#and when i say `wont stop barking` i mean the entire time i am in that side of the kennels AND THEN SOME she keeps barking

[gemharvest]

I don't wanna go to work raauauughhh.

[harryhooksgazebos267]

Broken Trust~ Part Six

Paring: Bang Chan x reader; Mark Tuan x reader(arranged marriage)

Genre: Mafia au, angst, little bit of everything honestly

Warnings: Cursing, mafia life and shizzle

A/N: Some parts aren’t gonna make sense right now but they will in the future!

MASTERLIST

“Deal I guess, it’s not like I really have a choice,” You stated with a roll of your eyes.

“Good girl, I’m glad you made the right decision,” Chan smirked while standing up from his seat and began to leave the room.

“Hey where are you going? I’m still tied up you know?”

“Aren’t you used to that?” He joked as he exited the room without even looking at you.

To say you were left speechless would be an understatement. Looks like Chan had a big cup of “confidence juice” this morning. So you kind of just sat there for a few minuets, trying to figure out how to get the hell out of the basement when all of a sudden, the door opened up and eight bodies entered the room.

“Chan why did you wake me up just to come down here and see her? I was getting my beauty sleep,” Hyunjin complained.

“Nice to see you too,” you mumbled out causing him to glare at you.

“Damn, why the bad blood?” you thought to yourself rolling your eyes.

“Don’t be rude to our new member Hyunjin,” Chan fake scolded.

“I can’t believe she actually joined,” Jisung piped in, giving you a huge smile.

“I’m not, she’s selfish and only does what’s in her best interest,” Hyunjin sneered out, “and will you stop smiling like an idiot, she’s not our friend.”

“Who the hell hurt you?” you questioned while shaking your head.

You honestly didn’t understand what you had done to make all of the hate you so much, well all of them except Jisung. The ten of you used to be so close but I guess not anymore.

“Is y/n really going to be a member Chan?” Jeongin asked out of the blue.

“Yes, well, I wouldn’t really say she’s joining us, She’s just giving us information for the time being.”

“And what do we plan to do with her after she gives us information? How long are we even going to keep her here? This entire plan makes zero fucking sense! I say we just kill her,” Hyunjin fumed out.

“Hyunjin!” Jisung yelled while hitting him.

“What? I say it’s karma,” He shrugged out.

“We don’t even have proof and you know it!”

“Proof? I heard the phone call! What more proof do you need?”

“Maybe you just heard wrong or maybe it was a different y/n,” Jisung suggested.

“How many times are we gonna go through this, stop being in denial! If Chan can get over it then so can you!”

“Enough!” Chan barked out, causing the two younger boys to bow there head as they still shot each other icy glares.

“What phone call?” You asked, hella confused.

“Don’t play dumb y/n, it isn’t cute,” Hyunjin mumbled out.

“I’m not playing dumb! I legit have no idea what you’re talking about,” you defended yourself, growing angry.

“Sure you don’t,” he stated while rolling his eyes.

“Seungmin, Jeogin, go take Hyunjin with you and cool him off,” Chan commanded while walking over towards you.

The three of them left the room as Chan untied you.

“Now y/n, let me make something very clear. We aren’t here to be friends, you’re simply here because you can be useful to us. If you weren’t, we would do exactly what Hyunjin said and we would kill you. Luck for you, that isn’t the case. With that being said, we can’t trust you considering who you’re the daughter of and where your loyalties lie. You’ve made that very clear. So, you aren’t allowed to be alone, ever. If you want to go somewhere, you have to be with one of us, if you’re making a phone call we have to be in the room, no exceptions. Until we feel as though you can be trusted, that’s how it’s gonna be. Do I make myself clear?” Chan stated while crouching down in front of you with his head tilted.

“Yeah I guess.”

“Good, Felix?”

“Yeah?”

“Take y/n to her room please.”

Felix nodded his head as he turned his gaze on you.

“Come on, lets go.”

So with that, Felix led you through the the big ass mansion to your room. Once you arrived, you sat down on your queen size bed and looked around the room. 

“Y/n?”

“Yeah?” You said while looking back at Felix who looked a little uncomfortable.

“Do you....do you really not know what phone call Hyunjin was talking about?”

“No? I mean, I’ve had multiple phone calls in my life time,” you joked trying to break the tense air.

“The call with JYP y/n, that call,” Felix urged on while taking a seat next to you.

“Like I said, I’ve had many phone calls with him.”

You both sat in silence for a bit.

“Felix, do you hate me?” You decided to ask, the question eating you up.

“I don’t know.”

“Do the rest of the boys hate me?”

“It’s not that we hate you y/n, it’s that we feel betrayed,” he sighed out, shifting so his body was facing yours.

“But what did I do to betray you?” You questioned.

 Felix hesitated for a moment.

“Please tell me or at least tell me why you guys faked your deaths,” you pleaded, taking his hands in yours.

“It’s not my place to tell you. Chan should.”

“But can’t you tell me anything? I mean after all this involves you to.”

“Can I ask you a question instead?” 

“Of course, go on.”

“Did you honestly love him? Please tell me the truth, there is no reason to lie.”

“Why does everyone keep questioning that? Why the hell would I marry someone I didn’t love?” you sighed out.

“Isn’t that what you’re doing right now?” Felix pointed out.

You sat and thought for a moment.

“Unless you love Mark.” He stated a little confused.

“What? No it’s not that. It’s just, it’s different Lix. Yeah I don’t love Mark like that but I don’t have a choice, I have to marry him. There aren’t any other brothers for me to marry. With Chan, if I hated him I could have picked Jae or Mark over him. Well, when Jae was alive I could have picked him. There was no reason or need for me to stay with him if I didn’t want to. With Mark it’s a different story. I have to marry him for my family and our mafia.”

“I always forget the two of them are related,” Felix chuckled out while shaking his head.

“Me too, they’re polar opposites,” you agree while shaking your head.

“I just, I don’t get it though,” Felix trailed off.

“Don’t get what?” You asked, causing him to hesitate again.

“Before I ask you this, you have to swear on your life you wont lie to me and that you wont tell the others I asked,” Felix told you sternly.

“I promise.”

Before Felix could ask you the question, you were interrupted by Chan entering the room.

“Y/n, I think you have a phone call to make,” He stated while closing your door.

“Felix you can go now,” he added.

Giving you one more look, Felix quickly left the room, leaving Chan and you alone.

“Well what are you waiting for? Give lover boy a call.”

“I don’t have my phone,” you stated while staring at him blankly.

“Oh right, how could I forget? Here,” He said while handing you your phone.

“Now as much as I hate to do this,” he said while pulling out his gun and pointing it at you, “I just want to make sure you don’t do anything funny.”

“You’re such an asshole, you know that,” You stated, taken aback.

“It’s a business baby girl, I’m sure you would do the same if you were in my shoes. Now enough talk, make the call.”

Rolling your eyes you looked at your phone and went to Marks contact and hit call, switching it to speaker so Chan could hear the call. Mark immediately picked up.

“Y/n, are you all right?” Mark’s worried voice rushed out.

“Yeah I’m fine.”

“Do you know where you’re at? Irene is the only one who remembers what happened and she said that Chan took you-”

“Mark”

“You know what, it’s okay, you probably don’t know where you’re at. What the hell am I talking about, just hold on, I’ll trace your location and I’ll be right there with the rest of the boys. Just wait and I-”

“Mark”

“I can bring all of JYP, and maybe even SM just to make sure-”

“Mark! Please calm down, there’s no need for any of that.”

“What?” 

“Chan gave me an offer and I decided it would be smart to take accept it.”

“What offer?”

You glanced over to Chan who gave you a blank stare, showing no emotion at all.

“He wants me to join Stray Kids.”

“What? No fuck that, I’m coming to get you.”

“No no no, Mark listen to me please, it’s a smart idea, I can get information on them and try to stop whatever plan they have. I can make sure that you and everyone else stays safe.”

“Yeah and what about you? How do you know they aren’t just using you?”

“I’ve known them my entire life Mark, I can tell when they’re lying and when they aren’t. Plus Chan and I had a conversation and he told me that he still loves me.”

“He still loves you?”

“Yeah I guess he does.”

“.......”

“Mark?”

“Do you still love him?”

Once again, you looked up at Chan to see the same expression on his face. Only this time, there looked to be a hint of interest in your answer.

“No, I don’t.”

The lie detector test determined, that was a lie.

“Good. Very well, I suppose this plan could work. You have to promise me, the second things go wrong or they start to get fishy of you, you’ll call me. You know what, fuck it, call me every night so I know you’re safe.”

“Okay, I will.”

“If you don’t call, I’m going to assume something is wrong and I’m going to find you.”

“Okay”

“Y/n?”

“Yes?”

“I...I...ummm.”

Chan tapped your leg and mouthed “end the call”.

“Mark, I can’t stay off the phone much longer.”

“Of course, yeah alright just be safe and I umm, ᵢ ₗₒᵥₑ ᵧₒᵤ“

“What?”

“ᵢ ₗₒᵥₑ ᵧₒᵤ“

“Mark if you aren’t gonna talk loud I’m gonna-”

“I said I love you!“

And with that Mark hung up, leaving you speechless. You looked up at Chan who seemed to have the same face as yours. In the blink of an eye, his face went back to emotionless as he quickly stood up.

“I have stuff I have to do, I’ll send someone else in to watch you,” Chan stated while hastily leaving the room.

In a few seconds, Felix was back in the room and sat in his original spot.

“Now, back to where we were.”

“Oh yeah right, what was it you wanted to ask me?” You questioned.

Felix sat still for a second, thinking over how he wanted to phrase the question.

“Y/n, you loved Chan and you loved us?”

“Yes, we’ve established that.”

“Then why did you help JYP try to kill us?”

TAG LIST (feel free to send me an ask if you would like to be added to the tag list or if you would like me to send a private message every time I update <3): @elenaramos1 

Part seven

MASTERLIST

[littlegiantposts]

pilot

kageyama x f!reader

may contain spoilers!

EDIT: HIIII SO UH THERES A “pilot ~revised~” ON MY PAGE SO I RECCOMENTD READING THAT ONE CUZ IT HAS MORE CONTENT 👍🏽

Here’s the link:

description: In which Y/n is a new addition to Karasuno’s Girl’s Volleyball Club 

THIS IS REALLY JUST LIKE...A TEST RUN..FOR THIS STORY CUZ I DONT THINK IM THAT GREAT AT WRITING and i feel like people wont really like it. so....yeah.

a/n: ok so, I’ve been thinking of this concept so much lately. It started off as just as a nice story to play in my head, but I really wanted to see if I could write it down. So, I felt like I haven’t really seen a lot of imagines or content on the girl’s volleyball club and I felt like it would be cool to explore that side. First things first, I am raised in California. Thus, I am quite incompetent in knowledge about Japan schooling. All my knowledge is really from me googling stuff and ofc, watching haikyuu. With that said, if I made a mistake on the take of Japan schooling, I do not mean to cause any offense. This is solely for entertainment purposes. With that said, I do not own the characters of haikyuu. However, there are some characters I made up with my own imagination. In addition, this is an “x reader” sort of story but I will be defining some of her characteristics so I am sorry if it hinders you from imagining its you. Finally, I am not that good at writing stories lol but im trying. I hope you enjoy.

I hate introductions. Y/n thought to herself as she sat back down in her seat after standing in front of the class, stating her name and her previous school. Her gaze shifted towards the window. The sun was out and shining and she had the perfect view of the gymnasium. Oh how she just wanted to get up from her uncomfy chair and leave the boring lecture and head towards the gym. 

It was the first day of school for Y/n at Karasuno High. It’s not like she started in the middle of the semester, no, she was just about a month late into the school year. With her work ethic, she didn’t feel any pressure in order to catch up with everyone else. She knew she would get it done.

It’s not really her fault she came a bit late into the school year either. Her dad’s job required a small move, not that she was complaining. She didn’t really feel tied down at her old high school because: she wasn’t there for that long and she didn’t really make any friends, despite joining a sport. 

It’s not that she didn’t want to make friends. It seems that her track record, or the lack thereof, from junior high with meeting new people has left an imprint on her.

Y/n looks down at the worksheet that was passed out in the beginning of class. The assignment was already completed due to Y/n’s eagerness to finish any homework that would take away time from her main passion.

Some people would say she was obsessed. Some would say dedicated. She simply sees volleyball as an opportunity. The class bell rings, signaling for lunch. Before she realizes it, she is walking towards the gym, in which she would meet the girl’s volleyball captain. As she is switching shoes, she can hear screaming from inside. 

“-What did I tell you about touching my onigiri! You are going to pay for that!” “I really didn’t mean it this time, I promise! I didn’t know it was yours!” The voices were muffled, yet she was still able to hear the sincerity in both of the voices. Y/n was about to open the gymnasium’s door when the door swung open by a tall pink-haired girl. She was being chased by another tall girl with long blonde hair, but she was a bit shorter than the pink one. Before Y/n could process stepping aside because it seemed the pink-haired girl had no inclination in stopping, she was tumbled to the ground by the girl who she can only guess took an onigiri without permission. As well, the blonde clumsily tripped and fell on top of the two.

“You idiots! Will you stop it! We already told you, we got a guest coming today and we want to make a good first impression!” A stern voice called out inside the gym.

“Um, Moa-san, I think our wishes are already soiled.” Another voice chimed in from the gym.

“Wha- You dumbasses! Hey, are you okay?” A girl with dirty blonde hair came out from the entrance and offered a hand towards Y/n as the two perpetrators started to get up with apologies towards Y/n. 

“Yeah, I am good.” Despite just being tackled to the ground, Y/n remains as neutral as ever. 

“Aren’t you going to ask if we are okay?” The energetic, pink haired spoke.

“As if I care when you collide into our guest! You really need to be more cautious, Etsuko!” She barked. “I am Aihara Moa. Pleasure to meet you. You’re the first year that turned that application past the deadline, right?” she states more calmly than her previous statement. 

“Pleasure is all mine. And, yes. Sorry for the inconvenience.” Y/n states with quite the unfazed face. 

Does this kid crack a smile once in a while? Moa asked in her mind. She seems quite different than the other first years we have. Her thoughts continue.

“I am Oba Yuma and this is Morita Etsuko.” Yuma, who had the pretty, long blonde hair, spoke with a warm smile.

“Why did you introduce me?! I wanted to have a cool introduction!” Etsuko huffed with a small pout. 

“Well, it’s not like you can recover your so-called ‘cool introduction’ from that full-body collision.” Yuma smoothly replied. Etsuko’s eyes widened and cheeks heated up as she couldn’t come up with a sly comeback to her logic. 

“You guys are just lucky that Rinko isn’t here to scold you.” Moa warned the 2 first years. With the mention of the scary third year that wasn’t even the captain, yet she reigned supreme in the disciplinary department, they shivered at the thought of the punishment. 

As Y/n stepped further into the big, bright court, she spotted that she could only assume was the captain as she looked so appalled at what happened. 

“Hello, you must be Michimiya Yui.” Y/n knew she had to say something to pull the worried captain from her thoughts. 

“Hi! Yes, that’s me! I am so sorry for those two. I would say they aren’t always like that, but I don’t want to lie to a potential teammate.” Yui spoke with an uneasy smile.

Yuma and Etsuko’s interests peaked when they heard “a potential teammate” come out of their captains' mouths. They were the only first years on the team, so the thought of another person in the same boat as them made them excited and wanted to join the conversation. The two first years gave each other a look and started to walk towards Yui and hopefully their new friend. However, before they could even be in ear-shot, the pair got pulled away by Sasaki Chizuru, another third year.

“Oh, no. Don’t think you will be bombarding her with questions right off the bat.” She bluntly states.

“Oh, c’mon Sasaki, aren’t you curious about her? Like how did she get into volleyball? Or even, is she a beginner? Or maybe she is an absolute monster who dominates the court!” Etsuko proclaimed as her mind went too fast for her mouth to follow.

“As of right now, it’s not our business. All we can do, and are allowed to do”, emphasizing the word ‘allowed’, “is to watch from the sidelines and quietly eat our lunches.” Chizuru instructed the first years and pointed at the far corner of the gym. 

Despite her own words, Chizuru couldn’t help but glance at Y/n and wonder the same things that the first year questioned. At face value, Y/n was quite the enigma. The 2 first years gave a pout, but headed towards their desired location.

“So, you came from Niiyama Girls' High? That’s a really good school for volleyball. What made you come to Karasuno?” Yui asked.

“It was the most ideal school in terms of my dad’s work location.” Y/n states plainly. She didn’t technically lie. Well, it was an ideal school in terms to the proximity to her new apartment, but that was not the only reason. She saw videos of their interhigh-prelims last year and to be quite frank, Y/n was not entirely impressed with the state of their team. However, she knew that this meant there was room to grow for them. She knew very well that she could have gone to Shiratorizawa and joined their girls’ volleyball club. Objectively, with her skill set, Shiratorizawa made sense. Nonetheless, Y/n didn’t know what compelled her to pick this one. She convinced herself it was because she is a sucker for rooting the underdog. 

Does this kid show any emotion? Yui thought in her mind. It’s like nothing affects her. Her thoughts continued.

“How long have you been playing volleyball?” Yui curiously asked.

“Since the 2nd grade.” Y/n quickly states. As much as she wasn’t showing it, she was just itching to show what she can do. The court was right there in front of her, after all.

“That’s impressive, alright, well if you’re comfortable with it, I’d love to see some serves and sets from you. After school, we can hold a three on three since we all aren’t really in the right clothes to play.” 

“Sounds good.” To say Y/n was excited would be an understatement. As she removed her cream sweater, she could feel a set of eyes burning a hole on her back. She turned around to put her sweater down and realized that she was wrong. It wasn’t one pair of eyes, it was all of them, curious to see how good she really is. She could feel her heart pounding at the thought of holding everyone’s attention. She knew if she let her mind continue, the nerves would get to her and hinder her performance. She took deep breaths and started to quietly humm a song that was previously playing on her phone from her morning ride to school. 

Yui passed a volleyball to her and ran to the other side of the net, and yelled, “Let’s see what ya got!”

Y/n carried herself behind the serve line, taking one deep breath to keep her hands from shaking. With that exhale, she opened her eyes and focused her sights on Yui. The captain wouldn’t admit it, but she could already feel herself sweating under the first year’s gaze.  

She looks so intimidating. I’m not even on the court, yet I’m scared. Yuma viewed Y/n’s determined look. For Y/n, it was as if everything crumbled away and the only thing remained was the court. She starts her run up.

A jump serve?! Yuma, Etsuko, and Chizuru incredulously thought simultaneously with eyes basically bugging out of their head. They watch in amazement as she jumps with severe height and reeled her arm back. After that, all that could be sensed was a loud snap and then the ball smacked the ground next to the wide-eyed captain. The impact from the ball gave a small breeze through Yui’s short hair. The deafening silence that followed her serve filled the room in an instant. Those watching from the sidelines had to pick up their jaws from the floor.

“She’s a first year?! Are you sure?!” Etsuko broke the silence with her curiosity getting the best of her. 

“Boke Etsuko! That was already clarified, don’t make her repeat herself!” Yuma scolded. While Yui read your capabilities on your application form, it was nothing like actually being on the receiving end in real time. 

“That’s quite a serve she got in her arsenal.” A voice startled the three high school students, sitting on the sidelines. Etsuko and Yuma were the most startled, but Chizuru was quite used to her fellow classmates popping in every now and then.

“Seriously, Sudou. We have to put a bell on you or something because I don’t think my heart can take any of your surprise entrances.” Sudou Rinko only slyly chuckles at Etsuko remark. She looks over at Y/n and Yui on the court.

“Did you guys see the precision on that serve?” Rinko posed to the other three sitting on the ground, munching on their lunch.

“Well, not really, but it landed, like, near Michimiya, right?” Etsuko tries to come up with the answer that Rinko was looking for. 

“It landed right next to her left foot. I think that pipsqueak is able to aim her serve.”

“What?! That’s insane.”

“Yeah, insane, but not impossible.”

“With her, maybe we can win more games!”

“Don’t get your hopes up, Etsuko, a team is only good if everyone is giving their all.” Yuma reminds. “After all, there’s not only one person on the court, there’s six.”

“I heard she came from Niiyama Girls' High” Sudou stated as she reverted her gaze back to her fellow teammates. They stared at her after she gave more information on the stranger in their gym. 

“Why would she come to Karasuno then?” Yuma asked honestly. She knew that her team had strengths, but she also knew that other teams had strengths that overpowered them.

“How could you diss your own school like that?” Etsuko was almost angry at how her teammate was treating their school. She always was the one to take pride in everything she does. 

“No, that’s a valid question. It makes sense that a player with her caliber would be well-suited in a powerhouse school.” Rinko supported Yuma in her question. All four look ahead and see that Y/n is beginning to set for Yui.

“Her precision and accuracy are so on point, it almost makes me sick.” Yuma commented on how your form for setting only held the necessities. Y/n stepped with purpose, and it showed as she passed a nice set for Yui, allowing her to have optimal choices in where she can place her spike.

so um, that’s really all i got haha I started this like yesterday instead of doing hw so yeah. Feedback and constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. So, did u like it? Did u hate it? Are u confused by it? lol yeah okie bye 

[50-percent-winchester-sister]

Never Do That Again

Request From: @fancat-not-fangirl

Request:  Can you write something where the sister reader gets hurt on a case bc she was protecting either Sam or Dean (like she pushed them out of the way or jumped in front of them or whatnot) and then they're super super worried and protective and frantic over her and they're also guilty for letting her come along on the case

Prompt: After begging and begging for the boys to let you in on the hunt, they eventually give in, only for you to get hurt during

Dean: 29

Sam: 25

Y/N: 18

Word Count: 3,268

MY FIRST REQUEST!! Ahh I feel like a true fanfic writer now!!! I hope you enjoy this fanfic!!

  "Dean, come on! At this point I'm begging!" You say flinging your arms up. You've been trying days (which felt like years) and Dean wont budge. You constantly asked Sam, and at which point, you bugged him so much he just gave you a "I don't care as long as Dean lets you," And after that, you had your mind set on bugging the hell out of Dean.

  You knew the hunt was harder than the simple salt n' burns that they let you come along with, this hunt required backup, which you 100% will be the backup for.

  "No Y/N, my answer will always be no, so there's no point in asking," Dean said to you in an irritated tone. 'day three of asking and hes already annoyed?' You thought to yourself. "But Dean, you know that if this turns sideways, you two will get hurt, it'll be easier on everyone if there was three people working this, I can help!" You reply, you know your right and nothing Dean will say will make you any less wrong.

  "Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm not just going to let you." "Dean-" "Y/N, no"

  Just then Sam walks in and notices you and Dean barking at each other. You turn around and walk towards Sam and quickly clung onto his arm. "Sam said I can!" And just then, Sams entire soul left his body and .2 seconds later he defends himself so hard your head spins.

  "What? Y/N I never said that. I said that you can as long as Dean lets you." "Dean PLEASE, What if you guys get hurt, and I'm not there to help you guys? I get that something can happen but with the three of us, it'll be less likely!"

  "Dean shes got a point," Sam says looking a little defeated, "Shes been asking for days, if you keep saying no, there's going to be backlash"

  Dean wipes his hand over his face, looking increasingly irritated. "I swear if you get hurt, if I see blood on you and its yours, you're never hunting again, got it?" Dean asks you. "So I'm coming?"

