#and then we don't need it until phase change

[deet-doot]

help

[vinnyvamppp]

we need more mark grayson co-parenting please PLEASE IM GOING TK CRY PLEAAAE

Our Son, Apparently

Note: DON'T CRY, LMFAO. I've made this installment longer, why? Because it hopefully wont bring the request of a third part, but honestly so much could be done with this, I wouldn't be surprised if someone did. This only scratches the surface.

Synopsis: Mark Grayson never meant to be a single dad. You never meant to become a co-parent by proximity. But when Oliver enters your life, everything changes. From grocery store breakdowns to baby-proofing the world from Viltrumite tantrums, you and Mark find yourselves building a family you didn’t plan for… and falling in love right in the middle of the mess.

Warnings: Mild Sexual Content, Sexual Tension, Flirting, Canon-Level Superhero Violence, Themes of Single Parenthood, Accidental Family, Identity Pressure, Interrupted Intimancy, Baby... Fluids? EXHAUSTION, etc. (Two and a Half Graysons PART 2: Previous Part: Here.)

Mark Grayson x GN!Reader

WC: 1.9k

It starts with a crack. Not just a crack, an explosion of glass, a shriek of wind, and the sharp twang of something small and plastic ricocheting off the opposite wall. You freeze in the kitchen, work uniform half-smeared with banana mush, its watered down taste and betrayal.

Across the room, the window is obliterated. Shattered glass glitters on the floor like a warning. And at the epicenter—with his fists balled and cheeks flushed purple—is Oliver, practically vibrating with frustration. The pacifier lies in the corner like the murder weapon it is. A stubby, rubber-tipped missile of infant rage.

“Okay,” you say slowly, voice high-pitched and tight. “So we’re entering our supervillain phase early. That’s cool.” Before you can even take a step, there’s a sonic thud and Mark crashes through the hallway barefoot, hoodie half-zipped and clinging to one arm, hair soaking wet and sticking up in every direction like he lost a fight with a showerhead and a towel.

He’s holding one of Oliver’s tiny socks in one hand and nothing in the other. No shirt, no shoes, just sweatpants and alarm. “What happened? Are you okay? Did someone break in—?” He pauses and sees the window, then Oliver. Then you, standing frozen with a spoonful of rejected mashed banana still in your hand.

Mark’s chest rises and falls with the kind of slow, controlled inhale you recognize immediately: do not freak out in front of the baby, do not freak out in front of the baby, do not—

He exhales and rubs his face. “What did I miss?” You gesture broadly at the destruction. “He didn’t like the unmashed banana.” Mark squints. “So he shattered the window?” You hold up the spoon. “I didn’t chew it first. Apparently that’s a crime now.”

There’s a long pause as Oliver lets out a little grunt, his chubby fingers clawing at the legs of your trousers, his face formed into the most pitiful pout. Mark presses his knuckles to his temple. “Cecil’s going to want to classify him as a WMD.” You snort. “I mean. Technically… he already is.”

Mark walks over, still barefoot, and carefully lowers Oliver back into the bouncer with gentle, practiced hands. Oliver lets out one last indignant coo before settling, hands clasping around his finger. Mark looks back at you. “I’ll fix the glass,” you murmur. “You just… survive until nap time.” You glance at him—hoodie half-hanging off one shoulder, sleep lines on his face, eyes soft and tired and still glowing faintly from adrenaline. And yeah, you think, maybe this is a disaster. It’s almost midnight when it’s finally quiet again.

The pacifier incident has been cleaned. The window is now repaired thanks to Cecil’s intervention (and Mark, who partially caved and followed a tutorial and swore under his breath the entire time). Oliver is tucked in, finally knocked out cold after Mark flew circles around the home until the kid passed out mid-air.

You’re standing in the kitchen, stirring a lukewarm cup of tea and staring into the nothingness that lives inside every sleep-deprived parent’s soul.

Behind you, a familiar heat. That slight change in air pressure when Mark enters the room. When he leans against the fridge with that look that always gets you into trouble. A lopsided grin, a raised brow, and a T-shirt long abandoned in the laundry apocalypse. What’s left of his khaki’s slung low, one hand casually holding a bowl of food he’s absolutely not eating. 

"You good?" he asks, voice low. "You look like you're about to throw the tea at the wall."

You glance over your shoulder. “If I don’t have a breakdown soon, it’s gonna get stuck in my chest. Gotta let the crazy out somehow.” You pause, finally catching his innuendo. “Are you trying to seduce me with that logic or your cereal breath?”

Mark steps behind you, hands finding your hips. His warmth sinks into your back, and you lean into him instinctively. His nose brushes your neck. “Both. Let it out later. We’ve got ten whole minutes of peace. Maybe twenty.”

You feel his hand drift, slide under the hem of your hoodie, fingers skimming over the expanse of flesh. Your breath catches in your throat. Your whole body hums and you can feel the tension shift—sharp, sweet, starved. His lips graze just behind your ear. “You smell like puff dust,” he murmurs. “It’s weirdly hot.”

You laugh, breathless, turning to face him. He lifts you onto the counter without hesitation, standing between your knees. He’s kissing you—slow, deep, one hand curling around your waist like he’s remembering your shape. Your fingers tangle within his curls, his fingers traveling lower unsure of their destination. You let him press you back against the fridge, and god, it’s been weeks. You can feel the tension unraveling between you both, fingertips digging, breathing uneven—

WAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH. You both freeze, eyes wide.

Mark groans, head dropping to your shoulder. “I jinxed it.”

“I knew he was waiting to ruin this. He has a sixth sense for foreplay.” It was the next morning, and you both were awoken by the print of small feet against your lower back and the soft padded knocks at the front door. Cecil had sent a nanny. You weren't consulted, nor was Mark.

She arrives at 7 a.m. sharp in a shimmering suit, floating half an inch off the floor. Thressa, from the Glorvax system. Glowing skin, elegant limbs, eyes like a lava lamp. She walks into the home like she's visited a dozen times in past lives and scoops Oliver up like she’s been waiting years.

He giggles and reaches for her face before nuzzling her like a puppy.

You and Mark stare in utter, sleep-deprived bewilderment. Both looking like abandoned houseplants as she explains his development and gently feeds Oliver a new formula. Mark leans in, whispering, “Do you think she’s actually a nanny or just here to steal him from us?” You narrow your eyes. “She called him ‘my sweet hatchling.’ That’s not childcare. That’s a claim.”

Thressa turns and smiles warmly. “You two look stressed. Would you like time to yourselves? Perhaps a long shower together?”

You silently stare at her. Mark begins coughing violently, clearly flustered. And Oliver’s gleeful giggles ring out. “She knows Viltrumite development inside and out,” Cecil says, appearing via teleportation, money soon to be wasted as you hastily usher him away. “We need to start assessments. He’s already got strength enhancements and advanced development. She’ll help you prepare.”

“Did you hire her?” you ask flatly.

“No,” Cecil says. “I deployed her.”

And that’s when you snap.

You’re pacing Mark’s bedroom, hair mussed and voice sharp. “She shows up, picks up our kid, and suddenly he’s just��hers? She calls him her hatchling, Mark. Who says that? Who just decides they’re a better parent without even talking to us?”

Mark sits on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, watching you. Quiet. “I’m trying,” you say, and your voice breaks just a little. “I’m not his real parent. I know that. I’m not even—whatever we are, I just—but I love him. I choose him every single day. And I—”

You cut yourself off, chest heaving. Mark’s looking at you like you’ve just lit up the whole room.

“What?” you ask, flustered beyond comparison. “You said ‘our kid,’” he says quietly. “Like it’s just true. No hesitation.” You blink. “I—yeah. Because it is.” There was no in your words hesitation this time. He crosses the room in three steps and pulls you into a hug that feels like a home. "You're walking this with me. Every step. You didn't have to. But you are." And for a moment, you just breathe together, hearts dancing amongst one another as the night crickets sing.

Later that night, you’re curled up on the couch. Oliver’s asleep on your chest, tiny fingers fisted in your shirt. Mark’s beside you, legs tangled with yours, quiet. Soft. “I’ve been thinking,” he says, voice rough with something raw. “About all of this. You. Him. Us.” You glance over. His hand is fidgeting in his hoodie pocket. You feel your heart catch.

Mark doesn’t look at you. “It’s not the life I pictured. But it’s the only one I want. I don’t need perfect. I just need you.” You lean in and start placing soft kisses—one to his forehead. One to his closed eyelid. One to his cheek. Your lips brush his jaw last, and you whisper, “I already said yes.”

He looks at you, blinking, smile blooming like sunlight. He starts to move—to speak, maybe reach for something, and then— BLLAAAHHRGGHHH. A full-force stream of baby puke explodes all over your chest.

Oliver sits up mid-sleep and lets out a happy screech. Mark stares, frozen and yu stare down at your shirt. Silence…

You sigh. “So. Romantic.” Mark laughs, helpless, but relieved. “I was so close.” You press your forehead to his. “You still are. Just—Just give me a moment.” The apartment is quiet for once—no screeching, no flying objects, no sudden diaper blowouts or random alien agency visits. The air hums with that tired kind of stillness you only get after surviving a war made entirely of juice spills and broken windows.

You’re both on the couch, half-curled into each other like always—your legs over his lap, his hand absently stroking up and down your shin. There’s a half-empty bottle of formula abandoned on the coffee table, and Mark’s hoodie sleeves pushed to his elbows as he stares at your joined limbs like he’s seeing something new.

He’s not shirtless, shockingly, but the gray tee he is wearing is soft and thin and rides up when he shifts. You’re trying not to think about that. Or about how stupid in love you feel. And then he does it—says the thing that makes everything tilt slightly sideways.

“I really wanted to do this earlier.”

You glance over at him, brow raised. “Do what?” You knew, but you always loved watching him stammer. Mark’s eyes flick toward the hallway—where the baby’s sleeping like a tiny purple demon—and then back to you. “The real version. Not the puke-soaked one.”

Your chest tightens. That thing in your stomach flips over once. He shifts under your legs, suddenly looking very much like the guy who once flew through asteroids but is now panicking because emotions are harder than world threatening catastrophes.

“I didn’t get to say it the way I wanted to,” he says. “Didn’t even get the sentence out. But I’ve been thinking about it a lot. About you. About Oliver. About how you’ve been in it with me. Even when it’s been hell. And I just—” He stops and scratches the back of his neck, blotches of blush creeping up his skin.

“I’m not great at this,” he mutters. “The talking thing. Or the… ring thing.” Your breath catches as he pulls something out of his pocket. It’s small a small, silver band at first glance. No grand box, no sparkle, but honest. The kind of ring someone keeps in their hoodie for weeks because they never know when life will let them have five minutes to use it.

He looks up at you. His eyes are soft and unsteady, but open. “I don’t need a ceremony or a perfect moment. I just want to make this official. Me and you. And him. Because you’re already it for me. You’ve been it since you didn’t flinch when I showed up with a purple alien baby and said, ‘Hey, I kind of need you.’”

You stare at him for a second, heart full to the point of bursting, brain trying to keep up with the wave of affection suddenly choking you. You lean in slowly. Your lips brush along his jaw as you whisper, “You never had to ask.” He exhales like you just took all the weight out of his chest.

You take the ring from his fingers and slide it onto your own without ceremony, just solid, quiet finality. The ring is smooth and silver-toned, with a thin, engraved pattern around the band—a repeating geometric design that, at first glance, looks abstract. But you recognize it immediately: a minimalist recreation of the pattern around Science Dog’s communicator. On the inside, there’s a small engraving: “For the one who made it all mean something. (Issue#47)”

“Wait, is this… Science Dog’s communicator symbol?”

“You noticed that?” Mark mumbles, stumbling slightly over his words. “Yeah. I mean, he always picks love over logic, even when it gets him hurt. Felt fitting.” It was fitting. He left you in a stunned silence, a grin etching across your lips as his panic set in.

“Look, I saw it on a fan site and the engraving said, ‘Intergalactic loyalty since Issue #1’ and I just—it felt right, okay? Don’t make fun of me.” He laughs—small and a little dazed—and pulls you into his lap, burying his face in your neck. “God, you’re stuck with me now.”

“Mark,” you murmur, smiling. “I’ve been stuck since the first time you showed up at my job holding a diaper bag and looking like a confused golden retriever.” He snorts. “Sexy golden retriever,” he corrects, smitten against your collarbone. “Yeah. Covered in formula and baby wipes. Total heartthrob.”

He pulls back to look at you, the grin soft but teasing. “I love you.” The words are quiet. Uncomplicated and true.

The only sound left in the room is your breathing—and his. Your fingers brush his jaw, just enough to tilt his face toward yours. His eyes are tired but warm—lit from within by something more than adrenaline or duty or even affection. It’s love, and it’s undeniable.

His hands curl around your waist, pulling you closer like he’s making sure this is real. Your thighs bracket his, your knees brushing, and your fingers slide into his hair with a practiced ease that makes him shudder. “We could…” he whispers, his breath catching as your lips brush the curve of his neck. “Maybe… actually finish something tonight?”

You grin against his skin. “Finish or start something. We don’t have to be ambitious.” He laughs, low and warm, and leans into the kiss again, deeper this time. It builds—slow but certain. A quiet dam that’s been waiting to break.

Your hips shift against his. His hand trails beneath the hem of your shirt, and you feel it in your stomach first—the pull of wanting, of comfort, of home. But you pause. Just long enough to breathe together, forehead pressed to his.

Mark’s ring glinting softly on his finger where it presses against your clothed skin. The family photo Eve took on your fridge: slightly blurry, your hair a mess, Mark looking exhausted, Oliver mid-sneeze—and all of you smiling like you didn’t know the moment was going to matter.

Because it does.

Mark didn’t plan for any of this. Not fatherhood. Not an engagement. Not this future. But right now, watching you lean into him like you were always meant to be there, he wouldn’t trade a second of it. Because this is his family. And you?

You’ve been his world since the day he showed up in your doorway with panic in his eyes and a baby in his arms.

You kiss him again, slow this time—no interruptions, no crying, no urgency. Just warmth. His hands around your waist. Your fingers gliding across his scalp. Mouths meeting gently, like you’ve got all the time in the world.

And for once… you do. A/N: I'm contractually obligated to end every fic with a sappy one liner. CONGRATS READER, YOU'RE OFFICIALLY A GRAYSON. (If anyone requests a part three, I promise you I will go full chaos with the nest one, had to keep this one adjacent to comic timing, though.)

MasterList ོ༘₊⁺☀︎₊⁺⋆.˚

[oureddie]

is anyone else's brain just one big

what do we need him for? what's your problem man. what are we measuring here buck. you can have my back any day. i love kids. i love this one. they weren't my type. i thought you just dressed alike. buck gave me a heads up. does this boy crush on eddie mean you're finally ready to move on from abby. uh, you should meet his kid, though. i can see the pollen. i can hear it. ooooOOOOooo you made him cry. you dont find it son, you make it. you two have an adorable son. why are you in hospital jail. i got you. dear buck you are an awesome firefighter love christopher. GET UP your life isn't over just bc you arent a firefighter anymore. says the firefighter. there's nobody in this world that i trust with my son more than you. BECAUSE YOU'RE EXHAUSTING. did you ever stop and think for a minute what that could do to US. a total impulse buy, not like you at all. c'mon eddie if you're not gonna be honest with frank at least be honest with me. i could still take you. you think so? i know. wanna go for the title? uhhhh this is eddie's house im not really a guest. just wait until he gets to the 'i dont have to do what you tell me' phase. aren't you still in that phase. you hungry? wanna grab a bite after we drop him? weeeee have visitors cap. eddie!!!!!no!!!!!nonononnonoedddie!!!! CLAWS AT THE GROUND. you wanna do a rope rescue??? of course you do. i mean that wont happen to US. to abby. his fiance is ABBY. welp. at least it's not a tsunami. hey man you might want to talk to your kid about playing fair. buck can we go to your house and play video games. uhhhh sorry kid i think we might be kicking it old school for a while. he's on the phone with dr. copeland, emergency therapy session. what do you have to apologize for? did you say anything that wasn't true? yeah she's worried about me *drop kicks a punching bag* yeah can't imagine why. i had to do it. i know you did. trauma bag? yup. sorry whhaaaatttt was that? check. do you ever replay a conversation in your head and worry you sound like an idiot? have you met me. it's like the universe is scREAMING at you and you refuse to listen. the universe does not scream. am i interrupting book club. you're late. there was construction on sunset. had to take a detour. buck. buck you have to help chris is- right here. you sure that's a smile? that's the same face buck makes when he's gassy. but just be sure that you're following YOUR heart. *gets sniped* eddie- eddie i need you to hang on. are you hurt? where's buck? he's got a harder job tonight. the team feels off without eddie. he doing okay? better than me. i kind of lost it when i told him you got shot. hey since we've got a minute... uh is everything alright. it got me thinking. what would happen if i hadnt. so i went to my attorney and changed my will. so someday, if i uh, didn't make it, christopher would be taken care of. by you. don't you need my consent. my attorney said you could refuse. but you know i wouldn't. but you knew i wouldn't. because evAN. you act like you're expendable. but you're wrong. good idea. eddie really shouldn't be exerting himself right now. this isn't me an eddie bagging a turkey in south pasadena. he takes christopher there all the time, got the place memorized. my kid loves her. is that enough. ice goes on the eye bud. *gets kidnapped and held hostage together* my abuela would eat this up. she loves a good telenovela. oh cuz uhhh you don't? i know you watch them with christopher. that's how we practice our spanish. look man you don't need to pretend with me. buck you need to move on, i have. eddie get away from the door im coming in. what are you afraid of. that im never gonna feel normal again. buck already took him to school, figured you could use the sleep. chris drew this? uh, that one's mine i misunderstood the assignment. cuz he got the help he needed, and that started with you. i just wish i could- fix it? yeah. what are you offering? right now? bobby's famous lasagna. buck, you dont even have a couch. bUUUUCK where the hell are you going. you can live without a

spleen- right? she's gonna be ok. how did the age of absolutely turn into alfalfa smoothies? give me one second let me grab eddie. YO. i dont know. feels weird to congratulate him. alright cowbody go get em. BUCK!!!!! do more! i just feel like she sees me. sorry about this. yeah it's gonna suck. uh hey do you have any plans for the weekend? i was thinking about go-karting, place in the desert, supposed to be a blast. welcome back to the world of the living buck. you were missed. actually i was kind of hoping you would. i just dont want him to uh- end up like me? you didn't end up like you. hey cap, need a lift? you took the chevelle? how'd you talk him into this he always says no to me. like sea monkeys! in fact, i havent been able to uhhhh yeah since i found out. yeah. well i uhhh wish i could help with that! this doesn't change a thing between us. i thought you couldn't bring a date to a bachelor party. UBBBEEERRR!!!! we don't need a key we're firefighters. he's crockett he's tubbs. actually im crockett and HE'S tubbs. eddie who's kim. does that poor woman know she's a dead ringer for your ex wife. oh eddie. what you always do. talk to him. i dont wanna break down the door buck i want him to open it. well uh, he probably won't. ok well why does it have to be me? you're the fastest runner. we beat the bees! im guessing it's probably an allergic reaction of some kind. to what bad juju? you owe me five bucks eddie. i never watched glee. give it back im serious. we know you're serious that's what scares us. whatareyoulookinateddiehehehe. he knows how to stay, unlike some people. yup, i am freddie fakeman, you would do that for me? you and for christopher. mmmmm like it's nothing. it's not nothing. look i know this whole thing between us has been messy and hard. you do matter to me. i know. eddie would never do anything illegal eddie has a silver star!! you're his dad. he doesn't have a mom. if you don't damage him who will? dad up!! sorry i had to go to the airport to pick up this one. said i was gonna get groceries. it's fine. doesn't seem fine. the trials and tribulations of evan buckley. a tragedy in 97 acts. you've been spiraling since the funeral and nobody knows how to talk to you about it. i don't know buck i wasn't there. eddie- jerk. airport and texas are not the same. they don't even have the same amount of letters. heard some dick was being mean to you, thought you could use a little cheering up

or is that just me rn

[eggfriedricedwasian]

Ive seen things where people have kids who are dark haired and eyed at birth and turn light haired and eyes when they get older or vice versa.

