#and getting stuck in a snowstorm is something that will never ever happen in this game

[valiant-if]

y'know, initially i was gonna write two origin-esque short stories for the Ko-fi bonuses this month, but i decided i'm gonna do something a little different

so instead you're gonna get a little au snippet fluff series of getting stuck in a snowstorm with each of the ROs ☃❄

[queersolarfandompage]

Hilson Masterlist:

A bunch of fics I’ve read in the last month, month and a half. All works are completed and over 9,000 words per fic.

My Love’s an Arbutus - Rated G

House gets a soulmate, WIlson gets Hanahaki. It ends suprisingly well for both of them.

Handle with Care - Rated G

This is the story of how James Wilson ended up on his best friends doorstep with a baby in a carseat he’d stolen from the maternity ward, and the chaos that followed.

A Thousand Teeth (And Yours Amoung Them) - Rated T

Sometimes, when House gets too overwhelmed by his emotions, he gets a little bitey. This is five times House bites Wilson, and one time Wilson finally bites him back.

Systemic - Rated T

Ever since Wilson moved in, House has presented with some inexplicable symptoms. Fortunately, he has a team of talented doctors to aid him with his diagnosis.

Touch Therapy - Rated T

It’s not that House needs the human contact. It’s just that when you��re sharing an apartment, these things happen sometimes.

I Never Sleep With Married Men - Rated T

House and Wilson are married. It’s not what you think.

Double or Nothing - Rated T

House kisses Wilson’s cheek as part of an ‘act’, it feels too natural to him, so, of course, he has to turn it all into a game, Wilson catches up pretty quickly. The duckings try to not get scarred for life.

The Line of Thought - Rated T

Cameron, Foreman, and Chase keep on trying to get into the little details of House’s love life. House doesn’t like that one bit.

In the Eye of the Storm - Rated T

House does not want Wilson to invite his subordinates over for dinner, and he definitely doesn’t want them to be stuck there due to an unexpected snowstorm. But could the two of them find what they need?

Drew Stars Around my Scars - Rated T

James Wilson loves Gregory House in secret, but perhaps he is closer to knowing than he realizes.

Oreos, a Cane, and a Hell of a Lot of Diapers - Rated T

Hilson AU in which House and Wilson are waiting for the birth of their two babies. Watch them survive their first few weeks of parenthood along with the struggles it takes to be a parent.

Impossible - Rated T

“Wilson, hey-“

“…This is James Wilson. I can’t get to the phone right now, but if you leave a message, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”

Oh.

There was a long, sustained tone, and House cleared his throat.

“Wilson. I’m sorry for what I said to you in January. It was over the line, and I shouldn’t have gone there in the first place. I know you don’t want to talk to me, and… I’ll respect that. I just wanted you to know that I’m…”

He looked down at the flowers.

“I’m sorry.”

House and Wilson both have Hanahaki Disease, and would rather die than give up their feelings.

No Need to Worry (Making Up Your Mind) - Rated T

House makes the mistake of telling his mother he can’t join her for Christmas because of his new boyfriend. Somehow, this becomes Wilson’s problem.

Something to Prove Series - Rated T

Something to Prove

When House suddenly want to initiate a relationship with Wilson, Wilson is overjoyed. The feelings he’d held for years are finally mutual. Or are they?

Marathons

House and Wilson decide to let the other people in their lives in on the fact that they’re dating. But no, they can’t just sit them down and tell them. Of course not. That would be too boring.

After School - Rated T

Gregory House is incredibly bored with his life when James Wilson is hired to teach Anatomy & Physiology alongside him at Princeton Plainsboro High School. Though he wants to maintain that same monotony he’s grown comfortable with, House quickly finds out that one school year can change a lot.

Life’s Harsh and Sweet Lessons - Rated T

House and Wilson find out that a simple act of kindness can turn into something so much more for all involved. (I love this fic so much. They’re just gay dog dads.)

Losing Balance - Rated T

There’s a new case for House, in which Wilson gets stuck by chance. The relationship between the patiend and his best friend brings up new issues House and Wilson have to deal with. While the first simply chooses to ignore them, the second is forced to face the changes in their friendship and the influence that the people around them have on it.

Gaseous Nebula - Rated T

After a hard day at work, House and Wilson intend to spend their evening watching the Princeton Philharmonic Orchestra. Instead, the building collapses, leaving on of them trapped in peril and the other desperate for answeres. The chaos drives them to revelations about themselves and each other, but it may be too late.

Ship of Fools - Rated M

The Captain’s a tyrant and possibly a madman, but when the crew rebels it’s Wilson who gets caught in the crossfire.

Bait and Switch - Rated M

Wilson tricks House into participating in a bachelor auction to benefit the hospital.

Fool’s Gold - Rated M

Don’t threaten what isn’t yours. (Dragon AU)

Old Machines - Rated M

Wilson said, “So we’re just two friends who want to have sex with each other, who aren’t going to do anything about it.”

Spoken with the increduility of a beautiful person with low impulse control. House shrugged.

“We’ve been that for years. Why mess with success?”

Wilson was looking at his mouth. He sounded strained. “I don’t think what we’re doing qualifies as success.”

Not as Easy as it Looks on TV - Rated M

House and Wilson share an intimate moment. the likes of which Wilson had never seen before in their three year relationship. It drives Wilson to realize he wants to marry House, but of course it’s never that easy, is it?

That’s How Strong My Love Is - Rated M

For once, Wilson doesn’t fall into a relationship, much to House’s irritataion.

Fresh Feeling - Rated M

House is tricked into going on a team-building trip with his colleagues. He does far more bonding with Wilson than anyone else.

Love Is The Drug - Rated M

What happens when two best friends love each other to the point of hating each other? They try to date and sulk about it.

The More It Took Away - Rated E

House has been hiding this little secret of his for years. Too bad it’s coming back to bite him on the ass.

The Escalated Butt Dial - Rated E

He thinks it must be an accident. Because all he hears is shuffling and soft… clapping? He’s about to hang up and laugh because House butt-dialed him while drunk when he hears it.

A very, very obviously sexual grunt. A moan, if more specific. Whatever. Not whatever. He can’t really breath right now, or think; call back laterr.

He wants to hang up. This is an invasion of privacy. This isn’t okay. House butt-dialed him while masurbating, for fuck’s sake. And it’s not like he wants to listen. Right? So. Just hang up.

The One-Eyed King Takes All - Rated E

The classic crew plays strip poker.

You’re the Only One That Never Gets Old Series - Rated E

You’re the Only One That Never Gets Old

An accidental kiss… and a few taht are not so accidental.

Let’s Take A Breath (Before We Go, Go, Go)

House kisses Wilson to piss off an homophobic patient. It might ahve been his best idea yet.

Keep Me Where the Light Is - Rated E

House has his Earth shattering, (good) knee weakening, life changing revelation about Wilson at such an inopporune time, that he’s tempted to laugh. He would have, if he hadn’t been hands deep in his patient’s organs.

Absinthe - Rated E

Wilson wants a new apartment, House is up to no good, and strange metaphors abound.

Experimental Procedures - Rated E

An offhand comment leads Wilson to test out some unusual methods of pain relief for House. (They’re extremely effective.)

Familiarity (Breeds Contempt) - Rated E

House and Wilson stumble into a relationship, but they run into problems before long.

Around We Go Once More - Rated E

Stuck in a small university town out of the country with Wilson, House is up to day 104, of a ‘grounghog day’ style constatly recurring day scenario. Seeing as the day will repeat, he figures it would be safe to try and seduce Wilson; the one he’s always been attracted to, but never acted on it, for fear it would ‘ruin the friendship.’ This is not as easy as he planned, particularly as Wilson refuses to take him seriously.

Stay With Me - Rated E

House has always depended on Wilson’s friendship, but now he finds himself depending on him for his very life - and Wilson realizes that both mean more to him than he ever realized.

I’ll See You In Court - Rated E

Every year, the council chooses ten alphas to participate in the breeding run — this year Wilson has been chosen. He’ll be forced to bond with whichever omega he knocks up whilst he’s in heat. When House hears, he’s forced to take action. There’s only one way to get pulled from the yearly run, and taht’s to file an intent to bond. And in order to file an intent to bond, you need an omega willing to go through with it.

There’s only a week until Wilson’s heat, but luckily, House knows just the omega for the job.

Things That Go Bump - Rated E

Wilson has nightmares. House gets a headache. Everyone tries to diagnose just what’s going on between them.

If He Spends That Dough (Imma Throw Him a Bone) - Rated E

James Wilson loves to feel needed, so who is hOuse to refuse him?

Money, sex, and love is all you need. In that order.

Howler Tone - Rated E

The calls always happen late at night, and they’re extremely sporadic, with weeks, sometimes months bridging between them. They talk on the phone otherwise, of course; about patients, or dinner plans, or carpooling. Typical stuff. But the calls that always end a certain way always start a certain way.

House develops a new vice. Wilson, as always, enables him.

He Won’t Tell You That He Loves You - Rated E

In which Nolan pulls at the Wilson thread, and House can’t stop it all from unraveling. Repression is a hell of a drug.

A Valuable Friend - Rated E

Wilson has been recieving mysterious late night phone calls. He’s rather House kept his nose out of it - but we all know how well that goes.

Baby Mikey - Rated E

House gets a visitor that will change his life, while Wilson struggles to figure out exactly who he is and where he fits into House’s new life.

Buy Some Time, It’s On My Dime - Rated E

The one where House is a phone sex operator.

You’re So Fuckin’ Special (Run) - Rated E

It was full of pictures.

And all of them are of Wilson.

In Every Lie, In Every Truth That You’d Deny - Rated E

Wilson just needs someone to take care of while he recovers from yet another divorce. That’s all this is.

Ath least, that’s what House thinks.

A Patient’s Guide to Living with ICS - Rated E

House and Wilson share a hotel room at a medical conference.

Hooked (On Feeling Low) - Rated E

There are things even House cannot control.

Can Wilson continue picking up the pieces?

A Modest Proposal - Rated E

Tritter’s case agianst House still depends on subpoenaeded testimony from Wilson. To save House from losing everything, the doctors of PPTH decide on an unusal solution, which in turn leads to unexpected consequences. This is a story about the sacrifices we make that turn out not to be such great sacrifices after all.

Silk, Lace, and Satin Bows - Rated E

“What’re those,” House lilted, taking a firmer hold on the blanket and tugging, even as Wilson cluched the blanket to his chest, his eyse impossibly wide as he shook his head.

“It’s nothing,” Wilson gritted out, cheeks flushing hotly. “I just… I borrowed some underwear from Sam. It’s nothing. Just get out, House,” the younger man hissed, clutching the blanket more firmly to his chest.

The Marrying Kind - Rated E

The one where House is a wedding planner and Wilson keeps on getting married.

TGIF - Rated E

House is stuck living the same Friday over and over and over and over again. A Groundhog Day AU with a medical mystery, the pursuit of true love, and egregious references to Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Correlation Does Not Equal Causation - Rated E

“This… this hasn’t happened before.”

“Most people say that in the opposite situation.”

Alternatively titled: Wilson Doesn’t Actually Have Whiskey Dick

Don’t mind me just adding another fic here.

Grin and Bear It - Rated E

In a world where soulmates can feel each other’s pain, Wilson had always grown up wondering if he really had a soulmate. Sure, he could feel the occasional twinge like that of a bruise or cut without actually seeing one, but he had always chalked those up to random aches and pains that everybody got.

Wilson would keep this mindset until both he and House begin feeling agonizing leg pain, and a realization dawning from it causes Wilson’s entire life and well-being to change forever.

I’m always looking for new Fics so if there’s a fic you think is missing from this list, let me know and I’ll check it out!

[little-jana]

"Tension and Snowstorms"

Pairing: Spencer Reid x f!reader

Genre: fluff

Warnings: tension, kissing

Words: 1.6k

Summary: A snowstorm leads to Spencer and Reader being consumed by their ongoing tension.

The case had wrapped up late, as always. Everyone was exhausted, but a mix of relief and anticipation had settled over the team. New Year’s Eve was only hours away, and all I wanted was to get back home, put the past few days behind me, and enjoy some quiet time.

But fate had other plans.

The storm had hit harder than expected, and with the snow piling up outside, the airline had canceled all flights. That’s how I found myself in the hotel lobby, looking at Spencer Reid, who had that familiar expression of uncertainty on his face. We were the only two left from the team, the others already having found alternate routes or heading to their homes by car.

Spencer looked over at me, his brown eyes wide behind his glasses, his usual awkwardness radiating off him. “I… guess it looks like we’re stuck here for another night.”

I nodded, my mind a little clouded by the unexpected turn of events. I hadn’t anticipated spending the night with him, just the two of us. I’d always been drawn to him, but there was this silent, unspoken tension that had been building for months. There were moments, brief and fleeting, when I’d catch him looking at me a little too long, when his eyes would linger on my lips longer than necessary, when his voice would drop just enough to make my heart beat a little faster.

But now, with the hotel practically empty, it felt different. The air was thick with something I couldn’t quite name, the silence between us growing heavier with each passing minute.

