hummed without moving his face. 

“Why are you smiling?”

“What? I can't smile now?”

She rolled her eyes. “I never said that. You know what, never mind. I like it when you smile.”

“Yeah?” He tipped his head back to meet her gaze. “What else do you like about me?”

Her heart melted at the soft smile curving those delectable lips of his. His genuine smile, that unguarded part of him that he rarely allowed to escape its bonds, was her kryptonite. When he looked at her like that, like his world began and ended with her, she became puddy in his hands. 

Shoving those overwhelming feelings aside, she scoffed, even as she ran her fingers through his loose hair. “And inflate that ego of yours even more?”

“That's alright. I know you find me irresistable.” He winked, causing her to laugh. Then he reached back and grabbed her hand carding through his hair. He brought it to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on the center of her palm. “I can tell you all the things I like about you instead.”

Her heart swelled, bloated and ready to burst with adoration for this man. Heat trickled up her arm as Ivar lightly nipped at the inside of her wrist, gaze still locked on hers. What this man did to her…

“Awww…Ivar, I had no clue you had this romantic side to you.” Gyda cooed in a sickly, sweet tone. 

Kari startled, suddenly remembering that her and Ivar were not alone in his room… And if the way Ivar's eyes flash wide for a brief moment before narrowing, he had forgotten too. 

“Gyda, leave him alone.” Torvi chided. “It's sweet.”

“It's so damn weird. I want to squeeze their cheeks with how cute they are together.”

“Gyda…” Ivar breathed slowly through his nose. “Shut the fuck up.”

“And there's the Ivar we know and love!”

Kari tried and failed to suppress a smile at their bickering. Before Ivar could retort something scathing, she nudged his head and when he finally moved his face to press against her stomach, she began carding her fingers through his hair. With a resigned grumble, Ivar wrapped his arms around her once more. Only a few minutes later, Kari felt him go limp and his breathing even out. 

She continued to chat with Gyda and Torvi, talking about anything and everything. They made plans for a girls’ night at Gyda's again next week when Kari was feeling better. Hvitserk and Ubbe occasionally added their own thoughts to the conversation but mostly focused on the video game they started up. 

Eventually the two women left, Torvi confessing she needed to go back home to her family to give Asa a bath and Gyda having given her a ride over so they could check on Kari together. Ubbe paused the video game and offered to drive Torvi home if Gyda wanted to stay with Kari. The offer was declined and Kari squinted as she thought she caught a flash of disappointment cross Ubbe's face before he resumed the game.

After the women left, pizza was ordered at Hvitserk's insistence and Ivar finally decided to engage with his siblings. The three brothers continued to play the video game as Kari watched. Ivar refused to get up from her lap, only rolling over and propping a throw pillow under his head to be able to see the TV. Not that she particularly minded. With her head resting against the back of the couch, she continued to absent-mindedly play with Ivar's hair even as her mind drifted in and out, tuning out the brothers’ increasingly violent threats and taunts. 

So much had changed within the past twenty-four hours but instead of feeling overwhelmed or anxious, a contented peace infused her body and mind. As if fate had finally placed her right where she was supposed to be, creating the sense of something new, a new chapter in her life, a new turn of the wheel. Perhaps her and Ivar were inevitable, this was always where they were supposed to be. Like the three weeks apart only unfurled a hidden truth. They were better together. 

Distantly, the sound of a door opening registered in her mind but she ignored it in favor of her thoughts, musing what her future would entail now, how things would change for the better. Juggling two jobs would mean less time with Ivar, but from what she heard, he seemed busy himself, so maybe they would have to be content with more video calls and texting for a while? 

“Mom?” Ubbe said. “I thought you weren't coming until next week.”

That caught Kari's attention. 

She swiveled her head to where Ubbe was looking behind her, only for her next breath to catch in her throat. For there stood Aslaug Lothbrok looking like a queen. Grace and elegance dressed her as much as the dark green professional midi dress and white blazer jacket with gold accents. The woman was effortlessly stunning like the blazing sun, unable to withhold its shine. 

