#and i was worried Any Information was gonna overtake the studying i had to do since learning in a classroom setting doesn’t come easily to m

[monogramsalarm]

oh yeah i’m trying to read again<3

[euphoria-vmin7]

tiger flower 02 | jjk

pairing: jeon jungkook x reader

genre/warnings: angst, hanahaki! au, non-idol! au, heartbreak, unrequited love, swearing, drinking, sad ending, implied/mentions of death

word count: 4,805

summary: the petals were supposed to be your secret.

rating: pg-15 (swearing and drinking)

– a/n: tiger flower was actually just supposed to be one part. i had no plans of writing a part two BUT since quite a few of you asked for it, I got inspired and wrote this. it turned out longer than i expected tbh. there’s a lot of angst and crying in this but honestly, that was expected with this au lol. i hope you guys like this :)

reposting this cuz i had some technical difficulties oops-

read part 1 here

Jungkook felt an odd mixture of confusion and worry. Normally, he’d be used to you acting crazy and all, but this was different. He watched with concern as you took another lazy swig from the bottle of beer in front of you. Though, the fact that you were drinking wasn’t what was concerning him. It was the way you were acting.

Jungkook had known you for years now. He had been with you on the first night the two of you had ever gotten drunk. And to this day you had always been the same while tipsy: loud, energetic, and giggly. There wasn’t a single time he could name where you had been any different. He couldn’t even count on his fingers how many times he’d have to shush you in between giggles as you shouted random words that seemed to make sense in the middle of the bar. Crazy, loud drunk had defined you for as long as he could remember.

And though sometimes it frustrated him to no end, he found it endearing all the same. In fact, tonight he had been counting on it. He had called you to come out for a drink with him in hopes of feeling a bit more cheerful after watching you get drunk. He needed to get cheered up.

Though, instead, tonight you were different.

You were hunched over and quiet and zoning out too easily. The happy, cheerful, boisterous drunk in you had disappeared and instead been replaced by this. Whatever this was.

He briefly worried that his frown lines would permanently etch themselves to his young face.

Jungkook had been having relationship problems. That had been the sole reason why he had invited you out tonight. Though he and Jieun had only been dating for roughly three and half months, they had fought one too many times already. He loved her, he really did. But the two of them were so different in personality, that when they clashed, it didn’t end up pretty.

Another more selfish reason had drawn him to pulling out his phone and dialing your number that night. He hadn’t seen you in weeks. He had been texting you, calling you, and trying to catch up with you around campus, but every time he was brushed off in a hurried manner. He wondered whether he had done something to piss you off. But then he pushed the thought away because no, you always talked out your disagreements.

Maybe something was bothering you that you couldn’t tell him about. What it was made him frustratingly curious, especially considering that most of the times, you could always tell him about it. He’d understand. He knew you better than anyone, after all.

Or maybe it was just exactly as you said: “Sorry Kook, I’ve been trying to study for finals,”

Even though for the last few years you had always studied with him.

Maybe it was Jungkook himself. He knew that getting into a relationship had significantly reduced the time he had for you. Was he himself being distant? Perhaps you had grown so detached because he hadn’t even put in the effort to keep you close to him.

Whatever the reason was, Jungkook wished it was fixed soon. It was bad enough fighting with the girl he was dating. He didn’t want to feel your absence so deeply, either.

He thought that maybe your behavior in the past few weeks was being reflected in your drinking habits, too. Because now as he watched you gloomily take another chug of beer, he felt as though he was drinking with a different person.

He was tipsy himself, but felt as though he was seeing things much more clearly than usual. There were dark circles under your eyes that were not there before and he realized that you hadn’t once smiled fully since you arrived. You were different.

“(Name),” he nudged your shoulder, a bit surprised at how clear his own voice sounded. Your eyes lethargically moved to settle on him and he felt a bit hurt at the way you moved your body away, as though he had tainted you by the one touch.

“Yes Jungkook?” you drawled.

“What’s wrong with you?”

You snorted and chuckled. “What are you talking about?”

“Well for one you’re not standing on the table trying to imitate Jimin hyung’s dancing like usual, so what the fuck is wrong?”

“Maybe I’m just tired, Jungkook. You ever think of that?” you laughed quietly as you tipped your drink past your lips. Once again, he frowned.

“I guess…” he muttered, deciding not to push you too actively. He hoped the drinks he was paying for would help loosen your tongue. Help you spill your worries to him just as he had done to you a million times before.

“So…” you spoke up after another long gulp. “What’s with the sudden call?”

“We haven’t talked in weeks, Peanut,”

He didn’t notice how the nickname made you cringe.

“So I wanted to see you. Check in, you know?” he asked, looking down at his glass and traced the rim, feeling uncharacteristically shy. “If you were…doing okay,”

You smiled at him ruefully. He was so blissfully unaware of how everything he did made your heart swell and break at the same time.

“Kook,” you muttered, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’m seriously fine. I swear, I really had to study for finals and that’s why I haven’t been hanging with you as much. I’m sorry if I worried you,”

Jungkook released a breath, an unknown weight lifting from his chest. “Ah okay. Gotcha,”

You analyzed him for a solid second before leaning back a bit. “But that’s not the only reason you called me out tonight, is it Kook?”

He winced at your uncanny ability to pick his facade apart. “No…” he responded, a miserable tone overtaking his voice. “I just…Jieun and I have been fighting,”

He missed the way your shoulders sagged with utter disappointment. Though you knew deep down that his worry for you was genuine, the fact that he wanted to meet you for help with her stung in more ways than you cared to admit. You would never say that to him though.

Instead you raise your brows in surprise and show interest. “Oh? About what?”

“I’m…not really sure,” he replies, shrugging in defeat. “We just have petty fights. I don’t know where they come from but…they don’t end well at all,”

You hummed thoughtfully, finishing your drink and motioning to the bartender for another. “Did you two, have a conversation recently that ended…badly?”

Jungkook thought back to the previous week when she had casually brought up marriage and winced to himself. He hadn’t thought about the outcome of the conversation since it had happened, but with the way you were looking at him, worry swirling in your hazy eyes, he had the urge to spill.

“She was talking about the future,” he mumbled. “And I guess I couldn’t handle it,”

Your lips made an ‘O’ shape as you took in this piece of information. “What do you mean by ��couldn’t handle it’?”

“I…” it seemed that despite you being much more drunk than he was, he was the one who was struggling to form words. “I just…couldn’t listen to it. And when I asked her to drop it…”

You hummed once again. “Well, I guess I understand why. You aren’t ready for that yet. But she’s started thinking about it, right?”

“Yeah exactly,” Jungkook nodded. “And like we’ve only been dating for a few months now. I didn’t even consider marriage when I started dating her,”

A stagnant pause took over the conversation and Jungkook quickly wondered whether he had said something unreasonable.

“Jungkook…” you asked quietly. “Do you…see yourself getting married to her in the future?”

He balked at the question, opening his mouth to respond but finding no answer. He stopped to think about it. Did he see a future with Jieun? Sure, he was crazy about her. Heck, he was pretty sure he was in love with her. But a future?

Could he see himself, years down the line, slipping a wedding ring onto her finger? Could he see himself, years down the line, holding their children by the arms and tossing them up to the sky, tiny giggles echoing in his ears?

He hadn’t even realized that he had shut his eyes, but when he had opened them, he saw you staring at him. God, why did you look so drained?

What happened to you?

Instead of posing these questions, Jungkook tried to give you an answer. “I…don’t know. I want to see a future with her. But right now…”

You nodded. You understood. Jungkook was younger than Jieun was. She had already lived through these few years that Jungkook still hadn’t reached. So perhaps he wanted to, just not yet.

“Tell her that then,” you replied with a soft smile.

“Tell her what?” he asked, confusion lacing his tone as he looked at you. You gave him a knowing look.

“Exactly what you feel. That you want to, but not yet,”

Your voice was tired, but not because of the drinks. Something was horribly wrong and Jungkook hated not knowing what it was. More than tired you sounded…broken.

“I…” he trailed off, looking at you with shiny doe eyes. You chuckled, patting him on the shoulder before placing cash on the table.

“Trust me. You guys will get over this. You need to tell her what you’re feeling though. Don’t just drop the conversation, you know?” you grinned. “Good luck, Kookie. I’m rooting for you two,”

You pulled your jacket off the barstool and slipped your arms through the sleeves. There was a pink flush in your cheeks and Jungkook watched the way your dim eyes sparkled with something new.

It wasn’t something good. It looked painful.

“I’m gonna go,” you sighed, pulling your hair out and over your shoulders. Jungkook was standing in a second, gripping your arm quickly, but gently. The touch made you stiffen.

“By yourself?” he frowned. “You’re drunk as hell, Peanut,”

“If you’re asking if I’m driving myself home, then no,” you snorted. “I’ll call a cab,”

“I’ll drive you,”

“Psh, if you think you’re in a place to drive, Kook, you’ve got another thing coming,” you giggled. “Just take a cab or call someone,”

“At least let me walk you there,” he said hurriedly. He slammed some cash down next to yours that roughly covered his expenses. Something was wrong. It was itching at his gut and bothering him to no end that you weren’t sharing your worries with him. You didn’t even remember that he had promised you he’d pay tonight. You opened your mouth to protest but he gave you a stern glare that had you sighing in defeat. You nodded mutely and turned to shakily walk out of the bar which had suddenly become far too loud for you. Your head was pounding as Jungkook’s heavy footsteps echoed in your ears when he hurried after you. He was at your side by the time you stepped out, taking a mouthful of the cold air to quell the familiar dizziness in your head.

You could faintly make out his sweet voice on the phone, calling you a nearby cab and giving the details of your location. You smiled weakly to yourself.  

You found it harder than you expected to take proper steps and kicked yourself for drinking so much. Jungkook chuckled at you and felt his heart lift when you turned to smack him. He had the conscience to hold his arm out for you and the two of you walked down the street in relative silence. You mentally thanked Jungkook for letting you walk a bit before getting into a car. The nighttime air was doing wonders for your headache.

Jungkook glanced down at you, his teeth worrying his bottom lip as he struggled to find a way to speak. How was he supposed to ask if you were okay yet again and expect a different answer?

“(Name)…” he asked.

“Hm?”

You weren’t looking at him. Lights shone in your eyes and for a second he believed that they were the ones he knew, but the bright buildings around him quickly diminished his hope.

“Are you okay?”

You grinned. “You’ve been asking me that, Jeon. And I keep telling you I’m fine,”

He watched your gaze travel around the city and he was hit with this unfounded feeling of longing.

I missed you.

“But you’re not fine,” he stressed, feeling frustrated in you and himself. “There’s something else bothering you and you’re not telling me,”

Your shoulders sagged and Jungkook mentally celebrated his victory. “I…” you started. “I promise, Kook. I’m really fine. I’ve just been studying so much and sleeping late…”

You sounded genuine. But he wasn’t sure. He used to be able to tell whether you were lying in a second. What happened?

“And…” you trailed off.

“And?” he urged, leaning closer to you.

“I’ve…been getting sick,”

He frowned at that. He never considered that it would be your health that was causing your avoidances.

“Sick?”

“Yeah,” you nodded. “I guess it has something to do with all the stress I’ve been putting on myself lately. But I’ve gotten sick a lot in the past few months so…”

He bit his bottom lip in concern. “Are you…feeling better now?”

You shut your eyes and took a deep breath in. “Now…I’m okay,”

“But…?” he asked.

“But it might come back. I don’t know, it’s all really random,”

He rubbed your shoulder softly. “I’m sorry Peanut,” he felt guilty. “I haven’t even been checking up on you,”

“No,” you chuckled. “Not your fault, Kook. I’ve been keeping to myself. I didn’t want you to see me like that,”

The words confused him. You both had stumbled into each other’s houses countless number of times, no matter how sick you both were. The other one had always made chicken soup. It was a norm.

He worried.

“(Name)…”

You turned to look at him. He felt so empty when he looked into your dull eyes.

“Please take care of yourself,”

You grinned a bit and nodded. “I will,”

He barely believed that. Something was wrong. There was something else you were hiding.

You staggered a bit and Jungkook’s grip on your arms tightened. He was about to start scolding you for drinking past your limit but stopped himself. You laughed. The real laugh. Your eyes shut, pink flushed cheeks, and windswept hair, and yet, you looked so unreal. How long had he been away from you? Did you really have such a strong hold on him that in just a few weeks of being away from you, he had forgotten the way you laughed? He felt a surge of disappointment in himself.

“You’re crazy,” he said, shaking his head as a chuckle escaped his lips. “So fucking crazy,”

“Yeah yeah,” you brushed off, slurring a bit. “Which makes me much more entertaining than you are,”

He had it in him to chuckle. He saw the cab pull up and held his hand up to catch the driver’s attention.

“The cab’s across the street. Think you can make it without kissing the road?” he teased and you laughed once again. His heart swelled with pride and relief.

“I’ve got it,”

That was a lie. You paused a bit and blinked quickly, as though trying to get your eyes to focus.

Then you stumbled forward and Jungkook scrambled to hold you against him. Though he wasn’t prepared for the harsh cough to tumble past your lips. You wheezed in pain, clutching at your chest and his heart thudded with worry. The worry disappeared completely when he saw the petals. You hacked into your hands, repetitive coughs that sounded so painful, he felt it in his own chest. They continued to fall, bright orange against your skin. Petals turned into whole flowers.

When the coughs ceased, Jungkook was looking to your palms in shock. His heart shattered when his eyes darted to your face. You refused to look at him, instead staring at your shaking hands with one expression.

Caught.

His breath hitched, and then an influx of emotions filled his chest. Shock, then pity, sadness, and finally anger.

“What the fuck, (Name),” he uttered in a low voice. “What the fuck is this?”

He knew what it was. He knew what it meant. And the only thought running through his mind was killing the person who was causing this.

“It’s…” you started and he missed the way your voice shook.

“Is this what you meant by getting sick?”

“Listen-”

“Just how long have you been hiding this from me?!” he couldn’t control the volume of his voice. “Who is it?”

“Jungkook-”

“Who is it?!”

“Fuck,” you swore, shutting your eyes and gripping your hair. “I can’t,”

He was livid. Red hot anger burned in his throat.

“You’re protecting him?! After you’ve been suffering through all of this?! What the hell is wrong with you?!”  

There was no way you actually believed you could keep this from him. You bit your lip to prevent a sob from escaping. You didn’t want it to happen this way.

“Get the surgery,” he ordered lowly and you remained quiet.

“Kook-”

“(NAME)!!” he yelled, holding your shoulders. “GET THE FUCKING SURGERY!!”

“I CAN’T!!” you shouted back, tears falling now. He stepped back a bit, though now he was even angrier.

“WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU WOULD RATHER DIE FOR THIS BITCH THAN GET THE SURGERY-”

“IT’S YOU JUNGKOOK!!”

It took him a second to process what you said. He was so focused on his anger, on your tears, and on how stupid he had been for not seeing this earlier. When he repeated it once more in his head, fear swallowed him whole. His hands dropped as he looked down at you, lips parted, heart racing.

“What?”

“It’s you,” you sniffled noisily. “I’m in love with you. The petals came because you didn’t feel the same,”

What does one say to that? How does one respond to that?

I’m helpless.

For the first time in his life, Jungkook is speechless. He has no response to your words. No response that seems appropriate enough.

“I’m not getting the surgery for this, Jungkook. Anyone else, maybe. But you,” you cleared your throat and wiped your eyes. The dullness in them suddenly made sense, and Jungkook’s throat tightened. “I would never. Goodnight, Kook,”

You turn to cross the street and Jungkook is desperate to chase after you. But an unknown force keeps him rooted to the spot. His legs are heavier than any weights he has ever lifted before. And the image of your back getting further and further away from him paints itself into his mind. Petals fall from the sky and he cries.

Hundreds of texts and plenty of calls were ignored until he couldn’t take it anymore. He had always respected your privacy. He decided he was past that. His knuckles were stinging and he was sure they’d bruise with the force of his knocks. He knew you were in your apartment. There was no way you had left since the cab had dropped you off, as Jungkook arrived only minutes later.

Jungkook made a promise to wait there until you opened the door. And both of you knew exactly how stubborn he was. He was counting on it tonight.

“Open the door, (Name),” his voice was already shaking and he cursed himself. He wanted to be strong. He wanted to force you to think rationally.

His knocks were desperate. He wished you’d just give up and open the door, but he knew you were just as stubborn as he was. Memories of competitions and play fights flashed behind his eyes and his throat tightened. He swallowed thickly and knocked harder.

“What the fuck, Jungkook-”

He himself was surprised at the way you wrenched the door open but he got over it quickly and pushed his way inside. You were still dressed in the clothes you had worn to the bar, but you looked much more tired. He wondered how many more flowers you had coughed up since you left. The thought made him sick.

“Jungkook, please,” you sighed. “I’m tired I just want to-”

“How long?” he asked quietly and you sighed again.

“Kook-”

“How long?” he repeated. He already knew, but he needed to hear it from you.

“Too long,” you answered and he shut his eyes tightly. “Years, Kook,”

“Fuck,” he cursed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What good would it have done?” you turned away to walk to your couch. Memories of the two of you curled up on that couch made him wince.

“It…” he started but he had no answer. You smiled knowingly.

“Exactly. You would’ve just felt guilty for years and we probably wouldn’t have such a great friendship,”

“You should’ve told me,” he repeated, even though he knew you were right. You just shook your head to yourself as he took a seat next to you carefully, as though you’d break right then and there.

“It was my struggle. I have to deal with it,”

He took a shaky breath in, his hands clammy. “Have you told anyone else yet?”

“My parents know,” you sighed before chuckling at the pamphlets littering your center table. “As you can see they’ve been trying to persuade me to get the surgery-”

“And you should!” he shouted, though you barely flinched.

“Jungkook,” you said sternly, turning to face him. “You know what the side effects are, don’t you?”

He remained quiet, though yes, he did know.

“I’ll lose my memories. Of you. Of us. I can’t do that, Kookie,”

“Why not?” he asked, his eyes glazing over as tears pooled at his waterline. “Why can’t you?”

“Because,” you smiled ruefully. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you. I can’t lose that,”

He put his face in his hands and sniffled shakily. He could barely look at you. He hated that you’d given up.

“B-But I do love you,” he tried. His fingers were grasping thin air, but all they were catching were the petals of the tiger flower.

“No, Kookie,” you shook your head. “You know that’s not enough,”

Strong friendship was not enough. His friendship was not enough. He’d never be enough.

“I fell in love with you but you don’t love me in the same way,” you smiled up at him and he felt his heart break. “It’s okay,”

How could you say that? How could you pretend like everything was okay? Nothing is okay about this. He felt so useless. So upset. So angry. So helpless.

I fell in love with you but you don’t love me in the same way.

“No no,” he was crying. “No I do love you. I do,”

You shook your head sadly and he cursed you for being able to smile at him like that. Light he once knew, light that comforted him any time he needed, had completely disappeared from your eyes.

He’s helpless. He needed to do something. Anything, you persuade you. He had to show you.

I love you, I do. I’m enough, I swear. I love you, that’s enough.

When he kissed you, your heart shattered for the final time. You could taste the salt of tears but you weren’t sure whether they came from him or you. One kiss. One final kiss.

You had spent years of your life waiting for this one moment. But yet when it came, you wished it hadn’t. You wanted nothing more than for this moment to be yet another one of your wishful dreams.

Because you and he both knew that it meant nothing. It meant nothing that could save you. He was trying so hard to pull you back to him. To prove that he was being sincere. But whether he was convincing you or himself was lost in the sound of hearts breaking.

He pulled away, hands still holding your face, knowing that once he let go, he’d lose you forever. Your hair tickled his skin like the whispers of childish secrets once did, and he reveled in the feeling. He was sobbing. You had never seen him sob like this before.

“How could you do this to me?” you shut your eyes to avoid looking at him, his crumbling expression brewing yet more guilt inside of you. “How could you let me do this to you?”

“It wasn’t your fault, Kookie,” you chuckled weakly. “It was mine,”

“Stop it,” tears were dripping down his soft cheeks fast as he pushed his forehead against yours. “You’re hurting so much because of me. Stop it,”

What he was telling you to stop, even he didn’t know. A part of him wanted to shout and scream. To scold you for ever having feelings for an idiot like him. Just stop it. Stop loving me, please.

But even he knew it was easier said than done. It had happened. The damage had already been done.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered through cries. “I’m so sorry,”

“It’s not your fault,” you repeated, smiling. He loved that smile, but in that moment, he hated it more than anything. He prayed to the heavens that you would stop pretending like everything was okay. It was not okay. Nothing would ever be okay again.