“Want to grab dinner?” I asked, trying to break the quiet.

Spencer hesitated, his eyes darting to the clock on the wall. “Uh, yeah, sure. I’m starving. Just… let me change real quick.”

I gave him a small smile, trying to ignore the way my stomach fluttered. “Alright, I’ll meet you in the lobby in twenty?”

“Sounds good,” he said, his voice almost breathless.

I walked away, my mind racing. There was something about the way he said that, like he was a little too eager, too nervous. It had been building for a while now—the attraction between us, the moments of stolen glances, the lingering touches when we’d pass things to each other, when we’d brush hands. But we’d never acted on it. He was still haunted by his past, and I was unsure if he’d ever want to cross that line.

I tried to shake it off as I returned to my room. A nice dinner with Spencer would be fine. Nothing more. After all, he was a colleague. A brilliant, quirky colleague who happened to be incredibly attractive. But I didn’t want to acknowledge that too much.

When I met him in the lobby later, I could see the tension in his posture. He was fidgeting with his glasses, a telltale sign that he was nervous. “Ready?” I asked, my voice softer than usual.

Spencer cleared his throat, adjusting his jacket. “Yeah, uh, just trying to decide if I should keep my jacket on or not.”

I took a step closer, resisting the urge to laugh at how nervous he was. “It’s freezing outside, Spencer. I think keeping it on is a good idea.”

He glanced at me, a little flush creeping up his neck. “Right, yeah, I was just thinking—never mind. Lead the way?”

I smiled, though it felt a little strained. “Sure.”

The restaurant wasn’t far, and as we walked together, the snow began to fall, creating a blanket of silence around us. It was quiet, and all I could hear was the crunch of our footsteps in the snow and the occasional hum of a car passing by. Spencer walked just a little too close, his shoulder brushing mine more often than was necessary. Each time it happened, my heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t tell if it was the cold or something else making me feel this way.

By the time we sat down for dinner, the atmosphere was even more charged. I couldn’t quite look him in the eye for too long, but I couldn’t stop stealing glances at his profile. The way his dark hair fell just right, how his lips moved when he spoke. I could hear the rapid beat of my own heart, as though it were picking up on the tension between us. Spencer, for his part, seemed just as affected. He was constantly shifting in his seat, picking at the edges of his napkin, his eyes darting toward mine before quickly looking away.

Dinner dragged on, but not in the usual way. Every moment felt like it was stretching, and the spaces between our words seemed longer, filled with something unsaid. I had the feeling that Spencer was keeping himself in check, maybe out of some sort of fear. Fear of what, though? Of me? Of his feelings? I had no idea. But it was maddening.

By the time we paid the check, my nerves were shot. I wasn’t sure if it was the wine or the proximity to him, but something inside me felt like it might snap.

We returned to the hotel, the hallway eerily quiet. Spencer had his hands in his pockets, and I could tell he was trying to keep his distance. But when we reached the door to my room, he paused, hesitating just outside it.

“Are you, uh…” he started, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, “are you sure you want to go to bed already?”

I blinked, caught off guard by his words. There was something in his voice, a slight crack in his usual composed tone. I wasn’t sure if it was a hint or if he was just trying to make small talk to fill the silence.

“I’m not really tired,” I said, a little too quickly. “But I’m not really sure what else to do either.”

Spencer’s gaze flickered to mine, the tension between us palpable. He shifted his weight, leaning slightly toward me. “You know, I was thinking we could—”

“Spencer,” I cut him off, my heart racing. “We don’t have to do this.”

He froze. “Do what?”

I stared at him, the distance between us shrinking with every passing second. “We both know there’s something here, but I don’t want to make things complicated. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

He exhaled sharply, his eyes darkening. “I don’t know how to do this with you, okay?” His voice was strained, like he was fighting to keep his composure. “I’ve been trying so hard to pretend that there isn’t something between us, but I can’t anymore.”

My breath hitched in my throat as I watched his struggle. “What do you want from me, Spencer?”

He took a step closer, his face just inches from mine now. I could feel his breath on my skin, the heat of his body, and it made my heart race. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” he whispered. “But I want you. I can’t pretend that I don’t.”

The words hung in the air like a confession, raw and unspoken for so long. And in that moment, I knew that whatever had been building between us, whatever tension had been stretching thin for months, was about to break.

Before I could respond, he reached out, his hand gently cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing the side of my face. It was soft and careful, but it ignited something deep inside me. He leaned in just enough that our lips were barely a breath away, and I could feel the weight of everything unsaid between us.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice rough with want. “But I can’t hold back anymore.”

And then he kissed me.

It wasn’t slow or tentative. It was desperate, urgent, as though we were both craving something we’d been denying ourselves for too long. The tension had snapped, and now all that was left was the heat and the electricity between us, crackling and alive.

His hands were on my back, pulling me closer, and I responded eagerly, my hands threading into his hair, tangling in the soft strands. I had no idea where this would lead, but for the first time in a long time, I didn’t care. All I knew was that Spencer Reid was kissing me like he’d been wanting to for far too long.

And I was more than willing to let him.

[holylulusworld]

Big Grump

Summary: Your best friend’s friend is annoying.

Pairing: Mobster!Bucky x Reader

Warnings: banter, language, snowed in, enemies to…?, a hint of fluff

"Barnes, stop with that grimace or your face will stay like this one day,” you tut as Bucky won’t stop making a face.

He scowls at you. It wasn’t in his plans to spend the evening with you, not his best friend Steve. Now he’s stuck with you at Steve’s cabin, in the middle of a snowstorm. Steve won’t make it to your planned getaway and Bucky, well, he’s fuming.

“My face is none of your business.” He crosses his arms over his chest.

“It is when I have to spend time with you,” you bite back, a little too harshly. “What if your face stays like that and I can’t call an ambulance.” You smirk darkly.

“Even then I’ll look better than any guy you ever dated,” he smirks at you, blue eyes sparkling when you get up from your seat.

“You never met one of my dates, Barnes. Stop acting as if you are the gift to womanhood. You’re nothing but a walking STD.”

“Careful now,” he snarls. “I killed people for less. Stop disrespecting me! I won’t shelter your life.”

“If you kill me, Stevie will kill you,” you sass back. “He will avenge his best friend.” You snicker. Bucky’s features darken and he pouts. “What is it, Barnes?”

“I’m his best friend. And I got my reasons for killing you,” Bucky grunts. He shakes his head and decides to just ignore your existence. “I can only hope the snow melts fast.”

“Why? Do you have a date? Aw, do you want to spread more love, Barnes?”

Bucky gets up from the couch. If he must spend time with you at the cabin, he won’t do it sober. “Just shut up and stop being a brat.”

“Now where is the fun in that?” You follow Bucky around the cabin only to tease him some more. “Do you want to play a game?”

“How about the silent game?” Bucky opens the cabinet in the kitchen to find alcohol. “Damn it, Stevie. Where is the booze?”

He sighs. No. This can’t be. Why is there no alcohol at the cabin?

“If you play a game with me, I’ll tell you where Stevie is hiding the good stuff,” you grin at Bucky. “Come on, live a little.”

“No, thanks.” He turns to leave the kitchen. “I will find something to drink…somewhere.”

“Seriously?” You sigh deeply. “Can you not act like a decent person for once? I know that you do not like me, but we are stuck in the cabin. I will miss a date with that cute guy I met, and you are the only person around.”

“I don’t like you?” He turns around, brows furrowed. “You do not like me!”

“That’s not true!” You talk back. “I tried to give you a chance because you are Steve’s friend. All you did was talk low about me. I know I’m not a big bad mafia boss or shit, but I stand my ground every day of the week.”

“I never—” Bucky looks offended. “I never said something like that. I think it’s great, that you are not part of the business, but like Steve as if he’s a normal guy. You never treated him differently.”

“He’s my friend. I don’t care about his profession,” you shrug. “He took over his father’s business, is all. Steve is a good man who does bad things sometimes to protect what belongs to him. I know people who aren’t in his line of business and did worse things.”

“Hmmm…” Bucky nods thoughtfully. “What do you think about me?”

“You’re a jerk,” you smirk. “But you are not a bad guy.”

“If you tell me where Stevie is hiding his booze, I’ll play a game with you.”

“Alright!” You clap your hands. “But be aware, we are going to play truth or dare.”

Bucky swallows thickly as you walk back inside the living room to get the booze. He’s not sure if it’s a good idea to play truth or dare with you when he's drinking.

He could let the truth about his feelings for you slip. And this can never happen. Steve would kill him...

>> Part 2

Tags in reblog.

[moonchild701]

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A Thawing Heart

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Summary: A snowstorm hits and you meet someone unexpected

Pairing: Dabi/Gen Reader

Content Warning: Pre Relationship, SickFic (kinda), Hurt/Comfort, Injuries, Mentions of blood, Implied Murder (off screen, not reader), SFW

Word Count: 1.6k

Disclaimer: Character belongs to Kohei Horikoshi

A/N: This is the 9th part of 12 fics for a 12 Days of Christmas event. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Prompt: Stuck in a snowstorm

My Masterlist

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Harsh winds whip through the trees of the forest, the falling snow and rain thick enough to blot out your surroundings.

Multiple layers of warm clothing are rendered useless as the wet mix is mercilessly soaked into gaps in the fabric, leaching away whatever heat you had.

You just wanted to go on a nice stroll in the scenic wintry woods, but then the weather took a turn, so you're on your way back to your cabin.

Just wanting a holiday getaway from everything and everyone, you decided a little trip to your dad's old cabin in the snowy mountains of Hokkaido was the perfect place to do so.

You'd gotten there the day before, and all packed and settled in, you wanted to go exploring a bit. It was beautiful and peaceful, and the weather seemed nice enough at the time, only very lightly snowing.

That was a while ago. You'd stuck to the path precisely, and when the winds picked up, the air getting colder than it had any right being, you spun right around to head back to the cabin.

On the way back, it started snowing heavier, and then came the rain.

Eventually, you manage to break through the treeline, with the cabin in sight.

And between you and said cabin, is a dark lump on the snowy ground, slowly but surely being covered in snow.

Creeping closer, you notice it's a person,and they're bleeding, and you speed up your steps.

As you reach them, you see familiar eyes the most gorgeous shade of blue you've ever seen peering up at you, before they roll back in his head.

*****

Dabi.

You're dragging Dabi, one of the most wanted villains in the country, back to your cabin.

But really, what else are you supposed to do? He's injured right in front of you, and it's not like you can call for help.

You don't listen to the annoying voice in your head inquiring if it's just because of the faulty reception and not because you don't want him to get caught.

Because to you, he's your hero.

You doubt he'd remember you, roasting your would-be attacker to a crisp in an alley all those months ago after happening upon it. You don't like to dwell too much on what might've happened if he never stepped in, but the fact that he did, means the world to you.

So if you can help him in return, you will.

Not to mention that you've seen the video. The video of his past, of how he came to be, and you can't help but sympathize.

So you bring him into the warmth of your temporary little home to patch him up and help him however you can.

*****

Somehow, you manage to get him inside, taking off his jacket before settling him on the couch and lighting the fireplace. You quickly strip off your icy, wet clothes and change into something warmer.

Now behind closed doors, the difference is stark. Where it was once freezing, it's now just a bit chilly, with the air slowly warming up; where the air was previously occupied with howling, icy winds, it's now filled with the sound of the crackling of fire.

The room is dimly lit from the flames, casting deep shadows and patches of dancing orange light around the room, the few lightbulbs dull, not really adding any more light, but you get to work with what you have.

With the room slowly warming, you strip him out of his wet clothes, starting with his boots and pants, taking care to not jostle his wounds, and you throw a blanket over his legs. He's bleeding from his shoulder, so you have no choice but to cut him out of his shirt.

As more of his chest is exposed to the air, goosebumps appear along his skin. The fibers stick and pull at the wound, and you try to be gentle, but from the pinched expression on his face, he's beginning to wake up.

You're proven right when, just as you get the last of the fabric off, cerulean eyes just as icy as the outside world snap open, glaring at you as a heated hand grabs your wrist tightly. Or as tightly as he can in this state. He's rather pale.

"Who the fuck are you?" Dabi's voice is rough, guarded.

Somewhere in the back of your mind, you know you should technically be afraid, but all you could focus on is that his eyes are on you.

But also, his grip is starting to get uncomfortable from the heat.

"The owner of the cabin you were bleeding out in front of." you say calmly, tugging your wrist free. "I'm trying to help you."

That gives him pause.

"Why? I could burn you to a crisp," he says, rightfully suspicious in his position, to be honest.

"Well, yeah," you admit. "But then I can't patch you up, hm?"

He looks at you skeptically, "You didn't answer me. Why are you helping me? I'm sure you know who I am."

You sigh, telegraphing your movements as you reach for the first aid kit at your side. "You helped me once. Saved me really. I'm returning the favour to my hero."

He's taken aback at your words, at your soft smile and the gentle look in your eyes as you look at him.

