#and the red one is the 'younger' one who is nowhere near as loud as his father but you know thats his son anyway

[miekasa]

since it’s his birthday i have decided to share this headcanon of mine with the masses. you’ve heard about satoru’s son who calls him “baby” because he hears satoru calling you that and i raise you this: satoru’s twin babies who have elected to calling him “gogo,” along with coming up with other fitting nicknames for other adults they hold dear, including, but not limited to, “nana,” “yuyu,” “nono,” “koko,” and “mimi,” because everything is better in pairs with the twins 

[fangirlmermaid]

You Are The Only Exception!

Summary- Reader performs a brand new love song about Matt at a concert.

Pairing: Matt Sturniolo x fem!reader

Note: Thank you to everyone who voted for my poll! It was a tie so I will be posting the Chris Fanfic soon!

Warning: Small sexual tendencies, a very sassy and pissed-off manager

(as usual, there may be spelling or grammar mistakes)

(Sorry that it's long)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the intermission part of your show. This was usually the time you spent talking to the fans and getting the latest gossip about what was going on in their lives. Not this time. You were nowhere to be seen, making your boyfriend Matt confused but he just assumed that there was a problem you had to take care of.

Matt and his brothers sat in their box seats talking stupid shit when they heard a commotion from the audience below them. You weren’t in your red bodysuit, you were in this gown. Matt's eyes grew hearts, which caused Chris and Nick to wrinkle their noses in disgust at their brother's reaction. No matter what you wear Matt always looks at you like you are the most beautiful girl in the world but seeing you dressed in that outfit took it to a whole other level, Liam Neeson could be near, and his attention would still be on you.

You walked near the end of the runway where the microphone and stand stood.

“Boston, how are we feeling tonight?!” 

The crowd screamed you could feel the positive energy

“You guys seem like a cool crowd, I feel like I can be honest with you guys”   

The crowd cheered

“So as you know my parents got a divorce when I was younger. I had a Wii growing up it’s a whole Wiispiracy” you announced nonchalantly.

The crowd laughs at your joke.

“Seeing how love caused both of my parents to go through pain made me scared to fall in love” You continued. 

Even though you were playing cool Matt knew how deeply terrified you were when you guys started to date. Always looking over your shoulder, expecting Matt to break up with you if you made one small mistake. It was a rocky start in the beginning but now you guys have been going strong for a year. 

“Until I met a special someone. He dressed up as Batman for Halloween, I don’t want to talk about it” You murmured, thinking of Matt caused your cheeks to heat up. Especially when he was Batman!!!!

The crowd screamed

Matt looked a little flustered, but he couldn’t stop smiling no matter how hard he tried not to. 

“I know I said I would never write a love song… but I’m just a girl” you shyly said twirling your (H/C) hair.

The crowd roared so loud that Salem could hear it.

The brothers looked at each other shocked, In your whole career you never once wrote a love song, especially about any flings you were rumored to have had in the past. Matt’s heart swells. He jumps off his seat and starts to cheer louder than before. Both of his brothers are laughing at Matt's reaction. Though Nick and Chris acted like they were grossed out on the inside they were happy that Matt found someone who goes to great lengths to show and express how in love they are with Matt. 

Your guitarist was strumming a soft rhythm on her acoustic.     

When I was younger, I saw my daddy cry

And curse at the wind

You decided to write this song when Matt took you on a Mini-Golf date. It was the day after your third LA show. It was your free day before you had to be in Arizona. Matt cleared his whole schedule just to spend every second with you. Matt was showering you with compliments and affection on that day. You knew Matt was normally shy when it comes to PDA but not on that day, it got you giggling like a school girl.

That she would never let herself forget

And that was the day that I promised

I'd never sing of love if it does not exist 

You remember the exact moment when you saw yourself having a future with Matt. You guys had been dating for four months. You were hanging out in his room, lying on his bed while he lay on top of you, fast asleep, using your steady heartbeat as a lullaby. 

You saw how peaceful he looked, causing you to smile softly. You played with his hair delicately trying to not wake him up. The thought of waking up like this daily didn’t scare you like it did initially. 

But darling, you are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

Your dancers came out and started to slow dance with their assigned partners. When you decided to add this song to the Boston setlist (instead of randomly dropping it at 3 AM), you decided to shorten intermission but you told your dancers that they should still take that time to rest before the next performance. Instead, they said no and wanted to participate in that performance. 

And up until now I had sworn to myself

That I'm content with loneliness

Because none of it was ever worth the risk

As it was a brand new song you were the only one singing. You noticed some members of the audience were looking to either their partner,

friends or the special person with love in their eyes. You were glad your fans had found someone who made their lives happy. 

But you are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

Your eyes wandered over to the box seats where you saw the three goofballs. You pointed at your boyfriend who shyly smiled forming his hands into the shape of a heart (rare for him to do anything more than hand-holding in public). His brothers had to hold onto the back of his shirt as if he would fall.

When Matt comes to your show you forced yourself to NEVER look at him. You knew you would be distracted by his cuteness and would mess something up, so you always forced yourself to be busy once you were on stage.

I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up

Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream

You closed your eyes and grabbed the mic when you hit the high note. The crowd applauded and cheered.

“Sing it with me!” you invited. You threw your arms forward encouraging the crowd to sing along to the chorus.

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You are the only exception

You turned your back to the audience, gripping the mic in your hand. As the band kept playing you walked back to the main stage.

You stopped and looked over your shoulder bringing the mic back near your lips.

And I'm on my way to believing

Oh, and I'm on my way to believing

The music ended and you lowered your mic. The audience roared and applauded causing you to give a satisfied grin. Your eyes made their way back to the box seats, All three brothers were cheering you waved to Chris and Nick then blew a kiss to Matt just before the lights went out.   

Then you ran to change.