I headcanon Janet with blonde hair and green eyes and Jack with black hair blue eyes.

Im using this on Tim.

Tim was born with blonde hair green eyes and looked like Jack as a baby, but when he got older, around 4ish, he turned black haired and blue eyed and started looking like Janet.

His parents were both in a love hate relationship with this change. On one hand they want him to have their colors and look like them...

On the other hand they miss when he used to look like the other parent.

Just imagine:

Tim going through old pictures in his gazillion boxes of pictures, the family is helping him.

"Who's this baby? Steph's?"

Someone asks. They look over to see Duke holding a photo of a blonde baby, smiling a gummy smile with curly blonde hair and green emerald eyes looking brighter than a kryptonian in the sun.

"No.. That's.. who is that baby?"

Steph asked very slowly. Guess they forgot to tell Duke that Steph's daughter was a sensitive topic amongst them.

"Steph gave up her daughter at birth, Duke. And it was a traumatic experience for her so we don't talk about it."

Bruce informed.

"O-Oh! I'm sorry."

"It's okay, you didn't know"

She waved him off with a smile, but everyone still wondered who the baby was.

"Tim?"

"Yeah?"

Tim replied from inside his closet. He walked out upon no reply, setting down another box filled with camera equipment and saw all their confused faces.

"Who's baby is this?"

Duke turned the picture and Tim looked at it closer.

"Oh!"

Tim smiled, taking it and putting it next to his face.

"It's me!"

He smiled just as bright as the baby, which happened to be him, in the picture.

.

.

.

"WHAT!?"

The family, including Alfred, stared jaw dropped shocked at the guy.

The baby in the photo, smiling oh so brightly like the sun, green eyed, blonde curly hair, with the cutest little red polka dot dress on, was Tim, who had straight-ish black hair and blue eyes, didn't smile as brightly as the moon, who only gave smirks and grins, and was wearing a long sleeves under a Limp Bizkit t shirt with very baggy jeans.

"Yeah.. Genetics! Ya know..?"

"Explain."

Jason demanded.

"Well, up until I was 4-ish I had my dad's face but my mom's green eyes and blonde curly hair, but then it turned black and my eyes turned blue and straight-ish and I started looking more like my mom."

He rubbed his neck sheepishly.

That started the searching of Tim's baby photos. They'd organize the Bat photos and the hero photos later, right now they needed to find all of the blonde hair green eyed baby Tim photos.

It was no secret that Tim was trans, so when all the photos of a little girl in dresses and skirts showed up they weren't phased. It was hilarious to see all the pouty faced pictured of Tim in dresses.

The photos did get put up around the house with Tim's (begrudgingly(willingly)) permission.

Dick wanted him to bleach his hair but he refuses to damage his hair.

But also imagine this:

The older that Tim gets, the blonde comes back. He still looks like his mom, but his slowly starts turning blonde again, and his eyes start having a greener tint/hue to it.

The first to notice was Bart.

Bart was braiding Tim's rather ling hair when he points it out.

"Hey Tim, your hair's got some blonde in it!"

"What?"

Tim runs to the mirror and looks in it. Yep. Sure enough his hair was growing some blonde strands. And now that he looked, his eyes looked more green than it's normal blue.

"Oh my gosh.."

He calls Bruce.

Bruce who was in a JL meeting.

"I'm in a meeting."

"B! Im going blonde again! Ans my eyes! They're turning green!"

Tim says, somewhat panicked, somewhat excited.

Bruce blanks. Because.. what. What do you mean his baby boy, who he loved staring at the blonde and green eyed baby pictures of, was resorting back to that color.

"...really?"

He asks very hesitantly at first.

"Yeah!"

Tim turns his head down, showing his scalp. And there, right there, were several prominent, yet blended, strands of blonde growing in a curl pattern amongst the straight black locks.

Bruce just about cries right then and there.

Because then Tim does a close up of his eyes. And yep. His eyes have a but of green in them.

"That's great, sweetie. But I'm in a meeting right now."

"Oh! Sorry!"

He hangs up.

Bruce doesn't.

He's still stuck on the call smiling like a sappy parent whose kid just did something so small yet so touching. There were tears in his eyes and none of the JL knew what to do.

[sharoo]

Self-knowledge as a theme in STP messes me up so bad, bros.

This all starts with how little the Princess can tell you if you ask her about herself. How little you can say about yourself, more often than not. Most of the time Quiet doesn't even know what they look like!

The Narrator makes it a point to make the Princess' cluelessness, her lack of self-knowledge, into deception, but really, both the protagonists don't know themselves. How could they?

The concepts of bounds, of something that isn't you, the distinction of "self" and "other", "you" and "I", the concept of something being not like yourself... this is the first time this deity which is now two has ever experienced it.

The Shifting Mound and the Long Quiet did not exist until the Narrator tore a whole into parts.

Now, this deity in twain has to reorient. It has only begun existing, it's not yet known itself. A toddler has to develop a self-concept, and the concepts of others.

Now imagine, for the first time in your solitary existence, that there is something that you are not. Unknowable, foreign.

What are they like, you think? Are they a friend? Should I get to know them? Are they a foe? I do not know them, I cannot trust them... Or can I?

This brings to mind, of all things, Contrapoints' video on Twilight, where she speaks about the concepts of Union and Division in relation to love. And while she speaks of it in terms of eros, it can apply here just as easily, romantically and platonically.

Love is the union of two beings. We love because something outside of us allows us to be more than ourself. In others, many seek that which they lack. We seek out people so that we may develop through our similarities and contrasts with them, to change an be changed.

We seek out people because there can be no I without a You. To exist in a void is not a fulfilling experience.

We cannot discover ourself if he have nothing that allows us to compare ourself. The mirrors elude us throughout the game, always leading to the princess - she is the only way we may know ourselves, the mirrors tease as they disappear. And at the end of the route, only then, can you see yourself, now that you have a complete knowledge of yourself in a given scenario, with a given persona.

Was the princess someone you decided to trust? Or to betray? Was she a foe? A friend? A nightmare? A victim?

You both try to find out who you are through your relationship.

The princess assumes many faces and attitudes in response to you, you assume voices and attitudes in response to her. You're two batches of clay shaping each other at the same time. It's almost like knowing someone your entire life, seeing them go through different phases as they try to find out their identity in the world, their place. The 5 routes, whatever they be, are your "adolescence".

And growing means you will hurt each other, intentionally or not. There will be fights, disagreements, there will be heartache, and comfort and love.

And everything will pass.

Shifty, before she's complete, before she discovers her godhood, makes this point so clear.

How could she not be kind to you? You are the only thing in this place that is not her. What reason could she have to hate you? To make the only friend she could have into an enemy?

That's why, at the end of every route, all hurts are forgiven. All the heartache is acknowledged, understood, and then she moves on. So that you may continue being together, so that she may see what else you do.

Even godhood can become a phase. The Shifting Mound recognises what you both were, but it need not be you unless you accept it. Because self-knowledge is unending. You are always changing, and you can always change.

You can accept being a god, and that becomes you.

You can reject being a god, and that becomes you.

You are by that point an "adult". The figure trying to dictate who both of you are is gone, and you can decide for yourself.

I think this is partially why I love the Leave with Stranger ending the best of all the endings. You begin it by avoiding knowledge of yourself and of another. The self can only exist as far as it is not like the others.

And you meet the Stranger, this being who knows so little about herself, because she too has been deprived of another. The route is quick. It really cannot amount to much, because if you don't know yourself, it's so hard to build a relationship.

But at the end, they've matured. You gave each other time to become fuller beings. You met this person again and they seem so much happier with themself than they were in youth.

I love how they say "We're just a stranger.", and the voices point out how it needn't be sad that you don't know her, unless you make it out to be. You can get to know them, the real them, and they can do that with you.

The way the Stranger speaks if the position of a God only underlines how much the heart of the Shifting Mound can understand self-knowledge.

They speak of how they feel themself be pulled towards taking the position of godhood, of being everything, yet find it confining. Restricting.

"We want more. We want whatever might be on the other side of this door. Something new, that we'll experience together. With someone who exists outside of us. Someone who can see us in a way we can never see ourself."

Self-knowledge through relationships and reflection on how you impact other people.

[schoolhater]

the ceasefire was supposed to begin about an hour ago as of writing, but the israeli army has admitted to its continued bombing of the gaza strip, violating its own agreement. netanyahu claims he cannot honor the ceasefire until hamas hands over a list of names of settler hostages to be handed over first; hamas blames this on technical issues.

my friend and gazan journalist siraj abudayeh @siraj2024 (#219) tells me there is shooting along the border between gaza and '48, both in the north and south of gaza. he is also, despite everything, cautiously optimistic that things will settle themselves out soon and the ceasefire can properly begin. here's the message he sent me on the matter (before we got the notification that the ceasefire had been violated):

The ceasefire entered into force in the Gaza Strip after agreements were reached between the Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupation, which gave an opportunity to calm the military situation that had led to the death and injury of thousands of civilians and the widespread destruction of infrastructure. But despite this temporary cessation of fighting, the humanitarian need in Gaza remains dire and persistent. The temporary ceasefire came after months of military escalation, during which civilian areas in Gaza were the target of air and artillery attacks, resulting in the destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. Although the fighting has stopped, Siraj's family still needs significant humanitarian support. Siraj's family is still displaced and suffers from a severe shortage of basic materials such as food, medicine, and clean water. The next phase requires support to mitigate the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

there's still a strong chance that aid will be let into gaza in the coming days, and the process of rebuilding gaza will begin - whether under israeli fire or not. after gaza has has everything stolen. i ask that whoever sees this reblogs or donates to siraj's campaign. he has lost friends, family and colleagues, gofundme has deleted his survival campaign twice, and he's lost his livelihood over the course of this genocide, funded by america. we don't know what is coming next, but we know that these facts cannot change. what matters most right now is getting aid to people who need them.

[tarotbyjam24]

Pick a card : How will your spouse act in your pregnancy?

Pick a piles\ masterlist feedbacks

Likes , reblogs and feedbacks are very much appreciated 💗

Disclaimer: this is general reading . It may or may not resonate . If reading doesn't resonate let it fly and choose another pile or simply there were no messages for you through this reading 😊 Take the reading lightly as nothing's set in stone until you believe so 🕊️

Thankyou for stopping by let's dive in ☄️ Choose the pile you feel most drawn to 🧸

I also offer paid readings you can book one as it'll help me a lot and don't forget to check the free readings offer ✨

Pile 1 Pile 2

Pile एक

Alright pile 1 your spouse will be like ohh yeahh my wifey is pregnant . Lemme serve my MY QUEEN , my kid's mother 🙇🏻‍♀️ . They gonna decorate the room you'll be living in . They'll be prepping the nursery too by painting it and adding magical vibes to it. They gonna put the dolls in the nursery. They'll not be fighting with you at all like no fighting at all. No yelling no nothing. They're gonna be so submissive and help you with everything. They're most likely to always think that what can I do to make them feel better. They may also go from questioning phases and questioning themselves whether they're enough and ready to be a parent or not. They'll not be letting you do any house work or anything. As I said you're their queen 👑. They'll be spending their money on hiring the maids and all the stuff required to get things done but they won't let you even walk on the cold floor without slippers. They'll always be there for you and whenever you feel that your body doesn't look great . I'll say just stop and look at your spouse's face. They're just so in love with it . Also you never need anyone's validation. You're just beautiful the way you're. Motherhood is a blessing. I'm hearing.

I am woman, I am fearless

I am sexy, I'm divine

I'm unbeatable, I'm creative

Honey, you can get in line

I am feminine, I am masculine

I am anything I want

I can teach you, I can love you

If you got it goin' on.

Your spouse will always be there to cheer you up. They'll always do the effort to make you feel better . They'll try hard to satisfy your pregnancy cravings lol. A keeper. And answer your funny stupid questions while they're doing important work. They'll be like yeahh this is so my wife 🌚 . They may also take you to sit often in moonlight and chat with you while they're laying your lap rubbing your womb. They're so protective of you in general. They can't stand when you're not in good mood. So your spouse's will take their extra focus on that and maintain peace with you because we all know how moody we all get sometimes and now that you're pregnant it's your right to be moody and grumpy teddy bear. They gonna also buy you maternity dresses and flowers in which you'll look mystical they might even click your pics and save them for later. They'll watch all the disney movies with you that loved as a kid.

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Pile दो

So like pile 1 you're your spouse's queen too 👑✨ . They'll be source of your happiness. They'll make you the happiest. They'll see the fashion show you do for them when you come back from shopping. They'll hype you up and make you feel worthy of all of it . There eyes will only be at you and you only . You've charmed them up , you've rizzed them up already. If you ever get the thoughts like my spouse might leave me no they won't they probably left you for planning a surprise for you. Probably went to buy your favourite drinks and some food to catch along with. Well, your fs may get hurt or sad by seeing you to go through all those changes during pregnancy like pregnancy symptoms : morning sickness, dehydration, dizziness, anxiety, etc All those pains and hardships that women has to go through while nourishing a human being inside their womb. They may feel like it's already enough for them to make them see all the good and bad changes you went throughout pregnancy. I see they're big in the kitchen. They'll always be there to cook home-made meal for you with their own hands and serve it to you beautifully to make you feel like you're in restaurant. They may even act like a waiter when they serve you up. I feel they maybe enrolling you up in drawing and painting classes too which can be outdoors like in some fields or gardens. They're gonna put all the work aside and leave it all if there's one phone call coming from you . They'll come barefoot for you I swear. As I said they are not able to see you in any pain they'll do whatever in their reach is to make you feel comfortable like giving you hugs , rubbing your feet etc . Hehe they love your hairs so they'll take extra care of your hairs when you're pregnant. They'll even get you different different hair accessories to accessorize your hairs . They'll take care of your hydration and even say words of affirmation when you drink your water. They may also bring special cups that hold special meanings to both of you in your pregnancy. If anything breaks your heart know that they'll be keeping it out of your sight until you're feeling okay . They may even tell you stories of knight and princess while you go to sleep omggggg🎀

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I hope you liked the reading . Thank you so much for letting me read for you . Wishing you best ahead . 🎀Bless you and have a nice day🌸🐰 I'd love to hear which pile you chose

Loads of love , jam🩷

Exchanges : open , collabs for paps : open

[findmeinforks]

Understanding - Paul Lahote X Fem!Reader

A little break up, make up one shot while I work on part two of stay 💕 as always, let me know what you think! 2.4K Words ❤️

You had been understanding. You had been so, incredibly, unbelievably understanding. You had been kind, patient, considerate. You had thrown every insecurity away in your mind. You shoved your feelings right down your throat.

But that was over with now.

Now, you faced him. In the middle of the yard, your throat agonizingly raw from yelling. You were shocked he hadn't phased yet, but he knew the minute he did you would take off. The pack, watching from afar and unbeknownst to you, were also shocked at his restraint.

"I would NEVER do anything to hurt you. Why won't you believe that?"

You laughed wetly through the tears. You were down right manic over what he didn't comprehend.

"Really?? You don't understand why I would be upset by ANY of this? Are you that fucking blind?"

Paul huffed through his nose, attempting to control his temper.

"I have a job, Y/N. There's new bloodsuckers popping up every day now and we have to make sure we're ready for anything. That means stacking up our numbers against them. Guy or girl, they have to be trained."

You scoffed, rolling your eyes,

"And don't you find it at all peculiar that everyone else is out on their own but you're STILL having to train this same girl? DAY IN AND DAY OUT?!"

He sighed.

"She should be ready, I know. But every time we get on patrol, she gets fearful and fails at basic exercises. Sam has me spend extra time with her."

You threw up your hands as if the answer was obvious, "Then TELL Sam to have someone else take a turn?"

"She only likes training with me."

Your eyes went wide, and all you saw was red.