“Get the surgery,” he pleaded. “Please (Name), get the surgery. I can’t…”

He choked on a sob but you knew what he wanted to say. I can’t lose you.

“Kook,” you mumbled, putting a hand on his cheek. “I never want to forget us,”

He broke then and there, legs going weak and he sobbed. He fell to his knees and cried into his hands. He knew that you had made up your mind. There was nothing he could do to change your mind.

He hated you. God, he hated you more than anything.

He hated the way you bent down to hug him the same way you had been hugging him for years. He hated the way you were the one comforting him when he should’ve been the one holding you. He hated how you were okay. You weren’t supposed to be okay. You were supposed to scream and cry and curse him for breaking your heart like this. You were supposed to hate him. Hate him so that he could feel the pain he had caused you all these years.

He quietly wished that he was the one coughing up petals instead.

Why were you so understanding?

How could you still love him after he had reduced you to this? How could you even bring yourself to hold him when every touch was killing you on the inside?

That’s when he realized that he would never be as good as you. All the playful competitions over the years that he had taken the prize for paled in comparison to this one moment. You won against him, but you lost everything, and his heart ached for you.

You were going. You were leaving him and there was nothing he could do to keep you with him. All his life, Jungkook had despised feeling helpless. But he had never known that it could feel like this. That helplessness could feel like utter destruction. He cursed fate. He cursed the universe. He cursed everything he knew because why? Why did fate have to do this to him, to you? Why did the universe create such a path for people? Why did the people who suffer meet such heartbreaking ends? Why you? Why did you fall for him? Why wouldn’t you let him go? Why you?

His arms felt like lead when they moved to wrap around you, but he held you tighter than he had ever done before. Your body was warm, and images of play fights, spontaneous knocks, and fortresses made of blankets and pillows filled his mind. He squeezed his eyes shut, tears leaking from them. Childish laughter echoed in his ears, melding with sweet whispers, and heartfelt secrets. Somewhere in the distance, something shattered. He felt soft petals brush against his skin. They tickled his subconscious, and he choked on a sob. He opened his eyes and looked down at his arms, cursing the lies and false hope he had tried to give you earlier. He praised you for being able to see through him, just as you had always been able to. He felt bile rise up in his throat as his glossy eyes danced over his own tattoos.

He hated Tiger Flowers.

.

.

.

a/n: i wanted to leave the ending broad like this so you can imagine what happens afterwards!! though i think the options are pretty limited lol. i hope you enjoyed :)

[crystalninjaphoenix]

MerMay 2021 Day Nineteen Heartfelt Conversation

Chase was having a rough time. Of course he was, who wouldn’t in this situation? One of his best friends was missing, probably permanently asleep, and in the hands of some hostile human corporation. Things were not good. And he was spending too much time worrying to do anything else. He’d been lying in his anemone for two full days, paralyzed by thoughts about the worst-case scenarios.

“...Chase? Are you here?”

Opening his eyes, Chase rolled over and pushed away some of the anemone’s tentacles. Only to see a different set of tentacles outside, accompanied by a familiar face. “Hi, Schneep,” he said dully.

“You are not looking so good, my friend,” Schneep noted, frowning. “I thought perhaps you were spending a lot of time with your kids, so I went over to talk to them, but they say they have not seen you for a while. Here, I brought food.”

Chase smiled briefly, but there wasn’t any real heart in it. “Thanks.” He took the pouch Schneep was offering, glancing inside to see some kelp. “You’re not gonna leave until I eat it, are you?”

Schneep didn’t answer, merely settling down on the nearby rocks.

“Alright, then.” Chase rolled over onto his back, his head and arms sticking out from between the anemone strands. He took a bite out of one of the kelp strands. It didn’t taste like much. “Where’d you get those sleeves? Aren’t they usually supposed to go with a tank top, too?”

“That other merm gave them to me,” Schneep explained, pulling on the edge of the sleeves. “She made them to apologize for moving into the reef despite me asking not to. She also gave Jackie a new shirt; he was wearing it last I saw him. It looks nice on him.”

“Oh, the red one with the hood? I was wondering where that came from.” Chase chewed and swallowed the tasteless lump, reluctantly taking another bite.

“Are you okay?” Schneep asked, his voice suddenly gentle. “You...have not holed up like this for a while.”

Chase wanted to lie at first, but figured Schneep would see through that. “Of course I’m not okay. I’m...I’m so fucking worried about Jack. Things are gonna go wrong, I just know it, I just—I-I can’t stop thinking about what could be happening to him.”

“It will be okay, Chase,” Schneep said reassuringly. “They will not harm him. In all likeliness, they will just want to watch him, to see what he does. Of course, that will be difficult, since he is asleep, but I doubt they would want to lose him.”

For a moment, Chase just stared at Schneep. He sounded...awfully sure of himself. “You don’t know that,” he said slowly.

“Of course I do,” Schneep said confidently. “Humans now do not believe we exist, so they want to learn more. They are very eager like that. Sometimes, like this time, it is worrying.”

“Uh...okay.” Chase couldn’t focus on his own worries anymore. Why was Schneep talking about this like...he actually did know? This sounded like more than just really good guesses, it sounded like...he had experience. Shortly after that thought occurred to him, he realized. They always knew something happened to Schneep. It was always clear in the way he acted, the way he wanted space, rarely went to the surface, and a lot of other tics. “Oh my god...do you know this group?!”

Schneep stiffened. “What do you mean?”

Chase had to sit up and turn around for this. “Henrik...we know that you’ve had bad experiences. I mean, you’re a Pacific octo—sorry, I mean a Greater Ocean octo. And it’s not like that’s an easy journey. Something brought you here or drove you here or something.” He paused. “I mean...if you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. But...if it could be helpful, then it...would be helpful,” he finished awkwardly.

Schneep wouldn’t look directly at him. Instead he looked down at the ground. After a while, he reached down and drew something in the sand. A circle, with a three-pronged thing in the middle. It was a crude imitation of the TridentCorp symbol Roxy had shown them. “Some people can be very cruel,” he said quietly. “Not just humans, anything that can think can be...harsh. And in many different ways. And humans are...fascinated by things they do not understand. Some want to just look at strange things and be amazed. But some want to study these things.”

“Like...scientists,” Chase said slowly. “Or, uh, we’d call them researchers.”

“Yes, like researchers.” Schneep scribbled out the image he’d drawn in the sand. “That is not a problem. It is a problem when their want to study overtakes any other feelings they may have.”

Chase nodded. 

“Look, Chase, I do not bring it up not only because I-I do not...like to talk about it. Although I do not.” Schneep finally looked up, over at Chase again. “But I cannot help us find Jack.”

“Oh.”

“I did not see anything. I remember their symbol, I remember the place where I spent so much time—but I do not know where that place was. I have no reference. Maybe once I did, but I...I...left five years ago. Perhaps I have forgotten.”

Chase stayed quiet. Schneep was speaking haltingly, slowly. It was clear he was struggling through this. He took a deep breath, and Chase said, “I’m...sorry for bringing it up. I just thought...”

“That we could use information to find Jack, I know.” Schneep nodded. “I do not hold it against you. I would do the same.”

“Still...” Chase swam forward a bit, further out of the anemone. “Do you...talk about this? You’re always saying it’s good to talk about stuff.”

“I speak with Jamie about it, sometimes,” Schneep said softly. “Because he was in a similar position.”

“Yeah, I know. He asked me about human stuff...once.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh. Stuff about, uh...these things called roadside attractions. He got really specific.” Chase shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure how much I should say, but I did tell him that a lot of humans were against that.”

“There are good humans,” Schneep agreed. “Your partner and her sister, for example. But this group of humans...are not good humans.” He fell silent for a moment. “I am worried about Jack, too. I-I think we should—we should hurry. But Chase, do not let the worry consume you. Th-this is bad, but things will be fine.” At this point, it sounded like he was talking to himself.

Chase shifted again, then left the anemone entirely, swimming over to sit on the rocks next to Schneep. He leaned his head on his shoulder. Schneep was stiff at first, but slowly loosened up. “We gotta promise not to let each other get consumed by bad stuff,” Chase said. “It’s gonna be tough. But I think we can do it together.”

Schneep said nothing, then reached out and grabbed Chase’s hand. “I think you are right.” And so they sat there together until the waters started to darken.

[dancing-the-hellfire-rumba]

Seen ✓ - 2

Pairing: Sam x Fem!Reader Warnings: light anxiety Word Count: 2.2k Series Summary: On her way home, Y/n finds an abandoned, cracked phone on the sidewalk. Anxious about the well-being of its owner, she picks it up and texts the first contact she finds; Sam. A/N: Chapter 2! Our pals are kicking it off already. Can you smell the chemistry? The rOMANCE? LESSGO

Pictures used in this chapter were found on google images :)

Beta: no one.

Catch up! : Part 1 Masterlist

Chapter 2: overthinker.

From: y/n_andrews85 To: D_impala67 Subject: I have your phone. That sounds creepy. I don’t think there’s a non-creepy way of writing this. Whatever.

Dear Dean, is it?

I just wanted to let you know I found your phone at the bus stop the other night. I wasn’t planning on holding on to it, really, but I got worried that you may have been in trouble, and then you never really looked for it either so, I don’t know, I figured better than someone who’ll snatch it and leave, you know?

Anyways, that’s why I’m emailing. I snooped through it a little, sorry, hopefully you’ll understand it was kinda necessary? Maybe we can arrange something so I can get it back to you. This girl, Jamie, keeps sending me (well you technically) topless photos of her. It’s not really what lights my candle. I’m assuming you’d like it back too.

I hope you’re safe. Looking forward to hearing back from you!

Y/n Andrews

-

Do you believe me now?

oh god

you didn’t

Sure did

wow. just wow.

you just handed his ass back to him holy shit!

last time he called, he said he dropped his phone while walking back to his motel, so

he’s okay.

That’s good, I’m glad he’s safe.

I was planning on including something along the lines of “This would’ve been easier if you were an active member of the 21st century and used social media”

But I figured the Jamie thing was motive enough?

yeah. topless Jamie? that’s something else.

Don’t be getting any ideas, dude, I don’t do nudes lmao.

oh god, no i didn’t think that

you did not just type lmao though. how old are you again?

oh god, you’re not 14 or something right? i don’t know what that would make me.

Don’t worry about it, I turned 16 last week.

…

are you serious?

Lmao, no, I’m kidding. I’m twenty-two.

But I think the word you’re looking for is a creep. Oh, and an ageist.

ouch.

Haha, I’m joking.

Lighten up, what are you, ninety?

hi pot meet kettle.

Shit I walked right into that one.

also i’d like to think i don’t text like a ninety-year-old man. could be wrong though

to answer your question i’m twenty-four.                                

Twenty-four huh? I assume you’re done with college, no?

Or- wait, I guess not everyone goes to college.

Yes, this is me fishing for information.

well… i kinda dropped out.

decided to go on a road trip with my brother.

things went a little south I ended up continuing the family business.

Damn, college drop-out ey? Where from?

Also, Family business? What do you do?

Is this too interview-y? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to snoop.

you’re good.

stanford. pre-law.

and my brother and i are private investigators. that’s why he’s not in Kansas with me. he’s working a case.

Daaaaamn. Stanford AND a lawyer? And now working as a PI? You’re pretty smart, then.

an ageist and a generalist? i didn’t take you for such y/n.

Fuck, okay, you sound like a lawyer too.

hahahah

so what about you?

What about me?

are you in college?

Oh yeah! Film school. My dream has always been to be a director. It’s rare to find someone who loves movies more than I do.

that’s really cool.

hey i’ve been meaning to ask.

Thinking of me, Sam?

…

Do tell.

how come you were walking home through a park in the middle of the night the other day?

Ooh, I was coming back from work.

I’m a bartender and I had a late shift on Friday.

oh I see. That makes sense yeah.

I’m sorry to cut this conversation short, but I’m legitimately three seconds away from falling asleep. I’m gonna hit the hay.

See you later, Sam :)

See you, y/n :)

A smile creeps on Y/n’s features at the thought of more conversations with Sam. He has given her something to look forward to, something to make her a little more excited during her boring every-day life. As she tucks herself in under her covers, eyelids heavy enough to droop involuntarily, the last thing she thinks of is him, the clever, sassy, twenty-four year old college dropout on the other side of the cracked phone screen. The overwhelming urge to get to know him overtakes her as she succumbs to sleep

--

So

Do you believe in ghosts?

that’s… random.

May be

why do you ask?

Idk, just wanna get to know you better.

that’s what you ask people you want to get to know better?

Yes?

Are you avoiding the question?

no

i do. believe in ghosts.

You?

So do i.

Well, sorta. I guess I believe in souls more than anything.

hm?

Well… I guess I hope (more than believe) that we are more than our corporeal selves.

In the sense that, it’s comforting to me that when we die, and our bodies stop working, we don’t evaporate.

I guess.

yeah I understand.

i don’t know. i guess i wanna believe in science more than anything but i know better.

How do you mean?

call it a hunch.

Oh c’mon, it’s gotta be more than that.

Sam…?

Y/n huffs out a breath, gnawing at her lip. She hopes her anxiety isn’t right, that Sam isn’t sick of her silly questions and existential dread, and is actually doing something. Perhaps his battery ran out.

...Sure.

She was doing something too, before she decided to text him. Eyes falling on all her books and notes, spread around her like ugly, depressing, anxiety-inducing flower petals. There’s a blanket over her legs, chilly fall weather seeping through her bones, and there’s a half empty pizza box in front of her. She’s full and the left overs are kept for her sister, Emily, who’s currently locked up in her room.

Damn it. Y/n is stressed and tired, and now her distraction is refusing to reply. This sucks. She hates the crawling, awful, gooey feeling of cold anxiety gripping every beat of her heart and stupidly convincing her he’s purposefully ghosting her, because he doesn’t like her.

Not knowing what to occupy herself with, she heads to take a shower. In the back of her head, she knows that she’ll probably not study any longer, so she takes it upon herself to sink under the hot water and wash thoroughly, trying to get her mind off Dean’s phone. When her feet step out of the shower and she has towel-dried herself as best as she can, she tosses her wet hair in a haphazard bun, and gets dressed.

Books stack under the rickety, stained coffee table, and she grabs her sketchbook, her favorite pencil, as well as her and Dean’s phone. She shoots Connor a text, arranging a hang out of some kind, and opens her little booklet, when a text vibrates Dean’s phone.

hey i’m sorry i got caught up in something.

It’s alright.

She doesn’t press the ghost subject, because he doesn’t seem into it and she really doesn’t wanna make him dislike her any more than he possibly already does.

The empty page of her sketchbook daunts her. With a tight grip on her mechanical pencil, she urges her creativity pumps to use some gasoline, but they seem limp and dead, and once more unwilling to help her. As her eyes fall on Dean’s phone, like a light bulb out of a cartoon, she gets an idea.

Hey, this might sound creepy, but what do you look like?

She stares at the phone. This feels like a risky question. God, if he wasn’t done with her before, he certainly must be now. But then, he surprises her.

why do you wanna know?

I’m in the mood to sketch some, and my creativity has officially left the building.

Care to help a girl out? Maybe your literary descriptions will spark something in me lmao.

i didn’t know you sketched.

Yeah, sometimes. Nothing great though, I promise. I’m certainly no Picasso.

i mean you don’t have to be picasso to sketch well. and you don’t have to sketch well to sketch at all.

Yeah, may be.

I don’t wanna pressure you into anything, you really don’t have to humor me.

If you do feel like it though, don’t send me a picture. Kinda wanna spark some life into my brain cells.

haha i will. only if you show me the finished product tho.

You’ve got yourself a deal :)

She simply cannot believe he has just agreed to this. Her breath is caught in her throat.

so.

what do you want me to start with?

Just whatever. Idk, tell me about your face.

well

i have brown curly-ish hair that reaches my ears. uh, my eyes are hazel.

Okay, that’s a start.

What’s your nose like?

it’s a bit pointy. thin i think?

Jawline?

sharp? i guess?

this is by far the weirdest thing i’ve done.

Lmao, yeah, this is pretty weird.

Exciting though.

She shouldn’t have said that. Fuck, that is definitely overeager.

yeah it is.

Her stomach feels floaty at his response.

Eyebrows?

uh

normal?

How do you classify “normal” eyebrows, exactly?

i don’t know? they’re simple i guess.

Are you implying complicated eyebrows exist out there?

…

Elaborate, Sam. Are you shy? Do you not have eyebrows? Are they bushy? Or too thin? Or pointy?

i’m telling you they’re average.

Sam

what

You officially suck at this.

oh fuck off how would you describe yours?

Y/n proceeds to write a cohesive sentence that includes adjectives apart from “normal” and “average”. Words like bushy, thin, arched and curvy.

well shit yeah i guess i do suck at this.

i think it’s not a skill i mind not having.

That… is a confusing sentence.

just… draw them however. what difference can eyebrows make?

Oh you have no idea.

Okay, last thing.

Do you have a fringe?

yeah but not for long. i’ll probably let it grow out.

Okay, I can do something with that. Thanks :)

no problem

Her creativity is finally servicing her according to her commands, and Y/n puts pen to paper and scribbles messily. Line after line, they curl and sit on the page, forming a smile with thin lips, a sharp jaw, a pointy nose. She has to guess the eyebrows a bit, and the eyes are more cartoonish and generic than she likes. In the end, she gets anxious at the prospect of having to show him, and gives him a hood, so she won’t fuck up the hair.

Okay, I’m done.

that was quick, actually.

Well I didn’t have much to go on.

Sam doesn’t reply. She worries he might have misinterpreted her teasing tone.

Gimme a sec, I’ll send it over.

Ugh, Dean’s camera is such shit. Do you mind if I send it from my phone?

no go ahead.

[Y/n has sent a picture]

As you said, it didn’t take long. It’s really not the best.

that…

is actually not too far from the truth

it kind of looks like me from two years ago

wow, really?

yeah.

and it’s honestly a pretty good sketch. good job.

Thank you :)

Sam doesn’t say anything after this, and she huffs. Her head falls back on the couch, and she stares at the ceiling. She should go to bed soon, it’s getting late.

isn’t this strange?

Oh shit. Oh shit, oh shit oh shit, she thinks. He’s regretting this. He doesn’t like her. He’ll stop talking to her and that’ll be it.

Why does she care so much? It’s a thought that passes through her mind. It hasn’t been long since they started talking and, after the near-kidnapping encounter, they’ve been having nearly daily conversations, but that still doesn’t mean much. She knows barely anything about him.

She guesses, she wants to get to know him better. He seems like the type of guy she’d enjoy hanging out with and she has so far. Stopping any kind of conversation would surely feel like a loss. She’d have to go back to her boring routine. This is the most exciting thing she has allowed herself to do in years.

A part of her feels rather lame for finding such a thrill at something so trivial. She’s talking to a stranger, and that’s all it is, but the prospect that he could be anyone at all, and she’s never even seen his face… well… It feels refreshing, new. Scary in an adrenaline-rush kind of way.

What is?

us. texting.

isn’t it a little odd?

I guess it is a bit.

I mean we’ve only known each other for, what, a week? And a half?

yeah.

should we stop?

I don’t know

Do you want to?

The extra moment his reply takes to arrive makes her want to vomit.

no

Then there’s your answer.

okay then

can I save you in my contacts?

Sure, go ahead.

I just did too.

alright.

Okay :)

I’m sorry, I have to go.

I guess I’ll text you later, Sam.

Go be whoever Sam Something is.

it’s winchester.

Like the shotgun?

yup.

That’s BADASS. Can you even get more badass than this? Pre-law, now a PI, and you’re named after a shotgun? Damn dude.

Well, it’s nice to meet you Sam. I’m Y/n Andrews.

Haha thanks.

nice to meet you, too

goodnight Y/n Andrews.

Night Sam Winchester :)

--- Part 3

A/N: Thoughts? How are you liking the newer version of this? right after I post it, I’m gonna delete the other one.