A myriad of emotions flash over his features, before settling on a scowl. "I'm no hero."

You can't help the snort of laughter that escapes you. "I know very well that you're not a hero, Dabi. It was a hero, a sidekick, that you saved me from." Then, gentler, "You're not a hero, you're my hero, and that's all to it."

He seems at a loss for what to say, so you move along. "I'm gonna clean you up, okay?", you say, gesturing toward the wound on his shoulder. After all of the fabric was removed, pulling away whatever scabs that were forming, it started bleeding again, albeit sluggishly, and it needs patching up.

He's snaps out of it at that, nodding stiffly as he looks away.

Smiling softly, you grab the roll of gauze and get to work.

You work in a comfortable silence for a while, before your curiosity gets the better of you.

"Can I ask what happened?" You ask softly, not wanting to disturb the fragile peacefulness, but feeling the need to ask anyway.

He doesn't say anything for a while, to the point that you think he's not going to answer, before you hear him sigh heavily and mutter, "Recruitment went wrong. Guy had an ice quirk and managed to stab me with an icicle before I torched him."

He's watching you closely, watching your reaction, but you just hum, continuing to gently wrap and tape down the wound.

"You got nothin' to say about the guy I killed?" His voice is mostly taunting, but you can hear the underlying curiosity and disbelief lacing it.

"I'm sure you had your reasons, and again, I know you're a villain. Stop trying to scare me." You roll your eyes, putting away the leftover supplies.

He looks at you incredulously, but you ignore it, standing up. "Stay here, try not to jostle your shoulder. I'll be right back.", you say, not waiting to hear a reply before leaving.

He's left staring at your retreating form, perplexed and slightly concerned if he's being honest. Because that can't be it, right? That's it? He thinks he vaguely remembers you; you do seem kind of familiar, but really? Him, your hero? He knows the system is fucked, but this is a whole new level, where someone has to consider a villain their hero.

Shaking his head lightly, he's pulled out of his musings when you return, a glass of water in hand. "Here, take this. Pain meds." You hold them out to him.

He eyes it skeptically, slowly taking them from your hands and you have to sigh. "Seriously? I just used most of my supplies to patch you up and you think I'd try to poison you now?"

You understand his paranoia and caution, what with how he lives and what he does, but come on.

He rolls his eyes and shrugs, muttering, "You never know.",  and downs the pills.

Satisfied he's complying, you finish cleaning up.

And then he says something stupid.

"Well thanks, but I gotta go." He mutters, grunting as he tries to prop himself up to stand.

You hurriedly but gently push him back to lie down.

"Absolutely not, you need to rest. Besides, go where? How?" You scold, exasperated. "The storm is still going strong, so there's shitty reception, and even if that weren't the case, your phone's busted."

He scowls, grumbling but complying, lying back and letting you pull the warm blanket back over him.

"I'm gonna make some hot cocoa for us, okay? Just rest for now. Please?" He goes to retort, complain really, but the words get stuck in his throat. You're looking at him so earnestly, so concerned and tender.

He doesn't remember anyone ever really looking at him like that, not for a long time.

And it's possibly the worst time to realize that you're fucking pretty. Beautiful really, in a way that makes his scars itch with the flare of heat beneath them.

He swallows thickly, turning his head away to look at anything other than your pretty, pretty eyes staring at him.

You sigh, standing back up to go make some hot cocoa.

Something tells you that Dabi could really use it right now.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

[moonspirit]

Moon, hello-hello 💚🌿

Hope you're doing well, and sending you some (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～❄️❄️ for the Christmas mood~

So, about the Christmas mood... What are your thoughts on Ambassadors Christmas "party" (in quotes because I don't think they would do as "party-party", you know, but I have no idea how to make it otherwise...) ?

What do you think they would gift each other, how would they spend their time? Knowing this chaotic team, some hilarious stuff would totally happen :D

Anyway, I hope you'll have fun with this, and have wonderful *timezone*, Moon (⁠���⁠˘⁠з🌖 ⁠)

Hello Anna chan :3 Thank you so much for asking me this because HAHAA I had a complete laughter fit thinking of how fucking WRONG the Ambassador's first Christmas is going to go xD

For starters I'm just going to assume the Paradis boys are new to the concept of Christmas and that they celebrated something different back in Paradis during the winter. So, Santa Claus? Never heard of him but omg, seems like a great guy! How do we sign up for presents?!!!!

(Pieck tells them they have to become members of the Elven Association first and sends them on a wild-goose chase around town to find the Elven Lord for the sole benefit of her entertainment)

Reiner meanwhile, makes the mistake of taking up the role of Local Santa Claus for the kids in the neighbourhoods, and honestly? fair? The dude is LORGE and can do a great HO HO HO. Giving him a pillow-belly and an itchy beard turns out to be the best idea the local government has ever come up with in its 300 year history of failure.

However... it is a mistake. Dude is LORGE, remember? His first delivery and he gets stuck in a chimney.

In the middle of the Christmas market, Annie, hoping to be left alone in undisturbed peace and a chance to try out the sweets in the stalls, accidentally ends up following a cat to an abandoned street where a group of very misunderstood angry kids lurk in conspiratorial conversation, and sensing a sort of sisterhood in her similarly arranged resting bitch face, they convince her into dressing up as Krampus.

Basically this thing, the opposite of Santa Claus. For funsies and to kidnap children.

They have high hopes that Anniepus will be able to terrorize the town on their behalf because Christmas is for the happy and weak.

Unfortunately... Anniepus ends up being a very small Krampus and nobody's frightened of her as she skulks around town searching to put children in her bucket. Not like she really cares tho. She just wants those goddamn sweets 🥲

Update (very late into the night): Reiner is still stuck in the chimney and his itchy beard is starting to give him a rash. Not that anyone can see tho, the chimney is dark!

Update (from somewhere very far away, on a snowy cliff overlooking a big chasm, great snowstorm blowing): three boys, dressed in worn out clothes, holding staffs, squint wistfully into the swirling wind. "Is that him? The Elven Lord's abode?"

(it's a bush)

Update (sometime later and somewhere else): Anniepus is stealing collecting cats from children and putting them in her bucket.

Update (even later into the night): Reiner's sleigh driver is getting tired of waiting for his Santa and incurring heavy parking fees.

Update (from the next continent): Three boys, scruffy and homeless, chase after an ostrich. "Elven Lord, please let us join your association!"

Update: Anniepus starts a cat cafe.

Update: The local government deploys a crane to get Reiner out of the chimney. It is a failure. The crane cannot lift Santa's booba.

Update: The boys are in the South pole. They come across penguins and believe they've arrived at the Elf Factory!

Update: Pieck gets bored of everything and opens a sexy santa-girl strip club <3

[goodlucksnez]

Glimmer of love

so this is not something i normally post but this is a collab post with @dr-ground-zero

cw: messfuckery, horny/indulgent, and angst

this is about our mha oc (zip and shu_ this is year two of their relationship

The holiday season had arrived and Zip was bursting with excitement. The apartment was a blank canvas, ready to be transformed into a festive wonderland.  He had boxes of decoration- tinsel ornament light and more-stored in the attic, waiting to be brought to life 

“Shu come on! It's time to decorate for Christmas!’ Zip called out his voice filled with enthusiasm. He is already pulling down the boxes from the attic with a bright smile on his face.

Shu emerged from the kitchen, a mug of hot cocoa in hand, looking less than thrilled. “Do we have to do this now, Zip?" he asked with a hint of reluctance in his voice. “Can't we wait a bit longer?”

Zip shook his head, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “No fucking way, Christmas is around the corner, we need to get started if we want everything to look perfect”

With a resigned sigh, Shu set his mug down and joined Zip in the living room. They opened the first box, sweeping the cobwebs out of the way. The old cardboard box opened with a plume of dust, revealing the shiny decorations inside. 

Zip rubbed his nose, already feeling the effects of the dust. Maybe it would be best to open these outside, then bring them in”

Normally shu would have agreed but since a snowstorm was currently happening outside he proposed a different solution.

“Why don’t you set up that thing,” he said pointing at the two-part tree that lay on the floor, and i will deal with the boxes”

Zip put down the wreath he was holding and quickly covered his nose with his shirt and sneezed harshly. “"Heh... heh... HHhzzSSCH’eHH!”

Shu jumped at the noise before snickering and replying with a, “Bless you, goodness that was fast. Dust is bothering you already?”

Zip stuck out his tongue at him. “Oh shut up Mr. Grinch and get to unpacking.”

Shu opened the next box, pulling out the stocking stuffers with the initials VIC and Zippy on it, feeling both bittersweet and sad he never got to make fun memories with his folks. Before setting them on the mantel. 

The next thing out of the box was an old, dusty picture frame. Shu brushed some of the dust off and looked at the frame. It was a picture of a small blue-skinned boy with two front teeth missing sitting by a fireplace holding an oversized bat onesie, assumingly on Christmas morning. Shu felt his eyes watering, and if Zip ever asked him, he would say it was the dust and not the feeling of wanting a nice family Christmas. 

Shu wiped his eyes and set the frame on the mantle, as he let go the frame backing folded in and it fell. Shu tried to catch it but it shattered on the ground behind him glass littering the floor around Shu feet. 

Within a moment Zip came running. “I heard something crash, are you okay?”

“I am fine, just a picture fell.” Zip, seeing glass around his bare feet, barked an order at him. “Don't move!!!! I will get a broom.” Shu smiled. “Love, I am not going to get hurt from broken glass, I ride a motorbike for Christ's sake.” Zip snapped back “I know and I have a heart attack every time.” 

Zip hurried off to fetch a broom. Upon his return he found Shu picking up large shards. Zip yells at him. “DO NOT PICK UP BROKEN GLASS WITH YOUR HANDS!.” His quirk started to activate the ringing of his voice echoing off the walls of the apartment. It might have been the surprise or the fact he had been looking at the family heirlooms for the last thirty minutes but the tears that threatened to spill started falling. 

Zip, not seeing the tears, pushed him out of the way and started sweeping up the glass mumbling about being irresponsible. Shu's mind started to fog, he felt his pulse in his ears. His face started to flush and he felt his breath start to quicken.  

Before Shu could stop himself he shouted out, mincking Zip's voice with his Quirk. “Well fuck off, I didn't have this, OKAY! I didn’t have nice memories with anyone. So I am sorry if you think this fucking capitalistic holiday is all that, but you know for others it is a fucking nightmare.”

Zip turned around shocked. In all the time they had been together he had only heard him shout one other time. He felt his throat tighten. Before he could find his voice Shu continued. “You might have had a warm fire and loving parents but I wasn't okay. This is hard enough,” he said gesturing to all the lights and joyfulness and taking a deep breath, I don't need to have to be WITH YOU A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY FUCKING HERO ON MY ASS!”

Zip felt his world shatter. All the joy and lights around him dulled and he was left alone in the dark. Shu stomped off, slamming the front door. The wreath which was held up by a loose nail slid down and clattered to the floor. Zip was left alone surrounded by dusty boxes, distant records playing in the background, and a hole in his heart.

—----

When Shu’s senses came too, the first thing he noticed was he was shaking and he was cold. He didn't know how long he was walking. It felt like hours but looking at his 12 battery percentage left phone it had only been 40 minutes. He looked behind as the blistering wind swept over the snow covering his footprints. He wrapped his arms tightly around himself. His mind was fuzzy with the event that led to this but as he sat on a bench near a streetlamp, the memories started coming back to him.

The picture frame, the dusty ornaments, the nicknames on the stocking stuffers. The tears sprang back to his eyes and he wiped his eyes. Why was this getting to him now, they had been together for Christmas before, this was the second Christmas. The first one Zip took him to a light show and Shu had gotten sick. Now a year later their relationship had only grown stronger. Why were these feelings building up now? What has changed? Zip was still playing basketball and in a great position in his rescue work. Shu had been working hard and actually getting noticed by the mafia. So why now? He racked his brain before a sudden strong wind came and he shivered. 

He smiled as a memory came to the surface. “You need to wear a coat in the wintertime or you'll catch your death.” the memory of Zip's sultry voice filled his head. And suddenly like he had been hit by lightning he knew what was different. It was love. He loved Zip. He was in love with Zip Kōmori.

He jumped up and screamed to the quiet and snow-covered world around him. “I LOVE ZIP KŌMORI!!” 

His legs started running before he knew he was going to. His feet sank into the freshly fallen snow but he continued to run. The cold air wiped at his face and stung his nose and lungs but he kept pushing forward. He could see the lights of the apartment complex getting nearer. His love was so close. As he reached the stairs leading up the yellow interior he stopped, his breath coming in short rapid breaths, his skin burning from the snow and ice hitting him. 

That last thing Shu said was evil and cruel, how was he going to explain he realized he was in love with him? He knew he sounded crazy. Luckily he didn’t have to decide the door opened and zip arms flung around him pulling him down on the snowy steps.

“Do not ever do that again, you can't just leave and not tell me where you are going! My heart can’t take it. Please don't leave me. I look down at the Christmas lights and everything. I am sorry, I thought everyone liked it. But I was wrong, just please don't leave me.” Zip chokes up on the last words and holds Shu tight in the falling snow. 

