#and then one of them was complaining that the new management was actually cracking down on people for the acrylic nails

[beautiful-songbird]

Yesterday I got together with some ex-coworkers and coworkers who are about to quit and I can tell they all deeply misunderstand the rules at work because they were complaining about rules we have in place because we work at a food company that sells food and therefore has food health regulations

But no we should be able to wear long nails every once in a while because "we never get to wear them"

[b0nten]

COOKIES

[SYNOPSIS] ˚⁀➷｡ baking cookies with ran

[NOTES] ˚⁀➷｡ fem reader, rindou guest appearance🤗; requested by anon !! not proofread

“girl, you know damn well we could’ve bou—”

“shut it.”

RAN snaps his mouth shut — as instructed — while his brows raise and eyes widen.

“yes ma’am.” he nods, looking at you expectantly, like he’s a puppy waiting to be rewarded after doing a trick.

he looks around the kitchen, and sighs. if it makes you happy, then he’ll bear the burden of spending the next hour in front of the stove, melting butter and sticky hands from separating eggs.

‘if it makes you happy’ has become his new mantra, at this point.

“come onnnnnnnnnnn!” a whine echoes from the living room, “i’m hun-”

“you go to your room.” you command, and rindou quickly shuffles away, shōchū bottle slipping from his hand and hitting the hardwood floor before he quickly picks it up again; followed by the sound of his door closing.

“now,” you hum, tapping your index against your chin, “preheat the oven at 170°C.” you say, and even though he barely understood half of what you just said, your boyfriend speeds towards the oven and starts turning the buttons, “and when you’re done, separate a yolk from the white, and keep it. then, sift me the flour.”

“am i gonna be doing everything?” ran complains, but quickly quiets down when you give him a glare.

how you managed to tame ran haitani might have to be considered a new wonder of the world, but in all honesty, it’s fun. he — somehow — behaves whenever you’re around, and whenever you need him to. and despite his childish antics, he’s actually quite sweet, especially when he wants to be.

“do you need the larger ones, or the smaller ones?” he asks, inspecting the eggs like he’s never seen one before.

“large, please.” you reply, stirring through your bubbling butter, “do you know how to properly separate them?” you add.

“i’ve seen you do it plenty of times.” he shrugs, and cracks the shell. you absolutely try your best not to laugh while he gags in silence — egg white slipping through his fingers into the sink — recoiling in absolute disgust.

sometimes you wonder how he can beat people bloody but he draws the line at a freaking egg.

against your initial expectations, ran actually does good — everything exactly as you ask him to. he mixes the dough, something he insisted on since he’s “the man of the house”;

(said louder than normal to elicit a ‘whateeeeeeeever’ from rindou)

and you don’t even have to ask him twice to pop the tray into the fridge for the cookie dough to chill. he even offers to put the cookies into the oven, all by himself, like the proud baker he’s become in the span on an hour.

and when you lay your head on his shoulder and say “wake me up in fifteen.”, accompanied by a small yawn, he feels like he’s on cloud nine.

except for the fact that he understands fifty instead of fiteen, so after fourty-five minutes you feel him nudge you gently.

“hey, sweetheart-babycakes-honeybunch?” he pokes your cheek sheepishly.

“hm?” you hum, eyes fluttering open to see him in his apron, gloves on his hands.

“i might have… accidentally..misunderstood you….” he says, “and…. kinda let you sleep for fifty minutes, and the cookies bake for about the same time… haha!” long, bouncy hair sways in front of your face while ran tries his best to look not afraid.

you glare at him.

“they’re still edible…!” he defends his creation, placing a burnt cookie in your mouth.

‘deep breaths.’ you tell yourself, ‘deep breaths.’

“NO THE FUCK THEY’RE NOT!”

looks like rindou’s good for something, too.

[steddie-island]

Champagne kisses

@softsteddieseptember week 3: Anniversary Rating: G | WC: 1,406 | Tags: Getting together, first kiss, Eddie Munson lives Find full list of tags on ao3 | Divider credit

Eddie woke to the sound of pebbles hitting his window. He looked around for his watch to check the time, then carefully climbed out of bed.

He'd expected to see Dustin, or Mike, or even Max, one of the shitheads. He hadn't expected Steve on the other side, with a palmful of gravel— a piece of which narrowly missed hitting Eddie as he opened the window.

"Steve, what the fuck?" Eddie's nose wrinkled and he looked at the other boy with one eye cracked open. "You have a key, you couldn't just let yourself in?"

"I was hoping you'd come out, actually." Steve bounced his hand, letting the rocks drop back to the ground around his feet. "I've got a surprise for you."

"A surprise, huh? And it couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Eddie heaved a put-upon sigh, his head tipping back and his gaze catching the swirls of paint on his ceiling. "All right. Let me grab my shoes."

Steve grinned and watched as Eddie disappeared back into the darkness of his bedroom.

Eddie climbed out the window and dropped carefully to his feet. It pulled his scars, made his joints complain, made Steve curse and step forward to help him. He held his hands out with both thumbs up to show he was okay before tugging his leather jacket on. "This better be good, Harrington."

Steve just grinned and jogged to his car to grab a black totebag. "It will be. I hope you brought your keys, Munson."

Eddie was dying to know what was in the bag, what couldn't have waited, but found that he was willing to be a little patient if Steve kept smiling the way he was. He followed after Steve to unlock the van, and a few moments later they were bumping their way down the road in Eddie's new used van.

The quarry stretched out before them. Eddie smoked a cigarette while he watched the place where the stars and the ground met. Even if he hadn't been threatened with loss of life and limb if he'd tried to watch what Steve was doing with the black bag behind him, the horizon was where his eyes would've strayed to anyway.

There were a million possibilities in that horizon. He could point the van and just drive until he ran out of gas, start over as whoever and whatever he wanted to be. It made him feel small, insignificant, but not in a way that made him feel bad. It was comforting, knowing that there were stil places he could go where people wouldn't think of dead teenagers as soon as they heard his name. He just had to get up and do it.

And he would. Someday. Eventually.

Still, as beautiful and comforting as the horizon was, the sound of paper, of a tape dispenser, the crinkling of plastic, it was definitely harder than usual to keep his eyes locked there and not behind him.

"C'mon, Harrington. How much longer is this gonna take?"

"I'm almost finished— Eddie I told you, do not turn around!" Steve said. "I tried to do this before I woke you up but your van was locked. Now just— be patient."

Eddie rolled his eyes, but he was smiling as he tossed the cigarette butt to the ground and stubbed it out with the toe of his sneaker.

There was the flicking of a lighter that washed the van in Eddie's peripheral vision a soft orange color. "Okay, look."

Eddie turned around with a smartass remark ready, but it died on his tongue.

There were streamers taped to the walls of the van, and there were plastic champagne flutes sitting next to a cake that had something nearly illeligable written on it. And there was Steve, smiling almost shyly as he picked the cake up, showing the candles he'd lit around one edge of the cake. Candlelight flickered over his face, danced in his eyes, and Eddie felt his breath catch in his chest.

"Happy… what?" he asked, when he managed to talk again.

"Anniversary," Steve said, flushing. "Sorry, it said happy birthday and I had to wipe that off, but then I had a hard time trying to write over it. But— you should blow the candles out before your cake gets coated in wax."

Eddie leaned in and blew the candles out, turning the van dark again. "Hold on." He dug in the crate he'd learned to keep full of shit that would come in handy in an emergency and came away with an "A-ha!" before turning the little lantern on. It filled the van with gentle orange light again. It didn't dance the way the candlelight had, but Eddie was still struck once more by how beautiful Steve was.

It didn't last for long, because it occurred to him that he wasn't sure what exactly they were celebrating.

"So… what… anniversary is this?" he asked.

Steve huffed out a laugh and passed over a plastic fork. "You don't remember?"

"Shit, no. I'm not good with— any of those things." Eddie ran a hand over the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, man, it's— I'll try to remember next time."

"Eddie, it's okay. It's… it's your anniversary." Steve picked wax drips off of the cake, avoiding Eddie's eyes. "You woke up a year ago today."

Eddie was quiet for a long moment. He could only watch Steve, until he noticed more pink flood into Steve's cheeks as the other boy looked up at him again. "I did?" he asked finally. "You… you remember?"

"They thought you might never wake up," Steve said, shaking his head. "Jesus, man. I spent so long at your bedside. We— we all did, just… begging you to wake up. Then… you did." He flicked a piece of wax onto the store bag he'd pulled the cake out of. "Of course I remember." He shrugged one shoulder, and Eddie all but heard the, "how could I not?" that he didn't say out loud.

Of course Steve had remembered. Steve, who had spent so many hours, so many days sitting beside Eddie's bed. Eddie didn't remember any of it, but he did remember the first face he saw when he woke up. He remembered Steve, slumped down in the uncomfortable hospital chair, his legs hanging over the arm of it. He'd been dozing lightly, at at the smallest movement from Eddie he'd been up and beside Eddie's bed, grabbing his hand and ringing for the nurses.

Steve's relief had been palpable. He'd looked the way Eddie had felt. He still looked that way sometimes, when Eddie caught him not watching whatever movie they had on. It was like Steve could hardly believe that Eddie was there, like he might've been lost if Eddie hadn't survived.

Eddie watched the way the lamplight played on Steve's face, casting part of it in shadow. Somehow he hadn't just survived, but he'd found this beautiful boy who liked spending time with him, who listened to him talk about D&D and music. Steve remembered, too— or tried to. After all of the thumps to the head, some of the details slipped away sometimes. But Eddie could see how hard he tried.

Steve made Eddie want to try, too. Made Eddie want to learn about sports even after all the shit he'd said about them in high school, just so he could chime in when Steve and Wayne were watching the game together. He liked the way Steve smiled when he noticed Eddie listening to him, too. He wanted Steve to always smile like that.

He wanted to be the one to make Steve smile like that.

Not for the first time, Eddie found himself wanting to kiss Steve Harrington.

Only this time, for the first time, he actually did.

Their first kiss tasted like chocolate cake and champagne and Eddie never wanted it to end. Even so, it didn't last long.

When Steve pulled back he looked surprised, but he was smiling. "What was that for?"

"Something else for us to remember when this rolls around again next year," Eddie said.

Steve's smile softened, and Eddie felt his heart skip a beat in his chest. "I like the sound of that," he said. "Maybe we should keep practicing, to have something even better to remember next year."

Eddie laughed, but when Steve leaned in again, he was happy to meet in the middle.

[jedtavius-week]

here is your gift @absolutely-and-always13 !! sorry for the wait, its a mix of a doodle and a short fic (to compensate that its shorter ahah) hope you like it! :D happy holidays! fic under the cut ;)

“Faster!” Jed yelled, one hand holding his cowboy hat so that it wouldn’t get lost. “He is catching up!” Beside him, Octavius laughed and pressed the pedal down as far as it would go. They skidded around the corner, almost too fast. Behind them, the giant T-Rex skeleton followed them, trying to get his bone back. It was their nightly activity. Rexy needed the exercise, or he would get restless and try to hunt the animals. One week, their small car was broken and Larry had taken AGES to repair it, and Rexy actually ate one of the Neaderthales. Well, he ripped him to shreds and then tried to swallow him. They actually had managed to put him together again and he only looked slightly mangled, so he had to stand in the back now but eh, it was fine. Now that the car got fixed, they could take Rexy out for exercise again. “Oh, look out”, Jed screamed when they skidded too far around the corner. But it was too late. While they made the turn, Rexy did not and crashed directly into the Christmas tree, throwing it over with full force. The tree shattered in many pieces, Christmas balls and lights flying everywhere, covering the ground in shards. “Oh oh”, Octavius and Jed said at the same time. The car came to a stop and Rexy happily grabbed his bone, and Jed was reeling to loosen the rope that connected the single bone to their car and not have it ripped up in the air and possibly broken again. Then the two looked at the downed tree in silence, until Rexy was bored with the bone and started trying to chew the tree. “No! Stop!”, both of them yelled at the same time - tho of course it didn’t deter the T-Rex who loved cracking each and every Christmas ornament open and then pulling out the garlands. “And now?”, Jed asked after they had watched Rexy take the tree apart meticulously. “They need that for the Christmas Party tomorrow! We are dead if they find out!” A twinkle from the windows caught their attention and both of them had a figurative lightbulb over their head. A few minutes later they were climbing on Rexy. Octavius then put the stick forward to which they had fixed a single shiny Christmas ornament, which caught the dinosaur's attention. He tried to reach it, making one step, then another. “It works!” Jed said happily and clapped Octavius on the back. “Now let's go!” They steered Rexy out of the museum and towards their target. “Mum look! There is a Christmas dinosaur!”, a little girl cried, pointing out of the window. “Anna, shut up. You are watching too much TV!” her mum scolded, because when she looked out of the window, there was nothing. “But there was!” “You look too much on that stupid phone of yours.” This scene happened, in one way or another, in many households in New York that night. The three outside didn’t notice of course. They were set on their target - well Jed and Octavius were, Rexy was constantly getting distracted by shiny lights and Christmas decorations around. “Next time we take the car!” Jed complained, when Rexy took yet another detour to try and eat yet ANOTHER inflatable Santa Clause. “If you tell me how we are supposed to transport a Christmas tree with our car, sure”, Octavius muttered. Jed huffed, but had to admit he was right. And after Rexy was disappointed when the inflatable Santa lost all of his air, they managed to get him to keep walking. And then there was their target in sight. “It’s a bit big, do you think, it will fit?”, Jed asked and Octavius eyed the tree up and down. “It will. I think. If not we will get the beavers to gnaw off part of the lower part.” They both nodded. “Now we just need to make sure that Rexy will not destroy it again.” “And carry it back.”

“Go fetch!”, Jed yelled, and pointed in the direction. They had put Rexy's bone in the tree - which had been a struggle to do, but the only plan they had come up with. And now the T-Rex - who had been busy trying to lick the ice in the ice rink - snapped his head up, locking in on his target. He was over to the tree with a few big strides, grabbing it and trying to lift it. Once. Then twice. Then a third time. It was not looking good. “We are so dead”, Octavius groaned and buried his face in his hands. But Rexy was not easily deterred. It was his bone, and his big stick and he WOULD get it. He growled and put all his weight into the next pull - and it worked. He lifted the tree straight from his stand and made a happy noise. “Yes!” The two cheered happily and got back on. Now there was a problem tho. The tree was so big that none of them could see where they were going. And Rexy had a lot of sparkling Christmas ornaments in front of him. Steering wouldn’t work anymore. “Uhmmm.” They looked at each other. “And now?” But before they could start coming up with a plan, Rexy began to walk. “Oh, this is not good!”, Octavius said, but they could only hold on and hope Rexy would eventually go back to the museum - before the sun went up too. Because the dinosaur was not deterred by anything. Shouting, pulling, ordering - nothing worked. They also couldn’t see that Rexy had spotted a bus with a Santa Clause on it - and was determined to see if that one was edible. He was following the bus, growling when his prey kept getting away from him time and time again. Conveniently, the bus took the route to the museum, and seemingly the driver didn’t notice that he was followed by a big Christmas tree carrying dinosaur. In front of the museum, the bus had to stop at a red light long enough for Rexy to finally catch up and growl angrily when his prey turned out to be a piece of metal. Frustrated, the dinosaur turned towards the museum to go home, flicking the image of Santa hard with his tail as he turned around and breaking it. Inside, they actually had to call the beavers over, because the tree trunk didn’t fit in the stand, but it was done pretty soon and then they were all standing around and admiring their new Christmas tree. They had simply put the old tree somewhere in the basement, hoping no one would ever find it. “It’s a bit bigger than the old one”, Octavius said. “Yeah well, they won’t notice.” Jed wrapped an arm around the Roman. The next morning Dr. McPhee and Larry stood in the entrance hall of the museum, looking at the tree. “Is there any explanation why our Christmas tree is gone and was replaced with the ROCKEFELLER CENTER CHRISTMAS TREE?!” Behind them, the radio was playing news about a Christmas dinosaur.