  Dean looks over at Sam, who just shrugged at him, and he looks back at you, "Go pack up, we leave in an hour," Dean sighs. "Oh my god, yes! I swear you wont regret taking me" You respond, running to your room, "I better not," Dean yells back

____________________________________________

  An hour seems like 10 minutes to you, you hunted plenty of times with them, and sneakily by yourself, but none of the hunts were ever this intense. You go outside to see Sam and Dean waiting for you in the Impala.You get inside and apologize for taking so long, and Sam saying that it was alright and no harm was done.

  You, Sam and Dean roll up to the motel since it is already after dark and you're guessing Deans on high alert since you came along. You knew that Dean was going to be harder on you, but that just means you gotta show him how strong you are, even if you get hurt, you gotta suck it up and fight hard, make sure you get that smile that you love to get from him and Sam.

  Once you guys settle in and get ready for bed, you see Dean at the table on Sams laptop, you didn't mean to stare, it just sort of happened.

  You were thinking about every possible outcome, and you knew Dean was thinking the same thing. 'Will I get hurt? Will Sam and Dean get hurt!?'

  Sam looked over at you and noticed that you were staring and Dean for a minute that seemed like forever to him, and he smiled at himself.

____________________________________________

  You were the first one up, even before Sam, and he usually is up at 6:00am. it doesn't take long for Sam to wake up, "Why are you up so early?" he asks you. "Take a wild guess" you respond with a shit eating grin,. "Wake Dean up, I'm going to get breakfast," Sam says taking the car keys out of Dean jacket.

  Sam leaves and you look over at Dean and stare again, you shake your head lightly, 'no stop thinking that.' You walk over to him lightly smack his arm a couple times, "Dean wake up, Sams getting food, come on"

  Dean wakes up and looks over at you with the most softest eyes, "What?" you ask. "What time is it?" he asks in a deep, tired voice. "I don't know hold on" You reply, you walk over to the bed stand where your phone is, "Almost 7:30."

  "Did Sam wake you up?" He asks. "Nah I woke up myself" you say as you throw your phone on the bed, "You okay?" you ask him. You know hes gonna say I'm fine you know it for a fac-

  "I'm fine, are 'you' okay?" He asks

  'Knew it'

  "Oh yeah I'm good." You look over at Dean again and hes still in bed, but sitting up and looking at you. "Anyways what did you find out on Sams laptop last night?" "Three deaths this week, one two nights ago, and all three of them had hole marks behind their left ears and their brains are practically sucked out, I'm guessing its a-" "Wraith?" You cut him off.

  He looks over at you for a couple/few seconds before talking again. "Yeah, how'd you figure that out?" "Dean, I know how to research, not my first rodeo" you giggle after what you said.

  Ten minutes later Sam shows up with breakfast and you three eat while talking about what is about to happen.

  The hunt was going to last all day, the boys go all FBI, and you stay back and research and look around the crime scene. It was complete bullshit, you knew Dean was being protective but come on, you have a fake ID, might as well use it, but no, you knew he would make you stay behind.

  You are wearing your FBI suit just in case you were needed by the boys, you three are at the place where the last murder was, you three are speaking to the mother of the daughter who got killed by the wraith.

  "So Mrs.Luke, would there be any reason this happened, did she have any enemies that might have done this to her?" Sam asks. The way her mom looked at him didn't settle well with you. "No I don't think so, he was so well liked by everyone, she was perfect."

  "Ma'am, I noticed she tried to leave the house before she died, do you know where she was going to go at one in the morning?" you ask Mrs. Luke.

  "Well I- What does that have to do with anything?" She responds, clearly shes quite nervous. "Just answer the question ma'am," Dean quickly adds on.

  "Well I was thinking she was going to sneak over to a friends house or something, but now we'll never know..."

  'What is she hiding?' you ask yourself, 'Does she have something to do with all this?'

____________________________________________

  In the car you three are on the way to the park where the first murder happened. You thought to yourself that there was no way that a wraith can just kill someone out in the open, so it had to be at night where no one was in the park except them and their victim.

  You tell them your observation and with a long sigh you add, "Tonight at around two or three am, I'll come out here and just wait around for the wraith to come by"

  "Uh, no, hell no that ain't happening" Dean says like hes utterly offended that you'd even think about being bait. "But Dean-" "He's right Y/N, No way you are going to go out there alone, we'll figure something out," Sam says. Sam agreeing with Dean can be the most frustrating thing in the world and vise versa.

  "Guys think about it. First murder: 17 year old with long brown hair, Second murder: 20 year old with long brown hair, Third murder: 19 year old with long brown hair, The Fourth is exactly my description, 18 year old with long brown hair, that's me!"

  "Y/N, we said no" Sam and Dean say in unison. Dammit they piss you off so much sometimes.

____________________________________________

  Nightfall comes around and you three are in the motel, you. You had a plan set in your mind. 'Once they fully fall asleep I'll go out there and kill it myself, that way when they wake up, it'll already be dead before they wake up, perfect!' you think to yourself.

  It takes them a couple of hours to go to sleep since they decided to research for a little while, and that kinda of messed up your plan a little, but STILL!!! you already make up your mind and you're going no matter what

  They're finally asleep and thankfully you're quiet and your stealth is at max (thanks to training), and you quietly and quickly leave the motel room with the room key and the Impala's keys since you're the only one leaving.

  You drive to the park where the first murder happened. You hide your knife in your waistband and get out of the car. You then walk and stand in the middle of the park waiting for the wraith. 'Damn it's cold out' you think to yourself, "I should have brought a jacket.' After your statement you breath in and out and what came out was a frozen type of breath and it startled you to say the least. "Wait what the hell? A wraith doesn't have this type of ability"

  "No, honey they don't"

____________________________________________

Meanwhile back at the motel:

  "Dammit Dean, Y/N's gone" Sam says fast walking towards Dean. "Yeah she took the damn car too. You know Sam, Y/N's most likely in the damn park we were art earlier today, lets go" "With what car? Think before everything else Dean," Sam says. Sams right, you cant go into battle without some type of plan.

  "Sam, were the masters of stealing, we'll just take a car from the parking lot," Dean says as he shrugs.

  Sam and Dean roll up to the park and they see you talking to someone they don't know. "Son of a bitch, really? Come on Sammy"

____________________________________________

  "What the hell are you and mostly-" You cut yourself off to show her your blade, "Why the hell are you killing innocent people?" That....thing, begins to laugh, but you don't show any emotion but anger.

  "Honey, I cant be killed by a flimsy knife that 'that', and-" She gets shot. You turn around to see who shot her and you see one pissed off brother and one worry-full brother, (guess who). "and I cant be killed by gunshots either, sorry boys and girls."

  "Well you're one show tune son of a bitch aren't you?" Dean asks. You look at Dean, then at Sam and you see Sam mouthing you to pull back and stand behind them, and knowing you're already grounded for life, you defeated agree.

  "Three against one bitch, you're out numbered" Dean says pulling out his large KA1214. 'That's new,' you think to yourself and out of fight or flight response, you pull your knife out too.

  Sam whispers quiet enough so the thing won't hear him, but loud enough so you can. "Y/N, What the hell is that?" and you respond with "That's a vampire, but i assume its being controlled by a type of ghost"

  "Okay so everyone got their weapons? Fun, let me get mine out too and we can have some fun, huh?" The vampire says as she shows her teeth and pulls out a....'is that a Beretta M9? How uncommon' you think to yourself.

  "Bringing a gun to a knife fight? Really?" Sam asks "Why yes, as you see its a 90-10 ratio, I win and you three...well, at least you three will go down fighting, the one and only Cynthia Harness. lets play shall we? Here, I'll go first." Cynthia tries to shoot Dean but he ducks and runs fast towards her, he swings his knife., but she ducks and runs towards the other direction. Sam runs to catch up with her and you look back at Dean and silently say I'm sorry, and you run towards Sam and Cynthia.

  "Dammit Y/N, come back here!" Dean yells at you, but you don't comply. Deans staying back just in case there were any more and now its just you, Sam and Cynthia out in probably the middle of the woods behind the park.

  You hear two gunshots in front of you. 'Oh god, Sam' you think to yourself, 'what if he's already dead?' "SAAAAAM" You yell, as you're are running faster than you were before.

  Finally, you see Cynthia and 'oh thank god,' you see Sam, and he looks like hes okay! "Oh Its you again, hi!" Cynthia says with a big smile waving at you like shes your best friend. "Get the hell away from him" the venom in your voice is clearly visible. "Hmm? Oh him? No dear, you just stand there while I-" She cuts herself off and positions her gun to point at Sam's chest, "Just kill him in front of you, how does that sound?" Cynthia asks while laughing like its a damn game and shes destined to be the winner.

  "NO," you scream, you run toward sam and .1 milliseconds after she shoots you push sam and the bullet collides with your left leg. You give out a piercing scream as you fall to the floor and Dean comes from behind and chops off Cynthia's head and its rolls on the ground.

  "Y/N! Come on, Dean, let's take her to the car" Sam says has he manages to pick you up and you hold your arm over their shoulders, and you hop on one leg to the car. It was silent, but not as silent as it is in the car, It was deadly silent, A type of silent that was mentally and (for you) physically painful.

  "......Dean?" "Not a word until we get to the motel got it?" Dean says with a thick and dark voice. "Dean-" "I don't want to hear anything from you either Sam, no one talks until we got to the motel, okay? okay good" Dean says with the most pissed off look you've ever received from him.

  And so the long and crucifying 30 minute drive to the motel was silent added with you wincing, groaning and crying from the pain that bitch Cynthia gave you. Every now and then you look at Dean from the rear view mirror and vise versa with Sam, and Dean doesn't look back, he just looks at the road, but Sam looks back at you and sadly smiles and mouths, 'everything's going to be okay, just hold on, okay?' but you don't smile back.

____________________________________________

Meanwhile at the hotel:

  Sam and Dean help you out of the car and into the motel room. "You, sit and Sam, get the damn first aid kit, a wet towel, peroxide, and get me a beer," Dean says to you can Sam. You sit on the foot of your bed and once Dean got his beer and whatever else he needed, he sat next to you and Sam pulled up a chair and sat in front of you.

  "Leg," Dean says, and you pull your leg up on his lap (with the help of Sam of course), and he starts working on cleaning the blood, and stopping it from bleeding even more, and Sam gets ready to pull the bullet out and stitch your leg up.

  You only trust Sam right now to do the 'dangerous' tasks since Deans still very VERY mad at you, and you're a little afraid he'll kill you himself from sheer anger.

  "Y/N-" This time you cut Dean off. "Dean I know, I was being reckless back there, and I could have gotten myself killed, but-" "No Y/N, no buts about it, I knew we shouldn't have brung her, I knew this would happen, and its happened anyway"

  "Dean, I've almost gotten shot if it weren't for her," Sam adds. "Oh so what, you're on 'her' side? "Of course not Dean, I'm on no ones side, I'm just saying, give her a break, get angry after theirs a bullet out of her leg, alright?"

  Thankfully he agreed, and soon enough the bullet was out and you had stitches in your leg. Dean left a couple of hours ago doing god knows what, but Sam stayed with you and you two laid down and talked for a while

  "Don't let Dean get to you, believe it for not, he was just as worried as I was, we still are," Sam says, "Oh and for what its worth, thanks for getting in the way, getting shot in the chest is never a good way to go out." You and Sam both laugh at what he says.

  You begin to push yourself up and a shooting pain starts in your leg, and you hiss at the pain. "Fuck," that all that you can handle saying at the moment.

____________________________________________

  None of you guys slept that whole night. Dean came back a few hours later after Sam thanked you for jumping in front of him. It has to be about eight or nine am before Sam says out loud, "Alright, I'm getting breakfast, you two don't wait up," and leaves the room.

  Now, its just you and Dean. You on your bed, and him on his. You look at him again, and then you look at your hands again. You squeak out an "I'm sorry" to Dean and Dean looks at you.

   'I know you are," Dean says to you. He doesn't look as mad at you as he was earlier, but hes still on the defensive side.

  "I only did it so Sam wont get hurt..." You say looking at your hands for what it feels like the millionth time. "I know, and I'm proud, but you got hurt in the end Y/N," Dean says with worry in his eyes.

  "I know...It hurts like a bitch I'll tell you that," you say as you try to lift the mood. "You could have died Y/N, you cant-" He cuts himself off. "you cant do that to me, to Sam," his voice breaks a little. "Y/N, never do that again okay?"

  "....Dean I cant promise that. I was held at gun point you would jump in front of me to save me." You say with a quiet and small voice.

  "That's just it Y/N, never do what we do unless we tell you to, I swear you got your recklessness from me" You feel your shoulders relax after seeing a smirk from Dean. "I learned from the best" You tell Dean and he does a small laugh.

  Sam comes back a little while later and you three eat your breakfast and talk about from completely nothing to what other hunt you guys are thinking of doing. Of course you wont be able to hunt for a while since you can barely stand, but you can research like a son of a bitch, and hey, sometimes its nice to be backup, especially for the two boys that frustrate the hell out of you.

[wittywallflower]

Merry Pranksters - Miles wants to play a practical joke on Julian while the doctor is off the station and asks Garak, of all people, for help.

(3,6k words, Miles & Garak gen fic)

Garak was just about to close up for the day when Miles O'Brien appeared quite unexpectedly. He was an infrequent visitor in the shop. The chief tended to leave sartorial considerations to his wife when he could get away with it. Outside of his holosuite costumes, that is, and in those cases he usually discussed things thoroughly with the doctor before letting Julian make the actual arrangements with the tailor.

"Good evening, Chief O'Brien," Garak greeted him as pleasantly as any customer. "How are those trousers I mended working out for you?"

"Fine, fine. Good as new," Miles said, but nothing more.

"Was there something you need?”

"You, uh... you want to help me prank Julian?" Miles asked.

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

Garak was just about to close up for the day when Miles O'Brien appeared quite unexpectedly. He was an infrequent visitor in the shop. The chief tended to leave sartorial considerations to his wife when he could get away with it. Outside of his holosuite costumes, that is, and in those cases he usually discussed things thoroughly with the doctor before letting Julian make arrangements with the tailor.

"Good evening, Chief O'Brien," Garak greeted him pleasantly. "How are those trousers I mended working out for you?"

"Fine, fine. Good as new," Miles said, but nothing more.

"Was there something you need? Don't tell me young Miss Molly had another growth spurt again so soon? That would be most inconvenient to Mrs. O'Brien. I believe she said they would be on Bajor this month? There aren't many clothing shops in the mountains of Ray'laht."

Miles was surprised, and not sure how he felt about the Cardassian talking so familiarly, and knowledgeably, about his family like that. But of course Garak would know a bit about it. Keiko liked the man, naturally would she would chat with him whenever Molly's pants were getting too short again and she had need of his services. Keiko was a nice, engaging woman and most people liked talking to her. Miles wouldn't have guessed Garak would care enough to listen, but then the man was or used to be a spy. He probably filed away any bit of intel, no matter how innocuous, just in case it came in handy later.

"Not that I am aware of yet," Miles answered, and huffed a laugh. "Won't be long though, the way she's growing."

Now that he thought of it, though, he could remember Julian mentioning that Cardassians were real big on family and loved children. Both apparently being big themes in the books Julian read and discussed with Garak. Julian, bless him, didn't try to get Miles to read any of it, limiting himself to the very broadest strokes of the stories when recounting his weekly lunches with the tailor. And Molly was adorable enough to win hearts wherever she went. It was possible that Garak not only knew but had a genuine friendly interest (as well as a professional one) in not just Molly's measurements but things like her favorite colors and what she liked to do for play. Some of the stain-resistant fabrics Garak had tracked down were a godsend, given how much the girl loved to paint.

Miles might not spend more time with Garak than he had to, but that didn't mean the man was entirely removed from his life. Even if Julian wasn't friends with the man, he would still be there on the station. In his tailor shop, discussing orchids with Keiko and making a mental note that young Miss Molly O'Brien detested knitted sweaters and broke out all over in itchy hives no matter how soft the wool.

Garak looked at the human and tried not to grin widely at the man's reticence, knowing the chief would only interpret it poorly. Garak simply enjoyed drawing information out of people otherwise reluctant to give it away. That's what had made him so good at procuring information for the Order. An honest zeal for the work.

"I stand at the ready when she does," Garak said with his blandest salesman smile. Which was really the only one the chief was likely to trust. "I was just about to close up for the night, if there's no assistance I can offer...."

He trailed off, eyes widened expectantly. Obviously the human had a reason to come here. O'Brien more than most was no fan of Cardassian company. With any other potential customers Garak would have set up an appointment for the following day. But if the chief was here for a fitting it wouldn't take long and Garak suspected O'Brien would be just as happy to have to over and done with quickly.

Miles didn't immediately answer and Garak began to turn away before the chief spoke up.

"You, uh... you want to help me prank Julian?" he asked.

"Pardon me?" Garak's tone and expression were a little too politely confused by half.

"You know, a practical joke."

O'Brien didn't believe for one second that the savvy ex-spy had lived among humans for so long without learning about pranks. In fact, he was damn sure a species as naturally devious as Cardassians was already intimately familiar with the concept, so he didn't elaborate.

"Julian's back from his conference tomorrow," he said instead, "Thought we could arrange a little 'surprise' for him."

"We? As in you and I?"

"Sure! Pranks are more fun with an accomplice," Miles said with a slight smile, and squinted speculatively at him. "And you seem like you might know a thing or two about being a co-conspirator."

Garak didn't insult the chief with his usual protestations that he was just a plain and simple tailor who couldn't possibly conspire against a soul, except perhaps his fractious supplier of Orellian brocade. In truth, the oft-repeated denial of his former career was getting a little tired. One should endeavor not to repeat the same lie too many times. And he was quite sure no one else found it as amusing as Julian did.

"Why me?" he asked. The two men did not have a habit of spending time in each other's company.

"Why not you?"

Miles tried not to get annoyed by the interrogation. He knew it was only annoying because he didn't want to explain himself. He had made the decision to try to be more friendly towards Garak, to reach out and include him in some shenanigans. It was his own fault if that gave the fellow a chance to get under his skin.

And it was a fair question after all, given the usually chilly civility between them.

"Dax and I have pranked Julian a dozen times already," Miles said. "Who else am I going to ask? Sisko? He's my commanding officer. Worf's barely got a sense of humor. And Odo is the station's head of security."

"You expect to engage in acts of dubious legality then?" Garak raised his brow ridges as if scandalized, but there was definitely a hint of mischief in his gaze.

"I expect Odo would find breaking into Julian's quarters a bit dubious, yes." Miles nodded.

Hmm, interesting. Garak was already intrigued by the novelty of the situation. The chief inviting Garak of all people into his fun. There was a 'why' to be discovered there and Garak did enjoy a mystery. But even if there were any reason to suspect the chief's motives might be nefarious, the chance to snoop around the doctor's quarters a bit would still be impossible to resist.

"Actually Quark is pretty good at schemes," Miles continued on through the list, "but there's no latinum in this for him so he wont bother himself. And the Major... well, she's had a hard life. A real rough time growing up. I'm not sure she would see the point in this sort of... silliness. And it occurs to me now that might be true for you too." Miles finished awkwardly. "I mean, I understand if you aren't interested."

Miles, with the natural intuition of a man of similar age who had seen his fair share of trouble, had guessed that Garak had been through a lot in his life. Even if he didn't have any idea what exactly. Garak didn't worry about anything Julian might have told Miles about the former spy's life simply because Garak hadn't told Julian much of anything that could be confirmed as truth. Station gossip surprisingly didn't have much to say about him beyond the painfully unimaginative: that he was still a spy, loyal to Cardassia, in service of the Obsidian Order, here to steal highly classified information and disrupt Federation efforts. Largely negative, but not so bad as to stop the gruff human engineer from sympathizing where he thought they might have common ground of being victims of trauma. Garak could almost feel a sort of... camaraderie with him for it.

"Why Chief, are you implying that I'm no fun?" Garak pivoted, a playful smile served with the joke. Easing their mutual discomfort at the near brush with emotional honesty, and signaling his acceptance of the scheme.

Miles barked an honest laugh at that and grinned back, relieved and, yes, a little amused by the Cardassian.

"I'll get what we need while you close up shop. Meet me at my quarters and we'll walk over to Julian's together."

When he received a nod of acquiescence, Miles left, cheerfully whistling on his way down the Promenade.

Garak was quite sure O'Brien knew he was just as capable of breaking into crew quarters as the engineer. But the former spy lurking around on a habitat level not his own would definitely draw some suspicion from station security. He did have a history of going where he wasn't authorized to be when the situation called for it and a door lock had never stopped that. In the chief's company his presence was less likely to be questioned, but Garak knew how to handle any potential run-ins with Odo regardless.

"Hey," O'Brien greeted him when Garak arrived at the chief's quarters with a parcel under his arm. "What's that?"

"My excuse for being on this level this time of night." Garak handed the package to Miles. "For Miss Molly. They'll be a little big yet, but that hardly matters with pajamas."

"What, did you sew these in the 10 minutes since I left you?" Miles asked with mild astonishment.

"I already had the pattern cut and fabric pinned," Garak said with a dismissive wave. "they were just waiting for the updated inseam measurement. It hardly took a moment to run my handheld seamer over it all."

Huh. Prepared for anything, this one, Miles thought as he accepted the parcel with a nod of thanks and set it down next to two Starfleet issue canvas duffle bags. One of which he hefted, the other he handed to Garak.

"Shall we?"

They made short work of the walk to the doctor's quarters and even shorter work of bypassing Julian's lock code to let themselves in.

Garak crossed to a table where he could set down the bag he held. Next to a pair of data padds that he made sure to 'accidentally' bump so as to activate their screens, which he then just happened to glance at long enough to make note of their contents. All of which would have gone unnoticed even if the room had been crowded with people. Garak was very discreet.

"What's the plan, Mister O'Brien?" He asked, opening the bag to pull out its contents. Which he stared at thoughtfully a moment before he gave up guessing and turned to ask an explanation. "With all these...pieces of paper?"

The bag was crammed full with short stacks of small slips of paper in various neon hues.

"They're called Post-Its, or sticky notes back home. Not exactly a novel concept, I've seen similar things around the galaxy. They mostly fell out of fashion on Earth in the 21st century when people started carrying electronic devices everywhere. You write notes on them: reminders, messages, shopping lists. They have adhesive on the back so you can stick them wherever you need and they come in bright colors so you can't miss seeing them."

"So we're going to... write notes to the doctor on these little squares?" Garak ask skeptically. That didn't seem terribly amusing but then, it would matter a great deal what exactly was written.

"No." Miles eyes suddenly gleamed with a light that bore ill tidings for Julian Bashir. "We are going to stick every single one of these little squares to every single surface we can reach until the whole room is covered with them." As Garak caught on and began to smile, Miles smiled back. "Though, now you mention it.... it could be funny to write stuff on 'em."

"Not all of them surely?" Garak asked.

O'Brien eyed his own bag crammed full of as many Post-Its as he could replicate. His hand cramped at just the idea of all that writing and he made a face.

"Because" Garak hastened to suggest, no more enamored with the thought of that task than the chief, "I really think it would be more amusing to write only on a select few of them. Say, give each word of a sentence its own square and scatter the message around the room. This would force him to examine every last one if he wants to be sure he's found all them."

"Garak, that's brilliant!" Miles grinned. Okay, maybe now he could see how Julian found Garak's devious mind enjoyable instead of just worrisome. "He won't be able to resist finding the clues so he cant just sweep everything into the recycler, he'll have to leave it all up and stare at it until he solves the puzzle."