Shu, too shocked to speak, slowly rises and leads them inside. Zip stays attached to Shu until Shu pinches forward with a wet sound sneeze.

“Et-chiew! Et-knk! Kgnnk!”

“Oh shit you're soaking wet you need to dry off, you don't need another cold on Christmas like last year!” Zip rushes around the corner almost colliding with the stairs and comes back with a new thick blanket he had never seen before. “I was saving this for Christmas but you need it now” 

He wraps Shu in the thick fuzzy blanket almost too tightly and steps back like he is afraid a bomb is going to go off. “All wrapped up, um I hope you like it.”

Shu couldn’t help but laugh, a deep hearty laugh that seemed to shake the cold from his bones. He looked up to see Zip looking both scared, confused and worried and it was enough to jumpstart his heart.

“Zip, darling. Do you want to know what I thought about while I was out there? Nothing but you. How much i…no our lives have been better since that cold rainy night! While we might not be perfect for each other and we know how to tick off each other, there is one thing we have in common, well at least I hope we do?”

Zip swallowed hard before speaking. “Oh yeah, what is that?”

“We both….love each other!” Shu smiles and blushes and just waits.

Zip stands there for a moment, the words echoing in his mind..loves me…he loves me…WAIT HE LOVES ME!

Before Zip can process what he is doing he runs and tackles and hugs Shu on the sofa, almost knocking the whole couch over in the process. He holds him so tight, that he is afraid he might be hurting him. 

He frantically yelps out “I love you too Shugo! My whole heart is yours forever and always!”

Shu hugs him back until his nose starts itching and he tries to warn Zip with little success. “Zip ... .move gonna snee-EEEH! Et’chiew! Et’chiew! Ed’sshiiew! Ed’shiiiew”

Zip not letting go and knowing based on past times asked softly. “Bless you kitten! Are you done?” 

Shu shakes his head in agreement before quickly ducking his face into the blanket. “Et-chiew! Heh! Hehe Chiew!”

“Goodness, that was big! Bless you, take a breath.”

Shu rubs his nose on the blanket before cuddling in Zip’s chest. Shu could hear his heart beating fast and smiled before replying with a smirk. 

“Aw did I excite you little Batsy”

Zip blushed every shade of red imaginable before hiding his face. “Oh shush Rudolph, you have no place to talk!” Shu let out a soft laugh before snuggling back into Zip’s chest, rubbing his nose against him a little. “I’mb-I’mb sorry about earlier ... .for yelling, and for what I-Ihh I! Oh fugk” He gasped before ducking into Zip’s chest. Zip holds him both as a way of support and a way of comfort, by the looks of his redding nose and the fact he had just been outside in the snow for minutes without a coat on, he would have a talk about that with him later, he knew he was catching a cold. 

He hoped as Shu hitched into his chest this was not going to become an annual thing. “Et’chiew! Et’shiiew! Ht’chiiew! Hdd’sshhhmmmph!” If Zip could blush any harder feeling his lover’s wet sneezes dampening his shirt, he would be red enough to stop traffic.  All he could do was loosely wrap his arms around him and give soft blessings to you as he sneezed. He could still feel each sneeze making Shu’s chilled body bend and shudder against his larger frame. “Bless you kitten, come on deep breaths, don’t want you passing out on me.” He said with a soft chuckle and back rubs. Shu sniffled thickly and let out a heavy groan. “Thagks, also sorry” Zip cupped Shu’s face in his hands and guided him up, to give his forehead a kiss. “It's alright, I’m not angry ... .I may not fully understand but I get it.” He said in a low voice, things got quiet for a moment before Shu leaned into him. “I guess, seeing all those pictures it-It felt conflicting, I’m jealous ... .and that’s not your fault. I’d never wish for anything bad, nor would I want you to know a shred of what I’ve experienced but-” Zip hugged him firmly as Shu spoke. “I wish you never experienced that stuff at all” Zip spoke, he knew pieces and parts of what Shu had gone through growing up. Especially when it came to holidays, even if he didn’t know the full story he knew it wasn’t an easy life. It broke his heart multiple times when hearing Shu recount his younger years. “I just want to give you the Christmas you never got….If you’ll let me”

Shu tried to respond but his nose had other plans still, he tried to speak through the incoming fit. 

“I.. want that, i do but…oh fuck mbe-Et’chiiew! Et’chiew! Et’mph! Et’mph! Et’chiew!....HHh.ugh

He sneezed wetly spraying the air between them before Zip led his head to his chest. “Come on kitten let them out. I know it is so itchy!”

“Ibm tryign…its stuck.” He said his face pressed to Zip’s chest. Zip could feel Shu’s chest rising and falling erratically. “Oh no this is gonna be a lot.�� “I know baby let it out you won’t feel better till you do, come on let me help, look at me.”

Shu looked up with watery eyes and Zip's heart almost melted. His scrunched up, his nose was reddening at a fast pace. Shu’s hands were fumbling to rub at his nose, which was proving to be an unhelpful method. Zip reached out and slowly rubbed at his septum. “Aw, you are so cute when you are sneezy.”

“eEcchiew!Etcchiiew! 'Et'chiiew! Eeetsshiiew!....ugh i'mb fide…Imb don- godda get it o-ode dehh heh HETCHIEW!” 

“Goodness, that sounded like one of mine! Is your nose okay?”

He goes to respond but his nose is twitching. Mess is dripping onto the new blanket and Zip rolls up his sleeve and wipes at his running nose.

“hehh oh guuh god hehh heh!...Zip..please…big”

“Okay okay baby, I know let it out, I can wash a hoodie later, I don't mind.”

“Hh— hhAH— A’DSHU’H!...hH’KSHU’H!...Ugh fuck….HUtchiew! HUTCHIEW! huTCHIEW! HT'CHIEW.” Zip could feel the spray through his sleeve and shivered before tending to the other dripping nose. The poor thing looked beat up. His eyes were watery with a few tears staining his cheeks and his nose…it had seen better days.

The poor thing was angry and twitchy, it was a bright irritated red. Clearly needing gentleness compared to the harsh rubbing and scrubbing Shu had been doing that pissed it off in the first place.

Zip went off looking for something to help, and came back with an old hoodie he knew Shu favored. He had used this before during a previous sick day to wipe at his inflamed nose, thinking Zip did not see it…but he did.

Zip unwrapped the blanket from Shu’s shoulders, noticing the chill it brought to him. He positioned Shu on the corner of the couch so his back was against the armrest and straddled his lap. 

If Shu could speak would have certainly said something but before he could, the soft fabric was being pressed to his face. The contrast between the rough skin of his nose and the soft fabric was a delight, and Shu sighed in relief. The sentiment was short-lived because Zip started to rub his nose counterclockwise and it ignited the dormant but persistent tickle. He barely had a second before his breath seized and was bending into the waiting hoodie.

“hhah-TSSSSH’oo!…hhehh’IYSSCh’hh! — hhh! hheh’ITTSCH’ue! hh’TSSSch’—chh!—cchh’ Zip mbe careful…ibm gonna-hh… hih! …hih—! Hhhh-! Heh’GXHktshh’hu!!!”

“I know baby that is the point, you are gonna sneeze, you have a messy cold. I am helping. Come on, your nose is so full. I know it itches.”

Shu blushed every shade of red. “Baby you’re killing mbe here, I..hih..oh no, shit messy….Hhah-hHAESSHhuu!…huh…hHH!-hHN’GXT!hht’sch!-iht’sch-tssh-hkshh!!!”

Zip could feel the hoodie get drenched with spray from Shu, and from the way the other was snuffling, he knew he needed to blow. He turned the hoodie over and helped it over his nose, “Go on kitten blow for me.”

Shu did as he was told. The sound was wet but seemed to bring the edgy man's nose some relief at last and he slumped into Zip exhausted.

“There you go, your nose all better now?”

“Yeah, imb dbone on god i sound awful”

Zip blushes and kisses his forehead “No, you sound so cute and adorable all stuffed up.” Shu blushed and whined at his compliments. He relaxed against him with a sigh, keeping Zip's arms around him. “Bmerry Christmas, Zip” “You too, kitten~ I love you” “I love you too”

[ae-azile]

Progression, Chapter 22 Sneak Peek:

Between the two of them, Kim tends to sleep later than Chay. His body is hard-wired to stay up late, and on top of that, he tends to sleep lightly. The latter is something that has changed a little in the last two months. Sleeping with Chay is just better. Even when they had slept on the couch in Chay’s house - prior to everything falling apart - he slept better than he usually had. Now that they're together and Kim isn't waiting for Chay to find out everything and leave, he almost always sleeps through the night. 

So that's the only explanation for not hearing his phone ping the next morning. He sleeps right through it until Chay is gently shaking him awake. 

“We missed a few texts. I have been talking with Macau for a bit, but you should catch up and read them.”

Kim lets his eyes open as he sits up and grabs his phone from the nightstand. Even as he opens the texts from Macau and Porsche to read them, he can't quite comprehend what it means. 

Macau: Hey, why is my brother talking to Kinn on the phone?

Macau: I'm not hiding in some safe house to wait out another attack. The cell service was so shitty and the WiFi was non-existent. I was kept out of the loop until Porsche and Khun came to get me. Pissed me the fuck off at the time, but I went with them because I needed out of there, even if it meant death. 

Macau: That sounds like I didn't care about my brother. I did. They downplayed his condition until we got to the hospital. I didn't care about the shitty service after that, but it was horrible while it was a main priority and I didn’t know any better. 

Macau: He's now off the phone, barely talking, and cuddling with Paris, Valencia, and Pittsburgh.

Chay: Who are Valencia and Pittsburgh?

Macau: Hia’s and P’Pete’s cats, duh. 🙄 Took you long enough to answer. 

Chay: Who names a cat Pittsburgh? Who names anything Pittsburgh? 

Macau: When Hia and P’Pete got them, they agreed to each name one. Hia named the girl Valencia because it is a city that has the same starting English letter as his name. So P’Pete picked Pittsburgh for the boy because it matched the starting letter of his own name. They also got stuck there during a layover last year due to a huge snowstorm and it was the first time P’Pete ever experienced snow. I guess they even extended their time there a couple of days to enjoy it. Pittsburgh now has a special place in P'Pete's and Hia's heart. Anyway, the cat is white. Pittsburgh. 

Chay: I guess that makes sense? Also, why did you never say anything about being an uncle now? Kim and I would have sent you a present or something. Hia showed me a picture of Paris. She's really cute. 

Macau: I’ve been an uncle. Valencia and Pittsburgh have been here for a while now and are a lot quieter. Paris doesn't scratch at the furniture though, so that's nice. I think that's why she's Hia’s new favorite. 

Chay: That's definitely it. Let me know if anything else happens. 

Macau: wtf he and Kinn are on the phone again. What is going on???

Kim: 🤷🏻

As soon as Kim sends that emoji to Macau since he doesn't actually know, he moves over to the text group Porsche started with the two of them. 

Porsche: Kinn and Vegas talked on the phone for over an hour last night. I guess it went well. Kinn was emotional when I got back to the suite, but he said it went better than he expected it to go. 

Porsche: And they're on the phone again. Idk who called who.

Porsche: They're fighting over some game they played when they were kids and are choosing to be pissed off about that over literally anything else?

Porsche: Vegas hung up on him 😕

Porsche: Nevermind, he answered when Kinn called him back. 

Porsche: I don't know what is going on. Kinn is laughing about something. It's exhausting to keep up with. I am about to go hang out with Arm and Khun because they cause me less stress.

Chay: You can't. This is more important and interesting.

Porsche: Important, maybe. It isn't interesting when I can only hear one side of the conversation. You know two people who are interesting? Arm and Khun. 

Porsche: Also? Took you long enough to answer. 

Kim: 🤷🏻

“Is that all you have to contribute to both conversations?” Chay asks as Kim cuddles back into him, “You just found out your brother is on his second phone call with Vegas and that's the only thing you can say?” 

“It's their third conversation,” Kim mumbles, wrapping himself around Chay, “Vegas hung up on him the second time. See? I care. I paid attention to what I read.” 

“Kim,” Chay says, “This could be huge for your family. You may have some sort of reconciliation and be friends with your cousins again after years of animosity.”

“I’m not going to get my hopes up, but that sounds nice.” Kim says, but it is apparently not enough. 

“Kim. Call your brother. See how he's doing.” 

Kim glances up at Chay, “It sounds like he is probably on the phone.” 

Chay points at Kim's phone and keeps staring at him, “Try. If he doesn't pick up, ask him to get a hold of you later.” 

“Or I can just call him later,” Kim counters, “Or talk to him when I get home.” 

Chay lets out a huff, “I'm nosy, P’Kim! I want to know what's going on now! I'm invested, just like Hia is invested in us, as well as Arm and Khun-” 

“Pretty sure ArmKhun is his top ship now,” Kim says with a shrug, “And there is no romance between Kinn and Vegas, so it isn't really comparable-” 

“Maybe I get more invested in toxic family dynamics than I am in romantic couples!” Chay says, then literally rolls over Kim to grab the phone before handing it to him, “Call him. Now.” 