"AND THAT DOESNT GIVE YOU ANY FUCKING CLUE THAT MAYBE SHES FAILING ON PURPOSE FOR YOUR ATTENTION? THAT MAYBE SHE DOESNT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT IMPRINTS? THAT MAYBE PERHAPS SHE HAS DIFFERENT INTENTIONS?"

Paul shook his head, him now scoffing.

"It's actually really hard to learn to navigate being a wolf. That's something YOU don't seem to understand."

You think you had lost your mind. It seemed as though the world crumbled around you, his words ringing in your ears from the impact. That was not something the imprint you knew before this would have ever dared say to you. It wasn't that you believed Paul would ever be disloyal, but your instincts were damn sure this girl wanted him to be.

You nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat.

"You're right. I don't. You need to be with someone that understands. We're done."

Paul stepped back like he had taken a blow to the chest. His eyes softened now.

"You....you don't mean that."

You headed towards your car, not being able to face the broken look in his eyes.

"Y/N, wait," he reached out, and even though you were mad, a part of it killed you to deny him.

You shook your head, new tears rehydrating their original streaks.

You sniffled, and took a deep breath.

"I'm tired, Paul. I'm tired of waiting up for you. I'm tired of being left unanswered for hours. I'm tired of making plans that just get canceled. Im tired of being lonely. And most of all, I'm tired of being disappointed."

He grabbed your arm before you could fully get in, and you saw Sam emerge, still at a respectable distance from the two of you.

"Baby listen, okay, I'm sorry. I can do better I-"

"You've said that before Paul. This is not the first time we've fought about this."

Tears pricked the corners of his eyes now.

"Please. Don't." He whispered.

He almost made you cave. You so badly wanted to stay. But you also knew if you did, it would be the same reoccurring cycle. He had to know you were serious. You wanted the relationship you had before she came along. Until you were sure you would get that again, you had to leave.

"I have to go. Call me when your priorities change." You said as you gently pulled out of his grip and shut the door. And with that, you took off to your father's place.

-

Paul stood planted in the same spot you had left him, shattered. What had he done?

He felt a small hand on his shoulder, a feminine voice in his ear,

"Maybe it was for the better. She seems like a total bitch."

Paul's blood turned cold. It was as if in that very moment, he had come to his senses. The smoke had cleared in his crowded mind. You were right. Of course you were right. All the stress that had been on his plate, he hadn't been thinking clearly at all.

He came to realization now, and it was too late.

Paul yanked away his arm, turning with a fury in his eyes to the woman behind him. She shrunk back under his gaze, feigning an innocence he knew good and well was all fake.

He trembled with anger, barely registering that Sam was now in between him and the girl. Paul pointed a finger at her, teeth gritting with anger.

"Get. The FUCK. Away from me."

Paul ripped apart as he phased, having it bottled up for far too long, and dashing off like a mad man into the woods.

The woman gaped like a fish, starting to babble, turning to Sam for reassurance.

"I didn't do anything I-"

Sam huffed a breath through his nose, "You heard him. I think it would be best if you left. Embry's cousin or not, you are no longer welcome here. That's an order."

Sam shook his head, running a hand through his hair as she stormed off. He felt guilty for letting it get like this. He had some suspicions about her joining the pack, seeing as she was always gravitating towards Paul, but he had shrugged it off, too occupied with everything else going on.

Sam also knew too well what it was like to hurt an imprint. Physically or emotionally, the bond felt all the same. Strict alpha or not, he valued Paul as a brother, and just hoped you would come back for him.

-

As Paul laid his head onto his pillow, he watched the days go by before him. Being forced to come eat dinner by Emily and whenever he had patrol were just about the only times Paul left his bed. He would call you once a day, sometimes with a small hope you'd answer, and sometimes just to hear your voicemail. After his patrol shifts ended, he would often sneak off to your house, just to make sure he'd know you were safe, if even from a mile away.

-

"Do you think she'll ever come back?" Kim asked Jared quietly one day, after watching Paul barely eat his food and sulk back up to his room.

"I don't know honestly. Y/N is just as stubborn as he is. But I do miss him. I've never in my life seen Paul like this. His internal thoughts are depressing as hell..."

Kim sighed, "It's not like she's doing any better. She finally answered my call yesterday, and I had to double check who I was talking too. She's miserable, Jare."

He shrugged, "I mean what can we do about it babe? You can't get involved in people's business like that."

"They're not people. They're family." She mumbled as she clutched her coffee mug.

-

Another week had gone by, the pack all sitting in the kitchen getting ready to eat.

"Boys. We have information on the new vampires in town," Sam announced as he walked through the door with Jacob.

"They're after Bella. She had a run in with that red head we keep chasing to the border every night. Her boyfriend had tried to kill her so the Cullen's killed him, and now this bitch is assembling an army to take her out for revenge." Jacob relayed.

This grabbed Paul's attention. If they were after your sister, that meant you were in danger.

"We're going to help them fight. Our people are at risk if we let this get out of hand, or if the Cullen's lose. But until the army comes here, we're going to be sharing shifts with them to watch over the Swan house," Sam said, looking at Paul who was heading out the door.

"Paul."

"You can watch Bella from a distance. I'm taking my imprint home," he slammed the front door.

"I can't imagine that's gonna go good." Embry mumbled.

-

Your body jolted upright from the couch at the abrupt knocking on the front door. You hadn't been expecting anyone, Bella out doing who knows what with Edward, and Charlie hours away on a fishing trip.

Opening the door your breath caught in your throat.

"What are you doing here?"

"We have to go. Now." He said sternly, ignoring your bewildered look as he flew past you and up the stairs to your room.

"And just who the hell do you think you are?!" You stormed after him, appalled he was barging in your house like this.

"There's an entire army of vampires on the hunt for your sister. You're not safe here, I'm taking you to Emily's." he said as he grabbed a suitcase and started throwing random clothes in.

"You don't own me Paul Lahote. I'm not going anywhere with you." You crossed your arms as you looked at him incredulously.

He refused to look you in the eye as he spoke, his breathing heavy from your scent,

"It is still my job to protect you whether we're together or not. You don't have to talk to me at all if you don't want too, and you can sleep in the spare bedroom" He said as he continued to pack.

You laughed.

"Come to Emily's with her there? I think the fuck-"

"She's not there anymore."

"Ohhhh so because she's gone you care about me again."

He stopped, this time turning to look you in the eyes for the first time in two weeks.

"Don't you ever fucking say that. I could give a shit less about her. It's always been you. I'm....look, I'm sorry I didn't make you believe that before. You were right. And I was so unbelievably wrong. I understand why you don't want to be with me anymore. I'm not asking you to forgive me. Im asking, just for the time being, that you do this so that I know you are safe....please."

You wish you could have stopped the tears that welled up in your eyes. A part of you wanted to stay mad forever, just to make a point. But the other just wanted to wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him. Two weeks felt like two years apart from him, and your heart so desperately ached to be near him again.

"Fine," you whispered.

Paul looked like he wanted to say something more, his eyes lingering on yours, but he decided against it, zipping up your bag and heading to the truck.

-

Once you both arrived to Emily's the pack headed out to train with the Cullen's, leaving you both and Kim at the kitchen table.

"So you guys.....didn't make up?" Kim asked disappointed.

You shook your head, "He just wanted me here. He apologized and said he wanted me to be safe. It was left at that."

Emily reached her hand over into yours,

"Do you want to be with him?" She asked genuinely.

"I.....I mean," you sighed. "Of course I want to be with him. I just was so angry, you know?? I didn't like feeling that way in our relationship. Alone."

The girls nodded understandably.

"If it helps, he's been an absolute wreck without you. I think if anything it was a wake up call." Kim offered.

"I haven't been exactly living the best either," you slightly chuckled.

"Well. We are more than excited to have you back in the house. That being said, I'm going to need both of your help with dinner." Emily smiled as she looked at the clock, standing up.

You grinned, happy to at least be here with your friends.

-

It was the night before the fight. Everything was quiet, but you lie awake, your mind racing. You hadn't said much to Paul in the three days you were here. There were lingering stares, brushing past eachother occasionally in the hall, but no conversations had been had. You felt a pit in your stomach at the idea of this fight. What if something happened and you never got to see him again? What if the last thing you had between you two was this awkward tension? The more you thought about it, the faster the tears spilled down your cheeks. You sniffled hard.

A gentle knock at the door startled you, getting up you frantically tried to wipe them away.

There he stood on the other side, leaning against the frame. His eyes looked so exhausted, like he hadn't gotten sleep either in days. "Whats wrong?" He said softly, taking a look at your face.

His gentle voice was enough to send you flying into his embrace. You arms wrapped around him as you sobbed into his neck.

He held your waist as he walked you both backwards into the room, shutting the door. His hand caressed your face as he leaned his cheek on your forehead.

"Hey, hey. Shhhh. I'm right here. It's okay. You're okay. You're safe."

You leaned back just enough to look at him, shaking your head. Your voice was broken and trembling,

"I-I don't care that I'm safe. T-tomorrow. A-and you. What if we never-"

Paul used both hands to cradle your face.

"Hey. Listen to me. Everything will be okay. This is what we've been training for. It's us and the Cullen's against them, our numbers are stronger. I'll be fine, alright? I'm just happy you're here and away from harm."

"I can't live without you. I love you." You whispered.

Paul instantly kissed you. It was like a wave of relief and happiness washed over you as you kissed him back with every ounce of passion you could muster.

Both your tongues danced as you refused to pull away from eachother. Paul bent down only for a moment to hoist you up in his arms, taking you into his room instead.

Unfortunately due to advanced hearing, the house was no longer quiet that night.

[skiiyoomin]

HII!! Idk if your taking requests rn but if you still do,can you please do Bakugou having a emo gf?? I honestly don't know if you still write mha stuffs, so ignore this if you don't!! 🙏🙏

ღBakugou having an emo gf

ʚCont: Swearing, fem! reader

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a/n hi!! idk if you wanted it to be texts or a oneshots or wtv so i went with headcanons!! and yess i still write for mha, my inbox is open if you get creative ;)) also, my conception of emo might but kinda stereotypical so i apologize in advance!!

Bakugou had an emo phase in middle school and you can NAWTTT change my mind. Now that he´s older and more mature, he´s become closeted about this phase of his. But trust, if he hears any type of emo music, he knows deep down in his soul that he´s jamming to that shit.

That is why, in terms of how aggressive he is with people, emos are at the bottom of the list, including you.

Of course, when you first walked into class he was still the abrasive person he is. Nevertheless, it was clear to anyone who had known him long enough, that he treated you with just a little more respect than he did with others.

You never understood it, but you never questioned it either. What little bit of peace there was with the blonde was to remain untouched and unshattered. That is until Mina whispered ideas into your head that Bakugou had a thing for you. At first, you tried to convince yourself that it was just Mina gossiping as always. But that didn´t mean you weren´t just the slightest bit more aware of Bakugous mannerisms towards you.

During his infatuated phase, though he would rather die than call it that, he had walked past your room only to stop abruptly when the muffled music reached his ears. The rythm of Panic! At The Disco was heard through your speakers, your melodic voice humming the lyrics. He´d be lying if he said he didn´t know the songs by heart. He did.

And despite his embarrassment of people having this knowledge, his gut told him you wouldn´t judge. Hence why he found himself knocking on your door.

"Bakugou? Do you need something?" You ask, not having expected the sudden visit.

Why did he come here again? His throat suddenly felt dry and his tongue heavy.

"I heard your music down the hallway, it´s too damn loud" Smooth Bakugou smooth.

"Oh. Is it? I´ll turn it down"

Just as you turn back around, he abruptly speaks.

"I like it" Well that sounded dumb "The group I mean. It used to be my favorite"

If you weren´t surprised before you sure are now. Yet you didn´t dislike it.

"Really?....Wanna come in to listen?"

The friendship stage was blurry to say the least. Neither of you knew whether you were treading a line between friends or lovers. But it felt right.

The respect he held for you from the beginning grew the more he learned about you. Between all the dumbasses and extras he was surrounded with, you seemed to be the one with the most refreshing mind. Your passions and views about the world amaze him to no end and he finds himself learning from you.

Of course, everyone else could see the palpable tension between you. It was clear as day yet neither of you made a move. It was infuriating and your dear classmates could only take so much before they intervened. Luckily, a small push was all that was needed for things to go smoothly.

They went with the classic plan. Making plans with friends only to end up ditching you and leaving you all alone with your now crush. Bakugou caught on quicker than you did. And while he wanted to strangle the idiots, he knew it was now or never, he had to stop chickening out.

"What are we?" He asks out of the blue while walking back to the dorms. He could feel your eyes on him, but he didn´t turn his head, too scared to look.

"What do you want us to be?" You counterask, your heart inevitably thumping in your chest.

"If I tell you will you still stay?" You can only muster a nod.

"I want us to stop dancing around our feelings. I want to take you out. On a real date"

With a grin, you lean close and place a kiss to his blossoming cheek. "I´ve been waiting for you to ask"

The relationship wasn´t all that different. Rather, it was more like an upgrade. He still does the things he does but now under the claim of being your boyfriend. And yes, he came out of the emo closet, though it was pretty transparent. Don´t tell him that though.

[marcyvamp1re-blog]

We need a part two of the harley quinn mother headcanons!

SUGAR & SPICE!

pairings ⸺ Mother! Harley Quinn x Teen! Reader.

(PLATONIC FIC)

¿Request? Yes!

This is a Headcanon!

sinopsis ⸺ Every mother reaches the moment when she sees her chick starting to become independent from the nest. Harley loved you from the moment she found you in that abandoned alley, and now she finds it hard to accept that you are drifting away.

If she knew why you were leaving her behind, she would probably be thinking about putting Robin in the oven.

warnings ⸺ Fluff and Angst, Platonic Cuddling, ¿OOC Harley? Idk, Disturbing Content, Street Fights, Violence, Trauma.

A/N ── Honestly, I didn't plan on making a continuation of that headcanon, but since you asked (and your requests are sacred to me), here it is! Shoutout to @animequeen4 for the inspiration too!

Pt.3

When you grow up as the child of one of the most notorious supervillains in Gotham, things get a bit complicated. Harley knew this since you entered school, and especially since she separated from the Joker. She had prepared for everything: to protect you from clowns, snakes, and even snakes disguised as clowns. But what she didn't see coming, what truly drove her crazy, was the biggest challenge of all: your adolescence.

Harley noticed it almost immediately. At first, it was small things. Like how you no longer wanted to listen to the music she played at full volume in the lair. Instead, you started listening to your own songs, the ones she described as "unbearable noise." Then came the decoration of your room, which went from posters of heroes and villains to something "weird," according to Harley. “Since when do you like bats so much?” she would say with an eyebrow raised. But what broke her heart the most was when you stopped letting her dress you. She got frustrated every time she tried to put something on you that she thought looked great, and you would just say, "No, mom, I don't like that anymore."

But the worst, the worst of all, was when you entered high school. You made friends. Friends whose names Harley didn't even know. Horrible! For someone like her, who was used to knowing all the details of your life, that was the worst that could happen. And on top of that, you no longer asked for permission to do things! The worst part was that she had raised you "well" (according to her criteria), so she didn't understand how you ended up at the police station several times for vandalism and disturbances.

"I raised you better than this!" she would shout, completely indignant, while signing the papers to get you out of another detention. Inside, she knew you were going through that rebellious phase, but that didn't make it any easier to cope.

One day, Harley stood at the door of your room, frustrated because you didn't even ask her for help with your math problems anymore. She stared at you, her hands on her hips, and exclaimed, “Look, little birdie, I get you! I know you're growing up and all that, but can you please stop doing it so fast? You're slipping through my fingers!”

It was a mix of desperation and tenderness. Harley wasn't ready to see you grow up. She knew you were becoming more independent, but in her heart, you would always be her little one. And even though she got frustrated with all these changes, with every new friend or every time you snuck out to go to a party, deep down she just wanted to make sure you were okay.

Puberty was a roller coaster, and Harley was starting to realize that nothing in her villain life had prepared her to deal with it. The first thing she noticed was that you no longer wanted to go out with her for taco Fridays with the girls. Those days when they went shopping, wore neon clothes, and had laughs while window shopping stopped being your thing. Harley watched you from the doorframe, taco in hand, saying, “What happened to my buddy? Where's the kid who loved to eat until stuffed full of carnitas?”

Sometimes, Harley tried not to take it to heart, but it was hard. She crumbled a little every time you locked yourself in your room instead of watching her roll around on the sofas with the Birds of Prey or with the Sirens, planning their next crazy scheme. It was then that she realized she needed help. So, as a good mother (or as close as she could get), she turned to the only person who could understand her frustration... Catwoman.

But the chat with Selina wasn’t exactly helpful. “Harley, sweetheart, I don’t mix with kids. I don’t know what you want me to tell you, mine has four legs and purrs,” Selina said, taking a sip of her martini while checking out a new leather whip. It was a "thanks, but no thanks," and Harley left with more questions than answers.

Next stop: Ivy. Harley had high hopes that Ivy, with her serenity and green wisdom, would give her the key to understanding you better. But Ivy just shrugged and said, “Plants grow, Harley. Just like kids. You can't stop the natural process.” Harley frowned. “And what do I do when they doesn’t want to tell me who he's with all day?” Ivy, very zen, replied, “You could always... spy ” It wasn't exactly the help she was looking for.

After exhausting her resources with the girls, Harley did the unthinkable: she turned to Batman. Yes, Batman! In a conversation that turned out to be as awkward as it was effective, the Dark Knight explained to her what he had learned from raising his multiple Robins: “It's part of growing up. You just have to be there, but give them space. You can't control everything.”

Harley, of course, took it with her usual dramatism: “Give them space!? But they doesn’t even want to go for tacos anymore!?” It was as if the world had turned upside down.

Meanwhile, at school, things weren’t going smoothly either. Your new “friends” were... questionable. People that Harley, if she had known, would have kicked out. But, for your luck (or misfortune), those friends didn’t last long. In the end, the problems they brought with them distanced you from them, and unexpectedly, you found yourself spending more time with Damian again. Harley, of course, had no idea about this. To her, Damian was just the rude boy you sometimes talked to.