Taglist:

Old Can You See The Stars taglist: @shutupiminlooove @sammysgirl1997 @kymberlytorres @bambi95-blog @demonic-meatball @thekarliwinchester @littlekay15 @li-m-ii  @thinspo-isuppose @carryonmywaywarddemigodwitch @ellen-reincarnated1967 @moonlitskinwalker @marichromatic @illuminatus42 @lazy-author @mirandaaustin93 @hauntedsiriel @pilaxia @devilgirlsarah @nobodys-baby-now @captiveties @calamitychaos @midiocris @wordswillscream​

Sam taglist @kymberlytorres @theboykingsam @depressed-moose-78 @andi-mendes-barnes @captainmarvelcorps @nerd-in-a-galaxy-far-away @nellachain

[zodiyack]

Phantom Of The Opera

Requested by anon: Just wanna say that you're my favorite writer on Tumblr! ❤️ I have a strange request. Could you make one Thomas ShelbyxReader based on The Phantom of the Opera? The reader performs in a fancy theater and a man, the theater's ghost, is obsessed with her. And the Peaky Blinders have to wait for the performance to catch him 'cause he's a freaking ghost (Point of No Return scene) I don't know if you ever watched The Phantom of the Opera, but I can send you another message with more info if you want

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x reader

Warnings: Swearing, mention of stalking, smoking and alcohol, fluff, angst, mention of murder(?), slightly straying? idk man

Note: I’ve never seen the movie, so I’m not gonna be completely accurate, but it’s not supposed to be EXACTLY the movie, so I guess that’s okay? I hope you guys like it! Also.. don’t mind the singing parts... 😅 

so basically, it’s like the movie but there are MAJOR differences... oops

Special addition to the note!: I had some help!! Thank you so much @jenepleurepasbaby​ for the ideas as well as information from the movie, I can’t thank you enough!

Word count: 3,000+

Taglist: @captivatedbycillianmurphy, @stydia-4-ever, @matth1w, @redspaceace, @jenepleurepasbaby, @simonsbluee

masterlist | peaky blinders masterlist

She adjusted her hair as the director dismissed everyone. Their practice was now cut short, dark coming closer and closer. Arthur was her ride, yet he lie asleep, and possibly drunk, in one of the seats. Y/n sighed, grabbing bunches of her large white dress. Her friends bid her goodnight as they walked out of the building, leaving Y/n and her lover’s unconscious brother alone and in silence.

Y/n was unsure of her part. Although they just practiced, she felt the need to go over a bit more. Arthur managed to sleep through the entire rehearsal, so who’s to say he wouldn’t sleep through her singing? She would need to wake him up anyway. So she sang, went over her parts, fell into the melody.

That was, until she heard it.

Until she heard him.

The rough organ, the voice. They clicked into her brain, her voice slipping and dropping silent. It took her by surprise. Though she stopped, the voice kept singing. He sounded beautiful, elegant, more perfect for the singing role of her on stage lover than the singing partner selected for said role was.

“Sir?” No response came to Y/n, but the man continued singing. She looked around, checking on Arthur in his intoxicated yet peaceful state, and then starting her mission. She wished to find the voice, so she followed it.

The louder it got, the bigger the pit in her stomach grew. It was a pit of nothing but fear and worry. She didn’t have Tommy with her, and Arthur was asleep, she knew she would need to be careful. Her hand wandered down to her side. Under the thick fabric of her gown, holster from Polly made specifically to hide on her garter clips, was a small gun.

A breath she didn’t realize she was holding released itself from her mouth, relief at the feeling of the cold metal. She hoped she would have no need to use it, but it was good to be cautious.

His singing was now echoing through the hall, signing his presence. Y/n turned and gasped slightly out of shock. She let her eyes study the figure in front of her, the white mask that donned the side of his face, his slicked back hair, the way his voice sounded...

It was almost like his voice was magic. Her eyes gleamed with an entranced look, like she wasn’t fully there.

His free hand reached for hers and before she could top herself, she slipped her palm into his. He stopped singing, leading her through the theater to wherever he was to take her. She couldn’t stop herself, it was hard enough to even thinking in her own voice with his angelic voice.

Now that she heard him in person, she realized she’d heard him many times before. She’d heard him in her dreams, the same voice haunting her, no matter it’s beauty. He called for her, summoning her to a place she had no knowledge of. 

The stories of the theater dubbed him the Phantom of the Opera, the ghost who would kill those who refused to do his bidding. 

“Reminds me of a certain family.” She remembered telling the story to Tommy and the other Peaky Blinders, referencing their work with teasing smile.

His voice summoned her ever since the first performance she’d ever done at this very theater, a man standing on the rafters and observing her rather intensely. However, she was not the one to spot him that time, instead a backstage worker. He pointed out the man, but Arthur assumed he was just drunk and told Y/n to just ignore it.

Oh how wrong he was.

The half-masked man seemed to have such a power, casting a spell on her and removing logic from her mind. Her face lit up by the torch in his hand as he led her down a staircase. A horse waited down

“Sing once again with me, our strange duet. My power over you, grows stronger yet.” He lifted her onto the horse and guided the dark steed down a ramp-like walkway. “And though you turn from me, to glance behind, the Phantom of the Opera, is there inside your mind.”

He helped Y/n off the horse, held her hand as he helped her into the small row boat. He rowed through the water, closer and closer to his lair. She didn’t know why, but she felt the urge to join in. Was it his spell? Making her feel this way?

“Those who have seen your face, draw back in fear.” It was definitely him. She couldn’t think of a time she’d ever sing something like this, aside from her performances. “I am the mask you wear,”

“It’s my voice they hear.” He continued to sing as she transferred to the operatic vocalizing. The masked Phantom encouraged her, stopping his song and listening to her breathtaking voice. “Sing, my angel of music!”

“Sing my angel...Sing for me!” She grew louder the closer they got, the grate lifting and allowing them entry to his underground lair. “Sing my angel! Sing for me!!” Y/n hit her final high note, cutting herself off as they came to a stop. The candles, which had risen from the foggy waters, were just now being processed with mild confusion. The events prior to her arrival in his hideaway were catching up to her, equally as mysterious.

“Listen my dear. Can you hear that?”

“Hear what?” The Phantom held her hand, helping her out of the boat.

“The organ, of course. I’ve played it for you, in hopes that you’d listen and find your way to me. And that, you did.”

“You were... playing it... for me?” Y/n raised her eyebrows curiously. He nodded, walking over and playing a few notes to the song she had been rehearsing before she wounded up in his secret home. “W-Why?”

“What better way to prove my love for you?”

Her mind gave itself a slap to the face, returning herself to full consciousness, the hypnotic state the Phantom had her in was nowhere to be found. “Excuse me?”

“Is there a problem? I’m simply stating my admiration for you. My undying heart, it beats only for you, and your marvelous voice. That man, the one who sent the other with you, he has no love for you. His heart holds no care nor affection for you. Alas, that is one thing he and I do not have in common.” The Phantom’s lips curled into a smile, a child-like innocence that could’ve tricked Y/n’s back into her trance.

But it didn’t. She pushed him away from her, making sure to not be too rough. “Why!? Why would you say such a thing!? You trick me into following you, just to reveal you wanted to rid me of my lover?”

“No, not just that-”

“Have you lost your mind?! I’m sorry, I can’t. It was a pleasure meeting you, dear Phantom, but I’m afraid I simply cannot except any offers you have. Your love is flattering, but my heart belongs to the one who actually does love me back.” Her hands gripped her dress again, pulling it up enough for her to move back to the row boat.

However, she couldn’t make it to the small boat on time. He grabbed her arm and yanked her towards him, forcing her to face him. “Please, Y/n, just let me prov-”

“How do you know my name?” A silence split between the two. He didn’t answer her question. She looked up at him slowly, curiosity overtaking her. He was distracted, unaware, it as the perfect time to strike. She reached for his mask, snatching it, but being pushed to the ground before she could see his face.

He growled, covering the side with his hand, screaming insults at her as she remained on the ground with wide eyes. She was too shocked to move. The push managed to take the breath from her lungs, resulting in small coughs when she tried to stand up.

“I- I’m sorry.” She reached for his cheek, the action startling him. He stumbled backwards, he reached forwards slowly when she held out his mask, ripping it from her hands. “Please, could you take me back to the theater?”

He didn’t respond. His own way of saying no.

“I’ll... um... I’ll be going then.”

He didn’t stop her. He wanted to, but he didn’t. Besides, she had a performance coming up, did she not?

. . .

“Y/n has called a family meeting!” Arthur stomped over to his chair, sitting and crossing his arms as he waited for the rest of his family.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“No, Pol, I’m fine...”

Arthur groaned and rolled his eyes. “Yesterday. Theater. Stalker. Tell them, Y/n.”

The family’s eyes shifted from Y/n to Arthur, then back to Y/n after he finished his sentence. “Fine. There was...a man... Um... Remember the ‘drunken man’ from my first performance?”

Everyone nodded. Esme stepped in, receiving a short glance from John, “What happened? Did your stalker try to kill you or something?”

“No no no, he wouldn’t do that.” The calmed family turned to Y/n with concern and confusion. Y/n looked at each one of them, anticipating their reactions. More specifically, Tommy’s. Jealousy and anger surged throughout his body, and somehow, everyone could tell. Jumping out of her chair, she walked over to him and pecked his lips reassuringly, “No, I’m not in love with him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Alright alright, Tommy, stop being jealous, Y/n, we must be getting back to the point. Please explain what this meeting is for?”

“Ah yes,” She sat back down. “He um... well he took me somewhere. It was like..under the theater? I sang with him... he called me his ‘angel of music’, and he said my name...”

“What else did he do?” Tommy’s jaw clenched.

“He wouldn’t take me back, so I went back myself. He um... well he did do um.. something...”

Arthur slammed his cup onto the table, standing up quickly, ignoring the wide eyed glares from Linda and Polly. “Oh get bloody on with it! It’s not like you slept with him or something!”

“Damn it Arthur! Could you please just give her some fucking time!?”

“T-thank you, Pol... but Arthur’s right. The man... he... confessed.”

Lizzie was the one to react first this time. She seemed mentally absent from the conversation until the confession had been mentioned, her jaw dropping and eyes popping. “Confessed what?”

“His love. For- for me. I left at that point. He tried to tell me Tommy didn’t love me, but no words from anyone could ever make me believe that. It felt like he put me into some from of trance until then, which I snapped myself out of once he brought up love.”

Tommy started for the door, gun in hand, but was stopped by Y/n. “Please, just... just leave this be... let the coppers handle it, it’ll be alright.”

“Alright? Alright? All-fucking-right?” the blue eyed man pointed to the door, the veins in his hands were bulging. “Out there is a man who is stalking you, obsessing over you, and possibly targeting me so he can take you. And you’re gonna tell me it’ll be ‘alright’?”

“Tom... to be fair, you are being a little ov-”

“Ada, don’t you dare finish that fucking sentence. Tommy’s right.” If looks could kill, Arthur would be long gone by now. “When it first happened, she asked us to wait until it happened more, then it did. But she still didn’t want us to do anything. This time she had an in-person encounter with the creep, and she wants us to wait for coppers?”

He turned to Y/n, “Arthur’s correct. We waited, just as you asked, and now, it’s extreme. Please...” He returned his gun to it’s holster, taking her face in his hands, “let us deal with this.”

“I-” Her e/c orbs glanced around the room, zooming from person to person before giving in and locking eyes with the man in front of her and relaxing into his touch. “Okay... just, don’t hurt him. He seemed so... alone.”

“We can’t promise anything, but we’ll try our best. We’ll all come to the show, and we’ll be your protection, alright?” She nodded and kissed him back as he pressed his lips to hers softly. “Now, let’s get home.”

“Thank you everyone... I’m sorry about-”

“No.” Y/n’s head snapped up, quirking an eyebrow to Polly’s interruption. “Don’t be sorry. It’s gonna be okay. Get some rest, you have quite a performance to prepare for.” With that, she winked and smiled, waving goodbye to Y/n and Tommy as they exited the Betting Shop. She was right. They had a big day tomorrow, and there was no time for messing around.

. . .

As she sang, her eyes were focused on the audience, darting around in search for her lover and his family. The Peaky Blinders weren’t that hard to miss, but they soon became so when The Phantom entered onto the stage where her partner should’ve. She noticed quite quickly, the difference in vocal ranges, the height and figure differences. She would be lying if she were to say she didn’t feel even the slightest bit of fear.

Their voices danced together, the trance returning to her, her body and mind betraying her. The Phantom walked closer, lust filled his eyes, the trance-like-state forcing the same into hers. Tommy, in his seat, gripped his gun. Patience escaped him, replaced with burning jealousy and rage.

“When will the blood begin to race, the sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames at last, consume us?”

They began towards each other. Arthur nudged Tommy’s shoulder, gesturing to some of the cast peaking from behind the curtain, obviously puzzled with Y/n’s singing partner. All the proof they needed that he was the man they were watching for.

Their voices joined, “Past the point of no return! The final threshold!” Tommy’s hold on his weapon grew tighter as Y/n and The Phantom closed the distance between their bodies. The stranger spun Y/n around and wrapped his arms around her stomach, his hands over hers. “The bridge is crossed, so stand, and watch it burn...”

Like a bull to a red flag, the sight of The Phantom’s wandering right hand traveling up Y/n’s chest and to her neck brought darkness to his eyes. “We've passed the point, of no return...”

Although the song was due to end there, The Phantom had other plans.

Y/n’s eyes opened as The Phantom’s voice continued. She was waking herself up, realizing her state and snapping out of it.

“Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime... Lead me, save me, from my solitude... Say you want me with you, here beside you, anywhere you go, let me go too -  Y/n, That's all I ask of-”

He was interrupted by the screams of the audience. Y/n did what she needed to do. She had pulled the black mask free of his face, revealing to the audience just who he really was. Thomas took the screams as his cue and pulled his gun from it’s holster. He didn’t move, instead, he waited for a sign that would tell him that it was necessary. He preferred Y/n get out of this alive.

She looked to the Phantom with sorry emotion, genuine sympathy and hurt in her e/c orbs. The Phantom returned her reaction. He couldn’t be mad at her, but that wouldn’t stop him from having her.

Out of his peripheral vision, he noticed the coppers racing to the stage, pushing past people. He immediately grabbed hold of Y/n’s waist, as tight as he could, and cut the string to the enormous chandelier.

Tommy jumped up, alerting his family, directing each person to move out of the way. He froze, watching Y/n and The Phantom fall from the bridge, and into the ground. Tommy surged forward, leaning over the railing and screaming in agony, forced to watch the stalker escape through a hole in the ground with the love of his life. Polly, Michael, and Arthur grabbed Tommy, trying to pull him back. Even Pol had tears in her eyes.

It was never meant to go this way.

When did everything go so wrong?

What did they mess up?

. . .

The three brothers found their way through waters, ending up in The Phantom’s lair. Tommy’s eyes widened. Y/n, face covered in tears, mouth shivering, frozen in fear, stood there, next to The Phantom, in a wedding dress. She looked gorgeous, but Tommy couldn’t let that distract him.

“What the f-”

Arthur slapped a hand over John’s mouth, quieting him before they could be caught by the pair. He looked over to his other brother, scanning the look of worry on his face. His other hand rubbed his brother’s arm comfortingly.

“Pity comes too late,” The Phantom placed a veil on Y/n’s head, “turn around and face your fate! And eternity of this!-” he pointed to the scared side of his face, “before your eyes...” He calmed himself by looking into her eyes. Erik, the Phantom, placed a ring into Y/n’s hand.

Y/n walked to a covered mirror, taking off the veil as she walked. “This haunted face,” She tore down the cover, turning to Erik. It was clear that they were no longer strangers. “Holds no horror for me now. It’s in your soul; that the true distortion lies...”

John snorted a little, finding humor in the fact that they were still singing, but quickly shut up when Erik turned his head towards the noise. It was too late, far far far too late. He smirked mischievously.

“Wait, my dear, I think we have some guests!” He switched from singing to talking.

Her eyes followed his gaze, spotting Tommy, John, and Arthur. “Tommy!” She moved forward. Tommy mirrored her and pressed himself against the portcullis.

“Sir. Or shall I say, sirs. This is indeed, an unparalleled delight! I had rather hoped that you,” he made eye contact with Tommy, “that you would come!” Erik walked down the steps, next to Y/n. “And now, my wish comes true.” He pulled Y/n into her side. Tommy flinched upon hearing and seeing Y/n’s panic caused by Erik’s actions. “You have truly made my night.”

“Let me go-”

Everything broke from Tommy’s head. It was purely in the moment. For once he was acting with his heart, rather than his brain. “Free her!” Y/n stopped and looked to him with confusion, opposite to Erik’s looks of amusement. “Do to me whatever you would like, but please! Free her!”

“Your lover makes a passionate plea.”

“Please- Tommy... it’s useless...”

“Tom! She’s right, we can’t do anything with this stupid thing in the way.” Arthur grumbled.

“I love her!” He was speaking to everyone. From the heart. “Does that mean nothing? I love her! Show some compassion-”

“The world showed no compassion to me!” The brothers and Y/n faced Erik, small signs of empathy for the red and ruined side of his face.

“Y/n. Y/n, let me see her. Let me fucking see her!” Tommy kicked the portcullis harshly, showing his demand was not to be taken as a joke.

“Be my guest, sir.” Erik smirked wider and walked to a lever. He pulled it and the portcullis began moving upwards. Before he could say more, Tommy fired random shots. He could careless if he hit The Phantom or missed, his mission was to get Y/n and then skedaddle the fuck out of there.

John and Arthur exchanged glances and nods, joining Tommy in open fire towards the man.

Tommy reached Y/n, pausing and pressing a kiss to her soft lips, closing his eyes and melting into their short kiss. After the separated, he picked her up, one arm under her knees and the other somewhere above her waist. He nodded to her. Her arms wrapped around his neck.

“John! Arthur! Cease fire! I repeat! Cease fire!”

Erik chuckled madly, “Aren’t you going to finish me?” He looked at Arthur, then his gun. “Kill me!”

Arthur raised his gun. Aimed. Inhaled.

“Stop! Don’t kill him! Let him be... please...” Y/n faced Tommy with watery eyes,��“let me down for a second, please.” Thomas hesitated, but followed the orders of his significant other. She kissed him once more, then walked to Erik and shooed the brothers away from him.

“W-what’re you doing!? Y/n! T-Tom, she’s gonna get hers-”

“Leave it Arthur. Y/n knows what she’s doing. I hope.” Tommy mumbled the last sentence under his breath.

They watched as Y/n caressed the cheek of the scared side to Erik’s face, her face scrunching with visible focus. She pulled him down to her, rested her forehead against his and whispered to him.

“Angel of music... thank you for this journey... Alas, twasn’t I that was destined to join you on it.” John shouted for her to hurry, the sound of the coppers growing near. “Run, dear Phantom, run and don’t ever look back. One day the world will except you...you just can’t force it.” 

Y/n reached for his hand, opening it and placing his ring in it, then folding it shut, just as he did to her hand. He smiled at her. He finally surrendered.

Tommy walked up to them, causing Erik to move back a bit. Tom stopped in front of the man and handed him a large amount of money, smiling with a heart full of sympathy. “Run, Phantom. As far as the coppers know, you’re dead. My uncle will have a boat, board it if you’d like. Start a new life.” 

The Phantom nodded, taking the money. But. He paused. “Go. Be free, my Angel of Music. You’ve shown me nothing but kindness and care, and I thank you for that.” The unfamiliar voices neared. Erik’s eyes widened, “Hurry! Leave! Go!”

Tommy grabbed Y/n, pulling her with him as they headed into the water and tried to ran through it. Y/n turned her head, giving Erik one last look, giving him one last nod, and smiling to him for the last time. They ran out the burning theater, Moss interviewed her, writers for news companies chased after her, but everyone was shooed away by her family.

At home, Tommy cradled Y/n’s cheeks, looking deeply into her eyes. “I thought I lost you...”

“Well I’m here, aren’t I?” She leaned forward, mumbling against his lips, “I missed you... I love you so much Tommy.”

Tommy closed the cap between them, staying for a few minutes. Peaceful. Quiet. Still in his suit and her in the wedding gown she was forced into. “I love you too, Y/n. Very much... Maybe this dress could do some use for us. Eh?”

[lordeasriel]

Idk if you really do meta so no worries if not but I’ve been studying loads of Arab history recently and I keep thinking about the magisterium and how it would interact with other world religions. Like the Arab world and Islam must still exist, and be close by. In the secret commonwealth there is a little bit of this but not loads. Just wondering what your thoughts are?

Oh, yes I absolutely do meta! lmao That’s basically all I do in this fandom! Thank you for the ask, I’ve given this theme some thought before, but never wrote it down.

First, I just want to say that my understanding of Islam is not extensive at all - we do not have a big muslim community in Brasil, especially not in my city which is super small - and despite all my research, it’s not enough to go super in-depth in the nuances of it. So, if you or anyone wants to add to this post, please feel free and encouraged to do so. I’m gonna offer you simply a very broad cultural take on the Magisterium and how it reacts to most religions.

I’m fairly certain Islam exists in Lyra’s world, tho. It’s not openly said so, but there are many instances in TSC that suggests so; what we don’t know is to which extent it exists. There is a direct mention to a niqab and there is a mention of a woman in Smyrna also wearing a headscarf (probably a hijab, maybe? there’s not a lot to tell), and as far as my knowledge goes, these are Arabic cultural/religious items. So, we know at least this part of the culture is there.