[faydingrain]

Ayan Khan

“That’s…” The circle was stunned into silence.

“And that’s how I escaped the clutches of the weird man at the counter of the acid-store!”

“Isn’t that your gamer handle?” Ginger asked.

“Yup!”

“That just sounds like,” Clarissa said, wading through that nonsense in a search for the right words, “like you exaggerated a trip to the café or something.”

“The café of doooooom~”

Alfie scoffed. “That wasn’t even a ghost story.”

“Yours wasn’t either.” She stuck her tongue out.

He stammered in protest.

With his eyes closed, Cedric gave a small smile. “It is accepted.”

“Woohoo!” She waved a hand, smacking her flame into oblivion. “Ayan’s turn!”

“...Right.”

***

This is a story from when I was little.

It was only a year or so after my family immigrated here. There's a long street at the edge of downtown that I walked to get home from school, which had a dark alleyway intersecting it. My parents had warned me of the potential dangers that could lurk there, but none of them ever really surfaced, or I was being safe enough to never find them, so it wasn't a big deal.

Then, one day, a strange man I'd never seen before was standing behind the closest streetlight with his arm outstretched. He had a scraggly beard around his wide grin, dry, unclean skin, and one eye tighter than the other. In his hand was a spherical object in pink wrapping. “Would you like some candy?”

I happened to be with a friend that day. He didn’t move when we passed by, only following us with his eyes, like a sentient statue.

“There’s only one! Rock paper scissors?” My friend recommended.

“..What?” I asked, unsure if we should simply walk away, but not wanting to just ignore a man trying to be nice.

“Oh, there’s two of you,” he said. His fingers balled around the piece of candy. A few seconds later, he reopened them to reveal two pieces—one for each of us.

We were amazed. This man just magically made candy appear in pristine pink wrappers with cute little polka dots! How can someone capable of such a wonderful feat be a bad person?

Right as we went to grab them, an Aunty nearby smacked our hands away. “What are you doing?!” She screamed. “School is over! Go home!!”

Aunty didn’t acknowledge the man, and we were scared we did something wrong, so we ended up running back home.

The next day, the man was still there. “Would you like some candy?” The same two pieces rested in his palm, undisturbed.

I apologized to him, and we put our heads down and kept walking.

The next day, the man was there again, the same as the day before.

And the next.

And the next.

And the next.

Even after a sudden snowstorm had hit, he remained in the same spot with icicles dripping from his nose. “Would you like some candy?”

Perhaps my friend pitied him, and wanted him to go seek shelter from the cold, but she ran up and swiped the candy from the man’s hand.

I told her that that was bad, and we were going to get in trouble, but she told me: “That woman isn’t here, so it’s no big deal!”

She offered me one of the two pieces, but I was scared of the consequences, so I declined.

When I arrived at school the next day, my friend hadn’t shown up. She never arrived the rest of the day either. I figured she got sick as karma for going against Aunty’s will, so I simply walked home alone.

The man was gone.

My friend was gone for the next several days. ‘That must have been a really bad deed for her to fall so ill,’ I thought at the time.

But the day after, as I was walking down that same road, there was a poster in the place where the man once stood. It was a missing poster, with my friend’s face plastered in the center.

I’m not sure I fully grasped the situation at the time, or maybe I was just too young to properly put the pieces together, but I remember wondering how that had happened when she had been home sick the whole time.

I started seeing policemen searching the area, but alongside that, more missing posters appeared on the wall of other children in the city. Some I even recognized from the hallways of my school.

Papers upon papers filled up the wall of that long road until one day, every single one disappeared. The wall was blank, no policemen patrolled that road any longer, and that strange man was never spotted again.

A week later, I woke up at the sound of a knock on my window. It was just like how my friend did it when she would sneak out so we could play together, so I knew for sure that she was okay and came to tell me about how she pulled the biggest mean prank on the adults in the area.

But when I turned around and opened the window, I was suddenly ripped outside, and the sugary spheres in those pristine pink wrappers were forced into my mouth.

“Would you like some candy?”

Scaretober 2023

Brisk Wind on a Dark Trail

Midnight Moon

Gargoyle's Watch

Cold Stones in the Fog

Spirits Rising

Haunted House

Witching Hour

Bubbling Cauldron

Candy

Eyes

Spider Silk

Feathers

Tail

Scales

Fangs or Talons

An Offering of Blood

Dark Ritual

Spook Scary Skeletons

Carnivàle Morte

Still-Beating Heart

Sharpened Blade

Mask

Looming Shadows

The Devil's Hand

Monster

Reflection in the Mirror

Rusted Chains

Stitches

Precious Jewels

Incantation

Halloween

Epilogue

[fishingadvice]

Ice Fishing: A Wonderful Fishing Game for Youngsters and Family Fun!

The unpleasant, boisterous winters are that season in the US schedule when white is wherever underneath. Quit worrying about the chilling breezes, when there is some coating of ice on the waterways, outdoorsmen and eager fisher (s) make like blessed men and stroll on the water looking for hot fishing activity, prominently known as "ice fishing". A straightforward game where you drill an opening and catch fish, there is something else to it besides basic outside diversion.

Indeed, very few fisherman(s) should realize that somewhere close to the opening penetrating and the fish getting, a large number of dollars is spent on hardware. It's obviously true that each year, there are a lot of well-off people and businesses who are very instrumental in supporting the ice fishing item economy, with some of them ready to lay out each new contraption that raises a ruckus around the town market.

In the event that you have never experienced ice fishing, you really are passing up an undertaking. However, before you rush out to your closest frozen lake there are a few fundamental bits of ice fishing gear you should make your experience a protected and vital one.

You will fish on a frozen field of water and you should wear a fitting dress to keep warm and dry. You should protect your body from the cold and safeguard yourself in the event of serious breezes and snowstorms.

You will likewise require the proper footwear. Wearing your number one Nikes won't cut it. You need a couple of ice boots, and dampness-wicking socks to keep your feet dry and warm, and remember to keep your head and hands safeguarded, dry, and warm with head and hand wear.

There are a few brands of expert dress, whichever you pick, ensure they are capable and you can move around openly.

Presently you have your attire arranged, the subsequent stage is to furnish yourself with the right tackle which is not the same as different sorts of tackle. The primary basics ought to incorporate your ice casting pole or tip-up, ice fishing bait bucket. To draw in the fish, take various bait and live lures. I like to take both since supposing that the fish quit gnawing utilizing live snare I can change to bait to tempt the fish.

In spite of the fact that ice fishing can be an extraordinary game to appreciate, you must know that it tends to be risky too so your fishing hardware ought to continuously incorporate a medical aid unit. This will guarantee that you can adapt to any minor wounds that might happen. You ought to likewise convey a cell phone with you and a few food and fluid on the off chance that you are stuck on the ice for some time. You ought to constantly tell individuals in the thing region you are expecting to ice fish so assuming there are any issues they know where you are.

You can purchase this sort of fishing supplies in shops and fishing box shops; you want to guarantee that you tell the individual offering it to you that it is for ice fishing. This will then ensure that you are sold the right sort of fishing hardware. In the event that you are in any uncertainty, ensure that you request help that is what individuals in the shop are for. When you have the right gear then you can go out and partake in this elective sort of fishing.

You will cherish this approach to fishing and will find that you are in many cases out on the frozen lakes when the colder time of year weather conditions shows up. As you acquire the experience you might find that you purchase an ever-increasing number of things of ice fishing gear including tents, covers, better bars, draws, and different things. You can continue to add to your gear, which will make your entire fishing trip much really invigorating.

[theemporium]

[1k] weather warnings, snowstorms and spending christmas locked up with your two boys. 

. 

“You have got to be shittin’ me.”

“You’re dad-posing again, Harrington.” 

You couldn’t help but let a snort escape your lips, leaning further into the couch as you gently knocked your foot against Eddie’s thigh, a hopeless action in chastising him. 

“The weather is shit,” Steve said as he stood by the window, focused on glaring at the blizzard buzzing outside instead of the snickering two behind him. “The driveway is gonna be a pain tomorrow.”

“Oh he’s keeping the dad role going,” Eddie murmured. 

“Of course he is,” you murmured back when you noticed Steve finally turned around. 

“That’s gotta be an amber warning,” Steve stated with a shake of his head. “Gotta be.” 

“It’s gotta be,” you repeated with a heavy sigh. “It’s just a lil’ bit of snow, Steve, it’ll be fine.” 

It was, in fact, not a little bit of snow. And it was not fine either. 

For both of your boyfriends, the holiday season was never one pack full of family time and busy houses. It broke your heart really, coming from such a big and lively family yourself, you were used to the month of December being happily chaotic (even if most people in your family only cared about the food and the gift giving). But neither Steve nor Eddie had ever experienced something like it, not really. 

And whilst the unconventional nature of your relationship was still odd and bizarre to most people in the shitty small town you lived in, you were grateful that your family had come from a more understanding place—a place they just wanted to see you happy and taken care of. 

So really, there was no doubt or even a moment of hesitance when you invited them both to spend Christmas with you and your family. With Wayne working the overnight shift meaning he would be sleeping all day anyways and Steve’s parents probably deep in the continent of Europe, it seemed like the simplest solution to spend the day with all the people you loved under one roof. 

It was Christmas Eve when you made your way to Steve’s house. 

The boy was a mess, convinced they were overstepping their boundaries and that your parents would hate them both for this (to which you scoffed and reminded him your family already had their stockings ready by the mantelpiece). Then he started spiralling about what to take in his overnight bag (not that it mattered considering the boys had a drawer in your room with most of the stuff they would need anyways). And then, after a few beers, you had finally calmed him down so the three of you could spend a few silent moments together before you returned to the chaos of your overbearing household. 

However, that never quite happened.

It was actually a red weather warning that was instated across Indiana as the blizzard hit far worse than anyone had expected. The snow was packing thick and it was only going to get heavier, the ice was dangerous and invisible to the eye and the temperatures just kept dropping. And there was no way the three of you were getting back to your house across town in this state, not even in Eddie’s van. 

You were snowed in with your boyfriends. 

“I–” 

“So help me god, Harrington, if you say I told you so—”

“But I did tell you so!” Steve huffed out as he slumped onto the couch, nudging you until you shuffled closer to Eddie and gave the boy space to settle on the other side of you. “We’re gonna miss Christmas with your folks now.” He paused for a moment before looking at you with an apologetic smile. “‘m sorry, sweetheart.” 

“Don’t be,” you said as you nudged his shoulder with your own. “It’s fine, we can spend it with them when the snow clears up. Just be glad we got stuck in your house instead of the trailer.” 

Eddie snorted beside you. “Ouch, doll, hit me where it hurts.” 

Your eyes gleamed. “I’ll kiss it better.” 

Eddie’s grin only widened in response but he leaned around the back of the couch to jokingly tousle Steve’s hair. “Harrington here is just pissy Santa will forget to bring him his Farah Fawcett spray if he’s in the wrong house for Christmas.”

“Talk as much shit as you like, Munson, but you know you love this hair,” Steve snapped back and Eddie could only shrug in response. 

“Second best feature about you, baby,” he grinned back, enjoying the way the blush spread over his cheeks and ears. 

“You two are gonna be a handful to deal with,” you muttered, mostly to yourself but the comment was picked up by the other two boys. 

“You never had anything against a handful before,” Eddie teased, lightly poking at your ribs because he liked the way you squirmed. 

“Or a mouthful,” Steve added which only caused the other boy to break out into laughter. 

“Ha ha, hilarious, the two of you,” you deadpanned, feeling your own cheeks burn. 

“Want us to rejog your memory?” Eddie asked as he cosied up closer to you, his thigh pressed against your own and his fingers dancing along the back of your neck, teasing and tempting but not touching you yet. 

“I mean, we do have time to kill,” Steve spoke up, his eyes fixated on his own hand as he gave your knee a soft squeeze before his hand started to be upwards. “Trapped in this big house…all alone…no one else coming to get us…gives a guy ideas, ya know?” 

“Do you have any ideas, doll?” Eddie’s words were whispered against your ear, warm breath tickling your skin. His head tucked down a little, teeth lightly nibbling at your lobe before he dipped down to press a kiss just below your ear—just where he knew you’d let out a gasp. 

“What do you say, sweetheart?” Steve murmured as his fingers nimbly undid the button of your jeans. “Think we’ve been good enough to open our Christmas present early this year? We promise we’ll share.” 

“We’ll take real good care of her,” Eddie added as he lightly pushed the edge of your sweater off one of your shoulders, his lips already exploring the new skin.

“You two are bad influences,” you breathed out as your head fell against the back of the couch, two pairs of hands working to quickly discard your clothes. 

You could feel their smiles against your skin. 

“Merry Christmas, boys, show me how nice you can be.”

.

