#and if anyone read all of this - you definitely deserve a hug and several cookies. if i had cookies to give i would but i just have hugs

[highwaydiamonds]

Um. Excuse me. You had cancer??

Yeah... I mean I guess I really haven't discussed it much on tumblr. I have a little bit, but only in vague ways, or rarely made veiled references in tags.

SO, get a drink, get a snack, because this is a bit of a saga, and you already know I am longwinded at the best of times. I'm going to do like Vizzini said, and go back to the beginning. I hope you're ok I'm making this public Shells, it seems easier to? And I'll put this behind a cut because I really do wax on ( and on).

It's the end of August 2018 and i appear to have gotten some kind cold/respiratory infection. I'm at work the first day of it and it feels like a cold. No big deal. (Also this is all pre-COVID so no I didn't have COVID). The next day I feel really awful, so I call off work, and figure all I need to do is rest and I'll be ok. Turns out, NOPE. The next day I feel worse- now I can tell I have a bit of a fever, my appetite was basically, " eat one baby carrot and my appetite is exhausted." Finally, I get to the point that I am having trouble lying down - as in I am becoming short of breath when I try to lie flat (sorry if I am using the wrong word - lay/lie was always a grammar issue that eluded me.) So, I decide, ok, i will be sensible girl and go get medical attention. But I am stubborn and feel the ER is overreacting, so I go to urgent care. i park in the front row of urgent car parking, but by the time I reach the intake desk I have to put my head down because I am so winded and a bit lightheaded.

They take one look at me and tell me, point blank, "we're getting a squad for you to take you to the ER." I say, " what? no, I don't need that, this is not that big a deal." They counter, " you could barely walk in the door and you you are having significant trouble breathing. We don't have the ability to see you here." So, for the first time in my life I have to go via ambulance from urgent care to a free standing ER.

I get to the ER - where they decide, OK, lady, you're a mess. Let's get some chest x-rays and we're gonna slap some IV fluids and I can't even recall if they immediately put me on IV antibiotics or not. But after two hours there they informed me, " hey.... So, we think you need to go to the hospital-hospital not the freestanding ER." I tell them well you better hand me my laptop ( I'm that bitch who takes the laptop with her juuuuust in case I am stuck in the hospital. you never know.) Because i am not going to a hospital until I figure out if they're in my health plan. I do so and then for the second time in my life, all in one night because sometimes I am an over achiever i guess, I go via ambulance to the hospital.

They admitted me and over the next few/couple/ hours ( it was hard to tell) I progressively felt worse. I had trouble breathing if I didn't sit absolutely straight up, and at that point I hadn't gotten good sleep for around 60 hours or so. Me being me I started to get teary and panicky, because I was so tired and wasn't sure what to do. I called for the nurse and she came in and then within the next half hour your girl got taken down to the ICU. By the time we arrived down in the ICU I was really getting panicky. My mom died in the ICU ( different hospital but still) and I knew the fact they took me down there was no laughing matter. I started to think about, " ok is this what death is like? this isn't what i thought it was going to be - this is panicky and scary and not all white lights and peace."

The next thing I knew - it was two days later, and I woke up intubated. Did you know that you can be conscious and intubated? I did not. I'll speed things up a bit here. I spent a total of 8 days in the ICU - I had one hell of a case of pneumonia, and there were a couple of other diagnoses thrown in ( nope, not cancer. promise, we will get there.) . The nurses I had were AMAZING. I was intubated for about 6 of those 8 days. Then I got weaned off of it. Funniest moment on the ventilator: Physical therapist comes around and says, " Hey let's get you up and walking, you think you can?" I nodded and shrugged my shoulders to try and communicate, " sure, ok!" It went totally fine, but there were nursing students, residents, other doctors and who knows who else looking out of rooms and over desks at the two of us just y'know... *walking down the hall*. I gestured to the people because it was just flipping weird. I had an audience at the exact time NOBODY wants an audience and it confused the hell out of me. PT advised me, " there aren't too many times ventilated patients are ambulatory. You're a bit of a curiosity so people want to see."

Once I got out of the ICU and was put back on a regular floor, I got to meet with other doctors re those other diagnoses I mentioned ( chronic things I just have to manage) I also mentioned that it had been a really long time since I had been to a GYN and as had been noted in the ICU I spotted quite frequently ( I have never, ever in my life been regular period-wise and it just got weirder over time, but I just didn't really consider it. So I asked while they were setting me up with new practitioners ( my previous doctor had retired) too please set me top with a gynecologist.

So I'm out of the hospital by September 10th, 2018. The gyro appointment occurs i want to say by mid- to late September. I go in and meet her and she's lovely. While I'm up on the table she says, " hey let's do all the things and get a uterine biopsy!" I say, " excellent, do the things!" We agree it's likely going to be nothing but hey we're smart people and we will play it safe. Huzzah Gyno visit accomplished! (if I were a gamer I'd make some kind of ladybits achievement unlocked now, but I'm not a gamer.)

Two or so weeks go by - or however long it takes to get those test results back (some of these spans are lost in the mists of time). Dr Boyle calls me and apologizes that the test results that she was sure would be nothing... they are not nothing. Turns out, it's endometrial cancer.

At that point you could have knocked me over with a feather. Shells, I wanted my mom to be there so badly, I can't even express it. She would have understood how I felt - she'd been there with her breast cancer. But at the same time, I was glad she wasn't there? I remember how heartsick my mom was to tell Grandmommy when Mom got cancer. I didn't want my mom to have to hear that news, to worry about that. Dr Boyle advised me that she would be referring me to a good oncologist and i should hear from them in a week or two.

Thus began MRIS and PET scans and ultrasounds, and blood work etc. The oncologist diagnosed that he figured I might be stage three, but it depended on my lymph involvement. It brought back memories of when Mom was diagnosed and when she told me she was stage three. I asked my Dad later, "what does that mean?" He told me, " there are only four stages, so what do you think?" This time around I knew what it meant. So, we put me down for surgery November 9th, 2018. That's two days before my birthday - so I joked that I was getting my cancer out for my birthday - hooray! My best friend actually flew in from texas for my surgery ( my best friend is a SAINT, and I love her more than pearls and rubies.)

Best surgery story from this experience: For my total hysterectomy (uterus and ovaries go sayonara and then also two signal lymph nodes in the chain of nodes on either side of the pelvis to se if there is any lymph complication.) I had to be tilted back - so with my head down to move as many organs away from the uterus etc during the laparoscopic procedure. I knew this going in, However, when I woke up back in my hospital room I looked at Bestie and said, " I hurt in places I didn't expect to hurt. Oh wait. My shoulders hurt because they're not used to being weight bearing, but the procedure was laproscopic - so why the heck does my vagina hurt?" Bestie in one of her best moments ever says, " I know why." I replied, " wait, YOU know why MY vagina hurts?!" She said, " yep. So your surgery was supposed to take 3-3.5 hours ended up taking 5 hours instead. Your uterus was really big. The oncologist told us they need up having to cut it in half to pull it out of you." bestie admitted she joked with the oncologist that it was like I had just birthed a baby, he looked back at her (NOT laughing) and said, " yes, that's basically what she did." I laughed so much at that ( i mean i was also well medicated, but still) I told Bestie, " I had a Uterus! Let's call it George!" ( In retrospect I am disappointed in myself that I misgendered my own uterus, I should have called it Georgina.)

So, after healing from the surgery, by about January of 2019 I started two courses (each with a few rounds) of chemo. First came what the doctors and I called "low-pro" chemo - that we did along with radiation. Honestly, though i was making a heck of a lot more bathroom trips, you wouldn't have generally known I was sick. Most of my coworkers had no idea. I just was a bit more tired than usual. After the low pro rounds - then we moved to the bigger guns. Radiation was done but I moved to more significant chemo drugs, This wasn't because things were bad - this was the plan all along :) But I knew the "high-pro" chemo was going to make me lose my hair. THAT was a psychic struggle. I cried so much knowing that was going to happen. I got hats and caps and I even got a very nice wig. I mean, I planned as much as a girl can plan when she hears that news. I even preemptively cut my long hair. It was about half way down my back at that point. So I went in and asked the stylist please braid it and put it in between two hair ties - and then cut it - so i could keep my braid. I couldn't do locks of love anyway as it was colored, and I know it's selfish, but I wanted my hair. So, the hair went from half down my back to a face framing bob. then I just waited. And then in a few weeks it happened. I could put my hands through my hair and easily, painlessly pull it out. I am not a cute bald girl. That's when people KNOW you have something going on.

I was very lucky though, there ended up NOT being lymph involvement, and even the high pro chemo didn't make me nauseous or lose appetite. I did have HORRIBLE bone pain usually the first week after chemo ( i'd get it every three weeks). I learned a hell of a lot from that. I also was able to get some meds to help alleviate it a bit, and I took time from work when the pain was at its worst. But I have never experienced pain like that - where no matter what I did - no position changes helped. Even ice packs or heat pads didn't help or do much. It was just a waiting game, a painful waiting game. Oh also - I learned that IV benadryl is nothing like oral benadryl. IV benadryl is like walking right into a brick wall made of sleep. That stuff knocked me the hell out right quick - amazing.

Right before COVID started and the world shut down I got the flu because my immune system was in the toilet- and so I spent another week in the hospital and except for the bone pain that comes with chemo, you know what is worse than chemo injections? POTASSIUM injections. Among other things, my potassium levels were low and so I got those injections with other meds. Those suckers HURT. they BURN, and so i spent a week in the hospital only to eventually come out and find out the world was starting to shut down from COVID. Not my job at that point, but my oncologist told me, " GO HOME - YOU KNOW YOU ARE IMMUNO COMPROMISED - DON'T STAY AT WORK." So, I went home until about a month after I finished chemo.

Since finishing chemo it's been about scans, which have gone ok so far... I'm not willing to talk about the R word. I just think I'll have to be careful the rest of my life - My mom always said, "once you've gotten cancer, you always have cancer." So, maybe it's the anxiety talking, but it's kind of like waiting for the other cancer shoe to drop. In the mean time though, it's business as usual - try to find good stuff in the midst of the hot mess. Cancer has been a crisis but not a reason to lose my sense of humor. I've needed it more than ever :)

So, sorry for the SERIOUSLY LONG ASS answer, but sometimes it's just better to lay it bare. I'm not ashamed of this stuff. It's been a lot. It's been a journey... It still is... it's part of the rest of my journey, which i hope isn't over by a long shot yet. I don't believe things happen for reasons - the world is WAY too absurd for that in my opinion, BUT good gravy have i been able to learn so much from this whole three ring circus. I'm not grateful for cancer, but I am grateful for the lessons.

Thanks for checking in, Shells. You're a complete sweetheart.

[annab-nana]

Kiss Me In Your Dreams - Aryia Emrani

Aryia decides to surprise his single buddies with all of his love and a bunch of little gifts for Valentine’s Day this year for a video and with y/n’s recent and terrible breakup, it is just the thing to cheer her up.

Requested by an amazing anon 💙

Warnings: some curse words; mentions of an awful breakup

Word Count: 1.5k+

--------------------------------------------------

What kind of prick breaks up with his girlfriend of almost a year two days before Valentine's Day? Jay Anderson, that's who. Guess which idiot is alone in her apartment bawling her eyes out over said boy on Valentine's Day? This idiot. Me. I am. Our fucking anniversary would have been on February 18th. I had already gotten him a gift. I made him a whole basket with several little things, like his favorite candy and other little cute shit. I collected photos of my favorite memories with him and wrote on the back of them how much I loved each memory.

Now I sit here eating all the candy and looking at all the pictures and reading all the memories. I don't know why I am doing this to myself. I wish I would not have wasted a whole year of my life on that asshole, but I did. I am such a damn idiot. Crawling back into bed, I cuddle my pillow and cry some more.

ARYIA'S POV

"Okay guys, we are on our fourth and final Valentine and will probably be the hardest. I might not get to film most of this because if you follow y/n on any social media, you know that she is taking a bit of a break because she’s going through a breakup and she's taking it really hard. But y/n is always the one who always checks up on everyone else and makes sure that everyone is always happy and she cares so much about her friends, so I hope that all this shows her that I care just as much about her and at least brings a little bit of light to her day. So, let's go," I say to the camera before turning it off and grabbing all the Valentine's Day goodies I bought earlier. I manage to sneak into her apartment building and go up the elevator until I reach the third floor.