Something to keep in mind about Lyra’s world is that it’s a full-on globe, much like ours; that seems dumb when I say it lol but my point is, it’s too big for the Magisterium to reign alone as the sole master of religion with Christianity. Even in our world, the Catholic Church struggled in endless crusades against several different religions, including their own infighting over different variations of Christianity, and despite their best efforts, many religions still exist - some of them small, yes, and damaged by their influence.

There are far too many different cultures in the entire world for a single religion to successfully overtake the entire population. Human beings are so ridiculous random that some of us don’t even partake in religion, so it’s hard to see Christianity as almighty. It is, however, in Lyra’s world, a lot more powerful (think the Mighty Age of the Church in the past, when they consorted with entire kingdoms and their kings and controlled most aspects of life) and therefore it creates this idea of ‘they are alone in their power’. They’re definitely not, the Witches alone prove that; they have their own religion and gods. So do the bears. Their fantasy vibes conceal their cultural variation, but they are part of the world regardless, some of the witches even being pro-Magisterium. Again, random people being random.

Aside from these cultural groups, the general human population has the atheists, which are a divergent religious opinion as well and obviously, the Magisterium tries to suppress them hard - as they offer a lot of resistance to the dogma by improving science. By being more politically involved, the Church succeeds in controlling scientific progress, but still encounters resistance everywhere, no matter how feeble it is (yay, Oakley Street!). And the gyptians with their own secret commonwealth associations also suffer censorship and persecution, so the same probably happened with most religions.

Islam is not a small religion, and it’s also very old in terms of how long its been known to exist, so for it to seem so watered down to a simple cultural lifestyle (at least from what we see in TSC, with the dress ‘code’, I’m not sure if that’s the exact term for the niqab use, sorry if it’s not)  probably means that the Magisterium succeeded in fighting its influence very strongly (probably the Crusades, I’m not super familiar with that subject either). That’s either before or after it became the Magisterium, since we can assume the Church was vaguely similar to our world’s version of it, up until John Calvin’s papacy and the Magisterium’s foundation. And because they succeeded, they managed to contain the strength of Islam and keep it mostly isolated from the Magisterium’s power region which is the entire Europe, pretty much. (we have little information on Africa, and we know next to nothing about the Americas and Oceania, so I assume the Church had different degrees of influence in these areas).

But as we move through the Levant in TSC, it’s possible to see how fragmented their influence seems to be depending on the country. They have the Patriarch’s group in Constantinople, but that is still very, very close to Europe, in a way (I mean it is Europe but also Asia, geography is not my strongest trait lmao). But as Lyra goes deeper and deeper, the less we see official ‘civilised’ Magisterium groups (like La Maison Juste or any types of priories or anything dogmatic) - we mostly see military forces spread thin (mostly and more likely CCD), which to me just seems like their way of trying to enforce the idea of their might to muslim people in the region. However, they don’t seem to have a strong hold on the region and the further you go to Asia, I believe you’d find a very widespread community of people who follow the Islam and not Christianity.

One thing though, is that I think that these major religions (according to wikipedia lol): Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism; they are all confined somewhat to specific areas instead of being spread like they are in our world. You wouldn’t find nowhere near as many muslins and buddhists in Central Europe, Western Europe as you would in the Middle East, for example. And this is because Lyra’s world is yet to suffer from a globalization process, (easier transport, communication system, culture assimilation) they are outdated, including the fact that the world seems to be set somewhere between end of Victorian period (late 1800s) up to the 50s, and according to estimates, the world population in 1950 was around 2.5 billion people as opposed to our 7 billion in 2020. So, it’s a lot less people, most of them very spread across the globe, these are all things to consider when thinking about how the Magisterium would handle these things.

China (The Celestial Empire of Cathay and Manchuria in Lyra’s world) is said to be a huuuuuuuuge empire, and they are also implied to be very lethargic politically, which means they probably isolated themselves keeping their own religion and culture very tightly away from the Magisterium. There is a passage about how it is believed the Emperor wouldn’t care much, because he was old and/or sick, if and when the Magisterium invaded the Karamakan desert,  which is a Chinese territory, with several different nationalities of armies. So there is a lot to consider, but I think this gives room for us to see that the Magisterium is not entirely as almighty as it seems or as it tries to look like it is. Its reach has flaws and it mostly seems to operate in Europe and Europe-close regions, such as Northern Africa and parts of Asia.

So, I do think other religions still exist in Lyra’s world - despite not many being mentioned at all - and smaller religions like Judaism and Sikhism, for example, were probably persecuted a lot more due to their status, but in general I don’t believe any of them were entirely erradicated, despite, of course, being oppressed by the Magisterium.

[kellyashcroft]

It’s You C.7 - Why Does It Hurt?

Summary:  I’m Embry and I don’t think much of this whole soulmate business. What are the chances that in a sea of 7 billion people you’ll just find your soulmate? What’s the point in wasting your time with relationships with people that aren’t your soulmate? On the off chance that one or both of you do meet the one you’re destined for, it’s just gonna cause unnecessary pain but what’s the alternative? Stay alone forever waiting for someone that might never show up? I’m 26 and I still don’t have my mark and I’m tired of waiting.

Word Count: 3900

Warnings: Angst, mentions of parental death, mentions of physical pain, mentions of torture, fluff

A/N: Sorry it’s late, it’s been a busy week! This is the longest chapter yet, I’ve combined two chapters because the next one was really short but the next update will still be on Monday. Please let me know what you think and I will list the masterlink below for you! Thank you fpr reading, I hope you enjoy it! 

Series Masterlink

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Will wakes up not much longer after me and as I keep my eyes on the television, I feel his head shift down to look at me.

"Sorry, I fell asleep" he mumbles and I move my head to meet his eyes, still being held in his arms. 

"It's okay, so did I, I've only been awake maybe, ten minutes, I didn't want to wake you"

"I should go" he says as he moves to get up off the couch. He plants his feet on the ground as he stands up and brushes his hand through his hair as I turn my body to sit upright on the couch, wishing it was still two minutes ago rather than this awkward, weirdness.  “I don’t mean, I don’t want to- - I mean” he stutters as he scratches the back of his neck and I squint my eyes at him, “it’s late and I can’t stay the night, I’ve got no clean clothes here or anything”

"No, I get it" I answer quickly, realising that I did actually want him to stay and a silence falls over the two of us again as we both look anywhere but at each other.

"I'll just, get" he points behind his head, "get my coat then" he says quietly as I look back at him as his voice grabs my attention. 

"Okay, I'll walk you out" I say back as I get up and walk him towards the front door.

He hesitates just outside the door frame as he turns back to me and I lean slightly on the door.

"Embry" he starts, "do you? I mean, um, I" his nervous energy makes me stand up straighter, my heart racing in my chest. He lets out a breathy chuckle as he rubs the back of his neck with his hand again; I guess he does that a lot when he's nervous. "I had a really nice time tonight, thank you" he smiles up at me once he's decided on his words.

"I had a really nice time too, we should do it again sometime" his smile only grows wider at my words and a second later he leans in and places a quick, unsure kiss on my cheek and I feel my face blush.

"See you tomorrow" he says quickly as he turns to go to his car, looking back towards me as he gets into the driver’s seat and I offer a small wave and then he's gone.

I go back into my house, making sure to lock the door and find my phone, already having received a text from Will.

   ⁃    I really had an amazing time with you. Sorry I fell asleep. I really hope we can do it again, maybe next time I can cook for you? Good night, Em. 

I can't help but smile and notice the nickname he's given me and I realise no one else has ever shortened my name. It seems weird to think about because it seems so obvious, but no one ever has and I like the thought that maybe he will be the only one to ever call me it. I quickly text back.

   ⁃    I had a great time too. It's okay, you look cute when you sleep. I'd love that. Goodnight.

I walk up the stairs into my bedroom, put on my favourite pyjamas again, now that they're washed, and slip into bed, hoping for a peaceful night’s sleep, but that's not what I get. 

-

"You really just can't stay out of the way can you?" I hear a woman's voice say in an angry tone as I feel something being dragged from my face and I take a deep breath. "Always in the way!" 

The woman grabs my left arm and picks up a metal device as she places it over the mark on my wrist and I let out a scream in pain. 

"It'll stop hurting soon, we've done this before, stop fidgeting" she scolds and my blood turns cold at the pain and fear I'm feeling.

"What did you do with him?" I whisper through the pain. "Where is he?"

"Oh he's fine, don't worry, you won't remember him soon enough anyway" she says. What does she mean, I won't remember him? 

The woman keeps the device pressed against my skin for what feels like forever and the pain increases and decreases in intensity over time. I hear my own screams and whimpers and I try to fight her off as she has more straps added to restrain me. 

Eventually she stops and the pain subsides a little as she removes the device. I manage a glance down at my mark through my hooded and watery eyes, exhausted from the torture I've just endured and notice that the mark on my wrist is lighter, less prominent.

-

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

I jolt awake, yet again, to the sound of my alarm blaring and slowly I reach over to hit the snooze button, hoping for just five more minutes; enough time to collect my thoughts, before I get up out of bed, and start my usual routine of brushing my teeth, washing my body, putting on make up and getting dressed. 

I decide again to drive to work today, feeling too tired to walk, as much as I miss my near the beach walks home and as I stop at some traffic lights I remember being here and my wrist hurting. I realise it was him I saw, Will. He was the guy walking across the street. I remember the same dark brown hair, the same smile, the dimple. He was the guy who's hand I shook and felt the same pain again. But the mark isn't supposed to hurt. I've never heard anyone ever say it hurt them to get their mark, so why did mine hurt?

I'm pulled from my thoughts yet again as the lights change and I continue my drive to work but I can't seem to shake the feeling that something's wrong. Surely there must be a reason that ours was so different? I make a mental note to go to Clive's after work and ask him if he knows anything about it. He knows an awful lot more about them than me, he practically wrote a thesis on them at one point, maybe he can help. 

As I pull into the car park at the school, I see Will walking across a few metres from me and he raises his hand in a wave as he catches my eye and I think about how used I'm getting to seeing my mark on his wrist, and his on mine. 

"Hey" he says as our paths cross near the doors of the school and we smile at each other. 

"Hey, you okay?" I start as he shakes a plastic cup at me containing my favourite mocha, passing one to me and keeping one for himself. “Thank you”

"No problem.” He pauses as he smiles at me. After a few seconds he shakes his head as he looks down to the floor and continues, “Yeah, didn't sleep the best though, you?"

"Me either actually, I had the weirdest dream" as I'm about to start to tell him about it, the bell rings for the first class of the day and I feel like I've lost time, not a lot, only about ten minutes or so, but like as if somehow, the day is passing by earlier than it should. I was sure we had longer to talk.  

"So today, class, we're gonna have a study session, so if everyone could take their notepads and textbooks out, I want you to all read through your evolutionary perspectives of eating behaviour essays and write notes on your essay. Try and shorten it into key points and then that into bullet points until you'll be able to know your paragraph from a few key words. If you need any help, just ask, otherwise, you can work in small groups" I finish as a few tables scrape across the floor, kids moving closer to their friends as a quiet muttering overtakes the room and I sit in my chair behind the desk. 

My mind falls back to the dream I had last night and I can't help but feel like there's more to it, like it's not just a dream and like I'm missing some of the information. I start to look at my mark and notice that it's full in colour, unlike my dream, but as I stare at it, it starts to itch again and I get a sharp pain in my head as a flood of words enter my brain. They're all fumbling over each other too fast for me to hear most of them, the only ones I make out don't make any sense to me and I hold the side of my head as I scrunch my eyes, opening my mouth in a silent scream and hope the pain will subside quickly.

"Embry?" I hear and just as quickly the pain started, it goes and I look up to find Will, his hands on my forearms, his body twisted as he tells the class to pack up their stuff and that they're dismissed for the day. As the class empties he turns back to me with concern in his eyes, "are you okay? I walked past and you looked like you were in agony. What happened?"

"I, I don't know, my head just started hurting. I couldn't make much of it out"

"Make what out?"

"The words" I answer, "my head was flooded with words, I could only make a little bit out through the jumble: lost, taken, soulmate and you, but it doesn't make any sense, I don't know what happened". He sighed in response as he moved one of his hands behind my head and pulled me into his chest and held me.

We stay like that for what feels like forever, one hand never moving from the back of my head while the other dances up and down my back, trailing small shapes over my green dress. 

After a couple of minutes he pulls back from me and wipes the remaining tears that have fell from my eyes off my face. “I’m gonna go and get you some water okay? Don’t go anywhere”

I nod as he hesitantly stands up and leaves the room, coming back only a minute later with a bottle of water. “I haven’t drank any of it, you need to have a drink okay? It’ll make you feel a bit better”. He says as he crouches down in front of me again, one hand finding its way back to resting on my forearm.

“Thank you” I whisper as I take a big gulp of water and he continues to look at me with worry in his eyes. “I’ll be okay, I just haven’t been sleeping very well” I say through a still croaky voice and he gives me a small smile in response.

“Just, relax for a little bit” he advises as he moves in slightly closer to me, “you’ve got like twenty minutes until the next class, will you be okay?”

“I’m good, honestly” I answer too fast, “you can go, but thank you”.

We share a tentative smile as he stands up and leaves the room, and again, I’m not unaware of his eyes lingering on me as he does so. 

I spend the next twenty minutes trying to breathe through the almost crippling anxiety I keep feeling, devising it’s probably better to just leave the remnants of my coffee rather than adding more caffeine to this situation. I find a small post it note and write down the words I felt drum around in my brain and stare at them, holding for an explanation to drop from the sky when the bell rings again. Too quickly my students pile into the classroom and still not feeling great, I inform them they will be doing the same study exercise as my previous class as I sit back in my chair, tapping my pen against the desk trying to figure out what this could mean. 

Not much longer passes before lunch has come around and before I can even move from behind my desk, Will is at the door waiting for me. 

“I was wondering if maybe you’d want to sit with me at lunch today?” I hear him say.

“We sit together every day?” I question with a squint of my eyes. 

“I guess that’s true” he laughs, “I mean, just me” he says as he slowly moves into the room as I walk around my desk. 

“Are you asking me on a date to the cafeteria William?” I smile as he blushes slightly. 

“No, not a date, I promise” he laughs as he looks back up to me and wipes his hand over his chin. “Just, I’d really like to have a meal with just you again.” 

“I’d love to”. 

Walking down the corridor to the cafeteria, I feel his eyes on me every few seconds and the questions he wants to ask are almost hanging in the air in front of us like a fog. 

“I’m okay” I say as I turn to face him, nodding my head, trying to convince us both. 

��I know” he says too quickly, “I just want you to know that if you’re not, if you need help, me to cover your class, if you need anything, I can feel the anxiety coming off you” his words make me turn my head to look at the floor as I feel him stop next to me and take hold of my wrist, his thumb rubbing absentmindedly against the mark that lives there, “that’s okay too. I’m here”. His final words have me lifting my head to look at him again, a small smile finding its way into my face as he slips his hand down to hold mine and intertwines  our fingers. As I nod my head, he gives my hand a small squeeze before releasing it as we start up our walk to the cafeteria again. 

Sitting down at a table on the far side of the room, we both dig into our meals, mine being chicken pasta and Will’s being bolognese, as we discuss his classes that day. Nothing major happened, like for example, he didn’t freak out all of his students by having an agonising pain in his head and had to have them excused by another staff member, but he did teach one of his classes about an obscure battle that I had never heard of. As the conversation about our classes dwindles down, we both turn to continue our lunches, comfortable in each other’s presence and my anxiety is easing from just being around him. 

“I know you might not want to talk about it but, I meant it, anything you need, ever” he says with a level of sincerity I’m not sure I’ve ever heard before and I know he’s not just talking about today, he really does mean anything and with what time is coming up, I can’t even begin to express how much that means to me. “Chloe mentioned something this morning about this being a tough time of year for you?” He asks innocently and I can’t work out if I’m mad or grateful that my friend started this conversation for me. 

“I don’t really talk about it at work but yeah, um, it’s coming up to the anniversary, of um, my parents death” I almost whisper, being brave enough to continue looking at Will. 

“I’m so sorry” he says quickly, “she didn’t say that- -, you don’t have to-“

“It’s okay, I don’t mind, but like I said I just don’t talk about it at work, sometimes I’m okay but sometimes I cry and I don’t want to cry at work”

“I get it, so do you like baseball?” He changes the subject quickly and I can’t help but laugh. 

The rest of the day goes by without a problem, each class going over the same study exercise based on what topic they’re focusing on currently and I spend my time catching up on grading essays. 

As soon as the final bell rings, I practically run from the school needing to see Clive as soon as possible. As much as sitting with Will at lunch may have eased my anxiety for that time, it came back in floods throughout the second half of the day. 

I walk into Clive's book store, hearing the bell above the door as I open and shut it. I nod in greeting at Clive, still by the counter, where he always seems to be and he nods back.

Knowing that the conversation I want to have with him is probably going to stir up some memories he'd rather forget, I take in a sharp breath as I start to walk over to him and he gives me a quizzical look. He must be wondering why I'm not just walking around the store like I usually do. 

"I need to ask you something, and you might not like it, but it's important, I'll explain as best I can but I wouldn't bring it up if it wasn't really important. Not to you" he gives me a knowing look after taking my words in and gives me a small nod, assuring me that I can ask, but not confirming that he will answer, or even have one in the first place. "Okay, have you ever heard of anyone's mark hurting? Like when they get it? Or even after they've got it? Because the first time I saw Will, it was when he was walking across the road and I was driving and I felt this sharp pain in my wrist; I didn't have my mark then of course and I ignored it, but then later it got itchy and I thought I could see something but I was wrong, although now, I'm not so sure. And then, the first time we touched, after we met, we both got a sharp pain, so bad we had to pull our hands away from each other and then mine was itchy later in the day again, I never asked about his" I'm not sure at what point we moved, but as I continue I realise I'm sitting in my usual spot on the couch at the back of the store, Clive opposite me.

"So then, today all of a sudden, it starts to get really itchy again, but like, painful itchy, like I want to scratch through my skin itchy and then I get this splitting pain in my head and I can't see or hear anything apart from these words going round and round in my head, too many to make out except four. Only four make their way through to me" I tell him the four words I'd told Will about earlier in the day as he leans further towards me, intently listening to everything I'm saying, a look of confusion on his face. "So I think they're connected, I mean, the pain, the itch, and the word soulmate came up, that can't be a coincidence right? So, I mean you know more about it than anyone else I know so have you ever heard of this happening? I mean, is it wrong? Is it trying to fight its way off my body because it's a mistake?" I ask, scared of what the answer could be as he stops me.

"I don't think it's that. The marks are never wrong, ever. He's your soulmate, there's no doubt about that but it hurting?" He turns away from me slightly, looking nowhere in particular as he thinks. "The only times I've ever heard of someone's mark hurting is when someone tried to take it off, they physically tried to tear it from their skin, it didn't work of course, the marks are protected, something in them. And when you spend too long away from your soul mate, mine hurts occasionally when I miss Mary, a few other people who've lost their soul mates or have had to be away from them have said the same thing but it's an ache, not a sharp pain".

He looks back at my disheartened face, disappointed at feeling like I still don't really have any sort of answer. "I see him every day, we talk after work until we go to sleep, he's text me goodnight, every night and neither one of us has tried to get rid of the mark" I trail off, defeated.

"Leave it with me, okay? I'll have a look through my stuff, see if there's anything I can find that might explain it and I'll let you know if I find something but just, try not to worry about it too much, okay kid?" He offers me a small smile as he pats my shoulder and I realise that's the first time since Mary died that I've seen any type of real smile on his face.

"Yeah" I surrender, "thanks Clive, it means a lot, thank you" I add sincerely as I get up to leave the store before quickly turning and adding, "oh I almost forgot, Will asked me to ask you if you could order 1984 for him? You know by George Orwell?" 

"Sure, I'll get on it straight away, I'll make up an invoice when it comes and keep it back for him or if you pick it up, okay?"

"Thanks Clive, for everything" I say as I leave the store and make it to my car.

On the drive home I decide it's been too long since I've walked near the beach and if there was ever a time I needed to be calmed by the ocean, it's probably now when my mind can't seem to stop spinning. I pull up on my driveway, get out of my car, and walk back towards the beach, deciding I'll spend a couple of hours there and maybe watch the sunset before I walk back home. 

Sitting on the beach, this is the calmest I’ve felt since I was laying in Will’s arms. Making that realisation only panics me more, I mean, I’ve only known him a few weeks. How is it that someone I’m still aware I barely know has had such a profound effect on me? I feel like there’s an internal battle inside of me of running away from this and what it means because I can’t help but feel like I’ll be hurt, and another side of me that wants nothing more than to jump in, head first because I know he will never hurt me and I don’t think I’ve ever been so confused in my life. 