Miles chortled, pulling out a cube of sticky notes and handing it to Garak.

"You think up a message, I'll try to find you a pen."

"No need, Chief." Garak pulled an elegant looking pen from a discreet pocket in his trousers.

"You just carry a fountain pen around with you?" Miles asked.

Plenty of people still enjoyed the tactile feeling of writing, Jake Sisko to name one, but who actually carried such an old-fashioned writing implement? Most everything on the station could be handled through a computer or padd. And even a standard ink stylus would work more reliably than a fussy fountain pen. They never leaked and stained your uniform, for one.

"A tailor is always prepared for anything," Garak said with a smirk, unknowingly echoing Miles' earlier thought.

Miles shook his head but he was still smiling as he turned away to start covering Julian's chair.

They were both accustomed to working with brisk efficiency so it didn't take as long as either expected to work their way around the room in opposite directions, covering everything in a kaleidoscope of neon paper. Still, it would have bordered on tedious if Miles hadn't broken the silence with a few stories of past pranks. Garak warmed up to the subject as he came to find the other man could be delightfully inventive in his mischief. The prank they were currently engaged in, while diverting, was not particularly impressive by Garak's estimation. The chief agreed.

"This is a pretty amateur effort, if I'm honest," Miles said over his shoulder as he lined the doorway to Julian's bedroom with bright blue squares. "But it was all spur of the moment. I didn't have the time to plan anything more elaborate before tomorrow. Besides, Keiko would have words for me if she came home to find i blew a bunch of latinum to play a joke on Julian. This only cost me replicator credits."

Garak could understand the pressure of a deadline, and a budget. Sometimes an uncomplicated plan was best when one was in a pinch.

"I think the doctor will be amused, regardless of the simplicity," he offered as reassurance to Miles. "And if he happens to return exhausted from his travels, it will be a kindness for him that it's not something a great deal more involved."

Garak was thinking of one of the stories Miles had just shared about locking a particularly annoying Enterprise crewmate in the holodeck for several hours to play out an especially embarrassing scenario.

Miles for his part was thinking how interesting it was for Garak to be so considerate of Julian's comfort like that. The doctor was known for his abundance (some might say excess) of energy; all bounce-and-go. He wasn't exactly the type you'd ever think of as being in need of a nap. Fretting that someone would have a proper chance to rest after a long trip... that spoke of a certain level of caring, in his experience. What level exactly Miles wasn't ready to hazard a guess at. He couldn't read the Cardassian in the best of times, let alone when they were both at work with their backs to each other.

Huh. Willingly turning his back on a Cardassian, a known operative of the Obsidian Order, alone and in close quarters with no witnesses. Miles could honestly say he didn't trust the man. If Quark had a pool going, O'Brien would lay a bet that Garak had at least 2 weapons hidden on his person at any time. But he somehow knew Garak's deceit did not extend to doing violence in this sort of innocuous situation.

Their final task was to cover the shelving along one wall, full of Bashir's books and belongings. They worked their way up from the floor, with some discussion as to how to wrap oddly-shaped knick-knacks, until they reached the top shelf. And its lumpy, rather disreputable looking occupant.

O'Brien eyed it dubiously.

"I don't think Julian will thank us for messing with Kukalaka. The adhesive on these things is pretty weak but still... that bear is half dust, held together by nostalgia and stubbornness. I don't want to try sticking anything to that threadbare fur."

Garak regarded the teddy bear, largely ignored on his previous visit (intrusion) in the doctor's quarters. The chief was obviously well familiar with the toy and what it meant to Julian. Miles didn't offer further information but Garak could read between the lines and tell it important. Very important indeed. Sudden inspiration suppressed the burning curiosity he knew wouldn't be satisfied in the moment anyway.

"I think we can include... Kukalaka, is it? in on the fun without harming him," Garak smiled at the chief.

While O'Brien finished the rest of the shelf, Garak grabbed a cube of notes and began layering them until he had a large multi-colored sheet. Very carefully (the chief was right, the adhesive barely stuck to anything) he began to fold his creation. Spare minutes later Kukalaka was the proud possessor of a very dapper, day-glo hat. All sticky edges safely folded and tucked away.

"Huh, I didn't know you could do origami." O'Brien remarked as he took in Garak's handiwork.

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the term."

"Oh, its an art form from Earth's Japanese culture. Folding paper to create shapes, usually animals and flowers and the like."

"And hats?"

"And hats." Miles chuckled. "I'm not too bad at it myself. Keiko taught me, thinking with all the fiddly engineering work I do my fingers would be good at it. She was right, like she usually is."

"I would imagine several society with advanced paper industries have developed similar arts," Garak said, always interesting in cross-comparing cultures. "I'll have to ask Mrs. O'Brien to tell me more about this origami sometime."

"You should," Miles' smile was... actually genuinely friendly. It was not a sight Garak was used to seeing. "She'd enjoy talking to you about it."

They both looked around for a long moment, feeling satisfaction at the visible results of their efforts. Nearly every surface was decked in bright colors. They didn't have enough supplies to completely cover the walls so they settled for framing the doorways and viewport, and covering all the wall art. An armchair was a violent neon purple, the low table before it a yellow that hurt Garak's eyes to look at directly. The replicator in the wall was ringed in concentric stripes and Julian's desk was covered in no less than 5 different eye-searing shades.

"I wish I could see his face when he walks in," Miles chortled, almost boyish in his glee.

"I can send you the feed from my hidden surveillance devices," Garak offered with a straight face and level tone.

Any other day that line, delivered with that sort of aplomb, would have left O'Brien with a suspicious, questioning glare. Such a thing was by no means beyond Garak's capabilities or outside his morals, they both knew that. But, despite himself, the unique experience of spending this time with the chief did not lend itself to Garal projecting his usual aura of danger cloaked in affability. The engineer looked him over and he could practically see Garak radiating with a energy of what he could only describe of as.... fun.

So Miles didn't bother to take the joke seriously. Even if it was true and Garak did have illegal surveillance equipment set up, the chief would never actually get confirmation or proof of it so it didn't bear worrying about right now. If, later, Miles decided it was a credible threat he would mention it to Julian.

"C'mon," Miles said, almost going as far as giving the man a good-natured slap on the back but definitely smart enough not to push his luck. "I'll buy us a round at Quark's in the name of a job well done."

"I don't think we've ever had a drink together, Chief," Garak couldn't help but point out, because it was in his nature to stir the pot, to provoke a reaction just to see what he would get.

Miles shrugged that off, knowing it was true enough. But the whole night had been unprecedented anyway, and he for one had worked up a thirst.

"You can relieve Quark of some of that overstock of kanar he's always complaining about taking up space in his store room. The more you drink, the less I have to listen to him whinge about it," the human said.

Garak accepted that, and the offer of a drink; oddly more comfortable for it to be a matter of selfishness on O'Brien's part rather than an honest gesture of kindness from an acquaintance. What sort of life left a man unable to trust motives that weren't entirely devious and self-serving? Miles shook the thought off as they headed for the Promenade and the bar. He was much too tired to go digging around in anyone's psyche right now, much less the enigma of a man beside him.

[inviouswriting]

Hecate

Character death. Like placing this at the top not greatly graphic but still enough to warrant a warning.

Amourtine!au. I finally did one. This is Hecate.

"You're reading those silly books again?" A voice brought Hecate out of her thoughts, she looks up to be greeted by Nabriales standing near her. Hecate makes a face she never did like him. Too arrogant for her liking.

She had been lost in a book she had found. It spoke of worlds and spoke of romance between people. She loved the idea of it, but had a feeling this world she'd never experience it. So she would read it often. Knights, princesses, dragons and curses.

"They're not silly, they're charming." Hecate turns her head away.

"Yes, while our world is about to die you want to ignore it." Hecate shrinks her head down. Nabriales sees her turn her head.

"I choose to remain happy in these times. I don't want to think of the impending doom like how everyone else is." Hecate ignores the anger crossing his face standing her ground.

"And here we can stop it, but you want to spend your time reading fantasies?!" Hecate glares.

"Maybe we're not suppose to stop it! Maybe it is suppose to happen and summoning Zodiark is not what we should be doing!"

"You have no idea how much we are trying to prevent the lives of many from dying." Nabriales turns on his heel to leave her. Hearing more than enough to fuel him in his reasons.

Hecate sighs and drifts her gold eyes back to the book in front of her using a strip of cloth as a marker she would find a quieter spot to read.

As she left Hecate is approached by another of the conclave. Hades.

"I would tell you all the things you already know and it would still be pointless." Hades would try to persuade her but Hecate was hard to convince once her mind was set. Even if thunder rained next to them she would rather remain there unmoving.

"You could but I rather not hear it. Already have Nabriales giving me hell."

"Can't say I blame him entirely. We do have a role to do." Hecate raises a hand, not interested.

"If what everyone says is true. Then why not spend the last days with the ones you love or pastimes." Hecate holds the book in her hands to her chest.

"You at least get to experience love." She felt a little envious of his relationship in knowing she wont experience it. What it truly is to love.

"Let's not bring her into this conversation." Hades could see that Nabriales got under her skin a bit.

"Then it would be better to leave my hobby alone."

"You are a bit dramatic today." He leaves her, the evening had begun and Hecate just wanted peace for the day.

She retired to her room, and hugged the book to her chest. She had spoken to a few others, but she resigned herself to her thoughts, she didn’t agree to their methods. How could anyone be terrible if they wrote books or created ideas. It gave her a sense of hope.

Little did she know that this was the last time she would see them. When the first star shower hit it struck buildings near her enough to wake her and rattle everything around her. The windows shattered and the rear of fire billowed with searing heat.

Hecate manages to get out of the building she is in with several others all staring up in disbelief. Some questioning others yet she didn’t feel afraid. More accepting to what was happening.

Another star shower more fierce and hit the neighboring building overhead, this snaps Hecate out of her daze and she barks orders at those near her to start running away. Somehow to get to a safer spot.

Hecate leads the way in the group even as some scatter to find friends or find their own paths. Hecate felt fear under her feet as it trembled and the floor cracked with it. Something was coming up from underneath.

"No!" Something monstrous broke out from behind her. Underneath the group she had been leading. She turned to see a few people devoured. Others running away in different directions only for the ground to fall beneath them.

Hecate didn’t want to die like this so she turned to run away in the direction she was heading. The worm like beast lost interest in her for others. It didn’t stop her feet from carrying her away.

Hecate reaches an ending and looks around her for another path only to have it blocked. A strong guest knocks her over the edge, she grabbles for the ledge and feels her nails scratch it as she slips down enough for them to break down. She looks up and what knocked her over was another beast, like a demented looking owl looming in front of her.

Hecate's mask is broken on a side and gold eyes brim with tears thinking that this would be how it ends.

"Hear... Feel... Think..." echoes in her mind but terror runs through her as the beast has her entranced staring to where she doesn’t see that the worm creature runs towards her from the structure she clings to ramming her with the horn piercing her and a combination of the second beast releasing another gust to toss her far.

She lands on the top of an adjacent building, skidding to a stop at the edge. The beasts losing interest in something dying for other beings running around.

Hecate feels the wind lost out of her, the worm creature had torn a good part of her open and punctured a lung. Even if she could run she knew she would die.

Hecate stares at the orange glow of the city as towers fall, and the monsters wreck havoc. Some summoning more to help them. Hecate closes her eyes when she feels colder in herself.

She feels her side, she still had the book she had, a soft and sad smile crosses her lips as she lifts the book to her, opening her eyes she sees feet in front of her.

Hazy, Hecate looks up to see a woman before her. The scythe she sits on telltale, she had read in stories how a being of death has one.

"Here for me?" The being looks at her, green eyes regard her with a wild grin.

"Indeed. But it seems fate has bigger things in store for you. I have an offer." Hecate shivers as she breathes a bit harder.

"I am dying... what offer can you make to someone who is dying." Green eyes glow orange brief in her guess annoyance.

"I am aware of your impending death. Looking at you now, I wouldnt give it another hour. More than enough time to ask and get an answer." The woman flicks her tail behind her, then looks at her nails.

Hecate remains silent, to listen to her. She tugs the book up with bloodied hands from where her fingers bleed at her nails and from laying her her blood.

"The offer is a new life. However at a cost. Or you can lie there and die in agony. Completely up to you." A tap of booted feet together.

Hecate thinks it over, she is already dying. If she can experience a new life, would it be the same one.

"Will I relive this here?" She asks the reaper.

"I can't tell you that. I have taken a liking to you since you defended what it means to die." The woman walks into the puddle that had reached her her feet. Under the soles of her boots frost starts to creep in it.

"Will I remember life?" Hecate looks up into vibrant green eyes.

"I dont think remembering a life where you died will be great. So I'll take those memories as payment for the new life you will get. It would be better than this on your mind?" She gestures to the dying world around them.

"No.." Hecate answers about remembering.

"One more question. Before I make my choice." Hecate sees the reaper fold her arms.

"One more."

" Will I matter in this new life?" There is only a wicked grin.

"That is for you to decide in your path. Now have you made your choice? I have more souls to collect." The way she says it, is as if this was taking up her time while her nails dried.

"I have, I accept!" Hecate says with the last ounce of zeal she can muster. The present grin on the woman widens.

"There we go then. Now for this chapter to end and a new one to begin. just focus on my voice. Kiya Shinikami."

"My name is Hecate..."

"Old life, old name. New life, new name. You must not remember this life. Or the magic might be undone. Only time shall tell."

"What is your name then..." Hecate opens the book she had been clutching to her chest, the soaked pages stick as she tries to read her favorite passage. At least once more.

"I gave you my name. I dont have another to tell you yet. Perhaps if we meet again I'll tell you then." Kivera kneels to take Hecates hands as they hold the bloodied book struggling to keep it up.

Hecate doesn't feel pain once Kivera's hands touch hers. It was as if the nerves ceased to cause it. Kivera looks at the book page and reads to her as a last effort seeing her trying to have comfort in her time.

Kivera looks her over, and as she sees the life fade in the woman on her lap. She alters the spirits form as it is sent off to Hydaelyn.

"One more selfishness. A new face for a fresh life." Kivera feels heat under her from the building they were on was collapsing. With wide wings she flies up to see how far left the world has left as it burns bright. The star showers barrage and the monsters do their things they must. Kivera collects the book Hecate had clutched so tender.

"I Want To Be Your Canary. Hmm.. maybe you will find yours. Just dont end in tragedy." Kivera witnesses the last of the dooms taking over. More special souls being plucked from time to perhaps begin new lives in different worlds.

As Hecate closed her eyes once more. She feels a sense of warmth embrace her, and the words she heard at the start of the star showers resonate in her head again.

"Hear... Feel... Think." Her eyes close and the memories she had, she felt them slip from her like they no longer are hers.

Kiya opens hers wide and frantic. What greets her is ice blue staring down at her concern in them. Her senses come back to her, and a thumb wipes away a stream of tears at the edges of her eyes. Aymeric has her laying with her head on his lap.

Kiya remembers her dream, what was the life she had and how she remembered. Perhaps it was awakening from Elidibus. All she remembers is that life is not her anymore.

"Kiya.. another nightmare?" Aymeric asks, dressed in his ala Mhigan gown. He had seen her turning in her sleep and knew from her whimpering it was a bad dream.

"It was a horrible dream..." a hand goes through her black hair, it grounds her to.him in the color. That this is her life now. She would have to talk to Shuri or Meeps maybe about her memories.

Aymeric doesn't press for details, he has seen a handful of times his wife waking up in tears.

She will tell him when she is ready to.

For now he pets her head as he comforts her, tugging her up into his arms. Kiya feels safer, and well blessed. Aymeric's hands rest on the swell of her belly over the defined bump now.

It wouldn't be long before she is given another life. One she looks forward to in being a mother to their child. She curls more into Aymeric and feels him rest his head on top of hers. He has spent more time with her knowing she is close to having their child. He anticipates it as it means his wife stays with him for a good while. While she recovers and gets to know the new life she brings in.

"You are amazing my love." Aymeric says barely above a whisper. Meant more under his breath in his amazement over how much has grown in a few months. He kisses her face till he is sure her mood is lifted a bit.

"Aymeric?" Kiya fidgets with his hands as she grabs them from messing with the bump after a kick was felt in her side. It felt like this child was doing somersaults inside her.

"Aye?" Aymeric presses his face to hers nuzzling her lovingly.

"Would you read to me?" Aymeric's eyes widen a bit and he smiles.

"Of course. What would you like read to you?" He doesn't question it, and when she leaves him she returns after looking at her bookshelf for one book in particular.

"Isn't this an old tragic one? Wouldn't you want something happier?" He comments when he sees the title having read it himself when he was younger.

"Please? It's a favorite of mine." Aymeric sees from the worn cover and edges, how it almost seems like the book itself has seen battle. Some pages have a brownish tint to them.

"I will read it for you then." He sees her face light up in joy. How can he resist when she pouts so sweetly.

I want to be your canary.

[theemightypen]

my dear @heckofabecca asked for 11) reunion kiss but tumblr ate the ask, so here you go, bb! hope you like it <3

(for anyone keeping track, this is in the same pre-war political marriage as this fill which you may want to read first!)

The air is thick with the smell of blood and fear. Lothiriel is so tired she can barely stand, but stand she must. They need all the hands they can spare to help tend to the wounded and to soothe the children. The noise from the battle is muted by the caves’ walls, but she is the daughter of a war-time Prince, sister and cousin to seasoned soldiers--she knows what the sounds mean, and it is not a good omen. 

The odds were impossible to begin with--an army of hundreds, a good portion of them withered old men and boys too young for beards, up against thousands of Orcs, if Lord Aragorn is to be believed. Hope has been dwindling for them all as the battle has raged on. Eowyn is brittle, defiant, in her anger at the situation they’ve been pinned into, but it is clear she has put her faith wholly in Lord Aragorn’s skill and luck.

It is clearer still that she thinks she loves the Ranger, but Lothiriel knows her sister-in-law well enough by now to know she will not appreciate her saying such a thing. 

As it is, it is hardly the time to think about such matters. She should be focused on keeping her wounded charges comfortable, with offering comfort to the mothers and wives who may be widows and childless even now. It is what her father would want her to do. It is what Eomer would want her to do. The thought of him, riding across the Plains, unaware of what his people are suffering is like a dagger at her breast. The thought of never seeing him again is even worse. 

At least he will not die here, she thinks, smoothing a whimpering boy’s hair as gently as she can, at least his fate will not be like so many others--

“Lady Eowyn! Lady Lothiriel!”

She blinks in surprise as Gamling--faithful, unwavering Gamling--limps towards them. He is covered in blood, likely his own and others’, and his face is grim. 

“Gamling, what news?” Asks Eowyn, efficient and forthright as ever. 

“The keep is near lost. Gather the supplies and people you can. You must take the people through the caves. I do not know how much time we can give you, but we will fight--to the last man--to keep you all from harm.”

Lothiriel swallows thickly. “But what of you? What of the King?”

“The King’s mission is to protect his people. Mine is to protect him. You must go, now, my ladies, and quickly.” 

“We can fight!” Eowyn argues. “We are just as able as our brethren--”

“Eowyn, these are your king’s orders. Obey him--for what may be the last time.” 

Eowyn’s jaw settles, mulishly, but Lothiriel suspects she is reacting this way to keep from crying. There is the very real possibility she will lose yet another member of her family in a matter of hours--if they are even alive at all to know it. Lothiriel is biting her own lip to maintain her composure, and her self control is nothing compared to Eowyn’s iron grip on her own. 

“We will do as Theoden King asks,” Lothiriel confirms, because what else can she say?

The relief on Gamling’s face is painful. “Good. Bema be with you--you both are the Riddermark’s hope, now.” 

That seems to snap Eowyn out of her pout and she turns, barking orders to any who are able to ready to move for fresh torches and all the water they can carry. Gamling vanishes back the way he came, leaving Eowyn and Lothiriel to manage the now frantic crowd. The sudden deep thrum of a horn makes her jump.

“What is that?” 

“The horn of Helm Hammerhand,” Eowyn says, sharp with nerves and impatience, “it is said that Helm would kill Dunlendings barehanded when it was blown. If only we had a warrior like that now, perhaps we would not be scurrying away like frightened rabbits.” 

“There is no shame in saving what life we can,” Lothiriel says, aghast at her sister-in-law’s position, “for the sake of those we lead and the sake of those who we have lost, Eowyn--”

“They are my people,” she snaps and ah, here it is again, this one jagged thing between them, “mine in a way that you cannot understand, Lothiriel, no matter how much you love my brother.” 

The mention of Eomer stings, deeply, and Elbereth help her, this is not the conversation she wants to have right now. Not when it could be one of the last things she ever does, not when she knows, in part, Eowyn is only saying this because of the visceral fear she too must be feeling. “Perhaps that is true. But I will help you save them, care for them, as if they were mine in that way. Not only for the love I bear Eomer, but the love I feel for you. And for them.” 

That softens her and she squeezes Lothiriel’s hand. The horn still echoes as they begin to herd the people towards the narrow passage. It would be slow going even with the fully healthy, but between the old and the wounded, it is nigh panic-inducing.

“Send the children first,” Lothiriel suggests. “The children and the most able-bodied young women--the rest of us can guard the back.”

Eowyn nods, reaching for her sword, but Lothiriel stops her. “Eowyn, you must go with them.”

“I am not afraid of a fight! I am a shieldmaiden--”

“And perhaps the last member of the House of Eorl. They will need you to lead them.”

Lothiriel is glad she has not had the time to mention her suspicion that has been growing in Eomer’s absence, for Eowyn would fight her if she knew--would likely fight any woman potentially carrying a child for not being among those going first through the passage. But Lothiriel has come to understand Rohan since her marriage. They will not follow her for the promise of a child, but Eowyn is as close to a princess as they have, at present. A daughter of kings. Their kings, unbroken for generations. They will follow her, as they followed her uncle, into battle and even death. 

Still, Eowyn hesitates. “Eomer will not forgive me if I leave you.”

If Lothiriel’s last words to him must be ‘I love you’, she is content. She cannot regret them, even if he does not feel the same. “I will not forgive myself if we do not do what’s right for your people.” 

Eowyn opens her mouth to say something, but she is drowned out by a sudden burst of cheering, intermingled with tears.

“My lady!” Someone shouts. “My lady, there is no need to take the passage!”

“What?” Asks Eowyn. “Explain yourself at once.”

“Gandalf has returned with a full eored! He and Lord Eomer--”

Lothiriel’s knees nearly give out and she slumps against the wall even as the women around her give cries of alarm. 

“--they have defeated the Uruk-hai! We are saved!” 

The tears begin in truth, now, and dimly she’s aware of Eowyn dragging her back towards the doors to the keep. There is a mad press all around them, of people crying and laughing and cheering, but Lothiriel can think of nothing else other than Eomer is here, Eomer is safe, we are all safe--

“Uncle!” Eowyn cries, and then she is gone, throwing herself at the weary yet triumphant form of Theoden King. A gentle hand on her arm has replaced Eowyn’s desperate grip and Lothiriel blinks a few times before recognizing that it is Gimli who is frowning up at her in concern.

“Lass, you’re white as a sheet. Come, come, let us find you somewhere to sit--”

“No,” she says, her mind foggy with relief and grief, all at once, “no, I must find--I must find my husband--”

“Your young horse master will find you soon enough, my lady,” he insists, gently shepherding her to a barrel and all but forcing her to sit upon it, “I do not think he would be overly pleased to find you in a faint when he does.”