"Okay, so I made it into y/n's apartment building, and we are about to knock on her door so let's go!" I whisper to the camera before knocking on the door. I wait a minute with no response before knocking once more. I really hope she answers.

"Coming." I hear her speak through the door and when she swings the door open, the sight before me breaks my fucking heart. Her eyes are so red and puffy from crying continuously and she looks like she hasn't gotten a lot of sleep either. I drop everything and pull her into a hug.

Y/N'S POV

Please whoever you are, go the fuck away. I do not want to be bothered right now. I just want to cry and wallow in my bed by myself.

Another knock at the door sounds through my apartment, signaling me that the visitor will not leave me alone and I get up as I wipe whatever tears are left on my face away on the back of my hoodie sleeve. I swing the door open to see Aryia, hands full of all kinds of Valentine's Day things. It all just reminds me of Jay, but then I think about what Aryia is doing here. Is all this for me? A few tears well up in my eyes before Aryia sets everything down and pulls me into his arms.

"Is all that for me?" I ask as tears fall down my face.

"Yeah." My tears are no longer tears of sadness, but they are tears of happiness and love and they flow down my face even harder. Aryia is so sweet for thinking of me, especially after all the shit that has happened in the past few days.

"Come inside," I tell him as I pull away from the embrace, wiping away my tears, and help him pick it all up. We set everything down on the kitchen counter before he shouts, "Happy Valentine's Day!" I go in for another hug as I whisper a thank you in his ear before pulling away again.

"Can I film you opening it? It's okay if you don't want me to, but if I can, I would like to remember this. Might post it on YouTube too," he asks as he holds his camera.

"Let me at least brush my hair and then you can, okay?" He nods as I walk into my bathroom and grab my hairbrush, brushing through my very knotted hair. I haven't done anything with it for a few days, so it isn't the cleanest, but it isn't terrible. There is absolutely nothing I can do for my face except smile so that is exactly what I will do.

"How do I look?" I joke as I flip my hair behind me.

"Absolutely beautiful, y/n." I smile at the compliment before he pulls out his camera and begins to film. First, I grab the huge ass stuffed pink bunny that had little stars on it before I notice a brown spot on the front of it.

"Did you step on it?" I laugh as he chuckles with me.

"No, Benji's and Colby's had shit stains on them too. I guess I should have looked at them closer." I giggle.

“I’ll just have to wash him, but he will definitely be my new cuddle buddy.” Aryia smiles sweetly as I set the stuffed animal. I move onto the candle before taking in a big whiff of the delicious scent. It smells just like its name, fresh-baked cookie. Then, I saw a card. I pulled the card out of the envelope and read the front of it.

"For your wife? We're married now," I eye him as he shrugs. A laugh leaves my mouth before I open it.

"After all these years, you still make my heart flutter. I'm so glad you picked me over all the others. Happy Valentine's Day!" I read aloud what the actual card says, not what Aryia had written which I read next.

"Who needs stupid boys when you can have stupid friends? Am I right? Haha but on a real note, y/n, you deserve so much more than you have been given and you are worth so much more than you have been treated. You care so much about your friends and I am here to show you that we care about you just as much. I know that right now it hurts, and it sucks but that part will be over soon, and you will be so happy in a few weeks. I know it. So, fuck love. Fuck Valentine's Day. And most importantly fuck him. Love, Aryia." The tears came back after reading that and go to hug him again.

"How did I get so lucky to have amazing friends like you?" I ask and he pulls away from me.

"If anyone is lucky, it's us. We get to have you as our friend." I fall back into his chest and cry as I feel him press a small kiss to the top of my head.

"I love you Aryia and thank you for all of this. It means so much to me," I say as I look up at him. He brings his hand up to my face to wipe away my tears.

"Why don't you say thank you by giving me a cupcake?" He asks sweetly before laughing. I giggle and nod before handing him a cupcake and getting one for myself as we film his outro. I lick at the icing as he tells everyone to like and comment down below. We wave goodbye and he sets the camera down while it's still filming.

"Okay now that the camera is off, wanna fuck?" He jokes.

"Hell yeah!" I play along as I continue to lick the icing off the cupcake. He chuckles again before telling the viewers he is just kidding. He turns the camera off and sits on the couch with me.

"So how have you been?"

"Honestly, not the greatest, but now, I am so happy, thanks to you," I say as I finish with the icing and then eat the cake part of the cupcake. He has the remote and is searching around on Disney + to find something to watch.

"I am glad I could make you happy and this should too," he says as he gestures towards the screen. He put on my favorite movie, Tangled. I smile at him before we both become engrossed in the movie, but due to the lack of sleep I have been getting, I lay down and fall asleep on the couch.

Just before I slip into a deep sleep, I feel a blanket being placed on me and hear his soft whisper say, "Goodnight beautiful. I hope you have amazing dreams that make you forget about that loser and maybe, you'll even dream about me. If you see me in your dreams, kiss me. It's what I've always wanted. Goodbye y/n."

He must have thought I was completely knocked out but since I wasn’t, I leaned my head up and pressed my lips to his cheek for a soft and gentle kiss.

"Goodbye Aryia," I whisper before falling asleep.

[dem-obscure-imagines]

Dear Santa...

Bernard x Reader

Prompt: Part of my fic trade with the amazing @grungemetalbaby <3

Warnings: None?

Word Count: 1.5k

It was late. You knew that. Technically, “late��� would have been about three hours ago. Now, the sun was teasing the horizon and your eyes hurt more than you would care to admit, but Christmas was coming, and fast, and that meant someone had to respond to all of the letters that came to the North Pole for Santa, and that person was you.

It wasn’t that Santa himself didn’t read the letters. He did. But he certainly didn’t have time to respond to all of them by hand, which was where you came in. Besides, you had better handwriting anyway.

You didn’t need sleep, right?

When it got close to Christmas like this, you longed for the warm summer months when the letters to the big man were only a trickle. Around November, though, things picked up, and because some of the other departments got busy, help was short for the letter-writing department. In fact, for the past few days, it had only been you sitting alone on your stool. And with piles and piles and piles of letters coming in every day, it didn’t look like you were going to get a break anytime soon.

You couldn’t remember a time you had ever been this tired. The words were starting to bleed into each other, and everything was getting blurry, so you yawned for what felt like the hundredth time before putting the cap on your pen.  

“Someone’s up early.”

“Early?” You mumbled, looking up at the figure standing in the doorway. Bernard was there. Or at least, you figured he was, but you weren’t sure if you could believe your hazy vision at this point.

“It’s 5am, (Y/N),” he said softly, tilting his head. Concern slowly spread over his features. “Have…have you been up all night?”

“Maybe?”

Bernard walked closer, standing beside you as you got up from your stool. Maybe you stood up a little too fast because the world was spinning. “Woah there, take it easy.” He reached out and held your arms until you stabilized. “I’m taking you to bed.”

“Bernard, I’m fine! I can do a few more! I didn’t realize what time it was, but—”

“Absolutely not! You’re exhausted! You’ve been up for almost twenty-four hours! You need sleep!” There he was: the bossy head elf you couldn’t help but have feelings for. Did he know you had feelings for him? Certainly not. He was the head elf, the top of the pyramid, and you were in a department that was so understaffed this holiday season that you were the only one left in it. But seeing him get this protective over you…it lit a little yule log in your heart.

“Sleep would be…nice…” You murmured, yawning into your hand. You swayed a bit as you did, so Bernard did what had to be done and picked you up off of the ground, despite your protests.

“Listen, if I let you walk back to your room, you’re not going to get there in one piece. I owe you one. You really stepped up this last week.”

“Don’t mention it…” You tried not to fall asleep against his chest, but it was impossible, and before you knew it, he was setting you down on your bed and blowing out the lantern inside your door. You didn’t know what you had done to deserve someone like Bernard looking out for you, but you were glad you had him when you needed him most.

***

It had been a few days since Bernard had carried you up to your room. You saw him around a bit, whenever you dared to leave the writing department. He’d sent a few more elves down to help you, so you didn’t feel so bad about abandoning your post in order to stretch your legs some. It was still tiring work, though, especially when one of the elves from the mail room brought down three more giant sacks filled to the brim with letters.

So, seeing nothing else to do about it, you buckled down and got to work, reading each letter carefully and sending back a response, making notes for Santa about the wishes of each child that wrote to him.

After a long day of writing, once again, you were the last elf left in the writing department. And that was how Bernard found you, pen in hand, face down on the desk.

He sighed softly and walked closer to where you were sound asleep. He almost didn’t want to wake you. So, he let you sleep for a little while, gently moving your hand so he could get at the letter you were writing. You were almost finished with it.

Bernard slowly slipped it out from you and picked up one of the other elves’ pens, writing up a few paragraphs and then signing the letter.

You had a whole stack of them sitting next to you, so once he was done finishing up the one you couldn’t, he grabbed another and set to work. And then another. And then another. Before he knew it, the sun was coming up over the horizon and light was streaming through the window.

Eventually you stirred from your sleep to find Bernard sitting next to you, tapping a pen against his lip. He didn’t notice you’d woken up for several minutes until he looked over to check on you and found you smiling at him sleepily.

“What are you doing here?” You yawned.

“I came to check on you and…got carried away.” He pushed his stack of finished letters towards you and you smiled in disbelief. “I can see how you’d end up here all night.”

“Well, I almost out-worked the workaholic of the North Pole, so—”

“Let’s call it even. And maybe get some sleep? Both of us? Sleeping on that desk can’t be good for your neck…”

“That sounds good.” You nodded and rolled your head around, attempting to get the crick out of your neck. A few hours in your bed would definitely do you good.

Once you got all of the new letters in order, Bernard walked you back to your room and the two of you parted ways, although, you didn’t miss the way his eyes seemed to linger on you for just a few more moments before you closed your door behind you…

***

It felt like it took Christmas years to roll around, but after a few weeks, the day finally came and went. Santa made his flight across the world and landed safely back at the pole. As was tradition, all of the elves threw a massive party on Christmas night, once they were finally free from work. You were more than eager to attend.

You put on your coziest sweater and curled your hair before heading down to where all of the other elves were gathered. Confetti was tumbling down through the workshop, people were hugging and laughing, celebrating another successful Christmas.

Once you had joined the excitement, it didn’t take you long to wade through the sea of elves to make it to the refreshment table, where there were more cocoa and cookies than you could count. You snagged a snickerdoodle and then you felt a tap on your shoulder.

“Hey, (Y/N), glad you came down. I…know this isn’t exactly your scene…” Bernard scratched the back of his neck. It wasn’t like he was wrong. Your job in the writing department had made you…a little less socially inclined than your elvish peers. “You deserve a little break after all of the all-nighters you pulled this year.”

“Just doing my job.” You shrugged, cheeks burning at the sudden attention from the Head Elf of all people. If there was anyone at the Pole who knew anything about overworking themselves, it was him.

“You went above and beyond. Believe me, I should know. Next year, we’ll have waaaay more elves in the writing department. I promise. I told Mrs. Claus about the shortage, and she trained up five or six new recruits for you.”

“You did that for me?”

“Of course I did! Why wouldn’t I?” Bernard laughed, shaking his head. “I’m the Head Elf. It’s my job to take care of you.” His expression softened and he reached out for your hand, which you gave him. “Even if it wasn’t, I…I wanted to.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, looking into your eyes. You couldn’t remember a time you’d ever seen him so laid-back. Usually he just about panicked himself into a stroke, but the post-Christmas week or so, he seemed to chill out a little more. “We’re going to actually have some free time coming up, so I was wondering if…maybe you’d like to spend some more time together?”

“I’d like that.” You smiled, tucking a lock of hair behind your ear. Something moved above you, so you looked up, and when you did, there was a sprig of mistletoe hanging there. Heat flushed your cheeks as red as holly berries.