When the lights came back on, everyone turned their attention to Matt waving to him and thanking him. Matt didn’t want to steal your night, he pointed at the stage trying to turn the attention back to the stage.

~~~~~~~~~~

Once the attention was off of him, Matt slipped away with the bouquets of your favorite flowers which is something he always does when he goes to your shows.

He flashed the security guards his backstage badge, once he was clear Matt walked towards your dressing room. 

Knock Knock

“Wanda, I’m just putting my shoes on!” You yelled behind the door 

Matt rolled his eyes “This kid” he muttered before knocking again. 

Matt heard a soft come in and opened the door. He noticed that you were busy lacing up your Doc Martens to look at him, Matt was still filled with glee that he was too afraid to sound like an idiot to speak, so he decided to drink in your beauty. 

 You turned around to see your boyfriend “Hi, baby” you smiled, and Matt shyly presented you with the bouquet. Butterflies fluttered in your stomach a feeling you never want to get sick of.

You noticed Matt hasn’t said a single word since he came in causing your Anxiety to hit you like a bullet train. A tornado of negative thoughts spun into your mind.

Did he hate the song?But he looked excited when he was out there, was it an act?

This would’ve been the biggest slap in the face if he broke up with you just after you sang your heart out for him. 

You placed the flowers down at your makeup station before grabbing his hands “Matt what’s wrong, is it the song? Did you not like it? I know I should’ve talked to you about it but I-”

Matt cupped your cheeks and kissed you passionately, he learned very quickly that the makeup team hated fixing your smudged makeup. He still gets scared by the death stare they gave him. 

However, after this performance, he didn’t care. He loved you so much that he wanted to scream it to the world (even know they were already aware of it).

You both pulled away breathing heavily “I loved the song, beautiful” Matt assured causing a smile to fall on your lips. You brought him into a chaste kiss “I just wanted the world to know how much I love you!” You admitted, Matt brushed some hair behind your ear “Baby, that was the sweetest thing anyone has done for me” Matt assured, Your eyes grew hearts “Well you are the only exception” you chuckled.

Matt gave a light laugh before wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you in close. You wrapped your arms around his neck “And you’re mine” Matt sealed that promise with another kiss.

Matt’s lips trailed down to the sensitive part of your neck, you tilted your head to give him more access. A soft moan escaped your lips as you gripped the back of his hair. 

The door swung open causing the two of you to break away from each other. You both were facing a pissed of Wanda “You got to be kidding me” your manager scoffed, you glanced at your boyfriend both of your faces were red as a tomato as if you were two teenagers caught in your bedroom by your mom. 

Wanda pulled out her walkie talkie “Can we get makeup in (Y/N) dressing room?” Wanda sighed, Matt placed a gentle kiss on your knuckles. The makeup team groaned when they saw Matt, “Okay fix her makeup, and cover up that hickey!” Wanda ordered pulling Matt out of the room. 

Wanda dragged Matt back to the backstage entrance “The only reason why you're not dead is because you are (Y/N)’s boyfriend. But I promise, if I catch you back here before the show is over I’m going to be your worst nightmare, got it?” Wanda threatened her eyes full of rage, Matt nodded, his eyes full of fear. Wanda pointed at the two security guards “And if you two jackasses let him back here before the show is over imma fuck your day up, understand?!” Wanda threatened striking fear into the two enormous security guards. 

Wanda walked back to your dressing room muttering how men always ruin everything. 

Matt walked back to his seat shaking, part of him hoping that they were able to cover up that hickey but another part of him hoping they don’t so the entire stadium knows that he loved you and the song…but mostly you.

[casinotrio1965]

Disney Descendants : The Peter Pan Doll

By Me and @hannahhook7744

Summary: Peter finds out a secret his (younger?) sister has been hiding from him. 

.......

“Peter?” Hannah called out, bored (and a little bit nervous even if she'd never admit it). 

It was never a good sign when her brother was being that quiet. 

“Peter, I'm about to order lunch from Royalgrub. What are you feeling?”

The sixteen year old was once again met with silence. “Pete. Peter Pumpkin eater.  Come on! We don't have all day—why is my bedroom door open? Peter Elizabeth Maria Pan you better not be in my room!”

“Uh Hannah?” Peter asked. “ What’s This ?” He was holding out  a doll that looked like him in his hand.

A doll the pirate captain recognized immediately. Not that she'd admit to that, either. “I have never seen that thing before in my life.” “I don’t believe you–wait–are you secretly my biggest fan?!”

“No!” The brunette sputtered, crossing her fingers behind her back. Sending their oldest cousin Atticus a silent apology that she sincerely hoped he could hear, wherever he was. “I've seriously never seen that doll before in my life!” 

“Uh Huh, who does it belong to then?  Seriously Hannah it’s ok if you are ! All girls seem to like me ..”

“Fucking hell Peter, phrasing! I'm your sister!”  The teen groaned. “And how do you even know if that ugly ratty old thing is you? It looks nothing like you. The colors are all wrong.”

They weren't really: the colors. They had probably been at least a little closer to the true ones at some point—before they became more faded with time. It was thirteen years old, after all. It was bound to happen. 

Especially given that the materials Atticus had used to make it had been old to begin with. 

“Let’s See: Red Hair?”

“It's more pink actually—”

“Check! Green Outfit? Check!”

“It's more yellow to green, if you ask me—” Hannah was digging herself into a hole, wasn't she? Damn it, she should have just asked Luke for help babysitting. Sure, he probably would have teased her about something too but it would have been nowhere near as embarrassing as her brother finding that stupid doll. 

It wasn't like she'd known he was her brother back when she used to tote that thing around. And it wasn't like she was the only one to have a doll of her dad’s nemesis! CJ had a fucking Tinkerbell doll for Brizo’s sake!

Freddie used to carry around a Naveen voodoo doll!

Claudine Frollo even had a little Quasimodo doll in her bell tower when they were smaller. 

Why was it that Hannah always got the short end of the straw when it came to these things?

“Come on, Hannah. Who else do ya know dresses like me? And don’t say Lampwick. He and I dress completely differently!”

“Not really. But you and Robin Hood and Danny Darling all dress pretty similarly too if you ask me. I think the tweedle brothers and their kids even dress like that. You don't own the sole right to hideous all green outfits, red feathers, and red hair, little brother.” 

She had to keep lying till she found a way out of this. 

She was in too deep to admit the truth now. Even if Peter already basically knew it. 

“HEY! I think I look good in this get up and besides it’s not like you know about Robin Hood!”

“Actually I know an embarrassing amount about Mulan, Merida, and Robin Hood but go off, I guess, little brother.” That was it. 

She just had to get him so mad that he'd forget what he was teasing her about. 

Or at least get him to argue about who was actually the older sibling between them. Seeing as he liked trying to put her in time out as if she was the 12–13 year old, and not a sixteen year old Auradon Prep graduate.

“You know what Hannah, you can deny it all you want  but it’s pretty obvious you’re obsessed with me ! And Honestly who could blame you ? I’m Awesome!”

A loud wail broke out from the nursery where Anthony and Harriet’s new son was sleeping, causing Hannah to sigh. “If you're so awesome you can order your own lunch. I gotta go deal with Thomas before he wakes up our siblings.” 

Peter Pan shrugged. “Whatever makes you happy sis .”

With that, Hannah quickly snatched the doll from him and ran off to tend to the new Lord Tremaine.

The End 

[doudouneverte]

Special Bond | Chapter six: Again

*not my GIF

Chapter summary: The avengers found more things about you in the Hydra's base, Pietro and Wanda want to find you even if they don't know if you're alive. Meanwhile Agatha and you celebrate you eighteenth birthday and she has a last eamen for you.

Paring: Agatha Harkness x Maximoff!Reader

(Yelena come back in the next chapter i swear)

| chapter five | serie masterlist | chapter seven |

Hydra base somewhere in Asia

"It seem there is no one to greet us" said Pietro

The Avengers (except Clint, Rohdey and Bruce) have been deployed to find some information on the general Hoovert. The base didn't really change since you escaped except one thing there is a big hole in a wall and that where the heroes decided to enter.

"I think we can split up, there is obviously no one here but be careful." instructed Steve, after nodded the team tried to find anything related to Hoovert and after a little run Pietro found the survey room.

"I think I find what we want" he said to the comm. Two minutes after all the team were with him in the room. Natasha and Tony hacked the computers and the rest of them read the paper files.

"And.... it's done" Tony broke the silent "come here it seem there is some footage from 1 year ago and after that the camera didn't record anything" he explained

"You can show us ?" asked the super soldier

"Yes but, the footage from the camera near the hole seem lost" that time it was the redhead who spoke.

"Why?" asked the older Maximoff

"Look" replied Iron Man

Agatha was here in front of the wall she seem to hear something and try to search a way to enter in the base. But she lost temperament and a purple orb grew up in her hand before she threw it to wall and exploded it.

The team seem chocked that reminder them Wanda but before anyone could say anything the Scarlet Witch spoke "We saw her in the party." Steve looked more attentively and he remembered

"Yes, but what was she doing in a Hydra's base?"

Before someone could replied the record show her walk toward a door and 'knocked out' some guard before stop in front of a cell. It was not the first cell she saw when she enter but this cell was alone far from other prisoner and there was nothing around except five guards' corps. They saw her talk to the prisoner but the angle didn't let them saw what was in and when the door opened the frame freezed.

"Really?" asked Natasha it was obvious she was pissed. But there was nothing after that, nothing in the record but the billionaire find a file 'subject 608' the redhead opened the file and everybody freezed

Name : Subject 608

Sexe: Female

Age: 16 y/o

Abilities: Telekinesis, télépathie and Fast Healing

Experiment: 12/15

Note: gift from the base in Sokovia 3 months before Ultron. She is not really cooperative even after the experiment she's in isolation until she is deport in Germany. Strucker send us the less powerful siblings but she can be a good weapon after a good training.

A loud noise broke the silent and everyone look at Wanda when they saw a broken table near a door with a red whimp, they couldn't say anything they were all upset and understood the anger from the sokovian. The most hurtful things was that the 'subject 608' was from Sokovia and Pietro seem more angry after red this, he always protected his sisters since the death of they parents and when he lost his younger sister he was more protective to Wanda. And before Steve could say something to try to relax the twins a noise was heard and they all look to the screen to see a message

'We don't know what you did Hoovert but your men say you lost the subject 608 and you're nowhere to found, everyone is pissed off, this subject was the most important thing. We let one last chance, we have two new missions and you have to choose and complete one.

Missions n°1: you find the lost subject and make sure she's safe and kill any witness

Mission n°2: you find a way to bring the twin Maximoff in Germany before the end of the year

And if you can't do one of them we'll make sure you'll not cause nay trouble'

"I'll save all of that and we return to the compound" said Natasha and nobody argue

----------

"We have no more information on this 'subject 608' ?" asked Rohdey

"And where are the 607 prior?" added Bruce

"Yes and we don't know they were not here when we were someone had transfere them to an other base or they die, i don't really know" that what the older woman replied.

"That's fine we will send some agents to find her and the witch you have a month off so you can 'relax' we will tell you if we find anything new" spoked Maria

----------

Westview

You walk to the basement today you had no lesson or training you just wanted to spent the day with Agatha but she didn't seem to be in anywhere. You started to worry before see a purple light from the somewhere in the basement. You didn't want to scar her when she prepare some spell or potion so you spoke softly "Hey, ma i was plainig to watch the TV do you want to come with me ?"

"Hey hun, euh... yeah let's do this and i have something to say you too" Agatha rush to you and grabbed your hand and draged you to the living room. You wanted to speak but she cut you off "Your birthday is coming up" you were confuse but nodded and she continued "You will turn eighteen, i'm so proud of you"

"Euh yeah, it's in 2 weeks, but why are you saying this?" it was not normal she seemed more enjoyed than you, that's weird ? a little but you hadn't the time for more questions before she restarted

"Do you want to be a powerful witch sweetie ?"

"Yes but mama you star to worry me what's going on ?"

"Okay, don't worry but i have an other thing to ask you but it will wait until your birthday"

And after that you didn't really say anithing you wer confused and she took the remote to start a movie.

Two weeks later

"Good morning little sunshine" Agatha threw herself on your bed next to you, you mumbled something but she didn't undertsood and honestly she didn't care she had plain the day since two weeks now and she will not let anything bother your special day.

"Hi good morning mama" you kissed her cheek and look at her before stop your gaze on her shirt "Ma ? What is this ?" you pointed her shirt she lowed her head

She wore a shirt where was write 'My litlle princess turn to a big queen'

"What is it too much ?"

"Where did you find this ... thing ? It's not even ugly it's... i don't have a word"

"Hey !" she threw you your pillow "I brought it $5, you're mean. But come to kichen i made the breakfast and i planned a special for you" she walk off and you saw the back it was write 'My litlle princess turn to a big queen queer'

"Okay but please changr this shirt before we go anywhere" you lagught before walked to the kitchen you saw a big breakfast "Okay i wish every day was my birthday"

"You'll be older than me i'll not argue"

You pouted and kissed both Agatha's cheeks "I love you but i'll pass my turn" when you finished you washed the dishies and ran to your bedroom to quicky change your before stand front in the door next to the older witch. "I'm ready" she planned a outside day you loved day like that she opened the door and you followed "Where are we going?" no reponse, instead she walk behind the house "Euh Agatha the car is not here"

She stopped and truned to you "We don"t need a car for today" she can read 'why?' in your face "today you'll become officially a grat witch, that will be your last training for now"

"And what i have to do ?"

She opened a portal and let you crossed before followed you and closed the portal. You were in a very big room and in front of you there was a big box, some noise comed from it "I taught you a lot of spell and you can use your telekinesis power," with her magic she open the box and you reconized him, the moster in the basement "you just have to defeat him and after that we will have the rest of the day for us"

"But what if i can't ? Don't you remember the last time ?" you were scared

"You can do it Y/N and you know why ?" you looked at her "cause a trust in you. Did you remember the day we met ?" you nodded "that day you made a connection with the Darkhold without even read or touch him. You have a big potential, the dark magic is not something we can learn easily but you did and you were not a witch. I'm proud of you and i'm sure your family are too so go kick his ass and prove me you can be an Avenger, my little Y/N Maximoff."

You were a little scared but less than two minute eralier. She trust you, she's proud of you you could defeat him. When she saw you were ready Agatha released her spell and the fight could begin. You used all she taught you, he can't fly so you used you magic to fly and with your telekinesis you threw him some fragment but it was not effective, it was time for plan B. Your eyes was blue but turn to purple, your hand was surronded by black magic, you admired the purple light, you loved it when you saw it on the brunette but it was different to used it yourself. He threw you a fire ball but now you were able to absorb and reflect some powerful spell from Agatha so that was nothing for you, you absorbed it like and you were proud when you successed to formed a purple orb before threw to him, he couldn't beat you now and it seem he knew so he tried to possessed the older witch but this time you reacted before your mama and without really know how you drained him of all his magic. You looked at Agatha and she smiled at you.

"I knew it my little princess has become a poweerful witch" the brunette said and you saw tears in corner of her eyes

"Oh no don't cry i'm okay, i promise he didn't harm please stop cry mama" you were near her and you kiss her forehead "Thanks you for all mama, i love you. Please stop cry now" you hugged her and after ten minute you see the portal open you look at Agatha and she smiled

"Now we have the rest of the day for us" you crossed the portal again and she guided you to the car, you spent the day with her talk about anything and everything and the night you were on the couch and she brought a cake and star to sing 'Happy Birthday' you blew the candle out. "I have one last suprise for you" she said and you were happy, she helded you a book "This one of the book you were forbidden to read until now, but i can't teach you" you were confuse but she explained "i will start to search the mind stone the next month, and i will not come back until i found it so the next month you'll go to a safe house in a new country"

"Why i wan't come with you ?"

"'Cause we don't know how your mind and your powers will react near the stone and i'll not take the risk to let anyone hurt you."

"Okay but why i have to leave the country ?"

"We know Hydra had the stone and they tried to kidnap you so if you stay here they cill try to kidnap you again so you'll go to a safe house and every 3 months you'll change. Don't worry i have some contact who wan help you wherevere you'll be, and remind if there is an emergency you can call me or use you telepathy, i'll know wherever i am."

"Okay. And where i'll go the next month?"

"Mmmh, i have a contact in Swizerland, you'll can visit Europe"

You smiled but you were sad you don't know how long it will be and honestly you don't really like the idea to be with someone you don't know but they're Agatha's friends, so you don't have to worry, right ?

[sigyn-foxyposts]

【☀Lazy Sunday chase🐍🌾】

✧･ﾟ: *: A Fan fiction : *✧･ﾟ:*

This is a story that includings @heldril-blogs oc! Where she's a part of Loki's family and they're outside spending time with each other :] Enjoy!! ✨

Loki and his family were spending a lazy Sunday afternoon together, lounging in the grass outside of Asgards walls. It was a rare occasion and one with unusual peace and relaxation for the trickster god, who always found himself up to no good.

Sigyn was lying on a picnic blanket, her eyes closed as she was soaking up the warm sunlight with a relaxed smile. Loki shifts his gaze at her and couldn't help but smile to himself.

"Sol really does help your freckles show, darling~" The god said softly, admiring his wife happily. The amount of joy he got from just staring at her was unbelievable.

"Oh is that so, have you been staring again~?" Sigyn chuckled, smirking at him. She could tell he had been staring at her and loved teasing him for it.

Loki let out a laugh as he felt his cheeks turn red, he should have known he would be caught sooner or later!

It wasn't often Sigyn's freckles were ever visible on her face. For some reason, they would only appear in bright sunlight over time, but so would the slight sun burns she so easily got. It was a shame!

In the distance Sleipnir, Fenrir, and Vali could be heard playing tag. They were always nearby and so very loud too!

It almost disturbed Hel as she was reading a book to Heldril and Narfi, both siblings sitting patiently listening. Meanwhile Jormungandr bathed in a lake near by.

Suddenly, Loki jumped up from his seat and announced, "I have an idea! Let's play a game everyone!"

Hel could be heard sighing intentionally loudly, "Oh father, and what could that possibly be?"

"Probably something silly, I bet" Narfi expressed, not seeming so enthusiastic as Hel.

"Oh I love games!" Sleipnir neighs, trotting over to the rest of his famliy, his brothers right behind him trying to keep up!

"Sleipnir youre always so eager for a new challenge or game aren't you? Just like fenrir." Jormungandr teases, turning into his more humanoid form to join in more easily on the family game.

"Oh shut it jormi! At least we have a sense of wanting to win around here, lazy bum" Fenrir barks at his snake brother. Much to Jormungandr's entertainment.

"Gosh you're so easy to make tense brother, ha!" Jormungandr spoke one last time before Loki stares at the two. Obviously telling them with his expression that it was time to stop.

"It's a new one I just invented at the spot," said Loki with a mischievous grin. "I'll hide somewhere in the woods, and you all have to come find me. But here's the twist - I can turn into any animal I want, and you have to chase me down."

The children and Sigyn all looked at each other excitedly at the prospect of the game, but Narfi, as always seemed a little hesitant.

"I don't know about this," said Narfi. "What if something goes wrong?"

Loki just laughed. "Relax, kid. It's just a harmless game. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Yeah brother! Listen to dad, If something goes wrong I'll protect you!" Heldril spoke proudly, always ready to protect her younger siblings from harms way.

"Well i- I was thinking more about pa-" Before Narfi could voice any further of his concerns, Vali jumps on top of him out of excitement. Causing the boy to fall on his back, "oof!"

"Oops- Let's start!!" He grind happily waving his hands around, still on top of Narfi.

"Okay, everyone close your eyes and count to ten," Loki instructed, as he snuck off into the woods to find a hiding spot.

With that the game began. Loki shifting into different animals along the way to get a head start. The children and Sigyn counted and waited before they started chasing after him, laughing and shouting.

The gods and creatures around the woods probably wondering what was going on.

The family split up. Everyone comping the woods, looking behind trees and under bushes, but Loki was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, they heard a rustling in the bushes, and Fenrir let out a growl. "I think I smell him!" he exclaimed, as he took off in the direction of the sound.

Heldril and Narfi who had grouped up with fenrir followed him, running as fast as they could through the woods. Eventually Heldril stops as she saw Narfi gasping for air.

"Oh crap! Nari you alright buddy?" Heldril asks slightly concerned at her brothers well being. Narfi nodded just trying to catch his breath back.

"F-Fenrir is getting away we need to.."

"Get on my back brother!"

"Wha-?!"

Just like that Heldril picks Narfi up and runs her quickest to catch up with Fenrir again. Narfi was for sure taken by surprise but at least they'd make it!

Back together again, Heldril let's Narfi down and pants heavily, soon enough they caught glimpses of Loki in various animal forms - a bird, a rabbit, even a snake - it felt quite impossible to catch up to him.

Finally, after what felt like hours of chasing Loki through the woods, they all managed to corner him in a small clearing. Loki gave up and in his snake form, he carefully starts slithering up to Sigyn and around her arm she had offered him.

"You got me," Loki said with a sigh, sad they couldn't keep on playing forever.

Sigyn couldn't help but smirk as she clearly had something clever to say. As she held her husband up. "A snake huh, suits you at the very moment sly one" she spoke, teasing him excitedly.

Loki just hisses at her with his snake tounge as he transformed back into his human form and ends up in his wifes arms. "Oh shush!" He blushed rolling his eyes jokingly.

The children couldn't help but all collaps onto the ground, panting and laughing. Sigyn puts Loki down but continues to hold him close.

"That was truly an amazing adventure," Heldril said, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Absolutely! Can't wait to get back into the waters" said Jormungandr, grinning from ear to ear.

"Oh brother, such a selfish soul.." Hel shook her head in a joking manner, making fun of Jormungandr's behavior.

"Am not! I'm literally cooking out here and have for a long time now!" Jormungandr tries to defend himself, joking back. Waving his hand on himself to try to cool down.

"But seriously guys, good job! Next time, I'll be even trickier to catch." Loki jokes, picking up Vali who was exhausted to his limits. Tounge out and everything pretending to be dead.

Sigyn finds his behavior silly and chuckles, but gets to the point of what she was going to say. "Now, who's ready for some lunch?"

"You bet I am!" Fenrir barks, his tail wagging.

"Make that two, don't let the greedy wolf eat everything" Hel spoke, calmly hiding away her smirk.

"Hey! What was that for?!" Fenrir raised an eyebrow and looked offended.

"Make it three! I'd die for some juicy apples right now." Sleipnir happily joins in.

So with that the family went out of the woods and back to their picnic blanket. The rest of the afternoon was filled with food and joy, as Loki and his family enjoyed each other's company and the simple pleasure of being together.

[casspurrjoybell-30]

Bonding with the Enemy - Chapter 6

*Warning: Adult Content*  

Interrogated

Darren was beside himself.

His stupidity in following some ghost into the woods really landed him in hot water and all he could do now was pray that there wouldn't be any backlash for his aunt. 

Currently he was sitting on a couch with nothing more than a small blanket wrapped around his body.

He grit his teeth nervously as the Alpha sat on the couch across from him with Jasper standing at his side, arms folded and eyes glaring.

This did not look good at all.

"So you claim you saw the body from the road on your way into town today?" Liam asked after Jasper explained what happened.

"Even though the road is nowhere near where you were found."

The Beta's were in the other room behind closed doors.

Liam had excused them for the duration of this interrogation, which Darren was glad for.

They really rubbed him the wrong way.

"Yes," Darren replied as calmly as he could.

Honestly, he was scared out of his wits.

Up until now, he simply hated these two and felt safe with the knowledge that as long as he didn't do anything too bad, they wouldn't retaliate.

Unfortunately he was now under suspicion of a potential murder on pack territory, which gave Alpha Liam every right to punish him however he saw fit.

As much as he hated Liam, Darren was all too aware of how powerful the Alpha was.

He could easily wipe Darren's existence off the face of the earth if he wanted. 

"And you expect us to believe that?"

The Alpha's face remained stony, yet Darren knew he was annoyed.

Darren contemplated how he should behave moving forward. Snapping at them was out of the question.

For now, he just needed to make sure he wasn't in danger of joining the hunter in the afterlife.

"No," Darren answered honestly.

Jasper sighed, frustrated.

"Then why don't you tell us why you were really out there?"

Red hot anger spiked as his ex-bully dared to be irritated with him, and before he could stop himself, Darren's head snapped towards the man and hissed.

"I said I don't expect you to believe me. I didn't say I was lying."

Technically he really wasn't lying.

After all, he had spotted the ghost from the road and the ghost was the one who led him to the body in the first place.

Liam raised a hand just as Jasper was about to snap back, silencing the younger Alpha.

Then he looked Darren dead in the eyes.

"I want you to understand what position you're in right now. You are a rogue, an outsider to this pack, who showed up in the middle of a very sensitive investigation and was found in the middle of the night with a dead body. Not to mention the amount of hostility you seem to have towards Mr. Trotter and I, so I can't help but doubt your intentions."

Darren understood where the guy was coming from, he really did but at the same time his rebellious side refused to be pushed around.

Sophie had wanted to talk to these guys before and they wouldn't listen.

Well, now he had their undivided attention so he might as well come clean.

"If you had actually listened when my aunt and I showed up at the Town Hall earlier, you'd know the full story already."

His reply seemed to intrigue Liam but the Alpha did not ask and simply gestured for him to continue.

Darren took a breath.

"Like my aunt said, she invited me over to help with the investigation but not because I have FBI knowledge or whatever. She thought I could help because…" he hesitated at this part.

It wasn't easy saying it out loud.

Honestly he was still on the verge of lying about his powers, which was why he hadn't mentioned the hunters ghost yet.

But no, he had to come clean, this was for his aunt's sake.

"Because I can see the dead."

The room went silent as the words left his lips.

Suddenly everything was spinning and Darren couldn't focus on any one point anymore.

He was terrified of how the Alpha was going to react.

"Is that true?" Jasper's voice cut through his fear and he glanced at the man who looked skeptic, yet curious.

"And why should I believe you?" Liam asked, his poker face returning.

"How do I know you're not just saying this for your own protection?"

Darren knew the man was referring to the fact that supernatural abilities were highly valued among packs.

Because of this, Alphas had a tendency to lure such werewolves in with promises of protection, respect and other things.

He probably was expecting Darren to ask for leniency in exchange for lending his powers out.

At the same time, the man seemed determined to condemn Darren and Darren found that his fear was slowly being replaced by irritation.

"Because even when I was part of this pack, you never had any interest in protecting me."

Jasper and Liam glanced at each other, confused over what he was referring to.

Liam then turned his full attention back on Darren.

He waited for the Alpha to say something but Liam just raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.

Snorting, Darren decided to let them have it.

Glaring at Jasper, he spat.

"Why don't you tell him what I was best known for in school? Because apparently my words can't be trusted." Jasper looked confused.

"You were the quiet kid."

"Who talked to himself," Darren filled in the blanks.

"Or snapped at people who weren't there," he added, making air quotes over the last two words.

"Well guess what, there were people there, you just didn't see them."

The man's eyes seemed to spark in realization as he finally caught on to what he was saying.

"You mean, all those times you were talking to chairs or yelling out of nowhere.... you were talking to..."

"To ghosts," Darren finished angrily.

"Now how about you tell your precious Alpha why I left? Since the last time I tried to explain what you were doing to me, he sure as hell didn't seem remotely interested," he finished with a glare towards Liam.

Liam cast a curious glance at Jasper who was now standing speechless, either from the realization that his old victim had been talking to ghosts or the fact that he was being called out, Darren wasn't sure.

In the end, he continued.

"Come on Jasper. You didn't mind bragging to your friends every time you harassed me. What was it you liked to call me? Schizo Freak? Weird Kid? How about the fact that the day I left the pack was the day you and your friends jumped me on my way home?"

"That's enough," Liam yelled, raising a hand to stop Darren from his tantrum.

By this time he was breathing hard, glaring down his old abuser.

It felt good getting that off his chest.

Liam continued to stare at Jasper who was now staring back at him, wide eyed.

"I believe we will need to have a separate discussion after this

he warned, to which Jasper remained quiet.

Then he returned his attention to Darren.

"Say that we believe you and you do have the power to speak with the dead. You are still a rogue. Before we can trust you at all, I'm going to need to know your whereabouts for the passed six months. I'll have to run a background check."

Six months.

That was when the first kid went missing.

He wasn't suggesting...?

"You're not actually suspecting me of taking the kids?" he burst out.

"Yes, I am." Liam replied calmly.

"Because as I'm sure you've heard, we haven't had any luck in this investigation and need to cover all our bases. You are a variable who's been tossed in the middle of this. If we didn't do a background check on everyone involved, then I would be a terrible Alpha."

You already are. Darren thought but kept his mouth shut.

"So what do I do until then?"

"You will be staying here." Liam stood.

"We don't have any evidence to have you held in police custody but I don't like having rogues wandering around while my pack is already on edge. Your aunt clearly can't keep a proper eye on you, so we'll do it instead. At least until we get the results back."

Darren gaped at him.

What he heard sounded essentially the same as being held in custody but instead of at the station it was at the Alpha's house.

If he argued, the man could assume he was guilty and turn him in to the police but if he waited until his background check returned, he could help with the investigation like his aunt wanted.

After they figured out what happened to the kids, he could skip town before anyone tried to stop him.

He covered his eyes and shook his head.

"Fine. Whatever."

Satisfied, Liam turned his attention to the other man in the room.

"Jasper."

He put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

"A word please."

Jasper's face went white and Darren watched as the pair walked into another room.

Glancing around, he finally took in his surroundings.

It wasn't quite a living room since there was no television but there was a fireplace at the far end surrounded by bookshelves.

As a matter of fact, the entire room looked like a library as the walls were decorated with shelves upon shelves of books, with four sofas scattered around.

There was one single long back chair set in front of the fireplace with a painted portrait of the packs first Alpha hung above it.

He tapped his feet a bit, listening intently for any signs of yelling or fighting.

He hoped in his darkest of hearts that Liam was letting Jasper have it but at the same time he knew the man wouldn't do anything bad to the guy.

Jasper was Liam's prized Alpha-In-Training after all.

Plus the guy was probably gonna sugarcoat whatever he did to Darren.

The time seemed to drag on forever as he waited for them to return and grant him permission to leave the room.

At one point he was tempted to slip away but the presence of the two Betas waiting on the other side of the doors encouraged him to stay put.

The time seemed to drag on forever as he waited for them to return and grant him permission to leave the room.

At one point he was tempted to slip away but the presence of the two Betas waiting on the other side of the doors encouraged him to stay put.

"It's been decided that for the duration of your stay, Jasper will be your personal escort," Liam declared.

[abvndonedbydisney]

[ peyton alex smith, cis man, he/him. ] ✧･ﾟ is that [ MATHEO LEBLANC ] who just stumbled into town? rumour has it that they’re the [ TWENTY-FIVE ] year old child of [ ROBAIRE ] from [ TURNING RED ]. i’ve also heard that they’re [ ARTISTIC ] but [ ARROGANT ] and have [ 2 ] siblings. i could almost swear i heard [ NASA - JOSH LEVI ] playing when they appeared.

full name: matheo leblanc.

nicknames: theo.

gender: cis man.

pronouns: he/him.

sexuality: closeted bisexual.

age: twenty-five.

date of birth: august 7th.

zodiac sign: leo.

aesthetics: random lyrics scribbled onto notebook paper, baggy t-shirts, an award winning smile, a voice like honey, and bass loud enough to feel it reverberating.

parents: robaire from turning red.

siblings: two younger siblings.

𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘.

if there was one downside to being the son of a worldwide famous popstar, it was quite possibly the fact that it was almost impossible to fill your parents’ shoes. almost possible, that was something matheo leblanc wanted to put to the test. he was brought into this world after his father’s relationship with his fake girlfriend became complicated, one drunken night spent together leading to a blessed accident. while robaire was nowhere near mentally prepared to become a father, the success that 4*town was beginning to die down at this point. maybe it was time for him to throw in the towel and settle down, almost as if this unexpected pregnancy was a wake-up call of sorts for the popstar. while both were left feeling unsure, the birth of their first son was the confirmation they both needed. they wanted to at least try to make a family unit work out.

although now that matheo is grown up, he is unsure if his parents ever loved one another. it almost feels as if they stuck together for the mere sake of their children and nothing more. maybe his father’s heart always belonged to someone else. it was a question he didn’t dare ask. not that he would’ve had the time to do so. even with 4*town only doing their reunion tours every couple of years, matheo’s father was barely present in his life. his former popularity offered him modeling deals, commercials, television appearances, and so on. due to the outpour of gigs he had, he was constantly on the go.

due to his mother being overwhelmed raising three children on her own, she was quick to look into boarding schools. matheo was the first to leave home, attending a private boarding school during his middle school years. it was there he discovered the only thing he had in common with his father: a shared passion for music. he wanted to write, produce, and perform his own tracks. but somehow he couldn’t seem to escape his father’s shadow wherever he went. everyone always compared his vocal skills and dancing to his father’s. while it might have seemed like high praise considering his success, the flattery grew to bitterness rather quickly.

it was in high school when matheo was truly able to step into his own light and begin to pave a path for himself. he was attending a private arts school where he was provided the tools to strengthen as a musician. not only that but he found a muse: his secret boyfriend. despite not being open about his relationship, he never made his partner feel like a dirty secret. although when they graduated high school, they both had dreams of fostering their own music careers. both of their dreams came true but with their skyrocketing popularity, they both became rather distracted. keeping their relationship a secret grew more difficult, leading matheo to break things off despite how deeply he had fallen for the other at this point.

while it might’ve seemed like a dick move, matheo finally had what he had dreamed of nearly his entire life. on top of that, he finally made a name for himself where his father was rarely brought up when the media spoke about him and his music. he wasn’t going to allow anything to ruin the life had created for himself, not even love.

𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒.

the other children of the members of 4*TOWN.

[lazulirus]

One too many

• It was time to face the consequences of your actions - the suffocating tension in the house, the silent treatment and your hurt heart. You could understand why others were mad at you, but why does even Lucifer turns the other way when you appear?

• Pairing: Lucifer x reader (gender neutral)  • Genre: fluff • Word Count: 2.7k • Warnings: mentions of alcohol and being drunk • Note: Many of you asked for that, and even more of you left love under the first part; as 500 followers celebration I present the second part of A lot of wine, not enough of love

To say you could cut the tension with a knife would be an understatement. You doubted there even was a blade strong enough to do that. 

It was suffocating and completely wrecking when half of the house refused to speak to you, sometimes even completely ignoring you. Satan forgot day after day about your tutoring. Asmodeus was now constantly on his phone and never missing an opportunity to say how disappointed his followers were. Belphegor pretended to not hear you - no matter if it was simply passing something during meals or just saying hi at school. Mammon was close to breaking, but the three younger brothers always appeared to force him out of your company. 

Ridiculous behaviour, one that should be put to stop the moment it started. But Lucifer turns a blind eye, always excusing himself when you enter the room. 

Thus your days consisted of venomous scowls, childish glares and loneliness growing stronger and stronger - till you never was in the mood to play with Levi nor to even get up to spend time with Beel. Humans needed interactions and affection, suddenly depriving them of both, locking in suffocating hostility only led to them staying in bed, eating less, sleeping more. You were too tired to try talking to brothers again, to ask again when they'll stop being childish, when they'll be kind again. Probably, if it weren't for Beel, you would have become one with the bed. 

"Beeeeeel, let me down." You whine but put no real fight as you dangle on the demon's shoulder, face front; with enough bending of your neck, you could look at this worried face. 

"No. We're going out." He put you down. It was almost adorable when he forced his voice to be stern, yet fondness and worry seeped through. "Go wash and change clothes… please." And how could you say no to those giant pleading eyes? "Levi won tickets to some… uh, "normie restaurant," he said you would like."

Giggling, feet stumbling, doors slamming and shushing so loud it more gave away your position than hid you - the noises you were making would wake up the dead. Beel tries to shush you, his actions way calmer and controlled; the pink tint on his cheek matched nicely with his hair. 

"It's late, let's not wa—" 

"Where have you been?" Like a mad mother, arm crossed, annoyance written from the tense of his muscles to the gleam in his eyes - Lucifer was standing at the top of the stairs, his eyes more focused on Beel than you. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" 

"Sorry, Lucifer… we lost track of time…" 

"Yea~ 'Cause it was 'o fun!" Red eyes look towards you; softer. How blessed Lucifer was that Diavolo was nowhere near, and there was no need to explain your poor state. Head leaning towards Beel, who was your only support, and it seemed like you were feeling too hot, given your unbuttoned shirt and your jacket in Beel's free hand. 

"Explain." Was all that Lucifer said, the annoyance that bleed through, more and more, was only adding to his stern voice. 

"We went out to eat…" His eyes stay on the floor, the plinking of the jacket's zipper an only accompaniment. "And we ordered some drinks to lighten up the mood but… I forgot that alcohol in them works stronger on humans…" 

"It's not your fault, Bwel," You say, clinging to his arm like a koala, much to Lucifer's annoyance. "You're the only one that cares abowt me. You're the bestest of 'em all." Beel gently pats your head that so cutely nuzzles into him, but his eyes glance at Lucifer nervously - the eldest magic aura growing with every second just to calm down with an exhale. 

"I'll take care of them." The clicking of his shoes echoes in the sleeping house. "You can go now."

"Lucifer, are you sure…" 

"I'll pay for your next meal in the city." Beel hesitated, but the idea of going wild and not having to pay for it… Lucifer was responsible, for sure there was no need to worry? Unsure but still agrees, Beelzebub detaches you, and you were quick to latch on to Lucifer instead. It was almost cartoonish how quickly Lucifer's demeanour changed, now smiling softly; his attention was focused solely on you. Beelzebub excuses himself awkwardly and silently. 

The house was empty, each corridor only carrying echoes of Lucifer's steps; he found it easier to carry you, and you didn't mind. You don't notice that he goes in the 'wrong' direction, that instead you were on silky sheets and a king-sized bed. Why Lucifer did that - it was a mystery to himself, or rather, he refused to answer the question. 

It has been so long since he had you so close - days, even weeks without you, even in the same room, let alone so close, able to caress your cheek with you sending him a smile. It hurt Lucifer to stay away, he saw every sad glance, every evening of you skipping supper, how Levi's second controller collected dust, how rarely he heard the creak of your doors. Yet, Lucifer did nothing. He didn't know what he would say if you asked questions about the night, he didn't know what he would say if he had to question his behaviour. So he ran away, like a coward, talking himself into thinking it was less hurtful to his pride. 

"Hey~ I'm not sweepy yet…" You say, but don't move from the spot, enjoying how cold and huggable the pillow was. The room was spinning and a bit blurry, and it was hard to make out who you were left with. "If Bwell trusts you, it should 'e fine." You giggle, talking strictly to yourself. "Hey, do ya like Bweel? He's sucha kind guy! Not like the rest of 'em…" You play with your caretaker tie as your mood sours, remembering the rest of the awful demons. "Well, whateva. Do you wanna drink somethin' with me?" 

Lucifer would consider the proposition, even coo at how adorably your speech was under the influence if it didn't bring memories. 

Why won't you drink with me now? 

He remembers, the hazy memories of how you pushed away his every advance when the roles were reversed  - afraid of hurting him? Using him? Lucifer did his best to understand your human thinking, and why you thought it was immoral to give yourself up to the desire. 

But he was a demon; "immoral" had no meaning for him. When you were sprawled on his bed, adorable yet alluring, with your shirt unbuttoned, teasing, with your eyes lidded, inviting - why shouldn't he indulge himself? Why stop, when he was already hovering above you, lips trembling in the desire to kiss, fingers gripping the sheets instead of your body. Your chest rising quickly, hypnotising, his own breath becoming uneven - Why stop? 

I love you, Lucifer.

He steps away. 

Instead of continuing to drink in your sight, he drinks Demonus; from the glass, not the bottle, still having some dignity. His thoughts were in disarray, scrambling to stay coherent and keeping his desires like a muzzle on a wild dog. He was doing his best, trying so hard— Your weight on him was sudden and distracting, caging him in the same armchair he held you hostage on that cursed night. This time, he felt so little in control, grasping the shreds of it while he looked away, lips hidden in the glass; Demonus was bitter. “I told you, I wanna drink too.” And your words were so, so sweet, your breath of Devildom’s fruits with just a hint of alcohol hitting his face - Beel had to treat you to very good drinks. Lucifer swallows more saliva than the alcohol he pretended to drink, weighing his options, trying to understand. “Well, I can give you a taste.” His tone was nonchalant, confident, yet his lips trembled when he inched towards you, heart pounding, head spinning - you wanted this, right? With your legs on each side of him, with your hands on his tense shoulders; grip so delicate, loving. Red eyes jump around your face, looking for any sign of displeasure, any sign that he was reading it wrong - were you really in love with him? Those beautiful, hopeful red eyes got as big as a coin when you put a hand on his mouth. “We can’t!” You pout, almost angry at Lucifer, who just looks bewildered. “I… I wanna give my first Devildom kiss to Luciwer.” He slowly, delicately takes you by the wrist. “But…” Squinted eyes, furrowed brows  - utter, complete confusion as his head tilts to the side. “...I am Lucifer?” “No, you’re not!” You gesture with your free hand towards him. “Luciwer is way pwettier… And he dresses like… not so sloppy!” The demon’s mouth was open, but no words were coming out. His attire, the tie you made lose yourself, was in your opinion sloppy. “I… I see?” Although the rest was on him. Asmodeus did mention that his hair lost shine, and Mammon snickered that the circles under his eyes matched Levi’s - both of them got a glare as they were the cause of those issues. Lucifer couldn’t sleep well knowing how in pain you were. Knowing how with each day you were drifting apart - from his brothers, from him - was giving him more stress than any task from Diavolo.

It was laughable, even for himself, that such a trivial thing was giving him so much anxiety. Why was he reacting in such a way? Lucifer refused to answer it. 

"What do you like about him? Lucifer, I mean." He didn't want to think about those things; feelings, worries. Now, hearing praise from your sweet lips was way more alluring and just the thing he needed for his wounded ego and bruised heart. 

"He's… smart… powerful and so handsome! Luciwer is also responsible, so he's, what was... A father material to be honest." He raises an eyebrow, his smirk distorted in the glass. Who would have thought you had such ideas for him? "I mean, what else do ya need from a man? Smart, strong, responsible, he's even funny sometimes!" Lucifer nods, he indeed got all those qualities. 

"But he's also such a dick!" 

Lucifer chokes. 

"Excuse me?" He spats out, throat burning from alcohol. 

"Don't ya agree? Everyone thinks that!" Your annoyance becomes more and more visible. "He got mad at me for nothin'! It's not like I wanted thanks or anythin', I helped 'cause… y'know, I like him." You smile just for a moment, remembering all the things you liked, loved even about that demon just to return to your angry monologue a second later. "He never talks 'bout his feelings! He doesn't wanna say why he's mad or if he even… likes me? Dunno, he probably doesn't…" Lucifer should say something, stand in defence of his feelings if he only understood what he was feeling. He remembered clearly the adoration he felt towards you - the things he declared that night didn't disappear with the alcohol. Even at this moment, he felt the same adoration towards you as he felt then, as he feels every day. But one question stopped him from acting, another he didn't know how to answer - that adoration was love or desire? 

Was he so drawn towards you because he desires your body or because he loved your touch? 

"You know…" You mumble, getting comfortable on his lap, inching closer to him. "...maybe I wanna taste that after all. Second best…" 

Did he yearn for a kiss or what was hiding behind it? 

"You're drunk." He finds himself parroting as he turns away, running away from your lips; cheeks dusted with the slightest pink. 

He finds the idea not as appealing as he thought - your eager words, soft lips, but no love behind eyes, only a haze of alcohol. If you were to get closer, he wished for it to be without the help of drinks or controlled by a clouded mind - he wanted your decision to be clear, honest, coming from the heart. 

"Would you… kiss Lucifer if given a chance?" He finds himself saying - ridiculous, absurd, but he cannot stop himself. 

"I mean," you tilt your head, "I like him, but he doesn—" 

"If he did." Only red eyes turn towards you. "Would you?"

It was hard to understand your caretaker's intentions as the only thing in your head was the buzzing of alcohol. Why wouldn't you kiss a demon you loved? 

"But he doesn't." You argue. "If he did, why he doesn't talk to me?" 

"Maybe…" Lucifer looks away again; heart pounding, each step like on a field of mines. "... He was scared." When he sees your confusion, Lucifer adds: "He never was good at… expressing feelings, you see."

"So… You're sayin' he likes me, but… felt stupid after what he said that night?" You were surprisingly bright despite the influence and hearing what Lucifer was aware of deep down made him scoff, then blush. Meanwhile, you feel the heat coming to your face and your eyes going wide as your caretaker nods.

"He likes me…?" Just a mumble, soft, shocked. It was hard to believe a demon so perfect would fall for a human, that his advances were something more than drunkards rambles. His weird behaviour only enforced those ideas but now… To hear so confidently that Lucifer loved you…

"I have to talk to him!" You almost trip on your own legs. Now alcohol found a new emotion to entertain and enforce - panic. What if Lucifer thought you were mad at him? What if you wasted so long not talking about the issue, and he thought you didn't like him? If he really liked you, you had to talk about it now! 

This time, the grip on your wrist was stronger, still not bruising. 

"You should go to sleep, you can talk about it calmly tomorrow." You wanted to argue, but tiredness settled on you like a veil. Suddenly, it was hard to keep your eyes open and your mouth shut from yawn after yawn. 

As Lucifer lays you to bed, makes sure you're comfortable and falls asleep in seconds, he finds the words suitable, falling from his lips smoothly:

"I love you."

It wasn't a simple desire, he didn't long for the touch nor your flesh but what was hiding behind the gestures - love, adoration, longing. He wanted to see those things in you, the same things he could now, finally confidently say he felt towards you. 

Why did he run away from your questions? Because he loved you. 

Why did your sadness make him anxious? Because he loved you. 

Was that desire or love? Love. 

You wake up moaning, head throbbing with pain and limbs refusing to cooperate. Face instinctively hiding in the pillow despite knowing that you had no bright light to fear in Devildom. Only the creak of the door forces one of your eyes open; despite seeing it's not your room, you don't find the energy to panic. 

"Good morning." Lucifer's voice was calm and collected like always, and your eye, hazy from sleep, didn’t find anything weird in his appearance - soft hair, smart clothes and… trey in his hands. You frown, trying to remember last night, but it only worsens your headache. "I prepared medication, water and a light breakfast for you. Unfortunately, you missed it." 

You slowly sit up, avoiding any sudden movements - the last thing you needed was puking in front of your crush. 

"What happened last night…?" You mumble, still under Lucifer's soft duvet; still in the t-shirt and pants from escapade with Beel. 

"I got you to bed." Simple, and straight to the point as he sets the tray next to you on the bed. "I hope sleeping here wasn't worse than sleeping in your bed, I wanted to have an eye on you in case Devildom's alcohol affects you in a strange way." 

"You cared…" Unfortunately, the crunching of toast didn't drown out those mindlessly said words. 

"Of course. You are dear to me, after all." You can't control yourself, your face showing every bit of shock - from wide eyes to mouth open just slightly. He… what? 

Meanwhile, Lucifer stays the same, finally content and calm as he found all the answers he needed. 

He loved you, too.

[bokettochild]

Hero's Wake - Part 2/3

Summary: A battle in the middle of nowhere leaves the younger heroes grievously injured and a couple near death. It's only been a day since their last big battle and they're nearly out of medical supplies, and with no towns or healers in sight, the boys have to hope that the owners of the small farmhouse Twilight saw when scouting ahead will be kind enough to help them. Turns out, the farmers have a lot more to offer than medical aid; they also have stories and memories of a young hero of courage it seems the Chain hasn't yet encountered.

Part 1 / Part 2 (you are here) / Part 3 (next week)

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The night is a long one. Neither he nor Wild can rest for long before someone shakes them awake to check on them and make sure their state hasn’t worsened. Still, at the least, the couch is comfortable and having Wild pressed up against him and folded in his arms is nice. Twilight lingers still, even in sleep, and though the poor women of the house have to step awful carefully to not trip over his protégé when they wake Wild and himself to check their state, it’s a comfort to have both his pups safe and close by. 

It’s a wonder they don’t get kicked out honestly, Warriors’ snores, a sure sign of safety as they’re never present if the captain has any reason to think them in danger, are loud and rumbling and fill the room to travel up the stairs. It almost keeps Sky awake, but exhaustion and worry eventually make the Skyloftian fade out. Then again, maybe it’s the tea he’s offered when Romani comes to check on the concussed and sees the young man still fidgety and fussy. 

Regardless of all though, even if he didn’t sleep much, Time feels relief that, at the very least, they’re safe. Maybe it’s the reassurance of a familiar place, after all, the house is arranged in the same way as his own and while the decor is different, the general air is not. Then again, it might be the assurance that there’s no monsters close by, their last battle surely having dealt with the last of them and scaring away any smaller groups who might have tried to trial after. While the bodies will have dissipated hours ago, the smell of death will linger on the wind and be carried about as a warning to all other things to not stray too close. 

Whichever reason it is, he feels more at ease when he wakes, this time of his own accord, to the sound of feet on floorboards and Twilight shifting beside him. 

“No need fer that. Rest.” It’s the one called Romani that speaks, “we’re jist off to milk the cows.” 

The pup must move somehow, shift or tilt his head, do something, because while he can’t see it (he’s hesitant to open his eyes just yet, he is not an early riser and doesn’t want to be) there’s a shift of the air beside him. “Can I help? I was raised on a farm myself, an’ I might as well make myself useful to make up for crashin’ you ladies’ evening.” 

There’s no insistence to rest, in fact, there’s no answer at all, or at least not a verbal one. Still, his pup clambers to his feet and pads out the door with the women, and when next Time comes back to himself it’s to the sound of heavy boots at the door and pails being settled in the next room over. It’s his sign to rise, milking likely done and the day starting, but he leaves Wild to rest, stroking one hand through flowing gold and watching the youngster shift closer to the warm place he’s left behind on the couch.  

Green and brown eyes dart over to him as he rises, Twilights own midnight blue following suit, and while he doesn’t pause or stare, he can’t help but smile a bit to himself. The pup looks quite at home amidst the four women, hair not nearly as red and skin just a shade darker, but were he anyone else he’d think Twilight a member of this kindly family, not just a visitor. 

“Where you headed, old man?” 

He spares a glance at Miss Mirta, catching her eye to ask for permission that’s given freely at his glance. “I want to check on the others.” 

Twilight nods, returning to helping with the fresh milk. 

The stairs do creak a bit and he has to remind himself that it’s the third he should skip if he wants to avoid waking anyone. Still, he makes it up them again and back to the room from the day before. Or at least, he tries. He gets the wrong one at first, but it seems fine as the door he opens reveals Hyrule and Wind. The traveler is awake, bleary eyed and yawning and with hair drifting in his eyes and matted, but he smiles a greeting to Time as Wind nuzzles closer against the older teen’s side. 

Rather than correct his mistake, he enters the room, settling on the edge of the bed and running a hand through tangled curls as Hyrule hums a soft good morning. “Did you two sleep well?” 

“Like bricks.” The traveler yawns again. 

It makes him smile, pulling back and watching them, eyes fond. 

He wants this. He wants this every morning. He wants to walk into the upper rooms of his house and find his boys curled together in peace and yawning their good mornings as he ruffles their hair. He wants to ask if they’re ready to get up yet like he does now with Hyrule, and to be able to chuckle as they plead for ten more minutes, a younger sibling clutching hold of them as if to insist they get to stay in a warm bed with quilted blankets and soft pillows. 

More than anything, he wants to give his boys this, a home, safety and peace. A family. 

He can’t, he knows he can’t, but he still lets himself wish it, still ruffles blonde and brown heads and promises just a bit longer as he stands and wishes them pleasant sleep before returning to the hall and closing the door of the room with care. 

It’s the next room over, the one to the right, that he’d meant to enter, and when he opens the door the sight he finds inside is much like the one moments before. Four sits upright in the bed, hair a mess and headband around his neck as his eyes trail about, likely noting details Time himself had missed and puzzling out the owner of the room he’s resting in. At his side, Legend slumbers on, curled over on his right side with his face pressed to the smithy's hip. The blankets are a mess around them, hunching over shoulders and tugged up to uncover the vet’s feet (because Legend never sleeps with his feet covered if he can help it) but he's unsure if it was something done on purpose or not. 

Four greets him with a small smile, a question in his eyes that goes unspoken as nimble fingers drag through the vet’s pink hair in a distracted motion. Legend seems not to mind, breathing easy as he slumbers on, the bunny plush from the bed just barely visible as it peeks out from beneath his chin, huddled close and tight. 

He hopes the Lons won’t mind. 

“Hey.” He whispers in greeting. 

“Hey.” Four sighs in response. “Where are we?” 

Because Four had passed out before they reached the house. The smithy won’t know what’s happened since then; not that he’s sleeping in the room of a dead hero or that they’ve somehow stumbled across another world's version of the eldest hero’s home. 

“Lon Lon Ranch,” he answers, and rather than coming to sit with the two he opts to lean against the frame of the door, watching them. Four and Legend like their space, and unlike the two younger boys (he assumes that Hyrule is younger, none of them have really revealed their ages but Wild and Wind) they don’t preen at his attentions or welcome him with open arms. These two are colder, more reserved, and he respects their wishes to maintain their barriers as best he can. “Apparently the farm-house Twilight spotted while scouting was another world’s version of the ranch. The ladies here let us stay the night.” 

He doesn’t explain that the room the two occupy belongs to a dead Link, he doesn’t think it right. There’s something peaceful about mornings on a farm that just shouldn’t be ruined by speaking of death and loss, not before breakfast at least and not when no one has asked to hear it. 

The smithy nods, gaze trailing over the room again as he sighs softly. “It’s nice.” 

He nods. “It is.” 

There’s a question in flickering blue and violet, but Four doesn’t ask it. Maybe he’s sensed as Time has that the room has lain still for long already, maybe he recognizes the signs the older hero had seen himself that this room was meant for a child but left clean and undisturbed as no child’s room would be. Whatever the reason for not asking, the smithy turns his attentions to the veteran at his side, still sleeping peacefully and while a bit pale yet, alive. “He’s going to sleep a bit longer, I think. Legend always heals slower than the rest of us and his body’s going to need all the rest it can get.” 

He nods. He wants to check for himself but, again, he doesn’t wish to cross the boundaries set unless he needs to. 

Four chuckles, eyes fond and glittering amber. “I’ve never seen him this peaceful.” 

Time nods, watching the two, a smile touching his own face. “Me neither.” Their vet is usually tensed or terse, never soft faced and peaceful as slumber leaves him rosy and calm, nestled into the blankets like a kit in their nest. 

“Maybe having a cuddle bunny helps.” It’s a joke, the smithy chuckling softly as he tugs one ear of the entrapped plush rabbit. Legend shifts slightly in response, face screwing up briefly before settling into peace again with a soft huff. 

It makes him laugh, chuckling and crossing his arms comfortably, head tilting to rest against the frame as he lets his good eye trail over the two before he asks the same question of Four that he’d asked Hyrule. “Are you ready to greet the day, smithy?” 

His answer is a wry smile and a shake of the head, Four’s hand continuing its ministrations. “No sir.” Bright eyes glimmer faintly as they turn to him, pain still evident in the strain of the lad’s smile. “I’m not awake because I’m ready, I’m awake because, unlike some people,” Four nods down at Legend, slumbering peacefully, “I’m not so used to agony I can sleep through it.” 

And that changes the tune of the whole morning. He starts away from the wall with a question as to Four’s health, how bad his pain is, how long has been awake and in agony? It’s assured with a little scoff and honest answer. Four’s only been truly aware for an hour or so, and the pain isn’t so very bad if he sits still, just too much for him to be able to return to sleep. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than he’d first supposed, and he promises to see what he can do in the way of a pain reliever. 

Once down the stairs and in the kitchen though, he needn’t even ask. 

“Take this up to them.” Miss Mirta orders, handing off a tray with a steaming kettle and four mugs. “After a night like the one you boys had I’d be shocked silly if they wasn’t feelin’ it this mornin’. That there tea can ease any aches, but mind you tell them to add nothing to it, right?” At his nod, she seems somewhat assured, the same hesitant smile from the night before returning to her face. “How are they?” 

“Sore, as you guessed, ma’am.” He answers, shifting the tray in his hands so as to hold it more comfortably. “Only two are awake yet but I don’t know how long that will last.” 

She nods, chuckling softly. “Right. Well, make sure you tell me when they’re up again. With injuries like theirs, bed rest ain’t debatable, but I know for a fact that won’t stop their appetites. Is there any food they like particular?” 

Perhaps his own head is a bit behind still. “Pardon?” 

Miss Mirta smiles, this time warmer. “What sorts of foods do they like? If they gonna be stuck up in bed healin’ they may as well have decent food, an’ goodness knows there’s little in Hyrule I haven’t tried my hands at.” 

The offer sinks in and he finds himself shaking his head, smiling politely as he makes to decline. “That’s really not necessary, we’re intruding enough as it is and-” 

The smile becomes more like his own Malon’s, with that touch of fire and flame that says he’s not winning whatever argument he’d unknowingly stumbled into. “Nonsense. We may have thought you knights when first you came, but it’s clear as day the lot of you are hero types. It's the least an old homebody like me can do to offer a few beds and decent food to folks who spend so much time protectin’ us.” 

And he tries to protest, he really does, but Miss Mirta is just as sharp and stubborn as his wife, so it’s really only so long before he caves. The woman counts it as a victory, asking again for the favorite foods of his boys, and he’s a bit startled to realize that he himself doesn’t know the answer. “Serve them anything and they’ll eat it, they’re hardly a sensitive bunch,” he finally offers. 

It seems that’s not good enough, but he’s not pressed. Instead, the Lon woman turns to Twilight, still busy helping move milk to bottle over by the table, and asks him about it. “Any food you’ll be wanting, sugar?” 

His pup is well distracted, hands busy and eyes tracking the flow of milk as he tips one of the buckets ever so carefully to pour into the jars this world’s Malon is holding steady for him, and as a result he doesn’t seem to really be doing much thinking on the side. “Anything ma’am, leastways anythin’ without peppers.” 

All four redheads snicker at the words, Creamia jostling his pup playfully right as Twilight rightens his pail so Malon can switch out her jars. The honest and easy smile offered the girls way at the action resettles this morning’s ease and charm, and it’s, again, almost like being home. 

Until it isn’t. 

“What in- Mirta, who’s all this?” 

When he turns it’s to find a man nearly wide as the fellow is tall, but with a presence so large it feels he’s the one being loomed over, rather than the other way around. A great silvery white beard obscures most of the man’s face, but not so much he can’t make out the look of confusion and wariness as bright blue eyes trail over the two heroes standing in the kitchen. 

This must be Miss Mirta’s husband, Hanson, he supposes.  

He must suppose correctly, because Mirta’s distracted but fond kiss to the man’s cheek is something he’d not expect to be offered by the housewife to any other man, that and she’d not mentioned any others about the area (although with a farm as large as Lon Lon there’s bound to be ranch-hands hiding somewhere about).  

“They’re guests, Hans. Dropped in last night after you went to bed.” 

The gaze of the man is heavy, judgmental as it travels over first Time himself and then the pup, and then, a moment after, over his shoulder to where Warriors now stands, a bit scruffy and ruffled, but mostly awake if not a bit groggy. 

Hanson, as it would seem he is, nods firmly. “Hero types.” 

One of the girls, he hasn’t time to catch which, hums a bittersweet sound at the words. “That’s what Gran-momma said too.” 

The elder man smiles, wide and confident but charming in its own unique way. “It’s the set of the shoulders and the look in the eyes. Once you find it, you know it’ll never lead you astray.” And then the smile falls as a shadow is cast over the man’s ruddy face. “Much like Link was.” 

There’s a soft tapping and clinking of kitchenware as bowls and spoons and buckets are settled down and glances are exchanged between the Lon family of this world, something sad and bittersweet that’s lingered over the house since before the heroes had even come to the door. It feels wrong, he thinks, to disturb it, but he seems the only one to think so. 

“What was he like?” Warriors asks, leaning against the wall, hair falling in his eyes and scruff on his cheeks as royal blue are cast over the family of redheads and their white-haired patriarch. “Your Link, what sort of a person was he?” 

Stares fall on the captain, but never once does he waver or try and take back his words. 

Time can’t help but feel the question wrong, and he’s just turning one of those looks that Twilight tends to cow under (although it’s never done a thing to the captain) when one of the girls -he thinks it’s Creamia, her voice the same bittersweet adoration he’d heard from a girl of the same name in his own world- speaks. “Kind.” 

“Caring.” The one named Malon whispers, bitterness in the way she grabs more jars and holds them for Twilight to fill, stare diverted to the floor. 

Romani, just coming in with the last pail and who’d stopped briefly at the door, offers her own distant smile and murmur. “Bright.” 

“He was our sunshine.” Miss Mirta answers softly, eyes meeting the captain’s with all the adoration of any mother who speaks of her offspring. “Never have I seen a soul so bright, not in all of Hyrule or the lands beyond. No matter what shadow came here, what evil arose, he was always there to carry folks through, push ‘em to be the best and grant ‘em a little light when they thought no hope was left.” 

Warriors smiles in return, gaze flickering to him for a moment before the man moves closer, settling by the table and watching them all with that unwavering warm stare. There’s something there, something understanding that matches the pain in the eyes of the grieving family of a fallen hero, and Time can’t help but wonder if it’s people like himself and Wind that the captain is grieving for. Maybe lost soldiers, maybe child heroes, maybe families who will know no more of the brightness they’ve lost. “Sounds like quite the kid.” 

“He was,” Hanson speaks, sniffling just a bit.  

The words seem to bring an end to the talking, or at least the talk of the hero, but Miss Mirta pats Warriors on the shoulder (poor woman can’t reach much higher than that) in thanks and the captain smiles, in that warm understanding way that wins so many hearts, in return. 

After that, he lets himself slip away, slow and quiet enough that it doesn’t draw eyes as he makes his way to the stairs and delivers mugs of tea to the rooms. By now it’s Wind and Four awake, the other two fast asleep when he hands off pain soothing tea. Wind makes a face at it, calling it bitter and nasty despite the stink eye sent his way, but Four takes a whiff of the stuff and immediate starts murmuring praises to the goddesses as he makes grabby hands for his mug. Honestly, the stuff smells bitter, like the sort of thing Saria would make for him when he had a cold as a child, but he keeps that thought, as well as many others, to himself as he checks on the sleeping and trades a few short words with those awake and drinking tea. 

Once he’s downstairs again, he checks in on Sky and Wild, both of whom are resting peacefully, a smile on the Skyloftians face and comfortable bliss on the scarred Champion’s. It brings him some comfort at least. And then he’s set to wait. 

He’s not used to waiting about, not during hero work and never during time on the farm. There’s always something to do when they’re on the ranch, and standing in a main room that’s both his and not, familiar in a million unfamiliar ways, he feels out of place in his stillness. It drives him back to the kitchen, and it’s not long before he’s wrists deep in bread dough, kneading in a repetitive motion that even he can’t mess up while the kitchen buzzes and flutters about him. 

They’re served johnnycakes for breakfast. It earns smiles from all of his boys as Miss Mirta and her offspring plate the food and hand it off. They’ve all tried at that point to be of aid or help, but they’re waved off and back to their seats around both the kitchen and dining room tables as Hanson watches them with keen eyes and a friendly smile.  

It’s a pleasant meal. Two of their own still rest upstairs but Warriors had been kind enough to give Hyrule a lift down and Wind had been bobbing along behind him. The red potions did wonders for his boys and all that’s left of their various injuries are scars and fractures that should fade with time and rest. The talk at the tables is pleasant, and though its rare they’ve told anyone of their reasoning for their travels, it feels right to do so here. After all, in another world, this family and their home may have become familiar faces and welcoming ones during their travels. In another world, a sunshine eyed lad with boundless courage and kindness would have made their chain ten and guided them to this farm to visit with his family and heal from their wounds. They do not live in that world, but still, it feels as though they should honor how it may have been, be honest and tell the truth when they are asked. After all, the family of a hero, of all people in Hyrule, will understand their travels. And they do. Miss Mirta and her offspring nod along knowingly when Sky explains their journey, and while Mister Hanson looks doubtful of their word, he listens anyway. 

 In a way, it reminds of Malon and her father. His wife will hear his adventures and nod, will express her sorrow and joy at his highs and lows, and Talon will humor him, but never show signs of believing what’s told to him. Regardless though, it’s pleasant to get the weight of matters into the air, to not hide them, and at the least, they’re not seen as mad for their claims. In fact, the one called Malon seems to brighten a bit at their words, bitterness fading as she listens to the tales of what they’ve been about and what they’ve seen. 

“It sounds like what Link did.” She says presently, when Sky has finished and returned to eating.  

Many eyes turn the way of the youngest Lon, curiosity for the heroes and that same bittersweet fondness from before in the faces of the gathered Lons. 

“Traveling through time, meeting other heroes and saving the world.” Her smile is gentle, dreamy, as she scrapes her fork over her plate. “Link may have been tired of fighting, but I think… such an adventure...” 

“He did love to travel.” Creamia muses. 

“What else did he like?” And the same boldness as the captain had shown this morning can be seen in the eyes of their sailor as he looks from one to another of their hosts.  

There’s silence about the table for a short while, glances flying and words exchanged without the moving of lips. 

Wind smiles, kind but not pressing as he speaks. “You all seem so fond of him, and, well...” the sailor chews at his lip briefly, great eyes staring about and making Miss Mirta near melt in her seat, one hand pressing to her breast with a little coo that the teenager chooses to politely ignore. “I’ve learned that when you lose someone, it can help to talk about it to someone. To share their memory, you know?” Sun kissed fingers trail up to rub along the sailor’s neck in that hesitant tick they all have. “When I started adventuring, I had a mentor who taught me almost everything I know, but when I lost him, it helped to talk to my Granny and sister and tell stories about him, helped me feel a bit closer to him if I could let other people know him better.” 

“What do you want to know?” Romani asks, settling down her tableware and interlacing her fingers before her face. 

“What did you love most?” 

“His smile,” Miss Mirta whispers, “it was like the sun. He was bright lil’ thing, always poppin’ off somewhere to explore or poke his nose into everythin’. He loved the world, loved finding things, an’ whenever he’d find something new, he’d shine like a lil’ star as he told me ‘bout it.” 

“He was curious,” Romani chuckles, “and smart too. Momma, you wouldn’t’ve seen it, but when he visited our ranch, he was up to brimmin’ over with knowledge. Helped Malon out of a right bind while the rest of us were out gatherin’ the new calves.” 

“Gave me a whole book on how to handle things,” the one called Malon murmurs. “Taught me everythin’ Granmomma taught him, and helped me learn e’en more than he knew. I was in a fix but,” she sighs, shoulders slumping a bit, “he always was the one to get us outta those.” 

“Was he very...” Hyrule pauses, as though looking for the right word. He’s given time, no one pressing and everyone patient until the traveler finds his tongue. “Was he very active then? Darting around and giving help?” 

Miss Mirta laughs, sweet and clear. “That he was! I told him after his first adventure was over and he was feelin’ restless and ill at ease with becomin’ a knight, ‘go out and flap your wings, Link’ and he did jist that! He was all over the kingdom, out to the lands beyond, out meetin’ people and offerin’ help. He found adventures of course, lad like him how couldn’t he? But he always came back home when it was over, brought stories and drawin’s and lil gifts.” Her voice trails away, smile beautiful as she stares into the air, light glistening in her eyes. 

“Was he an artist then?” He finds himself asking, watching the faces of their hosts as they start back to themselves. 

“The finest,” Mister Hanson declares. “It was a fight to get a blade in his hand as a boy, but a brush? Tch, he made near every piece that hangs in this house, save the ancestral ones, and he’d sketch or scribble on near about anything!” 

Miss Mirta’s hand brushes his arm, the woman’s smile near conspiratorily as she leans a bit closer. “You wouldn’t believe how often I’d walk out and find him all nestled up in the barn, cuckos cozied up to his side while he sketched any old thing.” She laughs again, bright and teary, but smiling. “I swear, for a long time there I was thinkin’ he’d be an artist!” 

“A travelin’ artist,” Cremia agrees, shaking her head. “Never in all my days, which sure, are shorter than y’alls” -the words cue a round of laughter from heroes and farmers alike- “but valid all the same,” her smile is bright and warm as she looks out over the table to the heroes, “have I seen a person so taken with wunderlust. His feet were never still!” 

“Dancin’ and tappin even at the table.” This world’s Malon chuckles softly. 

“Scrabblin up trees or climbin’ up to sit on the roof,” Miss Mirta offers. 

“Running clear out to Hyrule Field to escape sword practice.” Mister Hanson huffs fondly, shaking his hoary head. 

“And flying through the air.” Romani’s smile is a bit crooked, drawn off kilter like the cub’s by some slight scarring he’d not noticed ‘till now. “After that second adventure he was a different child altogether, so active you’d never believe he used to laze around the farm with all the animals.” 

“He didn’t stop playin’ with animals, Romani,” Miss Mirta objects warmly, “I dare say he was surrounded by animals since the day he got home.” 

“Specially that mare of his.” Hanson huffs. “Great big thing, heaven knows where he got her from. Could topple me in an instant but gentle as a fawn with our boy.” 

“He liked horses then?” He shouldn’t be surprised that Twilight is the one to pipe up with the question, ears pricked forwards and a smile touching his face. 

“Liked?” Romani shakes her head. “Loved. Not a beast but dogs that wouldn’t be fussed over by that child. He never liked mutts much as was, but them huntin’ dogs the castle keeps put him off them for good. Still, any other creature, from cuckos to kangaroos, he could charm the socks off of ‘em!” 

Honestly, Time has no clue what a kangaroo even is, but Hyrule and Legend had mentioned them before and based off the vaguely impressed expression on the traveler’s face, he imagines befriending one must be quite the feat. 

The meal continues that way, the Lons painting a picture of a child hero full of light and courage, with a clever mind to match that of their sailor and drawing skills to challenge Legend. They talk about a young leader, destined for greatness, who’d led an army and multiple groups of adventurers to defeat evils across the continent. 

He can see wonder and pride shining in the faces of all present. He can see the captain’s smile become touched with respect at hearing the adeptness of the young knight, see Wind’s eyes spark when he hears the child had been his own age yet held in respect by many, he sees Twilight brighten at word of another young farmer who stepped beyond his home town and into adventure. There’s something wondering in Wild’s gaze, something bittersweet but warm in Sky’s and he knows his own smile is showing as he listens to word of this hero who inspired such awe and, despite all he’d been through, maintained a light so bright it’s the thing the lad’s remembered most for.  

It’s a bit awe inspiriting, the way this family speaks of their lost child. It’s something he can only hope will be the same for his boys when they eventually grow old and pass on; a family who’d sing their praises with such love, with such admiration.  

He listens, as do his boys, through the meal until there’s only empty plates and cold remains left, bellies full and hearts following with the stories spoken by their hosts. His boys hang on to every word, no doubt picturing how the brother they’ve never met would be. 

Only Hyrule doesn’t speak, doesn’t ask questions. Instead, the traveler quietly excuses himself from the table, wandering back to the main room. He’s curious why, a bit worried as well because the traveler is never one to pass up a good story, especially not about people like himself. Still, despite wanting to hear all he can, wanting to at least in his mind bring to life this child hero who he’ll never know, he quietly excuses himself with some simple excuse to follow after the teen. 

He wants to hear more, but if something’s troubling one of his boys, they will always come first, over any past heroes or any friendly farmers. 

“Something wrong, Hyrule?” He asks once he’s found the kid. 

The younger hero turns to him with a poor half smile, ears twitching softly. “It was a bit too much,” Hyrule explains, gaze darting to the dining room. “There’s so much going on in there, so many emotions,” the traveler shifts his weight, leaning heavily on his uninjured leg as he shrugs, “I needed some air.” 

A glance back at the dining room and it’s easy to see what the traveler means. He can’t taste it, not like the fae do, but it is quite a lot to be trying to process all at once regardless, especially for someone like Hyrule who isn’t accustomed to being around large groups of strangers or even people in general. 

“I understand.” 

The smile, although small, that the traveler offers him is worth more than rupees could hope to measure up to. “Thanks.” 

He doesn’t answer, doesn’t need to. Hyrule’s clever like that, he knows what people mean even when they don’t speak. Instead, he offers his arm as a support and Hyrule takes it. They don’t go far of course, but the support stops the traveler from putting too much weight on his injured leg. After all, the teen won’t strand still for long, injured or not. 

The central room of the house is a warm one, although dark with the drapery closed and no lamps lit. Still, they’re heroes, accustomed to the darkness of dungeons and the deepest of pits, a dark living room hardly hampers them, and they make their way about it taking in the details, pausing over a piece of art and finding themselves wondering over its maker. Most of the pictures hung about are of animals or lovely landscapes, but there are also family portraits set over the mantle. Hyrule clutches his arm when he sees them and moves to lean against the stone structure so he can look closer, leaving Time alone. 

He doesn’t mind. The traveler seems perfectly content looking at the lovely black and white pieces, admiring the life-like quality of the eyes and smiling at the inconsistencies of shadow or whatever else it is Legend had taught him about art. So, while Hyrule looks, he turns his eyes to the far wall. The shadows are heavier here, but when his eyes adjust he can make out the paintings there. 

And what paintings! The pieces are clearly done by a master, of the quality he’s seen in Hyrule Castle, but that’s not what catches his eye. No, what catches his attention is the mirror reflection staring back at him. Years younger, un-scarred and smiling, but the face is his own, or very nearly. The figure depicted is dressed in fine armor and standing strong and firm for the painter, regal as the queens of Hyrule and with eyes that seem to glitter even in oils. It’s...strange, especially since he does not in any ways recall sitting for such a painting in any of the timelines he’s been to. 

“Is that you?” It’s not Hyrule that speaks, and it makes him start to look beside himself and see Four standing and staring up after him. 

“Four, what are you doing, you’re supposed to-” 

The smithy raises his mug, still clutched in two hands, and shrugs his shoulders. “I ran out of tea.” 

The simplicity of the excuse makes him quirk a smile, even as his mind worries for the lad’s health. He’s dismissed with a look though, Four smiling in that off-kilter way that’s charmed countless people into thinking him just a sweet and serious child before the smithy is looking back up at the painting and then starting. 

“Holy Hylia, is that Legend?” 

“Golly,” Hyrule murmurs, now at his shoulder as one hand catches on his shirt sleeve for support. “It is the vet!” 

It is. Younger, dark-haired and full of life, with glittering violet eyes and a firm stance, but it’s their own vet. The younger version of Legend is depicted with sword and shield raised, eyes glittering with battle-fire, brows furrowed, but somehow it doesn’t detract from the youth of his features that life has by now stollen away. It’s odd, seeing him frozen in oils and canvas, like some long dead and honored hero. 

Tea colored fingers brush the gilded frame of the painting, Hyrule’s smile warm as he stares up into the face of his predecessor. “Aurora has this painting at home, hanging in her parlor,” the traveler muses.  

“Why is it here though?” Four asks, glancing at the thing oddly. “Time I would understand, being a Lon, if only by marriage, I’d think nothing of him being honored by his descendants, but Legend?” 

And isn’t that a question? He finds himself staring betwixt the two paintings, curiosity pushing his mind to its limit.   

“I don’t think that’s Time.” Hyrule frowns as he leans closer, staring up. “Time’s eyes are blue, like, very blue. This man has purple eyes.” 

“Like the vet?” Four asks, shuffling closer and still holding his empty mug. 

The traveler looks between the paintings curiously. “Exactly like Legend’s, or, at least, the painted version of Legend.” 

“Why is his hair black though?” Four mutters softly, eye flashing briefly as he looks at their brother’s likeness. 

For that at least, Time has an answer. “He dyes his hair. At this point, it wouldn’t shock me to learn that’s the natural color of it.” 

The two nod their agreement. Legend could secretly be hiding fish-scales under his tunics and no one would be truly shocked. A bit surprised, but given how little Legend shares about himself it wouldn’t be the most shocking thing and after an initial start they’d probably just accept it. After all, that’s how they’d all been about Hyrule’s wings, and while Twilight’s wolf-shifting had caused some larger issues it wasn’t so much as the action as the means of doing so that had really upset anyone. 

“Hang on,” Hyrule pauses, turning to Four where the smithy stands nibbling on his mug rim, brows furrowed, “where is Legend?” 

“Upstairs.” The shortest hero answers, eyes not flicking away from the two paintings. “He was sleeping soundly when I left.” 

“Legend?” The half-fae blinks, surprised. “He was actually sleeping? Are you sure he’s not in a coma or something?” 

Four chuckles softly, smile quirking back into existence. “No, he’s just sleeping, snoring and everything.” 

That stops him a moment, makes him stare down at the two in surprise. “Legend snores?” 

“Yeah,” Hyrule’s smile is fond, gaze flickering to the stairs, “really softly, but he does it. It’s kinda cute really, but don’t tell him I said that.” 

“He squeaks.” Four explains. “It’s adorable.” 

He tries to imagine Legend being adorable and while it’s probably horrible of him, he can’t really imagine it. Then again, glancing at the painting on the wall, he supposes there must have been a time. It’s hard to be cute with dead eyes and deader stares, but with a bit of life and a genuine smile he supposes it could be possible. 

“One of us should check on him,” Time muses under his breath, mind wandering up the stairs as his eyes turn towards them. 

“Go then.” Four shuffles a bit closer to Hyrule. “We aren’t going anywhere, and someone will come in here to see what we’re up to in no time so there’s no risk of us hurting ourselves somehow.” 

He hesitates. 

“I won’t put any weight on my foot.” Hyrule promises, as if sensing the reason for his hesitation. “If I need to use my wings, I will, and if Four does anything stupid I’ll tell you.” 

“Tattle-tale.” Four mumbles into his still-empty mug, but he’s smiling. 

He nods. “Right. Call Twilight if you find you need help, his ears are the sharpest.” 

“Yes sir.” The smithy chuckles, rich and warm, before shooing him away. “We’ll be fine.” 

And he hopes they will be. Four was one of the worst injured and shouldn’t be moving around much yet, even with the red potions there’s still scarring that’s setting and muscles reforming where the injury was. He’d rather have the both of them sitting or lying down in bed, but he knows better than to try and force it. Whatever authority he has over them is limited, and there are times he must pick his battles. 

Bed rest is a battle he has yet to win with a conscious hero. 

[xgummibearx]

Aizawa x (Fem)  Reader

The Aizawa installment of my hit by a quirk series, wherein pro heroes have been hit by a quirk that turns them into children. I have so far done: Fatgum, Hawkes, and Present Mic. Thank you so much for your patince and support, if you want to see my other works check out @s0upisdelicious

Enjoy! 

TW: None