[moonchild701]

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

Secret Santa

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

Summary: The League has a Secret Santa event and you get Dabi. Chaos ensues.

Pairing: Dabi/Gen Reader

Content Warning: Crack, Fluff, SFW, Quirked Reader (kinda like Blackwhip?), Endeavor Bashing(?)

Word Count: 1.7k

Disclaimer: Character belongs to Kohei Horikoshi

A/N: This is the 2nd part of 12 fics for a 12 Days of Christmas event. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Prompt: Secret Santa

My Masterlist

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

It's really Toga's fault.

Her wanting to celebrate Christmas wasn't really a surprise to anyone who knows her, because it really shouldn't be.

In Japan, Christmas is like another Valentine's day, where it's full of couples in love celebrating with each other, going into the new year.

It's also a time of family, one of which she no longer has, biologically speaking. Now with her new family, she wants to celebrate with them and show them how much she loves them!

And being the baby of the group, the others tend to indulge her when they can, letting her have a childhood as much as they can manage in their line of life.

So when she asked to decorate the bar, they let her.

When she asked to make chocolate chip cookies, Kurogiri made them right along with her.

When she asked to do a secret Santa exchange, they indulged her.

.....And that's where it went all wrong.

Because see, you got Dabi as the one you're to give a gift to.

You think anyone else might've been easier to find a gift for.

Shigaraki would've been easier. Just throw a new video game or game merch at him, and he'll be happy.

But Dabi? What the fuck does that man even like other than arson and revenge?!

You thought to maybe get him some new piercings or something but that just seems so....bland.

And it could work, could be enough for him, but it wouldn't be enough for him to you.

Not after nursing a festering crush on him for almost as long as you've known him.

So after agonizing for days over what to get him, with time ticking down, you resorted to asking the others for ideas.

What made you think asking criminals, murderers and psychopaths, would be a good idea, you don't know, but you did.

And maybe there's something to be said about you that you actually listened to their advice.

"Chocolates and confess!" Toga had said. You swear her pupils turned into hearts at the thought of love, and frankly, you were scared.

"A new fashion sense may do." Compress said, doing tricks with a deck of cards. You still don't know if he was joking.

"A gift with meaning, maybe something you have in common." Twice said earnestly, before immediately ruining it. "You, wrapped in nothing but ribbons. He'd love that!" And, well, you don't feel like simultaneously embarrassing yourself and getting burnt to a crisp so.....

"I can show you where I got my Stain merch!" Spinner said with stars in his eyes. The poor guy looked so dejected when you declined, but again, you like not being crispy.

"Some manners perhaps?" Polishing a glass, Kurogiri said it so seriously, you had to laugh. Again, you don't even know if he was joking.

"Just get him some more jewelry, hon. You can't go wrong there, right?" Of course Magne was the most sensible but it just wasn't enough! You may not want to outwardly confess your feelings but you still want to show it in some way; show him that you care.

And as a last resort, you turned to Shigaraki.

"Tch, I don't know, Endeavor's head on a pike? He's always complaining about him." Shigaraki said, eyes trained on his switch, barely paying you any mind. And yet, it was the most profound thing to you in your dumb, love sick mind.

Because of course that's what you should get him! His revenge on a silver platter! You won't take his revenge from him, stealing his kill and the satisfaction of it, but you can do something.

Now, a sane person would step back and think to themselves, hey. This is the Number Two Hero in the country. Mayhaps have a solid, sensible plan.

But alas, that was not you, for you are in love with a less than sane person, which absolutely made you at least half insane by osmosis.

So with a bright, chirped, "Thanks Shiggs!", you went on your way.

Shigaraki did not acknowledge this, nor did he process a word of this interaction.

*****

Mind set, you find your way to Endeavor's house. You would think that being such a huge public figure, he'd live in a secure, gated community at least. But no, he just lives in a giant house in a normal neighborhood, albeit on the wealthy side of the spectrum.

The traditional style of it is beautiful, if a bit gaudy, but you figure it comes with being Number Two.

At midnight, you sneak in. It's honestly pathetic how easy it is, with no alarms or anything going off.

Light on your feet, you make your way through the house. It takes a while, but you eventually find his bedroom.

The man, of course, sleeps like the psychopath he is.

Flat on his back, hands clasped over his stomach, without a blanket, feet hanging over the edge of the bed by his ankles.

He snores like a congested bear, so whatever sounds you might've made are drowned out.

The black tendrils of your quirk whip out, simultaneously snagging his wrists, arms, torso and legs, as a thick cord of it wraps tightly around his throat, holding him in place as he momentarily struggles, while you inject him with tranquilizer, only releasing him when he falls back unconscious.

You hum in satisfaction at your handiwork, before realizing you need a way to transport and store him.

A quick text to Kurogiri has you in one of the League's spare warehouses, making use of one of the empty shipping crates lying around as it's the only thing on hand that's big enough to fit him into.

Using your quirk, you lift him into it, not caring enough to be gentle, instead just kind of....tossing him in.

Closing the lid, you leave him overnight, knowing he'll stay unconscious, though still breathing thanks to the holes in the box.

The next day, you come back with supplies.

Earphones in, you listen to the news on Endeavor's disappearance, and the fact that there are no leads, satisfied as you get to work.

After trying to make him look somewhat presentable, sticking a shiny, blue bow to his forehead with gorilla glue, because his sweat kept making it peel off, you wrap and decorate the crate, trying to make it as pretty as you can given the circumstances, and you smile satisfied with your gift. He's pumped full of tranquilizer and quirk suppressants, wrapped up nice and tidy, so all that's left is to present him.

You hope Dabi likes his gift.

*****

Christmas day is soon upon you, and everyone is ready with their presents.

Tomura gets some prequirk game from Spinner and he lights up brighter than the Christmas lights Toga put up.

Compress gets a pair of pretty, gold cufflinks from Shigaraki.

Twice gets a book that he's been gushing about for weeks from Kurogiri.

Toga gets a case with vials of blood, within a bat themed purse from Magne.

Kurogiri gets a new wine set from Compress.

Magne gets a dress from Twice, handmade and pretty.

Spinner gets some Stain merch from Dabi, which...fitting but why the fuck do they know where to get them??

You get a pretty knife with intricate carvings on the handle from Toga.

The last one to receive their gift is Dabi, and you're nervous. You ask Kurogiri to transport you all to the warehouse, explaining that it can't fit in the bar and it might not be safe anyway, and all of them follow curiously, not knowing what to expect.

*****

Dabi looks at the giant, wrapped box with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

It's big. Bigger than what should make sense for a Christmas gift. It's wrapped meticulously in shiny, blue and black iridescent wrapping paper, topped with a giant, pearly white bow, and it sticks out like a sore thumb, looking out of place among the bland brown of the surrounding crates and grey, concrete walls and floors.

He feels an ominous presence from it, and is sorely tempted to just light it ablaze.

Glancing at your nervous yet excited smile, he decides against it....for now.

You gesture towards it, with a shaky, "Merry Christmas Dabi." He hums, walking cautiously towards it. He considers burning off the paper, but decides to keep to the tradition of tearing it apart like a child on, well, Christmas, to reveal the shipping crate.

He glances at you one last time, then opens the crate, before promptly bluescreening.

Because inside the crate is the last thing he expects.

Within it, Endeavor lays slumped, tied up, with a blue ribbon stuck to his forehead, drooling onto his chest.

The warehouse is completely silent, everyone in disbelief at what they're seeing.

You play with your fingers, twiddling your thumbs. "Do you like it?", you ask, all hopeful and sweet, like you didn't just gift someone a grown ass man in a box.

In the silence, your voice echoes, and it seems to be what they needed, because everyone snaps back into their bodies, realizing that oh. This is real.

"What the fuck..." is Dabi's first response, his voice shaky with bewilderment.

"Um...I also have Chocolates?" You laugh nervously. Maybe he doesn't like it.....

Suddenly, Dabi grabs your cheeks, pressing his lips to yours in a firm kiss, then pulling back to stare into your eyes. "You're mine now."

And you smile, dopey and bright. "Uh huh."

The moment is interrupted when Shigaraki finally reboots. "WHAT THE FUCK, WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU—" He begins to rant, but you cut him off, confused.

"Shiggs, you were the one that gave me the idea...." you say, brows furrowed.

Shigaraki looks positively baffled at the foreign truth you speak, a vein bulging at his temple.

"WHEN THE FUCK—" He starts again.

"WHILE YOU WERE PLAYING ON THE SWITCH?!?! TWO DAYS AGO!?! PAY ATTENTION WHEN PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING TO YOU DAMMIT!!"

In the background, eyes bright, Dabi kicks the crate, jolting the unconscious trash, and grins.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

[seasirengirl]

LEO VALDEZ DATING HCS

pairing: leo valdez x reader (godly parent not specified)

a/n: sorry for the super duper slow updates, my life has been a mess🫶🏼

ೀ friends to lovers is a trope owned by leo valdez and no one can change my mind

ೀ he’s such a shameless flirt

ೀ nicknames in spanish.

ೀ i repeat

ೀ nicknames in spanish.

ೀ he’s such a fun person to be around

ೀ always cracking jokes and all that

ೀ but

ೀ hold up

ೀ he doesn’t crack jokes at times when you don’t feel like hearing them, even though he’s known for doing that to others, you’re his exception

ೀ you two went everywhere together

ೀ quest? together

ೀ spending nights at bunker 9? not without you

ೀ he felt guilty for making you stay there though

ೀ but then you started ranting about how much you loved staying there

ೀ and he just couldn’t say no to you

ೀ or your pretty face

ೀ but we all know that you didn’t really think bunker 9 was the most comfortable place to sleep in

ೀ you just wanted to stay with your repair boy

ೀ after being two idiots who were very much in love but would never admit it

ೀ your friends got sick of it

ೀ y’know what that meaaannssss

ೀ at first percy and annabeth started talking about it

ೀ apparently piper and jason also had discussed it before (mostly piper)

ೀ frank and hazel are just there yknow

ೀ chilling

ೀ with no clue about what’s going on

ೀ anyway

ೀ doing very couple-ish things all together

ೀ there were eight of you.

ೀ obviously meaning that

ೀ you and leo had to be dragged into all of that

ೀ which neither of you complained about

ೀ but you wouldn’t say it

ೀ going on carnival dates <3

ೀ well they weren’t technically dates for you and leo

ೀ but they felt like dates

ೀ the other six ditched you every second

ೀ and you two still managed to be clueless

ೀ smh

ೀ honestly thank the gods for piper

ೀ when you AND leo both found out about your feelings at the same time

ೀ you were both ranting to her

ೀ cause she’s the daughter of aphrodite

ೀ ykyk

ೀ and also a great friend

ೀ but she needed a break atp

ೀ hearing both of you yap about each other not knowing that the other feels the same

ೀ until one day she had ENOUGH

ೀ bro was tired fr

ೀ so she decided to make both of you a bit jelly

ೀ not a bit tbh, a lot

ೀ yk, telling leo that the new guy from cabin 7 was talking about asking you out

ೀ or telling you that one of her sisters were going to make a move on leo at the bonfire tonight

ೀ leo couldn’t let some guy try to make a move on his girl

ೀ and you couldn’t either

ೀ so

ೀ both of you decided to confess at the same time

ೀ leo walked up to you just as you were about to find him

ೀ “can we go somewhere private?”

ೀ such a simple sentence left you speechless, only managing a nod

ೀ “i don’t want you to go out with him” leo blurted out

ೀ “with who?” you asked, did you have a date you forgot about?

ೀ “andrew, the new guy from 7?”

ೀ “i’m not going on a date with him, oh wait- piper...”

ೀ silence. total silence.

ೀ “i have something to-“

ೀ “i have to tell y-“

ೀ you couldn’t help but laugh at that, “go ahead.”

ೀ“i would say ‘ladies first’, but i have to say this, ever since i stepped a foot in camp, i’ve had a crush on you, so will you do the honors of being my girl?”

ೀ “i’d love to.”

ೀ “so would it be okay if i-“

ೀ “shut up, valdez”

ೀ and he did shut up, because his tongue was too busy being down your throat

ೀ ok what.

ೀ anyway

ೀ after that night, your friends wished they never set you two up

ೀ they were just jealous that you two were a better couple than them

ೀ or that’s what you thought

ೀ leo was actually the best boyfriend you could ask for

ೀ he would make you the coolest gifts ever

ೀ any kind of jewellery a girl could dream of

ೀ he made it

ೀ flowers that never die, all yours

ೀ honestly you can’t recall a night that you haven’t slept without leo in winter

ೀ slept.

ೀ he kept you so warm when it was cold out

ೀ cause he’s your fireboy

ೀ he’s so touchy and always has to have his arm around you somehow

ೀ but he wouldn’t be much of a pda guy

ೀ especially it it makes you uncomfortable.

[cheynovak]

Between Power and Freedom

Part 3

Characters: Dean Winchester x Y/N Shurley Female character     

Summary: Y/N, the ambitious daughter of a powerful CEO, grapples with her father's choices, while she secretly takes a job with Dean Winchester, the rugged CEO of a rival company. Sparks fly between Y/N and Dean as they navigate their growing attraction amid corporate rivalry and family pressure.

Warnings: This story will contain parts that are 18+!

English is not my first language 

*Please do not copy my work, reblog/comments/likes are appreciated* 

The next week, I officially signed my contract with Winchester industries. It felt surreal—walking into that building, knowing I was a spy for my dad. Sam was there to greet me, and we went over the business, everything I needed to know as I settled into my new role. It wasn’t long before I met Bobby, the finance manager Sam had mentioned.

Bobby was an older man, gruff and not one for small talk, but it didn’t take long for me to realize he was more than just an employee. He was like a father to the Winchester boys, more so than their own had ever been, from what little they’d mentioned about him. Despite his rough exterior, I respected him immediately, and over the next month, we worked side by side as he started to trust me more and more.

It was about a month in when Bobby pulled me aside. He’d been grumbling about his health for a while, but that day, he told me he needed to take a long overdue vacation—doctor’s orders.

"I’ll be gone for a month, at least," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of stepping away from the business. "I want you to take over while I’m gone, make sure everything runs smooth, can you do that kid?"

I was surprised by the offer, but honored that Bobby trusted me enough to handle things in his absence. "Of course, Bobby. I won’t let you down," I promised, and he gave me a short nod, the closest thing to a smile I’d seen from him.

The work was challenging but rewarding. Every night, though, my father would call, demanding a status update. “What have you found? Any cracks in the books? Anything I can use?” he’d press. But I had nothing to give him. Winchester industries was clean, their financials solid, and no matter how much I combed through the accounts, there was nothing shady to report back to my father. He grew more impatient by the day.

“Slow process,” he sneered during one of our calls, his voice dripping with disappointment. “I expected better from you, Y/N.”

But I no longer cared about meeting his expectations. I loved my work at Winchester. Bobby treated me with respect, Sam made sure I felt supported, and Dean—well, Dean was a different story altogether.

He was charming in a rough-edged way, always surrounded by women like Jo. But I was focused on my work, and I wasn’t going to get distracted by Dean Winchester, no matter how my heart might skip a beat whenever he walked into the room.

On Bobby’s last night before his vacation, he invited me over to his place for dinner.

It was a family affair, with both Sam and Dean there, along with Sam’s wife, Eileen, and Dean’s girlfriend, Jo. As soon as I arrived, I felt the tension between Dean and Jo. She had this loud, flashy persona that clashed with the grounded, hardworking energy in the room.