Trying to shake all thoughts of Will and the dreams and the mark and my feelings about any of it out of my head, I focus on the sounds of the waves crashing in front of me and the feel of the sand against my bare feet, my shoes being placed carefully in front of me. As I dig my feet further into the sand, I wrap my arms around my knees, bending them up to sit in front of my face and I enjoy the beauty the beach offers. 

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Taglist: @yourideasarepointless​ @stiles-o-dylan24​ @moongoddesskiana​ @wydobrien​ @ashleyjeanthomas​ 

Date posted: 04.08.2020

[poptod]

The Dead Heed No Lies (Ch. 17)

Description: The Duat holds a great many rooms and a fair amount of Gods, and there is never a way of telling which will kill you and which will help you.

Notes: I am SO SORRY about not updating this for several days!! i spent some time with my friend danny and things sort of got out of control and she spent a couple days over at my house. I’ll be spending some time at her house starting tomorrow since my parents are headed out of town (business). Anyway, welcome to the Duat. Word Count: 4k

Chapter Seventeen: A Guide in Death’s Valley

A force blew through you, as though some creature were looking straight into your soul, an examination that burnt into your skin. You shut your eyes tight, trying to steady your grip on Ahk. The experience lasted only a matter of seconds, but by the time you reached the other side of the door, both of you were exhausted, panting and lying on the ground. Coughing, you made a weak effort to stand, only to fall back down on your knees. When you looked up, your eyes burning with tears, you saw a black sky above you, black earth beneath you, and a black valley ahead of you. Strangely, there were no metallic scents in the air – only lavender, and a distant honey.

"Remember," Ahk said with a grunt, rolling onto his back and staring at the sky, "we aren't dead. I don't think we'll have to... to go through all the, uh, trials, and things."

"You're helpful," you mumbled sarcastically, slowly standing up, and helping Ahk when you accomplished that.

The both of you stood there for a moment longer, watching the way the landscape seemed to breathe with a life of its own. Dark hills rolled down to make a shallow valley, where a thin stream ran beside you, its darkness an indicator of your presence. Palming at your waist, you grabbed your notebook. You opened it up to the map you'd drawn of Duat, the majority of it a graphite mess, but the replica of the Book of Two Ways' map would be of great use to you.

"So where are we?" Ahk asked, coming to stand beside you and look at the map in your hands.

"I'd say we're here," you said, pointing to a blank space, "meaning the first trial and tribulation would be snake chambers and squatting gods. Any idea what squatting gods are?"

"Absolutely no clue," he said.

What a comfort, you thought dully, snapping the book shut and hiding it back in your shirt. Stretching out your aching arms, the two of you began forward, the dull light of a clouded sky leading the way. He kept one hand intertwined with yours and the other on the hilt of his dagger, wary eyes glancing in every direction of the cavernous valley.

It took only a few minutes to reach the first room of what you knew to be a long hallway. Your map, though probably more incorrect than correct, predicted there to be rooms on either side of the valley, caves and homes where monsters and Gods sit with their trials and hardships for the ahk, or spirit, to pass. But you didn't belong here. Ahkmenrah might have belonged there, what with him not actually being alive, but you did not – you were flesh and bone through every day and night, and you weren't hoping to change that any time soon. That difference in you, that set you apart from everything else. Of course, you didn't notice this until Ahk pointed it out, stopping your trek to inform you.

"You're kind of... glowing," he told you, tilting his head curiously as he looked at you.

"I am the only living thing in the Duat. Probably not helpful, but there's not much we can do now," you said with a shrug. He agreed, nodding, and the two of you continued on your way, watching the hills for any sign of movement.

When the hills began to grow around you, reaching higher and higher into the sky, you heard whispers. Promises of a better life, murmurs of knowing something better than yourself. There you paused, as Ahk did, looking in every direction for the source of the voices. No movement, no falling pebbles, nothing at all, nothing but you and him.

"What are they telling you?" You asked in a hushed voice, your back pressed against his.

"They say I can be with my brothers, and my people," he answered, a breath caught in his throat. "What can you hear?"

You didn't want to say, as the moment he asked the whispers turned from general to oddly specific. At first it had been whispering grants of power, ways to a fruitful life, luring you into the life of a gold-starved Pharaoh. But when you spoke the tone changed, from hissing to hums. They murmured in your ear, close enough you could feel the heat of their words, telling you love is easy, you can take what you want, do not feel stricken with duty, it is all a lie, take what you want.

"They're telling me I can use the tablet to bring back the people I study," you lied.

"Should we keep moving?"

"I don't think there's much else we can do," you mumbled, and as he grasped your hand once more, you came to, and left with him.

As you walked forward the voices grew louder, louder and louder until you couldn't hear your footsteps over them. Trying your hardest to keep an even breath, you willfully ignored them, till Ahk pulled at your arm, stopping you in your tracks. Turning to him, you followed his line of vision to a large cavern in the side of the mountain. Inside you found the first room – the snake chambers, home of squatting Gods, and the paths of Rostau. At least, that's what it was according to Sepi's tomb.

Watching you with slit eyes, the snakes approached you in a mass of writhing scales, forked tongues diving out of their mouths to taste your scent in the air. You stumbled backwards, dumbfounded at their presence just as Ahk was.

"What do they fear? What do you fear, we will ssssee," a black serpent hissed out, wrapping its body around your leg as emerald scaled snakes approached. They swirled up your body, restraining your arms till you couldn't move, the black snake curling up your torso till it came to your neck, its fangs teasing at your skin. You didn't dare move.

It was only then, crowded over with snakes tasting your flesh, choking the air out of you and cutting off your blood flow, you saw what lay behind the snake den. The Gods, none of which you could recognize, and each carrying an instrument and humming low. You struggled, trying to pull at your arms and raise your head. Your efforts remained futile, even as you looked to Ahk, who was in the same mortifying situation. Black and white spots crowded your vision as your breath cut off, the snakes still whispering into your ear, lean into it, forget what you claim you need, you need nothing but yourself.

“Aren’t you a pretty thing,” a violent snake hummed in your ear, its tail curling around your neck. “Oh, haven’t you got beautiful, delicious memories, decadent, ssssucculent little thing, don’t you worry, we will take good, good care of you.”

Fear began to seep away from you, a warmth coating you as they began to overtake your body. It was far too easy to give in, to let them control you, to let go of your responsibilities and oaths to belong somewhere. Adrenaline left your veins, leaving only the exhaustion built from trekking through the pyramid and the Duat.

A bright shiing sounded from beside you, followed by frantic hissing and the splatter of cold blood. In sudden clarity you ripped away from the black snake's grip, turning your head and neck, gasping for breath as you tried to see where Ahk was. In one moment he was beside you and in the next he stood above you, ripping his dagger through scaled flesh. Caught in the moment he payed little attention to where he cut, simply ripping at everything that tied you down, leaving several tiny cuts across your skin, but it wasn't the first time you'd been hurt on this venture. The second you could feel your limbs again you clawed at the snakes wrapped round your torso, digging your nails into their flesh till they released, screaming and writhing in your hold. You stood as soon as possible, throwing the snakes in another direction, their cold blood still staining yours and Ahk's bodies.

"See? Not too bad," he said with a grin, brushing the dirt off your shirt. You almost chuckled breathlessly, before looking over his shoulder, seeing the sitting Gods stand, their instruments on the floor and their humming no more.

"Behind you," you whispered, never tearing your gaze from their menacing positions. He turned, frozen as the Gods stepped down from their pedestals, moving towards you.

"Do we run?" He asked, his grip on his dagger tightening.

"What else are we gonna do? Fight Gods?" You mumbled anxiously, looking around desperately for somewhere to run, somewhere you could hide.

"Well it's not entirely unheard of -"

The instant you found a respite up the mountain, a tunnel the dug deep into the earth, you grabbed his hand and ran. Stumbling, he followed after you, his pace quickening when the Gods began chasing after you. Approaching the small hole you practically dived into it, Ahk coming soon after till the both of you crunched into the tiny space. Their hands came after you, grey and green skin reaching to try and grasp you, one of them managing to get a grip on your hair and pull you.

Letting out a sharp yelp of pain you clawed at the hand, kicking your feet desperately to avoid being pulled out. Ahk grabbed at you, pulling you by your feet till the God’s grasp weakened, ending with you sliding back down the cave and curling up beside Ahk. Shaking with adrenaline and fear you kept close to him, hugging him close and watching with wide eyes as the hands kept reaching for you. They seceded a moment later as the earth moved. You looked to Ahk for an explanation, but as usual the both of you had level intelligence as to the happenings around you.

Crammed into that tight place, rocks surrounding you as the earth  began to shake, you tried to catch your breath. Ahk did the same, the two of you staring at each other as you panted.

"Earthquake," you noted softly as a large tremor ran through the ground.

"I didn't think the Duat had earthquakes," he mumbled, staring up at the obsidian ceiling.

"I, uh," you shifted in the small space, "I think it's probably Ra."

"Ra? Why - oh, yeah, the uh... the serpent battle. I don't know why I didn't remember that," he said, hitting his head with his palm. You reached for his hand, pulling it away from him and holding it tight in yours.

"You've been detached from your world for a long while. No one faults you for that, but we should probably not be around Ra, he's kind of a dick," you said, your breath catching in your throat with a particularly harsh rumble of the earth.

"Oh yeah, total agreement there," he grunted, moving on his elbows and knees to crawl out of the tunnel, reaching the light of the sky before it was overshadowed. You came up behind him, peeking over his shoulder.

The shadow cast upon the small opening was made by none other than Ra himself, standing at the size of a five floor building and towering above the valley hills. In his grasp lay the snake Apep, Ra's vice grip tight around his neck as he writhed, his fangs begging to be sunk into Ra's flesh. Apep wrapped his tail around Ra's free hand, squeezing till the blood cut off and bruises began to form. You winced when Ra cried out, both pained and determined as the fight continued, Ra stumbling back till he fell backwards. He rolled over, pinning the serpent beneath him. Letting out an uproarious cry, he freed himself from Apep's grasp, pulling out a dagger and pressing it into the serpent's mouth. Blood splattered across Ra's face, and in a rush Ahk grabbed your hand.

Pulling you out of the tunnel, Ahk lead you down the valley, never stopping his affrighted running till Ra was out of sight. Gasping for breath you fell to your knees, exhausted from the bolting speed Ahk had taken. He stopped beside you, panting as he rested his hands on his knees, looking off in the distance to see if Ra had noticed either of you.

"I think," he said, still trying to catch his breath, "he's big enough and we're small enough, I don't think he saw us."

"Oh God," you mumbled, coughing. "I really hope we don't need to sleep cause we're gonna have a hell of a time trying to find somewhere safe."

"Don't worry," he said in a sigh, sitting down next to you. "What danger comes next?"

"I'm not sure. If we were on the route of a dead person, we would've had to pass through the tunnel directly beside the squatting Gods, but we're not dead, so we can't go there. It looks like it's just a straight line, but I don't know where it'll lead," you said, pulling out your notebook and pointing to the various landmarks on your simple map, connected to an outlined list of all the dangers of the Duat.

"I really wish we could summon Ma'at right now n' ask her some questions," he mumbled, leaning his head against your shoulder.

"She said we could only ask one question," you reminded him. "Otherwise she'd kill us."

"I know, just hypothetical wishing. Can I see the map again?"

You dug the notebook out of your shirt and handed it to him. Opening it up to the right page, he held it so the both of you could see it, trying to pinpoint where you were. The two of you had just passed the snakes and ran a great ways, meaning you were somewhere near the lake of fire, most likely separated from that by the hills surrounding you.

"My theory is that we're walking down the middle, see this section," you said, running your finger down the thin middle of the map separating the trials from the Gods' homes. "That means that all the trials are either within the mountain or on the other side of it -"

"Meaning that on the other side of that range," he pointed to the right side of the valley, "is where Osiris and all them live."

"I believe so. Let's hope that everyone else is as big as Ra was, it'll be really hard to navigate that area if we're all the same size," you said, shutting your book and putting it back in your shirt as you stood.

Ahk stood with you, the both of you looking up at the tall mountainside, wondering how long it would take to scale that height. There were no more tunnels, no holes or caverns in the mountainside.

"How long do you suppose we've been here?" He asked, still looking up at the cliffs.

"Half a day maybe?"

He let out a whine of discontentment, which you couldn't blame him for – you'd been there less than a day and you'd already almost died three times. First was the snakes, second was the miscellaneous gods, and third was your mystery encounter with none other than Ra. The ravine, though, it stretched out endlessly; you would be walking it for days if you let yourself do so. You couldn't even see the portal behind you anymore. Out of all things that made you the most anxious, leaving you constantly wondering if the portal would stay open. There were a great deal of other things to be anxious about rather than that, so you kept your eyes open, and your thoughts clear.

Reaching for the nearest grip, you began your ascent up the mountainside, breathing deeply in hopes of avoiding serious exhaustion. Ahk came up beside you, but about five minutes into it the earth began to rumble again. Both of you looked to each other in a snap, the color draining from your faces as another tremor shook the earth, weakening your grasp on the rocks. You fell, sliding a short way down the mountain till you landed on steady ground. Looking to the sky and all around, you watched for Ra, as Ahk instinctively began searching for a hiding place. The silent communication you and Ahk had would come in handy once again, ending with him finding another small tunnel and forcing you inside.

"I feel like a rat," he said, following after you, sliding down the smooth rock of the too-circular tunnel. He slammed into you, apologizing softly as he situated himself to sit beside you.

"Better than looking like Ra's dinner at least," you mumbled, your eyes stuck on the entrance to the hole.

Trying to even out your breath, you ignored the tight space, hoping your mild claustrophobia would leave you alone – neither you nor Ahk needed an anxiety attack on your hands. The heat from both of you began warming up the small tunnel, a pleasant experience if you weren't already sweating from fear. A bitter scent invaded you, the smell of pools of blood from either within the mountain or from outside. You weren't sure which one terrified you more. With each thundering footstep the tremors grew worse, the giant approaching you slowly. Gripping Ahk you shut your eyes tight, willing for it to pass by you, pleading for safety within the mountain.

A shadow came over the tunnel entrance, an indicator you recognized too easily, and one that sent sheer terror down your spine. While you kept your eyes shut, Ahk looked on in a much braver act than you were willing to do. Instead you kept him close, as he kept you close, and the both of you waited for it all to be over. Peeking open a single eye, you watched as a foot stopped by the entrance. Both of you stopped breathing, petrified by the nearness. The giant, which you assumed was most likely a God, leant down there, knees pressed into the earth as they looked into the tunnel with a single, massive eye.

Immediately it saw you, watching as both of you clenched in fear, grasping each other tight as you tried to cram as far down the one-way tunnel as you could. Panic coursed through your veins in painfully harsh heartbeats. Long eyelashes blinked over the giant eye, a black and grey pupil following you and your frantic movements.

In a loud snap the eye left, in its' place a young woman with long black and blue hair, the dreads lined with expensive beads and a crimson and gold crown atop her head. She smiled a brilliant and kind smile, one that almost had you relaxing.

"Hello!" She said rather brightly, still smiling wide as she waved. "You aren't supposed to be here. How'd you get here?"

Her word choice made you want to think that she was hostile, but her tone said something else entirely, as she still remained as friendly as ever. The dress she wore, starting right below her breasts and running down to her ankles fitted her nicely, the red material tight around her waist and loose at her feet, allowing you to see the golden anklets she bore. When you saw the green beads gracing her collarbones, the cow horns in her crown, and the thin staff she held, her identity clicked in your head.

"Wait - are you Hathor?" You asked incredulously, your eyes wide as you spoke. Now Hathor, she was a God you could get behind, unlike Zeus and Ra. Osiris was okay but he was on thin ice in your books.

"Yes! I'm honoured you recognized me," she said with a laugh, her cheeks turning a soft pink as tiny creases appeared beside her eyes. "What are your names?"

"Uh, I - I'm (Y/N), this is Ahkmenrah, but usually we just call him Ahk," you introduced yourselves, almost stuttering in her presence, but you managed to hold together well enough.

Hathor, you hadn't thought about meeting her (or really any God besides Anubis), but that certainly didn't mean you weren't elated to see her. She was a kind Goddess, a protector of women and a patron of beauty. Not only that, but she appeared to live up to her titles with much integrity, helping you and Ahk out of the hole you'd sunk into.

"Ahkmenrah, you're quite the story around here," she said when you both stood on your feet before you. She brushed at his clothes, clearing the dust and blood off him before giving you the same treatment. Only when you stood directly in front of her did you notice her height, which was still notable, as she stood probably two or three feet taller than you.

"Really?" Ahk said, looking unsure if that was a good or bad thing.

"Oh yes," she said, nodding sagely. "Not everyone cheats death every night."

Ahk turned to you, an expression that begged the question, does this woman hate us or not? Unfortunately you did not know the answer, but you'd bet she in the very least wouldn't hurt you. You shrugged in unison with him, and the two of you followed her down the valley, keeping a faster pace to match her long strides.

"So, um - weird question, but are you going to kill us?" Ahk asked when you caught up with her.

"What he means is that most of the things and people we've met here so far have been, well..." you looked to Ahk, "um, let's say less than hospitable. We're just wondering what you plan on doing with us, if anything at all."

"Depends on where you're headed and what your aim is," she answered, and you prayed that she didn't know what you were actually doing. If she did, her phrasing definitely meant she was going to kill you. There was, however, the chance that Anubis wasn't telling each and every person the whole situation, and that left a little hope for you.

You spent the next hour or so walking with her and explaining to her the particulates of your predicament, the bulk of the story told by Ahk since he was there during the tablet's creation. Fortunately she took your word, believing that Khonshu blessed his family, and that you were there only to help. Of course, she was intelligent, and asked many questions, all of which the two of you were happy to answer. It was rare to find a God who acted kind and, in a way human, in all the best ways.

"It shouldn't be too hard to find your tablet. I know where it is, it's like a siren here – Khonshu doesn't live here, so when his magic appears, it's not in the ordinary for any of us," she told you as you walked.

"So you're going to help us?!" Ahk asked in an astounded voice, his mouth hanging open. You didn't blame him for that either, considering practically no one you'd met so far had been willing to help and guide you.

"That'd be wonderful," you added. "You don't have to, though."

"No, there's really very little to do here, and we can't do much on earth, so... it's fun to play with Anubis anyway," she said with a shrug, and in that moment you remembered that this was nothing but drama for Gods. Your life, magic on earth, Ahk's existence was all just drama and politics for them.

Ahk doubled back, his pace slowing to match yours. Standing beside you, he kept an eye on Hathor as he spoke in a hushed voice, leaning closer to you.

"Is this a good idea?" He whispered, his shoulder brushing yours.

"Can't be worse than our original idea," you mumbled back. He bit his lip uncertainly, glancing Hathor up and down before slowly agreeing with a tentative nod. Perhaps you couldn't trust her, but she was your best bet, and both you and Ahk had experience with cautious trust. Hathor would have to do.

[lovinmullen]

Tyrus Soulmate AU:                  I Don’t Know a Tyler??

Special shout out to my love, my happiness, my best friend @wanna-feel-alive for editing and improving this fic greatly !! I love you so god damn much Mackenzie, thank you for your help and your talent blessing my fic sksks !!!!

(the amount of editing she did shes basically  a co-writer so give her some love)

Summary: On Cyrus’ 16th Birthday he is so tremendously excited to receive his soul mark but when he is greeted with the name Tyler on his collar bone and not TJ like he expected, a number of emotions arise until TJ agrees to help Cyrus solve the mystery of who in fact this Tyler could be.

word count: 1900. // OKAY I KNOW SHES THICC BUT ITS WORTH IT I PROMISE XOXOXO

———————————- <3

Cyrus’ eyes fluttered open softly as his heart began to race. He shot up to the memory of what today was, it was the day of his 16th birthday, the day he would get his soul mark. Excitement ran through his whole body as he thought about whose name would be printed softly on his collar bone.

The brunet was the youngest of his friend group which meant all his friends got their soul mark before him. Marty had Buffy, Amber had Andi, Walker had Jonah, and TJ, well no one knew TJ’s soulmate except for his siblings, Amber and Marty. TJ had sworn them to secrecy. Cyrus didn't understand but he didn't question it for he knew all too well that if Teej wanted him to know he would tell him, they are best friends after all.