There was always something about him that intrigued you, and despite his constant grumbling and "I don't care" attitude, you managed to see beyond that. Between talks about anything (and often about nothing), Damian became someone important to you. Harley had no idea about this mini romance, because if she did, she would probably already be plotting a plan to scare the Wayne boy. “If you think he’s cute, go for it,” she had once said with a mischievous wink. And although she didn't think you would take it seriously, here you were, emotionally entangled with Batman’s son, even though at that time you didn't know he was Batman's son.

It all started with an idea that, in retrospect, wasn’t the best: throwing paint cans at Robin. In your defense, it sounded like a funny prank at the moment. What you didn't calculate was that Robin, being Damian Wayne, wasn’t exactly easy to evade. You ran as if your life depended on it, covering almost twenty kilometers, and the most frustrating part was that he wasn’t even sweating. Every time you turned to see if you had lost him, there he was, impeccable, with that unfriendly look and his expression of "When I catch you, say goodbye to your legs."

When he finally threw you to the ground, ready to give you the lesson of your life, you looked at him more closely. That perfectly styled hair, that look of a thousand deaths, and the sarcasm in every phrase... "Damian?!" you shouted, more out of disbelief than fear. Because, of course, it turns out your boyfriend wasn’t just a rude jerk, but also the damn Robin. The pieces finally fell into place, and you didn’t know whether to laugh or feel betrayed. In the end, you did both.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he reprimanded you with that authoritative voice he usually reserved for criminals and his family. "Throwing paint? Seriously?"

The funny thing is that, even though you were completely exhausted from the chase, your brain didn’t stop working. So instead of apologizing like a normal person, you shrugged and said, "At least it wasn't green paint. That would have been offensive." He didn’t find it so funny.

From that moment on, the romantic dates became something much more... practical. Damian decided that if you were going to get into trouble, at least you should know how to defend yourself, so starry night strolls turned into intense self-defense training sessions. "Nothing says 'I love you' like a well-placed punch," you thought every time Damian corrected your stance. And although at first you considered it the least romantic of gestures, there was something sweet about how he insisted on keeping you safe.

Of course, these "dates" weren’t just training. Eventually, you met Jon Kent, the super-sweet boy who contrasted so much with Damian's serious personality. The trio you formed was a disaster waiting to happen, yet somehow it worked. Between secret missions, night escapades, and 'lots of fun,' the three of you became inseparable. But it was all super secret, because if Batman found out, well, the reprimand wouldn’t be exactly gentle. And Harley... well, don’t even think about what Harley would say if she found out.

But Harley, being Harley, didn’t take long to notice the changes. For her, it was alarming to see how her kid, her little birdie, was starting to come home late through the window, with two colors in his hair that reminded her a bit of her own lifestyle, and some bruises that you, of course, tried to hide. "Did you fall down the stairs again? Seriously?" she would ask skeptically while helping you tend to your wounds.

Her biggest fear wasn’t that you would get into minor trouble, but that he would have come back. Harley began to suspect that the Joker had found you, and that kept her in a constant state of alert. She watched you more closely, trying not to show it, but it was obvious. Nights with Damian always seemed to fly by. Between training, talks, and that connection you both shared, the hours slipped away without either of you noticing. That was how it happened that one particular night, after a long and exhausting session, he decided to walk you home. Not that you needed it, you were perfectly capable of getting home on your own (or so you said), but Damian liked to make sure you got home safely. Plus, it was an excuse to spend more time together.

It was already four in the morning, and you were ready to say goodbye with a kiss when suddenly, three giant hyenas sprang out from under your bed, and Harley, in full ninja mode, dropped from the ceiling with a baseball bat in hand. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"

You had to close the window, leaving Damian outside, to prevent your mom and the hyenas from getting to the "mom, chill," you tried to calm her, putting yourself between them. "It's not what it looks like."

"Oh no! It looks like you're turning into a mini-Harley with a boyfriend and everything, and I'm not going to sit back and watch how they break your heart like that stupid clown broke mine!"

But you managed to slow her down, and with Harley calmed down (more or less), the tension of the moment seemed to dissolve, but she didn’t stop there. The next morning, she showed up at the Batcave (Only God knows how she found the Batcave), furious, and ready to confront Batman for allowing his son to "seduce" her little birdie. "What kind of father lets his son stay out late with my kid?! This is unacceptable!"

Bruce, who was busy with his screens, barely looked up. He listened to Harley’s furious monologue while maintaining his typical calm posture, nodding from time to time. When Harley finished, he just raised his thumb calmly, as if giving his approval. "Damian has good taste," was all he said.

"That doesn’t help me, Bats!" Harley exclaimed, frustrated. But Bruce, in his minimalist style, simply added, "You... should spend more time with your kid, Harley. Don’t worry so much. And if you need help, just let me know."

Harley was left speechless. It wasn’t the response she expected, but deep down, she knew Batman was right. She sighed and, resigned, left without more than a warning for Bruce: "Just because you told me that doesn’t mean I won’t hit you with my bat if things go wrong."

But the truth is that as Harley made her way home, she reflected a little. You were growing up, and although she didn’t like it, it was part of life. You couldn’t be her little one forever, and while the fear of losing you was always present, she knew she had to trust you. After all, she had raised you well (in her own way), and now she could only let you fly a little, like that little bird she often mentioned.

Back at home, she found you lying on the couch, still with some paint in your hair from the prank on Damian. Harley watched you for a while, noticing how much you had grown. Not just in height, but in attitude. The way you had started to move through the world, making your own decisions, forming relationships outside the little universe she had built for you. And that, even though she sometimes denied it, hurt her a little. She sat on the edge of the couch, sighing as she stroked your messy hair.

Harley noticed it before anyone. First, you stopped getting excited about taco Fridays with the girls or going out to dye your hair neon. Then, it was the uncomfortable silence when you no longer sought her advice for anything. You had become more independent, but Harley only saw you drifting away.

Harley sighed and looked at you with a mix of nostalgia and worry. “You’re growing up... and even though I hate it, I know I can’t stop it. I just want you to know that you will always be my little birdie. No matter how big you get, you will always have a place with me.”

You stayed silent, noticing how difficult it was for her to say it. Harley had been many things, but she had never stopped being your mother. You smiled at her and nodded, feeling a familiar warmth in your chest. "I love you too, mom. I promise I’m not drifting away, I’m just... growing."

Harley gave you a tight hug, and in that moment, you knew that even though everything might change, you would always find that common ground, whether it was stealing marshmallows or just sharing a night under the stars. "Puberty sucks," Harley joked, and for the first time in a long time, you both laughed together.

As the hug lingered, you felt how the outside world faded away, leaving only Harley and you in a bubble of safety and love. "I’ll be here, always ready for you, even if sometimes I’m a little... crazy,” she replied with a soft laugh. “But you know that’s what makes everything more fun, right?”

You nodded, and inside, the worry you had felt about drifting away from her faded. There was comfort in knowing that even though the road ahead might be complicated and full of challenges, you had a beacon lighting your way. A mother who, with her craziness and unconditional love, would always guide you home.

"Let’s promise to do more things together, then," you said with determination. "No matter if it’s stealing candy or painting our nails bright colors. There will always be time for that."

"Deal," said Harley, raising her pinky as if sealing a pact. You smiled and linked it with yours. The connection you shared was stronger than any challenge you could face.

"And when it’s time to face the world, I’ll be your ally," she added, a spark of determination shining in her eyes. "Because we will be a team, always."

After that, everything changed, but for the better. Learning to divide your time between everything you loved wasn’t easy, but you knew you would succeed. After all, you had the strongest support: that of your strange yet endearing family, that of your partner, and above all, that of the best mother you could have ever dreamed of.

A/N ─── Thank you so much for reading! If you'd like to request anything, don't hesitate to ask. I read all of your comments and questions!

Take a Bath!

[slightly-knot-insane]

This is me who wrote about the werewolf!fem × werewolf!m. I really want this, no matter how much I looked for it, no one has it. Please fulfill my dream. 💘

I really hope you will enjoy this! It is a bit longer and has more plot (I kinda fell in love with these characters and lowkey wanna draw them lol) but it was super fun to write this so thank you!

[ m!werewolf x fem!werewolf!reader ]

In Heat

You push him inside and he trips, almost falling on the floor. "Get undressed." You lock the door behind you.

His fixes his vest with a smug face. "What about a date first? Dinner? Walk in the park? You young people always skip the courtship phase nowadays. In my time we did things differently."

You roll your eyes. He was barely ten years older than you. You remove your jacket and throw it on the floor. "Why are you just standing there? Get naked."

He crosses his arms. "You need to relax. I don't like being ordered around." He fixes his glasses. "I agreed to this, but I want some respect, miss."

By the time he finishes his sentence, you are already in your underwear. "I can't wait anymore. I need it now." Your cycle has never been this strong. You could hardly think during work, barely made necessary preparations, and reserved a motel room for privacy. You need to fuck - hard - and you need it two hours ago.

His eyes change - he is finally being affected by your pheromones. He slowly removes his glasses. "Let's take care of you then."

You don't like the expression he used, but beggars can't be choosers. Your heat surprised you this year. You couldn't reach your usual fuck partners on time and you simply had to ask him for a favor. And he loves being owed to. He loves being the one in control, the smug asshole. Whatever, you don't care. Not now.

You walk toward him, intending to rip his clothes apart, but he grabs your arm, pulls you and twists you around. He holds his arm across your chest, locking your upper body against his torso, and pushes his hand down your stomach and into your panties. He just barely flicks your clit and you have to moan. It is so good. There is an old, greasy and cracked mirror in front of you and you can see he changed a lot more than you. You are both growing and transforming all while he is slowly gliding his finger along your folds. "Fuck me... more."

"Let me do what you asked me to, miss. In my own way." His voice is so much deeper now. He pushes one finger inside your soaked cunt and pulls it out. Finger goes into his mouth and you can feel his cock pushing against your back. "Fuck," is all he says before carrying you onto the bed, kneeling on the floor and ripping your underwear with his sharp teeth.

"Yes," you moan as he glides his tongue across your pussy. "Yes, more. Give me more."

He immediately pushes two fingers inside you and you gasp from pleasure. You can feel your bones change, your body hair thicken, your claws and teeth grow and sharpen. Very soon you are in your true form, growling and panting in delight. And his fingers and tongue aren't enough. They can't reach that part of you that needs to be dealt with. "Fuck me already."

He lifts his head, his wide mouth completely wet. He bites your inner thigh. "Beg me, miss bossy. "

He climbs on the bed - naked, big, so frightening and alluring - and pins your hands above your head. You can't move, you are completely overpowered. His cocky animalistic grin is making you tremble. "Tell me how much you want my cock."

His phallus is resting on your stomach, not fully erect, waiting to dig into your starving cunt to expand. You moan, rubbing your thighs together. You are so fucking wet and feverish. "I want it," you whine like a pathetic fuck toy. "Fuck me, please. I need it so badly. Please."

He lets out a satisfied growl. "I will fuck your tight hole. I will fuck it until your bones melt and you are a shivering mess. And then I will fuck you more."

But instead of doing what he promised, he pulls you off the bed. "This shitty bed will break," he explains. He lifts the cheap piece of furniture to the side as if it's made of cardboard, and places one of the blankets onto the floor.

"On your knees, you bossy brat. Ass up." His snarl makes your knees buckle and you immediately do as told. His cock finds your pulsating pussy and slides easily inside. "Yes," you both moan in duet. He pushes your head onto the floor and positions himself before fucking your pussy without mercy. You moan into the blanket, incoherently begging for more, and he keeps slamming his groin against your ass.

You climax almost immediately and he knows it. He snickers hoarsely and just continues pounding you. He changes positions, lifting you on his lap, holding you against the wall, getting back on the floor and forcing orgasms out of you within minutes.

"Aaaaah... yes...." You can't even talk anymore, you are again on your stomach, your hips pulled upwards by his big hands. He doesn't slow down. He grabs your throat and pulls you backward, onto his chest. You arch your back to feel his thick cock rub your g-spot just right.

"Cum for me again," he orders you and you let yourself go. He fucks you through your orgasm. While you're still shaking from it, he pulls out and stands in front of you. You know what he wants - only monster mouth and throat can accommodate a whole werewolf cock. Which is something he can't get often.

You catch your breath and bite your lip. "You want to fuck my throat?"

He doesn't seem as arrogant as usual. He is almost... submissive. "Yes... please." You like how he sounds.

Luckily for him, you wanted it too. You wanted to taste his werewolf seed. His shaft is so red and overstimulated - he won't last long. You take his tip on your tongue and let him push his whole cock inside your mouth. He growls and grabs a fistful of your hair but lets you set the tempo. With a loud snarl, his knot swells as he orgasms into your mouth. You happily swallow all his cum.

You both fall onto the floor. "Well," he says as he looks at you with his all-knowing smirk. "How about that date now?"

What an annoying smartass. You smile. "I would love to. Under one condition, though - dinner is on me."

[the-oblivious-writer]

With Her Die |8|

Past J.T to Eventual S.S x Female Reader

Chapter Eight: Mind Over Matter

warnings: mental health struggles (anxiety, depression, medication references), parental abandonment/rejection, references to death, more of shauna and reader's unhealthy codependency, suicidal ideation undertones, and cult-like/supernatural elements.

note(s): i still can't believe i've been confusing h and s for each other, smh.

taglist: @morganismspam23 @slutforabbyanderson

masterlist | previous chapter | next chapter

The fever comes on suddenly, like most things in the wilderness. One moment you're helping to stack firewood outside the cabin, the next your vision blurs and the world tilts sideways. You don't remember hitting the ground, just the confused chorus of voices above you and the sensation of being carried.

"She's burning up," someone says. Shauna, you think. Her voice always carries that edge of controlled panic when it comes to you.

Cool hands press against your forehead, your cheeks, your neck. The world fades in and out, dreamlike and disjointed.

"Could be anything out here," Misty's clinical tone cuts through the fog. "Infection, some kind of parasite, plant toxin..."

"Just help her," Shauna snaps, and you feel her fingers tighten around yours.

You try to respond, to reassure her that you're fine, but your tongue feels swollen, your thoughts scattered like leaves in a windstorm. The ceiling of the cabin swims above you, wooden beams blending and separating in nauseating patterns.

"We need to keep her temperature down," Tai's voice, practical and measured.

Someone drapes something cool and damp across your forehead. You close your eyes against the spinning room and slip into darkness.

"I can't do this anymore."

Your mother's voice filters through the thin wall of your bedroom. You're thirteen, curled up on your bed with headphones on, but not playing any music. You've learned it's easier to hear them this way – they think you can't, so they speak freely.

"She's just going through a phase." Your father sounds tired, defeated before the argument's even begun.

"A phase? She's been like this for years. The anxiety, the mood swings, the constant need for reassurance. I can't breathe in my own house without worrying about how she'll interpret it."

You pull your knees tighter to your chest, trying to make yourself smaller, less substantial. Less of a burden.

"The medication should start working soon—"

"It's been three months. Three different prescriptions. Nothing changes."

There's a long silence, and you hold your breath, straining to hear.

"What exactly are you saying?" Your father's voice has gone quiet, dangerous.

"I'm saying I need a break. I'm saying she's your problem now."

The words land like physical blows. Your problem. Your problem. Your problem.

"She's not a problem. She's our daughter."

"Then why does it feel like I'm drowning every time I look at her?"

You wake with a gasp, sweat-soaked and disoriented. Shauna's face swims into view above you, her eyes wide with concern.

"Hey, hey," she soothes, brushing damp hair from your forehead. "You're okay. You're with me."

"My mom," you mumble, the words feeling strange and disconnected from your mouth.

Shauna's brow furrows. "What about her?"

But you're already slipping away again, the cabin dissolving around you like sugar in rain.

The fever dreams come in waves, memories and nightmares blending together until you can't tell what's real and what isn't. Sometimes you surface long enough to register snippets of reality – Misty changing the cloth on your forehead, Tai arguing with someone in the corner, Van bringing in fresh water.

Shauna remains a constant, her presence anchoring you when you drift too far. You catch glimpses of her – sleeping awkwardly in a chair beside your makeshift bed, her hand never leaving yours; arguing fiercely with someone while gesturing toward you; her pregnant belly a curved shield between you and the rest of the world.

In your more lucid moments, you notice the strain on her face, the dark circles under her eyes. You try to tell her to rest, that you'll be fine, but the words come out jumbled and strange.

"I'm not going anywhere," she always answers, as if she can understand you perfectly.

The fever spikes on the third night, and the hallucinations intensify.

You're standing in the clearing outside the cabin, snow falling gently around you. Jackie stands a few feet away, her blonde hair untouched by the frost that covers her eyelashes and lips.

"Why won't you join me?" she asks, her breath not fogging in the cold air. "Don't you love me anymore?"

"I can't," you try to explain, but your voice sounds wrong, distant.

"Everyone leaves eventually," Jackie says with a sad smile. "Even Shauna will. She'll choose the baby over you. You know that, right?"

You shake your head, tears freezing on your cheeks. "She wouldn't."

"Just like your mom chose herself over you?" Jackie's eyes are sympathetic but unrelenting. "It's what people do. They leave."

"Not her," you insist, but uncertainty creeps in like frost, numbing your certainty.

"Look," Jackie points behind you.

You turn to see Shauna walking away, her back to you, getting smaller with each step.

"Shauna!" you call, but no sound comes out. "Shauna, wait!"

You try to run after her, but your feet are rooted to the ground. One by one, the others appear, walking past you to follow Shauna – Tai, Van, Akilah, Misty, Travis, Javi, Nat. None of them look at you. None of them stop.

"Everyone leaves," Jackie repeats, suddenly beside you. Her cold hand slips into yours. "But I'll stay. I'll always stay."

"—not letting you near her!" Shauna's voice cuts through the nightmare, sharp and defensive.

"She's getting worse," another voice argues – Lottie. "I can help."

"Like you helped Jackie?" Shauna's tone is venomous. "No fucking way."

"That was different. The wilderness wanted Jackie."

"And what does it want from her? Another sacrifice?"