Jo wasn’t like Eileen, or even me. She seemed more interested in flaunting her relationship with Dean than actually being a part of his life. She gave off that sugar-baby vibe—more interested in what Dean could offer her than in Dean himself. It wasn’t hard to see why the two of them clashed.

Dinner was lively, with everyone sharing stories and laughing. I learned that Sam and Eileen had married last summer, and they were the picture of a perfect couple—gentle, caring, completely in sync. Jo, on the other hand, seemed to dominate the conversation, throwing little digs at Dean, complaining about how long it was taking for him to propose.

"Dean, when are you going to stop playing around and put a ring on it?" Jo teased loudly, and I saw the way Dean's jaw tightened. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

It was obvious she was pushing him, and I could see the discomfort it caused. As the evening wore on, tensions between them escalated, and soon enough, they were outside, having what seemed like their daily argument.

“Well, that didn’t take long,” Sam said with a sigh, shaking his head as he glanced out the window at his brother and Jo, now arguing on the porch.

I looked confused, turning to Eileen. "Do they fight often?" I asked, wondering how a relationship like that could survive.

Eileen gave me a sympathetic smile. "Every day," she explained, as if it was common knowledge. "Jo wants more—marriage, status—and Dean… well, Dean isn’t ready. He likes his freedom. And Jo doesn’t really understand that."

I nodded slowly, trying to make sense of it all. Jo wasn’t Dean’s type, at least not from what I could see. She seemed more like an accessory to his life than a partner, and it was clear that the tension between them was only going to grow.

I couldn’t help but wonder why he stayed with her, why he didn’t just let go. But then again, maybe I was projecting my own feelings. Maybe I was starting to care about Dean more than I should.

As the night wound down and the fight outside continued, I realized something. This family, despite its complications, was accepting me as their own. And no matter what my father said, they didn't use me in a way like he does.

I had found my place. And I wasn’t going to give it up.

Dean walked back into the room, his expression tense but composed. “Jo went home,” he said, almost nonchalantly, though I could sense the frustration behind his words. He apologized to Bobby, who just waved it off, clearly not bothered by the drama that had unfolded.

I was in the kitchen, finishing up the dishes. The last thing I wanted was to leave a mess after Bobby had been so kind to invite me into his home. Dean wandered over and stood beside me, his presence heavy but not unpleasant.

“So, how you feeling about the company?” he asked, his tone casual but curious.

I glanced over at him, surprised he was even asking. “It’s different,” I admitted. “In a good way. Everyone’s more… open. It’s not just about numbers or control. I actually like it here.”

He nodded, but the silence that followed felt a little strained. I hesitated for a moment, my mind flashing back to the argument he’d just had with Jo. Against my better judgment, I spoke up.

“Are you okay?” I asked quietly. “It’s not really my place, but… if you want to talk about the fight with Jo—”

His response was immediate, cutting. “It is indeed not your place.” His voice was cold, his words sharp, and I felt the sting of them as if he’d slapped me.

I lowered my head, instantly regretting the question. I should’ve known better than to pry. Dean Winchester wasn’t the type to open up easily, especially not to someone like me, who was still relatively new in his world. The silence between us was thick, and I just focused on the dishes, trying to push away the awkwardness.

A few minutes later, I was ready to leave. I hugged Bobby goodbye, thanking him for dinner and telling him that if he needed any help during his recovery, he could always call me. Bobby grunted in his usual way, but I could tell he appreciated it.

Just as I reached the door, I heard Dean’s voice behind me. “Let me drive you home,” he offered. “You don’t need to walk in the dark.”

I was surprised—especially after how cold he’d been earlier—but I didn’t decline. “Alright, thanks,” I said softly.

The drive started out awkward, with only the sound of the car’s engine filling the silence. Dean kept his eyes on the road, his expression unreadable. I kept my hands folded in my lap, feeling small and unsure.

But then, after a few minutes, he spoke. “Hey,” he said, his voice softer than before. “I’m sorry for biting your head off earlier.”

I glanced at him, taken aback by the apology. Dean wasn’t the kind of guy who usually admitted when he was wrong, at least not from what I’d seen.

“It’s fine,” I said quickly, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. “I shouldn’t have asked.” He shook his head. “No, it’s not that. You were just trying to be nice. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

I offered him a small smile, feeling a bit of the tension ease. “Thanks. I just… I could tell something was bothering you. But I get it, it’s personal.”

Dean sighed, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Jo and I… it’s complicated. She wants more than I can give right now. And I’m not sure I’m the guy who’s ever gonna be able to give her what she wants.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded, letting his words settle in the air. It was strange, hearing Dean Winchester—a man who seemed so sure of himself in every other aspect of life—admit to doubt and uncertainty.

After a few more minutes of silence, he pulled up in front of my apartment. He put the car in park and turned to me, his green eyes soft and maybe a little weary.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said, giving him a genuine smile as I unbuckled my seatbelt.

As I stepped out of the car, something clicked in my mind. Maybe Dean was looking for someone to be there for him. I hesitated for a moment, then turned back around and leaned against the open window, my heart pounding a little faster.

“Dean…” I began, trying to sound casual, “would you like to come in for a talk?”

I could see the conflict on his face, his eyes searching mine, unsure if he should accept the invitation. For a brief second, I thought he might decline, but then, almost as if the weight of his thoughts became too heavy to carry alone, he nodded.

We walked up to my apartment in silence. Once inside, I offered him a glass of bourbon, which he accepted with a quiet “thanks.” The dim lighting made everything feel a little more intimate, a little less tense. I could see the guarded expression on Dean’s face starting to soften.

He took a deep breath, staring at the glass in his hand. “I met Jo when I was in a bad place,” he began, his voice low. “My sister, Charlie, died in an accident. I was... I was wrecked. My dad, he was always tough—never the soft kind of guy—but after we lost Charlie, he became... unbearable.”

His eyes darkened at the memory. “Jo was my escape. She was wild, unpredictable, and I thought I needed that at the time. A way to forget, you know?”

I nodded, staying quiet so he could continue. I could hear the pain in his voice, and it was hard to imagine the confident, carefree Dean Winchester I’d come to know carrying all that weight. It was as if, beneath the exterior, he was still that little boy, yearning for his father’s approval, for something solid to hold onto.

“I thought Jo could fill that void Charlie left, because Char was wild and free, she loved to travel.” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But now... I don’t know. I think maybe I’m just hanging on because it’s familiar.”

"There are days I don't even know what I do with the company. I kept it because it was my dads, but I'm sure if he was alive he'd smack my head for what I did to it."

I reached out instinctively, my hand finding its way to his shoulder. I gave it a gentle squeeze, feeling the tension in his muscles. “Dean,” I said softly, “you’re doing great. You’ve built something incredible with your company, and you’re an amazing boss."

He turned his head, locking eyes with me, and in that moment, the air between us shifted. There was something intense in his gaze, something raw and vulnerable, and before I even had time to process what was happening, his lips were on mine.

The kiss was sudden and fierce, his hand reaching up to tangle in my hair as his other arm wrapped firmly around my waist. His lips were rough, yet desperate, and when his tongue sought entrance, I froze for a second, startled by the sudden rush of it all. My mind was racing, caught between shock and the undeniable pull I felt toward him.

I quickly broke the kiss, my heart pounding in my chest. Dean pulled back immediately, his face full of regret, his hands dropping to his sides as if he didn’t know what to do with them.

“I—I’m sorry,” he stammered, his face flushing with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to… God, I’m an idiot.”

He stood up, clearly flustered, running a hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have done that,” he muttered, his voice thick with guilt. “I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”

I stayed silent for a moment, my own emotions swirling in confusion. The truth was, I didn’t know how to feel either. The kiss had caught me off guard, but it hadn’t felt wrong. It was just... unexpected.

“Dean,” I said, my voice soft, trying to calm him down. “It’s okay. Really.” He looked at me, his expression still conflicted, but I could see the apology in his eyes.

“I just… I don’t know how to handle all this,” he admitted quietly, almost as if confessing it to himself. “I’m a mess, and you don’t deserve to get caught up in that.”

I shook my head, taking a step closer to him. “We’re all a little messed up, Dean,” I said gently. “But you don’t have to deal with it alone.”

Dean looked at me for a long moment, as if trying to figure out if he could let himself believe that. Then he nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thanks,” he said, his voice more grounded now. “I mean it.”

I offered him a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. “Let’s just... chalk that up to the bourbon and a long night, yeah?” Dean chuckled softly, the tension finally easing a little from his face. “Yeah. Let’s do that.”

He stayed for a little longer, and we talked—about work, life, anything that wasn’t too heavy. When he finally left, there was no awkwardness, just an understanding that something had shifted between us.

I wasn’t sure where it would lead, but one thing was clear: Dean Winchester wasn’t as untouchable as he seemed.

--

Taglist -> Click here to add

@jackles010378 @libby99hb @winchesterwild78 @suckitands33

@mostlymarvelgirl @deans-baby-momma @ancles @tulipsvanilla

@thesilmarillionblog @jays-bonnie-on-the-side @kr804573

@kamisobsessed @hobby27 @globetrotter28

@kindollss @muhahaha303 @shadysoulangel @lyarr24

@spxideyver @impala67rollingthroughtown @panickedbitch

@deadlydivergentgirl @livya99 @deansimpalababy

[san8ny]

FINISHING AT EIGHT OR NINE ?

!: First chapter of this introduction: PROLOGUE

?: Ellie Williams x Fem!Reader - SFW - Stalker!Ellie

Ring! Ring!

The phone calls, causing you to rise from the high-chair you sit by near a counter, chilled AC blaring cool air from it’s vents while you shiver. You didn’t complain however, this being one of the only jobs you’d actually secured with your resume consisting of goat-hearding, plowing fields with no real training whatsoever. Upon answering and reaching for the phone, a somewhat grumpy man answers, asking if there were lumber planks he could pick up for a project. You ask for a name, crouching down to grab the notepad and pen placed away in a small cubby.

Joel Miller.

Jotting it down, you ask for a total amount of planks to which he asks for a dozen. You nod, twelve.

“Alright, and will that be a pick up or would you want it delivered? I will say, we have a large influx of orders out currently so our delivery services won’t get to you until tomorrow evening.”

He mumbles a few incoherent phrases away from the phone-reciever, likely speaking to someone else before returning to it, “My daughter will pick them up actually.” You give him the okay, jokingly commenting on it’s usual for people to go with the pick up option to lessen the charges of the total cost but he doesn’t seem amused, scruffing out a blunt bye before abruptly hanging up.

Rude.

In around ten minutes, a rusted truck pulls up infront of the shop; In what seems like a tee, some muddy sneakers and a cap was a woman, hopping out of the vehicle, and lightly jogging to the front door. She taps on it once, pointing a finger to the lock with an inconvenience expression.

Right, it was locked.

You mouth a small sorry, walking over to let her in as you open the glass door. “I’m so sorry, it’s late so I usually lock the doors unless I know someone is coming.” You say a bit embarrassed at your lack of attention. She dismisses you with a small wave, cracking a smile before speaking, “It’s alright.”

She’s average height, slightly maybe even shorter than your own frame. Leading her to where the order was stacked and ready to go, you assist her in carrying it back to her car. She lets out a long breath, thanking you for the help. You reassure her it’s fine, that’s it’s apart of the job. Before she can even take out her wallet, you’re leaving. Huh?

You’re actually clueless of your surroundings that it strikes something in the other woman. She eyes you for a moment while you retreat back into the shop, clicking her tongue in confusion when you immediately lock it and return to the magazine you were busying yourself with. You really did forget. Ellie wasn’t dumb. Anyone with eyes could see you weren’t from here, and frankly, she hoped you weren’t always this forgetful. Instead of reminding you, she revs the truck up and goes on her merry way.

You’d learn after this

Ellie tells herself at the redlight, fishing out a cigarette from the glovebox.

Oh, did you learn.

You were given quite the earful when you informed your manager about the incident the next morning, only even remembering when checking the cash register before closing the previous night. Fuck, I didn’t charge them.

Abby Anderson was quite the powerhouse, shaking your shoulders in anger when you broke the news you’d been scammed out of a good 120 bucks. She sighs, peering down at your remorseful face, your bottom lip quivering in guilt at your own wistful mistakes. “Alright, ‘gimme a name. Our shop doesn’t get all that many new customers often so I can probably recognize and tab them before dad gets a whiff of this.”

Miller.

Abby leans her body over the counter when you say that, resting her forearms on it’s cold surface as she lets a scoff out, “Joel Miller?” You nod in reaffirmation from where you stood with crossed arms meekly. She squints her eyes in disbelief, shaking her head ever so slightly trying to make sense of it all. Joel was a man with a temper for sure, but he wasn’t no thief.

She quickly grabs your wrist and the plentiful keys that hang on the nailed wall, “They live in your apartments, we’re getting that money.”

Abby quickly exits the shop with you behind her, flipping the sign on the window CLOSED before scurrying to meet her pace down the street. Thankfully, your building wasn’t that far away from work, however, now you had to make it known to yourself that you likely resided in the same complex as kleptomaniacs.

Abby knocks on the door that reads 207, waiting for a response. It seems like forever that you two stand there waiting, getting even tired that you opt to sit down on the carpeted hallway floor. Eventually, it’s cracked open by the same woman you recognized yesterday to have picked up the order. You scatter to stand up, pointing a finger behind Abby’s broad shoulder, “It’s her!” You shriek, to which the girl looks you up and down. “I have a name.” She spits out annoyed, rolling her eyes.

“Yeah, Yeah. You tried punking my employee, Williams. That the shit you’ve lowered yourself to?” Abby equally retorts venomously. Ellie shrugs, “I ain’t do that. She didn’t ask for the money so I assumed it was paid for or ‘sum.”

You immediately drop your jaw, how could she justify that? She knew it wasn’t paid for! “Joel called and said you’d pick it up and I have the call log so don’t even.”

She seemingly rolls her eyes again, leaving the door before returning with a wallet, “Quit bitching in my ear and name your price. Jesus.” Abby’s eye twitches ever so slightly at the audacious act put on; “120 and don’t call me a bitch.”

“Actually, I didn’t call you one, I said—! “

Abby snatches the money anyways, forcing you to follow her like a kicked puppy as she trudges towards the elevator and practically punches the button. Once it arrives and you both step in, she rubs her face with a calloused palm in an attempt to soothe the irritation away.

“Ask for money next time. We don’t have pre-paid shit.” Before you can even respond back, you’re both exiting the cart, and the building— walking back to the shop.

While you believe it was done and over, Ellie watches you two from her bedroom window. Something ever so slightly glosses over her eyes when she watches you walk with Abby, obviously struggling to meet her fast-pace. Maybe it’s the weed she’s smoking, or maybe it’s something deeper. However, something about you rubs Ellie, and she can’t tell for the life of her if she likes it or not.

In the span of that very same week, she finds out your name and where you reside, and just her luck, it’s close!

So very close.

Ellie emphasizes, watching you tiredly slug past her unit door through the peephole a couple minutes past 9 everynight.

[rose-of-the-grave]

Her Eyes

Pairing: Lily x James

Hey everybody, I hope you enjoy this! It was based off of this request. As always I'm the author (please don't repost)

Masterlist. Read on Ao3

Warnings: fluff, literally just James simping over Lily, the fluffiest fluff ever with a smidge of the rest of the Marauders in the background

Word Count: 1113

Description: On a peaceful May evening, Lily and James enjoy a picnic on the front lawn of the castle while the other three Marauders realize that things are changing.