Cy shook the thought away as the morning fuzziness, which had concealed his sight, finally started to wear off as he reached for the neck of his top in an effort to quickly reveal the name but just as he was about to do so he got rudely interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Honey, TJ is here!” Leslie called sweetly. Maybe the interruption wasn't so rude after all, Cyrus thought. Suddenly the brightest smile was forming on the younger boys face as the dirty blond ran in screaming “HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNDERDOG!!” while he jumped onto the bed playfully so he could be close enough to ruffle the other boy's hair.

“I know it's not a lot but I had to get my lil’ muffin man something am I right?” The athlete laughed out timidly, his once playful demeanour now morphing into a tense/awkward one as he moved himself to sit beside Cyrus.

Cy carefully lifted the lid of the box to be greeted with a glistening gold necklace with a simple yet beautiful Star of David resting on the bottom of the chain. Cyrus’ smile grew even wider as he leapt onto his amazingly supportive friend, engulfing him in a hug thanking him repeatedly.

“No need to thank me Muffin, what are best friends for,” a soft smile started to tug at the corner of TJ's lips as he continued “hey have you checked your soul mark yet?” Cyrus’ eyes widened as an excited look spread across his whole face, slowly he reached for his shirt once again but before he could continue, fear took over him so he decided to close his eyes as he pulled it down slightly.

“Teej, you read it, I can’t. I don't want to. I-” TJ cut him off by giggling as he read with a knowing smirk.

“Tyler” , Cyrus’ brows furrowed as he opened his eyes confusion overtaking his whole body.

“Tyler? Who is Tyler?” The shorter boy moaned out in confusion. “I don't know a Tyler?” Teej’s whole body tensed and he didn't know if it was from excitement or fear, he hadn't decided yet but whatever it was, it was definitely there. Suddenly a little giggle escaped TJ’s lips as his hand brushed over Cyrus’ collar bone, while he whispered “Underdog” solemnly to himself, causing him to come to the educated conclusion it was excitement.

This, however, did not go unnoticed by Cyrus, whose eyes snapped over to TJ but before he could question anything the dirty blond basketball player laughed again, followed by him saying “We should get breakfast Muffin, after all, you can’t figure out mysteries on an empty stomach! Get ready and changed for school. I can take you to a bakery on the way if you’d like?”

With confusion overwhelming him, all Cyrus could do was simply nod but for TJ, that was good enough because he was already running out the door and downstairs. Sleepily and still very much confused he pulled on some pale blue skinny jeans his new necklace from TJ and the taller boys oversized black hoodie. Cyrus wasn’t sure why it was in his room, nor when or how it got there, but he knew the comforting smell of the athlete would calm him down. After all, with all this confusion and disappointment regarding his soul mark reading Tyler and not TJ liked he hoped, he was going to need his best friend and current crushes hoodie more than ever.

In the Jewish boy's sleepy state he pulled the jumper over his head to be greeted with the fact that he had placed it on backwards. Sighing as he goes to turn it around, Cyrus is stopped dead in his tracks as he is met with an old washed out label. He giggled to himself as he thought maybe now he can finally learn TJ’s full name! He examined the fabric again and again but he was just too tired to try and decode not only the messy handwriting but also how light it was. Little did he know if only he spent a few more seconds studying the name he could have realised that Tyler was a lot closer to home than he thought.

“Underdog come on we’re going to be late at this rate!” TJ called up the stairs, Cyrus takes that as his cue to stop daydreaming so he begins to walk down the stairs.

“You look fucking adorable.” TJ greeted Cyrus as soon as he was down the stairs.

“Thanks, it's a new jumper.” Cyrus flirtatiously replied with a wink. Where on earth was this confidence coming from? He wondered as he headed towards TJ’s car. After wishing his mother goodbye and a good day he was trying to keep the eye contact, or anything, with TJ to a minimum now that his confident streak had disappeared and he reminds himself that there's no point, TJ already knows his soulmate and he is probably 100 times better than Cyrus. Maybe he should just focus on Tyler and maybe, just maybe, admit and realise it’s time to move on.

-

As TJ and Cyrus walk through the doors into school, side by side it isn't long until they get bombarded by the group. Cyrus is having birthday wishes thrown at him alongside everyone asking about his soul mark. He doesn't understand why everyone is so interested and quite frankly they shouldn't be because he doesn't want to talk about it. In a heated moment of annoyance, he ignores them all, pushing through them abruptly and harshly in order to get to his locker.

Buffy and Andi’s face’s immediately fall, simultaneously shooting death stares at TJ, before heading to Cy’s locker.

“Cy, what's up?” Buffy asks softly, almost as if she was any louder, he would break.

“Please talk to us Cyrus, maybe we can help.” Andi reasons, Cyrus just sighs as he feels tears welling up in his eyes.

“It's not TJ, the soul mark its not TJ.” He whispers softly, his voice cracking slightly in the middle. Salty tears start to stream down his rough skin as he carries on. “I know this is stupid, I know I shouldn't be crying, but I wanted it to be him so bad and I-”

“Hey, Underdog what's going o- Wait, holy shit you’re crying what's up?” TJ interrupted his voice flooding with worry.

“You two need to talk” Buffy says calmly with a slight smile on her face. How is she smiling? Why is she smiling? Does she know something I don’t? Cyrus thought, his head flooding with confusion making him all the more angry. TJ could sense this so he perks up.

“That's an amazing idea, Buffy! Cy put your bag in your locker, I’m taking you to the swings. Let's go!” TJ said, his voice dripping with excitement.

“No, schools starting in ten minutes, he can’t do that!” Andi states angrily, looking at Buffy for support. TJ rolls his eyes at her.

“Hey, don't tell him what he can’t do. For your information Muffin and I have study period first so it doesn't matter if “school starts in 10 minutes”. Cyrus is upset and we’re gonna fix that no matter the time.” TJ stops to look around and then his smile widens when he locks eyes with Amber.

“Cover for us will ya sissy?” He pleads with puppy dog eyes. Those god damn puppy eyes, Cy thought.

“What am I supposed to tell them?” Amber asks, clearly exasperated.

“I don't know? Say Cyrus ran into a glass door and he's down at medical or something?”

“Wow, that one hit close to home.” Cyrus stated while giggling.

“Well, I had to make it believable didn't I Underdog?” TJ playfully asked, a lazy smirk covering his face.

The boys laughed and Cyrus started to wipe away the tears from his face as he calmed down. Suddenly though, Cyrus’ hand felt weighted, confusion flooding his thoughts he looked down to see TJ’s hand, interlocked with his own.

“Come on, we’re going to the swings!!”

-

Ten minutes had gone by of the boys just sitting there in comfortable yet awkward under toned silence. It was TJ who broke the silence by grabbing Cyrus’ hand and saying without turning to look at him, not being able to bare the thought of looking into his eyes.

“Did I ever tell you my real name?” He whispered, before hastily continuing on, “what it stands for, I mean.” He could see out of the corner of his eye, Cyrus reluctantly shaking his head.

“Tyler.” He said while smiling, “Tyler Joseph Kippen.”

Cyrus got up from the swing so he was able to stand in front of TJ and he bent down onto his knees while placing his finger under TJ’s chin to lift his head up softly.

“So my soulmate, the name Tyler on my collar bone, that correlates to you?” As confirmation, TJ nods as he pulls down the hem of his shirt to reveal in the most beautiful cursive writing “Cyrus”.

Cyrus’ whole face lights up with joy as he pulls TJ in for a hug.

“Can I kiss you?” Cyrus asks, hopeful and excited yet timid. TJ nods his head so hard Cy is surprised he didn't get whiplash.

“plEASE!” TJ begs as his voice cracks.

“You fucking dork!” Cyrus calls out before closing the gap between their lips. The kiss is short but sweet. pure and wonderful, filled with longing and desire. Cyrus starts to giggle and smile widely into the kiss, causing TJ to pull away in confusion.

“What so funny?” TJ huffs out, but all he was greeted with was Cy mimicking his early voice break.

“pLEaSe!!” Cyrus said, giggling at his over exaggeration of TJ’s voice.

“Oi.” He replies sarcastically “I think I deserve another kiss to make up for this bULLYING!!” TJ says playfully, a pout gracing his lips.

“God, you really are a dork.” Cyrus laughs softly kissing his soulmate again.

_____

Let's just say when the boys headed to second-period hand in hand, there were no more tears but there was a very concerned English teacher.

“Cyrus?? Oh, thank God you’re here, I heard you ran into a glass door and I’ve been worried sick! Are you okay? Are you bleeding? Are you feeling better now?”

“Amber” Cyrus mumbles as he begins laughing uncontrollably...

“I told you it was a believable excuse” TJ whispered lovingly, giggling in his ear.

“Yes miss, I’m okay.” Cyrus turns to look at TJ before continuing, “more than okay.”

-------------------------------- <3

hey guys !!! I hope you all enjoyed it. I was forced to post this by my am gc after I shared the idea. once again thank you so much, so so much to my favourite person who helped to edit this !!!!

here's the tag list???? (the people in my group who wanted a tag sksk) here you go, Merry Christmas

@judgemental-llama  @tyrus-is-endgame-fight-me @emmy2024riggs @a-bittersweet-gal  @cxrus-kippen

[dancingwithdylan21]

I Fucking Knew It

Summary: It’s Thanksgiving at the Stilinski household and a certain guest catches Stiles’ attention.

Pairing: Fuckboy!Stiles x Reader

Prompt: “I won’t tell anyone that you’re scared of a girl.”

~

A sense of calm washes over Stiles Stilinski as he sets foot inside his Beacon Hills childhood home. The delicious aroma of turkey is wafting throughout and it immediately overtakes him. Not wasting any time, he hightails it towards the kitchen to visit with his favorite person of all time. 

“Hey Mom! Happy Thanksgiving!”

Claudia beams at the sound of her son’s familiar voice and pulls him into a tight hug, “Hi honey! I’m so glad you made it home.”

“Me too.” He delivers with a warm smile before kissing her on the cheek.

Unfortunately Stiles has been missing in action lately, he hasn’t celebrated a holiday with his family in some time. His crazy consuming job at the bureau keeping his ass in Washington DC for the last year.

“Who’s coming today?” Stiles asks twisting the cap off of a frosty beer. “Anyone good?”

“Everyone! They’ll all be happy to see you.“

“Naturally.” He smirks before chucking a cube of cheese into his mouth, earning himself an eye roll from Claudia.

The house soon starts bustling as family and friends start to pile in with goodies in hand. The constant focus on Stiles is overwhelming him to say the least - how many times does he have to answer the same shit?

The agent sneaks away to the kitchen for alone time, only to find his long time best friends making out aka devouring each other, "What the fuck, guys. People eat in here.” He scrunches up his face at Scott and Alison.

Scott detaches from his girlfriend’s lips, “Yeah I was just about to eat something.” He winks making Alison giggle.

“Stop it right now. I refuse to be nauseous on Thanksgiving!” Stiles huffs loudly. 

“Dude, chill...” 

“No, McCall. There’s way too many delicious things to eat...”

Claudia grins walking into the room, the sound of the two boys bickering is oddly comforting. It’s finally feeling like old times again around here. The couple start laughing on their way out of the kitchen making Stiles finally smile with victory. 

"The Andersons just came in the door.” Claudia informs checking on the cinnamon cookies in the oven. "Stiles go say hi to Y/N and see what she wants to drink.”

A confused expression breaks out on the agent’s face, "Who?” He moves around the corner, not prepared for what he’s about to see.

You’re easily the most gorgeous girl that Stiles has ever laid his eyes on and it makes his heart speed up. He’s been staring, not even aware until you break him out of his trance with a friendly wave. A nervous smile appears on his lips before rushing back into the kitchen.

"Smooth, moron.” Stiles groans to himself.

“What does she want?” Claudia wonders with her back to him.

“Huh?” Stiles says distracted.

“What does Y/N want to drink?” His mom sighs, wiping her hands on the apron that she’s wearing.

"I didn’t ask.” Stiles answers with a frown. "Who is she?”

Claudia halts her movements, locking eyes with her son like he’s a mad man, "She lived down the street, sweetheart. You two played video games constantly. Almost everyday.”

“Wait what…”

“I always had to yell about going out and getting some fresh air.” She finishes with a chuckle.

"That's…there’s no way that’s her.” Stiles adds with wide eyes, his mouth now turning dry.

“Yup. That’s her.”

“But she moved away in the eighth grade with her family. I never saw her again.” Stiles squints at his mother, trying to search for any signs of a lie.

“I know. She moved back about a year ago. You’d know that if you ever came home for the holidays.” Claudia sasses with a hand flying to her hip.

Stiles ignores his mom’s comment, too distracted when the image of you as a kid pops into his head. "She was such a tomboy. I forgot she was a girl most of the time.” Stiles adds surprised.

“Not anymore.” Mary sing songs, unable to hold back a laugh over her son’s deer in headlights look.

Stiles is unbelievably caught off guard, still not convinced that you’re the girl who he spent countless hours with. There’s really only one way to find out the truth. He’s going to test you. First he just needs to find the balls to approach you.

"Hi Mary!” You stroll into the kitchen wearing an infectious smile, not missing how your childhood friend tenses up.

“Hi sweetie! You look beautiful.” She greets, wrapping her arms around you for a hug.

Stiles gives you a quick smile when you turn towards him but it barely lasts before he looks away. Well this is strange, you’ve always heard that he’s such a ladies man. It definitely doesn’t seem it though.

You’re about to strike up a conversation with Stiles when Scott mischievously barrels into the room. Without warning, he hoists you up off the ground making you squeal in surprise. When he finally sets you down, you notice that Stiles has weirdly disappeared. 

“Need any help?” You ask Claudia, giving Scott his cue to excuse himself before he’s put to work as well.

“You can move the cinnamon cookies onto a platter.” She gestures to the baking sheets behind her. "It’s been awhile since you’ve seen Stiles huh?”

“Yeah. Seems like forever ago.” You admit. “He seems sorta…quiet. Which I didn’t expect because I’ve heard that he’s a real charmer. And also always talking.”

Claudia bursts out laughing, "Yeah. I usually can’t get the boy to shut up. I think it’s because of you.” She playfully winks.

“Me?” You furrow your brows.

“My ridiculous son doesn’t believe that you’re the girl who grew up down the street.”

“Huh.” You giggle softly. “That’s funny.”

~

Stiles searches like crazy for his best friend, finally spotting him hanging out in the backyard. "Ya know the girl that you picked up in the kitchen?”

"Uh yeah…” Scott shoots him an amused look. "What about her?”

“My mom said that she’s the Y/N from when we were younger but it’s not, right?” Stiles studies his reaction closely.

Scott knows what he’s about to do is wrong but he can’t help himself, “Nah. Different Y/N. Your mom always gets the two confused, man.”

“That makes more sense! There’s no way that’s the same girl.” Stiles snickers at him.

Scott refrains from rolling his eyes, a smirk then appears when he sees you walking in their direction. His friend soon catches on, resulting in opposite reactions from each guy.

“Hey.” You grin wide at them, getting a friendly smile from Scott and an awkward one from Stiles.

A ringtone breaks the silence causing Stiles to veer off to the side to answer it. He starts pacing as he talks, his unusual amount of energy is definitely entertaining you.

"Is he always this weird, Scotty?”

“Yup.” He cracks a knowing smile. “It’s worse than normal because of you though.”

“That’s what his mom said too! I don’t get it.” You sigh watching Stiles.

Scott shrugs, "Just a heads up…he asked if you were really the Y/N from down the street. I may have lied and said no.”

“McCall!” You gasp causing you both to erupt into laughter.

“I know, I know. He makes it too easy sometimes.”

“Jeez. Was I that shitty looking back then?” You frown getting a shocked reaction from Scott.

“Not at all, Y/N.” He assures you. “You were just different than the other girls we were around. All they cared about was makeup and going to the mall. You were more into sports and video games.”

"Yeah that’s true…”

“Plus you always wore your brother’s clothes for some reason.” Scott chuckles at the memory.

“Yeah well…I hated all the girly shit back then. My brother’s t-shirts had skulls and stuff so I liked them. My mom wouldn’t buy them for me.” You explain with a giggle.

Stiles ends his call and heads back over to you both, the action makes Scott suddenly announce that he needs more beer. Awesome. Now you and Stiles are standing here alone.

So…you gonna talk to me or run away again?” You speak up with a giggle.

Stiles hesitates then rubs the back of his neck, “I didn’t run away, Y/N.”

You shrug lazily, “Don’t worry, dude. I won’t tell anyone that you’re scared of a girl.”

Stiles’ demeanor instantly shifts, he smugly cocks his head at you, "Oh please, sweetheart. No one would believe you.”

Well shit. There’s the Stiles that you’ve heard so much about. That seems to break the ice and you both continue on with the small talk. But in the back of Stiles’ mind, he keeps wondering if maybe you are the girl from his childhood.

Back then you two were very competitive and constantly played Mario Kart on Wii. He always picked Mario and you always picked Luigi. You both would trash talk all day about whose choice is better.

Even when you weren’t playing, Stiles would randomly exclaim “Mario!” making you always shout “Luigi!” in response. He finally decides it’s now or never to man up and test you about his possible theory.

“Mario.” Stiles states casually, no doubt now eyeing you.

“What?” You play dumb like a pro but it’s literally killing you to not scream "Luigi”.

“Um…”

“Did you say Mario?” You quirk an eyebrow at the brunette. He clears his throat loudly with a slight redness flushing his cheeks.

“Uh...”

“Who’s that?” You question innocently.

Stiles shakes his head at you, "Never mind.” He’s now avoiding eye contact and it’s the cutest thing ever.

You offer him a kind smile and continue to pretend that you’re clueless. Up until a minute ago, the dynamic between you and Stiles drastically improved. It definitely helped when he became less scared of you.

You find yourself sneaking peeks at Stiles, his handsome features almost leaving you breathless. Of course he’s guilty of doing the same thing, trying hard not to get caught.

“Would you like to go out sometime?” Stiles inquires with a boyish grin.

“I’d love to.” You sweetly peck his cheek then start walking backwards. "I’m gonna run inside and grab us a snack. Ok?”

You spin around fast, not allowing Stiles to respond before you rush off towards the deck. After a quick glance at him, you start climbing up the stairs and then pause at the slider door. Without a second thought, you peer over the deck railing and call Stiles’ name.

"One more thing…”

“Yeah?”

“Luigi!” You exclaim proudly before booking it into the house with a laugh.

Stiles’ mouth drops open at your confession, "I fucking knew it.” He chuckles to himself.

~

Masterlist 

[angstytieflingbard]

Platonic THB x Villain’s Child!Reader Finale

Request: “Hey, Taz anon here. Its been a bit! Could I request a finally part to the villian child reader series? On one of the Tres Horny Boys adventures, they meet a person and their son. It turns out its the reader who later in their life became something like a deity of time manipulation(current yn is only studying it now)? And introduces them to their son(who they named Magnus) Just some pure interactions of that? Thank you for your time!”

“please give us more thb x child content!!!!!! ♥️”

Summary: (Y/N)’s only just started studying time magic, but they’ve already hit a roadblock. There’s not exactly a wealth of information on the subject. Their three guardians aren’t exactly sure how to help, nor are they even sure they should be encouraging them, if there’s so little evidence of anyone ever pulling it off. However, their proof comes one day in the form of an oddly familiar stranger...

Warnings: None!

Author’s Note: Y’all really like the child reader content, huh? That’s fine by me, sometimes self care is reading/writing soft platonic stuff, and I’m absolutely willing to provide. On a completely different note, I got into Devil May Cry, and Wow™ am I enjoying that. I could go on forever about how I feel about that game, but I doubt y’all wanna read that when you could be reading more of this good good fluff I’m putting down for you guys. Enjoy, and remember you can always hit up my ask box to talk/request, and the relevant links for that are in my bio!

The past few months had been… frustrating, to say the least. You’d recently decided to study time magic, a feat easier said than done, as you’d found there was almost no material on the subject. All you could find were theoretical essays, some religious texts (mostly from Istus’ worshippers, warning against the practice), and and a few half-finished sets of notes from people who’d attempted the research before eventually giving up just as you had. You’d compiled everything you thought would help you, and still you seemed to be getting nowhere.

Taako had even attempted to help, usually by bringing you new reading materials, though you got the feeling he was more humoring you than anything.

“Hey, Taako!” You called from your desk.

“Yes, darling?” He responded to your call, blinking curiously at you from the kitchen doorway.

“Could you help me real quick? I’m having trouble understanding what this means…” You gestured to your book, and he nodded, moving the pot he was cooking in off the burner for the moment and making his way to your side. Just as he began to read the offending passage, however, his stone of farspeech suddenly glowed a bright green, letting out a single, sustained note for a few seconds before going silent and dark again. He sighed, giving you an apologetic look as he headed for the door.