“Mistletoe…” Bernard murmured, looking up at where your eyes were fixed. “Would it…be okay if I…”

You didn’t let him finish his question, instead closing the distance between you and pressing your lips against his. He kissed you back eagerly, his lips tasting of candy canes and Christmas cookies. You grinned against him.

Something told you this would be a Merry Christmas indeed…

[lovemesomesurveys]

What Rhymes With “AY”? Warning: This survey has 114 questions

1. Do you enjoy listening to reggae music? I haven’t listened to much reggae music.

2. Have you ever rolled in hay before? No. I’m actually allergic.

3. Has anyone ever broken a promise they made? Of course. 

4. Last time you went to a café, what did you order? Coffee.

5. Have you ever been to a matinee performance before? No.

6. Would you like a chance to ride in Santa’s sleigh? Why or why not? Would it be like the one in The Santa Clause that had a hot chocolate and cookie dispenser? ha. Swap the hot chocolate with coffee, though.

7. Have you ever taken ballet lessons before? How about any other type of dance lessons? No. That was actually something I wished I could do when I was a kid and in high school. I thought the dance team was cool.

8. Do you own any sexy lingerie? Nope.

9. Have you ever caught a bouquet of flowers at a wedding before? Nope.

10. Do you know how to do the Whip/Nae Nae? I do, actually.

11. Have you ever played croquet before? Nope. 

12. Has a horse ever neighed at you before? No.

13. How much do you weigh? I’m not exactly sure, but I am definitely underweight. 

14. Do you ever wear a beret? No.

15. When’s the last time you’ve been to a buffet? Back in February. There was a breakfast buffet at Disneyland where you got to visit with various characters while you ate. It was cute.

16. Have you ever attended a cabaret? No.

17. Have you ever eaten at Swiss Chalet? No. Never even heard of it.

18. Do you know how to crochet? How about doing macrame? No.

19. Do you have a duvet on your bed? No.

20. What was the last thing that ricocheted off of a surface? My phone did.

21. What do you put on your ice cream sundaes? I’m good with just vanilla ice cream and strawberry syrup, but sometimes I’ll add chocolate syrup as well. Bananas and whip cream are also great additions. Wow, it’s been yearsss since I’ve had one but that sounds really good right now.

22. Have you ever woken up to the “Reveille” bugle wake-up call at summer camp? No. I’ve never been to summer camp.

23. What is your favorite entrée to order at your favorite restaurant? My favorite restaurant is Wingstop and I always get the garlic parm and lemon pepper boneless wings.

24. Is crème brulee your favorite dessert? I don’t like actual creme brulee, but I like the creme brulee latte at Starbucks that they offer in the winter.

25. Do you know anyone who wears a toupee? I don’t think so.

26. Have you ever made a soufflé before? Was it good? Nope. I like the spinach and artichoke breakfast souffle from Panera, though.

27. Do you prefer ice cream or sorbet? Ice cream.

28. Do you know anyone named Renee, Jay, Clay, or Ray? I know someone whose middle name is Renee if that counts, and I also know a Jay and a Ray.

29. Have you ever had café au lait? Yes.

30. Have you ever gone to a restaurant called “Chez ______”? No.

31. Hey, how’s it going? It’s almost 730AM I should be going to sleep. My medicine I took a bit ago is making me feel a little nauseous, too, cause I took it on an empty stomach. That wouldn’t have been a problem if I just went to bed, but nooo. :/

32. When’s the last time you wore a lei? It’s been several years.

33. Did you obey your parents when you were younger? Yes.

34. Who do you want to hunt down like prey? No one.

35. Have you ever had whey before? No.

36. What message would you like to convey to someone right now? Nothing at the moment.

37. Whose survey did you take last? I don’t know who made it.

38. Have you ever been to a bay before? Yes.

39. Do you have a bae? “Or nah.” Ha, old Vine reference. Anyway, no, I do not.

40. What’s your favorite day of the week? They’re all the same to me, really, since I’m not in school nor do I have a job.

41. Have you ever had to read “The Cay”? Nope. That title doesn’t ring a bell.

42. Are you feeling okay? I’m feeling tired, hot, and kind of nauseous. 

43. Do you know anyone who is gay? Yeah, a few people.

44. Do you like the acting of Tina Fey? Sure.

45. Have you ever listened to The Fray? Yes, I like a few of their songs.

46. Do you have any frayed clothing? No.

47. Do you prefer bluebirds or bluejays? Bluebirds.

48. Is May your favorite month? No. I only like saying, “It’s gonna be May” haha. You know, the NSYNC/Justin Timberlake meme.

49. May I ask you some more questions? Sure.

50. Have you ever voted “nay” to anything before? What? Yeah. I was a board member for a club in college and there were things we voted on. 

51. Have you ever wanted to make someone pay for something that they did? I’m not a revengeful person.

52. Do you ever just lay around all day? That’s all I pretty much do everyday. 

53. Are you a happy little frickin’ ray of sunshine? No. I’m a little black raincloud. 

54. Is there something that you would like to say to someone? “There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don’t know howwww.” 

55. When’s the last time that you were so excited that you exclaimed (or at least thought) “yay!” ? I said that the other night when my brother said he was making his bomb spaghetti. haha.

56. Have you ever felt like you’ve lost your way? I’ve been feeling that way for the past few years.

57. Do you ever wish that people would just go away? lol I’ve felt that way in some situations.

58. Have you heard an animal bray before? What animal was it? Yeah, a donkey.

59. What’s the last thing that you made out of clay? Nothing.

60. Are you starting to go gray? I’ve found a few here and there. D: It was like the minute I turned 30 I found my first one, ha.

61. Are you feeling okay right now? No. I still feel how I felt earlier when you asked how it was goin’. :/

62. Do you pray? How often? Yes, but not nearly as much as I ought to. 

63. What’s the best play you’ve seen before? The Phantom of the Opera.

64. What did you like to play with when you were younger? I was obsessed Barbies, I could play for hours. I also liked playing house and school.

65. Do you know how to sashay? “Sashay away.”

66. Would you like to slay dragons? Nah. I wouldn’t want to mess with a dragon.

67. Have you gotten your pets spayed? All my dogs were fixed/spayed. My doggo was spayed before we could take her home from the adoption shelter.

68. Have you ever begged someone to stay with you? Not begged, but I didn’t want them to leave.

69. Has the room ever started to sway before? I hateeee that feeling. 

70. When’s the last time you ate a meal on a tray? Uhhh. I don’t recall.

71. Do you know how to do math arrays? You’re speaking math so no. 

72. Have you ever experienced a delay of any sort? Yeah.

73. Do you have any tooth decay? No.

74. When’s the last time you wrote an essay? What was it about? Back when I was still in school, so it’s been 5 years now since the last time. 

75. When’s the last time you competed in a relay race? I participated in a few wheelchair race events when I was a kid.

76. Have you ever wondered how you could ever repay someone? Yes. I wish I could spoil and take care of my mom one day for everything she has done and continues to do for me. She deserves so much.

77. What did you do today? So far just Tumblr, surveys, and listening to ASMR.

78. Would you ever take in a stray animal? We don’t really have room for another pet, but I’d want to help in some way. Once we had a stray dog wander in our backyard and we took care of him until we were able to find him a good home. We also once had a cat who often went into our backyard and she ended up having kittens, so we cared for them and found them all homes, including the mama.

79. What’s the last cleaning spray that you’ve used? Lysol disinfectant spray.

80. When’s the last time you splayed your fingers? I’ll do it right now. 

81. Has your airway ever been blocked before? Yes. Such a scary, traumatizing experience. It’s why I can’t take pills now at all unless I can crush them.

82. Has anyone ever led you astray? In some ways.

83. When it’s hot out, do you sleep with blankets anyways? Noooo. 

84. Have you ever felt betrayed? Yep. Not a nice feeling.

85. When’s the last time you listened to a DJ? My cousin’s quince a few years ago.

86. What’s the last unfortunate thing that happened, to your dismay? This pandemic.

87. When is payday? The 1st of the month (disability). 

88. Do good moments or bad moments replay through your mind more often? My mind likes to dwell on all the bad stuff instead. 

89. Do you prepay for anything? I typically like to pay all my bills at the same time each month instead of waiting until the day each of them are due.

90. Have you ever walked on a runway before? No.

91. Do you know a runaway? No.

92. Have you ever ridden the subway before? How about driven on the skyway? Nope.

93. Have you ever used an ashtray before? No.

94.How do you feel about public displays of affection? I don’t mind a little bit, like a quick kiss, hand holding, arms around each other, or a hug. 

95. Where would you like to go for a getaway? I wish I could rent a beach house and have my own private beach area.

96. Do you do any gateway drugs?  Some say weed is a gateway drug, but I personally never had any interest in try anything beyond that.

97. Have you ever felt like someone wasn’t meeting you halfway? Yes.

98. What were you doing at midday? I’ll be sleeping.

99. Have you ever stopped midway through a survey before?  Yeah, I did that with this one. I started it last night, but got too tired to finish it.

100. What’s your favorite holiday? Christmas.

101. Do you like to drive on the highway/thruway? I don’t drive, but yeah I prefer taking the highway over driving through town and hitting all the red lights.

102. Have you ever put something on layaway before? I haven’t, personally, but I’ve gone shopping with my mom and added stuff of my own along with her’s that she put on layaway.

103. Have you ever been cornered in an alleyway? No.

104. When is your birthday? July 28th. 

105. Do you know anyone who was a castaway? No.

106. How long is your workday? I don’t have a job.

107. What do you typically do on the weekdays? I do the same things everyday.

108. Is there a walkway or a pathway to your front door? Yeah.

109. What do you want to be someday? A functioning adult.

110. What is something that you do everyday? Drink coffee.

111. Do you park in your driveway? Do you even have a driveway? I don’t have a car, but yeah my house has a driveway that my parent’s use for their cars.

112. Have you ever won a giveaway? Yes.

113. How important is foreplay? I wouldn’t know.

114. Hooray! You’ve made it to the end! What are you going to do now? Eat my ramen. I was waiting for it to cool a bit.

[a-zebra-is-a-striped-horse]

[etherealsenpai-blog]

Aqua x Reader (SFW)

Word Count: 1,565 words

Originally posted on Wattpad. Everyone deserves a happy ending :).

The Land of Departure was the home for three potential keyblade masters. You lived there as well, since Master Eraqus was your uncle. It was entertaining watching Terra, Aqua and Ventus train. Terra was the brute force, striking the practice targets with such force they nearly fell apart. Aqua fought with grace, moving almost like a ballerina. Her strikes were carefully timed, ensuring she would have the winning edge over any opponent. Ventus was quick, moving between targets like there was no tomorrow. Sure he may of been younger than the other two, but he was quickly catching up in terms of power.

“[Name], why don't you join us down here? I have something for all of us.” Aqua says, looking over at where you sat. She seemed excited, the brightness in her eyes bringing a smile to your face. Standing from your spot, you stretch and head down to where your friends stood.

Aqua clasped her hands together and smiled brightly, “I made us good luck charms,” Aqua starts, pulling out four star shaped charms, “Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star shaped fruit. The fruit represents an unbreakable connection and as long as we carry these with us no matter where we're at, nothing can drive us apart. You'll always find your way back to each other. I mean, I think they're supposed to be made with seashells, but I did the best I could.” Aqua smiles sheepishly, dangling her charm in front of her. You all do the same and you can't help but smile.

“But why did I get one?” You ask, glancing at the [color] charm before looking at Aqua. Her eyes soften upon looking at you, the faintest hint of blush dusting her cheeks.

“Even if you don't fight, you're still very much a part of this team. I couldn't leave you out, that would've been just cruel.”

“And I'm pretty sure she likes you.” Terra quips as he walks off, a sly smile on his face. Aqua gapes, shifting on her feet and then sighing in defeat. You look between Terra’s back and Aqua, not sure what to say.

“Do you really..like me?” You point at yourself and Aqua nods. There was no sense in trying to deny it now.

“Heh, I really do. When I first met you, there was just something about you that drawn me in,” Aqua stands in front of you, placing her hand over yours, “And if something ever happens and we're all driven apart, I'll do whatever it takes to get back to you. I promise.” Aqua says, smiling gently.