~~~~

Out of nowhere some guy dressed like an overgrown chicken came down from the sky and faced the mysterious cloaked figure that was chasing them. Aizawa was frozen in place, unsure what to do. He was trembling, heart pounding in his ears. "I don't understand, what am I doing here?" He turned from the other scared children to the winged man once more only to see the cloaked figure reaching out for their apparent rescuer.

“LOOK OUT!" He screamed, unbeknownst to him it startled one of the other boys with them. The sniveling one with glasses and obnoxious yellow hair. Aizawa found himself on his knees, covering his ears as a sound errupted from the yellow haired boy that knocked even the purple cloaked weirdo to the pavement.

His hand was suddenly grabbed by the other boy, he was much larger than them and his face was determined. "We can't let him wander off on his own come on!" Without a word Aizawa was suddenly dragged off after the blonde bass boosting freakshow. He didn't know why, but he felt bad for thinking such things about this boy he didn't even know. Aizawa tried his best to keep up with the big kid, a much younger and energetic Taishiro.

The streets were a labyrinth, loud shouts and stray dogs growling at every dark alley entrance that the children sped past. Aizawa was shaking, standing on an empty street with Taishiro where they heard the faintest sound of quiet sobs. "Hello?" the larger boy called, a quiver in his voice as he and Aizawa slowly approached a dumpster. They could see tucked away in a crevice was the boy with the wild blonde hair and large glasses sobbing with his hand over his mouth. "There you are!" Taishiro immediately sat beside him, "It's okay." He sat very quietly as Aizawa stood closeby, not wanting to sit on the dirty pavement. "I mess up with my quirk all the time, my mom always says I'll eat her out of house and home."

They stayed behind the dumpsters, holding their breath at the slightest noise and tried to make as little noise of their own as possible. It felt like hours had passed when the streets were suddenly filled with sirens and the skies were full of helicopters. Aizawa fell asleep along with Hizashi, having finally sat beside Taishiro who couldn't sleep a wink.

He didn't wake until voices drew near, calling each of their names. "We found them! We found them!" They saw a tall boy with blonde hair and a redcape, standing with a man in a suit with spectacles. The blonde was holding another child, a crying toddler with purple hair. It was all a blur after that, Aizawa remembered being held and carried to a car. They were surrounded by reporters, flashing cameras. A very long and tiring night indeed, especially for four terrified children.