“Your father called. I wanted to check on my boys.” She said smoothly, her blue eyes meeting Kari's for a long moment before looking at Ubbe again. 

“Want some pizza? The order should be here soon.” Hvitserk said, breaking the heavy silence with the paused game.  

Aslaug smiled happily and it was pure radiance. “I'd love some.”

Gracefully in her golden heels, she maneuvered around the couch, pressing a kiss to the top of Ubbe and Hvitserk's heads, before taking a seat on Ivar's other side, who had finally sat up at hearing her voice. 

She cupped his face between her hands, staring intently at him as if able to assess injury from meeting his gaze alone. “How are you, my darling? Your father said you've been working yourself into the ground.”

“I'm fine. Shit needed to get done.” He growled but without any venom in his tone. 

“Okay,” she softly said, placing a kiss on his forehead before releasing him. “Don't let your father bully you into working extra hours.”

Ivar snorted, earning a glimmer of a smile from his mother. “Don't worry. Floki already threatened him and me. Said he'd get involved if I pulled that shit again.”

Her smile widened then. “Good. If anyone can keep your father straight, it's Floki.”

“Mad fucking bastard.” Ivar glanced at Kari before slipping his fingers through hers. Turning back to his mother, he leaned back fully against the couch. “Mom, I want you to meet Kari, my girlfriend.”

Perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose as sharp, blue eyes bounced between the Ivar and Kari. “Your girlfriend?”

“Fucking finally!”

“Ivar…” Kari hissed. 

“It's alright. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Kari.” Aslaug extended a hand over her son, warmth infused in her voice. “I've heard so much about you.”

Kari opened her mouth to say something mature and confident as she took Aslaug's hand, instead her brain veered off road, still flabbergasted that this goddess of a woman knew about her, and sprouted the first thing to come to mind. 

“Holy crap, you're even more gorgeous in real life!”

Mortification immediately seized her in a vice-like grip.  Her face burst into embarrassed redness even as her eyes widened in horror. If there was ever a possibility to turn back time, she truly wished for that ability right about now. Or to vanish. Or crawl into a hole and die. 

To her relief, Aslaug tipped her head back and released a delicate laugh, drawing out the smile lines around her eyes. “Oh, aren't you a dear. Thank you, Kari. That's kind of you to say. Look at you though! Ivar always said you were gorgeous and I can see he is correct.”

“Oh…um…I– I wouldn't say that.” The reply stumbled out, tripping over her self-consciousness. At the moment, she wore Ivar's shirt and sweatpants, both baggy on her frame. Her hair was most likely a mess and she did not have a lick of make-up on to cover the bags under her eyes or other imperfections. Gorgeous was nowhere on the list of adjectives to describe her right now. 

Harshly, Ivar gripped her chin with his other hand, eyes blazing as he pierced her with his gaze. “I say you ARE.” He emphasized that last word, sending sparks throughout her body at the utter conviction in his words. “And we all know I'm never fucking wrong.”

She rolled her eyes, even as the corners of his lips tilted up. “Fine.”

“Good…my gorgeous girlfriend.” He leaned forward and pecked a kiss to her lips, as if sealing his words to her skin. He rubbed this thumb over her lower lip for a second before dropping his hand from her chin. 

As if sensing her gaze, Kari's eyes met Aslaug's again, concerned as to what she would think about her son kissing in front of her. Instead she was shocked to see unrestrained joy and relief in Aslaug's gaze, a gentle smile on her face as she watched the two of them.  

“It's, um… it's nice to meet you too.” Kari self-consciousnessly murmured. “I love the pictures of you in Ivar's room.”

“Oh, he showed you those? Isn't he quite talented?”

“He really is.”

“I always hoped he'd do something with that skill…maybe with you as a beautiful, new muse, he might reassess his own talent.”

“I don't know— I mean…” The brunette's voice awkwardly trailed off, barely able to meet the mother or son's eyes. 

“Hmm…” Aslaug hummed thoughtfully, eyeing Kari as if she was a piece of artwork she was debating where to hang. “We'll work on that confidence. We have plenty of time to talk while I'm here.”