That makes her laugh, a little. “I have never once fainted in my entire life, Master Dwarf.”

“No sense starting now, then,” he says. “Now, where is that confounded Elf? He had best not be trying to up his score…”

 Lord Legolas is, in fact, poking at a few corpses with an arrow, and Lothiriel laughs herself nearly sick when Gimli explains why. Then Lord Aragorn arrives and Eowyn is throwing herself at him, too relieved to guard her more tender emotions. Gandalf appears, miraculously untouched by the grime covering everyone else, grumbling about something as is his wont. Behind him is--

Behind him is Eomer, broad-shouldered and magnificent in his armor. A few other soldiers are with him, clearly asking for his input on one matter or another, and he looks near to losing his impressive temper.

“Deorwine, enough,” he finally barks, “I will answer these questions later--I want to find my wife!”

Valar, she is so happy to see him whole and hale that she cannot speak. Gimli seems to know this and winks at her before crying over the din, “Your wife is here, laddie.”

She’s vaguely aware of standing, of starting to walk towards him, but Eomer is there before she can so much as blink, crushing her against his chest so tightly she can scarcely breathe. She knows she’s crying, messily and without reserve, and she should be embarrassed to behave in such a way, in front of so many people, but she cannot bring herself to care. Not when Eomer’s arms are trembling around her, or she can feel the rasp of his beard against her temple, and the deep rumble of his voice as he says something in Rohirric to her is overwhelming her senses. 

“Hello,” she finally manages, leaning her head back just enough to meet his eyes, “oh, Eomer, hello.” 

“Lothiriel,” he says, and then he kisses her. Dimly, she’s aware of a small smattering of applause and a happy hoot that sounds suspiciously like Eothain, but that’s of little consequence when Eomer is kissing her like he’s been desperate for it. Like he’s missed her as much as she’s missed him.

He rests his forehead against hers when he finally lets her up for air, and Lothiriel has to reach up to take his dear, dear face between her hands. He is plainly bone weary and smells strongly of horse. There has never been a more welcome sight. 

“You came back to me,” she whispers.

“You asked me to. How could I do otherwise?” 

She huffs a laugh--of all of the times for him to tease! But then Eowyn is pushing herself into both of their embraces, and they are all crying, even Eomer. The rest of the day is such a blur that she cannot recall all of the dear faces she has seen, the words of relief and love and joy shared. She blinks in surprise to find herself all but pressed into bed, stripped of her filthy gown and left in only her somewhat less dirty shift.

“I should change,” she murmurs, flinging a leg over the side of the bed with the intention to stand.

“You will rest,” Eomer says, falling upon his side of the bed heavily and managing to drape an arm around her waist in the same instant. “You looked near enough to sleep this morning and an entire day has passed since then.”

“I smell.”

“So do I. I do not care if you do not.” 

She cares, but she cares more to have him close, stink or no. Sighing, she settles back onto the bed, pleasantly pinned under the weight of his arm for the first time in what feels like years. Rolling onto her side, she reaches for his face, cradling his still somewhat dirt-encrusted jaw in her hand. “I missed you. Oh, Valar, I have missed you so much.” 

Eomer swallows, drawing her closer until his nose is pressed against her temple and she is tucked too tightly against him to see his face. “I have missed you more than I thought possible. Lothiriel...Lothiriel you must know, I should have said it long before Wormtongue’s damned machinations separated us, but I love you.”

She cannot help it--she sobs, just a little, against the hollow of his collarbone. Eomer tightens his arm around her and she thinks, I am home, he is home, he IS home--

For now, anyways. And for now, that is enough.

[diddlesanddoodles]

Dumpling ch. 20

(Author’s notes: Posting this one early as a thank you to @thespicynoodle for all the amazing art work they did for Dumpling!)

To Yale’s credit, he did not immediately dismiss her claims of dead people in the walls as the  stressed induced imaginings of a lunatic. He waited for her to calm down and then asked her gently, “What do you mean in the walls? Here in the castle?”

She nodded, fighting a fresh wave of tears. “I saw them...when...”

“S’alright. Don’t force yerself. Just take deep breaths and talk when yer good and ready, eh?”

After a moment, she had regained enough composure to begin to explain just how she had managed to come across the catacombs.  

“Oh, Dumplin’. No need t’be scared of some dusty old bones,” Yale assured her. “The dead can’t hurt ya.”  

“But...”

“Probably been there since the castle was first built thousands of years ago. This place has been destroyed and rebuilt and switched hands so many times over the centuries I wouldn’t be surprised t’know it use to be a human castle. Someone had t’ave built them tunnels after all.”

“Yale...” she said quietly. She was so afraid to say it out loud. “They spoke to me...”

He blinked in confusion and seemed to have trouble understanding exactly what she was trying to say. “The...bones?”

“I’m not crazy...” she sobbed, feeling the shame and fear of not being believed, but Yale hurriedly hushed her.  

“Nah, nah. I believe ya!” he assured her, bending his head lower as if to show her his grinning face. “Just...never heard of bones talkin’ before.”  

He watched her for a moment, studying her face. “Ya tell Maevis about it?”

She shook her heard as she wiped the moisture from her face with the collar of her smock.

“Just you...”

“Just me?” Yale asked pleasantly surprised. “Well, don’t that make me feel special.”  

She could not help but smile at that and it was glorious how it seemed to break apart the heavy stone that seemed to have lodged inside her stomach. The welling of emotion seemed to be drying up and she began to feel a little more in control of herself.  

“S’ what did they say?” he asked, propping his head up in his hand. “These chatty bones.”  

“I couldn’t understand them at first,” she said. “But they were saying...the prophecy about the King? The one that… why everyone calls him the Gold King...”

Yale looked incredulous and just a bit disappointed. “That’s...odd. I would’ve thought they’d have something a little more interestin’ to say stead of that old thing.”

“But in my dream...the nightmare, I mean...” she said. “It said...he said that someone could see me and was coming...”  

“Hm,” Yale pondered that, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “That what has ya scared, eh? Something from the dark’s gonna come after ya?”

"I don’t know...maybe...”

“Well,” said the young giant. “I’ll say this. You’ve had a rough go of it fer as young as ya are. I’m not gonna tell ya yer wrong to be scared, ‘cause if I were ya, I’d be terrified all the time. But if ya can believe anything, ya can believe me in this…"

He pinched her face gently between two fingers. “I ain’t gonna let anything bad happen to ya.”  

She did believe him, but even that wasn’t enough to fully erase the questions and concerns. As though sensing her doubt, he squished her face lightly and despite her somber mood,

Nenani could not keep the giggle from escaping. Yale hummed, satisfied.  

“Have I ever told you about my family or how I started here?” he asked. Nenani shook her head, still smiling, as she pushed his fingers away. He gave her no paused and scooped her up then settled into his bunk himself. One he made himself comfortable, he sat her down on one of his bent knees. “Well, there’s me Mum. Dad passed some years ago when I was small, around yer age. I’m the oldest and only son and then there’re m’ sisters. I’ve got six younger sisters, lass. Six! Lots of hungry lil’uns running round, gettin’ into scapes and pullin’ hair. I had t’be there fer ‘im when I was still a babe myself.”  

Yale paused, lost in thought, and then seemed to snap back to attention. He smiled warmly at her. “And ya remind me a whole lot of ‘em. Th’way they were back then. Suppose that might be why I took such a likin’ t’ya right after I first caught ya.”

He poked her in the belly, grinning when he was able to weasel another giggle from her.

“It was real rough after dad died. Real tough. Mum and me were at it alone just the two of us fer a long while, just trying to keep food in the house and a fire lit. I...didn’t handle it well. Started stealin’ and being a lil shit and makin’ hard fer Mum.” He paused to take a long rejuvenating breath. “I know how hard life can get when ya don’t have just one of yer folks around and had I lost Mum too...I don’t know what I’d done. I was a mess back then. Worried Mum sick that I’d end up arrested or worse. So she got me a job here as a tenderfoot under Farris since he had a reputation fer straightenin’ out snot nosed hooligans like me. M’first day I called Farris fat and he punched me in the face.”

Seeing Nenani’s incredulous expression, Yale laughed. “Oh yeh, I did. It took some time, but he managed to straighten me out right. Hatin’ him fer it fer a while too. But once he saw that I wasn’t entirely hopeless and actually had a brain, he made me his assistant and started teachin’ me about the spices and plants. Gave me responsibilities. A purpose. A direction t’my life that I didn’t have before. And in a lot of ways he saved m’life too. And m’family’s. S’why he call yell and scream and curse at me all he wants all day long and I’ll still be singin’ his praises till the day I’m six feet under the dirt. He made me family.”

“...but don’t you miss your Mom and sisters?”

“A’course! Oh, I write to’ em when I can,” Yale said. “Four of m’sisters are married with lil’uns of their own now. I try to visit ‘em just before th’ winter solstice, but I haven’t been in a long while. Last letter I wrote t’my Mum was just after you came to us actually. Wanna know what she said?”

“What?”

“Well, first she scolded me fer makin’ ya think we were gonna eat ya and makin’ ya cry, but then she also reminded me to remember what it was like right after Dad passed and all that hurt I had inside and how scared I was. She said imagine if ya were one of my lil’ sisters goin’ through all what ya were and to make ya feel like ya had a safe place to just be to get through that hurt.”  

He smiled sadly at her and for a moment, he looked much older than he was and she could see the faint traces of his own trauma etched into the lines of his face.  

“Now, I know we ain’t ya blood family and maybe we’re not the best role models fer a wee lass, but I think we’re an alright substitution. We do in a pinch, eh?”

Nenani belatedly realized she was crying again, but the fuel that was feeding the tears was an entirely different emotion. “So ya don’t need to be scared no more.”    

Gingerly, Yale wiped her cheeks with a corner of his apron. His smile was so comforting to Nenani that she could feel the last flecks of her night terror dissipating and leaving her with a solid sense of warmth and security. Wordlessly, Yale plucked her up again and settled down against his pillow before placing her on his chest and draping one hand over her shoulders and back, rubbing lightly. He began to sing…

Far away in the blue hill valley

Therein lies a weeping willow tree

Its bark is silver  

and the leaves are golden

But I care for none of these

Don’t cry my darling

For I am here with you

Though you can no longer see me

I’ll be with you

In the blue hill valley

Sleeping with you  

Underneath that weeping willow tree

…………………………………………..

When she woke the next morning, light was spilling through the open curtain to the barracks and she was confused to find that she was all alone. All around her, the other bunks were empty with clear evidence that they had been slept in, but no giants. She found it very odd that she had not been awoken with the rest of them, but as she thought about it further, she decided not to question it and enjoy the relative quiet and comfortable place on Yale’s pillow. However, just as she was drifting back to sleep, the light from the kitchens flickered and she opened her eyes to see Farris standing next to the bed, looking down at her with an amused smirk.  

“Enjoy yer pitty sleep, Dumplin’?” he asked. She stretched and tried to bury herself further into plush bedding while making an incoherent mewling sound that translated roughly to ‘I still wanna sleep’. Farris laughed and slapped the wooden support of the bunk above. “Yer burnin’ the mornin’ away, lass. C’mon, up with ya. Yer with me today.”  

She mumbled something in reply, but her words muffled by the pillow.  

“Well, suit yerself,” Farris replied, walking back through the curtains and yelling back to her, “Ya just wont be gettin’ any breakfast then.”  

Nenani pushed herself upright, strands of wild frizzled hair draping over her face and she hollered back. “No! Wait! I want breakfast!”

Nenani rolled down the pillow and hastily clambered down the side of the bunk and stopped just outside the barracks entryway where Farris’s boots blocked her path. He looked down at her expectantly and raised an eyebrow. “Yer lookin’ a lil’ bushy there, lil’un.”

Nenani ran her hands over her head and tried to brush down her wild hair. She had not braided it the day before as she normally did to keep it neat as Lolly had shown her, and having slept with it unbound had left her with quite a mane. Farris watched her try to tame her hair for a moment before shaking his head and bending down, crooking his finger at her and trying not to laugh. “C’mon, lass. Ya can try and manage that thing over yer porridge.”

Farris sat her on the long table with a small helping of porridge and handed a note off to a footman before disappearing into the spice pantry. Kol and Quinn were in the throws of the last big push for the morning’s baking and had no time for morning greetings as servants and footmen flooded in to collect their offerings onto trays and into baskets for the upstairs tables. Herit was on pit duty and still wore his torn shirt, now repaired, but not very well.  

“Feeling better?” he asked, smiling at her despite the arduousness of his task.

“Yeah, a lot,” she replied, flushing a little in embarrassment. “It was just a nightmare. Sorry for screaming...”

“I had real bad nightmare once,” Herit told her. “I dreamed that m’ old Gran visited me here and she started yelling at me fer not puttin’ enough sultanas in the scones like she’d taught me,” he said. “Then she turned into Farris, but still had on Gran’s frock and I ended up brunin’ the scones.”  

Nenani snorted into her porridge, which Herit deemed a victory, but his smug grin dropped as soon as Farris exited the spice pantry. The spice master pinned the younger Vhasshalan with a warning eye. “I don’t wanna be hearin’ nothin’ about me wearin’ yer Nan’s frock again, Herit.”

“Aye, boss.”

“Good lad. Keep that spit going now, no slackin’. It’ll put some strength into them beans ya call arms.”  

Red in the face with both embarrassment and exertion, Herit turned his attention back to turning the iron handle of the spit. A fat boar, just barely showing any color, rotated slowly over the fire. Nenani ate her breakfast, watching the comings and goings of the kitchen in full swing. When no one was looking, Kol ran over and slipped her a piece of sweet roll and then gave the remaining portion to Herit, who gratefully stuffed it into his mouth. When Farris walked back into the main kitchen, the young giant hurriedly began to turn the spit faster to make it appear that nothing was amiss while trying to quickly chew and swallow.  

Farris had began to organized a selection of various cloth covered pots and small satchels filled with herbs, placing the lot of them in a basket. Once satisfied,  he set a kettle onto to the fire and then took a moment to check the rotating boar. He hummed disapprovingly and turned his head to bark at Herit that he was turning too fast.  

“Yer gonna drop dead at that pace,” he warned. “Steady, boy.”

“Avery makes this look so easy...” Herit grunted, wincing as he went. “No wonder he’s built like a bull.”  

“Let that be a lesson to put ya off from fightin’ in my kitchen,” Farris laughed. “Think about yer sore arms next time ya get the urge to throw a punch.”

“What’s this about fighting?” Nenani’s head turned at hearing the familiar female voice and she smiled brightly as Lolly stepped down from the servants stairway and into the kitchen.  

“Nothing, lass,” Farris assured her. “The tenderfoots got into it last night. Gjerk’s got a busted lip, but that’d be the worst of it.”  

Lolly looked Herit up and down with a critical eye. She did not seem impressed. “Brawling at your age? Really. Your mother would swat you.”

“Already did it fer her,” Farris quipped proudly. “Pit duty fer that one today, then Gjerk’s turn tomorrow. A few hours turnin’ a boar will do the trick nicely.”  

“I suppose it would,” Lolly said approvingly before turning her attention to Nenani who was standing near the edge of the table. She crouched down, smiling brightly and gently took each of Nenani’s hands in hers, playfully swinging them to and fro. “But I’ve come to check on this one. How are you, my darling?”

“I’m doing good,” Nenani said. She had not seen Lolly very much at all since first arriving in Vhasshal as her duties kept her very busy and it made her that much happier to see her again. Lolly and the other lady servants had been so charitable to her and she had never forgotten that kindness. Lolly laughed lightly, turning her attention to Nenani’s wild mane of unkempt hair. “What are we going to do with all this? Haven’t you been keeping it tied up like I taught you?”  

“I have, I promise,” she assured Lolly. “But I didn’t yesterday. I...forgot.”  

“She had quite th’adventure yesterday,” Farris added. “Suppose ya heard all about the Ibronian.”

“Creag?” Lolly asked, saying his name almost like a curse. She scowled at the mentioning of it as though it left a sour and unpleasant taste in her mouth. “Yes, I am regretfully very familiar with his person.”

“S’ya hear about him tyrin’ t’kill Jae, then?”

“I did,” Lolly said, looking genuinely concerned. A stark contrast to how Nenani recalled the last time she had spoken about the King’s ward. “He isn’t hurt is he?”

“Nah, the brat’s still in one piece,” Farris assured her. He jerked his head down in gesture towards Nenani. “That one was with ‘im when the Ibrinoan went after ‘im though.”  

Lolly’s eyes grew wide.  

“What? No!” Lolly turned her attention back to Nenani, seeming to be searching for some evidence of injury or trauma. “He didn’t hurt you, did he? Ah! That bastard, I could skin him.”

“Oh, ho-ho!” Farris laughed, eyes bright with mirth at Lolly’s verbal slippage.  “Language, lass!”

“Oh, shut it, Farris. I’m sure she’s heard far worse down here with you lot.”

“Oh, aye,” he agreed. “That she has. But narry ya worry. He wasn’t interested in that one anyway. They’re both fine and unharmed. Rattled a bit maybe, but nothing more. Did manage to lose her marker though.”

“Oh, did she,” Nenani felt her face flush as Lolly hummed thoughtfully, scanning her over with a critical eye. “Well, I see you’ve gotten her a new one.”  

“Keral found her wanderin’ the halls alone,” Farris explained as he retold the story of the prior day’s escapades. He seemed to have been able to find the humor in it and didn’t seem to be at all angry and she was very grateful for that. “And ya know how he gets with ‘em.”

“Oh, you haven’t any standing this that defense,” Lolly reprimanded. “You’re just as terrible. You all had this one absolutely petrified. Took us over an hour to convince her she was safe and no one was actually going to eat her.”

Farris just shrugged noncommittally. He was not denying the accusation.  

“Best way to keep wayward humans from wandering onto the grounds is t’make ‘em too scared to even try,” he said. “’Course that was before I decided I’d keep her. Then she caught the reap.”  

Lolly’s eyes turned sad for a moment and she nodded knowingly.

“So it’s true then?” he asked her suddenly, bringing the topic back to Creag. “He’s bein’ sent off?”

“Yes,” she said. “He was escorted to the border this morning.”

“Suppose the Queen’s not too happy about that.”

“It was her idea,” Lolly replied. “His majesty was going to have him serve a small sentence and return back to her service, but she recommended that he be sent back home.”  

“Really? Well, I find that shockin’.”

“I know what people have been saying about her. And while I don’t think she has not been deserving of some of it, Queen Rosanna is making an effort to conform to our ways.”  

“The humans ya mean.”

“Yes. She’s been very receptive to my and the other ladies advice when we speak of their virtues. The war is over. These people are broken and lost and mean no harm to us. I think we finally began to get through to her and I believe that might have been what angered Creag into action.”

“That’s why he went after Jae? ‘Cause he was pissed his mistress might be changin’ her tune?”

“I don’t know this for a fact,” Lolly replied. “But the day before yesterday was when I suggested she try and make amends with Jae or at the very least allow him to properly apologize for his behavior. As a good faith gesture to the King at the very least. His majesty has been worried that Jae hasn’t come to see him in so long. Since the wedding, I believe. She must have noticed her new husband was not happy about that. And then yesterday Creag did what he did. And now here we are speaking of it.”

Farris leaned against wall, humming contemplatively. “Hm.”

“I was actually hoping to speak with Jae,” Lolly said, craning her head looking about the room. “He is here is he not?”

“Aye,” Farris replied with a nod. “King’s orders were to keep ‘im down here till he collected the brat himself. Bart’s puttin’ ‘im to some weed pullin’ out in the yard. Gotta keep them little hands busy or they’ll find their own trouble.”  

“Ah, good. I will go to him later,” she said, running her fingers over the brush of Nenani’s hair. “For now, though, I think I need to fix this one’s hair before she starts attracting birds.”

“Attracting birds?” Nenani asked bewildered. Farris grinned at them both.  

“She’s sayin’ birds might wanna start buildin’ their nests in yer hair,” he chuckled. “If they haven’t already.”

Nenani opened her mouth to protest, but could not come up with an adequate response.  

“Hm,” Lolly mused, again studying the whole of Nenani’s person. “Maybe a bath first and a change of clothes. Farris, could I trouble you for-”

“Already ahead of ya, lass,” Farris replied, pulling the boiling kettle from the fire and setting it down atop a wooden trivet. “I’ve got a basin ready in the pantry and her spare clothes are in the chest on the shelf just there.”

Lolly nodded approvingly. She gathered Nenani up and tucked her into the crook of one arm and reached for the kettle with her free hand. “If I didn’t know any better, Farris, I’d say you’re starting to become quite good at this.”

“Ain’t nothing to knowin’ when someone needs a bath, lass,” he laughed.  

“I do not stink!” Nenani snapped, incredulous.  

Farris did not reply and Herit just laughed.  

…………………………………….

She had forgotten how nice a hot bath felt, especially as the weather was increasingly cold and rainy. The basin was quite large and its normally use was for pealing giant rhotas, which were just very large potatoes. So she had plenty of room to splash about and Lolly even indulged her and allowed her a few minutes of free play before getting down to the business of actually washing. Her hair, as Lolly warned her, was a beast to get washed and untangled. But at last, Lolly exited the spice pantry with a clean and brushed Nenani. Hair neatly plaited and tied.  

“I’ll talk with the girls about making you some more clothes,” she muttered as she rummaged through the small chest of clothes, all of which had been made by her and her fellow lady servants. “You’ll be growing out of these ones in no time. And a scarf too, I think. And some boots, as well. These slippers are starting to wear awfully thin and – oh! Jae there you are! I had hoped to...why are you all wet?”

Jae had wordlessly entered the kitchens, red faced and fuming. And completely soaked from his head to his toes. Out in the courtyard, Bart was hysterically laughing. Upon hearing Lolly, both Quinn and Kol glanced over and upon seeing the boy’s sorry state, they too let lose a bout of hearty laughter.  

“Yer lookin’ like a drowned rat!”

“Fuck off,” Jae growled.  

“What happened?” Nenani asked.  

“The gutter was clogged,” he growled, not really looking anyone in the face. “I unclogged it.”

“Are you alright?” she asked.  

“No,” Jae replied. “Not really...”

Jae leaped easily down the few steps and into the kitchen proper and made a bee line towards the hearth, ostensibly to warm himself up. Lolly stopped him, blocking his path with her foot.  

“You need to change out of those clothes, young man. You’ll catch sick.”

“Fantastic,” Jae replied flatly, glaring up at the large woman. “But it doesn’t matter anyway since I haven’t any spare clothes.”

“You have plenty in your room,” Lolly replied, returning his glare. “You remember, don’t you? Your room? The one you haven’t even seen in weeks?”

“Well I can’t get to them now,” Jae snapped, raising his voice and becoming visibly agitated. “Warren says I can’t leave till he says so. So here I’m staying. In wet clothes. Because fuck it!”

“Don’t take that tone with me, son,” Lolly shook her head disapprovingly. “What has gotten into you of late? You disappear for weeks at a time and when you do show up you’re in the Library and you don’t speak to anyone-”

“You mean I don’t speak to you,” he spat.  

“Or the King,” Lolly spat back. “Do you have any idea just how worried he’s been?”

“Obviously not enough to actually come and find me!” Jae yelled angrily, his voice breaking. “You tell me that I’m wrong for not going to him? Why did he never come to check to see if I was okay? Because I’m the joke. Oh let’s have a big laugh at Jae! Fucking idiot can’t do anything right. It’s so funny how he got drunk and spilled gravy on the Queen! So embarrassing for him. Let’s laugh at the poor fucking orphan boy who can’t even sleep in his own damn room anymore because some boulder headed lunatic thinks I’m somehow going to kill Vhasshalan’s unborn heir. Isn’t that fucking hilarious!”