Aizawa dragged his feet through a large set of doors into a lobby of sorts. Across the way he saw a grouchy kid with spiky red hair, and a very timid, quiet kid that was thin as a rake. He closed his eyes, "I don't want to talk to these people..." He thought, he was too tired and his legs felt like jello. Before he could even think anything else, he made it to the middle of the room and passed out on the cool tiles. His snoring was ridiculously loud for a boy his age but it made Nezu chuckle, so it really had always been that easy for Aizawa to sleep.

~~~

"Shouta? Come on, there's someone here to help you." Nezu lifted his hand to tap his shoulder, trying to wake him. Aizawa had also always been a light sleeper apparently, he hadn't even touched him before Aizawa rolled over and sat up. He turned his face to look up at the woman standing him, unknown of course to Aizawa but this was one of his own colleagues [X] the early development quirk specialist. As Eraserhead, his respect for [X] was enormous, often leaving a certain silver haired girl in her care when he was teaching.

However as Shouta, the child merely looked upon a stranger. "Very well." He stood up, walking over to her "The floors hard..." he added with a mumble. His hair stood on end on one side. [X] couldn't help but smile. Even as a child he still looked blank faced and tired yet it was very sweet to see that his eyes didn't bare the same burdens that he carried.

"It will be nice for him to forget...even if only for a short while." She thought, gently taking his sleepy hand to lead him out to the car. He could hardly keep his eyes open, she could see the streetlights flashing across his face as he slept in the back of the car. There wasn't even a sound when she put him to bed, only a quietly mumbled thank you.

Shouta slept until noon, getting up to ask quietly for toast and a request to watch cartoons. He sat rather comically, with his knees under his chin as he slowly ate the toast and watched Ganriki Neko in absolute silence. He was entirely engrossed in the show until a sudden movement caught his attention that made his eyes go wide. (--)’s cat suddenly hopping onto the chair across the room. (--) looked up from her work and smiled softly as little Aizawa slowly crawled up to the cat, and began to gently pet her soft fur. “What is it’s name?” He asked, his voice still only above a whisper. 

“Her name is Mui, she’s a bit of a brat so be careful.” Her eyebrows raised in surprise however as he lifted her fat cinderblock of a cat and carried her out of the room with ease and not even a mewl of complaint from the old feline. (--) returned to her work, keeping the cartoon on mute in case Aizawa came back. However, as the hours passed curiosity began to get the better of her, what on earth were those two doing? She abandoned her report and followed the sound of his hushed voice. Opening the door carefully she found the two of them under a small blanket fort. “What are you two doing?” She asked, leaning against the doorframe. 

Aizawa looked up, he was wearing a shoebox on his head and had an old flowery towel around his neck. “Well...Mui is the princess, and I am her knight.” He murmured, “She has very important things to do you know, she has to meet with an estranged cousin that secretly wants to take the throne from her so I have to save her from the dungeon soon!” (--) Smiled. 

“Well, how about a better castle to protect the princess?” 

And so her living room was transformed, (--)’s quirk was simple and effective for keeping the attention of children. She could make small lights that floated around a room and as she draped blankets across furniture and propped up by books she made the whole room glow with them. Mui was placed under a laundry basket, fast asleep. 

“You are too late sir knight!” (--) cried, making her glowing lights float towards Aizawa. “The princess is mine!” He lifted his wooden spoon and batted the harmless lights away with a smile. 

“No! You cannot have her!” He laughed, tapping (--) with the handle. She gasped, falling to the floor in a heap. 

“Oh! Woe is me, I am defeated!” Aizawa lifted up the basket then peaked behind the footstool. 

“I didn’t actually hurt you did I?” He asked with a whisper. (--) giggled, opening one eye. 

“I’m just fine, now!” She sat up and gently lifted Mui who looked altogether unamused. “Her highness wishes to retire, for she is far too fat and lazy to rule the kingdom! Instead, it shall be given to...” She tapped Aizawa shoulder to shoulder with the spoon. “Sir Shouta!” He laughed, taking Mui in his arms to give her a squeeze. She had reached her limit, with a meow she leaped from his arms, knocking off her little cardboard crown to hide away somewhere. “Now would his majesty like to eat dinner in the blanket castle?” He nodded, still smiling. 

“Yes please...” 

With the cartoons on full blast, and plates of hamburg steak they sat under the blanket fort together until they both grew drowsy.(--) looked down at Shouta’s sleeping form and pulled a spare blanket onto him. She was beginning to stand when a tiny hand reached for the edge of her shirt.

“miss (--)?” He whispered, there was a hesitation in his voice. “That man...is he still out there?” He sounded so scared. (--) booped him on the nose smiling gently. 

“No, the police caught him.” She placed a hand on his back. “You’re safe okay?” He curled up into a ball. 

“You said the castle was safest, can you stay here with me?” (--) pulled up another pillow, laying beside him with her kind eyes. “Thank you...” 

The morning light greeted him. He felt strangely rested, hardly an ache in his eyes. Aizawa turned his eyes to look at (--) silently wiping away a strand of hair. Admiration moved him, his heart calm and steady but filled with longing. “You're truly remarkable.” He thought with a smile. “(--)?” He whispered, “(--) wake up..” 

The sunlight made her eyes look so deep and luminous. A grin stretching across her face. “Welcome back Shouta.” He chuckled, laying back down. 

“No need to rush...we’re still in the castle.” He whispered. 

[beels-burger-babe]

A Pain You'll Soon Regret - Pt. 2

Poly! MC Summary: MC and the demon lords get in a fight resulting in MC leaving. They planned on going to Purgatory Hall until things cool off, but they never quite make it there. Ft. Poly!MC

TW: Heavy Angst, Violence, I don't know what to tag this, but there is a pretty nasty verbal fight, Gore/Injury Vomit Part 1: HERE, Part 3: HERE, Part 4: HERE

Meanwhile at the House of Lamentation

Your leaving hadn't made the situation at the House any better. Asmodeus threw his hands up in the air and glared at the rest. "Great! Just wonderful! Now they've run off. Happy now?" venom filled his words, but he could feel his heart race in fear that he had just lost the one person who loved him for more than his looks. Satan scoffed, though he glanced at the door through the corner of his eyes. "Don't act like you're better than us. I didn't see you standing up for them." Levi growled and went straight to his room as Satan and Asmodeus began to argue. Beel took a step towards to door you had just marched out of and glance between it and his brothers. "Should we go after them? It's dark and they're drunk."

Lucifer lifted his chin as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Why should we? It's like they said, they don't want to depend on us anymore, fine. Let them see for themself how far they get without our protection," with those words, Lucifer turned on his heel and stormed to his office.

Beel sighed and looked at Belphie, "What do you think? We can go get them together?" Belphie stared at the door for a minute, a guilty look in his eyes, before he shook his head. "Give them space, Beel. They're probably heading for Purgatory Hall. Simeon and the others can take care of them for tonight. Right now we all just need to calm down before facing each other again," he patted his twin's shoulder before heading to their room; regret swirling in his stomach as he thought of how he betrayed you once more.

Mammon stood frozen staring at the door like he still hadn't made up his mind on what he wanted to do. His instincts screamed at him to get you back in his arms and keep you there. You were his human, reckless or not, and he had a duty to protect you both as your assigned protector and as your boyfriend. But for some reason, he couldn't seem to move his feet. His mind replayed the discussion in his head over and over again. He had once told MC that if they couldn't be saved by him, to make sure that they died. That he was the only one allowed to protect them. Tonight, as everyone was fighting, MC needed him to protect them, but instead, he pushed them towards the wolves. He let his greed get the best of him. "Fuck," Mammon cursed to himself as he shook himself out of his thoughts. He glanced over to see Beel restraining Satan from pouncing onto a sneering Asmodeus. He sighed and shook his head. They hadn't fought like this in a long time. You had always been there to put them into their place. Now look at them. Mammon groaned and ran a hand over his face. "Will you guys cut it out? MC is gone, okay? Ain't nothin' we can do about it now," to his surprise, his younger brothers actually stopped and seemed to be listening to him. Mammon huffed and began walking towards the stairs. "It's like Belphie said. We ain't in no place to make things better right now. Fightin' like this is what got us in this position, so quit it. Get some sleep. We'll figure it all in the mornin'." Beel, Satan and Asmodeus blinked at their older brother as he disappeared upstairs. Seeing Mammon mature and take control of the situation like that, was strange, but not unfamiliar. Asmodeus massaged his temples with one hand and fixed his hair with the other. "Ugh, all this fighting is going to be horrid for my skin," he glanced at the door one more time with a defeated look before heading towards his room. Satan clenched and unclenched his hands a couple of times, taking a few deep breaths, before silently nodding at Beel and walking away. All alone, Beel stepped towards the door. He opened it and looked out at the dark vast of the Devildom before him. With a heavy, guilty heart, he closed the door and pressed his forehead against it. He used one hand to lock the door for the evening, while the other pulled out his D.D.D. The others didn't want him going after you, but a message couldn't hurt, right? He opened your contact and wrote out his text, "Hey MC. I'm sorry for how things happened tonight. Things got out of hand, and I'm sorry for not doing anything to stop that. I know you and the others are upset right now, but I was hoping that tomorrow, once we're all calm, you could come back home and we could talk about it?" Beel sat by the door for half an hour waiting for a response, but none ever came. He frowned and glanced up at the locked door handle before shaking his head. "Maybe they left it on silent for a bit," he mumbled to himself before picking up his phone once more. "Text me when you get to Purgatory Hall. You don't need to say anything else. I just want to know you're safe." With that, Beel headed towards the gym. He wasn't tired. He wasn't hungry. He just wanted you home, but he couldn't have that. So in the meantime, he'd stay awake until he at least knew you were safe.

Only the morning came and went, and there was no word from you. The brothers were starting to get concerned. No matter what was said last night, they still loved you. You all needed to talk, yes, and things needed to be worked out, but that didn't change how they felt for you. They would never want to see you hurt. Lucifer had reached out to Simeon, while Asmodeus contacted Solomon and Beel texted Luke. Only Beel received a response. "Never contact me again. If you come anywhere near Purgatory Hall, I will not hesitate to smite you in an instant, you foul fiend?" Satan read out loud as he passed the phone back to a very confused and worried Beel. "What in the world did you do to him?" "Nothing. At least, I don't think," he thought about for a second. "I've stolen his baked goods on occasion, but besides complaining about as I did it, he never seemed to hold a grudge." Lucifer frowned deeply. "This is clearly about MC. Luke has taken to them as though they're his older sibling."

Levi scowled and pressed a few buttons on his game. "Sure they aren't dating him too?" he yelped as Asmodeus smacked him on the back of the head. "Stop it," Asmodeus growled. "I know you're the Avatar of Envy, Levi, but MC was open and honest with us. They told us that they loved us all and that they wanted a relationship with all of us. We all listened to what they offered and agreed. You agreed to this!"

Levi huffed and put down his game. "Because it was better than not having them at all!" he sighed and put an arm over his face. "I know that they love me, and them being with a-all of us doesn't change that, but it's so hard sometimes. I-I-I just-" "Want 'em to yourself?" Mammon provided. Levi blushed and nodded in response. Mammon shrugged and sat down beside him. "We all understand that Levi. This is somethin' new for all of us. When I see MC bein' sweet with you guys I get this urge to just rip 'em off ya and hold 'em tight in my arms where ya guys can never touch 'em again," he sighed and put a hand on Levi's shoulder, "but then I see MC smile at me the same way they smile at Beel or you or Lucifer. I know that when I'm holdin' them, they're thinkin' of me and they're there with me because they treasure our time together. It's hard sometimes, and it hurts to admit, but you guys make MC happy, and I can't take that away from them." He nudged his younger brother gently, "Neither can you." Everyone sat quietly as they thought of Mammon's words. "They always bring me snacks after my workouts," Beel said with a small smile. "They always seem to know when I'm hungry and would just whip out snacks out of nowhere." Satan leaned onto his knees from where he sat on his chair. "They ordered me their favourite books from the human world on Akuzon. They wanted to do a trade. I'd read their favourites and they'd read mine. That way we could learn a bit about each other just by reading something that the other loved and would understand one another a little better." Belphie tiredly rubbed his eyes and leaned against Beel. "They wake me up after all class and before any meals," he chuckled softly at the memory. "No matter how much I snarled or insulted them, they'd just put their hands on their hips and patiently wait for me to wake up so that I wouldn't miss any of my classes or any meals."

Asmodeus giggled and smiled brightly. "That alone proves how much of an angel they are. Your demon side really shows when you're woken up." The others laughed as Belphegor stuck his tongue out at Asmo. "They would always give me their opinion on my outfits. I know it seems impossible, but even I get torn between which outfit I should bless the public with sometimes. MC would always be the voice of reason to help me choose," his eyes softened, "Though they always said at the end that the most beautiful thing about me was my heart, something no one could see but radiated from the outside-in." Lucifer sighed, closing his eyes as he put aside his pride, and spoke. "They check on me in the middle of the night. I swear they have an alarm. They'll come into my office to see if I'm still awake. If I am, so long as the work isn't truly urgent, they'll poke my cheek and play with my hair until I give in and go to bed."

Everyone turned to Levi. The otaku's face was bright red as he avoided everyone's gaze. "Your turn, Levi," Mammon ordered. "Come on. I know that MC's super gentle with ya. Ya have to have somethin' to add." Leviathan pouted before mumbling. "They'll hold my hand when we're in crowds and in public because they know how anxious it makes me. If I start to freak out, they'll just gently squeeze my hand and pull me along until they can find a quiet space where I can calm down a bit," he groans and glares at Mammon. "What's your point?"

"His point," Satan began calmly, "is that MC loves us all equally. They take special care to do the little things to ensure that we all know that we are loved by them." Mammon nodded and pointed and Satan. "Exactly!" Lucifer hummed in thought. "Though this doesn't fix the problem of MC having no regard for their own safety." Everyone winced. There was no denying that. You admitted it yourself. You were reckless, and in a place like the Devildom, that kind of behaviour would get you killed one day. What would happen if you weren't with them one day? Just like you currently weren't. Memories of your storm out swirled in all of their heads, and concern pooled heavily in their stomachs. "Has anyone heard from them yet?" Belphie asked, looking uncharacteristically nervous. But then again, he was always protective of you as he never wanted you to get hurt again, especially since he had been responsible for so much of your pain in the past. Beel opened his mouth to respond when Asmodeus's D.D.D. went off. Everyone eagerly stood, as Asmo pulled out the device and answered it without checking. "MC? Are you alright?" "Put it on speaker!" Levi snapped, crowding as close to his brother as he could. Asmodeus nodded and quickly did as told. The voice that answered wasn't you, as they had all hoped, but rather Solomon. "I'm afraid they're not," the brother's felt their blood freeze at Solomon's words, as time seemed to stand still around them. Solomon's voice was cold and stern, showing his obvious anger at the demons. "I apologize for not contacting you all sooner, but I was spending every last second of my time and energy on trying to keep MC from dying of blood loss. That, and Luke is quite determined to keep the lot of you as far from MC as possible. If it was up to him I wouldn't even be calling you all right now. I, however, figured that you should at least be made aware of their condition." None of them heard a thing after the words "dying from blood loss" reached their ears. Lucifer took the D.D.D. from Asmo's shaking hands. "What happened? The last we saw them they-" "Presumably walked away from a fight with all of you and was trying to come to us. Yes. I'm aware. I read Beelzebub's texts on MC's phone," everyone glanced at Beel. His brows narrowed as he kept his eyes fixed on the D.D.D. "To answer your question, MC didn't make it to Purgatory Hall last night. They were jumped by a group of three demons who seemed to think that human would make a delectable midnight snack. What do you think, Beelzebub? Is that true? Is the taste of human flesh, really so delicious? I think I've heard you comment as much once or twice before you all began your relationship," Solomon spat the words accusingly. Fury danced on his tongue as though he was Wrath himself. Beel winced back and put a hand on his stomach as flipped inside of him. Belphie growled at the mention in his defence. "Stop dancing around the subject and get to the point. What happened? Are they okay?" The demons were surprised to hear a snarl come from the other end. "I already told you, they aren't. Luke had opened a window to air out some of the kitchens after he failed a new recipe he was trying out when he heard their screams. By the time we got there one of them had eaten half of their right leg, while was one biting along their shoulder, and the other was trying to choke them to death. Simeon and I were able to get the heathens off of them and incinerated them on the spot, but MC was already unconscious. While we were fighting the demons, Luke was just barely able to cast enough healing spells to stop the bleeding and stabilize them. Simeon and I have been working ever since on using every spell, charm, and potion that we know to keep them alive and somehow attempt to heal their injuries." At the mention of MC's leg have been mostly eaten, Beel turned and threw up on the ground. No one moved to comfort him, as they were too distracted by their own states of shock. "A-Are-" Mammon began to choke out before clearing his throat. "Are they

alive? Please tell me they're alive." The answer hung just out of their grasp. Waving dangerously above them like a deadly knife held up by a string. No matter what the response would be, all the brothers felt as though they may faint. "They're alive. Simeon had to use all his power to bring their blood count levels up to a healthy level, and their shoulder was dislocated, they most likely have a concussion going off of their head injury, not to mention their right leg was unsalvagable and had to be amputated, but yes. They are, at the very least, alive." Mammon joined Beel. Satan stood still, though he had changed into his demon form and the aura of pure wrath filled every cranny of the room. Asmodeus held a hand over his mouth as tears streamed steadily down his face. Leviathan had stumbled away from the group and was in the beginning stages of a panic attack. Belphie stared at the phone with a bewildered expression, his eyes pricked with tears, as though he couldn't believe the words coming from Solomon's mouth.

Lucifer was doing everything he could not to hurl the phone across the room.

Solomon continued. "Luke is currently watching them and making sure that they remain stable, while Simeon and I rest. As such, you will have no luck if you try to see them right now. I'll text you when I wake up and then you can come to see them," with that, Solomon hung up. Anxiety, grief, and remorse clung to each of the brothers like a new skin. Earlier they were arguing that all of them had your love, and because of that, all of them had nearly lost you. ***Duh duh duh!!! Part three to come. Part three will probably be the final part, but I don't know. Haven't quite figured out how this is going to end yet. Though a heads up, a may fill out another request before pt. 3 is up just to give me a break from the heavy angst. Thank you all so much for supporting me! And thank you to @millenniumofpain for the request!***

[hockeywhy]

4 times you faked a relationship + 1 time you didn’t; m.tkachuk

WARNINGS: language. WORD COUNT: 17.2k. A/N: So, I didn’t want my effort for this fic to go to waste and I’ve decided to re-write it for Matty because he and the fake dating trope work so well together. I had to, so here it is.

one.

“I’d only be asking Matthew if I had no other options and needed a last resort,” you said. “Until then, I’m not even contemplating it.” 

“Kind of sounds like you’ve just about reached the bottom of your list, right around where you’re keeping Matthew, Y/N,” your friend, Anna, responded and though her tone said sympathy, the look on her face reflected anything but sheer elation. 

The invitation landed on your tabletop with a loud slap while you deposited yourself in a nearby chair unceremoniously, glaring at the decorative paper as if it offended you. Actually, scratch that. It did offend you. Greatly so. Honestly, it may as well have come in the form of one of those boxing gloves that sprung out of a box immediately upon opening and decked you square in the face. That’s how much it offended you. 

The golden letters inked on the thick paper warmly requested the pleasure of your company to witness the love of Josh Reynolds to Louise Jones six weeks from now. The location stated was a hotel you knew only through word of mouth: one of those fancy establishments that served ridiculously priced plates that were more canapes than actual meals. 

You doubted there would be much pleasure from your company.

You and Josh called it quits just over a year ago after a relationship that became increasing rockier, significantly more emotionally exhausting. The two of you started dating in high school and if the relationship started off with nothing but the sort of blinding fiery passion only teens could be capable of, well someone missed the memo on giving you the message that all fires eventually fizzle out. Gradually, it was the only way you could see your relationship heading and it seemed that Josh felt it too. It made the breakup easier: it was neat and mutual. Still, that couldn’t be considered an incentive for either of you to invite each other to such grand, deeply personal events. You couldn’t help but feel a little hurt that he found someone he wanted to tie the knot with so quickly but in retrospect, Josh had always wanted that while you were content as you were. That seemed to be the fork in your road with him.

On the one hand, you were angry at Josh for even considering jotting your name down on the list of attendees and on the other, you were angry at yourself for being angry about that. One moment you were dead set on declining the invite and the next, you considering that doing that would simply show you were bitter and unable to be civil about it. Besides, surely it was noted somewhere in the Rulebook of Ex’s that you just couldn’t do stuff like that. That seemed to just about do it. Like hell you’d given anyone the satisfaction of one-upping you.

You needed a plus one. Desperately. 

“Ask your brother then. Pretty sure that’s bound to impress anyone there. It’s not often many will get to say they brushed shoulders with an up-and-coming professional athlete.” 

“I don’t need that sort of plus one. If I did, I would’ve asked you—”

“Thanks,” Anna mumbled.”

“—but what I need,” you ploughed on ahead, “is, well, something that can come off a bit more serious looking.”

She rolled her eyes. “Saying the word boyfriend won’t jinx you into permanent silence, you know. You need a boyfriend.”

“A boyfriend for a day,” you agreed contemplatively. 

She picked up the invitation to look through it carefully and after concluding her inspection, she slapped the papers back down on the table, grinning. “Matthew it will be then!” 

Your younger brother, Jake, recently signed his entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames, in a way carrying forward the family tradition of starting a career in professional sports with them. Your grandfather did, your father did and now, here you were watching your little brother take on the mantle. Your family’s involvement in sport and, specifically, the team meant that you were somewhat familiar with the organization whether that meant attending home games or a few events arranged by the team. You couldn’t say you were the best of friends with them, certainly nowhere near the level your brother was, but generally speaking you were fond of the C of Red. 

That couldn’t also be said about Matthew, however.

It seemed that from the get-go, there was a personality clash between you. At first, you thought it was just Matthew picking on you, joking around as he disagreed with virtually anything you’d say but progressively, you were pretty sure the two of you didn’t even have the compatibility to keep things civil. Matthew had a way with pushing your buttons and it bothered you he could do that with so much ease, though the more you thought of it, the more it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to you: you were all too familiar with his on-ice shenanigans, after all. Whenever you knew you had to be under the same roof as him, you’d tell yourself to not let him get under your skin but that resolve would last for all of ten minutes. Fifteen if you had a particularly good day. 

Much to your chagrin, it seemed your brother was closest to Matthew. Though you offered the spare room in your apartment, your brother was so warmly welcomed by Matthew. It was no doubt even Jake found your annoyance with his teammate entertaining.

The thought alone was frustrating enough. If one day, by chance, you caught sight of a white strand of hair on your head, you were dead set on blaming Matthew for it. Matthew and his smarmy attitude; Matthew and his smartass retorts; Matthew and the smirks he threw your way whenever your brother took his side, outnumbering you. 

You clenched your teeth, glaring at the invite. From the corner of your eye, you saw Anna’s outstretched hand holding your phone out to you. A groan formed in your throat and you wished you kept in contact with the handful of guys you tried dating after Josh. None really stayed. Or better said, none managed to draw you in. It was as if Josh had put a jinx on you. If that was the case, you hoped that this whammy would disappear if it meant watching him watch someone else walk down the aisle towards him. 

Anna waved the device at you insistently. “Do it. Come on. Even you know nothing says fuck you like turning up there with Matthew. Scrappy when he wants to be and he’s not bad to look at either. You know it.” 

You arched an eyebrow up at her. “More than Johnny?” 

She flushed visibly. Johnny and Anna were still a relatively new thing, dancing around their relationship carefully as if they were both doing this rodeo for the first time. It was pretty cute. “Don’t change the subject.” She placed the device down on the table in front of you then patted your shoulder. “I have a feeling you won’t regret it. If he gets on your nerves too much, well…it can’t be worse than watching your ex get married, right?” 

“Ouch,” you winced, but chuckled, knowing you were defeated. Matthew was the last resort, and you knew you were at the bottom of your list before you even started going through it. “You do realize if he declines, I’ll probably make a start on packing my bags and moving to Montana, right? The only time you’ll hear from me is when my handwritten letter goes through the nine circles of hell that is our postal service.” 

Anna fixed you with a stare that could only read as ‘do it’. “I wouldn’t be so insistent on this if I knew Matthew would say no. I have a feeling he’ll surprise you.” 

With a heavy sigh, you unlocked your phone and scrolled through your list of contacts, thumb hovering over his name when it came up. Anna wasn’t wrong: Matthew wasn’t bad to look at all, that much you could admit. But god, if he turned you down…. you knew you wouldn’t be able to ever show your face in front of him or the rest of the team ever again. 

“I think I’ve had enough surprises from him to last a lifetime,” you mumbled but tapped the call symbol anyway.

He answered on the third ring. “Hel—

You didn’t let him finish. “I need your help,” you ground out, eyes closing while you rubbed at your forehead with the tips of your fingers. 

There was silence on the other end of the line that had you biting your lip in anxiousness. You shouldn’t have done this. You really shouldn’t have done this. All it would take would be just hitting the ‘resume my account’ link on one of the dating apps you signed up for a while ago. Someone was bound to be attracted not only to you but the promise of an open bar—

“Music to my ears,” Matthew’s response came through. You could practically hear the smile in his voice and knew you’d regret it; you could easily tell from the tone of his voice. 

You sighed quietly, leaning forward to rest your elbows on the table, eyes glued to the invitation. Fuck it, you could get someone else; easily, no doubt. The world of online dating was vast and there would always be takers.

“Uh, yeah actually, never mind—”

“No, no. Come on, Y/N. Pretty sure this is the first time you’re calling me first so can we take a moment to just let that sink in?” Silence again, then a chuckle. “Okay, now that we did. How can I help you?” 

It wasn’t as if Josh had put you in the position to ask Matthew for a favor but still: fuck Josh, anyway. In a split second of sheer pettiness, you considered aiming to host the most extravagant, unforgettable weddings when your turn would come just to show him who does it better. 

“Are you free the third weekend in June?” you asked tiredly. 

“Don’t know. Depends what for and who you’re asking for.” 

You should’ve asked him face-to-face. At least then, he would’ve had the chance to see you roll your eyes, turn on your heel and walk away. “I’m obviously asking for myself. Could you just be straightforward for once and answer yes or no? You’re making me hold the line for longer than I anticipated and I’m happy to ask someone else,” you lied.

“Let me get this right—” Here comes, you thought exhausted. “You’re calling me for the first time since you have my number to ask me if I’m free the third weekend in June? As a favor for yourself.” 

“Matthew, I didn’t stutter—”

“What’s happening in June?”

You don’t know what it was about his words that downed you. It was nothing but a simple question yet the only thing you could think of was: the first boy I’ve dated and so far, the only one, seems to have moved on quicker than I anticipated and while I’m still trying to build myself back up, I’m sitting in my kitchen looking at a wedding invitation and wallowing in self-pity because regardless of how hard I try, of how much I’ve amended my standards, no one seems to do it so what if this is it for me? What if this is just the way it’ll be from now on? And now, I’m resorting to lying just to make myself feel better but also put a façade in front of someone who I know no longer cares about me like that. And really, nor do I about him but here we are. So, nothing much is happening in June, Matthew. Hopefully we get a lot more sunshine though!

What you responded with instead was, “just an old friend of mine getting married and I need a plus one. Nothing serious. Just go there for an hour or two, say some hellos and leave. It’s a quick in-and-out thing.” 

More silence on the other end of the line other than the muffled shuffle of what sounded like bedsheets. “Why not ask your brother then?” 

“Asked him already, said he’s got something lined up already. So, are you free or not?” you lied, quickly pressing on even if you knew that sounded a lot like desperation.

“For you, at a price.” He was smirking. You knew he was and more than ever, you wished 2021 was the year you could just reach through the phone and shake the person on the other end. 

“Uh-huh. Right. No, just forget it. Forget I even—”

You were going to end the call when Matthew laughed, quickly calling out a “no, no! Nothing weird, I promise. Just owe me a favor in return, is all.” 

“Do I get a choice?” you mumbled, more to yourself than towards him.

“I think we both know that you don’t. Text me the time and place,” he instructed and then, just as you were really about to end the call, he added, “hey, send me a photo of what you’re wearing also. I’ll match my tie to your dress, free of charge.” 

“Can you maybe ditch the jacket while you’re at it? Just want to make sure your tie’s within reach so I can strangle you with it.”

Even after you cut the call, Matthew’s laughter rang in your ears. 

-

Matthew matched his tie to your red dress. The color of the silk around his neck was so striking, you would swear it was made from the same material as your outfit. You sent him a photo of the material of the dress, more as a joke than having any expectations attached to it so you were pleasantly surprised to see he made the effort. For a moment, you allowed yourself to bask in sheer joy knowing that to any eye, the two of you could easily pass as a couple. At least, from looks alone if not from attitude. You were a proud person; fiercely so. Knowing you were now in debt to Matthew however he saw fit dealt a pretty impressive blow to your ego. You don’t let yourself linger too much on that thought, though. It was already difficult enough to loosen up and relax your stance as you climbed into Matthew’s car as soon as he texted you of his arrival. 

“You look good,” he commented after you fixed the seatbelt on. He turned in his seat as much as space would allow so he could look at you properly and in return, you arched an eyebrow, refusing to give way to his stare. “Are you trying to one-up the bride?” 

“Ha, ha. Funny. You didn’t even see the bride. I didn’t even see the bride.” 

“Didn’t see her but I’m seeing you, so,” he shrugged, by way of explanation before correcting his position. 

If asked, you wouldn’t deny that Matthew also looked good. Very good. But only if asked. It was impossible that someone with a face like that didn’t know they turned heads easily wherever they went. Matthew’s suit fit him as if it was sown on him. If the two of you had a better relationship, you would even dare ask him what it was he was putting in that hair of his that made it so shiny and gave those curls so much definition, taming them almost perfectly when he really put his mind to it. Whatever it was, you had a feeling he didn’t strain as much as you had earlier that morning to tame your hair and though you could give yourself credit for how well it turned out, your arms weren’t thanking you for it. 

Thankfully, much of the drive was pleasant. Though you hated small talk, you decided to make an effort if only to ease your nerves as the navigation system indicated you were drawing closer and closer to that glitzy hotel. You learned that although the season was over, Matthew, Brady and the rest of the family would spend a few weeks in Canada before heading back home to St. Louis. In turn, you told him that some of the days off you booked from work would be spent somewhere just as sunny and warm but with more beaches. It was safe ground. That, you could do although progressively, you were becoming more and more distracted, and less focused on the conversation the two of you managed to keep. 

“Want me to pull over?” Matthew asked suddenly. 

“What,” you mumbled, turning your attention from the road ahead to Matthew who seemed amused by the situation. “Why would I want you to do that?” 

“I’d want you to do that. You look pretty pale and honestly, I’ve just had the interior cleaned so—”

“Fuck you, Tkachuk, keep driving. I’m just a little…cold. How high do you have the AC on?” 

He fixed you with a stare while waiting for the lights ahead to turn green, eyebrow arched. “It’s June, Y/N, and uncomfortably warm. If it makes you feel better, though, I could turn it off and we can roll down the windows instead?”

“No, sorry—you’re right. It’s fine. Just leave the AC as it is.” 

The laugh he gave was nothing short of incredulous. “Repeat that back for me. Actually—hold on, do that when I can press record on my phone so I can have that on repeat. Did you admit I’m right?” 

“God, you’re making me regret inviting you,” you muttered though without heat. 

An uncomfortable silence slipped between the two of you or maybe, it was just your perspective on it. Matthew seemed perfectly at ease minding the road, only occasionally throwing a cursory glance towards the car’s navigation system whenever it announced a turn. Doing this seemed more and more like a bad idea. A terrible one. No one would’ve held it against you if you denied the invitation. In fact, you thought that was more expected than accepting it and turning up to the party as if you were seeing an old friend, not an ex-boyfriend. It wasn’t too late though. Matthew could still turn the car around. 

“Listen, Matt—”

“You have now reached your destination. Your destination is on the right.”

You released a breath you weren’t even aware of holding, then threw a quick look towards the main entrance of the hotel. Already, a few guests whom you recognized were crossing into the lobby.

“You really don’t look okay at all,” Matthew repeated and there was less humor in his voice and more concern this time around. Even you weren’t ignorant to how much your mood kept fluctuating over the course of the drive: often, engaged in conversation but occasionally, withdrawn, barely just catching on to whatever it was Matthew was saying. Sure, he probably didn’t know you well enough to read you, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out something was amiss. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I felt like there’s more to this thing than you’re telling me. You could’ve asked your brother, yet you didn’t—” 

Damn it. You made him swear to play along. You made a quick mental note to get back at him about it whenever you felt energized enough to do so.

“Matthew,” you said, your voice suddenly clear, tone neutral. You didn’t dare look him in the eyes so instead, you kept your stare fixed on the revolving doors ahead. “I’m only going to say this once and I hope that you won’t make me repeat it now or ever again. I’d prefer that you don’t mention it to anyone either. The person getting married today is my ex-boyfriend. Up until last year, we’ve been together since we were teenagers. I loved him. Since we broke up, I kept trying to look for parts of him in others, but I couldn’t find even a trace of who he was. I feel as I’ve been jinxed, and I felt that maybe if I come today, maybe if I see him with someone else, I can confidently say I’m fine with that. It hurt my pride when I received the invitation, so my first thought was to lie. If, for just a few hours, I can pretend I’ve also moved on and I’m not stuck in this…fucking weird limbo, then maybe it becomes true. A fucked up self-prophecy. So.” You pause, clearing your throat. Your mouth suddenly felt dry from your speech, yet you couldn’t feel a pang of regret in your chest or heat behind your eyes. “So. If you want out, that’s fine. After all, I’m asking you to pretend to be my date out of spite, I guess. And embarrassment. It’s childish and unfair and ridiculous but—”

You came to a halt when you felt a finger under your chin, and a gentle upward push forced you to raise your head up a little more. When you turned towards Matthew, you looked at him with a look of confusion on your face. 

“Keep your head up. We have a wedding to go to.” 

His encouragement sunk in faster than expected and as your expression relaxed, a smile formed on your face. 

Yeah. The two of you had a wedding to go to. 

-

The event hall was decorated minimally yet tastefully. It made everything seem even more personal and you received that impression from every detail: from the flower arrangements to the music, everything was a testament to a life united by love. Maybe your emotional outburst earlier accounted for it, but you felt lighter even as you watched the newlyweds glide along the floor for their first dance. Sure, you felt a desperate pang of want but it was distant. Muffled. 

Despite your initial thoughts, having Matthew at your side felt very much like a safety cushion. It surprised you to watch him settle into his role with so much ease that eventually, even you didn’t have to remind yourself to not withdraw whenever his arm wrapped around your waist: sometimes loosely, sometimes a little tighter, reeling you in closer.

Fish, here is your bait, you thought wildly as you stood tucked at his side while he accepted flatteries from one of the guests who swore had been a fan of the Calgary Flames since before he could even talk.

“You must be so proud,” the man turned towards you. “Your family’s truly one of a kind to have all played for the team and now—” He gestures towards Matthew as if to say all of this. “Must be something about those Flames!” 

You laughed tightly, just as Matthew squeezed your side. By that move alone, you could tell he was eating this up. 

“Yeah, just can’t get enough of them,” you concluded, pitching your voice just a little higher towards the end. To the man, it was as genuine as could be, but Matthew cautioned you silently with the slightest narrowing of his eyes, effectively warning you to be more realistic. “Hey, I’ll get us some refills? Try to be a little more inconspicuous in the meantime. Remember this isn’t your day,” you joked. 

“Only practicing for when our turn comes,” Matthew responded without missing a beat and released the hold he had on you. 

Once at the bar, you allowed yourself some extra moments to catch your breath. Even off ice, Matthew was a force to be reckoned with. He struck conversation with others easily, drew their attention with seemingly little effort and easily set the mood for whatever situation or person the two of you would run into. A part of you thought his profession had a lot to do with his mannerism, but a bigger part knew different:  mostly, it was really just Matthew. 

He had a way with words and with people that you haven’t been witness to before and couldn’t help but wonder if it was all show. He was, after all, a face for the public: familiar with interviews, familiar with the attention, apparently not overwhelmed even by less conventional questions. Watching him play this role was fascinating to say the least. It certainly took your mind off the circumstances so credit where credit was due. 

“Hey, it’s good to see you here.” 

You turned from the bar and came face to face with Josh. His jacket was off, and his sleeves were neatly rolled up past his elbows; behind the knot of his tie, you could see he’d undone the top button of the collar. You’d seen him make countless rounds across the entire floor, greeting guests and ensuring everything was running smoothly. Occasionally, you watched him dance either with his wife, or family members, or even guests you recognized as work colleagues. 

You smiled. “Thanks for the invite. It was a bit weird to receive it, I can’t lie about that, but I’m glad you sent it.” It surprised you to learn you weren’t even lying about that. Through the course of the evening, it dawned on you that maybe, it was more the thought of being here that made you anxious; the event itself, however, proved just how right you were. It felt…fine. You felt fine. 

“Yeah—uh, I wasn’t… I wasn’t really sure but, well, before…” He trailed off into a sigh. 

You chuckled softly. “Would you like to buy a vowel?” 

That made him laugh. Truly, genuinely laugh. “Sorry. I guess it’s a bit weird for me also. But, well, before you and I were, well, you-and-I, we were friends. I would’ve hoped we’d still be friends even after…” He waved a hand in the air by way of explanation but that was sufficient for you.

“Won’t hurt to be friends. Whatever happened between us—well. Thing of the past. Build bridges and get over them, right?” 

“Right. Function of a bridge and all.”

“Hey. Congratulations, by the way! I’m happy for you. Really. I wish the two of you all the best. She seems really great.” 

“She is,” he agreed and cast a glance towards the room, eyes undoubtedly searching for her. “Are you—”

“Here you are.” 

Saved by the bell. A weight fell around your waist that, by now, was warm and familiar. Unconsciously, you leaned into Matthew, flashing a wide smile at Josh. At first, he seemed surprised by the sudden appearance but then his features settled into something more comfortable; something so much like relief that for a moment, you wished you could just come clean about it. You and Matthew were less than meets the eye.

Before you could even introduce them, a kiss was pressed to your cheek, knocking all air from your lungs and almost making you choke because of it.

What the hell.

“You were gone for some time, so I thought to check on you,” Matthew informed you, all matter of fact. To Josh, he said, “congratulations on the wedding. Must be pretty great to finally get to this point. You two look great together.” 

“Oh? Yeah. Yeah, thanks man. So glad you could come along today.” Josh turned to you, an eyebrow perked in interest. “I didn’t know you two were together.” 

“Oh we’re just—” 

You began but were promptly interrupted by Matthew. “We like to keep it lowkey. It hasn’t been that long for us but that’s not much of a problem when your gut tells you this is it. You know it well, right?”  