You force your eyes open, the effort monumental. The cabin comes into blurry focus – Shauna standing at the foot of your bed, her body positioned protectively between you and Lottie, who hovers near the door with what looks like a bundle of herbs in her hands.

"I've seen this in my dreams," Lottie says, her voice taking on that distant quality that makes everyone uneasy. "The sickness is more than physical. It's in her mind, in her heart."

"Get out," Shauna hisses.

"Ask her about the pills that never worked," Lottie continues, undeterred. "Ask her about her mother walking away. Ask her why she sees Jackie everywhere."

The room goes silent. You feel a chill that has nothing to do with your fever.

"What did you say?" Shauna's voice has dropped dangerously low.

Lottie's eyes drift to you, and you realize with a start that she knows you're awake. "The wilderness shows me things. Her past. Her fears." She takes a step forward. "She's afraid you'll leave too. Just like everyone else."

Shauna moves so quickly you barely register it – one moment she's at the foot of the bed, the next she's got Lottie pinned against the wall, forearm pressed to her throat.

"Get. Out." Each word is punctuated with barely controlled rage. "If you come near her again, I swear to god, Lottie—"

"What's going on?" Tai appears in the doorway, taking in the scene with a quick, assessing gaze.

"Get her out of here," Shauna demands, not releasing Lottie.

Tai steps forward, placing a calm hand on Shauna's shoulder. "Let her go. She's not worth it."

For a moment, you think Shauna might refuse. Then, slowly, she lowers her arm. Lottie doesn't cower or retreat; she simply looks at Shauna with something like pity.

"She needs more than you can give her," Lottie says quietly. "The wilderness knows what she needs."

"Lottie, enough," Tai interrupts, stepping between them. "Leave. Now."

With one last meaningful look at you, Lottie places the bundle of herbs on a nearby table and exits. The tension in the room lingers like smoke.

Tai turns to Shauna, voice low. "You need to get some sleep. You're not helping her by running yourself into the ground."

"I'm fine," Shauna insists, but even from your fevered state, you can see she's swaying slightly on her feet.

"Shauna," Tai's voice gentles. "The baby. Think about the baby."

Something in Shauna seems to crumple at that. She glances back at you, conflict written across her features.

"I'll stay with her," Tai promises. "If anything changes, I'll get you immediately."

After a long moment, Shauna nods. She moves to your side, leaning down to press her lips to your forehead. "I'll be right in the next room," she whispers, as if she knows you're listening. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

You want to reach for her, to tell her you heard everything, but your body feels impossibly heavy. You manage only to brush your fingers against hers before she pulls away.

As Shauna leaves reluctantly, Tai settles into the chair beside you. You let your eyes close again, exhaustion pulling you under.

"These should help with the mood swings and anxiety," Dr. Winters says, scribbling on a prescription pad. "But I want to see you back in three weeks to assess how they're working."

You stare at the white paper she hands you, not really seeing it. This is the third medication she's prescribed in as many months. The first made you feel like a zombie, moving through the world wrapped in cotton. The second gave you headaches so intense you couldn't get out of bed.

"What if these don't work either?" you ask, hating how small your voice sounds.

Dr. Winters offers a professional smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Let's stay positive. Finding the right medication can take time."

Time. Everyone keeps telling you to give it time. But how much time do you have before your mother decides you're too much work, too much trouble? Before the strain you're putting on your parents' marriage snaps it completely?

"I think we're also going to increase your therapy sessions to twice a week," Dr. Winters continues, already making notes in your file. "How does that sound?"

Like another burden. Another expense. Another reason for your mother to look at you with that mixture of disappointment and resentment.

"Fine," you say, because what else can you say?

Dr. Winters pats your knee in what's meant to be a comforting gesture. "You're doing great. These things don't fix themselves overnight."

But some things never fix themselves at all.

The fourth day of fever brings a kind of clarity, albeit a distorted one. You drift in and out of consciousness, but the hallucinations take on a different quality – less nightmarish, more contemplative. You see your mother walking away, but this time, you don't try to follow. You see Jackie standing at the edge of the forest, but you don't reach for her.

Instead, you watch as Shauna moves around the cabin, tending to you with a singular focus that borders on obsession. Even in your fever-addled state, you can see how the others look at her – with concern, with wariness.

"You need to eat something," Nat says during one of her visits, placing a hand on Shauna's shoulder.

"Later," Shauna dismisses, not looking up from where she's wringing out a cloth in a basin of water.

"The baby—"

"Is fine." Shauna's tone makes it clear the subject is closed.

Nat exchanges a glance with Tai, who shrugs helplessly from her position near the window.

"This isn't healthy, Shauna," Nat tries again. "For either of you."

Shauna finally looks up, her eyes hard. "None of this is healthy, Nat. None of it. But it's what we have."

There's something in her voice – a razor's edge of desperation – that makes Nat back down. She sighs, placing a small bundle wrapped in leaves next to the bed.

"Travis caught a rabbit. Make sure she gets some broth at least."

After Nat leaves, Shauna sits beside you, her hand finding yours as it always does. You manage to squeeze her fingers weakly, and her entire face transforms with relief.

"Hey," she says softly, leaning closer. "You with me?"

"Always," you rasp, your throat raw from disuse.

A small, genuine smile breaks across her face. "There you are." She brings your hand to her lips, pressing a kiss to your knuckles. "You had me worried."

"Heard Lottie," you manage, each word an effort. "What she said."

Shauna's expression darkens. "Lottie doesn't know shit."

"She knew about my mom. The medication."

Shauna goes still, her eyes searching yours. "Was she right? About your mom leaving?"

You nod weakly, not trusting your voice.

Something fierce and protective crosses Shauna's face. She leans forward, her forehead resting against yours despite the sweat and fever. "I won't leave," she whispers fiercely. "Not ever. Do you understand me? Not ever."

The conviction in her voice pierces through the fever fog, anchoring you to this moment, to her. You believe her, not because it's rational or because promises mean anything in this place of death and survival, but because Shauna has remade herself around your existence just as you have remade yourself around hers.

"The baby," you whisper, echoing everyone else's concern.

"Is part of us," Shauna replies without hesitation. "Not separate. Part of us."

The certainty in her voice should be comforting, but something in you recognizes the dangerous edge to it. This isn't healthy – this fusion of identities, this consuming need. But in the wilderness, health is a luxury none of you can afford.

"Rest," Shauna urges, stroking your hair back from your forehead. "I'll be right here."

As you drift off again, you think about Lottie's words – that the wilderness knows what you need. Perhaps it does. Perhaps this fever is a kind of burning away, stripping you down to what matters.

Or perhaps it's just another way the wilderness is trying to claim you, the way it claimed Jackie.

[blackcat-star]

Lost Spirit.

Sung Jinwoo x Ghost Reader

« Chapter 7 ✭Chapter 8: Red Gate.

__________________

"Where are we?"

"It doesn't look like a dungeon at all?"

"The Gate is gone!"

The Hunters looked around and couldn't help but panic. Jinwoo examined the area by squinting his eyes as he remained composed.

'I don't feel anything suspicious...'

Thanks to the system, at least in this situation, Jinwoo was able to maintain his usual concentration. The first thing he analyzed were the trees. The giant green pine tree, which didn't exist in Korea, was reaching up as if it wanted to touch the sky, covering the landscape. The treetops were covered with a thick layer of snow.

Jinwoo looked down and met the eyes of the A-rank Hunter. He was also wary and observing the surroundings.

'...'

'...'

The two exchanged glances until they turned their faces simultaneously. You stood next to Jinwoo while you automatically held onto his shirt and observed the surrounding area with anxiety.

Red Gate.

So by chance, everyone was pulled into a red gate, or rather, another world, from which there was no way to return without defeating the boss.

Even though you couldn't feel the temperature around you right now, you couldn't help but shiver. In your hazy memories, a part of you could still remember and sense the danger of this situation, that it was very possible that everyone would be stuck here for a long time, or worse, killed.

A frown crossed your face as you held Jinwoo's shirt with a firm grip. Jinwoo noticed your discomfort so he took your hand while sending a reassuring look through his eyes.With him here, everything would be fine.

This worked, you relaxed a little more. More than anyone, you knew and saw that Jinwoo's power was stronger than anyone else's, and he was becoming more and more powerful.

Oh, and why you are in a Red Gate?

We need to return to several days back.

_________________

"I would like to request a favor from you if it's acceptable."

Jinwoo nodded. "If it's within my ability!"

At the very least, Jinwoo would try to hear what it was. He didn't refuse right away. First, he didn't know what it was, and second, he felt that she was a very enthusiastic person.

The teacher quickly spoke as if she was afraid that Jinwoo would change his mind.

"A female student here has just gone through an awakening phase. And she's planning to drop out of school to become a hunter. She hasn't come to class for a while now..."

You frowned.

That was quite common. Some people, after awakening and receiving their abilities, quickly threw themselves into the Hunter profession. Even though they didn't know what the job required or what it would achieve, they were still proud that they had become different from ordinary people. Achieving the hunter title and easily making money had blinded many people.

"If this continues, the school has no choice but to take strong action. I don't want that to happen. Even if you’re a hunter, I think it's better to have a high school diploma, right?"

Jinwoo nodded in agreement. At the positive response, her face brightened a little. "Can you help me, try to convince her, at least get a diploma?"

_____

You and Jinwoo leave the teacher's office.

"What is everyone in the world thinking now? Dropping out of school to become a hunter? How reckless, how stupid."

You complained.

Jinwoo just chuckled lightly at your annoyed attitude. He calmly replied, "Everyone has their own reasons. Besides, Songyi is still very young, she doesn't know what she's facing."

You pouted. "There's no need to be so reckless! She was just awaken, her rank is low... And she hasn't even graduated from high school yet."

Your voice carried a hint of reproach, as if you were the one whose best friend suddenly dropped out of school. Jinwoo glanced at you, his deep eyes seemed to be pondering something.

The sound of your footsteps blended into the stream of students leaving school in front of the school gate. You unconsciously stepped closer to Jinwoo, snuggling up to him to avoid the sudden cold wind.

Jinwoo silently shielded you, not saying anything more.

The two of them arrived in front of Han Songyi's house, a troublesome girl that he had to convince.

'People like that will die first in the Dungeon...'

Jinwoo had experienced it himself, so he understood it very well. The thin line between life and death that an E-rank Hunter always encounters. If it weren't for his mother's terminal illness, he would never have set foot on this path. For an E-rank Hunter, the Dungeon was too dangerous. The situation would become irreversible if he delayed his action because she would definitely end up with regrets.

'That happens pretty often.'

Every day, dozens of Hunters in the world lost their lives. Jinwoo didn't care, nor did he have the right to care about their lives. Simply put, those were their decisions.

'However...'

This person was no stranger. If the teacher didn't give her name, even if she was Jinah's classmate, he would still refuse. But, she was someone Jinwoo had met before, there was no way they could have the same name.

"Uncle, why are you here?"

As expected, the girl recognized him.

A high school girl who wanted to become a Hunter. The only female member of the Yoo Jinho raid party. After all, his relationship with her had been established before the teacher proposed it.

'Han Songyi!'

Hearing the name spoken by the homeroom teacher, Jinwoo knew who it was without even looking at the file. The day she left school was the day he started raiding with Jinho. When he realized this, even though he knew it wasn't true, Jinwoo still thought it was partly his own fault. Because those were extremely unreasonable raids, it couldn't be used as a measure of a Hunter's income. In just one week, a high school hunter had earned 30 million, it was unimaginable.

'But one thing is certain.'

In the future, if he heard that the girl died in the Dungeon, it would prick his conscience. A thorn in his heart that could not be erased. That was why, today, Jinwoo decided to persuade Songyi, not to let things go any further.

Han Songyi stared at Jinwoo with wide eyes. She hesitated for a moment.

"So the Hunter that the teacher wanted to introduce to you is an uncle?"

You started laughing because Jinwoo appeared annoyed by the uncle title yet he managed to force a smile.

"I don't what the teacher told you and I won't return to school. I won't give up on being a Hunter!"

The girl firmly cut everything off before Jinwoo could say or do anything. When she was raiding, she was quite quiet, but when it came to the future, she was a decisive person. Kids these days really grow up fast.

'It's like some little girl living at home with me...'

He said calmly.

"I don't intend to make you give up being a Hunter either..."

Songyi reacted with stunned disbelief after hearing the news. "Really?"

"Jinwoo?" You were surprised, too.

He looked at you with a reassuring gaze. Jinwoo knew very well that telling a child not to do something was the best way to make them do it. From the beginning, he had no plans to persuade them with words. Reality was a thousand times better than talking.

"Then, why are you here?"

Jiwoo stepped forward. The little girl stepped back in surprise but still didn't flinch. Looking at Songyi, Jinwoo smiled. He didn't mean anything by it, but it was a rather 'sly' smile, with a hidden evil nature.

"I want to train you to be a top hunter!"

No need for any more convincing. The vision Jinwoo had drawn of the Baekho Guild's rookie training course made her unable to hold back any longer. She eagerly followed Jinwoo without any doubts.

_________________________

And that's why you all are here.

Han Songyi hurriedly approached and pulled your shirt.

"Excuse me, but something's wrong, right?"

Before you could reply, Jinwoo spoke. "We're in a Red Gate. That means until we're all dead, or the Dungeon explodes, no one will come to us."

Her eyes were filled with fear. The confident appearance before entering had completely disappeared. You looked at her, it was terrible that Songyi was caught in this, after all, she was only 16 years old. Suddenly, a sense of danger came over you, making your heart stop. Unconsciously, you quickly waved your hand in front of Songyi.

Her eyes widened.

Whoosh!

The arrow that was caught was still swaying in your hand. It seemed like it was still angry because it missed its target. It was right in the middle of Songyi's forehead. Then it crumbles to dust, your hands are completely fine.

"Ah... ah..."

As if she had just realized what had happened, Songyi's face turned pale. But she couldn't say anything. Screams came from the remaining Hunters.

"Kiyaaaaaah!"

"U-uwaak!"

Thud!

Blood leaked from the unfortunate Hunter's mouth. He fell to the ground with the arrow aimed straight at his forehead. The crimson blood spread evenly on the white snow. The remaining Hunters groaned in fear. Two arrows flew towards them at the same time. And like the other victim, they didn't see the arrow you caught.

Immediately, Jinwoo stood in front of you and Songyi.

Kim Chul pushed away a person who was approaching.

"You, you, you and you!"

Apart from the man just now, Kim Cheol pointed at a few more people, including you, Jinwoo and Songyi. Jinwoo's eyes twitched. He realized Kim Chul's intention. The muscular man pointed at five people. Five C-rank Hunters and below.

"Unfortunately, I can't take you guys with me. A day in here is only an hour outside. Worst case, it will take months until I take down the Boss. Babysitting does not suit my natural abilities."

Your expression showed disapproval while you crossed your arms in front of you. 'How arrogant. How presumptuous."

The hunters who were eliminated by Kim Chul tried to protest. But Kim Cheol's glance silenced them all. With false kindness, he continued.

"It's not too bad. You just have to survive until I take down the boss of this place."

The Hunters were looking at Kim Chul's team with pleading eyes, but in vain. All of them ignored them, except for one person.

"Excuse me!"

A female B-rank Hunter in Kim Chul's team raised her hand. When Kim Chul turned around, she gestured towards Jinwoo."Can I go to that team?"

"If you want!"

Without hesitation, she walked straight towards Jinwoo. Kim Chul was quite surprised by this situation. He looked towards the female Hunter and Jinwoo, but quickly snorted and said loudly. "Well, it seems like there's still a vacant position, I'll recruit another member..."

"I... it's me..."

The man who was pushed down earlier, he hurriedly ran over. It seemed like everything was already arranged. Jinwoo clicked his tongue.'This woman, she's strange...'

Jinwoo studied her face with a mixture of curiosity and caution. She quietly approached Jinwoo to speak directly in his ear so he could hear her words alone. Your discomfort grew as she approached Jinwoo because their proximity made you frown.

"Kim Chul, he didn't see the arrow coming!"

"So what?"

She smiled. "You're not an E-rank, right?"

________

Jinwoo's group moved towards the forest. As soon as he saw them disappear into the bushes, Kim Chul laughed loudly. It seemed like he had stopped laughing for now.

"Fools"

"Huh?"

"Look over there."

Kim waved his arm and pointed at the trees in the forest. It wasn't just a few trees. That direction was filled with scratches, made by giant beasts.

"Ice bears!"

Bears were especially dangerous among beasts! The scratches on the trees were how they marked their territory. The Hunters in Kim Chul's group clicked their tongues.

"I'd rather wait here."

"That E-rank guy will lead the group to their deaths."

"What the hell does an E-rank know?"

Kim Chol looked at the forest. "That's right. What the hell does an E-rank know..."

Wait. Suddenly, Kim's smile disappeared. 'There are two C-rank Hunters in that team, and even one B-rank Hunter.'

But why did he think Jinwoo was the captain? He still didn't understand why. 'Well, whatever.'

They'll die soon. Kim shifted his attention to his responsibilities while dismissing those weak individuals. Living requires hard work to discover survival methods because death comes easily. Kim Chul turned towards the road and spoke with authority.

"Let's go."

___________

Jinwoo was leading the way. You walked side by side with him, and Songyi was still holding onto your sleeve, wary. However, Park Hee-jin had already run up in front and blocked your path.

"Are you crazy?"

You crossed your arms, not hiding your annoyance. "Watch your words."

Park Hee-jin softened her tone after seeing your expression. "There is something important I must share with you." Hee-jin's fingers pointed at a nearby tree. "Do you see that?"

A large claw mark on the trunk. All the trees around them were severely damaged, to the point that it was hard to find an intact one

"That's how bears mark their territory! This entire forest is the Snow Bear's territory!"

In the animal world, a dog or a monkey is weaker than a tiger or a lion. The same is true for the magical beast world. A tiger or a lion is much harder to deal with than a dog or a monkey.

And what about bears? They are definitely strong, especially when they take the form of a white bear - one of the strongest carnivores. Now Jinwoo's group has set foot in the territory of those terrible beasts.