“Thank you Aqua. It means a lot honestly.” You smile, gently putting the charm in your pocket.

“Don't mention it, now let's get back before it's cold.” Aqua takes your hand, leading you back to the castle like home. You never thought that Aqua would like you out of everyone, honestly you thought she liked Terra. But you were happy, happier than what you have been in recent days.

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

Despite training for the Mark of Mastery exam that was coming up very soon, Aqua made time for you. She would often find you hiding within your room, reading a book. You had become one of her main reasons to fight harder than ever.

“You going to watch the exams tomorrow?” Aqua asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. You look up from your book, wondering when she came into the room. Though you smile nonetheless.

“Of course, I'll be rooting you both tomorrow. But maybe you a little more.” You toss the book to the side and pat the empty spot beside you on the bed. Aqua moves there, taking your hand in hers.

“Heh, that's nice to hear. I just hope this doesn't rear our friendship apart. We both know there can be only one master.” Aqua frowns, referring to Terra. You give her hand a reassuring squeeze, making her smile slowly.

“It'd be pretty low of him if he got mad. I mean, there's always next year's exam. Nothing would be lost honestly. Am I right?” You ask. Aqua nods, turning on her side and curling up against you.

“Exactly. We'll just have to see how things go tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be okay, but you know how I worry.” Aqua chuckles sheepishly, nuzzling her head in the crook of your neck. Your face warms up due to the closeness between the two of you, but you wouldn't want it any other way. Aqua was too darn precious to push away.

“I'm sure it'll be okay as well, just get some sleep. You're going to need the rest for tomorrow.” You kiss the side of Aqua’s head, keeping a tight hold on her as she relaxes. Nothing else was said, Aqua was blushing over the kiss you left on the side of her head. She could still feel it, making her stomach fill with butterflies.

Aqua soon fell into a peaceful sleep, listening to your heartbeat and a small smile on her face.

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

The next day, everything was chaotic. From the exam going wrong, all the way to Ventus chasing after Terra who fled the Land of Departure. Aqua was tasked with bringing them back, but the small (majority) part of her wanted to stay with you.

“Call me selfish, but I don't want to leave you.” Aqua frowned, holding your hands. Eraqus told her to say temporary goodbyes, but she wasn't ready. Not when she finally got you.

“I don't want you leaving either, but you have to get your friends back.” You smile, leaning forward and kissing Aqua gently. It was the first kiss between the two of you and the last for the time being. The thought was painful, but you smiled through the pain.

“I'll be back soon, don't you worry [Name].” Aqua walked off, looking back to wave before leaving. You watched her disappear, a quiet sigh escaping your lips.

Now it was only a matter of time until she came back. You had high hopes that everything would be okay.

~ ☆ ~ A happy Ending Because I Can't Handle the Ending of BBS ~ ☆ ~

It took several months, several near death experiences and a strong heart, but Aqua brought her friends back. A guilt ridden Terra followed behind Aqua, while Ventus walked beside her. They were all exhausted from their tedious fight with Vanitas and Master Xehanort. By some miracle, the three friends won. Terra almost lost his way into the darkness, but the power of friendship saved him.

The three enter their home, silence filling their ears as they walk toward the Master's room.

“Are they even here?” Terra asked, running a hand through his hair. They've never heard the place so quiet before, though a clatter from the kitchen and a outburst of profanity soon answer his question.

Heading into the kitchen, the three freeze when they see you in the floor picking up what was supposed to be cookies.

“I forgot the fucking floor was wet. Fucking hell, I ain't baking again goddammit.” You mumble, thinking Eraqus was watching you at the entrance. When you look up though, your mouth nearly falls to the ground. Scrambling to your feet, you slip and slide towards Aqua, Terra and Ventus, hugging them to you as best as you could.

“You guys made it! I missed you so much!” You say, doing your best to hug them, though you were sure one of them was being choked by your efforts.

“Man, you really lack faith in us [Name].” Ventus sputters, wiggling out of your hold and gasping. Turns out, he was being choked. You look at him and smile brightly, releasing Terra from the hug, but keeping Aqua close to you.

“I had full faith you guys would make it back thank you very much. I just couldn't help but worry.” You feel Aqua rest her head on your shoulder, her arms snaking around your waist.

“It wasn't easy, that's for sure. Ven, let's give these two some time and report to the master.” Terra dragged Ventus away, leaving the two of you alone. You turn your attention to Aqua, who was relaxing peacefully against you.

“It really wasn't easy, but we somehow did it. At times, I wanted to lose faith when I was alone. But whenever I thought of you, everything was okay again.” Aqua kissed you, pouring her pent up feelings into the single kiss. She missed you with all of her heart, you kept her going when things were looking bleak.

Pulling away, Aqua was blushing a bit while she touched her lips. You exhale and shift on your feet, nearly blown away by the kiss. It was so simple, but it meant so much.

“I'll always be here for you Aqua. That'll never change, I promise. I love you.” You hug her to you, enjoying the feeling of her being in your arms once again.

“I love you too [Name]. And I'll always be there for you as well.” Aqua presses herself closer, taking all of you in before hearing Master Eraqus call her name.

“I guess I'll talk to you in a little bit,” Aqua kisses you one more time before pulling away from you, “I can't wait to tell you some of the things I learned.” She says, smiling brightly before walking off. You watch her back, a dorky smile plastered on your face.

Aqua was the definition of perfection. There was nothing anyone could tell you otherwise.

[walkingdeadfan25]

I love you, You love me not

Imagine: being in love with Sherlock (because that's so hard to do XD) Sherlock Holmes. Hearing that name always sent shivers up and down your body. It hadn't always been that way. At first you hated his guts. Him and his stupid pompous, holier than thou attitude. That was before you got to know him and irrevocably fell in love. But that's all it'd ever be, just a notion in your mind never to come true. Sherlock didn't show emotion alot. It hurt because you had become a close fixture in the detective's everyday life. You saw him everyday due to living just below Sherlock in 221 C but he could never know your true feelings for it would complicate things. You hid your feelings but to anyone other than Sherlock it was obvious you had fallen head over heels for the handsome and eccentric man. You had woken up and headed up stairs to Sherlock's flat to make tea. As you entered his living room, you noticed how unusually festive it looked even though it was Christmas. Sherlock wasn't normally a festive person. You went into his kitchen and got a glance of his latest experiment, you didn't know what it was and you weren't going to mess with anything. You placed the kettle onto the stove and went back into the living room. You saw his beloved violin setting propped in the corner. You picked up the violin and began to play the song Sherlock had been writing. You didn't have to look at the sheet music, you could play it by sound. You held it gently but firmly like a child and then the beautifully haunting music flowed throughout the flat. Sherlock, upon hearing the sound of a violin being played, left his room to see you playing. He couldn't help but be dazzled by you as the sun hit you, shining off the natural (H/C) highlights in your hair and giving you a warm glow. He couldn't deny in that moment the beauty that was you. "I never knew you played. I should have been able to deduce that about you but you're very hard to read." You stopped playing and opened your eyes as you had closed them as you became immersed in the music. "Ah sorry Sherlock. Did I wake you? Actually don't answer. The fact that you are dressed for the day leads me to believe you have been up for a while not to mention there is no glaze over your eyes one has when they've just awakened but by your slouched posture you haven't had your morning tea. Good news for you, I have already put a kettle on and it should be done right. About. Now." To prove your deduction right as soon as you finished your sentence, the kettle began to scream. Sherlock was slightly shocked at your correct deduction and couldn't help the feeling of pride that swept through his being. You left to go prepare some tea. Sherlock stood there before walking to his chair and taking a seat. You reentered with the two cups of tea. "So what is with all the decorations? Mrs.Hudson finally convince you to get in the holiday spirit? It looks nice but is definitely not you." "No I have decided this year to throw a party and invite all the special people in my life. You are invited and the party is tonight at eight." "Okay. Do I need to bring anything?" "No just yourself but I know you're going to bring something anyway.", if anyone else had said that, you would have taken slight offense, but it was Sherlock and you knew he meant well. The day passed on and Sherlock paced and played his violin. At around six, you left to go wrap the presents you had already purchased, prepare some sugar cookies and get dressed. You had gotten a new teapot set with a flowery print you hand painted for Mrs.Hudson, for Lestrade you had made a mug with the caption 'Best Boss (but don't tell Sherlock)', for Molly you had gotten her a beautiful sky blue dress she's had her eye on, and for John you had knitted him a new jumper and got him a new updated first aid kit. Sherlock was a bit harder to shop for. He didn't have a want for materialistic items so you had to think long and hard. And you knew the best present would have to be something personal. You noticed that recently ever since Moriarty had come back with the bombings and that one older lady had gotten killed, Sherlock had been different. Recently it seemed as if Sherlock began to have feelings or as he called them, Sentiments. So you decided to go to every person Sherlock has ever helped and was surprised when they had written letters to give to Sherlock explaining how much his help meant but never had the courage to send them to the standoffish man. You told them you were a close acquaintance and would make sure he received them. Now you couldn't take credit for the notes, so you also got Sherlock a few more things to go with them like: some weird and rare part he's been looking for for an experiment, a navy blue scarf you had stitched his initials in because you noticed his other one had began to look tattered and an antique magnifying glass you found that just screamed Sherlock.   You had also written letters to everyone explaining how important they were in your life but Sherlock's was the most heartfelt. He had helped you through so much; from helping you build your confidence, accepting your social awkwardness and helping you pull through the crushing depression your severe social  anxiety caused. He had helped you in more ways than he could even hoped to have realized.   You mixed up the sugar cookie mix before scooping them onto a cookie pan and putting them into the oven. You then whipped up the icing and waited for the cookies to be done and then iced them. By the time they were iced and plated, you had an hour to get ready. You brushed your (H/L) (H/S) (H/C) out and left it falling around your shoulders. You decided on black eye liner which made your eyes pop and added some mascara.  For your outfit, you decided on a black dress. It had a V cut that showed a little bit of cleavage, with long lace sleeves that contrasted with your alabaster skin. The dress hugged your torso and curves leaving little to the imagination when it came to your figure. The front fell a few inches above your knees while the back flowed to the ground. It floated out behind you with every step. You paired it with a pair of black stilettos with T shaped straps. You looked into the mirror and decided to add just a little of black eyeshadow which was more make-up than you'd ever worn, but this was a special occasion and you wanted to impress Sherlock.   You truly felt happy and you didn't feel the ever-present cloud of anxiety lingering in the back of your mind. Nothing could break your happy streak, or so you thought. You checked the time and noticed it was eight on the dot. You gathered your gifts and juggled the plate of sugar cookies up the steps and into Sherlock's flat. You could hear the classical music float around you as you entered and the sound of chuckling. John saw you with all the things in your hands and offered to help. You thanked him and handed him the plate of cookies. You then sat your gifts on a side table. Everyone greeted you and you replied in kind. You didn't see Sherlock and wanted to give him his gifts first. And when you think of the devil he shall appear, because shortly after thinking of him, Sherlock entered the living room.   He stopped and took in your appearance. "What did you do to your face? And for the love of all but on some decent clothing. By the way you're dressed and the make-up you're wearing, you're trying to impress someone but what good is it.", as he continued berating you in front of everyone, tears began to fill your eyes and shame reddened your face and the anxiety began to flood your being. "Sherlock, I believe that is quite enough. You don't treat a female like this ever. This is (Y/N) you're talking to, she's your friend!", John told him. Mrs.Hudson and everyone chimed in too. You just thrust his gifts into his arms and rushed from his flat as the sobs erupted from your chest. You slammed your flat door as you rushed inside before collapsing to the floor. As soon as you left, everyone ripped into Sherlock. "You've really done it now Sherlock." He looked down at the gifts you put into his hands. On top was your letter addressed to him that read 'To the man who has given my life meaning and stolen my heart'. For the first time in his adult life, William Sherlock Scott Holmes felt like the biggest arsehole to have ever walked the Earth. John who was standing beside him said,"Sherlock for the most brilliant human being, you are bloody stupid. She has been in love with you for sometime. You were the man she dressed up for. She wanted to impress you and you walked all over her." After how Sherlock had acted everyone was not in the mood for the party and decided to leave. They all shot disappointed looks to Sherlock.   Sherlock sunk to the floor and began to read her letter. By the end he was close to tears. The Sherlock Holmes was about to shed actual tears. He opened the square parcel wrapped in silver paper, then the rectangular parcel and finally the letters. He jumped up and ran down to your flat. He banged on the door and you yelled at him to go away. He walked away and then quietly reapproached your door listening for movement. His trick worked because as soon as you heard him "leave" you moved to your living room. As soon as he heard you move, he pulled the door open and stepped into your flat. You tried to hide your tear stained face from him. "Get out of my flat." "No.", he walked towards you and turned you to face him. You kept your face down turned from him. "Look at me." "No. Why are you here? Want to berate me even more? I'm already a speck of dirt compared to you, the Almighty Sherlock Holmes. You're probably laughing at me now for loving you, a puny insignificant, in love with you.", you say cuttingly. Sherlock lifted your face up to his and demanded, " Look at me (Y/N)." You reluctantly opened your eyes to take in his pain filled green-blue eyes. "I was an ass to you and you didn't deserve it. I was jealous because you were dressed so provocatively in front of other men when I want to be the only man to see you like that. I apologize, I am new to Sentiments and I am trying to figure out how to reciprocate them. But one thing I never want to hear is you say you're insignificant to me. You are more than I am. You are a very big and important part of my life. You keep me in check and give me reason to go on with cases. When I get stuck on a case and am pushing myself too hard you make me step back. You make me a better man. You have changed my life and I love you." Before you could even comprehend what he had said, he clasped your face in his soft, big hands and brought his mouth crashing down onto yours. He moved one arm around your waist and kept the other on your face. You eagerly returned his kiss as a sigh escaped you. He gently parted your mouth as he deepened the kiss. He pulled away but pressed his forehead to yours. His breath fanned across your face gently and you smiled as you opened your eyes to his shining brightly at you. He wiped the tears from your cheeks before pressing a loving kiss to your lips. You savored the feel of his soft lips pressing against yours as they opened and closed with yours. "I love you and apology accepted. Did you enjoy your gifts? I have one more but I couldn't exactly give it to you at the party." "I did. Thank you for the scarf and the magnifying glass, which is going to come in very handy. As for those notes, I'm glad I can make such an impact on people's lives, especially yours." You grabbed his hand and led him towards the little mini fridge you keep in a little storage closet in case you need more fridge space.   You opened the little door and pulled out what was inside. Sherlock's face lit up like kid's on Christmas. "Y-you, how?! I've been trying to find some! Oh thank you. Thank you. Thank you!", after every 'thank you' he pressed a kiss to your lips. And everything was finally right.  