You were entirely caught off guard. Instead of responding immediately, you bought yourself some time by taking a sip from your glass of—whatever it was. Strong though. Just perfect for the situation you suddenly found yourself in: ex-boyfriend ahead, fake boyfriend to the side, promising sweet nothings that you knew would come back to haunt you at some ungodly hour. You wished you could step on his shoe; pull on those shiny curls of his real quick, knock some sense back into him. There was a difference between play a role well and clearly, playing it too well.

Matthew pushed ahead. “It’s pretty good timing for us though. We could take some notes for when our turn comes, right babe?” 

“I’ll let the two of you to it, then. Thanks again for coming.” Josh made a move to step away but before he did, he turned to you and caught your eyes. “I’m really happy for you, Y/N. You look good together. Just make sure you don’t take too many notes.”

“Wouldn’t dream to,” Matthew responded, and you could read the slight bite in his words. When Josh was out of earshot, he looked down at you. “You dated him? Just him?” 

“Hey, what’d I say about not bringing that up again? And save your dick measuring contests for the locker room, Tkachuk. Now’s not the time nor place.” 

“Now’s definitely the time and place,” he countered, making you roll your eyes but there was a smile on your face you couldn’t quite wipe off. “Come on. Let’s continue taking leaves out of their book.” In one swift motion, he took the glass from your hand and set it on the bar while above, the LED lights dimmed, and the playlist switched to a slower song. 

You threw him a cautious look, easily reading where that was going. “I’m not dancing.”

“Sure, you are. You want to give the impression of being happily in love? You need to start pulling your weight in this thing.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry, Atlas. Do your shoulders hurt from carrying the burden of our relationship?” you mocked, yet still allowed him to lead you towards the dance floor. Right in the center of it given the bride and groom appeared to sit this one out; you expected nothing less from him. You weren’t even surprised when he made an entire show out of it, forcing you to do a pirouette when the two of you claimed your spot. 

“You can’t even imagine the pain you put me through,” he sighed near your ear as the two of you began swaying to the music. 

“Well, you’re still standing so clearly it can’t be that bad.” 

“Baby, it’s torture.” 

You were grateful the two of you weren’t exactly face to face or you were sure Matthew would never have let you live down the flush you felt rising to your cheeks. Sure, he didn’t use the pet name in a genuine manner, but just hearing it roll off his tongue like that… You stopped that thought before it grew into a whole new different monster. 

After a few moments of silence passed, Matthew lowered his head closer to yours, his warm breath colliding with the skin on your throat. “Do you think now’s the right time to kiss? Are enough people watching?” 

You stepped on his foot. Not hard, but just with the right amount of pressure to draw a wince from him. Satisfied, you leaned back just a little to look at him properly. “Don’t even think about it, Tkachuk—”

“Thought about it already.”

Through clenched teeth, you hissed, “you. Are. Incorrigible.” 

He raised his eyebrows, surprised. “If only you could meet yourself.” 

You snickered quietly then leaned back against him. “Thanks for doing this. I know it’s not the most convenient of things… and it wasn’t fair to tell you the full truth of it right on the day of. But—well, thanks.”

“That sounds like it was pretty difficult to let out. It’s very…. heartfelt.” 

“Just fucking accept it as I gave it to you, Tkachuk,” you complained, more amused than annoyed.

More silence followed, filled in only by the general buzz of the room and the slow melody. “And now?” Matthew questioned a short while later. You allowed an extended silence to fill in for your confusion. He picked up on it within seconds. “Do you still feel jinxed? Stuck in the same place while he goes on ahead in life?” 

You took some time to think through your answer, time during which the song faded into yet another slow one. Matthew didn’t give an indication of wanting to move away from the dancefloor, so you saw no purpose in you doing that. 

“Not really,” you concluded. “Just seems like we’re both following different trajectories. Doesn’t mean I’m left behind if I’ve not yet met someone to settle down with like he did. Maybe I just need to be here to come to terms with it. Good for him though. I’m genuinely happy for him and his wife. I think lots of people imagine going through this very same moment.” You ended with a shrug but then, to lighten up the moment, you added, “don’t mock me for it. Between the two of us, I’m the one with the pointy shoes.” 

Matthew laughed, a low, pleasant laugh right by your ear. “I’ll give you a free pass for what’s left of today.” 

“Your generosity astounds me. Please could you also sign my jersey?” 

“Is it my jersey?” 

“Why would it be your jersey when I have my last name printed out on one at the expense of my brother being roughed up a little?” 

“Don’t tempt me. That favor you now owe me? I might just use it to have you get my jersey so I can sign it since you so generously asked.” 

“Your call,” you shrugged. “Just know it’s going straight in the wash right after you scribble on it.” 

Matthew took a few small steps back, only to pull you back towards him. You played along and spun as you landed into his hold once again.

“You say that now, but when you’ll see yourself with it—”

“I’ll auction it on eBay.” 

The laugh you got out of Matthew stayed with you through the rest of the night and like never before, his good disposition easily transferred to you.

two.

When the elevator doors slid open, your brother and Johnny weren’t the only ones to step into the hotel lobby. Matthew accompanied them, flashing a smug smile as the trio approached and his eyes landed on you. You cast a quizzical glance from your brother, to Johnny, to Matthew and then looked towards Anna as if to ask are you seeing this? She only shrugged at you in silent response, though she was grinning from ear to ear. At least someone was certainly enjoying this.

“Last I remember, there were only two of you,” you commented.

“Was that before or after your third drink?” your brother chirped back.

Instead of humoring him, you shift your gaze to Matthew. “What gives, Tkachuk? Can’t be left at home unsupervised during family vacations?” 

“My house training has only gone so far,” he responded smartly, then nodded his head towards Anna and Johnny who were caught in a half-hug, apparently entertaining by watching you and Matthew bicker as if watching a tennis match. “They’re not family.” 

Anna feigned a gasp on your behalf. “Y/N and I are part and parcel, Matt. Thought you’d know that by now.” 

“Well, the three of us are part and parcel also, Anna. Thought you’d definitely know that by now,” he responded but you were already leading the way out of the hotel lobby and towards the busy square outside.

It was a hub of activity: from street vendors to dance and music performers, there was something to see regardless of which way you looked. Although you arrived at your holiday destination the previous day, the flight south coupled with the warm, sticky evening made you want to steer away from the busier parts of the town. Instead, you opted to lounge by the pool with Anna, having perhaps one too many cocktails to kickstart your vacation. Perhaps you missed Matthew’s arrival at some point then, though for the life of you, you couldn’t remember anyone mentioning he’d come along also. Not that it bothered you greatly.

Since the time you asked him to be your plus one some few weeks ago, the relationship between the two of you warmed slightly. Sure, he still knew which buttons to press to get a reaction out of you, but you saw it as being less ill-intended and more good-natured fun. You kept up with him easily and whenever it felt as if he was cornering you, you conceded with a roll of your eyes but never admitted defeat. You didn’t consider the two of you friends, but something changed on the day of the wedding right around the time you had spilled out your feelings about the entire deal to him. Looking back on it, you found it strange just how easily you did that, no second thoughts, no wishing for takebacks. You knew you owed him the truth given the position you put him in without plenty of heads-up, but you could’ve easily just simplified the entire thing. 

It wasn’t difficult to stick together as a group but eventually, you wandered off towards a few stalls on your own that have caught your eye. Though you wanted some more time to have Anna to yourself, it was technically her first vacation with Johnny. You could catch up with her later in the room; surely, she’d have even more swooning to do over him by then. Not that you blamed her. Johnny was an incredible guy. 

First, you stopped at a stall selling a range of baked goods that you simply couldn’t turn away from. And for good reason: the sour cherry churro you settled for was a dream come true. From there, you strolled towards a few small stores selling a range of products ranging from colorful graphic tees to earrings made from vibrant, colorful gemstones. You held a blue pair next to your ear, turning one way then another to watch as the light reflected off the gleaming gem. 

“Those suit your complexion,” the attendant commented and when you looked towards him, he smiled bashfully. 

A gentle heat crept up your neck, unable to keep the grin off your face but you couldn’t look away from him: his skin was lightly tanned, and a dusting of freckles covered the bridge of his nose and upper cheeks. His blond hair was messy in a way you could easily tell was styled to appear as such. He was cute in a sort of conventional way, but you liked the way he smiled at you, all shy but certainly genuine.

“Funny you say that. I always had a feeling blue was my color,” you responded, and his smile widened. 

“Here for vacation?” he asked. 

You nodded. “Yeah, I just got here yesterday, and I’ll be around for a few days,” you added, a little hopeful. 

Hey, if you could score some good company while in the area, then you weren’t going to turn down the opportunity to flirt a little and make good with someone more local.

“Good. That’s really good to know.” He regarded you for a moment and you were certain that caused your blush to deepen though at the same time, it made you feel a little…exposed. “Hey, are you free—”

“The red ones are nicer.” 

You squeezed your eyes shut, frustration quickly replacing the feeling of near euphoria. You could recognize that voice anywhere. Of all times he could have run into you, the universe fixed it so he popped up when you least needed that to happen. 

“I prefer the blue,” you countered, then held them up against your ear again though you knew you didn’t need to double check if they suited you. 

“No, trust me with the red,” Matthew insisted, and you saw him appear behind you in the small circular mirror you were looking into. He was so close. “Goes well with that little number I got you the other day.” 

You sputtered. “W-what?! Stop messing—”

In the mirror Matthew’s eyes flicked from you to the attendant. “Yeah, you know the one. I left the box on the bed in our room, thought to surprise—”

“Tkachuk, just shut up. There isn’t an our room—”

This was so painfully uncomfortable. So frustratingly annoying, you felt the blood warm in your veins, that familiar wave of anger coursing through your body.

“I’ll ring those up for you,” the attendant said, his voice carefully polite while he accepted the red earrings from Matthew’s outstretched hand. 

You hated him. Passionately hated him. It was easy for Matthew to play games like those because he could easily get just about anyone, but you? It wasn’t quite as easy to not be a pro-athlete who had pretty much everything lined up and going for them. You tried catching the store attendant’s eyes again but he was busy accepting the cash from Matthew after packing away the earrings in a small paper bag. You knew he wouldn’t catch sight of it, but it didn’t stop you from casting a longing, apologetic glance towards him before leaving the store. 

It felt as if for every two steps you took, Matthew only needed one and despite the crowds, he caught up with you easily, holding out the bag towards you while you powered ahead. 

“Come on, don’t be mad. The red ones are definitely better than the blue ones,” Matthew tried to reason with you while holding the hand stretched out to you, insistent on his offer. When you didn’t respond and instead, tried to rush further ahead, Matthew pressed on. Him managing to keep up with your pace only added fuel to the fire. “Don’t tell me you’re upset over Ron Jon back there.” 

You came to a halt, turning to glare up at him. “I am, Matthew. You didn’t need to do what you did back there. There was no reason for it. It was shitty of you, and I need you to back off while I try to enjoy the rest of my night.” You clenched your jaw, trying to suppress the overwhelming feeling of anger that normally resulted in tears. “You could at least pretend to be sorry about it.” 

With that, you turned on your heel and squeezed your way through the crowds, ignoring Matthew’s calls to stop and come back and that he was only joking. 

Too late for that, you thought bitterly, making a turn towards a street popular for its dining and bar venues. 

-

The part of the archipelago more popular with tourists was truly a sight to behold as the sun went down, coloring the sky in some of the warmest, most calming shades of orange, red and yellow you ever saw. It seemed as if everyone gathered on the promenade, phones at the ready while taking photos of the sky, selfies and group shots. Even you couldn’t resist it and after taking a few well-centered selfies, a passing couple offered to take your photo which you immediately posed for. 

Later, once the sight sunk in, you moved towards a nearby bar, first attracted by the pink, purple and blue neon lights and then, the music. A good cocktail, good music and a gorgeous sunset were all it took for you to feel more relaxed, leaving behind the event from earlier. He wouldn’t be the first cute guy you’d see, nor the last and indeed, it was easy for you to settle in the more crowded area of the locale where people were dancing either solo, with a partner or as part of a group.

Not long after you weaved your way onto the dancefloor, you felt a pair of hands settle on your hips, drawing you in. You went easily, accepting the embrace, accepting the way you were being led into the dance, swaying your hips along with his. You didn’t even miss a beat when he spun you around, but you kept your hands pressed against his shoulders, rather than wrapping your arms around his neck. You were tipsy, no doubt, and admittedly felt touch-starved but you weren’t quite in the mood for anything more. You even dodged his mouth when he tipped his head down to your lips so instead, he landed a kiss on your cheek. Still, he was pretty relentless. The dance took a turn that was significantly more sensual, crossing a line into discomfort, and you felt that was your cue to try and remove yourself from him. It was easy initially. You threw him a small smile and when he caught hold of your hand, you simply motioned you were only going to get a drink, hoping that would keep him where he was with the knowledge you would return. 

When you finally pulled away, you made a bee line towards the exit of the venue but again, you were a step too slow. The guy caught you just at the door.

“Where are you running off to, pretty?” he slurred, his voice louder above the thumping of the music. 

“Oh—Um, just getting a breath of fresh air, is all,” you said quickly and immediately wished you didn’t venture off in a place like this alone. It was as if you suddenly forgot everything that was common sense, pushed towards it by earlier frustration. 

“Doesn’t look like it to me.” He frowned, but there was no clarity in his eyes. He was entirely out of it and his fingers squeezed painfully around your wrist. You flinched visibly, squirming under his touch and even if you tried pulling your arm away, it was useless. He overpowered you even through the drunken haze. “Wanna go? Fine, then let’s go together.” 

“No—uh, I’m actually here with my friends. I’ve just—I saw them so I’m going to catch up with them. They must be looking for—”

“Then we can go to them together, sweetheart. Here, point them out to me.”

“No, really. I’m going to them alone,” you emphasized and put all your force into trying to free your hand. It may have taken him by surprise that led to his loosened grip, but as soon as you turned on your heel, you found out there was more to it than just that.

You almost faceplanted right into Matthew’s chest when you tried making a run for it. He stood there, eyes flicking between you and the guy with an unreadable expression on his face. Your heart was hammering wildly in your chest and instinctively, you almost glued yourself to his side. It wasn’t the first time someone tried to force a move on you, but it was the first time it was done so in such a thoughtless, drunken manner. Perhaps your fear was also enhanced by being alone in an unfamiliar place. To see Matthew this time felt like a blessing.

“Babe,” Matthew said by way of greeting, pulling you to him when he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. 

You didn’t realize you were trembling until you stood so close to him, legs suddenly feeling like jelly in front of your salvation. Matthew could easily overpower the guy; even if they were roughly the same height, there was a big difference between the body of an athlete and the swaying one of a drunk guy. Still, it didn’t mean you wanted Matthew to get caught up in anything he’d later regret or would affect him in any way, so you pressed a hand to his chest trying to put some pressure into guiding him away from the scene.

“She yours?” the drunk guy slurred, head tilting back, chin pointing towards your general direction.

“Yeah. So, guess that makes the situation even worse for you,” Matthew responded. His tone was light, seemingly non-threatening to someone who didn’t know him but you did. You knew him and you could read him crystal clear in this moment. 

“Matthew, please,” you muttered, looking at him almost desperately while trying to put all your body weight into guiding him away. 

The guy scoffed. “You’ve gotta do better than that, buddy.” He snickered. “You’ve gotta keep ‘em on a tighter leash unless you want them to go—”

Matthew made a move towards him, but you quickly stepped in front of him, essentially forcing him to halt. “Matt, please. Let’s go, okay? Please. I really want to leave. Right now.” 

He glared at the guy for a moment longer but the hard look in his eyes softened as soon as his gaze fell on you. You took the liberty of placing most of your weight against Matthew, allowing him to remove both of you from the situation and towards a less crowded area. That was easy to find: with the sun having long set, most of the crowds cleared away from the promenade so there was plenty of space for you to collect yourself in peace. 

He didn’t pry into the situation, didn’t even make any smartass comments. Instead, he let you slip away from under the safety of his arm while you pace around a small area, trying to work off the anxiety as much as you could. You had to count your breaths, remind yourself to breathe in then out slowly. You were okay. You were far from that guy, and he couldn’t hurt you. At least, no more than he already did. Your wrist felt a bit sore, but you’d take that over anything worse. 

“You okay?” Matthew asked at last, tone careful. “I can go back there and pull him out, you know, get him to apologize.”

“No!” you said loudly, desperately, then cleared your throat and lowered your voice. “No, don’t go. Please. I just need a moment, that’s all. Just a little. Could you not leave? I’ll be fine in a moment. Just—just need to catch my breath—"

“Hey, hey—relax. It’s over. He can’t put a hand down on you now, or ever.” Matthew took a few steps closer to you as if apprehensive to approach you in the first place. You knew what you must’ve looked like: pale, still shaken by what happened. He held a hand towards you, palm up. “Can I touch you?” 

You looked from it to his face, then said, “don’t get any funny ideas,” but it lacked your usual punch. You took his hand though, letting yourself be drawn to him. Matthew smelled like the sea. You couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he’d gone down to the beach earlier to take a dip. You wished you did that rather than try and drink your frustration over missing out on a random guy. God, you could sleep right here if sleeping while standing was a thing. “I’m sorry for reacting the way I did before—with, uh—what did you call him?” 

Matthew chuckled, a low, deep chuckle. “Ron Jon.” 

“You’re awful, Tkachuk.”

“And you have a funny way of expressing gratitude.” 

“Sorry—”

He laughed louder. “I’m messing with you.” A pause, and then, “I’m sorry I rained on your parade earlier with the guy back then. If you really liked him…” He trailed off, as if to let you fill in the sentence for him.

You laughed weakly, waving a hand dismissively. “Thanks. Again. Seems like nowadays, I just keep having to thank you for one thing or the other.” 

You felt him shrug. “Fine by me. You keep adding to these favors you owe me.” 

“It’s only one. Well. Two if you want to be a dick and count this one too.” 

You took a step back, detaching yourself from him to run both hands through your hair. You felt exhausted, drained of energy yet relieved. Who would’ve thought you’d be pleased to see Matthew pull another one of his appearing out of the blue acts?

“You give me no other choice but to be one,” he joked. “Come on, let’s go back to the hotel. Everyone’s wondering where you were, so you kind of lost your right to vote on dinner for tonight.” 

You sighed heavily. “Let me guess: you all ganged up on me in my absence and settled on lobster?” 

Matthew grinned. “Can’t vacation in a seaside town and skip out on that.” 

“Ugh. Sea critters.” You pulled a face, drawing yet another laugh from Matthew. It made you feel oddly accomplished but you cut that train of thought there, forcing it to derail elsewhere, to place more familiar to you, more comfortable. “Matthew, I mean it when I said thank you. That was—it was scary,” you admitted as the two of you started walking back towards the hotel. You pulled your wrist into your hand, rubbing at the skin gently. Focused on the road ahead, you missed Matthew frowning down at the gesture. “I don’t know how that happened. It’s just—it’s not my thing to do. Go out alone, especially in a place like that. Good instincts by the way,” you tried to joke but it fell flat.

“Don’t mention it,” he said, voice tight. “I don’t want to think about it again if I can help it.” 

You cast a confused stare in his direction but by then, it was his turn to look ahead, a frown marring his features. You didn’t push any further though. 

Later that night, after you and Anna decided to call it a day and switch off the lights, you lay in bed glancing a look up at the ceiling above. You didn’t think back on the evening’s events but rather, thought back to how a familiar small brown paper bag was taped to your room’s door before dinner. Anna had fixed you with a knowing stare as you plucked it off the door, tipping its contents into the palm of your hand. 

Then, you thought how during dinner, Matthew had claimed the seat next to yours and complimented the earrings you wore, remarking how awfully familiar they seemed though he could swear he didn’t know where from. For the first time, you had an inside joke to share with him and neither of you bothered to offer any clarifications to everyone else around the table as they tried to press for details. 

three.

The Flames’ first game of the season was scheduled to take place in Las Vegas and with a few days left of vacation, you couldn’t skip on the opportunity to return to the city you were inexplicably fond of, as well as watching your brother play on the third line. The night promised to be unforgettable, and you wouldn’t miss it for the world. Although there were plenty of things to keep you busy throughout the day, your eyes would occasionally wander down to your watch, counting down the hours until the start of the game. It seemed like most of the city was doing the same.

Often, you’d spot handfuls of people donning Knights jerseys and occasionally, there would be a few Flames fans wandering the streets and locales. You’d only spotted one person wearing your brother’s jersey but that was more than enough for you – he was a fairly new face in the professional league, but he certainly pulled his weight during every shift he had on ice whenever given the opportunity. Luckily, you managed to take a quick photo of their back before they disappeared into the crowds, sending it to your brother along with a thumbs-up emoji. 

He didn’t respond immediately, nor did you expect him to. You could only imagine how quickly he racked up pre-game nerves and he had a pretty strict routine, which included avoiding his phone until after the game. You couldn’t really make sense of superstitions even if each member of your family who played, whether professionally or otherwise, had their own. Naturally, you were surprised when your phone pinged, indicating a new message almost half an hour later. Except, it wasn’t quite who you were expecting.

Matthew is that your way of saying good luck?

You frowned, but all it took was a little more attention on your part to notice you hadn’t sent the message to your brother but rather, to Matthew. Lately, he was one of your top contacts for frequent messaging.

You wrong number

You good luck to you too though, i guess :/ 

Matthew busy?

You don’t you have practice to get to?

Matthew [attachment: photo of an ice rink where a few players were captured in motion]

Matthew [attachment: photo of his skates, taken from the players’ bench]

Matthew on break, where are you?

You hanging around

Matthew what are you wearing? 

You [emoji: middle finger] 

Matthew ice cold

Matthew nice, i can handle ice cold

You then go handle ice cold so you don’t get handled tonight

Matthew wish me luck too

You i already did

Matthew i need it twice, it’s my superstition 

You that’s a bullshit superstition

Matthew if we lose tonight, it’s on you

You [emoji: angry face]

You good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew :) 

You dropped your phone on the table with a low groan, slouching in your chair. From across the table, Anna shot you a confused stare which quickly morphed into understanding when you rolled your eyes, shooting your phone a look of frustration as if the device itself was to blame. 

“Anything interesting?” she asked in a singsong tone. 

“If you count Matthew being his usual self interesting, then that’s what’s up. Otherwise, nothing new.”

“By his usual self, do you mean engaging? Funny? Witty? So good with his words that he yet again takes your attention and keeps it while the rest of us, mere mortals, struggle to do that for longer than a few minutes tops?” 

You arched an eyebrow, somewhat amused. “All that – just empty words.” 

Anna leaned back in her seat, taking her glass with her while twirling the straw, looking ahead somewhat thoughtfully. “You know what the two of you remind me of? Those two kids in the playground who think love can only be expressed through pulling hair and making snide remarks.” 

“First of all, that’s a shitty way of trying to get someone to realize you have feelings for them and second of all, love is a pretty big word. You managing to carry it okay?” 

“Okay, maybe not love. But like? It has to be like. Say what you want to say but it looks different from the outside.” 

“Okay, you keep staying out there and let me know what you’re seeing. I like your imagination. Very vivid,” you commented but there was no bite to your words and Anna threw her head back with laughter. 

You didn’t think much of your exchange with Matthew throughout the rest of the day, nor did you try to linger too long on Anna’s interpretation of your relationship with Matthew. You let it wash over you, knowing it’d give her too much satisfaction if you fretted too much over it and anyway, many of your thoughts seemed to fly towards the evening’s game. 

By the time the two of you made your way to the arena, however, you moved from anxiety to excitement within the space of mere moments, apparently. Even if this wasn’t your first rodeo and you’d been to countless games before, there was nothing quite like the thrill of an opening game. You and Anna had spaces reserved in the upper stands along with other family members and significant others but both of you chose to watch the warm-ups close-up, so you hung around by the glass at ice level. 

The Vegas Knights and the Flames stepped on the ice to a combination of cheers and the thump of a loud electronic mix. You spotted your brother almost instantly. He did a quick lap around the team’s half of the ice before pulling a puck towards him with his stick, sliding it this way and that before shooting it over towards the net. Once sufficiently warmed up, he cast a searching look around the rink and you quickly waved both arms up in the air to try and get his attention. You knew he’d spotted you, but he made an entire show out of looking over you until you smacked a hand against the panel. You knew the sound wouldn’t be heard over the general noise of the arena, but he still laughed. When he skated over, you held your phone up, giving it a quick shake and mouthing “selfie?”. 

He flashed a thumbs up and you quickly turned around to take the photo, but it wasn’t until you inspected it afterwards that you noticed you were photobombed by Matthew himself. You had every intention to look up from the screen and somehow try and get his attention only to glare at him, but he was a step ahead. You almost jumped out of your skin when you noticed Matthew standing right there by the glass, smirking at you.

“Asshole,” you mouthed, not daring to voice it out given you were surrounded by kids.

Matthew winked, skated to collect a stray puck then threw it up over the boards towards one of the kids standing right next to you. The kid was clearly thrilled by the gesture, bouncing up and down with the puck held over his head as if it were a trophy. You couldn’t help it: your heart melted at the sight, so you simply nodded once at Matthew, apparently just in time as the warm-up countdown reached zero.

You weren’t surprised the home team were putting on such a show for the opening night. There was a little bit of Vegas in every opening act: from the fireworks set off outside the arena to the showgirls and mind-blowing animations projected down on the ice, it felt more of a Stanley Cup playoff game than the start of a regular season game. This was Vegas and no one did it quite like Vegas did, you had to give that to them. 

Both teams were almost evenly balanced throughout the first period but stepping out of intermissions and into the second, the Flames started powering ahead. It was as if something had clicked together even better and they functioned as a well-oiled machine, both in offence and defense. By the end of that period, they were leading the Knights 3-2 and you were more than elated your brother had earned himself an assist. Like all games, tensions formed quickly, and the third period saw both teams play aggressively. On several occasions, you caught sight of players clearly chirping each other even while heading towards their respective benches after the end of a shift. Once, Matthew seemed to be involved in a seemingly endless yelling match with a player on the opposing team. There were more checks against the panels, an impressive number of penalties drawn by both teams, and it felt as if the atmosphere was just tethering towards a fight.

It happened right after the Flames scored the fourth goal with just two minutes left of the game. 

The moment the puck was dropped at center ice, you watched as Matthew charged ahead towards one of the Knights players who didn’t hesitate to drop the gloves. Between them, Matthew had the faster instinct, and he landed the first punch, effectively forcing both players to fall to the ice while the referees scrambled to try and split them apart. They were there a moment too late, just mere seconds after you caught sight of knuckles scraping along Matthew’s mouth on the big screens above. At first, it seemed to be nothing more than a graze but once he was separated and made his way towards the Flames bench, you noticed several spots of blood on his jersey on the screens above that made you almost jump out of your seat.

Sure, this was a familiar sight, but it didn’t alleviate the sheer shock and restlessness. Whatever had happened between them must’ve been a pretty big deal to set Matthew off the way it did. There was no way of sugarcoating it: the fight was vicious. More than ever, you wanted the period countdown to reach zero so you could go down to the lockers. It wasn’t just a few nagging feelings towards Matthew that led you to react the way you did. He was a friend, after all, so worrying for him was simply natural. An expected way of responding to a situation like that. 

“He had it worse before, remember?” Anna reminded you as you followed the small stream of relatives and friends down towards the players’ rooms.

“Still looked pretty bad to me,” you responded, briefly pulling your lower lip between your teeth. Before she could continue being the voice of reason, you added in a light tone, “I just want to see if he had any teeth knocked out of his mouth this time around.”

It took some time before the players filed out and as you watched them come out one by one, you almost wished you saved this for somewhere less…well, public. Sure, you were just a friend checking on a friend, but you wished you could do that without an audience. 

Your brother emerged first, beaming, no doubt pleased with the win, and you hugged him tightly, easily sharing his joy. 

“He’s just getting ready to come out now,” he informed you, heading nodding back towards the locker.

You blinked. “What? Oh—no, I’m just. I was waiting for you to say congratulations. What are you even talking about,” you mumbled but inevitably, your eyes were drawn towards the locker room as the door swung open and Matthew stepped out.

His hair was still damp but already curling again. He was dressed in the same suit he probably arrived in, a simple light grey number that fit him perfectly. He had his backpack on also and in one hand, he carried an apparently ice-cold bottle of water while the other was pressing an ice pack to the corner of his mouth. When you made eye contact, he frowned lightly and for a moment, seemed almost hesitant to approach you. This time, you were a step ahead and cornered him before he decided to walk away.

You nodded your head once, indicating in his general direction. “What? You’re trying to add to the family’s hefty dentist bill by getting a few teeth knocked out already?”

Matthew shrugged. “It’s not hockey without a few scraps now and then.”

“For a guy who got a goal and an assist, you sure don’t look too pleased with that.” 

At that comment, Matthew’s expression shifted, lightening up considerably. “Are you keeping track of my stats now?”

“What? No, Tkachuk. I was doing what everyone else in that arena was doing: paying attention generally speaking.” 

Suddenly, his entire face scrunched up in pain and he almost doubled over as he groaned. Instinctively, you reached out for him, eyes widening a little when bending down a little to try and look at his face. 

“Oh my god—Matthew. Are you okay? Do you need me to get a medic to check—” 

You frowned as soon as you felt his shoulders tremble under your touch. Slowly, it dawned on you he was laughing. Laughing. You slapped his shoulder lightly, the gesture more a tap than anything else and you started walking down the corridor quickly, trying to catch up with everyone else as they filed out of the arena. 

“Hey, hey, wait, Y/N! Come on, don’t be mad,” he called out after you and you heard him jog to catch up with you. When he did, he took a couple more steps ahead then stepped in your path, walking backwards to match your pace. “I was only messing around. I couldn’t not do that. You should’ve seen your face, honestly.” 

“My face? Hope you’ve seen yours. I’m not mad. Me being mad would basically mean you managed to get to me which you really didn’t, so don’t give yourself any credit, Tkachuk,” you responded. “You just reminded me you’re still a dick so thanks for that.” 

“Give me a free pass. I’m injured.” 

“If you’re searching for sympathy, you’re looking for it in the wrong place,” you informed him, side stepping him so that he resumed walking at your side instead. After a few moments of silence, you conceded with a sigh. “Seriously speaking. How’s your mouth?”

“Don’t think I’ll need fillers, let’s just say.” He removed his hand from his mouth, and you looked over. 

Thankfully, it seemed that putting ice on it quickly was paying off. The area was somewhat red, but no significant damage seemed to be visible to the untrained eye. He was certainly miles better than he was just months ago. 

“Looks okay, I guess,” you shrugged. “What happened? Honestly, it looked pretty intense from the outside.” 

Matthew didn’t respond and you didn’t press him for details even after you stepped out into the balmy Vegas night. If he chose to not share with you, then you guessed it must’ve been either pretty personal or pretty stupid. You leaned more towards the former. You didn’t even complain when he followed you to the car you hired, claiming the passenger seat. Before you also stepped inside, a message pinged in from Anna informed you she had taken off with Johnny for dinner but promised to be back in the room in a few to catch up.

You didn’t start the engine when you fixed your seatbelt and instead, leaned your head back against the rest, watching a few other vehicles pull out of the car park. In his seat, Matthew was looking out of the window to his left, heading resting against a loosely formed fist propped up against the door. 

“He was talking shit about you,” he said at last, but didn’t turn to you when he spoke. 

“Who was?” 

“The guy on the other team. He made a comment about you towards your brother at the end of the shift. Something about… I don’t know, something crude, vulgar. Don’t really remember it.” 

You didn’t quite believe him on the last part, but you allowed it anyway. “Okay… Well, I don’t know the guy anyway, so it didn’t matter, Matthew. You should have let it slip by or left my brother to deal with it.” Then, out of curiosity, you asked, “why didn’t you?”

More silence. Occasionally, the muffled sound of a passing car would cut through it but it, too, would be gone in seconds.

“Because I couldn’t.”

You pursed your lips and your fingers clenched then unclenched in your lap. You placed your hands on the steering wheel, then dropped them away before settling them back on it after starting the engine. 

“Thanks, I guess. You just keep making me owe you favors.”

“You don’t owe me—”

“So, I’ll clear that now with dinner. Just please don’t tell me you’re going to need to be on a smoothie diet. I’ll feel bad eating something really good while you’re there with a strawberry and banana drink. Not that I’d stop eating though, just so you know. But it’s the thought that counts,” you said and finally, finally he chuckled quietly. 

“No smoothie diets this time.”

You sighed dramatically. “Maybe no smoothie diets ever?”

Matthew shrugged. He was still not meeting your eyes but that was okay. “Can’t promise that. Kind of comes with the job. Just in case though, I like the sweeter stuff more. Triple chocolate, Oreo pieces, peanut butter.” 

“Thanks, Matthew. I’ll file that under information I don’t care to know about.” 

“I’m injured. Show some sympathy,” he demanded without heat, finally turning to you. 

You cooed then reached out with one of your hands to pat his cheek lightly. “Aw, really searching for it in the wrong place.”

“I’ll make do with what I can get,” he allowed, and you could swear he leaned into your touch, but you tore your hand away before either of you got too comfortable. 

four.

Matthew called in his favor after a few of his teammates agreed where to host their Halloween party. 

“Kind of sounds like you’re the one asking for a favor,” you commented, planting yourself at your kitchen table while securing the phone between your ear and shoulder.

Matthew sighed on the other end. “Sort of. Who does a themed Halloween party anyway? The theme itself is Halloween.” 

“You’re not wrong about that. Could be fun though, a bit more unique. So, what’s the theme for this year?” 

“Couple outfits,” Matthew replied without hesitation. 

You stilled and were grateful he wasn’t in the same room as you. It took you a great deal more energy over the course of the past few months to convince yourself that Matthew didn’t attract you in one way or another. His looks aside, it was rare you came across someone who could easily keep up with your snide remarks and the more you got to know him, the more you realized that there was more to Matthew than just being a typical athlete with his share of well-deserved fame. He was funny, dedicated and undoubtedly, caring. You had some first-hand experience with the latter. After all, he didn’t owe you anything to make him obligated to jump into whatever weird situation you found yourself in.

You warmed to him little by little. If you found him attractive, well that was for you alone to know though it made everything just that more difficult. Thankfully, Matthew seemed pretty oblivious to it or at least, he was doing a good job at pretending he didn’t catch you staring at him on several occasions or the few times you took a discrete step back if it felt like you were too close to him. Knowing he was asking you to go together as a couple (pretend couple, you corrected yourself) only added to the difficulty of coming to terms with your…crush. 

Puppy love, you assured yourself. It’ll go as quickly as it came. 

“Y/N?”

“Sorry, still here. Guess it sucks another year will go by without the opportunity to bring out your Fortnite costume.”

“Oh, come on. I wouldn’t dress like a game character!”

“Matthew,” you warned.

There was a pause, then, “okay, fine. Maybe I would. So, can you come?” 

You shrugged, then remembered he couldn’t see it. “I owe it to you, don’t I?”

“Great! Hey, choose something good for us. There’s going to be a prize for best dressed and I have my eyes on it.”

“I think we can both agree my creativity will not let us down. I’ll text you my idea. You just make sure you actually stick to it, so I don’t end up looking stupid.”

“Don’t worry,” he started, “I won’t dump you on Halloween.”

“Good to know I won’t end up traumatized and have my favorite holiday ruined,” you said, by way of goodbye.

-

“Hey, spin around for me once. You look good. Blonde’s not bad on you.” 

“No color’s bad on me,” you responded but refused to entertain Matthew by complying with his request. Instead, you rang the bell to Noah’s apartment after the door didn’t budge when Matthew tried the handle. 

“Come on, just a spin,” Matthew insisted, nudging his elbow into your own then pressed the doorbell himself once again – hard, as if that would make it ring louder.

“Only if you dance for me and do the entire Greased Lightning choreography without missing a step.” 

Matthew feigned a groan and you shot him an amused look. Before you could even comment on that, the door opened, and Noah stood at the threshold. The ruckus from inside spilled out into the corridor and from what you could see beyond him, it was a full house of all sorts of characters. 

“Wow! Sandy and Danny! Finally, someone with really good taste,” Noah said by way of greeting and he looked towards you pointedly. 

You flashed him a grin. “Always a pleasure to exceed expectations,” you responded and stepped into his open arms, a clear invitation for an embrace that was shortly broken apart by Matthew.

“Hey, none of that man,” he said, pulling you back and easily holding most of your weight as you broke into a laugh that had you stumbling into his side. “I didn’t even get to tell her she’s the one that I want.” 

“Yeah, well, you better shape up ‘cause I need a man,” you responded, without missing a beat though you couldn’t help but replay his words in your mind. They sounded a lot like a broken record that you desperately wished to stop immediately before this…thing went way too far and spun out of control.  

You were both led towards a photo wall and if you had any nerves about striking good poses without at least some liquid courage first, all that vanished. To your surprise, Matthew easily took the lead initially, falling to his knees in front of you in an attempt to recreate the part where a smitten Danny fell before Sandy, completely and utterly overwhelmed by her presence. Despite it being difficult to control your laughter, you played along with ease. At first, you were simply grinning down at him but you couldn’t let all his in-character effort go to waste, so you turned, casting a glance down towards him over your shoulder. To your side, Noah’s flash was going off every few seconds as he tried to capture the two of you from the best angle, together with cheers of encouragement. For your second pose, you rested your arms on Matthew’s shoulders once he rose back to his full height and his hands held on to either side of your torso. Again, the flash went off and again, the two of you changed pose into something more casual: him, standing behind you with his palms on your hips while you place a hand on his face, grinning at the camera. The flash went off again and he whooped loudly.

“I’m never inviting both of you to a party with this theme again,” Noah muttered, feigning disgruntlement. “You can’t come into my home and kill it like that.” 

“Blame the one who came up with this idea in the first place,” Matthew defended, holding both hands up in the air in a gesture of innocence. 

It was true. The idea to dress as Danny and Sandy from Grease came to you fairly quickly. You knew the two were a popular go-to, but you enjoyed the movie greatly. Plus, it was a great opportunity for you to pull out a pair of red heels you invested a hefty sum of money into. And, well, admittedly there was something about Matthew that made you think he’d suit the role just fine. When you shared your idea with him, he was on board from the start without complaining or suggesting alternatives. You were grateful for that: when Matthew picked you up earlier, dressed in an all-black outfit, leather jacket and hair styled to rival John Travolta’s, you gave yourself a mental pat on your shoulder. If any photos would go up on the internet, you were pretty sure Instagram would be grateful to you. Certainly, you knew Chantal and Keith would get a kick out of it for sure.

“Guilty as charged,” you acknowledged. “I’m going to look for Anna. Catch you later.” You gave a wave to the both of them before making your way towards the hub of activity where couple costumes ranged from peanut butter and jelly to superheroes. 