That's why Park Hee-jin is furious. "We have to go back now! Before the bears come!"

Jinwoo clicked his tongue. Hee-jin thought he would make one of three expressions: angry, surprised, or dumbfounded. But contrary to her expectations, he looked at her with pity. Park Hee-jin's face turned red with embarrassment.

"W-what?" She raised her voice again.

He sighed and opened his mouth. "It's hard to find an intact tree, which means there's more than just one or two ice bears, right?"

"Yes, so we have to go back soon..."

"That's why we moved into the forest."

Hee-jin looked at him with wide eyes.

'She still doesn't understand?' You pouted. Strange, why do you feel angry at this person?

"When we're in the forest, we only have to be wary of bears."

Hee-jin finally realized what Jinwoo wanted to say. If the forest was the territory of the snow bears, then there was nothing that threatened the bears. The system protected them from the appearance of more powerful beasts.

'I should have considered that earlier...'

Hee-jin felt ashamed about her loud outburst directed at Jinwoo. Her face was red all the way to her neck, and she didn't dare to look up.

You clicked your tongue, and Jinwoo looked over at you. He wondered why you were more upset than everyone else. Then he saw that everyone was shivering. Maybe it was because you were cold?

Sighing, Jinwoo called the store and searched through the list of available items. He picked out a thick down jacket and winter boots. He gently put the jacket on you, and making sure you were warm enough, he pulled you closer to him. You blushed.

And so as not to discriminate, he also gave the jackets to the others. Everyone's eyes widened in surprise.

"Space magic!!?" Hee-jin was surprised and raised her head.

Ignoring their expressions, Jinwoo said calmly. "Each of you choose one." The man reached for his coat while continuing his speech. A sudden force pulled at his hand.

Jinwoo rotated his head to spot Han Songyi. She tried to avoid his gaze and stammered, "Uncle, what are you?"

You stealthily removed her hand from Jinwoo's.

Jinwoo frowned. The stream of questions showed no sign of stopping which would give him a headache. "We need to reach an agreement."

Jinwoo said sternly. "I bring you here, so it's my responsibility to protect you. But..."

Jinwoo lowered his voice. "Don't ask me anything." Jinwoo looked up, looking at Hee-jin and the other hunters. "You too. Don't ask me anything, and don't ask for anything."

And he continued. "If you don't agree, just leave. I don't forbid it."

"What's about her?" A hunter pointed at you, who was still daydreaming about Jinwoo's gentle actions just now. Seeing yourself mentioned, you raised your head in question.

Jinwoo looked at you for a moment, then said. "This person is an exception, she's my partner. Of course, you don't have the right to ask her anything either. Otherwise, then leave the team yourself."

______

Screams echoed throughout the forest.

"Oh my god!"

"Ice bear!"

You froze, looking at the giant monster in horror - a white snow bear twice the size of a polar bear, its chest glowing with magical marks.

"Gwahhhh!!!"

The bear roared, the heavy sound making the air tremble. The Hunters were almost frozen in place, except for Jinwoo. Beside him, you unconsciously clung to his shirt tighter. Park Hee-jin ran up in panic.

"I'll attract it, everyone hurry-!"

Before she could do anything, she was pulled back decisively by Jinwoo. He said coldly. "These magical beasts, leave it to me."

You saw his eyes clearly, strangely calm, as if life and death were nothing. Not paying attention to the shouts of resistance behind him, Jinwoo walked straight in front of the ice bear. Jinwoo briefly turned his head towards you while you held your breath from fear before he tried to comfort you with eye signals. "Don't be afraid."

You pursed your lips, nodding slightly, though your heart was still churning with unease. The bear swung its huge claws like a white storm.

Woosh.

But Jinwoo disappeared from its reach in the blink of an eye.

Immediately after, BAM!

A decisive punch landed squarely on the ice bear's head, sending it crashing to the ground, blood staining the snow.

[Level up!]

The announcement rang out in Jinwoo's head, while you and the other Hunters could only stand there, speechless. Park Hee-jin stood frozen as she asked "You...what the hell are you?"

Jinwoo checked on you before he turned around to scratch his head in a lazy manner while saying "I told you. Don't ask anything. If you don't like it, go back."

But Park Hee-jin, after a moment of shock, immediately bowed her head deeply. "Please lead us! We will follow you!"

The other hunters also nodded vigorously.

You looked up, meeting Jinwoo's gaze, which, compared to when you were facing the monster, was much gentler. He gently lifted his hand, gently brushing the stray snowflakes that had just fallen into your hair. "Let's go."

His voice stayed steady but his eyes showed a soft warmth that existed only for you and could be felt only by you. Your belief in safety rested on staying near Jinwoo because his presence shielded you from both the frigid conditions and potential threats.

________________________

To be continue.

_________________________

Chapter 9 »

________________________

tag: @weaponxgames @sky2lar @snowy-violet @joannthebish @fackeraccount @tanspostsblog @perkypeony @ssolarsystm @winter-soldier-101 @soft-dots @snowlycanroc @sweetchimpeaches @daiyanomochi @sabrina-senpai

(let me know if I forget to tag anyone)

and special thanks to @delusionillusion3322 and @o-qi-shisme who have supported and motivated me a lot while making this serie.

Love you all! ❤

[vitaminseetarot]

Pick a Flower: What Your Future Partner Wants You To Love About Yourself 🌸💟

UPDATED: So so sorry for posting pile 3's picture with pile 4! If you picked pile 4 I have now uploaded the correct picture for your reading to review. I apologize for the error!

Hey y'all, welcome to my next pick a card reading. I wanted to use this vintage card deck I found featuring native flowers of North America. We're going to look at what qualities your future partner wants you to recognize in yourself. (I meant to post this yesterday but got caught in a surprise Valentine's date and it was lovely!)

Please pick any one of the four cards above:

Pile 1. 5♥ - Spreading Phlox (phlox diffusa) Pile 2. Q♣ - Red Lily (lilium philadelphicum) Pile 3. 6♠ - Wild Rose (rosa acicularis) Pile 4. J♦ - Large-Leaved Lupine (lupinus polyphyllus)

Pile 1 - Spreading Phlox 🌸

King of Talismans (Pentacles), X Fate (Wheel of Fortune), 0 Seeker (Fool); Lenten Rose - Protection, Blessed, Trust, Eyes On Your Own Paper

Pile 1, your future partner wants you to see the side of you that is practical and reliable. This lover wants you to understand that although it may seem like a humble trait, it's nevertheless something they feel they've been missing in their lives. You are conscientious of how you spend and save, you're able to create a budget and set boundaries for yourself, even ones as simple as going to bed at a certain time each night. Your future partner will love how you're able to balance healthy routines with thrill seeking and fun. It may seem at first like they're just looking for an exciting fling or two, but deep down they're thinking in much longer terms though it may be difficult to admit. At least until they meet you and see how you're able to both keep to your necessary tasks in life while still enjoying the occasional adventure. You're definitely going to change how they see themselves and other people as a result. Your open mindedness will expand their perception on everything. Things they didn't think could be possible may suddenly call their attention like a pop-quiz they never studied for. You might actually intimidate them a little, not because you're scary, but because their feelings for you will suddenly drop on them like a timer and put them to the test. What's important is that your future partner will embrace these tests because they trust that you're the one for them. You keep yourself protected and they're gonna learn how to knock nicely instead of barging into your energy.

Your future partner sees you as a trustworthy companion, they value your ability to stay committed for the long haul while still containing the passion and excitement as if it had only just begun. I don't think the "honeymooning" rule applies here. They say we only experience those zesty feelings for someone for a limited time, as it naturally evolves to a more mature and level headed phase. I see here that your partner loves your continuing romantic zeal. Despite seeming down to earth on the outside, you have a spring like energy inside with the spreading phlox, said to be a flower that heralds spring. The King of Talismans is one of the highest court cards for the Pentacles, which represent the spring season. So this is like an energy you carry with you regardless of what's going on. Because of your multifaceted ability to be grounded and focused while also keeping your boundless youthful enthusiasm, they can more easily picture staying with you and ditching flightiness. Your gentle warmth will bring them out of their shell and in touch with their feelings. Being with you will be like a whole new change of season for them. A winter of emotion becomes a spring of empathy for their heart and mind.

Pile 2 - Red Lily 💖

7 of Talismans (Pentacles), VIII Strength, XXIII Magnum Opus; Zinnia - Absence, Mending, Nurture, Celebrate Your Wins

Oh my, pile 2. I think you need to take into account just how attractive it is to have a personality built around the virtues of patience and discipline. When others would quickly throw in the towel, you pick it back up almost like it's a reflex at this point. You're willing to do the long haul and put up with spending extra time when it comes to what matters in your life most. Deferred gratification is not a trait to be taken for granted as it shows a great deal of maturity. Many of the best things in life come after willing to put in the time and effort for it (not to excuse pesky bootstrap economics by any means). When it comes to things like parenthood, being dedicating to writing a book, or simply overcoming challenges, you're still able to push through because temptations have no sway over the ultimate vision. The Zinnia shows that you are able to do without for a period of time when it's necessary to compromise for the sake of your deepest wishes finally coming to fruition. You may be wanting to wait for the perfect partner even if the wait isn't wonderful because you know the outcome will be everything you imagined it to be and then more. I get the sense that the wait will be more than worth it as it will attract the kind of partner who cherishes and respects your dedication and foresight. They appreciate your ability to push through even if certain wins have come in various cycles. They know true progress is mindfully cultivated and doesn't happen overnight.

I about gasped and felt relieved when I saw the Magnum Opus card come out because the reading all made sense after. This is an additional Major Arcana card in this huge tarot deck and it's like the elevated form of the Magician. It is the magic made manifest; it is the final result of blood, sweat, tears, and love. Your partner knows you believe in the beauty of a masterpiece not just in its technical genius, but in the subtext of devotion between the creator and the created. The care and love put into something is part of what makes it beautiful to them. I think your future partner will see you as a good parent, someone who knows that raising a child or tending to a sick tree doesn't happen overnight. You can rescue a skittish animal and nurse it back into health because you see that the importance isn't in the rush, but in the amount of thoughtful care that is given and felt sincerely. They're looking for someone they can lean on in hard times, someone who doesn't shy away from responsibility, maybe as they grew up surrounded by people who did. You're like a safe refuge to them in an unpredictable world.

Pile 3 - Wild Rose 🌹

2 of Candles (Wands), 8 of Talismans (Pentacles), 7 of Candles; White Carnation - Devotion, Peace, Change, 11:11

Ooh, pile 3, am I sensing a potential power couple here? I'm seeing a combination of lover with colleague. Maybe your future partner is also a coworker or someone who runs a business with you? Seeing all these books, this could be a student or someone who is very involved in studies. Your future partner may want to make a lot of travel plans with you because they see your spunk beneath any stoic façade. This person is a go-getter and also sees that in you. It's like you amplify that drive within them, and in turn they bring out that drive in you if you aren't yet aware of it. I'm seeing pairs in both the Rose card you selected, the 2 of Wands, the 11:11 card, and even the 8 of Talismans which appear to make an 11 sign. It may seem like at times you'll be joined at the hip with them, but not in a cloistering or suffocating kind of way. You may find out in time that it feels great to work alongside somebody, to have a partner to help out with life and pursue greater things. Your partner is like a mirror to what you desire, which makes your pairing a formidable couple in the face of regular challenges that come with setting big goals. But they also respect your independence and tenacity, and have no intention on undermining that. It will just feel natural to be next to them when it used to be normal sitting alone.

Your partner loves that you are able to live by your own rules and values and refuse to budge for anyone, with the Wild Rose and White Carnation here. Despite your solitary nature, you can also adapt to circumstances as they arrive with tranquility. You do this through standing your ground and fighting for what you believe in. You fight for not just your lover, but your friends and family. This is giving me, "I'll leave you be if you leave me be, but if you mess with my loved ones then watch out because you're messing with me." And your future partner adores that quality in you of typically being so relaxed and even tempered until push comes to shove. It's finding the balance between being amenable and being assertive. These are traits you will bring out in each other. Your partner wants to be the warrior standing next to you ready to tackle anything that opposes you, all the while admiring your strong will and bravery. and empowering you every step of the way. If you have struggled to accomplish tasks, they will push with you and cheer you on at the same time, as they can both be of help and encourage you to find your own inner power. This partner will be with you through thick and thin as they know that the calm always comes after (not just before) the storm.

Pile 4 - Large-Leaved Lupine 💜

Princess (Page) of Talismans (Pentacles), Queen of Talismans, III Sacred Space (Empress); Pitcher Plant - Insight, Clean It Up, Worth, Sound-Resonance-Frequency

Pile 4, your partner is in loooove with your feminine side. Even if you see yourself as the burliest of brutes, they want you to see how lovely your feminine side is. Everyone will have a different interpretation, but with the Princess, Queen, and Empress, it's like they see all the different facets of femininity in you, so it would be fruitless to only limit yourself to one song. This energy has a healing effect on them, like how nitrogen-extracting lupines have been planted across Iceland to encourage the growth of other plant species. With the Princess of Talismans, I see your partner loves your diva side and wants to spoil you something. If you've ever felt pangs of guilt for expressing the glamorous side of you, I see that your partner will cherish those traits enough to allow you to express it again. Maybe you're not the type to doll up very much, but it doesn't necessarily take a pound of jewelry to impress them. Just putting on your finest clothes will have them turning their head thinking, "wow, pile 4 is just… different somehow." They could go to work or school one day and just see you after dressing up for an event, excited to talk to you.

This isn't just a partner who loves only beauty, mind you. With Pitcher Plant, your partner adores your deeper, more introspective mind. They love the sensuality of seeing you sway to your favorite music and they wonder what kind of world you go to when you peer into a complex painting at the museum. Your partner loves that you take care of your surroundings. Not just in the domestic sphere, but in many areas of life. At work, you tend to the little details so everything runs smoothly. You may petition and protest for the sake of the environment or your local community. You have a deeply caring aspect to you that your partner wants you to notice. Your partner deeply wants you to recognize your inherent worth, and see your caring nature as a superpower and not a burden. Sometimes the Empress is like the mom that tells us to clean up our rooms despite our objections. She's not always sugar sweet. Your partner sees how you're able to create important boundaries with others while still being generous and conscientious with your time and love. They love that you care for yourself as much as you do with any other, and they want you to embrace more indulgence whenever they see you work hard. So very likely they will be the love to take you out to that favorite concert or set up a gorgeous breakfast and bubble bath. Not just to thank you for hard work, but to genuinely take pleasure in seeing you be loved and happy.

This reading has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or infection. Please ask your physician before going online.

2025, @VitaminseeTarot ™

[eu-nicola]

not yours part 3

summary: Rafe Cameron is the perfect boyfriend… but not yours, but Sofia’s. However, fate plays against you when you become the only person capable of understanding him in his darkest moments. What begins as a dangerous friendship soon becomes an attraction impossible to deny.

warnings: cheating maybe (yes)

word counter: 8960

author’s note: english is not my first language, penultimate part

tags: @xcinnamonmalfoyx @immyowndefender @tmlinsito

The days began to change subtly, as if something in the air had become different. Rafe was moving away from Sofia, but not in an obvious way. At first, they were small details that went unnoticed: messages that arrived late, plans that were cancelled with a vague excuse, and an increasingly frequent absent look.

Sofia, always sure of her relationship, tried to justify it. Maybe he was busy, maybe he needed time for himself. But with each passing day, the uneasiness grew in her, until she could no longer ignore it. There was something that didn't fit, a distance that wasn't there before.

One afternoon, while they were at your house, you noticed how his gestures had changed. His eyes no longer shone with the same confidence as before, and his hands nervously played with the cup of coffee. Although she tried to appear calm, the weight of doubt was wearing her down.

In silence, you listened to his words. She told you what had been going on: the distance, the excuses, the feeling that Rafe was somewhere else even when they were together.

Guilt settled in your chest. You knew that you had contributed, however silently, to that gap that now existed between them. Ever since that night when you almost crossed a line with Rafe, everything had changed. You had done everything you could to distance yourself, avoiding encounters, making excuses not to be around them. But the truth kept chasing you, and it seemed to be catching up with Rafe too.

Sofia tried to understand it, justify it, find a reason that would give her peace. But there was none. Rafe was distant because his mind was stuck somewhere else… or someone else.

“He’s always been so attentive to me,” she began, searching your eyes as if she could find an answer in them. “But now… now I barely feel him around.”

He asked you for advice, but you drew a blank. What could you say to him? The words seemed to get stuck in your throat, unable to come out.

You tried to comfort her. You told her that maybe it was a phase, that all couples go through difficult times. You assured her that Rafe loved her, even though your own words sounded hollow to you. Sofia wanted to believe it, and you wanted her to, because facing the truth would be too complicated.

You hugged her, trying to convey a security you didn’t feel. You knew she trusted you, that she always had. But this time, you felt like you were betraying that trust, caught between loyalty to your friend and the emotions that tied you to Rafe.

When Sofia left that afternoon, you were left alone, with too many thoughts running through your mind. Guilt invaded you once again.

Later that same night, your phone vibrated. It was a text from Rafe.

“Can we talk?”

You stared at the screen, hesitating. You knew the right thing to do would be to ignore it, to keep the distance you had tried to establish. But something inside you, that attraction you had been denying, made you hesitate.

"I don't think that's a good idea," you finally wrote, trying to maintain the firmness that was already beginning to fade.

The answer came almost immediately. "Please."

Your phone screen remained lit with Rafe’s last message. “Please,” he had typed. Just two words that echoed in your mind, like an echo that refused to go away. You tried to ignore it, to remember all the reasons why you shouldn’t get involved, but something in you gave in. Something always gave in when it came to him.

Finally, you gave in. You texted him a brief “Okay,” and before you could think twice, he replied with a clear address. “Come to my house. Sofia won’t be in tonight.”

Guilt crawled under your skin as you slipped on your shoes and grabbed your keys. You knew you shouldn’t go, but your feet seemed to have a mind of their own. You walked through the door of your house, knowing that at the end of this night, nothing would get better.