[mymarifae]

can we talk about something.

because. okay, look. the way that i’ve come to understand dess’s disappearance is:

she went into the bunker.

inside the bunker is another dark world. the “original” dark world, so to speak.

i believe she discovered the dark world on her own, after fiddling with and eventually breaking the lock on the bunker doors over the course of several days. she was just curious about what was inside. excited, she tried to bring asriel, noelle, and kris along to show them the amazing world inside the bunker. due to circumstances i’m about to get to, only kris and possibly noelle made it in with her.

something went wrong, and only kris (and noelle, if she was there, and for the rest of this post i’m going to just roll with the idea that she was) made it out. noelle ended up repressing most of the incident, while kris retained enough of it to try to tell people about the world inside the bunker. no one believed them, but the place just... feels a bit haunted now. it was already creepy enough before it became associated with dess’s disappearance. i’m more or less certain that if snowy hadn’t interrupted them, monster kid would have said, “what if there’s really another world in there?”

side note: i think there’s a good chance that kris, until recent events, was starting to believe the world in the bunker was just a dream, too. but now they know it really was real. now they might know where dess is. (double side note: i don’t think kris is the knight who opened the fountains in the supply closet and the abandoned classroom. that was someone else. who? idk. they might have been the one who opened the fountain in the library, though.)

the night of the bunker misadventure just so happened to be the night of one of the worst blizzards hometown has ever seen.

the snow started coming down about halfway to the bunker. dess reassured everyone that they would be fine and could wait it out there; they just needed to hurry; she seemed so confident and so sure, that everyone chose to trust her judgement. unfortunately, the storm got worse very quickly. it became hard to see, and for little kris and noelle, it was hard to keep up in the wind. the group began to separate. kris and noelle ended up at the bunker with dess, while asriel got turned around and started walking back towards town, where he ran into the frantic search party comprised of all their parents, undyne, and some other adults.

i’m pretty insistent on dess’s disappearance coinciding with a snowstorm but not really having anything to do with it because, for one, it offers an explanation for noelle’s seemingly trauma-related response to the cold (that one customer in the store saying she sometimes just stands with the freezer door open, staring inside). and if there was a snowstorm the same night she vanished, then—well, it’s easy to declare the cause for her disappearance, isn’t it? it’s strange that a body was never found, but if monsters in deltarune turn to dust after death (i’m still not convinced they necessarily do), then maybe it’s not so strange. in the strong winds, her dust would have been long gone. or: who knows what wild animal could have gotten a hold of her?

that’s just the official declaration, though. that doesn’t mean everyone in hometown buys it. but that’s besides the point.

and mainly i insist on this because now we have a very interesting parallel to draw between her and berdly in the snowgrave route. both “vanish” in a terrible, terrible snowstorm. (i don’t think it’s a coincidence that the visuals for snowgrave look like a blizzard.) but i was thinking about it, and we can take the parallel further actually.

we are all more or less in agreement that it’s pretty damn likely that dess is stuck in the void/code of the game like gaster is. there’s a good chance that she’s the voice in the strings that’s calling for help. so, going off of how i interpret her disappearance—if she’s just in a dark world, that doesn’t make much sense, right? how did she get into the void from there? and even if no one believed kris’s story, the bunker would have been searched. like, the “world inside the bunker” bit sounds like a stretch, but any reasonable adult would conclude that the kids probably tried to take shelter in there. but if the bunker had been searched, then they would have discovered the dark world in there, right??

okay, well. what if the fountain had been sealed?

i’m not sure who/what/how. i’m leaning towards some kind of freak accident. it seems that kris’s process for sealing the fountains is pretty automatic, so maybe if they were just... brought too close to it. maybe this is where their issues with their soul started. i don’t know. what i do have an idea of is this: the two times we’ve seen a fountain sealed, it “cleans up” a bit. the lightners are brought back into their world in a way that makes sense, either to them (noelle and berdly thinking they’re waking up from an accidental nap) or to anyone who might walk in on them (kris and susie looking like they just hung out in the old classroom playing chess and old board games). it’s a combination of intent and whether the lightners believe the dark world is real or not. so when dess uses all of her strength to pick up noelle and kris and shove them out of the world that’s crumbling away into nothingness, at her own expense, they are quite literally shoved out of the bunker and into the cold snow outside, quickly falling unconscious due to shock and because they probably hit their heads, and the double doors of the bunker swing shut behind them.

and dess is swept away with the dark world. she’s now stuck in-between the worlds of light and dark. she exists, and yet, she doesn’t. she has gaster for company, and yet, she doesn’t.

the snowgrave route has raised the question of what happens when a lightner’s soul is stuck when a dark fountain is sealed. what if the popular theory for dess’s fate is our answer? i think berdly’s case would be different in a lot of ways, for a lot of reasons, but the core of it remains the same. he’s stuck between existence and nonexistence, able to be reached through what is—from our perspective but who knows what it is from an in-universe perspective—the code of the game.

perhaps because he is a lightner, he is a little more There, a little more consistent, than gaster’s fragmented self. dess has someone to talk to. someone who happened to be her little sister’s close friend, someone who can tell her about the person noelle has grown into over the years. someone, who can tell her that something is wrong.

could be interesting if, together, they found a way to tear through the boundaries of reality and broke into a future dark world. i’m not sure how they would manifest, because while i’ve settled on dess retaining her body, years in the void has caused her to become a little more..malleable. kinda like mr. goop-i-mean-gaster. and the idea with berdly is that because his body was frozen in the dark world, his consciousness/soul/self/whatever you want to call it was separated and thrown into the void. he’s not physical, at all. but all that just opens the door to some fun design possibilities, doesn’t it? :)

[cricket-reader]

Cricket-reader’s James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes Masterlist

Masterlist | A03 | Wattpad | Recommendations | Inbox

You do not have permission to repost or translate my work on any other platforms (even with credit). I reserve the rights to all of my original characters.

Legend:

💔 - Angst 💕 - Fluff ❤️‍🔥 - Smut ✨ - Favourites

Vanilla 💔💕❤️‍🔥✨

In which Bucky falls in love with a girl from around the tower. Scared of damaging her—like he does with everything—he pushes her away. Sweet, gentle caresses and hands that smell of vanilla make him rethink his actions.

I’ve Got a Secret I 💔💕✨ Part II

A fight brings both of them to go separate ways. That is until Natasha clears the air.

Excitement is in the air as Miranda nears her due date. Bucky is absolutely thrilled.

Side of the Road 💔✨ (incomplete series)

Whilst driving home from their flopped mission, the Avengers find a women on the side of the road, badly injured. They bring her to the compound to help her.

Christmastime 💕

Expecting to be alone this Christmas, Bucky is pleasantly surprised when a certain someone shows up at his door bringing festive holiday cheer.

Stowaway 💔(💕?)

Bucky takes home a woman he found whilst out on a mission. Quickly he learns that it might have been too rash of a decision to make. (March Trope-a-Thon day 2)

Your Warmth 💔💕❤️‍🔥✨

Stuck in a snowstorm, she doubts she’ll make it out alive. What happens when an unexpected person rescues her from the storm? (March Trope-a-Thon day 1)

Agony 💔💕

Bucky ’s girlfriend is sick and in a lot of pain. He just wants to make her feel better. (Whumpril day 4)

You Got It Easy 💔💕✨

Whilst in an argument, Bucky says something that he will always regret.

Treasures Left Unprotected… 💔

Bucky remembers someone from his time at Hydra in a nightmare and goes to find them. (June of Doom day 2)

Mutual Agreement 💔💕

whilst on a mission, you and Bucky get caught in the cold. Your body doesn’t handle the temperature well, being you’re not a supersoldier. Your state brings back memories of Bucky’s life before Hydra, making him fear for your health. (June of Doom day 4)

Selfish Touch 💕💔

Bucky is scared to have you stay the night, terrified that he’ll hurt you. You assure him that it’ll be okay. (June of Doom day 6)

Something in Common 💔💕

you get captured and held in captivity. Bucky finds you and has an argument with your dad, Tony. Later, Bucky confesses his feelings for you. (June of Doom day 8)

Broken Promises 💔💕✨

the asset had promised you that he would save you, that he’d come back for you if he ever managed to escape. He didn’t come back for you. Something that both of you needed to work through if you ever wanted to heal. (June of Doom day 13)

Don’t Leave Me 💔

Safe and Sound 💔💕✨

you and Bucky were out on a date. Everything went wrong so quickly. (June of Doom day 15)

Bucky finds you. Everything goes wrong so quickly. Can Bucky forgive himself for something he blames himself for? (June of Doom day 16)

Sabotage 💔💕

after a particularly rough mission and some gaslighting, you’re there to help Bucky pick up the pieces. (June of Doom day 17)

The Fall 💔💕

Bucky remembers the fall (June of Doom day 18)

Prince Charming 💔💕

Bucky is confused as to how you have been able to keep your abusive relationship from him for so long. (June of Doom day 29)

Easy A 💔💕

after a truly awful date, you are comforted by Bucky. (High School AU)

A03 Works:

Bucky Barnes Doesn’t Understand 💕💔

a series of one shots in which Bucky learns a lot of new things.

Coldest Winter 💕💔

It was almost too easy for Brock to convince the Avengers that Bucky and him were dating. No one blinked an eye at the fact that he was now living in the Avengers Tower with his "boyfriend". (Winter Whumperland day 4)

If I Had the Chance, I’d Never Let You Go 💕💔✨

After several failed matchmaking attempts, Steve finally gets Natasha to stop setting him up with random people. The only problem is, how is he supposed to find a boyfriend in a week? An unexpected solution to his plans appears in the form of the hot brunet that runs the local bookstore

Unloveable 💔💕

Quiet 💔💕

Vanilla (part 2) 💔💕(❤️‍🔥?)

Side of the Road (part 4) 💔💕

[fullmetalscullyy]

day 2 - the process

12 days - 12 oneshots | a collection of oneshots to celebrate royai

rated: g | words: 618

read on ao3

[part 2 of 2]

“Roy, don’t you think this is a little bit excessive?”

He blinked at the wall in front of him. An unremarkable wall. It was the same as all the others around town, made of boring old concrete. There were water patches on it from the melting snow on the roofs, trickling down slowly to join the rest of it on the ground.

“No.”

His reply was so simple. He didn’t think it was excessive at all. In fact, he frowned at that. If it was a gift for his friend it would never be excessive.

Chris hummed through the other side of the phone – hence why he was stuck facing the wall, rather than looking at the pretty, snow-covered town.

There was something in her voice too, something about the way she said it, that had Roy’s brows twitching downwards.

“What do you mean?”

Chris ignored his question, and he could almost picture her shaking her head. “Have you thought about where you’re going to get it from?”

Roy grimaced. “I’ve asked in the town. The shopkeeper said that was the last one. It was old and it had been donated, so they won’t be able to get their hands on anymore. She told me there was another bookshop two towns over, which I was going to try –”

“Didn’t you say there had been heavy snow there recently?”

His face lit up, missing out on picking up how sharp her question was.

“Yes! It’s so cool. I’ve never seen so much before.”

“I don’t want you trailing through the countryside to another town if the weather is poor.”

His face fell. “But –”

“No.” Chris was firm in her decision.

Roy sighed in frustration. What was he supposed to do now?

“I’ll have an ask around,” Chris offered. “See if anyone here has it to hand.”

“You’d do that?”

“Is this important to you?”

Roy paused and came to the realisation it was. It felt very important to him. “Yes, it is.”

“Then it is important to me too. I’ll ask around.”

“Thank you, Chris,” he gushed.

“Yeah, yeah, kid.” He could envision her waving off his gratitude just like she always did, but never maliciously. It was always done with love someone had once told him. She was just gruff like that. Sometimes Roy gushed, his eyes bright and his smile wide, just to get a rise out of her. For the kick of it.

“I’ll write to you with progress soon. So no heading out into snowstorms, okay?” Her quick command at the end had his spine straightening to attention.

“Yes, of course.”

She hummed to herself. “Good. Talk to you later, kid.” There were hints of amusement and affection in her tome as she bid him farewell.

“Bye, Chris!” He couldn’t stop his excitement from spilling over and he was sure his reply sounded like he was so young, but Roy didn’t care. He was just too pleased with himself and his little plan.

He was sure the look on Riza’s face would be worth it when the time came to give it to her. Roy was sure, because Chris had never failed him before. She always seemed to make the impossible happen and Roy knew she’d work extra hard at this, just like she did at everything else Roy had ever asked of her.

He never wanted to see the look he had on Riza’s face in that bookshop again.

And if he could, it was the least he could do for Christmas. He could tell how much this book meant to her and he’d do everything in his power to get his hands on it for her.

With determined steps he strode back to Riza’s house with confidence, his plan set in motion and finally moving forwards.

kudos and kind comments are always appreciated :)

read on ao3

feel free to send me an ask too!

[earnestly-endlessly]

*flies in like magneto* can i get some exes to lovers™?

Do I have some exes to lovers fics for you? Yes I certainly do. It seems that the cherik fandom loves some exes to lovers cherik and I don't blame anyone because this ship really calls for all the angst. I hope you enjoy this list.