She was fairly easy to locate, in part because she told you she and Johnny would dress as Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor. The red, blue and gold of her outfit were unmissable even in a sea of costumes. As soon as she spotted you approaching, she made a beeline and wrapped an arm around yours.

“Tell me you and Matthew will recreate the entire You’re the One That I Want scene,” she pleaded. “Please tell me that at some point this evening, you’ll tell us to clear the dancefloor so the two of you can have your moment.”

You rolled your eyes, dragging her along towards a table hosting drinks and small bites. “There’s no moment we’re going to be having.” 

“Because you don’t want to or because you want to so badly that you don’t know how to ask him? I’m pretty sure he’ll say yes.” 

“Neither,” you muttered but even you’d be able to hear the lack of conviction in your tone from a mile away. 

To take your mind off it, you poured yourself a glass of red wine, taking a tentative sip from it. Across the room, Matthew had deposited his black leather jacket away and started making rounds around the room. You took a longer sip from your wine and looked away. 

Anna fixed you with a knowing stare which you refused to acknowledge, but she knew you like the back of her hand. “It’s okay to say you like him, you know,” she advised, and you hated the soothing tone she tried to take when saying that. It felt more pitying than anything, as if you hadn’t already had your share of disappointments in love—or, relationships better said. 

“Who said anything about liking him? He’s not bad to look at I’ll admit, but that’s where it stops.” You frowned, looking out of the nearest nearby window that gave a broad view of the city below. “That’s where I want it to stop,” you admitted, this time quieter. 

You were well aware that you were occasionally trying to look for a narrative that was most convenient for late night thoughts when you had the peace and privacy to think of him as you wished. The reality couldn’t be more different, though, and you knew that. Matthew was helpful to you before because he was good friends with your brother and eventually, you realized that it was just part of his nature. Beyond being successful, beyond his fame and recognition, Matthew was kind and funny and respectful. It was just that you didn’t give him the chance to before and now that you got to know him better, you suddenly realized that…what? You’d like the first man who gives you a helping hand? If that were the case, you should’ve gotten the memo sooner: it would’ve been easier liking the tech guy from work who once debugged your laptop.

It wasn’t doing you any good to try and look for a ‘but’ in every situation: Matthew is helpful because he’s good friends with my brother but it’s not like that should force him to act as if we’re romantically involved not once or twice or thrice but now, four times. Regardless of how you looked at it, that reeked of desperation. You were in that weird period in your life where it felt as if everyone around you was in a relationship, so maybe that mood translated to you. 

That’s right, you settled. That’s what was possibly behind these thoughts of yours. You found Matthew attractive – and what? So did plenty of other people. You saw him surrounded by girls after practice, after matches, while out. What you felt was nothing special. It felt easier to think of it that way, even if for a few hours to truly enjoy the party without having that lurking at the back of your mind. 

You mingled easily, danced with Anna, danced with other players’ girlfriends and wives, danced with your brother, even attempted a few traditional Russian dances taught by Nikita, Artyom and a few of their friends, that left you breathless by their rapid pace and intricate footwork. 

“I’m done!” you declared, breathless and almost swaying on your feet when another Russian folk song came to an end but thankfully, you managed to hold steady before you could catch a ride on the hot mess express. “Absolutely wasted. Knocked out.” You stepped away, tired but euphoric and dropped rather unceremoniously on one of the available couches pushed against a wall. 

“Having fun?” Matthew asked and there was a light flush on his cheeks you knew wasn’t from dancing. There was even just a slight slur to his speech.

“The most,” you replied, breathless, and accepted the drink he held out to you. You took a sip without questioning him what was in the glass, only to find out for yourself he was settling for harder stuff tonight. “But never let it be said that anyone can keep up with Russians because let me tell you,” you whistled quietly, “we’re a couple of steps behind. Plenty of steps behind, actually.” 

Matthew flashed a lazy smile and you briefly spared a moment to envy him for how kept together he remained despite being evidently buzzed. “’s okay. At least we’re the better dressed ones so we lose in style.” 

You took another sip from his glass, holding it out to him with a smirk. “Tell me about it, stud,” you said in what you hoped was a low, alluring tone of voice but no sooner did you think that, and you were reduced to embarrassed laughter. “Forget about that! Forget it, forget it! Where’s the delete button?” 

“I didn’t come equipped with that,” he declared proudly, finishing off what was left of his drink. “C’mere, you can show me a couple of those steps you learned.” 

He stood, a little unsteadily initially then held a hand to you. You knew he wouldn’t have the strength to pull you up properly, so you stood easily fully intent to actually lead him through some of the steps. Except, Matthew was definitely swaying more than you thought he would. There was something inexplicably amusing about the situation and instead of directing him towards the center of the room, you steered him away from it and towards a small bathroom you were shown to earlier that night when you needed some time to re-touch your makeup. 

“Where’re we going?” he asked curiously, looking over his shoulder towards the living room with a look that could only be read as longing. 

“To cool down a little and then you can learn as many folk dances as you want. Believe me, you need to be alert for them. Can’t miss a step,” you advised, trying to steady him by wrapping an arm around him though the difference in weight between the two of you couldn’t compare. Still, you managed to get him into the bathroom safely without either of you making a mess of yourselves or the room. 

“Are you gonna cool down too?” he questioned. 

“Sure thing, definitely need it.” 

“Good, we’ll cool down together.” With that, he made a move to open the glass partition for the shower cubicle but thankfully, you were significantly more alert than he was and managed to prevent him from doing anything more than that.

“Not that sort of cool down. Here, sit here,” you encouraged, lowering the lid on the toilet so Matthew could drop down. You doubted you’d be able to hold much of his strength above the sink if you were to help him splash some cold water on his face.

“But I want that sort of cool down,” he slurred. “With you. Us two. You said you want to cool down too. Could be a couple activity.” He grinned, as if proud of himself. 

Thankfully, Matthew was buzzed enough to miss the flush on your face, the slight shake of your hand as you arranged a towel around his neck to prevent too much overspill before turning the tap on. 

“Can’t do that, Matthew. Here, this will be much better, I promise.” 

“Wanna try though,” he mumbled but was still compliant as you pressed a wet, cool palm against his forehead, then either of his cheeks. “Not cool enough.” His complaint was accompanied by a frown which only morphed into a lazy smirk when he leaned back, trying to pull you with him. “C’mon, Y/N. It’s a couple’s Halloween night.” 

“Matthew, we’re not a couple,” you said gently, pushing your palms against his shoulders in an attempt to free yourself from his hold. Before it was too late. Before you allowed yourself to get drawn into a drunk man’s ramblings. 

“But I wanna be. A couple, with you.” 

You put all your strength into breaking away from his hold and thankfully, managed to do so. Your heart was hammering in your chest as if desperately trying to release itself from the cage of your ribs. 

“Matthew, you’re drunk. Here, splash some cold water on your face so you can come back to your senses.” 

“But I’m not drunk,” he insisted and as if to demonstrate, he stood up quickly. He swayed on the spot, stretching out his arms a little and once he found his footing, he looked towards you with an expression that mixed pride with hopefulness. “See? Definitely okay—”

You frowned, feeling a little caged in. You should’ve left the door open at least. “Okay, then let’s go back out there, yeah? I can get an Uber and I’ll take you home if you prefer that?” 

“Yes,” he said, then leaned back against the door. “Only if you come with me.” 

You exhaled, suddenly tired as if the exchange was working every ounce of energy out of you. “I’ll come to make sure you’re okay and can make it to your bed okay.”

“I can though. I can definitely make it there even on my own and you know why? Because I’m not drunk,” Matthew insisted and when you shot him a look of disbelief, he peeled himself away from the door. “Look, look I can prove it to you I’m not drunk.” 

Before you could even ask him to walk a straight line without stumbling his steps, Matthew’s arm wrapped around your waist while his other hand pressed on the back of your head, bringing you closer until your lips met. Kissing Matthew was like everything you imagined and more. He even did that with the same passion with which he skated on ice, chasing puck after puck. It left you breathless how well he worked his lips against your own as if all along, he knew how to do that in such way that it’d leave your legs feeling like jelly. Beyond that though, it felt comfortable. Not forceful despite him having not asked if he could do it in the first place, yet it still felt right. You tasted sweetness on his mouth and the sharp tang of whiskey. Vaguely, you knew nothing else could compare. It was that thought that made you push away from him with as much force as you could muster, ducking under his arm and towards the door. 

“I’ll ask someone to take you home,” you said without even looking his way before leaving dashing out of the bathroom.

“You okay?” Anna asked you when you ran into her. Quite literally. 

“Uh—yeah. No, actually. I think I feel a bit unwell so I’m going to head home, okay?” 

You made a move to leave but her arm stopped you. “Hey. Are you sure you’re okay?” 

Above her shoulder, you saw Matthew emerge from the bathroom, a little dazzled, eyes searching the room. Before he could even spot you, you quickly freed yourself from her hold and nodded. “Will be. I’ll text you when I get home. Don’t rush back, okay? Tell Alex I said thanks for the invite.” 

You didn’t stumble a step in your heels as you jogged towards the door, making a swift exit before you attracted even more attention.

+ one.

Matthew left no calls and no messages, but that was fine. You didn’t spend time trying to build your expectations of anything like that happening because drunk words weren’t always sober thoughts. The event was just something you had to deal with and if you had to do it alone, then so be it. Reasonably speaking, you and Matthew went from nothing to friends and if you caught feelings along the way, then that was your mistake for letting yourself slip like that. You were left broken hearted once, you really didn’t want to go through that again especially over someone that wasn’t even really and truly yours to begin with.

So, the next morning, you woke up at a reasonably early hour despite the late night but felt energized enough to sweep through your apartment and collect the garments you tossed carelessly on your way to bed after arriving at home. You said a heartfelt goodbye to Sandy, apologizing that in this scenario, her and Danny didn’t end up driving off in a red convertible. After that, you showered and changed in a fresh set of clothes even if the day would most likely be spent indoors. It was a fitting conclusion to the Halloween weekend, and you could do with some downtime, really.

Anna must’ve stayed with Johnny because regardless of how much noise you made, she didn’t emerge from the room and after fixing a quick breakfast and brewing coffee to continued silence, you knew you were right. It didn’t bother you. You’d make full use of the couch and stretch out on it properly as you flicked through your Netflix account and for the sake of sticking to weekend morning traditions, you selected a lighthearted sitcom. You were halfway through the third episode when your doorbell rang. You could’ve sworn Anna had a spare key of her own unless she misplaced it or forgot it home. Not entirely out of question.

Except, it wasn’t Anna who greeted you when you opened the door.

“Oh.” You coughed lightly, crossing your arms then unfolding them, then leaning one against the doorway before dropping it to your side. “Hey—uh. Hey Tkachuk, isn’t it a bit early for you to be out and about? You were smashed the last time I saw you.” 

Matthew looked over your shoulder into the apartment, as if checking to see if you were alone. “Can I come in?” 

Defeated, you stepped to the side and cleared the way for him to step inside before pushing the door closed. Part of you wished you’d dressed up as if you were ready to head off somewhere. You weren’t quite ready nor willing to face whatever music Matthew had in mind for you. 

In the aftermath of the party, out of the flashiness of the costume, Matthew seemed to be perfectly clear-headed despite the state you’d left him in. The curls atop his head seemed soft despite the natural frizz and as he passed by, you caught a whiff of sharp cologne and fresh bodywash. 

“Is Anna here?”

“Are we playing twenty-one questions?” 

“No?”

“Kind of sounds like it, though?” You laughed quietly, trying to lighten the mood. It was bad enough the weather outside was gloomy, autumn settling in full force. Now, you had to deal with a Matthew who looked as if he wasn’t sure he came to the right place. “Coffee?” you asked, already leading the way towards the kitchen. You heard him follow behind you just moments later. While you poured a full cup for him, he hovered by the table, making you frown at him. “What’s wrong with you? You need an invite to sit down and relax? Seriously, Matthew, you look like you should be in bed.” 

“You left last night without saying anything,” he said instead. 

“Uh—yeah. I was kind of tired and I wanted it to call it a night early so—”

“Was it because of what I said or what I did?” 

You almost dropped the coffee cup, but fortunately only startled enough for the liquid to slosh over the rim and down the back of your hand, causing you to hiss in pain. You cursed quietly and, in an instant, Matthew crossed over the room and took the cup from you, setting it down on the table before leading you towards the sink. As if used to this, he placed your hand under ice cold water and once the sharp pain numbed, you pushed his hand away, taking a step to the side in an attempt to put more distance between you. 

“It’s fine, I’ve got this,” you mumbled, holding your hand still under the jet for a few more seconds before closing it.

It was hardly worth the fuss, but it gave you a reason to make yourself busy with something other than freaking out. It couldn’t be that he remembered anything. It couldn’t be that he was standing in your kitchen, thinking that it was a good idea to just open up that subject when you were so ready to take a shovel to it and bury it six feet under. 

“Didn’t you get tired of it at all?” he tried again.

“Tired of what?”

“Of pretending. Of only acting like we’re together for one reason or the other—”

“Matthew, I asked you only once and you know why. I apologized then but if it helps you sleep better at night, I’ll apologize again for dragging you into my mess. I don’t know what the point is of this discussion—”

“The point,” he said, raising his voice but only to cut through your speech. “The point is that I’m tired of it. I’m tired of having to be by your side and pretend. It got to a stage where I don’t even know what’s real and what isn’t, and I feel as if the only time I’ll know that for sure will be when you find someone, so you no longer need to turn to me to pretend.” 

“Matthew, I’m not using you, if that’s what you’re thinking. You’re coming at me with this out of the blue and I don’t even understand what this is all about,” you argued, waving a hand between the two of you. 

Matthew clenched his jaw. You watched as he flexed it and his eyebrows furrowed. “Do you need me to spell it out for you again? I thought I was pretty straightforward about what I want last night.” 

“You were drunk last night, is what you were. You could hardly put a foot in front of the other.” 

“You know that’s not true,” he retorts, lifting his arms then dropping them back down to his sides. “I was sober enough to know damn well what I said and why I said it. If you want to keep pretending even now, even at this point, then you go ahead and do that but let me be clear with you again and you take what you want from it: I don’t want to pretend with you anymore. I want to be with you. You want to know what that feels like? It feels a lot like being so close to something you want, literally having that thing dangled right in front of you only to have it snatched just when you think it’s yours. Me kissing you last night? I’m sorry I forced it on you, I could’ve gone about doing it differently but I’m not sorry for what I feel. That was all me and not the alcohol. So, you take this and do what you want with it.”

You stared at him, disbelieving your ears. It wouldn’t surprise you if that was the case: you did wake up surprisingly refreshed even after an emotionally charged night, so for all you knew, you could be dreaming this. 

“Matthew, what are you—That’s, you’re kidding me with this right? You can’t. You can’t possibly think that.” 

“And why not?”

“Because it doesn’t make sense. Are you even hearing yourself talk?” 

“Why doesn’t it make sense? Want me to go about it differently? If you let me pull your hair, I’ll let you push me in the sandbox.” 

You were suffering from a strange, ill-timed case of déjà vu. Part of you wanted to laugh at the situation but the bigger part of you triumphed, thankfully. You released a breath you had been holding, bringing both hands up to cover your face, taking some moments to yourself. Or perhaps, you’d lost track of time because eventually, you heard Matthew sigh and felt his fingers wrap around each wrist though he didn’t put pressure to tug your hands down from your face.

“Sorry. I’m just—I’m not doing this the right way. I don’t want it to seem like I’m forcing my feelings on you and that you should accept them. If I misread us—you at any point, then fine. Just, we can drop it here and I’ll deal with it but—”

You shook your head slowly. “No, I just need a moment. Sorry. You really caught me by surprise. I didn’t… I thought everything you said last night…what you did… I thought that was just, well, just the alcohol. So, I did the best thing I knew to do and, uh, left.”

“Drunk words, sober thoughts,” he reminded you quietly and this time, you dropped your hands away from your face so you could look up at him. 

He was so handsome. Ridiculously handsome in his casual clothes. Briefly, you thought back to the time you first found safety in his arms and wondered if maybe… Well, why not. You closed the distance between the two of you, wrapping your arms around him, fingers clinging to the thick material of his hoodie while you faceplanted against his chest and breathed him in.

You liked Matthew. You liked Matthew so much that the admission overwhelmed you so much that you squeezed him to you, trying desperately to bring him closer. The gesture seemed to prompt him into action, and he returned the hug, pressing a kiss to the top of your head and then to the base of your throat once he’d lowered his head there. 

“Me too. I want to be with you too. Really be with you. No more of this pretend stuff,” you told him, your voice muffled against his body, but you knew he caught every word.

He chuckled, the sound low and deep, sending shivers down your spine. “We won Noah’s competition last night.”

“Bet he did it because of your long face,” you commented, unable to help yourself. “What did we win?” 

Matthew made a move to step back, but you clung to him, much to your embarrassment. It seemed as if your body acted out of sync with your mind, but who could blame it when Matthew stood right there, right before you. Turned out he only took a step back to lift you off your feet and instinctively, you wrapped your legs around his hips, arms resting loosely around his neck. You leaned in and pressed a fleeting kiss to his mouth as he stumbled away from the kitchen while you stole another kiss. And then, just because you could, a third. 

“A voucher to a seafood restaurant,” he informed you, breaking into a laugh when you groaned, throwing your head back in sheer frustration even if you had a strong feeling he was only messing with you.

“Remind me to never put so much effort if that’s what the stake are.” 

“Noted. Next time, I’ll tell you we could just stay home for Halloween and play by our rules. Outfits optional. Probably not recommended.” 

“That’s…really not what I said.” 

“I’m reading between the lines. See? We know each other so well.” 

You laughed as he carried you all the way into your room without even as much as breaking a sweat. That was definitely some food for thought at a later point.

[strawberrymilkgeorge]

Part Four. "You hosted me?? In MINECRAFT??"

warnings: swearing but that’s it (i think)! just karl being a goof and dream being a little shit but whats new word count: 3k (not ncluding pictures)

behind the screen (irl dream x reader) series masterlist ultimate masterlist

**********

.

Y/n  sat to Karl's left, out of the camera's view as he scrolled through Twitter on his PC.

"Um... oh, how did you guys meet?" Karl read before looking offscreen at Y/n. "Uh... school?"

"What? I was going to make up a funny story but I'm appalled by the seriousness in your voice! Is that really how you think we met?"

The embarrassment on his face answered her question. "Karl! I'm two years younger than you, how would we meet have met at school?"

"I don't know!" he said back defensively, raising his shoulders. "Clubs?"

"Like I was in any of the nerd clubs you were in."

"Well, then, how did we meet?"

Y/n sighed with a laugh. "Our moms–"

"Oh, wait wait, I remember!" he cut her off, excitedly looking towards Y/n. "Our moms are friends and they forced us to hang out." He smiled proudly and looked back to his screen as he continued scrolling for good questions. "If I'm honest, I only still hang out with you because my mom makes me."

Y/n smacked Karl's arm and he laughed but pretended to be hurt. "WHAT THE HONK, BUGSY?!"

"I can't stand you. I barely hit you, nimrod."

Karl giggled and read another one. "How tall is Bugsy? Two feet, four inches."

"No, I'm 7'6," Y/n lied easily and Karl laughed.

"How tall are you actually?"

'I think 5'10 or something? Maybe 5'11. I'm not 6' but I'm taller than you for sure, I know that much–"

"Okay, you are not taller than me. Just to be clear. Chat, Bugsy is not taller than me."

"Yes, I am. Wanna test it?"

"No," he replied quietly in defeat.

"Because you know I'm right," Y/n laughed as her eyes flicked over to read chat. They were spamming their surprise, expecting her to be short. "Yeah, no, chat, I'm tall. I'm taller than Karl."

"Only because your shoes make you tall! Doc Martens are tall and that's pretty much all you wear!"

"You're shorter than me when I'm barefoot!"

"That's literally false. Like completely."

"Just accept it, shorty."

"I'll accept that you're taller than George and Sapnap, but not me. I'm barely taller than you but I'm still taller."

"Whateverrrr. I'll move on to protect your dignity."

Karl ignored her and laughed, pointing to a message from Dream in Karl's chat.

"Dream said I have short girl energy," Y/n read.

"You kinda do."

"What does that even mean?"

"You're shy around new people and you act all sweet."

"So tall girls can't be shy and sweet? Or shy and sweet girls can't be tall?"

"Stop twisting my words," Karl groaned.

"Also, wait, what do you mean I act sweet? Am I not?"

"No, you are. But I mean you also aren't when you don't want to be. Upset Bugsy is scary Bugsy."

Y/n frowned, not recalling a time she's ever been angry or upset at Karl but she let him move on. He pointed to another tweet as he looked at Y/n, giving her an 'I told you so' look. She read it before shaking her head at him.

"Don't read that one."

"Pleeease, can I answer?"

"No!" she whisper-shouted. I don't want to be shipped with him for asking or you for answering, she mouthed so Karl's chat couldn't put together clues.

"Are you assuming I'll answer positively?" he teased, earning him a hard smack on the arm.

Y/n couldn't help but notice every time she put her hands in the frame, which was usually to hit Karl, half of the chat turned into simps requesting a hand pic because they could see her bracelets and nail polish and now that they knew she was tall they wanted to see how big her hands were. They really wanted every crumb of content they could have regarding her looks. She caught one that said something pretty kinky about her hands which she tried to scrub from her mind immediately.

"Fine," Karl sighed at her request to not read Dream's tweet out loud, instead reading another. "Bestie sleepover? Yes! Bestie sleepover! Bugsy and I are gonna cuddle all night--"

"No, we aren't. I'm sleeping on a completely different bed. Or couch. Nowhere near you."

"WHY DO YOU HATE ME?"

"Karl! Stop trying to get me to cuddle with you!" Y/n laughed as she pushed away his arms, which were trying to give her a hug. "You're a freaking heater and I don't like touching people!"

"That's my worst nightmare in a friend, how did I end up with you?"

"No idea. Deal with it. It's still a bestie sleepover even if we don't cuddle."

Karl giggled and looked back at his stream. "Oh, by the way, in case anyone ever wanted to know or was Dreaming about it, Bugsy is very cute. Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone was wondering or if anyone tweeted specifically asking..."

Y/n smacked his arm again as she yelled, "Karl!"

He grabbed his arm in dramatic pain as if it had been cut off. "Ow! Ow! Bugsy hit me!" he cried as he fell to the floor. "Oh my gosh. Someone call a doctor!"

"I cannot stand you," Y/n  informed as she stared down at him. She glanced at chat, who were all joking about how bad his condition was, saying things like they might have to amputate his arm. "Chat, don't encourage him. Oh, Karl I know what we can do!"

"As long as I don't need two arms for it..." his voice still laced with fake pain.

"Karl Jacobs."

"What is it?"

"Give me a tour of Dream's SMP. Dream whitelisted me yesterday."

"Oh, yeah! What could have possibly made you think of him?" he teased as he got back in his chair.

Y/n glared at him and he cowered slightly.

"Minecraft, yes. There's a PC in the other room you can play on. Do you need help setting it up?"

"No, I've streamed once or twice," Y/n teased as she stood up.

"I'm just trying to be a good host! Gosh!"

"Wait, I have to cross over to leave the room."

"Just do it? What's the issue? Literally no problem, just walk?" he joked before zooming in his camera on his face so it took up the whole screen. Y/n laughed as she went across the room, chat now forced to look at disturbingly close footage of Karl staring directly into the camera with his eyes crossed.

Y/n called Karl on Discord after logging in. "Hi, Karl and Karl's stream."

"Are you on yet?"

"I'm logging in to my Minecraft account right now."

"Okay, join a vc on the smp discord so others can talk to us if we run into anyone. I'll be over in a minute, just give me a bit to read some donations." They both muted, leaving Y/n to herself.

She typed in the IP address to the server and joined a random voice channel that no one was in. She spawned and looked around, confused by the cobblestone wall around her. Her phone lit up so she occupied herself with the texts from Naomi.

A green figure caught her eye on the screen and she looked up. In the distance was Dream's infamous green Minecraft skin punching the air as he faced her. He ran towards her and stopped in front of her. She set her phone down and slid it away, crouching as his character did the same.

Dream whispers to you: are you streaming you whisper to Dream: no but Karl is and he's about to get on to tour me Dream whispers to you: hmmm okay here

He uncrouched and dropped a few diamond blocks before punching the air again and running away.

Dream whispers to you: shh don’t tell anyone you whisper to Dream: omg :D ty <3 you whisper to Dream: first twitch donos now mc donos you whisper to Dream: rich man over here giving out money and diamonds to everyone like it's candy Dream whispers to you: no, only to you Dream whispers to you: a little gift before our date ;) Dream whispers to you: oh and this

He came back and paused in front of Y/n before dropping a red poppy and sprinting away again. She acted cool despite the huge smile on her face.

you whisper to Dream: charming you whisper to Dream: you give me a flower and dart away before I can properly thank you Dream whispers to you: oh yeah? how would you have thanked me?

Y/n smiled, her cheeks flaming up as a dirty thought entered her mind. Stop, he's not flirting, she told herself. It’s literally a block game and he’s not flirting.

you whisper to Dream: guess we'll never know ;) KarlJacobs joined the game

"I'm back," Karl's voice filled her headset as he joined her voice channel, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Where are you?"

Y/n looked away from the chat in Minecraft and turned around in the game. "Still at spawn. Some forest and cobblestone walls."

"Go left and I'll meet you halfway."

As she ran, the Minecraft chat reappeared with new messages for everyone to see.

<Dream> hey Karl <KarlJacobs> hello Dream <Dream> thanks for answering my question on your stream <KarlJacobs> just doing my civil duty as a bugsy dream shipper <KarlJacobs> official petition for the name to be dreamsy <Dream> signed

"Oh my gosh," Y/n muttered, making Karl laugh.

"What?" Karl asked innocently, but his laugh was maniacal. "Oh, I found you. This way! I built everything on the server, by the way. So if anything is impressive, just remember that I did it."

"Karl, that's the biggest lie you've ever told me. I watch the lore videos."

"Well, I did build it all so I don't know what to tell you. Let's go this way first."

Y/n followed as he showed her stuff, including background and unknown facts about things that have happened off stream. After the tour, they messed around the chessboard. At some point, she found a blue cornflower and turned to Karl.

"Do you have an anvil?"

"I don't exactly have one on me at the moment but I think there's one over here. What for?"

She killed some chickens with her fist to gain XP so she could carry out the task in mind. "I need to name this flower I found." She followed him a few blocks away and clicked the anvil and named the flower 'love, bug'. "Okay, thanks."

"Why did you name it?"

"It's a gift for someone."

"Me?" he asked as his character jumped up and down.

"No. My presence is your gift."

"Ouch. You know, honestly, I'm really hurt by that. Like, why would you say that to me? It's just sorta rude."

"Fine, I'll go get you a flower."

"Well, I don't want it if it isn't sincere. Who's that one for?"

"...no one."

"Tell me or I'll keep complaining about not getting a gift."

"I can deal with that."

"Okay, then tell me or I'll make you sleep in my bed and I'll smother you to death with my affection."

"Ah, okay, fine. It's for Dream."

"Wow you really hate me that much!" Karl laughed.

"No, I'm just not touchy like you!" she defended. She always worried she offended Karl since he was so physically affectionate towards his friends but she just wasn't a physical person.

"Oh, speaking of Dream..." he turned and Y/n followed his characters line of sight, having to zoom in to see the green figure perched at the top of a tree.

"He's very menacing."

"He does that."

<Bugsy> come here pls dream <Bugsy> i have a gift :]

Dream ran towards Y/n and stopped in front of her expectedly. She looked at Karl then back at Dream and dropped the gift, backing up after and crouching.

His character picked it up and held it, pausing to read the name. After a moment, he slowly looked up at Y/n's character before jumping and spinning in circles. Y/n hid her smile in her sleeve even though no one could see her.

<Dream> wait lemme see the one I gave you <Bugsy> what D: <Dream> I wanna name it

"What is going on?" Karl giggled.

"Gift exchange. Mind your own business."

"Woah!" Karl gasped dramatically. "Uncalled for."

Dream came back and dropped the renamed flower for her. Y/n picked it up and hovered over it to read the name.

'host, dream'

She gasped and started punching his character. He backed up and ran away but joined the call seconds later.

"Wait! Stop hitting me!" Dream yelled into her headset.

Y/n laughed, trying to contain her smile as she continued to hit the green character. "Dream! Are you kidding? I tried being all cute and you hosted me?? In MINECRAFT??"

"It was a joke! You said something like that to Wilbur on Twitter a while ago, I was just using your humor!" Dream's giggles filled Y/n's headphones and she smiled but quickly dropped it so her voice could sound serious.

"Give it back."

Dream looked at her before letting out a small, "What?"

"Give me back the flower so I can go burn it with the other one."

"Bugsy!"

"What is going on?" Karl asked through a cackle. "Dream, did you hurt Bugsy??"

"Yes, Karl! He hurt my feelings! He gave me a flower and gave it back to name it something mean!"

Dream just laughed so Y/n punched him again.

"Dream! You can't hurt Bugsy!" Karl defended, also punching Dream.

All Y/n could hear was the sound of Dream wheezing, his character running as the two chased him. "Stop! You guys are so– STOP HITTING ME!"

"Fine," Y/n finally said, crouching and facing the ground as she walked into a corner to look like she was pouting. "I'm just not going to go on any Minecraft dates anymore."

"Wait, no," Dream protested in a soft voice, his character stopping to look at her's. "Take that back."

"Heart been broke so many times..."

"You're so stupid."

Karl gasped happily. "You guys have a Minecraft date? Can I help plan it?!"

"We did. In exchange for letting you give me the tour. But I've changed my mind since I've been so betrayed."

"Oh my gosh, you're so..." Dream trailed off but his wide smile could be heard through his voice.

"So what? Finish that sentence, Dream," Y/n dared teasingly.

"So... ANNOYING!"

"DREAM! SAY YOU'RE SORRY!" Karl yelled.

"Okay! I'm sorry! Bug, I'm so sorry. Really. Please let me... let me rename your flower something cute. It'll make you so happy that you'll fall in love with me all over again and–and we can go on our date. Please don't burn our flowers."

"And what if I don't give them to you?"

"I'll just kill you and pick them off your corpse."

"Woooooowwww. Okay, it's like that?"

"Yes, it is like that," he said through a smile. It was so apparent in his voice that he was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning.

<Ranboo> how is the tour going Bugsy was shot by Dream using DEFINITELY NOT PENIS <Ranboo> ah going well I see

Bugsy screamed in her mic as the death screen appeared. "DREAM!"

"You took too long!" He wheezed as Bugsy respawned.

"I don't know where I am!"

"Hold on, I'll avenge you!" Karl declared before he died too.

"You thought you could kill me with your fists? Karl, you're naked and I'm wearing full Netherite."

"You weren't when I started punching you! You pulled that out of thin air!"

<Ranboo> canon

Y/n smiled at Ranboo's comment. She had never talked to him but she knew he and Tubbo were close friends and he seemed really funny. He had already proved he had a dry sense of humor in the 30 minutes she was on the SMP and she loved that. Y/n made a mental note to befriend him before returning to being drama queen to Dream.

"So, Dream, now that you've made me an enemy–"

"WhAT? We are not enemies, Bug. I'm actually naming a flower something really cute as we speak. Enemies don't do that."

"Maybe I'm not your enemy but you sure are mine."

"Oh come on now," he mumbled lowly, running chills down her spine. What the hell was that?? "What do I have to do to make it up to you?"

"You-you murdered me in cold blood. Nothing will make it up."

"So I could get the flower! It was out of love! So I could give you a better present! Does that count for nothing?"

"Hm," she hummed. "We'll see what new name you come up with and then I'll decide."

Karl and Y/n got back to the chessboard and waited for Dream to return with his new flower.

Breaking character and turning towards her best friend, Y/n laughed at Karl. "Sorry for distracting from our BFF shenanigans time."

"This is way more entertaining," Karl assured. "Me and my chat got front row seats to the Dreamsy love saga."

"Shut up," she mumbled as she punched him in-game.

"OW! STOP PUNCHING ME SO MUCH!"

"Okay, okay, I'm back!!" Dream announced and they saw his figure sprinting and jumping towards them. He dropped the flower for Y/n and stepped back, crouching and standing repeatedly.

Y/n picked up the flower and hovered over it to read the name.

"Is it worthy of your forgiveness, Bugsy? Does it pass the vibe check?" Karl asked with a giggle.

Y/n bit her lip as she smiled at her screen.

to the prettiest girl in the world. love, dream <3

It was a joke, obviously. He was just continuing the joke of flirting with her like he does on Twitter just like Sapnap and Karl and George and Quackity do. They all joke about flirting with her and this was another joke.

But it still gave her tummy butterflies.

"Bug?" Dream called softly.

But why would he joke like that when neither of them were streaming? Karl's chat wouldn't see it so there was no one to point in feeding into the joke, unless he meant for Y/n to show Karl? She was overthinking. She needed to play it cool. 

She also needed an enderchest so no one could find it and no one could take it away from her and destroy it but they didn’t need to know she liked it that much.

"Mmm.... it'll do."

**********

PREVIOUS | NEXT

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A/N: yeeee hope you guys liked this one! i think this is my favorite so far i just think dream was being too cute and i wanna be best friends with karl so much it hurts. we’re gonna get deeper into the dream relationship soon!! i just needed to indugle in bff karl content real quick!!!

taglist: open (at the time) @hydrate-tion @loraleiix @tinaswagbd @charsdummb @smileyyuta @1ghoste1 @cerberus-hellhound @gaysludge @queestionmark @carnations-red @letsloveimagines @the-fictionwriters-hairdo @boiled-onionrings @a-cryptic @fee-btheweeb​ @letsloveimagines @erwinss @just-a-stan @axths @kayleigh2703 @furiouspockettoad @sometimeseverythingsucks @powerpuffyn​ @itshaileyn @millavalntyne @automaticcomputerpaper @nikkineeky @fivedicksinatrenchcoat @sprucekot​ @bellomi-clarke @possiblyanxioushuman

[aetheternity]

Adventures in the Kawata twins

Disclaimer: This takes place during the present when they're all adults. This isn't an x reader persay but reader is mentioned.

Synopsis: Takemichi & Chifuyu are stuck taking care of the drunk Kawata twins. It can't be that hard they'd assumed. Though they fail to understand that the twins are dumped on them for good reason.

☆☆

"Takemichi, you plan on being a designated driver?" Draken asks as Takemichi plops into the seat next to him at their shared table.

"Yeah, I don't feel like drinking tonight." He explained with a shrug.

"Great!" Mikey exclaimed allowing his straw to slip back into the something red he'd been sucking down. "Then you can take care of the Kawata brothers." He pointed to the end of the bar where both brothers sat. Smiley swiveling back in forth in his chair while Angry just glared at all the people. Their eyes lazily hovering over the thick crowd of people.

"They're barely sipping their drinks." Takemichi scoffed

Draken snorted with a deep laugh, "For now." Though he stopped talking when Mikey elbowed him.

"Yeah ok I'll take them home later." Takemichi replied.

"Not just take them home." Mikey grunted, poking his finger out at Takemichi. "You gotta watch them!" He gestured first to Takemichi then back to the two boys at the bar.

"Ok ok sure."

How bad could they possibly get after all? They were never apart as far as Takemichi could see. Even now they were calmly sipping their drinks, Angry's feet swaying back and forth against the side of the bar stool, his face full of frustration as he played with the straw between his lips. Meanwhile Smiley began talking about something random that barely caught his brother's attention his warm smile stretched tightly against his face.

They were calm. This was gonna be fine....

An hour later~

"Where'd they go!!" Takemichi clung to Chifuyu's shoulders like they were his life support shaking the poor man like a doll.

"Well where's the last place you had them?!" Chifuyu screamed back, head darting up over the crowd trying to locate at least one of the missing twins.

"They're not lost remotes!!" Takemichi grunted

A sudden burst of clapping across the bar made Takemichi and Chifuyu whip around. A rhythm slowly forming as drunk onlookers turned to face the same direction. Suddenly a big blue tuff peaked its way over the crowd followed by a fist raising in the air and Angry's full face coming into view.

"Shit." Chifuyu cursed

Takemichi lead the rush through the crowd, Chifuyu right behind him as the two of them made their way closer to one of the rickety tables near the back corner of the bar where Angry was now pointing out into the crowd. A smile almost as big as his brother's plastered onto his face. But it had a much gentler feel to it, almost as if he did it everyday.

"You! You got what I need! Everybody!" Angry belted as he sung into an invisible mic. "But you say he's just a friend!! Now the ladies!"

"And you say he's just a friend!" Reciprocated the crowd.

"Oh God who's he singing about? Name?" Chifuyu scoffed as he held onto Takemichi's hoodie for fear of getting swept away in the crowd.

"Wait? Angry likes, Name?!"

"You must be the most oblivious person in the world to not have noticed. Even I noticed!" Chifuyu yelled over the crowd.

Takemichi sighed reaching out for the wobbly table working to keep it steady as Chifuyu went around the other side tugging at Angry's pant leg.

"And you say he's just a friend, oh baby, you-" Angry continued until Chifuyu finally managed to catch his attention. "Takemichi! Chifuyu! Hi!" He bounced on the table almost causing it to tip.

"Angry come on, let's go find your brother!"

"Ooo yeah!" He giggled like a child.

"Holy shit I didn't even know he was capable of laughing, let alone smiling." Chifuyu blinked shaking his head.

"Catch me ok!" Angry beamed

"Wait Angry!-"

Takemichi's legs folded beneath him as Angry laid on top of him. Surprisingly he wasn't that heavy, though his body weight came out of nowhere and all at once. It left Takemichi with zero breath in his lungs as an uncharacteristic Angry laid on top of him, Chifuyu's smug grin just above him.

"Thanks for the support!" Takemichi groaned in pain. With both hands Chifuyu pulled Takemichi up, helping him support Angry's weight as he wrapped the younger twins legs around his waist.

"Why-" Chifuyu gestured to the current display.

"It'll just be easier."

Angry clung to Takemichi's hoodie like a curious toddler, sticking his fingers beneath the back to play with the tag.

"Come on, we're gonna go find your brother." Takemichi soothingly rubbed Angry's back before turning to Chifuyu.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Chifuyu asked

The sound of glass shattering a short distance away and the sounds of loud screams and grunts called the attention of almost everyone in the bar. Aside from those too busy making out or puking to see.

"I'd say follow the screaming."

They'd barely arrived on the scene but the crunches of glass underneath their shoes spoke volumes. Smiley's fists repeatedly slamming into a now completely shattered glass mirror. Blood seeping through his damaged knuckles like a punctured water bottle.

Chifuyu immediately slipped his arms under Smiley's armpits. Shaken a bit by the stoned face that stared down at the shattered mirror beneath them.

"Come on Angry we gotta go!"

"That's Smiley! This is Angry!" Takemichi yelped, shifting a distracted Angry around to look at Chifuyu.

"At this point can you blame me?! It's like we fell into an alternate dimension." Chifuyu groaned "Wait is that possible right now?"

"I don't think so!"

"Get off! This cunt is asking for it!" Smiley reached for the only part of the mirror still even slightly assembled. But before he could punch it in Chifuyu slipped an arm around his waist.

"Let's just get out of here before the cops show up!"

Even in disarray Takemichi was pleased at how much easier it had been getting the twins out of the bar then it had been finding them.

"You can still drive a bike right?" Takemichi asked as he reached into Angry's pocket for his keys. He placed a disoriented Angry on the back, trying to push his leg over the side.

"God, your knuckles are wrecked!" Chifuyu gasped astonished. Some of the glass had chipped off while some stayed wedged inside his closed fist.

"It's fine we can remove it when we get them home."

"Hey do you think Name likes that song?" Angry nodded his head, snapping his fingers to an imaginary beat. "I like the bartender, yeah if you're looking for me I'm at the bar with her!" He sung

"I'm sure it'd be just as uncomfortable for Name as it currently is for us." Chifuyu sighed "Come on get on back." He explained to Smiley.

"Fuck you."

Angry fidgeted around behind Takemichi only holding onto his waist when Takemichi physically slid his hands there. His smile deepening as he grinned along to the music he hadn't stopped singing.

After a bit more pleading Smiley plopped onto the back with his arms crossed over his chest. "Ok, now all we need to do is get them home right?" Chifuyu called over the roar of the engine and the sound of Angry still harmonizing with inaudible music.

"Actually.. I told Mikey I'd look after them for the night.."

"I hate you."

"Chifuyu, please! I can't do this without you! Once we put them to bed the rest should be easy right?"

They pulled up to a red light and for the first time tonight Takemichi could hear himself think. Yeah ok, the rest of the night really shouldn't be too difficult. The hard part was getting them out of the bar right?

"Fuck are you looking at shit stain?!" Smiley screamed to a man casually minding his business across the street.

"Angry!" Takemichi screeched

"See you did it too!" Chifuyu pointed

"Shit, I mean-"

"Huh?!" The man called turning to make eye contact with the four people in front of him.

"Can't this light change any fucking faster?!" Chifuyu yelled

"You wanna go bitch!" Smiley called