(Read: now our quartet is down to three a la Lion King) iykyk

Taglist: @sylveryfire

It was a warm, sunny day at Hogwarts and most of the students were out on the front lawn, reveling in the warmth that had been gone for so long. Under one particular tree sat three boys. Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Now these three boys were seemingly not as content as they might otherwise have been, usually joking around. The reason for this could be found not too far away from them, sitting on a blanket having a picnic with his new girlfriend.

“You know, staring at them isn’t going to make James come back over here.” Remus said from where he lay on the ground.

Sirius grumbled, “I know.”

Laughter echoed through the spring air.

“I’m happy for them, ya know? But she stole him! The least she could do is let us borrow him every once and a while.” He complained.

Remus sat up slightly, shielding his eyes with his hand. “After all the years Prongs spent mooning over her he’s probably afraid that if he leaves her alone for one second she’ll revert back to not liking him.”

Peter looked over at the two of them from where he sat. “We’ll all get to hang out during the summer though, right?”

“Nah, she’s staying with us for the first part of the summer.” Sirius said, referring to the Potter household. For the past few summers all four boys had stayed together there and all of them saw it as a home away from home, though now, since Sirius had started actually living with them, he did truly see it as home.

“Finally. Now I’ll have someone to have intellectually stimulating conversations with.” Remus joked.

Sirius clutched his chest in shock, “Are you saying that we aren’t stimulating you?”

Remus gave him a look. “Don’t you dare laugh.” He warned.

Sirius grinned back, barely holding in laughter.

“I’m seri...” Remus stopped, realizing his blunder. “Shit.”

Sirius started cracking up, saying through laughs, “No, I’m Sirius.”

Remus and Peter exchanged a look.

“You walked right into that one, my friend.”

The werewolf sighed, “I know.”

Across the field, Lily and James were finishing up their food. Lily was still munching on the last remnants of her meal while James was already done so he took the time to admire the beautiful girl that sat next to him. She was absolutely stunning. He already knew that but it wasn’t until recently that he had been able to admire her beauty up close.

As if she could sense his gaze she looked over at him, her eyes meeting his.

“What are you doing?” She asked in bewilderment.

“Gazing at the most amazing girl I have ever met and wondering how I managed to get her to agree to go on a date with me.”

She laughed, pushing playfully at his shoulder. “Flatterer.”

“I mean it.” He insisted.

She ducked her head down in embarrassment, “Thank you.”

Lily shifted a bit to look out into the distance at the Black Lake, the sun shimmering on the surface.

Staring into her beautiful green eyes he couldn’t help but ask, “Lils?”

She looked over at him, “Yes, Jamie?”

“Were your eyes always this wonderful?” He asked, with a dazed expression on his face.

Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, “You are the first person to say that besides mum & dad.”

“Does your sister not like them?” He asked, puzzled at how anybody could stare into her gorgeous emerald eyes and not think they were absolutely stunning.

“No, she thinks they are ugly.” Lily admitted.

“She needs to get her eyes checked.”

Lily giggled.

“No, I’m being serious.” James said earnestly.

“That’s sweet of you.”

Lily smiled inwardly, ever since she had finally said yes to going on a date he had been acting over the moon. Flowers had appeared at her door every morning with a handwritten note that always had some compliment or, occasionally, a quote. She had been quite amused and very touched when she discovered that he had been asking Remus for recommendations and had even created a list of the ones that reminded him the most of her.

He was always being sweet to her, offering to carry things for her. While he had never been known to particularly care about getting to class on time he was frequently late because he always walked with her to class and somehow left his class early to arrive right when hers got out.

Her friends joked about how they were attached at the hip but she couldn’t be happier. Maybe it was too soon to know but she had a feeling that they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. When she looked over at him she could see herself marrying him, starting a family, and growing old together.

She ruffled his dark hair, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. He looked up at her with a smile. A smile that earned himself yet another kiss, this one was a bit longer.

From a ways away came a few hoots. Laughing, they both turned to look at where Remus, Sirius, and Peter sat. James casually flipped them off before slipping a hand into Lily’s hair to pull her face towards his, kissing her again. They eventually pulled apart, but Lily sidled up closer and laid her head down on his shoulder, both of them looking out into the horizon at the sun starting to fall behind the mountains. They would eventually have to pack up and return to the castle but for now they simply enjoyed the mostly peaceful May evening side by side, wishing that they could just stay there in that moment together forever.

[lilredbird101]

I Would – Sevika x OC (Delilah)

OKAY~! So this is my first actual story that I'm posting on here. I've written a lot for myself but they've all sat on my laptop. *Hides hands shaking with nerves*

This piece was inspired by the cute AF art done by @sumilane.

It involves my OC, an environmental scientist and engineer called Delilah. She's a Piltover whistleblower who ratted on the company she was working for. They'd been finding work arounds with waste disposal regulations to cut costs and now she's down in the lanes. I'm not much of a digital artist, so this is my Picrew rendition of her. Unfortunately they don't do accents of greens and blues in the hair colours, so please imagine.

Now, I know that sumilane's art has S2 Sevika hair, but let's just play around with time lines here.

Also, Delilah calls Sevika "Osavika". It's a play on the Spanish word for "bear" - "osa". No, she's not Spanish, and YES, I know Spain doesn't exist in Arcane's universe. Let me be cute XD

Anyway, here is my sappy af fanfiction!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Genuinely, fuck my life.”

Sevika knew who it was before they’d even spoken. Delilah rarely went for any other shoes than her blunnies, and the weight and pace of her gait in them was distinct. Slightly heavy with purpose but twisting and skipping around obstacles lithely. However, Sevika was usually the first seated at the Last Drop for their meetups and by now could tell Delilah’s mood from her step. Today, they trudged.

Sevika glanced her way as she shed her lab coat with stiff shoulders, sighed and slumped onto the stool next to her at the empty bar, flopping her head onto the sticky tabletop. Only Silco’s top employees could be there before evening hours, and there wasn’t anyone else around to witness the lax in professional poise. “Rough day for you too, huh?”

Delilah peered up, old bar nut crumbs sticking to her forehead, noticing a few new bruises and cuts along Sevika’s body. Her eyebrows bounced up, but not in worry – she knew Osavika could take a beating, “Oh shit. How’s the other guy?”

Sevika’s mouth twitched upwards as she reached for her bottle and another glass to pour, “Lying in an alley with many regrets and broken ribs.” She slipped the glass into Delilah’s hand, gently brushing the food from her brow. Delilah scrunched her eyes shut as they tickled her nose. “What about you? You look like shit.”

Delilah scoffed and raised the glass to her lips, knowing full well how her crumpled and stained lab coat, red eyes with dark circles, pale and sunken cheeks, cracked lips and greasy, frizz-ball hair looked. “Silco’s got me working double time until the new compound is finished. Urgh!” She grimaced at the taste of the amber liquid, “This tastes like acetone.”

Sevika reached out, “Well in that case, I’ll take it back.” Delilah snatched her hand back, smacking the hand and gave a playfully indignant look. Sevika’s shoulders bounced, chuckling, “Then don’t complain about free drinks.” Delilah smiled and nodded in thanks and a long silence hung in the air. Sevika rolled her eyes, “You can still complain about everything else if you want.” Having known each other so long by this point, their time together was always the highlight of both women’s days, and a safe venting point. Anyone who’d seen their first interactions would not believe that these where the two same people they’d seen several years ago.

Their “bond” had formed early into Delilah’s contract with Silco.

He was conducting an inspection of the labs to make sure everything was running smoothly under new management. Sevika looked her up and down. The slight little thing had the body more of a dancer than one in their dangerous business, and she moved like it to, gliding with a bounce in her step from bench to bench.

Delilah noticed her wandering eyes, “Anything wrong, Sevika?” She spoke as if each consonant and vowel deserved recognition. Delilah’s voice had lilted out from her mouth like fluttering velvet during the explanation of possible carcinogenic side effects of long-term use, and Sevika found the contrast of presence to present such a juxtaposition. Messing with this little bird will be so much fun.

Sevika leaned against a table and noticed how Delilah tensed up, glancing at the set-up behind her, “Oh nothing, twinkle-toes. Just watching your moves. With pegs like that, what were you? Some kind of ballerina in your infinite spare-time?” She jabbed.

Delilah’s face remained neutral as she collected papers to let Silco check, “Lessons from five to seventeen years. Mum insisted. Principle ballerina in my cohort for six. Why? Are you wanting lessons?”

Sevika laughed, “Certainly not.”

Delilah turned back to her; now it was her turned to look Sevika over, “Shame. I’d pay to see you in a leotard.” And just like that, she was back to her tour with Silco.

Sevika blinked, What in the…? If this little fairy wanted to try and show her up or rattle her, she had another thing coming.

For the next long while, Sevika was strutting around and poking her nose into work benches. She’d seen the woman react when she got too close to them. Delilah liked things just-so and was hyperaware of every millimetre a Bunsen or beaker budged under Sevika’s prodding. She was trying hard to concentrate on Silco’s questioning, but this woman’s damn roaming and smirking was distracting for so many reasons. The feeling built up like beetles scuttering up her back and into her brain.

While Silco was grilling Delilah on specifics, she noticed Sevika messing around with the glassware currently distilling a new shimmer formula she was testing, making a full flask under the rotary evaporator tip dangerously. She immediately turned from Silco mid-sentence, “I’m sorry, sir-,” and— SNAP! Delilah’s voice dropped like a stone, booming out in gravelly baritone built to project, “Get your paws off my equipment you bloody great bear of a bothersome bitch!” It was like a different person burst forward. Her whole posture and accent had changed to something more guttural, more feral.

Delilah stormed over and shoved between her workspace and the woman who was at least a head taller, “If you want to blow yourself up then go ahead and piss that blue-hair brat off, maybe she’ll do you a favour, but don’t go fucking around with this shit. It is volatile IN the body alone, even after testing, and I haven’t run any on this unfiltered stuff yet. I appreciate this is not your field but take some professional advice and BACK OFF.”

Sevika paused, registering that this noodle-armed twig had just insulted her AND ordered her about. Her condescending smirk returned, “Professional advice? I thought you were stripped of all those shiny credentials after the racket you made whistleblowing Up Top.”

“It’s called sacrifice. But then again, I hear you know a lot about that.” Delilah wasn’t shielded from water-cooler talk. She knew all about Vander and the kids, despite being from Piltover.

The corners of Sevika’s eyes tensed, making her mouth appear all the more sharp, “Careful, Sunshine. Bears can get awfully heavy-handed when upset.” Delilah didn’t ease up, she actually raised herself on her tippy toes to get closer to Sevika’s face. Adorable.

“Aww, did I upset you? Go on then, Osavika, take a swipe. Just remember that I’m now the only person on your team that actually knows how to make your fluro coke syrup from scratch.”

Sevika couldn’t believe she was actually having fun underneath her scathed pride, “There are plenty of ways to hurt someone without taking them out of commission.” She gave the balanced Delilah a small shove to the chest, sending her tippy-toes down and scuttling to right themselves.

“Ha! Try it! I’m running off a three-day shift, four hours sleep, a caffeine overdose, ire and manic fucking energy. I guarantee I’ll at least get a few bites in.”

That sent a completely new feeling to Sevika’s gut.

“Ladies!” Silco was momentarily amused, but now just perturbed by the disruption.

The two women eased back, but Delilah wouldn’t return to Silco and the conversation until Sevika moved away from the bench space. She stared her down/up until the woman stepped back. Like a cloud soothing itself after a storm, Delilah posture and voice floated back to it’s original poise and tone, “Apologies, sir. Now, you specified that you wanted a longer run of the effects per dose. Understandable, but I wanted to discuss the side-effects and “hangover” of such a dosage with you. Are you wanting your users to actually LIVE through the experience or is “single use” what you’re going for here? Because I’m going to need more time and resources if it’s the former…”

Delilah kept glancing back towards Sevika occasionally to make sure she was keeping her hands at bay… And to… No, keep your head focused… Unpack that mess of thoughts later.

It had been nearly three years since then, and each gruelling week had brought more stock to their sparring relationship. Then through the tough times it simmered down to mutual respect and appreciation, eventually into what could be called a burgeoning friendship. When Sevika had invited Delilah out for a drink after work, that friendship quickly solidified. They’d had more in common than they originally thought, and being in the same space felt natural after the first hour.

Their company became routine. After-work drinks and matches at the pool table were where it started. Delilah had a terrible poker-face compared to seasoned pros, so cards weren’t an option with more serious players as Sevika quickly found out when she made a terrible decision to fund Delilah’s first games. Teaching her how to line up the cue, take long shots and snooker fools was much easier since she was a visual learner and knew how to work angles. Getting up close and personal to show her the holds was also a bonus for Sevika, though she wouldn’t admit it.

They started not-so-discretely scheduling their rounds and duties to coincide despite their different fields, Sevika volunteering to do follow-ups in the labs just to talk, and Delilah often personally delivering updates in Silco’s office instead of using lackies. Delilah enjoyed bringing the meagre crop of veg from her balcony garden to gift Sevika and invited her over many times to excitedly show her the new sprouts of greens when they finally emerged. They even went going out to get dinner on late nights at work, ending with Sevika dropping Delilah off at home personally… For safety reasons of course.

When Delilah invited Sevika in for late night drinks her mind was flooded with how she might usually play this with other women, but as they sat on the balcony and watched the skyline, it felt too sacred a moment for that. It felt like she’d been given a rest stop or sanctuary. At some point Delilah was mentioning how much she missed her father. She wished desperately that she could return to Piltover and mess around in his workshop with him again, have a joint in the gardens or just fucking talk to him. It was her one regret of her actions.

Sevika surprised herself.

“He sounds nice. Better than mine, anyway.” Delilah cocked her head to the side, not pushing for details or denying with an, Oh he can’t be that bad. Just listening. “Strong family units are hard to find in Zaun, as I’m sure you can imagine. Even more-so when your mum has had enough of the booze and debt and walks out. He didn’t take it easy on me before and sure as Hell didn’t after… Maybe I looked a little too much like her…” She took a sip of her whiskey, but barely moved otherwise, “Got his fucking eyes though…” Her bitterness at that last fact seeped through in her tone, just a little. A cluster of decorative amber lights in the distance brought back a kind pair of irises from Sevika’s memory, and she wished with everything that she’d been given those instead. That she could still look at her before she slept… Just one last time.

Delilah let the moment sit before reaching towards her friend, brushing her cheek. Sevika was startled to feel a tear smudging against Delilah’s soft thumb. “She must have been very beautiful.”

Sevika’s eyes widened slightly in shock at the tenderness of it all, and she tried not to let her lips wobble, “… She was.”

A feeling, so strong and burning like coals rose from her gut as she looked back at Delilah and absorbed the warmth radiating off her… Then she realised…

Damn it.

Inside jokes abound by then and the two felt comfortable enough to get into each other’s space. Not because their shackled feelings were secretly eating them up on the inside. No, of course not. Certainly not because every little touch or lingering morsel of eye-contact had their nerves zinging like electricity through copper wiring.

One time, Sevika was leaning over Delilah’s shoulder to observe the notes she was showing Silco, and her exhale skimmed Delilah’s neck, wafting into her own airways. She felt a fool, but Delilah could have sworn the warmth of it had snaked into her gut and impregnated her, even though she knew the reproductive and respiratory systems weren’t linked that way. She made a mental note to set up her showcase on cramped desk corners more often.

Another time, Sevika was escorting Delilah to a nearby shimmer outlet. It was a particularly hot day and Delilah asked ever so sweetly for a sip from Sevika’s canteen. Her dry windpipe made her voice sound hypnotically smoky, and how could Sevika say no? How could she look away from the droplet that hung at the corner of her mouth, or the pink tip of her tongue that darted out to catch it? How could she not let her tastebuds linger on the remnants of coconut lip balm around the rim of her bottle later?