Kari had no idea what to make of that statement. “Ohhh… okay, sure.”

“Hey, Mom! What kind of pizza do you want?” Hvitserk called out, coming around the corner from the front door carrying three boxes of freshly delivered pizza. 

With that, the matriarch's attention shifted and Kari felt like she could take a deep breath again. Not that Aslaug intimidated her per se… okay, Aslaug imitated her a little. It was more because she knew how important Aslaug was to Ivar and however selfish it was, she wanted Aslaug to like her. Even if she logically knew Ivar was way out of her league, she still hoped to gain Aslaug's approval. 

A slow squeeze of her hand brought her attention back to Ivar. She met his gaze, holding still as he stared at her, clearly searching for something. Whatever it was, she would never know, but he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles like a chivalrous gentleman. She giggled at the action and the way her heart pounded in her chest under his affections. Without a second thought, she leaned against him, placing her head on his shoulder and entwining their fingers in her lap. 

Her boyfriend. 

Ivar was her boyfriend. 

That content peace from earlier steadily rose once again in her chest, drowning out her anxiety and lingering embarrassment. Silently, she prayed it would never leave. That whatever fate did to bring them together, would not abandon them. That these prior three weeks separated could remain behind them and only blue skies ahead. 

A/N: I need help! Now that Kari and Ivar are (finally) together, what do you think Kari's pet name for Ivar should be? Send me all the ideas!

Tag List:

@southernbe @tessakate @ivarlover @nothingtolosebutweight @beautifulweaselplaidsalad @noway4u @cdauni @istorkyou @ringpopdust @lotr-got @kaybee87 @ultralillylove @heyitsayjayy @saintsir4n @nov-04th 

(Let me know if you would like to be added or deleted from the tag list.)

[talanashta]

(Initially) Unwilling

For @metalsandwichbingo square B1 "(initially) unwilling roommates"

Rating: T | CWs: Lots of Swearing, Mentions of Injuries | Word Count: 1,161 | Pairings: Steve/Eddie, pre-Steve/Eddie/Billy

Summary: Steve wakes up in the hospital after the events of S3 to find he's sharing the room with a... very unexpected roommate.

A/N: First time making a moodboard-thing to go with my fic, so if you have any tips to make them look better, shoot them my way!

When they’d brought Steve into the hospital room after getting his head scanned, his temporary roommate’s curtain was wide open, and the bed was empty.  The nurse, however, warned him it wouldn’t be for long.

“He’s in surgery, right now,” she told him.  “We’ll try to keep it down when we bring him in, since you need your rest.  Might not be ‘til morning anyway,” she added with a sweet smile.

Steve’s head hurt, and he was exhausted, so he just nodded and let her leave.  He really wanted Robin or Eddie right now, but Robin was sequestered away in a room somewhere else, fine but needing to be observed from the Russian drugs, and Eddie had been sent home once they admitted Steve, promising to come back at the start of visiting hours the next day.  Eventually, he managed to fall asleep.

He sort of remembers the couple times the nurses came and checked on him in the night, waking him up for a few minutes and asking him some questions before letting him doze back off.

When he properly woke up the next morning – 7:42 according to the clock over the door, almost visiting hours – he saw the curtains around the bed next to him drawn shut now.  His roommate must’ve gotten out of surgery while he was sleeping then.

He didn’t know what to do with himself to kill time until Eddie arrived.  His concussion meant his head felt like it was being split in two, the little light coming in through the blinds and the cracked door was like looking into the sun, and his face felt like it was on fire, probably from the swelling causing pinched nerves.  There was nothing to look at or distract him either, so he spent the next twenty-or-so minutes just staring at the speckled ceiling tiles until he heard the scuff of sneakers running on linoleum.

The door slammed the rest of the way open, smacking into the rubber bumper and causing a thud that made Steve flinch.

“Sorry, Stevie, sorry,” Eddie whispered frantically, re-closing the door to a crack and coming over, hands waving around Steve but not coming down to touch him.

“’s okay,” Steve mumbled to him.  “Glad you’re here.”  He tried to smile at his boyfriend, but the cut on his face and the swelling soon had him stopping.