No one was laughing anymore and Herit’s winding of the spit had slowed almost to a stop. Both Quinn and Kol were frozen and staring, bowls of dough stopped mid-knead. From the outside courtyard, Yale and Avery poked their heads inside, curious at the commotion.  

“Jae,” Lolly said softly, her words painted with faint concern. “None of that is true...”

“You wanna know why I spend so much time up in the tower with Barnaby and Maevis?” he asked, breathless with emotion and anger and pain. “BECAUSE THEY DON’T MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I’ A FUCKING IDIOT!”

“Alright,” Farris snapped, appearing from behind Lolly. He glowered down at the human boy and reached down to sweep Jae up in his two calloused hands, not very gently either. “That’s enough of yer bellyaching, ya lil’shit.”

Jae was not happy at all as he was lifted off of the ground and he struggled violently, tears blurring his vision. “Farris, I swear to the fucking Gods if you don’t put me down right now-!”  

Farris deftly grasped the boy’s face between his fingers, forcing him to maintain eye contact. “You’ll be quiet is what yer gonna be, boy. Do you understand me?”

Jae’s breathed hard through his nose, nostrils flaring. He glared into the kitchen master’s face, but did not say anything. Farris brought his face closer to Jae’s and lowered his voice in warning. “I said...do you understand?”

Jae jerked his head in something akin to a nod. Satisfied, Farris tucked Jae under one arm and turned to Lolly. “We don’t have anything fer ‘im to change into. Ya mind fetchin’ him something, lass?”  

Lolly looked as though she wanted to say something, but stopped herself. She spared one sad glance towards Jae before nodding to Farris. “I can do that. I won’t be long.”

As Lolly turned to rush up the servants entrance stair well, Farris turned and disappeared into the spice pantry and closed the door behind him.

………………………….

Nenani sat quietly on the table, staring at the green door and worried. Since she first met Jae, she had sensed a sadness about him, hidden under his jokes and laughter. And it made her incredibly sad to know her friend had been hurting and not once had she tried to help him.

She was a terrible friend and it made her feel wretched.  

“Cheer up, Dumplin’,” Yale told her as he took an empty seat near her. “Jae will be fine.”

“He was really sad,” Nenani answered back without looking away from the green door. Her dejected and sad frown gave Yale pause, and he reached out nudged her shoulder. When she turned her doleful eyes to him, he sighed.  

“Remember what I told ya last night?” he asked her. She nodded. “Well, he’s going through that hurt too. Best thing ya can do fer ‘im to keep being his friend, eh? He thinks just ‘cause we give ‘im a hard time means we ain’t ‘is friends, but it ain’t true. Don’t gotta be ‘round here long before ya realize we haze all the tenderfoots. He’s just growin’ up and confused. Old enough to know some things and too young to know anything else. He ain’t the same lil’ urchin the King dragged back from the moors all them years ago. When ya get t’be around his age you’ll understand. The time between being a kid and becoming an adult is really hard and confusing.”

“...will I be that angry?” she asked, not entirely following.  

“I’m ain’t no prophet,” Yale shrugged. “But maybe. Ya both have a lot in common, losing yer folks young. That pain can make ya real angry if ya don’t know what t’do with it.”

She did not find that to be much consolation, but she nodded anyway. Lolly returned a little over twenty minutes later with a small bundle and without any greetings to the others, she went straight for the green door and knocked lightly.  

“It’s me, Farris,” she said. “I have his clothes.”  

The door opened a crack and there were some words exchanged that were too quiet for anyone else to hear. Finally, Lolly nodded and turned back towards the stairway as the green door closed shut once more.  

Yale’s attempt at distraction was to have Nenani name all the herbs and vegetables as he went about his work prepping for the afternoon luncheon. Avery made himself a nuisance of himself by walking near their work table every so often and try to convince her that she was mispronouncing the names.  

“It’s not pars-lee, lass. It’s pear-shly.”

“No it’s not,” she said as he walked away. “Pars-lee.”

“Pear-shly!” he yelled back with a cheeky grin.  

He would repeat the exercise whenever he walked by and over the course of a half hour, its scope extended beyond just the items that they were working with to any random fruit, herb, or vegetable. Yale was no help and allowed the torment, finding it too amusing.  

“Tay-mat-a,” Avery quipped as he walked by with a basket of venison heads to be boiled down, heading out into the courtyard.    

“Tomato!” Nenani yelled back at him.  

Avery poked his head back inside and answered back, “Poy-ta-ta!”

“POTATO!”  

From her vantage point, she could just see Avery’s back as he turned towards the courtyard, but he stopped and turned completely around, hurrying back into the kitchen. He plopped his basket of deer heads onto a counter and peeked back through the archway.  

Yale stared at his fellow cook bewildered. “What’s all this?”

“The King’s in the courtyard,” Avery replied in a hushed whisper.  

Yale started. “What now?”

“The King!” Avery turned to look at Yale with fervent eyes, a mixture of excitement and confusion. “He’s in the yard right now!”

Yale was immediately on his feet and rushed to the archway, peeking out curiously. Nenani saw every muscle in the black haired giant’s body stiffen.  

“Oh, fuck. He is.”

“I wasn’t lying!” Avery protested, still in a hushed whisper.  

“Well so much’a what comes outta yer gob is rubbish,” Yale countered. “I had t’make sure.”

“Ah, go fuck yerself, Yale.”

“Not in front of the King, I ain’t!”  

Avery looked like he wanted stay mad, but his scowl broke and he snickered. Something outside caught both their attentions and they scrambled away from the doorway and stood stiffly to the side. A Vhasshalan guard, dressed in the same type of boiled leather armor as captain Rheil, walked through. He scanned the kitchen, eyes falling to all persons inside.  

“Over here please, gentleman,” he said to Avery and Yale, gesturing with a jerk of his head for them to stand off to the side and away from the door. Both cooks moved with alacrity and stood straight and stiff. He pointed to Herit. “You, over here too.”

Herit looked panicked. “B-but...but I can’t stop spinning the spit sir, it’ll burn!”

“I’m not going to repeat myself, lad.”

Poor Herit was shaking, looking between the guard and the green door and knowing very well what Farris would have to say of he saw Herit walk away from pit duty. Guard's orders or none. With extreme reluctance, Herit stepped away and moved to stand next to Avery and Yale. The guard spotted Nenani on the table and did a double take, blinking. “Ah...uh, y-you’re fine there, human.”

“Oh...okay,” she replied awkwardly. There wasn’t many places she would have been able to go in any case. She couldn’t climb table legs like Jae.  

“William, please,” said King Warren as he stepped into the kitchen. The air seemed thinner suddenly as everyone seemed to breath in all at once. He was much as Nenani remembered him, but he was dressed more formally than she had ever seen and his hair had actually been pulled back into a plait. “These men have plenty to do without us interrupting them. Please, continue as you were. I don’t wish to distract you from your duties.”  

The King nodded to each of the kitchen staff present and he eyes fell to Nenani and he smiled warmly. “I’m glad to see you’re doing well, little ma’am. I do hope these fine fellows have been taking good care of you.”

All of a sudden, Nenani lost all sense of what she should be doing with her hands and her face felt hot. She nodded.  

“A-are you here to see Jae?” She asked, hoping she wasn’t stepping out of line. She suddenly realized she had not curtsied. Did she need to curtsy? How did one curtsy again?

“I am,” he replied with no inflection of irritation. “I’ve come to collect him, actually.”  

There was a part of her that was aware that she was being impertinent and she really just should remain silent, but she decided it was worth the risk. “He’s been really sad. But he won’t say it. And he’s really angry too, because he’s hurting. I think...I think he misses how things were before the wedding. Uh, your majesty.”  

She bobbed awkwardly in a pathetic attempt at a curtsy. Her heart thrummed alarmingly in her chest, hoping she had not insulted the King or spoke out of turn. But the King did not look angry at all. He looked sad in the same way she had seen Jae look sad.  

“Thank you,” he told her, voice gentle and he sounded sincere. “Thank you for taking care of him. He is very dear to me.”  

“You should tell him,” she said. “It would mean more if you told him.”

The King nodded thankfully before turning his attention to the green door. As though sensing, his Majesty’s presence, Farris pushed the door open and stepped through. He bent down in a shallow bow to King Warren. No words were spoken as the King walked to the door, giving Farris a nod before entering. Farris closed the door behind the monarch and stepped aside as the guard took post in front. The kitchen master gave the guard a once over and snorted as he moved away. A glance to his left and upon seeing the boar over the fire standing still, jerked his head towards Herit who was decidedly NOT at the hearth.  

“GET YER ARSE BACK ON THAT SPIT!”  

Herit leaped back to his place and began to spin in earnest, sweating and panicked. “S-sorry!”

Farris loomed over poor Herit, laying into him, but Nenani’s attention was drawn away as she was suddenly swept up and carried out through the archway.  

“W-what?” Nenani looked up to see Avery’s face. He grinned down at her.  

“Got a job fer ya, Dumplin’,” he told her.  

“What job?” she asked, frowning with suspicion. He walked along the side of the wall to a small window set near the ground. It was the window that looked into the spice pantry. He sat her down carefully and stepped back. She looked at him confused. “What?”

“See what the King’s sayin’,” he whispered. “Yer small enough no one’s gonna notice ya.”

“I-I don’t wanna get in trouble!” She replied, matching his hushed whisper.  

“Ya wont!” he assured her before slipping back inside the kitchens.  

She stared incredulously at the spot where Avery had been and then looked around the courtyard to find it quite empty. Bart and Gjerk were no where to be seen and neither was anyone else. Her ears prickled as she picked up the faint sound of the King’s voice and she turned to the window. It was dirty and obscured by weeds. Careful and trying not to make a sounds, she knelt down near the edge of the window and listened.  

“Are you going to speak to me at all?” the King asked.  

She wiped some of the dirt from the window and through it, she could see Jae sitting next to the basin, his hair wet, but now dressed in dry clothing. His eyes were red as though he had been crying.  

“Jae, I know you’ve been avoiding me these last weeks. But this silence is not helping. I cannot fix if I do not know what is wrong.”

“I just want to be left alone,” Jae replied, his voice raw. “I know your busy.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t make time for you. Gods above, I rely on you to give me an excuse not to have to speak with Lord Eldherst. I’ve had to sit through seventeen meetings with that old fart. He is convinced that the south moor would be the perfect spot to erect the new armory.”  

Jae’s morose face cracked a smile. “Heh. Serves you right.”  

The King seemed to take heart in his ward’s small smile. “Please tell me what you want of me.”  

Jae’s smile faded and he looked down at his feet, pained. “I don’t need anything from you that you’ve not already given me. I know...I know I’ve been a brat. I haven’t exactly made this marriage thing easy for you and I’m sorry for what happened at the wedding. I thought it would be easier for me to just...not be around while you and the Queen...y’know. Got to know each other?”  

The King looked tired and as Jae spoke, he seemed to wilt. “Rosanna does not hate you, Jae, if that what you fear. She wants a chance to apologize to you properly.”  

“Why? What does she have to apologize for?”

“For driving you away. From me.” Jae had spent most of the conversation staring at his feet, but upon hearing that, he looked up. “You are very dear to me, Jae. I owe you so much that I could never put into words and will be in debt to you for the rest of my life.”

“You don’t owe me anything Warren,” Jae snapped. “I was gonna die out there if you hadn’t found me. You took me in, clothed and fed me, you even taught me to read! I don’t want to be a burden or to get in the way. I don’t feel like there’s a place for me here anymore. So, it’s just easier this way.”

The King crouched down so as to be eye level with the human. “Why would you ever think you’re in the way?”

“You’re gonna have a kid soon,” Jae replied, scrubbing fiercely at his leaking eyes. “There isn’t a place for me by your side anymore. I...I k-know I’m not...I’m not your son, so...”

Jae’s words broke and he shook with real effort to hold back his emotions. King Warren looked awestruck and horrified. Then without a word, he reached out his arms and wrapped them around Jae, drawing the sobbing youth into him and tucking him into the crook of his shoulder.    

“What would make you ever believe that?” the King demanded. “Of course you are my son. From the moment we left those moors, I took on that mantle and I will never betray that vow. You are my son, Jae. And I love you dearly.”  

Jae’s eyes were wide and he shook as he began to cry and hiccup. His face disappeared as he buried it into the King’s shoulder.    

“Of course you are, you daft boy!” the king answered, though Nenani did not hear the question. She felt her cheeks and there were wet. But she was not sad. She felt happy and relieved and looked down at the King of Vhasshal, an imposing giant with the power of an entire kingdom behind him. And there was Jae. A human. Small and penniless. And she felt so happy for them.

The back of her shirt was abruptly yanked upwards and she was swept up from her spot on the ground and lifted high into the air. A warn calloused hand wrapped around her middle and she found herself the focus of a very unamused Farris. “Just what in seven hells d’ya think yer doin’?”

“Nothing...” she replied meekly.  

“Nothing,” he echoed back, clearly seeing through her. “’Nothing’ she says. First yer caught stealin’ from th’ King and now I catch ya spyin’ on ‘im? Yer sure determined to see them dungeons, ain’t ya, Dumplin’?”

“No!” she said, worried now. “I didn’t...I wasn’t! It...it was Avery’s idea!”

Farris covered her with his hand, muffling her cries of protest and shook his head with a long suffering sigh. “Yer hopeless, lass. Right ‘n properly hopeless.”

[devillain]

Fear of Dogs, Dog Nicknames, and Doglike Tendencies

fear of dogs

Carlos has an obvious fear of dogs. For him his Cynophobia goes well beyond the words his mother said to him to make him fear them.

Carlos’ fear is ingrained in him. There are very very few dogs on the Isle, partially because of Cruella’s obsession with furs. The few dogs on the Isle are also associated with “evil” and aren’t the nicest. Carlos has had exactly one interaction with them, and he peed his pants, he was only 5 give him a break. But this interaction, when he reiterated it to his mother, is what started that conditioning to fear dogs. It was something Cruella used to keep a hold on him, and it worked, it worked so much he almost did not go to Auradon because of his fear of dogs.

Carlos’ first interaction with Dude is one of the most terrifying things he does in Auradon. Carlos hid it very well, but petting Dude was huge. The entire time he held Dude he was tense. He half felt like the dog knew who his mother was. Dogs tend to sense that, especially with Carlos. Cruella’s legend and story are passed around the canine world. So he was terrified Dude would attack him especially after Ben left. Dude had licked him and Carlos knowing nothing about Dogs, was pretty sure the dog was tasting him.

Carlos didn’t hold him for long when Ben left. In fact he essentially dropped the dog, and he and Dude had a stare down. Carlos then carefully left and Dude followed him which only added to his anxiety.

Eventually Carlos got used to Dude. It wasn’t overnight, and the dog only started sleeping in his and Jay’s dorm when coronation was upon them. Other small dogs were okay at a distance. Dude was the only dog he trusted so he carried Dude around because at some point it became a bit like a safety blanket.

However Carlos cannot handle big dogs, or dogs that bark alot. There are days where he can’t even handle Dude. Even into the time frame of Descendants 2, he just gets hit with a bunch of emotions that he can’t handle. His mom’s voice in his head is extra loud, every thing is too much and Dude becomes something he fears, and something he doesn’t want to get hurt because he struggles to not obey his mom’s voice.

It takes Carlos a few years to get used to dogs of all sizes. And even then it is a very very rocky road. He gets used to them, and really used to them when he goes to college, when he meets the Radcliffes, and gets his service dog Laurie, a dalmatian.

dog nicknames

First things first, Carlos is allowed to refer to himself in that manner (look I found a use for the dumpster fire that is book 4) because his chat name is in fact C-Dog. Carlos is okay with three people calling him Pup, the go to, or any dog related thing other than Pet. Those three people are Jay, Evie, and Mal. Those are the only people who have either express permission from Carlos to call him that, or Carlos has never complained about being called that by them (save for the one time with Evie in book 1 when they first met and even then it wasn’t a nickname). The only other person who calls him dog names, and dog related names that he will never put a fight against is his mother. It is canon she referred to him as pet, Evie thought he was a dog after all. Carlos will never correct his mother on this, or ask her to stop. The one exception being my left behind verse, where you can add Uma to the list.

If your muse was not listed above, it is safe to assume that calling him Pup, or Spots, and Dog-Boy, or whatever is not allowed. Carlos will automatically not like you. Carlos is not really a fan of nicknames in general. Carlos is just fine, and C is okay if you know him really well, Los is also permitted. Carlos however will not stop most kids on the Isle from doing it, though they do it in a more mocking tone rather than an actual nick name. He’ll tell them to stop, but it wont do much.

Carlos is so sensitive about the dog nicknames because of his mother. Everything with his mother is a pretty touchy subject. He loves a woman who abhors him, he atones for her wrong doings because he doesn’t think she can, and he truly does care for her in a weird fucked up way. However, when he was little he was treated like a dog, some of those behaviors have stuck with him, for example unless permitted he wont sit in a room, and when allowed he’ll only sit where directed, or he’ll sit on the ground. His go to is sitting on the ground if not told where to sit. With being treated like a dog— a puppy— whatever, came the first of the dog nicknames. Carlos never corrected his mother.

The nicknames are a sensitive subject with him because with the Core 4 they know enough to know what they really mean, no one else does, so calling him by those names is doing more than just putting Carlos in a bad mood, its reminding Carlos that for his entire child hood he wasn’t considered human. Carlos likes his name and would encourage people to call him by it.

doglike behaviors

Carlos has doglike tendencies, the core of these comes form his mother. His mother from the time he could crawl treated him like a puppy. When he could walk on two legs, she did what she could to keep him on all fours, which is when she started to give him chores.

She called him derogatory terms, and put to use much of the dog stuff in her basement. We know she locked him in the crate, I imagine for a while it happened at night, until it got too small for him to actually be able to fit in it. But he was still put in for punishments. She also called him “Pet”.

Because of these instilled and learned dog behaviors they carry over into his normal life. For example he doesn’t sit til told, and if given the option in a non-school setting he wont sit on the furniture. He does his best to not think about why he does things when and why he does them. The small behaviors don’t bug him like being called “Pup,” or “Runt,” or “Dog” does. Granted “Runt” and “Dog” bug him no matter who says it, but Mal. Evie, and Jay are all allowed to call him that without him getting pissed off. Anyone else shouldn’t do it, no matter what, that doesn’t stop the entire Isle from it. He also doesn’t correct people about it, like ever. Evie is least likely to do it because of their conversation from when she realizes that Cruella was referring to Carlos all those years and not an actual dog, and the fact that Carlos says it triggers him (granted I am not a fan of that phrasing in the book but we’ll go with it).

Behaviors that he does WITHOUT realizing:

Growling when angry or adrenaline is rushing (so for this and the one below Carlos does know he growls especially after Jay tells him— however Carlos does not realize when he does it, unlike when he whines and whimpers)

Growling to assert dominance and to protect protect

Tilts his head (you know the thing dogs do, he knows he tilts his head but he does not realize it is a dog behavior)

Run to just get pent up energy out (ie zoomies)

Chew lollipops and suckers instead of licking them like a dog would chew a bone

Play with toilet paper, trying to build things or whatever, picking it apart, but making a mess in the end

Makes a nest out of his bed when sleeping

Doesn’t sit til told

Opts to sit on the ground over furniture

Behaviors that he KNOWS he does:

Whine (whether this be in a form of begging, or not)

Whimper in his sleep (due to nightmares mostly)

Beg

Jump at people who he thinks he has an upper hand on

Cower when corrected

Run to avoid punishment (unless its Cruella)

While not a behavior his freckles are often linked with dalmatian spots (thanks to Cruella, it makes him oddly proud of them because he was born with them unlike dalmatians who are born sans spots)

Obeys direct orders

*both of these lists are ongoing

Carlos’ behaviors are best left not talked about. However that doesn’t stop people from talking about them, especially in Auradon when people notice it. It causes questions as to who his father is, many under the impression that it could possibly an anthropomorphized animal turned human such as King John from Robin Hood’s story. The truth is not so crazy.

Carlos is aware he has dog behaviors he fully accepts that as a fact of life, just as he fully accepts that his life is a pun and he must live with that. That does not mean he necessarily likes them being brought up, even by his best friends. Their are only so many dog jokes a kid can take. He also vehemently denies any of them when they are brought up.

[kataracy]

My job just does not care that rent is like 400+ huh cool cool im about to go awf under this read more if yall dont mind

FREGIURGTTKJLKKSAKDSFKAFSLJL GOD FUCKING FUCK?WHAT IS THE DEAL FFFFFFF ok story time:

So I work at corner bakery cafe its a weird fusion fast casual place where i make $9/hr, less than what i’ve made from my  last jobs but incredibly close to where i live like deadass across the street. So I have a manager that I steadily don’t get along with, he’s a blowhard. He picks a person to be mad at for the day, he hovers, he treats the girls there like his personal punching bags and I noticed all of that and started to dislike him to the point where I just couldn’t work with him. 

I would go in on days where he would close, because i work the night shift (my job favors the day shift btw. They only care about having people work in the day shift the dont give a fuck about night crew is ridiculous how much the dont clean up after their shifts and we have to pick up behind these grown ass women) and i would noticeably make little o no effort to converse with him, I just went in, did my job and went home. 

He would write me up for not saying hi to him. He would constantly start telling the GM I was being insubordinate when i was literally doing everything good at my job except talking to his sensitive ass. So I complained to the GM. I begged him to not put me on any more shifts with this manager because i was Tired of getting written u for nothing and I was tired of not having fun at my job. I was getting anxiety attacks while working with this dude it was so bad because again, he HOVERS. HE STANDS IN THE FRONT WHEN THERE IS OTHER STUFF TO DO AND JUST FUCKING HOVERS LIKE CAN YOU GO FIND SOMETHING TO DO and my GM said ok its fine we know (BECAUSE THE DONT LIKE HIM EITHER WE LITERALLY WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH WE DID NOT LIKE THIS DUDE OK NONE OF THE MANAGERS LIKE HIM) we will try not to put you on the same shift, we’ll let Z (the scheduling manager) know and if u do have to be scheduled with him make sure you find a cover and we’ll tell him to leave you alone because we know you know how to do your job.

So. That was a fucking lie.

They keep scheduling him with me. I tell another manager I don’t like him and why and he says I get it I’ll let B (GM) know. 

So I keep getting scheduled with him. And how the hell am I supposed to know when because, the managers have an entirely different schedule thats just their shifts and its fucking private. They end up scheduling me with him again and again and I just don’t show up one day I let the night manager know hey im not coming in on these 2 days, i found someone for this day but not this one so i hope yall find someone.

And then the next day, im getting called by a coworker like hey where are you are you coming in and i say no. no im not. i gave the managers plenty of time ( a whole fucking day) to find someone else bc they know i dont like working with this man. i said im not coming in repeatedly. im not coming in. but the coworker keeps fucking picking at me and saying hey they dont have anyone can you please come and then i get so pissed off i say im on my way and when i get there the fucking manager says you can go home i found someone.

I get so pissed. Why did you keep calling me then?