“I’ll try to help when I get back, okay? Dinner’s already cooking, so you need to keep an eye on it. And don’t burn the apartment down!” He added as the elevator door closed after him. You waved goodbye, sighing as you turned to go into the kitchen once he’d left. You’d get back to your studies with fresh eyes, once the mission was over.

~

Magnus and Merle met Taako at the elevator, each having been going about their own business at the time, and the group were sent down to the surface. Apparently, there were whispers of some powerful magical artifact in Baldur’s Gate, though the regulators hadn’t been able to find out if it was a Grand Relic or not. Either way, they were going to intercept a meeting where the artifact was supposedly being sold, hoping to take the item into custody. Even if it wasn’t an actual Grand Relic, they couldn’t afford to have these types of things end up in the wrong hands.

The main streets of Baldur’s Gate was bustling, homes, businesses, and market stalls alike crammed haphazardly together to create a bright, lively atmosphere nearly overflowing with color and sound. However, as the three got into the side streets, where the deal for this artifact was supposedly taking place, the people and color and overall life seemed to just disappear. The alleys were quiet and nearly empty, seeming almost like a different town entirely.

When they reached the location of the deal, they found it empty, and found a place to wait and watch, without risking blowing their own cover. They sat in silence for a few moments, idly watching the empty alleys and sidestreets around their hiding place.

“So, (Y/N) has been having trouble with their studies lately.” Taako started casually, voice quiet. Magnus and Merle looked at him curiously.

“Yeah? They’re working on time magic, right? Not exactly a lot on it, I’m guessing…” Magnus replied with a slight frown.

“Might be because of Istus. I doubt she wants people running around and changing fate on her.” Merle added. He had a better insight into the minds of the gods, as mercurial as they could be, and he knew gods like Istus didn’t appreciate interference in their divine machinations.

“Maybe. I’m… I’m a little worried they’re gonna hurt themselves, honestly. Either by messing up a spell when they finally do figure it out, or pissing off some god or another.” Magnus confessed. Merle nodded his agreement, and Taako sighed.

“Well, I’m not exactly gonna stop them from studying it. I don’t think I could if I tried, anyways. They’ve set their mind on it. I think it was something about Refuge that set them off, with the resetting and all.” Taako frowned, an odd look on his normally relaxed, almost apathetic expression.

“That almost worries me more. If they’re trying to recreate the kind of effects the chalice had…” Merle trailed off thoughtfully, and they all exchanged a look. Lucretia would be… less than pleased, to say the least, if that’s what you were trying for.

Suddenly, someone appeared out of nowhere in front of them, interrupting their conversation. The person was a human, and a familiar one at that, though they couldn’t place why. In their arms, they held a child, a young boy no older than four or five.

“Hello, boys!” The person greeted them cheerfully, and they all scrambled to their feet, startled. The stranger simply smiled as they sorted themselves out, reaching for weapons, but hesitating at the sight of the child in their arms.

“Who are you?” Magnus started cautiously, already putting himself in front of the other two slightly. The person didn’t seem dangerous, certainly not with the happy looking kid with them, but you never knew these days.

“I- Well, it’s a long story. Um…” They paused, smile slipping into a frown. They didn’t seem to have planned this far ahead in their interactions.

“Start with a name, maybe?” Taako suggested, eyes narrowed somewhat dubiously at them. They winced, but nodded.

“Probably the worst part to start with, but sure. My name’s (Y/N). And before you say ‘Wow, I know someone with that name, wild,” I should say yeah, I know you do.” They spoke quickly, seeing the mix of expressions which flitted rapidly across the boys’ faces.

The three stared at them for a moment longer, surprise and confusion slipping into denial, then recognition, then acceptance as they noticed how similar the strangers’ features were to the child they knew.

“(Y/N)? How are you.... What?” Merle asked incredulously. You smiled sheepishly.

“Well, to make a long story short, I figured out time magic! I’m not gonna get into how that happened for a couple reasons, partially because Istus would actually try to kill me if I meddled in your fates more than I already am just by making this visit, so…” You shrugged somewhat apologetically, carefully resituating the boy in your arms to a more comfortable position. There was a moment of silence as the three processed the information.

“So… What are you doing here, exactly? Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t exactly an unpleasant surprise, but… It’s sure a surprise, at least.” Taako was the one to break the silence again, curiosity overtaking any lingering confusion regarding the circumstances.

“Well,” You said thoughtfully, as though considering what you could tell them, “I wanted my boy here to meet you guys. Where I am, or when I am, I guess, you’re not… around anymore. It’s been a long time. And I thought, hey, what better time than when you guys were in your prime! Before the day of- Oh. Spoilers.” You stopped yourself. The boy in your arms shifted restlessly when you talked about him, and you set him down, chuckling as he hid behind your legs.

You were different, much different than the kid they knew. But somehow they still knew, like a parent always knows their child, that you were still the same dorky, bookish kid they’d taken in so many months ago, even if it was masked by your somewhat strange, almost absentminded demeanor now. For some reason it almost felt like they were only one of several things you were paying attention to, like you were twisting the strings of time around your fingers even as you spoke to them, always watching how every word and choice could affect the timeline.

“You have a kid?” Magnus finally decided to settle on that revelation, clinging to something he could understand between the talk of time magic and fate and spoilers.

“Yeah.” You replied softly, something almost like sadness taking over your features. You twisted slightly in place, reaching back to gently guide the little boy out from behind you. He was shy, though that was clear just from how quiet he’d been for the interaction, but there was a glint of fierce intelligence in his eyes that showed them clear as day how much he took after you.

“Do you wanna say hi? These are my parents. The people I told you about?” You reminded the boy gently, and he nodded, finally stepping closer to the three. Magnus crouched down to the boys height, and Taako leaned down a bit over his shoulder, Merle just shuffling a bit closer without making an attempt to make himself shorter.

“Hey, kiddo. What’s your name?” Taako asked softly, Magnus too busy being absolutely enamoured with the kid, partially for the realization that he had a grandson, of all things. The boy hesitated a moment, looking back at you. You smiled and nodded, reassuringly, and he took a deep breath, facing the three again.

“My… my name’s Magnus.” The boys froze, glancing between you and the boy a few times in shock, a somewhat uncomfortable silence settling over the empty alley for a moment.

Magnus felt like he’d just been shot. After Julia, and the attack on Raven’s Roost, he’d always assumed that would be it for him in terms of family. Just being your guardian at all, getting to experience having a family, even if it wasn’t in the way he’d always imagined, was a gift to him. But now, knowing his ward, his kid, had named their own child after him, it was almost too much. He swallowed, feeling bittersweet tears come to his eyes.

Your son looked mildly unsettled by the silence that settled for a moment, and you stepped forward, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. It seemed to knock the three out of their shock, and chaos erupted, each of them starting to talk over each other in excited tones. You waited for them to calm down with a smile on your face, your son more at ease now that they were acting how you’d always described them in your stories, like chaotic, dorky forces of nature.

“Well…” You started once they finally stopped rambling. “We can’t really stay much longer, unfortunately. Even this short visit has already changed things, I can’t risk changing anything else.” You explained sadly. The boys frowned, but nodded understandingly.

“Even just this has been… amazing.” Magnus said, quietly. “I’m so proud of you, kiddo.” You felt tears build in your eyes, and took a deep breath, leaving your sons’ side for a moment to step forward and pull all three of your childhood guardians into a hug. They hugged you back just as tightly, and you blindly reached out an arm, pulling Magnus Jr. into the hug as well. You all stayed like that for a long moment, until you finally willed yourself to pull away. You smiled sadly at them.

“It’s time to go. I’m sorry we couldn’t stay longer.” You said softly, voice hoarse with unshed tears. You looked like a young adult still, but from the way you talked it seemed like you were much older, all of them having been gone for some time.

“It’s cool, kid. We’ve got a mission to do, anyway.” Taako told you airily, attempting to hide his own teary eyes.

“Ha. About that, uh… I may have made up the artifact. Just a couple well placed rumors and a little hop forward in time to today.” You winced, giving them a sheepish grin as you picked up Magnus Jr. again and held him on your hip. The three paused in surprise, and then started laughing.

“Well, I’d say this was better, anyway.” Magnus chuckled.

“Yeah, now get out of here before I actually start crying. I did not put on makeup this morning just to ruin it like this.” Taako huffed playfully, and Merle simply smiled kindly and patted you on the arm, not saying anything.

You nodded, taking a short step back from them. With one last smile, you brought up the hand not occupied with holding your son, and snapped your fingers. White, gold, and green swirled around you like wind, catching your hair and clothes, and the three watched as the two of you seemed to dissolve into the air, the bright colors of your magic dissipating shortly after. There was a moment spent simply staring at the place where you once stood, before Taako sighed and took the first steps in the direction of the main street again, the other two following shortly after him.

~~

When the Taako, Magnus, and Merle got home, it was late, nearly time for you to go to bed. As they found, you’d spent most of the time still attempting to study that tome you’d gotten your hands on, and Magnus had to herd you off to bed (it had only taken a few short months after they moved into their little apartment for you to end up taking up permanent residence with them, though your dorm was still officially with Angus up in the main part of the base) with bleary eyes and shambling steps, even as you protested.

“C’mon kid, you gotta sleep if you wanna study good.” He told you, and you groaned, though you still let him gently push you by the shoulders into your little room and over to the bed. He tucked you in, and you managed a tired laugh at how he treated you like a little kid.

“Hey Magnus?” You asked him just as he started to head to the door. He stopped in the doorway, looking over his shoulder at you.

“Yeah, (Y/N)?” He asked.

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Studying time magic… No one else has ever managed it. I don’t know if I’ll ever figure it out, much less get good at it.” You admitted. Magnus paused, thinking over how he’d met your older self, the child you’d named after him, and wracked his brain for the right words to tell you. Eventually, he settled on something he remembered someone saying to him, not all too long ago.

“Kid… You’re going to be amazing.” And with that, he shut off your light, and left you to sleep.

[benevolentcalamity]

This is my entry into the contest wherein we celebrate Zenny’s birthday! It’d be wrong of me not to let an angel’s halo truly shine.

Here’s this being okay... This is the only way I really know how to appreciate him. I won’t disappoint!  ♪ ＼(￣▽￣)/

#happybday_ZEN ^^

They say that time can either hang on a moment, or it can fly before you can blink fast enough to see it go. When you’re doing paperwork, it feels like it hangs, like your coffee mug could slowly get colder but the pile never gets higher. No matter how many papers you fill out, be it for your continued education - meant to guarantee a position that will secure your livelihood - or some other sort of benefit, the stack won’t get past half an inch. But you won’t stop with it, not until you’ve done what you need to do so that you have a home to go to.

Ping-ping-ping!

Blinking, you reach for your phone, taking it into your hand - your fingers are nimble from using it so much - and unlocking it. It’s not uncommon for it to go off whenever you seem to space out, so your heart has long since stopped leaping from your ribs whenever it did. A lot of people in this crazy world seem to know your name, as though they’ve known you for so very long even if you seem to have only known them in turn for about half a year. At least, it feels like half a year.

You smile upon seeing the familiar ‘Yoosung’ accompanied by a puppy emoji as the ID texting you.

“Studying hard for midterms, [MC]! We’re both going to work hard!”

On a normal basis, you’d figure Yoosung would quickly abandon such vitality towards his schoolwork. (Jumin would be in on that one, too, even if you secretly believe he has a hidden faith that he’ll shape up.) But lately, there’s been a bright light in his eyes, a bounce in his step. Maybe he’s been inspired by someone, maybe he’s adopted a new perspective? You’ll never know, but you appreciate that he’s deciding to try and be the greater person he’s always wanted to be.

Deciding to indulge his happy-go-lucky mood, you shuffle a bit in your chair to respond to him.

“You’re gonna do amazing, Yoosung! I’m already so proud!”

His reply is almost immediate, as though he’d been waiting for a proper moment to catch you. “Haaaa. The amount of work I have looks neverending! But it will work out, just you watch me!”

“And I’ll work hard, too!”

Deciding not to bother him anymore, you exit out of the private chat, your thumb lingering for a few seconds with each screen you visit while you momentarily pretend that the paperwork is doing itself.

Today has a strange air, you think, and you decide to check the calendar app to see if the reason lies there.

March 22nd...

Biting your lip, you squint, trying to think of anything that could be today or coming up after. The RFA isn’t having another party for a little while, and there’s not really anything- wait.

Changing apps, you flip quickly over to initiate a private chat with Seven. His head’s never empty, and he never sleeps, so he knows almost everything there is to know about everyone in this association. Maybe he could give you a clue? With the silent hope in mind, you send him a quick message.

“Seven?”

The reply isn’t immediate like Yoosung’s, but it’s a reply all the same.

“Top of the morn’ to you! Lolol” “What’s happening? Feeling lonely? What brings you to me?”

It’s so amazing how Seven always seems so bright in his chatrooms. When you first were getting used to being a member, he came across as an everyday geek: someone who looked like they couldn’t be bothered with you but were actually considerably amiable.

“Is there something coming up soon? I feel like something really important is just days away...”

“April Fools! How can you forget that? You should help me out with Jumin - give him something that’ll really make him upset!”

That’s not it, you think.

“Anything else?”

“Oh yea... Zen’s birthday’s on that day, too. I’ll give him something special, too!”

There’s an intense heat whirring in your ears all the way to your fingertips, and you nearly drop your phone. The only thing saving it from absolutely shattering is finding its way right onto your dog. A loyal Shiba Inu, that one. (You call him Pochie.)

Grabbing it while unwittingly dunking a strand of your hair in your coffee, you take a split second to recollect your bearings and look back at the screen. Coughing into your elbow, you quickly message the self-proclaimed defender of justice a thanks. It’s a blur even once you send it, but now that you’ve finally gotten what’s so important, there’s another part of things you need to address.

Contrary to a few other members, you feel you have a strong bond with Zen. He might be flirty as beans and treat girls the same way, it feels like he makes you feel extra special. Maybe it’s because you two are in the same association, maybe it’s because he feels like Jumin doesn’t deserve to be near you, but any scenario is fine by you.

Deciding to get back to Seven later, you flip quickly through your contacts to find Jumin, and when you do, you- Oh.

“Jaehee.”

You scroll up towards Jaehee - bless her soul - and initiate a chat. The woman had been constantly living off of 12 cups of coffee, maybe more, and at the time she was not always the most pleasant individual because of that, but you two respect each other. You've gotten bold enough as to say you’ve become something among the lines of best friends.

“Jaehee~ Is Jumin available?” You message.

This time, you’re able to fill out a few more papers before she responds, and she takes on a less formal tone than usual. She must be tired.

“Yes. He just got out of a meeting. You’ll want to keep it short though, since he’s always very busy.”

“Thank you~! <3″

Not wasting time, you switch gears back to Jumin, quickly texting, “Do you have time to spare?” This is just politeness combined with professionalism - something he says you desperately needed when you first took over Rika’s position.

His response is swift. “Yes. What do you need?”

“April Fool’s is also Zen’s birthday, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. If you want to celebrate it, such a thing would take convincing his directors to give him the day off so that we can with him present. But, it’s not impossible to do so.”

“I want him to have a proper celebration.”

“Understood. We’ll see what can be done.”

He leaves the chatroom right after sending that: an odd habit that you picked up on even in the first few minutes you’ve known him. Contrary to popular belief, Jumin is less than hostile. He’s a very fine man, having displayed that while he believes in you and has faith in you, he has high expectations of you even now.

Zen and Jumin have almost never gotten along. You even now don’t know why, even with how close you’ve been to both of them- no, the entire RFA. With how deeply loved you are by them in turn, you would have expected to be able to uncover every bit of information about them. After all, you are at the helm of this association.

But you’re not... Especially not like Rika did. She knew everything about each member, as the founder, all the way down to their nighttime rituals. From Zen’s face masks to when Jaehee walks through the door to her home. (You still feel unrelenting fury for how much Jaehee sacrificed when Jumin demanded so much of her.)

You shake your head. There’s no time to reflect on how things had been, now that everything’s passed. Saeran and Saeyoung are beginning to rekindle their brotherhood and fill the gap in the former’s missed years of the life he wanted so badly. The white dye’s washed from Saeran’s hair, and his conditions are being taken in and treated. Rika can no longer instill her venom into his innocence.

You wonder what Zen is-

“AAAAAAH-!”

A flick of your wrist, a sad attempt to push the green button on the ringing phone somehow ending in success, and the toppling of yourself and the chair onto the floor with a resounding ‘thud!’.

“... Hello?” You weakly manage through your mangled bangs.

“Honey, are you okay?” Zen’s voice chirps through the receiver. “That was loud.”

“It’s nothing, Zenny,” You assure, tugging your phone into your hand and to your ear, “I just fell out of my chair... In glee! I’m overjoyed that you called me!”

“Really~?” He sings, but then his tone turns serious. “Sweetheart, I’ve been meaning to reach you.”

You blink. “Is something bothering you, Zen?”

“Oh, honeyyyyy~!” He dramatically drawls, and you can sense him leaning back. “April Fool’s is coming up! Do you realize what happens on such a terrible day?”

You want to make a quip about his ponytail being chopped off if he isn’t careful, but that wouldn’t be very nice. Actually, that’s more Seven’s thing, when he isn’t tormenting Elizabeth the Third. That poor cat. (You worry about her, and not just because of Seven.)

“A neverending plethora of pranks,” You chortle,”Seven’s favorite time of the year.”

“Yes-! It’s so irritating - no one knows when to quit, even here! I’m so through with it, and it’s not even that day yet!” He sounds truly irritated... Only Jumin could irritate him this much- Oh.

“It’s also your birthday, isn’t it?” You ask. It wouldn’t be nice to pretend you don’t remember. You just know you can’t let him in on a party.

“Aaah~ You remember!” He coos. “Babe, just knowing that makes me so happy!”

You can’t help the small giggling fit that escapes you. “That’s my mission! I would say that Operation: Happy Zenny is go!” Okay, maybe that’s a bit much.

Some squeaking on his end, before he speaks up. “Oh god... You’re so cute-! The beast inside me grew by around ten percent, at this rate. Don’t forget, you’ll need to take responsibility once it overtakes me.”

A big smile is on your face. “Maybe I need to do a bit more then~?” You sing. “Like this? Huuu~”

More squeaking. “Baaabe~! Don’t tease me so much. Haaaa, how much I want to just get away from here and whisk you away.”

“I could slip by and bring you a frosted lemonade, if you want,” You hum. He’s warmed up to the drink, since he drinks lemon in a great many things. Actually, he loves frosted lemonade. It’s a good alternative to beer. (He’s been cutting down on that and his ciggies, by your request.)

“Aaaah! The special potion of my love! Her little witch’s brew shall let me do my very best~!” He excitedly proclaims. “Ah. You wouldn’t mind doing that? I’d love to see you. Maybe get a bit of love-love energy- Oh, come on!”

You blink.

“Honey, I gotta dash. The director’s looking for me. By the time you’re here, I should be done. I can’t wait to see you~!”

“Mmmwah~” You blow him a quick kiss as your farewell, smiling at more of his squeaking. “See you, Zenny~”

“I’ll see you later-! I love you.”

As expected of you as someone who’s going to be hosting and inviting people to the parties at RFA, you’re doing your best to organize something for Zen. You’re aware of his tastes, so decoration isn’t a hassle. Making the main halls and the ballroom look like something straight out of Phantom of the Opera takes the greatest ease. Something to appeal to Zen’s personal tastes.

While you’ve had people here helping you set things up, you asked Jumin to (nicely) keep Zen busy for the remaining time until the party. You also asked Seven to lay off on any pranks he’d have up his sleeve. He’s one of three - the others being Yoosung and Zen himself - who was the warmest to you even in the beginning, so as a close friend and the head of RFA, he listens to you. Won’t be able to keep him at bay when Elly’s in the picture, though.

You digress, checking your clipboard. It’d probably mean a lot more to Zen if a lot of people he didn’t know didn’t show up. You’re going to need to pull some strings to win over some folks from other production companies as an opportunity to meet the star actor himself. You’ve already extended the invitations to the normal guests that attend pretty much every other party, using your internalized wiles and eloquence to win them over completely. As Jumin observes, this may wind up being a birthday party/charity ball in one, but so long as Zen has a proper birthday party, you don’t mind.

Tugging the pen from behind your ear, you tap it against the clipboard, checking some boxes. “Invitations... check... Decorations...” You take a moment to survey the room, “... check. Food and drinks... check. Cake... Not yet.”

You ordered something big enough to accommodate the vast amount of guests - actually, probably even bigger. It’s more for personal taste, since you like when there’s leftover cake. The guys like to get on your case about your eating habits, even if you have been maintaining your figure. Moreso to make sure that you don’t let yourself go - a self-requirement at best. That and working out and eating right improves your overall health, so it’s a win-win.