[lizartgurl]

Things Will Change [Kaldur’ahm]

Word Count: 3500+ Characters: Kaldur’ahm/Aqualad, The Team, Batman, Sha’lain’a Durham, Calvin Durham. Trigger/Warning: serious character injury (heavily implied) A fic of Aqualad to try and wrap up a lot of storylines left hanging at the end of Season two (even though now we’re getting a season three...I wrote this a while back :3)

-------

"Kaldur, do you want to help bake some cookies?"

To Aqualad, traitor-turned-leader of the Justice League's covert operations team, the question seems awfully mundane after all that's just happened.

But Superboy doesn't ask him if he's tired, he doesn't ask if he's okay, he doesn't tell Kaldur that he's done a good job, like everyone else does. He just asks him to join his team. Kaldur wants to say no, the list of stunts the team has pulled with the invasion has merited piles of paperwork that Nightwing so graciously dumped on him, along with letters from his mother and stepfather he cannot bring himself to read, threat letters from purist Atlanteans who are not as forgiving as his team that warn him against returning home. All Kaldur wants to do is rest, but the Watchtower's lounge is not as comfortable as the cave he destroyed, and he has nowhere else to go.

Connor won't take no for an answer anyway. It's been almost a month since the Reach was sent to trial, and Kaldur needs to come out of the room for other occasions than just mission assignments. With his strength cloned from the man of steel, Connor drags Kaldur to the kitchen, with Sphere and Wolf sticking to Kaldur stubbornly.

Miss Martian smiles at her big brother, levitating a tray of finished cookies over to him.

"Kal!" Beast Boy pushes the tray over and holds out a few choice cookies, decorated with Aquaman's symbol in frosting just for him.

M'gann pours milk for herself, Connor, and Garfield and some tea for Kaldur without even asking, and Kaldur notices just how much she's smiling.

"You look well." He tells her.

"Thanks Aqualad, I feel a lot better."

Superboy and Miss Martian's cheeks are pink, sneaking looks at each other every so often that make them turn even more red. Garfield's cheeks are puffed up as he watches in frustration.

Kaldur shakes his head at the two of them, and maybe he does nudge M'gann a little closer to Connor as he reaches for the vanilla extract.

-------

Wonder Girl is training all alone in the Watchtower's gym, but she's hesitant about using the League's stuff because it's all really nice and new and unlike the stuff that used to be at the cave because the team was so attached to their things and wouldn't let Batman replace it even after Superboy got mad at Nightwing and Kid Flash and threw an elliptical at them. She doesn't have a sparring partner because Superboy's on a date with M'gann, or always with M'gann, and she's too afraid to hurt any of her teammates because she knows she gets a little overexcited.

"You?" she asks when Kaldur volunteers. She says okay because she's dying to let out some energy.

Kaldur senses her surprise when he matches her strength, and Cassie finds herself talking as they spar, asking him questions while trying to find a subject that isn't insensitive. Because he misses it so much, Aqualad tells her all about Atlantis. His training in the military, which is similar to what Cassie's undergone with the Amazons; the religion, Cassie proudly names a few water nymphs she's met on Themyscira; and about his family. Kaldur and most of the team know her mother already, so Cassie suggests that the team have a get-together where they bring their families to meet their friends because the team needs to meet Jaime's little sister.

That night, Kaldur asks La'gaan to give a message to Sha'lain'a and Calvin.

-------

Honorary-League-And-Team-Member Red Arrow walks into the Watchtower one day to find Aqualad surrounded by half-finished physics books, all that Kaldur protests he's in the middle of reading. Artemis left them at the tower around the start of July for anyone who wanted them. Bart took one, and Tim skimmed one, but the rest have been collecting dust in the Lounge that the team has easily claimed as "theirs" and several members, such as Beast Boy and Bart, have tried to ban all League members from entering, without much success.

When Roy asks how Kaldur's doing, he can't pull much than standard, one-word answers out of the guy who used to be his best friend. He's been trying, trying so hard to move on, to grow up, to find a purpose in his life. Everyone else has gone home, and Roy notices that Kaldur's just about to fall asleep in his seat, so he announces to Kaldur that he's sleeping over at the Harper-Ngyuen-Crock house tonight.

"Lian, come meet your uncle fishy!" Kaldur is hardly ever utterly surprised, but watching Cheshire parade out from behind the kitchen counter with a red-headed one-year-old on her hip makes his eyes go wide. Lian, definitely named after her aunt, squeals and reaches for her father, who covers her with kisses, and Jade hugs Aqualad tightly and thanks him again for watching after Artemis while they were undercover. Paula Crock, an older woman with a kind smile despite her frown lines rolls in from the back room in her wheelchair.

"You must be Kaldur, Artemis has told me so much about you," she beams at the dark-skinned, six-foot tall Atlantean who towers over her with gils, webbed fingers, and eel tattoos up and down his arms. No mention is made of the incident in March...or May, or any of the past six months, for that matter.

Artemis comes home later with a backpack full of Vietnamese Lit homework, not surprised to see Kaldur seated between Roy and her mother at the dinner table. Jade has tried her hand at making cheesecake, so the others politely pretend to eat it until Jade goes to put Lian to sleep. Roy and Artemis immediately throw theirs in the trash, but Kaldur and Paula each finish their slice and tell Jade that it was absolutely delicious when she returns.

Paula wheels herself into the room that she shares with her granddaughter to turn in, leaving the younger heroes to reminisce their old adventures.

"Do you remember when you messed up so badly at New Orleans?" Jade elbows Artemis, who groans and slaps her sister in the face, but Jade doesn't stop smiling.

Kaldur takes his own turn at embarrassment, remembering older missions where the team could hardly get along.

He nearly threw them back into that again.

But Roy puts a hand on his shoulder, and Kaldur's old friend smiles at him.

They've all made mistakes, but now is the time to make up for them,

-------

"Aqualad!" Kaldur sturdies himself, preparing for the not-so-surprise-attack of Beast Boy, who descends upon him as a screeching monkey.

The young members who should respect him are frightened of him, don't trust him, but Gar is not as suspicious.

Kaldur is well aware of the tear on the poster of himself that hangs in Gar's bedroom, sloppily hid with packaging tape.

"What's up, AL?"

Kaldur smiles, adjusting the tablet to show Gar a few websites he was going through, looking for training activities to do with the team.

Gar taps a finger to his chin, deep in thought with his bottom lip sticking out.

"Y'know, why don't we drop the training and just do some bonding?"

His voice is beyond hopeful, like a child asking for extra dessert.

"Beast Boy-"

"Come on! We saved the world!" He's quick to point out, leaping to the ground and scampering around Kaldur's feet.

"You of all people deserve a break," Garfield jabs his finger in Kaldur's face with the stern, no-nonsense voice he picked up from watching Batman, Manhunter, even Kaldur himself.

Kaldur looks back at his tablet, then at Gar, who continues to stare at him with a pathetic imitation of Batman's intimidating glare.

Kaldur shuts off the tablet and ruffles Garfield's dark green hair, and the young boy's laughter is one of the few things in a long time to make him smile.

-------

When Robin discovers something, Aqualad is the person he goes to.

He's hesitant about it of course, all the freshman are a little wary of Aqualad when most of them have never known the Kaldur on their side, but Kaldur is gentle and patient. Of course he sees Robin waiting around the corner whenever Kaldur is alone at the computer, and pacing back and forth, thinking it's better to keep it to himself then changing his mind and being determined to to tell him then changing his mind again until Kaldur walks up to the nervous boy.

Robin is shocked when Kaldur asks him what's on his mind and the words stumble out of his mouth at first, but he "Can't go to Batgirl, because she'd tell Nightwing and he'd go crazy, and I can't tell Blue because he'd tell Imp- Bart, who'd try it out all on his own and probably get killed and, yeah, you're the only other person I could think of."

Kaldur is happy to sit down and listen.

-------

Sphere beeps happily, nudging Kaldur as he does paperwork again, going through all the files Batgirl has sent him. The computer is so much more convenient for him, as he can enlarge the words to read them better. English is such a confusing language.

He pats her dome as she rests beside the couch, submitting the paperwork to Batman for the league's files, subconsciously pulling up a photo, the first one taken with the underwater camera Roy gave him for his first surface-world birthday.

"Hey, Kal!" Mal waves him down, a bowl of popcorn tucked under his arm.

Kaldur turns off the computer so that he can give Mal his full attention.

"Connor and I were gonna watch a game on the TV, and maybe I'd ask La'gaan too, but do you wanna join us?"

Kaldur is touched. He never really got to know Mal before he went undercover, but Guardian seems to make more effort to open up to Kaldur than most of the team.

Kaldur doesn't remember what teams played. He doesn't remember the final score, he just remembers Garfield shifting into the mascot of Connor's team as Superboy shoots trash talk back and forth with Mal and La'gaan. Then come Jaime and Bart, who nearly end their friendship over which team will win, Virgil snaps his fingers over by the outlet, and suddenly the power is out in the TV.

Kaldur smiles as Mal, La'gaan, and Connor moan at the thought of never knowing who wins. Suddenly there's laughter in the doorway and Karen and Barbra are standing there, faces lit by their phones. They've recorded the whole thing.

Everyone is embarrassed.

Then Cassie comes in with Superman's old football and asks if everyone wants to play. Oddly enough, Kaldur is the first to agree with her.

-------

The moment he hears what's happened, Kaldur rushes to the Gotham hospital. He wonders if he needn't have bothered. Artemis is there already, comforting Cassie, who can't stop crying because Barbra's her best friend,Tim's just staring at the floor, and Kaldur knows Nightwing's there too, watching just outside the hospital window.