And don’t get any ideas. Sevika only called Delilah “Sunshine” to make fun of her untameable sun-bleached curls, not because she felt warmer and lighter when Delilah was nearby. And Delilah only added Osa to the start of Sevika’s name so frequently because of the bear joke, not because she felt safe, protected and calm whenever Sevika was around. She didn’t even know the word’s original language fully; she just thought it was an apt pun.

Their infatuation – nay – deep affections were visible to anyone who cared to look or had the time, but somehow these two women, both brilliant in their own fields, had absolutely no damn clue. Or maybe they just couldn’t risk realising. Sometimes the now is too precious to risk the what if.

Delilah let her breath out in a slow, robust, steady blow – a regular stim Sevika had noticed at work -, pulling the pencil from her hair that was holding the lengths of curls up and dropping it to the bar-top with a clatter. The release of pressure had her sighing as she ran her hands through the unwashed mess, and Sevika tried not to file the view away for later. “What am I doing here, Sevika?” The despondent tone got her attention, and she turned to face her coworker more directly. “Like, is it really all worth it? I know it is, but… Is it?”

Delilah turned to her, with such a sad, confused void of a look that Sevika didn’t know what to do with. “… You know I’m not a mind reader, right? You’ll have to give me more detail than that if you want an opinion.”

Delilah breathed again, “When you’re a kid you get told the basic outline of life people follow, and most of us just aim to be happy. Well, here I am, and I feel like I’m in limbo or hell or… Something! My plan was always to get my higher education (check), become an environmental scientist or engineer (check), and find some way to reverse the caustic pollutants that filter down into Zaun,” Delilah made a comically negative buzzer sound and took another sip. “No one gave a fuck up top, and I burnt all my bridges by pushing too hard. Now I’m working for effectively a drug lord in exchange for funding which by the time I take out my living expenses is pittance. The work conditions are shit too, I’m in constant burnout, and as a Topsider no one wants anything to do with me down here! I have no one…”

Sevika looked down at her drink, trying not to let that last remark sting.

Delilah winced, realising how that must have sounded, “Except for you.” She reached her hand out to rest ever so naturally on Sevika’s metal wrist. She didn’t know what Sevika would call their connection to anyone else or if they would ever have anything more, but she knew what it was to herself and that it was at least a deep friendship between them… And that meant the world to Delilah. Sevika was technically her superior, sure, but it hadn’t felt like that for years. To Delilah it was so much more, even if it was just wishful thinking that was becoming harder and harder to silence.

There was something niggling in how Sevika made regular check-ins at the labs, why she felt that Sevika always listened with gruff but genuine care, why Sevika had made sure no one at work or the Last Drop gave her a hard time, why Sevika’s mere presence made her feel like she was in her own secure little bubble. And that barely scratched the surface. Sevika was the best part of any days Delilah spent down in Zaun. Even if what some said was true and it was just to protect an asset of Silco’s, Delilah still felt that… “You are my rough-as-guts saving grace here, Osavika.” The nickname played on her lips deliciously.

God, that smile. Sevika did a great job of hiding it, but she couldn’t ignore the volts that trilled up her arm at Delilah’s touch. It was just phantom pains, but God! Her body gave her no choice but to return the smile in her slight way. “Good save, there Lila.”

“I mean it.” Delilah squeezed the metal before letting go, as if it would have the give or sensation of flesh. “You’re my solace.” She looked forward and took another sip.

Sevika’s tone changed, “What would you do?”

“Huh?”

“If you could choose another life?” Sevika seemed hesitant, playing with the rim of her glass. She hadn’t had many conversations like this before Delilah came along. No one really seemed to think they had other options down here, but she was curious.

Delilah shook her head, “I’ve seen too many damaged by the waste pouring from Piltover. I have a moral obligation to fix this, or at least try. I couldn’t walk away from my work now--”

Sevika cut her off, “But if you could. No moral responsibility. No rules or restrictions. No one else to answer to… What would you do?”

Delilah was taken aback. She hadn’t thought about it in so long, but an image she had as a child came back into her mind. Suddenly her eyes didn’t seem so weary.

“A little house out in nature somewhere. Lots of windows for natural light, clear skies, a little garden with a bird bath, and a water source nearby. Maybe the beach or a river. I don’t know what I’d do to support myself, but maybe I could just get by. And maybe, if I’m lucky, I could have someone to share it with.”

The figure she envisioned with her was so clear in Delilah’s mind. They seemed lighter in the open space away from carnage, smile lines growing around their mouth instead of constant frown lines on their forehead. The sun, good food and rest had softened their dark circles, and their metal claws were replaced with appendages better suited for cuddling by firelight under stars. She wished she could take them away and show them something better. Delilah tried not to blush or look towards the woman by her side.

Sevika watched her mind wandering. It seemed like such a nice vision that she was envious of whomever Delilah would share it with. “It sounds nice,” she said softly, softer than she’d meant it to come out. The vision seemed to have Sevika in a daze as she imagined Little Lila pulling up crop from the dirt, painting the delicate flowers she’d doodle in her lab notes onto the door frame, or washing clothes by the river. Whenever she walked past her at the shimmer labs, Sevika could smell the orange blossom and jasmine oil Delilah dropped into her laundry, and she imagined what it would be like to carry the same smell. Sevika tried not to be so indulgent as to insert herself there in Delilah’s fantasy, but the idea of sharing all that with her felt so easy that she almost forgot who she was in service to.

Delilah shook herself, “Yeah, well, I know I would most definitely need another person to get that idea going. Money is scarce for everyone and a freedom like that is pricy. No one in Zaun would trust each other enough outside of marriage to share funds like that. No one above or below trusts me enough to get to know me in the first place, I barely have enough free time to brush my teeth under Silco let alone go on a date, and who in their right mind would want any part of Silco’s network, anyway? There’s no way I’d be able to get close to anyone to where they’d want to spend a life with me, never mind marriage.”

It slipped out of Sevika’s mouth as naturally as breathing, “I’d marry you.”

…

The air froze.

Delilah slowly turned to look in Sevika’s grey eyes. They’d always reminded her of heavy clouds ready to cool the earth. A brewing storm ready to unleash invigorating, glorious potential energy into the air and light up the sky. She shook her head, trying to get a grip of herself. She must have heard wrong!

“I’m sorry, say that again?”

For once in her life, Sevika felt cold with fear and hot with embarrassment all at once. She scolded herself as her eyes darted down. What had she done? Why would Lovely Lila want someone like her? How could she have jeopardised this one good thing in her life. God, she was a fool!

…

But she wasn’t a coward. She’d already said it. No turning back now. Sevika brought her eyes back to Delilah’s and in a moment her turmoil was swept away in fields of pale green on an overcast day; a natural soft-fall, a masterpiece hiding intricate life beneath it made from infinite small strokes, capable of growing nearly anywhere. She could almost feel the breeze on her face as she stepped out of THEIR front door. The one with the little flowers painted on it.

“I… I’d marry you.” And then it all felt so easy, “In a heartbeat.”

Delilah’s breath caught in her chest, “You… You would…? Really?” Sevika slowly nodded. “But… WHY?” Delilah sounded utterly bewildered. Hearing this seemed so surreal to her she’d dare not trust her own senses.

Sevika reached out tentatively, giving Delilah plenty of time to pull away before her flesh hand reached hers, “Because when I’m around you I forget who I’m meant to be. I feel like the world isn’t as big, ruthless or cruel. Your laugh plays in my head as I go to sleep, and when I wake up – most often from dreams of you - I feel like I’m holding my breath until I see you again. You’re one of the first people in so long who values me as a whole, someone I can completely trust to share myself with, and I love that you trust me enough to do the same.”

Delilah couldn’t believe that such a proclamation that she’d only ever imagined in her daydreams was happening. She knew what it would be taking for Sevika to be so vulnerable, and it filled her chest with a golden joy like sunshine throwing rainbows onto a wall through hanging crystals in a window. She was only kicking herself that she hadn’t done the same sooner.

Sevika continued, “I know our situation is difficult, and I know your work is important and comes first, but… When you’re ready… When you’re ready to live for you… I will spend my days making sure that you’re happy. Until then… I’ll take any part of you that you can give, and I’ll give you anything you want of me.”

Tears that she hadn’t realised were forming finally rolled down Delilah’s cheeks. Sevika reached up to cup her face ever so gently - a tenderness that she would hesitate to show in front of others – and Delilah leaned into it like a little kitten in relief, her own palm raising to press it further. The metal of her hand cooled Delilah’s flushed flesh as she wiped away the offending droplets, and though she knew Sevika couldn’t truly feel it, Delilah pressed a kiss into it anyway. Sevika’s voice came out in a whisper, “I love you, Delilah.”

Delilah’s breath escaped in shudders as the years of yearning finally flew out of her in an explosion of butterflies. More tears flowed and she giggled at the silly worry of bringing rust to Sevika’s hand. Delilah threaded her hands into Sevika’s short locks and brought her forehead to rest on hers, tasting each other’s breath in the small space.

“Oh, good grief, Sevika… I love you too.” And in that moment their lips and hearts finally met.

[torscrawls]

DP x  DC - Mad Scientists

Summary:

The Justice League is investigating a pair of evil scientists in Amity Park. Danny is panicking over a pair of new villains in the area and over the fact that he has no idea who they are.

Hopefully his parents will stay out of the whole mess since they have nothing to do with it.

…Right?

Words: 2 872

Can be read on AO3!

-

Danny's phone rang, but it wasn’t his usual one with a cracked screen and case decorated with several planet-stickers. No, the phone that was ringing was his sleek black one, the one he had gotten from the Justice League just a few months ago, the one he had gotten after he had started working together with them. They had said something about wanting a stable way of contacting him outside summoning circles.

Danny supposed that was fair.

They were nice enough and Danny had actually even started to relax a bit around them. Hanging around people who didn't hate him just for what he was could be nice, who knew?

Even so, they usually didn't call him for a friendly chat.

He picked the phone up and fumbled with it for a few seconds before he managed to answer it, still unused to handling it. “Hello? Phantom here.”

The voice that greeted him was smooth and self-assured, impossible to mistake after hours of missions together. Red Robin. “Hey, Phantom. We have a mission in Amity.”

Danny blinked in surprise, looking down at the town spreading out in front of him from where he sat high above on top of one of the few skyscrapers in the small city. “Here?”

“Yes. Have you heard anything about a pair of mad scientists in the area?”

 Mad scientists? Danny shuddered. There were some new crazy scientists in town? He didn’t even think to question the validity of the claim; if the Bats said there were some crazy scientists in the area, then there were. But how had he missed them? He tried to keep tabs on all the players, old and new, that were involved in the mess that was Amity Park. They really didn’t have room for any more players. “No I haven’t. Where?”

 If they were here, he had to stop them.

 Red Robin’s voice didn’t allow for any argument as he said, “Don’t act on your own. We’re not sure of their exact location at the moment but we’re working on it as we speak. We plan on carrying out the mission next week. Can we count on your help?”

 Uh-oh, that was Red Robin’s serious voice. Best not to antagonize him, and it didn’t really matter who these people were or where they came from, they couldn't stay. Not if they threatened the strenuous peace he had fought so hard to achieve between humans and ghosts over the years. So he simply said, “Of course I'll help.”

 “Great!” Red Robin said, and Danny could hear the smile in his voice, “We'll keep you updated. Stay out of trouble!” And then he promptly hung up.

 Danny stared down at the silent phone with pursed lips. The people in the League were—almost—always very down to business, especially the Bats. That didn’t mean that he hadn’t been able to joke around with a few of them, especially Red Robin, but  Danny still felt a bit intimidated by all the planning and thought that went into all the League's missions. Not that he was complaining; he hadn't been mortally wounded even once since starting to work together with them.

 Not counting what he did in his free time, of course. 

 But their planning and cunning was also part of the problem; most of them were scary smart and Danny wasn't a huge fan of the League coming to his hometown since it severely increased the chances of them figuring him out. 

 Still. He had considered telling them more about himself anyway. Maybe even the whole truth. It was just a matter of time before they figured him out anyway and he would rather the information came from him. But that could all wait for now; he had a job to do.

 He pocketed the sleek black phone before fishing out his own as he took off over the city. He sent out a quick message simply reading, Meeting in five outside Nasty Burger. He might not be able to act, but he knew two people who could. Besides, they hadn’t said anything about some light investigating.

 No matter how much he had come to trust the League, he wasn’t about to just sit around doing nothing when his own town might be in danger.

—

 A week later, exactly as Red Robin had said, he got a text to his sleek black phone that simply said that they were waiting for him by the park.

 So much for a heads-up, Danny thought with a sigh.

 A downside of people thinking he was a full ghost; they didn’t even consider the fact that he might have a life…Which was only half-true.

 Luckily, his parents had run out of the house half an hour ago screaming about a ghost and for once, Danny had been happy to leave them to it.

 Unluckily, he had actually been trying to get his homework done for once.

 He grumbled as he put his pen down and changed into Phantom, sending Tucker and Sam a quick text to let them know what was going on.

 Their own investigation hadn’t turned up anything on the new scientists; no one seemed to know what they were talking about, no matter how thoroughly Tucker dredged the internet and no matter how many people—and ghosts—Sam “persuaded” to talk.  It had almost been enough for Danny to start doubting Red Robin’s words.

 Regardless of whether they were right or wrong about the existence of these villainous scientists, he guessed it would be settled tonight.

 Danny arrived by the park to see Red Robin and Batman standing on the street outside the entrance. How they arrived, Danny didn’t know, but he trusted them to not have attracted attention as they did.

 It was… bizarre to see them in his hometown and Danny found himself grateful that it was dark and consequently not that many people out and about. Amity might see more than its fair share of strange things, but he doubted that seeing the Batman and Red Robin standing ominously beneath a birch tree would go completely unnoticed, even here.

 The Bats were always slightly intimidating; giving off the impression they knew more than they let on, that they were always at least one step ahead. They probably were.

 Batman nodded to him as he landed next to them and greeted him in his usual gravelly tone of voice, “Phantom.” 

 “Big Bat, Red Robin.” Danny spread his arms wide with a smile to match. “Welcome to my crib. Do you need a tour?” 

 Batman simply scowled, but that wasn't anything out of the ordinary. 

 Red Robin on the other hand laughed as he shook his head. “We're good.” 

 Danny leaned to the side to look behind them. “It's only you two? Where's the rest of the gang?” 

 “Are you saying we're not enough for you?” Red Robin asked in mock offense. 

 Danny held up his hands in a calming gesture, but he couldn't keep the grin off his face. “No, no, of course not! I wouldn't dream of it, I love you guys. Cross my heart and hope to die! Oops!” He broke down cackling, quickly joined by Red Robin.

 “Enough chit-chat,” Batman cut them both off, “Let’s focus.”

 Danny straightened up with a mock salute. “Yes, sir, Double B, sir.”

 Red Robin rolled his eyes so hard that Danny could tell even from behind his domino mask. Batman himself didn’t even twitch, but Danny refused to lose hope; one day he would get Batman to react to his nicknames.

 For now though, he was unable to keep his curiosity in check any longer. “Sooo… Where are these crazy scientists you were talking about?”

 “They were last seen downtown,” Batman said gruffly.

 Danny clapped his hands in delight. “Ooh! So I'm the one getting the tour?” 

 “This is a mission,” Batman deadpanned, but Danny had been around him enough to pick up on the exasperated tone underlining the clipped words. He was getting to him.

 Danny waved him off. “Yeah I know, but that doesn't mean we can't be civil to each other.” 

 Red Robin snorted. “He’s right, B.”