~~~~

"Smiley, please shut up!" Chifuyu was practically withering. Smiley nearly left off the bike when the man came charging forward.

In that split second the light turned green and Chifuyu sped off with Takemichi trailing just behind. A flood of nervous tears beginning to stain his face.

"You know Mikey set you up right?" Chifuyu grunted as he hauled an agitated Smiley into his and his brother's shared flat.

"I figured after looking up to see them both gone." Takemichi gasped and heaved, shutting the door behind him and Angry.

"I'm making ramen." Smiley announced, staggering off to the living room.

"No no no what you need to do is lay down. This night has been a nightmare." Chifuyu said

"You wanna go fucker." Smiley spat

"Smiley please-" Takemichi tried

"Takemichi, Michi! Look look at my Tiktok dance! You gotta watch!" Angry tugged on Takemichi's jacket sleeve with kid like hops trying to get his attention.

"Just.. I can't right now please we-"

"Why?!" Angry's outburst immediately brought quiet to the flat, the beginnings of tears brimming in the corners of his eyes.

"Shit, don't let him cry!" Chifuyu exclaimed

"Ok! Ok do the dance!"

Angry straightened, smile reappearing fully. He patted the tops of his chest, shaking his hips to nonexistent music. "You need a woman's touch in your place, just protect her and keep her safe." His arm juts out to the words he's singing, "Baby, worship my hips in ways, so feminine with grace."

Takemichi and Chifuyu blink, mouths hung in a small 'O' as they watched the awkward drunk assembly of movements matching terribly with the surprisingly on key singing. Without warning Angry clutched his knees, bile spilling from his body like a sprinkler system.

"You're in charge of Angry then." Chifuyu patted Takemichi's back as Angry continued to unleash on the once clean living room floor. Coughs escaping his drunken body. "I'll take care of.. ah shit! Where'd he go now?!"

"Maybe that's enough dancing for one night." Tiptoeing around the undigested waste Takemichi reached for Angry's arm. "Want some water?" He asked pulling a staggering Angry into the kitchen.

"There's-" Takemichi managed to get him there just in time. Angry's fingers clutching the edges of the kitchen sink as he leaned forward emptying everything in his stomach down the drain with a loud heave.

"Take your time it'll be-"

"Smiley no!" Chifuyu's voice rang across the flat. As well as the sound of multiple fragile items breaking.

What would soon follow in the next minute and a half were, a hard thud, harsh obscenities spewed one after another, and more things breaking only a couple doors away from where Takemichi was massaging Angry's head.

"Chifuyu, what's going on?!"

Chifuyu clattered out of the bathroom stumbling back and forth between both feet. "He punched me in the jaw." His thumb grazed over his jaw inspecting his hands for any sign of blood. "Do the twins have duct tape in here?"

Takemichi grabbed a paper towel dampening it before patting the sides of Angry's lips and the base of his chin where a small amount of his puke was currently leaking down.

"What do you need duct tape for?"

"Don't worry about that."

Chifuyu disappeared with the tape too quickly for further questions to be asked. Angry's smile was barely visible at this point the alcohol potentially flooding out of his system.

"Will you wash my hair Michi?" Angry pleaded with a tiny whimper.

"You should probably rest." Takemichi replied, he turned to fill a glass of water in the sink before handing it to Angry.

"Can I rest in the bathtub?"

"Why're you so violent when you drink?!" Chifuyu yelled

"Here just go to the couch!" Takemichi gestured, pushing a confused Angry back into the living room before bolting down the hall.

"What the- omg!"

"Get me some rope or some shit!" Chifuyu grunted, pulling both of Smiley's hands together.

Smiley laid beneath Chifuyu on his stomach duct tape wrapped around his mouth. His legs kicking around aimlessly as muffled noises slipped from his mouth. The shower curtain covered in blood and laid in a ball on the floor and the pole now bent in the bathtub. The window in the corner smashed in from the inside, pieces of glass littering the white tile.

I'm pretty sure this isn't what Mikey meant when he said take care of the Kawata twins!"

"Well he won't stop struggling! What else am I supposed to do?" Chifuyu gripped the duct tape, pulling it around Smiley's balled fists before ripping it with his teeth.

The sound of glass shattering in the living room brought Takemichi back down to reality. "Ok fine, just don't hurt him and clean his wounds!"

Takemichi rushed back into the living room tripping over his own two feet. His thoughts immediately scattering as he looked over the new situation. Angry's once full cup of water mixed with his vomit on the floor as the glass was now shattered in the growing mess.

"I want water.." Angry said, reaching out to Takemichi.

"Lay still on the couch and I'll bring you a new cup." He sighed

Takemichi dug around for a few seconds in the cupboard grabbing a new glass from the middle shelf. He hadn't noticed before but the Kawata twins had a gorgeous flat. That was slightly more wrecked right now. But it was clean and gorgeous almost to the point where it looked brand new.

He reached for the faucet, positioning it to fill the glass with hot water before turning it upside down to empty the glass. The water splashed against his disheveled black hoodie dampening it a little more than the sweat of this night already had. When he refilled the glass it was with cold water turning the sink top off and walking back over to Angry's kid like wonder stare on the edge of the couch.

"This house has big ceilings." Angry pointed, mouth agape.

"Yup, here." Takemichi transferred the water to Angry's open hands. He got down on one knee untying Angry's shoelaces, slipping his shoes off his feet before placing them next to the head of the couch.

"Wish I lived here." Angry nodded softly, kicking his socked feet as he sipped the cool water in the glass that had been placed in his hands.

"Lay back ok."

A deep "oof" caught Takemichi's attention as he looked to a staggering Chifuyu, pulling Smiley along like a police officer arresting a perp.

"Ok, from this point on I need to be paid." He grunted

"What happened to your face?" Takemichi gestured to the gushing bruise on Chifuyu's forehead. Blood beginning to leak down the sides of his face.

"What do you think happened? He fucking headbutted me." Chifuyu rubbed the blemish with one hand.

For the first time all night Smiley finally tapped out. Collapsing onto the floor in a small ball. One shoe kicked off God knows when. Hair a disorganized tumbleweed atop his head.

"What do you think Name would think of this song?" Angry bounced in his seat spilling water into his lap.

"Oh God please no more singing!" Chifuyu huffed in exasperation.

Takemichi can already see the crease of Angry's eyebrows and the quiver of his bottom lip. "What he means is we'll hear it tomorrow because you need sleep."

A folded blanket laid on the top of the couch and Takemichi reached for it. He shook it out before placing it over Angry's descending shoulders. Slowly the comfort of falling asleep began to rise on Angry's face. Eyelids heavy and face falling into warm ease.

"You promise?" He questioned as he laid his head on the arm rest.

"Yes bright and early tomorrow."

"Night." He whispered and less than a minute later he was fast asleep just like his brother.

For the next couple minutes Takemichi worked to clean the blood off Chifuyu's face, arms and a couple other places.

"Geez he did a number on you."

"On me, on the bathroom, on that mirror in the bar." Chifuyu listed off as Takemichi walked back to the living room leaving him to pat his bruise.

"But you did do a great job bandaging his hands."

"Uh huh."

Takemichi reached up to his face squeezing the bridge of his nose and the lids of his eyes. Chifuyu came up to his side as the blonde gestured to Smiley. "You're not gonna leave him like that are you?"

"You're right we should put a blanket on him." Chifuyu nodded, shaking his finger in front of Takemichi.

"I meant untie him!" Takemichi followed as Chifuyu went into the first available bedroom.

"Fine, once we get them both pills and clean up we can leave."

"Are you insane! Did you forget my bruises? If he wakes up at anytime before the sun and attacks it's your problem." Chifuyu snagged a blanket off the top of the bed slinging it over his shoulder.

"Why didn't we just put them in their beds?" Takemichi groaned

"It's too late they're already asleep just let it go." Chifuyu huffed

Takemichi followed Chifuyu back into the living room. With both hands he opened the blanket fully before letting it lay flat over Smiley's now relaxed figure.