A variation of ‘Ievan Polkka’ plays in your head to accommodate the calm coming with the stress.

“[Name]?”

You whip to your left to see Jaehee walking up with a clipboard of her own. She looks sleepy - not tired - but she also looks focused. It makes you feel bad to know you’re pushing her a bit, but you received her assurance that it’s worth it. Actually, she’s overjoyed; Zen is her favorite actor yet and as such she feels your conviction in giving him a good party. So, she’s putting in a little more effort. Maybe more than you?

“What is it, Jaehee?”

“The cake’s here. It’s just barely shorter than the doors...”

You scratch the back of your neck. “Sorry, Jaehee, about all of this.”

Upon hearing you say that, her entire disposition shifts to sunny. Her hand touches your shoulder, and her lips curl into a sweet smile. The kind that says there’s no need to apologize.

“You’re doing so great with this,” She praises, “Zen  deserves nothing less than the best!” I had a feeling she’d say that... “You’re very lucky. Ah, he is, too! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone else work so hard to put together a birthday party.” Not even Jumin for Elly? You’ve actually seen him consider throwing a bash for her - and it took a lot of you to get him to stop entertaining the notion.

“Ah, before I forget...” You tuck the pen back behind your ear. “The guests were sent an invitation to be here at around 7:15, right? It’s  quarter to 7 right now, and I know it’s not very leader-like of me, but I’m a bit worried.”

“Our guests are known for, out of politeness, being at events approximately 15 minutes early so as to appeal to the host, so they should begin showing up at around 7 sharp.” Noticing your stress, she moves her clipboard into one arm and uses the other to hug you. “It’s alright. You’re putting your all into this, and I’m sure the results will be exactly as we plan.”

“I hope so...”

Just then, the door opens and reveals Yoosung, clumsily milling about, tugging on his clothes. (A dress shirt and nice pants and the sort, as you asked.) A pink hue colors his cheeks, deepening as he notices you and Jaehee. He isn’t walking straight, something you found usually signifies that he’s nervous. Then again, if he isn’t happy, he’s nervous or stressed. Usually it’s because of everything that went down, or him beginning to finally get through the hard work his college gives him.

“Yoosung?” You ask. “Are you okay?”

“They’re coming!” He cries. “What do I do, do I greet them? Open the door for them? And where the heck is Seven?” The answer to the last one is probably that Seven’s handling security, making sure everything’s in order and nobody’s trying to pull anything.

“Can you hold the door for them?” You request, to which he nods, running over and has the right door open in a second, a second person - an assistant - grabbing the other door and letting the river of guests to enter. Yoosung’s face is quickly hidden by them, but it’s apparent that he’s holding together as he does for every party.

At this point in time, you’re happy they seem glad for the masquerade theme to their clothes; as though they’re aware of Zen’s standing. Many of them are from affiliated companies with his profession, others being the normal guests. (A strange anxiety consumes your stomach.)

You bow, as does Jaehee, and thank them for coming as they greet you. Just then, your phone sounds from the pocket of your blazer. Tugging it out, you quickly unlock it upon seeing Jumin had sent you a message, raising one hand and bowing again in apology.

“He’s beginning to get testy. Is everything in order?” Letting Seven handle Jumin would be lazy.

You quickly respond after a quick survey of the ballroom. “Yes. The guests have arrived. He can come back now.”

“Understood.”

Now, it’s just a matter of playing the waiting game. As the instruments of the small orchestra - and by small you mean one that will be suitable for a building full of people - fill the air with notes and tones, you find yourself more at ease. Fiddling with your mask, you turn to Jaehee, smiling at her.

“Jaehee, you can go ahead and go dress up,” You tell her.

Excitement fills her eyes, and she nods, checking your mask and taking your blazer, handing your phone back to you after checking the pockets. She then rushes off, a large grin on her face. The last thing you’d want is for her to feel left out, so there’s no chance that you’d let her stay off to the side instead of enjoying the festivities. RFA, under you, is not an organization wherein its members can’t enjoy the same luxuries as the guests. You wouldn’t dream of letting it be like that.

Looking down at your phone, you open up the messenger app - just in time to receive a message from the birthday prince himself.

A selfie, first of all, greets you. He’s clad in a fanciful tux, a mask reflecting that of the Phantom on his face, and his hair is styled a bit differently aside from his trademark ponytail. Like usual, he’s wearing a wonderful smile.

Then the message. “I’m happy to dress so nicely, but I’m not too sure what’s going on. Jumin isn’t saying anything. Honey~ What’s going on?”

“Are you here?” You reply.

“Just about. I see so many cars and limos... I wasn’t told there would be another party, but at least he’s allowed me to look even better than I already do. I can’t wait to see you~ It’ll make this so much better.”

A grin etches itself on your face, and you lower your phone as the guests all grab some drinks. A variety of wines, champagne, whiskeys; sophisticated beverages to accommodate the high-class palate.

Stepping to the podium, you raise your wine glass, tapping the spoon on it close to the mic. Once you have the attention of the guests, you lower both hands, bowing slightly before speaking.

“Good evening, everyone. I welcome all of you to our establishment for yet another party. It gives me great pleasure to have you all here today,” You announce, fiddling with the papers slightly before stilling your hands. “Tonight, however, is not just a charity ball: it is a party to celebrate the birth of one of our most beloved members.”

Your eyes snap upward as the doors open, revealing Jumin - poker faced as usual - and Zen. With a smile, you stretch one arm out, motioning their attention to the pair.

“Everyone, please welcome and give your well wishes to my love, Zen! May all of your wishes come true! Happy birthday!” 

There’s flashes, but more than them there is applause. Through it, you can see a big smile on the face of your wonderful boyfriend. After having your fill, you step down, taking a route to the front in order to greet him. Once the two of you are face to face, you ignore the continuous flash photography,  smiling as he puts his arms around you.

“Oh, sweetheart... I would have been content with taking you out,” He says softly, but the appreciation in his voice is thick. “You’re so thoughtful.”

“I wanted you to have a formal celebration at least once,” You say softly, putting your hands around his neck, resting your palms on his nape. “It means a lot to me that you do. I haven’t seen you celebrate your birthday this way. Do you... like it?”

“Babe, even popcorn and Netflix would have been an ideal way to celebrate,” He mentions, brushing some hair behind your ear. “But it’s wonderful... You worked so hard. Now, I hope you’ll be able to relax. Perhaps a dance?”

You beam, nodding, moving your hand to take his as the guests move to mimic, and the entirety of the ballroom - you notice Jaehee now fully dressed and dancing with Jumin - erupts into a traditional ballroom dance in accordance to the music. From then on forward, all of you step around, sometimes swapping partners, eventually reuniting as the following songs reach their arpeggio.

Zen always makes these small jabs about sweeping you off of your feet like a prince charming would his princess. Though, he always likes referring to himself as a ‘sleeping beauty’ waiting for his princess charming to wake him in his sleep. (You know this since he would sleep with you during times when you were plagued by nightmares. Actually, the two of you sleep together very frequently, face masks aside.)

The clock stopped ticking forever ago, time stopping on behalf of you and your beloved prince. For all you’re aware, it’s still only seven in the evening, the sun remaining just above the meeting between land and sky. You still have time to spend awake, and Zen can remain awake for even longer. Even with this, you know that it’s nigh midnight, maybe past that, and the guests are beginning to grow fatigued. Some have left already - more because of their business than anything, and you accepted their apologies - and some are in the process,  but the others are sticking around even after the dance. Either to speak with one of you two or simply to socialize.

By now, Zen’s lead you away, over to where you two can be alone. Right now, the two of you are on the balcony, wine glasses put aside so that you don’t get too inebriated. You’re aware that even Zen has a limit, which is why you two are here. The stars are a proper curtain for the moment, the dark color of the night cloaking you as though protecting you from any force that would dare try to rip the two of you apart.

And in his arms, you feel the safest.

“I’m very thankful, honey.”

Looking up at him, you tilt your head. “For the party?”

A soft smile. “Sort of, but I’m thankful for you the most. In this big, beautiful world, I feel as though I’m the contender for the luckiest, happiest man. All of my life, I dreamed of someone to share my life with, but what the heavens above gave me was something ten times, a hundred, a thousand... no, infinitely better.”

You blush.

“For as long as I’m alive, I want you to know I’ll take good care of you. I’ll see to your happiness, and see to it that you never regret nor forget a moment. So long as the stars are in the sky, I will be beside you, loving you so vehemently.”

There’s a tug in your heart. Then more - and all of them are more intense than the last. Almost as though there’s something Zen is trying to communicate.

He takes your hand, moving it to his lapel. “Love, tell me... What do you think these clothes are made of?”

Huh?

“Umm...” You tilt your head slightly. Then you remember, and smile. “Boyfriend material.”

A hot whir in your ears erupts when Zen shakes his head, and becomes worse at the sight of him lowering to one knee, reaching into his inside pocket and tugging out a small box, opening it at you.

“No... With your word, they will become husband material.”

[secretagentspydetectiveninja]

The Misadventures of Prince Kim - chapter 18

(aka the royalty AU story)

[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17] [AO3]

Max sat alone in his room, trying to study, but his thoughts just kept going back to Kim. It didn’t help when someone knocked on his door – surely that could only be Kim, coming to see how he was doing? But he opened the door to see Alix there instead.

“Oh hello Alix, come in,” he said, stifling a yawn. Perhaps he really should have taken a nap after all. All this pointless pining was more tiring than it seemed.

Alix entered the room and immediately said, “Dude, I really need your help with something.”

Ah, it was finally happening. Surely she must have realized Kim liked her, and wanted his help with that. Of course. It was only a matter of time.

“Yes, certainly, what is it?”

She leaned on her sceptre, absent-mindedly flicking the lid open and closed. “I’m pretty bad at being a ruler. I have, like, no idea what I’m doing. I mean, yeah I know I’m bad at acting the part and doing all the pointless boring ceremonial stuff, but I don’t really care about that. What I want help with is the actual practical aspects of ruling a country, the stuff that will make a difference. You’re good at that, so uh… could you help me out? Please?”

“Yes, of course,” Max replied, taken aback. This was what she wanted help with? Well… he had underestimated her, alright.

“You look so surprised.”

Whoops. “I just… didn’t realize you…”

“Didn’t realize I cared so much? Well yeah, I try not to. But honestly, the pressure of ruling the most developed country in the world is starting to get to me. I know everyone expects a lot from me and I’ve pretty much already let my family down considering what I’m like, so I’m not doing the same for the rest of my country. They deserve a good leader.”

“I’m sure you haven’t let your family down!”

“Trust me, I have. Even fricking Jalil would have made a better pharaoh than me, everyone thinks it even if they don’t say it.”

Her tone and expression hadn’t changed, but her hand was gripping the sceptre so tightly it was going white. Clearly this was affecting her much more than she let on.

“I’ll help you be a good leader, don’t worry,” Max said. “But really, your powers are mostly ceremonial. You don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to, the council can just make all the governing decisions for you if you feel you’re not good at it. I’m sure they’d do a good job, considering they’re democratically elected and all. They’ll do what’s best for the people.”

“I don’t want to have to rely on the council to run my country for me, thank you very much. I’ve seen how corrupt other countries can get seriously fast, despite seeming all modern and stable and whatever. I’d rather be properly informed about the direction my country is going in. I don’t want it going backwards just because a bunch of charismatic liars got voted into the council and the monarch did nothing to stop them messing stuff up. That happened once to Rossi, you know.”

Wait, she knew all that? He hadn’t even realized. He always thought she didn’t care about how to rule her country, preferring to just mess around and have fun all the time. Had that just been an act? Or was she simply growing up to be more responsible than she had been in the past?

“You’re right,” he said, “countries can advance or decline very rapidly depending on who’s in charge. I’m proud that you want to be a responsible leader.”

“Do you think my family would be proud too? At least if I tried? They would, wouldn’t they?”

“Of course they would! But even if they wouldn’t, that’s not the end of the world–”

“Yes it is!” She snapped the lid of her sceptre shut so hard it made a loud click. “You’ve always been a good child, really smart and good at everything and always trying hard, your family thinks you’re awesome and to be honest, so does mine, I bet my dad wishes you were his kid instead of me. But all my life I’ve just been really… I don’t know, immature! I want to at least do something to show them that I’m not just some failure, I have to prove myself to them…”

So that was what this was all about. Well, he had something to put her mind at ease.

“Alix, I have to tell you something. During my oracle session with Master Fu, the question I asked was whether the GDP of my kingdom will ever overtake yours while I’m alive. I expected it would, since I’ve got so many plans to boost the economy and that sort of thing, and I didn’t expect you would try that hard with it. But guess what? I was wrong! As long as I live, your country will be ahead of mine. Which means that you will do a good job, no matter what happens.”

Her face lit up. “Wait, are you serious? My country’s economy is going to stay better than yours? But like… you’re Max! You’re so good at that stuff!”

“I know I am. But obviously it seems you’ll be good at it too, at least enough to keep your country going forward for a long while.”

“Yes, nice! That’s so awesome! I mean since you said it’s within your lifetime there’s always the possibility that you’d just die like tomorrow or something but uh… I’ll assume you’re too sensible to suddenly accidentally die. And that I’m gonna rule my country awesomely until then.”

“That’s the spirit. I’ll admit I was a bit jealous when Fu told me. I was annoyed since I didn’t expect you cared or that you would work very hard, so I thought it was unfair, but clearly I’m wrong…”

“Nah it’s cool, I don’t work nearly as hard as I should. But I’ll definitely try harder from now on. So yeah, you’ll tutor me then? How to be an actual good ruler? Don’t worry if you’re busy with tutoring Kim or other kids in the class, it’s okay, but–”

“I’ll definitely tutor you, that’s fine! I enjoy tutoring, actually.”

Alix laughed. “Of course you would. You’re a nerd. Anyway, thanks. If you want in return I’ll see what I can do about getting those annoying trade quotas lifted so your country can make more tech yourselves. I know you hate having to buy it off us all the time.”

“Thank you very much indeed! I’m so glad our countries have such peaceful relations, you know.”

“Well duh.” She poked him in the arm. “We’re best friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes, but I don’t just mean that,” he said, poking her in return. “I mean historically we’ve been peaceful too. Unlike Lê Chiến and Agreste, which might cause trouble for Kim and Adrien one day.”

“But they’re friends, aren’t they? Surely they can sort out whatever rift exists?”

“It might be complicated. If one ascends the throne sooner than the other, leading to one side being friendly while the other is still hostile, it might… well, it might turn into a mess. And I’m not sure Kim would be up for dealing with something like that.”

“That’s why he’s got you,” Alix said, grinning. “You can just advise him through whatever happens, right? It’ll be fine.”

“You seem to have a lot of faith that I’ll be able to fix things.”

“Pfff, it won’t be you who fixes things, it’ll be Kim and Adrien. You can just help, since you and Kim are so close.”

Max felt those longing pangs in his chest again. Yes… he and Kim were so close. Just not exactly in the way he hoped.

That reminded him, shouldn’t he use this as an opportunity to be Kim’s wingman? Perhaps properly getting Kim together with someone else would stop Max yearning after him so much.

“Anyway Alix,” he said, “speaking of futures… have you noticed there’s someone in this class who likes you?”

“Well I should certainly hope there are people who like me, I’m not that scary, am I?”

“I meant in a romantic sense.”

“Oh yeah, but trust me, that girl has someone else she’s crushing on way more than me, even I can tell–”

“And I don’t mean Juleka. I mean someone else.”

“Oh.” Alix frowned, tapping her sceptre thoughtfully. “Are you sure? Because I seriously doubt it.”

“I’m sure.”

“Jeez, it’s not you, is it?”

“Of course not,” Max said, chuckling. “I swear I’ve already told you I’m not into girls, other than friends or occasionally adoptive sisters.”

“Yeah, exactly. Who is it then?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Oh, okay then, whatever. So anyway – I don’t know what days you’re free for tutoring, I’ve got football on Fridays but other than that I could probably squeeze it in any time…”

She seemed oddly unconcerned. Did she seriously not care that someone liked her? And knowing that was the case, how had she not figured out it was Kim? Practically everyone in the class knew at this point! Either she was just oblivious to a ridiculous extent, or she knew and was pretending not to. Max wasn’t sure which, but he hoped he would find out soon.

The spring dance did turn out to be fairly boring. Every guest who entered the room had to be formally announced by name and title, leading to a long queue outside the door. The music that played was slow and dreary, and the only dancers were couples who had actually been trained in how to perform all these courtly dances – there was no improvising allowed here. Everyone who spoke to each other was being as formal as possible, with curtseying and bowing and addressing people by their full titles, even though usually by this point in the year most of the students hardly ever bothered with such formalities.

Max had insisted on going to get drinks for his friends, leaving Kim and Alix alone before they could protest about it. Kim didn’t know what to do – he couldn’t make a move here, at this boring event, so what was even the point? He looked around, trying to think of something to talk about.

Juleka and Rose were over there, just coming off the dance floor where they had been waltzing together. Evidently both of them must have been taught how to dance at some point in their lives. Neither of them had let go of the other’s hand yet…

“Hey Alix,” Kim said, “just wondering, but is Juleka the chick who asked you out to the autumn ball ages ago?”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” she replied. “I’m not spilling anyone’s secrets.”

“I bet it was her. Is it like… common for girls to be into other girls? Before I got to this school I didn’t even know it was a thing.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty common,” Alix said, shrugging. “Being a lesbian or bi or whatever, it’s fine. It’s normal. So is guys who like guys, for that matter. I don’t know why other kingdoms don’t talk about it so much. Probably confuses the heck out of the not-straight part of the population.”

“Yeah, it does,” Kim muttered. “I actually… uh… well, at the winter party I kissed Adrien and got pretty confused because I didn’t realize I liked him. I didn’t even realize it was possible. But yeah, I guess I’m into guys too.”

“Good for you.”

“What does that make me? Does it have a name?”

“Um, I guess it just means you’re bisexual? I don’t know, dude, do some research or something, I can’t say what you are for you.”

Bisexual. Huh. Maybe it would be a good idea to research that at some point. There had to be books in the library about it, right? Or maybe he could ask Max. Max would know everything.

“So, um…” Kim wasn’t sure if he should ask or not, but he was curious. “Are you like… into girls? Just out of interest?”

Alix hesitated long enough for Kim to notice.

“Well no, but…”

“But what?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

It certainly wasn’t nothing, that was for sure, but he didn’t ask anymore. Maybe she just didn’t know or something. Anyway, there was something else he wanted to know more. He walked over to Juleka and Rose.

“Hey Juleka, are you the one who asked out Alix ages ago?”

Juleka looked down, shuffling her feet nervously, mumbling something about it having been practise and that she didn’t really mean it.

“Oh, so are you and Rose sweethearts now?” he asked her, looking between them, since they were still holding hands. Juleka shrugged and mumbled something else, her face going as pink as Rose’s dress.

“Prince Kim,” Rose said, frowning, “you really shouldn’t put poor Juleka on the spot like that, especially not in public! You’re lucky I don’t mind either way, but what if I did? Not everyone is so accepting of things like this! Or what if it embarrasses poor Juleka? Or if she doesn’t want to talk about it? You really ought to think a little before you speak, young man!”

“Sorry,” Kim muttered, wanting to kick himself for being so reckless. He thought he had been getting that under control lately!

“Rose!” Juleka said suddenly, her face even pinker, taking Rose’s other hand into hers as well. “What do you mean by saying you don’t mind either way?”

“Oh, my sweet Juleka! I meant I don’t mind if you think of me as a friend or a sweetheart… I think you’re wonderful either way.”

“But Rose, what about your servant boy Ali from back in Lavillant?”

“I barely even know him! But I know you so well now, you’re my best friend after all!”

Juleka shut her eyes tightly and quickly said, “Princess Rose, will you be my sweetheart?”

“Of course I will! Juleka, you’re so cute, if we weren’t at a formal dance right now I would hug you so hard–”

“Oh Rose, you’re… you’re awesome…”

Grinning, Kim swaggered back over to where Alix was standing, watching with a somewhat amused expression on her face.

“I’m the best matchmaker ever,” Kim boasted. “I just got Juleka and Rose together.”

“It was only a matter of time, Kim,” Alix said, trying not to laugh.

“Oh come on, give me a little credit?”

“Nope, those two were literally on the verge of getting together already, even I noticed it, and I never notice stuff like that!”

Kim laughed, but then realized what that meant. If she never noticed stuff like that, well, she would never notice he liked her unless he made it obvious. But every time he considered it, Chloé’s rejection came to mind and… no. It was too nerve-wracking. Maybe he would do it some other day, just not today.