 Danny held his hand up for a high five from Red Robin as Batman scowled. “I’ll investigate downtown. You two can investigate their house. Stay focused.”

 “Sure thing!” Danny agreed with a smile and wave. “See you later Batguy.” Unsurprisingly, he didn’t get a response. I will get him next time, Danny thought with a grin as he watched the man disappear more effectively than most ghosts he knew.

 “Alright, let’s go,” Red Robin said as he gestured for Danny to follow.

 They chatted as they walked—or in Danny’s case hovered—down the street, even as both of them kept their eyes peeled for any potential trouble. Even so, it wasn’t long before Red Robin stopped and Danny frowned in confusion. “Why are we stopping?”

 Red Robin gestured across the road. “That’s where the villains live.”

 Danny followed his gesture even as he knew what house was on the other side of the road. Knew it intimately. “But that’s my—” Danny hesitated, then decided to take the plunge. “That’s my house.”

 Red Robin stopped. Slowly turned to face him. “What.”

 And that was the moment it really clicked for Danny. “The scientists we’re here for… Their names are Jack and Madeline Fenton, aren’t they?”

 “Yes,” Red Robin said before turning the full force of his attention on Danny. “I thought you said you didn’t know who they were?” And there was a hint of suspicion in his expression as he said it.

 Danny couldn’t bring himself to care. And it was too late to back out now. He had given them enough; they would be able to put everything together with or without his help. So he said, voice sounding strained even to his own ears, “They’re my parents.”

 The suspicion was replaced by shocked surprise. “But you're a ghost??” 

 Danny raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? I still have parents? I was still born??”

 Danny didn't think he imagined the red that dusted Red Robin’s face at that. “I just didn't think—Right, sorry. Of course.” 

 And then he could see Red Robin pause and really think about what he had said; the implications of it. Making connections that Danny really would prefer that he didn’t.

 The ghost hunters and the ghostly son. The lab that they no doubt knew about after their investigations. The hazmat suit that Danny always wore.

 Red Robin stared at him with his mouth slightly open before breathing out, “Your name is Danny.” And Danny knew he wasn’t talking about his identity as Danny Phantom, but as Danny Fenton.

 Of course they had looked into the family of the people they were here to investigate, he should have known.

 He still forced a smile on his face and said, “I thought you were supposed to be a great detective! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten my name!”

 “But then you—” Then Red Robin cut himself off as he abruptly touched a hand to the side of his face, to his comm, Danny realized. After a few seconds of silent listening he spoke quickly into the comm, “Wait for us. Something new has come up.” Then he tapped at his ear and turned to face Danny. “We have a situation, we’ll have to continue this conversation later.”

 Danny had a sinking suspicion of what the situation could be. Or who. His parents had been away an awfully long time and that never resulted in anything good. Still, he could think of several things he would rather be doing than continuing this conversation. “You can continue this conversation over my dead body!”

 And then he cursed his big mouth. Maybe Red Robin didn’t want to joke around with him anymore, maybe he didn’t—

 Then Red Robin barked out a short laugh. “No different than usual then!” before taking off down the street at a run.

 Danny reluctantly followed, mainly because of the relief that flooded him. He was almost glad for the distraction this new situation provided. The keyword being almost.

 As they moved down the street Danny found himself asking, “Sooo, what’s going on exactly?” He might know who was going on, but not what.

 Thankfully, Red Robin took pity on him and accepted the change in topic. “The two villains are wreaking havoc down by the city center. Apparently there are a couple of ghosts involved as well.”

 “They’re not villains!” Danny instinctually argued.

 Red Robin held up a hand to stop him, but didn’t slow his pace. Danny was both jealous of his stamina and very grateful for his own ability to fly. “Okay. Okay. Just— Let me get this straight.”

 Danny nodded, but couldn’t keep the frown from his face as he said, “Sure.”

 Red Robin held up a finger. “Your parents? They are consistently the cause of massive amounts of property damage to the city?”

 “I mean… Yeah.” His admittance was ironically underlined by a massive boom a few blocks down. They were getting close.

 Red Robin didn’t bat an eye at the noise as he continued, another finger joining the first, “And they have a lab underneath your house?”

 “Yes.”

 A third finger. “And they experiment on sentient creatures in said lab?”

 Danny winced. Evidently, they had done their research well. “Sometimes. But not for the last few years. I’ve been able to stop them bef—”

 But he didn’t get to finish as Red Robin abandoned his counting and threw his hands in the air in frustration. “How are they not mad scientists?”

 Danny hated how unsure he sounded as he said, “Their hearts are in the right place?”

 In the background they could hear the booming voice of Jack shouting out, “Get back here you ectoplasmic scum!” Immediately followed by Maddie screaming, “We’re going to disintegrate you! Strap you to the table and see what makes you tick! We’re going to dissolve you into base components!”

 Red Robin crossed his arms and sounded decidedly unimpressed as he asked, “That them?”

 Danny just gave an unconvincing smile before flinching as another explosion rang out between the buildings. Of course it had to be his parents causing problems today… But, really, what day weren’t they? Danny let out a defeated sigh as he said, “Let’s just go.”

 They rounded the corner and arrived at what looked like a war zone.

 This in and of itself wasn’t strange for Amity on a Saturday night, but what was strange was the sight of Batman in the middle of it all, hunkered down behind an overturned car as he watched the chaos unfold.

 And of course Danny’s parents were in the middle of it all; guns blazing, hazmat suits on, screaming themselves hoarse as they chased after a madly cackling Johnny and Kitty on their motorcycle.

 Ectoplasm was everywhere; splattered on the street, the shops, the cars, even on the edge of Batman’s cape. Everywhere except for the duo of laughing ghosts.

 There were a couple of holes blasted in the road as well as the side of a building. The GAV was half-embedded in the glass front of a clothing store, because of course it was.

 Kitty and Johnny had managed to tie a long string of shirts to the back of their bike and were dragging them around like a colorful banner. Jack had a pair of jeans tied around his head as he blindly shot the Fenton bazooka at anything and anything, like a deadly game of piñata with a gun.

 Danny could see the way Red Robin took in the chaos with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth. It wasn’t worse than a typical Saturday night, but that didn’t mean that it was good.

 Red Robin slowly turned to face him, his face unimpressed and a single eyebrow raised in challenge.

 …Maybe his parents actually were evil scientists.

 But he would never admit that out loud so Danny just groaned and started making his way over to the chaos. “Not a word. Let’s just go stop them before they try and capture the big B.”

 “Why would they do that if they’re not mad scientists?!” Red Robin asked with a decidedly unwarranted amount of snark in his voice.

 Danny thought back to countless heated family discussions over literally animated dinners about the Gotham vigilantes and then admitted, “…They might be convinced that he's a ghost.”

 Red Robin groaned. “Of course they are.”

[chaisarinawat]

the event (2)

Timeline: 2024 November 22nd, Friday, 8 P.M. Location: The Playroom, Bangkok. Mood: Nervous, anxious, uncertain - and then FREAKING OUT!!! Attire: See this post - His uniform at The Playroom With: @poorlboy, Nong Ambhom, @ippotis, @dr-hanwool

The Playroom was usually busy, but never this kind of busy. All of the escorts - front and backroom workers like - had been required to attend tonight, having all been sent a threatening text from their manager a while ago, reminding them about the special event being put on tonight. Chai and the other escorts were left in the dark as to what the event was, having only been told that the clients tonight were a mixture of regulars and new attendants, and their behaviour had to be perfect. Khun Debt Collector was also here, scanning over each of the escorts to nod in approval when they were ready to go. Chai wondered if it was purely paranoia or coincidence that he felt the man's eyes linger on Ambhom and then his own form, before he nodded away and moved on to the next. Chai was terrified of the man, and what he could do, thinking back to what happened to P'Dew when the escort had complained about their treatment. The man was expected to work tonight, in the backroom, even though he was still battered and bruised from his beating. P'Dew barely spoke a word now, when he was at work - just as fearful of it happening again.

The escorts didn't see their bookings tonight, but the manager directed their clients where they needed to go once the club had opened. Not even the first minute had passed before P'War was requested to go into the booths with one of the backroom regulars. Because everything was set up on the tables, Chai couldn't do what he and War usually did when they were booked, which was check-up on each other when delivering the drinks. Chai and Ambhom watched worriedly as the manager pointed at War to go.

"Not him," Ambhom whispered to Chai. "He's always trying to get us to go back with him."

Chai nodded. "If I can get a chance to check on him, I will," Chai assured the younger man, though he wasn't sure if or when that would be. All the escorts were now filtering out into the main area, with the manager directing them to go into certain booths, with drinks and glasses already prepared on the tables. "But it'll be alright Nong. P'War knows not to go to the backroom. Remember how he smacked that client who tried to do that to him last time?"

That cracked a small smile on Ambhom's face. "Oh yeah! P'War was so cool! Just in the middle of the sentence as well, he had enough!"

Ambhom and Chai laughed lightly, expelling some of the nervous energy that lingered between them.

"Just remember Nong, as long as you don't say yes, they can't actually do anything to you," Chai advised Ambhom as he and the young one wiped down the counter. "Not all clients are aggressive, some will ask and then back away when you remind them. And we'll watch over you when we can, okay? There's nothing to worry abou- shit!!"

Chai - who had been wiping the counter - noticed that the door had opened and that one of his regulars, Matsuda-san had stepped in. He was a Japanese man who had been living in Thailand for a few months now, somewhat insistent for Chai to join him in the backroom, but not as pushy as some of the other clients. The problem was the person who walked in behind him, causing Chai to curse and to drop onto the floor behind the counter where he could hide before the other could see him.

It was P'Dan!

What was P'Dan doing here!? This wasn't a place that Chai would have expected him to come to. It wasn't on any of his schedules either, Chai would have seen it as his assistant!

Oh this was bad, bad!

"Phi, what's wrong?" Ambhom said.

"A-Are they gone?" Chai asked, glancing up at the other.

"They're being taken into the front now," Ambhom told him. "Are you okay? I've never seen that man bring anyone with him before, have you?"

Chai shook his head. There was no way he was bringing up that yes, he did in fact know the guest that had come with his regular. That it was his boss, his friend, someone he was getting closer with.

Maybe the Japanese man decided on a different escort tonight. Maybe Chai could avoid being seen, if he stayed working at the counter instead of out there in the front...

"Where's Sugar?" Chai's stomach dropped as the manager walked up to Ambhom, peering into the bar. "Matsuda-san and a new guest are already seated in a private booth and waiting!"

Ambhom was frozen, the younger boy trying to give the manager an excuse but Chai knew it would get them both into trouble. He remember P'Dew, his broken nose and his bruised face, looking so defeated and hopeless and knew that he couldn't risk that happening to either one of them. So before Ambhom could say anything, Chai slowly got up from behind the counter. "I'm here Khun, sorry," Chai said. "J-just dropped something."

"Hurry up! And make sure you entertain Matsuda-san well! He's paid extra so that his guest can enjoy you too." The manager snapped at him. In front of the guests, the manager was completely polite. When it was just him and the escorts, it was a different story.

"Phi..." Ambhom whispered to Chai.

"I'll be okay." Chai whispered back to the younger one, not wanting him to worry, even though he himself was freaking out. He was hoping that maybe he had seen it wrong and that it wasn't P'Dan who just walked in The Playroom.

The Playroom doors opened again, and this time War's regular - the Doctor - walked in. The man's expression was its usual stoic self, hands in the pockets of his large trenchcoat as he was greeted warmly by the manager. As usual, the doctor barely glanced in anyone's direction. All the escorts knew that he wanted War.

"Please take a seat, Rain is seeing someone at the moment but you're next Khun." The manager said to the doctor before turning to Chai and realising he was still there. "Sugar? Are you still here? Your clients are waiting."

"Y-yes, Khun." Chai said, sparing Ambhom a final glance before heading off.

Under the watchful eyes of Khun Manager and the increased security, Chai made his way down to the private booth, already feeling his fingers shaking from anxiety. He passed by War, wanting to catch his friend's eye to see if he was okay, but Warun was looking over towards the bar to where the Doctor was. The Doctor was a bit creepy, but for some reason Chai felt it would be better if Warun was with him instead of the current client, who was known to be a bit aggressive towards the boys. Chai hoped that Warun would be okay - he wouldn't be able to check on him anymore, since he'd be entertaining now too.

Matsuda-san was seated in the booth, a large smile on his face as he spoke with his guest. His guest... yeah... that was definitely P'Dan. There was no denying it. Chai wanted to turn around and run right out, and honestly might have done so if it weren't for the fact that he knew what the consequences were. Khun Debt Collector was here tonight too, watching the worker's every move.

"Oh, he's here!" Matsuda-san exclaimed when Chai appraoched their table. "Isn't he just adorable, Dan-san? My favourite one!"

Chai glanced over to Dan for a moment, before he felt himself go red in the face out of pure embarrassment. He couldn't hold any kind of eye contact with his boss, turning back to either look at Matsuda or at the floor, coming across as shy when really he was just ashamed. "Good evening," Chai said softly.

"No need to be shy around me! We've done this many times by now," Matsuda-san laughed merrily. "What are you waiting for Sugar? Come sit in my lap and pour us some drinks!"

Matsuda-san reached over and gripped Chai's arm hard, pulling him into the booth and almost knocking him clean off of his feet. Why was Matsuda-san being so forward tonight? Was it because he had a guest? Actually, almost all the clients were being aggressive, some of them rushing in as if it was a race to get into a booth to see their escorts. It was weird and it made Chai uneasy.

Chai was going to ignore the comment about sitting in Matsuda's lap and instead sit beside him, but the man forcefully dragged him up there anyway, hands firmly placed on Chai's hips. In this position, he was facing P'Dan head on - there was no avoiding him now. Chai felt like he was going to burst into tears, his hands trembling as he reached out to pour both of the men a drink, some of the expensive liqueur spilling onto the table.

"Be careful there Sugar, I'm paying a lot for alcohol tonight," Matsuda-san teased, pinching Chai's side and making the escort jump up with a yelp. "And for you. I want to show my friend here a good time!"

[harperhydra]

December 1st, 2024 - Motorcycle Jousting a Tyrant

It starts out normal, aside from the red smog in the air. It's Atlanta, though, the locals don't seemed concerned about it, so with a healthy dose of skepticism, she'll go about her day.

It starts with following Rebecca around, and hopefully turning her over to her actual protective detail now that it's easier for helicopters and such to land. It's an otherwise normal morning at the Westin for them at this point, waking up and heading straight for the coffee shop in the lobby for breakfast. Conversation about past experiences abound, Rebecca has quickly made her way up Helenas interesting people list. She's extremely knowledgeable about viruses, and explaining her own symptoms doesn't feel as alienating as it does when she's speaking to the actual doctors and scientists.

The conversation today is cut short when Billy Cohen finally enters the picture. A hulk of a man in his own right, she can just see the military experience oozing off him, but the way he cracks and flips a switch when Rebecca hugs him has her smiling.

"Oh, yeah, that's your beau."

She introduces herself, and finally hands Rebecca off into his care. He's already got CDC approval, she doesn't need to fight for it, it would have been an annoying endeavor for everyone involved if they started this process only for it to become unnecessary, so she's glad pieces are finally moving.

For now, she's off to spend the day with Ada- Who apparently had it out for her.

This day was anything but mundane, though.

Coming back was the start of a whole other ordeal, Hunnigans suddenly in her ear claiming there was an attack on the CDC, and a localized A-virus outbreak. As they're walking out of the bridal shop, she catches sight of the perpetrator speeding away on a motorcycle down the nearly empty city streets. The smogs gotten heavier, and she's quick to put her respirator on as they start walking fast toward the Westin once more. Leons already out and about, having bought a brand new motorcycle, and after handing the things bought off to Ada, she meets him outside the Westin and hops on the back of it, and they're off in the general direction she saw them flee.