When you arrived at the mansion, the air was thick, heavy with unspoken words and repressed feelings. Rafe was waiting for you at the entrance, his intense gaze fixed on you from the moment you got out of the car. You didn't say anything at first, just walked in with a firm step, as if the decision to go there didn't weigh on you as much as it actually did.

The door closed behind you with a dry sound, isolating you from the outside world, leaving you alone with him and with everything you had tried to avoid. Rafe led you to the living room, but the silence you shared was too tense to be comfortable.

"Why did you ask me to come?" you finally said, breaking the silence, your voice a little rougher than you had planned. You didn't want to smooth things over, because this time he had to hear the truth.

"Because I wanted to see you," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He came closer, crossing the distance between you as if there was no moral or emotional barrier separating you.

You took a step back. "You can't keep doing this, Rafe." It’s not right. Sofia is worried, and you just walk away from her without any explanation. It’s wrong what you’re doing.

He frowned, but he didn’t seem surprised. He was used to people telling him he was wrong, but he rarely cared.

“It’s not that simple,” he replied calmly, almost as if he didn’t want to argue.

“Yes, she is,” you insisted, crossing your arms in front of you like a protective barrier. “If you don’t want to be with her, tell her. Don’t leave her hanging, wondering what she did wrong.” Don't be a coward."

Your words were harsh, but honest. You couldn't stand to see Sofia suffer because of someone who didn't have the decency to be honest with her.

Rafe was silent for a moment, his eyes locked on yours. That look... that damn look that always seemed to pierce through you, read every corner of your thoughts.

"You think it's that easy?" he finally said, his voice low but laden with something deeper, something that seemed about to explode. "You think I don't know what I'm doing? But every time I'm with her, I only think about you."

Your breathing stopped for a second. You didn't expect him to say it, at least not so directly. You knew there was something between you, a tension you couldn't deny, but hearing it out loud made it all too real.

"That's not an excuse," you replied, though your voice trembled slightly. "Sofia doesn't deserve this, Rafe. She trusts you. She trusts me. We can't do this to him."

He came closer again, more determined this time, and you didn't pull away. His eyes searched yours, his face just a few inches from yours. You could feel his breathing, the heat radiating from his body, and your heart began to pound.

"I don't care," he murmured, with an intensity that completely disarmed you. "I don't care what I should do. All I want now is to be with you."

His confession fell upon you like a storm, dark and electrifying. You knew that at that moment you should walk away, get out of that house and leave it all behind. But your feet remained motionless, as if a part of you was also trapped in that forbidden desire.

"This... can't happen," you whispered, trying to hold on to the last shred of reason you had left.

Rafe raised a hand, gently brushing your cheek, and the contact made you close your eyes for a second. "But it's already happening," he said with a certainty that made you He shuddered.

You opened your eyes and took a step back, breaking contact. “No. I have to go.”

Rafe didn’t try to stop you this time, but the intensity of his gaze continued to haunt you as you walked away. Your steps felt heavy, as if leaving him behind required titanic strength. When you reached the door, you paused for a moment, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. You knew the right thing to do was to walk away, but the desire you had tried to bury was awakening, and you couldn’t deny that something inside you was changing.

That night, when you finally returned home, you sat on your bed, your heart still pounding. You had distanced yourself from Rafe, but you knew that distance wouldn’t be enough to stop what was growing between you. And, for the first time, you realized that maybe you couldn’t control what you felt anymore.

The days that followed became a silent storm inside you. Every moment was a constant struggle between guilt, desire, and responsibility. You had managed to physically distance yourself from him that night, but the emotional burden remained, growing with every thought, with every furtive glance you remembered, with every heartbeat that quickened as you received his messages.

The hardest thing was being close to Sofia. You felt trapped in a labyrinth of contradictory emotions, having to be her support while your own stability was shaky. She trusted you, depended on you, and you did everything you could to be by her side. But every word of comfort you offered to her tore you apart a little more inside. How could you be a support for her when you yourself were on the verge of collapse?

You spent hours with Sofia, listening to her worries, her fears. Rafe had become distant, and she didn't understand why. He told you how things had changed between them, how every day he seemed further away, colder. And you knew it. You knew exactly why he was pulling away, and that knowledge weighed on you like a stone in your chest.

There were times when you wanted to tell her the truth, to confess what was going on, but the words died in your throat. You couldn't. You couldn't destroy her like that. So you stayed silent, nodded, and held her when she broke down in front of you, as if that was enough to keep her whole.

Until one afternoon, while you were at her house, Sofia surprised you with an idea you weren't expecting.

"I've been thinking about doing something special for Rafe," she began, with a smile that seemed forced but full of hope. "Something to help us reconnect. A romantic getaway, just the two of us. Something spontaneous, different."

Just hearing her talk about him that way made your stomach turn.

“Do you think that will work?” you asked, trying to sound neutral, even though you knew your voice betrayed some disbelief.

Sofia nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I think we need to get out of here, away from everything.” Maybe a change of scenery will help us remember why we're together in the first place."

You nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. The thought of the two of them, together, trying to save their relationship, should have relieved you, should have given you hope that everything would go back to normal. But it didn't. Instead, you felt a knot form in your stomach.

"I want you to come with us," he said suddenly, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

The surprise took your breath away. "What?"

Sofia looked at you with an almost pleading expression. "Yes, I want you to come. I know you've been distant lately, and I don't know why, but I think being in a different place will do you good. We could relax, have fun like before.

You stayed silent for a few seconds, processing his words. Going with them… on a romantic getaway. Being a third presence on a trip that should be just for the two of them. It all seemed absurd, out of place.

"I don't think it's a good idea." "I don't think so," you finally answered, trying to come up with a valid excuse. "It's a trip for you two, I have nothing to do there."

Sofia shook her head quickly. "It's not absurd. You're my best friend, and Rafe appreciates you too. Besides, it could be fun. I don't want you to be alone, and I know you're not at your best either." This could help us both.”

Her words left you speechless. Maybe for her, your presence would be a safety net of sorts, someone to lean on if things didn’t go her way.

And you… you were trapped. You couldn’t refuse without raising suspicion, without her wondering what was really going on.

“Okay,” you finally said, even though every fiber of your being screamed for you not to. “I’ll go.”

Sofia smiled, relieved, and you forced a smile in response. As Sofia began to talk excitedly about plans, you could only think about what was coming next.

From the moment you accepted Sofia’s invitation, you knew exactly what was going to happen. You had tried to ignore it, to pretend that maybe things would be different, that you could keep the emotional distance you had built with so much effort. But reality haunted you, and with each passing day, that certainty became harder to ignore.

Days later, as you absentmindedly checked your phone, Rafe's message appeared like a shadow you couldn't avoid:

"I can't wait to see you on the trip."

Your heart stopped for a second. There was no formality, no context, just that message, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to be eager to see you.

You didn't respond. It wasn't worth it. You would leave that message on read, buried among unimportant notifications, as if ignoring it could take away its weight.

And yet, you couldn't get it out of your head. Over the next few days, as you helped Sofia with the preparations for the trip, as you pretended to be excited about the getaway, that message was still there, latent, like a constant reminder of what awaited you.

Finally, the day of departure arrived. The chosen destination was a private island, a paradise hidden in the crystal-clear waters of somewhere not so far away. It was the kind of place only the rich and privileged could afford, with white sand beaches stretching as far as the eye could see, luxurious villas surrounded by lush vegetation, and a tranquility that seemed alien to the real world.

The plan sounded perfect. For Sofia, it was the ideal opportunity to reconnect with Rafe, to get away from everything that had been distancing them. For you, it was a gilded cage, a scenario where everything could go wrong.

You were nervous. You couldn't deny that the idea of ​​being so close to Rafe, sharing the same space, made you uneasy. Every time you thought about him, about his gaze, about the way he seemed to seek you out even when he shouldn't, a wave of anxiety ran through your body.

But you promised yourself that you wouldn't let it bother you. You wouldn't give it power over you. You wouldn't allow this trip to become anything more than what it was meant to be: a getaway with your friend, nothing more.

The day started early. Rafe picked you up with Sofia in his car, both ready to leave. Sofia was beaming, excited about the adventure that awaited them. You, on the other hand, kept a measured smile, trying not to let your thoughts betray you.

“Ready for a few days of paradise?” Sofia asked, with a smile that reflected all her excitement.

“More than ready,” you answered, with an enthusiasm that you didn’t quite feel. Your eyes avoided Rafe’s, who remained silent, driving with a calm expression.

The trip to the private port was short, but every second in that car made you feel as if the air became denser, heavier. Rafe didn’t say much, but his presence was impossible to ignore.

When they arrived at the port, a private yacht was waiting for them, ready to take them to the island. The luxury was overwhelming: an elegant vessel, with polished wood interiors, spacious rooms, and staff ready to attend to their every wish.

The trip on the yacht was as beautiful as it was uncomfortable. Sofia settled down on the deck, enjoying the sun and the sea breeze. You joined her, trying to relax, but you constantly felt Rafe’s gaze on you, as if he was waiting for something, as if the silence between you was a conversation in itself. 

When you finally arrived at the island, the place was even more stunning than you had imagined. The private villa was surrounded by palm trees, with an infinity pool that seemed to merge with the sea. From the balcony, the view was simply perfect: a clear horizon, the sky painted blue, and the sound of the waves like a constant melody. 

Sofia was delighted. “Look at this! It’s even better than I imagined.”

You nodded, pretending to be just as excited, while inside you tried to prepare yourself for what was to come. You knew you would be together, that you would share moments where the line between right and wrong would blur even further. And yet, you were there.

The afternoon passed in apparent calm. You swam in the pool, walked along the beach, tried to distract yourself with anything. But every time Rafe came closer, every time his presence became unavoidable, an electric current seemed to run through the air.

It wasn't the place, nor the time. It was him. It was what he provoked in you, that attraction that you had tried to deny but that grew stronger and stronger.

As night began to fall, you promised yourself that you would keep your distance. You wouldn't let anything happen. You wouldn't let it happen to yourself.

When night came, dinner was quiet, the table was set on the terrace, overlooking the beach and the moonlit ocean. The air was warm, and the sea breeze blew gently, filling the air with the soothing sound of waves breaking on the shore.

Sofia talked animatedly about the day, grateful for the trip she had planned. His voice had a mix of excitement and hope, as if this place could fix everything he felt was falling apart. Rafe, on the other hand, was more reserved, listening in silence, his gaze occasionally lost in the horizon or sometimes fixed on you for a few seconds that seemed eternal. 

You finished the last sip of your glass of wine when you decided it was time to leave them alone. Sofia had planned this trip to be with him, to reconnect, and you didn't want to be another obstacle. 

"I'm going to take a walk on the beach," you said in a casual tone, leaving the napkin on the table and standing up. You smiled slightly at Sofia. "I'll leave you two alone for a while." 

She looked at you with a mix of gratitude and relief. "Thank you." 

Rafe just nodded, his eyes meeting yours for a brief moment before returning to his plate. 

You didn't wait for an answer. You walked away from the table, crossing the terrace and descending the wooden path that led directly to the beach. The night air was cool and pleasant, and as you approached the sand, you felt each step take you a little further from the weight you carried.

The beach was completely empty, an endless stretch of white sand that sparkled under the moonlight. The sky was clear, and the stars seemed to flicker with an intensity you had rarely seen.

You walked slowly, letting your feet sink into the soft sand, enjoying the feeling of freedom that only this place could give you. The sound of the waves, the salty scent of the sea, the pleasant cold on your skin... everything seemed to conspire to offer you a moment of peace.

You stopped at a point where the shore met the tide, letting the water lap at your bare feet. You looked up at the sky, noticing the moon illuminating everything with its silver light. There was something comforting about its presence, something that made you feel less alone, less trapped in your own thoughts.

You had lost track of time on the beach, wrapped in that calm that you had needed so much. The sound of the waves, the reflection of the moon on the water, the coolness of the night... everything seemed to have conspired to stop the world for a while. You felt good, at peace, something you had not experienced for a long time.

You didn't know how much time you had spent there, alone, with your bare feet sunk in the wet sand and your gaze lost on the horizon. The world seemed so far away, and for a moment you allowed yourself to forget everything: the doubts, the tensions, the mixed emotions.

It was then that you heard footsteps behind you. Light, careful, as if the person approaching did not want to break the tranquility of the night. You didn't have to turn around to know who it was. You felt it before you saw it.

“Where is Sofia?” you asked, not looking at him, keeping your eyes fixed on the ocean that stretched out before you.

“Sleeping,” Rafe answered in a low voice, almost in a whisper that mixed with the sound of the sea.

His answer made you realize how long you had been there. Longer than you had imagined.

“Maybe I should go to sleep too,” you said as you slowly turned to look at him.

Rafe was standing a few feet away from you, his hands in his pockets and his gaze fixed on you. There was something different in his eyes, something softer, less tense.

“Will you stay with me for a moment?” he asked, his tone calm but with a nuance that made you hesitate.

You thought about it for a few seconds. You knew that staying was risky, that the line you had tried so hard not to cross could easily blur. But there was also something in his voice, in his gaze, that made you give in.

“It’s okay,” you finally replied, turning back to the sea as he came over and sat down beside you on the sand.

Silence settled between you, but this time it wasn’t awkward. On the contrary, there was something comforting about that shared stillness, as if you could finally be together without the weight of everything around you. For the first time in a long time, the usual tension was gone.

You both stared out at the ocean, letting the sound of the waves fill the space between you. There was no need to speak, no need to explain. You were just there, in that moment, sharing a pause amidst the chaos.

Suddenly, without warning, Rafe reached out a hand and splashed some water towards you. It wasn’t much, just a few drops, but enough to make you turn your head and look at him in surprise.

“Really?” you asked, raising an eyebrow, but unable to help a small smile.

Rafe smiled too, a genuine smile, free of the shadows he often carried. For a moment, he seemed to have forgotten everything.

“I couldn’t resist,” he replied in an amused tone.

You decided not to be left behind. You quickly stood up and ran towards the water, wetting your hands before spraying a jet directly onto his shirt. Rafe stood up immediately, with an expression of mock indignation.

“Now you’re in trouble,” he said, advancing towards you while you retreated, laughing, with the water caressing your feet.

What followed was a game, an improvised battle on the shore, with both of you splashing each other, laughing as if you were children. The worries, the tensions, the doubts... everything was left behind in those minutes when there was only the two of you and the ocean.

Rafe seemed different, freer, more alive. And you... you felt light, as if you had finally found a respite in the middle of everything. Laughter filled the night, and for an instant, everything was fine.

Finally, you both stopped, soaked and panting slightly from laughter and exhaustion. Rafe looked at you, his smile still present, and for a moment the world seemed to stop again.

“Do you regret staying?” he asked quietly.

You thought about it for a moment, looking into his eyes, still feeling the tickle of laughter in your chest.

“No... not this time,” you answered, letting the peace of that moment envelop you once again.

After that little water fight, the breeze became cooler and calm settled between you again. You both remained silent, sitting on the sand, watching the sky begin to take on soft tones with the arrival of dawn.

Rafe stood beside you, relaxed but silent, watching the horizon. Despite the peace that surrounded you, tiredness began to take hold of you. The night had been long, and although the moment shared with him had been unexpectedly pleasant, your body was asking for rest.

“I think that’s enough for today… I’m tired,” you murmured softly, breaking the silence as you slowly stood up, shaking the sand from your hands.

Rafe stood beside you, with that carefree air he always seemed to carry with him. He didn’t say anything, simply nodded and began to walk beside you towards the house. The walk was quiet, accompanied only by the distant sound of the waves and the song of the first birds that announced the morning.

When they reached the house, they both climbed the stairs in silence, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the soft creaking of the wood. In front of the door to your room, you stopped, giving him one last look before saying goodbye. But before you could say anything, Rafe moved a little closer, leaning towards you naturally.

His lips brushed your cheek in a soft, brief kiss. It was an unexpected gesture, almost innocent, but it left you completely taken aback. The warmth of his touch was marked on your skin for a few seconds longer than it should have.

“Good night,” he murmured in a low, calm voice, as if it meant nothing.

You didn’t know what to answer. For a moment, your mind went blank, searching for some meaning in that kiss you hadn’t anticipated. But before you could say anything, Rafe had already turned around and started to walk away, walking down the hall as calmly as he had arrived.

You closed the door behind you, leaning your back against it, feeling a mix of emotions you couldn’t define. You had spent the entire night trying to keep things under control, reminding yourself not to cross any lines. However, that small gesture—so simple and yet so full of meaning—had shattered the apparent calm you were trying to build.

You brought a hand to your cheek, as if you wanted to check that it had really happened. The kiss had been brief, but the confusion it left in its place seemed endless. You didn't say anything, because at that moment, not even you knew what it meant.

When morning came, the sun shone brightly, illuminating the landscape imposingly as the fresh morning air swept through the palms of the tall palm trees surrounding the house. However, inside you, there was a palpable tension, as if everything that had dissipated the night before had returned to its natural state, denser than ever.

Rafe seemed as distant as ever, but now, every glance, every gesture on his part, caused a knot in your stomach. The kiss on your cheek seemed to have awakened something in him, although you didn't know exactly what.

You were all together in the kitchen, preparing breakfast while the sound of the coffee maker filled the space with its comforting aroma. Sofia was animated, chatting about trivial things, oblivious to what was really happening between you and Rafe. She seemed completely immune to the atmosphere that had changed between the three of you. You laughed with her, mechanically responding to her comments, but everything in you was distracted, focused on the small space you shared with Rafe. 

He moved around the kitchen with that same calmness as always, but there was something in his attitude that got on your nerves. He gave you fleeting glances, not with the same nonchalance as before, but as if he were evaluating something that he himself could not understand. But he didn't say anything, and neither did you. 

Sofia didn't notice anything. She was absorbed in the conversation, asking if you wanted to go out to explore the place after breakfast, always so cheerful, so oblivious to the discomfort that was beginning to form a thick layer between you and Rafe. Sometimes, it felt like the friendship you and Sofia shared was cracking with each moment you spent alone with him.

You sat down at the table, trying to ignore how uncomfortable the air around you felt. Rafe finally broke the silence, speaking calmly, as if nothing had happened, as if everything was fine. 