Exes to Lovers AU

Bound – FuryRed

Summary: Is there anything worse than someone else’s wedding? Well, perhaps your sister’s wedding- where the groom just has to invite his boss and that man just happens to be your ex-boyfriend; a person you had an extremely passionate and tumultuous relationship with that ended badly.

Charles hadn’t seen Erik for a year by the time Raven had told him about the wedding. He wasn’t looking forward to the occasion, particularly when Raven explained that they would be celebrating the event with a two-week extravaganza at a luxury hotel, meaning that Charles would be forced to spend a whole fortnight with the man who he’d given everything to; the man who had ultimately broken his heart…

Preheat to 350 (just for you remix) – ikeracity

Summary: Charles realizes he's in love with Erik. But there's one tiny little problem: he just broke up with Erik.

Thread Through a Needle – Black_Betty

Summary: Erik and Charles are broken up. Neither of them want to be.

Carry Me Anew (Frost & Darkholme Remix) – kianspo

Summary: While working as a model for Raven and Emma's clothing line, Erik experiences a strong attraction to his shoot partner. These things happen, except Erik has a boyfriend, who does not take this at all well.

Linger like a tattoo kiss – ikeracity

Summary: Six months apart gives Erik a lot of time to think about what he really wants.

(Erik's POV from Carry Me Anew (Frost & Darkholme Remix) by kianspo)

Symphysis – ikeracity

Summary: After Charles and Erik broke up four months ago, Charles convinced himself he'd never see Erik again. But life has a funny way of bringing people back together.

Call/Response – phalangine

Summary: Charles and Erik have a real conversation for the first time since breaking up. Charles is looking to avoid confrontation. Erik is not.

Regression Therapy – Fantine_Black

Summary: O, God, he’d made a terrible mistake. Whatever he’d expected to find here, Erik was still Erik, a man he’d moved continents to avoid. In retrospect, that felt like a rather good idea…

Four years after Charles walked away from Professor Lehnsherr, the two meet again for a drink.

Because things are better the second time round, aren't they?

Forever is Only a Drunk Dial Away – bettysofia

Summary: Charles is sad and drunk and stalking Erik's Instagram.

Shop Space – Caradee

Summary: Charles and Erik break up but still meet at their favorite coffee shop and manage a completely friendly relationship. The kids who work the coffee shop don't understand it, Charles' overprotective twin brother doesn't understand it, and even Charles doesn't understand it. Then, Erik shows up with a new date, someone who seems to be everything that Charles is not.

How will the Professor handle the surprising heartbreak that comes seeing Erik with someone else?

Mutant House at Dead Kings College – mabyn

Summary: When it comes to romance, Charles has terrible timing.

Can You Feel My Heart – FuryRed

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr hates Charles Xavier.

It’s as true as the words written on the wall in the bathroom at the university that Erik attends. Erik sees them one day- accompanied by a crude drawing of Erik and Charles glaring at each other- and recognises the truth of the sentence, and smiles.

He hates Charles.

Probably…

Believe (One More Time) – luninosity

Summary: For the prompt, Charles and Erik dated during college and had a bitter break-up right before graduation. It's five years later and they both meet again at their class's reunion for a weekend. Someone was even stupid enough to have them room with each other for the weekend...

Old Flame Burning – TurtleTotem

Summary: It's ridiculous for Charles to dread meeting the best man at his sister's wedding, just because he shares a name with Charles's ex. It's not as though it could possibly be the same Erik.

Don’t speak to the bartender – Wild_Imagination

Summary: Logan is a bartender, it's a gloomy evening, and in his bar there's someone with a broken heart. But this is not a movie.

Right?

Somewhere I’m Going & Have Never Been Before – Yahtzee

Summary: In late December 1984, Charles falls victim to the terrible pandemic sweeping across the globe. He's sick, probably dying, and utterly alone in an isolated cabin...until he's not.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland – TurtleTotem

Summary: Charles hasn't seen Erik since their devastating breakup ten years ago. He's certainly the last person he expects to run into at a Christmas lights display.

Lean On Me – SpiritsFlame

Summary: Ten years ago, Charles and Erik split up, dividing their six kids between them. None of them expect them to meet at summer camp. And no one could have predicted the results.

It was a yellow umbrella spring – ikeracity

Summary: Three years after Charles left for Oxford, Erik discovers that Charles is coming back to New York.

Second chances are wonderful things.

My heart above my head – annejumps

Summary: Emma thinks her coworker Erik and her friend and fellow telepath Charles should get together. No one expects things to get so intense so quickly.

The Edge of What Doesn’t End – populuxe

Summary: When a mysterious object appears on the moon, Moira MacTaggert calls in two experts with very specific mutations to investigate.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, after years of breaking up and getting back together again, those two experts have finally broken up for good—and they’re the last people in the world who should be stuck together on a spaceship.

Exit Wounds – LemonadeGarden

Summary: It's been eight months since Charles and Erik had a fight that broke apart their marriage. When a mutant rights protest goes awry and Charles begins to get sick, past memories and present obstacles begin to blur the lines of their ideological differences.

Alternatively: Charles and Erik learn how to fall in love again in troubled times.

Note: Unfinished

11 Days, 8 Hours and 12 Minutes (or Bruises, Stupidity and Anger Management) – ximeria

Summary: For six months, Erik and Charles have been the disgustingly happy couple of the school. Considering their pigheadedness and general communication skills (or lack thereof), things are bound to go boom at some point.

Moon Song – ikeracity

Summary: Werewolf AU. When Charles is captured by hunters, Erik and his pack go after him. It turns out there might be some room for redemption left for both of them after all.

I will Never Stop Loving You – swoopswoop

Summary: Erik and Charles split up three years ago but Erik never really got over it and then one day when the man who walked out of his life three years ago is walking down the street towards him, Erik sees an opportunity to mend fences.

Please leave your message after the tone – ikeracity

Summary: Spending his evening getting shitfaced and pining over Erik seems like a totally productive use of Charles's time. Luckily, it turns out to be a better idea than it sounds.

When the Spell Breaks – kianspo

Summary: Erik, a high-profile lawyer with a successful career, meets a 21-year-old grad student in a bar, and within a few short months marries him. He and Charles are blissfully happy, until Erik's boss runs a background check on Charles and discovers he's been cheating on Erik. Charles denies everything, as there was no affair, but Erik doesn't believe him and throws him out. As Charles tries to figure out how to survive and stay at school that he can no longer afford and makes a lot of bad if not plain dangerous choices, Erik has to fight his own battle of discovering the truth and winning Charles back.

We have not touched the stars, nor are we forgiven (the things you love don’t last remix) – hllfire

Summary: Charles hands Erik the signed divorce papers, but Erik has changed his mind. Too late, it seems. All he can do is go forward with the divorce.

A year later, Charles comes back, and Erik can't help but wanting to see him. The only problem is things don't go like Erik had planned.

Suddenly There’ll Be a Blizzard (Let it Snow Remix) – kianspo

Summary: Charles was never at his best while jetlagged, but locking himself out in a snowstorm while barely dressed might be a new low. The last thing he expected was to be rescued by his high school nemesis, the man he hadn't seen in over ten years, who might have broken his heart for good once upon a time.

Write this number down (you can call it anytime) – pocky_slash

Summary: When Erik upsets his children, they have a habit of running away from home--and straight to Charles' school for cookies and consolation. Charles doesn't mind the visitors, but as they appear more and more frequently, he realizes that sooner or later, he and Erik are going to have to talk about what happened on the beach and what it means for their future and the future of Erik's children.

All we do is break up (and make up) – Stuckyl0v3r

Summary: "So instead of making the most out of this next months, because you don't know where either of you is going to end up, you decided to stay away from each other to get used to the feeling?" Hank summed up, stopping in front of the class. Charles nodded his head confidently and beamed at him, but somehow his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Yes, something like that."

Well, that was the most idiotic plan Hank's ever heard.

Three wheels of cheese and a Great White – ximeria

Summary: Charles and Erik were friends with benefits in college.

They went their separate ways and 18 years later, they run into each other in New York.

The sex was never a problem back in college - and sex was all it had been. But now Erik is a divorced father and Charles has admitted to himself he needs more than just sex in a relationship. So in their usual round-about way they try to navigate becoming friends after so many years. The whole quest is aided by Raven, Edie, Wanda and Pietro (and a large number of shark jokes).

[helliontherapscallion]

Lost Time (The Ashes of Yourself Part 2)

Part 1     Part 3    Part 4

Spotify Playlist (collaborative)

Warnings: mentions of suicide attempts/ideation, swearing, daddy/abandonment issues

Word count: 3,879

You and Techno stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, both of you not knowing what to say to each other. So much was left unsaid between you two throughout your childhoods and the past four years that you didn’t know where to even start. You supposed a simple ‘how are you?’ would suffice, but that’d be too simple, far too simple for not talking to each other in literal years. But you couldn’t just say ‘hey, I’m incredibly jealous that you are Dad’s favorite and I totally didn’t send you my suicide note that you may or may not have seen’, that’d be way too much trauma dumping for your taste. You couldn’t think of anything else to say, so you chose to sheepishly grin at him and awkwardly wave. 

“Heh uh, how’re you…?” Smooth, (y/n). Real smooth.

You watched as he furrowed his brows slightly before he hesitantly gave you a small wave with his gargantuan pink hand. “...I’m doin alright. You?”

“I’ve seen better days.”

“Right…”

An awkward silence fell over you two as you glanced down at your bloodied hands. “Sorry bout the blood. It won’t really stop until I stop moving.”

He shrugged, “that’s fine. I’ve bled everywhere in this house. Nothing that won’t come out.”

“Alright then.”

You wanted to crawl into a pit and just let yourself die, you hated this awkward atmosphere you created. Your mind scrambled to find something to say to the man other than a stupid ‘alright then’. You haven’t even seen him in four years, surely you would be able to find something to talk about. You were snapped out of your thoughts when you heard him clear his throat.

“I uh got some clothes for you. They’re Tommy’s old clothes from when he stayed with me during his exile. I don’t know if they’ll fit, but I’m guessing that they’re better than the wet ones you’re wearing.”

When he saw you wince when you tried to stand up, he rushed to your side and helped you stand up. You could feel the backs of your knees start to drip blood. “Do you have any spare lava?”

His hands paused on your upper arms, “yes, but why would you need it?”

“It kinda heals me. I mean, just enough that my skin stops cracking open and bleeding everywhere.”

“Why don’t we just take you to a lava lake in the Nether?”

You glanced out the window at the flurry of snowflakes falling to the ground and being whisked off to other places by the harsh wind. You shuttered, remembering what it felt like to be fully engulfed in water. “Water hurts. I don’t want to get burnt out again.”

“Right, I’ll go get a few buckets full. Stay here,” with that, he ushered you to sit in front of the fire once again and draped the large blanket over your shoulders again. You could hear him move to another room and rustle around what you presumed was a chest before you heard his heavy footsteps walking behind the couch. You could hear the billowing of the wind when he opened the door before it was cut off by the door closing. 

You leaned forward and put your hands in the fire, relishing in the feeling of the flames melting away the charred skin slightly. The flames licked and caressed your dark skin slowly giving you more feeling back in the damaged tissue. As you were turning your hands over the flames, you thought about your voluntary near death experience just about an hour before. 

The thought of the ocean finally taking you and dragging your charcoaled corpse into its depths never to be seen again was alluring. After feeling the intense pain and the suffocation that came with chucking yourself into the ocean when you’re part blaze was definitely a deterrent, but you just had to push through the pain. This was something you’d dreamt of doing since you were fifteen and you’d be damned if you were going to let pain stop you. 

You know you felt sort of… grateful that Philza saved you when you were laying on that beach, but now that you had time to reflect on what happened, you felt resentful that he did. Of course he’d take away the only good thing you had going on in your life, he was full of audacity and impudence when you were a kid. He hasn’t changed at all much to your disappointment. You shouldn’t have expected him to change in the first place, that was just something that you knew in the back of your mind would never happen. A large part of you craved his approval and affection, but you knew that wouldn’t happen. 

Your thoughts were cut off by someone pulling you back gently from the fire. “I got the lava. Uh, I can set up an area for you downstairs with netherrack.”

“No, you don’t have to, I just have to put it on my joints for a few minutes.”

“Don’t you want to, uh, fully cover yourself?”

“I can hold off until the snowstorm dies down. It’s nothing too major.” You dipped your hands into the large bucket of lava and sighed in relief, “that’s much better, thank you Technoblade.”

“It’s no problem, but you literally just almost died. How is that something that’s ‘not major’?”

“I’m used to… well, this,” you took a hand out of the lava and gestured to your stone covered arm. “It’s just more than I’m used to. Kinda uncomfortable, but I’ll live.”

“What do you mean you’re used to it? You don’t live by water do you?”

“Yeah, I live by the ocean so I’m bound to get a little charred. No big deal,” you took your hands out of the bucket, shook the excess lava off, and stuck your elbows in. You looked at your now dully glowing hand and wiggled your fingers. There were more blackened scars etched into your skin on your joints, but you didn’t care.