Ada, gratefully, offered to be their eyes in the sky, grappling from building to building and helping them however she could with IRIS. Her assistance proved invaluable, as the smog on the ground made finding their way almost impossible. They managed to find the motorcycle, though, parked outside a water treatment facility that ran close to the CDC campus.

Leon pulls out a device from his pocket that explodes into some kind of silvery dust, coating both them and the bike in a powder that renders them invisible to the naked eye. She has zero idea where he's picked this up, but it's an interesting little toy, one she hopes he can possibly acquire more of.

Leon kills the engine and parks the bike a ways off from the treatment plant, forcing them both to walk closer, approaching and crouching in front of an open door, where the so called 'Dark Rider' they were chasing was standing amidst several giant pale humanoids in suits.

Tyrants of some kind, she figured. She'd soon be proven wrong though.

The girls talking with a man over a two way radio, complaining about a lack of payment for whatever she did at the CDC, the details of which were sparse, but she's sure Rebecca would tell her later.

The Dark Rider threatens to kill the mans 'goons' as she puts it as Leon gets up to cut the gas line on her bike. They all begin advancing on her with very clear intent to kill, and she manages to strike at one first, suddenly thrusting a clawed hand out as her nails extended like sharpened blades, piercing its skull and causing its head to explode into tentacles and gore.

Plagas. Great.

Leon acts before she can say anything, telling the kid to run before tossing a grenade into the room and doing significant damage- Enough to expose the parasite bodies, at least. The Dark Rider flees, and Helena chases after her in a desperate attempt to grab her and keep her from getting away again. She manages to grab her for a moment, despite how fast and agile she was, and holds her until she somehow slides out of her grip again, hopping on her bike and immediately taking off.

"Slippery little bitch- LEON! SHE'S BOLTING!"

Leon caps off the fight in the treatment plant with a flash grenade, destroying the Plagas and then running for the bike as Helena climbed on the back, and they're off again through the smog, Helena following the smell of gasoline leaking from the cut gas line.

She manages to lead them on a real wild goose chase, but Leons driving- despite Helenas constant fear- is more then enough to keep up with her, dodging around an overturned dumpster before she tried to ghost them in the fog. Thankfully, Ada was able to keep track of her for them, leading them to an overpass where she was stashing and grabbing a fresh bike.

They're off again, and the girl goes straight into traffic, but not before slashing into an oil tanker and leaving a truck crash in her wake. It's barely enough time to react, but Leon screams at her to hang on, and she knows exactly what's about to happen- The madman throws the bike onto its side and skids under the truck, somehow miraculously righting it and coming out the other side with both of them unscathed.

From there, they're leaping off the overpass and onto the back of a truck hauling lumber, yelling at the rider to pull over so they can talk- completely forgetting that the two of them are still VERY invisible, and it's actively freaking her out. No choice but to keep following her, they leap off the truck and weave through traffic to finally vault off a road under construction and onto a more open, abandoned piece of the freeway- a veritable racetrack for them to completely floor it and gain a lot of ground on her.

The invisibility finally fades as the girl leads them off the overpass again and onto some train tracks, where Leon immediately sees an opportunity to close the gap once and for all.

"I'm gonna do something stupid, trust me- Hang on."

"Alright, dumbass, do a flip."

And he does, doing a backflip off the overpass and onto the roof of a passing freight train, all the while Helenas screaming internally and squeezing him as tightly as she can- Which apparently irritated the worms enough that she felt them moving under his skin, causing her to immediately loosen her grip once they were righted again, making a loud noise of disgust before turning to the girl on the ground beside them.

"We don't want to hurt you!! Please! Pull over, we can talk about this!!"

Her pleading is fervent, and seems to finally strike a chord with the rider now that they were no longer invisible. She finally pulls over, and Leon Akira slides the bike to a stop after leaping off the train. Helena falls off the bike and onto her knees, gripping the earth and finally giving herself time to breathe.

They chat for a bit, discovering the girl was really just a teenager given tools far beyond her comprehension, the task to start a mass A-virus outbreak in Atlanta, and promised a large sum of money for the job to be carried out. Riley was her name, a mutant who seemed to be born presenting as a Tyrant. The claws and extreme speed and strength were the first clues, but seeing her out of the riding leathers with a plastic medical cover on her chest really sealed it- She was born with her heart exposed, and it was out of place enough that surgery would have done more harm then good.

She leads them to an abandoned storage unit where she had been living, and Helena immediately is thrown back to the early 2000's when her and Deborah were running from foster homes and living out of a hovel just like this. Riley was a lost kid that had fallen through the cracks- A young Black girl with supposed behavioral disorders and extreme aggression? Yeah, she was absolutely being overlooked, and Helena hated every bit of it.

Society was fucked, and honestly she understood Ahab in these moments more then ever.

She's lived this experience, and she wants nothing more then to help Riley out however she can.

Leon presents an Ultimatum- Riley follows them back to D.C., and Hunnigan finds her medical help and a place to use her abilities constructively, or he fakes her death, and takes her to stay with Bill- His friend that gave him the motorcycle.

The sigh of relief Helena gives when Riley chooses the former could shake worlds.

They help her pack what little she owns, and Helena offers to buy her whatever she needs on the way there. A new outfit, new bag, food, any medicines she might need, they spend a good bit stocking up and packing their own clothes and bags at the hotel and such to ship back home. They couldn't stay in Atlanta any longer, they needed to start driving home. The planes weren't reliable. and anymore time spent here would just be trouble.

Leon spends a moment saying goodbye to Ada while Helena ushers Riley out to the bikes again, packing their weapons and essentials in the saddlebags, and returning Rebeccas things to her before they finally start the long 8 hour drive back to D.C.

Helena would quickly make arrangements for Riley to stay in her home after arriving, until Hunnigan can get her a more permanent home. She wanted nothing more then to bring the girl under her care, being one of the only people that could easily match her physical strength and really speak from experience about most of her ordeals in life.

She didn't expect to come out of this with another dependent, but here she was... Maybe Atlanta was a blessing in disguise.

Regardless, she was finally home, only to suddenly have the fact that the UK was trying to pull out of NATO dropped on her head.

Pieces were moving, and Balfour was at the heart of it... but first, they had a head to chat with.

As above, so below.

[messrmoonyy]

so I had a thought and Uhm uhm uhm Tess fucking you in front of a mirror, holding you against her and making you watch yourself as she uses one of her toys on you 👉🏻👈🏻😵‍💫 whispering in your ear and telling you to watch and how good you look 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 I don’t want to put you out and ask for a big thing I’m sure you have lots of writing but if you could just do a little something and put my horny thoughts to rest

Hello my love! You are always welcome to off load feral thoughts into my ask box and I will write you a lil something in between my usual request uploads please don’t be shy or feel like you’re putting me out I love this shit.

All requests that I can’t write much for because I can’t come up with anything longer like this are also linked on my masterlist if you wanna give them a read

let’s pray this actually reads right in app seeing as tumblr keeps chopping off the bottom chunks of whatever fic I post

Smut under the cut 18+ ( 444 words )

Your head fell back onto Tess’ shoulder, too overwhelmed to maintain the focus that keeping your head up required. How long has you been sat there now? On the floor at the end of the bed, held back against her chest as she fucked you mercilessly, the long mirror from the bathroom propped up in front of you. There was a crack across the middle and you were thankful for it, it helped you obscure your own face if you tilted your head a certain way.

But she knew that. She knew you too well.

“ no no baby, eyes forward “ she grabbed your face with her free hand, forcing you to look back at the mirror again “ that’s it “ she caught your eyes in the reflection, a smirk plastered across her face “ so disobedient today “

“ I’m sorry “ you whimpered, cheeks burning as your eyes fluttered down to where she was dragging one of her biggest toys in and out of your sopping cunt at a torturous pace. You didn’t know how she managed to find them, it was like she had some sex toy radar. You’d complained she was taking up valuable space in her bag once or twice but according to her. They were essentials.

Because apparently fucking you to within an inch of your life was the most essential part of survival in a post outbreak world. Not that you were complaining really.

“ I’ll forgive you if you keep those eyes forward baby girl “ she pressed kisses across your neck as she changed the angle of her wrist slightly, hitting some new devastating part inside of you that made you shiver. You couldn’t deny there was something about watching her fuck you with such a clear view, seeing the fucked out look on your face that she loved so much. Seeing for yourself how easy it was to destroy you, to bring you to your knees in a whimpering pathetic mess. It was almost too much.

“ cant- cant take much more “ you spoke, voice barely audible, the stretch of your cunt combined with the way her teeth grazed over the soft skin of your neck boarding on making you see stars.

“ yes you can. You’ve done it before so you can do it again “ she caught your eyes in the mirror again “ if you hadn’t of been such a disobedient slut earlier you wouldn’t be in this position would you? No“

“ I’m sorry. I’m sorry “ “ I know “ she cooed, lips brushing against the shell of your ear “ but I need you to prove it. So you’re gonna keep your eyes forward like a good girl. I want you to watch yourself when you come “

[nbofvoid]

Sometimes Misunderstandings are the Best

I do not know where this came from, I just started writing and then I had this.

Summary: Dream has been doing this song and dance for a long time. This is a first, though, and not one he's going to complain about. He never gets this much fun, afterall.

-~4k words

**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**

"You have entered here with ill intent, impure thought and action driving your course," Dream recites, sword singing in his ears as he draws it. "You have ignored the chances to correct your course. Ignored the warnings to turn back. Ignored all the signs for you to become more than you are now. Consider this your last chance and the final one where you will face the culmination of all your choices that lead you here. The things and people that told you to come. Turn. Leave. Or you will have to battle me to gain the hand of the princess you seek."

The last words make him want to throw up, but they are needed. Have been since that first person refused to take 'there's not a fucking princess here' as an answer from Sapnap and leading to a couple missing fingers. All of those who have found their way here since have been after the cursed and trapped 'princess' and all of them are tired. Even though it feels like it drags Dream down more to have a new script he has to remember on top of the old one.

The armored knight shifts and Dream continues with the script before it can get any kind of word in. They're all the same. At least he hasn't had to watch the full effects in the same length of time.

"You have made your choice by staying here. A foolish one you will not see the other side of," he intones, wondering if he really should have just let George to take care of this. "You may have a blade, however can you use it? Will you be able to stand against another with that simple metal? Or will it break when you need it most? This will test that question, but I already know the answer. There is not a single time that one has managed to get past me and you will not be the first."

"Uh, I-"

Dream's eyes drift to the seam between the wall and ceiling. There's a crack up there one of them is going to have to take care of, but he's not sure they have the supplies on hand. Or if the building will let them mess with it. "If you still refuse to accept the fact that you are not worthy of continuing forward, draw your blade. You will have to face me in battle to continue forward and I warn you now: I am simply the first. The ones after me are stronger, smarter, better. They will know what you are capable of and you will not be able to beat them. I doubt that will be a problem as not once has blood been spilled beyond this room."

You know, he thinks they might have some leftover bricks from that fireplace repair. Maybe those could work? And they weren't rejected so hopefully...

Oh, wait, he should probably turn back to the knight in front of him. He's getting to the part where it attacks finally, Dream maybe decides to dodge it for a couple minutes, lops off its head, goes back upstairs and annoys someone into checking if they actually have bricks and fixing the crack while ignoring the body that turned to dust in front of him.

"Well? You are seeking for your true love," he says, feeling the mockery in his own words curling around his toes. "Fight for it or give up. There is no other choice for you to make at this point. Make it."

A shift and he grips his sword for an attack-

The helmet isn't looking at him. It's angled down as gloved hands dig into a belt pouch and aren't even holding a weapon anymore and this doesn't happen. Why isn't it attacking?

"I think I might be in the wrong place?" it says, staying in clear sight as it pulls out a parchment and still not looking up at him.

Oh.

Dream blinks under his own helmet. This... really hasn't ever happened before. Even before the whole 'princess' thing took off no one really got here accidentally. All of them wanted to kill Dream, after all, and he killed them in turn to avoid watching the worse option.

"I was lookin' for my" something Dream doesn't recognize but sounds kind of similar to Sapnap's first language "and I was told to come here. Or at least somewhere that has a lot of the same features? I'm not really familiar with this place."

Well, Dream is kind of feeling awkward now. A large part of him wants to offer to point them in the right direction, but he literally just made a huge, rambling speech about how he's going to kill them and they're a trespasser and clearly corrupt in one way or another. That isn't how you're supposed to start a friendly interaction with someone. At least according to Bad. Hm. Maybe he can try apologizing? Bad says that's something humans do when they mess up so it should be correct in this situation, right? Dream made a mistake in thinking they were here for the non-existent princess and he can make it up by offering help in finding the correct place.

"Let me see."

The helmet finally looks up again and oh no. Is that overstepping in a different way? The others don't always like when someone tries to help and even Dream gets annoyed when one of them tries to push help when he doesn't want it. He should just clarify that he's-

"Here," the knight says, holding the parchment out. "My friend - I think that's the word - wrote it out for me."

Dream nods slightly, carefully taking the page and trying to not think about how far they must have traveled to get here if they aren't sure about the language. The writing is, weird. Parts really small while others are huge in comparison and somehow spiky and curvy at the same time. He can still read it, but the handwriting is strange enough Dream is seriously wondering if he can maybe ask to keep this for Bad to have.

Though....

"I think this is the right place," he says, trying to pull up the faint memory of arriving in this damned place and the outside world. Why did he offer to point them the right way? He hasn't been outside since he was a child.

"Really? Cause I want to find" that same word from earlier "before" a different one "gets" and they seem to just be slipping into their native tongue now. At least he can tell their voice sounds almost excited and Dream really wants to know what the fuck they're talking about if they aren't here for the 'Princess' or would be able to translate into trade. Actually, Sapnap's here right now so he should be able to ask for his help with this, right?

"I said 'I think'. It's been awhile since I've seen the outside, but I think I know someone who might speak the same language you're using," he offers. "Would that work to double check with him?"

The knight nods, "Yeah. I can stay here if you don't want anyone following you around?"

Dream stares. All of this has been weird since the script got tossed out earlier, yet the offer to just, stay in the entry hall to not overstep the tenuous 'welcome' is just as off putting as the knight not attacking. It's actually enough he pauses to think about if he's actually alright with a stranger entering the rest of the building.

"Are you okay just standing here?" he finally settles on. "It can't be that interesting, but..."

How can he nicely put 'The rest of this building is the safe place for all of us and none of us like the idea of outsiders being let in past the entry hall' without sounding like a bigger ass then he has been?

"As long as you don't mind me poking around here," the knight states, attention already off of Dream and staring at the murals along the walls.

He glances over, but they aren't that interesting and he doesn't get why the knight is apparently intrigued, but it means he can track down Sapnap in the time it takes them to get bored of the boring things.

"Okay, I'll be" wow, they don't wait even a second before jogging to the nearest one "right back."

Dream stares at them for a second before slowly backing up to the concealed pathway deeper into the building. They don't even react as the redstone activates to let him through or as it closes.

"What the fuck," he whispers, staring at the dark stone and wondering if he's actually gone insane for a moment.

He shakes it off, bolting as fast as possible into the maze of the building and yelling at the top of his lungs for Sapnap. There's an explosion from somewhere followed by a 'You muffin!' almost drowning out a thump from a room he passes. (George's bedroom, so not where Sapnap would be. And it's his own fault for sleeping while the rest of them are awake.) Luckily, it doesn't take long to come across Sapnap poking his head out of a doorway spilling heat haze into the hallway and Dream skids to a stop to avoid sudden onset heatstroke.