The conversation continued as if nothing had happened. Sofia was delighted, oblivious to everything, and you simply tried hard to go with the flow. 

The rest of the day passed like a routine, but one that felt forced and artificial. You were with them, yes, but you felt distant, as if an invisible cloak separated you from Sofia and Rafe. 

When you found the atmosphere becoming uncomfortable or you felt trapped, you took the opportunity to escape. You went out to the garden or to the beach, walking aimlessly, breathing deeply to clear your mind. You needed those moments of solitude, those moments when you could calm your thoughts and get away from the chaos that formed when the three of you were together. 

Despite your escapes, Sofia seemed to be calmer, happier even. Her eyes sparkled as she talked about Rafe, and she enthusiastically told him how everything in the relationship seemed to be improving. The trip, apparently, was helping, as she said. Sofia's smile was easier to see, and the small tensions between her and Rafe seemed to have dissolved, at least in his presence.

At night, while Sofia and Rafe stayed in the house, laughing, or simply cozying up together in front of a movie or on the terrace, you left early. You didn't want to be there, you didn't want to be the spectator of something you couldn't control, that you didn't know how to handle.

Despite the apparent normality that Sofia and Rafe achieved in the moments they spent together, Rafe always came back to you, and no matter how much you tried to escape the tension that was brewing between the two of you, he found a way to get close again, as if there was something inside him that he couldn't ignore.

It was in those moments that you felt that strange mix of attraction and frustration, when he sought you out in those small moments of silence or in the casual exchanges that never seemed to be casual. You felt it in the way he looked at you, that intense gaze that you sometimes avoided, but that you couldn’t help but notice. Every time your eyes met his, the world around you seemed to disappear, leaving you alone with that warm but dangerous feeling that invaded your chest.

He did it without saying a word, just with his presence. Sometimes it was a simple gesture, like when he passed by you and his arm brushed yours, or when he asked you something in a low voice, just enough for you to hear. Other times it was more obvious, when he asked you to accompany him to a secluded corner or when, for no apparent reason, he stayed by your side for longer than necessary, as if he enjoyed the discomfort it caused. 

Even when you tried not to pay attention to him, he kept coming back. You saw it in his messages, the ones he sent with a disturbing naturalness, as if it were normal after everything that had happened. Sometimes you answered them, other times you simply read them and left them unanswered. But he kept looking for an excuse to get closer, always in those moments when you thought you had finally gotten far enough away. 

It was as if, despite everything that was between you, he couldn't stop coming back. And you, even though you tried to fight your own feelings, couldn't help but feel like he knew it too. He knew that, somehow, you always came back to him. And the worst of all was that, even though you tried to resist, you felt attracted too. 

The next day, it was one of those afternoons where the heat of the sun was beginning to wane, and the breeze coming from the sea made the walk more pleasant. You, Rafe and Sofia were walking along a path next to the beach, enjoying a landscape that seemed straight out of a postcard. Sofia, with her usual energy, was talking non-stop with Rafe. They walked slightly ahead of you, while you stayed a few steps behind, distracted by your phone, answering messages and scrolling through social media without paying too much attention to the conversation. 

You weren't really there. Or at least, that's what you tried to be. It was easier this way, less complicated. 

At one point, Sofia stopped to look at some stones that had caught her attention. He walked away a few meters, bending down to pick up a small shell that was shining in the sun. He took the opportunity to take some photos, always attentive to such things.

Meanwhile, Rafe didn't waste a second. He looked down at the ground and saw a small wild flower growing next to the path. It was simple, with white petals and a yellow center, nothing special, but enough to catch his attention. He quickly bent down and plucked it. At first you thought he was going to give it to Sofia, like any boyfriend would do at that moment. It was logical, what anyone would have expected.

But no. It wasn't Sofia he gave it to.

It was you.

Rafe turned slightly and handed you the flower with a disconcerting calm, as if that gesture meant nothing, but in fact it said everything. His eyes met yours for a brief second, a second that seemed longer than it should have been. He didn't say anything, there was no need. You looked at him, surprised, and he just smiled with that expression that seemed to challenge you, that seemed to know exactly what he was doing. 

For a moment, your mind went blank. You didn't know how to react. You couldn't reject it, but you couldn't openly accept it either. So you took the flower, your fingers brushing his for just an instant. The contact was as brief as it was significant. 

With the flower in your hand, you quickly looked over to where Sofia was, making sure she hadn't seen anything. She was still distracted with the shell and the photos, not paying attention to what was happening between you. Your heart was beating a little faster than normal, as if the simple act of receiving that flower was a secret you shouldn't share. 

Not knowing what to do with it, you put it in the back pocket of your shorts, hiding it, but not throwing it away. You didn’t want to get rid of it, even though you knew you should.

You continued walking down the path until you finally arrived back at the house. The sun was beginning to descend on the horizon, tinting the sky in golden and pink hues, creating a perfect atmosphere for a quiet afternoon.

Sofia was the first to propose that you stay outside, on the sand, to enjoy the sunset. You and Rafe agreed, and the three of you settled down on a blanket spread out near the porch. A small cooler with beers sat to one side, and you each took one to relax as the day slowly gave way to night.

The sound of the sea was constant, a soft murmur filling the air.

You sat cross-legged, the cold beer in your hands and the small flower Rafe had given you earlier resting on your knee. At first, you tried not to pay too much attention to it, but before you knew it, you started playing with it. Your fingers gently twirled it, bending the petals, as if you were absorbed in your own thoughts.

Rafe was sitting next to you, closer than you should be comfortable with, but the truth was that you had stopped caring about the closeness. Without saying anything, he looked away at you, watching as you manipulated the flower. His eyes followed the movement of your fingers with an attention that was not casual. It wasn't the flower that interested him, it was the fact that you had kept it. That small gesture meant something, even if neither of you mentioned it.

For her part, Sofia seemed completely oblivious to the subtle tension that was forming between you. She talked about how relaxing it was to be there, about how the trip was helping to disconnect from everything. You nodded and smiled when appropriate, but in reality you were caught up in your own thoughts.

The afternoon passed slowly, between scattered conversations and the constant opening of beers. When it was finally time to eat, they decided to stay outside. Rafe lit a small improvised campfire, and they ate there, with the cool night air beginning to envelop them.

After eating, Sofia was the first to suggest getting into the water. You thought the idea was a good one. There was something liberating about submerging yourself in the sea under the dim light of the night sky. You took off your clothes, leaving you in your bikini, and walked into the water. 

Rafe watched you from where he was sitting, his eyes following you in a way he hadn't done so openly before. It wasn't the first time he'd seen you in a bikini, but this time there was something different in his gaze. An intensity that wasn't there before, an attention that was now impossible to ignore. 

It didn't bother you. You could feel his gaze on you, but you decided not to give it any importance. You weren't looking for his attention, or at least, that's what you told yourself. You entered the water, letting the freshness of the sea envelop you, trying to disconnect, to forget for a moment everything that was happening. 

Soon after, Rafe joined you. He swam close, not enough to invade your space, but close enough that his presence was unavoidable. The moonlight was beginning to reflect off the surface of the water, and the atmosphere felt strange, almost unreal. Sofia, meanwhile, stood on the shore, laughing and playing with the waves that barely touched her feet.

Rafe watched you silently, as if he were debating something internally. But he didn't say anything. And neither did you. You just floated there, in that moment suspended in time, where everything seemed about to change, but nothing did.

It was close to 1 a.m. when Sofia decided it was time to go to sleep. She got up, drying her feet and shaking the sand off her legs before approaching you.

"I'm going to bed," she told you.

You hesitated for a moment, weighing your options. You were tired, and that whole day had been confusing enough that you wanted to finally disconnect.

"Yeah, I think I'm going too," you answered, slowly getting up as Sofia called Rafe to join her as well.

He was sitting on the sand, his eyes fixed on the dark horizon of the sea, as if he were lost in some deep thought. He turned his head towards her, with a calm expression, and simply said:

“I'll stay a little longer.”

Sofia didn't insist. She smiled and disappeared towards the house, leaving only her footprints in the sand. You followed her with your gaze, with the firm intention of doing the same, of returning and closing the day. But when you took a step towards the house, something inside you made you stop.

You turned slowly, your bare feet returning to the cold sand, and without saying anything you returned to the water. You didn't want to think too much about what you were doing. The water was calm, a dark expanse that blended with the sky, and when you entered, the cold ran through your skin, waking you up completely.

Rafe saw you return. He didn't ask anything. He simply stood up and followed you, entering the water beside you. The silence between you was thick, but not uncomfortable. There was a different energy, a tension that needed no words.

You felt him close, his presence inescapable. You wanted to ignore him, to keep your distance, but every fiber of your being was aware of him. His eyes searched for you in the darkness, and you, despite everything, avoided looking directly at him.

Until you couldn’t take it anymore. You felt his hand reach out to you, his fingers brushing your arm with a softness that was almost imperceptible, but enough to make you stop. You didn’t move away. You let him touch you because, deep down, you wanted him to.

Rafe approached slowly, the water barely reaching the height of his hips when he took you by the waist, with a firmness that you hadn’t expected, but that you didn’t reject. You stood still, your breathing getting heavier, the air between you getting thicker.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he murmured, his voice low, barely audible over the sound of the waves.

You heard him, but you didn’t respond. Not because you didn’t have something to say, but because you didn’t want to break the moment. His words were a confession you’d been waiting for, even though you were afraid to hear them.

And then, without warning, Rafe kissed you. It was a kiss that didn’t seek permission, that didn’t hesitate. His lips found yours with a need you’d felt in yourself for days, but had repressed.

And you… you let him. Because you couldn’t take it anymore. Because you wanted it.

The kiss was intense, charged with everything you’d both been repressing. His hands slid down your back, pulling you closer, as you wrapped your arms around his neck. The water surrounded you, cold and silent, but everything about you was fire, heat, desire.

After what seemed like an eternity, you parted slightly, your breaths mingling, your foreheads resting against each other. You didn’t say anything, and neither did he.

They stepped out of the water in silence, their bare feet leaving small footprints in the wet sand. Rafe led you to a dark corner, out of reach of the light coming from the house, where the night seemed more private, more his.

He gently laid you down on the cold sand, his body leaning over yours, but with a gentleness you hadn’t expected. His eyes searched for you in the dim light, and you whispered to him:

“No one’s ever kissed me the way you do.”

These words pierced him. He had no answer. And he kissed you again, and you let him, once again.

The night became denser when the kiss ended. You slowly separated from Rafe, your lips still trembling from the contact, and your eyes, full of emotions you couldn't contain, closed for a moment as you felt silent tears fall down your cheeks.

You didn't want to cry, not like that, not in front of him. But you did. It was inevitable. Guilt and desire intertwined in your chest, drowning you.

Rafe noticed it right away. Without saying anything, his fingers gently brushed your face, drying one of those tears, as if that gesture could erase everything that was going through you.

"I feel bad..." you whispered with a broken voice, barely a murmur that the sound of the sea almost drowned out.

You regretted it. Not just the kiss, but everything that had led up to that moment. Of having let yourself go. Of having crossed a line that you swore you would never cross. Sofia was asleep just a few feet away, trusting you, him, and you had broken that trust.

“I shouldn’t have… we shouldn’t have done this,” you added, your gaze fixed on the ground, unable to meet his eyes.

Rafe didn’t look away from you. You could feel his attention, that intensity that always seemed to envelop him, as if the rest of the world didn’t matter when you were around. He placed a firm hand on your cheek, gently forcing you to look at him.

“Don’t feel bad,” he said in a low, serious voice. “I need you more than you know.”

His words were simple, but heavy with weight. You stood still, your thoughts teetering between what was right and what you wanted. You didn’t want to hear that, but at the same time, you had longed for it.

“If this is what you want, I’ll leave Sofia. I’ll do whatever it takes.” His eyes searched yours, looking for an answer, a sign that you could accept what he was willing to offer you.

You shuddered at that. It wasn’t what you wanted, at least not like this. Sofia was your friend, an important part of your life, and you knew how much it would hurt her. The last thing you wanted was to destroy her, to take away something she still believed was hers.

“No…” you answered, shaking your head with a mix of firmness and desperation. “You can’t do that. I don’t want Sofia to suffer. She deserves to be happy.”

Rafe sighed, his frustration evident, but he didn’t let go of you. He moved a little closer, as if his words could convince you.

“You have to be happy too,” he replied with determination. “What about you? Why are you always thinking about everyone but yourself?”

You didn’t know what to say. Because, deep down, you knew he was right. You had spent so much time worrying about others, about keeping Sofia happy, about protecting the friendship, that you had forgotten about yourself, about your own wants and needs. But at what cost?

“I don’t know…” you admitted quietly, feeling each word cost you more.

Rafe leaned closer to you, his eyes locked on yours, his voice softer now, almost whispering:

“When we get back, I’m going to leave her. I can’t keep pretending. I can’t keep walking away from you.”

His words shook you. It was a statement you had feared and hoped for at the same time. Your heart was pounding, while your mind struggled to find an answer, a way out that wouldn’t hurt anyone. But you knew there wasn’t an easy one.

You stayed silent, letting the night breeze wash over you, while Rafe was still there, his hands still on you, his presence unwavering.

The next few days in that paradise you had longed for became a kind of torture. A sweet and bitter torture that seemed to have no end. Every morning, every afternoon, every night, Rafe found a way to get close to you, to seek you out with the slightest excuse. A touch of hands when Sofia wasn’t looking, a look loaded with meaning as you walked together, a stolen kiss in the shadows when the moment allowed it.

You couldn’t help it. He was constant, persistent. He knew exactly how to attract you, how to make you lower the defenses you had built up so much.

One afternoon, while you were on the terrace, watching the calm ocean, Rafe approached with something in his hand. Without saying anything, he placed it in your palm. It was a ring, delicate and beautiful. You looked at it, bewildered.

“Why are you giving me this?” you asked him with a lump in your throat, your fingers closing around the ring.

He didn’t respond with words. She just looked at you, with that mix of desire and determination that worried you so much, as if she were marking a silent promise. You didn't understand why she had it, or why she had given it to you, but there it was, in your trembling hand.

The days passed, and you felt more and more trapped. The sun, the sand, the sea breeze, everything that had seemed perfect to you before now suffocated you. You wanted to go home, return to the routine, to the family chaos, to anything that would allow you to escape this dilemma. Because at home, perhaps, you could separate from Rafe.

Not because you didn't want to, not because his kisses didn't burn your skin or his gaze didn't make you tremble. But because you knew it wasn't the right thing to do.

Sofia was still by your side, oblivious to everything, excited about this trip that she thought was saving her relationship. And every time she looked at you with a grateful smile, you felt the weight of your actions sinking you deeper.

Rafe, on the other hand, didn't seem to feel that weight. He looked for you every moment, as if nothing else mattered. As if he was sure that everything would end well, that when he returned, his life would change, with you by his side. But you didn't share that certainty. You couldn't.

But it didn't matter how much you wanted to deny it. It didn't matter how many times your reason screamed at you that you had to stop, that this wasn't right. Because at the end of the day, none of that seemed enough. You still loved Rafe.

You loved him with an intensity you hadn't felt before, a force that dragged you every time you were near him. It didn't matter how much you told yourself that you had to be strong, that you had to get away. Every time he looked for you, every time he looked at you with those eyes full of desire, you fell again.

His kisses were a trap you didn't want to escape from. His hands on your skin were an anchor that kept you in a place where logic and morality faded away. You liked how he made you feel, how he loved you, how he seemed so sure of what he wanted, of what he wanted with you.

And you... you wanted it too. You wanted it from the first kiss under the shade, from that flower you kept in the back pocket of your shorts. You wanted it from the first touch you shared in secret. You wanted him.

Rafe loved you too. He didn't say it in words, but he showed it to you every time he found a way to be alone with you. In every furtive glance, in every caress when Sofia wasn't there, in every moment when his lips urgently sought yours. He liked loving you. He liked the power you had over him, the way his thoughts revolved around you, leaving everything else in the background.

You knew it was wrong. You knew that every kiss you shared, every moment his hands sought you out, took you further away from what was right, from the loyalty you owed Sofia. But you also knew you couldn’t stop. You didn’t want to stop.

Every night, when the world fell silent, you thought about it. About how you had crossed that invisible line and how there was no turning back. You were trapped in a dangerous game that neither of you seemed to want to leave. And even though a part of you felt guilty, another part—the one that flared up every time you were with him—didn’t want to let go.

Because in the end, no matter how much you tried to convince yourself that you should stop. No matter how much your reason screamed at you. You still loved Rafe. And the worst thing was that he loved you too, and that made it impossible to stop.

[mo-mode]

Literally No One:

Me: Do you think when Truman escaped The Truman Show and he saw the real moon for the first time, he was like "Huh it's a lot smaller than the one I grew up with," but then he noticed it changing after a few days so he brought it up like "Honey, the moon is getting skinnier. Is that normal?" and his girlfriend was like, "Yeah it does that. Don't worry about it," so Truman ignored it because he had bigger fish to fry (assimilating to the real world) until one day, it was just gone and he positively flipped his shit "GUYS SOMEONE STOLE THE MOON IT IS MISSING WE NEED TO ALERT THE MOON PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THIS HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SEE AT NIGHT WITHOUT MY MASSIVE NIGHT LIGHT" and then Lauren had to sit him down and explain the phases of the moon for an hour? Do you think he got really obsessed with the moon after that? Did he get a library card and check out all of the books he could find about the moon and the moon landing and moon rovers and space travel? Do you think he kept up with it after that by maybe following NASA's subscription newsletter to see if there are any updates on the moon? Could he tell the difference between a waxing and a waning crescent? Did it make him excited to see it during the day too sometimes? Does he miss it when it's too cloudy to see? Does looking at the moon at night help him cope with his newfound freedom because it proves he's not trapped on Seahaven Island anymore? Because not every day is the same like it was before? Because the world changes around him now instead of stopping when he leaves the room? Just like the moon will keep changing even if he can't see it? What's his opinion on werewolves?