I didn;t call you they called you.

and the coworker that kept calling me and making me feel guilty for not wanting to work with this man who makes me uncomfortable and pissed and anxious, is my boyfriend. My fucking boyfriend decided this job was more important than my feelings that day and it was beyond hurtful dude im tearing up just talking about it because god it hurt, it was like a dramatic ass betrayal (AND THAT JOB IS SO DRAMATIC BY THE WAY THEY WILL GET SO FUCKING UNCOORDINATED OVER A SMALL RUSH ITS THE STUPIDEST SHIT)

So I go back there and im so angry now. Why have you been blowing up my phone to tell me to come in and being so dramatic. There arent even any customers in here. Why did you keep calling me asking me to come in when they already found somebody.

They just found somebody.

So you could call me and even come back home to fucking say they asked you to come get me> But you cant find the time to pick up the phone again and send a quick nvm?

The next day im scheduled. Another write up from the manager who loves writing me up. because he couldn’t be a fucking manager and just find a replacement no, he had to call and tattle-tell on me to the GM for nothing. I get called in to office by the scheduling manager.

So GM asked me to have you read this, its a warning. I heard you have problems with B and I din’t know that.

I find out they never fucking told the scheduling manager. they lied to me to just keep me coming in.

And... listen. look. I get that everyone in that place must have a complaint. I get that the managers must hear complaints all the time but. just because they do, does not mean my complaint matters less. Im a young woman who is uncomfortable working with an older male manager, how about yall give a shit about that at least. This job didnt care about me the entire time and that hurts even fucking more.

So now, im only getting two days. Because instead of the other managers just stepping up and working the easy night shift, instead of being accommodating and considerate, they decide to just shit on my feelings like this. 

The last time I went in. the manager is fucking talking to me because thats what fucking happens. The more you work with someone like that, the more they get use to you not liking them and being uncomfortable with them and they decide they dont fucking care, that they dont have o be accountable. that they can just keep messing with you. My last shift was so anxiety riddled I had to excuse myself 5 times (I counted the tissues) to go fucking cry because of how awful it felt to just, be surrounded by so many people who have the power to do something and yet, decide they just dont feel like it. 

He keeps his shifts and i have to deal with having 2.

He works on salary, I have  9 dollars an hour.

my bf and i had to move out of our 1 bedroom that we share with his dad because we needed the space and rent is an extra $100. I broke my glasses last month and cant afford to get replacements so i have been straining my eyes faily. I have to pay a full internet bill from my account and my bf gives me half of that. the dog wont stop fucking barking and giving the cat fleas. My mother and I dont speak, we have no relationship. I dont want to ask my aunts for money any more than i already do, i have no family out here, i only have like 3 friends that are close enough to visit and even then, i dont have a car and “close” equals driving distance and... i’m just

I am so exhausted haha. its been such a long few months. The ups and downs are there but, the downs have been so much more amplified lately its hard to see a silver lining so i just, idk, I dont know. I do not know.

I got our new schedule today. Only two days. This ko-fi stuff and this commission stuff guys its what i have right now. Its what i need to work because nothing else is. lol im not a begging person, im not like... this. Im not so open but, i could really use any help right now, please. Just share the links, if u dont see something u like maybe someone else will, and that hope is the only thing i can look forward to right now. thanks for reading this far if u did. thanks for listening to me yell about avatar for all these years thanks for following me and giving me notes and making me laugh and making me smile and im burned out after all of this so, take care guys.

[abtoddler]

A little melancholia for the day

It’s interesting how far we come and sometimes

Its no where near far enough. When i was younger, I couldn’t tolerate my mother. When shes oh hey, im goin to be a bitch for days, then expect me to talk to her. Its already bad enough shes super dismissive or hateful, and then super concerned so she can ear another tick in her caretaker personality.

Which explains why i need a daddy so much. I al thankful to mine, and my big bro champ, the two of them create a world where i dont have to worry about what occurs outside the front door. - a bit of backstory, and the strings of complaints, spoonie comments, support groups and things like that: i have a chronic pain condition with compression and the slow approach to parapalegia while on the medication, the norco and muscle relaxers to help the sensation of walking on nails, and endless buzz, this is a gift from 14 years ago, that keeps taking the feeling and control of my legs & feet. I also have an inflamatory bowel disease, so its like shitting hot lava. This has been occuring more regular then a ladies period, and has been occuring since longer then I can remember.

Growing up, i would throw up while shitting at the same time for hours ans hours. Get up in the middle of the night and just let it go. Ive turned memory of this shit to another thought. Right now its about how much time i have left, 20 years? That wouls make me 54, if i go out then, or even in the next 35 years wouls make me younger then my adoptive parents.

Now heres a funny thing, since my dad doesnt really keep up with me, mostly my fault because i hate talkin on the phone, and cant exactly travel at the moment. The point is, “oh you still have to go through that, i hadnt heard so i assumed it went away”, its not that” oh i assumed you just stopped having a horrible mutiple times a month for my entire life stomach pain, just stops, because nothing is said about it. Or the trying to convey that i just do not have the means to emotionally handle it, and so cant make effort to do stuff that hurts my heart. The same is whether or not my mother means it. But shes always been cunty when shes not put first, or in control. It’s interesting she abused drugs and alcohol when i moved into my own house the first time. Then the abuse from her starts, getting mad, being dismissive, just down right fucking horrible for no good goddamn reason.

This then causes me to have an emotional shut down, this abuseive crap, this shit makes me not want to be around her. She cant “do” being alone, and it makes her really mean. The more mean she gets, the more i have no desire to fuck with that. The endless complaints, rudeness, snide comments, endless streams of just foulness. Thank you to everyone whose not like this, is what i want to say. Thank you to daddy and champ. Those who “choose” us, and so help up the folk like me who have all sorts of shit to deal with. Its nice having an insulation.

I do not want contact with people who are sneaky and will put someone else under a bus, i do not want folks who do not give more then lip service to”bdsm full exchange” and “demands” that put them ahead of what they want to do with my daddy. Theres so much in this life that i wont be able to do. I have less then most folk i wager. Going by the wayside, posting to the empty vaccum where the internet remembers.

I can do this. I can do one day at a time forever, one moment, that is an endless cycle of sleep. And meds, and pains. The reason i can do this. Family. Good people raised me, but im home for the first time with these last 6 months, 50 or 60 years ahead of me is not enough time for my daddy, for my big bro. There is a ton of the world to see.

These are the thoughts, and feelings ive had since loosing my hope on handling something just a bit better. Its been super dark, with looking at end of life affairs, looking into kinds of burials, and assisted suicide. Everything that would mean i miss everything i want with my family. I do not mind a death I choose. I do not mind my final wishes. What i mind; the knowledge of folks with my kinds of stomach shit dont really see much longer to the older age brackets. It scares the piss out of me, that it could just be done, i wont be able to wake up and work on my grimoires, i wont be able to tell my daddy I love him. Anytime i feel it, i have to say it. That way in all the tiny moments of time, and if folks can remember me. He will know i would always love him, thank him, appreciate him. He is the scope of my world. Anything less then forever is an unacceptable amount of time. The thought of leaving him early scares me. Its my greatest worry, that i will never know enough, or see enough of his life to only see it really start.

Its hard, it sucks. So thats why my grimoire projects will not, end. My desire to be little, and safe and cared for, must be followed right back into daddies arms, and the worlds hes helped build. I ve been trying to process this, its taken a few months, in suspected truth, probably it will be always there. But, i try and focus on projects, on the little things that can be done in a day. I cant care about my mother demanding i go and see her. Or her being a bitch when i do, and leaving her with a “see you whenever” i said “what ever” and just walked out of her apartment the other night.

So, while she feels i should be doing what ever she asks depite my lack or to too much sleep according to her. Not the exhaustion i get subjected to after the fire of hell erupts from my asshole, and causes me to throw up anything left in my stomach. Yea, between that 1-4 hour production of “this is your life” in food I attempted to eat earlier. Shes got stupid questions that have no bearing on day to day shit, and now that shes done fucking making threats at me, she can shut up, while I sort out how to handle her ass, while being with wonderful people, for what will be the rest of my life. However long i can make it. Daddy, makes it worth it, i want to see him and champ be their best selves. I can instead only do everything that i am able to set their roads up, even if i wont get the chance to see how it ends.

I cry, at night, most nights pooh bear has earned his keep as the cuddle surrogate to daddy. My barking dragon doesnt bark, it would randomly do it; making it hard to sleep with. I know that this internet void, is a public place where people will know, coo!. But I need to post this, i need to put it into the world while I think about how i am going to master the coming years, and not let shit get between daddy and champ and all our dreams.

So, while i get word vomity, and sad. The horizon has this light of the future, the single moment of now, stretching on to the morning. The linear path of all actions, thoughts, life and the experiences, its easy when in thinking of daddy, that i can just aim to make the most of the moments with him. That they know he is the best man i have ever known, the range of his character. His way of dominance, his love and zest for life. The way he steps one foot a time to get the big picture. I will walk with him til my story ends. But, daddy i love you, and thank you. I loves that we have forever and ever. Its not long enough.

But anyway this isnt something i can stop thinking, so my hope is putting just this stuff here, will get it out, and lets me sleep tonight. I am trying to post more, to have a place to unload my thoughts. Thank you for anyone who reads this, its just hard to identify the situation at hand, so many moving pieces. I will try not to post to much of this philosophic ramble, and depression.

I will figure on how to deal with it but tonight, it did it’s job and has cleared my head, and given me a look at what i feel is going on. Night tumblr. Thank you for this medium.

[sweetpeaprompts]

Consequences Part Eight

sweet pea x oc

song inspiration: inner demons- julia brennan

warnings: swearing, violence, mentions of past abuse, non-explicit panic attacks

word count: 1.2k

summary: dani, FP’s daughter with another woman is finally going home to southside and staying there for good. she’s glad to be back with her brother jughead, best friends toni, and fangs, and her something more than friends, sweet pea.

masterlist:

part eight:

Your surroundings began to blur and your breathing quickened. You had a death hold on Sweet Peas hand, the only thing grounding you. You knew that not messaging your mom was a bad idea, but you got so caught up in your life in Riverdale and how much better and happier you are here you genuinely forgot to message her. (Not that you even wanted to message her but semantics)

“Pea,” you gasp out. “Get my dad” He looks at you conflicted because he doesn’t want to leave you right now but he nods anyways and runs to get FP. You feel so dumb, reacting this way because you’re a serpent now. You literally just went through the gauntlet and you’re a tough bitch, but your mom makes you feel weak, despite how you show yourself, how you front your confidence, seeing your mom makes all the abuse you suffer burst to the forefront.

“Danielle what the fuck do you think you’re doing in this bar. And your face, what did they do to you?” Eleanor King practically screams. She’s always had a flare for dramatics.

You see your dad, Sweet Pea, Jughead, Toni, Fangs, and basically all of the Serpent head back over to where you stand, read to defend you in anyway. Seeing your friends makes you feel more confident. “Really mother? You’ve seen my face this way before but that’s never bothered you.” You retort, Sweet Pea holding your hand and your dad ready to fucking punch anyone who would bring harm to you. Your moms face contorts to a mixture of anger and humiliation.

“Hello Eleanor.” FP says, smirking at the way your moms façade of confidence seeps out of her when she sees FP. “FP, you look old.” Eleanor responds, trying to seem nonchalant but failing miserably. “Don’t lie darling, I look great.” You hear Jug snort as he moves closer to you, grabbing your other free hand in show of support. Betty on the other side of him, Toni at your back based on the small soothing hand rubbing circles to the small of your back. Fangs is standing beside Sweet Pea. You feel a burst of warmth fill your chest. You’ve finally got a support system and people standing at your back who would burn the world down if it meant protecting you, just like you would do the same for them.

“Enough necessities, El. What are you doing here?” FP barks out. “I’m here to bring my daughter home.” Eleanor was always good at fronting, always having to appear superior, like everyone was an ant under her boot. She was very good at making you think that you needed, that you can’t survive without her. It’s why it took you so long to tell your dad everything, it’s why it took you nearly 17 years to stand up to her and while your mom wasn’t physically abusive like her boyfriends, she was very good at manipulating you to think and do whatever she wanted.

“I am home, mom.” You say quietly but with firmness behind it. Sweet Pea squeezes your hand in reassurance.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Danielle. You are coming home to me and Joe. You have school in a week.” She says incredulously, like she couldn’t believe you spoke back to her. “Actually I’ve file for custody. You should get the papers soon. Dani is also enrolled in Southside high.” FP grins.

“No judge would ever give you custody.” She smirks. “You’re nothing but a Serpent.” She says if that’s a bad thing. “So are you mom. You’re still branded. You can’t hide your true skin that easily. Plus all those years of abuse? I kept record. I have evidence mom. It’s concrete.” You feel like you’re about to pass out but you need to stand up for yourself. Sweet Pea snaked his arm around your waist and without him you think you might fall because your knees are so weak.

“Abuse? What abuse. My god Danielle you’re so dramatic.” You can’t believe that even now she’s denying it, even with the threat of evidence. Maybe she really is that delusional. “You know what I’m talking about mom… you need to leave. I’m at home and safe with Dad and Jug and my friends. They’re my real family.” You plead. Eleanor’s face turns red and she starts spewing profanities and idle threats. To your surprise Betty of all people speaks up.

“Ms. King, you need to stop or I’ll have to call the police.” Eleanor pauses and then barks out a mean laugh. “No cop is going to respond to a call made on the Southside.” She smirks. “Oh I think they will. My name is Betty Cooper, perhaps you know my mom.” Betty grins and you can see a dark undercurrent hiding behind Betty’s eyes. You like this girl even more now. “Plus I’m best friends with the Sheriffs son. He’ll come.”

You mom looks a little scared now, as if she never expected the consequences of her actions. “This isn’t over!” She yells, spittle flying from her mouth and her eyes look crazed. “It is mom. This is over.” You’re proud of how confident the words come from your mouth. You’re starting to think that maybe this actually is over.

“Get out of here Eleanor. Don’t ever come back. I wont ever let you hurt our daughter ever again.” FP says with finality. “If you do ever come back here, you’ll have to deal with the entire gang. You know what Serpents do to those who hurt one of their own.”

Your mom swallows and with one last look at you she nods and runs out of the bar with her tail between her legs. You feel your eyes prick with tears. You know your mom wasn’t a good person, she hurt you and let others do the same but she was your mom. You suppose this is what abusers do, make you miss them even when it’s good they’re gone.

Your dad comes over and envelopes you in a bone crushing hug. He whispers words of love and reassurance in your ear before giving you a kiss on the forehead. Jughead does the same.

“Do you want to go home baby?” Sweet Pea asks in concern. God you love him. “No,” you swallow and wipe away the stray tears that broke free. “I think it’s time to get my Serpent tattoo, Toni designed it for me” you smile meekly.

Sweet Pea looks at you incredulously before responding, “God I love you.”

You’re not over the night, your mom showing up really spooked you but you’re surrounded by people who love you and who you love. You’ll be ok.

You always are.

xxx

and there we go! part eight is here! so sorry for the wait guys, i was working a 9 day stretch and i was fucking exhausted. i hope you like it!

tag list: send me an ask if you want to be added!

@jasmienemien @lowkeykinkywifey @unaveragewriterfreak @serpent-squad @breeisnotamazingx @cupcaitlyn96 @xdontxcare @abbigail-583 @serpentsweetspea @princessimprefection @kreepykittyart @serpentsangel @impala-baby-winchester @melancholy-queen @soffie-toscana

[betweensceneswriter]

Island Hopper - Chapter 4: Skinnydipping

Just what it sounds like. . .

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Previously on Island Hopper Chapter 3 : Hashtag Blessed

The Scots make an effort to be culturally thoughtful for their American friend.

    Leika was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever met, with dark hair and dark eyes, high cheekbones, and the most perfect shade of mocha skin.  She’d already been obviously pregnant when I arrived, even in the body-hiding muumuus she and the other Marshallese women wore.  Now that she was nearly nine months along, she walked with the distinct sway of a very uncomfortably pregnant woman. She smiled as she entered the clinic door, and I quickly ushered her to a chair.

    As I examined Leika, Sharbella explained that women out on Arno didn’t tend to rely on the care of medical professionals to give birth.  The local women had been helping their daughters and granddaughters, sisters and nieces to give birth for centuries.  However, Sharbella told me, Leika wanted me to be there for the birth.  The younger generation put value on Western education and Western medicine.

     “Did you go to the Peace Corps school?” I asked her.

     “Yes,” said Leika shyly.  “But I forget a lot of my English.”

     “Well, I’m still learning Majel,” I said understandingly.  “The children say, ‘Miss Peachay ej ba kon jiddik nin͂nin.”  It made Leika laugh to hear that the local kids still told me I talked like a tiny baby whenever I tried to engage them in conversation.

     “How long you take classes to be nurse?” Leika asked me.

     “Emān iiō,” I said.  “Four years.  And then two more, to become a nurse practitioner.  That means I can do some things a doctor could do.”

    Leika looked at me with wistful admiration.  I wondered what she would have become if she’d grown up in a more westernized culture or a larger place with more job opportunities.

     “Well, this little dude is getting big,” I said, taking the measuring tape off of her belly.  “I’d say you have anywhere from a day to a couple of weeks before he shows up.  First babies tend to decide when they are going to come—and that’s going to be one of three: early, right on time, or really late.”

    Leika looked at Sharbella for the translation, and I smiled apologetically.  With Leika being in her early twenties, it was easy to fall into patterns of talking to her like she could easily understand me.

    I helped her off the exam table, and she smiled.  “I send my brother to get you when time comes.”

     “Good,” I said.  “I am happy to be able to be there to help, and to make sure the baby is healthy.”

    It had been a while since my midwifery rotation, and I wanted to refresh my memory in case Leika went into labor anytime soon, so that evening I sat at the kitchen table with my huge textbooks spread out in front of me.  Today was definitely one time I really missed having access to phones and the internet.  To be able to look up articles, call or email Joe, or watch a video refresher course would have made the process a lot easier.  It felt a little like being back in school, poring over the books and taking notes.  I was grateful, actually, that the local women felt so confident helping in the birthing process, because I’d only been present at a few, and had never presided over a delivery.

    I looked up from scribbling down some suggestions to ease the pain of the mother during labor as well as the basic time line for the phases of delivery to see Jamie staring at me from his spot on the bed where he had been reading a novel, now leaning back against several pillows, a half-smile on his face.

     “I never knew that I could feel this way about a person.  My heart aches, just looking at ye.  Will you come over here so I can hold ye?” He had such longing on his face, my own heart responded with a similar ache.

    Grateful for any excuse to leave the dry academic reading behind, I walked over to the bed.  Jamie reached out his hand to me, and ushered me into his arms.  His chest beneath his tee shirt was warm, and the arm behind me was warm.  I felt slightly sticky.

But, you know, he’s actually wearing a tee shirt.  And she has clothes on.

     “It’s so hot,” I groaned.  “I think you and I should live at the North Pole, just so we can cuddle as much as we want to.”

    Jamie’s chest leapt under my ear as he chuckled. “Scotland might be cold enough,” he offered.

     “Is it?” I asked.  “I’ve never been.”

     “Hmm.  I have an idea,” Jamie whispered into my hair.  “Do ye want to go skinny-dipping, Ripalle? If we get cold, it’ll feel good to cuddle each other…”

    I met his eyes, raised my eyebrows, and with a suggestive smile on my face I reached across him to turn off the lamp.

    We giggled as we turned off the remaining lights and stripped off our clothes.  In the darkness, I reached for Jamie, finding his hot flesh grown even warmer with his excitement.  He gasped as I ran my hands down his firm body, pulling him to me as I grabbed his backside.

     “Sure you want to go out there?” I asked, as he stroked my hips, then cupped my breast and groaned.

     “Aye,” he said, removing his hands from me.  “‘Tis a boyhood fantasy come true if we do.”

    We wrapped ourselves in towels, and I grabbed a sheet, thinking that should we decide to make love on the beach, I’d rather not get sand in my crevices.

    It was a challenge to avoid descending into laughter and alerting our neighbors, but we managed to feel our way across the yard in the darkness.  Then we dropped our towels at the crest of the beach, Jamie leading me by the hand into the ocean.  Our one concession to safety was that both of us were wearing water shoes.  It would be no laughing matter to step on a sea urchin or poisonous cone shell.

    The tide was on the low side, so we had to wade out a distance before the water reached Jamie’s chest.  By that time it would have been up to my neck, but before then Jamie had put his arms around me, I wrapped my legs around him, and he muscled both of us through the water.  The air was cooler, and the water felt nearly cold, so I relished having the heat of Jamie’s body against mine.

    Jamie stopped walking finally, and began exploring my curves with his hands.  “Oh, Claire,” he started to wax poetic, as he was wont to do when the nearness of my body was driving him mad. “Your body is so luscious…your breasts like…”

     “Shut up and kiss me,” I said, pulling my body closer to his.  In the darkness, I focused on sensations: the slow surge of cold waves making us sway together, the soft pressure of Jamie’s mouth on mine, his tongue exploring the perimeter of my lips, gently tasting my tongue.  He cupped my buttocks and lifted me higher, bringing my cleavage up towards his mouth, sampling the skin under my ear, my neck, and my collarbone.  As he drew one nipple between his lips, electric shocks traveled from my breasts to my groin.  Jamie latched on to my nipple, suckling me until I could feel the pressure of arousal flood my abdomen.

     “God, Jamie,” I said, lifting his face up towards me, wrapping my arms around him and clinging to him with my legs. I felt desperate for him to enter me, but inwardly acknowledged to myself that he often spent so much time on me that he didn’t get a chance to receive.

     “Take us shallower,” I gasped, trying to slow myself down so I could focus on him.   He obeyed, returning to a depth where I could again stand, putting me at just the right height to lick the salt water from his nipples and reach my hands around to grab his muscular ass.

    Both of us laughed at precisely the same moment, which made us pull apart for a split second, and each offer our own explanations.

     “I love knowing exactly how much you want me,” I murmured into his damp chest hair, running my hand down his belly to seize the clear evidence.

    A chuckle rumbled through Jamie’s chest. “I was just wondering if there was a dangerous level of being aroused.  I feel like I’m going to burst.  Or pass out, one of the two.”

     “To shore, then?” I asked. “I only foresee a sandy disaster or dual drowning if we try to make love out here.” Jamie laughed in response.

    We sloshed back to shore, stopped frequently by the magnetic pull of each others’ bodies and lips.  It took a few minutes, but we found our towels and dried ourselves off…slightly.  Jamie was desperate for me now, and dropping his towel, he lifted me as if I weighed nothing, and with my towel still around me, he pressed me against the rough bark of the closest coconut palm.  With his arms holding my thighs, Jamie grunted, easing himself in partway, and then withdrawing.

     “Christ, yer so wet you’re practically dripping,” he moaned, the next few slow strokes proving he was not exaggerating.

    I grabbed him around the neck, supporting my weight slightly, as the pace of his movements and his volume indicated he was very close.

     “It’s no working for ye?” he panted. “I dinna think I can wa…” He spasmed, jarring my back against the tree repeatedly, and ending with one crushing thrust, then gently releasing me to the ground.

     “I’m sorry, Claire,” he murmured.  “Did I hurt ye?  I was rough.   And I didna wait for ye.”

     “Don’t apologize,” I said.  “That was sexy.  I just…”

    He was on his knees in front of me before I could finish my sentence.  This time it was me panting and moaning as he explored me with his tongue and fingers, caressing my rear and thighs with his strong hands.  My climax announced itself with whimpering gasps, and when I had ceased my shaking, Jamie kissed me on the thigh and stood up.

    I clung to him for a moment until my own lightheadedness faded.