Because they're not family, the nurse insists that they go in one at a time. Kaldur doesn't say anything, but despite what's happened that night, Barbra makes the effort to smile for him.

"I guess I'm kicked off the team then, huh?" She coughs horribly, and Kaldur helps her sip from the cup while insisting that her value to the team goes beyond her fighting skills.

"Alright, alright," Barbra admits that she's being too hard on herself. As Batman's only female protege, it's a habit.

"Can you convince my dad to bring my laptop in here? Maybe I can do some research for the team if I can't be out there beating up the bad guys myself."

Kaldur promises to try, but by the look on Jim Gordon's face when he sees his daughter, now crippled for life, it doesn't look like it'll take much convincing. He looks ready to do anything for her, even take her place as The Joker's victim.

Kaldur tells Artemis to inform the team of Batgirl's situation for him. There is something that he must do.

Almost as an afterthought, he tells Tim to inform Barbra of what he's discovered. Perhaps she, and even Nightwing, can help him.

-------

Sha'lain'a sits on the coral seat in her small home, looking through old mosaics and paintings used to record memories. Calvin isn't home at the moment, he's working with Garth, Lori, La'gaan, Topo, even Sha'ark and Ronal, all of Kaldur's friends from the conservatory, petitioning Annax and the rest of the Atlantean government to let her son return home a hero. She wants to be there. She wants them to look her in the eyes, to taste the fury in her voice. She wants the judge, each member of the jury, and King Orin himself to look her in the eyes and say it to her face that her son cannot come home.

Calvin told her to stay behind, as did Garth and La'gaan. Lori tried to tell her they did not want her to be hurt by the purists, but Sha'lain'a shot back that it was the purists that needed to watch out if they kept her son from her ever again.

She last saw him a year ago. He stood in the doorway and uttered two words.

"I know."

Calvin tried to hold him, comfort him, but Kaldur pushed past and swam to his room, a place nearly unused since he was twelve. Sha'lain'a broke down crying.

She'd cried all her tears by the time she saw the letter in his empty room.

She cried again two months later when King Orin and Garth came personally to tell Sha'lain'a and Calvin that Kaldur had lead Black Manta's latest attack.

She didn't cry when purists vandalized her home, when passerbys she might have considered friends spat at her feet and threw rocks at Calvin for raising a demon.

She knows her son. She saw him a few times when he was undercover, wearing his new, black suit, side-by-side with David, his biological father. She saw the look in Kaldur's eyes, even from so far away, and knew that could not be true.

From then on, she trusted her son.

She cries now, because Kaldur, Aqualad, her son, is a hero, and he deserves to come home and there's nothing they'll let her do about it.

Sha'lain'a hides the pictures away again. Calvin tells her that she shouldn't dwell on the past so much if it makes her so sad, that soon Kaldur will be home and they can be happy again. She heads for the kitchen again, cooking has been an escape for her, especially after these rallies, where she can see the satisfied looks on the children's faces from full bellies, even after a failed protest.

The door slams open. Another failed rally.

"I'm in the kitchen, Calvin," she calls knowingly, "You don't need to tell me how it went."

It's only one set of kicking this time, perhaps the others were still determined to stay.

"Matim."

Sha'lain'a's grip on the knife slacks, letting it float in the air in front of her face.

She turns around, and there he is.

Kaldur'ahm.

Aqualad.

Her son.

She wants to scold him. To yell at him for letting her and everyone else believe that he was a traitor, but now that he is here, she can only stare.

"Kaldur-" Her voice cracks.

And suddenly he's hugging her, holding her and blubbering apologies while they both cry.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Hush, hush, little one." She takes his face in her hands and kisses his forehead.

"Sha'lain'a-" Calvin bursts through the door, a smile on his face, and the others trailing behind him.

Topo pushes in front of him, punching the water with his fists. "We did it! We did it!" Bubbles stream upwards from his mouth underneath his tentacles.

"Kaldur's coming-!" He cuts himself off.

"Kaldur!" Lori swims past them all and hugs Kaldur.

"I take it you know, then," Calvin hugs Sha'lain'a, watching Kaldur's reunion with his friends, who are all talking excitedly at him.

Lori recovers first. "You betrayed us."

Her hand shoots out and she slaps his face. "How could you not tell us!" She demands, her lips curling in anger.

Everyone gets a turn to slap him but La'gaan, who's already had a chance to do so, and laughs while he watches.

Kaldur takes it all humbly, and After Sha'ark takes pity on him and only punches Kaldur's shoulder, he bows his head.

"I am sorry for not telling you."

"Enough with that, Kaldur!" Garth claps him on the back, "What's in the past is in the past, you are a free man, now." He tells Kaldur sternly.

Kaldur nods. "It is good to be back, my friends." Topo won't stop hugging him.

"Now that I am back, however, I would like to invite you all to something."

They're all a part of his family, and after what he's done to them, it's only fair that he invites them too.

-------

Mount Justice is naught more than rubble, and Kaldur is grateful that the team has rebuilt themselves into something much, much more.

"Hot dog, ese?" Jaime holds out a plate with the weiner in a bun, done up with all the fixings.

"No, we're not going to poison Aqualad!" The nervous boy yells over his shoulder. Kaldur chuckles, and thanks Jaime for the food. Blue's eyes go wide at the notion, but he smiles nervously, and returns to guard the food and make sure Bart doesn't eat everything. Mr. and Mrs. Reyes are a happy couple, and Milagro and Lian get along fabulously.

Artemis pushes her mom around on the smooth path Garth and Lori created specially for the wheelchairs with their magics. In the mid-afternoon sun, Artemis is smiling, her hair blowing in the wind coming off the waves as she talks with Mal and Karen.

Lian splashes in the water with her parents. She screams as a wave crashes over the trio, but Jade and Roy hold onto their daughter tightly.

"Are you a mermaid?" She asks Lori, who stays in the water with Blubber and Topo.

Lori smiles, and lets Lian examine her tail. Within a matter of minutes Lian declares that she's going back to Atlantis with the others to become a mermaid like Lori. Roy isn't so happy with that.

Beast Boy wins the splashing competition when he turns into a blue whale and douses everyone in the water with his spray. By the time the spray dies down, it turns out Connor was using it as cover to kiss M'gann.

Bart runs around, making sure everyone gets introduced to his Grandma Iris and the twins, which have long since started to show. Cassie introduces Helena to her boyfriend and all the newer team members. Helena doesn't miss a chance to thank everyone for rescuing her. Rocket and Zatanna arrive late with Raquel's young son Amistad, who is ecstatic to see Kaldur again, and head out to the waves with the Harpers and Atlanteans. Static's parents and sister are a little overwhelmed with all the unmasked superheroes, but after Kaldur hands each of them one of M'gann's cookies and introduces himself, they seem a bit more at ease.

Sha'lain'a and Calvin are talking with Batman, who managed to stop by for the occasion. Richard has come back, if only for a visit, and takes the responsibility of racing Barbra around in her new wheelchair, fresh from the hospital. Babs already has a list of meta-powered teens the team can train and recruit, starting with a new Gotham vigilante calling herself "Spoiler".

"Kaldur, come over here."

It doesn't matter how old he is. When Kaldur's mother calls him, he comes running.

Sha'lain'a points to Nightwing, who has started talking with Batman. "Is this the young man who assisted you with your undercover mission?"

"Yes, matim, this is Richard Grayson, a former Robin."

Sha'lain'a nods, and fixes her gaze on Batman. "May I?"

"Be my guest," The dark knight offers.

Nightwing doesn't know what's happening until Sha'lain'a has slapped him across the face.

Barbra is laughing. "I like your mom, Kal." She smirks. It can't be helped that most of the team is still at least slightly mad at the them for the undercover thing, even if they have been forgiven.

When Aquaman and Queen Mera arrive with the baby prince, Kaldur finds a chance to escape. There used to be almost a balcony at the cave's back entrance, but for now, the highest peak of rock will have to do.

Of course, Artemis finds him almost five minutes later, Richard, Connor, and M'gann hot on her tail.

None of them say anything. They don't have to. M'gann floats, so that there's room for the others to sit next to Kaldur.

There's no mind link, but they don't have to read each other's minds to know what the others are thinking.

Kaldur watches his teammates, his friends, and his family frolicking in the light of the setting son. It's not just like old times, he thinks, but it may be just as good. There's still so much work to be done, but he supposes it won't ever be finished.

For now, he has his team. And he knows now that they will always be there.

No matter what changes.

[cupnoodle-queen]

CHASING SUNS: Chapter 9 Family

3,083 words

LOL OOPS I WROTE 3K WORDS ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So yeah. This was a fun one. Also!! Raine and son Lucas from @nifwrites story We Intertwined make an appearance! I love the Scientia family c:

Cam sat perched on the railing of the armory, grinding a wet stone against the edge of her sword when her phone went off. She freed her hands to take the call. “Hey, Greyson.”

“Hi Cam, hey can you pop over to the admin office when you have a sec? Dave called a quick meeting.”

“Will do, be there in five.”

Her weapons sheathed across her back Cam headed for the office, nodding at several familiar faces along the way. She’d become a recognizable person at HQ, due in part from the sheer amount of hunts she turned in to date and Gladio may have let it slip that she disarmed him. Couple that with her form-fitting leather armor and pants and she gave them a reason to stare.

Cam knocked on the door to the office and was let in seconds later by Greyson. “Hey, we’re just waiting on Prompto.”

Dave leaned against the desk, reading through a list of jot notes until Greyson resumed conversation with him. Gladio gave Cam a lazy wave as she entered the office and she took a seat next to him, just as Prompto all but hopped into the room and pulled up a chair beside her. The room went quiet as everyone looked to Dave to speak.

“Thanks for coming, all. As you probably know, our research scouts detected some spikes in infrared readings just north of here.” He paced around the room as he continued. “They’ve also received reports of increased daemon sightings in the area. We’ve reason to believe the security here in HQ could be compromised, and soon.”

The air of the room was uneasy. Dave looked at Greyson. “I got the guys at Culless to double our order for this week-”

Greyson’s thick eyebrows shot up. “Double??”

Dave nodded. “With the recruits from the city getting trained plus the estimated threat level, we’ll need the extra stock for sure. I’m already looking into our armor vendor increasing next week’s order.

“That being said, due to the larger than normal load I’d rather have an experience provisioner transport the goods, and you three-” he motioned at Cam, Gladio and Prompto, “-are on guard duty. With increased daemon presence comes chance for looters and poachers, something we can’t afford to incur. Budget’s already tight as it is even after double supply run orders…”

The group nodded in unison and Prompto sprang from his seat. “Alright, let’s get this show on the road.”

“Right now?” Cam checked her phone. Half-past five in the evening. “Kinda late, don’t you think?”

Greyson considered it. “Actually, we could make it there and back tonight, easily. Dave, can you have some guys available to unload say, for eight-ish?”

He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen and replied, “Consider it done. Take the twelve-footer, gonna need the hauling power.”

“No way,” Greyson scoffed, “that thing is ancient, how is it still in commission?”

“It’s still running fine, just go easy on the brakes.” Dave pulled a set of keys from a safe and tossed them to Greyson. “Call me if there’s any issues.”

They left for Lestallum with the addition of Ignis, hitching a ride back so he could visit his wife and two year old son, possibly stay home with them for a while especially if a difficult situation with the daemons was potential. As they reached the outskirts of the city Prompto dotted on the subject. “So, Iggy, family life treating you well?”

Ignis replied from the back seat. “Certainly has decreased my chances of inevitable death. Though challenging even during the best of times, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I often wonder what I’d ever done to deserve a woman as remarkable and clever as Raine.”

From the front, Prompto turned back and gave Ignis an incredulous look, despite the fact that he couldn't see it. “Dude, you existed. That’s all that mattered.”

Cam scrunched her brows together. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Beside her, Gladio spoke up. “Iggy and Raine are soulmates.”

Cam tensed at the word, struggling to keep her heart rate steady, the electricity buzzing between her and Gladio. “Oh, I see.”