"Why are yelling?" Sapnap asks over the clanging of his rods.

Dream takes a breath, "I need your help with something in the entry."

Sapnap's face scrunches up, "Didn't you say that you wanted to deal with the next ones that showed up? Get some kind of fun out of beating up people who deserve it? Or" he gets a shit-eating grin "is it someone from your home?"

"None of that," he sighs, rolling his eyes under the helmet and kind of wishes he could take it off to deal with this. "I need you to translate."

That has Sapnap pausing, silent except for the rhythmic clanking of his rods. "Yeah, okay. Sounds interesting."

"Great. C'mon. I left them alone and they said it was okay, but that room is soooo boring to be stuck in and I don't want them to wait forever," he says, grabbing hold of Sapnap's wrist and tugging him out of the room.

There's a yelp and a faint struggle as Sapnap barely manages to kick the door shut, "Dream! Are you trying to burn the place down? You know that won't work!"

Dream ignores the complaining as he keeps dragging the other back through the halls. He has no idea how long the knight has been left there with how this place is structured and he really doesn't want to leave them for long enough to get bored or, you know, die, so he keeps pressing against the button to open the door even though it doesn't make it open any faster. Sapnap tugs his hand away from the button after the 20th press and he just starts tapping his foot against the carpeted floor.

"Dude. You can calm down," Sapnap sighs, throwing arms over Dream's armored shoulders and letting his full weight press down. "It hasn't been that long. There's no way Slowness has even had the chance to activate."

He shoves an elbow into Sapnap's ribs because technically yes, but in reality no. It's maybe something he should talk to them about, but he really, really does not want to talk about Before and they know that but this is really something they should-

The door clanks open enough to get through and he dashes through, lungs burning as his eyes snap around for the knight-

Who is still at the first mural, staring up at it and where they really that interested in the fucking murals depicting Dream's imprisonment? Really?

The knight's head turns to look over, straightening at seeing them standing on the dais and - oddly - Dream doesn't feel the weight of their focus on himself even though they're looking at them both so who could they-

Blaze rods clanking in a harsh smack reminds him that Sapnap's here too and he watches as the other drifts barely above the ground as he goes down the stairs calling what he knows is a greeting. With that, a whole conversation starts up in the rumbling, burning language Dream's never been able to get a hang of no matter how hard he's tried. It kind of sucks not knowing what either of them are saying, but he trusts Sapnap will give him answers and as long as he's in the room, none of the effects should have the chance to start up.

His eyes flick up to the mural the knight was so intent on, but he really can't see any reason for someone to be interested in it. It's nothing but the remainder of people who were terrified about nothing and decided the best way to deal with that was to toss him away without a second glance. It's pure luck that none of the others have decided to ask about them.

Sapnap bursts into laughter, dragging his attention back. The blaze hybrid has his feet fully on the ground, bent over to brace against his knees as he laughs and laughs and laughs. The knight looks up at him, head tilted and Dream can feel the bone deep confusion that rings in his own body. At least it seems to be a misunderstanding? Maybe? At least something Sapnap finds absolutely hilarious.

"Oh sweet Nether," Sapnap finally gasps out. "This is great."

"Wonderful," Dream says, crossing his arms. "Are you willing to share, now?"

Sapnap gasps in air, the rods and his skin flaring in brightness with each breathe, "I'll tell you, just gimme a moment."

He rolls his eyes, hearing Bad's near silent footfalls as he steps through the door, "Fine."

"What's going on?" Bad mutters, bent over to speak right next to Dream's ear. "Are they going to join us?"

"I don't think so," Dream whispers back, watching as Sapnap's coloration slowly steadies. "I just needed Sapnap's help figuring out what exactly they're here for and then he fell over laughing."

"Huh."

"Okay, okay, okay!" Sapnap is still laughing as he comes over. "So, they're here to fight you."

Dream blinks, "They said they weren't here for a princess? Was that just a miscommunication?"

"No. It's more like an arena match," Sapnap explains. "Or sparring with us. They aren't here for a princess or to kill an evil beast or any of the other things people have sought this place out for, they are literally just looking for a decent spar for a best of five. And they were sent here with a vague as shit description."

He looks over at the (maybe not a) knight who's head has turned back to the murals. The armor has the appearance of something that's actually used and the sword he can tell even from this distance has been cared for and, well, he has been calling them a 'knight' from the very first glance.

"I'll fight them," he says, stepping around Sapnap to go down the three steps.

Sapnap calls something out to the visitor who obviously perks up, moving to the spot they'd first stopped in when Dream had started talking. Dream stops a length away from them. Not close enough for either to actually hit with their blades and he actually feels excited to be facing a battle. It might not be much - even the others have to go three to one for him to really start having to think in a spar - but this is different and he can't wait to experience it.

"Don't hold back," the visitor says, sword dangling from their hand as Sapnap gives a count down.

"We'll see," he replies, wondering how much he might be able to draw out the coming battles. Sapnap said best of five, after all.

**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**

Every single inch of him aches and Dream can't help the stupid grin he knows is splitting his face even if it would reduce the strain in his muscles even slightly.

"Can you stop with the ridiculous smile," George pleads, dropping a warm towel over his head. "It's getting disturbing."

"Let him have it," Bad chuckles. "It's not like there's a whole lot that gets him this happy, anyway."

Dream hums in agreement, wincing faintly at the strain it puts across his chest and limbs. He can't move and Bad had to help get the armor off, move him into the back of the building, and get him onto one of the couches to rest his muscles from the strain Dream'd put them under. Not a situation he likes, but he can't bring himself to care right now.

"So I should have actually left my room to figure out what was going on," George sighs. "What happened?"

"Hilarity!" Sapnap crows, the door slamming into the wall as he rushes in. "I really, really need to tell you guys just how hilarious this is. It's great!"

The towel over his face is pulled away and Dream can actually see the other three now. George lounging in one of the chairs, Sapnap floating in excitement by the door as his rods rotate faster than normal, and Bad sitting next to him folding the towel into a rectangle he places over Dream's forehead.

"It was someone just looking for a spar," Bad offers. "Odd and certainly different from the usual, but I'm not sure why Sapnap's finding it so funny."

Sapnap gasps in mock offense, grasping at his chest, "How could you! It is absolutely hilarious and watching Dream get his ass handed to him was even more so."

Dream snorts, "Thanks."

"You're welcome," Sapnap chirps. "But seriously, it is way funnier and I should probably explain why."

"You should," George says. "Though imagining Dream loosing in a spar is funny enough."

The rods clack as he continues, "So, I mentioned that they were looking for a best of five spar thing which isn't the best explanation but it's the one I could use. Basically, a lot of the races in the Nether have this coming of age task where they prove they're strong enough to be considered an adult. Most of the time, it things like go kill a ghast or help take out a threat to the clan, but sometimes, they'll be sent out to find specific fights for various reasons."

Dream carefully turns his head to the side, eyeing Sapnap as he grabs hold of his rods to keep them from running into the couch as he sits and continues, "Rarely, something happens and they have to use something to actually find the task. I don't know all of the details cause each of them is different, but they implied that their's was a vision of some sort. Meaning, they were literally sent here by divine intervention to fight Dream. Purely to prove they're skilled enough to be an adult."

He crosses his eyes, staring at the wall, "I guess it is kind of funny, but I think you still have a lot more cultural input that makes it more so."

"Probably," he sighs. "But thinking of a god just looking at all the possibilities for them to fight and choosing to send them to Dream is-" he waves a hand around in the air, trailing off with a large grin.

"Knowing how much of a pain it is to get here, that is kind of amusing," Bad adds. "Were they another blaze? I didn't see any rods, but they could have been holding them inside the armor?"

Sapnap shakes his head, "Nah, something else which is why they had the armor. Blazes don't really do that proving thing. Mom had a handful come to challenge her while I was growing up, though."

Dream closes his eyes as they start going into questions about what the differences between the various Nether races is when it comes to coming of age. Given most of them are just 'No clue, but this is what I remember/saw', he doesn't feel bad about tuning the conversation out. It doesn't really matter to him why the visitor decided to make the trek to the building. Not when he's still turning the fights over in his head, debating what he could have done differently, what it would be like to have a rematch, how to maybe convince one of them to track down the visitor and give an offer of a place to stay in exchange for another fight.

It's been forever since he had a fight that pushed him like that.

**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**

The helmet clangs against the stone as it drops from Techno's fingers, quickly followed by the gauntlets and vambraces. The enchantment on the rest of the set stings against his skin. Pulses in waves of tingling pain that doesn't actually hurt him, but is uncomfortable enough he wants the thing off.

"Oh my god, could you not wait like another ten feet to start taking off the armor?" Skeppy complains. "You almost hit me."

"Sounds like a you problem," he grunts back, twisting around to reach the buckles on the pauldrons and breastplate.

"Just because I'm shorter than you-"

Techno's ear pricks up, turning to the flowing magma river in time to see crackling skin breaching the surface and soul fire eyes stare at him.

Skeppy bumps into one of his greaves, "Why are you- Oh, hi Tommy."

Tommy tilts his head, claws digging into the netherrack as he shoves out of the magma. Globs of the molten rock drip down his skin as he settles on the shore and reaches out to Techno. Techno steps closer, collapsing to the ground and purring as those same claws curve under the armor to pick out the buckles.

"SaaaAAffffe?" Tommy's voice rumbles out.

"Yeah," he replies, eyes drifting closed as the armor comes off piece by piece and taking the tingling of the enchantment with it. "We're both safe."

A crooning rumble vibrates through the air around them with the last of the buckles around his torso coming undone and Tommy switching focus to Techno's hair. The scratches across his scalp increase the volume of his purring as he leans back into the warm scales and skin.

"This is sickeningly sweet," Skeppy says, leaning against Techno's thigh. "Why do you have to put me through this."

Tommy hisses, but doesn't pull away from petting Techno's hair. If anything, he just pulls his trailing tail further out of the magma to curl more around the two of them.

"Succeed?" he croons.

Techno gives a positive hum as Skeppy says, "Yep! Techno really proved himself in battle and I'd say is totally an adult even if he already is and I don't really get why he had to do this in the first place, but that doesn't change that he won. It was a real pain to get there, though. Couldn't you have offered somewhere easier to get to? Most of the travel was just finding the thing and we got there and then the first thing we come across was talking about a mate or something? It was weird and made me think I got the wrong details before it got a blaze to confirm we were in the right place."

He huffs as Tommy sprawls across his back, pressing down on him and stopping with the hair petting. Something that is absolutely criminal and he grumbles and shifts to make that clear. It only gets a grumbling chuff and Tommy pressing further down on him and fine. Techno will take the physical contact for now, he guesses. He has missed being with his full sounder.

Tommy doesn't bother with more words, curling over Techno fully. He's finally comfortably warm after being cold and having to wear that armor set didn't help either even if he knows it was designed to keep him safe. Skeppy is pressed into his side humming faintly under Tommy's rumbling and his own purring. There will be time later to talk about his proving, but for now, Techno lets sleep claim him.

**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**~~~~~~~**

Details I was thinking about while writing:

Dream is imprisoned in a sort of castle-thing and has been since he was like five in order to prevent some kind of bad thing from happening. Bad, Sapnap, and George live with him, but aren't under the same imprisonment deal so they leave occasionally.

When Dream was alone, he figured out there was a sort of curse on the place as well and anyone who enters the entry hall has the chance of getting some sort of affliction put on them. And time acts weird in the Hall sometimes going faster, sometimes going slower.

Sapnap is a blaze hybrid, Bad is a demon, George is human, Dream is unknown but looks humanoid

This is Techno's first time being in the overworld and he hates it. Mainly because of the armor he had to wear and how cold it was compared to the Nether. He knows that it was the only logical option for his proving trial, though, so he puts up with it.

Tommy is a magma/lava mer and they can speak, they just tend to use calls more than words, but he puts in the effort to make sure Techno has all the resources to grow up properly. Yes, Tommy is older here. He's also a god, but ignore that. He just wants to make sure his little brother knows he's loved.

Skeppy is just like, a 6-9 inch tall golem so he was there for the battle with Dream, it's just none of them besides Techno noticed him. He's also part of the sounder and helped a lot with tracking down the castle-thing due to actually being created on the overworld.

If there's any other tags I should add, let me know!

[slicznymartwy]

hiiiii i have something really short (i can’t remember if i already posted this tbh since i wrote it a few weeks ago ..)

billy x sorority reader

no actual billy in this one. only implied billy. the notion of billy.

You love your sorority sisters, you love being in a sorority, you love sharing a house with them - all things you have to remind yourself when come home to the sound of sobbing in the living room.

Hesitating by the front door, you glance at the stairs and wonder if it’s possible to get away without being noticed.

Unfortunately, you make the mistake of looking back at the girls and see Clare’s pleading eyes. You sigh, condemned to acting like you don’t know what this is all about.

“What‘s wrong?” you ask, anxiously eyeing the crying girl on the couch.

It was Kathy, if the shrill wailing was any indication; she was in the same year as you, but you were never close to each other. Not that you minded, based on how she was blubbering into Clare’s ear.

“She lost her new camera,” Clare says through a sympathetic pout by Kathy’s side, rubbing her back.

“I didn’t lose it!” Kathy snaps at Clare, before putting her face back into her hands. Glancing at Barb on the other couch, who was shamelessly ignoring the theatrics, you pray to get out of this unscathed.

“Should we look for it?” you offer, despite the fact that you would rather tear your face off than search for the camera. You don’t know how long you can act like you don’t know where it is.

“We already searched the entire house,” Clare says with a little sigh. “The only place we haven’t looked is the attic, but we’re sure no one would take it up there.”

“Definitely not the attic,” you say, as convincingly as you can manage. You’ve never been a great actor, but Kathy and Clare both nod in agreement.

Suddenly, Kathy lets out a frustrated groan, hitting her hands against her thighs. You hadn’t noticed it before when she looked at Clare, but now you can see how her mascara was smudged and running down her cheeks.

You almost feel bad, but only almost. Kathy had a funny way of sapping due sympathy whenever she opened her mouth.

“My parents are going to kill me! Don’t you have any idea how much that thing costs?” Kathy cries. From the couch, Barb sighs and finishes her drink.

“Then you shouldn’t have lost it,” she mumbles, getting up and beelining to the liquor cabinet.

“I didn’t lose it! I put it on my desk before bed, so I wouldn’t forget to take it with me today, but when I woke up, it was gone! Someone stole it!”

You shift in your boots, the wooden floor creaking underneath you.

“Come on, let’s look in your room again,” Clare says sweetly, hooking her arm through Kathy’s.

“I already did!” she insists, but she lets herself get dragged off the couch and up the stairs anyways.

You still feel a little queasy as you shuffle over to the now vacant couch, falling onto it with a heavy sigh and taking up the length of it with your legs. Cracking open an eye, you see Barb take the same position on the opposite couch, careful to keep her glass upright.

“I don’t know why she lets herself get so worked up. It’s just a camera, no need to get hysterical,” Barb complains to the ceiling.

Closing your eyes again, you nuzzle your head into the pillow and nonchalantly say, “You don’t think someone actually stole it, do you?”

Barb scoffs, and you can hear her ice cubes rattle as she sips her drink.

“No way. If losing things were an Olympic sport, she’d be a gold-medalist,” Barb says, unknowingly calming your racing heart. “Seriously, she lost a record player two weeks ago. A record player. Who does that?”

“No way, really?” Laughing, you feel the last of your tension leave your body. Barb hums a mhm, and you decide there’s no harm in letting Billy keep the camera. From the sound of it, she’d probably lose it one way or another.

Now, if only you can grab the rest of her film from her desk. It’s not like she’ll get any use out of them, and Billy’s almost out.