"One you're insane if you think I'm going home. It's almost three am and watching these two for one night has given me nice horror stories to tell Mitsuya next time he talks about his sisters. Two I was dead serious about needing payment especially now if I'm gonna be spending hours cleaning."

~~~~

Morning came sooner than Takemichi would've liked. The sun blared through the window like the worst alarm. He squinted covering his eyes with one hand before shifting on the floor with the blanket he'd pulled from Souya's closet.

Before he could reexperience restful slumber a couple faint knocks had him tossing aside the blanket entirely. Yanking the door open with a low 'what' from the depths of his fatigue.

"Morning to you too." Draken's voice brought him back.

"Heyo Takemichy." Mikey grinned proudly

"How was last night?" Draken asked as Mikey entered the flat ahead of him.

Though the question really didn't need to be verbally answered as the image of Smiley laying on the ground with duct tape over his mouth and a half kicked away blanket revealing his taped up arms. The smell of puke still slightly thick in the hot apartment and the blood all over Chifuyu's jacket spoke louder than words.

Even with sleep still in the midst of Chifuyu's eyes he turned to Mikey and Draken standing behind him.

"Never a fucking gain." He pointed aimlessly, eyelids dashing over his eyes to properly bring the beauty of sight back to him.

Smiley rolled over, or half way over immediately awakening when he realized he was tied up. His head jerked towards Chifuyu with mumbled questions.

"Hold on."

"FUCK!" Smiley's grin was back full force. The edges of his eyebrows twitching, voice echoing through the flat. The unnecessary roughness at which Chifuyu had ripped away the tape showed off some prominent reddening just below his nose.

"Ah!" Angry nearly flew off the couch with the way he sat up immediately falling back into the pillow behind him. Clutching his head with both arms. "Who's being loud." He groaned

"We figured we owed you guys breakfast for taking care of the twins last night." Draken remarked amusement creeping onto his face.

"And this is way less than I was expecting. No cops or anything." Mikey nodded

"What happened to my fists!" Smiley grinned crazily

"Everyone stop talking!" Angry grit

"Take the twins out." Chifuyu said "I'm going home to sleep."

"Ditto to that." Takemichi yawned

[roger-that-cap]

what a lovely dream it is

english major!wanda x english major!fem!reader

summary: who would have thought that wanda, the self proclaimed queen of reading science fiction, would be just as obsessed with shakespeare as you? 

warnings: one use of the word “su*cide”. shakespeare. nerds quoting lines. bad writing. (i challenged myself into writing this in an hour and a half). cringey writing (there is a difference)

word count: 4k!

You and Wanda connected at first because you two spoke the same language from different regions. It felt like she spoke British English, and you spoke American English. You were on the same wavelength but not exactly the same individual wave, but it was as close as you had ever gotten with someone who you deemed worth your time. 

While everyone else was partying or drinking until they threw up or flaunting around bags with white powder in them, you sat with your back to the wall after studying, reading a classic, knowing that the change of her leaning against the same wall and doing the exact same thing you were was high. 

You met her in the library, on your third day at your university. You were trying to find your group of authors, your little nook where you would feel the safest in the entire school. You had stumbled right into the fantasy section, looked around for a second, and then tripped over a brown boot that was just at the start of the science fiction shelf. 

“I’m so sorry,” a woman’s voice murmured, and you just shook your head and said that it was okay, much more interested in the way that your hands suffered from the fall on the carpet than the girl. Until you looked up. 

It was everything about her that stunned you. The brown hair, the flush of her cheeks, the apologetic look in her pale blue eyes that caressed her features to sit in one beautiful and genuine expression. The moment your eyes landed on her, you swore that your heart stopped and started in the same second, and then took a run for it with all of the parts of your brain that you needed to make a coherent thought. 

 You promised yourself in that moment that you would never forget the way the woman in front of you looked. And despite seeing hundreds of more faces throughout your self-tour, you never truly did forget it. If you didn’t know any better, if you were perhaps any younger and less exposed to the cruelty of the world and fate and its way of not giving you what you wanted, you would have been certain that the universe had finally given you the contemporary meet cute that you yearned for. 

But then, you saw which aisle she was in. You looked at the books and recognized the authors just to be sure, and then you turned to look at her. “You’re into science fiction?” 

 Her apologetic look fell completely into a look of pure surprise, and then excitement, almost as if she thought that she found someone else who liked the genre she did. “Well, it’s the best genre that was ever written.” 

  “Wow, how wrong,” you found yourself saying, and somehow, you knew that the look of offense on her face was all for fun. “It’s definitely gothic literature.” The look she gave you was one that you would never forget. 

  A week later, you ran into her in the cafeteria, holding a copy of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, your beat up one from home that you would put your life on the line for. The cover was torn up a bit and the pages were dog eared, from a time where you hadn’t discovered the way that bookmarks changed lives. It was the copy your cousin got you, and it was your favorite gift to date. 

  She was holding The Martian Chronicles. You nearly gagged. 

At first, you thought she hadn’t seen you, or hadn’t recognized you, which was even worse. You sighed under your breath and said, “at least it’s not Nineteen Eighty Four,” and watched in complete horror as she turned around. 

She locked eyes with you immediately, and her own eyes widened when she saw you, and then she grinned when she undoubtedly recognized you and your disdain for science fiction. “No, it’s even better than Nineteen Eighty Four.” 

“Anything is better than that,” you said, swallowing down your nerves at speaking to the girl again, kicking yourself for being so nervous despite not even knowing her name. 

She gave you that same “offended” look she gave you during your first interaction, and you cracked a small smile. “Um, don’t you voluntarily go into the gothic section?” 

The smile dropped. “The most valid section in the library? Sure do.” 

She smiled too, a genuine grin as she took a step forward and extended her hand. For a second, you just looked at it, the calmness that came with the discussion of literature suddenly washed away so far back into your mind that you panicked for a moment, not reaching for her hand until you saw it shake in just the slightest, like she was regretting even doing it. 

You nearly bumped your elbow on the table trying to stand up and shake her hand. Your hands connected and you grinned so wide it felt like your face had split open. You told her your name and she repeated it to make sure she had heard you loud and clear, and then, she smiled even brighter. 

“Nice to meet you, Dracula. I’m Wanda.” And that was where it started. 

As your library meetups started to become more intentional than not, you learned that not only was Wanda a student that stayed in the dorms, but the student who was next door to you. You learned that she pretty much kept to herself for the most part besides a few other people at the university, and that she kept a small circle. You learned that her favorite book was Brave New World. You learned that she would rather shy away from classic romance novels, even though you didn’t mind them, and that she hated gothic literature. You loved it. Your favorite book was The Picture of Dorian Gray, for god's sake. So, you hated each other’s favorite genres. 

  But you both loved symbolism. And you were both English majors. And for some very odd, very coincidental reason, you both met in what was nowhere near the middle- Shakespearean plays. 

  Now, that was something that you were always made fun of for as a child. No one wanted to hang out with the girl who quoted Shakespeare, especially if it wasn’t even from Romeo and Juliet. Reading normal books just made you look “smart”, but you knew that genuinely enjoying plays would make you look pretentious. So you had always kept it to yourself when you left your hometown. Until Wanda came along. 

Wanda came along, and suddenly, you found yourself quoting tragedies and getting the correct response back. Sometimes, she would even start it first. You would do nerdy things like halfway reenact scenes because even you guys weren’t that nerdy… you supposed. 

One morning, you and Wanda were in a study group (that was hardly productive because it was just Wanda’s little circle that was actually astoundingly close), and she looked over your shoulder to see your computer, where you were hardly typing an essay about the importance of the establishment of places for higher education. She put her chin against your shoulder, sat there for a minute, and then turned her head to whisper in your ear, “nothing will come of nothing.” It was embarrassing, the way your eyes lit up at hearing her voice, and even more so when Natasha, Wanda’s extremely perceptive friend, picked up on what you were feeling. The red head shot you the widest grin ever known to man. 

“C’mere, Frankenstein,” Wanda said one night, already looking over at you while you tried to finish your work for the day.

You held back the smile on your face as you sat on your bed, one leg over it while you typed. “I’m right here.” 

“No, here,” she emphasized, and then she was patting the spot on the small couch in your room, the same look in her eyes that always came with when she asked for any kind of physical contact. 

  That was by far the worst thing about Wanda, and it hardly had anything to do with her. She was touch starved, and touch was your love language. Her asking you to hold her on the couch used to mean nothing to you, because at one point, you just thought she was pretty. But now, holding her hand on top of the table while you both were submerged in your respective worlds felt like a promise ring. Letting her rest her head on your shoulder and in your neck felt like giving your vulnerability over to her, and feeling her hand rub against your back felt like she was taking it and guarding it. But you knew she didn’t feel the same way, not at all. 

She was straight. 

But it did you no good when she quoted back some of your favorite lines. It didn’t help when she said all of the romantic lines towards you at the drop of a hat, almost like she didn’t even realize what she was saying. She didn’t understand the way your heart died and was revived every time she said something like that, something that was so dear and vulnerable to you. And she certainly never would, because you would never tell her. 

Now that you thought about it, allowing yourself to fall for her was the dumbest and most destructive thing you could have ever done. The first bookworm who didn’t make fun of you for your knowledge and love of old plays was the one that took hold of your heart, and now you were paying for being such an idiot. Now you would have to sit through three more years of school with her being your friend, just your friend, while you pined over her. It was going to be hell.  

And was it. You had to sit through her saying the most romantic of Shakespearean quotes every day and act like she wasn’t making your heart shake. You had to listen to her speaking the language that you two shared and pretend that you just wanted to be her friend. You were so attached to her and everything that you two had established together, and you couldn’t ruin it by giving her googly eyes. She was way too important for that. Because now, she was way more than a person who you could talk to about old plays. She was the person that you could talk to about anything, without a doubt. Anything but the intense crush that you were harboring for her, and the way that she made your heart sing and your soul ascend whenever you smelled her perfume or saw her smile. Anything but that. 

§§

 “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” You looked up from your book only to see Wanda looking over at you, lying down on the blanket and just watching you. You swore later on when you were alone that you imagined it, but for a moment you could have sworn that you saw a flash of adoration in her eyes. “Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” 

You were choking on the inside. Your face was blank, but your mind was going haywire, and you couldn't think of anhytnign besides holding back the urge to say something that you had no chance of taking back. “You’re in a sonnet mood today, aren’t you?” 

“And what mood are you in today, Jekyll?” 

“I’m in the mood to finish this book,” you teased, and she rolled her eyes. 

“What if I’m in the mood to sit and watch a movie?” 

“Then you should do it,” you said, going the way your heart clenched at the thought of her cutting your friendly outing short. “I’ll follow you in an hour or two.”

She gave you a look. “You know I don’t go anywhere without you.”  

“You can go watch a movie, Wands.” You sighed out, closing your book and wedging your pointer finger between the pages so that you wouldn't get lost. 

 “I’ll wait,” she said, and you shook your head at her. 

“I don’t want to hold you back from getting in time with your favorite sci fi movies.”

“Can I go forward when my heart is here?”  

You were hit with such a wave of longing that you had to shut your eyes for a moment, but it looked like it was simply a long blink. “You’re so cheesy.” 

“I want to hear one,” Wanda said, leaning on her elbows as she stared up at you, and your heart pounded. She looked celestial, glowing under the sunlight with growing grass around her and a sweet smile budding on her face. “You never quote any back to me anymore, you know?” 

You knew, for sure. It was on purpose that you didn’t quote back. If you were to continue the conversation in romantic quotes, it was going to feel way too real to you. You could handle Wanda and her touches, but you were not going to be able to handle quoting Romeo and Juliet to her. “I’m sorry,” you mumbled softly, and then you heard her make a sound with her tongue, a displeased clicking noise.

  You looked up at her and lost your breath again, and your mental footing. There she was, looking up at you with her pretty eyes, giving you a look more intense than she had ever given you before. She was… it was almost like she was waiting for something, like she knew something. She was staring up at you and leaning on her hand in a way that was so oddly domestic in your mind, and you could almost see in your mind the way that she would do that if you woke up in the same bed, like she was waiting for you to wake up and trying to memorize your face. It made you warm on the inside, and just like she always managed to do, your brain turned to mush. 

“Conscience doth make cowards of us all,” you blurt, and you saw her brows pull in for a second. You blinked. 

  “Huh?” 

You were panicking on the inside. There were plenty of ways that she could have taken the quote that you had chosen, but you knew exactly what it sounded like. A half assed love confession. “You know, from Hamlet,” 

“Of course I know it’s from Hamlet, Jekyll.” She shook her head at you and sat up, crossing her legs without breaking eye contact. “But why that quote? You know so many, and you chose the one about death.” 

Unfortunately, it’s death by silence in this context, not by swords. “You said you wanted to hear a line,” you said, shrugging as you opened your book, trying to get rid of the embarrassment that you knew would stick to you for hours and hours. 

 “What a line,” she said, and then she rolled over to look up at the sky. Minutes later, you heard her sigh. “What a line.” 

§§

Romeo + Juliet was a classic for your movie night. At first, Wanda showed it to you after you boycotted it for years, despite your male celebrity crush being one of the main characters in it. You had always avoided watching because of the modernism, but one Wanda made you sit down and watch it, you actually found good things about it. For instance, the party scene. 

  “It was done wonderfully,” Wanda would always say from beside you after your extremely predictable comment of the scene being a masterpiece. 

Like always, there were a few moments of silence as you two watched the movie together, shoulder to shoulder on the small couch in your dorm while your roommate was off getting high. You watched the rest of it in near silence, halfway focused on the movie while the other part of your mind was split in two; feeling blessed that Wanda was even there with you, soclose, and feeling cursed that she was so close but so far. It was the perfect moment to hold her close like you wanted to so badly, but the timing wasn’t right. And that killed you. 

“Do you ever think about how they fell in love so fast?” Wanda asked, and you shrugged your shoulders. “I’d say that they were encroaching on soulmate territory.” 

“Soulmates, or foolish teenagers?” 

“I hardly know of any teenagers who would die for each other, even if they thought they were in love,” Wanda pointed out, and you rolled your eyes at her. “Don’t give me that face. I’m right, and you know it.” 

“I’ll always let you believe it, sci fi.” 

“But, really, don’t you ever want something like that?” 

You turned your face from the screen and looked at her incredulously, like she had gone mad while completing the process of growing three heads. “A suicide pact?” 

She groaned and threw her head back. “No. A love like that. Take away the death and violence, and look at what they had.” 

“It bloomed too quickly to have much potential later in life,” you countered. “That was infatuation, and that never lasts long.”

“You think that they both died for infatuation?”

“I think that they were young, and it’s hard to tell the difference between love and infatuation at any age, let alone as a teenager. I think they thought they loved each other to the ends of the earth, but I guess they’ll never know.” 

“You’re so cynical. Just like a person whose favorite is gothic literature.” You laughed, leaning forward towards her without even noticing what you were doing. “Do you believe in love?” 

“Of course I do,” you answered, giving her a look. “I’m just saying, Romeo and Juliet were not in true love. They were confused.” 

Then, the playful air that the conversation was flowing on changed so quickly that you nearly got whiplash and your heart started racing. The way Wanda was looking at you sent a chill down your spine, and in that moment, you were worried. “Are you confused?” 

You took in a breath. “About what?” 

“About anything,” she said slowly, almost like she felt like she was walking on thin ice with skates on. “Books, people, love, food, sexuality,” she ignored the way that you choked, “writing a paper, how to get  a strike in bowling. Or how to realize that Romeo and Juliet were definitely in love.” 

“You’re so intent on proving that they were to me,” you said, a laugh bubbling over and into your words. “Why are you suddenly so passionate about them now?” 

“The sight of lovers feedeth those in love.” 

Your heart jumped out of your chest again, and your hands clenched into weak  fists as you tried to will yourself into not assuming that she was talking about you. And then, white hot panic struck you at the thought of her being in love with someone else. “Speak low if you speak of love.” 

“Why should I?” Wands asked, shifting from her position on the couch to put a hand under her chin and watch you, her kind eyes afire with something that you had yet to see in them yet. “Really, Jekyll. Why?”

You hardly waited a full second before responding as truthfully as you ever would. “I’m afraid.” Before she could get a word in, you shook your head and finally loosened your lips, letting all of your worries and fears slide right through your teeth. “I’m afraid that I’ve fallen in love with someone who can never love me back. I’m scared to admit that I’ve been in love with you for a long time.  I’m afraid that you aren’t into girls.” You saw her make a face, almost like she couldn't believe that you were even suggesting the things that you were. “I don’t quote Shakespeare to you anymore because it feels too real to have you say lines like that back to me. I think that I’ve latched onto you without even meaning to, and now I don’t know if I can ever let you go.” 

Wanda was silent. She was watching you, as quietly as the sun hovered over the earth while she shone her light. Your heart had never beat so fast before as you watched her watch you with a face so blank that you were sure that she hadn’t retained a damn thing that you pulled from the depths of your heart. Then, the daunting thought that she had heard and understood everything but chose not to act swallowed you whole, and your hands started to shake. You gave a humorless laugh and finally looked away from the woman who had raised your spirits and crushed them all within five minutes. “I’m sorry. I’ve ruined everything, haven’t I?” 

“I’m so sorry.” You repeated, shaking your head and closing your eyes for a second as hot tears burned in them. When they opened, a fat tear sappetered onto your hand. I’m such an idiot. You looked to the screen, and then saw Romeo screaming, on the ground, and you could hear the words even though your ears were rushing with blood. I defy you, stars. “You don't have to say anything back, I know you don’t feel the same.” Your eyes pulled away from the screen. “I can leave- wait, um, this is my dorm. I-” 

“Doubt thou the stars are fire,” Wanda started slowly, and your brows furrowed as you heard the words fall from her lips. Fuck. You knew what this ended with, and still, you couldn’t wrap your head around it. “Doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love.”

Your eyes were wide by the end of it, watery and fixed on her. “W-what?” 

“How could you not have known?” Wanda asked softly, and you but your lip to stop from bursting into tears. 

“I thought you were straight!” You accused, and to your surprise, she laughed. 

“No, sweetheart.” Your heart stuttered. “I’m not.” 

Your breathing was still slightly heavy as you tried to get a  grip on everything that was happening. “You… you feel the same way?” 

“Of course I do, Jekyll.” She said, and you found yourself falling for her expressive eyes all over again as she stared up at you.  You reached your hand out experimentally, like she did the second time you ever met, and you waited that torturous moment for her to take your hand in a way that was much different than all the other times you shared a touch. This touch was the moment of truth.

She took your hand, kissed your knuckles, and put your palm on her cheek. 

“The very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly to your service.” 

“This can’t be anything but a dream,” you murmured, feeling her cheek in your hand and the way they were warm and flushed. The softness was bringing you in and out of your head, and every time you went back to reality, you were thrusted into a little sliver of paradise. 

“Well, what a lovely dream it is, then.” Her lips found yours. The movie played on, the clock kept its incessant ticking, and your leg was starting to tingle from sitting on it in the same position for so long. But to you, time absolutely stopped. And as long as a particular science fiction nerd was in front of you, nothing that ticked or clicked or buzzed was ever going to matter. 

*******

i said i wasn’t going to post this, but i did it anyway!! hope you guys enjoyed this fic!! it was a lot of fun to write but it also made me mad nervous LMAO let’s hope this wasn’t absolute dogshit

@teenwonder i know you said you wanted a tag on my stuff so here it is, love!! 💕💕

[violetrainbow412-blog]

Kiss me [P. C]

Prince Caspian x reader

Word counts: 2.6k

Warnings: I’m from Mexico so sorry for any misspelling or grammar. If you have any advice tells me!

N/A: I’ll post more Caspian stuff, in case you want to follow me :) (sorry for the scene and narrator changes I hope it's not tedious, haha)

"Run!" Caspian listened, and the peculiar talking animal did not have to repeat it.

Everything was happening so suddenly. First he had had to flee the castle from a threat he did not know existed, then he had found himself in the home of those strange creatures he thought extinct and was now running for his life from his own army.

The arrows on their crossbows soon arrived and the three had to dodge them as they advanced. Caspian advanced a couple more yards and then heard a scream.

"Oh, no”

"I'll go! The young man shouted, worried about the badger lying on the floor with an arrow stuck in his thigh. When he got to him the soldiers were close, so much so that his aim would not fail this time.

"Take it and run! It's more important than me!” the Narnian shouted, giving him the horn that hours earlier he had touched in the hope that something would happen. Why was it so important, anyway?

He watched the animal and then the troops. A panic attack invaded him and he adopted a grimace of terror. He didn't know what to do, he was trapped, he wouldn't save his friend, and he couldn't confront the men either.

Out of nowhere, the soldier leading the troops was defeated, wounded by a warrior who seemed invisible to human eyes. Caspian wasted no time, so he took trufflehunter in his arms from him to start running.

He kept advancing, with the little animal's complaining on his shoulder and suddenly heard the squeal of a horse. He turned completely frightened because he imagined it would not be difficult for that man to shoot and kill him, but when he watched the person on the beast it was not a uniform.

He was an extremely thin complexion warrior, but with his mouth covered in a cloth and a hood that prevented him from identifying him. He wore worn trousers and a shirt that looked like his, as well as a sword in his right hand with which he had already begun to hurt men. The few who tried to shoot him were in vain, for the invisible warrior seemed to know who wanted to hurt his companion and killed them before the arrows could rub him.

For a moment the presence of both mysterious figures was reassuring, but a second later he was already alarmed again.

If your uncle's men couldn't with them, what was waiting for him?

"Get him out of here!” he yelled at his other companion. He drew his sword and turned the other way, but was surprised to no longer see a single soldier. He frowned rather troubled, but out of nowhere the hooded warrior appeared to attack. He fell gracefully from his horse and pushed Caspian with his sword, causing him to fall from his back to the ground.

"Your last words?” he asked, pointing at his neck with the tip of the sword. Caspian was surprised to hear her voice, which looked not masculine at all. Did you look at the... person? That threatened him and swallowed scared-dead saliva. If his destiny was to die at the hands of the warrior in front of him, then he would.

But before sticking the sword around his neck, the warrior paid a little more attention to him and Caspian saw it pale. On his side appeared a small talking mouse with a sword, which encouraged him to kill the telmarine at once.

"You are a mouse" Caspian said, forgetting for a moment the swordsman in front of him.

"Very original to be your last words" he mocked, but Caspian was more focused on how the warrior's knees in front of him faltered and saw him stumble until he fell backwards.

He had fainted.

Caspian tried to get close but the mouse wouldn't let him. Instead he threatened him with the sword while running to help his companion. He took off his hood, cloth and that's when Caspian also felt him faint.

The warrior was a girl.

You opened your eyes and observed a beautiful field, one that definitely did not belong to the forest of Narnia in which you lived.

You were dreaming or, rather, remembering.

You looked at your clothes, smaller than you expected, and you knew what I remember it was. Actually, a very special one.

"Y/N!” somebody screamed behind you, with joy. When you turned, you saw a long-haired teenager running in your direction with a huge smile. “I found you! You're terrible at this game, if you don't mind me saying so" he murmured, smiling more as he stood in front of you. “What's the matter?”

"Caspian" you whispered gently. Despite the years you couldn't help but remember even a single detail of his face. His pale skin, his black hair up to his shoulders, his red lips and cheeks blushed by physical activity. You sighed with relief and threw yourself into his arms, feeling his scent. It smelled like gardenias and linen.

"Hey, I'm not going to forgive you, this victory no matter how mellow you are, you understand?” he said funny, but you didn't seem to want to say anything. You just wanted to hold on to him, you wanted to feel it close to you as much as possible.

At that point, after reliving so many times that moment, you no longer knew it was real and that it was a lie as to words, but the sensations never changed.

"Never leave me" you asked with a lump in your throat, feeling his hands sneak down your back until he held your waist

"Why would I?” he asked gently, near your ear.

"Just promise me, will you?" you whispered. You separated a little from him and both came face to face, with your noses barely rubbing. “Promise it.”

"Sure, I promise" he gasped. The words that came out of his mouth no longer mattered, but the feeling of your breath against his. “But again, why do you think I'd leave?”

"Because you already did" you murmured short, holding back tears.

"What do you mean...?”

"Kiss me" you demanded, taking the cloth from his shirt. You were a little aware that you had both kissed in that meadow when you were younger, but you weren't so sure it was exactly after you told him I'd abandoned you because you weren't even close to knowing it.

"What do you say?” Caspian asked in a trembling voice, but paying a little more attention to your lips. Without wasting time you pulled it a little towards you, feeling his breath get stuck in his throat.

You felt him respond to the kiss for a second, his lips velvety in contrast to yours, but the next second you opened your eyes and he was gone.

You were no longer in the beautiful meadow where your first kiss happened. You were in the woods, at night, alone.

You called him, yelled his name, but he never answered. You started crying and took a couple of steps just to bump into something heavy.

It was a lifeless body. He was...

"Caspian!” you screamed discouraged, waking up from the fading you had experienced.

When your eyes clear, you realized your feet didn't touch the floor and a couple of arms held you carefully.

"I'm here, calm down" someone whispered, hugging you more against him. When you saw the young man holding you, you let out a high-pitched cry and from the impression he dropped you against the moss on the floor. “Y/N! Are you ok? Did you hurt yourself?”

"You're not real!” you said raising your voice, sticking your back against a nearby tree. “You're not... you... Caspian is dead," you murmured frightenedly, watching the man squat and approaching with the intention of reassuring you a little.

"It's not like that, look at me. I'm here" he said kindly, holding one of your hands. “Come, feel my heart” carefully placed your hand, small compared to his, on the left side of his chest. “It's beating. I'm real, I'm here" he repeated, worried about your expression of terror.

"He told me you were dead.”

"I was told that you...” and he was silent, unable to complete the sentence. He never believed that lie, so he had never said it out loud. “How did you survive all this time?” He asked short.

"Do you know this telmarine?” Someone said beside him. You looked at the three creatures present and realized that Reepicheep was the one who had spoken.

"I..." you hesitated. What if it was all just another dream?

"She's a little shocked by the falls, give her space," trufflehunter said. You thanked internally for not having to answer questions.

"We have to go, we can't waste time" Nikabrik said now. You had a little trouble breathing.

"Can you walk?” Caspian asked, looking at you again. Damn, when was the last time you saw those bright eyes? now it seemed like an eternity. “Or I could charge you, if you like.”

"I can walk" you said quickly. You stood up and walked as far away from the man as possible, hoping that the emptiness in your stomach would also go away. Without waiting for an answer you started walking without a course and heard Caspian follow in your footsteps. Apparently your sword was no longer in place, but at a glance you noticed Caspian was wearing your belt.

"Where's my horse?" you asked worried. Caspian came over already took the opportunity to hold you by the waist.

"Calm down, he's fine" he said quietly, looking you in the eye again. “God, I can't take it anymore. Would it be too much trouble if we rested for a few minutes?” he asked the others, still holding you. “I want to talk to you alone," he continued, but now kinder.

"How do we know you're trustworthy?” Reepicheep asked, in an attempt to take care of his friend.

"It's all right. He's good, he'd never hurt me" you said in his direction to reassure him. And so it was, you couldn't blame Caspian for all the suffering you'd faced during those years. “I know a river near here, we can talk there" you said. Caspian nodded and let you go, waiting for you to guide him.

"Don't be late" Reepicheep warned, pointing the sword at you.

You started walking and Caspian followed you, both quietly for a few minutes. When you were far enough away, he came a little closer to you until his little finger grazed your hand. He wanted to take it, but he didn't have the courage to do it.

"So...”

"Why didn't you ever look for me?” you said by slowing down your footsteps, in your broken voice. “All this time I thought he was dead... I blamed myself for it, even did you ever look for me?”

"I did" he admitted. Now he did take your hand. “You don't know how long I've been touring every corner of the kingdom looking for you, but all in vain. I never imagined you'd be... well, here" he said. They were silent again until he asked. “Why did you say you blamed yourself? Why did you think I was dead in the first place?”

"Your uncle told me" you exclaimed tremblingly. “He found out about us. He said a woman like me would never be with her nephew. You were, you're an heir to the throne, and I'm just an ordinary girl. He forbade me to see you or swore I'd kill you. Days later he told me that you had received a letter that I never sent and also told me you were dead. That he'd blame me for it if I didn't run away from there. Your guards brought me here to die and... Reepicheep found me, then I met more Narnians and they welcomed me. They taught me everything I know and I in return began to protect the forest from the telmarines" you explained, looking down. “So many years thinking you were dead, Caspian. So many years I missed you and cried for you. I... God, I was just a kid when your uncle did that. If I'd known you were okay, I'd have looked for you" you finished, now you're in tears bathing your cheeks.

Caspian grabbed your chin and raised your face. He was crying too.

"My uncle told me you abandoned me. If it's any consolation, I never believed it. That's why I looked for you so long, because... I thought something very bad had happened to you. And I see I wasn't that wrong" he admitted followed by a sob.

When you saw he like this, you felt all the pain accumulated over those years bursting into you and breaking down in tears. Caspian hugged you against his chest and you cried together, expressing more in that embrace than with all the words of the world.

After a long time you felt a huge peace and even though you didn't know Caspian's reasons for being there, you didn't care anymore.

You didn't care because he was pursued by the guards or because it was in the hands of your friends. All you cared about was feeling his arms around you and the constant beat of his heart.

He was Caspian, after all, your Caspian.

"There's something I still don't believe, you know?” he began to say in a low tone.

"And what is it?” you also responded in a whisper, fearing altering the peace that surrounded them.

"You're better at riding and with the sword than I am. I don't know if I should be afraid for my life" he joked and forced you to smile broadly.

And then, no place for a smile came laughter of jubilation. Caspian didn't get it, but his chest swelled with love when he heard your laughter again.

"Caspian for God's sake you are alive! You're here with me... Are you ok. I didn't kill you.”

"Kill me? You are crazy?” he asked, worried, hunching a little to keep up with you. “You said it about me: ‘he would never hurt me’ And now I'm telling you; I know you could never hurt me in any way in life. On the contrary, you are the happiness that was taken from me and that I longed for. Here you are, in front of me and I can finally tell you that I loved you every day of your absence. There wasn't a single day when he didn't expect to see you again” he carefully placed his hand on your cheek and admired your face for a moment. “You're beautiful, you haven't changed a bit. You're still the love of my life" he finally expressed, tears filling it up another little bit.

"Kiss me" you said in a whisper, taking the collar of his silk shirt as at some point, when they were younger, you did.

Caspian wasted no time and took you by the waist to lift you up a little, forcing you to tangle your legs in his hip. He was very strong now, because with one hand you held by the thighs and with the other it caressed your cheek, unsure if your skin really felt as usual.

And finally, he kissed you.

He walked a few steps until your back collided with the trunk of a tree and he continued to kiss longer than you would have expected.

This time, when you opened your eyes, you saw a Caspian completely in love and with bright eyes full of life.

You weren't alone in the woods anymore. Now you finally had him.