Once at the gate outside of Lestallum, the guards opened the doors to grant access without needing to stop and they drove through, slowing to head down into the parkade, taking the spot on the end due to the large size of the vehicle. They piled out and Greyson made a call to his supplier. “Yeah, we’re in the parking lot. Head on over when you can.”

The weapons dealer pulled up in an equally large truck, popped the hatch and they got to work loading the truck with crate after crate of knives, guns and ammo. Ignis stood off to the side chatting with the supplier before pulling his phone out and calling his wife, announcing with a smile that he was back in the city for a spell. Cam overheard part of their conversation and it gave her a pang of grief. She missed having someone to come home to. She missed having a home to come to, period.

Greyson packed the last crate on the truck, closed the hatch and wiped his hands on his pants. “Alright, done and done. Ignis, join us for a bite or?”

Ignis smiled, tucking his cane under one arm to adjust a glove. “I appreciate the offer, but I must take a raincheck. Nothing would make me happier than spending the evening in with my family.”

The group headed across the street and into the city hub, Prompto commenting on how he was expecting more people to be out tonight. Cam had to agree, the pedestrians roaming about were in far less numbers than when she was living here. And lucky for them, the main restaurant in the centre of town had some free tables. They’d have to snag those as soon as they came back through.

On the way to Ignis’s house, Gladio pulled out his phone and called someone. Cam noticed his voice was softer as he spoke to the person on the other line. “Hey, Iris. I’m in the city, you want to meet up with us for dinner?....Awesome, yeah that’s the place, we’ll meet you in a few.”

Prompto overheard and piped up. “Iris is joining us?”

“Yeah,” Gladio replied with a serene smile. “Be good to see her again.”

Must be family, Cam thought. Steph would murder anyone else who came near him.

They passed the old market square location and Gladio noticed Cam looking on from the distance, a mixed expression of melancholy and bittersweet thoughts. He felt for her, or at least something made him feel for her. It was as if a switch flicked and he could detect the anguish in her mind. Strange. Invasive.

A short ways onwards and they reached a set of separate houses, Gladio leading the way towards a specific one from the group, one with a white exterior and blue door. He guided Ignis to the proper one, knocked, and waited.

Moments later a stunning young woman answered the door, a small toddler seated in her arms. His eyes lit up instantly. “Dadda!”

“Ah, Lucas.” Ignis set his cane down and his wife and son pulled him into a tight hug, the innocent lilting of the child’s laughter and joy at seeing his father again warming Cam’s steeled heart. She’d wanted children someday, and had shit not hit the proverbial fan she might have gone through with it, but Nolan declared he could never bring a child into a broken world, and so they gave up on that lifelong dream of hers.

Gladio felt a wash of heartache without reason, followed by a muscle spasm at his hip. Automatically he looked up at Cam and noticed a second too late that she had tears in her eyes. She turned away, furiously wiping her eyes and trying not to draw attention to herself, pacing off to the side. Was it possible they’d synced up so well that their emotions were affected by each other?

No, he thought. Not possible.

“Cam?” Ignis called out behind him.

Cam shook her head, forcing a smile on her face as she approached the Scientia family. “Yes?”

“I’d like to introduce you to my wife, the love of my life, mother of my so-”

“Okay, okay,” Raine interjected, chuckling lightly. “Name’s Raine, pleased to meet you. Cam, right?”

Cam nodded. “Short for Camellia. My parents weren’t very creative with names so my mother just picked her favourite flower. I hate it.” She felt several eyes on her. “Just call me Cam.”

Pretty name, Gladio thought.

Raine helped Ignis inside and turned back to the group of hunters. “Thanks for dropping my husband off, it’s impossible to get out of the city these days, obvious reasons.” She eyed down to the small child, who was now clinging to her leg, shyly peeking out every now and then. “I appreciate it.”

“No prob, doll!” Prompto beamed at the woman. “We’ll have to visit for some of those amazing cookies soon.”

They left the Scientia house and headed towards the restaurant, which thankfully still had some free tables. They grabbed one and pulled up an extra seat for their expected guest.

Said guest was approaching them now. “Gladdy!”

Cam whipped her head around towards the voice. A young girl in her later teens but still very small, with cocoa hair that dusted her shoulders. She could tell a definite relation to Gladio, had to be his sister.

Her suspicions were short-lived. “Iris, Cam. Cam, Iris, my little sister,” Gladio introduced them.

Iris’s eyes widened. “You two look so alike!”

Cam’s face scrunched up. “I beg your pardon?”

“Your faces,” she wagged a finger up and down over her left eye. “You match.”

Gladio chuckled. “Yeah, she thought mine was cool so she got on-” A well earned smack to the bicep from Cam cut him off.

They ordered food and chatted about this and that. Iris had taken up a job at the clinic there, learning first aid from a retired doctor. She stayed with some members of the Crownsguard, but was getting bored of her day-to-day. “I feel like I’m helping out, sure,” she clinked ice around in her empty glass with a straw, “but I don’t feel like I’m really doing anything, like I could be doing more.”

Gladio tensed, giving Iris a look of warning. Apparently this was a topic of  previous conversations, because he replied simply with, “No.”

“Come on, Gladdy,” Iris groaned, setting her glass down with a clank. “I’m not a child anymore and there are hunters out there younger than me, and I’m seventeen!” She pursed her lips into a hard line. “I thought if you would train me I’d learn from the best, and you’d trust me more.”

The table settled in awkward silence, Greyson texting on his phone and Prompto looking around, anywhere but towards them. Cam picked at a fingernail, trying to drown it out, but she felt...rage? Why would-

“No means no, Iris. End of discussion.”

Iris growled. “You aren’t the boss of me!”

SLAM!

All eyes turned to Cam, who’d brought her fist down on the table so hard that the plates bounced and clattered. Cam’s eyes widened, her hand stinging from the impact. “Uhhh, Cam?” Prompto whimpered.

Cam scanned their faces, all in different degrees of confusion and shock. Gladio, however, looked...afraid.

“Um,” Cam stuttered, “S-sorry about that, not sure what came over me there…”

When they paid their bill and headed down to the truck to take off back to HQ, bidding Iris a strained goodbye on the way, Gladio fell into step with Cam. “What the hell was that all about back there?”

Cam sighed. “I-I don’t know, okay? I just, felt really mad for no reason at all. I don’t even remember doing it…”

His voice softened, and he stopped her in her tracks, “I’m not… great with talking. But, if something’s bothering you, talk my ear off. I insist.”

This was new. “Oh, um…” Cam wasn’t certain how to proceed, mixed emotions in his eyes. She leaned to the side, crossing her arms. “I’m okay, I think…”

Gladio sighed. “Y’aint invincible, Cam. Thought I taught you that already.”

“I know,” she replied, keeping eye contact, the sun flaring at her side. “I guess...if anything, it’s seeing everyone’s families.” Feeling her eyes sting, she shut them to prevent tears from spilling over. It was no use; they fell from her cheeks and onto her collarbone. “I-I just, I just-”

Without another word Gladio wrapped Cam in a hug that surrounded her, completed her, heat enveloping her body and soul. He had a jacket on and Cam slid her hands around his back beneath it, holding him as if her life depended on it. In some way, it did; he gave her a life worth living, the strength to survive in this wasteland, light where there was none.

A sun when the sky was black.

Cam felt his chin rest on top of her head and a hand brush the loose hair that fell from her ponytail behind her ear. “Cam, I-”

“We need a mechanic.”

Cam pulled away from Gladio at the sound of Greyson’s voice. “Truck’s toast. Transmission’s about to give out, and the radiator is overheating and I haven’t even taken it out of park yet.”

“Shit,” Cam breathed. “Any around town?”

Prompto joined the group, panting from running up the flight of stairs. “Cindy’s in Hammerhead for the night, just texted her. She can’t make it in tonight.”

The group looked around, uncertain what to do next. Even if they called someone to pick them up, they couldn’t just leave the goods there, and the other supply truck they had would need at least three trips to get everything.

A sign caught Cam’s attention. “Say we book a night at the Leville and get the truck looked at tomorrow.” She checked her phone. “It’s already seven-thirty.”

“Not a bad idea,” Greyson replied, turning to Prompto. “Have Cindy meet us in the morning. I’ll call Dave and tell him what’s up.”

They were lucky to get a room in the first place. The single bed, starter suite was not suited for four adults, the queen sized bed and sofa the only means for sleeping. Cam flat-out refused the bed, recalling the stiff mattress that murdered her back during her stay there. She called dibs on the sofa instead, and Greyson and Prompto joked about sharing the bed. Gladio took the floor between the two options, the hotel staff kind enough to offer extra pillows.

Prompto was flipping through the channels on the television, the same re-running broadcasts and played-out shows on screen. Greyson was turned over, out already.

Cam laid on her back scrolling through her gallery in her phone, far passed the daemon bounty kills. She found a set of photos from her stay in Galdin Quay with Nolan, back when the sun was still around. Vibrant pastels and sharp hues of red, pink and purples blotted the sunsetting horizon, breathtaking. Alive.

Cam missed color.

“Nice view,” Gladio croaked from the floor below her.

Cam scoffed. “Rude to look at someone’s phone without permission.”

“Sorry, just…” He sighed. “I miss it, too. Fucking darkness is getting to me.”

“Same.”

Cam flicked to the next picture, a selfie with Nolan and her. She tried to go to the next one, but he’d already seen it.

“D’you miss him?”

Cam swallowed, hard. “Sometimes.”

“Sorry.”

“You’re saying sorry too much, stop it.” Cam looked down at him, giving him a jestful warning look.

He blinked up at her. “...sorry.”

Cam rolled her eyes. “You’re terrible.”

Prompto turned the TV off, the only light in the room spilling in from the bathroom, a strange orangish wash from the sconce painted everything in a warm hue. He tucked under the covers and adjusted his pillow. “Night, guys.”

“Night,” Cam and Gladio said in unison.

The room was so quiet it made Cam’s ears hum. She looked down at Gladio again; he was staring at the ceiling. “What are you thinking about?” she murmured, low enough that the other boys couldn’t hear her.

Gladio exhaled through his nose. “I was thinking about what you said earlier. About...family.” His eyes flicked to hers. “Iris is, the only family I have left. Knowing she wants to learn how to hunt? It’s...not easy.” He rested his hands behind his head. “I can’t control her, either. Eventually she’ll do what she wants either way. But...dammit. She’s all I got, so…”

Cam could detect his internal struggle, because she began to feel it as well. “Look, you’re right. She will someday do as she wants, and you won’t be able to stop her.” Cam rolled over onto her side to face him. “The best thing you can do at that point is support her. You’re… all she has. And, what she needs is you to back her up.”

He considered her words before letting out a long sigh. “You’re right. I hate it, but you’re right.”

Cam checked her phone. “Okay, we need to get some sleep.”

“Right.”

She pocketed her phone, adjusted her pillow and laid on her back. “Night, Gladio.”

“Night, Cam.”

Gladio stirred several hours into the night. He repositioned himself, the pillows beneath him bunching up awkwardly so. Once comfortable he set in to go back to sleep. But not before catching a glimpse of Cam, lost in a dream, her face relaxed and almost childlike.

Her hand was dangling off the side of the sofa.

Why he did what he did next, he’d never know, but he gently slid his hand underneath hers, their fingers interlacing.

Gladio’s hip ignited, but it didn’t bring pain; the warmth that radiated at his side was like sun shining on his skin...something he’d missed for so long. Something he’d trade a thousand days of night for, for this single day of light...

His heart swelled, her touch bringing him a comfort nobody, no woman, had ever made him feel. The calmness spread throughout his fingertips to every inch of his body, sleep claiming him without hesitation, a small smile on his lips.

Cam’s eyes opened, well aware of Gladio’s hand in hers.

She flexed her fingers and held onto him through the night, hoping he’d never let her go.