     “That was somethin’,” I whispered.  Jamie laughed, we gathered up towels and the sheet, and headed back into the house.

    Back in the apartment, we met each others’ eyes in amusement as we each returned to our former tasks.  Jamie wrapped himself in his sarong, but I was still feeling damp and sat down at the table with my towel wrapped around me.

    After just a few minutes of silence, though, Jamie spoke.  “Christ, Ripālle, you are so sexy.” He stared at me from his spot on the bed, shaking his head.

     “Says the man on the deserted island,” I grinned back at him.  “Flatterer.”

    I noticed then that Jamie looked uncomfortable, needing to speak.  “I’ve been wondering something, and I want ye to be honest wi’ me, even if it hurts me.”

     “Absolutely, Jamie.  What do you want to know?”

     “Did ye make love to Frank, to say goodbye?” He was struggling to meet my eyes.

     “No!” I exclaimed earnestly.  “What made you ask that?”

     “I just…when I first heard about Frank, when I first met you, I couldna understand how a man could let his fiancé leave him behind.  And that was before I had any idea what making love wi’ ye was like, what you were like as a sexual partner.”

     “Well, honestly, Jamie, I wasn’t this kind of sexual partner with Frank.”

    Jamie looked taken aback.  “What do ye mean?” he asked.

    I felt slightly embarrassed, and didn’t want to expose Frank to judgment.  “You are eager, enthusiastic, generous, and very complimentary, and that inspires me to generosity as well.  Frank and I had kind of gotten in a rut.  Sex was good, but pretty routine.  What we have together is anything but that.”

    Jamie had been looking down at his hands with a shy smile, but then he met my eyes with an intense gaze. “Still, Claire, how would any man who had ever been with ye keep his hands off you?  And you and Frank were even in a hotel room together.  Didn’t he try?”

     “He did kiss me,” I admitted.  “He wanted to see how I responded to him.”

     “And did you respond to him?  Did you want to make love to him?”

    I looked at Jamie, inwardly debating whether he could handle the truth. “I didn’t feel like I used to, but I considered it.  He was so sad.  That’s how I used to comfort him.”

    Jamie’s face was stricken.

     “But I couldn’t, Jamie,” I insisted, leaving the table and coming to sit by him on the bed.  “I didn’t want to.  It would have been cheating on you.”

     “Aye,” he said, nodding his head.

     “You knew you were taking that risk when you sent me, Jamie,” I said. “How did you do that?”

     “I kent it was risky,” he said.  “And I did feel a fool once you were gone.  Murtagh said I definitely was one; that if I’d been in my right mind I would never have let you go.”

     “You trusted me, Jamie,” I said.  “That meant a lot to me.  And it made me choose–it made me decide what was most important to me.  Even though I didn’t want to go with Frank, you were right to force me.”

     “I just wondered.  Cause the next day, you were crying when we made love.  And I wondered if maybe ye felt guilty.  Or sad about Frank.”

     “No, I just feel a lot, now that I’ve come back.  I’m grateful for someone who loves me so fully, who focuses on me.”

    Jamie still looked disconcerted.  “You loved Frank once, and you stopped.  I dinna want to, but sometimes I find myself wondering: how can I know you won’t change your mind?”

    I turned to Jamie, and grasped both his hands in mine.  Looking in his eyes, I said, “Til death parts us—and maybe even past then.”

    His blue eyes were wide as he looked at me.

     “It’s a vow, Jamie,” I said.  “We have something special here.  It’s worth protecting.  It’s worth fighting for.  When I proposed marriage, you said marriage wasn’t something you took lightly.  That when you got married it would be forever.  Well, I promise that, too.”

    He stroked my hands with his, running his long fingers over the simple gold band on my third finger.

     “Til death parts us –and even past then,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss on my lips.  Then he lay back against the pillows, and I reclined next to him.

     “So, you joked about moving to the North Pole,” Jamie said.  “Have you thought much about the future?”

     “Not really,” I said.  “In Boston, I was just focused on school and then work.  Every once in a while I thought about what it would be like to have kids.   But I wasn’t much of a dreamer back then, though I’ve always wanted to be an adventurer. How about you?”

     “I dinna ken, really.  I know I like kids.  I know I love you.  I miss Scotland, but I dinna ken if I’ll be able to go back there, with my record.  But, I want to do something good, ye know?  Like, there’s already enough evil in the world.  I want to be good.”

    I snuggled under his arm, the residual chill from the ocean making me relish Jamie’s internal furnace.  “Well, we both chose service professions.  Helping people, healing people, teaching people.  Nursing and teaching are both flexible careers, which we could take anywhere in the world.  But for the present, we’re here.  In this incredible, beautiful place, with each other.”

     “Aye,” said Jamie.  “And that’s good enough, for now.  Whether we adventure in the future will be up to both of us.”

    I sighed in his arms, relishing the thought that no matter what life brought, I would have this.  Suddenly I wanted to look at him, so I sat up, letting my eyes settle on his face, the strong jawline with a little bit of reddish scruff.  The thoughtful blue eyes, under eyebrows that currently were asking me why I was looking at him.  I reached up to touch one of his red curls, still damp from our ocean adventure.  And then I looked at his chest, the muscles of his abdomen, the cut of his hipbones, the strong lines of his thighs beneath the sarong, his copper leg hair, and his long toes.  Having filled my eyes with my handsome husband, I lay back down again.

     “Now, what was that?” he laughed, as I leaned against him again.

     “You’re so handsome, Jamie.  I like to look at you,” I said, feeling him chuckle beneath me.  “I was just thinking that even if I don’t know what the future will hold, I’m pretty happy about the person who will be there with me.”

     “My turn,” he said.  “But I need you naked.”

     “That’s not necessary,” I responded, instinctively bringing my hands up to where the towel was tucked in at my chest.  “Besides, we already had sex.”

     “I just want to take in your beauty,” he said.  “Nothing sexual about it.  Like seeing a nude statue in a museum.”

    I hesitated.

    “Will ye please?” he asked, eyes twinkling, raising his eyebrows.  “Ye did tell me the other day that I was to enjoy you with my eyes.”

    “Tsk,” I rolled my eyes.  “You would use my own words against me.”  I rested my head on one hand.  “Okay, unwrap me.”

    From the care he took in untucking the towel and uncovering me, I got a feeling that Jamie was a child who didn’t destroy the wrapping paper on Christmas morning.  Then he took his own turn gazing up and down at me, a look of longing, love, and pained desire on his face.  He met my eyes in a question, and I nodded.  As he continued to caress me with his eyes, he reached out his hand and stroked my body, his fingers gentle and warm. The directness of his gaze was almost disconcerting, so I lay back against the pillows and closed my eyes, focusing on his touch, like angels’ wings on my skin.

   “Claire,” he whispered.  I opened my eyes, to see his face inches from mine. “I dinna think I could love ye any more than I do right now,” he said, leaning in to seal our union, again, with a kiss.

On to  Chapter 5 : Telephone

Jamie does a science project with his students.

[oraclesoftime]

Futures Known But Unspoken

CHAPTER 20 Patience is A Virtue Lane was woken up by someone shaking her shoulders, the woman groaning slightly before turning her head to see Balin standing behind her. “Wake up and gather yourself lassie; we’re leaving,” the older dwarf claimed, releasing her shoulder. Lane groaned again but nodded, knowing that they had stayed long enough as it was. Balin quickly left the room as Lane managed to drag herself out of her bed and throw on her clothes, flinching and letting out a small whimper when the collar of her tunic brushed against her head. After readying herself and quietly leaving her room, she quickly found the others silently standing by the stairs, Belle appearing behind her not a minute later with something strapped onto her back that Lane didn’t recognise. “Let’s go,” Thorin ordered, leading the way. Everyone nodded and followed after their leader, being sure to keep quiet so that their leaving would go unnoticed. Belle quickly fell in step with Lane giving her friend a groggy smile which Lane did her best to return. “Is that a bow and quiver?” Lane asked with a small laugh. “Yeah, as much as I wanted to stick by your side when you were knocked out, everyone kept hounding me to do something. Glorfindel was actually the one who helped me to learn, this is the bow he offered to make me yesterday,” Belle hummed, taking the weapon off of her back and showing it to her friend. “So that’s why you seemed so relaxed around him; you’d met him before,” Lane hummed, finally connecting the dots. “Well I’m glad you weren’t moping, not like it ever does any good.” Belle rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile that spread across her features, pulling on the bow string a few times causing it to make a small humming noise before placing it on her back once again. As the group reached the borders of Rivendell, rather than taking the path they had coming in, Thorin lead them out a hidden eastern road that had them climbing up a nearby cliff. “Well I hope you’re happy,” Lane whispered. “About what?” Belle asked, giving the taller a confused look. “We won’t be riding ponies until… later,” Lane snickered, giving her friend a knowing look. Belle couldn’t help but beam, the smile quickly leaving her face however when Lane teetered to the side mid-step, Belle’s arms instantly shooting up to steady her. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Belle asked, a small whimper in her voice. “I’ll be fine, just a little woozy,” Lane sighed, managing to steady herself before walking forward again. Belle could only nod as she continued to follow after her friend. “Be on your guard, we’re about to step over the edge of the wilds,” Thorin claimed, no longer having to whisper. “Balin. You know these paths, lead on.” The older dwarf nodded and lead the way further along the path with the others following behind him. As the two women continued to follow the others, Lane’s body slipped again, Belle releasing a loud gasp as she reached forward to catch her friend, Bofur however being faster, spun around and caught the woman’s shoulder. “Easy there Champion, don’t want to have to shave the other side of yer head,” he teased, not able to hide the concerned look in his eye. “Thanks Bofur, coming from you that’s a compliment,” Lane snickered with a small sigh. The miner nodded and helped her to stand upright again before beginning to walk again, Lane and Belle right behind him. The company managed to find their way out of the rocky path with Balin’s apparent knowledge of the road and soon came upon a vast field of dry grass. They kept a steady pace, not too fast but not too slow, and for every step they took, Lane could feel Thorin’s glare boring into her from the front of the group. She wasn’t necessarily slowing them down; Oin only ever being a few feet ahead of herself, Belle and Bilbo; the healer choosing to stay near the back of the group should Lane need aid. While she was indeed grateful for his thoughtfulness towards her, it also made her feel weak and in need of protection, something that took a huge blow to her pride. Sure there was the occasional misstep or flash of dizziness that raced through her head, but it wasn’t anything serious; Belle hadn’t told her that her wound was suddenly bleeding again so there was no need to make such a big fuss. It was when a particularly painful throb wracked not just her head, but her entire body when Lane fell to her knees with a painful yelp. “Lane!!” Belle cried, dashing up to her friend. Oin was kneeling by Lane’s side in record time while Belle’s cry echoed across the open field, all of the dwarves turning to see what the fuss was about. “What hurts lassie,” Oin asked, gently placing his palm on her forehead. “N-no… I’m fine. I just slipped is all,” Lane groaned, clenching her eyes shut in a vain attempt to will the pain in her skull away. Inwardly growling at herself, she pushed herself off of the ground and stood straight, only for the pain to hit her again like a freight train, causing her eyes to cross before falling to her knees again. “Lane stop, you’ll only hurt yourself!” Bilbo pleaded, his hand grasping his friend’s shoulder. “He’s right lassie, you need to stop and rest,” Oin agreed with a nod. “What’s going on, we need to keep moving,” Thorin’s voice growled as he stomped over to them. “Thorin-” “She needs to rest laddie, or we’ll be carrying a corpse to Erebor,” Oin scolded, looking up at their leader. “We don’t have time to rest, Durin’s day is nearly upon us!” Thorin growled. “I can carry her...” Kíli offered as he and the others walked over. “No, if we are attacked we may need every able bodied warrior to fight, having her on your back will leave me with one less fighter,” Thorin claimed. “Thorin-” Balin began, but was interrupted by the leader. “You either stand and walk on your own two feet or we leave you here!” Thorin barked, glaring down at Lane, the woman hanging her head as she willed herself not to cry from pain. “Uncle, enough!” Fíli demanded, stepping in between the two. “We’ve been walking for hours, a little rest could do all of us some good.” Thorin was about to retort when Lane stood and put a shaking hand on Fíli’s shoulder. Pushing him slightly out of the way, Lane raised her head and glared at Thorin. “I thought you were in a rush, Lord Dwarf… what are you doing here standing around?” she growled. Thorin simply spun around on his heels and began walking away, barking at the others to continue as well. “Lane stop, you can’t keep forcing yourself like this!” Belle pleaded, standing up and holding Lane still. “I’m not going to be a liability Izz!” Lane barked, turning to glare at her friend. “I am not weak! I am not frail! And I will not be subject to the scorn of someone with a jagged key and map shoved up his fucking ass, all because I was clocked on the head by an orc!!” Belle stood motionless, her eyes wide and fear filled as Lane turned away from her, taking quick but staggering steps to follow the others. “La-” “Don’t touch me!” Lane barked, harshly brushing off Fíli’s outstretched hand as she passed him. Fíli exchanged a worried look with his brother, their gazes shifting between a clearly enraged Lane and a now forlorn looking Belle as Bilbo rested a hand on her elbow. -=- After a few more hours of traveling, the company finally took a rest near a small grove of trees, almost every one of them releasing a round of groans when they were finally able to rest their weary and aching feet.Lane and Belle sat somewhat away from each other, Lane refusing to meet anyone’s eyes as she kept her back turned to them while Belle let out a small sigh. “Is she still avoiding everyone?” Bilbo asked, walking over to the smaller woman and sitting beside her, his eyes not leaving Lane’s back. Belle nodded and pouted. “I can understand why she’d be peeved, but that doesn’t mean she should just shut us out,” she huffed. “I’d go over there and smack some sense into her but I’m afraid she’d smack me back, and Lane hits hard…” Bilbo hummed and nodded, turning his eyes back to Lane’s form before giving a determined huff and standing. Belle’s hand shot up and grasped his wrist, causing him to stop and look down at her. “Wait, are you seriously going to go and talk to her? She’ll eat you alive; Lane’s almost as bad as Thorin!” Belle hissed, trying to keep her voice down as the sun got lower and lower in the sky. “Lady Isabella, I know that you and Lane have been friends for a very long time, but I believe that there is one thing that even you don’t quite understand about her,” Bilbo hummed with a small smile. Belle’s grip on his wrist slackened as Bilbo took this chance to walk over to the taller of the two, Lane having shifted so that she could lean her right shoulder against a nearby tree along with the uninjured side of her head. “Lane?” Bilbo called quietly, not wanting to disturb her if she was sleeping. “What?” Bilbo jumped slightly at the irritated tone in her voice but didn’t allow himself to turn around, instead taking a few more steps forward so that he was standing by her left shoulder and sat beside her. The hobbit leaned forward slightly to get a better look at his friend’s face and gave a small whine when he realized just how exhausted the taller woman looked. “Are you just going to stare at me?” her voice croaked, eyes not opening. “Lane, you must know that after all this time we’ve spent traveling together, that none of us view you as a burden nor a liability,” he began, keeping his voice level and supportive. “You are probably the strongest and most brave-hearted woman I’ve met, and that’s saying a lot if you recall me having Mirabella as an Aunt.” Lane couldn’t help the small breath of laughter that escaped her lips, her face relaxing at the mention of the hobbit woman. Bilbo gained a smile of his own on his face and he reached out to place a comforting hand on the woman’s knee. “Lane, I cannot speak for every member of this company, but I can easily name a handful that value your presence on this quest. I myself am quite happy that you as well as Lady Isabella decided to come along, and I’m certain she feels the same.” “That’s not a handful Bilbo,” Lane chuckled, her eyes finally opening to look at him out of the corner of her eye. “Well Fíli and Kíli both seem to have gotten attached to you as well as Oin and Bofur. Gloin I’ve noticed isn’t as grumpy around you anymore and I’ve seen the friendship that is growing between yourself and Bifur as well. Dwalin also seems to enjoy your company seeing as he still calls you Champion. Basically everyone who does call you that I believe you can view as a comrade and friend in this venture,” Bilbo claimed, shifting slightly so that Lane could see past him and look at each dwarf as he mentioned them. “I’m sorry that Thorin has been so hard on you since the warg pack, but just because he’s having behavioural issues doesn’t mean everyone shares his view, especially when it comes to you.” Lane lowered her eyes in shame and wrung her hands together before giving a sigh. “I’m a shitty friend… aren’t I?” Lane sighed. “I’m sorry Bilbo.” “Apology accepted, though I don’t believe I’m the one you should be apologizing to,” the hobbit hummed, nodding behind them with a knowing look. Lane sighed through her nose before nodding and moving to stand. Bilbo shot to his feet and offered the woman his hand, Lane pausing for a moment before accepting his aid. Once she was on her feet, Lane managed to walk over to where Belle sat, the smaller woman not raising her head to look up at her. “You still suck, but I’m willing to forgive your flaws and call a truce,” Lane hummed. Belle’s eyes widened and spun around to look up at her friend and give her a baffled look, only to catch sight of the shit eating grin stretched across the taller’s lips. “My flaws? You’re no saint yourself, you know!” Belle laughed, understanding the meaning behind her friend’s words. “You’re right, I’m no saint; I’m closer to being a Bishop, or a Cardinal,” Lane hummed, placing a hand on her chest while pushing her shoulders back with mock dignity. Belle’s mouth opened and closed a few times in befuddlement before she let out a round of laughter, having to cover her mouth with her hands so it wasn’t too loud. “You are beyond hopeless,” the smaller laughed, having to wipe away a few tears in her eyes. “Damn straight, makes life more fun,” Lane scoffed, finally sitting down beside her friend. “I am sorry for yelling at you though, you didn’t deserve to get the brunt of it.” Belle hummed and gave her friend a smile and a pat on the knee, silently telling her that all was forgiven. Bilbo soon came over to join the women and the trio sat and talked for a little while longer until Thorin told everyone to get some rest. -=- The next day continued on in this general pattern. The company traveled almost non-stop from sunup to dusk, found a place to camp for the night before planning on repeating the process again. Lane was still miffed at Thorin, Belle sharing her friend’s feeling while Thorin never spared them a glance, his eyes always set on the Misty Mountains in the east. Bilbo had remained with the women and would help Belle to silently support Lane whenever the taller woman would trip or get a head rush and have to pause to clear her vision.The morning after Lane had apologized to Belle, she had done the same to Fíli for her harshness towards him only wanting to help. If the blond prince felt any ill will or discontent towards her for her actions, he never stated so and accepted her apology with a smile and a pat on the shoulder. “Nothing to worry about, Champion,” he had said. “I understand all too well that Thorin can be a bit hard headed and overly driven.” When the sun began to set that evening, the company once again found a place to camp for the night, Lane, Belle and Bilbo taking out their bedrolls and lining them up beside each other not too far away from the dwarves. While doing so, it found the trio trading stories and experiences from their short time in Rivendell. “He just walked in!?” Bilbo gasped, looking like he had been personally put through the ordeal. “I cannot believe Kíli would do such a thing…” “I don’t think dwarves know how to knock,” Lane snickered, patting her friend on the shoulder as Belle hung her head. “Fíli did the same thing to me when Gilraen took me to the baths.” “WHAT!?” the two squawked, gaping at the tallest. “And you didn't tell me?” Belle accused. “What would you have done, defended my honour? Too late, honour gone.” Lane hummed. “Though I don't think Fíli minded~” Bilbo sputtered at the implication she was making while Belle smacked her friend on the arm. “I'm joking I'm JOKING!” Lane laughed, shifting slightly so she was further from her friend’s reach. “My Lady…” The three turned to see Kíli was standing by Belle’s side with a smile stretched across his lips and bow in hand. “I'm not interrupting anything am I? There are some trees not too far off that may serve as good target practise, especially since I understand you now have a bow of your own,” the brunet prince claimed, nodding at said weapon resting not to far away with her others things. Belle’s eyes widened slightly in excitement before she remembered her friend, turning to look at Lane only for the taller to roll her eyes. “Don’t worry about me, I have my secondary mother hen to cluck over me while you’re abusing the trees,” Lane chuckled, thumbing over at Bilbo as the hobbit gave her a pout. “Who are you calling a mother hen?” Bilbo huffed. “Would you rather me call you a quack?” “That is no better!” Belle giggled and stood up after picking up her bow and quiver, allowing Kíli to lead the way over to their makeshift target range.“I know I said that it’s alright, but that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to pout,” Lane huffed, doing just that. Bilbo chuckled and patted the woman on the back as they watched the dwarven archer help Belle with her standing and drawing postures. “You know Bilbo, you could probably do with a few lessons on how to stab people,” Lane snickered, looking at the hobbit out of the corner of her eye. “Make use of that dagger you’ve got hanging at your hip.” “Balin called it a letter opener,” Bilbo scoffed, drawing the sword and running his finger along the flat of the blade. “Just because it’s small in size doesn’t make it useless.” “No, I agree. Back home our people have a saying; Great things come in small packages,” Lane hummed, resting her jaw in her palm as she smiled at him. “I’m sure that if you keep it by you Bilbo, that it’ll see its fair share of battles.” The hobbit seemed approving of her words as Lane stopped herself from grinning too much, knowing full well that this ‘letter opener’ would serve a greater purpose than any other sword among them at this moment in the future, both near and far.“I’m not interrupting an important pep talk am I?” Lane and Bilbo turned to see that Fíli had walked over to the two, no doubt in search of his brother. “Not at all,” Bilbo hummed, motioning for him to join them. Fíli did just that, sitting on Lane’s other side and allowing his eyes to drift over to the two archers not far away. “Has Thorin managed to glare a hole in the back of Izz’s head yet? She’s stealing the attention of one of his fighters,” Lane huffed, giving Fíli a sidelong glance. “Not yet; Balin and Dwalin keep trying to talk some sense into him about the treatment that he’s giving you two. He naturally won’t hear any of it right now, but I think he’s still a little jaded about the fact that we’re now on a time limit,” Fíli hummed, leaning back to rest on his hands. Lane rolled her eyes but didn’t have the energy to vent, not only that but just because Fíli understood that Thorin was being a dick didn’t mean he was automatically the best person to talk to about said dwarf lord.“You know that he’ll come around eventually right? Not just for you and Lady Isabella, but with you as well Bilbo,” Fíli claimed, looking around Lane to give the hobbit a slightly apologetic look. “I figured as much, from what I understand, you folk are very tight knit with your own kin and kind, I wasn’t really expecting to be welcomed with open arms in the first place,” Bilbo said with a small laugh. Fíli nodded and turned his attention back to the woman beside him, catching sight of Lane’s pout causing him to chuckle. He reached over and patted her on the shoulder causing her to shift slightly to look back at him. “Patience is a virtue Champion,” he laughed. “Patience is in low supply when you have a stubborn iron rod as a troupe leader,” Lane scoffed. “...but I’ll try…” Fíli’s grin grew and he nodded, turning back to the duo by the trees as Belle fired an arrow from her bow and hit a nearby tree with a hard ‘thunk’.

[sabraeal]

Prompt: (sorry im a bit late) Something where Obi is very nearly dead after protecting Shirayuki. I mean covered in wounds and her very real realization that he just about died protecting her after she saves him.

Eight bodies lie in the clearing, and it is a miracle not a single one is theirs.

“Well,” Obi laughs darkly, slipping his knives back into their sheath, “that didn’t go how I thought it would.”