“Yeah, I’m glad to be here,” Eddie said with a soft smile.  He started to lean in for a kiss before looking up at the neighbor’s curtains, pulling back with a grimace.  Instead, he tapped his fingertips to his lips silently, then ever-so-gently tapped them to Steve’s.

After he pulled his hand back, Eddie began looking around for a chair, but Steve knew there weren’t any in his room – probably to discourage guests from lingering.

“You’ll have to go steal one from the waiting area,” Steve slurred out weakly.  His head started to roll to the side, but he forced himself to keep looking directly at Eddie.

Eddie nodded to him.  “Kay, Stevie.  I’ll be right back.”

While he was gone, Steve let his eyes drift shut, just for a minute…

Only to wake to a soft thud and a whispered “Fuck!” from Eddie coming back.  It looked like he bumped the chair right into the door frame.

“I just have to keep apologizing, don’t I?” Eddie asked him bashfully as he set down the chair at Steve’s bedside.

Steve heard a groan from behind the curtain next to him, and both his and Eddie’s heads shot over to look in that direction.

“Would you two shut up?” a familiar voice said angrily.  “I’m trying to recover from almost dying.”

“Hargrove?” Steve asked incredulously.  They put him in the same room as Hargrove?  Hargrove who beat the shit out of him one time Hargrove?  Hargrove who was just possessed and should probably be under government surveillance Hargrove?  What kind of massive fucking oversight was this?

“Fuck off, Harrington,” Billy said.  “They just reconstructed my abdomen, and I’m feeling pretty pissy there’s not a nurse here with more pain meds.”

Eddie gave him a look and touched his hand, so Steve nodded.

“I’ll go get the nurse for you, Hargrove,” Eddie said, standing up.

As Eddie left, Steve heard sheets rustling on the other side of the curtain, then Billy said bitterly, “Thank fucking God.  These nurses didn’t bother to put the fucking call button within reach of the guy who just had fucking surgery.”

Okay, sure, Steve kind of hated the guy, but he didn’t exactly wish bad things on his enemies, so he felt a little bad for Billy.  “Sorry, man,” he apologized.  “I’d come help if I could, but the room starts to spin when I sit up.  Eddie will be back soon with the nurse.”

The room was silent for a few long moments, until Steve heard a barely there, “Thanks,” that honestly, he might’ve imagined hearing.

Soon, Eddie came bursting back in the door – his boyfriend had such an overinflated sense of drama, but dear God, did he love that guy – with the nurse in tow, who promptly bustled off behind the curtain to help Billy.  Eddie returned to Steve’s bedside, squeezing his hand quickly once before pulling away.

“Uncle Wayne’s supposed to be by later today,” Eddie said in a promising tone.  “He really wanted to come sooner, but I told him he needed to sleep first.  He looked dead on his feet.  I hope that’s okay.”  He looked unsure.

Steve tried to pat him on the knee, but he was still feeling a little uncoordinated, so it was more like mid-thigh.  “It’s okay.  Wayne needs his rest too; he still has work tonight, right?”  It was a rhetorical question; Steve knew all three of their schedules like the back of his hand.  “I don’t want him to get hurt at work because he was too tired.”

He could practically see the hearts in Eddie’s eyes the way he was looking at Steve softly.  “Yeah.  I promised him I’d be here the whole time to make up for it, but I’d be here anyways.”

He looked like he was going to say more, but he was interrupted by the nurse sliding open the curtains around Billy’s bed then coming over to Steve.

“Just need to check your pupils real quick, sweetie,” the nurse said softly, pulling out a small light.

It took everything in him not to pull away when she shined it in his eyes multiple times.

“Looking much better than last night,” she told him.  “Meds will be in about an hour.  If you need anything before then, press your call button.”

After she stepped out the door, Hargrove turned his head to look at Steve and Eddie.  “Did I just hear that I’m stuck with you hanging around all day, Munson?” he asked them.  Then he said sarcastically, “Great,” and rolled his eyes.

Well, fuck you too, Hargrove.