“Heh? Why the hell would you live by an ocean?” 

You wove your hands nonchalantly in the air, “I always liked how the water looked when the sun set. The way that the pinks and yellows would reflect and bounce off the waves? Breathtaking.” You also lived by the ocean so that you had an easy way out of living, but you weren’t about to tell him that. Too much trauma dumping.

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” 

“Have you ever seen the sun setting over the ocean?” You rose a brow at the piglin hybrid sitting on the couch. 

“Well, no but-”

“Then you can’t knock it till you try it. I’ll take you to my old place after I can take a proper lava bath. You won’t regret it, promise.”

“Still, you’re literally made of fire. Look what happened to you… Er, speaking of, how’d this happen?” He looked you up and down inquisitively with his red eyes. 

You sighed as you took your elbows out of the lava and dipped your feet into the buckets. “...Do you still have your communicator?”

You watched as his floppy ear flicked and his eyebrow rose at you, “...Yes, but I only talk to Dad. Why, did you leave me a message?” Before he could stand up to grab his communicator, you stopped him with a hand on his shin. “No, I didn’t. I was just wondering.”

He didn’t look convinced, “...tell me what happened. Were you pushed?”

Your shoulders tensed up against your will before you forced them to relax. “I fell in, got too close to the edge.”

“You’re so lucky Dad was already at your house, you could’ve died. How could you be so careless?” 

You only responded with a blaze-like frustrated grunt that rumbled in the back of your throat and removed your feet from the buckets. Picking up one of the buckets, you took a swig of the lava. The viscous liquid crawled slowly down your throat and soothed your burned esophagus and stomach. Clearing your throat, you looked over to your estranged brother. He was looking at you with disgust, his snout scrunched up slightly and his mouth twisted into a grimace.

“What?” Your voice sounded less strained and scratchy. Overall, it felt better to speak.

“Your- your feet were just in there. That’s disgusting.”

You blew out a puff of smoke and watched as it drifted to the ceiling, “my feet were just in water, remember? They’re clean. And besides, I swallowed and inhaled a lot of water so I needed it. I mean, my lungs are still stone, but there’s nothing I can do about it except wait it out.”

“That’s still gross. Wait, can you not drink water?”

“No- well technically I can, but it hurts. Gimme one sec.”

He was quiet as he watched you take a deep breath and dunk your entire head into the lava bucket you weren’t drinking from. His youngest sibling was… strange, but he found that he enjoyed your company so far. The only company he’s had at his cabin recently was his brothers and dad, which burned him out slightly with their big personalities. You were as awkward as he was and that was refreshing. But he couldn’t help but feel guilty after hearing the majority of yours and Philza’s argument. Now that he thought back on his childhood, the majority of his memories were of him and Philza. He didn’t have many negative memories past his adoption, and that was because he spent all of his time adventuring with Philza. He did everything with his adoptive father and absolutely nothing with his siblings. He knew nothing about Wilbur, well Ghostbur now, or Tommy until they stayed with him during Tommy’s exile. He’s never talked to you or spent any time with you before, and he wanted to get to know who you were. He wanted to make up for lost time.

After you were under for a while, he started to worry that you drowned yourself. Just as he was about to pull your head out of the bucket with a hand close to your forehead, you slowly removed your head from the lava and held it over the bucket so that the excess would drip off from you. Panting slightly, you sat up fully and wiped your eyes clean of the lava. You could hear some rustling in front of you so you opened your eyes to see your brother holding out clothes to you. 

“Go change, I’ll make dinner. There’s a spare room upstairs, second door on the left. You can stay there for now.”

You hesitated before you took the clothes from him, “I… Thank you Techno.” You weren’t expecting him to be so kind to you, he was known as the blood god after all. He was ruthless when he battled, leaving thousands without families. You saw him a couple of times when you were younger coming home with Philza covered in blood with a malicious expression on his face. That always made you try to avoid him; not that you had any difficulty doing that, he was never home. 

He curtly nodded before he turned to walk into where you assumed was the kitchen. You trudged up the stairs and tiredly drug your feet down the hallway towards the second door on the left. When you opened the door, you were pleasantly surprised. You didn’t know what you were expecting to see, but it certainly wasn’t this. It was simplistic, yet it looked like a professional decorated it.

The bed looked incredibly comfortable and soft with a large white comforter draped over the top. At both sides of the headboard, twin chests sat underneath double hung windows with wooden frames that matched the spruce planks that made up the walls. You were sure that once the relentless snowstorm stopped you would be able to see a spruce forest in the distance. Lanterns hung at the far corners of the room opposite of where the bed sat. Glancing at the opposite wall, you saw a framed portrait of a nether fortress. You assumed that it was the nether fortress on the other side of his portal. If you squinted, you could see orange specks that you assumed were blazes. 

After you got dressed, you were pleasantly surprised to see that Tommy’s clothes fit you. Despite the slight bagginess of the pants and the sleeves of the jumper hanging halfway past your hands, they fit relatively well. Humming in satisfaction, you hung up your wet clothes to dry and made your way downstairs following the savory smell of cooking meat and potatoes. Your mouth watered at the smell, it’s been a while since you’ve eaten an actual meal. You’d just been surviving on an apple a day with the occasional potato when you had some leftover from making homemade vodka. 

You walked into the kitchen and looked at your brother standing at the stove, the stove looked miniscule compared to his seven and a half foot tall form. That man was a giant and you wouldn’t be lying if his height alone didn’t intimidate you slightly. If he wanted, he could grab your entire face with his hand. Various light pink scars decorated his muscular arms that poked out from the rolled up sleeves of his blouse. He wasn’t wearing his huge fluffy cloak, instead it was draped over the back of one of the chairs at the large wooden dining table. Every part of your body wanted to take it, wrap yourself up into a blaze hybrid burrito, and take the best nap you’ve ever had. His corseted form moved gracefully around the kitchen grabbing various spices and herbs. 

You saw his ears twitch before he moved his massive head  to look back at you, you could see the corners of his mouth quirk up ever so slightly. “They fit you, that’s good. Take a seat, dinner's almost ready.” With that, you took a seat at the table. You felt like a child again, the table was huge, the tabletop coming up to your lower chest. The table and chairs were made of what looked like dark oak wood. The wood was carved intricately with complex patterns etched into the frame and the back of the chairs. 

You eyed the cape draped over the chair next to you. It was a deep royal red with black speckled white fur lining the border of the fabric. If you looked closely, you could see that the pendant that connected the two ends was made of gold and had a diamond encrusted center. It looked incredibly soft, it would be so easy to just reach out with a finger to pet it. Your brother wouldn’t notice if you did it quick enough so that you could touch it before he turned around. When you gathered the courage to touch the cloak, you reached out with a slightly shaking hand to pet the fur, watching Technoblade the entire time. 

Everytime he would move to grab a spice, you would quickly retract your hand and try to act as innocent as possible only to try again after he didn’t turn around again. Just as you finally touched the fabric, you were in awe with how soft it was. It was like petting a newborn puppy but better. You truly couldn’t put into words how soft it was. 

You were snapped out of your trance by a small chuckle, “soft isn’t it?” You jumped, quickly retracting your hand and smacking your head against the back of your chair in the process. You could feel your cheeks heat up more than they usually did, you could see the glow of orange intensify at the bottom of your vision. Your brother was staring at you with amusement, his mouth quirked up in a small smile. He was carrying two plates full of steak and potatoes, putting one in front of you before walking to sit opposite of you. 

“Uh, yeah. It- it’s really soft.” 

“I got it from a nation thousands of blocks from here, it wasn’t easy to get. Those guards were not happy to see me stealing from their king.” He chuckled before he started to eat his food. 

“Is that where you got the crown too?”

“No, Dad got it for me as a going away present when I moved out… You’ve grown up so much since I’ve last seen you. I remember when you barely reached my waist and now you’re only about a foot and a half shorter than me.” 

“You’ve gotten taller also, more scars too.”

“You as well. Are all those from water?” 

“Yeah, it only scars when I crack the stone on my skin though.”

“Ouch. So like you get scars whenever you move?”

You shrugged, “basically.” Turning to your plate, you struggled with not wolfing down the entire thing in one go. You didn’t want to have your brother get the impression you had bad table manners. Wilbur raised you better than that. When you took a bite of the stake, you moaned slightly at the taste. Quickly swallowing your mouthful, you looked at your brother with wide eyes. “Ender Tech, where’d you learn to cook? It’s delicious.”

He gave you a small bashful smile and shrugged, “when you’ve been living alone for this long you pick up on a few things.”

“I’ve been living alone for about a year now and I still can’t cook.”

He raised an eyebrow at you, “well what do you eat then?”

“Just an apple a day, maybe a potato too if I have any to spare.”

He narrowed his eyes, “how the hell are you still alive? That’s hardly enough.”

You blankly stared at your plate, “I’ve been asking myself that everyday, things aren’t… amazing living alone. Uh, let’s talk about happier things. I wanna get to know you.”

He stared at you for a while before he sighed, “fine, but we’re talking about this later. How do you wanna go about getting to know each other?”

“It’s gonna be hard cuz we have like seventeen years to catch up on, but I think we can do it. Let’s… let’s play the favorites game. We take turns naming a category and we both say what our favorite thing in that is. I’ll start, what’s your favorite type of mythology? Like Greek, Egyptian, Norse…”

His eyes lit up at the mention of mythology, “I like Greek mythology. I can talk for hours about it.”

“Nice! I personally like Norse mythology better, we have to exchange myths sometime.”

“My turn, what’s your favorite myth?”

You matched his excitement, “I really like the Ragnarok myth. The fact that the gods know of their impending doom and destruction and are actively working towards it is- is just really intriguing. What’s yours?”

You both abandoned your meals as your conversation diverged into telling each other various myths from your respective favorite mythologies. Your favorite ones he told you were the tales of Orpheus and Eurydice, Persephone and Hades, and Psyche and Eros. You were a sucker for romance even if the thought of you being in a relationship was something you were uncomfortable thinking about. Romance stories just made you happy to see people finding comfort and fulfillment in each other. You told him more about Ragnarok, the creation of Mjolnir, and the murder of Baldur. 

Before you two knew it, hours passed by. Your untouched dinners grew cold and the clock struck midnight startling both of you out of your story telling. You both looked at the grandfather clock then back at each other in shock, “we’ve been talking for four hours Tech.”

“Yeah, we did. It- it was nice talking about mythology. Usually people get bored when I talk about it.”

You rolled your eyes, “Ender, I know. Why don’t they find it as interesting as we do? It’s been a while since I’ve had someone to talk to, it’s nice.”

“We better go to bed, we can just eat a bigger breakfast tomorrow before we take you to the Nether and your house. You probably want to sleep in your own bed.”

You laughed nervously, “yeah about that… I don’t really have a bed anymore. Or an actual house for that matter.”

“The fuck happened?”

“I may have burnt it down accidentally.”

He was silent for a bit before he looked at you suspiciously. “Are you gonna burn my house down?” And there’s the thing you hated most when you told people of your lineage and abilities. They always believe that you’re a being of destruction and inferno. They always grow to not trust you around them or their possessions fearing you would burn them to a crisp. You cursed your biological parents daily for giving you these genes.

You shrunk in on yourself slightly, “no, I’d never do that to you. I’m in control as long as I keep my emotions in check. Can’t get too excited, scared, or happy. I just can’t do anything extreme and my temperature stays low.” 

He grunted, nodding in satisfaction. “We probably should get to sleep soon if we wanna get stuff done before the family reunion.”

“I forgot about that… Have you met the kid Phil’s gonna adopt?”

He drew in a long breath into his nose and huffed it out of his mouth. “Yeah, his name’s Ranboo. And he’s actually only about half a year younger than you are. I don’t know how to feel about him yet, but he seems like he has good intentions.”

You drug a hand through the flames idly flickering on your head, “is Phil seriously gonna adopt another kid? I don’t think it’s a good idea for him.”

“That’s what I thought, I don’t need any more orphans running around here. You, Tommy, and Wilbur are more than enough. We can talk more about this in the morning.”

With that, you picked up your plates and took them to the kitchen. Before you could turn on the water faucet, a hand on your shoulder stopped you. “I’ll get it. You can’t be around this stuff.”

“A little water won’t hurt me. It’s the least I could do, you made dinner.” 

“A little water will hurt you. Go to bed, I’ll handle this. It’s only two dishes.”

You opened your mouth to argue with him, but it snapped shut as soon as he gave you a warning look. “Go to bed (y/n).”

“...Aright, thank you for doing that. I’ll see ya in the morning.”

He grunted as you walked out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and into the guest room. You walked straight to the bed and plopped down onto the surface. You felt sort of bad that you were rubbing soot off onto the white comforter from your still charcoaled skin, but it was nothing that you couldn’t clean in the morning. The bed was extremely comfortable, a stark contrast to your old one. Your old one had lumps and some exposed bedsprings sticking out of the fabric. With the weight of the heavy comforter and the plush mattress, you were out like a light.

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