Her chest aches, as if her screams ran claws down her lungs, enraged at being denied escape. The endless pound of her heart adds to it, makes her pain stand out as if in bas relief. Its not the fear that keeps her from speaking, but the way her words have clung to her mouth in a confusing jumble, unable to sort themselves into what she needs to say: never do that again.

He turns to her, grin cocked, blood dripping down his face in runnels. A cut lays parallel to his old scar. It runs freely, as all facial wounds are wont, but even though she knows it needs nothing more serious than a good antiseptic and a stitch or two, it moves her.

“You’re wounded,” she tells him. You could have died, sticks in her mouth, not ready to be said.

He raises a hand to his brow, looks down at the blood on his fingers as they pull away. “So I am.”

His gaze drops to the rest of his body, spattered in blood both his and not, taking note of all the shallow cuts that mar his clothes and skin. There are far too many for her to be comfortable with, far too many that were a cut too close.

Obi shrugs, lips parting in a flash of teeth. “No great loss, Miss. Already have mark there anyway.”

Shirayuki mouth curves into a frown. Even if he won’t take it seriously, she is determined not to let him having a matching set.

She picks her way over bandit bodies – sent by one of the lords, just as they predicted – pressing one hand against a trees to steady herself –

“Miss!”

His warning comes a moment too late. She topples against the tree, and whatever had grabbed her ankle is pulling her down as it rises. Her cheek drags down the bark, burning as she hits the ground and sees –

A bandit, sword raised in a killing strike, and oh – this is why Obi is so diligent about checking his dead –

She flinches as the blade thrusts down, her eyes fluttering shut for a single moment, unable to face her own death –

It never comes. She blinks her eyes open just in time to see Obi’s face as the blade runs him through.

She expects to see surprise, to see fear, but instead – instead she sees resolve; she sees relief.

“Son of a –”

This bandit is dead before he can finish, throat grinning red as he falls to the frozen earth.

Obi straightens, staggers. Crimson blossoms around the cut in his jerkin.

“Obi,” she breathes.

He turns to her, smile still firmly in place. “No worries, Miss. I’ve had worse. All I need is –” his hands fumble his knives – “a good sit down –”

One of his blades tumbles to the ground. His body follows a moment later.

“Obi!” Her scream pierces the air, and she just manages to catch him before he hits the ground, her hands slipping on the blood covering his clothes.

She gets him up on his side, keeping his wound from the dirt and snow beneath them. Her bag is still well-stocked – they’re only an hour out from Lyrias, if that, and they had been courting trouble – so the cloths inside are clean and dry. She folds one against his back and the other against his front, and prays that the bleeding will stop.

He’s bleeding heavily but still conscious, clearly in pain but not hazy. “I’ll be fine, Miss,” he tells her, “just lay me down.”

“I’m the pharmacist here,” she reminds him, though she lays him on his back anyway, hoping her pressure will staunch the front and gravity will do for the back. The wound is not gushing, which is promising – at least no major vessel has been hit – and his blood is neither brackish in color nor rotten in scent. Gut wounds are deadly, but if luck carries them, his may not yet be lethal. It is at least not septic, but only time will tell.

She lifts one of her hands – she has antiseptic in her bag, and a few herbs he might chew to stave off infection – and it trembles like a leaf in the wind. It’s only them that she notices her whole body is shaking, the adrenaline of the moment wearing off and leaving her with only soul-gripping fear.

“Miss,” he says, too soft. He puts her hand back against the bandage, rubbing his thumb along the thin bones of her hand. “I’ll be all right.”

“You fought eight men by yourself,” she reminds him. When she closes her eyes she sees that still; a montage of the times he might have met his end had he only been a hair less skilled.

“I beat eight men.” He’s entirely too proud of that accomplishment, bleeding like he is. “Tell Mister that for me.”

“You can tell him yourself,” she claps back tightly. “And you let them get too close. Like you wanted them to hurt you.”

His eyes are hooded when he turns them to her. “Tactic,” he says, as if the word hurts. The shock of his wound must be wearing off. “Makes them drop their guard.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I’m dangerous, Miss.”

She pulls the cloth from his stomach. Blood still oozes from the wound, but its becomes sluggish, thicker, nearly clotted. It will probably bleed anew if he moves much more than it takes to breathe, but it’s enough that she can clean it, maybe even close it with a few stitches.

She sets to work, letting silence hand between them. Her motions are steady, but she’s surprised to find that her fear has turned to anger. She is seething, livid that he has been so reckless, that for weeks she will probably dream of him bleeding from a thousand cuts, of the serene face he made as that blade ran him through. He’s lucky that this hasn’t killed him, and he will be even luckier if he makes it through –

“Don’t do that again,” she murmurs, taking a little too much pleasure in the way he hisses when she wipes the alcohol over his wound.

“Can’t help you’re always getting me into fights, M –”

“Not that.” She flicks her gaze toward his. “Don’t try to give your life for mine.”

“Miss –”

“I don’t want you to die for me, Obi.” She has never talked like this to him, so serious. “I can’t stand thinking that you might – that I might –” have to live without you. The thought is untenable. “Don’t do it again.”

He doesn’t answer for a long moment.

“Obi?” She glances up at his face, and it pale, too pale –

“It’s so cold, Miss,” he says, his voice too faint.

Her heart stills in her chest. He’s bleeding everywhere, she should have realized – he needs to be treated –

“Won’t you lay down with me?” he asks, “Just this once.”

His pack is on the other side of the clearing, but it’s in her hands in mere moments, her hand digging through its contents until she finds the small paper tubes he’s hidden in the lining.

Red for compromised, he told her this morning, Blue for aid.

He has flint as well, but her hands shake too much for such a delicate task. She picks up one, and tosses it straight into the fire.

The sound is deafening, so close. The tube whistles and pops, and luck sees a trail of smoke shooting skyward, breaking apart in a shower of unmistakable sparks. She just has to hope Makiri’s men are watching.

Shirayuki hurries to Obi’s side, ears ringing as she shouts, “They’ll be here soon. People are coming.”

It’s a lie, they both know, it’ll be an hour at best but – he can hold on that long, surely. She wishes they had something besides snow to lay in, but they had not foreseen being out long enough to use bedrolls or tents.

“I’m cold, Miss.” His hands come out to cover hers. “Lay next to me.”

“You have to fight it, Obi,” she tells him. “That’s the shock talking.”

“I will,” he promises, his hands pulling weekly at hers. “But it would be easier if I was warm.” His eyelids flutter as he looks up at her. “You’re so warm, Miss.”

“A-alright.” She winces as she lays on the cold ground beside him, but even through his coat, he’s warm. “But stay with me. You can’t fall asleep, Obi.”

His eyes are hardly more than a narrow sliver of gold when she peers up at him. “No, no,” he agrees, his fingers gently brushing over the arch of her cheekbones. “No sleeping.”

His palm cups her chin, but there’s none of his gentle strength in it. It’s like she’s being held by smoke rather than flesh.

“Why would I let you go,” he whispers, “when all I ever want is to have you closer?”

His hand drops, laying heavy on her shoulder, his eyes rolling back in his head –

“Obi!” she screams, bolting upright. “Obi, get up!”

A thready pulse beats under her fingertips. He’s alive, alive but –

She can’t lose him. Not like this. She will not trade her life for his.

But only time will tell.

[hobiyolk]

perfectly imperfect Hoseok x Reader

Heyyyyy, so I am very new to this. This is my very first scenario, and yes I am stupid enough to be writing smut as my first scenario. Anyways I hope you guys still enjoy it!

                                                      3546 words 

                                            Smut, fluff, slight angst

Summary: Hoseok thinks he’s not good enough for you, he thinks he’s not perfect for you, he thinks you deserve someone better, but that is not what you think. And you better prove it to him. 

You woke up from a long sleep, you felt his arms dangling around your waist and heard him growl softly beside your ear. You smiled to yourself turning around to see Hobi’s face. The way his lips would slightly pout, and how his messy hair laid so perfectly around his precious head. The way his nose would scrunch every time you blowed on his face. He was perfect, he was beautiful, he was everything you have ever wanted. You slowly pushed his hair Strands behind his ears while softly mumbling -  “I love you” 

before you give him a kiss on his forehead letting you earn a low groan from him. You pushed his arms away from your waist and with that you also pushed away the white duvet that was covering both of your forms. . You slowly walked into the bathroom making sure not to wake him up. You washed your body, brushed your teeth, wore your clothes and applied your everyday makeup. You left the bathroom. When you came into the room you were still expecting Hobi to be in bed lazily looking through his phone. But nope...not today. Leaving the room with only your phone in your hand. You saw Hobi making pancakes, as much as your mouth was drooling over them, you had already decided to eat breakfast with your boss. He had been flirting with you and asking you out on dates. Whenever you would say no he would always lowkey threaten to fire you. And may i mind you that this job pays a lot of money. Of Course Hobi knew that your boss was annoying you, but also knew you loved him. Hobi looked back at you and smiled - “hey, did my baby girl sleep well?!” 

you replied with a small giggle 

- “yes! And I am surprised to see you awake and making breakfast for yourself” 

He stopped smiling for a second and looked you up and down. 

- “Myself? But I'm making breakfast for both of us. And we both don't have work today, so why are you dressed up?” 

You mentally punched yourself in the face for not remembering to tell him you are going to eat breakfast with your boss. 

- “Ah about that. Sorry, i forgot to tell you that I was going to eat breakfast with him.” 

Hobi looked back at the sizzling pancakes. You were there waiting for motivating words, or at least a reaction, but no, all he gave you was a nod. You lifted one of your eyebrows and forming a pout on your lips. You stayed there looking at him quietly. Hobi was done with his pancakes and just walked past you 

- “okay then see ya later” 

he didn't even look at you, just walked past you and sat down on the table. You turned around with your heels to just stare at him in disbelief.

-  “Okay, babe. I’ll be back as soon as i can. I love you” 

you smiled sincerely at him. Again no reaction he just nodded his head. You felt a little sting in your heart, never has he ever ignored your ‘i love yous’. Your smile fell to a hurt face. You turn back facing the door.

‘Where did my sweet hobi go?’ you ask yourself. You know you are over reacting, but his smile, his i love you’s made you feel complete. It made you feel safe. You felt your tears well up but you blinked them away.

 - “See you later then” 

you said coldly before you left the apartment both of you shared.

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

(Outside the breakfast place)

You saw your boss waiting outside the place. Yeah he was handsome, but not like your Hobi. He was mean, and your hobi was the sweetest thing.

- “Hey y/n!” you looked his way only to realize that you were in your own world.

- “h-hey Alex” you slowly started to walk closer to him. He smiled at you, you slightly smiled.

- “shall we go in?” ‘do i have any other choice’ you walked in, and smiled at how amazing the restaurant smelled.

You guys sat down at a table in the corner of the restaurant. A waiter came up to your table and you boss asked you. 

- “What would you like to eat y/n?”

 You didn't even look at the menu and spoke 

- “a big plate of pancake thank you!”  

He starts to laugh, and you show him a  ‘what do you want face’ 

- “hahaha, you’re so cute. You know if you were my girlfriend y/n I would give you pancakes every day.” 

You did not change your expression what so ever, this guy had no affect on you. The waiter sighed in a awkward breath. 

- “So y/n… and Mr. would you like something else?” 

the waiter was Dean your best friend, he started this job here and every time you would come here with your boss he would call you and laugh at you. You giggled at Dean 

- “No thanks Dean, i think that's it.” 

your boss looked really confused. 

- “D-do you guys know each other?” 

you looked at him nodding 

- “I have slept with this guy” 

you said jokingly. Dean just scrunched his face 

- “ewww, you wish” both of you laughed. 

“Okay! You can leave now. Thank you very much” your boss barked.

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

The plate of pancakes had come.

- “Enjoy your food!”

You thanked Dean and he left giving you a wink and making you giggle.

“You know, you should break up with your little boyfriend.” 

You looked at him pulling the fork out of your mouth. 

- “And why would i do that?” 

he looked at you while scoffing.

- “Because he is useless, and i bet he is poor, obviously doesn't have time for you. And because he doesn't treat you right” 

You looked at him in disbelief.

- “Due to all respect sir, I don't think you know my boyfriend well enough to say these things about him.”

- “Oh trust me i d-”

- “You don't even know his name, sir” 

He gave you a smirk.

- “Jung Hoseok, best known as J-hope of BTS, Bangtan Sonyeondan.” 

You started to cough, choking on your pancakes.

- “E-excuse me?” 

he still had that smirk on his face, the one you wanted to slap right off.

- “don't worry i wont tell anyone” 

You looked at him with big eyes. You couldn't believe that he had stalked you.

- “All you have to do is either break up with your little idol and become mine, or you can leave your job by tomorrow.” 

Your eyes widened, you didn't hesitate with your answer, and never will you regret your choice.

- “Alex Johnson! You dare to threaten someone who doesn't love you by making them break up with someone they love! How low can you stoop?! Do you have any respect as a human being?! I love him, and we both know that. I would chose him Over this entire world and we both know that very well!” 

You stood up from your seat taking your jacket and phone. 

- “Nice knowing you Alex.” 

He stood up from his seat trying to stop you from leaving, but luckily dean had your back. 

- “The lady said, ‘nice knowing you’ and if you’re that stupid to understand what the phrase means, then she is telling you to leave her alone.” You smiled at dean. 

- “I’ll see you later bye dean!” 

You ran out of the restaurant while wearing your jacket. This is where you regretted not taking your car. 

- “Shit!” 

You still ended up running in your black heel boots, with only Hoseok in your head.

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

You ran up the stairs not bothering to take the elevator. You took your keys out of your pocket and unlocked the door while panting. You swung the door open.

- “Hobi????!”

 nothing. The house was dead quiet. You were a bit disappointed you expected him to be there sitting in the couch watching a movie. You sighed throwing your keys down on the table. Suddenly you heard music blast from yours and Hoseoks room. You smiled to yourself knowing that he is dancing at this very moment. You walked towards the door and you saw him dancing with sweat all over his body. You couldn't help but to look, he looked so fucking sexy when he was in this type of state. You leaned on the door frame making sure to keep your eyes on his form that was moving so gracefully. You slowly bit your lips, feeling a hot feeling pit right in your stomach. You didn't even notice that the music had stopped and he was walking past you.

- “Hobiiiiii!!!”

He just looked at you wiping his neck with a towel. You smiled lightly feeling a bit offended by his cold behaviour. Your face fell a bit; biting harder into your lips, you straightened your back.

- “I have something to tell y-”

Hobi cut your comment off 

- “what? That you’d rather spend your free time on him?” 

your face looked at him in disbelief. You don't have any idea why he is acting so cold towards you. You don't like it when he acts cold. You were sick of it.

- “Hobi, don't act like you don't know why i am doing this. Besi-”

- “No, y/n. I really don't know why you are doing this.” he said with his teeth clenching.

You scoffed not believing this. 

- “You know I have only been doing this because I need to keep my job. And anyways i-”

- “No! God! Do you know how all this shit makes me feel?!” 

Again you got interrupted by him. You opened your mouth to say something but words wouldn't dare to come out.

- “Damn! You are my girlfriend not his! You are meant to eat breakfast with me and not him for god's sakes! I kept all my anger inside of me… for you! y/n it's just a fucking job! Okay?! You are educated you have 2 fucking degrees! You can always get a better job! Do you have any feelings?! Do you have any idea how this makes me feel?! Am i not good enough for you?!”

You felt your eyes starting to wel up with tears. You didn't understand anything, all these assumptions made you feel like he didn't trust you..

- “Hobi i-”

- “FOR GOD SAKES I AM NEVER GOOD ENOUGH FOR ANYONE. NOT FOR THE COMPANY NOT FOR BTS, NOT FOR THE FANS, NOT FOR MY PARENTS… AND NOT FOR YOU! Y/N WHY DOES EVERYONE HATE ME?! WHY AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH?! WHY CAN'T I BE LIKE MY OTHER ME-” 

You ran right up to him his form stumbling a bit backwards. You started to cry into his arms, holding onto him as tight as you could. 

- “Hobi! Shut up! Shut up!” 

your tears kept choking into your throat; you couldn't help but feel guilty, you couldn't help but feel like taking him in your arms when he thought of such things.  

- “Stop saying such things. Stop saying things like that. You don't deserve to hear such things even if they come out of your own mouth!” 

you kept on crying. You suddenly felt Hoseok’s hands snake around your waist. He pulled you closer, snuggling in the crook of your neck. You suddenly felt a tear drop on the nape of your neck. It hit you then, he was crying. Both of you pulled each other closer hugging like it was the last time. He suddenly took a deep breath taking in your rosey scent.  

- “I-im sorry y/n. I didn't mean to shout at you.” 

You quietly shushed him. 

- “It’s okay babe. It's okay.”  

you broke away from the hug, hoseok still pulling your waist closer to him. You slowly put your forehead over his. 

- “Care to tell me why all that nonsense just came out of your beautiful lips?” 

he took another deep breath trying to get drunk from your scent and presence. - “I-i just feel like i am not good enough for you.” 

you looked up at him with sincere eyes, but you didn't interrupt him, you let him finish talking.

- “A-and i  fought with my mom, because i forgot that it was her birthday 2 days ago. A-and she told me that even you said happy birthday to her. T-then we were in dance practise, a-and i got scolded by the choreographer, b-because i kept messing up. A-and then i think, why does BTS need me? I mean i am fucking ugly as hell not even that talented, and other members would do completely fine without me. A-and then seeing you leaving me for that asshole, made me feel like heck if i’m not even good enough for my fans and other people around me… then how can i be good enough for you. Sometimes i even wonder what i did to deserve you. Sometimes i wonder what made you fall in love with a ugly and untalented person like me.”

Throughout everything he said you kept holding onto his neck and cheeks, you kept kissing him on his soft cheeks. And you couldn't help but feel your eyes water.

- “H-hobi? H-how can a person like you say such things about themselves?” 

he looked at you with saddened eyes.

- “Babe… Your mom forgave you for what had happened. You, me we both heard she said sorry for getting mad, and that she understands why you may have forgotten her birthday. And on top of that you also said sorry to her million times. And what?! Who the hell dares to scold my lil Hobi?! That little pice of shiteu. I am about to hurt someone.” 

 Hoseok laughed at your remark. 

- “But hobbi, don't take it personally when he scolds you. He scolds all your members, and i know he means well. And on top of that it’s his job. And let me tell you one thing, you dancing is one of the things i love most about my life. I mean babe have you seen yourself dancing… damnnn you sllaaayyyyy booiiii. And don't even get me started about why BTS needs you. You are the sunshine of the group, all the younger members look up to you Hobi. And don't you dare fucking say that you are not talented, because the first time i saw you perform at the party at Deans place, it was love at first sight. Hobi, you are fucking talented, I mean all i can do is lay on the ground and do dead worm. And you Mr. Jung you are the prettiest thing i have ever seen in all these years of my life. Hobi you are absolutely perfect, there is nothing about you that is not perfect, there is nothing about you that i don't love.”  

Hoseok started to rub your back sending shivers down your spine.

- “y/n i love you… but we both know that i am not the best looking member. We both know that i am not the most talented member in the group.” 

you looked at him. You put your palm flat on his chest and pushed him onto the bed you shared. Hoseok looked at you taken aback by your action. His eyes were wide and you could see him having a hard time swallowing down his saliva.

-  “W-what are you doing y-y/n?” 

you looked at him, and slowly started to crawl on the bed towards him. You pinned Hoseok down with your legs straddling onto his lap making sure that he is unable to move out of your grip. 

- “No. Hobi. I really don't know what you are talking about. Hobi i love you! You are fucking sexy and the hottest and most talented person i have lived to know!” 

Hoseok scoffed at your remark

“Babe, don't you think you are over reacting a bit? I mean-” 

You took his arms and pushed his form so that he was laid flat on the bed. You pined both his arms on top of his head. You started to slowly grind on the bulge that was starting to form under his pants. 

- “How dare you laugh at me?! How dare you laugh at my feelings?!”

 Hoseok looked at you with big eyes. 

- “I-im sorry y/n-”

- “Yeah you better be! Do i really need to show you how fucking sexy you are?! If only Hobi, if only you could see what i could see!” 

you bashed your lips onto him, grinding harder onto him making you moan and wetter by every second. 

- “G-god you’re so sexy hobi”  

Hoseok shook his hands free from your grip and deepened the kiss by pulling you closer. He turned both of you around so now he was the one on top of you and grinding. 

- “A-ah y-y/n!” 

Hoseok started to groan while licking on the nape of your neck. 

- “Oh god, you’re so damn hot” 

Hoseok and you started to dry fuck each other faster and harder every second. You kissed him harder seeming so desperate to have his lips on yours. 

- “Oh god hobi!”

“y-y/n.” 

You rubbed your palm on his clothed member. You both started to remove your clothing without breaking the kiss. You guys were left with only your undergarments. Hoseok started to kiss your body making sure he doesn't leave any place unkissed. He left love bites in places that were easily seen and unseen. Taking of your bra and underwear leaving you completely naked, he hissed onto your skin when you held onto his soft orange hair strands. 

- “Oh god. y/n what have i done to deserve you?” 

 You pulled Hoseok all the way up to your face. You kissed him deeper and more passionately while removing his underwear. Both of you were naked now.

- “Are you even ready y/n?” 

you looked at him right in the eyes, and suddenly smirked. 

- “Oh trust me, just looking at you got me wet” 

He softly entered you, making both of you moan and groan. You kept your eyes open looking at his reaction when he started to move under your form.

 - “S-shit hobi! You ahh- you're so fucking hot!” 

you rolled your eyes back his size was big, It gave you so much pleasure you couldn't help but hold onto his back with your nails digging into them. His thrusts synced with yours. 

- “R-right now i-i am s-aaahhh screaming your name. Not that bastards.” 

after Hobi heard what you said he started to thrust into you faster. 

- “Ahhh Hobi!!”

- “Don't fucking mention--- him” 

you took his cheeks in your hands 

- “i quit- AAAAhhhh!!! SHitttt! Oh my lord!!” 

After he heard you say those two words, hobi started to drill into you as fast as he could. He held onto your clit rubbing it roughly. 

- “No! Ahh! H-hobi p-please go slower!” 

He didn't listen he continued with the pleasure he was trying to give you. You held onto his biceps. 

- “Aah hobi!”

“Shit y/n! I am close”

-  you squinted your eyes from the amount of pleasure you were receiving.

- “M-me too. Don't stop. Keep going.” 

he took your lips into his  kissing you deeper every second. Hoseok and you reached your highs. He started to ride out your orgasms. Hoseok fell on the crook of your neck, he kissed your shoulders , and you could feel a smile forming. He started to kiss your breast and pushing his face and snuggling into them. You laughed at his cute act. He slid off of your body and laid beside you. Both of you looked into each other eyes, you slowly started to peck his lips and his face. You looked at him again, and saw him smiling right at you, you smiled back while playing with his orange hair and staring at his face.

-  “Hobi, i am saying this from the bottom of my heart. I love you. You are perfect. And i am truly lucky to have you.” 

his eyes started to water he held your cheeks in his big hands. 

- “I love you so much y/n. Truly i am a really lucky guy to have you, I am really happy that you quit that job. I am sorry i was not being a understanding boyfriend.” 

you shushed him. 

- “It's okay babe I understand where you are coming from” 

you smiled at him. He looked at you with his tired eyes. You pulled him closer to your chest so that he was sleeping on it. You heard a slight snore, and you couldn't help but smile. 

- “I love you” you mumbled softly. He pulled your body close by your waist and snuggled into your bare chest. Soon you two drifted off to sleep.