[newtxgarvey-blog]

✖ punching them | ☎ hugging them | ☯ coming home late (Set when she has moved into his building, yes? Yes.) (You said you wanted all the things so here are all the things 0:)

✖ punching them

There was never a day that Newt would say that he didn’t deserve to be punched in the face, and in all honesty he was kind of surprised Cate didn’t punch him more often. After all they were somewhat violent people who also had a severe tenancy to be the literal definition of annoying. Not to mention Newt’s constant desire to be involved in all things painful and violent was known to piss Cate off, and worry her to hell. Scrunching up his face with a groan of pain, he rubbed at his face roughly. “Rude” he grumbled, steadying himself, almost preparing for another hit to come his way as he sipped upon his half filled beer. “Restraining order, assault charges, what else should I file in” he commented, although would never actually actively do any of those things. He was only half drunk, and grumpy that he’d lost his sandwich on the impact of her hit. “You owe me a sandwich McKenna. And a facial because how am I suppose to pick up major hotties when I got a Cate sized fist marked on my face. Extra rude”

☎ hugging them

It was very rare that Newt actually wrapped his arms around another person and enveloped them in a hug, he wasn’t the type is all. Newt was more of a shake of the hand or slap on the back type of dude, distant contact. But on a rare occasion he’d snake his arms around Cate’s smaller body in an embrace. And even rarer would it be for a sincere reason, and not to annoy her, by using the close quarters to trip her flat on her back and run away, or to steal a cookie when she wasn’t looking. Hugging was to be close, it was showing care, love, things Newt didn’t really like to express. But before they exited her apartment to get food, Newt felt a need to pull Cate into a hug. Because if he kept assuming Cate knew he loved her like his own family, one day they could die and he’d never have let the words pass his lips. So after a moment of silence, a soft mumbled whisper broke the silence.

“I’m proud of you kid. You know that? If I could go back to grade school, i’d tell my teacher Superman wasn’t my role model, but one day my best friend would be. Because she’s kind and brave, and a little annoying, but she is good. And life has beat her down enough for a dozen lifetimes but she’s still here, and that’s something to be proud of. I’d tell that cranky old bitch that one day, I want to be like Cate McKenna. Be proud, I am” he said every word pouring from his heart, because it mattered. It mattered that she knew he was proud of her, that what she did in her life, what she had overcome didn’t go unnoticed, but rather went down as a triumph. All anyone ever did was dream to be better right? “Come on turtle tim, i’m gonna grow old waiting for you to lock up. Bar food and karaoke won’t wait a decade for you to get a hustle on” he snapped back, breaking apart from her and pushing out the door in his normal fashion.

☯ coming home late 

Living in the same apartment complex as Cate was both amazing, and a nightmare. He couldn’t run home to avoid her lecture when he had a beat up face, but living in the same place as your best friend was as much fun as it sounded. Usually he’d get home from fight club late and go to Cate’s apartment or she’d text him and tell him she was out and he’d just get drunk at his place. But as he got to her front door, finding it locked with no Cate in sight he proceeded to blow up her phone with a photo series of annoying things hoping to ring her into coming back home, if for nothing else than he’d run out of alcohol and bread. This series included pictures of the blonde haired devil setting off a smoke bomb in her letterbox downstairs and watching everyone panic as they walked by, spilling fake blood outside her front door making it look as though it was coming from inside. Putting up an ad online about a rental for dirt cheap fully furnished, throwing firecrackers under her neighbors doors and leaving a note that read ‘From your loving neighbor Caitlyn McKenna. Hugs and Kisses.’ Connecting to her bluetooth speaker inside and blasting heavy metal to provoke the neighbors. And of course a never ending reel of selfies that saw Newt not only doing all of this but just generally being ridiculous in the halls of their complex. Until he heard the main door open and he peered down the stairs to see the sight of his friend, with a shrug and a laugh he prepared for the worst. “Took you long enough to get here”

[sheepbutthead]

all

Concise and direct.

Send me numbers

1. Would you have sex with the last person you text messaged?

Well I have before so I don’t see why not.

2. You talked to an ex today, correct?

Nope, most of my exes do not have anything to do with me anymore.

3. Have you taken someones virginity?

I’ve taken three people’s virginities. Not that it’s like something I aim for. It just turned out that way. I mean, one of them took my virginity so.

4. Is trust a big issue for you?

I don’t know if trust is really my issue. I think I’m either too gullible or super paranoid. It feels better to be paranoid than gullible so yeah I guess I kind of do even though I don’t really have reason to.

5. Did you hang out with the person you like recently?

No it’s kind of been a while.

6. What are you excited for?

I might be going to a Front Bottoms concert and that would be friggin amazing.

7. What happened tonight?

Well last night I stayed up until 2 working on my music collection and stuff.

8. Do you think it’s disgusting when girls get really wasted?

No? They can get as drunk as they want. Who gives a fuck?

9. Is confidence cute?

Confidence is cute but confidence to the point of arrogance is not. It just makes you a dick.

10. What is the last beverage you had?

I had some water at Cecil’s when I went to town with my grandmother.

11. How many people of the opposite sex do you fully trust?

Not including family, maybe two. It’s hard to say that I fully trust anyone.

12. Do you own a pair of skinny jeans?

Nope not anymore. Just some joggers and some slim jeans. No skinny ones though.

13. What are you gonna do Saturday night?

I dunno, probably stay home and do jackshit. I might hang out with someone.

14. What are you going to spend money on next?

Either the Front Bottom tickets or part of a birthday gift for someone.

15. Are you going out with the last person you kissed?

No not really. It sucks but oh well.

16. Do you think you’ll change in the next 3 months?

God I hope so. For the better.

17. Who do you feel most comfortable talking to about anything?

Probably Kaitlyn or my counselor. Both for different reasons though.

18. The last time you felt broken?

Oh bOy. I guess whenever that last break up thing happened.

19. Have you had sex today?

Unfortunately, no.

20. Are you starting to realize anything?

I’m always realizing how gross I look whenever I see myself in the camera or in a mirror.

21. Are you in a good mood?

I dunno. I’m ok I guess. Just kind of normal.

22. Would you ever want to swim with sharks?

YES.

23. Are your eyes the same color as your dad’s?

Yup. That greenish, bluish, grey. I think his are a little more green though.

24. What do you want right this second?

Oh god, a lot. I would like money. I’d like affection in any form, from sweet and simple to dark lighting stuff.

25. What would you say if the person you love/like kissed another girl/boy?

I mean that would suck big time but if they think that’s what’s going to help them get through shit then who am I to say no or put them down.

26. Is your current hair color your natural hair color?

Yup, I’ve never dyed my hair.

27. Would you be able to date someone who doesn’t make you laugh?

I don’t know. I think it’s important to have a sense of humor so probably not.

28. What was the last thing that made you laugh?

I made a joke with my grandmother and she liked it so I laughed with her. I don’t remember what the joke was.

29. Do you really, truly miss someone right now?

No shit. Several people.

30. Does everyone deserve a second chance?

I think it’s hard to give people a second chance. But generally I believe that’s true. Nothing’s ever black and white though. So make the choice for yourself.

31. Honestly, do you hate the last boy you were talking to?

No? He’s my brother.

32. Does the person you have feelings for right now, know you do?

Yeah I think it’s pretty obvious.

33. Are you one of those people who never drinks soda?

I used to drink soda all the time but I kind of don’t like them that much anymore. They’re still good but I try to drink more water now.

34. Listening to?

I was just listening to The Apprentice by the Gorillaz.

35. Do you ever write in pencil anymore?

I hardly ever write nowadays. But when I do, I use a pen.

36. Do you know where the last person you kissed is?

She is at her great grandmother’s house.

37. Do you believe in love at first sight?

No. It’s just attraction and infatuation. 

38. Who did you last call?

My grandmother called my like an hour ago.

39. Who was the last person you danced with?

Kaitlyn. I don’t dance with a lot of people. Or really much at all unless I’m alone. So I guess the last person I really danced with was me.

40. Why did you kiss the last person you kissed?

Because we really wanted to and both agreed it would be really nice so we kissed. A lot. 

41. When was the last time you ate a cupcake?

I don’t really like cupcakes so god knows.

42. Did you hug/kiss one of your parents today?

I have not seen either of my parents today so no.

43. Ever embarrass yourself in front of a crush?

Ughhhhhhhh yes. When do I not?

44. Do you tan in the nude?

I do not tan because I would probably get cancer in like two seconds.

45. If you could, would you take back your last kiss?

Definitely not.

46. Did you talk to someone until you fell asleep last night?

Yup.

47. Who was the last person to call you?

My grandmother.

48. Do you sing in the shower?

Sometimes, when no one’s home.

49. Do you dance in the car?

All the time. If you see me dancing in my car, just appreciate that that is probably the most intimate moment I would normally have with a stranger.

50. Ever used a bow and arrow?

Yeah it was pretty cool. That was years ago though.

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?

Probably for my school pictures.

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy?

I think they can be but that doesn’t necessarily make them bad.

53. Is Christmas stressful?

I feel like it should be stressful for me but it’s really not. It is a little but that goes for pretty much any big event. It’ll probably get worse the older I get.

54. Ever eat a pierogi?

Nope, I’m not even sure what they are. I mean, I know it’s an Italian food or something but that is the extent of my knowledge.

55. Favorite type of fruit pie?

Ooooo I dunno. I really like mullberry pie or blackberry pie. Do pumpkin pies count?

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

Astronaut or a Man in Black. There were probably others but those were the big ones.

57. Do you believe in ghosts?

I go back and forth on this one. 

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?

All the time. Maybe three or four times out of the week.

59. Take a vitamin daily?

I haven’t done that since I was 8.

60. Wear slippers?

I will when it gets really cold.

61. Wear a bath robe?

I wear a house coat. It’s completely different.

62. What do you wear to bed?

A shirt and pj pants usually. Although I’m starting sleep in just my underwear.

63. First concert?

It was a Trombone Shorty concert with my dad and a friend of his. The opening band was better than the main band in my opinion.

64. Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?

I think Walmart is a good middle ground. Target is super fancy. Kmart is dead, man.

65. Nike or Adidas?

I don’t really have an opinion so I guess Nike.

66. Cheetos Or Fritos?

I think, generally, I like Fritos more but if there’s cheese puffs I will eat the shit out of them.

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?

I don’t really like either of them. Maybe peanuts?

68. Favorite Taylor Swift song?

I don’t listen to her so I really couldn’t say.

69. Ever take dance lessons?

Nope but it might be cool.

70. Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?

Not really. Just anything that makes them happy.

71. Can you curl your tongue?

Ye boi.

72. Ever won a spelling bee?

Nope. We only ever had one spelling bee and I flopped out.

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

Not that I can remember. I know I’ve been really emotional and have teared up from being really happy but I haven’t openly cried just from happiness.

74. What is your favorite book?

Oh gosh, I don’t know. I really like this recent book I read called The Good Inn. It was really cool and interesting.

75. Do you study better with or without music?

Without. I get way into the music.

76. Regularly burn incense?

Nah.

77. Ever been in love?

Several times. It sucks but it’s the best.

78. Who would you like to see in concert?

The Front Bottoms, Jack Johnson, or Daft Punk.

79. What was the last concert you saw?

The Trombone Shorty concert. I’ve only been to one concert.

80. Hot tea or cold tea?

How about no tea. But if I had to pick it would definitely be hot tea.

81. Tea or coffee?

Really neither but I guess coffee. Decaf though unless I want to die.

82. Favorite type of cookie?

I really like snickerdoodles and gingersnaps.

83. Can you swim well?

I can swim pretty well but I’m a little out of practice. I can’t wait to go swimming again.

84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?

Yup. I used to be able to do it for a good bit too.

85. Are you patient?

Ehhh it kind of depends. I hate lines but I’ll be patient with someone who’s sick or something.

86. DJ or band, at a wedding?

I think a DJ would be your best bet. Although a live band would be cool.

87. Ever won a contest?

No not really.

88. Ever have plastic surgery?

Nope even though my nose is begging to look less gross.

89. Which are better black or green olives?

I think I like black olives more but both are good.

90. Opinions on sex before marriage?

I have no problem with it. I’d be a hypocrite if I said I did. Have sex whenever you want. Who cares? As long as it’s consensual it’s ok with me. I think it’s important to have a good sexual connection with your partner before you get married so you know you’re compatible.

91. Best room for a fireplace?

I think putting it in the family room/second living room (whatever you call it) is a good idea. That’s how my house has it. The living room is still a good place though.

92. Do you want to get married

Definitely.